This and That...That and This

Good morning from the rancho!!

It was a long, long week...even though it was only four working days. LOL  I'm settling into my new job. All that really means is that I've moved my stuff into an office about 20 feet away and changed my title on my email.  I'm still doing the same work...ordering all the food for next quarter.  To give you an idea of how much food we order, we are given $3.80 a DAY to feed our group of 4000...at 91 days, that's $1.4 million! Sometimes I feel like I'm running my own little city.  LOL I always get a bit nervous right before I hit the "save" button on the computer when I finish the purchase orders.

I'm back on the treadmill, but only 15-20 minutes a day.  My hips are still bothering me, but with the arthritis, I expected that.  At least I'm doing something.  I think that as I get back into my walking program, I will get more comfortable.

Here's the update on my cross stitch.  Not much, but I've got the alphabet almost done.  I have to get this finished soon if I want to take it to the stitching retreat in April.  Must stitch, must stitch, must stitch.  LOL

I'm moving along on the scarf.  All the color is done, so now it's just finishing with the black tweed.

The first phalaenopis has bloomed.  I think I've found the secret...just ignore them.  LOL

We had a nice lunch last Sunday and topped it off with dessert from the Brown Butter Cookie Company. This is a bakery in Cayucos...very tasty.  And, I love their sign!  You can pretty much change the word "cookie" to anything...chocolate, ice cream, pie...definitely my kind of sign. LOL

Okay, peeps, I have to get this show on the road.  We only got a little sprinkle of rain last night, so I need to do some outside work today, as well as the usual chores, chores, chores.  LOL

Have a wonderful Sunday, be kind to one another.

Rain, Rain, and More Rain...And an Afternoon Off

Good morning from soggy California!   This is a quick "what I've got going on" post.  LOL

The rain keeps coming and coming and coming.  We had four inches in two days with another storm moving in tonight.  We are fortunate here in Central California.  A few areas have flooded, some road closures, and a 12 hour black-out on Friday.  Nothing too scary.  I was more concerned about the lack of electricity than anything else.  My dad's bed has a special mattress that fills with air to keep away bedsores.  We are lucky that we have a generator for emergencies.  No lights, but we kept Dad's bed going.  

I've been working on a new scarf.  It will be a gift for a friend of my husband.  After I took the picture, I realized that it looks like a Brach's Neapolitan candy.  It's not really as crooked as it looks. I took a picture of my cross stitch, but somehow got a horrible shadow and am too embarrassed to post it.  LOL

My little fishies have been very busy.  After looking closely, it appears that I have more on the way. Lots of chubby moms in there.

My poor neglected orchids have once again rewarded me with blooms.  I've had this orchid for at least three years, first time that it's re-bloomed.  LOL        

I'm trying to root some geraniums from the patio.  I don't see any roots, but it's been a week and they are still alive.

I'm busy, busy at work.  I'm still doing two jobs, but hopefully we can get someone hired in the next month. I talked to my boss last week and asked if I can keep my hours the same.  It is hard to get going at 4 am, but it gets me home before 3:30 pm, so I can take care of Dad.  She agreed, as long as the department doesn't suffer.  My cohort doesn't mind covering for me, so it will work.  LOL

Dad is exactly the same.  Sigh.  I am trying to stay upbeat, but some days make me so tired.  My sister called out of the blue yesterday and asked if we wanted the afternoon off.  Hmmmm...YES. Since hubby promised me a special date to celebrate my promotion, we've planned a drive and an early dinner.  It will be a nice break.  The rain isn't supposed to hit until later this evening, so it should be a nice afternoon.

I am off to get beautiful!  Not really, but I should get out of my jammies and brush my hair.  LOL Have an amazing Sunday.  Be kind to one another.

One Inch, Two Inch, Three Inch, MORE!!

Happy Saturday from the soggy rancho.

Our days here are like some crazy Dr. Seuss poem...one inch, two inch, three inch, four, five inch, six inch, and here's some MORE!  Don't get me wrong, I am so thankful for the rain.  My trees are happy, the birds are happy, and the weeds are really, really happy.  LOL  I'm afraid to weed.  Every time I pull up a big weed, I get a big lump of soil.  At this rate, I will have to bring in dirt and backfill the entire acre.  LOL We are over 17 inches of rain for this season.  Considering that we have only been getting 6-10 inches for the last 5 years, we are doing well.

There are some areas of California that are over-watered, to the point that their reservoirs are starting to break down.  Here, we are still only between 40-85% full for the two large lakes close to my town. That really shows how bad the drought has been.  Considering that most of that water is drinking water for our county, no complaining.

I finished my baby quilt...before the baby got here!  Yay!!

I ended up using both skeins of my contrast yarns, but it really added to the look.  I got a big thank you from Mom and Dad.  SMILE.

Soooo....drum roll, please...I am now a Food Manager II...and scared.  LOL  I have basically done the job for the past several years as my boss was dealing with his wife's passing and his own medical issues. BUT, there is a big difference in "doing" the job and being "responsible" for the job.  LOL  I am still working out of my old office.  Too much work to finish and my staff want to have my office painted.   Personally, I don't care what color it is, but they want me to have a brand new office to celebrate my new job.  Very sweet...I am so fortunate to work with this group of people in my department.

Dad is still hanging in there.  I was a little concerned this past week.  Seemed to be coughing and groaning a bit more than usual, but last night and this morning has not been too bad.  Is it the weather?  I just don't know.  Sigh.

My coffee cup is empty and I am off to start my morning.  I can hear the laundry baskets calling my name...LOL

Have a wonderful weekend, be kind to one another.

Life at the Speed of Light...Or...Zoom-Zoom

Good morning and happy Saturday peeps and peepettes!

I completely misplaced about a week and a half.  I remember doing yard work, cleaning house, going to the chiropractor, and then things get really fuzzy!! I opened my eyes on a Monday, went to bed that night, the next day was Friday.  Zoom-zoom...LOL

Completed my first two weeks of hip and spine adjustments.  My bones and muscles are feeling pretty good.  No pain, so I think this may work.  LOL  I feel a little like I'm in training for a beauty pageant....stand up straight, no slouching, tuck in that chin, keep your stomach sucked in, shoulders back and square...Someone asked if I was losing weight...nope, just moving it around and I've got better posture. LOL

Finished my roses just in time for the next rain.  Of course, had a little accident.  While minding my own business, a rose bush reached out and grabbed my jeans, and I took a little tumble.  I was worried that I had hurt my hips again, but all was fine!  My neck was a little tight, but no damage. Either I'm getting better at falling, or I'm getting tougher when I do fall.  LOL

I participated in my promotional interview on January 26th.  Still no news one way or the other.  The other assistant food manager (she did not interview) went up to see if a choice had been made.  She was told that the form had been submitted for hiring, but was incorrect, so needed to be redone.  I won't ask since I do not want to be accused of trying to promote myself.  Sigh...  The waiting is making me tired.

I've been working on the baby blanket, but really need to get this finished!!  My goal was the last day of January, but that was part of the week that I lost.  Supposedly, three skeins of yarn would be enough. Hmmm...nope.  So, I picked up a contrasting color for a few double crochet rows and a shell to finish it off. I HAVE TO GET THIS DONE!!

Here is a picture taken last week while we were waiting for the next storm to move in...I love the way that the silver clouds look against the blue sky.  SMILE

I checked my rain gauge.  Another three inches.  It's still coming down perfectly...one or two inches a day, soaking in, no flooding.  My husband and a neighbor worked on the road yesterday.  It is a dirt/base road and was starting to get a lot of pot holes.  They put in EIGHT truck loads of base and got it spread before the worst of the rain.  It is supposed to be dry today, so if they do a couple of passes with the tractors, it will be really nice.  We have a road fund and managed to collect quite a bit of money this year, so were able to buy the extra road base.  This should hold us for a couple of years.

On the Dad front...my uncle and cousin came to see my dad last weekend.  It was hard for my uncle. He looks at Dad, his baby brother, and you can see that his heart is breaking.  Dad is not able to communicate, but I know that he recognized both of their voices.  He had his eyes open all the time that they were here and was awake for another hour after they left.  My uncle hasn't been to visit for about a year, it is just too hard for him.  But, I am so glad he came, even if it is the final time.  I talked to my uncle last night and told him that I know that Dad is in there and that he knew them.  It seemed to soothe him a bit.  We are almost at the four year mark for Hospice. Wow...never thought that this journey would be so long and twisting. Some days are hard, some are harder, but we will do what needs to be done until the end.  Sigh.

Off to start my day.  I am having coffee with a dear friend this morning.  It has been quite a while, so we have a lot to catch up with. 

Have a wonderful weekend, be kind to one another.