Readers, Welcome to my blog (formerly Birds, Blooms, Books, etc). I'm entering a new decade taking on the challenge of moving from Maryland after living there 46 years and learning about my new home here in New England in the Live Free or Die state - New Hampshire. Join me as a write this new chapter of my life.

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Sent to me by my oldest brother who I got to see last weekend for the first time since Nov. 2019. 




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I've been MIA in commenting on your blogs.  We were gone for 5 days visiting family in Virginia and now are just getting back to normal life though tending to needs of granddaughters as daughter recovers from surgery on her collar bone and son in law tries to work and manage the household.

Monday, March 21, 2022

Successes with Instant Pot

 For those of you wondering what I've been making in the Instant Pot I got recently here goes.

One day I used the slow cook to make Hoisin Boneless Pork Ribs. This was an adapted recipe from my cookbook.  Nice feature of the Instant Pot is you can saute ingredients like onions and garlic then switch over to slow cook feature.

I started with one onion


Added garlic and ginger.


Recipe I was adapting called for Five Spice powder and hoisin sauce.


I used one pound of country style boneless pork ribs.


Dipped the pork into the sauce that was created from saute setting and then set the pot to slow cook for 5 hours.


Here are my notes on what I did so I'll remember next time.


Forgot to take a plated photo but here are the leftovers which I froze for another meal.


When I was in Buffalo I used my daughter's pot to make a variation of this dish.



And made this dish too.



Since coming home I've made this:


I used the pressure cooking setting and it was fast.


And this though since I had no green beans I used canned black beans.  This also was using pressure cooking setting.  It called for tumeric which I didn't have so I sent Dan to Emily's to borrow some.



I like to make notes in my cookbooks to help me remember if we liked the dish or not.  As you can see Dan did like this one.  It did make a lot! And even after having it for lunch one day I froze the rest.


I heartedly recommend getting the cookbook I'm using. For those who commented that they knew family members who had one but hadn't used it, get the cookbook for them.





















Saturday, March 19, 2022

Puzzle Done

 Completed on Wednesday of this week. This one took 2 1/2 weeks to complete with no help from anyone.  It's one a granddaughter picked out for me.  And it does glow in the dark sort of.


I have an assortment to choose from for the next one. Can't be out gardening yet so if I'm not reading I'm doing a puzzle for relaxation.


Friday, March 18, 2022

Good for a Laugh or Two

 Contemplations of Seniors...

My tolerance for idiots is extremely low today. 

I used to have some immunity built up, 

but obviously there is a new strain out there.

As I watch this generation try and rewrite our history, 

one thing I'm sure of … 

it will be misspelled and have no punctuation.

Me: Sobbing my heart out,

 "I can't see you anymore … 

I'm not going to let you hurt me again.”
Trainer: "It was one sit-up. ”

Sorry I haven't gotten anything done today.

 I've been in the Produce Department 

trying to open this stupid plastic bag.

Turns out that being a “senior” 

is mostly just googling how to do stuff. 

Do you ever get up in the morning, 

look in the mirror and think 

"That can't be accurate." 

I want to be 14 again and

ruin my life differently.

 I have new ideas. 

Teacher: 

Give me a sentence which includes 

the words: defense, defeat, detail.
Student: 

When a horse jumps over defense, 

defeat go first and then detail.

God promised men that good and obedient wives 

would be found in all corners of the world. 

Then he made the earth round…

and laughed and laughed and laughed.

I'm on two diets. 

I wasn't getting enough food on one.

Apparently RSVPing to a wedding invitation 

"Maybe next time," isn't the correct response.

I put my scale in the bathroom corner 

and that's where the little liar 

will stay until it apologizes. 

Felt uncomfortable driving into the cemetery. 

The GPS blurted out 

"You have reached your final destination."

My mind is like an internet browser. 

At least 19 open tabs, 

3 of them are frozen 

and I have no clue where 

the music is coming from.

Hard to believe I once had a phone 

attached to a wall, and when it rang, 

I picked it up without knowing 

who was calling, and I'm still alive.