Less Hustle More Coffee

What a productive Saturday! George got out and ran some errands – mainly yard sale, farmer’s market stop for tomatoes, and a store run. Then he washed his car, worked on finances and other things on his list. I enjoyed my day setting about the house, doing laundry, dusting and putting out the fall decor, cleaning out drawers in the kitchen and reorganizing a few things. It was a beautiful thing.

We were going to need some more onions for all the things we were making this weekend so George bought another (and probably the final) bag of Vidalia onions. We love them for their sweetness. Likely though we’ll be having to eat some baked in foil to eat before the spoil. And that is ok. They are good with butter salt and pepper and baked like that. I like them finally chopped though or at least in rings where they are thin when they come out of the oven.

I opened the drawer for something and was just appalled. I cannot stand disorganization. This was unacceptable. It’s like a hurricane went through the drawer. It’s probably been 3 years before it’s been cleaned out and organized. So yesterday, even though it was unplanned, I quickly just took everything out and reorganized. Some things did not go back in but went in other places.

I counted NINE things of tape. I had bought more because I thought we were getting low. HELLOOOOOO, they were just hidden.

So yeah it’s nice to have the right size stopper for a wine bottle and a short one so it will go in the fridge. But, ummm, do we usually have this many open at once? I mean, really?

Saying Good-Bye to Summer Decor

I put away some of the springy items. I’ll put these back in January after Christmas for nice clean fresh look. With so much going on downstairs, I think I’ll just pop this box over in the sunroom out of the way until January. Probably no one will notice nor care. We are not in there much. But the sunroom is clean though for these fall days where we will temporarily get to enjoy some time in there.

I also picked out a few cookbooks to pick some fall/winter recipes for the next few months. My cooking is minimal but I like to find recipes to fix. Sometimes George will fix them or I will fix them. More often than not, it will go on the board or a list for months before I ever fix it – if I even do. But it gives me great fun to think about it. I just have a tendency to overplan my life and fleshing it out is harder to do, but I enjoy thinking about it and planning it anyway. But sometimes I really do end up cooking and a few things have become a classic or fixed again: BBQ meatloaf, Irish Stew, Spaghetti, Alfredo, Amish Pork Chops, Air Fried Hot Chicken, Soups, Salads, and Chocolate Fudge Pie. We’ll see what happens, but these are on the coffee table by my recliner – well Mom sits in my recliner and I have a sofa end recliner, temporarily. lol. I’ll look through and pick some meals. Maybe I’ll make a list like George. What am I saying? He has a whole excel spreadsheet!

George’s Tagine Cooking

His dish looked so pretty last night as he prepared and cooked a beef, leek, and onion dish with peppers and tomatoes.

It cooks in the cone shaped clay cookery called the “Tagine” (Moroccan type of cooking and also his Christmas present). You kinda stir fry the meat and veggies a bit with the “diffuser” so the clay doesn’t crack with the heat. You can see the handle of the diffuser coming out of the back. Then he puts the lighter veggies like tomatoes on top and it steams it when you put the cone on and the steam comes out the top. It looks like a volcano. It cooks pretty quickly. I think the main thing is like any other dish – the chopping and dicing has to happen first.

Yeah the spoon is on the wrong side I think right? But we don’t pay any attention to those rules here! As long as there are utensils near by we are good! I had these other place mats underneath, already there as I wasn’t sure these would show up (delivered by Amazon) by dinner time. I just set them on top of the other placemats. I think I kinda like it that way! It also keeps them from sliding around so much and gives it more depth. What do you think? With the other place mat or by itself????

So the fall placemats came in yesterday mid-afternoon – just in time for the fall decor! The are reversible. I think there are poppy’s on the other side? I didn’t spend a lot of time looking at the other side, but I think it will be cute for February placemats with the red. Anyway, I loved the look of the placemats. I also added a can of silverware to the table since I had two sets. Now to make sure the correct set gets added back to the “can” on the table so it’s there when we need it. I’ll have to manage that one.

Of course this dining room table is big enough to house us on one end and George’s office on the other end. He is working one day a week from home. It was a “summer thing” and not a “dreaded illness avoidance” type thing. Anyway, we are graced with the back of a computer while we eat (rolling eyes) but what can you do? His other personal office is in Mom’s bedroom, LOL. Bless him, he gets to go in there when Mom’s in her recliner. I told him we could move out a china cabinet or move something around in the living room temporarily or even in his bedroom if he could let go of some stuff but he didn’t want to change anything around. We’d already moved a lot. But this table was about the only quick option for his work. I’ve worked there before too and it is a good set up for temporary time frame.

I’ve shared so many photos already in this blog post. So tomorrow I’ll share some of the fall decor pics.

I’m not sure what today’s plan is. I’ll see – we had talked about having a big breakfast today. But then Mom and I said we might grab lunch out before going to the store. I’m going to the store. Not sure if she is going with me or not. I am going to get a few things for the work week mainly. I don’t really want to go anywhere tomorrow on Labor Day. I guess a store will be open for a few hours but I’m not getting out tomorrow.

Today’s plan still a bit up in the air for the brunch or lunch but I’ll be doing these things today:

• Ironing
• Soaking the beans for tomorrow’s baked beans
• Changing George’s sheets
• Changing my watch band to the tan one instead of the white.
• Work on some Christmas lists, shopping ideas – I might not have time later
• Pick out my free audible book for September
• Unset my alarm for tomorrow morning
• Might start the puzzle
• Work on photo/video files
• Pick out 3 recipes for the future so I can be ready to go
• Help plan the menu board
• Work on the project list if any time left
• Kinda like to make some homemade bread but thinking that is planning too much – depends on time. 😉

Coffee tastes better on a morning when you don’t have to rush out the door. I’ve already done my devo and reading for the day. It’s currently raining and will likely continue over the next few hours or so – I think. I’ve not really checked the weather. I just checked radar and it’s here!

What are you making for Labor Day? And When are YOU fall decorating?

Meanwhile in Texas

I had to google which game it was. I think it was AT&T stadium – Stanford vs K-State. Look at this little booger! He is half a person already! I’m sure he is heavy! He is a big buckaroo for sure! ;-). Bless him. Those legs! I have to show you his football shirt! I guess he’s gonna love football!

And we’re off….Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday! This 3 day weekend has been such a blessing so far.