Slow Week: Five on Friday

It’s been a slow January week. And I’ve been fighting off some sinus-type thing for most of it. Focusing on resting mostly. Good week for it with the super cold temperatures and not much going on really (other than the Chiefs, you bet I’m wearing my lucky red even if I’m home on red Friday. Go Chiefs!)

For right now, I’m hopping on here with a Five on Friday post with images from this week.

ONE: A Fun Surprise

My sister-in-law who moved to Florida a few years ago, sent us Christmas cookies (made after Christmas, it’s okay I wondered as well)! I don’t make these cookies (don’t even try) so we were all thrilled. Only one slight issue:

How many crumbs equal a cookie?  We figured it out and they were still super delicious!

TWO: Cold Sunlight

The cold didn’t stop the sunlight from streaming in the windows. I found myself a bit captivated with the way it hit this hibiscus bloom. Why is my hibiscus blooming indoors in January? I have no idea.

It also hit upon the bromeliad plant. I picked up two of these around Christmas as bedroom decor plants.

THREE: Bird-watching

Of course, I immediately went to bird-watching upon picking up the “real” camera again. I’ll be excited to get images from outside and not through the backdoor when the weather warms up again. Here’s an interesting bird:

(Remember these images are through the glass of the backdoor)

My goal is to get a good image of this bird but it won’t cooperate!  Did you figure out what it was yet?

Believe it or not, it’s a Northern Cardinal! It’s either molting or has severe leucism or both.

And since those pictures were awful, here’s an actual in focus one of the Flicker woodpecker visiting the suet feeder:

Such amazing looking birds!

FOUR: Frugal Menus

I didn’t even have a menu prepared on Monday so here’s what we ended up eating this week:

• Monday: Roast in the crock pot
• Tuesday: Chicken Tingas, from freezer, plus I used some corn tortillas to make homemade chips
• Wednesday: Beef vegetable stew using leftover roast meat and dinner rolls
• Thursday: Fried pork chops, baked potatoes, and dinner rolls again
• Friday: Tonight I’m either making turkey sausages and peppers or we’ll have waffles/bacon
• Sat/Sun: Not sure yet but I know we have chili in the freezer so maybe that during the game

FIVE: Reading and Watching

Here’s what I’ve been reading and watching (besides the birds!)

Reading:

I finished up all the Jessica Dodge books that were available on Kindle Unlimited. Not high brow literature but I did enjoy the somewhat spooky stories set mainly in Wales and Scotland. They weren’t exactly a series but I’d suggest reading them in this order: The Forgotten Witch, The Book of Lost Enchantments, and then, Misplaced Magic. I did find the last one a bit spookier than the first two and not ideal for before bed reading.

Now, I’m reading Deck the Donuts by Ginger Bolton. Yes, it’s a Christmas cozy murder mystery.

Watching:

Something about being under the weather with me and I watch old action movies I’ve somehow never seen. This week’s been all about the Rush Hour movies with Jackie Chan. I only have the third left to watch.They are goofy but enjoyable. Also on my list of viewing from this week, Brooklyn 99, it’s nice and light, not much thinking required. Perfect if your before bed book is a bit too scary. And finally, I started watching season 2 of The Night Agent yesterday as I really enjoyed the first season. Of course, football this weekend. Did I already say Go Chiefs!?

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Not much going on today, just laundry and probably a bit more watching (of birds and tv). I really need to run to Target but haven’t felt like it. If I feel decent at all tomorrow or Sunday, I plan to spend some much needed time outside (it’s supposed to be in the high 30’s or maybe 40’s finally). No big plans just going to let the weekend unfold.

Do you have exciting weekend plans?

*Also, planning to link up to My Creative Life for this Five on Friday when she posts. Go check out her blog!