Saturday Schmatterings-Weekend Free

3 little mums to replace the dead trio. (I need to weed-again)

      

     Good morning. Today may be a perfect fall day if the weather gnomes are right-65 degrees and full on sun. I have nothing official on the calendar today or tomorrow so I guess a free to me weekend. I hope to actually accomplish something over the next two days. I just mixed up the PB Oatmeal Chocolate chip cookies that went over a treat last spring. The dough is chilling as I think cookies bake better with cold dough. I used flax seed egg and dairy free butter so my daughter  will eat them, and I intend to bake just enough for now, and freeze the rest in little scoops ready to take out over the next few weeks a little at a time. She has friends staying this weekend, heading to the Renaissance Festival today, but I think I'll drop off a dozen for them to have tonight. Shh-I have a key.

     I was planning on gong to one nephews football game but that got cancelled, but his younger brother has one as well. I'll go to that early this afternoon and make a stop at a Target just for looking around. I need nothing and do not plan to add more fall stuff, but I just like to see how thing are organized. Is it just me though, has Target gotten to be a bit on the higher price side for their odds and ends in homeware? I think I've seen sale prices at Macy's that are comparable, or even less. Still, I drive by at least three where his game is and it would be inconsiderate to not make a stop. I haven't been in one since August 19th, when we stopped to restock underwear and socks for the college kid. When I was working in my office, I was in Target at least once a week, even if only to pick up a snack, or a good wander for a stretch break. We are looking to buy a new set of flatware, so I can compare prices so a legitimate reason to stop. I'll also take a peek at what they have for tall and narrow bathroom cupboards. 

     One reason for going to my nephews game is to help my mood. At times I feel disconnected and isolated mentally beyond my immediate family. DH's family has their own little clique within  the extended unit, and I'm on the outside most of the time. I'm trying to stay engaged with others as that does help this feeling  fade. I'm excited to start up the book club meetings again for the same reason. I had two meet ups with friends that first week after  my kid moved back to college, and since then other than the Trivia peeps, I've not seen friends. Boo hoo-yeah, I know others have been much more isolated than I have.

     I got my groceries for the rest of September. You all know I like a good challenge. Well, after deciding to be honest to myself and  include all of DH's side shops and take and bake pizza, I had $48 left in my monthly budget to meet my under $300 target for the month. Some of you commented that my challenge was incredibly easy, you regularly feed yourself and one other for $50 a week. Others thought it was possible if I had a good stock pile. Well, I was somewhat in between. We definitely had food stores, but  not a good stock pile after the college kid helped herself to my pantry. I could easily make meals that would nourish us, but not necessarily what we wanted more. I wanted to split the difference-still have favorite foods some times, but also embrace humble eating. Long story short, my receipt yesterday after thinking through what we needed, and items that needed replacing, I spent $47.97! October is positioned to just be a regular month-not a splurge, but not a challenge. I did not do any meal challenges beyond the Dollar Tree $5 challenge in September. I still think it would be fund to shop with $9 cash, and then make three distinct meals. 

     I had a bunch of coupons for health and beauty items we normally buy so went over budget in the household, and H&B, technically, but I am stocked up on shampoo and conditioner, and two rounds of coloring my hair likely through the end of the year. This was also the month I had to stock up food for pup, so next month we will not need his massive bag of dry food, just the canned stuffed we give him on top of the dry. This was not a Sluggy worthy shop, but I did save $12.50 from the pre-coupon tally of $47. So my October challenge is to combine with September and see if for both months I can be under $150 in that category. I need some challenge to keep me disciplined. 

     That is enough schmatterings for now. I've a load of  laundry to switch out and folding to do, then bake two dozen of the cookies. I bought three little mums I want to pop into either my hanging basket or another planter base, but I'll keep them in their little pots. Whatever you do and however you spend your Saturday, I hope it is a good one. 

Rain!

      

     Finally, we are getting a little dose of rain. This picture shows how crisp things are getting. I do water my flower pots-they’ve just dried so quickly. I moved them all so they can get the benefit of this morning free watering. 

     The backyard and old deck looks deceptively like an oasis of green. I hope the light rain lasts all morning and comes back tomorrow. I love a good rain shower anyway but this is a long overdue gift!

Saturday Schmatterings     

     I'm tacking on a Saturday Schmatterings mostly as a personal  To Do list. I've loads to get accomplished today, and feel invigorated with the morning rain. I reconfigured the dishwasher and that plus a load of bath towels are in the dryer and dish towels in the washer are running now. I've put of grocery shopping long enough, so after I tackle the refrigerator, I'm off to shop. Here's what I must get done today;

• Clean refrigerator
• Stop at Dollar Tree for birthday cards
• Stop at local grocery store for raspberry pie filling and  white chocolate chips (insurance as Aldi is spotty on some items)
• Grocery shopping at Aldi
• Put groceries away
• Bake Blueberry pie and Nothing Bundt CopyCat
• Clean Upstairs bathroom
• Fold and put away any laundry items
• Wrap birthday gifts
• Make bruschetta for ciabatta bread appetizers
• Make some sort of pasta salad for tomorrow-still deciding
• Do something with a large zucchini, grate or roast and 3 peppers

Added list-may or may not get done depending on how long I feel invigorated.

• Clean and purge the bakers rack in the kitchen
• Begin to tackle the gift wrap boxes/consolidate into one large bin repurposed from the office
• Get ahead on some blog posting

Easy peasy right? I hope your Saturday is as productive or more than I hope to be. 

Saturday Schmatterings

     I'm officially off work now until April 6th, but I just didn't get two  needed things done, so sometime this weekend or Monday I'll tackle. I had set aside two different two hour blocks, and both were  interrupted so much, I just couldn't get them finished. My daughter had texted earlier about doing a movie night, so I logged out at 5:30, made supper, and we  watched a silly movie, a bit older one, 17 Again with Matthew Perry and Zac Effron. Not in a million years would I want to go back and relive  my teen years. If there is any age range I would like, it would perhaps be my late 30's and early 40's. I had all my kids, and this would have been before my parents and FIL passed away. I'd perhaps do things different with how I spent time with them, let dumb things go. I might have made different choices with my career or in supporting my kids with things we know now. However, I tend to believe in the concept of the butterfly effect and how changes in one part of a life could ripple into others. I guess I'll just stay 55.  

      DD2 got a late start on the road, I knew she would, but made good time and was home about 9:00. She lugged a lot of things she wouldn't need again like ice skates, and her  records and turntable. She thinks the belt is broke as it is not working, so hoping we can get it repaired. This is the second one with the same problem. I know we just saw her on her long winter break and three weeks of on-line, but she seemed quite a bit different-more mature. Well, she did leave her teen years without us. We all talked a bit before my older daughter went home. They have plans together tonight. I stayed up another hour or so with her, but my body is used to being asleep by 10:30 these days. Pup spent the night in her room-he wandered out this morning, then after I took him out, he ran back up to her room again. He was very leery about her stuff-all of which, dirty laundry and all, is in the entryway still. 

     Plans today are no plans! She'll run over and see her grandma, who is leaving with my BIL/SIL and family tomorrow through Easter. It seems like it will be a nice day, and if I feel up to stores, I need to get a few bigger house plant pots and repot several. Do you remember the Aloe Vera plant she brought home, I think perhaps last spring break? It was planted in a little China sugar bowl but has grown outward. It must be doing well as there are these little shoots of new growth. 

     Then there is this monstrosity that looks like mold has taken over in the dirt. Yuck!  The last is this Spider Plant, I think it might be. You all know I know nothing about plants-I just like the green in my house. When I get new pots, I'd like to fill the old with a few new plants so may look for them as well. Other than  normal  Saturday stuff and repotting, I'll just do laundry with the kid, and we may get a bit of take out lunch and eat in a park or back home on the deck. 

     We got the word yesterday Minnesota is opening up all ages 16 and older, depending on the vaccine, beginning March 30th. I'm not understanding the logic when people ahead are still having a hard time finding the vaccines, but I think in parts of the state there is so much more capacity, either because of supply or demand being lower, getting more, any ages vaccinated, will help overall. Health clinics though are still supposed to be contacting and scheduling patients who are in higher risk and high demand vaccination centers may still have  priority eligibility only which is good. News to share-both DH and I got appointments for shot  1 next Saturday through our clinic. I read California will open up April 15 to all, and I figure I can help get my son scheduled as we are two hours ahead and I can jump on the vaccine spotter. It's looking better, and I feel more hopeful for my kids. I wish the same for you and your families. Enjoy your weekend.

Saturday Somethings

      I keep trying to remember this is a blip in time, and will be something  future generations will look back on as we do before polio vaccines, and the Flu epidemic after WWI. All kinds of living is still happening now, of course with bigger burdens for some more than others. I  know I whine more than I should as I am probably on the spectrum with minimum disruptions. Anne's Friday Joy posts prompted me to change up my Positively Tuesday to  a simple pleasure post. Babies have been born, people have met new friends, even if virtually (thank you blog world), there's been engagements, and weddings, and first home buying. 

     Even with trying to find the joy, and the simple pleasures, even those of us impacted the least have our off days. Anne mentioned one day, and this is a challenge for me a bit, she did not utter a single word to anyone for almost an entire day since her husband is working such long hours. A blessing, I'm sure, that they have income, but the long hours are not how any of us want to spend our days. I'm fortunate that I at least talk to people through the computer every day, but the scaled back hours DH had last spring to 6:00, then pushed to 7:00, and now he pretty much is rarely home before 8:00. Once home, he eats, watches a little TV, and I am already pretty beat so we don't interact that much.  We've tried to make Sunday a day together. If the weather is as nice as today, I think I'll make us up a packed lunch and head for a drive and a new to us park. Covid or no Covid, that sounds like a pretty decent spring Sunday. 

     We wait our turn for a vaccine. Every day he goes to work, I worry someone, even someone who has been cautious, might unknowingly spread Covid to him. I have flat out told him that when I find a vaccine slot, he must drop everything at work and take it! I'm happy every time I hear someone in my family and circle of friends either gets vaccinated or has family members that do, while admittedly, envious. Still, I have at least three full months of working from home, and with the nicer weather, more time to see people outside. In all honesty, crabby days aside, I think I did better over the winter than I really expected I would mentally. Maybe my jam packed work schedule helped that. I don't know if I had the same degree of cabin fever I normally have in January and February-even in the bitter cold stretch. 

     Today, I might be meeting up with a couple friends. They all still have kids at home so things come up. If not, I'm going to do a litter and a stick collection walk. I gathered few more sticks, and a part of a branch yesterday afternoon with pup. Yeah-just got text confirming at least one friend is free, so it is a go! There's a flower art display downtown and some live outdoor music until 6:00. We just made the plan to walk by the river, and then enjoy some music outside and maybe a coffee, wine or beer. Since we are meeting at 1:30, I better get some stuff done around here. Thanks for  hanging out with me this Saturday morning. 

Saturday Day in the Life Then and Today

      I probably shouldn't have done it as it serves no purpose but longing for before, but I took a look at my post from March 6, 2020, pre-Covid, at least in my everyday space. My younger daughter was still home for her spring break, only to end up going back for just a week. She came home for her cousins wedding on the 14th of March, I brought her back Sunday, and turned around and got her again on Tuesday. The plan was to be home for four weeks, but ended up being  the rest of the semester for on-line college. 

     I was struggling with sleep, and was waiting to be fitted for a mouth guard-of course that didn't happen, and now, I don't even know where I might be in line to get that referral picked back up. While I've had the odd night here and there of little sleep, melatonin, no caffeine after mid afternoon, and trying to  turn off devices before going to bed seems to help. 

     My older daughter had just started her home search, and now, the market is so tight she has nothing to look at. She knows a lot more now though, what she can really afford, not just in house but in  home ownership costs. She knows what she's willing to accept and what are deal breakers. She's been able to boost her savings in the last year so if she can stay in her price range, she will have more of a cushion after closing as any home owner knows, the unexpected can happen anytime, leaking bank accounts. 

     Pretty soon taking a look back at posts, the topics will be full on stay at home. I remember the sadness then, my daughter upset about her first year college experience being disrupted. It just seemed surreal-still does. I'm so glad she has been able to be on campus this year, even if the experience is different than it might otherwise have been-she's active, has her friends, and is still looking positively ahead. We've learned to adapt, are still adapting, and will for some time, or just evolve. It makes me wonder if/when we are faced with a public health crisis again, will there be automatic dial backs to limit social contact and masks will just be the norm? 

     I peeked at the Saturday post of that week as well-a post focused on my weight loss and increased physical activity goals spurred by the retirement of two colleagues-both 61, the age I hope to retire at. It is still a challenge, still a struggle. I did not lose 15% of my body weight by my 55th birthday. My readers will know I reset for 2021-I'm trying; a bit more exercise here, a little less food there, limiting those treats. The snow has melted on the roads so I can do long walks and maybe get Penny out-it's the walking paths that are treacherous with melting snow and refreeze. 

     For today, what's going on in  life? I just did my Friday W recap, but a few tad more bits.

• I splurged on four new sets of gray towels, and today will pitch for rags, or dog washing towels the worst offenders. While I'm at it, I'll sort out the shelf in the bathroom. 
• I've got a load of delicate sweaters, because yes, it will still be sweater weather here for a month or more
• General house cleaning as is my Saturday pattern
• I restocked my flour and if not today, tomorrow I am going to retry the French bread recipe
• A very stressful  situation at work, derailed my morning yesterday, and I need to invest a few hours today or tomorrow getting caught up. I am wondering how long my 10-12 hour days are manageable-I am mentally exhausted by the time I call it quits for the day. I know I pop in and out of blogger, but you all are the equivalent of the water cooler, hallway quick chats I would have in the office for the mental health breaks in a work day. 

     That's about it. I'm looking forward to dinner at my daughters. I'll add extra blocks to my walk with pup today as well, and tomorrow, getting out of the neighborhood. Easter is in five weeks and I'm going to look for signs of spring. Enjoy your Saturday. 

In anticipation of how muddy pup will get
this weekend on our  walks. He will likely
end up in the bathtub at some point.

 

Empty Nester Week

Wayfair.com

The alarm went off at 1:55, giving me about 10 minutes to get my bearings before really getting up to run DD2, her friend, and my friend (her friends mom) who is chaperoning, to the high school to meet the bus that was bringing them to the airport. DD2 had play practice after school and two different home work submissions that needed to be posted, one by 10:00 p.m. and one by midnight tonight. It was nearly 9:30 before we were home from a final Target run for sun screen, SD cards, and miscellaneous things she needed. One final small bit of laundry so she could bring the shirt and wear the jeans she was wearing, and she was fully packed, showered and in bed for at least a few hours of sleep. There is a Facebook page that will chronicle their trip, so I  may pop in from time to time and see how the fun of Costa Rica is coming along.  I noticed for a few past travel trips, the actual concerts were posted. That would be lovely to see and hear. DD didn't bring her phone-figured she couldn't really use it, but I got a text form her friend ( a different friend from the one picked up) when they were on the plane.

Wayfair.com

So what's a mom to do again, who has spent over 28 years parenting, with a week of non-parenting?  First, I drove myself home and went back to bed, not waking until nearly 9:00. I also woke with a headache, a side effect of getting broken up sleep. A few Tylenol and a cup of coffee later, and it is dulling. I'll putz around online her with Blogger for a bit, heat up leftover veggie Masala, DD2's parting dinner selection, and then dive into washing bedding.  It is ridiculously cold out, so I don't think I will line dry things-maybe if the sun comes out, but the crunchy, freeze dried effect is not relaxing bedding. Slowly but surely, I'll get the house semi to rights again this weekend, and keep it that way during the week.

I'll probably head to work early, and leave a little later most days, getting myself finally caught up. Friday is my day off, and I intend to fully take it, and giving myself a full day off before DD1 arrives for her friends shower weekend, and DD2 has to be picked up about 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning. I'm meeting my sister-in-law Wednesday for happy hour and to plan our nieces April 23rd shower details, sorting out food, games, and decorations. Really, life won't be much different than when DD is home, other than I'll not think about meals at all, livening off bits of leftovers, salads, and nibbles that will make up a meal. I'm planning to make a big meat lasagna tomorrow, one of DH's favorites, which will yield at least three meals for us. 

I sent DD2 with  my camera and a knock off Go Pro for under water snorkeling pictures and her zip line trip, so I borrowed some picks from Wayfair.com, (not that I've been taking so many myself anyway) so credit for images to them. I experienced this at year on her spring break trip, so another opportunity to ease into what empty nest life will be like in 2 1/2 years. I hope it is more interesting than what I have planned this week. What's up with your Saturday?

Saturday Smatterings

Not sure what all we have going on this weekend-lot's of things need to be done, but whether or not that will happen is a mystery to me. I'm feeling very lackadaisical this morning. The dishwasher did not get unloaded and loaded last night-yuck, and I am as guilty as DH and the kids, so tackled that right away. No clean undies in my drawer, so that was tackled next so I can take a shower in an hour and get on with things. DD#2 reports the last of the TP was being used in the downstairs bathroom. I'm getting more serious about the weight loss healthy eating and physical activity plan, but would like to track some progress and the scale's battery is dead. I'll head to the nearby hardware store for that trying not to venture out of my own neighborhood feels like too much effort, and hope they have toilet paper as well-and Diet Coke. There is none in the house, and I am feeling my withdrawal symptoms. If not, I'll run into the grocery store too, but nothing else as we have a full freezer after DD#2 made an Aldi's stop after her boxing class to contribute to the food stuff. Other things on my list:

1. Set up the soccer team contact list with updated e-mails and phone numbers (yep, team manager again this year)
2. Finish presentation for next week  (bringing home work this weekend, but had to be done, and I'll take comp time later) and finishing a budget project
3. Continue with laundry and really sort out my 5 Work Days, 5 Outfits project (though this week I am hoping to only be working four days as Friday is my day off) Pictures and post to blog and Twitter @samandcoffee65
4. Clean bathrooms-another Yuck!, but no one did even a quick clean this week.
5. Order desk and Billy bookcase from Ikea for DD#2's room. I haven't found anything second hand, and am giving up the ghost.  While we could pick up in Bloomington, but the thought of entering and navigating the maze on a January Saturday with no football game is anxiety inducing. Plus,we don't really have an appropriate vehicle, and I am just going to go the simple route this time. 
6. Procrastinate and spend too much time reading blogs, facebook, and Twitter.
7. Finish my short story for Write and Link at In the Writers Closet with Natalia.
8. Meet friends with DH for some live music and "pretty drink night" at one of our little pubs we like. 

It needs to be a low cost week for anything involving cash or check. We paid the last of DD#2's trip, took out a bit of pocket money for the week and for drinks, maybe an appy and tip jar for the musicians tonight, and that left the checking account lean until payday Friday. The next two Saturdays I am Show Choir Mom, so will be gone from sunrise to well past sunset, so today I really should aim for productive. Your turn.  What's on your Saturday calendar?

Photohome.bloguez.com

An Ordinary Saturday

I woke up this morning craving coffee...and leftover cheese curds. Coffee cup at my side, and cheese curds warmed and devoured, I'm popping in for a little post before planning and starting my ordinary day. Ordinary is good-too many people don't get to experience ordinary enough, or ever. Since my Waste Not post earlier in the week, we've still been living off what has been in the house. My resolve earlier in the month to limit my total eating out the month of September,  has been busted, however. This week alone I caved in and had Leeann Chin's for lunch on Thursday, and then last night, we ended up joining a few siblings for Friday night Fish. DD#1 unexpectedly dropped in on Thursday afternoon and just headed back this morning to work the weekend, and my brother is in town from Florida. Plus I lost track of time in the office and was late getting home, so when my sister's text came to join them, no second thought was needed. The cheese curds were leftovers from the girls meal. 

DH picked up tacos for him and DD#2 on Wednesday before picking her up at church at 7:30.  We had a coming and going schedule, which is a post in itself. I had just popped a couple pieces of bread in the toaster when I came home, at 6:00 but he bought four tacos for the kid, and I ended up eating one of those as well before heading out the door for my 8:30 volleyball game.Even though I had already eaten too much restaurant food this week, those curds were calling my name, and would have gone to waste as no one else would have reheated them. I feel a bit like that Spurlock guy might have felt in Super Size Me. 

The rest of the weekend will be better. I've got loads of chicken and will throw a bunch in the crock pot for several meals, perhaps pulled BBQ chicken sandwiches, traditional chicken dinner, soup, and a hot dish or stew. I think there is hamburger, and several cans of tuna too. I'll swing into the farmer's market and hopefully find some zucchini's, which is odd that they have been missing in past weeks. I thought everyone always had a glut of zucchinis? I need to buy pantry staples of sugar, flour, buns, and bouillon, veggie/fruit bin basics of carrots, celery, apples and pears, dairy items like milk, eggs, cheddar cheese, yogurt and sour cream and then we will be set again until I really purge and clean.  I have been procrastinating the full fall kitchen clean, but really want it orderly and sparkling when we leave on vacation in less than three weeks so have put a moratorium on huge grocery shopping. I did buy a 20 pound bag of Pup's food.  He was down to dust.Despite the restaurants, I have done  well on the waste front, though admittedly, the tomato, pepper angel hair blob did get thrown.

I successfully made rhubarb and raspberry jam two Saturday's ago. That was what used the sugar up. We had six nice tall jars of jam, DD#1 taking one home.  These were the berries I picked and froze little by little until the bad thunderstorm that beat up the bushes, destroying the last of them.I always feel very Heloise or Martha Stewart when I make jam.

 I have strawberries frozen as well, and think I can round up enough jars to do a batch of strawberry.  I'd like to do it with rhubarb as well, but DD#1 wants to save the last of the frozen rhubarb to make her crumble again this winter. I can't blame her.  Don't we all want to nab a little bit of summer in the heart of winter?