Category Archives: Uncategorized

Thankful Thursday

Posted in books, budgets, California, Gratitude, reading, Uncategorized by

I’m so glad spring is in full bloom. All the trees are fully out, and it looks like OZ around N. CA. I don’t suffer from seasonal allergies, so the spring bloom doesn’t bother me. But with everything blooming, I think if you’re an allergy sufferer, it’s probably not so good.

I’m thankful the week has been mellow. Since I’m not driving to Rocklin/Roseville to swim, it makes the week quiet. Of course, I want to go and swim, but until I know more from Ortho, I’ll wait.

I’m thankful B has had a bit of an appetite, although not a lot. He’s been quite tired since the immuno on Tuesday. He had a video visit with the doctor. There wasn’t too much new to discuss. So far, he hasn’t had any side effects except being very tired. I hope it stays that way.

As always, I’m grateful for our SS, which pays our mortgage and bills. It’s not a lot, but it’s enough. We are looking at a major increase in B’s insurance that won’t be covered by his grant. I’m not sure how I will adjust the budget, but it’s $300 that will need to get covered.

I’m grateful for books and my love of reading. Reading, as a child, was my way out of an environment of poverty and lack. Today, reading brings me joy and takes me on adventures to places I’ll never go.

What things are you grateful for? Is it simple things? Or big things like retirement, travel? Curious minds always want to know.

Menu Monday

Posted in Blood test, bread, California, cancer, cooking, meal planning, Uncategorized by

Last night we had the TJ’s kung pao with rice, and B had the vegetarian Pad Thai from Costco. The TJ’s K P is quite excellent and a good freezer item. The Pad Thai was okay, but I only had a bite to try.

Monday- I’ll probably do something simple, like salad and tofu. Probably a tofu scramble since I have celery, carrots, mushrooms, etc to use.

Tuesday: I’ll make a pot of Rancho Gordo beans and serve them with tortillas, cheese, avocado, and salsa.

Wednesday- I’ll probably do Brinner with eggs and pancakes or maybe waffles would be fun.

Thursday- Soup of some sort. I need to look through the fridge/freezer and see what might need using up.

Friday- pizza, of course, but I’d like to use the free coupon that’s still in my wallet.

Saturday- TBD, if it’s nice out, I’ll use the Weber outside.

The cheddar olive loaf came out delicious.

Toasted, it is yummy.

Well, today is another home day, now that I’m back from my labs. I need to vacuum, mop, and I’ll do a few inside windows.

Tomorrow is a busy day down in Roseville with B getting his 2nd immuno and I plan to get gas, and go to Costco for a few things, and I’d like to hit up Winco for salad stuff. Buying the salad stuff from Costco is probably cheaper in the long run, but it’s just too much for us to get through. Plus, Winco’s prices are so low and so reasonable. His infusion is only 2 hours or less, so that’s perfect timing for me.

Menu Monday and the week ahead

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We had a delicious Spring/Easter dinner. The tofu came out so good. I joked that it was the Crisco I fried them in. The reason is that we had just finished watching The Help. And Minny talks about using Crisco to fry the chicken. We had potato salad and slices of ham. The asparagus didn’t come out great. I put them in the toaster oven, and I think they would have been better steamed.

Monday- I imagine we’ll eat the rest of the tofu for lunch, so I think dinner will be a light one. I will make a frittata with the asparagus I didn’t cook yesterday.

Tuesday- I plan on putting RG beans in the crock pot, and we’ll have that with tortillas.

Wednesday- soup- pasta fagioli. I have some vegetables to use up and a home-canned jar of kidney beans to use.

Thursday- I’ll make some rice and use up the TJ’s Kung Pao chicken from the freezer. I’ll do some more tofu but just grilled.

Friday- pizza of some sort. I have dough in the freezer, so I’ll use that.

Saturday- TBD??

I did put out a few Spring decorations, and I’ll leave them out this week.

Here’s the Wisteria in bloom.

I’m planning on buying a trellis so it can grow to the right of this picture, coming from that post you see. I’d like it to grow up the liquid amber that is right over there, but not pictured.

Because of my limited mobility, I don’t plan on walking or swimming, but I may go to the gym and do some upper arm weights. I need to go to the library anyway, and it’s right there. It just depends on how this knee is doing.

Simple Sunday

Posted in California, cancer, cooking, decluttering, husband, peritoneal mesothelomia, Uncategorized, Walking by

I miss my morning walks. I miss the morning routine and being down at the park with no one there. It’s quite difficult to not be able to go out early. I’m hoping once I know what this is, I can make a plan. I have the MRI scheduled for next Saturday. So hopefully by the following week, I can get into PT or at least have an idea of the timing on healing. If I remember, my torn ACL and meniscus on my left knee took at least 2 months before I was back walking and swimming. Because there was no trauma to my knee( like the last time falling off the step ladder), I’m hoping it’ll be quicker. I guess, like everything right now, it’s wait and see.

Today I plan to make what has become our Easter tradition. We don’t celebrate Easter, but I like the idea of a special meal, and for us, that is Southern fried tofu. It’s really just breaded tofu, and I make a tartar sauce to go with it. I will make a potato salad, and I have some asparagus to use up. I’ll do some ham for anyone who wants a meat option. I have a Mumm Champagne too. That always makes things festive.

I didn’t even put out my Spring decorations this year. I have some ceramic bunnies and chicks and a few other things. I guess with B being so unwell, I’m finding it hard to do extra things. I think I’ll go get them today and put them out at least for the next week or so.

I did go and drop off all my vintage Pyrex at the Assistance League thrift store. They do good work locally, and I like to support them with good donations. They seemed excited to get them. For me, that’s one less thing to wash and keep clean on a shelf. It was interesting that I had just watched the YouTuber, Minimal Mom, and she was talking about reducing inventory when you’re stressed. I think she was quite right about it. So in that light, I’m really looking hard at what I have around me that takes up space and that I don’t use.

Things are difficult right now, but I’m hoping that next week things improve. B has his next chemo at the end of the month, so maybe after that he’ll start to feel better. We can only hope.

Paint ???

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Well, after someone commented about seeing the high gloss paint on line in some stores in California, I got to thinking about it. So I went online to Home Depot, and it DOES say there is a quart of High gloss Behr there. So… today when I go out, I’m going to stop in and check. I’ll give an update later.

UPDATE:

Well, I was wrong apparently or told misinformation. The high gloss is not banned as far as the one employee at home Depot said.

It’s kind of hard to see but this is the semi gloss Benjamin Moore Simple White. All the rooms in our house are painted that except the bathroom.

So thanks to Celie for looking that up and giving me the heads up about it.

and here’s a cute Chester picture-

The donation basket is empty!!

Simple Sunday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, cancer, home stuff, Uncategorized, Walking by

A clear morning walk with the waning moon above. No one was around but us and the new hire for the park. We don’t know what happened to the other guy but it’s been around 4 months since they had a regular maintenance person there.

We drove the Santa Fe down to the park because the VW’s flywheel went the other day. This is what the mechanic, who fixed the starter, said would eventually happen. I guess we figured it would be a bit down the road. Unfortunately, we don’t have the money to fix her right now so buggie will just have to sit until we’re done with Stanford. After it’s fixed I guess we’ll need to decide to keep her or sell. Maybe it’s just time to let it go. I wouldn’t want to decide till after it’s fixed.

Today I am not going into the Auburn gym. I think my daughter and I are going to the nursery for some soil and maybe a few flowers.

Today is going to be sunny and the first real day of almost 70 degrees. I plan on getting the Weber out so this week I can BBQ at least once. I have some chicken burgers and Boca burgers too. Tuesday is supposed to be the warmest day.

This week is B’s CT and I have Velcade on Thursday. My appt is at 8:30 so I should be out of there by 9am and I’ll go over to the gym and library. Then Friday with Dex will be a home day.

There haven’t been any changes with my sleep apnea app on my Apple watch. It’s generally right above the elevated line. In April I see the sleep dr so I guess that’s when I’ll know more. I’m pretty sure I would not use a CPAC machine but who knows. Never say never, right??

Next week starts our new budget and I have most everything in. I still need to check my Allstate bill and find the due date. I think that’s the only bill not on auto-pay since I’m paying a different amount each time.

Well, off to start the day! What’s new in your world? anything? I think the reason blogs are so interesting to read is other people’s lives are different than mine and I do enjoy peeking into them.

Simple Sunday

Posted in California, cancer, husband, peritoneal mesothelomia, travel, Uncategorized by

A nice walk this morning with the moon shining through the clouds.

Today, I plan to go to the Auburn gym and do some weights. I went to the pool yesterday and was very lucky to get half a lane before the pool was overrun with college swim teams. I got my swim in and left but man, it was nutso.

I need to do up my menu plan using pantry items. So far for this week, I have baked ravioli( using leftover Costco ravioli and Rao’s sauce.) for tonight. I also have salad stuff to use. The rest I’ll write up later after I check the freezer/fridge.

Today, I need to dust again. With our woodstove going almost all the time, dust is a big issue. Plus, I need to water my plants.

I think I’ll end the blog here as there’s not much else new. Oh, we did add more days at the hotel when my son and I will go down. The one person from the Facebook group said her husband was in for 11 days and that’s considered very short. So that’s going to add up quickly but I feel like I want to be on the safe side with a room. If after we’re there it’s going to be longer then I could add more days. Right now we have Sunday through Friday. That Monday would be B’s 8th day so I really don’t think he’d be released. So one more thing to be stressed about.

Saturday Stuff

Posted in bread, California, cooking, home stuff, Pantry, simple foods, Uncategorized by

No tree guys yesterday. I guess they got busy somewhere else. They might show up today though as they do work Saturdays.

It’s another sunny day but cold. The rain starts to come back in next week. I like the sun better but rain is always good. The yard needs some attention so with the sun my daughter can do some clean up. She actually does all the yard work except the little I do. When B is feeling good he does a lot too.

I plan on doing a pantry challenge till the end of the month. I have a list of quite a few things to use/make. I have quite a few freezer things that need to be used.

So far I have:

1.use the tortillas in the fridge( maybe quesadillas)

2.the 2 frozen pizzas

3. black bean burgers, I think there’s like 3 left

4.beef burger, this is a question mark. they’ve been in there a while and I’m not sure if they will taste ok. I think I’ll try one for lunch this week and see.

5.chicken broth in the freezer

6. vegetable won tons in the freezer

7. ravioli and Rao’s sauce for a ravioli bake with the mozzarella in the fridge

8. check if I have frozen beans

9. use the sauerkraut in the fridge with beef hot dogs( I think I have a few Kirkland ones in the freezer.) otherwise I’ll do baked tofu wth cheese.

10. english muffins in the freezer ( maybe a welsh rarebit night)

11. the double stuffed baked potatoes( 4 left)

12. fish from Alaskian Fish, there’s a pice of halibut,rockfish and 2 pieces of salmon

That’s all that comes to mind for now.

This morning I’m planning on making a sourdough ( get it started) and then wash the mirrors, dust, and mop.

It’s nice to have a relaxed morning at home.:)

Midweek Musings

Posted in Blood test, California, husband, swimming, Uncategorized by

So 2 appt’s done and 2 more to go. I really hate having so many appts all in one week. But it should be over soon.

I got my labs done yesterday and then went to the gym and library. It felt good to do my weights. Today I’m going to the pool as it’s my only chance this week.

We did get the pizza at Round Table the other night. My daughter paid for it and she had a deal for one of them. B has something going on with his stomach?? so he didn’t eat any.

I did get pretty upset at him and yelled he needed to call the doctor. Well, he got an appt but it didn’t seem to be conclusive as to why he’s having some pain. Geez, let’s hope it’s not anything bad. I mean it’s only been a few weeks since his CT scan and the laparoscopy so I can’t figure out what it might be. Hopefully, he’ll just feel better because it’s a bummer.

It’s going to be raining for the next few days. It sounds like a good soup day. This weekend is the end of DLS so we’ll be springing forward. What a PITA. It takes me about a week to adjust. At least it’ll be light later. I prefer the light in the morning.

We watched the Conclave the other night and would recommend it. It’s not fast moving but it is so well done. With the pope ready to die, it seems a timely movie.

Then last night we watched the new Beverly Hills Cop movie. It was fun and it’s fun to see how everyone is so much older( like all of us).