We had a mixed week, with there being a little to a lot of rain. The nights were cold, but not unbearable. However, while the weather has been in the 30's at night much of this week, we have had some rain-free, snow-free days, which meant that the past few nights have been, painfully, in the mid or lower 20's. With the nights in the house in the low 40's, I've been shivering deep under covers. I just don't do 'really cold' well. It's my health conditions. So, I was disappointed to learn that there will be more cold nights next week. Oh, and it's been windy, and will continue to be, on and off.
It looks like some rain will return, beginning tomorrow night, and it's already begun to snow in the higher elevations. We may get some here.
Remember that I had asked myself, at the end of last year, what I was doing wrong to have our money so low for the past year? And, the answer to myself was that I wasn't doing anyhing wrong. That after our evacuation we lost our battery bank use, so were running the generator, for the first time, 24-7. And then, gasoline went up to over $6. a gallon. We were using a huge amount of gas, and at a ridiculous price. Slowly that caused a downward spiral.
But, things have been more complicated than that. For example, the porta' potty went up, and we've been paying over $200. a month for it. Well, we got some 'indoor plumbing' finally, when the septic's papers came in. So, now the 1/2 bath is 'functional,' and we had the company *finally* pick up the porta' potty on Thursday.
In one way, I am not gaining that amount every month, but there's a lot that I haven't been doing which I've needed to. So, I can catch up a little, and buy some things that I've had to let slip. I am so glad to be out from under that extra expense. It may not sound like a lot in one way, but it will buy some kibble, meat/chicken, or medication.
So, we've slowly chipped away at one more expense that we didn't need to have.
We chose to make the 1/2 bath functional, rather than the master or guest bathrooms, for a couple of reasons.
A - It's the smallest of the 3.
B - It's the only one with outdoor access, which makes it both convenient if you are outside working, and legal, in case you have a worker who needs to use it. Now to get some other plumbing in one of these days.
We are only hearing a couple of frogs this week. The gathering has broken up, though I'm sure that when it rains again they will be back.
Dh is in quite a bit of pain. It looks like the dentist may have fractured his jaw, and loosened a crown that he's had forever. I understand that it can happen, especially with his odd, extra long tooth roots under the gum, with the hooked bottoms, but this dentist, I'm afraid, had no business doing the work that she tried to do. I keep hoping that he'll wake up one morning and he'll feel better with the time having passed, but it's not happened so far.
We, along with everyone else here, are not able to time planting gardens right. Every time that we should get it started, we get a hard freeze, or inches of rain. I'm hoping that we can plant my kitchen garden sooner than later.
The past two nights we've slept poorly, because something has been bothering Krypto. I'm happily asleep when he's up and barking madly at...who knows what?
Last night it was vicious barking, but we don't know why. The night before that it was barking with loooong, loooong howls. I sometimes call him a 'junior wolf,' but those howls really made him sound like one. I can't imagine what caused them. With it being so dark at this time of the month, we can't see a thing past the porch at night. We just have to trust that he's barking at something important, and hope that it doesn't return tonight, so that we might all get a good night's rest!
I don't know if it will work out, or not, as it depends on his work schedule, but we are going to try to cash in my 'free dinner' from Ds for Easter.
2 years ago, he gave me a coupon for him to come over and make us the dinner of our choice. I get the food, he cooks it. Last week I tweaked that, because he will be cooking at his own house for holidays. So, I asked if he'd sous chef my dinner, and also make the dessert, because he felt that sous cheffing alone wasn't making the best use of his abilities, and he does make some fantastic desserts, especially considering that we're gf, dairy-free, etc.
I'd enjoy having a no-work meal, but this will be really nice, too, and with how Dh is feeling, I don't think that I'd be able to manage it by the 9th. He does a lot as it is, and I don't want to put extra things on his plate - pun intended! With my non-setup kitchen, everything is way more work than it ought to be.
So, I've asked Ds to prep and slice 5 lbs. of carrots, (I have a mandolin he can use for the slicing part.) make the brown sugar (I prefer to do it in the summer with my hands, but he makes quick work of it.), snip the spaghetti into 1/3"ish pieces, prep the broccoli, and make his special dairy-free lemon mousse with little vanilla cookies alongside. He starts with a marshmallow-y item that he makes, and works from there.
I will prep the chicken to roast, brunoise (mince) the celery, brown my rice and pasta then cook it, make the soup balls, and candy the carrots.
Dh will still break down the chicken - since my little counter top oven turned out to be a 'cookie oven,' cut the onions - he and Ds agree that Dh should, as he's so fast and good at it, and steam the broccoli to serve warm with lemon-chive dressing (bottled!).
We only need to buy the broccoli, chicken, and fresh parsley - that's it! Everything else is in the pantry!
Between us, if Ds doesn't have to work on the Saturday before Easter, we might get it done despite the lack of kitchen, and Dh's tooth/jaw. If so, there will be lots of leftovers to enjoy for other meals. If not, we'll have a single, easy dish of some type. Wish us luck!
I've chosen my notebook for the latest postcards that I am waiting patiently (mostly! ) to receive. I've got some really nice, clear, decorations to decorate it with as I wait, and some sheets of postcard holders inside. I may put some family postcards in a couple of the holders, as I found one from my mom when they were at Morro Bay once.
I got a notice that Krypto is late for his 2 year check-up, and maybe vaccines. Interesting, except that we haven't had him for 2 years, sheesh! We won't have had him for 2 years until into the summer. In March, 2 years ago, Tilde was still with us. I don't know sometimes...!
Well, pretty boring, I'll admit...my dinner, 1/2 bath, and me waiting for postcards, but it's really what's going on here this week!
Oh, did anyone see the 2017 movie version of Beauty & the Beast? I am taping it. I don't know if it's a good version, or not.
Well, that's it from this neck of the woods, how was you week?
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