Friday Flotsam

Frrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrri’m back! It’s been a while for Flotsam. Like, weeks. And one would think that I have all these exciting things I’m bursting to share with you. Well guess what, I don’t. Ha!

Oh.

Wait don’t leave!

Summer is churning along at a sizzling pace. As in, starting Monday we only have four full weeks left! Bananas. And you know, it’s been two and a half months since Aaron’s layoff and I was so nervous about the summer. But really it’s been great. More than fine. We’re living frugally but richly. There are ways, I tell ya!

Update on him: while there’s no full-time gig for him just yet, he starts a big freelance job today that will make us a bit more comfortable. And he has a huge personal project he’s been working on for some time now that I’ll share with you all very soon. Within two weeks I believe. Yes he’s technically unemployed, but he’s living with such meaning and dimension right now. It’s fantastic to see him so healthy and thriving.

As for me? Well, last night Mindy surprised me with a matching grandma floaty for the pool so I’m sitting (er, floating) quite pretty! It’s the little things.

I’ve also been tossing around some ideas for myself in a more substantial way. (not that a grandma floaty isn’t substantial. But you did the see the thing up there about four weeks left of summer, right?)

I’ll say this.

Hold on. I’ll say it down there.

Nothing will change here. This website will stay the same. These recipes will be here for you always.

But I’m . . . stagnant. Feeling a bit stale in the food realm. (no pun) What I’m thinking about is starting a Substack with thrifting tips. How to peruse an estate sale. (With my reels on IG to accompany!) What’s worth it and what’s not. Food won’t end, but I have a lot more to give and I just don’t think this space is the place to do it anymore. I have to evolve as I age and fine tune my next era. Lock the vision into place. Plus there’s only so many versions of a damn taco I can show you.

(tacos sound good right now.)

So putting it in writing right here is my first step. I know everyone and their ding dang dog has a Substack and it’s completely annoying. But why not! I’d keep certain posts free like mixtapes and such, but the premium content would have a teeny tiny fee. Because you guys, I looked at Will’s bottom row of teeth and a few look like a New England rocky shoreline, so. Gotta make the money.

I won’t ask you if you’d be interested in it, because some will, some won’t. Which is fine! I get it!

(okay like, street tacos has got to be on my life mission today.)

Also, I feel like we can completely agree that when a man is doing the dishes and he says, “Let’s just let this soak a bit.” it’s husband speak for, “I have no interest in cleaning this right now.”

Hmmm mmmm.

Tell me how your summer’s been! Big travels or smaller pleasures? I want to hear it all. Bucket list progress or simply day-to-day survival. I feel you on all of it.

We’re hitting the pool today (hellooooo, grandma floaty! I’ll grab a photo of us and show you later.), and then I’m kidnapping one of Nat’s besties for the rest of the day and night for tacos (we have to!) and some ice cream. I plan to finish Mansion Beach this weekend (so good! Elin knows.) and then make some homemade bagels with my friend Carly on Sunday while our daughters host a lemonade stand. I’ve never made bagels before! Hold us closely.

From this weeeeek! I actually managed to get two recipes up and out for ya. If you didn’t see this Cheddar Cheese Bread, I implore you. Such a fun project recipe and you’ll cry over the cheese flavors. Here’s a video for you. And then we have a SIMPLE French Baguette Sub pull-together situation. Just insanely perfect for anytime. I’ll make them again this weekend for sure. And that video for ya!

Alrighty now, tell me how your summer is. Anxious to get through it or loving every single day like Winnie the Pooh in a clover-filled meadow? Spill it.