The change I’m least happy about–Word Press and its decision to MAKE me use their block editor. I suppose I will get used to it but I’m crabby! It’s clunky, not user friendly nor intuitive. Adding photos is cumbersome now, finding anything is cumbersome. 😡As with any technology, change is inevitable I guess.
The change I’m most happy about–our weather has finally changed. That’s not to say we aren’t going to have another cool down but the last few days were glorious. Warm and sunny! We enjoyed a Thursday evening happy hour on the screened porch at Dan and Louanne’s where we watched all the birds that scurry in to dine on the birdseed Louanne scatters. The quail and their antics are so comical and we all remarked that we are truly getting old when we find our entertainment in the shenanigans of the quail!
The Cowboy has had some rough days and there is definitely something amiss with his shoulder and favoring the shoulder has lead to a stiff neck. He’s being really, really careful with that right arm! Thursday he cleaned and tuned the heavy duty Singer sewing machine he purchased several months ago. By end of day he had sewn a new cover for his backhoe seat. Perfect occupation for a man who has been told by his wife to take it easy!
Friday we made a run to Tucson. I spotted a reclining couch on Craigslist and the Cowboy found a glass fronted bookcase. We hooked up the cargo trailer and off we went with me as the driver. I had made sure when communicating with the couch owner that some one could load the couch for us as the Cowboy certainly can’t lift even a share of a couch.
I may be the driver but I am most definitely NOT the backer! The Cowboy took over, I blocked traffic for him and he backed that trailer down a curved STEEP driveway like the backing pro he is. The young man who helped his father load the couch for us said, “he’s good!” Yes he is a very good backer!
Friday evening we joined our Montana friend Larry for dinner–we ate at a restaurant just up the road from us–the Chuckwagon. The food was good and our waitress was a delight! It feels so good to dine out–we are still careful and prefer to eat in places where the staff still wear masks but it’s just so nice to be out and about!
The woman selling the bookcase was having a garage sale–they purchased this house in Green Valley in as is condition and furnished. An elderly man lived there alone after his wife died and the house was jam packed full of “treasures.” I purchased a 12 piece place setting of Franciscan china–very simple and elegant plus a few pieces of Christmas china for $60! The china has so many serving pieces, even a teapot which I will probably try to sell on eBay–a china replacement website lists its value at $200. So, we made a good haul and were home by 2:30pm. The furniture stayed in the trailer until Saturday morning when friends came and unloaded the couch for us.
The teapot on top of the bookcase is the one I will probably try to sell–it’s pretty but I would never use a teapot.
At the garage sale there were so many books, hundreds of books. The homeowner told me that if I purchased the china I had to take some books. We took a bird book and a cookbook from Austin, TX. The cookbook has been used–there are notes on some of the recipes, “very good,” “wonderful,” or “not good.” And there are lots of recipes with lard as an ingredient and not just for pie crusts–it’s an oldie but a goodie cookbook!
Louanne and Dan were out for dinner tonight and we dined like kings–spaghetti, Cesar salad using Ina Garten’s dressing recipe and Louanne’s sourdough bread. For dessert I used a recipe I’ve had since 2001 for a strawberry rolled cake–oh my!! Yes, we dined like kings.
Strawberry Long Cake Roll (Recipe by RealSimple Magazine)
Ingredient Checklist
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 eggs, separated
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- confectioners’ sugar
- 1 pint heavy cream
- 2 pints strawberries, cut in half if large
Directions
Instructions Checklist
- Step 1 Heat oven to 375° F.
- Step 2 Lightly coat a jelly-roll pan (a cookie sheet with sides) with vegetable cooking spray. Line the bottom with wax paper. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl; set aside.
- Step 3 Using an electric mixer at high speed, beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add ½ cup of the granulated sugar, one tablespoon at a time, and continue beating until stiff peaks form.
- Step 4 In another bowl, beat egg yolks and another ½ cup of the granulated sugar until pale and thick. Beat in 1 teaspoon of the vanilla. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold the flour and beaten yolks into the whites until just blended. Spread in pan. Bake 15 minutes or until the cake springs back when lightly touched.
- Step 5 Meanwhile, place a clean dish towel on the counter and dust it lightly with confectioners’ sugar. When the cake is done, loosen the edges from the pan with a knife and invert the cake onto the towel. Peel off the waxed paper. Roll the cake lengthwise, along with the towel, and set aside, at room temperature, to cool. Can be made up to one day ahead.
- Step 6 Whip the cream with the remaining ¼ cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla until soft peaks form. Unroll the cake and spread with half the whipped cream. Top with half the strawberries, and reroll without the towel. Serve with the remaining strawberries and whipped cream.
The next blog post will be coming to you from Arkansas–time to make a trip home to see about the family.
Restoration Cowboy Style 
I, too, am NOT a backer. For that matter, I’m not really a driver either (if there is a trailer involved!)
LikeLike
I don’t mind driving and pulling trailers–we had an excavating business and I helped Michael at times. I can sort of back a fifth wheel/gooseneck trailer but NOT bumper pulls!
LikeLike
Nice finds. I think I missed what’s wrong with his shoulder but hope it’s better soon.
As far as WP, I’m not sure why, but it doesn’t seem that different to me. Maybe I had been using a more recent version?? I have no idea but I usually squawk about changes but this one didn’t bother me.
LikeLike
WordPress has been trying to force the block editor for at least a year if not longer and now they’ve made it a permanent change. You can still sort of use the classic editor but it’s not as easy as it once was.
LikeLike
Has your Cowboy tried Arnica gel? It really has helped me. Just a thought…
LikeLike
That’s one thing we haven’t tried–he does have a gel he uses on occasion–Bigeoil.
LikeLike
You guys find the best stuff at yard sales and on Craig’s list! I hope Michael’s shoulder heals up soon. I had to laugh that while he’s ‘resting’ his shoulder he took on a sewing project. 🙂
LikeLike
That project was in the early days of the shoulder problem when he thought he could “work it out!” Didn’t work that way! Friends refer to us as the “Craigslist experts!”
LikeLike
That is a beautiful set of dishes. You were lucky to find it. I feel for your husband, I have problems with my right shoulder too. I hope his gets better soon.
LikeLike
Hmm, even the comment section is different. Had me as Anonymous 😩
Vera here 😁
LikeLike
And WordPress posted this particular blog with a date two days ago–weird!!
LikeLike
Thanks Vera–I love simple, elegant patterns and those dishes fit the bill! It’s good to hear from you!
LikeLike
Internet Change! The reason I rarely do my blog! Hope Mike heals enough to drive north!
LikeLike
Yes! Just leave well enough alone blog platforms!!
LikeLike
All this painting I am doing is not so great for my right shoulder…I can feel Mike’s pain! You both find the most awesome things. I never have any luck doing that and I am kinda lazy about it too! The China is beautiful. Next time you are in our neck of the woods, give us a shout!
LikeLike
Painting is rough on the shoulders and the rest of our bodies! We would love to stop, meet you guys and see the new house! Will be in touch when I return from Arkansas.
LikeLike
If you’re on a self-hosted domain and can use plug-in, I recommend this plug-in: https://wordpress.org/plugins/tinymce-advanced/
I won’t use WP without it. Let’s me write more like I did in Blogger, continuously when I want. Not a block for each paragaph. Blech!
LikeLike
Unfortunately I use a free WordPress template and it allows no plugins. Thanks for the info Donna!
LikeLike
RE: WordPress
I enjoy using the classic editor. This is what I do – click on Posts – All Posts – Add new post and select classic editor. Hope this helps!
LikeLike
That is exactly what I did before the last few days–that option doesn’t exist now. Today I did discover how to use the plus sign to “add” the classic editor–it’s not exactly the same but better than the block editor.
LikeLike
I love your “new” china and the bookcase is wonderful! Great finds. Sorry to hear Michael’s shoulder (and now neck) isn’t improving. Hope things improve real soon. Have a wonderful time visiting family!
LikeLike
Michael turned the corner yesterday Pam and we are so relieved–now if he will just behave while I am gone!
LikeLike
I can empathize with nixing the bumper pull backing up. No matter what I try, I end up seriously considering selling the darned trailer and getting a luxury TENT! Somehow the back- up genes skipped a generation and landed on my fearless sons.
LikeLike
That’s funny Emjay!! I can get the trailer backed up but I need lots of room and time–and fifth wheel/goosenecks are much easier!
LikeLike
You have been BUSY! But then, what is new. Glad to read in the comments that Michael is doing better. I kinda love backing a trailer. I used to do craft shows and had a cargo trailer, a bit one, kinda like a horse trailer. I got really good at backing it and would smirk while all the guys stood around waiting for me to fail. They were usually impressed. LOL Even if they had a hard time admitting it. But when it comes to the strawberry roll?? Not gonna happen…I have never been good at getting those things to bake properly enough to roll properly. Even watched the Great British Baking Show one time when they did it and said, nope…I’ll make cookies instead. Glad you can get home to see family. Looking forward to hearing how things are doing back there. Hugs
LikeLike
A friend tells the same story–she’s been backing horse trailers all her life. She took cattle to a sale barn in Billings and some kind man asked if she needed help backing the trailer–she politely told him no. When she backed the trailer into the narrow chute on the first try he came back over with his hat in hand and said, “would you back my trailer for me!” That strawberry roll recipe said, “bake until it bounces back when pressed.” It works!
LikeLike