The Beat Goes On, 7-28-2019

Thoughts and Quotes: Henry Van Dyke said, "Be glad of life, because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars." And I add, "and the chance to practice patience in the midst of ongoing problems."

Turns out my rain sensor had not been discarded, but only pushed over to dangle from the roof. Watersmith adjusted it, cleaned it, said he'd be back to install it when the lightning was over, but it would work fine. It did. One time. Now I'm waiting to hear when he'll be back.

Painters were supposed to be here on Tuesday at 10:30, called and postponed to 2:30. I called them at 3:20 to see what was going on. They had just finished and would be on their way. That would mean they'd be here by 4:00 and estimated that the job would take four hours, so they'd be finished by 8:00? No, they had a meeting at 6:00. I told them we need to do this job all at one time, finished, complete, end of story. They won't be back until Friday. 

I will not have an August like my July has been. Period. The end. Do you hear me, Universe?! I've had it!!!

Teaching and Learning: When the school supplies appear at Walmart, I get that yearning to go back to school. So I'm going, but right here at my desk in my own office, with my own music playing, and on my own time.

You can go, too, if you like. To see free online courses at Hillsdale College, click HERE. I'm taking Constitution 101 and WWII.

If you want to go to culinary classes, click HERE. These classes are not free, but the chef is very smart and very entertaining. No boredom here.

And have you been confused about Omar Ilmar's marriages? This is why I love Glenn Beck. He's a master teacher. Click HERE.

Thrifting: If you're going to school, you need notebooks, right? So off to the thrift store where I found my notebooks for 50 cents each and also these goodies:

Two snack plates for 75 cents each 

A sweet little trivet for $1 (could also be used for a serving dish)

A fruit trivet for .38 cents (bargain tag color day)

Two pillar candles for 50 cents each (Christmas room bargains)

And my best find of the day - $1.75 (also from the Christmas Room). Snowflakes on the top and the pedestal.

Tasting: Rib dinner at Jim and Becky's on Saturday. Yum! It's usually on 4th of July, but they were attending a family reunion this year - Becky's family.

My plate

Then we had homemade vanilla ice cream with the peach pie I took.

Now let me tell you my peach story. Remember the almost case of peaches Bill brought over? They were already ripe, so had to be dealt with right away. I had all kinds of wonderful ideas, but with the ongoing saga of shingles (mine) and shingles (roof), I decided to just use an idea from the internet where you make up pie fillings and freeze them in pie plates, pop them out, and store them for baking later. So I fixed six plus a deepdish peach and blueberry.

My pie was really runny, but I'd baked it that morning of the lunch, and put it in a covered carrier and drove an hour with it in my trunk, so I thought maybe it didn't have time to set properly.

No. I was having lunch with Bill and Will on Tuesday, so I baked another pie on Monday so it would have plenty of time to set. Not only was it runny, but the crust became soggy, even though the pie looked great.

So now, I'll thaw two pie filings, put them in a 13 x 9 and make cobbler. Maybe I'll have better luck. I'll also throw in a little dry tapioca to help set the filling.

And while we're on Tasting, let me tell you about my strawberry jam. I've always used liquid Certo pectin for strawberry freezer jam, and it's always pretty runny (seems to be a theme for me these days).  Anyway, this time I tried Sure-Jell powdered pectin, and it works a lot better. I bought the pink box which is the less sugar option, and made one recipe. For the second recipe, I added an additional cup of sugar and used my immersion blender to puree the strawberries a little more than just mashing them with my potato masher. Better.

The instructions are a little drawn out on the recipe in the Sure-Jell box, but here's my abbreviated version:

Wash and remove stems from four 1-lb containers of strawberries.

Crush Strawberries and set aside.

Mix 3 or 4 cups of sugar (see note), a package of SureJell pectin and 1 cup of water in a saucepan.

Stir constantly over medium heat until it comes to a boil and boil one minute (keep stirring).

Add stawberries after removing from heat.

Stir constantly one more minute.

Pour into plastic containers or glass jars with lids. 

Leave ar room temperature up to 24 hours until set. This also gives you a chance to admire your beautiful work.

Store in freezer up to one year. Thaw in refrigerator before using. Of course, you'll want to put one in the refrigerator instead of the freezer so you can have it on your morning toast the next day.

Note: Do not use fewer than 3 cups of sugar or jam won't set properly. The instructions in the box also have a version to make with Splenda.

Tales: I finished a book recommended by Bev and really enjoyed it. I think you would, too. Check your library or your library consortium.

Tips: If you have leftover beef roast, just cut it up, put it in a pot with potatoes, onions, and water. Then add whatever you have in the refrigerator and simmer. This time I added a can of mushroom soup, corn, and at the end when almost ready, some zucchini. Salt and pepper and it's good to go. You can add other herbs or spices, but I'm rather a purist.

Not much time to do more than mess up, clean up, move things around. My house looks as if I'm moving, with everything from the family room moved to the living room or the dining room table; pitchers and soup tureens from the cabinet top are on the breakfast room table. This, too, shall pass. I just keeping repeating that over and over. The only item on my summer bucket list which I do faithfully is the Sunday afternoon nap. Blog posts will be short for awhile and maybe even a few skipped weeks. 

HOPE ALL IS WELL IN YOUR LIFE

ENJOY EVERY DAY

MAKE IT COUNT

MAKE A NOTE, TAKE A PHOTO SO YOU'LL REMEMBER IT

KEEP SMILING

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE

Finally! 7-21-2019

Thoughts and Quotes: Who needs excitement when normal is so wonderful? Me

Things are back to (almost) normal. I still have a hole in my kitchen ceiling, a hole where a nail went through in my bathroom ceiling, a crack in the family room ceiling from the vibrations on the roof, the water stains on the family room ceiling from the leaks which started this whole thing, and lots of patches of grass which burned when packs of shingles were lying on it. But this too shall pass. At least the new roof is on and the cleanup is finished. For two days my yard looked like a war zone. The quality control inspector came and put the finishing touches, like blowing out the gutters, putting the patio furniture back, etc. and hopefully the repairs will be finished next week. And again I keep thinking, "Better now than when I get old". Dream on, Girl. Old is here.

So to celebrate back to normal, I did what's normal - I went out and bought some dishes. Well, I couldn't help it. I was right in the area of a Goodwill, and I was so happy to be out and about. And wait until you see all the treasures.

Thrifting: I hit the jackpot on napkins. I can tell that the flowered, peach, and lavender ones are new. The peach ones were 25 cents each (green sticker), and the others were 50 cents each.

Not new, 50 cents each, but I don't have this color.

Hand embroidered and 50 cents each

I couldn't resist these sweet hollyhock dishes - 50 cents each - no dinner plates or cups and saucers or I'd have made a set. Found only four of each.

This dish is not very big - Royal Albert - $2

Can you believe? A ceramic potato with a ceramic ladle - $1. Perfect for the Farmer's Market table, then for sour cream when I serve baked potatoes with a casual table.

Two little dishes - about 4-1/4" diameter - to use for butter pats, condiments, or chocolates/mints on a tea table - 50 cents each. The back says, "Avon 1982" "Happy Holidays" but there's nothing which looks like Christmas. "Tis a puzzlement." 

These are actually snack plates with an indentation for a teacup. There were no cups, but I probably have plain white cups which fit, or I can use clear glass oyster cups for condiments - 50 cents each.

And my best bargain - $1 for the set. They're rather small. Perfect for a tea table.

And I finally found an infuser which fits some of my pretty tea mugs for 50 cents. Now I can use loose tea when I want only a cup, not a pot.

And the cutest little planner, emphasizing reading. I can't decide whether to start it August 1 or wait until 2020 - $1. How cute is this?

A place to write in titles

Weekly planners

New releases this month (yes, there's a list on line - click HERE). And a monthly To Be Read list.

Book reviews

Tasting: My Summer Bucket List says to make a new salad each week. I'm a week behind, but here's this week.

HAWAIIAN SALAD

8 oz. uncooked elbow macaroni, cooked, drained, and rinsed in cold         water

2 cups ham or Spam cubes

1 20-oz. can pineapple tidbits

3/4 cup shredded carrots

1/2 cup chopped green onion, tops only

1 cup mayonnaise

2 Tbs apple cider vinegar

2 Tbs sugar

1 tsp salt

Drain pineapple and reserve 1/2 cup juice

Mix juice with mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, and salt. Set aside.

Mix remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Toss with dressing and chill.

Note: More authentic with Spam as Hawaii is the state that consumes more Spam than any of the others.

Things that Grow: My poor garden. Shingles are tough on gardens - I didn't go out there even once for over two weeks. The weeds have taken over, but I salvaged some baby Romas and some cherry tomatoes. I threw 26 very large, and some even yellow, cucumbers over the back fence. Oh, well. Maybe next year. There's a huge zucchini out there, but I was chased in by mosquitos. Will try the Bounce dryer sheet tomorrow and investigate.

Thank You: To Brother Bill who called me Saturday night to see if I'd like some Missouri peaches. I said, "Sure." I got peaches. Will report next week.

The Pepper and Pals Report: Nothing new. Sweetie Face kitten is growing up fast. Pepper and Stormy go for annual shots tomorrow. I fixed a corn on the cob and planned to eat it in front of the TV in the family room. I checked through the window to see of Fred had shown up for dinner. He had, and all the food was gone, so I put my corn on the coffee table and went out to get him some food. When I returned, Stormy Weather Pretty Paws was licking the butter off my corn. 

Tuesday at 6:30 a.m. until Friday at 6:30 p.m. was roof time, so not much else to report. Until next week -

STAY COOL

AND HYDRATED

STICK TO SALADS

AND APPLES

AND ICED TEA

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE

When Will It End?, 7-16-2019

Thoughts and Quotes: All medical authorities believe in psychosomatic illness.  Why can’t we believe in psychosomatic health?  If the mind can make us sick, why not healthy?

                                                                 Richard Jafolla

Which makes me wonder what I was thinking to bring on shingles. Oh, well, it matters not since I'm over them and ready to get back to doing the things I love. I only started feeling energetic again on Friday, so not much to tell you.

Tidbits: I've found something wonderful for those of you who listen to books. Public domain books are read by volunteers, and there are more than you'll ever want. I checked Jane Austen and Mark Twain, and they're here. The one I found interesting is all the presidential inauguration addresses. Click HERE. 

The library has play-away books and audio books, but if you're looking for the classics, check this out.

And if you prefer reading instead of listening, you can always go HERE.

This is number 25 on a list of 43 ways to improve yourself in just 10 minutes. I question the time, but the ideas are worth a look. Learn a new language or take the personality test. Click HERE.

Theme Meals: We finally had the July 4th lunch on Sunday, which happened to be Bastille Day. Not so far off, since we probaby couldn't have won the Revolutionary War without the aid of the French. In addition, I think the French Revolution (celebrated on Bastille Day) was a result of the seed planted by our revolution.

The Menu

BBQ Ribs

Potato Salad

Baked Beans

Copycat KFC Cole Slaw

Deviled Eggs

Pickled Cucumbers and Onions

Strawberry Cake - Frozen Caramel Pie

And Joey brought Corn on the Cob and Brownies

The recipes for Baked Beans and Copycat KFC Cole Slaw are already in the drop downs. The cake is in the drop down and is called Kathy's Jello Cake. I used a white cake mix and strawberry Jello. The frosting was canned Betty Crocker strawberry. I beat it a couple of minutes, which fluffs it up, makes it easier to spread, and produces more volume; a tip I learned on Pinterest.

Here's the recipe for the BBQ ribs:

BBQ RIBS

2-3 lb slabs baby back ribs

Homemade or purchased barbecue sauce of your choice

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 Tbs garlic powder

1 Tbs onion powder

1 tsp salt

1 Tbs chili powder

2 tsps cumin

2 Tbs paprika

1 tsp dry mustard

Heat the oven to 275°.

Mix the dry rub ingredients and set aside.

Rinse the ribs, dry them, and remove the thin membrane from the back of the ribs.

Place a slab on a double thickness of aluminum foil and using your hand, cover it with the dry rub. Wrap and seal tightly. Repeat with the other slab.

Place on a baking sheet and bake for two hours.

Open foil carefully to release the steam, pour off the juices and brush with barbecue sauce.

Broil for five minutes and then tent with foil to rest for five minutes before cutting. 

I'm going to Becky and Jimmy's for a BBQ rib dinner on the 27th - then I can have some REAL ribs. My brother is the master rib smoker.

The Pepper and Pals Report: Nothing new here, except that I'm happy to say that Sweetie Face has survived the kitten snatcher so far. I just want to gather her up and cuddler her, but she won't let me near. At least I can go on the patio for a little before she gets spooked.

Thank you: I just received a surprise package from My Special Girls in the Northwoods. Lots of yummies, a great keeper basket, and tied up with a bedroom peach ribbon. I love this color. Tiki loved it, too. She thought it complimented her black.

And when I took out the brown shreds, I found another pear and another tangerine underneath.

The Summer Bucket List: Haven't accomplished much here, but can check off "Watch a Summer movie" - The Long Hot Summer with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodword. I believe that making this movie was the start of their romance. I enjoyed it. 

Time to get back to normal: My new roof is going on as I write. Can scarcely think with all the scraping and hammering. Poor outdoor kitties didn't get breakfast because the roofers came at 6:30 a.m. and spooked them. Energy has returned, so away we go. . . 

Oops! Not so fast. One step forward and two steps back. Guy who was checking my insulation, to see if it got wet from the leak, slipped and put his foot through the ceiling.

Roofers still here at 8:13 p.m. I went out and told them to put the new skylights on before it gets dark. I don't want them to go home and leave me with two holes in the ceiling overnight.

HUG YOUR LOVED ONES

GIVE YOUR PETS A SPECIAL TREAT

HOW ABOUT THAT PICNIC?

OR A TRIP TO THE BEACH?

REMEMBER SUNSCREEN

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE