A Little Epiphany - (and a newbie delurking)

[Dia]

My culinary achievement for the week was perfecting heary cream of chicken stew. When I made that chicken corn chowder a week or so ago, my one gripe was that it wasn't thick. It was thin like skim milk. When our winder storm hit, I wanted something hot and creamy, thick and hearty (hush you!).

So basing off the chowder recipe, I went more in the direction of a chicken stew. Sweated a mirepoix with garlic and 8 oz of bacon, added water to cover and poached the chicken in situ. Removed the chicken to dice, added white beans and potatoes, added spices. 2 hrs in, it smelled and tasted wonderful. Here's the step I've never tried before. It's easy but somehow I'd always found it intimidating. I whisked 4T cornstarch into a cup of half and half than stirred that in. OMG!!! Instant thick, rich stew. The texture was like a good, New England clam chowder.

I thought I'd made enough for two nights, but it was gone in 1 with about half a bowl left for my lunch the next day.

Dinner on Mom and Kidlet Movie Night (H's off-site game night) was pizza, and tonight was ribs.

Given the cool weather, I've been hankering for apple pie. My 'easy' baking staples are fruit cobbler and brownies but there's something so deliciously 'fall' about hot, deep dish apple pie. The recipe I want to try is in my storage unit, but I have to go there anyway because I need my cold weather clothes, too.

On to marriage stuff...

H has pulled back a bit, not alarmingly so. Between his mother and the breakup with OW, he's got a lot to deal with emotionally. Things in the bedroom are good. In addition to that, he seeks me out for cuddling and physical comfort, which I am happy to provide. We watch movies together about twice a week. He still seeks me out after work or after kidlet goes to bed for 15-20 mins of talking, so that's keeping my love tank full even though he's pulled back some in the QT department.

This morning, I dragged myself out of bed early to grab a shower. Most of this week, we've cuddled too long in the mornings, then had to rush to get out the door. He showered after me and caught me eyeing him as he passed by all squeaky clean.

Dia: Are you clean?

H: I'm cleeen! (a riff on "Are You Being Served")

Dia (following after H down the hall): I want to experience this 'clean' you speak of.

H: Uh oh! <walks faster>

Dia: <chases>

I chased him into the closet and we made out like teenagers for about 60 seconds.

He still does not offer verbal ILY's, though I get it in squeezes. He is opening up more and more about stuff in general, though he's keeping his reactions about OW and his mom somewhat bottled. Not entirely, mind you - but somewhat.

He had coffee with a female friend Wednesday, someone I know and am comfortable with, but even so he reassured me that there wouldn't be any kissy-face, just catch-up over coffee. I thanked him for letting me know and told him he was welcome to invite her for dinner that night after coffee.

Both of us are still doing really well with thanking and appreciating each other for the stuff we each do. I am making a conscious effort, and I think he is as well. I am also still complimenting and praising him here and there, letting him know he is valued and desired. I still get the feeling that we're tiptoeing around land mines sometimes, but I guess that natural.