Dreama Astrid's Journal

1. What type of hair do you have? (Thin, Normal, Thick, Frizzy, etc.)
Thick

2. What colour is your hair currently?
Mostly Red with Grey around the temples

3. What colours have you dyed/highlighted your hair?
I've had my grey covered with a color as close to my natural red as possible. And in the past I've gotten highlights in a lighter copper.

4. If you could dye your hair any colour, what would it be?
Just my natural red to cover the Grey. Lighter in the summer and a little darker in the autumn and winter.

5. What is your hair's length?
Currently waist length, and I wear it in a ponytail most the time.

Friday Five: https://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/

1. What’s harder to live without, chocolate or alcohol?
Chocolate! Like a small piece at least once a week.

2. Does the colour yellow remind you of anything?
My mom. It's her favorite color.

3. Who most annoyed you last week?
Boss.

4. Do you have a cutesy romantic nickname for your partner (or previous partners)?
Not really just his name.

5. What is your favourite Stephen King movie?
Don't have one. I'm not a fan of horror.

Friday Five: https://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/

1) Is summer a break for you, or is it busier?
At work it is always busy as so many things need to be upgraded and new things installed for the Fall Semester. At home it is generally move weekend trips and a week or two vacation. But this year I think most weekends will be working on renovating the house my SIL inherited from her dad so it is livable (so much pet damage and termite damage and disrepair).

2) What's next for your travel plans?
A trip to see MIL in NC and a trip to Florida this summer and maybe a weekend trip to the beach too.

3) What have you spontaneously done lately?
Trip to Sherwood Forest Ren Faire in Texas when work unexpectantly sent me to San Antonio for a conference. I filled in for someone that had to cancel. I tacked on the weekend, took the hubby along for the trip and the spouse and I had a blast at Faire on Saturday and visited the Texas relatives on Sunday.

4) What's your favorite way to unwind after a long day?
A hot cup of decaf Lady Grey Tea and catching up on shows I have on recorded with the cat beside me on the sofa, and playing a puzzle or two on my tablet. Or a long hot bath!

5) What's in your pockets?
Tissues, a KN95 mask, a finger splint for my sprained finger, my phone, a thumb drive, cough drops, antiacids, pain killers, my work ID, a bluetooth earbud, and some change for the vending machine. I wear cargo pants and a frumpy cardigan sweater with pockets most days to work - so lots of pockets!

1. Rice or potatoes?
Either depending on the meal.  Some things go better with rice other items better with potatoes.

2. Fish or red meat?
Red meat is my preference (burgers/steak).  Not a big fin fish fan (the occasional fish & chips). But I love shell fish (mussels, clams, oysters, shrimp, crab, etc.)

3. Salad or cooked vegetables?
Depends on the meal.  I love both, and soups made from veges like squash soups.

4. Cake or ice cream?
Yes - love cake & ice cream. And I also love pies, puddings, trifles, scones, muffins, etc.

5. Water, soft drink, wine, beer, or hard alcohol?
Addicted to sodas, but enjoy water, red wine, a few beers (red & amber ales), fruity mixed drinks (Daiquiri, Margaritas, Crushes, Blender drinks, etc).  And I also enjoy some ciders & meads. But I'm a big tea drinker (hot & iced) and drink milk most days as well.

It's presidents' day in the US, so in honor of the long weekend...

1. Have you ever been the president of anything?
Yes! I was president of the Columbia Jaycees back in my 20s.

2. What do you think is the most important leadership trait?
To be diplomatic and be able to direct people. Wranging people all in the same direction in a volunteer organization is like herding cats. And also knowing which people really don't get along and be sure not to schedule them to work the same shift alone together for an event.

3. What time period did you find the most interesting to learn about in history class?
I loved a US History class I took in college that was a Saturday class. Every Saturday we would take a field trip to a local "history" spot and it was awesome to see the history or see where the history occurred.

4. What's something you think about doing, but you haven't gotten back into in several years?
Mosaic glass art, archery, and cycling. Since we purchased our beach house we've been very busy with fixing it up. And since COVID, we have not been indulging in hobbies that put us in close proximity to strangers. And since FIL died we've been swamped with ESTATE stuff and rehabbing SIL's house (inherited from FIL) in any and all spare time.

I would also like to do more TRAVEL as much of our travel was curtailed since the COVID pandemic started, and more international TRAVEL as we haven't done any since we purchased our beach house, as our international travel budget was replaced by the vacation home budget.

5. If you could add one more random holiday to February, what would it be?
I just need to start observing these two: National Internet Friends Day Feb 13th and National Margarita Day Feb 22nd.

1. Do you cook regularly or does someone else cook for you?
My husband cooks most the time. He is WFH so by the time I get home from work dinner is on the table most nights. I probably only cook dinner once or twice a week.

2. Which are you better at making: sweet or savory foods?
Both - things like soups, casseroles, crock pot meals, eggs, scones, breads, desserts, etc.

3. If you had to work as a chef in a restaurant of your choice, which restaurant would best complement your current culinary skills?
Comfort foods

4. What is a cooking tip that you know, but other people generally aren’t aware of?
Don't have one.

5. Do you have a recipe you would like to share?

Yes two Recipes:

Recipe 1:
Pineapple-Super Chili Salsa
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh pineapple
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
2 super chile hot peppers, stemmed and chopped
1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Kosher salt

Add the pineapple, cilantro, peppers, onion, lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 cup water to a blender and puree until smooth.

Recipe 2:
Lemon Curd & Banana Stuffed French Toast with Strawberry Topping
I use Home Made Honey Bread to Make French Toast and then Spread with Lemon Curd and Sliced Bananas, then top with Strawberry Sauce

Honey Bread in my bread machine
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons butter, melted
3 cups bread flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Follow bread machine instructions

Strawberry Sauce
1 lb Strawberries, rinsed, hulled and thickly sliced
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 Tbsp lemon juice (from 1/2 Lemon)
In a medium saucepan, combine sliced strawberries, 1/3 cup sugar and 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice. Place over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer 20-23 minutes or until sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally.

The Friday Five for 28 July 2023

1. When did you recently have the feeling, "Life is good."
Every weekend and most evenings. I'm really loving where my life is right now.

2. Which do you need more, routine or spontaneity?
A good mix of both:
Routine - M to F to get my shit together for and at work.
Spontaneity - evenings and on the weekends.

3. Do you have a difficult or annoying neighbor?
Not currently. We have good neighors right now.

4. What do you want to change about yourself?
Get a little more fit and lose a few pounds.

5. What do you like best about where you live?
Far enough out that we are in a quiet suburban neighborhood, close enough to the city that it is a short drive to do so many fun things downtown (museums, shows, restaurants, shops, etc.), and close enough to the country that it's a short drive to enjoy the outdoors (wineries, parks, lakes, rivers, etc.).