Another busy day

Friends and family have come and gone today.... We had a great visit, even if it were to short for the littest ones. They got along fabulously and both cried when they had to part.... awww! It will be some time before we are able to see them again. They live in Vegas. But Grim and I are going to try and get out there at least once this coming year. It will be an experience. We have never been.

Tomorrow we head for Amish country.... I can't wait! The main reason for the trip is to stock up on dry goods. They sell bags in 50lb size. Not sure how much I'm coming home with but I know my car will be loaded for bear.... LOL! I need to replenish my spices, flours, sugar, oats, puddings and whatever else catches my fancy. I love love love this store. Since we're there we will go to the big Amish run restaurant for lunch/dinner. I also need to stop in at the Amish run hardware and see if they have the sauerkraut plunger in stock?!? and then to the English run hardware for gallon ball jars. I think I need at least 3 cases. Its only 18 jars. We will go to the bakery and see if there is anything we can't live without. Oh, almost forgot, there is a consession that sells sweet mustard. This time 4 jars will be bought. Everyone loves the stuff. I wish I had the recipe for it.

As you can tell I'm very excited to go. We go down 3-4 times a year. It takes about three and a half hours to get there. The weather is suppose to be ok going and no snow predicted for coming home. When we went down after last Christmas, we got caught in a blizzard. It took forever and a day to get home. When that stuff happens I wonder why I quit smoking.....

Ahhhhhhhhhh, to have a smoke, again! I know, I know..... the price in money and to my health. I smoked becuase I enjoyed it and quit because I had to. If they were the same price as then, and I wouldn't have to go through withdrawls again. I digress, since it ain't never gonna happen. Ahhhhhhh, the good old days!

I think Thursday after Grim and Band monster get home from yet another dentist appointment. The decorations inside are going to come down. I really didn't feel it this year. Maybe it was because we wern't running around like crazy and it was very relaxed. This year something felt like it was missing. I don't have a clue what it was that caused this feeling. It's time to move on to the new year. Thursday the turkey will get canned up. I would hate to loose all that meat and broth. The sweet potatoes will be frozen in individual size bags. That way I can have them for several more meals.

The house is still clean. So that is one thing I won't have to do before the new year. My room got cleaned yesterday. The rest of the house got cleaned this morning, for company. I'm rambling again... Need to go to bed!

Gotta Run,
Yart

Happy Holidays!!

School is officially over until next year! Saturday morning we went on to the Bowling Christmas parties.... All the monsters had a ton of fun!! There was comic bowl, pizza, cupcakes, gifts and a ton more food that folks brought. We ended up there for a couple of hours. We were suppose to go to a texas hold em party. But the people we were going with couldn't go because thier monster got sick. So instead we stayed home and I baked. I made sugar cookie dough for the monsters. Then I made spiced ginger cookies (new to us recipe) and almond thimble cookies. The spiced ginger I need to make more of, I only got 2 1/2 dozen and they were a huge hit. So these are going to be added to the yearly must make list. Then once the baking was done it was time to teach the older two how to play rummy. The littlest monster was spending the night with my mom. They had a good time..... I think they got it?!? But you never know.

Sunday, I got up and made a toll house dough, left out the nuts and chocolate chips, but added M&M's. It was a double batch, I got 7 dozen. I know it seems like a lot but most of the cookies will be going into gift packs. Then my mom came over and rolled out the dough for the monsters (I'm not a pastry chef, I don't roll).... The monsters had a blast cutting out the shapes and decorating the cookies. I wasn't really happy with this sugar cookie recipe. So I will have to find a different one for next time. We had a simple dinner, mac and cheese and smoked sausage. Then we watched the Muppets Christmas Carol. Mouthy monster ended up in bed early, poor thing has a cold.

This morning we were back at therapy, only two days this week! Then went to the health food store, needed some vitamins. Back home to get the dog. Off to the vet we went..... He has another ear infection and his eyes are both yucky this time.... His nails got trimmed, we were there for over two hours and I spent almost $300...... Seriously, Teenage monster had better get to being a great vet soon..... These animals are going to put me in the poor house. He is already feeling better and that is all that matters. Poor baby! And I have to work bingo tonight.... Last one for this year!

Everyone but me has a dentist appointment wednesday. The monsters to get cleanings and Grim to get a filling! Then we will be done with the dentist for this year.... Maybe, I can hope. The monsters might have a cavaty or two that need to be filled. If so maybe they can get it done before next year. Then after we get home, I need to make mini loaves of zucchini and cherry nut breads, and buckeyes. Once that is done I am done with the holiday baking.

Out of what I wanted to get done 10 types of cookies and 5 candies. I will have made 8 cookies, 2 candies and 3 types of bread. Not to bad for an over stressed mom of three.... LOL! Things always just seem to have a way of working themselves out don't they. All I have left to do is wrap a few little things and get the gift bags together. Cook the meal on the day and a bit of prep work and we will be good to go.

Gotta Run,

Yart

Small Accomplishments

Big returns..... I went to the dentist again today.... She hoped to find the cavity that has been causing me grief. She not only found it but said that my gums are looking so much better since the scaling.... Most of the swelling is gone! Yeah, me!!! The tooth was filled without having to take the crown off and no root canal! Savings over $800! Little bit of discomfort but love having a dentist that listens. We even talked about instead of doing major work on me that we are just going to patch me up for now. Fill the broken teeth, cavities and do the cleanings. That way Grim and the monsters can get in to get all taken care of. The only reason I got to go first was because I was the one in the most pain. Grim has one cavity that is giving him problems and the monsters have no pain.....(so happy about that, or else they would have gone first).

Tonight was Band monsters last practice for this year. They go on Saturday to State finals. Unfortunately, this year we won't be able to attend. I'm really bummed out about it, but I can't be in two places at once. She is very happy that Marching season is done! For me it is bittersweet, I really do hate the time that she is gone from home but I know that it helps with her growth as a young woman. The effort and dedication that she puts in shows that type of person that she will grow up to be. I'm so proud my Monster!

Today was the day of little things. We got a picture hung, we took a storm window that the frame fell off to be fixed, we learned a couple more things for Grim to do while at home for therapy and I got to teach one of the therapists how to purl. Got Grim on the recumbent bicycle! I got to read half of the Christmas edition of Mary Jane..... Oh, I can't wait to try my hand at some of these ideas!

Yesterday, I cleaned the bathroom ( what a chore that is), I cleaned out the fridge ( I tossed out everything that was in there) (still needs to be washed out), I got on of the windows to close properly ( paint chips were causing it not to close for me to lock it, Got Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap and washed all the doors (don't want any unexpected guests), made a soft scrub type cleaner, went to the dairy (for milk and eggs) and laundry.

It's funny when I started writing this post I didn't think I had anything to say... LOL!

Gotta Run,

Yart

Ice possible Drive with caution

This is what my car told me this morning...... And as you guessed it I turned the heat on this morning. It got down to 28 last night and the house was freezing. I did only turn it to 58 just warm enough to take the chill out of the air. This was the morning that I truly envied those of you that have a fireplace, woodstove or a cookstove. That would have been perfect! But I digress.... LOL!

First let me tell you, I went to the dentist that is right down the street from me.... Like 3 city blocks away. I walked in and explained the problems that I was having. They asked me to wait....... Then they said that the dentist could see me..... I got an x-ray and the dentist said that she couldn't see a cavity. But that I had a really bad case of periodontal disease. They scheduled me for an appointment today to have a scaling done. The hygienist got one whole side done. ( I went to the quack dentist and got my x-rays from him, for the new dentist) She said that she does see a cavity but doesn't think that I need the root canal, right now. And doesn't understand why he wanted to remove the crown and replace it, on this tooth or the one next to it...... She doesn't see anything wrong with it..... I am so happy that I waited.... cause that bleep bleep'n mobleeper......wanted to charge me all that money for unnecessary work. The Novocaine wore off about an hour ago.... Man do I feel it now. But it all for the best right.... And it really is a part of prepping. If your teeth are bad then you can't eat right and most things become a huge chore. So please take this advice.....If it has been a lifetime or you've just been puttin it off..... Go to see the dentist.... I even have an appointment on Thursday to get that cavity that started this whole mess filled.... YEAH! Then 4 more cavity's to fill and I should be done other then cleanings now every 4 months.

Halloween has come and gone almost as if it never happened here.  The monster took every thing down. Since Grim is still primarily out of commission, I had the monsters get out there and go from one holiday to the next. Halloween done.... check! Chistmas/Yule outside decorating done.... check! I know it seems early but they won't have the patience once the weather changes for the worse. I'm happy!!!

The living room is almost cleaned again. Part of the dining room is done...... Two more bags of garbage out of the house. My fiber crafts are now set up for easy access. I even got started on another hat. No, the shawl still isn't done. But I have worked on it. It is just taking forever and a day to finish. I also have out the fleece blanket I need to make for my niece and the blanket I need to back. I also got some darning done tonight. Grim was making a Bass Ale clone tonight. So while I was sitting there keeping him company I got a few things done.

Oh, speaking of beer.... I forgot to tell you all about my newest venture..... While we were at the beer guy last week, I got to looking around and I found a peach Chardonnay. I had actually got the bug to make wine right after I started canning. While at a yard sale I found a kit and bought it. Then realized that the contents were to old to use. I kept the bottles but never did anything with them. Then Grim wanted to learn to do something and beer was just the thing so the wine got put on the back burner. Since canning has slowed down and Grim is done with making beer until the end of January ( need a stout and red ale for St. Pat's). It will be the perfect time to make wine. It won't be ready for months..... ;o( That's ok though, it will be ready for Easter/Ostara. Yummy.... at least I hope!

That's enough rambling for tonight!

Gotta Run,

Yart