Friday Randomness
This week’s Randomness post, I will start with a list of my FIGs (Elisabeth’s Finding joy In Gratitude practice), then we’ll dive in for a bit of detail.
My FIGs for this first week of February:
Sunday – A trip to the museum in San Francisco
Monday – Maya’s night to cook + flowering trees
Tuesday – Good Books and A Cool Blog Trick
Wednesday – Strength training + leftovers
Thursday – Connections + Frozen broccoli
Friday – Fabulous Friday
A Trip to the Museum
On Sunday, Maya and I took our cousin Grace to The Legion of Honor museum in San Francisco, to see the Manet and Morisot exhibit. Grace and I had both been (separately), but Maya had not, and we wanted to go before it closes on March 1st. I don’t know that I love this painting, but wow, look at that wallpaper. I want it to be a fabric wallpaper, either in my powder room or perhaps even my library. Just making notes in case I win the Lotto (unlikely, I rarely play).
While looking at the beautiful paintings, we discussed the difference between the paintings of Manet (male) and Morisot (female). We felt like her paintings of women conveyed more emotion, because she has lived the experience of being a woman. His paintings were more objective, I guess. This painting is a perfect example (and the card to the right of the painting discusses it) of how her technique gets at the heart of what it is to be a woman, to know you are being watched, being under ‘the male gaze’. Could she be a character in ‘The Age of Innocence’, which we are reading for Engie’s book club? Is this May at a dance, waiting for a dance partner?
This painting, by Manet, is of Morisot. We think she looks like Joyce from Stranger Things. One might say she looks like Winona Ryder, but I think more Joyce.
Grace is taking an Art History class at UC Berkeley, and part of her assignment was to go to a museum and stand in front of one piece of art for at least 10 minutes, and write about it. Had that been my assignment, this is the painting I would have chosen. It is of Morisot’s daughter with her nanny, and there’s something about it that I just love.
Maya Cooks
My stepmom Julie’s gift to her grandkids this Christmas was a binder full of recipes. I have a lot of cookbooks, and of course, there is the internet, but Maya has been using the binder for inspiration when it is her night to cook. Last week we had fish (it was supposed to be cod, but the store didn’t have any – I don’t remember what I bought) with a pistachio crust, and this week we had chicken curry with Indian spiced quinoa. Both delicious, though we liked the fish more than the chicken. I love that at this point in my life, I’m down to having to figure out what’s for dinner three nights a week. Maya cooks on Monday, I cook Tuesday – Thursday, we go out on Friday, and Ted cooks on Saturday and Sunday.
Flowering Trees
It’s barely February, and most of the trees are still bare, but some (like the one at the top of my post) are in full bloom, while others, like this little tulip tree, are putting out their flower buds. When we were dropping Grace off at her dorm, we saw a few with flowers, but I haven’t seen any here yet. I guess they’re a week or two ahead of us. The Berkeley/Oakland hills that separate us make a difference.
I liked these delicate little flowers too.
Good Books
I am reading and loving The Age of Innocence for Engie’s book club. Having finished this week’s reading for Monday, I’ve started reading Nicole’s book, Inhale Exhale. I’m a couple of chapters in and am enjoying the heck out of it. The other two books pictured, We Run the Tides and The Optimist’s Daughter, I got from Little Free Libraries around town.
Cool Blog Trick – Tap the arrow to learn how to create hidden text in Blocks
Engie had a spoiler in her book wrap up on Tuesday, and she hid the spoiler behind a cool button. I read the spoiler, decided the book was not for me (thanks for the warning Engie!) and decided I wanted to see if I could have a similar button on my WordPress blog, which uses Blocks. So I did, and it was pretty easy. All I did was start a new block, then typed in ‘show’, and it’s the first icon there, Details. Easy peasy.
Strength Training
Lately, I’ve been feeling like I am ready to up my weights game a bit. When I first started doing strength training videos via YouTube, I had 2lb and 5lb weights. Eventually I was able to increase to 10lb weights for some exercises, and lately those have not felt challenging enough, especially for leg exercises. So I went out and bought some 15lb weights. That feels like I’m making progress, even though you can’t really see the muscle that I’m building.
Leftovers or Meal Prep
Ted made turkey meatloaf for dinner a few weeks ago. The recipe we use is from Ina Garten, and it makes a LOT of meatloaf. Usually we halve the recipe, and still have plenty for leftovers. This time, Ted made the whole recipe (5lbs of turkey!), divided the recipe into thirds. He cooked one and froze the other two. So on Wednesday, all I had to do is pull one huge portion out of the freezer, thaw it, and pop it in the oven. I had some frozen vegetarian chili in there as well, which I thawed for Maya’s dinner. I made some mashed sweet potatoes to go with the meatloaf. I like cooking, but sometimes it’s really nice to just have something ready to go like that.
Connections
Yesterday’s Connections made me laugh. A nod perhaps to the Boss’s new song? If you don’t know what made me laugh, look at the top quarter of the chart. Iconic.
As is so often the case, this was not the actual row, but my very favorite, a rainbow row. When I get a game like this, it’s all about the heart eyes.
Fabulous Friday
Today is Friday, and of course I wrote this post all week in dribbles as things came in, so I’m writing on Thursday afternoon and Friday is my tomorrow. I’m sure we enjoyed watching The Pitt last night. I still have Fridays off from work, and I am so very thankful for that. I don’t have any big plans or even a bunch of errands to run. I do not think there will be any cats to visit, when I showed up on Wednesday afternoon the kennels were all empty, all of the cats had been adopted. I was pretty annoyed that no one had posted on our FB group that this was the case, since I drove across town on my lunch break and could have spent that time differently. I cheered myself up by buying some flowers at Trader Joe’s. Tonight is dinner out with Ted. Tomorrow is a dentist appointment, and a couple of friends are going to meet me at the Saturday protest (yay!)
Not a FIG, just Randomness
I’ve shown pictures of random food that ends up outside before, but this one was worrisome. It was about 44 degrees on my morning walk, and someone had put this food out with a sign that says ‘Free!’. I mean, I like a good fridge clean out as much as the next person, but it’s probably best to not give people salmonella. I should have thrown away everything but the bread, but I didn’t. I left it there. I was still thinking about it a couple of hours later, so I went back the next morning and some of it was still there…the turkey cutlets, the shrimp, and one of the heat up meals, plus the bread. I left the bread but threw the rest away. It was 70 degrees on Wednesday, I can’t imagine that food would be remotely safe.
Bonus FIGs
These were technically January, hence the Bonus. Saturday Sarah and I did yoga together, 1,745 miles apart, which was a lot of fun. We sent each other a few texts as we waited for it to start, and I’ll admit that I really liked knowing she was downward dogging at the exact same time as me (and at least 4.3k other folks). Want to join us for Saturday Yoga this February? I linked the specific videos I’ll be doing, here, though any yoga you want to do would be fun. Today’s is ‘Yoga for the Pelvic Floor’, and as a woman of a certain age, I feel targeted.
Roasted Frozen Broccoli
Yesterday I was making pork chops for dinner, but what to make for a vegetable? Perfect time to give Elisabeth’s roasted frozen broccoli a try. I tried this recipe, and it’s simple and definitely a keeper. Ted took a bite and said, “this is great, what did you do?” Excellent, thanks for the idea Elisabeth!
Continued Protests
The last couple of anti Trump protests have been great. Sadly, the reason that more folks have been on the streets is due to the continued brutality of ICE/DHS. I liked these handmade signs. From left to right, they read:
“This is always light – Choose it!”
“Wake the Fuck Up”
“We Are Not OK”
My pictures don’t show the size of the crowds, it has been several hundred. I have been heartened to see a few more people in the under 50 set, though the majority are still definitely retirees. Last Saturday a student who organized a walk out of about 300 kids at her high school got up and spoke, and she was really great. The news shows that several high schools in the area have been having walk outs in protest of ICE, which is fabulous.
Does anyone listen to This American Life? Last week’s episode, What is Your Emergency? is about ICE agents in the US, and includes a segment of people calling their local 911 for help when they witness someone being taken, or when a car with ICE agents hits their car and doesn’t stop. It’s interesting and chilling. Certainly not a cheerful episode, but I’m grateful that this kind of journalism is happening, and that people are bearing witness to what is going on. That is the only way we will stop it. The song at the end of the episode had some very fitting lyrics.
’Are You Seeing This, or Is it Just Me?’
Bonus Content
Ted sent me this photo yesterday. Awesome.
What’s awesome in your life right now?
48 Comments
Elisabeth
Roasted frozen broccoli is so good, right? And I love the convenience. I buy it when it’s on sale (so it’s cheaper than fresh) and I don’t have to do any chopping!
Yay for FIGs and all the details with each.
I have never seen meat left outside with a free sign. Um. Eeks. I hate waste, but you 100% did the right thing in disposing of it. Also meat is expensive. Too bad the person didn’t invest in non-perishable canned items, for example.
J
I’ve seen canned meat before, like tuna or chicken, but fresh? That was a new one. And yes, this was probably at least $50 worth of groceries. Did they buy it just to put it out? Were they cleaning out their fridge? I wish I knew.
AC
If I had to stand in front of a painting for 10 minutes, my back would time out, and my briaan would quietly dim. But I like your cooking schedule.
J
10 minutes is a long time in front of one painting, but thankfully they do have benches one can sit on. I’m pretty happy with our cooking schedule too!
StephLove
Flowering trees already? I love the flowering trees of the DC area. There are more than anywhere else I’ve ever lived, but they generally don’t get started until late March. It’s been unusually cold this winter, so it may be later this year.
I don’t go to museums often enough, considering where I live and the wealth of them.
We re-arranged our cooking nights since Beth retired last month. Now I menu plan and cook on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and cook with Noah on Saturdays (a meal he plans). And I am more often than not the person who makes homemade pizza on Fridays, so I cook 3-4 nights a week but I only have to plan twice, which is nice, as I sometimes find that the hardest part.
J
I like to think that if I lived in DC, I’d be going to the free museums a LOT. Maybe I would? Maybe it’s a hassle sometimes when you have other plans.
nance
I absolutely thought of the Springsteen cover with that Connections board and tried it as an answer! I was so irked when it came up wrong. WTF?
How I wish I could look outside and see some flowering trees instead of ice- and snow-covered dark branches. We are getting 2 more inches today, and I think I might go outside and try punching it as it comes down. Futile and stupid, but it might make me feel better.
I love your thoughts on Manet vs. Morisot and the way the women look. And wow! does that painting look like Ryder as Joyce Byers in Stranger Things! (How good was that series, btw? I LOVED IT)
J
I sometimes write out my connections categories before making any guesses. Then I try to grab one from each category so I can have the rainbow row. It makes me happy.
LOL with punching the snow. Perhaps you need a flame thrower. That might be satisfying.
She looks so much like Joyce, right? Crazy. We loved Stranger Things too, but Maya is still salty about the finale. Current theory is that they can’t actually write, and it was one of their wives who wrote, and when they got divorced they lost the talent.
Margaret
Love your meal prep plan because it provides a great variety of dishes and a spreading of the cooking responsibilities. I love Connections although they do try to trick us sometimes; do you remember the one where the top row was Sponge Bob Square Pants. I knew better than to fall for that! John and I need to figure out more protests to attend; we haven’t been out as much as we should. Especially considering the horrible events going on!
J
Our schedules have not always worked out so our cooking is divided so evenly, but I’m glad we are here now. Are you on Facebook? Our local Indivisible group posts there and they have a protest every Saturday, same time, different locations. That makes it really easy.
Margaret
I am on Facebook and a member of Indivisible. However, there’s been some issue with our group and a splintering of it has happened. I’m not quite sure what’s going on there but I’m not getting notifications of protests. Perhaps they happen through the new group Puyallup Action.
By the way, I forgot to mention that I love Morisot, but am not usually keen on Manet.
J
Interesting about your Indivisible group. I hope you are able to get more notifications.
I was pretty ignorant of Morisot before this exhibit, I loved learning about her, and how her friendship with Manet shaped both of their work. They were such close friends, and she married his brother! And their marriage was good enough that she could continue painting. Her sister was also a very talented painter, but when she married that was the end of that. Sad. I agree, I like her paintings better than his, at least from what they had at the exhibit. But he did have some lovely ones.
Sarah
I also loved doing yoga together! And! I recently alos moved up to 15 poounds and also feel SO STRONG!
J
The 15lb club!
NGS
It does look like Winona Ryder! There’s something about the nose that’s just perfect.
Did you ever play around with the Art Selfie on Google’s Art & Culture app. It always gives me “Portrait of Sally Montgomery,” which I have to admit is RUDE.
Congrats on moving up weights! You’re doing amazing work!
J
Back in 2006 there was a thing where you could use a picture of yourself and it would find your celebrity double. I got Jason Biggs. I mean, he’s good looking and a celebrity, but also a man. Sigh. I had to look up Portrait of Sally Montgomery, and yes, RUDE! She has a square jaw and her hair parts in the middle…does your hair part in the middle, I can’t remember. That’s about it. Well, and the hat. 😉 (is that a hat or a snood?)
Michelle G.
I would love to see that art at the museum! Thank you for sharing it!
J
You’re welcome! I feel fortunate to live near a big city that gets exhibitions like this.
Allison McCaskill
The connections thing is hilarious. I never would have thought roasting frozen broccoli would work, this could be very exciting! Very interesting perception of the paintings.
J
I never thought of roasting frozen veggies either, until Elisabeth mentioned it. The key is to get the baking sheet hot, put it in the oven while the oven heats up. Then when you put your veggies in, the heat helps the water to evaporate pretty quickly, so you’re roasting not steaming.
San
So cool you got to work out virtually with Sarah! This is exactly why I love my Peloton community – I virtually meet up with my Peloton friends all the time: on rides, on runs, on strength + yoga sessions and I have a group chat going with some of them. It’s really fun and a great motivation 🙂
Sounds like you really had a great week, Julie. What a fun trip to the museum. I haven’t been to The Crocker (here in Sac) in a while and I should go. It’s always a fun time. I need to check their exhibits.
I continue to be inspired by all the protesters! Keep it up!
J
I never really thought about that aspect of the Peloton until I read your blog and you mention it. Yes, totally fun!
I feel like maybe I’ve been to the Crocker once, we saw an exhibit on Impressionism, which is my jam, so it was great.
Meike
I love all the flowering trees. For me it’s always the first sign that winter is over.
I also went to see that exhibit with a friend and loved it. I probably will always remember it since we just finished and the big power outage happened and everyone had to leave immediately.
J
Oh gosh, did you get stuck in horrible traffic or did you just go over the GG to escape? My BIL was in the city that day and said it was HORRIBLE.
I’m so glad you saw the exhibit! Do you have a membership? I have two free tickets I can gift someone (I would just give you the codes) if you are not a member and want to go see the Monet exhibit this spring.
Meike
For us it’s often faster over the Golden Gate at least from that side of the city and so it was that day. It was not worse than usual. I also have a membership since recently. I am looking forward to the Flowers and Art coming up.
J
I’ve never been to that, I feel like it will be super crowded. Have you seen that show before?
Lisa’s Yarns
Oh my gosh, leaving perishable food out on the sidewalk is the worst idea. Sheesh. What is that person thinking!!
Your museum outing sounded so fun! I love impressionist so would have enjoyed that exhibit!
Flowering trees sound so nice. That is months away for us. But at least we are out of the subzero temps. It’s going to be in the 30s all week and I can’t wait!
J
Regarding the food, I know. I was a bit shocked to see meat out there.
I’m glad the temps have moderated for you!
Jenny
Well, I didn’t do yoga today (but I did an Adriene video yesterday) BUT I have done that pelvic floor routine in the past! It’s very good.
I love the paintings you showed. Yes, that could be May! (Poor May, and by that I mean poor every woman who lived during that time…) You’re reminding me that I need to get my chapters read for Monday.
All that food sitting outside!!!??? That’s bizarre.
Yay for FIGS! I love this project.
J
I agree, the pelvic floor routine was good, though she said pelvic floor about eleventy billion times.
Tobia | craftaliciousme
Ypur art museum vist sounds like it was very inspirational and fun. Those are some interesting paintings. I am sad to say I have never heard of Morisot.
I am amazed by the flowerson trees. I am staring at snow hee. It has snowed a ot last night so much so that I wonder if I can walk to our anniversary dinner in the shoes I had planned. Porbably not.
J
I had never heard of Morisot before either, it was interesting to learn about her.
I hope you enjoy your anniversary dinner, whatever shoes you wear!
Melissa
That’s a great system you have going for making dinner, and I love the book of Grammy’s recipes. What a treasure. We just got some of those adjustable dumbells that go from about 4 kg to 22 kg, plus a 25kg and 32 kg kettle bell so I can switch to strength training at home. so much more convenient.
J
I love the adjustable dumbbells, I wish I had more room for a proper setup. Mine are hidden in a corner in our tiny living room. Working out at home is SO much more convenient than going to a gym, right?
PocoBrat
Still smiling form the Prince anti-ICE poster!
I did January yoga with you last year and would love to do Feb yoga in 2026. I’ve already missed half the month, but I’ll tune into Adrienne on Saturdays…
The next one is Valentine’s Day, right?
J
Yes, VDay is the next one!
PocoBrat
ummm… *from (not form)
J
<3
Codex
I think people are confused about the instructions. It’s a movement. There are restaurants that participate food donors can leave food in fridges and freezers. People come to pick it up. No questions asked.
People mean well, but I saw gourmet fresh pasta left out. Not the greatest idea.
I can easily study a painting for an hour. Nice exercise.
J
Yeah, someone heard ‘leave food out for those who need it’, and our Little Free Libraries were collecting for a while, and there are always places to donate. But leaving fresh meat and meals out like that is stupid, right? Maybe they thought it would be picked up in 15 minutes or something.
Codex:
I was thinking of putting a post up. We’re helping a little in similar ways. There are various groups that are affected and it’s getting worse. It’s trickling up the. Middle class.
I can’t see the labels but shrimp is just stupid. This wasn’t a fridge clean out. Are you participating.
J
I do not leave food on the sidewalk, no. If I have something extra, I give it away in my local Buy Nothing group, or I leave something in a Little Free Library. And I give to our local Meals on Wheels and the Food Bank.
Nicole MacPherson
Oh Julie, thank you so much! I hope you enjoy it. xoxo
J
I’ve been enjoying it so far!
K @ TS
Who leaves food out like that? That is kind of strange. I could see making something similar to a Little Free Library and putting some non-perishables in there (I did see this a lot in Seattle when I was staying there), but to just clean out your fridge and leave it on the curb is kind of like throwing trash in the street, IMO. I get that you want it to go to a good place if it can be useful but that is not responsible.
J
I know, right? And you can absolutely give perishable food away on Buy Nothing, where there is a timed pickup so it doesn’t make anyone sick. Such a waste.
ernie
I know I read this awhile ago, but I don’t think I came back to comment. I’m laughing at ‘I feel targeted’. Ha. What is with the free meat that will potentially kill someone or make them very ill? What the what? I totally saw the Stranger Things character played by Winona in that painting. Trader Joe’s flowers for the win, along with only having to manage dinner 3x a week. My fav is that This is thing called ICE. So clever.
J
So many times I read a post when I don’t have time to comment, and then I have to come back later. I’m glad you came back! That free meat was really weird, right?