tlc's Random Life

I work for an ambulance company and my department is responsible for cleaning out the ambulances after the crews end their 12 hour shift.  Medics & EMTs are notorious for forgetting things on the trucks and nothing really surprises me anymore.  Today when I got to work this tin was sitting on the counter and honestly my first thought was "Why are there Christmas cookies when we haven't even had Halloween yet?"  I inquired about the tin, who do they belong to, where did they come from and what have you, even opened to verify that it did in fact have cookies in it.  Because let's be real, how many times have you opened a tin like this hoping to find cookies but was disappointed to find something other than cookies?  I laughed and made a comment about how there were actually cookies still inside.  Manny (a co-worker) said that another co-worker brought the tin in from a truck and when he left it asked "Who put cookies in the sewing tin?" I don't know wh

I have been gifted many cups and mugs over the years.  Heaven knows I have bought more than a few of them myself. I never really think about it when I'm making a cup of coffee which one I'm using but just now this morning I realized that this one, yes this one here is special. It was just a sweet gift from a co-worker oh so long ago and let me say, that is what prompted this story and this flood of memories today. I worked in a billing office for Tulsa Radiology when my girls were little. Britt was only one when I left there. That is what stopped me in my tracks today, this simple gesture of a going away gift years ago. I am a little saddened that I don't remember the girl that gave it to me, well not her name.  I remember conversations we had (she worked at the desk across from mine) we knew some of the same people from my home town.  I remember that she had beautiful long straight dark hair, but I cannot fish her name out of my memory for nothing. Anyhow this morning

  Every year for the past several years I have done my best at keeping a planner with all my quilt business stuff like social media posting schedules, when quilts were due, quilt store sales, shop hops, client meetings and lots of other things.  I tend to keep several personal things in it as well. I was on track with 2020 until February when my world stood still.  My family took a truly hard hit.  Those of you that know me know my dad past awayon the 29th.  I know we all heal differently and it has been crazy hard on everyone.  My quilt business has suffered as well. The planner that I bought for 2020 (photos above) sits in my sewing room closet in a large ziploc bag of other things that were in my backpack that I used to carry to all dads appointments.  I used waiting room time to do quilt business and hand stitch embroidery.   I have not touched neither of those things except to put them away since he left us. 2021 will be difficult for the first couple of months of that I am sure.

Growing up this dish was a staple at our house.  Moms favorite food I would say.  Her version of Spanish rice, a recipe taught to her from her mom & grandma.   Growing up many different people had it & loved it with the exception of a few (the one little girl Sally that dumped it in the floor & hid it with her plate🤣).  Man was mom mad.  Over all though most everyone that's ever eaten it liked it.  Now the rice above may look like my mom's Spanish rice,  only one thing is different...I used the instant pot (not the insta pot, the one we have isn't that name brand) but let me tell you...I LOVE IT!  It belongs to mom & dad, they only ever used it a few time because mom doesn't like it.  She says it makes the food taste weird.  It doesn't that is her just being resistant to change.  Since bringing it to my house (because my parents live with me) I have been using it every chance I get.  Today I made her recipe in the instant pot & let me tell you i