i found this recipe for a sausage/bean/spinach stup and knew i had to try it. i'm not a fan of the Aidell's flavored chicken sausage which is all that is available in this little burg so i opted for plain old sweet italian sausage. slurp. i also didn't have any fresh thyme so i opened a jar. forgive me please. i also smooshed an entire can of beans into paste so the soup was really more like stew. i'm so used to the 9TS telling me that soup, like gravy has to simmer for a long time to meld the flavors, that there was no way i was going to let this pot off without some time on low with the lid on.
all those flavors concentrated and the soup/stew was outrageously good. even the second bowl was delish. the third, albeit smaller was still great. yes, i did. i most certainly did.
can't wait for lunch tomorrow.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
step by step . . .
kidlet is in the process of moving bedrooms. i will now have my very own upstairs aerie complete with bedroom, bath, loft and guest room. and she will have her private little nest downstairs with her own bath, bedroom and across the house . . . living area. ah, separate bathrooms. win win.
she had a white board hanging on the wall along with a bulletin board. the bulletin board was hung on brads. easy peasy removal. the white board however, was attached by sticky tape and thwarted our attempts to remove its carcass. i swear it was glued on permanently and short of using a crowbar, i was stymied. then we tried maximum brute force. the two of us at once, jamming our fingers as close to the edges of the wall as possible and pulling. finally one corner gave way. just some residual stickum to be removed. the other three were still holding fast . . . digging in their toes with all their worth. but with the leverage of the one freed corner, the others finally loosened but not without a grimace inducing ripping sound.
ok, so it isn't the best spackling job in the world but look!!!!!
they don't show. yay!!!! life is a wonderful thing. step by step.
"Inch by inch is a cinch
Yard by yard is much harder
Life without you baby is harder
Life without you baby is hard"
she had a white board hanging on the wall along with a bulletin board. the bulletin board was hung on brads. easy peasy removal. the white board however, was attached by sticky tape and thwarted our attempts to remove its carcass. i swear it was glued on permanently and short of using a crowbar, i was stymied. then we tried maximum brute force. the two of us at once, jamming our fingers as close to the edges of the wall as possible and pulling. finally one corner gave way. just some residual stickum to be removed. the other three were still holding fast . . . digging in their toes with all their worth. but with the leverage of the one freed corner, the others finally loosened but not without a grimace inducing ripping sound.
oops. another trip to Ace Hardware on the horizon. thankfully, spackling has come a long way from the days of priming, pasting, sanding and repainting. whew!
"Inch by inch is a cinch
Yard by yard is much harder
Life without you baby is harder
Life without you baby is hard"
Saturday, August 24, 2013
grace . . .
thought i would get some walking in before the heavens opened as they have almost every day all summer long: 
by the time i got back to where i started, the clouds were filling up:
what blessings we have had this summer.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
hee hee hee . . .
last night i missed an automated phone call from Lowe's advising me that my grill would be delivered between 7 - 9 p.m. tonight. oops.
i called the toll free number provided to let them know that the order had been canceled. after being on hold for 17 minutes . . . yes i was timing it, not that it mattered because i was happily watching Criminal Minds . . . i hung up and decided to call the manager of the store in question.
after chatting with said manager, he told me he would have to verify my order before he could allow it to be canceled regardless of my having a cancellation confirmation firmly in my paw. say what? he would call me back.
and he did. thankfully, they had received the cancellation notice and it was just some miscommunication between the store and the delivery company.
unless of course my doorbell rings tonight at 7:52.
i called the toll free number provided to let them know that the order had been canceled. after being on hold for 17 minutes . . . yes i was timing it, not that it mattered because i was happily watching Criminal Minds . . . i hung up and decided to call the manager of the store in question.
after chatting with said manager, he told me he would have to verify my order before he could allow it to be canceled regardless of my having a cancellation confirmation firmly in my paw. say what? he would call me back.
and he did. thankfully, they had received the cancellation notice and it was just some miscommunication between the store and the delivery company.
unless of course my doorbell rings tonight at 7:52.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
om . . .
it is just too hot to walk in my steamingly brilliant florida hometown this august. even modifying our treks to the ungodly hour of 7:30 a.m., is of no consequence once the sun comes up. well, that and the neighborhood bear.
since i was into my typical summer yoga withdrawal and groupon was offering ten sessions for $29 at a new local yoga studio, i signed up with my trusty pal, joanie. this place is totally different in that it is strictly dedicated to yoga and pilates. their schedule is massive with multiple instructors.
first i called the head instructor, katie, to see if it was geezer friendly. she assured me it was and so joanie and i bopped over last thursday to sign up and enjoy a 'gentle yoga' class with michael. what a wonderful class and while i know i should have been centering, it didn't hurt that michael was obvious eye candy . . . especially if i were kidlet's age. don't scrunch your nose like that, old ladies are still allowed to look.
friday, we tried a 'slow stretch' yin class with molly. let me die in peace. best class ever. and the cold scented compresses applied during shavasana . . . blissful.
monday, thinking we were on a roll, we tried katie's 'joyful flow' class. she had explained to me over the phone that it was a basic class amped up for a group who had been together for a while but that she considered doable for this chickie who just signed up for medicare.
you'd think that four plus years of yoga would have prepared me but halfway through, my mat was dripping with sweat, my bangs were plastered to my forehead and my heart was beating out a triple time tattoo. the room was hot and as those little gray spots started to overtake my vision, i decided discretion was the better part of valor and collapsed into a boneless lump while the rest of the class including the intrepid joanie kept switching from the dreaded downward dog to the wicked warrior pose in rapid succession. katie meanwhile came over to pat me on the back and assure me i was still indeed, among the living.
'joyful flow' my mother's petunias. joanie and i dragged our mangled bodies out the door and into the refuge of her car. a/c never felt so good. we decided we were in over our respective heads and would try katie's earlier/easier monday class next week.
today when i came home from lunch, kidlet told me katie had called to see if i was still breathing. it was a cute message of concern and cheer leading. i called her back and left a message assuring her she couldn't scare us off that easily but then again, my alligator mouth has always been a little bigger than my canary @ss.
om.
since i was into my typical summer yoga withdrawal and groupon was offering ten sessions for $29 at a new local yoga studio, i signed up with my trusty pal, joanie. this place is totally different in that it is strictly dedicated to yoga and pilates. their schedule is massive with multiple instructors.
first i called the head instructor, katie, to see if it was geezer friendly. she assured me it was and so joanie and i bopped over last thursday to sign up and enjoy a 'gentle yoga' class with michael. what a wonderful class and while i know i should have been centering, it didn't hurt that michael was obvious eye candy . . . especially if i were kidlet's age. don't scrunch your nose like that, old ladies are still allowed to look.
friday, we tried a 'slow stretch' yin class with molly. let me die in peace. best class ever. and the cold scented compresses applied during shavasana . . . blissful.
monday, thinking we were on a roll, we tried katie's 'joyful flow' class. she had explained to me over the phone that it was a basic class amped up for a group who had been together for a while but that she considered doable for this chickie who just signed up for medicare.
you'd think that four plus years of yoga would have prepared me but halfway through, my mat was dripping with sweat, my bangs were plastered to my forehead and my heart was beating out a triple time tattoo. the room was hot and as those little gray spots started to overtake my vision, i decided discretion was the better part of valor and collapsed into a boneless lump while the rest of the class including the intrepid joanie kept switching from the dreaded downward dog to the wicked warrior pose in rapid succession. katie meanwhile came over to pat me on the back and assure me i was still indeed, among the living.
'joyful flow' my mother's petunias. joanie and i dragged our mangled bodies out the door and into the refuge of her car. a/c never felt so good. we decided we were in over our respective heads and would try katie's earlier/easier monday class next week.
today when i came home from lunch, kidlet told me katie had called to see if i was still breathing. it was a cute message of concern and cheer leading. i called her back and left a message assuring her she couldn't scare us off that easily but then again, my alligator mouth has always been a little bigger than my canary @ss.
om.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
watching too much antique's roadshow . . .
the other day i realized i couldn't keep my ever growing collection of cookbooks on my kitchen counter anymore. they were taking over. i read them like novels. the most obvious place for them would be safely tucked on a shelf and since i have no unoccupied space crying out for stuffing, i have to make some decisions. i opened the least used of my cabinets and started rummaging.
if i removed the eight rocks glasses that belonged to my ex-husband's parents, i would have my space. yay! but first a bit about these glasses. they are homely. not just unattractive, they are dead dog ugly. they just take up space. i can't believe i didn't eighty-six them when i moved several years after the divorce. the 9TS and i never once used them.
out of the cabinet they came and down onto the kitchen table. idly, i flipped one over to see if they had a maker's mark. yep, a G with an arrow through it. since i had some time before lunch, i hit the computer and realized i really was blind. it was a G with and I through it. stands for Imperial Glass. a now defunct company. so i did a google search for gold etched ugly glasses and bingo. there they were. the elusive, rare, Sekai Ichi Gold by Imperial Glass. no wonder they are rare. who'd want them????
i found a single glass selling for $185.91 cad. EEK. and i quote: "Serve your guests in 24 KT gold. Manufactured by the Imperial Glass Co these glasses were the minimalist luxury of its day. Still stunning. They are in good vintage condition with some wear. There is one where some of the gold has worn- nothing that takes away from the integrity of the set." not sure why they refer to the set since there is only one left. still shaking my head.
want to see these beauties? OK, i'm going to share:
so now, what do i do with these guys? they are not going back on the shelf. the cookbooks have moved in and refuse to leave. i can't toss them anymore because . . . well, i've watched to much Antique's Roadshow. i am not an ebay person. i guess i'll just have to pack them up and find space in the attic although kidlet would rather i sell them and get the downstairs bathroom re-tiled. she has a point.
if i removed the eight rocks glasses that belonged to my ex-husband's parents, i would have my space. yay! but first a bit about these glasses. they are homely. not just unattractive, they are dead dog ugly. they just take up space. i can't believe i didn't eighty-six them when i moved several years after the divorce. the 9TS and i never once used them.
out of the cabinet they came and down onto the kitchen table. idly, i flipped one over to see if they had a maker's mark. yep, a G with an arrow through it. since i had some time before lunch, i hit the computer and realized i really was blind. it was a G with and I through it. stands for Imperial Glass. a now defunct company. so i did a google search for gold etched ugly glasses and bingo. there they were. the elusive, rare, Sekai Ichi Gold by Imperial Glass. no wonder they are rare. who'd want them????
i found a single glass selling for $185.91 cad. EEK. and i quote: "Serve your guests in 24 KT gold. Manufactured by the Imperial Glass Co these glasses were the minimalist luxury of its day. Still stunning. They are in good vintage condition with some wear. There is one where some of the gold has worn- nothing that takes away from the integrity of the set." not sure why they refer to the set since there is only one left. still shaking my head.
want to see these beauties? OK, i'm going to share:
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
what's the deal-io . . .
whatever happened to customer service?
the 9TS's closet is finally finished. the new carpeting went in yesterday. while the painter finished up in may, cutting out the damaged wall board and scouring down all the shelving and painting the entire closet, all that remained was the carpeting. in june, i ran over to my friendly neighborhood flooring expert . . . the guy who installed all our hardwood floors . . . and explained i needed a remnant for the closet. we've been using him for years. he said, 'don't worry, jeanne, we'll take care of you. $20 for the remnant, we'll throw in the padding, give the installer $50. done deal." he'd call me to set up a date. no call. finally about 10 days later i call him and he says he hasn't forgotten about me but will get it done. two months later: nada. hummmm. yes, it was a killer offer. yes, i appreciated it, but why offer if you aren't going to follow up on it. sigh.
friday, kidlet and i went to another local establishment and ordered a remnant from them. yesterday morning it was installed. job well done. while it was twice the cost, it was well worth it. nice peeps.
maybe there is hope in the world of customer service.
remember my lowe's saga? friday i ordered the grill on line and immediately got an email with the confirmation. the store would contact me with a delivery time. yay. based on previous experience with lowe's, i kind of expected a call the next day. no call. saturday, ace hardware was offering free quarts of paint. since kidlet and i are painting one of the bathrooms, we decided to take advantage of the offer. not only did they give me a free can but they urged kidlet to fill out a form so we got two free cans. while waiting for it to be mixed . . . we were the 55th and 56th free cans of the day and it was only 10:00. wow . . . we wandered around the store picking up various painting necessities. and then we came to the grill aisle. and there was the baby weber. last years model in all of it's glory. sturdier and more solid then this year's offering . . . yes, i read the reviews. i was drooling but i had made already placed my order.
today, i had to stop back in for a can of spray paint and some florescent bulbs and my feet just naturally did a little tap dance to the shiny baby weber. i was smitten. it was smaller and more compact. it was petite and non-scary. it had a 50 year warranty. but would they deliver? troy, the manager, was called over. after ascertaining that i lived a mere 2.5 miles away, it was a deal at no extra charge. i called lowe's and cancelled since they had yet to call and arrange delivery. an hour later, that baby was tanked up, i was given a rudimentary lesson on its ins and outs by two delightful guys and it was temporarily tucked into the garage.
so what's the deal-io? why are some companies so ready to bend over backwards to help out their customers while some just couldn't care? the new carpet company called after installation to make sure i was satisfied. the installer was top notch and the job done in the time frame promised. ace is also locally owned. their manager steps all over himself to be helpful. is lowe's just too big? i don't get the difference but i do know who will get my business. three cheers for the hometown boys. you rock!
the 9TS's closet is finally finished. the new carpeting went in yesterday. while the painter finished up in may, cutting out the damaged wall board and scouring down all the shelving and painting the entire closet, all that remained was the carpeting. in june, i ran over to my friendly neighborhood flooring expert . . . the guy who installed all our hardwood floors . . . and explained i needed a remnant for the closet. we've been using him for years. he said, 'don't worry, jeanne, we'll take care of you. $20 for the remnant, we'll throw in the padding, give the installer $50. done deal." he'd call me to set up a date. no call. finally about 10 days later i call him and he says he hasn't forgotten about me but will get it done. two months later: nada. hummmm. yes, it was a killer offer. yes, i appreciated it, but why offer if you aren't going to follow up on it. sigh.
friday, kidlet and i went to another local establishment and ordered a remnant from them. yesterday morning it was installed. job well done. while it was twice the cost, it was well worth it. nice peeps.
maybe there is hope in the world of customer service.
remember my lowe's saga? friday i ordered the grill on line and immediately got an email with the confirmation. the store would contact me with a delivery time. yay. based on previous experience with lowe's, i kind of expected a call the next day. no call. saturday, ace hardware was offering free quarts of paint. since kidlet and i are painting one of the bathrooms, we decided to take advantage of the offer. not only did they give me a free can but they urged kidlet to fill out a form so we got two free cans. while waiting for it to be mixed . . . we were the 55th and 56th free cans of the day and it was only 10:00. wow . . . we wandered around the store picking up various painting necessities. and then we came to the grill aisle. and there was the baby weber. last years model in all of it's glory. sturdier and more solid then this year's offering . . . yes, i read the reviews. i was drooling but i had made already placed my order.
today, i had to stop back in for a can of spray paint and some florescent bulbs and my feet just naturally did a little tap dance to the shiny baby weber. i was smitten. it was smaller and more compact. it was petite and non-scary. it had a 50 year warranty. but would they deliver? troy, the manager, was called over. after ascertaining that i lived a mere 2.5 miles away, it was a deal at no extra charge. i called lowe's and cancelled since they had yet to call and arrange delivery. an hour later, that baby was tanked up, i was given a rudimentary lesson on its ins and outs by two delightful guys and it was temporarily tucked into the garage.
so what's the deal-io? why are some companies so ready to bend over backwards to help out their customers while some just couldn't care? the new carpet company called after installation to make sure i was satisfied. the installer was top notch and the job done in the time frame promised. ace is also locally owned. their manager steps all over himself to be helpful. is lowe's just too big? i don't get the difference but i do know who will get my business. three cheers for the hometown boys. you rock!
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