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.