CHOCOLATE SERENDIPTY: 2021

Friday, December 31, 2021

NEARLY A CENTURY

January 17, 1922 ~ December 31, 2021

SO DELISH

Chipped Beef and Toasted Pecans Cheese Spread!

Toasting pecans smell so good!

Thursday, December 30, 2021

I drove past one of the largest tobacco barns that I have ever seen today, it’s not my first time seeing it, but I really took a good look at it today. It’s still full of hanging tobacco, chock full! I have walked through a tobacco barn in the past (and even though I take a firm stand against tobacco consumption) I absolutely love the smell of drying tobacco leaves. As I slowly drove past, admiring the generations old art of tobacco farming, I saw a boy on a chair, sitting at one of the barn doors as his dad cut his hair. And just like that, I was reminded that this area I choose to spend my time in, is pure and simple. And I love it.

TO MY DELIGHT

So… I was winding down 144 and as I pasted Floral Road, there is a large pastier on the south side of the road. Of course my delighted inner child screams

“FAT HAPPY COWS” !!!

But there on the top of a small hill of dirt stood one young white cow, just staring at me!

This totally unleashed my inner child and I giggles with delight. Truly king of the hill!!!!

MORNING DRIVE

There are things I could have done with my free day, but nothing sounded as good as going on a drive this morning. I made a thermos of blueberry tea and put on a pair of thermal lined socks. Then I stopped and got gas and a breakfast burrito with pico before I headed out of town. There were plenty of “fat happy cows” along the way and some lovely hawks too. As I drove along the Ohio River I took a look at a property I was curious about. I drove through the tiny town of Grandview, Indiana and was enchanted by the old houses with gingerbread decor. I saw a white squirrel in a yard, I had no idea there were any albino squirrels in this area. I know there are several up in Onley, Illinois, but not this far south. Fun!!!

I also saw the ugliest turkey, well I think it was a turkey. It was out in a field, it was big, but so ugly.

I drove on through Troy, Indiana. Just enjoying the gray morning. Troy fades into Tell City right along that stretch of the Ohio River. There is a lovely big white house on the corner of Franklin, that has a white picket fence. It is truly lovely. In the carport there is a vintage tractor, even though the house is in town. I love driving through this stretch, it reminds me of the first time I visited the Midwest. It’s charming!

As I drove past the lock and damn near Cannelton, I marveled at the ingenuity. Then I drove back into the Hoosier National Forest there at German Ridge. I have driven there several times in the past few years. Where you can walk in the woods, listen to the patter of rain on the blanket of fallen leaves and enjoy the chill in the air. No matter what time of year you go there, it is always beautiful. But “no bugs” is sure nice this time of year!

♥️

HALF A YEAR

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

LOVELY

CONFUSED

When it’s 70 plus degree in late December, the poor little bulbs get confused!

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

9

WORK DAY

Today is my last work day of 2021

It is also a dear coworker’s last day of work, but she will be retiring after today. She will be missed every day at our place of work, by her co-workers and clients. But I am so happy for her… for her new life event, her next chapter.

I have worked many jobs over the years and I am so happy to have made the daily friendships with all those I have worked with. I believe that people are put in your pathway to learn from. I think we learn a little or a lot from other everyday.

Retirement is something I look forward to. The ability to stop running the rat race. But as I look forward to that life event with quite a few years left to go, I hope I plan wisely. I hope I never give myself less of a daily challenge, less of a need to be social, less of a desire to learn and grow and do. I want to always have that desire for adventure, that need to do something new, explore a new place, try a new thing.

Today is my last work day of 2021, I am glad to have a couple days off at the end of this calendar year to enjoy some of the things I enjoy outside of work. And I’m glad that 2022 will have so much more to bring!

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

MY CHEREE

Five years ago yesterday,

on her birthday,

my Cheree went on

her last walk.

I sure miss my little love!

AWESOMENESS

“The dog is dragging Baby Dear around by a fish”

But there was no video

evidence of this.

So I got the next best thing!

I love this! eek♥️

WHOEVER YOU WANT TO BE

CHOICE

TOXIC

FULL MOON

Monday, December 27, 2021

TAKE THAT STEP

Sunday, December 26, 2021

SNUGGLY COMBINATION

I was given a weighted blanket for Christmas. I didn’t open the very heavy box until today. I will be honest, I had a tough time picking it up, 25 pounds of sloppy cuddle.

Super soft flannel sheets, smooth legs, a silky nighty, my Vera Wang pillows with 600 thread count cases and my weighted blanket. This sounds like the perfect combination for a great night sleep!

ONE OF THE BEST DAYS EVER

Two years ago!

She is one of the best treasures ever!

MY FAVORITE CUP

Saturday, December 25, 2021

GLEE

CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER

My grandma use to make a traditional Italian Christmas Eve Dinner when I was a little girl. The marinara sauce, the pasta, meatballs and sausage. I remember the oil cured black olives and ricotta cheese. I loved everything grandma made. I even loved the cast iron pans she used to cook everything in. The only negative was that our Christmas Eve Dinner started at midnight. It was just so hard to stay up so late. But it was always well worth it!

I made my daughters Italian Soup last night. I think grandma would have approved, even if I did prepare it at a normal dining hour!

JELLY BEANS

I didn’t much care for jelly beans when I was a kid. But our tastes do change. And somethings, like jelly beans, have gotten better over time.

As I was heading out for my return trip to see my kids a couple weeks ago, my sweet daughter in law gave me a baggie of Jelly Bellies for the flight home. I was a bit excited about this stash of tiny treats that I didn’t have to share! She knows me well, and I could see that there were extra Juicy Pear jelly beans in my bag. They are my favorites! She had also given me a darling container of Huckleberry jelly beans a couple days earlier…a new favorite for me for sure.

I am a “one at a time” jelly bean consumer. I like the surprise of realizing each flavor. Or the ick moment when you realize it was a black licorice flavor.

My baggie is empty and gone now, and I really enjoyed the fun that it conjured. However… there are still a few dozen Huckleberry beans hidden away!