A Chilly, Cloudy Day In Sitges is Still A Day In Sitges

We woke to rain and found ourselve more sluggardly than even our normal. There is little incentive to venture out to chilly and wet, but we did eventually. The high point of the day was taking the Mon-Bus to the Aeroport Barcelona to meet Sharon. She had a difficult time getting here starting with a three hour delay getting out of Chicago. That meant she missed the 10:00AM flight from Paris to Barcelon and was finally on the 3:25 which got her to Barcelona around 5:30. We made it back to the piso around 6:45 and then went to Yamluna for cava and dinner. It is good to have her join us.

 

 

 

When Will It End?

Cold and more cold. Spring officially arrived last week and it snowed. We had a hint of spring the next two days and then it turned colder again. I saw my gold fish when the ice melted and no longer covered the top of the pond, but then yesterday morning and this morning there was a new layer of ice on the pond. Yes, it was thin, but still ICE.

We are now expecting snow tonight and the temperature dropping to 16° and then warming all the way to 29° on Tuesday then slowly warming to the 40s and perhaps as high as the 60s on Sunday. Can you see how I am tired of this? Update March 26, 2014. The pond has been ice covered for three days now and yesterday morning we woke to one inch of snow. It is now 11:00am in Glen Ellyn and the temperature is a balmy 25°.

Cat pictures of the day. Every morning Shelby has to lick water from the shower by pushing his head around the corner of the shower curtain. He usually manages to get both his head and his tail wet which he then shares with us but rubbing up against us. He also has to be on the sink when we are using. LC will sit on the edge of the sink occasionally, and will drink from the water glass placed on the sink for them, but she is much nicer about the whole bathroom water issue. Other cat owners will understand the cat/human bathroom interactions. You are never alone in the bathroom with a cat or a toddler.

Shelby in the tub

Shelby behaving

Brady and Kathy visited last weekend. Kathy was here for the Shamrock Shuffle walk/run. We got to spend some time with Brady while Kathy was in the city. We had a nice, though sort visit.

Sun through the snow

Sometimes snow can be pretty. One of our last snows came down wet and clung to the trees. Then after the snow the sky cleared and the sun and blue sky was beautiful against the snow. Our official snow totals this year indicate just over 80 inches of snow for the season. this is the second or third most snow since Chicago record keeping started in 1885. This has also been one of the coldest winters on record. Brrrr.

I smoked ribs today - this first time using the smoker since last fall. There is still snow on the patio but I can get to the grills and smoker. If I've done this right, this You Tube video shows you my secrets. I haven't done anything like this, except for some short ukulele and kazoo videos. This is a long one and was a learning experience! All done with my iPad.

 

A Pulled Pork Sort of Day

We decided to have a few people over yesterday and pulled pork was on the menu. In the morning Sharon seasoned the pork shoulder - cover it with yellow mustard and then Costo Salt Free Seasoning with a few extra Sharon touches - and then onto the smoker. Last summer I bought a Weber Smokey Mountain and have never looked back. I use something called the Minion Method, which involves starting some coals in my chimney and pouring them over a full load of unlit hardwood briquettes with some flavoring wood in the base of the smoker. Then, put the pork on and let it rip. I can get at least 10 hours out of my coals without touching them. All I have to check on during the day is the level of water in the smoker's water pan, perhaps some adjustments to the airflow to control temperature, and after about seven hours, the temperature of the pork. I'm looking for about 190 degrees. At this point the fat and connective tissues have given up their fight and the pork is done. I pull it off the smoker and put it in a large mixing bowl to cool a little, then with heavy duty insulated rubber gloves, I pull the pork then add Sharon's barbecue sauce. Ummmm.

Neighbors Terry and his daughter Loren came over along with neighbors Linda, Steve, and Marge. Of course Lee and Peg were here and Suzanne and Christian joined us to. Everyone brought something - from flowers to dessert. We had a feast of green salad, potato salad, carrot salad, fruit salad, baked beans, pulled pork with home made buns, and I also grilled pacific cod for the vegetarian leaning guests.

We had cocktails of muddled raspberries and blackberries, with gin and lemonade and a squirt of seltzer and served with colorful straws. We opened some red and white wine and had a delightful time. To finish the dinner, Terry made an amazing ricotta cake with fresh berries. Wow. Some of us were on the side patio by the pond and some inside and always moving in an out. Thankfully the temperature abated in the evening and it began to cool. We had all the ceiling fans going as well as floor fans inside and you could barely tell it was 90!

We are so lucky to have wonderful friends and neighbors who enjoy food and cooking as much as we do. I was so involved I took no pictures so there are none to add to the blog. You will have to use your imagination. Think smiles and grins and full bellies.