No Excuses

With all the time in the world to do things one has put off.. things are getting done.  For example.  I had 2 containers on the counter for kitchen utensils.  SO.. I took them both and dumped them on the kitchen table and went through them.. now we only have one bucket of them!  The bucket and counter were scrubbed and it all looks so nice now!  The water spigot in our fridge froze up months ago, so we got a water filter unit and it is working well for us.  We had an appliance repairman come out to fix it and he said our fridge was so old we should get a new one!  HA!  Kristi got the spice rack and all the spice jars as a gift for me a few years ago, isn't it nice?

Mocha using me for a pillow.

We belong to a Facebook group called "Corbett Area" and one of the women posted about how she'd used the grocery delivery option for Fred Meyer, a local grocery store.  So, I thought we'd try it out.  I went to their website, did all my product selection, paid online and the delivery was set for the next evening.  The InstaCart guy did the shopping and delivered our groceries on the deck for a fee of $9.95 - plus we gave him a 10% tip.  So worth not exposing ourselves at the store!  Fun fact, I posted this photo on the group page and so far 141 people have hit "like".  :-)

They have to give you a similar brand if the brand you chose is out of stock and also have to refund you for items that are not available.  But still I was very pleased to have the things we did get.

I looked online for a "breakfast cookie" recipe and tried this one, Oatmeal Pecan Coconut Chocolate Chip.  I'm happy to say they turned out excellent.  

Travis and Kristi came by last evening to pick up their rototiller to put in a garden and I remained 12 feet away from them but tossed Travis a bag of cookies for them to have.  He liked them!  I also froze a bag of them and kept out a few to have with my morning coffee.

Oatmeal Coconut Chocolate Chip Pecan Chewy Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

1 ¼ cups packed brown sugar

½ cup white sugar  

2 eggs

2 tablespoons milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt (optional)

3 cups rolled oats

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped pecans (my favorite) or walnuts (optional)

1 cup shredded coconut

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the milk and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the sugar mixture until well blended. Stir in the oats, chocolate chips. walnuts and coconut until evenly distributed. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Store in tightly sealed container.

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One of the utensils I found in my bucket was this copper ladle that I made!  It needed scrubbing and shined up.  

In 1977 I was taking a jewelry class and our assignment was to make something using copper.  I decided to make a useful item, a large serving ladle.  I cut out the handle, 2 of them, then the round bowl of the spoon.  I then soldered the two handles onto the bowl, the copper is soft so I needed to firm up the handle and soldering them together did the trick.  Then I set about using a ball peen hammer head to hammer the handle and form the bowl.  Tadah!

After it was completed I used a dentists drill to etch in my name and the year.  I sure do hope one of my children will cherish this and not toss it in the dumpster after my passing.  Hint, hint.  Dayle took care of the kids while I took summer art classes when I made this.  

We did not have any authentic copper cleaner so I used this old fashioned method, you put some salt in a little pile on your copper, pour a bit of vinegar on it and *poof* the tarnish is gone.  Note my new vinegar which came in a frosted bottle and a wooden topped cork!

I have a thing for hammered metal.

This is an odd shape for a spoon/ladle but what the hey, it was easier to make than the normal spoon shape.  I couldn't get off some of the blemishes, but have ordered some real copper polish which will be here on Wednesday so I'll give it a second go then.

Much cleaner and easier to read!

Imagine my delight when the April issue of the British Country Living arrived a few days ago.  I'm slowly reading each article and savoring it.  When I'm done with it I share it with Kristi, my friend Bev and her husband Gary, then on my blog friend Gracie and she will pass it on.  I'm fascinated with caravans and this is a fun one on the cover is made of galvanized corrugated roofing.

This silly movie came on the channel I was on yesterday and I actually got into it and realized what a boon it was to watch something fun and frivolous instead of the news which is soul-crushing right now.  It's called "Trolls".  

Another one pot meal Dayle made.  Kielbasa sausage, rice, carrots and sweet potatoes with a bit of BBQ sauce over the top.  45 minutes in a 450 deg. oven in a cast iron French oven.

That's it for me.  We're hanging in there and staying home.  Cooking from scratch and tidying house.  I've started a new book I'm enjoying - "The Seven Sisters" by Lucinda Riley.  How are you passing your confinement?  Do share.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)