Christmas

Friday, May 8, 2015

Friday Fragments

Time for the next episode of cleaning out the cobwebby brain!

Weather:  I must start here because the next week will be a scary one for me. Yesterday, we were back into the 80s, and it will only get hotter. By Sunday, the temperature will be 87°, and the humidity is rolling in as well. Next Thursday, it will go down again to a normal in the 70s. I dread the heat, and I was hoping it would be a while before it arrived. Wednesday and last night I did fine on the stairs, but I kept cool all day. With the AC on and the big overhead fan, here in my den, I can beat the heat. But when it gets as hot as it will be these next several days, the heat sneaks into the house. I’ll be mush by next week!

Mothers’ Day: To all who are mothers, I wish you a special day on Sunday – enjoy it! As for me, it’s going to be bittersweet. This will be the first Mothers’ Day without my mom. She didn’t know what day it was, but we made it special for her with flowers, treats, and gifts. I always handled that day – even after I was a mother myself. I had the dinner, and I didn’t mind doing all the planning and cooking. When my mom was in the nursing home, we went to feed her the midday meal, and we stayed to celebrate. I’d come home and fix an easy dinner, so we could all celebrate my motherhood. When my daughter became a mother, we doubled the party! This year, it’ll be different. My daughter and the little clan are in Disneyworld, and they’ll celebrate separately down there. My boys want to handle our meal, and I readily agreed. (It’s a surprise, but I think we’re having shrimp. My ears hear everything!)

Dinner: My Wednesday dinner went smoothly. The meatballs and sausage went into the simmering sauce and were served with spaghetti. My plan to make meringues didn’t happen. We had damp weather that day, and egg whites don’t aerate as well when it’s humid. We just had the mixed fruit over vanilla ice cream. Actually, I wouldn’t have minded making the meringue shells because they’re super easy. Just whisk four egg whites in the mixer on high, with a pinch of cream of tartar. Then, when the mixture reaches the soft peak stage, gradually add a cup of sugar until you reach hard peak stage. Then, I just spoon it out in mounds around three inches in diameter. Press down the centers with the back of a spoon, to form little bowls, and pop them into a preheated 200° oven. Let them dry out for an hour and a half and remove them to cool down. I make them smaller as cookies for Christmas. They last a long time.

New Techniques: I saw something clever the other day – stenciled pie crusts! You can get stencils online here. I think I’ll check in Michaels – they’re probably less expensive. They might even carry the edible luster dust. I’ll practice first, and if it’s something I can handle, I’ll make one for Memorial Day. I also saw some cute decorated cookies that I can make for any patriotic celebration. Here I go again with the ideas!!

Books/TV:  I finally finished The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, and it was beautiful. As I said before, when I read about the Nazi atrocities in World War II, I have to take it in small segments. This book took place in occupied France, and it showed the heroism of two sisters who resisted the German invasion. Now, I’m into lighter fare – The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion. It’s a follow-up to his earlier work, The Rosie Project. They’re lighthearted, fun reading about an OCD man looking for the perfect mate.
By next week, all the season finales will be over and I’ll be reading a lot more.

That’s all for now.

Peace,

Muff

10 comments:

  1. All of this sounds wonderful. Good for you--bravo!

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  2. You do make everything you do special and pretty. (Girled up, my grandson would say)

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    1. Girled up -- that's cute! We say "glammed up."

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  3. Happy Mother's Day muff, I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

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    1. Great weekend, wonderful day! Hope yours was, too.

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  4. Do you have one of those neck coolers? That may help. Happy Mothers Day to you:)

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    1. The problem with the coolers is the heaviness. I'm looking into one I saw that was lighter. HMD to you, too.

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  5. Happy Mother's Day, Muff. I'm sure your family will make it exquisite, as I'm also sure your mother is looking down on you with pride and love.

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    1. It was great, and, yes, I know my mom still watches over me.

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