Well! This month came and went in a flash as evidenced by the lack of journal entries AND lack of progress on my To-Do list for September:
In my defense, my TV died suddenly at the beginning of the month and that got me to thinking all sorts of thoughts…like:
- Do I even want to replace it if it can’t be repaired? (at this moment it looks like it is repairable)
- If it can be repaired do I want it back in the same spot, in my studio space? (the answer is no)
- If I move it, then that opens up all kinds of possibilities in the 2 main living spaces in my place. (at the moment, I am planning on turning a closet into a “cloffice”, freeing up more space for other things in my studio/guest space aka The Everything Room 😁)
- Why am I piling even more projects on my To-Do list?!?!?!
Also, I received much-anticipated guests at my place part-way through the month (and we had a blast whilst together, so much so that I don’t have any pictures of what was on my plate during this time).
All of this to say: I was relying on past favourite recipes – my tried and trues – to feed myself and my houseguests.
Such as Greek potatoes and Air Fried Chicken. Both were received very well. I also made a killer beef roast in the slow cooker…no recipe, really. Just brown the meat (blade roast or cross-cut rib is best), then throw it in the slow cooker with beef broth, fresh ground pepper, lots of garlic, generous lashings of Worcestershire sauce, and let cook on low for at least 8 hours.
That’s it for me for this time! Pardon me as I have a free fireplace mantle to paint (more on that coming up on the blog if it turns out OK).
I would love to read what you’ve been eating, in the Comments. And please join my co-host Donna as she managed to put together a delicious dish in her challenging month as well!
Here is the Link Up party link, should you care to visit there:
Rock on,
The WB
Can’t wait to see some photos of your projects like the closet turned into an office and your art studio. I would have never guessed a TV could be repaired in this day and ago. When I go to the county recycling station there are always dozens of them stacked up to recycle.
I can’t wait to see more project photos too. Oh, wait, I’ll see them all IRL soon. Sooo looking forward to it! Thank you for another great post!
Oh, something’s always changin’ at Chez Badass! I can’t wait to show you, my friend. Thanks 💕
I’ve learned to just do the next thing on the to-do list without sweating time lines. The 4 cords of wood we split this spring has finally been hauled to the house. Big check off the to-do list. Just in time for the cool weather. There’s a fire in the wood stove as I type. I’ve been enjoying roasted beets/carrots with olive oil, Italian seasoning and maple syrup or balsamic vinegar. Love, love, love. I love a seasonal menu.
When it comes to To-Do lists, my eyes are bigger than my stomach it seems 🤣. Still, it’s nice to have goals written down even if some months most of them have to be rolled over to another one. Roasting vegetables are one of the things I associate with a return to cooler weather and yours sound delicious! Thanks, Mona 💕
My TV was only 3 years old so sadly no longer covered by warranty. Luckily there was someone on the island who is a trained Samsung repair person so I was able to take it to him. He said he would call me and let me know if he thought it was worth repairing once he was able to take a look at it. Turns out it was the power board so after discussing it with me, he ordered a new one, and today I got the call that it is fixed and ready for pickup. I paid a lot of money for this TV so I am happy it was repairable and at 1/3 the cost of a new one. Thanks, Jean 💕
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Hey Deb! As long as you are enjoying yourself and having fun I’d say don’t stress the “To Do” stuff. Time is going by incredibly fast so let’s just enjoy the experience. ~Kathy
Thanks, Kathy 💕 I get a lot of fun out of doing things and crossing them off my to-do list. My fireplace renovation turned out fantastic and that makes my heart sing.
I have a drawer of shame too… and I am locked in a battle with it so it doesn’t grow into a cabinet, or even a room of shame. And, speaking of shame, there is no shame in moving To-Dos over to the next month… and the next.
Thanks, Janis 💕 I do tend to move things over from one month (season, year 🤣) to the next. I hear you about the drawer of shame morphing into more and more 😉.
I’d say you are doing just fine with accomplishments! I had to look up the Greek potatoes and they look good. On my list for the weekend! Never met a potato I didn’t like!
Those potatoes are a keeper! I hope you get to make them. Thanks, Kate 💕
Who has time to cook with a list like that? My plate has been filled with comfort food lately – lots of crispy french fries!!
Crispy french fries sound great! Thanks, Suzanne 💕
You’ve been really busy!
I’m trying to get certain things in order before the cold weather sets in, and I am kinda crushing those goals, if I do say so myself 😊. But of course, that means other things are not getting done. Thanks, Sheree 💕
I love the idea of crushing goals
It’s always good to have a list of projects but also to take your time when you want to make changes. I love the idea of the Cloffice a great use of space. On the food side those Greek potatoes sound delish!
Yes, definitely! This will be my second year at my new place, and it became a huge “#1 with a bullet” goal to get my entryway/laundry done before the cold weather set in. Which I achieved, at the expense of other things…and that’s OK. Now I have a fireplace too (#2 cold weather goal) and I am thrilled. Next up – repair or replace my wonky dining table and work on the Cloffice! Thanks, Sue 💕
I love your list with the drawer of shame!! It’s cool you were having so much fun that you didn’t take any food photos! Love to see how the fireplace turns out. More garden beds needed? Man it looked so prolific. Bernie
Oh, I already have a (mental) list for next year’s garden!!! I was going to fix up the drawer of shame before I moved, and that was over a year ago. Instead I just packed it up and dumped it into a new drawer at my new place 🤣. Thanks, Bernie 💕
I am assuming it’s the catch all drawer? Or do you have some other “shame” items hiding???
It’s the drawer of all the kitchen tools and gadgets that don’t fit in the cutlery drawer…and it’s a mess! And has been since before I got my new kitchen installed. 🤣
I’ve asked for wooden dividers in that drawer but it’s not a top priority (14 years later)….🤷🏼♀️
Hi Deb – well you had fun this month – probably the most important thing in life … enjoying time with others. Glad the tv was fixed … my oven went … now repaired thankfully – sent me off into ‘mix ups’ eg beef stew, thick frittata style … as I couldn’t use the oven. Thankfully still ‘very’ warm here … cheers Hilary
Beef stew, thick frittata style? I’m trying to imagine! 😁. Glad your oven got fixed. Thanks, Hilary 💕
That is quite the To Do List my friend!
Having such a good time that you forget to take photos is the best problem to have!
I honestly didn’t know that TV’s could be repaired; seems like they are usually toast when they stop working. Good luck on all things!
Thankfully my TV could be repaired since it was quite pricey and only 3 years old!!! (Yes, I paid ALL the bucks for a TV that displays art when not in use…the Samsung Frame – worth it, in my opinion). It was definitely a good time with my friends visiting! Thank you very much, Suz 💕
Oh, I forgot you had that fancy Nancy TV! I’m glad it was able to be repaired.
Drawer of shame. Is that like a junk drawer? Still have one in my new place, but it’s gotten smaller. Must check out your Greek potatoes! (Delighted to hear the good news on your telly!) 💕
It’s a kitchen tool/sharp knives and peelers/measuring cups and spoons/cheese grater/juicer/odds and sods kind of a nightmare of a drawer 🤭. I’m in it all the time and every time I tell myself I’ll clean it up one of these days!!! Thanks, Del 💕
Ouch! Maybe I’m too something-er-other – I have sharp knives segregated into short & long plastic trayss (’cause I’ve never had a place to put up one/several of those magnetic holder strips). Measuring stuff goes wherever it’ll fit, ditto my wooden lemon reamer & peeler.
HowEVER! My spanners, screw drivers, hammers. etc. – are all jumbled together in a wider hard plastic tray. The nails, tape rolls, picture hangers & such like (batteries!) are wherever they’ll fit in the drawer along side of the tool tray.
Oh – All the really tall stuff (ladles, spatulas, etc.) is in a heavy ceramic jar on a countertop.
Should we all get together and each do a piccies post?!
I should probably post a picture of the shame drawer since so many people have dialed into that in the Comments 🤣
I’ll look forward to seeing it! 😉
Wow, Deb, amazing how much you accomplished and sprinkled with fun. We have also had much anticipated house guests including 5 children (ages 6mo to 13 years old) sleeping over, equals chaos plus fun! Planning meals means child friendly options for the non stop eating machines…plus adult meals…a fun group. You always inspire me, Deb. I checked out your above food links and your photography is amazing! xo 💕 Erica
Thank you very much, Erica 💕 Such lovely compliments and they mean a lot coming from you! Chaos plus fun – cheers to that!!!
Years ago I had a “cloffice” and it was wonderful. I was in graduate school at the time, married living in a one-bedroom apartment, and the ability to literally and figuratively shut the door on studying was brilliant. I don’t know if I’d replace a TV at this point or just watch on a laptop. Interesting question.
Yes, that was my thought too about the tv. I only stream things so do I even need one? My tv was repairable so that is another question for another day. Hopefully I get another 3 years out of it AT LEAST 🙄. Thanks, Ally 💕
I love the “drawer of shame” entry. 😆 Buy a new TV! – Marty
Thanks, Marty 💕 Picking up my repaired TV today!
they were mostly of the big and multi-layered variety
This is why I break down all of my tasks into mini-tasks. It makes them less overwhelming and lets me see just how much I accomplished toward the goal. I learned that in grad school and teach my students the same thing. “Write paper” is way more daunting than “write thesis, write x paragraph, write y paragraph,” etc.
Great advice! Thanks, Akilah 💕
Oh it’s so reassuring to see that someone else has a to-do list like mine and you seem to have the same issues trying to get it all done!
I look forward to seeing how your fireplace and other home decor plans work out. I’m always looking for inspiration.
I do much my better with my daily To-Do lists than my monthly goals 🤣. I definitely need to break big goals down into smaller, daily tasks towards them. I hope to be posting about what I’ve done around here soon. Thanks, Janine 💕
Thank you! I have this leg of Lamb and having trouble deciding what to do. I usually get the Lamb chops (easy for a one-peron life) but the shop sent me this instead and all I could think was chopping/slicing it up and cooking variously. The trouble is once defrosted did I dare re-freeze after cutting up? My oven is a table top jobby. But yeah!!! I have a slow cooker!! I forgot about it as I keep it in a cupboard (no space otherwise) but your beef non-recipe has inspired me. Thanks Donna.
You are welcome! Speaking as a former microbiologist, I would not refreeze thawed meat unless I had cooked it first. Slow cooker to the rescue, me thinks 😁. Good luck! I love lamb and should cook with it more than I do. Thank you! 💕
Right. Thanks.
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