snow and more snow...

 Since the girls are on vacation, I took them out and about today...the county had a travel advisory, lots of snow last night, then some ice on top, but it was cancelled by 9:30 this morning.  Paul so nicely got the snowblower out, and cleared the driveway, and off we went...beeeeep beeeeep all the way down the road, YES, I KNOW, CAR!  The emergency brake sensor is ON!

(just a wee bit of snow in the parking lot!)

We went to a nail salon first, so Miss Cam could get the gel polish removed, she hasn't been able to get it off from our salon trip in Florida in January.  We walked over to the thrift store from there, and I found a few good toys, which I need like a hole in the head.  But a little Fisher Price driving camper, with batteries in it, fully working, so cute!  A Gund stuffed Black Lab puppy, looked brand new?  yeah, put it in the cart. A spiffy and clean non stick frying pan for $1.99?  okay.  Charlotte Claire found a pretty vase for the avocado pit she's trying to grow.  So fifteen dollars worth of fun.  I let them choose something to eat, they decided Chinese take-out.  Then, a quick trip to Walmart...the Valentine's Day chocolate was all gone, but the girls chose some lollipops.  We got some seltzer, a package of bacon, some ground beef, a bag of tortilla chips, some more fresh cilantro, and a gallon of milk.

Home, ah home.  Too bad the gallon of milk had a leak in it, what a mess.  

It's snowing out again, we're to get 3-6 more inches tonight.  The girls want to go to their friend Amanda's house for the night, and I am NOT keen on driving in the snow, ugh.  It comes with the territory, I know, but I do try to avoid it.

It's getting dark in here already, time to turn some lamps on, and start making dinner.  A few short months ago, it would have been dark already at this time, so the days ARE getting longer.   Dinner is taco salad, again!  I had some eggs a few hours ago, so I'm not very hungry.  I'm used to eating only one meal a day, but occasionally I'll have a "first" meal of eggs.  

You'd think I'd be skinny, but NO, I am not.  I do have to remind myself that although I'm not losing weight like I think I should be, I am maintaining a 70 pound loss.  That's not easy.  I could gain it all back in five minutes, if I let myself.  

Ah well.  Time to make that dinner...:)

a true vacation day!

 In the history of people who enjoy vacation days, I'm right up there near the top.  I've had a lot of them through the years, but mostly in the last few years.  Seriously, for like 25 years straight, it was all systems GO.  It was non-stop nonsense, Chaos Central.  

But today, the little girls are on school break, Paul had the day off from work, and we did not leave the house.  I offered to take them on an adventure, but they hemmed and hawed, so I started a project.  It's not rocket science, just a few simple flannel blanks for Kathryn's new baby, coming in June.

I made a big on and a smaller one, two-sided.  My sewing machine does amazing things, but I have no idea how to do most of it.  I plan on leaving it out though, and getting to know it better.  Technology is kind of scary to me, I mean, this machine remembers 30 different stitch commands!!  It embroiders all the numbers and letters, and has a whole potpourri of decorative stitches.  It sews beautifully, and I do love it.  I got it back in the beginning of the lockdown, well maybe around Mother's Day last year, used for $250.  It's smooth!  You can actually push a sliding lever to control the sewing speed.  It's pretty wowza.

Dinner:  leftover chicken breast, warmed in hot olive oil in the frying pan, with cauliflower rice (for me!), regular rice, I also had some shredded cabbage with carrots, fresh cilantro, fresh salsa, and various other toppings.  They all had theirs in tortillas...I'm trying to stay away from the carbs, but I did have some squares of chocolate with almonds, with my after dinner decaf.  sigh.

Ben and Ashley and the girls came over for dinner last night, along with Margaret and her two little boys (Adrian was doing college homework).  Emily came over for a bit too.  We had some roasted bone-in chicken breasts, cauliflower and broccoli, roasted Brussel sprouts with roasted chopped apple, and baked potatoes.  

We solved the worlds' problems while the kids ran around and played with the tons and tons of toys that Paul brought out for them.  Ride-ons, dollhouses, Barbies, trucks...it was like the good old days for a few hours.

Jonathan called a bit ago from Phoenix, he actually FaceTimed from in the pool.  They're enjoying some sunshine, and there are orange trees at their hotel.  They went for a little walk, and found a box of "free for the taking" lemons under a lemon tree in someone's yard.  It's all very new and novel for us northerners, Darius is from Winnipeg!   No citrus trees there!

They're headed to Sedona tomorrow, then back up to Las Vegas for a few days.  They'll stay clear of the casinos, they're there for the weather, pools, hot tubs.  

I can't say that I'm tired of winter, not yet.  We are supposed to get a foot of snow tonight, and maybe some ice on top of that, making the roads extremely hazardous for tomorrow morning.  Sonja's college already cancelled classes, but the hospital won't be closing, so Emily and Mariel and Molly will still be going in to work, and Abigail will work her accounting job too.  I'll be praying for them.  Evelyn works walking distance from her place, but Benjamin will have to drive into work.  It's a bit different from when they were all little, and it was a snow day, and they were all safe and sound at home.  They grow up and are adults, but to mama, they are still little chickies.  

But I'm not tired of winter.  It's cozy and relaxing and I'm not bored yet.

Our nice new Mitsubishi...the parking brake warning bells have been triggered once again.  We had to take it to the Certified Mitsubishi Fixer a few months back because it happened...so we've avoided using that parking brake (the very same thing happened to Mariel's car).  We went through the car wash on Saturday, and accidentally set the parking brake.  It did disengage, but the car didn't get that message, and it BEEPS and BEEPS and BEEPS, the WHOLE ENTIRE TIME the car is moving.  Stop at a stop sign, phew, some reprieve...drive again, and BEEEP BEEEP. I called the dealership, and they can get me in NEXT TUESDAY.  So, every errand I run, BEEEP.

The girls want to go on some adventures this week, we'll have to crank the tunes and scream at each other over the BEEEPing.  In the big scheme of things it's not a big deal, but it sure is always something.

Ah well.  I'm going to fill some pitchers of water in case the power goes out, it certainly will if I don't fill the pitchers, it's like insurance, right?  We have well water, so if the power goes out, no water for us.  

"gal"-entines day? sure!

 

Well, today is Valentine's Day, but I learned something new:  yesterday was indeed Galentine's Day.  The girls had a party here, and well, I wasn't exactly invited, but I wasn't not invited.  I offered to host the party, and they agreed, so...:)

We had mini hot dogs in crescent rolls, chocolate dipped strawberries, cookies, raspberry brownies, hot out of the oven from Mariel (and Miss Camille), Buffalo chicken wing dip with tortillas from Emily, and some stove popped popcorn.  Chocolate:  Kisses, Twix, M&M's, the works.  

The girls picked names and each made a Valentine for whoever they picked.  We had glitter and glue and stickers, all the fun crafty stuff out.  They read the cards to each other, they have some talent!  We also went around the room and said what we learned during quarantine, and the responses were quite enlightening, mostly they learned to be thankful, to appreciate things, to appreciate being together, and to make good use of their time.  

We sang a few songs, and it all went by too fast.

Here are some random pics, I am no photographer!

The card making!

Charlotte Claire, don't you love the shirt?

Anyway, we had enough chocolate dipped strawberries.  I sent some home with some of the girls.  I only had one, and it was mmmm.  Those big blocks of white dipping chocolate bark, melted with three Aldi milk chocolate bars and half a bag of mini chocolate chips.  

In the morning yesterday, I made a double batch of muffins.  Half chocolate chips with those mini chips, and the other half blueberry.  With a sprinkling of sugar/brown sugar on top before baking, they looked pretty yummy when they came out of the oven.  The girls said they were pretty good.

A little later in the day, while Paul was ice fishing, we took a little trip to the big mall.  Sonja K., Charlotte Claire, Camille, and I, we got our steps in for the day!  We didn't buy much, but I let the two younger girls get bubble tea, and Sonja and I got coffees..and a bag for home:

My blog friend Linda drinks this every day!  It's one of the good things about NY, and sometimes you have to look a bit harder to find those things.  Our gov. is King Corruption, it's all coming to light.  When things started going better here after the "first wave", he had the audacity to say something like, "It was our hard work, it was not God."   Well you know, I looked for the bolt of lightening.  When someone is that proud, eeks.    

But anyway, we don't need to dwell on that.  I'm going to put some bone-in chicken breasts in the oven, bake some potatoes, and roast some Brussel sprouts with sweet potatoes and apple chunks.  We are going to church in the early afternoon, then some of the older kids will come over for dinner.  

So have a really really good day, and count those blessings!

what a strange day so far!

 I had to get up early, on this frigid Saturday morning, which is no fair.  Our internet wasn't working, and the technician was to arrive between 8 and 9 this morning.  Paul was up at 5:18, to get ready to go ice fishing, of all things, brrr.  I was like NO WAY,  I need to fall back to sleep.  I eventually did, but it was that fitful sleep, full of horrifying scenarios of the internet guy banging on the door, and me being in my awful pajamas and no bra on.   At seven, I decided enough was enough, and got up and got properly dressed, made coffee, and tidied up the entryway, because we wouldn't want the internet guy to think we're slobs, would we?

Of course he came to the OTHER door, and traipsed through the house, good thing it was spotless, ha.  The dogs were locked in my room, barking their furry little heads off, but the teenagers just slept through it all.  

The internet is all fixed.  Paul texted me and asked me what was wrong with it, well, how would I know?  The guy climbed up the pole out front, fixed some things, used a little meter, chatted away about how he has a few more places to go to, and how cold it is out, and told me to have a really good day, and left.  It took almost an hour, so hopefully he fixed it good.

I had to drive Paul to work yesterday, he actually went into the office, because the internet was out.  After the girls got on the bus, I went out, all by myself, again.  I had a mission:  strawberries.  We're having a little Valentines party this evening, and we want to dip some strawberries in chocolate...Aldi had them $1.49 a pound, limit four, so I went to two Aldi.   I also went to the fabric store, oh how nice it was to meander there!  I didn't get much, but it sure was fun.

I really really wanted to go to Target, but we all know that things would just jump into the cart, and the total would miraculously be 84% more than it would seem possible.   

Home, ahh home, but not for long!  The groceries put away, little Valentine bags made for Anya and Elise, my swimsuit and towel packed, and off to pick Paul up from work, then bye bye, over to the pool to meet Ben and Ashley and those little girls, to swim for 45 minutes.  Lydia was with them too!  It felt fantastic to be in the water, it was the first time I've been to the Rec center since March.  We are going to try to make it our Friday thing.  

Home, ahhh...no, dinner was not made.  They said it was because they wanted it to be fresh and hot for me, but they were really just plonked on the couches on their phones.  We all pitched in and made some good din-din though.  I made burgers, Sonja cut up red onions and tomatoes, and got out the pickles, ect., Camille made both onion rings and tater tots in the air fryer.  I resolved to have only one of each, but eeks, I had a few more than that.  Swimming does make one ravenous.  Charlotte Claire decided to make herself a panini, which was fine with me.  She had been craving one...

I gave the girls some little bags too, with some chocolates...they enjoyed cracking into it while we watched a few episodes of...Grey's Anatomy.  I know, it's a horrible show, but...we watch it together.

Ah well...time to get moving, my fingers are cold, it's cold cold cold!  1 degree this morning! (-17.2C)...

But first, here's a cute pic of Kathryn and little Achilles, they visited Zion National Park yesterday in Nevada...

And Jonny...isn't it gorgeous there?

And Suri, keeping warm:

Keep warm!

all's well...

 1.  The doctor's appointment went well, for all except my pride.  Oh being poked and prodded while in my best granny panties and heavy duty underwire bra, that poor dr probably thought for a minute there, that he was kneading bread dough.  He is a professional, of course, so he didn't utter what he was probably thinking.  The important thing was that there are no concerns of any skin cancer.

2.  Jonathan made it to Portland, about 18 hours after arriving at the first airport.  He landed in Chicago at 1:58, with his connecting flight boarding at 1:50, and Chicago is a very big airport.  An airline employee helped him, accompanied him, to his gate, made sure he got there in time.  He then had to go to San Francisco, had plenty of time there to make his flight to Portland.  Kathryn said he was quite tired by the time he got to their place.

3.  I went to Walmart yesterday, all by my lonesome, but don't feel sorry for me, it was so relaxing.  I wandered, meandered, pondered, and dilly-dallied.  I looked at clearance racks, and bought some things for the grandkids.  I bought candy for our Valentine's party, and not too much else.  

4.  Sonja K. works at the college, and knew I was going to be in the city, so she suggested I bring her a coffee.  It was a really good idea.

Say what you will about them, but they make a darned good coffee, and they'll put heavy cream in it, too.

5.  Molly and Lydia, and little Ophelia are coming over today for a visit, yay!

6.  I wandered into the kitchen today to make cinnamon rolls...the ones from scratch.  Then I decided not to, why torture myself?  I considered making bread, but same thing.  We have those crescent rolls in the fridge, in the little cardboard tube, those are much easier to not partake of.  I did put some frozen chicken in the crockpot, chicken soup sounds good for dinner.

7.  We are heading into a cold snap this weekend...

That's a high of -7c on Saturday.  It's much colder in Canada, and in the midwest, but still, brrrr!

Snow, snow, snow, we've had snow on the ground for days and weeks!  It's pretty.  I'm not complaining.  It's just that around this time of year, you get those little inklings of spring fever starting in...

Here's something that is NOT included in the "all's well" category.  One of my Facebook/blogger friends...Holly L....her family is devastated and heartbroken today, their little girl died in her sleep.  Rachel was special needs, their "forever baby girl", a beautiful child.  I do not know them in real life, but have known Holly for years and years in blog-land, and on Facebook.  Their family could use prayers in these days, so if you are a praying person...

I think it's a blessing to live in these days, when we can connect online.  We can encourage each other, and uplift each other.  The internet can obviously be used for horrible things, but it can also be used for the good.  

Now off I go to mop the floor quick...

sweetness...

 

The purple "diamonds", the extra dough, cut with a pizza cutter ha.  The activity club kids liked them!

So I got up at 4:28 this morning, and drove Jonathan to the airport.  I do not like getting up in the night while it's still dark, all of 12 degrees out, and starting my car.  I know, technically it was "morning".  Jonathan packed last night, all by himself.  On the way to the airport, he realized he forgot his swim trunks.  Did I tell you they are going on a vacation when he gets there?  They are flying to Nevada, renting a car, and visiting some national parks.  The hotel pools have time slots you can reserve.  He might just have to find a Walmart.

He is still there at the airport, 7 hours later, flight delayed over and over again.  They were going to route him to Chicago, then San Fran, but his layover in Chicago went from an hour, down to 20 minutes, which is almost impossible.  Now he says they might send him to Denver...poor guy.  He seems okay, but hey, I'm not.  It's hard to send him off on his own!  But he's so independent, and can most likely take care of himself.  most likely.

This fine day, I have to go to the dermatologist.  I almost cancelled, because...I hate going to the doctor.  Especially the dermatologist, you have to be inspected everywhere, and well, my belly hasn't seen the light of day too much in like 35 years.  I'm no swimsuit model.  I almost cancelled, but Sonja K. reminded me that it's more expensive in the long run to have things that aren't taken care of when they're small.  True.  Last year, there were some pre-cancerous little spots that had to be taken care of.  It's the beginning of the year, we have a huge deductible, and I do hate to spend the money.  But, I'm going.  

I'll be out and about all by my lonesome, so who knows where I'll stop afterwards...

Oh, tomorrow, fun:  I'm going to the rec center pool!  I have not been since before the pandemic.  You reserve a lap lane, and swim!  Ben and Ashley and their two little girls are going, too.  I'm very excited, I do love swimming.  

I've procrastinated long enough, time to hurry up and get out the door!

hearts...

 Today, I'm going to bake a very small batch of sugar cookie cut out hearts, maybe a few flower shapes too.  Tonight is Junior Activity club, for kids from ages 2-4.  There are only 7 kids all together, and they don't always all come.  Tonight we're having a dance party with glow sticks, making some Valentines, coloring, having snack (fruit snacks and cookies).  

The butter has to soften up, that's my excuse for getting the ingredients out, then taking a break.  I also washed some dishes, watered the plants, put clothes in the dryer, and tidied things up a bit.  Today is a very quiet day here.  Sonja K. had an in-person college class, but is home now attending an online one.  Jonathan is working today at church, doing some projects, (he drove himself!  so strange...), and the younger girls are at school today.  

I can think of a million reasons why I need to run to Walmart, I get antsy and like to get out.  I want some specific fabric to make a little table runner, for starters.   The girls are having a Valentine's Day party here on Saturday evening.  We're hoping there will be an abundance of strawberries at Aldi on Friday, so we can dip them in chocolate.  I'm also bought some miniature cookies:  Chips Ahoy, Nutter Butters, and mini Oreos (they're so cute!), and thought they'd be really good dipped in chocolate, now why on earth wouldn't they be?  You could dip celery in chocolate and mmmm.   But, I'm staying home today.  I can get so much done when I stay home.

It's snowing out again, looks we live in the old snow globe.

A lazy pic of the front yard from my chair, don't you love the screen?

The tree branches are all snow covered, and the fresh snow covers the dirty snowbanks, I don't mind it at all.  

Ah well, time to get those cookies mixed up...maybe I'll post a pic later, can you even wait?  I don't eat them, but I love love love everything about seasonal cut out cookies...they are just so cool!