Around the Comfort Table - August 2026

If you've been wondering where I've disappeared to this summer, I promise I haven't gone far.

Life has simply been... full.

The past several weeks have been a whirlwind of family, gardens, birthdays, new beginnings, late-night conversations on the lanai, and all those little moments that somehow become the ones we treasure most.

The kitchen has still been busy, but instead of cooking for customers every day, it's been cooking for the people I love most.

And honestly...I wouldn't have it any other way.

🎣 Lil' Dude's Big Adventure

One of my favorite stories this summer didn't happen to me at all.

It belonged to our 20-month-old grandson. He recently went on his very first fishing trip. While we weren't there to experience it with him, hearing him excitedly tell us all about it afterward and seeing the pictures absolutely made our day. There's something magical about watching the world become an adventure through a toddler's eyes. Every fish is enormous, every boat ride is exciting, and every story deserves to be told at least three more times. Especially those that involve a "Baby Shark... doo doo doo doo doo doo..." I think every toddler comes with that song permanently programmed into them! And, you are all welcome. I'm assuming like me, it is replaying over and over in your head.

🐾 Birthday Week for Our Gentle Giant

Speaking of milestones...

Our gentle giant, Roscoe, turns ten this week.

If you've followed me for any length of time, you know he's much more than our dog. These days, he's pretty much my baby.

So naturally, one birthday just isn't enough.

Birthday Week is officially underway.

There will be sprinkler time, an official spa day (which he would enthusiastically vote to cancel), a trip to Rural King for his beloved pig ears, a visit to the flea market for extra treats, and, of course, a birthday party complete with a homemade dinner made especially for our big boy.

Anyone who has loved a giant breed knows birthdays begin to feel a little different as the years go by. They become less about counting candles and more about celebrating every wonderful day you've been lucky enough to share together.

So this week, we'll celebrate every one of those ten amazing years.

🌿 A Garden Surprise

The garden has also given me plenty to smile about.

Fresh herbs have found their way into countless meals this summer, but the biggest surprise was harvesting my very first homegrown pineapple.

Who knew one little pineapple could make a grown woman so ridiculously happy?

There's something incredibly rewarding about planting something, patiently waiting, and finally getting to enjoy the fruits of your labor...literally.

I've found myself wandering outside to snip fresh herbs for dinner more evenings than I can count. Those simple moments somehow make cooking feel even more special.

🕷️ One Adventure I Didn't Need

Summer also delivered one adventure I'd happily skip next time.

A spider bite.

Let's just say it wasn't on my summer wish list, and I'm perfectly content leaving that experience behind me. It slowed me down for a bit, which, if you know me, is probably something I needed anyway.

☀️ A Florida Welcome

We've also been having fun helping Tim's mom, settle into her new Florida home.

She's embraced this new adventure with excitement and ALOT of new furniture to build, HAHA! I had forgotten how having her nearby could be such a blessing and so much fun!

Now all we need are our wonderful snowbird neighbors and friends (family) to make their way back south so everyone can help us give her the warm Florida welcome she deserves. I have a feeling she's going to fit right in.

❤️ Twenty-Seven Years

Next week, Tim and I celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary.

Twenty-seven years.

When I stop and think about that number, it's amazing how many memories can fit into those years.

We've built a home together, raised our family, laughed through plenty of adventures, weathered some storms, celebrated milestones, and shared more dinners around our table than I could ever count.

This summer, we've also been thinking about our dear Jay who lost her best friend...

Hearing the stories about a wonderful couple who shared so many years together is a beautiful reminder that love isn't found only in the big celebrations. It's built in ordinary days. Shared meals. Quiet evenings. Morning coffee. It is showing up for one another, over and over again. After Russell's passing, I've found myself appreciating those ordinary moments even more.

It's easy to get caught up in schedules, projects, and the next thing on the calendar. But life has a gentle way of reminding us that our greatest blessings are often sitting right across the table from us.

So this anniversary feels less about celebrating a number and more about celebrating the life we've been blessed to build together.

Twenty-seven years of ordinary moments that, somehow, became extraordinary.

I'm incredibly grateful for every one of them.

He's still my favorite person to sit across the table from.

🌙 Lanai Conversations

And then there's Joey.

Having him home this summer has been one of the greatest gifts we could have asked for.

As parents, you spend years wishing for a little peace and quiet. Then one day your kids are grown, building lives of their own, and you realize just how much you miss hearing them walk through the front door.

These past weeks have been a gift.

We've cooked together, tried new recipes, laughed over kitchen successes (and a few experiments that still need a little work); and they have squeezed in as many fishing trips as they could.

But my favorite moments: They happen in the evening...

After the plates were cleared.

After the dishwasher was humming.

Sitting out on the lanai with Tim and Joey, talking about life, telling old family stories, planning for what's ahead, laughing until someone finally looked at the clock and realized we'd been sitting there for hours.

Those are the evenings I'll remember.

🍽️ Around Our Table

As much as I love creating recipes and sharing food through Comfort Table, this summer has quietly reminded me why I started all of this in the first place.

It isn't really about the food.

Food is simply the invitation.

It's what gathers us around the table.

It's what keeps us talking a little longer.

It's what celebrates birthdays, welcomes family to a new home, marks anniversaries, and gives us a place to hear a toddler proudly tell the story of his very first fishing trip.

It's where we celebrate a ten-year-old Leonberger with a homemade birthday dinner because, of course, that's exactly what he deserves.

It's where ordinary evenings become the memories we carry for a lifetime.

This summer may not have gone exactly as I imagined, but maybe that's the beauty of it.

Life isn't always found in the big trips or perfectly planned moments.

Sometimes it's in a pineapple that finally ripens.

Fresh basil picked just before dinner.

A conversation on the lanai that lasts until the stars come out.

A dog's birthday party.

A grandson's fishing story.

Twenty-seven years with the person who's been beside you through it all.

Those are the moments that matter.

As summer begins to wind down, I'm feeling inspired again. New recipes are filling my notebook, ideas from our travels are making their way into the kitchen, and I can't wait to share what's next for Comfort Table.

Until then, I hope your summer has been filled with the same things I'm grateful for...

Good food.

Good conversations.

A little sunshine.

And the people who make every table feel like home.

See you soon,

Christi