I love nuts and cheese in a salad too!  

Getting packed this weekend to head out on a camping trip on Sunday, yay!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Today's Eff: I would say it's DH, but not really. So Eff Off to anxiety and depression. I've been working long hours at actual work and on a project at home, and having a high maintenance husband is sometimes exhausting. And I know it's not his fault, but he does take wallowing and feeling sorry for hinself to great lenghts, and he's at a low period right now. Doesn't help that I'm worn out and low on patience.

For those of you who deal with depression and anxiety yourself -- is there anything your SO does that you particularly appreciate when you're low?

Salad forn: Love to add plain old roasted veggies. Root veggies in particular, but also green beans and asparagus and onion and squash. I've got beets, potatoes, and carrots going into the oven this weekend.

Eff off to MIL who "planned" a family barbecue for this weekend, but is incapable of actually deciding on or sharing details (i.e. what time, what food we should bring, what food will be there, etc). I'm so over DH's family and their inability to plan anything. I will show up when I please with my toddler and we will leave when we please (esp because there will be nothing for the toddler to do unless I bring it or plan it). 

Eff off to DH and his family for not showing me that they can keep my toddler safe and respond to her needs for even a few hours, thus requiring me to go to the family barbecue mentioned above. Silent SIL (who we haven't seen in over a year) isn't going, so why should I have to go? 

Eff off to YSD22 who called DH from her out of state residence, 5 days before she is supposed to pack up her crap and move it out of her summer rental house. She expected daddeeeee to drop everything, drive to her state of residence, pick up her crap and deliver her crap to BM's house. Lol.

Thank-the-heavens DH developed the backbone to tell her this is on HER, she is now an adult and it is time for her to start acting like one. After much moaning, wailing and crying (seriously, DH was on the phone with her for like 2 hours) they came up with a plan for her to rent a truck herself, and she can drag her own crap into a storage unit herself. BM claims she has a phobia of driving which only seems to impact her when there is work to be done so DH is SD's goto when driving her (or her crap) somewhere is involved.

YSD is coming back into town for a few days next week before college starts up again but DH and I will be gone on vacation, alone! Too bad we'll miss out on a SD tantrum on the lawn this summer. (sarcasm) I guess her BM will be the only one that gets to enjoy her charming company.

I am super excited to spend time alone with DH, just the 2 of us. We had years and years where that was not possible. I am so ready! Kids are grown and we are leaving the nest.

On to salads ... Aniki, your salad sounds amazing. I will have to try that. I have been on a salad kick this summer too ... Trying to be healthy and tone up a bit after the pandemic fiasco and middle age hit me at the same time. *nea* Lately my favorite salad has been a chinese chicken style salad with lettuce & cabbage, carrot, snap peas, chicken, topped with almonds, scallions, tangerines, those crunchy noodle thingys, sesame seeds, cilantro and an asian dressing

My eff off is my usual complaint.  Work.  I'm going to be ridiculously busy from now to the end of September or October.  Joy.  No weekends or evenings.

F0rn

I like a salad too.  I'm taking DH out for lunch today and the starters/appetisers look like a salad lovers dream.

• Beetroot, sorrel and boiled egg
• Crab, tomato and rocket salad
• Leek vinaigrette and roasted hazelnuts
• Smoked cod's roe, cos lettuce and breadcrumbs
• Whole globe artichoke 

Returning to work after 2 months of medical leave.  The higher paid staff who attempted to do my work while I was out were practically worshipping me for coming back and telling the CIO that I deserve a raise. 

So much was nOT done in my absence so I have a hell of a lot to catch up with AND I haven't had my first radiology treatment yet.

Little do they know I am leaving permanently in less than 3 months and 4 days!

Eff off to bloody-minded swimming pools that always choose the worst possible time to croak. To start with, it was the pump. OK, dismounted it got it repaired and discovered we couldn't put it all back again because we didn't have the right size of spanner/wrench. Spanner/wrench duly ordered. Ten day wait. Pool festering. Pump put back into place. Something else goes wrong ... Finding a pool man who actually has the time to even look at the problem is next to impossible at this time of year. We fnally found one who will be back from his holidays on Tuseday and has promised to see us then. Fingers crossed for us , please. This is even more annoying because we have beautiful spanking new poolside furniture that I (for one)  cannot use because I am a mosquito magnet and with a stagnant swimming pool ... well, you get the idea.

Not a salad but a salad sandwich - ever tried pan bagnat? It's a local special here and it means "soaked bread". These things are made with 8 inch buns (similar bread to baguette) that you cut in two, scooping out some of the middle, rub both sides with a garlic clove, season with salt and pepper,  and douse them with olive oil. Then fill it with sliced tomatoes, sliced eggs, sliced radishes, anchovies, tuna, spring onions, black olives, a few fresh basil leaves, and thinly sliced artichokes (if liked). Then sprinkle it all with olive oil again and stick it in the fridge for an hour before eating. Very refreshing and very satisfying.

I love olives and cheese on a salad. Nuts are great too. The cheese soaks up the dressing and the nuts are crunchy. Yum! 

Eff off to my SD 18 who thinks she can disrespect us and still call us to bring her a pizza at 8 pm at her BM's. Nope. DH is finally seeing your BS. He told you no. Now, just try me and you will be sent to your room like a 5 year old with no dinner. If you don't like it, too bad.

I'm not difficult for salads but the kiddos are fond of diced gruyere, smoked lardons, spring onions and walnuts piled onto any kind of lettuce with a lemon juice and walnut oil (if I have a y, if, not then olive oil) dressing. 

DH very much approves of your peaches for salads... especially with pistachios!