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Mmmm! Cookies!

Church this morning and then got the pitcher, cups and candle holder put up in the built in china cabinet. Involves a ladder! Started a spaghetti squash baking to make "tater" tots out of. About ready to dust house and clean bathrooms. No Church tonight.
Snappy, I would like your recipe for the squash tots, pls!
 
Spent the day cleaning the farmhouse of all the dustbunnies and stuff. Recruited the grandkids for help. Neighbors came over to visit and brought some sausage for us from a pig they just butchered. They do that each year. They have a 6 month old baby girl, and she is adorable. Asking us to use our farmhouse for family visiting overflow next weekend, which is fine by us, so showed them where all the extra bedding and stuff were located. Picked up mom and my Uncle Melvin (he's 95) from Mennonite Manor and brought them to a dinner at my cousins. They had a great time visiting. Getting ready to wind down, shower, get to bed. I've got all the tables set up for tomorrows breakfast we're hosting, and there should be a lot of people over at 9.
 
We have had a productive weekend so far. Yesterday I wanted to clean the floors in the living room before we put the rug back own (rolled it up when we went out of town to my folks for a week to keep the cats from damaging it.). I pushed all the furniture into the middle of the room and swept along the walls. Roo wanted to help so I had her wash baseboards and door jambs. I dusted the walls before she washed the baseboards so we didn't re-dirty them. After I swept I vacuumed then steam cleaned the floors. K took down the tree and put away the minimal decorations we had up this year. He still has the outside lights up but he is home tomorrow and Tuesday.

Today we had waffles and I made a extra batch for freezing. Then after laundry we took a short trip to Ikea. Not a large item shopping trip. Just the finishing touches to last years (2018) decorating plans. Tuesday is our big Costco trip. We found that the one out in Palm Springs is quiet and less 'pushy'.

I figure getting a jump on 'spring cleaning' and new year's decluttering is a good thing.
 
Yesterday started off the day with doing 2 Sunday scripture lessons from home and going over our new to us scripture learning manuals. We are going into church once a month at the moment till we get settled into the new home and unpacked.

Then DH washed the dishes and cleaned the benches and I wiped them and put them away. After a bit of a break we noticed our bananas weren't looking healthy so decided to make 1.5 batches of banana and cinnamon muffins making 24 in total. Got to say they turned out well and would have to say slightly addictive as we haven't stopped eating them since. Although we have been working hard around the house so wearing them off fast.

This morning we started off with DH sorting out the sheets, towels and blankets and putting needed items in the linen cupboard in the bathroom and vacuum sealing the rest and putting them in the sewing room built in cupboard. While he did that I sorted through all of my clothing in bags and hung needed items in the bedroom and sorted the spares into vacuum seal bags which DH sealed for me. These also went into the sewing room built in cupboards as well.

DH then swept all the empty space on the vinyl floors upstairs and put on a loaf of bread in the bread making machine and I sorted all of the moving boxes into one large box to neaten up the rumpus room downstairs and set up a hanging spot for all our good and working hats as well as our sets of work gloves. They are now at the top of the stairs leading to the back yard where we will use them.

Sitting in front of a nice fan which is cooling me off as it is currently 30 oc while DH has a nap.
 
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Yesterday started off the day with doing 2 Sunday scripture lessons from home and going over our new to us scripture learning manuals. We are going into church once a month at the moment till we get settled into the new home and unpacked.

Then DH washed the dishes and cleaned the benches and I wiped them and put them away. After a bit of a break we noticed our bananas weren't looking healthy so decided to make 1.5 batches of banana and cinnamon muffins making 24 in total. Got to say they turned out well and would have to say slightly addictive as we haven't stopped eating them since. Although we have been working hard around the house so wearing them off fast.

This morning we started off with DH sorting out the sheets, towels and blankets and putting needed items in the linen cupboard in the bathroom and vacuum sealing the rest and putting them in the sewing room built in cupboard. While he did that I sorted through all of my clothing in bags and hung needed items in the bedroom and sorted the spares into vacuum seal bags which DH sealed for me. These also went into the sewing room built in cupboards as well.

DH then swept all the empty space on the vinyl floors upstairs and put on a loaf of bread in the bread making machine and I sorted all of the moving boxes into one large box to neaten up the rumpus room downstairs and set up a hanging spot for all our good and working hats as well as our sets of work gloves. They are now at the top of the stairs leading to the back yard where we will use them.

Sitting in front of a nice fan which is cooling me off as it is currently 30 oc while DH has a nap.
Sounds like you are busy,busy! I know you’ll be happy to have everything done and settled in. You seem like you are busy all the time though! I didn’t realize that you have a upstairs, as well. You probably feel like you’re in a mansion compared to the cabin. How big is the new home?
Rentals are expensive here, but we usually pay monthly rather than weekly. So, any where from $650 to $2,000 depending on your budget. Not sure about where MoB is living though.
 
@MoBookworm1957 the rent you pay is very cheap compared to Australia but I am not sure what rents are like there in the States but would imagine it is cheap rent there also ?.
Rents in my area range from $238 which is mine based on income to $1800 monthly which is also based on income.
I live in rent controlled apartments if you don't live in rent controlled housing it ranges anywhere to upwards of $2500 or more.
When my middle niece was in Australia for school, I'd send her care packages of mascara,lotion etc cause it would cost me about half to send to her. As for what she paid over there.
 
Sounds like you are busy,busy! I know you’ll be happy to have everything done and settled in. You seem like you are busy all the time though! I didn’t realize that you have a upstairs, as well. You probably feel like you’re in a mansion compared to the cabin. How big is the new home?
Rentals are expensive here, but we usually pay monthly rather than weekly. So, any where from $650 to $2,000 depending on your budget. Not sure about where MoB is living though.
Up by KCMO
 
Nothing reading forums, crocheting, throwing George the hedgehog (dog toy) for Strawberry to run and bring back.
Got soup going in crockpot, or will have shortly as I finish cutting up veggies.
Going to make a version of vegetable soup made with hamburger instead of stew meat or leftover roast.
Quite, rainy day.
Need to take beef out of chest freezer and place in bins in refrig freezer, adjust the list for freezer.
Got a dab of dishes to do up.
Might paint my nails.
Kinda of boring today.
 
It's family Christmas day today. I got a big clan so today was the only day we could all get together in the same place...We eat well in my fam. This is just the appetizer table;)
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Had a fun time at breakfast with a mob here. Men in the dining room, ladies eating at the table set up in the family room. After all the buggies went home, husband took mom and Uncle Melvin back to the manor. He picked up a cousin and off they went to get the Ranger windshield. It clipped right on pretty easy. I cleaned out the kitchen pantry while they were doing errands. A small pile of stuff needs to go back to New Mexico before expiring. Going into town to a regular grocery store for a few more items this afternoon. We are hosting Mexican food night at our place tomorrow night. I'll see if I can get fresh avocado and jalapenos. Talked to son in New Mexico, and another blizzard coming through. Animals are ok. He improvised the duck pools with some 3 gallon metal buckets. Just switching them out a few times a day for them. He was worried about my Jungle Fowl, but said they came through the first blizzard last Friday just fine.
 
Good to see you, Grimm! I hope you and your family are doing well.

I am pre-cooking for the annual New Years Eve open house at my daughters. I have the black eyed peas soaking and will put them in the crockpot on low tonight before I go to bed. I will also get the collard greens made today, so that is one less thing to cook tomorrow. Smothered steak, gravy, rice, and cornbread will be done tomorrow morning at my daughters.

Dessert? What is a good dessert for NY day? I saw a suggestion online for cheesecake, but I am hesitating on that. I actually had the stuff in my grocery cart to make one (sour cream and ricotta), but put it back. I would have bought one, but I have not found a gluten free one and that is essential for my daughter. I try to be careful about not taking anything with gluten into her kitchen. Cross contamination happens too easily, and for her, it is three days of migraines, vomiting and sitting on the throne.
 
It was a cold, rainy, foggy miserable day here today. We stayed inside. Hubby repaired one of my books for me that it abour 40 years old lol It fell apart into 3 sections. Watched a bunch of William Powell and Myrna Loy movies
I read some, watched a ghost adventures marathon some.
The rain and cold had my joints hurting so I took an aleve this morning with breakfast and the took a nap. I felt better when I got up afterward
Made us a really good supper tonight lol
We'll be in bed by 8pm ( me)just like every new years eve lol
 
Last night (New years eve) round 2 was we set up our budget for this month being a totally new one now we have a mortgage. We had some discussions on finances and our best approach to saving and paying off our mortgage quicker.

Round 1 of today is we are chilling having not been able to sleep until near on Midnight. The cat decided she would play chasies with herself around the bedroom (stomping like a mini herd of elephants) and leap like a possum on DH from the headboard of the bed around 4 am this morning and at 5 he got up. DH then decided to sit and go on the computer for a while while I slept in a while longer completely ignoring the stomping cat although she woke me up too with the noise. DH then put on a load of washing on in the washing machine, watered the canna, calla and spider plants with some of the grey water and I finished watering the shrubs with the rest of the grey water on one side of the house.

Contemplating what to do for the rest of the afternoon here with so much to choose from.
 
@NannyPatty thank you for the information on the rents and you too @MoBookworm1957. That is unusual that rents are pegged to people's income in the States although they do do that with public housing here. The rest of the rental market is a free for all and you get what you get and try to get the lowest price possible before everyone else does.

MoBookworm1957 I can imagine your niece would have been shocked when she first got here about our prices in Australia and high cost of living.

NannyPatty our new home is from what we have measured around 170 square metres in size and we have the main house and a step down about 5 stairs to the back of the home which has a large rumpus room and second bathroom and toilet. I think that converts to around 1829 square feet and that doesn't include the outside undercover patio area outside the back door. It is a really large home which is what we were after and set on 1.21 acres of land and I believe from looking at American stats this home could be a fair amount smaller than the average home in the States ?, but I could be wrong.
 
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Had a fun time at breakfast with a mob here. Men in the dining room, ladies eating at the table set up in the family room. After all the buggies went home, husband took mom and Uncle Melvin back to the manor. He picked up a cousin and off they went to get the Ranger windshield. It clipped right on pretty easy. I cleaned out the kitchen pantry while they were doing errands. A small pile of stuff needs to go back to New Mexico before expiring. Going into town to a regular grocery store for a few more items this afternoon. We are hosting Mexican food night at our place tomorrow night. I'll see if I can get fresh avocado and jalapenos. Talked to son in New Mexico, and another blizzard coming through. Animals are ok. He improvised the duck pools with some 3 gallon metal buckets. Just switching them out a few times a day for them. He was worried about my Jungle Fowl, but said they came through the first blizzard last Friday just fine.
Its a mess out there. We were up at the mountain place until this afternoon and only as far north on I25 as Socorro but the roads were a mess until about half way to T or C. Be careful coming home.
 
@NannyPatty thank you for the information on the rents and you too @MoBookworm1957. That is unusual that rents are pegged to people's income in the States although they do do that with public housing here. The rest of the rental market is a free for all and you get what you get and try to get the lowest price possible before everyone else does.

MoBookworm1957 I can imagine your niece would have been shocked when she first got here about our prices in Australia and high cost of living.

NannyPatty our new home is from what we have measured around 170 square metres in size and we have the main house and a step down about 5 stairs to the back of the home which has a large rumpus room and second bathroom and toilet. I think that converts to around 1829 square feet and that doesn't include the outside undercover patio area outside the back door. It is a really large home which is what we were after and set on 1.21 acres of land and I believe from looking at American stats this home could be a fair amount smaller than the average home in the States ?, but I could be wrong.
Rent around here is anywhere between $300 to $2000 depending on the house/apartment. Its only based on your income if you qualify for assistance from one program or another. In our area the houses range between 1200 to 2500 square feet.
 
@NannyPatty thank you for the information on the rents and you too @MoBookworm1957. That is unusual that rents are pegged to people's income in the States although they do do that with public housing here. The rest of the rental market is a free for all and you get what you get and try to get the lowest price possible before everyone else does.

MoBookworm1957 I can imagine your niece would have been shocked when she first got here about our prices in Australia and high cost of living.

NannyPatty our new home is from what we have measured around 170 square metres in size and we have the main house and a step down about 5 stairs to the back of the home which has a large rumpus room and second bathroom and toilet. I think that converts to around 1829 square feet and that doesn't include the outside undercover patio area outside the back door. It is a really large home which is what we were after and set on 1.21 acres of land and I believe from looking at American stats this home could be a fair amount smaller than the average home in the States ?, but I could be wrong.
1829 sq. ft. would be at least average sized where I live. Most houses close to me are between 950 and maybe 14 or 1500 sq. ft. but are two stories high, or have a finished basement, or both, to increase the space.
 
Home from work..short night tonight (8) hours..lol..funny how 8 hours feels like a short night but im grateful. Got the fire going, drinking a brew..munching on leftover breadsticks and pizza with the dog. Gave the horse and goats a nibble of grain to celebrate the new years eve. It is a brisk somewhere around 10 degrees with a slight wind chill of OMG...But since I was still fairly numb from my normal workplace sub freezing environment..I had to endure another short moments outside under the incredibly clear winter night to try and find the Christmas Comet again. It is "above " Orion and Taurus, to the Left of Cassopoia somewhat and some other star I cant recall how to spell much less pronounce..
I think I saw it..but regardless..if it wernt so cold out I would stay longer. Without the light pollution of any town the night sky here , especially in winter is epic..I cant wait for the day I can see the northern lights here too..
Anyways,,another beer is calling my name..!!
 
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