Week 5

Sunday, January 29, 2023

An absolutely nothing day. No photo. Nothing accomplished.  I just piddled all day.

Monday, January 30, 2023

Changed the sheets and did the laundry. Ran the dishwasher. Made applesauce. Cleaned the kitty bathroom.

 Got up to this. Ice under snow. Dangerous driving.

By 3:00 p.m., it was this. More snow and ice expected through Tuesday.

I had an afternoon toast and jam break. I opened my box from Terri, and surprise, surprise! Each jar is behind a little window. It's the twelve days of Christmas, so Day 1 was a Partridge in a Pear Tree - apricot and peach spread. And how cute is this?!

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Phone call day: Jim, Bud, Fannie Mae, Kathy, Terri

More ice and snow off and on all day.

Good sleeping weather for kitties.

But my daffodils think it's spring.

Trash, cleaned out the refrigerators, watered plants, started planning February. Didn't do such a great job on January. Better get crackin'. 

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

More snow overnight. 

I made a goal for this year to avoid wasting food. My milk and eggs were going south, so I made -

Baked Custard

Corn Muffins

And Quiche

All fattening; maybe not such a good idea. Hmmmmm........

I finished all the tile floors and carpet vacuuming except the family room. Lots of praying today, as it's Bud's heart surgery day. I called Martha and she prayed with me. I told her I'd keep her informed.

Thursday, February 2, 2023

I took Rita, Tom, and Conetta to lunch at Applebee's. I owed Tom lunch. Rita wanted to meet Tom about getting into politics, and Conetta about joining a writers' group. 

The ladies all had all-you-can-eat shrimp, and Tom was a good boy with salmon, broccoli, and Cole slaw.

A trip to the library, Aldi, and Walmart. By the time I got home and unloaded the car, it was time to feed the kitties.

I broke my goal and bought a book at the library - $2. This is Where You Belong, by Melody Warnick. 

Lana called with great news about Bud. I called Martha. 

Friday, February 3, 2023

Trying to get back to eating the rainbow.

Finally, I found a recipe I like for Apple Crisp. 

APPLE CRISP

5 cups peeled and cored apple slices

1/4 cup water

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsps cinnamon

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup flour

1/3 cup cold butter, cut into little pieces. 

Heat oven to 350°. 

Butter a 6” x 10” baking dish. 

Layer in apple slices. 

Sprinkle with water, then salt, then cinnamon. 

Whisk together sugar and flour. 

Work butter into the sugar mixture with your fingers, until it looks like coarse cornmeal. 

Top apple slices with this mixture and bake for 35-40 minutes.

I also made more Breakfast Oatmeal Bars. I added raisins this time.

I finally got the family room vacuumed and my dressing area cleaned. I'm caught up through Wednesday on my cleaning schedule.

Saturday, February 4, 2023

I finished my month-end bookkeeping chores FINALLY, did some laundry, cut up, wrapped, and froze the oatmeal bars.

I made the potatoes and onions casserole and finished Week 2 of dinners (so far behind!).

POTATOES AND ONIONS

5 cups peeled and thinly sliced potatoes (Russets)

1-1/2 cups thinly sliced yellow onions

2/3 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 cup chicken broth

2 tsps Worcestershire sauce

Salt and pepper 

Heat oven to 425°. 

Spray an 8” x 8” baking dish with non-stick spray. 

Layer half the potatoes in dish, sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper; add a layer of half the onions, then half the cheese. Repeat. 

Drizzle melted butter over the top. 

Mix chicken broth and Worcestershire sauce and pour over. 

Cover and bake 45-50 minutes. 

Uncover, turn off oven and leave in oven for 10 minutes.

Then I made Gravy-Baked Pork Chops with the other four chops. 

GRAVY-BAKED PORK CHOPS

4 pork chops

Salt and pepper

1 Tbs oil

1 can cream of mushroom or chicken soup.

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1/3 cup water 

Heat oven to 350°. 

Sprinkle chops with salt and pepper. 

Brown in oil and place in an 11” x 7” baking dish. 

Mix soup, milk, and water and pour around chops. 

Bake 45 minutes or until tender. This will depend on the thickness of the chops. 

Stir gravy well and serve with mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice.

I got out all the Valentine "stuff" (I could make Valentines for the entire city of Nixa with all I've accummulated). Of course, I had help when she could stay awake.

I didn't accomplish as much as I'd have liked, but I'm grateful that I can see again, Bud is doing well, the snow was beautiful, I'm in good health, and the streets are clear again for driving. 

I'm concerned about China. Our government is so weak, Joe Biden is compromised by his personal relationship with China and money, and we let a spy balloon cross the entire United States without doing anything until it was through gathering all the information China wanted, though it could have been shot down as soon as it reached our territory over the Pacific Ocean, or Alaska, or Montana. The excuse that we didn't want to harm civilians is absolute malarkey.