Monthly Archives: April 2019

Frugal Friday on Saturday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, Uncategorized by

This week was okay budget wise.

We did go to Trader Joes and I haven’t decided whether to make that part of my May grocery bill or just call it for April which now sits @800. This includes all food, non-food, cat food, and alcohol( which is just wine for me as B is not drinking at all with his treatments.)

I’m leaning just calling it for April and just moving forward.  The only extra bills were the medical co-pays. One was for $500 and the other $350.  That’s just medical and part of how we’ve budgeted the GFM money.  All other bills are done and the budget is set for May.

We’ve sent in the long term disability forms but really don’t know how they would calculate that.  It would be nice but I’m still not sure even how that works.

I went to Target and got a fan since now the weather is getting warmer. I also picked up cat food and some cloth napkins we needed.

We did go to Home Depot for more garden supplies but I consider that seasonal expenses especially for the garden which will produce veggies. That was @ $130.

Tomorrow is a gym day and B needs platelets. So I’ll go and then wait at Starbucks for him as it usually is a shorter infusion.

Dinner is Greek Chicken Souvlaki.

 

Some things Minimalism has taught me

Posted in Flylady, minimalism, simplicity, Uncategorized, White space by

A little departure from Fugal/Five things Friday. Although I may do a separate post on that.

But I was making the bed when it struck me how by becoming more minimalist what it has taught me about myself.

  • I know that lots of visual busyness makes me anxious and I need mostly monotones.
  • I know I need white space around me to function better. Since our house is very small there aren’t a lot of open places, but there are a few where I just have a plant.
  • From even in my 30’s I knew not to ever over schedule or I felt out of control. Even when my children were in school I didn’t over schedule play dates, activities, etc.
  • As I’ve decluttered, my house works well for us even though it is quite small.
  • For the most part, I know where everything is or where to find it although on occasion I can’t quite remember where I put something. ( I’m looking at you brown envelopes I can’t find)….oops, just found them right where they should be…Ha ha…
  • I need a decluttered space with clear surfaces
  • I do need a structure(like Flylady) to focus on what the daily chores need to be.
  • I function way better without decision fatigue which is why I have a very specific wardrobe and a very limited one. I don’t want to worry about what to wear. I don’t own a dress, skirt or anything dressy.
  • Over the years, since discovering less is more, I feel more joy and contentment. Plus since I ‘ve never like to shop it made it easier.

well, as you can see, minimalism really helps to define or really refine who you are.

A busy week.

Posted in Blood test, Bone marrow transplant, cancer, MDS, Uncategorized by

Barclay finished his last chemo yesterday and had to have a blood transfusion so it was a long day for him. This was round 5.

We saw the social worker and the Nurse Practioner on Tuesday. The traffic was insane and it took us almost twice as long as it normally would since we hit the 8 am traffic. I won’t be doing that again any time soon.

So the social worker thing was just a repeat of the last one and the NP was informative. The most exciting news was his blasts have gone to 1% from 9 and that is GREAT news.

We are now in the final month before he goes in. The brother is set up with the national bone marrow registry and has the dates set for  Neupogen shots and then the harvest on the apheresis machine. So Barclay will go in 5 days before for chemo and get a Hickman catheter put in.  So we are ready to go!!!

We still are trying to figure out the details on lodging and the best so far is the Kiwanis house which is on the UCD campus. There are individual rooms and bathrooms but the kitchen is shared. Not really my style but it’s a walk away and is only $50 a night. the other option is an Extended stay but it’s about 10 miles away.  So we’ll just have to see. I’m checking Airbnb but they are more like a $100 a night or higher. So I might check out a few and message the owners about a 2-3 week stay.

My oncology appt today was canceled as the doctor was not going to be in. So that was good because I didn’t really feel like driving back down to Sacramento. So I’ll see him in May although  I left him a message that the appt maybe when B is going in so I’d just have to see.

I went to town to get my new glasses but they didn’t fit right so they need to be sent to the lab to have the bridge redone.

Oh well, the prescription is the same so my glasses are fine for now.

Dinner is something my daughter is making so I don’t have to cook!!

 

 

Simple Sunday

Posted in books, California, cooking, Flylady, MDS, simple foods, Uncategorized by

An absolutely beautiful day. Slightly breezy but so nice.

We did a sunrise walk in the park and it was very nice even though there was a crowd of Jesus people there for a sunrise service. Plenty of room for everyone.

The Canada geese couple has babies and they are so cute. The white goose we call Mother goose is their adopted nanny as she is a domestic goose. Go figure. Heck, why not? She seems happy.

lThen I’ve been cooking for a nice dinner. For Easter dinner or Spring celebration we always have southern fried tofu, with a homemade tartar sauce, plus potato and macaroni salads. This year I pulled out a turkey breast I got at Thanksgiving and have that going on the BBQ.  We’ll probably eat a few bites of that. Plus I’m using up some chicken broth I defrosted and am making a Greek lemon soup. We’ll just have that tomorrow or later in the week.

B had his chemo at 8 am so we were out the door early. I came straight home (it’s only about 1o minutes when there’s no traffic on a Sunday) and then our son drove out to get him.

I did the bedroom zone for you Flylady( ers ). I washed the windows, dusted and tidied up.  I also dropped my spider plant and the pot broke and got dirt all over so I had to stop mid-stream and clean that up.

Sunday is sheet day so they are done and back on the bed. As I’ve said before we only have one set of sheets and I really like that.

This coming week does have quite a few appts, but I think we’ll glide thru. My oncologist appt was canceled as my doctor will be out of town so really that makes it easier for me rather than going to downtown Sacramento twice. I’ll probably hit Costco if the coffee gets low( that’s usually the reason I have to go) and then everything else gets thrown in.

I think I’ll go read some before turning the turkey on the BBQ.

Hope it’s a nice day for you out there, whatever you do.

Friday things

Posted in California, home improvement, home stuff, Uncategorized by

Today is another nice day here in Northern California even with it being partly cloudy. quite nice at 77 degrees.

So far I have cleaned the clawfoot tub with Bar Keepers, made the pizza dough for tonight, started laundry( my daughter did), and cleaned the stainless steel appliances.

Next, I need to vacuum and maybe dust.

Yesterday we went to Home Depot and got some things for the yard. Two new chairs, some flowers, and soaker hoses and a timer. We’re going to try setting some things on a timer with the soaker hoses in order to conserve water. We are on town water and it is ridiculously expensive.

We went for a coffee at the newest place in Auburn called Pour Choice…

IMG_0616.jpeg

It was nice and the company was good:)

Some good news

Posted in Blood test, husband, MDS, Uncategorized by

We got a letter yesterday saying the transplant has been approved by insurance and it’s a go. Also, the nurse coordinator got a hold of the donor brother and it looks like it may all be done in NYC… so very good news.  It looks like at this point his pre-testing will happen soon and then collection on the 15 of May. That means Barclay will be going in right around then. So good news and let’s get this rolling. Not that it’s like a vacation and fun but just something you want to be over.

Also, his last labs show his WBC at 4.3 NORMAL!!!!! how great is that. Not sure it’ll stay there but let’s hope.

So yesterday was really long sitting in the dentist chair for the crown and the filling.  But it’s done. Then I still need the scan for my Invisalign retainer.  The dentist also said the filling on the crown was deep and could eventually need a root canal. ANd I’m thinking to myself, ” I’ll never do that again” that was one of the worst dental things I’ve had and then it still ended up in surgery to be pulled.  I’ll just wait and see.

Today is beautiful out. I’m going to the gym and then tackle the chest freezer. Down at the bottom, I found some salmon from last summer so I’d better use that up. Also some corn I’d frozen. So I’d better get out there and see what else is there.

Today is koffee klatch day but I’m skipping and just coming home to do the above mentioned and some outside chores.

I just finished reading Flylady’s new book, The  C.H.A.O.S cure.   It was okay and had some new stuff but mostly a rehash of her stuff. Still, I enjoyed it.

Dinner is something from the freezer.

 

Simple Sunday

Posted in books, budgets, Flylady, home improvement, Uncategorized by

We are out early for B to get platelets. But he isn’t done so I’m sitting at Starbucks waiting.  I’ve already been to the gym, Safeway, the bank, and the car wash so I guess I’ll just chill till he’s done.

We had our first BBQ last night. I did salmon I bought at Whole Foods last week. It was good.

Tomorrow I need to go to the Apple store as I ordered the wrong Ipad cover and I don’t want to send it back. r just go there and exchange. My daughter is going to come along and then we may go to a few stores. I may go back to Whole foods for a few items for this week.

We don’t celebrate Easter but do celebrate the pagan celebration of spring. Of course, Easter started as a pagan celebration and then somehow Christians turned it into palm Sunday and then Easter.  I love that Easter is still predicted by the first Sunday after the full moon in April. Of course, Passover is celebrated too.  And Of course, Jesus was a Jew, not a Christian as there was no such thing.  The first gospels weren’t even written for 70 years after Jesus’ death. Ahhh, real accurate I’m sure. Ask any 70 year old what happened all those years ago. Hmmmm.  thought so.

 

Oh well, enough of my Atheist cynicism.

Our week ahead looks pretty good. Regular labs for B and then I have the dentist on Tuesday.  That’ll be long and I’m not looking forward to my mouth being drilled and yanked for a few hours. But I have to do it while we have dental insurance.  I’m going to schedule a different appt for the Invisalign scan but hopefully this week. Then all I need to do is order my prescriptions so I have enough while the new insurance to is processed which I was told needs to be after Medicare approves me. I’m going double check to see if that’s accurate but I’m assuming the social security guy knew what he was talking about.

I’ve done a menu for the week and I don’t need a whole lot. Maybe some veggies which I could get at Whole foods tomorrow.

Also, the budget is done for the month.

We’re very proud of our son, Zephyr who will be graduating from Sac State in May. No student loan debt and it took incredible focus and fortitude to drive that 4 days a week. It’s an hour or more drive on way. We’re planning on giving him some money as a graduation gift.  Then he can buy what he wants.

For those following Flylady, we’re in the bathroom zone. I had my daughter use some leftover paint and redo the ceiling. One of the great things about loving a paint color is when you need to touch up it’s so easy.

Friday stuff

Posted in Blood test, books, budgets, cancer, Uncategorized by

So yesterday was another test for B. This was the cardio stress test. Today it’s an EKG and x rays. So all that’s left is the CT scan in May and he’ll be ready to go to transplant.

Yesterday I drove and my daughter came along and we went to Whole Foods and then Barnes and Noble. Barnes and Noble is such a waste. It is so expensive. I was checking out cookbooks etc and they are full retail price as opposed to Amazon where it’s usually half that.  It was nice to look at the books but I want interested in buying.

Then since B hadn’t eaten we went out for brunch and it was really nice to do. I’m definitely a Scrooge when it comes to eating out but this time I was okay with the bill and the food was good. Not great but good.

So then today I’m going to forge forward to Social Security and be prepared to wait.  I figure 2-3 hours all said and done. After that, I may go to the gym but it kinda depends on how I feel.

My food budget is pretty much used up for April so I need to use all of what I have in the refrigerator and freezer. Tonight I ‘ll make a homemade pizza.  If anything, I’ll need salad stuff but right now I’m set for the next week.

 

Our weather looks really nice this next week with temperatures in the 70’s which I am so ready for. All our grasses are growing like crazy so the mower will be going none stop. A lot of this is seasonal grass, not lawns. We only have 2 small areas of lawn we keep green.

Some things have been planted but it’s too early for tomatoes, etc.  I think my daughter(the gardener) did plant lettuce and radishes so we’ll see how they do.

Next week looks open except me trying to get this crown done. I’m not looking forward to that but since it seems dental with Medicare is non-existent I better do it now. Still, that’s another copay but whatcha going to do?