Random Tidbits ~ The Car Saga

Thanksgiving yesterday was spent much differently, but so much more less stressed and way less dirty dishes.

We started off the day with ordering 7 meals online from Bob Evans.  We went to the "Big City" and delivered 2, then headed out of town to our daughter who is in quarantine with a total of 5 people.  We placed a box (5 meals) and bag of extra food in the driveway, and then called her.  She was ever so thankful, but still can't really taste food.  

By the time we returned home, our 21 year-old was off work and we broke out our take out meal.  I was literally back in my PJ's by then and we just hung out in the kitchen until we were all done eating.  

Porch weather returned for a short bit, so we spent some time chatting on the porch too.

We had to stop at the grocery store for an extra pie, the day before Thanksgiving.  Our 21 year-old daughter is constantly buying Christmas decor (which I told her "save your money")

Guess what she bought for me?  

Camper ornaments.  They are so cute and she insisted the tree needed them, as we are not putting up our bigger tree this year.  We are using her tree that she put up (a bit smaller).  I love them, but still told her she better be saving her money.

On Tuesday, the day before my Dad's funeral service, 3 of us went to town to take care of all of the last title/plates (deadline due to pandemic was Dec. 1st.).

We were at the title office, and I watched my daughter and husband walk back to the truck.  I said, "uh, she has to go next door and get plates."  

My husband looked at me and said, "your daughter is broke down on the highway (our 2 lane country highway).  It was raining and we drove all the way back to her.  Her car wasn't going anywhere.  My husband and I pushed her car off the road, drove her home, gave her the keys to my car and she went to work. 

We drove back to town (this is about a 25 minute drive), got the plates for the other daughter's car, went back home to get help to tow the car back home.  When we got home, we saw transmission fluid all over the driveway.  Ugh.  We have yet to look at the issues and I'm praying the transmission isn't blown.

So, guess who is back to having no car again.  I never even got to drive it again.  Sigh.

Our family needs a break from all things bad.  

 

This and That

 

Let's talk about English Muffin rings.  I had no idea these things even existed.  Do any of you have them and use them, and if you have them, do they help in the rising/baking process?

Where is a good place to purchase a wool pressing mat?

Let's talk pie.  Does anyone have a really good homemade butterscotch pie recipe?  I will be checking my cookbooks, but I really don't want to use a pudding to make it.  I'd like to try a homemade one.

I found another use for my home canned pizza sauce.  One day last week I made chicken parmigiana in the crock pot.  So easy and tasted awesome.

I sliced two organic chicken breasts in half, making 4 filets of chicken.  Dipped them into an egg beaten with salt and pepper, then dipped them in Italian panko, seared 3 minutes on each side in butter in a stove top pan.  Transferred them to the crockpot, poured a pint of home canned pizza sauce over it.  Put the crock pot on low for about 7-8 hours, then hand shredded mozzarella cheese over it at the end until melted.  Delish!

My 21 year-old daughter bought me a very cute camper blanket.  She also bought me a box of Christmas cards she found at the dollar store.  So cute!

I finally figured out what I can make for Mom for Christmas.  I will be digging out my sewing machine for part of the making.  I haven't gotten it out since I sewed goat coats for our baby goats.  I'll update as I work on it.  This should be fun.  I never figured out how to thread a bobbin with it, so I sure hope YouTube has some videos.  The book that came with it doesn't have directions.  Mom gave me the sewing machine, so I am thankful for that.  I still have her old one that I used for years until it just got to the point of not being useable.

Dad, Mom, me and my siblings with my Dad's horse Sugar.  We lived in the city, and his horse was kept at a barn nearby.  I remember us driving home one time and Dad road Sugar into town to our house.  The first kiddo on Sugar is me at the age of 2.  Such precious memories.

His service was Wednesday afternoon.  It was graveside.  It started with an honor salute, as Dad was in the Navy during the Korean war.  It was very cold and raining the entire service, but we shared many, many funny and happy stories (and we all had different ones).

By the way, not sure if I shared, but our daughter (who has our grandkids), was tested positive for covid.  She got pretty sick.  We are really worried about her family, as her husband has many health issues.

We plan to do a driveway drop today for my Mom and one daughter (meal).  Happy Thanksgiving everyone.