Friday, October 22, 2021

My W's This Week

   

      Rainy earlier in week and a bit frosty this morning and a mix of all seasons for the weekend. That's my weather report to start my weekly wrap up of W's. It's a good weekend ahead for some outdoor time, and hunkering down to continue with my purging and organizing projects. I say it plural as each room and space is a beast of its own. I'd like to hear from all of you so play along if you'd like. 

What's top of mind:  As I said, the house is still on my mind but slowly things are shaping up. It's always worse at first with pulling things out from where they've been hid. I  didn't get nearly as much done before today as hoped, but I'm farther than had if I had not started. I'll try to keep that attitude. Really though, top of mind is the college kid. My kiddo is expected home about 6:00. She'll have someplace to crash for the week so that's something. She already told me she has some sort of school project to complete, likely see her friends both weekends, and we'll both provide a little TLC to her sister. Mostly, it's going to be a true relaxing week-a break from her 17 credits, two choirs, and three part time jobs! I'm very proud of hard she works. 

Where I've been: Last weekend I hunkered down other than the movie theater with DH. I didn't go to a single store, restaurant, anywhere. DH had suggested dinner out both Friday and Saturday, but  I was both gross and tired from what I had done so far, so we stayed home. I also was not feeling more restaurant meals. 

Where I'm going: 
 I'm working on and off day today so I'll run to get a few groceries. She's requested curry and while I'm getting all the vegetables prepped for that, I'll make a sort of pot pie for DH who doesn't like the curry flavors, but everything else he does. Like my work day, my week is going to be a mix of vacation and work time, plus some scheduled sick time for DD1. I'm fortunate we can use time for our immediate family-through parent in-laws and grandparents. I'll need to check if siblings are included, as in the future, I can see that being a need. At some point in the week, as she feels up to it, I'd like to go visit my cousin and bring her some treats. 

What I'm reading: After finishing Where the Crawdad Sings, I'm on a massive wait list for the next book, The Firekeepers Daughter. I could get the CD version, but not sure we even have a working CD player anymore! When purging, I pulled out m three volumes of  The Tightwad Gazette books for a bit of a poke through, but not really reading them. My youngest has an incredible book collection and I'm hoping she both culls some, but minimally , organizes them onto her books shelf rather than the stacks everywhere. It's hard to convince book people that they do not need to own all the books. For her, her job in the library is a gift. Being surrounded by books is to her, like being surrounded with a warm blanket on a cold day. The sight and smell of the volumes on the shelves relax and calm her, soaking up part of her stress. 

What I'm listening to: I still have not found my pod cast library that I saved, but on one of my down days, hope to try and recreate it. I've listened to a few conference key note speakers-pretty much all conferences are still virtual, so most are recording portions. The other day it was the speaker from a  Pre-Natal to Age Three symposium that I streamed while doing some Excel spread sheet work. 

What I've been watching: I've put a bit of a pause on the Finish show-it was getting too depressing and haven't picked up Finding Alice again yet. I broke the last Harry Potter movie down into chunks on the weekend and watched that, but otherwise, I've only watched a bit of sports, a bit of the news, and parts of  Wheel of Fortune. Oh, and while I was doing some kitchen purging, I had YouTube on in the background-so that should have been in the listening section.

What I'm eating: Do I dare go here again? Well, no new challenge this week after Sunday's chili and grilled cheese. We had  Brats, sauerkraut, and homemade air fryer French Fries one night, and leftovers last night.  I made a tasty cashew chicken stir fry made with, as Kim calls them, one ingredient foods, though I guess soy sauce, sesame oil, and the little packets of chili sauce used to bring out a bit more flavor probably are more. DH loved it. I had  a big tub of cashews from summer, and threw a cup in with the chicken as an after thought, but that was DH's favorite part. Admittedly, I cheated by using a frozen  steamer bag of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. The chili sauce was left from frozen egg rolls or a past take out-not sure which. If the chicken had been what I normally spend on boneless, skinless chicken, this might have been a $3 meal, without the flaws. I am so pleased we bought the huge basmati rice bag-I like it so much more than just long grain white rice. I made extra so I could use with a chick pea masala for lunch over a couple of days. 

Who I'm paying attention to: Some local Facebook moderators put a pause on allowing any candidate campaigning on the local community page. Thank goodness as it was getting a bit nasty for the school board race. You all don't live in my community I'm assuming, so I'll spare too many details, but clearly three candidates and their fans have no real understanding about how a school system is required to work, where a school board has oversight and where they do not, and the mechanisms for making decisions and creating change within the parameters of authority. They seem to just think they can come in and radically make change happen because "it's not working now." They cherry pick phrases from the national  conversation, but have nothing in their platform of substance, and answer questions with, 'the school board needs new thoughts and perspectives." Do they share those thoughts and perspectives? Not that I've seen. The statement all politics are local is true, starting with school boards. Whether you have kids in school or not, pay attention. Schools are a reflection of communities.

Who needs to be (figuratively) slapped: People who have barking dogs, which happens, but instead of coming to get them to calm them down, or take them back inside, they stand and scream at the dogs! I'd rather hear the dog bark than their yell. We've got  neighbors, nice family, but have two big  lab mixes that go bananas when they see another dog when they are outside. They have the invisible fencing so they do not run off. Well, they back up to the park as well, so of course, the dogs are going to see a lot of other dogs when they are outside. Twice this week, S just stood on their back deck and called, more  yelled, for them for  the entire time it took me to walk through the park and back out to the road with pup. There's another neighbor I hear every morning scream "shut up". Maybe they're not the owner and it is another  neighbor. 

What's Making Me Smile:  You all make me smile again. Next time I have a visceral comment, I'll just leave it alone and ignore, but I appreciate the positive words from so many of you. The experience, pun intended, did give me food for thought! 

     I've got DD2's bedding in the wash now. I hope it stays dry and can put it out on the line for the bulk of the day, though might have to finish in the dryer.  She can decide if she wants to stay in the extra room or her room. It would be easier in the extra room if we want to keep working on getting her room purged, but she likes her soft comfy bed. That's what I have this Friday, just one more before October closes. 

27 comments:

  1. I can relate to the barking dogs, though thankfully not the screaming at them part. Probably because the humans aren't home to scream at them, LOL.

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    1. The barking is not nearly as annoying as the yelling humans.

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  2. I have The Tightwad Gazette too and it's almost quaint. It's based in the US so so much of it is not relevant to me, and of course, it's so dated, but she definitely have the right idea didn't she! And chicken and cashew nuts - mmmmm - one of my favourite meals!

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    1. I pick it up for nostalgia, when I found out about them when my older kids were very young. I think her youngest are my older daughters age. It made me feel all my budgeting and trying to live below our means was valid.

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  3. I agree, basmati rice is the best. It is definitely my go to rice. It's hard to believe we are almost into November.

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    1. It's often not in our local store or Aldi so I'd buy at Trader Joe's. I like having the big supply. October is flying.

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  4. Hi Sam, You are right that book people need to be surrounded by books, books that are actually meant to be read, and not all filed backward or spray-painted a uniform color. Of course there are always a few books that we bookworms can purge, but I often re-read and refer back to most of my books.
    --Jim

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    1. Books as decor is a pet peeve. Sure, arrange them nicely, but their meant to be consumed not merely looked at.

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  5. I like the basmati rice too...barking dogs not as much. LOL I hope you enjoy the time with your kiddo.

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    1. A whole week to dote on my kids. Barking dogs are preferred to their owners yelling.

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  6. We like the basmati rice also but just tried jasmine rice and like it even more. I made stir fry a couple of weeks ago and used the jasmine rice and my husband loved it. I told him I still had some brown rice but couldn't find it and that was why I used the jasmine. Later, I made a broccoli and beef stir fry and used the brown rice that I finally found and boy, was he bummed out. Thankfully, that was the end of it and now we only have the jasmine. It's particularly nice is you need a stickier rice and makes great fried rice also. Hope to make curry this weekend. It is so good especially now that the temps are dropping. The curry I make is a sweet one but spicy. Good to hear you are still working away with the declutter/purge. I'm cheering you on up here because I know how challenging it can be. Have a great weekend. Ranee

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    1. Keep cheering as I need it! I've never had jasmine rice that I'm aware. I'm sure it would be delicious. We do love fried rice so good to know it works well.

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  7. I love this so much I did a post. It really made me think today instead of just grumble and complain
    https://chefowings.blogspot.com/2021/10/samcoffee-money-thyme.html

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    1. Your post was so full! I am in awe of how much you get done each day.

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  8. SO nice to have the baby home. I loved it when my girls came home so much. Cute pun. By the way frozen veggies are one ingredient usually.

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    1. I am happy- knowing how quickly time will go I want to enjoy her time here. We use frozen veg a lot but not the ones in sauce or butter.

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  9. Hope tge weather stayed fine long enough to get your laundry dry. Enjoy having DD2 home, and have a good weekend xx

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    1. The blankets needed help but though cool, it stayed dry. No wind so that was not helpful. Things we're nice and fresh for making the bed.

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  10. I had a busy day off, cleaning, laundry, cooking and running errands. After I dropped daughter off at work (yes, at Spirit Halloween. This is her second year working there and she loves it!) I popped in goodwill. Found three nice shirts for me and Nike Pro and Pink leggings for her. $10 at goodwill versus $100 retail? Total score! Stopped in Aldi for coffee and chicken, the liquor store next door, Walmart for two gifts for my son, kohls to pickup a pair of jeans, back over to Spirit to see DD on her break, then home to watch the first new Hallmark Christmas movie of the season. Fortunately all the stores are right next to each other so I was able to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Enjoy your weekend with your family! JoAnn

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    1. We'll be out and about today so will look to see if our Halloween store popped up. It was in the old grocery store, that became a Big Lots, then became a Goodwill, then empty- all in 25 years! It's a part of town that's been a retail ghost town since the grocery store moved to newer strip mall area. You sure accomplished a lot in a short time.

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  11. Barking dogs are up there with leaf-blowers for me. Use a rake! It's not that hard, and that's not that big of a job that you need to stand around making all that racket.

    Don't let the comments get to you, Sam. F**k 'em. It's your blog - you do not need to defend anything. Delete the comment and let it go. Most people are good (I think this on good days).

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  12. I do have to own all the books! The touch, the smell, the aura, the words within are like medicine for the soul. I would have loved to work in a library but I had a bad experience.

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    1. You had a bad experience in a library? That's hard. She loves her library job.

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  13. I am with you on the purging and I know it will get easier but right now all the donations are just in a huge pile which is making me crazy!
    I do hope you have not given up on challenges. I love hearing about them, then considering to do one myself.

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    1. I'll just try different challenges. It's funny though, that so much food like I bought for the challenge is regularly sold by truckloads, yet so many people claim they always cook from scratch. Maybe I just hear from so many that truly do. They better not watch YouTube mom's as they'd have to get their fingers primed for comment attack position. Cream of soups, sauce packets, and cans are flying into those crockpots. I kept at purging all week, and more bigger things this weekend.

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  14. You sound very busy lately. Enjoy the weekend with your family and relax a little bit!

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    1. I do have a lot of time on my hands so should be more productive than I am.

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