The Small Stuff

What's new in your little corner of the world?

2011-01-13T09:56:00.001-08:00

After so long without a post, I’m almost embarrassed to sit down and write something for my poor little neglected blog. 30 lashes with a wet noodle! Off with my head! Or something like that. Seriously though … what can possibly be of such import that I would actually write about it after months of nothing?

I had to look at my blog’s name and remind myself, the small stuff. Oh yeah, that’s what I’m supposed to write about. Okay, here goes some small stuff …

I’m still walking almost every morning. I’m really pleased about that. It’s sad to say that in 50+ years of living, I’ve never stuck to an exercise routine for this long. But the truth is, I’m not looking at it like an exercise regimen; instead, I’m trying to focus on healthy living, and this is just a part of living a healthy life. Every day I need to sweat a little. Of course, with the Memphis weather lately, there’s not been nearly as much sweating going on. This morning when I walked it was 14 degrees. It still felt great.

Memphis had a big snowstorm earlier this week, and Chance did NOT like the snow. He’s built a little too low to the ground, plus his legs quickly got covered with little balls of ice that we could not wipe off. They had to melt. Poor little boy… So needless to say, he’s been spending limited time outside.

We recently got new (to us) furniture for our dining room. I’m so happy with it. We got a beautiful table with six chairs and a sideboard. I’ve invited our dear friends over for dinner this Saturday night, so hopefully we can break it in then. I’m planning a good, hearty, southern menu: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn, field peas, and biscuits. Maybe apple or peach cobbler with ice cream for dessert.

Here’s a couple pictures of our dining room. We still have to buy a rug, move a picture and get a couple more for the walls.

another Pleasant Valley Sunday...

2010-10-31T13:02:00.000-07:00

So, I'm still on my walking program. I think I heard somewhere that it takes 21 days to create a new habit. Tomorrow will be my 21st day and it feels like a habit now to get up, get dressed, walking shoes on, and head out the door. It makes my day so much better.

I'll tell you a secret. This morning I got lost. Our neighborhood has tons of side streets that sort of meander around, some of them ending up nowhere, some of them curving around eventually to another street, and some of them actually forming a sort of grid that you usually think of when you think of city streets. Anyway, I ended up pretty far from my house and what usually is a 30-minute walk ended up being over an hour and a half and almost 4 miles. The good thing is, I can't even imagine being able to do this three weeks ago. So I've come a long way in a short time and I feel really good about that.

Here are a few pictures I've taken the last couple of days. This is our horn of plenty I put on our hearth (can't see the horn, just the flowers).

Here's a better shot of it:

This is my wreath hanging on our front door.

And here's one more shot of it. You will notice Chance had to get in on the shot.

More later --

Walk the talk

2010-10-24T11:11:00.001-07:00

So, I have been walking. Today is the 13th consecutive day I've gotten up, gotten dressed and out the door. When I first started, I could only walk for about 10 minutes and then I was exhausted and ready to collapse. The last couple days I have walked for more than 20 minutes and for a little more than a mile. I think that's a lot of progress for 13 days.

Most days I am ready and even sort of excited to get out and walk. There's only been one really bad day when I just felt like crap and did not want to do it. But I laid in bed, thinking about how much I did not want to get up and walk, and finally decided to "just do it." So I did. And it made my day better.

I hope I can continue to do my walks every day. I even have an inclement weather plan -- if it's not raining much, I will go ahead and walk. If it is, then I will pull out my Leslie Sansone walk in place video (that I'm ashamed to say I've never watched, not once) and put in my time in front of the TV for that day.

More later --

Friday nights are the best

2010-10-15T17:48:00.000-07:00

I love Friday nights ... always have. The weekend stretches out in front of you and you are full of plans for the weekend. It's like the possibilities are endless.

Snapped a couple pics of Boots a few minutes ago. He's such a photogenic cat, I love taking pictures of him.

More later --

Boots, the kitteh blanket

2010-10-06T16:57:00.000-07:00

My cat loves to spread himself over a piece of furniture like a blanket ... a big ol' cat blanket.

Sunday evening check in

2010-10-03T17:42:00.000-07:00

It has been a beautiful weekend here in Memphis. The weather is gloriously cool with no humidity. I've had doors and windows thrown open to let in the fresh air. October is my favorite month of all.

Yesterday was our anniversary and it was as beautiful as it was the day of our wedding. Thinking about our anniversary got me all nostalgic, so I dug out our wedding albums and went for a walk down memory lane.

This was Steve and his best man:

This was the sweet, beautiful church we were married in:

Here's a few more from the wedding and reception:

More later --

a few more pics from our beach trip

2010-09-28T20:09:00.001-07:00

Just another day in paradise...

Our little piece of paradise

We saw TONS of dolphins on our "Sea Blaster" cruise. Alot of them were really close.

Cool places on the Bay

On the Sea Blaster

Steve looking for shells

A breathtakingly beautiful sunset

Eating dinner at The Back Porch in Destin, Florida (one of my most favorite places on earth)

View from the boat we were on

Our little stretch of the beach

We already miss it and wish we could go back.

More later ---

Home again, home again

2010-09-26T12:18:00.000-07:00

Well, our vacation was as wonderful as we hoped. We could SO be beach bums ... if only real life didn't beckon. But it does, and so tomorrow it's back to work and to the real world.

I took some great pictures on vacation and here's a few.

This is where we stayed on Okaloosa Island:

These are pictures inside the condo:

And this one was our condo from the beach. It was right on the beach and it only took us a minute to get out to the water.

Here's the pool:

I'll add more from our trip later --

So, how's your summer going?

2010-09-05T16:36:00.000-07:00

It has been a long, hot summer here. I heard today that this summer was the 2nd hottest that Memphis ever had. I believe it!

Once again, I have been woefully neglectful of my little blog. I guess the main reason is because I haven't felt well and I didn't want my posts to be negative... Then too, there really hasn't been anything of note going on in our lives this summer. I've worked a LOT and other than that, have stayed in and tried to avoid the heat as much as possible.

The last few days, however, have been absolutely glorious, weather-wise. I've always felt that September felt much more like a "new start" than January, and this year more so that ever. I decided to go back on my low carb eating plan, to hopefully get rid of these extra pounds I have put on.

We're planning a beach vacation later this month and we are so excited about it. We really need a break. We're flying this year instead of driving, and I hope it simplifies and makes for a better, more relaxing week off. It's a direct flight with no connections, so it's as simple as I could make it. Plus, I got a wonderful deal on our beach condo -- 40% off the fall price, plus a $200 debit card, courtesy of BP, to encourage tourism in the Florida panhandle. We're getting a condo on the ground floor this year -- no elevators to deal with.

Here's the view from our rental condo:

More later --

Memorial Day 2010

2010-05-31T06:18:00.000-07:00

This was on my very first post one year ago today:

I am proud of our country and the freedom we enjoy, and I know it's because of those who fought and even died that we are free today. To all who have served our country, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

My favorite flowers in the world

2010-05-30T12:15:00.000-07:00

Thanks, Kim, for the beautiful hydrangeas!

What I'm reading

2010-05-29T03:44:00.000-07:00

So, I figured it was time for another edition of what I've been reading recently. I've been really lucky lately to have found some excellent books that I have thoroughly enjoyed.

Lost and Found: A Novel by Carolyn Parkhurst is a story about a mother and her teenage daughter whose relationship is strained, to put it mildly. They end up as contestants in a reality show game (think "Amazing Race") called Lost and Found, along with six other couples. The book moves along at a good pace, and both mother and daughter learn some things about each other. This is a fast and easy read, and I enjoyed it.

Same Kind of Different as Me by Denver Moore and Ron Hall. This is one of the best books I have ever read, truly! Denver Moore grew up a very poor black sharecropper in Alabama and escaped to a "better life" living on the streets of Ft. Worth, TX. Ron Hall and his wife, Debbie (a very affluent white couple) started volunteering at a homeless shelter in Ft. Worth and she and Ron gradually befriended Denver. The results of their friendship are nothing less than miraculous and amazing. Such an excellent book -- I give it five stars.

The Book Club by Mary Alice Monroe. As my friend Susan commented while reading this book, "Could it get any more real?" This one is about five very different women going through five very different life situations, bound together by their love of a good book and their commitment and membership in The Book Club. This was a really great read, chick lit, yes, and I enjoyed it wholeheartedly.

The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn. Back in the 90s, Amy wrote a monthly newsletter by this same name for about seven years total. This is a compilation of all of those newsletters. Packed with tips and advice on all things frugal, it is a perfect resource for someone trying to save a buck (or a thousand). The layout is such that you can search for what you are interested in, or conversely, pretty much open it up to any page and either learn something you didn't know, or get a great mini-refresher on living a frugal lifestyle.

Miss Julia Renews Her Vows by Ann B. Ross. Can I just say that I love Miss Julia? This is the latest installment in the series about the peppery little church lady who finds family and love in her later years, along with plenty of fun and drama. A cute, fun read.

More later --

Maggie's babies

2010-05-28T18:25:00.001-07:00

So, Maggie led her babies away today, in search of a new home with water.

You're a good mama, Maggie. I'll miss you.

Maggie's story

2010-05-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, we discovered a female mallard had "moved in" to the flower bed in the front of our office building. We quickly named her Maggie, and she settled right in. Over the next several days she laid eleven eggs and started incubating them.

By the middle of May, the Memphis temps were regularly reaching mid-80s and an occasional 90 degrees. So soon, a water bowl appeared by Maggie.

Then, a couple weeks ago, the building maintenance crew cleaned out the flower bed ... except for the part nearest to Maggie. They were taking care of her too.

Next, a bowl of bird seed appeared next to the water bowl. Then, as the weather got hotter, an umbrella was placed so that Maggie wouldn't have to spend her days in the hot sun.

Yesterday, Maggie's eggs hatched! Ten baby ducks were born!

Then, this afternoon -- she led them away. There are a couple of ponds nearby and she was headed toward one of those.

More later (including pictures of the babies on the move) --

Garden update

2010-05-23T09:39:00.000-07:00

My "garden" (such as it is - two tomato plants and one bell pepper plant) is having mixed results. Because of my neck/back issues, I decided to try a method I saw here, which entails planting right in the bag of garden soil...pretty genius, if you ask me! This allows me to keep plants up at a more reasonable level for me and also pretty much eliminates weeding.

Anyway, the first tomato plant is doing fantastic. I have 17 tomatoes on it! In fact, it is doing so well that I went to Lowe's last weekend and bought another tomato plant to try as well. But...sad to say, my bell pepper plant does not look happy. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. But I'm not seeing a bountiful harvest of red bell peppers in my future... Oh well, maybe it will perk up.

I'm just thrilled with my tomatoes though, and really hopeful that they will ripen and taste wonderful. Time will tell.

Here's some pictures.

The one in the bottom of this shot was my first tomato to pop out. It's pretty big now, and is yellow and turning red!

Here's another shot of my first/biggest one:

This is my new "baby" tomato plant. I hope it will do as well as the first one.

In my front beds, I planted some iris that my friend Kim gave me, oh...about a month ago. This weekend I noticed that one of the iris has bloomed! This is a big surprise to me, since I figured they wouldn't bloom until next Spring. The others don't have any blooms, so maybe this is a little freebie preview I get for next year. Anyway, it's nice.

More later --

Weekend trip to Mountain View

2010-05-12T17:22:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a long-weekend trip to the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. We stayed at a charming bed & breakfast in Mountain View. This was our second visit to the town and the B&B and we loved it.

Going to Mountain View is like taking a trip back in time. It's a picturesque small town with a town square and there's "Music on the Square" every weekend night. We spent a lot of time outside, sitting on the front porch, swinging on the glider in the back yard while reading a book, or just walking through the town. It was a really relaxing get-away and just what we needed.

Here are some photos:

More later --

Friday at last ...

2010-04-30T16:57:00.000-07:00

This has been a very hard, very long week and I am glad to see the back end of it. I was supposed to go to a dessert/coffee get-together with ladies in my Sunday School class tonight, but my neck and head were telling me "just say no" ... so I did. Hate that...

Every day when I come home I check my one and only tomato. It's bright green, hard as a rock, and twice as big as it was about 10 days ago! Plus, there are some little yellow flowers that I hope will turn into more of the same. The plant is huge now and just keeps getting taller and fuller. I can't wait to see what comes of it.

It's supposed to rain cats and dogs this weekend. I think I'll just stay in the house tomorrow and do housework. Seems like the perfect rainy day activity.

Here's a picture of my favorite flowers in all the world (and my favorite husband in all the world in the background):

My first attempt at vegetable gardening

2010-04-23T20:17:00.000-07:00

I have, for the very first time in my life, planted edibles. A tomato seedling and 2 small red bell pepper seedlings. I don't know if I can actually grow something, so I wanted to start small. If I actually get results, I'll do more next year.

I've heard it said that you can't be an old southern woman without growing tomatoes. I'm not old yet, but I wanted to at least be able to check that box off. :-)

Here's a couple pictures:

More Spring Flowers

2010-04-23T19:09:00.001-07:00

Also, not exactly flowers, but I do love my hen and chickens:

My babies

2010-03-15T15:28:00.001-07:00

Chance enjoys his backyard time.

Boots doesn't go outside, but he likes the view from safely inside the house.

Signs of Spring...yes!

2010-03-14T11:40:00.000-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

2010-02-14T09:39:00.001-08:00

Happy V-Day, everyone. Here in Memphis, it is a nice day, some clouds but not too cold. I think all of our snow has finally melted. The forecast is calling for more tonight and tomorrow, though. What is up with that? Memphis never gets this much snow.

Steve and I exchanged cards and gifts this morning. I got him a zippered case for his GPS, so it will be protected when he’s not actively using it. Also some Dove chocolates, which are his favorites. I made Steve Tollhouse cookie bars. I actually was going to make cookies, but my neck and right arm have really been hurting the last couple days, so I took the easy way out and just made a big cookie I could cut into bars. He just had one and said they’re great. I’m glad!

He gave me a pot of beautiful tulips and some pretty little purple flowers, which I think might be lilacs. Tulips are one of my favorite flowers (the other is hydrangea). The card he gave me was so sweet. I’m so nostalgic – I love to keep cards and letters. Sometimes I just pull out a bunch of them and go through them. It always makes me feel good. Steve also gave me a lovely heart-shaped ruby necklace with a silver chain. It’s just beautiful.

This is our 10th Valentine’s Day together as a married couple; our 13th together as a couple. I love him more now than ever. He’s such a good husband and partner and my best friend.

More later --

Saturday evening check-in

2010-02-06T19:01:00.000-08:00

So, there's not a lot going on. It's been cold and rainy for a few days. Actually, I don't know if it rained today, because I didn't leave the house! Love Saturdays when I can stay inside all day ... they seem to be few and far between.

Last night, I took off my fleece jacket and the next thing I know, Boots had claimed it for his own and was purring really loud! Here's a photo of the sweet kitty enjoying his warm "bed" --

Also, here's a shot of the beautiful roses I got the other day. These are courtesy of a "flower card" I got as a gift last March from my friend, Missy. A local florist, Holliday Flowers, issues a card with the 12 months printed on it. Once a month you go in, they punch your card, and you get a free bouquet of flowers. For January it was beautiful pink roses, tinged in a deeper shade of pink. Beautiful!

More later --

Ice Ice Baby

2010-01-31T11:23:00.000-08:00

We got slammed with a pretty significant ice and snow storm here in Memphis. We lost power on Friday night, but only for about 45 minutes, and thankfully, it came back on. We had the gas fireplace blazing, but it still would have been a cold night with no heat.

Saturday morning we awoke to find our beautiful Bradford pear tree had split in the night. It grazed the house and broke one of the window screens. Could have been much worse, though -- it didn't miss the window by more than a few inches!

Today, the sun is shining and the ice is melting. The high is supposed to be 34, which will be great.

Here are a couple pictures of our poor tree:

More later --

Blah blah blah

2010-01-20T17:32:00.000-08:00

I had a nerve block yesterday for my neck. I hope it works, but the jury is still out. There’s still some pain. I’ve been taking it very easy and following the instructions to the letter, to get the best possible results. The doc says it can take up to two weeks for complete results, so I guess we’ll see…

Our dishwasher is broken. God help us, we are so spoiled. Thankfully, it is covered under the warranty that came with our house. The repairman was here today. He said it’s the motor and it has to be ordered. So it will be several days, at least, depending on if they have a motor here in Memphis (sheesh).

Not a lot going on. I made a beautiful chicken pot pie today. Wish I’d taken a picture of it, because it really looked pretty. I made little cut-outs on the top crust and brushed it with egg wash, and even crimped the edges. I also made oatmeal raisin cookies – Steve and I both love those.

I’ve gotten hooked on “The Office” just recently. I just finished Season 2. It’s pretty addictive.

Okay, so that’s about it for my boring life these days. Hopefully, next time I post, it will actually be a little more interesting.

Here's a "blast from the past" picture of me, circa 1966:

More later --

Saturday morning musings

2010-01-16T06:04:00.001-08:00

"It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day in the neighbor--would you be mine....." For some reason this tune is going over and over in my head this morning. Pretty obnoxious, truth be told.

So, it's a Saturday morning. I got up early (well, the regular time) because I got all screwed up with my sleeping over the holidays and have been having the hardest time getting up and getting motivated for the workdays. And I read that if you want to prevent this, you should keep your sleeping/waking schedule consistent on weekends and other days off. Ergo....I'm up-n-at-em at 7:00 on a Saturday morning, yay.

Have to share a funny. Our cat, Boots, got sick (okay, that part's not funny, but wait for it). He peed on the floor two times, which he never does, so I knew something was wrong. Took him to the Vet and she said he has an infection. She gave him a shot and gave us antibiotics to give him for the next 10 days. Have you ever given a cat a pill? (But I digress)

Anyway, I've got him on the bed in a chokehold basically, giving him this pill. I'm cooing to him and stroking his neck and trying to make sure he swallowed it and that he's not going to escape and spit it out under the bed. Steve goes to his computer and the next thing I know, I hear Julie Andrews singing "a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down."

I cracked up! My husband has this knack for finding the most appropriate (or inappropriate) song for any given occasion, at a split-second's notice. Where in the (www)world does he find all this?

Got a nerve block scheduled for Tuesday, so if you see this and are a praying person, would you pray that this will relieve at least some of my neck pain? It's very wearisome and I would love to be rid of it. Thanks!

Four days off, here I come

2009-12-30T18:38:00.000-08:00

For the second week in a row, I get a 4-day weekend. (I could get used to this!)

So, the plan for tomorrow is:

1. Clean house (at least some)
2. Start putting away the Christmas decorations
3. Make cookies (coconut sesame cookies)
4. Make chili

Although it was my fervent wish and desire to stay inside all day in my pjs, I am afraid I have to go to Petco and get Boots some cat food. He is out of the kind he likes (and the kind I like for him, as well) and I forgot to pick it up today. Rats!

Tomorrow night we will eat chili for dinner on bed trays on our bed while we watch "The Twilight Zone" marathon on the SciFi channel. I can't wait. We do this every New Year's Eve. Yes.....we are the ultimate party animals.

More later --

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2009-12-27T14:42:00.000-08:00

Thank you, Niki and Helene, for your notes and well wishes. I have been AWOL for quite some time now and have no excuse. No good one, anyway…

Steve and I have had a wonderful Christmas. We had a Christmas visitor – a friend that Steve has known for more than 30 years who came to spend Christmas Eve and most of Christmas Day with us. It was a really nice holiday, and I’m glad Steve’s friend was able to spend Christmas with us.

Santa was good to us. I got a jewelry armoire that I’ve been wanting for ever so long. Steve got a Garmin GPS for his new car, which he loved.

Here are a few holiday pictures. To the three people who read my blog, Thank You! I wish you and yours a very happy Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year. I promise I won’t be as delinquent in my blogging. One of my resolutions is to get back into the habit of blogging and make it a regular part of my life.

More later --

Back home......yes!

2009-09-20T11:14:00.000-07:00

We got back from our beach vacation yesterday. Had a lot of fun, but I was ready to be home!

Here's some snaps from our trip:

Funny story on this first one. Steve had downloaded some driving directions with "hints" for the trip. One hint said that Meridian, MS had a neat store if you needed to stretch your legs and find a bargain. We were ready to do both, so we lucked out by taking the right exit (out of four to choose from) and finding "Hudson's Treasure Hunt" store. It's a huge store full of almost everything under the sun. Everything was at least 60% off the ticketed price. We got a few deals, including an 8-pack of my Venus razor refills for less than $6 (anywhere else they would be at least $15-16), and a couple of nice water bottles in insulated carriers for a little over $2 apiece (perfect for the beach).

Anyway, we arrive at about 9:50 am, and there's a LINE in the parking lot leading up to the door (they opened at 10:00). I mean, these people were SERIOUS -- they had their shopping carts and were ready to go. I had no idea what Hudson's even was, so we're standing in this line. I told Steve, "It feels really weird that we're in a line and we don't even know what for..." To which Steve replied that he better get a shopping cart (which he did). Anyway, here's a picture of the line:

Here's a shot from our balcony. We were on the 8th floor. This was taken the day we arrived, and it had been raining. The beach was pretty much deserted, which we loved...

Here's one of my sweet hubby on our balcony. If you look closely, you can see a rainbow over his shoulder!

This is Steve during our dolphin cruise. And yes, we saw lots of dolphins!

This was taken our last evening (decided we had to have at least ONE picture of us together!)

Here's one of me at the restaurant Friday night:

Anyway, a good time was had by all.

More later --

kissie kissie!

2009-09-06T18:33:00.000-07:00

They do this all the time. I finally just got a picture of it.

Also, Boots enjoyed the Sunday paper today. He's quite the literary type.

Farkle, anyone?

2009-09-05T18:39:00.000-07:00

I've got to admit, I was a slow convert to Facebook. My friend Brenda had been bugging me about signing up forEVER, and I just ... resisted. I just felt like my plate was full enough, and I did not need another place to have to check in.

But.

Now I am a Facebooker and have only this week discovered the game of Farkle. O.M.G. I am addicted. This is not good. I find myself logging in just to play the game and see if I can beat my best score. Wondering what the really big winners' strategy is... Yes, I'm expending way too much time and energy on this!

Oh well, as far as vices go, this one is pretty tame.

More later --

The beach beckons ...

2009-09-03T17:55:00.000-07:00

We’re counting down to our vacation, and we are so ready! We’re going back to Gulf Shores, Alabama. We went there a few years ago and really enjoyed it. We’re even renting the same condo. It’s right on the beach and close to some great restaurants.

I’ve found a blog that I really like. I haven’t gotten to spend a huge amount of time there, but I have really enjoyed what I’ve read. Check it out if you have time. It's called The Simple Dollar. Here's one of my favorite posts so far, on creating a CD ladder for your savings. It's something I've never done, but would like to start doing, to build up our savings account.

More later --

Does your kitty ever stick his tongue out?

2009-08-28T18:00:00.001-07:00

The other night I went into the bedroom and saw Boots lying on our bed with his tongue sticking out. And there was a little wet spot where he had actually drooled a little. That scared me, so I Googled it to find out what was wrong. (Don't you just love Google?)

Turns out, nothing was wrong. Turns out, cats can do that when they are extremely relaxed and happy. Who knew? I guess my cats have never been that relaxed and happy.

Anyway, tonight he was doing it again. I tried to catch him on film, but as you can see, I missed it. Oh well, he's still cute. (And Vikki, he's NOT sneaky!)

Sadekat -- thank you for asking about my sleep study. I actually started to post about it earlier but thought it might be too boring for people to read... Long story short, I technically have apnea. The doctor told me the definition of apnea is 5 or more interruptions in breathing in a 1-hour time frame. My average for last night was 5.1. But, he said I could have come on another night and only measured at 4.9, so he did not think I needed a c-pap or anything like that. He told me the best thing I can do to help it is lose weight.

Rather than smart off and say, "ya think?" I simply said yes Doctor, I know you're right. Yet another reason for me to get my butt in gear and get back on a low carb good eating plan...

We go on vacation in two weeks. So maybe Steve and I can get back on a good eating plan after then. No way am I even going to think about it before then...

More later --

Putting the period on the sentence

2009-08-22T07:24:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the big gap in posting. I’ve been spending far too much time on Facebook and not enough time on my blog! You know…..working for a living sure puts a cramp in my online socialization! Kidding, of course. With the economy so bad, I am thankful to have – not only a job - but a really good job, working with great people.

I’m so glad its Saturday and I can put the period on the sentence that has been this week. It’s been stressful, to say the least. Here’s a short recap:

• Went to dentist for checkup and was told he needs to extract a tooth and build a 4-unit bridge (to the tune of $1,800, after dental insurance pays their part). WHAT??

• Big storm came thru Memphis and we lost power. It stayed off for over 24 hours and we had to throw out a fair amount of food from the frig and freezer…not to mention sleep in the heat and humidity. UGH!

• Got a call from the rheumatologist’s office. They found blood in my urine and so I had to go back in to give them another specimen. (I hate that word, don’t you?) So I peed in another cup. Haven’t heard those results.

• Had a consultation with a sleep doctor. (Rheumatologist thinks I have apnea.) Now I have to go get all wired up to about 40 electrodes and try to sleep in front of a camera. Sure, no problem. That’s scheduled for next Thursday (and maybe Friday) night(s). Oh joy…

• Our back door lock jammed. Neither of our keys would open it. We’d been needing to get all the doors rekeyed the same, so we called a locksmith out. 150-some-odd dollars later, that’s crossed off our to-do list.

So that’s been my week. How’s yours been???????

On the up side, it is an absolutely gorgeous day. I can’t believe this is August in Memphis. There is like zero humidity and it’s just glorious. High will be in the 80s today. Yay!

A day in the life of my cat

2009-08-10T12:56:00.001-07:00

Boots has completely made himself at home in our new house. He has lots of favorite spots to relax, and this is one of them.

My recumbent bike

2009-08-09T17:39:00.000-07:00

So, I think I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I got a great "find" at a garage sale in our neighborhood. I scored a recumbent exercise bike for $25, and it's basically brand new! I've wanted a recumbent for the longest time, since it's so much easier on my back than our Airdyne-type bike. Plus, as I tell my sweet hubby ... "I need a big fat seat to match my butt!" :-)

So here's a couple pictures of the bike. We put it at the foot of our bed, so I can watch TV while I'm riding. I've actually peddled for a whole hour -- peddling slow and steady during the TV show and faster and harder during the commercials. It's a good workout for me, and it doesn't seem to aggravate my fibromyalgia OR hurt my back, which is a major "plus."

Mermaid or Whale?

2009-08-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

I got this great email yesterday:

Recently, in large French city, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said:

THIS SUMMER DO YOU WANT TO BE A MERMAID OR A WHALE?

A middle aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern:

Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans). They have an active sex life, they get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Barren Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia . Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis--Fish or human? They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them not to mention they don't have the equipment for it. Therefore they don't have kids either.

The choice is perfectly clear to me; I want to be a whale.

P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver and a coffee with my friends. With time we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy. Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, Good gosh, look how smart I am........

News of the Kitty

2009-07-22T18:53:00.001-07:00

Boots is fine. He is (who knew?) allergic to flea bites. Apparently he has picked up a couple from lying in Chance's beds. We do Frontline on both, but Chance picks up fleas from outside, and we know it's inevitable that he'll bring them inside with him. Then, before the Frontline can kill them, sometimes they jump off him and onto his bedding. Boots loves to sleep in both of Chance's beds (sort of a cat version of thumbing his nose at the dog, I guess).

Anyway, the vet couldn't find any fleas on Boots, but she did find "flea dirt" so we know they're there. She said it only takes a few, if a cat is very sensitive to them. She says sometimes cats come in just covered in fleas and don't even scratch themselves. Then, a cat that is allergic can have just a couple fleas, and about scratch themselves to death. She recommended a bath for him. Yikes ... talk about my least favorite task in the world. Actually, I can't even imagine. So we'll be making a trip back to the vet soon, to take care of bathing the cat.

She gave Boots a cortisone shot and said he'll be fine. It's just that the skin on his back near his tail was inflamed. Poor baby. But he's okay. I just took these pictures of him a minute ago. It's hard to get a good shot of him because he's so dark. She did talk about what a beautiful silky coat he has and what a sweet boy he is ... which I already knew (says the proud "cat mama").

Christmas in July?

2009-07-20T18:11:00.000-07:00

We’ve had a gift the past several days – low humidity and much lower temperatures. On Saturday the high was about 80 degrees. Now, THAT’S what I’m talking about! Middle of July in Memphis, Tennessee! We’re gradually creeping back up the temperature/humidity gauge (of course), but today was still nice.

I got a great “find” Saturday morning at a garage sale. I’ve wanted a recumbent exercise for quite awhile now. I bought one for $25 and love it. I spent 20 minutes on it Saturday night, and almost an hour on it last night! I’ll post a picture of it soon.

I’m a little concerned about Boots. He has a place on his back, right above his tail that is very, very tender. When I tried to look at it earlier, he snapped at me. He’s never done that before, so I know it’s really hurting him. I made an appointment with the vet for tomorrow to get it checked out. I just can’t figure out what it could be.

Chance went to the groomer today, and they sent him home with the cutest little “heart” kerchief. Here’s a couple pictures I just took of my sleepy boy. He’s made himself quite comfy in the recliner, don’t you think?

This is how I feel

2009-07-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

TGIF - tomorrow!

2009-07-16T19:36:00.001-07:00

It’s a nice Thursday evening and I’m enjoying the peace and quiet. Chance has made his last trip outside for the night, Boots is lying sprawled out in the middle of the hallway, and my sweet husband is in the kitchen making his lunch for tomorrow. Which, in case you haven’t realized, is FRIDAY.

It’s been busy at the office lately, which is a good thing. I don’t think I’ve talked much about my job here. I work for a labor and employment law firm. My particular job is pretty interesting (most of the time) and involves working on PowerPoint presentations, training programs, research, and lots of other things. I like that it can be very challenging and also rewarding. We’ve gone through a pretty slow period, which I hate. The days drag by and I find myself getting lazy. It’s much better when we’re busy and there are lots of things going on!

Here’s a picture of a pretty piece of wall art we found. It’s iron and I really like it. Sorry it's a little blurry...

More later --

Sunday morning check-in

2009-07-12T08:45:00.001-07:00

Stayed home from church this morning. I think I overdid it yesterday cleaning the house. This blasted fibromyalgia … I can’t figure out where the energy starts and ends. I’ve been feeling better lately. When I saw my doctor last week, she tweaked my medicine, and it really has helped. I haven’t felt as dopey-sleepy and have had a little more energy. So yesterday, I guess I pushed myself. And today, I’m paying for it.

I belong to a Frugal Living forum, and one of the threads lately is about “using it up.” So I’ve been a lot more conscious of not throwing leftovers out and trying to use up everything and reduce waste. Last night I made a chicken stir fry. We’d had roast a couple of nights earlier, and I had just a little roast and gravy in the fridge. So I shredded the roast and put it and a couple tablespoons of gravy into the stir fry. Not only did it “use it up,” it really added a depth of flavor to the dish. Yay!

Hubby and I are starting to plan our vacation for later this year. We’re heading back to the beach, I guess. We plan on going the second week of September. It’s a great time, because school has started, the crowds are gone, it’s still nice and warm – but oppressively hot, and best of all … prices are almost half of what they are in the summer.

Here’s a picture of what I want in our front beds. My favorite flowers in the world are hydrangeas.

More later --

Wow ... is it Wednesday already?

2009-07-08T19:18:00.001-07:00

This week is going by really fast. Which is good. I’ve been busy at work, and I’m glad, because it makes the day go by faster.

Tonight an insurance guy was supposed to come by the house, and we were going to sign applications for a life insurance policy for both of us. Weird – he never made it. I say it’s weird, because he’d already done his pitch a couple weeks ago, and we’ve been considering it since. So he knew it was a for-sure thing. He seemed like a really decent guy, so I guess we’ll give him a chance to call us and let us know what prevented him from coming…

I made a big bowl of tuna salad tonight for both our lunches. I make it with diced sugar-free “sweet” pickles, minced onion, diced celery, chopped eggs, mayo, and (of course) tuna. Then I like sandwiches with my “health nut” bread, lettuce (or spinach), a slice or two of tomato, sliced onion, and a little more mayo. Yum-O!

Okay, just in case you’re not sick of pictures of my house, here’s another one. This is a shot of our screened-in back porch.

On the road again

2009-07-02T20:18:00.000-07:00

I'll be out of town and offline for a few days. I'll post again on Sunday. Till then, have a wonderful Fourth of July holiday!

Cool at last!

2009-06-29T16:38:00.001-07:00

I came home today to a blissfully cool house. The a/c units were cleaned and serviced, coolant added to both units, and a part was replaced on one unit. What a difference!

Here's a picture of my kitchen. It doesn't really show, but I have a lovely view out that window of my neighbor's rose bushes. They are multi-colored and really quite beautiful.

A quiet Sunday morning

2009-06-28T04:34:00.000-07:00

It’s a quiet Sunday morning. I was awake early and couldn’t go back to sleep. It’s been really, really hot. Last night at 10:00 the heat index was still 100 degrees. The actual temperature was in the 90s.

I missed a party yesterday. It was a party I’d helped plan and prepare for. But when it came right down to braving the 100+ degree heat and humidity … I just couldn’t do it. My muscle pain is so much better for the most part – with the exception of “fits and starts” as I call them. But the heat is just doing me in. I feel like a flake and a failure for missing it. I don’t know that people will understand. I don’t even know that I understand.

I’ve been reading a book: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia by R. Paul St. Amand, M.D. It’s been very informative and eye-opening for me, and it has sort of reinforced some things that I suspected were true. Since receiving this diagnosis several months ago, my doctor has given me meds, yes, but virtually no information about this disorder. I don’t do well with no information. I crave information… So I’ve been reduced to getting all my information from the internet. Now … don’t get me wrong … the internet is a wonderful thing. But it can be deceitful and downright dangerous if you tend to believe what you read. (And, News Flash: I tend to believe everything I read – which is insane. I have to struggle not to take everything I read to heart, even when I know it could be blatantly false.)

Our house is still hot. There’s a service person coming tomorrow “between 8 and 12” and I am anxious to get both units serviced and working properly.

More later --

There's good news and bad news

2009-06-23T18:55:00.000-07:00

The bad news is, the high was 99 degrees today, with a heat index of 110. And, when I got off at 5:00 it was still 98! The good news is, my car’s A/C is working great since they fixed it.

The bad news is, when I got home it was 83 degrees in my house, although the thermostat was set to 74. The good news is, our home warranty (which was included when we bought the house) covers the air conditioning units.

The bad news is, we have to use AHS’ authorized service people to fix our A/C instead of the guy we’ve used before and trust, AND we have to wait for them to call us. The good news is, they called me this afternoon.

The bad news is, their first available opening is next Monday from 8:00 to 12:00. What the ?????????

I’m still trying to think of the good news.

It's Monday, what's new with you?

2009-06-22T19:27:00.000-07:00

Tonight I tried a new recipe -- grilled boneless/skinless chicken breasts with a peanut sauce. I gotta say ... I was not thrilled. My sweet husband almost without fail compliments my food, and he dutifully said, "the chicken is good," but I noticed that he didn't eat all of his ... hmmmmmmmm.

So anyway, nothing ventured, nothing gained. It's not something I'll make again, but it didn't hurt to try!

The heat is still oppressive. We think our A/C units need to be serviced (we have two), because the house is just not cooling properly. Hope it's not going to be a huge expense! Anyway, I'm going to call the guy tomorrow. So time will tell... In the meantime, we are guzzling iced tea like there's no tomorrow.

Here's a shot of our breakfast area. It's pretty with the morning sun shining in. The shelves are full of cookbooks, and they are not nearly all I have. (It's a sickness, what can I say?)

Chance's favorite spot is here:

He can see what's going on in the neighborhood, if any dogs are daring to walk down his street, etc.

Finally, here's a shot of the fireplace area in our den. The picture above it is not a final choice -- it's just there temporarily until we find one that we agree on and that's the right size and scale. It's a process, and one that is taking longer than I thought. Oh well, it's okay ... time is one thing we've got lots of (I hope)!

Pictures and Friday check-in

2009-06-19T17:24:00.000-07:00

I am here to tell you, summer has arrived in the city of Memphis, TN. Maybe not on the calendar, but definitely on the thermometer. It has been HOT and HUMID … ugh! Temp in the 90s and heat index in the 100s. And being “the age I am,” makes it all the worse. Heat just seems so much … hotter!

So here I sit, my little red fan pointed directly at my head, while I wait for the house to cool down. Chance is out in the back yard (how can he stand it?), saying hello to the big dog who lives behind us. Hubby is picking out a movie for him to watch tonight (not me; I’ll be watching “What Not to Wear” – it’s a new one tonight). And Boots is … well, I’m not sure exactly where Boots is. He was lying on the dresser in our room earlier (under the ceiling fan), but then he has lots of hiding places.

Here’s a picture of a pretty plant I got to go on what was my microwave stand (I now have a “cubby” that holds the microwave, which is great).

And, here’s a shot of our bookcases. They are still a work in progress, so things come and go, almost daily …

Finally, here's a sweet picture of Chance. He fell asleep on a pillow last night and I couldn't resist ...

More later --

Thank you, Shell ...

2009-06-19T15:56:00.000-07:00

... for following my blog!

Will post more later tonight --

Quote for the day

2009-06-17T19:05:00.000-07:00

"I started out with nothing. And I have most of it left."

- anonymous

Happy Flag Day

2009-06-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

Happy Flag Day, ya'll!

I'm grateful to have been born in the United States of America. It could just as easily been some 3rd world country, you know? So many freedoms and privileges I enjoy every day.

Hope everyone is having a great day. I sort of overdid things yesterday and am very sore and achy today. But as the day goes on, I am feeling a bit better. I'm still learning how to navigate this fibromyalgia stuff...but I am learning!

More later --

The verdict is in ...

2009-06-12T17:15:00.000-07:00

... and I love my Sleep Number bed! I have my side very firm and my hubby has his side significantly softer, and we are both happy. Hallelujah! Now if I can just find a pillow. I have fibromyalgia and arthritis, so sleeping (among other things) can be a challenge. I’m thinking about trying one of the water-filled pillows. Anyone tried one, who can give me their take on it?

Today we had some bad weather move through Memphis. I had to drive home through some pretty wicked lightning, wind, etc. There were branches in the road, somebody’s mailbox was in the road, even our trash can was out in the street. Made it home safe and sound, though, and have been watching people on the news who did not fare as well as we did – trees down on homes, a tractor-trailer overturned on the highway, over 100,000 without power, and such.

But we are in for the night and happy to be. Chance is lying on the couch next to me. I think Boots is still hiding in my closet (he doesn’t do storms very well). Hubby is watching something on his computer in the study, and I’ve got “What Not to Wear” on the TV in here. So life is pretty good.

More later --

Thank you, Helene ...

2009-06-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

... for following my blog! You are such a talented artist; I love looking at your creations on your blog. I can only imagine how beautiful they would be in person.

Just another manic monday ...

2009-06-08T12:54:00.002-07:00

… not really, I just love that song. It’s been a good day.

Dropped my RAV 4 off today during lunch to get some routine maintenance performed – AC service, tire rotation, radiator flush/fill, and oil change. It will be ready when I get off today at 5:00.

A co-worker followed me to the repair shop, and then I went to a shoe store with her. I found a pair of shoes! This is a big deal, because I have wide feet and always have to buy my shoes online. But these are so cute – sort of “Mary Jane” type shoes, but very comfortable and lightweight, with good support. So I am pretty excited about that find.

We had a couple over Saturday night for dinner and a movie. I work with the lady, and her husband and my husband sort of hit it off when they first met – seemed to have a lot in common. And you know, it can be hard when you’re a couple to find another couple that both the husband and wife feel comfortable with and enjoy spending time with. We’re really lucky in that regard because we do have another couple that we’re both very close to.

But anyway, I’m getting off-track here. So, this couple – John and Vickie – came over Saturday evening. They got the grand tour of our new house, we had a nice meal together, and we watched “The Italian Job.” Not the new one; the original one with Michael Caine and Benny Hill. Such a good movie. It was a really enjoyable evening.

Chance was on his best behavior; he sat on everyone’s lap. (They have a miniature schnauzer of their own at home, and they even dog-sat for us when we were called out of town unexpectedly, so he was very comfortable with them. But who am I kidding … he never meets a stranger anyway.) I told them he is an “equal opportunity lap dog.”

And, wonders never cease, Boots even came out near the end of the evening. My shy kitty never comes out when people he doesn’t know are in the house. But he did Saturday night. So that was a First.

So anyway, it was a very nice evening – our first experience hosting someone in the new house. We’ll be doing it a lot, because we love to have people over; in fact, we’re having people over this Saturday evening for dinner, too.

More later --

New bedroom pictures

2009-06-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

Just have a minute to spend here tonight, but wanted to post a couple pics of our bedroom with the mattresses and bedding -- yea!

As you can see, the kitty likes our new bed.

I am looking forward to trying out the Sleep Number mattress. Hopefully it will help us both have a good night's sleep.

More later --

Thanks, Wayne ...

2009-06-04T18:29:00.001-07:00

...for following my blog, and for all the great blogging advice and information you provide at your terrific blog!

2009-06-04T18:18:00.000-07:00

Today’s been a quiet day. There’s been a gentle, soaking rain that’s moving out tonight, and it’s considerably cooler this evening – it actually feels great outside – about 61 degrees. It’ll be back in the 80s tomorrow and close to 90 again by Saturday.

One of my co-workers and I went out to lunch today, to Buffalo Wild Wings. Thursday is 60-cent boneless wings day. It was great. I’ve been taking my lunch a lot lately, just trying to be more frugal, but it was nice to get out of the office for an hour.

Tomorrow our mattresses come! I’m really excited about that. Although, as I told my husband last night, “I’m sort of going to miss our dark, quiet guest room.” It’s very cozy with only one window, and our bedroom has three huge windows, so I think it won’t be nearly as dark. My husband kindly offered to let me sleep in the guest bedroom any time I want. (Gee, thanks, honey.)

Here’s a picture I took of Chance awhile back. I think his toy needs to be j-u-s-t a tad bigger...

A sunflower for you

2009-06-01T19:18:00.000-07:00

Today was a pretty good day, for a Monday. Mondays are hard, I guess, for most everyone. I know they are for me. Only four more days until the weekend, though!

I just read the paragraph I just wrote, and you would think I hate my job. Which is not true, by the way. I almost always like, and sometimes love, my job. But, I’ve been having some health issues, and it is really doing a number on my motivation. Pain makes me not feel like doing much of anything. Additionally, it has not been very busy at work lately (at least at my desk), which in a way is a blessing, but in another way, it is perpetuating my lack of motivation. However, these lulls never last long, so I’m trying to appreciate it while it’s here. Crazy-busy days will return before long, I have no doubt.

Here's a picture I love:

New furniture!

2009-05-31T12:17:00.000-07:00

We recently moved into a new (to us) house and have been working hard putting our “stamp” on it. It’s starting to really feel like home, which is great.

So, last weekend we went bedroom furniture shopping. I was super excited, because believe it or not, I have never bought a brand new bedroom suit before. All at once. There were some great Memorial Day furniture sales, and we found a really nice set for a great price. Then, we headed to the Sleep Number store and bought a new mattress set. I have always wanted a Sleep Number bed. So exciting! Anyway, the bedroom furniture was delivered Friday. The mattress set will be delivered this coming Friday. Till then, we’re sleeping in the guest room on our old bed. I’ll update with new pictures when we get the room all put together with the new furniture, mattresses, and bedding.

But for now, here are some pictures of our bedroom furniture.

Quote of the day

2009-05-30T14:05:00.000-07:00

“Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.”

Albert Einstein

My fake tan

2009-05-28T15:09:00.000-07:00

I have the whitest skin you’ve ever seen. My legs are so white I hate wearing shorts or summer skirts. I cannot tell a lie -- in the past, I went the tanning bed route and in the ancient past, I was a true sun worshiper. Now, however, I know better, so I don’t do that stuff these days. But I still hate my white legs.

I’ve tried sunless tanning lotions in the past, but have never been completely happy with the results. Earlier this month, though, I read a review of sunless tanning products in our local newspaper. One of the highest scoring products was Loreal Sublime Bronze. I’ve been using it for a few days, and the verdict is in: I love it! It’s given me a very pretty soft tan with no streaks, strange smell, or weird orange-y coloring at all. Hallelujah!

More later --

Kitty on a shelf

2009-05-27T11:43:00.000-07:00

Boots is our sweet and shy kitty. He always hides when company comes to visit. But I'm on to him. He usually heads for my closet. Last time we had company, I went and got him and carried him out to say hello ... then carried him back. I keep hoping he will lose a little of the shyness, but so far it hasn't happened.

I think Boots likes his new house. He spends most of his time in the back part -- in our bedroom or the study. This morning I snapped a quick shot of him on his cat perch, which is in our bedroom and overlooks the back yard.

More later --

What I'm reading ...

2009-05-26T18:23:00.000-07:00

I love to read. My sweet husband and I are both big readers, with shelves and shelves of books in our house. There is a series of books that I’ve enjoyed through the years – the “Miss Julia” books by Ann B. Ross. The latest, which I just finished (and thoroughly enjoyed), is called Miss Julia Delivers the Goods. They’re all about a peppery little widow woman – a fine, upstanding, cultured, church-going, southern woman – “Miss Julia” – who recently lost her husband of many years, Wesley Lloyd.

To Miss Julia’s surprise and extreme dismay, a child appears on her porch one day, and it turns out that he is the illegitimate son of Wesley Lloyd. Miss Julia finds herself taking in the boy, “Little Lloyd,” along with his mother (and Wesley Lloyd’s former paramour), Hazel Marie, despite what her gossiping church peers and everyone else might be thinking.

This is the tenth book in the series, and I’ve enjoyed reading them all. They’re entertaining, light reading with a southern voice. Miss Julia reminds me a little of Miss Daisy in the Driving Miss Daisy movie.

I’m not sure what’s next on my list. I’ve got another latest in a “culinary mystery” series that I think I’ll take on next. I’ll let you know, though!

More later --

My first official post on a new blog

2009-05-25T17:16:00.000-07:00

So I wanted to start a blog about the minutiae that make up my life … everyone’s life, really. As my banner says, there’s a saying about not “sweating the small stuff.” Well, my humble opinion is that pretty much everything in life is small stuff. Granted, every now and then something big happens, but most of life is taken up with the day-to-day, ordinary things that make up the framework of life – the small stuff. So this blog is dedicated to that end. Nothing too earth-shattering, no heavy reading involved … I’ll talk about the books I’m reading, my fur babies, work, home, friends, family … just life.

Today was a good day. A holiday for my sweet husband and me. We recently moved into a new house (well, new to us, anyway) and we are still getting settled. So we had breakfast out at Panera Bread Company. Never had eaten there before, but there’s one close to the house, so we tried it. Pretty tasty. Then it was off to Bed Bath & Beyond for some house stuff (we had a gift card and three 20% off coupons burning holes in our pockets). Next stop was Pier One, then finally Home Depot.

We’ve been pretty much working non-stop on the house and yard since we moved in, and at last, we’re seeing some real progress. You know how, when there’s million things to be done, you can work all day and not even be able to tell much difference? That’s how it was for a couple of weeks. But now, it’s all coming together, and we will be so glad when it’s finished. Or, as finished as a house ever gets….

I had planned to cook out, today being Memorial Day and all, but when we started to fire up the grill (first time; it’s a new grill), the gas cylinder made a funny hissing sound and emitted a strong smell of gasoline. It scared me, so I decided to cook inside. Actually, the gas container is old, having remained after our last grill bit the dust. So, we decided it would be good to trade it in for a new cylinder, as we’re not entirely sure it’s safe.

So, instead of chicken on the barbie, we had it roasted in the oven. I marinated boneless skinless chicken breasts in Kraft Light Asian Toasted Sesame Dressing overnight. They were really moist and flavorful, so that’s an easy marinade that I’ll use again. Corn on the cob, baked beans, sliced tomatoes, and fresh cantaloupe rounded it out.

Here's a picture I just took of my dog, Chance. He has two speeds: "full-speed-ahead" and "stopped." He's all tuckered out from running to and fro all day, so he crashed on his doggie bed in front of the fireplace.

More later --

Memorial Day 2009

2009-05-25T06:34:00.000-07:00