Thursday, May 31, 2018

Thursday, Last day of May and a question?

     I cannot believe that summer is here.  (summer for me starts on the last day of the school year)  Of course it is overcast and cool.  We have had so little really hot weather so far and I am bummed about that. Remind me of this when it is 119 for a week.

     Does anyone know anything about dealing with adsense?  I am due for a check but really do not want to send them my bank info.  Do I set up a special account?

     We are still working with puppy on coming when he is called and potty training.  It is a never ending job.  He is quick to learn and loves praise, but only 10 weeks old so still quite the baby.

     I am down 5 bridesmaid dresses and another Wedding dress.  I have two wedding fittings today and I need to work on another pile of just straight out alterations. This will be a pull a pan of something out of the freezer day I think.

     Life seems to be never ending work but also a little more peaceful.  Mom seems to have calmed down and is being some what nice right now.  I will take it.

     Tomorrow starts a new month with a new set of plans and goals, trials and triumphs.  What will the summer bring I wonder?

     Right now I hope to finish out this month with a bang.  Maybe these two wedding dresses will fit and I can get them to take them home and pay me....:) A girl can dream can't she?

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim


  

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Wednesday, Another payoff goal met!

     I was able to pay my Lil sis back the money I owed her so that is one less debt hanging over my head.  I have a couple of other small debts for next month to be revealed.  But I am ticking them off and it is so nice.

     I went to Lil sis's last night after Hub's and I took a long walk.  Mom was laying in her day bed watching TV.  She had taken another bad fall off the toilet yesterday morning.  I told her that the littles would be at the house tomorrow and would she like to come home?   Sure she did, she was hungry.  Lil sis was not home from her golf league and she was waiting for dinner.  So she of course was asking for food.  I had promised her a smore for dessert on Memorial day but our friends had brought a delicious tart so we skipped the smores.  That is what it took to get her home, leftover shrimp, corn on the cob and a smore.

     She acted like nothing had happened and I wonder if she even remembers.  I just shake my head as I can do nothing else.  This is my life now.  I have know idea what today will bring.

     I was able to get 3 bridesmaid dresses done yesterday.  I have another started and on the ironing board.  I hope to get at least 3 more done today plus a suit altered.  It will depend on how much the kids nap today.  I worked so hard to clean and organize the shop last week and it is a disaster again.  I just cannot keep up with it.

     Very sleepy today and I don't know why.  Hope I can find some energy under a pile of mending in my shop!

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Tuesday, Mom antics

     Well mom's new thing is that she is going to move back to Missoula.  Don't know how she is going to do this as she can hardly see, is in a wheel chair almost all the time, can't drive, doesn't have any real memory left.  But she is mad at me and I have no idea what I did.  She is mad that I had someone care for her on Friday when I was home.  She has been at Lil sis's house since Saturday and refuses to come home.  Part of me is of panicking and part of me says GO!   Although how she will arrange it is beyond me because I will not help.

     Lil sis is mom's power of attorney if she should be in a place where she is not able to make decisions for herself.  We could seek a guardian ship and the doctor has agreed that she is unable to make rational decisions.  So now we have to protect the little savings she has left.  If she gets to Missoula and sees me brothers her money will be gone.  I feel terrible taking charge and allowing my Lil sis in this position, but I feel I have no choice.  I just pray and pray for a solution.  This is so hard have I said that before? :)

     We had a lovely Memorial Day, good food, good friends.  My house is clean.
I have plenty to do today!

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim

Monday, May 28, 2018

Monday,Money saving madness

     I hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day, as we stop and remember all those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and those loved ones who have passed on.  It is more than a three day weekend at this house as we reflect on what our freedom means.  We are grateful for life and liberty.
     We have a cemetery right near our house and I love to see the flags that are put out this time of year.  It makes me proud to live in a country that has made so many sacrifices for others not on our own soil.


    

     I completed another savings chart #7 and I am on to #8.  It has actually been a slow month around here.  Not that I did not have the work, but that the work is not getting done.  So I have to really get my but in gear after this weekend.

     Trying to get this mom situation worked out is hard. It takes time and effort plus listening to mom whine and complain is soul sapping.  I need a thicker skin I guess.

     Hub's is playing another 3 week run for a musical so he is busy practicing and going to rehearsals.  The part time job he has at the schools is also taking him a few days a week.

     We are having people over for dinner this evening so I need to really clean house in the next few hours and then Lil sis and I are going to play.

    Money saving Madness May 20th-27th 2018

1. Cooked and ate all meals at home from pantry
2. Replenished pantry staples that were loss leaders in paper,  Mayonnaise, BBQ sauce, pork n beans, chili cans. (Hubs likes to have these in storage for nights I don't cook and for emergency meals).
3. Picked up several bargain meats with 50% off stickers.  Mostly beef steaks and bites, roasts.  Bacon thick sliced for $2.00 a pound.
4.Made two more sets of pillow cases and added lace that I had recycled, to put in the gift drawer.
5.  Added $2.00 worth of lace bought with a 50% off coupon to a dress that I thought was a bit too short.
6.  Found a really cute dress made of tencel denim at Wal-Mart for a dollar.  Also added lace to the bottom.  I love dresses in the summer much cooler.
7.Mended several items found while cleaning the shop.  Replaced a zipper in Hubby's pants, fixed a sweater, took in a sweater and and dress that were just getting too big. Altered a couple of items for mom as she continues to lose weight.
8.Had a 60% savings at the grocery store during my weekly shop, just buying loss leaders and marked down meat.  I swear that store must hate me.
9.Was gifted some samples of puppy chow, puppy loved it.
10.Picked lettuce from the garden for sandwiches.
11. fed food scrapes to the chickens
12. Went with hub's to look cars and trucks, did not buy anything.
13.ordered two pairs of Dansko sandals from posh Mark , they have not arrived but I will let you know.  They looked brand new and were less that 1/2 the price of new.  Will report back.

     Well I am off to clean the house and have some fun.  We walked the bridges yesterday and we all got a little sunburned.  After 5 miles we were done.

Have a a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim

Saturday, May 26, 2018

Saturday, What happened to Friday?

     Wow, I had help come in yesterday to be with mom.  I was able to sew all afternoon.  It was great,but mom was confused.  She wanted to know when that person was going to leave as she was tired and wanted a nap.  So next week I will have this person come to Lil sis's.  I think she thought she had to entertain.  She is confused all the time.  I really liked this woman and so did mom.  I told mom she  was here to help, if you are tired you can lay down.  Mom still did not get it.  Maybe if she is at Lil sis's she will understand.

     We had another really bad rain storm last night.  It is hard to get out and get yard work done when it is so wet.  But believe me we will get our hot dry, dry, dry season soon.I still have major trimming and cutting back to do in the back yard and at least 2 dump runs.But again unless it really drys up today I will not be able to get anything done.

     D#2 is coming down this weekend so I get to see my grandson.  Yippee!  Hubs and I are going out to get a break away dog collar for Rosco and some tags. I also need to replace some summer sandals but I doubt we will be able to find any in town.  My feet are my downfall.  Arthritis, screws, metal hooks, they all require special comfy shoes which are expensive. " Death begins with you feet", an old Swedish Proverb my dad would often repeat.  Actually meant to watch which road you take in life, but for me it has a new meaning.

     I have to get at least 2 wedding dresses out next week and 5 bridesmaids  dresses along with all the other extras that come in.  It will be a busy week.  I am blessed with work.

     Kinda blue about the weather keeping me inside. I still need to switch winter and summer clothes and shoes around in closets and get rid of things, also I could do some major house work. (Yuck)   I also want to clean out Hubs clothes that he does not wear.  That will be a fight.

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Thursday, Shop cleaning!

     I finally was able to go through the shop and really clean out the closet and get all the projects sorted into bins.  I am very good about not starting on a new set of projects until the old are completed.  But at least they are binned up and out of the way of the wedding dresses.

     The ironing is all done and several things that were hanging around in the shop that were personal items are fixed and back where they belong. My mending gets put in a pile and never done and now it is done!

     Mom had a UTI so I will go and get her meds today.  Yesterday was just so busy.  Between puppy, babies, mom, shop, I was on a dead run.

     Hub's and I went out last night and bought $121.00 worth of groceries for $60.00.  Watch those loss leaders,  We stocked up on many pantry staples for rock bottom prices.

     I took spaghetti sauce out of the freezer and made french bread yesterday.  It was delicious.  I actually did a break down of cost.  French bread at the store is $2.29 a loaf.  My recipe makes two much larger loaves.  It costs, .49 cents when I figured, yeast, flour, tbls salt and sugar, 2 tbls shortening.  So it pays to make this kind of thing.  The mixer does all the work so why not?

     I will spend a very busy day in the shop today and I am looking forward to it.  I also want to spend some time in the garden this evening.  We will have leftovers for dinner so I won't have to cook.

     This has not been a good earning month but I am going to take care of that in the next 7 days.  I have goals you know.....

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Tuesday, Mom and money

     Mom is throwing a fit about the amount of money we are paying her caregivers.  Too bad.  We contacted care agencies and they charged $22.00-29.00 an hour.  However they only pay their workers between $7.50 and 10.50 an hour and most of the workers are sub par.  She is too far gone for assisted living and would have to go into full care which is 8-10 thousand a month here.  She has the money she just doesn't want to spend it.  Well she will spend it on her sons but no one else. Last month she gave my little brother, who does not work, $1500.00 plus she paid his child support.  It is ridiculous the money she has wasted on both of my brothers and it has not helped them at all. 

    I am done with her selfish mean behavior.  We are taking her into the doctor this afternoon to see what can be done.  But her whining and complaining and just plain old meanness is very hard to bear day in and day out.  So I will leave her with others at sis's house and she will pay for it, end of subject.

     Lil sis took her yesterday at noon and she has someone caring for her over there.  I will pick her up for the doctor and take her home after that.  She will spend the day with me tomorrow as I have the babies and she enjoys them, then back to Lil sis's on Thursday for the better part of the day.  We are not even going to fight with her about her money. On Friday I will have someone come in here to help do light house work and watch her.

     I don't know where my day went yesterday, but I did not seem to get much done, something I will rectify today.  I did get and antique wedding dress ready for a fitting.  But I have piles of things all over the shop that need to be done.  So I will be working on that today.

     It was nice to make beef broccoli last night and not have mom complain.  I don't have her moaning and groaning in the next room while I blog. Just peace and quiet.

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim

Monday, May 21, 2018

Monday, Relief and Money saving madness!

     The basement smells like a wet dog.  The flooding smell takes so long to go away.  I am going to put fans out today and see if that helps.  I have had a drier out but not a fan to blow the smell out.  Our youngest daughter did come down on Saturday to help with mom all day and it was a God send.

     The recital was great, we had a few tech problems but the dancers were the best so what does that matter.  It was a very long day both Friday and Saturday.  I am glad that it is over.  I have no more obligations until the 19th of June.  So I have a whole month to get my yard and house and shop in order.  I can hardly wait to get started.  I am going to get my sewing done in the shop first and then attack the shop and house with a vengeance.

     The house has that recital week mess all over it. With the basement tore up because of the water problem it is hard to get around in the entry and shop.  So that is my first plan of attack.

     Little sis and I worked out an arrangement for mom's care.  It involves 2 perhaps3 care givers. It has mom staying with Lil sis Sunday and Monday nights and all day.  Then she comes to my house on Wednesday and back to lil sis's on Thursday during the day and I have someone coming in here on Fridays.  I will have a house keeper and a caregiver on Fridays.  This will help me with mom's mess.   Saturday's we will take turns.  This gives me  Sunday,Monday evenings off and all day Monday and   Tuesday off.  I don't have to get her up, and mornings and bed time are the hardest part. I will have a  couple of evenings off.  She will be cared for full time for three of the days of the work week, but actually 4 days with lil sis having her on Mondays.  We are just dividing the work up.  We will see how this works. Lil sis will have her 3 nights to put to bed and I will have 4 nights.  It will be a big relief.  I just hope it all works.

     Monday Money saving madness 5-13 to 5-20 2018

1. Ate all but one meal at home (Mom paid for take out one night)
2. Prepared 10 quart bags of Rhubarb given to me.
3. Won $5.00 at Albertsons, and picked up $11.16 worth of free groceries.
4. Found 5 packages of beef, 2 roasts, 3 steaks, for 75% off at Albertsons.
5. Picked up 2 geraniums for 1/2 price in the scratch and dent plants.  Or the limp and lost leaves section:)
6. Used the clothesline for mom's wet blankets and sheets.
7. Made 4 pans of enchiladas to save time and money by bulk cooking.
8. Used old mealy apples to make a salad with limp celery and a little piece of onion wasting in the fridge.
9.Lengthened a church dress that was fine when I stood still but a little too short if I moved.  I dropped the hem and added a lace trim.
10.  Pulled beautiful heavy blue lace trim off an old sweater of mom's.  I will attach it to another shirt as a gift for my daughter.
11. Planted the garden with many seedlings I started myself.  Seed packets were .10 last season on closeout. 
12. Saved bread bags for my project.
13. saved plastic containers for leftovers and food give aways.
14.Faced a pair of pants for hubs that had gotten too short by washing.
15.Ate all our leftovers.
16. fed food scraps and peals to the chickens
17.Turned off the sprinkling system during the rain storms and have kept if off until it needs to be used again.
18. Got lots and lots of free exercise taking Roscoe out constantly.

19. Cut a package of eye makeup remover pads in half to make the lot last longer.
20.Actually planned meals and cooked rather than throwing sandwiches at people.

Well I am off to get something done,

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim

Friday, May 18, 2018

Friday, Busy weekend ahead!

     I am happy to say I made arrangements for mom to be cared for for 2 days next week.  I will take her to my sister's house at 11:00 (I know that this is after the shop opens, but hub's will help) Mom also likes to sleep later.  The caregiver will take care of her there until Lil sis gets home and feeds her dinner. Then I can go get her in the later evening. I will do the same on Thursday.  Lil sis also wants me to do Fridays, but I am starting with 2 days a week.  If I have her cared for here, I am afraid she will just interrupt me constantly.  But I have also thought that if I have her cared for here on Friday's I can get the caregiver to also deep clean her room and bath.  As mom cannot see she is very sloppy and things get grungy fast.

     We had a terrible rain storm here last night.  Lewiston is a semi arid dessert climate. We get between 7-9 inches of rain a year.  We have had 1.5 inches in the last 3 days, so our basement (mom's room ) is having flood issues.  We now realize we will have to take out a wall and reseal a window that has been covered up by sheet rock.  We will not do this now, but it does have to be done.  One more thing to repair.  Yippee!

     I was able to get the night shirts done and today I have to alter a few costumes.  Hub's and I need to go get a barrel for a scene in the show and I have gathered antique furniture for some of the scenes. Mom enjoyed the kids at the theater last night and even offered to pay for cheese burgers for the crew.

     I would love to get the ironing out of the way and out of the shop, get some laundry done and a little organizing in the shop.  I have to be at the theater by 3 to pull stage furniture. I was home by 8 last night and that was great.  I hope to be home by that time tonight. Tomorrow will be busy.  D#3 is coming down tonight to help with Grandma tomorrow.

     Next week cannot come soon enough.

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Thursday, get it done.

     We have had a none stop deluge of rain for the last two days.  Puppy does not like to go potty on wet grass.  I hope he gets over this.  He is a smart little thing and does know the word no, so that helps. There are many, many potty trips here.:)

     Yesterday was busy.  I made up four pans of chicken enchiladas.  I froze two and gave one to neighbor.  I have enough left overs for today.  So dinner is covered.  After this blog post I am going into the shop and not coming out until I have two night shirts completed. I need to run to the studio and get another costume and also take mom's wedding ring into the jeweler.  The studio and the jeweler are next to each other so I will combine that trip.

     I had 10 bridesmaid dresses come in yesterday, so no end in sight for work which is good.  I just wish I could get to the paying work.  But next week will come.

     When I was in the shop yesterday waiting for customers to change I did quite a bit of ironing, so the basket is getting smaller.  I didn't dare work on the nightshirts as there were just to many distractions.  I also took an 1.5 hour nap after dinner and then hit the shop and worked on costumes.
I also took mom to Walmart for a few things, milk, sour cream etc. It is so much work to get her to the car and into the car and then into a wheel chair, let alone shop pushing her and then back out to repeat the process.  Who needs a gym membership?


     There is a tech rehearsal that starts at 4:00 which is early but at least we won't be there late.  I need to pull adult costumes for the ballroom scene.  I wasn't sure what era the owner wanted.

     Well I am off to get through the day and complete what has to be done and maybe a bit more.

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim
    



Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Wednesday, Pulling myself up by the boot straps

         I have been letting things slide here as mom becomes more work and the shop has been so busy.  Some of the things have been debt saving strategies.  I just tell myself I am too tired, or I just waste time feeling sorry for myself.  Everyone deserves a little pity party once in a while, but not getting things ready for dinner leads to take out.  Not using up leftovers leads to waste. Not turning off lights is a money leak.  If you want to save money it takes work and paying attention.  It is very easy for me not to pay attention and go back to my slacker ways.

     So yesterday I gave myself a firm talking to.  I put a stew together with meat from the freezer.  I put it in the crockpot to cook all day.  I did all the laundry and there were only three loads.  I just did a run through of the house, which took all of 20 minutes.  I have a tendency to make things larger in my mind than they are.  I also went through the ironing and pulled out all the linens and ironed those in about 1/2 an hours.  I still have a large basket of ironing but I will do 3-4 items at a time throughout the day and it will be caught up.

     Rehearsal went well last night and I was pleased.  I still have not gotten to the costumes, because at the doctor yesterday, he decided it was time to fix a trigger finger of mine.  Actually almost all of my fingers will trigger if over used but the little one on my left hand is bad.  It snaps when I play the piano.  So it is an aggravation.  They did an ultrasound of the tendon and then they put in a hollow needle and auger the bump in the tendon.  Then steroids are injected.  Other then painful it was interesting to watch.  My left hand was sore and numb for most of the day.  Then very sore all evening.  It is much better today and the finger is acting normally.  (Could this be done with my brain I wonder)

      I did not get anything cut out before rehearsal and after I went outside and planted some in the garden.  I cleaned up 4 bags of weeds.  Hub's planted some onions, and we still have to do potatoes.  It is raining hard today.

     Late last night Hub's and I cut up and processed 10 quart bags of rhubarb which I froze.  I have already put chicken breasts in to cook for chicken enchiladas.  I also ironed two blouses while I was waiting on a customer.  I just need to instill good habits and quit complaining.

     The doctor talked to me about slowing down a little even though my SED rates were really good. I am trying but years of over doing is a hard habit to break.  After I get all three babies down for a nap, the baby, the toddler, the puppy, I will cut and sew up the night shirts.  With the rain I will not get out in the yard today, so I have no excuse not to get other things done around here.

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim


Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Tuesday, Just get through the week

     The spring dance recital is this Saturday.  I have my last rehearsal tonight, and then tech on Thursday, dress on Friday and two shows on Saturday.  I only have two nightshirts to make and a coat to doll up for Capt Hook.  I am so grateful I don't have the whole thing on my shoulders and wonder now how I ever did all that.

     I have a specialists appointment for my arthritis today.  I have been having some real joint flairs.  My left elbow and shoulder and my right hip have been really bothering me.  Also I have been having really stiff fingers in the morning.  These are not good signs.  I am anxious to see what my SED rates are.

     I had a few glorious hours in the yard yesterday.  I swear the whole garden was covered with weeds.  Very small weeds but weeds all the same.  I planted and transplanted and I still have several hours of weeding and clean up.  I have not planted the potatoes or the onions.  I am hoping Hub's will do this.  I also had way too much help from the puppy, who wanted to dig up everything I planted.  He seems to have learned the word no already, now if I could just train my husband.

     When I go to the doctor today, I am going to stop over at two nursery's right by the doctors office.  I need cucumbers as my seeds did not sprout, I also have a few holes in my boxes and beds to fill.

     I do not like to always think of the future, as I think it shortens the joy of now, but I am really looking forward to this week just getting over.  I want to concentrate on Mom.  I am going to take her in and see if we qualify for hospice and if not make arrangements for hired help.  By the end of May I want action taken.  I am tired and I can not do this all myself.  Lil sis is a big help but she also works 50 hours a week and needs time.  Sis can't come again until August.

     Well I need to go find something of dinner and get myself cleaned up, maybe straighten the puppy mess and then do laundry, which is backed up again.  I just don't use my time very efficiently and it frustrates me.

     Why is my house dirty? Why do I not have a menu plan? Why is there so much laundry?  Why am I such a slob? (as in I am terrible about picking up after myself)  Why can't I play all day?  Why can't I eat anything I want?  (like six donuts)  Who is going to do the ironing? (remember Sis is not back until August, I will be naked by then)  I really have to sew to get people to give me money?  Really?

     This is what time off does to me.......

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim

Monday, May 14, 2018

Monday, Oh my! and Monday money saving

Hi my name is Rosco/Ringo I will not hold still.
     Well it was a long and busy time at in-laws and I am happy to be home.  We had a lovely time and worked very hard.  Hub's and I and my sister and Hub's baby sister and her husband, shopped and made 7 different dishes.  There were at least 150 people at the party and it was beautiful.  Mom and dad looked great,  Dad is failing but I just kept telling him he only had to make it until Saturday about 9 p.m.  We ate, we shared stories, we ate, we danced, we ate.......  You get the drift.  All of us were exhausted after the party.  Then we had cleanup, the church had to be spotless for the next day.

     We made:

Beach bread trays, Carpese' 4 trays
double batch of Frog eye salad
double batch of shrimp salad
200 dipped strawberries
2 packages of dipped pretzel rods
double batch of tabbouleh salad
double batch of spinach salad
    Each of these salads could feed a good crowd and we just had a small amount of a few salads left.  So we gauged the foods right on the money. My brother in law had purchased a small amount of a shrimp salad from a deli for us to eat while we were cooking.  It was $12.96 for the 4 of us.  We made all these salads for around $100.00.  We were able to take back chocolate.  I cannot imagine what it would have cost to buy all this premade.  Another brother in law cooked brisket.  We had hot dogs for the kids.  Hub's pulled 150 potatoes out of a cellar and scrubbed them and wrapped them.  We only had 3 potatoes left. So we were all pleased with the food outcome.  All of hub's 5 brothers and sisters were there.  Mom and dad have 25 grandchildren and 72 greats with more on the way.  Many friends who were still alive came from the small town of Wieser Id. to celebrate with them.  It was beautiful

     I had ladies from my church come in and watch mom for three days at Lil sis's place and she really enjoyed this, so it looks like the transition into having someone come in and care for her on a regular basis will be easier.  She love the company.

     I was able to see all of my daughters and my grandsons.  The girls and Hub's bought me a very wonderful Mother's Day gift. A new puppy! It is a pure bred Welsh Corgi.  Hub's niece breeds them. I was so surprised.






Sleeping after tearing out my rug project.















See my short stumpy legs, I am not so sure about those stairs
     Lil sis loves him and he has charmed mom already so Hub's and I are on dog watch and started training immediately on getting him home.  He had a bath as he was kind of barn yard smelling.  Well he did come from a ranch. We are working on coming to his name which he has down pretty good, sit, down, and potty outside. So far no accidents, but it has been less than 24 hours.
 
     I thought the girls were crazy.  I am so busy and I have mom and Hub's and now a puppy, but I think with Hub's help and mom's joy it will be fine.

Monday money saving madness, May 6th-13th 2018

1. We traveled to Nampa in our car instead of the truck as originally planned saving about $60.00 on gas.
2. We did not have any expensive restaurant meals out the whole time we were gone.  We chose to get fast food, or split a sandwich at the store both there and back.
3. We had breakfast at hotel on Mother's day paid for.
4. We ate breakfast at Hub's mom for three days and then ate dinner there at night.
5. We made tons of food for party to save money on costs
6. I brought back a huge bag of rhubarb to process and freeze.
7. I altered a skirt and a dress for myself that were already in my closet never worn.
8. I bought my first item of clothing for the year.  A navy blue short sweater to wear over my sleeveless dress.  It was 30% off at Talbots plus I had a $25.00 coupon.  So sweater was under $25.00.
9. Trans planted many seedlings in garden that came up from last year.
10. Came home to a beautiful flower arrangement from the neighbors for mothers day.

     I have already had a bride in today and I need to go to Joanns, for material for the recital this weekend.  Mom also need s some things.  I plan on working in the yard after I get back until dark.  That garden is going to get planted if it kills me.

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim
 



Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Tuesday, I get to go outside!

     Today I am not going to sew at all!  I have one more dress to be picked up, but I am going to play outside.  I am so excited.  There is plenty to do in the shop but it can all wait.  Mostly wedding dresses.

     I do have to go get blood work done.  I do have to take sport coats back to Penneys .  I do have to pack mom and myself.  I do have to get mom's care giver list organized.  I do have to go to a rehearsal.  But all in all it will be an easy day.  Well I will work like a dog in the yard, but that is fun.

     Last night after rehearsal my little sis died and cut my hair.  Saving me a lot of money.  Mom continues to mend although she is grouchy.  I am going to get her up and have her eat her breakfast outside as I work.

     Tomorrow we leave for Nampa.  We will be gone until next Monday.

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim

Monday, May 7, 2018

Monday,Money Saving Madness and progress!

I completed another saving chart over the weekend and I am happy to say I am onto Chart #7 for the year.  I hope to complete that before the end of the month.

I also paid off and cut up the Amazon prime card.  If I need to order something I will use my personal card as it has a much lower interest rate.

I was touched by all the comments about Friday's post.  I know many of you just want to come over here and shake me and I appreciate those feelings.  I know there are blogs that I read or have discontinued reading because I thought  really?  Again? Do you ever learn?  I also sometimes feel a little jealous of people who seem to have no worries and there lives just look perfect and happy all the time.  Like Sluggy you know?

Just know that I am trying.  I realize I should not have taken the boys on Friday, but I do have to say they were angels.  The studio continues to be a nuisance. Until it is paid for I will continue to be available on a limited basis.  I did on Friday hand the owner some costume parts I had not completed, and had another mother complete the Cap't Hook costume.  I was just too tired and too overwhelmed.  Proof that I do say know once in a while.  I do want to teach next year as I miss my kids dreadfully, but it will be with stricter parameters.

     The students that she has teaching the Irish program are both gifted dancers and one is actually on the pro circuit. Unfortunately  one is suffering from Senioritis as I call it.  She is just not pulling her rank.  But she will be gone.  The other is good, but also busy performing and competing and going to school. These two have grown up with me since they could walk and have watched me say, "who has an inspiring piece of music."  We will play it and music talks to me.  I literally see dancing in my head.  I understand the phrasing and what an audience will want to see.  It is a true gift but also one that I have honed for many years.  I did not come out of the womb this way.  I practiced and I listened for over 40 years.  I can take a piece of music and choreograph a dance in an hour.  They want to be able to do that.  They don't realize that at 18 I wasn't able to do this.  I worked at it.  Yes I make it look simple but it is years and years of skill.  So we will need to have a long talk before teaching commences next year. Nuff said.

     Hub's and I will be leaving Wednesday morning to head south to the Boise area.  We need to go and help with his mother and father's 70thWedding Anniversary party.  Also both turn 90.  So it is a huge event.  We will be in Nampa for 6 days.

     After last week , I cancelled watching the babies tomorrow.  I have 11 pairs and pants to hem and one dress to alter today and I will take no more work until I get back.  I took time on Saturday and yesterday to catch up and pay bills  so I am not running with scissors the next two days.  All I will have to do tomorrow besides a 2.5 hour rehearsal is pack and play in the yard.  No sewing.  I just know I need to decompress and I have been spreading myself way too thin.

     I am happy to say I did get  my other really large garden bed cleaned out on Saturday.  Plus my Lil sis and I worked on a really fun project.  It was spur of the moment, but I get so little time to spend with her on fun things.  Our world just revolves around mother and her moods.

     I picked up this piece of yard art at Oui, which is a store that recycles and provides work for the handicapped.  I showed this it my Sister and then we ran all over town thrifting .39 cents glass.  Then we came home and got creative.  Yeah I know I could have been planting my garden but hey a girl needs to have fun.  We created 18 masterpieces or disaster pieces however you look at it.

      Mom was the boss even though she can't see well we had a lot of laughs.  Then Lil sis took Mom for the weekend.  We think we may have found someone to help care for mom two days a week.  We are trying her out this Thurs and Friday.  Say a prayer that this works.

Monday Money Saving Madness:

It was not as good a week as I was so busy I really did not cook much.  I have to admit we went out 2 times once for cheap tacos, $6.69 and once for Pizza $19.97

1. Cooked all but above meals from scratch with food on hand.
2. fed all food scraps to chickens.
3. Made 11 loaves of banana bread with bananas purchased on mark down for .19 a pound.
4. Made dinner for two families with a large package of chicken legs purchased 1/2 price $4.48
5. Turned the collar of an outdoor short sleeve shirt for hubs.  It was wearing through.
6. Made 18 yard ornaments with lil sis.  They will mostly be used as gifts.
7. Cleaned out front flower bed and transplanted many plants to new homes and gave some to neighbors.
8. Hung clothes and bedding to dry when I could with the weather.
9.Picked up $16.46 worth of free food stuffs I won at Albertsons, gravy mix, aspirin, veggies, cheese, air freshener, pasta, yogurt, juice drink
10.Did all my usual money saving things, reused wax wraps, and bowl covers rather than plastic wrap or tinfoil.
11. Paid off a small credit card and destroyed it.
12. Completed another $1000.00 payoff chart.

So I am trying to get my life back to semi normal.  I don't even know if I ever approached semi normal:)

 I love this one as I love green!

                                                                  

I love all of these.
We had so much fun.  Some of these are stunning.
Sis loves Owls.


I think this is my favorite

But I also love this one.

 Which ones to keep?
Have a great and productive day staying positive while in the negative.

Kim

Friday, May 4, 2018

Friday, just shaking my head.....

     I did not think I could have a busier day than Wednesday.  But yesterday was a blur.  I stayed up so late on Wednesday night to finish beading a dress and then I got up later than usual on Thursday and I had a rip roaring day of appointments and pick ups. I also had a wedding dress to finish for today.  None stop appointments.  The garden still is not planted.  I am frustrated and just shaking my head.

    I was frantically hemming the wedding dress last night at 11:30. I took mom out to Wal-mart last night about 8:30 just to get her out of the house.  I picked up a few more garden plants while there.  Don't know if they will ever get planted.

     So today I get a call from Hub's cousin, can I watch the boys she has lost her sitter and needs to go on a field trip?  So we have a 1 year old and a 4 year old here.  They are very good .  People were coming to the shop at 9, (Um I open at 10).  I had a new bridal appointment at 10:00.  Mom wakes up because of all the early noise(boys are noisy if you didn't already know this) comes to the shop door from her bathroom.  She opens the door in her nightgown realizes I have a client then pulls the door shut really fast and throws herself off balance, falls and cracks her head on the cement floor under the linoleum. 

     I am at my wits end.  Hub's is upstairs with boys, I holler for him.  My clients are in a state of shock.Hub's is sitting on the floor in the bathroom with her.  Now she starts to vomit.  The police officer from across the street comes into the shop looking for his pants which are not done.  He helps Hub's get mom up and does a bunch of tests on her and says , we do not need to call an ambulance.

     She has a HUGE bump on the back of her head and is dizzy.  I have her in bed with a cold pack and she continues to get sick.  Her eyes are fine so I keep checking on her and I won't let her sleep so she is mad at me.  What is new? Hurried and fixed police pants and ran then across the street.  I have so much to do for today. But I have appointment until 6 and then have to run to the studio to work with Peter Pan's shadow for an hour.

     If the new uniforms for the police don't come in soon, I will be using bubble gum to fix them.  I don't mind altering them once they are in, but the patching and trying to keep them running when they need to be replaced is an every day commitment.  I have 1/2 naked officers sitting in the dressing room on a regular basis as I do a quick mend to get them back in the field.

     I know I can do this.

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Wednesday, busy and a sick baby

     Our little neighbor babies are both down with the crud.  The oldest is running a fever so not much will get done today but rocking and soothing.  It is pretty quiet here compared to most Wednesdays where we are on the go constantly. The shop has been quite busy this morning and I can hear mom stirring in the next room.

     I am going to try and get into the shop as soon as the 4 month old goes down for his next nap.  Hub's is out mowing the lawn.  It is supposed to be very nice this afternoon so I plan on getting out in the garden if I can get my sewing done.  I will plant before I clean any more flower beds.  I want to get things into the ground and plant some more corn starts.  I also need to go buy some lettuce starts.
For some reason I cannot start lettuce.

     The shop was crazy yesterday and I had to go choreograph a fight scene between hook and Peter pan.  All that I have left is a short # between the lost boys and the pirates.  I also have the shadow dance with Peter and the shadow.  I planned on coming home from rehearsal last night and sewing, but that did not happen.  I was cold and joints were all achy and I had a headache.  Then I realized I was running a low fever, but I seem fine today.  Just a flare from my arthritis.  It is such a weird disease.

     I took mom to Joanns last night and the dollar store we had some good laughs.  I am going to start working on a yard art project but I told myself I have to finish the rug first.  One project at a time.  I have to limit myself or I would end up living like a hoarder.:)

Well I am off to set the world on fire or the shop I can't decide which to choose.

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Tuesday, May goals and plans

  It is May day today.  I so remember making May baskets as a child.  We would always put in lilacs and a piece or two of candy.  Then you would hang the basket on the door, ring the bell and run.  If you got caught they could kiss you.  I did this with my girls.  It was a tradition that was long gone by the time they were born.  So I would have them deliver their baskets to a trailer park for the elderly.  I don't know who had a better time, them or the people they delivered to.

   I have many things I want to get done this month.  I swear my goals list other then paying off debts just sits there and does not get done.  I just move my to do list to the next month.

     I have two big events this month.  Hub's parents both turn 90 and they also were married 70 years in April.  We are having a big celebration for them May 12.  This requires that we go to Nampa for about 5 days.  We need to help set up and clean up and celebrate.  On the May 19th I have the Peter Pan recital.  I am looking forward to being done with these two events, especially the recital.  It is such a drain, plus I will have to do a few costumes for it.  Blah!

     My debt payoff goals are to eliminate two small bills or debts.  I want to pay my Lil sis the $1000.00 I owe her and also a small Amazon account with a very low interest, that stands at $897.16.  I may be able to do more but for right now with the travel to southern Idaho this is all I am going to try and conquer.

     I am a true believer in the snowball method of paying off debt, but I also know my budget and funds and I tried to eliminate large payments first.    As summers are always less money and the shop can be fickle.  If I have a slow month or I have a flair I can get by easier.   This just causes me less stress and stress I don't need.

     Yesterday I sewed hard ,but I swear all I did was patch pants.  I really,really dislike patching.  I still have 4 dresses that have to be out before Friday along with a pile of things.  I was also able to get the police uniforms done that they have been waiting.  I have to go to the studio today for at least 2 hours.  I need to get mom out of the house today.

     So look at the side bar and see what I plan to do this month.  I just hope I can get other things accomplished this month besides paying off debt.  I don't know which is worse the debt or the messy house.  I will just keep plugging along as that is what I do.

     I was able to take a nice walk with hub's last night.  Hub's has to walk so far using his feet differently.  He was born with severely collapsed tendons in his hips, knees and ankles.  There was a surgery for it even back in the early 50's but the small town doctor had seen too many cripples made after surgery so advised Hub's parents to let him ride it out.  The condition did not keep him out of the Army but it did make running hard.  His legs are twisted funny and his feet splay out.  As he ages and he has always had a weight problem he is having real problems.  So now he has to learn to walk with is feet straight forward.  He cannot turn his feet in at all.  When we force our feet into pigeon toes it feels weird.  Well hubs cannot do that.  Putting his feet straight forward is like us walking pigeon toed.  This really slows him down and is uncomfortable.  But he is getting stronger.  He essentially has to lengthen different tendons and shorten others. Needless to say I get far ahead of him on the levy.  But I meet him coming back.

     I have to get busy in the shop as the littles come tomorrow and not much gets done with them.
 here.

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim