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

I have been very busy or maybe not?

I know you are all waiting with bated breath for the outcome of my Orange Cranberry Poundcake and here she is.  Total fail and I filled the house with smoke.  Very greasy and all Cranberries fell to bottom.  Forgot to flour them before putting in batter.

Now did it taste good after I cut off all the nasty looking parts.

Well yes it did, and we ate it, but I certainly could not gift this or serve it at a dinner or luncheon.

I feel like I wasted precious eggs and butter only to try and use up Cranberries and that is just stupid.  So, I think Anne in the Kitchen is right, I create work! I need to be better about this.

I also spent several days mulling in my mind how I was going to take care of the venting (or lack of it in my kitchen).  By the time I got my twisted brain around this conundrum, I had spent over twelve thousand dollars to alleviate the problem.  No, I did not really, and this was totally preventable had I put a large pan on the lower rack.  So, I have talked myself off a ledge and save a whole lot of money!

 

As you can see, a little greasy?  But the orange flavor with the Cranberries was wonderful.  I will definitely try again, but not anytime soon.  I will also try and use my small bread pans as I have had some success with these.  I will keep you posted.

Sissy is a much better baker than I.  Now ask me to make a chocolate mousse, a baklava, a tiramisu, I am your gal, but to bake not so much.

I finished the month of February in the black and was able to fund all of my various accounts, but still way overspent on eating or going out.  I way underspent on groceries which was good.  So, I am giving myself a B for the month.

We have made great progress eating down the freezers but still have a very long way to go.  I think another couple of months.

I did go yesterday and got groceries for the next two weeks at least and spent 90.00 but our aunt is coming, and I had to get some special things for her.

Auntie will be here tomorrow at noon, and I got her checked in and her luggage and wheelchair arrangements done this morning.

My Husband has been horribly ill with a bad cold and the cough is horrendous and he has been a bear to live with.  Hopefully he will be on the mend soon.

I now need to get up to Sissies and get some things done.  I still have at least two more hours of knitting before I can call my scarf finished, but I will get it done.

Now as Sissy says...I am off like a prom dress.

Hugs.

Kay

Tuesday February 25th and what have I been doing?

Well, we finished as puzzle, and it was really fun. Have started another one and it is so hard, but we shall persevere.

Both Sissy and Husb have my cold and both are suffering. Sissy is so busy with wedding dresses, and I did manage to make her cookies for church for her.  They are really good.  We have so many dates to use up!

The weather has finally turned warmer and I am four days without cuddle duds on!

We have really been eating out of the freezer and last night I pulled the last of the Prime Rib soup (from Christmas) thawed it and made Popovers (thanks Lori) to go with it!  Darn good I tell you. Everything tastes better with popovers!

We have also eaten two chicken pies and Husb and I will have a beef one tonight and those will be the last, until I make more.

My days are full, and I plan and then Sissy needs something and my plans go awry.  This is okay it is why we moved here.  

This morning, I finally got my Orange Cranberry poundcake in the oven. The batter tasted great, and this is a new recipe, so I am excited to see how it turns out!  If it is good I will make small ones tomorrow to freeze and give away.  Again, we have so many Cranberries to use up.

I pulled chicken legs and thighs from the freezer that were going to get freezer burned and four chicken breasts. I baked the legs and thighs and then put them in my crockpot for 12 hours and took the meat and shredded for Chicken enchiladas and then boiled the breasts just enough to cook them and cut them in chunks for chicken pies.  I got four nice quarts of chicken broth from this endeavor, and I use a lot of broth. I then froze the processed meat.  As long as the meat is cooked and I use it soon, refreezing it into enchiladas and pies is not an issue.  Normally I do not like tom refreeze meat.  But have learned over the years cooking ahead that there is really no harm.

I really want to try and make my own yogurt in my crockpot and am researching recipes. Sissy made blueberry jam, and it would be perfect in yogurt. She thinks it is too thick for jam and too chunky.

We shall see.

I need to run up to Sissy's and dig through Her freezer to see if we have any more piecrusts made.  I also want to make four rolls of pizza dough in her Bosch mixer.  I am craving pizza.  I will also make more piecrusts if we need them.

I am working on a hot pink fluffy scarf for my Auntie who is arriving next Tuesday, and I will need to knit at least two hours a day to get it done. I normally do not put things off but for some reason I did with this scarf and now I am behind the Eightball!

Okay pound cake has been in the oven 45 minutes, and I smell smoke...

This is going to be a failure, as the pan ran over and I failed to put a large sheet pan under it and the bottom of the oven is a mess. So, I clean it as best I could and cake is nor nearly done, covered it with foil and opened every window in the house, set out the huge fan.  Our oven is not vented, and we will have to fix this somehow someway.  Don't know quite how I am going to do it, but it will be a priority.

I also must remember to put a large sheet pan down when I bake. Stay tuned I will let you know?

Hugs;

Kay
 

Where have I been?

The Baby grand where our robot always got stuck and of course Bud!

Morning everyone!  I have been a busy girl since last Friday when I last posted. Don't ask me what I have done as most of it is a blur.  

We had Roscoe (Sissy's Corgi) while she was gone which filled our days in many ways, and we deep cleaned Sissie's house while she was gone.  We absolutely love the Robot vacuum and were astounded by how well it worked.  This will be a God send for Sissy.

Husb and I bought one way back when, no docking station etc.  But I remember it being rather expensive.

We thought it would help keep up with the Cat hair and our house was entirely carpeted on three floors except for the kitchen bathrooms and laundry room. Ours did not work that well and continually got stuck on a baby grand piano leg and whined.  I would set it and come home from the office and there it would be screaming from a piano leg.  It got to the point where it just went to one particular leg, grabbed on and hollered.  So, it went bye-bye, and we bought a very expensive Shark vacuum (which we still have) to replace our very old Sears canister vacuum that we bought used when we first married 40 years ago.

Yes, we grow old with our appliances!

Well, these robot vacuums have vastly improved, and I love the name Clean Elizabeth. Sissy is such a card!  She is thrilled.

I have been doing very well with eating down the freezers, but still have a very, very long way to go. Like maybe two more months and I will be able to start really cooking again.

WE finished a jig saw puzzle while Sissy was gone and started another one which is very fun.  I made a homemade chicken soup on Tuesday night and Sissy came for dinner and she cooked last night and spent the night with us and worked on the puzzle. WE really try to do three or four meals together every week to help us both whittle down the havoc that I have created in our freezers!

There is enough chicken soup for dinner tonight and it allowed me to use up three containers of chicken broth, veggies that had seen their better days and frozen chicken pieces.

We both still have so many baking supplies left over from Christmas baking, so today I am going to make a couple of loaves of cranberry orange poundcake which freezes beautifully.  Dessert for two weeks.

I also want to make those date oatmeal cookies Sissy came up with which are to die for.

The weather is actually turning warmer (Hallelujah!). Maybe I can finally get out of three layers of clothing which can be a bit restrictive. Both Husb and I have really suffered from the different weather here in the west, thirty-six years of east coast weather has changed our bodies.  WE will eventually get used to it, but it will take a couple of years, as it did when we moved east.

I was up at 5:00 this morning and watched the Sun come up and we can actually see the sun for the first time in almost three weeks!

I have done some morning chores as it is now 7:45 and I will let Sissy sleep until 8:30. I know she did not come to bed until midnight.  She has a Bridal fitting at eleven so this will give her time to wake up and get to getting.

I must do a small grocery shop today and I mean small and put gas in the car.  I do not know what Sissy needs from me today, but I will be there for her.

Now I am going to read a couple more blogs and get on with my day!

Have a great and productive day!

Hugs,

Kay