Thursday and no yard work today!

Husb and I have been on a dead run in the backyard all week long and we are very tired.  So, we are taking a break today! It looks like a bomb went off in the back, but it will get done!  I guess no yard work on Saturday either as we will watch the Popes Funeral on YouTube in the morning.

It has been a busy week and so much has happened.

Auntie has another hearing aid out for repair, and it is supposed to arrive this morning about 10:30.  The problem is she is due to fly home at noon, so this was not going to work.  Just cutting it too close, so I spent hours yesterday changing her ticket and she will fly out Monday.  Thank heavens that Delta Airlines understood my dilemma, as we just could not send her back with one aid and then mail it to her as it had to be properly fitted.  They usually charge between $100.00 and $300.00 to change a ticket, and they did not!  For this I am forever grateful!

We knew that the aids were going to be a big learning curve, and she is doing great, but her long pointy fingernails are doing damage. She damages the cord when taking them out.

My Husband put his foot down yesterday and said we have got to talk to her about those nails.  So, we took her to dinner (Chinese, her favorite, although Husb and I think every Chinese restaurant in the Vally is horrible) and kindly told her that the nails have to go.  She cried a bit but agreed.  Husb said Auntie we have gone to great expense to make the quality of your life better, and your vanity is getting in the way.  You have to make a choice, or this is going to keep happening and we will not be there to help you.

At the end of dinner while we were taking her back to Kim's, she quietly said, I have said, a Prayer and God wanted me to hear so the nails are going to be my sacrifice!  I just love this woman!

So even if the aid arrives this morning, and I will take her, the nails will be taken off today and we will have a nice manicure and that will be it.  It will take getting used to, as I know it did for me.  I wore my nails long and had them done once a month, and when I decided I was done, I had lost the feeling at the tips of my fingers, and it took months for it to come back.  It also took a year for my real nails to heal, but I persevered.  Vanity can get one into trouble! My biggest fear is her nail beds are so damaged by years of abuse, I just don't know.

Husb wants steak tonight and Auntie cannot eat steak so I will make her chicken cordon blue, and she will love that.  I need to go to the bank and the grocery store for a few things today also.

Because we have spent so many hours in the yard this week the house needs love.  So Husb took the upstairs and I will take the basement.  The house is so small it does not take long.

Okay took an hour break and did my morning chores and part of the basement.  Will finish tomorrow as today I just have too many other things to do.

Now I am on hold with the hearing aid place, and they are still expecting the aid by 11:15 with tracking numbers, so changing her ticket was the right thing to do.

Sissy has a nail appointment at noon, and she is giving up her appointment so we can get Aunties done! Sissy also says that the nail beds are too damaged, and we must put a short gel nail on them. I trust her judgement on this!

We scheduled the aid for tomorrow at 11:50 and all is well!

Now because our aunt lives on a very limited income, my Husband and I have decided that we will take on the expense of having her nails done once a month and I called her daughter who is willing to take her.  I also called a recommended Salon and told them the situation, and I will pay them directly with a CC for each appointment and they agreed to put a tip on the card, which most salons will not take!  Problem solved.

I have stressed so much about getting that aid back and now we have the solution.  Sissy says I have no faith!  I have faith, but.... when dealing with any delivery well, NO!

Short rounded pretty nails in hot pink! Will take a picture and send tomorrow!

Now I am heading out to do my errands and Husb has decided to work in the yard so good for Him!

Will have a relaxing day and just breath!

Hugs.

Kay

 

Monday and back to the yard!

Well Folks it is actually Tuesday as I got sidetracked.

This is a project I have worked on for three days, pulling large rock and moving small rock so Husb can take down this dead tree and dig out three old stumps of some sort.

I worked very hard yesterday and am sore today, but my goal is to get stronger, and it is happening.

Sissy's garden sitting area is coming along beautifully and I will go today to get the finishing touches and Husb will hang some things on the fence later this afternoon.

The mornings are still so cold here and the rumor is among gardening enthusiasts that there will be a very hard frost the first or second of May.  So, no planting of any sorts is going to happen anytime soon. Both Sissy and I have learned this one the hard way.

Back east we were told not to Plant until after Mother's Day and I think that is going to be the golden rule this year in our section of Idaho.

It is almost eight o'clock and I will head out to the back shortly to start my two or three hours. My morning routines in the House are done.  Dinner is planned.  

HUsb is going to the shooting range today with our soon to be BIL and I will run some errands before heading up to Sissy's.

I am giving a shout out to Sam, and I know Her yard is going to be spectacular it just takes time and energy.  At least She does not have a ton of rock to move.  I wish we lived closer as I have so much hardscape that must be given away.

This project is all encompassing in our world at present and it seems we can't finish anything completely as so much has to be moved from one area to another.

The Elephant rules!

Have a great and productive day.

Hugs K

P.S.  So sad to lose our Pope, but he is in paradise.

 

Thursday and a crazy busy yesterday!

We had a fabulous time at dinner Tuesday night, and it was so good.  I had a mushroom pasta (to die for and I am going to try and duplicate it) Husb had a sirloin with roasted potatoes and asparagus.  We had Cesar salads and a baked brie appetizer to start!  Then dessert was a heavenly heavy chocolate torte and homemade Huckelberry ice cream.  I have never had ice cream this good.

Wednesday up early and got my morning routine done and worked only one hour on the yard and managed to get the large hydrangea fertilized and this meant pulling tons of rock from the drip line, placing said fertilizer and then fresh dirt and pushing back the stone.  This will have to be done every two months during the warm season for me to get the dark blue color I want.  We shall see.  My next plan was to help Husb on the side lay some pavers and we discovered that we were 5 pavers short of what we needed, but they work perfectly in this particular spot!

So, I hopped in the Car and ran up to Home Depot to get them, and of course they did not have what we needed, so called my husband and we will postpone this area until either we find what we need or resort to something else.

On my way out of the store I noticed that the bags of mulch that I like were 5 for $10.00 and the sale ended yesterday, and I knew we needed 40 bags of mulch to finish some of our projects.  I went to the will call desk and paid for the mulch and a Friend with a truck is going to help me pick it up today.

He wants a homemade mac and cheese with smoked salmon as payment!  I will do this gladly and he is providing the salmon from Alaska!  I told him you can freeze mac cheese if you do it right!  He was thrilled as being a bachelor he does not cook a lot!

Heading Home I got a phone call from Sissy, and she asked if I had read the Albertsons grocery app, and I had not.  Well, they had pounds of butter and Philadelphia cream cheese for 1.99 a pound.  I have not seen butter below 3.50 a pound since we moved here, and the Cream cheese especially for Philadelphia under 4.25.  So, what did Kay do....She bought 80 pounds of butter and 20 cream cheese!

This should last Sissy and I well into Christmas next year, at least, I hope.  Butter freezes beautifully for a long time!  Now cream cheese can be frozen, but I like to use it within four months, and you must let it come to room temperature completely or it clumps on you.  Took me years to learn this.  I see plenty of cheesecakes in the future!

So, yesterday's savings was $364.64 with tax between the mulch and the groceries! Ching, ching! 

Now this is how we save consistently, only loss leaders, cook from scratch, don't waste, eat what is in season. A chest freezer is your best friend.  

I then took said butter and split it between Sissy's freezer and mine.  By the time I got done with all the put and take it was 2:00 in the afternoon and I was tired.  

I went back up to Sissy's and pulled a pan of chicken enchiladas from the freezer and a made some Spanish rice for dinner and we will have this again tonight.

Today I plan on sifting rock from the front and moving dirt below curb level and this is going to take me days to do, and then I can have the stump ground out hopefully next week.

So, I am off to sift rock!  Oh, joy is mine!

Hope everyone has a great day!

Hugs,

K

 

Tuesday and I am going to be very sore! (Picture heavy)

Today I worked 2.5 hours on the yard and did nothing but move stone and rock and my body feels it.

I cleaned up this mess!  I get overwhelmed when things get messy, and even though the whole thing is a mess in the back, some order has been restored.

These 12 x12 pavers will be for the path going down the side of the yard.  I think we will need at least 60, so I gathered from other areas, 30 at the front and thirty at the rear.  If we need more there are still 52 left!

Pavers pulled and hauled to front!

Thirty at front and I also have 30 at the rear.

Placed 12 hostas but now need to move dirt from the very front, once I get the rest of the small stone removed.

Got mulch down along the back fence and it looks so good.

Moved a ton of large stone and am not quite sure what we are going to do with it, but it will go somewhere eventually!

I then had to meet Sissy at the dentist with Auntie.  We were going to try and have here dentures re-lined, but it cannot be done as her ridge is too far gone, but at least now we know.  The Dentist said at her age it would just make it worse, and the dentures themselves are in very good shape. 

Got home and made Husb a sandwich and he is now headed up to Sissy's to do some work and I am going to have an afternoon of beauty.  I am filthy and I am going to soak in my wonderful large cast iron tub and remove my winter coat (as in shave my legs).  Will give myself a manicure and a facial. I also desperately need a pedicure and will book an appointment for next week.

Tonight, Husb and I are going to what we think is the finest Restaurant in Lewiston for dinner to celebrate his birthday, as they are not open on Mondays.  It is pricey, but so worth it to two foodies like us!

I have my game plan for yard work tomorrow and I really must get up to Sissy's and get the shop cleaned up.  We shall see.  If she and Husb get the chickens moved down to the large coop today, I will do some work in her garage as it is getting bad again.

Now the tub is calling me!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Hugs,

Kay

 

Monday and a crazy wonderful day!

 Well, the weekend was eventful! Sissy and Husb worked hard in her garden area all day Saturday and I got a lot done with the help of a Neighbor boy! (pictures soon).

Sunday was Passover and Palm Sunday and the Husb and I just relaxed and took a break and listened to Mass and just vegged!  We did go to Home Depot and get 12 hostas and they will be perfect in the area we want to plant them in.

We then went to Lil Sis's for dinner. I must admit loudly that it was wonderful!

I actually liked the lamb!  No mint jelly please, it was wonderful!  (Now I know why my grandmother used to say, "mutton dressed up as lamb") Everything was so good, and Lil Sis texted me about 3:00 and told me not to make the green beans as they had asparagus that needed to be cooked so I was entirely off the hook.   I do not like to show up empty handed, so brought a bag of ice for the freezer.

Sissy made her famous coconut cake, and it was delicious. I could tell by the end of dinner that Sissy was absolutely exhausted, and she and Auntie left early, and I was afraid to let her drive the five minutes (if that) home.  She made it.

Fast forward to today, and the weather is beautiful, although quite cold this morning.  I managed to work in the yard for three hours and then had to take Auntie to an emergency hearing aid repair at 1:00.  Sissy met me there and one of them must be sent away and hopefully it will be back before she leaves.  I know we will handle it.  We also knew this was coming as these aids were very expensive due to her age, and we will make it work! They are sensitive.

Today is my Husbands 63 birthday and we celebrated a little last night, thanks to Lil Sis!

I was up early this morning and went to a very expensive plant store for another Geranium and have finished what I am going to do for now on the left side of the front of the actual house. Moved a ton of rock (how unusual) and then after Aunties appointment (where I sat way too long) I am back at the house exhausted and must make dinner.  I am blogging and then will set table and start dinner. 

Husb wants chicken wings, Tator tots and a salad with blue cheese dressing.  So,

I am on it!

See the beautiful leaf pavers I found in the yard!

A geranium I bought this morning.

I call this done for the most part.

One bite at a time.

Now I must go and get dinner ready, Auntie and Sissy are joining us!

Will post more pictures tomorrow.

As Sissy says, God is good!

It is Holy week, let us celebrate and remember.

Blessings to all!

Kay

So much work, but it will get done! (Picture heavy)

Pavers on the street all the way around and I could not open my car doors on the passenger side. (We also cannot park the car in the tiny garage at the rear?)

 I started to move them ten at a time and am reusing them as I can. 

Some pavers removed!  Took me three days to get them all!

Right side of yard that Sissy and Dan cleared two weeks ago that was entirely overgrown.

Pavers reused and ready to set a path with edging. Dirt from front will fill bed and we will plant hostas and then mulch the path area. Lots of shade, and it will be clean and neat!

All pavers removed and starting to move rock!

 

All red rock moved to other side and will concentrate on digging all dirt below street level and then new heavy ground cloth will go down (after stump is ground out next week) red rock will then be set below curb level and I can open car door! Yeah!

Right side almost completed, and it was completely overgrown.  Tons of rock to move! But beautiful long stem rose bushes!

Large window well that we have ordered Plexi glass for (hoping to make a small green house I can access from the purple bedroom)

However large window to basement bedroom must be replaced.

Rear side yard on alley and still needs mulch and lots of work at the rear.  I did get the rose bushes fertilized which is no easy chore!

This is essentially what the whole dam yard looked like with way too much rock and no care.  Crazy, but we bought it!

So now you have seen part of the Elephant, and I am tired and sore.

I did work at least two hours every day this week and today I worked five.  Husb is up at Sissy's helping her and I hired a young Man across the street to help me and He was thrilled with the cash.

I was up early today and went to Costco for Sissy and made a dozen hard boiled eggs for deviled eggs tomorrow.

We will be having Passover/ Palm Sunday dinner at little Sis's, and because we have a heavy Jewish background in our Family, we celebrate high holy days of both Christen and Judaism.  I have to admit I am not a fan of Lamb no matter how or who cooks it, but I will eat it!  

Sissy is making her famous coconut cake and I will be doing green beans almondine with sautéed mushrooms!

It is now almost 4:00 in the afternoon and I must get up to Sissy's and deliver said goods from Costco and retrieve my Husband.  I am filthy, but have washed my hands and face, and have no idea what is for dinner.  I am sick of chicken salad, and I may grab a couple of eggs and make some egg salad with cottage cheese and peaches, sounds like a plan.  Another cold supper.

Off to the landmines....

Have a great Sabbath!

Hugs,

Kay

Do you ever feel like....?

 There are not enough hours in my day!  This is how I feel my day is going and that is okay!

I wanted to garden for at least two hours this morning, but Husb insisted on going to Home Depot at 8:30 and then we spent two hours there!

Not in my plan. I knew I wanted to get some food delivered to a Friend, and I knew I had to go to Costco today for my Auntie and this all takes time.

I also had household chores to do, and I need to get up to Sissy's and, and, and...

I say my prayers say night and then I plan my day for the next morning, and this truly does help me sleep, which for years sleep evaded me.

So last night I planned my day and Husb got in my way.  But it made Him happy, so it is done.

It is now 2:13 and I only managed 30 minutes in the side yard, but the mulch is laid with the husb's help and it looks great. Will take pictures eventually.  The Neighbors are noticing and complimenting!

I was able to find two large pots I wanted at Costco for 1/2 of what other retailers wanted and the Husb likes them, so that is a plus.

I was able to get Auntie restocked on wants and needs, another plus! I will just have to make up some gardening time tomorrow as I am already very tired.  I still have to put my Costco haul away, as I stocked up on coffee, and TP etc. and my panty is a bit of a mess.  This is because I spend too much time at Sissy's and just grab and go to get up to her place.  With Auntie here and staying there it is understandable, so I just need to go with the flow, but it irks my over organized brain.  Thus, I am Bossy even to myself!

Dinner last night was a success, and my gluten free popovers looked gorgeous when they came out of the oven and then they deflated but tasted wonderful.  This has happened to me before with regular flour, so I am not concerned.  They still tasted great, and I will make these again and adjust the cooking time.  We just call them pop unders!

I cannot imagine people being gluten intolerant, as I love bread and pastry of any kind.  I am determined to try more gluten free recipes.

I have mashed bananas in the fridge that I need to use so I am going to try a gluten free banana bread tomorrow along with a regular before my bananas turn into alcohol.  Don't worry it will cook out!

Sissy is cooking tonight, and we are having spaghetti (with sauce I froze in December from a big batch cook) and I will make garlic bread and take up leftover salad from last night.

Still using our freezers to full advantage.

I purchased a one dozen large croissants at Costco for 5.99 (I can make them but too much time and not for that price at this time).  I did process four large chicken breasts several weeks ago and cut it in chunks and froze it and will thaw for chicken salad which we all love, and this is a quick go to dinner or lunch. Sissy makes great chicken salad!

The weather is cool but gorgeous and we have so much yardwork to do so quick and easy is the way with meals right now.

It is now 2:30 and I am going down the basement to do some organizing and cleaning and then will make my way up to Sissy's for dinner.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Hugs,

Kay

Eating the Elephant!

So, this morning the Husb and I were in the yard early and worked for two hours on the elephant.  So hence forth our yard will be called the elephant!

Husb got the stone border in on the left side of the House and is leveling the dirt for mulch. (Still need to buy mulch).  I managed to pick a lot more rock (oh Joy) and get two more rose bushes fertilized.  Also moved one rose bush from the right side of the house and I hope it makes it.  We shall see.

To fertilize I had to dig a trench 18" from each bush 10" deep and this was a chore. Each of these trenches were just full of small rock.  Remember this house is 100 years old and I think rock was the old mulch.

I then mixed organic rose tone in fresh dirt from a back garden bed, and it was full of worms!  Good dirt!

Auntie and Sissy were over for dinner last night and we had prime rib sandwiches and a large salad. Sissy and Dan then went to Home Depot to get a new rototiller, and Auntie helped me with dishes. It was so nice to be in the kitchen with her and we just laughed and talked and solved the problems of the world.  She is so thankful to be able to hear.  Her whole life is opening up again!

Tonight, it will be prime rib stew and gluten free popovers.  I put the three bones, covered with meat along with homemade bone broth, and beef broth in the crock pot and it is cooking away.  Will sauté mushrooms, onion and carrot when I get home this afternoon and then do the potatoes.

I learned long ago that to make a good soup or stew it is the layering of flavors that starts with a rich broth that you then thicken.  I will use gluten free flour to make the rue as a Friend is coming to dinner who is gluten free.

WE will be very tired of prime rib, but I just did not want to freeze it as I think is loses the great flavor.

Husb and I did not get to Home Depot yesterday as the weather was terrible and just worked around the house.

We will definitely go today once we get cleaned up.  I also need to stop by Winco for eggs, xanthan gum and some berries.

I think I will make Creme Brule for dessert.

We are getting stronger every day and this is good.  My thighs and knees are no longer so sore.

Sissy is with a Friend today, and they drove to a Temple to do genealogy work and will be back later this evening.  I will have dinner for them.  Auntie is at Kim's, and I will pick her up after we get our errands run today.

Now it is 10:09 and I must clean up and do my morning chores.  I must also get our gardening clothes into the wash as they can stand up by themselves.

 Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Hugs,

Kay

 

I am so sore!

Yes, I have discovered muscles I did not know I had. Husb is also very sore, and Sissy is used to this kind of work, so she is just tired.

I left off Friday when we were going to Sister's lunch.  Auntie did very well, and no adjustments were needed.  However, we were in a secluded tall booth so this might have helped.

Her next venture out we will aim for a more open dining experience.

The weather was glorious this weekend and Sissy and Husb worked in our yard all day Saturday and I cooked and cleaned and entertained Auntie.  I was so sore I could barely move from Friday's garden workout.

I had pulled a prime rib from Sissy's freezer and cooked that yesterday with baked potatoes and asparagus hollandaise.  Sissy made her homemade rolls.  It was delicious!  We had her Neighbor and Friend from Church and there is still a ton of leftover rib, but I have plans.  Sent everyone home with leftovers. I also whipped up a pistachio dessert (Auntie loves this) and made the bottom layer with gluten free flour as one of the Guests is gluten intolerant to the max.  I wanted her to enjoy also.  There was absolutely no difference in taste!

I am trying to establish a new habit and that is to work in the yard every morning I am home for at least two hours, weather permitting.  I was able to get 1.5 hours in before I got rained out!  I am also less sore.  It will take time for these old muscles to adjust!  If I do not put this time in it will take two years if not longer.  So much hardscape to move.

This morning, I was able to get two of the four rose bushes fertilized, so two more to go and then I can move in more soil from the front, and Husb has to set a hardscape border for me, but I have all the stones I need placed, so he does not have to get down on his knees so much.

I now need to clean up and do my morning chores.  We are then going to go to Home Depot for the edging we need for the front and the side path.  We may go to a Nursery in Clarkston and look at Hosta's.  I know the price at Home Depot, and we need ten of them, but I trust a real Nursery more, so we are going to compare prices. A little more expense will not bother me as I feel that the plants are healthier.

Need to call Sissy and see if She and Auntie want to come for dinner.  I will make prime rib sandwiches and a big salad.

Now I must get to work!

Everyone have a wonderful day!

Kay

 

Friday and a beautiful day!

Up early this morning and got my morning routine done.  Put on my gardening clothes and spent three hours outside eating the elephant.  So much work to do, but eventually it will get done.

I am working on the right side of the House where we have two very large beautiful rose bushes, and we are getting rid of the rock and placing mulch.  Getting that rock out of the dirt is a lot of work. We also have two small tea rose bushes to move from the left side of the house to the right and hopefully we can get that done this afternoon.  We will then get the water turned on and I will fertilize the large bushes.  Then ground cloth will go down and new red mulch.

Husb is working on taking the dead from the large rose bushes at the rear of the yard.  This project is going to take so much put and take and I am very sore.

I am inside now to clean up so I can get to Sisters Lunch.  We will take Auntie for her first visit out to a Restaurant with her new hearing aids. Restaurants can be tough so we will work on how to adjust the aids if necessary.  This is one of our assignments for the week from the Audiologist.

After lunch I must take Auntie to get a prescription filled and then to TJ Maxx to do a return.

I will then come home and don my gardening clothes again and work for a couple more hours.

Sissy and Auntie came for dinner last night and we had such a good time as Auntie could truly participate. She said it is whole new world. We had a lot of laughs over the new sounds she is experiencing.

Sissy and I have decided we are ordering pizza tonight as we will be too tired to cook!  I did pull a prime rib from Sissy's freezer on Wednesday to thaw and we will have that Sunday and invite some People over to share.

I see prime rib sandwiches next week and prime rib soup in the future.

Now I must go get cleaned up, I am a mess.

Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Hugs,

Kay

Pure Joy!

 Yesterday was simply pure joy!  No other way to describe it!

Auntie can hear and when the aids were fitted the Dr. went and stood behind Auntie and said very softly; Anne can you hear me?  She said yes and the tears came flowing without bidding.  My mascara was in my armpits, and I did not even care.  A rebirth of sorts.

It has been so long since She could hear anything.  She was afraid of her own voice, but this will pass.

The appointment was long and very thorough.  There is a huge learning curve, but she will be with us for almost another month, and we have time to get the bugs worked out.

We will extend her stay if we think it will take more time.

The Dr.'s office is very soundproof, and the outside world is now opened up.  Traffic, the blinker on a Car. the flushing of a toilet...all the little white noises we ignore have come rushing back to greet her.

Going deaf is such a gradual thing for most people, that the random sounds of life are forgotten.  It will take time for her brain to relearn all the sounds and then to ignore them.

But suffice it to say, when I wrote that check I did not even blink, so worth it in every way!  I would do it again and again!

Now I have to get to work!

Hugs,

Kay

Busy last several days!

 Okay I left you all on Saturday when I was taking Auntie to Moscow to do some shopping.

Well sort of a bust!  Still crappy fast fashion clothing and nothing I would buy or wear that I needed.

We were able to find Auntie two new pair of jeans and a pair of high-quality bell-bottom jogging trousers and that was it.

To buy anything of quality one must either go five hours south to Boise, four and a half hours west to Missoula Montana, or two hours north to Spokane Washington.  I refuse to buy clothes online as they are usually poor quality and do not fit!  But Auntie and I had a nice time.

Auntie at 90 is really frail and she tires easily, so any journeys longer than an hour will require and overnight stay so she can nap.  We shall, see?

On Saturday while Auntie and I were out and about, Sissy and Husb worked very, very hard on her garden project and it is coming along, but so much more work to do.  Sissy cooked Saturday night, but I do not remember what?

Sunday morning, I made eight dozen chocolate chip walnut cookies to empty the freezer a bit more. Took half of them to the neighbor kids across the street.  Some went to Kim's for the Grands and some for the Husb this week.

We then went up to Sissy's and she was going downhill fast.  So, I spent the night to keep things on an even keel.

Worked on her Freezer on Monday morning and cooked all day long.  I was able to use up four large heads of cabbage that were turning and made six large pans of stuffed cabbage rolls and two pans of porcupine meatballs in tomato sauce.  I have pulled a prime rib for this coming Sunday.

I also spent Monday night with Sissy and let her lounge all day Monday (except for two bride visits) as she was not feeling well and exhausted.

Home on Tuesday to try and get things caught up. thank goodness my Husband was at home and on top of things.  I had several loads of laundry to do which I got done and was able to do more organizing of both freezers.  It is apparent to both Sissy and I that we can go at least another month with very little grocery shopping.

WE got a phone call yesterday that Aunties hearing aids were in and will take her this afternoon for her first fitting and we are very excited.  I will not be excited when I write the check!

It was just so crazy this weekend and on Monday Auntie said to me, someone left you a Birthday gift and I opened it to find a beautiful quilt wall hanging which will be going in my guest bedroom (purple room) and will be perfect.  I have been searching for the right thing for above the bed and this will be it!  Will do a reveal when I get it hung.

Today I ran to Albertsons for some loss leaders and then worked for about two hours in the yard.  I also planned meals for the next three days.  

I also set my budget for this month and last month was horrible, but I was able to fund my sinking accounts and a little to savings.  It will get easier when Auntie goes home.  Eating out was a disaster!

I now need to go into the kitchen and process two large bags of walnuts (as in toast and grind) for future baking as I used the last in the cookies.  I also need to shred a three-pound block of cheddar cheese and flash freeze it and then get it in small bags for future use. The shredded cheese that can be purchased in grocery stores is just yuck! But I have been known to use it in a pinch!

When I get that done, I will clean up and head to Sissy's to get Auntie and get to her appointment.  I live a crazy life!

Hugs.

K

Whew, March was a spendy month!

 Just went over my budget for the month and I knew it was going to be bad, and it is but...

Company is expensive and we take care of Auntie for the most part, as in clothes and necessities when she gets here for a couple of months. I always send her home with an extra-large suitcase.  Filling that suitcase it wicked this year.

Because Sissy has some major expenses this year, I agreed to take Auntie on and well let's just say that when I write that check for her hearing aids in April it is going to be ugly.  (Sissy will help with this also but just puts her behind on her goals) I also need a crown in May.  So even though I was able to bank all my sinking funds, my regular savings goals will have to be cut in half for the next five months and maybe six.  That is okay.  

It is imperative to Sissy and I that Auntie have good quality of life for as long as she has it, I am just shocked at the price of things for seniors.  Especially those living on a very limited budget.

I am taking Auntie and getting her out of Dodge for the day.  We will drive north to Moscow (about an hour away) where there is a little more shopping than Lewiston.  Auntie needs some new jeans and sweaters.  Hers are looking tired, and she has always been such a fashionista, and I want it to continue.  It brings her joy.

So, more money spent.

Auntie and Sissy came for dinner last night and I was trying out my new air fryer.  I am not that impressed, and my Fish sandwiches were good as well as the tots, but after following the recipes to the letter, I found that things were not as crisp as I would have liked, and it saved me very little time.  I could have done better with the oven and my deep fryer for flavor as far as I am concerned.

I will keep trying and my Husband loves the appliance. So, if any readers have any suggestions, I am all ears.

Strawberry shortcake for dessert and then we played a rousing game of Yahtzee as we all love to play games and with Auntie being so deaf, she can participate.

I also think my Apple watch is taking a dump as it would not charge this morning and it is five years old, well past its prime, but a new one will be $500.00.  Yikes!  I just put it back on the different charger and it seems to be charging.  We shall see.

Now the Husb is going to help Sissy in her yard while I take Auntie on a field trip.  Have no idea what is for dinner and will cross that bridge when I bring Auntie Home for a late afternoon nap!

Now everyone have a great day and thanks for listening to me whine!

Hugs.

Kay

Yard work like laundry is always with you!

If I allowed my Cat Bud outside this is where he would be!

I had a wonderful me day yesterday with a quick trip to Sissies to take her a 1/2 gallon of milk, bananas and apple juice as she had a sick Grandchild.

I got all my ironing done and the basement completely dusted and vacuumed.  Halleluiah!

Got to the grocery store for a few things and worked on my upstairs freezer.

I then did two more hours of hard weed and stone removal, and we had leftovers for dinner.

Fish Sandwiches and Tator tots for dinner tonight (we always practice the old Catholic ways during lent) as I am going to try my new air fryer my nieces bought me for my birthday.  I have wanted one for a long time and just could not make myself buy one.  It is big and I will have to do some rearranging in my lower cupboard where I pulled my dishwasher.

Storing large appliances is a pain and I have a ton of room in the basement, but I hate going down those wicked stairs.  I am truly a work in process and the storage will come to me as I live with the space.

Was up early this morning and as soon as the sun came out, I went and spent another 1.5 hours on the front stone removal, and it is done for the large stones.  All weeds are pulled and now I must move small rock from one side so I can have a large stump ground out and then move it back.

The weather is rainy and much colder today, but I persevered.  I am now a wicked muddy mess and must get downstairs and clean up so I can meet my sisters for sisters' lunch.  I also wore out a good set of gardening gloves.  A pair usually lasts me two days.  I have tried them all, so invest in relatively cheap ones.

Now off I go to get cleaned up and finish my morning routine.

Everyone have a lovely day!

Kay
 

Where have I been?

 Well, I have not been to London to visit the Queen!

Just super busy entertaining and cooking and cleaning and just being on!  Which it is the being on that is hard on me.  But I survived.

Sissy surprised me by filling the two pots on my front porch with Primroses and they are so beautiful, like eye candy!  Thanks Sissy.

WE got so much accomplished for Auntie while her daughter was here, which was the plan of attack.

We got all of her legal paperwork done, will, POA, etc. and all is notarized.  We also took her to an audiologist and ordered hearing aids and they are going to be expensive, but Sissy and I are going to take care of it and our cousin agreed to chip in, but we shall see.

Aunties Family dynamics are let's just say volatile, and we promised our father that we would look after her, and a promise is a promise.

Autie is 90 years old, and she had really started to slip the past year, and she is profoundly deaf so she cannot participate in any conversation and this cuts her off.  She lives on a very and I mean very limited income so hearing aides were completely out of her realm.

Now no hearing aid will bring back what she has lost but they will help, and this is why we spent the money to take her to an audiologist, not Costco or some hearing aid store.  A real Doctor who could tell us if they would help.  The exam was very thorough and comprehensive, and the Dr. put my Auntie at ease.

But all of these things took time.  It took me hours to read her, the will and POA and help her to understand it.  Many times, I had to resort to writing things down and giving it to her in laymen's terms.

The funniest episode in the whole scenario is what does DNR stand for?  Auntie said the Department of Natural Resources!  We all died laughing and I then when on to explain that no and when she was gone there was no coming back! She readily agreed!

Our (Sissy and mine) birthday came and went in a blur and I received something (to me) very special.

I love flour sack dish towels and use them till they fall apart.  These are red and will look great in my tiny retro kitchen.

The weather has finally turned warmer and I so wanted to be in my yard but no I was cooking and cleaning.  Sissy did cook a couple of nights, thank goodness.

Her poor Dog has been so sick, and she has been worried sick, and this does not help when there is too much company.

My dear husband also wracked his knee working in Sissy's yard last week and is still gimping around but on the mend.

I have managed in bursts to start pulling the stones in the front boulevard and stacking them and will finish this project today.

We park on the street at present and we cannot open our car doors on the passenger side due to the high landscaping, so that is going first.

Stacking stones to be used elsewhere and when we are finished which may take all summer, I will put out a word on Facebook Marketplace and someone will snatch them up!  

(So, Sam squared remember this.  You can get a lot of landscaping material for free or next to nothing as long as you are willing to haul it!)

These stones are very heavy for me, and I must carry them up a set of stairs and place them.  Of course, they will not stay where I have placed them but will eventually be hauled to the backyard.  I look at this like...How do you eat and Elephant?  One bite at a time!

I am taking today off just for me, staying home and getting things done.  My house needs love.  It is 8:38 and I was up at five and have managed to get the last load of wash done (did some last night) and two beds changed.  I also cleaned my fridge and need to go to the grocery store for a few things.

I have a ton of ironing and want to clean my two freezers before I head to the store.

The one blessing of having so much Company is both Sissy and my Freezers have gone down significantly and although we cooked almost every meal, having things prepared ahead to reheat was such a help!

Now I need to get it together and get said chores done.  Will try and tune in tomorrow!

Hugs.

Kay

Running with Scissors!

 Oh my, I have so much to do today, and it is going to be a very busy weekend again.

I did manage to get Aunties other med filled yesterday so that is a blessing.

I am trying to put finishing touches on my guest bedroom and everything I order is really the wrong color.  No shopping here to speak of and Amazon hates me right now.  But I want what I want.

My list for today just gets longer and longer and I need to get going as in now!

Sissy and Husb worked in the yard yesterday and the long path is done.  Husb wracked his bad knee again and is in a brace and gimping around.  Damn!

I entertained Auntie and it is hard as She is profoundly deaf! Working on hearing aids and appointment with Audiologist Monday morning!

I was exhausted last night, and Sissy cooked dinner and it was wonderful.  Vicken breast fried with panko, mashed potatoes and corn, chicken gravy!  Yum!

 I did all the dishes and trust me; this is no easy task as Sissy is a messy cook and does not clean as she goes.  I am also a messy cook but have learned to clean as I go.  Oh well, it is just the way she is wired, and I love it when someone else cooks for me!

We planned the weekend as far as we could and made grocery lists for things we need.

List for today

• Finish setting up Guest bedroom as much as I can nope finishing tomorrow morning
• (Sissy did come down briefly and told me I was being way to particular and so I am rolling with what I have)
• Iron sheets and bed ruffle  Still have 20 pieces a regular ironing that will get done ...whenever?
• Make sugar free Jello for dessert
• Pull pork chops and filet mignons from freezer
• Get potatoes and green beans from downstairs pantry
• Clean downstairs bathroom nope tomorrow morning
• Make list for three grocery stores and get to them
• Iron all napkins
• Get flowers. avocados, baguettes, bananas and buffalo mozzarella at Costco This is grocery store # 1
• make up vase of fresh flowers
• Go to TJ Maxx and buy two new pillows for guest bedroom Too expensive and not what I wanted a wasted trip Sissy gave me two old pillows just for decorative shams!  Go Me!
• Pay Amex bill (this will be scary) It was but it is done!
• Dress and get ready for my day...still dragging
• Make fried pork steaks with potato pancakes for dinner, beats and French style green beans with butter and almonds (Sissy and Auntie coming for dinner)
• Set table and prep for dinner 

It is now 4:02 in the afternoon and I have done all of this and still have to make dinner after lugging in $200.00 worth of groceries for the next four days of entertaining.  Putting them away took a good 30 minutes!

Now Husb took pity on me and is making dinner.  He makes the best potato pancakes, and I will be the sous- chef and clean up!

I am now going to pour myself a glass of wine and wait for Sissy and Auntie to get here and read a bit.  Of course, I will be on call for the Husb if he needs me.

Pray for us as it is going to be a rollicking weekend.  Will fill you in when the cousin leaves.

Hugs,

Kay

Busy. Busy weekend and I was almost dead!

Oh my, were we busy, and a lot was accomplished.

I will start with Friday afternoon in which it took me another three hours to get Aunties meds filled and only managed to get one of them, and I am still miffed, but it was the one she really needed.  The other I can pick up later this week.

Husb and Sissy worked for a good four hours to make a pathway in the area where the larger garden will be.  I entertained Auntie and cooked something...no wait Sissy cooked a lovely fried shrimp dinner, with asparagus and artichokes.  It was so good.  I cleaned up the mess.

Saturday. Sissy was at my House, and I had Auntie ensconced down my basement with TV tuner to watch her favorite programs, while Sissy and Husb worked on our side yard.  I cooked and got two desserts made for the St. Patrick's dinner and this took a good four hours. 

Pistachio baklava and a four-layer pistachio dessert.

 I do not know what we ate for dinner as all of us were just too tired.  Leftovers, I think.  I spent the night at Sissy's to get a head start on the setting of festivities. 

Sunday morning, I was up early and Husb came up with his mother's China and silver to set the table for eight.   I should have taken a picture of the table; it was Martha Stewart worthy.

When Sissy got up, she watched Conference on the computer, and she was very sore as was Husb from two days of grueling yard work.

She began to cook at noon when I ran to get burgers to go for all of us as thinking about making lunch was just too damn much and this is why I spend so much eating out.  Need to work on this.  The corned beef just did not smell right and after it came to a boil it was horrid.  So, we threw it out and ran down to hill to purchase more.  I said an arrow prayer and our prayers were answered.  When we entered the store the front meat case was empty, and it was terrifying...to the back meat counter we went and nothing, and then we spied three points in the butcher's case and that was the last he had!  And it got better as we forgot our cell phones and would have had to pay full price, but we were honest with him and told him we had bought them elsewhere (cheap) and he took pity and gave them to us for the sale price.  Disaster averted!

Sissy made a key lime pie and wonderful Irish soda bread.  The meal was a true success, and we had a very good time.  The Irish coffee was so good, and I wanted another but did not dare! Husb and I cleaned up as Sissy was exhausted.  I stayed the night again to finish put and take the next morning as husb was getting his hair cut and then coming up the hill to get his mother's dishes and I wanted Sissy's car to go to the dump.  She really did try to drop a house on me, but I miraculously survived.

I was really dragging and so was the Husb.  We did get to the dump, but not before I hit a large curb next to the house with Sissy's car and tore a piece of trim off her rear passenger door! (This is because Sissy tried to drop a House on me) I just took the turn wrong.  Now this will be a thousand dollars that I will pay for out of pocket, because what small body repair does not cost a thousand dollars!  If I reported it our insurance would just go way up as that is the way of the world now.

 WE then took Sissy's car back and retrieved ours and came home to unload dishes and silver and started on my laundry.  I did three loads and binged watched YOU TUBE!

Husb was not hungry, and neither was I, so we scrounged dinner, and I was in bed by 6:30 and slept well until 5:30 this morning.

I have a ton of ironing to do, and many household chores that I am behind on, so that is plan of attack for today.

May head up to Sissy's later but am just not sure.  We will have burgers and French fries for dinner tonight and I am going to make a big salad for the week.

Now I need to get dressed and get to work!

Hugs;

Kay

What a difference a day makes!

 So, I have calmed down a bit, but just a bit.  Sissy is right that I take things out to the worst possible conclusion and then I bring it back in and solve it.  Just the way I am wired, and I will work on this flaw the rest of my life. Perhaps it is not a flaw, because when Sh#$t hits the fan, I can remain calm and carry on and have proved this over and over.

My biggest stressor is Sissy gets too many irons in the fire and yes, she accomplishes a lot, but then crashes and burns and gets very, very sick!  I have seen this over and over the past 40 years, and now that she has RA it is worse.

She was so sick all last summer and the fallout around it was staggering for me.

I do not want this for her as every illness can lower her immune system.

So yesterday I went up to Sissy's and we planned menus and then I took Auntie to get scripts refilled (which still has not happened and this took up most of my day and I am still mad about it.)   How can two pharmacies not get it together?  More phone calls to make this morning.

While we were waiting for scripts, I took Auntie to TJ Max, and she found several things that looked adorable on her and I did get my makeup at Alta so that was accomplished.  It was now lunch time and Auntie must be fed, so I took her to lunch and checked on scripts.... nothing...Auntie now needs a nap so back to Sissy's I went after the Pharmacy here assured me that I could pick up the scripts when they were ready.  Pulling into Sissy's I see the chicken cage is fully wrapped with a light shining through and I knew we had chicks; stress level went down a bit.  

They are so cute.  Auntie went to nap, and Sissy told me, she had called the Friend where the large over commitment happened (that Sissy forgot about...how unusual) and the wonderful Friend took the task on herself.  Thank you, Lord!  It is still going to be a very busy weekend, but this is one less thing to worry about.

I then made phone calls to the pharmacy in Minnesota, and they claimed they sent the fax/email and then I called the pharmacy here and they said they had not received it.  Also was told their power had gone out and now the Pharmacy in Minnesota is closed.  So that is on my agenda for this morning.  

We also must take the Cats to the Vet for rabies boosters and then I have to do a bit of grocery shopping for tonight and I want to work on my yard.  I know that Husb needs to go to Home Depot for things to help Sissy.

Sissy is cooking tonight! Yeah!

WE had a very good time at dinner last night and I am so glad we did it even though I complained about it.  I love that feeling when you commit and then pull back in your mind, follow through and get that happy feeling.

I have so many lists for this weekend and next weekend, so at least I have a plan and I am going to take it one day at a time.

Now it is time to put the Cat carriers together and get rolling.

I thank everyone who commented yesterday, it does help!  Anne I several glasses of wine!

Tune in tomorrow to see how the saga plays out!

Hugs,

Kay

We have bitten off more than we can chew!

Someone, anyone, find my mind!  This is how both Sissy and I feel like right now.

WE have overbooked, triple booked and are just plain stupid. But we shall persevere, and it will take a lot of planning which will be done today.  I will make it happen, and one of us (Sissy or I may fall in the process)!

So, today we will, or I will plan.  It is windy and cold and I hate it as I have errands to run and must take Auntie to get drugs refilled.  I need to get up to Sissy's and get the corned beef out of the freezer and then see what is in there to come up with for meals for the masses.  I am so hoping the large Lasagna Sissy made is still in the freezer.

I did make it to Costco yesterday and took product up to Sissy's with the plan to pick up my Auntie and take her to get her meds filled when Sissy dropped the bomb that blew me out of the water.

I cannot go into detail as too many people read her blog, but let's just say, Sissy made a promise to someone we care about very much and the promise was made a long time ago and Sissy forgot about it, ( how unusual) and it will take a great deal of work on a weekend when we are booked solid with Company.  

I think when Sis told me the bottom dropped out and I shut down.  I am just really tired.  So, I did not take Auntie to get her meds, Sissy is stressed about not being able to get the chicks, blah. blah. blah!

I did not get to Alta for my makeup (I am very vain) I did however get fried rice and egg drop soup made (no egg foo young). Score one for the team.

Tonight, I am taking Auntie and Sissy's Neighbor to dinner for the neighbors 70th birthday.  Now why did I agree to do that?  Because She has no one and is very lonely and 70 is a milestone and I wanted to do something kind.  I should just have gotten her flowers! I do not need another social obligation right now!

I do not drive after dark, and it will be dark on the way home so my Husband will have to come with us, and He does not really want to...blah, blah, blah! Men!

Also, Sissy cannot come as she has an obligation to her Grandchildren she forgot about (how unusual) so it is up to me to keep the promise.

I am just whining and Sissy put it into perspective for me.  I have not had enough alone time, and I need it.  Both Husb and I are seriously quiet people for most of the day and always have been, except for about two hours of up time.  We have been up and on for 16 hours a day for months or so it seems.

Complain, complain, complain.  It is 8:10 and I must get dressed and do my morning chores and get up to Sissy's and get stuff done.

I will fill you in tomorrow if our day was successful and I so hope Sissy got chicks this morning.  It is so hard when you make a promise to small children and then you cannot fulfill it.  Say prayers for us!

When I get stressed like this, I just keep reminding myself. that I have food to eat, a roof over my head. friends and family that love me and this puts me ahead of the game, promises or no promises. None of this is a third world problem!

Hugs,

Kay

 

Busy, Busy, Busy

 Yes, this is me and I have been very busy.  On a dead run since Auntie got here.

We finished another puzzle, and this one was really fun, but incredibly hard.  All Nancy Drew novels. (Sorry cannot get the damn picture to turn- I am challenged) Sissy and I had everyone, but alas they were lost in a house fire two weeks after we graduated from Highschool.

I feel like I have done nothing but cook and clean since Auntie got here, but the freezers are really going down and that makes me very happy.

Yesterday Husb and I took Auntie to Veterans lunch and introduced her to Creme Brule.  She loved it and now I know what to make ahead as I have all the fixings.

Tonight, we will be having Chinese, fried rice egg foo young and eggrolls.  This will clean several more things out of the freezer.

I will be able to start cooking in bulk again soon and have many plans, the first being chicken and beef enchiladas.  Have everything for this and the chicken and beef are done and frozen.  I will also make several chicken pot pies.  I still have five pie crusts, and also, I will make a banana cream pie.  Auntie loves banana cream pie.  She loves sweets, and so did my mother.  At 90 years of age, I think she can eat what she wants!

I finally finished her scarf, and it turned out wonderfully and it is wrapped and ready for her little surprise second birthday party which we are planning for Sunday afternoon the 23rd of March.  Everything will be pink.  Her favorite color.  Simple menu as it is going to be a very busy weekend.

This coming weekend we are doing a St Patty's dinner at Sissy's house for eight people, and I will make a pistachio dessert and a pistachio baklava. (Sluggy I will be thinking of you while eating baklava!) Sissy is making the Irish soda bread, the corned beef, cabbage and potatoes.  Also, a Key Lime pie!  WE will have Irish coffee with dessert for those who imbibe.  I am one of them!

Yesterday after my shower I got a wild hair and cut six inches off my hair.  I wear it up all the time and Husb says I look older with it in a bun.  My Little sister will undercut the back for me tonight as I really messed that up.

But I love it, and it is so much lighter and free.

Kim's middle daughter came over the other night and helped me get the TV on the wall in the guest bedroom and the Roku hooked up, for Auntie.

I ordered new linens for the guest bedroom finally, and they should be in tomorrow.  I will then consider the bedroom done with the exception of the large egress window which needs to be replaced this year and then I can paint!  It needs it but it is clean so that will have to do.

The weekend of the 21st my Auntie's eldest daughter comes in and Sissy will also be having Company, so Auntie is moving to my House, and her daughter will be at little sisters.  I need to plan a menu and will cook here the 21, and 22.

It is going to be crazy.

Today I must get to Costco for Sissy, and I want to go to ALTA for some makeup if I can find something.  We shall see.

I need a vacation!

Take care and everyone have a productive day!

Hugs.

Kay