Preparing for a White Weekend

Sunday was just a glimpse of snow. The warm temperatures later in the day and Monday left just little traces here and there. Tuesday though, the cold came in and even pup, who loves it outside, did his business then wanted back in. It's the wind he doesn't appreciate blowing on his bits when he lifts his leg. Poor little fluff ball. We had blizzards in the far northeast corner of our state, Canada and northern North Dakota border. We held a state wide meeting on Wednesday and one of our colleagues was participating on-line/phone and mentioned she couldn't see anything out her windows but white. We are expecting 4-6 inches between Saturday late afternoon and Sunday morning. We had fluffy flakes yesterday, but they just seemed to blow around like flakes in a snow globe, nothing accumulating.

No furniture delivery as one of the three parts of the sectional still has not arrived at the warehouse. I'm really annoyed, disappointed, and frustrated that  it has been nearly nine weeks since we ordered, and still no delivery date confirmed as they won't until the final piece gets in and they won't commit to a date for that. I'll go ahead and get the living room tree set up, the stockings, a few other things, but won't do the village as that is where the risk of breakage would come when the furniture gets delivered. I probably won't bother now as it takes so much time, for so few weeks.  We'll see. 

I'll make a run tomorrow morning for the odds and ends for my Christmas baking and settle in for the weekend. Here's my baking-preparing list. I need it to stay cold now as I use my porch as an extra freezer. I have decided for my immediate work team to put together small boxes, Chinese food container like, of sweets and treats. I have the boxes and that will just be seven. Once I've cleaned up up my kitchen, I'll post my versions recipe of each of the treats, indicating which are (or can easily be) vegetarian, gluten free, or vegan.

• Mounds bar truffles
• Oreo Truffles
• Nutter butter truffles
• Caramel corn
• Chex mix (always different as I wait to see what things are on sale to include)
• Pumkin bread 
• M&M cookies (DD will make these) 
• Peanut blossoms

I have a change of plans tonight. My brother in law won tickets to see White Christmas at St Paul's Ordway. My sister was surprised he actually wanted to go. I got a call yesterday from my sister. He decided she might enjoy it more with a daughter, friend, or sister. Her single daughter had no interest, her other daughter had no babysitter, and she knew I would enjoy so I'm the lucky guest. She would have brought DD with her, my little musical lover if DH had not been willing to forgo wine club tonight. He really does wine club for my benefit any way. I borrowed a photo from the Ordway site to show how spectacular the venue is at night in December.

Not Quite On My Original December Weekend

Nope, Christmas decorations are still not up, just the wreath ordered from my boyscout nephews. I had planned on cleaning yesterday, then hauling things in, and getting most done, finishing today. Then I saw an ad about workers coming into a home, knocking a Christmas tree over, shooting it through a window, breaking class balls, and dad stepping on one, then a rush to the emergency room. While highly dramatized, I decided to wait until my new sectional comes next week, the furniture we kept is moved back to its rightful place, and I've done another purge and made better room. I'll still have the house decorated for at least two weeks before Christmas, and am satisfied with that.

Instead, my Sunday was spent cleaning out the refrigerator and doing some creative cooking with the remnants in there and the freezer. A white sauce pizza with mozzarella, sausage, onions, and olives, is ready for tomorrow night and a broccoli-Alfredo chicken hot dish not made last week was gobbled today, with leftovers for lunch. I used the last of a container of  plain yogurt for the pizza crust. DH and I made a trip to the store for fresh fruit and vegetables, milk bread, and assorted baking items that are at rock bottom prices. I cleaned out our entry closet, washing coats, setting aside ones for the dry cleaner, to donate, and to throw. I had intentions of making a double batch of mini banana bread, but ran out of steam. I'll do so tomorrow night. I organized where I am at for gift giving, totally on budget, and have some pretty good gifts.  And, I had my first walk in the snow. Not much, just a few inches and it is quite warm, hovering around 34 F and sunny, so much is already melting. We are due more later in the week. Pup was very interested in the new ground cover.

 DD had a Drivers Ed lesson today, which included freeway driving. Her instructor is a youngish retired phys-ed, (formerly mine) basketball coach, and later assistant principal. She is an icon for women's sports in Minnesota and just named to the Minnesota Hall of Fame. DD didn't know she was being taught by a legend, and the lessons went well. She has completed everything she needs to take her test when she turns 16, well besides more practice. 

Below is my make shift recipe for pizza crust. I always pre-bake the crust for 10 minutes before topping it to make sure there are not raw spots. 

Pizza Crust (with clean out the fridge toppings)
1 cup plain yogurt (about what was left in container)
1 Cup plus more worked in later of self rising four
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp garlic powder (probably more with sprinkles)
1tsp Italian seasoning (again probably more)

Mix together, drizzle in olive oil and knead into a ball. Leave in a bowl, covered, and let rise/set. It doesn't really rise, but it gets more settled for rolling out. Roll out as thin as you like on a greased cookie sheet or pizza pan, then make dimples with the end of a spoon. Pour a little more olive oil (1 tsp worth) and spread over the crust. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes, then top as you like.  I used about 1/2 cup of reserved Alfredo sauce, half a  remaining onion, some chopped green olives lingering in the fridge, a  half of a $1.00 box of precooked sausages (left from breakfast burritos), and 4 ounces of mozzarella cheese. Baked that again for about 15 minutes. 

The hot dish was 8 ounces of cooked penne pasta, 1 1/2 cups cooked diced chicken,10 ounces jarred Alfredo sauce, 3/4 cup milk (shaken in the jar to get rest of sauce with 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp Italian season, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper), and 8 ounces frozen chopped broccoli. This was mixed and baked in a sprayed casserole dish, at 325 for 50 minutes. 

I don't live an exciting life, but this was a good weekend, and one that suited me. I'm getting stronger, walking longer, and  am feeling well. I'll end tonight addressing cards with something on the computer to listen/watch. I am anticipating a pressure cooker at work this week, so starting with calm is required, Enjoy your week. 

Stretching to November

DH and I ran over to Cobornes Thursday night and stocked up on more of the good deals. I caved and bought some convenience foods, namely the Knorr rice sides because they were 10 for $9.00, and with that you got a free 2.5 pound bag of frozen chicken breasts. I'm not a fan of the sodium, but if served with a lean meat and vegetables, the overall meal is healthy. DD loves them, and we like to use the Spanish rice for taco and fajitas. We are right around $250 for October in the grocery department, and this inlcudes DH's ice cream and chip run. I refuse to count the massive bag of bite sized chocolate he bought though. Big deals were another six Kraft cheeses, another three boxes of cereal, canned tomatoes and chili beans, and we grabbed four more cans of tuna, as low as we see it go. We picked up Yoplait's for just $0.29, limit of 12. These will be eaten for breakfasts and lunches well before the end of the month. I almost feel like I should get more as I take yogurt just about every day for my lunch. 

We will need fresh fruit, bread, eggs, perhaps milk, and meat of some sort to round out meals for the month, but I know I will keep under $300, by shear will power. We should be positioned well to keep November in check, as several items will not be used before month end, plus the pantry was pretty full before this shop. This is good as I'll need extra funds, unless I can be very planful, for my contributions to Thanksgiving dinner. I need to think through some meal planning. Last night was hamburgers and sweet potato wedges, tonight will be a tuna hot dish with corn, sandwiches for lunch, and Sunday I'll do brunch with pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs and fruit. Sunday supper will probably be Italian herb crusted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, squash, and salad. My big baking day yesterday resulted in three dozen chocolate chip cookies, four mini loaves of pumpkin bread, and a small apple crisp, which I'll serve when the mother in law is over for dinner. I popped it in the freezer and on Sunday will thaw and reheat so it will taste fresh baked. I alos froze two of the bread and half the cookies.

I'm trying to stretch the household, health and beauty budget out to November as well.  My big Target shop labor day weekend is still keeping us in paper supplies, shampoo, and deodorant.The one area might be dish washing liquid that may need some dollars. I like being stocked, but I haven't gone overboard to the point that things are cluttered and I don't know what I have. That is a good feeling, and more like how I used to manage my household when I had no choice but to be orderly with teenagers and a toddler. 

This weekend has been just what I needed. Nothing exciting, but I am enjoying being home wwith no agenda. I took pup for a long walk this morning and he is a bit spent now. We'll go for another long one before dinner tonight. We may be meeting friends for a drink tonight-depends on DH when he gets home. DD1 is going with friends to a haunted hay ride at the garden center up the highway, and the timing would work well for  us to have a little meet up between dropping her off and picking her up. I'm in a borrowed car still, but my  new phone came and I am back in modern times. I have another purged box and bag of clothes, but think I will stop on route home Monday rather than run a special errand.A friend who's parents still live in town is stopping by to pick up DS's college graduation robe, which I have no idea why we still have it. Her kids high school is putting on Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, like DD2 was in last spring, and she is on props and costumes and needs this for the Preachers robe. She's also borrowing a lot of things our school used and the back drop. I think it is next weekend; I might have to cross the state lines and go see it! 


This has been a post pretty much about nothing, so if you are still reading, thank you kindly. Sometimes downshifting everything, including the clock and calendar is needed more than a life of excitement. What can be better though than a weekend of good fresh air, home baked goods and cooking, drinks with family and friends, and a little blogging to friends? Enjoy what's left of your weekend, and comment below how you spent yours. 

October has Five Weekends!

A friendly black cat to usher in October.

The ratio to work week to weekends tips in the balance of weekends. My week days these days are very much out of my control. Work is work, and still a member on my team and a major launch be the end of the year will just mean heads down and keeping at the grind stone. Evenings will continue to be car pooling DD, a few parent meetings,Wednesday night volleyball, and basic housekeeping, bill paying, errands and laundry, so I intend to not add any more commitments at night and reclaim any spare hours for myself. The weekends though have untapped opportunity for a mix of fun and continued work on the house and purging. I've read that many frugal blogger use October as a spending fast. I see why the month is a good one to try and reign in finances. It gives opportunity to save for Christmas, if part of your spending, gearing up for increased utility bills, and replenishing funds that might have been used on summer vacations. While I am not doing a fast, I am still focused on those end of the year savings goals, so can do a spending cleanse if not an all out fast.

This weekend aside, October weekends can be planned that support my spending cleanse. I bought gifts for a baby shower and housewarming earlier in the week, so technically won't be spending today, though the events are today. We are going to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival tomorrow, and that while planned, is going to be the bulk of our entertainment budget for the month (and maybe Novembers as well). Here's what's already on our calendar for October. I've added the $ symbol, up to three, for where the experience falls in the scheme of spending.No symbol, the experience didn't cost anything (not counting if we brought a gift) $-minimal up to $10, $$- up to $50, and $$$ for greater than $50. I look forward to adding things like soup potlucks, bonfires, football gatherings, card and game nights, and a few movie nights at home. No extra meals out and no movie theater movies and looking to spend plenty of time outdoors.

October 1 &2- Baby shower, housewarming, Renaissance Festival ($$$ and probably need two more $ signs) More Purging

October 7, 8 & 9- Movie premier with DD1 (on a film she worked on), fall drive with packed picnic lunch and apple picking (putting at $$ but could just count in the grocery budget because we'll bring home at least a peck of apples and won't then buy them in the store. Putting in grocery though would counter my theory yesterday that apple picking is more the activity, and the apples become free food-semantics.) DD1 returning with more of her stuff, or purging more of her stuff.

October 14,15, &16- Wine club river cruise/wine tasting ($ for tips and perhaps a pop between wines),MN Bloggers Conference and after party (paid for months ago), Meat Raffle fundraiser (working it but $ for a couple happy hour priced beers for both DH and I) More Purging

October 21, 22, 23-Calendar is wide open at this point. More Purging

October 28, 28, 30-Calendar is wide open at this point. More Purging

I love the look of nothing on two whole weekends. While I know it is unlikely the calendar will remain empty, it is nice to see a blank canvas. This only applies to DH and I, the third off spring no doubt will have comings and goings so we'll have drop off an pick-ups. Today looks to be gorgeous. We are home until 1:30. so will putter around accomplishing things not done yesterday, and will fill another donation bag and box. the decluttering is an empowering feeling.  

 

Sunday for the Books

I hope you all had a great weekend. We did end up at the lake, got there mid morning, and had a couple circles around the lake in the pontoon while DH took pictures of the cabin that will be coming down next week. The kids all want nice prints of the cabin.  Before we went out, he walked around and took pictures of each side.His parents built it when he was about three years old, so 50+ years of memories will be coming down, but a new place to build new ones. DD2 "swam the lake", the annual tradition.  I guess a bunch of others did 4th of July weekend, but we had left early to go to a party. I didn't do the whole lake, but jumped in on the other side and swam back with her. What a work out. With the 90+ temps the last week, the water was perfect. 

After the swim, we were pretty hungry. With my cooking and baking day, I was ready for an easy lunch. DH grilled some hotdogs and we had a tuna macaroni salad, cucumber salad, ranch tortilla chips, and oatmeal cookies as well.  I cleaned up lunch and we all relaxed a bit reading. We were the only ones there at both cabins, so it was so peaceful. We decided to take one more good long swim before heading back. Our niece and boyfriend came about that time, beer in hand, having the same idea that it would be a calm and relaxing spot. She swam with DD and I for a while, until we said our goodbyes and left them to enjoy the rest of the afternoon to themselves. 

Back in town DD wanted to have another go at driving so she chauffeured me for a change. a stop a the dollar store for a couple greeting cards, paper towels, more hair bands (DD and I both go through these in volumes), and zip lock  gallon size bags for my coworker for her swiss chard and kale picking. She drove us to Target to take a look to see if they were starting to clearance out any swim suits; they're not, and I took a look at the cameras.  The one I had my eye on at $149 was back to $299.  I wonder if perhaps n line it might be lower? We left buying nothing.  Let me repeat that. We left Target, the store I  refer to as the $100 Dollar Store, not buying a thing. 

Some more driving and we ended up downtown by the river, and had a nice stroll, counting the number of people playing Pokeman Go.  We don't need to play it as we are more amused seeing others wander in small packs or individuals capturing characters on a screen. Hey, folks are out walking at least. DH is watching t.v., DD is on the porch in her favorite spot reading again, and I've got a load of laundry going, and will start the dishwasher before going to bed. Money tiff aside, it was a good weekend. If you're a blogger, I hope to catch up with you on yours. If not, drop me a comment and share your best weekend happenings. Summer is half over-live it up I say.

Life and Traffic

This was my commute yesterday.

It felt like this.

On good days, this is the traffic flow. There is nothing more exciting to a road warrior commuter than the color green.

It is Friday and summer in Minnesota. The morning commute will be-should be fairly good because of all the three day weekenders that are part of the Minnesota mix each Friday. The commute home on the other hand, will probably still be a mess as these same people, or the ones that didn't take the day off, head North, South, East, and West towards cabins and resorts, and boat launches. Road construction is particularly awful this year, with many major highways and freeways with one or more lanes shut down. I won't be part of that today. I am working remotely from home. I'll blissfully put in my 8 working hours from the comfort of my home, and fit in a few loads of laundry, dinner prep, and perhaps a little baking. I'll wrap up sometime after 5:00, close the computer, and my commute will be done.

We avoid most of the cabin traffic as well.  We live close to our family lake place, just about an hour, and as it gets to be a long weekend for me, we usually just go up either Saturday night after DH is home, or early Sunday for the day. Occasionally we have a sticky traffic spot on Sunday night, but can by pass the interstate with a slightly longer, but more scenic route going through small towns.  When it is our week at the extra cabin, we'll spend more time, but then it is just my family and DH's mom.  I enjoy her company when it is not so overwhelming with the extended family.  

This weekend is our towns annual summer celebration days. I only partake in small doses, so will perhaps go listen to the live music and eat some treats while DD#2 and friends wander the carnival tonight.  There will be a huge craft show, which I like to attend for ideas and browsing, and more treats, but no buying as we are trying to declutter-not add more kitsch. I'll do that tomorrow morning.  There is an Amish family that sets up a huge over a fire kettle to make truly delicious kettle corn each year at the craft fair. It is a once a year treat for me. I only like their kettle corn. We may or may not do the fireworks Saturday night, though there is a good walking path over the Mississippi bridge and I think I would enjoy an evening walk with fireworks overhead.  Pup would need to stay behind-the 4th of July was too much for his ears. Traffic though will be a stop in at our small town and getting from point A to B will be a challenge.  I like that I don't have to go anywhere if I don't want to, but the options are there should we choose.  Traffic, an inevitable part of my life.  What's up this weekend in your part of the world?

Random Musings and Weekend Preview

I'm putting in a quick couple hours in the office, and then high tailing it to Terminal 1 for a 12:01 flight.  I really hate Terminal 1 at the Minneapolis St Paul airport for business travel, but it came with the cheap round trip ticket.  Parking is more complex and pricey, security takes longer, and the gates are spread out, so leaving enough time to overcome any bottle necks is critical.  I have my Nook well charged and loaded with a few new free download books, and a boatload of printed read ahead items for my meetings.  Connecting flights through Milwaukee and home through Chicago, also came with the ticket, so I will spend an estimated 20 hours of travel time, round trip, for a cumulative 20 hours of meetings. I usually try not to do the math.  I'll get some good people watching done, particularly Saturday night back through Chicago.  Did I ever mention how glam the non profit life is?


I had to coordinate car pooling for DD#2 for Saturday's basketball tournament since DH will be working and I'll be out of town.  While I am always more than happy to drive another child with us, and assume other parents feel the same, I'm never really  at ease sending my kid for a day with another family, particularly out of town for sports.  I know that is very narrow thinking of me, and helicopter parentesque.  I find I have first child anxiety again with her.  Ironically, I had very few qualms leaving her in the care of her older sister two years ago when DH and I were on a week long cruise for our 25th anniversary. 


This Sunday is the television event of the year in the US-the Super Bowl.  My team, through good or mostly bad, the Minnesota Vikings, have not been in a Super Bowl since 1977.  I was 11 years old, and still had dreams at that time that I could grow up to be the first woman in the NFL.  Never mind  that I couldn't throw a spiral, or kick a ball with any great distance. I was never a cheer leader type of gal; I wanted to be on the field.  Now the Super Bowl is so little about the game itself but the spectacle of the game surroundings, the half time show, and the bragging rights for the best tv commercial.  My biggest triumph will be if I can get to the grocery store on Sunday, and then have time to make appetizers and snacks to bring to my sister's Super Bowl Party after travelling most of the night before into the early morning hours from Washington.   Frozen Trader Joe spinach artichoke dip may have to do.


Thanks for letting me indulge in a few random thoughts. I hope those of you hammered with snow are getting back to normal.  I'm still waiting for a snowy forecast.