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
Lovely week! Yes, we had monsoon rains at 11 pm last night ( I think that was the time, I was groggy when awakened by thunder and nonstop lightning.) My backyard looks like a soggy pond! I went to Decoration Day over the weekend at two different churches in two different counties, decorated relative’s graves, and met up with my dear cousin, took a walk in the park of my hometown, and had a fabulous time! I have slept since because I was worn out! Plan to return to N. A. to see my oldest next week. He had to work when cousin and I were meeting up. Driving 6 to 8 hours a day wears me out, but the trips are worth it! I made baked beans, watermelon, and hot dogs.since it is only one of me, that watermelon will be eaten all week as well as the beans! Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteWe had rains but they were not torrential.
DeleteIt is nice to meet up with cousins, isn't it. I know you had mentioned once before that you were from North Alabama. That's a trek from your neck of the woods. One our recent trip and drives, we found driving 6 hours a day is the absolute most we want to do.
We kind of cheat with Memorial Day. Winn Dixie near TheHubs former office is still operational and they are continuing to smoke and sell baby back ribs for little more than they cost buying them uncooked. I figure they sell them so cheaply to get you in the store and buying the rest of your Memorial Day needs there. We didn't.
I wouldn't go out to eat in shorts and a sleeveless top either, as I am too modest for my own good. The Conecuh sausage is so good and flavorful, just delicious. I hope you can get your pool cleared up soon.
ReplyDeleteMine is not so much modesty as it is just figuring nobody needs to see that! I would probably scare small children and make dogs bark!
DeleteI like the idea of starting the day with a home spa self care. What's a crack chicken?
ReplyDeleteCrack chicken is named because it is so addictive https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/slow-cooker-crack-chicken/
DeleteIt does sound like a mostly good week. And, as always made better by the folks from Independence Place. I wonder whether they realise how happy they make you?
ReplyDeleteIf they see how big my smile is when I am around them, then they have to know
DeleteEarlier today I sauteed mushrooms with a ridiculous amount of butter and Cabernet to blanket our steaks ... and wouldn't you know 'someone' was highly skeptical, only arranging them on the far side of his plate. His loss!
ReplyDeleteI think it's darn refreshing to hear someone else over the age of 40 won't go out in shorts and a tank top.
The steak sounds delicious
DeleteI don’t know anyone in my circle of friends who would wear shorts in a restaurant.
I think my tank-top days are over, too. :)
ReplyDeleteI have never worn those to a restaurant except possibly when I was a very young child. Even though life is much more casual than it was when I was young, people still dress nicely to go out
DeleteI would be okay with shorts and a tank top at a fast food joint, but only on a really hot day. Thought I must admit I haven't worn make-up in about 7-8 years. I quit wearing it while I was still working, as I was so stressed I cried a lot. Had I been thinking clearly, I ought to have gone out on stress leave, at least for a couple of months, but the thought of returning after a long break just seemed impossible...so I stuck it out.
ReplyDeleteYour week sounds lovely to me, even if you didn't tackle THAT room. :)
I live in the south and at a restaurant other than a fast food restaurant wearing that would just be kind of frowned on. If it is really hot , a sundress is the coolest option I would wear out and about
DeleteTuesday and Wednesday were very wet but the weekend recovered. Today was perfect. Trese leche cake is heaven.
ReplyDeleteThe cake was very good but not one I would choose normally
DeleteI'm envious of your shorts and tank top weather. It's been rather cool over here and I'm bundled up in multiple layers. Your meals all sound delicious. Now I'm wanting apple pie!
ReplyDeleteIt is a little cooler now because of the rains, but once they stop the temps and the humidity creep back.
DeleteA solution to avoiding your horror room might be to avoid Sluggy's phone calls! Just a thought!
ReplyDeleteI can ignore suggestions as easily as I have been ignoring the room.
DeleteHow well I know the two shower days! In that weather a shower is very nice but the best cooling effect comes from a swim!
ReplyDeleteSydneysiders go everywhere in flip flops and gym gear. It's mildly appalling. I'm glad there are places where people still dress nicely
It might just be a southern thing, but people dress nicely, even in casual wear. Except maybe to go to Walmart and you can truly see everything imaginable there.
DeleteWay to go on working on the pantry. Sounds like a yummy dinner on Monday. Sounds like a busy Tuesday. Your meals always sound good. We don't plan too much but we do take things out of the freezer which is pretty empty right now. We need a Costco run. We have our veggies planted but still looking for a few more. Enjoy your week.
ReplyDeleteThat pantry was a mess and needed a head to toe straightening.
DeleteHope you get to Costco. I do not like to go there but do on occasion. Our Costco has fantastic steaks.
I love the heat, what is a two shower day?
ReplyDeleteA two shower day is one of those days you get up and take a shower, and are so gross by early evening that a second shower is required. (It usually involves either yard work, massive sunscreen or both)
DeleteYour meal plans (and substituted meals) always sound delicious!! I went to see Bennie on Saturday and bought fresh squash and tomatoes - I tried something new with the squash. I sliced it and sprayed it with Pam and sprinkled on some seasonings and dumped it into the air fryer. It was pretty good. I might do it again simply to keep from dirtying a pan haha!
ReplyDeleteI am going to try that with squash. I get it every week and we love it
DeleteI definitely have to wash sunscreen off before I go to bed. And, being a pale person, I require sunscreen on a lot of days. Getting into bed with that sticky sunblock feel is not something I want! Your menu sounds delicious, including your substitutes. We have a lot of bread taking up space in our freezer, so we need to use it up & make room - Hawaii Planner
ReplyDeleteI am pretty pale also and wear sunblock whenever I am going to be in the sun, including wearing it on my face daily. I have to shower before I get in the bed if I have it on my skin or I can't sleep.
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