Enjoying a quiet afternoon

As I sit here tasting raw onions, again, I am also enjoying some relaxation on Palm Sunday. For lunch, I joined Paul and Emily, and Sarah, of course, at a Mexican restaurant, El Porto. My first time there and it was good. Emily and I had the same meal, carne azada in flour tortillas but should have gone with my first impulse of ordering only one. The second one was too much to finish, especially having the chips and salsa first. Paul got the bill and ran to the register, no exaggeration, to pay before I even got my purse opened. Thanks, Paul and Emily, for lunch!

*

A couple other folks had suggested lunch but we Altar Guild ladies had to stay after church to rehearse for the stripping of the altar ceremony for Maundy Thursday worship. Twila and Jean asked first but they were not going to stick around afterward, so off they went. I would not expect them to wait for me, certainly. There was also a Silent Auction bake sale in the Fellowship Hall where I bought all the frosted sugar cookies they had. I did not win the bid on the cinnamon bread loaf, though, as someone bid over mine. I can live without the bread, but not without the frosted sugar cookies!

*

Last night for dinner I joined some of my Middleburg family for Rick's and Kristin's birthday celebrations. We met at Mongo's, in the same plaza as Great Hang Ups, 14 of us total. My original plan was to just order the hamburger but Mike talked me into at least trying the Mongolian bbq and once I looked at the dishes of sirloin and onion slices plus all the other fun stuff on the buffet, I was in! We took our bowls through the line for the raw food, plus seasoning, and select a sauce, added later. The chefs prepared the food as we watched, on a giant round griddle. Rice is available at the table and had ourselves a delicious meal. Kristin suggested that next time I eat there, I should probably add some vegetables to my bowl and not only the sirloin and onions! I might do that, next time.....Baby steps, I must do this with baby steps!

*

Back to today: As I enjoyed my quiet afternoon, it became evening and Joanne came home. Early for her, especially since she normally has a Bible study or service at church Sunday evenings. With it being Holy Week they were not having anything tonight so she was going to try her hand at making pork wontons or something. She has been a cooking fool these past couple days, yesterday making chicken soup. Her daughter and granddaughter are coming to visit from Ohio Tuesday night so I offered to make up the guest bed for them since Joanne has a full schedule Monday and Tuesday. I have the week "off" from some of my usual things except Art Guild Tuesday night. Church services are Thursday and Friday nights, Saturday off, and then from sunrise through just before noon on Easter Sunday. "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, He is risen!" He is risen, indeed!