I Will Never Have A Spokesperson AGAIN!!

I would like to thank Jacque for letting you all know that I was sick and not able to get on a computer until today. (That's all I wanted her to say, but you know how Jacque's imangination works!!) My sister Joyce was the one that tattled on Jacque. I answered the phone to hear someone laughing. Then Joyce read the blog to me and we were both rolling on the floor we were laughing so hard. Then I called Jacque to see if she'd confess, but she was very vague. Anyway, to clarify things, I did not go see Billy Ray Cyrus. I did enjoy a couple of his songs. Can't remember who Banana is so I can't deny that one yet! So next time I am unable to blog on my usual Saturday and am sick, you will just have to miss me for a week!!

I called my sister Jill yesterday and left a Happy Birthday message. She called me back and we gabbed for a bit. She turned 50 yesterday and had a small get together for a fish fry and Tuck played/sang at the local hang out.
Her daughter Michelle's birthday is today, so Happy Birthday to Michelle!


All I did last weekend while sick was watch tv and do laundry on Sunday. The front of the house I live in is now vacant and ready to be rented. It is very quiet around there and I am now in charge of feeding the cat, Bandit, that the landlord left behind and then a goldfish that the renters rescued from the pond last fall. Yes, I have an 8' in diameter pond with a waterfall going into it. I actually used the hot tub last Sunday for I think the 2nd time. It was quite nice just to sit in there and soak up the heat, with the sun shining down on you and all around you are snow-capped mountains. Quite breathtaking.

I am feeling better now, even with the slight cold I have. We were quite busy at the pharmacy this week and did over 215 on Thursday. That is a lot with 2 pharmacists and 1 tech. But, we made it through and my work week there is done. Just today working here at the EconoLodge and then Sunday off.

I got my tax refunds back yesterday. I am going to stop downtown and look around for an inexpensive laptop. And then keep my eye out for a digital camera.

I am also earning money this weekend by dog sitting for Misty, the terrier mix. The store manager and his family are going to Albuquerque to visit his sister and didn't want to travel with Misty, who gets sick on long trips.

Talking about trips, I checked on air fare for Manley, as Jacque would really enjoy seeing him at the end of May when I fly up. I thought I could afford maybe a $100. round-trip for him, but it is $150. EACH WAY. So, Manley will be staying in Colorado, sad to say! I even had the required crate available for me to use, but no matter now!

My sister Jacque sewed an apron for her granddaughter. It is very bright!! I love it though!
She uses the talent that she has. Jacque had her birthday this last Monday. She had to wait until I got home and called her before she opened her presents from me. She really liked the suncatchers I got her too!

I just realized the other day that my library has a drive-through book drop off. How neat is that?? You don't even have to get out of your car! They make things very convenient for people now.

I have a really good friend here in Durango who spoils me. Catherine is my boss's wife and we met over a year ago through the pharmacy. She has 2 daughters who are very nice. We go for walks downtown with her German Shepherds and my Golden Retriever. She loves to bake and so Thursday she called the pharmacy and wanted to know if I liked lemon/blueberry muffins. Of course! So she dropped off 2 of them and I shared with Jeff, the pharmacist. I then called her later and thanked her again. They were scrumptious!!! I told her she can drop off anything she wants, and anytime.

I got a recipe from my neighbor last week. It is Penne Pasta, cream of chicken or mushroom soup, breakfast or Italian sausage, green peppers, parmesan cheese and pimentos. Just boil the noodles, fry up the sausage (broken apart) and bake for about 30 minutes. I added green beans into mine just for alittle veggie, and it was quite good! The sausage does all of the flavoring, so you really don't have to add any salt or pepper. Add alittle 1/2 & 1/2 or milk when you reheat it to keep it moist.

I also got a recipe off of the food channel for a salsa verde dipping sauce/chicken rub. It contains olive oil, basil, paprika, cilantro, hot peppers, roasted red chiles (from a jar), lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, onions, and garlic. Just puree, flavor to your taste, rub it on the chicken (under the skin) and pan fry it til crispy/tender and dip pieces in the sauce for even more flavor. Remember, as it sits in the frige, the sauce gets hotter.

And, I now eat my lettuce with tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, green onions and seedless cucumbers soaked in that dressing I make---olive oil, small amount of apple cider vinegar, some ginger, garlic salt and red cayene pepper. No refrigeration needed. I soak the tomatoes the longest, then just add the cucumbers, onions and mushrooms, stir, then put that combination on the lettuce. It is quite tasty!!

The weather is sunny and getting warmer today, like up in the 50's. The same for tomorrow so I will be taking the dogs for a nice hike. I still have a foot or more of snow in some places in my yard. Hopefully it will melt this weekend, so I can have muddy paw prints all over--fun fun!!

Time to go to work and accomplish something. You all have a nice weekend and hope your weather is sunny and warm!
Love you all,
Julie