Monday, October 16, 2023

Happy Monday? I am linking up with Sarah and Holly and I must warn you that I mostly took food photos this weekend! If you are hungry, you may be triggered!

Let’s go back to last Thursday after school…I invited my friend Heather and her golden retriever over for a French happy hour. I made truffle fries with aioli and truffle popcorn and we had French white Bordeaux. So fancy, no? All you do is buy a bottle of truffle oil and then you can be fancy. I feel bad that Ernie is alone on Thursday for a bit more time so this is my compromise. Bring the happy hour to me!

Erica took her mom to Italy for fall break for her mom’s birthday and while there, they did a pasta making class. Guess who benefited? It was Erica’s turn to do our lunch Friday and she made us a lemon pasta for lunch Friday with a….

deconstructed Caprese salad. I was like, is this real life? Could my 20 minute lunch in a student desk BE more decadent?

After a long week, after school, we went to a marina with a Mexican restaurant – random, but wonderful!

Chorizo queso!

We walked down and looked at boats, too. It was a lovely way to start the weekend. I came home and made the family random stuff for dinner but I wasn’t very hungry so I just nibbled a bit.

Saturday morning dawned and it was an Aldi trip and a library trip for me.

Look at all the fall goodies:

I had this on reserve at the library:

And picked up a few more that looked interesting:

I put away groceries, did some chores, ate some lunch, and then I enjoyed the covered patio in the light drizzle. This weekend’s weather was grey and cold. I was most excited about this book, so I started it first!

The highlight of Saturday was Facetiming with Mason for almost an hour while he made brussel sprouts.

He bought them at the farmer’s market. He is so cute! I already see how much he is growing through this experience. And we sent him cash through Western Union, and it was so easy. We also sent his new debit card in the mail. This mama definitely feels better. The bank has not returned all the money yet – $1908 including overdraft fees. But they gave him a “provisional credit” while they work it out with the online gambling site.

I was really lazy Saturday afternoon, but at around 4:30 (a new record?), Tom and I went to Waldo’s for dinner. We brought Jack home a meal and he went to a concert later.

I made a copycat Crumbl for one!

I finished David Beckham. He lays his clothes out for the week, you guys! After watching this, I really like both David and Victoria.

And, I started Lessons in Chemistry.

Sunday morning, I got up and started Don’t Worry, Darling with Harry Styles. I also realized our fridge and freezer weren’t working around this time…

Living like pioneers until we can call a repair man…

I figured I should drink a mimosa so I didn’t waste the oj.

And, in case the repair is too much, we looked at some new models at Lowe’s and Costco.

There’s been a whole lot of adulting this week. Mason’s money crisis, open enrollment for health insurance, and now a fridge on the fritz? Seriously, these are no big deal compared to the very real and very sad state of the world. I feel blessed to have these little adulting tasks, you know?

How was your weekend? Was it also cold and dreary? We hope to take the boat out next weekend and then it will be time to winterize. We hold off as long as we can.

Amy

28 thoughts on “Hello Monday

  1. Oh that Mexican restaurant sounds and looks amazing! So fun 🙂 Sorry the weekend was rainy and cold- we are so used to that here this year so I can sympathize- good luck with the fridge!

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  2. This darn dreary weather. I think we are canceling our Fall trip up north due to rainy weather this weekend and I’m so bummed. That Caprese YUMMINESS! I need to watch that about the Beckham’s and let us know if you like Lessons in Chemistry. Have a great week!

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    1. I love rainy weather if I’m prepared for it but I don’t like to go that many days without sunshine! Shoot on cancelled trips, though! Right? Make the caprese while watching Beckham. Think I’m gonna love Lessons, too!

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  3. Erika’s pasta and salad look amazing! What a special treat for you for lunch. I know you were loving that! I am so glad you got everything with Mason resolved, and that you were able to Facetime with him this weekend. I know that always does your heart good!

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  4. I need to find a good Mexican restaurant! Or maybe I should just go to Mexico!! Have you been? I have friends raving about a place called Playa Carmen.
    Good that you like the grey and drizzling since you’re going to Scotland 😊.
    Oh, the fridge… like pioneers- ha ha! 😆

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    1. Yes! To Mexico! I have been 4 times. Playa del Carmen is great and easy to get to from here. It’s only about a 2.5 hour flight if you can find direct.
      It is good that I like this weather! I guess I won’t see the sun much!

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  5. Good morning Amy. We don’t have Waldo’s in Oregon but it sure looks good. What is your side dish with your chicken sandwich? Glad to hear that Ernie’s doing better. Hope you aren’t without a fridge for too long.

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  6. I so enjoy catching up with you!! You make cold and dreary not-so-bad – I need you in my life to show me what I can do when the sun isn’t out 🙂 Sunday I had a tennis match and all anyone did was complain that the weather was cold and grey and I was like, “but we are outside! We are playing tennis! The Vols barely won yesterday! Let’s be happy!”. Ugh. And then we lost our match so that wasn’t so fun 😦
    Have a great week. Sorry about your fridge – we had to lay out that large expense last year (or maybe two years?) and although it is painful, I really do love a new fridge (ours was really old so it was a treat to modernize). Glad you are getting to talk to your son over the pond so much – must be nice to see him grow in new ways!

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    1. Well, that is so sweet and makes my day! Ha! I hate when people are negative – my friend keeps saying it’s so cold and I’m like put on some socks.
      Yup – it sucks, but it’s an opportunity to start fresh and get a nice new efficient appliance. Our fridge and freezer temps have been a bit off for some time. Ice cream not frozen solid enough for me and the top of the fridge freezing everything. So, it’s ok.

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  7. I’m playing catch up here after being blog absent for about a week due to our doggy woes. I checked out Off the Map from the library this weekend as well! Sorry to hear about Mason’s money situation, but it sounds like it is close to being rectified. How exciting to be spending Christmas in England! It’s on my bucket, next year in London I say every year. I agree with Tanya’s comment about your trip – many pubs, restaurants, historic homes have special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals that absolutely must be booked in advance. Maybe Mason can find a few potential spots in his area and you can check them out online? I’ve seen several restaurants posting their menus with details for bookings. I can’t wait to hear all about your trip!

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    1. Oh, I’m sorry. I really enjoyed the book and hope you do, too. All good with Mason now we think. Thank you! I have a booking for Eve and Day but we don’t want a fancy price fixed meal. I used Open Table.com and then did my own research, too. We just need somewhere to eat and it doesn’t have to be more than a pub. At least I have bookings and if we find something different, I can cancel.
      Thank you!

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  8. So sorry about your refrigerator! Sadly, it seems like appliances just don’t last long anymore. I loved Go as a River so hope you do too!

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  9. Oh, that Italian lunch looks incredible! We had a high of 77 today and tomorrow will be just 75! That is unheard of around here in October! I’m gleeful and might have to wear a sweater tomorrow! I loved Go As a River and gave it 5 stars on GoodReads. I had trouble settling on a book the other day, but I’m reading Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney. So far I’ve found two typos in it, which is surprising because she’s a well- known author, and don’t they have proofreaders? When it rains, it pours! I hope you can get your fridge fixed instead of replacing it. I know appliances breaking is part of life, but I’m guilty of wanting to run out and buy a new one rather than wait for a repair. When our fridge broke, it was a cheap fix and my husband did it himself. I hope the bank resolves that issue soon!

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    1. So good! Wonderful weather! I hate when I find a typo. It looks like it’s a new fridge bc the repair was going to be over$1000. Tom can usually fix our stuff, but not this time. And, the part was the big expense.

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  10. Oh no!!! The fridge!! Appliances are the worst! I hope you can get it fixed quickly and inexpensively!! How wonderful to be facetiming so much with Mason, but I bet you cannot wait to see him in person over Christmas!! I hope the bank gets his account and balance figured out quickly! What did you think about the Trish Doller book? I have really enjoyed her other books that I’ve read. Your school lunch looks amazing! You definitely are the lunch winner with a partner who makes homemade pasta!! Have a great week!

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    1. Thank you! Looks like it’s a new one instead.
      I can’t wait to see him but have two more months. The bank is straightened out! Yay! I loved her book. I like her style. Same! I really was the lunch winner!

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  11. Your French happy hour looks and sounds like great fun. One of our neighbors took a cooking class in Italy, but she hasn’t shared anything with me :-)! I’m so glad you were able to get some money to Mason. But, at least, he’s learning lots of new things…some good and some not so good.

    We just started Lessons in Chemistry. I read the book so long ago, I don’t remember much of it. You will have to let me know what you think of the Don’t Worry Darling movie. There was a lot I just didn’t catch.

    Cold and dreary here in central Indiana. But, I think we’ll have a couple more warm days before the cold sets in.

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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    1. I so enjoyed it and putting it together – I have done it twice now.
      Thank you!
      The Don’t Worry movie is freaking weird. I didn’t get too far. Same!
      Yup – I think it’s going to be 70s next week!

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  12. I watched the first episode of Beckham. I really liked them too. Love the Mason story. So sweet. I need go get to aldis. Hopefully this weekend if not sooner. I hope you have a great week.

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  13. I hope you get the fridge worked out sooner rather than later, big decisions! So nice to facetime with Mason, makes a big difference I’m sure than if you were only able to call. I sure hope the bank gets the money figured out, that is a lot!
    What a great weekend!
    xo,
    Kellyann

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    1. I think I have to wait until Oct. 30 for the one we want. I guess things could be worse! It is my highlight when we can talk. I think the money is all back! It says “provisional” but we think it’s all straightened out.

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