Friday, January 22, 2021

Practicing Comfort and Joy: Fly on the Wall

 

  

Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

Welcome to a monthly Fly on the Wall group post. Well, what is normally a group post. For the past 98 months (yes, 98!), I've invited you to catch a glimpse of what you'd see if you were a fly on the wall in my house. Interesting, mostly funny, and sometimes cringe worthy (sorry) little snippets of personal conversations and relationships. Not only me, but for the past 98 months I've been joined in writing these tidbits of life posts with other bloggers. Today none of the other participants were able to join me.
 
I'm going it alone and I'll tell you why. Without a doubt, readers enjoy, even tell me they look forward to, these Fly on the Wall posts. And I enjoy writing them. All month I document this circumstance or that conversation, then laugh myself when organizing them to present to you. I made the decision long ago that they will remain a monthly feature, even if it's just me writing it, like it is this month. 

So come on in, buzz around my house, make yourself at home, have a laugh.





Christmas was last month, perhaps you know that. I had a lot to do that day, making the whole meal I always make, even though it was just the three of us.
 
I had a bit of a break in the chores after I put the laundry away and the turkey in the oven and went to sit on the couch. There was a fire going in the fireplace, I had a mug of apple cider with Grand Marnier, and I was sitting there with my eyes closed, just relaxing when Hubs comes in the room.
 
Hubs: You look peaceful, what are you doing?
Me: Practicing.
Hubs: Practicing? Practicing what?
Me: Comfort and joy.
Hubs: Well, looks like you got it right.
Me: I don't think so.
Hubs: No?
Me: I'm not really sure, I think I'm going to need to practice again tomorrow, be sure I've got it right.




Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

 

College Boy always has the same answer when to a comment I make pretty often this time of year, that I'm cold. He had come downstairs Christmas Day to tell me that he could smell the turkey cooking.

College Boy: I can smell that turkey.
Me: I know, and it hasn't been in the oven that long.
College Boy: Look at you, all wrapped up in that throw.
Me: I'm cold. 
College Boy: You're old?
Me: You better be nice to me or I won't let you have any of my turkey.
College Boy: It's not your turkey, it's my turkey.
Me: Your turkey?
College Boy: Yes, I'm just letting you cook it for me.



Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


I was in a crappy mood (yeah, it happens now and then) and College Boy decided to try to tease me out of it. 
 
College Boy: You know if you keep that up I'm going to be forced to have you put in jail.
Me: Sounds good. No cooking, no dishes, no laundry . . .
College Boy: No, you'll get out for work release.
Me: Jeez, you take all the fun out of jail.


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


 

I like to share lessons I learn as I stumble through go through my daily life. After all, there's no need for us to make the same mistakes. This one is actually a two-fer.


1) Don't pop a cookie in your mouth after you've been slicing up a red pepper.

2) If you're a recipe developer like me, you can cross off trying a cookie recipe with red pepper in it off of your list.

You're welcome.



Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Me: Are you staying for dinner?
College Boy: What's for dinner?
Me: You need to know before you'll agree to stay?
College Boy: How long have you known me?
Me: Fine. I'm trying something new.
College Boy: I'm out.
Me: I didn't even tell you what.
College Boy: How long have I known you?
Me: {{blink, blink}}.
College Boy: OK, what concoction have you come up with. 
Me: Well, it's a mash up of two recipes.
College Boy (looking skeptical): See what I mean.
Me (getting exasperated): It should be really good, Shrimp Alfredo Enchiladas.
College Boy: I'm in.
Me: You know we could have started here and skipped over the part where you insult my ingenuity.
College Boy: Where would the fun be in that?
 

Shrimp Alfredo Enchiladas, spicy, creamy, a family favorite comfort food. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #reicpe #dinner

Shrimp Alfredo Enchiladas
Shrimp Alfredo Enchiladas, spicy, creamy, a family favorite comfort food. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #reicpe #dinner


A few minutes later:
 
Hubs: Hey, what's for dinner?
Me: DON'T START WITH ME!!
 
Didn't see him again for the rest of the afternoon.



Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

I was watching TV in the den and Hubs was walking through when he stopped.
Hubs: What the hell are you watching?
Me: I'm watching a murder mystery, pretty much like I always do.
Hubs: A murder where people sell their brains?
Me: What?
Hubs: They just said that Monrovia is a small rural town where many residents support themselves by selling their brain.
Me: Grain. They sell their grain. I'd imagine it would be hard to spend the proceeds after you sell your brain.
Hubs: Oh, grain. OK, carry on.



Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Hubs: I'm here to help you with dinner.
Me (skeptically): Seriously? You can't even boil water.
Hubs: I didn't mean I'd do any actual cooking.
Me: So . . . what . . . you're going to help with the prep work.
Hubs: That's not really what I had in mind either.
Me: What exactly do you have in mind?
Hubs: I thought I'd help by deciding what we'll have.
Me: You got a death wish?
Hubs: No, just a craving.


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

 
I was disappointed to have already seen all of the true crime shows that were on, and was surfing through the channels looking for something else to watch when College Boy walks in. Of course, right when I get to the Hallmark channel.
 
College Boy: You should be in those Hallmark movies.
Me: I can't act.
College Boy: See, you're perfectly qualified.
 

Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics
 
Hubs came up from his man cave just as I was about to take the clean laundry up to the bedroom.
 
Me: I'm throwing away a pair of your socks.
Hubs: Which pair?
Me: The olive colored dress socks.
Hubs: I sometimes wear those when I go into work, why are you throwing them away?
Me: Do you really want to know?
Hubs: Probably not but I'm curious. Why?
Me: They're taunting me.
Hubs: Taunting you?
Me: Yes. And they don't want to be worn any more.
Hubs: Did they tell you that?
Me: Yes.
Hubs: Yes?
Me: Well, not in so many words. I washed them last week and when I put them on the pile of clean clothes, they fell off between the washing machine and the wall.
Hubs: OK . . .
Me: So I fished them out of there but they were dusty so I put them back in the washing machine and washed them again today.
Hubs: OK . . .
Me: I just put them on the pile of clean clothes and they jumped off into that space between the washing machine and the wall. Again. They either don't want to be worn any more or they're taunting me.
Hubs: OK, I see your reasoning now.
Me: You do?
Hubs: No.

I still threw them in the trash. They had two chances, that's all a pair of socks are going to get.
 
 
 
See you again next month!


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Shrimp Alfredo Enchiladas
                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Ingredients:
12 oz cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 tsp dry taco seasoning
1 green onion, chopped
4 oz mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup refried beans
1 cup Alfredo sauce, divided
1/4 cup salsa
2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
8 (8 inch) flour tortillas

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 10 X 15 baking dish. Pour 3 TBSP water into the dish and set aside.
*Pat the shrimp dry, place in a bowl and sprinkle with taco seasoning. Mix well to coat the shrimp, then mix in the green onion and mushrooms.
*In a separate bowl, whisk together the refried beans, 1/3 cup of the Alfredo sauce and the salsa. Mix in 1/3 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese.
*Gently mix the sauce into the shrimp.
*Spoon a line of filling down the middle of each tortilla, checking to be sure there are 4 - 5 shrimp in each. Roll the tortillas into a tube and place them, seam side down, into the prepared baking dish. Cover tightly with tin foil.
*Bake for 30 minutes.  Remove from oven but keep the oven on. 
*Carefully remove the foil and drizzle the Alfredo sauce over the top of the enchiladas. Sprinkle with the remaining cheddar cheese. Return to the oven, uncovered, and bake another 10 minutes.

20 comments:

  1. I had my kitchen floor replaced and for a couple of nights we did take out. My grandson was ecstatic. We returned to regular meals yesterday, what does he want, Pizza. He has a very slim food group. The peanut butter sandwich, which my DIL does not object to, i don’t either, but I draw the line at three meals a day. Mac and cheese in the little bowls you add water to and heat is really his first choice. However his mother’s homemade m&c no go. Pizza rolls, hotdogs,but no other meats including hamburger, If we stand on him we can get pork chop in him, on occasion. Meal time is often not peaceful and like you,I get grumpy. I have on occasion refused to eat with the rest of them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember those days, my boys would eat pizza, chicken nuggets, and lobster. I hope his tastes evolve like my boys' did. They're still picky, but at least they've expanded their list.

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    2. Oldest Grandson has a diet like that. He lives halfway across the country, so I don't have to navigate his pickiness regularly. If I did the result wouldn't be pretty.

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    3. LOL, I guess we all go through this is some form or another.

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  2. This was just the 'laugh-out-loud I needed today!
    College Boy cracks me up! How kind of him to 'allow' you to cook his turkey. And to try out your recipes on him. (Do you take volunteers for that duty, btw? I know someone who would like to apply)

    Oh,and I think I'm finally catching a glimpse of that 'comfort and joy'! Hallelujah!

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  3. Your post got me so relaxed, for some reason. Maybe it's putting me in the mood for some warm mulled wine. And a roast turkey. I love turkey. Except we don't have a turkey. I'm still laughing at your commenter with the grandson and his "slim food groups". That was my son as a teenager. Oh yes, those things and also lox. He loves lox and bagels. Can you tell his mother grew up in New York City? Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

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  4. A relaxing postfor some and maybe not for others why because we are all different. which is the way it should be

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The world is a better place when we celebrate our differences.

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  5. 1st, that shrimp alfie enchilada sounds GREAT!
    2nd, work release for housework, lol!
    3rd, that brain thing reminds me of a friend who published a bunch of her short stories from back when she had just started writing. One story was about the zombie apocalypse, but featured a guy who was dyslexic and craved Brians instead of brains. She cut it short after thinking how someone might be offended, but it was truly hilarious as far as she got.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wrote about the zombie apocalypse once too, probably not as funny as it sounds like your friend's post was.
      And I hope you try this recipe, it really was good.

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  6. Heeheehee! When the kids were home, we had interesting and fun conversations like that. Not so much any more. Sweetie is a good one but he's not funny.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We never seem to run out of those kinds of conversations around here (and they are fun, keep me laughing).

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  7. These are just super funny and adorable stories. And I'm one of those who loves reading these Fly on the Wall posts. Thank you always for the laughs you create with these posts. These are so special and true treasures <3

    https://www.thepositivewindow.com/

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    Replies
    1. So glad you enjoy them, Epsita. As long as I continue to blog, they'll be a monthly feature.

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  8. Nice cute moments with your hubs. There is something about sitting by the fire that is so cozy. My son and I practice coziness every day.

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    Replies
    1. Cozy moments with your child make for lingering memories. I have a giant oversized chair in my bedroom. The boys and I used to each bring a book and sit together there and read.

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  9. I'll join up with you next month. Nobody should have to go at it alone and I love these posts too and don't want them to stop. I'll have to write down some things! Let me know the date friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd love to have you join in, with your grandkids I bet yours could be pretty entertaining, I'll PM you. As far as I know, Marcia and Carol will be back in next month too.

      Delete

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