tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53331862024-03-05T03:52:39.632-06:00Reading, Eating and WeedingFood for thought and thoughts of food - my musings on some of my favorite things: books, food, cooking, gardening, knitting and more.Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.comBlogger158125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-89838331326692284912021-09-30T17:55:00.004-05:002021-09-30T17:55:42.329-05:00Twenty-four for 50 - Thoughts on memoirs and on how pasta can be considered saladIt had been smoky in MT all week - the one day it was not we went back to Lake Como for my photo shoot.Whew. I made it through September. Between some family members with health issues, a memorial service for Grandma and the accompanying travel (both a physical trip to western MT and back, and a trip down memory lane complete with laughs and tears) and family time, training/on-boarding 2 new Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-21974265655061163082021-09-19T16:20:00.002-05:002021-09-19T16:20:27.739-05:00Twenty-three for 50 - Delicious Dessert and Dark SecretsMore of a starter than a finisher lately, I thought I would use a little of my free time to update you a bit in my journey through this year of being 50. I volunteered this year to be an exam-question writer for ALU (Academy of Life Underwriters). ALU has 4 underwriting-related exams and they are considered very challenging. This is something that I have thought about doing for about ten years, Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-65112844995624909292021-08-15T16:39:00.006-05:002021-08-15T16:39:49.656-05:00Twenty-two for 50 - Blog 22, Recipe 22, Book 22'Polish Pride' clematis was blooming in JuneBaby steps, right? That's the way back to feeling better. Thank you all for your love, support and words of encouragement. It means the world to me and nudged me further up the hill. I am getting more accomplished and planning things to look forward to on weekends. There have been fewer tears, slightly more motivation, and some really good laughs and Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-74727507417294534552021-07-31T11:09:00.000-05:002021-07-31T11:09:21.908-05:00Twenty-one for 50 - It's a nice day to start againBlack-eyed Susans are some of the cheeriest in my gardenCup flowers tower about a foot over my headThis morning I listened to music as I took my walk (E is golfing so I have a little time to myself which you likely know that I enjoy). One of the songs that came on was "White Wedding" by Billy Idol (Best of Rock: 1985 on Spotify) and one of the lines stuck out to me - It's a nice day to start Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-15657038847009436702021-06-22T17:40:00.001-05:002021-06-22T17:40:13.407-05:00Twenty for 50 - Riding the Struggle BusI'm not sure where I first heard the phrase "riding the struggle bus" but that is what has been stuck in my head for days. Lately I am riding the struggle bus what feels like daily - everything seems to be way more of a chore than it should be. Work feels like it is driving me mad. Little things are irritating as hell. I could probably accomplish more during the work day if I moved my chair to Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-49744641989203855462021-06-06T16:48:00.000-05:002021-06-06T16:48:04.611-05:00Nineteen for 50 - Mostly weeding and readingTime spent in the garden increases this time of year. Maintaining the beds that we re-hauled last year, weeding and thinning plants in the other areas, installing edging and re-establishing the borders between gardens and lawn, pruning shrubs and trees, preparing the soil in the vegetable raised bed, picking out and then planting veggies. E helps with jobs requiring a shovel, edger, or any heavy Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-90916419764954846472021-05-24T21:29:00.000-05:002021-05-24T21:29:06.614-05:00Eighteen for 50 - Catching up, somewhat, on foodTwo posts in one week was a delusion that I had. How about no posts for two weeks instead? The weekend of the 15th/16th was spent going to the cabin, cleaning and hauling stuff home. One more trip out there for E last Monday to do some more work (spiffing up the shed with paint and finishing cleaning it out), then the photographer was there Wednesday and by evening on Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-64541335195910510842021-05-10T21:02:00.000-05:002021-05-10T21:02:15.037-05:00Seventeen for 50 - Catching up on booksWeekends have gotten a little busy recently between visits to parents and working at the cabin. I'll make this post a little shorter and hopefully post again sooner.Work is busy, mildly chaotic and frustrating. If it was fun all the time, they wouldn't need to pay me and it wouldn't be called "work", right?Since post #16, I have completed 3 books (and started 2 more), made 2 new Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-26794325992893530762021-04-25T14:41:00.004-05:002021-04-25T14:44:40.197-05:00Sixteen for 50 - In which I confess I am odd and also that I use the word "crapshow"I like to take things that people say, even just once in passing, and mull them around in my brain, sometimes for years. One time - it could have been 10 years ago or more - a particularly opinionated member of my book club said something to the effect of people either like cooking or they like baking but they do not like both. At the time I thought, I must be an oddball then. I like Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-78866679119144910452021-04-11T21:11:00.000-05:002021-04-11T21:11:08.646-05:00Fifteen for 50 - Vaccining and CleaningDaffodils - because we're all tired of seeing pics of vaccinesI know that vaccining is not a real word. Just because I can say it and type it (though it does get the squiggly red line underneath it when I do) does not mean it is a word. You don't need to tell me that the correct word is "vaccinating". Vaccining rhymes better. So there.Vaccinations need a song. If youHalliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-35764580693939993172021-04-04T20:46:00.000-05:002021-04-04T20:46:01.809-05:00Fourteen for 50 - Lovely Lemon Bars and a Book about LeningradEaster dinner was just the 2 of us today, but I made honey hoisin pork tenderloin, au gratin potatoes, and some roasted asparagus (just a drizzle of lime olive oil, salt and pepper - yum!) and then for dessert...Recipe 13 - Lemon Sugar Cookie BarsI love lemon - lemon tarts were one of my favorite indulgences when I was in France during college, particularly those from one tearoom near the chateauHalliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-3040829470596893462021-03-28T17:08:00.000-05:002021-03-28T17:08:21.300-05:00Thirteen for 50 - A Yarn about Yarn, plus Cat Poems, and Creamy Pineapple DeliciousnessThank you for all the kind words and support on my last blog post. I love that you are reading it and enjoying! I hope I'll be inspired to have another post like it again some day. If you are concerned about my walking goals not being met, don't worry - I figured that the winter months would be a little low and will catch up with higher mileage months the rest of the year.&Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-83665066323574833702021-03-21T16:02:00.006-05:002021-03-21T16:09:14.015-05:00Twelve for 50 - Feeling Springy and Making ChoicesThe first day of spring was yesterday. It felt a bit springy, at least for this part of the world, and we took a long walk (well, long for me anyway, about 3 miles), then I picked up the yard a little. Removed trash, cleaned up the spruce tips, took down the little Christmas trees and lights. I did not pick up the large piles of dog turds from behind the pine trees along the Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-51477031657809883302021-03-14T17:20:00.001-05:002021-03-14T17:20:18.314-05:00Eleven for 50 - Hygge House and Pi Day E has been working on fixing our floor and reinstalling the bookcase that does double duty as railing above the stairs. This is a project probably long overdue but he has done a really nice job on it. The floor no longer has a gap and the bookcase is getting beefed up with trim to make it look more built-in. This bookcase is where I have been keeping my cookbooks and also my Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-33108983411910014302021-03-13T16:11:00.001-06:002021-03-13T16:11:16.327-06:00Ten for 50 - Grandma's Not-so-secret RecipesMe and my groovy granny, sometime in the '70sMy grandma passed away last fall. I am very sad and miss her but also understand that she had a good long life and is no longer in pain. Plus, I am very lucky to get to be my age and still have had a living grandparent. I have been comforting myself with fun memories. With this grandma, memories include cooking and baking. Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-12658452183330578992021-03-07T14:09:00.002-06:002021-03-07T14:09:07.717-06:00Nine for 50 - The best laid plans of mice and men...birthday flowers from my mom "The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men/Gang aft agley," says Robert Burns (and probably better known today as "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry" from John Steinbeck). I don't know that my plan to have another post in a few days was really well-laid, but it certainly did go a bit awry. This past week was a series of Mondays. It startedHalliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-70643207763284155872021-02-28T11:15:00.000-06:002021-02-28T11:15:31.707-06:00Eight for 50 - In which we eat and knit hats I am back - I didn't leave you or forget. I was busy celebrating my four-day birthday extravaganza weekend. More on that later but that is my excuse for posting twice within a couple of days, catching up without making one really loooong post. This post is 2 new recipes and 6 hats.When last I wrote, we were about to celebrate Valentine's Day and try a new recipe. E Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-85462313724647944462021-02-14T17:40:00.000-06:002021-02-14T17:40:56.972-06:00Seven for 50 - A Nancy Drew Mystery and a Recipe of my Own CreationIt was what I like to call "butt-ass cold" all week. Sub-zero temps which always makes me grateful for my home and my job letting me work from said home, and ever thankful for a hubby who does not mind going out in the cold to grocery shop or get the mail. I have not been outside since the 3rd. It again made walking difficult - I had 2 days of boring walks in the house but Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-59228780930071103952021-02-07T20:48:00.000-06:002021-02-07T20:48:25.506-06:00Six for 50 - Decluttering is the Enemy (or is it?)Zeke sometimes sits on my desk and judges meI spent this past week training/on-boarding 2 new hires to my company. Training is my main job and I do enjoy this part of it, but I have to say, being "on" all day is really a lot of work for me, and pretty tiring. I was happy to have the weekend to relax. I was "on" again for Zoom book club last night and by the end was tired. Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-70177544028025838702021-01-31T18:40:00.008-06:002021-01-31T18:40:48.114-06:00Five for 50 - Frozen Fingers, Furnaces and Fame This week started off ok, I delivered hats, walked and then blogged all about it on Monday. Much of my work time was spent trying to manipulate my training schedule around my "other stuff" schedule, preparing to train 2 new-to-us underwriters starting tomorrow. I was in a meeting (virtual of course) on Tuesday afternoon and had my office door closed as I typically do, to keep Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-7117239325439159962021-01-25T21:32:00.002-06:002021-01-25T21:32:33.950-06:00Four for 50 - Taking risks, breaking rules and having funWhat did you do this last week? I made some hats, did some scrap booking, walked, read, cooked, watched an inaugeration (discovered I cannot spell inauguration correctly the first time I type it ever), was inspired by a young poet, and then wasted spent a whole lot of time looking at Bernie Mitten memes. One of my favorite is this one: Back to the inauguration, though. I Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-60833906699606759522021-01-17T16:12:00.000-06:002021-01-17T16:12:01.986-06:00Three for 50 - Possibility Everywhere Recipes Two and ThreeTwo new-to-me recipes this week - Cast Iron Pan Pizza and Cheddar Scone Biscuits. I should explain for those new to my blog that we eat a lot of pizza at my house, mostly home-made (or ho-made as we like to say) and since March 2020 we have been having pizza every Sunday night. This week we broke from our usual crust (which you can find the recipe for Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-27567951542852185262021-01-10T13:53:00.000-06:002021-01-10T13:53:40.074-06:00Two for 50 – And so the adventure begins
Despite the troubling chaos mid-week, or maybe because of
it, I tried to focus back on what I can control. I kept walking, started reading a childhood
favorite to escape, tried a new recipe, and kept my fingers busy knitting a new
baby hat. It didn’t stop me from asking
“what the holy hell is going on???!” repeatedly but it helped some.
Fifty for 50 Tally
Books Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-78148697391511605962021-01-03T16:52:00.000-06:002021-01-03T16:52:03.662-06:00One for 50 - Dream, Plan, Do 2021 is the year in which I will turn 50. A couple of months ago, I started thinking about what I want to do for this milestone birthday. I was supposed to be on a cruise for the actual birthday, the first time we would be cruising on the day, but the cruise has been cancelled. We were planning to go to Norway to celebrate - that has also been tabled. Parties and Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5333186.post-54327565065707993342020-09-27T19:13:00.001-05:002021-01-17T16:21:57.925-06:00Fall Eating and ReadingFall is a time for eating and reading. Really any season is but fall seems to be more so than others. Weeding is mostly done for the year - just some remnants in the veggie and flower gardens to clean up and compost, some leaves to rake and mulch. Creating will happen soon too with a fall scrap booking retreat usually scheduled (called off this year but I'll post more about my Halliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334779649079836749noreply@blogger.com0