Friday, September 11, 2026

It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since 9/11. I talked about it in my Spanish classes every year after 2001 so that the kids would have some understanding of that day, for what it was worth. It’s also my dad’s birthday so I like to take some time to reflect on his life and do something he would appreciate. He would have been 84 today but he passed at 76. Wednesday night I got some really sweet messages from his co-pilot about things that she remembers about him. My mom’s birthday is Sunday and she would have been 84, as well. They were the same age with birthdays two days apart! I will take some time to remember her on Sunday, too.

Sorry to start off on that note, but I’m getting to the place where I feel more joy to have had great parents than sadness that they’re gone, if that makes sense. Remembering and talking about them keeps them present, if that makes sense.

I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika today to share some favorites from my week.

What makes a good week in my retiree life? Some productivity, some social time, some outdoor time, moving my body, enjoying my dog, cooking, reading, tv, time with Tom, and so much more! I think I had that this week!

I had a nice happy hour one day with friends Beth and Becky. I had a really good raspberry limoncello spritz:

We split some fries and spinach dip:

This is one of my favorite happy hour spots called Osteria. It was hot but felt pretty good on the covered patio with fans going.

I popped into a shop called Gather before the happy hour. It’s a really lovely home and gift store.

I got a fun long match matchbox and a little ghost dish. I have a jack o’ lantern dish that is about the same size. Jen got me into matchboxes!

I also bought myself a ring:

It is stretchy and waterproof and it wasn’t expensive. I liked how it looked!

I enjoyed a homemade Biscoff cookie sundae one night this week. I used some caramel sauce and crushed up two cookies. Highly recommend! Maria’s influence is what inspired this!

I have a big stack of books but one is about WWII and the others didn’t really appeal to me right now so I started this book. I have some issues with it but it’s kind of cute. How is that for a review?

Ok, this is worth sharing. Do you like the Chick Fil A kale salad? I found a copycat recipe and it just requires kale and cabbage and then a dressing. I don’t like nuts so I leave the almonds out. I did put in pumpkin seeds.

This was a good little lunch one day!

Kirkland’s is not a place I usually think to shop. I inventoried my fall stuff and made a list like a good girl. I determined I could get a new front door doormat. I chose this one. The shape is odd but I liked it. I had a choice between this or one that said “welcome” and I didn’t want to send the wrong message, so I went with the plain one.

Also, Tom has moved the bow up to the glass part of the door. We need to re-stain our door, I know.

I found heavy duty Swiffer cloths and now I have found an even better one called “hair magnet”. Love! Eddie Otis sheds more than our other two labs did. I push this around daily and then…I go ahead and replace the cloth so it’s ready for next use. Duh, Amy. I also use a traditional broom and dustpan and a vacuum but this really seems to do the best job on the dog hair on the hard surfaces.

I have enjoyed my 8.5 x 11 sized 2026 agenda book so much that I decided to get the same one for 2027. It’s under $10!

It has a monthly calendar and then you have ample space in each day to write your to do lists. I look at each day and then write a list on a notepad and work my way through it. I love agenda books, notebooks, notepads, good pens, and crossing shizz off!

It wouldn’t be a blog post without a weather report! We have had some mornings that feel like fall lately! We have a few crispy leaves on the ground!

I bought Trader Joe’s already cooked balsamic chicken and used it in the TikTok pasta recipe – grape tomatoes, spinach, half a thing of Boursin (I think whole is too much), garlic and olive oil. Bake all that at 400 for 20-30 minutes. I added pasta water from my angel hair and then mixed and added balsamic vinegar. Restaurant quality.

I am learning how to cook for two so that we don’t have leftovers or too many leftovers.

Seriously. What is it with men and their throat clearing?

Mason sent me this photo of his dorm balcony in Santa Fe. I told him it looks like a resort.

He didn’t take his car and we are storing it. This car used to be my mom’s. Kate got a van of my dad’s, Molly got another van of my dad’s, and we got my mom’s car. Mia drove the van to visit me this summer and it was nostalgic to see it.

Some fun this week…

Chat GPT – it’s not just for humans.

I told it to “make EO more glam” from this photo:

Eddie Otis’ new profile pic for the canine dating apps:

I also glammed up Tom:

And me:

I made myself a redhead:

I shopped a consignment store and found the perfect Thanksgiving shirt:

Hehe – no, I didn’t buy it!

EO loves to “help” Tom in the yard. This is how he helped when Tom was on the garage roof blowing leaves:

What made you smile this week? What were your favorites?

Amy

25 thoughts on “Friday Favorites”

  1. You’re ready for the Real Housewives of Louisville with those photos, lol! Your husband looks like he could be POTUS on a TV show!! And EO would have his pick of the litter on a doggie dating app (course they’d all be glammed up so there may be some cat, er, dog fishing going on!!). Your week looks like a good one-thanks for the shout out! I have been influenced by many people’s blog posts covering a wide variety of topics from meals, to travel destinations, to books to items to buy at Kroger’s, etc. I’m glad you talked to your students about 9/11. You have many reminders of loved ones lost this week. I do think that talking about them helps to keep their memories alive and it’s one of the best things we can do to show how much we cared about them and miss them. Sending hugs :).

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  2. Working in a stone quarry my husband sucks up stone dust all day long so his throat clearing is constant.. as is his coughing. It’s definitely a hazard of the job. I have and love those same swiffer pads; though with the two boys off at college I don’t really need them much anymore. They both have long(ish) hair and tend to shed quite a bit– or at least it’s more noticeable with the longer hair.

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      1. He occasionally wears a respirator/mask depending on what job he’s doing but he does not wear one all the time as it would be much too hot and isn’t considered “necessary” for open pit mining.

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  3. I thought it was only my Dad that cleared his throat…..apparently not. My husband does it! It’s like living with my Dad all over. Is there a saying you marrying someone like your Dad?

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  4. Love your AI shots- they are fab! Love that Chic Fil A salad- have combined it with an 8 piece nugget and chic fil a sauce for a healthy and yummy lunch!

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  5. What a lovely week, Amy. I really liked what you said about your parents and how you’re getting to the point where the happy memories are starting to outweigh the sadness. The Biscoff sundae looks SO good! Eddie Otis looks very handsome and would be a hit on a dating app. My husband clears his throat and laughs so loud that the sound bounces off the walls and into my ears!

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    1. Thank you! I bet you can relate to that. I honestly don’t think a day goes by that I don’t think of both of them. There are so many reminders throughout my days. I am a big fan of Biscoff cookies and it was delish! Thank you. Do you think he would get all the canine females? Men are loud! My husband sneezes loudly and talks on the phone loudly, too!

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  6. Sending love and hugs. Thinking of you today while you remember your dad and your mom. It sounds like you had a good mix of things going on during the week. It sounds like a great happy hour and that store looks so cute. I love your new doormat and wreath! Aww! Eddie Otis looks so fancy his glammed up photo!

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  7. my grandson arrived 9-6-26!!!! He is perfect and mama and daddy are settling in!! Gigi can’t get enough of him. First grandbaby and what everyone says is so true: there is absolutely nothing better! Happy heavenly birthday to your dad and to your mom. I wish my dad were here to see Cooper! He would be over the moon !!

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    1. That is a great date for a birthday – my twins’ is the day before. I bet you are just obsessed. Taylor is lucky to have you and I think in the same town or close? Thank you! I bet he would.

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  8. Big hugs to you on the birthdays of your dad and mom ❤️ I have been reading several articles about Todd Beamer and his wife. Both such courageous people. I’m also remembering all those who lost their lives on 9/11 and whose lives were changed by it. 😥Thanks for showing those Swiffer pet hair cloths. I could definitely use those!! ChatGPT is so much fun! I love your glamour pics! 😆

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  9. I buy those same planners, getting mine from Amazon. And we could be twinsies, as that is exactly how I use mine – consult the calendar, make the list. I so would have bought that tee shirt!! I’m glad of glad the week is over – I am ready to switch gears and go to work.

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    1. Aren’t they great? People tell me I’m efficient and organized but I’m really just winging it with the help of that system. I should have – it could have at least been a morning cooking shirt – lol.

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  10. Seriously…you should dye your hair red! You look absolutely stunning in that color! Of course, should you decide you didn’t like it and had to grow it out, the process would not be fun. Maybe try some fashion colors like I do! I’m glad you’re feeling this way about your parents. I was so lucky to have the time I did with each, and I look back and realize just how idyllic my childhood was. A lot of that had to do with them. Thanks for making me remember that.

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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    1. I have never had the desire to go red! I just want the skin and makeup that Chat gave me. I don’t think I could ever do any fashion colors, either. Neither of those things feel like me. I think our parents live on in our habits, our attitudes, our traditions, and so much more. Aww, you’re welcome.

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  11. I love the AI glow up pics! I did that for my bookstagram profile pic, and I swear it increased my followers! Loved hearing about your Friday Faves!

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