AKathy's "What's For Dinner?" 08/16

Happy Saturday!

This is the first weekend in over a year that I haven't had to make a visit to my mom's or take care of her. I even sometimes forget and try to monitor her blood sugar. It's a weird void. My sister is out of town so I'm on Dad duty today and my brother will take him tomorrow. We went to breakfast this morning and then I dropped him off for a nap. I think we'll just stay in and watch movies as it's really too hot to go outside much. I may try to get a swim in sometime this weekend.

Hope you start feeling better leannec.

Dinner tonight will be goulash and a salad.

Hope you all have a great day!

I didn't see it either on my laptop.

Now I see it- weird! Very cute!

So I have been up since 6:20 and unable to go back to sleep. And don't think I didn't try. Those dang bathroom stints. Anyway at 7:10, I decided it was not use so I stripped the bed and put on my work outside clothes. Made some tea and a protein bagel. After it came out of the AF, I didn't have time for it to cool and toast. So I just cut it, slathered some non dairy cream cheese on it and gathered my stuff.

I have raked and bagged up 10 bags of pine straw in feels like temps of 110. Drank one 40 oz tumbler of water and working on another. Debating the backyard at the moment while I type and cool off. I need to go uncover the pool and clean it and shock it again. Or just clean it and hop in. Then shock this afternoon.

Here's something odd that happened. I'm in my groove listening to 90s rap when I see a motion to the side. I look up and it's a newish neighbor I've never met. He proceeds to tell me about the yard guy across the street blowing all pine straw onto my side of the street and in my driveway. Well, it must not have been much as I didn't notice it. And then new renters moved in next door to him. I get to hear about how they encroach onto his property and are trying to take over a trash enclosure on his property, yada yada. Now I've seen enough Tiktok bad neighbors videos to sort of see him as the Karl of the neighborhood. I said you could talk to this neighbor, my direct next door lady, since she knows the man across the street and maybe he could talk to his yard guy. Before I could finish, he said he would never talk to her again. She's a gossip and talks about all the neighbors. Which is true but I've never known her to be malicious or unhelpful. I have found out which folks were dealing drugs out of their house, who was moving, death in the family and all that. I sort of wanted to ask what she said about me. 😅😅 She's been here longer than I have. I've lived in this house 28 years. The more he talked the more I felt other issues with him. I was hot, sweaty, dirty and about to pass out and didn’t really want to discuss all this at that moment. I think he picked up what I was putting down and he left. I just shook my head. Dude, this is how you introduce yourself to neighbors?

jeremysgirl thanks for that recipe. I actually have that book on my reader. And I am going to make those sloppy joes tonight! With a big side of garlic fries. I've earned it.

Here's a sweet thing. I was in the backyard killing some wasp and saw a car drive up and looked to park in front of the house. I get a motion notification. Go to the door and there is a card in the mailbox. A sympathy card from the neighbors just around the corner. As an odd coincidence, same last night. We've never met. I do know the husband works for the post office and they have 2 small kiddos. I think I may make something and take over. Meet them and thank them for the card. Don't even know how they found out. But the thought and action was very sweet.

Now, the backyard calls. I'll come back and read more this afternoon.

leannec, now I see it!!

Good afternoon, dinner peas! DH & I went to Costco this morning and got that out of the way. Now I'm scrapbooking in between loads of laundry.

I sort of have a love-hate relationship with the W/D set that came with the house. It's quite new so I don't reeeaallly want to replace it because of the expense...but I don't think it's a set I would have chosen. And if I won the lottery or something it would definitely be on my list of ASAP purchases, along with a new dishwasher. Anyway, the little drain thingie needs attention after like only a handful of loads or else the spin cycle leaves everything soaking wet - so drenched you can wring things out. But the drain is located in such a way that you have to completely pull out the washer to get to it...it's a PITA. OTOH, it gets things clean, has lots of cycle options, large capacity, etc. and the matching dryer is great. So maybe I'd only replace the washer...but dang it makes laundry time sort of a drag.

As for the dishwasher, we do already have plans to replace it soon-ish. It works fine and is the quietest DW we've ever had, but it has no third rack at the top and the 2 racks it does have are not very stable and arranged weirdly so loading/unloading feels like at any given time the whole rack is going to come crashing out...not great! The one we bought 6 months before we sold our old house was darn near perfect, and I miss the having the 3rd rack! It was sooo useful and once we got used to using it it's hard to go back to not having one. Yeah, first world problems for sure!

Anyway, dinner is probably going to be GF chicken parmesan. Apparently we'll be having an all-Italian food weekend since we're hitting an Italian restaurant for dinner tomorrow to celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary.

cadoodlebug - love the pictures, especially the last one with the egret!
leannec - hope you feel better soon
Tearisci - glad you are nurturing yourself and your dad
jeremysgirl - those sloppy joes sound good! I'm one that loves sloppy joes in all their glorious sloppiness! Usually I just like the traditional ones (Yes, the ones made with a McCormick seasoning packet...I know, I know - but I grew up with that kind bc that's what my mom made and sometimes I just crave that same flavor goodness!) I eat them open-faced most of the time and I don't add any other toppings, just joes and buns. mmmm 

Well, I just got a text full of bad health news from a very dear friend and neighbor who is in bad shape to begin with. Instead of being cheerful, I've decided to just sit w/the sadness and worry. Dh and I are both very sad and that's OK.

We have a family gathering this afternoon. I don't want to go, anyway, but it'll be a good distraction and I really enjoy dh's family. The menu is Pan Asian and will be amazing. I have to sit and watch everyone else enjoy the feast.

Speaking of neighbors, naby64, I wouldn't talk to this guy anymore. He's THAT neighbor and nothing but trouble. Feel free to to put him on ignore. Be in a hurry every single time you see him.

scrapmaven I'm sorry you got bad health news from your neighbor friend. I would be sad too. Big hugs ~ enjoy DH's family gathering as much as you can.

Slow day here as we were out on a friends boat all day yesterday and didn’t get home til late. They are avid boaters (like take the boat to the Caribbean level of avid) so it was really interesting to learn about the boat and all its gizmos and gadgets - and it even had a combo washer/dryer that you access by lifting the stairs!)

I didn’t get my neighborhood walk in this morning as we woke up to forest fire smoke from Nova Scotia and Maine settling in around us. Thankfully it blew over and it is lovely this afternoon so I am reading and swimming as per usual.

Fresh corn on the cob for tonight YUM!!!

leannec hope you feel better soon!

scrapmaven sorry to hear about your neighbor. Hope the family gathering helps distract you.

This was my thought. He certainly seems to know all the neighborhood business and what nerve to call the lady across the street gossipy. Look in the mirror dude.

I can't love this enough! Yay for you ~ and your girl, Ellie!