Dinner out

We went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. I didn't like it much last time but Mike really wanted me to go, so I did. He suggested I might like the burger better, but I passed on that 'cause it weighs a half pound! I got a 6-oz. sirloin instead and I have to say it was very good.

After that we went to a dollar store. Those places are fun and cheap. We were supposed to go to another store, but my legs are really hurting me today for some reason and I didn't really want to walk around another place. Besides, I have no business spending more money.

Earlier today I worked on cleaning up my office. I measured my fabric and labeled the yardage on it. I also organized my patterns. It's embarrassing to admit I have a few duplicates. I started to make the muslin version of a new top.

Actually, it's 'old' new. Ha, look at those tiny waistlines!

I'm making a cheap version first to check on the sizing. I'm using the largest size, 24, even though I'm a size 16 in retail clothes. Patterns run very small so a 22/24 would be a 16/18 off the rack. If it comes out nice I'll make on in some pretty crepe de chine I bought in Robin's Egg blue.

I am 60

I had a nice birthday today. Mike treated me and the kids to dinner at Aki, then we went to Bed, Bath and Beyond afterwards. The kids gave me a  Joanne's gift card and Mike gave me an IOU for one. (
are not easy to find nearby.) I also got nice cards from them all and a box of chocolates.

OMFG, I just saw the back of the gift card from the kids. It's for $200! I'm really going to have fun with that!

:)!

59.9

I turn 60 tomorrow at about 9:37 a.m. Katherine brought me some early gifts:

She knows how much I love Grumpy Cat!

Beautiful Spring flowers in the middle of winter. I don't think I've ever seen closed-up daffodils before.

The Next Day

The sky is such a bright blue color that, if you only looked upward, you'd never know there was two feet of snow on the ground!

Mike tried out his new snowblower:

And the birds came back for more goodies. There will be lots of seeds to find as the snow melts!

I just brought Mike some lemonade because it said on the TV to stay hydrated while you are working outside. Lemonade seems funny in the winter, but it is actually somewhat 'warm' outside!

Blizzard, 7 pm

This is what it looks like out our back door:

The drift up against the door is about 20 inches.

I kept throwing seeds outside. It is surprising how many birds show up even in a snowstorm. The seeds were quickly buried, but the birds managed to peck and dig to find them!

The Blizzard Begins

It actually started snowing last night, and this is what it looks like at 9:30 in the morning:

If I walked out my back door, the snow would be up to my knees from the drifts on the deck.


We are expecting up to two feet! Thank You, God, that none of my kids has to go out today. The authorities are saying to stay off the roads, anyway. Nick was the only one scheduled, but he called in and they said he doesn't have to come in. Seriously, who the hell is shopping this morning, anyway? If you're so dumb you didn't listen to at least a week of warnings, you deserve to go without milk!

Also, thank God, it is going to be in the 40s and sunny on my birthday!

Blizzard Watch and Haircuts

Tina stopped by today and cut my hair and Mike's. It's nice to have a fresh haircut and color for my birthday on Monday. We usually go to our friend Patty's house, but she is just getting over pneumonia!

This part of the country (East Coast) is on a blizzard watch. It's supposed to start tomorrow and we might get as much as 14 inches of snow. I've got plenty of food and milk in the house and Mike has the generator ready to go, if we need it. Happily, it should all be over by Monday so there should be no hindrance to my birthday dinner.

The only thing I've realized is that I don't have enough pet food for the weekend. So Mike and I will probably hit Taco Bell or IHOP, then stop at the pet store for supplies.

Not a big fan of snow, but at least with a storm I have an excuse to sit around all day and crochet or knit...or play my games or check out Pinterest.

Breaking Bad

Nick bought us the first season of Breaking Bad for Christmas a few years ago, and we became hooked. It is one of the best shows ever presented on television! Michael brought later seasons over and Mike and I watched it regularly. Then Katherine came into the picture and wanted to 'catch up' to everyone else. So, most Sundays, we would watch the show (the first time for Kat). Mike and I were up to the very last episode and we decided we'd wait until Katherine caught up.

It has taken probably two years' worth of Sunday dinners, since Katherine can't come every week, but today we are finally up to the finale! Mike, Michael and Katherine are in there watching the very first episode while eating Mike's sauce, plus some fried chicken I made in homage to "Los Pollos Hermanos"! Nick texted us from work and wants to watch the last episode with us, so we are holding off dessert until he gets out at 6:30. I made cupcakes:

I found the toppers on Pinterest. I was also going to make a pizza, after the 'pizza on the roof' episode, but decided Sunday Sauce and cupcakes were enough. I also opted out of a blue drink, since I could only find Gatorade in the right color and I think Gatorade is ghastly.

So we finish a tradition today and need to start a new one. We're thinking of starting "Walking Dead" from the first season! Michael has never seen it. 

James on Jury Duty

Jamie had one of those phone-in things where his number came up to go out to the supreme court out East for possible jury duty...and got picked. Apparently, he's a good juror for this particular case because he was in a car accident and won the lawsuit. Doesn't matter that he was only 7 at the time and barely remembers it! He goes back January 27th. I'm glad it wasn't the 25th, or I'd have shit fits because that is my 60th birthday and I damn well better have all four of my kids at my dinner!

Needless to say, he isn't too keen about it. But at least he won't be called again for about 6 years after this. Hopefully, it will  be a quick hearing.

Nick went for a follow-up visit to the doctor regarding his neck. He seems okay now, but he hasn't told me yet what the doctor said.

Aunt Mary Hoffer

My beloved aunt, Mary Hoffer, passed away this weekend at the age of almost 95. I have so many good memories of her! She was very creative and always had some kind of 'activity' for us kids when we were young. She often treated us to ice cream at "Tom's Kitchen" in Zanesville, Ohio when we'd visit. 

She was my mother's oldest sister. Her obit is below.

Aunt Mary at age 93, about 2 years ago.

HOFFER

Mary K. Hoffer passed away on January 8, 2016. Born in Zanesville, Ohio in 1921, Mary attended St. Nicholas High School. Mary became an often consulted expert in china, silver and jewelry, working for many years at the Jones Gift Shop in downtown Zanesville, and then at Pugh Jewelers. She loved her work with the Pilot Club of Zanesville.  Mary loved her many nieces and nephews, traveling around sightseeing and gifting “wounded treasures” to them. She devoted herself to her mother Lelia’s care. Her loving sister Ruth Guinsler, sister-in-law Barbara Hoffer and her parents preceded Mary in death. She is survived by siblings Dorothy McNally, Robert Hoffer and Marilyn Hupp and families.  As her niece Jan said, “she made all of our childhoods better than they would have been without her.” The family is especially grateful to Kathy Zaenger and family for all their care and love to Aunt Mary. The Forum staff in Columbus and Hospice staff were wonderful.  Services will be held at St. Nicholas Church, 925 East Main St., Zanesville, OH, at 10:30 am on Saturday, January 16, 2016. Burial will follow at Mt. Olive Cemetery, Zanesville, OH. Visit www.schoedinger.com to send online condolences to the family.

Iron skillet

A few days ago I finally got around to 'seasoning' an iron skillet I've probably had 30 years. I think I last used it over 10 years ago. Seemed scary. But I found an easy way to do it and used it twice this week. I started making salisbury steak but I didn't feel like waiting for them to cook, so I broke them up and cooked them in a gravy I made in the skillet--after sauteeing mushrooms in butter. It was soooooooo good! I think I found a new favorite kitchen tool!

Not the most exciting news, but when I cook for my family it makes me happy. I don't do it every day of the week.

Nick, cont.

Nick's problem is a muscle spasm. He got 2 kinds of meds and they've given him a week off from work.

Today it was up in the 40s. You'd never know how bitter cold it was yesterday.

I made sausages, steak and peppers for dinner. The steak part was Nick's idea, but his meds made him sleep right through dinner. I've got bread in the machine that I started too late, so that ends up being a kind of dessert. Hot bread with butter is better than cake, any day!

Nicky

Nick texted me from work yesterday to say he hurt his neck and come pick him up. He has been in some pain for the last day, the pain seeming to be right below the base of his neck. Mike just took him to the doctor (calling back and forth with worker's comp info is a pain in the neck itself, btw) and they have been out almost two hours.

Nick just texted to say he's going to his job to do some paperwork. Meantime, Mike is picking up some lunch meat and Italian bread for dinner.

I was all set to make either sausages and peppers or salisbury steak. But I forgot the bread for the s&p and the gravy ingredientes for the ss. The peppers and onions are already cut up, though, so that's a step ahead for another meal.

The temperature was down to about 11 degrees this morning. Finally feeling like winter. It was sunny, though. As long as there's no ice involved, I can live with my least favorite season.