Welcome to Friday’s Fave Five, hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story, in which we can share our favorite things from the last week. This has been a wonderful exercise in looking for and appreciating the good things God blesses us with. Click on the button to learn more, then go to Susanne’s to read others’ faves and link up your own.
Here are five of my favorites from the past week:
1. Locks! We didn’t realize until our first day in our new house that none of the bedroom or bathroom doors had locks on them! We pretty much have always had a policy of respecting the closed door, but we really emphasized it the past few weeks! Last weekend was one of the first we didn’t have something else to take care of (which could be a fave in itself), and Jim was able to change the doorknobs out for ones with locks.
2. Jesse’s visit to his old school. He has been wanting to go and visit his old school during a school day, but of course we wouldn’t let him skip a day here to do that. But his school had no classes last Thursday and Friday due to a teacher’s conference, and Jim had to go to SC for his work on Friday, passing right through our old town, so he took Jesse and dropped him off at Jason and Mittu’s, then they took him up to school for a few hours. Only one or two people knew he was coming, so he enjoyed surprising everyone. Originally Jim was going to pick him back up on his way back through around 3 or 4, but Jason was working and didn’t get off until 5:30 and wanted to visit with Jim, so they ended up staying for the school’s soccer and volleyball games, too. I’m glad he got to do that — he enjoyed it a lot.
3. Visitors to the bird feeder. Jim hung it up outside a while ago, but I just got around to getting feed for it this week. It took a couple of days, but a cardinal came by as well as some small greyish-brown birds. I need to get a basic bird book! But one of my favorite things about the bird feeder is that I can see it from the kitchen, office, and family room. And I haven’t seen any squirrels here yet, so maybe the birds will actually get to use it instead of its being raided by squirrels, which is what happened at our old house.
4. Banana bread. No matter how many bananas I buy, it seems no one eats the last one or two, and then they get too ripe to enjoy. I always say I am going to save them for banana bread, but rarely do. Well, this week I finally did. I had enough for two batches and made six mini loaves instead of two big ones and put the extras in the freezer. In one batch I added mini chocolate chips. It tasted good, but I think I added too many — they mostly sank to the bottom and the loaf was overly moist.
5. Finally getting my boxes of books unpacked. That was the hardest group to unpack as we have fewer bookcases here — two at the old house were built in. I ended up repacking a few boxes to store that I didn’t have room for but wasn’t ready to get rid of yet. But I did get three boxes filled to give away or sell. It’s so nice to get those out of the living room and have that whole area looking neater and more finished. And I am scouting around to see if there is another place we can put another set of book shelves to take the stored ones out. 🙂
Hope you have a great Friday!
Stray Thoughts 
Barbara, I feel for you on the books and space problem! I kept a shallow box of books under my bed for several years before I found a place for them.
I’m just like you when it comes to the intent of making banana bread. I even forget to freeze the ones that turn black! Congrats for making them! And what a good idea to make smaller ones to freeze for later.
You know the same thing happens hear with Bananas. They just seem to get old and brown LOL That bread sounds great my friend. 🙂 I wonder why they didn’t have locks put on the bathroom doors. That’s really odd LOL Glad your getting unpacked. Great week my friend. Have a wonderful Saturday 🙂
I can’t have ANY fresh fruit out right now… we somehow managed to bring home fruit flies again. UGH! I think it was the plums I bought last week. Soooooo… until I get rid of the stupid flies, no bananas for US! I always SAY I’m going to make banana bread too – but I never do. Cuz if I MAKE it…. I’ll also EAT it! lol!
How nice that Jesse got to visit his old friends! That is great – I’m sure it was a wOnderful day for him!
I can’t imagine life without the battle of the squirrels. I’m not really sure I would want to! I enjoy THEIR antics almost as much as the birds!
Locks! You wouldn’t really think much about those normally, would you? That reminds me of a time when I was little and we were looking for a new rental house. My dad and I went to check one out – that had no doors! None of the bedrooms had any doors! At the time (I think I was 9 or 10) I told my dad that would be fun and I had NO problems with not having a door! He disagreed. =D
You need to get a camera and share your bird feeder visitors with us!
I am glad Jesse got to visit his old school. I moved when I was in high school and I remember longing to go back and see my friends, but it never came to be.
I have a freezer full of bananas. Someday they will be banana bread.
Banana bread… LOL, the last two do always up in some concoction or another! I like the mini-chocolate chip idea.
I read that after tomatoes, bananas are the world’s most popular fruit.
It sounds like you’re putting the finishing touches on your move. So nice to be settled in, yes? Just in time for the holidays!
Blessings, e-Mom ღ
Banana bread and unpacking the book boxes…sounds good to me. I’m glad your son had some days off to visit his old school! You reminded me I need to refill my bird feeder. I love seeing the birds visit…
I have 5 bananas and 25 fruit flies..I don’t know how they just jump out of no where. I had better get to making my fruit fly trap again.
No door locks, you miss somethings when they are not around.
I would love to have cardinals at our bird feeders. I don’t think that will ever happen as our yards are full of blue jays here. I love them but they are very ferocious birds.
I guess I haven’t thought too much about locks in the house either, but I definitely should appreciate them! You’ve reminded me that I haven’t refilled my bird feed in quite awhile. Oops. I’m sure your banana bread is yummy. I’ve never made it, but sure enjoy eating it. I’m impressed with you getting rid of books. I need to do that task soon, too.
Have a great weekend.
I’m going to have to try chocolate chips in banana bread — sounds like a good idea.
Enjoy the birds! Have a great week.
I’ve always preferred my banana bread plain, or with a few nuts, even though I generally like chocolate in everything.
We have no locks on our doors inside and it seems to work out. . .
Good favorities! If you want a recipe for the most delicious banana bread I’ve ever eaten and/or a way to prevent your chocolate chips from falling to the bottom, send me an email at mshipe4@yahoo.com.
Hi Barbara,
I’m so glad your son was able to visit his old school. That sometimes means a lot and can help too with ‘closure’. (Says the mom who has moved her kids more times than she wants to count)
Unpacking books is actually something I enjoy. I get to ‘visit’ my favorites again and choose places on the new shelves for them. Do you have a used bookstore in your new town where you can sell the ones you’re not keeping?
I put ‘old’ bananas in the freezer too but mine never make it to banana bread. I use them for green smoothies!
Yum, I haven’t had banana bread in forever. Around here between my family and the dayhome kids we don’t get too many brown bananas. Sometimes when I’ve been craving banana bread or muffins I just go buy a bag of discounted browner bananas just for that purpose. I find if I stir the chocolate chips into the flour mixture and coat them well, they don’t sink.
I can see no locks on the bedroom doors but none on the bathroom doors is strange.
Getting your books unpacked must have felt good. One step at a time in moving isn’t it?
So glad that Jessie got to visit his old school and enjoy some time with his friends!
We always have a couple of bananas left over, too. But I seldom make banana bread. usually they just get pitched! 😦
But I have a new recipe for carrotcake cupcakes I’m going to try tomorrow as I don’t have little Jaylon.
Happy to hear you are getting things sorted out and settled, Barbara!
Glad to know that Jesse enjoyed the visit to his old school. I love banana breads. I used to eat a lot of them.