Lent Today, But Mardi Gras Yesterday!

Well, here we are. Today is Ash Wednesday for those who commemorate it. For Catholics, Ash Wednesday begins the season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Today is a day of fasting, which means that, although most days, I don't eat until noon, and eat just two meals and a small snack between them with no problem whatsoever, today I cannot eat between meals, making me unbearably hungry. That's how the cookie crumbles. And...there I go already!

Last night, we celebrated Mardi Gras, a celebration of yummy food and fun before the solemn season of Lent begins. 

 

I set the table with perhaps the best holiday purchase I ever made: the Mardi Gras necklaces and coins! I bought those necklaces and coins years ago when the kids were little; we use them yearly to celebrate. Madison and I made a delicious jambalaya with chicken, kielbasa, shrimp, rice, vegetables, and all the seasonings. Madison made some cornbread, and we were all set! After we ate, the kids indulged me in some of my Mardi Gras games, and then we enjoyed Madison and Flynn's monkeybread with cream cheese icing. Rhett found the baby in his piece, and was declared Mardi Gras King!!! This means nothing except that you have to wear the hat and take your picture, but they all seemed to enjoy it. After that, we watched the Mardi Gras episode of The Twilight Zone before calling it a night.

Today will be quiet inside, but supposedly windy and rainy with thunderstorms outside. I hope you have a cozy day, my friends. See you back here Friday!

Billie Jo

Monday Morning Coffee

 Good Monday morning, my friends. Care to watch yesterday's sunrise with me?

We spent the weekend at the condo, and I am always happy to be an early riser when I can wake up to that.

This is the view from the bridge when we head to the condo.

This is the view when I get off the couch and go swimming for some exercise! Now, this is only in the off-season. In the summer months, it is a bit more crowded!

There is quite a bit of this during the weekends at the beach. We also go to mass, watch movies, play games, and get takeout. Soon, it will be warm enough to sit in the sand. Until then, however, I am cozy and content. I think contentment is underrated and underappreciated these days. With the addition of so much outside noise invading our minds through various social media platforms, we are constantly being exposed to more things we need to buy, more places we have to go, more ways to make our lives better. I happily opt out of all that. What I embrace is peace and routine and ordinary days. 

Speaking of, today is an ordinary day around here. We are home at the house. There will be coffee, prayers, puppies and blankets. Then homeschool, coffee, dinner, shower, jammies, and Bachelor. A happy day at home.

Have a cozy day, my friends. Tuesday is Mardi Gras, so Madison and I are planning a delicious, fun meal to celebrate that. And then Wednesday begins Lent. Easter will be here before we know it! Thanks for visiting. I am always happy you do!

Billie Jo

Apparently All We Did Was Eat

Looking through my camera roll, I realized that the majority of the small number of photos I took this week were of...you guessed it...food. Riveting stuff, I know. 

Monday we had a quick change of plans and made homemade pizza and a delicious salad.

Tuesday, Madison and I made these yummy green chili chicken enchiladas. They were good, but the beef ones will always be my favorite!

On Wednesday, we tried a new recipe, and will definitely make it again. It was pasta with ground beef, cottage cheese, and sour cream.

And yesterday, I threw some chicken legs in the crockpot, mixed a sauce together, and let that cook all day. Then, I put some rice in the rice cooker and fresh broccoli in the steamer basket, and dinner was served! We make a meal plan each weekend for the upcoming week, usually for three meals, and this week we stuck to it, except for switching grilled cheese on Monday to homemade pizza. I plan my meals based on what we have on hand, and then buy anything that looks good! Those chicken legs were on sale this week, and I am glad I picked them up for a quick and delicious meal last night. 

Madison made a pan of brownies for dessert and for us to snack on during the week. She also makes the best homemade whipped cream that makes a great addition to my morning coffee.

I was holding on to winter and all the cozy this week...

While Steve was all about spring and walks on the beach!

Lastly, from the files of "How Did This Happen?"

March??? Last week was Christmas, right? March used to be right up there with dentist appointments and high school Physics tests, things you had to get through before something better came along. But as I get older, I don't mind the mostly uneventful days of March that serve as a bridge between the cozy days of winter and the brighter, warmer, promise of spring-filled days of March. Add in some leprechauns and March Madness basketball and you have a darn good month, don't you think?

Well, time to get going. I hope you all have a lovely weekend, however you are spending it. Thanks for visiting!

Billie Jo

Thanks to Google for the images. Also, the crockpot chicken recipe is Right Here. For the beef noodles recipe, click HERE.

 

Caption This?

 

Happy Wednesday, my friends!

Billie Jo