Share Four Somethings

Linking up with Jennifer for Share Four Somethings

The four somethings are something loved, something read, something learned, something eaten

Something loved:

Seeing the pictures that I took of Alyssa's senior photo session and knowing that the professional ones will be much better than the likes of my iphone XR (an old iphone with just the single lens in the back 🤪) photos. I snapped photos of some of the same poses that the photographer took. The photography package that we ordered comes with all of the photos that the photographer took so I didn't feel guilty about taking my own!

Our photographer was really complimentary of Alyssa and just very kind and fun (we'd never met her before and had only communicated via text so I didn't know much about her or her personalty prior to the photo session).  When Alyssa and I were talking about it later, Alyssa said she kind of had to be since we were paying customers.  I said that she need not compliment everyone necessarily; once the session was booked and in progress, there would be no need to make up things! Now, granted, it would probably be strange if the photographer said nothing at all positive during the shoot so we could chalk some of her compliments up to courtesy. But, I don't think she was exaggerating her praise too much. But then... I'm awfully biased so perhaps not the best judge of compliments regarding Alyssa!

Seeing the pictures of my brand new niece Mary Gracia... I'm smitten and can't wait to see her and hold her. She'll be the youngest cousin and won't have any cousins really near her in age but she will be the center of attention at family get togethers for a long time. It's been a while since there's been a baby in the family.

Something read:

Several good books. I found a new author that I really like, Lucy Clarke. I've read two of hers so far and have at least one, maybe two, on hold at the library. The books are suspenseful with great characters and the two that I've read have ended really well. Many times books in this genre have a patina of sadness in them due to the mystery that needs to be solved (ie someone has been murdered). Not saying her books don't have that. But, they end well, that's all I'm going to say.

I also restarted rereading Mere Christianity by CS Lewis. I have a physical copy of this book. Oh my, the writing is small. I had "young eyes" the last time I read this. My old eyes are struggling with the font. The content is super good, of course, per CS. 

Read this on IG- Phil Robertson may not be as erudite as CS Lewis but I do think he speaks with much wisdom and his voice is an important one for the current times. 

Something learned:

This is happening: 

How it started:

How it's going:

I learned that you can regrow romaine lettuce in water. So, that's what I'm setting about to do. It's been fun to watch the lettuce grow day by day. I've read that it peaks at about ten days. I'm nine days in so my lettuce is just about done growing (it will not grow as much as the original heart of romaine).

I also learned that you can make your own distilled water. I have not tried it yet but do plan to. I've only purchased distilled water. I don't go through it too quickly but a couple of appliances we have call for using distilled water and a couple of homemade cleaners that I've started to make use distilled water. I'm glad to know that I can make it at home if need be.

Something eaten:

Lots of products with marina sauce- it's the best thing I know of to make with garden tomatoes. Our favorite dish is chicken stuffed shells with marina sauce. I'm going to be feeding a crowd of it this weekend...

In a time of high inflation, I've been pleased to find some decently priced meals out. Fine dining this isn't... but good tasting, nonetheless. We stopped at Steak n' Shake for a burger and fries for Alyssa after getting her senior pictures taken. A double burger and medium fries were less than $5.00. Their good sized milkshakes were $5.00. Donnie, Alyssa and I all had milkshakes; we hadn't had one in years. Decadently rich (I paid for extra whipped cream- go big or go home) and delicious; I don't regret indulging since this particular indulgence happens so seldomly.

I had lunch with Jacob one day this week. He asked to go to Buffalo Wild Wings. Uh, OK! Not my favorite but he likes the restaurant and I was pleasantly surprised- not just with how good the food tasted (I had very low expectations which probably helped) but with how reasonable their lunch prices were. Several menu items were $10 which included a main dish, a side and a soft drink. 

The boneless wings were BOGO. Jacob ordered 15, I think, and got 30 of them. He took a bunch home.