Dang, Oh It’s Django

Decades ago my beloved sister and I were at an art exhibit at the Birmingham Museum of Art. It was one of those where you get a recording explaining all the different works of art. I don't remember the actual exhibit (we used to go to a lot of them) but when we passed a particular piece of art we were gobsmacked by the music that was playing while we were viewing it.

And because we have no shame we had to find out who the performer was. Once we found out it was Django Reinhart, I had to go to the  music store (remember when you had to buy cassette tapes or CDs?) to find this artist.

I have been listening to him off and on ever since, and have developed an affinity for gypsy jazz.

Monday my Spotify Discover Weekly playlist had the song Danjologie first up. Turns out this was recorded by Django's son, Babik, which meant this weeks listening had to be devoted to the sounds of Django Reinhart. This was not hard for me.

Monday: I had a lazy and delightful morning of coffee and reading. It was wonderful.

I managed to clean out the armoire where I keep all of my clothes that are not hung in the closet. Each time I straighten it I make sure everything in there fits my needs and is something I actually wear. If not, it lands in my donations bag which is now overflowing. I need to itemize everything and move it on, out of the house.

TheHub and I had to run a few errands including going to Costco, which is my least favorite place to go. At least it was not as crowded as it is on the weekends! After we left there we ran by a couple of grocery stores to do a bit of cherry picking.

What I learned: I need to go through every single thing in my bedroom (not just clothes) and get rid of everything I don't use anymore.

Listened to: Sweet Georgia Brown

Dinner: TheHub wanted veggies so we went to our local meat and three

Stuffed bell pepper, turnip greens, okra

Tuesday: Son3 was going to be working in Birmingham for a week and a half. They only have 1 car and DIL3 needed to stay in Nashville so we met them halfway, had lunch, and drove Son3 the rest of the way here. 

He has access to TheHub's car and the two of us just coordinated our calendars to share my car for the time being.

On the way home we stopped at the Dutch Oven Bakery in Faulkville. It is a Mennonite run bakery filled with deliciousness. I stocked up on their cheesecakes. I keep them in the freezer as a grab and go to have on hand to share with anyone who might need a little something.

Listened to: The Sheik of Araby

 

Dinner: We had to use a club minimum by the 30th. We ordered take out rather than eating there.

Cobb Salad

Wednesday: This was a home based day for the most part, but we did run by the grocery store before going 2 places to look at chairs. We are updating our patio and pool deck furnishings. TheHub wants a specific type of Adirondack chair which we found at a couple of places. Now he has to make a decision about which type he wants, one with lumbar support or the straight back. 

What I learned: Polywood is definitely the way we want to go for furniture that will be in the elements year round.

Listened to: Dark Eyes

Dinner: Grilled grouper, saffron rice, grilled vegetables

Thursday: I woke and read a bit before getting my appreciation baskets ready to be delivered to the church employees I was assigned for June and July. We were out of town much of June and kept missing the person I was assigned to when I was around. The same happened through July, but June's recipient was available Thursday as was the guy who was my July person. I am glad I could kill two birds with one stone!

As soon as I delivered them, I picked up my sister and we drove to CVS to be a shuttle service. We were headed to a get together of people who lived in our childhood neighborhood and the parking at the house was limited. 

Well obviously we are no longer the kids who all played together, but we all share the same memories. Some of those who were there I had not seen since I was 13 years old, and it was great catching up with everyone.

Listened to:  All of Me

Dinner: The gathering began at 2:30 and we all finally left a little before 6. I had no idea that much time had passed and I had nothing started for dinner. Take out___again

Chicken Salad Chick plate

Friday:  We are changing our very outdated wills and had an appointment with the estate lawyer. Son2 went with us to outline what he is to do after we are gone. The meeting lasted about an hour and a half, which is a long time in typical attorney 15 minute billing cycles. 

Once done, we ran by the house and grabbed Son3, then met DIL2 at The Dip for lunch and conversation.

Back at the house we mainly hung out doing laundry and regular household chores. 

What I learned: If I am paying for legal advice, take it without question. They know more about it than I do.

Listened to: I'll See You in My Dreams

Dinner: I was trying to cut the carbs from one of TheHub's favorite meals. (It worked)

Spaghetti sauce over palmini "noodles", tossed salad 

Saturday: I spent the morning tidying the house and doing laundry. Then reading (can't forget to mention the reading)

TheHub and Son3 ran into overly crowded Costco to pick up a few items we needed for dinner. Several months ago I had made a proclamation that I would not go to Costco on a Friday evening, Saturday, or Sunday ever again, and I didn't go.

Anyway it was kind of them to pick up the steaks, and since they were going to be there anyway, I added a couple of things to the list .

What I learned: While doing laundry, I found a removable strap that had come off one of my summer tops about a week ago, but did not attach it the minute I found it. After misplacing it again, I learned to take care of small details immediately rather than thinking "I'll do it in just a sec" because a million things might happen between right then and later.

Listened to: Honeysuckle Rose

Dinner: We celebrated Son2's birthday with a dinner. My Beloved Sister also joined us and there was a lot of laughter.

Grilled steaks*, baked potato, tossed salad, croissants, cake

Sunday: Because Son3 was here we did not do our normal Sunday morning church activities. Instead we stayed home with him, had coffee and conversations. 

Afterward I was able to stream the traditional service. Essentially, I attended without actually going.

This was a laundry and reading kind of day. The skies were gray with low hanging clouds that threatened to rain all day and I was glad to stay either inside or on the screened porch. (Have I ever mentioned how nice porch reading sans mosquitos and under a ceiling fan is?)

What I learned: I learned that the three sons of Herrod the Great were given separate territories to govern. I knew about two of them but had no idea about the third.

Listened to: Brazil

Dinner: We had a late lunch and no one was very hungry.

Grilled cheese sandwich

Read this week: Everyone is Lying to You (quick read)

                            Dungeon Crawler Carl (this is like intergalactic 

                            Hunger Games, meets A Hitchhiker's Guide to the                                  Galaxy)

Have a great week!

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

*You can find Prime steaks at Costco. These were so good I am going next week and getting a few more to stick in the freezer. They were  thick enough that TheHub and I each ate only 1/3 of our shared steak. 4 steaks fed 6 of us with enough left over for another meal for 2. Since Son2 was the birthday boy we insisted he take the leftovers home.