It's October!!! Where did September go?

 Well September flew by and I should fill you all in as I promised to blog more consistently last month and failed miserably!

I want you all to know that I read you every morning but cannot seem to get the blogs I read to load into my blogger set up.

So here is the list!

Hawaii Planner

Don't read this it's boring

Out my window

Anne in the Kitchen

Cheryls frugal corner

My tireless retirement

The Frugal Girl

The Non consumer advocate

Sam squared

Culinary adventures with Lori

This is just to name a few.

The first week of September I had secondary cataract surgery on my right eye which is the dominant one and it was extremely successful, but several follow up appointments.

I am so tired of appointments.

Hubs and I then left for Seattle and spent the Labor Day weekend with my college roommate and had a wonderful time.

I spent too much money, but it was worth it.  Finally got to a Soma and bought new bras! Yes, they were definitely needed, and I am particularly picky about my underpinnings!

There is a Soma in Spokane also, but I never had the time to get there with Hubs four skin cancer appointments. Here is the ticket.  I was professionally fitted six years ago and bought three for $ 65.00 a piece (yikes).  I took very good care of them, washed in a special net bag on cold and hung to dry. Lasted three years.  They were still in perfectly good shape but had stretched out at the back. I had Sissy try one on and it was perfect for her, so I gave her the three old ones (she was thrilled as she never spends money on things like this) and bought three more!  Well, here we are three years later and I hit pay dirt.  They were having a huge sale, and I bought six for under $210.00. So worth it. Sissy got three to her new bras. Totally worth it, and now you know more about my underwear, and you really wanted to, go on admit it!

I sewed a lot last month and cooked many meals for the freezer!  Drumroll please!!! Our eating out went down by 50%.  Go me.

I made three pans of chicken enchiladas, six quarts of spaghetti sauce, many loaves of zucchini bread (to give away) two pans of manicotti, three pans of stuffed peppers and three pans of eggplant parmesan. I was on an Italian kick the month of September.

I interspersed these meals by cooking on nights I felt like it and my freezer is happy as well as my budget.

This month I plan on making spanakopita, pistachio baklava, egg rolls, egg foo young, crab Rangoon and fried rice, so I will be on a Chinese and Greek kick.

There is a Franz Bakery outlet here and this bakery is very popular in the Pacific Norh West.

I found out the Kathy Wolk-Stanley of the Non-Consumer advocate that this bakery outlet (located in many, many cities) has a special on the first Saturday of every month.  Ten loaves for a dollar.  I cannot make bread for this amount.  They do low carb and keto bread also.  The bread is so fresh and of course I freeze as well.  This alone is saving me over thirty dollars a month as Hubs keto bread is very expensive.  I use a lot of breadcrumbs and have been making my own by drying out bread.

Today I have a ton of errands to get too, and must do my monthly Costco run, and a small grocery shop.

Now I am off to vacuum my basement and clean my little bathroom...what fun!  But needs must.

Then I have to finish balancing last month's budget and set up one for this month.

Everyone have a great weekend.

God is good!

Kay

Where have I been?

Yes, this is me and it has been over a month since I blogged.  So much happening, but a lot has been accomplished.

Little Brother and his girls were here for a week, and now my Lil Sisters girls have been here for another week, so it has been Family time this month.

Hub's nose is healing, but needs to fill in more, he is not happy with it, and I just keep telling him it takes time.  They gouged him good to get all of the cancer out.

Sissy is up in Moscow for the week taking care of our newest addition "Lucy"!

The shop is really getting caught up, so I am taking the time off to work on yard projects as the weather has really cooled down the past few days.  It is wonderful.

I have done some major rearranging of the bedrooms downstairs and have swapped my bedroom to the purple room.  Sluggy would be so proud.  This room has a large egress window and also my makeup area, and when I have guests, they can have my old bedroom with the queen sized be.  My bedroom now holds a double bed which is perfect for me.  I would show you pictures, but blogger does not want to upload my photos at present. It has been acting very strange of late.

WE have been very good about not eating out as much this month and my freezers are really going down, so I am proud of this accomplishment.

I have also been cooking a lot for the freezer and so far, have made three small lasagnas, three servings of stuffed peppers and three servings of beef stew  also, twenty-four eggrolls and 37 crab Rangoon! I love having meals prepped ahead so when I do not feel like cooking, I can just pop something in the oven, and it really saves time and money.

I have developed a secondary cataract on my right eye and will have a simple surgery on Thursday of this week to remove it.  I can't wait as it is my dominant eye.

We leave Friday for Seattle to visit my college roommate and her Husband. She has not seen Daniel in over thirty years.

Today I laid a path of steppingstones from the back driveway get to the patio, as we had finally figured out the path we liked to take, and this will keep the surrounding grass well.

Yesterday I moved rock and stones down the side path and Hubs is placing landscaping stones down the front of the front yard.  I am needless to say very, very sore.

I am so glad we are finally getting to the side yard, but it is going to take time.

Once I finish this blog, I need to get downstairs and get a bag of walnuts to toast and process as I will be making banana bread and zucchini bread this afternoon.

I also have to pay all bills for next month.  Go me!

I read your blogs every day, and I need to be more diligent.  I will try!

Prayers for Sluggy, as she is not doing a bit well, and it spends time in my mind. I just do not want her to suffer anymore.

God is good!

Kay

 

A new day!

Another busy weekend and then another trip to Spokane yesterday for the Husb!

The stiches are out and he looks almost normal. The skin graft went very well and he must keep it covered while sleeping and if he leaves the house as a precaution for the next two weeks.  We go back in four months for a follow up!

So glad we have gotten through the worst of it.

I had a dermatology appointment early this morning and do not have to report back for a year, which is wonderful.

Coming up next is getting the secondary cataract removed from my right eye.  The left is not ready, but she will get there.

I tell you ageing is not for Sissie's and I don't mean Kim!  It seems that all Husb and I do is go from appointment to appointment.
 

But we are alive and relatively healthy, so who can ask for more.  I am counting my blessings.

I am not sewing today but deep cleaning my chest freezer and then I am going to make several small lasagnas and stuffed shells for the freezer and Husb is going to make meatloaves.  We need to restock after the great cleanout.  I also see some stuffed peppers in the future.  If I have time today, I will do those also.

I plan to sew the rest of the week.

This weekend will be some major yardwork if the weather cooperates.  I have plans within plans, now just need to get it done!

Now I am off to get my chores done!

Have a wonderful day!

God is good.

Kay

Just need a little encouraging!

 Whew, what a weekend and the last couple of days!

The reunion was wonderful, but very tiring. (Read Sissy's post, she got it spot on!)

We raced home so I could take Husb back for a skin graft on Monday, and it went very well, but a very long day.

He has been in a lot of pain as they took the graft from the front of his right ear and they were sewing into new flesh, but today he feels much better.  He is bandaged up like a prize fighter after a major loss, and the dressings must stay on until next Monday when return again.

He can bath, but his hair? So, I am going to make an appointment at a hair salon for a shampoo! Husb has a lot of hair.

I finished a large project for a friend in the shop "gratis" and it turned out well, so now I have two huge projects off my list, and I am finally seeing day light!  But for how long?

There is so much mending in the shop, and we have "Little Persons" clothing out the wazoo, but it will get done.

Sissy is working like a wild woman on wedding dresses.

I got my upper freezer completely cleaned out and will do my basement freezer on Friday.

Will try and tackle Sissy's upper freezer tomorrow and then the outside freezer on Saturday. We shall see.

This could happen sooner than later.

It is amazing when I finish tasks that are so bothersome, and I blow everything out of proportion in my mind. Then finish and my mind opens up!  That is how I feel today.

I made tacos last night; Hubs finished for lunch and will make boneless chicken thighs with a homemade Rice-a Roni in chicken broth for dinner.

Trying not to eat out and have been way more successful this month.  Cleaning out the freezers will help.

Albertsons is having a sale on chicken thighs (my favorite) legs, and leg quarters for .99 cents per pound, but the last time Sissy and I got the pork chop deal at the same price, they were so tough that well, all I can say is "what did that poor pig do to deserve such treatment?"

I plan on throwing out the last of them.

Buyer beware.

Now I am off to make some cucumber and onion salad for the hurting Hubs,

Everyone, have a wonderful week!

God is good!

Hugs,

Kay

Long time no Blog!

Well, I have just been busy living life or trying to catch up!

Sissy keeps me hopping in the mornings, and other things at home just take over.

Husb Cancer was completely removed but they gouged the front of his nose so badly that he has to have a skin graft and then plastic surgery...so we are in the process.  He has been bandaged up for almost three weeks changing the dressing daily (except for the first two days) and it has been pretty crazy. However, he is cancer free and for that I am eternally grateful!

Sissy and I are due to leave for Missoula for our 50th year class reunion on Friday morning, where we will spend two days and then race back so I can travel to Spokane on Monday for Dan's next surgery.

I have been so looking forward to this and now I just want it over?

It has been a whirlwind of a summer so far.  I finally finished a huge sewing project for "The Tribe" and it was so much work for too little money, But Sissy helped and we got through it and as we always say...never again!

Next week when we return, I have another big project I have taken on for a Friend that I am very nervous about, but with Sissy's help I know I will manage to pull it off.  The wedding dresses have taken over, and when this last project is done, I have to dive back into the major alterations.

I am learning so much, but this is hard work, Thank God Sissie agreed to raise her prices and so far, no one has batted an eye.

The front yard which we had hydroseeded has developed many ugly spots on one side which has us very concerned, but I am sure through time and effort we can solve it.

I feel like a Gerbil on a wheel, and this is of my own making, so I thank you ahead for listening to me complain!

Love reading your posts and am so glad HP was able to find SUPPORT in Japan! Been there done things like this for other items.  I just loved that post and well I am strange.

It is 95 degrees today and this girl is wilting but must get outside and do a little.

God Bless you all!  Will try to tune in more regularly, once I establish a schedule?  

Wait who am I kidding what schedule, I will plan and Sissy will blow it out of the water!

God is Good!

Hugs,

K

 

I have been one busy Bee!

It has been a rollicking time since I last blogged.

So much going on, and I feel like the summer is just flying by.

Sewing seems to be taking over my life, and between the yard and social obligations I need a break.

It will not happen soon, so I need to get a grip.

We had the front lawns hydroseeded two weeks ago and she is doing very well, but it is constant watering.

This picture does not do justice to the work that is going on, but in another week, we should be able to mow.

On the family front we have been struggling with doctors and specialists as my Husband has a cancer on his nose which need to be removed by a plastic surgeon and specialist.  Because He is VA this is very tricky, but after many phone calls and appointments he is now scheduled for surgery this coming Monday morning in Spokane Washington.

Spokane is about 2 hours north of us.

We will leave Sunday morning after Mass and go and stay with our nephew (who is a VA Nurse at the Hospital up there.)  He will take us to the surgery center and guide us along the way.  This cancer is caused by sun damage, and it stands to reason that Dan would get something as he spent way too many years in the middle east.  It is not life threatening at this point, but may require a skin graft, so remember us in your prayers.  Just fighting the health care system has been a nightmare.

Our Neighbor is going to take care of the watering necessary as it requires four times a day, quite the task!

On a good note, we have not eaten out nearly as much this month, and I have really been cooking and using up what we have so I am proud of me. 

Sissy spent the night last night as she misses her dog who is staying with us due to her lawns now being hydroseeded and he cannot be on the yard.  Our backyard is fenced and done so this is a perfect set up.

Roscoe will be staying with our little Sis while we are in Spokane.

Sis is still sleeping and I have completed my morning chores and will head downstairs to wake her up shortly.  I will spend the day with her getting her house ready for a Baby Shower tomorrow.

I know I need to make a trip to Costco to pick up small waters for the party as Winco did not have them.

I know we will go out to dinner tonight.

Saturday night we are going to see our Middle niece in a community production of Mama Mia!  So, a very busy weekend all the way around.

Then next week it is the fourth and that will be a swim party and barbecue at little Sis's and the up to Sissy's for ice cream sundaes and the fireworks, as she has the best view.

I have so much sewing to do into the first two weeks of July and it scares me.  Sissy is bombed with wedding dresses, and it seems that the shop is just getting busier and busier.  I am trying to find a trend here and it is just not coming.

The only thing I can think of is the piles of simple alterations are getting done a whole lot quicker which means Sissy can take on more dresses.  Just crazy! 

Here six months ago I was bored and now I am crazy!  But I am enjoying it for the most part.

Our roses are going crazy and so is my baby's breath which means I get fresh beautiful arrangements once a week!

I am blessed!

The red lasts so much longer that the yellow, and the smell is devine.

Now I am off to get dressed and wake Sissy.

Hope everyone has a glorious weekend.

God is good.

Kay

Missing my Sissy!

 Talked with Sissy briefly yesterday and she is having a fabulous time, and I am so happy for her, but I miss here!

Lil Sis and I went to Montana last week for four days to plan and work our Aunts Memorial Service.  Kim was missed, but her trip was planned and one cannot plan death.

It was a lovely service and working side by side with the Ladies from our Mothers Church is always a pleasure.

Came home and have been sewing for the Tribe this week.  I got all the shirts done and now am working on little handbags which are quite challenging.  I do not know if I will accept this challenge again as I do not see how to charge the time that it takes. After all I am not Kate Spade!

Paid all our bills for next month and this past month has been spendy, but I was able to fund my sinking accounts and our grocery spending and eating out were considerably less.  So, I am proud of me.

The cooking ahead of freezer meals has really helped and I will continue to be vigilant.

Today I have to take our car in to have the windshield replaced, got hit by something?

I will then do a small grocery shop and come home to do a mountain of ironing; it is taking over the basement.

I must also swap out my winter and summer wardrobes.  When I returned from Montana, I took a huge bag of clothes and shoes to the Salvation Army, and I need to do more.  I have too much stuff and a lot of it I will never wear in the west.

I have planned my meals for the week and feel good about the choices.  I see lots of Salad this week as the weather has finally turned warm.

My vegetables I planted are really growing; I have already cut a lot of Basil.  I can live on Insalata Caprese!

I also have to make our monthly Costco run but not today as the ironing board is calling me.

I hope everyone is having a great week and have a wonderful weekend!

God is good.

Kay