I enjoyed a fun painting day with my friend Kate, starting on my England travel journal with a title page. I have a feeling that by the time I finish the whole book, I will have already returned to England or somewhere equally lovely. (And no plans are in the offing!)
On the first day of spring, Rick and I enjoyed dinner out at a restaurant we keep hoping will be a good one. So far, they need work in the service line, but at least this time we got our food and the fish was very nice. They've been open for about a month now, so I'm thinking they aren't quite ready for fine dining. (And we went on a Thursday and they did not appear short of wait staff.)
We had a better waitress at our bi-monthly WKAR retiree lunch, who -- apart from keeping things straight for our big group -- also took our photo!
Meanwhile, if you want good food, cook it at home. I made a very tasty shirmp and orzo scampi dish from this New York Times recipe. It's fast and super easy. If you want the recipe and can't access the link, make sure to include your email address in your comment (if you are a no-reply blogger) and I'll copy and send it to you.
I also made Jan's chili bake and that was equally excellent, though I ended up messing with the recipe due to different sizes of ingredients listed. But well worth it. (One thing I'd add is a half-cup to cup of frozen corn!) Rick ate three portions and I had seconds. Then I made it again and served to friends a few days later and they had seconds! You could also make this with ground turkey if you don't eat beef. This is a VERY ugly photo of what it looks like after you take out a couple of portions from the pan! (The cheese HAD been all over the top and so pretty!) See a better photo on Jan's site, the Low-Carb Diabetic!
Rick and I, along with friends Mark and Jan, attended a town hall for our US Rep (who did not show up). The hall, which held 400, was nearly full and many people spoke, along with a local rep and a member of our state board of education.
People are clearly mad at what is happening in Washington and our rep is not listening to us. (Oh, and an interesting fact -- while the town hall was happening, our rep was about two or three blocks away at a high school basketball game -- and not even his own kid's team. If he had even shown up for five minutes or asked organizers to please move the time ahead or back a bit to accommodate his schedule, it would have helped. He did not even reply.)
About 20 or 30 people spoke to the empty chair, receiving applause for their concerns, including issues related to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, international relations, corruption in government, veterans affairs, and much more.
We have our work cut out for us.
We've been having fun with grands, who are here on their spring break. And finally, there's a little bit of springtime home decor in the house, at long last! But that will have to wait till next time!
Sharing with: Love Your Creativity / Share Your Style
46 comments:
The food looks yummy. Wish Bob could eat shrimp, but lately shell fish has been giving him issues. Hopefully the restaurant will get better. Ours over here dont even open 7 days a week anymore. We are lucky if they open 5 days. Janice
Republicans, over and over again, are showing their cowardly colours, yet Washington seems to have a firm hold on power and the assault on democracy continues. Now you can plan attacks on adversaries and make it public without consequence. The highest levels of the justice system have become propaganda arms of the administration, and vaunted organizations such as the Smithsonian Institution are being turned into information sites for the state. It all smacks of the Soviet Union where art, literature and music were obliged to reflect the aims of the state and deviation could result in death in a gulag. And it’s only just begun.
...oh you leftist agitators and your snowflake representative! Keep resisting and elbow up!
Hello Jeanie,
Your shrimp meal and the chili bake both looks delicious.
The town halls have been packed, it is sad when the rep does not show up. Maybe they are scared. We will have some fun later today with our grands! Take care, have a great day and a wonderful week.
Oh, look at that quilt on your sofa, looks familiar, LOL!!! You are eating well, those dishes look yummy.
I made Jan's Greek meatballs awhile back and they were also delicious. She must always eat well at her house. And that stinks about your rep not showing up. And they want votes next election? It seems like you can do anything lately without everyone talking about all the terrible things happening in DC. It's a scary time. Hope you are enjoying fun time with your grands and keep having some fun times with friends because it's about the only way to keep sane lately (between the government and the not quite ending winter weather). Enjoy that Donna Leon in your photo. hugs-Erika
That shrimp dish looks delicious, I will have to look that one up!
I wonder if you're having freezing rain there too, but your temps are probably a few degrees warmers, so probably not.
Those meals look pretty scrumptious.
Keep in mind 5 April Hands Off Day!
The website lists locations.
Your food looks scrumptious. I love the book cover, colorful and direct.
A beautiful title page for your trip journal!
Good that you are giving the brand new restaurant a chance to come into their own.
Your own foods look so delicious!
Town hall without representative. I've heard so much about them and you actually went to one! And he was close by avoiding everybody!!! So proud of you guys and all the people who showed up!!
I hope you are having a sunny spring day. :) :)
The chili bake looks delicious, and also the shrimp and orzo dish. My son enjoys cooking, and I can see him experimenting with that dish. I hope that new restaurant turns out to be a good one for you. It's always nice to have our favorite places to eat.
That little wreath with the feltie is adorable. And I look forward to seeing more Springtime home decor in your house, Jeanie.
~Sheri
That chili bake must be delicious!!!
It gives me hope that so many people are showing up for the townhalls. In my town most people are registered as "independent" but vote Republican (they don't want to be on a list". Then about 35% are Republican and 25% are Democrat. We had a huge crowd at our townhall and many were farmers and veterans who lean right. They are not happy with the government, this is not what they voted for. As the core group of women over 50 who are my county's democratic party, we were shocked and surprised. We had over 10 times the expected turnout. And our representative did not respond until our press coverage went local, statewide and national (on Bluesky if that counts). And he issued a snide press release about not meeting with groups that want to yell at him. I responded (not that I believe he reads, he just poses for pictures) that we ARE HIS CONSTITUANTS. We have two protests scheduled in a nearby community next week and I hope my vertigo lets me go. One is at a fund raiser for one of the worst governor candidates in the country, Vivek Ramaswamy - the former co-boss of doge who wants Ohio to collapse too - and the April 5th country wide one in front of a mall on a highway in another city. I hope we draw huge crowds for both!
Your travel journal sounds amazing! Love your title page. Good for you to go to a town meeting. Your rep sounds like the rest of them. Spineless. I know you're looking forward to more of those springy days. We're finally having more and more of those lovely days, but so much yard work to do.
Y'all should have ambushed him outside the basketball game! What a piece of chickensh**. Pardon my language, but this makes me so angry. The whole political situation is just appalling. We need a natio wide uprising. April 5? Hmmm...we have plans, and tickets, already for an event that we will never have a chance to see again. But maybe a stop on the way there is possible!
Your home cooking looks so good. My husband is allergic to shellfish, unfortunately but I will give that chili a try. Sounds so good, especially on the rainy day.
The chili looks and sounds delicious. Politicians have no backbones these days. They will keep pushing forward if no one stops them. I guess everyone could be afraid of the consequences. The US's reputation is quickly going down the drain.
Chili. that sounds so good for tonight. Your journal will be excellent when you finish it. Your passion for art will make that happen.
I will look at those recipes they sound so good. I hate going out and not getting what I wanted or the service. It is very expensive to go out. Looking forward to seeing your London book.
Cathy
The turn out at the townhall is quite incredible. The issues at hands are so similar to here too
Sounds like March has been a mix of fun, good food, and a bit of frustration! Your painting day with Kate sounds lovely, and that shrimp and orzo scampi is definitely going on my to-try list. Too bad about the no-show rep, but it’s great that so many people showed up and spoke out. Can’t wait to see your spring decor next time!
Happy Monday, Jeanie!
I’m so sad and upset about what is happening in the US. I’ve been following the news about the townhalls.
Your food and drink always look so tempting!
You know the quilt catches my eye. Very pretty!
I always think it odd that many restaurants seem to find doing good food and service a difficult thing when that is their prime purpose! Hope your meal was okay tho.
cheers
sherry
That shrimp dish looks amazing; thanks for sharing! I can not get over the turnout at your town hall but what a disappointment the rep didn't even bother to show up. Best of luck on your art journal; that's a real pretty title page!
The only thing most officials take serious, is being voted out of office. Trump is letting a foreign agent, Elon Musk, impoverish millions Americans and the only way to prevent this is to vote Democrat or Independent in the midterms.
I am going to make that shrimp and orzo dish tonight.Shrimp were on the menu so yes:) TY! That little artist ..Love him...What a seriously sad rep to not show up:( Oh these times are trying.
I forgot to say I love your cover page!!
I love the little wreath with the 'faux-sythia'! And I like the cover of your England journal. I can't think of a better way to preserve some of your memories. Photos are great, but transforming experience by your own hand in a journal seems even better to me.
I so love the wreath at the end, Jeannie! It is so whimsical! And the snapshot of your England book is also lovely--I hope I get to see the whole thing someday!
Well, David wrote it perfectly didn't he? As for spring, we do the same hold on to the nice days, hibernate on the windy rainy days. Ohh you food looks wonderful and that group photo is one to frame.
Looks like some great recipes to try. I love comfort food as well are having lots of rain lately. Sad about the town hall rep not showing. Have fun with the kiddos.
I saw that recipe recently in the NYT. I went back and got it today. Thank you for your recommendation. With my broken right ankle, I can’t drive and must use my walker, since getting around isn’t easy for me. I would love to protest and/or go to town hall meeting, but it’s not happening for me. I think the GOP representatives are cowards and/or terrified by Trump’s retribution for them. Such dipwads!
Too bad about the rep not showing up to the townhall. But it's encouraging to see so many people concerned about the situation.
I agree about cooking at home for the best food. But going out is lovely for the experience.
Have a good week, Jeanie .
We are on our way to the POLLS tomorrow. We live in a mixed area where we have % of voters who vote that is very HIGH....even for off elections. Since every position counts like JUDGES, we will definitely be voting. So far no town meetings here yet...! PS chili-bake sounds fab, got the recipe and directions from the original site. I'm like you though and will just have to add something extra, LOL.
That shrimp and orzo dish looks good. I could probably sub in rice for the orzo to make it GF. I will have to check out the recipe! That chili bake looks great, too! I especially like the low dishes recommendation!
Have fun with the grands!!!
It's hot here ,for me anyway..80!! This is temporary...We are ti have a night below freezing in the near future..Your journal will be a keepsake for sure..
The shrimp dish sounds yummy!! Enjoy your week..
Town hall meetings are happening in many places where the reps don't show up. It is disgusting what is happening! I hope to make it to a protest on Saturday. We must push back.
Love that you are making a journal and having time with your grands. The orzo looks delicious.
Your shrimp meal looks good and pleased you enjoyed the chili bake, many thanks for the link back to the low carb diabetic blog :)
I do like the cover of your England Journal.
Enjoy this last day of March and my good wishes for the new month of April, the year seems to be passing by so quickly!
All the best Jan
The looks and orzo scampi recipe sounds delicious, and I bet it was a nice break from eating out. I’ll have to try it sometime! Keep enjoying those little moments as we wait for spring to stay.
What a lovely Springtime wreath Jeanie. Not good that your Rep did not show up or even advise of a better time for him to attend. So much is happening in the US, changes being made every single day, it's scary! And it seems yellow man is planning on running again by changing the constitution. Hopefully his popularity will have greatly declined by then.
Your March has been a full plate, my friend. Love the food dishes, perfect for an almost Spring time. The town hall no-show should be of no surprise. What a sad state of affairs. Cheers to you for making a difference!
Hi Jeanie, I love the sweet quilt on the sofa, my eyes went straight to the hearts. Oh it's such a treat when we go to a nice restaurant and the wait staff are friendly and know what they are doing. Spring has been same here but not so cold when it's not hot. Loving that, except for the storms. Lucky guests woh came to dinner, your meal sounds delish. Love the idea of the London scrapbook. Nice to see most chairs are filled for your town hall. How rude and presumptuous of your representative to be a no show, especially when you hear he's a few blocks down at a basketball game! He should have come if only a few minutes before his game, shame on him whatever his side the isle he represents.
Happy springtime to you, friend! Don't you just love that April is finally here? I can't believe it. But meanwhile, I'm eyeing that lovely quilt on the sofa. A keeper for sure ...
Your shrimp dinner and chili look delicious! And that quilt is gorgeous!
It’s April, isn’t that GRAND?
Happy Spring and Happy April!
Your England travel journal is off to a good start, Jeanie!
I saw the shrimp and orzo scampi recipe in the NYT recently and saved it; seeing that you made and enjoyed it I'm determined to make it soon.
What a shame that your rep didn't show up. That is unacceptable! I hope people will let him know at the ballot box next year. What a coward. I have heard that many Republican reps don't do town halls or don't show up. What a bunch of spineless cowards. Our rep is a Democrat and I joined his town hall meeting which was quite crowded. People are definitely very angry. I'm planning to go to the nation-wide protest this Saturday here in town. Hugs - Carola
So you spoke to an empty chair.
I went to a new doc. "You are a patient? No? We don´t take new ones."
Next: "We´re full, try after Easter."
It is the same world-wide, the rich are getting richer and all the services and normal people get grumpy.
Glad you spoke, if to an empty chair!
Great blog
What is wrong with these people? Do they not understand that they are our representatives? They are not in DT's pep squad. Good for you in showing up and grilling the empty chair. People are even starting to get mad here in Texas.
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