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Happy New Year 2023 --> 2024!
Dec. 31st, 2023 09:39 pmThursday was very chill, we woke up to an all-day sort of drizzle.
I worked at data entry all morning and wished I'd gotten up earlier to do work...it's, again, the feeling of guilt that I won't make 30 hours this week (I don't think anyone will, there was no work to be had for several days and you can't make up for things like that.)
Anyway that was pretty much my whole day, punctuated with a load of laundry and dishes and a trip to Chick-fil-a for dinner before getting dressed for Jameson's friend Paul's holiday party.
Paul holds a big party at his house every year during Twixtmas, and we go because it's very casual: show up whenever, no stupid party games or ice-breakers or activities schedule. Just grab a drink and a snack and mingle. I'm always impressed and jealous that he and his wife are such wonderful hosts; it's a skill and social level that I don't have, and so I admire it very much when I see it in others.
We drank and chatted, Jameson knew lots of people and I only knew a few as usual, and even those I had to ask for their names because we literally only see each other once a year, at this party. How embarrassing. But, I wasn't around years ago when most of these folks made their Disney-based friends connections.
We drank too much, certainly, but left around midnight and were in bed by 1.
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Friday I was awake at the usual time despite the late night. Breakfast and data entry and making a grocery list for New Year's.
I'd planned to go to Whole Paycheck today, but Jameson asked for salmon and I'm not having seafood sit in the fridge for days (we had a bad experience once with fresh shrimp.) So I'll have to wait until Saturday and brave the New Year's grocery rush.
In the afternoon we went for a walk as it was nice out.
Some Christmas decorations still up (yeah that's a Christmas goat):
Sidewalk art:
I saw many of these flower stalks at a distance. Turns out it's from a Mother of Millions plant, which is invasive and was probably dumped past the fence by someone who no longer wanted it as a potted plant.
It was a good walk, and opened up a few extra calories which was convenient as my sister's Christmas cookies finally arrived! She sent us a real "sampler pack" with at least eight different kinds of cookies, plus homemade marshmallows and a bottle of orange simple syrup she'd made herself! I can envision several good drinks made with that ;)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday I strategized, woke up early to get those New Year's groceries first thing in the morning. Because it's a holiday + a weekend, my logic was that most people would be sleeping in and then scrambling to get their groceries in the afternoon or evening.
This theory was about right. I was able to get to Whole Paycheck in absolutely record time (25 minutes!!! Usually it takes at least 40) and the store was nearly empty except for a handful of women who, like me, had done the math. Last year I remember everything being VERY picked over, and barely getting one of the last tiny jars of caviar, and having to fight crowds at the meat counter and at checkout. Today at 8am everything was well-stocked, there were no crowds to fight, and I could take my time to pick out what I needed.
(stock image)
As I selected some large, center-cut salmon filets for our special dinner--followed by a bundle of fresh green asparagus, then soft fragrant dill and parsley, and blinis and creme fraiche and expensive black sturgeon caviar--my heart filled with a quiet gratitude. Technically, I "can't afford" to shop like this. And yet. The fact that I can shop in a Whole Paycheck AT ALL is an incredible first-world privilege. What a miracle to have some of the freshest, highest-quality ingredients in the area available to me. To be able to make a special dinner for Jameson and myself, which will make the holidays feel extra-special and memorable. A lot of people don't get to do that. A lot of people don't have easy access to a grocery store at all, much less a fancy one. A lot of people go hungry and cold this time of year. And here I am choosing between sturgeon or black bowfin caviar to have as a SNACK. You know?
I checked out with my special goodies and got home just a little after 9am, which was also record time. Wished my sister Kate a happy birthday and sent her a small gift, then got to work with data entry until lunchtime.
It was a slow day. I should have gone for a walk, but somehow didn't feel like it.
( Inner Thoughts )
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On Sunday, New Year's Eve Day, I got up VERY early because we wanted slow-cooker oatmeal (we saw it on TikTok and it looked wonderful!) The recipe called for an 8-hour overnight cook time, but unfortunately our crock pot is not only very old (no auto-on or timer settings), it's also a 6-quart, way too big for only two servings' worth of oatmeal.
My solution for this was threefold. First, I put all of the ingredients in a stainless steel bowl that would fit inside the crock pot.
Then I poured a cup of water into the actual crock pot, creating a sort of water bath to prevent burning or scalding.
Finally, I set it for a 4-hour cook on high instead of an 8-hour cook on low. Then I went back to bed!
Two hours later I got up and checked on it, and everything looked GREAT. It worked!
When Jameson got up we had warm spiced cranberry apple oatmeal with walnuts, pecans, and a splash of milk.
It was so good, in fact, that once tour is over I'll want to make it regularly!
The ingredients were old-fashioned oats, water, apple juice, golden delicious apples, unsweetened cranberries, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, vanilla...and a little splash of spiced rum ;) We sprinkled the nuts on top after cooking. A great last-day-of-2023 breakfast.
In the afternoon my aunt called and we got caught up, then Jameson and I went for our usual walk. When we got back we decided to pull up the African irises that decorate the walkway to the house. In the spring they grow really tall and the leaves flop over onto the sidewalk, it's very annoying and also a trip hazard. They came up easily, roots and all, and we will replace them with a shorter plant like marigolds or something, idk.
For our special New Year's Eve dinner I made salmon filets in the sous vide cooker, then seared them in a pan and topped them with dill and lemon creme fraiche. The salmon was the best I've made, with a crisped crust and soft flaky interior.
The sides were lemon parsley couscous (I've never made couscous before!) and oven-roasted asparagus.
A few hours after dinner we enjoyed drinks (wine for me and beer for him) and mini blinis with plain creme fraiche and the black sturgeon caviar. This whole caviar thing is Jameson's family's New Year's tradition, not mine, so it's not nostalgic for me but it sure is an indulgence.
We didn't really do dessert, being full up of good food. Jameson played his game and I typed up this blog and planned what to do tomorrow, January 1st, 2024. Nothing special, but the holidays will be over and only one week left until tour resumes so I've got a lot of work to do. Cleaning, yardwork, making and sending caramels again, repacking...the usual. Guess I should practice too :p
Welp, that's a wrap y'all. Here's hoping that looking back on 2023 makes you smile, and looking forward to 2024 makes you excited for what's to come.
I worked at data entry all morning and wished I'd gotten up earlier to do work...it's, again, the feeling of guilt that I won't make 30 hours this week (I don't think anyone will, there was no work to be had for several days and you can't make up for things like that.)
Anyway that was pretty much my whole day, punctuated with a load of laundry and dishes and a trip to Chick-fil-a for dinner before getting dressed for Jameson's friend Paul's holiday party.
Paul holds a big party at his house every year during Twixtmas, and we go because it's very casual: show up whenever, no stupid party games or ice-breakers or activities schedule. Just grab a drink and a snack and mingle. I'm always impressed and jealous that he and his wife are such wonderful hosts; it's a skill and social level that I don't have, and so I admire it very much when I see it in others.
We drank and chatted, Jameson knew lots of people and I only knew a few as usual, and even those I had to ask for their names because we literally only see each other once a year, at this party. How embarrassing. But, I wasn't around years ago when most of these folks made their Disney-based friends connections.
We drank too much, certainly, but left around midnight and were in bed by 1.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday I was awake at the usual time despite the late night. Breakfast and data entry and making a grocery list for New Year's.
I'd planned to go to Whole Paycheck today, but Jameson asked for salmon and I'm not having seafood sit in the fridge for days (we had a bad experience once with fresh shrimp.) So I'll have to wait until Saturday and brave the New Year's grocery rush.
In the afternoon we went for a walk as it was nice out.
Some Christmas decorations still up (yeah that's a Christmas goat):
Sidewalk art:
I saw many of these flower stalks at a distance. Turns out it's from a Mother of Millions plant, which is invasive and was probably dumped past the fence by someone who no longer wanted it as a potted plant.
It was a good walk, and opened up a few extra calories which was convenient as my sister's Christmas cookies finally arrived! She sent us a real "sampler pack" with at least eight different kinds of cookies, plus homemade marshmallows and a bottle of orange simple syrup she'd made herself! I can envision several good drinks made with that ;)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday I strategized, woke up early to get those New Year's groceries first thing in the morning. Because it's a holiday + a weekend, my logic was that most people would be sleeping in and then scrambling to get their groceries in the afternoon or evening.
This theory was about right. I was able to get to Whole Paycheck in absolutely record time (25 minutes!!! Usually it takes at least 40) and the store was nearly empty except for a handful of women who, like me, had done the math. Last year I remember everything being VERY picked over, and barely getting one of the last tiny jars of caviar, and having to fight crowds at the meat counter and at checkout. Today at 8am everything was well-stocked, there were no crowds to fight, and I could take my time to pick out what I needed.
(stock image)
As I selected some large, center-cut salmon filets for our special dinner--followed by a bundle of fresh green asparagus, then soft fragrant dill and parsley, and blinis and creme fraiche and expensive black sturgeon caviar--my heart filled with a quiet gratitude. Technically, I "can't afford" to shop like this. And yet. The fact that I can shop in a Whole Paycheck AT ALL is an incredible first-world privilege. What a miracle to have some of the freshest, highest-quality ingredients in the area available to me. To be able to make a special dinner for Jameson and myself, which will make the holidays feel extra-special and memorable. A lot of people don't get to do that. A lot of people don't have easy access to a grocery store at all, much less a fancy one. A lot of people go hungry and cold this time of year. And here I am choosing between sturgeon or black bowfin caviar to have as a SNACK. You know?
I checked out with my special goodies and got home just a little after 9am, which was also record time. Wished my sister Kate a happy birthday and sent her a small gift, then got to work with data entry until lunchtime.
It was a slow day. I should have gone for a walk, but somehow didn't feel like it.
( Inner Thoughts )
--------------------------------------------------------------------
On Sunday, New Year's Eve Day, I got up VERY early because we wanted slow-cooker oatmeal (we saw it on TikTok and it looked wonderful!) The recipe called for an 8-hour overnight cook time, but unfortunately our crock pot is not only very old (no auto-on or timer settings), it's also a 6-quart, way too big for only two servings' worth of oatmeal.
My solution for this was threefold. First, I put all of the ingredients in a stainless steel bowl that would fit inside the crock pot.
Then I poured a cup of water into the actual crock pot, creating a sort of water bath to prevent burning or scalding.
Finally, I set it for a 4-hour cook on high instead of an 8-hour cook on low. Then I went back to bed!
Two hours later I got up and checked on it, and everything looked GREAT. It worked!
When Jameson got up we had warm spiced cranberry apple oatmeal with walnuts, pecans, and a splash of milk.
It was so good, in fact, that once tour is over I'll want to make it regularly!
The ingredients were old-fashioned oats, water, apple juice, golden delicious apples, unsweetened cranberries, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, vanilla...and a little splash of spiced rum ;) We sprinkled the nuts on top after cooking. A great last-day-of-2023 breakfast.
In the afternoon my aunt called and we got caught up, then Jameson and I went for our usual walk. When we got back we decided to pull up the African irises that decorate the walkway to the house. In the spring they grow really tall and the leaves flop over onto the sidewalk, it's very annoying and also a trip hazard. They came up easily, roots and all, and we will replace them with a shorter plant like marigolds or something, idk.
For our special New Year's Eve dinner I made salmon filets in the sous vide cooker, then seared them in a pan and topped them with dill and lemon creme fraiche. The salmon was the best I've made, with a crisped crust and soft flaky interior.
The sides were lemon parsley couscous (I've never made couscous before!) and oven-roasted asparagus.
A few hours after dinner we enjoyed drinks (wine for me and beer for him) and mini blinis with plain creme fraiche and the black sturgeon caviar. This whole caviar thing is Jameson's family's New Year's tradition, not mine, so it's not nostalgic for me but it sure is an indulgence.
We didn't really do dessert, being full up of good food. Jameson played his game and I typed up this blog and planned what to do tomorrow, January 1st, 2024. Nothing special, but the holidays will be over and only one week left until tour resumes so I've got a lot of work to do. Cleaning, yardwork, making and sending caramels again, repacking...the usual. Guess I should practice too :p
Welp, that's a wrap y'all. Here's hoping that looking back on 2023 makes you smile, and looking forward to 2024 makes you excited for what's to come.
