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