Friday Favorites

September 10, 2026

It is Friday and I am on vacation with my LB!

We haven’t taken a big vacation in a long time and decided it was long overdue. I’m planning to post the itinerary that we used because it is good enough to share, but that will probably be next week or later when I get around to it. Because surely there are other high energy people who would enjoy this type of vacation. I’m looking forward to sharing. In the meantime, I’d like to share some of the things I call Friday Favorites for this week.

My daughter Stephanie is house sitting and baby sitting my kitten Ozzy. Yes he is still a kitten because he has not had a first birthday yet. She is doing a great job of keeping him occupied and is my

Favorite # ONE

He’s just a baby!

~

My girls [Stephanie and Amanda] talked me in to setting up a TikTok account…

Favorite # TWO

@krstar0601

It’s brand new.

Check it out.

~

I bought this jacket and wide leg jeans from Old Navy several weeks ago…

along with a white tee and navy bandana. I wore it on my first day of vacation.

Although it looks better on the model than it does on me, it is still my

Favorite # THREE

Kim and the bear in Jackson WY Town Square

~

LB and I went to see OLD FAITHFUL early this week. He MADE me sit on the floor of the boardwalk so we could jump down and take a selfie when the geyser erupted.

This is the result of that photo attempt…

Favorite # FOUR

🤣

I know I’m picking on him badly, but I can’t help myself!

~

This morning our fancy Yellowstone hotel didn’t provide breakfast, so we grabbed a coffee and set out.

By 1 PM I was so hungry!

When we pulled into the Rooster’s Cafe, we both wanted breakfast, so we both ordered the Classic Eggs Benedict, which is my

Favorite # FIVE

Here I go again.

I’m going to pick on LB.

At 1 PM we weren’t just hungry, we were hangry.

Both of us were hangry.

But I was the only one who got the photo evidence hee hee hee.

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

September 5, 2026

Kitties and coffee… there is no better way to celebrate Friday!

This week brought some great news!

Favorite # ONE

The last day of August

LB says I should always be positive when blogging, so here goes:

I’m positive that it has been positively hot, humid, and completely gross outside this month.

🤣

OMG I’m SO ready to move on!

~

Favorite # TWO

The first day of September

While it is still hot, humid and gross outside, the future is bright. Soon the weather will begin to cool and being outside will be fun again!

~

About once a month I will receive notification that I have the opportunity to use my super cash and also to

save 50% at Old Navy, so…

Favorite # THREE

Old Navy Haul

~

Favorite # FOUR

This Little Book

LB has repeatedly mentioned that he thinks I need to write a book, so I’m working on it. He bought this one to give me ideas and encouragement. This little book is for children and I’m happy with the idea of creating a children’s book, but I figured mine would be more like a little golden book. Or a poem.

Anyway, I read Vanessa’s Summer Adventure by Margaret Henderson and I thought I was very good.

~

When you run out of weekly favorites, you look to your cat for suggestions.

Favorite # FIVE

Ozzy’s Blue Ball

This dusty fuzz ball [that used to belong to Elvis] is Ozzy’s most beloved toy. He LOVES it!

Unfortunately he loses it continually. Under the sectional. Under the stove. Behind the refrigerator. And he loses it in other places that I have not identified because after a few days he will appear with it in his mouth. LB and I are baffled.

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

August 28, 2026

Favorite # ONE

Book Club

I may have mentioned this before, but I joined my sister’s book club last November. At the time I was being nurse to a senior cat who was suffering from liver failure. The books were a distraction for both of us. All he wanted to do was sit on the back patio and someone had to be with him. Elvis enjoyed the November book: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, read by Tom Hanks, and I did too. Today is National Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day and I’ll always remember the sweet kitty who enjoyed sitting outside and listening to that first book club book and with me.

Book Club gets together monthly to talk about the book of the month and have some sort of refreshments that are reminiscent of that month’s story. This past Sunday we gathered to talk about Cold Sassy Tree and eat fried chicken, biscuits, dumplings, peach cobbler, and other southern delicacies. The only down side to the meeting was that attendance was low: Mema, Emily, and Sydney were absent, as well as Chynna who is currently in Costa Rica. Nevertheless, it was a good and fun meeting.

~

Emily and Rich asked if I could watch Zeke on Monday…

Favorite # TWO

Adventures in Babysitting

Pictured above is Zeke, wearing a swimsuit that I bought for Rory several years ago. It was all that I had because his suit was at home in the washer. Prior to this photo, Glammy and Zeke washed the giant white swan (Fergus) with a bucketful of suds because he was covered in mildew and dirt from ongoing rainy summer days. Zeke loved this job and I was happy to let him join in.

~

Favorite # THREE

Movies

that I watched this past month.

I’m not going to take the time to thoroughly review each one, but I will say whether or not I recommend.

Greenland

Yes. But No to Greenland 2.

The Long Walk

No. Gross.

Jungle

No. Why put yourself through this?

Powder

No. Too sad.

The Substance

No. A resounding No.

Weapons

Yes. Story is good, although big-time gore.

The Hunt

Yes. She kicks @$$ and rightfully so.

~

I finally bit the bullet and made it to my annual doctor appointment. I’d put it off for many reasons: health statistics that I’d rather keep to myself, fasting for blood work, and invasiveness to name a few. LB drove me and waited in the waiting room as he does every year. Afterward, he took me to the Town Center and then out to dinner.

Favorite # FOUR

Thursday

~

Favorite # FIVE

The Anniversary

Although my Daddy has gone, he has remained the love of Mama’s life.

Today would have been their 61st anniversary.

August 1965

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

August 21, 2026

This week’s favorites start with a no brainer since we began the week by celebrating my little sister’s birthday…

Favorite # ONE

Gina

pictured with that famous lemon cake I single-handedly tried to destroy.

We met for another family meeting on Sunday to celebrate Gina’s birthday. We enjoyed appetizers, dessert, and craft time since that is what she wanted to do.

Happy birthday Gina!

~

On Monday, LB had a special delivery

Favorite # TWO

Dirt

We have several large trees on our property and their roots have emerged. In an effort to keep the lawn mower blade intact, LB decided that I should cover those roots. So this week I moved dirt. One shovel-full at a time. It was a pleasure.

~

Tuesday was voting day, so…

Favorite # THREE

WE VOTED

~

This morning, LB met his friend Wayne for coffee and catch-up time at one of their favorite coffee meeting places. So I decided to treat myself to

Favorite # FOUR

Steak & Eggs

A perfect way to start the day!

~

We have gotten a lot of rain lately. I haven’t had to pull the hose around the house in over a week. Even Mama, who has been known to water her plants right before a storm, has skipped watering. I haven’t seen her in the yard even once. But I’m not complaining because the plants and flowers love it. They are my

Favorite # FIVE

I don’t know why but my plants and flowers make me happy!

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

August 14, 2026

I’ll start with the obvious… Sunday. On Sunday, LB and I met friends for dinner at a favorite Mexican restaurant.

Favorite # ONE

Dinner with Friends

Before we arrived, I made a mental note to have the waiter to take a photo of us. When we sat down I completely forgot. Since I have no new photo to post, I’ll stick an old one in here

~

Favorite # TWO

Lemon Cake

Surprise Surprise I’m making the cake for my sister’s birthday.

I’ve decided to do a recipe post for the Luscious Lemon Cake in my Southern Cake Book. I’ll post that next week.

~

Every time Ozzy displays typical kitty behavior, I feel the need to intervene. So this week, he got a new “toy”

Favorite # THREE

Ozzy’s Scratching Pad

23″ L-Shaped Scratch Pad

Purposely situated at the end of the leather sofa… a favorite place to scratch.

This is an attempt to stop him from trying to get LB’s attention by clawing the arm of our leather sofa where LB typically sits.

Not only does he enjoy scratching his new pad, he enjoys chewing the top #wildcat

~

Last fall, after having my eyes checked, I wasn’t able to update my favorite Coach sunglasses. Target Optical advised that they were no longer carrying the lenses. On Tuesday, LB and I went shopping for new sunglasses. I opted for these lovelies by Nicole Miller…

Favorite # FOUR

I’ll share them again in another Friday Favorites in the next seven to ten working days.

~

I am always taking pictures of Ozzy.

This week I captured a particularly funny close up of him.

I put it in google and asked “what famous personality does this kitty resemble?”

Google came back with:

Favorite # FIVE

lolol

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

August 7, 2026

There has been a whole lot of nothing going on this week so I am going to have to reach into the recesses of my mind for 5 Friday Favorites. This is actually a good thing because Friday Favorites are partially about making a list of things that I’m Thankful for.

I look forward to seeing what I come up with ☺️

I started a new book this week.

Favorite # ONE

A New Book

This Book Made Me Think of you by Libby Page has 4.32 stars on Goodreads

I’ll let you know what I think in a future post.

~

LB wants to travel. In my heart of hearts, I want to stay home. LB has an intangible bucket list. Coincidentally, I have a bucket list in my blog website that I created in 2019. This bucket list DOES include travel.

That said, we have begun planning a big trip.

Favorite # TWO

Planning a Trip

LB has a theory that after retirement, there is a window that will close causing the retiree to not want to do anything anymore. Interestingly, I found that window before retirement lol. But I suppose I do need to continue to cross off some of the bucket list items.

More to come.

~

Favorite # THREE

The Ninja CREAMi

The Ninja CREAMi is basically an ice cream maker. I received mine as a Christmas gift a few years ago. This is a perfect appliance for people who want to try to eat clean. Lately LB and I have been using this fairly often. There are many recipes on the website and on Pinterest. You’ll need to plan and prep ahead to freeze for 24 hours. And then enjoy while you watch your favorite Marvel movie.

Favorite # FOUR

Easy Recipe

by Ninja CREAMi

Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate Chips

Servings: 4
Time: 24 hours+prep time
Difficulty: easy
Print

Ingredients

1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) cream cheese
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips, for mix-in

Instructions

In a large, microwave-safe bowl, microwave the cream cheese for 10 seconds. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and with a whisk or rubber spatula, combine until the mixture looks like frosting, about 60 seconds.
Slowly mix in the heavy cream and milk until fully combined and sugar is dissolved.
Pour base into an empty CREAMi® Breeze™ Pint. Place storage lid on pint and freeze for 24 hours.
Remove pint from freezer and remove storage lid from pint. Please refer to the quick start guide for assembly and unit interaction information.
Select ICE CREAM.
With a spoon, create a 1 1/2-inch wide hole that reaches the bottom of the pint. Add chocolate chips to the hole in the pint and process again using the MIX-IN program.

I’m not gonna lie. I’ll try this with substitutions: almond milk and Stevia.

~

So I was thinking about what I spend most of my time doing and the answers were cleaning my house, tending to my kitten, and working in my yard. I am thankful for the opportunity and ability to do each of these. Today I’m focusing on working in my yard, as my favorite.

Recently I asked ChatGPT to help me landscape the west side of my pool enclosure. This is one of the photos I submitted

This is the landscape plan ChatGPT returned…

and this is the photo of me working on that landscape plan that ChatGPT returned…

Favorite # FIVE

of course I don’t wear makeup when I work in the yard, and I typically have my hair up and sunglasses on, and I will NOT be kneeling down in my yard since I saw a snake yesterday.

But I like the photo better than anything LB might have captured 🤪

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

July 31, 2026

I absolutely cannot believe July 2026 is coming to an end. Time flies when you get old! Today is the last Friday of the month and I have some weekly favorites to share.

Last week I mentioned that I had finished our Book Club book (Cold Sassy Tree) and was looking for another book to start.

I picked one and finished it in 3 days…

Favorite # ONE

Mad Mabel

The story is about the life of Elsie [Mabel Waller] Fitzpatrick, an 81-year-old woman with a horribly troubled past. It is told in a dual timeline format , moving between past and present. One thing I liked about this story were the characters, especially Elsie Mabel and her best friend Daphne. From the moment I started, I found myself looking for quiet time to move on to the next chapter as I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. I’ll give it 5 stars for that.

Goodreads book review

~

This favorite is a stretch.

On Tuesday I had an appointment to get my teeth cleaned. You would think that I would work that in to my favorites somehow, but no. I HATE getting my teeth cleaned. It doesn’t feel good at all.

After that, LB and I went to ACE Hardware to walk through the garden center. Since I’ve planned to landscape the west side of my pool enclosure we purchased several plants

Favorite # TWO

LIRIOPE

I managed to get them all planted before the rain came on Thursday.

~

LB and I used to visit the beaches in town at least once a week. We had stopped doing this in the past few years so, knowing how much he always enjoyed it, I suggested we go this week. We went to Little Talbot Island. It was hot and overcast and the biting flies were abundant. We only stayed for an hour. Needless to say, my next favorite is not the beach. It is this little guy who landed on LB’s hat…