Today is brought to you by the letter S.

It has been an S kind of day today.  No, not that S word!!!  It has been a good day.  Let me tell you about it.

Sharing- I went to Meijer and met with the manager there.  She advised me that at year end they discovered that they had extra money in their charitable expense account and that our name was on the list of charities to which they wished to donate.  She then proceeded to give me $1500.00 in gift cards for her store.  Yes, that is not a typo.....that is One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars!!!!  I was flabbergasted.

Shopping- I immediately went into the store and filled 2 carts, top and bottom, with stuff for the pantry.  I was able to get fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, fresh bread, cheese.....all the stuff my clients never get.  I also got stuff to restock our shelves with non perishables.  I spent $437 and the employees were very helpful and kind.  This leaves me a lot of money to be able to buy perishables each week for quite a while.

Students- On the way back to the food pantry, I contacted our Parish Secretary and told her that I was on the way with LOTS of food.  She contacted the High School on our campus and 3 strong students were waiting to help me unload all the goodies.

Stocking- Once everything was carried down I had goodies in the freezer, refrigerator and a table full of goodies for my 1st Wednesday crew to shelve this week.

 

 

 

 

Starving- I left here for Meijer without having had any breakfast, just coffee.  So by the time I was done I was famished.  I could hardly wait to get home.  I figured I would grab a peanut butter sandwich when I walked in the door.

 

Soup and Sandwich-  Imagine my delight when I walked in the door and found that Frank had lunch on the table for me.  Tomato soup and Grilled Cheese sandwich.  He IS my hero!

 

 

Stone Barrington- Is the protagonist in the novel I finished this morning, New York Dead by Stuart Woods.  Stone Barrington is a very human character with very human flaws.  I think I like him...I haven't quite made up my mind.  This is the first in a series of Stone Barrington novels.  I did enjoy it and I do plan on reading the next novel in the series after I finish the three books I have waiting for me.  It was a typical murder mystery.  In this first novel, Stone is a NYPD detective who has never quite fit in and during the story he ends up medically retired.  In reality the department just wanted to get rid of him but Stone wasn't letting go of his last case very easily.......

 

Say Goodbye-  The next book on my reading list. 

Friday Fail......

I am sitting here telling myself all the reasons I can't go to kickboxing class this morning.  Frank is working from home today.  The house needs to be straightened. I have errands to run.  My back is still touchy.  I could just stay in the warm house and go on the treadmill.  I could start on decorating for the Chinese New Year Dinner Party.  It is cold and snowy outside.  I could go for a mani/pedi instead.  And on and on and on and on....

The truth is I am feeling lazy.  I don't feel like kickboxing this morning.  I know that once I get there and get started I will be fine....but I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT!!  So I sit here continuing to lie to myself and I tell myself that we are told to listen to our bodies, aren't we?? 

I still have 45 minutes to decide. I say that but truth be known....the decision was made as soon as I laid around in bed this morning instead of getting up and getting my morning routine done in a timely manner.  Hopefully Monday I will have more OOOMPH and less UGH.

If I had my way today, I would stay cuddled up in bed with my book....and I might give myself a half hour to do so.  But there are things that HAVE to be done today.  Most importantly, I have to get to our local Meijer store.  They are giving the food pantry a very wonderful donation today and the person in charge is at the store from 8-12 so it is necessary to get in there this morning.

I also need to get on my morning routine, take care of the chickens and brush my Buddy Boy who is shedding like crazy. 

 

My old grumpy man.

He is still my favorite but don't tell the other two.

They think they are my favorites.

 

Ok, now that I have confessed my laziness today....I am giving myself that half hour to cuddle with my book and then I am getting moving here.  Dinner out with friends tonight and painting class tomorrow.  Hope you all have a happy, productive Friday.

My Hero

I join Lisa Jo Baker each Friday for a writing exercise called 5 Minute Fridays.  The premise of this exercise is that she gives you a topic, you set a timer, and you write for 5 minutes.  Then you stop. You don't over think what you are writing.  You don't worry about editing....you just write....whatever the topic puts on your heart and your mind.  Today's topic is HERO.

Start

On the day we met I was a whirlwind of emotions.  I was excited, happy, proud and scared to death. I walked into the locker room at the police department and realized that I had forgotten my radio.  My first day and I screwed up already.  I told another officer and she asked who I was working with.  Frank Klik, I replied, and she assured me that it would be okay.

I didn't yet know that this man would become my hero.  I only knew this one thing about him.  It would be okay.

When we got into the scout car I told him what I had done.  There were no recriminations, no scoldings, just a simple "Well our first stop will be at your house then." 

But that was not our first stop.  On the way to my house the car radio announced a burglar alarm going off at a business that we were very near to.  We st

STOP

I wonder if other participants stop as soon as the timer goes off.  I have yet to read any of the links that do not have a complete thought or story written in 5 minutes.  Heck, some of them even post photos during that time. 

Well, not me....I can barely get my mind focused in 5 lousy minutes LOL....and I guess you will all have to wait for another day to learn how Frank Klik went from mentor to friend to hero to lover to husband and remains all those things yet today. 

Have a great weekend all.

Chinese Lunar New Year

Today is Chinese New Year.  We are not able to celebrate it today, as we made previous dinner plans with friends, but on Sunday I am making a special dinner for Tingting and we will be having a Dinner Party.

I am getting all my recipes from "My Grandmother's Chinese Kitchen" by Eileen Yin-Fei Lo.

 

There is a section dedicated to Chinese New Year Recipes.  I am excited to try them.  I hope they turn out well.  I want this to be a special day for Tingting

 

 

So while all of you are enjoying your Super Bowl Parties.  We will be enjoying our Chinese New Year Party.  I did make sure to plan dinner early though so we are done eating before the game begins.

 

Once I decided to have this dinner party, I talked to Ting and invited the guests. We have limited the invitations to 10 guests as that is what my dining table holds comfortably and we wanted to have a sit down dinner as opposed to a buffet party.

 

Frank and I went to Party City to pick up decorations and other items needed for the festivities.

 

 

Then, yesterday, I went to an Asian Market to get the ingredients I need for all of the recipes I have chosen.  They call for ingredient of which I have never heard but Ting assures me that they will be delicious. 

 

 

As I was wandering around aimlessly, amongst a building filled with Asians, I was approached by another Caucasian female.  She asked if I, too, decided to cook a Chinese New Year Dinner?  I replied that I was and she laughed and said "someone ought to hit us upside our heads".  It was too funny.  Then I had a package in my hand and was trying to figure out if it was what I needed.  I shoved the package at an Asian woman that looked about my age and asked her if she could help me.  She looked at me and said "I don't know, it is written in Chinese" LOL. Only I would have asked the only Japanese patron in a Chinese store!!

 

 

 

After the grocery store, I went next door to the Asian Barbecue place.  It smelled amazing in there.  I got the barbecued pork needed for my Fried Rice.

 

 

I'm pretty sure I found everything I needed but I won't know for sure until Tingting comes home.  I sure hope so because the store is an hour from my house.

 

 

I also picked up this bag of golden coins and nuggets to put into the money envelopes that I am using as seating place markers.

 

The hard part is now over.  Tomorrow night Frank and I will decorate and set the table and Sunday, after Mass, I will start cooking.  I am anxious to let you know how it turns out.

 



Mangia! Mangia!!

Mangia! Mangia! It's a term that reminds everyone that Italians have a reputation, deserved or not, for being buongustai (epicures, gourmets). Whether in popular culture, advertising, literature, cinema, or the abundance of Italian-themed restaurants throughout the world, Italian food—buying it, preparing it, eating it—seems to serve as the exemplar for the human condition.

 

Tonight, for dinner, I am making my version of Chicken Parmesan.  I will be using the breast meat from the chicken that I took out and used for our Mediterranean Chicken on Tuesday.  I will also be cooking up the carcass and wings in preparation for Saturday night's dinner of Chicken Pot Pie.

 

 

Chicken Parmesan

 

4 small or 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 c. Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs

1 T. olive oil

1 qt. Marinara Sauce

1 c. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1/4 c. Parmesan Cheese

 

If using large breasts, cut into half, diagonally, creating 4 pieces of equal portions.  Place chicken breast meat, 1 at a time, into a plastic bag or between 2 sheets of plastic wrap.  Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, pound meat to 1/4" thickness.

 

Combine breadcrumbs in a sealable plastic bag.  Add chicken pieces and shake until coated.

 

Heat oil in a sauté pan and brown breaded chicken pieces on both sides.  Cover bottom of an 8x8 pan with a small amount of Marinara.  Place browned chicken atop the sauce and cover with 1 c. sauce.  Top each piece of chicken with 1/4 c. shredded mozzarella cheese.  Sprinkle parmesan cheese over all. 

 

Bake at 350* until sauce is bubbly and cheese is melted and starting to brown, about 20 minutes.

 

Serve over cooked pasta tossed with remaining Marinara Sauce.  Print Recipe

 

 

 

Finish This......

 

 

I am linking up with The Coastal Chickster to Finish This....

 

1. I use my “green thumb” to....kill nearly everything I touch.  I have no plants inside. Outside I have tons of flowers and trees.  Thankfully nature does most of the work and our cousin, Dave, does all the rest.

 

Frank planting a Maple Tree for me.

We will see if it survived this horrendous Winter!!

 2. The secret to life is....learning to "let it go".  You cannot live your life happily while harboring past hurts, angers and disappointments.  They are in the PAST....Let them go...Give them to God and move on.

 3. I get my money’s worth by......buying local and organic whenever possible.  Not the cheapest method if you are on a tight budget but the healthiest and most sustaining for the community which is very important to me so I feel like even though it costs more I get my money's worth.

 

 

 4. On a scale of 1 to 10, my level of organization is.....an 8 on the outside and a 2 on the inside.  The parts of my house that you can see appear very organized....That is because I take all the piles that my husband loves and the clutter that gathers, throw them in closets and drawers and slam the door LOL.

 5. A gentleman always...considers the woman's needs first.  I married a perfect gentleman.  I thank God every day and his Mother whenever I see her.

 

 

 6. Handwritten notes are...usually to do lists in this household unless they are written inside of a card and then they are love notes.

Trying Something New and Weekly Goal Wednesday

While in Virginia, Amy told me about a company called "Door to Door Organics".  She had used them in the past and was starting up once again.  A basket of food is delivered to your door.  It is all organic and local when possible.  As many of you know I belong to a CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture), RC Organics.  They are wonderful but, of course, being a Michigan farm, they are seasonal.  I decided to try out Door to Door Organics during the off season. My first delivery came today.

 

This is how the food is delivered

 

 

When you open the box this is what you find.

 

 

 

And this is what was inside.

Every Day Goals

Time with my Lord

Make Bed

Floss/brush/shower

Swish and Swipe

Empty dishwasher/Load breakfast dishes

Laundry

Straighten House

Last Week's Goals

 

Relax and Enjoy our time in Virginia.

 

Get at least 2 walks in while in Virginia. Not one lousy exercise period the whole time we were there.

 

Attend 2 kickboxing sessions. Unfortunately my back is not cooperating for today's kickbox session. Although I did get there Monday.

 

Clean out freezers to make room for this season's meat.  Donate remaining meat from last season to food pantry.

 

Sort through and Organize Quilting Supplies. I did start on it.

 

Start new quilting project.

 

This Week's Goals

 

Attend 3 Kickboxing Classes

 

Walk/Run 3 Miles

 

Finish Organizing Quilting Supplies

 

Linking up with MSM.  See you there.

 

 

 

 

A Year of Pizza

I have decided that for this year, 2014, I am going to make a new pizza each month.  I LOVE pizza!!  I could eat pizza 4 nights a week....I don't....but I could.  So I have decided that each month during this year I am going to make a homemade pizza.  I will be trying different crusts and different toppings. I will post pictures and recipes.  I invite you to join me on this journey. Try my recipes and let me know about your recipes that have been successful.


I am starting with a pizza I have done before.  Just because this is a new adventure, I am starting so late in the month and there is comfort in recreating something that is already known to you.  I love this pizza and I hope you and your family enjoy it also.

The recipe is adapted from Cuisine at Home, Issue #71.  I know, I know...I am very predictable.  I think a lot of my  pizza recipes this year will come from them but I will try to change it up each month.  Let's get this party started!!!!

Cheeseburger Pizza
adapted from Cuisine at Home


1 c. warm water (100-110*)
1 pkg. active dry yeast
1 t. honey
2 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1/2 c. bread flour
1 t. kosher salt
2 T. olive oil


Combine water, yeast and honey in a small bowl.  Let stand for 5 min. or until foamy.  Combine flours and salt in a large bowl of a stand mixer.  Add yeast mixture and oil.  Mix on low speed with dough hook until blended.  Dough should be smooth and spring back to the touch. Shape the dough into a ball, place into an oiled bowl, turning the ball of dough so all sides are coated.  Cover with a towel dampened with warm water and place in a warm area.  Allow to rise until doubled in size, approx. 1 hour. 


Divide dough in half.  Wrap half in plastic and place in freezer for another day.  Cover the other half of the dough with a damp towel until ready to use.


1 lb. ground beef
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 c. ketchup
1/4 c. mustard
2 c. shredded lettuce
1/2 c. sweet onion, thinly sliced
1/2 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 c. dill relish with juice
1/2 c. miracle whip
1 c. shredded cheese ( I use a Colby/Jack blend)


Place a baking stone into a cold oven. Preheat oven to 500*. 


Season ground beef with salt and pepper and brown in a large skillet over medium heat until cooked through.  Remove from pan and drain on paper towel.


Whisk together Ketchup and Mustard, set aside.  Combine lettuce and tomatoes in bowl.  Whisk miracle whip and dill relish together. 


Place the ball of remaining dough onto a floured surface and roll into a 14" circle.  Place on a pizza peel that has been coated with corn meal.


Spread the ketchup/mustard mixture onto the pie crust leaving a 1/2" border.  Top the sauce with the ground meat and cheese.  Slide pizza onto the  baking stone and bake for 8-10 minutes or until cheese melts and crust is brown.


Remove from oven.  Top with the lettuce and tomatoes, drizzle with dill pickle sauce.

Print Recipe

Mom in California

Mom with Quinnie Lou and Jack in California.  Each time I speak to her on the phone she sounds very happy and content.  It is wonderful to know that she is in such great hands.  I am able to enjoy my break with no feelings of guilt or regret. 

Tuesday Two Ways

Today is Try it Tuesday.  It is also List it Tuesday.  So I thought I would combine them and give you Tuesday Two Ways.

Tonight for dinner I am making a Mediterranean Chicken.  Chicken is one of those dishes that are enjoyed by every culture so after my recipe I am going to list different chicken dishes that we enjoy on a regular basis. 

The recipe I am using for Mediterranean Chicken is adapted from Hun... What's for Dinner.  She adapted her recipe from For the Love of Cooking.  Both of these recipes are for Chicken Thighs. Those of you that follow my blog know that my chicken does not come in pieces, wrapped in plastic at the grocery store.  My chickens are raised by me and then frozen whole.  For this recipe I am using the thighs and drumsticks from a whole chicken.  The breast meat will be used in Thursday's dinner of  Chicken Parmesan and the rest of the chicken will be used for Saturday's dinner.  Check back for those photos and recipes.

Mediterranean Chicken
slightly adapted from Hun...What's for Dinner
and For the Love of Cooking.

2 Chicken Legs and 2 Chicken Thighs
4  T. Olive Oil
Juice and Zest of 1 Lemon
1 T. Red Wine Vinegar
2 Cloves Garlic, minced
1 T. Fresh Oregano Leaves, removed from stems and chopped
Salt and Pepper to taste

Place all ingredients in a large Ziploc bag and let Chicken marinate overnight or for at least 2 hrs. in the refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 350*.  Heat 1 T. Olive Oil in an Oven Proof Skillet over Med High heat.  Brown the chicken pieces on one side and cook until brown, 5-7 Minutes.  Flip Chicken over and place pan in the preheated oven to finish cooking.  Approximately 10 more minutes or until Chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165*.  Remove from oven.  Let rest, loosely covered with foil, for 10 minutes.
Print Recipe


We eat Chicken a lot in our household and I have several recipes that I fall back on all the time.  I am listing them below.  I hope that there are some recipes included that you would like to try.

1. Chicken Noodle Soup
2. Chicken Tortilla Soup
3. White Chicken Chili
4. Chicken Broccoli Pie
5. Chicken and Dumplings
6. Chicken Cacciatore
7. Chicken Fried Rice
8. Chicken Marsala
9. Chicken Piccatta
10. Chicken Pot Pie
11. Chicken Stir Fry
12. Fried Chicken
13. Roast Chicken
14. Chicken for Tacos

Meatless Monday Vegetarian Stir Fry

In this household I try to have at least one non meat dinner entrée each week.  I chose Mondays to be Meatless.  We don't adhere to Meatless Monday for breakfast and lunch but I do try to adhere to it for dinners. 

Tonight I am making a Vegetarian Stir Fry.  When I make meatless stir fry I try to include mushrooms and/or eggplant because I consider these to be "meaty" vegetables.

I love having Stir Fry because it is so fast and easy.  I prep all the vegetables ahead of time and then when we get hungry I start the Stir Fry and dinner is on the table in 15 minutes.  Unless you are making rice and then the rice takes about 35-45 minutes.

 

I gather all my ingredients.

These will vary according to what I have in my refrigerator.

 

 

I always start with onion.

Today I had half of a red onion in my fridge.

You can use any onion you have, including scallions.

 

 

And garlic, minced.

These get stir fried first in 1 T. oil.

Today I am using Dark Sesame Oil.

As soon as the onion and garlic is fragrant I add another T of oil and....

 

 

Eggplant

 

 

Zucchini

 

 

Mushrooms

 

 

And the white part of the Bok Choy.

I also add 1/4 t. crushed red pepper at this time.

Continue to Stir Fry these vegetables until crisp-tender.

 

 

Add the Bok Choy Greens and the

 

 

Trimmed Snow Peas at the very end along with 1/4 c. Soy Sauce.

These last vegetables cook very quickly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eggplant and Zucchini Stir Fry

 

2 T. Dark Sesame Oil, divided

1/2 of a large onion, sliced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 med Eggplant or 2 Chinese Eggplants, cut into chunks or rounds

2 zucchini, cut into half moons

8 oz. mushrooms, halved or quartered if large.

1 head Bok Choy, whites and greens separated and sliced.

1 pkg. Snow Peas, trimmed

1/4 c. Soy Sauce

 

Heat 1 T. of the oil in a wok over medium high heat.  Add the onion and garlic and cook until fragrant but not brown.   Add the second T of oil to the pan.  Add the Eggplant, Zucchini, Mushrooms, the white parts of the Bok Choy and the crushed red pepper flakes.  Stir and Cook until crisp-tender.  Add the greens and the snow peas along with 1/4 c. soy sauce. Cook until greens start to wilt and are warmed through.  Print Recipe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just some Fun Stuff

I just wanted to post a couple of fun things that I picked up while on vacation and while at the Dollar Tree today.

I absolutely LOVE going to the dollar store.  Today while I was there I found these adorable giant diamond rings.  I am having a dinner party coming up here for Valentines Day and as soon as I saw these I knew that they would make perfect napkin rings.

 

Isn't that fun!!!

 

I think these would also be perfect for a Wedding table setting or for a Wedding Shower.  You could even use them for a little girls Princess Birthday Party.  I was very excited when I found these today!!

 

I also bought some champagne flutes.  I will write each guests name on the flutes and use them as seating markers as well as little gifts that they can take home with them.  I love to have my guests take a little something home when I have a dinner party.  The last dinner party that I hosted (other than Christmas or Thanksgiving) was a wine tasting dinner and I had found these very cool pumpkins to use as place settings and guest gifts.

 

 

 

The best thing is that for a couple of dollars and 2 minutes time you can make your guests feel very special and welcome and isn't that why we entertain?

 

I also wanted to share with you a couple of things I got while on vacation in Virginia to add to my collections.  I always buy a Christmas Ornament wherever we go and add them to my tree each year.  I found a perfect ornament while at the Virginia Aquarium.

 

 

And when we met Kim and Keith for breakfast I found this wine stopper to add to my collection.

 

 

Isn't she adorable??

 

 

I may actually use it to stop up a wine bottle "when pigs fly" LOL 

 

 

 

 

More Snow Monday......

Well it snowed all day yesterday and all through the night and is still snowing this morning.  Schools are all closed again.  These poor kids are still going to be in school in July at this rate.  I can never remember this many school days canceled and tomorrow we have sub zero temperatures so I am betting they remain closed tomorrow also. 

Normally when school is closed our Dojo is closed too but I got a message this morning that kickboxing is still on.  I guess with the schools being closed so often they have given up on the idea LOL. 

 

Our Winter Wonderland

 

So my plans for today are to get to kickboxing class, especially since I did not meet my goal of 2 walks while in Virginia.  When I get home I am going to start on my new quilting project and start organizing my fabrics so that I know what I have.  When Frank gets home this afternoon we will empty out our freezers and take our excess to the food pantry. 

 

 

Home Sweet Home

We are back home, safe and sound.  When we pulled in the driveway, Ting was out shoveling in front of the garage to make access for us.  Now Frank is out on the tractor plowing the rest of the driveway.

On the flight home I finished reading Defending Jacob.  Upon completion, Amy asked me if it was a good book.  She is also an avid reader and had picked up The Book Thief while we were at the airport at my suggestion. 

Was Defending Jacob a good book?  It was captivating, as evidenced by how quickly I read it.  It kept my interest and it called me back whenever I put it down.  It was well written.  It was interesting.  Was it good?  It was haunting....it is one of those books that will remain with me for a long while.  It was a disturbing book for me.  Being a parent, I could relate with the parents.  Being a cop, I could relate with the D.A.  Was it Good?.......Read it.....I would be interested in hearing your opinion.



I have now started "New York Dead" by Stuart Woods.

 



A morning of Reminiscing....

We met with our friends, the Sawyers, today.  Keith Sawyer and Frank served in Nam together while in the Navy.  They were best friends, stood up for each other's first marriage and then life got in the way and they lost touch with each other.  Around 10 years ago, right before Frank was diagnosed with cancer, he was on a website doing some research on the ship on which he served, the USS Robison.  Frank's brother had commissioned an artist to paint Frank's ship during battle and Frank needed some stats.  While on this site he came across a message asking if anyone had heard from Frank Klik.  Frank responded to that message and then was contacted by Keith Sawyer. 

Keith told Frank that he had placed that message 3 years earlier and had forgotten all about it.  Keith and his second wife were now living in PA.  Frank told Keith that he had also gotten remarried and we made arrangements to meet.  Prior to this meeting, Kim and I became fb friends.  Shortly after Keith and Frank reunited, Kim was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy.  I had never met her in person but I joined with her prayer team and she came through with flying colors.  After Kim was healed up, she and Keith made arrangements to come and visit.  The day before they were to arrive, the doctor had advised us that Frank had kidney cancer.  We had not yet told anyone about this. 

Keith and Kim arrived on our doorstep, sat down at our table and after greeting them and catching up we told them about Frank's diagnosis.  We sat up until all hours of the night.....talking, laughing, crying and hugging....there is nothing like tragedy to bring people together.  I truly believe God sent Keith and Kim to us at that exact moment to help us through this difficulty. 

We do not get to see each other near enough to suit us but we do keep in touch and have been blessed to be able to see each other every couple of years.  It was great spending time with them today.  We had a wonderful breakfast and then went to the Aviation Museum and spent several hours together walking around and catching up.  It was a wonderful day!!

 

Good Times with Good Friends.

Book Review and Weekly Menu

I finished Calico Joe Thursday night when we got home from dinner.  I was very tired but I was also anxious to get back to the story which I enjoyed very much.  In typical John Grisham style, the book caught my attention and held it completely.  I am not a huge baseball fan but that did not matter.  This book was mostly about dealing with past hurts and angers and learning to let go of them and forgive each other. 

 

 

At one point in the book, the narrator is invited to dinner at a reporters house and his wife serves a vegetarian meal.  I am going to use this meal as a basis for my Meatless Monday.

 

I have now started on "Defending Jacob" by William Landay.  So far so good.

 

Once we get home our week is pretty quiet except for Friday night when we are meeting our friends, The Douma's, for dinner out.

 

 Weekly Menu

 

 

Saturday

 Still in VA

 

Sunday

Flying home-probably carryout unless Ting surprises us with Dinner (hint,hint)

 

Meatless Monday

Eggplant and Zucchini Stir Fry

Brown Rice

 

Try it Tuesday

Mediterranean Chicken

Roasted Red Skin Potatoes

Steamed Green Beans

 

Wednesday

Cheeseburger Pizza

 

Thursday
Chicken Parmesan

Pasta Marinara

Steamed Broccoli

Friday
Out for dinner



Join me each day as I post photos and recipes.  You can find mine and many more menus at MPM

 

 

 

Sightseeing Saturday

We ran around all day yesterday and then when I got back to the room to tell you about it I encountered computer issues again.  I once again had to invite a little man to live in my computer and fix all the bugs in it.  I hope that this time the fix is permanent.  Thank God for the Geek Squad.

It is warmer in VA then it is in MI.  That being said, the high temp here yesterday was 21* F.  Needless to say we looked for inside activities and ended up at the Virginia Aquarium in Virginia Beach. 

 

It was a great way to spend a few hours.  We then went for a ride along the coast and ended up at a Mexican restaurant for lunch.  I asked the waiter for his best margarita.  WOW.....it was potent.  We came back to the room and that was when I discovered the computer was acting up again so I turned it over to the tech and took a nap until it was time to go to Chuck's for dinner and games.

 

This morning we are meeting our friends, Keith and Kim, for breakfast and then we are going to the aviation museum.  Keith and Kim live in PA but their daughter lives here in VA Beach so they planned a visit with her this weekend so that we could get together while we were here.  Keith and Frank served together in the Navy during Viet Nam.

 

Check back later to hear about our day, barring any further computer glitches.

Traveling, Dining and Relaxing

Yesterday was a long day for us.  We were up at 4:30 to get ready for our flight.  The drive to the airport was very stressful.  Even though we left 15 minutes early we were still arrived 20 minutes later than we had wanted.  Luckily there were no lines and we were TSA prechecked so we were able to walk right through and to our gate arriving just a few minutes before they started boarding. 


Then, due to deicing, the plane was late taking off and we arrived at our connection 20 minutes late.  Of course, our connecting flight was all the way on the other side of the Charlotte airport.  That is one HUGE airport.  We arrived to our gate just as the last people were boarding.


A short flight to Norfolk and we were here!!  We found an Italian restaurant for lunch and then went and checked into our suite at Hiltons Homewood Suites.  We caught up on all our emails, posts and games and then went to Chuck's house when he got off work.


For dinner last night we went to Freemason Abbey.  A very neat restaurant that was once a church.  The food was delicious, the atmosphere pleasant and the service was wonderful.

 

 

I started on this post early this morning before we went out for the day and ended up with computer issues again.  I think we have them resolved now so I will be back in the morning to tell you about our day today and with the book review on Calico Joe.  Good night all.