Counting down the days to Friday night By the end of the week I think I’ve earned the right
To get a little drunk, get a little stoned Catch a good buzz to my favorite song Go a little crazy, get a little numb Raise a glass, and bang my head to the beat of the drums
~Wayland
Yesterday, I picked up Mj, and we went for our Friday afternoon “coffee date”. It’s been our thing, my girls and I, to make a trip for coffee every Friday. We stopped by the grocery store, and got stuff to make Fiastadas. On our way home, this song played on the radio. It’s one we’ve often jammed to, on our backyard guitar playing nights. I sent this video to my dad, his girlfriend, and my sister. We’ve all got a group chat that we text each other in, pretty much daily. Our conversation went as follows…
My dad’s the world’s biggest smart ass lol
For the record, I never wrecked my dad’s truck. When I was 16, he’d just bought a really cool new pickup, and he let me drive it out one Friday night. On my way home, a mama and baby deer ran across the highway. I hit the brakes, and literally just as it came to a stop, it did that little lurch forward from the momentum. I knocked the baby deer down, but it got right back up and ran off. It was completely unharmed. However, it slightly dented in his front license plate. He intentionally left it that way, and has always teased me about the time I “totaled” his new truck. 😂
I had to drive Mj to flags practice, at 6:45 this morning. Adam went into work for awhile, and then came home and worked some more. We’re going to have some grilled hotdogs and brats, for supper, so this afternoon I made some potato salad and deviled eggs to go with. I recorded that process, if anybody’d like to see how I make those. I’ll link it, at the end of this blog post. When Mj’s practice was over, I picked up her and her friend. She’s having a friend over, to spend the night. They asked me to drive them over to the bookstore. So, I brought them over there. I’m figuring they’ll be calling for me to come bring them home, any minute now. She’s at the age where it seems like I’m just constantly chauffeuring her places. I swear, there’s at least somewhere to bring her, pick her up from, or both, everyday! I love it, though. Usually, anyhow. It makes me happy, spending time with any and all my babies. It also means the world to me that they want to hang out with their mama, too.
I’m hoping I can talk Adam into playing a few games of cornhole, with me, later tonight. It’s a fairly laid back weekend, here in our house. Which I think is honestly just perfect!
Here’s the link to my deviled eggs, and potato salad 🙂
Well, I see him on the TV Preaching ’bout the promised lands He tells me, “Believe in Jesus” Steals the money from my hands Some say he was a good man Lord, I think he sinned
22 years of mental tears cries a suicidal Vietnam vet Who fought a losing war on a foreign shore To find his country didn’t want him back Their bullets took his best friends in Saigon Our lawyers took his wife, his kids, no regrets In a time I don’t remember In a war he can’t forget He cried, “Forgive me for what I’ve done there ‘Cause I never meant the things I did”
And give me something to believe in If there’s a Lord above And give me something to believe in Oh, Lord, arise”
~Poison
I’m really not looking for a political argument, but my gosh, am I fed up with… Is our latest escapade supposed to be referred to as “military action”? Whatever. It’s another war, our congress never voted for. We’ve been fighting, somewhere in the Middle East, since before my adult life even began! I’m wise enough to recognize there are things I surely don’t understand. I have to assume some kind of intelligence has been gathered, which has lead my country’s leaders to send our young men and women back into a hell I can’t begin to imagine. What I do know about, is the scars undoubtedly being caused. They’re witnessing, and also participating in, horrific realities of combat. Some leave with catastrophic wounds. Some only recognize they’re injured, after they’re back here. There’ll be physical trauma, but also mental and emotional pain, that doesn’t ever fully heal. And, for some, they’ll only make it back home inside a box draped in the American flag. Because this has been pretty much the “norm”, my entire adult life, I have to wonder if it’s just always been this way? Does every generation feel like the world’s “on fire”? Does everyone ponder over whether “the end is nigh”? The overarching question I’ve got, though, is why? What are we really trying to do? What are the suits, behind their comfortable desks, making these calls that affect families that are somehow never theirs, truly aiming to accomplish?
I’ve gotta end this rant, because I don’t have time to fully hash out my frustration with those things, tonight.
School’s officially back in session. August, December, and May are the most busy times of the year, for us. Mikayla starts back to school, next week, and B doesn’t go back until September. We’re going down to Knoxville, this coming weekend. Mikayla’s moving into a new apartment. We’re going to help her get all moved in, and set up there.
This past weekend, I worked on a little project. I’ve had a plain cube shelf, in our living room, for awhile now. I’ve considered replacing it, with a nicer one, but ultimately decided to give an idea I’d gotten a try. I spent a day and a half measuring, sawing, nailing, gluing, and painting. First, I added some trim, around the top of the shelf. I also added faux stained oak wood look, at the top.
Then, I painted 1.5 inch blocks, and attached them to the bottom. After that, I added more trim that I’d also painted. I used 1.5 inch trim, for the sides, but on the front, I shorted it to just 1 inch. It created a slight arch, this way.
Before (also peep Gary peering out from behind 😂)After
I was pretty proud of myself! I did it completely on my own, with only my own brain to process my ideas and to create something that worked. It’s not perfect, but it turned out looking much better than before!
I better go grab my husband, and hop in the shower, before he passes out. Poor guy’s been working so much, lately. It’s SO hot, too. I always get on him, to make sure he’s staying hydrated. Especially after last year, when he was found unconscious after suffering heat stroke, out on one of the job sites! I don’t think my heart can take another phone call like that one.
I should actually have a little more time to sit down and write, tomorrow morning. Just wanted to stop in, and say all’s well. Busy, is all! Good, though. Real good.
I also shared a couple of snack/treats I made, for school and Adam’s work lunches, if anyone’s interested.
It’s Everest, I know It’s impossible, you’re too young or too old That’s what they tell you So that’s what you tell you too So the light, it fades When you figure out the rules, they change When you touch it in your hands, it’s sand Slipping through, but the truth is
Everybody says that you can’t ’til you do Standing there, staring at the mirror in the room Tell yourself “One more day, one more day, one more shot” The voices in the night, in your head Yeah, they’ll pay you to quit They’ll tell you that it’s hard, ’cause it is But you can do anything, anything you want to There’s footprints on the moon
~Gabby Barrett
I’m running out of time to write much here, tonight. It’s been another busy day. I had an appointment, in Nashville. When I got back home, I made monotonous phone calls, and then I put on some music. I got a lot of housework done. Mj’s been busy, with lots of days of flags practice. School officially starts back, next week. How did another Summer come and pass by, so quickly?! I’m taking her school shopping, tomorrow.
While I was cooking supper, I got to thinking about some things I’d been wanting to talk about. I uploaded a video, and it’s posted on my YouTube channel now.
Other than all that, I don’t have a whole lot else to say. I’m going to put “I Love Lucy”, on the TV, and work on some craft projects. I’ve got just about an hour, before it’ll be time to hop in the shower with Adam, and then get ready for bed. Goodnight, y’all. ♥️
I spent today hanging out with my kid, and it was a blast. I woke up full of goofy energy, and it translated into a really fun afternoon, with Mj. Adam was late, getting home from work. From pretty much the first moment he walked in the door, my silly was turnt up to a 10. I suppose my unmedicated ADHD brain could be to blame, but my family laughs with me, so I don’t think it’s a problem.
Mj and I made some fruit pastries, this afternoon.
I made fiestadas, for supper, and recorded a video I’ll share here. The video quickly devolves into utter chaos, but if anyone needs a laugh, you’ll not be disappointed.
That girl can take a gray sky and paint it blue She can put the smooth in the 90 proof She can hang the moon in a sundress Even put a sinner on a front pew She can make shining diamond Out of West Virginia coal She can put a smile on a weeping willow
~Warren Zeiders
She didn’t even know I took this pic, lolI drove past my old neighborhood, the other day. The trees, just before its entrance, look so pretty.
It’s definitely starting to look and feel a lot like Spring, here. Everything’s growing, blooming, blossoming. The grass, the trees, and my babies. Mj’s having a much better year, this year, than last. She’s growing up so fast, I can hardly even keep up with the changes. She can be a broody young teenager, moods swinging so quick they’ll gimmie whiplash, some days. Most days, though, she’s still my sweet little girl. Just a little bit less little. We got her a ridiculously expensive gaming laptop, for Christmas. She loves playing online games with her friends, but also she’ll often get her sisters on FaceTime, and they’ll all play Sims or something. I love it that they do that. It makes me happy, they’re all still so close.
Last Saturday, Mj had her last flags competition for this season. I did her makeup, and took her there. Awhile later, Adam got a phone call from Mikayla. She was in tears, sitting in the waiting room of Urgent Care. The night before, she’d been working her waitressing job, when the whole place filled with smoke. She told us she’d felt perfectly fine, but just a couple hours later, she was coughing, and it was getting harder and harder for her to breathe. She’d woke up that morning, feeling even worse. She had been planning on coming home, for the week, over her school’s Spring Break. Both Adam and I were very worried about her. We anxiously waited for her to see the doctor, and make sure she was okay. Fortunately, the doc said it was just a coincidence that her symptoms first appeared shortly after the smoke exposure. What she actually had, was influenza. Mj, B, and I all got our flu shots, in the Fall. I’d reminded Mikayla, multiple times, to stop by any minute clinic or pharmacy, and get hers. Unfortunately, she hadn’t gotten it done. Since her symptoms had only begun hours before she saw a doctor, he prescribed a round of Tamiflu, to help fight the virus. He also prescribed her a strong cough medicine, which would make her sleepy. I talked with her, while she picked up her medications. My poor kid was still crying and just plain miserable. She wanted to drive home. As much as I wanted her to be here, I told her absolutely not! She didn’t need to be out on the roads, driving home alone, as sick as she was. Adam had been in a darn near panic, and wanted to jump in his truck and go down to Knoxville to get her. With Mj at her competition, she wouldn’t be back until late that night. One of us needed to be able to pick Mj up. I offered to drive to Knoxville, and stay the night there with Mikayla. Then, I could at least follow her home, if she was up to it, on Sunday. By the time she got her meds and back to her house, she’d calmed down and decided she wanted to just get into her bed and sleep. So, Adam and I checked in with her, that night and all the next day, Sunday. By Monday, she was feeling a lot better. She drove home, that afternoon.
Oh, and Mj’s team placed third, at their competition!
Mikayla left, this morning, headed back to Knoxville. Adam was helping a friend put up fence, today. This evening, he grilled us a couple racks of ribs. I made scalloped potatoes, and cut up cucumber slices in vinegar water with onion. I love it when our meals look so pretty and colorful!
I spent the day working on laundry, and cleaning up around the house. I’ve been getting my Spring decor all set out. I’ve also been spending a few hours, here and there, making new craft projects.
I’ve kinda got a rustic/silly theme for our hall bathroomI put a matching lampshade on our floor lamp, so it goes with my other one there on the cabinet, in our dining room. I really like it! Should’ve done that a long time ago.
It’s been another busy week, but it was fun having my girls all here. Mj’s Spring Break is this coming week. So, she’ll be home, hanging out with me all week. I’ve got a handful of things for us to do. Some of them she probably won’t be too excited about, like cleaning all the upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms. I think she’ll have fun going hiking with me, over in the caves near us, though. Of course, we’ll surely also be making a trip, or three, to our favorite coffee spots.
On Thursday, I’d been out with my girls all afternoon. Adam didn’t get home from work, until nearly 8:00pm. By the time we all got home, it was too late to really cook supper. I made one of the quick and easy meals everybody here likes, Fritos chili cheese wraps. For anybody interested, I’ll drop the link for them, here.
This really isn’t meant to be a contradiction to my recent post, I’m Still Me. When I said I found myself, and she’s still the me I used to be, I meant it! This song’s sentiment is more of a statement on who I am now, compared to one or two very long, difficult years ago. I’m unbelievably grateful to be in a much much better place.
I’ve been rediscovering my voice. I can hear it in the words I’ve written, here, over the last several weeks. There’s a noticeable shift in my tone and overall mindset. I wonder if that’s apparent, to y’all?
Last week, I was starting to feel like maybe my allergies were getting the better of me. The past couple days, though, I’m wondering if it’s a virus I’m fighting. My girls and I did get our flu shots. I suppose it’s possible I could have mild symptoms, from influenza or something? Or, just a cold. Or, it actually may be bad allergies. Whatever it is, I’ve had the tightening in my throat, that often signals impending days of sounding hoarse as heck, if I’m able to squeak any vocal sounds out, at all. I can’t remember the last time I made it a whole year, without losing my voice at least once!
I’m pretty tired, and low energy, this evening. Which, I absolutely hate. I did record my chili recipe, for anyone interested. It’s a super secret recipe, passed down through generations of my family. Just kidding. I think?
Well, I think I’d better hop in the shower, and get ready for bed early, tonight. Hopefully, some rest will fend off whatever’s attacking my immune system.
A couple weeks ago, on my way home from an appointment in Nashville, I was feeling a little blue. I tried to fight it, to push those feelings down. As if on cue, this song played. I’ve had it in my playlists for at least a couple years, but it was the most perfect lyrics for my mood!
A few days after that, I’d had an appointment with my eye doctor. I had finally lost my last pair of eyeglasses, and I really hate driving at night without them. Since at least a year ago, I’ve been swearing my eyesight has gotten noticeably better, and I wasn’t wrong! My astigmatism still prevents me from seeing well, at night, but during the daytime, I’m perfectly fine. My prescription was pretty mild before, but now it’s barely a prescription for anything more than my astigmatism. My eye doctor kept insisting it’s incredibly rare for an adult’s eyesight to improve. Somehow, mine has gotten markedly better, though!
Then, about a week ago, I began to hear about this crazy winter storm heading our way. They were calling for us to get up to 20 inches of SNOW!!! I’d never seen that much snow in my life! As it turned out, I still have yet to see anywhere near that amount of snow accumulation. Nope, instead we wound up with about 4 inches of snow, with another 3 inches of sleet and ice layered on top of it. Adam had gotten a giant generator, capable of running our heat, most of our outlets and light switches. He got it plugged into the outlet meant for it, down in our garage, just in case. I really hoped we wouldn’t have to use it, though. I’d gotten plenty of groceries, made sure my car had a full gas tank, and ran any errands needed, before we’d be homebound for several days.
We woke up, on Saturday morning, to some light snowflakes beginning to fall.
An hour later, the snow began to accumulate.
That evening, we started seeing the shift to more ice being predicted to accumulate from freezing rain. Sunday morning, we looked out our windows to find some seriously weighed down trees and power lines.
I’m not sure how we got so lucky, but we never did lose power! My dad lost power from around 5am Sunday morning, through just yesterday afternoon.
We ventured out, just yesterday, for the first time since before this storm arrived.
School’s canceled through this whole week, and Adam hasn’t been to work, either. He’s planning to go in for awhile, tomorrow. I’m going a little stir crazy, being stuck here at home, but this is the first time my new car’s seen winter weather, and I’m not convinced she’ll care much for it! Things have been melting, during the daytime, and then refreezing overnight. Our roads are still pretty messy.
I tried a new recipe, from TikTok. They used Ramen noodles, which I substituted with cooked macaroni noodles. I drained the noodles, and poured them into a casserole dish. Then, I mixed in a can of tomato soup, and 2 cans of chili (without beans). I baked it in the oven, at 350 degrees, for about half an hour. I topped it with shredded cheddar cheese, popped it back in the oven for about 5 minutes, and it was ready. My family gobbled it up! Mj says it reminds her of canned ravioli, and Adam asked me to add that to my cookbook, so I can make it for supper again.
Being trapped within the confines of my home has resulted in lots of baking, yummy meals, and a very organized and clean house, at least!
You need 4-6 potatoes. I prefer the Yukon gold ones, for potato salad. Russet works also, though.
About 1 cup of mayonnaise
About 1 Tbs yellow mustard
Sweet pickle relish. It HAS to be the sweet relish. I put in 3-4 Tbs.
4 hard boiled eggs (chopped)
About 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1-2 teaspoons of sugar
Paprika
Peel, dice, and boil potatoes, until tender. About 20 minutes. Drain. Mix in mayo, mustard, sweet relish, eggs, sugar, and celery. Sprinkle with paprika. Refrigerate. That’s it!
Also, looks like plans have already changed. Justin and Jackie are heading over here. We’re going to hang out for awhile, tonight. 😊
Cook the sausage and bacon. Lightly spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Place the bread on the bottom of the pan. Beat eggs in a bowl, and pour over the bread. Crumble sausage and bacon over the eggs. Spread cheese on top. Cover. Bake at 350 for about an hour.
I always prepare this on Christmas Eve, and put it in the fridge, so it’s ready to go in the oven on Christmas morning. I decided to make it this morning, for the family. It’s easy, filling, and they love it!
I meant to take a picture, when I took it out of the oven, but forgot to. This is all we had left!
I was trying to come up with something different I can make the kids for breakfast. I rummaged through my fridge, and saw I had a tube of crescent roll dough in there. I haven’t made these in awhile, but it’s super easy, quick, and yummy.
You need a tube of crescent roll dough. I always buy Publix, Walmart, or Kroger brand. I really don’t see any difference between Pillsbury, versus store brand, with these.
Melt about 2 Tbs butter. I like to make them real buttery, so you may use less, but that’s what I use. Unroll your crescent dough, and separate into the individual rolls. Brush some of the butter on the insides of each of your crescents. Sprinkle some cinnamon and sugar on them. Then, roll them corner to corner, as you would if you were making plain ones. Brush some more butter on the tops of each crescent roll. Sprinkle some more cinnamon and sugar on top. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.
For icing, I mix a cup of powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp of vanilla, and a little milk. Start with about 1 tsp of milk, stir, and add additional teaspoonfuls until you get the consistency you like. When the rolls are done baking, drizzle the icing on top.
This is just another one of my random recipes. As usual, not particularly low fat, but delicious! 😆
Chronicles in Submission 