A start date!

We met with the project manager yesterday, and we have a start date! February 4, as long as the shower we ordered is in. She estimates the project will take 10 working days, mainly because some of the things have to dry for 24 hours.

The  coral color will be the master bath, and the blue will be the master bedroom. They are going to take out the tub, vanity, mirror, and cabinet, and the flooring. Replace the ceiling, add a heated vent fan, fix or replace some wall sheetrock. Add the shower, floor, new vanity, mirror and cabinet. Paint. New door, new trim. In the master bedroom, take up the 30 year old carpet. Paint, new trim, new door. Crown molding if I want it- I haven't decided. That's all phase one of my master plan!

Last week I used up all the 2 yard flannel pieces I had, and made 25 oversized receiving blankets. Next up is to use up the half yard pieces, making burp cloths. I have 10 pinned, and just got 20 more diapers for backing.

My beautiful baby! She was in Las Vegas for a conference of fire chiefs.

Ah, the good life! Sly appreciates a good fire!

Instant pot mac and cheese! Pasta made in 4 minutes once it came to pressure! It came out really well.

It's another cold one today.



 
 

another storm coming

So we got some snow last weekend.

It looked pretty and was enough for Ralph to use his new snow blower.

And it's been cold! Cold enough that I had to get out my heaviest sweatshirt, and light a fire at night! I love the gas fireplace, we get so much more use of it than when it was wood burning.

We went shopping for ideas! I picked out ceramic tile, which we'll put in both bathrooms. The shower will be for the master bath, which is getting a makeover first. I don't want the glass doors, I love a shower curtain and they are low maintenance.

I like the angled grab bar. And I love the faucets we picked. Ralph picked the lighting- I couldn't make a decision.

After all that picking out, we headed to IHOP for brunch!

I spoke to the project manager, and we will purchase the materials, since Ralph gets a Veteran's discount. He just has to sit down and put them all into the computer. Once the materials come in, we can get this project going!

More snow is predicted for tonight, an inch or so. And a big storm is coming in over the weekend, but at the moment it looks like we'll only get a little snow, if any.
 
 


 

Snowy Sunday

It started snowing during the night, and it's supposed to continue for most of the day. States south of us are getting much more snow that we are, for a change. 

I made rice pudding in the instant pot! Easy peasy! Really good, too.

I also made chicken and fettuccine in the instant pot. It's so hard for me to wrap my head around cooking chicken in 8 minutes! The fettuccine was okay, not sure if I'll make it again. I feel like the sauce could have been richer, it was kind of bland.

It's fun that all of my daughters also have instant pots, so we can share recipes. Some days we text back and forth a lot. Steph was the first to venture into instant pot. She asked for one last Christmas, and I got it for her on Cyber Monday. She raved about it so much that Manda got on in the summer, on prime day. I decided I wanted one, but waited til the kitchen was finished and it was cyber Monday. While I was at Manda's for Thanksgiving, she showed me how to use it. Heather got one the same week I did. 

Yesterday was frustrating. The state benefits program is requiring proof for all dependents. This will be the third time I've provided my marriage certificate to prove that Ralph is my dependent! Then, the county MUA bills came out. The new owners of Mom's house had their bill sent to them at my address- again. I'll drop the bill in their mailbox. Then, Lowe's called last night. I have a special order ready for pickup. Ordered September 28, appears to be flooring, to the tune of $770! Explained the whole saga to the young lady who called. Bottom line, I don't need or want it and and I'm not paying for it, so they can do whatever with it. 

Yesterday was also fun, I went to a baby shower for the daughter of one of my closest friends. The food was great, the gifts were wonderful, the people were fun to talk to, and it was a great gathering. And the first time I used the car navigation by myself to get somewhere that I wasn't sure how to get to. I was anxious about that, but it went fine.

I also sewed this week, yay! I made 6 oversized flannel receiving blankets, which always go over well. And I finished crocheting the melon shrug that I've had apart 4 times! I'm not crazy about it, but it'll do for over my shoulders when I'm sitting on the couch.

And the snow is still falling!

 

A rainy Saturday

My goal for 2019 is to make one new dish in every two week period. As I learned in nursing school, goals have to be realistic, measurable, and attainable. As a meme said, a goal without a plan is just a dream. 

My first new dish was instant pot Tuscan chicken. It came out so good! The only alteration I made was with the chicken. We'd been to the Lamp Post Diner the day before, and I got the jersey shore salad with grilled chicken. I boxed the chicken and brought it home, and cut it into small pieces. I microwaved it for a minute, and added it at the end, with the spinach. The recipe made a lot! We each had two helpings the first night, and we had leftovers last night, and there's enough for tonight's dinner. The recipe is definitely a keeper!

I texted this pic to my kids, showing them how Ralph makes me crazy! 

We went to Lowe's yesterday and got our refund on the unused materials from the kitchen project. Then we started looking at things for redoing the master bathroom , which Lowe's will NOT be the contractor for.

This is what I'm looking at. I want to go white with the vanity and cabinet. I love the square sink! I asked my people for suggestions for a wall color- I told them I want dramatic. Heather suggested navy, Ralph likes evergreen, and Manda came up with coral, which is the color of the year. All three would work, but I'm leaning toward coral at the moment. I want to replace the tub with a shower, and Lowe's selection was small, so I have to go see what Home Depot has. Natalie, our contractor's project manager, said it will be a 5 day job, since we need the sheetrock and ceiling replaced. She said to call her once I have everything picked out, and we'll shop.

So let's get 2019 started!
 
 
 
 

Happy New Year!

Hello 2019! 2018 was certainly eventful! In May, we sold Mom's house.

That was hard. All three of us lived in that house from the time we were born. And Mike and I both lived in the apartment when we were first married. So, lots of memories. But the family that bought it loves it, and are now making their own memories. They had Christmas lights on the house and bushes, and some of the strings were blue, which was Mom's color, so that made me happy.

In May this was our kitchen. 

Then for too long it looked like this, and my dining room and living room looked like these pix. 

Finally it looks like this and it's wonderful. Our contractors were wonderful, Lowe's was terrible.
n Decem

On December 29, we went to Samantha and Eric's wedding in Philly. We used Lyft to get there and back, and I was so glad we did. The wedding was at Christ Church, built in 1745! Cobblestoned streets! 

I didn't get a good picture of the bride- she never stopped moving! The reception site was very industrial looking, but decorated beautifully. I got to hug some of my cousins and cousin's kids, which is always a joy. 

And now a new year!