Category: Friday Five

Usually, I begin writing the Friday Five lamenting on how fast time is slipping by. This week I will start by saying that I am once again in the land of the living! After 4 weeks of illness, I am on the mend thanks to antibiotics, an inhaler and a cough pill that has helped me control the cough while my lungs got rid of the congestion. So without further ado, here is this week’s Friday Five.

1. Before going to the doctor I was fretting about Christmas. Gifts especially. So I sat down with my laptop computer and watched the deals and sales and found just the right things for everyone. Aside from one small gift, I am done with my shopping. I have missed going out and being immersed in Christmas music, but actually I think this is much healthier for me in the long run!
2. During my convalescence, certain things began to nag at me. Case in point, a kitchen cabinet hinge that was broken and the door was literally hanging there. It made me crazy. So since I was cruising Amazon.com, I went looking for our cabinet door hinge. And I found it! It arrived and the cabinet hinge was replaced and now once again, works correctly! Yes, I am proud of my do-it-yourself skills!
3. I refuse to go out to any store shopping right now. I have never really been a germaphobe, but being so sick for so long has me cringing in terror every time I hear someone cough or sneeze! So shopping online has been my thing.
   
   My daughter’s back yard lighted tree in the snow they got last week. I borrowed her picture! Thanks, Mandy!
   
4. I have pretty much finished writing Christmas cards and now the biggest thing on my list is to wrap all the gifts that have been arriving via USPS and UPS. Fortunately, I am a Christmas Wrapping Paper hoarder, so all I need to do is sit down and wrap!
5. One good thing about shopping at Amazon is that I have gotten credits to use in the Music Download store. Can we all say Christmas Carols? I have been able to find my favorite songs by Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, and The Carpenters. And a few others as well. And because of these credits, the music has been free! Merry Christmas to me!

So gentle readers, I hope this weekend finds you enjoying the season and having a warm and wonderful time!

I know I say this often, but where the heck is the time going? Here we are on the first Friday of December, we’ve had our first big snowstorm, and Christmas shopping has begun. AT least Cyber-Shopping for me! Crazy isn’t it? Well, here are this week’s Friday Five.

1. Although I am feeling so much better I have Laryngitis and still have a cough. I am so sick of not being 100%. There is so much I want to do and places I want to go! Be gone throat illness!
2. I am back to making most meals. even though I don’t have much of an appetite. I burnt the taco shells tonight, so something tells me my cooking skills are rusty!
3. I needed to go out today to get the mail and some groceries, and the two dachshunds wanted to go. Well it was chilly and they both acted cold, so I put their little sweaters on. Goodness, they looked adorable. They also enjoyed their car ride.
4. I have not seen the kids since my birthday due to this dratted flu! The last time I was down Savi came into my room in the morning and we had the nicest cuddle!

   I can hardly wait to see Savi and Quinn again!

5. This weekend I really need to do some housework! It’s been a while since I ran the vacuum around and mopped a floor. I also need to disinfect every shelf I can. It sounds like fun! Not!

Have a great weekend everyone!

For me, it has been a very long week. Almost all of it was spent in bed, except for the last two days. Here is this week’s Friday Five!

1. I think this is the longest I have ever had the Flu. At least the fever is gone now, and I just have the cough. This makes me crazy, but I am sure it will leave soon.
   
   My nurses, Anneliese and Arnie.
2. Yesterday was Thanksgiving, and although I canceled most of my plans with my cousins, Jack insisted that we should have a special meal and he really helped out a lot.
3. I managed to make the stuffing on Wednesday and get it cooked and chilled down so I could stuff the turkey on Thursday. Meanwhile, Jack did almost all the other prep work.
4. I got the turkey stuffed and in the oven yesterday morning and we ended up having dinner about 2:30 PM. Turkey, chestnut stuffing, mashed potato, gravy, cranberry sauce, butternut squash, and pearl onions. I was able to eat a small serving of each and God Bless Jack, he took care of the dishes while I went back to bed. Apple pie was served in the evening.
5. Today I was feeling even better, although I still don’t have much of a voice and I still have this dratted cough! But, I was able to change the sheets on my bed, and also chop up veggies and make turkey vegetable soup, which we will have for dinner. I spent a lot of the day up doing things before crashing for a nap.

So there we are. the five things I have been up to this week. It may not sound like much, but after being in bed the entire week last week, this is real progress!

This week seemed to fly by. Probably because I slept so much of it away. But as we wrap up the week here is this weeks Friday Five.

1. Getting sick is not what I had planned on. But I have caught up on my favorite TV shows and learned how to use Amazon Prime Videos!

2. I also think that I have found a way to lose weight. I have eaten very little since coming down with this virus.

3. A friend in the know suggested that what I have is the Flu. But I have had the flu shot. Turns out you can still contract a different strain of the flu if you are unlucky. Isn’t “unlucky” my middle name.

4. I hope tomorrow to be able to be out of bed more. I am still coughing a lot and I don’t want to get Jack sick.

5. I need to make out my grocery list and my plan for Thanksgiving.  I know by then I shall be completely well!

So that’s the week. It can only get better!

Well, here we are. November first! It’s hard to believe that in a couple of weeks I will be 61, and in just over a month Arnie and Anneliese will be 13!

The year has flown by and I am not quite sure I am ready to leap into the year 2020. But leap I will and somehow, I hope and pray that 2020 is a better year.

So, here is this week’s Friday Five.

1. I came back home on Monday after helping my daughter get ready to move. We’ve had nothing but wet weather and I’ve been holing my breath that they could get the move completed under sunny skies.
2. Well, quite happily, the clouds cleared and the skies brightened on Wednesday and Mandy, Matt and the kids made their move under dry skies.
3. I decided to try a new recipe. It’s a WW recipe for banana bread. And an entire mini loaf has just 2 points! It was fabulous. (Recipe Below)
4. I was late getting out the suet feeders today and as I walked outside there was my Downy Woodpecker scolding me vocalizing at me for being late! Despite today’s rain, the birds have been out at the feeders.
5. Today my plans include laundry, a little cooking, and some Christmas Craftwork.

Here is:

WW Banana Bread Recipe

Preheat oven 400 degrees (F)

Mini Loaf pan 5 x 3 x 1

Ingredients:

• 1 large banana.
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup Kodiak Flapjack Mix (buttermilk flavor)
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 tsp Splenda

1. In medium bowl mash banana with a fork.
2. Add egg and beat together and until well blended
3. Add the rest of the ingredients, mixing until thoroughly blended
4. Spray a loaf pan with non-stick spray and then pour batter into pan.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

2 Smart points for the entire mini loaf

Now, this week has flown by. I have been so busy as I run around getting things done and doing my stuff. Here are the 5 things that I’ve been thinking about.

1. It’s still a beautiful time around here. Although the bright colors have gone, It is still an amazingly lovely time of year!
2. I’ve been puttering lately. Here or there. Trying to clean, straighten,  and organize.
3. I moved the bird feeder in the front yard to the back yard for the winter. This way I will only have to shovel a path in the snow out the back door to the two feeders.
4. I have finally started a little Christmas shopping. For my cousin, Janet and for my sister. I also have seen a few things for the kids.
5. And just because, I saw an ad for a Vera Bradley Purse and I could not believe that a $100.00 purse was marked down to $21.00!
   

   Needless to say, I was forced to buy it for myself!

Have a great weekend everyone!

This year it seems many of my weeks have flown by and so many of them have been just a little crazy.

This one wasn’t so crazy, but it was unusual and it did fly by. So, here’s what’s up in New Hampshire.

1. It was Columbus Day on Monday, and that really was the day to be out and enjoying nature and the beautiful Autumn leaves.
   
2. The Tourists were all here, Leaf Peepers, and the like. The trains were full and everyone was enjoying their time in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire.
   
3. We also had many people up closing their summer camps for the winter. Soon our traffic will disappear and we will return to being the lovely sleepy town we are in the winter. (Meredith is 54.2 square miles. With a population: 6,384)
4. I decided to switch things around in my closet now that the cooler temperatures are here. One thing I cannot seem to find is my winter coat! Where on earth did I store it last Spring?
5. And lastly, both my stomach and my cold are better. It’s nice to be able to eat normal foods again (even though it is low fat) and to not be coughing and sneezing!

Have a great weekend everyone!

The end of another week and as I sit here trying to collect my thoughts, I am reminded to be thankful for everything that went right this week, and not dwell on the things that went wrong. So here is this week’s Friday Five.

1. It’s Autumn in my little corner of the world. And although TV Broadcasters say that we have full color, we really do not!

   But, it sure is pretty.

2. I have been pulling over when I see a pretty scene in town, I pull over and snap a picture.
   
3. The birds have increased their visits to the feeders.
   
   They’re looking for some seed as the abundance of nature’s food begins to dry up.
4. My slight sore throat turned into an upper respiratory infection. AKA: A cold. I feel sleepy and stuffy, but really, it isn’t bad. More of a nuisance, really.
5. Lastly, I think this will be a really slow weekend. I need to unwind, take naps, and perhaps toss in a few loads of laundry. But I have no big plans except to take care of myself.

So that’s it, folks.  Time to relish the Autumn days and catch my breath. Hopefully, I will feel better by Monday.

Have a great weekend!

Welcome to October! Okay, where has the year gone? In just over a month I will be 61, we will have Thanksgiving, and then the rush towards Christmas will be underway!

Here’s what’s happening in my little corner of the world!

1.      The week started quite busily, with my doctor’s appointment and tests. I still have no test results, which I admit is quite frustrating.

2.      I’ve been enjoying the changing colors of the leaves around me. I am guessing it will be another two weeks until we are at full peak color. Then I will be out taking pictures every day.

3.      I am still just heartsick about the plane crash this week. People out for a good time flying in this antique plane and now seven men are gone. I think the fact that I had seen that plane, been inside of it, makes me feel that closer to its demise.

4.      It seems that today I have been having one visit after another from Mr. Cardinal. He also brought his Mrs. I’ve been trying to get a good picture of them, but each time I try to Lili moves, which they see and they fly off. But today I finally got a very nice picture of Mr. Cardinal. Isn’t he handsome?

Although this is not the best shot, you can see Mr. & Mrs. Cardinal!

5. It had to be done. Today, October 3rd I turned on the heat. Everything is working fine and it took the chill off the house. After I turned the heat on, our oil truck delivered a tankful. So, we are now $450.00 poorer! Oh well…At least we will be warm!