Tag Archives: #amblogging

Mastering Homemade Yogurt: From Thin to Creamy Greek Style

30 Aug

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Have you ever made yogurt? Until recently I had no desire to make yogurt. In fact, I thought people who made their own were a bit obsessive. I was sure it would be a difficult and time consuming process.

Then, a couple of years ago I began reading about people making yogurt in an electric pressure cooker. It sounded simple, except that the pot I had didn’t have a yogurt setting and the setting instructions for my machine twisted my brain.

The idea of making yogurt still tickled the back of my mind. When a friend gave me her Insta Pot, I decided to give it a try. My first attempt wasn’t good and I ended up discarding the yogurt.

Several months passed and every time the Aldi grocery store was out of the Greek yogurt I preferred, I would think about making my own.

I read up again on making yogurt. I found the website Frieda Loves Bread, and it had excellent instructions on making yogurt using Fairlife milk. I also found a recipe for making yogurt on a Keto website I follow. Between the two sites, I decided to give it another try.

The way I understand yogurt, there are two ways to make it, one way makes a thin yogurt and the other makes a creamy Greek style one. Since the Greek style required an extra step, i decided to make the thinner one.

It was very simple with only two ingredients, Fairlife milk and Fage yogurt.

I had accidentally bought a 52 ounce bottle of 2% milk and decided to use it in the experiment. I poured the entire bottle into the Insta Pot, then measured out one tablespoon of the Fage Yogurt which would introduce the needed active bacteria, added it to the pot and whisked it together.

I put the lid on the Insta Pot, turned valve to sealing and then pressed the button labeled yogurt. The machine immediately displayed yogurt and 8 hours. That was it.

Eight hours later, I tentatively removed the lid and peered in. The yogurt was supposed to appear “set.” and it did! The instructions said to put it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. I left it overnight. When I tasted it the next morning it was very good!

Fairflife milk sells for around $5.00 for the 52 ounce bottle. A few weeks later I found it on sale for $2.98 a bottle! We were planning to leave shortly for a month in Florida but Fairlife has a long expiration date and would keep until we returned. I bought four of them.

Once we returned home, I decided I wanted to try making the thicker Greek yogurt.

I was feeling intimidated about straining the yogurt so I went to the ever helpful You Tube.

There were a lot of videos on how to strain whey from yogurt, unfortunately each video presenter had a different straining method. One video was done by someone who lives in her RV. She strained the yogurt using cheese cloth over a strainer, then tied the ends together and hung it from a cabinet over the sink and let it drain.

I decided to just go for it. After the Insta Pot did its part, I placed a large wire strainer over a bowl and lined it with cheesecloth. Then I carefully began to scoop the yogurt into the strainer. It almost overflowed. I gave a sigh of relief when the strainer and bowl were safely in the refrigerator.

The recommended least amount of time to chill and drain in the refrigerator was four hours but I would be sound asleep by then, so I left it overnight.

I had some misgivings before putting the yogurt in the refrigerator. I had expected the liquid whey to immediately begin draining but I saw less than one half cup. In the morning I was delighted to see almost a quart of whey in the bowl. As I scooped the finished yogurt into a bowl, it was so thick I could barely stir it. One of the videos suggested adding back some whey until the yogurt was the desired thickness. I stirred some whey in and it worked.

The yogurt was creamy, smooth and delicious.

    I will definitely make yogurt again. How about you, do you make yogurt?

    Here is the link for Friedalovesbread

    I'm a winner

    After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I leaned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

    In addition to blogging, I’m a general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  

    My 2024 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

    Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

    Let’s Eat!-Part 11

    25 Aug

    SUNDAY MEMORIES

    Judy Wills

    As I mentioned last time, we have a standing Monday supper meal with another couple.   I’ve previously mentioned some of the places we like to eat  .Another favorite to eat is Italian…well pizza anyway.  There is an eatery in downtown Kissimmee called The Italian Joint where we used to go occasionally.

    Photo Credit:https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-italian-joint-kissimmee

    They make the best pizza – they add garlic to the finished pie before serving it – and it’s delicious!!  Unfortunately, they have stopped opening on Monday evenings, so that is out for our Monday evening meals   However, there is another pizza place in downtown Kissimmee, called Broadway Pizza.

    Credit Google search and Broadway Pizza website

    We meet there occasionally, and enjoy their pizza as well.  Pam and Richard usually get something other than pizza, but Fred and I almost always share a 10″ pizza.  It is so good I could probably eat a larger one, but we are trying to keep our eating in hand.  Boy! is that hard to do!!

    Occasionally we all eat at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, but only upon occasion.  It is a bit noisier than other eateries, and that bothers us all, as we want this time to be a time for conversation.  The food is “okay” but we like other places where we eat better.  So we do Cheddar’s only once every couple or three months.

    So those are about the only places we eat together with Pam and Richard.  We used to eat at Subway a lot, but Fred doesn’t want us to eat that much bread – you know…carbs…so we don’t eat there very often 

    Credit Google Search and Subway website

    Unfortunately…I happen to thoroughly enjoy their sub sandwiches.  I remember when I was going through chemo that almost nothing appealed to my taste buds, but the turkey sub at Subway.  It was almost a daily occurrence.  I think that’s one reason Fred doesn’t like to eat there…I burned him out on it.

    Another sandwich shop where I like to eat (again with the bread, so Fred isn’t too thrilled with eating there) is a Mom and Pop store called Paul’s Deli.  It is a ways from our house, and deep into Kissimmee, so that’s another drawback for Fred.

    Credit Google search and Paul’s Deli website

    It is a family owned and operated business, and their subs a GREAT!  They have a special for lunch that is half-a-sub with your choice of meats and cheeses, with all the toppings you want.  Hot or cold – take your pick. Really good!

    Credit Google Search and Paul’s Deli website

    This looks like what I get for the lunch special.  Yummmmm

    Pam and Richard got us onto this place some years ago and it is their regular Saturday lunch meal.  The place closes at 4:00 p.m., so it’s not an option for our Monday supper meals together.  Shucks!

    Back in June, 2021, I wrote up a blog about one of our favorite BBQ places in town.  Of course we love 4Rivers, and it is close to us.

    Credit Judy Wills

    But Mission BBQ is about a 30 minute drive away from us, so we don’t get there often.  But we thoroughly enjoy going there.  It is a little different bbq than what 4Rivers offers, and we enjoy the difference. 

    Credit Judy Wills

    On the rare occasion that Pam is off work one day, we like to take them to Mission BBQ, and we all enjoy it.  Mission dedicates their services to the first responders as well as military – active duty and retired.

    Credit Judy Wills

    We almost always get a free dessert – occasionally one for each of us.  At one point in time, we purchased large drinks and kept the cups.  If we bring them with us each time, we get free drinks and refills.  That is just a great place to eat.

    ~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~

    Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

      Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

    After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

    Tags: , , , , , , ,

    Observations on Voting and Housing

    22 Aug

    On the Porch

    Onisha Ellis

    Update on voting

    The voting results are in and most of the ones I voted for won. There were a few disappointments but time will tell how they all perform. Proof not promises has long been my standard. The yard with the most signs which included some I definitely did not vote for, now has a sign for my preferred candidate for president. Interesting.

    I remain puzzled at the dearth of signs for local candidates. Have we become intimidated or simply lazy? It will be interesting to note the amount of signs displayed for the November 5th elections. Will the trend continue?

    Destroying forests.

    On another topic, housing. I would never wish to live in an apartment, much less ones like I see on the television.

    Photo credit: WordPress AI

    Just looking at the above picture I feel a claustrophobic affect on my breathing. Yet as I was walking our grand dog this morning my heart ached as I observed the progress being made on a new town home subdivision. So many trees simply demolished. The machines appearing to me as giant monsters.

    Speaking about the grand dog, he was weird this morning. We are in Florida and it is hot. Usually he is quite happy to come inside after taking care of his business, but this morning, he was not at all interested. He sat on the hot concrete of the driveway staring at the street. No idea what that was about. Was he sensing an earthquake and wanted to be outside? That would be a first. Inside, he continues to stare outside.

    Grand dog Ollie

    It’s almost time for us to return to the North Carolina mountains. I look forward to the cooler weather, but will miss our friends and the sweet familiarity of our home town.

    I'm a winner

    After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

    In addition to blogging, I’m a general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  

    My 2024 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

    Tags: , , , , , , , ,

    Sons and Daughters Destined for Glory

    19 Aug

    My Take

    DiVoran Lites

    Romans 8:14

    The mature children of God are those who are moved by the impulses of the holy Spirit. You did not receive the Spirit of religious duty, leading you back into the fear of never being good enough. But you have received the Spirit of full acceptance, enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as he rises within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection. Beloved Father! Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, You are God’s beloved child!

    Photo Credit:Pixabay

    DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.  She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”

    Tags: , , , , , , , ,

    Let’s Eat!-Part 10

    18 Aug

    SUNDAY MEMORIES

    Judy Wills

    Previously I mentioned that we have a regular, standing Monday evening supper appointment with some friends.  We try to have that meal at a different place each Monday.  There are some places that none of us like to go to, and it has essentially boiled down to about five different eateries where we go.

    One of those places is Azteca d’Oro Mexican Restaurant.

    Credit Judy Wills

    It is one of our favorite Mexican restaurants in Orlando, and there are a lot of Mexican restaurants in town!  The food is consistently good, and we have come to know most of the hosts/hostesses and servers…perhaps not all by name, but surely by sight.  We get smiles, hand waves, and occasionally a hug from them.  We have our favorites, of course, but they are all good.  On the day where we eat there for supper, we don’t go there for lunch.  However, Fred and I enjoy going there for lunches some days.  They make the best guacamole I think I’ve ever eaten.  It has taken me all these years of marriage to get Fred to try guacamole, but he now enjoys sharing it with me.  He had the mistaken idea that either mayonnaise or some such condiment was in it (blech!), but I was able to convince him that just wasn’t so. Once, when I had been sick but was feeling some better, I asked that my entire meal be their “large” guacamole dish – instead of a small dish, it had three “scoops” of it.  That has become my favorite meal there  They have a wonderful appetizer, queso dip, served with warm tortilla chips..  I tried once to make that my meal, and decided it was entirely too rich…for that.  It is much better shared as an appetizer among the four of us.  And then, of course, there are the warm chips and salsa to munch on while waiting for the entrees.

    One surprising fact about Azteca, is that it originated in Seattle, Washington!  Our store originally had a plaque with all the names of the cities where there was an Azteca d’Oro located.  As a matter of fact, Fred and I ate in one when we were visiting Seattle some years ago.  Same menu – same delicious food.  

    Back on November 10, 2013, I wrote a post titled Wood Inlay.  In it, I described a wood inlay Aztec calendar that Azteca d’Oro had on their wall.  They remodeled a few years ago, and have removed that wood inlay, much to my sorrow.  It was unique.

    Credit Judy Wills

    We four occasionally go to Culver’s for supper.  We all like the eatery, and there is quite a choice of what to eat from their menu.  It is, essentially a hamburger joint, but they are delicious!

    Another choice we all enjoy is Outback Steakhouse. 

    Credit Outback Steakhouse website and Herve Andrieu

    Not only are their steaks really good, but they have an entree called Alice Springs Chicken.  Grilled chicken topped with sauteed mushrooms, bacon, two kinds of melted cheese, served with a side of the best honey/mustard sauce I’ve ever had!  Yummmm! 

    Credit Facebook

    Their salads are great, and their hamburger is also wonderful.  We’ve given up on the Bloomin’ Onion, as it’s just too much good along with the entrees.

    They used to have a dish called Bloomin’ Petals, which is smaller than the Onion, but have discontinued it.  Unfortunately.

    ~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~

    Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

      Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

    After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

    Tags: , , , ,

    Election Season

    15 Aug

    On the Porch

    Onisha Ellis

    It’s election season in Florida.

    The mailbox is stuffed with colorful and large campaign cards, all promising their person to be the best candidate for the job. Or declaring to us why someone is the worst candidate for the job.

    Photo credit: Me

    Since the presidential candidates have been decided, we are now in the throes of the battle of the locals, mayors, commissioners, judges, school board and other assorted elected positions.

    I confess I have no idea for whom I will vote on August 20th.

    I miss the time when meeting candidates was simple. Towns would hold gatherings in a mall or other neutral space and candidates would explain why one should vote for them. People were nice. No yelling or slinging slurs.

    My modern method of choosing a candidate begins in my car. Yes, my car. As we drive through neighborhoods, I take note of yard signs, in particular, the yards with multiple signs. If the yard has a sign for a candidate that I know I wouldn’t vote for, I probably won’t vote for any of the candidates whose signs are there. Weird, I know, but it’s a starting point.

    Photo Credit: Blogspot.com free to share and use.

    Unfortunately, this year there aren’t many yard signs. I’ve only been able to eliminate 3 candidates. I guess I’m going to have to read all those mailings and pray for Divine wisdom.

    Do you have any unique methods to determine your vote?

    Be sure to vote in your local elections!

    I'm a winner

    After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

    In addition to blogging, I’m a general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  

    My 2024 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

    Tags: , , , , ,

    Be Still Means Stop Striving

    12 Aug

    My Take

    DiVoran Lites

    Photo Credit:Pixabay

    God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

    The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us. Who could defend us better? The God of Israel (our personal God)

    See to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Because God is our refuge (fortress and strength, we need not fear. Even when natural disasters strike (Ps 46:2-3.) 

    Even during national conflicts 

    The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us. Who could defend us better? The God of Israel is our fortress. What better protection could we have? God is also working to end all wars. He will win and be exalted in the end, which will surely come. 

    The nations will be still and know He is God; it means they should stop striving and lay their arms down. God will fight and eventually end all conflicts. Isaiah 2 is a parallel passage describing the latter days when metal will be used for farming and fishing tools, not weapons. We can personalize this psalm by remembering that God will fight our battles. Stop striving and know that He is God our refuge and strength. 

    Almighty God, I run to You for refuge; I depend on You for strength, remembering to let God fight our battles. Stop striving and know that He is God, our refuge and strength. 

    Almighty God, I run to You for refuge. I depend on You for strength. Help me to stop fighting for my rights and let you be God! I rest in you. 

    DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.  She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”

    Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

    Let’s Eat!-Part 9

    11 Aug

    SUNDAY MEMORIES

    Judy Wills

    Fred and I really enjoy eating out at lunchtime (me especially since I don’t have to cook anything for lunch!).  It’s a habit we’ve developed over the years.  We have a standing dinner engagement with another couple on Monday suppertime, and so Mondays we do sometimes eat at home for lunch.  Suppers are usually eaten at home.  

    Occasionally we eat out for breakfast – not very often, but sometimes.  Our favorite place for breakfast is Cracker Barrel.

    Credit Cracker Barrel website

    Their choices for breakfasts are amazing, although we do have our favorite.  When we usually eat there for breakfast, it is on the days that we have “fasted” in order to have blood drawn at our primary care physician’s direction, early in the morning.  We are usually quite hungry after that ordeal, so a breakfast at Cracker Barrel is something to look forward to…and we do!  Our favorite is Mama’s Pancake Breakfast.

    Credit Cracker Barrel website

     It includes two eggs fixed the way you like (scrambled is our favorite), either bacon or sausage (I am NOT a sausage fan!), and three large pancakes with butter – and we have them put chopped pecans in the pancakes!  Yummmmmm!  Not don’t get the wrong idea here – we split that meal and it is PLENTY for both of us.  Makes me hungry just thinking about it!

    But, back to lunches – another reason we like to eat out at lunch rather than supper/dinner, is that the portions are usually smaller and the prices are smaller as well.  One of our favorites is Culver’s. 

    Credit Culver’s website

    It is a hamburger joint that started in Wisconsin, and has made it’s way down to Florida.  We had our first taste in Illinois when we visited our Karen and her family, and were hooked.  We were quite excited to find them building down here.  They really make good, fresh hamburgers with all the fixin’s.  But that’s not all – they have a great pot roast, either dinner plate or sandwich.  Tasty, and melts in your mouth.  They have a great chili, except that they use kidney beans in it, which my body rejects, so I have to pick them all out before I can eat it!  But not only are their hamburgers the best, they are known for their “custard.”

    Credit Culver’s website

    It is fresh-churned within each store, and is more like a soft-serve, which I really like.  They have a “flavor of the day” each day, and they keep experimenting with different toppings and flavors.  However, my favorite is just vanilla with hot fudge topping.

    We frequently eat lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse

    Credit Longhorn Steakhouse website

    While their menu isn’t terribly extensive, we do have our favorites.  Their salmon is aMAZing!!  They marinate the salmon in bourbon before grilling.  WOW is that good! 

    Credit Longhorn Steakhouse website

     And since I’ve bragged about Culver’s hamburgers, I have to admit that the “steakburger” at Longhorn’s is wonderful.  It is 8-oz of  meat (before cooking) and is about ½ inch thick.  It comes with shredded lettuce (Romaine), sliced onion, sliced tomato, cheese of your choice and an amazing sauce!  I always ask for extra sauce it is so good.  All that and a vegetable.  Mmmmmm.

    Longhorn Steakhouse also has a shrimp entree that I thoroughly enjoy.  There are four shrimp on a skewer, grilled, then spread with a sauce that is lovely.  For lunch, there are two skewers.  It is served over rice and then another vegetable.  Frequently I skip the rice and get two vegetables.  Really good.

    Credit Longhorn Steakhouse website

    And I must not forget to mention that they serve warm bread with butter.  It is a multi-grain bread loaf, and is quite good.  Just a filler before the real food arrives.  We usually try to skip the bread unless we are having nothing but soup that day.  And their soups are great.  Fred likes their loaded potato soup, and my favorite is their French Onion soup.  It is almost as good as the one I make!

    ~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~

    Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

      Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

    After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

    Tags: , , , , , , , ,

    No Place Like Home

    8 Aug

    On the Porch

    Onisha Ellis

    I know it doesn’t make sense, but we decided to leave the North Carolina mountains and return to our home state, Florida in August. What were we thinking? It is crazy hot plus the second night here we were under a tornado warning. But life happens and so, here we are in Florida in August. There are nice bonuses to being here, time with our daughter, grand-dog and good friends.

    It’s nice to look at our hometown with fresh eyes. The credit union has a new paint job in bright orange, a house in the neighborhood that has always been immaculately maintained, is up for sale. I wonder what prompted the move, hoping it was not due to health issues.

    Wednesday my daughter and I ran a couple of errands. Our first stop was Hobby Lobby.

    Photo Credit: Trussville Tribune

    As I entered the store a feeling of contentment settled over me. This is my store. No searching for the 75% off Spring section and I know where the bathroom is!

    Our next stop was Aldi grocery store. We have an Aldi in our North Carolina town and as I walked into the Florida store, I felt a little disoriented.

    Photo Credit:Flickr

    Aldi doesn’t utilize the same floor plan in every store. I didn’t have a problem navigating to the cheese and lunch meat section, but it took a couple of tries for me to locate “The Aisle of Shame.’ (If you know, you know.) I did score a couple of finds, two items that sold out at my North Carolina store.

    Aldi encourages shoppers to return their shopping carts to the store using the quarter method. Unlock a cart with a quarter, return the cart and get the quarter back. As we exited the store, I headed to the North Carolina side of the store. My daughter gently corrected me. Even with this confusion, I was happy to be shopping in my home store.

    Two errands was enough in 94 degree heat. I needed a little rest with a good book.

    Photo Credit:Jo Justino Pixabay

    I love our mountain time, but there is no place like home.

    I'm a winner

    After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

    In addition to blogging, I’m a general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  

    My 2024 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

    Tags: , , , , ,

    Let’s Eat! Part 8

    4 Aug

    SUNDAY MEMORIES

    Judy Wills

    Recently, Fred and I celebrated our 63rd anniversary – quite a milestone.  As it happened, we were in Virginia, celebrating the high school graduation of our grand-twins, Connor and Hannah.  And so, while we were there, we made our own celebration.

    Photo by Judy Wills

    While we like to eat out quite often, this was to be a special meal.  We had a difficult time deciding just where we wanted to eat for our celebration.  We finally decided to eat at Berret’s Seafood Restaurant and Taphouse Grill in Merchant’s Square in Colonial Williamsburg.  We had never eaten there before, so this would really be a treat for us.

    Photo credit by Google search and Berret’s website

    We had a really nice meal there.  Here is a decoration we found at a window near our table.

    Photo by Judy Wills

    Since they knew it was our anniversary, just before we left the restaurant, they gave us a SMALL bottle of champagne with writing on the side. 

    Photo by Judy Wills

    Photo by Judy Wills

    Nice gesture on their part.  Neither of us are champagne drinkers, but I tasted it when we got back to Janet and Tom’s house.  It was okay, if you like that kind of thing.  It was the thought that counted.

    The last day we were in Virginia, Fred and I had a second meal at one of our favorite eateries in Williamsburg.  It is called Food for Thought – original name, hm? 

    Photo by Judy Wills

    We thoroughly eating there, and the inside decorations are quite unique.  There are “sayings” and thought-provoking comments from scholars and literary people lining the walls.  A most interesting place to eat and ponder…and the food is good, as well!

    Photo by Judy Wills

    When we returned home from that visit, on Saturday, we went to our favorite bbq eatery called 4Rivers.

    Photo by Judy Wills

    Since we eat there frequently, we have become fairly good friends – well perhaps very good acquaintances is a better word – with the servers, managers, and cooks there.  We get waves and smiles whenever we enter the eatery, and the managers come and have conversations with us.  We love it! 

    Well, we had told one of the managers, Cara, when our anniversary was, and she planned this surprise there for us.  She said she was sweating bullets that day, just hoping we would go there to eat that Saturday, as usual.  And this is why: They had “reserved” part of a table just for us – in our usual spot to eat!

    Photo by Judy Wills

    They treated us to the meal (wouldn’t let us pay for it); walked us to the table; gave us a plaque telling about love and marriage, that every employee of this restaurant had signed on the back, and just celebrated with us.

    Photo by Judy Wills

    Every cook/cashier/server in the place wished us a “happy anniversary” with a smile.  They were aMAZing!  We were amazed and surprised.  This is customer service to the extreme.  But we loved it.  Oh, the memories.  And here is where we’ve hung the plaque in our house – so we can see it and think of those people and the effort they put into making a special time for us.   WOW!  

    Photo by Judy Wills

    ~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~

    Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

      Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

    After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

    Tags: , , , , , , ,

    ← Older Entries
    Newer Entries →