Hello everyone

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Good luck with the Drs. appt. today.
Take care out walking around in the heat.

Hello everyone! I have today off because I have a drs appt smack dab in the middle of the day. We are going to have another scorcher today so I'll have to drive instead of walk. What a shame. But much like Tess, my heat intolerance is brutal.

It's primary day so I'll be voting. That will give me a bit of a walk, going from here to polling place to car. Maybe too I'll walk around the hospital for a bit.

Took the garbage out last night. Did kitty's box. I need to shred some papers.

Good Evening Everyone 🙂

Hi Subclinical 🙂
Yes! Get out your Grandmother's rum cake recipe.
Many of my favorite recipes are ones from Grandmas and Aunts. 😀
They taste great but most of all I get a feeling of connectedness.
Have a great day tomorrow. 🙂

Did a few necessary little chores today but nothing much really.
Watched some stuff on ROKU.
Been nice just laying around all afternoon. 🙂

I think whoever helped set up the website showed them how to auto fill the open times on the calendar and nobody ever came back to edit holidays.

My grandmother used to make a wonderful rum cake. Thanks for the reminder!

Pound cake is done.

I get my kids back tomorrow! I may be posting less, but don't worry.

How frustrating Subclinical...
I suppose whoever posted it was open was told it would be but never told it would not be open and then they just forgot to update the site.

OK, good. You need to Make the cake. 😉
I thought you were going to drown it in brandy and age it like a fruit cake. ;D

WAY TO GO! for cleaning stalls and laundry!
Please baby that elbow.
So happy to read that otherwise you are physically feeling good. (((hug)))

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Subclinical 🙂
Of course your time this September will be taken up with adjusting to this new school year.
Half of your August time was getting ready for school to start and tending to your children's new lives away from home.
You have been doing a FANTASTIC! job of not bringing home anything that was not necessary and dealing with making sure things got recycled. ;D

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Nice thing about September is that no matter how hot the days get it always gets nice and refreshingly chilly over night.
Thanks for the "LOL" about some random bad dog doing the mischief. ;D

Been looking around in here and see I am all caught up on things.
Don't need to water, not enough laundry to do a load and kitchen is clean.
Sure, I could do the regular house cleaning but not while he is home off work.
The floors and dusting and bathroom are not all that bad anyways. 😀
No rogue random dog has peed by the litter box.
So, guess I have the day off, except for the usual daily cat related tasks. YEA! 😉

Let me start by saying that I say this with affection and recognize that I am the pot calling the kettle, but old people should not be given technology.

Last night I checked the food bank website to be sure they were open today. It clearly stated that they were. This morning I drove over and encountered a cardboard sign telling me they were not. The sign did not go up today because it had clearly been rained on at least once. Sigh.

So I came home and cleaned stalls. I have had lunch and a shower and started a load of laundry, and I am noticing that even though my elbow hurts, the rest of my body feels pretty good. So maybe I am getting into better shape.

Also, I have to MAKE pound cake, not age it.

Good morning! Mar it is great to hear from you! Don't worry about catching up. A long time ago we declared that posting is its own reward so please just post and read as you can!

SubC I love your idea of making September's challenge about getting into the rhythm of the school year!! I will work on my kitchen rhythm with Mar!

Tillie I am shocked SHOCKED that a dog broke into your house, peed on the wall, and blamed the cats. Bad doggie.

Switched out my summer bedspread for a light quilt. Am washing the bedspread now. And it will be 90F today.

Those ungrateful cats!

I'm glad at least you have a nice supply of yummy bread to comfort you. Don't share any with the little hooligans.

I need to age pound cake today so that dh will have it for his lunches.

I don't know about the September kitchen challenge, I didn't get very far on the surfaces. In fact, they may be worse than they were a month ago.

I haven't really made much progress anywhere. I'm not feeling bad about myself for it right now - just facing facts. I have done pretty well about limiting the backsliding in terms of bringing things home.

I'm falling behind on the feed bags again, but i'll be driving into town 4 days a week starting tomorrow, so I should have many more opportunities to dispose of them.

I think my chalkenge for September is going to be readjusting to working.

My chalkenge today will be making good decisions at the food bank.

Four loaves of banana, cranberry, pecan bread all made and cooling.
All dishes are washed and will wash the cooling racks soon as the bread is finished cooling on them.

Planning to water the grass around 5:00pm.
Already watered the flowers, etc. this morning.

Very angry at all those cats.
Yesterday I dumped out, scrubbed, sanitized and refilled with fresh litter all the litter boxes.
This morning discovered someone peed on the door/wall beside the boxes over night.
So FINE!!!! I will never clean your stupid boxes EVER again!!!
I don't care, NO MORE MISTER NICE GUY!

OK
Rant is over.
Thanks for letting me get that all out. ;P

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Mar 🙂

About the fridge...
As long as you washed down the entire inside of the fridge, all the places you can reach, with bleach it should be alright to use.
Just make sure all food is covered, in containers or bags if you are still afraid of any hidden mold spores.
Make sure that the fridge is getting cold enough.
It should be about 36/38 degrees to keep food safe.
Any time you want to kill mold spores without using bleach you can use vinegar.
Vinegar is recommender to clean dishes, silverware and Tupperware that have gotten moldy.

I have heard that hardware stores sell special traps for pantry moths.
I have been having a lot of pissants in my yard this year and have had great success killing them off using ant bait traps.

To keep my pantry & kitchen free of pantry moths and weevils, mice, etc. I keep everything in containers with tight fitting lids.
Any type of food that comes in a bag or box is poured/dumped into a container before I store it away.
I cut the cooking instructions off the bag/box and put that in the container too.
Or I store it in the freezer or fridge.

In all my life I have learned that the only way to deal with insects or rodents in the house is to never give them access to any food.

The moths and weevils lay eggs in the crevasses and cracks in the cupboards and drawers that you never see because they are so tiny and hidden.
Once they hatch they will infest any food not sealed up in a container.

Keeping the dishes washed and crumbs wiped and swept up is important too because that is a food source too.

Sometimes gnats and black flies live and breed in the food residue in sink drains.
Flushing the drains out with vinegar & baking soda followed by letting the hot water flow a few minutes helps.

The spiders are your friends because they are there to eat the bugs.
But once you remove them and their webs they will be gone.
You just have to find and keep any new spiders from moving in later.

Good Luck and best wishes.
If you have any more questions we will try to answer them too. 😀

Hi Subclinical 🙂
WAY TO GO! getting Dd all moved up to her new home! 😀
I have always believed that girls should know how to change a tire and boys should know how to mend and cook.
You have done a marvelous job preparing your kids for life in the big world. (((HUGS)))

Oh mar! I'm sorry about your fridge. I don't really know what to do.

I am glad you are home, and proud of you for tackling the kitchen though.

I tend to binge on nuts and dairy instead of sweets. I always tell myself it's because my body needs more protein.

We got Dd moved up to her new house. Her roommate wasn't there, but had left a note welcoming her "home". The neighborhood is very nice. Little houses on little lots, but well kept and some old, old trees. Her house is a two bedroom with one bath and an open plan kitchen/living room. It has a hookup for a washer and dryer in the basement (not useable living space - low, damp, floor made of uneven concrete blocks) and get roomate is going to buy them!

Her half of the rent is $690 a month, plus utilities, which is doable, but tight on her salary. (40 miles a day commuting to work makes her gas bill high) She already has a plan to teach the roomate how to lower the power bill. She has good skills, my kid.

Over dinner she was telling us a story about a recent visit to a friend. Another friend who was also visiting had a flat tire, and the host came in and asked my Dd if she knew what they should do. Dd went out and changed the tire to the spare while her friends stood around in astonishment. Then she told the car owner to see about having the tire patched. She asked us "how can you be allowed to drive a car if you don't know how to change a tire?" (My son was also very popular in his dorm for owning a needle and some thread and knowing how to sew your button back on!)

Anyway, there is still a lot of stuff set aside that I will be storing for her, and a big pile on the guest bed that she purged as she packed, but my table is usable again, and I have a completely empty closet!

Hi everybody!!!

Good night and ((hugs)).

I have been thinking a lot this evening about what you said about when you ate the sweets and how it's exactly the same as I have been doing.

Self medicating.

It really is no different than people turning to alcohol or drugs to drown the pain.

Too much sugar is bad for our physical health but fortunately not as bad as resorting to other things.

(((HUG)))

Hi Tatoulia 🙂

I really enjoy baking.
I started teaching myself how to bake when I was ten years old because I always wanted to have a birthday cake.
My muther/family never had one for me since my BDay was the 27th of December and they always said I had had enough food and gifts over XMas. 🙁
So I started baking my own BDay cakes from scratch!
Also started making Easter bonnet cakes all decorated up with ribbons and fake flowers/chicks/bunnies and outrageously colored butter cream icing.

My favorite thing to bake is cookies and I am looking forward to baking some once the weather turns colder. ;D

The bananas for my bread are nicely ripe today but I will wait and make bread tomorrow or Monday.

Having homemade baked goods all wrapped up in the freezer ready for anytime makes me happy.

It is a shame that city rent is so high that working people have to commute in to work since they can't afford to live there.
It's the same everywhere. San Francisco and surrounding communities are too high so people commute for hours every day.

Tillie I love sugar. I love it. I don't eat any salty snacks. I've never liked chips or fries or anything like that. But brownies and cake or better yet, brownies ala mode ate just so good. I too learned that my binge eating is emotional. Starting on Wednesdays my brother would start in on me, needing to speak, panicking, etc and then it would continue. Saturday AMs he'd be all over me and honestly, I learned that I wasn't bingeing ice cream and other sweets because they tasted delicious but because I was eating my tension and upset away.

My baking last week was delicious and I will bake again. Generally I just bring brownies when I go somewhere (I frost them and bring vanilla ice cream and sprinkles). But to bake a cake last week made me very happy. I am going to bake some quick breads once Autumn weather is here.

Today was beautiful, weather-wise. The city is filled with students moving in and out, so the streets are chaotic and there is garbage everywhere. I never thought students would be living in my little area of the city and now they are migrating here. I have mixed feelings. I'm glad the young people are here but because they live 3, 4 to an apartment, it's nearly impossible to find a two bedroom under $3500 a month. So regular working people can't afford the city anymore.

Ok rant over. I have my own one bedroom and I'm good with it.

Been thinking about my August reduced/no processed sugar challenge.

I feel that I did very well.
What I learned is that I have been eating way too much sugar every day.
I learned that I am a sugar addict.

Hello
My name is Tillie and I am a sugar addict.

I have noticed that I have triggers for when my cravings are the worst.
The strongest cravings come when Steven is being extra disagreeable & ugly.
I resort to sugar to help soothe my nerves and psyche.

I plan to continue to fight my sugar cravings.
But now I will not be so strict with myself and enjoy a sweet, in moderation, regularly.
I will not give in to my cravings when I know I am having them because I am upset.

I feel stronger and more confident now for having done this challenge. ;D

YEA!!! Mar & Tatoulia 😀

I'm looking forward to hearing all about your kitchen challenges!!!

Got the litter boxes all scrubbed, refilled and back in their places.
Brewed some tea and have it cooling.
Lilacs are all watered.
Checked out Netflix and they have lots of new stuff out today. 😀
So, guess what I'm doing now that my To-Do list is all finished. ;D

Kitchen it is!!! I need a second pass on all my cabinets!

Hello!!

What do you think about a kitchen challenge for this month?

During the next moments I'll be reading, answering, and commenting on your posts.

Since today is September 1st.

;D

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

HaHaHaHa...
I've had some mornings like that too!

That's great that you can get the dresses online and then return them in the store.
I think I find so many nice new clothes at the thrift shop because returning them through the mail is such a hassle that the people don't bother.
I am a "medium" and many of these clothes are labeled as "large" but they are actually a medium size and fit me.

Good luck with getting your Mom to accept the new changes.
Change is hard and she may need a while before she's ready for something else to change. (((HUG)))

My best and favorite teacher taught high school home economics.
Her daughter was my age and in my classes all through grade school, junior high and high school.
They lived nearby.
Once I told her something about cleaning starch off a clothes iron.
She tried it and said " it's a proud day for me when the student teaches the teacher something ". ;D
We stayed close through the years until I moved from Arizona to Nevada.
So many times I think to myself "what would Mrs. Kingston do in this situation?"

Today I need to empty out, scrub and sanitize all the litter boxes.
The lilacs need watering too.
And I need to brew some more ice tea.

That is a very nice reminder about teachers, Tillie. My family moved a lot and I was the new kid every single year and I can remember my teachers and how much they meant to me. Many years ago I got in touch with two of my highschool teachers who made a difference in my angst-filled existence and I had lunch with one of them. They kept me together when I didn't believe in myself.

Thank you, Tillie. I think it is an achievement to have cleaning ladies. I'm coming off of decades of abuse from brother. He felt it should all go to him.

Well apparently there was a swarm of fruit flies in mom's kitchen area. Who knows but I shall encourage her to let the people in. I was very impressed when she let me tell them to change her sheets and also impressed when she asked for someone to do her laundry. I may stop over today and see if I can encourage her about other things but then again, I dont not want there to be too much change at once. Maybe I'll just stop by without an agenda. Just show her some support.

We have a wedding coming up end of September and I might buy a new dress. I'm in between sizes right now. I'll try to pick something out and then wait til I know what size. I did buy two dresses on line in two different sizes. I can then return two or three or all at the store.

I think the next five pounds will squarely put me down a size.

Always trust your inner feelings! I tell myself, heed the warnings.

I'm having trouble waking up today. I put kitty's food on her plate then put her plate in the fridge and started walking the can over to her. Then I was about to fix my coffee and I poured my milk into my water glass. I am a laugh a minute but I'm too sleepy to laugh.

Hi Subclinical 🙂

Maybe he has been two timing me. ;D
WTG! DH for fixing dinner!
I always say the maid (me) didn't show up.
YEA! for having a good start on the lesson plans!
Yes, it will be easier once you get to know the kids better.
Thinking back, the best teachers I ever had were the ones who listened to us and got to know us.
The rigid strictly by the book teachers never really taught us what we were wanting to learn.
My brother the English professor did not like it when I gave my honest take on some literature and did not accept his take on it.
But eventually he did have to admit I was right, I had a different way of thinking than a man.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂

I for one am extremely happy that you have the cleaning ladies.
I'm not feeling resentful or mean at all. ;D
I really like and appreciate your Mom's PT person for their fast action remedying that dirty dish situation.
Good that you have finally learned not to be an open book, that some people just don't need to know some things.

Thank you for that sweet invitation (((HUGS)))

Tigger's doctor may call tomorrow, many vets keep Saturday hours.

YEA! for all black cats being right where they should be! 😀

That is so horrible about the woman being attacked by her own dogs.
Please do not worry, Subclinical and I know better that to do anything but retreat when we see any coyotes in close proximity.
Plus when I step outside at night I always have a flashlight and often carry my hand gun.
Two weeks ago Steven bought me a stun gun that also has a very bright flashlight feature.
I have no plans to stun gun any attacking coyotes, I will just shoot them. 😉

Two coyotes will work together. One will be front and center keeping the prey occupied while the second one will dash in from the side or from behind.

OK, there was Nate then he got married to Mrs. Nate.
There were also the neighbor friends, husband & wife.
They have all moved far far away now. 🙁
There have been other acquaintances who have offered for us to "get together and do something" but I fear that they might prove to be sorta batty.
I think I have known them for too long to go against my gut feelings so I will keep them at arms length.

I think it sounds like little black kitty found something yummy to eat elsewhere. Maybe he has two families?

I will be careful of coyotes. So far, they are careful of me. I only hear them and see their signs.

Half the classes planned out for the week, but I cheated and did the easy half. It is also the first half, so I am good until Thursday. It should get easier as I get to know the kids.

Tatoulia, just enjoy your cleaners! I'm glad your mom has them too.

My cleaner didn't show up today (of course I mean me) here we say "the kitchen fairy" or "the laundry fairy" basically, nobody showed today, but dh took me out to our local sandwich shop for dinner anyway.

Little black kitty is back!!!! Well my little black kitty is in a chair!! All black cats are accounted for!

SubC, I know you are working in your lesson plans and I wish I could take one of your classes! Tillie, I am sorry you are lonely. It is not a good feeling. I seem to remember you used to have friends including Mrs Nate. I know your neighbors moved away, those weren't the Nates, were they?

I suspect I will feel some loneliness this weekend too. Just have a lot of different feelings these days.

Tigger's dr didn't call me today?understandable. I sure she ran out of time. I'll try her on Tuesday.

Tillie and SubC, your mentioning the coyotes reminded me of something. I was at a dinner party and this woman was telling the story of being brutally attacked by her two dogs. In fact, the police had to shoot and kill the male dog. It was a terrible story. Anyway, she said, two dogs is a pack. So if you see two coyotes, remember, two coyotes is a pack. Two.

Mom is now having someone come to do her personal laundry (her linens are already done each week) in addition to having someone change her sheets for her. Those were voluntary changes. The involuntary change is that someone will be coming to do her dishes. I don't understand why she's unhappy about that. She never gets them done, there are consistently scads of dishes all over the counter (with water in them) and it wears her out to do them. Her PT showed up unexpectedly today and was grossed out re the dishes so by the afternoon someone had come to do them.

Mom does not know I have cleaners now. No need to mention things. She'll be happy at first but I know her. Eventually she'll get resentful or mean. Maybe at her age she won't, but she has done this to me enough times that I won't be mentioning it.
She can't keep a secret, either, so then everyone in her building will know as well as my sister, and the sister for sure will be hateful and mean. And if mom tells brother....oh boy.

See, I've learned!!

Tillie if you ever want to visit me I'll send you a ticket. My fold out is very comfy. You too SubC.

Hi Subclinical 🙂

Thank you (((hug)))

I bet that is hard trying to solidify lesson plans.
So many different directions that can take.

Happy you had a wise wedding cake baker.
I have seen some terrifying cake disasters.
The worst one was a chocolate wedding cake with a chocolate pudding between the layers.
It was nothing but a huge chocolate puddle.

I have heard that coyote populations are very large and doing well in many major cities too.
I believe the strange weather we're all having is good for coyotes to multiply.
Their population numbers are tied to the availability of food sources.
When food is scarce they don't breed.
One coyote is easy to chase away but they are dangerous if you run into a pack of them.

Little black kitty showed up about 3:00pm today.
Ate only a few bits of cereal/kibble and is now napping in the shade of the chrysanthemum.

Decided to water the trees today instead of tomorrow since I was bored today. LOL 😀

Tillie, I am sorry you are lonely. We are here but I know it isn't the same, and sometimes we don't post.

Maybe somebody else adopted black kitty?

I'm glad you are getting set for winter. Fall always brings out my inner squirrel and she has to be tamed and managed.

I have extra coyotes too.

Tatoulia, I hope things are easy and peaceful for tigger.

It is great that you can invite friends in now.

I wanted white chocolate icing on my wedding cake, but I got married in August, so the baker wisely said no.

I've been working on lesson plans today. It is so hard to gather my ideas up, organize them, and pin them down.

Hello 🙂

Just about noon here.
Got all cat tasks done and washed one load of laundry.
Worrying about little black kitty.
He has not shown up today, his breakfast is left uneaten. 🙁
Hope he ate lots of mice last night and is sleeping it off somewhere safe.

Only political rhetoric in the mail box today.

Had to wash to stow away my lightweight Summertime robe today, just too cool now in the morning.

Wish all my friends had not moved away or died.
I'm just so lonely.
Oh Well...