A Different Life II

[Lily&Me]

Sorry to hear you won't make it down, Gerard....maybe next June.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

I'm not really home until I've baked a loaf of bread.

Picked up a few groceries this morning, and my son/his were here for lunch.

The boys are taller every time I see them, and Emma, too...who is now taking tumbling lessons, and has taken to them like a duck to water.

An aspiring cheerleader, there, and flexible like a rubber band.

Also bought a toaster oven at Kohl's...on sale, and with two $10 coupons...for a grand total of $9.86. I love a bargain.

A good item for a small or single person household, a toaster oven.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

The Amazing Miss Emma...on the left.

[DIR1]

I love my toaster over... use it every day.. it's a convection toaster oven... perfect, as you say for the small/single household.. hugs and love from here... any chance you might send me a slice of that bread???? hmmm???

[Lily&Me]

I haven't had a toaster oven in years, and this is just a regular one...it was seeing yours that got me wanting one, Gail.

Wish I could send you a slice of bread...it's quite good.

You'll have to come see me, and I'll bake a loaf.


Maggie

[DIR1]

Ok!! I'll do that!!! I already know how good your bread is!!! Good morning and hugs and love from the rainy Oregon coast!!

[Lily&Me]

And to you, Gail.

I had toast in my new toaster oven for breakfast this morning, then got to digging around to see if I still had the heavy duty, teflon coated bakeware for these that we used when camping with the grands in the Barth years ago....and, I did!

A couple of cookie sheets, a baking pan, grill/roaster pan, etc.....all toaster oven sized, and now resurrected for current use.

I put an Asian stew to bake in the oven...a new recipe, I'll let y'all know how it turns out...then spent three hours vacuuming out the Interstate, trimming my trellised vines, and tidying up the beds around the house. Yikes.

The yard looks much better, but there is more to be done....another day, time for tea and a break.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

I cooked this yesterday, and it is yummy.

It sounded like it's flavors would be similar to beef lo mein, which I love, but is not the healthiest thing for you....the flavors were very similar, and it was delicious.

I used lean stew meat, instead of the short ribs, and cooked a package of wheat udon noodles to have with it.

After they were cooked to nearly done, I tossed them into the stew itself, to let the noodles soak up some of the juices, and making it a one dish meal.


Slow-Cooker Asian Short-Rib Stew

3lbs boneless beef short ribs, cut into 2" pieces
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh ginger
1/4 cup soy sauce
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 1/2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
3/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper

Mix together in a 6 quart slow cooker.

Add and mix in:

3 peeled carrots, cut into 3" pieces
3 red onions, cut into wedges
1 cup beef broth

Cover and cook til beef is tender...6-7 hours on low, 4-5 hours on high.

(I did this in a large Dutch Oven, baking it for about 3 hours at 300 degrees.)

Spoon off any fat from surface, add 1 lb baby bok choy, coarsely chopped, 4 scallions, sliced, and 2 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar.

Stir well, just til the bok choy has wilted.

Serve in bowls, with rice or noodles, top with more sliced green onions.


A full, balanced meal...good, and good for you.


Maggie

[Rocinante]

Hey, that sounds like a winner, just the thing for the replacement Crock Pot we bought last week when the control panel on our old one died.

[DIR1]

I don't have a crock pot, but I may get one.. the idea of the aroma of the slow cooking stews and such sounds pretty good..

Thanks for the recipe Maggie... I'm thinking I might try that too!! Hugs and love..keep having fun!!!

[Lily&Me]

A crock pot is great for many things, and I have always carried one in our RV's.

When Doug was still alive, a couple of days of "being still" when on trips meant beef of some sort in the crockpot.

He was a carnivore, that he was.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Cleaning and choring, outside and in the Interstate....such a phenomenal amount of Lily-fur accumulates under the benches, and it is a labor-intensive, on your knees task to try to get even most of it.

I should start saving it, and stuff a pillow.

Went by Cook's yesterday for an estimate on a boo-boo on one of the back doors...where I backed into a tree in a tight public campsite.

No rear view camera in my older rig, and no one was around to spot me.

I have a little body work done at least once a year...part of the cost of extensive travel, I tell myself, my summer trip this year being about 7,000 miles.

I like things cleaned up, not going to let things go...I like the Interstate to look nice, and love when people tell me they wouldn't have believed it was 10 years old.

Another Interstate owner posted this picture, of by-the-yard runner purchased from Home Depot, trimmed to fit, and I'm going to copy it for the floor of mine.

I've done some winter traveling in the teens the past couple of years, resulting in stains on my floor from condensation seeping underneath....you can't scrub them off, very visually disturbing.

Been pondering what to do....perhaps have new flooring laid, but I think this is a better solution.

Very neat and tidy looking, and this charcoal grey will blend well with the existing interior and colors.

It will vacuum nicely, I can still use my existing rugs, and if it gets too dirty it can surely be scrubbed outside with soapy water and a hose.

Going to try to finish the yard and the Interstate today... but for adding this cosmetic touch, which will require a trip to HD.

Chimney cleaning in the morning, haircut, needlework group on Thursday...my to-do list is always lengthy when returning from a long trip, but it is good to be home.

Moraine View rally next week, then gathering up the grands here for a visit with the one in Iowa City the following weekend.

Solo life....you just keep on truckin'.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Early on in our Interstate ownership, Doug's mom sewed side seams in some pretty dishtowels for me, making open pockets within which I could tuck the toaster, crockpot, large skillet, etc., that live in one of the lower storage areas.

Keeps them clean, and lessens the rattle.

They have all now been washed, that area vacuumed and scrubbed, and everything returned to place.

Removed a couple of items permanently, too, that haven't been used in years, and relegated them to the back closet area that is accumulating household items for kids in the family who will be getting their own apartments in the next few years. Recycling, in-house.

I also ran my windshield cover thru the washing machine, with detergent and a bit of bleach, and it looks like a new item. They get so grungy over time, holding onto remnants of whatever dirt, sand or leaves has been on them.

It has held up very well, 6 years or so old, with lots of use....but badly needed a proper tubby.

Last week I ordered front seat covers made from Carhart fabric, and they will arrive today. Charcoal grey, will cover and protect the areas showing wear, and tidy up the front area.

All of the under cabinets have now been emptied, vacuumed, and scrubbed...and my back knows I have spent a lot of time on my hands and knees, moving heavy things around.

One of those things Doug always did, but good for my aging bones.

One of the things I found stuck in a remote corner behind the driver's seat...a set of bicycle tools in a handy little case, complete with patch kit. Now I need to figure out how to use them.

If I sound like I've been on a cleaning binge, I have, , but it needed to be done.

Will soon put the baby to bed for a few months, and it will be ready to go in January when I head south.

A good feeling, getting things done.


Maggie

[mimiandrews]

One of the things I found stuck in a remote corner behind the driver's seat...a set of bicycle tools in a handy little case, complete with patch kit. Now I need to figure out how to use them.

Go for it, Maggie!

[Lily&Me]

Maybe next time I see you, you can show me how to use it.

How're things in Texas....getting your new house underway?


Maggie

[mimiandrews]

I'll be sure to do that. Bicycles are simple and non-intimidating. Good place to start. Meanwhile, there are probably a zillion videos on UTube that will help.

Things in Texas are going slowly, but well. John used to say,"Steady, by jerks."

I took the Airstream down to my new community's RV park a couple of weeks ago. It's a nice, full-hookups site and the property owner's discount makes it very affordable.

While I was there, I met with a builder who's been recommended to me. His work looks good, and we're discussing plans and what will stay within my budget. He can do the house, but I need to find someone else to build me a hangar, so the search continues.

I also volunteered to help the pilots' club host a fly-in (aviation version of a rally) that Saturday. Great group of people! I think I'm going to like it there.

Now, I'm back home making this place more livable for the time Blackie and I will be here and getting rid of junk. The last of the ratty old furniture was hauled off yesterday by someone I didn't even see. A FREE sign seems to work well here.

[Lily&Me]

Good to hear, Mimi.

The house would be a start, and get you settled in where you can stay.

Temporary living situations always seem to have some built in stress.

Good luck!


Maggie

[Airtandem]

Maggie; bring your bike and tools to MV, I'm sure you will get alot of advice and how to's there. Act like a lady in distress.

mike

[Lily&Me]

Ha!

I could do that, but don't usually bring my bike there because of where we camp...we'll see.

Since you seem to be offering help, tho...I can't get the little filter off my water pump, in order to clean it.

My hands are not strong enough, and it is a very tight space to try to get in there with anything that would assist.

So....if you're offering, Mike, you could perhaps do that small thing for me.

See you next week!


Maggie

[mimiandrews]

Actually, building the hangar first would be a blessing. Once I have that much storage space, I can start moving stuff down there in an organized fashion. I fear I would not survive another moving experience like that last one.