Thursday, October 25, 2012

RAMBLING AGAIN


I don't decorate for Halloween, I haven't since the kids were little, but then I noticed something a few days ago...

I have other critter problems, too.  A mouse in the house (or as an exterminator once told me, if you see one, you probably have 20).  You see, we have an attached garage off the kitchen.  Usually I put a box of poison out there when the weather turns cold and we never have a problem.  Last week when I went to do that, there was a squirrel trapped in the garage, running around like crazy.  I found a hole at the bottom of the old wooden door that leads out to the backyard, that's how the squirrel got in.  I can't put the poison out until the hole is fixed or I will have dead squirrels!  Likewise, I can't have poison in my house as I have small dogs that may get it.  What to do...

Things have otherwise been quiet around here.  I am excited to tell you that I have (finally) joined a gym!  The Husband joined the gym at the university 3 blocks away.  After a week he convinced me to join as well.  It's such a relief to know that I'm working on getting healthier and more active, especially now that winter is closing in.  I went for my annual physical this morning and my bad cholesterol is up.  The doctor gave me some literature to read, but I was really sort of shocked.  I make a lot of chicken and we have many meatless nights.  As much as I joke about my love of sweets, I really don't keep a lot like that in the house, The Husband is happy with his fiber bars.  I'm really going to have to think about this.  Anyone have this problem?  Any suggestions?

I left you last week mentioning that we might get away for a long weekend, maybe to a rental home on Lake Michigan.  Well, I did a little investigating and it looks like we can get one if we want to pay $800 per night!  Clearly these homes are meant for families to share.  I thought maybe we ought to just treat ourselves to a weekend in a nice hotel downtown, but The Husband works there everyday.  I think I am going to continue to check out small towns along the lake and look for a B&B.  I need a break!

I hope all of you are having a wonderful week,  The weekend is right around the corner!  Have fun! :)

Thursday, October 18, 2012

FALL RANDOMNESS


For myself, I blog almost every morning while I have my coffee.  An entire pot.  I really love my morning coffee and I can easily spread it out over 2 hours or so.  Then I might come back to it later in the day while dinner is cooking or I have some free time.  Evenings are strictly saved for family and reading time.  But The Husband does see me at my computer a lot on weekends if we have nothing to do, like this rainy one we just had.  I don't "work" on weekends, I clean up the house a bit, wear sweat pants and just chill.  I suppose this is how he envisions me day after day.  Some men just don't notice the clean clothes in their drawers, a fresh stocked refrigerator and a hot meal on the table...well, they notice the meal but they think it happens magically!

Anywhoo..I added a few things to the island and this completes my tweaking of fall decorating!

Friday, October 12, 2012

FALL CLUTTER & CLEANING


I finally went out and got mums! Yay!  Home Depot had the best deal around, I think they were 3 for $8.97.  But they were the smaller pots.  I contemplated going to my garden nursery where the selection is bigger but the prices are sky high.  I settled for Home Depot.  Emily selected the colors, the burgundy red and the rusty orange and although I had doubts about the combo, they look great.  They have just started to bloom so I thought I'd wait on pictures.  No pumpkins this year either...sniff, sniff, the squirrels just make a mess of them and it's heartbreaking!  Even the little pumpkins that I put on the window ledges, they get up there and peer at me through the window all the while chomping away.  Nope, no more.

I think I have managed to complain throughout this post!  Cabin fever already.  Some people feel like cleaning and organizing in the spring, but fall is when I take a look around and want some order in my life.  After spending the summer mostly outdoors, we're forced move back in and suddenly we notice the windows aren't so shiny and there are fruit flies around the basket of onions.  Yes, that happened to me the other day.  So, I made a mental list (I lose real lists) of all the organizing and fall cleaning I needed to do, when I heard Emily clomping up the stairs with the big box of fall decorations.  "So, where are we going to put this stuff, Mom?"  Grrrrrr...

See you soon! :)

Thursday, October 4, 2012

MANTEL WOES


So, it's looking a little lonely right now but I am forging ahead.  I really think some red berries will liven it up a lot.  

So, that's about all I have for this post.  Tonight I hope to make a REAL dinner after subsisting on a lot of frozen entrees from Costco.  Wow, they have a big selection; frozen lasagna, pot pies, Swedish meatballs...you name it.  I could get used to this!  I actually baked some brownies on Sunday, but I nibbled away at them so much that I have gone back on a sugar ban.  I just have zero willpower.  Are any of you baking yet?  I know it is still warm in a lot of areas, we have been lucky that we have been in the low 60's for awhile and then the 70's this week.  I love it!

I'm joining Courtney at Feather Your Nest Friday.  Visit everyone at French Country Cottage or join in the fun!  I will see you next week with a mantel update.  If you have any ideas or suggestions, let me know! :)