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

Oh no just 30 weeks until Christmas

This below was all written before the week headed south. For now Christmas planning is shelved for a while, which means the room of horrors will just be a closed door when Son1 and family come here. Other things are much more important at the moment.

I did go upstairs the morning after posting just 31 weeks and worked in the room of horrors. Though I did not get it anywhere near finished I did make some headway, including finding a few things to put on our local buy nothing FB page. I had several toys for Pip when she was little that were just taking up space.

In addition to getting rid of those I managed to get the Halloween decor sorted, culled, and packed away. As soon as I post this some random Halloween bit is bound to surface in the room, that was hidden under some also random piece of Christmas decor.

I really need to measure the closet and post the size so you can imagine the amount of holiday decor I own. (Not including the 5 trees which live in the basement). Right now the contents of said closet are emptied out into the room and it is truly overwhelming. Excessive? Yes, and not in the best way.*

* In the not too distant past, the Christmas tree in the den had over 600 ornaments on it. How do I know? One year I counted every single ornament as I took them off the tree. I did decide I could get by with 300 or so and the tree still looked very full, but did I get rid of the overage or just pack it away?

I Wish This Had Played Out Differently

Last week started with an enjoyable holiday and ended with sadness. 

This piece of music is one of my favorite pieces, and I think it is perfectly beautiful. To me, it is the musical reflection of sadness, and I thought it would be very appropriate today.

What I had planned for the week:

1. Ribs, potato salad, baked beans

2. Spaghetti w/meat sauce, tossed salad, dinner roll

3. Salmon patties, broccoli, french fries

4. Enchiladas, coleslaw

5. Out of town

6. Ball game meal TBD

7. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans

What did and what didn't happen:

Monday joy:  Memorial day started with TheHub working in the yard and me working in the house. Son2 and DIL 2 came over to have a late lunch with us and stayed and visited until the early evening. We love them and love having them around.

Monday dinner: Because it was a holiday, our big meal of the day was a late lunch.

Ribs, potato salad, baked beans, tossed salad, Eskimo pie ice cream bar.

Tuesday joy: I stayed at the house most of the day but did run to ThePig to grab some ground chuck at the sale price on the ad's last day. I figured a large pack would also meet the price requirement to score the free bottle of Hunt's ketchup. Much to my surprise all the packs of the chuck were reduced an additional dollar per pound. I bought about 12 pounds saving 12 bucks, but crowding and already overcrowded freezer. Oh well. 

Tuesday dinner: Since I had bought all of the ground chuck and had to process it anyway, I figured we should have something with it for dinner.

Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans

Wednesday joy:  We woke and hit the road right after rush hour traffic headed to Nashville. We had a couple of things to take to Son3 and DIL3 before they left for their visit to Sweden. On the way there, our car exited at the 3rd Cullman exit, turned left and before we knew what was happening, we were at The Dutch Oven Bakery. Once the car was in the parking lot there was nothing we could do except go in and buy a few things. By a few things I mean 3 loaves of sourdough bread, a chocolate pound cake, chess bars, 2 cheesecakes (they were small) chocolate covered peanuts, and chocolate covered pecans. We did leave most of it in Nashville.

After we dropped off the things they needed and visited a little while, we headed back home.

Wednesday dinner: We stopped at Cracker Barrel** on the way home for dinner.

Chicken and dumplings, coleslaw, or old timers breakfast 2 eggs, sausage, biscuits, fried apples

Thursday joy:  We both stayed home though I did run to a friends house to deliver one of the loaves of sourdough bread to her. Bread is her  kryptonite and I knew nothing could make her happier than a loaf of deliciousness. 

I am so glad we are good friends and I could go to deliver it sans makeup, hair pulled back and wearing grungy house clothes. 

Thursday dinner: I was only using what we had on hand for the meal (except for the gigantic ground chuck splurge everything we have eaten was here at the start of the week)

 Salmon croquettes*, mashed potatoes, tomato slices, sliced cucumbers

Friday joy: I did stay home all day and actually made progress in the guest room and also the room of horrors. It rained again but cleared off in the afternoon in time for the grass to be cut and the pool guys to come. Finally! The water is ready for swimming and I am ready to start doing laps. 

Friday dinner: When I was processing the ground chuck for the freezer I browned about 3/4 of a pound for a meal later in the week.

Spaghetti* with spiffed up Rao's marinara*, greens and artichoke heart* salad, garlic bread

Saturday joy: After a 1:30 am call, 3 hours of wakefulness and a follow up call at 6:15, I had little sleep and could not fall back to sleep. So there was nothing to do but get ready for the day. TheHub and I ran some early morning errands, and I did something I never do. I actually had my phone in my pocket all day (with the ringer on, which I rarely have on) to stay in touch with My Beloved Sister as needed.

I talked and/or texted with her all day. 

Other than that I just hung around the house doing whatever mindless task I could do.

Saturday dinner: Nothing to say, it just was what it was,

Roasted chicken, collard greens, tomato onion and cucumber salad

Sunday: After another mostly sleepless night, we decided to forgo the early services at church and only went to Sunday School. 

We had just gotten home when I got a text from My Beloved Sister asking me to come sit with her. TheHub dropped me off at the hospital and I stayed there until about 5, when she was ready to leave for the day. The good thing about being so close is knowing when the other needs company in difficult circumstances, and knowing how to make the other laugh instead of crying. She gave me a lift home, and we talked some more before she left for her house. 

Sunday dinner: I did not feel like cooking, which meant a very simple dinner happened.

Cheese toast, apple slices, orange wedges

Possible meals for the week:***

1. Sloppy Joes, french fries, coleslaw

2. French toast, bacon, sliced fruit

3. Big salad meal TBD

4. Leftover spaghetti and meat sauce, tossed salad

5. Sandwiches TBD

6. Crack chicken, coleslaw

7. Grilled pork chops, broccoli, toast

Books read in May

A Homemade Life

The Light of Days

The Making of Home

Wintering

The Things We Cannot Say

The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of the American Supermarket

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 freezer or pantry

** If you are not from the south you might not know that just about every town of any size with an exit on the interstate has a Cracker Barrel. Alabama alone has 31. The food is not exceptional, but it is tasty and very consistent at all locations. It is not fast food and you can get breakfast anytime they are open (if you happen to be the type of person who likes to eat that foul stuff)

And just in case you feel like shopping while waiting on your food to get to your table they have a country store attached with all kinds of sparkly and shiny bric a brac, clothes, toys, and old fashioned candy. 

*** I have no idea which way the wind will blow this week, so I have cleared my calendar to be available for my sister. I may cook enough for the week in one day, or maybe not.  No matter what, this is going to be a week of very basic no frills meals.

Because It's June

 

Oh No Just 31 Weeks Till Christmas

 N-O-T-H-I-N-G, that was Christmas done by me

NOTHING... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

I didn't look at a Christmas book, magazine, planner, recipe and I dang well did not look in the room of horrors to get all my Christmas stuff sorted, organized, packed, or discarded.

I've been busy doing other things that I wanted to do__like reading, but that is about to change. 

I have just 2 weeks until the beach trip and after that Son1 and Pip are coming back here for a week. DIL1 is flying in to the beach part of the trip, but has to get back to work and can't take the extra week off. I hate she can't come here too but I certainly understand. 

I need to have the entire upstairs in company shape by then, which unfortunately includes that blasted room, so starting today, or maybe tomorrow, Saturday at the latest, or at the very least by Sunday or Monday I need to get my rear in gear whether I want to or not.  Bums me out!!!

I hope I will be able to post a 30 weeks until Christmas post with a huge room announcement that it is done, but with a full week before it HAS to be finished, and my exceptional procrastination skills, it may not happen.

Will things  change? Only time will tell.

A Lot Of Usual

This week had several days that were just average run of the mill days, along with one day that was spectacular. I will always be thrilled for one wonderful day, even if most of them are just another day

Meals that were planned for last week: 

Crack chicken, brussels sprouts, rice, tomato slices

Veggie meal TBD (depends on what Benny has at the produce stand)

BLT salad (perfect tomatoes are here now!)

Grilled tuna steaks, tossed salad, dinner rolls

Beef and broccoli stir fry, rice

Cheeseburger casserole, coleslaw

Out to eat or take out

Joys and what we really ate:

Monday joy: I stayed home all day, totally reorganized the butlers pantry, and started working in the laundry room. Our laundry room is a large room that was originally intended to be a combo laundry room/sewing room/office space for me. Instead it became a place for 24-7 ironing board availability, and storage for art supplies, dirty laundry, and anything else that did not have a designated space. AKA a dumping ground. 

While I was in the pantry Sluggy called and suggested I might want to attack the upstairs horror room instead of what I was doing. I have been skillfully avoiding that room so why not continue? 

Monday dinner: While I was working in the laundry room, I pulled out some things for this week from the freezer. TheHub had done some recreational shopping at the nearby Mexican bakery and bought dessert.

Tuna steaks ,* tossed salad, dinner rolls, tres leche cake

Tuesday joy: This was a nearly perfect day. The skies were partly cloudy but no rain was forecast. It was just what was needed for going to the first game of the SEC baseball tournament. To make the day even more perfect, we were able to be there with the participants of Independent Place. My happy place is not restricted to the IP facility. My happy place is wherever the people who make me happy are.

The only downside was the cloud cover, which burned off pretty early in the game and it was hot!.

After the game, we went with them to a nearby lake for a picnic lunch. It was a great but overly warm day. 

We got home and TheHub went to play 9 holes of golf, while I took a shower and changed into shorts and a sleeveless top. Summer days are generally 2 shower days around here anyway, and being clean (washing all that unscreen off) and cooling down was a true joy. 

Tuesday dinner: TheHub called when he finished with his golf game, I met him in the driveway and we headed out to grab something for dinner. We had to bring it back to eat because I do not go to restaurants in shorts and a tank top___ever!

Chicken, coleslaw, fries

Wednesday joy: I should have jotted down  what I did Wednesday to bring me joy, but I honestly do not remember what it was. The only thing I truly remember was getting dressed in real clothes and putting on makeup. I do not wear going out in public clothes and a full deck of makeup unless I am going somewhere. Sadly I can remember what I wore but not what I did, so it must have been just routine errands. 

I suppose I could just make something up, but that kind of defeats the purpose of doing this, since I re-read all the joys I had over a year on NYE day and I don't really need or want to read a fabricated joy.

Wednesday dinner: I had originally planned on having a BLT salad, but only had one medium tomato left and a BLT salad requires a lot of T.  Punt time!

Taco* salad, tortilla chips

Thursday joy: The day was drop dead gorgeous! I went to see Benny and Brenda (my favorite and only produce guys). I was the only one there, so we had some conversation in addition to buying veggies. I was there later in the morning than I usually go (caught up reading a good book) and they had sold out of some things I buy regularly, but they did have most of my wants.

Once home, I hung around the house to be here when the pool guys came. We are having a hard time getting our water perfect this year. I guess we have had so much rain and had to backwash so often to keep the pool from overfilling that the salt is diluting much quicker than normal.

Thursday dinner: A visit to the produce stand always means a veggie dinner is about to happen.

Squash casserole, green beans, tomato slices, cucumber slices

Friday joy: I began my day with a little home spa self care. After that I had a stay at home day skillfully avoiding some unpleasant chores. I am not entirely sure why I avoided them because they have to be done and I am running out of days to do them. NonethelessI did just that.

In the late afternoon we watched Alabama's softball super-regional game. It was not successful unless you were an Oklahoma fan and then it was good.

Friday dinner: As so often happens here, a ball game day requires a ball game meal.

Conecuh sausage dogs*, assorted raw vegetables

Saturday joy: I woke and got dressed and ready for the day. I knew I was going to be out and about for a bit so that meant CRC's and makeup.

By the afternoon we were ready to watch Bama softball.  TheHub and I watched about 3 innings of the beatdown, then decided we would head out to do a little shopping. Did we need anything? Nope but we went out cherry picking any way and shopped at both Sprouts and Aldi. Did we stick to my shopping list? Uh, nope. Anyway, we came home with more then I had intended, and I was literally out of room to store it. It turns out I had to spend some major time rearranging just to have places to put everything.

Saturday dinner: Since the ball game was a bust, I did not have to make a ball game meal. I intended to make crack chicken but forgot to start the crockpot. The chicken breasts were thawed and needed to be cooked. Punt!

Coq au vin*, tossed salad

Sunday joy: Our church holds only one service on holiday weekends. As a consequence, instead of being there at 7:55 we went at 10. It was a lovely service and on the way home we ran a couple of quick errands before heading home for lunch.

We watched some of the golf tournament beforeTheHub got busy planting some vegetables, and I dozed off on the loveseat.I do not normally sleep during the day but there is something about Sunday afternoons that calls to me to start reading then snooze. Somehow the day did not seem equitable.

Sunday Dinner: The night was lovely, but storms were forecast for part of the upcoming week. We had planned on grilling at least one night and decided Sunday would be the night.

Steak, mushrooms and onions in wine sauce, tossed salad, apple pie

What may possibly happen this week:

1. Ribs, potato salad, baked beans

2. Spaghetti w/meat sauce, tossed salad, dinner roll

3. Salmon patties, broccoli, french fries

4. Enchiladas, coleslaw

5. Out of town

6. Ball game meal TBD

7. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans

Books read in May

A Homemade Life

The Light of Days

The Making of Home

Wintering

The Things We Cannot Say

*Used tuna steaks, ground chuck, chicken breasts, from the freezer. I would say I am making headway

Oh No Just 32 Weeks Till Christmas

 

Yep, nothing is about what I have done this week toward Christmas prep. I did have a phone call with Sluggy and she suggested I might want to go upstairs and work in the room of horrors, but nope. I decided I had much rather work in the butler's pantry and laundry room. Actually, anything other than working upstairs! 

Besides, Son1's family will not be here until mid-June and since they stay upstairs I still have time to get it done. However knowing my penchant for procrastination I imagine I will be upstairs sorting and packing the day before they arrive. Procrastination is my super power.

And I almost lied, I did download a Christmas magazine from my Libby app. The cover was so pretty and I thought I might get an idea or two from it. Unfortunately I was in bed with no glasses when I downloaded it, and it turned out to be a Christmas quilting book. Needle arts are not in my lane,  so it was deleted pretty quickly.

Summery for the past week

Christmas ideas -none

Christmas recipe tried- none

Christmas magazines read-none

Christmas books read-none

I am not giving up, but I am not doing anything about it right now. 

Quick trip and bird trills

This past week began with a little road trip and was followed by a lot of ordinary. 

My resident groundhog, who had been laying low, has come back to taunt me, the apples are not yet big enough that they are calling to the squirrels, and the birds have all left their nests and are learning to fend for themselves__kind of. 

That I know of, we had doves, finches, wrens, cardinals, robins and brown thrashers nesting in various areas of the back yard and every morning and evening recently the yard is filled with them. I have really enjoyed watching them while I have my coffee each day.  

The front yard is still the home of nesting mockingbirds. I love hearing their song, but they are aggressive little critters, who are not fond of us walking outside. We give them a lot of space and so far have not been the subject of their dive bombing, unlike the bluejays, crows, or Gray Greg (the neighborhood assassin cat) who venture too close.

What was planned for the past week:

Out of town

Out of town

BLT salad

Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, coleslaw

Fish, baked potato, tossed salad

Greek chicken, greek green beans , rice

Something cooked on the grill (TBD), baked potato, tossed salad

Joys and dinner that really happened:

Monday joy: TheHub had an early morning funeral visitation to go to, then a work call before we loaded up the car to drive to Daphne. 

We had a leisurely and uneventful drive after we got through torrential rains. From outside Montgomery on, the weather was very nice and the remaining drive was uneventful.

We made it to Daphne with enough time to both doze off for a minute before getting ready to meet our SIL, Niece, and great nephew for dinner.  

We had told them to pick where we would eat, but, because it was a Monday night a lot of the places we would normally go were closed. 

Monday dinner: We met them at Champy's (a chicken joint) for dinner and a lot of conversation and laughter. We have seen them a couple of times recently and really do miss them. It is so nice to catch up and it was hard to believe J.P. turned 13 during the week. Can't  imagine how that happened!

The food was good, the company was great!
Catfish, coleslaw, green beans, and whatever chicken and sides they had

Tuesday joy: TheHub is on the board for the Alabama Parkinson's Foundation. They were having an event to explain the resources available to patients in South Alabama. Along with all the info, there were vendors who have products to aid Parkinson's patients. 

He had to be there early to help set everything up, and was the closing speaker, so he was there from soup to nuts. Luckily for me, three other board members were staying at the same hotel and he was able to snag a ride with them. I  did not have to drive him and got to sleep a little later, then read and get ready for the day without rushing. 

Normally I go to the grocery store either Monday or Tuesday (our local food ads run Wednesday- Tuesday) but I missed shopping Monday because we were driving.

When we packed the car, we loaded the car refrigerator we bought for our cross country driving trip that didn't happen__yet. I figured it would be a good trial to see how it worked, but wanted to time my shopping so the car would be running the majority of the time it had refrigerated items in it.

The Publix and Aldi ads were the same as my local stores and I decided I would hit both of them. 

Publix was closest to the hotel and I was not getting any refrigerated items there, so it became my first stop. After shopping, I loaded everything I bought in the car  and turned the refrigerator on to begin cooling, before driving to a local park where I parked in the shade and had my turkey sandwich  and diet Dr. Pepper ( both bought at Publix) 

I turned the car off while eating because I hate wasting gas, until it was got too hot. I still had one more shopping trip to do and didn't want to be a sweaty mess, so I caved and turned the car back on. The a/c felt wonderful and I only had to let it idle about 10 minutes before I finished eating and headed to Aldi. 

I did take a little longer in the store than I normally do, but again, timing was everything. and I needed the stop there to be at least 45 minutes. For the record, The Daphne Aldi is so much better than my local one. It was a lot of fun to browse and see things my Aldi does not carry. I would love having that store to go to weekly! 

All the cold items (and the chocolate that jumped in my cart) were loaded in the now cold refrigerator and I drove literally across the street to pick up TheHub.  

He was going to be delayed about 20 minutes beyond the end of the event, so I parked (again in the shade) rolled the windows down and watched Episode 1 of Netflix's The Four Seasons. I had downloaded it to my phone "just in case" because "just in case" happens just about every time TheHub has something like this.

Tuesday dinner: I had planned nothing for dinner, assuming we would pick something up on the way home, not realizing we would make 2 stops that would change that assumption. 

One was the Conecuh Sausage Retail Store (exit 96 off I-65 not only delicious sausage but fantastic restrooms) where we bought a few sausages I have never seen in any of my local grocery stores.

The second stop was Peach Park. TheHub loves to stop here, and I don't mind at all. Of course we had to buy something.

Conecuh sausage dogs* (bun length hickory smoked deliciousness)with mustard and vidalia onion slices,  apple hand pie*** (Peach Park's contribution)

Wednesday joy: I stayed home the entire day doing laundry, and trying to get the laundry room completely organized (fail)

Wednesday dinner: I was rearranging the laundry room freezer and pulled some chicken out to thaw.

Greek chicken**, rice, sautéed mushrooms, coleslaw w/ Greekish dressing, peach hand pie (also from Peach Park***)

Thursday joy: We did a little running around including a stop at our favorite produce stand. While out and about we stopped at the Pita Cafe for a quick lunch. TheHub would go out for lunch everyday if I would agree to it. Decades of his lunch habit is hard to break. He ate lunch out every single week day. I ate lunch out maybe twice a month, so we have different takes on it.  

If I am dressed for the day (meaning presentable to the world and not the usual "soft clothes" I wear at home) and we are already out doing something I will agree to an occasional daytime meal out. 

Since I had on makeup and CRC's (what a former local theater director used to call cute rehearsal clothes on days a photographer was going to shoot rehearsals) I was all in.

All I had planned for the rest of the day was laundry and junk like that, and who would ever care if that was delayed?

Thursday dinner: Fresh produce almost always means a veggie dinner for us.

Corn on the cob, steamed yellow squash, tomato onion and cucumber salad

Friday joy: Woke and got ready to run out. TheHub had a few errands he wanted to do and then he wanted to go to Trader Joe's new store nearer our house. I was ready to leave shortly after the store opened, then hung around waiting for "just one more thing" that TheHub was doing. Finally after about 2 hours of "Just . . .thing" we left the house. 

The newly opened TJ's has the same stuff all of them have, but it is so much easier to navigate with wider aisles, and the parking lot is infinitely better. The nearness alone would make it my TJ's of choice, but the additional ease getting in, out, and through the store makes it a true no-brainer. 

I only bought things I buy regularly there but I did add a small bouquet of matricaria to fill in some flowers that had wilted and needed to be discarded from the Mother's Day bouquet TheHub gave me.

Once home soft clothes replaced what I was wearing and chores took over. Oh well.

Friday dinner: It was a night for Bama softball, so life required a ball game meal.

B**LT salad

Saturday joy: The day was just a normal overly warm day. We’ve been having a lot of rain and even when it’s not raining it has been terribly humid, which just makes hot feel hotter 

We watched Bama softball, then Bama baseball, because they were playing and if they play we will watch. (It is entirely possible I read while the games are oh. Shhh! It’s a secret.)

Saturday dinner: I thwarted TheHubs desire to eat lunch out again but he was really interested in eating at one of the 3 places in our burb that opened last week. My compromise was to do takeout from Guthrie’s 

Chicken fingers, fries,  coleslaw

Sunday joy: We veered from our usual Sunday morning and did not go to the communion or early church service. Instead we first went to Sunday School then to the 11:00 worship service. Every year the Sunday before high school graduation our church has Senior Sunday. The graduating seniors conduct all phases of the service and it is always wonderful. Several of our friends had graduating grandchildren participating and we wanted to see them. 

After church and a quick bite for lunch we settled in to watch Bama softball which was scheduled to begin at 1 but did not actually begin until 4:30. Rain delays meant a cat nap and some reading!

Sunday dinner: The softball game was not over until after 6:30 and I was not in the mood to make a meatloaf then. Punt!

Ground chuck patties with onions and mushrooms, mashed potatoes, tomato slices

Meals that might happen this week:

1. Crack chicken, brussels sprouts, rice, tomato slices

2. Veggie meal TBD (depends on what Benny has at the produce stand)

3. BLT salad (perfect tomatoes are here now!)

4. Grilled tuna steaks, tossed salad, dinner rolls

5. Beef and broccoli stir fry, rice

6. Cheeseburger casserole, coleslaw

7. Out to eat or take out

Books read in May

A Homemade Life

The Light of Days

The Making of Home

Wintering

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

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

* After portioning and freezing the package of sausage dogs, we will have enough for 7 more meals. The next time we have them I am going to make peach chutney and caramelize the vidalia slices to go along with the mustard.  I am pretty sure we will be stopping at that store every time we are going in the direction of South Alabama.

**Used from freezer. I am not making any headway using foods from it.

***When we buy hand pies from Peach Park, we usually buy 1 apple and 1 peach, then we each have half of one on two separate nights. A whole one is really too big for either of us.

  

Oh no, just 33 weeks till Christmas

Right now, we are planning a beach trip in a couple of weeks, the days are getting warmer and warmer and I am thinking nothing but sand, ocean waves and/ or swimming in my pool. Getting ready for St. Nick is the last thing on my mind

I gave it the old college try making the Bolivian candy as an inclusion possibility for a Christmas candy tray. It was a big fail, and after both of us  tried a piece, I threw it out. I am going to try once more and see if it was a recipe failure or a user failure. It could have been either. 

I Had other things that were more important to me than messing around in the dreaded upstairs room of horrors, and feel no inclination to sort, discard and repack said holiday decorations right now.

I might do better next week, but probably not!

Ho ho ho or Ho Hum, your choice

A Simple Week

This was one of those weeks with not a lot of outside activities. I was home a good bit, and it was not objectionable. I think it was because I knew I could get in my car any moment I wanted to and go wherever I pleased. 

Meals I thought might happen:

Tacos√

Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans

Sloppy Joes, coleslaw√

BLT salad, rolls

Spaghetti, tossed salad√

White bbq chicken, caulitato salad√

Out to eat/Take out√

Joys and Actual Dinenrs:

Monday joy: I was able to volunteer at my happy place. As I have said on more than one occasion, being with the participants at Independence Place is one of the best places I can ever be.  Whenever I am down I just have to think about all the love I am shown there.
Monday dinner: Cinco de Mayo requires only one food for us.

Tacos

Tuesday joy: I had a home day. I began the day with a lot of food prep for meals during the week.

TheHub and I worked on a few different things around the house, the bug man came to spray the outside of the house, and we watched Bama softball.
Tuesday dinner: We wanted a simple dinner to eat during the softball game

Sloppy joes*, coleslaw

Wednesday joy: I was able to drive myself to my Wednesday class and that was a huge joy. Afterward I went out to lunch with 2 of my friends. The eating part was secondary to just being with them and laughing.

We need some inspiration for our yard and hired a landscape artist who drew up some plans for our entire property. She had a lot of wonderful suggestions and now we have her renderings along with every variety of plant and where they would grow best.

Wednesday dinner: We did not finish our meeting with the landscaper until about 5:30. The Bama softball game was starting at 6 and we wanted to eat beforehand, but I had forgotten to take anything out of the freezer to thaw. We decided to just run grab something.

Chick fil a grilled sandwiches, waffle fries, grapes

Thursday joy: I stayed home and did work around the house. This time I started working on the laundry room. It is a large room and has become a catchall. (Mainly of laundry that needs to be done or items needing to be mended)
Thursday dinner: While I was cleaning out the laundry room fridge, I found 2 partial jars of bbq sauce. We had the same meal I had planned, but changed the sauce to the found jarred stuff rather than making the white sauce.

BBQ chicken*, caulitato salad, green beans, tomato slices, hoe cake

Friday joy: I concentrated on the master bath, which I understand I should be calling the primary bedroom and bath. Old dogs/ new tricks thing. I also tried the Bolivian candy as a potential Christmas candy.  I call it a fail, but I will try another variation of it before I chuck the idea completely.
Friday dinner: I had browned 3 pounds of ground chuck Tuesday for meals for the week (Still have enough frozen for future meals)

Spaghetti and meat sauce, tossed salad, toasted rolls, blondies

Saturday joy: It was rainy and cooler, so I decided to stay in the house all day. I got a few things done, did some reading and listened to a lot of music. I have found since retirement, I have to share listening time since TheHub often likes to listen to different things than I do.

After dinner TheHub and I watched a movie we enjoyed, "The Samuel Project".

Saturday dinner: This was a basic no frills meal, but was helped by the leftover blondies.

Chicken, green beans, coleslaw

Sunday joy: I woke to a beautiful bouquet of flowers on the breakfast table. Though  we no longer exchange gifts for Mother's or Father's Day I always get flowers. I had much rather have them anyway.

We got ready for our Church's communion service, followed by the 8:30 traditional service, then Sunday School. As soon a it was over we ran home for a quick sandwich, changed clothes and headed to the BJCC to catch a matinee performance of "Beetlejuice The Musical".  I have now seen it and it is not something I have to see again. It was fine and the performers were very skilled, but a lot of the dialogue was beyond risque which was a shame since there were a lot of kids in the audience. 

We saw Son2 and DIL2 at the play and were happy to see he is off crutches now and only has to wear a brace. 

Sunday dinner: After the play we met them for dinner at The Pita Stop. We had really good food and even better company. We thought since we were eating at an off time, the Mother's Day restaurant crowd would be minimal. We were wrong.

Lamb kabobs, rice pilaf, cauliflower with garlic sauce, Mediterranean salad, /Grouper with all the previously mentioned fixings/ Chicken rollups, tabouleh

What might happen next week?

1. Out of town

2. Out of town

3. BLT salad

4. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, coleslaw

5. Fish, baked potato, tossed salad

6. Greek chicken, greek green beans , rice

7. Something cooked on the grill (TBD), baked potato, tossed salad

Books read in May

A Homemade Life

The Light of Days

The Making of Home

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

May all your weeks be wildflowers.

Anne

* Used from the freezer. At this rate I will never use all I have frozen. I need to have guests for dinner. Soon!

Oh no, just 34 weeks till Christmas

The only things I have done that is preparing for Christmas are so lame  that I hate to even post them, though I did promise transparency when I began the Christmas countdown. 

I found two old Christmas magazines and looked through them, marking some things I would like to try this year.

I found 2 Christmas candy recipes I want to try, possibly next week. One is called Aunt Billie's candy which seems to be almost a praline fudge.

The other is a Bolivian Christmas treat with just 4 ingredients. I will probably try it first since it is the simplest one.

Other than that I found a Christmas tree I would like to have, but I am a little leery of buying a tree without physically seeing it first, and pictures online can be deceiving.

And what of the holiday decoration strewn room, that is supposed to all be contained in the closet? I did head upstairs and worked a bit but I am still nowhere near finished. 

My discard pile is growing, as I find more and more I can get rid of. I thought as you age you should become more sentimental about things, but I find I am just the opposite. Or maybe I am better about prioritizing my sentimentality.

Week over . . . on to this week. I hope I do better! 

A Day Late

I know I generally post this on Monday's but I was either doing things that make me happier than anything else in the world, or was feeling icky so this just did not get done. No matter which was happening I am late getting this posted. I just needed a little more time.

 

Meals I was actually stupid enough to think would happen:

Veggie dinner TBD √

Spaghetti, tossed salad

BBQ chicken sandwich

Pasta salad or pasta with pesto 

Grilled tuna steaks, baked potato, coleslaw

Meatloaf, collards or coleslaw, new potatoes, 

Out to eat or take out√

Dinners and Joys that happened:

Monday joy:  This was a stay at home day, doing things around the house and skillfully avoiding the upstairs room of terror. I am an excellent procrastinator.

Monday dinner: We had been to our favorite produce guy the previous Saturday and had wonderful fresh veggies.

Squash and onions, corn on the cob, cucumber tomato onion salad

Tuesday: We did some running around doing errands. It did not take the entire day but sadly for TheHub he was still having to drive me wherever I needed to go.  

Tuesday dinner: We/I had planned on cooking pasta for a pasta salad, but changed my mind at the last minute.

Cobb salad

Wednesday joy: My Beloved Sister drove us to Independence Place for our volunteer time. She has started going with me whenever she can, and loves it as much as I do. To me there is no happier place to be, even though it is not Nirvana there. Squabbles and issues do erupt occasionally, but I have never seen anyone cross when I am there. There must be some power when cooking classes are happening (though it is probably just the anticipation of eating some treat) that overrules any  interpersonal conflicts.

TheHub took Son2 to PT since he can not drive yet, post surgery.  Since TheHub retired his new job seems to be as a chauffeur.  

Wednesday dinner: We had a minimum food purchase that had to be used in April. We were at the last possible day to use it, though we did order take out rather than eating in. 

Catfish, salad, rice pilaf, hush puppies, chocolate cake

Thursday joy: Finally! My long awaited appointment with our local Social Security office arrived. TheHub, my very patient driver, and I felt very early so I could be in the office about 15 minutes before the appointed time. As luck would have it, I was assigned to a lovely woman who (with all proper documentation, actually everything that identified me as me with the exception of a pint of my blood for DNA analysis) and I was in and out 3 minutes before my scheduled appointment. It felt wonderful, knowing that Alabama's DMV could no longer keep me from getting my license. 

We left SS, called Son2, and offered to get him and take him out for lunch. He had been going stir crazy and we thought it might be nice to get him out of the house.

After eating and taking him back to his house, we still had enough time to hit the DMV on our way home. 

I had every bit of information still with me, including my new SS name on official SS info specifically to present to the workers at the DMV.  I walked in to renew my license with all four of my names applied to my SS#, so our lovely DMV** could grant me access to the very same license number I have had since I was 16 years old. However, when I went in instead of just looking at the printout from SS they looked it up on the computer. Evidently new entires for SS do not turn over in their computer until midnight. After a month and a half with no license, I was not a happy camper.💣

Thursday dinner:  Bama softball played at 6, meaning a ball game meal was in store for dinner.

Toasted cheese tomato and onion sandwiches coleslaw tater tots

Friday joy: I got up and we messed around the house a bit before I went back to the DMV (I should at least be happy the satellite office is about 5 minutes from my house). From here on out I am going to consider May 2 as my emancipation day.

TheHub said he intended to tell me to come out with either a thumbs up or a thumbs down. If I had my thumb down he said he planned on driving off and leaving me to find my own ride home. Of course he was just kidding but he really did not want to hear me rant again like I did Thursday afternoon after being denied again.

While we were out we ran a few errands, went by the grocery store and then went out to eat lunch. Celebrations for both of us! I could drive wherever I wanted to go and TheHub no longer had to drive me. 

Of course for him the downside was not having my car available to him at all times, because my rear is not going to stay home like it has been, an my vehicle goes with me. It is not my fault he drives one of those uncomfortable German autos.

Friday dinner: Alabama played softball again so we planned another ball game meal. Then the game was rained out and we could have eaten anything.

Meatball* hoagie, coleslaw

Saturday joy: I know some of you are married to your phones and some are not. I fall into the not category. I turned my ringer off when I went to IP Wednesday and had not turned it back on Saturday. It was just a fluke that I noticed I had a message (several unseen messages actually, but only one that was time specific) 

It turns out Sluggy was stuck in Bessemer for the day, and asked me to come visit. 

I was able, through a torrential downpour, to make it there and have a visit. It was good to see her and I wish her nothing but peace and happiness in her new former home of Pennsylvania.

TheHub and I had plans for later that evening of I would have eaten with her. Instead I came home, made our dinner so we could go out catting about, the promptly threw up. I knew I did not feel great when I met Sluggy but was home before I realized just how I really felt. I am pretty sure it was food poisoning from something I ate late Friday night., 

Saturday dinner: This was made and at least one of us enjoyed dinner.

Pork chop*, potatoes, raw cauliflower, tomato slices

Sunday joy: After an unsettled extremely late night Saturday, I decided I did not feel up to  going to church. I stayed home, drank ginger tea and ate crackers. I did not want to try anything else because we had tickets to see Rhiannon Giddens at The Alys for Sunday evening. I still did not feel great, but did not feel horrid, so we went and enjoyed the night of American Folk music. The nicest thing about it was the music from all over the United States, and not just songs from The Appalachian region.

Sunday dinner: I was still not eating much and had not even thought of making dinner before the show.

Peanut butter and peach jam sandwiches for those of us eating

What may or may not happen this week:

1. Tacos

2. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans

3. Sloppy Joes, coleslaw

4. BLT salad, rolls

5. Spaghetti, tossed salad

6. White bbq chicken, caulitato salad

7. Out to eat/Take out

Books read in May:

A Homemade Life

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

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

* Used things from the freezer

**The Alabama DMV bureaucracy leaves no room for those who work there to use common, logical sense. I feel sorry for those employees who have to be the bearers of this nonsense.