Food, Joy, and Meaningful stuff

What a glorious week. The temperatures were not stifling and I was able to sit on the screened porch drinking my morning coffee and listening to the birds. It was perfect!

What was planned

1. Leftovers

2. BBQ chicken, coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad, watermelon

3. Chopped smoked pork, coleslaw, mashed potatoes

4. Shrimp and Grits, coleslaw (I still have not used the grits nor have I bought the shrimp)

5. Paprika chicken, tossed salad

6. Salad meal TBD

7. Out to eat or sandwiches 

How did that work out:

Monday joy: TheHub stayed home from the office. (I guess even though he retired and is still working he honors traditional holidays__go figure!) 

Our weekend was different than normal, and I did not even realize the actual day of the week was Monday until much later.

I guess it was because he went to the office Sunday, which he only used to do after we came home from church. We did not go Sunday because we had guests and I was totally thrown off of my traditional weekly set point. 

After our morning coffee and tea we sat at the kitchen table with both of our calendars, looking at events we had planned along with some things we thought we might enjoy doing. I could not believe how quickly the rest of the year filled with possibilities.

Monday dinner: I did realize at some point it was Labor Day, probably when TheHub asked what we were having for a Labor Day dinner?!?

One of the biggest joys of the day was every BBQ joint in town was open and operating at full steam. We bought 2 options and brought them home because we still had tons of side dish leftovers.

Smoked Chicken, potato salad, coleslaw, watermelon

Tuesday joy: I slept late (at least late for me) and had a delightful morning filled with coffee and some phone calls I needed to make. Those phone calls resulted in a few tickets to events we had decided sounded like something we would enjoy. So there was some movement from our Monday calendar comparing. I do still have to make a few calls tomorrow since I could not get anyone in person today. 

One place in particular requires I talk with a live person. In July we attended a fund raiser and bought, through a silent auction, season tickets to a community theater. Their next show will be at the end of the month and I need to find how to use the certificate in lieu of a credit card to get those tickets.

After the calls My Beloved Sister came by on her way home from an appointment. We sat around drinking coffee and laughing___a lot of laughing, mostly at ourselves.

Tuesday dinner: Well it was just day two of the menu plan and I was already ignoring it. I had bought some egg rolls from Aldi  just in case I needed some additional food when the guests were here. I completely forgot about them when planning this weeks menu but found them in the fridge when I was looking for leftovers. BTW, they are tasty, and cooked perfectly  in the air fryer___bonus!!

Eggrolls, tossed salad, watermelon

Wednesday joy: Started my day with coffee, followed by a phone call with My Beloved Sister. Once again we talked about nothing important, unless you consider talking about the new weekly food ads important. However; when we talk you can be sure there will be laughter.

I talked with Sluggy who was still in the hospital. She was not in the greatest of spirits, but geeze, she was in the hospital with pain and bad hospital food. That is not exactly a great combination for making spirits high, is it?

Nonetheless, I was glad I talked with her and extremely happy they had ruled out neurosurgery as a treatment.

After talking with Sluggy, I called Sissy  and Kim to give them an update. It is always good to talk with them also!

Wednesday dinner: When we picked up smoked chicken for Labor Day, TheHub also bought a pound of smoked pork.

Smoked pork, mashed potatoes, coleslaw

Thursday joy: I planned on hitting the trail early in the day. Though I did not really need much at all from the grocery store, there were things in all three of the stores where I normally shop that had deals well worth stocking up on. So I set out to cherry pick all three of them. One of the day's joys was the huge insulated bag TheHub won at some charity golf tournament. I keep those blue "ice blocks" in the freezer all the time. If I am hop shopping I grab a few of them and toss them in the bottom of the bag. That way I can buy cold things at each store and not worry about them losing their cool while I am making the rounds.

I actually could cool the car refrigerator we bought for the cross country trip that didn't happen, load it in the back of the car plugged into the 12 volt socket and use it. I think I would only do that if TheHub was around. It would take both of us to load it into and out of the car. It is not the weight, but it is a little bulky.

Later in the afternoon, I was able to have a long talk with one of my cousins. Her mom, my dad's younger sister, is the only living sibling of either of my parents.  

She is not doing well and I just needed to talk with K to see how things are progressing. I wish I had called at a happier time but always enjoy talking with her, even though we do it rarely.

Thursday dinner: You would think with all that grocery shopping I would have no excuses about cooking dinner.  After all, we had plenty of available options to choose from.  

I did have a slight headache and when I mentioned it to TheHub, he suggested we go pick up something to eat. 

If I am being completely honest, he is still walking on eggshells after messing up our trip. I am not stupid enough to not take advantage of it.

Grilled chicken salad

Friday joy: This morning right as I was getting dressed for the day, the phone rang. I was surprised the caller was TheHub, and even more surprised when he said he was coming home early and wanted to go out to lunch.

We had talked about trying places we have never been before and intended to try a place in Bessemer. Sadly it closed at 2 and TheHub did not get home until a little after 1. By the time we took the 20 minute drive to get there, they would be ready to start shutting down and I did not want to be in a hurry. 

Instead we went to Melt. I had been to their food truck years ago but they have opened a brick and mortar place with different offerings. 

Once we got there we had to park in front of another store I did not realize had opened. It is a store with items strictly from Alabama, so of course we had to go wander around.

Did I need anything there? Nope! Did I buy some things anyway? Yes, of course I did. I found a beautiful cookbook with recipes from restaurants around the state, a local magazine celebrating Octoberfest, and a pottery piece made to serve olive oil for bread dipping. I liked it because it had the garlic grater built into the bottom of the dish. Some oil and fresh herbs along with the garlic will be a great dinner treat.

After browsing buying we walked a few doors down to eat lunch. then after lunch we walked next door to order my birthday cake. I was hoping they could make a 6 inch cake that would be more than enough for us, but an 8 inch is the smallest Italian Cream cake they sell.

We will wind up having a piece or two then giving the rest to our neighbors.I hope this is a taste of what retirement will be like when TheHub realizes he has been retired since June, and does not have to continue to go into the office every day (if at all).

Friday dinner: We had eaten lunch later and neither of us were really hungry. I was going to just throw a tossed salad together when I remembered we had leftovers. Easy peazy!

Leftover Mexican corn dip, tortilla chips, watermelon

Saturday joy: Game Day! When we woke we turned on the TV and listen mostly to Marty and McGee, then switch back and forth between ESPN Game Day and SEC Nation (still mostly listening as we go about our morning). I freely admit we do like college football, and keep up with the goings on of a lot of different schools thanks to the above shows.

Once we were dressed for the day we did our morning errands, which included finally getting so fresh shrimp from Snapper Grabber (my local fish monger).  

After a lunch at home, TheHub and Son2 left to go to the game, while I sat in the recliner and watched South Carolina/Kentucky play. Well I watched until I was completely relaxed and then I visited The Eyelid Theater* for about 30 minutes.

My biggest joy was DIL2 joining me to watch the game. She is wonderful company and we can just talk until the game gets interesting. This particular game took about 3 1/4 quarters to get interesting. (Meaning until we could quit worrying about losing)

Saturday dinner: TheHub and I cut our sandwiches in half Friday at lunch and saved the cut halves because the sandwiches were larger than we would eat at one meal. DIL2 and I split them.

1/4 reuben sandwich, 1/4 raging Hawaiian sandwich, spicy chili Doritos

Sunday joy: What we started our day with was not joyful but it was important. Our Sunday School class had a guest speaker whose mission is helping children who had been victims of sex trafficking. My lack of understanding always thought it meant kids who were kidnapped by a pimp and forced into the sex trade. I had no idea parents could/would ever pimp their kids out for drugs, rent or whatever. I do not cry easily nor do I cry in public, but sometimes things change. Now with raised awareness, I need to put my money and/or time where my mouth is. 

Saturday night TheHub and Son2 got home from the game after midnight. Since both Son2 and DIL2 had driven here separately, they left DIL2's car overnight. They came back Sunday afternoon to pick it up and visited with us for a couple of hours. 

Sunday dinner: We finally ate something that had been on my dinner menu for several weeks.

Shrimp and grits, coleslaw, dinner rolls

Possible menu for this week:

1. Paprika Chicken, tossed salad

2. Big salad meal TBD

3. Spaghetti, tossed salad

4. Veggie meal TBD

5. Out to eat

6. Burgers and fixings, tomato cucumber onion salad

7. Chicken** bulgogi, rice, mixed greens

Books read in September

When Paris Went Dark

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

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

 

*Thanks to DIL2 for giving me a new name for a catnap

** I have some chicken in the freezer that needs to be used, so I am taking liberties with a traditional Korean recipe