Sunday, Sunday!!

I woke up Sunday morning around the usual time. It was 29 degrees F. outside! I had a cup of coffee and then another while I wrote and posted the Blog entry.

Then I made a big breakfast. After having an early dinner yesterday, I was hungry! So, I made two eggs over easy, with hash browns and two pieces of bacon.

I listened to the news while I did the usual Sunday morning chores until 10:00 AM and then shaved and showered. I had to go to the gas station for gas for the mowers, so on the way back, I stopped at the quarter carwash and hosed the car down. I know, I know, its gonna rain on Tuesday, but I can’t be riding around in a dirty car! I do have a certain image to uphold…

Back home, I left the car in the driveway and went inside. I treated the cats, grabbed my special towel, went out and dried it off. Back inside again, I stripped the bed and started the weekend wash. Once that got going, I went back outside.

I picked up all the pine cones and branches out front. On a whim, I took out the handicap grabber (one of two I got in rehab). It worked great, eliminating bending over. It made me wonder if it would be better than the nail on a dowel I use for trash pickup out back.

Next, I spread the Grub-ex in the front lawn. Before I did, though, I went inside to use the bathroom and saw it was almost noon! My, the time flies when you’re having fun!

When I finished applying the Grub-ex, I took out the wheel and got all the measurements out front (so I can return it Monday morning – one of the keys to getting people to let you borrow things is to return them promptly, I’ve found). Now that I had all my measurements, I can calculate square footage and see just how much trouble I am in, (both in the cost of the mulch and the effort needed to apply it).

Oh, I did get the wild garden, too. It was a bit more tricky, as it’s a rough triangle. So, I did the two longest sides, determined the square footage as if it was a square garden and then divided the imaginary garden by two. I guess if I had spent more time studying Algebra (rather than skipping school) back in the day, I would know the correct way of doing it, but I think that’s close enough for government work.

Next, I took a break to enter all the measurements into a spreadsheet. Then I went out and spread Grub-ex on the rear lawn. Naturally, I ran out back by the play structure. I am going to have to admit to myself that I need enough “whatever” for 20,000 square feet, not 15,000 of lawn!

By then, my legs and back hurt and I was hungry. So, after I put everything away and drove the car back in, I shut the garage door and went in to find something to eat.

I had a snack I wanted to try (the one I got the water crackers for). Now, long time readers may remember that CC turned me onto smoked oysters. I have enjoyed them ever since. But, I recently read an article about appetizers in one of the three food magazines that just came that I wanted to try. For a fresh herb, they used cilantro (which I dislike) and I had thrown the rest of my fresh herbs away after making the beef noodle soup. But, I did have chives coming up out back. So, I went and snipped some for my snack.

The idea was to put a smoked oyster on a cracker, add some chopped cilantro (I used chives as I said) and then a good splash of hot sauce. OMG! It was delicious! I ended up eating all the oysters in the tin!!!

I laid down for a long while, hoping to fall asleep, but I didn’t. So, I eventually got back up, started the last load of laundry and went out in the garage to begin cleaning up the mess and putting away all the tools I used (and then just left out) to make the clock. I wished it wasn’t as windy as it was so I could have started burning up the scrap wood in the fire pit. Oh, well. I made a pretty good dent in the mess when I had to come back in to put the clothes in the dryer.

I began the next mini-project. I am tired of the oars in the living room. They worked in St. Clair, both due to the proximity of the river and to fill a large wall expanse. But they are out of place in land-locked Redford and I have some pictures I’d like to hang in their spot.

So, I took down all the fishing lures and “stuff” that was hanging on them. I put the oars in the office, either to relocate them there, or put them up in the attic at another time.

I unscrewed the hooks they had rested on and saved them as well. I sanded the wall around the screw holes and then patched the wall with spackling compound. I’ll give it a day or two to dry and then sand it. If I’m lucky, there is some paint left from when the guys painted the three living room walls. If not, I’ll take in a chip and get a new quart of paint mixed to match it

I hung up my pants and shirts and decided to quit for the night. I must admit, I had a dinner idea planned (planned since Friday, in fact), but I didn’t feel like taking the time to make it. However, I do need to make the croutons for it as that Rustic Italian bread starts molding in just a day or two.

So, I cut three one-inch slices of the bread. Then I ripped them into one-inch pieces. Now, here you might wonder (I did) why not just cut them? It would be easier! Because “Tearing, not cutting, the bread ensures nooks and crannies that catch the dressing and add texture.”

It’s not easy being a foodie!

So, I tore it up, man. You want to end up with about three cups, BTW. I tossed them with three tablespoons of olive oil and spread them on a half sheet tray. I seasoned them with Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. I stuck the tray into a preheated 375 degree F. oven and baked them (tossing often) until they were golden brown (10-15 minutes). Then I pulled them out and let them cool.

For my supper, I reheated some of that slow cooker lasagna and made two more slices of garlic bread in the toaster oven (have to use that bread up). The lasagna tasted good and, in fact, was less “soupy” today. I cleaned up the kitchen and put the croutons in a baggie.

I watched a movie with the cats until 10:00 PM and then went to sleep.