And then it was Thursday...

I awoke on Thursday morning, refreshed after (finally) a good night's sleep. It was a sunny, if somewhat chilly, day.

At lunch time, I watered all the container gardens out front, as well as the remaining flat of flowers and the various vegetables I have sitting on the back patio. I also watered the Topsy-Turvy upside-down tomato planter.

After work and changing clothes, I called my Mother to tell her Amy's schedule. I also called my brother Carl, to see how he was doing, but I forgot to ask him if he found a wisteria for his garden arbor. Mine is simply covered with flower buds this year! I can't wait to post that photo!

My meds had kicked in and I was feeling "normal" again, so I grabbed the compost screen and the shovel and headed out back. I got one heaping wheelbarrow of compost cleaned and dumped in the raised bed. I was headed back for the next one when my neighbor called me over.

We stood at the fence and chatted about anything and everything. We were joined by his wife after a while. I learned a lot. For example, the Township has used up all the money they had for paving streets so now, my street won't get paid unless all the residents agree to pay $18 per foot of frontage (in my case, that would be over $1300.00 US!) So, I think I'll be living on a dirt road for a while, LOL!

Anyway, after talking about the Big Three, working for suppliers (I work for a Tier One supplier, Tammy works for a Tier Two), GM pension fears (both of Tammy's parents have retired from GM as did my brother Carl), woodchucks (the reason he tries to catch and kill them is that they get under his trailer and, when his dogs try to get them, they severely bite the faces of the dogs), we finally talked ourselves out.

I went in the house for a bathroom break and was astonished to find it was 8:45 PM! Reluctantly, I went out and gathered up my tools, put them away and gave up for the night.

I quickly put together my dinner. I mixed the four cups of leftover mashed potatoes with a handful of thick-sliced scallions (to kick it up a notch). I added two eggs and a dusting of flour while I heated up some canola oil in my saute pan. When the oil was shimmering, I formed the first three patties and fried them until they were golden brown. Then I flipped them over. I rigged up my cookie sheet with paper towels and a rack and turned the oven on warm.

When the other side was done, I pulled them off, slid them on the rack to drain and salted them. I repeated that process until I had nine of the beautiful (Patties? Fritters? Cakes? Pancakes?) I don't know what to call them! It was just how my first wife Fran's mother used up leftover mashed potatoes.

I picked out the best-looking three, plated them and went in to watch just a little TV before going to bed. BTW, I was very disappointed that the Red Wings playoff game was NOT on any of my cable channels! When I started nodding, I turned the TV off and went to bed.