Today in My Life ... April 26, 2025

 Today is April 26, 2025

I woke up this morning about 2:45 and after spending a few minutes in the bathroom, I rolled and tumbled in the bed for an hour before deciding to just give up the ghost and get up.  It's raining and the sound of the rain on the roof and windows paired with the window rattling thunder is making for a wonderful time to be awake.  There's truly nothing like a LONG drought to make one really appreciate the sounds of water falling from the sky.

Had a cystoscopy this week and am not at all sure that I want to do that again...EVER.. The first one back in December was not nearly as bad as this one.. or perhaps I've just forgotten how bad it was..lol  The worst part is the use of succinylcholine (a paralytic the anesthesiologist uses ) that leaves me feeling like I've spent a week in basic training with the 3rd Marines.  Every muscle in my body screaming..lol  However, the worst is over now and life is beginning to return to normal.  

One would think that after about 8 or 9 years of wearing the same old robe...every morning (and sometimes all day)... that a person would finally realize that enough is enough and get a new one...wouldn't one?   But no, I just can't find one that I like.  I've looked.  In stores.  In catalogs.  On line.  Nothing is even close to what I would like.  So this poor raggedy thing will have to make it another year (or until I find something I can live with... sigh)

My roses are out doing themselves this year.  I guess the lackluster showing from last year was just them saving up for this year.  Of course, it has nothing to do with the fact that I have fertilized them at least a couple of time over the fall and winter... 

Phil and Loretta were here over Easter weekend.  What a joy that always is. I had (sort of) planned a couple of things to do while they were here, but it seems that no one wanted to get out of their pajamas so we all just visited, ate, watched tv and in general enjoyed our time together.  Can't think of a better way to spend the time.  

I haven't been in much of a constructive mood lately.  Not much "making" of anything going on.  My sewing machine is acting up and even tho I got the old one down and plugged it in enough to mend a few things, just can't get in the "making" mood.  

I have painted a few eggs for Jerry.  But he has come up with one that I just haven't been able to wrap my head around even though I've had it on my mind for a couple of weeks.  I'll continue to think it through and eventually get it.  Here's a couple of the ones I've done so far...

   This egg I gave to a friend who is a plant enthusiast...like me.  We trade plants occasionally.  However, her green thumb is a lot greener than mine.. lol

It is now going on 7:30am and the rain and thunder continue.  Cannot say how wonderful that is since there has been so little of it. 

There are no plans for this day.  There are several things I need to do, but no real plans to do them.  Perhaps a lightening strike will wake up my get up and go..lol

Enjoy your day today.  Find something that makes you smile and hold onto it for as long as you can!

 

Hello Again!

 If I wait another few weeks it will have been a whole year since I have posted.  It has been an up and down kind of year as far as our health is concerned and as for right now... we are doing great.  It's Easter Sunday today and the day is warm and sunny, the kind of day everyone wishes for when laying plans for Easter egg hunts and spending time with family.  

And speaking of family.. One of my cousins has posted on facebook a terrific way to beat the heat, pressure and stress of summertime meals... and I asked her if I could plagiarize it..lol  And she said yes..  

Darlene Ingram Davis

10h  · 

As our summers get super busy with kids, camping, sports, activities, etc I always try to do a big freezer meal prep. All of these meals go into gallon sized ziplock bags that I label and get frozen flat in our chest freezer. The night before I pull one out and put it in the refrigerator to thaw. Each one cooks in the crockpot so it’s very simple and doesn’t heat up the house or require me being in the kitchen when I don’t have time. The initial investment for all the groceries is quite a bit but if I calculate it out per meal this is very reasonable for a large family. The amount I prep usually lasts us 6-7 weeks and dinner leftovers get used for lunches or the next night’s dinner. I’ve perfected a list that our family really likes and are cost effective with not too many ingredients. Hope this helps some others looking for budgeting in the kitchen!

Sloppy Joes:

1 lb. Ground turkey or beef

1 onion diced

1 green pepper diced

1 15oz. Can tomato sauce

1 packet Sloppy Joe Seasoning

Add all ingredients to a freezer bag and seal. Mix the bag to incorporate ingredients. Cook in the slow cooker on HIGH 3-4 hours. Serve on buns or rolls.

Sausage and Lentil Soup

2 packages of sausage or kielbasa, sliced

2c. Brown lentils

1 bag baby carrots

3-4 stalks of celery diced

1 onion diced

2-3 cloves garlic minced

1 15oz. Can diced tomatoes

1T. Italian Seasoning

Add all ingredients to a freezer bag. Cook in the crockpot on HIGH 4-5 hours. Serve with bread or rolls.

Hawaiian Meatballs

2 lbs. Frozen meatballs

1/4c. Brown sugar

1/4c. Soy sauce

1/2t. Garlic powder

1 jar sweet and sour sauce

1 red pepper diced

1 green pepper diced

1 onion diced

1 can pineapple chunks with juice

Add all ingredients to a freezer bag. Cook in the crockpot on LOW 6-8 hours. Serve over rice.

Cilantro Lime Chicken

3-4 chicken breasts or thighs

Juice from 2-3 limes

1 small bunch cilantro chopped

1 bag frozen corn

1 onion chopped

1 can black beans

Add all ingredients to a freezer bag. Cook in crockpot on LOW 6-8 hours. Shred chicken and serve over rice or in burritos.

Broccoli Chicken Alfredo

3-4 chicken breasts or thighs cut into chunks or strips

1 jar Alfredo sauce

1 bag frozen broccoli or fresh chopped broccoli

Mix all ingredients in a freezer bag. Cook in a crockpot on LOW 6-8 hours. Serve over fettuccine noodles.

Pepperoncini Pork Roast

2-3 lb boneless pork or beef roast

1 jar sliced pepperoncinis with juice

Add to freezer bag. Cook in crockpot on LOW 6-8 hours. Shred meat and serve over rice or potatoes. Leftover meat is really good in breakfast burritos!

Chicken Fajitas

3-4 chicken breasts cut into strips.

1-2 green peppers sliced

1-2 red peppers sliced

1 onion sliced

1 pkg. Fajita seasoning

Add all ingredients to freezer bag. Cook in crockpot on LOW 6-8 hours. Serve over rice or in tortillas for fajitas.

Chicken Cacciatore

3-4 chicken breasts or thighs

1 jar chunky veggie style spaghetti sauce

1 zucchini chopped

1 green pepper diced

1 onion diced

Add all ingredients to freezer bag. Cook in crockpot on LOW 6-8 hours. Serve over rice.

Teriyaki Chicken

3-4 chicken breasts cut into chunks

1 onion sliced

2 cans diced pineapple with juice

2-3 garlic cloves minced

1c. Teriyaki sauce

Mix all ingredients in a freezer bag. Cook in crockpot on LOW 6-8 hours. Serve over rice or noodles.

Sausage and Peppers

2 packages sausage or kielbasa sliced

2 green peppers sliced

1 red pepper sliced

1 onion diced

2-3 cloves garlic minced

1 15oz. Can Italian style diced tomatoes

2T. Italian Seasoning

Mix all ingredients in a freezer bag. Drizzle with olive oil and cook in crockpot on LOW 6-8 hours. Serve over noodles.

Don't forget each recipe is for a single bag. Double the amounts if you'd like 20 meals

*Edited to add I had NO IDEA how wildly popular this would be I’m sorry there’s no way to respond to all 3,000 + comments and messages I’ve received but THANK YOU. I simply do what works for our large family/budget. I allow these to thaw overnight in the fridge before putting in the crockpot and it’s perfectly safe to cook veggies and meat combined in the crockpot together as long as they reach the appropriate cooking temp. I’ve never had an issue with these and I’ve been doing freezer meals many years. Each bag serves approximately 4-6 depending. I do not pre-cook any of the meat or ingredients. Press all the air from the bags before sealing to help avoid freezer burn. Hope this answers some of the questions!*

Follow Easy Cooking Ideas for more delicious recipes!

 I am definitely going to try some of these.  We are not pressured by youngsters and their sports all summer, but we do try to beat the heat by using the crockpot and cooking on the porch as much as possible.  I usually fill the crockpot and plug it in on the back porch.. check it occasionally and voila'.. supper... no mess, no fuss.  

I hope your Easter Sunday is filled with hope, love and lots of family hugs.  Have a very Blessed Day!

In Times Past

My brother and I spent a lot of time with Dad's mom and dad in the country.  They usually had a cow, chickens and occasionally pigs.  As a result, there was always milk, eggs, butter, buttermilk.  Grandma kept several crocks on her cabinet that she would pour the fresh milk into and let the cream settle to the top.  When her knives would get dull, she would "whet" them across the edge of those crocks to sharpen them. 
  One day I got so frustrated with my paring knife I almost threw it away.  Then I saw one cup upside down on the cabinet .. voila'..  What could it hurt to try???  So I did.. and it worked.  Now this is what I do when I have a dull paring knife.  May not be chef sharp, but it does what I need done.  :) 

Daughter and son in law are here and we went to the Backdoor Steakhouse in Blair, OK for supper last night.  Had a wonderful time.  Going to Russell, OK today and visit some Schuster home places. Totally glad we now have cars... a little hot for the old horse and buggy days.. lol  

Have a good day today and enjoy the 4th of July holiday.

Frugal Living... hmmm

I've been doing a lot of pinterest lately.  There are so many links up for frugal living and make your own things that I am overwhelmed with ideas.. ;o) 

One of the things I found was concerning eggs.  It said that eggs have a film on them that will allow the egg to remain good for weeks if it is not washed off.  The eggs we buy in the store are washed with a caustic soap so all of the film is removed... and as a result the eggs spoil much more quickly.

So... the article said that if you cover each egg with a thin film of mineral oil the eggs will last for months in the pantry or where ever without refrigeration.

I HAD TO TRY THIS... !  ;o)

So I took 3 eggs, smeared them with mineral oil and put them in the pantry for 3 weeks.  I really couldn't make myself wait any longer so I finally had to check and see what would happen when I broke the eggs... Here's what I found..

 

I was truly stunned that eggs were still good, usable eggs after 3 weeks!  How's that for re-learning what our grandparents always knew.. ;o)

Hope you have a wonderful day...  Having a cardiac cath tomorrow so will be back in a few days.. ;o)