Sep 192019
Sep 172019
Every Tuesday I host First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros sharing the first paragraph or two of a book that I’m reading or plan to read soon
Feel free to join in by posting your own FCFPTI and linking below
The Totally Awesome Book of Useless Information by Noel Botham
Squirrels can climb a tree faster than it can run on the ground
Happy Birthday is the most often sung song in America
A bumble bee beats it’s wings about 160 times a second
Sleeping Beauty slept for one hundred years
Queen Elizabeth 1 had more than 2000 dresses
More presidents have been born in the state of Virginia than any other state
Sep 152019
Linking up with:
Sunday Salon
Sunday Post
Outside…
It’s only 89° but with the humidity the “feels like temp.” is 101°
Thankful…
My grandson and his cousin because they washed and vacuumed my car this weekend
Reading…
The Totally Awesome Book Of Useless Information by Noel Botham
Listening To…
Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks
On The Blog Last Week…
Crockpot Rootbeer Pulled Chicken
First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros
Books Needing Reviewed…
The Art Of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein
The Lido by Libby Page
Gaurdians Of Beings by Eckhart Tolle
(Definitely)The Best Dogs of All Time by Jadan Carroll
On Hold At The Library…
Keto Instant Pot by Maria Emmerich
Watching…
I plan on watching Big Brother tonight to see who won the POV last week and to see who gets evicted
In The Kitchen…
Brown Sugar Meatloaf
Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken
Instant Pot Spaghetti
New To Me Stuff:
I was shopping for groceries the other day and saw this really dark banana so I asked a lady working by them what it was. She said it was a red banana, which I’ve never seen or heard of before. I decided to buy 1 so I could see if I liked it and wanted to buy more. It tasted pretty much like a yellow banana but was a bit sweeter. I’ll buy more when I go back to the store
Today’s To Do List…
I worked this morning and now I’m washing the never ending laundry
Looking forward to…
Going to Texas Roadhouse or Bahama Breeze next weekend, still haven’t decided which one we want to go to
A Favorite Bible Verse…
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble
John 8:12
From the camera…
Sep 142019
Crockpot Root Beer Pulled Chicken
Serves 6
1/2 cup Root Beer
1/2 cup Ketchup
1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
2 tablespoons Prepared Yellow Mustard
1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Fresh Ground Black Pepper
1/8 teaspoon Ground Ginger
2 pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts cut into 2 – 3 inch cubes
In a medium mixing bowl mix together all of the ingredients except for the chicken until well combined to create the sauce
Add the cut up chicken to a gallon zippered storage bag
Pour the sauce over the chicken in the storage bag and gently massage the chicken into the sauce & zip the bag closed
Allow the chicken to marinate overnight in the refrigerator
Pour the ingredients into a 6 – 7 quart slow cooker
Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours
Serve on buns or rolls (gluten-free if you are on a GF diet) as sandwiches
You can click on the link to the recipe for how to freeze/cook this
Thoughts
This is so quick and easy to get ready for the fridge, and tastes really good. The only things I did different was that I used Costco Rotisserie Chicken Breast Meat instead of chicken breasts which made it much easier than cutting the chicken into cubes. I also used my 8 qt. slow cooker instead of a 6 – 7 qt.
I also didn’t serve on buns, I ate a scoop of it on a plate and ate it with a baked potato.
It was very good but since the flavor wasn’t quite as bold as I like, when I make it again I’ll double the sauce ingredients. The recipe says it makes 6 servings but for us it was a lot more than that. The two of us ate it twice and there was still enough for another two meals. The next time I’ll put half in a separate baggie and put it in the freezer to make later, and I plan on using the Slow Cooker program on my Instant Pot.
Sep 092019
Every Tuesday I host First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros sharing the first paragraph or two of a book that I’m reading or plan to read soon
Feel free to join in by posting your own FCFPTI and linking below
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Book 1
Gohyang/Hometown
1
Yeongdo, Busan, Korea
History has failed us, but no matter.
At the turn of the century, an aging fisherman and his wife decided to take in lodgers for extra money. Both were born and raised in the fishing village of Yeongdo – a five mile wide islet beside the port city of Busan. In their long marriage, the wife gave birth to three sons, but only Hoonie, the eldest and the weakest one, survived. Hoonie was born with a cleft palate and a twisted foot; he was, however, endowed with hefty shoulders, a squat build, and a golden complexion. Even as a young man, he retained the mild, thoughtful temperament he’d had as a child. When Hoonie covered his misshapen mouth with his hands, something he did out of habit meeting strangers, he resembled his nice-looking father, both having the same large, smiling eyes. Inky eyebrows graced his broad forehead, perpetually tanned from outdoor work. Like his parents, Hoonie was not a nimble talker, and some made the mistake of thinking that because he could not speak quickly there was something wrong with his mind, but that was not true.
Sep 082019
Linking up with:
Sunday Salon
Sunday Post
Outside…
High of 93° but the heat index is supposed to be around 110
Thankful…
For a/c
Reading…
I Ain’t Doin’ It by Heather Land (reading a little at a time)
Listening To…
The Escape Room by Megan Goldin on hold so I can listen to:
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee ~ for September book club
Finished Last Week…
The Lido by Libby Page
Gaurdians Of Beings by Eckhart Tolle
(Definitely)The Best Dogs of All Time by Jadan Carroll
On The Blog Last Week…
Sunday Reflections, Sunday Salon, Sunday Post
September CDP Theme Day: Red
First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros
Skywatch Friday
Books Needing Reviewed…
The Art Of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein
The Lido by Libby Page
Gaurdians Of Beings by Eckhart Tolle
(Definitely)The Best Dogs of All Time by Jadan Carroll
On Hold At The Library…
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren (didn’t pick it up yet)
Watching…
The movie The Bookshop & tonight it’s Big Brother
In The Kitchen…
Root Beer Pulled Chicken
Brown Sugar Meatloaf
10-Minute Instant Pot Salmon (From Frozen!)
Russian-Style Tomato-Cucumber-Onion Salad
New To Me Stuff:
POM Wonderful Juice I liked it but it was way puckery
Today’s To Do List…
I have to work this morning and when I get home I’m going to do a few things around the house and then relax
Looking forward to…
Not having to work Thursday & Friday
A Favorite Bible Verse…
Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest
Exodus 34:21
From the camera…
Sep 052019
Sep 022019
Every Tuesday I host First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros sharing the first paragraph or two of a book that I’m reading or plan to read soon
Feel free to join in by posting your own FCFPTI and linking below
Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo
Book 1
The Dead
1
He wished the phone would stop ringing. It was bad enough to be sick let alone having a phone ring all night long. Boy was he sick. Not from any of their sour french wine either. A man couldn’t hold enough of it to get a head this big. His stomach was going round and round and round. Fine thing nobody’d answer that phone. It sounded like it was ringing in a room about a million miles wide. His head was a million miles wide too. The hell with the telephone.
Sep 012019
Sep 012019
Linking up with:
Sunday Salon
Sunday Post
Outside…
The sun is shining and the sky is a beautiful blue with a few whispy clouds, it’s 79° right now, the high is supposed to be 86° with 80% chance of rain
Thankful…
That Hurricane Dorian turned east even though an update a few mins. ago said it was turning closer to Florida. I’m hoping it turns back and goes out to see and misses land
Reading…
Later today I’ll read (Definitely)The Best Dogs of All Time by Jadan Carroll
Listening To…
The Lido by Libby Page
On The Blog Last Week…
First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros
Movie Time: Evelyn
Instant Pot Baby Lima Beans And Ham
Books Needing Reviewed…
The Art Of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein
On Hold At The Library…
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Watching…
Tonight it’s Big Brother, and I’ve been watching a lot of HGTV
In The Kitchen…
I bought a huge spice rack which got hung up yesterday so today I’m going to put all my spices in it today
New To Me Stuff:
Haven’t tried anything new lately
Today’s To Do List…
I did the laundry and cleaned yesterday so today I’m going to relax, which means lots of books and movies
Looking forward to…
Having a cookout with my two sons and oldest son’s family tomorrow
A Favorite Bible Verse…
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:15
From the camera…
Aug 312019
I found this recipe at The Blond Cook
So, I finally used my Instant Pot and I LOVE IT! So easy and quick. It only took 25 min. to cook once it came up to pressure.
1 pound dry baby lima beans
4 cups cubed, chopped or shredded fully cooked ham
1–1/2 cups chopped yellow onion
1 tablespoon freshly minced garlic
3 cups chicken broth
4 cups water
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 bay leaf
Optional: fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
Rinse and sort beans in a colander, removing and discarding any debris
Place beans and remaining ingredients (except parsley) in the insert of your Instant Pot and stir well to combine
Place the lid on and lock, steam release knob should be set on “sealing”
Cook on manual setting (high pressure) for 25 minutes
Allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick release remaining pressure
Carefully remove lid and stir
Remove and discard bay leaf.
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired.
Thoughts
I didn’t follow the instructions 100%. I used chicken bone broth instead of chicken broth and didn’t use the bay leave (I forgot about it even though I stopped at the store specifically to get some), and didn’t use the parsley.
I had baked a ham a few days before so I used the ham bone and cut up a bunch of ham to go in it.
The beans were SO GOOD! Next time I’ll double the recipe because we only got 3 big bowls from them and we like eating them more than one day.
It was easy to store the leftovers in the inner pot that comes with the IP, and I used an Instant Pot Silicone Lid. I love this lid, it’s thick and is a really tight fit.
I’ll definitely be making this recipe again!
Now I need to figure out what to make next!
Aug 292019
2002
1h 35min
PG
Director Bruce Beresford
Starring Pierce Brosnan, Aidan Quinn, Alan Bates, Julianna Margulies
1953. Based on the true story of Desmond Doyle (Pierce Brosnan), who after losing his job and watching his wife leave the country with another man, has his children taken away by an arcane custody law. Doyle cleans up his act and wages an unlikely legal battle to regain custody.
Thoughts
I was searching for a movie to watch the other day and saw this movie which is available on Amazon Prime (until Aug. 31st). Since I love true story movies, the actors in the movie, and anything to do with Ireland, I knew I wanted to watch it.
Poor Desmond Doyle is out of work. As if that isn’t bad enough, his wife leaves him and his 3 children on the day after Christmas and he has no idea where she is.
Due to unfortunate events, his kids are taken away from him and he is told he can’t get them back. Since that was not something he was willing to accept, he sets out to do whatever it takes to get them back, which at that time (1953) was not something the law would allow. But Desmond loved his children more than anything and would not give up. His journey to do so made history.
I loved everything about this movie. I loved that this man was willing to do everything in his power to get his kids back. I loved the relationships between him and his kids, him and his father, and the kids and their grandfather. The actors were convincing in their parts, even the talented children.
Even though this movie is about such a serious subject, there’s still a bit of humor and some great songs (two were sung by Pierce Bronsnan), and overall just a feel good movie!
I LOVED it! It is now on my list of all time favorite movies.
Aug 272019
Every Tuesday I host First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros sharing the first paragraph or two of a book that I’m reading or plan to read soon
Feel free to join in by posting your own FCFPTI and linking below
The Escape Room by Megan Goldin
Prologue
It was Miguel who called 911at 4:07A.M. on an icy Sunday morning. The young security guard spoke in an unsteady voice, fear disguised by cocky nonchalance.
Miguel had been an apiring bodybuilder until he injured his back lifting boxes in a warehouse job and had to take night-shift work gaurding a luxury office tower in the final stages of construction. He had a muscular physique, dark hair, and a cleft in his chin.
He was conducting a cursory inspection when a scream rang out. At first, he didn’t hear a thing. Hip-hop music blasted through the oversize headphones he wore as he swept his flashlight across the dark recesses of the lobby.
Aug 252019
Linking up with:
Sunday Salon
Sunday Post
Outside…
The high is supposed to be only 93° but it will probably feel hotter with the humidity
Thankful…
That my granddog is feeling back to normal, she was very sick and we didn’t know if she’d make it
Reading…
Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas
Listening To…
The Art of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein still, with my work commute going from 30 min. to 5 min. my listening time has really decreased
Books Reviewed Last Week…
Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro
Books Needing Reviewed…
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Julia Whelan
Skinnytaste One And Done by Gina Homolka
Skinnytaste Fast And Slow by Gina Homolka
The New Potluck by Taste Of Home
On Hold At The Library…
Vegetables Unleashed: A Cookbook by Jose Andres & Matt Goulding
Watching…
I’ve never seen Evelyn (2002) so I’ll be watching it today on Prime Video. It’s about an Irishman who fights a legal battle to gain custody of his three children who are living in different orphanages. It stars Pierce Brosnan, Aidan Quinn, & Julianna Margulies
Mind Body Spirit…
My sinus infection is FINALLY completely gone. It sure took it’s time.
In The Kitchen…
Yesterday I made a big spiral cut ham and Tropical Sweet Potatoes from the Taste Of Home cookbook, so we’ll be having leftovers today
New To Me Stuff:
When I got my 6qt. Instant Pot from Wal-Mart and opened it up, I thought it might be too small so I took it back and checked to see what Amazon had. I ended up ordering the 8qt. that has a Bean/Stew & Poultry modes (which I’ll use a lot). The 6qt. didn’t have them, it had a Cake and Egg modes instead. I’ve spent the last week checking out recipes and I’ve decided to make some ribs first, as soon as I go buy some. So far I’ve bought a glass lid for when I use the slow cooker mode, and a silicone lid to use when I want to put the insert in the fridge. I also bought a 22 piece accessory set that has things I’ll use for every recipe. I’ll post recipes when I make them
Today’s To Do List…
Catch up on housework/laundry, read/listen to my current bookss, & watch the movie I mentioned above
Looking forward to…
Labor Day, I’m going to spend time with family
A Favorite Bible Verse…
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world
James 1:27
From the camera…
Every night when it’s time for them to eat
Jaspurr comes and just stares at me until I get up to feed them
Aug 242019
Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Knopf; 1st Edition edition (January 15, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1524732710
ISBN-13: 978-1524732714
What makes us who we are? What combination of memory, history, biology, experience, and that ineffable thing called the soul defines us?
In the spring of 2016, through a genealogy website to which she had whimsically submitted her DNA for analysis, Dani Shapiro received the stunning news that her father was not her biological father. She woke up one morning and her entire history–the life she had lived–crumbled beneath her.
Inheritance is a book about secrets–secrets within families, kept out of shame or self-protectiveness; secrets we keep from one another in the name of love. It is the story of a woman’s urgent quest to unlock the story of her own identity, a story that has been scrupulously hidden from her for more than fifty years, years she had spent writing brilliantly, and compulsively, on themes of identity and family history. It is a book about the extraordinary moment we live in–a moment in which science and technology have outpaced not only medical ethics but also the capacities of the human heart to contend with the consequences of what we discover.
Thoughts
This book was very interesting and I didn’t want to stop reading. Everytime I learned the outcome of one thing, I wanted to keep reading so I could find out what happened next. It was a long painful journey for Dani and at times she thought she’d never find the information she so desperately wanted, but in the end things turned out in a way that she was satisfied with.
I don’t know what I would do in this situation, but I applaud Dani for doing whatever it took to get the answers she needed.
This was the first book I’ve read by this author and now I want to read more by her.
Aug 192019
Every Tuesday I host First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros sharing the first paragraph or two of a book that I’m reading or plan to read soon
Feel free to join in by posting your own FCFPTI and linking below
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
1
Gestures are all that I have; sometimes they must be grand in nature. And while I occasionally step over the line and into the world of the melodramtic, it is what I must do in order to communicate clearly and effectively. In order to make my poinr understood without question. I have no words I can rely on because, much to my dismay, my tongue was designed long and flat and loose, and therefore, is a horribly ineffective tool for pushing food around my mouth while chewing, and an even less effective tool for making clever and complicated polysyllabic sounds that can be linked together to form sentences. And that’s why I’m here now waiting for Denny to come home-he should be here soon-lying on the cool tiles of the kitchen floor in a puddle of my own urine.
Aug 182019
Aug 182019
Linking up with:
Sunday Salon
Sunday Post
Outside…
78° and there is a 50% chance of rain this afternoon, which may put a damper on our plans for today
Thankful…
That my oldest grandson is feeling better, he was really sick for about a week
Reading…
Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas
Skinny Taste One & Done by Gina Homolka
Listening To…
The Art of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein
Watching…
A lot of good movies on Prime Video
In The Kitchen…
I’m making Banana Pudding today at the request of my son and granddaughter
Today’s To Do List…
Going to a cookout next door at my son’s house
A Favorite Bible Verse…
Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take
Psalm 51:10
From the camera…
Aug 122019
Every Tuesday I host First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros sharing the first paragraph or two of a book that I’m reading or plan to read soon
Feel free to join in by posting your own FCFPTI and linking below
A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas
1
What Stays The Same
This is the one thing that stays the same: my husband got hurt. Everything else changes. A grandson needs me and then he doesn’t. My children are close then one drifts away. I smoke and don’t smoke; I knit ponchos, then hats, shawls, hats again, stop knitting, start up again. The clock ticks, the seasons shift, the night sky rearranges itself, but my husband remains constant, his injuries are permanant. He grounds me. Rich is where I shine. I can count on myself with him.
Aug 112019
Linking up with:
Sunday Salon
Sunday Post
Outside…
It’s still dark outside since it’s only 6:06 am, but in about an hour the sun will start coming out and the day will warm up, and it’s supposed to rain most of the day
Thankful…
For having today off work
Reading…
A Beach Wish by Shelley Noble – still
Listening To…
I have about 3 hrs. left of Only One Life by Ashley Farley, and then I’m starting The Escape Room by Megan Goldin
Books Reviewed Last Week…
Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand
Books Needing Reviewed…
I’m behind a few books but hope to catch up soon
At The Library…
Picked up last week:
Skinny Tast Fast and Slow by Gina Homolka
A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas
Dogtripping by David Rosenfelt
On Hold:
The Art of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein
Skinny Taste One & Done by Gina Homolka
Watching…
BH90210 on Hulu today. If you watched it, what did you think?
Mind Body Spirit…
All my aching parts are all better
In The Kitchen…
Taco Salad, Roast w/potatoes & carrots, BLT’s, Pizza. Oh, and I bought a watermelon and it’s in the fridge getting nice and cold!
New To Me Stuff:
I didn’t try anything new last week
Today’s To Do List…
I’m off today so we’ll probably go to out to eat and maybe see a movie
Life Is Good…
I went to the libary to get some books I had on hold and they had a “Fill A Bag For $2” sale so of course I filled a bag. I would have gotten more but with the books I had on hold and the bag, I couldn’t carry any more. I love my libraries!
A Favorite Bible Verse…
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
Ephesians 1:7
From the camera…
