5 thing Friday - yardwork, cactus, music, new shoes, cooking

 I spent a fair amount of time out in my yards this week, pulling weeds and raking and bagging leaves and debris.  An hour or two at a time.  I'm going to wait for the grass in the back to seed itself before I mow.  Then I might scatter more grass seed and call it done.  I'm going to do my yearly deck maintenance, too.

Meanwhile, the front yard was so packed with leaves and crap that I gave it a gentle rake through, then mowed with the bag on to collect as much debris as I could.  For years I thought "what pretty yards we have" - they looked so great.  I look at other neighbors' green yards and think, what is their secret?  Literally all they do is mow and edge.  I think a hands off approach is where I'm headed - I am pretty much done worrying about it.

My Highlands barrel cactus died, so I replaced it.  I might have to find another place for this to live, though.  The rocks in it are not deterring the squirrels.  I like to sit out here in the mornings and sip my coffee.  My little place of peace.

I did figure out how to get the CD player to work, now I need to go through the CD's.  There are some crazy ones in there - a lot that were purchased for the kids (Tarzan soundtrack, horror sounds for Halloween) and some that are ambient music (ocean waves), along with a lot of jazz.  It looks like I have right at 200 discs, but I will whittle that down.

I was shopping for new work shoes and thought, why not check Ebay?  I found these brand new Alegria (my favorite work shoe!) in the box, in just the right style and size.  They normally sell for $130 and I got them for $46 with shipping. Alegria has saved my feet at work.  They have a rocker bottom which reduces foot and leg fatigue.  I haven't had plantar fasciatis since wearing them.  As my mother would say, these are "jazzy".

I'm trying to reframe the whole issue of cooking in my mind.  Instead of seeing it as a chore, I am trying to see it as an expression of love and care for myself.  Though I can easily go down the path of resentment that I have always been the one responsible for meals, and there is no one here to pamper me with cooking, I also see that I have the choice of eating exactly what I want.  I am only limited by what I feel like eating and what I have on hand.  Its a work in progress, for sure.

Gina

Little project - managing the music

I'd been thinking lately that I wanted to pull down a record album or two and listen to it.  However, I couldn't get the turntable to function.  I'm sure its a simple thing related to the connections, but I have no idea how to fix it, and neither did Scout.  (another example of Mark not showing any of us these things)

The stereo set-up has always frustrated me.  It all had to live in the bottom of this cabinet in the den because right above it sits the TV.  So you had to sit on the floor to operate it. The wires behind these components are like spaghetti and impossible for me to decipher.  For ten cents I would dump everything into the trash except for the CD carousel.  I will still need to go thru all 225 of the CD's, and decide what to do about the cassette tapes.

I pulled all the albums down from the top of the cleaning closet and made space in the bookcase just outside of the den for the ones I want to keep.  I knew I didn't want to keep all of them.  There were duplicates due to us listening to the same types of music before we dated (Genesis, The Police), genres I don't care for (southern rock, country, hard core disco, explicit comedy), and artists I will likely never listen to again (Toni Basil, Weird Al, Olivia Newton-John, Aldo Nova).  Most of the albums are from the 70's & 80's, with a few 90's.

About 200 of them made the first round of cuts.  I'll never purge my John Denver, Earth Wind & Fire, Chicago, and Bad Company!

Another 150 or so are in a sort of album purgatory in the garage, destined for Half Price Books.  (Previously I took about 35-40 albums to HPB.  It was stuff from the 40s and 50s.  Tennessee Ernie Ford anyone?) The jury is out on that small grouping outside of the blue basket, so I might keep Madonna.  However, goodbye Fleetwood Mac and Jethro Tull.  And I still have around 20 singles, but those were mine from high school, so I will keep them.  Plus, what in the world to do with the cassette tapes?  There are 72 of those.  

Mark was very into music.  For a few years in high school (and college) he had a mobile stereo system and would DJ parties and such.  (which is also where the mirror ball came into use)  A lot of the records he had were just fun to own. Together we had so. much. music. I still haven't figured out a solution to the turntable issue.  I am thinking of buying an inexpensive all-in-one record player with built-in speakers that I can move to what ever room I am in.  But I also want to be able to listen to those CD's so that player needs to stay in the bottom of the TV cabinet for now.  For day to day music I rely on Pandora.  How do you manage the music in your house?

Gina

5 thing Friday - blue week, paint by number, cleaning closet, thrift shopping, bluebonnets, rain

 Not gonna lie, its been a poopy week.  I have felt very blue and I am doing my best to keep moving.  That's one way I know to keep it from spiraling. 

I did get a few things done here and there (groceries, laundry, raking leaves, starting a new craft, thrift shopping, pedicure, lunch out), and today I have some things to do.  But man, the grey skies do a number on me.  

A small project that morphed into a bigger project was taking all of the vinyl albums out of this space, purging them, then moving them to another place I can actually use them.  I really love the metamorphosis this closet has gone through.  From being a catch-all place to store board games, vintage camera equipment, vinyl albums, coats, table leaves, and a vacuum to just being a plain old cleaning closet with a few unrelated things that are stored out of the way.

This week I spent $12 at Goodwill on a Lego knock off, wall wart for my charging cable in the sewing room, some ric rac, a book,

a belly basket, and some embroidery hoops.  I didn't really have to have these things, but it was a boredom buster activity.  I actually did hang out in the sewing room and work on a few small things including that paint by number canvas above. And lest you think me thrifty, let me also say that I ordered some things from Amazon to include a couple of switch plate covers, some new house shoes, and a self adhesive card holder for my phone.

Last summer I gathered a few bluebonnet seeds outside of the post office and tossed them in a spot near the sidewalk that never gets mowed.  I am happy to say they have sprouted!  I would love a bluebonnet patch out front.  I am making a mental note to stealthily harvest more seeds this year.

Spring sprung yesterday and we got an hours long drenching rain.  As you can see, I did not get the leaves in the front cleaned up before it rained, but there's always next week.  I actually have quite a few things to do in the yards - its just hard getting started.  This year I plan on simplifying the yard routine.  My thought is that the less I do to it besides water and mow it, the better it will do.

Gina

Peopling and pouring

Last Friday I volunteered at a wine competition in Buda, Texas.  It was a good peek at behind the scenes operations in one aspect of the wine world.

Basically it involved pulling wines from a list for each flight, scanning them into a computer, inserting them in sleeves, uncorking, and pouring.  When you got back from that, you re-sleeved, re-corked, then put them back in the specific box they came from.  Repeat.  Many steps, lots of opportunities for hiccups.

Sounds easier than it actually was!

Each box was numbered and had various wines, all with specific bottle numbers on them that we were keeping careful track of.  Each table was tasting a specific  and different flight for each round. The corked bottles you see in the boxes have already been judged.

Those silver circles are pouring guides that we slipped into each bottle to help make an easier pour.  I still managed to slosh a couple of times, but my table of judges were very forgiving.  You poured 3-4 bottles each flight and let me tell you - wine is heavy.  I was pretty worn out by the time my 5 hour shift ended.

Each flight had eight glasses.  On one round, I was invited to "guest judge".  The table captain was very gracious and friendly.  She advised me to "spit out the wine - don't swallow. Or do, I'm not your Mother". Ha ha.  There was only one glass of the eight that I would have finished drinking, anyway - a Tannat that won gold.

It was fun, very informational, and a bit nerve-wracking at times.  But I think I'll keep my regular job!

Gina

5 thing Friday - easy meal, range hood, coffee shop, reading room, labyrinth

I relied on my old fallback of bagged chopped salad with rotisserie chicken this week.  Because I still dislike cooking.

I added chopped apple and a bit of orange bell pepper.  So far, this has been the most painless way to feed myself a decent dinner that has both protein and veggies.  Lately, I've been cooking one night a week, and winging it the rest.

Well, I thought the range hood fan was out, but it roared back to life.  So I took that opportunity to order it a new filter/light cover.  I have washed the one on the right many times, but it is 30 years old and has some stubborn grease soaked into it.  Plus the light filter is burned!

The whole area needed a scrub.  It was around 7 a.m.  Apparently I had nothing else to do.

I scrubbed the whole thing down as best I could, then replaced the cover, adding an LED bulb that is a little easier on the eyes.

Continuing my Wednesday practice of finding a new coffee shop once a week, this one is 86C Bakery on Airport.  

The coconut twist was amazing.

I had their signature milk coffee and sampled some of the bakery items.  I like this place, but I really love to sit and journal at the funky, out of the way coffee shops that have a bit more character.

Shopping plans: my idea for when Bubbie moves out is to make a reading space in the spare room.  I want to add a big chair like the one pictured above - bonus points if it converts to a bed for napping, or overnight guests.  I love the green corduroy on this one and the price point is reasonable at around $300.  I could add either the antique sewing table or the one I got from Mom's house for a lamp to sit on.

For the month of March I am on call a total of 70 hours, which at $5/hr adds up to a little bit of extra spending money.  As a gift to myself I ordered this handmade labyrinth plaque.  Originally I was going to hang it in the garage.  But now I think I will put it somewhere I can see (and use) often.  I was going to make one myself using some scrap wood in the garage. But this one is beautiful, and it also counts as wall art.

Happy first weekend of Spring!

Gina

What the week holds and planning my days off

I'm one of those people who sit down with my planner on Sundays and look at the week ahead, penciling in projects, chores, down time, and reminders.  I try not to overload my schedule, and truthfully, not all of what I plan actually gets done.  Sometimes I think it looks positive and fun and all, but trust me when I say that is not always the case.  Now that my focus is not on what every. other. person. in my house is doing, and I don't have the distraction of Highlands, I am left with big blocks of time to fill.  So I went back to my habit of leaving no blanks in my planner.

This week, the activities involve working/taking call at the hospital, a telehealth appointment, visiting a new-to-me coffee shop, working on my yards, and volunteering at a wine judging.  All things designed to get my body moving, get some things accomplished, socialize a bit.  I think it all sounds easier than it will be, but that's usually true.  

How do you plan your week and time off?  Inquiring minds want to know!

Gina 

5 thing Friday - garage, switchplate covers, bumpers, crystal, cooking

Yesterday I came to the final stopping point with painting the garage.

I have scrubbed or painted or organized every single part of this garage.  I went through ALL of the tools, camping equipment, kids boxes, fishing poles, scrap wood, and etc.  Cleaned the floor.  Scrubbed the inside of the garage doors. Left to do is: 

*get rid of that propane tank

*deal with some scrap lumber

*hang a piece of art created by The Girl

*help Bubbie move

*get the ceilings retaped and painted

*get one garage opener replaced, dismantle the other

*replace the locks on the garage doors

Once Bubbie's things are gone, the wall above will be empty and I could throw a dance party in here!  I will show more of this later, I'm sure.  I mean doesn't every single woman obsess over her garage? Ha! 

For now, only one garage opener works - the other motor has been burned out for years.  But all of these switches can stay, so let's make them pretty.

I ordered some switch plate covers with a Talavera tiles print.  They're like tiny pieces of art.  I want to order some pretty ones for inside of the house, too.

This week I also did a quick project in the kitchen - replacing the bumpers on the inside of the cabinet doors.

I had to scrape off several different versions of bumpers.  The cork ones fall apart and the foam kind don't have enough cushion.  I had also used felt pads at one point.

Hopefully these will stay put - they do make the door quieter.

I do enjoy my outdated kitchen, though of course there are things I would like to change in here.  For one thing, the cooktop exhaust fan went out this week.  Also, some day I would like to lose this wallpaper.  Change out the light fixture.

I can envision using this space a little differently, too.  Maybe a tabletop bar?  A place to set a portable record player?  Ideas, please.

Recently I hauled out some of the crystal that belonged to Mark's parents.  I've been using it to drink out of because why not?  There is a complete set of pink martini, iced tea, and wine glasses and there are clear cut crystal tea glasses.  If I have them, I may as well use them.

I haven't done loads of cooking this week, unless you count ramen noodles, salads, or pancakes.  But tonight I am making Maple Glazed Salmon bites with cabbage slaw, and will pick up a few groceries.  I will also make time today to read, nap, and do a pedicure.  TGIF!

Gina