COFFEECAKE

I didn't spend all day yesterday dancing around to music by the Pointer Sisters.

But I did spend quite a bit of the day on my feet.

In the kitchen, where I baked an Applesauce Coffeecake.

It came out of the oven high and mighty and though it was meant for Sunday morning breakfast, SWMBO just had to sample it while it was still warm and I joined her.

She pronounced it a success while I was iffy on it.

Later in the day I baked a Chicken Enchilada casserole I brought from the grocery store.

With some refritos (refried beans) and some leftover fruit Judy had in the refrigerator it was a fine meal.

Quite a bit later I had another piece of that coffeecake and decided time had done it some good.

I told her I couldn't understand how women who cooked and baked day after day for their family ever did it.

I was exhausted.

But then I noted that I hadn't begun in earnest until I was 84.

So there's that.

I'M SO EXCITED

Saturday being the first day of a weekend, it's a day for fun.

So let's have some fun with this remarkable video put together a few years ago from old movies and the Pointer Sisters singing "I'm So Excited".

You may want to "embiggen" it to full screen once it starts to fully appreciate it.

And note: If you enjoy it there are many other of these type of videos available free on YouTube.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

You know how it goes.

Life is just one thing after another.

It's kind of like . . . a week is just one day after another.

You start out and before you know it people are shouting TGIF!

It's Friday once again.

But it's a good thing there is only one Friday in a week.

I don't think you could stand more days than that of jocularity.

Let's see how you handle this Friday's dopey dizzy dose of daffiness.

Wordplay.

It's a strange thing.

Some people (your scribe included) love 'em, some people hate 'em.

Nevertheless, as long as the Trekkies are around puns will continue to exist.

Existence.

Now that's a strange thing too.

(Oh shut up, Catalyst!  We've had enough!)

So that's how you feel.

Well then just take my wish that you have an absolutely wonderful weekend and that's it's not just a weak end.

But always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . I think you're not the only one, pal . . . )

ANIMALS

The BAD (Beautiful Artistic Daughter) came up with a great idea the other day.

She was going to get rid of some tee shirts until her artistic eye caught site of an empty box.

So she stretched the shirt over the box, leaving the neck hole over the open part of it.

And here's what it became.

Yup!

A hidey-hole for a cat.

Mimi couldn't resist exploring it, as you can see.

Of course, some people just wouldn't understand.

That was sent to me by one of my elves, Comical Carol.

She talks to her dog.

SUNDAY, SUNDAY

Yesterday, I went through a 3-ring binder Judy had given me years ago with a few relatively easy recipes in it that I might try.

Over the years I hadn't cooked many of them but I had added and added to it until it was bulging and dangerous to open!

So I examined them all with a critical eye and tossed many of them.

Some were too difficult.

Some were too outdated.

Some were not something we might ever eat again.

So the binder is now slimmer.

No longer the monster that one feared to confront.

One of the recipes that I kept was for a breakfast casserole and, having all the ingredients in house, this morning I made it to start the day.

It was pretty good.

Pork sausage, bread cubes, eggs, milk, dry mustard, salt and pepper.

Easy-peasy.

We did find the addition at table of a dash of Sriracha sauce kicked it up a notch.

But it's a keeper and went back into the binder.

By the way, it was perfect for a very cold morning here of 19 degrees F.

The birdbath water was frozen solid and we're waiting for today's  very bright sun to thaw it.

A surprise visitor to it, and a disappointed one I'll wager, appeared to be a female robin.

It seems like the wrong time of year for robins but there she was.

Briefly.

She wasn't counting on an iced-over birdbath.

Maybe I should have invited her in to share our breakfast casserole.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

I know, I know, I've been remiss.

So did you miss me?

I haven't been having any problems, just a seemingly busy week.

I made Chicken Marsala and Pearl Couscous one day.

And yes, I guess it was a bit of a problem.

I boiled the couscous instead of simmering them so they kind of stuck to the pan.

A day or so later I tried again, just heated the leftover chicken and with my mentor's guidance made some fresh sauce to add to it.

Then I tried a new recipe with the couscous, toasting them in a tad of olive oil first before adding the water, bringing it to a boil and then simmering for awhile.

They were browned nicely from the toasting and tasted great so I'll keep that recipe in my head.

Well maybe not my head, which is a bit forgetful these days.

Maybe I'll put the printout in my recipe folder.

Oh and guess what?

I forgot to take pictures of any of it!

Judy (SWMBO) would say something like "That's a stroke of luck for your readers!"

But anyway, I'm here now with the very latest edition of . . . well, you know.

Those are the jokes, folks.

Now I'd like you to use all of your enterprise to have a remarkably star-studded weekend ahead.

And always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . oh, yeah . . . )

SURPRISE!

 

Fresh from the oven yesterday, a loaf of Chocolate Chip Banana Bread.

Judy said it ought to be called "cake" rather than "bread".

But she (and I) liked it!