These [expletive] socks, free time and being alone

I planned to post about these socks on their first birthday - a year after I started them - but I have managed to be late even for that. They're still not finished, either. They were intended to be a birthday present for my sister-in-law, then Christmas, then birthday again.

To be honest, I haven't felt much like working on them or anything else lately. That's no surprise, with my extended radio silence here. I hope my creative drought is just due to being tired - so tired - all the time. I'm pretty sure it is, since ideas still pop into my head regularly.




I suppose it's just a matter of determining where to spend any energy I have left at the end of the day. Right now, Forever Young Adult is getting what little there is, and I've been doing more off-screen writing. Honestly, I don't feel like sharing these days. Some mothers talk about not wanting to be touched after spending all day nursing and cuddling and playing and carrying their children, and that's kind of what's going on with me right now. I don't get much time alone (and awake) each day, so I'm hoarding the quiet, private space inside my head. My parents will probably say I need to get out of my head a bit, which is also true, but this process of blogging increasingly feels like a one-sided conversation - both writing here and reading others, since I often read without commenting.




Anyway, I'm sure I'll be back - I always am - and it'll probably be soon. Happy Mother's Day to everyone who is a mother, has been a mother, who acts as a mother. For those who've lost their mothers, I hope you can spend the day in a way that comforts you.

Al fresco

 
We are spending a lot of time outside these days. It's gorgeous, and before we know it, it'll be too hot. Also, the house is a wreck and the backyard's a nice escape. Ha.

We had dinner out on the porch the other night, and the setting turned a commonplace weekend dinner into something special. (It wasn't our first dinner outside this spring - that was a few weeks earlier when I smoked us out cooking steaks on the stove.)

Chris grilled steaks, we had baked potatoes, a Brie en croute we picked up at Fresh Market (it's totally easy to make with this rough puff pastry recipe, but I was feeling lazy) and our new favorite asparagus recipe. Asparagus just tastes like spring, don't you think? I'm so ready for all the great veg and fruit that's coming into season - winter roots and squashes be gone!

Asparagus with Parmesan
from How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman
1 1/2 to 2 pounds asparagus, trimmed and peeled
2 to 4 tablespoons butter, plus some for greasing the pan
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
About 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Simmer, steam or microwave the asparagus; undercook it a little bit. Drain and plunge it into ice water, then drain and dry. (You may prepare the recipe in advance up to this point; refrigerate, well wrapped or in a covered container, for up to 2 days before proceeding.) Preheat the oven to 450 F.

Butter a casserole or baking pan, then place the asparagus in it. Dot with as much or as little butter as you like and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Scatter about two-thirds of the cheese over the asparagus and bake until the cheese is just beginning to turn light brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan and serve.

Sneak peek Sunday

Whew! Haven't done one of these in a while! You might recognize the pattern from Feeling Stitchy's February vintage stitchalong (hey, February's not over yet!).



I'm stalled a bit because I need to run out and get some water-soluble stabilizer, but hopefully I can get this stitched up soon and can show off the whole thing.