Allergies are kicking Husb and my Rear

 So strange that Husb and I both are so congested and plugged up and we know it is allergies, so we are both back on meds. It takes a couple of days to get to a medicated level.  Sissy says it is the wheat smut from harvesting, and we will get used to it!

Last summer it was July and August that we suffered and this year the end of September...so strange.

Our back yard is looking great and grass is really growing, so exciting.

I was up very early this morning as zi went to bed at six last night.  I was so plugged up and had a massive sinus headache, but it has abated.

I did my morning chores and then made two tiramisus, one for dinner tonight up at Sissy's and one for the freezer. (Yes, it freezes well if properly wrapped and thawed in the fridge for 24 hours).  If I am going to make a roaring mess in the kitchen, I might as well do two. And I did make a roaring mess, which I have now cleaned up.  I also need to make a salad for tonight but will do that later this afternoon.

Sissy is making a shrimp pasta (so good, I could eat it every night) and homemade French bread.

Little Sis and her husband will join us, and we are going to pow-wow the plan of attack on setting up the green house on Sissy's property.

I need to text Sissy to tell her I am feeling better and call little sister.  I then will go to Winco for a few more salad fixings and run to Home Creepo to look at the Mums.  Not crazy about Mum's but Husb loves them.  It is time to pull the flowers from the large pots out front as I have cut them back for a second bloom and they are now getting too shaggy.

Need to put some makeup on as I scare my public.

Off to set the world on fire!

Have a blessed Sabbath.

Kay

Drum Roll please!!!

We have grass coming up!

Hard to believe, but true!

Please note, the two pieces of metal art on the back of the garage that my Husband painted and hung. We have one more piece that I ordered for the space between the door and the downspout that will be here the first week of October.

It has been a challenging week in many ways, but I have accomplished for the most part what I wanted to do.

I did get another coat of herbicide on the front yard and thought I could plant grass seed this week, but no I must wait three weeks!  Bummer, I wish I had known that.  I made another visit to the Ag Center and they told me to go ahead and plant as the weather should stay warm enough until the end of October.  We shall, see?

Today the sisters and I are going to lunch and then back to Lil Sis's for a swim if it gets warm enough, again we shall, see?  My new favorite phrase!

Accomplished a Mission I have been on for months and the squeaky wheel does work.

Across the street and kitty corner to us is a duplex that houses seven people on one side and six on the other.  They are all basically adults.  The duplex has one trash can and recycle bin for all.  Simply not enough for that many people and recycle is only picked up every other week. So, there is trash overflowing everywhere.  And of course, does anyone break down a box?  The crows get into the overflowing garbage, and it creates a mess that blow all over.

My husband and I are constantly going over there and picking up trash, and it is driving our 88-year-old Neighbor across the Street nuts.  Her yard is pristine, and she should not have to live with the mess.

Of course, the duplex is owned by a Slum Lord and He pays for the containers, and said Neighbors do not want the rent to be raised, and I understand.  Seven poor college students and a single Father with five children and barley scraping by!  Now these people could bag the overflow and take it to the dump (which is free), but they are not going to do that.  Sissy and I have bagged overflowing recycle so many times and taken it to the dump ourselves.

So, I called the city of Lewiston and asked if I could pay for two more containers on my bill and was told no.  Hmmm! Here I am trying to be a good Neighbor and can get no cooperation. I finally said to the young woman on the phone, is this how you would treat your grandmother?  She told me to call code enforcement, and I did!  The Officer came, and I explained the situation and the very next day the duplex had two large trash cans and two recycle bins!  How he did it, I do not know and I do not care, but problem solved!

Color me happy.  Now I must go and clean out my fridge and head to Sister's lunch.

Planning my next yard project and will fill you in next week!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Kay

Another Monday and the first day of Fall!

It was a busy week last week and a lot was accomplished!

The backyard has been hydroseeded and watering has begun.

We should have grass ready to mow in about three weeks.

I got to the dump with Sissy, and the garage has been cleaned out and we can move in it!

The front yard is still a work in progress as I could not put the herbicide on, this past Sunday for the second time because it rained heavily for an hour and the ground is still too wet!  Hopefully by tomorrow I can do this and then get the grass seed planted by Wednesday! We shall see.

I was so disappointed when I got up yesterday and realized that rain was upon us so I used the 1.5 hours it would have taken me to spray and did a major clean out of several cupboards and some work on my closets.  I have a large bag of donations to go to the Salvation Army.

On Friday, Sissy Dan and I went to lunch and then to an Antique Junk store as Husb and I were looking for metal wall art we could spray black to hang on the back of the garage.  WE found two pieces that we absolutely loved and they were dirt cheap.  Husb has sprayed them and they already to hang sometime today.

On Saturday I tried a new chicken pesto recipe, and it was so good.  Husband loved it and I now wish I had grown more Basil. Will do so next year and only in large pots! Lori is right it grows so much better.

Sissy cooked last night, and it was wonderful. We had very thin cut rib eyes with purple smashed potatoes from the garden along with garlic green beans!  So good.

Lots of left over rib eye that I will process along with many bones and bits of steak and make a beef stew this week as we are craving it!

The weather has turned very cold in the mornings, and fall is officially here. Still getting quite warm in high Sun.

I spent the night last night at Sissy's and now must take her car back up to her along with Her dog Roscoe who came home with Dan.

I will then go to Salvation Army with my drop off and then home to vacuum and dust my basement. I also have phone calls to make and some other business on my desk.

Will pull beef broth from the freezer and start cooking down bones for more broth. Also want to make two loaves of French Bread.

So, I am now off to conquer the world!

Hugs,

Kay

We have leftover pesto chicken, so I will make more pasta and dinner is done.
 

Tired, just plain tired....

This is me! This is also Sissy, both of us bit off more than we could chew! 

But the good news is we did it! Now we can collapse.

The Party went off splendidly despite the massive rain fall (which we desperately needed), but so much work, and I had a lot of help! Thank you, Lord, for that!

Now that is done, and Sissy and I can both relax for a bit! 

Really, I mean really, when does that happen.
 

So today, all the cousins left, and Husb and I dropped my Neice off at the airport at noon after taking her to lunch as she will not land until eleven tonight her time and came home and just sat looking at our mud hole back yard that is way too wet to seed on Tuesday.  Our Lawn Guy stopped by and we greeted him with "it is way too wet to seed on Tuesday and he about fell at our feet with gratefulness and said, so you do understand!  Well, yes, we have both worked outside the last twenty some years and understand that Mother Nature is going to get you!

It now looks like it will be Thursday, and we will take it!  This gives me time to get a few other projects done in the House as it is way too wet for me to work in the front yard also.  I got to spend the weekend and today clean of dirt and mud!

I did manage to process two pounds of mushrooms today and grate black olives for pizza and froze several batches Husb and I will be having a pizza tonight which I will be putting together shortly, and this will feed us for two nights.  I am then going to clean up and binge watch Netflix and go to bed!

After all, " tomorrow "is another day. (Scarlet O'Hara)

I am out of here and going to conquer a pizza, it is all I can handle.

Borrowing from Sissy!

God is good!

Hugs.

Kay

The best laid plans?

Well, I wanted to work on the front yard today and it poured all last night, so too wet to do anything, but we need the rain!

Yesterday we met with the Yard Guy, and he said the yard was very ready and we had done a fabulous job! I'll take the compliment.

He will be here Tuesday to install the hydro-seed, and we should have a lawn is about three weeks!

Now the watering six times a day will be gruesome, but we are so ready.

I spent most of yesterday shopping for Lil Sis's party and took all the fruit up to Kim's and she will take this task from me. Ordered the cake from Albertsons as Costco could not meet my needs!  Will pick cake up Sunday morning after Mass and also three large bags of ice.  The party starts at 2 so will have plenty of time to decorate and get things together.

My Niece (Lil Sis's middle daughter) is flying in tonight, and Lil Sis's good Friend flew in last night, so I have plenty of help!

Sissy has been very busy in the shop this week and has really worked hard and I am proud of her!

I have to take lawn chairs, a cooler and six pounds of ground beef to Lil Sis today.  Will cook the burger and process into Taco meat tomorrow and refrigerate.

It is still sprinkling slightly, and I want to work on the garage so that is on hold, and it should stop within the next hour.

I need to go downstairs and change my sheets, and the others are in the dryer as I type but will have to be ironed and that is not happening until next week.

I also need to process mushrooms and freeze them and a can of black olives for pizza.  I am making pizza for dinner tonight. NOT HAPPENING PLEASE KEEP READING

Okay, it has been six hours since I last typed a word, and the day has been full, but I am determined to finish this post!

Husb was finally ready to clean out garage and it is done for the most part for now.  I can move in it! that is the blessing.  I will take every one of them I can get! Took us about an hour?  Why do Men stress over this.?  I threw a bunch of little crap left over from old owners and then there is a load to take to the dump which I will use Sissy's car next week to do that trip!

Then we went to Ace hardware and bought the hose that he wanted and then to Home Creepo, (yes that is what I call it as no one there knows what they are doing! I will willingly pay the price at Ace to save time and sanity). Bought downspout extenders that we need so the downspout's do not injure the hydroseed.

Then of course to lunch as Husb was HHUNGRY and you have to feed a Man as we had much more to do! That cost us $ 52.00 damn and that was just lunch! Of course, we tipped generously but still???

At lunch we had a call from Sissy (who was melting down and this happens as she has worked very hard this week and too many Brides' showings up today) So up the hill we went after paying check quickly and went to the problem and we also had things from the garage clean out that needed to be at her place.

I had a list for the errands and forgot to get the cooler from Sissy's garage for the party on Sunday as I was helping Miss Meltdown.   I did NOT LOOK AT THE LIST! I HATE THAT WHEN I DO THAT! BUT THEN MISS MELT DOWN CAME FIRST! (That would be Sissy).

She had a right to melt down and it was a vale.  The bride wants a long white vale (On very thin netting) with lace placed all the way around the bottom, but the lace she ordered was way too heavy and Sissy had tried everything she could think of to attach it.  She tried a fabric glue and then had to sew around light netting and had only gone halfway up the vale. I then become the model and walked it up and down the long hallway and the lace is too heavy (after Sissy spent hours sewing this damn stuff on and only halfway up!)

I told Sissy to tell her the truth, and it worked.  The vale will either be shortened, or the motives will come off.  End of story.  Now Sissy knows and every time you touch a job or a new fabric it is a learning curve, and some you simply do not accept.  Also, Sissy knows that brides can turn into bridezillas and that is always a worry.  You just have to talk them off the edge!

We then went to Lil Sis's to take things for the party and talked for a half hour with her Friend.  Told Lil Sis I forgot the cooler but that would go on my list for tomorrow!

Now it is 5:12 in the evening and I am damn tired!  I was going to make pizza for dinner but left-over hot dogs sound better and I still have to put clean sheets on my bed.  I just hope that homemade crust does not explode all over my clean fridge!

What a day, but as Sissy says... God is Good!

Everyone have a blessed weekend, will tune in next week!

Hugs, Kay

 

Some Good News! Also feeling very lazy this morning.

 It has been a busy week so far and I still have a lot to do. Finished my three cups of coffee and am still dragging, so I thought I would take the time to fill you all in on what is happening here at the Old Homestead!

 I have been working on the front yard which is horrible and have tried to pull all of the spurge, but it is really overwhelming me.

While I was working on it yesterday morning a Neighbor stopped by to say things were looking good and he too was overtaken by spurge and clover. He suggested that I go to the AG Center and buy a sprayer and a herbicide that worked great on his lawn and I needed to do this before I tried to reseed.  So, I did!

This was a great learning experience and $54.00 later I will start to proceed.  They also told me what to do step by step and also said that spurge had taken over the valley this year.  Some years are worse than others.

The nasty front yard and it is everywhere. Because I have watered heavily, trying to soften the dirt to pull the spurge etc. I must wait a couple of days to apply the herbicide and there can be no rain in the forecast.

So, I will wait a couple of days and then spray.  I am to wait at least a week with no watering and spray again. Wait and then plant my seed.

And this is exactly what I am going to do!

This just looks awful, so hope my efforts work.

Just checked the front and still pretty wet. Damn!

I am anxious to get the ball rolling and am not a very patient person (working on this and will the rest of my life).  The lack of patience means that sometimes I jump the gun to my own detriment.

Yesterday was a whirlwind and I think that is why I am dragging today.

I worked on the spurge for three hours early and then Sissy called and needed chicken breasts and had no time to break away because of the shop, so I stopped and took her the breasts.  I then went to the AG Center and also picked up the special-order Cat food that had come in at my Vets office.

Then home to process four huge zucchini (which is bagged and must go up to Sissies as my freezers are once again full!)

I toasted a pound of pine nuts as I plan to get my basil processed this morning. I also proceesed a large block of very expensive parmesean which I froze in small portions.

I then cleaned my refridgerator which was a real chore and this took me two hours of put and take.  It was disgusting. 

Then I made steak Cesar Salad for dinner with homemade croutons and dressing.  It was very good and my Husband loved it.

I had cooked two large New York strips, and we had leftovers (of course) so Steak Salad it was. But a lot of steps and work to make the dressing.

I was just exhausted after spending four hours in the kitchen and it was P.J.,'s and some Netfile before going to bed early and then up early this morning. I wanted to sleep longer but I am not one to loll about in bed and I got up!

Now onto the good news!  Remember I am practicing patience? WE have still heard nothing from the Landscaper we hired and have heard through the grapevine that he is really struggling, and I so understand.  To lose a child is the worst thing in the world.

However, needs must, and we do not want to live with dirt all winter.  Our Neighbor is having her lawn reseeded by a Company that does beautiful work, and I have seen their lawns all over town.  My thought has been that we could never afford this process.  Well, I reached out to the Company and the Gentleman came (turns out he is a Neighbor) and he said we had done all the prep work, there is no grass, and the area does not have to be cleared.  We have rototilled and she is ready for something, anything.  Got the quote this morning and it is so damn reasonable, that I am running the check over to his house this morning.

Hopefully this will get the ball rolling.

I am throwing a birthday/retirement party for little Sis this Sunday and she and I will shop tomorrow for most of the needs.  It is Mexican themed, and I expect between 20 and 30 people.

I need to ask Sissy to make the big fruit bowl.  I am ordering the cake from Costco as that is what little Sis wants.  So, it is going to be a busy next several days.

Now I need to get in the shower and then take stuff up to Sissy and get back here and start on my basil project.

Sissy and I are taking an elderly Neighbor to the food bank this afternoon, and I am making hotdogs for dinner, as that is what Husband requested, and I make a great hotdog with all the fixings!  Need to chop some onion and make some coleslaw today also the rest will fly together easily!

Now off to clean up and set the world on fire!

Hugs,

Kay

Happy Friday!

 So, this morning I was up and worked in the front yard, which is in horrible shape, but I am taking steps to correct it.

I spent a good 45 minutes yesterday at Ace Hardware picking the brain of one of the best minds in town when it comes to keeping grass alive and weed free (is there such a lawn?) in Lewiston (the desert) Idaho.

Was given a lot of good tips and bought grass seed, topsoil and a good sprinkler.

The weather is changing and although it will get to a high of 96 today it then will start to go down and next week is perfect for me to get new grass planted.

I then went up to Sissies and did three hours of ironing (finished mine on Wednesday) and still did not finish.  I do not think she has ironed in two months.  It is so hot here that we wear cotton and some linen and I do not care if you pull it from the dryer immediately it still looks somewhat wrinkled.  We also grew up on starched sheets and pillowcases as well as cloth napkins so those have to be ironed as well.

I need to go to Costco today and get some things for my Husband that the Doctor recommended for his diabetes.  The appointment went very well but he has not been taking care of himself and some of his numbers are not good, but we are on the right track, so He feels better about things as well as I.

It helps having a new Doctor that is also a diabetic as She knows what to get and where for the best price!

They are completely redoing his meds which makes me very happy.

I also have to go to Walmart (which I hate) but they are the only game in town for Placker's ( Sluggy I used your last pack).  Yes, Sluggy used to keep me well supplied when the Rite Aides were still going strong!

I will also go to WinCo for fresh vegetables to make a large salad for the husband which he can eat on for days.

Before I head out to run these errands I am heading up to Sissies to take her some goulash I made last night (she eats like crap) and I want to see if she finished the last eleven pieces of ironing and if not I will do them as I can't stand things hanging out there!

Now I am off to conquer the world.

I am going to hit Sissy if she did not finish that ironing.

Hugs.

Kay

 

It is so hot!!!!

 Had a wonderful time in Seattle and got home late Monday.  The weather was wonderful!

Here it has been in the low 100's and it is just awful, but this too shall pass.

I was able to get rid of all my rock along the way and saved one piece for my Friend (she thought it was hysterical) to put in her garden!

Just trying to take it easy and get things done around the house.

My backroom project is getting closer to completion, and I work a little on it every day.

This morning, I grated four very large zucchini for the freezer and processed 6 pounds of walnuts (roasted and chopped).  I also made a batch of homemade taco seasoning which is a first and I hope we like it.

Pulled the last of the spaghetti sauce from the freezer and Sissy is joining us for dinner tonight.

I was very proud of my budget last month and ate out of the pantry and freezer almost exclusively and will continue this throughout this month.

Paid all my bills for this month and hit all my sinking funds before I left on Friday, so I call that a win.

I did hit the grocery store for loss leader burger and froze it as I plan to make sauce in the next couple of weeks.

My basil needs to be picked, and I will dry some and also make pesto for the winter. Need to dig the pinenuts out of the freezer, defrost and toast.

I also boiled six eggs and will make egg salad for lunches the next couple of days.  Just too hot to heat up the kitchen.

I have only planned my meals for today and tomorrow and need to get to freezer and figure out the rest of the week.  The weather should break on Sunday and then I can bake bread next week.

Have the ironing board set up downstairs and need to go tackle some of it, and I am really not in the mood.

If I really get to it, I can get it all done before I go with Husb to his first official Dr appointment with the VA.  What a hassle, but it will be worth it in the end.

He just has not felt well in a while, and I want to get to the bottom of it!

Now I am off to tackle the ironing....ugh!

Take care.

Kay