Spring 2021 is well underway!

Seems like it is suddenly spring!  I used some time at home this past weekend to start getting the yards in better shape.  The pillow for that Adriondack chair got cleaned and the whole thing wiped down.

After I pulled weeds and raked the back yard, Hubby mowed.  It almost looks decent out there, but I know we need to apply weed and feed - maybe after Teddy leaves from Easter weekend.  My Wandering Jew is slowly creeping back and at the base of the fig tree there are big leaves.

The hawthorn shrubs in the front landscape bed did not survive, and the varigated Lariope looked very puny, so out they came.  In their place are now 6 Ligustrum.  Here's hoping they survive!  I moved the small Lariopes to under the oak and will mulch everything as soon as the oaks stop pollinating and dropping out those crackly things.

All of the solar landscape lights got new batteries.  The beds will look sparse until the shrubs starting filling out.  At which time, I may add something else to the spaces.  But honestly, I feel done.  Hubby and I have been talking more and more about selling Rustown and starting our build in Burnet.  The asparagus fern I had in a big pot below was toast - the plant died and the pot was cracked into pieces from the freezing weather.  It was too big to move and I never thought to cover it.  So now the olive tree lives here and I may move it a little closer to the sun.  I mulched it with some of the millions of wine corks I have and perched my owl close by to discourage the squirrels who looooove the mulched area.  There were quite a few baby pecan trees in there as evidence!

Next chore: getting the rest of the leaves up from the front yard and the red rocks out back, and figuring out how to restore the grass.  And since we will be home this weekend, too, that might be how my Saturday goes.

Happy hump day and rest of the week!

Gina

Empty Nest Menu #83

We haven't seen our peeps much this year.  And it's starting to give me the sads.  I'm not going to get on my I Hate The Covid soapbox here...just know that for this mom, being apart from my peeps that mean everything to me is so hard. And it feels pointless.  And the worse thing to do is transfer those sads onto them.  So I am hopeful that we can all be happy and together this Easter.  

Because isn't that what Easter means?  Hope.

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”

Monday - Lemon Garlic Chicken, broccoli, tiny bit o' rice?

Tuesday - Tilapia with zucchini and green onion, the last of the twice bakes {off, taking my mother to the eye doc}

Wednesday - Sausage Bean Pot, with onion and cilantro

Thursday - Asian Lettuce Wraps, maybe some fruit (replace air filters}

Friday - Weeknight (turkey) Lasagna Toss, skillet eggplant and garlic

Saturday - TBD {probably pizza!, I need a haircut/trim})

Sunday - Pork Tenderloin, Corn Casserole, Copper Pennies, deviled eggs, rolls, Nana's Lemon Pie with sliced strawberries and a kiss on the cheek to each of my sweet peeps!

Gina

BBQ plans

This is the after: 

A place to put all of the BBQ equipment at Highlands with pavers underneath to drain rainwater and give a solid surface to stand.   Admittedly, its been on our list to things to do up there for a while!  {But remember, Highlands is basically a raw piece of property.  The only buildings up there is the barn, (and that's a storage unit built under a metal roof) and the pumphouse.  Well, ok, the storage unit, too.}  You can't see them here, but we also hung those Edison-style patio lights above for light while we are cooking at night.  

This is the during:

We're not a couple of engineers over here, so our site prep only involved cutting back the thicket a bit, removing stumps and what we call "stickie ups", removing umpteen rocks, and raking and grading the soil.  Plus lots of measuring.  Then to Lowe's we went for the pavers.  As the pavers settle a bit, we will adjust them by adding more sand underneath.  Its not a permanent structure and the pavers will eventually settle in a stable way.  Now we have a pile of rocks to deal with, but that's ok.

This is the before:

Above, you can see the two tall trees that flank the area - that's where the lights got strung across. That metal table was here when we bought the place and its virtually indestructible!  Hubby added wheels to the bottom of the metal box underneath the table - that's a place to set cast iron Dutch ovens in for cooking - it is leftover from Scouting days.  We cleaned up all of the racks for the various BBQ pits and got rid of the old electric smoker.  We have enough equipment here to cook for an army, and more stuff at home, but there's room for all of it so it stays.

This is the why:

Butternut squash, okra, pork chops, jalapeno chicken skewers

Grilling delicious things at Highlands is something we both look forward to doing!  We often daydream out loud about how when we get the house built we will invite our peeps, family, old friends, and new neighbors to enjoy a meal with us "out in the yard" - pour the wine and turn up the tunes.

Can't wait.

Gina 

Like she lost 5 pounds and took a vitamin

I visited my mother recently, and since the ice storm had wrecked our plans in February, we made up for it with a whirlwind of errands and things to do.  She finally sold the truck (praise!) so she won't be driving any time soon.  We made plans to go by the post office and bank, get tomato plants at the garden store, drop off paperwork to the tax prep folks,  pick up groceries, eat a quick lunch, go see the eye doc...

...and she also wanted to get a haircut.  She hasn't been to get her hair cut anywhere since the pandemic started.  The lady who was cutting it before then retired.  I tried cutting it for her twice, but I am not proficient at ladies' haircuts.  Besides, wasn't it kind of pretty this long?

But she needs something easier to maintain, so I found a lady in Brenham who seemed very reasonable and friendly on the phone and has a shop just five minutes from Mother's house, and I made the appointment.

She didn't want me taking too many "before" shots - my mother is fairly self-conscious about that kind of thing.

"You're making fun of me" she said.  

The lady who cut her hair owns her own small shop and has been cutting hair for 20 plus years.  She was so kind and such a good listener.  My mother spilled the tea on so many things - from her last two husbands to her new great-grandchild's name.  It seemed like no subject was off limits.  The lady patiently and carefully cut her hair, listening and adding sweet conversation.  It was an amazing half hour of ladies chatting together.

She was tickled with her haircut. 

{I remember a long time ago she told me that getting a haircut made her feel like she "lost 5 pounds and took a vitamin".  So funny!} 

By the time I left that afternoon, she was pretty tired from all our goings and doings.  And I realized something:  the day had been about more than just errands and a haircut for my mother.  It was about seeing other people in her community, getting some things accomplished, and allowing herself a little self-care.  It was about having someone to talk to in person.  And feeling connected.  It was the best birthday gift I could give her.  

And I'll plan on taking her again. 

Gina 

Empty Nest Menu #82

I look at cloudy or overcast days a little differently now that I know for sure Spring is on the way... 

Stoneledge Winery

Monday - Crockpot Lemon Caper Chicken, broccoli

Tuesday - Grilled Shrimp on Chopped Salad, grilled okra

Wednesday - Stuffed Bell Peppers, skillet sweet potatoes {maybe get my short 'do trimmed up}

Thursday - Ba$tard BBQ Pork Chops, (freezer) white beans from last week, corn {grocery shop after work}

Friday - Chicken Parm Meatballs, skinny mashed potatoes, green beans

Saturday - Out to eat (work on the yards, Gina on call until 7 p.m.)

Sunday - TBD (Gina on call until 7 p.m.)

******

By the way, here's a sampling of our "what's for lunch":

*Smoked herring, crackers, cheese

*Egg Salad Sammie with carrot and celery sticks

*Apple slices, cheese cubes, roast turkey cubes

*Caesar salad with tuna

*Skillet tilapia and a sauteed fresh veg

Saturday and Sunday are free choice, but we aim to avoid fried foods!

Gina

5 thing Friday - shopping, sunset, Easter flowers, meal planning, gardening

I've been good about staying out of Kohl's since Christmas, but I had to drop off a box for an Amazon return and couldn't help but look around...

I found big rolls of gift wrap for $1.79 each,

a cute sleeveless dress for summer {that I will wear with my new sandals!}

and these bright cotton tees to put in an Easter basket for my mother.

Nothing extravagant, but it was a fun 30 minutes of shopping.

The time change means that once again I am able to enjoy a sunset as I walk to my car in the evenings.  I'm not a fan of it being dark outside at 7 a.m., but trade offs must be made!

I made another Dollar Tree arrangement, this one for the dining table.  I stuck the branches into foam, put a dab of hot glue on it, set it in a vase.  Covered the foam as best I could with moss filler, and topped off with pretty plastic Easter eggs.  Decidedly thrifty.  Prettier in person.

The bunny salt and pepper shakers approve.  Now I need to get some chargers or a couple of table runners, plan a menu, find out who is coming to Easter dinner...

Meal planning has taken on a life of its own!  Whatever keeps me on track, I say.  I plan breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including weekends.  I shop once a week and whatever I forget to buy doesn't get bought.  We are eating better and consequently, our grocery costs have gone up.

I saw this raised container and thought "that's exactly what we will need at Highlands".  It will be in an area surrounded by fence, of course, but so much easier on the back to tend!  Plus, no wood to rot.  I envision spacing them out with mulch underneath and between the rows.  Might as well plan on investing in a wood chipper with all of the cedar we will be cutting down...

Gina

Shared with:

 Marti at Inspire Me Tuesday

Weekend re-cap: wine club pick-ups

We started out our Saturday fun at Fiesta Winery in Bend. 

Pick-up party day with BBQ (nope, didn't take a pic) and wine, of course.  Had we not skipped breakfast in favor of getting out of the house on time, I might have shown you the brisket, potato salad, brisket green beans, and sauce on my plate.  It was gone in a flash!

This winery is putting Buckee's style bathrooms in just off the tasting room.  I'm all for progress, but the bigger the winery, in my limited experience, is not always the better.  I'm not one for crowds.  We'll see how it goes.  The owner stopped and chatted with us at length about their new resort and all of the features.  It sounds amazing.  He wants me to write the article up!

It was still early - 3ish - so we moseyed over to a winery nearby - Stoneledge.

We bought a 2017 Sangiovese and asked if we could sit outside over near the ledge since no one else was out there.  {who wants to sit inside when you can be the only ones out on the ledge?}

Cloudy skies did nothing to discourage us.  I bought Hubby a cigar to enjoy out there and he was quite pleased!  It was so peaceful.

Afterwards, we headed to Highlands to grill, but it started looking more and more like rain so we used the gas stove to fix boneless pork chops and asparagus.

We even managed to enjoy a firepit before bedtime.  We also played cards and ate popcorn.  I lost many times...

The next day we headed to Esperanza in Blanco.  The only pic I took was of this pretty boho style wind chime in her tasting room.  The food was fun, the company was friendly, and we had a very nice visit.  But we were feeling the wine, so it was time to cut the afternoon short!

At home, Firstborn stopped by for a haircut, so Hubby got one, too.  Then I fixed a skillet pasta and meatball concoction with fresh bell pepper.  For dessert I made two: 

one person cookies

1 T flour

1 T brown sugar

1 T white sugar

1 T butter

splash milk

scant amount of vanilla

pinch baking soda

1 T mini chocolate chips

Bake at 350 for 12-13 minutes

******

They aren't on the diet, but they ended the weekend on a sweet note!

Gina

Empty Nest Menu #81

So many leaves have fallen just after the ice storm and not all of them are brown.  I hope all of the trees will recover.  I think my shrubs are toast.

Monday - Grilled Chicken Quarter, Brussels sprouts, 1/2 a twice baked potato

Tuesday - Tilapia with zucchini {off, taking my mother to eye doc}

Wednesday - Crockpot White Beans with ham hock, cilantro and chopped onion

Thursday - Turkey Eggplant Parmesan, corn

Friday - Buttermilk Chicken, green beans

Saturday - Grill at Highlands {its another work weekend at Highlands}

Sunday - Take out {we will make a healthy choice!}

******

We are following some pretty straightforward rules for our healthy eating plan: 

adding in more mornings of oats, more beans, veggies to include okra and eggplant, apples/grapes/citrus fruits, nuts, and fatty fish. I am also planning our lunches so that we stay on track.  Servings are smaller and snack options are totally different.  I have stopped using creamer in my coffee and religiously take my vitamins every day, including fish oil, calcium, and biotin.  We are also cutting back on beer (whomp whomp), rice, bread, pasta, and potatoes.  I already feel better and have lost one pound.  (:

Gina

5 thing Friday - Spring mantel, ornament, hair, stitching, leaves

 I put a few spring-y things out here and there in advance of Easter.

Including this bouquet of flowers which cost me $5 from Dollar Tree.

I already had the vase, the floral foam, and some moss.  That birdhouse was an impulse buy years and years ago at Home Goods.  I made the fabric banner.  

Things that make me scratch my head - this veeerrry breakable ornament not only got missed as I packed up the Christmas tree, but the entire tree was moved twice, including a not-so-gentle trip down the tall step leading into the garage!  (Was Christmas really almost 3 mos ago?)

Its getting there, settling down.  But I'm still wearing scrub caps to work.

I did a lot of cross stitching a few weeks ago - Will share some of the completed work soon.  This was a sweet pattern I recreated from something I saw on Pinterest, I think.  I don't have near enough time to spend stitching anymore.

It seems silly to complain about the yearly drudge with raking.  I mean, I love our trees.  Camp Rustown has several large oaks.

But my goodness, March brings such a CHORE.  The leaf piles are like snowdrifts and they have to be gathered up, or it becomes a compacted, rotting mess and the grass will suffocate.  I buy many, many yard bags and it takes me hours and hours and seems like it will never end, until magically, its April and it finally does.

Happy Weekend!

Gina

Weekend re-cap: wine and chores

We traveled up to Highlands on Saturday with all of the supplies, intending to install a new water filter in the barn and call it DONE so we could just kick back the rest of the weekend.  I also repainted and cleaned up the birdfeeder and replaced some Command hooks on the side of the locker in the barn - little putsey things while Hubby did plumbing.

{So many big stumps at Highlands}

The plumbing repair didn't exactly happen as planned, but we WERE able to find a stopping point around 2 pm and head to 7 Creeks to hear Spicy Loops and perhaps meet my sister and BIL.

They got a little lost on the way, so we had plenty of time to relax in chairs and enjoy a bottle of wine.

They arrived just after the music ended, oops.  But we enjoyed socializing with them for a while and we were all there until closing.  That never happens!  We headed to Captain D's for our "healthy" dinner:  fried fish, hushpuppies, slaw, and fried okra.  Then we reviewed the wildlife camera footage which, interestingly, showed a neighbor's large dogs prowling the area, along with deer and foxes.  

On Sunday, we realized there were more parts needed for the filter repair, so to Marble Falls we traveled to pick those up.  While Hubby did the repair, I grilled.  I grilled some chicken quarters, salmon patties, and okra - all so good!

Decidedly healthier than last night's meal!

I packaged up the chicken quarters for future meals and we enjoyed the salmon and okra for lunch.  If you've never grilled okra you are missing out, its far better than fried.  We enjoyed lunch, finished up the project (FINALLY), cleaned up inside the barn, and enjoyed two rum and Cokes while we lounged.  Then we packed it all up for the trip home.

It was hard to leave.

It felt like most of our weekend was chores and work and that won't do.  So this coming weekend we are determined NOT to pack tools nor open the storage unit for any supplies, unless it involves simple putseying around.  We have two wine club pick-ups and plans to socialize, listen to music, and enjoy some great wine and maybe some spring-like weather!

Gina

Empty Nest Menu #80

Back to our regularly scheduled delightful spring firepit weather!

Monday - Grilled Chicken on Asian-inspired chopped salad

Tuesday - Salmon, fresh green beans with yellow bell pepper

Wednesday - Ground turkey tacos on whole wheat tortillas, cheese, plain yogurt, pico de gallo

Thursday - Leftover Chili Beans (last week), garlic toast

Friday - Spinach and Salsa Chicken (use the rest of the pico), rice

Saturday - Porcini mushroom and truffle ravioli with marinara at Highlands {pick-up party at Fiesta}

Sunday - Take out {pick-up party at Esperanza}

Gina

 

5 thing Friday - Gravy, leaves, beans, Easter, cargo

Last weekend when it was gloomy weather, we ate at a food trailer in Burnet called Gravy.   I love finding food trailers in out of the way places and at wineries and breweries.  This one was outside of a popular coffee spot.

It was definitely tasty - who wouldn't love the combo of egg, smoked pork, and creamy gravy?  But it was pretty pricey and we are moving more towards just eating at home before we hit the road.

The trees everywhere look like they are struggling - all of the ones near the barn have this reddish look and the ones at home dropped so many leaves!  Next week I will start tackling getting some of them up.  Its always a huge project.

This was such a great supper - I soaked a pound of pintos overnight, added them to the crock pot with a pound of cooked ground beef, a can of tomatoes, some water, about a third of a jar of mole I had leftover, and some extra chili powder.  Cooked them all day on high and by suppertime they were soft and creamy and just wonderful!  We ate them with chopped onion and cilantro - YUM.

The bunnies are back.  Wonder what Easter will look like this year?  Doubtful we will deliver meals.

Each weekend we have so much cargo that travels back and forth with us to Highlands.  Hubby grumbles, but truth be told, I load most of it.  We take supplies, food, equipment, etc.  And there is always a project to work on.  This weekend we are replacing a water filtration system in the barn (yes, we had a broken pipe, too).  We are also going to grill and decompress.

Saturday can't get here fast enough for me!

Gina