5 thing Friday - freezer restock, gum parker, frozen treats, fridge magnets, strip center

I took advantage of a dreary and rainy day to grocery shop and restock the freezer.  I had used up the previous supply fairly well, even with my limited cooking.

I bought a package of carnitas meat to season, cook, and shred for easy meals. I estimate each package of this I stored cost me around 88 cents.

Did the same with some frozen chicken I already had, too.  Each package is about 5 ounces of meat and is packed in snack size ziplocs within a gallon ziploc.

I also separated out some pre-seasoned tilapia filets and some link sausage.

Then I stocked up on frozen veggies for those nights when I cannot deal with cooking a fresh one.  And I bought some pantry items to finish out. I'm all set for simple dinners.

Cleaning the garage recently I found this little guy, bought in 1981.  When my mother picked me up at the end of my first year of college, we stopped and had lunch in Giddings, then visited a shop on the main drag.  We both saw this "gum parker" and laughed, so I bought it; I think I paid $2 for it.  He has such a weirdly human face.  I don't think I ever used it to park my gum in, but it makes me smile to see him again.  I added him to my sewing room which is becoming a place for mementos to live.

Andy's sent me a 2 for $10 coupon for a small concrete, so I headed over there yesterday afternoon and bought one to eat, one to freeze for later.  But they were both so good I could have eaten both of them in one sitting!  I've been doing well with my daily walks so I'm not too worried about treats.  Plus, its summer.  And I'm a good girl*.

The magnets arrived for the fridges at work.  Maybe when people stop to admire them they will notice that I added a magnetic cup on each fridge to hold a Sharpie and posted a laminated sign asking them to label and date their things.  I clean both fridges out once a month and it takes maybe 30 minutes. I think the work breakroom should be a nice place to eat lunch.

There's a somewhat old school and slightly seedy strip center near me that we used to visit often.  Over the years the businesses have changed here and there, but some of them are still around.  Its kind of a cultural mish mash of restaurants with some other small businesses sprinkled in: karate studio, coin shop, cleaners, bakery.  I think I will check out the Nepali and Indian restaurant next week, just for fun and adventure.

Happy June!

Gina

*something my mother would announce as she scooped up her daily ice cream.

A fun thing to do - Austin Creative Reuse

Years ago I helped one of my teens set up a volunteer shift at this thrifty creative place in Austin:

But can you believe I had never gone to it myself?  That's odd to me as I love places like Hob Lob, JoAnn, Michael's...and at thrift stores I always gravitate to any crafty sections that might have notions or supplies or fabric.

I stepped into the store and was immediately mesmerized.  Its like a garage sale in a highly creative and organized place!  And they were doing a pretty good business in the middle of the day.

I spent most of my time in the sewing section going through crochet doilies, cross stitch kits, buttons.  But they had sections full of holiday things, school supplies, doll accessories, jewelry, yarn.  So much stuff - like a candy store for crafters.

And I ended up with some things I had been thinking about for Christmas crafts.  Three large plastic ornaments to fill were 25 cents each, two bags of clothes pins for $1, a small doily for $1, and a big ziploc of buttons for $2 that included many antique ones made of shell.  Cheap thrills!

When I got home I filled the ornaments with bits and bobs of crochet edging my mother had made long ago, before she lost her sight.  It will be a safe place to store them and a pretty feminine touch to my bedroom tree this Christmas.  And I think I will make snowflakes with the clothespins to tie on gifts.  Have you thought about Christmas crafting lately?

Gina

5 thing Friday - treats, crafts, reading, easy dinner, new sandals

My daughter knows the path to my heart is paved in chocolate.

Combine white and dark chocolate with freeze dried raspberries and its a perfect reading snack!  I have had quite the sweet tooth lately.  On Wednesday, I made a quick recipe I saw on Instagram for a homemade version of Reese's Cups*. Also diabolical.

She also made me this crochet beauty.  Where does she get this talent?!  Must be from her Grandmother who was a master at all needlecrafts. {because it was for sure not from me}  See what I mean about the owls?

He? She? is currently roosting in the sewing room.

I found another motherload of books at Texas Thrift.  Although, true to form, I bought a book I ALREADY OWNED, thinking "This should be good".  Clearly I need to read what I have before buying another book.  But I have been carving out reading time, which is a good thing, Martha.

I don't love cooking any more lately, but I have been being good about eating at home.  This night's dinner was Dr. Martin's Mix which fed both myself and Bubbie twice each.  On the side I heated up frozen spinach with some diced peppers and onions.  The real test of dinner success is: Is it Edible?  and Is it Fast to Make?  This was both. Bonus: I am getting my freezer cleared out.

I finished the paint by number that a co-worker warned me was "so hard".  I didn't necessarily find it hard, just painstaking.  It was a fun first try.  I hung it in my closet, near the memo board and jewelry box.  Maybe I will do another!

Years ago I had a couple of pair of Chaco sandals and I always loved them for summertime when one minute your feet are wet, the next, dry, and you are always on the go.  I am impressed by the arch support and comfy wide straps that contain my pinkie toe without aggravating my bunions.  I specifically bought this pair that doesn't wrap around your big toe, strangulating it.  Us old ladies got to be comfy!  I got a deal on them and have had them on my feet since I picked them up at REI on Wednesday.  

10/10, recommend.

Gina

Easy recipe: Lunch Lady Bars

Mix 2 c. graham cracker crumbs, 2 c. powdered sugar, 2 sticks (1 c.) melted butter, and 1 c. peanut butter in your food processor until it comes together.  Pat into 13x9 dish. Melt 1 1/2 c. chocolate chips with 4 T. peanut butter in you microwave on 30 second bursts until pourable.  Pour over the base and chill for one hour.

Tourist in our town - The Long Center

Last week I took myself to the symphony. 

It was late in the day - an 8 p.m. concert on a Friday.  Which would not have been a bad idea had I just been laying around all day Friday, waiting to go.  But of course I had mowed both yards, spread the rest of the mulch in the backyard, did some housework and meal prep, visited with The Girl...

Let's just say that a late night before a work day is not for me anymore!

Anyhoo, it was held at The Long Center in downtown Austin, which is a beautiful place.

I sat on the 3rd floor in front of huge windows, sipping my adult bevvie while I waited for the concert to be seated, and admired the skyline.

The show was "Summertime" which included the Porgy and Bess opera by George Gershwin.  I'm no opera aficionado, but I did enjoy the talent of the orchestra and principal singers.  Its maybe the closest I will get to Broadway.

Which is fine, because The Long Center has so many interesting performances to see - right here in my hometown.  Including Black Violin which I have tickets for in October!

In the summer, there are also concerts on the patio with the city lights in the background.  Free every Thursday, with all kinds of high energy music.  Maybe I will grab a friend to come with.  Either way, this will be the summer of music for me with several fun things to attend!

Gina

5 thing Friday - a hungry hawk, Mother's Day, oil change, clothing thrift, vacation vibes

One day last week I was walking along the sidewalk and saw a beautiful hawk swoop across the street and perch above me.

Of course I stopped to admire him/her then realized he/she was about to raid a nest as a mama bird flew out of it in a panic.  Nature is both terrifying and beautiful, no?  We admire the birds, but they are after all, wild.  They don't all live in harmony, eating bugs and minding their own business like some folks would have you believe. Often they prey on each other and its a cringey thing to see.

{But I do still love seeing the hawks!}

Mother's Day passed without incident, ha ha.  I got several well-wishes via text from friends and family, and when I got home there were beautiful flowers!  The next day I also got a gift card to Firehouse Subs (love them!) and a very heartfelt card.  Also on Monday: an awards ceremony at work that involved fancy appetizers with my co-workers and a certificate of appreciation.  On Tuesday, I met a friend for coffee and convo at this cool place.  The week was off to a great start.

I took Brigid for her first oil change and as expected, everything is A-Ok.  The Subaru dealership has a coffee bar where everything is complimentary, so I enjoyed an Almond Roca inspired iced coffee and two breakfast tacos I brought with me while I journaled and made a couple of phone calls.  This has got to be the most pleasant way to get your car's oil changed.

I finally got around to visiting a word-of-mouth clothing thrift in Austin, tucked into an industrial area off Airport Blvd.  Everything is $3, except for a "designer" section where everything is $15.  They even have a "free" section right outside the door.  The place was doing a brisk business!  I bought a comfy tank style top, and got a free Pioneer Woman teal juice glass from the free section, which was random. Then I went to REI to try on Chacos, and ordered myself a pair of them from their on-line outlet shop.

We are still going to count this as a thrifty shopping trip!

Item on the self care bucket list: sit outside, doing nothing, and list 5 things you can see, hear, or feel.  The heat is ramping up here, but sometimes there are cooler breezes in the evenings and I sit out here just decompressing.  My new favorite "cocktail" is kombucha, served in a chilled wine glass and is perfect for such times.

Time for me to think about taking a vacation, tho.  The Girl went to Galveston recently and sent me this photo of the pleasure pier at sunrise.  I just need to swallow my fear and go, although I think I would rather be in Port Aransas. It will be lovely to put my toes in the sand, get some sun, eat some shrimp, and take Brigid on her first ever road trip.

Maybe I will get a pretty sunrise photo or two!

Gina

Saying goodbye to a car

 On Wednesday, I sold the 2005 Baja, Mark's favorite car, and the one Bubbie drove from his senior year in high school through college.

Now you see it,

now you don't.

(and I really need to power wash the driveway!)

It wasn't new when we bought it in 2008, and it was definitely loved hard.  We put 121K miles on it and it went on many a scout campout, not to mention Bubbie driving to San Marcos and back many times.  It had a long list of things that need to be repaired or replaced, and I just can't justify pouring time nor money into it right now.  So, I told it goodbye.

I'm not gonna lie, it was hard to see it loaded up.  I did allow myself to shed a few tears, but I don't think they had much to do with losing the car.  And I may have been short with a nosy neighbor who asked about it...

The positives are:

*I will no longer be paying for its inspections and registration,

*not spending money on costly repairs to a 20 year old vehicle,

*getting a reduction in my auto insurance,

*and not letting it just sit there in my driveway taking up space. 

I am managing all of the things that were left to me to deal with, and this is just one of them. Maybe the last big one?

Gina

5 thing Friday - coffee dates, rattan chair, hat, Galveston, Austin

 This may be an extra random Friday post because I am dragging along at the end of five days off.  Which is nice, don't get me wrong.  But I tend to get the same amount of stuff done in a 5 day week as a four day week, due to extra couch laying and some blues here and there.  It is what it is.

This week I met a friend for coffee at a new to me place close-by.  Of course I didn't take photos of us, because I never think to do that.  But three hours went by in a flash and we talked about anything and everything and are meeting again in a couple of weeks to repeat at another new place.  Its a win for me to get out of the house and see a friend.

My cute chair arrived and I set it right into its place and it looks like it always belonged there.  I sit here briefly - but the weather and sunlight now are such that I will probably take my coffee on the backyard deck like the Queen of Sheba that I am.  I also picked up the new disposal and a downspout extension.  Exciting stuff happening over here.

As expected, I am already tweaking that collage wall.  I added one of Mark's hats as a reminder of him. (I saw an idea on someone's blog - a wall of hats displayed like a collection)  I want to make this home my own, but I don't want to forget how he was a big part of home for me.  Another widow I chat with says she did the same thing with photos and mementos.  Not erasing him from her home, but "relocating" him.

I joke with my sister about how Galveston always seems to crop up in various ways.  Mark called it "The Rock" and we rarely visited after we made our home in Austin.  Turns out The Girl loves Galveston and has plans to spend a weekend there with Teddy soon.  Recently HEB gave me a free shopping bag, and it was Galveston themed...  Also this week, Scout got me a Partner Card (he works in the bakery) so I can save a few dollars here and there on HEB brands.  I don't buy a huge amount of groceries but every bit helps.

outside of The Long Center

Every time I go solo to an event and navigate traffic and parking, and just generally find my way, I pause and take a photo of the city from the entrance to the venue.  I'm not the world's best photographer, but the reason I take that photo is to remind myself that I do love where I live.  And I can manage The Big City and this Big Life just fine.  And every time I venture out, to learn or see or do, my world expands just a bit.

Gina