Oatmeal and Whimsy: a nest for the soul: August 2022

Saturday, August 27, 2022

Lazy crazy hazy days of summer

Hello there, Lovely friends,

As my former coworkers head back to their classrooms, I have decided to truly learn something myself... not sure what that might be yet. I have some ideas, but... they all take work and commitment... imagine that!?

For one, I'm getting caught up to my college levels of Spanish with Duolingo. Lots of lessons to go! I paid for that so I don't have to fight the ads... I'm planning to start watching something in Spanish, but I'm afraid I'll be lost! In College Señor Alvarez taught us with his slow, Peruvian, easy pace. Most Spanish speakers are lightning fast.

The one time I ever really used my Spanish in a pinch was in 1979... we had car trouble in El Paso, and a nice man let us ride in the very back of his station wagon. I told him we would love a lift to the closest garage. However, he left us at a roadside restaurant!... I think his wife was telling him off for picking us up as hitchhikers. I heard her saying we could be thieves or murderers. Their children might be our next victims! So... who knows why he left us there. Surely it couldn't have been my silver tongue!

My son's birthday is next week. I have a couple really cool gifts. But I also think I have a couple duds... guys are so hard to buy for! He still codes for Little Caesar's, but unlike last year, or nearby town now has a franchise. I'm looking forward to that for a surprise. It's our first trial of the menu.

Some friends came out and we had a little porch picnic. One brought us a homemade apple pie! Oh yum! Are you guys pie bakers? Her crusts are fabulous. It takes me back to my grandmother's apple pie. I need to stop thinking about it! Pies are kinda loud!

I've got a long way to go, decorating for Fall. This is one year everyone seems to be ready. Who would have thought I'd be telling myself it is my last Autumn with teeth! Lol... How priorities do change.

In September we're getting new flooring in our laundry room. The ceramic tile we had installed 5 years ago didn't do well... eventually all four rooms of our renovation will have to be redone... 2 more after this... (different contractor, of course!)

Oops! It's getting light outdoors here at 6:15... I have monkeyed around all night... Almost time to get up. Apple pie breakfast? We'll have to see.

Have a fun week.

Friday, August 19, 2022

wow!

Talk about self fulfilling prophecy! It's me. OV to Dentist was fine. I'm needing to get all teeth removed soon with a surgeon. No offense... but that xray business cost $256 to tell me what I already knew.

As for the day....

I, unfortunately, fell... not once, but twice in their parking lot...

For. Ever. More! I fell first on my knees and shoulder in front of my car door... Then I tried to get up, and my knees said..."Not today!"... so I "sat" pretty fast on the pavement. 2 dentists and 3 technicians were kind of circled around yelling.. "Are you ok?"

Been better... thanks! I just had a bit o' trouble. BEEP! Beep!

[not my kitties! In pics]

I was so glad to get home!

Thursday, August 18, 2022

Silly Rabbit... Trix are for Kids

A long time ago I remember watching cartoons and "funny" ads with such a different response than most of my friends. I wanted Tom and Jerry to stop@! Just quit living like that. I couldn't bear the Roadrunner. I really felt the pain every gosh darned time Wile E. Coyote hit a wall painted to look like a tunnel. And I would have given the bunny a bowl of Trix! And Charlie some tuna!

I learned in college about the theories of comedy. Regeneration is huge... the same thread that causes a person to laugh at a sexual joke is the impetus for the humor behind the coming back to life humor in many cartoons and now all those FAIL tictocs..tactics...

I really still don't like that kind of humor... I do have a funny bone, and I love to laugh. But just not at that Jerry Lewis, falling down in a manhole, kind of crap...

More power to ya if you're amused by all this. Anything that makes us laugh is fine... just not my cup of tea...

Today is my evaluation at the Dentist. I could save myself the cash... they all need to come out. My teeth are just reprehensible... a combination of too many antibiotics as a child and avoidance of good care through the years has created a perfect storm0. Then I was a care giver and then there was a Pandemic. Oh, also I don't navigate. At all... yep. By the way, should you ever actually need an excuse for ANYTHING, count on my expertise!

As usual I've been a big baby about it. I mean my dear friends! They are amazing! They've been calling to check on me! I feel kind of embarrassed. Most people go out in public so much and don't get the time of day for a little old appointment! It's kind of like Lazarus coming forth when I leave the house!

Well, my appointment is at one p.m. I have four hours to do all the things I've procrastinated for the six weeks I've had this monumental roadblock lurking in my future... I honestly wish all of it would be done today with the teeth all out and gone...

My gramma used to have chopper hoppers for night time Î. When I stayed all night with her, she'd take out those teeth and chase me all over the house screaming, "I'll gum you to death! Come back here!" I thought she would definitely do it! I was delighted!

Thanks for listening!

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Have you never been mellow?

I HAVE NOT MOVED AWAY OR DROPPED OFF THE PLANET. Good news for me, at least! Sorry for my long absence. Just thought I might spare you from more of the same... clutter-busting and moaning and muttering about the shock of inevitability...

How are you? I have been following any posts and enjoying all your activities. Lazy Saturday morning here. I am going to make these:

Peach cobbler muffins

Ingredients

For the muffins:

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup white sugar

1 cups chopped fresh (or canned) peaches

1/2 cup whole milk

1 egg

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

For the streusel topping:

1/4 cup all purpose flour

3 tablespoons white sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter

Instructions

For the muffins:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a large muffin tin with 12 muffin cups.

Add the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar to a large bowl and whisk together to combine.

Add the peaches and stir well to coat.

Add the milk, egg, oil and vanilla extract, and stir together with a rubber spatula just until the flour disappears.

Portion the batter out into the muffin cups evenly (about 3/4 full).

For the topping:

Combine the flour, sugar and cinnamon and baking powder in a small bowl and stir.

Add the cold butter in chunks and break it up with your fingers in the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.

Top the muffins with a spoonful of the streusel topping.

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into one of the muffins comes out clean.

Notes

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

I am on a mission to use up every bit of the vegetables my son bought me. He had a friend go to Amish country and buy a big bag of corn, cucumbers, zucchini, and peaches... Oh, and

TOMATOES!!!!!

One afternoon he casually told me I had an order on the porch. I have been trying not to buy much so that made me wonder. I have frozen some corn for the first snow. That came from a friend.

I have been reading a little. I guess I stopped my avid reading I had done my whole life when my cataracts were interfering. I just didn't enjoy the one eye for distance and one for reading after surgery. However, reading was on my summer list. And then Voila! my dear friend bought me three Sharon Garlough Brown books, Sensible Shoes, Shades of Light. and Feathers of Hope, all Christian fiction.

So I finished two, reading a lot on my porch... She is a really good author. I like these a lot... Also started a couple other books that have captured my imagination...

I would love to hear what you like to read. My friend also gave me shoes, a great purse, and this lamp and Van Gogh canvas, the mug and many goodies. I was spoiled!... So pretty...

I revisited an old movie favorite last night. Baby BOOM! I loved seeing that younger Diane Keaton, James Spader (what a baby!) and a couple others... I really hadn't seen it since my baby was young in the late 80's... I felt younger while watching it... I looked up that darling Elizabeth. She was played by twins and that was their only movie. Both are teachers! I read they decided to surprise Diane Keaton at one of her book signings. They just showed up and threw down a picture of that baby ...asking for an autograph... Slowly Diane added up just who these women were, and she jumped up and hugged them! Delightful!

Weren't you all sad to hear our sweet Olivia Newton-John passed away? My first thoughts were of this song:

Have you never been mellow?

There was a time
When I was in a hurry as you are
I was like you
There was a day
When I just had to tell my point of view
I was like you

Now I don't mean to make you frown
No, I just want you to slow down

Have you never been mellow?
Have you never tried
To find a comfort from inside you?

Have you never been happy
Just to hear your song?
Have you never let someone else be strong?

Running around as you do
With your head up in the clouds
I was like you
Never had time to lay back
Kick your shoes off, close your eyes
I was like you

Now you're not hard to understand
You need someone to take your hand, hey

Have you never been mellow?
Have you never tried
To find a comfort from inside you?

Have you never been happy
Just to hear your song?
Have you never let someone else be strong?

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: John Farrar