Not sure if anyone else enters sweepstakes but sometimes there are ones I find worth playing like the Dream Home on HGTV. I enter that sweepstakes every year. The homes are gorgeous but I wouldn't be able to afford to pay all the taxes on the windfall profit so when I win (being optimistic) I will take the money option. Then I can pay off my mortgage! Ha! You can enter 2 times per day and you bet I haven't missed a day yet.
Today was a tease from Mother Nature. It got up to 68 degrees, only to plummet again the next few days. It is already down in the low 40s. Oh well it was nice walking to my mom's in sunshine and relative warmth (the breeze was rather cool).
Worked another long day today so going to keep this short so I can watch a little Person of Interest before headed to bed.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Monday, January 5, 2015
Sundae Monday
Today is sundae Monday. I just had a yummy sundae, with chopped almonds, chocolate syrup, and maraschino cherries. But now I am cold and so I'm sitting here with with a blanket and a warm puppy on my lap. Well she is not a puppy but she's small like a puppy. I am typing with one hand too because she always has to lay her head on my arm. If I pull it up, she paws at it until I drop it down again. Yes, all our dogs are spoiled.
It was sunny when I took my walk today, so I am grateful for that much. We are in my least favorite season. At least I don't have to deal with snow, at least not so far. If these Arctic fronts keep dipping ever southward, there may come a time when I do have to deal with that. Sure hope that time never comes.
I'm getting tired of typing with one finger so this is it for tonight.
It was sunny when I took my walk today, so I am grateful for that much. We are in my least favorite season. At least I don't have to deal with snow, at least not so far. If these Arctic fronts keep dipping ever southward, there may come a time when I do have to deal with that. Sure hope that time never comes.
I'm getting tired of typing with one finger so this is it for tonight.
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Long week ahead
This next week is going to seem so long! First of all it is the first week in 4 weeks that I have to work 5 days in a row. From vacation days and holidays, I've had a break from the Monday-Friday working. And secondly I just worked all weekend too so, it will be more like 7 days in a row now. But that's okay. Good thing I like what I do.
No stray dogs today to rescue, so it was a quiet day at our house, well relatively. The dogs are always barking at something at some point or another during the day. Never a dull moment for very long around here. Last night I was going to watch SNL but there was a football game finishing up and I fell asleep in the post game stuff and never saw any of it. Oh well. I'm sure my brain needed the rest.
Guess there is nothing good on TV tonight. Hubby is channel surfing a lot! That's what I get for handing him the tv controls and saying I'll be busy blogging and checking emails.
I got a bit creative tonight in the kitchen. We were having some turkey (chunk of small sliced turkey in the crock pot) and I wanted to use some more of the purple cabbage I had. So I cut up some of that, and also saw I had an onion, so cut that up, still had some garlic cloves so used some of those clove chunks and got out some bacon grease that I had stored in the fridge. Got a slab of bacon grease out and plunked it into my heating cast iron skillet. Then in went the garlic cloves and then the onion and cabbage. Then I remembered I have some chopped almonds left over from buying a bag for some almond cookies I made for the holidays; So I added a handful of those to my stir fry mix. It turned out good! I even have some left overs for tomorrow.
Well I am off to check emails and relax for a little bit before turning in.
No stray dogs today to rescue, so it was a quiet day at our house, well relatively. The dogs are always barking at something at some point or another during the day. Never a dull moment for very long around here. Last night I was going to watch SNL but there was a football game finishing up and I fell asleep in the post game stuff and never saw any of it. Oh well. I'm sure my brain needed the rest.
Guess there is nothing good on TV tonight. Hubby is channel surfing a lot! That's what I get for handing him the tv controls and saying I'll be busy blogging and checking emails.
I got a bit creative tonight in the kitchen. We were having some turkey (chunk of small sliced turkey in the crock pot) and I wanted to use some more of the purple cabbage I had. So I cut up some of that, and also saw I had an onion, so cut that up, still had some garlic cloves so used some of those clove chunks and got out some bacon grease that I had stored in the fridge. Got a slab of bacon grease out and plunked it into my heating cast iron skillet. Then in went the garlic cloves and then the onion and cabbage. Then I remembered I have some chopped almonds left over from buying a bag for some almond cookies I made for the holidays; So I added a handful of those to my stir fry mix. It turned out good! I even have some left overs for tomorrow.
Well I am off to check emails and relax for a little bit before turning in.
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Hello Sun! Finally
Today the sun finally was out and it did get to the low 60's which was nice while it lasted. I spent most of the day in doors but it was still nice looking out of my office window and seeing the blue skies and the sunshine.
I felt good about something I did today! I reunited a lost dog with its owner. It was mid afternoon and I saw something out back by the fence. It wasn't the normal deer that I usually see out there. I got up to get a better look and saw a dog I hadn't seen before pacing up and down the opposite side of the fence. I let the dogs out as they were going ballistic and of course they all raced down to where that dog was. It didn't run away despite all their barking so I decided to go outside and investigate. It was a dark brown/blackish border collie mix type of dog. As I approached it looked up at me and wagged his tail. I saw something shimmering around his neck and he had a tag with a phone number on it. I tried to memorize it and ran in to the phone and yep, called the wrong number. I kept repeating the number so I thought "I got this".That lady had no dog and so I took the phone outside with me and down to the fence I walked again.
I reached down through the wire fence and petted him a little and held his tag so I could see the number and dial it while I was reading it. I got through to a lady who was grateful that I called. Her hubby came within 5 minutes (and I petted him while waiting so he wouldn't go away). They were watching a few other dogs besides theirs and this dog had gotten out somehow. I thought it was nice that he felt he owed me an explanation as to how his dog got out. I didn't really care about that, I'm just glad I reunited them. His dog hopped right into his car, in the front seat too (even though the man had opened the back car door to let him in). Smart dog!
That was the highlight of my day. I didn't get over to the farmers market like I wanted to but I just didn't want to stop my work mojo, so I let it go. I'm still eating some purple cabbage I got a few weeks ago anyway so I'm not totally out of fresh veggies.
Wonder if there is a new SNL on tonight. Later...
I felt good about something I did today! I reunited a lost dog with its owner. It was mid afternoon and I saw something out back by the fence. It wasn't the normal deer that I usually see out there. I got up to get a better look and saw a dog I hadn't seen before pacing up and down the opposite side of the fence. I let the dogs out as they were going ballistic and of course they all raced down to where that dog was. It didn't run away despite all their barking so I decided to go outside and investigate. It was a dark brown/blackish border collie mix type of dog. As I approached it looked up at me and wagged his tail. I saw something shimmering around his neck and he had a tag with a phone number on it. I tried to memorize it and ran in to the phone and yep, called the wrong number. I kept repeating the number so I thought "I got this".That lady had no dog and so I took the phone outside with me and down to the fence I walked again.
I reached down through the wire fence and petted him a little and held his tag so I could see the number and dial it while I was reading it. I got through to a lady who was grateful that I called. Her hubby came within 5 minutes (and I petted him while waiting so he wouldn't go away). They were watching a few other dogs besides theirs and this dog had gotten out somehow. I thought it was nice that he felt he owed me an explanation as to how his dog got out. I didn't really care about that, I'm just glad I reunited them. His dog hopped right into his car, in the front seat too (even though the man had opened the back car door to let him in). Smart dog!
That was the highlight of my day. I didn't get over to the farmers market like I wanted to but I just didn't want to stop my work mojo, so I let it go. I'm still eating some purple cabbage I got a few weeks ago anyway so I'm not totally out of fresh veggies.
Wonder if there is a new SNL on tonight. Later...
Friday, January 2, 2015
Yucky weather!
It has been dreary, wet and very cold the last several days which may sound very normal for winter but not really in Central Texas. I already skipped my walk two days ago due to it being in the 30's so I was determined to walk today after work. It was drizzly and according to weather.com' feels like' temperature was 34. My fingers were feeling pretty frozen because I didn't bother finding gloves to wear.
I did not take any of the dogs with me though as I didn't want the walk to be drawn out even longer with a sniff and pee stop at every other mailbox or yard. I am glad I got through it but it was rough! Thankfully I was talking to a girlfriend on my cell phone for much of it which helped take my mind off the cold a tad. Pizza's here...will continue later.
Dang! Ordered the hand tossed instead of the pan. Oh well. It really does not taste as good as the pan pizza. I was busy comparing getting two pizzas with the coupon deal vs one and it wasn't that much lower to just get one and split the toppings. I'll pay more attention next time as I thought I DID order the pan pizzas.
Yesterday we started watching the last season of 24 only to find that I think we've already seen most of this season on regular TV. Oh well. We'll still watch it all the way through as I'm not sure we saw every episode.
The weekend is here again. Next week will be really hard to work five days in a row!
I did not take any of the dogs with me though as I didn't want the walk to be drawn out even longer with a sniff and pee stop at every other mailbox or yard. I am glad I got through it but it was rough! Thankfully I was talking to a girlfriend on my cell phone for much of it which helped take my mind off the cold a tad. Pizza's here...will continue later.
Dang! Ordered the hand tossed instead of the pan. Oh well. It really does not taste as good as the pan pizza. I was busy comparing getting two pizzas with the coupon deal vs one and it wasn't that much lower to just get one and split the toppings. I'll pay more attention next time as I thought I DID order the pan pizzas.
Yesterday we started watching the last season of 24 only to find that I think we've already seen most of this season on regular TV. Oh well. We'll still watch it all the way through as I'm not sure we saw every episode.
The weekend is here again. Next week will be really hard to work five days in a row!
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Hello 2015!
Well I made it until midnight with no nap either. It really isn't quite the same without Dick Clark, but we muddled through with Carson Daly. I must be out of the Hollywood/TV loop as I had no clue who the other 3 people were that were sitting with him.
So this is the time of year for reflection. I am very grateful to still be working at home in a career I still love, despite the ups and downs. We have been able to get our bathroom totally remodeled, get a great water filtration system (we have horrible water here with heavy lime build up prior to this system), and also got a new hot water heater.
While we hope to have the powder room and other bathroom remodeled in 2015, I am also looking at other desires...financial ones. I would love to pay our house off sooner than a little less than 8 years from now (refinanced to a 10 year mortgage 2 years ago September, which was a good thing or else we'd still have 21 years to go-lived here 9 years). If it was paid off I would not feel like I have to maintain the same earning level in order to meet all the financial demands and it would take a lot of pressure off me. Heck in 5 short years I could conceivably retire, (at 72.5% of my social security benefit, assuming that is still running - topic for another time). The word retirement will most likely not be a reality, at least I don't see it at this point. But it would be nice to at least know it is an option and if the mortgage were paid off ,it would be an option at least and not an 'impossible dream'.
I've also been looking and subscribe to some 'tiny house' publications and listings. These are houses that are 'tiny' only about 300 sq ft some less, some more. The tiny houses I've seen have been at wonderful prices, most under $50K. This is not an option at this point with 5 dogs and frankly this will probably never be a path that we'll take. There are a couple reasons for this. True tiny houses are not recognized as real estate so it is sometimes hard to find a place to set them permanently. They also are mobile and I would not want to come home from the store at some point with no home there (having it stolen by a pick up truck with the proper hitch).
Another reason I'll probably never live in a tiny home is the safety factor. There are so many natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes that I would be worried that my tiny house would not remain sound if it encountered one of these disasters. I realize many stick built homes may not fair very well either but a tiny home can be lifted and tossed around in a tornado like a rag doll, and that thought does not sit well with me.
Of course there won't be any move anyway for several years most likely. I moved my folks nearby and thankfully they are both fairly healthy even though they are in their upper 80's. I could see either one or both of them living another 5 years or more.
So again...just New Year's musings.
We took down the Christmas decorations today. Hubby still has the outside ones to take down but that isn't happening today. It is rainy and in the 30's outside so maybe when it is dry and warmer. No rush there anyway, we just won't plug them in. We are watching the third season of the TV series 24 these days. They are really good! We've seen all of them but this one and the last 8th (I think) season which we also bought to watch. I never really watched them when they were on. It must have been when something else was on TV at that time.
Going to end this here...The first of daily blogs. :-)
So this is the time of year for reflection. I am very grateful to still be working at home in a career I still love, despite the ups and downs. We have been able to get our bathroom totally remodeled, get a great water filtration system (we have horrible water here with heavy lime build up prior to this system), and also got a new hot water heater.
While we hope to have the powder room and other bathroom remodeled in 2015, I am also looking at other desires...financial ones. I would love to pay our house off sooner than a little less than 8 years from now (refinanced to a 10 year mortgage 2 years ago September, which was a good thing or else we'd still have 21 years to go-lived here 9 years). If it was paid off I would not feel like I have to maintain the same earning level in order to meet all the financial demands and it would take a lot of pressure off me. Heck in 5 short years I could conceivably retire, (at 72.5% of my social security benefit, assuming that is still running - topic for another time). The word retirement will most likely not be a reality, at least I don't see it at this point. But it would be nice to at least know it is an option and if the mortgage were paid off ,it would be an option at least and not an 'impossible dream'.
I've also been looking and subscribe to some 'tiny house' publications and listings. These are houses that are 'tiny' only about 300 sq ft some less, some more. The tiny houses I've seen have been at wonderful prices, most under $50K. This is not an option at this point with 5 dogs and frankly this will probably never be a path that we'll take. There are a couple reasons for this. True tiny houses are not recognized as real estate so it is sometimes hard to find a place to set them permanently. They also are mobile and I would not want to come home from the store at some point with no home there (having it stolen by a pick up truck with the proper hitch).
Another reason I'll probably never live in a tiny home is the safety factor. There are so many natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes that I would be worried that my tiny house would not remain sound if it encountered one of these disasters. I realize many stick built homes may not fair very well either but a tiny home can be lifted and tossed around in a tornado like a rag doll, and that thought does not sit well with me.
Of course there won't be any move anyway for several years most likely. I moved my folks nearby and thankfully they are both fairly healthy even though they are in their upper 80's. I could see either one or both of them living another 5 years or more.
So again...just New Year's musings.
We took down the Christmas decorations today. Hubby still has the outside ones to take down but that isn't happening today. It is rainy and in the 30's outside so maybe when it is dry and warmer. No rush there anyway, we just won't plug them in. We are watching the third season of the TV series 24 these days. They are really good! We've seen all of them but this one and the last 8th (I think) season which we also bought to watch. I never really watched them when they were on. It must have been when something else was on TV at that time.
Going to end this here...The first of daily blogs. :-)
Sunday, December 28, 2014
In the New Year 2015
During the holidays I was watching TV with my youngest. The movie Julie and Julia was on in which a young woman blogged every day while she cooked through Julia's child cook book. Her goal was to do all the recipes in 365 days. No I'm not going to pledge to do that. I am not that ambitious of a cook. But what I decided I would like to do is blog every day next year.
I have gotten away from blogging this year but as I read through some past posts I liked reading some events or musings from the past, so I decided to make my own challenge. Some posts may be short but I am up to the challenge of daily blogging.
Here's to a blogging 2015!
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