Weekly Roll

 

Inappropriate Thoughts

All my inappropriate thoughts have to do with government agencies this week. I got to call on behalf of my son a certain agency and they had messed up. I tried to set them straight but all they were concerned with was that their form was filled out. So, we filled it out even though it didn't need to be filled out because it didn't apply. So ,if you want to grease the wheels of government, just fill out the form.

Sourdough Update

I made sourdough waffles for the first time in my new waffle maker. I love the new bigger size. They turned out great.

We also had an abundance of starter so I made Venison for Dinner's Sourdough Lemon Poppy Seed muffins but as a cake. It was good. It is not overly sweet.

52 Ancestors - Kitchen

 I am participating in 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks

My Grandmother, Marvel, had a tiny kitchen but it was packed full from the cupboards to the refrigerator.  She was resourceful and could make a full meal with what was on hand incase anyone stopped by. She was an awesome home cook. She frequently made up recipes or substitutions so rarely did you get the same dish made the same way.

I remember one summer when my cousin, Debi, was visiting and my Grandma was in the process of making zucchini bread. She must have been interrupted because my cousin discovered the zucchini shred in the colander in the sink and the bread already baked. To my memory, it still turned out good. I don't have her zucchini bread recipe. 

Below are some recipes my Grandmother contributed to a church cookbook - First Baptist Church, Loveland, Colorado 

Wordy Wednesday

 

Weekly Roll

Well we started the week with a little snow. Above is a little sunrise shot from later in the week.

Link Love

Signs You Avoiding People is Turning Into Something Worse  I am an introvert so I am not a big people person. During Covid I miss people but I am also afraid so I have been doing my daily errands at times when most people aren't. This is good food for thought

Alaska Woman Using an Outhouse Attacked by a Bear from below - Ya know I had to include this here. I heard audio of the woman talking about this and she really didn't seem to scared by it. 

How did ancient Egyptians bake? After 54 loaves, scholar finds answers I find this so fascinating

Attack of the Murder Hornets - New documentary on Murder Hornets on Discovery Plus. Much of the footage is not far from my home. 

Inappropriate Thoughts

Don't know if this inappropriate thought or a confession.  My husband loves to watch YouTube videos. I am not into that. Things like Dope or Nope etc.. Well he got me sucked into watching some YouTube videos about how Hi5 studios - Matthias  were broken into and how they keep finding all these weird things in the walls supposedly that have been left behind by a company called Syntec.  As a middle aged woman, I don't know why I find all this fascinating.  I don't think it faked I am about 75 percent on that. Matthias, Sam, and Woods are the main characters and are like the grown up version of Scooby Doo without the dog and Velma. They really could use a Velma. 

Booking It February

 I am joining Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit. Check out what everyone else is reading.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

This is probably a appropriate read in honor of black history month. I finally got my hands on a copy. It is an interesting story. 

The Vignes twins grew up inseparable in the ’60s in Mallard, Louisiana, a small town reserved for black residents with light skin. Stella and Desiree Vignes are tall and beautiful, and they dream of lives beyond the lynching of their father and housekeeping for white people, like their mother does. When they flee to New Orleans as teenagers, Stella discovers that she can pass as white, and so begins the fracture that will forever separate the twins. Stella disappears in California and continues to play the part of a white woman, keeping her past a secret from her husband and daughter. After leaving her abusive marriage, Desiree returns to Mallard with her daughter, Jude, who is “black as tar.” Jude, desperate to find a place where she fits in, goes to college in California and discovers she was searching not just for herself but for her mother’s sister. Told in flashbacks and alternating points of view, this novel asks what is personal identity, if not your past. A riveting and sympathetic story about the bonds of sisterhood and just how strong they are, even at their weakest. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Book Review

Walking - One Step at a Time by Erling Kagge

I probably wouldn't of picked this on my own but this was on Modern Mrs Darcy's read list last time. This book is part philosophical and the story of Erling 's own stories about his walks or his extreme walks. I really enjoyed it but I was trying to describe it to my friend and I feel like I fell short on describing it accurately. 

Why do we walk? Where do we walk from and what is our destination? We all have our own answers. Even if you and I walk next to each other, we can experience the walk differently. After having put my shoes on and let my thoughts wander, I am sure of one thing—to put one foot in front of the other is one of the most important things we do. - Erling Kagge

Atomic Love by Jennie Fields

This is a book about post World War II . There is atomic secrets, love, and spies. I thought this easy read book was good. I wasn't super fond of the ending but overall I enjoyed.

52 Ancestors - Valentine's Day

I have been participating in 52 ancestors challenge put on by Amy Johnson Crow . The prompts found here. Below is my take on the prompt Valentine's Day.

I have a personal connection to Valentine's Day as it is my parents wedding anniversary. They were married in Loveland Colorado on Valentine's Day at the First Baptist Church in Loveland. My Mom's veil caught on fire when she and my Dad were cutting the cake . It was a very memorable day. Below is a picture of them celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 2020.

I love the description of my Mom's dress. She still has it and I love the daisies.

Loveland, Colorado is nicknamed the Sweetheart City. The have a huge valentine remailing program. Loveland is celebrating the 75th year of remailing valentine's in 2021. Below is the cachet from 1970. My sister had it framed for their 50th Anniversary

Weekly Roll Valentine Edition

 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Link Love

How a Instapot phobe finally a Instapot convert . I have a instapot and it has taken a while for me to be confortable with it.

Sourdough Update

Sourdough Brownies are really the bomb so darn delicious. Put this in the category of dangerously delicious. Recipe from Little Spoon Farms

Inappropriate Thoughts

It is true love right when your husband carves your ham steak into a heart . It isn't to prove to your 18 year old son that he can, right? Asking for a friend. There really is too much man energy in my house.

2021 Homemade Valentine Card

It is my tradition to make a homemade valentine cards and remail them through Loveland Colorado. Loveland Colorado is my hometown. This year's I wanted to be funny. I don't usually do funny and I wanted it to be specifically Pacific Northwest themed. So Big Foot is was. I also made a few cards to send that had gnome and a snail. Naturally they were from our snail, Gary. I used my cricut maker to make these.

I actually came up with my Valentine Card idea on 12/31/2020. There is a bit of labor in these so started early to hit the remailing deadline is necessary.

Weekly Roll

Got the sweetest Valentine cards from some neighborhood girls. I just had to display them on my shelf. These are my first Valentine's. 

Linky Love

Just Move - interesting

Science Says You Need to Plan Some Things to Look Forward To

7 Easy Ways to Show Your Sweetheart Your Love

Wordy Wednesday

 

Valentine Card Ideas

 I love to make homemade Valentine card's. I thought I would show you a few of my favorites. Some of them are semi homemade like the one I made last year. I made one card and had it made at Walgreens. I have to say it was one of my favorites.

These string Valentine's were different and I stabbed my finger a lot. These are from 2015.

As you see I like to do something very different each year. The one below I made for one of my little friends who was a big Godzilla fan.

My 2016 Valentine I made the help of a stencil and colored pencils.

I also did a funny photo with my youngest son. Do you see "I Love You"?

When my kids were little we would make these cards together. Now I make them. Below is an oldie but goodie from 2010 - Sun Catcher Valentine

What is Saving Me 2021

I am linking up to Modern Mrs Darcy's What is Saving Me? We are officially at the midpoint of winter. I have been doing this for a few years and I always notice it is the little things that are saving me.

 A NEW THRONE

Yes, I mean a new toilet in the master bathroom. Did you ever have something that annoyed you everyday and you kept saying to yourself it is not a big deal? Basically just "suck it up buttercup". Well our toilet was that. It just flushed poorly. So finally after 15 years we said enough is enough and got a power flush. It is amazing and it flushes properly. I am lucky to have a handy husband so this project was no big deal. I keep asking myself why we didn't do this sooner.

BIRDS

I do a lot of driving of my older son. It is a long story but basically he doesn't drive. He does ride public transportation for part of his day. I feel like I drive the same routes over and over. However along my route lately I have been noticing all the eagles and hawks. They are something I routinely look for. If I can stop, I take a picture. 

In October this hawk was hanging out by our house. I guess I am a very amateur birdwatcher 

Experimental Cooking

My husband and I have been doing some cooking together. We have tried some new things. One of your creations was thanks to my sister who gifted us a bigger waffle maker. We made chicken and waffles. The chicken was made in the air fryer.

Another of our cooking experiments was making sourdough pizza in our cast iron pans. They came out delicious.

A Project

I completed a creative project of hand making my valentine's. Loveland Colorado is my hometown and they have a valentine remailing program. Every year I remail valentine's from there. It is tradition. Most of the time the valentine's are homemade. This year's original valentine had a lot of coloring. Below is a sneak peak

It is always a good way to stretch my creative muscle. I think people enjoy receiving them. It is also nice to have a deadline. Details about remailing valentine's from Loveland CO can be found here.