Dialing It In Dinner

I know no one actually dials a phone any more, but Dialing it in, sounded better with Dinner than Phoning it in. That is what I will be doing tonight with help from DH. He was supposed to get a few needed items, A FEW. He spent $48 of my remaining budget. I will do some prorating as some things were stock up, but that will cut into February. On Sunday, we ended up cancelling dinner with the mother in law. DD2 had a bad cold that seemed like it could have moved into flu. I had come down with the cold and sinus crud as well, and she just didn't want to take the chance of getting ill herself.We are all on the mend, so suggested dinner, tonight, on a week night! This is how far I have come in trying to be more organized and more in control during the week. Plus, I am trying to let go that everything has to be perfect before having people over. The house will be far from company good, but hey, she's supposed to love us anyway right? 

I have a bag of chicken with a mushroom sauce ready for DH to put in the crock pot at 1:00. I'm making a boxed rice pilaf dish, steaming some green beans and yellow zucchini squash, and serving ice cream and white chocolate macadamia nut cookies for desert. The cookies are from a fundraiser box of preformed cookie dough. Gourmet? Hardly. But since I have been in training all week, then trying to get to my urgent e-mails after hours, this is what I can muster today. The meal was based on what we had in the house, cutting into DH's good deals. While not particularly original, it should be tasty and gives her a night with her granddaughter. We will be gone this weekend, and next weekend have plans, so we really couldn't postpone to another weekend. 

This is my mother in laws first winter in Minnesota in about 17 years. Before they bought their place in Arizona, she and my father in law took extended vacations to several places-warm places. The first winter after my father in law passed, she still enjoyed Arizona, though missed him dearly, but had many friends there. Last February she lost one of her best friends, also Arizona snow birds, and the fun went away. She has been keeping very busy, but since the snow this week kept her form several of her card clubs and social engagements, I'm glad dinner will work out tonight. We will need to start watching though how she gets along with winter driving, but thankfully, she is not a risk taker and will gladly let someone pick her up, or stay home if weather is bad. We really hope she recognizes on her own when she should stop driving. It was easy for my mom, but a battle with my dad and we were constantly worried. 

Wow, this post sure took a turn. The week is just flying for me. I think I have stye don top of urgent work business-no fires to put out. My coworker lost her mother Monday morning after a lengthy and stress filled time figuring out her care needs and options.  It reminded me of my parents last years, and awareness that we will face these challenges one more time. But, not today. tonight, we will enjoy my mother in laws company, despite my dialing in the dinner.