Wordless Wednesdays: New Kicks!!

Monday Afternoon Ponderings.

Happy Belated Easter to YOU!!



I meant to post yesterday. Completely forgot about it for some reason. Sigh.

Anyways, I am sitting here pondering during my lunch time. 

I made the best salad for lunch today. And it was pretty too.

Best of all, The Cowgirl Cre bought me some strawberries, cabbage and dressing from Easter Dinner at her parent's house. Best of all, she brought me an Easter egg.

I was so happy for this, as I'd wished I'd colored a few eggs for Easter.

And I was happy because it perfectly matched my pink work folder.

LOL.

That's completely irrelevent. I just noticed they were the same color.

For my Easter dinner, I had stuffed acorn squash.

I posted up a couple of weeks ago about my foray into the land of acorn squash. This stuffed squash looks a tad bit different, and it has a bit of sausage mixed in. I liked my first attempt at stuffed squash best. This was great also.

I tried the recipe that one of my readers suggested last week. I forgot to post a picture of it, though. She suggested slicing the squash and adding some salt, olive oil and a maple syrup drizzle, and then baking at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. 

Good stuff!

Oh wait... It's missing something.

Chopped pecans make everything better. Oh yeah.

That was so good. I have enough for the week. It's easy to reheat and it, along with a salad, fills me up. 

I had a quiet Easter weekend. I didn't even leave the house, save for taking out the trash. That was about it. And it was all nasty and drizzly out. No need to venture out into that.

Long gone are my days of Easter dresses and Easter speeches. I spend time thinking about the reason for the season. And I, as always am thankful for it.

That's it for my ponderings.

I MIGHT post everyday this week. Wouldn't THAT be something. 

Have a great week. On purpose! 

Ten Thursday Thoughts

I am not posting regularly, because I am so busy. But I can AT LEAST kick out some thoughts, right?

1. We have had fairly nice weather this week. It feels good to open the sunroof, let down the windows and let the wind blow through my hair.

2. Lucy Jr (My lexus) had a problem this week: whenever the car heated up, and I was at a stop sign, I would smell what I thought was oil burning. So I thought I had a leak.

3. I thought this because Pam has had a leak for 8 years, and I just make sure to regularly check oil  and add oil when needed. Normally I wouldn't care about a leak, but I would feel bad if Lucy Jr.'s engine blew up because of something serious. I really like that car.

4. So yesterday I took her in to be checked. It turned out that I'd run over a plastic grocery bag an it stuck to the exhaust pipe... and it is melting off when the car heats up. They pulled off what they could, but it has to just burn off. This means I have to deal with these noxious fumes. Yuck.

5. I don't recycle much, but that makes me want to recycle. It makes a strong case for it.

6. Yesterday was LadyTee's birthday.  Happy Birthday LadyTee!
 
That picture is probably 10 years old. I can tell because my grass doesn't look that good  anymore.

She still looks the same, though! The big 48 looks good on you, LadyTee.

We have been best friends close to 38 years. That is a long long time. 

7. This was the first year in the past 15 years or so that we haven't spent our birthdays together. It is due to me having these hard work hours right now. I can't even take off if I really need to, for fear of falling way behind. It pisses me off.

8. But when I get that "pissed off" feeling, I think of what The Cowgirl Cre says...

"These some good azz jobs!"

Yes they are. We have to remind ourselves of that because we are around a bunch of serial complainers... they too, having these same "good azz jobs".

9.  I also spend a good amount of time thinking about something my Grandfather said some 20 years ago.  Here's the convo.

"How's school, Lee?!"
"It's alright," I said.

I then went on to complain about how difficult it was. He sat quietly and listened, a frown clouding his face.

Then he said,"Your grandmama didn't get down on her knees and clean white peoples floors for $3 a day and cab fare so you could sit up here and whine and complain."

That shut me up right there. And when I get to whining, albeit to myself, his words come to mind.  Quickly and sharply.

And I shut up. 

10. Additionally, one of my rule is s in affect:  However much time I spend complaining, I BEST spend twice as much time in thanksgiving and gratitude.

I picked that rule up from reading the book of Psalms, as I noticed an interesting trend. David would wail about something, then spend time in gratitude and thanksgiving and praise. If he didn't have anything to be grateful for in his own life, he was grateful for something good that happened in the life of his ancestors.

Amen.

That is it for ten Thursday thoughts.

Have a good evening!

Changes in My Hood, Part 2

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about the street changes in my 'hood.

The streets are being changed from asphalt to bricks.

Quite fascinating. Much so because this is not an affluent neighborhood somewhere on the northside. I would expect that in such places. But this is downtown ATL.

So when I went to vote a couple of weeks ago, I saw the beginnings of it.  I vote at the local elementary school a couple of streets over from my house. I saw the gravel they put down before they put down the bricks.

I almost thought about driving over it, but that raised sewer would probably tare up the bottom of my car.  I  wanted to get to the entrance driveway of the school. Luckily they had exit driveway of the school open. We all had to figure out how to maneuver around.

But that looks like much work. And I wonder how people's trash get emptied, as this process is super slow.

I will worry about all that later.

I am not sure if they are hitting my street any time soon. But they have began marking and measuring the cross street near my house... hmm...

I know that this is for our massive flooding issues. My street doesn't have problems, but other streets do.

But there is a rumor that they are building some massive $20 million complex nearby. And my alma mater is buying the Braves stadium, which is a mile from my house, when the Braves move. They will most likely develop that area.

Hmm...

We will see where this all goes...

Of Camels and Bashes

So my sister Kentucky is getting adventurous over in the UAE.

We talk several times a week, usually while she is getting ready for work and I am getting ready for bed. (The UAE is 9-10 hours ahead of ATL time). 

She went on a "desert safari" a couple of weeks ago.


My face was tight as a fist when she talked about doing it.

"You know we can't come get you, right?" I said.

In other words... Why are you out doing dangerous stuff?

"You are NOT in Alabama, where I can come get you. So be careful," is my constant refrain.

So she sent me a picture of herself talking to a camel.

"That camel was upset," she said. "He was moaning and groaning."

Never mind him moaning and groaning. I was shocked at how big he was and she actually rode the thing.

"Why he got that thang on his face?" I asked.

"Because they sometimes spit and bite."

O_O

"Why in the world are you that close to him then?  Leave that thang alone!"

She laughed. "I was only trying to talk with him."

"Man... you know we can't come get you, right?"

She had a good time. She even went dune bashing, which cause me to groan, probably worse than the doggone camel.

I didn't know what dune bashing was, but it sounded... dangerous. So I looked it up.

O_O

*crickets*

What. In. The. World?

"Man, listen!"  I hollered. "You know we can't come get you, right? It ain't like you in Alabama where I can come snatch you up. You on the other side of the world."

Yes.

She is on the other side of the world.

She is on other side of the whole entire world.

And she is doing things I will never get a chance to do. She can say that she lived abroad. And she really experienced the life and times of another culture.

So be it.

She can talk to all the camels and bash all the dunes she wants.

All I know is it is a chance of a lifetime, and I am proud of her for stepping out on faith and doing it.

And one more thing I know for sure:

I miss her so much.

Ten Tuesday Thoughts

More thoughts.

On a Tuesday.


1. I have had a pretty good day today, as I just sat at my desk and did 8 straight hours of watermelon and mango cigarette paperwork.

2. I still didn't get everything done, though. I will need about 30 more hours to catch up, as I have more cigarettes to write up. Sigh.

3. I am not doing great with the daylight savings time. I am dragging in the morning. However, I am glad that it's still light outside when I leave work between 6:30 and 7:30 pm.

4. Ya'll need to get King Trump. His folks are getting wilder by the minute.

5. Tomorrow will be interesting, as we will better know who is still in the running for the presidential nomination. That's either a good or a bad thing.

6. I did not eat lunch today. I think this means I can leave 30 minutes early. Most likely I will not.

7. I was behind someone in the check-out line in the Whole Foods, and they had 2 big buggies full of grocery. I was very interested in how much their groceries cost. Their bill was $600. That's Whole Foods for you. And I hope that's some good eating.

8. I had a taste for sausage this morning. This is rare. So I had some sausage links, cheese eggs and grits for breakfast. I placed it on in a pint plastic cup and ate it when I arrived to work.

Sigh. I just need to stick to my kale, pear, and blueberry smoothies in the morning. I have that 95% of the time. I need to make it 100% of the time.

9. I am loving the warmer temperatures. The high today in the ATL was 82 degrees. I so wish that I would've gotten out and taken a walk. I could use the fresh air.

10. I have no idea what I will have for dinner. I brought a nice salad for lunch - baby spring greens with chopped strawberries, blueberries, nectarines, walnuts, and peaches. I am not sure if it is proper to mix nectarines and peaches together, but who cares. It's my salad. And I may even eat it for dinner, after that good but horrendous breakfast!

That's it for 10 Tuesday thoughts!

Carry on!

A Shady Sister Callie Jo

My male cat Mitch is such a sweet fellow... very laid back, rarely get into things.

Such a sweet, bright eyed-fellow.

He reminds me of Ol' Oscar Tyrone... sigh.

But that doggone Sister Callie Jo...

She is ALWAYS up to something. My sister thinks she is crazy yet gifted. I just think she is crazy.

So...

LadyTee bought me a bamboo plant for my birthday. I cringed, because all of my plants are fake plastic plants. Anything else, and the cats will chew on them.

(What I find amazing is that Mitch and Callie chew on the fake plants. *crickets*. That's another story for another day).

Anyway, I thought about taking the real plant to work. That's what I do with my real plants... get them out the house real quick and take them to work.

But I figured I would put it up on the mantle. There's too much stuff for the up there for the cats to make a go for that plant.

Or so I thought...

In comes Sister Callie, with her, uh, gifted self.

She was sitting on top of a shoe box, which was sitting on top of their kennel. I don't know why I have the kennel in the house. I usually keep it in the garage. I never took it out after their last vet visit.

Anyway, she was sitting on top of the shoe box... and she was staring at me.

This went on for quite awhile. I only noticed because she never stays still for so long.

Hmm...

Then I saw her working out things in her mind: 

I was wondering what she was thinking. She was thinking about that bamboo plant on the mantel up in the upper right hand corner of the picture.

And then it happened...

She made a play for that plant....

I didn't even have to yell at her because that shoe box began wobbling as she tried to balance on the edge of it with her toes. And she stopped short of her goal.

I guess busting her tail on the floor wasn't an option.

Funniest thing ever.

I had a good laugh.

I laughed, but I also made a note to go ahead on and take that plant to work. I also moved the crate and shoe box.

I know she will work out some crazy plan to get a hold of that plant.

With her gifted and crazy self.

Ten Tuesday Thoughts

Ten Tuesday thoughts!

While I sit here and scarf down my lunch. I hate taking precious time from the lab.

So here we go:



1. I feel like a 8 cylinder car that's running on 3 cylinders. And that is getting old real quick.

2. It is beginning to warm up outside. I think this might be a trick, though, and we have at least one more cold snap on the way.

3. I am sick and tired of this election cycle. Lord, please help us get through this messy election cycle. Please. Amen.

4. The Republican party continues to be a hot azz mess. And I don't even think the bottom of the barrel has been scraped yet.

5. I have to find someone to cut my grass because the local who cuts my grass is locked up, and he's been locked up for awhile.

6. I pay $15 for grass to be cut every two weeks. If I could get him out off jail for $15, I would go get him. But I take it that he did something really bad to be gone for the past 6 months.

7. Trump is bad but I think Cruz is much worse. Much worse.  Dude is a liar AND he was responsible for the government shutdown with no plan behind it. I wonder how many votes he'd be getting if he used his real first name (Rafael) instead of his nickname (Ted)? Hmm...

8. I am not worried about who will be in office because I will be alright.  I am always alright. By faith, amen.

9. I can't say this too many times: I AM GOING TO MISS PRESIDENT OBAMA WHEN HE LEAVES OFFICE. 

10. I have been dehydrated. Who woulda thought that it would be so hard to keep up with my water intake.
I must do better.  

That is it for Ten Tuesday thoughts. A bit sparse, but uh... it'll do.

An Acorn Squash Tale

So...

I came to work one day in the past couple of weeks and saw something interesting sitting on my desk.

An acorn squash.

I immediately knew who left it there: my supervisor Ray.

I saw one on his desk the week before, and I lamented over the fact that I bought one and left it out on the counter. As a result, it spoiled. (Heck, I didn't know. Thought it was sturdy like an apple or a pumpkin. Apparently not).

He told me how he liked to cook his. I had more of an idea of trying to stuff it.

Alas, I walked in and there was an acorn squash on my desk.

How thoughtful.

So I walked around the cubicle area, taunting people with it.

"Bet your boss ain't never bought  you no acorn squash," I said while holding the squash an inch from their faces.

My ebonics was on program, and the responses to my rhetoric were wide ranging.

"Go away, LadyLee!"
"What the heck is that, LadyLee?!"
"No! My boss never did that before."
"I don't want anything from my boss. It might be poisoned!"

LOL

Anyway, I learned from my last experience with the acorn squash... Take it home, and place it in the refrigerator. Pronto.

So when I was ready to bake it, about a week later, I pulled it out of the fridge.

I cut it in half and removed the seeds.

I went to throw away the seeds in the trash. When I turned around, I noticed Sister Callie Jo creeping.

That doggone Sister Callie. She's so nosy.,

She's actually sitting on a stool located next to the kitchen island. Here's a better pic. 

She always liked to sit on the stool and watch my sister cook. That was their "thing" I suppose. I don't care for it, but I let her have her moment. As long as she don't try to snatch anything, especially my acorn squash.

I think she knew better. She just sat there and watched.

Back to the acorn squash!

I researched a few stuffed squash recipes on Pinterest, and I got a pretty good idea of what I wanted to do.

I oiled my squash with olive oil in order to get them ready for roasting.

I roasted them for an hour at 400 degrees.

I think I went overboard. But that's what I read on Pinterest. Next time, I will roast them for only 45 minutes.

Then I made my stuffing. This consisted of me throwing open the french doors of the fridge and picking whatever I wanted.  So my stuffing consisted of green onions, broccoli, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, dried cranberries, green apples, shredded carrots and pecans.

I chopped all of that up and sauteed it in a couple of teaspoons of olive oil.

Then  I added a half cup of cooked quinoa.

I stirred that for a couple of minutes, then I stuffed my squash.

Then I baked it for another 10 minutes. I sprinkled a few pecans on top and that was it.

The verdict? GOOD STUFF!

I'd never had acorn squash before. I thought it tasted like yellow squash or zuchinni, but with the consistency of sweet potato. It was good, and very satisfying. It was easy to slice, even when stuffed like that. I really liked the flavor brought on by the green apple. So good!

I think I will buy 2 or 3 of them and just make more of it. This was an experiment just to see what happens.

I try a new vegetable every once in awhile. This acorn squash was well worth it!