Wexford Blackcurrant Jam Wednesday

[FrenchFlybebe]

Thanks kittykatt for your reassuring words, although we're not very worried, the dr was really reassuring too. And frfom now on MrNG will have a yearly appt, so that's good too. Yes the kids are very much into scoubidou these days. I was an addict when I was 9yo-10yo, then there were friendship wristbrands and such . A bag of 12 strands of scoubidou costs 1.00 € so I can afford to treat them to a few bags now and then.

Nice to see you, vergers ! Good luck with the vacuuming.

We went to the library, under very light rain - we had to wait until after a bigger shower, in order not to be dripping wet after the 8 minute walk to the library... 15-20 books were brought back. I made lunch with a bit of help from DS7. They agreed to clear their own plates and cutlery. Now some quiet time then we leave for the shopping area, for the clothing that MrNG was supposed to buy them on back-to-school week and never did. Loose sweatpants for DS9, a few sweaters for DS7 who doesn't like the hand-me-downs from his brother and is entitled to a few new things.

TADAs
round up library books
library trip woth DS7 if the rain stops
prep lunch, eat, clean-up

TODOs
shop for remaining clothes kids need (not their favourite activity, nor mine, but necessary)
also shop for scoubidou supplies (boondoggle ? lanyard craft ? scoubidou)
fabric store
a few groceries probably
snacks
not sure what
shower time
prep dinner, dinner, maybe a family movie

[Bama]

Good morning!

Thanks for the start, kittykatt. I’m on the toast and jam bus too thanks to you. Had it yesterday and am tempted to repeat today.
My laziness is my own fault, being home alone with no pressing matters to tend to, so I need to push myself a little harder, although the light might help with that…maybe I should try one…
I haven’t had a true Christmas tree in a few years due to having younger cats, Lily is 2 and Daisy is over 1yo now, so going to try an artificial tree and see how it goes. We used a wood tree (2x4’s cut into a tree shape) and a small artificial 1’ tree on the mantle. We used to use live trees when the girls were young but haven’t had one in awhile. The cats eat at them. Our climate isn’t right for the pretty fir trees and the types grown here are flimsy and shed a lot. Although I just looked on their page and they have a small, pretty pine I could decorate with and then plant outside. How do you keep your cats away from the tree, or do you put up a tree?

French, I hope mrng is enjoying the apprenticeship and all goes well with his procedure. Toast and jam is sounding better and better. I’ll check out your link as I haven’t heard of that.

Hi vergers, lovely to see you. I’m not familiar with damson so will look it up.

Tomorrow is trash pick up so today will be getting rid of anything I can, clean out the refrigerator and pick up around the house.

Done:
Bible

Do:
Weigh
Breakfast
Feed pets

[helia]

I'm not sure I got back here yesterday. It was a lot with the hospital visit, which is a 35 minute drive each way, and lots of payroll to get ready for class this morning plus a couple errands. I didn't get in a jog - but I did get in a walk!

Today, I'm planning to be otd by 9 a.m. for the airport. I'll gas the car on the way. I'll get home around 8:30 pm. That will be my day! There's a 3 hour time change in there as well.

The baby is being moved out of the NICU today and into a regular room for a few more days.

F and Sh are sitting here chatting, so I'll be social and join them. BBIAB!

[Lauralind]

Morning all. I am so glad things are going better for baby I helian. Hopefully she gets to go home soon but it's good she is coming out of nicu.
Home today already. Safe travels.

I have a fake tree . Always have except for the construction year that we just got a little pine tree just for a few days. I'll probably put it up but our plan is this year to be up at dd place and dh dad's. Maybe even take it down before we go or the cats will have it everywhere. They usually have some of the decorations hiding in corners.

Anyway I guess I will wait and see what the day brings. All kinds of projects and such I should do. Including my craft room... first off.. outside is not happening. It snowed yesterday. I feel like it will all be gone later so we'll see. Second I am feeling a little under the weather and I don't know what it is. Tummy is just off and gasy and... Third I don't know what to expect needing to go out to dad's. I'll have to call him later if he doesn't call first. He's rather stressed but a couple friends I think are going out and my sister has been making headway a bit with the legal/ cleaning help/ etc so maybe he's ok now?

In other words either I'm going to be productive here or nothing at all or dad's? First thing first I will probably feel a little better having a shower. School run and see if I can go outside and look again in the light. Do we have any spare soffit parts ds needs only one piece. Then if dad hasn't called by then I will call him.

[Costumelady]

Ladies I need motivation. My house is a clutter pit, the worst it has been in years. Now currently I have a man here painting my main floor so that definitely shifts all of my clutter into one area at a time. The dog and I are holed up in my office, as he pooped on his floor mats yesterday and barked incessantly all day and has been banned to other areas while painter is here so he goes to the basement when house is unoccupied by us or with R when I am gone. We have today and 1 more day of this and we are having a party on Friday for Halloween. The basement is basically party ready which is really where we want to gather people. But they will also be upstairs. I have my cleaning lady coming on Friday - he may be here Friday painting my ceiling in my office. We are taking the opportunity to declutter where we can. We had to clean off top of kitchen cabinets so are cutting our vase collection by 50% and we decreased our water bottle collection by 8 waterbottles. I will be cleaning off my bathroom counters and cabinets before Fridaya. DH reorganized the plastics turntable cabinet and reordered our cookware. OUr stove top is full of fixings for chili which we may do tomorrow and chil and reheat because it is always better a second day so those went in a basket in guest room. We are making 2 instapots full. But our 6 x6 foot kitchen table and our 4 x 4 center island is stuffed with all the things from counter and it will have to stay that way for 2 more days while he paints the walls. of kitchen/family, hall and stairwell. Cleaning woman will dust the basement and clean the bathrooms and really just dust mop and spot clean the main floors and clean kitchen.

We need to set up escape room.
Set up fire pit and put out tables and chairs around the fire.
We have the candy for the trick or treaters - we are a huge neighborhood where people drop off their kids. So we will put some chairs out front for passing out.
We need to carve our pumpkins and put out some paperbags with candles along our walk. Pull family cars as far up our driveway as possible so that leaves room for my older friends to park close and they can have the street in front of the house as well. Not sure how many people are coming. We invited our parish, the last time we did that, we got 28 people, but I haven't gotten that much feed back. we are supplying chili and fixings, hot dogs and marshmallows to cook over the fire. I want to decorate the house, I don't have much, I have 2 skeletons to hang in the windows and a pumpkin that is plug in and we have 3 big pumpkins to carve or paint maybe. We want to get some paperbag and candles - we will use clean kitty litter in bottom and then put that back in bucket.

This week we discovered our kitty had tapeworms so he is under treatment. Max is being put on a liver medicine that I must pick up.

Monday I spent the entire day going to 5 Kroger groceries to clear them out of Ensure plus, baby bananas and carrots and stock up on Applejuice - I got her 19, soups, 12 peanut butters, using up the remainder of her SNAP benefits on shelf stable items the lady I shop for because she knows she won't get a check in November and didn't get one in October but had not used hers because she was still trying to use up her stimulus money because she feared they would stop her SSI because she still had some, she is a minimalist and never leaves her house and doesn't have computers or tv so never spends money. So far I have gotten her 9 boxes of Ensure plus, 17 apple juices (they were on sale for a crazy great price - 5 per transaction so I went to 5 stores and was able to buy some in 4), the Ensure plus was 7 bucks off, also allowed up to 5 per transaction, she got 10 bone broths, 28 soups she can blend, and so much baby food, she added peas and peaches and baby chicken to her choices to make soups with this winter. (She has been on a liquid only diet for 20 years). We hope they restock ensures today or I will finish out her card after I get her 6 (3quart) and 3 half gallons of Lactaid free milk as long as the dates are through December. Then what is left I will buy more ensures. She fears they will stop her card on SAturday because funding stops on Saturday so she wanted to just stock pile all of the non perishables. Normally about every 2-3 weeks I buy her 3 boxes of Ensure plus, 4 half gallons of milk, 4 apple juices, 16 baby bananas and 16 baby carrots and 4 peanut butters. I think all of this will last her close to 5 months especially if she gets the extra ensure plus. She will have to buy more milk, and all of her paper products and cleaning supplies and cat food and litter herself. She is calling herself a prepper. The government shutdown has so many people freaked out about food insecurity and support loss. The government right now are failing at their jobs. It is a total standoff. They must work together to come up with a bipartisan solution to this shutdown and the future of healthcare and the President must get involved which he isn't right now, he is just making it far worse. But at least I know M will have the food she needs. She has been writing me checks for her groceries instead of having me use her card and man times flies, I swear I used her card not long ago and had to down to only a $200 balance and she doesn't get that much monthly either. So made a huge dent and my goal is to use it up tomorrow or Thursday.

I have to teach this week and I had 3 people test yesterday and they all passed the tests they took. 2 more testing tomorrow. It is kind of rainy today and I need to deliver all of this food to her but that is going to be 3 to 4 trips with the wheel chair fitted with a basket we use when Prince isn't with me.

I am getting all of my curtains washed which is good.

So tonight
Rehang curtains in master bedroom, I may need to resteam them.
Clean off bathroom counter and cabinet and drawers.
He just got here today and said he is not going to be done before my party which is disappointing, he said he would have living room, I am hoping he can do around the cabinets to make it so I can cook and such and then the dining room can wait if need be. There is little clutter in there. I should have let the boys take off the covers that would have saved time. But We can't move in our great room at all right now, everything is pulled into the center of the room. It took us an hour last night to move everything and he said tonight we should be able to put the family area back to rights.

Wednesday - do house laundry and fold and put away.

By Thursday night rehang all pictures and curtains in living room - they are drying right now. Wash my curtains in office and get main part ready to clean and make the chili a head of time.

On Friday = help Amy clean and get house ready The dining room won't be ready at all.

We have our costumes - medieval king and queen

All of this disarray is causing me anxiety.

[helia]

F and Sh are off checking out F's car with Sh will drive now that I'm leaving. I can finish this and then get on with my day.

Bama, have a wonderful day! I love toast and jam too! Makes me think of The Sound of Music! Jam and bread. . . LOL!
That's a lot of books, FFB! That's nice for DS7 to get some of his own new clothes. I hope he's completely better soon.
Are you cleaning windows today, Kitty?
I can't believe you have snow, Lauralind!
You have a lot going on CL. Chili sounds good!

Next:
- payroll: grade HW - practice exams
- payroll: do I need to add some notes to the slides?
- back exercises
- s2s and self care

Later:
- pack everything
- load the car
- otd by 9 a.m.
- gas the car
- drive to the airport
- check in, etc.
- fly home safely
- make lists for the remainder of the week
- read on the flight
- drive home from the airport
- catch up with dh
- duolingo
- update health apps - this has really fallen to the wayside during this time. . .

TaDas!
- emptied dw
- coffee
- email deletions
- chat with F and Sh

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
Wed Fly home?
Thu 2-3 trainer work out/ 6 - dh work awards dinner
Fri 1:30 - 3:30 payroll: teach AIAS D8/ Go to the girls to help hand out candy! / Dinner with dh?
Sat 9 - 5K? / 5-9-ish CG1 - will we host? I hope not.
Sun church/ 3:30 - 6-ish CG2 @ L+B/ 6 - ? host Sunday dinner

October Brain Dumps
This Week - House
- get 2 guest beds remade with clean sheets
- repot my little orchid - dh will do

This Week - Deskwork
- make appointment with optometrist
- schedule window washers - wip - got an estimate and will call to schedule once we're back
- Memorial thank yous
- call gravestone store to engrave Mom's gravestone
- check CC
- check health statement

This Week - Errands
- WF groceries?
- put bro's shirt in the mail?

General Brain Dump
- progress decluttering clothes - wip
- new phone eventually
- buy queen bed frame + mattress + box springs for dd27's room - wip

Mom
- start washing her clothes and blankets donation site

[Costumelady]

Laurlind, we have a fake tree that looks very real - it is a small 5 foot one that sits on a table and it is self lit and often we never put on ornaments as we are gone Christmas and New Years every year. I like to look of the tree in the window. We put wreaths on our windows and if we are feeling very fancy we put candles in the windows. I put out several of my nativities and clothtique Santas and we call that decorated.

I can't think about Christmas before Halloween, and really until Thanksgiving. I have been buying presents - I am a sucker for online ads.

Safe travels Helia

Bama, when the kids were young we had a really cool Xmas tree farm, you would ride a wagon back to the type of tree you wanted and they gave you a saw and you would cut down your own tree and they would come and throw it on the wagon and then while they shook it and tied it on your car, you went into the shop for hot cider and shopping for goodies. It was a wonderful tradition. They closed when the owners passed away and the kids didn't want to keep it going and no one bought it and we don't miss the needles at all. I burn a balsam scented candle for the scent.

FFB hope shopping trip was fruitful. I am not aware of this Scoubidou you speak of.

I just discovered my great nephew turned 1 yesterday and I am yet to meet him in person. I can't believe it has been a year since he was born. Time really flies.

KK now I want toast and jam.

I can only scroll back one page.

I was given 2 vaccines in the same arm by the medical assistant at my doctors and I now have SIRVA which stand for Shoulder Injury resulting from Vaccine Administration. They are taking it seriously but man does it hurt. My PT thinks they may have shot into the bursa. I am having an MRI in 2 weeks and I am doing PT and have muscle relaxers. The PT on Monday really sort of reinjured it, it is so achey. I am very angry because I was feeling the best I had felt in 2 decades at that appointment 2.5 weeks ago. I always get my vaccines at the pharmacy not the doctor's office but I was there and it seemed like a good idea- I mean it is a doctor's office but the young medical assistant seemed very new and he placed it way to high on my arm. It can turn Litigious if it doesn't resolve. It was turning the corner but today it feels as bad as the first week.

I need to go shopping quickly and take the groceries to my friend. I need to walk Max upstairs to hang with Ryan.

[Lauralind]

End of October often threatens snow. Usually it doesn't stay yet. Mid November? Depending... sometimes not much till December. One year was winter right now. It dumped a whole bunch and never melted. Other times we wonder if we won't get much before Christmas. It varies a lot.

Toast and jam... hmmm. I might have to get some. Maybe that will be acceptable to eat.

[L.Ann]

Morning Everyone! Glad the baby is doing better, helian. Good luck, costumelady. Your list is daunting. Oh no about the shots. That is frightening. I hope you can get it resolved.

I got confirmation that my surgery is next Thursday so I need a plan to be ready.

1-quick house pick up
2-15 minutes of detailed cleaning of dining room
3-read

4-cards

Menus
Wednesday-DD32out/me left overs
Thursday-shrimp fried rice
Friday-pizza
Saturday -peanut udon stir fry
Sunday-out to eat
Monday-bang bang chicken

Events
Wednesday-DD32 haircut 3:45, Little Bit 7:40-5, Little Bit school 9-3, drop off box items
Thursday-pick up boo boxes at 2, DD32 late due to dance, Little Bit 7:40-5, Little Bit school 9-3
Friday-Little Bit 7:40-5, Little Bit school 10-1(pumpkin farm?)
Saturday
Sunday-casino with DD39 and DD32

Weekly House Blessing-
Detail cleaning of kitchen-scrub floor
Detail cleaning of dining room-wash window, polish furniture, wipe down woodwork, scrub floor
Extra Stuff-
Little Errands-drop off DM’s driver’s license
Phone calls-
Extra stuff-make gift for Little Bit’s dad, buy rest of bday cards for Nov and Dec


Events
-stretching and knee exercises
-breakfast for dog and me
-meds and temp for DD32
-dress and pick up bedroom
-walk outside
-pick up Little Bit
-gas
-breakfast for Little Bit
-take Little Bit to school
-recycling to dump
-walk outside
-call about surgery
-three texts about surgery day

[Bama]

See what you’ve started with the jams, kittykatt!

(((Helia))), that’s great news about baby I moving to a regular room. My first child and I both had to stay in the hospital for over a week, she was a preemie, jaundiced, and lungs not fully developed. I had preeclampsia so the doctor was nice enough to write orders that I had to be monitored so we could stay together. It was scary at the time.