Weekend Coffee Share...Come Sit with Me

It's another week of Weekend Coffee Share. I always love everyone's posts. Are you like me and try to visit everyone? It doesn't always happen but I try. I have loved getting to know different bloggers and I figure if they take the time to write a post, I'll find the time to visit, even if it's a week later. I truly enjoy what you all share and I often learn so much. 

Check out all the other posts on Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. I'm off to go visit some now. #weekendcoffeeshare.

If we were having coffee we'd probably talk about:

The weather: I am praying my weather app doesn't change too much because it's showing beautiful weather for the next week and a half or so. I'm ready for some consistent sunshine. This one day nice, next days rainy, is getting old. I don't like to be teased. 

What we're thinking about: Oh I don't know...probably nothing worth writing about lately. Actually I'm sitting here debating whether to make an attempt at matchmaking...haha. Do I, do I not, do I, do I not. Do I just throw a little nugget out there and just let it play out or not...hmmm....I'll let you know. Mind you, I've never been a matchmaker, but I'm kind of tempted. 

What we're thankful for: I feel like I'm adjusting to not having a VA job..learning to find the rhythm of daily doings. I'm thankful for the years I spent doing it, and maybe I'll do it again at some point, but I'm thankful for the time to put into other things. I haven't been fully successful in what my thoughts have been with this time but I'm getting there. 

Around the house: I'm anxiously hoping the bulbs I planted start to come up soon. I dug where a few were planted just to make sure I hadn't put them in upside down and I could see roots, so hopefully in the next month or so I'll see something pop up. I actually went back out and did see a couple starting to pop up, so there's hope. 

At the farmers market last week we bought a lemon tree. They are a small variety that is meant to be grown in pots and will do well in our climate. It will need to be under cover like on our porch when the weather is too bad, and brought in during the few months we get below 30 but otherwise will thrive. Costco also has SO. MANY. plants right now, I might need to go get some. I do still need to buy some smaller plants to fill my containers. 

We've decided we're going to attempt garden beds next year. We had a bid today to have someone trim up some of our tall trees to see if that helps let in more sunlight. Lots of outdoor projects in planning stages. 

For the love of food: Last week I tried out quite a few recipes for Jo's BKD book club monthly post. This month we focused on Greece. You can find my post here. I shared a few yummy recipes. I also made Turkey feta burgers in a tomato cream sauce, creamy balsamic chicken and taco soup. We went out to eat with friend one afternoon. 

Protein balls. I normally use this recipe, but this time I tweaked it a bit by reducing the ground flax and adding protein powder and collagen peptides. I also didn't add the usual seeds I sometimes do. 

Not a pretty picture, but a yummy dinner. Here is a link to that recipe. 

I made homemade sourdough for the first time in quite awhile...they turned out a bit flat but tasted good. I think I rushed it. 

This balsamic chicken dish was really good. My hubby isn't a fan of brussell sprouts so next time I might use asparagus instead. It was easy and tasty. I used rotisserie chicken. 

I also tried my hand at making homemade butter. It was so easy. I simply put whipping cream in a mixer. Took it past the whipped cream phase til it separated, then I strained it through cheese cloth, rinsed with cold water, added salt and enjoyed. I'll totally do it again. 

For the love of reading: I have finished a few books and currently have a few going. I'll be posting this week for #WOYBS. The ones I'm reading are The Things We Do For Love by Kristin Hannah and When the Moon Turns Blue by Pamela Terry. The first book is for my passalong book club and I need to get busy reading it, and the second I'm using for one of the prompts for  the 52 Book Club, which I haven't done a good job updating. Sometimes I feel like I'm not very consistent with my reading or rather my tracking might be more accurate. Our in person book club is going to read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson. I have it, I just need to start it. 

What we're watching or listening to: I finished the audiobook Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance. It was interesting. As someone coming from the culture he did, he had some insight at the end that I thought was good. I think sometimes those who have lived it, and come out of it, and made different choices are ones who can best say what will work and what will not work when it comes to helping the poor, or those in crisis, etc. 

I listened to a few podcasts but didn't get around to any movies or TV shows. There is a movie based on that book that I'd like to watch. I'm on the hunt for my next audiobook. 

Favorite Quote: I haven't had a chance to check and see what #WQ theme is and I'm pushing it finishing this post, so I'll just share a recent quote I found that I liked. 

We are so often in a hurry to get from here to there, worrying about this or that, and we don't pause to notice all that is around us. 

Favorite photo(s): My hubby and I don't have our picture taken often, usually they are selfies...haha! Our daughter took this pic before we headed out to dinner a few weeks ago. 

Random or not so random things: Well, life has been pretty steady and maybe a bit mundane. I'm working on planning when to go visit family in Ohio and as of right now, we don't really have any other trips planned. 

My latest puzzle is a collage of old Sunset magazines. It's going pretty well. 

Enjoying lots of time with the grandkids and looking forward to summer days when we can spend more time outside.

I've been tossing around an idea around the theme of cozy mysteries, specifically culinary ones that have recipes at the end..somehow sharing the books, making some recipes, sharing them, but not sure quite how I want to do that...IG, blog posts (maybe separate blog), Youtube....all of them. I just don't know..this is where my lack of self confidence and worrying about what others will think and not wanting to put a TON of time into being "perfect" gets in the way. 

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin