This same time, years previous: the quotidian (10.10.16), salted caramel ice cream, up and over, clouds, the quotidian (10.10.11), pie pastry with lard and egg, green soup with ginger, apple pie.

Good morning! It’s been an uncharacteristically long radio silence, eh? But hey, I’m back!

As you probably guessed, for the past number of weeks, I’ve been pouring myself into the production of Agnes of God. It’s an incredible play, hauntingly beautiful, complex and tightly written, and I loved my role. However, because of a series of unfortunate events stemming from managerial issues, it became increasingly clear to me that I needed to step down. On Friday, I made the excruciatingly difficult decision to withdraw from the show. I am heartbroken over the loss, of course. But I am also at peace with my decision.

Now I’m going about the business of settling back into regular life. I have so much to tell you (gorgeous hikes! fancy food! weird green beans! birthday cupcakes! lake swimming! DONUTS!), and I have so much to do: applesauce, writing and blogging, kitchen experiments, homeschooling the kids (weirdly enough, they are begging me to teach them math), etc.

But first up: Today my best friend — my lover, my foil, my tiger husband — celebrates a birthday (except we’re not fully celebrating today because it’s the kids’ choir night, but still…).

Happy birthday, you precious man, you. I love you to the moon and back.

This same time, years previous: pasta with chicken, broccoli, and oven-roasted tomatoes, the quotidian (10.6.14), o happy!, catching our breath, it’s for real, contradictions and cream, one foggy morning, the quotidian (10.8.12), maple sugar and cinnamon popcorn, rustic cornmeal soup with beet greens.

What: FRESH DONUTS
Where: The Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale
Why: To raise money for Mennonite Central Committee
When: Tomorrow!!!!!

Two days of prep work down. Now for a nap. We’ll be back up at 11:30 pm (only 4 hours from now, sob), and then we’re off to the races. Come see us!

PS. Bring cash and an appetite.
PPS. If you don’t want to stand in a crazy-long line, hit up the donut stand BEFORE 9 o’clock.

PPPS. By the time you see me tomorrow morning—assuming you come—I will not look nearly as alert as I do in the above photo. I probably won’t even recognize you. I might not even know my own name.
PPPPS. I have no idea if this post makes any sense. I just took one-third of an Aleve PM. I am dog-tired. Good night.