Yep...my brain is turning to mush....just does not work like it used to.....how do I know this....well all I have to do is look at the online games I play with other people....they are all word games....and my opponnets are killing me....they usually win.....it is the margin they win by that has increased....yep...my brain is mushing....... So why is this happening....well I think I have been a little distracted lately....you would think that by the time the fourth grandchild enters the world, it would not be a big deal....but it is and was....mostly because my daughter always has interesting pregnancies....never the same way twice.... I am incredibly fortunate that we live within a few miles of each other....and that means that I can help with the kids or run errands....or whatever.... I know some people would not consider that a good thing....but I am very thankful for this opportunity. I grew up on the mission field ....that meant that I did not see my relatives very often. I wanted to be a part of my daughter's life....I wanted to see the children grow....I wanted them to know me....and they do.....and when they see me....and run to me and throw their arms around me......well....my heart turns to mush too.....so mushy brain and mushy heart....yep...that's me. Next week, my husband and I will take the older two kids to the beach with us......we missed our annual family vacation this year.....it fell too close to the newest birth....and usually is a grand family affair with daughter and family and son-in-law's parents.....we all look forward to spending that time together at the beach. My granddaughter refers to the newest addition as "the reason we didn't go to the beach this year".....it is a very important event for us......so my husband surprised me with the idea of a long weekend at the beach.....latter than usual....but who cares about that....it is the beach....the sounds....the smells.....the food.....and the opportunity to include the two oldest grandkids......not our regular event.....but a mini version.....so we will be ready for next year......can't wait.....for next Thursday....or next year......life is good....

Put it together and what do you have? Amish Friendship Bread....a very interesting object.. Give it to a friend....they stir... feed....stir some more ....and finally it multiplies into more stuff....to give away....or bake.... So I had a batch of starter working it's merry self along on my kitchen counter. (This batch was originally frozen so that I could start it at my convenience.) You stir for several days...feed it once in the middle....stir several more days and then divide into four containers and bake the remaining bit into a loaf for yourself. After you have been through this process several times...well several things happen....one, you run out of friends to give it to....two, you bake it all....or three, you freeze several batches and bake what you will. In theory it should divide into five equal parts...but when I measured it into five containers...low and behold....the fifth container was a little short....but since I would normally be baking that amount I figured it would do the job....even if it was not the same amount as the others....so I put all the containers in the freezer...and when I so desire...I will make some chocolate bread or pistachio bread, or lemon bread....or coconut. You see....each recipe calls for pudding mix ....and that is where all the different flavors come into play...and you can experiment to your heart's content....yep...yep...yep.... My husband loves pistachio so I always keep that flavor of pudding on hand for that very reason... Me...I like chocolate with chocolate chips or nuts or both... It is fun to experiment. I turned it into zucchini bread on this last go round...and it was very tasty....so I have five containers of starter....and I'm ready to start another cycle....of kitchen counter fermentation.....

Oh yea....it is Saturday....so what does it mean to be a Saturday....in theory it means the weekend....play time....no work....isn't that a joke....cause it can also mean time to do everything you didn't have the opportunity to do during the week....and that can be more things than anyone wants to think about! But beside preparing for a Sunday School lesson...the day is relatively free.....and the sun is shining....so all is good. And it is the last weekend in August. That really feels like the end of summer....even though it really does not end till the later part of September....But kids are back in school....the temps are a little cooler...the pool is not quite as warm as it used to be.....everything is changing....and I still need to eat some more home grown food from the grill.....like corn....and summer squash and zucchini....stuff like that....peppers...and maybe some pork chops. Last night for supper, we enjoyed a salad made out of an herb mix with chopped figs (from my daughter's tree), feta cheese and a raspberry vingarette....it was quite lovely and summery.....I need more stuff like that.....cause summer will have to pull itself out of my hands....I'm not letting it go easily....no way.....

I ate a thin slice of zucchini bread on my way to work yesterday...have to eat with the pills I take.....and then found out we (my sis and I) were supposed to be in a meeting back where we started.....so we turned around....drove back ...and walked in late.....they had already eaten breakfast....and were just getting started on the other stuff...but we were still late.....So we sat and listened...and found some danish during the break.....and listened some more.....don't get me wrong....it was important stuff....just not the what I thought I was going to be doing all morning....so when everything was finished at 12 we headed to lunch....and then on to our regularly scheduled work day......to pack everything we needed to do into the remaining hours......amazing how much you can do in a condensed time period when you need to......and then home again..... I walked in the door....grabbed some refrigerated pizza dough  ...some cheese and headed to my daughter's house to attend my first "Food Club". There were seven of us making little individual pizzas and freezing them for later consumption.....my refrigerated pizza dough did not work really well for that so I made pizza rolls....it did work for that! My daughter had made these little sweets to munch on....and they were really good....I had to remind myself that I had not eaten dinner...and these little guys were not my dinner....but they were really good. I called my husband on my way home (he was eating Mexican) to ask if he could bring something home for my dinner....but couldn't get ahold of him.....so I heated up some bread salad....it was good but not quite in the same category as chicken nachos.... So, my goal for myself today is to eat more veggies....and protein....and less sweets.....but it is potluck at church tonight....and there are always sweets...usually of the cake variety......maybe if I make a big salad as my contribution.....I can justify the cake....maybe.....

I was waxing poetic....really I was....when my blog disappeared....I don't like starting over.....not one little bit.... So here goes.....yesterday.....a day off.....husband out of town....no time constraints....eat what I want....when I want.....what to do..... So, I headed into the city and met up with a couple of friends. We wanted to check out the local used bookstore's new location.  It was every bit as packed and busy as the previous location....and this place is bigger.....and a new release hardback was $13....I could find it cheaper else where and it would be brand new......oh well....I did find a paperback for my keeper room.....after a little more meandering....salvage place.....Big Lots.....I headed back home....but I was hunger....it was dinner time.....and yes there were left overs in the fridge....good leftovers....but I didn't want them.....what to do.....and there it was.....a deli with a drive through.....and they make reubens..... Now I am not a sandwich person....so why am I even thinking about this sandwich? Because I love it....and I don't have the opportunity to eat it very often.....so I drove up and placed my order......one reuben to go....no fries....just the sandwich.....deli heaven.... Now I live about 40 minutes away from this place....so I unwrapped the warm sandwich.....dark bun....pile of meat....sauerkraut...swiss cheese....and yellow mustard.....yummm......and started driving.....and savored the sandwich....bite by bite.....and yes I was driving and eating....it was so good...still enjoying the memory...will have to do that again soon. And what made the whole experience even better....my daughter posted a blog about her dinner yesterday....reuben sandwich....oh yes.....she is so my child.....I absolutely love that....I think I need another reuben.....so how am I going to work that......hmmm.....

I'm feeling really human today....that is compared to times when I feel more in control of my mouth and my emotions..... I hate it when people blame stuff on hormones....I really do...maybe it isn't hormones...just as I age...I'm finding myself less able to control stuff...and I really like to be in control of stuff.....maybe it's because......for decades really....people have always considered me the one who stays "cool, calm and collected"....and I pretty much did.....I just always carried on these great conversations in my head....and didn't verbalize them.....kinda scary when you think about it because I could carry on each side of the conversation.....hmmmm....guess you can make them say whatever you want to ....when you do that....but anyway....my feelings haven't changed....I just have a harder time keeping my opinions to myself now ....as I get older...so I have to try and find a new way to keep from them from coming out of my mouth,......cause they are just that...opinions...and everyone has them....and I probably don't really want to hear someone else's   ..... and I need to leave them in the hands of Someone else much bigger than me.......... actually if I had done that to begin with....I wouldn't be feeling quite so human....hmmm

So, today is the beginning of a new week....one that will be pretty busy in my world....with two part time jobs filling my days..... that is a good thing! I appreciate the extra cash....but my schedule for several months has involved just two days of work and so the idea of another two days on top of that.....well...that means I need to schedule my days.....they will not be quite as open as they normally are.... And this upcoming weekend is a holiday weekend.....and usually that involves some kind of get-together....here....there.....everywhere.....boy I'll need a vacation....oh that's right....when you work part time...you don't get vacations.....I'm still adjusting to that one..... But it will all be good.....two different jobs.....life is never boring.....husband taking a few days off....chilling with friends.....works for me....

So...our blueberry crop this year is pitiful.... Out of five blueberry bushes, only one is producing. I picked blueberries for the second time yesterday...and hardly had enough to cover the bottom of my container....and I had a helper.... his name is Oreo....he is a cat....and both times that I have picked blueberries he has joined me.... he helps by throwing his weight against the bush.....just like he is trying to shake the fruit off of it...and of course any dead ripe berries fall down....it is really hilarious....he is a strange cat...but very entertaining.... so what to do with the miniscule harvest....they taste great....but there are not enough for a cobbler....or a crisp..... It will need to be something with blueberries as an accent....  So I am thinking about making a crumb cake....the berries would be sprinkled through it....and we would have little bursts of flavor....that would work....and since it looks like that will be the extent of this years harvest...we will enjoy every bite!! Sounds good to me....

a day off.....

...play on the computer

...stick chicken in the crock pot on high....

...pick up check at the library, go to the bank, have the oil changed, go to the grocery store

...put away groceries....turn down the heat in the crock pot

...take leftover red pepper hummus to daughter's house and visit while eating lunch

...go home and jump in pool

...lay down in husband's new hammock and take a nap

...catch up on day with husband

...realize that crock pot was turned down to "keep warm" instead of "low" earlier in the day and the chicken is not anywhere near done....turn crock pot to high

...move from first seating area outside to second seating area

...after an hour....cut up potatoes to roast in oven while chicken finishes cooking

..relax outside some more...

...take meat off bones of chicken (yes it finished cooking), take potatoes out of oven and add feta cheese to them, heat up green beans with a can of diced tomatoes...

...eat at the table on the deck....

...wash dishes and crash for the evening....

...it was a really nice day off....

random musings from the road.....

...the more you drink....the more you have to stop

...breakfast is the best choice at Cracker Barrel....any time of day

...one should always wear a seat belt...especially when the driver turns a corner while driving very fast.....otherwise one slides across the seat into the other door...while laughing hysterically

...it is more fun to spend time with siblings when you are adults...then it was when you were kids

....twizzlers are great road trip munchies

....one should always be flexible....you never know when something will change your plans....like a quick trip to another airport...to catch a plane

....people "up north" were friendlier than people "down south" on this trip

...it was an amazing sight when my brother walked through two lines of American flags at the airport....they were welcoming a soldier returning from Iraq...and they had never met the kid...it was incredibly touching...