Thursday, August 20, 2020

I Like Thursday # 207

 

my wildflower seeds are starting to bloom!

 welcome to this week's list of likes... with all the bad things happening, this group seeks to remember there are small good things too, like little sparkling gemstones in life's necklace.... 

 

FOUR!

1) I like my birdie flop house.... For a couple of nights a 4th bird joined the three on a ledge, he had to sleep on a nearby ledge but it must have felt scary. He had to sleep alone, and took to turning his head into the wall to avoid the light. Then only two came back for the last two nights. 

I am very invested in these little birds. They don't look like pictures of any I've seen, they seem vulnerable, so I write little stories in my head about them and their lives. I wonder how they told the 4th one to come stay here. What landmarks they use to find my home each night. How they communicate because they obviously do. 

 These birds know there is safety in numbers, that united is better than being alone, that survival sometimes relies on others to do the right thing... I relate to them.

Social

2) I have come to count on my weekly zoom with Joy.... we talk and laugh,  and share our lives the way friends do, the conversation skipping along like a stone on water, like a hummingbird touching all the flowers in it's path. When you chat regularly it's easier than talking once a year, right? 

3) I love  communication with other friends too... even once a year! when I hit a low spot this week I called Cindy.... we don't have to explain where we're coming from, we know each other and love each other. Luckily we talk fairly often too.

A good friend sees you the way you are at any given moment, sees the good in you and enjoys the connection with you... it is worth more than gold

Find Dining

 
we're all about the comfort food!
 
4)We made buffalo chicken mac and cheese this week. O. M. G, so good. Basically we add in buffalo sauce and cooked chicken to the basic mac and cheese ingredients, then bake til it bubbles. We ate it for three meals, and then a lunch, which we supplemented with fresh eggplant...I learned one bakes eggplant slices (for parmesan) because it's kind of dry and that it doesn't do as well in a stove top pan.
it did eventually cook
 

the good news, it worked out eventually... coated the drained slices, with olive oil and panko crumbes with italian seasoning. Pan seared, then topped with a big dollop of pasta sauce. Served with the leftover mac and cheese for a great lunch.

The negative dining was ordering from amazonfresh, and the 3 lb bag of yams was two potatoes, broken open... not a bag of smaller ones to bake. The tomatoes were also busted open, the delivery guy was not wearing gloves nor a mask either. 

Farming

 

5) the beans are growing up! The tomato plant produced flowers but is withering in the extreme heat and smoke from our  4 wildfires. 

(experts say the fires will likely burn til first snows put them out. It's very smokey all the time now and worrisome) 

 

6)My wild flowers grown this season from seeds are budding and opening.... it feels so nice to see nature when it is allowed to do it's thing (I should paint this one, right?)

My avocado pit is F I N A L L Y rooting and my hanging flowers are "hanging in there"

Reading

7)I am reading another Ellie Alexander bake shop mystery by ebook. I love her series... modern day, woman owns a pastry shop in Oregon in a town known for Shakespeare theater productions

Listening

8) I found Ellery Adams Bookstore mysteries, (a secret book and scone society series) listened to book three in series, liked it so much I found the first one yesterday to start. 

online tutorials

9) I watched this  way of doing hexies without the paper paperless hexie piecing

Watching

10) I enjoyed this show on youtube about Herculaneum (Herculaneum )and it's people/culture. 

I watched more of Shitt's Creek (comedy) series, Grand Design (BBC show on building homes) and as dh says, 90 day fiance is on every night of the week (only a slight exaggeration) Big Brother is kind of a snooze and I had high hopes for fun challenges. TV has been my ever present friend since I was a little 'un, but despite having more channels than you have patience to scroll thru, there's little on to enjoy at the moment. Doesn't stop my love of it, I still turn it on hoping for a wonderful time...

Sewing

complete quilt plus details on Saturday's post!
 

SEW much sewing this week! 

11) Joy gave us a pattern for little amazing star blocks and I stopped everything, got out my little halloween scraps and made these... what fun! I'm concocting a wall quilt with them now. 

Also worked on my painted flowers, a purple hst piece was finished, and I zoomed with my art quilt group this week.  

12)


13) resilience of the human spirit... I had a panic attack this week, realizing that my country has 5% of the world's population but 25% of the virus infections... and nearly 2000 people are dying a day. When I hear a leader say that's okay, we're doing great, I lose hope in leadership. (that's not the only reason I admit) The vaccine is not even trying to be full proof either, it's accepted rate will be 50% success, and that's only if people take it! We moved here as a buffer to retirement, figuring we'd find the best place to retire after traveling out West. None of that has been done, it all feels like such a massive waste, people here refuse to stop at red lights, refuse to wear masks, and demand their personal rights at the expense of others. I had a panic attack, but came back from the brink. 

MILO's MOMENTS

 

I like getting my way.

Yep... like on walks, if I pull back the peeps look at me, I look at the direction I want to go, and mostly they have the good sense to come along. When I'm in front, it feels glorious, like the world all obeys the mighty poodle! Now I'm not stupid, I glance back a lot to make sure they are following, and if they stubbornly dig in their sandals and refuse to go my way, I give in. 

you are getting sleeeepy.... give Milo more treats!!
 

I give in but quickly get back in front, so I feel like I'm in charge. Why not? I don't care really who's idea it was theirs or mine, as long as I am in front eventually! Plus all my dog friends standing behind their fences see me leading the pack!

now sit! Stay! visit these people also keeping lists this week!

 
part of the group but no post this week
 
LINKING TO


30 comments:

easyweimaraner said...

eggplant with parmesan sounds great!!! and we got the same visitor the chicken of depression LOL

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

I have a whole flock of little birds, that know just the right spot to go to get into my garage, even with the doors closed. So the fact that others joined, I often wonder how they communicate. Kind of like Bobbin and Girl cat, when they see each other, such happiness, watching them walk together like they are sharing some gigantic cosmic secret. You mac sounds good. Love the Ellery Adams books. Have a fabulous week.

grammajudyb said...

I've never made Eggplant Parmesan! DH is very adventurous when it comes to food. I just keep eating more and more and gaining more weight! I must stop that!
I wish you a happy or at least calm week.

grammajudyb said...

I meant to say "not very adventurous!"

Sara said...

I'm sorry you are feeling so overwhelmed by the bad news all around us. I've stopped watching much news this past month. Every day I get online to check the Covid numbers updated for SD and for my county. Locally our active cases have been going down, but with school starting yesterday we'll see what happens.

I just finished reading the last 2 Rhys Bowen books in the Royal Spyness series. It seems like every year by the end of summer the choices on TV become so boring and repetitive. I did enjoy Masterchef last night though.

Brian's Home Blog said...

Those flowers sure are pretty. The Dad hasn't made eggplant parm in a good while, he said thanks for the idea. Hey Milo, maybe you need a turn signal when cutting over pal. Thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

We have so much to be thankful for....but it's a worrisome time too. And then we have bad weather to contend with...it's always something. We are watching a storm develope and hoping for the best. I'm listening to The Hearts of Horses...I bet you would like that one too! Hugs!

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

I wonder if your little bird visitors are some kind of swallow. They like to live/nest on ledges like that. The buffalo chicken with mac n cheese sounds yummy! What kind of sauce/seasoning do you use for the buffalo flavor? Mike would like that. Looking forward to seeing the next in your flower series!

Mary in Peoria Handmade said...

Between the Chicken of Depression and Milo’s need to always be in front- I’m chuckling. The new bird looks like he’s in time-out! Thx for the new book series. I just got it from my library. We are still full of smoke here from the California fires mixed with our own fires! Yes, you need to paint those pretty flowers. Congrats on your green thumb this summer. I take a half dose of an anxiety medication that helps me. That way, the side effects don’t bother me as much. Maybe your dr could help you with that. Anxiety attacks are not fun. Hang in there and enjoy that garden!

carol l mckenna said...

Having lost my little yorkie recently I have become invested in feeding the birds ~ even the hummingbirds who are so fast ~ have yet to get a photo ~
Lovely post and enjoy the photos of sweet Milo ~ xox to you Milo ~ keep leading ~ they will follow ~

Live each moment with love,

A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Catscue Cat Mom said...

You are super busy, but everything is so beautiful in your world! Have a happy/busy week! Milo, you are way too cute today.

CountryDew said...

I am sorry you had a panic attack. Maybe put the TV on Little House on the Prairie for a while? I do better if I leave it off. Your mac/cheese sounds great.

Tamar SB said...

You've been nice and busy!

sandyland said...

you bring me such great joy ,i borrowed your cartoon

colleen said...

My birds were like pets to me, but they stop coming around much in the summer and then I stop feeding them (until late fall) and I miss them! I don't have panic attacks but I have waves of heavy darkness between the lack of and destructive leadership AND the virus.

MissPat said...

I've decided I should stop reading and watching the news so I can be oblivious like apparently 40% of the population. I love eggplant parmesan, but hate making it because it takes so long. I often get it when we go out to eat which,of course, we haven't done in 6 months. I've read two of the Ellery Adams books. Have to remember to look for the third next time I go to the library. Gosh, that would be awful if the fires didn't stop until it snows, but given this horrible year that might happen in October! Looking forward to Sat sewing post. Got my first shingles shot today, waiting for the side effects to kick in. Hold on, girl, you're not alone.
Pat

PaintedThread said...

Zoom is a wonderful thing. Cute little beans. Panic attacks are no fun. Hang in there. I wish I could help.

Milo! Who's a cutie?

piecefulwendy said...

You have full, fun weeks, LeeAnna. Always fun to read your posts and, of course, Milo's!

dq said...

I posted later this evening. Here is my link: http://dreamworthyquilts.blogspot.com/

dq said...

There is so much to like about your Thursday post. The "fine dining' is talking to me. I will have to try it!

sonja said...

what country dew just said!

Aritha V. said...

I love your wild flowers! Very nice.

Meditations in Motion said...

Eggplant parm is one of my favorite dishes to order at a restaurant but I never made it at home because Hubby doesn't like eggplant. After reading about yours, I may have to give it a try (baked)!

Tails Around the Ranch said...

You might want to gently flick your tomato plants. Because spring was so rough with late freezes, bees and other pollinators got a slow start. When I did that (at the suggestion of my sister), the fruiting began with gusto. Consistent watering is also necessary (to avoid black rot on the bottoms). I do a slow, but deep watering of the potted tomatoes early in the morning and then again water again in the afternoon. Try to stay cool this weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
I like your birds, they found a nice spot to roost. Cute photos of Milo, I understand why he would like to be out in front during the walks. Your flowers are beautiful. I love eggplant parm, I bake it the oven. The mysteries sound good, I think I have read a few from Ellery. Take care and stay safe! Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Enjoy your day, have a great weekend.

Rosemary Dickinson said...

I love eggplant! My mother makes eggplant parmesan all the time and sends me some. Love your flowers! I love that we have Zoom and other ways to keep in touch. It's so good for us. I still talk to my college roommate every chance I get. I feel so good after our chats. I think we're all panicking a little right now. Take it day by day. Do whatever helps you feel better.

Rain said...

Oooh Buffalo chicken mac and cheese!!! Be still my appetite!!! Those birds are sweet...the avocado flower is just beautiful!

Miaismine said...

Ooooo! That first floral photo made me smile. So pretty!
If only we all could internalize the lessons these birds appear to have learned......
Your "farming" section is fabulous! I was curious at to what was happening to my cherry tomatoes - Mia and Chico were eating them! :)
You know, I miss walks with them...it's so hot! The heat still manages to wither my body into slush....I remember as a child playing outside all day....

Miaismine said...

Ha! I just went to this site: https://www.wunderground.com/history/monthly/us/tx/el-paso/KELP/date/1972-7 and in July, we only had 2 days that reached 100 degrees! That explains a lot! :)

The Joyful Quilter said...

Zooming with you is one of the high points of my week, LeeAnna, and you can't imagine how thrilled I was that you set everything else aside to start a new project using my Mini Magic Stars tutorial!! :o))