Time spent in the kitchen

My house smells so good today from the food cooking. And I did it myself this time. Brought out the slow cooker and started cutting up vegetables and dropping them into the broth. I got a recipe for pasta fagioli from Facebook, a favorite from Olive Garden. I got out my Pampered Chef blitz hacker to chop up the carrots and onions so I made quick work of that. Once all the ingredients were in the cooker, it was full to the top.

At one point my doorbell rang multiple times which tells me Connie is at the door. Yup, she had a delivery from the UPS man. She will often intercept him and bring the packages up herself if she knows we're home. What a surprise for her to find me toiling in the kitchen! The box she brought contained Justin's newest purchase, yes, something with a plug, but not a communication device. Instead, he bought a sandwich maker, used for making grilled cheese sandwiches. Oh, that guy!

Tonight he was going through my photos on the computer and telling me about a program where all the photos will be grouped together by person, by date, by location, etc. which will make it easy for him when it's time for my funeral. Yes, we are morbid like that. I told it was lame of him to have me doing the leg work on this project. Justin was telling me that when I die and he inherits this place, the first thing he is going to do is get rid of all the kitchen tools and start over new. I begged him to spare the Princess House and Pampered Chef items, and he said he would. But everything else is gone. 

He told me that the sandwich maker was coming and I said, "Oh, good! another kitchen appliance!" He knows that I have a low tolerance for things being kept on the kitchen counters and he said he was going to put it there. At that point I declared that this was a mad plot by him to hasten my demise so he can throw my stuff out. Some of the kitchen stuff is nearly antique, gifts from my shower and wedding, and until they fall apart, I am keeping them! Even if it kills me!

I wish this photo showed more of Linda---it would be perfect to see her face, too!

While playing with the pictures he found one particular shot of me taken at Alayna's graduation party. Linda's husband was playing with my camera and got Linda to do something to me. He was counting to three and then on three she was to yank down the front of my shirt. Grabbing at my top in laughter and surprise, my mouth is open. He said that this is my perfect picture for my funeral, and if Peggy, my dentist, is there she can say, "Those are MY teeth!" Oh, that guy! 

Church and football---a good day

This morning I went to church for Bible study and worship. We are studying the Ideal Church which is basically a stewardship-themed class, all the different ways we can serve our Lord and His church. Following Bible study and worship, our group went to eat at Chili's, as usual. Justin went to Jesse's house to watch the game with him, leaving right after church. 

Today the Jags were up against the Washington Redskins (yes, I said "Redskins"!) and were soundly defeated. Yes, defeated is the perfect word to describe how the Jags fans feel. Like my friend, Duane, says, "They are rebuilding" and have been for many years. One of the announcers said today that the Jags' team is made up of the youngest players in the league. Is that good or bad? Sigh...Poor Gretchen!

On the bright side, Julia from Great Hang Ups let me know yesterday that my photograph submitted for the "Home Town" has been juried into the show. Yay! and whew!  I am now 6 for 6 entries being submitted and admitted into shows. I know someday it will happen that my piece is juried out (even Dee gets juried out sometimes) but until then, I breathe a sigh of relief and thankfulness. The opening is the 21st so I will have to come up with a treat to take. Maybe Justin will make something....And I will be hostess as well so will have to rush right from church/lunch to the shop. In my case, it is truly an honor to have been nominated (juried into the show) and if I win a prize, that is icing on the cake!

What a great witness!

Today on Facebook I saw a link for a news story where a member of an anchor team on a local newscast somewhere in OH made an announcement. The show was ready to wrap, his co-host and he were sitting off to the side on chairs, knee to knee. He said that his cancer had returned and was advancing rapidly. He had only a few months, if that many, to live. His female co-host was softly weeping, which made me wonder if this was news to her as well. Anyway, Dave said he was entirely at peace with what was to happen to him, and he was prepared to meet the Lord. It such a wonderful testimony of his belief in the Lord, saying, "I am in God's hands." And then they signed off. Wow, powerful and moving! I pray he does not suffer long.

At my home church there is a young man who is suffering with an inoperable brain tumor. He has a wife and two young children he will be leaving behind. It is heart-wrenching to think of what he will have to go through and wondering how his wife will get along after he is gone. She has a strong family support system, and, of course, the congregation there for her, which helps greatly. In his case also, I pray he does not suffer long.

Justin has been working on my computer and my phone, trying to coax my phone to recognize the newly reset password for my e-mail account. We'd gotten a notice the other day to reset them to avoid being hacked, but the phone won't accept the new address. My boy is relentless in his endeavor to get me access to e-mail from my phone. It is rather important if I am not at home. He is so capable when it comes to things like this. 

Linda and I are cooking up plans for her pending visit here next week (yikes!). So far we are going swimming, to Bible study, out to eat, and even hosting a party for Oktoberfest! She loves to cook and bake so is thinking of what to make for her dish to share. I will likely make the meat dish since I don't have to transport it. Maybe a pork roast or ribs...hmmm? I better get moving on inviting folks, planning on the usual gang from the pool for this event, since Linda had such fun with them all in May when she was here. This is so exciting, I love people around the table!!  Auf weidersehen!

Enjoying the pool side

It was a grand and glorious day at the pool today, at long last. The water most assuredly could have been warmer for my tastes but thanks to the sun beating on me, I endured! It was great to see everyone again, well, at least those who are not working or otherwise involved. Bob was there doing his version of laps, swimming back and forth the width of the pool instead of the length. He said he has lost weight over summer doing this so good for him!

One friend, Janet, stopped where I was sitting to introduce me to her visiting niece. Pam had wanted to go out on the sailboat but Janet declared it was too hot to do so. Now that's a problem! It was 91 for the high and I guess just sitting out on the water with no breeze doesn't work too well for sailing. I bet her niece wondered what in the world was going on---too hot to go boating??? Yeah, I know...

Thankful that my neighbors, Hugh and Maureen, with the assistance of Connie, put the flag up in remembrance of the terror attacks on 9/11. We can see this from the pool, of course, and is admired by many.

Last weekend my friends, Bill and Nancy, went on a sailboat adventure with another couple from the pool, Charles and Kathleen. It was a beastly hot day and not windy at all, but off they went. They ended up having to use the little motor to move the boat from Point A to Point B, which was incredibly slow, and miserable, according to Nancy. I was concerned for them going out at 6 pm, fearing bad weather would come up like it usually does, but they were fine, except for the slow movement. They were telling me all about it today at the pool. 

Other friends from the pool, Tim and Stephanie, were telling their boating stories as well, only theirs were funny. At least to us, perhaps not to Tim. They took their pontoon boat out one day and ended up having the motor fall off. They had to call around for help, glad to have their cell phones along, and had service. Finally, they got hold of Charles who came with his jet ski to tow them back in. It was not a simple fix for this either, since the engine falling off pulled the fuel line out, etc. Tim tried to make the repairs himself but to no avail. His wife says he is not the handiest guy, which might explain why the engine fell off in the first place. Man, that was some funny stuff!!  A good day of laughing when at the pool, don't even mind the pesky love bugs!

A day of remembrance

Today is the day we remember the Muslim terror attacks on our soil, using this nation's airplanes to attack the financial district, the hub of our military, plus the foiled attempt to hit the US capital building in Washington, DC. Our nation remembers the souls lost in the buildings, on the planes, those doing the rescuing, and those simply walking down the street, minding their own business. If that had not taken place in 2001, the same year that Timmy died, I'd say this event was the worst thing to happen that year. Pastor Hoyer had preached a powerful sermon that New Year's Eve, looking back on the terrible events of 2001, but my former spouse and I reflected back to the loss of our son instead....

I checked for programs on the cable channels recounting that fateful day's events, thinking I might even stay home from Bible study to watch them. I found nothing in the daytime hours, so I went to class. When I got there I expressed my desire to watch the shows which recap where people were when the attacks came, who survived and how, and memorials for those lost. I liken it to biting on a sore tooth, watching these programs offered every year at this time. A couple of the guys in the group basically scoffed at my wishing to watch the shows, asking why I would want to see them, urging in not so loving ways to just let it go. Nice!  And that, my friends, is why this can happen again in the future!

A vertical rainbow on the river this afternoon, another remembrance that God made for us, His Promise

Not to be deterred, I did check the TV Guide on-line to see what was being offered the rest of the day, finding more programs later in the schedule. Good! But first, I accepted an invitation to join some friends for dinner at Pasta Market. Mike S. had told us that they'd had a one day forced close following a health inspection (Yikes!) so we wanted to show Sam our support by going in to eat. Unfortunately, Mike had a meeting at church tonight but Michael, Judy, Betty, and I were able to go. We were the only dine-in guests so I am quite glad we did go. Sam told us he is bringing in deli service to provide sandwiches and other type fare in hopes of gaining more customers during the lunch hours. Plus he is getting a refrigerated glass case for displaying his desserts. Now, that's a good idea because seeing sells!

I ordered a personal-sized pizza for my meal and this is what Sam made for me---a 12" pizza!!  Obviously, I had leftovers...

Treated like royalty

Last night Justin and I had dinner at Koko's (Saigon Tokyo Bistro), the first time being there in a while. They miss us when we let too much time go by between visits. It is hard on me to not have them open at lunch time anymore because I would have lunch there at least once a week with my friends. They simply could not justify having the lunch hours and it was hard on their staff as well. We want them to stay in business so I will go as often as I can to help keep their doors open. We generally get two meals for the price of one each so the cost is not exactly prohibitive in that regard. 

Tracy, one of the owners, is so good to us, as are the chefs and wait staff. They automatically bring Diet Cokes, know I like two dishes of yumyum sauce, and take onions only for my dinner veggies. And, the chef gives Justin my shrimp appetizer without me having to say anything. More than once as we've left the restaurant with our to-go boxes in hand Tracy or Chris tells us to "have a Kimmy Day!" So cute! Tracy thanks me for posting such positive updates on Facebook, appreciates starting the day with a Bible passage (her daughter finds them for her, she said). This is why I want to keep Koko's open! 

This morning's dramatic sunrise

This morning I went out to water exercise class, braving the now chillier pool temps in order to get a work out. It was said once that shivering is a way to burn calories so I was burning away well before the class got underway. Once we get used to it and start moving around it isn't as bad, but even splashing water on ourselves (myself) in our routines will cause more shivering to result. I wonder how many calories I burn by complaining? I sure do my fair share of it when I am cold, believe me. It was nice to be sitting in the sun while drying off.

There is no need to make dinner plans tonight since we have leftovers to enjoy. Makes for an easy and quick meal for us, after Happy Hour, that is. Not sure I will have any tapas tonight, we'll see if they offer a special or not. Justin can easily polish off both our boxes of leftovers if he wants to, if I do decide to have something with my friends at HH. Right now I can't even think about it but later, all bets are off!

An upcoming gallery show

We have had more than our share of rain of late, today included. I waited as long as I could to head up to Great Hang Ups, so between showers, away I went! The piece I entered in the upcoming photography show was juried in (forgive me if I am repeating myself) so now I had to go up to the store to pay my fee for the framing. All the frames will be the same size and color which is cool, and much easier for Julia to do the hanging in the shop. We are getting the frames for about half the cost of retail so I've got no complaints there. I had hoped to get there before noon to see Dee but I missed her. She leaves to take lunch to her husband but the rain held me back. Shoot!

I am also going to be the hostess for the opening reception which is the 21st so I'll have to rush there from church to be on time. The artists in the show generally do bring something to the opening. I am asking Justin to make some of his mini-pies for me to take to the reception. It's finger food and a sweet, which everyone likes, including me. Justin will be going to the football game that day so I'll have to take the treat to church with me and keep it cold in the fridge. Hope I won't forget it there!

After my time at Hang Ups, I stopped at Publix, glad the rain had ended. I had such a nice time shopping there, always a good experience at Fleming Island's store. Not that other locations are bad, I simply am more familiar on the Island. Not familiar enough, however, because I had to ask two different young men for help finding something, or reaching something from a high shelf. I made note of their names because if a customer reports good customer service, the employee gets a free sub sandwich for their reward. I hope Josh and Chris get their sandwiches! I am making a new-to-me recipe, Pasta Fagioli, like they serve at Olive Garden. Had to find some ingredients I don't normally purchase and the fellas helped me out. 

As I drove home, the heavens opened once again, so I had to unpack my perishables from the car in the pouring rain. I had packed them in such a way as to make the sorting easier once home. Too bad Connie wasn't around to lend me a hand but I managed to get what needed to be kept cold upstairs. That is a job! Makes me feel badly for my sister, Lynn, who has to carry her groceries up a flight a stairs. I am so thankful for our working elevator, for which I paid dearly several years ago!