Nice Week So Far

Things are falling into place nicely.

Elise's work schedule is brutal with early mornings and 6 days a week, but I'm trying to figure out how to give her quiet afternoons when she gets home at 2:30.  I'm enjoying the house to myself every morning.  Neither of us minds living with the other, but there's just something about having an empty house.  She's now leaving me to-do lists!  Open the blinds for the plants.  Be sure the kitties have water. 

I think Layla is realizing that I'm not in the mirror, but Bowie is oblivious.  I love it that they're friends.

The girls were already dressed and ready this morning when I got there and were dying to draw, so they had about 10 minutes.  I took pictures of their new desks, and Graysen wanted me to delete the ones of her desk since it was so messy.  I notice that she's using Katherine's instead of hers.

They have such a nice area for desks and art projects in their upstairs common area between the bedrooms.

Graysen's area.

Katherine's.  It's so nice to have a place to hang all the art they bring home from school.  And you know every piece is a masterpiece and needs to be displayed.

The rain continues relentlessly, but I made myself stop at the grocery store this morning where it's always friendly and cheery - and warm.  I just needed a couple of things, so bringing them in in the rain was not a mess.


I had just one book on hold in the library.

I haven't started it yet so went ahead and found two more just in case it wasn't one I could stick with. 

When we sat down to read some stories yesterday afternoon, Graysen took the first book and just read it to Katherine.  I don't think I'm quite out of a job yet, but it's a funny feeling.  I'm really proud of her.  She still prefers to be read to, and I need my snuggles.  Mrs. Kappen is reading them a chapter book every day after lunch, and she's so excited about it.  I haven't heard about Judy Moody books, but I wonder if it's more relevant to the times than the Ramona books.  Those are still my favorite, but I'll see about the Judy ones. 

I'm waiting to see if Emily is picking up after school so I'll know if I'll get an afternoon nap.  I think I'm turning into my mother and even drinking a cup of green tea right now.  I'll pass on watching Days of our Lives every afternoon though.

Back to Normal

It was the best feeling this morning to head down the stairs without worrying about ice and only wearing a light jacket.  The walk was so pleasant. 

January isn't over yet, but it would be so nice if this were the only snow storm this year.  The girls are already talking about spring, but I won't go that far!

With Ryan and Emily at work, the girls and I first emptied a basket of clean clothes in their room.  They think it's so funny that I have to ask them whose clothes they are, so they're willing to help me muddle through.  Pretty much every article needs to be discussed, so it's a slow job.

Then they were in a doctoring mood, so first I was the mother, Katherine was the child, and Graysen was the doctor, but I ended up needing glasses and splinters removed, so I just went into the hospital (bottom bunk bed) and had heart problems and more splinters to remove and finally ended up having an 80-pound baby.

The small doctor looks worried about my prognosis.

 Pretty soon, all the doctoring centered around the baby, and I was allowed to rest in the hospital for quite a while and talk on the phone.  I was served a nice lunch also.

There was nothing to do as far as housework except some more laundry, so the girls went outside to play in the fairy garden while I made lunch.

The fairy kingdom needs a little work, it seems.

We killed the queen!

When Ryan got home, I left and walked home, adding four extra blocks to enjoy the warm day.  School will be back in session tomorrow, so I'll do my errands in the morning, and get that over with and maybe have some good books in at the library.  I've lost interest in my current one so am going to just abandon that one and see if the new ones are better. 

My life is so hard  perfect!

Sweet Bowie

I haven't said much about this good boy.

We weren't sure we would ever see very much of him.  He's hard to figure out.  He's perfectly comfortable around his crazy cat sister.  She can do no wrong.  But if a human approaches him, he starts walking away.  Not running any more, but definitely telling you to keep your distance.

If I corner him in my closet, he'll allow the girls or me to brush him and starts purring and stretches out, but don't approach him in the open with a brush, because he won't allow it.

He's uses Layla's litter box and eats with her in her territory, so he's easy there.

Here, they both have a little hard food to nibble on, but he's already thinking Layla's is better.

So he just moves in and starts eating it.

And surprisingly she lets him.  But it's kind of hard to find the bowl with all his fur.

Even though I know she's not hungry, she wants to share the experience, so she pulls out a few pieces to eat.

 He's not relaxed enough to bathe in front of us, but he's patient while Layla does.

At night, Elise will play with them with the laser, and he never tires of it.  They both know the jingly sound and come running, and he will play and play.  Layla participates some, but she mainly just sits and watches Bowie, like she's proud he's happy.

Just now after he ate, he came into my room and just sat and looked at me.  It's such progress, and I'm so proud of him.  Something happened to him to make him terrified of humans but not of other cats.  He seemed well cared for except for a broken tooth when we got him, so I can't even begin to guess.  We'll just love him and hope he gets comfortable with us.

The weekend was good.  Elise works on Saturday, so I used the empty house to do a lot of cleaning and laundry.  The girls came over Saturday afternoon after dinner for their sleepover.  They brought their own popcorn, and I found Pets 2 for them.  They had just seen it, so I'm sure I enjoyed it more than they did.  They like to see movies more than once so they know when the scary parts are coming and can come over and sit with me or even leave the room.

They got into their sleeping bags after a lot of stories, and Katherine went to sleep almost immediately, but Graysen had a little sadness about missing her Mama and got in bed with me.  I feel so sorry for her, because that used to happen to me when I was away from home, even at camp.  I rubbed her back, and we talked, and it didn't take her long to relax and sleep.  Instead of getting up, I went to sleep myself and had good night's sleep.  I heard Katherine moving around about 7:30 this morning and asked her if she wanted to snuggle, and she very much did.  That was the best, warm and sweet little girls just waking up.  I know how blessed I am to have these times with them.

Tomorrow is a holiday, so I'll be keeping them from 9:30 to 1:30.  I'm hoping for some warm weather so we can walk to the park.  The wind is howling like crazy again tonight, but it's 50 degrees and only a small chance of rain tomorrow.  Then we go into 7 days of 98 and 100 percent chance of rain.  It's okay.  It will be warm-ish rain.

Good-Bye to the Snow

I've said it several times, but there's always more.  I think the forecast for the next week does not have ANY freezing temps and highs all the way up to 47!  I welcome the rain since I can get out in that.

Elise did an awesome job getting the car out this morning and even better job of getting it back in the parking place.  The guy in the next parking space has a huge truck that looks new and expensive, and I was holding my breath about her sliding into it.  It wasn't easy, but she persisted and put some sand under the back tires.  She even stopped at Safeway and brought home lots of groceries.  We were out of milk and kid's snacks and lots of other stuff, so she was welcomed home happily.

There was no school again today, so the girls stayed here all day.  We had scrambled eggs and pancakes for lunch, and they brought their own milk.  It was an easy day, but I won't be sorry to have school start again next week.  At least in the summer, we can get out and go run off some energy.  They did play pretty hard for a bit, dragging each other through the apartment and laughing, but mostly it was just Go Fish, cutting and coloring, Barbies, and ABC Mouse. 

I got a lot of little things done while they were playing and am ready for the weekend.  I hear we're having a sleepover Saturday night when Emily and Ryan go to a play. 

I hate to even mention this, but Elise just came in and told me it's snowing again.  Not much, and I don't even care because it's 41 degrees!

Maybe this will be gone this weekend.  I haven't been to the mailbox in a week.  The recycle bin will be overloaded.

Almost back to normal

We do have a little sunshine today.

And the hummngbirds have food if they haven't given up on me.

My car now has a Mohawk, even though Graysen sees a French poodle.

From this:

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To this:

For an old Southern car, it sure has been a trooper.  Better than I have, for sure.  I almost hate to replace it, but I guess I'd better.

Yesterday was hard for all of us - getting to work (Emily and Elise), getting Graysen to and from school, entertaining Katherine all day, shoveling behind my car (Ryan) and clearing the windshield and windows (Elise).  She never did get around to unlocking it and starting it, but I have nowhere to go anyway.

And the wind was fierce. I think it got up to 50 mph before it calmed down.  There wasn't any snow, but the wind kept a blizzard going all day, blowing snow off all the roofs and cars and blowing things away.

School had a 2-hour late start, and Graysen went, but Katherine just stayed home.  Pickup time was terrible, according to FB reports and Ryan's experience, and so many people complained that today the late start was change to a full snow day.  I think a late start would have been fine, but I know some streets are still icy, and the sidewalks are too.

I watched my new neighbor Jamie's garbage cans from my sewing room window off and on all day and was surprised it stayed pretty much intact.

When she got home, Ryan and Elise were working outside, and they helped her get the cans in the garage and be able to park.  Lots of laughing going on.

Elise needed to pick up something at the drug store, so Ryan drove her, and while they were there, he was able to dig someone out in the parking lot that had gotten stuck.

My contribution to all this was watching the girls and worrying, and I did overtime on the worrying part.

I worked a little bit on my spice jars.  Already looking better.  The majority of spices start with a C, it seems.

This type is going to be impossible, so hopefully I don't have many of those.  Cream of tarter is used almost never anyway.

Beautiful picture of Timber, a friend's dog.

Meanwhile, we're having school only for the dolls this morning.

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Graysen gives the students a problem and then whispers the answer to Katherine (Miss Kim, the teacher's helper).  Miss Kim then checks all the answers and calls them out.  Now the teacher is reading them a book.

We put 6 activities on pieces of paper into a box and have drawn out 2, making a fort and playing school, and still have Old Maid and Go Fish, reading library books, painting (maybe), and doing ABC Mouse - the one activity they're really waiting for!  We'll fit lunch in there in a bit and call it a good day.

Snow Can Go Away

I've enjoyed it enough.  Although I was glad not to have to get out in it, I got tired of being cold.  This place is not insulated well, and it was hard to keep all the rooms at a comfortable level.

Elise couldn't possibly have gotten my car out to drive to work this morning while hers is in the shop, so she called in, and they told her they were sending Uber for the ones who couldn't make it.  Ryan had offered to take her, though, so she caught a ride with him both ways.  She'll have to do Uber tomorrow.  So funny.  It's only about 5 blocks away.

I think we got another two inches of snow off and on during the day, and that's enough.  In one place this afternoon after the snow plow had been, it was up to Katherine's waist, and she just waded right in.  Ryan brought them over because it was Emily's long day.  I really wish she hadn't had to go in, but I think she was ready!

The girls and I made clay things for a while, ate some lunch, and read all our new library books.

One-eared koala.  She took a lot of time scalloping his ears just right.

Katherine cut out a bunch of leaves and wanted to make a bottle.  What kind of bottle, I asked, a baby bottle?  No, a cylinder, like a water bottle.  She even put a little straw in the top.  Now she wants me to bake all the little things she made.  I'm afraid they'll be nothing when I take them out of the oven, so I keep putting her off.

 Then I let them play with ABC Mouse and didn't feel guilty about screen time.  They have so much fun with it, and Graysen is a little teacher, picking out learning games for Katherine and helping her earn tickets to trade in for pets or furnish their rooms.

I worked hard on the sewing room during the day and then completely redid the top half of the little pantry in the kitchen.  I bought these and was really worried I wouldn't be gaining any space with them, but I'm pleased with them.  At least we know what we have on that bottom shelf.  We have two cans of coconut milk, and neither of us knows what we bought it for.

I should have a before picture to make this more impressive, but I forgot to take one.  Probably better I didn't.  Elise and I both think it makes things more visible, and maybe we won't duplicate so much.  I like the fact that it expands to fit the whole width of the area and holds even big cans.

I do have a sad before picture of the bottom half.  For someone who gave up flour and sugar, I sure have a lot of it.  I did some baking during the holidays, but I need to relocate most of it to give us more room.  The main use is for cat food and the crock pot plus a few vegetables and large baking dishes.  I'm not going to bother with all those matching canisters and cute labels.  I've learned what's in there if I ever need them.  They just need to be sorted through and organized.

Because of where I store my spices, I have to touch multiple jars to pick them up and find the right one.  That's probably why I have 3 jars of chili powder and 2 of oregano.  I try to keep them alphabetized, but somehow they end up all mixed up.

I thought I was so clever for finding these, and they would be great if spice jars had smooth tops.

Like these.  Which I rarely use.

Instead all the other brands have little busy ridged tops that self-stick labels cannot attach to.

They go on with this result.

And don't stick.

So before I abandon these or cut them smaller, I'm trying an experiment.  I pour a little Modge Podge onto the top of the lid until it reaches the level of the rim and let it spill over a little.  When it dries, there is a clear even surface to stick the label to.  I tried one, and it worked fine.  I also coat the whole label with Modge Podge for extra protection..

I don't see myself having the patience to do many of these but maybe the ones I use most often.  I can't imagine how nice it will be to pull this shelf out and see what I want at first glance.

That was earth-shattering, but it made me feel like I had done something useful today besides worry about the people on the roads.  About 2:00, there was a big snow dump on the interstate between where Emily works and home, and people were having a terrible time with no lanes and icy roads.  I called her and told her to come home now, but she said she was going to wait until it stopped and it got plowed.  And she did just that.  She got on at her regular quitting time and drove straight home with no problem in just a few minutes.  Shows how much I know.  I need to find my things that I put on the bottom of my shoes to walk on ice.  They're difficult to put on and look silly, but if I'm ever going to check my mail, I need to get out and walk a few feet.


More pictures.  Nothing new, just more of the same.  Somebody needs to thaw that hummingbird feeder.  We saw one come up and try to eat while we stood there.  And there's a little blue fleeting blue sky!

I'm counting on all this to be melted by the weekend.  I think we're going to get a few more inches before then though, so my whole apartment might get organized.