5 thing Friday - Echeveria, cooking, embroidery, snacks, hearts

I have never had what you would call a green thumb, but when I noticed a small cup full of leaves from a succulent in the window of the breakroom at work, I grabbed one and stuck it into my lunch kit. 

Then I put a smidge of potting soil in a little clay pot (the artist is Bubbie, ca. 2006) and left it alone.  Now there are TWO babies growing in there!  I think this is an Echeveria.  They require mostly hands off and very little water. Its been in here maybe a couple months?

When I saw that Kathie made corn fritters, I knew I had to make them.  My mother used to make these for us when we were children.  Unfortunately, she didn't pass the recipe along.  I improvised with Jiffy cornbread mix, frozen corn, egg, milk.  Mine could have used a sprinkle of salt, but they were so good.

This was one of three meals I actually cooked this week, using up some foods in my freezer and fridge. (twice a week, going forward)

3 over-ripe tomatoes went into a pot with olive oil, garlic, seasonings, broth. I simmered this for about two hours, then make a little pot of spaghetti with a nub of ground beef from the freezer.

Lunch one day, dinner a future day.

I was *horrified* that The Girl wanted to flat out toss some of her embroidery into the trash!  I saved it in the nick of time.  Who would even want these?, she asked.  ME.  The racy ladies are perfect in the bathroom.

The botanical stems are in the sewing room.

Another made its way into my bedroom.  And a 6th one (not shown) is in my closet above my jewelry shelf.  I picture myself years from now, passing them on to her kids. If I can part with them. (and there are still 4 more of them!)

I'm doing the most important packing first for my trip to the beach - snacks. Ha. Between now and Tuesday morning, I will have the rest of everything ready to go, including myself.  Not gonna lie - I am a tad bit nervous of traveling alone.  Baby steps for me, as the beach is a mere 4 hours away.

I sewed some hearts this week and will take them on my journey.  It was a good boredom buster, in between reading and getting a few things done around the house.  Here's the link if you want to play along with fabric: https://ifoundaquiltedheart.com/

Happy weekend!

Gina

5 thing Friday - happy hour, weather, Aqua Festival poster, chrysanthemum print, "Japanese Cheesecake"

I took myself to a fun place for happy hour after I bopped around the creative re-use store looking for cheap art supplies. 

A friend recommended this Indian restaurant in downtown Austin.

I enjoyed a couple of adult bevvies and some appetizers.

I love the idea of fusion food - this was curry queso.  Dee-lish.

Mornings have looked like this lately.  Sunny, slightly nippy, super beautiful.  Its a promise of warm days to come.  I am taking my daily walks and soaking up all the sun I can.

And evenings are just right for a quick firepit while supper cooks.  It won't be long before the days lengthen, but Austin normally sees at least one big winter event before spring.  After that, I guess the firepit will get safely stowed away.

Look what I found behind the art in this frame!  Can you imagine? This was a major event in Austin each year, until 1998.  I think we went a couple of times back in the day.  I don't remember ever seeing this framed poster, but maybe Mark had it in his office.  Just like when I found the Leah Schwartz pink poster, it was like a blast from my past.  I wonder what it's worth?

I stored the previous art, cleaned up the frame, left the AAF poster in, and hung my chrysanthemum print.  Pardon the lighting, it was evening when I got around to this project.  OK, I pinky promise to leave this wall DONE and stop moving things around.  Was I sad to see The Girl's middle school art finally get taken down?  A little. But knowing the poster is still in there is kinda fun. 

I thought the Japanese cheesecake thing sounded interesting and I tried it, but shocker, it just tasted like cookies in yogurt.  Mine was slightly sweet vanilla yogurt as I cannot imagine how terrible plain unsweetened yogurt would have tasted.  As it is, this was barely sweet and did not taste like dessert in the least.  Yogurt is not my favorite thing - just give me the cookies.

Gina

5 thing Friday - concert, plumbing, bonus room, front door, Chloe

I took myself out on Tuesday night.

Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra were performing at the Bass Concert Hall on the UT campus.  Finding my way to the theater from the parking garage should have been easier, but there is a lot of construction and I exited the garage on the wrong level!  I went to UT for 2 years and was a tour guide with Alpha Phi Omega, so you would think I could find my way around?  I guess not!

He entertained the audience with his quirky wit before the show.  My tickets got upgraded to the orchestra section for free so I had a great view.

And they were very talented.  They were joined by a singer from the Broadway cast of Wicked and she was really good, too!  I didn't get a photo of her because I was livin' in the moment.

I kept hearing a sound that I thought was the toilet running.  Couldn't figure out how and why...turns out, it was the faucet in the tub.  Running a steady stream of hot water, no matter how far to COLD it was turned or how hard I pushed it in.  At least 5 days of that - I will hate to see my water bill.

So, $355 later, it was fixed by a guy my plumber sent over, who informed me that I could "get one of my sons" to caulk around the tub drain until such a time as I could buy a new tub insert.

Look.

First of all, no sir. That, in fact, does not require whiskers. And stop calling me Miss Gina.  Second of all, no one takes baths in here, so I'm going to caulk this my damn self and go on living my life.

I spent HOURS this week trying to hang mini blinds in here.  Twice, I brought the wrong size home, even after I felt like I had measured it correctly.  Then I had to use the new hardware that came with the blinds, so I had to remove the old brackets and install the new ones which was a pain in the rear, and then it was so hard to get the new blinds snapped it.  I also discovered that the casing for the curtain was too narrow for the curtain rods I bought.  So I adjusted that with my trusty sewing machine, cleaned the curtain, and FINALLY called it all done.

I have steam cleaned this carpet 3 times.  I don't know what all Bubbie spilled on it, and I'm trying not to complain about it so much but it was also a giant pain in the rear.  All I wanted to do was get this room cleaned and painted and set up nicely. Sheesh.

I took a break from working on the guest room to put together a Fall basket for the front door.  Cost was zero dollars.  I guess it will stay this way until I decorate for Christmas.  Doesn't that seem far away?  Its only 105 days away, folks.

And, finally.

Today is The Girl's Birthday.  These are photos from her first morning at home. Her name is Chloe Erin, aka Coco, aka Coconut.  She is my smart and beautiful only girl and I cannot believe she is 34.  Mark and I looked so young, but we were about 30 years old and thought we had a lifetime ahead of us.  Seeing him with her wrecks me a little.  She was Daddy's Girl.  Its a bittersweet day here, for sure.

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.

Christmas 2024, in brief

Christmas was everything I wanted it to be.

Luminarias lining the walkway to the front of the church

A beautiful service that filled me with hope

The tree ready to welcome my peeps

Time spent together as a family

Scout

Firstborn

Bubbie

The Girl and Teddy

A peaceful, loving day full of relaxation, good food, time together.

A beautiful ending to the year!

Gina

Monday menus #101

I started a tradition with The Girl of giving her a Christmas ornament every year.  Sometimes I make them, sometimes I buy them, usually from Pottery Barn.  And this year, she gave me one! 

I put it right on my bedroom tree, which has a snowflake theme.

Monday - kitchen closed

Tuesday - Trader Joe's Gnocci ala Sozzentina with mini meatballs, green beans {Telehealth appt. in a.m., on call in p.m.}

Wednesday - Seasoned Chicken Drums, sweet potato, side salad {on call in p.m.}

Thursday - Skillet Curry Tilapia, root veggie fries, corn

Friday - Thai Pork with Peppers, pot stickers {payday}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Its a smallish slim tree on a timer, and pretty to wake up to!

Gina

5 thing Friday - cooking, thinning hair, frozen yogurt, The Girl, new toy

 I'm pretty much still on the "I hate cooking" train.

Obviously I have to prepare food to eat, so I have been relying on one bowl or one pot meals for the most part.  A cooked and flaked salmon filet is delightful on a bagged chopped salad, for example.

And a one pan stir fry with beef tips, pre-cut stir fry veggies and some microwaved ramen noodles hit the spot one night.  My menus may sound like I'm going to a lot of trouble, but that's all smoke and mirrors.

I'm actually spending my available brain space in working on myself.  I finally made an appointment to see a dermatologist about my hair, which continues to fall out at an alarming rate.  I'm almost ready to just shave it close to my head.

Two core biopsies and two weeks to wait and hopefully we will have some answers.

I read somewhere that Grape-Nuts cereal is a popular ice cream flavor and I had definitely never heard of that.  So, of course, I had to try it, but I am not about to make my own ice cream.  Instead, I bought some frozen yogurt, softened it, mixed the cereal in, then popped it back into the freezer.  I gotta tell you, the flavor combo is great, but the cereal is still very crunchy.  Like, don't-eat-this-if-you-have-weak-teeth crunchy.  Even as a cereal you need to let it sit in milk for a bit to soften up.  

Consuela charm, Fall candy, fiddle leaf, moola

The Girl has a birthday next week.  I haven't seen her in months.  I am well aware that kids grow up and leave home and live their lives but I also cannot reconcile the fact that we are a family, first and foremost, and it takes mere seconds to check in with each other given all the instant technology we have now to do so.  All that to say: I miss her very much. Rant over.

For my 30th workiversary, my employer sent me a 30 year pin, and my choice from a "prize" catalog.  So I picked out a tablet, as the Nook is not going to be as helpful as I thought it would for watching exercise videos and Hulu and whatnot.  It came with a stand, headphones, keyboard, and carrying case.  I can't wait to get it all set up today!

Gina