The whirlwind is over__for now

After time at the beach and a week+ having Son1 and Pip here, our lives are now back to just the two of us. My days are all mixed up and I operated all day today assuming it was Monday. It wasn't. We really did love being with them and now things will settle to a dull roar for a bit, and we will just do the things we normally do together.

Meals planned for the week:

None. I knew the week was going to be unusual and there would be no reason to plan, so I didn't.

Monday: When Pip is in town, TheHub and I act like Disneyland grandparents. On a good year we see her three times, but usually twice is the norm. Though, there was that 2 year period during Covid when we did not see her live and in person at all. 

Instead of being able to take her to grab a burger or something similar every week, like all of my friends who have grands living close by, our spending on her is done in a concentrated amount of time during visits. It might seem excessive to some, but our options for spoiling our only grandchild are limited and we plan for and take full advantage of it when she is in town.

Since she was a little older and wiser, this year instead of grabbing the credit card and swiping every time we were out and about, we gave her cash the first day she was here, with the promise I would take her shopping wherever/whenever she wanted to go, but once the money ran out, that was the end of what we would buy. (There was a codicil that if we were out and about, food purchases were excluded and would be on us.)

Our first stop was to her favorite place, Sephora. And trust me, she flat out knows what she wants there. We shopped and shopped and shopped some more, until she had found the things she wanted, ever mindful of her budget. We would still be there today if I was not about to wet my pants. Sephora at the Summit has no rest rooms and it required going to Trader Joe's for a little relief. While we were in the store I did pick up a few necessities.

We had not eaten lunch by about 2:30 and were hungry. When I asked her what she was thinking might be good, she suggested sushi. Not my favorite, but I gave her the option and she chose, so I went along with it.

We came home in time to find the pool guy here. The rains are still messing with the water balance, but he assured us it would be good to go by Tuesday.

Monday dinner: We scraped together leftovers from the Sunday birthday party

Hamburger patties, salad

Tuesday: The first thing Pip wanted to do was go to Crumbl cookies. We went and came home with a 4 pack. Of course she got to pick out all the flavors.

Swim day, all day with jumping out of the pool only to eat or get out of the sun. Fortunately it was overcast part of the day so no one was sunburned. 

Tuesday dinner: A quick and simple dinner was called for

Conecuh sausage, coleslaw or salad, rice, mango cubes

There may or may not have been a Bruster's ice cream run!

Wednesday: I had arranged for one of our neighbors who has a daughter Pip's age to come over. They had a good time swimming, laughing, talking, eating until it was time for L to head home. 

Pip had to make a choice between seeing the play Frozen or visiting Son2, DIL2 and their 4 dogs. (Know what you call the condition of having too many dogs?   A Roverdose!) She chose to see Jack, Reesie, Cocopuff and Trixie.

Wednesday dinner: We took dinner to their house

BBQ pork, coleslaw, baked beans, cornbread

Thursday: Another swim day. MBS came over to swim with Pip and me. After swimming we got dressed and headed to Barnes and Noble. Pip has developed a keen interest in CD's and Vinyl albums and wanted to go browse and see if she could find anything she wanted. After looking through every single cd and album available, she bought what she said she wanted before we ever left for B and N. So the band, Brat, can count on Pip for another CD sale.

(As an aside: I subscribe to Sirius radio for my car and until the past week it had never been tuned to a pop 40's station. This past week that is all I listened to. I am unsure if it was my ears or brain bleeding!)

Thursday dinner: 

Thursday dinner: We met Son2 and DIL2 for dinner at Waldos

Chicken, collards, coleslaw, toast, fried pickles, other stuff that I don't remember.

Friday: Swimming happened in the morning, then Son1 took Pip to the Galleria then to Son2's house. She wanted to spend the night with them and have lots of time with the dogs.

Friday dinner: Son1 met two of his former fraternity brothers and their wives for dinner, so it was just TheHub and me for dinner here.

Hot dogs, french fries

Saturday: We met Son2 at a restaurant halfway between our houses for a quick lunch and Pip exchange. Once we were home she decided some shop[ping was in order. We left with the intention of going to Ross then Ulta. However she found a haul at Ross then nixed Ulta altogether. If the truth is being told, she still had one large bill left from the money we gave her for shopping and did not want to break it, so it could go back to Portland with her.  I am sure she had plans to use it there, probably for entertainment with her friends. Fine with me! I don't like to shop and only go with her because I love her.

Saturday dinner: We were running out of days to use our minimum from the club so we had to use it.

Fish sandwich, shrimp bowl, or pizza

Sunday: This was the last full day for Son1 and Pip to be at our house. It was a swim, pack get things together kind of day.

Sunday dinner: Son1 wanted bbq one last time. It is not that you can't find bbq in Portland, you can. You just can't find that slow hickory smoked jukcy delicious type you can find all over the south.

We were happy to oblidge and invited Son2 and DIL2 to join us. They love bbq too!

Pulled pork, baked beans, collard greens, cheese biscuits, mac and cheese

And with the exception of a flight the next day, our time with them was over. Did I mention how tired I was, since Pip did not go to bed before 2 every night and I stayed up with her watching Young Sheldon. I had never seen it before and it was a cute show, and I shoud know because we watched episode after episode, season after season

What might be on the menu this week? 

Grilled tripletail, baked potato, coleslaw

leftover conecuh sausage, leftover cheese biscuits, coleslaw

Veggie dinner TBD

BLT salad

Spaghetti with meat sauce, tossed salad, garlic toast

Something*

Something*

Books read in June

We Could Be Rats (This book has a hard subject matter)

My Italian Bulldozer

The Dutch House

The Friday Afternoon Club

The Year I Turned Pretty**

This is a Love Story***

Have a great week staying on plan, going off plan or with no plan at all.

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

* I need to clean the fridge and see what needs to be eaten, but I am not in the mood to do it today.

** Read in tandem with Pip. Now I wonder why I am not churning out "Hallmark books" for tweens.

*** Supposed to be good but I found it just tedious

Oh no just 27 weeks until Christmas

 Hey, give me a break  First I was at the beach and now Pip is at my house. Whole lotta shakin’ is going on, none of which is Christmas related

Summer fun!

Last week was a fun and family filled summertime week, with promises of more of the same this week. 

Monday: Got ready to go to the beach

Monday dinner: It was a clean out the fridge night

Leftover Thai food

Tuesday: Left for the beach. What can you say? We arrived to a gorgeous condo, met Son2 and DIL2. Son1, DIL1, and Pip were supposed to arrive at the PCB airport that evening, but unfortunately they got stuck in Denver overnight, so our planned pickup did not happen. 

Tuesday night: We had not been to the grocery store and had nothing for dinner, so we went to a small seafood restaurant. The food was OK but not great. Since everyone orders differently I will only post what I ate.

Shrimp and scallops, cheese grits, coleslaw

Wednesday: We all went shopping for groceries, then it was time for beach or reading activities. Since we were going to have to drive about 50 minutes to the airport in the late afternoon, I opted for reading. 

We left in what we thought was enough time to get to the airport by the time their flight came in. Unfortunately we did not allow for getting stuck in traffic. We were about 10 minutes later than when they landed, but the upside was a delay getting their luggage, so we managed to have to wait for them a few minutes. I had much rather wait to pick someone up than to have them waiting for me. 

I was thrilled to see all of them but sad they lost a day of Florida fun due to flight delays.

We drove back to the condo and a quick dip in the pool was first on Pip's agenda. For Son1 and DIL1 taking a shower and changing out of the clothes they had been wearing for two days was paramount.

Priorities, right?

Wednesday dinner: There was a seafood restaurant near the condo that offered take out options. I took orders from everyone and called them in. Again everyone wanted something different so I am only listing my dinner.

Fish tacos, green beans

Thursday: It was a near perfect beach day. Lots of sun, the water was clear (big undertow but at least the flags were just yellow rather than  red like they were Wednesday. Lots of sunscreen was used and no one was sunburned. I call that an extremely successful beach day.

Thursday dinner: No one wanted to come in early and get dressed to go out to eat, so earlier in the day TheHub and I had run to a local seafood market to buy foods for dinner.

Grilled grouper, seared scallops, steamed shrimp, asparagus, coleslaw, tossed salad, croissants, ley lime pie 

Friday: Beach day, what else is there to say?

Friday dinner: They made to drive to Boondocks for seafood. I was not feeling well and stayed home.

Assorted seafood dishes served with fantastic hushpuppies.

Saturday: All good things must come to an end. We had to drive to the PCB airport to take DIL1 to the airport. She had to be back in Portland for work. Son1 and Pip rode back to Birmingham with us to stay for a bit. We stopped multi times on the way home, traffic was horrendous, and it took us what seemed like forever to get home. Once home we were delighted (SHE SAID SARCASTICALLY) to find a green pool. The excessive rains diluted the chemicals and the water that was perfect when we left was not so perfect once we were home. Boo!

Saturday dinner: Pip is a big fan of the show "Young Sheldon".  In one episode Sheldons brother and sister split a steak and lobster dinner at Red Lobster. That is where she wanted to go . Insert the name Piper for Lola, and lobster for what she wants, in the song below.

Son1 and Pip split the steak and lobster dinner. TheHub and I shared the bacon wrapped scallops, stuffed mushrooms and each had a side salad.

Sunday: When we woke, Pip and I made cupcakes to have with dinner Sunday.

After that, because our pool was still being a little temperamental, TheHub took Pip to the club to swim. After all, swimming is swimming, and at the club she had the option of much larger pool plus a slide and diving well. 

While she was gone I got the house tidied up a little for a party that night.

My Beloved Sister's birthday was Friday while we were gone, but we had planned a birthday dinner for Sunday night. 

When Pip got home from swimming, she and I went to Dollar Tree to pick some birthday decorations. She was in charge of what we were purchasing and how we were decorating. Turns out she had very specific ideas. On the drive home she confessed if she had been with her parents they would not have let her get as much stuff as her sucker grandmother did.

She directed, and the rest of us followed her decorating instructions.

Sunday dinner: Happy Birthday MBS! The four of us, MBS,  plus Son2 and DIL2 had dinner together served with lots of laughter

Hamburgers w/ fixings, pasta salad, baked beans, cupcakes, ice cream

What might possibly be eaten this week:

Who knows? We have another week of winging it based on whatever sounds good to any/everyone.

Next week I will get back to a meal plan of sorts, but I am not willing to do anything right now. I had rather be flexible. 

Oh no, just 28 weeks till Christmas

After all the goings on during the last week the only thing even remotely Christmasy I did was walk into the room of horrors, look around and shut the door.

Packed my duds for the beach and left with no remorse.

Moving on

This was a week to get some things done preparing for a new normal 

What I thought we might eat last week:

Hamburger patty, broccoli salad, saffron rice

Big salad meal TBD

Veggie meal TBD

Thai chicken, jasmine rice. coleslaw

Tuna steaks, baked potato, tossed salad

Sandwiches, coleslaw, french fries

Out to eat or take out

Monday: Began the week with a lengthy phone call with My Beloved Sister. (know from here forward as MBS). She was going to have her SIL over so I stayed at home. I did not want to interfere with them. Her SIL did not make it to town until much later in the afternoon so she did not go to MBS's house. I would have gone over with some boxes she requested and helped her go through some of the non-personal items she does not want to keep anymore.

Monday dinner: It was planned and easy. I will opt for easy almost every meal.

Thai chicken, rice, asian coleslaw, dinner rolls

Tuesday: I went with MBS to pick up BIL's death certificate. I was no help whatsoever, but I was a buffer just to keep her from becoming upset when she actually saw it. 

I had gathered some moving boxes for her that we had did not use when we sold the lake place along with several Trader Joe's paper bags. There are some things she is getting rid of because they will never be used again, and she had many things BIL's nephew could use, so she wanted him to have them.

You don't always think that to get rid of things you need to have something to contain them. I could at least help getting those to her.

She also had many things that belonged to BIL's deceased brother that needed to go to their sister, instead of staying at MBS's house. 

Tuesday dinner: I had dressed for the day and rode with TheHub to go sign some checks for one of the contract projects he is still working on, and to have a quick meeting signing a few papers.  While we were in that part of town we went to a men's clothing store he loves, to pick up a couple of casual wear items he wanted. After he completed his shopping, we decided to run by a restaurant near by for dinner.

Veggie soup and greek salad or Greek sandwich.

Wednesday: I stayed at home planning the post funeral reception via phone calls with MBS and our good friend C, who agreed to help putting the reception table together after the service. My church's parlor is a large very pretty but fairly formal room. The service was to be held there with refreshments to be served afterward.

 C has a knack for making everything beautiful and when she asked what she could do for MBS, I told her using her talent was the best possible "gift".

After discussion, we agreed that we needed silver trays and candelabra, along with serving pieces, tiered tray, crystal pitchers, ice bucket and serving utensils. 
I have a lot of "things", most of which stay tucked in various cabinets and drawers. You know all that stuff you have in your house that you rarely use and then you pull them out and realize they need some serious attention? To quote Son2. "you had a little silver with your tarnish, Mom". Needless to say, there was a whole lot of polishing going on.

Wednesday dinner. I invited MBS over to eat with us, but also to let her have the final say about the all the serving pieces. I did not think she would care one way or another, but it was still her call.

Taco salad

Thursday: TheHub and I ran out to all of the various places we needed to go to to purchase all the foods we needed for after the service. My aim was to have every single thing on hand so I could wake Friday morning ready to roll. I managed to get everything going to only 4 different stored, got home and got everything unloaded  and stored, ready and waiting for early Friday morning when I could begin.

Thankfully friend C took purchasing the flowers off my plate, which was wonderful because she does so much better with arrangements than I do

Thursday dinner: I had most of this on hand and in the freezer.

Rosemary chicken, au gratin potatoes  leftover club salad*

Friday:  I woke very early and began working on the food. One of the things I planned to make was finger sandwiches. I had put the bread in the freezer so it would be partially frozen making it much easier to remove the crusts, and cut the sandwiches into 4ths. I knew things were going too well. When I took the first few pieces out of the loaves of bread, I realized all the loaves had huge air bubbles throughout them. That would not work at all, which meant I had to change into going out in public clothes to buy more bread. It put me a good bit of time behind schedule, but I got all those suckers made with just the tiniest bit of time to spare. 

I might have meant a speed shower and getting ready in record time, but we made it and were at the church a few minutes before our agreed arrival time. Whew! 

The service was very personal and MBS had the most wonderful eulogy, which included both tender and funny memories. And like all services, once the final prayer was said there was some closure and people began moving around the room, nibbling on the goodies, talking to each other, and sharing stories and memories .

Friday dinner: TheHub and I had a long day and neither of us wanted to cook. I am very grateful we live in the south where delicious BBQ is available all around us.

BBQ sandwich, baked beans, potato salad

Saturday: We woke and dressed to run a few errands. We began going to Argo (a community about 35 minutes from our house) to give some of the excess food from the reception to one of my cousins. They have 6 grandchildren who come to their house often, so things will be eaten. We had already split some between MBS, BiIl's family and us, and there was still so much left. (Never ask me to do food for an uncertain crowd number for I will always fall in the rather have  "too much"rather than "too little" category).

Since we were already in the general direction, we called Son2 and DIL2 to have them meet us for lunch at  a Thai restaurant near their home.  It is always wonderful being around them, even if we had just been with them at the funeral the day before.

After eating we had one more stop before heading home. TheHub had ordered and received some shirts from Untuckit. They sent 2 of one shirt but there was no charge for it, so he decided to just stop at the store to return the unordered one. 

The store personnel were most appreciative and really could not believe he would return it.

We try very hard to always live an honest life and have even taken a rogue lemon that hid in the grocery cart after paying, back into the store. The right thing to do is always the right thing to do.

 Saturday dinner: We still had reception leftovers.

Finger sandwiches, coleslaw

Sunday: We woke early to go to the communion service followed by church at 8:30, then Sunday school. I like to start my week doing that. Once home we started doing a few things to get ready for our upcoming beach trip and both took a little recliner snooze while watching the NCAA world series.

Sunday dinner: Leftovers was the name of the game again, but this time they were different ones.

Thai chicken pineapple fried rice (The servings at Thai Basil are huge)

What's up fpr this week?

Who knows? We are headed to the beach Tuesday and whatever happens happens!

Books read in June:

We Could Be Rats (This book has a hard subject matter)

My Italian Bulldozer

The Dutch House

The Friday Afternoon Club

Have a great week staying on plan, going off plan, or with no plan at all.

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

*TheHub had a luncheon meeting that afternoon and he always brings any leftovers home.

Oh no just 29 weeks till Christmas

 My heart and mind were not thinking about Christmas in any way shape or form this past week, and I am only posting this because my intent from the beginning was to report each week, even if I did nothing. 

A Week

This was a difficult week, and the days were not listed as joys, instead I was just recounting what happened.

What I thought we might possibly eat last week:

Sloppy Joes, french fries, coleslaw

French toast, bacon, sliced fruit 

Big salad meal TBD

Leftover spaghetti and meat sauce, tossed salad

Sandwiches TBD

Crack chicken, coleslaw

Grilled pork chops, broccoli, toast

What happened and what we ate:

Monday: The news Monday morning was not good. My Beloved Sister*called the first thing to let me know their situation had drastically worsened. Fortunately her SIL was with her at the hospital and they were able to be there for her hub's peaceful transition. 

After leaving the hospital, they both went to his elderly mother's house to break the news to her. My heart broke for all, but his mother, who outlived 2 sons was devastated.

While she was at her MIL's, I contacted everyone she wanted me to and ran by her house to do a couple of quick chores. 

I did leave before she got home to give her the alone time she requested.

I think we talked on the phone 4 different times, and she knew I could be there in 5 minutes if she wanted/needed me.

Monday dinner: I was very thankful I had leftovers. I asked MBS if I could take dinner to her or if she wanted to come here, but she said no to both. She was worn out and just wanted to be at her house with her dogs (and some brownies) for the night.

Spaghetti with meat sauce and previously frozen meatballs* (added to stretch the sauce) salad greens (compliments of our neighbors garden)

BIL loved The Avett Brothers. This is their best song to honor him

Tuesday: My Beloved Sister asked me to go to her house Tuesday morning to start the sorting process of all the things she is going to need to do, both in the immediate future and also later on. 

Even with things in order, there is so much to do and so many different people/companies/services to contact. Once she gets the death certificate she can begin the process.

Because I was not available, TheHub ran to Benny's produce stand and grabbed the tomatoes and cucumbers I asked him to get.  I was so thankful for I was completely out of tomatoes and cucumbers. Then TheHub dropped lunch for all of us and stayed while we all brainstormed about the obituary and memorial service.  

BIL was a high school art teacher before having to take a medical retirement and one of his students had done a charcoal portrait of him that captured not only his physical features, but also his personality. MBS plans to have it on an easel during the service.

Now she has an idea of what she wants there is one less thing she needs to think about. Meanwhile I was and am available to do whatever she needs, even if it is just a shoulder to cry one.

Tuesday dinner: TheHub and I were both at MBS's house until late afternoon for him and early evening for me. Dinner needed to be quick and use some of the excess bread we had in the house.

French toast, bacon*, apple slices, orange slices

Wednesday: I picked MBS up at her house and we ran an errand, then had lunch prior to meeting the minister to go over the service details. She and BIL had no home church though both were/are deeply spiritual.  I was so happy my church will accommodate her wants and needs.

MBS was hoping to have the service early next week, to allow time for his nieces and nephew to arrange their schedules and get to town. Unfortunately, Vacation Bible Camp will be Monday-Thursday and will tax the facilities and the facility maintenance, so Friday the 13th was the earliest it could be held.  We have laughed about that, and think BIL would find it funny.

There is just so much other stuff that has to be done now, and the Alabama Bureau of Vital Statistics is not helping anything. They now evidently move at a snails pace getting all the necessary paperwork she will need to begin contact with various entities and are claiming a 7 day to 3 week time span before a Death Certificate is filed and can be claimed.  What!?!

Wednesday dinner: Since I was out most of the day with MBS dinner needed to be something quick. It was also a game night to watch softball so the meal had to be game worthy.

B*LT salad

Thursday: I woke way too early and thought about trying to go back to sleep since I had not gotten into bed until 2 a.m. I finally decided I might as well go ahead and get started with my day. 

MBS did not need me as she was stuck waiting on paperwork before she could proceed to whatever is next.

I stayed at home and got some work here done, not knowing what if anything she would need me for later.

Thursday dinner: We were going to watch the 2nd game of the NCAA softball World Series which meant another ballgame meal

Sloppy Joes*, fries or green beans,* coleslaw

Friday: MBS is directionally impaired, and almost knows how to get places. Operative word is almost. She had an appointment to pick up his remains at the crematorium which is in a very remote location. I knew she would never be able to find it, so I offered to drive. I am glad I did because if she tried to find it herself she would have wound up in a totally different part of the state.

Once home, TheHub and I ate a quick lunch and ran a few errands. We did get caught in an interesting downpour. The skies opened and we could barely see in front of us ___for about 2 blocks. When we were through that short expanse of roadway, the rains were little more than a drizzle for about 1/4 mile and then nothing. Can't beat weather in the south.

Friday dinner: Neither of us cared what we were going to have for dinner, so I chose to take the path of least resistance.

Beef tips* w/ mushrooms, mashed potatoes, tossed salad

Saturday: I think the emotions of the week caught up with me, and I wanted to do little more than languish doing nothing. When I talked several times with MBS she was on the same path, but had started going through some of BIL's drawers in their office and was finding different things she had never seen before. She said some made her laugh and some made her cry, but she wanted to go through them just the same.

We did run to our local produce guy, who obviously had paid attention to the weather report and decided not to set up Saturday. I still had 3 tomatoes and a few cucumbers so it was not critical, but I will be there early Tuesday morning when they return. Since they were not available, and we were already out and about, we ran to cherry pick Publix.

TheHub and I watched the Auburn/ Coastal Carolina game and both dozed off in our respective seats. 

After dinner we watched "A Complete Unknown". I enjoyed it and was so glad I was seeing it at home where I could stretch out and stop it when nature called. It was too lengthly for me to watch in a theater.

Saturday dinner: At Publix I picked up 2 BOGO seasoned pork tenderloins. I had planned on having pork chops anyway, but deferred to the purchase.

Pork tenderloin, broccoli, toast

Sunday: I could not get to sleep until 4:30 am, then had to get up at 6:45 to be dressed and ready in time to make it to the 7:55 communion service. For a plugged nickel, I would have pulled the sheet over my head and gone back to sleep, but I didn't. 

After the first service we went to traditional 8:30 church, followed by Sunday School. On the way home, TheHub declared he did not want a sandwich for lunch, which was fine but I was not about to cook lunch. 

Sunday dinner: We went to Fried Green tomatoes ( a local meat and three place) for lunch. If we have a big lunch it counts as our meal for the day and at night we have some small bite of something like a salad or some such.

Pork chop, cabbage and green beans or Catfish, okra and peas

What we might eat this week:

1. Hamburger patty, broccoli salad, saffron rice

2. Big salad meal TBD

3. Veggie meal TBD

4. Thai chicken, jasmine rice. coleslaw

5. Tuna steaks, baked potato, tossed salad

6. Sandwiches, coleslaw, french fries

7. Out to eat or take out

Books read in June:

We Could Be Rats (This book has a hard subject matter)

My Italian Bulldozer

Have a great week staying on plan, going off plan or with no plan at all.

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

*Used from the freezer