Friday Letters

 

Gonna sit right down and write myself a letter .......

Dear Dasani,

I don't want to sound like a Karen, but please.

Please bring back your old bottles.

I understand you want to be eco-friendly, but!  The plant-based material you're using crumples in my hand like a flimsy paper cup.

I don't think mine is an 'iron grip' but I always end up sloshing water all over the counter and my clothing.

Dear Pastor Janet,

I understand your and Andy's decision to sell the land next door, but it still makes me a little sad.  What a fun surprise to realize the buyers are members of our congregation!

From the original plantation owner (ca. 1830) -- who founded and built our church -- they're keeping it in Robinson Springs family!

Dear Anonymous donor,

Thank you for donating this 'card catalog' to the Thrift store  ... and fueling my addiction for index cards!

I'm gobsmacked!

Dear Chuey's Deli,

Why is it, stormy weather always makes me hungry?

Thank you for consistently serving up great food.  Cheese grits, I'm looking at you.

Yes, I enjoy a little egg with my pepper. (lol)

... Not to mention, great service!

While at the eye doctor's a little later, I opened the (e-mailed) receipt and realized it was the wrong ticket.  Almost $10 less than the cost of our meal.

When I hustled back to correct their error, she was so sweet.  "Don't worry about it, honey."  Despite my protests, "It's all taken care of."

Dear God,

Speaking of stormy weather, thank you for reminding us, the sun will come up tomorrow.

Pardon this prompt, but y'all know my mind's wonky that way!

Happy Friday!

Hugs, Myra

Tuesday 4: Home

Welcome once again to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 where we hope you will stretch your mind, your imagination and your friendships online by sharing a bit of yourself with others.

This week the subject is Your Home.

💚

What kind of home do you have, and does it need repair or improvements this year?

Built in 1995

Unlike our open concept, high-ceiling Arizona house, most of these rooms are separate, defined.  That's something I was looking for. 

Since moving here in 2018 it's been a work in progress.  Whew.  We've had to replace the roof, siding and flood damaged flooring.

Tom also had a vision for the back --

Evolution 2018-2022

He's still wanting a cover/enclosure built for the pad, but that's on the back burner.  Unfortunately, the existing carpet sorely needs replaced.

It's always something!

 

How do you accessorize your home inside and out?  Plants, art, books, wall hangings, maybe music in the background?

Hahahaha!

There's little likelihood Better Homes and Gardens will come looking for a photo shoot.  No, we just surround ourselves with those things we love and don't worry about someone else's idea of decor.

What objects reside on your coffee table?  Night stand? Side tables? Kitchen/Dining table?

Besides reading lamps, the usual: remotes, cell phones, reading material, coffee cups.  And my ever evolving to-do lists.  I love lists!   

Do you like your kitchen organized and with counters cleared off -- or do you prefer to have the things you use often out on counters?  Do you mind what some might see as clutter, or do you hate having to dig out tools and appliances when it comes times to use them and prefer to have them within easy reach?

I'd love an uncluttered kitchen!
I'd also love to win the lottery, but the chances of that happening are about the same.

Ours cabinets are aging, in need of a new finish.  (Not unlike us!)
But they do the job and I'm grateful.

Thanks for visiting.

If you're so inclined, have some fun today!

Hugs, Myra

Reflections on a dinner plate

 

Good morning friends!

This was supposed to be "Foodie Friday" but Life happened.  No worries.  I'm just glad to see y'all!

I've yakked about this before:  Aside from the occasional Sunday roast or steak night, Tom and I eat very differently.  At different times.

I've evolved from the girl who'd turn green at the thought of eating anything before Noon to someone who's favorite meal is breakfast.  Tom's appetite peaks around 7PM; he enjoys his usual meal around 2 or 3AM.     

So I recently asked Dr. Google, "Is hunger a biological rhythm?"  (Some of it's interesting, but I'm not going to bore you with details.)   At this time in our lives neither of us is likely to change our spots.  Gotta pick my battles, right?

Aside from one traumatic church supper my parents dragged me to (think lutefisk), I feel blessed.   As a child, I wasn't made to eat anything I didn't like.  Spoiled much?   

Consequently, eating has become my favorite hobby.  

... and a week after the fact, I'm still disappointed.  

Learning one of our Arizona favorite eateries has a sister property only spitting distance from the eye doctor, I was capital-letter Excited.   Unfortunately, we arrived together with half the well-heeled population of Birmingham.   An hour's wait time wasn't in the cards; besides I felt woefully underdressed in a hoodie and running shoes.   (Note to self:  denizens of Scottsdale dress far more casually.) 

Have any of y'all tried making your own French Onion soup?  Is it terribly labor intensive for just one?  

A few days ago it was Tom's turn.   

I enjoy supporting 'Ma and Pa' places and wanted to try a new soul-food restaurant.   Wow.  I did everything but lick my plate -- baked chicken, collards, fried-green tomatoes and my first-time tasting squash casserole.   Tom thought his fried chicken was something left over from the day before and wouldn't even try the collards or squash.   (Granted, I was probably the same way at his family's Polish Christmas Eve supper.)

With a slight nod to Keto ...

I'm enjoying a twist on caprese:

Brush little low-carb tortillas with olive oil and throw in a hot skillet 'til slightly browned.  Spread with a little garlic aioli and stuff with Roma tomato and baby mozzarella.

 This evening?  There's a package of riced cauliflower needing used so I'm making the Buffalo Cauliflower dip I found on Lynn's blog.  Comfort food; it's what's for supper!

Happy Saturday!

Are we having FUN yet?

Hugs, Myra

Gonna streak

Happy Monday, y'all!

I'm so excited to have FUN streaking.   

Okay ...  get your mind out of the gutter.  It's not that kind of streaking. 

As some of y'all know, I'm a bit infatuated with Today's Hoda and Jenna.   Unlike 'some' queens of the small screen, they're down to earth -- like someone you'd ask over for coffee, not worrying if the kitchen's so clean.

Anyway.  Does that mean I make it a habit to watch?  Nope.  I've not been into 'appointment television' since Dallas went off the air.

Last week, however, I caught mention of an upcoming story line, "Streaking with Jenna.".   Note to self:  Must invest*Google.   (You can read about it here)

In a nutshell, I want to rediscover what was once my passion for reading.   I've dabbled in e-books ... paper and ink ... audio.

You've heard me say it before.  Like Keto, however, my Great Intentions fall by the way after a few days.

I hope this challenge will make me accountable.  It's all about discipline ... something lacking since I retired.   I like that she says, "Streaking is an effective tool for habit forming.

My personal 'light bulb' moment:
"Leave your phone in the other room."   If mine's not in my hand, it's within reach.   24/7.   You know, "just in case" someone bings me ... or earth-shattering news come down the FB pipeline.

Who wants to come streaking?

Hugs, Myra

Counting flowers on the wall

 

Good morning, friends.

That old lady in Sean's column was right.  F.U.N. may be the hardest thing I'll ever do.   It's almost like 'the Universe' read my intention and said, "Let's just see about that."

Evidence last week when 13 tornados marched across Alabama. 

Not ours!  This was next door to one of my lady friends.

No internet, no television.  "Counting flowers on the wall ..."

My olden eyes were too weary to comprehend the written word, so I amused myself making an enormous ugly omelet at 3:07.  Pondering: the last time I pulled an all-nighter was much more fun.     

Come Saturday, we enjoyed our postponed Christmas with Troy and Lois.   FUN!

Someone knows how much I adore funky socks!

I tried my hand at making sausage bread.  Have to admit, it looked good and I had FUN playing with the dough.   In truth, it tasted far too dough-ey but everyone was kind enough not to say anything.  

My favorite?

Not the hair, silly ... 

It's a canvas of my parents in days gone by.

It certainly looked like they were having FUN .... even without benefit of hand-held electronics.   Son observed, "There were stars in their eyes."

Having had a frank discussion with Pastor Janet, I've decided to continue participating in Monday morning Bible studies.   Sure, I still harbor ill feelings about the (video-taped) facilitator but discovered if I'm early enough to secure a seat in the back I can surreptitiously play Wordle/Quordle while she's speaking.   That's FUN, and so are the ladies. 

What else?  Not one but both our girls suddenly -- and days apart -- pulled up lame.   Being 'helicopter' paw-rents, we wasted no time taking the first (Grace) to the vet where she was poked, prodded and x-rayed.  Thankful for prescription pills that seem to be working and watching them having FUN again.

Oh, this begs a caption -- 

but I'm too polite to venture my own thoughts.

Thankful after yesterday's trip to the eye doctor in Birmingham, Tom's agreed we should look for someone else (less rude) closer to home.  The first visit I thought, "Well maybe she's just having a bad day."  Two times, however?  "You're out!"  At least we got to enjoy a great lunch, so in my book that counts as FUN.

So, they've escalated today's severe weather threat to 'red' ... I'm thankful for helmets and weather radios.   But first, I have to run out for a prescription and a few groceries because I was too lazy to go last night.   Thankful for a line from my daily devotional:  "Some of us worry unnecessarily and so lose a lot of FUN from life.  There is no need for us nervously to pace the deck if the great Pilot is at the helm."  

And all God's people said ...

(You know the rest!)

It's a great day to have FUN!

Hugs, Myra

January

Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 in the new year.  We wish you a very Happy New Year!

January is named for Janus, the two-faced god who looked into the past and future.  Some believe he was Noah who may have been worshipped by his progeny.  We certainly looked into the pre-flood world and the new world.  The Anglo Saons called this month Wulfsmoanth.  (There's a mouthful!)

Let's talk about January:

☃️

On January 1, 1892 Ellis Island opened its doors.  Did any of your relations enter the United States through Ellis Island?  If not, do you know your family's history?

My paternal ancestors may have passed through Ellis Island from Germany ... but that's just a guess.

My mother, however, left a detailed summary dating back to her ancestor leaving Norway on April 28, 1858 on a sailboat, landing at Quebec, Canada on June 10, 1858.   Later they traveled by train to Wisconsin, then Minnesota.

January's birthstone is garnet, and the flower is the carnation.  Do you have favorite gemstones or flowers?

Sorry, gemstones don't hold much appeal ... maybe an emerald.  My favorite 'hot house' flower is the lowly carnation.  Silly perhaps, but I still smile at the presence of dandelions.

January 6 is Epiphany.  Many take that day as the final day of the Christmas celebration and take down their decor.  What about you?

Reluctantly, I take down the tree on Epiphany.

There is some evidence that January can set the tone for your entire year.   What do you think of this?  Do you make resolutions, etc.?

I don't get that at all.

For years and years, making new year resolutions was a Big Deal ... I even toiled over a Vision Board.
How burdensome!

I like to think every day's a blank page ... an invitation, if you will.

Right now, I'm all about Sean of the South's suggestion.  Let's have F-U-N!

Hugs, Myra