It's rodeo time...

photo credit: Seguin Gazette (2014)

Encountering a trail ride was a pleasant break from my frustration with the more modern drivers on the roads during this morning's commute.  Trail riders are on their annual trek to the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.  This photo was from a couple of years ago.  

They have gorgeous weather this year.  We were sunny and 80° F today.   

What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Space Between: An Outlander Novella by Diana Gabaldon

Saw this on the library's ebook list, so I checked it out.  I loved her first book so much, but since then...  This one is about extended family members, so I thought I would give it a try.  Haven't made a lot of headway.

Making it Monday...

Boy, again, I did NOT want to cook today.  Carey made the trip to see his mom, I stayed home.  And did absolutely nothing.  I am SO fatigued lately...walking through molasses.  

I knew he would be home in time for dinner.  I had some ground beef in the fridge, but I couldn't think of a thing to prepare with it.  I really wanted to order pizza and have it delivered, but my frugal goals won the day.

I knew I had flour and yeast, so I figured I could cobble something pizza-like together as long as I had some sauce in the cupboard.  I did, but boy is the pantry getting bare.  Definitely need to go to the market...soon.

I made the crust using a recipe found on Pinterest.  Other than the sauce, I only had cheddar, Parmesan, green and black olives, half an onion, and the ground beef.

It turned out pretty good.  And pretty darn frugal.  Worth overcoming my malaise.

I'm going to the doctor to have prescriptions renewed tomorrow.  I will definitely bring up the fatigue.  Carey suggested I might need Geritol (do they still make that?), then I reminded him that I have to have blood removed due to high iron levels, so I don't think Geritol is a good idea.  :)

Sunday Desserts - Inside Out German Chocolate Bundt Cake...

A fellow quilter was telling us about this cake at the recent retreat.  It sounded too easy not to give it a try.  I followed this recipe that I found on Pinterest.

Mine did not come out of the pan cleanly, and I carefully scooped out the parts that stuck to the pan and placed them back onto the cake.  After that I wanted to cover up the flaws pretty it up a little.

I took a second tub of Coconut Pecan Frosting, removed the lid and foil seal and heated it in the microwave for about a minute, stirred it, and put it back in the microwave for about ten more seconds.  When thin enough, I spooned about half of the tub over the cake as a glaze and let it drip down the sides.  (I'm storing the remainder of the tub in the fridge for later.)  Then I placed some chocolate chips in a glass bowl and melted them in the microwave.  I stirred them until they were smooth, and placed the melted chocolate in a plastic bag, snipped off a corner, and drizzled over the cake.

It turned out well.  Next week I think we are due a hearty cobbler or a dense pound cake.

What song is running through your head?...

Hello, Kindle, my old friend.
I've come to read with you again,
because innkeepers found you by peeping
where you fell hidden while I was sleeping.
And the sorrow that was planted in my heart
did barely start
till the return of Kindle.



Yes.  I know.  I'm a dork.

Frugal Friday File, Week 5...

Successes:

1.  Quilt retreat was a very frugal one...nearby, lower fee than any others, we provide our own meals...plus I used up only supplies on hand.

2.  I lost my Kindle on the last day of the retreat.  After turning the place upside down, I had to come home without it.  Happily the owner has found it, and I should be able to drive over this weekend to retrieve it.  A quarter tank of gas for the trip to pick it up is cheaper than replacing it.

3.  I've toyed with the idea of cutting my hair short again, but the nice thing about keeping it long is that it doesn't need constant trimming every six weeks.  I'm not ruling it out completely, but I'm putting it off awhile longer.

4.  We considered going to the movies, but there are none playing that we want to see.  Frugal win.

5.  Eating out of pantry and freezer.


Keep Tryings:

1.  ordered yet more fabric today


Frugal From the Kitchen This Week:

Saturday:  I was fed at retreat...Carey ate leftovers at work
Sunday:  I was fed at retreat...Carey ate leftovers at work
Monday:  I was fed at retreat...Carey ate leftovers at work
Tuesday:  (not so frugal - friend date, salad out)
Wednesday:  Twice Baked Potato from freezer and salad
Thursday:  Sweet Potato Hash with Sausage and Eggs
Friday:  Beans and Cornbread

Some assembly required...

Last summer I joined in on the Midnight Mystery Quilt by Meadow Mist Designs.  Each month instructions arrived by email.  The photo above shows the fabrics I selected for this project.

I made some progress, but I didn't keep up with the monthly schedule.  Since January's instructions were for finishing (!), I decided that this HAD to be the project that I took to work on at the quilting retreat.

Here is one finished block.

Here are all the finished but unassembled pieces up on the design wall at the retreat center.  I finished sewing the top with about ten minutes to spare  before heading back home this afternoon.

 Once I got home, I laid it across the guest room bed.  I can't wait to take it to be machine quilted!  

Yay me!  Yay 2016 Goals progress!

The retreat was SO fun!  Tonight I am stiff from sitting over the sewing machine for the past 4 days, exhausted (and looking forward to sleeping in my own comfy bed tonight), and happy from all the shared laughter and ideas with excellent company.  :)