5 thing Friday - painting, freezer clean out, tea, brass pot, biscuits

 I am ending the week on a very tired note.

I am not as spry as I once was.  I feel every bit of 65 today.

However I did, in fact, get my bedroom painted...and dusted, windex'd, and thoroughly vacuumed.

Along with moving furniture, washing curtains and linens, removing and replacing outlet and switch covers, cleaning ceiling fan and window, replacing decor after dusting. Literally everything got spiffed!

By Wednesday night, I was spent.  I was on call, and its a good thing I wasn't called in.  But I slept so poorly...  I will leave the room "as is" until after Thanksgiving, then I will decorate it for Christmas!  But man, do I love having everything clean and a fresh coat of paint on the walls!

Meanwhile, I am eating down the contents of my freezer.  {pictured are the ingredients for a quick gyoza stir fry} Will I do another big shop after that?  Maybe.  I need to buy the stuff for what I am "bringing" to Thanksgiving - turkey, stuff for cornbread dressing, gravy, cranberry fixings, wine, chex mix. The peeps are all bringing a dish to share - no idea yet what. You get what you get and you don't throw a fit.

I have been enjoying a decaf cuppa each night before bed as I read.  I slept better on an empty tummy, I have discovered. Sometimes I add a splash of flavored syrups.  Always I park myself on the new couch and slowly I am able to read for longer and longer times.

On my way home from a walk, I spied this in a pile of junk on my neighbor's curb.  A brass planter!

I couldn't find my Brasso, but did you know that ketchup will do the same trick? I'm thinking this could be a good container for some Christmas greenery.  {oh, and guess what I found the next day under the kitchen sink.  Yep, Brasso.}

I am emptying out my pantry somewhat, too.  I made the last of the baking mix into drop biscuits and they were buttery rich and delish.  This morning I have plans for leftover biscuits with sausage gravy, and will even have enough leftovers for the weekend breakfasts.

 Life is GOOD.

Gina

Empty Nest menu #155 and freezer clean-out

I made fajita tacos using up a package of pre-cooked fajita meat, the rest of the grated cheese, and bakery tortillas which I always have in the fridge.  It was easy to make Mexican rice with a couple spoonfuls of salsa, and a can of black beans smashed with seasonings in a skillet became refrieds.  I have to say, it was very delicious.  And I had enough beans, rice, fajita meat, and cheese to make two containers for my work lunches.

Slowly I am cleaning out my freezer! 

Monday - Salad with chicken breast (romaine, purple onion, tomato, pickles, cheese), garlic roll {off today - prep to paint my bedroom*}

Tuesday - Smash Taco "Burgers" with onions and peppers {noon Tranquility luncheon at work, book club in p.m.}

Wednesday - (freezer) Pulled Pork on baked sweet potato, peas {on call}

Thursday - Beef Stir Fry with pot stickers and mixed veggies {appt. in the afternoon}

Friday - Linguini with chicken meatballs and marinara, green  beans {payday!}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

*I know my goal was to put off any room not painted by October, but I'm going to squeeze this one in!

5 thing Friday - Tech Week, beer and Deb, butternut squash soup, photo gift, Pena print

 

Radiologic Technology Week is coming to a close.

My current boss believes in feeding us and gifting us!

She set up a table near her office and it was loaded with treats.  And she made plans all week to feed us bagels, BBQ, ice cream, pizza, Tiff's Treats, Taco Cabana tacos, and a ton of candy. Plus, she had games out and awards prizes if you play.  Everyone also got a tote bag with socks, a phone charger, stickers...we were all like little gleeful kids.

I met up with my college roomie this week to enjoy the beautiful weather and beer.

She has a lot going on, but never fails to make time to meet up.  We talk about anything and everything and the hours always go by in a flash. Its been one of my favorite things to look forward to.

No matter how small a butternut squash I buy, it always seems too big.  So I got the idea to toss half of it in the crockpot with onions, apples, chicken stock from the freezer, a bit of butter, and some seasonings.  I cooked it on high for about 6 hours.

I used my immersion blender to make it creamy and it was delish with a grilled cheese and ham sammie on a night I did not feel like eating what I had on the menu.  Some days are like that.

I am putting together a sentimental gift for the peeps - a Shutterfly calendar with rarely seen photos before the digital age.  I say rarely seen because my kids never look through all these old albums.  But man, were we all cutie patooties!  I shed a happy tear or two.  I hope they love them - Firstborn was just telling me he needs a paper calendar to keep up with everyone's birthday, ha ha.

Since that Pena print is hanging in the hallway at eye level I could see how dirty it was - on the inside!  I don't know how that happened, but I was determined to clean it up.

I carefully removed it from the frame - it had been mounted on foam core board.

I think I may have spent more on the frame job than the actual print itself!

I love it so much in here - I admire it daily.  Mark and I bought it at the Pecan Street Festival in Austin in 1988 and had Mr. Pena sign it right then and there.  It will always remind me of when we were young, in love, and building our future together.

Gina

Empty Nest menu #154 and sewing

I hauled out the fabric and cut enough hearts to make 12 more quilted hearts to leave around town:

I think I have the sewing room all broken in...I should find some different things to sew.  I sewed a lot in college - making myself dresses, skirts, even a bikini!  Twice I have sewn dresses for bridesmaids, and I decorated all 4 of my babies' nurseries.  Its a pastime I want to pick up again.  The old Gina liked it a lot.

Monday - kitchen closed {Happy Radiologic Technology Week!}

Tuesday - (freezer) Beef Fajitas, refrieds, rice {11 a.m. appt., new book club in p.m.}

Wednesday - (skillet) Chicken Thighs and butternut squash, peas {oil change for Brigid, on-line CEU class, beer with a friend in the afternoon}

Thursday - Tilapia, bowtie pasta with pesto, green beans {Hospice Austin grief zoom at noon} 

Friday - KFC-ish Bowl (chicken meatballs, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn) {prep to paint?}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina

5 thing Friday - treats, firewood, Scout's birthday, ravioli, Black Violin

Lately I have been encouraged to do something nice for myself and practice more self-care.  Does that sometimes translate to baked goods in my mind? Why yes.

(but also naps, a good cry, a long shower, reading, eating a good meal...)

Next week is Radiologic Technology Week and typically we get fed treats so I expect there will be more treats like this at my desk.  This one was some kind of cinnamon roll twist from Trader Joe's and was delightful with my coffee.

I figured I was probably going to get more wood than I had space to store on the back patio, but I let the guy just go ahead and stack it neatly there one afternoon this week.  The whole process of buying wood was painless - from ordering it on-line to getting it delivered and stacked.  I asked for 1/8 cord of pecan (low smoke) double split into 12 inch logs.

The next day, I stored some of the excess in the garage and I thoroughly cleaned out my little tooty firepit.  And not a moment too soon as Fall made its grand appearance in Austin this week.  The lows are in the 40s and 50s and feel amazing!

I love this guest bed so much - it was less than $200, was easy to build, and is a super comfy afternoon nap spot.  Knowing that Scout was sleeping on a handmedown bed with 1982 box springs and a mattress from his freshman year in high school, I offered to buy him one for his birthday and go set it up.

I'm not a young chick but I managed to get it into Brigid and off we went.  It took us about 30 minutes to put the bed together, including putting linens on the new mattress.  He will have more storage space underneath and hopefully, better sleep.

While I was there I gave his rescue kitty Oscar lots of pets and love.

Happy Birthday, Scout!

Since the temps have fallen, I am enjoying the oven for no fuss meals.  This is TJ's pumpkin ravioli with their harvest pasta sauce baked in my little glass casserole dishes.  One for Friday, one for the freezer.  If I didn't cook once, eat twice, I likely wouldn't cook at all....but this and a crisp salad makes it easy to pack a nice lunch for work.

Last night I took myself out again - I have been enjoying concerts and such at The Long Center in downtown Austin.

I saw Black Violin with Anthony Abraham and all three gentlemen are very talented.  The BV guys in particular - think high energy hip hop meets classical violin.  Very cool!  I got to bed very late and will probably do a nice long nap today after lunch with The Girl.  Both are nice ways to begin my work week.  Happy weekend everyone!

Gina

Empty Nest menu #153 and squash casserole

 One day last week I was craving comfort in the form of squash casserole.  It reminds me of Mom.  Now, did she ever make it? No.  But I ordered it every time we ate lunch at a certain restaurant in Brenham and I discovered that I LOVE IT.

This recipe was just so-so, which means I will have to find another one to try and that can be challenging since I am losing interest in cooking again*. If you have a recipe you love for this, please send to me!

Monday - Kale salad with (freezer) rotisserie chicken (when I get home from work)

Tuesday - Romaine salad with pickles, cucumber, tuna, red onion, vinaigrette {date night to the movies with myself and I know I will eat popcorn!}

Wednesday - Stuffed Bell Pepper, baked sweet potato, green beans {taking gifts and lunch to Scout}

Thursday - Pumpkin Ravioli with harvest marinara (probably will add chicken or beef), more kale salad {therapy appt. in afternoon, Black Violin concert in p.m.}

Friday - Crab cakes, spinach, sweet potato {Happy Birthday Scout!}

Saturday and Sunday - leftovers for work

Gina

*And next week I will cook far less!

Cleaning up the back patio for cooler weather!

Working on the back patio area is something I've been meaning to do for a couple of weeks now.  It kept getting put off due to shoulder pain and major lack of get-up-and-go.  The list of things to do out there seemed long: trim up Lariope and re-mulch it, clean the table and chairs, move the plants around to accommodate the firewood holder, blow the leaves out of the red rocks, power wash all. 

But yesterday I decided I had reached a point where everything was prepped and there was no time like the present to haul out the power washer.  You can see the line marking the dirty slab from the newly power washed - what a difference!  I also hit the deck a lick or two and took care of lots of spider webs.

The day before I had leveled out the pavers with paving sand, so all that was left to do was blow the leaves out and wash the pavers.  Here they are drying.

And as for this small area, those Lariope needed a good haircut, new mulch, and a watering. The ones under my bedroom and bathroom windows got the same pampering.

done! Now to water the grass, which I also raked.

The point of all of this was to create a clean space to enjoy the firepit when cooler nights roll around.

Its not perfect (in some places the slab is stained), but its very clean! No more bird poop or mold. And my shoulder did not hurt at all!

I moved the Ficus tree to make space to set up a firewood holder.  In the process I disturbed a large nest of yellowjackets that had made their home in the branches.  I murdered every one of them, not sorry.  I will likely leave the Ficus here until spring rolls around.  It is way too heavy for me to keep moving it and I can just protect it with a tarp for winter.

I got this firewood holder from Amazon (easy to put together) and ordered a load of pecan wood cut small enough for my little firepit.  It should be delivered in plenty of time for Thanksgiving.  I am so looking forward to sitting out here on cool nights with a glass of wine.  Simple pleasures after a bunch of hard work! 

Gina