Waving to visitors Saturday

[Cowinkie]

Morning y'all..

Elly....The recent cleanout of in-laws house has me looking at our junk and not wanting to leave it for our kids to have to deal with someday. So out it goes!

That's exactly how I felt after going through Sweet's two parents home. And then every time I come home from a visit with my mom's I dump some more. I only have one son and he already knows where the important stuff is. The rest I told him just to close his eyes and donate. Every time I go home to my mom's my brother and I discuss what we plan to do when the time comes to close out my mom's home. I had a very difficult but to the bones discussion with my mom while I was home about how we would care for my mom should she become unable to take care of herself. Then I made sure my brother knew about what was discussed. I am VERY lucky that my brother and I are on the same page...

Well y'all might think I'm crazy, but two weeks ago I started a part time position with a private charter high school. I only plan to work two days a week, which I was doing subbing, but the money is much better and I love where I am working. Will be doing IEP's and working with kids, both Sped and otherwise. I can make my schedule and hours. Everyone seems to be with happy with me...including the kids. I missed the interaction and was getting way to bored siting at home. If everything continues the way its going I can balance both sides of my life. Since I will be on vacation the second week of Sept, I've been working M-Thur of this week and last. My hours are 7:30 - 3:30 but these past Wed-Thur I clocked out at 12:30. I want to make up the hours I will miss while gone, plus with this being the beginning of school there was a lot I wanted to do.

I love the principal and staff...not to mention the kids. My friend that I worked with for the past 10 years talked me into applying as she works at this new school as well. We share a classroom/office space. So far there's been no stress and I feel like I am in the right place at the right time....

I treated myself and had "my girls" clean my house for me yesterday. When I called the service to set up a time for them to come the gal looked up my account and said...well its been a long while since we've seen you. I told her I had been retired for well over a year and had just started working part time...she laughed and said...you must have gotten bored ..which was right and made me laugh as well. Nice to come home to a clean house ....

So that means I have today off. Laundry is done and dinner is planned. I think I'm going to spend some time reading...haven't done that for a while and I miss that too.... Cy'all later........

[OKay]

Cowinkie - BWTG! I applaud you doing what you love!

This morning with ISP installation crew went well. One person spent the better part of an hour in our attic running cable. Another fella climbed our antenna tower about 20' up and I swear he went to sleep! I kept checking on him. It didn't look comfortable AT ALL with a rope around his waist tying him to the antenna and his head laying on his forearms. Alls well that ends well.

DSon called about 3 hours ago as they were pulling out of their driveway headed here. They should be arriving about 4pm. DGS7 birthday party starts at 5pm at our home. I think all 5 of his Grandmothers and 2 Grandpa's will be attending. I'm unsure how many other family members will be attending. It could be 5 or 50. We just broadcast the message to family members and see who is free to show up.

A DFriend recently bought a different house boat. He offered to sell his current houseboat to DH and I at a very good price. Having a house boat is something we have talked about for several years. DH and went and looked at it this afternoon. We are going to take DSon & DDIL later today or tomorrow and walk through it again. We are 95% sure we are going to buy it. Having a houseboat fits our lifestyle, but we want to make sure we aren't overlooking some downsides.

[helia]

Having another low-key day.

Done:
x a.m. routine
x printed out directions to band camp tomorrow to pick up dd15; I'm going to be driving for about 10 hours tomorrow. Dd17 is going with me.
x S and R were here for brunch around 12:30. We discussed staycation plans for next week. We had split into teams of 2 with each team responsible for planning 1/2 of a day, starting Monday evening and ending Thursday morning. Some have double duty. Dd15 and I have Wed. afternoon/evening. Some teams have solid detailed plans, others really need to be firmed up. All good.
x Tori was dropped off by 2 dfriends; we chatted with them briefly.
x groc. list and groc. store run; everything put away
x fell asleep for about 20 minutes, until. . .
x a dfriend stopped by with egg cartons this afternoon. We chatted for a while.

I've got sweet potatoes in the oven and rice in the rice cooker. I'm planning to go to they gym for some exercise, come home and finish getting dinner (leftovers) together.

[Nancy]

I'll be visiting at the bbq for dd bday this evening. can't tell you how much I'm enjoying free day Friday even if it's just to catch up on stuff around here it's making the weekends go smoother! Yea for that.

We went to the farmer's market today and I got some lovely tomatoes, yellow straight neck squash, and then found some free fruit and veg. at the thrift shop as well. Yea! Apples pears and zucchini so I'll do some up for pies and cobblers and freeze those.

We enjoyed breakfast out. I did not find a crockpot like like I wanted in the price range I was hoping for either at the thrift shop or wally world will keep looking my bday is coming I'll be dropping some more hints lol!

Got 13 eggs again today, h. is trying to figure out how to get an acre for us for more room for the chickens as the grass is in nubbins in the shade.

[Norma]

Good for you Cowinkie! Mr. Guy told me about your new venture after speaking with Sweetie (for a very long time this morning, I might add). I am sure you have missed your teaching alot and since you are so talented you should be doing what you love.

Mr. Guy reminded me this morning that we have 80 days left before we head to AZ for the winter. Where has the time gone? Well, his doctor appointments have taken a good number of days what with surgery and recovering it was a busy time at home. We did make it to San Jose a few weeks ago to make sure the great-grand-kids are being well cared for. And of course they are. We will be going back the first part of October to spend a few days on the Monterey Peninsula (a favorite place) and maybe take in a Sharks game. We shall see.

I check in every day, but as you know I am not much of a poster. I just like to see what all of you are up to. Happy rest of the week - all of you.

[Harriet]

Love reading of everyone's day! Hello to all!

Me, too, wish I could respond to all! We are rushing.

The long visit from the repairman turned up the fact that we may have a "lemon" of a dishwasher. I am now without a dishwasher for 2.5 weeks and 5 parts will be delivered. (still within the year's warranty) Then we will go forward assuming it can be back to normal again. Our long-time regular repairs guy had advised me to get a Whirl pool (sold at Sears) because he never got calls on them. My confidence is certainly shaken now, though. Our previous Sears dishwasher went 20-25 years without a repair.

Even though we had a rather frantic morning with the kitchen half-occupied by repair guy, I managed to make 2 dozen deviled eggs. For the first time, I piped in the filling. I just used simple flimsy baggies, so it took 3 because they would pop open at the piping corner, but it was easy to just squeeze into the next and keep going. I think I'll know how to make the opening larger, and keep the bag stable. I was pleased with the results, neat and pretty.

The trip to the hour-away big bridal shower was a little chancy because of a deluge of rain. Ultimately, I missed a turn and dd just got us there using her phone rather than the directions. We were soaked trying to get into the house, but I had put a large plastic bag over the wrapped crock pot (huge ) so it was in great shape when we got in. At the shower, I won one of the prizes - for the most points on items in your pocketbook from a random list (some items were worth 5 points, some 3, 2 or 1). I got 46 points and the 2nd place lady had 45. The food was generous and served in 2 courses - wow - buffet meal and then desserts. Everyone was given a clear plastic umbrella as a shower favor.

Back home after the hour trip back, I just had to nap.

Feel overwhelmed, but basically my next needs for the weekend fall into just a few categories: grocery shopping, baking, last-minute spiffing. We'll be fine.

[Emptynester]

OKay - I am sure you will love the houseboat. We would get one - but we live in the desert. Make sure you check my blog tomorrow for a Huck Finn type of houseboat. We met the guy the first day we were here - he is rafting down the Missouri to follow Lewis and Clark's voyage.

Norma - I am really hoping I can meet up with you and Cowinkie and your spice (plural of spouse) this winter. Or that you could stop by on your way past Wickenburg.

We just went to Pizza Ranch - a midwest pizza buffet. My tummy is stuffed - but I did eat a big salad first and only had two small pieces of pizza and two chicken drumsticks.

Then we went and drove over the bridge over the Missouri. (That's why this town is called Mobridge.) It wasn't too bad as it wasn't humped and I could see all the way across it.

[helia]

Awesome, Cowinkie! Sounds like a great fit.

Nice to see you Norma. I hope Mr. Guy is doing well and fully recovered!

A houseboat - does that means that one can live on it as one lives in a house, with a kitchen, etc.? Sounds very cool!!

I never made it to the gym. I did get leftovers heated up + potatoes and rice (too much). We have eaten and cleaned up. I'm going to the gym now. Afterward, ds, dh, and I are going to watch an episode of Dr. Who. We just discovered yesterday that we could download netflix instant videos straight onto our TV with our wii. This has been possible for. . .. . how long now? Considering that advancing technology puts the bread and butter on our plates, sometimes the lack of knowledge amazes me. LOL! We are, generally speaking, a fairly low-tech family, kind of like my dfil who designed and built the IBM 360 w/ Amdahl and Brooks in the 1960s - but can barely use email today. . .

Off to the gym. I can walk now, thanks to a new street light!!

[Cowinkie]

Mt ... I can speak for Norma, mr guy and sweetie.... Consider it a done deal ... The sooner the better. Mr guy loves any excuse to get behind a wheel to drive and sweetie is the same way... Course i am too so we will make this happen ...finally right Norma

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Got home hours ago but didn't get around to posting. Had a wonderful visit with dd's godparents but I'm exhausted since we were up to 11:30 talking and then up early this morning too. Also went for a long walk since we can walk and talk at the same time.

The drive back was just 3:50 and we did it straight through because our friends gave us pulled pork sandwiches to eat in the car along the way.

I got my sermon edited and updated in the computer and then finished the prayers when I got home.

Dh is working on music now. There are several pieces he doesn't know that he'll have to do.

On the way to Peterborough I worked on the September 1 service. I have it all roughed out, picked the hymns and know which prayers I have to write. Will have to get it ready to print this week since we are away next week.

My music friend phoned with two big pieces of news. First her dad, who has been in hospital and then a psych hospital for 18 weeks with violent dementia, seems to have stabilized and now they are thinking he might be able to go home. He can walk a bit, can carry on a conversation (still confused but pretty good), and play card games. In these past 18 weeks, his wife had given up any hope of him coming home, came around to him be in a locked ward, sold their home and rented an apartment. She moves in 3 weeks. And now they are saying he might come home after a month in a rehab facility. Given the dementia will get worse, this is not a good outcome and I'm not sure how this will play out.

Her other news is that her daughter if pregnant. She's been dating the guy less than 8 weeks and is 6 weeks pregnant. Hmmmmm.... they are talking marriage. Given her last marriage lasted just over a year, I'm not feeling too positive about the chances of this ending well. Plus I'm not sure how dd is going to react when she hears the news (the two girls were friends in kindergarten which is how I became friends with my music friend.)