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Post by staytuned on Sept 18, 2023 13:02:53 GMT
Good morning, everyone! Vacation was great, but glad to be back home. Summer's winding down (at least on the calendar) and fall officially starts on Saturday. Temps here are nice in 70s and even low 80s couple days this week. Humidity is higher than I like, but hey, it's better than what's eventually coming later this year. Hope everyone has a day of awesome!
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Post by labbypaws on Sept 18, 2023 13:54:32 GMT
It has been “trying to stop raining” for hours. It was like this one day last week too. Now saying 11 AM so I am going to give up and go to bed. I take a nap before work.
Supposed to be nice the middles of the week.
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Post by jesmelric on Sept 18, 2023 15:53:32 GMT
Well we didn't get as much rain as we need but the we had some on and off showers and lower temperatures the last few days and I'll take it! The humidity was down this morning and temps in the low 70s, so delightful! I know it's not really cool, but when it's been 84 and feels like 94 at 5 am, 73 and feels like 73 is a relief.
DS built me a new computer this weekend and I love it! There was a frustrating glitch, the windows disc I had was too old to work with the new processor so we couldn't get it loaded to go online and download a newer windows. He had to download something online and come back Sunday and all went well after that. BTW Mr.Keyshop is a legit place to get Microsoft codes, I really vetted it and it's cheaper than buying new. The only downside is my Microsoft Picture It software is too old to work with the new version of windows. I know it's 20 yrs old but I hate learning new computer stuff, ugh. But now I will have to. I'm using Windows Photo gallery, not my favorite. If any one has a suggestion for free photo editing software that's easy to use, I'd really appreciate it.
We found a neighborhood that was having a garage sale with a bunch of houses participating on Saturday. Didn't find much but it was still fun, especially as the weather was a bit better.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Sept 18, 2023 16:15:16 GMT
InPixio has a free version but it's just basic editing features. Although that's probably more than enough for eBay pics. We're back in the mid-high 90s this week.  I am sooooooooo over summer. I'm ready for fall, or at least the 80's during the day. |
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Post by chapeaunoir on Sept 18, 2023 22:16:50 GMT
The DH took 2nd place in his division in the Mt Baker hill climb race! Woooooo! He's strong!
There was a tough looking crowd at the starting line, and when the air horn went off there was a roar of shoes click into pedals. The DH started toward the back as one of the older racers and he said that as fast as he was going, the lead pack, which was full of young, hungry racers, just disappeared, and a bit later he saw them flowing up toward the climb like a streak. He stayed steady and began passing some riders who had gone out too quickly, but he said the packs broke up as the climb went on - the fastest pack just kept up their steady charge. The event was full - all three categories (social, tourist and competitive). The Sheriff and Forest Service close the road until 12:30 PM for the event. It was pretty cool - I might try the duffer (social) category next year - 20 years ago I would have raced it but that's before I bashed up my hip and pelvis in that wreck and now I'm not sure I'd even manage the slow group. I've surprised myself before, though.
My own adventure was an exercise in frustration - I actually was able to do a trail I had planned and started off on it, running happily along, then it got harder and harder and harder...until I realised I would need a hiking stick if I didn't want to go base over apex on some of the steep downhills covered with powdery sand. So I got in maybe 3 miles on that. I started running on the road but running in trail shoes is like having a pair of manhole covers lashed to your feet. After about a mile of that I went to a cool coffee-house in Glacier (town of about 100 people, half the little roads are dirt) - very good coffee and you sit in a garden. That was the high point. Then tried to get back to the ride start, but they now closed off even the entrance to the lodge where we parked so I saw in the car for an hour. Ugh.
Did a some thrifting which yielded two small bags (out of two large thrifts) - it's been getting harder and harder to find much - I do from time to time, but 'time to time' isn't really enough to keep going.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Sept 19, 2023 5:45:24 GMT
Congrats to DH, Chap!! I don't understand why some people think cats are aloof. It's TV time and I have one cat in my lap, one snuggled by my left side and the third one is stretched out on the back of the sofa behind my head. No aloofness with my crew  . |
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Post by chapeaunoir on Sept 19, 2023 7:06:44 GMT
Jamie furry butt used to sit in front of me and paddle her front paws until I picked her up, then she would go into this orgasmic fit where she'd keep rubbing my face and purring and shedding lol - she was a total luv sump. Cassie followed me around. So yeah, cats are VERY affectionate...on their own terms, which are often very generous!
Turns out a professional won the hill climb he ripped up that thing at an unbelievable pace with the pack piling on top of him. The fastest woman was an amateur rider who came in only 15 minutes behind him - PROUD!!!
Meanwhile I've come down with a cold. I'm going to fiddle with my thrift finds (I got some more stuff at the tag sale today at the local GW) and instead of training will just take a long walk. It'll keep me on my feet for the needed miles without over-exertion. It's just a dumb head cold. Because of onset of Covid with similar symptoms I tested myself but was negative. Our tests are good but they don't work for me as well as for the DH - I had false negatives last time, so if I feel much worse I'll test again but keep an eye on things and stay out of the gym. I'll probably start masking up there, anyway. More and more people are masking up here, and even more up in Bellingham (where we were, and where we will probably move to).
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Post by staytuned on Sept 19, 2023 13:42:11 GMT
I was wrong about the P.O. Apparently, mail in the box when we got home Saturday was a glitch because yesterday, I opened the box mail was neatly rubberbanded with copy of hold around the mail. So, third time was the charm and sorry I was mad at my P.O. Congrats to your DH, Chap! I hope your cold is just a cold. Felt good to get out and thrift and pick up a few groceries yesterday. I did get to give a GW a decent look around in NMB while DH was gluing his tail light together in the parking lot and found a couple things cheap. I was chuckling to myself how ratings complain about high prices at that location. If those are high, those folks would "blow a casket" (for former CAB members, you might remember that phrase  ) if they came up here to see what our GWs charge.
Today is finish putting vacation stuff away. Going over MIL's tomorrow and hoping her washer will complete a load. It's getting really spazzy if it wants to turn on or complete any cycle so we need to get her a new one. MIL's been in nursing home for about 2 weeks for rehab. We visited her Sunday. She's looking more alert and actually used a walker which she swore she couldn't use. Unknown how much longer she'll be there. She wants to go home.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Sept 19, 2023 18:15:03 GMT
FWIW Stay, I think Medicare only pays for 21 days of rehab per visit/injury/illness/episode. Or that's how it was with my mom. I need to get to work but I've been goofing off looking up recipes for this weekend. I think I'm going to make a big batch of egg bites or egg muffins, assorted fillings, so I can freeze some and eat the rest during the week. Now that we're getting into fall, I can also make big batches of stuff in the slow cooker and freeze some of each batch in individual servings. I bought some freezer labels so I would know what was in each container. Stuff I can freeze in the freezer bags, I just write on the bag. It's been very handy having stuff I can put in the fridge to thaw the day before and then just heat it up for dinner. I am SOOOOOO lazy  The slow cooker fajitas were a bust but I did get about 1.5 cups of nicely seasoned chicken broth out of it which I froze. It's thawing so I can put it in some soup tomorrow in the slow cooker. I think I'm going to start saving and freezing the excess broth whenever I make chicken in the slow cooker. I don't know why I didn't do that before Shoot, I may try to make a batch of chicken broth this weekend too, since I'll be making some soups in the next few weeks. I found some 28 oz cans of no salt added crushed tomatoes at WM. They came in today and cans were very badly dented. Back to the store they go. I'll stick to the crushed tomatoes from HEB. I just wish HEB would offer a larger size of no salt added but I can work with 2-15 oz cans per recipe. |
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Post by denise15601 on Sept 19, 2023 21:32:46 GMT
Good idea, Val. When I make something in my slow cooker, it usually makes 6 meals. So I eat it for 3 days, and freeze the rest in small containers.
You are giving me ideas on what to make, too.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Sept 19, 2023 23:17:29 GMT
You're better than I am, Denise. I only like the same thing twice in a week. I'm going to start cooking 2 things in the slow cooker over the weekend and keep out 2 days for each, freeze the rest. I can alternate the CP meals with something cooked in the air fryer. I don't mind cooking in the air fryer. It doesn't take that long but some days I just want to pop something in the microwave (told 'ya I was lazy). Whatever you cook, DON'T cook fajitas in the slow cooker. Ugh. They come out too soggy. Fix 'em in the air fryer. They'll be much better  |
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Post by denise15601 on Sept 19, 2023 23:26:03 GMT
I have been known to eat the item 3 days in a row, and then take the frozen ones out of the freezer for a few days. Fajitas are a saute thing, I think. Or an air-fryer, except that mine is only a 4 qt one.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Sept 20, 2023 1:01:39 GMT
Fajitas are usually grilled.
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Post by denise15601 on Sept 20, 2023 1:58:14 GMT
I don't have a grill so I have to make do with pan frying. But I love them in restaurants.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Sept 20, 2023 7:09:14 GMT
I'll eat the same thing every day. As a matter of fact, if I could get something that was like "all food" in a loaf that I could slice and just cook and eat, I'd be happy. Maybe three meals a week that I actually seek out and enjoy. I'm more discerning about my coffee and beer choices, though.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Sept 20, 2023 15:04:08 GMT
I bought a new cast iron dutch oven that comes with a top that can also be used to braise things - it has sort of a grill texture. I bet I could make fajitas on that. Hmmnn. I'll have to try it next month. We're still too hot to cook on the stovetop |
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Post by denise15601 on Sept 20, 2023 16:32:44 GMT
Chap-I am like you, sort of. I eat the same breakfast and lunch every day. Dinner is a protein and usually 2 vegetables.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Sept 21, 2023 7:24:06 GMT
Ooooh...I hope I don't have Covid again. This new strain presents like a cold/flu and I have the sore throat and some dizziness, aching and fatigue associated with it. I've stayed out of the gym and am being careful - so far I tested negative, but home tests don't work that well with me as I get false negatives. I'll test again tomorrow.
At any rate, I've been resting for the last three days, which is my max of not doing some form of exercise so I'm going to take a nice, long easy walk tomorrow no matter what and test again. I'm more concerned about passing it on to someone else, particularly someone with compromised health, than having it myself - I'll be walking on a quiet path.
So just staying home, prepping some inventory I found and working with the zillion kimono I got from Japan in the before times. Ugh - so many kimono! I unpacked about 10 long kimono with a lot of storage smell - they'd been packed in a box for three years - and have been hanging them on a rolling rack outside during the day - we've been having sun so I've been taking advantage of it, plus our ever-present wind, to eliminate the scent (kimono stored for years in Japan have a peculiar scent that does, fortunately, leave). Yesterday evening the DH came into my study and said "Your kimono are still outside and it'll probably rain." I appreciated his heads up and got them inside. That's all I need - as tough as it is to find inventory anymore, having what I DO have ruined.
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Post by denise15601 on Sept 21, 2023 14:36:49 GMT
Chap-good luck against Covid!
I had a possible case a few weeks ago, although 3 tests (two were expired) showed as negative. And my recent CT scan shows 2 spiculated growths in my right lung. So now I have to get a PET scan and a lung biopsy.
I prefer the lung problem to be from my almost Covid or whatever, versus a cancer recurrence or a new primary cancer.
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Post by jesmelric on Sept 21, 2023 15:02:35 GMT
Chap-good luck against Covid! I had a possible case a few weeks ago, although 3 tests (two were expired) showed as negative. And my recent CT scan shows 2 spiculated growths in my right lung. So now I have to get a PET scan and a lung biopsy. I prefer the lung problem to be from my almost Covid or whatever, versus a cancer recurrence or a new primary cancer. Prayers for you Denise. Hopefully whatever it is, it's nothing to do with cancer.
I heard on the local news yesterday starting Monday we can get 4 free Covid tests from the government again, so I'll be ordering some. DH and I are scheduled for our flu shots on Saturday, I'm going to see if I can make an appointment then for the new covid vaccines. I know you can get them at the same time as the flu, but I've heard it can make you feel ill-ish for a couple of days, and I'd rather not if I can avoid that.
We are still pretty hot here, and lacking rain, sigh. It's supposed to be an El Nino fall/winter which they say is cooler and wetter for us. Fall starts Saturday! As my impatient youngest daughter use to say, "What's takin'!" lol
Chap, congrats to DH! That is awesome!!
You guys have got me craving some crock pot cooking I found a recipe in a magazine for some basil tomato tortellini soup that I have wanted to try, maybe I will pick up the ingredients tomorrow. I also want to try a hazelnut swirl bread on Saturday. It's a loaf like banana bread.
Now if the weather would cooperate for cozy cooking.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Sept 21, 2023 16:31:58 GMT
I'm making pineapple salsa chicken in the slow cooker tomorrow. I thought it would taste good with some rice that HEB has. It's frozen white rice with corn and chopped poblano peppers and it tastes REALLY good (which surprised me since it has no added seasonings, not even salt!). I had some last night with chili. The pineapple salsa chicken is easy - chicken, salsa, and a can of crushed pineapple. Dump it all in the slow cooker and turn it on. Easy peasy. I've made it with pineapple salsa, so this way should be good too. Plus I can lower the sodium this way, especially if I make my own sala. I round a recipe for salsa using a can of Rotel tomatoes. I can now make low sodium salsa and not have to get it from Trader Joes (and they're usually out of it). Win/win! I'm waffling over what else to make (no pun intended LOL but now I want waffles for breakfast this weekend)  I'm leaning towards slow cooker ratatouille. It's really good, even better reheated. But there is a lot of prep work, slicing and chopping vegetables. Or maybe I'll just be lazy and make sausage veggie soup using frozen veggies and make ratatouille in a couple of weeks. |
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Sept 21, 2023 20:50:44 GMT
I heard on the local news yesterday starting Monday we can get 4 free Covid tests from the government again, so I'll be ordering some. The website is www.covidtests.gov and you can start ordering them on Monday. Four free ones per household. The new tests can detect the current variants and "are expected to remain effective through the end of the year". My apartment is going to smell really good for the next few days since I plan to do a bunch of bulk cooking. I got another set of the 2.25 cup LockNLock containers so I can freeze some of what I cook. I wish I had a small chest freezer though. I'll have to look into getting one maybe, I think. We're forecast to be in the 90's on the 10 day forecast. Ugh. I don't think fall will ever get here |
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Post by denise15601 on Sept 21, 2023 22:56:27 GMT
Thanks Jes.
I went to WM today and for once I wasn't the only one wearing a mask. I am glad that we can get free tests since I just paid $17 for a set of two.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Sept 22, 2023 15:31:19 GMT
Thanks Jes. I went to WM today and for once I wasn't the only one wearing a mask. I am glad that we can get free masks since I just paid $17 for a set of two. Why so much? I buy mine from Lutema and it's $12.99 for a pack of 5. They fit really well and the colors are pretty. Plus you get discounts if you buy more than one package. |
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Post by denise15601 on Sept 22, 2023 16:29:56 GMT
Thanks Jes. I went to WM today and for once I wasn't the only one wearing a mask. I am glad that we can get free masks since I just paid $17 for a set of two. Why so much? I buy mine from Lutema and it's $12.99 for a pack of 5. They fit really well and the colors are pretty. Plus you get discounts if you buy more than one package. Oops-I just changed my post. I meant free tests. |
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Post by labbypaws on Sept 22, 2023 17:10:57 GMT
I went up in the attic and began my purge. I swear I am going to do one or two bags/boxes per week until I have thrown a lot of it away. Today I threw out a Samsonite hard cosmetic case. Didn’t want to but it was from when my parents smoked 3 packs a day each. Also I threw out an ice bucket and a steel fry pan that was broken but husband saved. I was able to throw the stuff in the trash before the guys came.
Anyway I also want to transfer the stuff in boxes into plastic tubs. That will come later.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Sept 22, 2023 19:32:27 GMT
Denise, I read the other day where Medicare and Medicaid still to cover the cost of the tests in most cases. Have you filed a claim? You pay the pharmacy, then file with insurance and are supposed to be reimbursed. Sunny and hot here, high 90s today and possibly 100 on Sunday. That is NOT fall weather I hit Trader Joes while I was up near the store. They discontinued several of the no salt added products they used to carry. Bummer. It also appears quality control has slipped a bit. I bought pumpkin coffee - NO flavor, not even coffee, and it was supposedly a medium/dark roast The pumpkin vanilla handsoap and lotion didn't smell like either. It smelled like chemicals. Ugh. The pumpkin blondies were so overloaded with spice that you could only taste the allspice. I should have read the ingredients first - pumpkin was about 2/3 the way down the ingredient list. No wonder you couldn't taste it. Oh well. At least the pumpkin butter was still the same. It was quite good on the pumpkin Thomas' English muffin I got at HEB. And I picked up three new interesting sounding (and smelling) spice combos that are fairly low in sodium. |
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Post by denise15601 on Sept 22, 2023 20:30:57 GMT
Thanks Val. I will try to look into it.
I have had a cancer policy for 23 years which I seldom use. Supposedly I can get a $50 payment per year if I do a cancer screening. I do those 4-5 times a year, but never knew that I could file yearly for a whole $50. What a run-around, even after I sent them the CT scan results.
They still want to see a bill, which I don't get since it is covered by my insurance. But supposedly if I call back in 20 days, I might be able to get a copy.
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Post by staytuned on Sept 22, 2023 20:33:24 GMT
Best of luck with the purge, labbypaws. My resolve to purge comes and goes and needs to come and stay a lot longer.
Val, isn't that a shame so many products have either been discontinued, doubled or tripled in price with less product or quality has taken a dive? My favorite local grocery store isn't what it used to be, either, since it was sold to another company. They used to have the best meat dept. The pork and chicken aren't as good as they used to be. At least beef is still good.
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Post by labbypaws on Sept 22, 2023 21:51:54 GMT
If it wasn’t such a PITA to move around in the attic it would be a lot easier🤣😩. I am 5’2 and have to duck under all the beams and stuff. Hence the reason I want to purge stuff.
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I am sooooooooo over summer. I'm ready for fall, or at least the 80's during the day. 
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) if they came up here to see what our GWs charge. 
The slow cooker fajitas were a bust but I did get about 1.5 cups of nicely seasoned chicken broth out of it which I froze. It's thawing so I can put it in some soup tomorrow in the slow cooker. I think I'm going to start saving and freezing the excess broth whenever I make chicken in the slow cooker. I don't know why I didn't do that before 
I'm leaning towards slow cooker ratatouille. It's really good, even better reheated. But there is a lot of prep work, slicing and chopping vegetables. Or maybe I'll just be lazy and make sausage veggie soup using frozen veggies and make ratatouille in a couple of weeks.