Category Archives: Flylady

Menu Monday

Posted in books, California, cooking, Flylady by

Monday-

leftover BBQ food from Mother’s Day, burgers, potato salad, and a veggie dog.

Tuesday-

Probably beans of some sort, either in burritos or tacos. I have plenty of pressure canned beans but I may put on a pot of Ranco Gordo beans. I have avocados, lettuce, lots of cilantro in the garden and I have some tomatoes to use for a salsa.

Wednesday

There are lots of veggies left over from the BBQ too so I’ll probably do a stir fry with tofu and make some brown rice.

Thursday

With the weather so nice, I plan on continuing grilling outside so I’ll grill chicken/tofu and probably do extra to have in salads or make a chicken salad. I will need to get some lettuce though as what I have won’t have enough to make it to this day.

Friday

I think I’ll hit the easy button and order a pizza.

Saturday

I’m guessing leftovers for a make your own meal night unless I come up with something creative.

I got a new cookbook from the library that has lots of good recipes. It’s America’s Test Kitchen cooking for two.

I don’t think I’d buy it but it is very extensive and has lots of good tips and tricks for cooking.

My menu plan does change often based on what I find in the fridge and freezer but I do like a rough outline of what to make for the week.

Simple Sunday

Posted in Blood test, books, California, cancer, cooking, Flylady, Gardening, Myeloma, reading, Uncategorized by

Another week has gone by and it was an ok one with Vecade and Dex. I had a hard time again with Dex and my BP so when I see the Dr in May, I’ll tell him and ask that we reduce it further. Right now I’m on 16 mg down from 20mg but it’s still too much I think for me. My BP was high all day and then started going back down by afternoon and by 5 pm was 120/82 so back in a good range.

This morning we had our Sunday walk and it’s very light out now at 5;50 am. It was only us and the geese.

There are lots of babies!

Today, I’m skipping the Auburn gym and going to the nursery with my daughter. We need to get the tomato starts and some other things as well. We always enjoy going and looking at the flowers and everything. I plan on going down to Maheny tomorrow so I’m ok skipping today.

I have my labs at 8 am and then I’ll drive down and do a workout and drop off a couple of the books I read. The Hannah Kristen, “The Women” is a phenomenal book about the nurses in VietNam. She obviously did an amazing amount of research. I’m not sure I like how she developed the character after she returns from VN. It seems to me she could have taken the character in a different direction. I don’t want to spoil it in case you haven’t read it, but if you’ve read it, what do you think?

This week is not too busy which I always appreciate. I plan on going to the pool 2x and then maybe one other gym day. Next week is the dreaded colonoscopy so the week will be different.

Menu wise, I’m still working on it. I’m going to make some polenta for tonight to have with black beans and salad. The rest of the week, I’ll need to plan. I do have some zucchini to use so maybe a ratatouile over rice.

The Flylady zone is the living room and entry ways. My daughter recently redid the one entry with new plants and tidied it up so I won’t need to do that. I have the red geraniums from Costco I can plant in some pots to put by the other door.

I can’t believe May starts this week. May is one of my favorite months as my daughter was born and what a gift she was/is to us. I think I’ve mentioned this before but we had been married 15 years before we had her and used a fertility drug to stimulate an ovulation. It worked like a charm so to speak and we were pregnant. Wonderful memories and I loved being pregnant. She’ll be 39 in May. Where does the time go?

Simple Sunday

Posted in Blood test, books, California, camping, cooking, Flylady, library, meal planning, Myeloma, simple foods, travel, Uncategorized by

Our drive home yesterday was rainy part of the way. Traffic was not too bad and we made it home by 2pm. Everything was good at home and the house was tidy. Of course, it was mostly only my daughter home because my son was off camping with his partner. He got home Wednesday.

We woke at ‘camp time’. Err, later than normal. I woke at 6am which is normally our walk time. I just figured,’ Oh well’, tomorrow is another day. I planned on doing the kitchen zone, bathroom zone, and bedroom zone. They are all done now.

I also did not plan to go to the Auburn gym as I wanted to do the zone cleaning.

I planned some meals for the week. Spaghetti with sauce, turkey chili with home canned beans, a soup night, a pizza night, a fish night, and a taco/burrito night. I’m keeping my menu plans that I write out and will write a monthly one soon. The monthly one is really for reference only as I pretty much plan many of the same meals over and over. Occasionally, I like to do a new recipe but most of them don’t make the cut for regular rotations.

This week is a mellow week with no appts. I plan on the gym, library, and swimming. Next week I have Velcade/Dex, so not looking forward to the Dex again. BUT, GREAT NEWS!!! My numbers came back in the normal range even with a tiny drop. Kappa light chains at 18.6. I’m over the moon and will continue to persevere. If my numbers stay in range by fall, I might ask about going completely off Velcade, but for now, it is what it is.

Right now it’s still cloudy but the rest of the week looks sunny and beautiful. All the trees are leafed out and I’m sure more will be out this week with 70-degree weather. the wisteria is ready to burst into bloom. All the daffodils are done. But other things are starting to bloom, rosemary, apple trees, redbuds, and the cherry tree.

I’m off to make some banana bread and then look at what books I have left from the library to read.

Simple Sunday

Posted in Blood test, books, budgets, California, cooking, Flylady, Myeloma, reading, Uncategorized, Walking by

We had a nice early walk in the park before the Christians started showing up for the easter sunrise service they do in the park each year. It was cloudy and it was sprinkling rain. We finished up and left before the drizzle started.

It’s still cloudy out but not really cold. I went to the gym and now I’m home deciding what to do with the day. I’m in the entryway zone so I may sweep and tidy out both doors. I’ve done a little more reorganizing in the closet and took out a few things to go out to the garden shed. I have some more to do in there. Once the weather gets nicer I can go out to the shed and decide whether to keep or donate. I have a lot of canning jars for this summer that are in boxes. I know I’m not doing any jams so the 1/2 pints will stay boxed up. I may use them for salsas or sauces.

We had a very nice older contractor come look at the bathroom. It was funny as he said his house was just as small and his bathroom is 6×6 too. So his assessment was to put in a basin on the floor and then tile up the walls. I think it makes more sense than putting in the unit. Plus we can keep the window size the same and not have to cut a different opening. He did say our budget was probably too small:( But we only have so much money and it’s not a lot so we’ll have to do what we can. I also was thinking of just leaving the dam thing alone and living with the tub as it is. We do have multiple grab bars that I use every time but??? I’m not sure that’s the answer either.

I had gotten the cookbook” Big Heart, Small Stove” by Erin French, the owner of the Lost Kitchen in Freedom Maine, and made 2 recipes. One was the lentil potato soup with a garden pistou and then her backyard biscuits. Both are excellent and it’s a beautiful book if you’re interested.

The handsome hubby enjoying his soup and biscuit.

There’s a few more recipes I’d like to try but most of her stuff is too fancy for me.

I’ve read a few more of Craig Johnson’s Longmire series and “boy howdy’ as he says, they are so good.

Simple Sunday

Posted in California, cash envelopes, cooking, Flylady, meal planning, simplicity, Uncategorized, Walking by

We started to go walk in the park when the rain came in so we turned around and came home. I actually like walking in the rain but not pouring rain and we didn’t have on any rain gear. We still have our Frogg Toggs but haven’t used them in ages. Oh well, I’m planning on the Auburn gym this morning so I’ll add some treadmill if my knee is up to it.

Today, I need to do my PT exercises, go to the gym and make a menu for the week. Yesterday I pressured canned chicken broth and got 6 pint jars. I had soaked some Rancho Gordo cranberry beans and then put them in the crock pot. I used the recipe from his book( “Vegetarian Cooking)for Pasta Fagioli, and it came out very good. There’s plenty left over for lunch today.

Tenative menu:

cheesy potatoes and chicken or Quorn Chicken and salad

quiche with Bourison cheese with salad

Soup night of some sort maybe french onion

freezer meal, I have a rice and turkey one that needs to be used

Pasta of some sort with my canned tomato sauce

chicken pot pie( that’s what I’m planning for tonight)

Mex night, either bean tacos or ?

Flylady zone is the Living Room and all I need to do is dust some and vacuum. I’ll probably also tidy my office some too.

We just got a notice from UHC, which is our supplemental health plan, and it will increase 11.7 %. That’s quite the increase, but honestly, what choice do you have? That’s almost a $400 increase for the year. Geez, everything is crazy expensive and living on a fixed income with no other sources of income, does make it tough. I guess all we can do is see where else we can cut some budget items. April will be expensive with Allstate due and property taxes. We also have the Santa Fe to smog and do registration. Although I didn’t get my envelopes fully funded, there’s some in each one and that will help. My goal is by next year to have these fully funded. Even if I only get half that will be a good amount so I’ll keep going. I really like the envelope system and it definitely is working for us.

Some spring flowers and a sleeping kitty. That’s Cherry!

We all decided we need to order lots more daffodils and different varieties for this fall. I especially like the ones that are ruffled. The yard looks very pretty with them in different places.

Simple Sunday

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

Another cloudy day but not too cold at least. I think next week is looking sunnier and warmer.

We’re watching Season 4 of Longmire and it’s a great show. When I went to the library Season 6 was there so I picked that up. I have 5 already checked out. I picked up 6 books and finished 2. One was # 29 of the Stephanie Plum series. Always good for a laugh. I have the latest on hold at the library and I think it just came in. Two were cookbooks so I looked through them and they can go back.

I’m in the bathroom zone this week so I’ll do that after I finish this blog. We have gone back and forth on the bathroom to either buy a shower unit or try and tile the whole area. Personally, I don’t care which, I just want it done by the end of June. After that, we’re going to pull out the kitchen counter and at least put in a new sink and counter of some sort. It may not be done professionally but it’ll at least be a start. If anything I’ll go with butcher block as that is somewhat affordable. If we had the money, I’d just hire someone to do it. We still need to go to Ikea and see their counters and make a decision. But first the bathroom.

Tomorrow, I see the eye doctor for the 6-month macular scan. After that, I may go down to the Roseville gym. It depends on how long the appt goes. I might go on Tuesday after my other doctor’s appt which is earlier.

If you want a good laugh go to YouTube and put in SNL and the spoof on the GOP’s rebuttal with the woman in the kitchen. It is pretty hilarious. Also, her facts were completely wrong about the sex trafficking of the young girl. Wrong president, wrong year, wrong everything. Why?? is all I have to say. Fact check, please. I guess they’re not interested in that, just misleading lies to put fear in people about undocumented workers or illegals.

Dinner is going to be simple, soup and biscuit sandwiches. That’s it.

Simple Sunday

Posted in California, cooking, decluttering, Flylady, freezer cooking, simplicity, swimming, Walking by

I was able to walk the .5 mile today again. So that’s some improvement. I’m taking it slow but still, I am thrilled just to be out there. I hope to get to 3/4 mile this week.

I went and did the Auburn gym this morning for the upper body. I’d like to get to the Roseville gym once this week as the weights are much nicer and there is more variety.

Last night we had a pressure canned vegetable soup with canned kidney beans and some sourdough garlic toast. Quite delicious. I’m planning on pressure canning lentil soup this week as that was one of our favorites. I might try canning French onion soup but not sure yet how much we would use that.

I pulled some random food items from the freezer to use in the next couple of days. There’s 1 ready meal of mushroom crepes, 1 chicken enchiladas, 1 pulled pork, and one rice casserole. So there are some choices for everyone.

We had quite a bit of rain overnight but today is mostly dry till this evening. It’s not that cold though so that’s a plus.

With Monday a holiday, I have PT on Tuesday. I need to figure out how I want to plan the rest of the week. I definitely want 1 swim day, 1 gym day and ? I also need to get to Trader Joe’s for a few things or Winco. I think one of us is going to have to hit Costco because we will need coffee.

My friend suggested watching the Longmire series on Netflix. But we don’t have Netflix so I checked the library and they had all the seasons. So far we really like the characters and the storyline. It’s certainly not a new series but in the same line as Dark Winds ( Hillerman series).

The Flylady zone is the bedroom if you’re keeping track. I just have some dusting to do and that’s about it. I may go through a bin under the bed and see what can be consolidated. Ideally, I’d like just one bin of things to save for the kids if they ever want them down the road. Neither of my children are sentimental about stuff like that but there are a few things I’d like to keep just in case. (haha, just in case).

The Storm is over for now.

Posted in bread, California, cooking, Flylady, home stuff, Uncategorized by

We made it through although it did get pretty intense for 5-6 hours. We didn’t lose any trees but they sure were swaying giving us heart palpitations. The rain tapered off but the wind kept going. Today seems to be a break and then another storm is headed in. I’m not sure how that one is forecast.

So yesterday’s PT went well. I do think the exercises are helping a great deal. I also saw my PC. He’s ok and does listen. He upped my Lisinprol dose as my BP’s been higher than normal @ 145-155 so we’ll see how the upped dose works. My guess is that since I’m not walking every day, or swimming, my aerobics are off, and thus, my BP. He mentioned that his wife has lived with no ACL for 20 years and is a runner. So that gave me hope that I’ll get through this.

I came home and did the kitchen zone. B had Bender going so the vacuuming got done.

I’m baking the sourdough boule this morning and doing odds and ends. I might make some polenta for dinner with tomato sauce. Since I don’t have an IP anymore I’ll make it on the stove. I’ve thought about getting another one because for certain things it is convenient. Beans, chili, and polenta were my go-to’s. But at this point, I’ll keep doing it in a regular pot. Maybe I can find one on Facebook Marketplace.

Organizing is not decluttering

Posted in budgeting, California, decluttering, Flylady, home improvement, home stuff, simplicity by

I’ve been on another round of decluttering. I don’t have lots of stuffed areas in my small home but I do have things that I no longer need or find useful. I didn’t make the connection for myself about visual clutter till way into my decluttering journey. Now I realize, that because I’ve always been a visual person, I need to see space around me in my home. That’s also the reason all the rooms of my house, the bathroom excluded, are painted Simple White by Benjamin Moore. I need that continuity.

If you’re just organizing your stuff, you’re really just rearranging stuff that probably needs to go. Moving stuff around doesn’t get rid of it. reI like organizing things using the container method. This method by Dana K White is about keeping only what fits in any container. The rest is decluttered. It’s a good method and very efficient at getting to visually see what you have in any given space. 

This month we took a bunch of things to the Placer Food Bank. Some of this was the ‘pandemic’ food I just knew I would never use but someone else might. Especially all the Mountain House dehydrated food meals that I thought someone homeless could use as they are complete meals. I still have a few random things to give them but I’ll wait till at least it’s a bag full.

We also took a load of ‘nice’ things to the Assistance League thrift. This included 2 pairs of dress-type shoes( Merrells, and Naots), and some other misc. I’ve already got a few more things ready to go including the Food Saver vacuum sealer that I haven’t used since summer and then it was only for frozen corn. I also have the beautiful quilt frame ready to go. I have it on Pay it Forward but so far no takers.

It’s important to reevaluate where you are in life and what things are helping in your space and what things are just in the way or cluttering up your home. I have decluttered pretty extensively since 2011( I checked an old file I had from when I started Flylady). So much has left my home and storage areas but it doesn’t really stop as there’s always something to get rid of. I’m a firm believer that the things I don’t need may benefit someone else. Plus, now being in my 70’s, there’s a whole other level to what I need/want. I need things in my home to be simple and easy to maintain. Plus, there’s the safety factor of how things are. We know we’ll need to change out the tub for just a shower unit and I’m planning on working that into a project for this summer. Since we only have one bathroom, summer will be best because we can use Rubi’s bathroom while we do this. The floor will need to be redone and sink, toilet while we’re at it. Of course, this is going to have to be budgeted for. But what we do know is the tub needs to go for safety.

We still have some boxes of photos to go through. B has been putting some on the cloud to preserve them. I also have gone through these boxes previously and gotten rid of tons of photos that were duplicates, of random nature pictures, and just blurry or strange.

Once the weather changes, I’ll go back out to the barn and clean the restaurant shelves, and decide what to do with the empty bins. There are maybe 8 bins or so. I might take some of the older bins we have and switch to these as they are smaller in size and fit those shelves perfectly. But, we are in a rainy period here in Northern California so it might be a while. The next week is forecast to be raining off and on.

Simple Sunday

Posted in budgets, California, cooking, decluttering, Flylady, Pantry, Uncategorized by

Wow, lots of rain yesterday. This morning is still a little drizzly. Sadly, there is no Sunday walk but once I see the PT I’ll ask if I can even do a little. I don’t see them till near the end of the month unless there’s a cancellation. Definitely difficult for me but also don’t want my knee to buckle and then if I fall cause some other problem.

We did venture out in the rain to get the monthly Costco done. I was quite surprised it wasn’t packed. We found a place to park near the entrance and had no problem going down the aisles. We even got to the register without waiting. By the time we were leaving though cars were circling the parking lot because of the pouring rain.

Today I plan on doing the Flylady zone of the bathroom and I’ll add the bedroom too. I usually do these together as both don’t take very long. I also want to write down the meal plan for the week and see what needs using. We had freezer stuffed peppers last night and I also have some chicken enchiladas that I took out so I’ll have those tonight. I have some rice so I thought I’d make my favorite Greek lemon rice soup. Plus I have a lot of Meyer lemons that were given to me to use.

I have put a few things on Facebook market place I’m not using to try and sell. One is the Food Saver vacuum thing. If it doesn’t sell then I’ll put in a box for the Assistance League thrift store. My food saver hasn’t been used this year except when I did the corn this summer. I can just use ziploc bags for that this summer. I did use it when we were in the pandemic for oats and such but now I’m not interested in that kind of food storage. We gave the food bank all the Mountain House food I’d gotten during the pandemic and lots of cans of things I don’t need. That felt good to do that. The barn pantry now is officially closed and I’ll only keep bulk items in the house either in my jars or in the 2 under the bed bins. I still have plenty of beans, rice and canned goods plus my own shelf stable foods I canned. I’ll have to think about what might need to get stored out there as I have the nice bins I bought for food and I’d like to see them used for something.

This just arrived from Williams Sonoma. It’s my Christmas present from my daughter. I’ve been using it constantly and it’s really great. The rice came out perfectly. If you’re going to invest in Staub, be sure to wait for the sales. Most of the time you can get 50% off if it’s around Christmas.

This week I’m planning the gym once if I feel my knee can get me in there and I need to drop books off at the library. If I’m wearing the knee brace my knee does feel more stable.