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Please do send those positive thoughts. We just received a counter to our counter and it is in the ball park. The only thing our realtor there is concerned about is the contingency clause that allows them to continue to show the house until we have cash in hand. My realtor here gave me some ideas to get around that and I am going to the credit union tomorrow to set one up.

This was an easy recipe to find! Rich likes to challenge us to expand our horizons. We are hopeful on the house in Midland. You can't go wrong with Ina! Thank you! Picture taking is done, papers signed and there is a sign in the front yard. The realtor thinks this will be an easy sell. I sure hope he's correct!!! I am really enjoying being able to relax this afternoon. Thank you! May go out to dinner with friends. Surely things will work out with the Michigan house since I have the Dailyites behind me.

Good morning, everyone! @kazu You really put your all into the Celebration of Life for Jose. I know he must have been up in heaven just beaming down on you. Thankfully your sister was there to help with the clean up and work involved that day. I would have happily acted as scullery queen if I had been there. Today the photographer comes at 10:30 to take pictures for the listing of the house. This has been a ton of work! I am taking the rest of the day off and then tomorrow I'll go back to packing in anticipation of a sale and a purchase. We did counteroffer on the house in Midland and haven't heard anything. I don't expect to hear anything for a few days as they had an Open House yesterday. Today's meal reminds me of Sunday dinner at Grandma's house. Roasted chicken, potatoes and vegetables roasted with the chicken, gravy, the whole works. In a way that is a comfort food because of all the memories it invokes. Rotisserie chicken is one form of roasted chicken. Originally Rotisserie Chicken appeared in France during the Medieval period. Grilled chicken was a favorite for King Richard the Lionheart during the 12th century. At this time it was made as a stew. The appeal of rotisserie chicken is the roasting of the meat using spit skewers. The “spit” is a metal rod that went through the whole chicken, which then would be rotated and cooked slowly over a heat source. Rotation of the meat allowed it to be cooked evenly, within rows by the heat radiation. There were records that the first rotisserie was turned by dogs, then it went onto steam, then clockwork. For centuries, the British were famous for their roast meat, attached to a spit before being hand-turned by some poor soul in front of a devilishly hot fire. We no longer do this, today we cook them in the oven, so technically they are baked meats not roasted ones. Searching for historical recipes for roast chicken is rather tricky: they were rarely roasted – they were a dependable source of eggs after all. When you do find a recipe, there is little focus on the roasting itself. Check out this recipe for ‘Chicken Endored’ from around 1450: Take a chicken, draw it and roast it; let the feet be on and take away the head. Then make a batter of egg yolks and flour, and add to it ground ginger and pepper, saffron and salt, and spread it over until it is roasted enough. By the eighteenth century, there is little more instruction, but we do at least get a cooking time: To roast young chickens, pluck them very carefully, draw them, only cut off the claws, truss them, and put them down to a good fire. Singe, dust and baste them with butter, they will take a quarter of an hour roasting. Then…lay them on your dish. We can only assume that the roasting part of the process was already in the readers’ skill set. Our first recipe comes from Ina Garten and the Food Network. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/perfect-roast-chicken-recipe-1940592 Next up we have a garlic herb roasted chicken. I love anything with garlic, so had to include this one. https://cafedelites.com/garlic-herb-butter-roast-chicken/ This one claims to be the easiest recipe ever when it comes to roasted chicken. https://www.rachelcooks.com/roasted-chicken/ One last one, also claiming to be super easy. I chose this one just because it looks good. https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/roast-chicken/ Wishing everyone a wonderful day. @marshhawk I sure hope you enjoy your cruise!

Yes, the cloud cover was always mentioned when someone was coming for us.

They were always coming after the Ravenna Arsenal for some reason or another. We grew used to it long before 9 11. I don't think it is used as an arsenal anymore. For those who don't know, the Ravenna arsenal is an Ohio Army National Guard training camp located near me. I've driven past it many times. In remembrance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyP0JsyvYnA The Clydesdale Horses in tribute to those we lost on 9 11 and those who rushed into help.

Good morning, everyone. @Cruzin Terri I am glad you have found a comfortable place to stay while your home is repaired, but sorry you have to go through this. @kazu I am hoping your Celebration of Life for Jose went smoothly and that you drew some comfort from the friends who were there to acknowledge Jose and give support to you. Who can forget 9/1/2001? I was in my classroom during class change when a student rushed in and said a plane had hit the World Trade Center. We turned on the TV and watched as the second plane hit the second tower. We knew it was definitely an attack on our country. Parents started coming in and taking their kids home, wanting to have their loved ones close to them. That afternoon we decided we would be open the next day but that parents who wanted their kids at home were welcome to keep them at home and it wouldn't count as a day absent for their children. It was difficult that day because the kids had so many questions and I had no answers. Today is another dessert for dinner day. Paletas are a frozen treat made with fresh fruit. The origin of Mexican paletas is not quite clear, though. Many tell the tale of peasants who sought ice from the Popocatepetl volcano near Mexico City. It is said they would mix the ice with fruit and serve this special treat to Aztec emperors. Another explanation comes from the 1800s, when Mexico was celebrating its independence from Spain. Spain’s monopoly and high ice taxes had ceased and that meant ordinary citizens could afford ice and experiment by mixing it with fresh fruit to beat the heat. The paletas recipe we know today gained popularity in the 1940s in a town named Tocumbo. In Mexico, Tocumbo is known as la cuna de la paleta de hielo, the capital of the frozen pop. It’s also the home of La Michoacana, the famous brand of paleterias with an indigenous doll as its logo. Paletas are very easy to make. https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-make-paletas-recipe/ Most of the recipes are the same. Here is one with a slight variation. https://www.agirldefloured.com/strawberry-basil-paletas/ You can make creamy paletas using plain Greek yogurt. You can experiment with other fruits. https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/peach-crisp-parfait-pops/ Ok, back to packing and cleaning so the house is ready for pictures tomorrow. We did discover the leak in the basement and Dad says it is an easy and fairly cheap fix. The parts are ordered and they assure us they will be in by Thursday. Wishing you all a wonderful day.

Good morning, everyone! This messy painter has packed up all the painting supplies and they are ready to go on the moving truck. I worked on clearing out the basement yesterday and hosing it down. It looks so much better! I did discover a problem, though. If I use the outside faucet in the front of the house I get water in the basement. The wall there is soaked. Dan, my handyman, is coming today. He thinks the problem is that the pipe that comes from outside to inside burst. He assures me it is an easy fix. I sure hope so because that one won't get past the inspector. I was kind of down yesterday because I saw that they have scheduled an open house for the house we had put an offer in on. I figured they were not impressed with our offer. Later yesterday we did get a counter offer from them. We have countered back. I think if we keep going, we will end up in a happy place. Swap Ideas Day should be a special celebration here on the Daily. We do that everyday! A few years ago I invested in a better sewing machine and I have not regretted it since. Bucatini is a large thick tubular pasta that looks like spaghetti noodles, but they’re much heartier. You know how Japanese udon noodles are chewy and satisfying? Bucatini pasta gives you the same satiety! This is kind of high in carbs so I would have to tinker with it. I do like the idea of the kale being used for a balance between starch, protein and vegetable. Kale is a very healthy food choice and for those who are disposed towards kidney stones, it is low in oxalates. Spinach, the usual substitute for kale, is one of the highest oxalate foods and most kidney stones are calcium oxalate. What are the 5 top health benefits of kale? May support immunity. Kale contains four times the vitamin C content and twice the selenium content of spinach, as well as nutrients like vitamin E and beta-carotene. ... May support bone health. ... May protect against heart disease. ... May protect against cancer. ... May support eye health. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/health-benefits-kale Our first recipe comes from Taste of Home. https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/bucatini-with-sausage-kale/ All of the recipes for sausage and kale are the same, so for those of you who love sardines, I found this one: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/sicilian-bucatini-with-sardines-4665127 You can add the kale if you wish. Or there is this one with sausage and peppers:https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/bucatini-with-sausage-and-peppers-56389445 Last, but not least, we have a pasta, sausage, and kale recipe with a lemon cream sauce: https://themodernproper.com/sausage-kale-pasta-with-lemon-cream-sauce Wishing you all a wonderful day.

Good morning, everyone. I see we are celebrating another group I belong to: Wonderful Weirdos. I hang out with them when I'm not drinking cardboardeaux and messily painting. Reinforcements are coming in to help me with the clutter/last minute touch ups on painting, etc. I never got into sudoku. That is part of my weirdness. If everyone else is doing something, I do something else. @marshhawk I would probably like today's meal if it was prepared for me. This is a delicacy in Malaga, Spain. Apparently it is quite popular although I never saw it when I was in Malaga. In Malaga, an espeto refers to six fresh sardines (although you can also use other kinds of fish and meat, sardines are the most common), skewered and cooked over a pit of coals. The only seasoning is a bit of olive oil and sea salt. The result? Delicious! These little guys are meant to be eaten with your fingers, preferably as close to the beach as possible. An espeto is usually made up of six sardines skewered on a bamboo spit. The best ones are medium sized (big sardines aren’t usually found in the Mediterranean). You should also firm up the sardines before cooking by sticking them in a bucket of ice and salting them for at least 30 minutes. If you want to add extra flavor, you can add some herbs such as thyme, rosemary or bay leaves to the fire. Olive wood is traditionally used for the fire, which also adds flavor. Yes! Sardines are a great source of vitamin B and iron. They’re also high in Omega 3 and low in calories. One serving is only about 200 calories and gives you 23 grams of protein. Also, because sardines are lower on the food chain, they have very little mercury, so they’re a good choice for kids or pregnant women. All the more reason for eating espetos in Malaga. Another benefit is that sardines are good for healthy bones. Since you eat the bones of the fish, you are getting the nutrients needed for strong bones. Here is a step by step tutorial with pictures on how to make Espeto. https://www.bonviveur.es/recetas/espeto-de-sardinas Simple, easy and healthy! Wishing you all a wonderful day.

Good morning, everyone! Literacy and date nut bread! One is critical to a free society and the other is just plain good. The & is along for the ride. We decided to put off the photographer for pictures of my home until Monday. There was just too much to accomplish by tomorrow. We haven't heard back about our offer. Apparently one of the siblings involved in the sale of the home is difficult to get in touch with. I have an appointment today to get the new Covid booster. I want full immunity when I get on the ship October 8th. One month from today! I love sweet and sour chicken, but haven't had it in decades because of the sugar it contains. I'll stick with the egg rolls and hot mustard sauce. But, sweet and sour sauce is pretty easy to make and can be used in a variety of ways. Sweet and sour is a generic term that encompasses many styles of sauce, cuisine and cooking methods. It is commonly used in East Asia and Southeast Asia, and has been used in England since the Middle Ages. Sweet and sour sauces remains popular in Asian and Western cuisines. In China traditionally the sauces are made from mixing sugar or honey with a sour liquid such as rice vinegar, soy sauce, and spices such as ginger and cloves. Sometimes a paste made from tomatoes is used but this is rare and normally restricted to Western cooking. Cantonese sweet and sour sauce is the direct ancestor of the sauce of the same name in the West, and was originally developed for sweet and sour pork. The late renowned chef from Hong Kong Leung King included the following as his sweet and sour source sauce recipe: white rice vinegar, salt, Chinese brown candy, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and dark soy sauce. Sweet and sour seabass Sweet and sour sauce is the ultimate dipping sauce for potstickers, egg rolls, wontons, chicken nuggets, fish sticks and anything else your heart desires. You can also incorporate it into your favorite Chinese dishes like sweet and sour chicken, pork or shrimp, sweet and sour meatballs, Asian salad dressings, and as a glaze for grilled chicken, pork, seafood, kabobs, ribs, etc. It’s even delicious just drizzled over a bowl of hot steamed rice. You can also omit the cornstarch and use this sauce as a marinade. https://www.daringgourmet.com/best-sweet-and-sour-sauce/ This next one includes garlic and ginger in the sauce. https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/sweet-and-sour-sauce/ Here is one that is keto friendly so contains much less sugar. https://mamabearscookbook.com/keto-sweet-and-sour-sauce/ Ok, we have the sauce. What do we do with it? Besides using it on chicken or pork are there other ways to use it? This page gives us 15 ways to use sweet and sour sauce besides the well known chicken and pork. https://happymuncher.com/what-to-do-with-leftover-sweet-and-sour-sauce/ 1. Make a stir fry with it. 2. Make a sandwich and use it as a spread. 3. Marinate meat or fish in it. 4. Use it as a salad dressing. 5. Drizzle it over pasta 6. Add it to chicken soup. 7. Use it as a base for pizza. 8. Use it as a dipping sauce for french fries or chicken nuggets. 9. Use it as a dipping sauce for egg rolls or spring rolls. 10. Baste it on barbecue ribs or other meat. 11. Use it on baked potatoes. 12. Make a sweet and sour chicken salad. 13. Use it with ramen noodles. 14. Make a sweet and sour sauce omelet. 15. Freeze it for later use. How would you use it? Wishing you all a wonderful day.

I love Ann Rule as well. Jonathan Kellerman is good. She would also help @marshhawk do the paint and wine runs for us. But she would also criticize our mess. 😁

Had a talk with my realtor and he said I could finish up the hallway and then cease painting operations. He suggested packing up stuff I don't need and just making things look fresh. Photographer is coming Friday and we may be listed by Friday evening.

Good morning, everyone! It felt good to be home and sleeping in my own bed. I have a little bit of painting to finish up here. I think the rest has to go as is so we can get this place listed. I only have to do the hallway upstairs. Today's meal sounds good to me! Cauliflower has many health benefits. It is great for gut health. That seems to be the rage these days, but it can help gut health which makes things flow smoothly. Ok, it might make you gassy, but just let 'er rip. Cauliflower may have anti-cancer benefits. All the research on the cruciferous vegetable aren't in yet, but eat them anyways. Cauliflower also is a good source of fiber, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A. And, the biggest thing: cauliflower may boost your immune system. So, in addition to limiting exposure and getting your boosters before a cruise, eat cauliflower. You want all the help you can get to avoid that nasty virus! The best way to prepare cauliflower to preserve the nutrients is to eat it raw. For those with digestive issues that may cause problems. When cooking vegetables to preserve the most nutrients do not use water. I prefer to roast the vegetables. For this dish you are putting the cauliflower into a sauce, so leached vitamins will go there. A curry is a dish with a sauce seasoned with spices, mainly associated with South Asian cuisine. In southern India, leaves from the curry tree may be included. There are many varieties of curry. In traditional cuisines, the selection of spices for each dish is a matter of national or regional cultural tradition, religious practice, and preference of the chef. Such dishes have names that refer to their ingredients, spicing, and cooking methods. Outside the Indian subcontinent, a curry is a dish from Southeast Asia which uses coconut milk or spice pastes, commonly eaten over rice. Curries may contain fish, meat, poultry, or shellfish, either alone or in combination with vegetables. Others are vegetarian. Dry curries are cooked using small amounts of liquid, which is allowed to evaporate, leaving the other ingredients coated with the spice mixture. Wet curries contain significant amounts of sauce or gravy based on broth, coconut cream or coconut milk, dairy cream or yogurt, or legume purée, sautéed crushed onion, or tomato purée. Curry powder, a commercially prepared mixture of spices marketed in the West, was first exported to Britain in the 18th century when Indian merchants sold a concoction of spices, similar to garam masala, to the British colonial government and army returning to Britain. From Healthline: The combination of spices found in curry powder makes this seasoning a great way to add flavor and nutritional benefits to your dishes. The spice blend is rich in anti-inflammatory compounds and consuming it may help reduce oxidative stress, boost heart health, and improve blood sugar levels, among other potential benefits. The best part is that curry powder makes an excellent addition to a wide array of recipes. Try adding it to your favorite dish for a healthful kick of flavor and color. Though curry powder is widely available in supermarkets, you can also find a wide selection of products online. This first recipe is easy to make and perfect for the vegans and vegetarians in your household. https://cupfulofkale.com/vegan-cauliflower-and-chickpea-curry/ This next recipe does contain turmeric. For those concerned about the lead, the amount is only 1 tsp. You can choose to omit it or substitute one of the following: 7 Substitutes for Ground Turmeric (That You Can Find In Your Kitchen) Saffron. Ground Ginger. Ground Cumin. Curry Powder. Dry Mustard. Paprika. Galangal Powder. You can also adjust the level of spice to your tastes. https://minimalistbaker.com/1-pot-yellow-chickpea-cauliflower-curry/ Doesn't that look wonderful! Wishing everyone a wonderful day!

We'll be persistent! Sister Sue is meticulous in her work and is definitely not a messy painter. There is some work to do, but nothing major. Mostly stuff we want to do, but some of the outside maintenance didn't get done. The trees over the roof are the most worrisome and I would want them taken care of before they get laden down with snow. Most are fir trees that I love. The decks can wait and get cleaned next spring.

I remember it was that long when my dad's water heater leaked all over the basement. Carpet had to be replaced and many things being stored were just thrown out. I'm so sorry. @StLouisCruisers

Thanks, everyone. The realtor agrees with us that the asking price is out of line. It is two siblings selling their dad's house. I know what they are going through as we did the same three years ago with my dad's. However, they slapped some paint on the walls and doubled the value of the house for listing. They've already done one price reduction and have had no bites. Not sure how long they are willing to carry this house. I made a list of reasons the price should be lower. Nothing horrible, but thinks like needing to restain the decks, trim trees, change out the cheesy electric fireplace, etc. That kind of thing. With laminate floors and electric fireplaces, the value goes way down. Hopefully their realtor can talk sense into them.

Good afternoon, everyone! It is great to be home. I did miss you guys and it looks like you missed me with all that went wrong. @Seasick Sailor Joy, I am glad to read that Allen feels ok. I hope his recovery continues at warp speed. @Cruzin Terri Oh, my! I am so sorry you had such a mess to deal with. I hope it goes quickly. @ger_77 I am so glad that you and your DH are safe. I feel so bad for the victims. We had a good weekend looking at houses. There is one we are interested in and hopefully we can work out a deal. WE shall see. Off to unpack.

You certainly can! Hey, none of that cheap stuff for me. You're hired!

The more the merrier! And messier!

She has no idea how much wine I can drink. Happy Birthday! We paint with the wine. Join in the painting with us. If we're drinking wine, we won't mind painting. Lenda, we don't need wine to be messy. I don't think it would make me any messier than I was today. These conversations make the painting worth the effort. Now I'm glad I'm painting. Maybe I'll do the last two rooms by myself. Time for dreamland.

I don't have a painting partner, but I bet I could match you there. I match everywhere else. If you saw me right now you'd think I did get down and roll in the paint. My legs and feet are covered in it. I need to go back and do some touch up. I left the hallway for next week. Under the blue painter's tape. Yep, check that one off. Thankfully, the paint is coming up off the wood floors pretty easily with a fingernail. Yes, @Cruising-along Carolyn would.

You want to hire a messy painter? I'll have paint all over everything. I am so talented I can get paint under the drop cloth! That's what I thought! Great minds. I've called three painters so far and no one has called me back.

Messy painter checking in! Another couple hours of work and I'll be done. I read that a professional painter takes 3-4 days to do a room with prep included. I'm right on target! I have learned something from this project. Spring for the expensive paint. It is so much easier to work with!

Good morning, everyone! It is a cool start to the day but should be sunshiny bright and warm up to a reasonable temperature. One more day of painting and then I take off to Michigan to go house hunting. Tortellini are pasta originally from the Italian region of Emilia (in particular Bologna and Modena). Traditionally they are stuffed with a mix of meat (pork loin, raw prosciutto, mortadella), Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, egg and nutmeg and served in capon broth. The origin of tortellini is disputed; both Bologna and Modena, cities in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region, claim to be its birthplace. OxfordDictionaries.com traces the etymology of tortellini to the diminutive form of tortello, itself a diminutive of torta ("cake" or "pie" in Italian). The recipe for a dish called "torteletti" appears in 1570 from Bartolomeo Scappi. Vincenzo Tanara's writings in the mid-17th century may be responsible for the pasta's renaming to tortellini. In the 1800s, legends sprang up to explain the recipe's origins, offering a compromise. Castelfranco Emilia, located between Bologna and Modena, is featured in one legend, in which Venus stays at an inn. Overcome by her beauty, the innkeeper spies on her through a keyhole, through which he can only see her navel. He is inspired to create a pasta in this shape. This legend would be at the origin of the term "ombelico di Venere" (Venus' navel), occasionally used to describe tortellini.[4] In honor of this legend, an annual festival is held in Castelfranco Emilia. Another legend posits that the shape comes from Modena's architecture, which resembles a turtle. This first recipe is a lightened up version, meaning it only calls for 1/3 cup of heavy cream. The crushed red pepper flakes give it a little bite. https://www.aspicyperspective.com/creamy-chicken-tortellini-soup/ This next one takes out the heavy cream and red pepper flakes and simply has a nice, rich broth. https://www.saltandlavender.com/easy-chicken-tortellini-soup/ This next recipe has a different blend of seasonings making the flavor more complex. https://thecozycook.com/chicken-tortellini-soup/ Here are directions for making the soup in a slow cooker. https://therecipecritic.com/slow-cooker-chicken-tortellini-soup/ This last recipe has a tomato broth. https://www.nospoonnecessary.com/easy-chicken-spinach-tortellini-tomato-soup/ On to painting! Wishing you all a wonderful day.