Another Sad Goodbye

I have been a little quiet on the blog this past week; neither writing nor commenting.  My mother, who has lived with Alzheimer’s for ten years, passed away suddenly and coming less than five months after my father’s quick passing, I am feeling a little shell shocked.  Our family is forever changed and I have needed time to think and reset.

Anyone who has a parent with Alzheimer’s,  knows what a long and difficult road it is.  I’m surprised it has hit me this hard, because it’s been a long time since I have been able to pick up the phone and call my Mom or even hear her say my name.  I have really been grieving for years.

We have many wonderful family memories that will give us comfort as we say goodbye to our sweet, gentle and beautiful mother of three and grandmother of seven.  She will be missed, but has joined her husband of 60 years, so we choose to look at it as the blessing it is.

Baked Coconut Shrimp

Let’s be honest.  If a recipe is usually fried, the baked version is probably not going to be as good.  But, I don’t own an air fryer, don’t like frying on the stovetop because of the mess and really wanted to make my daughter Coconut Shrimp since it was too cold on her recent visit to order some sitting outside over looking the water.

This recipe has been saved, but not tried, for quite some time and I think it may be a keeper.  Like I said, not as good as a fried version, but perfectly good to enjoy at home for a Florida style appetizer.

I followed the recipe with one change that I would not do again. I used already peeled and cooked shrimp and I think it needs the raw shrimp for the corn starch to adhere to better.  The coconut did brown up nicely in the oven, so no worries there.

If you need a little tropical sunshine in the middle of winter, give this recipe a try.  Best served with a pina colada pool side :-)

Happy Friday!

#girldad

I think Kobe Bryant’s death hit most people hard in its suddenness and the fact that his young daughter was with him, compounded the tragedy.  Also, it is well documented that he had an amazing and supportive relationship with this oldest daughter and they were in fact going to her basketball
practice, which he was involved in coaching.

We have two daughters and from the minute they were born, my husband has shown that he too is an amazing girl dad.  There was no wishing for a boy or gender roles being played out.  They were just as likely to be serving him tea at a tea party, as playing basketball in the driveway or hockey at the back yard pond. They went water and snow skiing together, took crazy rides on our jet ski and threw the football around in the yard.

He attended every sporting event and while they didn’t participate in the most macho of sports, he cheered them on in gymnastics, diving and pompon with enthusiasm and support.  Golf is something our whole family shares and he was so proud when Megan shot her best score at her high school state golf tournament.  He coached CYO basketball for Melissa at one point and while it was clear it wasn’t her thing, she was proud to have her Dad as the coach.

It’s so important for girls and their confidence to have a strong father and to feel that unconditional love.  At Megan’s wedding, in my husband’s father of the bride speech, he shared how every night before the girls went to sleep, he told them “ you’re pretty, you’re strong and you’re smart and I love you with all my heart”. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

Have a wonderful weekend!