Scratch Cooking July 27th

So, the drama with Robin's brother continues, this time through demands from his lawyer that I sign off on various things including that we are in dispute over whether he owes me money for my washer and dryer which he sold with the condo instead of returning to me even though he was told well in advance that they were mine. I am not sure what dispute there is. He knew they were mine and I told the person wrapping up the estate that he could either return them or buy them from me. He said, via the person wrapping up the estate, that he would buy them, I gave him a price, it was agreed to and now I am being told unless I sign something saying that these are my "alleged claims" and that he is willing to give me a settlement to end our "dispute" over my "alleged claims", although he owes me nothing, I won't get a dime. I called the lawyer and asked if it was possible to word it differently and although she was originally Robin's lawyer and sweet as pie to me - including insisting that Robin and I listen to a very long and personal story about a visitation from her deceased father back in February when Robin was signing the will - she was cold as ice on the phone and said absolutely not and if I don't sign it I won't be paid. Period. I know, let it go, sign it, get the money that is owed me, but it feels terrible to continue to be accused of things when all I did was try to help my friend. Then I remember that this was the same man who changed the locks on his sister's condo the day after she died so that none of us could steal anything. Because after all, we were trustworthy enough to take care of Robin and be with her in her last hours because he just "couldn't handle it", but not trustworthy enough to be left with access to the china. I know I have written it before here, but let me just reiterate FUCK HIM!!

Okay, onto something pleasant. Mallaury is doing better. She even took the bus by herself to go get postcards today! I am very proud of her. Her dad is still in the hospital but is stable and she spoke to him on the phone today. I set her up on video chat so she has been happily chatting away with her friends. Tomorrow she is going to go to English class.

Last night she made cherry clafouti! She used gluten-free flour (garfava with 1/4 teaspoon of xantham gum) so that I could eat it and it was delicious. Here is the original recipe, which she wrote out for me in French.

4 oeufs

120 g de sucre

120 g de farine

20 cl de creme liquide

du sucre vanillie

5 cuilleres a soupe de lait

Cerises

Melanger le sucre avec les oeufs. Ajouter la farine. Melanger tout. Ajouter le sucre vanillie, puis la creme liquide et ensuite les 5 cuilleres de lait. Verser la preparation sur les cerises. Cuire a 175 C, 45 minutes.

For dinner, I made a very nice vegetable dish with romano beans, cherry tomatoes and onions. I simply sauteed all in olive oil with salt and pepper until the beans and onions were soft. I also made some tri tip marinated in 1/2 bottle red wine, 1 clove crushed garlic, 1 tablespoon mustard, salt and pepper. I cooked it on the grill basting often. I am still not great with cooking meat, but the marinade had a nice flavor!

My daughter is back in Paris and gets home late Thursday night, yeah! She told me today that she misses me but she would prefer that I come there and we have perpetual summer in France rather than having to come home to see me. Oh how I wish!