[Reasons to be Cheerful]

And last night's entertainment was provided by:

 

Barred Owl

House Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

White-throated Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Black-capped Chickadee

[Reasons to be Cheerful]

My evening chorale:

 

House Sparrow

Carolina Wren

American Robin

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Northern Cardinal

 

[Fear]

Today's fear. I am getting taxes done. Could they make long-term care insurance any more confusing than they have? I am terrified that I am going to owe a gazillion dollars. I am going to wind up in Debtors Prison.

And I plan to cash out my life insurance policy soon (I don't want anyone to have to go through what I have gone through trying to collect my husband's benefit.) and there will be tax issues with that. Plan to discuss with tax person today. I want no penalties/interest this time next year.

 

[Supper]

Many of you will be horrified. I had not had a fried Spam sandwich in decades, but had a craving and went for it. I've got leftovers. 

 

[What are you watching?]

Season 3 of Reacher. And Boston Celtics games whenever they are on.

[Gene Hackman]

Something amiss, but they said no foul play. Carbon monoxide? Gas?

[Tariffs and Food Prices]

Makes no difference to me. If they have their way, I'll lose my Social Security benefits and be living on the street anyway.

[Mr. Voyager]

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Hold fast to your memories. Many hugs and condolences for you all.

[What are you watching?]

That's the one! I can't recall where I got mine. I was gifted a couple of boxes of cookbooks a few years back, so it may have been a gift.

 

[What are you watching?]

I have a Gullah/Geechee cookbook by Vertamae. Packed up already or I'd show a photo.

[Winter 2025]

Bah humbug. Here we go again. Expecting 4-8 inches today. And frigid temps with deadly wind chills.

[Happy birthday!]

Happy Birthday!!

[Reasons to be Cheerful]

Yesterday evening warblers:

 

Northern Cardinal

Carolina Wren

Black-capped Chickadee

White-throated Sparrow

House Finch

American Robin

House Sparrow

 

[Time & Tide]

And I thought you were talking about Basia. 

 

 

 

[Supper]

I had some things to use up so put Italian sausage, potatoes, tomatoes, onion, olives, soffritto and eggs in a small baking dish. Poured eggs over and sprinkled with cheese. Baked in toaster oven. Still getting the hang of cooking for one.

 

[Reasons to be Cheerful]

It has been a while since I've turned on my Merlin Bird ID app. Yesterday was warm enough that I could be outside for more than 5 seconds, so while I was clearing snow and ice on the deck, I turned it on. So rewarding to hear all my birdie buddies.

 

White-breasted Nuthatch

White-throated Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

European Starling (Grrrr!)

Red-tailed Hawk

Song Sparrow

American Robin

Red-headed Woodpecker

Blue Jay

Eastern Bluebird

Downy Woodpecker

[You Learn Something New Every Day (cont.)]

10 hours ago, StephanieL said:

The Crock-Pot was invented by an American Jew of Lithuanian heritage to help his relatives with their Shabbat cooking.

In Kansas City, if I'm not mistaken.

 

EDITED: Not invented here. Invented in Chicago, but launched in KC.

[Winter 2025]

I've heard from several friends who have evacuated and as of yesterday evening were anxious to know if they had a place to return to.

[Supper]

@small h, that salad looks delicious. I love parsley-based salads. I make one occasionally (with sun-dried tomatoes & other stuff), though I seem to like it more than anyone else. And the last few years, the critters and birds ate more of my parsley than I could harvest. Harrumph. 

[Winter 2025]

We have been socked in with ice and snow and frigid temps since the weekend. It isn't warming up soon, so snow isn't budging. Things have been shut down all week. Not a happy camper. I miss SoCal despite the fires. Hollywood and others, please be safe!

[Depressing Stuff]

Going to pick up Lucky's ashes today so we can spend our birthdays together (mine tomorrow, his Jan 1). 

[President Jimmy Carter]

Think what a wonderful world it would be if every person performed just 1/10th of the good deeds he did. RIP.

[Reasons to be Cheerful]

I absolutely adore that video. He is having the time of his life!

[I ate there as a kid and now dear child I will force you to do the same, while I still can]

@splinky, the important thing is whether or not YOU enjoyed the trip down memory lane.

[Thanksgiving 2024]

Aside from a bit of family drama at the very beginning, our dinner at Lidia's was fantastic. There was entirely too much food. First course was served family style: Caesar salad; a walnut, celery and cheese salad ( I lucked out and got the leftovers); mushroom arancini, beef and pickled veggie toasts; tuna on toast; salami; mortadella ; and bread with a hummus and avocado-something and olive oil. All were wonderful.

As if that wasn't enough, servers showed up with huge pans of pasta---a rigatoni in Bolognese and butternut squash ravioli in a sage brown butter sauce. The ravioli had a touch of cinnamon and something else slightly sweet in them. Delicious!

By the time my short rib arrived, I took one bite and left it to get packed up. It is fabulous and I can't wait to have it for supper tonight. Pete had manicotti that looked wonderful, Heidi also had the short rib, my sister Kathy had pork loin that was stuffed with bourbon-soaked prunes and Aaron had salmon that looked lovely.

They brought 2 trays of desserts--pumpkin cheesecake, various biscotti, tiramisu and candied orange peel. I had a couple of bites of tiramisu, but honestly at this point I was on overload.

We had a couple of bottles of a very nice red wine (Montepulciano of some sort, though I didn't pay that much attention) and a wonderful time was had by all.