Every now and again, more now than again, Mr. Colquhoun tells me as I get older, I get more anal. I’m not arguing that statement but I feel as though, yes, maybe I “need” to be more organized. When you have more days behind you than in front of you, you kinda need to be “ready”. Ready for what? Lots of things. Illness, incapacity, death. It’s the reality, you know.

My organization is sometimes only limited to having meals planned for 8 or 10 days. That’s where we’re at today. I casually remarked, “I see it’s supposed to be cool Sunday. We have chili in the freezer. I’m thinking chili dogs for dinner.” Now remember, today is Monday. He looked at me and I said, “I know, too anal for your liking.” He agreed. So then I said, “I just want you to know because if something happens to me, chili dogs are what you’re supposed to eat on Sunday.”

He is still just looking at me. So then I said, “Nevermind, I’m sure someone will bring you a ham.” Because that’s his favorite, not. He then said, “You are really thinking ahead on this Sunday dinner, you never do that.” “Totally untrue,” I quipped, “I almost always have enough dinner ideas/food for a bit more than a week.” He hasn’t said one more thing to me. Sometimes he questions his choices from 1978, I think.

So, do you all feel that as the years go by you become more “intuned” to future events or is it just me? I mean, there’s plenty of things I haven’t organized yet, take the attic for example. Really, someone come and take the attic! Maybe that’ll be a venture sooner rather than later. I know my kids would be appreciative of it.

Be well, my friends. And enjoy your days. Also, thaw out your frozen chili for Sunday, it looks like it’s gonna be cool outdoors. I’ll be talking to you.

So, it’s mid-February and it’s still winter. Why? Truly I think most of our winter weather does normally occur in February but we’ve been known to have spring-like temps too. But not today or tomorrow or Thursday, it seems.

I told Mr. Colquhoun I was going for the lazy day today. As that differs from some days. Retirement can be full of “the laze” if you choose. I try not to opt for that very often. But right now I have a couple new books and no baking til Thursday. The fire is roaring and the laundry is in the dryer. Like really drying, not just waiting to be folded, all cold and wrinkly. I’ve fed us breakfast and have a plan for dinner. I’ll probably vacuum the floors soon, just in case-for some crazy reason, we lose power. I still remember, and shudder, my non-vacuumed carpets back in the 2002 ice storm. Ewww.

While the snow is really pretty, I’m a fair-weathered friend. More so with every year I age. And I know we need the moisture but how much does 10″ of snow relate to in inches of rain? Hang on birds, I’ll feed you when I can get to the shed in my slip on shoes, with no socks and minus my coat.

This week, we had to purchase two items that never seem to last long enough. Little ticket items, at least. My blow dryer shot craps Saturday morn as I was trying to dry my hair. You never know that small appliance doesn’t work til you really NEED it to work. Sopping wet hair, looking dreadful, and bam…no dryer. The last time I bought one was black Friday, 2001, so I guess 23+ years is a good run. Mr. Colquhoun broke his circa-2012 snow shovel this morning. Again, you don’t need it til you need it! Thank goodness the hardware store still had some in stock. So now, we can dry our hair…well not so much him….and shovel our drive….well not so much me. That’s how it works @the128, we all have our respective duties. Mine are easier than his.

During this weatherpalooza, please stay safe, be warm, and choose the laze, for a bit, anyway. Appreciate everything that works during the day and know that stuff is replaceable, don’t sweat it! Not that we’re sweating right now anyhow. 😉

Pray for the Smith family, the Oak family, the Davis family and everyone else who is struggling with medical situations. Always in my thoughts and heart. 🩷

I’ll be talking to you, friends!

Hello friends! Gosh it’s been a long, long time since I’ve opened my blog. I think it’s because I don’t feel as though I have things to say that you want to read. Or maybe I’m not feeling funny. Anyway, here I am…I’ll try again!

Do you fnd yourself thinking more about your yesterday’s or your tomorrow’s? At my “mature” age, I know my tomorrow’s are limited and I do talk about that, periodically.

But those yesterday’s or yesteryear’s are hard on my mind! So many great memories and some not so great, but those are less, thank goodness. Thinking back on grade school, high school, early married years, babies, kids at home, kids flying out on their own. The new generation. The blessings are many.

Are things exactly how I imagined, growing up an only child in a teeny, tiny family? No. But are they disappointing? Also no. My “rose colored glasses” plan was pretty specific but life has its own ideas. I’m glad it didn’t end up as “cookie cutter” as I thought it would. I never thought my kids would each marry non-native Ark Citians but they all did! I couldn’t have picked better jobs for any of them. They seem to be right where they belong. Flourishing, even on the hard days.

To say I’m proud would surely be an understatement. I could’ve done this parenting gig better but I did my best. I hope. I pray they always know how much I truly adore them. How thankful I am the God chose me to be their mom and that my love will last for all my days.

Whew! Nothing like a snow day to make you dust off your blog and bring those melancholy feelings to the surface! On the humorous side, my elderly (older than me, even) just phoned and asked if I’d ordered this weather and if my cable was off. Normally he asked if I’m working hard or hardly working. Today it be the latter. I remember that ice storm of 2002, my laundry basket was full, dishwasher almost full of unwashed dishes, carpets needed vacuumed and no power for 5 days. ‘Bout drove me to the edge so I did all those things and more yesterday. Also hoping if I was prepared maybe it wouldn’t happen! Fingers still crossed.

Take care, my friends. I pray 2025 blesses each of you and your tomorrow’s are bright and plentiful! I’ll be talking to you, sooner rather than later maybe. 🩷

Hello friends! I pray this finds you happy and healthy. As many of you know, we had that rona visitor and I’ve decided, you can hear many stories from lots of different people, about the struggles and heartache covid brings, but, you don’t really know til you know. Now we know. And we are still praying for those of you whose outcome was not like Mr. Colquhoun’s.

He spiked a fever on 1/30 in the late evening, after we’d been to a family dinner a bit earlier. A dinner that included a couple that is our age. They had not really been going anywhere or seeing anybody other than immediate family. One other gentleman a bit older than us and a pregnant gal, who luckily (?) had already had it. A gaggle of kids and a few other “kids” between the ages of 31-43. But basically, family. Luckily, nobody got it from him, including me.

The next morning we trekked to the hospital for a nasal swab and within 45 min got the positive call. 2 weeks quarantine for both of us. Okay, we can do that. I learned how to use the grocery pick up at the walmarts so we were set. The first week was unremarkable, he ran pretty good fevers but not really any other symptoms. And I sat. A lot. By the following Saturday, his o2 level was low. Really low, like 74. We double checked it with our neighbors meter…74. He called his doctor and was told to get to the emergency room. So off we went. 4 hours later, they decided to admit him. I ran home and threw underwear, tee shirts and socks in a bag along with deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste. Oh and a Sonic cheeseburger…

We talked a bit that night, I could not be with him. He told me the on call doctor told him he’d be there for 5 days. 5 days!! We didn’t realize he was that sick. The next afternoon, he reported, “I must not be getting any better, they’re talking about sending me to Wichita.” I was dumbfounded. Within 2 hours, he was on his way. I still couldn’t see him.

He arrived at Wesley and was immediately placed on a bipap machine with 100% oxygen. When the doctor called around 6:00, he was down to 75% oxygen. That machine is loud. It covered his whole face. I could hear him, in the background, hollering, “I love you, I love you, I love you.” It was heartwrenching. Later that evening, he called me! It was the best phone call ever. We were both so scared of the unknown. And relying on people neither of us knew, to relate his progress.

The next 4 days consisted of lots of praying, answering messages and phone calls, keeping family/friends up to date and especially feeling so blessed for all our tribe. He continued to rally and on Thursday 2/11, was moved out of ICU and into a regular room. Best day ever. Except for the next day, when I got to go pick him up!

He is doing amazingly well, considering. Some things changed, such as, controlling his diabetes with his diet. Now he takes 4 shots of insulin daily. We both had to take a crash course on Diabetes 101. 3 squares a day, 4 finger pricks and shots. He goes back to work tomorrow, 2/22.

During those 2 weeks when I wasn’t going anywhere and seeing no one, i still got up every morning and followed routine. Specifically, putting my bra on. You know you’re old when you wear all the undergarments for no reason. I never even thought, “I don’t have to dress today.” I made a full pot of coffee every day, and drank it all by myself. I made tuna casserole (not his favorite) on Tuesday, when I found out he was gonna be okay, I realized I was starving!

It was a very scary time for our family and we appreciate all your prayers, positive thoughts, calls, texts, messages, cards, etc. You never know how many friends you have til you need them. We needed you and you rocked it!

Please stay well, my friends. If you need us, just call. We’ll be there. I’ll be talking to you!

I pray this post finds you all healthy and happy. Especially healthy. As most of you, our family has been touched by the rona, but very mildly, and just 2 of us. So far. I pray for those of you, and your loved ones, that aren’t/weren’t as lucky as us.

I’m sure you have a favorite kitchen gadget or tool, that you use consistently and couldn’t do without. Am I right? Mine is a cookie spatula that used to be my mother-in-law’s. I don’t remember how I came to possess it and I can’t remember ever not having it. It’s ragtag and looks to be on its last dozen cookies. The handle is completely off the top and broken in half on the back. The edges are rippled and sharp. But it’s the perfect thickness and width. There’s not much difference in the angle of the handle and the metal part. It’s my go-to and I don’t use it for anything but cookie baking.

Everytime we are somewhere and there’s a kitchen store or even kitchen gadgets, I look for its twin. No luck. Anywhere. I’m resigned to the fact that having an in-tact handle is over-rated and I will use it even when the whole part on back breaks off.

• 

• 

• 

Last week, I joined a new club. It’s the “light over the cooktop” club. Besides the “light over the sink” it’s the best club I could’ve joined. That’s correct, I’ve been cooking for 42 years and have never had a light above my stove. Why have I not? Who the heck even knows. It is pretty amazing. Except for the fact that my cooktop is black so EVERYTHING shows up on it. Even when I think I’ve scrubbed it pretty well. Note to self: only turn the light on while you’re cooking something. Problem solved!

Now if I could just find my tiny, pink bowl-scraper spatula, my kitchen life would be spot on. Then there’s always the other facets of life that are not so spot on, but I can’t have it all, can I? I need to learn to be more easy-going and not so set in my ways and set on my favorite gadgets! But that’s for another year.

Please be safe and stay healthy, my friends. I’ll be talking to you!

Had you known, last Christmas, what the new year would hold for you, what would you have done differently?

We were in Las Vegas, March 8-11 and the talk about “corona virus” was just a mumble, in our life anyway. I remember we didn’t touch the escalator hand holds. The buffets at the casinos were just being shut down on our last day there. The throngs of people we were normally used to, were less. Very much less.

Mr. Colquhoun had been with a cough since November. Allergy related by March. People kinda looked at him suspiciously when he’d hack. As we boarded the plane to come home, the stewardess tossed him a paper mask and told him to wear it. He did. It was our first inkling that sh*t was getting real.

He ended up in the hospital in April, quicker testing to see if he was positive, that way. He was not. Discharged as soon as the results came back, with a diagnosis of pneumonia. Major antibiotics and he was finally feeling better.

Then the shelves at the walmarts were empty. What the heck? Crazy things were out of stock for a long time. Mainly Jello brand instant pudding. ???? I never understood that. Flour, sugar, baking staples all scarce. People stayed home. Baked bread, if you could find yeast. Made masks, bought masks and hand sanitizer but not Lysol wipes. We cooked for weeks on end. And missed our friends.

Soon people we knew started getting positive test results. Some were fine, some were pretty sick, some couldn’t kick it. We all know someone who’s had the rona, if not ourselves. Our babies got the normal autumn coughs and runny noses. What to do? Were they sick? In 2019, we would’ve assumed it was a cold and life went on, like normal. But 2020? We second guessed our every thought, every day.

And here we are, like last year, awaiting a new year. A new beginning. A chance to start over. All the daydreams of what 2021 could hold. I believe we are all a bit more apprehensive about the future. Our future. Our kids future.

Truth be told, we don’t know what’s going to happen. But, really, we never have known. We just looked forward with anticipation not anxiety. I think we need to do that again. Daydream about the good things, anticipate life being more “old school normal”. Look forward to a new year. Be positive! (Not a test result 😉). Laugh often.

Please be well, my friends. I wish great things for all of you. And good health. Cheers to 2021! 🥂 I’ll be talking to you!

Hola! Happy Cinco de Mayo, my friends. From a gal that could eat Mexican food every single day, I’m not sure why we only celebrate once a year?! I love it all. Every bit of it. This recipe is tried and true and *surprise* I love it. It isn’t traditional Mexican but it has “Tacos” in the name of it…and you eat it on tortillas, so there is that. You can’t make it for dinner this evening, but pick a day-any day and enjoy.

Cuban Pork Soft Tacos

1/2 c lime juice

1/4 c water

1/4 c grapefruit juice

3 cloves garlic

1 t oregano

1/2 t salt

1/2 t cumin

1/4 t pepper

2 bay leaves

3 lb boneless pork shoulder

1 c sliced onions

Tortillas

Combine the first 9 ingredients. Pierce meat with a fork and place in a huge ziploc bag or pot. Pour the liquid over and marinate the meat 6-24 hours. I always let it all meld together overnight. Or longer.

Put sliced onion in your slow cooker, top with the meat and marinade. Cook on low 10-12 hours or high 5-6 hours. Cool meat slightly then shred with 2 forks. If you choose to use any of the liquid, skim the fat and remove the bay leaves. Serve on tortilla with your choice of toppings. I personally love cheese, lettuce, sliced green onions, tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole, and salsa/pico de gallo.

Pico de Gallo

2 peeled and diced tomatoes

2 Tbsp chopped red onion

2 Tbsp cilantro

1 t lime juice

Dash of salt and sugar

Mix well and refrigerate for 2 hours.

I hope this week finds you all still healthy and happy, here’s praying I can get my caterpillars plucked, waxed and/or tweezed really, really soon. I can’t see to do it without my glasses on but can’t get in there to do it with my glasses on. First world problems, I know. Be well, I’ll be talking to you….

Hey all, welcome to Tuesday!! I hope this finds you healthy and happy. We could be looking at our little town working to re-open, starting Monday. I could really use my hair colored, my caterpillars waxed, and my feet pedicured. I’m apparently a tad high maintenance. Who knew?

Today I’m gonna just give you a meal idea, we love all these recipes. Adjust them to your liking. And you must know, I’m not a good measurer. I’ll do my best to give you a good idea.

My very favorite pork, besides a pork burger at Arkalalah, is the basic pork cutlet, cube steak or minute steak. However you know it. I love to give it an egg bath then coat it with crushed crackers. Saltine, Club, Ritz…your fav. If you love Cheez Its, by all means, use those! Fry them up in butter and olive oil. Then add these to your plate:

Crab Pasta Salad

1.5 lbs of crab, you can use the imitation crab chunks.

1/4 c Ranch dressing, might need a bit more

1/2 heaping c mayonnaise

1-1 1/2 t dill relish

1-1 1/2 t sweet relish

S&P to taste

1/4 heaping t garlic powder

1/4 heaping t onion powder

1/2 c chopped celery

A dash or two of cajun spice

Half a pound to a pound of small pasta, I use mini shells

Shredded cheddar cheese

Mix it all up and refrigerate. Give it a good stir and a generous taste, before serving, to make sure it’s just right.

Then put a 2 lb bag of frozen corn in your crockpot, add a stick of butter, a brick of cream cheese, s&p. Cook on low til hot and melty.

This next idea comes from the mister’s grandma. She was that person who could cook a pork roast to perfection. She had a talent.

Banana Salad (trust me here)

Right before dinner, chop some lettuce and slice some bananas. Mix a good dollop of Miracle Whip with a couple pinches of sugar and some milk. The amount of these 3 totally depend on how much lettuce and bananas you use. This is the dressing so it needs to be runny enough to pour. Stir the dressing over the bananas and lettuce. Serve immediately. This recipe does not save, for obvious reasons. Only make what you’ll eat.

Pop some hot bread in the oven, mix up some butter with a squirt or two of honey and a couple sprinkles of cinnamon then eat like a king. Or like the Colquhoun’s.

Please take care of yourselves as we start to lessen the “shelter-in-place” suggestion and maybe I’ll see you at the salon. I’ve got a month of Sunday appointments. And I need every one of them! I’ll be talking to you….

Good morning! I hope this finds you all healthy and not stir crazy, yet. I also hope your house looks just like mine, after a month of the ‘stay at home’ order. You know, the baseboards still need cleaned, the cabinets still need gone thru, the lampshades still need dusted…let’s pace ourselves, friends. Don’t want to get carried away, we might need something to do in the winter, right?

I’m going to try to post a few recipes a week, here, as I’m amazed at the fact I have fed the mister, from my kitchen, every day except 3, since Mar. 12. It really hasn’t even been as hard as I thought! Who am I? Anyway, these will be in writing, in case the ‘Rona comes back.

This first recipe is tried and true. I posted it yesterday on my facebook page but it is double-post worthy. Trust me. I’ve been making it for a good number of years and it’s fancy enough for company or even just for a Tuesday.

#1 Beef Burgundy

2 lbs. stew meat

3 cans cream of mushroom soup

2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

3 Tbsp burgundy wine, I use what I have. Last week it was Pinot Noir.

1 pkg dry Lipton onion soup mix

Mix all ingredients together, either in a covered stockpot or crockpot. Bake 4-5 hours at 250° in oven or 6ish hours on low in crockpot. Stir occasionally. Serve over egg noodles, rice, mashed potatoes, biscuits or whatever makes your hair curl! Delicious and very aromatic. Makes the whole house smell like you are a professional chef.

#2 Shrimp & Sausage Pasta

1 lg onion, diced

1 lg pepper, any color, diced

1 lb rope sausage, sliced into coins

20 lg raw shrimp, fresh or frozen, peeled, deveined, with tail on or off. In a pinch, I’ve used cooked shrimp.

2 t minced garlic

1/2 t pepper

1/4 t salt

1/2 c unsalted butter

4 Tbsp parmigiano-reggiano, grated. I normally just use parmesan as this is difficult to find in Small town, Kansas, America.

1 pkg angel hair pasta, or your favorite

In good sized skillet, melt butter then add the sausage, veggies, garlic, s&p. When the veggies are al’ dente, add shrimp and cook for an additional 2-4 min, til shrimp is pink. Top with cheese and serve over cooked pasta.

I hope one of these recipes finds it’s way to your table and I pray you love it as much as we do. Stay safe, stay home, don’t clean your baseboards and I’ll be talking to you! Until next time….

Firstly, I am awkward. Klutzy, clumsy, I shoot from the hip without thinking beforehand, generally, and if I do happen to think about what not to say, my face says it anyway. The last part of that sentence doesn’t have much to do with this post but it’s part of the awkwardness.

I don’t bathe. Often. I mean, I shower (often) but I just don’t fill the tub with water and soak for hours like some of y’all. For my birthday last month, I was gifted a bath bomb. I’m a bath bomb virgin. I’ve done a shower bomb but not one for the bath. Tonight I was chilly and achy so I told the mister I was gonna take a bath. He looked up, quickly, to see if it was really me standing there. What follows are the reasons I’m not a good “bather”. Is that a word? Idk.

I love hot, hot water. In my dishpan. In my shower. In the pedicure chair. When my gal is washing my hair at the salon. In the hot tub. And lastly, in the bathtub. I’ve got it filling, with hot, hot water. I opened the bath bomb, with the use of a knife and scissors. I understand why they’re wrapped so well, you wouldn’t want them getting damp and bombing all over the store before they’re purchased, but wow! I dropped it in and it’s like Alka Seltzer…plopping and fizzing and such. I step down and, oh my Lord, that water is hot. I gingerly put my feet in, take them out, dip them again, pull them out, etc. I finally wiggle the rest of my body all the way down and promptly turn lobster red. Yep, it’s hot.

It feels good and the Rosemary and Lavendar bomb is, well, the bomb! I sit for a minute and sigh. Why don’t I do this more often? Then I remember. It’s hot. In the shower you can turn the water cooler for a minute then heat it back up or step back from the water for a second but in a tub, you’re stuck. I feel little beads of sweat on my brow. I’m not really even a sweater! Now I’m wishing I would’ve left the bathroom door open.

I look up and realize I forgot to grab the soap and my razor. Dang it. I stand up, grab those items and here’s the clumsy part: when I go to sit down, I slip and cause a tsunami. Tidal wave! The soap happens to be a sliver. I even knew I needed a new bar. Snap. I drop that sliver of soap in the foggy water so to find it, I have to stand back up. Get the soap, sit back down, carefully, and bathe while I’m sweating. So isn’t this bath redundant? I had to lay across the bed to cool off for 10 minutes, til I was chilly again. I’m obviously not woman enough to lounge in the tub. But I do recommend bath bombs, that was a good gift. My skin is soft and I feel relaxed. For just living thru a tsunami and a wildfire.

Happy fall! Hope you’re enjoying the cooler temps and the changing colors. Have a blessed weekend, I’ll be talking to you!