The Last 24 Hours I

1.  Spent two hours doing a Saturday morning cleaning of my room, including removing the rickety stool in my closet that caused a frightening fall a couple of Sunday mornings ago.  I'm just not quite ready for that hip surgery, unless I break both hips simultaneously and the docs can move them in a couple inches on each side.

2.  Made a pot of hazelnut coffee for myself, then only drank one cup.  

3.  Vacuumed the stairs. 

4.  Went to Home Depot for a new window shade.  After agonizing over whether I needed a light-filtering or black-out shade, I went with the less expensive light-filtering, only the shades were incorrectly stocked, so Lisa cut a black-out shade to my measurement, but sold it to me for the lesser amount.

5.  Called my beauty-consultant (yes, I have one, she just doesn't know that's what I call her!) about my missing eye-lashes (I've been under a little stress lately, and my eye lashes have abandoned ship), then proceeded to Ulta where I was introduced to a $49.99 serum that would perform miracles on "regrowing my lashes and brows".  (My brows?!  What's wrong with my brows?!)  I decided against the serum, bought some "They're Real" mascara and some false lashes.

6.  Inquired about false lashes on Facebook and had more-than-expected comments from Falsie lovers/wearers, including one posted "How To" video.  Thanks, Facebook peeps!

7.  Checked  into the Ridge to walk and swim, only the third or fourth time in 7 weeks.

8.  Ate here for dinner and had the most delicious Ginger Chicken and a very wonderful dinner companion.

9.  Went to my first MSU basketball game of the season.

10.  Had phone conversations with David at 9:00pm, 10:00pm and 10:40pm about his plans for the evening.  In my book the evening was already over, but his did not end until after midnight when I walked into his room and found him still awake because he had just gotten home. 

It was a pretty normal Saturday, and that felt good.

Some Day is Here

I was alive and well before "contemporary Christian music".  Before Amy Grant and Keith Green I used to listen to quartet music.  The Blackwood Brothers were probably my favorites. (Go ahead and laugh.)  It wasn't until I was in college that I began to hear this new contemporary Christian music.  And I loved it.  And decades later, I still do, for the most part.

I can't remember exactly when, but as I was listening to Christian radio not long ago, I reminisced about the old new contemporary Christian music, wondering if I would ever hear some of my favorites again.  I wondered if we would ever have an Oldies station for the old new music.

Fast forward to this morning, as Grace and I were driving in the car, she reached for the radio volume dial, and turned the music up.  "I love this new station, that plays the oldies".  Contemporary Christian Oldies.  With the overplayed new new contemporary songs, it's a wonderful breath of fresh air to hear the oldies.

Calorie Counting, Burning, and Eating

So I've learned something new.  BMR.  From what I understand, it's how many calories you burn just living.  If you were to stay in bed all day and do nothing.  That is your BMR.  If you consume less calories than your BMR, you risk burning muscle, which decreases your metabolism because muscle mass burns calories.  And if you decrease your muscle mass you run the risk of damaging your organ muscles.  And that is bad.

So eating the number of calories normally prescribed for weight loss could be damaging to your health.

Anyone else have a clue about this?

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time (a year and a half ago) we invited the new youth leaders, Jonathan and Jessie, over for Easter lunch.  And let's just say we hit it off.  We liked them.  And for some reason, they seemed to like us.   They quickly became part of everything Keena.

Grace invited them to prom photos.

Jonathan taught us how to make sushi, and do cool cup tricks.

 We went to Frank and Melissa's wedding.

They came the next Easter, with their own little Luci Bunny!

They took Sunday naps on our couch.

 

We celebrated birthdays.

 We met their families.

 They photo bombed our pics.

Their blessing became our blessing.

We cheered on different teams.

They loved our kiddos well. 

(Insert a million photos here!)

 

And to me, that's why I'll miss them most.

Yesterday they drove their U-Haul to Wisconsin.

Where I'm confident they will live happily ever after.

We love you, Griders!

So Many Recipes, So Little Time

Yesterday was a wonderful Saturday, piddling around the house, organizing, cleaning, purging.  While straightening up the kitchen, I took notice of three stacks of recipes I had hanging on the refrigerator.

I love to look at recipes online and print the ones I want to try.  The trouble is, I rarely have time to try the new ones, resorting to ones I know.  But yesterday I decided to give my refrigerator a break and make some sense of all the printed recipes.  I decided I needed to try them or pitch them.  So #1 on the list (only because I actually had all of the ingredients) was Parmesan Spinach Cups.

Chop 10-12 oz of spinach into small pieces.  I had a 40 oz. bag of spinach, so this was a guesstimate.

 

Combine 1/2 c. each Parmesan cheese and ricotta cheese

 Add 2 beaten eggs; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper

  Add to spinach, and mix well.

Spoon into greased muffin tins.  I packed it in a little.

 Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.  Let stand in pan for 5 minutes.  

Remove to plate.  The recipe said you could sprinkle more cheese on top, but I didn't, and they don't need it.  I took one bite, and sighed.  Delish!  I am serving these as a side dish today, but they would make a great breakfast-on-the-run, or use smaller tins for a nice appetizer. 

I have 43 more recipes to try before they get the privilege of living in my recipe binder.  I think I need a bigger binder!

Summer Wedding #3

 Guestbook

 Place cards on a screen door

 This a'way.....

 ...and that a'way.

 The Lounge

Apparently these are all the rage.

 Menu on a window

 No wedding cake here, only this fabulous dessert table.

 Riverside Seating

So what do you do when you have no buildings at your wedding venue?

 You rent a bus to carry the wedding party to the ceremony.

 Listening to the Scripture reading.

 How many things strike you as a bit strange?!

 The Bridesman with the ladies

 

The new Mr. & Mrs

Emotions of Today

Having to ask someone to get out of bed three times = Exasperation

Loving on Luci for a few minutes = Delight

Working Out for the first time all week = Relief

Hugging my friend whose abusive husband died recently = Confusion

Saying good-bye to David's Chicago-bound mentor = Mourning

Talking "Rockville" with a bank customer = Reminiscent

Appreciated by co-worker = Affirmed

Hearing "2 weeks to live" for Jim's brother = Grief

 2 Overnighters with unfamiliar friends = Hesitant

Dinner/Conversation on the back porch with Jim and Andrew = Contentment

Skipping the Hawks game for a night at home =  Blissful