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