A Week of Training

Choo Choo Cha Cha was the first song on my Spotify Discover Weekly playlist Monday morning. At first I thought I only know one song with choo choo in the title, so I decided to give myself a little grace and just think of songs with train in the title. That was easy enough, but then I thought of a few more which just mention trains in the body of the lyrics, so I added them at the end to amuse myself for your listening pleasure.

Monday: This day was just what I needed. Other than needing to run to the bank, I was able to stay home all day. It was glorious!

The day was hot and muggy but that was even fine with me, because the bank has a drive through and I did not have to change out of shorts, flip flops and a tee shirt. I call that a win!

What I learned: More about the MLB trades than I needed or wanted to know. I am currently outnumbered at the house and discussions tend to be sports related.

Listened to: Chattanooga Choo Choo

Dinner: Though I had intended to grill, the weather had other plans. I am just thankful I recently bought a cast iron grill pan for indoor grilling.
White bbq chicken, potato salad, green beans, sliced tomatoes

Tuesday: This was a second day in a row I had no activities planned. I was able to change the sheets and do a bit of work in the laundry room. My laundry room was originally for laundry, sewing, and was supposed to have studio space for art projects (never happened). Over the years it became a dumping ground for anything that did not have a dedicated space. 

The room is overflowing and the time has come to either find places for things or get rid of them.

While I was in the laundry room my ferret brain told me instead of finishing cleaning, I needed to restyle a couple of things I had put on the sewing machine cabinet. I like them but they are dated. Now, with a few snips and a little tweaking they have been given another life.

What I learned: I have fabric scissors of my own, but I also inherited Mom's. I had never really used them until Tuesday. What a difference really nice scissors make!

Listened to: Freight Train

Dinner: TheHub wanted something that I do not cook__ever.*  He ran to our local meat and three and grabbed it for us to eat at home.

Catfish, squash, okra, hushpuppies

Wednesday:

Listened to Midnight Train to Georgia

Dinner: Hot dogs and fixings

Thursday: Son3's work plans changed and he would be finished a day earlier than planned. Nothing much during the day. DIL3 got into town right as I was leaving to go meet several cousins for either a really late lunch or a really early dinner. I asked her is she would like to come with us but she declined, saying she had some work things she would do while waiting for Son3 to finish.

My Beloved Sister drove this time and we were caught in possibly the worst rainstorm I have been in. I am not a sissy about lightning and thunder but when it is raining so hard your windshield wipers can't keep up with the rain, I don't like it. Luckily there was a traffic snarl which normally irritates me. Instead this time every single car was barely moving, and after about 10 miles we ran out of the storm. The congestion remained the same, but at least MBS could see the gozillion cars on the road ahead of us.

Once we finally got to the restaurant, the rain had cleared.

What I learned: There is always one idiot driver who thinks he/she is going to be able to drive fast and weave in and out of traffic in a downpour. It does not work! 

Listened to: Love Train

Dinner: Met 5 cousins or their spouses at TheHalf Shell Oyster House. We were there for almost 3 hours and normally I would have felt bad occupying a table that long. We were there by 4:15 which is not a traditional dinner time, but I also imagine the weather killed the plans for a lot of diners. By the time we left there were only about 10 tables filled in a very large restaurant.

Shrimp and grits, asparagus

Friday: Woke and had coffee and talked with DIL3 and Son3.

Son2 and DIL2 came over for lunch and to visit with Son3 and DIL3 before they left to head back to Nashville. They decided since his job was done sooner than they thought, they would to drive back to Nashville Friday rather than Saturday morning as they had originally planned. They were going to leave Birmingham very early Saturday to be back in Nashville for the Tomato Festival, and it made a lot more sense to head out, have a leisurely drive back and enjoy Saturday's festivities.

What I learned: I learned what the Tomato Festival is, and what goings on happen during it.

Listened to: Crazy Train

Dinner: I had planned on having a salad, but TheHub had a salad for lunch and did not want another for dinner. So our dinner plans just changed forms.

BLT sandwich

Saturday: I was extremely tired Saturday and did very little until it was time to dress to go to an anniversary party for my dearest and closest cousin and her husband. It was a lovely party held at her son's house. The only downside to being married in August is having a celebration then is hot. I mean really hot!

My Beloved Sister and I went together, talking and laughing, and silently hoping the almost daily afternoon thundershower would hold off. It did, mostly.

And in spite of the heat, I was so thankful to be able to celebrate their success building a life and family together. I love them all.

What I learned: I met the newest addition to our extended family. I learned in spite of a serious medical issue when he was born, he is now thriving and gaining weight. Like Kim always says at the end of her blog posts "God is good".

Listened to: Peace Train

Dinner: I knew I would be getting home from the anniversary party right about dinner time and wanted something that would be an easy to make meal. Again I am so glad I bought a cast iron grill pan recently.

Steak, baked potato, tossed salad

Sunday: We woke, went to the early communion service, 8:30 church followed by Sunday School. 

On our way home we decided to go out for lunch. I seem to remember saying we needed to quit eating out as much as we do. Hollow words!

 Once we finished eating we headed to Aldi and Publix for a little cherry picking. I keep a running list of whatever is a really good deal (there have been very few lately) and go ahead and snag them. Once home, and after putting the groceries away, I did a few mundane chores, visited with a neighbor an bit then did some serious reading. (Only serious in the amount of time I read, not the reading material)

Later Sunday night we began watching a new series, Furious. It looks like it is something we will enjoy watching.

What I learned: Our senior minister at our church is going to leave to pursue a different sort of ministry. He will become a minister or consultant to ministers who face the struggles that come with their positions.

Listened to: This Train

 

Dinner: Now that it is just the two of us for dinner again, our meals will be even simpler.

Lady peas, coleslaw, mac and cheese

Bonus songs that just mention a train.

You Never Even Call Me By My Name

You have to wait for the last verse for this one, but it is worth it.

500 Miles

City of New Orleans

Read this week:  Glitz, Glamour and a Damn Good Time**

Have a great week.

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

* I will cook fish any way but frying it. I can't stand the way the house smells after that.

** If any of you have watched The Golden Age on HBO you might like this book about Mamie Fish.