It has been exactly one year since all hell broke loose in this household. Happy anniversary to me.
One year ago today right in the middle of me renovating out kitchen, without warning, without reason, the fella walked out the door and never came back.
The house was a mess, my life was a mess, and there was nothing I could do about it other than deal with it as best I could. And as the worst year of my life came nearly to an end, the fella's father died.
This year was a horror. It was a horrible, awful, tear and rage filled year and today it comes to an end.
If this year I am run over by a bus, have a spider lay eggs in my ear and get the gout, it will still be a better year than last year. So here's hoping.
One of the things I stopped doing this past year was make a weekly menu. I didn't do it because the fella wasn't here to cook for plus I didn't have a functioning kitchen or a real desire to cook. And even if the kitchen was technically functioning it was ripped apart, meaning my olive oil may have been in the mudroom, my big pan under my bed and the wood spoons somewhere I hope to figure out soon.
So this week, on this day, as a way to start my next year on a good note I've decided to (at least for myself) start doing weekly menus again. It's something I always loved doing. Making the menu and then making the food. I thought I'd lost my love for cooking this past year but once I took a look at my new kitchen I realized I hadn't lost it at all. It was just hibernating.
The kickstart was when I decided to make a true pie (apple, which happens to be the truest of the true) in honour of the fella's father this week. Making the dough and stirring the sugar into the apples, stirred something inside of me.
I WANTED TO COOK! And eat.
So I headed to the chalkboard and for the first time in a year I wrote down a weekly menu for myself. I can't guarantee I'll be posting the weekly menu here every week, but I will the odd time.
If you've been knocked off your rocker for any reason this past year, I hope this weekly menu might stir something in you.
Recipes
I look forward to a year of garnishes, greens and gout. And I wish the same for you.
Ellen
Happy Anniversary, and kudos for powering through a shitty year.
Patti
Good for you Karen! You're my hero!
Angela
I can't for the life of me remember how I 'found' you...but you make my day, every day you post! I can remember sitting and reading your archives like I was reading a novel! A funny novel at that! I laughed all day! It was great! I had no idea about the fella being gone until just recently when you mentioned him. Sorry... Jackass! Moving on, This weekly menu is awesome, thank you! After reading your letter to Ibis, (which was hysterical!) I feel very lucky to have a dinner menu! YOU are a ROCK STAR!!
Bless you Karen and a Very Happy New year to you!
Karen
LOL. Thanks Angela. I think it's hilarious that everyone is wishing me happy new year! ~ karen
Stephbo
That first year is always the hardest. Kudos to you for handling it with such grace.
Tricia Rose
I look at your abs and I look at your menus, then I know you are Superwoman. Wonder Woman!
I haven't seen kitchen photos, have I missed them? I have been under a stone for a while.
I bet if you wanted to you could do a Queen Elizabeth 1 tour of the whole of north America, never sleeping in the same bed twice, just going in stately processional from one blog friend to another. Then write a book about it! You could bring the chickens!
Karen
LOL. Thanks Tricia. Not quite, but nice to hear all the same. That's kind of a brilliant idea by the way. The travel thing. Exhausting, but brilliant! You missed the first kitchen post. Here it is ... The kitchen!
kelliblue
Wow. Has it been a year already? Your "annus horribilus." Stupid, stupid year!
So impressed by the way you handled everything, and came out on the other side a better woman. Not that you had to go far. :) Love this quote for you: “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.”
And you can DIY and cook like a raging mofo. Yeah. You'll be fine. :)
Joanna
Hurray!!!! Thank you'!!!!!xo
Shauna
I can't believe it's been a year. I think we all gasped a year ago today and all felt the protective feeling you get when a friend has been hurt. Here's to a great year ahead - with new menus, rich food and gout all around!
Sophia
Hi Karen,
Welcome back, so nice to be with you. You have extended blog family in Toronto as well.Just saying you are always welcome to us.
Take care and keep on going..
Carole McGinnis
You are an inspiration to all of us. I am glad you are ready to move on and welcome the next chapter of your life. Times does heal. Everything happens for a reason, I truly believe that. I am so happy to see the weekly menu back.
Stefanie Barrett
Go You!!! I've been impressed with how you have handled the stress of the past year with grace and humor. Glad to see the weekly menu again. But what do you do with all of the leftovers? If you were me, you would just continue to eat each evening until there was nary a crumb left and then go online to order bigger pants (just pants, the top of me never seems to expand at the same ratio). Suggestions?
Heather
Oh Karen, so happy to hear you're back on your rocker! Thank-you for the recipe inspirations, I shared your painful then "recovery" year too. I too do not wish to be run over by a bus, have a spider lay eggs in my ear or get the gout, but I do wish you and me a Happy New Year!
Anne C
Oh. It really rings a bell. (My (second) "anniversary" was april the 3rd.) So: happy new year, dear Karen, a very, very happy new year to you! He was "it". But you're The One. And bison burgers must be something, too. Life has so many delicacies and spices on the menu. Let's cook, and give a f...!
Ev Wilcox
So many comments, Karen. We are all with you,and have been all along.
karol
Karen, your strength and humor is what keeps me reading your posts. All of these comments left today is a testament to how much a virtual stranger can make a difference in people's lives. Congratulations on making it with dignity through the last year, you're a wonderful woman. We all have our roller coaster lives and you are brave enough and funny enough to put it out there for all the world to know. Thanks for the smiles.
rktrixy
You have really run the emotional gauntlet this year. And while remodeling too! If that isn't a metaphor for chaos and loss and regrowth, I don't know what is. Thanks for sharing this with us.
I do hope this year treats you better, and you end up with so many tomatoes we will have a weeks worth of recipes for canning tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, tomato chutney, green tomato mincemeat, etc. Life = tomatoes, right?
Hugs from Alameda, CA
christine
I know exactly how I found this site. I was looking for insiration for xmas holiday outdoor arrangements and voila, I saw Karen's brilliant lit dome idea for planters.
The beet salad recipe is great and I am going to make it. I have never had good luck cooking rocks, I mean beets. haha So, I am suggesting (for my own ineptitude) Love Beets, a great fresh product found in Longos and probably other places. Already cooked and peeled, but fresh.
jeannie B
Karen, I 'd don't know what to say. It's been almost 300 days since I lost the love of my life. But there's no turning back and you can only go forward or disappear. Every night, just after the grandfather clock strikes midnight, there's a ring on my iPad, telling me that your daily blog has arrived in my inbox. And that is comforting. From the bottom of my sad, broken but healing heart, I say "thank you" and to all of your wonderful followers for their stories and comments.
Ashley W
you speak to my heart. thanks for always being there even when you weren't.
Shel
There's something about cooking that is healing. I've battled some pretty bad depression this year...and I always know I'm approaching the other side when I can get back in the kitchen and cook or bake. Something so healing and satisfying in that! Thanks for being you, Karen. Glad you've got your mojo back full force!
Carla Berry
Thankful for the healing that's taking place! Love to you, and all the best.