Monthly Archives: February 2014

Saturday fun

Posted in Uncategorized by

Well, I’m off today ,the library is closed for presidents day, so we’re going to go do some fun chores. 

First, farmers market to get some lettuce broccoli, and whatever else looks good. Then I need to stop at staples and check out the day planner I’m interested in getting. I want something that zips, but not too expensive. Then over to Home Depot to get some bags of soil so we can plant peas, chard and maybe some spinach. I’m hoping to do this in a bed that’s by the side of the front lawn. 

We want to plant the whole front yard, but I’m not sure if that’ll happen. Water, money etc. 

then we think we’ll get lunch at a place I bought a groupon with. But since I just ate breakfast, I may not be quite ready for lunch so soon. We shall see. Usually I’m terrible about stuff like that, say I’ll do it and then I poop out and don’t. So…..

Its cloudy here and not a sunny happy day. But no rain till tonight. 

 

JKWP update

Posted in Uncategorized by

So, today is day 260. its definitely getting lighter earlier. And sunrise is @ 7 , so we will start a little earlier and as spring comes be back to the 5:30 walking. 

Today I’m going to winco. Maybe Costco but for sure winco as I need King Arthur flour and stuff I can only get there. 

I have a big load to drop at the food bank, and I need to get chicken food. 

 

Well, the tax man cometh:(

Posted in Uncategorized by

It is pretty bad. Worst than I had calculated. We figured we be hit by the stock sale and we were but without our son as a dependent because he claimed himself, it added more. Well, it’s done. We have it set for April 10. I can’t make it up in those 2 months but maybe I can get a small part put aside. We did put the $6000 away for this but since it’s more we will just have to be really careful with any spending and that means getting the Santa Fe  is off the table. I’m going to try and get my van in to the shop and get at least the shocks done so pulling the tent trailer will be better. 

Oh well, I’m depressed about it but tomorrow is another day.

Raining non stop!

Posted in Uncategorized by

image

This is quite a rain storm. Fortunately no wind and relatively warm.

I meant to finish this yesterday but dex took over and I did other stuff and then crashed.

I almost finished the bathroom zone, very easy, but I want to clean the vent this morning.

plus I usually cook a lot, so I made pizza dough that proofs in the fridge, an artichoke ,garlic frittata ( new recipe), cut up salad vegies( my new thing now to get it done).

Did some home blessing stuff for today, my husband did laundry, then I rested for a few hours.

The rain kept up yesterday and on our walk we were warm under our new

“Frogg Toggs”, but our feet got soaked. Still we did our 2 miles. imageThese are a great product my husband bought us each a pair for Christmas, I would highly recommend.

Rain and Thursday budget stuff

Posted in Uncategorized by

It must have rained over night and it was still sprinkling on my walk. But at least it wasn’t cold. It’s much better if it’s just a little warmer as my body does better. 

Payday was good relatively speaking. I ordered propane to the tune of $377. Oh well, at least we’re warm. all the bills are in and I took $200 for groceries. Probabably not realistic but I’ll try. 

There’s tons of little birds in the yard, I think they’re Oregon sparrows. Our Christmas tree lives on in the garden. I have to say it was a great tree. I wouldn’t do it again( order on line) but it must have bee cut days before shipping and still looks great. Usually we put peanut butter pine ones on it for the birds. But I don’t see that my daughter did that. 

My son just left for college, just for classes . But he might as well live some where  else as he’s not home too much since the new GF. I’m ok with that for the most part. Still not sure how the morman thing is going to play out. She’s a Morman or at least her family is. I’m fairly religiously tolerant, but do have a hard time with the whole Joseph smith gold tablets and the whole premise of how you get to heaven? 

ugh, what does that mean? If you need a great read about some Morman history ,try the 19 th wife. It’s superb.

 

Wednesday catch up!

Posted in Uncategorized by

It’s mid week, and I’m a little off my game. Haven’t blogged in a few days,, so here’s some catch up. Walking is going ok. We are on day 252. Still only doing 2 miles but I think when the weather is warmer I’ll want to do more. This morning it was 28* ,thats cold. We are also finally in for rain over the next week. We do need it but it changes the morning routine. 

Work was ok yesterday, I still have a bit of a sinus thing going on so not feeling 100%. I had put on a nice split pea soup for dinner in the crock pot. Then my daughter used her hair dryer and blew the circuit so when I got home from work the split pea soup in the crock pot was uncooked since it turned off. Fortunately, split pea only takes an hour on the stove ,so in to a pot it went. Then my son and his new girl friend call and see if they can eat with us… Uhh, ok I guess, it’s a good thing I put that soup on the stove.

I’m off to the drop stuff off at the thrift store and go to staples, and the the grocery store for a few things. I’m going to try and keep food budget at or under $500. So I only want to buy essentials. I put Santa $ away from this check and our 0 savings(which is for sinking funds). I also need to call propane and that’s going to be a hit. Also, our taxes are going to be a hit but we expected that with the stock sale last year. Somehow it’s all gone but that’s life here. It’s always something. 

I also, was reading Joshua Becketts new book on clutter free kids( not exact title.), but realized my next phase of minimalism is to work on the having only one item of something. I’ve decluttered most everything in the house, but my 2 adult children’s rooms(that’s their domain ), but I still feel there’s too much. Maybe getting rid of duplicates will help, or some furniture. We don’t have a lot if furniture but maybe there’s something I can look at differently.ImageThis  part of our front room , notice the new grateful dead albums recently framed.

This week in the Flylady zone, I did the kitchen. Always a big job and I broke down and bought her calendar , which I think is the best for writing on. I had bought one at staples with coupons but the dates were just not bold enough. So I’m happy which the Flylady one. 

Ground hog day and Imbolc

Posted in Uncategorized by

Image

So   In Pennsylvania , he saw his shadow, so 6 more weeks of winter. But here in California it’s cloudy , so does that mean winter is over?

I don’t know, does anyone?

Okay it’s also Imbolc , which is the Celtic pagan, cross quarter. I my pagan days, or earth centered, if you like, I always love cross quarters. I think there more accurate than the equinoxes Etc. so today is the first day of spring, and I usually  can feel tree sap running as noticed by the fact that there are many fruit trees starting to bud. 

So, it’s Sunday, and dex morning. Did some, not any extra cooking but washed floors, vacuumed.

Dinner is roast pork, sauerkraut , applesauce home made, a vegie dish, maybe pasta for B.

February , update on January no / low spend.

Posted in Uncategorized by

image

So, its February. It’s clear and cold out. That’s around 29 this am when went walking but should get into the 50’s.

We ended up with 15 no spend days ,so that was very good. It really helped us see our spending habits, of often running down to the market for a few things and ending up with a lot more.

My zero balance is kinda a disaster, with only $500 left. Not good , but we did have extra bills, car tags, $100, my son lost his cell phone, $200, property taxes almost $1000. So those came from the zero balance and sinking funds.

I am still savings the extra $200 in another savings, and Santa fund is $50 every two weeks. So good on that front. Plus I added to the $5 savings and 52 week challenge which I’m ahead on. So I think it’s kinda a draw. Save, spend !

February I’d like to have 15 no spend days, and nothing too extra. I need to get propane and that’s going to at least $300.

I had a good oncologist appointment, and the great news is my m protein went to .36   That is very good news for me. I’m on my 7 month of revlimid . I guess I’m not really going off anytime soon or ever really. Until I switch to something else. It’s okay, it’s life with myeloma. I’m so lucky I tolerate it well and it seems to be be helping. I did start back on curcumin and added those mushrooms( a dried combination called Matrix) I do think it’s doing something.

Walking is at day 247, so I’ve passed the 8 month mark of walking every day!

off to work and then tonight ,as a family were going to see the Irish rovers!  I hardly ever go out at night and never concerts as I don’t like crowds, but this is small and should be fun.