My two sisters and a niece came from out of state (North Carolina and Ohio) to visit us here for a week. We had a great time. We hadn’t been all together since Thanksgiving of 2019 before the pandemic.

I cooked a lot, we went out to eat some, we went to Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport (photos tomorrow), we spent two afternoons at my quarry swimming hole, I introduced them to some friends, I read lots of my sister’s poems, we walked at Huntington State Park, they bought shoes at my shoe store, we went to the movies (Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris), we played Phase10, Cribbage, and Clue, and mostly talked, and talked, and talked.

There were some dietary constraints to work around but my blog recipes navigated those complicated restrictions with aplomb. I thought some of you might like to see how I developed a menu that was yummy, nutritious, and not overly complicated.

Sorry I don’t have photos of everything; it was a full time and that slid between the cracks! This list will also serve my sisters as they navigate maybe wanting to make some of these dishes themselves.

For breakfast we made James’ Granola, Broccoli Cheddar Sticks, and our Multigrain Blueberry Pancakes.

Sunday dinner: Broiled Tilapia Parmesan with fruit

Monday lunch: Sweet Corn Chowder with Salmon Cakes

Monday dinner: Spaghetti Squash with Tilapia and Cashew Alfredo on roasted carrots with Butterscotch Brownies for dessert

Tuesday lunch: Spinach Quiche (made this time with cashew cream instead of milk), Kohlrabi Beet Salad, cantaloupe, and Flourless Chocolate Cake

Tuesday dinner: (fancy with our aunt’s china, and Martinelli’s sparkling apple cider to celebrate and toast our niece’s adoption day as well as her getting a good teaching job for next year): Swordfish with Herbed Lemon Pepper Butter Sauce, air-fried asparagus, Cinnamon Sweet Potato Mash, and Kale Broccoli Slaw. Went out to Ferris Acres Creamery afterwards.

Wednesday we were gone all day (photos tomorrow). We had lobster rolls and scallops at Sea View Snack Bar in Mystic for lunch. Then we went to Marker37 for dinner on the excellent recommendation of a dear blog reader, which was great, complete with a lovely view of the Connecticut River.

Thursday lunch: Shrimp Avocado Lettuce Wraps with Pickled Grape Salad and leftover Flourless Chocolate Cake.

Thursday dinner: walked locally to The Note Kitchen and Bar, followed by Dr. Mike’s Ice Cream on the way home.

Friday lunch: My homemade Savory Tuna Burgers with air-fried tots and fruit, and Apple Maple Crumble Bars for dessert.

Friday dinner: James made Chicken Pot Pie from the Comfortable Kitchen Cookbook (and I don’t eat meat so had leftovers).

Our daughter left Thursday, and my sisters and niece left after breakfast Saturday morning.

All this was both a lot of work and totally worth it. It was made possible with two prep days before they came and my husband’s generous help.

Regardless, I still feel like I had a vacation for the week they were here. I did minimal work in my spiritual practice, and no painting, no reading, and so much talking, it felt like a total pattern interrupt. Now I’m looking forward to getting back full throttle to the things I usually do.

The house feels quiet now that we’ve gone from six people back to two. I’m grateful I get along with my sisters and that there is so much genuine care and mutual support there. This is not to be taken for granted! I’m glad they came and we could enjoy these relationships together and invest in them further.