Feeling Salty

I like blueberries and honeydew melon, etc, but without a doubt, my favorite summertime fruit is watermelon. Please tell me it's still considered a FRUIT!!

Hubby, however, is not a huge fan. So I have to buy a small melon – which still chops up into a big bowl worth of fruit – and try to eat it within a week so it doesn't ferment into watermelon wine or something.

Today I decided to have a small bowl full for lunch. Then I had a memory... For some reason my mom always added salt to watermelon. I think she claimed it brought out the flavor. So I had one small bowl unsalted and then another small bowl lightly salted. I gotta say, it did bring out the flavor. But I am such a "don't add salt to anything unless your popcorn or fries need it" person that I felt guilty.

I was wondering if this was a weird "growing up north of Highway 8" phenomenon like adding sugar to raw tomato slices. I presented a poll of my marketing department at work and so far, I am the only one who ever adds salt to watermelon.

But, to expand my flavor palate, someone did suggest sprinkling on some Tajín. Apparently, Tajín on watermelon is a classic combination that balances the fruit’s natural sweetness with a vibrant kick of chili, sea salt, and lime. Could make it interesting. Let me know if you've tried it.

I'd ask what your favorite summer fruit is, but I do have to make my way through this whole bowl of watermelon cubes this week. Remind me next week to take a poll!

Last Day of Stay-Cation

After such a low-key week I am totally not prepared to wake up to an alarm in the morning and get back to work!

One of my friends at church commented, "You know what your vacation sounded like? Retirement!" Oh, god. Now I want that. NOW.

I didn't get a ton accomplished but I am OK with that. The important thing is that I did not think about work. At all. That's a true victory for me.

Of course tomorrow morning might be a startling reality. But I'll deal. 

Today was pretty laid back. Church and some Mr. Deck Chair time and then baseball.

It happened that both my Twins and hubby's Reds were featured "squares" on the MLB Network. Yay, Twins, for beating the Yankees!

After that I was just lazing about, doing some crocheting and listening to an audio book. I really got used to that. Help me acclimate to real life tomorrow, please!

Hope all of you found time to relax over the holiday weekend. I'll never take if for granted again, I swear!

America Turns 250

This 100% does make me old. But I do remember a parade and singing patriotic songs at the park. It was a big deal. 

And I know people are making a big deal about America turning 250 today, but I just couldn't get into it with the same child-like enthusiasm. Our celebration included...

Me dressing in my only patriotic shirt to go to the farmers market downtown...

Hubby cutting grass (always smells so good!)...

And me taking a walk and checking out the neat decorations some neighbors put out.

Tonight we had fresh from an Amish garden baby red potatoes and grilled brats from Ski's. Jim enjoyed a Bloody Mary brat and I really liked my Nashville Hot Chicken brat. Good stuff!

We are not going to the fireworks in town. It is a zoo. I mean people were putting out their "save my seat" blankets at 10 a.m. today. It's crazy. We expect there will be some set off close by, per usual. Just feel bad for the dogs in the neighborhood who absolutely hate fireworks. In another world, all dogs would become ex-pats!

Hope you found a fun and safe way to enjoy this historic day. And took time to appreciate your freedoms!

Palooza Wrap-Up

 

While today was "cooler" by the heat wave standards, the high temps and humidity definitely made our birthday-anniversary palooza week less eventful than it could have been. 

My birthday Sunday, our anniversary Wednesday, and hubby's birthday today. Our palooza has officially petered out. 

Jim got lots of birthday greetings (thank you) but we didn't have big plans. Clay came over and helped him with a backyard project. So I took off to Point. Herrschners was have a "Sale After The Sale" sale! Got some more cheap yarn for a new project.

I also stopped at Ski's Meats, Walmart (with a million other people), and Feltz Dairy Store. And ran in the rain at every stop.

Needless to say, the backyard project didn't get done. And I found myself with more Mr. Recliner time than Mr. Deck Chair time. Sad.

Since my tummy is still a bit wonky, we did not go out to eat. But Jim made himself some delicious-looking fajitas! He's got his recipe nailed down if we ever want to serve company. Ha.

Tonight we're just relaxing in the A/C and watching baseball. With the MLB Network, we can see both the Reds and the Twins play – plus two other games. My mind can't wrap my head around it yet. I'll just pretend I'm at Buffalo Wild Wings and there are 4 games on 4 different screens.

Pass the ranch for my spicy wings, please!

Enjoy your holiday weekend! Be smart and be safe!

Absolutely Nothing

I'm taking my stay-cation seriously. And since I had a terrible night's sleep and felt a bit "ick," it was the perfect excuse to plant myself in Mr. Recliner for the day.

Mr. Deck Chair 2.0 wasn't an option since there were on and off thunderstorms all day.

Hoping I get decent sleep tonight and feel better tomorrow so we can have our belated anniversary dinner.

Speaking of anniversaries... 77 years ago today our parents got married!

My sister decorated their grave with patriotic items and a small flag with a bicycle. Mom told anyone who would listen that she had to sell her bicycle to buy her wedding dress. Then often added, "I sure miss that bicycle."

Guess I get my sarcasm and snark from both parents! Thanks, Mom and Dad. You done good!

Well the thunder has started to roll again. Perhaps I should see about rolling out of this comfortable chair, too.

Stay cool, my friends!

In It For The Long Haul

Some things are worth waiting for. And some aren't. Hubby and I are in this dreamland together of a Viking Super Bowl victory some day "before we die." We don't invest much time in that, trust me!

What IS worth waiting for is the right partner in life. To love and support you unconditionally – and make you smile, laugh, and love yourself.

That's was I was blessed to find in Jim. And today marks 24 years of marriage. I won't say "wedded bliss" because people are lying if they say that after more than two decades with someone. There are ups and downs. But when I'm down, he pulls me up, and when he's down, I offer to help, but he usually helps himself! 

When you find THAT person, it makes it all worth it!

We didn't really get to celebrate today. Jim worked and I cleaned out a large box worth of clothes from my closet for donation. (Yay, stay-cation!) That's a start. Tonight he has golf league. 

But more wicked storms are coming, so he'll be lucky to finish. And I figured I better blog while we still have electricity.

Hug your blessings today – and tell them you love them!! 💜💜

In and Out of Luck

Headed Up North yesterday morning. After the detours and road construction I encountered a few weeks ago, I decide to take a different route north-westward. I went up to Colby/Abbotsford to get on Hwy. 29.

And it was one lane each way 'til my Chippewa Falls exit for 53 North. Grrrr.

By the time I got to my sister Rachel's in Luck, I was ready for a nap!

I visited with her awhile (while she got me hooked on Sullivan's Crossing) and then went up to my sister Romey's near Grantsburg, where two other sisters – Rayna and Renell – joined us for a short visit.

From there I went to Adventures restaurant in Siren to meet my twin and some of her family for a belated birthday dinner. Coconut shrimp for the win! My nephew Tony was home visiting from Green Bay so it was nice to see him, too!

From there I went back down to Rachel's to stay at her place for the night. She's just down the street from our high school. Even at 8:36 p.m., it was still class of '86 degrees out. Ha. Yes, this heatwave is ghastly.

Got home late this afternoon. Yes, my A/C works in my car, but there were times I wondered. It was just that hot out! 

Hope you all are staying cool and hydrated. My vacation is already going by too fast!