DAY 176: SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020: EXCELLENT START TONTHE DAY: MASS WITH FATHER GRANT AND FATHER HAWKINS

Some days, running is so easy, getting up is not. But, I did get up at 6:50sm. The temperature was perfect. I ran for longer than usual. I ususlly do 3-4 miles. Today was weird. My breathing was great and my legs kept moving. I needed that. Lol , I wanted to head to RI. 

I used Loop Bands as Ali taught us. Day 4 of The 426 Challenge.

       DAY4 26 TO GO

Mass with Father Grant and Father Hawkins was 9:00 am. They are doing a great job helping us keep our faith and informing us of what is going on in town and the state.

Breakfast: Waffles, bacon, blueberries, almonds, peanut butter, and maple syrup. We are eating so well. We were not even done with breakfast when I told Tom that dinner was going to be pizza, beer, and salad.

      BREAKFAST 

It is now 2:30, and I can not figure out what I have been doing to make the time pass. I have washed and dried clothes. Thank God our washer and dryer are working amazingly well.  

I spoke with Joan and Mom . I texted with Kristen , Colleen, and Jann and Bill. Oh, that is where time went. It was time well spent connecting with friends. I have  done Words With Friends with Margaret, Geri, and Joanne. 

Being connected with all of them keeps me sane. Bouncing thoughts off of Joan, sharing photos with Colleen, and updates on RV traveling with Jann and Bill let us know that someday this will end, someday, not soon enough.

Unfortunately, Jann and Bill sent this :

Does anyone read Chuck Woodbury's RV Newsletter?  He said this today: "I am mad, very mad. The state of Virginia has ordered that private RV parks can no longer accept short-term guests. If you are traveling along I-81 and need a place to spend a night or two along the way, forget about it. Oh, there’s always a parking lot and maybe a rest area.

WOW! That will put a crimp in our getting home. Thank you , Jann and Bill. We had not seen this. We are not planning to leave Florida yet, but when we do head north we will need to know this. Hopefully, other states will not follow suit. 

I mentioned that we may not make it all the way home,  and I don't want to be here for Hurricane Season . Jann and Bill said they have a spot for us in NC on their property. We are blessed with so many wonderful friends.  Whew! Thank you!

 Susan asked some people to do a recipe chain on line- to alleviate some cookimg boredom. I did this one:

                 PULLED PORK OR CHICKEN TACOS, QUESADILLAS, WRAPS, SALADS OR NACHOS

                                                           (From memory- create as you go)

Ingredients:

Porkloin or pound of boneless chicken breasts

Taco shells, tortillas, wraps , salad, and/ or tortilla chips

Assorted chopped vegetables/ fruits:  lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers, cilantro or  parsley, olives, avocado, whatever else you want or have 

Add ons: Sour cream, shredded cheese, quacomole, salsa, black beans, refried beans

1. Place a pork loin or pound of boneless chicken breasts in a crockpot

       (Mine is a small one)

2. Add a can of Ro-Tel or can of tomatoes and a half cup of water

       ( You may add taco seasoning or spices if you wish)

3. Turn the crockpot to high

4. Walk away and leave this for 4-5 hours

5. You may stir once in a while if you wish. Or not! 

6. After 4 hours, try to pull the meat apart with 2 forks

7. If the meat does not separate easily, leave it covered for another hour

8. When ready, use 2 forks and pull the meat apart while it is in the crockpot

9. Cut up or chop the above vegetables (or fruits- the avacado, the olives and tomato :- seeds). I place each in a small bowl so everyone can create for his/ herself. 

10. Fill a tortilla, wrap, taco with the meat and any or all of the above. Or, place all of the above over a bed of lettuce

11. Another option or with left overs: 

   Place  a pile of tortilla chips on a cookie sheet. Drop meat , vegetables, salsa, beans, cheese, etc over the chips.

    Bake in a 350 degree oven until the cheese melts . Serve with sour cream and quacomole

12. Be creative and enjoy

FROM PULLED PORK RECIPE:

QUESADILLA MADE BY BOB

NACHOS BY ME

Even Tom is working out. This is what I saw when I went on my bike ride:

TOM STRETCHING AND USING MY 10 POUND WEIGHTS

His reintroduction to a healthy lifestyle was thanks to Mindy, her chair yoga, and Nancy and Sylvia at Long Key , Stretch and Weight Classes. 

MOTHERS' DAY LAST YEAR: HAPPY FAMILY TIMES

BILL RAISING HIS RI STATE AND US FLAG

GERÍ'S BEAUTIFUL ORCHID GARDEN

ü

LOVE THESE HONEY CRISP APPLES: HUGE AND DELICIOUS

MICHELLE POSTED THIS ABOUT MADDY

BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES, THANKS, MICHELLE AND MADDY

MADDY LAST SPRING WITH HER BAND: WONDERFUL

It ıs only 3:15. Tıme for my fırst bıke rıde today. 

Shirley called. Great long talk wıth her. It was Wonderful to catch up about famıly and to  plan for a shared cocktaıl 6 feet away ın Sarasota one day next week. I told her that a dıstance get together would be fabulous sınce Tom and I have been together wıthout anyone else to talk to. As I have saıd before, good thıng we love each other and know how to gıve each other space.

Our bıke rıde took us by the Preserve but could  not go ın. It ıs all blocked off. By the tıme thıs ıs over, the preserve path ıs goıng to be so overgrown, ıt wıll be hard to fınd. 

We could see the blue herons but could not get a photo. The snowy egret was easy as was the kayakıng creek whıch was also barracaded.

LOVELY....

DEBRA  called whıle we rode. We caught up later. Jann called to thank us for the 'welcome home gıft' we sent them. We hope they enjoy them wıth frıends. Todd facetimed and we read: HOW TO BE A PIRATE and CORDUROY .  LEO's favorıte was the pırate book. Stella was fallıng askeep. 

So many more photos to share, I'll add them tomorrow.

Good nıght!