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Frugal Friday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, camping, Lake tahoe, swimming, travel, Uncategorized by

It was a frugal week overall. All of June’s bills are in for the month with the exception of the DMV for the truck which is due at the end of June. The DMV seems really high but maybe trucks cost more. We bought the truck a year ago so DMV fees were included and we didn’t probably notice.

This past week was 2 grocery shops. Winco for @ $100 and Costco for @$120. So not too bad. Most of those things will last the month of June and were some pantry refills. I plan on going to the store tomorrow for some camping food things we will need like half and half, some bananas, and at least one salad pack.

We’re leaving Monday and I don’t think were going to hit traffic going up to Tahoe as most of it will be coming down going west. Tahoe itself will probably be busy but we’re not planning on doing anything extra except a lunch out. We also need to go check the dump station in Zephyr Cove as Nevada Beach campground does not have a dump station. We’re only there 4 nights so it shouldn’t be a problem. Still, we will want to use a dump station before coming home.

Other expenses this week were the birthday present for my daughter, stuff from Home Depot, and some things from Amazon. I needed some black-out curtains to hang as the sun is pretty intense in the bedroom and the entryway this time of year. I also bought a Hario pour-over set for Rubi. We usually do the coffee press first thing but then after we walk we’ve felt like a coffee so this will give us 2 cups more. It’s a small pour-over carafe. Hario is supposed to be an excellent product so I’m excited to try it.

Tomorrow is a swim day and I’m hoping the pool is somewhat empty. The other day it was absolutely packed with people even waiting which does not happen very often. I also thought to go check out the gym over by the library for using weights. I’ve seen the building but haven’t gone in and I’m not sure what the set up is but it’s included in my monthly fee so it’s worth checking out.

I don’t have much on the schedule today except work out in the garden shed some. Tonight is pizza night and I think we’ll order one.

Post Script

After 6 months of glorious walking without the AH, he showed up yesterday. I almost fell over:(

So here’s the whole story, I decided a while ago that if he came back, which honestly I didn’t think was going to happen after 6 months, I would make an overture to him. So as he passed by I said ” Hey, Welcome back! Where’ve ya been??” Nicely… So he turns around( he a very dark sunglasses on so I couldn’t see his eyes) and looks at me and says ABSOLUTELY NOTHING and then turns and keeps walking. I was floored. I really was totally floored by this. But he was here this morning and we just ignored him and he looked the other way when he saw us. I’m convinced he has some sort of social issue or a mental issue or both.

Simple Sunday

Posted in California, decluttering, Flylady, minimalism, swimming, Uncategorized, Walking by

A very pretty morning in the park and no one there but us and the Canada Geese.

Today I plan to do some reorganizing in the pantry, closet, and the Heywood in the kitchen. There’s not a great deal to do but a few things I want to rearrange. The closet( our only closet and my nemesis) is almost where I want it. I don’t want food storage in there anymore just clothes and seasonal things. So I know there’s a bag of coffee to move out and a bag of flour. Otherwise, I’m finally getting the closet to a space that’s not so crowded with EVERYTHING.

B got the patio shade cover up and it’s very nice and really covers the whole area. It’s 13×13 so bigger than most patio shade covers. We had some serious wind the other day and it was well anchored.

This week is quiet with not much going on except the normal things like swimming, walking, some grocery shopping( not much), and just house stuff. I’d like to do a library run maybe Thursday. Next Sunday is my darling daughter’s birthday so I need to ask her(again) what she wants to do. It’s hard to believe she is 37 YO and 37 years ago we were waiting for her to arrive. It was one of the happiest times of my life. I loved being pregnant both times. I did have a miscarriage 2 years after she was born as we were trying to have another baby. I was 16 weeks. That didn’t work out and after that, we just gave up on any infertility treatment. But of course, then the miracle child(my son) showed up 9 years later.

This week is Flylady bedroom zone but I did that this week as I had B move the bed and I vacuumed and cleaned under and around the bed. This week I’d like to change the curtains out to some light fabric but I’m not sure what I have around. I might need to go down for a quick trip to Ikea.

Back to our routines.

Posted in Blood test, California, Flylady, home stuff, Uncategorized by

Since Sunday we’ve been slowly getting back to our daily routines. B has been outside nonstop with cleaning out Rubi( the RV) and cleaning it (which it doesn’t need much). He’s getting the pool ready to fill which is always a process and he’s doing endless outdoor chores.

I’ve been catching up with my Flylady routines and seems like today I’m mostly done with everything. I might do a kitchen deep clean later this week.

I like routines and I do better with daily lists and that sort of thing. I always prioritize what is most important to do and get that done first. Today, I have on my list to get out the dehydrator and start drying herbs that are in the garden like oregano, lemon thyme, regular thyme, and tarragon. I think there is some parsley too that can be harvested. We are going to have a bumper crop of garlic and that’s exciting. I guess planting in containers works best for some things and then the earwigs and other things don’t eat the seedlings so they have a chance to grow. The garlic is in 4 barrels so that’ll be a big harvest. I planted the onions around them so once the garlic is done I’m hoping the onions take off. In the 2 big galvanized tubs( they are 2×6), we have tomatoes, peppers, dill, parsley, fennel and I’m not sure what else.

The asparagus we planted last year don’t seem to be doing very well. Only 10 have come up and we planted at least 24. Maybe the soil conditions aren’t quite right. B has already harvested some radishes that he’s growing in an old clawfoot tub that he’s converted to a planter.

I haven’t done any decluttering as of late because where the house is now, seems good. I’m still debating getting rid of some canning jars but since canning season is just starting I think I’ll wait and see what I actually use. I plan on canning salsa, pickles, tomato sauce, and, a few other things. No jams this year as we don’t eat a lot of jam and I still have some marmalade and pepper jelly to use.

Tomorrow I go down to Sacramento to see Dr. L. My numbers came back just slightly over high normal at 19.9mg/L high is 19.4mg/L. last month I was at 18.3/L so a fairly big jump. 1.6, but I’m not too worried yet.

Simple Sunday

Posted in California, camping, travel, Uncategorized by

We are home after a week at New Brighton SB. The weather really was outstanding and we left with temperatures expected to be in the 70s. That’s a perfect temperature for the Santa Cruz area. Sunday is always the and we whizzed thru San Jose and all the surrounding areas with very little traffic. Getting ready to go and putting stuff away takes about an hour and a half. We could probably streamline that a bit but overall stuff needs to follow a specific course: close the awning, close the slide-out, etc. We used the camp dump station for the first time and we did pretty good considering.

Everything looked great upon arriving home except it is much warmer. Temperatures are supposed to be in the 80’s all week. Still, the yard and house looked good and my daughter did a great job taking care of the stuff and she still worked all week.

So here are some pictures.

This is along the lighthouse trail in Santa Cruz. The rock formation was once a bridge.

This is looking back at the light house.

California poppies.

These trees are part of the Henry Cowell Redwood Park. Some of these giant sequoia are 2,000 years old.

Always good to be home.

Frugal Friday

Posted in Blood test, books, bread, budgets, California, camping, cooking, library, swimming, travel, Uncategorized by

It’s been an okay frugal week. Nothing great but just ok. Most of our big bills for the month are out and just a few more are scattered later in the month.

I had a good swim on Tuesday and the pool was very unbusy which is very unusual. I came straight home afterward. Then Thursday B and I decided to do Winco for a few camping things and at the last minute added in Costco for some camping food as well. I needed Raos to bring and Costco has the best price for the 2 pack. I also got some WW bread for sandwiches. I spent about $175 between the two stores. We also filled up the truck with Costco gas which is the cheapest around. We’re definitely looking at traveling with gas prices. Next week, going to Capitola shouldn’t be more than 2 tanks of gas and the same with Nevada Beach in June. But we’re definitely reconsidering Refugio because that is much farther away. For now, we’ll keep the reservation but still think about it. Then I went to library and got a nice selection of books. Oh, and then we had a lunch date at Celestino’s pizza, which is the best New York pizza around in my opinion.

I went to the nursery with my daughter and bought all our tomato and pepper plants and a few ornamentals for her back garden area. That was her birthday present. We were trying to get a birdbath for her but they didn’t have any affordable ones. The cheapest they had was $110. The last time we were there they had a nice one for $80. I guess we should have bought it then.

I had my labs this morning so I should get results next week. Fingers crossed. I’ve been having some pain in my right leg but I think I over-stretched it doing some yoga. It was better this morning but then the ache comes back ( kind of in the hip and upper thigh area) by afternoon. It’s always something.

After we’re back our next big expense will be having the septic pumped. We’ll call once we’re back. As far as expenses for Capitola, it’ll be a few stops at Gayles bakery and probably one grocery store shop. We generally do not eat out but I thought maybe we’d find some place for a lunch near the Santa Cruz boardwalk. We’ll see. I know we’ll go walk the beach trail so that might be a good day to do that.

Oh, the tree guys came and ground out the stump so now there’s no issue with going out or coming in with Rubi. Yay! He didn’t charge us which was really nice.

All things considered…

Posted in Political things, Uncategorized by

I can hardly believe the Supreme court leak that shows the 5 justices overruling Roe vs Wade. It is just so unbelievable to me that we are in this place in 2022. I marched, protested, and embraced woman’s rights in the early 1970s. 50 years of the constitutional right for a woman to have an abortion, what? gone now. What’s next? gay marriage?? All these right-wing conservatives with “God on their side?? Excuse me which God is that now ? the Muslim God, Muhammad? The Jewish God of the Old Testament? The Hindu Gods?? which is it?? Oh, the White Christian God! Pleeease, Give me a Fucking Break.

Men have no right to tell women what to do with their bodies.

Period.

End of story.

And to further the conservative conversation, the Republicans are the ones who DON”T support welfare programs, food assistance programs any outreach really. So go have all these unwanted babies but don’t expect any help from the government. Isn’t that about the sum of it?

Fucking unbelievable.

Banning books, banning CRT, which isn’t even taught in grade schools, on and on.

What has happened to America? Donald Trump, White Christian Conservatives who all think they know how every one should be. Straight, White, Conservative and Christian.

Fucking Unbelievable.

Cooking with Tahoe girl!

Posted in cooking, simple foods, Uncategorized by

Well, I decided to try something different so I videoed cooking a quiche.

It was lots of fun for me to do and I think I’ll keep videoing certain things like cooking and maybe some travel stuff.

Today is a lovely day and we are going to drive up to Tahoe. We haven’t been in ages ( all winter) so I’ll probably do some short videos. Anyway, it’s a new way to approach my blog, and plus it’s good for my brain to engage in something different.

My daughter has a tripod so next time I’ll use that instead of holding the iPhone.

Simple Sunday

Posted in books, budgeting, budgets, California, camping, cooking, Flylady, reading, simple foods, swimming, travel, Uncategorized by

It’s been a productive week with taking down the tree, shopping at Costco, swimming, the library and lots of cooking.

Out of the Le Creuset book, I made both the French onion soup and the cheese souffle. The french onion soup used a chicken broth as a base and I don’t think it had enough rich flavor. Next time I would do a homemade vegetable stock and/or a beef bouillon cube. Yesterday, my son surprised me after I got home from swimming by starting the Lodge and making biscuits and sausage gravy. We had fun together and he really likes Lodge cooking. I’ve actually never had biscuits and gravy and it was delicious.

Today is a home day with cleaning the living room zone and probably I’ll add the sunporch in. Actually, I think this week, which is a light week with no appts, I’ll do a whole house zone cleaning. I’ve done this a few times and I like it. I don’t do it all in one morning but 2-3 mornings.

I read Greg Mckeon’s book Essentialism this week and am finishing his latest book, Effortless. I liked them both and felt he has some really good thoughts on living simply and with your best intentions. I also read “Oh, William” by Elizabeth Strout. Very thought provoking, and written in a clever narrative.

Budget wise everything is paid for the month and the ginormous check for the tree is cashed. So it’s all good. I do hope the neighbor doesn’t decide to change his mind about the logs because then we’d be on the hook for them.

Our weather looks lovely and sunny for the next 10 days and then we leave Mother’s day morning to go down to Capitola. I still haven’t booked anything at Refugio and in October after were back at Capitola we are going to stay 3 nights in Napa at the Expo RV place we stayed in before and really liked. So I’m not sure at this point if Refugio is going to happen. I almost think I’d rather try and plan our trip to San Diego early next year. I’m not sure we could afford Refugio and San Diego. The camping spots are not expensive it would be the gas.

Update: I just got spot 35 which is on the beach and next to the one we had last year. It’s just as nice a spot as 34 although 34 is the best. Now we just have to figure out do we still go to Capitola and then Refugio or skip one. I think since we have both booked I’ll just wait on it and think about it. We would need a stop over going down and back.

I can’t quite remember when we got his poster but I’m guessing in the early 1970’s as the VietNam war was happening. Somehow this poster survived all our moves and was hanging out in the barn till recently. I asked B to bring it in so I could frame it. Right now it’s just on a bull clip.

Earth Day

Posted in budgets, California, home stuff, swimming, Uncategorized by

When we were younger, each year, we would go to the UC Davis Earth day festival in Davis. Lots of music, booths, fun for kids, great food items. It’s been many many years since we went but still, this is a day to honor Mother Earth.

Of course, this was our big taking down another tree week, so maybe some irony there but needs must. Here are some pictures:

The logs are on our neighbor’s area and the logger was to come and get them but then his logging truck needed a clutch so it has been delayed till Monday. But then our neighbor( who is a hoarder) said he would take them to cut up. ???? I went oh dear, to myself. But it will save us @ $300 because the logger does not take the trees for free even though he goes and sells them to the mill. So I guess I don’t care really as long as it’s not our problem anymore.

The crane operator and the tree crew were just amazing, as always. Now we just need to get the one opposite it down. It is quite a leaner but it’s leaning away from us. Still, it needs to go but maybe next fall if we have money.

I went down swimming later and it was nice. Then I went to Costco at 9am, and from there went to the library. By the time I was done at the library 10:45 am when B texted and said the crane was done. So all in all it took a little over 3 hours which is amazing to me. Well, now we can drive Rubi out no problem and big trucks like the septic truck will be able to come in no problem. It was pretty expensive but you really don’t want amatuers taking own a tree like this one.

So an expensive week.

Today is a home day and tidy up around the house. Most of the rain is done for the next 10 days which is good.

Here’s a picture of the Guster( Gus) the cat.( one of the barn cats( there were 4 kittens and mama) that are now 1 year old.)

10 year Blog anniversary

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I started my blog in April 2012.

It was really to journal my experiences with Myeloma and it developed into a blog about other things as well. I was full into Flylady and decluttering. I didn’t really equate that with minimalism till later. I wouldn’t say I’m a full-on minimalist but what we have is fairly pared down. Of course, blogs, like life have a way of evolving and developing. It’s fun writing a blog and I enjoy looking back to see what I’ve done in the past.

Onwards and upwards!!! Just keep going in other words.