Cafe, Coffee, And Fun

Hubby Tony and I drove southwest across the state today. Our destination was Springfield, Missouri, where a fellowship meeting will be taking place tomorrow

Sometimes when we make this trip there are other people in the car, and our schedule is determined by what the group wants to do. Other times, like today, we are on our own and can do whatever we want. This morning we heard on the radio that there was an establishment in Bourbon, Missouri that had a section devoted to Dolly Parton, and a menu inspired by her favorite recipes, we decided it would be a fun place to stop for lunch.

I had never been to Bourbon before, but it's one of the many cities that were on Route 66 before the Interstate was built. The tiny downtown area wasn't too far from the highway, and the restaurant was easy to find.

The interior of the building had a bar against one side, and a small bandstand by the door where a duo was playing. The food ordering area was along the back. Tony and I looked at the menu and decided to split a sandwich, large side dish, and dessert.

After ordering food we found a spot to sit. Several minutes later one of the owners came over to introduce himself. He asked what brought us in, and said that soon a reporter from one of the St. Louis television stations would be coming in to film a piece on the restaurant. We learned that although both he and his wife enjoyed Dolly Parton, she was a superfan. A couple of minutes after he left the people at the table next to ours struck up a conversation. It seemed like a very friendly place!

The restaurant was busy, but listening to the band made the time pass quickly. When our food came to the table I was ready to dig in. The grilled Southern style pimento cheese sandwich (which was billed as Dolly’s favorite) started with grilled sourdough and was stuffed with a generous layer of pimento cheese spread. It came with a choice of bacon or ham (I chose bacon).  The Slaw of Many Colors was described as Dolly's favorite to take to a potluck. It had red cabbage, green cabbage, white onion, and green pepper, all tossed with a wonderful creamy, slightly sweet dressing.

Dessert was a hunk of Dolly Parton’s Chocolate Cobbler (similar to a lava cake), served warm with a dollop of whipped cream.

After our food was gone I walked over to look at the Dolly memorabilia, located in a nook in the back corner of the building. I particularly liked this standee cutout. Take a look at the title of the book!

As we were leaving the news reporter was getting set up for her interview. I'm pretty sure it will show up on tonight's news but we won't be home to see it. I may have to search it out online.

Five years ago: Wash Your Hands And Freshen Your Breath

Good Craftsmanship Takes Time

Several decades ago Hubby Tony inherited a lovely oak secretary desk with a mirrored hutch top from his great aunt. The carvings and skeleton-key locks were a clue to the vintage, which was probably 1930s.

Because of its age the desk had some issues. The drop down had a couple of large cracks running across it, and the keyhole plate of the lock was detached from the inner workings. One of the two pieces of wood covering the back of the desk was coming loose. Most of the drawers had lost their back stops, so they slid in too far.

We lived with the issues for years, but eventually refurbishing the piece made it to the top of the project list. I contacted a company that had done fantastic work for us in the past. They had an interesting, multiple step procedure:

1. Send an email with photos and an explanation of the work requested.
2. Receive an email estimate.
3. Accept the estimate and get on their future work list
4. Be contacted to schedule appointment to pick up desk.
5. Desk picked up from house.
6. Desk delivered to house.

Good craftsmanship takes time. Once we accepted the estimate, there was a a four to five month wait until the work would be done. After the desk was picked up it was gone for six weeks. During that time its contents lived in two large plastic tubs on the living room floor. Finally we received notification that the company was ready to deliver the finished desk.

Everything I asked for had been done. The cracks in the drop down had been filled. The key once again fit into the ornamental plate.The back no longer had a loosely hanging piece of wood. All of the drawers pushed in flush with the body of the desk. Per instructions, they did not refinish the desk, but instead gave it a good restoration and cleaning.

Now every day I get to enjoy our newly-renovated heirloom.

Five years ago: How Hot Is It?

They'll Get What They Get

From 2020 to 2022 I was the secretary for a state-wide fellowship. My duties were to take minutes at four meetings per year, compile a document containing those minutes and reports from others in the organization, and send the document to the person responsible for publishing it to the website.

By the end of my term I had a nice system set up, starting with a template showing the information I needed to capture at the meeting (such as the people who read some basic information at the beginning, if there were any absentees, who made a motion, and who seconded it). I just filled in the blanks as the meeting went along. Shortly before each meeting I sent out an email requesting reports, then copied and pasted them into my draft document. Because I knew what I had and hadn't received, during the meeting if someone gave a report they hadn't sent to me I immediately sent them a message asking for the information.

All of my pre-work made it so I could turn the final document around in a couple of weeks. When my tenure as secretary was over I purged my files (both physical and computer) and moved on to another position within the fellowship.

Several days ago I got a phone call from the fellowship's Chair. After a bit of chit chat she told me that the current secretary had stepped down for personal reasons and they needed someone to fill in at an meeting this upcoming weekend. Might I be able to do that, or did I know someone who could?

I was already going to be at the meeting, so after a little consideration I let her know I was willing to help. I could hear the relief in her voice.

Open Clip Art

I looked in every crevice of every computer file and email address, but I never found the template document I used to use. It took several sessions at the computer to recreate it, but eventually I came up with something that closely resembled the already-published minutes on the website.

The person who did the job the term after mine and the newly departed Secretary seem to have dabbled with using AI to summarize things. I will not be doing that. The fellowship will get what they will get.

Five years ago: Distressing

Missing The Announcement

I learned from a friend this morning that an acquaintance's father had passed away a couple of weeks ago. As it turns out the death was posted on her Facebook page, and later, a link to the obituary. I did not see the information in my feed. Why?

I am blaming the company's mysterious algorithms, which try to guess how interested I would be in seeing any given post. Fortunately, the funeral isn't taking place until mid-September so I will be able to attend.

I get that running an obituary in the newspaper is expensive, an extra thing to do at a stressful time, and that very few people read newspapers now. However, I guess I am an exception because I doscan through the obituaries in the newspaper (the e-edition on weekdays and a paper copy on Sunday) and have learned about the deaths of several people that way.

Hubby Tony has been told that if he has to plan a funeral for me there must be at least a minimalist notice in the newspaper (listing my name, dates of birth and death, and basic funeral service details). Of course, I won't be around to see if that happens.

Five years ago: Distractible

Tasting Tasty Tea

A while back I was gifted two boxes of tea from someone on the Buy Nothing group. The first was peppermint, one of Tony's favorites. The other one was Yaupon, which I had never heard of.

The internet told me that yaupon tea is an herbal beverage brewed from the leaves of the yaupon holly, a shrub native to the Southeastern United States. It's North America's only native naturally caffeinated plant. Yaupon has about the same caffeine as green tea and is rich in antioxidants, but it's low in tannins and doesn't have the bitterness often found in traditional black or green teas.

Because I usually drink my tea after dinner and choose non-caffeinated varieties, the box of yaupon got buried in my tea stash. Earlier in the week I rediscovered it, and tonight Hubby Tony and I had a yaupon taste test with dinner.

There were three types of tea in the box. According to the label:

• Pedernales is "Clean and refreshing, our staple green yaupon celebrates the tranquility of the Pedernales river that flows over and around huge slabs of limestone".

• Lost Maples is "Smooth and warm, our medium roast yaupon is inspired by Lose Maples, a forest unlike any other in Texas, and invites you to get lost in notes of warm caramel".

• Marfa is "Elegant and sophisticated, our traditional dark roast yaupon pays homage to the iconic West-Texas town of Marfa, where art and creativity converge. Enjoy the sweet nuttiness of this specialty roast".

I didn't realize until I opened the box that it contained loose tea instead of bags. I only have one tea ball, so following the directions I spooned one tablespoon of tea to each of three cups, then added hot water and let it steep. 

The package directions said the tea would be good both hot or cold, and I decided on the latter. I strained the tea into drinking glasses and put them into the refrigerator so it could chill.

At dinner time it was time to test.

• I filled two tumblers with ice and poured half of the Pedernales tea into each. I am not the biggest green tea fan, but this one was smooth and fresh tasting. Tony said it was his favorite.

• Next we tried the Lost Maples, using the same procedure. It took me a while, but when I got to the bottom of the sample I could definitely taste the caramel. This one was my favorite 

• The dark roast of the Marfa was obvious. I thought it would be a nice substitute for black tea, but Tony said that it was his least favorite.

Five years ago: The Hunt For Pastries

Holding In High Regard

August 17th is Black Cat Appreciation Day, which aims to dispel negative black cat superstitions, like their association with bad luck or the fact that they're witches in disguise.

My current favorite black cat, Foster Smokey Joe, had a bit of notoriety today when he was featured in a social media promotion by the shelter publicizing a ticket raffle to the Savannah Bananas baseball game next weekend. The photos of Smokey Joe show him playing with a catnip banana his cat sitter gave him a while back. The tie-in also included a link to the list of adoptable cats on the shelter's website.

Tonight after dinner Smokey Joe asked for a lap to sit on, which I was happy to do. It's sometimes hard to tell with a cat but I think he appreciated me as much as I appreciated him.

Almost Like Christmas

In 2011 Hubby Tony and I received some dark blue Fiestaware for a Christmas present. I exchanged some of the place settings so we had four colors. My goal was to have a wide variety in the cabinet, but the pieces were so sturdy that didn't happen much.

Today I was browsing through Facebook and saw a post on my Buy Nothing group that someone was gifting a large stack of Fiestaware. The photo that went with the post showed a stack of assorted size plates in the riot of colors I've always hoped for, so I responded that if she chose me I would pick out colors I didn’t have in my current dishes and add my discards to the stack and repost.

About forty five minutes later I got a message that I had been gifted the plates, and forty five minutes after that I was carrying the bags up to the condo. It was so much fun to go through them and increase the cabinet dishware palette. Now each stack of plates has eight unique colors. I told Tony they make the stacks of cereal bowls with some duplicates look blah and I might have to be on the lookout for some bowl replacements.

Fiestaware (and glass bowls on the top right)

Five years ago today: Good Old Andy

Unexpected Undertakings

Even though I don't really believe in them, I scan through my horoscope in my newspaper every morning. today's was worth a little closer reading:

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19) Do something different today.You feel the need for adventure! Shake things up a little! Travel plans will appeal. Tonight: Explore and learn something new.

Unfortunately, today was not the best day for me to be spontaneous. I had several computer tasks that had to be done. Hubby Tony had some commitments and couldn't join me in adventure. On top of those issues, the area's extreme heat warning meant that any big outside activities were off the table. I had to settle for shaking things up in tiny ways, but I did my best.

• Thanks to the weather it was yet another walk at the mall day. Tony and I both took our cars so we could head different directions afterwards. We did our normal laps before the stores opened, then he left for his meeting and I completed an additional lap, stepping into a couple of stores to see what was new.

• My first stop after the mall was at a gas station to take advantage of a drink promotion they offer when the baseball Cardinals score six runs the day before. I always get the same type of coffee, but today I sampled a flavored one before deciding I didn't like the taste and filling my cup with the usual.

• The next stop was getting a hair cut at a chain salon. When I went to the website to check in for a visit at my usual location I noticed there was a 15 minute wait, but if I drove five minutes to the east I could get a cut with no wait. Guess which one I chose?

• My last stop was the grocery store, where I walked the aisles in reverse order and looked at items I had never seen before.

• The afternoon was filled with non-adventurous tasks, but I did help Tony with some travel plans- figuring out the rental car details for our next visit to California months from now.

• Tony had a dinner meeting so I was on my own. I put together a surprisingly good meal from things around the house. I stared with lightly steamed cabbage, which I tossed with smashed avocado and topped with canned chili beans and salsa.

• After dinner I turned on the PBS News Hour, which always gives me information on current and new topics.

Five years ago: Just Doing His Job

Dry Drops

Today I had my annual eye exam. At the end of the visit I learned that the lens prescription change was so minor I decided not to bother with new glasses.

However, during the exam I mentioned to the doctor that the letters on the chart were sometimes blurry, but but would clear up when I blinked. He moistened an orange dye strip and touched the strip against the inside of my lower lid, then examined my eyes with a blue light and announced I had dry eye syndrome.

I left the office thoroughly educated about what that means. The main causes of dry eyes are increased tear evaporation (called evaporative dry eye) and decreased tear production (called aqueous deficiency). For both, the most common cause is aging. In addition to my blurry vision, other common symptoms are burning, bloodshot eyes, heavy eyelids, and eye strain during reading or screen use.

The doctor said there were quite a few treatments, but suggested the first step would be preservative-free, over-the-counter eye drops and gave me some suggestions of brands to look for. I was most surprised to learn that using a ceiling fan can be an issue, even during the nighttime when my eyes were closed. For that, he suggested gel eye drops that are thicker and last longer.

Vecteezy

Five years ago: Bicentennial Fun

Shhhhhh....

For the past 10 years Hubby Tony has attended a silent retreat. He has encouraged me to go on one, but I did one in 2008 and had no desire to attend a second. Then a woman from my church invited me as part of a group from the parish and I accepted. My four-day retreat at the White House Retreat Center started on Thursday night and ended on Sunday after lunch. The time was a great experience.

White House opened more than a century ago and sits on a bluff above the Mississippi River. The grounds are serene and beautiful, with mature trees, naturalized areas, formal, and informal flower beds. My room was on the second floor of the largest building with a nice view of the river.

The event started with dinner on Thursday, a chance to get to know the people sitting at my table. That was a good thing, because after that meal the rest of the weekend was silent until lunch on Sunday (unless you chose to attend a half-hour fellowship gathering on Friday and Saturday night). Meal times were accompanied by gentile piped-in music. I put my phone on airplane mode and used it only for a watch and to make sure I got my steps for the day. A couple of times I was tempted to take a photo of something I saw, but decided to use my mind's eye instead.

The program was based on the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius. Over the course of the weekend the retreat director, a Jesuit priest, led ten conferences (talks), with a period of meditation after each. Each day also included an opportunity to participate in Catholic observances and Mass.

My days quickly fell into a pattern, starting with getting up early each morning to walk around the grounds before the day got too hot, then coming back to my room to get ready for the activity-filled day. There were a multitude of places both inside and outside to sit to pray and meditate and I soon found my favorites, but on Sunday morning when I found a new-to-me chair overlooking the river I suspected there were even more.

One thing I particularly enjoyed was being part of Nature I started to notice little details. Like the sun coming up over the river in the morning, the boats floating downstream or being pushed upstream, the deer I surprised on my walks, the places where those deer had nibbled some of the plants into stubs, the hundreds of bees, butterflies, and a couple of hummingbirds flying around the flower beds, the background drone of the crickets and cicadas, the spider webs stretching from one plant to another along a trail, and the fat Monarch butterfly caterpillars munching on the milkweed leaves.

I felt myself slowing down and getting less distracted. More importantly, over the course of the weekend I learned some important things about myself and was sad when it was time to leave. On the drive out of the parking lot I realized the car radio was making too much noise, turned it off, and enjoyed the rest of the drive home in silence.

Five years ago: Fermented Spicy Goodness

Too Soon?

I abhor seeing Halloween things when summer isn't even close to being over, but the other day in the greeting card section of the grocery store I walked by a card that looked like someone snuck into my house and used Foster Cat Smokey Joe as a model for a cute vampire cat.

It only cost 99 cents, so I thought it would be fun to send a card to each California family. But I left card-less that day because it wasn't anywhere close to Halloween. However, when I got home I realized the card might be out of stock when I wanted it, so today I went and purchased two.

The full service checkout line was long. At the self-service section the attendant noticed my purchase and wondered out loud why I would be making it so early. When I told him he just smiled and shook his head.

Both cards are now in my October tickler file, ready to address, stamp, and mail when the time is right.

Five years ago: Once Every 200 Years

Undies 😼

Today was another hot and humid day, so I was getting my steps in at the mall when I passed one of the store's marketing signs and learned that August 5th was National Underwear Day. Who knew!

The sign said that the store was giving away a free pair of panties to each customer, but when I found out I had to sign up for their rewards program I decided I wasn't interested.

Instead, I came home and organized my underwear drawer, tossing a couple of pairs that had developed holes.I remembered from years ago that the best time to buy underwear was during the August back-to-school sales, so I went to Walmart and purchased a 10-pack of all-cotton panties. They're more my style, anyway.

Five years ago: It All Comes Full Circle

Rambling For Resensation

This afternoon I had a dentist appointment to begin the process of replacing a deteriorating crown.

The first step was to numb the area thoroughly, and when the appointment was finished I could tell I would be numb for quite some time. I asked the dental assistant if there were any tips for getting the novocaine to wear off quicker. She said the process was dependent on the patient's metabolic rate, but in general increasing the heart rate (by running or brisk walking) would help.

Because it was too hot to walk outside I decided to go to the mall a half mile from my house. I knew that a large portion of the parking garage I usually use is being renovated, so I drove halfway around the structure and parked at a far end. Even though it was quite a distance from an entrance I was surprised at how many cars were there.

I've heard for years that malls are dying, and several in the metropolitan area have closed. However, even though this mall has several empty storefronts, right now there are four new stores going in and another storefront has a drywall construction barricade, which means work on it will be starting shortly. 

Easy-Peasey.AI

Although there were quite a few people there I was able to walk fast enough that I felt my heart rate increase a bit. I did three laps (two on the first floor and one on the second floor) before my feet started to hurt and it was time to head home.

I have no idea if my walk actually helped the anti-numbing process, but it felt good to get some exercise.

Theater With My Truelove

Last Christmas Hubby Tony gifted me with two sets of tickets to a local theater. The one we used today coincided with our anniversary. We spent a lovely afternoon with the musical Guys and Dolls. I enjoyed my time in 1950s New York with Sky Masterson, Sergeant Sarah Brown, Nathan Detroit, Miss Adelaide, Nicely Nicely Johnson, and Benny Southstreet. After the show we went out for dinner.

There have been quite a few recordings of my favorite song from the show, but even though she wasn't in the Broadway musical I especially enjoy this version of "Bushel and a Peck" by Doris Day.

Five years ago: Directory Of Businesses

Adventures In Grandparenting

Some of my vacation trips are elaborate and go to exotic locations. Other trips are low key and familiar, but equally impactful. Hubby Tony and I just got back from one of the latter trips, visiting the California kids and grandkids. We spent five days with each family, making memories that will stay with me forever.

Foster cat Smokey Joe wanted to come with us

Usually when we go to California we fly into San Jose and use a rental car to get us to Modesto in the Central Valley. This time, though Tony found out that for only a small upcharge we could fly into Sacramento, rent the car there, then return it in San Jose when we left. That turned out to be a wonderful plan; the rush hour traffic going south from the airport was a fraction of what it would have been going the other direction.

As in previous trips, activities at both houses included playing games (both inside and outside), doing crafts, taking walks, and tagging along for errands. This time, though, in Modesto Tony and I watched grands Gee, Evee, and Ian for the better part of a day while their parents took care of some family business. Their mom left clear directions for snacks and lunch, but left the rest up to us. It was great fun to play Barbies with the girls while grandpa did "boy stuff" with Ian.

On Saturday, the day we were going to drive from one house to another we were headed to an extended family pool party in the morning, but our rental car wouldn't accelerate above 20 miles per hour. Google indicated it was probably a sensor issue that could be solved by turning off and restarting the car. That did indeed work, but neither Tony or I wanted to take the car on the interstate for an almost two hour drive over the mountains in case the problem redeveloped.

I contacted the rental customer service office, who told us to go to a Modesto branch for a replacement. However, at the branch a sympathetic clerk told us the only available car was a compact Mitsubishi Mirage. We took it. The car's tiny engine had a hard time going over the mountains, and the suspension was rough, but at least it got us where we were going.

At the second house, because of their parents hectic full-time work schedules grands Jay, Dee, and Ell were signed up for activities and Tony and I had some free time during the day. However, we made the most of our time with the family in the weekend and evenings. Grandma and Grandpa dropped off Ell and Dee at a camp one morning, and took Jay to a preview class for a possible after school activity. I also went with Son Brian to pick up Jay and a couple of friends at a baseball camp.

On our last day in California Tony and I headed up to the grocery store to get food to take on the plane. We took a circuitous walk through new to us neighborhoods, and when I saw this street sign I immediately knew my blog buddy Strayer would want to see it.

Five years ago: Recreation Opportunities Now And In The Future

Music If You Want It Or Not

Hubby Tony and I stopped into a coffee shop to get something to drink. After receiving the order we sat at a table in a shady spot to enjoy our beverages. Eventually Tony went inside to use the rest room. While he was gone music started playing very loudly in the parking lot. And not just any music....disco music!

Because I can remember random facts about 1970s disco better than I can remember what I did last week I immediately recognized the song "I Feel Love" by Donna Summer, which includes the profound lyrics:

Ooh I feel love, I feel love

I feel love, I feel love

I feel love

 

I feel love

I feel love

I feel love

As the song was ending Tony returned and we got ready to leave. However, the music wasn't finished. The next tune was "The Hustle", another one embedded in my brain with lyrics that are even more profound :

Do it!

Do it!

Do it!

 

Do the Hustle!

Do the Hustle!

 

Do the Hustle!

Do the Hustle!

(Are you singing along in your head yet?🤣) 

I quickly realized that our route across the parking lot would take us right past the source of the music, which turned out to be coming from the speakers of a huge white pickup truck driven by a man who looked to be about my age. He was pulling out of his parking space as I walked past, and he noticed that I was doing a little bop to the music. 

As he drove away the man told me he played disco everywhere he went because it was the greatest music ever.

Somehow I don't think everyone would agree with his assessment or his method of sharing his love.

Five years ago: Constructive Wait Time

Food Fun Photo Dump

I was cleaning out my phone camera roll and came across these interesting shots.

At one of the local grocery stores the meat department had packaged 'fixings' (lettuce, sliced onion, and sliced tomato) stocked next to the ground burger patties. The packages had a hefty fee added for convenience, but there was also no waste if you were only making a couple of burgers.

When I was in Switzerland earlier in the summer we had lunch at a restaurant recommended by our tour guide. The inside was very much like an old-style beer hall, and the menu was equally old style. My veal sausage with bread turned out to be a link about 15 inches long with a toothpick Swiss flag stuck into it, a piece of crusty bread, and a package of spicy mustard.

For a while it seemed like the local Aldi had an issue with carrot quality control. Instead of a bag filled with normal slim, straight carrots I found this one with 'legs' and stub 'arms'.

And then a short time later this multi-trunked carrot showed up in another bag. The interesting thing is the each of them tasted perfectly fine.

This unique entree started with a bed of polenta, which was topped with a thick slab of perfectly-cooked cauliflower, and garnished with pomegranate seeds and parsley.

Five years ago: Somebody's Got To Win. Right?

Ah, So Sad

The best jokes are the ones that come from friends.....

Rawpixel

Six retired Irishmen were playing poker in O'Leary's apartment when Paddy Murphy loses $500 on a single hand, clutches his chest and drops dead at the table. Showing respect for their fallen brother, the other five continue playing standing up.

Michael O'Conner looks around and asks, "Oh, me boys, someone got's to tell Paddy's wife. Who will it be?"

They draw straws. Paul Gallagher picks the short one. They tell him to be discreet, be gentle, and don't make a bad situation any worse.

"Discreet??? I'm the most discreet Irishmen you'll ever meet. Discretion is me middle name. Leave it to me."

Gallagher goes over to Murphy's house and knocks on the door. Mrs. Murphy answers and asks what he wants. Gallagher declares: "Your husband just lost $500 and is afraid to come home."

"Tell him to drop dead!", says Murphy's wife.

"I'll go tell him." says Gallagher 

Five years ago: Smooth!

What To Buy And What To Avoid

I suppose by this point most everyone has head about the "poo-poo parasite" (Cyclospora) issue in the United States. The parasite is contracted by consuming contaminated food or water. Symptoms are severe, watery, and sometimes explosive diarrhea, which can last for weeks if untreated.

The Food and Drug Administration thought they had identified the source of the outbreak-shredded iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico that came from one specific supplier-but it turned out to be a false positive result and the hunt is still ongoing.

In the midst of all this I found this great infographic about things that are safe and not safe to eat until the outbreak is under control.

Reader's Digest

Things that are safe to eat: Thick peeled fruits (like bananas, oranges, pineapples, avocados, and watermelons); firm, smooth vegetables (like cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, and broccoli); layered vegetables (like cabbage); commercially frozen products (both fruits and vegetables); and cooked or processed foods (canned and baked).

Things to avoid, or only eat cooked: Raw berries (like raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries); soft-skinned fruits (like peaches, plums, nectarines, and grapes), raw leafy greens (like fresh spinach, romaine lettuce, and greens); prewashed salad mixes (like bagged kits and precut greens); precut grocery fruit bowls (anything including melons or berries), and fresh raw herbs (like cilantro, basil, and parsley).

If you live in the United States, how much have you been affected by the outbreak? Have you made any changes in your diet?

Frozen Dessert Delight

Hubby Tony left Thursday night for an event and returned this afternoon. While he was gone I had a great time arranging my own schedule and eating whatever I wanted to, including breakfast for dinner at home, a meal out with Son Donald, and a second meal out with just myself for company.

Although Tony traditionally cooks dinner on Sunday I told him I would take care of it tonight. There was some kale in the refrigerator that had to be used up, so I made Cookie and Kate's Farro and Kale Salad with Goat Cheese, which also includes toasted almonds, dried cherries or cranberries, and a flavorful vinaigrette. That healthy dinner meant that we could celebrate today's "holiday", National Ice Cream Day, by going out for dessert.

My classic hot fudge sundae was a delicious end to the weekend.

Five years ago today: Stopping The Burn

Twice-Given Gift

The last time I went out to dinner with a group of women one of them had a present for everyone and brought out a box of six tubes of color changing lipstick. Each tube had a different flower embedded inside. I received the tube with the pink flower. I learned that the lipstick goes on clear, but the tint changes depending on your body temperature (lighter when you're cold and darker when your temperature rises).

Amazon

However, because of some skin issues I am very careful with the products I use. The gift giver insisted I try it on my lips but I declined. Instead I rubbed some on my thumb, observed the color change, then thanked the woman and put the tube in my purse.

Later that night my thumb started itching so I knew the product wasn't for me. Instead, I offered the tube on my Buy Nothing group, and the next day it was on it's way to someone else's house.

Five years ago: Twosome Traveling

Up To Date

Back in 2008 Hubby Tony and I met with a lawyer to develop a set of estate-planning paperwork. After we received the documents from the lawyer we put them in the desk and I basically forgot about them.

At my last checkup appointment the doctor asked me if I had a designated medical power of attorney, someone who could make medical decisions for me if I become too sick or injured to make them myself? And if so could I bring a copy of the legal document in to the office?

The answers to her questions were both 'yes'. I sent myself an email to remember to find the document, but that message got buried in my Inbox. Last week when I was deleting old emails I found the message and asked Hubby Tony to pull out the paperwork for me so I could make a copy.

Leafing through it, I discovered a problem. All of the basics were still correct, but many of the details were not. The contact information for Tony and the alternate attorneys (my boys) reflected where they lived 18 years ago and the phone numbers they had then. Not surprisingly, some of the other estate planning documents also had the same issue.

Tony did some research and found out a notarized addendum with the correct information was all that was needed to make simple changes. This morning we went to the bank with our addendum paperwork and took care of the last step. Fifteen minutes later we walked out the door with notarized sheets and I can take the copy to the doctor's office next time I see her.  

Source

Five years ago today: Family Frolicking

Multi, Multi, Multi-Talented

On the first day of summer my post included a poem by Shel Silverstein. Victor S E Moubarak of Time For Reflections and The Christian Lounge left a comment on that post that in addition to prose and poetry, Shel Silverstein was also was a song writer, including the song "A Boy Named Sue", made famous by Johnny Cash.

I had no idea, but Victor's comment sent me down a rabbit hole of research on Shel Silverstein.

• I learned that some of his other well-known songs were Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show's "The Cover of "Rolling Stone" and "Sylvia's Mother, and "The Unicorn" by the Irish Rovers. His songs have been performed by Johnny Cash, Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, the Irish Rovers, Bobby Bare, Emmylou Harris, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Marianne Faithfull, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. 

• He was one of the leading cartoonists for Playboy magazine, and his work also appeared in many other magazines and newspapers.

• His comedy songs were often played on the Doctor Dimento show.

• And if being an author/poet/songwriter wasn't enough, he composed music for several films.

• He also wrote more than 100 one-act plays.  

If Shel Silverstein hadn't died in 1999 I wonder what else could have been added to his list of accomplishments? 

Five years ago today: Fun With The Families

No Change Needed!

I have thick hair with a mind of its own. Putting the cowlicks in their place requires the use of a brush and blow dryer. This morning I was whipping my mane into place when the blow dryer sparked and then died.

I immediately unplugged the device and thought about my next step.

The dead blow dryer predated my move to the condo, so it was at least six and a half years old, a good lifespan for a small electronic. It was the ideal device - enough watts to dry my thick hair, easy to move into different positions, and quality attachments that made the job easier. Over the years I had developed the perfect hair drying routine with it, and I wasn't excited about figuring out something different.

As one does in this internet age I started my search online. Ten minutes later I was doing a happy dance when I realized I could order the exact same model on a big box store's website and pick it up later in the day.

Five years ago today: Bathroom Humor

Pineapple skin tea

Free SVG

I was processing a pineapple today. When I was done there was a bowl of pineapple chunks and another bowl of waste- the outer peel, core, and crown and I started wondering if any of the waste had another use.

A little internet research told me that I should just toss the crown, but the peel and core could be turned into a drink. I used the recipe for Pineapple Skin Tea at PlantYou.

I washed the peel well I chopped it and the core up, tossed everything in a pot, then added water, fresh ginger, a little powdered turmeric, and a bit of maple syrup. The recipe called for a cinnamon stick (which I didn't have), so I substituted powdered cinnamon.

After the mixture came to a boil I lowered the heat until it was simmering and ignored it for an hour, then used a colander to drain the liquid.  The tea had a light, refreshing pineapple taste, but I didn't enjoy the cinnamon dregs in the bottom of the cup . If I ever made this again I would definitely use a cinnamon stick or strain the liquid with a fine mesh sieve.

Five years ago today: A Prayer for Dealing with Difficult People

Commemorating The Nation's Anniversary-Day 10 (The End)

Hubby Tony and I are learning a little bit about each of the States, and enjoying food from them as a way to celebrate the USA's 250th anniversary

Today is the last day of our project. It's been fascinating to discover facts about the country and how the states all tie together. My set for the day, and the facts I learned, were:

• Illinois As of 2017, the state pet is shelter dogs and shelter cats.
• North Carolina The carnivorous Venus flytrap grows naturally in the wild nowhere else on Earth except within a 60-mile radius of Wilmington.
• Oregon Oregon is the only state in the U.S. with a state flag that features a different design on each side. The front shows the state seal, while the back features a golden beaver.
• Oklahoma The Oklahoma State Capitol is the only state capitol to have had active oil wells on its grounds, with production lasting until 1986.
• Massachusetts Two sports were invented in Massachusetts-Basketball in 1891 and volleyball  in 1895.

This time I decided that my inspiration ingredient would be sweet potatoes, the state vegetable of North Carolina, and easily available at the grocery store. Thinking about cooking options for the vegetable, I decided I didn't want fries, and I didn't want a Thanksgiving-inspired dish. Instead, I made a pan of enchiladas with sweet potato and black bean filling. They were very good, and as a bonus the recipe made enough for leftovers.

Five years ago today: A Happy Coincidence

Commemorating The Nation's Anniversary-Day 9

Hubby Tony and I are learning a little bit about each of the States, and enjoying food from them as a way to celebrate the USA's 250th anniversary

Tony had an interesting collection of states today, and came up with some interesting facts.

• New York The first pizzeria in the United States opened in New York City in 1895. Since the 1960s, the price of a slice of pizza has been roughly the same price as a subway ride, generating the idea of “Pizza Principle” among economists.
• New Hampshire The state has 4 nicknames: Granite State, for the extensive granite formations and quarries; Mother of Rivers, for the New England rivers that originate in the state's mountains; White Mountain State, for the White Mountain Range; Switzerland of America for the mountain scenery.
• Tennessee The massive 1811–1812 New Madrid earthquakes were so powerful they temporarily made the Mississippi River run in reverse, creating Tiptonville's Reelfoot Lake.
• West Virginia Is the only state completely within the Appalachian Mountain range. West Virginia is the third most forested state. The Monongahela National Forest covers nearly a million acres of land, and spans across 10 counties.
• Idaho At 7,900 feet deep, Hells Canyon surpasses the Grand Canyon as the deepest river-carved gorge in North America. Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls stands 212 feet tall, making it 36 feet higher than Niagara Falls.

This morning before church I drove along with Tony to Bagel Union, where he got traditional New York bagels to serve as part of dinner. His first choice was an Everything bagel. When he said he also wanted one that was non-savory I suggested Honey Buckwheat. Tony added an individual serving of cream cheese to the order. I was intrigued at what he would come up with

At dinner time Tony served up large bowls of vegetable soup with lentils (northern Idaho produces a large portion of all lentils grown in the USA) and a half of an Everything bagel for each of us. In my opinion, nothing beats a good New York bagel with its crispy crust and a chewy interior. This one was perfectly toasted, and the onion, garlic, poppy seeds, sesame seeds and kosher salt was the perfect seasoning for a savory dish.

For dessert, Tony toasted the second bagel and served it with cream cheese mixed with huckleberry preserves, because huckleberries are Idaho's state fruit.

Commemorating The Nation's Anniversary-Day 8 (Happy 4th of July!)

Hubby Tony and I are learning a little bit about each of the States, and enjoying food from them as a way to celebrate the USA's 250th anniversary.

Today is the Fourth of July, the day the United State's Declaration of Independence was officially adopted by the Continental Congress in 1776. It is also Day 8 of our project, and my turn to come up with facts about five states and a food item from one of them.

• Vermont Montpelier is the only U.S. state capital without a single McDonald's restaurant, and the state is one of only four (along with Hawaii, Maine, and Alaska) to ban billboards to protect its scenery.

• Louisiana The state flag features a white pelican, but the official state bird (chosen in 1970) is the brown pelican

• Alaska Because of their massive municipal boundaries, the four largest cities by area in the United States are all in Alaska: Sitka, Juneau, Wrangell, and Anchorage. (Sitka is roughly four times larger than Rhode Island.)

• Georgia The first major gold rush in American history didn’t happen in California—it happened in Dahlonega, Georgia, in 1828. The gold dome of the State Capitol building in Atlanta is actually covered in locally mined gold.

• Iowa The only state bordered by two major rivers—the Mississippi to the east and the Missouri to the west.

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tony and I didn't have big plans for the day, mainly due to the excessive heat that's been around for the past week. Neither one of us wanted to be outside for hours.

I knew I didn't want to cook today, and would have taken the day off from the project except for the fact I knew that if I chose something from Louisiana there were a number of Cajun and Creole restaurants in the area that would be happy to fill our stomachs. We decided to go out for lunch. I researched which were open on the holiday and gave Tony a list of three to choose from. After some discussion we decided on Sister Cities Cajun.

We got there just a few minutes after the restaurant opened, and the chef was in the dining room. When we told him it was our first time there he told us a little about the restaurant and what the most popular items were. We ended up ordering both of them.

My Smothered Catfish had a freshly-fried filet on a bed of white rice and was smothered in shrimp and crawfish etoufee. (I was able to sub out the shrimp for extra crawfish). A piece of cornbread was perched on the side of the plate.

Tony's Dirty Chicken started with a smoked chicken breast on a bed of dirty rice, all smothered in seafood gumbo. It also came with a piece of cornbread

Five years ago today: A Song About America For The Fourth Of July

Commemorating The Nation's Anniversary-Day 7

Hubby Tony and I are learning a little bit about each of the States, and enjoying food from them as a way to celebrate the USA's 250th anniversary

Another day, another set of states (and food items) for Tony. He always does a great job of coming up with interesting facts:

• Montana The Triple Divide Peak is located in Glacier National Park. It is the only spot in North America where water drains into three different bodies of water: the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean (via the Gulf of Mexico), and the Hudson Bay.
• Rhode Island Is the smallest U.S. state by area (only 37 by 48 miles), but it packs in over 400 miles of coastline. Its official name used to be the longest in the country (The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations) before voters shortened it in 2020.
• Alabama The origin of the word Alabama is come from the words “Alba and Amo”. Alba refers to vegetables, herbs, and plants; Amo refers to gatherer or picker. The combination of these words “vegetation pickers” describes the Alabama Indians who were the early settlers in the region.
• Hawaii Mauna Kea on the Big Island is technically the tallest mountain on the planet. Measuring from its base on the ocean floor, it reaches over 33,500 feet, which is nearly a mile taller than Mt. Everest.
• Arizona People lived in the area that’s now Arizona at least 20,000 years ago, before written history. But in the 1200s, this civilization disappeared, probably due to a drought. Much later, Native American tribes such as the Hopi, Zuni, Navajo, and Apache lived on the land. Today, 22 tribes still reside on reservations in the state.

Tony also did a great job coming up with a meal. I always appreciate having breakfast for dinner, and his Montana potato hash really hit the spot. He fried potatoes, onions and bell peppers in a cast-iron skillet, added corn kernels, and lima beans, and topped each serving with a fried egg.

Entree

You may notice that the above photo includes a jar of huckleberry preserves, Montana's state fruit. I knew nothing about huckleberries, but Google told me that the berries primarily grow in the mountainous regions of the northwestern part of the country. They cannot be commercially cultivated and must be hand picked in the wild.

I had some preserves on toast, then went back for more. Thank goodness there's still a large portion of the jar left, because I see more huckleberry preserves in my future!

Yummy!

Commemorating The Nation's Anniversary-Day 6

Hubby Tony and I are learning a little bit about each of the States, and enjoying food from them as a way to celebrate the USA's 250th anniversary

• Minnesota There are over 11,000 lakes in the state, giving it more shoreline than California, Florida, and Hawaii combined
• North Dakota The International Peace Garden Chapel sits right on the United States/Canadian border, and you can walk between the two countries inside the building
• Kansas The Monument Rocks (also known as the Chalk Pyramids) are a series of 70-foot-tall chalk formations located in the northwestern part of the state.
• Utah Is the only state in the country where every single county contains a portion of a national forest.
• Texas The state is larger than any country in Europe

Margaret (Peggy or Peg too) left a comment on my last post saying when I wrote about Texas she'd be down for joining us for some brisket. I would have been down for that, too, but at dinner time the 'real feel' temperature was 105 degrees and I decided it was too hot to leave the house. Instead, I settled for tortilla chips and salsa (which was officially designated as the Texas State Snack in 2003).

Commemorating The Nation's Anniversary--Day 5

Hubby Tony and I are learning a little bit about each of the States, and enjoying food from them as a way to celebrate the USA's 250th anniversary

Today Tony's states were:

• Colorado The state's mountainous region, part of the vast Rocky Mountains, is six times the size of Switzerland, featuring 9,600 miles of fishing streams, 2,850 lakes, and over 1,000 peaks.
• Delaware Due to its highly corporate-friendly laws, there are actually more registered corporate entities in Delaware than there are human residents. Nearly 68% of the Fortune 500 call the state their legal home.
• Connecticut The state is credited with a number of American firsts: the Fundamental Orders (1639) was a precursor to the Declaration of Independence, the oldest continuously published newspaper in the United States (1764), the world's first telephone directory (1878), the first speed limit-12 miles per hour (1901), the first permanent license plates (1937), the first colored television (1948), and the first nuclear submarine (1954).
• Nebraska The only state in the U.S. whose legislature is unicameral (just one chamber) and nonpartisan (no party affiliations).
• South Dakota The state has approximately four cows for every person.

In honor of Connecticut, Tony chose to make New England style baked beans. He served the dish with corn on the cob and sauteed zucchini. Originally corn bread was part of the menu, but we only have one oven and the hot baking temperature for corn bread didn't jive with the 'low and slow' bean baking temperature, so Tony substituted slices of wheat baguette.

We always have several different kinds of beans in the freezer, which made putting together the main dish easy. New England beans get their flavor and color from molasses, but Tony also added brown sugar and mustard. In lieu of the traditional salt pork Tony used smoked sausage, which he pan fried before adding to the pot. Since he only made two servings of everything there were no leftovers. Five years ago: Just A Teenage Scavenger Trying To Eat In Peace