what did you do today? (2008-2015) (closed)

[Walt34]

Well then, that makes it a good investment for you regardless of what the others think.

[grasshopper]

Ms G and I, an 4 dogs went on a back canyon hike in the backyard. I think it is about time for me to think about hearing aids. The dogs alerted Ms G to a Black-tailed rattlesnake on the path I was cruising down, never heard it. I have BT rattlers on the higher places on the homestead, that's just rocks and rattlesnakes, so I don't get out there much. These snakes are much better camouflaged then Diamond-backs which are down around the house. Most folks say that BT are tamer than DB, tame like a land mine, I think they mean. We picked another way around as to not disturb government property, since the snake was in a designated wilderness and we were the interlopers.

Happy trails, grasshopper

[Gumby]

I had an unexpected day off from w*rk today, since my office is being moved -- a dry run for retirement, if you will.

I slept late, went to get my hair cut, took my clothes to the drycleaner (which I usually do on Saturday morning), scrubbed down the bathroom, did a load of laundry, ate lunch at McDonalds, shopped at Goodwill (bought a new stereo receiver for $10), putzed around on the computer, planned dinner, went to the grocery and wine store, came home and made dinner for the young wife -- veal saltimbocca with oven roasted potatoes and the last of the green beans from our garden.

[MBAustin]

Today was a perfect ER day. Went to a breakfast retirement party for the CFO at United Way where I'm on the board (it's actually his 2nd retirement, he's a good bit older than I am). Then on to our first session of a local university's continuing ed program for folks like us - my first lecture was on the history of photography, DH went to one on the Dead Sea Scrolls, then both of us went to one about historic elections in the USA. We skipped the afternoon lecture and I used the time productively for a long nap. DH wanted to check out iPhone5 cases at the local big box store (his phone arrived on Wednesday but he hasn't yet activated it) and I wanted to pick up something at the mall, so we headed out for a quick trip. When we got back, called to check in with my Mom since my sister is away this week, she's doing great and turned off the veep debate last night about the same time I did. (Much better to watch the Orioles beat the Yankees!) DS just texted us that he had a good job interview trip today (he's a college senior) and we are heading out to dinner with several other couples from our church in a few minutes. ER Rocks!

[NW-Bound]

Yesterday, we went to visit my daughter at her work place and to see her office, then to go with her to lunch.

Today, my daughter had a day off, and asked me to go with her to Home Depot to help her with some ideas for planting and re-landscaping the courtyard of her townhome. I also needed to get some mortar to fix up a section of the block fence in my backyard. It was good to see my daughter getting "domesticated", so I was glad to help.

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gumby I had an unexpected day off from w*rk today, since my office is being moved -- a dry run for retirement, if you will. I slept late, went to get my hair cut, took my clothes to the drycleaner (which I usually do on Saturday morning), scrubbed down the bathroom, did a load of laundry, ate lunch at McDonalds, shopped at Goodwill (bought a new stereo receiver for $10), putzed around on the computer, planned dinner, went to the grocery and wine store, came home and made dinner for the young wife -- veal saltimbocca with oven roasted potatoes and the last of the green beans from our garden.

Just reading that list and I'm ready for a nap. In retirement that's a weeks worth, not a day.

[freebird5825]

I awoke to a chily morning - 31F. Brrrrrrr
I made Mr B and I some buttermilk crepes - thinner batter and cooked in the classic crepe style. I added a few pieces of smoked maple BACON to the feast. yum yum....

I checked on my plants in the enclosed porch. Most of the pepper plants were wilted, so I harvested the fruits and cut down the plants for the compost.

I just had to play with my food...photo 1, Peppers in Paradise.

Then the other side of my brain kicked in...photo 2, Peppers on Parade.

Now I KNOW I'm losing it.

[Nords]

Due to a self-imposed awkward schedule and rush-hour traffic, I was out of the house from 10:45 AM until 8:15 PM-- including both lunch and dinner out and a change of clothes. I probably put 75 miles on the car and drove most of the lengths of all of our state's "interstate" highways.

I confirmed that I am still an introvert with a capital "I". Everything went well and I got a lot done, but I can't believe that I used to live like that.

I look forward to not leaving the house again until Monday's dawn patrol.

[antmary]

Saturday house cleaning for me today...laundry is going; just finished the kitchen and bathrooms; next is vacuuming. I hate vacuuming because of the noise, but I'll just do it because I'm too cheap (er, frugal) to hire a housekeeper - checked on ER site to put it off for a few minutes. OK, here I go....

[NW-Bound]

Speaking of home-grown veggie, here's my bride holding one of our proud squashes. It's called luffa, and according to Wikipedia, "the fruit of at least two species, Luffa acutangula and Luffa aegyptiaca (Luffa cylindrica), is grown, harvested before maturity, and eaten as a vegetable, popular in Asia and Africa." I don't know what type we grow.

Yes, it is indeed edible, if picked young. It took us a bit of experimentation to determine the optimum time to harvest. If left to full maturity for seeds, it becomes sponge squash, and if eaten, will guarantee to scrub out all of your polyps and then some , but I am sure we all already surmise that.

The one in the picture turns out OK, edible and sweet in a stir fry with absolutely no hint of the sponge matrix that it would have become if left alone. So why do we want to wait so long? Because these thinggies grow 1" in length a day, and we like to watch them get bigger! Yes, I measured a couple everyday this week and their growth is astounding. But if you wait too long, you lose.

The trellis that I built for my bride for the vine to spread out on really helps, I think. My bride thought so too. That gives me a lot of brownie points, I tell ya.

PS. We came back after the RV trek just in time to see the vine blossoms and bears fruit. Earlier, it was too hot and the plant looked so pathetic.

[antmary]

Beautiful veggies! I finished vacuuming, and even got into washing the floors with Citrisol and essential oils of lavender and rose geranium...mmm. Today is a beautiful autumn day - about 70 degrees with a bright blue sky - time to play.

[bbbamI]

Gonna fix a new Greek dish tonight. The crust is Phyllo sheets, a mixture of spinach, feta cheese, eggs, onion and garlic will go in the dish. On a whim, decided to add ground lamb. Will heat up left over Dolmas as well.

It's called Spanakopita. Say that three times really fast.

Sounds kind of naughty doesn't it?

[Gumby]

It was beautiful in CT today, with a bright blue cloudless sky and the leaves just beginning to turn. The cool, dry air had just the first nip of autumn to it. Altogether perfect weather to break out the roadster and go driving on what may prove to be our last top-down day of the year. We stopped at the orchard and picked a bag of JonaGold apples, then found a lovely new restaurant for lunch. The young wife is making an apple pie at this very moment.

[simple girl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbbamI Gonna fix a new Greek dish tonight. The crust is Phyllo sheets, a mixture of spinach, feta cheese, eggs, onion and garlic will go in the dish. On a whim, decided to add ground lamb. Will heat up left over Dolmas as well. It's called Spanakopita. Say that three times really fast. Sounds kind of naughty doesn't it?

I love that dish. I'll be right over!

[NW-Bound]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbbamI It's called Spanakopita. Say that three times really fast. Sounds kind of naughty doesn't it?

Because it sounds like what one likes to do to someone who's naughty?

Anyway, the mentioning of Dolmas reminded me of the grape leaves we picked off a wild vine by a stream a few months ago. I certainly do not remember eating them. The bag of leaves is probably hidden in the back of the freezer compartment again. Why am I the one who has to go on a freezer expedition every so often?

[bbbamI]

Quote:

Originally Posted by simple girl I love that dish. I'll be right over!

C'mon over...I'll set a place for ya!

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound Because it sounds like what one likes to do to someone who's naughty?

Hey...you started it with the pic of your enormous squash.

[freebird5825]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbbamI Gonna fix a new Greek dish tonight. The crust is Phyllo sheets, a mixture of spinach, feta cheese, eggs, onion and garlic will go in the dish. On a whim, decided to add ground lamb. Will heat up left over Dolmas as well. It's called Spanakopita. Say that three times really fast. Sounds kind of naughty doesn't it?

Hey lady...you are making a dish very near and dear to me. I am 1/2 Greek and learned to make that as a young girl. I make a whole slew of spanakatiropita every year. The difference is I make them folded in individual triangles (like you would fold an American flag) instead of in a large dish format.
Either way, scrumptuous! Mr B loves them!!!!

Re: NW-Bound's squash...I think I'm in love.

[bbbamI]

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebird5825 Hey lady...you are making a dish very near and dear to me. I am 1/2 Greek and learned to make that as a young girl. I make a whole slew of spanakatiropita every year. The difference is I make them folded in individual triangles (like you would fold an American flag) instead of in a large dish format. Either way, scrumptuous! Mr B loves them!!!!

Oooo...I like the sound of that. This is the first time I'll ever tangled with this type of dough/recipe, so I might save that option for the next go-around.

Wish me luck!

[freebird5825]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbbamI Oooo...I like the sound of that. This is the first time I'll ever tangled with this type of dough/recipe, so I might save that option for the next go-around. Wish me luck!

Make sure you COMPLETELY cover the unused phyllo sheets with Saran wrap or a damp CLEAN cloth, in between layers. Otherwise, it will turn brittle and the *!#@ words will commence.
If you want to make it traditionally, use melted butter and a soft pastry brush to brush the sheets (grab 2 at a time versus only 1). If saving calories, butter flavored PAM is a good substitute. Spray the dickens out of it, i.e. cover all of it.
The fat is what makes the phyllo crunchy while baking.
Make sure your spinach is well drained or the excess moisture will make the phyllo mushy. Blech...

Here's a good reference recipe for handling the phyllo.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/s...ipe/index.html

Have fun! POST PICTURES!!!!

[NW-Bound]

Veddy veddy naughty... Such imagination

Some people need to be spanked veddy veddy badly.