What to do on a day off?

My current work situation is odd (to say the least), and I am only supposed to work about 20 hours a week. Since the org can't even pay me for those 20 hours, I've decided that through the rest of the year I really ought not work more than those 20 hours. So having worked a lot already this week, I took today off. Work is stressful so I'll leave it here, no more words on that. I'd been thinking all day yesterday about what I would get accomplished today. I was thinking I'd be very productive and get everything cleaned up, the whole house nice and tidy. Or, I'd just watch Downton Abbey. But last night Pat and I finished the series, so today was not for Downton. Since I'd gotten myself addicted to D.A., we'd missed many of the other shows we enjoy, so we watched a couple together this morning, because his first class was cancelled. But then Pat left for school and I was home to do the housewife stuff. I finished my murder mystery (audio book by Louise Penny- she's amazing!), while wiping down the kitchen counter. I experimented with queso fresco in curry (it's like paneer; I'd dare say perfect!), with delightful results. I scrubbed the toilet and sink in the bathroom, and then I planned food for the weekend...which brought me back to the amazing Indian-style food I'd made for dinner tonight and made me want Naan bread, desperately. But since I do not eat Gluten, I knew I had to use the powers of the internet to see if that dream could come true. And I found some recipes worth bookmarking...but I haven't tried or started trying any of them...Instead I spent longer and longer reading all the options. Reflecting on why I'm resistant to the easiest recipe, and why I don't think I could do the hardest one, and why all the ones in between seem bland and stupid (I blame the rice flour...). Which made me realize I just get upset about rice flour. I don't know if that's deserved, because I know a lot of people who use rice flour and like their results. It just makes me sad and feel like I'm eating sand. Maybe I'm just imagining that though. Either way, I keep thinking that if I really had more time, I'd probably print out a few of these awesome-looking gluten-free recipes and try them out. I would need to make a trip to the (asian) grocery store for some of them. And I'd probably need to work on others for days. I have to say, I wanted to blog so I could kind of digest all this information I was absorbing, but midway through was reminded of making gluten free puff pastry/phyllo and got sucked back into the blogosphere. Either way, I think for tonight I ought not spend time with a yeast dough. In fact, I still have some failed baguette (which did make wonderful stuffing, I admit) left over, so I really shouldn't go ahead and make more tempting bread-like things. I think I'd be better off starting a new audio book, putting away the clean clothes, washing the dishes in the sink, and then working on my crochet project. Pat should be home soon enough to help with the other clutter and things, and then we can have a nice dinner before the evening's events. I have to admit though...I still don't know what I'll bring to the potluck tomorrow. Perhaps Pat will be able to cook something up tomorrow morning while I'm at my board meeting. Crap, I probably should have written something down about what I plan to say...Oh well, I'll do it when I get there. I'll have a few minutes to formulate a plan anyway. No use stressing on my day off. That's all for now, I suppose. Even though I just told myself to get up and do something else...I've been sucked into reading about the puff pastry...so we'll see how long it takes for me to finish reading about it...and if I'll go on and start making it tonight or actually follow through on my plan of doing other things... Peace, Nora

Happy Things!

Well, I had a long day. I'm overwhelmed by how many things have been going on recently, especially when it comes to my involvement in certain organizations. But this blog is not to whine or vent. This is for happy things.

Things that have been making me happy:

This book

I'm reading this book with a dear friend, and I'm enjoying it thoroughly. It's well written and makes me think a lot about what I've taken for granted as the truth all my life, but maybe I shouldn't have. It's a good read. it makes me happy.

Asparagus!

On Saturday friends took us asparagus picking at a local Rutgers research farm. We got close to 5lbs for free! It was really awesome. I was overtaken by amazement when I thought about how incredibly uniform the asparagus looks in the store, and how realistically, they do not grow so uniformly out of the ground. It was a little disconcerting to say the least.

MUSHROOMS

I grew up so enveloped in the mushroom industry...and boy, do I love mushrooms. They really make me so happy. It is wonderful to wake up in the morning to some scrambled eggs with mushrooms and cheese. I hope mushrooms always make me smile :).


Making my mom a Mother's Day Gift

Something to this effect was the gift I made for my mother. I took these photos, and I think they're beautiful. I miss Italy. I really want to go back to Florence.

Pat

I have, really, the most supportive and wonderful husband in the world. Even though there are definitely moments that are taxing and frustrating (of course), he is so helpful, loving and kind. He has been making me breakfast almost every morning since we got married. He loves me so much and takes very good care of me. I'm so blessed.

I blow-dried my hair today and it has pretty much laid flat and silky all day. Even though it's super humid (and our apartment is almost 80!), my hair has been cooperative! Praise God.

Finally, I love my faith, and my God, who sustains me through all this junk that frustrates me and keeps me beyond challenged. :)

Signing off for tonight,

Nora

I'm doing it

Dear Blogosphere,
I've been inspired with what my aunt has found in her blog. I'm going to try this. I never blog, but I'm constantly writing and I like the idea of having a space where I can write about things that make me happy. It's so often that I'm writing about things that upset me or stress me out. Instead, I want to write about things that make me happy.

Here are a couple things that make me happy to start me off:


The way I felt on my wedding day, and my husband, and of course, my wedding dress!<3


My hair, in all the ways I had it as a teenager :P (also I love those jeans in the center picture)


The music box my wonderful husband made me for valentines day a couple years ago :)


I love these things. I also love Mexico and Jesus. I love spending time with my husband and relaxing. I'm happy I get to do some of that tonight.

I have started trying to "go off duty" in the evenings. Well, honestly, I've probably been doing that for a year or more, but it really helps me to take time to try to forget about stress. I am going to do that now. So I bid ye a good evening.

Love,

Nora