Saturday,cleaning up Christmas

     Sissie and I spent yesterday afternoon cleaning up Christmas.   Christmas was such a bust and all the work that went into trying to make it perfect, what a waste.  Then I think of why we celebrate this season and it makes me sick.  Not sure what to do about it.  I used to love Christmas, It was a holy time and a time of giving and family.  I still think those things are important.  But something has to change.  Is it mom?  Is it depression? I still have linens from bedrooms and bathrooms to put away and switch out, but this can be done when I get back from D#1's house in January.

     I have a large load of things to take to good will, and I have to take a load to my lil sis' house that belongs to mother and we will store in her basement as mom won't give it up yet.  I still need to take down the nativity but the boxes that it goes in are at lil sis house so that can be done later today.  We are going over to Lil sis this evening for New Years Eve.  I am sure we will have plenty of laughs.

   This last year has been very hard.  I need to make some changes to make next year better. More on this later.

Have a Happy New Years celebration.

Kim

Friday, Sissie is on the move!

     Get out of her way!  Sissie is on a roll and she means business.  Every time she comes,  my home gets better  and my business is more organized.  It is wonderful.

     We worked very hard yesterday in the shop.  I sewed several police uniforms, altered a pair of grooms pants, hemmed 6 pairs of sweat pants, then altered some things for Sissie and my mom that were in a pile.  Sis worked on remodeling a back section of my large sewing shop into a dressing room for clients.

 Here is the corner chair and art work sis down loaded onto heavy stock and put in dollar store frames. I recovered an old chair from my front room, new curtains hung.  Sis spray painted some large button art.  Everything a client needs.  Hook for clothes, tray for keys, cell phone, sunglasses.  A place to put your purse or bag.


Here is other side of room.



 

     Curtain closed for privacy.

This is the perfect set up for my clients.  Since mom does not want to be upstairs with a private bath we have always used the bath off the shop for a dressing room.  This is getting more and more impossible with mom's behavior.  She does not put her jewelry away and it will be stolen.  She  does not put her meds away which will be stolen.  We have or I have tried and tried to get her to keep it clean.  I do go in and clean but then I get in trouble, because I moved something.  Her bathroom habits are not good.  I am always running ahead of customers to shut the toilet lid and flush before they get inside.  She has terrible incontinence issues which she will not control.  This is getting worse.  Disposing of these problems is also an issue.  She wraps her things in a grocery bag and saves them on a door knob.  When the bag is  full it is taken to the trash.  If I come in and see a bag I grab it and take it out to the trash.  This makes her angry.  I should wait until it is full.  Yeah mom and it is reeking up the entire downstairs.  When a baby messes up it's diaper we take it out we don't throw it in a trash can or put it in a bag and hang it on a knob.  It's the same with an adult MOM...  You just can't reason with her.  She also has to rush in and see what ever client comes and then she try's to get into bathroom.  Like she immediately has to go the minute her bath is in use.  I have had to literally barricade her from the door. " Mom there is someone in there changing", she will be heading for the door," mom", as I step in front of her," there is someone in the bathroom you must wait."  If I don't stand and hold her hands she will head for the door again and try to open it or open it on them.  This has happened too many times.  Then she acts confused and surprised that someone is in there. 

 

     This will so help the flow of the shop.  Sissie and I cleaned and cleaned yesterday.  All of the tax files for both personal and the dance studio had to be moved.  This will be the last year of doing the studio taxes,  So our desk in the computer/family room will accommodate everything that was in the shop.  Boy was it a mess to reorganize.  We threw away 3 large bags of garage and paperwork.

 

     Today we are working on putting Christmas away.

 

Have a great and productive day!

 

Kim

Thursday, Who are these old people?

     Hubs and I went to a movie together last night while twin took mom and lil sis out to dinner.  It was so nice just to be out with Hub's lone!  Actually on a date, like he paid for my popcorn (after taking out a small bank lone)  We went to see the new Start Wars movie Rogue One.  I liked it, but I am a Star Wars fan.  We were leaving the theater and I was observing all the old hunched over couples leaving walking or limping slowly toward the exits.   Why are all these older people in here watching this movie.  This is a younger generation movie.  After all I waited in a line around a city block to see the first movie in 1977.  Oops! Uh..., add 40 years to that and you have 60 year olds.  This is a movie for old people.  I am an old people,  sniff.  It was a real eye opener.

     I was so busy yesterday and twin and I have ripped the house apart and have projects all over the place.  I have to sew today and I mean it.  I will be arrested if I don't get these police uniforms done. But my ADD brain only sees the piles of crap sis and I have set all over.  I must ignore them and leave them for my sissie.

     Hub's has a terrible cold and snored all night.  We thought he was coming down with one yesterday but it really reared it's ugly head in the movie. I just don't want it.  Our grandson had a bad cold when he was here at Christmas and of course we kissed and snuggled his little snotty face as much as we could ( after wiping  his nose.).  Grandkids the gift that keeps on giving.
    
     Anyway look at my side bar list I am accomplishing something this week.  This makes me smile:)

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Wednesday, Christmas dinner 2 days late

     We had Christmas dinner last night, cooked by my twin.  It was delicious.  Prime rib with all the fixings and chocolate mouse for dessert.  There goes my diet. 

     Yesterday mom was up to her old scheming self trying to get my sister and I to fight.  We saw through it instantly and I told my mother she was being ridiculous.  I rarely put mom in her place.  But this was just too obvious.  We have to be a united front.  After a two hour long tantrum mom came out of her room and apologized.  We went to Macy's yesterday and I scored Christmas pj's for the grand kids for $2.97.  Mom is very weak and had a hard time at Macy's.  She loves to go and shop but I am wondering how long before we no longer do much of this. I do know this, every time she has a A-fib episode she loses ground.  Her stability becomes poorer.

     Sissy is going through my house like a cat on fire.  I just love that.  She is now organizing the food storage, little darling.  But she whips my butt into shape faster than anyone I know.

     I have a big new list of to do's over on the side.  I wonder how many I can get Sissie to do and I will just nap?

     I received a fitbit for Christmas.  Is somebody trying to tell me something?  Actually I wanted it.  It is fun so far.  When I could not get over that bad chest cold that turned into pneu(that word I can't spell) (where is Cindy when I need her?)my new specialist suggested that I do some kind of exercise that involved aerobics so I was forced to breath deep and open the lungs.  I always am so on the go I don't consider myself a couch potato but the scales and the the breathing tests say otherwise.  My arthritic joints don't like the 20 lbs I have gained in the last 5 years.  I had to quit running about 5 years ago.  I miss it desperately but have replaced it with nothing.  Hub's and I can take long walks and bike and canoe, but nothing on a regular basis and I need regular for my lungs. Anyway it has really helped just to do a short workout video 5 days a week.  Low impact and I finally got the lungs cleaned out.  However I feel a sinus infection coming on.  So I won't hold my breath.:)

     Mom is upstairs with her new maid (Sissie) and I am going to get in the bath tub.  I have a dance meeting today and then Hub's and I are going to see a movie tonight.  I have major sewing to do and I must complete something on my list so I had better get my butt in gear.

have a great and productive day!

Kim

Tuesday, Christmas saga continues

     Hub's and I enjoyed a nice nap Christmas day from about 2 until 5:30.  Sis came home and we had a beautiful French toast.  The prime rib was cancelled.  Little sis and I went back to the hospital about 6:30 to play with mom.  When we arrived her nurse said she had gone into sinus rhythm at about 4:30.  Well of course Christmas is almost over.  She was in a better mood and we visited for a while she did not want to play any games, so Sis and I went our separate ways and we prepared to come get her in the morning.

     Monday morning we were able to break mom out at about 11:30 and she was raring to go just like last time.  She had her three chicks at her beck and call or I should say peck and call.  We spent the day yesterday shopping the after Christmas sales.  She did not have to share our attention with anybody.  I was very quiet most of the day.  I am of the three of us, actually the quiet one.  For those of you that know me well this is probably scary. I was just pissed watching mom's behavior.  She ate like a horse that evening and I took her home.

      I went back to the blog which by the way is a very good help to see how and what she has done.  I might have to use it in court to defend myself someday. :)  Anyway the last time she was in the hospital for A-fib was a weekend that I had a couple of friends over for dinner on a Friday.  She was not included and went to my sister's with her nose out of joint.  I remember not letting her bake or make a mess of the kitchen on the Thursday before.  Then on Sunday I had two families over for dinner and she did the same thing spent most of her time down in her room chewing on her face.  She did come up for dinner, but left immediately to go lay down.  After I had cleaned up the kitchen and company had left she came out of her room with her heart in serious A-fib like 180 beats per minute.  Same scenario, in late at night all day the next and then home the third day raring to go.  She had to bake and bake and I had to stay right with her  as her  mini chef.

     Talking to the doctors and nurses they said no one knows what causes these episodes but they are more than likely triggered by emotional behavior, not even recognized by the patient.  Well great now we can see that if we are prepping to get ready for company or any celebration where there are going to be others in the house even our own children, mom is going to have an episode. They call is Holiday heart.  Great!

More on this later.  I am sure you are all enthralled.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Monday/Tuesday Mom at her worst in more than one way

     Merry belated Christmas to all and I hope you had a Merry one. My 2 younger girls and the grandson came on Friday afternoon and decided to help me to finish cleaning the house.  Really it was just the floors, but they were very bad.  Mom was still trying to bake more cookies and the kitchen was a mess.  Daughter #2 was horrified by the floors.  Which secretly made me happy as she was such a slob growing up that I dis pared she would ever keep a clean house.  She was also sick with a bad cold and the grandson was teething and had a bad rash and cold.  She had worked a 60 hour week.  So her beautiful personality was let's just say not to pretty.  She managed to upset everyone but me as she picked up her baby and stormed out of my poor white trash house.  I was glowing in the fact that she knew my floors were beyond dirty.  Yes she actually recognized the dirt.  She wanted them clean.  Like toothbrush clean.  I still have a heart full of warm butterflies.  Hub's daughter #3 (who is also a slob) and my little sister and I all rallied and had the house done in about and hour.

       We went to pick up my twin at the airport in our ugly Christmas sweaters and goofy hats.  Yes we had to dodge security as we were disruptive.  Then home for a few laughs and to bed with us all.  It snowed about 5 inches that night so we could have a white Christmas.

     Saturday morning while Hub's was blowing the neighborhood(that just sounds so bad) we finished the Christmas food shopping, came home and put mother down for a nap.  Mom I noticed in the back of my mind was acting funny.  Her nose was out of joint from my daughter telling her that cookie baking was over for the Holiday weekend.  I am not sure what she said but knowing daughter #2 it was short not sweet and to the point. Anyway we girls messed around and my sisters got the holiday table ready while I napped.  We had the gang over for dinner at 5:30.   Eight adults, 2 babies, 2 toddlers.  Mom usually likes to be in the thick of things.  As in the way as she can be, but she remained in her room and I actually had to go and wake her to come to dinner.

     We had our usual  seafood feast and the little ones opened Christmas jammies.  My twin and mom left the table early, twin from jet lag and only 3 hours of sleep, mom because she did not feel good.  I did not worry as she was back up later to watch the babies open their jams.  Then B and I and little Sis started to clean up.  All the dishes have gold trim and the real silver and crystal cannot go in the dishwasher.  So it is hand wash, rinse dry and put away.  B had gone downstairs and came up and said Grandma was moaning and groaning and did not feel well.  Because mom moans out loud and groans constantly I did not take it too seriously.  Sent B back down to be with her and Sis and I filled stockings then B comes back upstairs and says Gma was worse so we go down and mom and rolling around complaining.  Nothing really to pin point what was the matter.  Sis takes her blood pressure and her heart is beating too fast, so she does it again and it is too slow and then again too fast.  She does not trust mom's old cuff so runs to her house to get the new one and after three trials we realize she has gone into A-fib.  So off we go to the hospital.  She does not go back into sinus rhythm and by 2 in the morning she is admitted.  Sis and I get to bed at 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. Mom is madder than hell.

     So now Christmas morning I have to get up by 9 to start orange rolls and kids are coming in with boyfriends and husbands to do stockings and presents and we have to get to the hospital to do Christmas and hold court with Mom. Plus church is at 1 p.m, kids have to get on the road to get to other parental houses.  It was such a mess.  Made a triple batch of rolls so I could take a large pan to hospital staff as I knew mom was going to be horrible.  I had put on some grey thick tights and a grey sweater and a plaid wool skirt with my grey clogs, considerably under dressed for Christmas services but I was warm.  Hubs has on his white shirt and a green sweater with a tie shoved in his pocket, with logging jeans.  We take off to the hospital with rolls, packages etc.  Hub's and I decide to sneak into church a little late in our not so formal attire and then finally just drive home and take a nap.  It was a crappy Christmas.  Mom is still not in sinus rhythm.

     I am still in a quandary over this mess.  All that work and worry and cost to have not one minute to sit and enjoy anything.  My kids, my sisters, my grandson.  Just a big old hurried, rushed, worried mess.  Oh and don't forget the lack of sleep.

  Anyway more on this tomorrow.

Kim

     

Friday, my Sissie comes today!

    Okay, I am just running with scissors today.

      I had a police man here at 7 a.m. and then went back to bed.  Visualize Hub's stumbling downstairs in his undies, I am chasing him with one clog on and his bathrobe which he threw at me to cover my long john Christmas jammies.  I am hollering at him and he can't hear as he did not have his hearing aids in, I finally reached him as he was going down the stairs and I slapped him on the back to let him know I was right behind him, and he should not answer the door in his underwear, I could do it.  But he had to open door just to make sure it was a police man.  AS the garage door opened and he saw the bottom half and new it was a cop he went upstairs.  He is so chivalrous.  After all I am such a sexy thing in my long john Christmas jammies, they had to be covered with a heavy black over sized man's robe lest I inspire lewd thoughts from a policeman that had just finished a twelve hour all night shift in the freezing cold.

     Today I need to finish pressing a few police shirts and also getting a few more police uniforms done.  I have to clean house and take our youngest out shopping, help mom make a few more cookies.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Thursday, my sissie comes tomorrow

     Yeah!  Looking forward to the company.  Looking forward to someone else dealing with mom.  I have work to do in the shop.  This also makes me happy.

     I have all my stocking stuffers ready.  I have them piled all over the guest room bed and I am going to go put them in individual sacks so I can get them out easily for stuffing later.

I also was able to preorder the seafood for Christmas eve dinner.  So really other than wrap a few more packages I just have a Sh*t load of house work to do.

Mom wants to make more cookies as we are running low.  Don't know where I fit in to all of this but I am sure I do some where.

     Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Wednesday, Hey work came in!

     Yeah I have some work.  Maybe with the warmer weather people will actually get out and drive.  Now all be it most of the work will be paid for after the holiday but it is work.  I get to sew today.  Maybe I will actually be a little active.  I might get something done that is useful.

     It was supposed to be 47 here today and now they say only 30 so I think that warrants going back to bed.

     Someone needs to come over here and kick my butt.  Don't worry there is a lot to kick and you won't miss.

     I have gotten so used to this lazy regime I might not be able to go back.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim 

Tuesday,mom gone for an hour

     Mom is gone with Sis for a pain shot in her spine so Hub's and I are taking off for a while to get away.  Yippee!

  Actually we are going to Wal-mart.  I need a few more men's stocking stuffers. 

Yesterday I wrapped all my presents and mom's.  Bro finally called and we wired him some money.  So mom feels like all her chicks have been fed Christmas.

Well I am off to Wally world without my mom!

Happy, happy.  See how little it takes to make me happy.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Monday, nice weekend

     Saturday morning I got up and helped mom get all her packages wrapped for things that were to be mailed.  We were done with her 4 boxes about 1 p.m. and went to postal service to mail them then we shopped a little and came home.

Friday evening we had dinner with my sister and a few older friends it was so nice.  We sat around the table and talked and talked.

Saturday evening we also had D#2 and baby come in for the night.  That was fun.  Trying to keep him away from the Christmas tree was a challenge.

I was scheduled to speak at church on Christmas Sunday but the bishop called me about 9 p.m. while I was getting some things done for Sunday dinner.  He had a mix-up in his schedule and no one for this last Sunday.  So I was on the spot to speak the next morning.  I had done no research and I was in overdrive to get a talk ready.  I stayed up late and sort of rigged together a theme and content.

I also made a German chocolate cake for hub's birthday dinner and a large jello salad.  That way I could get mom to put the Ham in and all I would have to do is peel potatoes and put on the veggies.

     The talk went okay.  I would have liked to have been better prepared but I am good at winging things so others liked it.  I guess that is what counts.

     We had a big birthday dinner for hub's.  I always set the table with the Christmas china and crystal and silver.  We had our nephew/Hub's second cousin over with his family.  They are so fun and we treat him like one of our own kids.  He has three little boys and one more due in March.  So all the boys got presents along with Uncle Joe(Hub's)  We had more fun watching them play than anything.  Hub's got nice gifts from our girls.  Dinner was delicious.

     So today I am going to help mom finish wrapping her stuff and I am going to do all of mine.  Then I have to go to get cat letter and food and mom needs to go some where.  We will have a lot of ham leftovers this week.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Friday, Quiet week...

     This is the most quiet the shop has been since I opened it.  I know it is the weather.  Actually it has been nice except I have no ready cash and that has been hard.

     Mom and I got out to do a little shopping yesterday and we have to go out again today.  She just got worn out.  She is getting sick again.  I know it is emotional.  Well she can just stew  this too shall pass.

     Hub's birthday is next Monday so we are having family dinner on Sunday.  I have a ham in the freezer.  All I have to buy is ice cream.  Everything else is here.  I will make a German chocolate cake, his favorite.

I plan to finish up the Christmas shopping and get everything wrapped.  I want next week to be relaxing for me.  Ha!

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Thursday, snowed in!

     This so rarely happens here but we are snowed in.  We got about 8 inches of snow last night.  Hub's is out with the snow blower and his phone is ringing off the hook.  He just stopped in for a soda and some cookies and was off over to Clarkston to blow out my Sister's clinic so the doctors can get into their offices.  Not that he needed another job.

     Mom is upstairs pouting, sis really chewed her butt last night and she is trying her old let's take sides game and I am not having it.  She is selfish and unfair.  Yesterday morning she could not dress herself.  She is better today.  I think her fall made her sore.  I love my mother and I want to take care of her, but I need a little co-operation and appreciation on her part.  She is just so mean.  Now Sis is her favorite and always has been, so the only way I can get her to leave me alone is to get Sis to tell her off. Such a dysfunctional dynamic.

     Thanks for all the kind words yesterday, I really needed to hear them or read them. 

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Wednesday, Our first fall

     Mom fell yesterday.  She is okay, just shaken up a bit. It was a mess.  I did not get to go teach as I was afraid to leave her.  I also got very little done.  Sis came early from work and we moved cookies to my house.  I was able to get trays done for hub's.

     I have to quit hiding and say I am very depressed.  I hope this will pass.  Maybe having my sister here will help.

     I just can't seem to get anywhere.  I feel like I am swimming up stream in chaos.  I need to get outside of myself and do something.

Mom is getting a perm this after noon.  Hub's and I will do a little shopping.

Kim

   

Tuesday, Mother and Monday both begin with M

     Open house a success, mother happy also a success.  How long did the happiness last, not long enough.  I had such plans for Monday.  Mother was not going to control my day and I was finally going to be able to get at lest part of my house cleaned and ready for Christmas.

     Well mom had other plans and she was ready with her list of have too's when I got downstairs yesterday.  I had made an appointment to take my car in as the power steering was in a funk.  I was panicky about it as the car has 140,00 miles and we have never done anything but change the oil every 3-5 thousand miles and buy new tires.  Here it is Christmas I am still in financial recovery from the kitchen  and the car is on the fritz.( car was only $120.00, replaced belts, timing belt was fine, brakes have a few more years, but must get new tires)

     Hub's and I took car to our mechanic's house and then stopped to get hooks for stockings that were lost some time during remodel, then did the old people tour to see who needed to be shoveled out.  When we got home mom was raring to go.  I did not want to leave as the streets were icy and I had plans like cleaning my house and getting Christmas put where it belongs, not in piles all over.

     So I gritted my teeth and made her go in the truck ( which she hates)  She complained the whole way to the bank about the way I was going ( I needed to avoid hills and ice).  When I got her to the bank they could not count her change, which I told her would happen, so we had to go down to my credit union.  Then she had to go way across over to Washington to make a hair appointment.  We can't just use the phone?  Then we had to go to sister's to get some left overs.  Which entailed carrying tray after bowel after tray out to the truck.  When we got home I drove truck right up to garage door as the driveway is steep and icy.  She gets out and goes into the house giving me the list of what she wants on a plate heated up.  I am then left to haul all the crap into the house.  I slipped holding a tray of lefsa and slid and then fell between the truck and the garbage cans.  Hit my elbow, then my knee then rang my head good.  Lefsa all over,  I was so pissed.  No help just me the driveway and the underside of the pickup.

     When I got myself into the house I threw the biggest fit I have thrown in a long time.  I swore and threw things and made Hub's carry the rest of the crap upstairs. I threw mom's purse across the room and I think I scared her.  She did not ask for anything for about 4 hours.It is just so hard to have to everything for someone who is helpless but insists that they are not.

     I laid down the rest of the afternoon and then mom was working on her room.  I told her to stop as she could not do it herself and I wanted to get the upstairs done.  But no she gets herself stuck trying to move and antique mirror.  I have to stop what I am doing and get her room and bath done FIRST.  At least it is done.  So I have something to be grateful for.

    Well she needs breakfast so I am off, have to teach at 4 and I hope to accomplish something in the house today.

have a great and productive day!

KIm

Friday, Snowing

     We have had snow here for almost a week that has actually stuck because of a cold snap.. It is snowing again and this makes our streets very dangerous as they are steep and no one here knows how to drive in snow and ice.  We don't have the equipment to handle the snow and ice so we will hunker down until it passes.

     Unfortunately we have a  graduation to go to on the Palouse tomorrow we will take the 4 wheel drive, but I am staying put today.

     I was disappointed in my pig bank this year.  I only saved $250.38 in change.  I knew it would be a slow year as I did not go out of town every other weekend.  It is traveling that brings in the change.  I just don't spend much cash at home.  I write checks.  It is okay still better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

Sluggies husband took a bad spill in their driveway and is laid up for a while.  Send her a comforting text as she will need it.  Men are not fun to be around when they are in pain and recuperating.  I feel so bad for him and HER.  Such a rotten time to get hurt.  Well is any time a good time? I think she needs gifties, so get on the ball and let's make her holiday bright.  Make a treat and get your butt's down to the post office and send her a surprise so she can have a little respite from the holiday trauma.

     I was able to get everything done on my list yesterday except for mother's rosettes and the cleaning.  I try to start in a room and mom comes in and fusses about her open house.  "This can wait no one is coming here."  Great mom so we can live in squalor?   Yes I guess we can.

Well the laundry is waiting to be turned over and mom is upstairs banging in the kitchen.  My hair is out of control and I need to start the chicken salad and make a cheese ball.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim



    

Thursday, It is PIG time!

     I laid down the law and things went better.  A friend of mine took mom to her house to make caramels so she was out of my hair for about 4 hours.

     I was able to finish things in the shop, and get my dark pepper cookies rolled and piped.

     Besides getting the caramels done mom was able to get her Sucr'e Kasse done so one more cookie tackled.
     I realized it was going to get below 20 here at about 9 o'clock last night.  The back wall of the studio has pipes running up it as the bathroom was added before plumbing laws were established.  So I called new owner and she did not have a heater.  I ran a milk house one down and put it in that bathroom with the door shut to maintain a steady heat through the cold snap.  I realize it is her responsibility, but as it was her first year and I had not let her know and I had the tools.  Besides I am 5 minutes from the studio, with no children as apposed to 15 minutes and 5 little ones.  ( explanation given to Mother when she complained that I left her to do this)

     Today I must pay some bills, and I have a few things to finish up in shop.Then I can open my PIG and take the money to the bank.  I actually would have done this yesterday on Dec. 7th which was my Grandmothers Birthday.  She always hated her birthday because of the War, so we would do something extra special on that day to let her know it was a good day in spite of world events.  I always open my change pig or Christmas mad money.  I could have done it yesterday but mom was not here and I knew she would enjoy this so much.

So today:

1.Clean myself up
2. clean cat box
3. fix a small hole in a jacket.
4. steam wedding dress reattach hanging loops
5. tackle laundry Or start
6. Pay bills   
7. Get mom to go with me to run bills, get a few groceries we still need and Count PIG!
8.  Make Kinzer stars
9. Help mom make rosettes
10.  try to get at least one bedroom and bath deep cleaned and Christmased

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Wednesday, Tuesday was a bust

     So mother was burning cookies upstairs.  Her back was so weak she had to sit down. I dropped everything downstairs and tried to help her, but finally said we will not finish this as you have an appointment at 1:40 and you need to go clean up and get ready.

    The appointment was 2.5 hours long and a waste of time, I think the specialist was drunk or on drugs we will not be going back. I will not go into the details, but I felt so sorry for my mother.  She was humiliated, in pain and close to hysteria when the nurse came to get me.  If I had seen the doctor who was out of sight I would have cornered him.  I think he was laying low.

     I finally got home and spent the rest of the evening placating mom.  Went to Joanns for a zipper and to Wally world for candy canes, dish soap, kleenex, and to get mother's mind off of her day.  Took her to taco time so she could have a cherry empanada.  Then I went home and finished her cookie mess and frosted about 7 dozen peppakkakor with white piping.  Finally was done at 10 p.m.

     I did get more things carried up and down stairs, I did get the Christmas tree done.  Today I have to sew and I told mom that.  She is not to start anything she can't handle on her own.  If she feels she is going down she is to turn off the stove and leave everything until I can tackle it tonight.

     I have a such a headache.  Why?

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Tuesday, What? Why do I blog?

  One of the main reasons I blog is to give myself a boost and be accountable.  So after reading yesterday's blog I could not figure out why I wrote what I did as I worked like a dog and did nothing I wrote about.

    How does this happen?

      I went to bed physically and mentally exhausted so I must have done something.

     Yeah I sewed and had a fitting of the Wedding dress I had not touched.  I did hem 4 pairs of pants.

     I did go to the rest home with my dance kids and they were WONDERFUL!  The residents loved them and it was fun to see them relax and just enjoy them selves.

   So what happened to the rest of the day?  MOTHER!

     She is so excited about her open house that all must revolve around that.  She had a doctors appointment yesterday and she has another one this afternoon that will interrupt my day.  Sis took her to her appointment yesterday and then took her out to get things for the open house.  She arrived home about 2 o'clock  she was exhausted so I was happy she would leave me alone to get other things done, like work on the bride dress.  But  no that was not happening.

     She was in the shop at 3 o'clock driving me nuts.  Fussing and wanting to go upstairs to do this and that.  I finally gave up when I had the dress ready for a fitting (at the least).

     So I pulled out the large mixer and that thing is such a work horse.  We made up 5 different dough's, and a batch of fudge.  Kokkokasse', light peppakkakkor, dark ginger peppekkakor, Sour cream Sucre', My rolled sugar cookies,  Then we put everything in the fridge so she can take out a dough and start to bake.  Last night she did the kokkokasse. 

     I did not want her baking last night as I knew she was too tired.  But she insisted, made a huge mess of the kitchen, I had to stay upstairs but could not do what I wanted as she stumbles around the kitchen in my way.

     I thought I would go down and deep clean her room and bath, but oh no I had to stay upstairs.  So I did more Christmas in the living room, made many trips up and down the stairs transferring things that needed to be taken either down or up.

     She is upstairs now making and additional mess with her peppekkakor and now she tells me she can't do it because of her back.  Great!  like I have nothing to do.

     Say a prayer for me I am going to lose it.  Well I will lose it after I brush my teeth, set my hair, put on some makeup, take the laundry downstairs, and finish her cookie mess in the kitchen.


Grrrrrrrr!  I smell cookies burning, I mean really not joking, I can't do this again today....

Have a great and productive day ( said with sarcasm)

Kim

Monday, Getting ready for Christmas

     The shows went great.  My kids were fabulous.  I was so proud of them.  It was a hectic long weekend, but I can't believe at one time I was in charge of that.  How did I do it?  How does ones brain forget that kind of stress? 

     I was burnt out Sunday, but pushed myself to get the tree set up.  (not decorated)  I also switched out the Christmas china from the storage to the cabinets, got the tables set up and put out the nativity set.  Nothing is finished but it looks like Christmas vomited in my house.

     Or as my kids used to say, "Mom, which one of your personalities made this mess?"

Mom is having an open house on Sunday at Sissies and I am sure it will be well attended.  So I have a list of treats to help her make.  I also have to practise the piano every day to play background.  Don't hit the Christmas carols enough.  Put in 1.5 hour practise Thursday  and one hour yesterday.  Hope to get some time in today.

I am going to mix up Kokokasse (coconut log cookies) and peppekkakor(pepper cookies) today ad they have to be refrigerated and then mom can bake at her leisure.  I have to do at least 12 doz of each.

I have all the Christmas bath linens in the wash right now.  Mom's room and bath are the first on the deep clean and I hope to get those done before I go to bed tonight.

    BUT....  I have a bit of sewing to do before I do anything else and I also need to take my kids to dance at a rest home at 6 p.m. I also have a bride at 4 for a try on and i haven't even touched her dress.  Yikes!

     I wanted to do caramels, toffee and fudge later this evening.

okay someone gave the mouse a cookie.

have a great and productive day!

Kim

Friday, no sleep and frustrated

     I could not sleep again last night as I was keyed up.  Only got 1/2 the bills paid yesterday and did not get pants done.  I had so many interruptions in the shop and then my black serger was giving me fits.  When equipment does not work I want to scream.

     I had a black dress to hem made out of chiffon with a 9 yard hem.  Sometimes things are just hard and they don't go well.  I thought I was going to lose my mind.  Okay that ship sailed long ago but you know what I mean.

     So I have to finish my list from yesterday plus today's work.  I want to be at the high school at 2:30 to help.

     It got really cold here last night for the first time. 

I need to quit whining and get to work.  I can do this.

have a great and productive day!

Kim

Thursday, really? it can't be Thursday....

     So procrastination wins the game at my house and I am really good at procrastination.  There are many things I need to do today.

1.order flowers for sister in law who just lost her mother
2. dry my hair and put on makeup
3. put away laundry in bedroom take down dirty clothes
4. clean kitchen (did not do this yesterday)
5. replace zipper in hunting coat
6. hem a black formal and do the hand work
7. alter mother of the bride dress
8. make several phone calls
9. pay a ton of bills
10. make three pairs of drummer pants
11. straighten family room
12. go to high School tonight for tech rehearsal
13. collapse  ( I can do this right now)
14. clean cat box
14. make mother French toast
Let's see what I can get done.  Check back and spur me on please.  I will mark off as I go.  It is almost 11 a.m. here

Have a great and productive day!

Kim