Back Breaking Catch Up

 Yeah yeah I know.  everyone and their dog has posted a pic of the Northern lights from last night! 

Here's mine.  But how many included their thumbs? huh?!

Or the same sky the next morning at 5:30am!?

Is the phrase, "Red sky at night, Sailor's delight" or some such thing?

The sailors in land locked Iowa are thrilled, I'm sure!

I dog sat for Maddy and Matthew almost two weeks ago now overnight.  My grandpups are so cute.  I failed to get a pic of them tho. shoot.

Leon's school concert was this Monday and about half of our little family came to see him eak out the tunes with the rest of the band.  I'm looking forward to the Christmas concert, but I'm suddenly thinking that this might be the only one this fall.  hmm  I'll have to check the calendar.

Leon is doing Mock Trial and is a witness for his team.  Three days a week, he goes to school an hour earlier than usual and it takes our whole family to get him out the door and arrive to school on time.  But it's a process and he just announced yesterday that he wants to try out for the school musical! COOL!  I don't know when they practice but I hope it's after school because this morning thing bites.

He wants to be an Oompa Loompa. And no, it's not Willy Wonka for the production.

Ryan and Jen attended a wedding this past weekend, so it was just the littles and me for Friday night and Saturday, with Meri and Josh coming over to be the voices of reason while I headed off to enjoy an ABBA tribute band with Maddy and Matthew.  I came back the next morning just in time for Sunday school at church.

What a FUN concert!  I stuck ABBA on my spotify and sang along on the whole drive home.

     Maddy used to listen to my CD of ABBA's greatest hits and sang Man After Midnight around the house until Robb told her to hold off on singing that as it wasn't appropriate for a 7 year old.

To complete our familial love for ABBA, when Meri took voice lessons when she was 7 or 8, she selected Money Money Money for her voice recital. LOL!  At least she just looking for a rich husband and not a booty call.

I was watching Dead Like Me the other day, as my latest re-binge watch and this popped up on the screen!  I do so love me some closed captions!  If it's not there, I just can't hear them.

Anyway, that's my BIL's name, so I sent it to my sister. LOL!

And I had to snap a pic of this to share with my bestie, Ada.  She owns the entire collection of North and South on DVD and we watch it together every couple years.  40 years tho!  Wow.

Yep - I'm old.  And that's ok!  I also loved me some young Patrick Swayze! Orry!

Oh, if you say Agg instead of Aggs or Aggie or Agnes, she'll correct you.

I said, Come on, Agg and she calls out, Aggs!!

Or if I say Aggie and she's being contrary, then she'll call/yell out No, Agnes! or vice versa.

A while back, I shared a pic of myself from high school  Well, here is Leon from a couple years ago and myself. Yep, we're twins.  A friend put this together for me.  His hair length is more my length plus these days.  Not sure if he's doing it for Lock of Love or just afraid of scissors.

I'm still working on Italian in the wee hours of the mornings and within 5 units of reaching Section 3. Whew!  It is funny how it's getting somewhat easier as time goes by.  However I haven't watched any Italian shows recently.  I need to do that.  It'll give me a sense of "I don't know what I'm doing" again.  Life's been a total rush lately.

For example, Leon and I are going with his Scout troupe this weekend to camp in a cave!  And then I'm attending a painting class with Maddy and Matthew.  I should have some doozy pics for you by next week!

Whew again.  I hope my back can take it all.

Tuxedos and Other Things To Do With Corn

 My brother is on the RAGBRAI ride again this year and some of the kids and myself will meet up with him and his crew this evening for dinner at their trailer.  Should be fun!

I saw this goose costume for sale and was inspired to do something in that vein for the State fair.  

It's IOWA!  Who hates a CORN costume?  Mine will be a "Corn Tuxedo."  The deadline is Saturday...  Can I get it done?  I hope so.  it might not be fair quality but we'll see if I can get it in.  I'd like to make a few other things too, but my sewing mojo isn't all the way back yet after the fiasco just over a year ago.  It'll happen.  Each day is a little better.

A friend from my sewing group brought over her projects for the fair, as I'll be taking them with me on Saturday.  She also brought me some banana nut bread as a thank you!  It's delicious and my diet has gone backwards a bit.  sigh.  But it's really good, so I'll diet longer I guess.  One of these days, I'll stick to my healthy eating plan.  It won't be today. or this week.

I found two turkeys in my deep freezer and need the space, so I made a turkey for lunch on Sunday, along with sweet corn niblets (also from deep freezer) and mashed potatoes.  Meri brought a salad.  It was all so good.  I ended up with 4 quarts of broth canned, from the turkey carcass, 5 pints of leftover turkey canned and then a pint of gravy and quart of mashed potatoes that we've been working on the last couple days.  As well as some corn niblets that should be eaten up soon. 

whew!  So much food.

And THEN!  I came downstairs yesterday morning and found the refrigerator freezer door hanging WIDE open...  REALLY?!  Most of the ice was melted, some of the packets of food squishable. I had to throw away some chicken taquitos that were in the door...  What a waste!  So we've been eating as much as we can and pitched what we figured was sketchy.  I ate a whole bag of brussel sprouts for breakfast yesterday.  I'm up a couple pounds since Sunday.  sigh. Not because of the brussel sprouts. No one is fessing up, but if that's the only way to clean up our freezer, so be it.

The grandbaby was due on Sunday.  STILL no baby.  Jen's been on maternity leave since a week ago due to her hurting her knee that weekend.  She's ready to have this baby!  Will hopefully be able to post a baby pic soon.

I need a vacation.

Pretty Random Thoughts

Well, it's November 1st.  All the neighbors took down all their Halloween decor on Sunday.  REALLY?!!!  Halloween is MONDAY people!

My decor is still out there.  I'll probably take start taking it down over lunch today.  AND the neighbors have mowed a lot since my webs went up.  I should probably mow too.  sigh. I can't wait until the grass goes dormant.

Meri and I tried to go workout this morning and as soon as we got out of the car, I realized I'd left my keys at home.  ARGHH!!!  So we came back to my house and gabbed on the couch for a while.

Frank contemplates his life this morning.  He wishes he was a bird.

I canned 3 jars of bone broth yesterday and one didn't seal.  I'll recan it in another jar later or a newer lid.  Maybe along with jars of carrots. hmmm

I'm sorry I'm just boring you with my thoughts.

Leon gave me some whoppers from his candy bucket.  It goes well with a protein bar.

But I don’t want to be a pirate!

Maddy and Matthew invited me up for last night and today.  I'm working from their guest room today and will head home tonight.  

I get to hang with my peeps grand pups all day as they sleep on the bed behind me.  So far so good for them!

Maddy made Robb's Bavarian pork loin for supper last night (delish!!) and Maddy and I are slowly getting to the point of series Virgin River that she hadn't seen already.  We'll get there eventually but not on this visit.  I make a guess at what's going to happen and she says coyly  in a sing songy voice, "I don't know..."  

Yes you do!!!  Why must you keep me in suspense!!!   

Probably because she doesn't do spoilers like I do.  accidentally...

And here's a spoiler.  The episode I'm on made me cry...

I'm slowly getting through the series Seinfeld again.  That series does NOT make me cry, but between laughing out loud or rolling my eyes at some of their situations, I'm cringing.  I still love the show, but so much of it must have gone over my head when I saw it when on the air. Maddy pointed out that almost all of their dastardly situations could have been avoided if they'd just had cell phones. (It's SO 1990s...) Well, MOST could, but not all.  Some of those situations could still happen today but not to me because I have a different set of morals. ;) 

Meri gets to take Reedus to work now!!! She got permission from her boss and now her shop has a new unpaid support dog!  He's enjoying the attention immensely and I'm so glad Meri can have him close by each day.  She works such long hours and Reedus needs more attention.  Plus she can sic him on mean customers and say, "If he's willing to chew his OWN leg up, just think what he could do to yours!"  

Just kidding.  He'd just beg to be petted and then drool all over them.  Reedus is his father's son.

Not sure what he's chewing on in this pic, but who's a happy boy?!  Reedus is!!!

And an old friend asked me to supper last weekend.  And we had so much fun laughing at the different filters on her phone.  She truly is a nut.  She's moving out east next fall/winter.  I'll miss her.

The sewing for the dresses for the wedding is coming along...  A wee bit more hand work on the bride's dress, with maybe more adjustments on the length of the hem... We'll see when she tries it on with her cowboy boots on Friday.

Three of the bridesmaid dresses are done completely, with one waiting for a fitting and one yet to be started on.  I need to corner Meri for her measurements before starting that.  If I'm still hemming hers on the morning of the wedding, so be it.  

I've got two weeks...

and speaking of weddings...

Happy Anniversary to Maddy and Matthew!  Today they're celebrating five years!

I just wish I'd brought a card for them.  I guess this is it.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!

I'm heading for home before they go out and celebrate tonight.

No one wants a third wheel on their anniversary date!!

But wouldn't that make a good episode for Seinfeld?

Catch UP & Memorial Day

 The Story worth question for this week was what were my happiest moments of my life.  I answered it but didn't feel it.  You know what I mean? Maybe next weeks question will get a hit.

For Memorial Day weekend, we all helped Maddy and Matthew pack up a UHaul and then on Tuesday, Meri, me, Leon and them unpacked it at their new house, an hour away.  Actually an hour and 15 minutes, but I'm rounding.  Maddy came back to town Wednesday to pick up the dogs and sent videos of them running into the house for the first time. :) So cute.

I went up again yesterday and helped them unpack a little more and get a wee bit of normalcy back into their lives, like be able to see the kitchen floor.  Maddy was all ready to start painting the purple guest room but ran out of steam when I took an emergency call from work.  She's got all the supplies for it and someday soon, we'll get it done.  They took me out for supper at an adorable and delish diner in town, then for a tour of their local library.

The wedding that all the dresses are for is in 23 days. It'll happen!!!!  If I have to stay up all night, every night and work on them, it will happen.  Each of them have finish up work to do, but the fittings and marking the hems went well.  The new bridesmaid will come for a fitting in the next few days and I still need to make Meri's dress, but if hers is the only one that needs a hem on the morning of the wedding, so be it!  It'll get done.  

The No Mow May idea was a bust.  Apparently our town has an ordinance that if you don't mow your yard, they'll come do it for you... for a big, giant fee.  So the mower came out and the yards were mowed, slowly by me...  Deep grass is a pain...  and I mowed over a dog toy.  couldn't see it.

The sign that I had special made is sitting behind the bench on the porch, strictly for amusement.

On Sunday, the kids and I sat out on blankets at the cemetery and told stories about Robb/Dad.  It was a gorgeous day and we had a good time reminiscing.  He wasn't in the military, so we didn't feel obligated to attend the Memorial Day service that we always did when the kids were in middle school band.  We had our own personal family one.

And here is the only picture I took of Memorial Day weekend...  

Big annual festival in town this weekend.  I'm looking forward to going on a 5K with Maddy and Matthew, and the parade and visiting with other widows and getting a lot of sewing done.

Have a good weekend!!

Randomness and Valentine's Day

Ugg...  My power steering fluid leak in my minivan has gotten worse.  Now it's hard to steer even if you keep putting fluid in.  SO... I've put a call in to my car guy and it's going in tonight.  Cross your fingers and say a prayer that it's as simple as slapping some duct tape on the spot where the leak is happening and squirting a little grease here or there.

Ryan has his soundproof room set up in Robb's old closet now and is ready to start recording the voice over for his video that he's created.  It has to do with a video game called Dark Souls and how to play the entire game as a pacifist.  It's very clever and if you're in the gaming world, I'm sure it would make sense to you.  I hope it gets him where he wants to go.

As for now, all the stuff from Robb's closet is sitting in his bath tub.  I've only used that whirlpool bath once since he passed.  The twins used it a lot more when they were here.  Just DON'T turn on the faucet!!!  Or I will make you hurt.

I had to put two jars of canned beans down the garbage disposal this morning.  The seal broke on them, who knows when?  What a shame!  Oh well.  I'm going to start using my stash more often.

I mentioned that I'd baked a ton of chicken drum sticks that I got at Sam's club for cheap.  I sealed them up in packets of 5 and froze them.  For dinner last night, I pulled out a packet and put them straight in the air fryer for roughly 20 minutes.  They turned out SO good.  I may fudge around on the air frying time next time, but Leon liked them!

And another miracle...  I opened a can of my homemade french fries and air fried those too, sprinkling some french fry seasoning on them and ooh... Leon liked them too!  I may experiment a bit more with those too.  Maybe bake them with a light oil drizzle... hmmm...  NEXT diet cheat day!

I made a collage this morning that I'm going to frame and hang next to my bed this Valentine's Day.  I will pick it up at Walmart this afternoon.  What do you think?

The top right picture was the last together photo we took, a week before he passed.

I need to go get some kleenex for my office.

Is It F(random) Friday AGAIN!!!

 I am SO glad it's Friday!!!  It's been a crazy week.  

I get to have lunch with one of my girls today before her new job starts Monday!  See you soon sweetie! 

Meri and the bride came by yesterday for Jess to try on the dress.  She said YES! but with a few modifications.  I expected that!  

I'm so glad the crinoline finally arrived!  I had given up and almost reported them missing.  But then remembered, we have a security camera right on the front porch!!!  So I went back and looked at the exact time it was supposedly delivered and yep, there it was on my porch... 

Then where did it go???

I flashed forwards and backwards through the camera history until the exact moment it disappeared.  AHA!!!!  

So I asked Ryan where it was.  Oh... It had been sitting in plain sight, opened, with books stacked on top.  He's been sorting through Robb's books lately, so books are stacked all over.  We haven't even touched the ones packed up in the garage...

Oh and get this!!  I was watching more of Modern Family last night (11 seasons!!!  The commitment...!!!  I take breaks... In season 7) and I saw this!!!  I had to take a pic of the tv and sent it to Maddy to see if she noticed anything. 

AND SHE DID!  Cam is drinking out a mustache cup exactly like the one she gave Ryan several years ago as a gift!!  Ours has a chip in it but we still use it.

She didn't buy it because of the show.  Just a coincidence.

Oh and I just got a call from my bestie and the nursing home is OPEN again!!!  Yay!

I'll stop in and see her this afternoon.  She's been lonely.

Anyway!!!  On with my day and kick off to the weekend!!!

Quarantine Day 4 (6?) Stir Crazy and Irish Colcannon recipe

 It snowed overnight.  Not by much, maybe an inch or so. If I FEEL like it, I'll go out and shovel a bit.  Or send one of the strapping young men in my house out, if I can pull them away from school or a Dune book.  Eh, I'd rather do it myself.

A recipe I found on a rebel canning group that I want to see if I can (can) do this weekend.

Irish Colcannon!!!

Yesterday was beautiful, 50s.  I went on a little excursion!!!!  As I left town, I passed Jen!  lol!  She actually lives in our house and has Covid.  I thought I'd seen her leave earlier...  Didn't know where she had gone, but I'm not in charge of her.  She must have felt awkward as we waved in passing so as soon as she got home, she texted me. "I just needed to get out of the house and drive around a little!"

and I totally got that!!!  That's why I was heading out too.  I went to the county health facility to pick up some free at home Covid tests.  They're the PCR type.  I pulled up into their parking lot and called them.  After a little questioning about who in my house is showing symptoms and do I really need 5, they brought them out and popped them in the back of my minivan as if I was picking up groceries.

easy peasy.  Then went back home where we made everyone spit into some vials.  Then after packaging them all back up, I went on another excursion and dropped them all off back at the closest UPS drop off.

It was great getting out!!  I even had my window down a few times when I wasn't on the interstate. 

ahhhhh

I stopped at the cemetery and visited with Robb a little.  I knew a cold snap was coming and this might be the last time til March I could come out and have a sit down visit.  Wow I miss him.

Then back home.

As of this week, it's been exactly 24 years since we moved into this house.  So many memories.  So many dents in the walls.

I'm looking forward to the weekend.  I've sent some pictures of the items I've sewn lately to the leader of ASG and will be participating this month!  I've missed several of the last months, I'm sure they're wondering if I've given up sewing. NOPE.  Just got too much life in the way at the moment.

My mild sore throat from yesterday turned into nothing. YAY!  I cleared my throat yesterday, thinking THIS IS IT!  But I sucked down a Halls before bed and all is fine today.  

I do need to crack my back tho.  I might pull out my little roller thingy and let it do the cracking for me.  The trick is to find a big enough spot on the floor to do it easily without anyone seeing me.  I guess I'll rearrange my room a little today too.  to make room...

On with life.  Enjoy your weekend!

Bunny in a rainstorm

After our morning DUO call with Maddy, Meri and I went on a nice walk out to the grave.  

Robb's has straw on it and new grass growing.  It'll be really nice in a few weeks.  I hope.  In Nebraska, where Mom and Dad are buried, the grass still hasn't come in very well and the family has to smooth it and seed it themselves...  Wow.  AND there are gopher holes all around Mom's.

So I was concerned at first because the dirt on Robb's was all disheveled and yucky.  I messaged with the woman in charge and she assured me that they'd smooth it out and seed it. Whew!  And they held true to their promise.  There are some graves where they haven't been seeded yet.  Meri and I decided that those people must have been allergic to grass and wanted it as far away from them as possible after death...  

OR they didn't have an anxious wife contacting the cemetery people.  Come to think of it, that guy's gravestone indicated that he HAD been single...  So I'm probably close to the mark there.

My view yesterday Wednesday night as I sat on the porch finishing up my grief support homework.
Isn't he cute?!

I got within 300 steps of my daily goal already today and more than my heart points goal too!  Walking out there does that.  A normal workout doesn't.  But it's still good to work all those muscles anyway during a workout.

The rain has really made the grass/dandelions/weeds grow like weeds on my lawn this week.  I haven't mowed for about 1.5 weeks and the mower is currently over at Meri's house.  There is no way I'll be able to get the mower back to my house by driving through the alfalfa field again.  The alfalfa is too tall now and SOMEONE will notice if I drive or mow through...  The bridge is supposed to be done in another 1.5 weeks....  I might try and get the other riding lawn mower fixed this week...  We'll see.

Jen has been painting the downstairs bedroom and it's looking so cool so far.  The top 1.5 feet of the walls and all of the ceiling will be a sage green and the lower parts of the walls a blue.  If I'm able, I'll do some painting with her tomorrow night.  We'll do a paint party on the living room and halls on the Saturday of Memorial Day and maybe even paint Leon's room.  We'll see how much energy we have.

I'm looking forward to the game tonight with the college gang.  I need to find a rain poncho tho as it kind of looks like more rain.  But that's ok.  

Whew...  on with my day.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Making Tracks

 Another truck driver just drove into our quiet burg again.  Sigh... When will they learn to read signs??  The bridge is out, no thru traffic...  sigh...  Oh well.  At least they're not turning around in my driveway!

Meri and I worked out this morning and picked up the external hard drive full of all the personal stuff from Robb's office laptop.  We almost went on a walk again this morning but there was tons of thunder and rain when we left the house this morning.

Leon took a bubble bath a couple days ago and ran the blowers too long on the whirlpool tub.  For some reason it drips into the dining room when you run them too long and apparently he didn't believe us...  

So the envelope with important docs got wet before Ryan noticed the dripping and got a towel and pan under it.  The documents themselves were safe, but I'm thankful he noticed it or a lot of other stuff I have on the table would've gotten wet too.  I should probably wrap up the rest of those thank you notes...

Meri and Shub came over last night for Taco Tuesday.  I made taco meat and had all the fixings. All six of us had a very fun meal together.  Then four of us played Catan until Leon had to go to bed but the rest of us were just getting into it.  Of course Meri won.  But Shub was a close second.  This was his first time playing the game and had just figured it out.  He can be pretty ruthless when he wants to be! :) Almost as ruthless as Ryan and this game.  I was in the game but just for spare parts for the others.  Yeah, I'll trade you my one brick for a sheep...  Whatever...  Can I go to bed now?  But really, it was a lot of fun with the banter and competition.  I was just along for the ride. :)

I can't believe it's Wednesday already.  I read John chapter 13 last night and will reread chapter 14 tonight, Maddy and I read it together last week when Meri couldn't make it for our devotions.  We've got a grieving devotion book (Purposeful Grieving) that we've been reading one out of each night together on DUO.  My "homework" today is relive that last day of Robb's.  Will wait until I have time to myself.  Maybe over lunch. and grab a box of kleenex to have around.

I also read a chapter out of a Mary Higgins Clark book that I found in the garage.  Reading an actual book is nice.  I see enough screens during the day so old school is a welcome change.

It's hard to think that Easter will be here before you know it. Less than a month.  But at least we won't have an Easter egg hunt by tucking the eggs into a snow bank.  Well, not that I know of so far.  The temps are in the 70s recently and it would be a shame to dip back into the 30s or less.

Well, need to wrap up some things so that next week I won't be as stressed and can spend more time with the girls.  

later.

Random Bits of my Life

 I completed a Sexual Harassment Course for work.  Was a little surprised to see David Schwimmer in a little video clip!  HEY!  I KNOW him!  Well.. from Friends...
According to the video... he's a womanizing jerk!

Maddy and Matthew won't be able to have us the weekend before Christmas. Bummer!  Maddy called last night to break the news to us.  So I'll complete & wrap their gifts and get them off in the mail by the end of this next week. hopefully...

 Robb gave Meri a pre-Christmas gift of a Weeping Angel ornament. :) She was always a big Dr Who fan!  For maybe just that season, but she'd loved it.  DON'T even blink!

Robb was gifted a free flat screen tv and he set it up in the living room on the coffee table and was "casting" shows from his phone to it.  Ummmm  hmmm...  We've never been "living room tv people" before...  but I'm pretty sure the coffee table isn't the best place for one.

I suggested that we move it back behind the second couch on the far side of the room and he thought that with our aging eyes, that little screen wouldn't be big enough.  So he ordered a 50" tv for our living room instead.  And set up eye appointments for us.

We're getting more pre-Christmas gifts this year than ever before.

Leon is eyeing the older free one for his room.  ummm.. hmmm. probably not happening.

So now we have a 50" tv on the coffee table.  As seen below.

We have our old non-working stereo system behind the couch right now and with the help of a saw and an old skinny closet door from the garage, I was able to get the tv back there. BUT it was wobbly.  shoot.  AND if you tried to use the remote from the big butt chair next to the tree, the electronic eye couldn't see the eye on the tv.  

*gasp* 
you'd have to get out of the chair and turn the tv on manually...    like a BARBARIAN! 
*again gasp*

So it's back on the coffee table until  solution could be found.  We DON'T need more furniture...

I purchased some risers for the stereo but it's even more wobbly now.  shoot.

So today I purchased this.

It'll be here in 7 short days...  I am convinced it will change our lives and the layout of the living room.  I'm sure, as a woman, the living room will be rearranged 16 times before it settles.  Like a cat! 

But that will be after Christmas when the tree comes down.

The way the mind wanders on a Tuesday

 Wow.  Tuesday on the week of Thanksgiving.  You're basically living on scraps because the only groceries in the house are being saved for Thursday...  

Robb made me breakfast this morning!  Well, we had lots of eggs... :)  He made me a super omelet!  He was up at 2am smoking a turkey for a lunch at his work today.  So he had plenty of time to think about what to make for me when I finally came downstairs at 5:30am.  I was thinking about going to have lunch with him and my former co-workers, but found out I have a staff meeting during that time so nope.

I went over to work out with Meri and got a call from her just as I was pulling up to the building.  She had slept thru her alarm again...  So she'll workout at home I guess.  Or not today.  She needs to get her home gym put together in her garage.  I found some weights for her workout machine on a local swap page, so she has no excuse.  However her garage is not heated and has no treadmill... yet...  I still scour the swap pages looking for more exercise equipment that people are getting rid of that they'd stocked up on at the beginning of the plague.  You know.. when they thought they'd never be able to leave the house and will just sit on the couch.  When they had ambitions.  Well, the ambitions are gone and the extra weights and weight benches are taking up valuable space in their garage, where they've moved on to a different hobby.

Streaming movies.

and crafts!!!  Can you believe they want this for a branch hanging from twine?  

I think I know how I want to decorate this year....  Heading to the tree farm for free branches this weekend!!!!  With these hanging all over my walls, people will think I've spent a fortune or have finally lost my mind.

Probably the later option...

Robb and I started a Zac Braff movie together about the life of a struggling actor in LA who also has to pull the kids out of a private school and homeschool them, supported by his wife.  After 20 minutes, we were not impressed and actually went to sleep early that night...  But later I was feeling like MAYBE there might be a redeeming quality in the show so I watched some more while folding clothes.  I mean... it has Kate Hudson AND Mandy Patinkin in it!  Only now Mandy is dying...  And I spent some time crying.

What a way to start your day.

Oh and beautiful scenery of beaches was pretty cool...  I guess I'm just not L.A. material but it was nice to visit that once.  

I've got lots of sewing I want to do this week.  Well, at least designing some Christmas gift clothing ideas...  So the actual sewing and creative bit might be this weekend or into next week.  I've got a pile of knit fabric that I washed AND dried, in prep for the gift recipients not having to worry about "should I hang this to dry?" or the rebel "eh - everything goes in the dryer!!! forget those instructions!"  

I moved my strawberries inside several weeks ago and now they get the sun just in the mornings through the back deck door.  They've produced some strawberries and either Leon or myself wolf them down when we find them. Kind of an Easter egg hunt kind of thing.

Anyway, back to work.  have a great Tuesday!

Frandomly Friday

It's a Good Friday!  

So far anyway.  

Compared with one from a couple thousand years ago tho... Now THAT was a great Friday!

And unless I drink a couple cans of diet pop soon, it'll be a so-so Friday...

The fixings for chili dogs are in the house and I'm out in my office.  Work has been crazy busy lately.  Even with the virus, some of our customers (medical labs) are having to put most of their staffs on furlough due to the low traffic of the usual tests.  So additional help from my company is needed.

My MIL had a doctor's appointment by Zoom the other day. Maybe just to make sure she's still kicking.

She is.

Leon and I painted the front window yesterday.  From the inside, it looks cool, but we always have that shade down.  So we won't see it at all unless you go outside.

And from the outside it's all washed out.  I may hang some dark fabric behind it on the window so you can see the pic better...

 update: I just hung some black fabric behind it and it's even worse...  uggg.  Oh well.  It'll be fine.  Maybe we'll put another coat of paint on it today so it could stand out more.

Also yesterday, I dyed a jacket of mine that I've loved for years, but it's been sitting in my closet for about 20 of them because of a stain on the sleeve.  I wore it on our first trip to Ireland in 1998.

And now I see that there's paint on the pocket that didn't dye.  

Oh well.  I am loving this dark chocolate brown!

The house was so cold this morning that I turned the heat back on.    

I'm hoping to get some masks done for that neighbor today.  Sigh!  So many things come up when you least expect it!  I've got a few done, but I'm wondering if that's truly what they were looking for.  Oh well.  One of my sewing friends said they'll be happy to get anything given to them.  Yeah...  maybe.

So I'll carry on.

The people in the house are getting stir crazy and Leon's room is getting an overhaul.  Eh - it gives them something to do I guess.  However now our guest room solution needs an overhaul as well.

Not that anyone is coming to see us any time soon...

Well, back to work after I throw a few dozen eggs in the IP.

Have a wonderful Good Friday and Happy Easter!

And it's Thursday already

On Monday, Meri and I made it all the way through the 20 minute Zumba workout!!!  We haven't worked out since...

We follow the girl on the left that doesn't jump.

It took a month to get all the way up to the end and wouldn't you know... the last 2 minutes was all cool down stretches.  

I should have STARTED with that!

Anyway, I've got bone broth in the crock pot using a BUNCH of bones from our Thanksgiving turkey.  I found things in our deep freeze that I'd forgotten all about.  Namely... a brand new package of hamburger patties and six pounds of ground beef.  

I may never have to shop again!!!

I guess that's not true.  I said almost the same thing when I bought a 12 washcloth packet.  "I'll never have to do laundry again!" "bwahaha... "  The maniacal laughter was part of the quote.  It turned into something like this later.  "ooohhhh....  guess they all got dirty after all..."

Robb and I are in the middle of the series Super Store on Hulu.  It's about 12 seasons long and 250 episodes per season.   It should keep us entertained until well into the 23rd century.  We may NEVER get to those recorded episodes of Man of the House  or the last season and this of The Walking Dead.

Oh well.  Those are our together shows at the moment.  

One that I'm watching for myself is Vir Das, a comedian from India.  Most of what I've watched already is him performing IN India to people who get the inside Indian jokes.  I'm mostly watching for advice on what young women wear these days over there.  The first one I watched, he just sits on some steps in front of a thousand people and there is one section of the audience JUST for non-Indian people.  A little racist... :)  But that section lights up red when he explains something for just the non-Indians.  It ended really sweet with a quote from his grandfather.  Awe...  

So now I'm watching his Jestination Unknown series to get a look around India better.  Meri is going to swelter in the 100 degree heat in June.  I've been told tho that Shub's parents have air conditioning...  So that's good!

I'm almost done with the birthday shirt for Leon.  We'll celebrate his birthday on Saturday.  He doesn't read my blog. yet.  so I can tell you what we're getting him besides the shirt and a book from Grandpa.  A week ago, he asked me if people can have crabs as pets.  Well... yeah...  But most would eat them.  He said that they have baby ones tho, so maybe we can start out with that.

That's when I remembered that his classroom has a pet hermit crab.  And aHA moment for me as I checked into how to purchase one and it's habitat.  He wants to stop at Petco after Robb picks him up from his mom's and pick one out.  I'll probably meet them there.

This morning, on the way to the bus, I asked Leon when his class is celebrating his birthday. Oh today you say?!  Do they expect birthday treats? (I ask in a starting to get higher pitched voice) Yeah! What time is snack time? (my voice is higher now and my heart is racing) 10 O'Clock.  

!!!!!!

After I drop him off I called Robb, who works in the same town as the school...  I'm stressed, can you do me a favor?!  And he did and he's wonderful.

I would never want to be a single grandmother...

Anyway, a wild and crazy day is anticipated...  After a million work related things today, I'll be heading to Meri's over my lunch so she can get some kids down for naps.  With any luck, I'll have a few minutes to plan out some freezer meals that I want to get together this weekend.  Also, figure out some info for Meri's Visa application.  AWBs are elusive and no one knows what they are but they all want one.  

OK - I WILL not start stressing again...

Nothing to see here... Carry on about your day...

Catchup? Yes please!

The FIRST day of second grade is today..

You'd think he would be happy!  But he's not.  THIS was the smile that I got out of him when I realized I'd missed taking a first day of school pic in front of our black eyed susans...  

Oh well, I'll take it!

 THEN when I wanted to get another at the school door, he was all,"YOU GOT A PIC OF ME, GO HOME!"

 Maybe in a bit... I got a few more.

It's been since the middle of the month since I posted!  Yikes! 

here's a catch me up...

Meri had Reedus at her house until he got sick and put lots of character into her carpet.  He's back with us now.  And of course we have Ellie too... Reedus's mom.  

The other day, I was doing laundry and Reedus was in the kennel snoring with the door open.  It's his den.

Ellie waltzed in and tiptoed over him to get all the way into the kennel.  

The snoring stopped.

Check out the "side eye" action here!

Mere seconds after this shot, she sat on him.  He escaped and lay down for a nap elsewhere.

I've been sewing...  One of Robb's old shirts below is being repurposed for a new top for me.  I found some flowy stuff for the back and "I" think it's going to be swell!  Not sure if I should take a black shirt on the cruise tho.  It sounds hot in the Bahamas...  This might be on hold for a while.

 The end of the summer library bash happened.  Leon made a paper airplane with my direction, but his folding.  Do you see it almost hitting that kid in the head?

 And his art work.

I hit a snake during my last mowing attempt.  I didn't even know that I had until I saw the carcass during a swing around a corner.

AND I've been cleaning in the garage.  Sluggy would be so amazed!  But I'm still not posting pictures of it...  I was able to finally reach our deep freezer which had had stuff stacked on top of for a long while.  It'll be good to get some freezing done for the end of summer harvest!!

And look what I found inside!  Panera bagels and lots of them!  From Meri's graduation party.

The spring of 2018...

I'll bring a few into the house, that don't have obvious freezer burn, and see how they taste.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jumbled thoughts

Maddy and Matthew will be here tonight!!!!  Meri made a momentous decision about her future plans!!!!  Leon let me calm his wild hair that dried all stupid from his bath last night!!!!

Things are crazy around here...

My mom's burial is tomorrow.  I know... the funeral was last month, but since a few grandchildren couldn't make it to the funeral, being in the middle of the week, and it was so cold, the actual burial was held off until now.  

The tombstone is in the works but won't be done until this summer and we'll visit it again.

So we've got a full day tomorrow and it will include Leon and his little brother too.  

I've got the car dvd player worked out with some movies set aside to go, as well as some snacks.  

Wow, I miss Mom.

Wandom Wednesday

Whew!  I'm so glad it's Wednesday!  For a number of reasons...  

1) Robb made a biscuits and gravy breakfast casserole!  A friend is here, going to a funeral with Robb today for a third friend, who's dad passed away this week. So THAT'S not the happy thing... but breakfast.

2) Finally a day with no crisis meetings scheduled at work.

3) Maybe I'll find some time to sew over lunch or breaks.

and the best reason...

4) The political robocalls have stopped!

What a ride THAT was.  I'm glad I'm not a politician.  SOME of the people I voted for won, some lost.  Oh well, there's always 2020.

School pics came!!!

Leon's parent-teacher conference was yesterday afternoon.  While Ryan was in talking to the teacher, Leon and I browsed at the book fair.  As he contemplated a comic book about Plants vs Zombies, a mom and her son came up behind us.  

The mom said, "None of these until you can read."  Leon picked out the zombie book and turned around.  Seeing his friend, he said, "Hey Caden!"  Caden said, "Hey Leon!"

Then at least 34 seconds of awkward silence of them staring at each other, while the mom and I looked from the kids to each other and back to the kids.

Natural conversationalists, those two...

BTW: The Plants vs Zombie comic book is a hit and he was reading it out loud this morning between bites of his bagel.  It's fantastic to hear him sounding words out like "unquestionable" or "vacant".  

Then Todd, Ryan, Jen and Meri joined us for supper.  The dining room table was full!  So nice!!

Afterwards we played a few rousing games of Jackbox.tv variations.  LOVE those games!

Since Leon was sleeping on the couch in my room, I got to go to bed early.  Whew!  I needed that.  The dishes can wait til morning!  And they did.  They're done now.

Anyway, the dogs are roaming the house and I'm working from the living room so I can keep up on the laundry.

The weekend isn't far now!

Now what was I saying?

Those moments when you think one of your kids has "made off" with my favorite new black hoodie that I made...  Where IS that thing?!

The oversized jeans that you've been wanting to remake for a long time just stare at you from across the room.

A bunch of unfinished or unstarted projects in the wings staring at me accusingly.

BUT the yard needs to be mowed today, front and back AND I need to do a garbage run.  Hopefully today.  But a certain son of mine made things a bit tricky to do that.  I'll figure it out.

I hope work isn't too busy today either. 

AND we're expecting Leon's brother for part of the weekend, so any sewing will definitely need to wait.  I already have to figure out how on earth he managed to twist all the thread around on my serger and change all the knobs... 

Legos have already been packed away for safe keeping and Leon is going to spend some time with his aunt tomorrow. 

Meri picked him up from school yesterday too and they had a great time together before they ended up at the house watching a movie.

Looking forward to the sewing meeting tomorrow too!  YAY!  Haven't been to one in a while.  Well, all summer.  It's the bag challenge and I'll be bringing my bag remake creation of this. below

Sorry for the randomness!  My mind does crazy things when I don't have anything specific to say.

Have a great weekend!