HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - MY SUNDAY TO SATURDAY JOURNAL starting 2-15-26

Heads up, this is a good long blather here. Skip if you need to.

Our weather for next week, starting Sunday (today, the 22nd) to Saturday, February 28th. You can click on any of the images below for a better look.

Are you looking forward to the crocus blooming? I know I am. This is one of my old photos.

Sunday, February 15th, 2026: each week our son comes over after he has dropped our dear daughter-in-law off at work. He arrives early and usually picks her up not too long after the noon hour when she has finished. That gives us a lovely visit. 

He helped us to get a few things taken care of and was a big help with heavy lifting. 

He also sorted my streaming channel out as there was a disconnect between the TV and my iPad. So, he fixed that for me. He is so much faster with these electronics. We would get there eventually but, in the meantime, he gives us a short cut. Great to have the help. 

Then we settled down to watch the Winter Olympics. We saw women's curling, men's figure-skating, women's skeleton* which is face-down hill on a sled at 80 miles an hour (how on earth they do that on a tiny sled I will never know). There was also the women's half-pipe (snow-boarding), women's 500 meter speed-skating and now the Men's Biathlon. 

We watched the medals being given to two young ladies from the Netherlands who won the gold and silver, and a young lady from Japan who won the bronze. The young lady from Japan asked for a selfie of the three of them as soon as they got off the podium with their country’s flags behind them, all very excited and very sweet. This was for the 500-meter speed skating. Well done ladies! 

It was very noticeable the good sportsmanship between winners and those who weren't the winners but came so close. I was particularly very proud of the young man (a local boy from Vienna, Virginia) - who fell and was so upset after he realized that he had missed his chance for a win, and yet he congratulated so warmly the young man from Kazakhstan who won the gold. Does the heart good to see all that, young people being 100 percent nice to each other. This is the first time we have watched the Winter Olympics at such length, encouraged by our son who had been following the events and wanted to see what was happening (what we were seeing was not live but took place today). This coming from me, who really isn't into sports but who thoroughly enjoyed it all. 

Thank you son for everything you did for us today.

* I asked Google why do they name the winter sport at the Olympics 'skeleton', as in the event, Women's Skeleton? 

The name 'skeleton' for this Olympic winter sport is primarily attributed to the physical appearance of the original equipment used in the late 19th century. While there is no single definitive origin, historians and the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) point to three main theories:

Skeletal Appearance: in 1892, an Englishman named Mr. Child introduced a new metal sled for racing. This sled had a bare-bones, stripped-down design that many thought resembled a human skeleton or ribcage.

Mistranslation: Another common theory is that "skeleton" is a poor English anglicization of the Norwegian word 'kjelke (pronounced 'shell-keh", which simply means "sled" or "toboggan".

Course shape: some early accounts suggest the name came from the original twisting, serpentine courses used in Switzerland, which early participants thought looked like the curves of a skeleton.

Event History and Context:

Origins: the sport was born in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in the 1880s as a spin-off of tobogganing.

Women's Skeleton: while men's skeleton appeared sporadically in the 1928 and 1948 Olympics, women's skeleton was officially introduced much later, when the sport became a permanent Olympic fixture at the Salt Lake City 2002 Games.

The Sled: unlike luge (feet-first) or bobsleigh (seated), skeleton is performed head-first and face-down on a thin metal frame.

And now we know! Yes, everything goes on here. I will have fun reading this when I have forgotten what information I found out and need a memory jogger.

Monday, February 16th, 2026: I am writing this the next day (Tuesday), so let’s see what I can remember.  We went over to Micky D’s for lunch, no breakfast as we were a bit late getting up. It felt good to lie in and read for a bit in bed before starting the day. So, burger and fries and have to remind myself that I ate healthy for the rest of the day.  

Father and son got together later and their dinner was more exotic. They drove to Tysons (still a very popular shopping mall) and had dinner from an Indian restaurant called Dhoom, link here. Gregg ordered a stuffed bread with chicken tikka and shredded cheese served with masala makhani sauce. They shared it as it was called a small plate. Both said it was very good. It reminded him of a pizza on a thin crust. Son ordered the aloo gobhi matar which was a medley of potatoes, cauliflower, and peas, sautéed with aromatic Indian spices. Another item, Plain Roti. No photos guys? Nope, no photos! They each shared half of each other's dish. It came with basmati rice and they asked for these chutneys/sauces. Gregg wants to take me there, said I would enjoy it. I would have to look at the menu online before going, there is so much to choose from it would be a bit overwhelming just turning up and I feel rushed to pick something. However, I was happy with having a meal at home.

One more thing was what I learned about their other item described as Scottish Egg Kofta. I love Scotch Eggs, though I haven't had one in years.

Here's the restaurant's description of theirs:

"Scottish Egg Kofta is a traditional Nargisi Kofta - originating from British India (modern day Pakistan), our Scottish Egg Kofta blends history with flavor. This dish, originally from India and later adopted by the UK during the British rule, is now known today as Scotch Eggs. This shareable dish features spiced ground lamb meat wrapped around a boiled egg, in a savory brown curry sauce, served with basmati rice."

I enjoy the history of food and where it comes from. Little did I know that Scotch Eggs originated from India, and from the now modern-day Pakistan. Here is theKitchn's version, link here if you're curious.

Anyhow, I heated up our Thai dish we made again the other day and thoroughly enjoyed. I tidied up a bit and settled down to watch The Night Manager. 

John le Carré book is what the series is based on. Very much an edge of your seat at times but the acting is excellent. I am into the 2nd season that was filmed 10 years after the first. My three favorites, Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Coleman and Hugh Laurie are the main characters, a bit hands over eyes stuff at times but a show that draws you right in. Hugh Laurie plays a very evil man. I am totally invested and no, not everyone's cup of tea. It is so intense I can only watch one episode and then I have to give it a rest and watch a Hallmark movie. Yes, I enjoy both for different reasons. Love cops and robbers/spy shows and I also love a good romantic one. 

Case in point, La Dolce Villa (not a Hallmark movie). If you enjoy rom-com, this one was delightful, a father is worried about his daughter's moved to Italy who then bought a villa for 1 euro in a small Italian town. He high-tails it over there to see what's what and I smiled all the way through it. I found it a charming movie. It's on Netflix. The Night Manager is on Amazon Prime.

Tuesday, February 17th, 2026: I broke my reading glasses, the part that holds them on my ears. They are the only ones I can use for my laptop. They are progressives, the blue tint kind so I can't use my regular reading glasses, unless I get my nose right up to the screen. I am wearing the broken ones. A bit of a nuisance and lopsided, but the new ones arrive tomorrow. Everything goes down on here as you know. 

Breakfast was a bagel and cream cheese and while Gregg was out, I had a bowl of raspberries, blackberries and blueberries with a scoop of plain yogurt for lunch. 

Dinner was leftovers again, a vegetable stir fry. A no fussing in the kitchen day. 

Son called, he needed a ride to get to an eye appointment as he is without a car this week. His dad loves these days when they can get together, and makes it known that he is always available (much easier in retirement obviously). I am always invited but I really dislike slowing them down and I can't gad about like I used to. The time goes quickly and hubs is back in the blink of an eye, or so it seems when I get focused on something here.

Wednesday, February 18th, 2026: Gregg and I went to Chateau de Chantilly Cafe this morning. We arrived shortly after 10.00 a.m. and fortunately there were two parking spots available right next to a huge mound of snow still left over. We found a seat inside about half-way down the restaurant, making ourselves comfortable in the easy chairs. It isn't a fancy place as you might think by the name. Shabby-chic comes to mind when describing it. Gregg had his Cheese Danish and I my Dubai Pistachio Croissant. I had a venti vanilla coffee and Gregg his coca-cola. My pastry is very rich and along with the coffee, I don't feel like I could eat any more that day but...

several hours later we had a late lunch/early dinner at home, the mashed potatoes and cabbage dish made recently. The week has been full of leftovers, which I love. I put the recipe on my Monday Morning Recipe Post which you can see tomorrow.

My new computer reading glasses arrived, so no more grabbing for an invisible arm next to the lens or looking down and having them fall off my face. We are creatures of habit, so they tell me.

Thursday, February 19th, 2026: didn’t write anything down for today. I do remember the slice of pizza and a salad for dinner. Funny how I remember meals? I can’t remember much else, but I did find this pretty scene that popped up in a folder.

It reminds me of our early days of marriage living in California, when the California poppies were blooming. I always loved the sound of gulls overhead. This is my imaginary pup, let’s call her Poppet, in honor of the California poppy. I would be very at home in the sweater and blue jeans on a fresh morning looking out at the ocean. Such a lovely walk we have had and yes, my imagination is blooming just like the poppies.

Friday, February 20th, 2026: the electricity has been off for the last hour. Just as I was wondering if it was ever going to come back on, it did after 2 hours, I think it was. At least it felt like it. I kept myself busy doing a few chores and then was able to finish a jigsaw puzzle on my iPad. I had it open when the electric cut out.

Father and son are off out again. In Maryland this time where son had some business to do. He is still without a car this week and his dad loves the journey there and back especially. Son does all the driving. Hubs finds a place while waiting for son, looking around for a while and then heads for a coffee shop for a bit of reading. Then they meet up for their drive home. Journeys there and back make for great conversations. 

They will be the first to admit, they are both talkers. There are times I channel my dear mother-in-law who used to say when hubs and his dad got together, “Let’s get out of here Denise, these two are big bags of gas when they get going!” - this was always said with great affection, as do I now in the retelling. So, I look at my two when they get talking and, seeing they are in for the long haul, talking about things that cover a whole wide variety of topics, and quite loudly, I say in my head to my mother-in-law, “They’re still at it, the next apple didn’t fall far from the tree, the next generation has joined in.” A family joke and a tribute to a very wise lady.

Saturday, February 21st, 2026: we were heading out to the garden to walk around, the first nice day of warm-ish weather, and half-way there we realized we had forgotten so many things, we turned around and went home. The spirit was willing, but two minds went for a break on our way out the door and on the way to the garden apparently. 

We passed huge mountains of snow on the way home, one as big as the second story of a parking lot, shaped like a huge cone. I looked at our grass and there are only a few patches of snow left and one the size of an ice-cube at the side of our garage, which gave me a chuckle. Still hanging in there are you I said?

However, the ice-cube will have company soon as it is going to start snowing tonight. Let's just say I am as happy as this little girl with her snowball. Let's just say I am telling fibs? I am really looking to those first crocus blooms.

So, no walkies for the next couple of days or so, if the weather people are correct. 

By the way, there has been no sign of that mouse since we gave our car the peppermint treatment.

                             

This is where I am going to end today's post.

Wherever you are, stay warm or stay cool and have a great day!