There's my supper from last night. I had a salad too. I could not finish up what was on that plate. I over-served my own damn self. It was so good though! I had more for lunch and there are still leftovers.
I swear- even on these days when I do very little, the time goes by so fast. It was cold when I got up this morning. 32° on the porch. I could hear the melting dew drip, drip, dripping off the leaves.
Sigh.
BUT! It does not appear that my plants took much of a hit. I guess it didn't stay below freezing for very long. It's chilly now and probably going to get back into the mid 30's tonight but I'm not going to worry too much.
So I did something today that was unusual for me. I am almost embarrassed to admit this but Mr. Moon does all of the bill-paying and financial stuff around here, the reason being that it makes me crazy-anxious and mostly because he is so good at it. I'm on all the accounts but he just takes care of it. However, this morning he called me to ask if I could write checks for our taxes because if you pay before November 30th, you get a lower rate. ARGGGGHHH!
I really am embarrassed.
He told me where to find the checkbook and where the bills were and I did it. I hadn't written out a check in so long I'd about forgotten how. It struck me once again that I sure as shit better die before he does. This is not a joke. But I got those envelopes in the mail with their Forever Pete Seeger stamps before noon. And of course I felt that I'd accomplished all I needed to do for the day when that little chore was done.
I worked out in the yard for awhile, not very long, pulling more border grass and crocosmia. I really want to get that one part I'm working on done because there are so many other places in the yard I want to tackle. I pulled a canning-kettle full which made a small dent in the project. The crocosmia are already coming back up where I've cleared because there is no way to get all of those bulbs. There just isn't unless nuclear warheads are involved. Or the chemical equivalent which I refuse to use.
I was worried that the firespike had gotten frozen which would mean that I couldn't snip some to overwinter in water to root and plant more of in the spring but although a few leaves looked burned, it was mostly fine so I went ahead and did that.
I know. I know. Jessie is so very depressed about this. And trust me- they do the hand washing and the toothbrush sterilizing and all that stuff and still, this shitty bacteria persists in their family. I hear that Maggie has also been staying home from school with a cough but it does not appear to be strep-related.
well, your day sounds just about perfect from weeding, to cooking, piano playing AND writing a check to pay a bill! LOL! Sorry to hear about August's strep yet again.......but he's a child....and exposed to so many other youngins. Following your fruitcake making (tomorrow?).....and subsequent rum soaking..... yummo! A dear friend makes the same fruitcake.....but uses a bourbon soak.....for a month...... it is divine. Still reminisce about my dear departed friend Bette......who took my fave fruitcake recipe to her grave without ever sharing........and she did a rum soak also....... darn her......but........ fond memories of said fruitcake! Do you put flannel sheets on your bed when it's cold? Ive got a bottom flannel only on our bed....and it is heaven!
ReplyDeleteSusan M
And Linda Sue's beautiful creation is AWESOME!
DeleteSusan M
There were lots of checks! I came away from the experience thinking, "Damn. We need to sell some of this property!"
DeleteI am sorry that Bette never shared her fruitcake recipe. You are left only with the sweet memories.
No. I don't put flannel sheets on the bed. Glen sleeps very warm so he would never be able to handle that.
I don't think that Linda Sue actually made that gorgeous three dimensional card.
Oh, but I was patient and persistent. Printed out the tickets, wrapped them up pretty and put in the Christmas gift pile just as quiet as a mouse. My husband may just have a heart attack Christmas Eve. June 7 is a long time off. Hope we all make it.
ReplyDeleteWait?! You got Rolling Stones tickets! GOOD FOR YOU!
DeleteThat is a really good looking supper. I can see why it lasted two plus meals.
ReplyDeleteI used to get strep throat regularly, from my senior high school year on for two or three more years. Then it just quit, which was fine by me.
Definitely more than two meals! Cooking for one is a trip. I really have no idea how to do it.
DeleteGod. Strep is so weird. The antibiotics knock it out of the boys almost immediately but then a few months later...back it comes.
I honestly cannot remember the last time I wrote a cheque. It was probably on behalf of my mother when I was her power of attorney and she died 10 years ago. Everything here is done on the interwebs. Or you go to the bank and pay them to give you one of their cheques if it is something very big like a house or a car.
ReplyDeleteYour meal looks delicious. Cauliflower? I crave some. And is that fish or meat? How did you cook it? Details, please!
Considering what eggplants represent amongst the youth of today I am curious as to what you intend to do with yours!
How does one obtain your address should one desire to send something from far away?
No one really writes checks here, either. I'm not sure why Mr. Moon still pays bills that way.
DeleteThat is salmon on the plate. I cooked it very, very simply. I squeeze lemon on it and let it sit for just a little while, salt and pepper it, and sprinkle dill weed on it, heat up a skillet (in my case, a cast iron one) to a med-high heat, add a little olive oil, put the fish in skin-side down, let it cook until the skin comes off easily, turn it, add more salt and pepper and dill, let it cook until the meat is flakey.
As for my eggplant I made a little eggplant Parmesan with it. Delicious!
Can you email me for my address? My email is at the end of the paragraph on the sidebar beside Ms. Moon. I'm excited! Just please don't send me a dog. Thank you.
That food looks excellent. However I'm very worried that you're not on top of the bill paying and deadlines and all that. In a long ago job I set up a special hotline program for older women, widowed and having to pick this stuff up, find paperwork, all that. I really do not wish their distress on you. It crashes down at a time you can't handle it. Please, at least sit with him enough to get conversant again with it all. Just in case.Might Never happen.
ReplyDeleteI know, I know! You are exactly right! And we have sat down and talked and he thinks it's just all so easy because he does it all the time. But I know it's not. And to complicate things even more, whatever he tells me sort of goes straight through my head. This is how I'm wired. I've asked him to sit down and write out a complete list of what we own and so forth and what I need to know and do about each property. Also, bank accounts. This is a huge source of anxiety for me and one we need to deal with properly.
DeleteAs an extension of those thoughts, I've written about my "Life in Motion" folder where I keep everything my kids might need if and when. Bank accounts, passwords, where my pension is held, medical insurance and life and burial insurance. I add to it as I think of it but to be honest it really didn't take long to set up. And Boud is right, you definitely don't need that hassle on top of what would be a very trying time!
DeleteYour dinner looks so yummylicious! I wonder if somehow you could just learn to put up with the crocosmia and plant new stuff somewhere else?
ReplyDeleteIf I did not pull crocosmia, I would have no other space in the yard in which to plant anything else. Trust me. It spreads like wildfire.
DeleteAlso, it is not attractive. It does not bloom in my yard.
DeleteI've never made a fruitcake but would like to give it a try. Will you share your recipe?
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!
Hello MFH! Turns out that the fruitcake recipe I've been using my whole life is a very much loved and cherished recipe. You can find the exact same recipe I use at https://www.cooks.com/recipe/h02ng8bj/mrs-harveys-white-fruitcake.html
DeleteOr, just google Mrs. Harvey's White Fruit Cake.
I do play around with the types of fruit and the amounts of that. And it always comes out beautifully.
I've always believed it is a big mistake for just one person to "know all the financials" (for obvious reasons). I tried with my ex but he wanted everything done in excel (and then never input anything so what was the point) whereas back of an envelope works fine for me. I know several girlfriends who worked all their lives and yet their husbands still handle everything. My dad would have been a prime example if my mom had gone first!
ReplyDeleteYou are exactly right. And I know it. See above where I answered Boyd's comment on the subject.
DeleteDinner looks delicious (and generous) and your photos are wonderful. Beautiful blooming flowers. It's 63 degrees here this morning. SG complained about the “freezing air” when I opened the terrace door. He got over it. That Christmas card is a beauty.
ReplyDeleteYeah. I couldn't eat half that food.
DeleteLord, it's been in the low thirties the last few mornings here and for us Floridians, that is arctic weather! I've been wearing coats and sweaters and all sorts of random warm garments.
Your plate looks dee-lish! And that Christmas card is truly lovely.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about August and strep. Which reminds me....there's a little girl at our school named August! She's the first female August I've ever heard of.
A girl August! I love it! Wouldn't it be cool if she and August met and became friends?
DeleteIsn't that card amazing!
Your dinner looks really yummy.
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling better already as my doc gave me some meds to help with Covid recovery and recently I had the booster so I think that is helping too. I'm still taking it easy but the cough is much better and the fever is down. Sorry to hear about August being sick again and hope he recovers soon and stops getting strep.
I used to let my ex husband deal with all the financial stuff, until he invested my RRSP heavily in gold, Bre-X. I lost a lot of money and then I learned how to take care of my own money. Better to learn young I guess:)
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about August. That poor family, it must be so frustrating.
And Levon tested positive for it too!
DeleteMr. Moon has been extremely wise with our money. As I always say, I'd be living in a van down by the river if it wasn't for him.
Thank you for visiting the bike shed again after my hiatus... It is Christmas decorating time at our cottage in Wales too! Little Oscar is not sure about it at all - ha ha
ReplyDeleteWell, that card is probably going to be about the extent of my holiday decorating. I used to do it. I pretty much hated it. Now I just don't do it. And it's not that I don't like Christmas decorations. I do. And I keep the ones I really love up all. year 'round. It's a conundrum.
DeleteWhat a great card from Linda Sue! I love your firespike. I wonder if it would grow here? I'll have to look for some.
ReplyDelete