Shared this on Facebook this morning. I still giggle every time I read it.
Month: November 2018
Thankful for Magic
Does anyone else believe that pecan pies are magic? The first time I baked one, many years ago, I mixed all the ingredients and wondered if I was supposed to arrange a layer of pecans on top. The recipe said to stir them in, but all the pecan pies I’d ever had featured a lovely layer of pecans sitting atop the ooey goodness of the pie filling.
In spite of my misgivings I followed the recipe and didn’t add the extra pecans. Lo and behold, those wonderful nuts rose to the occasion and my first pecan pie was as perfect looking as any I’d ever seen.
Over the years I’ve baked a few pecan pies that weren’t perfect–usually because Studly Doright was supervising and he believes in baking them until they surrender to the heat, shrinking the filling and rendering it almost leather-like in texture.
The trick is always to cook them when he’s otherwise occupied. Tonight I have him running hither and yon on meaningless errands. Oh, and to have a glass of wine or two during the baking process. Then, even if it doesn’t turn out picture perfect, I don’t really care.
Peace, and happy Thanksgiving, people! I’m so thankful for you all!
Update: This pie turned out beautifully; however, Studly found its hiding place and helped himself to a generous slice on Wednesday evening. Sigh.
Good Stuff
As I type this I’m sitting under a dryer in a salon. New color and new cut are in the works. I’m hoping for a miracle, but will settle for “she don’t look dead yet” if you know what I mean.
Yesterday Studly bought me a new car. I call her Ruby, and she’s a beauty. This is her twin, she must be a model or something–mine’s parked outside the salon.
When looking at cars I told every salesman that I wanted all the safety bells and whistles, and technology features that weren’t daunting. And I wanted a red exterior. I drove just about every small SUV on the American market, including a Volvo, an Infiniti, and an Acura, but the only car that had everything I asked for was this pretty little Ford Edge. I have a feeling Ruby and I are going to do great things together.
Peace, people.
Surround Me in Bubble Wrap and Call Me a Cab
On Friday my car was rear ended and now the exhaust system is dangling and my rear bumper a mangled mess. I’ve been waiting to talk to an insurance adjuster from the other guy’s insurance company to see if they’ll cover the cost of a rental car until my car can be fixed.
Yesterday I drove Studly’s pickup truck to run errands around Tallahassee. His truck is longer than the car I’m accustomed to driving, and it doesn’t have a backup camera like mine does, and long story short, I dented his bumper while backing out of a tight parking spot.
Now I feel as though I shouldn’t be allowed to drive ever again, unless of course the car I’m in is surrounded in bubble wrap.
I’m feeling pretty low. Anyone want to boost my spirits?
Peace, people.
Planning the Thanksgiving Meal
Do you ever wonder how Pilgrim women managed to plan and prepare a dinner party for 30 guests or more without the benefit of a grocery store and modern appliances? Yeah, me neither. It’s difficult for me to wrap my head around such concepts, so I don’t even try.
Heck, I struggle to plan and execute a big meal for two people, and I’ve got easy access to several grocery stores, a microwave, a double oven, and a refrigerator/freezer. God certainly knew what She was doing by placing me in this century. I’d have made a lousy pioneer woman.
Nevertheless, I have gathered all of the ingredients necessary to have a turkey dinner with each of Studly Doright’s favorite side dishes. The cornbread for our dressing will need to be baked on Wednesday, as will the pecan pie. Then I’ll need to hide the pecan pie for a period not less than 24 hours or Studly will consume it all before Thanksgiving dinner has even been served. I know this from previous experience.
I’ll rise early on Thursday morning to get the turkey in to bake and then try my best to get all of the side dishes ready to serve when the turkey is done. Since it’s just the two of us for dinner this year I expect everything will turn out perfectly. No one will believe I cooked a stellar meal even though Studly will sing my praises for months. They’ll think he doth protest too much. Maybe he doth.
Peace, people.
Who Is That Bearded Man?
Patches was intrigued by this guy on television.
There’s a Nap in My Future
I had everything and nothing to write about this morning. The whole world is a story, but I was having difficulty scraping off a little piece for myself.
Should I write about Studly arising before sunrise to play golf and not realizing until he’d already had a second cup of coffee that his clock was wrong and his golf match wasn’t set to start for another two hours? His parting words were, “I’m going to need a nap this afternoon.”
How about my disorganized trip to the grocery store to buy Thanksgiving dinner supplies? My list was sort of complete, but standing in the middle of the dairy aisle I realized I’d forgotten to plan for a dessert. Thank goodness the Karo syrup bottle has my pecan pie recipe printed on the label.
Should I write about how darn cold it is and how I’m curled up on the couch under three blankets with a hot cup of tea in my hand watching the arguably forgettable film, Pacific Rim?
I believe I’ll just write something about not knowing what to write. And then I’m taking a nap with Studly.
Peace, people.
How to Ruin a Day
Yep. That’s my car in front. The guy in back came in too hot and rear-ended me at a stoplight. His car is stuck on my trailer hitch, so we had to maneuver out of traffic hooked together. Dammit.
Now we’re waiting on a tow truck to come unhook our vehicles. The police officer on duty only asked the driver of the other car what happened. I had to ask the officer if he wanted to hear what happened from my perspective.
“You got rear ended,” he said.
No shit, I thought, but didn’t say.
Now we’re waiting on a tow truck to pull us apart. Sigh.
Peace, people.
Hot Toddy Lunch
This morning I had a massage at the Aveda Institute in Tallahassee. I’d booked it months ago and totally forgotten about it. Thank goodness for iPhone and appointment reminders. The massage was delicious and relaxing. Twice I dozed off, and that’s a rare thing for me. Afterwards I walked next door to The Hobbit All-American Grill on Pensacola Street.
Now, the temperature in Tallahassee was 49° when I entered The Hobbit. I’d just come from being snuggled under a warm blanket in the spa. I was shivering when I sat at the bar.
I asked if they had any coffee brewed, thinking I’d warm up that way. But there was no coffee to be had. Then Armando, my new best friend/bartender, asked if I might like a hot toddy. Without hesitation I said, “Yes, sir!”
Hot toddies are my go-to when I have a cold, and I don’t think I’ve ever had one other than when I’m sick, but it hit the spot today. I feel a bit decadent having one for lunch on a weekday, but I’m a whole lot warmer.
Peace, people!
Laundry Question
I was away from home for exactly one week while Studly Doright stayed home with the cats. For my trip, I packed two pairs of jeans, five blouses, and undergarments. Having done some laundry while visiting in my daughter’s home, I returned to Doright Manor with just one blouse, a pair of jeans, and a couple of unmentionable items to be laundered. Everything else went right into the closet.
Studly, on the other hand, seems to have worn every single button down shirt he owns along with half a dozen golf shirts, ten t-shirts, and at least a dozen pants/shorts. It appears that he must’ve come home midday, every day I was gone to change shirts. Or maybe he wore two shirts at a time for a ridiculous layered look. Who knows? It’s like a math story problem:
If a woman goes out of town for one week and leaves her husband to fend for himself, how many loads of laundry will that husband do in her absence?
a) 1/2
b) 1/8
c) 0
d) 1 million
Peace, people.
Praying for Eyebrowz 