April 19, 2024

Drivers just wanna be first........


 This is my signature meme for drivers, haha.  I remember drivers ed....we've seen the consequences on the highway and streets when people tailgate.  But mostly I become annoyed at those who just don't want to be behind anyone.  You see them, as I think this is a country ~ or maybe world-wide issue.  Someone slips right in front of you, causing you to slow down (or worse, put on the brakes because they did so they don't hit the person in front of them).  I look in my rear view, and there's no one behind me.  Arhg, that really burns my buns. 

I am busy this morning, have to bake 5 loaves of prosphoro for Sunday.  Tomorrow, we're baking 63 loaves of tsoureki to sell.  It's a delicious bread (although I like it with orange zest, and we're apparently not doing that).  Yesterday I drove all over running errands, partly to get the flour, eggs, etc for tomorrow.  I also had to go to a restaurant supply for sesame seeds, the only place that had a big container of them.  There's a Costco near by, so I figured I would go to that one, but recalling I planned to order contacts from Costco, I decided to go to back across to the one closest to us.  Dropped off a clothing and shoes donation, picked up my rx for my second uti this year, and went to get doggie shampoo.  Luckily dinner was leftovers.....

This vegan tortilla soup is soooo good.  Onion, garlic, chipotle chiles, veg broth, can of fire roasted tomatoes, a can of black beans, plenty of spices.  It is very spicy, which is just the way we like it.  It is blended with an immersion blender, which I like as I'm not a big fan of beans.  

Recipe: 1/2 tsp oil, 1 onion diced, 3-4 garlic cloves minced, 1 jalepeňo or 3-4 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 400g dices tomatoes or use fresh, 3 Tbsp tomato past, 1 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp sea salt, 1/2 tsp tumeric, 1 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 Tsp balsamic vinegar, 2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce, 3 cups veg broth, 1/2 cup corn (fried, although I just use the grilled corn from last summer that I removed from the cob and froze), 15 oz black beans rinsed and drained, 1 avocado sliced or chopped, 1/2 cup plant based milk or more veg. broth.     

Heat oil in a large pot and saute onion, jalepeno, garlic over med. heat 3-4 min.  Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, all condiments, the broth and plant based milk, and beans.  Stir to combine, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 15-20 min.  Blend until smooth with an immersion blender.  

They also put a recipe for homemade tortilla strips, but I just bought some.  Serve with the avocado slices and tortilla strips.    *****I used fire roasted tomatoes and chipotle chiles because I love lots of spicy flavor.  

Two loaves baked, and waiting on the next two to rise for shaping.  In the meantime there's lots of other chores to do!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love, 365


April 13, 2024

Spring has sprung, let the gardening begin....

 

This show of blooms was just the beginning! Of course they smell amazing, and all the pollinators think so too. Windows and back door open to catch that scent inside.  Unfortunately they don't do well as cut flowers.

I finally had my colonoscopy, and everything was fine.  I didn't even get sick after from the anesthesia.  The woman who did my anesthesia is a patient at the dental office I worked at.  It's a really small world out here in New Mexico!  Next week I have a mammography scheduled and a teeth cleaning.  

I sound like I'm old....oh, wait....

I need to go water grass and plant a few seeds!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Love, 365


April 3, 2024

Preparing for summer....

 

This is a banner day for us ~ we're having our new heating/ac system installed.  We will be ready for summer, without the issues that evaporative cooling has: climbing on the roof to prepare, replacing the pads mid-summer, and that oh so wonderful ~ and usually the hottest day of the year! ~ day when the water pump goes out requiring an emergency run to the hardware store and an uncomfortable hour on the roof to install.  Romeo is thrilled ~ and has been hanging out while they are working, which I'm sure they love, haha.

Installation comes with it's downsides though, like lots of noise.  Demitri is doing ok, but poor Zoē is not.  I finally broke down and gave her a sedation pill (left over from her spay) to calm her down.  She was shaking and terrified.  After holding her for an hour or so, she is now in one of her favorite spots (see photo above).  I guess the pill finally did it's job.  Wish I could tell her it's going to be going on all day! 

This morning I also had the unpleasant notification that the company that finances our funeral arrangements made a rather large boo boo and removed over $1,000 more from our account than is necessary.  I called them earlier, and 2 hours later I'm still waiting for them to call me back.  The lady said that if we're doing 90 days same-as-cash I need to call ~ which I fully intended to do, but they were closed for Good Friday.  I also mentioned that I had expected a call from them, which never happened.  I'm sure it'll all be good, but Romeo is rather peeved.  Argh. 

Well, I guess I will try to get something done other than hold the puppy's paw and tell her it's ok.  

Love, 365


Thanksgiving tales, working again, trip to Greece!...woo hoo

  Romeo and I drove to Texas for Thanksgiving.  The drive sucked, but 14 hours later, we were there!  We did go to the wrong house the first...