Open a New Window - Angela Lansbury

 I have had an interesting introspective 24 hours, and this song just feels right today.  

Fun things update - mostly food LOL

 Going back and reviewing my list of things to do for fun, I have not been able to cross anything off since last I updated.  That is not to say I have not enjoyed the past month, it has just been on the quiet side.  I have been cooking a lot, which is always fun for me.  I came up with a salmon dip recipe that I really enjoyed and so did Lois, who I like to share my cooking with.  I had found a recipe on the back of a box of crackers that sounded really good. But, not paying attention, I forgot to cut the recipe out before I recycled the box.  So, what I did was look up recipes for salmon dip and pulled from different ones to create one that I thought sounded good.   This is not my normal way of approaching a recipe, but I was determined to trust my instincts.  The dip turned out really well and I will share with you all at a later date.  I also tried a new green bean recipe.  It's actually a casserole, which I always enjoy, but it's simply called creamy green beans.  This is another keeper that I will share with you soon.

I hosted our traditional Easter dinner last Sunday.  We had a great meal and a great time.  I do love setting my table and getting everything ready.  I love using my things, which you know.  My goal is to create a table that is both inviting and comfortable.  I believe I achieve that. It was me, Lois, her sister Ruth, our friend Kathy and my roommate Jason.  The food was good and we had a great conversation throughout the meal.  I loved the company and it's always good to see my friends. And no one was sitting at the table staring down at their phone which was even better.  The only time a phone came out was after dinner when Jason was showing pics of his home renovation.  It was a good time.

I went to see Dad and June back in March.  We always have a good visit, and I hope to go back soon. I try to take them some food each time I go.  Some for the fridge and some for the freezer.  June does not cook like she used to, which is just fine.  They have groceries and get Meals on Wheels several times a week.  While they appreciate that, those meals are pretty devoid of flavor.  Working with many people on special diets, I totally get why that is.  So, I want them to have some good homemade meals ready whenever they want some.  I know they appreciate it and it makes me feel good to contribute somehow to their lives.  They are very special people.

This will be a weekend of domestic bliss.  Grocery shopping is done.  Laundry is going.  It's my version of fun LOL 

Recipe of the Week - Ina Garten's Meatloaf

 I have only watched a handful of Ina Garten's cooking shows.  I don't know why I haven't watched more because I did enjoy them.  Maybe one day.  Anyway, I was watching a cooking video on YouTube where they made Ina's meatloaf recipe.  I wanted to try it because it did not seem to be too complicated like some meatloaf recipes.  And I have never had much luck with meatloaf.  I have tried several different recipes, but none really hit the spot.  This one, however, did. It was magnificent.  Absolutely delicious and not hard at all. I am definitely going to make this one again.  If you like meatloaf and have not tried this before, I highly recommend it!

Ina Garten's Meatloaf

1 Tbsp olive oil

3 cups chopped yellow onions

1 tsp chopped fresh thyme*

2 tsps kosher salt

1 tsp fresh ground pepper

3 Tbsp Worcestershire

1/3 cup canned chicken stock

1 Tbsp tomato paste

2.5 lbs ground beef**

1/2 cup plain bread crumbs

2 XL eggs, beaten

1/2 cup ketchup.

Preheat oven to 325.  Heat olive oil in a sauté pan.  Add onions, thyme, salt and pepper.  Cook until onions are translucent but not brown.  Remove from heat.  Add Worcestershire, chicken stock and tomato paste.  Allow to cool slightly.  In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except ketchup.  Shape into a loaf on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper.  Spread ketchup evenly over top.  Bake for 1  hour and 15 minutes until meat thermometer reads 165.  Place a pan of hot water under meatloaf while cooking. 

* I could not find fresh thyme at my grocery store so I used 1/2 tsp dried instead

** I used 70/30 ground beef and it was fantastic

Paying Bills

 As I am working on building some savings, the bills are not helping at all.  I wrote a few days ago about how some days I feel like I am playing house.  Well, one thing that never was included when I played house as a child was paying bills.  It never crossed my mind back then.  I have no idea if my parents ever struggled to pay bills.  If they did, they sure did not make it known to me and Bill.  While they did not spend frivolously, we never went without, so I really have no clue about such things. 

Now this is not to say that I cannot pay my bills.  The purse strings are just a little tighter these days.  Hell, they are a lot tighter.  But I do pay them.  I pay them on time, usually before they are due.  And I try to make more than the minimum payments on things like credit cards.  Several of my utilities are on an equal payment plan. While this is good for the monthly budget, it can come back to bite you in the ass at the end of the year.  With those, I pay way more than I need to each month so that I do not have to worry about that.

Still, bills are just a part of life.  It is part of being an adult.  It is a vicious monthly cycle that rears its head every four weeks.  But if I am able to pay the bills, it means that I am alive, I am working, and I have the resources to do it.  There is something to be said about that.  Now, if only my salary raised at the same rate as the bills do.  Our energy provider, Duke Power, is proposing raising our rates here by 18%.  That is a might ridiculous to me.  If that does happen, I will be decreasing my power usage out of necessity.  It will be time to put all of those oil lamps to work LOL

In retrospect, it is a part of adulthood that I am glad I didn't really know about as a child.  I remember when I learned how to write a check when I was young.  That was so exciting.  I had no idea at the time how unexciting that would become later on.  Another exciting escapade in adulting LOL Ah, well. 

Getting started writing

 I have started keeping a notebook of ideas for stories to write.  I have these ideas at very different times so I like to have my notebook with me as much as possible so that I can jot them down before I forget them.  This is especially helpful at work. That will come in handy because I think that the first thing I want to write about is my experiences working in a retirement community.  Now, I don't know the format yet.  I don't want to write something autobiographical.  At least I think I don't.  But I would like to write about some of the things I've witnessed and the people that I know. 

I cannot decide if a throughline works best for this kind of thing or just a simple set of stories that all take place in the same location. I'm thinking that one main story throughout might be the way to go.  I have been developing a character to base the writing on.  I have also been working on other stories set in a similar location that have nothing to do with that character.  I am wondering if I can somehow combine the two.  I'm pretty sure that I can do that. 

I just need to really start putting pen to paper....or fingers to keyboard....and see what happens.  I know it will not be something immediate that will happen, but I am looking forward to trying.  Whether or not anyone would ever read it does not matter to me.  It will be a nice escape into a world that I already love. I have a friend on FB that is writing a book, and he has given himself a definite time limit. He's locked himself away in a hotel room until he completes his last 10 chapters.  That might be a little extreme for me but whatever works for you!

Getting started is always the hardest part.  Staring at the blank page, waiting for those first words to appear.  But I've got to start somewhere I suppose.  Otherwise, it will all just stay in my imagination.  That's not a bad thing necessarily but that is not the purpose of this exercise.  I used to love creative writing, and I miss it not being a part of my life.  We shall see how that goes. 

 Yesterday I was watching a Nancy Wilson concert on YouTube.  She was such a great performer and watching the concert reiterated my love for her as an amazing song stylist. "You Can Have Him" is from the 1949 Irving Berlin musical Miss Liberty.  I do not know anything about that show except that I love this song.  I need to seek that out and listen to cast album.  Still, this is a great version and I hope you enjoy it!

Were you there - an Easter hymn

 

Dyeing Easter eggs

 One of the things about Easter when I was growing up that I love to think about is dyeing Easter eggs.  It was something I looked forward to every year. It was always so exciting when I knew that Mom had bought home a Paas Easter Egg Coloring packet.  We would set aside a night to dye our eggs.  The pack had somewhere around 8 different colors in it.  They were tablets that we would put into separate bowls and add hot water and vinegar.  Watching the tablets dissolve was always so much fun because the tablets were not too revealing as to their true colors but once they dissolved, a rainbow of bright colors would evolve.

Lowering the hard-boiled eggs into the bowls and watching the dye take over and do its job.  How vibrant the egg would be depended on how long you left it in the dye. Once you were satisfied, then the egg had to be placed on a towel to dry. It always felt like it took forever for them to dry.  We always wanted to hide them immediately but no, we had to wait.  That felt like agony LOL But once they would dry, they would get hidden around the house and then Bill and I would search all over for them.  One year, Mom hid one in her hand.  We could not find that one, the last Easter egg, to save our lives.  But when she revealed that she had it in her palm I guess the egg had not dried as much as she thought because her hand was bright blue.  I remember it was a Wednesday night, and she then had to go to choir practice with a blue hand!

It was always a time of fun during the Easter season.  Our dyeing was basic. In those days there were not swirls or tie dyes or decals for the eggs.  If you wanted something two toned, you had to hold half of the egg in the dye with half of it out for what seemed like hours.  Then you had to put the hold the bare half down in another color.  It almost never worked well but it was fun to try.  Still, it was always fun.  And anytime I smell vinegar, it does not matter if I'm cooking with it or cleaning something with it, I always think of dyeing eggs.  It's one of those Easter memories that I cherish. 

Getting my weight down

 Now that warmer weather is upon us, I know that many of us are working on our diets and exercise.  Wearing shorts and t-shirts is becoming the norm this time of year and we all want to look good.  I will never have a beach body, unless you count a beached whale LOL  Just kidding.  But I am looking forward to taking this time of year and really concentrating on my physical goals. 

Getting my weight down and maintaining that is my priority right now.  One, it will be much better for my overall health.  I am classified by my doctor as morbidly obese.  Honestly, I'd much rather they just call me fat.  Morbidly obese is so clinical and yet terrifying at the same time.  Maybe that's the point? Maybe it's supposed to scare me into losing weight?  I don't do well with scare tactics LOL

Anyway, I am working on changing my eating habits.  I won't say that I am going to change my diet because let's be real, I love comfort food.  What I need to do is change the way that I eat.  I have been telling myself to not go back for seconds. I don't really need seconds even though I may want them.  Well, my brain thinks I want them but my body is actually ok without the seconds.  I am incorporating more things like salads and fish into my weekly diet.  I have learned the olive oil is my flavorful friend. And when I remind myself to actually chew my food, I am less likely to eat as much.  I know that may sound a might ridiculous, but I will often just inhale my food. 

About six months ago, I topped out at 265.  And that's not the heaviest I've ever been in my life either.  Still, I do not like that number.  I carry most of the extra weight in my belly.  Big shock.  So many of the t-shirts that I have worn for years have now become belly shirts.  I won't dare wear them out in public but around the house is ok....if my roommate isn't home LOL  Well, I have been incorporating some life changes and am starting to see some improvements.

I am trying to walk as much as I can.  i am not successful in making that an everyday thing yet but I will get there. As I eat less and move more, I am hoping to get myself into better shape. I have been able to stay under 250 lbs for a month now and I don't want that trend to change.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

The expensive phone call

Be wary when you're having any kind of medical procedure done and the office says to expect a call the day prior to tell you what you need to do and what to expect.  That happened to me recently when I had a lung cancer screening.  My doctor felt that due to my age, 51, and my history of smoking that I should have one. Thankfully, everything came out fine.  Whew!!

Anyway, they set up a time to call me the morning before the screening to tell me everything I needed to prepare for it.  The time was set up before work at 9 a.m.  The call took less than five minutes.  Great.  Easy. Nothing much to do other than show up 15 minutes early to the appointment.  I can do that.  And I did that.  I was in and out of the office in less than half an hour. Holding my arms over my head during the screening was the hardest part of it all.  And, yes, I am out of shape, and my arms were sore the next day LOL

A few weeks pass and I receive a bill from Cone Health for about $95.  The total charges were for $175 but my portion was only $95 after insurance. I promptly paid this bill and did not think anything more of it.  Oops. At the end of last week, I received another bill from imaging services for $390.  Honestly, I was like WTF?  I just paid this.  WRONG!!  I looked at the dates of service for both bills.  Lo and behold, the $390 bill was for the actual screening.  The $175 bill was for the five-minute phone call.  I'm like, seriously?!  You're charging me $175 to tell me to come 15 minutes early to my scheduled appointment?  

Now I know that these calls are not a courtesy.  They are not included with the procedure.  I feel like this was a major rip off by Cone Health.  So, the next time they tell me they are going to call before a procedure, I am simply going to refuse the call and google whatever it is I need to know.  I am happy that I have good doctors and that I have insurance, but that is beyond ridiculous to me.  I have never felt scammed by healthcare before.  That is not a good feeling.  And, honestly, if I am to be charged $175 for five-minutes of anything, there'd better be a damn happy ending!

Recipe of the Week - Picante Peach Pork

 We all love a good crock pot recipe, don't we? I found this recipe on allrecipes.com and really enjoyed it.  I tend to buy a lot of pork at the grocery store because it's normally on sale and I get good deals on it.  So I am always on the lookout for new pork recipes.  This one is definitely a keeper. I'm not sure why it is called peach picante pork when the recipe uses salsa.  I suppose you could substitute picante sauce for the salsa.  Whatever you have in your pantry will work! I hope you enjoy!

Peach Picante Pork with a side of potatoes and onions

Peach Picante Pork Chops

4 thick boneless pork chops

1 cup salsa

1/2 cup peach preserves

Taco seasoning

Layer pork on bottom of crock pot.  Pour taco seasoning over pork.  Spread peach preserves on pork then top with salsa.  Cook on low for 3 hours.  

April and May by Tom Wolfe

 Since it is getting close to Easter, I wanted to talk about one of my Easter pieces.  This is "April and May" by Tom Wolfe from the Cairn Studios.  As you know, I have been collecting gnomes since I was in the 4th grade.  Those were made by Tom Clark in his Cairn Studios.  Tom Wolfe was an artist that worked in the studio that often collaborated with Clark on pieces.  Wolfe's specialty was animals so whenever you see a Cairn piece that has both gnomes and animals, chances are it was a collaboration between the two artists.  This, however, is solely a Wolfe piece.

Mom gave me this sometime in the early 90's. Every year I got several Cairn Studio pieces, and I had never received any of the animals before.  I absolutely love it. I use it every year to decorate for Easter.  Sometimes it is my centerpiece.  Sometimes I use it around the house somewhere.  But they are always out to help me celebrate the holidays. I hope it get them out this weekend as I prepare for Easter.  I'm not sure where I will use them, but rest assured that they will be displayed!

Prayer for change

 

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

 

Set your intention to spend your day with your mind inclined to see the good everywhere. 

Quote of the Week

 

Using my exercise equipment in the garage

 One of the things that I need to work on is losing weight.  I've gained a good deal of weight over the past year and it's starting to affect my health.  My back is constantly hurting, and I know that a big part of that is because of my weight gain.  My back is not used to carrying all of this extra weight.  And, frankly, neither am I.  I don't like it and I need to fix this before it gets too out of control. It's time to start working out.  

I have some good exercise equipment in my garage and so I am working on getting the garage in order so that I can actually use the equipment in there.  I've got some free weights and there's an exercise bike in there.  Everything else is really boxing related.  I have a heavy bag, a speed bag and a double end bag.  I love using all three of them and need to use them.  It's great exercise, good cardio. And it's also a good way to release stress.  

Most people don't know that I have been a boxing fan for most of my life.  I never talked about it growing up because it did not fit into people's perceptions of who I was, so I just kept it to myself. Once I got into my 30s, I decided I wanted to explore it more.  I joined a boxing gym and trained there weekly. It was pretty awesome.  When I lost my catering job in 2017, I had to stop going because of finances.  So, I started doing things at home and using training vids on YouTube to enhance my workouts.

I just let things slide by the wayside for too long and it is time to reverse that.  I have all of this equipment that I enjoy, so get that garage cleaned and get my ass out there and shed a few pounds.  I can do it.  Will you be in my corner?  

Playing House

 I went through a period of my life when I was ashamed of the child that I was.  I hate that.  I hate that I felt that way, but it is what it is. I have worked through that and now really happily remember that child.  If you did not know me back in those days, I was a big girl.  Plain and simple.  Now, having said that, I never wanted to be a woman and I do not want to be a woman.  I was simply a very effeminate child and was drawn to things that were stereotypically for girls.  That is all. 

The reason that I am bringing this up today is because there is a part of me that is revisiting some of those childhood things that I did.  It was a time when I was very free and I was completely authentic to myself.  I thank God every day that I grew up in a time before social media.  I really doubt I would be here today if it had existed back then.  But I digress. One of the things that I loved to do was to play house. This was something that I did by myself.  It was mostly pre-kindergarten days.  Mom stayed at home in those days and while we did things together, a lot of time was also spent by myself, and I would find fun ways to occupy my time. 

I would pretend that I had a big house and all of these rooms and all of these things.  I would take care of the house.  Sweep the floors, wash the dishes, vacuum the rugs, etc. And I loved it. Mom would eventually use that to her advantage to get me to help with things around the house.  To me, it was a game.  It was something fun.  And now, as an adult, I am learning to love playing house again.  If you follow me on Facebook, you will now that I love to cook and set my table.  People have asked me why I do that if it's only for myself.  And I tell them that this is what I enjoy.  This makes me happy.  As much as I love to use the heirlooms that have been passed down to me and connecting with that history, doing this also puts me in touch with my inner child.  That child that was, in his own way, very fearless.  That brings such a sense of peace and balance to my life.

Playing house as an adult makes me happy.  Even though I don't have a partner or children, I do have family and friends.  And getting in touch with my inner child through the things I do in my house is giving me the confidence to include my family and friends in my life more. That is all. 

One Moment in Time

 Last night while I was going down my YouTube music rabbit hole, this was one of the songs that played.  Whitney Houston put out so many great songs that I often forget about this one.  It's very inspirational and wanted to start my week out with it.  Enjoy!

My Christmas covered vegetable dish

 In my collecting journey, I find myself automatically drawn to certain kinds of pieces.  I love a nice cream and sugar set though no one uses them anymore really.  I also love that pieces that are on stands/pedestals like cake stands and compotes.  One of the other things that I am drawn to is covered dishes.  Like so many things I am passionate about collecting, this began with the house at Wingate.  My Great Grandmother Bivens had a covered dish that I fell in love with.  It went to my Aunt Billie and eventually was passed down to me, and I love to use it.  Anyway, I am always on the lookout for a new covered dish. 

In combination with the covered dish, I am always looking for vintage Christmas pieces for my table.  I lucked out on this one.  This one I found on eBay. I think that I just snuck under the radar with this one because no one else bid on it.  And going by all of the vintage Christmas groups that I belong to, I was totally surprised by that.  Still, luck was on my side, and I won the auction at a great price.

This is an English piece.  I forget the maker, but it is stamped on the bottom.  It's packed away right now in a box of Christmas dishes or otherwise I would find the name for you.  It's decorated with holly and dates from the turn of the 19th century.  I absolutely love it and use it every Christmas.  Like most of my items, I actually do use this on my Christmas table as a serving dish.  It still holds up well and I love how it looks.  

My collection is ever growing, and I probably have around 12 covered vegetable dishes so far. All different styles...Victorian, MCM, aluminum hammer ware, etc. and I am sure that this will keep growing as I can usually find very interesting pieces at cheap prices.  Still, this is my Christmas covered vegetable dish and I love it.  Looking forward to using it again in 9 months!

Quote of the Week

 As someone who loves being a doer and a caregiver, this speaks volumes to me

Things To Do for Fun 2026

 

Everyone has a different idea of what is fun.  That makes sense because what may be considered fun to one person may not necessarily be fun to another.  I have been making the effort this year to do more things that are fun to me.  It might be boring as hell to you, but it's fun to me.  Since I last updated you on this, I have been to the theatre, finished a book, eaten locally, tried a new recipe, visited my hometown and spent time with some wonderful people. 

Last month, Stephanie and I went to see UNCG's production of Frankenstein.  That was just a fun evening.  We started with dinner at Don Japanese on Tate Street with Steph's ex-husband, their son and several others.  If you live in Greensboro and haven't been to Don Japanese yet, I highly recommend it.  Stephanie and I had been there before when we went to see Side Show and it did not disappoint.  The company and conversation at dinner was delightful.  Then we met up with a few more people and almost filled up a row of seats at the show.  The show itself was interesting.  Jim Wren directed the show.  Jim was one of my acting teachers way back when and I was in his productions of The Coconuts and As You Like It. This show definitely had Jim's stamp on it.  It was edgy but in a very intellectual way and not just for the sake of being edgy.  However, the script was very imbalanced.  Obviously, the Creature was the main focus but almost every other character was left undeveloped, and I don't feel like some of the actors were up to that challenge. But it's educational theatre so that is to be expected.  The young man that played the Creature was phenomenal.  I have never in my life seen a performance like that. He was completely mesmerizing and will definitely make a name for himself one day. 

I finished reading Tim Curry's autobiography, Vagabond.  If you are a fan of his work, then this is a great book to read.  It focuses mainly on his career, and he gives great insight into his process.  I have tried several new recipes this year and one that I particularly enjoyed was a tater tot casserole.  It's basically like your average hashbrown casserole only with tater tots.  Still, very filling.  Not the healthiest thing I've ever eaten but delicious none the less. 

On Valentine's Day, I took a day trip back home to Monroe.  It was the anniversary of Mom's passing, the 30th anniversary, and I just felt like visiting the cemetery.  I met up with Larry and Brenda Robinson for breakfast at a place called The Village Grille.  The food was absolutely wonderful and if you're in that area and are looking for a good breakfast, go there.  The staff was super nice and did not pressure us to leave even though they were super crowded.  We'd finished our breakfast but spent a long time visiting and catching up. It was great to see them and I hope to see them again soon.  When Mom died, we had visitation at our house.  Mom's philosophy was that she didn't live in the funeral home and she didn't want people to come see us there.  We listened to her wishes.  Anyway, Larry was one of the first people I remember seeing that day at the house and so it was very appropriate to spend quality time with he and Brenda while I was in town to see Mom.  It was a good day.

These are the kinds of things I do for fun and I am happy to be getting more of that in these days.  I'm not getting any younger so grab the brass ring while I can!

Thought of the day

 I have mentioned on here before about taking time away from social media from time to time. Every few days, I simply do not go there.  I avoid it on the computer at home, the computer at work and my phone.  I find it very refreshing to not get myself mired down in staring at the screen for hours on end.  And the older I get, which is happening every day, I am discovering that I do not need to explain my actions or defend them simply because I choose to do this.  It is my life and I can do what I want without question.  Part of this is because I am old fashioned and I am getting better at finding other ways to occupy my time. 

However, even though I do not feel the need to explain myself, it does get frustrating because many people just do not understand how I can or why I would want to walk away from that world from time to time.  The people that actually know me have a much better grasp on it but people who only know me through social media don't always understand. Taking a break every few days has also lessened my time on social media on days when I do get on those websites.  I spend my entire day at work sitting in front of a computer answering a phone.  The last thing I want to do when I get home is spend hours sitting in front of my computer and looking at my phone.  That is not to say I do not do that, but I definitely do it less than I used to.  I think I am finally waking up from the pandemic quarentine in that sense.

I rarely answer messages on Facebook.  People often get frustrated about that, but I do not apologize for that. I actually get frustrated with it because it shows me that whoever is continually messaging me and getting more passive/aggressive about my lack of response have clearly not even looked at my profile where it states my lack of desire to get right back to you.  Ah, well.  In the end I find it comical.  I also refuse to answer messages that ask questions that are clearly answered on my profile page.  When someone's first question is "Where do you live?" or "Are you single?", those questions go unanswered.  You're either a bot or lazy.  Or both. 

Even though I have done a little explaining here, it's a good feeling to not feel that need to do that anymore.  Take me or leave me, that's your choice.  But if you take me, just know what all comes with the package.  That is all. 

Cristofori's Dream - David Lanz

 Wanted to start out my morning with a beautiful piano piece by David Lanz.  This was always one of my favorite pieces to play.  Maybe one day I'll pick it back up!

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

 

Practice breath awareness whenever you do something like brush your teeth or put on your socks.  When we interrupt automatic behavior, we give ourselves the chance of being in the present moment and remembering that we have choices. 

One drawer at a time - pots and pans

 

Sometimes it can get overwhelming to go through each and every drawer and cabinet, but I am going to keep at it and go forward.  In the long run, I know it's good for me to have things better organized and to give a proper home to as much as I can without overcrowding my spaces.  And I do enjoy it, truly.  It's just that sometimes it can be hard to motivate myself into action LOL

I am about halfway through the kitchen.  My next cabinet will be where all of my pots and pans are.  Well, at least that is where more than half of them are haha!  There really is not a great way, at least in my experience, to organize pots when you have limited space.  A hanging pot rack is not an option based on how my kitchen is laid out and I'm ok with that.  I would probably just walk into the pots and hit my head anyway.  I do have one of those pot racks in a cabinet where I can hang them, but the cabinet is so narrow only two small pots and pans fit in there.  Ah, well.

One thing that is nice is that I don't have more lids than pots.  Every lid has a base to it.  Whew! But there are a few pots that I need to find a new home for.  One is an old stock pot.  This was Mom's.  It's just old and worn and I have since gotten new pots that suit my needs better.  I will probably put this out in the garage and hopefully find a fun use for later.  I want to repurpose it for something.  I'll have to do research on that!  The other pot is a cast iron Dutch oven. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this piece, I simply do not use it.  It's heavy and bulky and just takes up space.  Luckily, this was a Christmas present to Michael and me from his brother. So, this will get boxed up and put into the Michael space of the garage. Now, I just need to get off my butt and do it!

The process works for me and it does make an improvement in things.  That makes me feel better.  It's the little things, people!

Recipe of the Week - Garlic Shrimp

 

Shrimp is one of the staples of my cooking canon.  I absolutely love it and am always on the lookout for new shrimp recipes.  This one did not disappoint.  I hope you enjoy it as well!

Garlic Shrimp

2 lbs jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 Tbsp olive oil, divided

1 1/2 tsp creole seasoning

1 tsp paprika

1/4 cup unsalted butter, divided

5 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced

1 tsp lemon zest

1/2 tsp fresh black pepper

1/2 cup white wine

1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley

kosher salt

3 Tbsp lemon juice

Toss shrimp with 1 Tbsp olive oil, creole seasoning and paprika.  Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a pan and cook shrimp until pink and curled.  Remove from pan and wipe the pan clean.  Add 2 Tbsp butter to the pan and melt over medium heat.  Stir in garlic, lemon zest and pepper, cooking til fragrant.  Pour in the wine and let simmer 2 minutes.  Stir in lemon juice, shrimp and remaining butter.  Cook until butter is melted and shrimp heated through.  Salt to taste and top with fresh parsley.

I served this over vegetable rice and it was delicious!

Christmas music

 

When I was growing up, Christmas music was never played in our house until after Thanksgiving.  Of course, that was back in the day when stores waited until the Christmas season to begin blaring the music everywhere.  It's just how things were back in the day. In my personal life as an adult, I do not follow that philosophy LOL  I listen to Christmas music all the time. It makes me happy and it relaxes me.  I have a huge collection of Christmas vinyl that I have amassed over the years and I'm always looking to add to it. They have become a part of my listening canon, and I enjoy them all through the year.  Now, I only do that in private because I would not want to subject anyone else to Christmas music outside of the season.  That is unless they were a Christmas music junkie like me.

 I also enjoy Christmas podcasts all year round as well. I have probably 15 different ones that I listen to.  Some are focused on music, others on Christmas literature.  Some are about holiday foods.  Some are just overall Christmas joy.  I love each one of them.  Christmas is such a special time of year that I want to carry a part of that feeling with me all year long. It's not for everybody but it works for me. And that is what counts.  So, if you want to hear some Christmas tunes or listen to a fun holiday podcast, come on over!

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

 

If you struggle to get to sleep at night, give yourself some time to unravel your stresses beforehand.  Keep your laptop out of the bedroom and create surroundings that are a haven of tranquility.  Limit the stimulation of television and turn towards self-nurturing with warm drinks, relaxing baths and slow, calming music. 

Daily Challenge for March

 

Now that we're halfway through March, I have finally chosen my daily challenge LOL The challenge for March will be letter writing.  Like I posted the other day, I feel much more connected to other people when I write a letter as opposed to an email or a text.  I'm old fashioned (no kidding) and letter writing is a part of that for me.  I have been writing letters for most of my life. And people remember that. They don't usually remember emails or texts, but they will remember getting a letter. And I am including into this birthday cards, thank you notes and condolences.  It's my way of reaching out to people who are not in my immediate vicinity.  Even then, someone close by might receive a letter LOL  It brings me joy so it is something I would love to incorporate into my everyday life.

Recipe of the Week - Oriental Slaw

 I found this recipe on YouTube several months ago and tucked it away for later usage.  Several weeks ago, I decided to try it.  I'm so glad that I did because I absolutely love this recipe.  It's a great salad.  It's tastes fresh and crisp.  And it lasts for a good bit in the fridge. I ate on it for a week and at the end of the week, it was still delicious.  It can be a great side dish for you, or you can use it as an entree salad.  I had it both ways.  I have since learned that there are many different versions of this salad, but this particular one is going to be the keeper for me!  Enjoy!

Oriental Slaw

1 bunch green onions

2 bags of broccoli slaw mix

2 packages of Beef ramen noodles, crushed

1/2 cup slivered almonds

1 cup sunflower seeds

Dressing

2 ramen flavor packs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup white vinegar

Combine slaw ingredients in a large bowl and set aside. Whisk together dressing ingredients until sugar is dissolved. Pour over slaw and serve.  I chilled my slaw mix for a few hours before adding the dressing right before serving but go ahead and add it sooner if you wish.

I had the slaw topped with soy garlic shrimp as an entree salad.  Yum!

The Soldier Tin Music Box

 One of the things that I collected from childhood through my teenage years were music boxes.  My love for them began in Mrs. Richmond's first grade class.  She would bring in music boxes from her collection to share with us about once a month.  I was absolutely fascinated with them.  I have loved them ever since.  Oddly enough, this is one collection that I have not added to in decades but if I ever see one that strikes my fancy, I will make the addition gladly. 

Several Christmases I received a music box from my Uncle Bill and Aunt Jan.  Aunt Jan also collected music boxes, and I learned that when she would buy one for herself, she often picked up one for me to save until Christmas.  This music box is one of those.  It is a tin for candy and decorated with soldiers and crayons.  It plays "March of the Wooden Soldiers".  I remember it was filled with the sweetest jellybeans I think I'd ever had.  This is technically not a Christmas music box, but I do like to have it out over the holidays.  

Most of my music boxes don't play like they used to. I need to find someone who repairs such things, but I would not even begin to know where to look.  Ah, well.  I will figure that out.  Until then, I will enjoy this fun piece.  

Quote of the Week

 

This one just speaks to me this week.  Not to be a downer, but I have spent most of my life believing I was not worth the effort....my own or other people's.  That all stops now.  First with myself, then hopefully others will follow.  That is all. 

Things I would like to incorporate into my daily routine

 In alignment with my daily challenge entries, I am really looking to incorporate some things that are good for me into my daily routine.  Beit physical or mental, anything I can do to better myself and take good care of myself will be of value.  Here are a few things I am thinking of.

1. Letter writing

I would love to write a letter/note/birthday card every day.  I am definitely old fashioned that way and love to get mail that isn't junk or bills.  I know most people appreciate it.  It's much more personal for me and makes me feel a lot more connected with someone than sending an email or a text or a dm.  But that's just me!

2. Exercise

Here's that broken record.  I really need to incorporate some kind of exercise every day.  It will definitely help with my physical goals but it will make me feel better mentally.  I always feel better inside after I've exercised.  It clears my mind and helps me focus.  So, there's that.

3. Get outside

Whether it be exercise or sitting out on the porch or doing yardwork, I need to get outside more.  In my gerontology studies, I have learned the importance of green spaces and being in nature is to the aging process.  That will help me to age gracefully!

4. Go to bed with a clean kitchen

I don't mean mop my kitchen floor every night or anything that intense but I absolutely hate to get up in the morning and seeing my kitchen in disarray.  Making sure the dishes are put away, making the counters are wiped down, etc.  Just making sure that the kitchen is in order before turning out the lights. 

5. Devotion and meditation

While these are technically two separate things, I would like to combine them into something I do every day.  For me, a devotion is something that I read that is inspirational and makes me think in a positive way.  Meditation is something that comes from within me and can be sitting in silence, just being still, etc.  I think they go hand in hand so I want more of that.  It calms me and helps me to focus.

What are some things you have recently incorporated into your daily life?  I'm always open to suggestions!

Sacrifice - Sinead O'Connor

 I was listening to an album of Sinead O'Connor's the other day and was reminded how beautiful her voice is. I have several of her albums that I enjoy.  This particular track is from a tribute album called "Two Rooms".  It's the music of Elton John and Bernie Taupin.  The entire album is fantastic, but this is my favorite track.  It's probably my favorite cover version of any song.  I hope you enjoy!

I want to start playing the piano again

 I heard something yesterday that inspired me.  I honestly cannot remember where I heard it but it was while I was at work so there's no telling.  Anyway, the person speaking was talking about passions and said the make sure that you make time for your passions.  I thought that was a great thing and something that I need to incorporate into my life.  I found a similar quote about that and posted it on FB this morning as my morning greeting.  I have not made time in my life for some of my passions, and it is time for me to start doing so. 

Having said that, I want to start playing the piano again.  I don't have a piano anymore and don't really have room for one right now.  And that sucks because there are so many good pianos being offered for free.  I'd only have to pay moving costs.  Still, no room currently for a big piece like that.  So, I need to find a piano to start practicing on.  I'm thinking that I may go to work really early some mornings and play the piano in our life enrichment room.  There are no apartments that butt up against is, so I wouldn't be making noise people could really hear unless they were walking down the halls at that time of morning.  By early morning, I mean like 6 a.m. LOL

I am wondering, though, if it will be like riding a bike.  Will it just come back to me naturally?  Of course, I will be rusty and definitely need practice, but will it be as easy and relaxing as it once was. One of the many ways that I am like Mom is through piano playing.  Whenever Mom was upset or stressed or just needed to think things through by herself, she would sit down at the piano and play.  When I had a piano, that's what I used to do.  It was almost an immediate physical sensation for me. I would just relax as my fingers melted into whatever melody I was playing.  It was good for my soul.  

I don't feel as if my soul is in danger right now, but playing the piano again certainly couldn't hurt!

Being more present

 I often find myself having a love/hate relationship with Facebook.  This is not a new thing to hear, as you know, because I have talked about working hard to keep my personal page very positive and a place where my friends can go and not worry about all of the ills of the world. And I have made considerable effort in what I look at on Facebook so that my algorithm is full of things that are fun and happy.  But the biggest thing that I both appreciate and despise is finding out from a post that someone I know and care about has died.  Whether or not I have seen a person in a long time, it is still very jolting when that news randomly pops up on my feed.

Having gotten that out of the way, I learned earlier this week that my friend Frankie passed away the week before.  I was stunned when I saw that on Facebook.  I literally gasped.  I had a physical and emotional response to that post and had to do some digging around to make sure that it was true.  I met Frankie some 25 years ago.  He became one of my bar buddies.  A group of us would meet up whenever we went out, especially to The Palms.  We would occupy one corner of the bar for the entire evening and drink and laugh.  He had the best laugh.

News like this comes with the inevitable wave of emotions and self-reflection.  Asking myself why I don't do better at keeping up with people.  Why I let opportunities pass me by.  All of these questions come at me at once and it can be overwhelming. This is another reason why I am working on living in the moment and being more present when it comes to life.  While I realize that I cannot keep up with everything and everybody and I cannot do it all, I can definitely do better at being a real presence in people's lives.  I will miss Frankie and am sad that I won't see him again on Earth, but I am using this episode of life to inspire myself to do better.

That is all. 

Grandmother Bivens' Tea Set

 

You will find that many of the things that I have and that I cherish are broken or cracked in some way, but I still love them.  I love the history of them as you well know.  This tea set is no exception.  It belonged to my Great Grandmother Bivens. Both the cream and sugar, which are really big when compared to the size of the teapot, have broken handles but I don't care.  I love the design and shape of the pieces.  I think they are beautiful.

We got this set, like so many other things, when the family home was being dismantled among the family.  I actually chose this, I remember.  Mom was one of the heirs to the family pieces and when they were taking turns dividing up the dishes, she let me choose several times.  This set was not on the dining room table like most of the pieces were but was displayed on the dining room mantle. When it was my turn, I just turned around and took it off the mantle and put it in my box.  I don't think anyone else had really paid attention to the set because of it not being on the table.  

Then it sat in our living room for years until it has come to me.  I display it in my dining room now. My house is wrapped in family history, and this set adds to that feeling.  It gives me comfort and I am very appreciative of that.