Rituals

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Linda Andrews

Now, this post is about the weather.

Like most folks who live in Phoenix, about September I’m pretty tired of the triple digits. Worse, having grown up here, I know that the heat truly won’t break until Halloween. It may be why I love Halloween so much, but it is hard to tell as there is so much to love about Halloween.

Anyway, I and most long-timers have developed rituals to finish summer’s marathon.

Yes, pumpkin spice is one of them. So is decorating my house for Halloween on September 1st (cruelly denied to me by the home reno). I also turn on the oven, sure it’s early in the morning and during the weekend, but I do it and last weekend I even made pumpkin chocolate chip muffins.

My friend bought a bunch of light-weight, long sleeve shirts and has been wearing them in case the weather gods are paying attention.

And, I don’t mean to brag, but we are in the double digits for the last few days. We shall take our victories where we find them. Meanwhile, I shall open that new tin of pumpkin spice seasoning. Fall is coming:D

Until next time.

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Hot or Cold

Posted on September 9, 2019 by Linda Andrews

The weather is changing. Well, for most of the country. For those of us in the Valley of the Sun, we are in the high double digits instead of the high 110+ (that’s F not C).

But, no, this isn’t a post about the brisk weather sweeping through Phoenix.

It’s about tea, brewing tea to be exact.

You see, along with smuggling a rather large (got stopped at airport security) stash of tea,  we discovered the miracles of cold brewing.

It is an amazing thing, cold-brewed tea doesn’t get that old taste that hot brewed tea. Of course, that could be because the tea doesn’t stick around long enough. The only downside to cold brewing is that it uses about twice the amount of tea to get the same taste. Ah, well, it is a small price to pay.

Until next time.

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An Odd Competition

Posted on September 6, 2019 by Linda Andrews

There are those who like name brands, and there are those of us who are cheap.

I am thankful to be surrounded by a bunch of ladies at work who have turned frugality into a kind of competition.

One lady is always happy to show off her Goodwill overalls.

Another brags about her deals at Walmart.

I show off my clearance blouses for $5-$10.

Our youngest coworker loves Old Navy bargains but has upped the ante by mentioning her donations to charity and the paring down of her wardrobe to a handful of shirts, one dress, and one nice pair of shoes.

We are currently regrouping to consider this new gauntlet. Although two of us have admitted to not owning a dress for years. 😀

Until next time.

 

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The renovation continues

Posted on September 4, 2019 by Linda Andrews

Sadly, aside from finishing the tear out of the tiles in the dining room, we haven’t actually gotten that far in the renovation project.

Everything hinges on the kitchen. Kitchens are expensive.

We did finish purchasing the gray tile floor for the main part of the house and purchased tile for our son’s bathroom.

 

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This will be the floor for the great room and dining area, plus hall and master bedroom and bath.

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The glass mosaic is for the floor, the blue and white tile will be accents, the white will be the shower and wainscot and the gray will be his floor.

 

We did get our favorite tile installer to come and give us quotes on each part of the project.

And we have set up for someone to give us a quote to replace the outside door.

And the tile man knows a guy who can help with the fireplace, the kitchen soffit, and the drywall repairs needed around the house.

But the kitchen guys….

We are still waiting on those guys to show up.

Thankfully, our plumber and tile installer may know a kitchen cabinet maker, so now we wait to see if my brother-in-law can actually deliver the goods. Fingers crossed it will be sooner rather than later.

Until next time.

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Happy Labor Day

Posted on September 2, 2019 by Linda Andrews

Here in the US it is Labor Day. The day that marks the end of summer and the beginning of school. A day when we celebrate our hard work by taking a day off and barbequing and perhaps even hanging out with those for whom we toil.

Where ever you are, enjoy the day and the time you spend with those who matter to you.

Until next time.

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Skipping holidays

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Linda Andrews

While I was walking the dog and gazing up at the sliver of moon hanging onto the night, I  was planning the long weekend ahead (it’s Labor Day here in the US). You see there’s an order coming in that is full of crafty items to make Christmas presents.

Christmas in August.

For a moment, I was sad. I wasn’t going to be able to dig out my skeletons, autumnal flowers, witches, ghosts,  ghouls, and eyeballs. This year due to the deconstruction, I was going to skip Halloween.

And then i thought, maybe not entirely.

Sure, there’s Halloween candy already in my freezer. But I also have Halloween plates I can use. It may not be much, but I’ll take it.

Until next time!

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Beginning Anew

Posted on August 26, 2019 by Linda Andrews

We are slowly starting our home remodel—which means our sweat into equity. A good thing since we are still waiting to hear from the kitchen designer.

This is the ripped up floor in our kitchen and dining area.

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Until next time.

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The Morning Count

Posted on August 23, 2019 by Linda Andrews

I know that some of you are thinking of the number of times I hit the snooze button in the morning, but no. I am a morning person and getting up, even though I’m exhausted is something my body is geared to do (staying awake is another matter).

I’m talking about the head count of our cats.

We lost one at Christmas and nearly lost 2 others in the months since. And the first sign that something was wrong–the cats stopped eating.

So, I am a bit paranoid about making sure the cats are visible in the morning when they are fed.

Lately, our one mini-panther has taken to hiding in the morning. Which leaves me calling his name while searching. Eventually, I give up because I know that after walking the dog, he’ll be out looking for treats.

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I’m not sure who has who trained, but as long as he shows up, we’re good.

Until next time.

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Broken Crown

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Linda Andrews

Recently, I purchase a bag of cheddar popcorn at the store. I don’t usually do this as I prefer to pop my own at home, because I love the half popped ones and home-popped popcorn yeilds more of these delicious nuggets.

Anyway about 70% into the bag, I bit down on something hard. I tried to stop but it was too late.

Then I felt it. That jagged bit of shell from an unpopped kernel.

Naturally, I tucked the popcorn away and sought out some floss to get that shell out of there. Only, it wasn’t a shell.

That hard kernel had sheared off part of my tooth.

I thought I could hold off until my normally scheduled dental appointment in two weeks. But no. That broken bit of crown wiggled and jiggled sending pain down to my toes.

So now I have a pirate crown, all shiny and silver. Until next Wednesday when I get the nice enamel one. As for the rest of the bag of popcorn, I finished it. I guess I’ll just be avoiding the kernels in the future. 😀

Until next time.

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