Did you accomplish anything today?

[cariad]

Oh, I know, jbeany! The $100 car key. It's mad. Good luck on that house, it sounds lovely.

I managed to get both my kids to their sporting events yesterday even though my friend had to withdraw her offer to take Aidan to practice at the last second. It turns out she's got one of those attention-seeking relatives who decided a few days ago to get married this weekend in another state. I, of course, have no idea what being related to a crazy person is like, so could not relate.



No, actually, I was more shocked that this has never happened to me (yet).

The divorced dad who coaches my older son's team offered to drive Aidan from Liot's practice over to their practice. That saved me a load of aggravation. His younger son is on Liot's team. Actually, when practice was over, there was no parent there for the younger boy, C. This little boy is almost a year older than Elliot, but looks maybe 4, tops. Tiny little guy! C then said to all the moms hanging around "That's OK, I know where I live, I'll just walk home." It reminded me of myself as a kid, which is why I found it so bewildering that my older son used to burst into panicky tears if we were a few minutes late picking him up. Anyhow, of course the mothers, including me, were having none of that. I offered to drive him to his dad's practice, but a quick call to his mother revealed that she was on the way. After practice, our weekly Whole Foods pizza run, and home.

I declared no-screen time until the weekend because my kids are showing a disturbing lack of attention. By the time we got home, ate, the boys showered, it was time for bed. I am reading Elliot his first real chapter book, The Magician's Elephant, and Aidan is listening with us. We are about a third of the way through and they seem to be interested and actually listening and understanding the characters. The boys usually wake up to play on their iPods or watch a bit of Netflix, but it seems they are actually taking me seriously on my no-screen declaration. I walked upstairs this morning to the sound of the piano coming down from the second floor. Tonight, we have gymnastics for Liot and baseball for Aidan, so they should easily make it to Friday night without video games or television.

[jbeany]

I spent my inheritance - I won the bid on a house!   

Actually, I lost this particular house 6 weeks ago, and then was offered it again today.  I'm the second place finisher, but the highest bidder couldn't get the financing, so it dropped back to me.  It's a HUD house, and I'm getting a really good deal on a solid house in nice neighborhood that just needs cosmetic updates.

 
Right now, I'm still excited.  I'm sure the sheer terror will strike soon!

[cassandra]

Congrats JB, the terror won't strike till something drastic goes wrong. Don't worry it will all be just great.

love Cas

[Poppylicious]

Yay jb!  Congrats.

I was wasting time in the charity shop and found a gorgeous, floaty-sleeved little top.  I picked it up thinking it was so lovely, but would never fit me because it was so teeny ... but I tried it on anyway and not only was it a perfect fit, it was really flattering and pretty too.  I still find it hard to accept that I've lost so much weight.  It came with a matching skirt, which I didn't try on.  I was more than happy to just pay the asking price for the top only, but the skirt may be useful for a friend's wedding in June!

Of course, eating all the sweets I took to the Hospital as a treat for Blokey probably wasn't such a good idea.

 

[WishIKnew]

Spent a lovely day with my in-laws family.  Eating, talking, laughing and even a belated Easter Egg Hunt for the kiddos!  Good day!

[jbeany]

Poppy - that's Phantom Fat syndrome.  Like having a phantom limb that itches or hurts when it's gone.  Your brain still THINKS you are fat, even when the fat is long gone.

I'm down 60 pounds from my heaviest.  I wear 12's now in pants, and M or L in shirts, and it took me ages to quit heading directly to the Plus Size section in the clothing stores.  It's even harder in the thrift stores, where things often don't have size tags.  I keep finding things that look like they ought to be fine that fall off when I try them on.  It's nice, but irritating that it takes so long to retrain your brain!

I went to the bank and got my certified check for the earnest money deposit on the house.  I scheduled a meeting with my realtor on Monday at the my house to sign the first round of paperwork.  I'm taking along graph paper, a camera, measuring tapes, and my brother-in-law and nephew to get a good floor plan roughed out.  It will be easier to figure out where all my stuff will go if I have dimensions.  I also need a list of what repairs I want done before I move in.  I keep pouring over the pictures that were in the web listing, trying to remember everything that I saw that I wanted to paint or work on when I looked at it over a month ago.

It's a government-owned foreclosure house right now, so the paperwork is more than a normal house.  They accepted the bid, now I have to send a contract to "ratify" the bid, and then they let me sign for the house and pay them.  And then they put money in escrow for repairs that they insist must be done before I can move in.  Then once the repairs are done, they have to inspect it again before I can FINALLY move in. 

I did do a tiny bit of the final project that is due Tuesday evening for my internship class, but I keep getting distracted.  Huh, wonder why?   

[MooseMom]

Jbeany, that's fantastic news about your new house!!!  It sounds like things are starting to come together for you.  I can't wait to hear about all of your plans for your new home.  I think that once you move in, you should start a new thread and post about all of your projects, maybe even with a few before and after photos!  That'd be such fun!

[paris]

Jbeany, such wonderful news.  It makes me think back to your grandmother's house, all you did, packing, sorting, etc.  And now, you are moving into YOUR house.  Lots of room to spread out your crafts!   I am so excited for you.  Can't wait to see pictures.   You have a lot of busy days ahead. 

I cut out a new shade cover for my outdoor swing today. The top was ruined in a bad storm, so I figured "how hard could it be to make a new one?".   It isn't hard, but why do I do this to myself?  Others would just go out and buy a new one.  Noooooo, I have to do it myself!        But because of everyone's comments on how to keep the house in order, I have had no housework except dusting and sweeping alll week. So, I have time to sew.   

"Phantom fat" - I too forget that I look different now and will automatically pick up my old size.  I love the phrase!!

[Gerald Lively]

I thought I'd take my phantom phat outside and get some exercise today.  I opened the door and discovered that it was 85 degrees out there.  I did a U-turn and asked myself if I was crazy.  Sick people are supposed to sit in front of the TV and moan.  I forgot. I turned on the air conditioner.

Besides, I'm running out of diseases.

[conchman]

Very good news JB, stop once and a while from the "new house" chaos and just "enjoy for a bit", then go back to the chaos. 

Went shooting yesterday at the indoor range.  Shot around 350 rounds (always work's to relieve stress).  Then stopped at the LFS (local fish store) and picked up two small green chromis and a green leg crab.  Repaired two vending machines and home by 5:00, then real tired, fell asleep in my chair, then off to bed.

[deniferfer]

I was apart of a flash  mob!!!! 

[conchman]

Looks like I over did it yesterday, my only claim to fame today was I hung a mirror in the hallway, real nice one my wife picked up on sale at Pier-1.

deniferfer, does that make you a "flasher" 

[jbeany]

I was apart of a flash  mob!!!! 

Video!  We want video!

[deniferfer]

LOL wow, I guess it kinda does!! 

Right now the only video I have kinda sucks but I'm hoping one of the people who watched will send it. I saw quite a few video recording on their phones and cameras.

[jbeany]

I was supposed to go to a new exhibit at the museum with my sister yesterday.  We got as far as the yard at my new house and got out and began measuring it outside for preliminary floor plans.  Then we skipped the museum and went to Lowes to get price estimates on all the things I think I need for upgrades to make it livable.  I made a list and totaled up the prices.

Scary!  And that wasn't even including the kitchen remodel that it is in desperate need of.  It's a time warp back to 1979 when you walk in the kitchen.  I will live with it for a while, decide what I want to redo, and then get it remodeled with a home equity loan, but it's going to be pretty homely for now!

I sign papers today ratifying my bid and sending them proof of funds.  I'm bring a paper bag to hyperventilate in.

[jbeany]

The moving prep continues...

Shifted the contents of my garage around so I can begin to stack packing boxes in it.  Once I get the house, I can take a load over every time I go to clean/paint/remodel.  It will save me a lot of money on movers.  Hauled down the half dozen boxes I already had packed.  Hauled up more packing boxes and all the milk crates I had stacked out there.  Packed 4 more boxes of art work and decorative items, plus filled 7 milk crates with books.

Took inventory of kitchen cupboards, fridge, and freezer.  Worked out what I could make that would use up the most stuff and be freezable for quick meals.  Made double batches of chili, potato soup, and minestrone.  Also made taco meat and potato salad.  Sorted all my freezer tubbies to match lids with bottoms, tossed the unmatched pieces, and tucked lots of meals into the freezer.  Tomorrow, I continue with biscuits and sausage gravy, turkey and cream cheese filled biscuits, cooked diced chicken for pasta toppings, chicken salad, and some cookies and brownies to freeze for treats for the family and friends who will be helping me with the house.  Good to have sugar when you are working hard!

Okay, just the minestrone to pack up and I'm done for the night.

[deniferfer]

This weekend I house sat for my sister and help her out by babysitting a little 1 year old boy(8 hrs each day) she does for a side job so she could go to a wedding for her husbands brother. The little boy was a total sweat heart but love to make chase after him and go get him. 

[galvo]

I managed to stay in my jammies all day.

[Sue]

Ha! I managed to get out of mine - have a shower and go to work ! Felt like c**p all day but got thru it

[CebuShan]

I'm still in my jammies but I'm getting ready to take a shower and get dressed. I need to go grocery shopping!

[willowtreewren]

I'm working again, full time. 

BUT, I was hoping that the headaches were a thing of the past. Nope. About half way through arrivals (my first where I actually went down to the cars), I realized that I was feeling woozy. Ugh. It looks like the headaches are from a concussion from passing out and not from the anaplasmosis. 

I had a follow-up with the doctor today, and got some different pain meds. If these don't work, I'll need an MRI. Bah!

[Poppylicious]

I didn't fall asleep on the bus on the way home from work!  Huzzah!

Also, I painted my bannisters at the weekend (and if I never have to paint another blasted spindle again, I shall be the happiest lady that ever lived.)

 

[cattlekid]

Today was my last day of my week's vacation.  I made cinnamon scones this morning (note to self: need new scone recipe, these were too crumbly) and did a mystery shop at lunch.  Cleaned my bathroom and am in the middle of making broccoli salad for the rest of the week and beef & noodles for tonight's dinner.

[jbeany]

I made cinnamon scones this morning (note to self: need new scone recipe, these were too crumbly)

The best I've ever found....bring them to work and they fight over the crumbs.

Strawberry Shortcake Scones
**recipe makes 16 scones**

Ingredients:

4 cups flour                  1 cup (2 sticks) COLD butter, cubed into small pieces
4 tsp baking powder               
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
(Plus a couple of tablespoons for the top.)      1 Tbsp + 1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp salt                  2/3 cup milk

2 cups strawberries, washed, hulled and diced. 
(Strawberries make the moistest scone, but you can use a pint of blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, or even raisins and walnuts if you prefer.  Fresh or frozen fruit both work, but fresh is better.  Thaw and drain frozen fruit before adding.  For completely dry additions, lower the amount of flour by a tablespoon or two.)

Directions:

1.   In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, sugar and salt.

2.   In a small bowl combine eggs, milk and vanilla extract

3.   Dice up COLD butter and combine with flour mixture with a pastry cutter, 2 knives or your hands until the crumbs are pea size.(Keep butter cold both before and after dicing.  Don’t take it out of fridge until you are ready to add it.)

4.   Stir the egg mixture into the flour/butter mixture until dough is moist.  DO NOT OVER MIX.  The dough will be rather sticky.

5.   Gently knead in diced strawberries and turn onto a well floured surface and knead a few times.
 
6.   (If you have a really large mixing bowl, you can sprinkle a little flour on top and knead half of the batch at a time right in the bowl.  Much less mess.)

7.   Divide dough into 2 equal balls and place on a lightly greased and floured cookie sheet. Gently pat balls into uniform 8-10" circles.  Cut each circle into 8 wedges and then sprinkle generously with sugar. (You want to see little lumps of the cold butter in the dough - this is what makes the scone moist.)
 
8.   Bake @ 375 degrees F for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
 Best served warm!  Dough refrigerates well overnight.  Can be shaped and ready to pop in the oven at the last minute.

[CebuShan]

I made cinnamon scones this morning (note to self: need new scone recipe, these were too crumbly)

The best I've ever found....bring them to work and they fight over the crumbs.

Strawberry Shortcake Scones
**recipe makes 16 scones**


Ingredients:

4 cups flour                  1 cup (2 sticks) COLD butter, cubed into small pieces
4 tsp baking powder               
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
(Plus a couple of tablespoons for the top.)      1 Tbsp + 1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp salt                  2/3 cup milk

2 cups strawberries, washed, hulled and diced. 
(Strawberries make the moistest scone, but you can use a pint of blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, or even raisins and walnuts if you prefer.  Fresh or frozen fruit both work, but fresh is better.  Thaw and drain frozen fruit before adding.  For completely dry additions, lower the amount of flour by a tablespoon or two.)

Directions:

1.   In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, sugar and salt.

2.   In a small bowl combine eggs, milk and vanilla extract

3.   Dice up COLD butter and combine with flour mixture with a pastry cutter, 2 knives or your hands until the crumbs are pea size.(Keep butter cold both before and after dicing.  Don’t take it out of fridge until you are ready to add it.)

4.   Stir the egg mixture into the flour/butter mixture until dough is moist.  DO NOT OVER MIX.  The dough will be rather sticky.

5.   Gently knead in diced strawberries and turn onto a well floured surface and knead a few times.
 
6.   (If you have a really large mixing bowl, you can sprinkle a little flour on top and knead half of the batch at a time right in the bowl.  Much less mess.)

7.   Divide dough into 2 equal balls and place on a lightly greased and floured cookie sheet. Gently pat balls into uniform 8-10" circles.  Cut each circle into 8 wedges and then sprinkle generously with sugar. (You want to see little lumps of the cold butter in the dough - this is what makes the scone moist.)
 
8.   Bake @ 375 degrees F for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
 Best served warm!  Dough refrigerates well overnight.  Can be shaped and ready to pop in the oven at the last minute.

These sound delicious!