[Reasons to be Cheerful]

It was a real show last night.

Barred owls (who were either mating or had caught some supper--a real hootenanny)

Black-capped Chickadee

House Sparrow

American Robin

Brown-headed Cowbird

Mourning Dove

Carolina Wren

Northern Cardinal 

American Crow

And after dark, a raccoon fight on the deck. I had to open the window and lecture them on how to get along with each other.

 

[Reasons to be Cheerful]

We had a few days of chilly/cold/wet weather so I wasn't out much. Last night was much nicer, so I captured these feathery friends:

Brown-headed cowbird

Carolina wren

Northern Cardinal

Blue Jay

American Robin

White-throated Sparrow

Northern Flicker

Black-capped Chickadee

Red-bellied Woodpecker

 

[Supper]

Using leftovers. Sauerkraut, smoked sausage, dill pickles and provolone on grainy nutty bread. Very good, but if I do the same again (there's still some left), I will put mustard on it, too.

[Supper]

Grilled smoked sausage with dill sauerkraut.

[Reasons to be Cheerful]

Northern Cardinal

Brown-headed Cowbird

House Sparrow

American Crow

Chipping Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

 

A big day for sparrows!!

[Reasons to be Cheerful]

I've been remiss in posting my birdie visitors, which is not to say I haven't had any. Just get busy and forget to post them. Here are last night's friends, including a new one for me--Eastern Phoebe!!

 

American Robin

Blue Jay

White-throated Sparrow

Eastern Phoebe

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Cardinal

Brown-headed Cowbird

American Crow

Black-capped Chickadee

[Supper]

Recently, I got a frozen pizza from my milkman. I baked it a few days ago. I doctored it, but it was still dreadful--dry and no flavor. I tried a second time with leftovers and I still couldn't like it. Trying hard not to waste food, yesterday I cut it into pieces, Put in a baking dish with more olives, tomatoes and onions, and poured over eggs, milk and copious seasonings. Topped with mozzarella about halfway through baking. A pizza strata. Not the best strata I've ever made but it was vastly better than the original pizza.

 

[New Museum in Kansas City]

If any of you are visiting the area, we have a new museum here.

 

Museum of BBQ

[Maureen O'Reilly]

I don't remember it. I might have been able to track it down by stuff she might have posted about, but I think all the old stuff is gone, right?

 

[Maureen O'Reilly]

It broke my heart to see her husband post about it on Facebook yesterday. She was such a brilliant woman and so kind. I will miss her terribly.

[Supper]

Those scallops bring back great memories of eating them at Anthony's Pier 4 in Boston when I lived there. Still can't believe it is gone. Love scallops and I can't recall the last time I had them. I need to fix that.

[What are you watching?]

Been watching newest seasons of Reacher and started Bosch: Legacy last night. Both great, though I prefer Reacher clean-shaven. This season his face just looks dirty.

[Supper]

I've been craving biscuits and sausage gravy. For only one person who doesn't eat much, I wasn't sure it would be worth the trouble. I discovered that Jiffy makes biscuit mix--easier than scratch and not nearly as wasteful as buying a box of Bisquick. The box makes 5 biscuits--I used half and made two, so I've got leftovers. The sausage is from a local producer via my milkman.

 

 

[Supper]

I had a late lunch out yesterday with friends so wasn't terribly hungry last night. I had a light snack with a glass of wine.

 

[Reasons to be Cheerful]

I'm another baby step nearer to being able to move out of this monstrous evil house. After months of fighting the insurance company and filing complaints with every place I could, I got my husband's life insurance a few weeks ago. I immediately requested to cash out my own policy because I do not want anyone to have to go through what I've gone through with these people. The check is in the mail already--I think the insurance company will be happy to be rid of me.

At any rate, keeping it as cheerful as possible, my progress has been very slow with downsizing because of having a hip replacement and getting old right after my husband's death, so I had a serious meeting with my attorney and financial team last week. I am talking with my realtor and in another month or so will begin an earnest search for just the right place for me. I will take my time, as I expect it to be the last place I live unless I have to enter assisted living at some point. I will then move into the new place (easier to know what you can keep when you know where you are going and how much space you have). I have been talking with a friend who has a militaria auction business. He and his partner will come take the bulk of my antique militaria collection and children's uniforms and toys on consignment. I'll call in an estate sale company to clear out the rest and then put this place on the market.

I finally feel like I can move forward. My husband's dementia (like many) caused him to put us into financial peril and I am no longer circling the drain. Folks, watch your loved ones carefully. If something seems "off" with the finances, jump right in and investigate. Don't wait until all the money is gone and you don't know where it went!

[Supper]

Working on cleaning out pantry and fridge.

[Reasons to be Cheerful]

Brown-headed Cowbird

American Robin

Northern Cardinal house Sparrow

Downy Woodpecker

White-breasted Nuthatch

 

And I spotted a bluebird on the deck yesterday. 😍

[Supper]

A friend gave me some of her cottage pie that she'd made for St. Pat's. I have an abundance of asparagus and porotta that I got at Costco, so I heated up the pie and cooked a bread. Sauteed some asparagus in a bit of butter and a sprinkle of Penzey's Curry Now and wrapped the asparagus in the bread. 

 

[Reasons to be Cheerful]

11 hours ago, small h said:

Going to Costco tomorrow! Very excited. Yes, I am very basic.

 

If you are into Indian breads, I highly recommend the porotta (like paratha) at Costco. I picked up a box last week and it is delicious. This is all that is left of the box so I can't show you the front.

[Reasons to be Cheerful]

This evening I had:

 

American Robin

Dark-eyed Junco

Black-capped Chickadee

Northern Cardinal

House Sparrow

I did not stay out long--this quite windy. And dreadfully windy this morning with temps dropping like a rock and snow coming later this afternoon, so I won't be out recording this evening.

[Reasons to be Cheerful]

I love Springtime (even though it is supposed to get cold and snow again tomorrow).

Northern Cardinal

Barred Owl

Black-capped Chickadee

Brown-headed Cowbird

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Dark-eyed Junco

Carolina Wren

[Supper]

If I'm going to have a grilled cheese for supper, it is not going to be an orange plastic slice on Wonder bread.

 

When my sis was here Saturday, she brought a couple of pieces of a cannoli poke cake she'd made so I had a piece of that for dessert. No pix because I completely mangled it trying to get it on the plate.

[Reasons to be Cheerful]

The birds must be enjoying a break from the cold and wind, too.

 

Tonight's visitors included:

 

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Eastern Bluebird (Yay! I thought they'd left me!)

Northern Cardinal

White-throated Sparrow

Eastern Towhee

Brown-headed Cowbird

Dark-eyed Junco

House Sparrow

White-breasted Nuthatch

[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