Not what I'd Planned

Installing this bad boy today was not my plan, but such is life.  Yesterday, attempting to warm up some lunch, the frozen pizza bagels stayed frozen, and the smell was ozone, not pepperoni.  Dammit. It looks like the hanging bracket from the old one matches the bracket from the new one, so that's good.  As long as the top bolt holes match, all is good.  I can install it anyway, of course, but not having to fill old holes and drill news ones would be ideal.  Fingers crossed for an easy install.  I'l wait until Daniel's up though - this is definitely a two person job.


January is over  How'd I do with my resolutions?  I managed the discretionary spending!  I not only did it, but I have some cash leftover!  Daniel owes me a little bit of money, but I don't think I'll replace that cash unless I have to.  Nightime snacking - I indulged a little once the calendar changed, but I really didn't like the way I felt afterward, so I'm going to make that a policy.  The water habit has stuck, though.  I don't drink enough during the day, but that mostly is because I really hate the incinerating toilet we have, and the nearest flush toilet is down the stairs, out the door, across the parking lot, down the road, up the driveway, across the parking lot, though the porch, and down the hall.  It's easier to drink less.  The exercise still didn't happen, but my 'no-bread-at-lunch did.  Unexpected side effect, though, I carbed up when I got home.

For this month, a line in the sand.  10 lbs.  It's not a lot, it's not enough, but I'm going to weigh myself every morning, and get this done.  And week 1 - only fruit or veggies when I get home instead of chips, or a bagel, or cookies.  Plus water.  I wonder when Lent starts? (March 6)

I have backing. batting, and spray baste for the quilt.  That's my target for this week.  It's big, I'll need a big clear space, so I'll need to do that too.  I think getting this together is going to be about as hard as getting it quilted (not really😟)

FEBRUARY 0/10

Week 1 - fruit or veggie snack after work

What's for Dinner?

3 Roast Chicken
4 Grilled Cheese
5 Fried Rice and Eggrolls
6 Spaghetti
7 Chicken Pot Pie
8 Pizza
9 pigs in blankets
10
11
12 fajitas
13 Mac & cheese
14 meatloaf
15 Pizza

A better picture (and an edit)

This top covers my bed!  Laura wants a dark calico for the back (I'm sure I don't have that)

And Saturday's dinner MUST be Meatloaf!  (It's Groundhog Day!)

88 inches Square!

I don't have a good picture - I'd need a bed that *wasn't* covered in clean laundry for that - but the newest version of Concentric Squares is done.  Well the top is.  I do love this pattern, bossy as it is. 😉

It's snowing again - we got 14 or 15 inches last weekend, then a little rain, a little melting, and today a couple inches more.  I was out on the plow earlier to get the sides pushed back.  All we were able to manage last weekend was a single, smallish, car's-width.  The UPS truck?  not-so-much.  Better now, though, so we can handle a little more snow.  I need to do a little research to figure out how to tighten a cable, but that's inside work, and when I know how, it should be quick.

The crockpot's making dinner, I'm done sewing for today, and I've had a shower.  I don't need to go back out, I'm done.

News - Tori bought a house!  She's a millennial - how'd she manage that?!  Good for her, her mortgage will be less than she's paying in rent.  Her (accepted) offer is of course contingent on HOA approval and an inspection, but neither of those should be a problem.  What a kid!

And mom's hip surgery is a go for March 7.  Joanna, my boss, has already booked time off the week right after, I think I'll plan on sometime the week of March 20.

This week... hmmm.  Again nothing on my calendar until knitting Saturday morning.  Lovely!

JANUARY Discretionary spending ✔ Still good

Week 1 - Not eating after 8 pm ✔ yup

Week 2 - Extra 12 oz water daily ✔ It's becoming a habit!

Week 3 - 10 extra minutes of exercise every day. ✘  Didn't work.  If I don't get this done early, I don't get this done.

Week 4 - skip the bread with lunch.  (I usually have soup and a toasted bagel, but mostly I just eat the toast, and I'm too full for the soup.)

What's for Dinner?

27 Beef Stew & Biscuits
28 Grilled Cheese (or a fried egg sandwich)
29 Stromboli
30 Mac & Cheese

31 Fried Rice & Eggrolls
Feb 1 Pizza
2 Chicken Pot Pie
3 Roast Chicken
4 Grilled Cheese
5 Meat Loaf
6 Spaghetti
7
8 Pizza
9
10
11
12
13
14 Pie Day!
15 Pizza

This week

There's the happy new driver!  Daniel passed his test Thursday, although they should really have taken off points for him showing up 2 weeks early. ;)  We've been out a few times, and I'm remembering how bad I am at this.  I am not cut out to be a Driver's Ed teacher, that's for darn sure!  He'll learn, I doubt I will.  It'll be nice to have someone to send to the store, in about a year.

Scott still has no job.  I've stashed a chunk of green calcite to draw prosperity near where he sleeps.  Maybe I'll find some green candles and do the one week ritual.  Can't hurt, right?  It worked for me!

Monday night there's a Dance Party for the employees at work.  HR is throwing it, so HR has to make an appearance.  And that means me.  Ugh.  It doesn't even start until 10!  1 drink, show my face, and I'm going home.  I mean, I still have to be at work at 8 the next day!  Boss is on vacation from Tuesday through next Wednesday as well.  There's no getting out of this, so I guess I'll just have to plan to have fun.

This morning I decided to take care of the zucchini that has been hanging out on my counter.  And the half bag of chocolate chips, the handful of walnuts, 1/2 container of sour cream, the bit of Scharfen Berger bittersweet chocolate, the just past date 1/2&1/2... and the oven, again!, agreed to cooperate.  Not in this pic - the other dozen muffins.  Breakfasts for the week!  Those square ones are zucchini walnut, the invisible ones are zucchini chocolate chip, the scones used the sour cream and Scharfen Berger.  You also can't see that one of them is history.  😊

It's drizzling out right now, so any remaining laundry will have to wait.  I think I'm going to go see if the kettle I noticed at Goodwill last time is still there.  Maybe they'll have another pants hanger too - the GREATEST way to put away leggings and yoga/sweat pants.

This week:
Monday - Staff Party
Wednesday - Dinner with Allison
Friday - Pay Day!

Let's see what's for dinner this week - I've checked the freezer and I can get pretty far this week again with minimal grocery shopping.

22 Bratwurst, beans, roasted potatoes
23 Grilled Cheese
24 Pork chops, green beans, mashed potatoes
25 ravioli (Daniel)
26 hot dogs
27 Pizza
28 Nachos
29 Roast Chicken
30 grilled cheese
31 Meatloaf & pierogis
August
1 Spaghetti
2 Chicken strips & Fries
3 Pizza
4 Hot Dogs
5
6 Grilled Cheese
7 Quiche & Salad
8 lasagna
9 Baked Potato bar
10 Pizza
11
12 Grilled Cheese
13 Fried Rice
SaveSave

Weekend Update

Yesterday I picked strawberries, today I made jam.  I made one batch, Daniel made the other - and they all sealed, even the partial jar of leftovers.  Just in time, because I am O.U.T of strawberry jam, and that's a problem.  Problem solved.

I also installed an air conditioner downstairs - it's loud, but it makes the whining noise stop.  (That would be me, I hate this weather)  I intended to spend some time in the garden.  Didn't happen, but I did get all the laundry done this weekend, and /12 the grass cut.  It was actually longer than I would have guessed.  Front is done, and along the lane, so everything visible to anyone driving up.  Tomorrow Daniel can weed-whack around the raised beds and trees, and I'll finish the back (and on Tuesday it can rain)

I threw in the towel on the tee shirt project  - even with a ball point needle, new thread and my even feed foot, I could not get them to not ripple.  I gave them back, un-shirted.  I did, though, spend a little time making HSTs, and tree blocks, and they definitely worked. 😊

This week:
Monday - Band Concert
Thursday - Market
Friday - Pay Day!

What's for Dinner?
8 FFYS
9 Grilled Cheese
10 Pork Loin
11 Ravioli
12 Fried Rice
13 Pizza
14 Bratwurst
15 Spatchcock Chicken
16 Grilled Cheese
17 Pancakes & Bacon
18 Spaghetti
19 Hot Dogs
20 Pizza
21Mac & Cheese

And again, it's Sunday

I am not going to bother getting groceries this week, beyond cereal, burger rolls, and spaghetti sauce. We have everything else!  Woo!  And there's plenty more in the freezer for next week.

My new mantra is "I want to be out of debt more than I want _this_, whatever this is.  And it's working!  Now that I'll begin having a biweekly paycheck, I can start regularly contributing to paying down the debt load we have.  I can't wait to be done with it!  Using savings and credit cards carried us through the time that Scott was without work, and then again when I was, but both of those situations are done, so it's time to climb out of the hole.  I should make a ticker!

Jen at work gave me a stack of size 24 month sized onesies (what 2 year old wears a onesie?!) that she wants cut into t shirts if I can.  I have permission to make one or two sacrificial, proof of concept test drives.  She'll pay me, maybe cash, maybe free meals, it's all good.   That's kinda/sorta job one, and maybe I'll do that instead of going to VQF.

The garden needs attention too - plenty of weeds.  Early last month I cleared a lot of scrubbiness along the side of the driveway, and it has grown into a beautiful wildflower mini-meadow, jam packed full of milkweed and daisies and... this. It's pretty, and I'm sure it has never grown here before, certainly not in the abundance of this year.  It's Valerian - an herb whose root is used medicinally to induce sleep and reduce anxiety.  Could have used this 6 months ago.  Or last year... no worries, I'll harvest and dry some of it this fall.  Maybe I'll start a collection, a pharmacy of sorts!



Anyway, yesterday's rain spoiled my laundry plans - it's dry now, and the washer's running.  It's not sunny, but there's enough of a breeze that things will almost dry.  I'll finish 'em in the dryer to knock off the pollen and soften the towels.









This Week:

Sunday - Vermont Quilt Festival?  Maybe not
Monday - City Band concert & Strawberry Festival
Thursday - Farmers Market
Friday - Payday!

What's for Dinner?

24 BBQ Chicken
25 Grilled Cheese
26 Fajitas
27 Spaghetti

28 Burgers
29 Pizza
30 Cold Meat & Salad
July 1 Canada Day!

Weekend Update

Oh my goodness, I think I've been to the Promised Land!  Erin's mother in law Sue was more than a quilter, though she was definitely that.  She was a shopper with lofty ambitions and excellent taste, and I am honored to be the new caretaker of a very small selection of her treasures.  This looks like less than it is - those are bolts on the right, and that zip bag is full of 5" charms of beautiful Moda charms.  The small (not really) box is jammed full of light 1/4 and 1/2 yard cuts.

Under the batting are 2 pieces of upholstery weight fabric and a completely pieced, layered and basted baby quilt.    This is the top of my full sized freezer, and it is covered.

I am very very lucky, and inspired to turn this bounty into something good.  I will.

The home itself is beautiful - a beautiful house with 2 wonderful decks, a mezzanine,  and a magnificent stone fireplace, a separate cottage that was Sue's studio, a shed that was the cats' home, a greenhouse, and an actual studio that is now a shed.  It's the kind of place you can't imagine ever leaving.  I'd love to go back just to drink coffee on the deck.

Today though, is Father's Day, and I need to do some errands and pick up ribs for dinner.  Onward.

This Week:

Monday - ANWSD Food Service Picnic
Wednesday - Dinner for Farrells
Thursday - ANWSD payday

What's for Dinner?

17 Ribs
18 Grilled Cheese
19 Chicken strips (or fish) & fries
20 Baked Mac & Cheese
21 Deli Sandwiches
22 Pizza
23 Hot Dogs & Potato Salad
24 BBQ Chciken
25 Grilled Cheese
26 Fajitas
27 Spaghetti

28 Burgers
29 Pizza
30 Cold Meat & Salad
July 1 Canada Day!

June is Bustin' Out All Over!

Let's just throw some pictures in here, hm?  June, you're such a show off!  

We've had lovely weather this weekend, and the garden is happy.  Tomorrow it will rain, and the garden will be even happier!  I found the zucchini seeds and snapped these pics when I went out to plant them.  No just the onions, and I think they will go into a revamped herb garden. I'm taking over Daniel's space.  There's a lot of mint of various varieties, and it's run rampant.  I'll dig it out, plant it in a pot, then plant the pot.   It won't work forever, but it will work for a while.  That stuff is tenacious!  Let us all hope that cockroaches (is that the unkillable bug?) never develop a taste for mint - we're doomed.

I'm finishing inventory at VUES this week, then

maybe back to Lillian's on Wednesday.  Unless I have a job.  I feel like the interview at BHC went well, but I've felt that way before.  It'd sure be nice, ad I feel I could do a good job with it.  We'll see.

I'm going to spend a few minutes whenever I find them and get that binding done on Olivia's quilt.  *note to self, Next Four needs attention* My wrists have been giving me some trouble, of course they have.  My feet are mostly fine now, so it only makes sense that something else breaks. It's Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, I've had it on and off since I was pregnant with Tori, and I expect with bracing and icing, it will dissipate again as it always has.  Stacy is now a licensed Reiki Master, and she can't wait to get her hands on my wrists. ;)  That'll help too.

Anyway, onward.  I'm meeting someone in Midd in an hour and a half, time to get the grocery list done and another load on the clothesline.

What's for Dinner?
3 Roast Chicken
4 Grilled Cheese
5 Quiche (or omelets)
6 Spaghetti
7 Pulled Pork
8 Pizza
9 pancakes
10 Fajitas
11 Grilled Cheese
12 Baked Potato Bar
13 Spaghetti
14 fish & chips
15 (Last Day of School) pizza
16 Burgers
17 

World's Finest Cookies

Seriously.  And maybe I've already posted this before, but I can't risk losing it again.  My computer shit the bed a few weeks ago, and I thought I'd lost it.  Just now I remembered that I had saved it to the recipe file at the cafe, and it would appear no one's thought to change the password test, sooo...

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

(Adapted from Harrowsmith Magazine)

3/4 - 1 cup butter or margarine (not spread) softened, even a little melted is fine

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 cup shredded coconut

Stir together butter and sugars, add egg and vanilla.  If it is not a humid day, add 1 tbsp water. Stir in flour, salt and soda, then add remaining ingredients.

Spoon onto ungreased baking sheets, preferably one without sides.  (I line with parchment) and bake for 8-10 minutes at 350*

Last week happened without a plan!

Imagine!  (But a plan always makes me happier, so here it is)

We're eating out of the freezer mostly this week - I got groceries yesterday, and other than another mid-week gallon of milk, and pizza for Friday, I think we're all set.  And next week, maybe we'll do the same.  Funds are (I suspect) about to get tight again.

I think I'm quitting my job tomorrow.  Well, offering my resignation anyway.  As terrifying as the prospect is, I am truly unhappy where I am; I am leaping without a parachute, with no idea how far the ground is.  I feel honor bound to finish my contract with the school district, so at least I have a tiny reliable income until June.  Writing that down actually makes me feel better.  Huh.

Since we have yucky weather today, I'm staying home and baking (aka babysitting the oven), sewing, cooking - prep for next week and beyond.  I may not even get dressed!  I'm now plugging along on the X blocks for Braiden's quilt (pic here)  Four 9 patches, 4 plain lights, and 1 blue center square (at least) every day.  This afternoon while the oven is misbehaving, I'll start trimming up the trees so I can get the trunks sewn to the crowns, then eventually joined into 4 tree blocks that will alternate with the still-to-be-assembled x blocks.  That's all. 😁

This week
Mon - meet with Yvonne
Tue - 
Wed - 
Thu - 
Fri - 
Sat - Hair app't 9:00

What's for Dinner?

25 Chicken Cordon Bleu
26 Grilled Cheese
27 Pulled Pork
28 Spaghetti & Sausage
Mar 1 pancakes
2 pizza
3 Mac & Cheese
4 Roast Chicken
5 Fajitas
6 burgers

7 ravioli

8 chicken stir fry

9 no school - home  made pizza

10 corn dogs

11 steaks

12 grilled cheese

13 fried rice & egg rolls

14 meatballs & egg noodles

15 

16

17

18 Daniel's b-day (guessing Cordon Bleu)

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April 1 Easter

hoooo boy

Yesterday I talked myself out of applying for the open position at the High School - it would be a cut in pay and I just can't afford it.  My debt level is just too high right now.  So, I'm sitting tight at the cafe until I'm not.  Dammit.  I'll make it work.

Today I need to get groceries, return a package to Kohls, and then get myself home and sewing.  

What's for Dinner?

11 Roast Chicken

12Grilled Cheese

13 Pancakes (for Shrove Tuesday)

14 Chicken Parmesan

15 deli

16 Pizza

17 pigs in blankets
18 pork chops
19 quesadillas
20 meatloaf
21 Goulash
22 Bacon & Eggs
23 Pizza
24 Burgers
25 Roast Chicken
27
28 
Mar 1
2 
3 
4 
5 

Weekend Update

Ooooh, it's cold.  But I'll take -22º over 80º any day.  You can always put on more clothes, right?

Nothing new on that Next 4 list.   Plodding along.  I have started, repeatedly, a new hat with some found yarn.  Repeatedly, because it's knitted top down, and it's been too big the last 4 times I've started.  I think I've got it now, though, but who knows?  It's meditative, all that tearing out and redoing.  Call me Sisyphus.

What's for Dinner?

7 Roast chicken
8 Omelets
9 fajitas
10 lasagna
11 Ham & scalloped potatoes
12 pizza
13 Beef Stew & Cheese Bread
14 Pork Roast
15 Soup & Grilled Cheese
16 Fried Rice, egg rolls
17 Baked Ziti
18 Nachos
19 Pizza
20 Mac & Cheese
21 Crockpot Chicken & Stuffing
22 Quesadillas
23 Baked Potato Bar
24 Spaghetti w/meatballs
25 shepherd's pie
26 pizza
27 Chicken Sandwiches
28 Pot Roast
29 Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup
30 grilled ham steaks
31 Lasagna
Feb 1 pancakes
2 GROUNDHOG meatloaf!
3
4

Weekend Update

Weekend Update

Still haven't heard from Juli that she's received her quilt.  Sigh.  It's done, and I'm letting it go.  Jenn has her hats(!) I made another.  I've returned the knitting needles I borrowed, and everyone's happy.  Me included.

I've redone the Next Four list ->  

#1 Table Runner(s?) for Stacey 

Stacey has tables that need covering, apparently.  I have the skills to fix that.  No specifics, but when I get details, I'll get working.

#2 Braiden's Christmas Quilt
I want to get one of each block done this week, starting almost always gets me eager to finish.

#3 Concentric Squares
Look!  It's not only named, it's on the list!

#4 Daniel's Quilt
This is ambitious, and will likely get bumped, and that's okay.

What's for Dinner?

Did I fill the freezer?  Of course not!  But I AM making a wee dent in the surplus in there.  I made stock with the leftover bones from Christmas, I'll eat that for a few days since no one else here likes soup that doesn't come out of a can.  Now I just have to resist all the bargains I keep finding at Shaws!  It seems the guy in charge of the Meat Dept markdown gun has no shits left to give.  I regularly find stuff marked down to less than $2.  Works for me! (except it doesn't work for my freezer emptying plans!)  Appetizers for dinner tonight, then repurposed leftovers (mostly) for the foreseeable future.  Sundays I'll make soup with whatever I've got.  Today is turkey veg, using some of that stock, leftover gravy, some veg from the crisper, others from the freezer.  Smells good!

31 Nibbles
1 Quiche Lorraine & Salad
2 Chicken Pot Pie
3 Spaghetti
4 pulled pork
5 Take out (don't care, not cooking)
6 stromboli
7 Roast chicken
8 Omelets
9 fajitas
10 lasagna
11 Ham & scalloped potatoes
12 pizza
13 Beef Stew & Cheese Bread
14 Pork Roast
15 Soup & Grilled Cheese
16 Fried Rice, egg rolls
17 Baked Ziti
18 Nachos
19 Pizza
20 Mac & Cheese
21 Crockpot Chicken & Stuffing
22 Quesadillas
23 Baked Potato Bar
24 Spaghetti w/meatballs
25 shepherd's pie
26 pizza
27
28
29
30
31
whew!

Weekend(ish) Update

Oh, no Weekend Update on Sunday.  Such is life.  I'm off both jobs all week - hurray for sleeping until I wake up!  No alarms!  I do have to go in to work tomorrow, the Cafe has a new owner (or will when all the 'i's are dotted and 't's crossed.  Tomorrow we'll go over the menu, the register, work out ordering and such.  A couple hours work, I suspect.  I should make a list of go overs, but it's kind of already started in my head.

Update

Mom has her gift, Juli's waited patiently at her post office for almost 10 days until I ahem'd her mother about maybe picking it up before they sent it back.  No word on whether or not she likes it, but that's not the point.  When I give a gift, it's the recipient's to do with as (s)he pleases.  Technically, I haven't even been informed she has it (thanks Canada Post tracking number!)

#3 Baby quilt for Lillian's Granddaughter due before 12/22

Lillian and Bob have arrived in CA with a quilt I made several years ago.  As much as I wanted to make something special, there just wasn't time.

#4 Table Runner(s?) for Stacey before Christmas (I think)

This is not to be a Christmas thing.  (phew!)

I'm going to re-do this list this week.  There's going to be another 16 year old this year (nephew Braiden) so there will be another Christmas quilt.  'That one' is not it.  There's a few more things I want to get up there too.

And I finished Jenn's hat!  Woo!

What's for Dinner?
I really should spend this week filling the freezer with easy meals for later in the month.  Should.  Probably won't.  I'm also thinking that in the interest of saving a little money post-holiday excess, we're going to eat down the freezer a little.  I guess I'll need to see what's in there...

26 Leftovers
27 Ravioli
28 Burgers
29 Pizza
30 Grilled Chicken
31 Nibbles
1 Quiche Lorraine & Salad
2 Chicken Pot Pie
3 Spaghetti
4 pork chops
5 Take out (don't care, not cooking)
6 stromboli
7 Roast chicken
8 Omelets
9 fajitas
10 lasagna
11
12 pizza

Weekend Update

Juli's quilt remains nameless, perhaps it will come while I'm quilting it.  It's layered and on the machine right now, and I think I'll do it this afternoon.  With an extended weekend, I got all (most) of my chores done earlier, so today's wide open.

I'm also going to add a hanging sleeve to Forever.  I'm not sure why I can't find a picture of it, but I'll post one when it's properly hung, and not just pinned to the wall.  I bought a rod yesterday, a sleeve will take just a little time, and it will honour the quilt as it deserves.  Probably I'll have to clean up the bookcase below it though.  It's easy enough to ignore a little dust and a few spiderwebs, but once I see something, I can't unsee it, and I'm compelled to take care of it.

These 2 little aprons got done on Friday.  They're reversible, easily resizable (the strap runs through a channel) and were ordered by a teacher at VUES for her granddaughters.  They're quick(ish) to make and fun to choose fabric for; I really love that dogs on bicycles print.  I'll have to go through my old Craft Fair box to remind myself what I charged for them.  Material cost for both was under $20, with sales and coupons, and I end up with a little pile of scraps to add to my collection.  They'll be incorporated into future projects, no doubt.  There are 4 more Christmas quilts, at least, in my future.

The to get started.  Let's get this week down on paper, hmm?  No PT this week, and no other evening plans either, not yet anyway.

Menu
November
26 Sunday - Leftovers
27 Monday - Quiche & Salad
28 Tuesday - Meatloaf & Pierogies
29 Wednesday - Lasagna
30 Thursday - Chicken Fajitas
December
1 Friday - Pizza
2 Saturday - Mac & Cheese
3 Sunday - Roast Chicken
4 Monday - Grilled Cheese & Soup
5 Tuesday -
6 Wednesday - Spaghetti & Salad
7 Thursday -
8 Friday - Pizza
9 Saturday
10 Sunday
11 Monday
12 Tuesday -
13 Wednesday - Spaghetti & Salad
14 Thursday -
15 Friday - Pizza
16 Saturday

My plan to be winter ready is mostly in place; I need to clear a little more space in the garage, I need to put the summer tires out of the way, but first of all I need to get the plow on the tractor.  None of these cost anything except time, and my workload at my school job is decreasing this week and next, and won't pick up again until after the New Year.  The cafe load, however, will pick up until the end of the month but it's okay.  We'll be closing Dec 24-Jan 1, and I'll sleep then. 😁  I think this week, I'm going to aim for installing the plow (Tuesday after school) and enough room in the garage to pull the car in.

To Do
Plow on tractor
Hanging Sleeve on Forever
Garage
Put summer tires away
Jen's hat

What's for dinner.

The routine starts back this week, school opens Wednesday and so, thrown together dinners and laundry whenever ends.  (Sad face)  Time to drag out the sharp pencils and grid paper and get back to being serious.  Let's start with dinner

Sunday (8/27) - Spatchcock Chicken, roasted potatoes, tomatoes
Monday - FendForYourSelf (Back to school shopping)
Tuesday - *Dinner by Daniel (dunno)
Wednesday - Lasagna, salad
Thursday - Pancakes, bacon, fruit
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Mac & Cheese
Sunday (9/3) - Pot Roast
Monday - Hot Dogs, Potato Salad
Tuesday - *Dinner by Daniel (dunno)
Wednesday - Chicken Parm
Thursday - Meatloaf
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Pulled Pork Sandwiches

On an unrelated note (unrelated to food, because *I* am not allowed to use it), look what Daniel's been up to!  He's discovered a real joy in woodworking, and he's good at it!  This is "just" a few pieces of scrap wood that he glued up and made beautiful!  He hopes to make enough money selling this stuff to sustain his hobby.  Me too! 😀

Aww, Applesauce

I'm not so old to remember them when they were first on television, but I do recall seeing the Little Rascals when I was a kid. Not much stuck, but I do remember one of the little guys saying "aw, applesauce, Mary!" Toe scuffing, head down - I think it means "aw shucks." I remember it every time I have a pan full of Macs simmering on the stove. Like today!
Of the 1/2 bushel I picked up on Monday, I was probably 3 apples short of 13 jars. And my house smells maaahhhhvelous. In a few week, I'll get another 1/2 bushel of Northern Spys this time, and cut 'em up for the freezer. Yum!

Happy Memorial Day

We're headed over to Jackie's to watch the parade shortly. She'll make scones and coffee, I've just pulled a batch of Doughnut Muffins* out of the oven. Doughnut. Muffins. How could they be anything but wonderful? They are, in fact, quite wonderful. I know this, because one broke so we had to eat it.

*I subbed mostly applesauce for the little bit of oil in these, and think next time I'll use cider instead of milk.

That change? Never mind...

It's f-f-freezing again! After getting into the 50s on Monday and Tuesday, it's down to the teens or even single digits again. I guess it is still February after all.

Last Week

Needlework
find and prepare backing for raffle quilt
finish Jill's quilt top

Other
Monday - Gym
Monday - Coffee w/ Tracy re: ACS Daffodil Days
Tuesday - meet with Rebecca re: VUES fundraiser
Tuesday - Property taxes due
Tuesday - Daniel ASEP
Wednesday - Hair appointment 11:00
Saturday - Cubs Blue and Gold breakfast
Next week - Feb vacation!

Look, another top done! Jill's grandbaby's top - 36" square, and colorful, just what she wanted (I hope.) It's not due until April, I think, baby's due in May. But done is good, so done it shall be. With no school this week, I'll get the raffle quilt at least layered, maybe quilted as well. It needs to be done soon - the show is 3 weeks from yesterday.

After these two, I'll move on to Simon's, I think. I'd like to have it finished in time to enter it into the County Fair in August. That means getting it pieced before school's out in June. I think That's reasonable. Snail's Trail in green; I hope I have that Too. Much. Green. out of my system now with all these bright things lately. I'm not feeling that way anymore so it should be good.

I was thinking last night I'd like to do some lace knitting again - I have plenty of yarn downstairs - even some lovely laceweight merino and alpaca. Tori's been working with huge needles and super chunky yarn to make herself a blanket to take to college in the fall. It's superfast, but those big stitches and thick needles hold no appeal for me. Even worsted seems too heavy.

Scott bought the family the ice cream maker attachment for my mixer for Valentine's Day. Yesterday we unpacked it and stuck the bowl out on the deck. It hasn't been above freezing, and is only 16º outside right now, so it should be sufficiently frozen, I suspect. I've never made ice cream before, but there's heavy cream in the fridge so I think we'll manage something. Can't wait!

Next Week

Dinner Menu - Feb 20 - March 12

Sunday - Garlic Chicken
Monday - chicken noodle soup
Tuesday - fried rice, egg rolls
Wednesday - BINGO night - deli sandwiches
Thursday - BBQ pork
Friday - calzones
Saturday - Mac & beef
Sunday - Roast Chicken, mashed potatoes
Monday - Cheddar broccoli soup
Tuesday - Quiche and spinach salad
Wednesday - Spaghetti & meatballs
Thursday - BBQ beef sandwiches
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - quesadillas
(Feb 19-27 subject to change - February vacation)

Needlework
find and prepare backing for raffle quilt
layer and quilt at least one top (Jill or raffle)
Start a lace project.

Other
Monday - Gym
Tuesday - kids to dentist
Wednesday - Senior class BINGO fundraiser
Friday - Monday - pick up ACS daffodil orders
get taxes done
All week - Feb vacation!

I haven't forgotten, I just haven't had time

Well, something like that.

Today was cookie baking day here. Did I bake a lot? No, actually, but I did bake some, which is more than we had. Which was none. I had a few hours to myself so I cranked up the carols and got up to my elbows in sugar. Nothing really traditional, I don't like sugar cookies and I believe chocolate chips have no business on a Christmas Cookie plate. So. Shortbreads (traditional, melty buttery good, not too sweet) Nanaimo bars (think chocolate covered frosting), Breton Brittle (like the linked recipe, but with Breton crackers), and gingerbread (stars, not people. I was feeling contrary.) Also cranberry muffins and bran muffins. And soup.

And now I'm tired. I have to work tomorrow, and then pick up the cat, now completely emasculated and sporting a lovely new collar to keep him away from the sutures. He was fat and lazy before he was neutered, then he got fatter and lazier. Now that all the equipment's gone, will he turn into an ottoman? Time will tell.