5 thing Friday - my mechanic, Donut Plus, crockpot apples, clock radio, crafty pumpkin

I will get back to posting on Wednesdays one of these days...there's just been a lot going on lately and its hard for me to get to it!

******

Firstborn helped me with my battery issue on his day off...

He replaced the positive terminal, installed the battery, and something called the "mass air flow controller" after a short trip to Auto Zone.  He did his best and helped his scatter-brained stressed mom with a simple issue that she made worse with her panicking.  I am quite proud of him - he is a smart hard-working man who loves his family.

I stopped by a favorite donut shop in Bertram (Donut Plus)  - Mark and I often stopped here on the way to Highlands in the early morning.  The fact that they are open made the sign saying "WELCOME  OPEN TOMoRAW"  (sorry we're closed) funny.  I enjoyed a turkey pepper jack panini and a donut for my lunch, but what I really wanted was their Banh Mi sammie and they were out of pork belly.  Boo.

Another place to say goodbye to...

Mark loved the apple fritters and sausage kolaches, and I always got a cinnamon old-fashioned.  Time to find new places.  Not necessarily donut places.

The Girl was going to toss two past-their-prime apples and I snagged them to cook in my tiny crockpot with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.  I served them over ice cream and it tasted like Fall.  I left the peel on and it was like candy - so good.  A frugal way to use wrinkly apples!

My college alarm clock/radio that Mark helped me pick it out at an electronics store in Austin, ca. 1983.  They sell on Ebay for around $15, but I wouldn't take a nickel for it, as my mother would say. For years it got me to life on time. It had lived in the unheated and unairconditioned pumphouse at Highlands for the last 5 years, tuned to the Marble Falls jazz station 24/7.  Now it lives on the vanity shelf in my closet and I love to see it.  

The Girl crocheted me a pumpkin which we named Josh after the winery name printed on the cork, ha ha. I gave him a glam gold and burlap ribbon and placed him near the front door so he can make me smile coming and going. 

Welcome, October!

Gina

Empty Nest menu #138

 Soft lighting, pretty rugs, soft jazz, comfy chairs ... make everything feel so much cozier.

That's what this place is to me.  They are close to home as well.  Many wins.

Keeping this one for now.

Monday - One Pot Chicken and Rice with broccoli

Tuesday - Lentil Soup with Chicken Sausage

Wednesday - Bean and Veggie Taco Bowls (add bell pepper, onion avocado, cheese) {off at 3 p.m. to discuss life insurance with one of Mark's co-workers}

Thursday - Shakshuka with garlic toast, rest of chicken sausage

Friday - Salmon Patty, sweet potato, peas

Saturday - TBD 

Sunday - TBD {Grief Share class #4}

Gina

5 thing Friday - wine club, car issues, breakroom, tiny crockpot, succulents

Lunch on Saturday at 7 Creeks was nice - grilled beef kebabs on a bed of cilantro rice with a very delish fresh mint sauce.

But as I sat there, alone, listening to my favorite music and sipping my wine I thought how different it felt and how it would probably always feel that way without Mark sitting right next to me.  And I wondered, "why am I holding on to all of these things?  These Mark and Gina things.  Why not forge new interests at new places?"  So I will.  Little by little, starting with dropping this wine club, through no fault of theirs.

Its unreasonable for me to feel angry about this, but WHY did they not replace the glove box clips they removed when checking my cabin air filter?  I just went in for an oil change.  It took waaaay longer than I was told it would and I don't need a cabin air filter.  At least put the dang clips back.

Because if you don't, and I open the glove box and it falls to the floor and I can't get it back together?  I will drive back over, make you fix it,  and probably leave you a poor review on Yelp.  Rage.

One of the projects I worked on last weekend was a breakroom refresh at work with three other co-workers.  It took 4 of us several hours to toss old food and plasticware from the cabinets, ditto for the fridges (3), clean and rearrange furniture, clear off the bulletin board so we could have a place for pics of our families and pets, and wipe down literally everything.  Bags of trash were taken out, bags of items went to Goodwill, and one of the nurses arranged for the whole thing to be painted.  Welcome to Cafe Rad.

Something I learned to do this week was clean my car battery's terminals.

Which did me zero good because the battery had drained down too far.  So I also learned how to give my battery a jump (thanks to the neighbor for his patient teaching).  Its good I haven't sold the truck yet, for many reasons...  And after driving to AutoZone, purchasing a new battery, not being able to get it installed because the nut on the positive terminal of the old battery had melted, I drove it back home and parked it in the driveway and told Firstborn I would see him on Saturday at his shop.

I can only handle so much car stress in one day.

This is a tomorrow problem, for sure.

My tiny crock pot is perfect for one person.  Last night it accommodated two big chicken thighs, some taco seasoning, curry powder, and half a can of tomatoes.  Served over mashed potatoes with a side salad.  

That was good.

I knew this succulent arrangement was going to eventually die.  It was just a matter of time.  This is why I love faux plants in decor...

Nothing gold can stay.

Happy Weekend!

Gina

Empty Nest menu #137

 I got my items back from Spur and was delighted!

This jade bracelet, though dainty is going to be a favorite I wear for a long time.  Not only does it remind me of my grandmother/father, but jade is the stone for the 35th wedding anniversary - our last.  I think it is a fitting sentimental piece and while I'm not wearing it, it lays here on my desk.

I will show all of them in detail later.

Monday - Chicken Fried Rice

Tuesday - Grilled Cheese and Ham, tomato soup

Wednesday - Shrimp Tacos with greens and avocado, mont jack cheese

Thursday - Burger for one, fries, salad greens and tomato

Friday - "Friday Soup" with cheese buns {I will make this using the rest of the soup from Tuesday, along with black beans, corn, and maybe some ground beef}

Saturday - Out {truck to Firstborn for oil change, then yardwork}

Sunday - TBD {2nd GriefShare class}

Gina

The TGIF chronicles - making a plan

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but I am not a fan of the Big City.  Remember, the plan was to build on and move to Highlands, out in Burnet County.  I was so looking forward to not sitting in traffic on 100 degree days at 5:30 p.m. on 183 trying to get home after a hard day at work.*

There may be many cons to working exclusively weekends in the future, but I feel as though there are just as many pros.  If I'm not going with the above-mentioned plan, I can make a new one that doesn't include sitting in traffic twice a day 5 days in a row.  I'm not sure why it has taken me over a year to figure it all out, but a lot of times I felt like I was moving through a fog and unable to decide.  I guess that's somewhat normal for grief.  Slowly the new plan is taking shape:

*work weekends only starting in February, transferring to the new hospital in April

*using the new found time to deal with several leftover matters regarding the estate

*sell Highlands

*work on repairs and maintenance at my house (so much to address)

*stay in my home at least until Bubbie graduates and gets his own place

*decide where I want to live and start looking for a smaller house

******

It feels both empowering and a terrifying at the same time!

Gina

*lately its been weeks in a row of "a hard day at work"

Make it stretch - Fried Chicken!

 Last week I had such a craving for fried chicken.  You would think that in a city this size there would be lots of places to go for fried chicken - yes, but they aren't located near me.  So when a craving hits I have to drive several miles if I want fried chicken.  (I kinda sound like an old lady, huh?)  I ended up at Church's.

I bought the 12 piece legs and thigh box for $11.90.  Not a bad deal in my estimation, but way too much chicken for one person.  I ate three pieces of it for lunch (which was every bit of delicious), then deboned the rest, saving much of the crispy crackly parts.  The bones went into the crock pot for bone broth - and in the morning the house smelled amazing!!

I made three foil packets of chicken to freeze, not to mention all of that bone broth for future soups!

Then for lunch one weekend day, I opened a foil packet, heated it in the oven, then topped a green salad with chicken, red onion, and Caesar dressing.  For my next leftover fried chicken meal I will top hot mashed potatoes with corn, chicken, brown gravy, and colby jack cheese a la KFC Bowls.

Four take-out quality meals for about $3 each isn't bad, and a good way to stretch a huge haul of fried chicken!

Gina

Empty Nest menu #136

The prickly pear I transplanted to a piece of junk outside of the pumphouse is really loving its new home and thriving.  I wonder how much of what we did out there will still be there 5 years from now? 

Wish I could take this with me, but its solid cast iron, full of dirt, cactus, and rock so it must weigh a ton!  Well, truthfully, I wish I could take a lot of things with me...

Monday - Quesadilla, taco rice (freezer), brussels sprouts {Big Trash Day, and Happy Birthday to The Girl!}

Tuesday - Crockpot BBQ Chicken, mashed potatoes (freezer), green beans

Wednesday - Fish Tacos (with tomato, cheese, onion mixed baby greens), black beans {arborist comes to look at backyard tree}

Thursday - Egg, Avocado, Spinach, Ham, on toast with fries
Friday - Veggie Lentil Soup, garlic cheese toast (making a mini version of this with hamburger buns)

Saturday - TBD, wine club pick-up at 7 Creeks

Sunday - Banana Oat Pancakes with turkey sausages {self-care Sunday, GriefShare class #2}

Gina

5 thing Friday - Randy, FB memories, crochet, Texas Sage, reading

Last week, my supervisor had his last day at work - he is transferring to another site.  Normally we are terrible as a collective group about telling someone goodbye, but this time funny signs and balloons were hung all over, a nice lunch was catered, everyone actually got to eat, a group photo was made...

...and there were hugs all around.

I have worked with him since I was in XR school in 1993.  Its weird not having him around and we are all pretty overworked and stressed (not his fault) so his absence is definitely felt.

I love it when FB reminds me with a photo of my peeps.  I always copy and share it with them.  Other than that, I don't use it too much.

The Girl is still at it with her crochet.  Her pumpkin has a wine cork stem.  She is just too much.  My crafty and pretty baby girlie has a birthday on Monday!

The Texas Sage at Highlands blooms like mad when it rains.  I guess this is a wild/native plant?  I know you can purchase them for your landscaping and they aren't cheap.  They are all over the place and some are quite huge.  I wish I could take them with me when I sell.

On the advice of my counseling lady I purchased this book, which was basically free to me with Amazon credits from my Capital One card.  Its a great book, but when I finish it, I'm going to put the grief books away for a few months.  I have a GriefShare class starting on Sunday and I think it will be all the grief "learning" I can handle for the next few weeks...

Happy Weekend!

Gina

Weekend: loose ends and lists

 Last Saturday I bounded out of bed at 5 a.m. to be able to leave by 5:20, get gas, then head out to pick grapes at my favorite winery, only to discover, after I had driven allthewaythere that it was the next weekend.  Oooops.  I'm on call Saturday, so that's a no-go.  Since I had planned to visit Highlands tomorrow and gather big trash for bulky pick-up, I just went ahead and took care of it.

Driving up to the barn now feels eerie to me.  I think I have made the right decision in my mind - its time to sell.  But meanwhile, I will need to clear out the storage container, barn, and pumphouse.  I made a list of the things I will need to get working on, including calling the realtor.

I put as much stuff in the truck bed as I could fit.  I will set it out on the curb at Rustown tomorrow.  By Sunday, a bunch of it will be gone, as the scrap metal and junk dealers will make their rounds.  I think I still have a few things at home that can go out there as well.  I was only at Highlands for an hour or so, then I headed out.  {still need to mow the place and fix that pipe but those will have to wait}

I stopped off in Bertram to watch the Oatmeal Festival parade and visit some vendors to buy a few stocking stuffers and gifts, including a cactus for me!  Everyone I chatted with was so friendly - gotta love small Texas towns.

And I ate possibly the best hand-dipped corndog and freshly popped kettle corn ever.  Then I stopped by 7 Creeks to say hello, intending to stick around to hear Spicy Loops play.  But the grey skies were doing a number on my psyche, so I enjoyed my free glass of wine, said hello to him at the tasting bar, then head home.

Another thing that doesn't feel right: being the first one to arrive to anything, alone.

I showered at home, got some things done around the house, then treated myself to a burger with truffle fries and a "Death by Coconut" draft at Oskar Blues for dinner.  {I did manage to eat a few healthy things over the course of two days, though!}  

On Sunday I did more putseying around the house, including a deep clean and organizing of my office/craft room.  I took the Cricut to the garage - looking at it only made me feel guilty and annoyed.  I will list it for sale or offer it to The Girl.  I started a project in the backyard that didn't go as planned so I put up all of my tools and came inside for a shower and to put my feet up and read.  

And for sure, I need to come up with a strategy to make weekends more relaxing!

Gina

Empty Nest menu #135

 How do families even afford food nowadays?

My little One Person $50 a Week does not go far...

If I want to add something fun, it has to come out of the 50.  Toilet paper?  Out of the 50.  I had to take several things off of this grocery list and defer them until the next week's list.  Now mind you, I have juggled grocery monies before.  We were very poor and made many money mistakes when the first two kids were very small.  I could spend $75 a week back then to feed two adults and two toddlers, including tp, diapers and wipes, and other household supplies.  And I know that was 30 years ago.

But, holy cow, money does not go far in the grocery store now.

Scary times.

Monday - Sriracha Honey Chicken Thighs, skillet sweet potato cubes

Tuesday - Broccoli and Chicken Bowtie Parmesan, buttered corn

Wednesday - Greek Chicken Breast, twice baked, salad

Thursday - Black Bean and Veggie Taco Bowl {off - MHD and stuff to curb for bulky trash pick up}

Friday - Creamy grits and eggs with onions and peppers, toasted bun

Saturday - TBD {on call this weekend}

Sunday - Dinner with The Girl - she has requested a meal I used to make long ago, involving pork sausage and spinach wrapped in crescent roll dough (think empanadas) and butternut squash.  I'm also making these brownies. {1st Griefshare class 3-5 p.m.}

Gina

Tree issues as a metaphor for life

 Let me preface this by saying that Mark would be just as stressed as I was about the Chinese Pistache losing an entire limb for no apparent reason.  {This year I have spent a LOT of money on the trees.}

But that's exactly what happened and it did stress me out.  We have had zero severe weather and I never even heard a crack sound.  In fact, I distinctly remember admiring the view of the backyard on Friday night.

It seems like one thing after another - I know that realistically, this comes with home ownership.  And I hate to harp on this, but I left SO MUCH up to Mark and just assumed he would always take care of things and that's where I made my first mistake.  I'm learning now what I should have learned then.

You know what they say happens...sh*t.  And truly, it does.

Lucky for me, Firstborn helped me dispatch that big limb in less than an hour.  Bundling everything up was no fun, but I did get it done.  Then I raked a ton of debris off the yard and mowed.  I need to call the tree company who trimmed the oaks and get them to come out and assess this tree.  And I know there will always be something - that's just how it is.

Its always gonna be something.

Gina