Prairie. Berries Saskatoon Berry Spread Sunday

[helia]

I hope the party goes well, trissie and everyone has fun! Donuts on a string - I can imagine that game.
Enjoy walking with your friend, L Ann.
So glad the anniversary celebrations in Paris were fun and you had a happy family meal together, FFB! Makes me wonder if/ how we will celebrate our 50th - but we just celebrated our 35th. Hoping we'll make it to 50 - and beyond.
I went to bed late Bama, so the time change didn't affect me. I'm still up late this morning - and another 9 hour night of sleep is under my belt.
Thanks for the start, Kitty. I don't think I've ever heard of Saskatoon berries. We're so close to Canada, maybe there's some Saskatoon berry jam in our stores -- I've never looked.

It's a bright sunny day here - not a cloud in the sky that I can see from my living room windows! Forecast high of 55F. CG2 has been moved to next Sunday bc AA is unexpectedly out of town this weekend. So, today's events are church this morning and hosting dinner tonight. I think only R is coming from the Cs; J12yo has started swim meets again. Not sure about our girls. I hope they can come. Other things I hope to do: payroll - exam prep progress and start prep for AIAS D9. Also, progress on laundry (start Mom's laundry) and memorial thank you cards would be good. And a walk would be great! With the trees turning and the sunshine, it's really a beautiful day!

No update on baby I since Friday morning. I suppose they're busy.

Next:
- back exercises
- s2s and self care
- make the bed

Later:
- tidy the kitchen
- out to church 9:45 - 12ish
- lunch
- walk
- lights: f and p/a
- WF run
- payroll: LBBR Exam draft ready
- payroll: start prepping for AIAS D9
- 1 load Mom's stuff
- Memorial Thank yous progress
- host Sunday dinner for up to 6 people: Rot. chicken, bread, pizza
- after dinner clean up
- duolingo
- update health apps

TaDas!
- up; weighed self
- coffee
- email deletions + weather webite

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
Sun church/ 6 - ? host Sunday dinner

Mon 9:30 coffee with SS/ 1:30 - 3:30 payroll: teach AIAS D9
Tue 10:50 neurology appt. / 6:30 host T dinner crew?
Wed 8:10 dentist/ 1:30 - 3:30 payroll: teach AIAS D10
Thu 2-3 trainer work out
Fri 1:30 - 3:30 payroll: teach AIAS D11/ dinner date out with dh?
Sat Prof Conference all day
Sun church/ 3-5ish CG2 @ L and B/ 6-? J12yo BD dinner! (wrap gifts; write speech)

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
- call pavers for driveway?

This Week - Errands

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

[Lauralind]

Morning all. Yes time change is here too. Could be 7 already and it's still 6.

Saskatoon berries are everywhere here. Those are the bushes they mowed over the previous summer in our ditches. Some further back ones were still there. Caspers absolute favorite. He'll munch them off the branches. I should pick some . August has them in many easy access places here. The blueberries are small and harder to get to. And then there's Huckleberry. Those are a little more remote and the seasoned berry pickers know where to find them.

Anyway I've been gradually doing little things. Down time. I finally painted my shelving and put my yarn boxes on them. Washed the top blanket and ds bedding. Need to remake those. Laundry done. Kitchen done. Ds turned 27. They had a friend party at their new house. And ds 15 is just leaving the city in lower mainland to come back after a successful running trip. Oh and house cleaning starts Wednesday morning for dad. And the respite day program at the care home is doing assessment intake Tuesday afternoon. So we can take mom there for a few hours a few days a week .

I guess without the busy crazy schedule it feels like a weekend of accomplishment. Mom is pretty much better now from the infection and all but done antibiotics. Much better. Still has pain bit maybe that is just general pain from not enough movement? Those of you who have dealt with it I suppose pain is just an expected part of late stages?

And dh and I have empty nested 4 full days. Wierd. Need to get used to that for sure.

Now I better get up and shower and do some routines and music prep. Off to church at 9.

[Bama]

French, I wasted it watching Saturday night live. I love hearing about your family get together, hope for many more to keep the kids in touch with everyone.

LAnn, enjoy your free hour!

Helia, your body must need the rest. Enjoy your beautiful weather. It’s very nice here although I imagine different from yours. It’s warm enough to wear shorts outside but cool enough and low humidity to not perspire while moving about.

Laura, plants must be very hardy to grow and produce fruit where you are. Our January snow (still hard to believe it actually happened) affected just about everything in our yard. Satsumas survived but deer got them, gardenias became woody, leaves didn’t shoot out and they didn’t bloom any.
Empty nesting is definitely weird. I didn’t like it at all. Now I’m adjusting.
I hope your mom is comfortable. Any pain should be looked at. Any movement will help if she is able. Even small things help, just sitting up and switching positions often. I’m not sure of her physical capabilities so wouldn’t push to do anything but encourage to do all she can. Make it enjoyable for her if possible. I know that’s a lot to ask with your dad too and your busy schedule. Do what you can and let the rest go. Sorry if that’s overstepping, so take whatever sounds good and leave the rest.

Done:
Convinced dh to go get breakfast, yeah I don’t really like to cook a big breakfast. I’d be happy with oatmeal or cereal, both of which he doesn’t want, so he’s fine with getting something already cooked for us.
Spot cleaned trails through the house. Tux prefers the canned food with gravy these days which wreaks havoc on his digestive system and turns to concrete once it hits the floor. I have to spray, lay paper towels on, spray those and let soak, then go back and scrub.
Litter scooped
Breakfast ate and logged
Watched a show while we ate
Played with cats and dogs some
Water

Do:
Load car and take some things to moms to store for now
Pu meat from her freezer for supper
Water her plants

[Bama]

Done:
Convinced dh to go get breakfast, yeah I don’t really like to cook a big breakfast. I’d be happy with oatmeal or cereal, both of which he doesn’t want, so he’s fine with getting something already cooked for us.
Spot cleaned trails through the house. Tux prefers the canned food with gravy these days which wreaks havoc on his digestive system and turns to concrete once it hits the floor. I have to spray, lay paper towels on, spray those and let soak, then go back and scrub.
Litter scooped
Breakfast ate and logged
Watched a show while we ate
Played with cats and dogs some
Water
Load car and take some things to moms to store for now
Pu meat from her freezer for supper, also got last remaining food items, a jar of blackberry jelly and a can of corned beef that haven’t expired
Water her plants
Dh helped load/unload ladder, box of quilts and Mitch’s toys, floor fan, toddler chair
Fed and medicated George, his battle wounds are healing but he’s very thin.

Do:
Dh said I could store Powerade zeros at moms, he usually only drinks them when doing yard work in the summer and I need the space at my home, so load them up for the next trip
Pack some children’s books too and take to moms
Rebox donations in a better box, the one they’re in is kinda rough

[FrenchFlybebe]

Bama what did you get for breakfast ? Don't answer if you don't want to. The kids love going to Paris and seeing their cousins, although some are older (15 and 19), and the youngest (6yo) was hyper-energetic and noisy and they didn't enjoy him too much. They also "need" social events and talking with their Uncles and Aunts, they don't "practice" much the rest of the year.

Laura I hope the arrangements for your parents work out fine. Glad to see some respite time can be organized for your dad.

L.Ann enjoy the casino !

helia I wish you can celebrate dozens of wedding anniversaries with your DH !

My parents married at 22, not everyone marries that young, so they can celebrate more anniversaries than couples who marry later. Then two years later they started having babies every 3 year. They had four. My mother did the parenting. My father was... emotionnally distant. Still is. Believed his role as a father was mostly corporal punishment, and his role as a husband was earning half the money, doing the taxes yearly, and driving the car (my mom hardly ever drives). So, well, we are not a tight family - for some of us, family ties are nonexistent. Never mind, I think my parents were glad to have everyone together on that special day. I'm also sad to see my mom carries the burden of taking care of him, he can hardly walk, can't stay home alone for a whole day. She would love to travel a bit, move around, but he won't cook a meal or take care of himself if she's away - although he's physically able to. Very unfair.
Anyway, I think we all had a nice time as a family, so that's a success.

TADAs
menus, online grocery order
did small treasure hunt for the kids - they were disappointed to miss Halloween candy
brought DS7 to nearby playground to eat his candy
now back, dinner half-ready (bolognaise, vegan and meat-y version)
most of us showered
kids seem satisfied with their last day of school break


TODOs
cook pasta
email pictures (from family time in Paris) to siblings ?
have dinner
before bed routine, story time for the kids
relax, make list for the upcoming week
read and sleep

[Doggedly]

Hello, all. I'm off to a slow start, first because it's Sunday morning and I'm listening to my radio shows and second because I got up with a migraine so I put on a pot of coffee, took a pill and went back to bed.

Kittykatt, you are bringing to light the problems in Canada's interprovincial trade. I have never heard of the brand Prairie Berries, but will start watching for it in stores. I would love to try Saskatoon berry, which I have heard of but never seen. Lauralind might be more familiar with them. I know that is one of the priorities for our current Prime Minister: reducing the trade barriers between provinces.
Have a good time at church!

trissie, we can all sympathize with how you felt, coming back from party-related errand to find that nobody had done anything to help, but rather created a new mess to clean up. Eruption time!

Hi, Bama. I hope that your headache lifts like mine did. I fed mine coffee, ibuprofen and a bowl of rice, vegetables and cottage roll. Thank you for the reminder to change my time zone on the board. Right now, I'm so far back in time CUOP that it hasn't begun to affect me yet.

Hi, FrenchFly. That sounds like a lovely vacation, and good memories for your dsons.

Hi, L.Ann. I see that you are off to a good start.

I have made it to the end of Page 1. I don't want to let the day slip away, because I am going to lose the light an hour earlier and I am so not up for that. Up and at 'em!

Sunday
Put away dry dishes
Cleaned up after dog
FACEd Finances: paid bills
FACEd Finances: worked on budget sheet

[Peaches1000]

Good afternoon!

Next:
-Check email
-Update Toodledo
-Check bank accts/Amex
-Files/Med Info/Papers/Emails - 10 min

Extras:
-Call to sch 4 hr test
-Tasks - (change clocks)(bill pay)(amex activity)(DH reim)(air filters) (DS tasks)
-Declutter/organize/clean - 10 min
-Files/Med Info/Papers/Emails - 10 min

Routine:
-Gather dirty laundry/sort
-Laundry #1 to washer
-Laundry #1 to dryer
-Laundry #1 hang/fold
-Put away laundry


-1pm Eat
-Cat - brush/food/water/litter
-Vacuum something
-6pm Eat
-Close blinds
-Open & sort mail/file
-Prep for next day (clothes/calendar)

Done:
-Bedroom - pupa
-Dress/ready
-Foyer Bath - pupa/restock
-Fresh food for kitty
-Open blinds/get water
-Computer issues
-Grocery order
-Medicine/vitamins
-Put away grocery order - partial
-DS catch up
-Files/Med Info/Papers/Emails - 10 min
-Phone DH
-This & that

[Bama]

Hi French, it is good that you can see where to improve on your own little family, I’m sorry your mom is tied down, unless she prefers it. I read an article about children growing up involved in each others lives and then as adults feeling and treated as guests in each others homes. That’s probably what my own situation resembles most.
I don’t mind at all telling what I had for breakfast, coffee, scrambled egg, crispito (fried flour tortilla with chicken and cheese rolled up). It was delicious. Dh wants the works, he had eggs, cheese grits, bacon, crispito… I can’t remember if he had a biscuit.


Hi Doggedly. I totally forgot about the headache so it must have disappeared with breakfast. Thanks for the reminder on the earlier loss of light. I hadn’t thought of that yet. I also need to set a couple of clocks. I’m glad your headache vamoosed. I must have missed some posts,…

Hugs trissie, sorry I missed that about the mess. Hope your day has improved. As an empty nester, it still happens around here.

Hi Peaches.

Done:
Convinced dh to go get breakfast, yeah I don’t really like to cook a big breakfast. I’d be happy with oatmeal or cereal, both of which he doesn’t want, so he’s fine with getting something already cooked for us.
Spot cleaned trails through the house. Tux prefers the canned food with gravy these days which wreaks havoc on his digestive system and turns to concrete once it hits the floor. I have to spray, lay paper towels on, spray those and let soak, then go back and scrub.
Litter scooped
Breakfast ate and logged
Watched a show while we ate
Played with cats and dogs some
Water
Load car and take some things to moms to store for now
Pu meat from her freezer for supper, also got last remaining food items, a jar of blackberry jelly and a can of corned beef that haven’t expired
Water her plants
Dh helped load/unload ladder, box of quilts and Mitch’s toys, floor fan, toddler chair, plastic silverware and cups for parties
Fed and medicated George, his battle wounds are healing but he’s very thin, treated for fleas, put in order for tick med as dh pulled a tick off of him.
Dh said I could store Powerade zeros at moms, he usually only drinks them when doing yard work in the summer and I need the space at my home, so loaded them up for the next trip
Pack some children’s books too and take to moms - 4 boxes packed and put on empty bookshelf in “play room” which has become a store room now.
Rebox donations in a better box, the one they’re in is kinda rough.
Dh fixed moms toilet, needed a new stopper
I shopped while I was at mom’s, in the store room I put a wall of bookshelves and some contain my daunt’s belongings that I got and have forgotten what all is there. I brought home a hand mixer, the kind you turn the handle to spin, a 1 qt magnalite pot (I use her larger one all the time, you can’t burn things in it, I forgot rice one time and it never burned or stuck, just got hard), an icing knife, and a heavy duty juice squeezer. 8)
Got a message that an order was delivered so had to chat with customer service who sent a photo, they had delivered it to moms, so dh went and got it.

Do:
Change time on clocks
Eat lunch
Probably watch a show or movie
Get lip balm from moms

[Kittykatt]

Hello, everyone!

FFB, I'm glad you all enjoyed your trip to Paris.

Trissie, I can understand the frustration when people mess up things you've just cleaned, and make more work for you. I hope everyone enjoys the party.

L.Ann, your little pink witch yesterday was adorable!

Laura, you've got a lot done! I'm glad your parents are getting help.

Helia, did you enjoy your walk? It sounds like a beautiful day!

Bama, I'm sorry Tux is having digestive issues. I'm glad the headache has gone.

Dogged, you've made good use of your extra hour today.

Hi, Peaches!

It's been a good day - the coffees went smoothly and we had a lovely service for All Saints Day (which was technically yesterday) and with a nod to all Souls Day (today). Roast chicken for lunch with roast potatoes, creamed leeks, gravy, Savoy cabbage, carrots and peas, followed by meringues with cream and raspberries. I've done a little in my front garden, but no once we've had lunch there's not a lot of time before it starts to get dark. But it I did manage to finish clearing up from yesterday, when I pruned three roses ( just one left to do now!)

Matilda is on my lap and we're all watching Agatha Christie's Halloween Party.

[Kittykatt]

To do:
Cuddles and snack for Matilda, Jude and Freddie
Bible reading and meditation
Update latest Waitrose order
Cup of tea
Get up!
Scrub out litter trays (DH)
Change sheets on bed
Shower/wash hair/moisturiser and sunblock/ clean and floss teeth
S/S bathroom
Physio exercises
Get dressed in casual clothes
Give everyone fresh water
Cat breakfast and meds /supplements
Breakfast and meds /vitamins for me
Quick kitchen clean up
Hang up towels that washed overnight
Load DW
Quick PUPA downstairs
Quick dust and Hoover downstairs
Change into smarter outfit
OTD to church
Coffees after church with DH
Back home again, change back into casual clothes
Meat in oven
Hang up sheets to dry
Put potatoes in the oven to roast
Put up my vitamins and supplements for the week
Weigh out Jude's and Matilda's dry food for the week
Quick PUPA upstairs
15 minutes in tiny front garden
15 minutes in back garden
Dish up lunch
Walk Freddie
Lap time with Freddie
Lap time with Jude
Cuddles with Matilda
Head rubs with Freddie, Jude and Matilda
Play with Freddie, Jude, Matilda
Fold laundry and PA
Run DW when full
Unload DW
Post list with my plans for the week
Clothes laid out for tomorrow

Extras:
Ordered veg box for Christmas delivery
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