Last Week Was Heavenly

Once again I was relying on the first song on my Spotify playlist to determine what I would be listening to for the week. Monday morning bright and early I opened Spotify, clicked on Discover Weekly and the first song I heard was this version of Pennies From Heaven. Since the only penny song I could think of off the top of my head was Penny Lane, I chose Heaven instead. Yes, I choose the easiest path.

Monday: Pip wanted to go thrifting again and we went to Vapor. It is a humming store that is crowded all of the time. Son1 went with us and even he got in on the thrift trend. Pip found 2 shirts and a pair of sunglasses there. I found a couple of silver necklaces to layer with some I already have, and Son1 found a couple of pairs of shorts.

We came home had a quick lunch and she decided she NEEDED to go to the Galleria. I begged out of going, but gave her some money to buy 2 things at Hollister, if she saw anything she liked. (Of course I knew she would find "likes")

Once home My Beloved Sister came over and they had a swim fest. Pip will stay in the water for hours by herself but loves it when others join her.

What I learned: Vapor really is a cool place for teens to find a lot of nice and reasonably priced clothes. Our total for everything was under 30 dollars.

Listened to: Stairway to Heaven

Dinner: Son2 and DIL2 joined us for dinner. It was a combo take out/ home made dinner.

BBQ pork butt, potato salad, mac and cheese, collards, baked beans, banana pudding, cheesecake

Tuesday: Sleeping Beauty AKA Pip woke in time to get ready and go with My Beloved Sister and me to my happy place. Pip told her dad on the flight into Nashville that she hoped she would get to go to Independence Place. She went with me last summer just for a visit, but Tuesday was my scheduled volunteer cooking day. We did an experimental mango poke cake which they loved, and especially loved having Pip with with them while they all ate the cake. 

One of the participants is non verbal and asked her (through his IPad) specifically to sit by him. 

After the cake they were a little hyped up (they actually were a high energy group before we got there) and we moved into a larger room for an impromptu dance party, including learning the haka. Now we are all ready to join in the next time we see a New Zealand soccer game.

What I learned: Pip told me she wants to work with Neurodiverse adults when she grows up.

Listened to: Thank Heaven for little girls

I remember seeing Gigi when I was a kid and how much I liked it, plus having Pip around reminds me of how much I needed to see that particular girl.

Dinner: The four of us went to Trivia night at The Electric and had a lot of fun. We were a pretty decent team and only missed 2 answers.

Reuben sandwiches, coleslaw or pepperoni flatbread

Wednesday: Pip and Son1 went to Son2's house to see the 3"puppies" who weigh anywhere from 87 pounds to the runt who is just barely 62 pounds.

While they were gone I attacked the mountains of laundry that had accumulated since we left to go to the Helen Keller play. 

What I learned: This is a lesson I have to learn again and again. Keep up with the blooming laundry!

Listened to: Heaven Must Have Sent You From Above

Who doesn't love a little Marvin Gaye and Tammie Terrell

Dinner: We met Son2 and DIL2 at Seasons 52. Everyone got something different but we all decided Pip won the best dish of the night with her choice of gnocchi. My watermelon tomato salad and the char grilled artichokes were close runners up.

Thursday: Son1 and Pip had to be in Nashville for their 4:30 flight. We left Birmingham at 9:30 and got through Nashville by about 12:45. Son3 and DIL3 met us at an extremely cool sandwich shop for lunch. We ate and visited until a little after two, dropped them off at the airport then started the trip home. 

By the time we were out of the airport and on the interstate, the traffic had picked up considerably. Ugh!!! It took us quite a while to get through Nashville, but once we were past the last suburbs we made decent time and got to Birmingham just in time to be in the drive time traffic. Another Ugh!!!

We did finally make it home and thankfully we had nothing to unload. 

What I learned: We are getting a little long in the tooth for an 8 hour driving day.

Listened to: Tears in Heaven

                                             What a lovely tribute to his son

Dinner:  We got in the house and I raided the refrigerator for a zap and eat dinner from the bbq leftovers.

Pulled pork, mac and cheese, potato salad, tomato slices ( And yes I understand we had no vegetables. Deal with it.)

Friday: This is what I am calling a perfect day.   I stayed home all day, got the sheets from the upstairs bedrooms washed and folded (did not go back up to make the bed) and had what I am calling a "fix it" day.

I did a good bit of mending, cut several inches from a dress to be hemmed to tunic length (did not start hemming) and repaired several pieces of jewelry. I had 2 necklaces that had lost the lobster claw clasp, a few bracelets that needed new jump rings, another bracelet that needed to be restrung, a couple of other necklaces that needed some quick renovations to be a little more current, and earrings that were too long for me to wear now (they just looked a little too young for my old face) but could be easily shortened.

Years ago I bought a set of jewelry tools, that sat unused until Friday. I was very glad I had them because it made the repairs very easy to do. I am also glad at the same time I bought them I bought packages of jump rings, earring backs, ear wires, lobster claw catches, and etc. Having what I needed on hand made all the difference in the world.

What I learned: If you have the proper tools repairs are so much easier.

Listened to: Knocking on Heaven's Door

Just in case you are wondering Bob Dylan is co-founder of Heaven's Door Whiskey

Dinner: Our tomatoes are going hog wild now and they need to be used at every meal.

BLT salad, crackers

Saturday: It was a beautiful morning, and because we have had so much rain lately, was a huge treat. Most mornings lately I have been greeted by overcast gray skies, so this was wonderful.

Mid-day TheHub and I went to play bingo at the Parkinson's of Alabama Jr. Board fundraiser. It was a fun event and one I think they can easily build on next year. Neither of us won, other than making a contribution, which we both think is a win since Parkinson's affects so many.

And right as we were leaving a gully washer hit complete with lightning and thunder. So much for the beautiful day!

What I learned: The Jr. Board has a brilliant game plan. A registration fee provided you with 2 bingo cards and some refreshments. However they were playing 3 games, which meant you needed to buy an additional card if you wanted to play the third game. 

Listened to: Heaven is a Place on Earth

Belinda Carlisle after her Go-Go's days and " We've Got the Beat"

Dinner: We had a few taco shells left over from last week that needed to be used, along with some ground chuck that was thawed

Tacos and all the fixings

Sunday: We were back in our usual Sunday routine of waking early to go to the communion service before going into the sanctuary for our traditional morning service. Our Sunday school class does not meet in July and will start back the first Sunday in August.

So, as church was over at 9:30, we headed home to make a big breakfast. I am not normally a breakfast eater, but I had been awake for several hours and was getting hungry.

We hung around the house for the rest of the day and both of us were tired. Not sure why but we were. 

TheHub took a nap while I worked straightening 2 shelves in the freezer

What I learned: I learned that the biblical measure for flour, 1 ephah is roughly 5.8 gallons of flour

Listened to: Heaven Knows

I have no idea how I thought of this song. I had to do a google search based on the few lyrics I knew to come up with the song title and band.

Dinner: I found a large pack of vegetable soup in the freezer, so our dinner planned itself. I also found a can of fruit cocktail in the pantry that needed to be used.

Vegetable soup, fruit cocktail cobbler*

Book read: Once There Were Wolves

Have a great week.

May all your weeds be wildflowers

Anne

*This was an experiment using canned juice packed fruit cocktail and pancake mix. I was surprised how well it worked out.