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.

Waiting on Rain

Morning and Evening

I woke around 2:45 this morning and was awake. I went to the bathroom, got back in bed and Kev woke shortly after. We were both wide awake and chatted about the new town activity going on with our shared driveway. Discussions have been had that we were not aware of so it's now after the fact poopiness. One main item that could be happening is that our address will likely change. So that kept me up and, at around 5AM, I almost got up to get to work. Instead I scrolled through Instagram until I eventually wiped out. It was around 6AM that fell asleep and got up for the day close to 8. After estrogen, getting dressed, scooping litter, making bed and feeding kitties we sipped cuppas out back and I did puzzles quickly. I had cereal and then went out to mow just after 9AM. I got the front done in 3.5 miles and know I will be glad I busted that out before rain. I had a desperately needed massage at noon, stopped at the store to pick up some rainy day essentials and headed home to get to work. I quit at 5:30, we ran to drop the compost, got back and heated leftover spaghetti for dinner. We ate while watching the Ted Lasso season finale and then I went to take a shower. I got in my PJs, started the washer and settled on the couch until bed. Now we wait for rain.

The Lone Sketti

OMAD

I woke at 6AM and got up to pee. I went ahead and got dressed. Ma was up and made coffee. We sat outside sipping and chatting and then I took Lucy dog for a short stroll. I got three of my four puzzles done and just before 8AM I loaded Sterling up and headed out towards home. I had to stop and fill up the tank, cleaning the windshield too and was off. I stopped once at my rest area for a leg stretch and pee break. A nice woman commented on my favorite old Jeep shoes and I had to break her heart by telling her that they don't make them anymore. I nibbled a Babybel and a few Cheez-Its, sat in some traffic and got home at 2PM. I took my computer straight up to my office and had to get some work done before a 3PM call. I worked until 5 and went down to get spaghetti cooking for dinner. We ate outside, my only meal of the day, which made it even better, but dang it was good. After dinner I changed and went out to get half of the grass mowed (3.35 miles) before the hurricane remnants hit us. I'll finish the rest Friday morning. I went in once it got too dark, put on my PJs, washed my face, brushed teeth and got into bed-as-couch to do some last work. Bed was around 9:30.

Tree Thing

Breakfast, Tree Growth, Dinner

I fell asleep very quickly last night. I turned on a story and gone. And I didn't wake in the night. I got up a few minutes before 7, turned off the alarm system and let Lucy out to pee. I got dressed, so did Ma, and we took Lucy for a walk. After a nice loop, spotting a strange tree growth that possibly could be a mushroom. I dropped Ma off at the house and I continued on for a while longer, getting in about 1.75 miles in. I got in and Ma whipped up cheese grits, bacon and sourdough toast for breakfast. I sipped a wee bit of coffee as well and then was at the table for work at 9AM. I have a few things stacked up right now and I'm planning to work this weekend. But I got to some of it, taking short get up breaks to stretch my legs. At 5:30 I went on the evening walk with Aunt Aim and the pups, get back at 6:30ish and I ate the other half of last night;s burger and fries for dinner. I worked until 7:30, took a shower, got in my PJs and settled on the couch. I did some work and Ma was reading Theo of Golden. 💖

Bday Road Trip

Tuesday Scenes

Happy birthday to Ma today! 🎈

I got up around 3:30 to pee but back into a decent sleep until getting up just after 7. I took a shower and dressed, sipped a half cuppa in the reading room, enjoyed half a bagel with onion cream cheese, then hit the road to Ma's. Today is her birthday and I was going to surprise her. I finished The Correspondent and moved into a new one called The Measure. I got to Ma's house around 12:30, had a banana, some of her ho-made chicken salad, and some Cheez-its. Cheez-its are always a reminder of Paw Paw. I had a couple calls in the afternoon, some work, and then a walk around 4:30 with Aunt Aim and the pups. Ma wanted a burger from United Deli for her birthday pick so we went to pick them up It was a big burger and I gobbled half and put the other half in the fridge. I had a few fries and saved the rest. The evening was cozy in PJs on the couch, doing a little work. Bed was around 10PM.

The Best Corn

Morn, Noon, Deer

Happy birthday to Mom K today!

I turned a story on around 10:30 and slept well. I got up at 6 something to pee and laid back down until around 7:30. Monday began with estrogen, feeding kitties, sipping coffee on the front porch (with long sleeves and socks on!), doing puzzles, having cereal with banana, and some island time. I hosed off the front porch, getting rid of the leftover paint dust from last week, and plucked some weeds. I didn't have work until some meetings in the afternoon so I then went for a three mile walk at the gardens down the road. I am still listening to my book, The Correspondent, and am enjoying it. I should finish it up tomorrow. I got home and made a turkey sandwich for lunch, with some honey mustard Dot's pretzels, which are complete crack. I went up to my office to review some info before a call when Kev alerted me to some deer out front. A whole pack! They were drinking from the bird bath and eating grass. They don't eat the bird seed since we've been purchasing the hot variety.

Dinner of Champions

I went out to finish cleaning the front porch. I clipped some plants, blew leaves off, put welcome mat back in place and ended up pulling more weeds around back. I cleaned off the back upper deck and pruned those plants before bringing the outdoor rug back up. The furniture goes back out this week, ready for some serious time out there. I had a couple calls that took me just past 5PM. I unplugged and took my computer downstairs, getting green beans cooking on the stove. Kev put burgers on The Chug and boiled corn. I clipped three okra from the garden, thinking they would be the absolute last, but they were too hard to eat. My burger had a Babybel melted on as a test and, while it didn't fully melt, it was very creamy and tasty and I'd do that again. But that corn. OMG. It was heaven. Kev put the cobs in a pan of cold water, brings to a boil, covers pan and turns burner off, letting corn sit in the hot water for 15ish minutes or so. I had to eat two ears it was so good. We watched an episode of Slow Horses and bed was by 9:30.

Slow and Productive Sunday

B and L

After good sleep I woke at 8:30 to a grey morning. I was ready for coffee on the front porch and a lazy start to the day. With the whirlwind of the past week it was nice to have a slow go. I did puzzles fairly quickly today and enjoyed the cuppa. Kev removed a few large spider webs (the spiders have been extra nuts this year) and I got clothes in the washer. I tried the Alpine Woods scent in my Mozi Wash sample pack, and it is SO good. There honestly hasn't been any that I've disliked so finding just one to buy larger will be tough. I made eggs and sourdough English muffins for breakfast. I heated a lone sausage that was left in the fridge and ended up taking a bite and giving the other bits to Kev. I think I'm over sausage. When clothes were done I washed sheets. The rain cranked up for a while so I vacuumed and cleaned out the cat bathroom. We are trying a new brand of litter that has almost no dust and today we mixed half a bag with half of their current litter to begin getting them used to it. Fingers crossed for a smooth transition. This will make a giant difference in my quality of life! 😂 Lunch was a turkey sandwich with Dots pretzels around 1:30.

PCC

The remainder of the afternoon zipped past. The litter room took quite some time as there was dumping the litter out of the giant box and completely cleaning it good, and drying it. I watered plants and then shelves were hung in our bathroom and in the guest bath upstairs. I love them so much and am giddy when I see them. I made the bed with fresh sheets and then we went out for a bit, first dropping the compost at the compost station and then heading down the hill to Whole Foods for an Amazon return. We got home around 4:30 and I started dinner, the pork chop casserole (I'm calloing it PCC) . It was done around 6:45 and we ate while watching an episode of the new season of Slow Horses. And it started out strong. We shared dark chocolate for dessert and I worked on the couch until around 9:30. Bed was around 10:30PM.  

An Old Favorite

Bagel and Bacon

After a good night's sleep I woke to rain this morning. I got up a little before 8 and got dressed. We sipped cuppas in the reading room, a preview of what's coming as the weather begins to cool down. I got bacon in the oven and made some onion cream cheese to put on bagels. Lis introduced me to this brand so I picked up Everything flavor. They were delicious with bacon, a throwback to my New Orleans days when I'd get a bagel with onion cream cheese and bacon almost every morning before work at the Aquarium. I did puzzles and it was 10ish when we left the house to go to Rent-a-Center where we reserved Dad's chair for his visit at end of month. It was a rainy drive but it was nice to be out in it. We filled up Sterling on the way back home, making it in and getting back to putting the house in order. 

Parm Thighs for Dinner

Plants went out of the house, on to the back upper deck, which seemed ok. It got stained first  on Thursday. They just needed to get some light, and some rain, and be out of this house. 😂 We moved on to hanging things. I had to finish in my office, we moved guest bedroom furniture back into place and hung art in there, hung art in bathrooms, in our bedroom, in the stairwell, and really just everywhere. I had to sweep, dust and vacuum and, at 5PM, I started dinner. Parm thighs and steamed broccoli. After dishes were cleaned up we walked to get mail and I spent the remainder of the evening finishing up the dusting of furniture. There was sheetrock dust on everything after the painters left. And they were clean for workers. I ordered some new sheets before going to bed and can't wait to try out the mix and match patterns. 

Post Painting

Afternoon Eats

Thurs Oct 1

I haven't felt so scattered as I do in full construction zone. 😂 I got up at 7 to give the kitties some time to eat, and us to sip some coffee and puzzle before the painter arrived to finish up our bathroom. It was the straggler but fortunately it wasn't much left. Our contractor arrived with his crew at the same time, 8AM, to get started on round two of deck staining. So not only was the house taken apart, but now the entire outside had to be removed and scattered in the back yard. Some outside things are added in the house temporarily and will remain inside until stain dries well enough. It was 2:30PM when I made a turkey sandwich. I did some work in the afternoon and had poblano corn soup with a slice of sourdough toast for dinner. I then got the laundry room back in working order until bed after 11. 

More Afternoon Eats

Friday Oct 2

The painters are officially done! The contractor guys are staining the lower back deck today but then they will be done too. I feel like a tornado has gone through, immediately after vacation but it was worth the push. I sipped coffee and worked on puzzles and at 10AM I left to go do some shopping. I did Walmart first, which took a while, I then hit up Aldi and the the regular grocery as the fridge was totally bare. I hadn't done any shopping since we got back, dealing with the house chaos so we've eaten out of the freezer and cans. I got home at 2PM and made a little cereal. I had island time and did zero work today. I got to organizing and then ordering more organizing stuff. I went downstairs around 5:30. Dinner was turkey sandwiches and tots. Lately it's all I've been wanting. We put some art back on the walls and watched the latest Ted lasso before bed around 10:30.

Painting Day 3

Downstairs Not in Use

Sleep last night was in a floating bed in the middle of the room, no headboard or foot board. We had pushed everything into the middle of the room for painting, which they didn't get to yesterday. We were literally on an island. I did sleep ok but woke to pee around 4AM and then dozed until 7:30. I got up, fed fur babies, got dressed, sipped half a cuppa out back, did puzzles and then the painters arrived. We wrangled the kitties upstairs to the guest bedroom, where the poor boys hid under the bed all day. They did have food and water but no litter box. Thankfully they didn't need to go. I had the chiropractor at 10, picked up all the mail from vacation at the post office, and went to get Subway for me, Kev, and the two painters. The entire downstairs, from front door to our back bathroom, was completely covered with plastic so there was no making or heating anything for lunch. It really was like I was in a Dexter episode. I had a six inch spicy Italian with Sun Chips and a chocolate chip cookie. Kev ate with me in my office.

Wed Eve

The afternoon was busy. I had a few projects I juggled and before I knew it, it was 6PM. The poor kitties were still in the guest room. The guys left around 6:15 and I fed the boys their evening wet food. Me and Kev heated last night's beef bowl leftovers. After dinner I got to cleaning. When I tell you nasty, it was like a construction site. There was sheetrock dust and hole patching white stuff everywhere. I swept, mopped and then wiped by hand to get floors cleaned. I then began putting some things back in their places but couldn't do too much, letting the walls dry more over night. While I cleaned, the Kev switched us from ATT to Mint Mobile. He'd been thinking about it and with ATT constantly raising prices, he finally took the plunge. After my cleaning binge I had some candied ginger pieces, sent September invoices out and bed was by 11:30.

Painting Day 2

Tuesday Morning

Sleep was sporadic. With our stuff everywhere, the cats were as restless as I was. I got up to pee, I think around 2AM, and slept off and on until getting up around 8. I fed the cats and got dressed and ate some cereal, while doing puzzles, and soon it was time to head out to take Kev to the orthopedic doc to get his foot checked. They took an xray and the fracture wasn't showing. They sent him home, still in walking boot, and he will have a CT scan, which shows more. The good news is that it looks like no surgery, or cast will be needed. We got home at noon and I made a turkey sandwich for lunch before going up to my office.

Ai Directed Dinner

I started The Breadwinner on Netflix, a cute family movie, and watched until I had a client call at 3PM. This is a new client within my other client's company, a third group, and the work is starting off very fun. I went downstairs around 5:45 to asy good bye to the lone painter fellah. Because we needed to start in the afternoon today only one guy came, the others went to another job for the full day. Tomorrow they will finish up the house, which is crazy. The entire house, except closets and pantry, in three days. I asked AI what to make for dinner with ingredients I had and ended up with a beef, veggie and yellow rice bowl with a caribbean flair. (Flair being cumin, oregano, garlic). We ate outside, as I needed to get away from stuff everywhere. When dishes were cleaned up I took myself up to my office to get it in as much order as I could. Some nails were removed so couldn't get all of my art back on the walls, but it felt good to get at least one space under control. I retired to the bed around 9:45.