Monday Notes for Women over 60
Happy Monday, all! Welcome to the weekly Monday Notes for Women over 60!
Monday Notes for Women over 60 is where I fill in some gaps of what I have been up to and what I have planned going into this week.
When I share with you about my “out-and-about” life it is with the hope that I will encourage you to go out and enjoy this time of year…you don’t have to spend anything…just enjoy the sights and sounds of the season.
Let’s start today with cooking with grandsons…sounds like a new show doesn’t it?
MONDAY NOTES FOR WOMEN OVER 60: STRAWBERRY THUMBPRINT COOKIES
Yes, these are not the prettiest cookies every made, but they were delicious and I had a two boys ages 12 and 7 as my sous chefs.
In fact, the 12 -year-old is the little boy pictured at the bottom of this page…I loved that picture so much the year I took it, right before we opened gifts, and I use it every year because I love it.
His smile will always melt my heart.
Back to the cookies….these are STRAWBERRY THUMBPRINT COOKIES.
I have cooked recipes from this website before with success, so I went for their thumbprint cookie…except I so use the European Butter and Mexican Vanilla for cookies…so good.
I like this brand, BONNE MAMAN, for their yummy preserves.
I would like to give an attempt at making my own, but have not ever tried to. Does anyone else here make their own? Any tips?
This brand is excellent and the boys loved it. I offered to make some with Nutella, and they said they preferred the strawberry.
MONDAY NOTES FOR WOMEN OVER 60: OUT WITH MR.B
Mr. B suggested we go to lunch one day.
So, I put on this easy, comfy, oversized tunic from one of the past clearance racks at my favorite boutique, Addie’s.
The brand is MASAI, and I am leaning into my “creative” style adjective here. Going for fun comfort here, more than flattering fit.
The top is navy based so I wore it with my navy EILEEN FISHER CREPE PANTS (the color is called ink), and my COACH LOAFERS in navy.
On top was a navy coat, because it was cold outside!
However……….
He took me to a dive. And there, I was overdressed!
We have always found the best Mexican food at the dive restaurants that are more about Mexican heritage recipes than interior design.
Sitting next to some of the city electric workers, I was overdressed…but we were all enjoyed excellent food.
Last week, Mr. B ate with Texas Rangers…always a good choice to have in the eatery.
Then to my surprise, he wanted to stop at a vintage store across the street…he has not really ever enjoyed vintage (second hand) shopping.
But, I would love it if that it changing…it would be fun to have him along sometimes.
Sadly, the first store was not inviting…too much stuff, too many bad odors, unfriendly worker, and not curated well.
But, I did stop at a good one on the way home after I dropped him at the office.
It was clean, smelled good, and had beautiful offerings at great prices…I just bought a few things, but was very pleased to find this one close to home.
MONDAY NOTES FOR WOMEN OVER 60: OFFICE DECOR
The office Christmas decorations are stunning.
I love the decor on this artificial tree.
It was decorated by a young employee and her mother-in-law.
They shopped everything at Micheal’s and Hobby Lobby…looks professional to me?
I love it and received some new inspiration from all they did.
There are even Texas Cowboy hats on this tree.
Women over 60, if you are in need of a little holiday inspiration, just go out to antique or second hand shops for the enjoyment of it.
I always find pieces that evoke memories of my childhood or the time when I was raising my children, these will make me smile… and sometimes, Laugh out Loud.
I also end up visiting either with other shoppers or the owners. It can be so much fun.
This is way better than fighting traffic at the mall.
On this day, I found a few more Christmas books for grandchildren.
Next week, I have a diet update for you…and a new medical happening (nothing serious) to update…and, of course, fashion and Christmas fun.
Hope to see you tomorrow…until then…
CHOOSE JOY & KEEP SMILING!!
By Pamela Lutrell
For all your shopping, please use the links on my SHOPPING PAGE…thank you, thank you to all who shop this way and show support for this blog. It means the world.
You look fabulous in the navy, and anyone who considered you overdressed needs to adjust their standards. You were a woman on a lunch date with her husband – what a treat in the middle of the workday! I’m not sure you could possibly look too nice for that. As you do so often, you reminded me of something I need to add to the holiday list – making the thumbprint jam cookies! We roll ours in egg whites and dip them into coconut before adding the “thumbprint” and filling with jam. You are absolutely right about the quality of that brand of jam – it is perfect for this recipe. We also like them with the apricot flavor. This year I’m going to try a few with blueberry jam, at my grandson’s request. I look forward to following your upcoming holiday adventures, as I try to find joy each day in even the most mundane holiday tasks.
Thank you…we went back for breakfast after church yesterday and this little eatery was packed. It was a party…with a live guitarist and lots of hungry, happy people. I loved it. Excellent Huevos rancheros! I am going to try a new recipe for gingerbread thumbprint cookies. I have my molasses and will let you know how it goes. Yesterday, I also needed to wrap some early gifts. I put on Christmas music and sang while I wrapped. I was alone and it was little mundane…but the joy was still there. Try to make those mundane tasks more fun!
Thrift and resale YES!!! Don’t forget consignment. I have found fabulous furniture and artwork at consignment shops. The black 2piece in your photo definitely caught my eye.
It is one of my favorite things to do…shop all of these. I have fun even if I do not purchase anything.
You asked if anyone makes their own strawberry jam, I think I’ve told you before that I make several different types of jam. I started making blueberry jam because we had a couple of prolific producing blueberry bushes. Then we found a local farm selling strawberries so I expanded to make strawberry jam. And now I make many different types, giving most of it away. I too love to wander through vintage antique stores though I rarely buy anything. I’m at the age that I need to be decreasing items i
I buy rather than increasing. We too have a couple of local restaurants where we go to get the best authentic food, and enjoy trying new dishes. I think I’d rather be overdressed…didn’t we have a discussion about this sometime ago…than be underdressed.
Yes…we did have that discussion and Mr. B reminded me of it and said not to worry about it in this circumstance. So when we went back yesterday…I just enjoyed. Please share any tips you have with your jam making experience…especially tips for beginners. I think I want to give this a try.
Thanks Celia.
I use my mother’s recipe when making thumbprint cookies with my granddaughter every year. A highlight of the season. They may not look as pretty as the my mother’s but they are made with love and joy.
So were ours…not pretty but lots of love. Any secretes from your mother’s recipe?
I’ve made a lot of jam. The easiest are the recipes from the box of powdered pectin. Be sure to skim the foam so as to have clearer jam. It’s quite easy if you just freeze it or give it away. For longer storage, you need to can it using a waterbath (also not a big deal if you have a large stockpot). You can also make freezer jam, which I find a little too sweet, but is fresh tasting. Nutella is also good in the thumbprint. Here in Italy (Sicily today, which is one of our faves) they eat a lot of pistachio, and I bought pistachio butter (they call it “pistachio paste”) that could be sandwiched between thin cookies for something very special. On the fashion front, Sicily way more casual than Rome. Sneakers have made an appearance!
I like the idea of cookies with pistachio paste! YUM…I had Nutella on the counter when we made these cookies and I was going to do both, but my oldest grandson loved the strawberry so much, he asked that we not include Nutella but do them all in strawberry preserves. I was surprised and secretly hoping for a reason to open the jar of Nutella. I will use it for something soon. Sicily in sneakers sounds divine.
Thumbprint cookies have always been a favorite of mine. I favor apricot or raspberry filling, but your Nutella idea would make a great choice, too. As a fan of Mexican treats, I think I will fill some with cajeta, the goat’s milk caramel. I brought home a full bag of Las Gloria’s candies just last month. 😋
Mom taught our troop of Junior Girl Scouts to make jam, as part of our Cooking badge, so I should dust off that skill and have some fun with fruit next summer! I still remember, we made plum.
I wish we had done cooking in Blue Birds…I would have been into a badge for that! I love apricot and it would be so good in these thumbprints! Thanks Connie.
You look terrific in your outfit! I’m sure Mr. B is proud to have you at his side. Your cookies look delicious and cookies is my biggest weakness. Therefore, I don’t bake them too often. I adore that Christmas picture of your grandson! It is a precious moment in time to keep forever.
I am also on team overdressed & am glad that you enjoyed yourself. I don’t visit many secondhand stores for the very reasons you described. I have been to a couple & that kind of turned me off of them. The office tree looks lovely. I like Hobby Lobby, & a new one just opened near me. I haven’t had time to visit yet, but it is on my list.
Thank goodness, we have more well-done second hand stores than the first one I described. I will not go back there, but will be returning to all of my favorites. You will love Hobby Lobby!
small batch recipe for Strawberry jam: Don’t remember the cookbook: 2 lbs fresh strawberries hulled. Wash thoroughly and drain. Smash with fork or masher. In a heavy bottomed pot, add berries and 1 cup white sugar and 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice. Bring to a slow boil. skim if you want to. (I usually don’t). Cook slowly and stir often until reduced and jam-like. Jam test. Put a small plate in the freezer when you start your jam. After about 30 minutes of slow boil, place a dab of the hot jam on the frozen plate. Let it set for about 30 seconds. Draw a spoon or small knife through the dab. If it stays drawn and does not fall back into a dab, your jam is ready. Place in two 8 oz jars. Yup, that’s all you get. This is a nice way to ease into jam making. Strawberries do not naturally have a lot of pectin so they tend be somewhat harder to make into jam. Fresh apricots are loaded with pectin and make a delicious jam without too much trouble, but don’t use the dried, rubbery apricots. As others have mentioned, I also use the recipes in the Sure-jel (Pectin) box especially for larger batches. We have a prolific orange tree, and I love orange marmalade which also needs pectin. Mary
Thank you, Mary!!
Hi Pamela, I am anxious to try the thumbprint cookies! They look and sound delicious!!
Also, I was wondering what size your Eileen Fisher slacks are? I have several styles of her slacks and they all fit a little differently! I think we are very similar with our sizing! Enjoy your blog so much! Thank you!!
Hi Nikki…these are size XL. Most of my EF pants are. I did buy one large when I was smaller three years ago. I still have them and maybe in a few months I will wear them again. I love these pants.