Monday, January 28, 2019

Mealplan Monday #230


Monday
- Leftover ribs and baked beans from Firstborn's birthday meal, cheesy garlic Tiger bread

Tuesday - Garam Masala chicken and grains bowls with bok choy
Wednesday - Sliced Turkey breast, creamed corn, roasted sweet potatoes
Thursday - 3 Cheese tortellini with pepperoni and garlic, steamed carrots
Friday - Tilapia with onions and peppers, seasoned rice, kale
Saturday - YOYO
Sunday - SOS* over toast, salad with watermelon radish, avocado, romaine, and lemon dressing
*My mother made this for us when we were kids - simple, makes a lot, and very filling.  Hamburger meat, well cooked and drained, add a couple of tablespoons flour to the pan and about 2 cups of milk.  Simmer until thick and serve over leftover toast or biscuits!



Gina

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Weekend re-cap: Camp Rustown, Highlands, TNL, Oskar Blues, Celis

Last week was rough at work, so I was really looking forward to three glorious days off.  I want to say I made the most of them - I think I did.  I felt rested by Tuesday, and ready for work.
On Saturday we planned a BBQ rib feast for Firstborn, complete with ribs, BBQ beans, jalapeno poppers, fries, and birthday cake with ice cream.
I hope he never tires of cake decorated with M&M's and fat candles!
I'm betting that 29 is his best year yet!  Live your twenties!!!
For most of Saturday we putseyed around the house and I ran an errand or two.  We ordered pizza for lunch and also enjoyed the firepit.  
Nothing earth-shatteringly exciting and just perfect.  
The next day we got up early and headed to Highlands.  We had a load of various things to to take up there but zero projects planned.  We found a cute restaurant in Liberty Hill to have a giant breakfast of biscuits, gravy, sausage, and eggs.  Then we lazed the afternoon away until around 4 p.m.
and headed to Torr Na Lochs. We sat at the firepit area with a full bottle and some friendly folks.  The day before, the winds were kind of ridiculous, but on Sunday it was mild and only slightly breezy.
I'm a sucker for firepits.
On the way home we noticed the moon rising,
and a beautiful sunset.
The best pics I got from a moving truck!
The next day I went to Brenham to see my mother and take her a lunch.  I would call it a so-so visit, as she seemed a little testy and had two projects for me to do which took all of 5 minutes. Some visits are like that.  Hubby texted me that he was leaving work early, so we decided to do a Monday Funday Happy Hour!
First stop was Oskar Blues, and we sat outside to enjoy the glorious weather.
I love these giant garage door style windows that open onto decks where folks can sit outside. The day was young so we decided to visit Celis as well.
Celis has one of my favorite beers - the oatmeal stout. 
Hubby had something that was "chocolate".  We probably could have skipped dinner after our beer run, but we enjoyed some tilapia at home and called it a day.  This week I am working the late shift on Friday and on-call for the weekend so I can play catch up with mini projects I've been meaning to do.  And when I blink next, January will be close to finished!


Gina

Monday, January 21, 2019

Mealplan Monday #229


Monday
- Chicken salad sammies and crockpot split pea soup

Tuesday -Pork chops and cheese peta (oops - didn't make this one week before last)
Wednesday - Oven Tilapia, zucchini*, tabouleh
Thursday - The last of the freezer pulled pork, homemade salsa* and chips
Friday - Chicken and potato skillet with chard*
Saturday -YOYO  Hubby and I out to eat - I'm on call ):
Sunday - Creamed Turkey on toast, oniony green beans*, ginger carrots
*My Imperfect Produce box included chard which we have never had! 




Gina

Friday, January 18, 2019

5 thing Friday - canoe, den, Firstborn, beer, kid art

A couple of weekends ago, we trekked down to the creek to make sure the canoe was still safe and sound - and it was.  However, we think we might have it a little to the left of the actual property that we own, judging from survey stakes that have popped up on either side of the creek.
So that means we may need to move it a bit.  But I doubt that it will be an issue.  You can't actually build down there so its not in anyone's way.  And we need to take it out on the water soon - its been sitting here since last spring.
Taking down the kids' Christmas tree always morphs into moving the couch, sweeping and mopping the entire den, wiping down the couch, and just generally refreshing the room.
I haven't done any real decorating in here for ages.  This weekend I will refresh the mantel, though.
My first little potato tot was born this day 29 years ago.  Here he is with his Nana - she though he was the most amazing baby and was smitten with him.  Its sad that he does not remember her, but a little bit of the love she poured into him is still with him.  Happy Birthday, Spencer!
 
We may take him out for a beer on Saturday - Hubby and I are still enjoying visiting breweries.  
I pulled all of the kids' art from under my bed when I did the bedroom refresh.  It wasn't really an effective long term storage solution anyway.  Instead of having it in a couple of plastic bags, I bought an under the bed storage container that is long and low.  
Perfect.
Sorry, Marie Kondo...I cannot let go of all of it yet.  Maybe never.


Gina

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Dumpster #2 done!

 Last Friday the dumpster arrived at Highlands:
This is the second one we have loaded, plus the guy who sold us the property had many things hauled off  or burned on site before closing.  So yes, Highlands was once a dump.  But we are slowly restoring it to a more pristine state.
 
Hubby, Scout, Dutch, and I worked for about 7 1/2 hours and at the end of the day on Saturday all of us were exhausted and filthy but we cleared everything we could find out from underneath trees and in meadows. 
 We still have eleventy billion tires to dispose of but haven't yet decided how to tackle that issue.
 
For now we are imagining this view, sans dumpster, with a guest cabin nearby.
This is the spot I showed last week - all that's left is some assorted smallish planks of wood (which we can take care of in the burn barrel) and those fence posts that we will use for marking off a garden.
And as usual at Highlands, there is often treasure to be found - this time in an old metal milk crate which was full of PVC joints and sitting under a tree.  Hubby and I ended Sunday by filling another four garbage bags full of garbage, then headed to our favorite Mexican restaurant for a late lunch/early dinner.  And both of us were beyond exhausted by then, but I'm so glad we have that winter project behind us!


Gina

Monday, January 14, 2019

Mealplan Monday #228

The Imperfect Produce boxes are really helping to oomph up our menus!

Monday
- Pork Stew with carrots and parsnips, rolls or biscuits

Tuesday - Pot Sticker Stir Fry with bok choy
Wednesday - Pot o' beans (seasoned with smoked something), probably corn muffins
Thursday - Chicken Skillet (chicken thighs, shallots, garlic, and yellow squash)
Friday - Crunchy Tacos al Poblano, guacamole, sour cream, shredded cheese
Saturday - A nice birthday meal for Firstborn!
Sunday - (Freezer) Pulled Pork Sammies, tater tots


Gina

Friday, January 11, 2019

Dumpster time

When we bought Highlands we knew it was going to be a lot of work to get it cleaned up - it was a virtual dump, full of every kind of trash.  Old boats that were rotting in place, piles of highway reflector tiles almost buried in cacti and weeds, stacks of floor tiles, bricks, lots of metal tubing and poles, mattress coils ensnarled in growing trees, and the tires - At least 100 tires.  We filled a dumpster full of debris last year and now its time again to order another dumpster. So guess what's on the agenda this weekend?
Its best to do this in January when you can actually see things without so much vegetation growing around it.  Plus the snakes are hibernating (hopefully) and the weather is mild. Its definitely a process - over time we stacked trash in an area we call "the dump", staging that area to make loading the dumpster easier.  We still have a lot of metal that we can contact a metal dealer to come pick up and buy.  But eventually, this dump area will be a nice place to put a cabin or picnic table and chairs. Wish us luck!  My arm is still feeling the effects of moving those landscaping rocks in October.


Gina

Monday, January 7, 2019

Mealplan Monday #227


Monday
- Apricot Chicken, rice, Brussels sprouts

Tuesday - Pork Chops, mashed sweet potatoes
Wednesday - Mushroom Turkey Soup, hot rolls
Thursday - Beefy Bean Burritos, salad
Friday - Chicken and Pasta Bowls with carrots
Saturday - YOYO
Sunday - Salsa Verde Breakfast Casserole and butter dip biscuits



Gina

Friday, January 4, 2019

5 thing Friday - cider, stack ring, cards, flannel sheets, Christmas storage

Hubby and I took The Girl to a few places while she was here including Fairweather Cider.
 
We enjoyed a Common, Tejano Dreams, and a Smell the Van.  I envision us visiting them a lot when the weather warms up, although they were selling hot cider as well.  Cider isn't what I expected.  Its not sweet and has a refreshing feel to it.  Me likey.
One of my fav Christmas gifts was a stack ring to wear with my birthstone ring.  Its the James Avery Renaissance band and I love it for all of its vintage-y detail.  So pretty!
The Girl and I played cards so often and so loudly that no one else wanted to play, and mostly she won.  She's fairly competitive - she didn't get that from me.
The after Christmas sales  are easy for me to resist - except at Target where they have the prettiest flannel sheets.  I paid $18 for a new queen size set . Flannel sheets are so wonderful in the winter!
 Mischief managed!  
Christmas decor whittled down to three tubs (not counting the kids' tree stuff).  I was reminded by Kathryn at Do It On a Dime to purge again this year as I stored.  I had done this before, but for some reason, Christmas decor seems to multiply.  See the empty one at the top?  It figures prominently in my plans for clearing out the guest room closet!  Now I need to haul some things to Goodwill.


Gina

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Christmas 2018 in pictures

Living in the moment, not the pictures.  So its all good.



 
 
 

We had a lovely time that day.
And I am looking forward to the New Year!


 Gina