Tag Archives: Pizza

Happy Spring!

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, camping, cooking, swimming by

Spring is officially here, and it sure is where I live. Northern California, in the Sierra Nevada foothills, is a wonderful place to live. All around the oak trees are blooming, daffodils are up, my wisteria is just starting to break out.

I’ve had a productive couple of days. I did go to the pool yesterday, and it was nice. I shared a lane, but the pool was not overly busy, which is always a plus.

From there, I went back to Costco to get more lavender plants, alas, they were all sold out. I stood there for a minute, wondering how they sold out in 2 days. So, I went and picked a few bottles of Sauvignon, a pair of workout leggings, and some salsa and hummus. I was back home by 10, so that was good. After I rested up, I tidied the house and then decided to tackle the outside windows.

I am very fussy about clean windows. maybe a little OC, really. I wash the inside windows in every zone when it comes up. So the outside ones are harder for me to do. I use Windex Outdoor Spray, which you attach to a hose, and it has a clean, rinse, and off setting. It’s quite easy once you get the hose untangled and ready to use. So I got them all done. I had to switch hoses 3 times, and that is probably the most time involved. I didn’t do my daughter’s room as her windows were open and she has the catio open to one of her windows. I’ll let her know she needs to close it up and do them next week. I felt really good about getting that crossed off my list.

Aftre regrouping I made some pizza dough using my tried and true recipe.

I made half the recipe for 2 dough balls. It comes out perfect every time. I’ll put the other one in the freezer unless my son wants it for tomorrow night. He’ll be staying here to take care of the kitties. Thankfully, they are all over their colds.

Today, I plan on getting the camp chairs in the car and getting B’s Mac Air in a travel bag to take with me. My MacBook died a while back, but this is newer and nicer. I don’t use it at home, though, since I have the new Mac my daughter bought me. I plan on leaving by 9am, and traveling on Sunday is always my preference since there is usually less traffic.

I’ll pack up my meds, clothes, and CPAP tomorrow and then be ready to go.

Next week, my daughter is on Spring break from the college, so I’m hoping we can go check out the tent trailer rental and see if it’s something we’re interested in. I don’t think we’ll know till we see it. I don’t think that place does trade-ins, but where we bought Rubi does, so we may try to fit that in as well. That’s farther down near Sacramento.

I’ve been reading some Agatha Christie books we got at the pet bookstore. She was such an amazing writer. I’m enjoying them and may pop out today to go see if there are any more there. Plus, I need some garden soil to repot some things. Yesterday at Costco, I tried to get the bag there, but it was way too heavy for me. Our nursery is right across the street from the bookstore. So convenient.

Friday News

Posted in California, cancer by

We made it down to Palo Alto on Tuesday in good time. 4 hours with one coffee stop. Traffic was ok. Our first stop was back at Stanford medical Center so B could get his labs. We got a little turned around (confused) as to how to get there from our direction but we figured it out. I wanted in the parking lot while he went in. it didn’t take long.

From there we went to where the hospital is and got a sense of parking etc. It’s an underground garage. Next, we decided to check into the hotel ( Sheraton) and they had the room ready. These rooms are discounted for medical patients at Stanford and we are very grateful. The room had a nice king bed and was very pleasant.

We were very happy with the room and B figured out how to park around the back of the hotel and from there, it was straight into the elevators and up to our room. I slept great both nights and weirdly my sleep disturbances were not elevated so I thought that was odd. So now I’m thinking maybe my higher elevations have something to do with our bed. Our bed is quite old and maybe when I’m turning at night it’s recording ( my Apple watch)this as disturbances. The hotel bed was very plus and even when I turned it seemed to absorb that. Then interestingly, last night, no differences in going to bed, etc, and my disturbances were quite high. So very odd and I’ll keep observing this.

Then we decided to go to a pizza place, Delpino’s, in downtown which looked good and not far from the hotel. OK, one tells you that downtown Palo Alto is congested, has no parking, and is a nightmare to navigate. We circled 3 times looking for parking after we found the restaurant. So eventually we found a parking lot(city) about 4 blocks away. It was so weird that there were so many people. Maybe not for them since I’m assuming they (whoever lives there) do this routinely. Anyway, we got the the restaurant. They had some tables for 4 it looked like but the hostess said, the bar was the only place. I could have made a fuss because sitting on a bar stool is not easy for me with my back, but we said ok. The pizza was totally worth it though.

It was expensive and we decided the rest of the time we’d just buy stuff at Safeway.

We made it back fine and watched some Amazon BritBox for a while.

The next morning we went to Safeway for supplies. I got a sandwich for dinner and some cottage cheese for B because we weren’t sure what he’d feel like eating if anything. From there we did a dry run to the hospital and found the building we were supposed to check into. We went back to the hotel for a few hours until it was time to go.

We found the underground garage and parked(crazy busy). Then onto the Bldg 3oo. So many people. But we checked in and then B had to wait till 1 and then he got called back for pre-op. i waited in the waiting area. After an hour I was allowed to go back and sit with him till surgery. OMG, there were so many patients waiting it was somewhat overwhelming. Dr. Lee showed up to say hi and explain what he’d do. Then the anesthesiologist showed up and then 45 minutes late he got wheeled away. I went back out to the waiting area. It was a LONG wait. The waiting area was also very uncomfortable so that didn’t help.

Dr. Lee called me at 4:30 or so and said the procedure went great and his abdomen looked great. The chemo had done a great job he said. So he said surgery is on unless something in the biopsy shows something else which I didn’t quite get what it was. None the less I was over the moon happy. At about 5:30 I was allowed back in post-op. B looked good and was eating a snack pack they had brought him. He hadn’t had food since the night before at 6pm. So then we had to just wait as is protocol for 2 hours.

We finally left at 7pm. I had to go get the car and meet him out front as he was in the wheelchair. By then it was raining, so not fun.

We got back to the hotel and I had half my sandwich. He had some fruit and crackers.

All was good and he wasn’t in too much pain. They had given him an oxycontin before he left.

The next morning it was raining and we loaded up the car and headed out. Traffic was heavy in Palo Alto but we reversed how we got there and by the time we were changing from 92 to the bridge and then 280 traffic was moving along. So there were no slow downs and I didn’t get confused once about what road to take. The rain stopped somewhere after an hour.

It was a great drive home.

today, He’s doing well, not much pain he said. The incisions are very small and we just have to watch for infection. All good at least right now.

We have to get his prescription for the pain meds but that’s it.

Simple Sunday and blog anniversary

Posted in bread, California, cooking, Flylady, Myeloma by

I started my blog in April 2012. I really wanted to document how my life with Multiple Myeloma was. At that point, I had been on Revlimid for 2 years and would stay on that for 3 more years till it was no longer working.

I had already begun becoming more minimalist and had been decluttering using Flylady for a few years. I mostly wanted to journal using the blog as the forum because writing( in a notebook), a journal never appealed to me. It’s been a fun outlet for me. So here I am 11 years into blogging and about ready to start another round of Chemo( well, I hope not till fall).

Spring has sprung here in Northern California and it’s been quite nice. The trees are starting to pop out and our white camelia tree is blooming( very late I may add). We had the Ooni fired up for Friday night pizza and last night used the charcoal Weber for chicken and veggie dogs. Tonight, I plan on Spanish rice, chips, and Pico de Gallo, and some main dish. I might open a pressure canned jar of veggie stew.

This coming week is just regular stuff. I plan on trying to go to the gym and pool twice each. We’ll see. That’s a lot of driving so, I’ll just see how I feel.

I’m making a loaf of sandwich bread right now. I’ve been trying to not eat bread but the rest of the fam needs it so I used the Kitchen Aid and made a King Arthur recipe. My son thought his partner might like the Zojirushi so he took it down to their place. I actually feel good about letting it go. I guess the final question was did I have the space for it and really I didn’t. It was in the closet but now I’m using that space for something else. Plus, most of the bread I make is sourdough in the Dutch oven and I only used the bread maker for the dough cycle for sandwich bread.

I sorted thru most of my canning jars and I have plenty for this season. I think I’ll buy some lids though so I have extra. Probably Winco is the best place to get them.

Well, I’m off to finish the bedroom zone and get the bread in the oven.

Frugal Friday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, home stuff, meal planning, travel, Uncategorized by

Going over to Napa and spending relatively freely wasn’t frugal by any means. But we ticked off the boxes of what we wanted to do and it was fun for us. Since we generally do not go out to eat or buy expensive wines( ok, expensive to us is like $15 a bottle) it was an adventure.

It’s SNOWING right now. We decided to walk anyway and it was magical. Big fluffy snowflakes, the park all white, the white crane against the snow. Magical. Of course, that means no swim or gym day. But that’s ok, it is what it is. I’ll try for tomorrow. If it’s just raining, I’ll go. Right now I-80 is closed in both directions so if it opens up the freeway will probably be busy.

That’s the grey heron. The white one flew off across the pond.

One good thing is won’t have to go for any groceries except half and half. Both our containers of cream went off before their buy date. Weird. Plus I bought them both down at our Holiday Market. I have some milk so that’ll work for now. I’ll probably plan a Winco trip or Trader Joe’s for next week after a swim morning.

I started a big batch of pizza dough and will use one ball tonight and freeze the rest. I think I need to make some sauce though.

I’ve got March’s budget done. Everything looks about the same. I might pay the property tax just to get it done since I have the money in our annual bills account.

The (hoarder ) neighbor’s house has had some activity with a junk removal truck there at least 2x’s that we saw. I really do wonder what happened. I know she was quite unwell physically but to live in that garbage that we saw all over the floors is pretty awful. Would it be an eviction if the house was condemned? It’s sad really. I think that her home health aide, that was there at least 3x a week if not every day, would have called a family member or something so she could have gotten the help she needed. Years ago when she was an oxycodone addict we tried to help and offered to clean out some things and she refused. That was over 10 years ago or so.

Well, it’s still snowing. I swished the bathroom, started the sheets in the washer, did the pizza dough and am having the Eufy (the robotic vacuum) an inexpensive version of the Roomba vacuum the floors. I saw this on the Non Consumer’s advocate’s blog. And if she bought it she must have thought it a good thing as she NEVER buys anything if she doesn’t have to. I will say it does do a darn good job. It runs about $140. I think she got a sale and bought it for $99.

Frugal Friday

Posted in bread, budgets, cash envelopes, cooking by

We went to Costco yesterday and spent just under $400. That included clothes for B( sweatpants and sweatshirt), and lots of nonfood items, like my Krill oil pills( expensive even on sale) $20. The regular stuff of coffee, bagels, cheese, veggies, bananas, and some frozen food. All in all, it was a good shop. That’s probably all I’ll do for a few weeks with exception of milk, half and half, and wine or maybe something nice for Valentine’s Day.

After Costco, we had our Date Thursday and went to our favorite Mexican restaurant. We hadn’t been there in at least 6 months. So that was fun to do. I’m using a cash envelope for ‘dates’ and that’s how we paid.

Today I’ve been pottering here and there around the house. I moved my Ficus Tree to the LR where it can get more light. I started another sourdough loaf. Tidyed the kitchen and swished the bathroom. I’m trying to figure out a different way to slice my boules. I looked up a bread slicer and saw a few under a hundred that could also slice meat and cheese. It seems like it would certainly save money in the long run. When I buy deli meat it’s usually turkey or ham and since it’s Boars head it runs $17 a pound so it’s pricey. When I was in Costco I looked at their turkey breast (cooked) and it came in at About $17-20 for 4 lbs. So that would be a huge savings. I am also going to check the price of a turkey breast that I could cook myself. I just don’t want something with lots of sodium.

Tonight I’ll make a homemade pizza since last week we ordered takeout. That’s probably all that I’ll do this month. When we’re in Napa we will go out to eat but that comes under travel.

I plan on looking at our taxes again this weekend. I guess the middle class refund we got last year is confusing. It won’t be taxed by Caliornia but for the federal government it isn’t decided or something like that. I plan on just putting it under the 1099 and see if it affects our taxes. I kind of doubt it but I’ll put it in and see.

If anyone has any suggestions about a meat/bread slicer let me know or cooking just a turkey breast to slice up. I was also looking at an electric knife which some bread makers suggested so that’s an option too. An electric knife would be cheaper than a slicer. Does anyone have an opinion on an electric knife for cutting sourdough bread?

Frugal Friday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, cooking, Myeloma, Pantry, Uncategorized by

It’s almost the end of January and the pantry challenge is going great. I will continue into February. I’ve come in @ $400 in groceries for the month. For the four of us, that’s really good. The pantry and the freezer are decreasing so that’s a good thing. I still have quite a bit to use up.

Last night I made Sole Milanese.(Ina Garten recipe) I made way too much but that’s what was in the freezer bag. Note to self: (portion out the fish better). Tonight is usually pizza night but no one feels like that so I think I’ll just do a simple pasta dish. Here’s the pizza from last week. I’m looking forward to using the Ooni outside when the weather changes.

I have February’s budget done and in place. I plan on looking at starting taxes this next week. It should be quite simple. I think we have all the things I need. We did get a 1099 for the California relief something. I guess that was a taxable amount. Not sure why they’d give you a refund and then expect it to be taxed. Oh well, who knows how anything in the government works.

We had our Date Thursday yesterday at Chipolte. It was ok. It seemed like an awful lot of people getting take out. I guess we don’t go out to eat very often so it’s always a surprise the amount of people doing it. But I am trying to get us to do one thing a week like this.

This was a sunset but my phone didn’t really capture the colors well. It was orangey and pink. this is looking west out our bedroom window.

Well, that’s it for today.

Friday things…

Posted in Blood test, California, camping, Gardening, home improvement, Lake tahoe, Myeloma, travel by

I’m using up the dex energy to paint trim and the french door in the bedroom. Most of it done. I’m planning on painting the window trim as well and got most of one window done. I’ll do the rest tomorrow.

I’ve got the pizza dough in the bowl doing a first rise and then I’ll put it in the fridge till later.

I’ve been very frustrated about not getting ANY camping spots at all. It seems everyone in the universe now want to go camping. I’m in reserve america at 6:55 am and clicking reserve right up to 7 when it opens up and POOF they are ALL gone. I’m guessing people with faster modems or computers are just beating my Mac. Well, we might not be getting to Tahoe again this summer except for day trips.

I did order the garden shed from Costco at $999. It will be at least 3-5 weeks before delivery so that’s into April I’m guessing. I think it will be most useful.

My labs came back AMAZING. Get this. After one round of Velcade my kappa light chains went from 660.6 to 45.6. Ratio went from 60.1 to 3.65. Even my Dr was impressed. So this cycle who know but it is good news that the myeloma cells do not like VELCADE!!! I know it probably won’t always be this hopeful but for now it is and that’s all we really have in the end anyway, is this day and this moment.

Friday things…

Posted in cancer, Uncategorized by

Gee, this week has been kinda weird. It rained so much and was really depressing.  Today is sunny but rain is due back this evening. But next week looks glorious with our temperatures back to ‘normal’ which is high 60’s and even low 70’s. Yay!! maybe I can finally get out to the barn or at least the laundry which needs some help.

Our laundry room is attached to the back of our house. The drain water goes out to water plants.  We use an environmentally friendly soap so it’s good. Plus there are only ornamental plants out there. Also, my chest freezer is in the laundry room and some supplies. I also keep our emergency packs there. Some photo albums to take in an emergency are also in a bin.  The whole room needs a deep clean and I’d like to repaint the shelves.

It has to be warm enough to be out there, so maybe next week.

Update on my sister and her chemo for Single Cell Carcinoma is she is doing okay.  Has lost quite a bit of weight and her white blood count tanked. She also shaved her head so that’s always a bit traumatic. Nothing says cancer patient quicker than bald head:(

On another note of drama…. tomorrow we will meet a half sister that my mother gave up for adoption in 1967. Pretty weird stuff. I honestly don’t remember much but I do remember her telling she had a tumor( a lie) but of course, I knew she was pregnant. All I can say is WTF, you couldn’t have used fu#king birth control.??? My mother was a lapsed Catholic and I think she was in denial a lot of the time. Anyway, this half-sister was the result of the union with her then long-time partner.  The adoption papers were sealed for 50 years and then last January they were released and she found us.  Truthfully, I feel it was better left the way it was but then I wasn’t the adopted child.

She and her husband have flown out from New Jersey to meet my brother who in fact is her full brother. I am totally ambivalent about this meeting.  But, we will meet here at our house and then go out for dinner. My older sister has met with a number of times since she’s in Connecticut. Anyway, talk about a drama or a blast from the past.

I’m off to the gym today since yesterday you need a boat to go out. Then a few errands.

I’ve been doing yoga again and trying to be a little more flexible. Back in the day, I did a lot of yoga and could do all the poses. Now not so much. I wouldn’t dare try a headstand or the plough. The book I used in the 1970’s is Richard Hittlemans yoga. 

Friday night pizza!

IMG_0273

Cheese and pepperoni pizza with basil.

 

Rain on the way!

Posted in Uncategorized by

We haven’t had a lot of rain this season, so it’s a welcome sight. It is fairly warm out 62 or so, so nice temps. It’s supposed to rain all day and into the night.  We might be walking in the rain tomorrow.

I went and had the wellness check and it was all good. Actually, the PA, was one of the nicest medical people I have met. Very laid back. It was a pleasant experience.

Dinner is homemade pizza. I bought my daughter a different gluten-free one to try.  Wheat does seem to aggravate her hives so it’s best to steer clear when she can.

Rainy Saturday

Posted in cooking, Uncategorized by

It’s raining in Northern California and snowing over the summit in Tahoe. It’s a nice change. We certainly need it after the destructive fires in the Napa/Santa Rosa area.

We certainly need it after the destructive fires in the Napa/Santa Rosa area.

I’m reading a good book today “The child Finder”. Very intriguing and I finished it in about 3 hours.

I’m making a lovely minestrone in the crock pot for dinner and we’ll have left over pizza on the side.

My new oven is like magic and seems to be cooking everything better. Last nights pizza came out remarkable.

img_0273.jpg

Cheese and pepperoni pizza with basil.