Foods and Fun

This was a week of large and small joys and few true disappointments. At the very least I am not still totally teed off about the road trip being cancelled, so I will take the good times, even if a few bad ones get thrown in the mix.

This week begins SEC football season and the beginning of football season houseguest. The first is due Friday afternoon, so I need to do some intense cleaning. This is not my strong suit. I could use Kim's Sissie right now!

Menu that was planned:

Chicken piccata over pasta, broccoli

Shrimp and grits, coleslaw

Korean beef over rice, Asian-ish salad

Big salad meal

Out to eat at Hot and Hot

We have a family reunion Saturday and most likely will just eat fruit  or tossed salad 

Grilled tuna steaks, tossed salad, croissants 

Joys and how close or not I followed the planned menu

Monday joy: I guess the joy was just getting the laundry done and reading, of course. Oh and did I mention the joy of air conditioning.

Monday dinner: I am trying to get out of the food rut we have been in.

Korean rice bowl, tossed salad

Tuesday joy: The day was slightly cooler, and it was actually pleasant outside Tuesday night.

Talked with Sluggy and had a lot of laughs. I know she is still recovering, but she sounds so much better than she did the last time I spoke with her! 

And another joy was getting the up-lights in front of the house installed. It makes a huge difference in the way our house looks at night. If I were a decent photographer I would post a picture, but I am not.

Tuesday dinner: Still trying to break out of our dinner rut. At least I made a different marinade this time.

Grilled tuna steaks, tossed salad, croissants

Wednesday joy: Someone told me to check out Bravo's  The Housewives Ultimate Vacation, so I did. They were in St Barths and now I know what we did wrong on our vacation. We did not dress to the  nines  have our makeup and hair done every night for dinner, while yelling and screaming at each other across the table. Instead we sat, talked, laughed and reminisced. 

Wednesday dinner: Our dinner was also one fi the days joys. We met 2 of our friends at Hot and Hot. Once again there was no yelling across the tables, just fun and laughter. I think I am very lucky to not be one of those TV famous housewives.

Tomato salad (me), grouper (TheHub) and we shared a slice of blueberry cream cake 

Thursday joy I was thrilled to go to my happy place to volunteer. Since I was supposed to be out of town most of August, we had not made plans for me to be there. As it turned out they had some free time Thursday and My Beloved Sister and I were thrilled to get to go.

Thursday dinner: I brought home a doggie bag left over from Wednesday's meal. The tomatoes needed to be used right away.

Huge salad

Friday joy: Other than running to Publix to get the bogo peanut butter, I was at home. Since I had a choice of housework or reading I naturally chose reading.

Friday dinner: Don't even believe when I went to Publix I only bought the peanut butter I specifically went to buy. I also found another sale item that meant I would not have to  really cook. To me, making a pot of rice and grating a bit of cabbage is not really cooking.

PF Chang frozen meal, rice, coleslaw

Saturday joy: Every year one of my cousins and his wife welcome the hoard to their home for a family reunion. For some reason we were not able to go last year, and it had been a couple since I had seen several of my cousins. Not only was seeing them fun, but the weather really did cooperate. We have had a few days of unseasonal really pleasant weather.  

After the reunion we stopped at a small produce stand and found some things we needed and some we just wanted.

Saturday dinner:  I knew we would not be hungry for dinner after eating such a big meal at the reunion lunch. Instead we met my cousin and her husband who live in San Antonio for drinks.

An adult beverage or two, shared flatbreads

Sunday joy: We started the day with church, came home for a less than stellar lunch, then started watching the golf tournament (or reading). It is entirely possible both sets of eyes closed during our activity of choice and a short nap followed. Sunday is the only day of the week I fall asleep during the day, but an afternoon nap seems mandatory for some reason. Of course we both "rest our eyes"  in the den. Somehow or another a nap in the bedroom would seem too self indulgent.

Sunday dinner: While at the produce stand Saturday we found something we both decided would be great for dinner, and the fact that it only had to be baked was a win in my book.

Tomato pie, mixed greens salad

Meals for the week, maybe

Shrimp and grits, coleslaw

Chicken piccata,  pasta, broccoli

Stuffed baked potato, tossed salad

Burgers, butterbean and corn salad

Ball game dinner (I will be here alone so popcorn maybe?)

Big Salad meal

Grilled pimento cheese sandwiches, coleslaw

Books read in August (I have a busy week so this might be it for the month)

The Skin Collector

Dark Archives

The Rose Code 

The Thirteenth Child

Hillbilly Elegy

Have a great week staying on plan, going off plan, or with no plan at all.

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

Meals and other stuff

I enjoyed the beginning of the week while we were still in Portland, but by the remainder of the week, I was busy feeling petty about the cancelled road trip.  Plus it was as hot as Hades when got back to the south. Neither made me happy. 

I continued to sulk for a few days, which did no harm to anyone but me. Nonetheless I continued doing it until Saturday when I decided I just needed to stop.

As part of my sulking I did read your blog but was too busy pouting to comment. Apologies to all. I'll be back to normal soon.

Monday joy:  Pip  came over for breakfast, (cool little pastry shop a block from the hotel)  then left to get her friend and come back over over for a swim and a snack ( yes I am a sucker) I truly enjoyed watching them swim and not try to be/act older than they are. Kids seem to grow up so much faster now, and it was a true joy seeing them just be kids.

Monday dinner: DIL1 made the most delicious meal, then we watched some Olympic highlights. 

Mediterranean-ish/Italian-ish stuffed baked potato

Tuesday joy: Son1 came by the hotel and had tea while TheHub drank tea and I had coffee. He left and we had a little time before we picked up he and Pip to go eat lunch with DIL1's father and stepmother. 

We had one of the most enjoyable visits we have ever had with them.

 While we were at lunch Pip had a great idea. she thought we should go to Collage, a really cute DIY store in Portland, "just to look". Of course we did. She bought a canvas bag  and a set of acrylic paints. She wanted to paint a fall tree on her bag to hang in her room for when the seasons change. 

Fortunately painting is in my wheel house so I had her practice on a couple of blank sheets of paper before transferring her design to her bag. She picked up the technique to make the leaves look mottled very quickly, and in the end, was thrilled with her bag.

Tuesday dinner: We wanted to take them out to dinner and also invited DIL1's mom so we could see her one more time before we left. 

Gnocchi and whatever everyone else had for dinner at Luna.

Wednesday joy: I was extremely glad I bought a sweater when we took Pip to Target. The return flight was a cold as the flight out and the cardigan kept me warm. Of course, once we got off the plane in Nashville the sweater had to come off the minute we stepped off the plane and onto the jet bridge.

We had an uneventful drive home, stopping only at Buccee's for a little relief, (best restrooms ever) and got to our house by about 11:30. Our aim was to be home by midnight, so we were a tad ahead of our self imposed schedule. I will gladly use the Nashville to Portland route for future travel to Portland. Even with the drive, it is easier and about as quick as going through Atlanta.

Wednesday dinner: We stopped on the drive home from Nashville and grabbed a quick car meal.

Chicken fajita from Buccee's

Thursday joy: Portland was unseasonably cool and we had been relishing the 70 degree days. When I woke Thursday morning, Alabama was not quite so generous. It is hard to be joyful going to the grocery store in the relentless heat and humidity. 

I do have groceries now, so that was a joy, but man oh man, was it ever hot unloading them. Still it was done now, and I have eggs and bread, and all the other things I refused to buy because we were supposed to be on the three week road trip. 

Once TheHub came home from work ( yes, he is still going to the office)  I ate a quick dinner then we ran a couple of errands. He wanted to see if our Target had a particular jacket he saw while we were in Portland but was not in his size.

Thursday dinner: The first thing TheHub mentioned when he walked in the door from the office was that he had salad for lunch. I was planning the same for dinner. 

I know part of it is still being angry about the trip, but he is coming perilously close to being kicked off the island.

Sunflower salad* and croissant for me, half a pimento cheese** sandwich for TheHub

Friday joy: I was tired, not tired enough to go to sleep before 3 am, but tired enough that I slept late. Other than sticking a couple of loads of laundry in the machines, I was content to read and drink coffee the remainder of the morning.

By the time the afternoon rolled around I had done some indulgent self care read a little more while I listened to some gorgeous music. It was just too blooming hot to go anywhere, especially since I could stay home in the a/c wearing shorts and flip flops.

Friday dinner: I had cooked some pasta during the morning and planned on having a cold dinner meal.

Pasta salad, iced tea (lots of iced tea)

Saturday joy: TheHub picked our lone apple from our apple trees. It was the only one the squirrels were unable to claim as their own. You might think with 2 producing apple trees we would get at least a few, but nope. 

Luckily they have not really paid attention to the pear trees in the front yard. The trees did not have a big yield this year, but at least other than losing a couple to the birds we were able to harvest them.

We decided to try a new place (at least new to us) for lunch. We met Son2 and DIL2 at Price's on the main street of Pinson, a small incorporated place on the outskirts of town (actually about 35 miles from us) 

In its former life it was a true apothecary with (I am assuming ) a soda fountain. Now, the store's surrounds are filled with old pharmaceutical packaging, lotions and potions from the past, along with cosmetics of indeterminate age. It functions as a mini museum/eatery with sandwiches and of course various ice. ream  based treats.

The food was very good and the ice cream was delicious.

On the drive home TheHub and I decided we need to start going somewhere new each week. If we can't drive across the country we can at least drive a few miles to do something different.

On our list for the next several weeks: 

                   Boondocks in Brierfield

                   J &J Grocery in Bessemer 

                   Rattlesnake Saloon in Tuscumbia 

                   Waysider Restaurant in Tuscaloosa

                   Melt in Birmingham

                   And anywhere else that strikes our fancy.

Saturday dinner: Neither of us were very hungry

Cottage cheese, pears or peaches

Sunday joys: We went to church then stopped by a couple of grocery stores to get a few needed things and one total indulgence. Can you say peach ice  cream?

We watched the round of the FedEx golf tournament because we were pulling for a local guy to make it to the next round. He did by the skin of his teeth.

Sunday dinner: Toasted cheese sandwiches, cucumber onion and tomato salad

Possible meals for the week:

1. Chicken piccata over pasta, broccoli

2. Shrimp and grits, coleslaw

3. Korean beef over rice, Asian-ish salad

4. Big salad meal

5. Out to eat at Hot and Hot

6. We have a family reunion Saturday and most likely will just eat fruit  or tossed salad for dinner

7. Grilled tuna steaks, tossed salad, croissants 

Books read in August

The Skin Collector

Dark Archives

The Rose Code 

The Thirteenth Child

Have a great week staying on plan, going off plan, or with no plan at all.

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

                  

* Thank you, Belinda for turning me on to this salad from Aldi. I had never seen it before and it is delicious.

** While we were at Target Thursday night TheHub decided he would like a pimento cheese sandwich for a late dinner. I told him to have at it, but he needed to buy the stuff already prepared because I was not going home and make it. 

He did, even though it meant an additional stop at ThePig. (I think he is trying to get back in my good graces because he also picked up some of their bakery made white chocolate macadamia cookies he knows I love.)

Whew, just made it

As has become my habit, I am including the meals and joys on the same day. It is just easier for my incredibly forgetful self to handle, but now I seem to be forgetting the dual post as well.  This one will be published with just minutes left on Monday.  Too much, too little, too late?

Monday joy: TheHub went to work while I stayed home. I actually like being at home on Mondays because it lets me do things that need to be done which frees up the week.He came in early and we had a few errands to run. 

Monday dinner: While we were out doing some shopping we decided to stop at the Pita Cafe for dinner

Racer with a side of tabbouleh

Tuesday joy: TheHub is enjoying his retirement by going into the office again. I stayed at home mainly because it was so dang hot.  Air conditioning is a huge joy!

Tuesday dinner: I had decided to use what we had here for meals rather than go to the store and buy anything else.

Au gratin potatoes, tomato slices, pickled okra

Wednesday joy: I was able to go to my happy place again with my beloved sister. This week we were able to make some Olympic themed treats since they were celebrating The Olympics. My favorite people are the participants of The Independence Place. Walking in there feels like I have just had a bucket of joy thrown all over me.

Wednesday dinner:  Even though I got home in time to cook, I did not get home in time to get anything thawed to cook. Instead we did take out.

Whatever we had was not memorable and I have totally forgotten what we bought.

Thursday joy; It was too hot to have my coffee on the porch so I sat at the table, read and drank too much coffee while I read. Now tell me why I decided to read a book on quantam physics. I guess I just wanted to know how little I knew (that statement still applies) 

Thursday dinner: I was still struggling to keep from shopping, but I had a tim of corned beef, about 10 new potatoes that needed to be used and a slightly soft onion. 

Corned beef hash, coleslaw

Friday joy: After a torrential rain storm and high winds that knocked branches from our oak tree  and left trees all over the neighborhood down, we celebrated Son2's birthday. He is truly one of the best people I know. and the joy is knowing what a wonderful man he turned out to be. 

Friday dinner: We met Son2 and DIL2 at sSeasons 52 for his birthday dinner.

Various entrees, but mine was lamb loin, asparagus and truffle mashed potatoes. (about half of it came home with me)

Saturday: THeHub went into the office again. retirement is not taking! While he was gone I entertained myself with olympic fever, while reading more of the physics book. I guess I am a glutton for punishment.

As much as I try to summon my inner Faraday, it is just not working. There is a reason I am not a physicist

My joy is realizing my limitations both in sports and science.

Saturday Dinner: The fridge had a half a jar of hot salsa and a half a jar of queso. A little kitchen magic was needed to turn it into dinner.. TheHub stopped on his way home to grab a bag of salad. I do not usually buy bagged salad, but I did not want anything leftover. I padded said bag with tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes and green onions and then I had leftover salad anyway.

Mexican-ish chicken and pasta dish, tossed salad.

Sunday: joy: TheHub and I had a slow morning  watching the olympic golf final. I was happy Scottie Scheffler took the gold medal.Once it was over  he decided to run into the office for a bit. While he was gone I got involved finishing the stupid physics book and watching more olympic games Who would have thought watching women ride bikes through the streets of Paris would be so addicting. THeHub came home when the race was about half over and neither of us moved until the winner crossed the finish line.We celebrated the winner, whose name I promptly forgot.

Sunday dinner: After the race was finished it was time for me to start thinking about dinner.. I had taken a couple of pork chops out of the freezer to thaw and knew we were having that, but had no idea how ai would be making them.

Pork chops with a mushroom, caper wine reduction, saffron rice, leftover tossed salad

p.s. I could not find my glasses, and as much as I tried to proof this, all the words look like ant scribblings, so please be kind!

 

Lunch Trial

 A few weeks ago I was griping mentioning that I was going to be in lunch mode and was looking for some new and easy things for a handy do-it-yourself meal. I have seen that some people use beans instead of tuna for vegetarian sandwich spread. As I was looking through the pantry for the makings for saffron rice for dinner, I happened on a can of garbanzo beans that had been loitering for a while. I figured today was as good of a day as any to try it and see if it would be an option to keep in the fridge.

I am kind of funny about recipes and honestly believe most of them are just a suggestion*. The following is my freeform trial making it.

1 can garbanzo beans, well drained

1 tablespoon minced onion

2 tablespoons diced celery

2 gerkins, finely chopped

seasoned salt (a shake or 2)

nutritional yeast** (about 1/2 teaspoon)

mayonnaise to taste (I used a little over a tablespoon)

Durkee's*** special sauce ( one healthy squeeze)

In a medium bowl, mash the garbanzo beans to your personal desired consistency. I am a tactile eater so I left mine on the chunkier side and it was more like shredded chicken, in look and feel.

Once you have the beans as you like them add veggies, seasoned salt, and nutritional yeast and stir to combine before adding the mayonnaise and Durkee's. Mix well and it is ready to eat as is, but is a little better after living in the refrigerator for an hour or so.

That is pretty much all there is to it. I know it would be good on bread for a sandwich but I am not a huge sandwich eater, especially at lunch. Instead I ate mine on a plate with crackers and celery hearts.

I was actually pleased with the way it tasted and also the mouthfeel. This made enough for 2 generous servings and it is something I will make again and I can see us having it a couple of times a month.

TheHub is still transitioning toward retirement (even though he is officially retired) and has been in the office everyday for two weeks. He says this is the last week, (I will believe it when I see it) so lunches should become a reality soon.

If you give it a try let me know what you did differently.

*Some baking actually requires following a recipe

** I mixed everything except the nutritional yeast together and tasted it. It did not have any real flavor so I added the nutritional yeast. Huge difference!

*** Durkee's sauce has become very hard to find here and it is something I always try to have on hand.  When I finally located it I got 2 bottles. Amazingly shortly after I had bought it, Son1 called (the one who lives in Portland). He was at Safeway when he saw some, and it went home with him He was so excited because he said he was able to finally have a satisfying ham sandwich. Probably it was just reminiscent of what he grew up eating.

When I was on the hunt for it, I asked The Pig manager if they had any. They didn't at that time but the last time I was in the store, there is was, on the shelf. And that is what I love about my local Pig!

And another month appears

 

Dinners and Lots of Joy

Again I am posting both the meal plan and joys in the same post. We were in Daphne for a family visit and after we got home Sunday night I just did not feel like getting on the computer.

I do apologize for not commenting on your blogs. I only had my phone with me and it will not let me post comments, though I did read your blogs.

Meal plan (What a joke) for the week

1. Mexican chicken salad on greens

2. Spaghetti, tossed salad

3. BLT salad

4-7 We are visiting our SIL so who knew what/where or when we would be eating

Monday joy: I was doing some housekeeping and found a few things that will be great to use when we take our cross country trip, so packing for that trip began.

Monday dinner: I cook bacon  in the oven, 4 pounds at a time. After cooking it until nearly done I take it out to cool then pack it flat to freeze. We do not eat bacon often but when we do all I have to do is grab a couple of pieces and zap them until they are crisp (usually one minute). It is very handy for a day like this one when I just didn't feel like cooking.

BLT salad with black truffle/garlic aioli 

Tuesday joy: I had a few errands to run, and also had a long overdue conversation with one of my cousins. It is sort of funny. When we were younger adults, the need to keep in touch was not as intentional as it is now. We could go months between phone calls. Now we seldom have more than a couple of weeks without talking to each other.

Tuesday dinner: I was using things that needed to be used before we left to visit our SIL. I had several overripe tomatoes, lettuce and a cucumber that had to be used right then.

Spaghetti, tossed salad

Wednesday joy: I needed to mail DIL1's dress to her. (I was unaware it had even been left behind.) She was not able to come to Birmingham, but somewhere along the way her dress was forgotten here. Yes, I fault Son1 for that. 

I had been doing laundry all day because I hate leaving town with dirty laundry left behind. I was dressed like a haint* but needed to send it to her. 

There is a mailing service near me and I decided it would be fine to run there in all my haint-like glory. After all it is a small place and is never crowded. I walked in with my package only to see a sign on the door: Closed for CT scan, back tomorrow at regular time. Crap that meant I had to go to the post office instead (still looking like a haint). 

Even though I had to get out of my car and go into the postoffice where the wait was about 15 minutes, my single joy was that I did not see a soul I knew. It's the small things isn't it.

Wednesday dinner:TheHub got in later than we had expected, and rather than getting something out of  the freezer to cook, we ran by a local "meat and three" to grab dinner instead.

Pork chop, stewed okra and tomatoes, cooked cabbage, or whatever TheHub ate

Thursday joy: TheHub went into the office (yes his retirement still looked like a regular work day) and came home about lunch time so we could drive to Daphne to see our sister-in-law. 

We had a beautiful drive down and thanks to Waze we managed to avoid traffic clogs where construction was happening. We checked into our hotel then headed to N's house for a quick snack glass of wine, before heading to the restaurant. Her daughter (our niece)  and her son** along with TheHub's sister were also there. Mini family reunion time.

Thursday dinner: We ate at a seafood place on the bay. It was a step up from a dive but was in no way, shape or form a place you would go for an experience. But what delicious food!

Crab cake stack with green tomatoes, tossed salad. Everyone else had something different but they all enjoyed it.

Friday joy: We met, mid morning for coffee and a sightseeing ride winding up in Magnolia Springs. If I ever move to lower Alabama this is where I would like to live. The entire town is gorgeous and parts of it on the river are downright magical. We ate lunch at a quaint little restaurant (incredible food, extremely bad service). I did not mind the wait because we would have been talking and enjoying each other's company anyway, but I do think waiting nearly 2 hours for a lunch was a tad long. (Our waiter did not turn our order in).

After our long lunch, we drove a different route and wound up in Fairhope, which is another charming town. It has a ton of little shops just begging you to come in and spend some time (and mainly money). I am not much of a shopper and their charms were wasted on me.

We drove to N's to drop them (N, TheHub's sister, and JP) off then drove back to our hotel. TheHub had a couple of phone calls to make (Yes, even working on a trip) while I read. Our hotel was on the bay and we had a beautiful bay view our our window. I would had enjoyed sitting on the balcony, but it was just too hot and muggy. Instead I pulled the chair close to the window so I could enjoy the beauty in comfort.

Friday dinner: We met at Gambino's in Fairhope for dinner. Our party for the meal expanded to 12. In addition to those that ate with us Thursday, our nephew, his wife, and 4 sons joined us. It was the perfect place for a large party, serving Italian entrees along with steaks and seafood. They had something for everyone. I just did not know how we would all fit. 

No worries. In the back room they had several long tables to accommodate big parties. Our 12 did not even completely fill our table.

Grilled scallops, veggie skewer, tossed salad for me and everything. under the sun for everyone else.

Saturday joys: N had invited us to all be at her house at about 3 pm. We decided to kill some time doing a little more sightseeing, so we drove to Mobile. I had not been there in several years and had forgotten how beautiful downtown Mobile is, complete with trees that still had beads hanging leftover from Mardi Gras throws. We spent about an hour wandering through town then headed back to Daphne. Though I kept asking, the only thing N wanted us to bring was ice. Done! 

We got to her house and TheHub's brother had driven down to join us. SIL P could not be there as she was on her annual girl's trip. We missed her but were glad to see him, and we were able to visit a bit before the rest of the group got there. Our niece and her son, our nephew, wife and boys and our bonus nephew all came. The kids all swam while the adults talked and talked some more.

Saturday dinner: N had us all for dinner. Bless her!

She made a delicious pork roast, and baked beans. Our niece made several sides, and our BIL brought the famous caramel cake they get in Livingston (It has become a family tradition)

Sunday joys: Our drive home from Daphne was filled with torrential rain and thunderstorms. And because some idiots believe you should drive fast regardless of weather conditions (like actually being unable to see the road while driving in blinding rains) we got stopped frequently while traffic mishaps occurred. I hope no one was seriously hurt, and 6 and a half hours later, we made it home  and unloaded the car right before another gully washer hit. The big joy was getting home safely even with the delays.

Sunday dinner: I had nothing available for a quick meal. TheHub ran to Publix while I started doing laundry.

Sunday dinner: Deli mac and cheese, coleslaw

This week I am planning nothing, in fact, I am planning nothing through August. We will be leaving for a cross country road trip sometime soon and will be eating whatever.

Enjoy your week staying on plan, going off plan, or with no plan at all.

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

*I have no idea what a haint actually looks like, but whenever my sister or I were in grubby clothes with no "face " or "hair", Mom would say we looked like haints. It definitely served to describe my look Wednesday.

** If any couple were on the fence about having a child they should spend the day with JP. He is just about the most perfect 12 year old boy I have ever met.

Oops, I Forgot

This week I did not stick to my plans for meals or days very well but we had some extenuating circumstances. Then to top it off I forgot to post my menu Sunday, so today's post is both meals and joys.

Sunday: We had a pretty typical Sunday. We did not go to church, but watched it via the streaming service. Both of us were still struggling with Covid fatigue. Luckily for TheHub we had some beautiful peaches for his all time favorite dessert. (That joy is his not mine because I do not like cooked fruit)

Hamburger patty, corn on the cob, coleslaw, peach cobbler

Monday: I woke and was overly warm. It is not unusual because a lot of days I am hot when I wake, but I noticed it got a little warmer as the day went on. I really did not think a whole lot about it, because TheHub sets the thermostat up higher at night. It was only in the late afternoon that is got much warmer and when TheHub called that he was on his way home, I suggested if he wanted anything other than leftover peas and warmed squash he might want to stop and pick something up. My joy for the day is that he does not mind a little recreational shopping at Publix

Rotisserie chicken, leftover lady peas,  sautéed squash, kale pineapple salad

Tuesday: I woke and immediately realized the air conditioner was not working. We had several oscillating fans leftover from the lake place in our basement, and we have ceiling fans in the den and bedroom. Using those, the day was bearable, and because we had no air, I declared the day would be spent in front of a fan reading. (I do seem to be able to justify reading anytime)

A second joy for the day was having cold salads in the refrigerator

Leftover Asian noodle salad, kale pineapple salad

Wednesday: Hooray, the a/c repair guy was at our house by 7:15! I am not sure in an Alabama summer day, anyone is more appreciated than the a/c repairman. Thank you Dave! After he left I was able to get ready to go to my Happy Place in relative comfort.

The participants at Independence Place were celebrating Christmas in July, so what better for them to make than frozen hot chocolate! 

I got home later than I had planned and once I talked with TheHub nothing I had on hand to make sounded good to him (He not so secretly wanted Captain D's).

He stopped on his way home from work and bought us dinner. It is not my favorite but I did not have to cook, so I am not complaining.

Fish sandwich (me) fish plate (TheHub)

Thursday: I spent most of the day doing things I should have done Tuesday but it was too hot to do them. It is much easier to do chores when the house is cooler. 

We are having terribly muggy weather, and neither of us wanted to eat hot food. Instead I made my home variation of a salad a local restaurant serves every summer.

Hot and Hot tomato salad

Friday: Another day and I read a lot more. There were a million things I should have done, but I didn't. Instead I am claiming I was busy exercising my mind.

TheHub and I both had a hankering for the same thing for dinner. I could have made it, but it is easier to just pick it up, and, all things considered, I will opt for easy. All I had to do was throw a simple fruit salad together.

 Pizza , fruit salad

Saturday: This was a busy day for us. It began with our usual running around in the morning followed by Son3 and DIL3 coming in to spend the night. 

DIL3 was one of the performers at The Independence Place "Sounds of Summer" fundraiser. They had only been here a few minutes before we had to leave to go to a pool party that doubled as a retirement party for TheHub. 

The hosts are fabulous at entertaining and there were a ton of people there from the office. 

We had to go dressed for the fundraiser which was very close to the retirement party. I would not have preferred to wear what I was wearing at an outdoor summertime party, but you have to do what you have to do. 

We left the party, cranked the car a/c to full blast so we could cool down a little, then headed to the fundraiser. It was a successful event and best of all the participants preformed a couple of numbers for the crowd. Watching them made me want to cry happy tears.

After the event was over we all came home, ate doughnuts (Krispy Kreme to the rescue) and talked about the evening.

Basic Fundraiser dinner (roast beef, green beans, mashed potatoes, tossed salad, bread pudding) 

Sunday: We had a wonderful leisurely breakfast with Son3 and DIL3 before they got ready to head back to Nashville.  Shortly after they left we heard to announcement about the presidential race, and were pretty much glued to the tv the rest of the day. 

Since we had gone to the fish market Saturday morning we were set for dinner.

Broiled scamp, corn on the cob, tossed salad

Meal plan (What a joke) for the week

1. Mexican chicken salad on greens

2. Spaghetti, tossed salad

3. BLT salad

4-7 We are visiting our SIL so who knows what/where or when we will be eating

Books read in July

Lady Tan's Circle Of Women

The Everlasting Meal

Listen to the Colors

The Night Parade

Disturbing The Dead

Hitler's Furies

That Night in the Library

Have a great week with whatever plan or no plan works for you.

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne