Hugs and Kisses For Valentine's Day

 It's spring.... 

No, not really but we did have a couple days of near 60 degrees. It was gorgeous and a precursor to what we can expect a little later on if we can just hang on through the rest of the winter. 

So, naturally I took advantage of it being so nice. Had lunch with dau Shirley and granddau. Brittany on Wednesday. Then the very next day I had lunch out with Shirley again.... Tomorrow we are having a valentine's day party here at Centerbrooke.

What do you all plan to do for Valentine's Day? Guess it depends on who your sweetheart is! I'm my own best sweetheart these days. We gals decorated white lunch bags and tomorrow we'll drop our valentine's into each other's bags. Do you remember those days in school when you'd do something like that?  

I still have Valentines that were given to me as a child not yet school age... Here's one or two of them.

Valentine's don't look like that anymore.

You all have a wonderful Valentine's Day! 

Hope you get lots of chocolate and flowers and hugs and kisses! 

Time Does Fly By!

 It's Sunday morning and the wind chill factor is in the single digits. BRRRRR!! Okay, countdown to spring starts right now. I am so over this bitterly cold weather. 

One thing about it being too cold to get outside, you try to find things to do inside. I decided I'd try a new recipe. I did  make a couple changes to suit what I had to work with. I had large chicken tenders instead of the breast and I used balsamic vinegar instead of regular vinegar. I was happy with my choices. And, it was so quick and easy. I'm all about quick and easy these days. 

Are you watching the Olympics? I don't follow any of the sports until they go head to head in the Qlympics and then I am hooked. Loved the American couple who ice danced the story about the matador. So well done. 

And, how about that Ollie ? Doing the Big Air at 17 years old, a broken arm and he was unbelivable!! 

It all is a nice diversion from the usual mundane tv stuff we have to watch. I stream everything now. Feel like I can be more selective, when and if I want to.

Today would have been my husband's 96th birthday had he lived. He's been gone 15 years now. I can't believe it's been that long and too, that I am still here. I feel very blessed in that regard. Also very blessed to have been married to such an amazing man for 60 years. God's certainly been good to me. 

This was taken at the last birthday he celebrated (2010). He was in an assisted living facility then and some of the family joined him for his big day. 

and here he is in happier times with his grandson, Griffin. This was taken in 2001 at the beginning of his Alzheimer's journey.

How time does fly!! And, the older we get the faster it goes. 

As the author, Elizabeth Keebler-Ross, wrote:

"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth - and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up - that we begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." 

I Escaped The Apartment

 Shirley had a doctor appt. so she swung by and picked me up. it was so nice to get out and be with people again. 

We'd been wanting to go to a new restaurant that opened nearby. First Watch... ever heard of it? The place has been packed since opening but with this snow around, it's easier to get a table and that's what we did. 

I got the Farmers Breakfast (eggs, bacon, cheese all piled on top of country potatoes). 

That was good but my favorite is the breakfast with turkey sausage gravy over a biscuit with an egg. 

She took some pictures while we were out so I will share those with you. It's interesting how the terrain changes at different times, constantly being different. Makes looking at this world exciting every time you take time to do that. These are from around my apartment building. 

It's gonna be 40 degrees today, folks!! Wow. But. later today we have a dusting of snow coming back in. It's a bad winter that's for sure. 

I just finished a painting. What's a gal to do when she's stuck indoors? Right?

The Snow Falleth....

 Well, it got here. Such fun to watch the snow falling and so thankful I was inside and warm and safe. The wind was horrific... 

That is supposed to be a video that shows the wind but something happened in the transfer. Oh well. 

Someone went for a walk. I don't see dog tracks so they weren't out walking their dog... Who in the world would be out in temps in the teens just to stroll around!! I don't get it. 

Not my car but the view looking out my dining room window. 

I did venture out ONE STEP on my balcony so I could take the picture below. 

Pond half frozen over with snow on the ice. First time I've seen that! 

So, now it's here. I just wish the temps would warm up. Wind chill factor when I got up. -3 degrees. Now, folks that's cold in my book! 

Winter Weather

 So, here I sit... waiting once again for a winter snow. 

Last weekend it was a dud. I wonder what this one will be. At least I am prepared... lots of groceries, plenty of warm snuggy blankets, plenty to drink, no alcoholc at least at this time. haha) and a tv to watch. 

The wind chill factor is supposed to be -3 degrees in the morning. You know, I could sort of just skip winter if you don't mind. I don't dare stick my head out the front door. I might just freeze into an old popsicle! 

How are all of you doing? Hope you are keeping warm. 

I watched a couple cute movies on Netflix just recently. The first was 'Eleanor, the great'. The second was 'the Last Word'. Both entertaining, about two old ladies, very different, but nevertheless totally interesting. 

One was a liar, the other was a cantancarous old goat... 

I wonder how I am labeled!!! I certainly hope not one of those two. 

Have a safe and warm weekend! 

Surprise fun!

 I know you girls are dying to find out what happened about the surprise grocery delivery yesterday. We never did find out who they belonged to and baby, come to Mama, do.... I had fun unloading each bag. It was quite a trip! 

Well, I've come to the conclusion that it wasn't meant for this 55+ community anyway.... not with what I found in those bags. These are older people living here, lots of apartments with only one person and certainly not more than two and they eat 'old-timey'. Well, some of us are more adventurous but you know what I mean. 

I mean, there was some STRANGE stuff in there. How about jalepeno stuffed olives? Or three bags of large bell peppers, a huge bag of basmati rice, coconut milk? I could go on and on... There was no bread, eggs, milk or cleaning supplies. Strange.  

Here is a pic of a few of the odd things.... At least they seemed odd to me. The amount of bell peppers just blew my mind.

There were two huge packages of chicken tenders, 3 packages of smoked sausages. Nah... noone from here ordered that stuff. But, I am the happy recepient and I am experimenting. 

I am guessing they are coffee drinkers. I am not. But, I have me two huge bottles of coffee creamers.... flavored. Any idea what to do with those?

Made myself an omelet this morning adding some of those peppers, pimento stuffed olives, some fresh spinach that was in a bag. Man, it was good. I topped it all with shaved parmesan cheese. Happy camper, that I am! 

I consider it a gift from God. I hate some one had their order messed up. I wouldn't wish that on anyone but I am so thankful that it was my apartment that it happen to land at. I am going to have so much fun trying some of this stuff.

Now, what will I make with coconut milk? I've never used it... any ideas?