Thursday, March 9th, 2023
Friday Five
TGIF! Time to share five random things about our week!
- I have not made sourdough bread yet, but I’ll introduce you to my sourdough starter, Ryn-N. He’s really excited for his debut. I even had to move him to a clean jar and put a name tag on him. The first picture is Rye-N right after I “fed” him. The blue rubber band marks the level he’s at then. The second pic is him doubling in size after 6 hours, which means he’s a very active sourdough starter!
- This is a gluten free bread I made yesterday. It was made with my expensive flour from Italy. I should have browned it more under the broiler, but I wasn’t sure the pan I was using could handle the broiler. The bread came out good, but I think it’ll make an even better pizza dough! I took this before I cut it because the sun was going down and I was losing natural light.
- Wizard has been working on the sprinkler system for the hill. So the builder put one in, but it’s not adequate. Wizard took it out and was putting a better one in with four values so that we have options in the future. This project turned into a challenge for a lot of reasons, but today he got that part done. I am so proud of him! With all the frustrations and rain delays, he was patient, and he willing to walk away for the day when necessary. We have reached a age where projects we want to do take more planning, time and patience (and a few more sore muscles!) to accomplish but we’re doing them! Well he this part, he did, I just ran to Home Depot a few times to pick up parts
But next week I get to move rock around so yay me! - This week I had what I hope was my final scan. This was to take a closer look at my gallbladder function and it looks good (my gallbladder is getting pretty arrogant at how many tests she’s aced, LOL). That great news. I’m hoping the doctor will agree with me that we can continue to try to manage this with diet and no more labs, tests or scans for awhile. I mean, if we keep this up, I’m going to start glowing in the dark from the various doses of radiation! But seriously, I’m not complaining, I was pretty sick and they were all taking my symptoms seriously. I’m very grateful as that is not always the case for everyone. I have to add that if sucky digestion and a restricted diet is the biggest problem I have, I’d say I’m pretty danged lucky. At least what I eat is something I have full control over, and I have time in my life these days to deal with that. Not everyone is that fortunate and I’m vividly aware of that. I am feeling better, stopped losing unintentional weight and have more energy. That’s progress.
- It’s supposed to rain today. It’s projected to be very heavy in other parts of the state, but we’re not expecting too much here. There’s what appears to be a bigger event coming next week, but we’ll see as that can change. Rain is a good thing, I just hope it’s not too much in the areas already dealing with too much rain or snow.
Bonus! Maggie wants to say hi! Don’t let her all her gray fool you, this dog can fly when she runs and jumps onto the hill. It looks like she floats through the air! I wish I could catch it on video! She might be getting older, but she can still got some moves! (She made me say that!) 
That’s my 5 plus a Maggie bonus. Now I’d love to hear yours! I hope everyone has a fun and safe weekend!
March 10th, 2023 at 7:08 am · Link
Yay for bonus Maggie! Lookin’ good! She’s going gray with style. Yay for your good gall bladder! Fingers crossed there won’t be anymore tests. Way to go, Wizard! Ooo, your bread looks yummy! And YAY for Rye-N!
1) I am the Queen of paper cuts this week. I don’t remember getting any of them but one – not so much a paper cut, but a manila folder cut. That sucker hurt like the Dickens and bled. The rest of them are just irritating.
2) I managed to maintain my positivity for the rest of the week. We’ll see how today goes and then yay, it’s the weekend.
3) I say Yay a lot. Even at work. Yay when I get the mail. Yay when I get a call. Yay when a co-worker does something.
4) It’s entirely possible my co-workers think I’m a tad slow in the brain pan. I’m too old to care. I just mention it because I find it interesting. And mildly amusing.
5) I’ve been watching Spring Baking Championship. On this season, there’s a contestant who sounds like she’s hearing impaired. Her speech patterns might lead to others thinking she’s a tad slow, too. But she’s very well spoken and man, that gal can bake. I’m guessing there will be a lot of people underestimating her. This should be fun.
March 10th, 2023 at 10:00 am · Link
Go Rye-N. Go Rye-N. Yummy bread. Let us know when you use that dough for pizza. Bless Wiz. Ugh on the rain. Hopefully, some of that extra is getting stored up somewhere. Good gallbladder! And yeah, diet restrictions is pretty minor compared. Hang in there and still 🤞🏼 for a definitive diagnosis at some point. Also yay for good docs! Hi, Maggie, you beautiful girl! Okay. My five.
1. I wrote new words this week, based on a prompt. Sadly, they belonged in the long-shelved Moonstruck Mafia WIP instead of the current WIP. 🤦🏼♀️ Still, new word!
2. I’m finally past the lifting and bending restrictions! Yay. My knees will really appreciate the reprieve of bending over instead of squatting when I drop something on the floor.
3. World Baseball Classic is “in session.” Go Czech Republic. All but 3 players have real jobs and their manager is a neurosurgeon. The other 3 are two Czech college students playing in the US and a former MLB player. Also, go Israel! And of course, USA! Oh, and Puerto Rico because Yadier Molina (just-retired legendary catcher for my Cardinals) is managing. The games are on at weird times but something to watch when I can’t sleep. Yay. I do love baseball. And softball.
4. Can you tell I’m digging deep for five things? Kids leave today for their Irish trip. They return on the 19th. Asked Stormy what he was looking forward to and he said Stonehenge. The tour stops there on its way from Wales back to London to catch their flight home. LG is headed up to pick them up to shuttle them to the school to catch the charter bus to Dallas for their red-eye flight tonight. Ah, to be young again.
5. Loki has been watching Pete and is learning how to “cat” just a bit. I didn’t actually see what happened but LG relayed the story to me. He saw Jake standing in the dining room, tail wagging. Then he dropped his front shoulders in a “play bow.” Then he jumped up and this black shadow boxed at his muzzle before running around to box at his tail. LG got up to get a closer look. Loki zoomed under the dining room table. LG asked Jake if they were playing and Jake gave him the Emmet Kelly eyes. Then he asked Jake where Loki had gone. Jake immeidately went to the table, dropped to the floor and stuck his nose under a chair. Lo and behold, there was Loki! Wish I’d seen it but I laughed at the telling of it.
Gonna be a weekend of softball and baseball on the tube. Probably good that I get away from the computer. Very tired eyes yesterday since the borrowed readers aren’t my true prescription. Have a great weekend all!
March 10th, 2023 at 3:50 pm · Link
Thank you for the Maggie photo! She is stunningly beautiful as always. She really is a sweet girl 🥰.
1. Thank you for the update on Rye-N. He looks great! I like your rubber band marking system.
2. Your Italian flour bread looks yummy. Is it airy or dense?
3. It kind of stinks that they didn’t put in the sprinkler system you needed. Good thing Wizard is so handy and can do the replacement of the system.
4. It’s nice to hear that you are feeling better. Sure hope that is the last scan and that you can manage the digestive issues with diet.
5. You have rain and we have snow. Like you, I am praying that the rain/snow in CA doesn’t cause more damage. When I see the snow on the roofs and think of the rain being soaked into the snow it scares the living crap out of me. All the weight on those roofs is a disaster waiting to happen.
1a. Went and had my hair done. She didn’t ask me but she darkened it up. It’s hair and will fade and grow so I didn’t say anything.
2a. I won’t be having my hair done again for 2 months. My poor stylist is having surgery on her hip and won’t be able to work for a few weeks.
3a. Instead of a fish fry tonight, we’re having jump panko crusted shrimp. I can’t wait.
4a. I broke the tool for vacuuming my stairs. I haven’t checked yet but I bet it’s around $50 to replace. That’s 1/4 the cost of the vacuum.
5a. I think I’m going to bake a cake tomorrow. I just feel like baking, not eating.
Have a great weekend!
March 10th, 2023 at 5:27 pm · Link
B.E, Maggie says thank you
So far I’m really happy with Rye-N despite my one panic moment when I thought I’d killed him and ordered a backup plan. I seriously over-reacted, LOL!
1) Ouch! Paper cuts hurt and it we do it just right, they will bleed and then cry if you getting anything acidic in them! Here’s hoping next week is paper cut free!
2) Kudos for the positive attitude! It’s not always easy to do. And definite yay for the approaching weekend!
3) Yay is a perfectly good word!
4) Do you really believe they think that? I would be surprised. But then that generational assumption about us older folks is a real thing. But you’re attitude about it is great. We don’t have anything to prove as long as we’re doing our jobs, right?
5) Ah! Yes this one I can relate too. I worked with a deaf woman who was intelligent and good at her job. But the typical death speech pattern can make some people believe that. My friend happened to be very good at lip reading which mean communication pretty easy. Now I’ll have to look up this season of Spring Baking Championship.
I hope you have a great weekend!
March 10th, 2023 at 5:39 pm · Link
Silver, yep on Wizard. He likes having done it himself as it makes it easier for him to trace any problems down the road even if he needs to hire someone to fix them. I still need to work on my diet, but again, this is better than dealing with more serious illness. I have too many friends fighting cancer these days and it’s just not fair for them. I’m sure if given the choice, they’d much rather be dealing with my issues. And Maggie is so pleased you said hi to her!!
1) The new words still count and help keep that creativity flowing!
Animals are endlessly entertaining!
2) That is good news! Was it hard to sometimes remember not to bend over? But it was important, so I’m sure you did remember. I’m sorry about your knees though. That pain is soooo not fun!
3) That is so cool about the majority of the Czech Republic players! And huh, who knew you loved baseball and softball???? But seriously, passions like that keep us young and engaged. Go for it!
4) I know how hard it is to remember things on Friday to list! All week long, I’m thinkin I’ll but this in Friday 5. Then it shows up and I can’t remember anything! Now onto the kids in Ireland. I think it’s wonderful that Stormy is excited about Stonehenge. I’m guessing most kids his age might not be, but he’s always been a smart, curious and motivated kid! I’m looking forward to hearing about their trip!
5) Jake and Loki are too cute!! I love how Jake gave him the okay with the play bow. That’s a real thing I’ve observed in dogs. It’s interesting that he’s that interested and trusting of Loki too. And Loki has always been a funny critter
Definitely a good thing to get away from the computer! It’s hard on your eyes (and mine). Enjoy the games!
March 10th, 2023 at 5:47 pm · Link
Viki, the rubber band is the easiest for me
The bread was maybe just a hair denser than typical artisan bread, but very good in my opinion. It’s gluten free but does have wheat starch in it (that has been stripped of gluten which is why it’s expensive). I hear you on the adding rain to the snow piled on the roof. Plus the warmer rain may melt some snow pack too quickly causing flooding. We’ll just keep our fingers crossed.
1) Oh I’m sorry you don’t like your hair. I rarely say anything for much the same reason. I just change it next time.
2) Yikes on your stylist’s surgery. I hope she won’t be in too much pain and heals quickly.
3) Enjoy the shrimp dinner!
4) I bet you’re right on that stair vacuuming tool. I hope you get lucky and find a deal with a quick delivery.
5) If you bake a cake you should definitely enjoy eating it too!
Hope you have a fabulous shrimp dinner and a wonderful weekend!