Well, I think that I have mostly recovered from last weeks work; I was pretty wiped out over the weekend. Yesterday after church I changed my clothes and then loaded our old large outdoor plastic table and chair set into the SUV and also several boxes that I had put some of Alyssa's old stuff in to take over to her pool party.
It was about noon by the time I finished loading the SUV up and since some of it was in the basement and some of it was in the garage I was a little worn out between lugging all that stuff and going up and down stairs.
So I went into the house and rested for a while. Finally around 1330 I decided to make myself something to eat so that I would not be too famished by the time we got to Alyssa and Dan's. Then I went back into the living room and waited for Kathleen to come downstairs and be ready to go.
Since I had hoped to be at their place by around 1400 so that I could set the table and chairs up and help getting set up I knew that we would be a little rushed when we did not leave here until after 1400.
When we got there I set the table and chairs up and then brought the boxes of stuff into the house for Alyssa to see what it was. Alyssa was making some of the food for the party and so I helped Dan take the pool cover off and skim off the leaves that had fallen into the pool.
Another reason I had wanted to get there early was to be able to use the pool before it was loaded with little people. Since we did not get there early enough I played life guard so that everyone else could enjoy themselves a little more.
Toni and Chucky arrived after she got off work, Andrea was going to come over but John had just gotten home from Men's Roundup and was really tired. Aaron was working so Tami did not bring the girls over.
We had a beautiful ride home last night taking the river route. The sun was just setting and the orange sky was reflecting on the river and the boat lights were an added touch. By the time we got home last night I was too tired to think about trying to blog so I did not.
Today after breakfast I took a walk, and about half way around I knew that it was a mistake; my hip really started bothering me and so by the time I got home I was not only sore but pretty tired as well.
I went out back and cut some roses for the house and also picked some beefsteak and cherry tomatoes. I could have picked more but I wanted to give them an extra day to ripen a little bit more.
Since I fertilized last week we have not had any rain; we really have not had any dew so I thought that I would water the lawn and also the berries, roses and vegetables. By the time I finished that I was really tucked out so I sat and rested for a while.
When I finally got up I decided to make myself some lunch so I made myself a turkey brat on a bun and also sliced up a couple roma tomatoes and put some pepper jack cheese on a bun and toasted them in the toaster oven. I think I eat a dozen or more cherry tomatoes a day and a couple roma tomatoes as well. Tomatoes are suppose to be good for me so I am taking advantage of this tomato season.
So after eating I sat down in my chair again and Kathleen woke me up when she came downstairs a little after 1500. She had not been downstairs all day and was going next door to visit with our neighbor.
Since I was awake I decided to go and water in the front lawn and also water the flower beds in the front of the house and along the drive way. When I came in I though that I would do my blog now as I might not make it if I waited until later in the evening.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Still Wipped out!
Yesterday was a really nice day with the temperature hovering around eighty degrees with just enough puffy clouds to make the sky picture perfect. Before breakfast O went out and picked enough berries for my breakfast and also a days worth of tomatoes.
Then after eating I went outside and watered the berries, vegetables and roses pulled a few weeds in the back yard. While I was doing that I discovered a bird that met an untimely death. I have been noticing a lot of cats in the back yard lately so I am afraid that one of them did the dirty deed.
I guess that is one of the drawbacks from encouraging birds to ones yard. I am not sure if there is a way around that or not, but it is hard to keep the cats out of the yard.
I was still pretty sore from Thursdays sledge hammering the concrete so I did not feel like doing a lot of work; but while I was outside I though that I would see if I could break the old rusty bolts and nuts loose so that I could take the supports off the backboard and make it a much more compact pile.
After cleaning up I made myself some lunch and then waited for Kathleen to see if she wanted to go cabinet shopping. She finally called down and let me know that she was getting ready so I went upstairs and changed my clothes.
We looked at two cabinet shop outlets the first one was out in Boring, not too far from Alyssa and Dan's place. We walked around and looked for a couple hours and my back and feet were really killing me and Kathleen's were starting to hurt as well so we decided to think about it some more and head home.
As we got close to home Kathleen asked if we needed bread, and I said that we really did not but we could put some in the freezer so we decided to stop to see what they had. In the same area we passed by another cabinet shop that we had looked at before so we decided to stop to see what they had now.
Since they were only going to be open for another half hour I felt that I could probably stand that so we looked around and saw some things that Kathleen liked. We also found some bread, donuts and rolls at the Oroweat outlet.
After leaving there we stopped at the Barn and picked up some fresh produce. While the Barn is nice it is not nearly as convenient as when Rossi farms had their barn as it was just down the street.
So for dinner we had corn of the cob and left over sweet meat squash, peas and some left over sesame chicken. I think that there is still some chicken left over and a couple ears of corn so that is probably what we will have for dinner tonight.
This morning was just like a morning at the coast, overcast until about 1030 and then it started to burn the clouds off and turned out to be a really nice day.
This morning after I finished eating and cleaning up the kitchen I waited until I heard Kathleen moving around upstairs and then I went up and stripped the bed, loaded it into the washer and then went outside and picked the ripe tomatoes. By the time I finished the washer had finished so I loaded the bedding into the dryer and started it up.
While they were drying I made myself a couple sliced chicken, tomato and pepper jack cheese sandwiches and then put them into the toaster oven. By the time I finished eating and cleaning up the dryer went off so I took the bedding out and took it upstairs and remade the bed.
I noticed that a couple of my pillows we getting pretty squishy so I took them downstairs and put them into the washer. They are just about done now so I think that I will wrap this up and call it a day for blogging.
Then after eating I went outside and watered the berries, vegetables and roses pulled a few weeds in the back yard. While I was doing that I discovered a bird that met an untimely death. I have been noticing a lot of cats in the back yard lately so I am afraid that one of them did the dirty deed.
I guess that is one of the drawbacks from encouraging birds to ones yard. I am not sure if there is a way around that or not, but it is hard to keep the cats out of the yard.
I was still pretty sore from Thursdays sledge hammering the concrete so I did not feel like doing a lot of work; but while I was outside I though that I would see if I could break the old rusty bolts and nuts loose so that I could take the supports off the backboard and make it a much more compact pile.
After cleaning up I made myself some lunch and then waited for Kathleen to see if she wanted to go cabinet shopping. She finally called down and let me know that she was getting ready so I went upstairs and changed my clothes.
We looked at two cabinet shop outlets the first one was out in Boring, not too far from Alyssa and Dan's place. We walked around and looked for a couple hours and my back and feet were really killing me and Kathleen's were starting to hurt as well so we decided to think about it some more and head home.
As we got close to home Kathleen asked if we needed bread, and I said that we really did not but we could put some in the freezer so we decided to stop to see what they had. In the same area we passed by another cabinet shop that we had looked at before so we decided to stop to see what they had now.
Since they were only going to be open for another half hour I felt that I could probably stand that so we looked around and saw some things that Kathleen liked. We also found some bread, donuts and rolls at the Oroweat outlet.
After leaving there we stopped at the Barn and picked up some fresh produce. While the Barn is nice it is not nearly as convenient as when Rossi farms had their barn as it was just down the street.
So for dinner we had corn of the cob and left over sweet meat squash, peas and some left over sesame chicken. I think that there is still some chicken left over and a couple ears of corn so that is probably what we will have for dinner tonight.
This morning was just like a morning at the coast, overcast until about 1030 and then it started to burn the clouds off and turned out to be a really nice day.
This morning after I finished eating and cleaning up the kitchen I waited until I heard Kathleen moving around upstairs and then I went up and stripped the bed, loaded it into the washer and then went outside and picked the ripe tomatoes. By the time I finished the washer had finished so I loaded the bedding into the dryer and started it up.
While they were drying I made myself a couple sliced chicken, tomato and pepper jack cheese sandwiches and then put them into the toaster oven. By the time I finished eating and cleaning up the dryer went off so I took the bedding out and took it upstairs and remade the bed.
I noticed that a couple of my pillows we getting pretty squishy so I took them downstairs and put them into the washer. They are just about done now so I think that I will wrap this up and call it a day for blogging.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Too sore to get much done
This morning when I woke up I could hardly close my hands I guess my arthritis did not like all the pounding from breaking up the concrete yesterday. After taking some Tylenol I could close them with a little pain so I made myself some French toast for breakfast.
After eating I finished my coffee and paper and then went to work on the kitchen. First I washed all the dishes in the sink, and then I picked up the rugs, shook them up, loaded them into the washer and washed them. While I had the rugs up I swept and mopped the kitchen floor; then went outside and pruned the roses, topped the fox glove and pulled some weeds.
Since it was still like a morning at the beach, extremely overcast and cool feeling, working outside seemed like a good idea, and then I realized that my hands were starting to object again. Before I went back inside I picked a couple dozen cherry tomatoes a couple early girl tomatoes and three roma tomatoes.
The mail had come so I went and brought it in, opened it up and filed most of it in the recycling pile and put the magazines in the living room for me to read later on. Kathleen had wanted to go look for cabinets for the downstairs bathroom as we are hoping to start on the remodel in a couple weeks.
Well this afternoon I did not get a lot done, I took a nap while I was waiting for Kathleen to want to go cabinet shopping and when I got up I decided that since she had not come down yet I would do my last fertilizing of the summer of the lawn. I will be doing another later this fall and again this winter but this was the last for the summer.
After I fertilized the front lawn I watered the gardens around the front sidewalk as I had noticed that the soil was getting pretty dry. It is amazing how quickly the soil dries out after being so wet last week.
While I was fertilizing the back lawn I noticed three gold finches; yesterday I had seen one feeding at the thistle feeder; I had heard them chirping in the trees before but I had not actually seen them. They really blend in well in the canopy of the golden mountain ash tree so it has been hard to pick them out, but today and yesterday I saw them in the apple tree.
When I got back in the house Kathleen was dressed and deciding whether or not to go cabinet shopping as it was 1530 and that did not allow much time to look at many places.
Well, keyboarding is not the most comforting thing for my hands so I think that I am going to quit and call it good!
After eating I finished my coffee and paper and then went to work on the kitchen. First I washed all the dishes in the sink, and then I picked up the rugs, shook them up, loaded them into the washer and washed them. While I had the rugs up I swept and mopped the kitchen floor; then went outside and pruned the roses, topped the fox glove and pulled some weeds.
Since it was still like a morning at the beach, extremely overcast and cool feeling, working outside seemed like a good idea, and then I realized that my hands were starting to object again. Before I went back inside I picked a couple dozen cherry tomatoes a couple early girl tomatoes and three roma tomatoes.
The mail had come so I went and brought it in, opened it up and filed most of it in the recycling pile and put the magazines in the living room for me to read later on. Kathleen had wanted to go look for cabinets for the downstairs bathroom as we are hoping to start on the remodel in a couple weeks.
Well this afternoon I did not get a lot done, I took a nap while I was waiting for Kathleen to want to go cabinet shopping and when I got up I decided that since she had not come down yet I would do my last fertilizing of the summer of the lawn. I will be doing another later this fall and again this winter but this was the last for the summer.
After I fertilized the front lawn I watered the gardens around the front sidewalk as I had noticed that the soil was getting pretty dry. It is amazing how quickly the soil dries out after being so wet last week.
While I was fertilizing the back lawn I noticed three gold finches; yesterday I had seen one feeding at the thistle feeder; I had heard them chirping in the trees before but I had not actually seen them. They really blend in well in the canopy of the golden mountain ash tree so it has been hard to pick them out, but today and yesterday I saw them in the apple tree.
When I got back in the house Kathleen was dressed and deciding whether or not to go cabinet shopping as it was 1530 and that did not allow much time to look at many places.
Well, keyboarding is not the most comforting thing for my hands so I think that I am going to quit and call it good!
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Tiring Day
I felt pretty good again this morning when I got up. Kathleen got up about the same time as I did only she had a bad headache. On my way downstairs I took two loads of laundry down with me and by 0930 I had washed, dried, folded and put it all away.
Before I made my cereal I went outside and picked a cup of raspberries so I had berries to go along with my banana, Cheerios and shredded wheat. After eating I finished my coffee and read the paper and then went outside and started cutting dead branches out of the old apple tree.
The more I cut the branches out the more I realized that the tree will not be around much longer. There are so many dead branches and so many half rotten branches that by the time I finish trimming them there will not be much left of the tree.
I worked on the tree until about 1300 and then I went inside and made myself a couple open faced sliced chicken with pepper jack cheese on top and then toasted it in the toaster oven.
While that was toasting I also made myself a salad topping it off with garden fresh tomatoes, green onions, yellow peppers and mushrooms. After washing the knives and cutting board and putting everything else into the dishwasher I went and rested for a while in the living room.
Kathleen left for her meeting around 1330 and shortly after that I went back outside and started trying to break up the chunk of concrete at the end of the basketball hoop standard. I finally broke it into enough small and large pieces so that I could pull the pole out.
After I got all the pieces out of the way I filled the hole in with some dirt that I had nearby and then raked it all out so that other than the loose dirt it looked like nothing had been there.
After putting all my tools away I went inside and cleaned up and sat in my chair and fell asleep within minutes only to be awoken when Kathleen called from Bi-Mart to ask me a question. I quickly fell back asleep until shortly before she came back home.
After taking something for my headache I watched the evening news and Kathleen made dinner. We had some squash, a mixed wild rice dish from Trader Joe's and some sesame seed chicken.
Now I am watching Sara Palin's speech and since I cannot think of anything else to say I think I will just call it a day and take some more pain meds so that I can move.
Before I made my cereal I went outside and picked a cup of raspberries so I had berries to go along with my banana, Cheerios and shredded wheat. After eating I finished my coffee and read the paper and then went outside and started cutting dead branches out of the old apple tree.
The more I cut the branches out the more I realized that the tree will not be around much longer. There are so many dead branches and so many half rotten branches that by the time I finish trimming them there will not be much left of the tree.
I worked on the tree until about 1300 and then I went inside and made myself a couple open faced sliced chicken with pepper jack cheese on top and then toasted it in the toaster oven.
While that was toasting I also made myself a salad topping it off with garden fresh tomatoes, green onions, yellow peppers and mushrooms. After washing the knives and cutting board and putting everything else into the dishwasher I went and rested for a while in the living room.
Kathleen left for her meeting around 1330 and shortly after that I went back outside and started trying to break up the chunk of concrete at the end of the basketball hoop standard. I finally broke it into enough small and large pieces so that I could pull the pole out.
After I got all the pieces out of the way I filled the hole in with some dirt that I had nearby and then raked it all out so that other than the loose dirt it looked like nothing had been there.
After putting all my tools away I went inside and cleaned up and sat in my chair and fell asleep within minutes only to be awoken when Kathleen called from Bi-Mart to ask me a question. I quickly fell back asleep until shortly before she came back home.
After taking something for my headache I watched the evening news and Kathleen made dinner. We had some squash, a mixed wild rice dish from Trader Joe's and some sesame seed chicken.
Now I am watching Sara Palin's speech and since I cannot think of anything else to say I think I will just call it a day and take some more pain meds so that I can move.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Nice Weather Returns Just in Time for School to Start!
Well after a mostly cloudy weekend the nice weather is upon us once again. This morning Kathleen was up almost as early as I was and made hash browns and eggs for the both of us; that is egg yokes for her and egg whites for me. After eating I loaded up the dishes and did the hand washing then I took the recycling outside. Since it was getting pretty nice out already I decided that I would mow the lawn before it got too warm.
After I mowed I dug some weeds out of the back lawn since the ground was nice and soft from the wet weekend and the weeds were easy to pull. When I got done pulling the weeds I took them up front and put them into the yard debris container.
When I got finished outside I cleaned up and then read the mail that had come earlier. There really was nothing there and so it all found its way into the recycling pile,
After a while I made myself a salad with some garden fresh tomatoes, yellow pepper, mushrooms and an onion slice. Then I gathered up all the dishes, silverware and anything else that I could get into the dishwasher and started it up. Then I went to sit in my chair to try to rest up but Kathleen wanted to talk, finally after an hour or so after she went back upstairs I took a couple pain relievers and went outside to see if I could get some work done out there.
First I spent about an hour and a half working on cleaning up the garage, I managed to get some things thrown out and rearranged many others. I can now get both my garden carts out of the garage without having to take my Jeep out. The one cart was full of all kinds of junk and hence the things that made in into the garbage can.
Once I had finished in the garage I went about trying to dig out the old basketball basket. Years ago when I put that in for the children I really used a lot of cement and rocks to hold it securely, really securely! I dug all around it and then when I got to where I could see the cement I got out my trusty sledge hammer and started wailing on it.
I managed to break some of it apart but what else happened was that I was able to loosen the dirt around it enough so that I could push it over. Once I had it down I took it apart and then move the main pole out of the way of the driveway. I was too tired to try to break up the cement any further so I put my tools away and left it for another day.
Kathleen heated up the rest of the mac and cheese and some green beans. We got three meals out of that mac and cheese...not too bad. Well I am pretty tired so I think I will quite before I fall asleep at my computer.
After I mowed I dug some weeds out of the back lawn since the ground was nice and soft from the wet weekend and the weeds were easy to pull. When I got done pulling the weeds I took them up front and put them into the yard debris container.
When I got finished outside I cleaned up and then read the mail that had come earlier. There really was nothing there and so it all found its way into the recycling pile,
After a while I made myself a salad with some garden fresh tomatoes, yellow pepper, mushrooms and an onion slice. Then I gathered up all the dishes, silverware and anything else that I could get into the dishwasher and started it up. Then I went to sit in my chair to try to rest up but Kathleen wanted to talk, finally after an hour or so after she went back upstairs I took a couple pain relievers and went outside to see if I could get some work done out there.
First I spent about an hour and a half working on cleaning up the garage, I managed to get some things thrown out and rearranged many others. I can now get both my garden carts out of the garage without having to take my Jeep out. The one cart was full of all kinds of junk and hence the things that made in into the garbage can.
Once I had finished in the garage I went about trying to dig out the old basketball basket. Years ago when I put that in for the children I really used a lot of cement and rocks to hold it securely, really securely! I dug all around it and then when I got to where I could see the cement I got out my trusty sledge hammer and started wailing on it.
I managed to break some of it apart but what else happened was that I was able to loosen the dirt around it enough so that I could push it over. Once I had it down I took it apart and then move the main pole out of the way of the driveway. I was too tired to try to break up the cement any further so I put my tools away and left it for another day.
Kathleen heated up the rest of the mac and cheese and some green beans. We got three meals out of that mac and cheese...not too bad. Well I am pretty tired so I think I will quite before I fall asleep at my computer.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Long Weekend Wrap up
Yesterday was almost a waste for me. I woke up at 0300 and finally got up at 0400 because I knew that I was not going to be able to get back to sleep. So I got and read the whole paper and then made myself breakfast. So after a leisurely early morning I got dressed for church, Kathleen was still sound asleep when I left at 0815 and had just gotten up shortly before I got home about 1130.
By this time my early morning was starting to catch up with me and I could tell that I was not going to get much done the rest of the day. So after changing clothes I went out to the garden to pick a dozen or so cherry tomatoes and my first roma tomato. There were several others that I could have picked but I wanted to give them a couple more days to ripen naturally.
It rained off and on all afternoon and so I wound up taking a couple naps in the afternoon before I finally decided to go to bed when I could not keep my eyes open any longer and managed to get a pretty decent night sleep.
This morning I woke up at a much better time and after eating breakfast I took my time reading the paper and enjoying a cup of coffee. Upon finishing with the paper I put it in the stack of recycling and took it out to the recycling container, and then I got the kitchen recycling and took it out to my composter.
After giving it a couple turns I opened the other side and checked on the contents and all the plant material that I had put in last week had pretty much broken down and was blending in with the rest of the composted material.
While I was out there I pruned the roses and then cut up the shrub that I dug out last week and put them into the yard debris container and took it up front for tomorrows pick up.
After coming inside I went downstairs to the basement and started sorting things down there. Most of it went into a couple piles, one for Alyssa's stuff; one for Aaron's stuff; one for paper recycling one for metal recycling and one for the garbage.
Kathleen came down as I was finishing up sorting and just before I got the broom out to sweep the stairs from the outside entrance to the basement and the floor of the basement. After I finished this I went upstairs and cleaned up and made myself a ham, turkey and provolone sandwich.
After I had finished Kathleen made herself breakfast as I was putting my dishes into the dishwasher. When I finished I took the bag of garbage that I had from sorting in the basement and put it into the garbage can and took it up front.
Most of the rest of the afternoon I spent sitting in my chair dozing off a couple times and getting in one pretty good nap. When I finally awoke the last time I decided that I would do my blog while I still was awake and not have to worry about it later.
Well, it is now just about time for dinner and I need to call up to Kathleen and see what if anything she has planned for dinner. I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend and got rested up before the start of school.
By this time my early morning was starting to catch up with me and I could tell that I was not going to get much done the rest of the day. So after changing clothes I went out to the garden to pick a dozen or so cherry tomatoes and my first roma tomato. There were several others that I could have picked but I wanted to give them a couple more days to ripen naturally.
It rained off and on all afternoon and so I wound up taking a couple naps in the afternoon before I finally decided to go to bed when I could not keep my eyes open any longer and managed to get a pretty decent night sleep.
This morning I woke up at a much better time and after eating breakfast I took my time reading the paper and enjoying a cup of coffee. Upon finishing with the paper I put it in the stack of recycling and took it out to the recycling container, and then I got the kitchen recycling and took it out to my composter.
After giving it a couple turns I opened the other side and checked on the contents and all the plant material that I had put in last week had pretty much broken down and was blending in with the rest of the composted material.
While I was out there I pruned the roses and then cut up the shrub that I dug out last week and put them into the yard debris container and took it up front for tomorrows pick up.
After coming inside I went downstairs to the basement and started sorting things down there. Most of it went into a couple piles, one for Alyssa's stuff; one for Aaron's stuff; one for paper recycling one for metal recycling and one for the garbage.
Kathleen came down as I was finishing up sorting and just before I got the broom out to sweep the stairs from the outside entrance to the basement and the floor of the basement. After I finished this I went upstairs and cleaned up and made myself a ham, turkey and provolone sandwich.
After I had finished Kathleen made herself breakfast as I was putting my dishes into the dishwasher. When I finished I took the bag of garbage that I had from sorting in the basement and put it into the garbage can and took it up front.
Most of the rest of the afternoon I spent sitting in my chair dozing off a couple times and getting in one pretty good nap. When I finally awoke the last time I decided that I would do my blog while I still was awake and not have to worry about it later.
Well, it is now just about time for dinner and I need to call up to Kathleen and see what if anything she has planned for dinner. I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend and got rested up before the start of school.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Start of the Last Weekend of Summer
Yesterday I spent some time scrubbing down our old plastic picnic table and by the time afternoon rolled around I was really tired. I sat down in my chair for a while and was awaken when Toni called saying that they were going to come over in a few minutes. They were stopping off at Wendy's and wanted to know if we wanted anything, since I had eaten before I went to sit down all I asked for was a frosty.
They arrived shortly afterward and brought a couple extra Jr. burgers, but all I had was the frosty. After they left I took another nap and when I woke up it was almost 1900 so I called up to Kathleen to see if she was going to do anything for dinner and she said that she would be down shortly.
Since there were two burgers left she asked if that would be okay for dinner, I said sure and so we finished them off along with some cole slaw and potato salad left over form the other night.
After eating and putting the dishes into the dishwasher I logged onto my computer but I could not get my brain to think about blogging so I just kind of decided that I would skip a night.
Today was another cool day, lots of clouds mixed with patches of sunshine so after breakfast I went back outside and picked about three dozen cherry tomatoes and then brought them into the house. Then I went back out and Finished scrubbing down the remaining four chairs from the picnic set that I started working on yesterday.
After cleaning up I got the mail and went through it and put the majority of it into the pile for the recycling. Then I washed the pots and pans and some of the dishes that were in the sink.
Kathleen came downstairs and made herself some toast and I took out the recycling and the garbage as it was starting to overflow. Then I sat down and looked through a couple magazines and catalogs while she ate breakfast.
Felling like I needed to be outside I decided to get my rake and rake up the walnut tree leaves that have started to fall. If I do not stay on top of them they get really heavy from the dew and when it rains they really get hard to rake.
After putting away the rake I went back inside; Kathleen had gone back upstairs I sat around for a while and then decided that I needed make myself something to eat.
After resting for a while I though that I needed to do something else before I wasted away the whole day; so I went back outside and got out my leaf blower and blew off the sidewalks, driveway and around the front lawn.
Well, that has been my life for the last couple days, I Did get a chance to email Ben Roush and two of his sisters, Dianne and Nancy, the last couple of days and got reacquainted after almost forty years and they all said to say hi.
They arrived shortly afterward and brought a couple extra Jr. burgers, but all I had was the frosty. After they left I took another nap and when I woke up it was almost 1900 so I called up to Kathleen to see if she was going to do anything for dinner and she said that she would be down shortly.
Since there were two burgers left she asked if that would be okay for dinner, I said sure and so we finished them off along with some cole slaw and potato salad left over form the other night.
After eating and putting the dishes into the dishwasher I logged onto my computer but I could not get my brain to think about blogging so I just kind of decided that I would skip a night.
Today was another cool day, lots of clouds mixed with patches of sunshine so after breakfast I went back outside and picked about three dozen cherry tomatoes and then brought them into the house. Then I went back out and Finished scrubbing down the remaining four chairs from the picnic set that I started working on yesterday.
After cleaning up I got the mail and went through it and put the majority of it into the pile for the recycling. Then I washed the pots and pans and some of the dishes that were in the sink.
Kathleen came downstairs and made herself some toast and I took out the recycling and the garbage as it was starting to overflow. Then I sat down and looked through a couple magazines and catalogs while she ate breakfast.
Felling like I needed to be outside I decided to get my rake and rake up the walnut tree leaves that have started to fall. If I do not stay on top of them they get really heavy from the dew and when it rains they really get hard to rake.
After putting away the rake I went back inside; Kathleen had gone back upstairs I sat around for a while and then decided that I needed make myself something to eat.
After resting for a while I though that I needed to do something else before I wasted away the whole day; so I went back outside and got out my leaf blower and blew off the sidewalks, driveway and around the front lawn.
Well, that has been my life for the last couple days, I Did get a chance to email Ben Roush and two of his sisters, Dianne and Nancy, the last couple of days and got reacquainted after almost forty years and they all said to say hi.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Run Around Day
Today was a much nicer day than the last couple of days. So after breakfast I went outside and pruned the roses and pulled the plastic chairs and table from underneath the apple tree. We had not used them at all this year and not very much last year so I wanted to scrub them up and wash them off a little so that they would not look so bad.
I also discovered our old tether ball pole with the ball still attached; I am not sure how good the cord still is as it has been sitting under the apple tree for many a year. So if any of my children would like it let me know and you can have it; if not it is going to be a candidate for Goodwill.
Well, dragging the table and chairs out and setting them on the back lawn was all I got accomplished this morning as I needed to go inside and clean up so that we could go to the doctor's an noon. I made myself some toast to carry me over until we got back and then went and changed clothes.
After the doctor's appointment we took off to take the SUV thought DEQ. We got our certificate and also our new tags for the next two years. Kathleen had thought about getting different plates but decided to stick with the ones that she had o that was a little cheaper.
Then we headed home so that I could pick up one of my medications to get it refilled at the same time that Kathleen got her new prescription filled. On the way home I stopped and got some gas as it was below a half of a tank and it does not hurt so much as it does as when it is near empty.
When we got home I made myself a brat and sour kraut and then loaded up the dishwasher and turned it on. Then we took off for Fred Meyer to get the prescriptions filled.
While we were waiting for them to fill them we went looking for a coat for Kathleen. She found one that she liked so we went ahead and bought it as she has been looking for one for over a year.
By the rime we checked out from buying the coat the prescriptions were ready so we went and picked them up and then Kathleen wanted to try to find an ice bag; we had looked at Fred Meyer but did not find one so I suggested we try Bi-Mart.
Bi-Mart did not have the size that she wanted so they are ordering a larger one and will call us when it comes in. By the time we got home it was about 1630 so I changed my clothes and checked my email.
It is now time for dinner and I just heard Kathleen come downstairs so hopefully dinner will be ready shortly.
I also discovered our old tether ball pole with the ball still attached; I am not sure how good the cord still is as it has been sitting under the apple tree for many a year. So if any of my children would like it let me know and you can have it; if not it is going to be a candidate for Goodwill.
Well, dragging the table and chairs out and setting them on the back lawn was all I got accomplished this morning as I needed to go inside and clean up so that we could go to the doctor's an noon. I made myself some toast to carry me over until we got back and then went and changed clothes.
After the doctor's appointment we took off to take the SUV thought DEQ. We got our certificate and also our new tags for the next two years. Kathleen had thought about getting different plates but decided to stick with the ones that she had o that was a little cheaper.
Then we headed home so that I could pick up one of my medications to get it refilled at the same time that Kathleen got her new prescription filled. On the way home I stopped and got some gas as it was below a half of a tank and it does not hurt so much as it does as when it is near empty.
When we got home I made myself a brat and sour kraut and then loaded up the dishwasher and turned it on. Then we took off for Fred Meyer to get the prescriptions filled.
While we were waiting for them to fill them we went looking for a coat for Kathleen. She found one that she liked so we went ahead and bought it as she has been looking for one for over a year.
By the rime we checked out from buying the coat the prescriptions were ready so we went and picked them up and then Kathleen wanted to try to find an ice bag; we had looked at Fred Meyer but did not find one so I suggested we try Bi-Mart.
Bi-Mart did not have the size that she wanted so they are ordering a larger one and will call us when it comes in. By the time we got home it was about 1630 so I changed my clothes and checked my email.
It is now time for dinner and I just heard Kathleen come downstairs so hopefully dinner will be ready shortly.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Dreary Day
It was really overcast this morning again when I got up and it never did get much better although later on in the afternoon the sun did make an appearance between clouds.
I did go outside for a while when I took the recycling out to the container and also the kitchen recyclables out to the composter. I managed to pull out just about all of the remaining mole plants although I am sure that twice that many will soon take their place.
This afternoon I sat around most of the time although I did go through several magazines and tore out the pages that I wanted to keep and recycled the rest of the magazines.
Kathleen left around 1500 to meet with one of the ladies from church and I went upstairs to try and take a nap and try to loose my headache but no such luck. My mind kept running though the things that needed to get done and if I did not do them they do not get done.
So after trying for a while I finally got up and went outside and dug out a shrub that had started to grow alongside of one of our climbing roses along the fence west of the driveway. I am pretty sure that I cut it down a few years ago but this time I tried to dig out as much of the root as possible.
Once I had the shrub out I could see several dead branches on the rose so I pruned them off and also several suckers that I try to keep cut off. While I had the area cleaned up a little I was able to see several fir cones that I picked up and put in a bucket to take back and grind up in my chipper when I get around to it.
Well, my headache has not gotten any better; it did not bother me as much while I was working outside but now that I have stopped it has really started bothering me again. I am not sure what has been causing them but they are really annoying and can get rather intense at times.
I did go outside for a while when I took the recycling out to the container and also the kitchen recyclables out to the composter. I managed to pull out just about all of the remaining mole plants although I am sure that twice that many will soon take their place.
This afternoon I sat around most of the time although I did go through several magazines and tore out the pages that I wanted to keep and recycled the rest of the magazines.
Kathleen left around 1500 to meet with one of the ladies from church and I went upstairs to try and take a nap and try to loose my headache but no such luck. My mind kept running though the things that needed to get done and if I did not do them they do not get done.
So after trying for a while I finally got up and went outside and dug out a shrub that had started to grow alongside of one of our climbing roses along the fence west of the driveway. I am pretty sure that I cut it down a few years ago but this time I tried to dig out as much of the root as possible.
Once I had the shrub out I could see several dead branches on the rose so I pruned them off and also several suckers that I try to keep cut off. While I had the area cleaned up a little I was able to see several fir cones that I picked up and put in a bucket to take back and grind up in my chipper when I get around to it.
Well, my headache has not gotten any better; it did not bother me as much while I was working outside but now that I have stopped it has really started bothering me again. I am not sure what has been causing them but they are really annoying and can get rather intense at times.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Finally got to go Grocery Shopping Today!
This morning it was pretty overcast when I got up from raining last night; I thought that it might clear up after a while but it really never did. After breakfast I went outside and picked up a few apples, most of them are coming down rotten already and there are a lot fewer of them than there were a couple of weeks ago.
While I was out there I picked and ate a few raspberries as my second crop is starting to come one now. There where only a few ripe enough to pick and eat so I did even though they were a little mushy from having been rained on last night.
Since I dead headed the roses for a couple days I did that; I also cut off the stems of the lilies that had finished blooming and pulled a few weeds while I was at it. I had noticed a couple blackberries popping up in the grapes from the other side of the fence so I got my shovel and went around and dug a dozen or so out. They are so intertwined with the grapes that for now I can just dig them out below the surface; I will have to wait until after the grapes drop their leaves so that I can really see what I am digging up.
Having a little bit of energy left I went out front with my landscape rake and smoothed out the piles that I had dumped there Saturday. Little did I realize that in a couple hours the mailman would drive over it and put a nice trench through the middle of it.
We have a substitute mailman as our regular carrier is on vacation, but even so he had to drive up and over something that was eight to ten inches higher than the roadway...some things I just cannot figure out.
About 1130 I went upstairs and gathered up the trash form upstairs and Kathleen decided that it was time to come downstairs and eat breakfast. So by the time I finished taking out the trash and putting the garbage can, the recycling container and the glass recycling bin up front it was time for me to make myself some lunch.
Since we had some left-over chicken, rice and zucchini I decided to reheat it and have that for lunch. After I finished eating and putting the dishes into the dishwasher I went through the coupons, sorted them out, through out the ones that had expired and clipped the ones that we needed to the shopping list so that we would have them handy for our shopping trip.
Finally around 1430 we got out the door and headed toward the credit union as I had a couple checks that I have had for almost a month that I needed to deposit. So after a quick trip there we headed back to Winco.
We had not been there for over two months; we had gotten things at Trader Joe's, Fred Meyer and Wal-Mart during that time but not a full fledged grocery shopping trip. After taking all the groceries into the house and putting them away I went upstairs and changed my clothes.
After spending a while on my computer I looked up and it was almost 1900 so I called up and asked if she were ready to eat. We did not have to cook anything as we had gotten some chicken and JoJo's at the deli counter for dinner tonight as Kathleen knew that she would not feel like doing anything more tonight.
While I was out there I picked and ate a few raspberries as my second crop is starting to come one now. There where only a few ripe enough to pick and eat so I did even though they were a little mushy from having been rained on last night.
Since I dead headed the roses for a couple days I did that; I also cut off the stems of the lilies that had finished blooming and pulled a few weeds while I was at it. I had noticed a couple blackberries popping up in the grapes from the other side of the fence so I got my shovel and went around and dug a dozen or so out. They are so intertwined with the grapes that for now I can just dig them out below the surface; I will have to wait until after the grapes drop their leaves so that I can really see what I am digging up.
Having a little bit of energy left I went out front with my landscape rake and smoothed out the piles that I had dumped there Saturday. Little did I realize that in a couple hours the mailman would drive over it and put a nice trench through the middle of it.
We have a substitute mailman as our regular carrier is on vacation, but even so he had to drive up and over something that was eight to ten inches higher than the roadway...some things I just cannot figure out.
About 1130 I went upstairs and gathered up the trash form upstairs and Kathleen decided that it was time to come downstairs and eat breakfast. So by the time I finished taking out the trash and putting the garbage can, the recycling container and the glass recycling bin up front it was time for me to make myself some lunch.
Since we had some left-over chicken, rice and zucchini I decided to reheat it and have that for lunch. After I finished eating and putting the dishes into the dishwasher I went through the coupons, sorted them out, through out the ones that had expired and clipped the ones that we needed to the shopping list so that we would have them handy for our shopping trip.
Finally around 1430 we got out the door and headed toward the credit union as I had a couple checks that I have had for almost a month that I needed to deposit. So after a quick trip there we headed back to Winco.
We had not been there for over two months; we had gotten things at Trader Joe's, Fred Meyer and Wal-Mart during that time but not a full fledged grocery shopping trip. After taking all the groceries into the house and putting them away I went upstairs and changed my clothes.
After spending a while on my computer I looked up and it was almost 1900 so I called up and asked if she were ready to eat. We did not have to cook anything as we had gotten some chicken and JoJo's at the deli counter for dinner tonight as Kathleen knew that she would not feel like doing anything more tonight.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Sunday's Snoozing
Well today has been one of those days where I did not get much done other than go to church and Sunday School. I felt pretty good when I got up other than my back was really sore from moving all that dirt yesterday. But the longer that I was up the more I realized that I was still extremely tired.
I felt more tired the longer I sat in church and by the time Sunday School rolled around I had to keep rubbing my eyes as they felt like they were full of grit. The fact that it was really muggy feeling did not help me at all. I could not wait until I got home and was able to put on my shorts and tee shirt.
After a while I reheated some left-overs and then read the paper. I just barely finished the paper and put it into the recycling pile and this time when I sat down in my chair I fell asleep.
I did not feel much more rested when I awoke so I have a feeling that it is going to be an early night for hitting the sheets. It is suppose to start raining a little tonight and I am hoping that it will clear the air and make it not so muggy out.
This next week we need to get Kathleen's SUV to pass DEQ inspection and then renew the license for another couple of years.
Well, since I did not get anything done today there is not much to write about, maybe this next week will be better.
I felt more tired the longer I sat in church and by the time Sunday School rolled around I had to keep rubbing my eyes as they felt like they were full of grit. The fact that it was really muggy feeling did not help me at all. I could not wait until I got home and was able to put on my shorts and tee shirt.
After a while I reheated some left-overs and then read the paper. I just barely finished the paper and put it into the recycling pile and this time when I sat down in my chair I fell asleep.
I did not feel much more rested when I awoke so I have a feeling that it is going to be an early night for hitting the sheets. It is suppose to start raining a little tonight and I am hoping that it will clear the air and make it not so muggy out.
This next week we need to get Kathleen's SUV to pass DEQ inspection and then renew the license for another couple of years.
Well, since I did not get anything done today there is not much to write about, maybe this next week will be better.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Sweaty Saturday
I must have felt pretty good this morning when I got up because after breakfast I went outside and picked a couple dozen cherry tomatoes and one early girl that had started to rot on the bottom side. After I brought the tomatoes inside I went back outside and pruned the roses and then mowed the back yard and since I was feeling pretty good I went ahead and mowed the front lawn as well; that is something that I have not been able to do for several months.
I was pretty tired when I finished and so I went into the house cleaned up and sat for a while. Before I knew it, it was about 1330 so I reheated the rest of my shrimp gumbo and had that for lunch. Since there was not a lot of it I sliced the bad part off the tomato with a lot extra just to be safe and then cut the remainder into slices and put them onto a couple slices of wheat bread and added a few slices of mozzarella cheese on top and them broiled it in the toaster oven.
Kathleen came downstairs and made herself a couple left-over pancakes for breakfast; I had four of them for breakfast myself and there are still enough for breakfast tomorrow. After we both finished eating I loaded the dishes into the dishwasher and turned it on and then went into the living room and took a nap.
When I woke up I had a feeling that I wanted to get a little more done and so I went back outside thinking that I would just work out in the garage for a while; butttttt, since it was such a nice day outside I decided that I would shove some of the soil from the west side of back part of the driveway and move it to the front part of the driveway.
By the time I finished not only was I pretty exhausted but I had a pile of dirt about a foot high and four foot wide by ten foot long. I just did not have enough left in me to level it out so that will have to wait for another day.
It is almost time for dinner so I think that I will go upstairs and see what Kathleen is planning for dinner. While she is doing that I think that I am going to hit the shower and clean up and cool off.
I was pretty tired when I finished and so I went into the house cleaned up and sat for a while. Before I knew it, it was about 1330 so I reheated the rest of my shrimp gumbo and had that for lunch. Since there was not a lot of it I sliced the bad part off the tomato with a lot extra just to be safe and then cut the remainder into slices and put them onto a couple slices of wheat bread and added a few slices of mozzarella cheese on top and them broiled it in the toaster oven.
Kathleen came downstairs and made herself a couple left-over pancakes for breakfast; I had four of them for breakfast myself and there are still enough for breakfast tomorrow. After we both finished eating I loaded the dishes into the dishwasher and turned it on and then went into the living room and took a nap.
When I woke up I had a feeling that I wanted to get a little more done and so I went back outside thinking that I would just work out in the garage for a while; butttttt, since it was such a nice day outside I decided that I would shove some of the soil from the west side of back part of the driveway and move it to the front part of the driveway.
By the time I finished not only was I pretty exhausted but I had a pile of dirt about a foot high and four foot wide by ten foot long. I just did not have enough left in me to level it out so that will have to wait for another day.
It is almost time for dinner so I think that I will go upstairs and see what Kathleen is planning for dinner. While she is doing that I think that I am going to hit the shower and clean up and cool off.
Fabulous Food Friday
Since Alyssa has not posted one of her fabulous foods I thought that I would give it a shot. Since this is the time of year when everyone is either trying to give away their extra zucchini or trying to figure out what to do with the over-sized squash that some one unloaded on them.
The Simple Zucchini
Zucchini, a summer squash, is one of the easiest vegetables to grow. It is inexpensive, versatile and tasty. Although it is not especially high in any specific nutrient, it is low in calories, and it contains antioxidants and 2.5 grams of fiber per one-cup serving.
The long, green summer squash is most familiar to us and is easy to prepare. Toward the end of summer, many people tire of it and look for new and interesting ways to cook it. If you grow zucchini, you are most likely need more recipes for cooking it, since the plant has a reputation for growing “out of control” overnight, producing a great number of squash that can grow very large.
There are thousands of recipes using zucchini available on the Internet. You can use large or small zucchini for Zucchini-Crusted Pizza recipe, which is delicious and low in carbohydrate. The crust is made by shredding the zucchini, a good way to re-introduce it to people who don’t like seeing the seeds when it is cut into “moons” or chopped.
Here is something you might try. Enjoy this unusual pizza for breakfast, lunch or dinner and for a healthy snack.
Ingredients & Preparation
Zucchini-Crusted Pizza Ingredients:
2 cups packed grated zucchini (about two 7" zucchini)
2 eggs, beaten
¼ cup almond flour or almond meal
½ cup grated mozzarella
2 tablespoons grated parmesan
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasonings, or 2 teaspoons combined of minced fresh basil, thyme, oregano and parsley
Topping
1 large ripe tomato, thinly sliced
2 ounces goat cheese
1 thinly sliced fresh or roasted red pepper
8 olives, sliced
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400°.
Spray a 10" pizza or pie pan with vegetable oil cooking spray.
Combine zucchini, eggs, almond flour, cheese and herbs in a bowl and mix well.
Spread crust mixture in the prepared pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven, but leave oven on.
When the crust has cooled for about 10 minutes, use a spatula to loosen it from the pan, so it won’t break when serving.
Top the crust with the vegetables and goat cheese and bake at 400° until heated through and cheese starts to color.
Makes 6 servings
Serving Suggestion:
Additional suggested toppings:
Sliced raw or sautéed mushrooms
Chopped artichokes, water packed or marinated
Sliced onions
A layer of pesto
Fresh leaves of spinach or Swiss chard
Fresh or roasted garlic
Chopped fresh or dried herbs such as basil, mint, parsley and thyme
Make a breakfast pizza by layering thin slices of Canadian bacon, shredded cheddar cheese and diced pineapple.
Nutrition at a Glance (per serving)
Calories 140
Total fat 9g
Saturated fat 3g
Carbohydrate 8g
Dietary fiber 2g
Protein 8g
Good luck and enjoy!
The Simple Zucchini
Zucchini, a summer squash, is one of the easiest vegetables to grow. It is inexpensive, versatile and tasty. Although it is not especially high in any specific nutrient, it is low in calories, and it contains antioxidants and 2.5 grams of fiber per one-cup serving.
The long, green summer squash is most familiar to us and is easy to prepare. Toward the end of summer, many people tire of it and look for new and interesting ways to cook it. If you grow zucchini, you are most likely need more recipes for cooking it, since the plant has a reputation for growing “out of control” overnight, producing a great number of squash that can grow very large.
There are thousands of recipes using zucchini available on the Internet. You can use large or small zucchini for Zucchini-Crusted Pizza recipe, which is delicious and low in carbohydrate. The crust is made by shredding the zucchini, a good way to re-introduce it to people who don’t like seeing the seeds when it is cut into “moons” or chopped.
Here is something you might try. Enjoy this unusual pizza for breakfast, lunch or dinner and for a healthy snack.
Ingredients & Preparation
Zucchini-Crusted Pizza Ingredients:
2 cups packed grated zucchini (about two 7" zucchini)
2 eggs, beaten
¼ cup almond flour or almond meal
½ cup grated mozzarella
2 tablespoons grated parmesan
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasonings, or 2 teaspoons combined of minced fresh basil, thyme, oregano and parsley
Topping
1 large ripe tomato, thinly sliced
2 ounces goat cheese
1 thinly sliced fresh or roasted red pepper
8 olives, sliced
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400°.
Spray a 10" pizza or pie pan with vegetable oil cooking spray.
Combine zucchini, eggs, almond flour, cheese and herbs in a bowl and mix well.
Spread crust mixture in the prepared pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven, but leave oven on.
When the crust has cooled for about 10 minutes, use a spatula to loosen it from the pan, so it won’t break when serving.
Top the crust with the vegetables and goat cheese and bake at 400° until heated through and cheese starts to color.
Makes 6 servings
Serving Suggestion:
Additional suggested toppings:
Sliced raw or sautéed mushrooms
Chopped artichokes, water packed or marinated
Sliced onions
A layer of pesto
Fresh leaves of spinach or Swiss chard
Fresh or roasted garlic
Chopped fresh or dried herbs such as basil, mint, parsley and thyme
Make a breakfast pizza by layering thin slices of Canadian bacon, shredded cheddar cheese and diced pineapple.
Nutrition at a Glance (per serving)
Calories 140
Total fat 9g
Saturated fat 3g
Carbohydrate 8g
Dietary fiber 2g
Protein 8g
Good luck and enjoy!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Almost an Ideal Day Weatherwise
I woke up later than I did yesterday; yesterday I was up by 0400; so that was not too hard to do and it was still half way dark outside but it looked like it was going to be a pretty nice day.
By the time I made myself breakfast the sun was out and not many clouds in the sky. So after putting my dishes into the dishwasher I took the recycling outside and then went for a walk. After my walk I went out back and picked a dozen and a half of the cherry tomatoes. For some reason they seem to be the only ones that are ripening in any quantity right now.
There are about three early girl tomatoes that are turning red but I notice that they are also starting to rot from the bottom. The roma tomatoes are starting to get pretty good size and should be ripening soon.
After taking the tomatoes into the house I went back outside and raked more of the front lawn. I have just about all of it raked now and about two-thirds of it thatched. I would have liked to have finished it today but I am starting to figure out when I am pushing myself too much and trying to stop before I pass the point of being exhausted.
So after putting my rakes away I decided that I would do a little pruning on the apple tree in the back yard. Since most of the apples are gone now I thought that it would be a good time to trim some branches that the squirrels use to go from the golden mountain ash tree to the apple tree.
I filled two large garbage cans with branches and then dumped them into the recycling container. That container really holds a lot as the two garbage cans did not even fill it up. Maybe with this larger container I will be able to get rid of some of the yard debris that I do not usually get to get rid of.
By the time I finished pruning I was really getting tired so I put my pole pruner and my loppers into the garage and went into the house and cleaned up I was really sweaty and tired.
After resting for a while I reheated some more of that shrimp gumbo and had that for lunch. I reheated the remainder thinking that I would finish it today but I finished about half of it so I will have the rest of it for lunch some other day. I am trying to eat slowly enough so that when I do get full I know it and can stop before I eat too much.
After putting the rest of the gumbo in the refrigerator and my silverware into the dishwasher I went into the living room and sat down for a while before I fell asleep. I knew that I was pretty tired but I was surprised at how quickly I fell asleep.
After waking up I went checked my email and tried to stay awake. I had thought that I might have been able to go out and finish raking this afternoon or do some more cleaning in the garage but no such luck. I am really tired of being so tired all the time.
By the time I made myself breakfast the sun was out and not many clouds in the sky. So after putting my dishes into the dishwasher I took the recycling outside and then went for a walk. After my walk I went out back and picked a dozen and a half of the cherry tomatoes. For some reason they seem to be the only ones that are ripening in any quantity right now.
There are about three early girl tomatoes that are turning red but I notice that they are also starting to rot from the bottom. The roma tomatoes are starting to get pretty good size and should be ripening soon.
After taking the tomatoes into the house I went back outside and raked more of the front lawn. I have just about all of it raked now and about two-thirds of it thatched. I would have liked to have finished it today but I am starting to figure out when I am pushing myself too much and trying to stop before I pass the point of being exhausted.
So after putting my rakes away I decided that I would do a little pruning on the apple tree in the back yard. Since most of the apples are gone now I thought that it would be a good time to trim some branches that the squirrels use to go from the golden mountain ash tree to the apple tree.
I filled two large garbage cans with branches and then dumped them into the recycling container. That container really holds a lot as the two garbage cans did not even fill it up. Maybe with this larger container I will be able to get rid of some of the yard debris that I do not usually get to get rid of.
By the time I finished pruning I was really getting tired so I put my pole pruner and my loppers into the garage and went into the house and cleaned up I was really sweaty and tired.
After resting for a while I reheated some more of that shrimp gumbo and had that for lunch. I reheated the remainder thinking that I would finish it today but I finished about half of it so I will have the rest of it for lunch some other day. I am trying to eat slowly enough so that when I do get full I know it and can stop before I eat too much.
After putting the rest of the gumbo in the refrigerator and my silverware into the dishwasher I went into the living room and sat down for a while before I fell asleep. I knew that I was pretty tired but I was surprised at how quickly I fell asleep.
After waking up I went checked my email and tried to stay awake. I had thought that I might have been able to go out and finish raking this afternoon or do some more cleaning in the garage but no such luck. I am really tired of being so tired all the time.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
A Mixed Bag Weatherwise
Today it was almost a nice day with a lot of ugly looking clouds that looked like they were going to dump lots of rain on us but it never did. After breakfast I loaded up the dishwasher and started it up. While it was running I went outside and picked about a dozen tomatoes, pruned the roses and pulled some weeds in the back yard and then I went out to the front yard and picked up fir branches and cones.
While I was out front I noticed that the front lawn was looking pretty sad so I decided that I would rake it and get the walnut leaves. Once I started to rake I found out that I was actually thatching the grass as well.
The grass and ground was still pretty saturated from all the rain the last few days and while I could see how much the lawn needed thatching it was sticking together too much to make raking very efficient.
I was wearing myself out faster than I wanted to do so I only wound up doing half of the front lawn. So I put the rake away and got out my leaf blower as I thought that if I took a break from raking I might be able to finish the lawn.
Unfortunately I was more worn out than I had thought and by the time I got done blowing off the driveway and sidewalks I was too tired to finish the lawn. Maybe tomorrow the grass will be drier and will rake easier; the weather is suppose to be much warmer and drier.
By the time I finished putting every thing away and got cleaned up it was almost 1330 so I emptied the dishwasher and then I reheated some of the shrimp gumbo that I made yesterday. As I was heating it up Kathleen finally came downstairs for breakfast so we were able to have time at the kitchen table together; I for lunch and she for breakfast.
After putting our dishes into the dishwasher I went into the living room and laid down on the floor and put my feet up on one of the ottomans so that I could keep my feet above my heart. I dozed off in that position and when I went to get up I could not get up without going over to the couch to help me up.
It was just about time for dinner so I called up to Kathleen and asked if she had any ideas for dinner. She brought up some frozen chicken from the freezer in the basement and thawed it out. The she cut up a zucchini that we got from Alyssa on Sunday and fried it with some onion, garlic and sun dried tomatoes. She also cooked some rice to finish off the meal.
While I was out front I noticed that the front lawn was looking pretty sad so I decided that I would rake it and get the walnut leaves. Once I started to rake I found out that I was actually thatching the grass as well.
The grass and ground was still pretty saturated from all the rain the last few days and while I could see how much the lawn needed thatching it was sticking together too much to make raking very efficient.
I was wearing myself out faster than I wanted to do so I only wound up doing half of the front lawn. So I put the rake away and got out my leaf blower as I thought that if I took a break from raking I might be able to finish the lawn.
Unfortunately I was more worn out than I had thought and by the time I got done blowing off the driveway and sidewalks I was too tired to finish the lawn. Maybe tomorrow the grass will be drier and will rake easier; the weather is suppose to be much warmer and drier.
By the time I finished putting every thing away and got cleaned up it was almost 1330 so I emptied the dishwasher and then I reheated some of the shrimp gumbo that I made yesterday. As I was heating it up Kathleen finally came downstairs for breakfast so we were able to have time at the kitchen table together; I for lunch and she for breakfast.
After putting our dishes into the dishwasher I went into the living room and laid down on the floor and put my feet up on one of the ottomans so that I could keep my feet above my heart. I dozed off in that position and when I went to get up I could not get up without going over to the couch to help me up.
It was just about time for dinner so I called up to Kathleen and asked if she had any ideas for dinner. She brought up some frozen chicken from the freezer in the basement and thawed it out. The she cut up a zucchini that we got from Alyssa on Sunday and fried it with some onion, garlic and sun dried tomatoes. She also cooked some rice to finish off the meal.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
For Some Reason the Cool Wet Weather Seem Kind of Nice after too much Hot Weather
It rained again last night but it still feels kind of muggy out. This morning after eating breakfast and reading the paper I went outside and picked up some fir branches and cones that had fallen during the night. We were supposed to have some pretty strong winds last night; I slept right through them if we did.
Kathleen's SUV has needed washing for some time but it has either been too hot or I have been too tired to do it; so since I was outside and it had stopped raining for a while I decided to fill up my wash bucket and give it a lick and a promise. It is such a big rig that I had to get the small step stool out so that I could wash the top of it.
I like washing the vehicles either during a light rain or right afterwards as the rain helps loosen the dirt and makes it much easier to wash. Today was such a day so I took advantage of it. I try to avoid washing them when it is hot out as the soapy water dries too fast and I have to wipe it down as I am rinsing it off.
The mail came just as I was finishing up so I went out and got it, but there was not much there, just a few catalogs and a magazine.
Kathleen left to meet with one of the women from church and a few minutes after she left Chucky's mother called and talked for ten minutes or so. I had just started to make myself some gumbo so I was glad that the call was as short as it was.
I made it with rice, green bell pepper, a grated carrot and celery stick, onion, garlic, okra, an eighth of a cup of Worchester sauce and the same amount of Sriracha Hot chili sauce and about a half a pound of shrimp.
I made enough so that I will have some for the next couple day’s lunch. Kathleen does not care for it, she does not like okra and I know that she would not like it as hot as I made it either.
Well, Kathleen is still gone; she and Andrea were going to go to Ikea this afternoon so I am guessing that she just met Andrea there after her meeting. I cannot think of anything else to say so I think I will go back to lying on the couch with my feet up to see if I can get the swelling down.
Kathleen's SUV has needed washing for some time but it has either been too hot or I have been too tired to do it; so since I was outside and it had stopped raining for a while I decided to fill up my wash bucket and give it a lick and a promise. It is such a big rig that I had to get the small step stool out so that I could wash the top of it.
I like washing the vehicles either during a light rain or right afterwards as the rain helps loosen the dirt and makes it much easier to wash. Today was such a day so I took advantage of it. I try to avoid washing them when it is hot out as the soapy water dries too fast and I have to wipe it down as I am rinsing it off.
The mail came just as I was finishing up so I went out and got it, but there was not much there, just a few catalogs and a magazine.
Kathleen left to meet with one of the women from church and a few minutes after she left Chucky's mother called and talked for ten minutes or so. I had just started to make myself some gumbo so I was glad that the call was as short as it was.
I made it with rice, green bell pepper, a grated carrot and celery stick, onion, garlic, okra, an eighth of a cup of Worchester sauce and the same amount of Sriracha Hot chili sauce and about a half a pound of shrimp.
I made enough so that I will have some for the next couple day’s lunch. Kathleen does not care for it, she does not like okra and I know that she would not like it as hot as I made it either.
Well, Kathleen is still gone; she and Andrea were going to go to Ikea this afternoon so I am guessing that she just met Andrea there after her meeting. I cannot think of anything else to say so I think I will go back to lying on the couch with my feet up to see if I can get the swelling down.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
What a Change in the Weather!
Boy the weather certainly has changed over the last couple of days; Last week it was hot and dry with the temperatures in the hundreds and this week it has just barely made it into the seventies and it has been raining off and on.
This morning was very overcast but not really raining, it had done that last night. Yesterday it drizzled off and on most of the day and I did not get much of anything done in the afternoon.
Today after I ate breakfast I took a walk, I had not done that for a while as it had been so hot. Today it was very nice walking weather even though it looked like it could rain any minute; it did not or at least not that I am aware of.
After I got back from my walk I worked out in the gardens pruning the roses and pulling weeds. I checked on the tomatoes but there were not any more ready to pick; yesterday I picked over a dozen some of them I would have left for today but with the threat of more rain I picked them a little early.
Even though some of the tomatoes were not as ripe as I would have liked they still tasted much better than the ones in the stores. That is one of the main reasons that I like to grow tomatoes or any vegetables for that matter there is just something about that fresh out of the garden taste that you can only get right out of the garden.
My carrots are looking good as well and I am going to have to pull one or two of them up one of these days to see how big they are getting. With carrots the baby ones taste so good it is hard to wait until they get full grown.
Any way after I finished in the garden I went into the garage and sorted, rearranged and threw out things for about an hour and a half. I would like to get the garage so that I can do more than get my Jeep into it. I would like to be able to do some woodworking in it and also other things.
When I got back into the house it was 1230 and I was surprised at how late it was. After a while I made myself a Boca burger on toasted wheat bread with an onion slice and some melted cheddar cheese. I also had some multi-grained tortilla chips that are really good.
This afternoon I mostly rested and did some work on my computer. I had kind of thought that we might go grocery shopping today, but Kathleen decided to pick up her sewing machine instead.
Well it is almost 1830 and I think I will check with Kathleen to see what she wants to do for dinner tonight. Last night I thought that using a whole wheat Boboli crust and putting a can of Hormel's no bean chili on top instead of pizza sauce. Then for topping we put olive slices and sun dried tomatoes covered with mozzarella cheese. We did not have any artichoke hearts that I normally like to have on pizza.
We will have to see what we can come up with tonight...always the challenge!
This morning was very overcast but not really raining, it had done that last night. Yesterday it drizzled off and on most of the day and I did not get much of anything done in the afternoon.
Today after I ate breakfast I took a walk, I had not done that for a while as it had been so hot. Today it was very nice walking weather even though it looked like it could rain any minute; it did not or at least not that I am aware of.
After I got back from my walk I worked out in the gardens pruning the roses and pulling weeds. I checked on the tomatoes but there were not any more ready to pick; yesterday I picked over a dozen some of them I would have left for today but with the threat of more rain I picked them a little early.
Even though some of the tomatoes were not as ripe as I would have liked they still tasted much better than the ones in the stores. That is one of the main reasons that I like to grow tomatoes or any vegetables for that matter there is just something about that fresh out of the garden taste that you can only get right out of the garden.
My carrots are looking good as well and I am going to have to pull one or two of them up one of these days to see how big they are getting. With carrots the baby ones taste so good it is hard to wait until they get full grown.
Any way after I finished in the garden I went into the garage and sorted, rearranged and threw out things for about an hour and a half. I would like to get the garage so that I can do more than get my Jeep into it. I would like to be able to do some woodworking in it and also other things.
When I got back into the house it was 1230 and I was surprised at how late it was. After a while I made myself a Boca burger on toasted wheat bread with an onion slice and some melted cheddar cheese. I also had some multi-grained tortilla chips that are really good.
This afternoon I mostly rested and did some work on my computer. I had kind of thought that we might go grocery shopping today, but Kathleen decided to pick up her sewing machine instead.
Well it is almost 1830 and I think I will check with Kathleen to see what she wants to do for dinner tonight. Last night I thought that using a whole wheat Boboli crust and putting a can of Hormel's no bean chili on top instead of pizza sauce. Then for topping we put olive slices and sun dried tomatoes covered with mozzarella cheese. We did not have any artichoke hearts that I normally like to have on pizza.
We will have to see what we can come up with tonight...always the challenge!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Finally some COOL WET Weather!!
Saturday was kind of a crazy day, it started out rather normal but that did not last too long. I made myself some French toast and a couple sausage links for breakfast and then put my dishes into the dishwasher. Then I worked out in the yard most of the morning until it got too hot for me to do anything else.
About 1300 I shaved and took a shower as we had a wedding to go to at 1400. By the time we finished at the reception it was a little after 1600 and we took off to do a little shopping.
Well by the time we got done it was early evening and by the time we got home it was almost 2000. So by the time we had dinner I was too tired and hot to even think about blogging.
Then yesterday we started out pretty normal with church and Sunday School and then home. After changing my clothes I made myself something to eat for lunch and then read the paper.
It was a really muggy day but at least it was the first day that it was not over a hundred degrees that we have had in a while even though it was in the mid to upper eighties. So after reading the paper I dozed off for a while as I had not been sleeping really well due to the hot nights.
Alyssa was having a birthday party for Hayden starting at 1600 but she said that if people wanted to come over earlier to go swimming that would be okay as well. So we left her a little after 11500.
We were the first ones to arrive, what a shock that must have been, and so we helped Alyssa get ready for the party. Hayden got several "big" trucks some remote control others just made a lot of noise. We got him a really big Tonka dump truck, it did not make any noise and had no remote control but it should last him a life time.
I had hoped to leave a lot earlier than we did but that did not happen and while we were sitting out in the yard we could hear the thunder rolling around in the hills and every once in a while it would start to rain, but nothing very hard or long.
We finally made it home and it was about 2100 so again I was too tired to do any blogging. I got a much better night sleep as the weather was a lot cooler and it even rained a little during the night.
This morning it has been raining off and on but I managed to get a little yard work done before it started raining too hard to stay outside. Seeing how I could not do anything outside I came inside and emptied the dishwasher, and loaded it up again. Then I gathered up the throw rugs and shook them out, swept and mopped the kitchen floor and then the downstairs carpet.
They just announced on the noon news that we got .14 inches of rain which is more than we have had in the last month or so. Well, it is getting close to the time I start thinking about lunch; Kathleen just made it downstairs so I think that I will just go ahead and send this off.
About 1300 I shaved and took a shower as we had a wedding to go to at 1400. By the time we finished at the reception it was a little after 1600 and we took off to do a little shopping.
Well by the time we got done it was early evening and by the time we got home it was almost 2000. So by the time we had dinner I was too tired and hot to even think about blogging.
Then yesterday we started out pretty normal with church and Sunday School and then home. After changing my clothes I made myself something to eat for lunch and then read the paper.
It was a really muggy day but at least it was the first day that it was not over a hundred degrees that we have had in a while even though it was in the mid to upper eighties. So after reading the paper I dozed off for a while as I had not been sleeping really well due to the hot nights.
Alyssa was having a birthday party for Hayden starting at 1600 but she said that if people wanted to come over earlier to go swimming that would be okay as well. So we left her a little after 11500.
We were the first ones to arrive, what a shock that must have been, and so we helped Alyssa get ready for the party. Hayden got several "big" trucks some remote control others just made a lot of noise. We got him a really big Tonka dump truck, it did not make any noise and had no remote control but it should last him a life time.
I had hoped to leave a lot earlier than we did but that did not happen and while we were sitting out in the yard we could hear the thunder rolling around in the hills and every once in a while it would start to rain, but nothing very hard or long.
We finally made it home and it was about 2100 so again I was too tired to do any blogging. I got a much better night sleep as the weather was a lot cooler and it even rained a little during the night.
This morning it has been raining off and on but I managed to get a little yard work done before it started raining too hard to stay outside. Seeing how I could not do anything outside I came inside and emptied the dishwasher, and loaded it up again. Then I gathered up the throw rugs and shook them out, swept and mopped the kitchen floor and then the downstairs carpet.
They just announced on the noon news that we got .14 inches of rain which is more than we have had in the last month or so. Well, it is getting close to the time I start thinking about lunch; Kathleen just made it downstairs so I think that I will just go ahead and send this off.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Hot!!
Well the temperature when I got up was seventy-five degrees outside so it did not take long for it to heat up and become really uncomfortable. I mixed some strawberries, blueberries and a banana with my cereal this morning; I was suppose to go out for breakfast with the guys but my bowels had other ideas so I loaded up the washer with a load of dark cloths and had breakfast.
After putting my breakfast dishes into the dishwasher I took the clothes out of the washer and put them into the dryer and then added a load of light clothes into the washer. So by 0930 I had washed, dried, folded and put away two loads of laundry and by the time I had finished the temperature was approaching ninety degrees so I am glad that I did it as early as I did.
Then I went outside and gathered up some more little chunks of wood to put into the garbage can. I also dead headed the roses and pulled a few weeds. I also noticed that several more tomatoes are starting to ripen; unfortunately these are just the cherry tomatoes but the roma, early girl and beefsteak tomatoes are starting to get big.
It was starting to get too hot outside but I wanted to put the Jeep battery on the trickle charger and get it back up to full strength so I did that and then went into the house and got the mail.
There was not a lot there and I thought that I would go out to the garage and straighten up in there for a while as I noticed it was not quite as hot in the garage as it was outside. Unfortunately I had to keep going outside and I was only able to work on that for about an hour as I was really getting overheated.
It was about 1230 by the time I got back inside and cleaned up so I made myself a brat and some cold rhubarb sauce. After cleaning up my lunch dishes and Kathleen's breakfast dishes I decided that I would take some of the boxes from my upstairs room back down to the basement as we have pretty much finished the remodeling upstairs.
I keep my sanding tools and paper in a couple plastic boxes, my plumbing tools in a canvas bag and a plastic box and my electrical tools in a couple canvas bags and about four boxes. I also have a bag of carpentry tools and a couple plastic boxes of carpentry tools and odds and ends.
I had to make about ten trips from upstairs to the basement and by the time I got most everything down into the basement I had worked up a pretty good sweat and was huffing and puffing pretty good. There are still a few boxes that I need to take down into the basement but at least now I can get into my room without putting my life on the line.
After moving all that I decided to sit down and relax in the living room; that was a couple hours ago and now it is getting close to start thinking about dinner.
After putting my breakfast dishes into the dishwasher I took the clothes out of the washer and put them into the dryer and then added a load of light clothes into the washer. So by 0930 I had washed, dried, folded and put away two loads of laundry and by the time I had finished the temperature was approaching ninety degrees so I am glad that I did it as early as I did.
Then I went outside and gathered up some more little chunks of wood to put into the garbage can. I also dead headed the roses and pulled a few weeds. I also noticed that several more tomatoes are starting to ripen; unfortunately these are just the cherry tomatoes but the roma, early girl and beefsteak tomatoes are starting to get big.
It was starting to get too hot outside but I wanted to put the Jeep battery on the trickle charger and get it back up to full strength so I did that and then went into the house and got the mail.
There was not a lot there and I thought that I would go out to the garage and straighten up in there for a while as I noticed it was not quite as hot in the garage as it was outside. Unfortunately I had to keep going outside and I was only able to work on that for about an hour as I was really getting overheated.
It was about 1230 by the time I got back inside and cleaned up so I made myself a brat and some cold rhubarb sauce. After cleaning up my lunch dishes and Kathleen's breakfast dishes I decided that I would take some of the boxes from my upstairs room back down to the basement as we have pretty much finished the remodeling upstairs.
I keep my sanding tools and paper in a couple plastic boxes, my plumbing tools in a canvas bag and a plastic box and my electrical tools in a couple canvas bags and about four boxes. I also have a bag of carpentry tools and a couple plastic boxes of carpentry tools and odds and ends.
I had to make about ten trips from upstairs to the basement and by the time I got most everything down into the basement I had worked up a pretty good sweat and was huffing and puffing pretty good. There are still a few boxes that I need to take down into the basement but at least now I can get into my room without putting my life on the line.
After moving all that I decided to sit down and relax in the living room; that was a couple hours ago and now it is getting close to start thinking about dinner.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
To Hot to Write
I did not write to my blog yesterday because I was running around most of the day and by the time I got home I was too hot and tired to get my brain working. The weather folks keep reminding us that the temperature is going to be above a hundred degrees until Sunday, and then it is suppose to be in the high eighties.
I have been spending my mornings watering my gardens and then at noon I have been going to church to cut up fruit for the basketball camp that our church is helping organize. This morning I had my first tomato from my garden this season; there is nothing like a fresh tomato right out of the garden.
Yesterday afternoon Kathleen and I went over to the other side of the river and ran around for a few hours and then spent the rest of the time in traffic. I was able to pick up my prescription at Fred Meyer yesterday and we also got a few groceries. I brought some coupons so that half of what we got was free. The clerk even asked me where I got some of my coupons...I have my sources!!
This morning I just had cereal with blueberries and a banana as it was already too hot to cook eggs and hash browns. After eating I put my dishes into the dishwasher and gathered up everything else that I could find and then turned it on.
I went for a walk before it got really hot, although it was warm enough that I did not want to walk too far or too fast. Then shortly after I got back I changed clothes and went to church to cut up fruit.
I was the first one there; so what else is new; and I had three quarters of the fruit cut up before most everyone else showed up. The was one lady that showed up shortly after I did but I spent more time showing her what to go and trying to work around her that I finally asked that she just take the fruit that I cut up into the trays.
The last fellow showed up just as we were finishing up and asked if there was anything that he could do, so I suggested that he transport the fruit to the place where the b ball camp was being held.
Then when everyone else left I cleaned the knives, cutting boards and sinks. Then I dried everything off and then before I left I mopped the floor. By the time I went back outside it was really heating up in fact Kathleen's SUV did not really cool down enough for me by the time I got home.
Once I got home I changed back into my work shorts and tee and went back downstairs and had some lunch. Kathleen did not finish her ham hoagie from last night so I had that along with some deli salads and a dill pickle. After eating I emptied the dishwasher and then put my lunch dishes into it.
Since then I have not done much moving around as it is just too hot. It was over ninety degrees by noon today and they are telling us that the temperature will probably stay in the mid seventies tonight.
Well the 1600 news just came on and we have set another temperature record. They just said that tomorrow it is suppose to set another record and is supposes to be the hottest day in over a decade. Where is all that cool rainy weather when we need it?
I think that I am going to call it a day as my butt is getting too hot to sit here any longer!
I have been spending my mornings watering my gardens and then at noon I have been going to church to cut up fruit for the basketball camp that our church is helping organize. This morning I had my first tomato from my garden this season; there is nothing like a fresh tomato right out of the garden.
Yesterday afternoon Kathleen and I went over to the other side of the river and ran around for a few hours and then spent the rest of the time in traffic. I was able to pick up my prescription at Fred Meyer yesterday and we also got a few groceries. I brought some coupons so that half of what we got was free. The clerk even asked me where I got some of my coupons...I have my sources!!
This morning I just had cereal with blueberries and a banana as it was already too hot to cook eggs and hash browns. After eating I put my dishes into the dishwasher and gathered up everything else that I could find and then turned it on.
I went for a walk before it got really hot, although it was warm enough that I did not want to walk too far or too fast. Then shortly after I got back I changed clothes and went to church to cut up fruit.
I was the first one there; so what else is new; and I had three quarters of the fruit cut up before most everyone else showed up. The was one lady that showed up shortly after I did but I spent more time showing her what to go and trying to work around her that I finally asked that she just take the fruit that I cut up into the trays.
The last fellow showed up just as we were finishing up and asked if there was anything that he could do, so I suggested that he transport the fruit to the place where the b ball camp was being held.
Then when everyone else left I cleaned the knives, cutting boards and sinks. Then I dried everything off and then before I left I mopped the floor. By the time I went back outside it was really heating up in fact Kathleen's SUV did not really cool down enough for me by the time I got home.
Once I got home I changed back into my work shorts and tee and went back downstairs and had some lunch. Kathleen did not finish her ham hoagie from last night so I had that along with some deli salads and a dill pickle. After eating I emptied the dishwasher and then put my lunch dishes into it.
Since then I have not done much moving around as it is just too hot. It was over ninety degrees by noon today and they are telling us that the temperature will probably stay in the mid seventies tonight.
Well the 1600 news just came on and we have set another temperature record. They just said that tomorrow it is suppose to set another record and is supposes to be the hottest day in over a decade. Where is all that cool rainy weather when we need it?
I think that I am going to call it a day as my butt is getting too hot to sit here any longer!
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