Monday, October 29, 2018

Soup Weather



















Our cabin days are slowing down, but we did make it up one more time to deal with the leaves. Of course it's been raining, so they were heavy and wet. However, we went to work and now the bulk of them are taken care of. Good job, people!

Bruce then climbed the ladder to clean out the gutters, and we gave all the Hosta a haircut.

I think we're good to go.

It's soup weather now, too.

As I'm trying really hard not to buy any more cookbooks (note that I said I am trying hard, didn't say that I'm always successful 😏), I've started "borrowing" recipes I happen to see as I peruse cookbooks in the stores ... and with just a quick snap on my phone's camera, I have a new recipe without the added clutter! This Kielbasa & Cabbage Soup recipe sounded so good. I found it in a book at the Dollar Tree, of all places.

I decided to make it the night before so all the flavors could meld together. And with some deliciously oozy, toasted cheese sandwiches, we had a lunch full of cozy comfort. Yums!

My next soup creation just might be split pea with country style ribs. A friend said it was delicious, so I googled it and it really is a thing. An Estonia recipe, it said.

I never get tired of soup.

Friday, October 26, 2018

Grandma Joyce's Birthday Week



















Grandma Joyce had a couple of days this week jam packed with birthday celebrations!

The people at Elder Homestead started out her actual birthday with three balloons tied to her dining room chair (mom then hung them outside her door) and everybody singing Happy Birthday to her. This was in addition to it being a Waffle Wednesday, which I'm told is already a good day by itself.

I went to Curves in the afternoon, and while I was there, another Curves member popped in and dropped off a huge Cheesecake birthday cake as a present to Bobbi, owner of Curves. It was Bobbi's birthday! Bobbi didn't know what to do with the cake, she no longer eats sugar, and she said she wasn't allowed to serve the cake at the club. I told her it was mom's birthday that day, also. And then ... a decision was made to donate the cake to mom and Elder Homestead ... a thrill for mom, of course, but then there also ended up being enough cake to go around for everybody, even the folks in memory care.

I believe things happen for a reason.

Mark brought over cupcakes and ice cream when he went to visit after supper.

The next day was our planned Birthday Dinner. No Name Steaks, potato salad, potato chips, oven fried onion rings ... all favorite foods of mom's ... and then some fresh fruit added in for nutrition. We had some sparkling cranberry Secco, too, which was so delicious that I think we'll just have to have more of it again on New Years Eve!

Grandma Joyce then said that she had won twice at Bingo that afternoon, and that Katie had called her. I think that probably made her day even more than cake or presents.

I know, this family can go a little overboard with birthday celebrations, but it's fun. And I think Mom deserved a good birthday this year.

Monday, October 22, 2018

Rest And Distraction















Well, I think that things are basically okay.

I'm not sure how productive I feel these days, but that's alright. The house could use a good dusting and vacuuming, and there are a few piles of paper accumulating, but oh well. I've been trying to see people and enjoy what's left of the Fall season. Plus the holidays are coming up soon. And I do look forward to the holidays, but I know they take energy. I'm thinking that the more rested I am by the time they arrive, the better things will be.

Mom's 85th birthday is this week, and I'm planning her birthday dinner. She wants No Name Steaks and potato salad, so guess what we're having. 😋 I found a gorgeous red cardigan sweater on Etsy for her, and it has cat decorations all over the front. Yay for having a plan!

Debbie and I had our annual Oktoberfest Lunch at Macy's Lakeshore Grill, followed by a walk around Ridgedale Mall to look at home goods and all things sparkly, which is always fun. There was Book Club at Mona's, breakfast with Renee, and then Terry invited me out to the barn yesterday afternoon to hang out with Kip.

I feel grateful for my friends.

Next up ... getting the house ready for company on Thanksgiving, and figuring out easier ways of putting on the feast ...