Meatloaf is what's for dinner

                 

Justin is loving my meatloaf recipe with its ground beef, a half box of Stove Top stuffing mix, the savory flavor, and an egg. I thought I had a loaf pan but could not find it anywhere. Justin reminded me that the last time I used an aluminum disposable pan so this time I used the mini-loaf pans to bake them. I covered each mini-loaf with bacon and ketchup before baking them. We had corn on the cob with them and called it dinner!

Between Justin's cooking and my attempts at it, we find ourselves eating more often at home than out. Justin is usually bone-tired when he comes in after work, but finds his delight in meal planning and prep. And then, of course, its consumption. He follows websites on line for recipes and I see stuff posted by friends on Facebook that simply entice me as well. I just don't know what's going on around here. 

It occurred to me that Justin and I haven't had our upstairs neighbors, Dick and Debbie, here for dinner in a while. Perhaps, we should make that happen soon and practice a recipe on them. I can't make meatloaf for Dick, though, because he is the master of them. One time when talking, I mentioned my love of meatloaf and the next day he brought one to my door. It weighed a ton, too! I cut it in half and froze part of it. Justin can come up with something else to delight our neighbors at the table...between Pinterest and Facebook, there's likely something out there to appeal to us! Good night all!

A good workout

Not what you would think a workout is like---this one did involve some hustling, however. I got home after our church meeting just in time to get my clothes changed and out to the pool, introduced by a clap of thunder. NUTS!  On the way out I greeted Bill and Nancy who were just picking up their towels to leave but put them back when I arrived. I stepped over to greet Fran and Rick, their first weekend at the pool this season, and then over to sit down with Jacquie and Mark. (An aside:  yesterday Fran sent me a text message that she was at the pool. I told her I had a previous committment, sadly. Then, Nancy M. texted me, having seen me leaving with my dishes in hand for the shower, wondering where I was going. I told her about the shower, but suggested Bill and she make the acquaintence of Fran and Rick, and I understand that they did just that!) 

And then the heavens opened. Bill and Nancy stopped at the table where I was with Mark and Jacquie on their way out, saying they should have left two minutes ago but stayed when I came out. Now, they had to walk home in the pouring rain. Good thing they were in their swimwear, but hope Bill didn't have his iPad with him. Everyone else packed up, too, to go home, leaving me to wait for my burger in the cabana. Miss Chardonnay was sure the storm would blow over, wanting me to sit with her in the cabana and watch soccer, but I excused myself to go home to eat my burger. Scurrying in the pouring rain....to get home. 

My neighbor, Sharon, captured this shot of the strange clouds which accompanied our afternoon storm. We get rain nearly everyday in the 'summer' but not usually so early in the day. This is unacceptable!  We can't blame our weather on the lake being extra cold because that does not apply!

As I mentioned briefly above, we had a congregational and voters meeting today following worship. It was also Fellowship Sunday and Betty, filling in for Judy C., was informed at the shower yesterday to make extra coffee and sandwiches instead of only serving cookies. She follows orders well, though grudgingly. It never occurred to the lady giving those orders to make some sandwiches, though, interestingly enough. But, Betty did not make extra coffee and in fact, ended up throwing some out after the meeting. 

Our congregation president was absent so Jim conducted the meeting for him. The guys had worked so hard in the terrible heat doing the pressure washing of the church, I should say guys and girl, average age 63. Two others cleaned out the garage which made everyone miss Sterling, who handled this task so ably last time. So, anyway, perhaps Mike physically taxed himself yesterday doing that work which didn't allow him to come today. I do hope he's alright tomorrow. 

For dinner tonight, Justin tweaked his chicken and dumplings recipe. He said it would take just 5 minutes to put together if it wasn't for pulling the chicken off the bones of the rotisserie bird. Because the chicken is pre-cooked, the casserole doesn't take long at all to bake, only long enough for the dumplings to form. It sure is delicious! 

The baby shower

 Angel is getting a corsage pinned on by Sue, as Lynn looks on 

 Kristin's daughter, Caitlan, made the chocolate dipped strawberries for the party

Kristin, Sue, and Jean getting things ready to go for the shower 

Angel opening her presents

This cake decoration is made entirely of icing

Kristin and I each bought paper products for the shower, choosing exactly the same ones! The cake Sue ordered matches perfectly, too!

The wedding

Today was the wedding. I have heard much about the wedding---the planning, the build-up, the time off, all that. The yard crew guys took today off in order to take care of business, not the least of which was to get hair cuts and beards trimmed. Justin, Jesse, and Ray, the groom, all got groomed! Then, Ray drove Justin's car to the repair shop in order to get the latch replaced, and then Justin took Ray wherever he had to go before the wedding. Jesse and Ray were going to spend the day together leading up to 'show time' and am glad they had time to squeeze this trip to the repair shop in while doing so. 

It was beastly hot today, too, which made for an uncomfortable night for some, since the ceremony was held outdoors in the garden at the Hilltop Club. Justin took his suit coat along, a corduroy one, but I don't believe he ever put it on. His boss, Will, didn't even bring a jacket. The brothers, Ray and Jesse, looked so good in their suits, seeing them all dressed up. It was a very nice ceremony, many more Scriptural references than I expected. I was quite impressed and pleased to have them take their vows after hearing what God has to say about marriage. 

The lady in front of me, in the patterned top, is Janet, my friend and neighbor.

Another blessing about being at this wedding was getting to see my friend, Martie, again. She works in Jesse's mom's office, with Jesse, too, but I hardly get to see her anymore for one reason or another. We made plans to get together this next week and I hope we can keep them! Also got to see many other folks I haven't see in a long time which was great fun. 

Justin and I sat with his boss, Will, and his wife, Beth, plus his other friends, Ron and Sarah, and Darryl. The meal was served very late but was delicious, including prime rib, which I ate on dinner rolls. Didn't want to stand in line at the pasta bar. I walked to my car after dinner, being escorted by my neighbors/friends, Janet and Arnie, who are also family friends. Justin stayed behind with his friends to party on while us old folks toddled on home! It was a great wedding and I wish Ray and Rose all the very best in their married lives!

New friends!

No Bible study at Victory this week again, this time due to their Vacation Bible School taking place. I have gone a long time without a class, having missed Monday due to the dentist appointment. Since I didn't have Bible study, I could partake in the water exercise class. This week we've been joined by two ladies, referred to as The Canadians, Jennifer and Darlene. They were so much fun, I hate to even think of class next week without them!!

Wednesday the group helped our friend, Randy, celebrate his 79th birthday with this huge chocolate avalanche cake topped with chocolate strawberries. Wow!  His wife, Carol, came over to help celebrate, staying for lunch as well. Since some ladies couldn't stay, we had the cake first, like an appetizer! The Canadians joined in the fun right along with us. That cake was out of this world!!

Today, Jennifer asked the lifeguard, Tiana, to take pictures of the Flying Noodles, our official title, for posterity's sake. This one shows us with noodles in the air!  The Palace is in the background...

Here is another shot of the group with our bar bells in hand (mostly under the water) except for Marlena's which are up in the air! This shows Olla, Susie, Randy, Kay, Nancy L, Pat G., me, Burnie, Darlene, Jennifer on the steps, and Jerry, with his in the air. (click the photo to see us all)

This photo shows us in action on Wednesday, with me on the far right (of course!!!), and next to me is Nancy W. My soda can appears on the edge of the shot, perched on the side of the pool for periodic sips. (click the photo to see us all)

We said good-bye to our new friends as they went their separate ways, Darlene doing some more touring after the IWS wrapped up, with Jennifer and her husband driving back to TX first thing in the morning. She is now my Facebook friend so we're all set!

A worship week

For a few days now I've been printing and gathering information for the meeting we had tonight. I volunteered for this duty, serving on a worship committee set up after some goals were set by a vision task force. I know, I don't like the sounds of that either, but I need to be in the thick of things. We were asked to peruse an essay written by a worship counselor which was presented at a conference, and I printed off the 43 page document. Later, when going through my other worship information, I found the same document, all 43 pages of it. Must be a good paper!

Now I have an assignment, the committee members, to complete by Sunday, coming up with 'big ideas' for each of the goals the initial committee set. Will have to squeeze that in between my other activities this week, including writing the newsletter!

Tuesday I went out to water exercises just to sign the card for Randy's birthday and got to see Nancy again but my cold kept me from enjoying the water. I got to meet two new ladies in the class, however, hotel guests who participated. They were both Canadian, one now living in TX, but they did not know each other until they were introduced at the pool on Monday. How funny is that?? I'd have sworn they were long time friends, the way they behaved with each other. It was fun to watch, having them again in class today. 

Their husbands are part of the Institute of Worship Studies conducted nearby, getting their extended degrees in liturgy, etc. One lady's husband was a music minister for years and is now going to be a professor somewhere, upon finishing his degree. They are loving being along for the ride with their spouses and staying on the banks of the St. Johns, taking in the sights and activities The Club and the area have to offer. We have lots to talk about, as you can imagine.

Because of my meeting tonight, I had to miss Happy Hour and Trivia. I got home at the same time my neighbors were coming back over from The Club and I got the business for missing (Justin wasn't there, either) Trivia because our team lost by one lousy point! Heather told me she knew I'd have gotten the Bible question right but when Nancy W. texted me the question, (she was on the winning team), I answered wrong. The question was 'which king threw Daniel in the lion's den?' Justin and I both thought Nebuchadnezzar but that was not right. Nancy texted me that she thought it was something like Prius....Oh, I know!! Darius!! Nancy didn't say if anyone got it right or not. I have more than once answered incorrectly on Bible questions, so I am cautious. It's okay to let the other team win once in awhile, right?

I heard from the car repair place where Justin's A/C was fixed that the part came in for his hatchback latch. His hatch latch! Boy, it's expensive but the hatch has to operate in order to make it saleable. Now, we just have to get the car over there to have the latch installed and it will be ready to go. Justin's boss has offered to help sell it since Justin can't really take care of any of that stuff during the week. Once the latch is in, he needs to clean it all up and get his car show-room ready. The more he can sell it for, the more he can pay toward his truck, so presentation (and a working latch and A/C!) are everything!

Justin is working a crazy week due to Raymond's wedding on Friday. They are all taking off for the day, even though the wedding is at night. It is not a formal affair but they are acting as though it is. Justin is sure the two of them could have at least worked until noon on Friday in order to not have such a hard week. He is so reasonable! 

He has decided to work a couple hours on Friday morning in order to make sure the lawn at church gets done, should knock it out in about 2 hours. Ever since he saw our member, Jim, on the mower one Saturday, as wet as if he'd been in a shower, Justin has been doing the yard work (an hour's worth donation) every other week. He felt so badly for Jim. Raymond and Justin just fly around with their equipment and get things looking decent, at least twice a month, anyway.

Dinner with friends

Tonight Justin and I hosted our friends, Judy and Michael, for dinner, guinea pigs for a new recipe Justin was trying. Since Justin was working late it fell to me to pick the chicken from the bones of the rotisserie bird I’d picked up the day before. Not my favorite job but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. In advance of his arrival home from work, I had gotten as many of the ingredients he needed to use ready for him so he could throw his casserole together quickly and get it into the oven. He had stopped at Publix to get a bag of salad and also got some bi-color sweet corn which went perfectly with his chicken and dumplings.

For dessert I had made a cherry chocolate cake, using the cake mix Jacquie had given me as a joke after my failed cupcake episode. I happened to have a can of cherry pie filling on hand to use, plus two eggs, and a teaspoon of almond extract. Very good, nice and moist, and it turned out! 

We had a nice visit with our friends, with tonight being the only ‘free’ one for a while. Wednesday I have a church meeting, Thursday is Bible Information Class, on Friday Justin and I are going to his friend, Raymond’s, wedding, and Saturday is the baby shower. Sunday Judy leaves for the LWMS Convention, going in advance to visit some friends before the Convention gets underway in Dallas.

Justin is pretty much over his cold but he has nicely shared it with me. In fact, he told on Sunday that he knew I’d get it because he licked all the door knobs in the house. Oh, that rascal! I didn’t go out for water exercises due to my cold but did go out at the end of the class to sign a birthday card for our friend, Randy. His birthday is tomorrow and we are having a cake to celebrate his 79^th year. Some are staying for lunch with his wife and him, but I am not sure if I will order lunch at all. This month’s menu for the dining room lunch is not all that appealing to me, but the others like the choices. Wish I could order a burger or hot dog instead!

It was good to see Nancy W. today, after not seeing her for a couple weeks. Justin and I did drop off some clear soup from Koko’s the other night but only to hand it to her through the car window. She didn’t want me to come into the house and get germy. I got germy elsewhere, I guess (the door knobs!). She started out with bronchitis not long after Linda left, which became pneumonia. And then the antibiotics she was taking messed up her digestive system and made her quite ill, so she had to take probiotics to get it under control. She lost about 10 pounds in 4 days but imagines that will come back now that she can keep her food down and in. When Linda was here, we had gone shopping at Wal-Mart and Nancy picked up what she needed to prep for her colonoscopy. Once she got sick, that test was put on the back burner, so now that she is feeling better, she still faces that test. Poor kid (she is my sister, Lynn’s, age).

Justin’s underling and friend, Ray, is getting married Friday, as I mentioned. Justin and I used to hang out with Ray’s mom, brother, Jesse (Justin’s friend and former roommate), and him on a regular basis. The wedding and reception, small scale, is being held at The Hilltop Restaurant, which is owned by his mom’s fiancé. This is the same young couple who lost their belongings in a house fire not long ago. Now they are trying to get on their feet and we wish them all the best going forward.