change of plans...

 This fine morning, I got up and got ready for the pool in a drowsy way, I had stayed up too late reading a good book, then woke up in the night to use the bathroom, and started thinking about things.  You know how that is, I got a few good ideas, and started thinking of all the things I have to do this week, I had to put a stop to it so I could fall back to sleep. 

When I did wake up again bright and early, my stomach was feeling really off.  Shh, it could have been the popcorn I had watching Downton Abby with the girls last evening, but I don't know.  I got ready and had a coffee, then left in good time to beat the school buses...because if you get behind a bus, it's game over, and you won't find a parking spot.  I like to get to the pool extra early to walk and stretch and doggy paddle and warm up.  

Well.  I got halfway to the pool and my tummy started in...I felt like I might need to make a run for the bathroom, which would be an absolute nightmare in the pool, especially because I cannot run!  I pictured the worst, so I drove right by the rec center and headed home.  I feel like I'm playing hooky here, but better safe than sorry.  My stomach is fine now, of course.  

Anyway, TMI, right?  I have so much to do.  I'm making a birthday cake for Miss Rhys, who is turning five this week and is having a party on Saturday.  It's going to be a really hot humid week, so I'm thinking to bake it today and put it in the freezer.  I also am doing some cupcakes for Evelyn's shower which is on Sunday.  I have to finish a project for that, and also wrap the presents for her, and for Rhys' birthday.  

I haven't gone to the Mennonite stand to get flowers for the deck yet, I am itching to do that too.  I have things around here I want to work on too, and every day the floors need vacuuming.  I know I am not REALLY that busy compared to most people, but this week I do have a lot to do.  I am probably going with Kathryn at some point to get some things for the birthday too.

Yesterday after church, no one was coming over here, which is unusual, but everyone had other plans.  Paul is in Hungary, so it was just the girls and I.  Charlotte Claire is starting nursing school in the fall, and mentioned she needs a desk.  I looked on Marketplace, and there was one for free, just a half hour away.  So, off we went on a desk adventure in the rickety truck.  

It's a good desk, a big old wood one with lots of drawers.  It's a restoration project dream.  She's going to clean it all up and decide if she's going to sand it down or just leave it.  It makes my hands itchy just to look at it, itchy to work on it.  

We then went to Target since we were in the neighborhood, the girls got a few necessities, and we got a salad kit for tonight's dinner, to have with grilled chicken, which I have to get into the marinade (dill pickle juice!).  The girls have been talking about getting "dirty soda", which I invented, thank you very much.  I've been putting heavy cream into diet root beer for YEARS.  I've also the queen of adding Diet Coke to a leftover iced Americano.  Anyway.  We went through the McDonalds drive through and they got  dirty Dr. Pepper, which is basically fountain soda with cream, Cam said the cream tasted like marshmallow.  I got a Diet Coke, which was splendid.  Cam also got a McChicken, and with the app got free large fries, yes, sometimes you have to live a little.  (no I didn't have any).  

Home...ahh, home.  Char made herself some crispy tacos, I made myself two smash burgers with sautéed onions and dill pickles, no buns.  And, we watched Downton.  

The girls took a break and brought Sunny for a walk, I went on the exercise bike for a bit, then we watched another episode.  Life is good, right?

So if anyone has been wondering...I mentioned there are three new granddaughters coming in the next few months:  Evelyn and Nate are having their first baby, a girl.  Abigail and Derek are having their first baby, a girl.  And:  Kathryn and Darius are having their fifth baby, a girl!  (They have 3 boys and one girl, Rhys, so they're quite excited!). 

So I'll have 22 grandchildren, the last six in a row girls (Kaia, Samantha, and Emilia, then the three unborn babies....). The girls are running away with it, 14 girls to 8 boys!

It's really fun, what blessings they all are.  

So my project is finished...the day has sped by.  I've puttered and kept busy, went outside for a bit (I draped some laundry around out there and it dried so fast!).  I marinated the chicken in pickle juice, and packed up all of my sewing stuff, which will go back into the storage bench in my room.  One of these days I'll get a sewing space in one of the empty rooms, but until then, I'll just haul it out when I want to sew.  

Since I'm blogging in fits and starts today, I have also gotten the cake baked!  I was going to just make cupcakes because Rhys is having a pool party, and I was thinking easier to serve.  But she wants a cake, and I did promise a cake.  So I baked a round one and a smaller round one, I'll stack them and make it fancy.  There will be a few cupcakes too, then two dozen mini cupcakes for the baby shower on Sunday.  When they cool down, I'll wrap them up and freeze them.  

Paul Face-timed me today from Budapest.  I was sewing, glad I wasn't in Target, ha.  :). 

The chicken is now in the oven, pounded between some parchment paper with a meat mallet, dipped in egg, then in a bread crumb mixture, on a pan with lots of olive oil in a nice hot oven.  Char made a pan of sweet potato fries, and Cam is making croissant rolls with mozzarella sticks.  I am planning to have a nice salad with my chicken.  I haven't eaten yet today, so I am hungry.  :). 

Ah well...you have a nice evening!