Friday, October 20th, 2023
Friday Five
TGIF!! Let’s jump right into sharing five random things about our week.
- Hot and Dry. So very dry. It’s supposed to cool off next week, but the dryness is getting to me. After all my whining about humidity this summer, it’s pretty funny that now I’m complaining about it being so dry. Also if weather is my biggest complain, then life is pretty danged good.
- This week, I finally made a gluten free, dairy free chocolate chip cookie that I’m happy with! This was a win for me. I’ve probably tried a half dozen recipes or tweaks, and they all turned into runny pancakes in the oven no matter what I did. I finally found a recipe with cornstarch as the magic ingredient. Gluten and dairy free will never taste exactly like one made with flours that have gluten and real butter, but this one worked for me!
- I also marinaded a boneless chicken breast in a lemon thyme brine (with thyme from my little garden!) and cooked it in my air fryer. We loved it and got two meals out of one large chicken breast. It was a huge chicken breast
This is the first week in a while when I did some fun cooking or baking. - Last night, we went to dinner with Biker Witch and her hubby. I’m writing this yesterday right before we actually go, so all I can say is that I expect we’ll have a nice evening. We asked them to go because while we’re running a bit tired, we also want to do things with people we love and enjoy. We’re going to a Mexican restaurant, something we haven’t gone out for in a long time.
- Middle son is the one coming out on Saturday with his wife and two dogs. They are living through a home renovation so we invited them for dinner hoping to give them a break from cooking in their fifth-wheel trailer or going out. Plus we just enjoy hanging with them And I get to see my two grand dogs as a bonus!
That’s my five, and now I’d love to hear yours! I hope everyone has a great weekend!
October 20th, 2023 at 7:22 am · Link
How can it be Friday already?!?! Sounds like you had lots of food and family this week–all good things! Kudos to MidDiL for managing to cook in the 5th wheel. That is an accomplishment and yay for granddog time. Maggie will be thrilled, I’m sure! Okay. My 5. If I can think of anything. Normally, if something noteworthy happens, I write in my white board so I’ll remember. There’s nothing there today. Oops.
1. Our weather warmed back up but I’ll take the less humidity. I can leave off the AC even with temps in the 80s. Rain and cooler temps due next week. Yay.
2. I did switch over the summer linens to the winter linens–different colors and a microsuede comforter instead of a chenille beadspread. There were a couple of nights and days when it was toasty warm. Now it’s just comfortable as are are down in the 50s and 60s at night so the windows stay open.
3. Stormy had a soccer game Tuesday but we didn’t go. LG is have some issues and walking can be problematic, especially on uneven terrain. Turns out, Stormy has had a growth spurt and is in that “new colt” stage where he’s trying to figure out how his arms and legs work again. He played about half the game and did “okay.” Apparently, the whole team had mentally checked out so we didn’t miss much. That said, at this rate, Stormy will be 6′ tall
before he hits middle school!
4. I did manage some writing this week but not near as much as anticipated. Still, forward progress and the words I did manage appear to be keepers, which is always a bonus.
5. Mandatory Pete story: With the milder days and nights, he’s a bit more reluctant to come in at night. There were several nights when I found him curled up on his pillow in the garage. Let me digress for some background. Loki does NOT like the chenille spread but he loves the microfiber one and will often sneak up under the edge and play bed shark. Apparently, Pete loves the chenille spread and is discombobulated by its disappearance. I brought his pillow in and put it on the bed. At first, he was unhappy with me but now he’s ready to come in at bedtime and he sleeps on the pillow. Cat logic.
Not much scheduled for the rest of today and this weekend beyond MLB playoffs and college football. Stormy has another soccer game Sunday afternoon and hopefully, we can make it! Have a great weekend all!
October 20th, 2023 at 2:14 pm · Link
1. It’s fine to complain about the hot weather. With these huge swings it’s hard to acclimate.
2. Excellent on the cookies. Good thing you didn’t give up or you would never had fingered out a recipe you enjoy.
3. Your turkey breasts sound fantastic. It seem the best recipes are found when we aren’t looking for them.
4. Glad you got to spend time with Biker Witch.
5. Maggie will be happy to have company this weekend. Have a great time with family.
1a. I’ve used the oven a couple times and I like it. It seems bigger and hotter. I’ll continue to learn. Now to replace the big downdraft.
2a. Hubs is struggling getting a handle on the microwave. It’s not surprising.
3a. Tomorrow A is going to try and come over with Queso and get hubs to go to the dog park with them. Hubs needs to get out and do something and I need a break from him.
4a. Yesterday hubs and I EACH got a letter from the IRS for the penalty and interest on the messed up taxes. I spent another 45 minutes on the phone with IRS and only had to send back hubs copy with the payment since he was the primary tax payer. Fingers are crossed that all is now well.
5a. It’s been chilly and damp and my arm is on fire. So now I know that the weather is a major reason for pain.
I hope you have a very nice weekend.
October 20th, 2023 at 4:54 pm · Link
Silver, I lost track of time three weeks ago, LOL. Middle daughter in law could cook over candle flame and make it work
She appreciates nice things, but also knows how to adapt to most any situation, which is an awesome quality.
I should get a white board to do that too
1) Yeah the humidity is the worst. I’m wanting to drop into the 80s.
2) Your linens and comforter sound perfect for the cold winter nights you get there.
3) Sorry for LGs struggles. Those uneven surfaces like soccer fields can be tough so I get it. WOW!!! Stormy is so tall! I can see why he has those gangly moments during growth spurts. I saw all my kids go through that and they are all average height.
4) All the words add up to a finished books!
5) Pete has a lot of “cat standards” that confuse mere humans, LOL. I’m glad he’s coming in again, though. Winter is coming, and hopefully, Pete will choose to stay inside on a really cold days and nights.
Hope you have a great weekend with baseball, college football and Stormy’s game (fingers crossed LG is able to go).
October 20th, 2023 at 5:09 pm · Link
Viki, thanks on the company and fun this weekend. We had fun last night and are looking forward to seeing middle, his wife and the pups.
1) I’m so happy you like the oven. I hope you can get the replace the downdraft. I’m no help there. ‘
2) I can imagine his frustration, and probably yours as well.
3) I hope A can get hubs to go! I agree it’ll be good for both of you. Plus Queso playing at the dog park might really entertain him and help a bit.
4) Sheesh, I’m really sorry this problem just keeps going. I hope this will end it once and for all. The IRS is aggravating on it’s best day. Sending letters to each of you separating seems like dramatic overkill to me.
5) I’m sorry for the pain. I agree, damp weather is a likely culprit. Does your CBC oil help (I think you use some version of that.) Back when I had that fiery pain behind my shoulder blade and down my air from my disk issue, not much helped. I hope you can find relief.
I really hope you have a good weekend, and the pain in your arm goes away.