random thoughts – Day 1,748 – (Sunday) – quiet with cooking

It was another hermit-like, homebound day. It was peaceful. There was quiet. I liked it. 

The current preferred home environment is the opposite of my preferred home life of decades ago. Then, the house was always filled with noise, either music or the TV, mostly to crowd out any thoughts. Somewhere along the years, after working in silent office spaces where you could basically near the heartbeat of the occupant of the next cubicle, I learned to appreciate a quiet space. Now, it isn’t unusual for me to sit for long stretches in the stillness of a quiet house with a quiet mind.

Kiki spent much of the quiet day napping on her chair, which she periodically and randomly interrupted by stepping down to the floor to issue a meow and once, a surprising “ack.” As is her style, she would meow, and when I looked at her, she would walk around the ottoman to appear on the other side of it and meow again. Then she would let me pat her head. She is very good about asking to be petted, which she wouldn’t have to do if she would just become a lap kitty.

Baked macaroni and cheese.

In the peace and quiet, there was a return to the routine of the Sunday cooking. Actual food, not chocolate covered Christmas treats. The cheese and plentiful pasta reserves were tapped for a baked macaroni and cheese. There was a lot of grating of the mysterious cheese ends that mostly seemed to be American and provolone. There was a spice cabinet mystery of the missing mustard powder. It still tasted pretty good, just a little bland. Sharp cheddar would have helped, but there was none.

Vegetable broth was made earlier this week with onion skins, broccoli stems, carrot and celery trimmings. Later, the broth was converted to a chunky vegetable soup with frozen brussels sprouts, butternut squash, and fresh broccoli, carrots and onion. Tonight’s tasty supper soup featured both cheese and kielbasa, with a side of saltines. So delicious.