superbadgirl

Today I made these cookies, staying pretty faithful to the recipe with the exception of cutting the sugar a bit and swapping out the fresh ginger because I didn't have any on hand. Oh my. Worth the bake.


Chocolate, check. Ginger, check. Molasses, check. These are really good today, I'll bet they'll be even better tomorrow.

I also baked a batch of Chex Mix.

I didn't bake this, but made a batch of pav bhaji for at least the first few of this week's evening meals. I've never had it, but it sounded good. Smells good! The spoonful I sampled promises a hearty dinner tomorrow.

For dinner tonight I did peppers, onions and sausage. Yum!

Since this seems very food driven, last night I indulged in a pint ... of non-dairy frozen dessert. I'd picked up a carton of So Delicious oatmilk frozen dessert in Oatmeal Cookie flavor on deep discount. "How bad could it be?" I thought, having tried to like oatmilk and failed. Sorry, not sorry, it just tastes stale and dusty to me. Anyway, color me surprised - it really was so delicious. Alas, if it was in the bargain bin, it is no longer carried by the grocer. The dangers of bargain bin shopping!

I also walked about five and a half miles today. I am, as per usual, tired. Time to doze before bed. LOL.

This week I appreciate family. As I am being trained in my new position, my admiration and thankfulness for my sister L for caring for both my parents, but especially my mother, has grown - and it was already pretty high.

Also, hugs are nice.

I've decided to try to highlight something positive every week. Affirmation Fridays, if you will, because it's become so easy to dwell on negative nonsense. So these things will vary, some probably silly and some maybe deeper. Probably light.

Like this week. This week, I have major appreciation for access to hot water and a shower with excellent water pressure. Good heavens, I love a nice, hot shower.

I didn't have much interest in photos this month. However, once I finally arrived at my sister's house to visit with her and my parents, I found some inspiration. A good part of their day is spent napping, playing solitaire, reading and bird watching. Sounds dreadfully boring but I have to tell you, as far as time off of work goes I enjoyed the pace and the time did not drag at all. Of course, there was also much chatting and food preparing, etc.

So, this is a bird centric month.


^But first, a cat.


^Either a plain ol' house finch or a purple finch. I can't tell.


^This pheasant is a frequent visitor at the house. My father named him Shorty, because his tail has been damaged. Apparently there is also a Long John and a Long Tom, too, but I did not see them.


^Downy woodpecker


^While I had never seen a cedar waxwing before one randomly landed in the field behind my office, apparently this earfull of them often stop in for a drink at this watering hole. I didn't know they like to travel in gangs.


^Cardinal in snow. There are a great many of them around. ♥ My father stated that earlier in December a male cardinal had rammed into the picture window and died. He didn't immediately handle the poor creature's corpse and said that the following day another cardinal came up to the body and poked around, as if trying to figure out why his companion wasn't waking up. I know that's humans attributing human emotion, but there was likely some kind of connection there, no?

It took me all day to remember to upload these photos. I am in zombie mode despite springing for a full caffeine latte. I wish I'd done the latte prior to shopping for some grocery items - I forgot milk! I had to pick Walter up by 9 and for some reason I'd woken up super early after only a few hours of sleep. After I retrieved him, I then walked for a couple of miles. Did another mile and a half later.

Yeah, point is. Plumb tuckered out. But it's good I walked when I did. We are having WEATHER. My house sounds like I'm inside a popcorn popper. Ping ping ping. Plus a hurricane. It's foul out there.

Hope that everyone had a safe and happy holiday!

Am back. What a trip. ( Cut for length and no-one-caresCollapse )

Walter did well at the boarding section of vet, though I immediately noticed he's got a bare spot on his tushie from chewing on it. He was a good boy, but not unstressed. The cats did okay with stranger coming in, except Pickle who melted down. When I came home she was huddled at the back of a closet and in the spare room - as Roy was eating her food, I advised the sitter to keep Pickle in that room with food, water and box. Not ideal, but that was the only way to guarantee she would get her food and not Piggy McPiggerson.

We are all back to usual, snuggling on sofa. I need to clean house and get laundry done, but due to the delays in travel I didn't get home till 3 AM and somehow awakened at 7:15. I am punchdrunk and not super inclined to move. Still, better have done with it.

December photos to come. This was all too much to dump in that post.

Today I did a spot paint to my kitchen counters, due to dings and stains. I shut the door for a time, then when there were no cats in sight and the paint had mostly dried, I left it open a crack. "What are the chances of all the spots they'd pick, it'd be the one spot with tacky paint?" I thought.

Cue Ms. John. who, yep! Sat her sweet keister right. on. the. tacky. paint.

The other thing I have done today is apply a fresh coat of polish to the hardwoods in the main room. They see a lot of wear and tear due primarily to dog nails. Try as I might I cannot get W's nails to a decent length! He goes every other week for a trim, yet the quick remains long, therefore so do his nails. Anyway, the floors. Again, nary a cat in sight. The actual SECOND I put down a coat and turn my back for another second - Ms. John strolls across the floor and sits casually.

ARGGGGGGHHHHHH!

I don't care about the prints so much, as the potential toxins she'll ingest when cleaning her paws.

Speaking of toxins, W has vomited thrice today. Why? Because the numbskull ate a plastic lid the cats must have knocked onto the floor. Now he sits here looking for me to give him popcorn. Fat chance, boyo!

What a world.

In other news, got my holiday cards in the mail today! They are very cute. Scroll down a couple of posts and leave your name/address in the comment-locked post if you'd like one mailed to you in December.

Ugh, I haven't flown for a couple of years. Now it appears some airlines charge for: carry ons, seat choice, trick you into selecting extras and then refuse to let you remove the extras. It added $100 to the airfare. Are you kidding?

Ho freaking ho.

I was going to book yesterday, when the prices were actually $50 lower - but as fate would have it, my power went out at 5 PM and did not return until 3 AM. I did not have a chance to hop online at work today, soooo. You snooze, you lose double extra.

I interviewed for another position at work today. First interview, it was awkward. We'll see. The pay is greater, so I can afford exorbitant airfare better. Sheesh. That's not even counting the pet boarding* and sitting, and the parking since I have to drive from rural to urban for the airport. I really only miss living in Seattle when it comes to airport access! No lie.


*15/day for cats is not a terrible rate, but multiply by four and then by 10 days. OMG. I can't.

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There was a small package from Chewy.com in my mailbox this evening. I couldn't recall ordering anything. When I opened the packet, I found inside a card and a small gift wrapped in orange tissue - a portrait of Walter!



The cats were quick to remind me they had the Halloween market long before anyone got "clever" and called it Halloweenie. And my Halloweenie doesn't seem to appreciate the likeness though I told him he should be happy they based it on a photo from when he had less gray on his little face, so I shall bring this with me to work. Gotta curb the jealousy.