Oh, Hi!

Hey, look what kept me busy last weekend!  (this is the back)  Laura's quilt is quilted, and the bindings on, and slightly more than 1/4 sewn down.  Woo!  I hauled it to the Bixby yesterday for "knitting" and stitched and chatted for a couple of lovely hours.  Nice.

I'll get it done this week, and then maybe get something smaller done to take with me to Mom's.  She's getting a new hip this week, and I've decided to take March 20-25 off to do my part with appointments and help general help around the house.  I'd like to take longer, but I just really don't think Scott's capable of being on his own for longer than 5 days.  Sad, but true.

Lent begins this Wednesday and while I am not a believer (in any religion) I like the opportunity to institute yet another reset.  A conscious reexamination of habits.  I'll think a little about what those habits are, see what needs tweaking.

This week - 
Monday -
Tuesday -
Wednesday -
Thursday - Daniel 1/2 day school
Friday - Daniel no school (PT Conferences)
Saturday - Daniel Super Saturday 😄
Sunday -

What's for Dinner
Mar 3 Pork Roast
4 Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
5 Pancakes
6 laz-agna (make 2)
7 Chicken Thighs
8 Pizza
9 Burgers
10 Roast Chicken
11 Tomato Sandwiches
12 Chicken Strips or Fish & Fries
13 Spaghetti
14 Fried Rice & Egg rolls
15 Pizza
16 Nibbles
17 Pork Chops
18 Daniel's Birthday (Daniel's choice)
19 Meatloaf (w/leftovers)
20 Deli
21 Mac & Cheese
22 Pizza
23 Lasagna
24 Chicken Pot Pie
25 Grilled Cheese
26 Omelets
27 Chicken Parm
28
29 Pizza
30
31

Just a little List.

Just a list this week.  I have tomorrow off, I'm going to get that quilt done.

Let's see:
February 0/10 (still  I think this one is a non-starter)
Week 1: after work snacking.  meh.  I need to be more aware
Week 2: Better Breakfasts - oh yes! Twice I took oatmeal to work and it was lovely!
Week 3: DO NOT BUY FOOD YOU SHOULD NOT EAT.  If all I have to choose from is healthy snacks, I'll make better choices.

What's for Diner?

17 Pork Chops
18 Soup & Bread
19 Fajitas (Daniel cooks)
20 Lasagna
21 Chicken Sandwiches
22 Pizza
23 Mac & Cheese
24 Crockpot chicken thighs
25 Grilled Cheese
26 Omelets
27 Spaghetti
28 meatloaf

March 1 Pizza
2 Burgers

Feb 10! Already!

The new microwave works great (and by that I mean, it works)  Scott wants to test drive the Potato button 😕 <-puzzled face so we'll switch up the menu a little and have Baked Potatoes this week.  Fine with me, I love baked potatoes.  This microwave has far fewer buttons than the old one, and it's good.  We never figured out how to use most of the old ones.  This one has popcorn, potatoes, and quick :30, 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00.  Who could ask for anything more?

The cupboard's open in this pic because I edited my glass collection.  It's all gone to HOPE, along with a too-big curling iron, some old shoes, and a broken-bulbed spotlight.

I have washed the backing for Laura's quilt.  The end.  Maybe I'll layer today - Daniel wants a ride into Burlington this afternoon to hang out with a friend and play video games, a quick trip to Costco afterwards, maybe Price Chopper, and home.  I'll throw a chicken on the grill for dinner, and call it done.

Let's see:
February 0/10 (oops)
Week 1: what even was this?  Oh, right - after work snacking.  Except for Friday, this was a success!  I think just being aware of what was happening made me stop it.
Week 2: Better Breakfasts

My regular breakfast is a bagel.  No protein, no fibre, no redeeming qualities except ease and yumminess.  I'm going to try something.  If I make breakfast a priority, maybe I'll be less apt to grab easy but maybe not-so-good choices for lunch and snacks.  I have stuff to make rice bowls and breakfast sandwiches and oatmeal.  I'm not really hungry until about 9, so what I make has to travel.  No worries - I can do that.

What's for Diner?

10  BBQ Chicken
11Grilled Cheese
12 Baked Potatoes
13 Mac & cheese
14 meatloaf
15 Pizza
16 Hot Dogs
17 Pork Chops
18 Soup & Bread
19 Fajitas (Daniel cooks)
20 Lasagna
21 Chicken Sandwiches
22 Pizza
23 Mac & Cheese
24 Crockpot chicken thighs
25 Grilled Cheese
26 Omelets
27 Spaghetti
28 meatloaf

March 1 Pizza
2 

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

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

SNOW!!

We're in the middle of a huge snow dump.  I think we're solidly over a foot already, and it'll keep coming for a few more hours.  I believe the forecast says it'll knock off this afternoon, Daniel and I will get out and clear it then.  He's got no school tomorrow or Tuesday, so as long as I can get out, we're good.  We have a freezer full of food, an extra gallon of milk, lots of toilet paper, and we have a puzzle

It's been quite a week.  Ugh.  On Tuesday morning, as I drove in to work, I noticed a State Trooper vehicle parked on the lawn in front of one of the houses on property.  Odd, but not concerning, I thought.  As it turns out, I was wrong.  Our dear friend Angela, who's been at the Harbor for years, seasonally, had died, I believe in her sleep.  We are a small crew through the winter and her death hit many of us very, very hard.  She had just celebrated her 45th birthday, the day before my 55th, and that timing shook me.  If someone exactly 10 years younger than me could die, then I am just on borrowed time, right?  Sleeping has been a little tricky, because honestly, I'm afraid I won't wake up.  I imagine it will pass, but Z-Quil is my friend right now.  The pain of those at work who knew Angela must better than I is hard to bear.  We had a grief counselor come in Wednesday, it was helpful, and agonizing, but it helped.

Mom, 85 and going strong(ish) has a date for her hip replacement surgery.  March 7.  I'm going to see about taking some of the week after off work to go help out with driving and such.  I'll float the idea here - at work it shouldn't be a problem.

Anyway.  January continues its status as the suckiest month.  11 days to go.

Once we come back in from shoveling, I'll get the second corner sewn onto Laura's quilt - I'll finish the top this week, I think.  I've got as many HSTs as I need, and maybe enough solid edge pieces - they're easy enough to cut if I don't.  

JANUARY Discretionary spending ✔ Still good

Week 1 - Not eating after 8 pm ✔ Still doing it!

Week 2 - Extra 12 oz water daily ✔ It was not so easy, but I did it!

and this week, 10 extra minutes of exercise every day.  Today, that'll be shoveling. ;)

Nothing on the calendar this week, except Daniel's haircut Tuesday.

What's for Dinner?

20 Garlic Chicken
21 Grilled Cheese
22 Omelets & homefries
23 Spaghetti
24 pork chops
25 Pizza (Robbie Burns Day! we should have Haggis!)
26 Fajitas
27 Pot Roast
28 Deli Sandwiches
29 Stromboli
30 Laze-agna
31 Fried Rice & Eggrolls

It's up to 8º! Practically tropical!

There's not a lot on the calendar this week, nothing on fact, until Saturday morning knitting at the Bixby.

Last week's resolution, to not eat after 8 has worked out just fine.  When I've been inclined to graze, I look at the clock, and then don't.  Easy peasy!  I'm going to keep up with that, but also add 12 extra ounces of water every day.  I was noticing how dry my skin is, and while lotion is a fix for the symptom, I think more water is a better fix for the problem.  The discretionary spending is also under control, and it's only the 13th!  Awesome!  Restricting that to cash only has kept my resolve strong, and has stemmed the perpetual inflow of stuff that just ends up going back out.  Hair cut's paid for, and I still have a little mad money.

I've been working on Laura's quilt in the evenings, and have now "only" to fill in the corners.  Each corner requires 48 (I think) HSTs, and 14 solid squares that will get trimmed into triangles along that edge.  That cut will be bias, though, so I'm going to keep them square until after the quilting is done. I'm about 60 HSTs short, but have enough to fill in 2 corners. I'll make them as leaders and enders as I go, and be sure to mix in new ones with the old ones so that there's no obvious before/after going on.  2 corners by next weekend is my goal, and I think completely doable since my calendar is mostly clear during the evening this week.

My range is slowing falling apart.  The oven is temperamental, the drawer has lost one of the side supports, and on Friday, the oven door hinge spit out a rivet.  I've started a little savings account that gets a tiny influx of cash every payday, and the payment I get for this quilt will go in there too, along with the Christmas check from Mom that's on the way.  There's a stove I really, really want, Let's hope this beast holds out until I have enough $$.

Daniel has plans to play video games with his friend this afternoon, so I'm not going out until it's time to drop him off. I'll go to Costco and Shaws or Price Chopper and then back home and back to my sewing machine.  I'm not even dressed yet, but the laundry's running and the dishwasher is full.

What's for Dinner?

13 Chicken Thighs & Stuffing
14 Deli Sandwiches
15 Meatloaf
16 lasagna
17 Garlic Chicken
18 Pizza
19 Pigs in Blankets
20 Beef Stew & Biscuits
21 Grilled Cheese
22 Omelets & homefries
23 Spaghetti
24 pork chops
25 Pizza (Robbie Burns Day! we should have Haggis!)
26 Fajitas
27 Pot Roast
28 Deli Sandwiches
29 Stromboli
30 Laze-agna
31 Fried Rice & Eggrolls

Happy (My) New Year

It was my birthday yesterday, so sort of a New Years do over.  My January Resolution is working out well.  While I *have* spent a little discretionary cash, it has been CASH.  And I have enough to pay for my haircut on Wednesday! Woo!  Now for a weekly resolution... no snacking after 8pm.  Since I usually take my breakfast to work and eat at my desk, not snacking gives my body 12 whole hours to digest and get hungry again before I start eating.  I'd like to stretch that to 13, then 14.

Tonight's dinner was my version of Vergennes Laundry's rice bowl.  I not only feel virtuous for having eaten so much healthiness, but I loved it enough that I am DEFINITELY going to figure out how to make this work at work.  Rice and beans and egg (HOT), cucumber, tomatoes, kimchi and guac (cold).  Maybe 2 boxes, assemble at the last minute?  I'm going to try.

I spent some time last week working on the Concentric Squares quilt for Laura.  I got a little more done today - I'm heading for 88" square, which is probably two more arounds, and then the corners.  I took several pictures - a camera lens is very honest about value, especially if you use a B&W filter.  It's remarkable how I can second guess a decision when I can't see past color.  But since value does all the work here, taking to color away makes it easier to trust myself.

This Week

Monday - Pizza & Cake at work! (we have a new General Manager and a bunch of January birthdays to celebrate!)
Tuesday -
Wednesday - Hair appt, 4:45
Thursday -
Friday -
Saturday -

What's for Dinner?

7 Grilled Cheese / Tomato sandwiches
8 Pork Loin
9 Baked Mac & Cheese (Daniel cooks)
10 Meatloaf
11 Pizza
12 Pancakes & Sausage
13 Beef Stew & Biscuits
14 Deli Sandwiches
15 Meatballs & Noodles
16 lasagna
17 Garlic Chicken
18 Pizza
19 Pigs in Blankets
20 Chicken Thighs and Stuffing
21 Grilled Cheese
22 Omelets & homefries
23 Spaghetti
24 pork chops
25 Pizza (Robbie Burns Day! we should have Haggis!)
26 Fajitas
27 Pot Roast
28 Deli Sandwiches
29 Stromboli
30 Laze-agna
31 Fried Rice & Eggrolls

Happy End to Quite a Year

I mean, I guess compared to many, many other people, my personal year has been pretty anti-climactic, but I am not sorry to see it go.  I won't dwell.

I've been cleaning my spaces - first my bedroom/closet/bathroom, then the stairs, hall, and 'kids' bathroom, then the kitchen.  Really the FIRST first, was the Christmas decor - I edited, Tori took a bunch, and the rest is on its way out, either sold or donated.  There will be more.

I think today might be the last day of sick - holy cow that took a long time!  I'm making Turkey Chili for the freezer / lunches, there's now Split Pea and Pork & Bean to go with the Squash and Beef Barley.  Soup for days!  I'm powering through the bits of leftover meat in the freezer, turning it into things I want to eat.  Like soup. ;)

Yesterday Stacey and I went out for coffee, and had Rice Bowls for breakfast.  So good, not a sugary fat bomb - I should do that here.  I could absolutely do everything but the fried egg and heat at work.  I wonder if there's a way around that, the egg is essential! ;)  Maybe poached, then punctured before I reheat.

And I've started assembling another Bossy Quilt (Concentric Squares) for a teacher friend who immediately fell for the last one.  Of course an art teacher would appreciate the work that value does. :)  Do I have enough HSTs?  Probably, but I have plenty of fabric to make more if I don't.

Tuesday is 2019, Wednesday I go back to work.  I'm actually looking forward to a return to routine.  Daniel, probably not-so-much.  Shrug, let's get at it.

This Week

Monday - State Vehicle Inspection, 9:00
Tuesday -  Happy New Year!
Wednesday - back to work, school
Thursday
Friday
Saturday - It's my birthday!

What's for Dinner?

30 Ham, Scalloped Potatoes
31 Nibbles
1 Bread & Soup
2 Spaghetti
3 Chicken fingers/fish + fries
4 Pizza
5 Steak & Baked potatoes
6 Roast Chicken
7 Grilled Cheese / Tomato sandwiches
8 Meatloaf
9 Baked Mac & Cheese
10 Pork Loin
11 Pizza
12 Pancakes & Sausage
13 Beef Stew & Biscuits
14 Deli Sandwiches
15 Meatballs & Noodles
16 lasagna
17 Garlic Chicken
18 Pizza
19 Pigs in Blankets
20 Chicken Thighs and Stuffing
21 Grilled Cheese
22 Omelets & homefries
23 Spaghetti
24 pork chops
25 Pizza (Robbie Burns Day! we should have Haggis!)
26 Fajitas
27 Pot Roast
28 Deli Sandwiches
29 Stromboli
30 Laze-agna
31 Fried Rice & Eggrolls

Weekend Update

Quite an exiting day in the Little City yesterday.  Two fires in 24 hours, and a busted water line, right in front of my house!  I've started (and re-started, and RE-re-started) a Christmas hat for Abi, Tori's partner, and have bought something to build into Simon's gift.  Santa's in the works, and then... Christmas!  Pictures, maybe, on Thursday.

I don't think I need a lot of groceries this week, yay! Daniel's getting antsy to go to the bank, so this'll be short today.  This week - just a work party?  Awesome!  One evening I think I'll put Daniel in charge of dinner, and go get an oil change.

This week

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday - Christmas Party at work
Saturday

What's for Dinner?

9 Roast Chicken
10 Soup & Grilled Cheese
11 Tourtiere
12 Laz-agna
13 Fajitas
14 Pizza
15 Pancakes
16 Ham & Scalloped Potatoes
17 Grilled Cheese
18 Nachos
19 Mac & Cheese
20 Shepherd's pie
21 Pizza
22 Burgers
23 Chicken Pot Pie
24 Lasagna
25 Christmas

Last week's to do list?  More like toDONE list!  Well, almost.

Braiden's quilt is quilted, and I'll get the binding on today (and stitched down evenings while I watch Hill House.  Daniel calls it the Creepy Show.  I love it!  I'm almost done, though, so I might have to switch back to Stranger Things.  More creepy, definitely not Hallmark Christmas movies.  
I have finished the cardigan, AND a sweet little convertible headband for Jenn.  I'm going to knock out a pompom hat for Abi this week.  Pics Thursday.
Tori's tote pattern did not get done,  But it will - I have some ideas.
Christmas party planning continues, now that Open Enrollment is behind us.
Craft Fair is in the books, and coffee with Stacey this morning was as enjoyable as ever.

So what's up for this week?
Daniel want to go to Quarterstaff today (comic book/RPG store in Burlington) and I'd like to return a pair of pants to Costco.  I need a few groceries too, not much.  Then it's binding time, pattern time, maybe even a little house cleaning and laundry time.  Those can happen while I babysit the oven this afternoon.

I realized this week that I was looking at my CTO wrong, and I don't have any days left this year, just a few hours I'm going to apply to 12/31 (and make up a few more that week so it's not a total loss.  I'll probably just send Braiden's quilt UPS (Canada Post is on strike) from work, rather than take a day to drive to Cornwall and send it from there.  It's cheaper to send it UPS from HERE, than from there!  Weird!  And it's okay.  I'm still contemplating a drive up to see mom.  10 hours... each way.

I hear Daniel up, time to get moving again.

What's for Dinner?

2 Roast Chicken
3 Soup & Cheese Bread
4 Swedish Meatballs
5 Baked Mac & Cheese - Sinterklaas
6 pork chops
7 Pizza
8 pancakes
9 Garlic Chicken
10 Soup & Grilled Cheese
11

Weekend Update

It's noon, already.  It's warm(ish) and raining(ish) and I'm feeling lazy.  I met Stacey for coffee and stopped at Shaws and Auto Zone on the way home.  Shaws for bagels, Auto Zone for the unsettling noise coming from my right front tire.  Turns out when I got my snow tires put on Wednesday(!!) the lug nuts weren't fully tightened.  The noise was the wobbling wheel.  Yikes!  *Someone* is getting a phone call tomorrow.

This week I need to finish.  Daniel's cardigan is close, 2 more (375 stitch) rows, and bind off.  Finish the sleeve seam, add the buttons, steam and block.  And I need to finish (start) the quilting on Braiden's quilt, so that I can determine what day I'll take off work to go up to Quebec (or Cornwall) and send it.  Canada Post is on strike right now, so it might be a UPS package instead.  And if THAT's the case, I'll add some booze and chocolate to the box and make mom happy.

Next Saturday is the Vergennes Holiday Stroll - Craft Fair in the morning, shopping events all day, lighting of the park and Santa's arrival in the evening.  It's a long, lovely day.  Daniel got some disappointing news this weekend - the winter Farmers Market has been cancelled due to lack of interest and some not-so-sportsmanlike behavior from some now-I'm-in, now-I'm-not vendors.  He's sad to lose the potential sales, but he does have the Craft Fair this weekend to sell his stock, take orders, and generate interest.  And the internet - I've recommended he get his website up to date, and I'll do some promo for him.

There's a pot roast on the stove, I'll throw in some potatoes and carrots, then head upstairs to get moving on Braiden's quilt.  It's already layered, I just need to jump in.  Laundry's done, the house is clean(ish,) I don't need any other groceries, and the yard work is well and truly done.  We had about 8 inches of snow a week ago (11/16.)  I'm feeling lazy, but the clock's ticking, and really, once I get started on that quilt, I'll just get it done.  The starting is the hardest part.  I've got a thought to explore for a picnic tote for Tori, and tonight, I'll knock that sweater out.  I'll post some pictures on Thursday.  Do I have work deadlines?  Nah, not really, but I'll include those projects as well.

To-Do

Braiden's quilt - get quilting done
Sweater - finish
Tote pattern (muslin? newspaper?)
Plan BH Christmas Party (12/14)
Friday - Open Enrollment meeting
Saturday - Holiday Stroll / Craft Fair
Sunday - Coffee w/Stacey

What's for Dinner?

25 Pot roast & biscuits
26 Grilled Cheese
27 Nachos
28 Tortellini
29 Garlic Chicken
30 Pizza
December 1 Deli Sandwiches
2 Roast Chicken
3 Soup & Cheese Bread
4 Swedish Meatballs
5 Baked Mac & Cheese - Sinterklaas
6
7 Pizza
8
9
10

Happy Sunday!

I woke up this morning raring to go - cooking, cleaning, maybe some yard work later today... and then I rolled over and slept for another 45 minutes. 😆  It'll happen.  I've got a load out of the dryer already, another ready to go in, and the next waiting for the washer, I've picked up groceries and have a pretty good idea of how my day will go.  

Banana bread, Potato & Ham Soup, Chili, Mac & Cheese.  To start. 😍  Vacuum, mop, maybe put the plow on the tractor.  It needs an oil change - I have a filter, I wonder if I have oil?

Yesterday was Daniel's first Craft Fair.  I think he was a little disappointed with how he did, but I think all he needs is a little promotion.  We'll work on that his week - he has another one next weekend.  While he was there, I had coffee out with Stacey, got most of my Saturday chores done, and then went to the thrift store (cheaper shopping than a craft fair!)  

This sweet little hand thrown mug would have probably set me back $20 at the fair - I paid A DIME!  I'll fill it with (I think) some little cinnamon muffins or mini cookies or OH!  Cashew Brittle! and give to someone as a gift.  I don't know who, maybe my boss.  

I'm closing in on the end of the second sleeve of Daniel's cardigan.  It went fast!  And then something for Tori, something for Simon... hmmm.   And then there's mom.  She needs nothing, she wants nothing, but she loves sweets and booze.  I think I'll look into figuring out how to get some chocolate and a nice bottle of Frangelico to her.

This Week

Sunday - Cook ahead lunches (soup, chili etc)
Monday -
Tuesday - Costco?
Wednesday -
Thursday -
Friday - Stacey's talk
Saturday - Daniel's second craft fair (Otter Valley High School)

What's for Dinner?

11 Mac & Cheese & Bacon
12 Grilled Cheese
13 Fried Rice
14 Spaghetti
15 Shepherd's Pie
16 Pizza
17 Pigs in Blanket
18 Beef Stew
19 Grilled Cheese & soup
20 Fajitas
21 Lasagna
22 Thanksgiving
23 Pizza
24 leftovers
25 *something in the crockpot*
26 Grilled Cheese
27 Nachos
28 Mac & Beef
29 Garlic Chicken
30 Pizza
December 1

Weekend Update

Hallowe'en 2018 is in the books (and all the candy is mine!)  We live down a long dark lane, and even full-sized Hershey bars don't seem to lure kiddies all the way here.  And that's why I buy what *I* like. ;)  Hershey Special Dark can go into scones or cookies.  Maybe today, actually.  It's Beckie-at-work's birthday today - we should have cookies tomorrow. :)

And speaking of work - one of the housekeeping staff brought me a bag of peanut M&Ms (my favorite M&Ms) and there was a heart inside.  I'd love my job even without the candy, but I won't say no thank you.

It has become much less busy now, but not quite so un-busy that
Joanna and I have had time to go over my winter list.  My list of projects for the next 4 months.  Tuesday one of the mechanics and I are heading up to South Burlington to retrieve one of the vans, and to drop off a pile of donations to Goodwill.  I'm hoping we can meet tomorrow, but realistically, maybe Wednesday we'll figure out my winter.

With the top of Braiden's quilt done, I'm moving on to a commissioned version of the Concentric Squares quilt, for my friend, and the art teacher, Laura.    This <- is 300 HSTs, 200 of them trimmed to 4 1/2 inches.

There are more sewn upstairs, but I think this might be as many as I need.  The diagonal measure of a four inch square is just a little under 5 3/4" and with a shoot-for size of 72"x84", I *think I need 225 of them.  I have plans for the extras - much of this fabric was a gift from the late mother-in-law of my friend Erin.  Erin has an 8 year old boy, and I'll bet he has a bed... ;)

Today will be my last garden day.  It's sunny (but cold.)  Empty the beds, empty the composter, clean up the yard, done.

This Week

Monday - Winter Project Planning (lets try again!)
Tuesday - Work trip to Goodwill
Wednesday - 1/2 Day school
Thursday -
Friday -
Saturday - Daniel's first (of 3) Craft Fair (Mt Abe)

What's for Dinner?

4 pork loin roast
5 Grilled Cheese
6 Fried Rice
7 Tortellini
8 Nachos
9 Pizza
10 Baked Mac & Cheese
11 roast chicken
12 Grilled Cheese
13 Fajitas
14 Spaghetti
15 Shepherd's Pie
16 Pizza
17 Pigs in Blanket
18 Beef Stew
19 Grilled Cheese & soup
20
21
22 Thanksgiving
23 Pizza
24 leftovers
25

Week ending. Please.

It's raining, and it's cold.  I've been out for coffee, I've been to the farmstand, to Michael's, to the bagel place, to Shaw's, and to Costco.  There's laundry in the washer and in the dryer and the kitchen is tidy.  I'm done.  I've got my yoga pants on and I'm going to head upstairs and sew for a little while, then knit some, read some... maybe take a nap...

At work, the free food train has left the station, so I'll have to start packing a lunch.  Going out or ordering in is NOT an option, we're a 15 minute drive from anywhere, so that eats up the entirety of lunch.  No worries.  Soup and a bagel every day suits me just fine.  Prep for that.

This week - Braiden's top is done, I'll search out some backing and batting but I doubt it'll get layered this week.  But maybe.  I'm working on another Concentric Squares quilt, commissioned by Laura, who teaches art and loves the way value does all the work instead of precise construction or perfect color choices.  7'x8' I think, and if Daniel and I did the math right, somewhere between 300 and 400 HSTs is where I'm headed.  I'm well over halfway!  Since I'll have to babysit the oven this afternoon, I'll trim what I have to see how far I am.

Yesterday I go the vast majority of the garden out, by 10:30 though, the remains of Hurricane Willa had blown in, and the ice pellets weren't giving me joy, so I knocked that off.  But the front yard is cut and swept, the corner, and grass along the lane as well.  Next weekend will be Put the Car in the Garage time.  And when I get that quilt done, it's buying me some new tires.

This Week
Monday - Winter Project Planning
Tuesday - Work trip to Goodwill
Wednesday - Halloween
Thursday -
Friday - No School

What's for Dinner?
28 Chicken Cordon Bleu
29 Bread & Soup
30 Nachos
31 FFYS (It's Halloween)
Nov 1 Shepherd's Pie
2 pizza
3 chicken stew & biscuits
4 pork loin roast
5 Grilled Cheese
6 Fried Rice
7 Tortellini
8 Chicken Strips & Fries
9 Pizza
10 *something in the crockpot
11 roast chicken

Weekend Update

Ooooh, it's cold (and getting colder?!)  It was 40º when I got up, it's 37º now.  I think the laundry will go in the dryer, not on the clothesline.  It's windy, but I can't imagine that's enough to dry jeans.  Sigh.  Hello higher electric bills.  But we're not running the AC, so there's that.

Yesterday Daniel and I went to the ReSource thrift store in Williston - he's keeping an eye out for a tent, and I wanted to check if a chair I passed on last week was still there (it wasn't) but they did have a sweet little deLonghi cappuchino machine.  for $8!  So I had a lovely latte with my breakfast today.  Ahhh... (this might signal the return of a bad habit. 😉)  I had found one at Goodwill a few weeks ago, at Goodwill, and I wasn't thrilled with the results.  So I swapped it on the counter, cleaned it up, bagged it, and drove it straight down to HOPE in Middlebury when I went to get gas.  I had a partial box of donations anyway so I topped it up, and out it went.

I've been sewing in the evening!  There's not a lot I want to watch on tv, so after dinner most evenings, I head upstairs for an hour or so.  I think I'll have Braiden's quilt top done this week; I'll post pictures on Thursday.  I've been knitting as well - fronts, back, and (almost) one sleeve done - this WILL get done before Christmas!  Woo!  I'll post that later too.

This week at work will be LONG and busy - well, long days at the beginning of the week, I think, less as we get to the end.  Breakfast today at the harbor (over now, I imagine) and a final checkout of yesterday's wedding guests and the doors will close on the 2019 season.  Staff will begin leaving immediately, with the largest exodus Wednesday.  I'll miss them all.

So, let's have some easy dinners this week.


21 Crockpot Chicken
22 Grilled Cheese
23 Beef Stew
24 Spaghetti
25 Chicken strips & Fries
26 Scott's birthday
27 pizza
28 Mac & Cheese
29 Bread & Soup
30 Shepherd's Pie
31 FFYS (It's Halloween)
Nov 1 Meatloaf
2 pizza
3 chicken stew & biscuits
4 pork loin roast
5

Time to Go Go Go!

Frost last night, so it's curtains on the garden season.  Mostly - cabbage and such will go a little longer, but anything tender is toast.  And that's okay.  But I need to clean it up.  NEED.  So I'll give the yard 3 hours, I'll finish the laundry, I'll get supper together and I WILL sew.  Laura contacted me yesterday with dimensions of her bed, and a friendly "how's it coming?" with regard to her own of the  bossy quilt, and Christmas is coming.

I met Stacy for coffee this morning.  I'm making an effort to stay connected with my friends because otherwise I'll gladly go on about my days and realize it's been literally MONTHS since we've seen each other.  Not good.


On the way to Middlebury, the sun was just coming over the mountains.    This picture really doesn't do it justice - it was beautiful.  And it's STILL beautiful out.  Cool, but beautiful.  Perfect yard work weather.

I've challenged Daniel to set a goal (low = achievable) just so he accomplished *something* today.  I think I better do the same. ;)


This week
Again, nothing really.  There's nothing on my calendar anyway, so I'll assume that means there's nothing on my agenda.  Famous last words. ;)  Did you ever have a teacher that told you what happens when you Ass-U-Me?  Yeah.  Me too.

Dinner

14 Ham & Scalloped Potatoes
15 Grilled Cheese
16 Pulled Pork
17 Lasagna
18 Fajitas
19 Pizza
20 Mac & Cheese
21 Crockpot Chicken
22 Grilled Cheese
23 Beef Stew
24 Spaghetti
25 Meatloaf
26 Scott's birthday
27 pizza
28
29
30 Shepherd's Pie
31 FFYS (It's Halloween)

Lazy Sunday

Drizzly this morning, so the laundry will wait a little while.  We still haven't had a frost, so the garden will wait too.

I need to do *some* garden yard work today, but with everything wet, it's a limited amount.  This afternoon I'll work on Braiden's quilt and after dinner, more knitting.  I'm feeling a little lazy day coming on. 😊

Scott (finally) sold his car this week - he hasn't driven it, and the things been sitting for literally years - losing value and gaining mice(!)

3 more weeks of everyone at work, then 90% of he staff leaves.  I've been tasked with coming up with a winter list of things to do.  There's plenty, I have no doubt.  I want to sharpen my Excel skills, A lot.  And do a housing inventory.  And maybe go hang out with mom for a week or so.  She's on the schedule for a new hip this winter.  Whatever.  There more weeks, then we'll see again.

Let's get this day started.  I haven't written the menu in the fridge for a few weeks, and I need to - it makes everything work better.

This week
Nothing?  Really?  End of Year staff party Wednesday.  that's it, I think.

Dinner

7 Garlic chicken & roasted Potatoes
8 Quiche
9 Chicken Sandwiches
10 Baked Mac & Cheese
11 Pancakes & Bacon
12 Pizza
13 Soup/Deli
14 Ham & Scalloped Potatoes
15 Grilled Cheese
16 Pulled Pork
17 Lasagna
18 Fajitas
19 Pizza
20 Mac & Cheese
21 Crockpot Chicken
22
23 Beef Stew
24 Spaghetti
25
26 Scott's birthday
27 pizza
28
29
30

Fall is Falling

Fall is falling.  Yesterday I pulled in all the squash and pumpkins, roasted them and filled the freezer.  Well, not filled - I also shredded the last large zucchini, chopped a couple dozen peppers, and cut back the tomatoes.  There is at least two batches of candies jalapeños but they'll wait.

I picked some flowers, too, and will pick more, then gather seed from what's left.  I'll cover them from light frosts, and enjoy them a little longer, but soon, they'll go.

Today's job is to clear out what will be next year's flower garden.  It'll be a perennial annual mix - the bees are gonna love it!



I hope to find some time to sew this week, but I'm really not sure.  It gets dark early enough that evenings are no longer outside time, so maybe I can.  Knitting too - it's easier and more portable.

This week at work plans to be a little busy, but differently so.  I have a new boss!  And she's starting tomorrow!  And she's going to focus on 2019 recruiting, so I'm going to do, pretty much exactly what I've been doing. 😜

This Week:

Busy busy busy at work (all of our cultural student exchange visa workers are leaving this week + some regular staff as well)
Tuesday - 1/2 day school
Thursday - last farmers market

What's for dinner?

30 Pork & Potato Hash
1 Grilled Cheese
2 Meatloaf
3 Spaghetti
4 Last Market FFYS
5 Pizza
6 Burgers
7 Ham & Scalloped Potatoes
8 Quiche
9 Chicken Sandwiches
10 Baked Mac & Cheese
11 Pancakes 7 Bacon
12 Pizza
13 Soup/Deli
14 Garlic Chicken
15 Grilled Cheese
16 Pulled Pork
17 Lasagna
18 Fajitas
19 Pizza
20 Mac & Cheese

Weekend Update

Oh, it's lovely and cool!  It's close to 11 and only 63 degrees!  I'm getting outside tout de suite!  The garden awaits.  I will need to get some groceries, but not soon.  First outside, then a shower, THEN groceries.  I'm going to do some baking today too.  There are bananas and zucchini that need to get used.  For today, blog-wise though, this is it.

9 Pulled Pork
10 Grilled Cheese
11 meat loaf
12 Lasagna
13 FFYS (Market)
14 Pizza
15 Hot Dogs
16 Fajitas
17 Grilled Cheese
18 Chicken Fingers & Fries
19 Mac & Beef
20 FFYS (market)
21 Pizza
22 Burgers
23 Chicken Pot Pie
24 Grilled Cheese
25 Pork Chops
26 Spaghetti
27 FFYS (Market)
28 Pizza
29 Mac & Cheese
30 Ham & Scalloped Potatoes
1 Grilled Cheese
2
3
4 Last Market
5 Pizza
6