I was just looking through my photos because I thought I was so behind on my blog. My favorite things about bloggins is when all of you read and comment . . . and I read and comment on your blogs. I love the "community" aspect of blogging, BUT I also blog because I want a record of our lives - maybe not a complete record, but enough to look back on and remember!
There is a local restaurant in town called Pizzeria GM. During the summer, they make a Chilton County Peach and Conecuh Sausage pizza that is divine. If you aren't from Alabama, let me explain. Chilton County peaches are soooo good! We live in Jefferson County and just south of us is Shelby County and then Chilton County. Conecuh is a county further south in Alabama and if you've never had Conecuh Sausage, you should try it soon.
The top photo below is a photo from Trip Advisor of the actual pizza at GM.
I had told Mark that we were going to attempt to make one of those pizzas. Last Sunday, my sister-in-law told us that they had made one and she shared her recipe (from a cookbook). I, of course, changed it up. I made the two ingredient dough pizza crust (2/3 cup White Lily Self Rising flour and 1/2 cup non-fat Greek yogurt. After mixing together, I placed a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and divided the dough into two round balls. I rolled it out (using my hand in plastic glove) into two pizza crusts. I spritzed with avocado oil and baked at 475 about 10 minutes. Watch it carefully.
The sauce is fat free cottage cheese whirled in the food processor with a sprinkle of dried basil, garlic salt, and black pepper.
I spread the sauce on the dough and added 1/4 cup mozarella and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and the conecuh sausage rings (we cooked the sausage in the electric skillet and then sliced it into thin rings). I popped that back into the oven for a couple of minutes, then pulled out the cookie sheet and added the peaches and popped back into the oven for another 2 minutes.
The top one is mine - less sausage, because let's face it. The sausage is delicious and has lots of fat!
Mark's "personal pan" pizza is prettier. It has lots more sausage!
This was a great at-home substitute pizza!
The original recipe from my sister-in-law said to top with 2 cups arugula. She substituted fresh basil from her yard. We didn't want either of those and it was good without.
Mark went to the farm on Thursday and stayed until Friday. While he was gone, I watched The Sheep Detectives. It was cute. It was not what I was expecting. I don't know what I was expecting. It was cute.
In May of 2025, I graduated from a local Community College and our Tuesday night young adults all went together and purchased a gift card for me for the Ross Bridge Resort Spa. Ross Bridge is only a few minutes away from our house, but I haven't had time. On Wednesday night, I went online and lo and behold . . .they had massage appointments available for Thursday afternoon. Yes! I booked a massage.
We've been to the Ross Bridge neighborhood multiple times to eat at a restaurant located there, but I had never been back to the hotel. It is soooo lovely! The spa is located around in the back and from the moment I stepped out of my car, the experience began. The grounds are lovely.
I had no idea where I was going, but the signage directed me. The spa is lovely and the employees were all so nice. I had a one hour massage, a glass of champagne, and a brief respite in the lovely "spa lounge" area. Afterwards, I shopped in the gift shop with the remainder of my gift card. It was a lovely way to spend a couple of hours.
I love our neighborhood pool, but rarely make the time to go. On Thursday morning (this whole post is out of order), I loaded up my beach bag and headed to the pool at 9:00 a.m. I don't think it is really open then, but who cares? I had the pool all to myself for an hour and 15 minutes. It has been so hot here for the last week, that I actually spent most of that time in the water! I had a pre-cancer zapped in my part this week, so I remembered to wear my hat! Between the cancer on my ear back in 2024 and a pre-cancer in my part . . .I am trying to be more careful. I had on 30 sunscreen.
In other interesting news, Mark purchased a new lawn mower. Our yard is very small and he has to roll the lawnmower a short ways down our alley and then around the sidewalk to the front of the house. He has loved Honda lawnmowers for years, so this is new territory. He really likes the new one.
I posted this photo (below) on our neighborhood buy/sale/trade page with the following message - a young man who lives across the street picked it up in 15 minutes. He is in high school and has been cutting grass for years. I'm glad he snagged it!
Free to a good neighbor! Honda Lawnmower; metal deck; starts on first pull - no longer needed. In our driveway- first to pick up - it's yours!
Back in February at the Mardi Gras neighborhood parade, we won a $50 gift card to Walk On's. We used it on Wednesday night. It was our first time to eat there and it was really good. USA was playing Bosnia-Herzegovina plus they had karaoke night. It was a happening place! I had boom boom shrimp tacos and fruit (I ate the inside of the tacos, but not the flour tortilla).
Mark had Voodoo shrimp and grits -- these shrimp were stuffed with cream cheese and jalapenos and wrapped with bacon. They were also drizzled with a chili glaze. He said it was excellent.
Mark also had a beer. I think our meal was about $52, so we paid that little bit over and gave our sweet server a very generous tip. Who knew? We will actually go back to Walk On's!! A group of guys were in line to be seated right in front of us. They were seated nearby and several in their group proceeded to drink a lot. They were funny to watch.
When we left the restaurant, the traffic was HORRIBLE. Our town was celebrating the "Fourth on the First" and the Met which is just down the road. Thousands of people were trying to get to the stadium. Some friends of ours worked the event and posted photos. They broke a Guinness world record - the most aluminum cans popped open at the same time! The Guiness people were there to record the event. There was actually a thunderstorm that evening so I'm glad we didn't attend.
When I was looking for something in the attic, I found a box with a brand new float inside. I blew it up and took it to the pool!!
I have enjoyed having fresh hydrangeas on our dining room table this year! Our blue ones bloom early and our lime light ones are blooming now.
How is that for a quick (or not-so-quick) recap? Life is good. I just got my final grade for Family Law and I made an A. I thought this was going to be the class that knocked me off my A streak. I think the professor took pity on me haha! It was a really great class - HARD, but great. This class made me wish I was a younger student, because I think I would have really enjoyed a career working with families - educating and advocating. God has used me without a college degree and I am very thankful for where I am . . .BUT . . .I do wonder -- what would I have been if I had graduated from college at a "normal age."
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