April at a Glance...

Apr 1 - Dublin Coddle with Irish Soda Bread.  Cooking big batch meals to restock the freezer with work lunches for Carey.

Apr 3 - Another of the guys' favorites...meatloaf w/ baked potato and corn.  

Apr 4 - Fourteen weeks into the year, and I'm a little behind in the reading challenge at only 11 challenge books read.

Apr 10 - We made a good start in cleaning and re-organizing the craft room/office, which had been a dumping ground for too long.  Kasey gifted me a whole day to help me get it cleaned out.  Still a long way to go.  Right now the contents are spread over the rest of the house.  A LOT will go to garage sale or donations.  The rest will find its way back in a more organized way. 

Apr 11 - New bungee desk chair as part of the craft room/office redo; I had one at my old office for years, and can't say enough good things about them.  Picked this one up at the Container Store.  Super-easy assembly.

Apr 13 - Fun day with old and new friends at OnStage, and getting to see the new Stampin' Up! catalog and play with new products.

Apr 15 - semi-annual dentist visit

Apr 16 - an early anniversary dinner

Apr 17 - 43 years!

Apr 18 - work

Apr 19 - appointment with my hematologist followed by a little blood letting.  Since they take it from my port, it doesn't just flow out into a bag.  They have to pull it out a syringe at a time.  They use those biggest ones and fill them to about where I marked a red line at the bottom.

This many equals about a pint.  Took almost an hour this time to fill them all. 

Note to self:  Do not skip breakfast, give up a pint of blood, and then go to IKEA.  😵

Apr 20 - leftovers of the happy variety

 Apr 22 - I've been pestering Carey for years for a vintage pickup...a real one...to drive.  I saw this charm in the James Avery jewelry catalog, and texted the photo of it to him, saying I am willing to temporarily make do with one of these.

Apr 23 - Second of four work days this week.

Apr 24 - A work day of a different kind.

Apr 25 - Planned overs; ordered extra chicken tenders on Wednesday, so there would be enough to add to salad on Thursday.

 Apr 26 - Training video at work means doodling happens.

Apr 27 - Was checking an empty file cabinet to make sure it was indeed empty before relegating it to the garage.  In one drawer I saw a small metal item...a single earring.  A closer look and I found its mate in a back corner of the drawer.  I have absolutely no recollection of where these came from, but a dab of toothpaste on a washcloth and a couple minutes of polishing, and I was wearing them.

Apr 28 - After Sunday family supper, we played our regular game of Yahtzee.  Jared got FIVE Yahtzees (with the help of his secret weapon...he swears that Kasey's dog Sarge blows on the dice for him).  He saved his score card for posterity, because none of us are likely to see a score like that again.  LOL

Apr 29 - Rudy got an email from his vet wishing him a happy birthday.  He's such a good sport; he wasn't even mad at me for forgetting.  Isn't he a fine specimen of three-year-old terrier?

Apr 30 - Proof that I love my husband...liver and onions with pan fried potatoes (and broccoli which he doesn't really like, but he can't have everything his way).  I prepared a LOT, so was able to make five individual servings for the freezer for him to take for work lunches.

And that wraps up April!  One-third of 2019 is behind us!

Making a Mess Monday...

A few weeks ago Kasey came over to help me work on reorganizing the craft room/office (or let's be real, there was no 're' about it, it has never been organized).  At the end of the day, when we left off it looked like this...which from this angle does not look too bad...I mean comparatively.   But then I had a week of appointments, and a week of work, and it was today before we got back to it.

 Unfortunately, and as usual, things got worse before they can get better.  

 And it looks like it threw up all over the guest room...and to be honest, the kitchen, the dining room, and living room.

Kasey filled every square inch of her trunk with books and other donations to take to the Salvation Army.

 And I listed 1 file cabinet for sale.

And two small ones I listed for free.  And I will be listing other things for sale or free eventually.

Kasey starts her new job in a couple of weeks, so I am so appreciative of her willingness to spend some time helping me out.  I guarantee I would have given up already if I had been on my own in this.

I hope I can show you an 'after' photo before TOO much longer.

Frugal Friday File 2019, week 17...

Successes:
1.  Kasey gifted me with two potted tomato plants a few weeks ago, and so far they are still alive. :)  When I went out to make sure they were located to be safe from damage by possible hail in Wednesday's thunderstorms, I saw little green tomatoes.  :)

2.  I paid all the bills and funded designated savings for things like insurance premiums and the next vehicle.  

3.  I worked four days this week, and was able to knock out the majority of all my required training for the year.

4.  Have successfully talked myself out of any fabric purchases for several weeks.

5.  Comparison shopped for Rudy's dry dog food, and found that it is less expensive to order it from Amazon, so I signed up for subscription delivery.  In addition to the regular price being less than buying elsewhere, there was a coupon on the site for 50% off the first order which saved over $10.  However, I'm not sure how I feel about the efficiency of having dog food delivered, so will do some research on how it impacts Rudy's carbon pawprint(s).

Saturday:  leftovers
Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday:  ???
Tuesday:  *Taco salad
Wednesday:  *chicken w/ sides
Thursday:  planned-over chicken salad
Friday:  *Tex-Mex

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Trouble the Water by Jacqueline Friedland

A young girl from an impoverished (previously middle-class) British family is sent to live with a family friend on his South Carolina plantation.

I'm not far into it.  Too much to do.  I am serious about making progress on my 2019 reading challenge list, but I'm missing reading about other places and peoples.  I thought the heroine of this one might lend a flavor of England.

I have today off, but working Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri. of this week.  And Carey gets home today, so it is my "moppin' the moose day."  That is a phrase borrowed from my dear niece, Steph.  I don't know where it comes from, or what it means, but I know what it feels like:

Talking with my friend, the other Kathleen, this morning, and mentioned that I was working down my weekly to-do list.  She told me to post its photo, so here it is.  Photo was a couple of chores ago, so there are more boxes marked.  I prioritize by putting an asterisk next to the ones I really need to get done on any given day.  I mark partial progress by filling in half of the box.

If you happen to see your name on the '52 cards in 52 weeks' section...it's coming...sometime soon...eventually.  :)

Saturday snail mail...

The house is still in upheaval, but I needed to get letters in the mail.  So I cleaned off a little space and got out some bits of paper and ribbon to make a series of simple cards.  

Frugal Friday File 2019, week 16...

Successes:
1.  I worked on Thursday.  I came home for lunch to let the dog out, and ate leftovers.

2.  I made cards from supplies on hand, wrote letters, and mailed them.

3.  We closed a checking account that we've been leaving open at our old bank, sort of as a  separate savings account that we could write a check on if we needed to.  Also emptied our safe deposit box held at that bank and cancelled its rental.  We were being charged $3.50 a month for the account, and their website was very unfriendly.  After trying unsuccessfully to avoid the monthly fee, with less than nothing helpful from their online chat service, Carey and I went and closed the account and emptied the safe deposit box.  

4.  The next day we went to our credit union and deposited the funds in our emergency fund.  And since Kasey was available to meet us there, we accomplished something we've been planning for awhile; opened a joint checking account (no fees) with Kasey as a joint signer, and also rented a safe deposit box with her as an authorized party.  It feels good to get that done finally.  You never know when an emergency will happen.  

5.  I filled up with gasoline while near the lowest-price station after a medical appointment.  Downloaded a library ebook that I've had on reserve forever.  Adapted recipes to use what was on hand when I didn't have ingredients called for.

Saturday:  Family supper at Kasey & Beau's
Sunday:   ???
Monday:  goulash
Tuesday:  *anniversary dinner out
Wednesday:  Mexican Cornbread casserole w/ guacamole
Thursday:  *chicken sandwich
Friday:  *barbecue

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

A Brilliant Death by Robin Yocum

The death is 'Brilliant' in that it takes place in the town of Brilliant, Ohio.  Coming of age story of two young boys, best friends.  One from a loving family, and the other lives with his abusive father since his mother drowned when he was an infant.  Since there is an aura of mystery surrounding her death, the boys set out to discover what really happened.

Frugal Friday File 2019, week 15...

Successes:
1.  I have been planning a trip to Ikea for awhile to get some Alex drawers to replace my current unsatisfactory desk set up in the home office, as well as another Kallax shelf to use with my current one to make a fabric-cutting table.  This week I made a rare log in to Facebook, and chanced upon a listing of a community member selling Alex drawers and a Kallax shelf unit...exactly what was on my shopping list!  The prices were much lower than I would pay for new (though they look brand new with no noticeable wear)--and bonus, no trip to the city required or walking around Ikea for hours--and the assembly is already done!  :)  Very happy!  

2.  Kasey donated a whole day of working in my craft room/office.  She worked SO hard, and made me work hard too.  :)  She got more done than a professional organizer would have done in the same time.

3.  Carey picked up an extra day of work when a co-worker couldn't make it to work...all at overtime pay...yeehaw! 

4.  Wednesday night there was no water pressure to the house.  Carey was out of town, so Thursday Beau came over and got it working again.  I think it had something to do with the pump at the well.  I have the best son-in-law in the world, and he works for free.  :)

5.  I downloaded some library books for Carey to his Kindle.  

Saturday:  naan, turkey, hummus, cucumber, tomatoes
Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday:  *Chinese
Tuesday:  *burger
Wednesday:  big lunch, skipped dinner
Thursday:  scrambled eggs & toast
Friday:  bacon & eggs w/ toast

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Lipstick Brigade by Cindy Gueli

I'm back to this one.  Non-fiction about the massive influx of women who staffed the government offices in Washington D.C. during the second world war.  While I find it very interesting, it is so full of facts that it is somewhat demanding of attention, and the chapters are very long.  I find myself rereading paragraphs over, and sometimes, over again.  It has been on my nightstand waiting for me to come back to it when I have some time of undivided attention.  I've made good progress on it this week, and will probably finish up and start another in a few days.

Frugal Friday File 2019, week 14...

Successes:
1.  Scheduled four days of work over the next two weeks.  (Which may cover my recent splurges on fabric and card-making supplies...but may not.  😔)

2.  Cooked large meals and made frozen dinners for Carey to take to work.

3.  Picked up free eggs from POA unauthorized chicken wrangler.

4.  Transferred money into savings.  

5.  Had a scheduled phone appointment with friend to discuss financial goals and strategies.  

Saturday:  sandwiches
Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday:  Dublin Coddle and Irish Soda Bread
Tuesday:  *Chinese
Wednesday:  Meatloaf, baked potatoes, corn
Thursday:  leftovers
Friday:  hummus and veggies

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

At the Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier

I haven't read a Tracy Chevalier book yet that I haven't liked.  She writes so beautifully, and her characters breathe with complexity.  I'm about a third of the way into this one.  I haven't had much reading time, but I will probably make time this week.