D is for Delicious

or D is for Pictures of Delicious Food

I had a Pub Salad. It was delicious.

Last weekend, Ward and I met Wally for lunch to celebrate Wally's birthday and Ward's retirement. We were at an Irish Pub, and each of us got a delicious meal. Before we started to eat, Wally asked if I wanted to take a picture of my food since that seemed to be the thing to do. I said sure, why not.

I was indifferent to the question because I'm not in the habit of photographing my food to share on social media. It just doesn't interest me that much, but I may be in the minority. Food pictures seem to be everywhere. Also, I've noticed that attitudes have changed about it. Several years ago, I had conversations with various people who said it was ridiculous that people were sharing pictures of what they were eating. Their attitude was, "Who cares?" Now some of these same people share what they are eating -especially if it's a meal out. 

I won't say that I've never taken a picture of food and shared it on social media. I have done that on occasion here, but it is usually in the form of some kind of produce from the garden or a picture to go with a rare recipe that I post. If you look back through this blog, you may see more photos of rotten food than anything else from my longtime participation in the Frugal Girl's Food Waste Friday posts.

A photo from a Food Waste Friday post. Not a Delicious food picture.

So you may wonder where the pictures are of Wally's and Ward's delicious meals? Their pictures didn't turn out. I guess if I'm going to join the rest of the world and share photos of food, I need more practice. :)

Do you enjoy seeing what others are eating? Do you like to share pictures of what you're eating?

Until next time...

C is for Construction Update

 If you read here very often, you know that we are in the middle of a kitchen remodel. In addition to the kitchen, we are having a few other things done that we've been meaning to get to since we moved in. Ward and I have a history of fixing up places right before we sell them - sometimes just for the sale, or sometimes we only seem to get around to things right before it's time to move. So we're trying to do it differently with this house and fix things up so we can enjoy them. We've done a fair amount to our house so far, but much of the earlier work was either done before we moved in or outside, minimalizing the effects on our daily lives. Not so this time. But there is an end in sight even if the project is taking longer than anticipated. We should be done by June if the supply chains behave themselves.

It's been three weeks since I've shown any pictures, so here are a few if you are keeping track. Still, not much of the pretty stuff to show, but we are getting good work behind where the pretty stuff will be.

This window got reframed to include a wider sill. It will be above the sink, and I hoped to have a place to put a plant or two. We shall see. Since they had to leave room for the faucet, it didn't turn out as wide as I had hoped. 

The pocket door to the pantry has been installed as well as new drywall over the pocket part. This door came from an opening into the kitchen from the garage. We never closed it, so we repurposed it for the pantry. That way, there didn't have to be a big search to find a door that matched the others. I don't know if they will take it out to paint it or not.

They have taken the washer and dryer out several times, and the last couple of times, I thought the clothes were coming out of the washer warm, especially for a cold water rinse. Unfortunately, the water lines had been installed backward, so Ward changed them and put up a label to help when they have to move them again.

They are changing the door frame to the basement to a cased opening. We took this door off soon after moving in because it was in an impossible place where three different doors interfered with each other. They used Bondo to fill the holes in this area and the pantry door.

The repainted vanity and the new top have been installed. The faucet will be installed when the plumber comes to put in the toilet.

The wainscotting has been reinstalled around the new opening into the kitchen. Luckily, they were able to make the new configuration work. In addition, you may notice the new air filter Ward built. It is helping with the dust somewhat.

Until next time...

B is for Bubba

Have you ever met someone famous? I have. Sort of. Here's my story.

I was a twenty-something and in Houston for business. It was Sunday afternoon, and I was at the desk waiting to check into the Residence Inn near the Astrodome. There was already a man at the counter and several staff people behind it. Shortly, someone noticed me and, after getting my name, introduced me to the other customer. They said, "Miss Ingram. This is Bubba. Bubba Knight." I stared blankly, and they said, "You know, of Gladys Knight and the Pips." Then I knew who she was talking about. Or at least, I knew who Gladys was and knew she had Pips backing her up, but I didn't realize that Bubba was Gladys's brother and a Pip. They were performing at the Houston Rodeo the next night, and Bubba was the advance man checking in. If I had been paying attention, I might have noticed that there was something different about the other customer because Bubba was wearing a purple suit. Anyway, I asked Bubba for an autograph, and we both went along our way. 

When I arrived at my room, I found it was already occupied by two other men. I said there must have been a mix-up, and I would get another room. They were sorry for my trouble and invited me to dinner that night to make up for it. They were cooking something in their room. (Residence Inns are suite hotels with full kitchens.) They seemed nice, but I exercised caution and decided it was best for me not to have dinner with two strange men in their hotel room. Later I encountered them on one of the walkways and found out that they were high school friends of Gladys and her brother, Bubba, and Gladys and Bubba were at the dinner that night I was invited to. Oh, well. The next morning I saw Gladys at breakfast in her purple silk jacket. She looked sleepy, so I didn't approach her. 

That's my story. I was friendly with Gladys Knight's high school friends, I got her brother, Bubba's autograph, and I saw Gladys, up close and personal although I didn't talk to her. I'm not sure if any one of those things counts by themselves, but I think they all add up to one decent celerity encounter. :)

Have you had any encounters with someone famous?

A is for April

 April is here, and time for Wally's birthday, Easter, Earth Day, and the A-Z Blogging Challenge, when I will attempt to publish a post every day in April except for Sundays. This conveniently comes out to 26 days-one for every letter of the alphabet.

I first participated in this challenge in 2015 and have continued every year except for 2017 and 2020. In 2017, I was involved with my elderly mother's care, and, well, we all know April 2020 was when COVID began terrorizing the world. Both years were stressful times, and I don't know if I even thought about the A-Z challenge. But the other years, I have usually made a last-minute decision, like this year, to participate. If you read here often, you know that I am not a prolific blogger, and halfway through April, I suffer from blogging fatigue big time during the challenge. Last year, I thought I might do better with a theme, so I chose fruits and vegetables. However, I still had problems coming up with content, even with a theme. But I like to finish things, so I have always battled through to the end. And the interesting thing is that some of my favorite posts were written during these challenges.

So here it goes. Join me if you like.

This and That

 It's been over a week since I checked in, so it's time, I guess. But I'm not feeling it. I have been having a general feeling of unease and tiredness recently and am not motivated to do much, including blogging. Part of the reason for this is construction fatigue, especially knowing that it will be at least 2 more months before we can begin to put the house back in order. And the other factor is that Ward is formally retiring this week. An event that is welcomed by both of us but is a major life change nonetheless. Changes invigorate some people. Not me. They fill me with anxiety even when I know they are good ones. But experience has taught me that change is desirable and necessary and will be worth whatever growing pains it causes.

In the meantime, we have joined a gym. Ward will be losing his gym at work and wants a place to take exercise classes. He thrives in classes and has better success with regular exercise when it is scheduled. I'm not a gym person, but I have joined him and am slowly dipping my toe in. The gym seems well run with a lot to offer. I have been trying different classes and finding all are challenging in one way or another. But Zumba and circuit training classes have been the favorites so far. Zumba because it is a very friendly atmosphere, and circuit training because it involves working all major muscle groups. 

The weather has been cold, rainy, and windy, so I haven't spent much time in the yard. There is more of that to come in the next few days, but spring is here, and we will slowly have more warm days than cold. The few vegetable plants I had planted survived a couple of hard freezes with protection, and I may plant some more things soon. Still deciding what that might be, but the top contenders are carrots and lettuce.

So I have told you about how I am unmotivated and tired these days, so I question my sanity when I say that I am considering doing the April A-Z challenge. I have no themes and feel like I don't have anything to say, but I do love a challenge. So I may start, and there's no penalty if I don't do it.

How are things in your neck of the woods?