Sunday's Story

I woke up at 5:00 AM on Sunday. I got a cup of coffee and filled in the rest of the lengthy Blog entry. I shaved and showered and, by 9:00 AM, I was back working on the clock.

I tried to sand off any drips from staining the back of the clock, although I didn’t have that much success. Then I blew it off and put on the pre-stain. It’s clear, but follows the same directions as stain: You put it on and then wipe off any excess after 15 minutes. You have to apply the stain coat within two hours, though.

Back inside, I set the stove timer and had another cup of coffee, watching the news while I waited. I also put some thick cut bacon on a half sheet pan, liberally covered it with fresh cracked black pepper and stuck it in the cold oven. Then I turned the oven on to 400 degrees F.

I went back out and wiped off the pre-conditioner. Then I came back inside and set the timer for one and a half hours. I checked on the bacon after 15 minutes.  It’s supposed to take 20 minutes, but I always use thick cut, so that time widely varies. It’s usually about 30 minutes until mine is done, but I like to check on it so I don’t burn it (that would tick me off).

Then I started the routine Sunday morning chores: watering the plants, winding the clock, refilling the pill box, etc. I pulled the bacon after 25 minutes and immediately transferred it to another half sheet pan lined with paper towels. I taste-tested one piece (hey, it’s my job, right?) and it was great. I poured the excess grease into my bacon grease coffee cup and, when it cooled, stuck it back in the fridge.

The temperature never really fell much below 60 degrees F. overnight and it was supposed to stay the same all day. The sun kept peeking in and out, but there was a 24 mph SSW wind that made it unpleasant. Oh, and the rain I raced to beat yesterday never materialized here, BTW.

After the time was up for the pre-conditioner, I went out and stained the clock face and edges for the first time, making sure that every flat, edge, angle and curve was stained. I went back inside and set the stove timer for 15 minutes. It was almost 11:30 AM, so I should be able to stain the second coat about 5:30 PM. Therefore, my original timeline for staining and finishing it with polyurethane this weekend was out the window. But, I hadn’t planned on putting two coats of stain on it, so I don’t feel too bad.

I went back out after the timer went off and wiped it dry. Then I carried it into the house and set it on the table again to dry. I already had the kitchen window opened for the bacon, so I just left it open. I guess I’ve been spoiled by latex paint, as the smell was quite strong, quite like the oil-based paint of yore.

Then, since I hadn’t had any breakfast (other than that one piece of bacon I sampled) I got in the car to satisfy another thing I have been jonesing about: Popeye’s Fried Chicken. It’s right down the Road at Telegraph. I switched the radio from WDTE (Ann Delisi) to WCSX (Sunday Morning, Over Easy). I was rewarded with two of my favorites, “Papa was a Rolling Stone” followed by “Tangled up in Blue.” I got the three piece dinner, spicy, with red beans and rice. I went back home, treated the cats (so they would leave me alone) and thoroughly enjoyed my brunch.

I rested up a bit and then went out to my least favorite yard work: picking up the damn trash! But, before I do, I wanted to document this crap and send it to the Township (I have complained for years, but they tell me there’s nothing they can do). I also uncovered the three remaining rose bushes. While I was out there, I kept thinking I could be at the Novi Center’s Home and Garden Show. I had seriously thought about going to it either Saturday or today, but realized I had too much to do here and I would only bum myself out seeing things I liked but couldn’t really afford.

Back inside, I saw the hockey game was on. Well, I thought, one more trashy day or two wouldn’t be all that bad, would it? I did put the rose cones and the tarp up in the attic first, though, before watching the game. We lost (duh).

I took what I considered a well-deserved nap. Then the timer finally went off and woke me up. So, I went out and stained the clock face.

Back inside, I set the timer for 15 minutes. When it went off, I went back in the garage and wiped off the clock. Then I took it inside for the night to dry.

I had used disposal gloves, but I still washed my hands. Then I started on my Sunday dinner. I am making a recipe Michelle P. at work gave me, called Cheesy Potato Chowder.  But (of course) I am giving it my own spin. So you can make it the original way or my way. I will add [mine] to the parts I changed.

So, I peeled six medium russet potatoes and cut them into one inch cubes. I put them in a pot, added water,  a fine diced yellow onion [mine], a bay leaf [mine] and boiled them until they were done. I drained them and returned them to the pot, reserving about one cup of the potatoes. I discarded the bay leaf.

The reserved potatoes went into a bowl and I mashed them with a fork. I also put 1/3 cup of AP flour and one cup of milk in another bowl and whisked that together until well blended.

I added a box (32 ounces) of chicken stock, salt, pepper, the mashed potatoes and fresh thyme leaves [mine]  to the potatoes in the pot and then brought that to a boil. I reduced the heat to medium and cooked the potatoes four minutes more.

I added the flour and milk mixture and stirred it until it thickened. Then I added in an 8-ounce package of shredded cheddar cheese. I stirred that until it was melted and smooth.

I added in 1/2 cup of sour cream and stirred that until it was incorporated. Sidebar: This is a stirring recipe, is it not?

Finally, I crumbled up two strips of bacon and added the bacon bits in as well. I dished up a bowl for my Sunday supper. Not bad. Not bad at all!

I watched TV until bedtime, pausing midway to put the cooled soup in the fridge.