Monday menus #82

 The "evil eye" is not intended to be evil at all - its a talisman to ward off negative energies and curses (nazar).  So in that sense, its a symbol of protection.  While my mother worked and traveled the world, she became so enamored of them that she purchased them as charms for all of us, and also this decoration which hung in her kitchen for over 20 years.

One of them, double sided and framed in gold, hangs on my charm necklace.  

And I have one in silver on a charm bracelet.  Another that I got at a wine tasting featuring Turkish food is on my front door.  I'm not particularly superstitious, but I could use all the good juju I can get!

Monday - kitchen closed

Tuesday - Mexican Style Cobb Salad {doctor's appointment}

Wednesday - Shrimp Quesadillas {buy groceries}

Thursday - Beef Broccoli Lo Mein (save 1/2 for a weekend meal) {payday}

Friday -  take-out (save 1/2 for a weekend meal) {meet with Dietician}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina

5 thing Friday - peaches, Thelma, fix-its, eating at home, walking

I have been absolutely loving me some peaches! 

I'm not sure if I have ever tried the white ones, but I love yellow peaches (and nectarines)  in the summer.  Add a small sprinkling of Tajin and OMG so good.  I would like to think of this as a healthy snack, even with the added salt and chile powder.  

On Tuesday, I took myself to a movie.  I think Mark would have approved.

Parts of it made me teary eyed, but mostly it made me cackle out loud.  I was 100% OK with being one of 5 people in the theatre, enjoying my medium size popcorn - I normally order a BUCKET.  Baby steps.  I should take in a movie more often!

I was putting up towels in the guest bathroom, then one thing led to another and I was doing a quick clean on the potty, noticing it didn't flush easily.  A small adjustment to the chain was all it needed.  In comes Scout telling me that one day last week the handle completely broke and he replaced it.

!

He didn't want me to stress out, so he just took care of it, he said.  I really didn't know what to think.  Scout and I are learning how to fix these small things, even without the guiding hand of Dad.

Yesterday I had my mind set on Chuy's, then thought, meh, I could just cook something I already have at home.  $20 vs. about $4, so I came out ahead of the game and still had a great meal.  Chicken and rice with avocado and green onions, topped with a bit of shredded cheddar was enjoyed.  With a fresh peach for dessert.

I'm committed to walking, even tho I begrudgingly go.  I always feel better when I get back after 30 minutes.  I've been walking four times a week, except when I'm off on Monday, then its 5 times.  I've noticed that I have more stamina and am fully heat acclimated, so I can go later in the morning if I need to.  Proof that some habits are harder to start than maintain, no?

Gina

Monday Menus #81

 On rainy days, I still sit outside, just under the patio. Thunder and the sound of the rain, plus a lit citronella candle, adds to the ambience.

Today I took a mental health day off since tomorrow makes three years since Mark has been gone.  Fittingly, its supposed to rain well into Wednesday.  I will definitely have to find some things to do indoors to keep from going stir crazy with the sads!

Monday - Taco Rice (two meals of taco meat, brown rice, corn, black beans, purple onion, cheese)

Tuesday - BBQ Chicken Quesadillas, salad {might take myself to a movie}

Wednesday - Salmon, sweet potato 

Thursday - Leftovers from Monday {dentist appt}

Friday - Takeout, and save half for a weekend meal {groceries, clean carpets, payday}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina

5 thing Friday - chunky rainbow, tea ritual, books, back door TLC, trees

One day last weekend when I was driving home from work I noticed a big chunky rainbow and followed it for miles as I drove home.

Its hard to see with all of this ugly construction and highway, but...

...here it is!  I never came to a stop where I could photograph the whole thing.  Sure was pretty, though!  Its been a bit since we had a good soaking rain here.

Scout put this tea in here, and I kinda forgot all about it for awhile, so I started having a cup in the evenings while I read.  Its especially helpful to have if I'm feeling snacky.  I also have a couple of sleepytime teas, in the back.

I understand now why rituals are so important for older folk - heck, really anyone.  I turn off my phone,  sit with my feet up and read, signaling to my brain that the day is coming to a peaceful close.  I have definitely been sleeping well.

The latest haul from the thrift store - $5 and some change.  I finished Out Stealing Horses recently,  and am currently working my way through Chang and Eng.  I think the Anne Tyler novel will come next.

Did you know that there is a tension screw at the end of the screen door piston/hydraulic closer that controls how fast the door closes? (a gently close vs. a SLAM)  'Tis true.  All it takes is a screwdriver to adjust.  And when the closer eventually fails, I'm pretty sure I can figure out how to replace it.

While I was wiping the screen door down, I thought I would address something else that bothers me about that door.  The bamboo shades bang against the door every time you open or close it.  That was easily solved with stick on felt pads.

You can't see them on the front of the blind so it doesn't matter what shape or color they are.

I found these in a box of Command hook stuff and thought AHA! and they buffer the blinds perfectly.

Time to trim up the oaks - no danger of oak wilt.  There are a lot of dead branches up here and the trees just need a haircut in general.  So I'm getting the tree guy to come out and give me a quote.

Some of them are tangling up in the pecan tree on the right and the Chinese Pistache on the left.  My trees are so valuable to me.  They provide a lot of relief from the Texas summer sun.  And I don't want them landing on my house in the next big storm.  Some things are best left to the professionals!

Gina

Monday menus #80

One day last week, I decided I had had it in the kitchen and I needed a break. Is it because the boys eat too much, or waste food, or they make messes, or don't like my cooking? No. I simply want to be in charge of shopping for and feeding myself only.

I just don't want to cook that much anymore.  There's zero fun in it.  And yes, I know its not supposed to be a fun leisure activity, but I am weary of everything it involves, whether they assist me or not.  So, I'm simplifying the menus to accommodate me only.  All I ask is that they don't use the big oven, unload and reload the washer more often, and be mindful of the limited space in the fridge/freezer/pantry (don't stock up, in other words).

Monday - kitchen closed {eating a packed dinner at work}

Tuesday - Salmon, brown rice, onions and peppers {Gina on call}

Wednesday - Grilled Chicken Salad - fresh Peach Pie a la mode for dessert! {Gina on call}

Thursday - K-Mart Sub (make an extra one for Saturday)

Friday - Chinese Take-Out (leftovers for Sunday) {meet with dietician}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina

Little project - chair feet

Summer is a good time for the little projects.

One morning as I was sitting out on my deck, I noticed that the  chairs did not glide across the wood like they should.  Truth be told, this has been happening a long time - these chairs were purchased in 1988.  But until I started sitting out here, I forgot all about it.

Some of them were completely missing the plastic cap and were leaving rust rings on the wood.

Some were split.  These plastic caps acts as chair glides.  They are easily replaced, I don't know why I haven't done that sooner.

Pop the old ones out with needle nose pliers, pop the new ones in and give them a tap with a small mallet.

I gave the set a quick wipe down and was done.

My deck is not fancy - just a simple place to sit and I love being out here.

Next up was a folding step stool I have had a little longer than those patio chairs!  I have replaced the feet on these at least once before.  The whole step stool has been splattered with paint over the years and has seen some stuff, man.

Getting off the old feet involved a cheapie steak knife and some muscle.

These are a very tight fit!

It also got a wipe down and I keep it in the house now.  (note to self - stop using this outside in the dirt) This step stool has been my Mrs. Fix-It buddy for years.

Lastly, when I replaced the sliders on the living room furniture in March, I thought I might buy more felt pads to cushion the dining chairs.  Then on Amazon, I happened upon these clear silicone ones with a built in felt pad.  Super stretchy and adjustable!

It was like putting socks on the chair feet and now the chairs glide like buttah and are so much quieter.

You don't even notice them down there, which is perfect.

These little projects make me feel productive during the summer when its too hot to do much!

Gina

Monday menus #79

I bought another small succulent to live with the barrel cactus and keep her company.  All of the smaller prickly pear nubs I had brought home from Highlands eventually died, except for one I gave to Bubbie.  Maybe I can keep these two going.  The barrel cactus has grown!

I haven't had much of a green thumb lately...

Monday - kitchen closed

Tuesday - Southern Ham Salad on Hawaiian rolls {mammo day}

Wednesday - Pork loin chops, kale and apple salad {buy groceries}

Thursday - Chicken Tacos, the rest of the kale salad {payday, and lunch out!}

Friday - the rest of the Southern Ham salad (hooray for cooking only three times this week!)

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina

5 thing Friday - missing Mark, patio, fig tree, fungus?, summer

    July seems like a hard month.   

I've been thinking about Mark a lot - missing him very much.  And trying to sit in those feelings to acknowledge them, then get up and move forward.  And it seems really hard to do.  So most of the time I feel like I am swimming in mud with my boots on.

     

In the interest of finding moments of peace to begin my day, I've started sitting out in the backyard each morning for about half an hour. I sip my coffee and  listen to birds before the day heats up.  Its quite pleasant. While I'm sitting there, I notice things that need to be done, but I only make mental notes.  I give myself permission to just sit with my thoughts.

  I've been having to water the fig tree as it looks like its making figs and we haven't had any rain lately.  The sprinkler system gave up the ghost and I'm not spending any more money on that.  So twice a week I stand out here and water all of the things in my small yard.

This poor fig has been frozen solid twice and endured a years long drought.  But she keeps bouncing back.  And so can I. I'm pretty sure the birds will get to the figs first...

Once the day gets going, its pretty hot out here, but sometimes I sit in the middle of the day and enjoy the breezes on the patio.  The older I get, the more the heat seems harder to handle, but I'm trying to stay acclimated to it.  I never did hang those tiny white lights - by nighttime I am over being out here.  Maybe in the fall.

Something (powdery mildew? fungus?) is infecting my crepe myrtle, and I think the homemade spray is not going to cut it.  Time to bring out the big guns.  I bought a copper fungicide spray and doused it pretty good.

I'm going to treat it pretty aggressively since this tree is smack dab in the middle of the front landscaping.  Meanwhile, I'm also out here every other day watering the shrubs to keep them alive.  Summer in Texas = brutal.

I'm not a huge lover of watermelon, except in the summer.  A bowl of it with a sprinkle of Tajin seasoning is a fun treat.  HEB also has these Dream melons called "Sugar Rush" that are about the sweetest cantaloupe I have ever eaten.  Almost better than ice cream!  This was our July 4th dessert.

I moved my summer basket of sunscreen and bug spray to just inside of the backdoor to encourage me  to spritz a bit of protection before doing yardwork or getting sun.  That didn't keep me from getting pink shoulders one day this week when I forgot.  Oops.

Gina

Monday menus #78

Tiny rainbows in my kitchen window!

I moved one of the hanging crystals that wasn't getting much sun into the kitchen, and now around 10 a.m. every day tiny rainbows appear all over the curtains, backsplash, and adjacent walls.  Its the little things.  (:

Monday - kitchen closed

Tuesday - Beef Fajita Salads {mowing the yards because I didn't get to it last week}

Wednesday - Skillet Chicken with Coconut Ginger Rice, peas

Thursday - Lazy Daisy Meatballs, skinny masheds, green beans {might steam clean the carpets}

Friday - Thai Chicken Salad on romaine leaves {get an oil change and my car inspected}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina