What's for Dinner? 6/2/22

 Good Morning!

It's cooler this morning and damp.  Rain is on the way and will be here shortly.  The coolness is a relief, the dampness is making me feel all stiff.  Before I get into food, I want to share a bit of my walk yesterday.

I walked the trail in Oaks early (was walking before 8:30 a.m.).  It was simply lovely.  There were a number of people out and about but it was not crowded by any means.  I felt so good (both my back and my feet) that I managed to walk 4.46 miles!!!  I use the "Map My Walk" app.  I'm finally getting back to my pre-back issues distances which thrills me.  I came across this cute family:

I guess maybe two families since there are 4 adults and many babies.  So cute.  Then I saw this guy on the Perkiomen Creek.  He was really moving along fast.

The air smelled so sweet and there were a number of "weeds" in bloom,

And at one point the ground was littered with these blooms.  Not sure what they are and the only thing in the general vicinity was a tree with white blooms high up.  Does anyone recognize this?

My guess is that the weather will keep me from walking today, but I've got a busy work morning anyway.

Last night we had cold shrimp for dinner along with a salad made with fresh green beans, red onions and tomatoes dressed with EVOO, red wine vinegar and S&P.  Yum.  I also cooked the bamboo shoots.  They were AWFUL!!  LOL  I guess I need a demonstration from Bonnie on how to cook them properly.  I did what she said (par-boiled then stir-fried in oil with garlic and ginger).  I'll be seeing her in another week and maybe can figure out what I did wrong.

Meanwhile I made a new-to-us salad over the weekend that we absolutely loved.  It was so fresh, refreshing, crisp, etc.

Chimichurri Chickpea Salad

Chimichurri

• ·         ½ C chopped fresh parsley
• ·         ¼ C chopped fresh cilantro
• ·         ¼ C olive oil
• ·         2 TBS red wine vinegar
• ·         1 clove garlic, minced
• ·         ½ tsp dried oregano
• ·         ¼ tsp ground cumin
• ·         1/8 tsp crushed red pepper
• ·         ¼ tsp salt

 Add everything together and stir to combine.

 Notes: 

·         I thought I had fresh parsley, but couldn’t locate it in the frig…used dried…found the fresh parsley 2 days later – LOL

·         I used fresh oregano (thank you Rob – our neighbor)

 Salad

• ·         2 15 oz cans chickpeas drained and rinsed
• ·         1 pint grape tomatoes

 First of all, I roughly halved the recipe (there are only two of us here).

Slice the grape tomatoes in half (I quartered them because honestly, some of them are HUGE).  Put chickpeas and tomatoes in large bowl.  Add the chimichurri and stir to combine.  Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to eat (up to 4 days).

 The original recipe calls for 2 oz of feta crumbled in with the tomatoes and chickpeas.  However, I’m probably the only person on the planet who does not like Feta.  At all.  I don’t like cheese in my salads.  I don’t like cheese on my meat.  I know…it’s ok if you disagree with me…just don’t make me eat the cheese – LOL

 Meanwhile, this salad was really delicious and very refreshing.  I will be definitely making it again.

I think that's a wrap for me today.  I just heard thunder and I need to get working on my Thursday reports before the really heavy storms roll in.  Wishing you a great Thursday!

Thursday Check-In

 Hello All,

It's Thursday which means Weekend Eve!  That makes me very happy.

Yesterday my trip to the office was quick, just as I had planned.  I did what I needed/wanted to do and then got out of dodge.  Fletch and I had lunch together and then I took off for a walk along the Perkiomen Creek in Oaks.  It was beautiful.  I don't like the fact that I can hear a lot of traffic while walking on that trail (hello Route 422 with lots of trucks), but the Creek is so peaceful looking.  Also, this particular trail is paved which is easier on the soles of my feet.

There were a bunch of flowers blooming - some of them extremely fragrant.  First up some phlox (pretty sure that's what they are).

The next ones looked just like Lily of the Valley except they were very tall...so I don't know what they are!

I walked further this time - past where the Perkiomen Creek spills into the Schuylkill.  Just as I got to where the two bodies of water meet up, a Blue Heron flew over the water!  My phone was in my waist pack and I could not get it out quickly enough take a video, but the Heron landed on the opposite side of the Creek and I took a shot then.

There were plenty of geese around - many with babies.  This pair was on the bank of the Schuylkill.  I'm not sure if they had youngsters around or not.

I even saw an elephant!!

LOL - the first painted rock I've seen in some time.

Even though it had clouded up a bit and there was no blue sky, it was so nice to get out and take a walk.  Not sure then that will happen again.  Today I have a dentist appointment at 7:30 and PT at 1:30 and then tomorrow we are forecast to get some rain.

Meanwhile, I'd best get to work on my reports to do something before I have to run to the dentist.

Hope your Thursday is a good one!

Pictures Along the Canal

 Hello All,

Last night saw me put 8 more rows on the sock, but not enough to merit an updated picture.  We ended up watching The Wife with Glenn Close (finally).  Very good!  Unlike all of you (or at least almost all of you), I don't knit while watching TV - we usually have all the lights out and I can't knit in the dark - lol.  We also saw Rocketman earlier in the week, but neither of us really liked it.  I was bored during most of it.

Yesterday after leaving the office, I came home and had a bit of lunch and then took off for a walk along the canal.  It was a little bit warmer, but still pleasant walking and once again hardly anyone on the trail.  Here are some pictures from yesterday.

My old friend, Mr. Skelton is still hanging out on the bench.  I love the Purple Martin House too.

Some lovely flowers trailside and a house on the opposite side of the canal with a beautiful display of flowers.

A picture looking down the canal.  So calm and peaceful.

Finally, this guy was fly fishing in the Schuylkill River (the canal is on one side of the trail, the river is on the other).  It was mesmerizing to watch him cast.

It was a nice walk (I ended up walking 4 miles) and I'm looking forward to going back there on Saturday with Dee!!

Hope your week is going well.  We are almost at the weekend!  Now I need to go over to Colin & Mailing's to feed Marcel and Talbot.

Le Weekend

Good Morning!

How was your weekend?  Mine was nice.  We started Friday night with a fire over at Colin & Mailing's.  We had to escape in to their sunroom for a short period of time when it started raining, but that didn't last long and the fire was burning even better when we went back outside!  They did cancel (or postpone) their solstice party due to the rainy forecast - they did not want a bunch of people in their house.

I was up early Saturday and by 8 a.m. was out on the path by the canal.  Boy was it muggy!  But there was lots to see.  First up, plenty of animal babies.

There were also sleeping ducks in the middle of the path

By the time I was walking back these 3 characters had finally moved over to the side of the path.

I saw a HUGE group of geese on the canal.

A man and his dog on the other side of the canal were chasing herding all these geese off the lawn and into the water.  Pretty noisy and funny to watch.

All of the wildflowers along the side of the trail are beginning to bloom.  So many different scents and colors.

There were a lot of folks out running, walking, biking.  It was a very pretty (though muggy) morning.

Fletch and I made a Costco run later in the morning and that pretty much wrapped up Saturday.  We watched Episode 1 of Laurel Canyon that evening which was ok.  We both liked Echo in the Canyon better - more music.

We ran separate errands Sunday morning and then did grocery shopping in the afternoon.  Fletch did his errands at Lowes and came home with this beauty:

There must be at least 50 buds on this.  It is absolutely gorgeous!

We had a relaxed dinner of chicken sauteed with sun dried tomatoes, peppers and scallions.  Plus a summer squash casserole.  I made strawberry shortcake, but we were both too full for dessert!  Last night we watched the second (and last) episode of Laurel Canyon and it was much better than the first one.

I did manage to start a new pair of socks with the Tomfoolery yarn, but I'll save that picture for another post.

Now it is back to work!  It is a beautiful morning here and I will try to get out for a walk a bit later.

Twenty-Five!

Good Morning!

It is grey and damp here.  Looking at our forecast, we are in for at least 3-4 days of rain!  We are supposed to go to Colin's Saturday for a Solstice Party, but I'm betting they cancel due to the rain.  He and Mailing are not yet comfortable with folks hanging around inside their house (which I understand).  Time will tell.

It does not look like I'll be getting out for a walk, but I did yesterday.  This time I walked at Oaks along the Perkiomen Creek down to where it flows into the Schuylkill River.  Damage from that horrible wind storm (Dericho) we had a couple of weeks ago was evident.  Plenty of debris around.  Meanwhile there was a mud puddle along the path and there were scads of tadpoles in it!

I took a brief detour off the trail and walked down the (small) cliff to the water's edge.  There is a little sandbar that I walked out on.  The water was very calm and pretty clear.  When I turned around to climb back up to the path, I saw these tree roots:

So interesting.  I saw a few turtles by the water and heard so many different birds.  I saw some redwing blackbirds and cat birds.

My floss for the sampler still hadn't arrived, so I emailed the shop.  Turns out they are waiting for it to come in - they were out of stock.  But...they had already charged my debit card.  What?  Even Amazon doesn't charge until they ship.  I was not a happy person.  Luckily I located another shop that has it in stock and ordered from them.  Once it arrives, I will cancel my order from the first shop.

Yesterday I worked a bit more on the Hellibore Hitchhiker.  I never did get around to choosing yarn from my stash for the next pair of socks.  But...I did make another Granny Square and now have completed 25!

And from the other direction:

Woo-Hoo!!  I love the way they look together.  This group roughly measures 30" square, so I'm going to need to crochet a bunch more (like at least 75) to make a good size blanket.  I guess getting started on the next 25 will be on my agenda today as well as choosing yarn for the next pair of socks.

First, however, work beckons.  It's Thursday which means I need to run a bunch of financial reports and get them out to the field.  Wishing you all a nice and easy wind down to the week.

Unraveled Wednesday 4/29/20 and a Walk

Good Morning All!

How are we already at the end of April?  As many have already noted, the months seem to be speeding by.  The days are so often all alike and yet all of a sudden a full month is gone!  It's that "Oddball Effect" that Kym mentioned on Monday.  Weird stuff.

So here we are at the last Unraveled Wednesday for April 2020.  A little progress was made on the Tutti Fruitti sock for my SIL.

The heel is not quite the HOT pink I had envisioned...but I seem to be out of that and this Mad Tosh yarn in the colorway "Coquette" seems to work well enough.  A bit more to knit on the foot and then I will add in the green for the toe area. 

And, I've been making my Granny Squares.  I'm up to 8 now!

I really am enjoying these.  Sometimes I think about the color and a lot of times I just stick my hand into the basket where all my bits and bobs are and see what comes out!  The colors for #9 are in a bowl waiting for me to pick up my crochet hook.  Maybe today.

On the reading front, I believe I finally am into a book that I will finish AND enjoy!!  LOL  My reading slump has gone on for so long and I've been so distracted.  I do love memoirs, and finally picked up Bella Tuscany by Frances Mayes.  I loved "Under the Tuscan Sun" (the book...I didn't really like the movie) and this continues their story of their second home in Tuscany.  So far, so good and I'm about 100 pages into it.

Head on over to Kat's to see her gorgeous knitting and also see what others are making and reading.

Meanwhile, yesterday turned out to be an unexpected day of SUNSHINE!!!  So, after lunch I headed over to the towpath for a much needed walk.  It was a little busy but everyone kept their distance.  There were people in kayaks, walkers, runners, bikers and a bit of wildlife.  Turtles were everywhere basking in the sun (some are SO big!!):

Some cute ducks by the side of the trail and then a family of geese out for a little swim.

On my way back a gorgeous cormorant flew from the river to the canal and landed nearby:

When I got home, Fletch was mowing the yard which desperately needed it.  When he was finished I walked around a bit.  First up our redbud which is so gorgeous this year:

And our arbor looks so pretty.  This is sort of at the end of our back yard and at the entrance to our woods.  We do have a (very young - not visible here) forsythia trained around part of it and a wild rose also.

The garden is really coming to life.  Lettuce is abundant and the rhubarb leaves are already the size of dinner plates!

And lastly...out front I came across this...near the front door....

A segmented spider egg case.  Yuck!  But, it is interesting and I had never seen one before.  Ironically Colin had taken a picture of one at his house the other day and sent it to Fletch to see if he knew what it was.  And then I find this!

Well, if you've read through all this, thanks for sticking with me.  I was just so happy to be able to spend time (comfortably) outside yesterday!  Today seems to be a mix of sun and clouds.  There is a flood watch for our area, but I don't see a strong likelihood of rain in the forecast.  Who knows?

Hope your Wednesday is a good one!

Friday At Last

Hi All,


Welcome to Friday!  At last!!


I had the most wonderful massage last night.  When I got home, Colin was there having dinner with Fletch (Mailing had another work function).  I expected to be extremely lazy, but instead felt energized, so Colin and I took another hour plus walk - this time in part of Valley Forge Park.  A very pretty trail and we even saw two little fawns.

They looked like twins - so sweet.  Not too many folks on the trail (but it was getting dark).  And it was so humid - my tee shirt was soaking wet by the time we got back to the car.


Today will be fast at work.  I need to leave by 1 to get Tyg to the vet.  He is due for shots, etc. (I think she - the vet - calls it a "well check!!") in August, but he has a little wound on his neck that continually opens.  I don't really think it's anything to be concerned about...my guess is that as it heals it starts itching and then Tyg scratches it and re-opens the wound.  But we felt it best to have him seen.


No real plans for the weekend.  I have some major cleaning that really needs to be done and the frig definitely needs to be cleaned out and wiped down.  Hopefully I'll be able to get some knitting and stitching accomplished (I'm at the heel flap on the 2nd sock!!).  We are supposed to have rain today and tomorrow and the temps are forecast to be low (70's), so perfect weather to stay in and do stuff.


Wishing you all a fun weekend doing whatever you want!!

A New Year

Hello and Welcome 2017!  I'm hoping for excellent times this year.


I'm still on break - yay!  Returning to work tomorrow is not something I am looking forward to, particularly since it is grey, rainy and chilly (high 30's, low 40's) with more of the same forecast for tomorrow.  Sounds like a perfect day to just stay in bed.


New Year's Eve I did (just barely) manage to stay up till midnight.  After watching Mariah Carey, I'm wondering why I bothered.....


Yesterday, New Year's Day, we did manage to get out for a walk for about an hour.  We walked around Mill Grove (a place very nearby where Audubon lived...they now have a museum and gift shop but everything was closed).  A lot of traffic nearby, so it wasn't quite the peaceful, quiet walk we had hoped for, but it felt wonderful to get outside and move!  We walked down to St. Gabe's (a boarding school run by the De la Salle Fathers).  They have some farm animals - cows, goats, llamas, etc.

On our way back through a field and into woods, we saw this tree with a huge gall.  These things always fascinate me.

Some creature could make a cozy home in there!

Then we came upon a chicken coop on the Mill Grove property.  They were all busy pecking away to find something to eat.

Later in the day Colin & Mailing came over for dinner.  I made red beans and rice - a traditional Cajun/New Orleans dish for New Years.  I did (finally) manage to finish Colin's socks for Christmas...only a week late.  The yarn is KnitPicks Hawthorne which I have used in the past and really like.  However, this time the brown yarn was horrible!  The green was softer and easier to work with; the brown was stiff and unyielding.  I'm glad to be done with these.

The last pair I made for him were on #2 needles and he said they were a little loose, so I went down a size.  I also made the leg portion longer (80 rows after ribbing) and the foot as well...but when they were finished I could barely get them on my feet.  I soaked them and then put them on sock blockers and they did stretch out.  But again, I'm glad to have them finished.  I started another pair of "Christmas socks" - a gift for a friend.  Fortunately we have not gotten together yet to exchange gifts - lol.  Probably in a few weeks which gives me time to get these done.  I managed to get the first sock about halfway done in one day, so I think I will be ok.

It's afternoon and still grey and damp.  I think I will go upstairs to read and then nap.  Later we are going over to Colin & Mailing's for dinner - Hot Pot - which should be fun.