I was talking to a friend the other day about how much we love being retired. There is no better lifestyle than that of retirement! We both commented on how we enjoy savoring that morning cup of comfort and sipping it at our leisure - so unlike how we used to grab a cup as we dashed out the door. We love how the day stretches out ahead of us with an agenda that is really manageable rather than having a long to-do list and a short deadline for completion. I loved her summation of our lives: "The things we used to take care of on our way home from work have now become our big agenda for the day." Can I just say, once again, how grateful I am to be able to live a retired lifestyle? I am so grateful and blessed. I know that I worked hard in my youth to be able to have this lifestyle but such is not guaranteed and I am truly grateful and feel blessed every single day.
What I'm Reading
I'm continuing through the series I've started that was written by Mary Kay Andrews. I am now on book number four: Happy Never After. It is fun to binge read a series after not having that experience for several years. Most of the characters are like old friends that the reader is catching up with or touching base with after a hiatus. This one is especially fun to me because of the Motown connection and I am a lover of Motown music.
I'm now working through a couple more of Ina Garten's cookbooks as well. I don't think I ever thought about setting the table as part of preparing and serving a meal - that there are connections between the two. Oh, I know that there is the concept that an Italian spaghetti dinner might call for a checked table cloth and a bottle with candle wax dripping down it in the center of the table or a summer bar-b-que with a checked cloth and bandanas for napkins and that sort of concept. I'm pretty traditional, though, and just hadn't really given it much thought. I simply assembled the tablescape and served the meal and didn't think that much about how something like that impacts the dining experience. So, reading this one has made me pause and do a little thinking along those lines. She describes how different wines are recommended for different dishes and then reminds the reader that we really don't have to follow that path and can just pair up or match up what we seem to like best. I love that attitude. It is as if she says, "This is what a lot of folks do but if that doesn't work for you, do what does!" and gives permission to just enjoy.
I've also done a lot of reading and listening to information about our White House and how it is being changed and I am not in agreement with the drastic changes. An addition is one thing but destroying what was done in the past in order to make changes is not a good idea in my mind. I'm all about updates and improvements but not destruction. I've written my legislators actual letters as well as sent emails. I feel like it s a bit of wasted effort on my part because they all seem to highly regard the decisions and encourage the continuation of it. Bleak times in my opinion.
What I'm Loving
We picked up our beef this week. So, our freezer clean-out was completed just in time to restock the larder so to speak. I must say that the processor's place of business was super-clean and the pick-up was a quick and easy one. Then, when we got home with our three big coolers of meat, we sorted and inventoried the different cuts of meat and transferred it to our clean freezers, placing it where it will be easy to find when we are ready to thaw and prepare (hopefully).
We tasted a bit already and it was quite delicious! I've also enjoyed watching Mike figure up the cost per each cut and overall cost and compare the difference with local store prices and all the figuring he has done to justify this purchase. I just look forward to the different meals we shall have and hope he is as excited about cooking some of it as he has been about getting it here!
What I'm Working On
Well, I put the pause on the ottoman slipcover that I started working on last week. I stumbled upon a design that I really like and decided that I wanted to give it a try. The picture below shows it on a table cover but I think it would look nice on the ottoman that has a far-shorter side or skirt.
I decided to think about it a day or so. I can always continue onward with this one as a simple slip over the ottoman and be done with it and then dig out a linen or drop cloth or some other fabric and make another one with the tailored button details later if I chose to stick with the simple option I've started. So, I'm working on this slipcover but most of the work is what is going on in my mind and my folding of fabrics. I'm not one who is really into ruffles and bows but a nice tailored button feature stops me in my tracks sometimes. This is a project that I want to finish up. So, look for an update next week!
Those are the three things that have sorted to the top of my lists this week. I hope you have had some time to read or watch something interesting and/or entertaining, work on something that makes you happy, and have found loads of things to love!
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