Abby's Evening

The perfection of a perfect day starts at 5am and ends at the breaking of a new dawn.  ~Abby~

 

Armed with a cheese plate and chilled  bottle of wine, I pulled my favorite chair out the French doors of my bedroom. Watching as the sun descended behind the trees, I wondered how many more years would I enjoy this luxury before time and life slipped away.

Typical for a Tuesday night, I wanted nothing more than to unwind and get my rear in my favorite chair to enjoy great food and the silence of an almost empty nest. Calling to my daughter, Shelby to check the food I reveled in the complete and abundant glory of a day well spent. I'd accomplished nothing and was proud of it.

Nibbling on a cracker, I poured a class of merlot, I sniffed the air and was amused at the delicious smells coming from the kitchen. I’ve never been much of a cook. And I really don’t think cooking was my life’s calling. While I dibble and dabble in cooking, I would much rather leave the cooking to the experts and pick something delicious up from a local restaurant. 

The smell of Shredded BBQ Chicken Nachos, Italian Cheese Hasselback Potatoes, French Fries with Nacho Cheese Sauce, tempted my tummy as I poured a glass of wine and munched on grapes, olives, and pepper jack cheese.  

 

I could not wait to open the cheese. I finally had the opportunity to use my cheese thing a majig you shave the cheese with. Earlier in the evening I’d purchased three blocks of cheese, Vermont White Cheddar Cheese, Aged Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese, Fiesta Pepper Jack Cheese all by Sargento. I'd seen the cheese on a website and I was determined to experience the glee of wine and cheese as I relaxed. So,I indulged my love of cheese and started to eat from each of the cheese blocks.

Turning on the small radio I keep near the patio doors I kicked back and relaxed. At this very second I had all the traps of success and happiness, two kids in college, a little  one that I adored, great food a marvelous bottle of wine and my own great company. Who could ask for anything more!

 

~Abby~

What Inspires Abby

 

Someone ask me the other day “What inspires you”. My simple answer was EVERYTHING.

Inspiration for me comes from both simple and complex things. I love the rain because it reminds me of delicate kisses. The lyrics of my favorite love song because they inspire me and remind me of soft caresses late in the evening. The sunset because I can imagine standing on the balcony of a beautiful villa watching the sunset.

I was born in December and winter  and cold weather inspire me.

The howling of a wolf on a cold winter’s night or a kiss on the back of the neck. A woman in a red coat in the middle of a field of white snow makes me wonder what her story is and why she would choose me to tell it.

Snow reminds me of love on a cold winter’s day when the heat has went out and two lovers must snuggle together for warmth. Inspiration for me is about more than just one thing it is a combination of things that equal a treasure trove of love.

Abby

Abbyville

 

A kiss, a boat and dreams, the things that Abbyville are made of.  

Abby's Breakfast

     As the sun crept up in the sky this morning, I finished off my second pot of hot chocolate and tried my hand at making bruschetta. Not necessary a breakfast food, but since having dinner at the local TGIF’S where I’d overindulged in Endless Garlic & Tomato brochette bites I wanted to make my own.

While I decided that Garlic and Tomato Brochette bites would not due for breakfast, I decided to make follow a simple recipe on Pinterest for cheesy chicken bruschetta along with a bag of Southwestern Eggrolls, chicken eggrolls and roasted potatoes.

     Since it all could be cooked at the same time in the oven I was in cooking paradise. While I’ve never been an official foodie I do enjoy the challenge of eating new and changing foods. Needless to say as I waited on my breakfast to bake I finished off another pot of hot chocolate, while smashing a few of the remaining red potatoes with cheese.

     The sun ascended the sky at its highest point of the morning as I sat down and polished off my breakfast.

Abby

Abby's Candied Applies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve never been a fan of Candy Apples.  But lately, as I’ve began to look towards fall I’ve seen the most creative and colorful Candy Apples ever. Blue, Black, Caramel, Candied. They all have tempted my taste buds and made me want to gorge myself on Candied Apples.

I think I might usher in the fall with a bite of candied apple.

Abby.

At The End of The Day

“At the end of the day”

I’ve heard the expression so often I’ve taken it for granted. I often wonder if people just care how things turn out at the end of the day instead of how the entire day progresses.

“At the end of the day” never captures totality of ones day in its entirety.   “At the end of the day” when I lay my head down on the pillow problems still reign supreme, whatever messes I did not clean-up are still there and “at the end of the day” I am still trying to figure out the entire day.

I don’t know maybe those who value the end of the day are right. All that matters is the end not the beginning or the middle. Sitting at my desk, sitting on a pot of hot chocolate, I don’t see the end of the day as an end measure of how things are going. I see the beginning as a start, the middle as a chance for growth or change and the end as a time of reflection on all that was left unsaid or done.

“At the end of the day” for me there is much that still needs to be done and much reflection that is needed to make the next day better. I am not a philosopher or a theologian so “at the end of the day” I am still stuck at the beginning.

Abby

 

 

Abby Smiles

                       

Whenever I see your smiling face I have to smile myself because I love you.

There is something about a smiling face that always causes me to smile. Happiness is contagious. Smiles and laughter are the bread and butter of a happy person.

Sitting at my desk looking out my window, I have to smile. I smile because it’s Monday morning, because the kids are happy and I am too. Yep and I sometimes smile to myself because all is well in the Chase house.