The Weekend Wrap

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Well as much as I wanted, Sunday was not a quiet day. It started nicely enough, as I listened to music and crocheted.

“An Affair To Remember” came on TCM, and I enjoyed watching that for the millionth time! I always sit here are ask myself if Deborah Kerr’s last name is pronounced Car or Ker? Jack says it is Car. Anyway, I cried like a baby at the end, as I always do.

Then Jack got sick and I was busy with all of that. I still do not know how I raised two children. I do not handle cleaning up after a sick person well. But such is life. I somehow managed.

I need to call the Vet at 8:30 as Anneliese is having a problem. I’m not sure what it is, but I fear it is more to do with her breast cancer problem spreading.

Happy Monday!

It’s All About…

…De-stressing

Yesterday I decided that I needed to chill. Quite honestly, I have been stressed about things that I have no control over. I needed to try to relax and find my tranquility.

So I made a couple of nice meals during the day, went out and did a few errands, which included a short trip to the Recycling Center to bring our old cracked patio chair in, and I stopped at the local grocery store.

I’m actually in this smaller Hannaford’s quite a bit. So much so that I know a lot of the people who work there. People say hello and smile at me and even joke with me and that is such a great feeling.

Yesterday the manager had a small bag of M&M’s and it was a mystery flavor. She had the crew at the grocery check out all trying to guess what flavor it was. She looked at me and asked if I wanted to join the fun? I did, so I tried a piece. Hmmm. I could taste a malted chocolate taste, but also a creamy rich filling. “Candy Corn” I pronounced! And I was right!

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I came back home and worked on crafts for the rest of the afternoon. I put on two movies. “She’s Having a Baby” with Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern, from 1988 and “When Harry Met Sally” with Billy Cyrstal and Meg Ryan from 1989.

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Both I have seen a number of times, so it was nice and easy for me to “watch” while I crafted.

My day ended with me going around and clock adjusting, as our time changed. We all fell back an hour. Now it will be a little more light in the morning, but darkness will fall much faster in the afternoon.

Today, I plan almost a repeat of yesterday, with the exception of not needing to go to the grocery store.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Fall Back!

Today was one of those days where I found myself pondering life. Never really a good thing for me because I have always been a half-empty glass, type of gal. Although I really try not to be.

Still, as the winds blew and the leaves fell, and the trees returned to their winter skeletal form, I began feeling a bit melancholy.

I put on some music, and got out my crocheting, and tried not to dwell, but my brain would not kick-off, and I felt a heaviness in my heart.

So, I called my sister and talked for a while and that seemed to help. But I think the shorter days, the fact we have had a lot of rain (not much sun!) and there has been so much going on, has me out of sorts.

It’s time to “Fall Back” time-wise so don’t forget!

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The Friday Five

The Friday FiveWell, 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

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TBT: The Cousins

Family

This picture was taken back in 2011.

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This is my family. In green, my cousin, Janet. In yellow, my sister, Melodie, In lavender, my cousin Rikki and in blue, me. We’re New England’s version of Steel Magnolias.

We have all been through so much in our lives, but we are a tough bunch and never give up!

We have a cousin (not pictured) and he is the only man in our little group. He is dearly loved, although he was not with us on this day.

This & That On A Wednesday!

Tuesday was a pretty nice day. I’d gotten some chestnuts at the grocery the other day and I decided to make a little Thanksgiving preview for our dinner tonight.

I roasted the chestnuts and each and every one of them was perfect! The shells all but fell away. I chopped onions and celery and put in some Summer Savory, Sage, and a little salt and pepper, and after the vegetables had cooked I added the bread crumbs, and the chestnuts and a little broth until the stuffing was the right consistency.

I put the stuffing in the bottom of a glass dish, and then put two turkey breast tenderloins on top. Currently, everything is cooking for dinner and WOW does it smell wonderful!

I also worked this morning making a new blanket cushion for the center of Anneliese’s bed. I measured and pinned it and then sewed it up.

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I am actually not a clever person with crafts. I would like to be, but when something that I make comes out this good, I am simply thrilled!

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Not only did the little blanket cushion in the middle come out well, but Anneliese LOVES it! Yahoo! Score!

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My birds were around all day, despite the fact that it was misting and rainy most of the day. I sat during lunch, just watching my Cardinal and a family of Chickadees as well as the Downey and Hairy Woodpecker who all swooped in for a snack!

Watching them all filled me with great happiness!

Weekend Wrap

I have been away at my daughter’s soon to be old house, helping her get ready to move into her new house. It’s amazing how much work there is to be done when you move 4 people and a dog and a cat a few miles down the road!

Fortunately, I pack things pretty well. I worked with Mandy in her kitchen and unfortunately, I packed up all the kid’s small plastic cereal bowls! Eeek! But I saved the day. I got the plastic cups I saved and put their cereal in there! Problem solved! After all, they officially move mid-week and the bowls will be unpacked!

We made several trips over to the new house and ate almost all meals out except the wonderful breakfast Mandy made with the few pots that we’d left out. Eggs, bacon, and pancakes! Yum!

I packed up early on Monday when Mandy went to work, the kids went to school and I hit the road stopping to grocery shop, and get gas. Since I had gotten some of BJ’s Warehouse super coupon items I knocked my gas bill down from $238.9 a gallon to $158.9 a gallon! Seeing that on my sales slip made me smile. Especially since I actually use the soap liquid, paper towels, plastic garbage bags and toilet paper that got me the reduction. Oh yes, and I used their store coupons which totaled about $20.00! Gosh, I love a good sale and a bargain!

Jack and the pooches were happy to see me. The feeling was entirely mutual!

I was home for a short time when an old friend knocked on our door. The son of a Pan Am pilot, who was very much like a father to Jack and me. We sat around telling stories about his Dad and visiting. It was a nice afternoon.

So, it was a very full weekend, spent with my loves and I enjoyed every moment.

The Friday Five

The Friday FiveNow, 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!PA210019 copy
  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!
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    Needless to say, I was forced to buy it for myself!

Have a great weekend everyone!