Adventures in cleaning

My holidays started with big plans.  As usual most of my time has been spent sitting outside reading.  I think it was because I decided to clean the tops of my kitchen cabinets.  As I inched along the edge of the counter, half bent over, scrubbing the tops of the cabinets I just happened to hold the top of the door instead of the cabinet.  Of course the door opened a bit.  Unfortunately it was the door right beside the big tub of water I was using.  Yep.... right off the edge and all over the floor.  I am not sure Jim knew that I knew words like that.  Spent the next 10 minutes moping up dirty water.  Lots of fun.  One thing seems to lead to another.  To make room for my new dishes I had to move everything around.  Taking stuff downstairs made me realise that I needed to straighten up my pantry.  While doing that I realised that I had a number of things that were stale dated so it was time to check everything and toss stuff.  Another afternoon shot on something I had no intention of doing.   BUT!!! Jim and I have eaten our first meal off of our new dishes.  Sitting at the kitchen table with placemats and everything!  Today we painted the trim around our doors and patio window.  We didn't do a great job but at least it is painted for the winter.  Then I had the bright idea of touching up the shop doors.  Two hours later the doors are poorly painted and we realise that the doors are actually in pretty bad shape and need replacing.  Good thing I painted them so they will last the winter (and probably a couple more years after that) By noon every inch of my body ached and I was exhausted.   I never even went to town today.  I have been checking the mail regularly because Jim got new glasses.  Because he is over 65 he is eligible for the government subsidy for seniors They have maximums payable and then pay 80% of that amount, less a $50 deductable so we are looking at maybe a $40 cheque.  Unfortunately I cannot submit my blue cross claim without claiming the amount from subsidy.  I have a $500 claim waiting on this cheque.  I really need the blue cross cause I put the glasses on Visa and need to pay it.  Vicious circle.  I sure hope the cheque comes soon.  So many petty things but the sure add up.  Tomorrow it is supposed to be very hot so anything I do outside will have to be done early.  I have lots of work to do in the house so maybe I can do some of that tomorrow.  Or, I can sit and read.  I will see what tomorrow brings.

Addendum

Just re-read my last post.  I spent a fair bit of time getting the spacing just right.  Obviously I shouldn't have bothered.  We realized today that our tree is infested with aphids--probably secondary to the ant problem.  We love that tree, and don't want to see it weakened, so I'll be talking to the exterminator, about both problems.  We went out for tea today.  It's way over on Academy Road.  David got quite frustrated with the construction we had to go through, so we "dipsy-doodled" around and ended up coming home down Jubilee, Fermor, and Lagimodiere.  That way we also got to stop at Starbuck's for my daily coffee.  David found a Visa card in his wallet, while we were out, and asked me to try it out, and see if it was still good.  Yes it was, and it will be good for 5 more cups.  Always nice to find money, and thank you, Beth for the coffee today.

Wow,,,,,you have a great comeback plan

So impressed with your plan of action.  I am also rereading 'the book" right now in between my adventures with Stone Barrington, and thus easy for me to follow along with you at most stages and phases. It should come naturally to you now, but measuring and not been lazy seem to the keys for you right now.  Keep at it.....
Real busy here - lots to do and little ambition to do it but nevertheless, I too, shall keep at it.  XX

Struggling

Monday was not good.  The diet wasn't working for me.  This happened the one other time I managed to lose weight.  I got down to about the same weight, as I am now, and just lost whatever it was that had kept me going, and the weight started to creep back up.  So yesterday morning I sat down and started reading parts of the book again.  I know the diet works, but I need to work with the diet.  I came up with a plan. 
- I am going to go back to using the phases, as they are intended to              be used, 
- I'm not going to worry about throwing out a few veggies, if they              are old and not on the plan for that week. (threw out 1/2                    banana today,and David supported me about it.)
-I'm going to make a better effort to drink what I'm supposed to be drinking:
         -add at least one more cup of green tea per day-more if I can
         -cut 1 can of Dr. Pepper per day (half of what I've had, but I'm            not going to stop completely--that is setting myself up for                failure. I'll substutute with lemon water.)
-increase my use of lentils and chick peas
-buy pistachios in the shell--I had stopped using them because of               cost when bought shelled--$26.95/lb
-go back to measuring everything--I was getting lazy
-try to use all of the recipes in a section, not just my favourites-I                 was getting lazy
-cook with the recipes in front of me-don't rely on memory. I was               getting lazy.
-make more effort to differentiate between habit hunger, boredom             hunger, and real hunger.
-make an effort to keep my hands busy and clean (sewing).  An old           strategy, but a good one for me.

Yesterday went well.  I had extra green tea, and will try to have it with every meal today.  It was a struggle not to have that first can of Dr. Pepper, as I knew that I would have a can while playing poker in the evening--but I did it.  I need to bake a small batch of cookies for ladies visiting soon, and David had forgotten where he had hidden the chocolate chips from me--so I had to tell him where they were.  But I stayed away from the jujubes!  I have the plan written down, and will post it on the fridge.

David is washing wine bottles today, something he prefers to do in the kitchen.  When he mentioned it, I had visions of having to clean up and sort out the laundry area--a job that's on my list but being ignored.  But I want to do some dyeing and leaf printing today, so maybe today's the day.  Later, or maybe tomorrow, we have to head out to buy tea--over on the other side of town.  Starting to run out of green tea for some reason.  :) 

We had "visits' also....

It is nice to have visits, isn't it? And your day sounded to be a very pleasant one, Pati.  How about you Cathy?  Nice to be at home?

Well our "visit" was thus:  we "cat sat" today at Mike and Erin's. Arrived at their place at 6:15 am and they left for Sudbury at 6:45 am.  Erin had to meet with new employer at 9 am to complete some paper work, and Mike went to deliver resumes - he left a resume at three different places. And they looked at a house. They were back to North Bay by 1;30 pm. 
We were there to baby sit the cats.  The rescued cat was home following her surgery and care at the animal hospital, and Mike and Erin did not want to leave the three cats alone as there is some tension amongst the three of them. Actually it is really one of the two current cats who seems to be putting up a fuss about the appearance of this third cat. All was well and only a few little tiffs occurred under my watch. For the most part the new cat just looked for attention and loves - she is a very nice cat with colouring and disposition resembling our new kitten, Tigger.  So although we actually did not have much of a visit with Mike and Erin, we were there! Erin had left homemade cookies, and cinnamon buns, so I made coffee for the two of us, and then went to get Subs for Harry and I for our lunch, so we didn't starve. 
Now, since I did not sleep last night, and I just came in from doing all the watering, I shall head to bed, read a bit and hope for a better night.  Take care.

A nice visit.

Two nice visits, in fact.  I had lunch with my ATC group yesterday.  There were only 4 of us, but we had a pleasant lunch, a nice visit, and a trade.  One of the ladies is off to travel in Japan and Korea, next month.  She is an older widow and travels extensively, usually as part of a group of seniors.  We had a chat about being single, as two of the group are, and the strategies that  a single person has to use, to keep from becoming socially isolated.  I've also found within my Tuesday stitchers, that this can be an issue, as I'm the only one left in the group that's part of a married couple.  (I put it that way, as one of the ladies-86 years old--has recently moved in with a gentleman, but I truly believe that it's platonic, and just for economic reasons)

When I got home, Loren and Sheila were visiting.  It was the first chance they'd had to come and see the kitchen.  They appeared quite impressed, both with the quality of the work, and the reasonable cost.  Sheila teased Loren about him now having "kitchen envy".  I think he's wanted to do "something" about his kitchen ever since he bought the house, and I agree.  We found out that Jeremy has been accepted into Red River, in the Mechanical Engineering Technology program, and started today.  He just found out toward the end of last week, so it was a bit of a scramble getting him registered and ready.

We had our carpet cleaned today.  Just the living room and hallway--the traffic areas.  Not cheap, but having made the decision to retain the carpet for as long as we're in the house, it had to be done.  Now we're off for the monthly shopping.  Not as bad as it used to be, as we're shopping more often for the fresh stuff I need on my diet.  And how's the diet going--don't ask, but whatever has happened the past week, my weight is remaining somewhat stable, and that is a blessing.  Loren has been dieting as well, and has now lost about 20lbs.  Both of them are happy about that.

I've finally got around to washing and dyeing some of the Damask napkins you sent me years ago, Beth, the ones from Harry's mother.  They are not as worn as the Damask I get at the thrift store, and the resulting colours are a bit more intense than on older fabric.  I'm very pleased with what I've accomplished so far.

So, change clothes, and out the door, and hope the carpet dries by the time we get home.

Stewing meat

I have done the same sort of thing.  I'll buy a large amount of beef, on sale, and then cut it up into chunks and freeze it.  While I make stew, I also like the chunks just browned off and then put in the oven in packaged gravy-with or without canned mushrooms.  I also cut some of it in thin strips, maybe dredge in a little flour, or not, brown it off and put in the oven with B-B-Q sauce from a bottle.  A pot of rice, some frozen veggies, and a meal.  It may be the same meat, but just a bit of variety.

We have to do a bit of house work today.  I have carpet cleaners coming in tomorrow morning.  It should have been done when we finished the kitchen, but the cash wasn't there.  This has been a long month, and yes, we had to resort to plastic a bit.  Looking at the calendar, this month  will be more of the same.  With the mild winter, we were ahead on our budget utility payments, for heat and light, and won't have to pay very much this month, but our budget went up for next year, as there was a rate increase.  Hardly seems worth it to be wearing jackets, and under shirts, most of the winter.

Beth, it sounds, like your visit with the friends was well worth the anxiety.  How nice it must have felt to be made to feel  welcome, and by several people from the sound of it. You may not fully realize the impact you've had on the lives of these people, until something like this happens.  Quite a validation for you, and your gentle accepting manner.

Today I plan to do some leaf printing, and then I'm out for lunch with my ATC trading group.  It sounds like a small group this month, and they changed the theme of the trade to a much less demanding one.  Since the meeting was cancelled last month, as no-one was able to make it, I have the cards I made for that.  Bonus!