Back from road trip...

Halloween  Cookies  (bats & pumpkins)

Made these bats and pumpkins again for granddaughter and neighbors kids. Same pic from previous year... but I make the same cookies (teacakes) every Halloween. Kind of rushed this year as we just got home yesterday.

Happy Halloween!

Hi Everyone! Sorry if I missed commenting on anyone's post this past week. We just got back from a long over-due road trip to New Orleans.  Left last Sunday and got back yesterday (Monday). We had a wonderful time traveling with DH's brother and his wife. They live in the Houston area, so we drove down to their place first and spent the night. 

Then we left for Baton Rouge the next day, stopping at Mike Anderson's LSU restaurant for oyster po-boys and sweet tea! Drove on in to New Orleans after lunch and found our hotel downtown. The next morning DH and his brother took off for the War Museum... and the ladies took off to visit Magazine Street and the French Quarter. 

BTW, we 'Hubered'... for the first time ever! It was great. The Huber drivers were so friendly and helpful. The hotel valet recommended it, telling us to 'always check the license plate on the Huber' to make sure it matches the one sent to you on your phone... to stay safe.  

I think everyone had their fill of good New Orleans food! We ate at some great places (Char-broiled Oysters, Oyster Po-boys, Roast Beef Po-boys, Crawfish Etouffee, Muffalettas, Beignets, Cafe Aulait, etc.)

We spent the next day in old City Park - love City Park with all the huge Oak trees and old moss - had Cafe Aulait and Beignets there and walked the sculpture garden by the lagoons. The weather was perfect. 

Love the tree in City Park

Then we drove along the lakefront and went by where my old house/neighborhood used to be. Katrina destroyed it so it's been long gone, but they built a beautiful white porched 2 story in it's place. Pretty nice...

Then we visited the brothers' family in Baton Rouge on the way back to Texas. It's been about 8 years since the boys have seen their older brother and his family... and it was a short, but fun visit. We spend the day with them and then went out to supper that night together.

DH and his brothers & family (me on far right)

Unfortunately us girls didn't get to visit our family in N.O. - but that's because we both have so many relatives there that there just wasn't enough time. Besides, we plan to go back down this spring or summer.

That's about caught up for me. I'll try to read the blogs I missed tomorrow. Hope everyone had a really good week...  and it seems like the Fall has finally come here. Hope it stays.

So... again... Happy Halloween to all of you!

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

A tale of 2 cleaners...

This is a story... not an exceptional one, but a story all the same... and one I want to tell because as I mentioned a few days ago, I've been a bit 'down' lately. 

I don't know about you people, but in the general population, I'm considered 'short' at 5'4 (could have shrunk to  5'3 by now, but I'm sticking with 5'4). My husband, kids, and even my daughter (at 5'8) tower over me. 

To be honest, I've always considered myself 'average height'... but when buying jeans, it is difficult to find them that aren't at least 4 inches too long. Recently I've taken to buying those that actually say 'short'... does it help? NO! They're still at least 3 inches too long. 

Now I don't sew... yes, I quilt, but don't actually do sewing by hand. So, when I try to fix these myself, it's sad and not something one could wear in public. So, if needed, I take them to a cleaners who usually have an alterations person available. This time the cleaners employee we went to (since we hardly ever use any cleaners since retired) was almost rude. No smile, just a flat "No, sorry alterations lady on vacation". When I asked if she possibly knew anyone else who could help me, she just shook her head and walked away.

So, we went home and I googled alterations near me. Found a place really close that wanted $30 to hem my jeans (...they only cost me $22?). That was a no go on principle alone. Next I googled other cleaners near me... and found one fairly close. They didn't answer their phone so I couldn't call them to check price, but we got in the car and headed over.  Big place, clean, looked well run... little Asian man came out and  asked to help. Told him what I needed done and asked the price. We had a little 'language' trouble, but he was so kind and cheerful, that I didn't mind. He made a phone call and checked his computer and came back with $17??? Like "Is that OK?" I smiled and said, "Fine"... and we talked a bit. He was so nice that I left there feeling better than I had in days. Told DH we're using this cleaners from now on!! 

I guess my point here is how someone's disposition  and/or smile can make or break your day... 

Have a good one! : )

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

not sure what this is...

Every once in a while this happens. I feel 'down'... can't quite explain it... maybe it comes with age? When I'm in this state, nothing interests me. All the things I could be doing, I don't want to do. Things that normally make me happy... don't. Truth be told, I can't think of anything to perk me up.

Luckily there's always the routine of the morning to keep me going. And sometimes I can come up with something different or if not different, at least 'active'. This morning I awoke this way and after a normal routine (coffee, toast, emails, etc.), decided that DH and I  should probably go to the Senior Center and at least walk... which we did. We also tried out one of the stationary bikes in the gym,  had a cup of coffee in the cafeteria,  and visited the library there.

Now this afternoon I have the dreaded dentist appointment (I really hate it - but make myself go anyway - I'm such a wimp). Trouble is I've had one of my front lower teeth 'stinging' a bit lately... off and on. Could be the beginning of a small cavity - something I hardly ever get, but best check it out.

Wish I could think of something fun to share with you today, but nothing comes to mind. Sorry. 

Oh, one really nice thing about today is that it was 64 F when we went out this morning. That was a shock! I almost needed a jacket... probably would have if I hadn't been too lazy to go back into the house to get one.

Hope your day is good! Thanks for letting me vent.

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

Sunday morning coming down...

Johnny Cash

Was thinking about Sunday mornings and thought of Johnny Cash's song, "Sunday mornings coming down"...

Didn't know how to download the video from google so if you're interested, it's here:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz-74SUwVV0

We've always liked Johnny Cash's voice and songs and I have to admit, I haven't thought about him or his songs in ages. And to be honest, it has nothing to do with my Sunday mornings... except that there is "something in a Sunday"... so:

Sunday morning here again... and I'm cooking. So far have a pot roast with potatoes, carrots, and onions in the oven and some dark chocolate peanut butter brownies in the making. Also mixed up a batch of feral catfood earlier... trying to see if making our own feral catfood would be cheaper than buying cans.

Everything is getting so expensive, it's ridiculous. Our groceries, water bill, gas bill, and electric bills have doubled lately (some more than doubled). So we are trying to cut back.

Can't stop feeding the ferals, they depend on it.  So by buying a large bag of chicken thighs and legs for about $5-$7, cooking it and adding leftover veggies (corn, peas, broccoli, etc.) and a little rice and cheese - we get enough to feed them for almost a week (not quite). It'll take a few weeks of doing this, to see if it's worth it. They are pretty spoiled, but seem to like the new arrangement (may also be telling their friends??).

Anyway, that's my news for the day. Oh, I have a picture that I took from Amazon to share. It's pretty gruesome, but apparently a real item. Wouldn't even feed this to our ferals.

Wishing you all a peaceful relaxing Sunday. I don't watch the news much anymore, but do watch Face the Nation on Sunday mornings, so do know what is going on... sad to say. 

And I have to agree with DJan's posting of these words: "Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." —Desmond Tutu

We can only hope...

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

Oct 1, 2023 - Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

 It's that time again! 

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

Have a great Sunday!

Making Chicken Tetrazzini today (with a little white wine)!

Hugs (virtual),

Rian