2025 Reading...

Seventy-four books read this year.  Fifty-two were books for this year's reading challenge.  Three of them were over 800 pages.  One claimed to be 576 pages, but I swear it was longer than any other read this year.

Twenty-five of them were books that had been on my Kindle for a loooooong time.  LOVE that I have cleared out so much of my backlog!  The rest were library books or book club books.  Some were ones I just wanted to read or read again.

I started this post thinking that I did not want to do another book challenge...then I looked at The 52 Book Club 2026 Reading Challenge...now I'm thinking about it.  The prompt that really intrigues me is #13 -- bookface -- I want to try this!  If you don't know what "bookface" might mean (I didn't!) I've linked examples here.

Don't think I'll be doing the whole 2026 challenge, but it is tempting me more than I thought.

2025 Frugal Friday File, December 19...

1.  Absolutely nothing frugal happening around here.

2.  Absolutely nothing frugal happening around here.

3.  Absolutely nothing frugal happening around here.

4.  Absolutely nothing frugal happening around here.

5.  Absolutely nothing frugal happening around here.

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  Saturday family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  Chili

Monday:  Chicken Curry w/ Rice (which did NOT boil over)

Tuesday:  Enchilada Casserole (using leftover chili)

Wednesday:  takeout burgers

Thursday:  leftovers

Friday:  grazed

**designates meatless meal

What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Lost Heiress by Elizabeth Klehfoth

This was just released this month.  I got it for free (thank goodness).  Forced myself to read 30% before giving up on it yesterday.  Then I deleted it from my Kindle, and also from my Amazon account.  Didn't want to forget about it and start reading it again.  

All the things I hate.  Dual time settings.  Different points of view from different characters in different chapters.  And can I just say that if you put a tarantula under a pillow, it would escape if it could.  If it couldn't it would mean it had been maimed or killed by the weight of the pillow.  It would not be patiently waiting to frighten the person that moves the pillow.

I haven't started another book yet.  I have cookies to bake and a quilt block to sew.

This and That...

 

Nice weather, but not too predictable.  I'm still wearing sandals.  The only time my feet are cold is when I elevate them.  I wear wool socks to bed; they usually get shed sometime during the night.

I went to pick up some ingredients and clear bags for packaging edible gifts today.  Gotta get started.

I am filled with angst over recent events.  That is all.

2025 Frugal Friday File, December 12...

 

I'm not going to kid you, the past month or so has not been very frugal (hence I missed a couple of Frugal Friday File posts).  Holidays, extra gasoline used, wedding duds, additions to fabric collection, etc.  But moving on...

1.  In another effort to use up what was in the fridge, I threw together some random ingredients for supper last night.  A head of cabbage, some smoked  sausage, and some carrots and beets from the garden (each of which were oddly shaped and stunted...as in the beets were the size of radishes 😂).  It would have been fine, if I hadn't over salted it, and scorched it a tiny bit.  But it was relatively healthy, frugal, and filling.  

Carey reminded me that excess salt is not a friend to my inner ears.

2.  Making a menu and grocery list.  Adding in edible gift ingredients and cookie exchange ingredients.

3.  Making a batch of Rudy food today.

4.  Switched over to thick, cozy, flannel sheets for the winter.  They are the thick/chunky flannel ones that we have had for years and will probably last forever.

5.  Our tree has been dressed with sentimental fragile ornaments; I still have small handmade and/or non-breakable ornaments to add to it before it is done.  Kasey wanted the small collection of snow village buildings and accessories, so I dropped two medium bins containing it off to live at her house. I can still enjoy seeing it at their house, but I'm happy to let her set it up, repack, and store it.  :)   I recently weeded out the decorations that weren't sentimental or hadn't been used for awhile intending to donate them.  Before I took it to Goodwill, Bobby (#1 grandson) stopped by and was happy to take it all home to use at his apartment...a large bin of garlands, ribbon, wreath and other assorted decorations went home with him (no backsies!)  I could probably pare it down more, but I'm happy with the space I've gained. 

Snow village in its new home.

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:   leftovers

Monday:  pot pies

Tuesday:  takeout sandwiches

Wednesday:  burgers out

Thursday:  Cabbage Sausage Skillet

Friday:  Breakfast for Supper

**designates meatless mealS

What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker

This book has been on my mini reading table beside my bathtub for five years or so.  I started it, and just have constantly prioritized other books ahead of it.  Since this is the year of reading books that have been on my TBR list for too long, I thought I'd pick it back up.  

I haven't finished last week's book yet.  Since it is a large hardback library book, I didn't want to risk it falling in the bathwater, so I picked The Dreamers back up for my nice long soak.  It deals with an unknown virus spreading among a town...which is really interesting since the book was released in 2019...before we were all dealing with a real spreading virus.

So now I'm reading The Dreamers during my baths, and Clara and the Sun the rest of time I have available; I have to hurry, my library book is due this weekend.

Today was the second of our two library book sales.  We were there from 9:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m., so I am exhausted, and ready to crawl under the covers with Clara to try to make some progress.  I've still got lots of Christmas presents to work on.  I also have my quilt block of the month to cut out and sew before this month's class, and a cookie exchange, both of which are next week.  Oy vey, we only have two weeks till Christmas!

A wedding in the family...

 

our wrist corsage and boutonniere

Our eldest sweet grandson married his beautiful bride yesterday evening.  It was lovely and love filled.  They are such a good match.

Carey and I left right after the ceremony, skipping the meal and dance.  The venue was really nice, but it had stairs and uneven limestone-paver walkways, and the sun was setting.  Cinderella's magic may disappear at midnight, but my magic (and balance) disappear at sundown, at least when the light gets low and I'm on an uneven surface.  (Thank you Meniere's disease for this residual effect of that vertigo episode that lasted weeks.) 

The experience was worth the angst I had over what to wear.  I finished hemming my dress just two hours before we had to leave the house.  Why, yes, I am a master procrastinator!

Thanks, Juhli, for reminding me what a joy and a priviledge it is to attend a grandchild's wedding.  It got me thinking that my grandparents were not able to attend mine, nor were my parents able to attend Kasey's.  I am filled with gratitude that we are healthy and mobile enough to still share special experiences with our grands! 

What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Art Thief: 

A True Story of Love, Crime,and a Dangerous Obsession

by Michael Finkel

This one is our December book club selection.  It was pretty interesting and not terribly long (242 pages).  The true story of a prodigious art thief and his girlfriend accomplice in northern Europe.  They never sold anything, as the thief did it for the love of the art, and the accomplice did it for the love of the thief.

I thought it was pretty good.  His family dynamics were pretty strange, and lead to the question 'which comes first, the relationship malfunction, or the personality disorder of the child?'

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

This one is January's  book club selection.  I've found that reading a month or two ahead is not ideal for remembering details for discussion, but this one became available at the library, so i figured I would read it while I could without having to buy a copy.  I just started it today.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

 

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Another library (e)book.  This one's been out since 2010, but somehow I never got around to it.  Now I'm about 3/4 through it, and really liking it.

Update on last week's book Circle of Days by Ken Follett:

I didn't absolutely love it like I have some of his other books.  It was very readable, but seems like rather than imagining how people lived then, we were presented with modern topics.  And the construction seemed to have very little trial and error, and a lot of everything going right the first time.  I wish the construction of the roads around our area were as organized and fast paced.  :)

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

What I'm reading Wednesday...

 

Circle of Days by Ken Follett

Library book.  About 680 pages.  I'm halfway through it.  I'll reserve judgment till I finish and update next week.

Here's the update on last week's book Nothing to Fear by Julie McFadden, RN.  It was very good...excellent information (both practical and relational) regarding hospice experiences.  Excellent advice for everyone who will die and for caregivers, families, and friends.  A lot of it was very familiar since I've had personal experiences with hospice patients.

I'm late getting this posted.  I thought I had scheduled it to post automatically, but apparently not.  Today was one of our book sales at the library (another one next month).  Exhausting!  I didn't do much but count books coming through the line.  I had a pint of blood taken yesteray, and it left me feeling a little puny today.  I told the rest of the team that my real contribution was getting Carey there, as he worked non stop restocking shelves, moving boxes of books, etc.  As usual, he was pretty popular there today.

2025 Frugal Friday File, November 14...

 

1.  Reading two library books, and picking another one up tomorrow.

2.  Went to the city today for book club.  I was going to stop by The Container Store on my way home, but I talked myself out of it.  Ditto for Dollar Tree...I only needed toothpaste, and I can get buy for at least another week or two.

3.  I did stop on my way home from the city and got a Coke from Sonic.  It was their happy hour, so it was half price.

4.  Ordered groceries, and though I wanted to pick them up earlier rather than later, the earlier  time had a fee of $4.95, so I went at the earliest time with no fee.

5.  Paid bills on time, and paid credit card in full as I do every month so no interest accrues.  I haven't done any grocery shopping for Thanksgiving, but I do have a nice big bag of dried and crumbled cornbread bagged and in the freezer for the dressing/stuffing.  I've saved water by delaying laundry for another day or two (or three).

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  Family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  Home-grown Green Beans w/ Bacon and Red Ptatoes, Cornbread

Monday:  leftovers

Tuesday:  out for Tex-Mex

Wednesday:  Breakfast for supper, pancakes, bacon, & eggs

Thursday:  takeout chicken

Friday:  Spanish Rice

**designates meatless meal

What I'm reading Wednesday...

 

Nothing to Fear:  Demystifying Death to Live More Fully

by Julie McFadden, RN

As a friend (an RN) and I were leaving the library yesterday, we walked past this book.  She highly recommended it.  I've barely started it, so can't give an opinion yet, but I trust hers.  I'll let you know mine next week.

Recent meals at our house...

Sunday (a week ago) we had Beef Stroganoff w/ Garlic Fried Green Beans (from the garden).  A little olive oil in the bottom of a non-stick pan, drop some minced fresh garlic in the oil, then add the green beans and stir fry a bit till they are caramalized, but still have some snap. 

Tuesday we had planned over Beef Stew.  Used the left over Beef Stroganoff, adding fresh vegetables.

Thursday we had Jalapeῆo Sweet Potato Soup; it's a favorite for us.  I went a bit overboard with the sour cream, but it was a little hard to control.  I used a sandwich bag with one corner clipped off, then squeezed the sour cream out that corner.  The soup is actually easy to make.  If you have leftover sweet potatoes, it goes together in a snap.  The name of the soup above is a link to the recipe.

Saturday Carey harvested all the spaghetti squash in the garden (as we were expecting high winds and freezing temperatures.  This one was on the small side, and he didn't think it looked ripe, so I decided to give it a try.  I baked it at 400° F for 40 minutes. I ate the half on the right side for lunch with a little butter and Parmesan.  We took the half on the left to Saturday family supper.  Apparently they weren't impressed enough, as Carey announced that they wouldn't be getting any of the rest in our root cellar (cedar closet in the garage).  😉

Today (Sunday) I cooked the rest of the green beans from the garden with bacon and new potatoes.  I made a fresh batch of cornbread and used it as the base for the beans and potatoes.  Simple fare.

2025 Frugal Friday File, November 7...

 

1.  Planned overs from beef stroganoff.  Heated stroganoff leftovers, with added packet of brown gravy mix and water, diced potatoes, sliced carrots.  Voila!  Beef Stew, and made cornbread to serve with it.  Felt like a new meal from scratch, but with hardly any work or time.

2.  I responded with regrets for a 50th anniversary celebration for my bestie since grade school.  I would dearly love to go, but a ten hour round trip with a hotel stay doesn't seem doable for me when I know I will need to be at my best the next week and weekend for oldest grandon's wedding.  (The steroid shot in my right knee is wearing off, and I worry that keeping it bent for entire drive, and perhaps walking standing more than usual would be pushing it when I need it working for wedding.)  It feels like I'm wimping out, but I just am more limited than I used to be, and I have to take care of what I can.

3.  I made a gallon-jar-full batch of homemade brownie mix for the pantry.  And while I was at it, I noticed that my gallon jar of homemade pancake mix was empty too, so I made a batch of that as well.

4.  It is that beautiful weather time of year that I love.  And have to admit that the old electric bill being lower is one thing that makes me love it!  However, I think we are supposed to have a freeze this weekend.

5.  The fall garden has not been a huge success.  We have gotten a couple of meals worth of green beans, and that may be the beans end of season.  We should have a good harvest of spaghetti squash.  Neither the Brussels sprouts nor the beets even come up.  And the carrots...well I'll let you be the judge:

The one in the middle is about the length of a U.S. dollar bill.  So sad.  I hope Carey is still willing to try again in the spring.

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  Family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  Beef Stroganoff, Garlic Fried Green Beans

Monday:  Homemade Biscuits w/ Sausage Gravy,  fruit

Tuesday:  Beef Stew w/ Cornbread

Wednesday:  takeout burgers

Thursday:  Jalapeno Sweet Potato Soup

Friday:  leftovers

What I'm reading Wednesday...

 

Free-Range Knitter: The Yarn Harlot Writes Again

by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Essay's on the author's knitting obsession.  This has been on my Kindle since 2011.  I started reading it back then, but at the time I had a knitting project going which took all my attention.  :)

2025 Frugal Friday File, on Saturday 11/1...

 

1.  I read a library book and a book that had been on my Kindle forever.

2.  We rearranged a bedroom, and repurposed a piece of furniture.

3.  Took advantage of another free library program and learned how to make homemade soft pretzels.  The ones we made during the class turned out pretty good and were easy.  I will make them again at home, and may also try making bagels.

4.  Had my wellness visit w/ the doc on Friday.  Aced the 'draw a clock' exercise (by reading the entire directions this time), but couldn't resist having a little fun with it...it was Halloween after all.

5.  Our first beans were harvested from the fall garden.

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  Family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  Ham Loaf w/ Potatoes Au Gratin, Broccoli

Monday:  leftovers

Tuesday:  grazed

Wednesday:  Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Brisket

Thursday:  Deconstructed Kabobs w/ beef flavored rice

Friday:  out for Tex-Mex

**designates meatless meal

Short verse...

Outside the winds howl.

Rudy, warm, sleeps on my lap.

Twenty pounds of love.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

 

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

Buckeye was just released last month.  When I noticed the library had already acquired it, I jumped on the reserve list asap.  Set in the 40s through the 70s, it was quite good; I would give it ✮✮✮✮.  Very well-developed characters; even the villains could be forgiven.

(I feel like I need to add here that I only give 5 stars to books I know I want to reread in the future, so 4 stars is almost as good as it gets.)

Poison Flower by Thomas Perry

Thomas Perry is my favorite mystery writer.  And Jane Whitefield is my favorite of his characters.  She is a smart, strong (both emotionally and physically) indigenous woman who helps people in trouble to vanish.  Her job has increased in complexity since I began reading the series (The Jane Whitefield novels) decades ago.  With computer technology advances, and a society that now has video cameras everywhere, her methods have had to change with the times.  

This has been on my Kindle for years (since 2013!), and I just kept putting off reading it, because I have trouble saying goodbye to favorite characters.  But there are now two further books after this one, and I need to read them before I run out of time.

Highly recommend this series.

2025 Frugal Friday File, October 24...

1.  Taking advantage of the great opportunities at our public library.  Tuesday was Cook Book Club.  A different cook book is selected each month, and members sign up, choose a recipe out of it to cook, and bring the dish to the monthly meeting to share (potluck style).  Wednesday was chair yoga day.

2.  We decided not to take a vacation this year.  Carey had a rather expensive vacation this past summer with our son and Carey's brother and nephew.  We had kind of kicked around taking a road trip vacation in the fall, but I just don't feel good about it right now.  With all the skunks that have been around lately, I don't want Rudy spending all day and after dark outside by himself.  There have been rabid skunk and fox in the county, and I just don't feel right about leaving him.  Jared is always glad to take care of him, but he works different shifts throughout the week, so just not ideal right now.

3.  The dress I ordered to try for the December wedding arrived.  Ummm...  I haven't tried it on yet, but I can tell it is way too long, and so wrinkled from the shipping, I'm wondering what it would look like after driving to the wedding venue.  Thinking I might have to get back on the hunt.  The good news is that I can do the shortening myself, not that I want to.  More details later.

4.  Made a menu for next week, and placed grocery order.  

5.  I put out the autumn decorations.  Same ones I've had for years; some used in a new way.  I don't have a lot, but I love what I have.

     Now, we have a lot more Christmas decorations than autumn.  Between now and Thanksgiving, my plan is to decide what I will put out for Christmas THIS year.  All other Christmas decs WILL be donated in the next few weeks so that they can be useful items for someone else's holidays this year.  I say this every year, and I have donated some, but I need to be more ruthless about what goes and what stays.  I am putting it out here so that I will be accountable.  I would love it if decorating for Christmas was as easy as decorating for other holidays/seasons.

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  Family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  burgers out

Monday:  **takeout pizza

Tuesday:  Tuna Salad Sandwiches, Fruit

Wednesday:  lefovers

Thursday:  Quiche and Stir Fried Asparagus

Friday:  leftovers

**designates meatless meal

What I'm reading Wednesday...

 

Murder on the Mind by L.L. Bartlett

I received this book free in January of 2013, and it feels awesome to get another one read that has been lingering for far too long.  

It was pretty good.  Liked the plot and the characters.  It is the first in the Jeff Resnick Mystery series.  I have two others in the series which will be read soon (I hope).  The premise is interesting.  An uninsured insurance investigator is mugged, beaten, and left with a severe head injury and broken arm.  While still in the hospital he is plagued by nightmares and frightening visions of a murder.  His injuries reunite him with his brother who helps him investigate what the visions mean.

Some of last week's meals...

Chicken Burrito Bowl

I didn't get around to a frugal friday post last week.  The week was very busy. But I did cook every meal or else we ate leftovers.

Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef w/ Stir Fried Vegetables

I'm so excited to have found this Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef recipe at Dinner At The Zoo, but we really like vegetables at our house, so when the cooking time was up on the beef, I pan stir fried carrot, celery, mushrooms, sugar snap peas, baby corn, and sliced water chestnuts on the stove top, and then added them to the crockpot, stirring to distribute all evenly.  Then served over rice.

Mexican Cornbread Casserole (w/ beef and cheese baked in)

This casserole has been in regular rotation at our house for forty years.  I got it from my late best friend, and I think of her every time I make it.  Usually I like picante along with sour cream on it, but we were out, so I garnished with tomatoes.

Green Enchilada Casserole w/ Avocado, Tomato, Corn Salad

When I made the menu for the week, I swear it had lots of variety.  But when I placed the grocery order I must have been sleepy or distracted.  I managed to get all the ingredients for the Mexican inspired meals, and the Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef, but oddly the main ingredients for the other meals weren't as lucky.

In addition to the meals shown in this post, we also had fajitas, but they weren't exactly satisfactory, and I forgot to snap a pic.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

 

The Notekeeper by Hannah Treave

Three quarters of the way through, and I'm not sure how I feel about it.  The characters run so hot and cold.  I want to know how it ends, but I'm tempted to flip to the last chapter to get it over with.

Debbie's photo story haiku...

My friend Debbie is one of the most fun, and funny, people I know.  Tonight she texted me three photos of her geraniums that she has been prepping for overwintering inside.  She included a brief photo story clip with each photo.

Previously in the day in an unrelated conversation, I mistook something she mentioned about writing poetry, and I jokingly told her I was going to write a haiku for her.  

So enjoying her photo story, I had haiku on my mind, and then I read and reread her description under her last photo, and I realized it was just one syllable short of a haiku.  So with her permission, the following is all Debbie (except for the "just").  😂

they asked if they could

come in...but I told them it

just wasn't time yet

Fall gardening...

Carey's fall garden is coming along.  This was the largest of his spaghetti squash as of two days ago (Saturday).

Here is the very same squash today (Monday).

Amazing, right?!  I'm looking forward to it being ready to harvest (along with its twenty or so siblings!  :)

This is the first time he's put in a garden since 1982 maybe?  That one was a big disappointment.  This year's is doing well so far.

When we bought this house, it already had a fenced-in garden area with fence tall enough to keep the deer out.  But before retirement he wasn't home enough to garden, as mowing our three+ acres and various house upkeep was about all he had time for.

Also in the garden are beans, beets, potatoes, Brussells sprouts, and a fig tree.  I may be forgetting some.

Stay tuned.

2025 Frugal Friday File, October 10...

1.  When I opened the refrigerator on Thursday, it made me so happy and proud.  The produce drawers were darn near empty; there were two apples in one, and a bag of onions in the other.  I somehow managed to use up a crazy stuffed-with-produce refrigerator with minimal food waste!  It took some inventive meal planning.

2.  Then I had to think about restocking, so I prepared a menu plan, and placed my grocery order.  I'll be picking it up later today.  We haven't really had any lower temperatures yet (accept in the early mornings), but I am SO ready to switch my menu plans to more slow cooker meals.

3.  Wednesday was mammogram day.  Health insurance is a wonderful thing that I wish everyone had.  

4.  Monday was quilting at the library day.  Love that the library offers the room for us to meet.  I worked on a baby quilt using fabrics I already own.  I decided not to attend the quilt retreat that will be next month.  Though it is a very low-cost retreat, I'm still trying to build back up our cash reserves after the car purchase earlier this year. 

5.  I love not having a car payment, so it was worth shopping within our budget so that we could pay cash for it.  Also worth sacrificing a few fun things to build savings back up.

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  leftovers

Monday:  Cabbage Bacon Skillet

Tuesday:  takeout BBQ Baked Potatoes

Wednesday:  Omelets

Thursday:  Grilled Cheese and Bacon Sandwiches

Friday:  Chicken Burrito Bowls

What I'm reading Wednesday...

 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

This one was heartily recommended by a friend.  I was very happy that it was available at the library with no wait.  I finished it this morning.  ✮✮✮✮

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Poems of Parenting by Loryn Brantz

I bought this as an e-book at a special low price.  I read the sample that Amazon offers online, then I wanted to be able to read its entirety to see if I would want to buy the printed book for a gift.  I enjoyed it.  Humorous.  I enjoyed some of the poems better than others, most of them discussed thoughts that I have had.  Like the kids bringing Mom breakfast in bed on Mothers Day; and Mom smiling as she is thinking, boy that glass of juice is going to be a mess when it spills on the bed linens, and the syrup, oy!  (Not that I have ever been served breakfast in bed.  I'd rather have an extra hour of sleep, while Dad takes the kids out for breakfast!  But you snooze, you lose out on precious memories.)  

I might buy it for a gift, but it would have to be for the right recipient.  I think the parents of toddlers may be about right, or kindergartners.  Parents of younger babies may be too exhausted to take it in.  Not that toddlers and kindergartners aren't exhausting, but parents of toddlers and above have learned some coping skills.  :)

82 Days on Okinawa

by Col. Art Shaw (Ret.) with Robert L Wise

I started reading this one on Sunday.  I'm over halfway through it.  I've been getting a lot of reading done as I have had a stomach ache the past couple of days, and so I've spent a lot of time lying down and reading.  Today I began wondering if maybe my stomach ache was because of this book.

It's not my usual genre.  I picked it up because my dad served in the Battle of Okinawa.  I'm over halfway through it, and I'm feeling like it is a miracle he made it home, and that I (and two of my sisters) were born.  It's very well written, but also definitely enough to give me stomach trouble.  I'm glad to know these things.  I wish I had asked my dad more questions.  I'll be glad to finish this one.

2025 Frugal Friday File, September 26...

 

1.  I keep thinking of things I want to do.  Then when it comes down to it, I don't want to all that bad, and talk myself into putting it off a week.  :)

2.  Reading library book.

3.  Doin' chores.

4.  Haven't killed anybody...saved attorney's fees.

5.  Got my Covid and Flu vaccines.

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  Family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  Chili

Monday:  frozen beef & broccolli

Tuesday:  Grilled Cheddar & Beau's Smoked Turkey Breast sandwiches, chips, apple

Wednesday:  **Vegetable Stir Fry

Thursday:  Frito Pie (with leftover chili)

Friday:  takeout sandwiches

**designates meatless meal+

Fridge Fare (or using what you have)...

We had a lot of vegetables in the fridge.  I didn't want them to go to waste, and stir fry sounded really good to me last night.  And, most importantly, it's easy and quick.  I even had sugar snap peas.  I didn't have carrots, which is so out of the norm, and while I really wanted some, I did without.

It was exactly what I wanted.  I had looked up an easy stir fry sauce, and added that at the end, and let it thicken a little before removing from the heat.

The easy stir fry sauce is from Simply Whisked.  I threw it together using what I had, and leaving out what I didn't, and it still turned out great.

Recipe as it was published:

1/2 cup reduced sodium soy sauce

1/2 cup reduced sodium chicken broth

1 to 2 Tablespoons cornstarch

1 Tablespoon minced garlic

1 Tablespoon minced ginger

1 Tablespoon brown sugar

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon rice vinegar

1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

I had the reduced sodium soy sauce, and used about 1/4 cup.

I used a teaspoon of chicken bouillion powder with about 1/4 cup water.

I had the cornstarch so added it.  (I would consider this essential for thickening, but not at all needed for flavor.)

Did not have time or energy to peel and mince fresh garlic, so I just threw in some dried minced garlic.

Didn't have fresh ginger, so I used about 1/4 teaspoon of really old powdered ginger.

I left out the brown sugar.

I had olive oil so added it.

I had rice wine vinegar so added it.  

I was out of sesame oil, so left it out.  (Though it would have been great!)

I am saying all this because I rarely follow a recipe to the letter, and at least 95% of the time no one but me would ever know.  Don't fret about it unless it's something essential like a leavening agent in a baked good.  In a pinch, I've even used another flavor of extract when I was out of vanilla.

Oh!  Here's a little confession.  For the past 49½ years, I have cooked rice and had it boil over...every...single...time.  I even bought a rice cooker for the microwave, and IT boiled over in the microwave!  Counting yesterday, I have twice prepared rice without a mess.  I've started rinsing the rice before adding it to the water in the saucepan.  It didn't boil over either time, and it didn't stick and clump together.

I'm sure I am the last person on earth to learn this.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Fifty-first challenge finish of the year.

This one has been on my Kindle for exactly ten years (September of 2015).  You've already seen its cover picture a couple times lately on 'What I'm Reading Wednesday' posts.  I took my time reading it, because there were other priorities claiming my time.  

I enjoyed it very much.  The dual timeline was handled in a way that I found much less jarring than many others that I have read.  The characters were such that I would enjoy visiting with them over coffee (or another beverage).  I would happily read others by this author.

Fifty-second challenge finish of the year.

I had never read The Secret Garden.  I have heard a lot about it, but had assumed that it was a children's book.  It would be a good book to read aloud to children; I think a child reading it would have to be a pretty advanced reader to read and understand the Yorkshire accent that a lot of it was written in.  It also had some pretty advanced vocabulary.  Its plot dealt with lack of parental attention, improving health by being out in the sunshine and fresh air, exercise and healthy eating, using self-reflection and the will to change to improve our relationships with others, and treating others with respect.  Reading aloud to a child would be a great opportunity to ask them how they felt about how the characters dealt with these topics and changed through the story.

But it is not just a children's book.  I enjoyed it very, very much.  It was a pretty quick read at 281 pages, and I barely put it down.  I did not own this one, and couldn't find an e-book edition with formatting I liked from the library, so I shelled out a whole 69¢ for it from Amazon.

And that brings me to...

...the end of the challenge.  There have been additional prompts introduced through the year that one can carry on with, but I am happy to have finished the original 52.  There are so many other books I've come across this year that I want to move on to.

Before I heard about the challenge (thanks, Juhli!) my goal was to read 14 books (one per month, and two alternates) that had been lingering on my Kindle unread.  When I decided to do the challenge, I perused the prompts and my Kindle content to match as many prompts as I could with books I already own.  I have cleared at least 22, so exceding my original goal.  :)

Now going forward:

Friedrichsburg: A Novel by Friedrich Armand Strubberg

translated by James C Kearney

This one is a new acquisition at our library.  It is about the German immigrants who colonized the part of Texas we live in (and other parts as well).  So far I am still in the introduction.  The novel itself was published in Germany in 1867 by the first colonial director during the founding of the communities.  It is said to interweave his story with a fictional romance.

We live surrounded by original German settlements.  One church we attended regularly had a German-language service until the 1960s.  One of my favorite things about the area was sitting in the crowd of parents and grandparents (when our kids were younger and involved in community sports) and hearing German, Spanish, and English conversations going on around me.  So I had to be first in line to reserve this new addition to the library.