Tag: Little Roo

How’s YOUR Psyche Doing Today?

On By BackporchwriterIn Life, Psyche6 Comments

Red Spider Lillies

These caught my attention pulling in the drive yesterday. Often we are so busy I don’t notice as they are in the back yard next to the tree line. But bright red with the sun shining down on it caught my eyes. See, after yesterday’s post, I may not have stopped to smell the roses (didn’t see any) but I did stop to admire the spider lilies!

I also stopped mid-day to go to Logans and get salmon on top of rice, a side of broccoli, a side salad, and ice tea. Yes, I ate a buttered roll for dessert. I was going to tell her no rolls but she brought them to the table when I sat down. It was meant to be but I only ate one. It was so good. I have to have a salmon fix every now and then. Mom does not like much fish so we’ve not fixed it at home. Sometimes I don’t either unless the fishy taste is covered up good with a good sauce. While at Logans I blew through some 400 something emails. I have not taken the time to check them in a few days. I am going to have to eliminate some of them. But I missed my bone density results. I haven’t even looked at them yet. I saw the email sitting there and didn’t want to log in on my phone. I would mess up the password. I can get in on the Mac w/o having to log in again. So I will look this weekend at the results.

What if we went around asking each other “How’s Your Psyche Doing Today?”

I slept from 9:15 last night to 7:10 this morning. I woke up around 1:30 and sipped water and had to go to the bathroom. This is most nights. One time. Sleep was just wonderful. And my psyche is doing a lot better. A rosier side.

What if we went around and asked each other “How’s Your Psyche Today?”. That would be interesting conversation wouldn’t it? But can you imagine? “My psyche is pleased today. I’m not as stressed. I’m letting go.” or “My psyche is in a weird place today, a little depressed, and moody, and dark.”

People should really talk about their psyches more I guess but we all have so much baggage at times, in a hurry, and who wants to go there really? Well I’m all about loving anything psychological so I’d be for a good ole psyche discussion most any time. But I’ve always wanted to go deeper into conversations than most people want to go. So I try hard just not to talk as I know that about me, but if I ever get going and someone listens, I tend to go overboard b/c I think I’m conversation starved sometimes. That said, sometimes I don’t know what to talk about so go figure! As I’m typing this, I’m realizing the art of conversation has just really changed in my lifetime I think. What do you think? We are less interested in each other and spend more time just getting our opinions out there.

I suppose everyone talks about weather, sports, the dreaded illness that is so rampant. But not many really talk about what is on their mind, or ask each other genuinely how they are doing, or how’s your Mom and ’em? It’s as much my fault as anyone’s. I always dive into what we are doing or what we’ve done or what we are dealing with and go from there to start conversations. Honestly really hadn’t thought much about it until I started typing. I usually don’t know where I’m going when I start typing. It’s kinda both amazing and freaky what happens when I type. lol

Been a while since we went to a Titan’s game. We had a lot of fun adventures when George worked for Gibson. We met a lot of people. Many became friends. Or at least for a while, while paths crossed, businesses ventured, and geography allowed it. I haven’t really thought about these foodie Tailgate adventures we loved so much, celebrating life, enjoying a day out, watching football, eating cold brats afterward and riding with friends on their tailgate bus back to the car. I saw this pic and remembered those days.

We had many an evening that vendors took us out to nice places. Now so much has happened in our world, I am apprehensive to even be in Nashville at night. I’m sure it’s fine, but not always. It seems in so many ways, the carefree days are over. The days of fun and food and adventure and travel. I know that is not entirely true, but it’s not like it was anyway. And here I go zooming down the dark path again like yesterday. Not meaning to, but recognizing the difference. There is a sadness now I didn’t have back then. Mainly in looking at our world, not me, just our world is sad and angry and different as a whole.

This makes me realize if I feel this way, others must also. It means a lot in our world when someone smiles even and honestly wishes you to have a good day. Or speaks to you with kind words. I have noticed it has greater meaning! We must do it more. Being kind to our waiters and waitresses, checkers, people we pass on the street. We need more nice and kind.

Be someone’s hero for the day! So let’s challenge ourselves:

  1. Say something extra to those you come in contact with.
  2. Smile more and say hello.
  3. Be helpful even to strangers.
  4. Genuinely ask your friends how they are doing and mean it.
  5. Reach out to three of your social media buds by commenting on their picture, post, etc. Comments mean a lot.
  6. Just Connect.
  7. Say more to your coworkers when you are in the same room or pass.
  8. Have lunch with a friend(s)
  9. _______________ Keep going with this list and make other suggestions in the comments. It’s endless, but we have to make our daily world a better place. What if we changed someone’s day by a smile or a few simple words or actions?

Or it’s a Disciplined Mind and a Wild Eye or a Wild mind and a Wild Eye but probably never a Disciplined Mind and Disciplined Eye? Who knows! lol

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Ok so….Mom liked her doctor on Thursday and was able to get her Rx’s filled. However, after sleeping on it, decided that she didn’t like the fact that he didn’t take her blood pressure, temperature, and that I had mentioned how dingy the office area looked (it was for a doc office). So she has decided she doesn’t want to stay under him. We’ve kinda gone through all the doctor’s practices in Hermitage, Lebanon and Mount Juliet that take the hospital system she wants to be under. So many of them not taking new patients. Many of them not taking Medicare. So she is backing herself now into us having to go to Nashville. Or she will have to relax her standards. I am probably going to refuse to go to Nashville. I don’t drive there and park downtown, so…..I’m setting boundaries. I mean I would do it if there was just an emergency or the only doctor in town that will do xyz! But not for a primary care. It’s been shocking to me at how many doc offices refuse to deal with medicare. Mom doesn’t want to be at a doc office that ONLY does medicare b/c she says you don’t get the best care. She also doesn’t want any care from 2 of the 3 hospital systems in our area b/c of the same reason. So we’ve dwindled down to having to relax some standards here. I have spent SO MUCH TIME researching docs with her criteria and still can’t seem to find the one.

So I told her while she sits here all day and plays games on her tablet and reads political agendas on Facebook (we hear about it at dinner) then she will have time to do research on the doctors in the area. lol. That way she can see what I’m talking about. It’s my opinion you have to manage your own health care in a way. I told Mom “tell ’em you want your temp taken and blood pressure checked, tell ’em how you want it to go”. I understand her concerns though. I’m not heartless. It’s also concerning to me that they did not do these very basic things most doc does. They even called her back before she finished the paperwork, leaving me scratching my head. So I’m not sure what the answer is. I just know I’m tired of trying to find a doctor to please so “I’m gonna let” her do it since I’m striking out. At least we found a good heart doctor. Maybe they will be able to make her a good recommendation.

Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

Anyway we are going out to Lebanon today to see Mom’s house, eat some BBQ, and check out some parts of Lebanon, maybe stopping at a few places – a butcher shop, a gourmet farmers market, and so forth. Not really sure what all we are going to do but we are taking Mom out to get her out of the house some.

Tomorrow we are hanging out with my SIL and BIL going to a newer brewery they’ve not been to, and out to eat and to see their new place in Lebanon. We miss them and need to catch up. They have sold their house in Gallatin and living in Lebanon a little closer to us and certainly more accessible to us since we will be in Lebanon a lot. Of course they have two locales, as they have a condo in the mountains near their grandchild (what a thought huh?) Well their grandchild is only 4 hours away and ours is more like 14! Yes, we have considered having an apartment in TX! But it’s not worth it b/c we wouldn’t be there enough to warrant it. At least not right now while we are working FT.

Anyway, I think this is a good point to end the blog. But it’s a good day. We’ll be open minded, sipping coffee, doing laundry, doing some weekend routines and getting ready for a little day out. Sunny and 84 today. And I’m going back for more coffee if there is any left. My heart is just so glad it’s the weekend. There’s nothing like working on YOUR OWN agenda. Even if you love the job you do, it’s just nice to be on your own turf doing your own thing. Not hustling (no hurries) more coffee. Maybe I should have named the blog “lesshurrymorecoffee” but at the time, I was doing a side hustle of network marketing and made an abrupt turn after circumstances, sprituality, and some soul searching changed my thinking.

Sometimes I think of changing the blog, the blog title, and so forth but I already have SO MUCH invested in this title and in building up the blog, the videos, and social media- so I stick with it. Even though my growth is not very big. I don’t want to lose what steam it has. It’s not a bad theme. It’s still me – I don’t want to hurry – I want to enjoy life – and I love my coffee to get me started and my wine to finish! 😉 What you all doing on this fine Saturday in September?

Meanwhile in Texas…

I absolutely LOVE these photos of my grandson. He is so cute in the hat and overalls! I think I shall order one for a frame! Or two or three! So precious. I can’t wait to hug him at Christmas.

Prepping for Fall / Tagine Cooking a Moroccan Dish with Chef George

On By BackporchwriterIn Decor, Food, Home6 Comments
Farmer’s Market Tomatoes, Mount Juliet, TN

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.

Do we have enough onions?

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.

Not Acceptable (BEFORE)
Ahhhh, much better (AFTER)

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

Ummmmm, really?

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

River goes to a college football game

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.

Simply In Between

On By BackporchwriterIn Life10 Comments
Photo by Jess @ Harper Sunday on Pexels.com

Very rarely do I have a time when I sit at the computer on blog day with coffee and feel I have few words. But today I do. I normally have a least something interesting that has happened to me or some grand thought or theme I’ve buried myself in. Today is just the raw me I guess.

Work has been – enhhh – home has been – enhhhh – I’m in between audio books. Traffic has been scary. The dreaded illness is on the rise and has been. Not every day can be epic, even when we try to make it be. The average day is ok too. I could share some special subject blog entries with you – some ideas I have for a rainy day when there are no thoughts and nothing happening in my world but grey bleak days – but none of those really interest me today for sharing. My heart just not in it.

No I’m not depressed, I don’t think. I’m just in between. That perfectly describes me, my mood, my life, my presence. I’m simply just in between! In between events, in between moves, in between stages of life, in between changes on the work front, in between just about everything. Life either all happens at once or you are waiting for something. I’m simply just in between.

All that said though, tis not a bad thing. Every season in life has its time. We are blessed, somewhat content, and have made the best of what we have. On the days we choose to make life more interesting we can do so, but some days all you want to do though is come home, sit on the sofa and watch a show or play all your lives on Candy Crush. Some days the brain just needs to disconnect, unplug. Some times you have to put away the calendar book after all the appointments made (it never ends) and to do list captured (it doesn’t either), and just be a speck in a moment of time with no movement, no pressure, no striving, no thriving. Just sit and be. I follow this @Peacefulmindpeacefullife on Instagram and it’s so full of wonderful things. I’m not sure who else was following but I liked their sayings and began following them too. They help you realize things you didn’t realize before.

As I look back on this odd year, much like last year’s odd year, I realize it really is a SWEET SEASON of being in between and one we will never forget. While all of us have had our moments of scrambling, trying to make life better for the entire team as well as meet our own individual needs, we’ve had some joy, some peace, some good eats, some good memories.

I appreciate this time I’ve had in my little space of our home in my office. My little but comfy 6 inch foam mattress, having my special space, my journal chair, my office space, and even my little “fake dog” and sloth snuggle button “Snuggie” that is my non-living no-needs companion until we get the real thing. My little room- it has become my “escape to” room for my introvert self-my happy place, my dwelling place – where I find God, peace, comfort, reading, scrolling, gaming, blogging, journaling, planning, and peaceful resting. When I put this room together, I had no idea how special it would be for me or how God was making a special spot for what my psyche and soul needs for this period of time. I’m thankful for that. Each piece came together beautifully – the office section, the journaling/reading/insomnia chair, and the comfy bed that only God arranged to pull together at the last minute! Grateful!

I appreciate all we have done this year so far as I work on the photo and video files for upcoming videos and when I look back at these I appreciate life for what it is and for what it was. I realize how God has been with us and as long as we follow His will, He will continue to be.

What a time of rest he has given us this summer and as fall returns our schedules get more gnarly and our to do list thickens as we move Mom, get all our realty appointments in, doc appointments in, help her decorate and unpack, and begin upkeep of two households needs, and doing Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a birthday trip to see our Grandson, and doing quarter ends and year ends – I realize how busy we will become. We will have fun, we will be stressed, but we’ll make memories.

Upcoming Today and the Weekend

So it looks like our Labor Day weekend will be much more restful than the Memorial Day one! And yes! We are up for that. George and I will both be working on personal projects but no major plans or excursions. We have a fabulous meal coming together on Labor Day. I requested homemade burgers. Mom is making the potato salad. I’m making REAL barbecued beans – from scratch – you know soaking the beans and brown sugar and mustard and all that! 😉 I think one morning we will have a nice breakfast. One of my personal to do projects is to dust and decorate! Going ahead and getting ready for fall.

I found the fall totes downstairs. I was afraid it would be out of sight or covered up or hard to get to, but George placed things wisely of Mom’s so we can get to it. I’m looking forward to sleeping in, to resting, to decorating, to reading, to working on video clips and photo files and hopefully starting the next video. I need a catch up day.

Today Mom has her electrocardiogram. I don’t think we get the results until the doc appt where they will go over it with her but it’s not for a few weeks b/c the doc was only available on critical payroll dates or dates we already had other doc appts. But we finally found a date to work. I hate that but it’s a juggle to keep everyone happy.

I teased Katy that there was a Hurricane Kate out there. She said “don’t tell Cody”. He will tease her! lol

Meanwhile in Texas

“Grocery Cart Little River Roo”

Better go – we have an early appt this morning and then I have to go to work! Then we kick off our weekend.

Please tell me what you are up to this weekend?????