Rainy Days and Mondays...

Monday was a repeat of Sunday, with cold temps and heavy rain. I had to go to an off-site meeting at 1:30 PM and got soaked! When I got home at 5:10 PM, the lake in back was back. Who knows how much rain has fallen? Well, actually, I do! I just put the rain gauge out on Saturday; so, I went and took a quick check. I have just over 1 3/4 inches of rain so far since this started yesterday (and it's still raining).

Back inside, I took off my soggy shoes and started straightening up. I swept the kitchen and then vacuumed the two downstairs walk-off carpets. Then I got out the electric sweeper and picked up a TON of Caley and Scruffy hair. The contents of both the electric sweeper and the vacuum went into the trash (garbage day tomorrow). I checked Saturday's potato salad and it was starting to get runny, so that went in the garbage as well.

I finished up just before 7:00 PM and started making dinner. I was peeling the rest of the redskin potatoes for mashed potatoes. That and a couple of warmed up grilled chicken thighs should make a nice supper.

I put the cut up potatoes in the medium saucepan with some cold water, two smashed cloves of garlic and salt. Then I cranked on the heat. I opened a jar of Heinz Classic Chicken gravy and started warming that. I got out two grilled chicken thighs and an egg and let them all come up to room temperature.

When the potatoes were fork tender, I drained them, added the egg, a little dried parsley and some heavy cream (I would have just used milk, but I am out) and mashed them up. I put the chicken thighs in the microwave, wrapped in wax paper and heated them on high for 1 1/2 minutes. Finally, everything came together and I plated.

I ate at the kitchen table, with my nose NOT stuck in a book for once. The garlic mashed potatoes with gravy tasted excellent and the chicken was perfect (moist and juicy with that hint of lemon and herbs from grilling them). I cleaned up the kitchen and put the remaining potatoes and gravy in separate containers and into the fridge.

I wandered in to watch some TV until bedtime at 10:00 PM.