This and That!

 Well, darn!

I have another abcessed tooth! When will it stop? I am so ready. 

I'm on antibotics ... again.... wish they'd just stay in your body to help with the next infection that comes along. It would save a lot of time and money. Guess it doesn't work that way! 

So, on to other more exciting things.

We have the Kentucky Derby Party coming up Saturday here at Centerbrooke. It was tons of fun last year so I expect to have just as much this year. Maybe my tooth will stop hurting by then! 

And, that tooth about mislaid my plans for a visit to New York. My daughter was hours from making my reservations to fly there when I called and said, 'better wait to see what the dentist says'. He said I could go. So, next Wednesday I will fly off into the wild, blue yonder.  It's just over an hour for the 800+ miles. Imagine that! But, I really don't like flying anymore. Too much weird going on in the sky these days. 

We (Susan and me) have some nifty plans for my stay with her but I won't be posting while I am there. I am one of those 'oldies' who does her tech stuff on the computer not her phone or ipad. And, of course, my computer won't be accompanying me on my trip! hehe. 

It's hard enough at this age to just get myself there! 

But, I promise I will share my trip with you when I get back.

I'm not leaving for another week so I will check in with you all before I go. 

A New Breakfast Restaurant in Town!!

A lot of time I try to eat healthier.... (as I sit here typing away with a big chunk of fudge in my mouth)

I didn't say I was PERFECT! 

And, my son-in-law makes yummy fudge that they sell at their Easter Good Friday Bake sale so yes, I had to have some of it.. I mean, I wouldn't want to hurt his feeling! Hehe

I saw a question post on one of our 'neighborhood facebook pages' the other day asking what was being built just up the street from me. 

A couple people responded, First Watch.

Didn't have a clue what First Watch is! So, I do what everyone else does... I googled it.

First Watch is a breakfast/lunch restaurant that has a more healthier menu than we have ever had here in Suffolk. I mean, I just let out a 'whoop-dee-do' when I read that! 

They are weeks, maybe months from opening but I am already making plans.... a trip to First Watch at least twice a week! I noticed that they have avocado toast listed. I make my own but avocadoes ripen so fast it's hard for me to keep them handy often enough so now I can just pop over to the new restaurant whenever I get a hankering for that. I couldn't be happier. 

Here's my recipe if you are at all interested in making your own avocado toast. Or just grab your car keys and meet me at First Watch (after they are open). 

A Different Easter

 

My Easter was definately different this year!

No egg hunt, no family gathered around a table ladened with ham, deviled eggs, sweet potatoes. 

The kids (that's great-grands for me) have grown past all that I guess. 

Everyone was scattered doing their own thing.

So, my grandson who was available along with his two young 'men' joined Shirley, John and I at a local restaurant. Some had burgers, Shirley had a salad and I had a brisket plate.

So far-fetched from past Easters but we all were so happy to get to spend some time together. 

Then we spent some time visiting at my apartment.

A good day for sure! 

Great-grandsons

Grandson and his Dad 

Shirley and me (her Mama)

My orchid which does not know how to stop blooming!

Have a great week! 

Hugs

Easter Time

                   

It's such a special time for us all... 

                                       And, busy!

I drove up to Shirley's on Good Friday. It was the 44th year that she has held a Good Friday bake sale featuring her chick cookies. People from near and far think it isn't Easter if they don't have Miss Shirley's chicks. Kids who grew up having that as an Easter treat are now buying them for their little ones and even grandchildren. My, how time flies!

So, that was a great outing for me. Came home and took an hour and a half nap!! It's exhausting just looking at all that yummy stuff being carried out the front door!! 

                                                                                            

I've been working on a match three game on my Kindle.... for weeks. They dump a whole ton of pictures out on the screen and you match 3 at a time until you are finished. And, it's timed!!

Like I say, it's been weeks and I could never get all those threes matched together before I ran out of time! 

This morning I said to myself "Self, if I can beat the clock this morning and win this sucker, I am going to go to the Farmer's Market." 

I hadn't been in a few years, mainly because of being unsure of the parking situation, getting myself across uneven terrain, being joshled by shoppers.... But, that is just being a coward! Where is my MoJo? 

My Drive? My Daring?

So, I am matching up three watermelons, three apples, three pies etc, etc, etc on my Kindle and all of a sudden I have them all matched............

TaDa

with 2 minutes to spare! 

So, I closed the front door behind me, drove downtown and even found a parking spot very close to the market. SomeOne was looking out for me! 

No local veggies yet. I did buy some cage free eggs, 2 huge tomatoes which turned out to be yummy. I made me a tomato sandwich once home! and bought some home-grown Oyster Mushrooms. 

Now I am not a mushroom person. I'll eat them out at a restaurant but I never cook with them. This is gonna be interesting! 

Anyone with any great recipes or ideas for Oyster Mushrooms?

A Bright, Beautiful Morning

 

And, how are all of you this beautiful Tuesday morning!

After a weekend of being down in the dumps, I feel fantastic. I don't know what it is about weekends but they are the pits for me. I hate that feeling. 

Something that always brightens your spirit is a new outfit or new make-up. I just went to the store and bought me some 'different' nail polish. What you think? In real life it's a little more lavendery than it looks here and I love it! Who would have guessed that? I've always worn red or pink. No time like the present for a change. 

I recently painted this watercolor. I posted it on facebook and my granddaughter immediately lay claim to it so I guess I'll pass this one along to her. It's a booster to have people want your work but it's almost like parting with part of you. That sounds weird but it's true. 

I did this one recently, just messing around one day with my paints. I still am having trouble with doing faces but they say practice makes perfect. Geez, I wonder how long I'll have to practice. haha. 

I guess you can tell I don't have much news to share today. But, that's life.

You have a great day... and remember to be happy.

Happiness is priceless!

A Mouse With A Fat Face

 I have the worst time painting faces

PEOPLE

ANIMALS

well, maybe that's all that has faces so i guess I will stop right there. I keep trying though. 

I finally got up the gumption to move a 4 ft. folding table to the front of my dining room windows where the light is so nice. Been painting in my darker office where there's a ton of stuff all around. I know you have one of those places. Come on.... admit it. 😄

Today I am organizing my paint supplies, ideas, whatever. I am so into painting right now. But, today is work day. Tomorrow, I will paint. 

I did sit down to try out my new space and ended up painting something with a face!!! How'd that happen! 

Here it is. 

I'd seen Paul Clark add those splatters to his paintings so I decided I'd try it. You never know 'til you try!

But, that face! It's not a mouse face by any measure. I'll keep trying. They say practice makes perfect. 

Old Friends and New Burgers

 What a day! 

I had an appointment with my oncologist today and got a glowing report. I just get 6 months check-up now. So, I am feeling on top of the world.

As I walked into the hospital where my doctor is located, I noticed an old lady sitting, waiting for her ride. "Doris," I shout. That is Doris, a previous resident from the Commons. She went several years ago to live with her daughter and I hadn't seen her since. To be perfectly blunt... I just figured she was no longer with us, if you know what I mean. Back then she was about 92. That woman loved to dance. And, she was a whiz at playing bingo. About once or twice a year she'd fly all by herself to Kentucky where she was from. And, that woman was a huge Kentucky basketball fan! Would even wear the team sweatshirts. I am so happy I ran into her. Just gave me a warm feeling deep inside my chest. 

Me and Doris. 

I called her an 'old woman'. Shame on me. When she lived here she was the age I am. She must be around 96 now. 

I wonder what people say about me when they see me out and about. Do they call me an 'old woman'. Most likely. Depending on what age they are, I guess.

For lunch Shirley and I tried out a new restaurant. I'd seen it advertised on facebook, they said they had the best burgers! #22 in the nation, #1 in our area of Virginia. So, we tried them out. I'd say they were definately great. I'd eaten so healthy for several days so it was time for a treat. 

                           I ate most of it!

Making Health a Priority

 Sometimes we pay for not following through with our routines. Being in a household with 2 dozen women made it very difficult for me to stay focused on ME. I already have a hard time drinking enough water and guess what? I certainly didn't that week at the beach. 

Came home with a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)! Ouch! Bet I make sure I drink plenty of water from now on. 

This is a subject that many people find disturbing. No, I'm not talking about UTIs... I moved on to another subject! 

It's A1 and how it can affect our lives. There's been some form or other of artifical intellengence around for awhile now but it has progressed to a level that folks are scared of it.  I can see why. Like everything else in life, if you don't use it correctly and for the good it can be very abused and unhealthy.

Oh, speaking of health! There's so much talk about being healthy now and I think it's way past time. 

Which brings me back to A1...

My son added the App ChatGPT to my computer. I hadn't used it after that try out period, but the other day I asked it to help me with a problem. And, ChatGPT turned my way of shopping, eating, cooking etc. all around. I am more than thrilled with their help.

My problem: In an effort to eat healthier I would go online and select healthy items off my local grocer site. It would be delivered to my door. I'd put them in my pantry and frig... and then could not figure out how to make something interesting to eat out of any of it. 

ChatGPT to the rescue! It gave me some great ideas for easy meal planning and then made me a grocery list to work from. It even offered to send me some recipes to make from those items. 

I have been eating 'high on the hog' lately. A healthy hog, I might add. 

Back in my colon cancer days it was suggested I drink smoothies. And, I have never liked smoothies since. But, I made one from the suggestions I got from ChatGPT and it was so good. 

Then I made me a bowl. Now, I've ordered a bowl or two out at a restaurant but I'd never made one at home. Oh my gosh, was it  good! I used rice instead of quinoa. And I squirted some lemon juice over the top.

And, I fell in love with a wrap that I whipped up last night. I substitued a tortilla for the lettuce and used guacamole instead of the mashed avocado.

I tell you... ChatGPT is my new best friend. 

Have any of you  used ChatGPT .... just curious? 

Fill My Tummy with Great Food

 Food, of course, is always a highlight of any vacation. 

Shirley and I went to Hurricane Moe's one night and pigged out on seafood. Her go-to is always shrimp. Mine is scallops. We were not disappointed and in fact, I hurt so bad waddling out of that place but I did it with no regrets! 

We gals had Saturday brunch as our meal to mix for all those women. It was a huge success. Only meal made that entire week where scrapbookers were up from their tables, snapping pictures and oooohing and aaaahing. We DONE good! 

I'm making croissants filled with egg, cheese and ham. 

One of our trays. fruit, boiled eggs, cheese straws, plain croisaants and jam.

A more savory tray with sausages, the egg/cheese/ham croissants and avocado. 

And, Mimosas for everyone. Yum. Maybe it was the mimosas that made everyone so happy!