Friendship Friday

 Hi friends.  Pull up a chair and visit a while.  Friendship Friday is hosted by Create with Joy.

I spent the last six days at my daughter's place out of town.  While I was there, we cooked up a few fabulous recipes.  One of them was brand-new to me.  Apparently it went viral on Tik-Tok (which I don't use).  So we made our own version of it.  It's called Feta Pasta. (click the link for the recipe.) Instead of just the tomatoes called for in the recipe, we also used mushrooms, red pepper, and onion.

Prior to cooking, after cooking, after adding pasta.

  It was delicious!  It's very rich, so don't fill up on too much of it at one sitting.

We also made a Crustless Quiche. (She doesn't use a recipe, but I'm linking one here in case you're interested.) 

It's eggs, a little tiny bit of milk, cheese (and more cheese), mushrooms, spinach, onion, red pepper, and tomato.  She likes to do Meatless Monday, and it was so good!

On the way back home while my daughter was driving, I spent a few minutes filling out one of my journals with her.  It's called Listography and was a gift from her, who is a list-maker like me.

  It asks you to make lists on a variety of different topics such as your childhood toys, pets, employers, places you've lived, favorite restaurants, and so much more.

Yesterday we watched her husband, my new son-in-law, graduate from Air Force Basic Military Training.

Image Credit

  We could only attend virtually due to Covid, but we are hoping they will be back to allowing guests by the time he graduates from his next training.

Today is my anniversary, and I'm looking forward to a delicious seafood dinner to start out our weekend.  I hope you have a Happy Memorial Day.  Remember to honor those who gave their lives for our country.  Have fun and be safe!

Photo Wednesday

 Photos taken in Robinson Park, Seabrook, Texas in November, 2020.

For more photos, visit image-in-ing and/or Wordless Wednesday.

Happy Random Tuesday

 Hello!  Join Stacy Uncorked and Comedy Plus for some happy and random reading!

It's not often I have nothing to talk about, but... here we are!  Hmmmm.

I guess I can tell you this.  Like many people during the pandemic, I haven't been to the dentist in over a year.  Turns out, my dentist decided to retire during "quarantine," so I'm stuck looking for a new one.  I had one previously, but I did not like the office staff, and they could not see me when I had a dental emergency.  They were very unpleasant to me.  I don't know if they have the same staff now, so maybe I will give them another chance.  Maybe not!  Looking for a new doctor is a drag!

You know what else is a drag?  Waiting for something you are excited about doing.  My sister and I haven't gone on a scrapbook retreat (also) in over a year, so we have one scheduled, but it's over a month away still.  I would go to one of these every weekend if I could.  Well... maybe every other weekend.  The other weekends I would be shopping for  looking at craft supplies!

My "new" son-in-law graduates from Air Force Basic Military Training this week. So proud of him!  I wish my daughter and I could go, but, you know... Covid.  Another drag. The best we can do is watch it on Facebook Live.  

Here is something to consider...

Speaking of dentists...

And speaking of crafting...

So true!

You know I love a good (or even a bad) pun...

And just because I'm random...

My 6th grade humor is showing!

I know that's true!

Last, but not least...

Have a great week!

Sunday Synopsis

 

Body Movers by Stephanie Bond
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked this book, but I didn't necessarily REALLY like it. The main character, Carlotta Wren, has had some struggles in her life. Her parents, accused of embezzlement, fled town leaving her to raise her brother Wesley. Then years later Wesley, now 19, has a gambling addiction and owes money to loan sharks. Carlotta is still plugging away at her retail job at Neiman Marcus. Wesley is arrested, this time for computer hacking, and he is forced to get a job. What job? Picking up dead bodies and taking them to the morgue. What else can go wrong? Plenty!

While Carlotta is the main character, there are parts of the book from Wesley's point-of-view. I feel like sticking to one person would have been better suited for this book which is written in first person.

As I was reading, I realized that there is something many writers do which I despise. There seems to be a lot of lip-biting to show characters in distress. I don't bite my lip when I am nervous, anxious, or not sure how to answer a question. Another strange bit of wording this author uses is, "Carlotta pushed her tongue into her cheek. Am I supposed to take this literally? Or is it a signal for the reader that what Carlotta is about to say is tongue-in-cheek?

There was quite a bit of foreshadowing in the story which actually made events quite predictable, even though some of the events are unlikely to happen. The author attempts to develop characters into multi-dimensional people, but she didn't quite get there, so there is some characterization lacking. If an author wants the reader to develop a connection, the characters must seem like real people rather than caricatures.

Carlotta reminded me somewhat of Stephanie from Janet Evanovich's Plus series of novels or Kinsey Millhone from Sue Grafton's alphabet series. But Carlotta just isn't as cool or as likeable as Stephanie and Kinsey. But like her counterparts, Carlotta is involved in some sketchy situations.

Again, I liked it, but I'm not ready to continue the series, even though the first book ends on a definite cliff-hanger with only some resolutions to the conflicts.

View all my reviews

Thursday Thirteen

I'm doing something a little different today.  Instead of this post being brought to you by a letter (like Sesame Street) it is brought to you by the color brown.  These are brown things that I like. 

1-My cat - She's mostly different shades of brown but she has a little white and a little black, too.

2-Chocolate milk - I wouldn't drink white milk as a kid, only chocolate.  I still like it!

3-A pair of comfy sandals - They are made by "Bare Traps." I had a difficult time finding a replacement when my other ones wore out.

4-Reese's peanut butter cups - my favorite candy!

5-Blanket - I received this blanket as a gift.  I guess it's more like a "throw."  It's soft and brown and has yellow, green, and orange leaves on it.

6-Iced tea- I make it and order it unsweet (unlike most Southerners), but I like to add a little sweetener to it.  Most pre-sweetened teas are too sweet.

7-UPS truck - The brown UPS truck means I'm receiving a package!

8-Coca Cola - I usually only allow myself one a day.  It's my favorite drink.

9-My eyes - I'm not sure how much I actually like them, but my eyes are brown.

10-A pair of glasses - I have several "cheaters" around my house, but I really like a pair I have that are brown.

11-Charlie Brown - Maybe this is cheating a little because HE isn't brown, but his name is the word brown, soooo... I have loved Charlie Brown comics and shows since I was a kid.  I had tons of Charlie Brown books when I was young.

12-Recliner - I lived in that brown recliner for months after my shoulder surgery.  We became good friends.

13-Deer - I see them almost every time I pass NASA-JSC.  There are numerous deer on NASA property.  I enjoy seeing them and taking pictures of them.

For more T13 fun, click here.

Photo Wednesday

 

I took these photos on the rooftop patio at our daughter's previous apartment in Austin, Texas.  I have no idea what they are, but they were so vibrant and interesting.

For more photo fun, visit image-in-ing and Wordless Wednesday.

Tuesday Times

 It's time to link up with Stacy for Tuesday's Random Thoughts and Sandee for Happy Tuesday.

My mom's leg wound is finally on the mend.  It's going to take several months, maybe longer, for it to completely heal, and it's possible it won't ever completely heal, but we have gotten it to a place where she is not in constant pain anymore, thank goodness.

Image Credit

Now, her brain is a different story.  We got the results of her brain MRI, and basically, she has mild cognitive impairment which will likely progress to Alzheimer's Disease.  A person with Alzheimer's has some form of dementia, but not all people with dementia have Alzheimer's.  It's very confusing. She is starting a medication called Aricept (Donepezil), but there are conflicting reviews on its effectiveness.  But the happy part is her leg is healing.

Moving along...

You probably know that it bothers me when people mispronounce words (vunerable instead of vuLnerable, as one example).  Here's another one that rubs me wrong.  Jewelry.  I despise when people pronounce it ju luh ree.  There is a vowel BEFORE the L, not after.  Anyway.  Getting off my soapbox!

Did you know that Subway (the restaurant) bread isn't legally bread?  Me, either!  But it's technically true.  The Irish Supreme Court ruled that it has too much sugar to qualify as bread, a staple food, so it cannot be tax-free.  Ten percent of the dough is sugar, five times higher than the amount that defines bread as bread.  In Ireland, at least, Subway bread qualifies as cake! Strange, huh?

Time for funnies!

I like a good pun...

Our devices know our THOUGHTS!

As a former English teacher, this made me giggle.

And last, but not least...

Have a great week!

Sunday Synopsis

 

My Mother, a Serial Killer by Hazel Baron
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I think this was one of the books I got for a bargain from BookBub. Have you used BookBub yet? It's free, and it's where I get some books I might not otherwise know about.

This is the story of a killer mom written by the daughter who turned her in. I'm not sure I would call her a "serial" killer, although I guess 3 people qualifies her. The events in this story took place in Australia in the 1950's and 60's and began when the author (the murderer's daughter) was just 9 years old.

Hazel's family lived on the fringes of society, sometimes in tents, sometimes in their car, until Dulcie (mom) and her husband got jobs on a farm that included housing. They never stayed too long, though, because Dulcie caused trouble with other employees. Ironically, the local police and many of the townspeople thought Dulcie was kind. Behind closed doors with her family, she is a cold manipulator. Hazel finally turns in her own mother for the crimes she has committed and actually testifies against her at all of her trials.

There are a few reasons why I only gave this book 3 stars. It's not a lack of intrigue and interest. It was a fascinating story. One reason is that it moved so slowly. It was actually repetitive. And I realize that Hazel had a co-author, but I thought that the plot would have been more effective written in first person rather than third person point of view. It doesn't even become obvious that the daughter is telling the story until at least halfway through.

Another issue was use of Australian vernacular. Yes, it took place in Australia, but too much slang r too many colloquialisms become confusing. It is also wordy. I thought about abandoning the book, but I stuck with it. The second half was better than the first half. It didn't read like the typical true crime book, but maybe it should have.

View all my reviews

Thursday Thirteen

 Below are some things that would make The Perfect Day for me!

I would get to sleep late, and by that, I mean wake up no earlier than 10:30 AM.

I would spend time with my family, and they would all be in good moods and getting along, as well as wanting to do whatever I wanted to do.

I could also have some "alone time."

The TV would be on "true crime" or "crime/legal dramas" all day.

I would shop at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and JoAnn, but money would be no object.

I could bring my purchases home and scrapbook, make cards, color, and do other crafts.

Not my photos or design.  Image credit

I would eat at two of my favorite restaurants.  One for lunch.  One for dinner.

I could eat dessert without gaining weight.

There would be absolutely no conflict.

My phone would not receive any spam calls or texts.

Chores would not exist.

I would have extra time (not just 24 hours) to get some projects done that are time-consuming such as organizing all of my photo files and SVGs on the computer.

And last, since it's a perfect day, I would get to see, talk to, and hug my dad again.  My sister and I were talking about this a few days ago.  We miss him still.

My handsome daddy!

This may not be a complete list, but it's a start!

For more fun lists, visit Thursday Thirteen.