Happy Friday Thoughts

I have today off, which is a much needed break. We were planning on going to Myrtle Beach this weekend but it had to get postponed, which is not real problem. Especially since they are getting more rain right now than would probably be fun. Hopefully when we do head down that way it will be sunnier, because I need a little color.

In other news, we stopped by Home Depot today and got an appointment set up for them to come to my house tomorrow first thing in the morning to see about my lovely shower stall. I know the general stall I would like to get and I am just hoping they will not be asking for an arm and a leg to get things done. I really don't mind demolishing my current one myself, I just want someone to put in a new one and make sure that everything is kosher with the base and whatnot. I have been reading a lot on what it takes to install one of these things and all I can say is DAMN.

So.

Other than that, I have laundry and little bit of yard work I would like to get done (and it's definitely not mandatory!) and some general house cleaning as well. That is more mandatory. But it's general stuff and not like Spring Cleaning thankfully.

Work has been good, nothing to wonky. I know it will be picking up in the coming up months and next year just because we have a huge project going on and I, lucky me in Logistics, will get to deal with some big ass equipment. Good times though :)

I do have a couple projects that I need to work on. One being a baby blanket or two that I need to finish and start/finish. I am going to learn how to make cheesecake (yum! First one will be pumpkin) and I want to learn how to make good southern biscuits. Weird, I know. I also want to get my attic organized and start cleaning stuff out of it. I will probably donate a lot of stuff in that, or at least sell it on eBay or Craigslist or something like that. My son has just outgrown them and I no longer have John here to give to (sad thought, that). So, I am hoping that someone else can at least get some form of enjoyment out of those. My son also wants to sell off all his Skylanders that he has. Which is quite a bit. Ugh. We invested so much money in those things and now he's all, I'm just not interested anymore. But that is life and there you go!

Anyways, hopefully everyone has a good weekend :) I will be getting some sunflower seeds dried (from the boyfriends stock) this weekend and hanging mine that are currently in the bathroom up in the attic because I think they will do better there. And hopefully that big ass one will be wilted enough I can cut off it's head. Hahahahaha, I always feel like the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland when I say that!!

Also, so far the Kid's grades are doing good this semester. I keep a daily eye on how he's doing because of the drama from last year. He's, of course, complaining about school, but that is pretty much damn normal. He's not the happiest with some of the kids he's in classes with but honestly, whoever is?? I've explained that you will always have those people that you don't like and that you don't get along with, in school and work, and that you just need to figure out how to you want and can deal with it. Do you want to let it bother you or not? Do you want to annoy another person so much that they hate you ? Do you want to just let things other people go and move on with your own life? Because, really, why let someone else determine YOUR feelings and how you want to do things? Fuck that, it's your life, be happy with who you are and don't let others get in the way of that. I am really hoping he eventually at least hears part of that. Who knows, it will probably be someone else make a similar comment and then it will click. I just hope it clicks.

Seriously Large Sunflower

I had my kid attempt to hold the stalk of this massive sunflower back a little bit so I could get a good picture. He had a hard time with that since it's so freaking heavy! My kid is now 5'8"...

I am coming to believe that whatever grows in my garden, can get immense and somewhat what of a mutant. Great....I will have a mutant growing possessed plant garden next year >.<

I am patiently waiting for this one to wilt so I can then hang it (in the attic more than likely) to finish drying out :) This one is just, huge!

Smoothies and thoughts and and and...sure!

I've started my attempts at making smoothies in the morning. I've been successful in that I've actually MADE them.

Yesterday, it was blueberries (a whole container was basically 1 cup), some strawberries before I saw the fuzzy ones in the container (not using those) and frozen raspberries. Added in some vanilla yogurt, ice and I think that's it. Not too bad actually. I think I want it a bit thicker and maybe throw in some honey and it's all set.

Today, it was cucumber, salt and pepper (a pinch each), lemon (I used some frozen cubes I had), vanilla yogurt, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. And...I think I should have blended it longer. Because, seriously, if you take a sip of something you should NOT need to chew it afterwards!! I'm still struggling to drink it all. I've added in some crushed ice and it's melted down a little bit and I am still chewing after I sip it. Don't get me wrong though, it tastes good!! I just don't want to chew my smoothie!

Tomorrow...hmmm...Maybe some kind of cucumber and spinach mix (as long as my spinach hasn't gone bad) with the lemon and definitely way way way more blended. Because, yeah.

I measured my breasts (the way you do for your bra size, sheesh) and I've lost an inch :) I was a 37 and now am 36. Score!!

I dyed my hair this past Friday. I have tried to not really do a lot that makes me sweat because then I will get henna dye in my sweat and thus clothes. As I experienced when I was weeding on Saturday. And also work has been seriously busy, which is awesome, so I haven't had a time to take walks this week so far.

Last night was a good night. Time just seemed to flow in a good path. With the kid, getting stuff at the store, dinner and cleaning the house. It just felt different. I felt Autumn a bit more in the air maybe. I realized that I really do love those chilly months and the coming holiday season. Don't get me wrong, I love Spring and (ok, maybe not so much) Summer, but Autumn and Winter? Love them. Love the holidays, the food, the point of spending more time with those you love (it seems like).

Maybe I just want longer nights to get more done? LOL

I am almost done with another book (another score!) this one by Devon Monk. I am getting better at reading again. I know that sounds weird, but I so had reading and smoking tied, that I've stopped reading a whole lot as a side effect from quitting smoking. I'm happy to be getting a better rhythm with that :)

Time to get more things done!

Goods from the Garden, Sunflowers and Spiders

Here's a quickie - stuff from my and the boyfriends gardens...and other annoying things ;)

Potatoes that came from the boyfriends garden (and a couple tomatoes), which made some seriously yummy mashed potatoes for that nights dinner :)

So...I came home Sunday to all of my sunflowers bowed over or broken from the wind/weight of the heads. You can see here the stalk of one of the heads and how it's bending. The 2nd picture her is all the different sunflower heads hanging in my downstairs bathroom. I will probably move them up to the attic and hang from the rafters, because it's a lot hotter up there to dry them out. The thing I'm sorta worried about is that at least half of these were too early to really be cut off. So. I have no idea if I will get sunflower seeds out of them. I still have 1 sunflower out back that is freaking HUGE. I will take pics of it if I can to show!

The view if you try to walk to front of my house through the side, before they were all cut down.

This is my bellpepper plant, I've already gotten 1 large pepper off of it, lost 1 that was just starting to grow (the whole freaking branch came away) and it has 2 growing on it.

My monster tomato plant, that I have cut off 1/2 of so far. I mean, damn. It's so heavy I can't get it back up.

The freaky damned spider I killed on Saturday morning. In my kitchen. FML, I really, really, REALLY hate spiders.

It's been a busy week

Suffice it to say, that having a short week is awesome and challenging. You gotta cram more stuff to get done before the weekend because we all know no one is doing house work on a day off!!

Shower Stall - So I finally got 2 companies to come in and give me a quote.

Sears - Awesome, awesome rep. Seriously, made a new friend with her! Sadly, Sears wants something like my leg for them to replace my shower ($4,600).

Bath fitters - Rep was a nice guy. They were more expensive than Sears though! ($5,110) and he sure did want to see what Sears was offering for less. Which is a no-no in my world. I thing I didn't like about this guy was that he kept saying no matter what I get from Lowe's or Home Depot, it will be cheap crap.

Granted, what I have now looks like the $500 cheap crap that both carry. However, both also carry Acrylic (which both Sears and Bath fitters toted as being awesome) shower stall kits for about $1050.00.

The hard part with that is that we will have to do the labor (unless I can find a contractor which so far has netted me ZERO results) to install it. I don't mind taking out the old shower (YAY, more things for me to destroy!!) and helping install the new one, I just know I need someone with more know-how than me. Thankfully, I have an awesome and very handy boyfriend who's willing to at least think about it. Because, seriously, bathrooms are a bitch!! I might get a coworker to help as well. Either way, for now we're using 1 shower and it's not a problem. I don't mind taking my time to get it done right.

I went to a new dentist on Wednesday. LOVE the hygienist. I mean, I have never had such an easy cleaning in my life. Plus, no cavities or any issues. I also love my insurance. They are awesome because they cover 75%, and what this means is that I can afford to get my crowns done on my front teeth, Any idea of what it's like to have a dead and graying tooth in the front? I hate smiling with my mouth closed for pictures and I hate being so self conscious about it. I will be getting 3 front crowns done for the price it would have cost me 1 in the past. Score, all around. I loved the office, the dentist, who I met only briefly, was very nice.

It's also just nice to get things finally done and over with.

I weeded my front lawn that will be an herb garden (next year) last week. I will be doing that again. Possibly tonight if I can get the front lawn mowed first. Once it's weeded this time I'm going to put down this cover that is supposed to keep the weeds from growing. With lots of little rocks on top of that to keep it from lifting up and disappearing.

Tonight I am also going to dye my hair because it seriously needs it.

2 of my sunflowers fell over and their stalks broke. So I cut off their heads and I am *hoping* that I can salvage the seeds. It's not like I don't have more sunflowers, but I really would like a nice crop from these, I want to use this year for cooking and baking :)

It does not feel the Autumn. Whatsoever.

It does not feel like Summer either though, so blah.

I want a nap. I won't get one lol, but I damn sure do want one! I think I am going to make Lemon Bars tomorrow. Oh and that reminds me!! I bought this blender (a Ninja I think, on sale) and I want to see about actually using it. So I've been looking up recipes and whatnot. I need to find a way to get more veggies in my diet and if I can swing blending something quick in the morning, that could work out nicely. I am going to pick up some stuff tonight and try it out tomorrow. And I might hopefully get another wall decor thingy up too. Maybe. Hmmmm. Will see!!

I am really looking forward to going to the beach, Our Myrtle Beach trip is coming up soon and it will be nice to just relax, with no worries of cleaning house, cats or anything :) I was hoping to lose weight before the trip, but I am stuck at 209 right now. I'm going to switch back to low carb and try to smoothie thing and see if that gets this next 10 lbs off :)

And at some point I will attempt to read another book, finish that one book review I promised and figure out college (I reapplied, will be seeing the counselor next week and hopefully get things going!!) Add to that a short week, again, and general life fun-ness going on :) and I hope to maybe finish my filing O.o

Pretty flowers...or invasive smothering domineering weeds??

Pretty Morning Glories...that REALLY can take over.

I have found them snaking up my sunflowers and basically starting all along my side fence in the back yard. The below pictures are from just outside my fence, where I park. They have been sneaky and got through the small slits in my fence and underneath it...and the fact I am finding them up close and personal to the back of my house is kinda freaky.

Very pretty in the morning. I do not want, however, to have them cover everything else. So. I will be ripping the ones out in my backyard a little bit each day.

Little Bits of updates

It was such an incredible weekend. Saturday was the Maryland Renaissance Festival - Sunday was easy (I did clean up around the house and get laundry done) and even more so, we got my 3rd bedroom re-situated back into an office - which to be very honest, this is a good thing. The awesome boyfriend dismantled the bed and got it stored up in the attic, the desk un and re-assembled (I vacuumed the cleaned out the room during that) and everything is working :) Got some pictures hung and it feels like it should.

I have got to say, it's hard changing it from a bedroom back to an office.

But.

It's good. I am going back to college, and I never really warmed up to the computer downstairs (as in, I never used it). Now though, I've already been using it again, which is good.

It's just hard.

Anyways, I am happier with the room now. It was getting depressing leaving the door closed and it not being used and just left empty (ok, with stuff in there, but you get what I mean)

Monday was also an easy day. Got up late, made some breakfast sandwiches and then just ran around and got some stuff done. I did buy a trimmer/edger while at Lowe's. Ahem. Also some cool Halloween cat eyes for the front of the house :) They light up :) Oh and did more laundry and took a short nap. I really miss nap time. I want more nap times damn it!!

 

I have a dentist appointment tomorrow, which is good. I am slowly getting things more organized, also good. It's just that some days I have the will do to it and others and I just want to take a shower and ignore life.

I am really looking forward to our upcoming vacation to the beach :) It's nice to take these mini breaks :)

I need to write out my to do list again and then cross some more items off of it.

Ironically, I am sorta looking forward to winter just so I won't be pulled between house and garden - I like my house being clean more! LOL. Who knew. Well, snuggling is good for winter time. And hot cider. And hay rides. And holidays and cooking and baking and yeah....I love the change of seasons a lot it seems :)

Happy Kitty

Diego got a bath on Sunday, which therefore means I got more love from him :)

Sunflowers en masse

Some different angles of my sunflowers in my yard - they are all competing for the sun :)

I will be cutting off their heads soon as they wilt to get the sunflower seeds :)

Saturday - Maryland Renaissance Festival

So yesterday we went to the Maryland Renaissance Festival - it was so much fun! And it makes a huge difference going early in the day and early in the season :) It wasn't too hot in the morning, we got to see a lot of awesome stuff/people/characters and eat some seriously yummy food and drinks.

My awesome boyfriend

The boys getting ready to wander about


Oh and...there was a spider.

Over all, it was beyond awesome :)

A multi-faceted update

So I was home sick yesterday. I had started feeling icky on Wednesday and since the Renaissance Fair is Saturday, I *really* don't want to be sick. I was hoping to somehow avoid getting a full on cold. My left ear was hurting, I had a lot of sinus pressure (mostly my left side), was getting chills, had a runny nose and slightly achy. Yep, those lovely first signs of an oncoming cold for me. So. I made home made chicken stock Wednesday night (which means Thursday morning is was ready - SCORE with the crock pot!). I got the stock into ice cube trays Thursday morning while the kid was getting ready for school, emailed my boss and said I would not be in, took a muscle relaxer and then tried something different. Instead of taking my normal over the counter cold meds, I took Apple Cider Vinegar and Oil of Oregano. First was The Oil of Oregano - that shit tastes nasty. However, my sinus pressure was gone within 20 minutes. My ear stopped hurting. Wow.  I mean, DAMN. I took 1 tbsp of the apple cider vinegar 3 times (am, pm and before bed) and basically did the same with the Oregano. 2-3 drops each time. By late last night, I did not feel sick. At all. Granted, I was still very tired and I am tired (as in feel run down) today and slightly woo woo in the head, but overall, I don't feel like I am getting sick or going to get a full cold. Still sticking with these new meds today at work, so here's hoping.

Now the reason for the chicken stock into ice cubes (I got some ones that are 1 oz each and also some 2 oz freezable baby food containers for this purpose) was so that I can make 1 bowl at a time and not feel like I am wasting anything. So, for 1 bowl (see below) it was 2 ice cubes and 1 baby food worth of chicken stock, a little bit of water, thinly sliced carrots and celery, then some salt, pepper, paprika and garlic (the 2nd time I made it I added in curry which was awesome!) and some egg noodles. The chicken was the left over I had put aside in the frig from making the chicken stock.

So - homemade chicken noodle soup (almost ALL organic to boot), apple juice, green tea and lots of rest.

This is my tomato plant that fell over and I have yet to figure out what to do...because it's damn heavy! But still growing tomatoes !!

My 1 lonely carrot - and tomatoes that I threw away.

I have 2 bell peppers growing, I need to pick this one in the pic (I read that green bell peppers are not mature but taste sweeter, so I need to pick this today! They keep changing color as they mature)

Here's that saying on my wall :)

It looks kinda small I know, but I love seeing that every time I leave my bedroom :)

Oh and this is one of my sunflowers peeking over my 6' backyard fence :) He's next to the really short one that is staring at the fence. I will take some pics of the ones on the side of my house, because they are bending all sorts of ways to get more sun !!

Weekend

Sunday - Me and the boyfriend went on this awesome little hiking trail not too far from his place. It was about a 5 mile hike (and thankfully I only had minor problems with my knee and that was only when going down the steep hilly part). It was beautiful, I absolutely loved it!

It was so nice to get outside and walk Sunday morning :) I usually only get to take walks while I'm at work because my weekends are usually full of plans and cleaning and yard work. Yes, that lovely yard work that I did shortly after getting home. You know, things like mowing the lawn, pulling weeds and hopefully avoiding the poison oak/ivy this time around.

Then it's figuring out what to do for dinners this week and stock up at the store for lunches as well. This is going to be a somewhat busy week overall.

Saturday I was in a bit of a funk. It was raining all morning, which make my task of lawn work not happening. Which annoyed me. Know how that sometimes you have your mind set on something that you want to get done but then can't do it and it's like all of sudden you're at a loss of what to do? Yeah, that. I mailed a package to my sister though, and also put up some cool of the wall decals I had bought (ugh, literally a year ago!!)

This one I have going up my stairs (not in the same way as the picture)


And this one I have in my bedroom. (Since the picture is SO DAMN SMALL - it says:

Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away...)

I think this one is on straight on my wall. I did not measure it or align it or anything. Because, yeah it's not world shattering if it's slightly (maybe) crooked.

I eventually got off my ass, vacuumed and then headed out.

Saturday night - omg it was awesome, because at dinner we ate some seriously fucking yummy carrots, that came out of his garden :) So very cool!!!

Yeah I know they don't look pretty, but they just came out of the ground :) Rinse well and trim off some stuff and then they were chopped and cooked with some butter. REALLY yummy.

It was just a low key weekend, no stressing or anything. So very nice.

Updated Sunflowers