Where Did February Go?

Crazy weather. I wore shorts and a t-shirt to John's house, but I had to pack my long underwear and other winter gear because the temperature dropped like 35 degrees the next day! And tornado watch today. Yuck.

Did the vegan thing at John's house for a few days. Well, pizza Sunday afternoon wasn't vegan but I am weak! I am really good at picking out vegan recipes, if anyone needs that service. I am like a maimed veg-o-matic. I spiralized one finger, cut the tip off another, and somehow broke my thumbnail halfway down. My witty friend Mar said "It's not vegan if you get a fingertip in it!" Ewwww and haha. I better replenish John's baid-aid supply . . . This time was different because it was no added oil recipes too, ala Dr. Michael Greger. Though a little did sneak in a couple, not nearly as much as usual.

These were my faves. Stir-fry (no recipe for this, John whipped it up-Kay was on mise), Four Bean Salad, and Black Bean & Yam Salad, recipes from Straight-Up Food blog. Not pictured, but totally delish is Spicy Kale Pesto with Zucchini Noodles from The Simple Veganista and Vegan Stuffed Portabellos from Eat Healthy, Eat Happy. Highly recommend all these. I came home and cooked a pork roast though! I am going to lighten things up around here though. And I mean it this time!

Mom is getting her cataract done. March 21st. Oh boy. I remember when I had mine done. Gosh I'm old!

I have to start work in March! No more hanging out at John's house with the kitties, chopping vegetables and fingers and hanging with his girls. There are still the weekends though! lol And holidays . . .

Hera is a tremendous help with a jigsaw puzzle. She is good at pretty much everything, sort of like Kay.  Except for knife skills.

Beautiful old Springbok jigsaw puzzle from a thrift store. From 1968 and still providing entertainment and beauty. I love old jigsaw puzzles.

Okay. I just heard on the news the words "ping pong size hail" so I'm going to check a few batteries. Yikes.

Stay safe people!

Kathleen A.

Aunt Kay

Aunt Kay and Uncle Robert, my Godparents. There is Joe in the background, photobombing.
This is the kitchen at our old farm. 

Not sure where this party was, but clearly the family was having a great time. There is Aunt Kay, third from the left, with Uncle Lee right behind her. Mom and Dad look pretty buzzed here, on the left. Or maybe just happy. But probably buzzed.

All the siblings at  the reunion. Look at the beautiful red hair!
Aunt Jean, Aunt Kay, Aunt Joan, Aunt Norene
Dad, Uncle Jim, Uncle Pat, Uncle Eddie
Dad gave Aunt Kay away at her wedding, there were some lovely photos of everyone at the memorial.  

So sad to suddenly lose Aunt Kay. A whole generation of Mallaneys gone. Dad wished that I had gotten Aunt Kay's sweet temperament along with her name, but alas it was not to be. Luckily Aunt Kay has three petite, beautiful girls (with sweet temperaments), just like their mother, to remind us of her. You'd be hard pressed to find a sweeter lady than Aunt Kay. A terrible loss for her family, I can't remember a time I talked to Aunt Kay and she didn't mention some fun outing she had with her kids and it was clear how they enjoyed and loved each other. Aunt Kay was good to everybody. Mom and Dad and Joe would pop in on her when they went to Joliet and I asked Aunt Kay once if she didn't want them to call first and she said nooooo she loved having company, everyone is welcome any time. Always so warm and welcoming.  Her family had a beautiful service for her. Aunt Kay would have approved heartily of the family and friends praying and eating and laughing and remembering. The dinner was at Merichka's and I'd like to know how many times the Mallaneys have eaten there over the years. Mom mentioned that she and Dad ate there while they were dating, and they were married in 1959.

Dad and Aunt Kay at her 80th birthday, and at the reunions. Aunt Kay was one of the "little kids" to Dad.
I always looked for Aunt Kay's baked beans,  chocolate cake and apricot bars . . . all favorites.

On a happier note I have a job starting on March 27th. Whew. What a relief. Took a while but all is well.

Nothing like looking at old pictures. Mom said this was one of many parties at the old farm, probably the relatives are there or on their way, and I'm already hanging out by the kegger with Joe.  Oh the memories. See that picnic bench in the background? We just threw that away maybe 4-5 years ago, it pretty much had collapsed. I gotta think Bernie got his money's worth out of that. I really do think my love of beer is genetic.  This is from 1963.

Peace.

Kathleen Ann

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas to all. 🎄 Our second Christmas without Dad. But who's counting?  I guess holidays will never be the same but thank goodness for the memories. His birthday was earlier this month, 12/12, so he was in my thoughts a lot this month.

Nothing like some Christmas tradition . . .

Midge and mayhem! I haven't seen her in that little cat house since . . . gosh, last Christmas when she destroyed my little display lol.

John was home for Christmas Eve and we enjoyed our favorite pizza and too many Christmas treats while the smell of brisket wafted through the house. Boy did it smell great. I cooked my brisket on Christmas Eve and made make-ahead mashed potatoes, so with that head start Christmas dinner was so easy.  Much nicer for everybody when I am not bitchy and hot from being in the kitchen all morning. Add moodiness from too many Christmas cookies, and gosh, what a treat I am! LOL  Tradition people, tradition!

Love my new microplane. It's pretty sharp though . . . 

Finn loves his new king size bed.

John was home today (New Years Eve) and we had a lasagna. A pleasant time had by all.

My friends invited me over tonight but gosh, it is dark and cold and New Year's Eve and I'm so old now, an evening of Twilight Zone marathon and a warm cat  and no drinking drivers (including me!) sounds terrific! What an old codger I am.

I'm heading to John's next week for some vegan food. Holidays are over! Finn is going to shape up too!

Peace to all and happy new year!

Kathleen

Chillin'

Finnegan

I do not care about wrinkles

Warm laundry is a very good thing.

4 Years Ago

4 years ago John got Hera and Isis! Love those weird girls.

Funny what you find when you are looking for cute cat photos. 

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a good Thanksgiving, delicious food, nice visit from John, carrot cake. Great leftovers. Just like usual.

Bed hog, and he came in wet to top it off! Good old Finnegan. It's really hard to make beds around here. You have to seize the moment.  

Started this post a few days back . . .

Isn't it funny how the one chocolate chip cookie you bake with a magnet in it (from your magnetic measuring spoons lol) ends up in one of the cookies you give away! Sorry John LOL Glad you didn't swallow it. I took those cookies to John when he had us over to lunch for Mom's 79th birthday. An excellent time had by all, and an excellent meal from a Streator restaurant, McGrath's Seafood, with fried chicken for Joe (what else?!), cod for John and Kay, and fried shrimp for the birthday mom. Joe gave me a bite of his fried chicken and I had a little lunch envy, it was delish. The cod was excellent too, but that chicken. I am a Mallaney after all. Well, I do choose fish over chicken usually. There are aberrations in life. Hera's weight reduction plan (lower carb) is definitely working, she is one hot cat.

And the election. What can I say? Words fail me. I picked up some hours processing mail-in ballots, that's about all I can think to say. What a shocker. I hope being prez doesn't cut into Trump's Miss America duties. God help us all.

Back to the present day . . .

I did some more temp work last week  for the same lawyer as before, and also did some more election work processing ballots that came in after the election. One of the local races that was separated by just 4 votes on election day ended in a tie. Just goes to show one vote does count . . .

Seems the weather has turned. Dark at 5:00. Yucko. It was kind of fun making the Thanksgiving carrot cake with carrots from the garden. I miss puttering around out there and I miss my fresh herbs too.

I'm off to donate platelets this afternoon.

That's all I got.

Have a good Cyber Monday.

Kay :)