Books I Am Reading in December, 2021

 

The Chancellor by Kati Marton - Interesting 

The Fifties by David Halberstam - Excellent 

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel - Just getting into it

Passage to Power by Robert Caro - The 4th in his serial biography of LBJ. Excellent.

Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Life Around OakMeadows in December, 2021

 

Sunrise

Birds

  Crow

  Cardinals 

  Bluejays 

  Mockingbird 

  Carolina Wren 

  Grackle

  Chickadee 

  Mourning Doves 

  Caracara

  Turkey Vulture

  Black Vulture

  White Egret

  White-winged Doves

  Red-tailed Hawk

Insects

  Honeybees 

  Monarchs

  Queens

  Gulf Fritillaries 

  Longtailed Skippers 

  Cloudless Sulphur 

  Little Sulphurs 

  White-checkered Skipper

  American Lady

  Common Buckeyes 

  Pearl Crescent 

Mammals

  Squirrels 

  Deer

  Raccoons 

2021 What a year!!!

 

2021. What a year!!

1. January 6. A National disgrace 

2. January 22. Oh what a relief it is. 

3. February 15. Freezepocalypse. 3 days of freezing temperatures with no water or electricity. Thank goodness for the Generac and the propane tank. 

4. April 7 The Never-ending Bathroom remodel contract signed. (Still not finished.)

5. The second year of the Covid-19 Pandemic mostly quarantined at home. 

6. Vaccinations #1, #2, and Booster #1

7. 800,000+ Covid deaths in U.S. 

8. Colonoscopies, Dental cleanings, New prescription for glasses, Annual physicals, new Prescriptions for BP meds

9. Only one trip - National Butterfly Center 

10. Aging but still functional 

Around OakMeadows

Tigger inspects the paper whites.

 Around OakMeadows 

This morning I went to Dr. Basu for a blood pressure check since it had been a month on the new dose. All is going very well. I had printed out my daily BP readings for the month so that she could see that I am staying in the 130s for my systolic pressure. So I don’t need to go back until March. Yea!! She did suggest some compression socks for my swollen ankles. So tomorrow I’ll check on Amazon. 

The remodel/redo is on hold until Statewide can find a tile installer. I don’t know how they stay in business. In the meantime, I have a working shower and the money stays in the bank earning interest for me. Joe plans to write a letter to the CEO of the company after the first of the year and see if that lights a fire under someone. We shall see. 

My paper whites are beginning to emerge. I haven’t forced paper white blooms in years. I have ordered 3 blue hyacinths to force but they won’t be here until after Christmas. I wonder if I can plant the bulbs in the garden after they have bloomed?? It seems a shame to throw them away. 

The Housecleaners came yesterday so my house is nice and clean with absolutely no effort on my part. I love my HouseCleaners; they have been cleaning my house every month for almost 20 years. Adrian’s mother speaks very little English so I practice my Spanish with her. We get along quite well as long as 1. she speaks very s l o w l y  and 2. I have access to Google Translate. 

Skillet Chicken with Orzo, Dill, and Feta

Since one of my goals for 2022 is to try one new recipe per month, I thought I’d get started in December  This recipe is my altered version of a NY Times Cooking recipe. It is relatively simple to make and absolutely scrumptious. 

Skillet Chicken with Orzo, Feta, & Dill

1 Large lemon

5 Tablespoons olive oil 

3 garlic cloves, smashed

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (fat trimmed off)

1 yellow onion, peeled and chopped 

2 cups orzo

3 cups chicken broth

1 cucumber, peeled and chopped 

Cherry tomatoes, halved 

2 tablespoons chopped fresh Dill

2 tablespoons capers

5 oz. Crumbled Feta cheese

1. Juice lemon and combine with 3 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add trimmed chicken thighs and marinate at least one hour and up to over night.

2. Heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet. Brown and cook chicken thighs thoroughly on both sides, about 14 minutes total. Remove chicken to a plate. 

3. Add onions to skillet and stir to coat with oil.  Cook onions until soft, about 4 minutes. Stir in orzo and broth and cook for about 5 minutes. Add chicken, cover, and cook on medium heat about 7 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in dill. 

4. Serve topped with cucumber, tomato, capers, and feta cheese.

Plans for 2022

 

(Man plans, God laughs.)

1. Have LadyBuggy (golf cart) repaired.

2. Redecorate guest bedroom.

3. Replace cat flap.

4. Travel to 6 botanical gardens. 

5. Try 1 new recipe each month.

6. Read 52 books.

7. Quilting

    One new

    One repaired 

8. Charities 

     East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry (Food Pantry)

     Meals on Wheels

     Houston Public Media

     The Nature Conservancy 

     Katy Prairie Conservancy

     National Butterfly Center

     Bishop Maginn High School

9.  Power wash house and shed

10. Health maintenance 

     Annual physical

     Dental cleanings

Around OakMeadows

 

Around OakMeadows 

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and this year was especially nice. JMM bought a pecan pie and we made the cornbread and sausage dressing. Daughter made the most delicious sweet potatoes and bought the sides. Son-in-law roasted the Turkey to perfection. We brought our dog, Angie, to play with their dog, Lucy. And a pleasant visit before a carbohydrate induced coma.

The Never-ending Bathroom Remodel project will be entering its 8th month.  After much texting and phone calling Oscar, the Project (Mis)manager, we actually have the correct tile. The redo start date was pushed forward to Monday, December 6. If I hadn’t had 8 months of experience with this company, I might have some degree of hope that they will actually show up on Monday and actually do the redo…..We shall see…

I’ve spent some time on my meal planning for 2022. Mostly I will do Seafood on Mondays, Chicken on Tuesdays, Beef or Pork on Wednesdays, Leftovers on Thursdays, and Out on Fridays. Leftovers, Schwan’s, and Meal Simples will fill in the blanks.  

We are still having many butterflies in the garden. Lots of Gulf Fritillaries, quite a few Monarchs and Longtailed Skippers, and today I saw a beautiful White-checkered Skipper. It’s been so pleasant that I spent the morning reading out under the oak trees. My favorite time of the year, not too hot, not too cold, just right. 

That’s about all the news from OakMeadows. Next time I’ll post my Plans for 2022.