Monthly Archives: August 2024

Simple Sunday

Posted in budgets, California, cancer, cooking, home stuff, instant pot recipes, simple foods, Walking by

A nice Sunday walk with cool temperatures. This coming week looks really nice with highs in the 80’s, finally!

This morning I’m processing more tomatoes and will water bath them tomorrow. I am also making some chicken broth in the IP. If anything, the IP is worth the money just for chicken broth and beans!! After it cools, I’ll put it in the fridge and then pressure can later.

I tried a new recipe from Cooks Illustrated, where you roll the lasagna noodles to make a mock manicotti. I thought it was ok but both B and my daughter liked it and I thought it was better the second day. I’m not sure I’ll keep the book, but I’ll see if I want to try another recipe in it.

I’m not going into the Auburn gym as I feel tired this morning. Probably from swimming yesterday. I often have a down day after a swim day I guess, because I’ve used a lot of muscles.

I did the bathroom zone and with the new tile and floor it’s super easy to keep clean. I’m hoping we can get the bedroom and closet done in the same flooring next month. I do love the Wabi Sabi-ness of the old fir floors but they are impossible to really get clean. I suppose if we were ambitious enough we’d rent a floor sander and redo them and seal them. That’s what we did 30 years ago. But I think I’d rather have the laminate.

This week is my Velcade shot and the B’s biopsy on Friday. So a few appts, but manageable. When we get too many appts. I get anxious. Based on the last biopsy, it’s going to be at least a week if not more to get results. Last time it was 2 weeks. I have a feeling it’s going to be inconclusive again, but what do I know.

Here’s one of our dinners this week. A spinach tomatoe frittata.

What have you been cooking? One of my favorite bloggers, Sue from A simpler life, always posts her shopping and food. I really enjoy seeing what she buys. Plus the prices seem way cheaper than here.

Frugal Friday

Posted in books, bread, budgeting, budgets, California, cancer, cash envelopes, Credit cards, frugalism, husband, reading by

It’s been a frugal week for the most part. All the birthday gifts, cake, and food were budgeted in my envelopes, so that was good. I did go to Costco for the burgers, rolls, etc but that too I had in my Costco envelope as well.

We are stretched really thin with money this month due to a few extra things. I’ve done really well with my envelope cash system but bigger bills are still catching up with us and we still have a cc balance from two car registrations, and some other bills from June. I hate having to carry a balance so I’m putting anything extra towards that and thus a very stretched thin budget. We’ll get there but not as soon as I’d like.

We had a nice date lunch of pizza(cash from my dining-out envelope) and it’s always nice to get out of one’s box. This month is our 54th wedding anniversary and although we usually don’t do gifts or anything extravagant we will do a lunch out. At this point we’re planning a drive up to Tahoe to see the lake and get coffee at our favorite Tahoe House. With everything still up in the air with B it’s hard to feel very cheerful. He is and always will be the great love of my life.

I didn’t feel great this morning so decided not to go to either the pool or the gym. I’m not sure if it’s stress or just feeling low energy. So I made a loaf of bread and did a few random chores.

B did get an appointment( we just found out) for next Friday for a second biopsy. It’ll be done at UCD hospital again so I can wait in the cafeteria. That will be a Dex day but I can wait and take Dex when I get home so it should be fine. He also sent a very detailed message to the doctor about some of the PET scan results and about the CUP diagnosis( that we are theorizing will be the case.) That’s called cancer undiagnosed primary. We’ll see what her response is.

My daughter and I went to the Pet bookstore yesterday and I hit the jackpot with Craig Johnson books. There were 5 on the shelf. For some reason, even on eBay these go for a minimum of $5 a piece. And most are more. I also picked up 2 more in the Baldacci series I’m reading. It’s the Atlee Pine series. She’s a great character. I also picked up Cooking for Two from the Cooks Test Kitchen. I saw a recipe for manicotti which used lasagna noodles rolled up so I may make that tonight instead of pizza.

The weather is cooling off and that’s a relief but there are lots of fires going on. One over where blogger I read lives. Hope you’re safe Donna and Dale!

Well, that’s it from this blogger. Anyone on a limited budget and how do you plan things, like big expenses. Do you ever carry a CC balance even if you don’t want to because you have to.? I’m hoping by this time next year we will have our envelopes fully funded for the big expenses but it does take time. I’m also concerned about our house insurance going up because of the California Fair Plan. A lot of people have been posting on Next door neighbor about some serious increases.

Thankful Thursday

Posted in California, cancer, Gratitude, Retirement, Walking by

I am thankful to be walking and getting in almost 2 miles. It’s still busy though and today there were 12 people. That’s a lot when normally it’s us and maybe 2 other people. It’s summer so there’s that.

I’m so grateful my son came up on his birthday and we had a good time. 3o yo. A milestone. We had Angus burgers on the grill with corn on the cob, and Wills potato salad from Costco. Then I ordered the Paris Baguette chocolate cake. It was quite yummy. His partner, A, came up to celebrate too.

I’m grateful my daughter was able to drive B for his PET scan last week as it was in Sacramento. I had some time home alone.

I’m grateful I passed my driver’s written test and eye test. I guess when you’re over 70 in California, you have to take the exam every 4 years? maybe’s 5, not sure. It was a pain to do but it’s over.

Anyone want to share what you are thankful for? I guess we all live different lives and are at different stages of life too. I think that’s what I like about blogging and reading blogs, that it takes you places you won’t ever go. Some bloggers I don’t read anymore because I don’t relate to their opinions or where they are in this journey we call life. But the ones I do read are interesting and appreciated.

Nothing New

Posted in cancer by

The PET scan results came back with nothing conclusive AGAIN!!! Boy, am I getting pissed off at this situation. We had a video visit with the doctor and come to find out she isn’t even the doctor who will be prescribing the chemo, she’s doing the diagnostic. I am really upset as this seems as if he just getting the run-around. She wants to do another biopsy in a different area. I brought up that the surgeon had said that the cell samples would more than likely be the same in the other masses. So WTF?? But we’ll have him do it but I think I’m going to find out where there is a patient advocate at UCD and make some sort of complaint about this whole process. I joined the Peritoneal Facebook group and a number of people said, they never got the source of the cancer( which is what she is trying to do without any luck so far.) and that their doctors started chemo based on their best judgment. So for instance one woman said although the source wasn’t defined it was near the uterus and so chemo was based on that.

I’ll have to think about what next step we should explore. Maybe a second opinion or getting back in touch with his transplant doctor for advice. We are definitely at their mercy right now and every week without chemo is …well you know.

Right now, I just need time to review the scan results and then figure out a plan. But I think I do want someone to be accountable and get him to the right oncologist.

Simple Sunday

Posted in bread, California, cancer, cooking, home stuff, Walking by

We had a nice Sunday walk and only one other person showed up at the end. My arthritis has definitely kicked in and I feel pretty stiff to start. After one round I loosen up some but my feet have been hurting again recently. I’m not sure why it comes and goes but?

I’ve just finished making some baked tofu. The tofu was dated so I figured I better use it right away. I started a sourdough cran-raisin cinnamon loaf. I think it might bulk ferment by this afternoon since it’s warm in my kitchen. If so I’ll bake it then otherwise I’ll refrigerate it till tomorrow.

Yesterday, I canned 6 pints of tomato sauce and I’ll get another batch ready to go tomorrow. Usually I do it in 2 days. On day one I put the tomatoes in boiling water and then through the food mill. Day two, cook down and then can.

It’s the kitchen zone this week so I might start that later. I do need to use the steam mop at least today. Other than that, I ran Bender(robot vacuum) yesterday. He does a good job.

Today, I’m not going to the gym. I might go to town with my daughter. She wants to get some paint at Ace. The nursery is close by so we could stop in there too. I need to get some pots to repot some house plants.

I hope we get some news tomorrow on the PET scan. It is frustrating, to say the least.

Friday things

Posted in bread, California, cancer, cooking, library by

So the colonoscopy went great and of course, he only had one tiny polyp. Figures. That’s after 15 years since his last one. Leave it to Barclay to only have one small polyp but some strange rare cancer. ( still source unknown). So nothing was conclusive. They did do the endoscopy and again everything was ok. So that leaves us with what does the PET scan show? As of now, Friday pm, we haven’t heard so ???

I went to the gym in Roseville and then picked up my hold at the library. It’s the Jaqueline Winspear book so I didn’t want to miss it.

Then I came home and processed more tomatoes but didn’t can them. I’ll do that tomorrow. I have 2 more boxes of tomatoes but they’re not quite ripe yet.

This weekend should be mellow. I don’t have any plans except maybe the Auburn gym on Sunday. I need to write out a fall ‘to-do list’, like washing the outside windows, etc. If I don’t write it down it doesn’t happen. I don’t think I need any groceries but do need to make a menu up. I started to do the monthly menu again so I’ll go and finish that.

I also made a loaf of sourdough gruyere and pumpkin seed bread. Sounds odd but it’s pretty yummy. My starter is doing great!

It’s cross-quarter, Happy Lammas

Posted in California, cancer, cross quarters,celtic calendar,, Uncategorized by

I thought I’d add this to today’s post since I do follow the Celtic calendar.

Lammas is basically celebrating the harvest. So although I didn’t bring in the wheat, I did bring in the tomatoes and there’s more to come:)

I always feel the change in the air and the earth. Maybe, it’s the witch in me. Or as I always said to my daughter when she was young” you are priestess born”.

My father’s side was all from Ireland so who knows??

Thankful Thursday

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Wow, I am so thankful he was able to get in to get the PET scan so quick. I think that this will be all telling. The PET scan machine is the newest on the market and very sophisticated. I’m pretty sure it’s going to locate the source of the cancer. We may even have the results tomorrow. Today B is fasting for the colonsocopy and will start drinking the stuff this evening. We haven’t had confirmation yet whether the endoscopy will be done but I guess he’ll find out tomorrow.

I’m thankful we are getting lots of tomatoes for sauce and I just finished canning 3 quarts and 1 pint. We are still getting lots. It seems early this year. I sort of remember canning in September last year.

I’m thankful for all the little things in my life. Our yard with flowers, an owl feather dropped by our nightly owl, our last lonely chicken( who seems to be doing fine BTW), a good cup of coffee first thing, a walk, and noticing all the geese families in the park are gone except one. The last family is still there waiting to start flying.

Today is a home day with canning and then just a general tidying up. I have some ears of corn I want to freeze as well. I might start a loaf of sourdough later, but we’ll see.