Sissy Here! Kim is in Quebec!

 Dearest Readers (totally plagiarized, but loved the show...too much sex if you know what I mean so I just fast forward...don't need to see that...I am old);

Sissy and I have been on a dead run since she last blogged, and She is now in Quebec!  Daniel and I have been out of town for four days and just got back late this afternoon.

We went to a wedding of a great Nephew (Husband's side) whom I had not seen since he was about two and He is now 26.  We had a Grand time seeing everyone and we have missed so much! However, we are tired.

We have two more weddings of greats this year!  Hubs was a whoop's baby and more than twelve years younger than his next sibling, which means that his nieces and nephews are closer to our age than His siblings. His nieces and nephews love Him to death as He was their playmate, so all were very excited to see us. Daniels reputation amongst His family is famous and we were welcomed with open arms.

We stayed in Missoula (our Hometown) with my only Auntie on my mother's side who is lonely and had a wonderful time with Her.  She is to have a Knee replacement in the near future, and we readily agreed to go back and stay with her during the healing process.  This is why we came west!  To be of service!

I was able to connect with a couple of Girlfriends from grade school and high school and it was wonderful!  We are only four hours away.  Four hours is nothing when you have spent the last 36 years in the DC metro area!

When arriving back, we picked up Kim's dog Roscoe from the Sitter, that also watched our two Cats, and we paid her well.  

Tomorrow we will have a toilet replaced in the basement of our new property and out internet will be hooked up.  The Cats will go to the new House tomorrow.  I will stay at Kim's with Roscoe until Wednesday morning.   We have a fully fenced back yard so he will come to the new house then as we have a Neice and Her Husband and Friend who are coming on the fourth to stay at Kim's.

A very busy week ahead with the Holiday on Thursday.  Electrician comes Tuesday morning for some minor repairs. 

It is so hot here that Daniel and I can only go to storage in the early mornings, and we are booked early with appointments, both Monday and Tuesday. Oh well, it will get done when it gets done.  Long story here and too long to tell as I am very tired.

Today is our fortieth wedding anniversary, and when we got home, and I made frozen corn dogs for dinner with chips!  I am that kind of Wife, and we both had a good laugh.  Just too tired to go out after an almost five-hour drive, after attending early Mass with Auntie, visiting the Catholic Cemetary and going to a late breakfast before we headed back to Lewiston.  Then had to unpack and pick up the Dog.

Sissie Kim left Her bedroom a mess with Her packing, and I must go straighten that as it is making me crazy and then I am going to have a glass of wine (or maybe two) and kiss my Husband and go to bed!

Hope all of you are well, and I will keep you posted!

Hugs;

K

Tuesday, Not to worry

 This could be me, but I would mess around by reading a book, or contemplating my navel. 

Y'all need to quit worrying about the vertigo.  It has never been as bad as when it first hit. I am very aware of the signs and the symptoms.  A slight tip of the head and I woosh to another dimension.  I don't drive when it is bad. I am just careful.  It aggravates me as I am not a careful person.  I am a full speed ahead let's run over anyone in the way kind of person.

My grandkids are so funny, as I have set rules with the vertigo.  When grandma goes down, she is down.  In fact, the two little ones were playing with a doctor kit and pretending to be me. One was me with a headache and the other the attending physician.  So funny.  I overheard, "Grandma has to rest now, so you go watch a cartoon."  Yes, I use Netflix, to bribe my grandkids.

Poor Sissie, is getting frustrated in the shop as she is afraid and so careful with everything she does. Way too particular.  Something I can do in minutes takes her forever.  She needs to build up her confidence again.  She will improve her speed with practice. 

I have a wedding dress to finish and another to start.  Also, a couple of piles.  Need to get to work.  But really don't want to work. Story of my life. 

I might as well go brush my teeth and comb my hair and maybe make the bed and face the day.... What do you think?

Kim

Sissy here...Kim's vertigo is a little better, but she is her own worst enemy and I cannot fix this!  She would not listen in the womb so why would she listen now! NUFF said, or I can smother her with a pillow????  Thinking, thinking...

WE are slowly getting the house in order and by slowly, I mean it.  My Husband, (God Love Him) is a perfectionist and things take forever, but His work is top notch.  His bedroom is done, and I am hemming the drapes.  It is beautiful and everything we could hope for.  WE actually hate drapery, but it has so much light, and it gets so light here so early that he needed room darkening drapery.  It will work.  Now we just have to wait on the mattress and the rug and then get things out of storage.

One room at a time or we will be so overwhelmed. WE chose to get his bedroom done first as it needed the least amount of patching, in fact very little but our Office and my Bedroom needed a ton.  The patching is a work in process and very messy.  We are dealing with plaster and lath walls and thank goodness my Husband has spent the last 20 years of his career as a Custom painter in the some of the wealthiest Homes in the Nation and has learned His craft.  It is not the painting that takes time, it is the prep!  Prepping plaster is no joke!

I have now ordered all the rugs for the rooms except the Office where it will have to be a runner.

WE are finding little goofy things every day and we just laugh and say we will have to live with it.

We have two electrical sockets in the kitchen.  Now really who can live with that?  Just might have too as I am not ripping out the subway tile!  My Car will not fit in the garage? Hmmm? The toilet in the basement will have to be replaced and it is special order...yeah me!  This will be my bathroom and Sluggy will tell you I need my bathroom...waiting on the Plumber.

Gutters are being replaced. Electrician comes tomorrow for an estimate.  Carpet for my bedroom comes Thursday morning and furniture for family room, and all mattresses come Thursday afternoon.  Still have to find a Roofer for some goofy things. 

Just a lot of work but fun in a way... Now I must go and help Sissy, but She is staying caught up for the most part. Yesterday I made a career out of seven pair of shorts that still are not done as I am afraid of them, but they are ripped pinned and ready for Sissy so she can show me how to handle the side seam.  I am so afraid of ruining someone's clothes!  But I am learning as I can sew!

The Grands have been here for three days, and they are leaving tonight (yes! Thank You God, and I am not being sacrilegious) I need a break.  They are messy and noisy, and Dan and I are not used to it, but we love them all the same and they seem to love us.  Well, the truth be told they love Great Uncle Dan and me they look at sideways and approach with caution. However, they come with a crisis and know I will help and not admonish... so that is all I ask!

This is why my Nieces (the mothers of the Grands) call me the "House Nazi" (do not mean to offend with this title, I know very much about the Nazi's, and I come from a deep Jewish background) after all they gave me the name.

Shalom.

Sissy

Monday, What got done edition?

 This little duck has my hair! It was a whirlwind of a weekend. I started Friday, by making a grocery list and then going to three stores to get the best prices.  Kelsa was spending the night as Signe' was going tup to the airport in Spokane to pick up my grandson James. 

When I got home from groceries, Kelsa and I made pie crusts, and froze several, then we peeled apples and made one large Dutch apple pie, and Kelsa made two patty pan pies for her Dad. I was able to serge the wedding dress, but that is all I got done Friday.

Saturday, vertigo was awful. I managed to hem wedding dress and get my girlfriends things done.  Then I ripped one of the bridesmaids' dresses. SIs came home about 3 and helped me put together the charcutier boards, and I went to reception.  I was pretty dingy, as in was very careful how I moved. Home and to bed, where I belonged.

Sunday, church and I took my pie, spent the afternoon with sisters for a while.  Had dinner and Signe' brought the three grandkids down and I will have them until Wednesday evening.  Sissie not excited about that as they are noisy and messy. I made strawberry pancakes for breakfast this morning. Dan is over at the new house Painting, and Sissie just went to the dump in my car to take all the wrappings from the oil paintings to the landfill.

I am going to finish up those bridesmaid dresses I did not get done and work on a couple bags of things, like hem 7 pairs of shorts, and replace 3 zippers. Another wedding dress came in this morning, so it is never ending here. I have so much to do in the next two weeks before we leave for Quebec!

What is going on in your neck of the woods?

Kim

Friday, Meat and Cheese and pie crust!

 This is the only reason my life works. I thought today or this weekend would be kind of easy and as usual it will not be.  Why would I think that? I mean really?  This is my life.

I did not get to all the sewing I wanted yesterday, and that was okay.  Just trying to take it a little easier with the vertigo.  I did get two more brides in, but both are easy alterations.

Sis and I need to run out and get things for my charcutier boards.  Kelsa is here and she will stay the night.  I forgot that this weekend was Father's Day and I have to make a pie for church, so must make pie crusts. Just add that to the list.

I have to serve at that wedding tomorrow and all though putting together the boards, sewing a few items, and watching a 3 year old, and making a pie seems pretty easy I am letting it morph into something larger in my mind. Do you ever do that?

So how to solve this?  Well make a list.

1. make a list of things to buy at stores

2. go to stores

3. hem wedding dress

4. do a lace up on a bridesmaid dress

5. do a lace up and hem a bridesmaid dress

6. alter a few things for my girl friend (very easy)

7. make 8 pie crusts as it is as easy to make 8 as it is to make one

All while you have a 3 year old in tow.

All while you have Sissie in tow.

Piece of cake, right?

Kim

 

Thursday, SissieKay has a house!

 Boy could the world use more of this.  My hair looks worse than the lady in the picture, I really need to do something with it, but the effort!!!!

Kay and Dan closed on their house yesterday!  I ran down to see it and then went home and for some reason had a really bad vertigo attack.  I was down all day, and I mean down. So frustrating.  I am being very careful today. I just flipped my head back too quickly and then stood up and I got dizzy, so I laid down.  Big mistake! Laying down flat is not the answer and I paid for it.

Sissi Kay is running around doing all the things you need to do to get into a new place.  I feel bad as I would like to help, but I am not very useful.  

I am taking my buddy and the missionaries out to dinner tonight and then going to visit a church friend.  I also need to deliver some protein drinks to another elderly couple.  I was supposed to do it yesterday but was laid low.  I am going to try and have a late piano lesson as I could not go last night. Tomorrow, I have to get things organized for a charcutier board I need to make for a wedding on Saturday. I am going to help in the kitchen at the reception.  Sissie Kay will slow down long enough to help me get things together.

Signe' came and got Roscoe and took him to get groomed which is good as he was starting to smell like a dog. 

I am trying to get a list in my head for the charcutier.  3 meats, 3 cheeses, 2 kinds of crackers, nuts, grapes, dried apricots. I have bags of nuts in the freezer, and I think I will make a large batch of sugared nuts.  Also need to get some kind of small chocolate. Also pickles and olives.  DO you think that is good? Sissie is much more creative than I in this department.

Well, I have two wedding dresses to get done today and two bridesmaids, and I hope I can work without spinning.

Sissy Kay here!  I am so tired, but we are getting things done.... house is titled at the Courthouse, the utilities, and, and and... We cannot even move out of storage foe a week or two... That is okay!

We have purchased mattresses (3) and three leather chairs for the family room (if that is what you want to call it) and have spent a lot of money!  I had a gutter man come over today to give us a bid and still waiting on that.  The Carpet will be installed in my bedroom next Thursday morning, and the mattresses arrive in the afternoon.  I have scheduled an electrician for next Wednesday for a quote as we have five new light fixtures that must be installed, and that cost a pretty penny. Have spent another fortune on Amazon Prime, but this is our forever, Home.  

There are dilemmas that I will not go into right now as I am too tired. I have neglected Sissy Kim, and She needs my help tomorrow so I will fill you in on Friday's happenings this weekend...

Need a glass of wine and going to bed as that is a priority.  Sluggy, your Room is a work of love and in progress.

Will need some input form you for linen choices!

Hugs;

Kay and also Kim 

(Please notice my name is first)

Tuesday, Still working, Sissie is happy!

 This is my new motto, as I think I make SissieKay drink. 

I am so excited about their new house.  I love decorating houses, like I have the time to do that, but I still love it.

I have three wedding dresses I want to get to work on today.  I don't have any excuses not to really get into them, as in no grandkids.  However, the vertigo was a little worse this morning, of course.  Dang crap wish it would go away!

It is actually getting to be summer here, finally and I am loving it.  I love the sunshine and warm weather.  It makes me so happy. 

I have book club tonight.  They are reading Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice, which I think I might have memorized.  Sissie and I quote it all the time.

This is my second month of piano lessons, and although I do well, I never feel like I can just play something and not make any mistakes.  It is so frustrating. But I will persevere.  I just want to feel more comfortable playing for church.  I get so nervous.  Which is weird as I accompanied the choirs when I was in High School, freshman through senior years and thought nothing of it.  Old age?

Well, I am off to sew.  Sissie and Dan are out getting paint chips and going out to lunch at a restaurant that gives service men a free lunch once a month.  Dan's 25 years of service are worth something!

Have a great day.

Kim

Sissy here...good lunch and I am so happy that we live in a small valley that honors Vets!  Of course, we tipped the price of the free meal as the servers need our blessings also.  Tomorrow is the day and all funds have been wired and are in place.  We went and got paint chips for two bedrooms as they will be painted before we officially move in, and I will go to the Carpet place tomorrow after closing and get that ball rolling.  Then the plumber and the electrician.  We must buy rugs or will order them online from amazon.

I do not see us officially moving into the House until the middle of July, but we shall see.  We brought way too much and must place things where they need to go and then all else leaves us one way or another.

We must also get all of our utilities arranged tomorrow and go to the Court House to get the Homestead exemption due to our age and the age of the property.  Because we are in small town USA our auto insurance went down $70.00 a month, but our Homeowners is high due to the age of the House.  However, the insurance Company is sending an inspector in two weeks to look at the property and I know it will go down.  At least we got the place insured.  So much to do it is mind boggling.

We must get new Driver's Licenses and title the Car and we must take the Driver's test which we have not taken since we were both 15 years old.  That should be interesting.

I am still working on organizing Sissy's cupboards and a Lazy Susan came today and more spice jars so that is my goal this afternoon.  I also have boat load of ironing to do again.  But it can wait, as I am a finisher and one thing at a time.

The shop is caught up and Kim is working on three different wedding dresses with my help here and there.  Dan is working in the yard.

So, wish us luck tomorrow and I am so excited!

Hugs;

Kay

Monday, Kay's DC house is in the bag!

 My feelings exactly. I am very happy for my Sister, one less thing to worry about and it was so easy.  She was very blessed.

Finally got the rock slope cleaned off and what a job.  There are still a few piles of sticks to clean up and I will need to spray again but other than that it is done.

Now we have to focus on the lawn which is a mess.  But Dan and I are going to do the front section first.  We have almost all the bad turf up and we have to lay new potting soil then we have to fertilize and put in grass seed.  Then keep it damp.  This is going to be a process. 

All I can do is take one thing at a time.  There is still a ton of weeding and spraying to do and I just try a get a little done every day.  Having vertigo has put a damper or should I say a new spin on things.

I have some piles to do and a couple of bridesmaid dresses, also a zipper and some curtains to hem and then I want to get started on at least 2 wedding dresses. Sis is running around like a chicken with her head cut off trying to get everything finalized. I am watching her and shaking my head.

Kelsa and William are here today, and they spent the night last night.  School let out last week for William, so we will see a lot more of him.  Well, I am going to get to sewing so I am not in trouble with Sissie when she gets back from her errands. 

Sissy here!  Well, the House in DC is sold, and I have spent 3.5 hours on the phone. disconnecting Utilities and Homeowners Insurance etc.  This is because no one answers the phone anymore, and you have to press 1 through 10 to get a live body and that might take 25 minutes on hold!  Love the post Covid world.

At least I did not end up in the Philippines with Roosters crowing in the background. Love those phone calls!

I have Sissy (Kim) slaving away in the Sewing shop and I am trying to handle the details between phone calls.  We have solved many mysteries today of missing cards for Clients... I won't go into great detail, but Sissy (Kim) needs a do over for organizational   skills... we will work on that as time progresses...

Husband is working in yard, and I am seriously trying not to hurt the Greats and they are driving me crazy... I have another phone call to make ... so give me time to finish...still waiting for the Title Company to call me with final numbers for cash sale as I have to wire funds...and this has not been a walk in the park it has just been hurry up and wait and make a dozen phone calls.  I am not a patient person and I do my job and expect others to do theirs!  This is not however how the world works... and I can get cranky as Kim will tell you!  If I make mistake or keep you holding, I will fess up and say I am sorry and explain why as I know all too well that life gets in the way.  But do not play stupid (although you cannot fix this...it just goes on and on and on...) Oh I am crabby today so forgive me.  Still waiting...

Kim took a nap today!

Kim

..

The Anticipation is Killing Me!

Kim trying to hide from Kay, but vertigo
laid me into the closet. 

 Sissy here...the house has passed inspection, and we close on our property in DC on Monday the 10th, then on Wednesday the 12th for the Lewiston property.  So, it is a waiting game as anything can go wrong in Real Estate.

I am keeping the purple carpet, and the Deer Heads leave for Missoula on Friday afternoon!  Yeah! (I so told you I would manage, evil Twin that I am) Okay so how did I manage this you ask?  I promised Hubby two new Dewalt power tools.  Yep, that is how I did it!

I have picked out carpet for my bedroom and it is in stock, and I offered Cash if they can do it right away! 

Cash is King!

It is 10:57 here and Sissy finally came into the Shop.  I have been up since 4:00 which was too early but could not sleep.  So, I have managed to burn two loaves of Banana bread, been to the dump with a load of cardboard as Kim's recycle is full and have been to Wal Mart to pick up two more large bags of potting soil.  Tooled around a nursery in Clarkston Washington and have found my very favorite plant place.  Yeah!  On my way back to Lewiston I stopped at Mickey D's and got Sissy a large diet coke to lure her out of bed.

I am going to go and get a pedicure at noon, as I can climb trees with my, toes, Yes, I am that talented!

Slowly oh so slowing cleaning out Kim's fridge and I have found many Science experiments.  Very scary!

She really needs to work for Dr. Fauci.  You know the next strain of Covid may be cured by something lurking in Kim's fridge!

Sissy is sewing and I am making fun of her, which is what I live for. 

We have managed to knock out a lot of work in the shop these past few days, and my plan is to have all the mending done, by late this afternoon and then it is just wedding dresses.  This scares Sis as she is afraid, she will run out of work!  I tell here this is the way it should be, get it done and then play.  I do not like to live on the edge and Sis, loves the edge!  Oh I have so many plans....( laughing inwardly and wickedly).

The Husband has been working hard in the yard and this morning has managed to miracle grow all the pots and pull another wheelbarrow full of weeds. So much work to be done, but we will get there!

Kim here:  I am on a forced march and Kay has gone to get her nails done.  I have a strict list of to do's that I am to have done by the time she gets back.

This picture should say done arguing with your sister.

I am going to take a nap.!

Happy dance....

Kim

Two Blogs in one Day...this is Sissy's

 

Okay troops the Holy Medal did it! Our offer was accepted, and we are on a role... so busy!  We went through inspection, and we will pay eventually for a new furnace and A/C, after all we low bid by 36K so all is well, and we will let those two units run for a bit.

Today was the sewer inspection and it passed but still makes me nervous as the house was built in 1928 and Lord knows when it was hooked up to City Sewer?

The House is old, but we love it, and it will be out Home.  Our Home in DC, they want to close early but have not walked through the house yet?  I am sure it is an investor wanting it for a rental.

Phone call after phone call from title companies and I want to scream.  Do your job and leave me alone!  Is this not why we hire Real Estate Agents?  I think I am just out of touch, as I am tired.

We purchased our last Home 29 years ago from a builder and they took care of it all! I am spoiled!

I managed to put a roast in the oven an hour ago and it smells terrific but is not done yet.  Kim is outside spraying weeds and we have organized the shop (AGAIN) somewhat, as I have not been here all day.  Kim did finish a very complicated Wedding Dress, so She gets Kudos! 

After sewer inspection we went to a Good Furniture store and Sudo purchased three new mattresses and two leather recliners, as the Family Room (if you want to call it that is very small) and Sluggy needs Her Jeopardy and I left Her chairs behind!  There will be no TV in the formal living room and only in three bedrooms, so the Family room is it for TV.  Room for two maybe three people.

Daniel and I are still debating the purple carpet in one bedroom.  It is in very good shape and on good padding.

He says He wants it gone and I say keep it!  He is willing to get rid of two large deer heads (and when I say large, I mean it) or the Family Room will have to take them, and Guests will be impaled?  So, the debate is on.  This bedroom will be my dressing room and closet with a little white bedroom suit that was my mothers.  Twin bed but I can use this when I have Guests, or if  Sluggy cannot get into my antique bed in my Room...we shall see. NO more wounds like that past which was pure ugly, and the blood was awful! However, if She bleed on this carpet, it would never show and if she falls out of this bed, she will be fine.!

My Cat Bud is being a PIA and waking Kim up every night as His body clock has not adjusted and Kim sleeps on my side of the bed. We share the same DNA so Bud smells (Cat that is not going to get in Harvard) me and wants to get up at 1:00 in the morning.  Tonight, we are locking Him in my Husbands bedroom. 

The roast is done, and I must go.  Share the purple carpet debate. Table is set and I will serve and do the dishes and I am very tired...

Love;

Sissy (Kay)

Monday, I am in trouble with BIL

So, I have been working on about 100 feet of rock in my back yard for the last 5 months. It is grueling slow work of removing existing rock to lawn and then replacing the underlayment that had rotted out.  The rock was so full of soil from years of debris landing on it and in between the rocks.  This brought up tons of weeds that I was really having a hard time suppressing.

It was dirty hard wet, messy work to remove and wash and put back.  I had about 20 feet left when Kay and Dan got here, and Dan helped me finish!!!! I am so happy.  This was killing me.  My back and arms and hands were so sore every night as I would try and work on it for an hour.

Here is what I am talking about.  It is all cleaned up and the flowers are planted.  Dan planted all my flowers and has been doing the watering and it is so nice.  Now I can turn on the water system and start to deal with this half dead lawn.

The rock face down the slope on half the lot is covered in a weed I have never seen before, and it has to be pulled by hand. I have done 3 one-hour sessions, and I am about 1/2 done. Once this is all pulled, I have to really spray to keep the weeds at bay. If this area gets covered, you will not be able to see snakes, so it is important that it is kept cleared. It is really windy today and has also rained a good bit, but that will make getting the weeds out easier.

So much to do but once the weeds are pulled and the spraying is done, I have to deal with the huge patches of dead lawn left from the no water situation last summer.  Thank goodness Dan is here, and he is such a big help to me.

I have a wedding dress that has a few hours of hand work to do on it and then it will be done.  The phone and the doorbell have not quit since I got in the shop this morning.  Sissie Kay is out doing errands concerning the house. Things are moving very quickly.

I went out to Signe's (Daughter #2) Saturday night to help with the babies.  She had Braunwyn's (daughter #3) little boy for the weekend.  Both girls have lost strategic people at their respective jobs and are having to work many extra hours short staffed. The money is good, but neither is getting enough rest, and they try and watch each other's kids when they can, so I don't have them all the time.  Then they both get sick, and I get to deal with the fallout.  Not that I don't want to, I just want to prevent it before it happens. 

Signe' got a good lie in and I was able to complete a bed ruffle and curtain for Kelsa's room.  By the way my lips are covered with cold sores, and I only get cold sores when I am under extreme stress. I look scary, but they are healing finally, and I really don't feel stressed.  But maybe it is Sissie?......

Dan mopped all my floors yesterday and then I went out in the clay soil when I got home and tracked mud through the house.  You can see the trail I left.  He said he was going to pull my hair.  Then he drew me a map of how to enter the house with muddy feet, it was so funny. He is such a nut.

At least I get to laugh.

Kim