Thursday, July 20, 2017

[4kidsmom]

Good morning!

[4kidsmom]

Good morning!

I'm up way too early today--woke up and couldn't get back to sleep.  I'm sure there will be a nap later on!

Today's a pretty low-key day.  Nowhere I have to be until tonight when I plan to go to a cousin's daughter's wedding reception.  I do have an electrician coming over this afternoon to bid on some electrical projects that we want to do. One of those is to identify the wires in our bedroom's ceiling light box.  When we bought the house, the bedroom had a standard light.  We replaced it with a ceiling fan.  The box is really not the right one for a ceiling fan, but it worked so we didn't change it.  We have to put in a new fan because one of the pull strings was pulled too hard and broke inside.  We can't replace it.  So the whole fixture needs to be replaced.  I'm annoyed because I hate having to spend the money to replace something that has just one little thing wrong with it.  Not to mention what to do with the fixture that is otherwise perfectly fine.  I'm thinking I'll take it to Habitat for Humanity ReStore and maybe the parts can be reused.  This actually happened several months ago but we didn't need the fan at the time so we put off replacing it.  Then when we were ready to, we realized we needed to install a proper ceiling fan box.  Which really would have been no big deal except that the wires are all the same color--white!  Steven lost track of which wire was which when he was trying to figure out if the box would work for the ceiling fan.  So the electrician needs to ID those wires so we can properly install the fan.  We'll also have him put in a proper box.  We really should have had this done at the beginning of summer before it got so hot.  We've had a small table fan running so it's been OK but we just want to get this project done. It's also getting annoying that we have to traverse the room to turn on the bedside lamps for light. 

Other electrical projects we'll have him bid on:  We want to add more lights to our family/playroom.  That room is an L shaped room.  One part of the room has one single ceiling light that is on one side of the room.  The other side has two can lights that are movable and the lights are opposite the one light so the light is really uneven and poor.  We want to take out the single light and put in 4 can lights.  We want to add in four more can lights on the other side of the room and have the two existing lights replaced so all the can lights match.  We also want to have a new cable jack installed opposite where the current one is so we can move the TV around and not have to run cables along the walls. 

So today I need to make sure the family room/play room and my bedroom are cleaned up for the visit.  He is coming between 3 and 4.  Depending on when he says he can start work, and what we have him do (we may do this in stages, depending on how much it costs), I may also start packing up some of the decor so it doesn't get all dusty/dirty from the drywall dust that will surely start flying.  Plus I'm sure we'll have some patching/filling in holes/painting to do when the electrical projects are done.  The room could use a good cleaning anyway so it's not a big deal.

I'm also planning to rearrange some things in the garage so both cars can be parked in there.  Usually Steven parks his car outside during the warm weather months because we have the lawn mower, bikes and a big Rubbermaid with camp chairs in the garage that takes up some of the space where he parks.  All of this stuff gets put away in the shed in fall (when we're done with it) so that makes room for his car in winter.  My neighbor told me there's been some car break-ins lately so I figure I'll get stuff rearranged so Steven can park inside and we'll keep our car safe.  Why do people have to damage/take stuff that isn't theirs?!?

Going outside to start watering the lawn and take out the garbage cans.  I didn't dare do that last night because it was storm and I didn't want them blowing over.  Hope you all have a good day!

Merilee

[Alice]

Good Morning, Merilee!

We're having a rainy, overcast day today. We really needed some rain so I'm good with it.

I had an overwhelming day yesterday with a lot of things going on at work. By the time I got home, I was pretty much running on the day's adrenaline and was ready to just sit for a bit to get calm. I was also hungry and no food was around. Then dad called and wanted me to get some beans and squash. I just told him I needed to come a bit later in the evening because I was really needing a little down time.

About 45 minutes later, I was feeling better and I made myself fried eggs on toast for supper. Hubby had to get his own food and I feel really bad but I needed something right away. I was able to go get the beans later and processed them all for freezing. Today's work should be a bit better. Maybe I should start stocking some rip packages of processed food and that just goes against my healthier judgement so now I'm torn.  The family could help but they're not home during the day either!

I'm taking Friday off so maybe I'll put stuff together for an easy meal and then freeze that.

That's my day.

Alice

[greyhoundgirl]

Good morning!

Came to the page to look for an older post in the kitchen section and thought I'd say "hi".  Been keeping busy lately with the three little kids home (now 7, 9, and 10) and both my teenage girls gone.  Maddy works at a camp and is actually currently at their newest camp in Mississippi helping getting it up and running.  Mallory has been volunteering at the camp here in OK where Maddy normally works but is there as a camper this week.

 School begins 3 weeks from tomorrow.  I've got most supplies bought and uniforms purchased.  Kids all have dental cleanings in a couple weeks right before school begins.  Micah is having surgery on his second foot August 4th--the first one we had done back before Christmas was a huge success and it feels so good to him now.  We (he and I and my dad) have a hereditary deformity of the ankles which allows them to turn in excessively, more than orthotics can substantially help.  This implant, called an MBA implant, puts a small wedge in that joint which basically normalizes the joint.  It's amazing!  But must be done before the big growth spurt so not a possibility for me.  I could have bone grafts done to achieve the same thing but am not sure I want to go that route.

It's been hot here with more humidity than is typical.  Supposed to be 101 today.  We have a "cold" front coming Sunday and Monday where the highs will only be 96, haha.

Our family has taken up kayaking.  I went for the first time last summer and loved it.  We've recently purchased several low-end recreational kayaks so we can all go together.  Had a blast yesterday out with some girlfriends while the kids were at VBS.  Other than that, I've still been hiking but dialing it back with the heat, and lifting moderately heavy weights at home.  Weight is slowly but healthily coming off.

Better get myself off the computer and get some work done.  My 11 yo cat Nutmeg has a specialist appointment about an hour away this afternoon so will be gone most of the afternoon for that.  She had cancer two years ago and now has a large lump on her neck.  Whether or not it's cancer, it will be a dangerous removal due to the location.  :/  Hoping for more answers after this appointment.

Have a great day!
Catherine

[pamgonzo]

Good Afternoon Ladies!

Catherine: so good to see your pretty face!  I have wondered how your big hike was this Spring.  The Appalachian Trail was it?, or am I totally misremembering?? (happens to me a lot!)

Merilee: I woke up early, fell back asleep this morning, and wish I hadn't!  I had the weirdest dream!  Something about my college girlfriends that still get together for a weekend bi-annually, and they were being really mean to me - on a bus. I have not idea what that was about!!!  Hope you get all of your electrical situations attended to for a reasonable price and time frame!  Probably a good idea to get both cars back inside.  We have had some car break-ins as of late in our area as well.  I just don't get it!  Most likely teenagers. 

Alice: I hope your day was a lot smoother for you today. Sometimes you need to just take some time for yourself.  Don't be afraid or hesitant to do so!  Hope you get a chance to do some meal prep and planning to make your day to day easier and more relaxed.

We had rain overnight, and some this morning.  It has moved out, but there might be some more yet this weekend.  I am hoping that there isn't too much this weekend, because my middle son, his girlfriend, a bunch of their friends and a few cousins are going to a huge outdoor country music festival that lasts all weekend.  They tent camp there, so hopefully the weather will cooperate for them.

My day has flown by already.  I had to run some tickets to an event that we had and weren't going to use to some friends that were more than appreciative to get them.  They were to an Equestrian Festival up north.  We considered going, but hubs decided "naw", so I called a friend whose daughters ride and would love to show horses.  She was excited to take them.

After dropping those to her, I went to get groceries.  Took a little longer than usual.  Youngest son and his gf are making a trip to a St Louis Cardinals game for his 21st birthday next week.  We are giving him some money towards that, but I wanted to also make up a "road trip" snack basket/tote.  So, I was buying a lot of things that I totally never buy! 
Got home and put away the groceries that were for us.  (quite few of them were for us I realized when I got home!) 

Middle son stopped by to pick up a few things he wanted to borrow for the weekend.  So, I saw him for about a minute and a half! LOL!

Now, I need to figure out what I can still accomplish for the day.  Might run to the dollar store for the few things I need from there. Might not. 

Leftovers made into nachos for dinner tonight, so that will be quick and easy. 
Hope everyone has a great rest of the day and evening!
Pam

[greyhoundgirl]

Good Afternoon Ladies!

Catherine: so good to see your pretty face!  I have wondered how your big hike was this Spring.  The Appalachian Trail was it?, or am I totally misremembering?? (happens to me a lot!)


Pam

Yes!  My dad and I met and did some of the AT in SW Virginia.  Beautiful country!  We saw the wild ponies in Grayson Highlands State Park and even hiked in sleet and snow one day as it was unseasonably cold (high of 41).  Could use some of that nice cool weather right about now.

Sounds like you've been a busy lady today!