Early Voting Day

Brunching Teriyaki Chicken

I woke at 2:30 this morning to Ted smushed against my back. Since he was cooped up in our room for a week while Lucy dog was visiting, he's now taken over my spot on the bed. That's where he was every single day last week and now he thinks it's HIS. In the night he is as close that spot as possible, waking me up. I know he's trying to push me out. And he did. I got up to pee and was wide awake. I did puzzles until 4:30 before putting my phone down and dozing off. I woke at 8 and got the day moving. Kev had already fed the boys and made the coffee so I fixed my wee cuppa and we went out front to the rockers. I filled the bird feeders and did today's puzzles (I did past puzzles in the wee hours this morning) and then did morning chores, had island time and got to work. At 10:30 I heated a chicken teriyaki frozen meal for brunch and continued with my work day.

Got the Vote In, then chili

The afternoon I broke down and purchased a subscription to Hallmark+. It's Countdown to Christmas time! I started with Tis the Season for Setups, perfect for playing in the background while working. It was just after 5PM when I unplugged, fed the kitties their evening stew dinner, changed, and we headed down the mountain to go early vote. We chose the election commission and boy was it efficient! It was like a smoothly run airport. We were in and out within 15 minutes. We got back to the house and I heated chili that I thawed out. I cut up a little red onion to go on mine, along with sharp cheddar and low salt Fritos, which our grocery just started carrying. 🙌. After dinner we walked the garbage bin down the lane. I then got in my PJs and on the couch to do a bit of work before bed.

 

Workin Wednesday

Breakfast

The day began just before 7. I got up to pee and took a shower to get some energy. I fed kitties and made coffee, and then made scrambled eggs with sourdough English muffins. After breakfast I sipped a half cuppa in the reading room while doing puzzles. Morning chores were done, island time was had and work began. There is plenty to do and a first call at 12:30. Around 1:30 I had some chicken salad and pretzel sticks, put on my tennis shoes and went over to the Farm and Gardens for a walk break. I had a catch up call with my friend that lives in Scotland, who's visiting family in Louisiana and Texas for a few weeks, and it was great to hear her voice. I got back home and worked until my weekly Wednesday client call at 5PM. Meanwhile, the Kev attended our Town's meeting to put his two cents in about our shared driveway, which is back on the agenda with the new landowners. He got home around 6:45 and I was still working. I took my computer downstairs at 7:30 and heated another General Tso's Chicken Smart Ones meals. I worked a bit more on the couch and then in bed before sleepy time.

Two fer Tuesday

Two Meal Tuesday

Sleep was very good last night. No waking at all. I got up at 7:30 this morning, ready to start the day. I fed kitties and Kev made coffee. We sipped outside since the morning was mild. I put some food in the bird feeder and it was nice to see a Cardinal come immediately. I did my few puzzles and then morning chores. We walked to get the mial since our coffee order was tucked in there and I eventually got up to my desk for work. I really didn't want to work today and was very distracted, but I did. I had a call at 3:30 and another at 5 and when done, around 5:30, I headed out for a walk at the small track. I put on long pants and a sweatshirt and was still chilly. I was cold ALL DAY LONG. Everyone at the track was in shorts and tees, or sleeveless things, and here's me like Nanook of the North. It will be a long winter if this is what's already beginning. I got in three miles and went home to heat. what's becoming my favorite frozen dinner, the Smart Ones General Tso Chicken. I know it sounds crazy but it's very satisfying and full of flavor, at least to my tender palate. I had a slice of chocolate pie for dessert and then went for a shower. Once in PJs I hopped into bed-as-couch for some last work before bed. 

Final Flowers

Last Zinnias and Monday Food

After good sleep I got up just after 7:30. I fed kitties, did estrogen, dressed, and took Lucy dog out to pee while the Kev made coffee. We sipped a cuppa with Ma before she hit the road towards home. I got on up to my desk for the work day, having island time first, and had cereal with banana around 11. I kept busy all day, had a call at 4:30 and when it was done we made a run down the hill for a couple errands, got back and I cooked green beans while Kev grilled burgers on the gas grill. I cut the last corn in half and we ate while watching an episode of Slow Horses, and gosh it's really good this season. Pie followed dinner, although I was full and didn't need it, but when there is chocolate pie, you eat the pie. And it's amazing. Bed was around 9:30.

Thursday thru Sunday

Work Day Scenes

Thursday and Friday

It's been a busy few days. Thursday and Friday were long work days. The mornings started with me feeding the kitties. When they were done I'd call Lucy dog downstairs and take her out to pee. I made the coffee and we sipped while I did puzzles. Friday was an early start day so I went on up to my office to get going. I had island time to try to get my head in the creative space I needed as the project for the day would be a tough one. In the couple days there were turkey sandwiches and leftover burgers. Friday Ma went for fried fish at Southern Star for lunch and brought me chicken salad, since I wasn't in a fish mood. I worked until late in the evening, I think around 8 or so. Teddy has remained in our room all week long. He's come out a couple time when Lucy's been quiet but then goes back in when he sees that Lucy is still around. He does get out at night to nibble, and comes out in the mornings before the dog comes down. 

Sat and Sun

Saturday and Sunday

I knew some work had to be done today but I did the morning routine, enjoyed some coffee, did the puzzles and at 10AM I made a turkey sandwich for breakfast. I took Lucy to the Farm and Gardens up the road for just over a mile, and then I worked on the couch while Ma colored. We eventually got out to do some Walmarting and when we got home I made Mom K's chocolate pies, which Ma asked for, for her birthday. It would be a special birthday dinner and I was ready for it. At 5:30 I ordered the first "real" pizza after many, many years. There's a Domino's on the mountain and we took the quick drive to pick it up hot and fresh. We got in our PJs, ate the OMG deliciousness and started Blood of my Blood season 2 on Starz. I was too full after pizza but had to have a slice of the pie, and it's amazing. Sleep was deep after all those carbs and I didn't wake until 8:45 Sunday morning. It was a slow coffee sippin' but we got dressed and left around noon for an inaugural lunch at Shwarma Taste, a new restaurant down the hill. It was delicious and we took a lot home. The afternoon was glorious out so I mowed. Ma blew off the grass clippings and mowed a few rows herself. When done I cleaned the bird bath, pulled some weeds, and cleaned out the garden beds for the season. I showered and got in my PJs by 6PM and wanted only a lone, big slice of pie for dinner. We caught up to the latest Blood of my Blood and Kev made it home around 10PM. 💕

Stackin' Up

Breakfast and Afternoon Snack

I went to bed at midnight and, after decent sleep, I got up at 5:30 to pee. I went back to sleep until closer to 8 before getting up and going. I did the things: washed my face, got dressed, scooped the litter, made the bed, fed the kitties, took the dog out to pee, brewed the coffee. I had some cereal with banana and then a couple sips of coffee while working on puzzles. I had to get some files the the printer so did that work before cruising over to the chiropractor for my quick visit. When I got home I went up to my desk for a solid day of work. I had a mix of volunteer and client stuff to get done and kicked off a new client project on a 1:30 call. While I was on the call Ma whipped up some of her famous deviled eggs and I had four after my call was over, around 2:30. 

Repeat Dinner

Time flew by and a butt-load of projects dropped in, creating instant anxiety because some are on the larger side. Right now I have about 14 projects stacked up for one client, about 10 for a second and a bunch of web banners for a third. And then some volunteer stuff. This is a great problem to have, and it will all get done. *Breathe.* I had the weekly 5PM call with the client and team, ending just after 6PM. I had to do some after work before I was able to head downstairs for the evening. It was about 6:45 when I heated the last leftover burger patty with green beans and corn, a total repeat from last night. After dinner dishes were cleaned up I took a shower, got in my PJs and worked on the couch until bed by 10PM.

Cat Dog and Dog Cat

Tuesday

After good sleep I woke up at 5:30 this morning to pee, got back to sleep and woke for the day close to 8. I fed the kitties before letting Lucy dog come downstairs. I took her out for a pee and made coffee, which we sipped out on the back deck while I did puzzles. Remi has taken to Lucy's freeze dried food and he even jumped up on the couch with Lucy to get more. 😂 I went up to my office for a 10AM call and some work. At 11 I heated a General Tso's Weight Watcher's meal. At noon we headed out, down the hill, to the AT&T store where they would help Ma set up her new phone. We popped into the grocery before heading back home where I had a 2PM call. I worked until 5:30ish and went down to get green beans and some corn on the cob cooking. I heated a leftover burger patty and melted on cheddar, eating at the kitchen island while Ma meticulously made her salad. I helped her organize her phone after dinner and we listened to music the rest of the night. Bed came around 11PM. It was a lovely day.

Monday is for Ma

Morning Scenes

Sleep was dandy and I woke closer to 8 this morning. I got up, fed kitties and made coffee. I did puzzles and sipped out on the front porch before going down the lane to retrieve the recycle bin. I had some cereal with banana and finally getting to work. I had a meeting that I'm volunteering for, a town thing, at 10 that lasted until 12:30. I then needed to get some client work caught up on. It was 2PM when I grabbed a blueberry fig bar for snack. 

Turkey Sammiches and Tots

I worked solidly, having a call at 4PM, and Ma arrived just after 5:30. I helped her bring her stuff in, I got tots in the oven, and she made a quick run to the mountain grocery for some turkey. We enjoyed our turkey sandwiches out back with Lucy dog, and Remi, who is starting to ease into being around with Lucy. Ted, however, will be under the bed all week. 😕 After dinner we got in PJs and I worked on the couch. Netflix was on the TV and bed was around 11:30.

Working Weekend - Day 2

Fun Mix and Match Bedding

I went to bed right around midnight and slept until 7:30. It was a very grey and foggy morning and I looked forward to my cuppa and puzzles.  I got up and fed the kitties before getting dressed, and then got coffee brewing. I sipped in the reading room and puzzles didn't take that long today. I put summer sheets and comforter in the washer and got new mix and match bedding on for the fall and winter season. I have been very ready for some color and these make me so happy. At 10:30 I had the last bowl of leftover spaghetti and then went up for a second day of work. It would be another full one so I skipped island time and got to it. It was a very productive day and I called it quits just after 5:30, ready to make some dinner. I put some tots in the oven and went to take a shower. Once I was in PJs I cooked up a pan burger with red onion, melted on sharp cheddar and ate while watching East of Eden episode 1 on Netflix. I've never read the book so don't know much about it but it's starting heavy. One episode was enough and I moved back to The Forsytes on PBS Masterpiece to finish the evening. 

Rainy Working Weekend - Day 1

Rainy Saturday Scenes

The rain from hurricane Isaias woke me at 4AM. It was tinkling on the bedroom window and I got up to pee and looked out. I'd guess it had been raining for a while but the winds were picking up. It didn't look like we'd get anything bad, and did need rain, so it was a great weekend to be able to tuck inside and get some serious work done. We got up around 7:30 and Kev fed cats and made the coffee while I made the med and got dressed. I put bacon in the oven and some eggs on to boil for jammies. I also made an onion cream cheese to enjoy with the remaining bagel.  After breakfast I sipped my cuppa and did puzzles in the reading room and left to go get my flu and covid shots. When I got home it was work time. I have a line up of projects that I need to get ahead of so had island time to get my head in the mood and then proceeded to work until 10:30PM. I watched Heartland in the background, ate more leftover spaghetti for dinner, followed by a few vanilla Oreo Thins, and then watched The Fundamentals of Caring, which was a good one. I went down to bed by 11PM.