New Orleans Week

This is going to be a little different weekly wrap up post because I was busy having fun and visiting with family while enjoying New Orleans. We ate well but everyone ordered different things, so I am not keeping up with what we ate, but am mentioning where. We had a great time!

Monday: We left via car headed to New Orleans. Since TheHub's diet had changed, instead of stopping on the way to have lunch, we  (I) packed  our lunch (marinated asparagus salad) and we ate at the Mississippi welcome center on I-59. 

It is not something we have done before and it was actually a pleasant thing to do. I think we will do it more often when we are traveling. First off, it was much less expensive to use things we already had in the fridge to make it, and it just did not take as much time.

We arrived in N.O. just as the drive time afternoon traffic was beginning, and once past Lake Pontchartrain we moved in what felt like inches per hour rather than MPH.

We finally arrived at the hotel, checked in, freshened up a bit and ate dinner in the hotel main lobby bar.  We had a few hours to kill before leaving for the airport to pick up Son1's family, which is the reason we were in New Orleans to begin with. It was Pip's spring break and we love meeting her wherever they want to go.

We picked them up, went back to the hotel and sat with them while they had dinner at the same bar, then we went to our rooms for the night because we had plans for the next morning.

We were sad our other son's families could not go with us. Son2's wife could not take time from her job, and Son3 and wife are in Switzerland right now. Hopefully both will be able to join us at the beach sometime during August.

Tuesday: We had made plans and bought tickets for a hop on hop off city bus tour. Our DIL and Pip had never been to New Orleans and we thought this would be the best way for them to get a city overview, and it was.

They were already in the Quarters, so we met them there and picked up the bus at Jackson's square (1st stop of the tour). The day was gorgeous and their views from the open double deck were perfect. In fact we never hopped off at all and just made the complete loop back to a couple of blocks from the hotel, which was right on the riverwalk (final stop of the tour). 

When we booked the trip, we specifically planned it for a place with a heated pool. Pip is a water baby and loves to swim, so her afternoon was spent in the pool, while Son3 and TheHub walked to Central Grocery to pick up some muffulettas for lunch. 

Our hotel had a lovely spot on the second floor lobby with tables and chairs so we ate our lunch there while Pip and DIL1 had theirs by the pool. BTW if you are ever going there, 1/4 of the sandwich is more than enough for one person. 

After the swim and a nap (DIL was feeling a little queasy) we started thinking about dinner. After all, New Orleans is a food city. 

Mother's restaurant was just a couple of blocks from the hotel and we went there for dinner. You could tell how uncrowded the city was by how long the wait for a table was. There was no wait! We walked in, ordered and were seated immediately. I have been there before, and it would not have been my first choice, but we wanted DIL1 and Pip to experience it since it is an institution.

The food there was fine, but not spectacular

Wednesday: DIL1 had one huge bucket list item. She wanted to see a live alligator. Where better to see one than on a Swamp airboat tour. TheHub and I sat this out because we have seen alligators in lakes before. Our job was to provide transportation to said tour for them, then we explored a couple of small towns (and by small I am talking populations of 1000 or less people).

They loved the tour, especially DIL1 who not only saw gators in the water from 12 feet long down to the little 3 footers, but she also got to hold a small 12 inch baby. Bucket list satisfied!

And we loved exploring, so the day was a win/win.

A streetcar ran along the riverwalk and had a stop literally beside our hotel. We all climbed on it and went to the French Market, browsing all the things local vendors had for sale, then hit the shops nearby. In particular I wanted to so to Aunt Sally's to pick up some pralines to bring home, and to grab a jar of the olive salad from Central Grocery. (Yep I plan on making a Birmingham version of their muffuletta. It won't be the same, but at least I will have some of that incredible olive salad to smear on top of the meat and cheese)

We were amazed at how few people were around, probably because the only times we have been to New Orleans were high tourists times when every place was packed. We actually walked into Cafe Du Monde in the Quarters,  and found several empty tables. We have never seen it like that before. 

Pip had her first ever beignet. I had told her beforehand not to wear black when going there, but she did not heed my advice. Eat and learn! She wore a little powdered sugar residue on top of her Smashing Pumpkins tee shirt for the rest of the day, and thought the taste was worth the mess. It's not like she was the only one in New Orleans wearing doughnut residue!

We   decided to head to Magazine street for dinner, since a couple of the places we wanted to go were only opened through a late lunch. It was a bummer to realize some of our carefully pre-trip curated meals  would not happen. (Note for our next trip: Make sure to plan around opening hours and not just the menu.)

We wound up at Joey K's, a quirky cajun restaurant with delicious foods.

Thursday: We had decided to head uptown to a restaurant called Cafe Reconcile for lunch. It was started as  training facility for those interested in learning all about restaurants, from the kitchen to front of the house and everything in between. It has become a "go to" spot and we planned on going. I like the idea of great food and I especially like the idea of helping a non profit, but did not realize reservations were necessary until we got there. Oops! 

Instead we headed across town to Dooky Chase's, a historical creole restaurant in the Treme district of the city. We were unable to get reservations (they had a business event booked) but they would let us order food to go, and we did.  Again we ate in the 2nd floor hotel area, and had absolutely delicious food. 

After lunch Son1's family took off to explore a little, leaving us to find whatever we were going to have for dinner.  We needed to eat in the Quarters and decided on The Royal House. 

We had a couple of criteria we had to meet. Son1 had only brought shorts to wear so restaurants with a business casual dress code were off the table, and the food had to have an outstanding reputation. When I called Royal House and asked about any dress limitations and the manager said wearing clothes and some type of footwear was all that was required we knew we had found our place. (He mentioned flip flops were fine, but I cannot imagine who would want to wear them walking around the French Quarters where every puddle is suspicious.)

It was a fantastic for dinner and people watching. Where else can you sit and eat while watching a guy push a studio upright piano covered with band stickers down the sidewalk?

Once back at the hotel Pip NEEDED to swim. It was not a long swim because the pool was much cooler without the sunlight to warm everything.

Friday: It was the final day of our trip and everyone did whatever they wanted. Son1's family watched street performers busking in the Quarters and TheHub and I did our thing. 

Alabama was playing in the Sweet 16 games Friday night and Son1's family had a suite with a table and chairs. We had planned on watching the game at the 1st floor bar, but 1,000 guests had checked in Friday for a convention and the bar was packed.

We decided to take the leftovers we had brought home from various meals to their room, eat and watch the game there. The first half was great and the second was a blowout. Bama lost but we still enjoyed being together.

Saturday: They needed to be at the airport by 8:30 for their flight back home. It departed earlier than they would have liked, but it was a non-stop which makes the time worth it. 

We woke early, packed, dropped them off, and headed back toward Birmingham. TheHub had been taking some medicine that needed to be taken with food during the morning, and had already scouted out a Cracker Barrel in Slidell (other side of the lake) on our way home. We were in no rush and had breakfast and a couple of cups of coffee (a necessity for me) before resuming the trip.

The drive was uneventful and we were in town by mid afternoon. Instead of coming straight to the house we stopped at Waldo's to pick up some grilled chicken, white beans and turnip greens for a combo lunch/dinner. That was a seriously smart move.

We headed home, ate, unleaded the car and then crashed. 

Sunday: We did our usual church thing then stopped by Trader Joe's before heading home for a quick lunch and laundry marathon. All the laundry is the downside of traveling, right?

After a day of washing drying and folding (among a lot of reading) it was time for dinner of grilled steak, asparagus and tossed salad. 

And it was time to get back into our regular routine!

Planned for the week, maybe or maybe not:

1. Beans and hamburger skillet meal, tossed salad

2. Stuffed boneless leg of lamb, asparagus, potatoes, tossed salad, rolls

3. Roasted chicken, broccoli, rice pilaf

4. Broiled salmon, rice pilaf, green beans, tomato cucumber onion salad, rolls

5. Veggie meal TBD

6. Eggroll in a bowl

7. Muffuletta, coleslaw 

Read this week:

The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

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

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

March Madness is Here

I have no real introduction today, because we are literally about to walk out the door and head to New Orleans. Sounds like a good week for listening to cajun/zydeco music.

Monday: I woke at my usual time, made a pot of coffee and sat at the kitchen table, which sits in a bay window. It allows me a panoramic view of the backyard, which is mostly filled with birds, chipmunks and squirrels. The temps had dropped substantially from Sunday's glorious

afternoon highs and it was raining.  I was not upset about the rain  since it would knock down some of the raging pollen.

So I was enjoying my coffee watching the rain when it turned to what I thought was a fine drizzle. Instead it was snow flurries which quickly became full blown snow.

It was beautiful, snowed hard and long enough to cover everything but the streets, then melted totally about an hour after it stopped. In my view it was the perfect, unexpected snow. Now spring has my permission to resume.

I stayed in the house most of the day doing some organizational chores. (I am trying to make the kitchen accessible for TheHub, who is evidently blind when it comes to finding anything. Hopefully the black labels with the white chalk paint lettering will help.)

I did run out in the late afternoon to pick up and deliver dinner to a friend who just moved, and is in the middle of that just moved chaos. They are combining 2 households into one new place which is still in the process of  the finishing touches for some reno construction, and it is going to take them a while.

Once home I spent the early evening reading.

What I learned: After watching episode 1 of the Dinosaurs  series on Netflix, I learned more about the pre-dinosaurs and how the changing climate paved the way for the monsters. 

Dinner: I was home alone and let my inner child decide what dinner would be.

Toast and hot chocolate.

Tuesday: The clouds were gone, but the cold weather was still hanging around. I had to punt with what I was wearing, because the green blouse I planned on would not have been warm enough. I do have a green sweater that I had already laundered to be packed away until next year, but the temp left me no choice but to wear it. 

I met my Book Club friends for lunch at The Standard. They have great burgers, but most of their business is take out. It was a perfect place to eat and talk with little to no other diners in the restaurant.

I got home in time to watch the last few innings of Bama's softball game, did a few chores and prepared a St. Patrick's meal.

Once the meal was over, the St. Pat's decor was put away until next year, and Easter decorations replaced it. 

What I learned:  I learned the reasons for pinching a non green wearing person on St. Patrick's Day. According to lore, people wearing green are invisible to Leprechauns, thus they are not pinched by those sneaky creatures. If you don't have on green you are vulnerable to a sneak attack.

Dinner: TheHub was still out of town and I had cooked a beautiful corned beef. My Beloved Sister came over and we had a very simple St. Patrick's Day celebration.

Corned beef, cabbage

Wednesday: I woke, read the last chapter of the book our class is discussing, then made my way there. I came straight home, put a load of clothes in the laundry and got ready for the rest of the day doing stuff at home. 

I had plans to be at the airport at about 9:00 pm to pick up TheHub, but the flight from D.C. was cancelled. He wound up spending the night there, but was fortunate to find a hotel room. (Lots of flights were cancelled)

So instead, I had another evening to myself. There was time for reading and some self indulgent reality TV. I love watching The Traitors and especially streaming it. I can watch an episode in about 10 minutes, because I really don't care about watching the allegiances, backstabbing, and gossip. I just like to watch the roundtable and vote.

Since I was the only one at the house, I binged the entire season.  Since I watch such an edited version, it is pretty easy to do.

What I learned: I learned that President James Buchanan had a fondness for wearing fancy hats, and was a meticulous, yet formal clothes horse.

Dinner: Cheese toast, tossed salad

Thursday: I went to the airport to get TheHub and we gave rides to 3 others who had been to the same event and were also stranded in D.C.  Since I was already there, there was no reason for them to grab an Uber.

Once home TheHub unpacked and I messed around the house.

What I learned: Not what I wanted to learn, but found that one of my young friends and her husband recently divorced. 

Dinner: Leftovers to the rescue

Corned beef and cabbage

Friday: The day was just drop dead gorgeous. All the spring flowering trees were in full bloom, the azaleas, were out and the wisteria was just being her beautiful show off purplish blue. 

I had lunch with two of my friends who had been in the same elementary classes with me since the 1st and 2nd grades. It was great seeing them, but we did make one mistake. 

We met at a sports bar that is generally pretty empty during the day and is more of a nighttime spot. Of course we forgot about March Madness. We should have realized it when we walked in, every table but one was filled and there were no females.  

We sat, ordered and talked, probably much to the chagrin of all the guys sitting around us. Vengeance was theirs when Kentucky sank a basket at the buzzer, and the whole place (minus the three of us) burst into an uproar, and all three of us (who were oblivious to the game) all jumped from being startled by the noise.

Amazingly once the game was over, we were left with an empty restaurant, and continued talking and reminiscing over old times.

When I returned home we watched Bama men's basketball, followed by a softball game.

What I learned: The small town near the coast where one of my lunch friends has a vacation home, has quadrupled its population over the last 8 years.

Dinner: TheHub went to our fish mongers shop and bought our dinner entree

Grilled grouper, tossed salad, toast 

Saturday:  There were a lot of ballgames happening and ,specifically for Alabama, both women’s basketball and softball. So We watched!

What I learned: I’m sure I learned something new but I don’t remember what it was. 

Dinner: Chicken broccoli casserole

Sunday:TheHub did our normal Sunday thing, but I was feeling icky and stayed at home.

While packing for our trip we watched Bama softball. They won the series, 2 of 3 games.

I needed to run to the store to pick up some medicine to fill my travel pack.

Once home I cooked a quick dinner because Alabama’s men’s basketball game was coming on.

What I learned: The death watch beetle gets its name from a time when people heard the clicking sound of the beetle boring into wood was the beetle clicking off seconds left in a life.

Dinner: Corned  beef hash, salad

I’m not posting any menu because we will be in one of the best food cities in the world all week!

What I read:

Danubia

 

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

May all your weeds be wildflowers. 

Anneo

Used from the freezer:

Corned beef point cut

Oscar week

Normally the Oscar's come and the Oscar's go and I have seen possibly one of the movies nominated for awards. This year thanks to streaming services, I have seen most of them, mostly in the past couple of weeks.  I am not generally a movie buff, but when you make it easy for me to watch late at night in my pjs and on the couch, or anywhere in the house on my Ipad, I am happy to oblige. One advantage (other than comfort and being able to pause for any needed breaks) is the ability to do house tasks while watching (or listening if no eyes are needed to follow the movie) .

Monday: My Beloved Sister and I went to Independence Place. Of course it was a great day because it is my happy place. They were able to make a St. Patrick's variation of a traditional Watergate salad. It earned a thumbs up from everyone, including their newest surly participant. In fact, she even told me the food made her happy. I count that as the ultimate compliment, since there is generally something wrong with everything.

On our way home, we stopped at a clothing store. Sometimes you just have to replace some necessary items and it was time for me to replace them. I do not like to shop, but it was much easier to have her with me, even though we were in the store maybe 30 minutes.

Once home laundry called, and I obliged. Because of the Ipad I was able to take care of multi loads of laundry while watching (mainly listening to) the movie Bugonia. I am glad I watched it while I was doing something, because I would have hated devoting that time to just that movie.

What I learned: Dolly Madison had kids from a prior marriage. 

Dinner: I was not in the mood to cook. Having frozen leftovers always maked dinner a little easier.

Spaghetti with meat sauce, tossed salad

Tuesday: I planned to have lunch with friends but needed to cancel. I am fortunate that I have known these women since we were in the first grade together and there was no problem rescheduling.  

Instead of having a fun lunch with friends, I went to Costco. For someone like me, who does not like to shop, (with the exception of grocery stores which I don't mind at all), Costco is just about the equivalent of going to the second level of Hell.

What I learned:  Long time friends are priceless.

Dinner: After Costco, we stopped by Publix, and picked up a chicken there. I know Costco has them and they are cheaper there, but we don't like them as much as the mojo chicken from Publix.

Rotisserie chicken, green beans, dinner rolls. 

Wednesday: I intended to go to class but had a small mishap that needed taken care of. I blindly reached underneath the sink and pulled out a spray bottle I use when mopping the floor. Instead of my usual cleaner, I sprayed an oil  product all over the kitchen floor  (same color as my floor cleaner). It took 3 moppings with the real floor cleaner to get all the slick stuff up.

After class some of the class members came over for lunch (all were invited but some had other commitments). We had lunch and watched The Passion of the Christ together. Several had never seen it before and had no Netflix subscription to see it at their homes.

Wednesday night  TheHub and I went to a class we are taking together.

During the late night I watched Frankenstein. It was an interesting retelling that I really did enjoy. 

What I learned: Lucifer is the Roman translation of the Hebrew name Helel, which is not a proper name but a description meaning shining one ( later revised to morning star)

Dinner: Our church has a meal Wednesday nights. Since we were going to be there anyway for the class we ate dinner.

Cannelloni, green beans, tossed salad

Thursday: My beloved sister came  for lunch (leftovers from my Wednesday luncheon)  and we watched Hamnet. It was a wonderful movie that I really did enjoy. It's based on a historical fiction book by Maggie O'Farrell of the same name about the relationship between William Shakespeare, his wife, and the death of his young son Hamnet's impact on his play, Hamlet.

Later that night I watched  One Battle after Another. To say it is a gritty movie does not do it justice.

I talked with Sluggy and she is still having a very hard time

What I learned: Because I am a tad nerdish (understatement), I had to research Shakespeare and his wife. The name in the movie did not match Anne Hathaway, which I had always thought was his wife's name. It turns out both names refer to the same person.

Also Shakespeare leaving his wife his "second best bed" is not the insult I thought it was.

Dinner: I made too much of a good thing.

Leftover chicken salad (again), assorted raw veggie sticks.

Friday: The day was just a regular normal type of day with housework and a quick trip to Trader Joe's. I love everything about that store except for its prices.

We had to make sure we were home by 5 because, well, Bama sports. Both the men's basketball, and softball teams were playing at the same time. Unfortunately TheHub and I had opposing views on what we should watch. 

Thanks to the Ipad, earbuds and ESPN streaming services, I was able to watch the women play softball, while sitting in the den with the basketball game on TV. My game won, while TheHub's game lost.  I was able to glance up at the TV and see how badly the basketball team was playing while seeing how well the softball team was doing.

What I learned: I heard the weather forecast for the next week and learned I would not be wearing shorts and flip flops after Sunday.

Dinner: Our monthly minimum would be over by the 31st, but we were going to be out of town at the end of the month, so we decided to go ahead and use it early.

Grilled grouper, spinach salad

Saturday: TheHub was running around like a chicken with it'a head cut off trying to get packed for a quick trip to D.C.  You would think someone who did what he did most of his work life, which required critical decisions on a regular basis, would be able to make decisions on what is needed for a 4 day trip. You would be wrong. I have known for a long time that he does have a degree of color blindness, and I have had to declare what goes with what, but beyond that all of his dark socks are the same color, same brand which should eliminate any stress. 

After an agonizing hour or so choosing what would work, I was released from duty, but not before I got his dress shirts folded so they would require minimal ironing when they were needed.

It's sort of funny.When I pack for a trip I need no assistance at all.

In the afternoon we watched Alabama's softball team get drilled by Arkansas. Oh well.

Much later in the night I watched Weapons (hated it)

What I learned: More about the Harlem Globetrotters than I ever needed or wanted to know. (TheHub chose the documentary)

Dinner: I had a huge bowl of chicken I had removed from the rotisserie one.

Bbq chicken, green beans, tossed salad

Sunday: We woke early and headed to the airport very early for TheHub's flight. We had heard from couple of friend who missed theirs because of understaffed security issues to arrive early. According to TheHub, when he went through security he was the only person in line. If you are the only person in the queue, is there even a line?

I got back to the house, changed into something more churchy than jeans and a sweat shirt and headed back out.

After church I was as free as a bird and could do whatever I wanted.

It turned out I wanted to do nothing but read. Worked for me until Bama softball came on. By then I was ready to put my book down anyway. Bama won and though they did not sweep the series, they at least won it.'

And lastly, I watched The Oscars.

What I learned: I learned a few back stories about the various Oscar nominees

Dinner: This was neither a good nor bad meal

Smoked tinned trout*, assorted raw veggies 

Meal possibilities, maybe something from this list, maybe not

 1.  Grilled steak, baked potato, tossed salad

 2.  Grilled steak, sautéed veggies, mashed potatoes, salad

 3.  BLT salad, toast

 4.  Taco salad, tortilla chips

 5.  White sauce bbq chicken, caulitato salad, coleslaw

 6.  Polynesian chicken, rice, broccoli

 7.  Green chili and chicken arepas, tossed salad

 8.  Squash casserole, coleslaw, green beans

 9.  Blackened shrimp, asparagus,  tossed salad, dinner rolls

10. Spinach salad w/ cheese and ham, dinner rolls

11. Corned beef, cabbage, potatoes

12. Hot Dogs, coleslaw (ball game meal)

13. Meatloaf, rice, cucumber onion and tomato salad, cornbread

16. Leftover chili, coleslaw

17. Crock pot beef brisket, mashed potatoes, green beans, coleslaw

18. Grilled tuna steaks, baked potato, tossed salad

19. Chicken caprese, tossed salad

20. Brussels sprouts casserole, dinner rolls

21. Kraut and franks, green beans, cornbread

22. Greek chicken, rice pilaf, greek green beans

Used from the freezer:

2 cups spaghetti meat sauce

Book read this week:

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler

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

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

*The trout needed some sort of sauce (tarter would have been fine)

New week

And now the first week of March has come and gone and spring is fully here. Winter is over, everything is starting to bloom and even though the calendar says otherwise, it's here.

Monday, March 2: I had a lovely day at home. It was a catch up on reading type of day, because I had not been doing much of it. I refined my March menu (which I am obviously not following) and also updated my spring aims list (which I am following, at least for the daily aims. I mean, how hard is it to light a candle or to listen to music every day?).

What I learned: Ska music is just the stepsister of Regge. I had no idea, and had thought it would be more like rap.

Dinner: Pork chop, broccoli, tossed salad

Tuesday, March 3: We had to go to the funeral of one of our friend's sister. We had been to parties at their house over the years and been around her. I always looked forward to talking with her when we were there. 

The funeral home is near Son2's house and he met us for lunch after. We spent a long time talking about his house and lawn plans as well as some ideas he and DIL2 have for their future.

What I learned: Sally Henning, Thomas Jefferson's paramour, was supposedly his wife's half sister.

Dinner: Leftover moo shu pork

Wednesday, March 4:  I had my weekly class in the morning, came home and did a bit around the house, and did mainly laundry until early evening. TheHub and I had registered for a 2 week class on angels and went to it. I enjoyed everything about it, except that the room was really cold.

What I learned: That the term angel in Hebrew meant messenger and is about an emissary carrying about a specific task, rather than about an actual spiritual being. In reality it is more about a job description. 

Dinner: We had not eaten before, and it was getting later when we got out of the class. We decided to just pick something up on the way home.

Chicken tenders, coleslaw, toast

Thursday, March 5:  This was a day for getting a few errands run. The final stop was going to ThePig to grab a couple of their sale items that we needed. While we were at The Pig we bought veggie plates from their deli. Later that night we watched Bama women's basketball. 

What I learned: I learned 

Dinner: We had eaten a large lunch and were not terribly hungry. 

Cheese toast

Friday, March 6: I did some work around the house and actually got a good bit done. 

I keep my earrings separated in one of three containers. The one holding my silver earring has been AWOL for quite a while. In fact the only silver pair I had available were the ones I was wearing when the box disappeared. 

Deep cleaning uncovers a multitude of sins, including finding where I had stashed those earrings. I knew I had not thrown the container away but I had no idea where they were (on the bookshelf where they belonged, but blocked from sight by a 5x7 framed photo of Son3). 

I felt pretty stupid when I found them.

Later that afternoon and early evening we watched a Bama softball double header.

What I learned: 

Dinner: Hamburger with all the fixings (ball game meal)

Saturday, March 7: TheHub and I headed to eat lunch at one of our favorite dives before going to a couple of different grocery stores, and a quick stop by another store. I really don't like going shopping on Saturdays when we can go any day of the week and not clog the stores for those who do have only weekends to shop. But we did.

What I learned: I learned Parkinson's Disease is genetic in only 15% of diagnosed patients. Most of the rest is attributed to environmental causes. Scary!

Dinner: Chicken breasts, asparagus, sliced tomatoes

Sunday, March 8:  For me, his was the worst day of every year. I cannot tell you how much I despise the time changeover. I don't care if we decide to stay on standard or daylight savings, just quit this silly swapping. But, we still followed our usual Sunday plan, even though my body felt it was awake at 5:30 instead of what the clock said.

I was grumpy all day and just got grumpier as the day went on. 

One of my cousin's sons lost his wife to cancer a few years ago and not too long ago met a lovely young woman. They are getting married in April and I am truly thrilled for them.

Sunday afternoon was a bridal shower for them, and after driving the hour to the location I was in an even grumpier mood.

When I finally got back home, it was early evening and the grumps were still with me. I was happy when I got to go to sleep so the horrible day would be over.

What I learned: I need to never have any social interaction the day of the big DST leap forward, because I am grumpy that day.

Dinner: I am pretty sure TheHub could tell I was out of sorts and he suggested a bowl of soup (the canned kind) for his dinner. 

What I wanted? Raw meat and gunpowder! What I ate? Cream cheese with chopped olives.

And now the dust has settled with my discontent of the time change and it is time for me to think about what we will be eating this week. The first part of the week is kind of busy, and meals are not really my focus, so these might or might not happen, but at least I have choices.

1.   Grilled steak, baked potato, tossed salad

 2.  Grilled steak, sautéed veggies, mashed potatoes, salad

 3.  BLT salad, toast

 4.  Taco salad, tortilla chips

 5.  White sauce bbq chicken, caulitato salad, coleslaw

 6.  Polynesian chicken, rice, broccoli

 7.  Green chili and chicken arepas, tossed salad

 8.  Squash casserole, coleslaw, green beans

 9.  Blackened shrimp, asparagus,  tossed salad, dinner rolls

10. Spinach salad w/ cheese and ham, dinner rolls

11. Corned beef, cabbage, potatoes

12. Hot Dogs, coleslaw (ball game meal)

13. Meatloaf, rice, cucumber onion and tomato salad, cornbread

16. Leftover chili, coleslaw

17. Crock pot beef brisket, mashed potatoes, green beans, coleslaw

18. Grilled tuna steaks, baked potato, tossed salad

19. Chicken caprese, tossed salad

20. Brussels sprouts casserole, dinner rolls

21. Kraut and franks, green beans, cornbread

22. Greek chicken, rice pilaf, greek green beans

Books read this week:

Night Bitch

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

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

Spring Aims

Spring gives us more daylight hours, warmer temperatures, gorgeous blooming trees and flowers, and pollen. Can't have everything near perfection I guess. 

These are some of my aims which should help me enjoy spring, even if I am sneezing my head off.

 

1. Light a candle or use fragrance melts everyday, but change from winter to more spring like scents. 

2. Bake something delicious every week.  I imagine this will end sometime in early May, since I do not bake once the weather is truly hot.

3. Continue hand copying my recipes into the new book. I am actually a few days behind and need to do some catching up

4. Plan a joint activity with TheHub during the work week. Longer days make this a little easier.

5. Self pampering. This will be concentrating on getting the feet sandal ready.

6. Learn something new every day.

7. I did not start germinating seeds in time, so I need to shop for some plants to  transplant.*

8. Clean and replant all the various pots in the yard.

9. Rearrange things in the house. This is the time to change over curtains, bedspreads, etc.

10. Go through spring/summer wardrobe and give away any clothes I  am not likely to wear. The same goes for shoes.

11. Organize remaining bathroom and linen closets.   

12. Schedule a documentary to watch with TheHub weekly. 

13. Volunteer. 

14. Play the piano for at least 15 minutes 4 times a week.

15. Read a minimum of one book a week.

16. Have lunch with friends at least 4 times during the spring season.

17. Contact someone I have not spoken with in a long time. Out of sight, out of mind should not happen with people who have had meaning in my life.

18. Go to church regularly, both to services and some of the other offerings our church has.

19. Laugh as much as possible. Laughter is a gift I need to use everyday.

20. Maintain contact with my sons, DILs, and granddaughter.

21. Try to not be petty. I can be, and it is an unattractive trait.

22. Have a road trip or day trip a couple of times a month.

23. Go to an actual movie theater once a month just to get out of the house and be among the living.

24. Have coffee at a coffee shop once a month. 

25. Enjoy every day, even if it is difficult.

26. Be more approachable, and willing to talk with people I have only spoken to before. 

27. Do something toward Christmas '26 each month

28. Use existing products before buying more. 

29.Get rid of books

30. Inventory the pantry, butler's pantry and stored stash in the laundry room.

31. Defrost the freezer.

32. Go to bed earlier. I am serious this time.

33. Try to find a new hobby.  .

34. Maintain a close relationship with My Beloved Sister and invite her to our house for dinner once a week.

35. Go to some of the spring festivals around town.

36. Visit a new to us restaurant each month. There are too many out there and available for us to get stuck in a rut.

37. Use some of the restaurant gift cards and certificates we have accumulated.

38. Have neighbors over for a meal. 

39. Entertain some of TheHub's cousins who live near us now.

40. Meet some of our couple friends for dinner out, or burgers here

41. Get all my clothes for our spring "big trip" ready.

42. Try something new every week. This can be a food, a craft, a lesson, etc. Just something I have not done before. 

43. It is time to get started using self tanning lotion to get rid of my ghastly (or ghostly) winter pale look. 

44. Listen weekly to at least one music genre that I don't listen to regularly. I am also including listening to musicals I am completely unfamiliar with.

45. Send cards to a few folks I have been thinking about, but have not sent them anything.

46. Find someone in need and give them a little help.

47. Plant some fall blooming bulbs.

48. Be grateful every day.

49. Be intentional using accessories**

* One of our lovely neighbors starts her seeds very early and always has more than she can plant. Though she often gives us her remnants, and I am always thrilled to take them, I do not count on her generosity and will most certainly buy my own. 

** I was cleaning out a bookshelf in our bedroom which is where I keep my jewelry boxes (AKA old cigar boxes). I was putting some pieces that had been misplaced (taken off and left on the dresser) and realized I have a lot of jewelry I never wear, but I really like it. There are some "real" pieces, but I also have a lot of nice costume jewelry.

I need to be more like one of my friends who plans every item she is going to wear on any given day, including jewelry, bags and shoes.  One of us always looks like a million bucks and one of us doesn't. Time to up my game.

Winter Aims Update

I started the winter with some particular things I wanted to do. It was not a traditional chore list, but a list of things I thought would make the colder and darker days a little more palatable. When I posted it, I thought it would still feel winterish at least the first couple of weeks of March, but it is feeling and looking like spring here now, so I think this is where I will end it and begin a new spring list.

1. Light a candle or use fragrance melts everyday.  ✓ I have been surprised how much I have enjoyed doing this. As the weather gets warmer and warmer I imagine I will change to using wax melts during the daytime more than candles, but I am pretty sure I am going to enjoy the flickering flames at night.

2. Bake something delicious every week ✓ I did bake some weeks and some weeks I did not. What we liked most was the low carb air fryer chocolate chip cookie. I made it several nights.

3. Inventory the kitchen Get rid of things I no longer need, use or want. ✓ This is done and over, at least for now. I have culled things I don't want and don't use, though I probably still have more than I need.

4. Look through and cull my cookbook collection. Cull the ones no longer used.  ✓ Completed in January

5. Redo personal handwritten cookbook ✓ After finding Mom's Grandmother's and MIL's handwritten recipes I decided to handwrite my updated book. Every day I am copying one or two recipes in it. My only nod to technology might be to make copies of it. 

6. Plan a joint activity with TheHub during the work week ✓ We have done something outside of the house each week. We actually are each planning things to do.

7. Do some self pampering ✓ This is happening on a weekly basis.

8. Learn something new every day.✓ This happens everyday as long as I am open to learning.

9. Start germinating seed for spring planting. ✖

8. Rearrange things around the house. ✓ This is an ongoing project. Right now it is more changing throw pillows, and moving artwork around. But spring will mean some curtains will change and bedding changes are coming.

9. Go through winter wardrobe and donate clothes ✓  Donated 3 garbage bags filled with clothes. I am going to start the big clothes changeover this week, which will mean getting rid of more things I did not wear this winter, as well as starting the process with warm weather clothes.

10. Keep up with the laundry ✓ This is ongoing. I have noticed since TheHub retired, even he will stick a load in the washer and dryer on occasion.

11. Organize all bathrooms closets✓ I have managed to organize only 1 bathroom closet. More to go at some point and time) Replace badly worn towels ✓ I bought 8 and got rid of 8 that were threadbare

12. Schedule a documentary to watch with TheHub weekly. ✓ This has actually been a fun thing to do

13. Volunteer. ✓ Independence Place is my favorite volunteer spot, but I have done things other places.

14. Play the piano for at least 15 minutes 4 times a week. ✓If I am being totally honest I only played maybe 5 times total in February

15. Read a minimum of one book a week.✓ Some weeks this works out and some weeks it doesn't

16. Have lunch with friends at least 6 times this winter season. ✓I am doing good with this and have been out with different groups of friends 4 times so far

17. Each month contact someone I have not spoken with in a long time. ✓ It is funny. By putting this in forefront of my thoughts, situations have arisen that caused me to reach out to a few people I had lost contact with for quite a while.

18. Go to church regularly ✓ Missed one Sunday when Son3 and DIL3 were here, and did not go one Sunday that is was so cold.

19. Laugh as much as possible. ✓ Between my sister, Son2, and a good friend it is impossible not to laugh a lot.

20. Maintain contact with my sons, DILs, and granddaughter. ✓This is done mostly by phone because of distances, but contact is often.

21. Try to not be petty. ✓ I try, I honestly try and am successful sometimes.

22. Have a road trip or day trip a couple of times a month. ✓ We had one in January and one in February. Hopefully we will have one in March, but if not, we are going to New Orleans for a few days at the end of the month.

23. Go to an actual movie theater once a month ✖ We have not been even 1 time.

24. Have coffee at a coffee shop a couple of times a month. ✖ Hasn't happened yet and I love coffee and love to have it in a shop. Not sure why I have not done it.

25. Enjoy every day, even if it is difficult. ✓ I have learned every day is a gift and I am trying to treat it as such.

26. Be more approachable, and willing to talk with people I don’t really know ✓ I have always been fairly outgoing, but I am making true efforts to be more engaging with folks I do not know very well.

27. Do something toward Christmas '26 each month ✓ I have done some things, but I have skillfully avoided the Room of Horrors so far.

28. Use existing products before buying more. ✓ There have been a couple of times I wanted to buy something when I still had plenty at home. My exception to this rule is laundry supplies. If the stores have products I use BOGO I will get them whether I am out of said product or not. And in February I am adding another exception. In December I bought some makeup that is a shade too light. I have been using it, but the other day I caught sight of my reflection while wearing it and realized I looked rather vampirish. I guess I just need to be thankful I could see a reflection.

29. Start getting rid of excessive book collection ✓ This is going to be a long term project. At last count we had over 2,000 books, not counting the 1,000+ we have digitally. I may have gotten rid of 20 so far. This is not good.

30. Grab a Sharpie and write the expiration dates on all dry storage foods ✓

31. Use oldest frozen foods first ✓ At first I was doing really well with this, but there have been days I pull something out to thaw, which I know is not the oldest.

32. Go to sleep earlier.  ✖ I love late nights and it is very hard for me to go to bed before 2. I am aiming to be in bed by midnight, but it is not happening very often. I am in bed by or before midnight maybe 2 out of 7 days in a week

33. Try to find a new hobby✖

34. Maintain a close relationship with My Beloved Sister ✓

Now I will see if I can't get rid of those ✖ marks in the March new
spring list.

New Week, New Month, Long Post (Sorry)

The days are getting longer and mid March usually signals the end to any possible cold weather. We might have a few cool days and cooler nights for a couple of weeks before true spring hits. However, the forecast for early March looks pretty favorable already.

Daffodils have sprung up and are in bloom, the tulip trees have bloomed out and some are already losing their blossoms, one variety of cherry trees are in full bloom, and the redbud trees are beginning to pop out. 

It is starting to be pretty outside, but it also means The Great
Pollenization is just around the corner. I am already seeing signs of its beginnings. Achoo!!!

Monday: After a whirlwind week the prior week, I needed some down time. I stayed at home all day Monday and used the day to clean out the refrigerator freezer.  The downside? It was filled to the gills. The upside? I found 3 steaks I didn't remember putting in there and have no idea why I put them there instead of the big freezer to begin with. 

What I learned: Though I know my refrigerator freezer should be used only for short term frozen foods, I obviously have not been doing that and that is something I need to change.

Dinner: Chili, toast

Tuesday: This was a good day to do a bit of food prep with some of the foods I found when cleaning the refrigerator freezer and inventorying the crisper drawer. 

I had a few partially used vegetables that need to be used. They were chopped for "garbage soup" which we had for lunch. As picky as TheHub can be, he never noticed I had put some leftover undressed salad in the soup. If he had known, I am pretty sure he would have eaten a sandwich instead.

What I learned: I learned not a lot because I was just not in a learning mood.

Dinner: Spaghetti with meat sauce, tossed salad

 

Wednesday: I had my regular Wednesday morning class then stopped by the grocery store to pick up the supplies needed for the IP cooking class. Nothing makes me happier than to go to my happy place. 

One of the participants has been vegetable resistant, but the last few times I have been there, she has tried everything. She was not crazy about the spinach and artichoke dip, but at least she gave it a go. I keep telling her, you don't really know what you don't like if you don't try it, but I am very proud of her for tasting different foods.

What I learned: I learned Priority Mail from a small post office about 2 hours away, takes over 4 days to get to my house.

Dinner:  TheHub and I got home at about the same time and neither of us were in the mood to cook (even though he can only make grilled cheese sandwiches, grits, and fried eggs). He had a hankering for Chinese, so we ordered from a nearby takeout place.

Moo shu pork

Thursday: I spent the morning doing several loads of laundry, and cleaning out and organizing my armoire (to have a place to put said clean clothes). I have no idea how my folded clothes get in such a disarray is such a short time, but they do. 

After I finished doing laundry I had to go do what I call big shopping. I had used nearly all of the produce in the house and was out of a few other things I keep on hand all the time.

Dinner: chicken Florentine, tossed salad

Friday: This was just an ordinary day with nothing exciting other than watching 2 Bama softball games. A double header gave us a chance to see many different players.

What I learned: I have been using a geography game GLOBAL and have discovered how many nations I had no idea existed. I don't think I had ever heard of São Tomé before.

Dinner: We had a minimum food purchase amount to use and as usual we waited until the last few days to think about it. We always get two different dishes and share them, but it is always too much food so we have leftovers for another night.

Halibut, steak, brussels sprouts salad

Saturday: We knew from the get go that our day was going to be spent around the house. We had things to do here as well as watch 2 Bama softball games aa well as men's basketball.

What I learned: We are meeting Son1's family in New Orleans for Pip's spring break. We were researching some things to do off the beaten path and discovered things to do at City Park. It has never been in our wheel house when we visited N.O. before.

Dinner: The basketball game came on and we had a planned ball game meal at halftime.

Hot dogs, coleslaw

Sunday: We did our usual Sunday routine of 2 services and Sunday school, getting home just in time to watch the first of two Alabama softball games. 

Afterward, I napped ( It was not intentional, but it did happen) while TheHub worked on setting up his new laptop. 

What I learned: We watched a couple of New Orleans youtube videos and I learned all about lesser known restaurants in the French Quarter. I doubt we will spend a lot of our trip there but it was good to find some of the places where native New Orleaners go when the are in the Quarters

Dinner: There was a half NY strip steak leftover from Friday along with a full container of the brussels sprouts.

1 pan meal of steak sprouts onions and mushrooms, 1/2 orange

Used from the freezer:

2 pack chicken salsa verde burritos

1 pack ground chuck

1 pack browned ground chuck

1 small container tomato paste

2 small container stewed tomatoes

1/3 loaf sourdough bread

3 links Italian sausage

1pint leftover spaghetti sauce

1 small pack cooked chicken

2 chicken breasts

Produce and proteins bought fourth for March:

1 cucumber
1 broccoli crown

1 head cauliflower

1 1/2 carton grape tomatoes

5 romaine lettuce hearts

1 lemon

2 onion

1/4 bunch celery

1/2 bag radishes

1 bag spinach

4 1/2 cartons mushrooms (most will be dehydrated)

2 turkey tenderloins (BOGO  freezer stock up)

2 ham steaks (BOGO  freezer stock up)

Wahl Burgers ( 2 frozen for later)

6 chicken breasts (frozen)

4 lb corned beef point

1 andouille sausage

1/2 loaf whole wheat bread

Lighter potential meals for March*:

 1.  Grilled steak, baked potato, tossed salad

 2.  Grilled steak, sautéed veggies, mashed potatoes, salad

 3.  BLT salad, toast

 4.  Taco salad, tortilla chips

 5.  White sauce bbq chicken, caulitato salad, coleslaw

 6.  Polynesian chicken, rice, broccoli

 7.  Green chili and chicken arepas, tossed salad

 8.  Squash casserole, coleslaw, green beans

 9.  Blackened shrimp, asparagus,  tossed salad, dinner rolls

10. Spinach salad w/ cheese and ham, dinner rolls

11. Corned beef, cabbage, potatoes

12. Hot Dogs, coleslaw (ball game meal)

13. Meatloaf, rice, cucumber onion and tomato salad, cornbread

14. Spaghetti w/meat sauce, tossed salad

15. Pork chops, collards, black eyed peas

16. Leftover chili, coleslaw

17. Crock pot beef brisket, mashed potatoes, green beans, coleslaw

18. Grilled tuna steaks, baked potato, tossed salad

19. Chicken caprese, tossed salad

20. Brussels sprouts casserole, dinner rolls

21. Kraut and franks, green beans, cornbread

22. Greek chicken, rice pilaf, greek green beans

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

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

* We will be out of town some as well as going out to eat or incorporating leftovers into our meals. 22 ideas is probably more than enough