Bowling, Christmas Lunches, Electricity Refund,

I bowled on Thursday, whooppee. I played one game and hurt a little bit but then eventually it faded and it was fine. I attribute my cure to Elizabeth Seckman, thanks Liz. From comments received from sinlaw in the UK, his daughter is a dancer, ballet dancers (and other forms of dance) get shin splints too. Sinlaw wondered if I had taken up ballet. He figured I couldn't do the Grand Jete with a shin splint. Er, I couldn't do the move without a shin splint. A jump in which a dancer springs from one foot to land on the other with one leg forward of their body and the other stretched backward while in the air. When I felt the pain at the bowling alley I just flexed the shin muscle which helped it disappear, of course I had a great game today - after all it's Thursday.

The league that are normally there on Thursday had their Christmas luncheon today and kindly

offered some to us. Matt never has anything, but I took some cheese and a few other bits plus a glass of wine. Very kind of them. Today was their last day before Christmas. We have our Christmas lunch next week. Normally, the Christmas shindig is sandwiches and desserts made by the wives of the owners. However, one wife is still recovering from major back surgery and the other wife is working so I gather they are going to Costco for the sandwiches. From the pictures they make all kinds of good stuff so I guess we will be OK.

I was pleased this week, to finally receive a cheque from the Electric company in North Carolina. They are a membership corporation and when you leave them, there are often monies in your account. We had $500 (this was about 15 years ago) but they won't give it to you in a lump sum, but have been paying it to us in dribs and drabs every year. I had forgotten about it until something reminded me so I phoned and made enquiries. Turned out that they had sent cheques but they were still floating in limbo uncashed. However, they said they would send them to me again. It turned out to be a decent sized cheque after being delayed a couple of years or so. Not only that, the exchange rate is very much in our favour. Mind you, if Matt shuffles off his mortal coil, they will then pay out the remainder.

Pork Chops can be so boring. This helps I think. Might try it Friday night.

Saucy Mushroom Marsala Pork Chop Casserole

Recipe4Living.

Upgrade to this tasty dish! These pork chops are simmered in a mushroom and wine sauce and then baked with a

coating of crispy Parmesan.

4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 lb. pork loin chops
• 1/3 C. flour
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. oregano
• ½ stick butter
• 2 T. olive oil
• 2 C. mushrooms, sliced
• 1 C. Marsala wine
• ¼ C. Parmesan cheese, shredded

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, combine flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano. Coat pork chops with flour mixture and transfer to a skillet with butter and oil. Cook until brown, add in mushrooms, and sauté briefly. Pour in wine, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes as sauce thickens. Transfer contents to a greased baking dish, top with Parmesan, and bake for 15 minutes.

Have a great day