Thursday, July 31, 2014

Thursday, so tired.....

     I am putting the canning things away today for a week or two.  I am very tired of the mess, but grateful for the addition to the pantry.  I made 10 jars of apricot syrup and 20 jars of apricot jam yesterday.  I was able to get quite a bit of sewing done also.  This has worn me out!  Hub's took me out for a taco salad last night as I pulled meat out of the freezer too late and was too tired to do anything with it.  So dinner was $8.65 cents.  We are big spenders.

     I will do something with the chicken breasts I thawed last night, but not sure what yet.  Just have no inspiration, hope I get some soon or they are going on the grill.  I think a stir fry and then make some chicken salad for tomorrow, that sounds good to me.

     I am spending today in the shop.  Next week I will need to get enough together for the house payment and I had better get busy putting money aside.  It seems to take every penny just to get through the month and a few extras.  We will be needing gas in both vehicles and food for the animals this weekend.

      I need to hop in the tub, and get myself going, I plan on staying strapped to the sewing machine today and a few cleaning projects.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Wednesday, Fruit galore!

     I spent most of yesterday picking fruit and canning and sewing.  It was so hot.  This morning I have to get cleaned up and run both of our gas tanks to get them filled.  One for the grill and one for the outdoor canning stove.  The hot work is done outside.

     I was able to can 5 quarts of tomatoes, 7 quarts of peaches, and 12 pints of apricots in addition to what was done Monday.   I will do apricot jam today.   First I have to do a run through of the house, figure out what I will do for dinner (chicken I think).  I also have to really get serious in the shop.  It is getting over full and when it gets that way I get uncomfortable.

     Son-in-law will be back tonight late and I would like the canning mess to be put away.  I have a big mess on the back deck where we keep all the canning jars that are empty and the supplies.  It needs to be cleaned out and organized and then the food storage down stairs also is a mess and needs to be rotated and organized.  So I have enough to keep me busy today and out of trouble.

     Hub's carried all of the canning down stairs after it cooled.  He also helped me pick, as he is much taller.  The neighbors have another peach tree that is not quite ripe and when it comes on I will do more peaches.  My cupboards in the kitchen need a thorough go through, they are such a mess.Yikes.

     I have flower girl dresses and police uniforms and hems waiting for me in the shop, time to get to work.

Out My Window:  108 again yesterday and no end in site.  I love summer!


     Lena:  I bought a pink belt to match a dress at Ross for $9.00 it also had a fuchsia belt and a grey belt with it.  They were leather and in a set.  I have a fuchsia blouse and I can wear the grey with my denim dress for a change up.  Then I bought a little yellow agate bracelet from a street vendor for $5.00 and Penneys had a necklace and earrings that matched it perfectly.  I am not much for costume jewelry, I have a few pieces of good jewelry that I wear every week.  But this new yellow dress I bought is very plain so I thought why not?  Yes I can wear yellow.  One of the few people I know who can.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Tuesday, lovin life.

     Hub's took the big box of tomatoes I was to can to work yesterday morning, so that saved me a peck of work as my grandmother would say.  I really had a great time yesterday just tooling through my list of housework, with no deadlines or time frame.  No have to be to the studio, have to be to the bank, just whatever I wanted, when I wanted.  Wow is this retirement?

     I was able to get my Aunt's box of fabric sent, and buy a fan for the downstairs bedroom.  I picked up a few odd sundries at the restaurant supply, where I can buy bread making seeds in larger quantities.  I have a whole stack of books to go back to the book seller, but that can wait until this evening.

     My house is really clean and neat as a pin as long as you don't open any drawers or cupboards:) I really need to do a room by room drawer by drawer go through and purge, but I don't wanna.  Maybe after I get home from my sissies.

     Son-in-law came and we had a nice long visit, after it cool down to say 94 (107 was the high yesterday at the house) we went next door and picked apricots. I was able to can 12 quarts and we did not even begin to touch the tree.  I kind of quite canning after the kids got to be teenagers.  We did not eat as much fruit and it got to be so expensive to buy it.  But as it is free, I will process as much as I can.

     I am gong to do some apricot jam and then tonight I will do peaches. When it cools off. There is plenty of sewing to keep me busy. The boxes also need to be watered.  Bills need to be paid.  Hub's gets paid on Thursday and then I can post new totals! Slow and steady on the bills.  I just want to be able to throw large chunks of money at something, that has never worked for me and this is frustratedly slow, however I can see that I am making progress.  

     I need to go find something for dinner, I know there are new potatoes in the fridge and tomatoes and I believe I have some Swedish meatballs in the freezer.

Okay I am off tot the races!

Have a great and productive day.

Kim

Monday, July 28, 2014

Monday, I don't have to do it all today!

     Our neighbor left for the San Islands and said we could come and pick all the fruit we wanted.  I have enough tomatoes for a canner full of jars and then want to pick apricots ( they are my favorite fruit) and also pick peaches.  I will not do it today unless it is later in the evening. 

     My son -in -law is coming to spend a few days, actually nights so I really need to cleanup around here.  Lot's of house work and laundry I have let slide over the weekend, which by the way was lovely.  Watched net flix, took a long bike ride. Went and did a little luxury shopping.  Spent a whopping $40.00.  I know, I know last of the big spenders.

     Last night as it was cooler I made a triple batch of oatmeal,raisin cookies.  Hub's took several dozen to work and I filled the cookie jar and still have some to hold over.  I haven't baked for a long time as Hub's is quite over weight and I am still working on my steroid weight from last summer.  But with son coming I wanted something he would snack on and I do love to bake.  Cookies are delicious and I gained 5 lbs over the weekend.  How does that happen?  Blah!

     So I have a lot of work to do today and I need to get busy.  The shop is full and more is coming in all the time.  I am going to get my quota done and then hit this house with a vengeance.  Or I might make a game of it and just putter all day.

     The really nice thing about this week is that I have no real pressures, other than the shop and what I want to put on myself and that is so unusual.  I push myself too hard and I was planning today and was going to get a bunch of canning done in addition to cleaning (to perfection) and sewing and I thought, "STOP".  You don't have to do this all today!  That was a nice feeling.  I don't have to do it all today.

     Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Saturday, headache!

     Woke early with a bad headache, so took some meds and went back to bed.  Just got up and sent hub's to gas the car and change the oil in said car.   Have no real plan for the day, as I made bread last night while I cleaned the kitchen.  Don't think I need any groceries.

     The back yard needs to be cleaned up from the storm and I do need to hand water all the boxes, but I have such a streak of lazy today.  Need to get motivated. Like weed the front yard beds, take a load or two to the dump.  I really would love to make cookies, but I would eat them.  This is our last cool day before a 6 day over 100 stretch.  What to do?

     Have a lazy, crazy, day off!  Yippee!

Kim

Friday, July 25, 2014

Friday, I'm done!

  The workshop is over! Yippee! I have about 5 weeks of summer vacation coming and no interruptions!  Well studio interruptions.  Okay I will have to post a schedule and do some advertising but no teaching!  So happy.  Free time, I get so little of it.  I felt so overwhelmed this week with trying to sew some and then get to the studio and then back to the shop.  But I actually got a lot more sewing done than I thought.  However the schedule exhausted me.  I am really beyond tired and I won't do it again.

     Peaches are coming on in neighborhood trees and I have apricots coming out my ears.  I think I will freeze some for cobblers.  But not today.  I am going to fry up some sliced squash and make a salad and hub's will have leftover meatloaf for dinner.

     I did not clean up the kitchen last night so I will go do that and make up some dinner and then I am going to take a nap.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Thursday, what a mess!

     So glad I worked so hard in the yard last weekend only to have it storm and send branches and leaves all over the backyard and deck, so now I have more clean up!  Many trees down around here.  Neighbor came running over during the news.  The first large maple he and his wife planted on the property did a gun shot and cracked down the middle.  Hub's went over and drilled through with a large bolt and then strapped the trunk together with webbed furniture clamps. This was no easy task for two men during a storm.   We think it will heal, I have saved trees this way.

     Daughter was moving my parents large dresser and I told her to make sure it was lying down, but she wanted everything in one trip (she is so her mother's child) and lost the top drawer by the park above our house.  It was her underwear drawer and it was about 10 p.m. so dark outside and of course it was full of panties, bras etc.  We had a good laugh, but the drawer is in pieces and badly damaged in the front corner so I will have to take it in to my furniture man and have it restored.  Dumb kid.  Never found half her underwear, deer and elk are probably wearing it or a stray raccoon or two.

     Went to pick up Hub's prescriptions last night and saw that wild pink salmon was on sale for $1.49 a lb so bought one and will cook it up tonight if it is good we will go and get more.  We get a good cheap salmon run about once a year here.  Don't know where I am going to put it, I suppose I could get hubs to smoke it, we will see.

     After the storm I was picking large branches out of the garden and discovered 6 large cucumbers.  How did I miss those?  So tonight cucumber, onion and tomato salad, with salmon and fried yellow squash.  Hubs, took meatloaf sandwich to work today. I don't think I will have to cook until Sunday with all we will have left over.

     Well I have a ton of sewing to do before I head to the studio so I am going to finish my beauty routine and get to it! Slap on some face moisturizer and comb my hair!

Must, must, must get some sewing done today!

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Wednesday, trying to make progress.

   Posting later in the day....

  I had a call from my dentists office that they had a 2.5 hour cancellation this morning, so would I like to come in and finish up my work?  You betcha.  But it about killed me, keeping my jaw open for that long and as my jaw really is frozen and does not open even wide enough to take a bite of a hamburger most days, getting even a child's size rubber damn in my mouth was hell.  But the work is done.  All the restorative work that needed to be done is done.  It has taken almost 18 months. I had a ton of old fillings that were leaking.  I really have not had a cavity in years and years.

     I also got B's college papers in I think.  They might want some documentation but we will see. I  was able to get my Aunt's fabric boxed up and labeled just need to get to the post office.   I printed out a bunch of medical forms to get reimbursed.  I cleaned down the dirty steps to the down stairs.  Got enough cat and dog fur to make a pillow.  I did all of my ironing last night as I watched a movie.  So my list is getting smaller.  I will just keep hacking at it.

     We are having a bad wind storm right now and that is not good for the local fires.  It will have to be really bad before Hub's is called out.  They don't like to pay Foresters overtime they are too expensive.  Yeah that is why I worked 4-5 jobs most of my life to augment that expensive income:)  Okay a little sarcasm.

     I have been so appalled at the price of groceries lately especially meat, but with the garden and all the fruit going ripe this last month I have not felt the pinch too badly.  Apricots, cherries, plums, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries as much as we can eat and then some.  I also found whole chickens on sale for 69 cents a lb.  That is almost unheard of anymore, so I bought all they had out.  10 chickens!  My freezer is pretty full.  Then I found 80/20 ground beef for $1.69 a lb, so I stocked up and I had no room so I made several meat loafs.  We will have one for dinner tonight and leftovers tomorrow.  I can wedge the others into the freezer as they are smaller.  I love having things cooked up and in the freezer to thaw.  I just pull out the meat and go out to the garden pick what is ripe and dinner is done. 

     I think I will start canning tomatoes this weekend.  I did not do any last year and I love my big quarts of home canned tomatoes.  Now I hear thunder and lightening, crap, I hope we don't have any new fires.  It has been really smokey out and it affects my breathing.

     Well I need to get my butt in the shop as it is almost 5 p.m. and I have gotten no sewing done today! Shame on me.

Have a great and restful evening.

Kim

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Tuesday, Truckin along......

     Well I got nothing done on my list yesterday, but I did get a few things started.  Like B's paperwork will not be as hard as I thought.  Right after this post I am on my way to put stuff away at high school.  I also really cleaned down the steps of the basement and started laundry and sorted the ironing.  Does that count?  B did straighten up the family room.

     We are completely out of small bags of white flour, which is a rarity at our house so I am going to stop at the restaurant supply after the high school and pick up10 bags.  Making bread and all my things from scratch does take a great deal of flour.

     I have to find some meat in the freezer to get out and thaw for dinner, I think it will be chicken breasts, that way I can use the leftovers in salads.  Hubs had leftovers last night and I am going to find something to do with the left over potatoes he did not eat.

     I sewed for several hours last night and I have some goals to finish today.  The shop was really busy from 3:30 until about 6.  New work came in and that is good.  I must pay the studio rent today and I don't want to as I hate to dip into my savings but it has to be.  I just want to hold onto my money like a little miser.

     Okay by tomorrow I hope to report a few things actually of my list of I don't want tooooooooos.......

     Hubs and I took an hour long bike ride last night but he insisted that he put the bikes in the back of the truck and take them down to the levy instead of us riding down the steep hills and then walking bikes back up.  I guess me collapsing and vomiting last Monday in the drive way must have sacred him.  It didn't scare me, I had just over done it.  So now he won't let me ride down and come back up on my own.  Personally I think it almost killed him too.

  It was much cooler yesterday only 91.  I want to get the front yard beds weeded, and I know I have to hand water today and check the garden for produce.  Also ironing is out of hand and I am down to my last pair of cotton shorts, so tomorrow I must wear a skirt or be naked.  Slowly, slowly working on my goals, I just wish they were more fun!  Like a new project.

Okay, I am off to the salt mines.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Monday, July 21, 2014

Monday, same old stuff

     The two youngest girls came to dinner last night and then stayed the night.  You should see the family room!  Yikes!  I forgot what a mess those two can make when they stay up snacking and watching movies.  The only thing now is that one is at work and the other needs a ride to her car and she won't get one until she cleans up the mess.  I am such an evil mom.
 
     Girls brought over steaks, but we hardly touched them as we all ate the fresh veggies from the garden  So many to choose from it was hard and then triple berry pound cake for dessert.  Of course I am back on the diet today:)  I have to see my sissie in about a month and I need to drop a few pounds, she cannot be prettier than I am.  Plus my girlfriends will be there and mom has told them that I am getting so fat!  I love my mother.

     Sick to death of the studio right now and I know that is wrong, I have one more week of this money losing workshop left and I need to treat these kids as if I am not losing money.  They deserve a good workshop even if there are fewer of them.  I just don't like it hanging over my head and having to get down there everyday. My problem is that I just don't want to be bothered with going down there.  I will go and I will be cheerful and enthusiastic.

     I have a great deal of sewing to do, and ironing, and laundry, and cleaning.  The housekeeper comes on Wednesday for the upstairs, but the downstairs is scary. It needs my love and concentration for a few hours at least.

     There are things I have been putting off as usual, so this week I am going to concentrate on getting these things done.

1. take back all props and costumes to high school
2.  Get B's college papers sorted
3. get bills turned in to our medical account for last year 
4.  mail fabric to my Aunt and out of the shop
5. really clean the downstairs

     See I have a list, now I just need to do it!

Out My Window:  Beautiful and HOT!

Have a great and productive day!
Kim

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Sunday, sore and tired.

     I was so excited in the weather shift outside I of course over worked myself.    It only topped out at 94 yesterday so I spent 3 hours in the backyard.  I tried to stay in the shade, but managed to get burned.  The backyard and garden are well on their way to weeded and I have 8 large black bags to prove it.  I hope the cooling trend lasts a little longer so I can get to the front.  The front is in full sun almost all day so must be careful.

     We went to a large church picnic yesterday that happens once a year around the 24th of July.   I was not keen on going as I knew the food would be bad and hub's doesn't do well in crowds with his hearing loss.  We were told to bring a watermelon.  So up we show with our chairs and sure enough cheap white hamburger buns (cold) with shredded pork (maybe 2 tablespoons full) then you were supposed to pour different kinds of barbeque sauce over to make a sandwich.  Baked beans  (of course) and potato salad.  More gooey dressing than potatoes. Then there were cookies, assorted chips, and later ice cream.

    Leave it to say I was a little put out as there was not a healthy thing in sight and I never eat white bread unless it is a holiday, I don't put sugar on my meat, and I don't slather beans with sugar either.  Now I like good barbeque but it is different and slow baked beans are delicious.  Everything was over processed and gross.  The ice cream was good.  They forgot about the watermelons and then sent them home with people. So I ate cookies and ice cream.  I am not against sugar, I just want to know that I am eating it.  I love sweets, in fact too much.  But we are a society of future diabetics.  At least they served water and not sugar laden kool-aid.

     About 9:30 last night I made 5 loaves of bread as it had cooled down and we were out.

     So today kids are coming to dinner and I will be eating out of my garden.  I must get cleaned up for church and go wash this sweat head.

Have a peaceful and restful Sabbath.

Kim

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Saturday, yard work!

     Slept late today it was so nice.  Had a hard time sleeping last night.  You know how I love that.  Today I am going to work outside as it is cooler.  Picked a ton of stuff from the garden last night and weeded 5 large trash bags out! I told you it was bad.


     I need to go out and continue in the back yard.  We have a church picnic this afternoon at 3:30.  But I plan to spend most of my time in the yard.  Flowers boxes are a wreck and need trimmed.  Lot's more weeding to do.

     Hubs cleaned the church this morning while I slept.  Kids are coming over tomorrow for barbecue.  They are bringing the steaks.  We will have new potatoes out of the garden, green beans, squash, and peppers.  We also have ripe cucumbers and tomatoes.  I went and pick about a gallon of raspberries at a friends house.  I am going to make a short cake with raspberries, blueberries,and strawberries, Yum!  Any left over berries will be frozen for jam later in August.

Well the garden is calling, so I am off!

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Friday, July 18, 2014

Friday, dust ball city

     Because of the heat and the hectic schedule this week, nothing has been done to this house.  There are dust balls every where.  I think the stairs have fur on them, in fact I know they do.  I have not any laundry since last week.  Beds need to be changed.  I also am out of bread.  The heat just saps us and we lay around like slugs in the basement.  Going upstairs or doing any work is miserable.  I need to quit feeling sorry for myself and get to work.

     Masterbed and bath are clean, and I am working on spare room, as in changing sheets and sweeping.  Downstairs is particularly bad and I need to really dust and clean the floors.  Blah!

     I am due at the studio at 1 p.m. and will go pick raspberries at my friends house this afternoon and if it is cool when I get home I am going to make a batch of bread.  I would love to get some weeding done over the weekend but it will depend on the weather.  Okay actually it will depend on how lazy I am.

The wash machine just stopped so that is my cue to get busy.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Thursday, it will be a long day

     I am up and have just put the finishing touches on my shrimp salad and a trifle.  I need to bathe and get ready to go to the church.  I will attend a funeral at 11 and then help in the kitchen before I run to the studio.  I need to get home and get a wedding dress and a bridesmaids dress altered before 5:30.

     There is plenty to eat for dinner so I won't have to worry about that.  It was 111 in downtown Lewiston yesterday.  I am trying to think of what to wear to the funeral.  At least the church will be cooler.

     We did not ride our bikes last night as it was way too hot, but Hub's cleaned the church and I cooked for about 2 hours, it was miserable.  My flower boxes look miserable, I can water 2X a day and they still look parched.  It is supposed to cool down this weekend.

     Okay, black and white summer suit? or black cotton dress?   I have a black Funeral suit but that would be way too warm. I guess as long as I am not naked it really doesn't matter.  I dread going to this Funeral it is just too sad.  There is nothing I can do or say to make things better.  All I can do is show up and pray that my friend will find peace.

     Life has a way of making you pay attention, even if it has to slap you in the face.


Have a great and productive day!

Kim
    

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Wednesday, back and forth

     I feel like my days are just running back and forth.  Up to the studio at 9 a.m.to check things out and set days schedule, back to sew until 1 p.m. then back to studio to teach until 3 then home to visit customers and I have had so many customers.  That is good I need the money as the dance workshop will lose.  But this is the last time I will ever do anything in July.  I learned that years ago (about 15) and seem to have forgotten.  June is the month, get them right out of the gates or forget it.

     It has been so nice to not have to go to that bank and clean.  Hubs and I took a bike ride Monday evening and I almost went down.  Too hot and I was dehydrated.  Will be smarter next time.  It is nice to ride the levy as the breeze comes off the water and you are going fast enough to create your own wind.

     I finally booked my ticket to see my Sissie in August.  I also get to see my great Aunt and my younger sister so it will be a fun time.  So excited.  The only problem is that I don't get any alone time with Sissie. Now I have to get busy and get money put aside for that trip. 

     I will be putting together a salad tonight and a trifle tomorrow morning for a funeral.  I plan to have all the ingredients ready and then just assemble in the morning.  Hub's has a timber sale selling tomorrow for the state so he can't go to the Funeral.  Maybe I can get B to come down and  go with me.  I dread it, just so sad.

     Hub's and I have been eating, spinach salads, with strawberries and blueberries, out of the garden and I will have green beans by the end of the week.  I really need to weed but it is too hot.  We need a day of cooler rain, so we can get caught up.  Don't see that in the future.

     Well I am off to the salt mines!

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Monday, July 14, 2014

Monday, up early!

     It will be a busy day today and I am up early!  It looks like rain outside and it is cooler.  We start a workshop this morning so I have to get down to set that up. I will be back and forth between the shop and the studio today until 3 and then the shop will be busy.

     We had a terrible tragedy in our church this last weekend.  One of my good friends 14 year old sons  was found dead from a self inflicted gunshot.  Know one knows why or has a clue, just sadness and questions. I feel so bad and don't know what to do for her.  I just pray that the family will find peace.

     I made a huge batch of Swedish meatballs last night after it cooled down.  I am taking a meal into another large family later this afternoon.  I also need to get an arts and crafts project ready for the dancers this afternoon.

     We had blueberries and strawberries out of the garden and also yellow and zucc squash.  Our first cucumbers are ripe and we have tomatoes turning.  I love to be able to plan dinner around the garden.

Bills need to be paid today, so I will also get that done and quit messing around.  Sometime in my hectic schedule.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Saturday. you win some, you lose some...

     Spent most of the day working on 3 wedding party dresses, bride and two bridesmaids.  Major alterations on one.  Two dresses still have to be tweaked, but at least they are easy tweaks, just aggravating because I want them gone!  I waited to steam them until 10 last night as it was 102 outside and I did not need the heat in the house.

    Hubs is out mowing the lawn before it really gets hot, and I stayed up last night until 4 a.m. just could not sleep, plus I had baked a batch of bread that did not get done until about 12:30.  I did not want to heat up the kitchen until it cooled down outside.

     I am really tired today, so might take a nap later.  I also need to go get my nails done, but I can't convince myself to clean up and go do that, probably because I only got 5.5 hours of sleep last night, made myself get up.

     My shop and the laundry room need love desperately and I need to contact mt ballet mistress about dance on Monday. Blah!

Have a great and productive day as I don't think mine will be too productive!

Kim

Friday, July 11, 2014

Friday, mosey along

     In response to Misty, I have never eaten fried green tomatoes.  I think it is the word fried that stops me.  Although I love fried food it doesn't love me.  If I have to take a vegetable and coat it in eggs, milk, bread crumbs and then cook in butter, of course it will taste good.  My grandmother had a zucchini fritter recipe like this and they were good, but breads crumbs and eggs fried in butter are good right? Okay I am just teasing you, I will see if I can snag a recipe and try them.

     Hubs went to work yesterday but stayed in the office.  I told him he could not take benedryl until he got there and not to go out on logging roads when he was dopey.  Stay in the office and screw things up!  The meds would wear off by the time he got home.  I had beets from the garden and crook neck and zucchini and small onions (fried Misty) then made hamburger patties (with some bread crumbs, egg, and onions mixed in and I sense a pattern here;)) so he could eat immediately, and go to bed or rest.  The yard was due for a mow, but his hand is so tight it is shiny and he still can't wear his watch so that will be put off until today, I think.

     We received our last paycheck from the cleaning job and I am going to pay the house payment with it and some money I have from the shop, and my first SSI check.  That way Hubby's next paycheck can go to other bills.  It is still a wonder to me.  I am not really formulating any plans until after this next workshop because I do not know how much it will bring in to put towards studio bills.  I do know I have teachers lined up and I will just oversee.

     Our medical savings just sent us a card to use which will make it so mush easier.  Hub's and I will be able to pay all excess bills with the card.  We have about $2000.00 a year taken out of hub's checks pre-tax for this, now we will not have to fill out paperwork to be reimbursed, which is a pain and I still have about $350.00 I need to pull records and account for from last year.  The check will be free and clear and I can add it to debt but a pain to prove up at the end of the year for everyone.  I love having the cards.

     My hands are horrible this morning and I am waiting for the Advil to kick in so I can get into the shop.  With all the expensive dangerous drugs I take you would think I could just hop out of bed and start singing, but no it is the slow creep for a few hours.

I have two free dinner entree's at Taco Time and I am going to make hub's take me out.  We dine in style here.  Taco Time.  Okay it is free.

Out My Window:  Hot, dry, hot, I  am sorry I love it!

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Thursday, Hot here!

     Coming down with something.  Sore throat, sweaty (but it is 102 outside) and I sat under a blanket yesterday with a bad headache.  So when it is 102 and you are shivering under a blanket I think something may be wrong.  Sleep was disturbed last night by sweating.  I have so much sewing to do that is due out tomorrow!

     I am going to take a hot bath and some aspirin and see if I can kick my butt into my sewing room.  The shop was crazy busy yesterday and all I wanted to do was rest under a blanket, but I was up constantly adding more to the pile.

     Was able to get 2 kinds of squash, beets and new carrots out of the garden yesterday.  We have tons of tomatoes but they are all green.  When they do ripen I will be busy.

     Hubs came home last night with bee stings.  He had stepped on a ground hive.  The worst was one on his thumb that spread up to his wrist and he had to take his watch off as there was so much swelling.  I fed him, dosed him with benedryl ? and put him to bed.

     I am going to clean up and try to get busy.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Wednesday, creating my own chaos....

     We had a lovely time at the coast.  Grandson was wonderful and fun.  I love how he plays with his dad and his mom.  He is just a sweetheart although I think a little spoiled, they need another child and soon!  It was so nice to go this year.  We had a room for the first time that just had 2 double beds in it without a kitchenette.  D#1 and her husband had a two bedroom cabin with a kitchen.  All meals were cooked down at the cabin which was about 1/2 a block away.  I did not cook one big breakfast and only cooked one dinner.  I did far less kitchen packing and clean up.  It was so much easier.  We had a small fridge and a microwave in our room.  I would have liked a toaster, but then that is going overboard for the hotel.

     We did not do as much walking as we usually do but we did bike ride.  I wore the skin off my feet in the sand so I guess that is enough walking. Our dog lost weight as she had to go everywhere with everybody.  If we went on a long walk and came back and then B went out she would have to go again.  We really wore her out.  You can actually see her hip bones and this is good as she is getting to be an old fat dog. (Like her owner)

     On the way home I started to get nervous because every time we come home there is a disaster to face, usually involving the death of a pet or water or both.  We are still paying on the sewer collapse of 2012.   I was worried about my chickens it was 102 in Lewiston.  When we got home all was well.  I immediately went out to check on the chickens and water the flowers.  Hubs and B were going to unload the bike rack as I am no help with anything heavy and over my head.  As I was watering I heard Hubs scream my name and then B and it sounded serious so I threw the hose in the pond and came running thinking the bike rack had fallen, but it was just a customer.  So I took care of them and then B wanted me to go with her to get a fan for her apartment.  When I came home I had over filled the pond and started to flood the basement.  (Damn!)  We have not had that happen for a couple of years now.  Then I went looking for my cell phone.

     We had used the navigation on my phone through Portland and I had taken several calls from customers.  Hubs and I switched driving at a very small bump in the road called Touchet.  The cell phone was on my seat next to my leg.  We tore the car apart and unpacked every sock and piece of sand and my cell phone was gone!  We called and called it and we could not hear the ringer even though it was on and ringing.  I never took it in any place and the car was either locked or we were with it every step of the way so no one could have stolen it.  Just gone vanished. Did it get flipped out of the car when we went into the gas station at Touchet?  We do not know, it is a holy mystery. I spent yesterday replacing my cell phone and getting it to sync and retrieving all my info and I also cleaned up my basement mess. So you see I can come home to a perfectly stable environment and create my own chaos!

     Right now I am doing my laundry and I changed the sheets on two of the beds.  I have plenty of sewing to do.  I do need to run to the bank.  It will be nice just to get back into a routine for a little while.  I am also going to run to the studio as we have a workshop starting next week.  I need to get that organized.  Just had another bridesmaid dress call for 1 p.m. so I had better get going and get something done.


Out My Window:  Hot, Hot, Hot.  I love it!  But my flowers are looking frowzy, I think they are getting too much sun.  I need to cut everything back and let it regrow a bit.   Chickens are in the shade of the coop.
 
Have a great and productive day.

Kim

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Tuesday, getting ready to leave again.

     We leave for the coast tomorrow and I have much to do today.  I did get bills done last night, ugh too much money.  I need to complete a few last minute sewing things and get some ironing finished and one last load of laundry done.  Have to do some banking and shopping for food.  Basics are very expensive there so we pack a pantry.  Hubs is home today to help pack up and mow the lawn, but in reality he is standing over my shoulder trying to get on the computer.  I can see that when he retires we will have to have separate systems in separate rooms!

     We are done at the bank!  Hooray!  Never again I tell you.  That part of my life is over and I will not miss it at all.  I messed around yesterday and today I have someone watching me so I had better get going.  We have two huge cabbages in the garden to take with us.  Our tomatoes are loaded but  green.  We also have onions and squash, so I will probably come home to a huge bunch of produce.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim