Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

Yesterday I cooked all day.  After my husband died, I tried to change my eating habits to include store-bought frozen meals.  After all, it’s hard to cook for one.  Ugh – they all taste the same.  Then, a single friend told me she fixed a big meal on Sunday and ate the leftovers the following week – all week long.  Ugh – I believe I’d stop eating.  Finally I decided to cook regular size meals and freeze them myself.  Works well.  I have a variety of meals to chose from and have something different every day.

So, I fixed Skillet Chicken with Mushrooms and Parmesan; Baked Cranberry Pork Chops and Strawberries and Cream Bread.  Just a quick taste of the first two confirms they are going to be good.  Right into the freezer.  Unfortunately the bread is a big N-O.  First – odd consistency – not really bread; not cake but worse – no real flavor.  Oh well.  That is heading for the trash.

In the late hours of last night, I was awakened by a strange noise.  I lay quietly listening trying to identify said noise.  Finally I decided it was one the Demon Duo playing with something in my bedroom.  Fine! – now I was awake.  I got up to find Daryl stretched across my bedroom door.  Stepped over him heading for the bathroom.  Coming back to bed – he was slapping something around the floor, jumping/pouncing on it and slapping it again.  So I turned on the hall light. 

Oh well just GREAT!  He brought in another small snake and was playing with it.  Argh!  So, I picked up the little snake (which I assumed was dead) and carried it to the front door with Daryl making flying leaps after it.  Tossed it outside and went back to bed.

You will have to take my word for it as picture taking during the dark-thirty hours of the night is/was beyond me.  I did look outside where I threw it to see if it was still there this morning but no.  Either it wasn’t actually dead or something else decided to feast on a snaky snack.

This makes the third snake he’s brought inside the house.  Not bad for a HOUSE cat.  The closest he gets to “outside” is the attached garage.  I still haven’t figured out how, why, where these little snakes are getting into the garage.

 This was snake #2.  

Snake #3 seemed about the same size.

Today I was out early and walked a mile and a half walk around the neighborhood.  Didn’t see any humans but I did see some pretty flowers.

Orchid Tree Flower

April 22 is Earth Day.  The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action because climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity.  The first Earth Day in 1970 launched a wave of action, including the passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States. The Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts were created in response to the first Earth Day in 1970, as well as the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  (And if you get bored, here’s a coloring picture for you!)

It’s also National Jelly Bean Day. 

Jelly beans are thought to be a hybrid of two candies, Turkish delights, and Jordan almonds, both of which date back hundreds of years. Turkish delights are a sweet, chewy candy that has a powdery, sugar coating. Jordan almonds are almonds that are simply coated in a crunchy sugar shell. Combine the chewy center of Turkish delight with the crunchy coating of a Jordan almond and you have what we now know as a jelly bean.  The first known reference to jelly beans was in the 1860s when William Schrafft, a Boston confectioner, encouraged Americans to send jelly beans to soldiers fighting in the Civil War.  By the early 1900s, jelly beans were a common penny candy enjoyed by children and adults alike.

For the rest of today – well, I have several ongoing projects I can work on; 3 or 4 new books awaiting me; I can hear the seductive call of my genealogy stuff.  So much to do! 

Tomorrow isn’t here yet so I’m not certain just what excitement will come along – here in rural, small town, still self-isolating Texas.  I’ll be happy if it doesn’t include another midnight snake adventure. 

ps: that first picture? Yes, that a Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.

22 Apr 2020

Observations

We are having really weird weather here in south central Texas.  Normally, our four seasons are – Early Summer 70°-80° (Feb-Mar); Summer 90°-100° (Apr-Sept); Indian Summer 90°-70° (Oct-Dec); and Hunting Season (Jan). 

2019 through December held true to the seasons, as did 2020’s January and February, up to the last few days.  Then the weather turned weird.  We had a very chilly cold snap toward the end of February and since then, we’ve had Spring.  Like, really-truly SPRING.  This being April, we should be into summer, however the days are still quite cool.  

The COVID-19 virus is still a scary thing here.  In my county (pop 41,000) there are some 30-odd cases reported and confirmed.  And while this may not sound like a lot Wharton County is a very rural area with no big city locations.  We still are having problems finding certain items . . .

I spoke with my San Antonio granddaughter yesterday.  She tells me the city of SA has said people must wear face masks when leaving their home with a $1000 fine penalty if not. 

Our Governor  has reopened state government offices and state parks (with a strict requirement for people to wear face coverings and observe physical distancing) as of today.  And, he anticipates opening non-essential business on a “retail to go” basis by the end of this week. 

Much of last week I spent working in one yard or another. 

Okay – no.  However everything on my chubby little body hurt at the end of each day.

You, know – I have a grand plan for how I want my front yard to look . . . .

and, back yard herb garden . . . .

And, I also want 12 hunky guys to do all the hard work – like dig, weed, mulch, carry HEAVY anything, mow, edge, and such.  I’ll do the planting and enjoying.  

Last Wednesday, Bobby figured out a way we could go wildflowering and still do the whole social distancing thing.  We went in separate cars and stayed 6’ apart.  Last year he found a deserted place where the wildflowers were many and beautiful.  So, this year we went to the same place and

 Social distancing

A few things seen -

Bull Nettle

Meadow Pinks

Paintbrush

Texas Groundsel

After this, I know nada.  One final thing to think about . . .

   

Do you know what this is?

I had to ask.

It’s so trucks can see where the
electric lines are.

20 Apr 2020

Books in Review

I always enjoy Books in Review when others list books they’ve read and enjoyed (or not).  With the stay-home order still in place, I’ve been catching up on my reading – after all, I can only do so much yard work; then everything hurts – a lot!  Fortunately, I can download library books to my Kindle so ……..

This one was reviewed and recommended by my sister Ellen.

An Easy Death

By Charlaine Harris

The story is about a young gunslinging mercenary, Lizbeth Rose.  (Backstory - In the 1930’s, FDR was assassinated and the US collapsed.  During this time the UK, Canada, Mexico and Russia grabbed up and annexed different areas.  The southwestern states are now known as Texoma and that’s where the story begins.)  Gunnie Rose has been hired by a pair of Russian sorcerers as both their local guide and muscle through the small towns of East Texas as they search for a distant relative of an infamous sorcerer whose bloodline can help save their tsar-in-exile as an ever-increasing number of assassins tries to stop them.    It's well written and good.  You have to not think about things today but to a "might have happened" alternative world.

Die Like an Eagle

By Donna Andrews

This is another of the Meg Langslow mysteries featuring Meg and all the unusual characters of Caerphilly, VA.  This time, Meg is Team Mom and husband Michael is coach of their twin sons' Summerball baseball team, the Caerphilly Eagles.  On Opening Day, the brother of Biff Brown the (petty, vindictive) local league president, is found murdered and stuffed into a porta-potty.  And so follow the surprises and fun found in all these books.    I truly enjoy all the Meg Langslow books (there are 26 books so far in this series).  And, while they are stand-a-lone books, if you can, read them in order.  Meg’s life in Caerphilly changes and grows with the passage of time.

Acts of Mercy

By Ciara Graves

Mercy Temple lives in a world where mages, sirens, demons, witches, dragons, and gryphons are a thing.  Humans know of their existence, but the two species don’t interact.  Or so it is thought.  Mercy works for a bounty hunter, doing any job he needs done.  From killing someone, to finding someone, to bringing them in.  She has a love/hate relationship with her boss (he knows her secret).  Then there’s Rafael, a demon, working for the Federal Paranormal Unit Undercover.  And, they are hunting the same person.    OK – I like books like this – full to brim of paranormals, action, and mystery.  It’s light and fluffy but very readable and enjoyable. 

Murder One: A Colby Tate Mystery

By Allen Kent

Rookie sheriff Colby Tate's first murder case draws the ex-Marine interpreter into the murky world of property disputes, family jealousy, hidden treasure, and an old woman smothered in her favorite easy chair.  Two thieving neighbors are hungry to gain control of her land. A home service provider is named as her sole heir. And, she seems to have a mysterious source of income that ties her to the Mexican cartels.    Another really good, well written book. 

Kings Deception

By Steve Barry

(This is one of the Cotton Malone books – Cotton is a retired Justice Department agent.)  Cotton Malone and his fifteen-year-old son, Gary, are headed to Europe.  As a favor to his former boss at the Justice Department, Malone agrees to escort a teenage fugitive back to England.  But after he is greeted at gunpoint in London, both the fugitive and Gary disappear, and Malone learns that he’s stumbled into a high-stakes diplomatic showdown—an international incident fueled by geopolitical gamesmanship and shocking Tudor secrets.  OK – Steve Barry’s books are well researched and he offers alternate “what-if’s”.  In this book, the Tudor secret concerns Elizabeth I and questions the legitimacy of her entire forty-five-year reign.  The problem being that it was Elizabeth who completed the conquest of Ireland and seized much of its land.  Very good!

Smoke Bitten

By Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson Hauptman has “superpowers” 1 she can turn into a thirty-five pound coyote and 2 she fixes Volkswagens.  She also has a variety of unusual friends and is wife to the alpha of the Columbian Basin Werewolf Pack.  Centuries ago, the fae dwelt in Underhill–until they were locked out by Underhill herself.  They left behind their great castles and troves of magical artifacts.  They abandoned their prisoners and their pets.  Without the fae to mind them, those creatures who remained behind roamed freely through Underhill wreaking havoc.  Now one of those prisoners has escaped and is in the Tri-Cities area.  I’ve read all the Mercy Thompson books and I love them!  They have all the things I like – magic, fae, werewolves, vampires.  Plus, they are well written and great stories!

One more …….

The Romanov Prophecy

By Steve Barry

After the fall of Communism and a succession of weak governments, the Russian people have voted to bring back the monarchy.  The new tsar will be chosen from the distant relatives of Nicholas II by a specially appointed commission.  Atlanta lawyer Miles Lord, fluent in Russian and well versed in the country’s history, is assisting the commission with research.  And the problem is – the research leads him to the conclusion that Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna  and Tsarevich Alexei of Russia may have escaped the murder of the royal family after all.  Oh – very good!

Well, that’s some of the books I’ve read lately.  How about you?

13 Apr 2020

807

Day 807 of self-isolation. 

Okay, maybe not.  What with the necessity of self-isolation and lack of intelligent support from Washington DC, 807 days might be a too-few-days guess.

And, other than obey the directives of health care professionals and our Governor to stay home and obey social distancing, there’s nothing else I can do about COVID-19.  As for those in WA DC, I must wait until November.  Ranting does nothing but raise my blood pressure.

I feel like there are others that find the news and other information forms depressing.  Myself, I am watching and reading less.  My magic wand is not equipped for fixing world-wide emergencies.  (Really, doesn’t everyone have one of these – mine hangs on the wall for easy access.)

Therefore, the rest of today's post is filled with my back yard!  TA DA!  Not very exciting but pretty and not alarming or depressing.

 The False Indigo has started blooming.

 As well as the Nun’s Cap Orchid.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

The flowers bloom first as purple (yesterday).
The next day that same bloom is pale lavender (today)
 and the next day it is white (tomorrow).

The Pinks (Dianthus) are looking nice.

Lookie!!  I have baby tomatoes!!

And, volunteers that have come up 

in my compost pile.

The Lantana is covered with tiny bouquets of 

pink and yellow flowers.

The begonias are beautiful.

Even the Elephant Ears are blooming.

Ugh!  Where did this come from?

Spiderwort – an invasive weed.

Purple Iris

 As well as the Louisianan Walking Iris.

So named because each flower forms
a new plant and they multiply all over the yard.

The Barbados Cherry hedge is

starting to bloom.  After this it will
make red berries.

The White Climbing Rose on my fence.

And, the Red Shrub Rose.

  

Damn, damn, damn!
Ants in my herb garden.

Something is digging in among the 

Ground Orchids – maybe a possum looking for grubs
or gods forbid, an armadillo.

End of tour.

And there goes the oven buzzer

Stay safe.  Stay healthy.

Stay positive.

8 Apr 2020

Self-Isolating

Okay – I’m tired of this now.  Self-isolating.  It’s not that there is a lot entertaining to do here in Wharton, it is that I CAN’T do anything now, per genuine common sense to stay home and an order from the Governor (grocery store or doctor okay, all else – nope). 

As of now, our county has identified 8 cases of COVID-19.  No, not too bad, but we don’t have any large cities in our county (largest is El Campo at 11,000) so exposure is probably lower than say – Harris County (largest city is Houston with 2.28 million).  Still, it’s more than I’d like there’d to be. 

I’ve stayed busy over the past weeks.  I’ve finished up a number of “in process” projects.  Started a couple more.  Worked in the yard.  My herb garden is okay this year.  Not as much in it as I usually have but – self-isolating and all that . . . .

Yesterday I spent four hours potting up or repotting plants.  Came out to be FORTY-SEVEN in all.  Of course, a goodly number were bromeliads.  I have Aechmea Fasciata (hmmm – maybe Primera they’re very similar) Bromeliads.  And they make pups all year long.  Honest to god, one plant will fill up a container with six more in a single year.  So, I divided them up, cut away the old/dying plants and

I also potted up all the seedlings that had outgrown their starter pods.

  

These are lemon and orange trees.
(because I was bored and planted seeds
to see if they’d come up)
Texas Mountain Laurel.
Brugmansia.
And a couple Avocados.

Plus a variety of Crinum, Lilies of the Nile, and Billbergia (because I couldn’t find a place in the yard for them), along with several Plumerias.  Whew!

Then I came in the house with too many sore muscles and a tired body.  Sitting on the ground, potting up plants, standing up and moving said plant to an appropriate location, repeat, for four hours is HARD WORK.

Today, I have done nothing.  So, when I get bored, I look up stuff ---

Did You Know?

April is

 Frog Month

And why is that?  you ask.  Because we have just left amphibian breeding season (March) and are into tadpole season. 

Keep America Beautiful Month.

This is something that shouldn’t be regulated to a monthly awareness.  It is something everyone should do every day.

National Pecan Month

This surprised me – National Pecan Month in April.  You’d think it would be in September or October when the pecans start to fall.  Okay – just a few pecan facts

1 Pecans contain more antioxidants than any other nut variety

2 Pecans can help reduce the risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol levels

3 Pecans contain more than 19 vitamins and minerals

4 Pecans are a natural, high-quality source of protein and naturally sodium free

And, last but not least, it is

Stress Awareness Month

A national, cooperative effort to inform people about the dangers of stress, successful coping strategies, and harmful misconceptions about stress that are prevalent in our society.  And, with all that’s going on these days, I suspect stress is a major concern.

What else have I discovered today, you ask.  Wellllllll

This is Mule Week (1-7)   an annual celebration of all things related to mules is held in Tennessee, North Carolina, California, Alabama, and Georgia with Tennessee being the self-proclaimed "Mule Capital" of the world.  Begun in 1840 as "Breeder's Day", a meeting for mule breeders, it now attracts over 200,000 people and takes place over four days. In addition to mules, traditional Appalachian food, music, dancing, and crafts are feature

Hey – this is interesting stuff!

Finally, today, April 2 is

National Burrito Day

A day to pay homage to the delicious tortillas stuffed with meat, cheese, beans, rice, vegetables, and sauces.  The Mexican dish is popular all over the world, but it has only been offered in American restaurants since the 1930s.  The oldest historical mention of a burrito appears in the “Dictionary of Mexicanisms” in 1895.  Meaning “little donkey” in Spanish, it’s possible the term refers to the packs and bedrolls donkeys once carried.  The definition explained that a burrito was a “rolled tortilla, with meat or other food within.” The dish first became popular in Guanajuato and Guerrero before its popularity moved northward to the United States.

National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day

And, there are more ways in heaven and earth, Horatio, to have PB&J than you might think.

 Try making a Loaded PB&J by layering on fruit and yogurt.

I’m thinking you’d need a
plate
knife
fork
and a dozen napkins
for that!

Or, how about PB&J Cups

Step 1 – line muffin tin / gather ingredients

Step 2 – melt chocolate

Add 1 tbl chocolate to each liner

Step 3 – add pb & j filling

1/2 tbl peanut butter
 1 tsp jam to each cup’

Step 4 – top with melted chocolate

Step 5 – chill to set

Wow – Busy, Busy, Busy.  Think I’ll go watch some mindless TV.

2 Apr 2020