Groupthink

 Well,  the party's over.  The Solstice has passed; there's a frost warning today and Mr is coming home tonight. It was a lovely week and gosh I am happy to be planted here at home for a bit.  My small win is that yesterday, I tackled a long, steep hill. I made it to the top without stopping, slowing, or needing to catch my breath afterwards.  My legs are a bit stiff, but I am pleased nonetheless.  I'll be doing some catching up and buttoning up today.  It's that in-between too warm for winter clothes, too cool for summer clothes. I'll take stock and start making some room though.  Are you winning on this Wednesday?  How's your day looking?

  I'm getting my hair cut (FINALLY!) today; it's been about 23 weeks since my last cut, and I normally go about 9 weeks between trims. It's almost down to my shoulders. I found this while searching for "ai cat getting a haircut", and it made me fart laugh; my highest accolade.

  Happy Monday! It’s time to talk about what you’re reading/watching/listening to. When the seasons change, do you read different types of books or watch different shows? I’m more likely to read a dark academia or suspense book in the fall, it just hits differently. As a chicken with horror, I’m LESS likely to watch or read something scary (those are for the summer).  We are inching into soup and casserole season. What is your favorite type of each? If you have recipe links that’s even better! I haven’t made this since last February, It’s on my meal plan for this week:   https://www.budgetbytes.com/cheesy-chicken-vegetable-rice-casserole/ Currently my favorite soup is matzah ball soup which is new to me (I know, seems ridiculous, just never had it before). I’ve been make the Manischewitz mix at home. My daughter brought a box home after being invited to her Jewish friend’s holiday dinner last spring.

  Good morning, everybody.  It's supposed to be a cool morning so I'm going to take advantage and try to do as many chores as possible. I need to clean the bathroom, do a bit of laundry and I need to give the stove a good scrubbing.That will probably wait until after I meal prep for the week. No point in scrubbing the stove just to get it dirty again right away.  The rest of the day will be spent watching football and loafing with the pups. The week ahead is going to be hectic so I'm enjoying the downtime while I can.  How are you all doing today?

  Happy Saturday night, friends! Sorry for the late post. I needed a little siesta after Pal's delicious omelet & Vanderbilt's insane win in the very last seconds of the game. Now, it's finally movie time. Okay, gotta go. Ruby is giving me sad eyes because I'm two minutes over her hard deadline of a 6pm snackie. 😂 How's it going?

 Happy Weekend! Today is about getting shit done. I am pushing up my sleeves and getting into it.  My goal is to get my dresser out of my room and replace it with the antique desk that lives in the no-man's land between the kitchen and living room.  I love the piece, but it ain't working where it is.  I think it will make a fine "dresser". I am excited to see how it will look in my bedroom.                                              I'll figure out what to do with all the stuff that's accumulated in it later lol.  Hey, you have to start somewhere...  I have a couple of other husband irritating projects in mind as well. I hope to get to at least one more today.   Lastly, I have a beautiful butternut squash and a load of fresh tomatoes that I'm roasting up for dinner later. Bestie's spouse is on the trip with Mr so she'll be joining m...

  Good morning, groupthink! This week felt 100 years long, but it's finally Friday. I have a few errands to run, but it’s an otherwise easy day. I finally finished my set of mini paint by numbers flowers. It's my new favorite thing! Next up, either butterflies or tarot cards. You can definitely tell which ones I painted first, lol. Fuck yeah for new hobbies. We've been invited out for tiki drinks &, later, a friend's band is playing. On the one hand, I do like the tiki spot. But on the other, not leaving my house to pay for expensive drinks & parking in the gross weather also sounds just fine. 😂 Pretty sure it's not going to happen.  As for fuck its, where do you begin? Abolish ICE. Leave trans people alone, you fucking weirdos. Impeach Whiskey Pete, Fuck war, too. The list is endless. Early voting for the midterms starts today in Virginia. LFG! 💙 How are you? 

  I have a chiropractor appointment today, and it's in the same neighbourhood as health food store where I can get the peanut butter I like and a few other things, so I'll some shopping on the way home. What's everybody else up to?

 Good morning!  Gosh it's been busy here.  I am happily heading back to Canada this evening.  I'm meeting Mr at the airport Hilton.  He's flying out to Vegas in the morning, so I'll take the truck back to the shire.  I am ready for things to get back to their usual ebb and flow. Wins:  The bras I brought for mom fit her comfortably. She hss been doing without for a looong time. It wasn't good.   My niece came down with her new baby, and it was a lovely visit.  My boy and I had dinner together last night. He is so very happy with life right now. It's nice to see it. And did I mention I'm going home?!   How's your Wednesday looking?

  I have one small errand to run today, but otherwise I have no plans. I may do some gardening if the weather permits. How about everybody else?

Happy Monday! I hope fall vibes are kicking in. If all has gone to plan I made an apple crisp yesterday, which is definitely a #1 fall food. I also love when the fresh crop of apples come in. Can’t wait. What are you reading/watching/listening to this week? I just started Adversary to the Villain, the latest book in a great series. Also watching Ted Lasso (the new season is surprisingly good), and the latest Strange New Worlds. Anyone watch the Silo finale? What an ending! And a preview for next season? Amazing.

  Good morning, everyone. Happy Sunday! I'm writing this post on Saturday night because I'm really hoping to sleep in. I've been waking up way too early this week and I need to break the cycle before it gets worse. Poor sleep on top of everything else is a recipe for disaster for me.  How are y'all doing today? Any fun plans for the day? On my end, I'll just be meal prepping some burritos for my grandma and putting up some more Halloween decor. I want to put the lights up around the exterior of the house, but it's too hot for that right now. Maybe I'll save that for next weekend.  What's going on with y'all?

 Happy Saturday night, groupthink! Sorry for the late post. I took another epic nap while watching the Vanderbilt game. It was good luck, lol. We're throwing a pizza in the oven for dinner. Very gourmet! How are you? What's for dinner?

 Here we are at the weekend again.  How do they come around so quickly sometimes? I am just back from a Friday night viewing of Practical Magic 2 and full of love for that DIL of mine and appreciation for female bonds.  I am also full of a giant coke that I made the mistake of choosing after sundown so I suspect that it will not be a good sleep tonight.   This weekend is about time with mom and getting some things done around here to ease dad's load a little.  There will also be a lovely, yeasty apfelkuchen made. I think it's been a long time since dad's come home to dinner and a little treat. We'll be watching a dumb show or two and having asparagus with dinner.   How's your vagenda shaping up?

  Happy Friday, groupthink! I'm waking up & still figuring things out so my fuck yeahs/fuck its will appear later. How are you? How's the weekend looking? No plans at all for us & we're pleased. :) What's happening?

  I'm having lunch downtown with one of my friends from work, and one of our patrons that we've kept in touch with. After lunch, I'll see if I feel like doing anything else downtown while I'm there. How's everybody else?

 I'm off to the gynecologist this morning because your girl knows how to party.   Talk amongst yourselves please and I'll be checking in later! 

  Now that my earplugs have arrived, and we're passed the long weekend, I can start to move on things like scheduling a hair cut, and making an appointment to talk to my doc about laser eye surgery. What's everybody else doing?

It's Labor/Labour Day!  It's still raining here so I will be doing the indoor chores today.  I'll make that apple coffee cake too, I think.   Since it is Monday, I'll ask what are you watching/eating/listening to and what you might be reading.   We're watching Lioness and I quite like this season.  It's finally delivering on its potential. I also finally bit the bullet and subscribed to the History Hit podcast.  I'm tired of seeing those "Members Only" episodes that I can't access right away.  I need instant podcast gratification! Dinner last night at bestie's interesting, as always.  Her plates are always a mish-mash of things she likes to eat. They do not necessarily go together though.  For instance, one dinner was steak, fresh pasta with marinara and steamed carrots.  Last night was a meatball/braised beef combo with a rich brown sauce, boiled potatoes, broccoli-slaw, fresh beans and beets.  It was nice but also confus...

  Good morning, GT. Happy Sunday!  I sure do love a Sunday before a holiday. One more day of relaxation without having to worry about getting up early for work the next day. So lovely.  I was thinking about putting up some Halloween decorations this morning, but we’re supposed to get some rain so that will have to wait until tomorrow. Instead, I’ll shop around online for a gift for my neighbor. I LOVE buying gifts for kids and she’s turning 7 which is a fun age to shop for. She loves everything girly so I think I’m going to do a little crossbody bag with some hair accessories, squishy and a few other little goodies. That’s about all I’ll be doing today.  How are you all doing today? Any fun plans for the day?   

  Happy Saturday night, groupthink! We're out of the house having drinks & nibbles. So proud of us, honestly. What's up?

 It's Labour/Labor Day for Canada and the U.S.  I'm spending my long, rainy weekend nailing down trip prep because it's back-to-back appointments for me until I leave on Thursday.   It's a lot but I won't complain about having healthcare and the means to travel both for leisure and family commitments.  And I am so very glad that my dad is taking a few days away.  Being a primary caregiver 24/7 is too much for anyone!   Today I am going to make a coffee cake. The recipe is TBD but it will for sure have apples.  It's the right kind of weather for cozy treats and a bit of enjoying being "stuck" at home.  What's on the vagenda this weekend?  Are you rained in or do you have some sunny weather plans?

 It's the first Friday of September!  Kid Phoebe would be going to mass, along with the rest of the school, in our little plaid uniforms.  The story goes that after nine in a row, god will be nicer to you in the afterlife. So there's that. If only we knew... Alright, let's get to it.   Can I switch it up just a bit with a what the fuck please?   I am so very freaked out about the US food supply's safety!  I'll be hitting the farm stands the morning after my arrival next week. And maybe offer the kids some funds to help them get safer groceries?  IDK.  Is that extra or wise? What the fuck? Fuck colds and allergies.  I lost an entire week to this last affliction.  I do not have the time right now. Fuck cancer. 'Nuff said.   Fuck Yeah: Mom is ready for a hospital bed. The millennial grandkids are showing up to shuffle furniture and help with set up.  It's a comfort to know that there's an army ready and willing to a...

  I have a chiro appointment this morning, and I'm hoping she can do something with my right arm and hip, which have both been bothering me all summer; I think it was all the driving and the extended hours in the car. What's everybody else doing today?

 Hello there!  Can you believe that it's September?  This feels like the summer that never was.  Are you feeling the fall vibes yet?   My girls' outing was cancelled so that's my win for today.    I am hoping to kick this bug soon (she says again ...) and get ready for my trip next week.   How's Wednesday looking? 

The forecast says that it will continue rainy for another couple of days, which means no gardening for me, and the garden is in desperate need of weeding, since A) it's been a good season for plants, and B) I've been away for most of the summer. It's looking pretty wild at the back. What's everybody else doing on this first day of September?