Another Friday has sped its way here, altogether too quickly. I’m pausing with Susanne and friends at Living to Tell the Story to remember the blessings of the week.
1. A microphone and a cable. Lately at Zoom meetings, I’ll get a notice that my microphone isn’t working–even though it did when I tested it and worked fine for the first half of the meeting. My oldest son got me an external microphone that plugs into the USB port of my laptop, and that worked fine. Then the room where I like to do Zoom calls and where my Cricut machine is located is far from our modem, and Internet connection is spotty there. My husband got a cable that allows Internet to function better.
2. A pre-Valentine date. We make Valentine’s Day a family day. But this year my husband suggested the two of us go out to eat the night before Valentine’s Day. We figured the restaurants would not be busy, since so many people go out on Valentine’s. We were wrong. 🙂 We went to a new-ish Texas Road House and had a longer wait than expected. But the food was really good. Jim had ribs and I had herb-encrusted chicken.
Then, a local high school soccer team was having a fundraiser inside the restaurant with a table full of sweets. We got a couple of cake pops from them for dessert.
We frequently get take-out and stream a movie. And since my husband works from home, we eat lunch together most days. But usually if we go to a restaurant, it’s with all the family. We hadn’t gone out to eat with just the two of us in a long time. It’s funny how much I looked forward to it, even to dressing up just a bit to go out. We may have to do that more often. 🙂
3. Valentine’s Day with the family. As we usually do, I made “meat hearts” (heart-shaped mini meat loaves), cheesy potatoes, and heart-shaped chocolate cupcakes. Mittu made a great salad and rolls. I made cards for everyone, and Timothy made cards for Jim and me. Jim brought flowers and my favorite milk chocolate Lindt Lindor truffles as well as lavender roses for Mittu. Jason and Mittu and Timothy brought candy for me and honey roasted peanuts for Jim. I found a themed tablecloth with Valentine mazes, word searches, tic-tac-toe grids, and pictures to color. All in all, a fun night.
Though I loved all the thoughtful gifts and fun things, to me the biggest demonstration of love was finding my husband later that night scrubbing the encrusted baking pans that I had left to soak because I was too tired to deal with them after everyone left.
4. An adjusted schedule. For the past few weeks, I’ve gotten everything for my blog’s weekend posts done by Friday so I am free for family things or other projects on Saturday. That has worked really well.
5. Getting phone calls over with. I don’t know why, but I hate to make business or medical phone calls. I had let some needed calls accumulate, so I sat down Thursday afternoon and plowed through them. Of course, one requires hearing back from the office I called before I can move on to the next step. But at least for the moment, I have called everyone I needed to. And that feels good.
What’s something good from your week?
Stray Thoughts 
Have a blessed weekend! Windy and sunny here in the Lowcountry. Warm temps today and cold tonight. But, that’s South Carolina. haha!
Hello and Happy Friday! Sounds like you had a nice Valentine’s Week. I love your mini heart-shaped meat loaves. It is so nice that you make Valentine’s a family day. I’m with you on making phone calls. It is not something I enjoy at all. Glad you got them done. I hope you have a good weekend. See you again soon!
I know I’ve had issues with piano lessons and Zoom. Your new mic and set up sound really good! Love all your Valentine’s Day events and goodies!
On the occasions that we do go out for Valentine’s Day, we go a night or two before, as well. My husband says the actual date is “amateur’s night.” lol
Oh what a fun Valentine’s Day you had with the family and all that good food and yummy cakes. And it’s so special to go out with our husbands for a date night in a nice restaurant isn’t it? We stayed in this year but we do tend to have at least one evening out a month for dinner….perhaps Sunday after church might be just the perfect time.
There’s nothing like getting needed items for technology up and running.
I love getting all the phone calls or emails answered. I actually caught up on emails last evening after dinner and it felt great. Glad you could have time to return the phone calls (I too do NOT like returning medical calls!).
Have a blessed weekend!
Your Valentine meal sounds great. I told my husband about the heart shape patties. We will have to try that. Might have to use turkey meat, since we have a few in our family that don’t eat red meat. Have a great weekend!
I think it’s wonderful to celebrate Valentine’s Day with everyone! All your heart shaped things looked so good. I’m glad you and Jim got out, just the two of you for dinner.
Lately when I’m on Zoom, my face has been flickering. Others see that too, so I don’t know what is going on. I’m glad you got your sound straightened out with the external mike.
I’m with you regarding business and medical calls. I’m glad you got yours behind you.
It’s interesting that you had such severe weather last night! I never heard anything but just saw the rain coming down. The storm must have just missed us.
Have a blessed weekend!
Your external microphone worked great at our last meeting, Barbara! I’m glad there are workarounds when our computers start acting up. Texas Road House is one of our favorite places to go in Huntsville. I hate making those kind of phone calls too. I’m not sure why either. 🙂
What fun to have a family Valentine’s Day dinner. Great idea!
I’m with you on making the phone calls (even to friends). I’ll talk if they call me but I have a hard time making the calls.
Sounds like a good solution to your zoom and internet problems. Don’t you love having family members who can do those fixes?
Have a good week!
Your valentines family gathering sounds lovely. How special to celebrate all together. Your dinner with Jim also sounds like it was fun. I’ve learned that even the weekend before Valentines is a busy time for restaurants around here. Glad your phone calls are off the to do list. I kind of avoid those too.
Sounds like you had the best of both worlds for Valentine’s Day – a meal out with just Hubby and a family meal on the actual day. What a great idea for a tablecloth! I tend to put off making phone calls like that too so well done you for getting them done.
I’m totally with you on those calls. I do dozens of work calls no problem, but getting passed around from person to person and/or being on hold for extended time make me dread these. Glad you got through yours!
All your valentines celebrations sound great – at least in your wait for your pre-V meal was with your Valentine! Now you’ve got me thinking about frosted cupcakes…
Hurray for help with technology!