Weekend links, checking in and a holiday author event
by Aimee
Hello. It’s me.
I’ve missed you so. Despite having no recipe to share, I had to update you on the transplant recovery process – and just say hello, Adele-syle.
When I signed off in October, we were in the height of fall beauty, and now the days are true November grey. The clocks fell back when we were in the hospital, and we returned home to eat our dinners in darkness. I have to force myself to see the beauty in the bleak landscape, and indeed in our lives right now. We’ve just been a little out of sorts – even in the kitchen. I’ve been having one recipe failure after another. But we’ll get back on track soon.
The great news is that both father and son are home and recovering well. Danny was out of hospital after four days and his father after ten days. Then there was a brief period of ‘holy crap we’re on our own to deal without any nurses’, followed by an intense few days of figuring out our new normal. Right now, that normal looks like a slow-moving Danny, a fast-moving Aimée, and children with three unique storm systems. In pre-op consultations, experts had warned us that the whole parent and grandparent surgery situation could result in the kids acting out, and whew, it’s blustery around here.
Truth be told, we’re all feeling a bit fragile, as I keep telling friends who call. I’m trying to focus on everything that is right and good, like Sunday dinners, that mid-day main meal around a table set with cloth napkins and candles. Even if we all showed up in pajamas for the first post-op Sunday dinner, at least we were together.
Danny and I want to thank you all very, very much for the support. So many of you emailed or commented and shared an encouraging live organ transplant story and we read them all. We so appreciate the prayers, well-wished and love sent our way. It hasn’t always been easy, but we made it through, thanks in part to your attentiveness.
To cheer things up around here, I’ve decided to jump into holiday mode a bit early. Whatever raises the spirits, right? I’m organizing my annual cookie swap, working on a cookbook gift guide (here’s last years) and planning my edible Christmas gifts for the children’s school teachers.
On that note, I’m very excited to announce a local event where we can meet up in real life.
Holiday pop-up book fair and cookbook signing
Save-the-date! November-twenty-eight! Join me for a Holiday Pop-Up Book Fair in the auditorium of the Atwater Library (1200 Rue Atwater, Montreal) on Saturday, November 28th. The event is presented by the Association of English-Language Publishers of Quebec (AELAQ) and sponsored by the Montreal Gazette. More than 25 participating publishers will be represented – more than 50 local authors will make appearances. The event will be on all day, however I will be there signing copies of Brown Eggs and Jam Jars
Of course there will be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, books for kids, award-winners, bestsellers and more. And, just for stopping by, you can enter to win a fabulous gift bag of books. Book lovers unite. I hope to see you there. Oh, and I will have a special bonus gift for anyone who purchases my cookbook…it maybe even cookies.
Weekend links
I’ve been away for nearly a month, so I won’t attempt to play catch-up, but here are a few favourite reads and recipes from the month so far.
- Jamie Oliver has ideas for edible gifts to make with the kids this Christmas.
- I have to say, I agree 100% with this shirt. Also love the one that says ‘I shared my spare‘.
- Can Molly please just ship me this pumpkin layer cake with cream cheese frosting? I’m doing a lot of emotional eating lately.
- Alana Chernila is done being afraid of her food. (And you should be too.) Via Parents Magazine.
- Shaina knows exactly what a perfect fall salad looks like when you harvest it from the backyard.
- Don’t miss my absolute best ideas for your Thanksgiving menu, dear US readers.
- Speaking of beets, this elegant galette needs to be served at your next dinner party. By Becky of Vintage Mixer.
- This fall cocktail from Brooklyn Supper is precisely why persimmons are on my shopping list. Is emotional drinking a thing? That may be happening too.
How are you? Let me know in the comments if anyone is still reading. Kidding, sort of.
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