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.

{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 arrived just after the music ended, but we enjoyed socializing with them for a while and we were all there until closing.  We headed to Captain D's for our dinner, then back at Highlands 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!

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, and lounged.  Then we packed it all up for the trip home.

It was hard to leave.

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

Empty Nest Menu #79

We went through a lot of wine the week of  the winter storm... 

...and I plan to replenish it very soon!

Monday - Grilled Chicken Breast on Caesar salad {my mother's 91st birthday!}

Tuesday - Mexican Tilapia, fresh green beans

Wednesday - Chili Beans in crockpot, garlic rolls, chopped onion with cilantro

Thursday - BBQ Pork Chop, Sunshine Corn, zucchini

Friday - Bacon Wrapped Chicken, baked sweet potato, peas

Saturday - Free Choice all day! {start project lists for Christmas}

Sunday - pick up a burger on the way home from Highlands {see Bubbie this weekend?}

******

{I decided not to carry forward the menu items I didn't fix the week we had the storm.  Let's just start fresh!}

Gina

5 thing {late} Friday - cooking, humidifier, cereal, cactus, eczema

 Not all of my cooking efforts are loved by my family.

But Hubby and I like just about the same things.  For instance, we both think that cheesy grits, topped with scrambled eggs and bacon, pumpkin bread on the side, is pretty wonderful.  Firstborn said the mashed potatoes were "gritty".  Eyeroll.

In desperation, I tried making a DIY humidifier by setting a water-filled crock pot on high and adding essential oils.  Didn't work as well as just simmering it on the stove.  Good to know.

Its my habit to combine cereals when we get down to the last few dregs in a box.  That way, it doesn't go to waste.  Sometimes, Hubby is none the wiser.  Like when I add a non-sweet cereal into the sweet stuff. 

My cacti on the back patio weathered the crazy winter storm just fine.  All of the other plants got taken inside and that's where they will stay until the end of March, I guess.  That little blue stone is a glow in the dark pebble.  I need to order a bag of them for Highlands.

I am struggling with eczema this week so I have my plan of attack all lined up on my bathroom counter.  Wish me luck, because this is terrible!  I have some large patches that are purple-y red.  I give it until Monday then its to my doctor I go.

Gina

Still with me

 The snow is gone.  Our houseguests are back in their own home.  My house is clean - sheets, floors, bathrooms, you name it. And I think all of my peeps are doing better this week than last.

And after many days of making our way through most of the food in the house, I was finally able to get groceries!  You wouldn't know it from the empty spaces in the fridge, but trust me, it was much, much emptier.  It gave me the excuse to wipe it down thoroughly, too.

I got very creative with meals - I had a Plan A and a Plan B this week, just in case I didn't get the shopping done.  I can tell you right now that Stewed Cabbage and Carrots with Ham did not get my Hubby's full endorsement. {but I LOVED it}  

We wasted no food.

I'm only feeding two people, and we have plenty.

Its not lost on me that any of my issues about last week are lame, so I won't complain.  We were warm, had water, kept our jobs, fed ourselves just fine.  And though it still feels like a little of that bad ju-ju is still with me, I am moving on and looking forward to a couple of projects this spring.  It feels good to look forward to something, and overall, I am very grateful.

But, anyone else still feeling the effects of last week?  That was rough.

Gina