As I was attempting to take a decent picture of poor Aristotle this morning, I accidentally took this picture and then my phone died. I have no intention on going out again, so here you are, complete with finger in the corner.
Feel free to decide what his caption might be.
On different, less thrilling notes, I was given an amaryllis bulb at Christmas time and it is making a show of itself now.
It is not something I would have purchased for myself because I am NOT a houseplant type of gal. I much prefer to tend flowers outside in the nice weather, but it does give a little colour to the kitchen.
This morning I had an old favourite for breakfast, steel cut oats. I put raisins and cinnamon in it, too. Are you familiar with it? It's much chewier and filling, I think, than regular oatmeal.
If you look closer, you can see my Sharpie marker writing of quantities on the side of the container. This is so I don't have to keep putting my reading glasses on to remind myself of how much water and how much oatmeal to use each time.
And now for something that I am gleefully excited about... yesterday I bought this two-pack of sunglasses which are also reading glasses (magnifiers). For a few years now I have either just put on my reading glasses and squinted away in the sun in order to read, or I have done an awkward job of wearing reading glasses with sunglasses propped over top of them in order to read (beside the pool, on vacation, in the car, etc.) I have no idea why I waited so long to buy these, but I can't wait until I have an occasion to use them! Granted, I'll still have to have regular sunglasses just for walking around or driving, because I won't be able to see long distance properly with reading glasses on... Anyone else have these?
It's a mind numbingly exciting day of grocery shopping and a bit of cleaning ahead. I have a frozen roast of beef which I might do up in the Instantpot with some onion soup mix. I might even throw another mason jar full of bird seed on the snow for the little freezing birds. Will the fun never end!
"I freeze, therefore I am." Yes, I know it's the wrong philosopher but it's all I could think of! What a beautiful amaryllis!
ReplyDeleteGood one, nonetheless!
DeleteI used to have prescription varifocal sunglasses as I am practically blind without glasses. Now I have reaction lenses as I am sensitive to light but in really bright light they are not as good as sunglasses. I love your amaryllis and your snow. Have never seen steel cut oats.
ReplyDeleteI'm not ready for prescription glasses (yet), just can't see small or regular print without help now.
DeleteOoooohhh---It looks cold there, too. Our high today is ZERO degrees. Did I mention I DO NOT LIKE cold weather---or snow?
ReplyDeleteI broke down and bought prescription sunglasses a few years ago and have never been happier!! I love them.
Have a great Sunday, Jenn. Stay warm! xo Diana
Yes, I saw your snowy pictures over on your blog, Diana. I'm not a huge fan, but I can tolerate it if it isn't too windy or stormy.
DeleteGlad that we are not having coffee on the porch if its cold there....Beautiful Amaryllis.
ReplyDeleteGoodness, no. I did shovel the porch this morning (for the cats actually, we go in a side door, not from the porch). Now the snow has filled in from where I shovelled.
DeleteWhy have I never thought of that labeled oatmeal trick? on so many things! lol
ReplyDeleteI have reading glasses in the kitchen to read directions on packages, in the bathroom so I can see to properly clip nails or whatever, in my purse, at my desk at work, in the den, beside my bed... every once in a while I do something smart so I don't have to keep reaching for them.
Delete"Those that snow, do. Those that understand teach."
ReplyDeleteOh, good one Sue!
DeletePoor Aristotle..out there in his dressing gown in the snow.
ReplyDeletePerhaps I should give him a scarf.
DeleteAristotle is saying: "Hunh. I know I wrote down 'somewhere warm' on the application form."
ReplyDeleteHubby and I each have a (cheap) pair of sunglasses that are bifocals. Plain lenses on top, the reading lenses on the bottom. We've had them for years, but I don't remember where we got them. Handy though.
Ha ha! Funny, Mama Pea. Bifocals would be perfect as long as the bottom is just magnifier, not prescription strength.
DeleteI have a couple of amaryllis out in the garden. Think they flower in early spring. Always a beautiful surprise.
ReplyDeleteQuaker is very popular here...in fact all oats are usually known as 'quaker'. Breakfast and of champions
Sometimes I even eat oatmeal for a lunch at work. (Those little packages)
DeleteI'd call it: Aristotle: Requires Cropping.
ReplyDeleteBoy, it seemed to take them forever to fully market and distribute sunglass readers. By the time they were available I was glasses full time -- and I still wear my sunglasses over my glasses because the readers aren't enough anymore!
See now, I never even thought to crop the photo. I'm so old school, so used to the days when you took the film in and waited to see how your pictures turned out! The fanciest I get is deleting!
DeleteVery nice amaryllis! I like that color very much. I love house plants that bloom in the winter. They cheer me up no end. The orchids bloom for such a long time. They're great. I like rolled oats because I use them in meatloaf rather than bread of any sort. I think steel cut is not as good for that. But I'll mention it to my son who might like that chewier texture you mention. I live very close to the origin of Quaker Oats - Akron, OH.
ReplyDeleteThe package didn't indicate the colour, so it was a wait and see thing. I do like the colour, too. I would not use steel cut oats for anything other than a hot breakfast cereal.
DeleteI enjoy the steel cut oats, too. Nice and substantial. Pete's Mom likes instant oatmeal every morning for breakfast - they're all oats, but the texture and even the taste is so different. Kind of like brewed coffee vs. instant coffee.
ReplyDeleteOh, ha ha, you probably don't want to know that I mostly drink instant coffee!
DeleteOh, I like instant coffee too! It's just a completely different beverage. I eat instant oatmeal sometimes too. Let's face it, I just like most foods and most beverages!
DeleteNow that it's finally begun, I know what an awful winter this is going to be. Into April, I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteWell it's certainly happened before, hasn't it? Daughter's birthday is May 3rd and there has been the odd year where it has snowed on her birthday.
DeleteThat's a great photo of Aristotle, even if you are giving him the finger.
ReplyDeleteOh, witty one, Mr. Stephenson!
DeleteThis winter is never ending. Our tractor broke down today. Thank goodness we did a big grocery shop yesterday. Where did you buy those glasses? My Mr. NEEDS those desperately!
ReplyDeleteOh crud, that's too bad about the tractor. I bought these at Costco (we were in 'the big city'!)
DeleteWe are supposed to have some very cold temps later this week and I am not looking forward to them at all. I always worry so much about the animals when the temps go down like they are.
ReplyDeleteI've been feeding the birds a lot this past week. My own two cats still want to go out, but they come back in pretty quickly. I feel that most animals are naturally adapted to the cold with their fur and fat and ability to hunker down, or they just migrate or hibernate. (I hope so , anyway).
DeleteMust get me a pair of these - I've done the double pair balancing act for the last few years.
ReplyDelete$20 for the two pairs.
DeleteThat photo gave me shivers, and I'm inside! Our temp's are not nearly so bad, it's supposed to be 47 tomorrow and 21 tonight. So the mornings are a bit brisk, and as long as there's no wind, the daytime is tolerable.
ReplyDeleteI love steel cut oats. My fav additions are blue berries, walnuts and a splash of maple syrup. Here I thought I was the only weirdo that eats oatmeal for lunch on occasion!
Sometimes we would have what I'd call "breakfast for supper" - pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs. Why not!
ReplyDeleteThree thoughts...your amaryllis is quite pretty. I love the color!...I love steel cut oats because of their texture, but no one else in my family does :(...and I've never seen sunglass readers before, but what a great idea!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it a great idea?
DeleteYou are a funny writer and I don't know if you meant to be or not but the whole, your phone died, so here's the picture, write your own caption thing, was a hoot.
ReplyDeleteYes, on the steel cut oats. Or, we call them groats here or Irish oats but I think they are the same. I love the texture and it feels like a proper porridge. That said, I still eat the lighter flat oats as well.
Great thing about the glasses, no I don't know those or have them. You made me laugh again about grocery shopping. To be honest, I freakin' LOVE food shopping.
Good post, I enjoyed reading it.
Thanks, Whisk! I actually don't mind food shopping, but I don't live in town, so I have to drive there and it just takes a hunk out of my weekend.
DeleteI have heart steel cut oats called groats, too. In fact, I think I like that name better. What are you having for breakfast? Groats.
Aristotle in the snow is somehow profound, why I don't know.
ReplyDeleteThe amaryllis is beautiful.
I think it's the pose he's striking.
DeleteWow, the amaryllis! One of my favourite plants. I haven't grown one in years and probably won't do it any time soon because of the cats.
ReplyDeleteSteel cut oats is the only oatmeal I eat these days. I love it! So tasty and very filling.
Our cats don't really bother with it at all, likely because they can already go outdoors and get at the real thing (well, not now, unless they want to chew around on bare sticks and dried up perennials).
DeleteI think Aristotle is saying "I don't care if it's in inches or centimeter, there's too much of it". Brace yourself Aristotle there's another 15-25 cm on the way! Sunglass readers - holidays for March break? ... Mary-Lou =^..^=
ReplyDeleteBrace yourself for sure. I was just reading all the warnings and watches and 'special weather statements' on environment Canada.
DeleteHey Jenn...
ReplyDeleteI make “ overnight oats” which I LOVE....
Lots of snow here...leaving it behind Wednesday morning!��☀️��
Have a great week...
Cheers!
Linda :o)
I didn't know they even made reading sunglasses! I now must have a pair! Oh, yes, the thrill of winter is definitely left the room. I cannot wait for this week to be over and, hopefully, with it the end to all this polar vortex crap. I am OVER it. I love steel cut oats and make overnight oats in pint jars, which can then be heated for breakfast at the office. I am not a person who can eat early in the morning, so it works out great. Hang in there - spring has always followed winter, so there is hope.
ReplyDeleteI like the photograph of Aristotle, and that amaryllis looks beautiful, what a wonderful colour.
ReplyDeleteStay warm
All the best Jan
I like Quaker oatmeal but haven't tried the steel cut, it sounds good. Aristotle looks very cold, he is wondering how he came to be in that snowy place.
ReplyDeleteLots of good ideas! Poor Aristotle!
ReplyDeleteWhere the heck did all this snow come from or Where did I put my boots said Aristotle. I received an amaryllis as a birthday gift last year and also am not a plant person. It was fun watching it bloom and it had 2 large flowers which were lovely in the living room.
ReplyDeleteI like oatmeal in this cool season, it sounds good.
ReplyDeleteAristotle looks very cold, he is wondering how he came to be in that snowy place.
I think he to need some hot oatmeals!
Regards,
End of lease cleaning homebush