Monthly Archives: May 2025

Frugal Friday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, frugalism by

Since I’m not driving a lot, gas is being saved. I filled up at Costco, which is a real savings. Also, I’m using the Costco Visa card and have earned $32 so far. That includes gas and in-store shopping. That’s a big savings.

The only shop I did to last week was WinCo. I spent $150 on food. Overall, I’m good with that. This next week, I plan to go to Costco as B needs some socks, and I saw that Costco has Sketchers that you just slip on. His balance is very precarious right now, so I want him to wear some on his feet other than Birki’s.

My daughter and had brunch out, and that was $60 plus a tip. We rarely eat out, so for her birthday, it was a treat. This was from a cash envelope.

Today, I plan on getting gas in the VW and stopping at Safeway for one of their cake slices. We didn’t do any birthday cake or pie, so I thought it would be nice to get a piece. Safeway has the best cake slices.

Other than that, not much else. I have my budget for June done, and money is very tight, but I think we’ll be ok. The biggest new expense will be the increase in our UHC insurance, and the grant B has been used up. We’ll just have to adjust as best we can.

Oh, hurray, my Kappa light chains came back good. Not great as in under the high normal, but came in at 20.8, so above high normal, but Dr. L said labs look great, so I will believe him at his word. I’ll see him next week.

Thankful Thursday

Posted in Blood test, California, Gratitude, home stuff, husband, Walking by

Let’s just say I’m thankful yesterday is over!!!

It was exhausting. Fortunately, today is a home day, just doing normal stuff. I need to vacuum and go through each room and tidy up. Mostly everything is fine, just a few hot spots.

I’m thankful to get out and do my short walk. It’s not much, but it’s a start.

I went for a walk already, and it was .55. So Saturday, my next walk day, I plan on doing .75 and see how that feels. Also, today I will do some PT exercises.

I’m thankful that B doesn’t need to go tomorrow for infusion. That’s a relief.

I’m thankful we have the AC units to cool the house, as it is going to be very hot tomorrow and Saturday. We are starting to water the yard more just to keep things going. Of course, that will increase our water bill.

I’m grateful for this lovely morning. I’ve been up since 5am and it’s so nice and quiet.

Most of the California poppies are done for now. these are coreopsis.

Midweek Musings

Posted in Blood test, books, budgeting, California, cancer, library, Uncategorized by

Well, of course, things wouldn’t go as planned. B didn’t get his labs in time for his immuno yesterday, so they are pushed over to today. We should have realized Monday was a holiday and gotten them on Friday. UGH!!!

Then, on top of that, he needs a transfusion of blood and platelets. We’re guessing the cancer is progressing(sigh) and the blood is being diverted. I am having a hard time keeping it together.

After I drop him off, I plan to go down to Maheny to do upper body weights and pick up my holds at the library. Then, I need to go to WinCo and stop and get gas at Costco.

We are headed for some very hot temperatures, like 99 degrees on Friday and Saturday. My daughter has put in 2 A/C’s in the LR and in the entry way. Next will be our bedroom and the sunroom. After the brief heat wave, it’s supposed to drop back down in temperature.

I’m back from Roseville, and it did get long. By the time I was getting gas, I was really tired. I’ve just put groceries away and am going to lie down and rest my back. At least tomorrow is a home day. Next week I plan on going to the pool. I feel I’m ready to do a little like maybe 15 minutes. They do have leg buoys to use that go between your legs so you’re not kicking. I may try and use one of those.

Memorial Day and some menu ideas

Posted in California, cooking, meal planning, Uncategorized by

Memorial Day is the day to remember those who gave their lives in service to this country. If you’ve read my blog long enough, you know my brother was killed in Vietnam in 1968. So young.

Menu stuff.

Last night we had another BBQ with hot dogs and macaroni salad, and baked beans.

Monday- ( Memorial Day)- I have chicken to grill up. I probably will do a side of salad with avocado with tomato.

Tuesday- This is the day I’m out almost all day, so I might order a pizza or see if my daughter wants to cook something.

Wednesday- Breaded cod with fries, both from the freezer.

Thursday- I need to check the freezer and see what needs using up. I might do pasta with pesto sauce and salad.

Friday- If we’ve had pizza already, I’ll just do something else.

Saturday- I think it’ll be back to BBQ. I have some veggies to skewer, and I will add tofu and maybe some steak bits.

My daughter and I had a wonderful brunch at High Hand Nursery/Cafe.- It’s quite a unique place as it it is a very posh nursery with absolutely beautiful plants, flowers and trees plus a cafe. It is very popular and you almost always need a reservation.

We both had Eggs Benedict. yummy.

Ha, I had started eating and remembered to take at least one picture.

Simple Sunday

Posted in California, cooking, Walking by

First off I want to congratulate Kristen of The Frugal Girl blog on completing her RN. It’s a huge accomplishment, especially while she was enduring a very difficult divorce. She is so brave and persevered! Well done!

On to my stuff. Yesterday, B had his PET scan, so we’ll know next week how it all looks. I’m hoping for the best, but I also know it may not be good news. He has his next immuno on Tuesday, and I’ll be taking him.

So yesterday, after they took off for Sacramento, I did a bunch of odd chores, and it felt good to do those ones that seemed to get pushed back to the end of the list. I probably overdid it some ( Dex) and can definitely feel it today.

I did go for a walk both yesterday and today, but still holding at .5 miles. It’s not much, but better than not doing it. I’ve been fairly regular doing my PT exercises, and I ordered an inexpensive massage table that lowers to 24 inches so I can start the floor exercises on the table. Since I can’t get up from the floor with my knee, I thought this was a good option, and actually, the PT place used massage tables for patients to get up on, so I felt it was a win-win. Mostly it’ll be exercises like a modified plank, leg lifts, clam exercise, and a few more.

Yesterday I made a new recipe of cream of mushroom soup. I had the big container of mushrooms from Costco, so I thought I’d give it a try. It was really yummy with homemade sourdough. The recipe is from Magnolia if you’re interested.

Today is going to be a fun day for my daughter and me. We are going to brunch to celebrate her 40th birthday. Where have the years gone? I loved being a mom and everything that went with it. She’s an amazing young woman—smart, confident, a talented author/writer, a gardener, and lots more.

Frugal Friday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, cash envelopes, frugalism by

My June budget starts next week. I have everything in except our AAA membership that isn’t on autopay. I think I’ll do that Monday or Tuesday and put it on autopay for next year. It makes things much easier for me.

Our PGE bill went down to the lowest it will be at $163. That’s with no coolers, no heaters, just the dryer some of the time. We line dry what we can this time of year, but still need to fluff in the dryer. We’re on the balanced payment plan, so we pay the average for the year, which is @ $300 a month. Quite high for such a small house.

Regular groceries came in at under $600, so I’m pleased with that. This time, I went back through receipts and took off long-term pantry items, and it made a difference in how the grocery bill looked. For example, the organic ground beef is almost $20, but that will last over 5 months, as we don’t use that much. Same with toothpaste, which is a 5-pack, so 5 months probably. Anyway, I was pleased.

We did pick up the VW. My daughter put a big chunk on her CC, and I paid $600 cash that I had in my cash envelope, for auto maintenance. After that, I splurged on a Quick Quake car wash for her. She looks very shiny now. It drove well. The owner of the auto place said there was some belt squeaking, but he couldn’t quite figure out where, so he said if it got worse, to bring it back in. I certainly hope it’s not another thing at this point.

After my Velcade shot, I went down to the gym since I was already in Roseville. I had planned to go into WinCo again, since I need Ball jar lids, but decided it could wait. So it ended up as a no-spend day. We ended up with 16 no-spend days. So all in all, I’m pleased.

Thankful Thursday

Posted in California, velcade by
  • Very thankful B’s hemoglobin was fine. But his platelets continue to drop, so that may mean a transfusion. Still grateful we don’t need to do that this week. We also had a good video visit with the Dr.
  • Grateful for my daughter and all the hard work she is putting into the yard. She’s doing the mowing and weed-eating.
  • I am thankful that my son is also doing all he can and is stopping by to check in on his Dad.
  • I am thankful that I still love pressure canning and my All-American. I made 4 quarts of vegetable soup and 2 pints of Ranco Gordo Marcella cannellini beans.
  • I’m thankful that I’m getting around a little better with my knee. My plan is to wean myself from my cane as much as possible. I’m also rotating doing PT exercises and the gym/and walking.
  • Very appreciative of the oncology nurses who give me my shot. Always kind and professional.
  • What are you folks thankful for in your lives? big or small?

Midweek Musings

Posted in Blood test, books, bread, California, cooking, home stuff, Uncategorized by

Yesterday was a busy day. I decided to go to the Roseville gym and library. I did a 30-minute upper body workout, so that felt good. I dropped off my books at the library, but didn’t get any.

I’ve been rereading the Harry Potter series and am now on the last one, book 7. I’ve greatly enjoyed rereading them. She does get a little winded in the last 3 books. Still she brought quite a character/story to life. Of course, she used lots of Tolkiens ideas, but still.

After that, I went to WinCo for a few things and then home.

Once home, I got started on pressure canning kidney beans. I had soaked them the night before, so I just had to boil them and then start the canner. It is a bit time-consuming, but once the pressure came up, I went and lay down on the couch for the 75 minutes.

Today, we are going to pick the VW and hopefully won’t be too shocked at the cost. Still, it needed to be done if we were going to either keep or sell. We haven’t decided, and with everything going on, I don’t want to make a decision right now.

This morning I’m pressure canning vegetable soup too. I have most everything prepped, but will wait till I’m back home to start the canner.

I also have a loaf of sourdough in the oven. This time I made walnut raisin. I added some cinnamon and a little sugar too.

The good news is that B doesn’t need a transfusion right now. Yay!! He has a video visit today, and I’ll sit in if the canner is going and I can just let it finish and then turn off.

Menu Monday

Posted in cancer, cooking, meal planning, Political things by

Last night we had corn on the cob and baked potatoes with lots of toppings and a small salad on the side.

Monday- I might do corn again, but on the grill, chicken sausages on the grill too. Boca burger for the veggie.

Tuesday- I defrosted some carne asada, and I’ll have that with a tortilla and toppings. I have beans too, so I’ll make up a bean burrito for B.

Wednesday- I have lots of eggs, so I think I’ll do brinner. Scrambled eggs, and I’ll do some potatoes on the side.

Thursday- I’ve been wanting to make some minestrone, and I got all the ingredients so I might do that.

Friday- Regular pizza night

Saturday- I think I’ll do another BBQ with steak and veggies. Tofu for B.

The week ahead looks good. We’ll know his blood counts by late afternoon, which will really determine the week. I have my appointment on Thursday, so I can’t do that day or Friday, but my daughter could do Friday if necessary. It’s wait and see again.

I’ve just finished my house reset and still need to sweep the kitchen floor.

Just a comment about Biden being diagnosed with cancer. He summed it up well, ‘that we all are affected by cancer’, one way or another. I just wish the orange man in the white house would give up his bashing of Biden. Biden did the best he could and took us out of tRump’s first disastrous term, especially dealing with the aftermath of COVID-19. Was he mentally competent? I’m sure he was until maybe this last year when the decline was evident. But look at tRump, he’s definitely not all there with his ramblings and impulses. Plus, Biden cherishes democracy, and tRump wants to destroy it in the name of righteousness. What a joke, a dangerous joke though.

Simple Sunday

Posted in California, home stuff by

The theme of the day is keep on keeping on. I went for a walk this morning. It feels good to even do the little I am doing. I made it to the school and back. The school is right next to the park and is about the halfway point of the park’s path. So it was a little over .5 mile. It was a very pretty morning with lots of Canada goose families.

Today is sheet day. We try to do the sheets once a week on Sunday. Some weeks, we get off schedule, but I like to keep it simple by doing them on Sunday.

I also cleaned out the fridge the other day and tossed a bunch of half-used things. I guess the giant pickle jar from Costco wasn’t a good idea:( Oh well, lesson learned.

I’ve been keeping up on my PT exercises. I’m doing them every other day if I do something else, such as walking. Although today I will do some of the exercises. I do feel it will help in the long run, and probably I will need to keep doing them even after my knee improves. I’m not sure when I’ll get to the pool, but hopefully in the next 2 weeks to try and do a small swim to start.

This week is my Velcade shot. So then on Friday I will be home as I’ll be on Dex. The rest of the week is open because we don’t know how B’s labs will be and if he’ll need a transfusion. I hope not, but it is a possibility, the way things are going.

I probably will plan a gym day at the Roseville gym and a library day. Perhaps Tuesday.

Here are a few photos from Mother’s Day.