Puzzle #3 - FX Schmid - A Day for a Brougham Ride - 300 pieces

More attic shopping... came up with this one next.  (Thankful for those slight hoarding tendencies I have??)  ha!  Still in covid quarantine...

This puzzle wasn't as enjoyable as the first two primarily because the colors weren't very distinct and so it was harder to put together.  Even after placing some of the pieces I couldn't tell by looking at that piece that it truly 'belonged' there.  But by this point I was 'old hat' at puzzling and decided to just take it in stride.   ;)   ha! 

Finished on January 18, 2022

Puzzle #3 - FX Schmid - A Day for a Brougham Ride - 300 pieces.  I did like the larger pieces. 

Puzzle #2 - MB Puzzles - Charles Wysocki Americana - Traveling Cowboy - 300 pieces

Again, I went 'shopping' in my attic and found another old puzzle up there.  Good thing as we were still in covid quarantine.  :) 

This time I found Charles Wysocki's Traveling Cowboy.  I really liked this one.  Easy but with a bit of challenge - nice pieces to work with.  Getting the hang of this puzzling thing!  

Finished on January 17, 2022

Puzzle #2 -  MB Puzzles - Charles Wysocki Americana - Traveling Cowboy EZ Grasp - 300 pieces

My very first puzzle!

This is the puzzle that got me started.  Marvin was sick with covid and we were cooped up in the cold, early days of January, 2022.  I decided to finally get on the bandwagon (albeit a couple of years later than the rest of the world!) and put together a jigsaw puzzle.  But being quarantined meant I had to go 'shopping' for a puzzle in my own house.  Lo and behold, I found a couple stashed up in the attic.  I lugged them down and decided to put them together.  I realized that I was going to love putting together jigsaw puzzles!  What a wonderful discovery!  I jokingly said that jigsaw puzzles are what I WANTED coloring to be last year.  (I decided to color as a stress reliever a year ago but found the whole process of coloring to be far too stressful!  ha!)  Putting together jigsaw puzzles provided me with mindful mindlessness... what a gift!  Truly, these puzzles have been a great stress reliever and I am fully hooked. 

Puzzle #1 - Charles Wysocki Americana - Catchin' Bugs.   300 piece EZ grasp - MB Puzzles 

Finished on January 16, 2022

Maverick - 2nd week of January

January 11, 2022

Marvin had a big dental surgery on this day.  We had to be at the out of town office at 7:30 which meant we had a super early leave time.  The surgery was difficult and the drive home was, frankly, brutal.  But we made it.  I was really glad to see both Jackson and Jonathan there at the house when we arrived home.  They are such a help.  And sweet Mav was with his Daddy to offer comfort to GranGran.  Although Mav didn't really understand why GranGran wasn't able to play, he was kind and gentle.  Kids do just seem to understand when things aren't quite right - and they can flex with that.  Plus, Mav is very good medicine.  :) 

January 12, 2022

We enjoyed another visit the next day from sweet Mav.  Again, he was not put off by GranGran sitting quietly in his chair.  He hopped right up with his snack (the Cheezits bag) and his truck to hang out.  :) 

January 15, 2022

Mav hung out most of the day on Saturday.  Sweet fella was really enjoying dancing with Barney.  He is so cute how he bops up and down with the music.  

book time!

Mav loves the beans so much!  He plays so intently with them - they are worth the mess.  :) 

Here is video from the first two weeks of January with Mav...

Maverick - 1st week of January

Here are photos from babysitting Mav the first week of January.  What a cutie pie...

January 4, 2022

Mav does love that bean table!  He works so hard with it.  It makes a complete mess but it is worth it (for right now, anyway).  :D 

Mav was so excited... he was watching out the door as his Dad was blading up the snow into a huge pile so they could go sledding.  What a wonderful Daddy and what a happy little boy.  

Daddy and son - precious!  (and they match)  :D 

Mav and Grandpa Jack reading a book after lunch. 

Mav just trying to eat his Cheezits... but GranGran keeps begging for one... ;) 

Here you are GranGran... I can share!  :) 

January 6, 2022

Is he the cutest or what?  I love this photo!

We were preparing to take the tree down and Maverick was really looking closely at the ornaments.  I loved watching him discover ornaments he liked.  He was very careful and attentive and looked at a lot of them. 

He loved that little Radio Flyer and wagon

He played with it quite awhile

January 8, 2022

Jackson and Brianna were working on the farmhouse so we babysat Mav.  It was so good to be with him since we knew we wouldn't have much time with him the following week because of Marvin's dental surgery and recovery.  He loves this stick/straw game.  

He has also become a real fan of the window stickers.  He has this set of vehicle stickers that is his current favorite.  He carefully chooses and then puts up each sticker.  He also takes time to admire them once they are up.  Love this kid.  :) 

Mav loves this book.  I even tried to order a second copy because he wants to take it with him.  But they are out!  I got him a firetruck one instead.  Hoping that will help.  :) 

This was hilarious.  We 'lost' him for a moment and then I found him.  Is that a guilty look or what?  He was tapping away on the keyboard and then would move the trackpad around... quiet as a mouse.  :) 

He knows exactly what to do!  :) 

Here is a video of the sledding day...

Baked Flounder with Parmesan Crumbs

This was good, but very rich.  Quick and easy meal, though!  We served it with Normandy blend veggies and roasted (in my air fryer) yellow and sweet potatoes, plus another veggie blend.  

Baked Flounder with Parmesan Crumbs

4 flounder fillets (2 pounds total)

salt and pepper to taste

¾ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese  (I used shredded)

½ cup coarse fresh bread crumbs  (I used Panko)

4 Tbsp. butter, melted

2 Tbsp. olive oil

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  In a large baking dish, season the fish fillets with salt and pepper.  (I added some garlic powder and onion powder just because.)  Mix the parmesan cheese with the bread crumbs, melted butter, and olive oil and sprinkle over the fillets.  Bake for 15 minutes or until the fish is cooked through and the topping is golden.  (I feel like it took a bit longer than 15 minutes for me...)  Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.  

Chicken Lombardy

I made this on Christmas Day - it was tasty and celebratory.  

Chicken Lombardy
8 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced

2 Tbsp. melted butter

6 chicken breasts (I used 10  4 oz. size Schwans breasts)

½ cup all purpose flour

⅓ cup butter

¾ cup Marsala

½ cup chicken broth

½ tsp. salt

⅛ tsp. pepper

½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

½ cup parmesan cheese

2 green onions, chopped (optional)

Cook mushrooms in 2 Tbsp. butter in a large skillet over medium high heat, stirring constantly - 3-5 minutes or just until tender.  Remove from heat and set aside.  

Cut each chicken breast in half lengthwise.  Flatten if needed (I didn't do this with the Schwans breasts.) 

Roll the chicken in flour.  Melt butter in frying pan and brown the chicken on both sides, cooking about halfway through.  Place chicken in a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish, overlapping edges if need be.  Reserve the pan drippings.  Sprinkle the sautéed mushrooms over the chicken.  Add wine and broth to the skillet and bring to a boil.  Then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly.  Add salt and pepper. 

Pour sauce over chicken.  Combine cheeses and green onions and sprinkle over chicken.  Bake uncovered at 450 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes until cheese melts.  

We served with mashed potatoes and broccoli.