Kim is Home!

Kim is home and very busy with wedding dresses!  Three came in this morning.  She has eight due out for the 14th of September and they just keep rolling in.

Her master bedroom and bath are still a work in progress and at least the furniture is in place and the mattresses are on and I am drying the new sheets so I can iron them.  Hopefully we can do the big reveal soon!

Kim wants to work on her bedroom, and I have said no, and she is listening and doing hand work on a dress.  We have to stay caught up.

I have quite a bit of mending to do and I got nowhere near my machine yesterday as there were too many errands to run.

Today I must get the Egg Foo young gravy made which will not take long and I must get the egg rolls made.  I did do the filling yesterday but feel like it needed more cabbage, so I went and got more. 

This morning I came to the House and woke Kim up with a cold diet coke and then went to the dump, the Salvation Army to drop off old lamps ( I gave Sissy two milk glass lamps that I have had for forty years for Her new bedroom and they look great, also some beautiful dresser scarves and Doilies that were made by our Great Grandmother Henderson.  Yes, I inherited all of my mothers and Grandmothers old linens as I love them and use them.  They were easier to ship east than dishes and silver, and copper and you name it!)  I then went to Winco and got some groceries for Kim as the Grands will be here tomorrow and Thursday and the cupboards were bare for the littles. I then stopped at Bruneel Tire and auto and made an appointment to get my oil changed and my tires rotated.

Dan is at little Sis's new House today painting a very large bedroom that was all bright cobalt blue, even the ceilings, just awful.  He has a lot of work to do in that House as well as Kim's, not to mention our place, but it will all get done one room at a time.

Now I have to get to work as I have so much to do!

Picture is of four chicken pies, six beef pies and a chicken stoop for the freezer.  I ran out of pie dough and was too tired to make more so soup it was.

The freezer is getting stocked!

Well, here it is the next day as our day got away from us.  Kim's bedroom has more done in it, and Dan and I are ready to take the Car in.  It is very cold this morning and that tells me fall is near.

I did get the Egg Foo young gravy done yesterday, but not the Egg Rolls, so that is my first priority when we return from the Garage. Kim is still sleeping.  I will then get some mending done and Hubs is going to work on hanging mirrors and artwork in the bedroom.  The Grands will be here shortly.

I am determined to have a productive day and Kim finished two wedding dresses yesterday! Yeah!

Hugs;

K

Sissy here and Happy Friday!

So yesterday was a little crazy and I did not get done what I wanted to, but priorities change!

My Husband has been complaining about his ears being plugged and gurgling and his sinuses were stuffed up.  This has been going on for a while.  I suggested that He take some allergy meds, as it did not appear to be an infection.

Well, it got much worse, and He was not sleeping as it was driving Him crazy, (which was driving me crazy, and trust me it is short trip to crazy for me) so yesterday morning I insisted that He go to an urgent care. We did and it is not His ears, but his sinuses and they are very swollen red and sore.  The Doctor said definitely allergies, but also put Him on an antibiotic for the swelling and we bought allergy meds.  I am so hoping he will get some relief in a day or two.  We were there for four hours but got some answers and then had to wait for the prescriptions to be filled.

I brought Him up to Kim's as He wanted to mow the grass and do a little work outside and I started on egg foo young and fried rice.  I was able to make 18 egg foo young patties (used up some of the overstock of eggs!) and enough fried rice for dinner last night and made 8 servings for Kim's freezer.  Today I will make more gravy for each serving and freeze that also in glass Oui yogurt containers.

This recipe freezes beautifully, egg foo young patty on bottom, add fried rice and a layer of saran wrap to prevent freezer burn and then the lid.  Thaw in fridge, dump in bowl and nuke it covered for 1.5 minutes.  Easy nutritious dinner.

I flash froze the leftover patties and took them home to my freezer and will make more fried rice in the next few days.

This morning, I had to go to Walmart which I hate, but there is very little shopping here and sometimes Walmart is it!

Kim was out of toilet paper and I needed to buy a mattress pad for Her new mattress that hopefully will be installed tomorrow

The Kids were supposed to come today to help Dan, and I put the furniture back in Kim's bedroom, but their plans changed, and they will do so tomorrow.  Dan is home working on our yard, and I am up at Kim's doing a few chores.  I will meet my Lil Sis for lunch, and then back to Kim's to do some more cooking.  Today I plan to make eight pie crusts and put together, chicken and beef pot pies.  I am stocking my freezer with prepped meals, and Kim's also!  If I can get this done in a timely manner, I will also make egg rolls.  We shall see.

This method really does prevent freezer burn.

Just try it!

I order these heavy weight Chinese to go plastic containers from Amazon in pint and quart size and they last a very long time and so much cheaper that Tupper ware type containers.  I use a black sharpie on the lids, and it will wash off when soaked for a bit.  I cooked for so many Seniors during Covid and they were not afraid of breaking glass containers.  Dan and I do not like to waste nor do like a lot of leftovers, so I have learned to cook and portion out for meals, and this saves me so much time and a lot of money.  If you cook in bulk, when things are on sale (loss leaders) you can save a ton!

Hope you all are having a wonderful day, now I am going to dust the guest bedroom, and it will be done!

Hugs;

Kay

 

 

 Wow, I worked hard yesterday and was able to get my sauce done and it took the majority of the day.  I made eight quarts of Beef Sauce and 16 pints of beef and sausage.  A quart will feed Daniel and I for two meals and the pint for one.  So, all in all I made 56 servings and have done a cost analysis.  Now the tomatoes and basil and onion were free.  I bought burger, sausage, mushrooms and red, yellow and orange peppers.  Guessing on the olive oil, butter, and other spices I think I spent about $65.00.  Now that is great for a homemade sauce! ($1.10 per serving, and 28 meals) This sauce freezes beautifully. I have four pints in Kim's freezer!

I destroyed my kitchen and there was sauce everywhere as I am a very messy cook.  My new kitchen is white, with black and white linoleum, very retro looking, and what a mess.  I finally got it cleaned up about four in the afternoon.  Had a bowl of cereal for dinner as Dan was staying up at Kim's to finish a project.  I did the Kitchen floor and the rugs this morning.  I also did three items of mending for myself which I have wanted to do since I got here!

I am really tired, and it is already 3:40 in the afternoon.  I have been to Costco and have done many errands and am back up at Kim's helping my Husband finish up some things.

The bedroom and bath are done, and the carpet has been shampooed and came out beautifully.

Kim's middle Daughter and Son-in law are coming over Friday to help us set up the bedroom and take a load to the dump. 

I still have things to do here but I have the time.  Right now, I just want to veg out.  My feet have a heartbeat of their own which means I have overdone it.

I still have to make fried rice and egg foo young and will do that tomorrow. just too damn sore to process now.  I did get the bacon fried up and everything is ready to go so now it is just getting it done, and it will get done, but not today.

I also want to make at least eight pie crusts and four balls of pizza dough to freeze and hope to get that done this week.

Talked with Kim briefly and She is relaxing and having a good time and my Niece loved all the Artwork I sent and plans to hang it all and that makes Dan and I so happy!

Now I am going to have a glass of wine and put my feet up!

Have a wonderful evening!

Hugs;

Kay

Sissie here and it is sauce cooking day!

 

It is Tuesday and I started my sauce this morning, but left it turned off to bring my Husband up to the House.  Today He should finish the final coat on Kim's accent wall and then we can shampoo the carpet and start putting Her bedroom back together. 

Yesterday I worked all day in my Office and got so much done and Dan took a break from His paint brush and worked in our yard.  I made spaghetti for dinner to use up the last of the sauce I made several months ago.

I also went yesterday to our favorite Carpet Store where the owner had large area rugs that Sis and I were admiring when I picked out my Carpet.  Kim's family Room rug was tried and so I went to see if they still had the rug she admired, and they did!  I offered $200.00 cash, and it was gladly accepted (saved $100.00) brought it up to the House and laid it and it looks wonderful!  Kim will be so excited.

Now to finish this room I just need to do the shelf, but probably not today as I need to get home and finish my sauce.

I still have to do the guest bedroom as is dust and vacuum, and I want to clean out the fridge.  Also, a couple of sewing projects for myself that I can tackle.  I miss my Sissy, but She needed a break from the shop and possibly from me?

Now I will get back in the Car and go Home to cook and create havoc in my own kitchen which I am trying to get used to!

Have a great and productive day!

Kay

Blessed Sunday and a beautiful day!

 

• Sissy here and I am running with scissors trying to get the Family Room put back together and I am almost done!

Yesterday I pulled the couch covers off and washed then and hung them outside to dry.  I also ruined the Sofa pillows which I washed, but I did not like them so...Kim will have to  forgive me.

Putting those covers back on was a true exercise in patience, but does it ever look good.

One of the Grands left an ice cream bar between two cushions and what a mess, but Spot Shot to the rescue and I got it all up.

I have pulled everything away from the walls and rolled up the rug and swept, vacuumed and mopped.  The dog hair and sewing string was unbelievable and I think it is still breeding...

Also cleaned Mom's spinning wheel and now just one small portion of floor to go and it will be done!

It is 10:30 and here I go...Okay it is 11:13 and the Family Room is done!  Whew!

Now I am going to fry up 10 pounds of burger and then do my onion, garlic and red and yellow peppers for my marathon spaghetti sauce making which will happen tomorrow.  Both of my sisters have too many tomatoes which they cannot eat so I have cleaned and frozen them all and will start that process which is very messy.  Also, we have way too many eggs from Kim's caring for Neighbors Chickens, so I am going to make Egg Foo young, and flash freeze it also.

Here I go...well I got way laid... It is now 1:50 and Husband needed me to go to Home Creepo for a new vent cover and face plates for the bathroom.  I also needed more onion for my sauce so off I went, and then got a call from Baby Sister for some quick help!  

However, when at Winco picking up onion they had their chubs of cheap burger for 2.49 a pound and I bought 10 more pounds, and now have 20 pounds cooked up and cooling.  I will process some into taco meat and portion it out in dinner size portions.  Kim has been eating horribly since Joel died and I am determined to have some quick meals for Her to heat and eat. 

Will not be able to get to the vegetables or the Egg Foo young today as tomorrow is a desk day and it will take me most of the day to get so much paperwork done. So will not make sauce tomorrow, pooh!  It can wait.

We have now been in Lewiston for three months tomorrow and I need to change our address with the IRS and with the Military and get my Husbands Meds in order which are a mess.  Find new Doctors, and also contact Social Security with our change of address.  This is just the tip of the iceberg.  But what I say to Sissy always is:  How do you eat and Elephant?   One bite at a time.

I also thought I was finished with the Family Room and discovered that I had not cleaned or dusted the large shelf my Grandfather built which stores the Flo Blue serving pieces that came from Sweeden and I know they have not been cleaned since the hardwood floors were laid, which means pulling the very clean sofa away from the wall and getting the step stool out and pulling down all those pieces, but I will get it done, just not today.!

I need to go clean up the kitchen and then go Home and make dinner which will be steak Cesar Salad and I will have a couple glasses of wine and put my feet up!  I am tired.

A productive day just did not accomplish all that I wanted, and that is okay!

Hugs;

Kat

Kim has gone to Idaho Falls

 

Sissy here and I truly believe an emergency Kitten can solve all problems!  It is Friday the 16th of August.

Kim left for Idaho Falls yesterday morning to visit her eldest for 10 days. I spent the night Wednesday to make sure she was loaded up and ready for the trip!  She said she was going to be on the road by nine, and I managed to get her on the road by 9:30 which on Kim time is a Holy miracle!

I made her promise to take it easy as she has been ill since the second week of May.  Her neck is getting much better and the shop is caught up.

She left Roscoe with Dan and I and we love it! So we are up at Kim's during the day working and we take Roscoe home at night.  We have a fenced backyard, and He is a very good Dog.  Our Cats don't particularly like it, but they are used to Him and my fatty Bud seems to be warming to Him a bit more, but Lucy (who hates everyone but my Husband) will have nothing to do with Him and hisses every time He walks by her.

My Husband is busy painting Sissies Master Bedroom and Bath, and it is looking so good.

I have torn up her house and am doing a major Spring or should I say summer cleaning.  I am starting with the shop and have everything pulled away from the walls and will sweep and vacuum and then mop and you all will work with me.

It is 10:05 do here I go...Okay it is 10:45 and I am about of a third of the way through this project and am taking a short break.  I will be meeting our little Sister for lunch today, but I do not know what time as of yet, am waiting for her text. So now I go back to work... it is 11:10 and the Shop is clean.  Swept, vacuumed and mopped and everything wiped down, windows washed, and large mirror cleaned. Smells wonderful in here. There are thirteen wedding dresses and five bridesmaid dresses and about ten things to mend which I will do what I can, but not today. 

I spent four hours yesterday doing all the ironing and it was a lot!

Now I will focus on the dining room for at least a half hour and do the same thing...but will take a five-minute break

It is now 12:09 and I am finished with the dining room and have swept and mopped the kitchen floor and I feel that is enough for one day as my back is starting to TWANG!

When I came Home with Kim after Joel passed and stayed with her for several months I got as sick as I have ever been in my adult life.  Tested for Covid four times. Nada! But I had as cough that was so bad that I blew muscles in my lower back, and it took about six months for it to heal.  If I push myself too hard or move a certain way too often, I can feel the twinge come back and I have learned to stop.  I do certain yoga exercises every morning before I get out of bed and that is the only way I healed it. Three different antibiotics and finally Codeine cough syrup (I hate narcotics and refused to take codeine until the Doctor said I could not get on a plane) I caved.  Had to get Home to do our taxes.  Found out later I had RSV nasty stuff.

well Lil Sis just cancelled as She has a crisis at work, so I am going to go and get Daniel and I some lunch somewhere and return to work on the Family Room a bit.

Hope everyone has a great and productive day!

Hugs;

Kay

Wednesday and things are getting caught up!

 Sissy here...

Kim went to the bank before the shop opens and I have been sweeping and cleaning up our sewing messes.  Sewing is messy and the whole house needs a good vacuum as we drag thread all over.

My Husband is out cleaning the garage again as it gets so dusty and dirty as the wind blows a lot here.

Customers enter through the garage, so the door is kept open during the day.

I think Kim and I are starting to develop a system and that is wonderful.  I see things coming together and Sluggy will tell you I like to run a tight ship!

I do not work well in clutter, nor leave things to the last minute.  I am a planner and a plodder, but things get done.  Kim is just the opposite but still manages to get things done.  So, we make each other crazy but do so with love. ( I think?)

Kim is feeling better today, I can tell and we are taking it easy.

On the home front, I broke a shelf in the freezer of the new house, and it cannot be fixed.  The refrigerator is only two years old, but it is a piece of garbage, and we knew that when we bought the house.  The brand is a Beko (???) it has terrible reviews, and the shelves break all the time.  I cannot fit a gallon of milk on the door or any shelf.  The space is small, but I have found several brands I like online so later today it is appliance shopping.  I will not live in fear of a damn fridge.  I cook too much and need something reliable.

Kim now has two new Irons for the shop. The heir and the spare.  That was my project last week.  This week I have purchased new sharp, larger needles that have larger eyes for hand work as I have terrible up-close vision, and it takes me five minutes to thread a needle.  I also ordered new Clics in a 3.0 and a 3.5 for close up hand work.  I will have to wait a week to ten days for them to come in and in the meantime, I am wearing a pair of Joels that are too big, but they work in a pinch!

I need to call Sluggy today and see how she is doing, as She has not been blogging and may not have taken her laptop to Virginia.  Now the vacuum cleaner is calling my name, and this is going to be a chore and there is a ton, and I mean a ton of ironing to do.  So back to work for me!

Sissy four days later... yes life has been hectic...Kim feeling so much better.  I have a new refrigerator ( a Whirlpool) and a new small chest freezer in the basement.  I can finally buy groceries, and they will fit!

Trying to get Kim ready to leave town on Thursday of this week and Dan and I have her house torn up as Dan is painting Her Master Bedroom and Master Bath while she is gone.  She is ensconced in the Guest Room.  Our House can wait as this needs to be done.

I did manage to get a hold of Sluggy and She is on the mend, but it will take time.  She sounded good though and there was a lilt in Her voice I have not heard in quite some time.

Taking Kim to have the oil changed in Her Car at noon and I will run a couple of errands and then back to Kim's to sew seven pair of pants and get the shop organized again for what really needs to be done before she leaves and what she will start when she comes back.  I plan on deep cleaning the her House as much as possible while she is gone.  We will also put Her bedroom and bathroom back together as much as possible.

Kim here, as you can see, I have my slaves busy doing my dirty work. It is wonderful.  I am feeling much better, just have to be careful.

Yesterday was mostly hand work trying to get these wedding dresses out and at 4:30 I told myself to stop.  I had done enough. It is so easy for me to overdue.  We are not sure what caused the terrible pain, but we have theories, one being the use of my neck during hand work. SO, I am keeping track of the hours.

Leaving Thursday for Jessies. Will be there 10 days. Just getting a change of scenery.  Although getting out of town is hard.  SO many dresses!!!! When I get back, I will have 8 dresses to get out for September.  Some of them are started or almost finished, but I will be busy.

I have three mother of the bride/bridesmaid dresses to do and a couple other things to knock out and then I can concentrate on packing and bills and all that it takes to get out of town. 

Okay off to set the world on fire!  Not really it is already too smoky here.

Kim

Tuesday, Holding my breath!

 I am sitting at the computer, (naturally as I am posting) and next to the keyboard is a list of all the money I owe Sissie for her work. She is so worth it!

I woke up with very little pain today and I am taking it slow.  I keep trying to feel for it.  It is not my friend.  But I have had it for so long I feel like something is missing. 

I have been using heat and ice alternating on the back of neck to help with the swelling and nerve pain. 

Kids are here today, and Kelsa is a kitten. You have to call her baby kitty, or she will not answer. Her imagination is so funny.

Three new bridals have come in the last 24 hours, and 2 are for early Sept.  I told them I am leaving the 15th of August, and they would not get their dresses until the first week in Sept. That is the way it is. 

Well, I am off to hem a couple of pairs of pants and then do one pile and I swear I will get a couple of wedding dresses started today!

Kim

Sissie, Is going to buy new needles she hates mine.

Monday, Trying to be chipper

 Tried to relax most of the weekend. Did play for choir on Sunday. Sissie and I did things at her house and still have a lot to do, but it is a little here a little there.

Still have pretty bad pain on the right side of my face.  Just keep taking meds. May have to go on a series of steroids which I dread, but this is going on too long.

I have 4 wedding dresses that I want to get out this week and many piles.  So, it is piles today and one dress. I really just want to go to bed so badly.  Slept terrible last night.  Mostly bad night sweats and pain.

Sjogren's flair is not for the faint hearted let me tell you. 

Anyway, I am going to work through this, onward and upward my friends.

Kim

Sissie here...Kim is still not good, but she is persevering, and I am making her rest as much as possible. I must get to the second machine, and I am dragging my feet because of sewing insecurity and this too shall pass.

I tend to spray when I am avoiding things that scare me, so I am now going to swap the laundry...?Okay that is done and now I have set up machine and am waiting for Kim to finish a phone call to get me started........

I did it!  I was able to get about 10 pairs of pants done.  Very proud to me.  Applause please. Now Kim does not have to squeeze these into her schedule!!!!

Kay

Thursday, My life for a decent iron!

 So read and follow, need some more weirder in my life. Because Sluggy is not weird, nor is Anne.... well maybe a rethink?

Still in pain , still taking drugs like candy, like candy better.  I have one set of dress blues to get done today and then I am done until next Monday. 

Sissie is still in search of a decent iron.  She just ran to the quilt shop. I hope she finds one. An iron is the most important tool other than your sewing machine and they just do not make an iron that holds up. Many people just don't iron any more.  And people think I am weird?

I cannot believe it is the first of August. Where has my summer gone? I wish I could get out more, like in the sunshine.  I am going to concentrate on that some.

Well, this uniform is staring at me in a mean way do I had better get it done and over with.

Kim