...12.20....a day with a friend...

...it was finally the day that Amy and I were both free...to spend the whole day together...that doesn't happen nearly often enough...so we went to a local coffee shop...the Man had been there and recommended it...I got the London Fog...they also had a "winter" London Fog...but it had peppermint in it and I didn't think that would be good in Earl Grey...

...and then we wandered around downtown...and stopped at the Chocolate shop and got a few vegan chocolates...they were Christmas shapes...so fun...

...and after we wandered around all of the little boutique-y shops downtown...we went to the restaurant that used to be our favorite Thai restaurant before covid...now it's a new 'fusion' restaurant...it was still really good...different...but good...I got the tofu bánh mì and a side of edamame...and Amy got Tofu Pad Thai...

...and then we spent a couple of hours at the Antique Mall...and I found a Ritz tin...now...y'all know that I love tins...and I use them to store things too...so my Ritz crackers will actually go into this tin...

...and I also picked up this vintage ornament...Amy got one too...hers was a fuschia stripe...but this was so much like the ornaments on our tree when I was little...

...and finally late in the afternoon...when we got back to the car...we exchanged our little gifts...y'all have already seen Amy's slippers...and she gave me this grey neck warmer...and a pretty brown and grey ear warmer...I love them both...

...I love spending a day with Amy...

~Have a lovely day!

...7.4...Independence Day...

...HAPPY 4th of JULY...aka Independence Day...we'll be attending this party a little bit later today...such a cute invitation...

...I did a tiny little InstaCart pickup...surprising after not doing one at all last weekend...

...and of course sweet old Jack has to come in and check it all out...

...nothing really of note...strawberries are still on sale...and the vegan cream cheese was on sale for $2.99...I didn't really need any but I checked the date and it's good for several months...so I went ahead and got it while it was on sale...

...I baked a loaf of bread in the bread machine...which really must be on it's last legs...I oiled everything really well...and took the cover off so that I could spin the wheel manually if it got stuck...and of course I could have dumped it out at any time and just baked it in the oven...

...but it turned out perfectly...and I'll keep using the old bread maker...haha...the Man doesn't like the heel so I ate it while it was still hot with some Earth Balance and tea...the bread maker makes a delicious crusty end piece...

...and then I sliced up the rest of the bread for the week...

...I did a tiny bit of holiday decoration...I put out my little flags...and my favorite July Porch Pillow...

...and our poor little yard banner is all tattered again...

...so we replaced that one with an exact copy...it's amazing how quickly they deteriorate in the sun and weather...

...the big "project" for the weekend was to clean out and organize the bathroom cabinets...I should have taken a photo of the drawers...but here's all the junk piled on top for sorting...we had 2 garbage bags of just trash...it's amazing what you can stuff into three bathroom drawers...

...I just used some old boxes to organize things a bit better and put everything back in place...it's so satisfying...

...this morning...after coffee I made the pasta salad for the picnic/party this evening...

...used my old Emmie to chop up some pickles...

...and onions and celery...

...added about a half of a jar of vegan mayo...

...and mixed it all up...

...now it can chill in the fridge until party time...

...I rode my bike late in the day...like after 8 PM...it's been so hot and muggy here...

...and I cut all of Kitten's nails while she was sleeping like this...I can usually manage to get one paw done while she wakes up and then I don't risk another until I catch her sound asleep again...haha...much less traumatic for each of us...

~Wishing you a lovely start to your week!

...10.18...Over the Weekend...

...it was pretty much just a regular weekend...

...except that...it's the first one this fall...that has actually felt like fall...with temperatures dropping down into the 40's for the first time in a long time...so...sweater weather is finally here...YAY!...

...and one other exciting thing happened...I got up early and wrapped and packed all of the kiddos'...and grandkiddos' Christmas presents...because I wanted to get those into the mail...well in advance of the Christmas rush...for one thing so that I'd be sure they were there in time...and for another thing (haha)...so that they wouldn't have to wait in the horrendous lines at Christmas-time to retrieve their packages...

...so I went to the Post Office...and picked up the InstaCart shop...Jack-Jack is doing his inspection duty...

...one of our sweet parishioners dropped off a big bag of apples and sweet potatoes...so perfect for fall...

...I got all of the groceries stowed away...nothing of note that I know of...

...but in addition to the cat litter...we got a couple of non-food items...

...my made in the USA socks arrived from Amazon...Mom and I were talking about because you purchase your socks in a 'bunch'...they all wear out at the same time...haha...and...how difficult it is to find socks made in America...and how careful you have to be with Amazon searches...it may say in the description made in the USA...but then when you read the comments...people post that they are actually made in Mexico...these really are made in America...and they are mostly all cotton...just a little bit of spandex...

...I sanded and painted a few more little nicks on the refurbished bicycle...

...they were just bothering me...and I had the paint...and all...so...

...I did a really good job of masking everything off...haha...NOT!...I just stuffed some newspaper in between the fork and the wheel...and it worked just fine...

...and then I knit a bunch of stockinette stitch...the back of the Japan travel sweater is almost finished...

...so while I was goofing off...the Man cooked us a delicious fall supper...

...he made an absolutely delicious braised cabbage recipe...with apples and onions...we both agreed that next time he'll add less sugar...

...and I got some seitan out of the freezer...and we ate the last of Mom's red potatoes...it was so satisfying...

...and then because I had mentioned that I'd never had baked apples before...the Man cored and stuffed some of those delicious gifted apples with sugar, cinnamon and Earth Balance and baked them...

...and we had those for dessert...

~Wishing you a lovely start to your week!

...7.16...Friday Favorites...Fresh Garden Veg...

...I know I say this every single year...

...we are so blessed with garden goodness around here...

...I froze three quarts of blueberries after again eating our fill...

...and there was this bag of green beans picked and delivered the same morning...

...and broken...

...and into the pot before noon...

~Have a lovely day!

...6.18...Friday Favorites...

...so happy that it's the time of year when our parishoners/friends/neighbors bring us delicious homegrown veggies...

...our first bag this year of summer squash and cucumbers...delivered to our doorstep...so thankful...

~Have a lovely day!

...9.21...Over the Weekend...

...I got up super early to grab just a few things at the grocery store...nothing of note...except the vegan chocolate chips..and the Bugles...the Man was just wondering the other day if they still made Bugles...so I looked for some for him...haha...

...then we went over to the Fellowship Hall for the return of the Community Breakfast...this is the first one we've had since February...and it was all social distanced with masks...tape on the floor to show you where to stand and take out only...so different...but then most things are nowadays...

...the turnout was surprisingly good...no one knew quite what to expect...but I think people are ready for just about any attempt to return to normal...

...my vegan bowl of grits and coffee...

...during the breakfast...about 100 vintage cars went by...blowing their horns and waving...so that was fun...the local classic car club had organized a "drive by"...we had planned on having a classic car show at the breakfast...but that's not possible right now...

...Our Airman granduated from his rescue training...

...and received his certificate and a neat coin...

...after the breakfast I did some laundry...we're having PERFECT early fall weather right now...and I love hanging clothes out on the line...

...after that...we headed back over to the Fellowship Hall to set up for a little socially distanced...drop in party...because...

...this little one is about to turn ONE!!!

...we put up some Bee-day decorations...

...she was having a ball with all the activity...

...her Mommy and Daddy had gotten her a ball pit for her birthday...and so we set that up and she enjoyed it...while waiting for people to 'drop by'...

...we set up a Bee-day snack table...with her smash cake...

...and then it was time to open some gifts...you know the paper and wrapping is the most fun part...

...time to FaceTime with Daddy...

...and time for another Bee-day cake...this was the topper from the Airman's Wife's Baby Shower cake...and she'll get it all to herself...

...she's pretty tentative at first...she's not 'supposed to' make a mess with her food you know...

...but pretty soon...she digs right in...

...she says...'have some Grandmommy'...

...all too soon it was time for them to come by the house and say one last goodbye before they flew back to New Mexico...I'm sure Our Airman will be happy to have them home...

~Wishing you a lovely start to your week!...