I Was Just Wondering

 I do what I call 'scrapbook journaling'. My made up name for just piddling around with thoughts put with creative designs. 

There's a lot of things I wonder about... too many to put in a book or on a blog post. However, I did like this grouping of wondering from Ralph Fletcher (whomever that might be) that I found and added it to my book.

The first two really caught my eye.. Yes, why did God make some birds fly while other's never get off the ground? And, aren't you supposed to cry when you are sad, not happy? Of course, I do both as do most people but it's just curious, that's all. 

I have wondered how do they put concrete down in deep wateer and anchor it to build a tunnel for millions of cars to pass through? How do the workers not drown? And, who in the world ever thought of doing that in the first place. 

What do you wonder about? 

And, I love the one about fashion and who makes decisions about whether certain things are fashionable or not. Reminds me of something I read.... which brings me to my

                           QUOTE

"The head monkey at Paris puts on a travelers cap and all the monkeys in America do the same"

                                                                                             Henry David Thoreau

Good Food, Good Reads

 Every day this week I'd say to myself, 'gotta make a new blog post' and nightime would come and I'd say 

'tomorrow, I'll do it tomorrow'. It took a week but here I am!

I had a great day yesterday, best I've have in a very long time. I was steady, strong, felt fantastic, had energy and I was happy. I just could not have asked for a better day. 

But, the nighttime wasn't so much fun! What the dickens! I just couldn't sleep. Nap coming up this afternoon. I can just feel it coming on.

I've had a problem that I finally found a solution to. I'd order things from the grocery store and then the cans or boxes would sit on the shelf for ages and I wouldn't figure out how to make a meal out of them. So.... drum roll, please.

I made a list of all my canned goods and posted it on the pantry door. Same with my box stuff. I can see at a glance what I have. I sat down with my recipe box and chose recipes to make this next week using up things I already had on the shelf. As I use each item, I mark it off the list. Sort of like taking inventory. When each item is all marked off I know it's time to order more. 

I found a can of tomatoes I had had for awhile. I like tomato pudding but I don't want to eat it very often. And, it had been awhile since I'd had any so I made some. 

Yeah, I know... if you aren't southern you are asking what in the heck is tomato pudding. It sounds gross! 

Back in the early 19th century when women had an abundance of tomatoes they devised a way to put them to use. All it takes is tomatoes (canned ones are used mostly), a little sugar, a tad of butter and you put that over broken pieces of bread and bake. It's sweet, tangy, a little tart and perfect with blackeyed peas, which I also made yesterday. I baked me a russet potato and I had lunch! 

I just finished reading 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' by Van Pelt. Oh my gosh, I loved it! A completely different story line. It was Van Pelt's first novel and I just don't know how in the world she'll ever top that! I thought immediately that it ought to be a movie so I googled it.... there's one already made for Netflix but it hasn't been released yet. I can't wait. Sally Field plays Tova, the lead character. If you get a chance give it a try. I know not everyone has the same reading taste but that's ok. 

I hope you all have a good week. We haven't had a maintence super for a little while and today we have a 'meet and greet' for a new one. His name is Alfonso. They even supplied snacks for the meet and greet. Can't pass that up. 

This is a prayer that I wrote during my cancer treatment back in 2002. 

                    Now I lay me down to sleep                                                                        I pray, dear Lord, My hand to take                                                        And guide me to the break of day                                                           So I can love and live and pray.                                                             And when the sun shall set once more,                                                 the darkness over comes the light,                                                         I pray, dear Lord, you'll take my hand                                                    And guide me with your wonderous  might.

                                        Willie Latane Barton 

A New Yummy Veggie to Eat

 As I mentioned in my last post that a friend gave me some eggplant and that I wasn't sure how to cook it. You girls came to the rescue. Now I remember that the friend who grew the eggplant said she'd sliced it and fried it. But, Marcia, one of my blog buddies, said she peels them, slices them rather thin, slathers them with mayo and places them on a baking sheet. Then she tops the slices with Parmesan cheese and bakes them for 20 minutes in a 400 degree oven, flipping them over at the 10 minute mark.

Let me tell you... those things were yummy. I was sad when I popped the last slice in my mouth. 

Did you know that the English call eggplant aubergine? It's a french word but we call it eggplant here in the U. S. 

Do you know why it got it's name?

Centuries ago, this vegetable was smaller and very pale in color. Looked like an egg!  DUH! Now they are such a beautiful deep purple. I've never seen a purple egg. Have you? 

Thanks again for all the help. Love you girls. You always come through for me. Others had different ways of cooking eggplant so I will have to try those out, too. But, just wanted to share my new-found veggie to eat. I love learning new things, eating new cruisine, going new places. This old world is filled with adventures of every kind. 

                            

                        Quote for the Day

"You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down."          (Mary Pickford, actress)

My Cupboard Runneth Over

 This week has been a doozy. Hot, humid and just 'stay in the apartment' kind of weather. I hate summer! 

But, then, again, I hate winter. Just give me spring and fall and I'll be happy. I guess I just don't like extremes. 

My son-in-law sent me some tomatoes and peppers from his garden the other day. How sweet was that!

Then, a few days later my housekeeper brought me eggplant, tomatoes, cukes and peppers. My cupboard runneth over! 

I've never cooked eggplant before. Not even sure I like it. So, any suggestions out there?

Spilt Smoothie Makes for Fun

 Remember me telling you in my last post how I'd been down in the dumps but that I was feeling better?

Let me tell you what happened!!

I was on speaker phone with dau Susan and her son's fiance, Kelsey. That Kelsey is just a gift from God. She's so much fun, so bright, so smart, so kind. Anyway, put those two together and you can't stay in a dark hole for long!!

They were trying to help me so suggested that maybe I could try out a new recipe and asked what was in my refrigerator. Bad idea!! I say, 'yellow squash, yogurt, 1/2 slice of ham, eggs, milk ... and oh, a jar of pickles'. They about croaked! 

So, Kelsey started figuring out how I can make an omelet. Then she said, no how about a smoothie?

Somehow, we just moved on to other things and then said goodbye but I was feeling much better. Then Susan texted me, 'You have a delivery from Instacart in a few minutes'. Oh Goody. What?

It is a huge salad (mixed greens, blue cheese, strawberries, nuts and balsamic vinegarette). There are also a tub of chicken salad and one of potato salald and this HUGEMOUNGOUS bag of frozen mixed fruit. Oh... a smoothie out of the fruit. I get it now. 

But, I'd told them I don't make smoothies because I have a large blender and it's heavy, hard to clean etc, etc, excuse after excuse. The next morning I get up to find a box at my front door. It's a Magic Bullet. 

They call... want me to make a video of me making my smoothie. So, I get my yogurt out of the fridge, the frozen fruit and some water and I turn it on. Hey, it's working!! 

I took the container off the machine and set it on the counter. (I'd already taken the lid off it) and as I reached for the Yogurt to put it back in the fridge, I knocked over that smoothie and most of it went all over my countertop. And, it was on video. I'm not accident-proof and I have proof I am not. 

But, engaging in such a fun adventure with those girls just lifted me right out of my funk.

 I wonder if there is someone out there that each of us needs to lift up right now. Think about! 

                                                                    

                      QUOTE FOR THE DAY

"When one door of happiness closes another opens; but often we look so longat the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."         Helen Keller

A True Story

 Well, I just let myself get down in the dumps and wasn't sure how I was going to get out! Ever had that feeling?

Life just gets overwhelming sometimes. But, I am feeling alright now. Whew, glad that's over.

There's not one thing going on around here... so what's this post going to be about?

I guess I'll just tell you a story, a true one at that: I hope it's not a bedtime story and puts you to sleep!

Back in the mid '60s my husband was Communications Officer at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

That duty was really different for us....so much more social, important events to attend, etc, etc.  At the end of the first year we were involved in the reviewing of the troops, 

 the graduation 

and of course, the traditional 'climbing of Herndon Monument'.  

I had a vantage point to observe as the midshipmen ran out to the monument, which had been slathered with grease, to begin the ascent. They were shirtless, barefoot, ready for the challenge. 

Can you imagine trying to climb a straight up and down a concrete (I guess it's concrete) structure!!! 

They slipped and slid, they'd try again. And, finally one would reach the top to place a hat on top. Mission accomplished! 

The midshipmen are truly dedicated to their studies so for 4 years that is their focus. But, honey, let me tell you! When they graduate there's a line of couples outside the Academy Chapel waiting to tie the knot. They are so many of them that each couple is shuffled in, then shuffled out just as soon as the vows are spoken. There's a schedule to keep, folks. 

I sat on a bench outside the chapel one afternoon and watched a ton of brides and their grooms march inside to become man and wife. Why do they say man and wife? Shouldn't it be husband and wife? Anyway. I hope they all lived happily ever after. 

Making the Most of Life

 How are you today? I hope everyone is fine and staying out of the heat (if you have heat where you are) and that you are well and happy,

There's nothing more wonderful than being healthy! The older you get, the more your body starts to fall apart. I wish I'd known more about how to take care of mine in years past but the info just wasn't out there. Or maybe I didn't listen. When we are young we think we will live forever!! From this side of the fence, let me tell you... we won't. We are like cars, the older we get the more our parts wear out. And... there's no replacements for most of them. 

Oh, geez, where was I going with all that, anyway? I am so blessed to be as healthy as I am and have the good mind that I do at my age. Every day I thank God above for being able to enjoy life. One of my joys is the friendship I have with my blogger buddies. You guys are just the greatest ever!

I've been trying to get back into the rhythm of writing every day... Working on my second novel and I am so slack about it all. Yet, I can't wait to get it finished. I can't have it both ways. I need to discipline myself... 

The story is about a little girl who lives in a coal mining camp, has little worldly goods but has to go to a town school where the rich kids go. (boy, can I relate to that). I didn't live in a camp but the rest is correct. She gets bullied because she is poor. Then she and her best buddy come upon a hobo who is camping beside a creek. They befriend him and then he ends up murdered. 

I have a friend/therapist/assistance who asked me the other day if I had ever taken classes in writing. and if I followed the writing rules, like plotting out the book before starting etc. I just laughed and said 'NO'. I often write a chapter in my head while I lie awake at night. There's no planned out plot. There's not a ton of notes on how it will turn out. It just happens. I guess that makes me an unconventional author! haha. 

So, maybe I need to put this post to rest and open up my book file and write some in it. Do my daily writing task. 

Will they find out who killed the hobo? Will Ruthie be a hero or be ridiculed more? Who knows? Maybe tonight when I can't sleep I'll find the answer to one or more of those questions. 

                        QUOTE FOR THE DAY

'Writers don't wait for their ship to come in; they write their way out to it'.         Sam Horn 

Celebrating Independence

 Independence Day...

That's tomorrow, the 4th, but we here at the Commons celebrated today. Had us a nice, cool salad lunch on tables all decorated in red, white and blue. No fireworks, though. They don't allow us to have fire around here!! Besides, fireworks are for nightime and this was LUNCH.... 

I made a new recipe. Grape Salad. I'd had my first in Alabama when I was visiting my son recently. I just loved the cool, crispy crunch of the grapes slathered in this yummy sauce. I made a big bowl of it today and now I have at least half of it in my refrigerator. But, I've discovered something. The reason I love that stuff so much is not the grapes, it's that yummy sauce. Who can turn down cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla all whipped up into a froth. When I made it for my salad today, I actually scaped the bowl with my spoon (well, actually it was my finger) and left that bowl clean as a pin. Better than cake dough any day. 

What are all you doing for the 4th? I guess I shouldn't ask that of my friends outside the U. S. but heck, you are gonna be doing something tomorrow, even if it's just going to work. I guess I will watch what I can see of the fireworks display from downtown. The trees have grown up so tall between me and the event so I only see the tallest ones, (the fireworks, not the trees). 

I certainly hope that everyone enjoys their day whatever it may bring. Stay cool, stay healthy and just keep on keeping on.