Monday - 2.20.23
Happy Anniversary to us! We have thrived/survived for 18 years! Danl went to work as usual. I did housework/deskwork per usual as well. It was a gorgeous day! We decided to cook a good supper at home, so I went to Piggly to peruse the aisles to see what sparked hunger! Came home with a great haul; I was particularly delighted to have found Klondike Goldust potatoes! After school, I asked Danielle if she wanted to have a picnic snack outside on the quilt with me, but she declined. She doesn't like change. So I enjoyed a wooden bowl of party mix all by myself while listening to the wind blow in the pine trees. I prepped the green bean bacon-wrapped bundles, made tea brew, and stuck the oiled and seasoned potatoes in to bake before taking Danielle to her jiujitsu class. Daniel had the Puerto Rican blade steaks underway when we got home. I stuck in the garlic cheese bread, and we soon sat down to feast! Finished up with an Edward's frozen whipped cheesecake topped with blueberry sauce! Cheers to 18 years!
Tuesday - 2.21.23
Strayed from my morning routine with Too Much Phone Time. Stopped by the accountants office, then to my 11:00 tire rotation appointment at Atmore Tire and Alignment. Danl was close to home and hungry, so I stopped at Arby's for their $12 Family Pack meal. After lunch, the next right thing was to finish my book club book which I highly recommend for humor and enlightenment about the entertaining yet exasperating life of a doctor! Daniel came home early to take Larisa and Danielle fishing. Most of us met at Walnut Hill Church to carpool down to Jaco's for our Book Club Meeting. This was a new restaurant for me; I adored it and the fact that we were ALL able to make it this time! Even though it was sort of chilly out near the water, we were toasty in our outdoor seating under the overhead heater. After running our mouths nonstop eating and talking away delightfully, we moved over to Jefferson Street for dessert. Some got Cinnaholic rolls, and some got ice cream from AJ's. We ate together in the back of AJ's. I was most gratified by my choice of a King Cake Shake which had large chunks of banana and toasted pecans.
Wednesday - 2.22.23
Happy Golden Birthday, Brina! Today I did well sticking to my Downtimed Phone Schedule, which enabled me to get through my MR, devotions, exercise, and deskwork in a timely manner. After picking Danielle up from school, we stopped by the DG for stuff for supper. And we might have eaten straight out of two half gallon tubs of ice cream for "snack" on the way home. And I just might keep plastic spoons in my car on purpose for times like these. It's highly possible. A quick bank run, before beginning to cook a birthday supper for Brina with Danl. We made hamburger steak with caramelized onions and brown gravy, Klondike Goldust mashed potatoes, applesauce, and pickles. Dessert was ice cream and fresh hot fudge sauce. We had Kristin come for supper too, so it was a fun evening!
Thursday - 2.23.23
After dropping the kids at school, Rhonda and I ended up chatting for awhile in our vehicles in the school circle drive. Just what I needed. Whacked down the rosebushes. Two of them are bone dead! Why?! I thought my thumb wasn't as black anymore. Too harsh of a winter?! Who knows. Along with doing other things at my desk, I finally prioritized typing up a Headlines edition of the Weakly Tribune. Phew! So glad to not have that hanging over my head, even though it wasn't nearly as much fun to write sans all the deets and feelings that I usually insert. And I know that I don't even HAVE to do this! But I'm always glad when I do; it makes me appreciate our little life more than ever, and it gives Grandma, Aunt Sue, and Ms. Broox some much-deserved mail! With that blog-posted, printed, and USPS posted, I went out for a quick walk and phone chat with Grandma Smith. In an effort to avoid a supper scramble, I put Chicken Taco Bowl ingredients in the crockpot. I'm loving trying new recipes from Karma's family cookbook! Mom & Bill came up to see the Dyck property, so after having a snack here of frozen chocolate chip cookies, we all piled over there to explore on the side by side. Daniel's been mulching/clearing and it's looking so good and already feels like home. It got too late to get Danielle to jiujitsu. Somehow we were out of milk even though I'm constantly at the grocery store, so I ran to Piggly for that. The chicken taco bowls were a hit! Score.
Friday - 2.24.23
Happy Birthday, Larisa & Tara! Per a brainchild I had awhile back, all of us on the "Challenge Your Zone" chat that could "meet" for a virtual coffee/conversation did so at 9 am. I loved it and came away with clarity and a renewed mindset! Next item on my day's agenda was cleaning my portion at church. I think I vacuumed and dusted as cheerfully as I ever have lol. On to Atmore to Dollar Tree for things they didn't have, to WeCare to drop off a bag of books and to do a dashabout, (I left behind the little copper tea kettle that I can't forget. Nothing haunts us like the things we didn't buy.) and to Waves for a much-needed wash. Karma brought Danielle home since I wanted her to leave her kids here so they could experience an adult dinner out at Gather. She also brought me a huge slice of the lavender cake she had made for Emily's birthday party! Thanks so much for sending it, Roz! Made my day. I sat on the porches, first the front, then the back, and watched the kids play while reading my book. Fried tater tots and grilled some venison bacon burgers for supper. Gene's hung out and visited for awhile since their supper was early. This was just a really good day.
Saturday - 2.25.23
Sleep-in Saturday! Poor Danl didn't get to, but he usually can't anyway due to his hardwired internal alarm! I'm so thankful I don't have one of those. Danielle and I languished around; I made her normal "weekend waffles" and finished my book while enjoying the last of the lavender cake for breakfast. We took down and put away the Valentines décor before getting out and putting up some Springy things. Finally rallied and readied ourselves to attend the Ruritan Auction. It's hard to beat the camaraderie and comics provided by this annual rural event! I even scored the old wooden game that my dad had made 40 some years ago off Anthony's pallet before it was auctioned off! Phew. That was a close one! Later in the day, Danielle and I had the best time playing "Lemons & Blueberries" which was what Rhonda and I called this game when we were little. Back to the auction, it was fun hearing Gene take his turn at the mic. #professional. I got hotdogs for Danielle and I along with a couple burgers to go for Danl. We ran them over to his job on Pine Barren Road and were privileged to meet the couple he's working for. Wow! They are the nicest people and have done a phenomenal job on renovating the old southern house on their property for a second home. They said it was a nightmare; that a llama even used to live in it! You would never guess that now with its Southern Living charm. Once home, I baked the red velvet layers for Brina's birthday cake. Danielle wanted the sprinkler out since it was in the 80s. Floki did not know what to think; biting and barking at the water! Needless to say, a happy but muddy dog and daughter duo resulted. I cleaned chicken poop and dirt off the back porch. Supper was simple; two fresh and hot thin crust pizzas from the Davisville gas station.
Sunday - 2.26.23
Revivals started for us at Southern Harbor. It was good to see Mr. Tim and Mr. Roger again! Danielle agreed to wear her adorable blush dress from the Monroeville WeCare for the last time. She despises it because she thinks the sleeves make her look like a soldier! Oh dear, the days of her not having many opinions on her clothing are nearly over. Sunday School was so good as usual. Love my SH sisters! We picked up our weekly raw milk from the Landis Dairy on the way home. Heated up leftovers for lunch. Then stuffed the piñata with grownup things like Motrin packets, pens, and under eye masks in addition to candy and key chains. Decorated the cake with lots of golden candy coins and sprinkles, stuck in 22 candles and sparkler candles, and filled the center with gold nugget bubblegum. It was a fun fiesta! Katrina did a great job organizing it. David's had friends out and Brina's Gather friends were there too! Steak tacos, beans, rice, guacamole, chips 'n salsa, cake, and Oreo ice cream dessert completed the menu. Yummers.
