Currently

Reading ... in the Bible I'm back in the Psalms this morning.

In other books. As much as I love reading it's been a few days since I've actually cracked open a book for the simple pleasure of reading.

I have been using plenty of recipe books and school books if we're counting them.

Writing ... text messages, a letter or two, and grocery lists.

Watching ... the drifting leaves as they dance in the air on their journey from the tree top to the ground below.

Our big maple tree outside the living room window is rapidly losing its leaves.

Listening ... to a mockingbird. Every morning it comes and sits in the maple tree and sings its heart out for twenty to thirty minutes. It's so beautiful. This morning I tried to record it, but as soon as I stood at the window to do so it quit singing until I once again resumed my morning activities. I decided to simply enjoy its performance without recording.

Baking ... most recently Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies from an old family favorite recipe, and a Chicken Bacon Ranch Stromboli from a new recipe I wanted to try. Only it turned into simply a Chicken Ranch Stromboli because I forgot to add the bacon until I had the dough all nicely closed around the filling contents and was sliding it in the oven. It was still good, but would have been better with the bacon.

Cooking ... tonight I'm doing a loaded tater tot casserole and a salad. It's simple yet quite tasty. The perfect way to start a weekend.

Feeling ... so happy to be at home!! After several weeks of road-tripping which included attending the wedding of LV's niece in Montana as well as lots of hiking at various points of interest on the circuitous way there and back, it feels fantastic to get to sleep in our own bed, cook our own food, and simply relish the ordinary little life we live in this old farmhouse.

We took hundreds and hundreds of pictures along the way, one of my favorites was this one.

Disliking ... the chokingly heavy fog we had for several days this week. I don't mind it too much if I'm indoors, but having to drive in it, or knowing your loved ones are out there driving in it is not fun! It was the source of some "interesting" stories that I prefer to not have had happen.

Loving ... autumn. I think it is my favorite season. I love it so much!

Playing ... last evening Steven and I played multiple rounds of Pass the Panda. Such a simple yet fun little game.

Cleaning ... today I tackle the lazy susans in the kitchen again. I try to at least once a month because it seems they demand attention quite regularly. 

Currently

Reading ... this week I took a break from my journey of reading through the Bible, and simply spent time reading various Psalms.

In other books I enjoyed Houses with a Story one afternoon while Steven was fishing. He loves fishing, I love reading. He needs me to provide transportation to his fishing spot, so while he enjoys a few hours fishing I get to enjoy a few hours of reading in the middle of the day. 

Writing ... I've been making progress on a story I really want to read, but I need to get it written first before I can do that.

Watching ... some YouTube videos on various creative things I'm wanting to try my hand at.

Listening ... to the windchimes on the front porch and an exuberantly happy bird. 

Baking ... there's sourdough rising on the kitchen counter waiting to be made into some bread. Sharon does something with sourdough every week, So many, many delectable treats we have had thanks to her.

Last week she made some sourdough cinnamon toast crunch cereal. Even though we'd tweak the recipe a bit next time, it was still a success.

Cooking ... We enjoyed a chowder, chicken soup, and chili this week. Somehow it seemed like the thing to do with our house being so cold.

Disliking ... how cold our house is. This morning when I got up it was 64º  It's at 67º now which is still too cold for me, but I refuse to have a heater going in August!

Loving ... creating Dutch Doors in my bullet journal. It's been  relaxing and almost rejuvenating allowing my creativity to flow.

Playing ...  since the last time I made a post the games we played the most at our house were King of Tokyo,  Samurai Gardener, and Dutch Blitz. 

I also participated in a variety of shower games at Rosie Mae's bridal shower last Saturday.

Cleaning ... this week I didn't do much other than the daily dozen and washing the kitchen window after a bird managed to create a splattered mess on it.

Second Chance?

     LV and I stared at the loaded plate on the table in front of us and then looked at each other dubiously.

    We had driven past this particular seafood restaurant many times. We had looked at the reviews online. Both of us love seafood, and the day had finally arrived that we try eating here.

    But the loaded plate in front of us was not looking encouraging.

    We had decided to share an appetizer of coconut shrimp. Something both of us have liked at any other restaurant we've ever tried them. Different recipes for sure, but all quite tasty.

    The abomination in front of us though was something neither of us had envisioned when we had placed our order.

    The shrimp weren't breaded. They were battered in such a hefty batter they were now easily three times bigger than they had originally been. An odd white sauce was doused over them, and then sweetened coconut straight from a bag from the grocery store poured over the top. Presented to us by a smiling and bowing waiter who after setting it on the table, immediately scurried away. 

    After eyeing it for a few moments, LV became courageous enough to give one a try. One bite was more than enough for him. The sauce tastes like toaster strudel frosting, he declared.

    I had to see for myself. I scraped the untoasted coconut to the side and gave the shrimp a try. The batter was bad enough, but the frosting ... dreadful. It really did taste exactly like toaster strudel frosting. Which, as it turns out does not go well with shrimp.

    What could possibly be happening in the kitchen we wondered. Did the chef not show up and some brave but clueless waitress or waiter was trying their best to make something they had no clue how? 

    Our entree arrived soon, and though it wasn't sweet it too was very, very bad.

    We paid, left, and ordered a pizza.

    Since that epic failure of a meal I have really wanted to go back and order the coconut shrimp again just to see if that is actually how they mean for them to be served, or if we simply happened to be there on an unfortunate night.

    The mere thought of eating there again makes LV shudder. So instead of giving them a second chance we simply laugh at the memory every time we drive by, of what had been the worst meal we have ever had.

Currently

Reading ... I'm somewhere in the book of Jeremiah in the Bible.

In other books I read Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery. Such a delightful treat. I don't know how I never read it before, but to be able to read it for the first time now. Ah ... I thoroughly enjoyed every delicious minute of it.

I was recently introduced to The Blythes are Quoted by L.M. Montgomery as well. I have started reading it, but am only at the very beginning of the book so I can't tell yet if I'll like it as much as her other books.

Writing ... Rosie Mae had requested I get her copies of her favorite family recipes, so I've been working on getting them written on recipe cards and tucked into a cheerful little recipe box. Sharon and Paige said they also want a copy of them, so I'm doing three copies of each recipe. 

I'm happy to do it, but my hand does get tired at times. Apparently it can no longer spend hours doing handwriting like it used to.

Watching ... still an episode of Little House on the Prairie most everyday. Just between you and me, I'm kind of getting sick of it. I think I need a break, and maybe watch a cooking show or two.

Listening ... to Pride and Prejudice on Libby. I have tried reading Jane Austen books numerous times over the years, but always gave up. Listening to it makes it ten times more tolerable and I'm finding I'm actually quite enjoying it. 

Baking ... Sharon has "Charlie", her sourdough starter on the kitchen counter. She just fed it, so some delightful sourdough treat will be baked tomorrow.

Though not baking, I did cook up a batch of Vanilla Bean Pudding for dessert last night. We'll have what remains of it tonight.

Cooking ... tonight supper will consist of lamb chops, baked potatoes, and a quick salad.

Feeling ... happy, and just slightly claustrophobic. The school room has become the storage place for all things wedding related, and well,  it's making me feel crowded, itchy, and yes, a touch claustrophobic.

Loving ... these gorgeous summer days. We still desperately need rain, but it's no longer as hot. It's hard not to love the weather even as we hope for rain.

Playing ... today Steven and I played a few rounds of Top Trumps Fishing. He loves everything to do with fishing, including games so he quite enjoyed it. I like that the game is a bit educational with some facts about fish, while still being fun to play.

Cleaning ... nothing special this week other than the daily dozen and washing a window thanks to the exuberant killing of a pesky fly.

Currently

Reading ... In the Bible I'm reading Isaiah. Starting that book always sends a little thrill through me and helps me relive that time in our life when we truly found Jesus. You can read that condensed story here, if you're interested.

In other books I found a delightful little book called Daddy Long-Legs by Jean Webster. It's about a young girl who grew up in an orphanage and was given the opportunity to attend college by a generous, but anonymous benefactor. The only terms were that she send letters to him in care of his secretary regarding her progress at school and details about her life as if she were writing to her parents.

The book is then filled with the letters she wrote. 

Such a fun little read. It's reminiscent of Anne of Green Gables, and yet not.

I was reading it while Steven was fishing and came upon a quote that I needed to scribble in my book of book quotes, but since it wasn't available I simply took a picture of it. Hang on a minute while I find it.

Okay, here we go.

Anybody can rise to a crisis and face a crushing tragedy with courage, but to meet the petty hazards of the day with a laugh - I really think that requires spirit.

The truth of the quote resonated with me somehow.

Writing ... lists, lists, and more lists. There's something about writing lists that makes me thrive. And thriving, I am.

Watching ... a show about storm chasing and tornadoes etc. It's not my favorite, but fits in nicely with the Meteorology unit study by Campfire Curriculums that Steven had been doing.

Listening ... the hum of the dryer, a cow mooing persistently, and some kind of summer insects that I'm not sure what they're called. I only know they're not crickets or katydids.

Baking ... I made some Hot Fudge Pudding Cake today. It's been a while since I've made dessert and this has been one of our favorites ever since the first time I made it 25 years ago.

Cooking ... tonight was "haystack" night. Rice, beans, hamburger, and choice of toppings.

Feeling ... pleasantly busy. We're getting into a comfortable routine which is lovely for routine loving me.

Loving ... the nice rain shower we got. It's still quite dry here, but  we're so thankful for every drop of rain we received.

Playing ... today it was a game that Steven invented that involves a ball. He happened to think of it this morning and we played several rounds. He thought it was as much fun as he had remembered it to be, which is a nice thing. So often the things from our younger childhood seem to change as we grow older, but this game is standing the test of time.

Today ... I had an appointment to go to this morning.  I was driving through the part of town that has its speed limit posted at 15 MPH, I was half way chomping at the bit, because it always feels so painstakingly slow, but I kept it at 15.  Then I noticed an older gentleman walking on the sidewalk. He tripped on something and went stumble running, arms flailing, right out onto the road where he collapsed in front of my horrified eyes. I quickly stopped, very thankful I hadn't been driving any faster. 

Another lady had seen it happen too and also came running to help.  Other than a skinned elbow and knee he assured us he's fine. Once he was safely back on the sidewalk I continued on my way.

I'm thinking it will be a little while before that section of driving 15 MPH irritates me like it used to.