A weekend full of memories

The last two years we have taken my niece and nephew to a local farm to pick their own pumpkins. The third time must have been the charm.

We picked up the munchkins and my brother after church on Sunday and piled into my car to head for the pumpkin patch. The five of us were set and ready. We were on the mission to find our perfect pumpkins. We started out by looking at what was already available, but decided we wanted to go into the field and pick our own.


Pulling the wagon, my nephew kept telling us, was HIS job. We started out with one or two willy nilly pumpkins. Uncle Mr. Potts imposed some structure so that we began finding pumpkins that would suite our needs.

As they brought their pumpkins to the wagon, we talked about how if one new one went in than an old one had to go out.

Although there were a few wonky ones that shouldn't have been allowed in the wagon to begin with - neither here nor there.

We walked around and looked at things. My sweet nephew suddenly stopped the wagon & I ran into it. Golf ball sized lump on my shin. I'm clumsy, what can I say.

We looked at animals, we pulled our wagon, we held hands. We had a great day.




We definitely saw pumpkins!
Gotta get it up in the wagon!

Which one to pick?



We found them and made our choices. A full wagon& a tired little boy.
My munchkins

At the end of the day we had to refuel with cotton candy!

He's got quite the Cotton Candy Mustache going on - watch out little girls, he'll break your heart!

"This was the BEST DAY EVER!"
My nephew told me this on the way home. And I tell you, I had to agree.

What makes a day the BEST DAY EVER?

It's the choices you make

I've been gone a lot lately.

It seems like I don't get much time to sleep in my own bed, use my own towels, go to my own gym, cook my own food...

I don't get to see my munchkins as often as I'd like.

I don't get to walk my dog or brush my sweet fluffy cat.

I don't get to kiss my husband every night.

That last one stings the most.

I had someone pay me such a compliment last week though. And let me tell you, it rocked me to my core.

My co-worker told me that she admires me for staying so positive and friendly when at the end of a long week, I must be so ready to just scream at anyone who crosses my path wrong.

She doesn't know how close she is; how hard she hit that nail on the head.

Because when I've been gone all week, I've been getting up and heading down to the hotel gym at 4am. I'm trying to make healthy choices in my life. I work to get enough sleep so that I can stay on top of my game.

By the end of the week, I'm TIRED. Beyond exhausted.

I really could snap at someone so easily. It would be so easy to lash out at someone and lose my temper.

Yet I don't. I make the choice to be kind.

I hold the door for people.

I say "Thank You" and "Please".

I help people when they drop things.

I make a choice to hopefully be a positive influence to others.

Because you never know who is watching.

And I truly hope that I can be an inspiration to others.

Especially to those two little munchkins that totally rock my world - we went to the pumpkin patch Sunday & had "the BEST day EVER!!!"

Best Day Ever - attributed to my precious nephew.

What do you choose? What choices do you make to inspire others, not knowing who may be watching?

Friday, Friday, Fabulous Friday

After an "Off Week" (and Thank You, by the way to everyone who commented to let me know I'm not alone in these sometimes), I just can't tell you how happy I am that today is Friday.

I get to spend the evening with some of my most favorite peeps:

This handsome man (who happens to be my most favorite person in the world)

This lovely lady. Isn't she TALL??


We'll be hanging out tonight, eating risotto and laughing and chatting.

The munchkins are coming over tomorrow and we're going to replant my flowers on our deck and by our front door. Maybe a pot or two of pansies and some mums.

via


via

What wonderful things do you have planned for your weekend?

An "Off" Day

Ever have one of those days that is just off? My last few have felt that way. Maybe more in the vein of people have irritated me....still, just off.

via

Bad drivers drive me crazy

Women who adjust their wig while driving. Seriously. In the rear view mirror. Like she's asking herself, "Does it look better tilted forward, backwards, either side?" I thought to myself, "It's the end of the day lady. Just go home & take it off."

Motorized wheelchairs on city streets blocking a lane of traffic. When there is a perfectly good sidewalk to ride on. Wheelchairs are not a moped & can be ridden on the sidewalk.

Going to one store to pick up flank steak & having to go to a different one because they didn't have it.

Compression Hose. Need I say more? Actually, someone asked the other day how my legs felt. My answer? "Compressed." I can't wait to get the veins zapped away.

Bangs that are growing out & are all sorts of wonky. Cowlicks that make them stick out.

Y'all, I think I'm having an off week!

Tell me I'm not alone in this & if you're having an off day/week/month/year, let me know! I can't make it better, but I can commiserate!

And just for fun, I googled Wonky. First thing that pops up is Paris Hilton.

via

Where I've been - A quick look

Ok, so we all know Wordless Wednesday is a bit of an impossibility for me, but I recently found an interesting website that lets you map out where you've been.

It is actually easier to tell you where I've NOT been.

Alaska
Hawaii
Idaho (sorry Brittany, just haven't gotten there yet!)
Montana
North Dakota
Oregon
South Dakota
Wyoming

Of the ones I've never been to, I've got Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho and Oregon on my lists as definite "Must Go To's". Montana & Wyoming are "Maybe's".

I think I'm above the national average for states visited.

So do you have a favorite state you've visited (US) & which state is on your "Must Go To" list?

Definite Redo!

On a roll again, here I am, trying to make sure that Mr. Potts is well taken care of while I'm here. Even when I'm not, I try to make sure he has leftovers for a few days.

Does anyone else out there pull recipes out of magazines & end up with a bunch of loose papers? I used to but then would lose the 2nd half of a recipe if a page got lost.

So I bought a binder with a few tabs and started saving my recipes.

Dinner last night was one of these recipes. I found this recipe for Coq Au Vin in Shape back in May and had never gotten around to trying it out.

It was super easy & very yummy!

I didn't use the mushrooms - the only food I absolutely abhor!


Coq Au Vin

Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 3 tbsp white wine (such as chardonnay or pinot grigio), divided
• 2 tsp cornstarch
• ¹/₄ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• ¹/₂ cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 4 oz uncooked egg noodles
• 2 tbsp peanut or vegetable oil, divided
• ¹/₄ cup 1/4 -inch diced Canadian bacon (about 1 ounce) (optional - I left this out)
  
• 1 cup 1/4 -inch-thick sliced carrots
• 1 cup 1/4 -inch-thick sliced mushrooms (definitely left this out!)
  
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, plus whole thyme sprigs (optional - left out, didn't have)
• ¹/₂ tsp salt
• ¹/₂ cup thinly sliced scallions

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to boil for the noodles. Slice chicken into bite-size pieces, being careful to cut across the grain of the meat. (If you cut with the grain, the chicken will be tough.)



In a medium bowl, combine chicken, garlic, 1 tablespoon wine, cornstarch, and pepper. Toss to combine and let sit for a few minutes. In a small bowl, combine broth and remaining wine. Once water comes to a boil, add noodles and cook according to package directions for about 7 to 10 minutes or until al dente.



Meanwhile, heat a 14-inch flat-bottom wok or 12-inch skillet over high (I used my 12 inch cast iron). Swirl in 1 tablespoon oil, then add chicken and spread evenly in 1 layer in pan.



Cook undisturbed for 1 minute, letting chicken begin to sear. Stir-fry for 1 minute or until chicken is lightly browned but not cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate. Swirl remaining oil into wok, add bacon, carrots and mushrooms and stir-fry for 1 minute or until mushrooms begin to brown. Return chicken, along with any juices that have accumulated, to pan.



Swirl broth mixture into pan, add thyme leaves and salt and stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes or until chicken is just cooked through. Stir in scallions, cook for 20 seconds. Divide noodles among 4 plates, top with chicken & vegetables and serve, garnished with thyme sprigs if desired.

Turned out wonderful & Mr. Potts has asked for a redo (that's how we determine if something is good & should be made again).

Anything new in your kitchens?

The icing to my cake

This past week was a long one in New England. The weather was wet and all I could think of was getting back home.

My travel day on Tuesday was one of the most frustrating I've had in a while. It started when I was on my way to the airport and stopped behind someone at a red light. Stopped behind someone who was driving a manual transmission car.

Remember the part about being stopped at the light? We were on a hill. A fairly steep hill. Apparently the girl in front of me wasn't so great at getting going on a hill.

The light turned green and she promptly stalled her car. But instead of stalling and hitting the brakes, she stalled & rolled back about 2 feet. And then proceeded to stall 2 more times, each time rolling another 2 or 3 feet. At this point, my car was in reverse & I was just trying to keep from getting rolled into.

Eventually she got going, but by then, my nerves were on edge. What else?

I walked up right as the shuttle bus at the airport pulled off.

I tried to enter the airport and went for the "Exit" door. Didn't work so well.

The man at the security line was a LIAR. "Security Line at D is much faster." Not so much.

A woman and her father were behind me going through security. She was impatient, she was short, she was fussy. And he was confused.

We chatted a little and after getting through security I turned to her and said, "It must be hard for you both to have him traveling." She looked at me and told me that he suffered from Alzheimer's/Dementia.

And I almost started crying. I wanted to give them both a big hug - I've been there & seen the effects.

But I didn't. I went on to my gate and was off to New England.

I got my car, a funny little Yaris, and was off to the office.

image via

Almost there when I suddenly had to slam on the brakes. As I was coming off of the interstate, this animal came trotting across the exit ramp:

image via

And this wild turkey took his sweet time getting across the road.

As he reached the grass, that guy turned around & I swear I hurt him say, "Gobble Gobble Sucka!"

I shot right back, "You're lucky I didn't hit you & pack your birdy butt in dry ice & ship you home!"

And that, was the icing on my travel day cake.

Happy Monday!