Top 10 day!

Panera for bagels this morning and then to Aldi's for a couple things and to Walmart.  When we got home we took our coffee out to the deck, beautiful day to sit on the deck!

The new cupboard handles arrived in the afternoon, Don got about half of them on the cupboards.  They look nice, much more modern than the fussy things that we are replacing.

We had pulled pork sandwiches at home for dinner.  Sheila came over with vegetables and stayed for a visit.

Taco Tuesday

Decided we finally needed to check some more things off our "need to be done" list now that we have the kitchen painted.  We cleaned the display cases, they have antique bowls, plates and other dishes inside.  So I washed the items and Don cleaned the glass (the display cases are all glass).  I also washed the entryway rugs, long overdue.

We had nice weather, were able to leave our windows open all morning.  Being Taco Tuesday, we had taco's for dinner.

Slow day

Cleaned the house as usual and did some laundry.

We had an old recipe for dinner, Impossible Cheeseburger Pie - I used to make it when our daughters lived at home.  Also roasted cabbage in the oven, turned out very good.

All in all a slow day!

Sunday

We went to breakfast at Cracker Barrel and then to Fleet Farm primarily for softener salt.  Bought a few other things.

Home to read to Sunday Newspapers.  In the afternoon our daughters came for a visit.

We grilled pork chops for dinner and also had corn-on-the-cob and baby potatoes cooked in the air fryer.

Saturday to relax

Nice to have a lazy day after being so busy getting the kitchen ready to paint and then put back together with a new vertical blind.  Then a new office blind.  We both did our thing around the house.

In the evening we went out for dinner, we both had shrimp but Don had shrimp salad and I had shrimp linguine.

Breakfast and blinds

Daughter Sheila met us for breakfast at HyVee.  We had a good chat while we all worried about her dog home alone during a thunderstorm.  Then Don and I went grocery shopping, took our groceries home and then went to Home Depot to pick up a new blind for our home office.  By this time the storm was gone and sun out making it hot and humid.

Don installed the blind in the afternoon, of course he encountered problems but got them solved and got the blind up.  Looks good!  I washed the window valance for the first time, decided it it fell apart in the washer I would get a a new one.  It came out fine, no ironing needed even.  So the window looks good!!!

We brought home Chinese food for dinner, always good.

Food and Blinds

We went to Baker's Square for breakfast today, they have a good special but too much food!  Afterward we went to Home Depot to look at blinds for our home office as the one we have won't stay open.  We found what we were looking for but didn't have the exact measurements.

We got the take-home steak special from HyVee for dinner, very good.

Blinds up, salad made

We watched some of the Muller interview on TV but decided to catch the recap later as we had stuff we needed to get done.  I shelled some peas while watching getting green under my thumb nails!

Don went to work on the blinds and in just minutes got the rod turned around so they would open from the other side.  He put the valance up and put on the slats.  It looks so nice, the old one was getting yellow and slats were dropping often.

I had to share the kitchen with him as I was making a tuna, macaroni, pea, cheese salad for dinner and it needs to sit in the refrigerator for a few hours for the flavors to blend.  We did a good job of keeping out of each other's way.

After dinner daughter Sheila came over with fresh vegetables and stayed for a visit.

Eating, shopping and blinds

Panera for a bagel for breakfast and then to Walmart.  We didn't need much this week, but of course when we got home I thought of something we did need.  It'll have to wait.

We went to Menards in the afternoon as Don needed some special screws for the new vertical blind in the kitchen.  I wanted some markers that were on sale, but they were out.  Menards is getting as bad as Walgreens for not having stuff in their sales' advertisement.

When we came home Don went to work on getting the blind installed.  He got the top rod up only to find the blinds would open from the wrong side.  He said enough, tomorrow would be a better day.  We at eat home, had some pre-cooked beef and more fresh beans along with a big salad.


I only wish Don would let me!

Getting the kitchen back together.

Cleaning the house and moving stuff back into the kitchen.  Don had to replace several outlets  as they were previously painted over with the old color.  We moved the corner cupboard back, cleaned the inside and restocked. 

We had grilled steak for dinner, I cooked the fresh string beans we were given.  They turned out good.  We also had fresh vegetables in a salad.

Painting

What a nice day to have the kitchen painted.  We finished getting stuff out of the painter's way and were ready when he arrived.  He did all the prep - taping, covering, etc.  It took him about 4 hours to finish painting, he did a perfect job.  The new color is "latte", it looks so nice, fresh, modern.  Now all the inside of the house has been painted in the last 1 1/2 years except for the utility room (which needs paint and flooring). 

We were able to have the windows open all day to keep the fumes down and to dry the paint.  The painter told up not to move things back against the wall until tomorrow.

We went to Culvers for a sandwich for dinner and watched some TV.  We were both very tired!

Getting ready

We woke up today to thunder, we had storms all morning but nothing bad thankfully.  We worked more on the kitchen - we have a large corner pantry that had to be moved but first mostly emptied out.  We found some surprises hidden in the back like 3 bottles of wine and a bottle of sherry!  I think I put them way back in there when we were having our house redone after the water disaster a year and half ago.

Then the chair rail had to be taken off, Don did that.  There was bright orange wallpaper behind the rail!  Also had to remove nails, etc.  Don tood down the vertical blind.  It probably had been there since the beginning of time, fell apart when he got it down.  (We have a new one in the garage.)

We brought in dinner, too tired to get cleaned up to go out to eat.

Heat and humidity as found in Minnesota!

Breakfast at HyVee, they have a good special.  Then we did grocery shopping, it really added up today!  Later we worked on getting the kitchen ready to paint.  I don't like a lot of stuff sitting around but it seemed like a lot when I started to clear the place out.  Now we have stuff all over our dinning room.

We went to dinner at Cracker Barrel, we often go for breakfast there but it had been a long time for dinner.  It was so hot, one could hardly tolerate being outside.  It was 95 degrees with high humidity - felt like 114 according to our phones.  So we rushed from air conditioning to air conditioning. 

Kitchen redo

A painter our daughter recommended came to check our kitchen and tell us how much cost to paint.  We were pleased with his offer and are going ahead to get it done.  I hate the chair rail and the "rag" type of paint on the top, not to mention the colors.

We bought the paint, the color name is Latte, a light tan.   Then we went to Menards and bought new vertical blinds for the sliding glass door in the kitchen.  Now I am shopping for door handles that are not so old fashioned.  Eventually our kitchen should look much better!

We brought home HyVee's steak (with corn-on-the-cob and baked potato) for dinner.

Another hot day!

We ate breakfast at Panera this morning and then went to Aldi and Walmart for groceries and other stuff.  At Walmart the "other stuff" really added up!  The weather maps on our phones looked like a storm was about to descend upon us so we rushed along.  The storm never came but it was cloudy most of the day.  Hot!

I made rhubarb crisp in the afternoon.  Our daughter came over in the evening with vegetables:  peas, beans, tomato, bakchow, potatoes, etc. 

Spaghetti Salad

We got hair cuts today, had to wait about 45 minutes but better than going back another time.   By the time we got done it was lunch time so we got hamburgers from McDonalds.

I made spaghetti salad for dinner (spaghetti, pepperoni, cucumber, cheese, artichoke hearts, etc).  It was a good meal on a hot and humid day.

Hot, Humid = Storm

This was a very rare day - we slept in late, about 30 minutes late.  We drank our coffee and then cleaned the house.  Another hot and humid day, the air conditioner ran on and off all day.  In the late afternoon a storm moved in, lots of lightning and some rain.  Other parts of the area had some damage.

We stayed home for dinner and watched an old movie "Dirty Harry".

Newspapers and food

We ate Sunday breakfast at Baker's Square.   They have a new item on their menu, lots of food - I couldn't finish.  We had no shopping to do so came home and read the Sunday newspapers.  Our daughters came for a visit in the afternoon.

For dinner we had grilled pork chops.  I fixed the small potatoes (that our daughter gave us) in the air fryer.  Then I roasted the small squash (also from our daughter) in the air fryer.  Both were very good.

We watched some television in the evening.  It was a hot and humid day.

Salmon

Cloudy day, where is that sun that was promised?  We did stuff around the house, in the evening we went to Friday's for dinner.  We had Cobb Salads with salmon on top.  Very good and a lot of food, I couldn't finish mine.

HyVee for breakfast and dinner!

We had the breakfast special at HyVee this morning and did our grocery shopping afterward.  Didn't need much, but it adds up fast.

I had a headache so took a couple ibuprofen and laid down, guess I went sound to sleep as a storm passed over that I never heard.   Don said there was wind, thunder, rain.  Didn't get rid of my headache, had it all day.

Back to HyVee in the evening for Chinese food.  They have the best!  We watched a video on TV in the evening.

10

Today is a "Top 10" weather day, meaning it is almost perfect.  Cooler and humidity is down.  We read on the deck for awhile this afternoon.  We sat in the sun for just a bit as we soon felt our skin burning.  Then moved to the shade, surprised we were not bothered by bugs!

We brought home grilled steak from HyVee groceries for dinner.  In the evening we watched an old video, had trouble with the sound but made it through.

Pancakes early, waffles later

We went to Perkins for their Potato Pancakes today.  Then we went to Walmart - didn't need much.  From there to Menards - again didn't need much.

It has been a dark day, like it could rain but didn't except for a sprinkle in the afternoon.  Sheila brought over vegetables from her CSA box:  strawberries, lettuce, potatoes, rhubarb, radishes, etc.

We had waffles for dinner - Don's request.

You will find us at HOME

A stay at home day.  Don spent a lot of time on the computer, I cleaned the shower and the top shelf of the bathroom cupboard where it is impossible to see what is up there and need to check once in a while.

It rained later in the afternoon. I was reading and finally had to turn on a light as it got so dark outside.

We had leftovers from Saturday at Chili's for dinner along with the fruit Brenda gave Don for his birthday.


My daylilies are doing great!

Don's birthday

Today is Don's birthday.  We went to Denny's where he collected his free breakfast.  Then came home and cleaned the house.

In the evening we went to dinner with our family.  We were going to Old Chicago, even though I called ahead we had a 30 to 45 minute wait so we went to Panera.  Afterword we came to hour house for cake and ice cream.

Don says he enjoyed his birthday and nice gifts!

USA Women's Soccer wins World Cup!

Breakfast at Cracker Barrel today.  Another nice day, well deserved after all the rainy days we have endured.

We did stuff around home.  Grilled steak for dinner.  Also had roasted zucchini and more rhubarb cake for dessert.

Rhubarb

I made rhubarb dump cake this morning.  Had a little rhubarb left and made some sauce for ice cream or something.  The cake turned out good!

Another hot day, no rain.

We went to Chili's for dinner, few people there.

After the 4th

We went to breakfast at HyVee and then did grocery shopping.  Came home and read the newspaper we get on Friday. 

A nap was in order after being out late (later) last night.

We had KFC chicken for dinner.

A picture I took of the fireworks from last night.

Independence Day!

Otherwise known as "July 4th" when there are all sorts of parades and fireworks.  We skipped the parades.  We went to our daughter's house and watched fireworks from their deck. 

In the afternoon our other daughter came for a visit.  We got some grilled steak for dinner at HyVee.

Men in Black

Finally a day that doesn't start with rain!

We went to the movie "Men in Black" in the afternoon.  It wasn't as good as the first two.

Ran a couple errands after the show and picked up sandwiches at Arby's for dinner.  After saying we hadn't heard many fireworks in our neighborhood, they made up for it last night.

Coffee AND bagels

Panera for breakfast.  Wow, today they had both coffee and our favorite bagels.  We went to Aldi's and Walmart afterwards.

It has been clouds, then sun, and repeat all day.

Stayed home for dinner and then watched a predictable romantic comedy on Prime.



I know my mirror is malfunctioning:

July 1

July already.  Why is it there are many ads for furniture, just seems like the wrong time of year!  After the 4th  we will see school supplies on sale even though school doesn't start until after Labor Day.

We had a lot of thunder during the night, at least three storm passed through.  We always feel sorry for our daughter's dog who hates thunder (and fireworks).  Not a good time of year for her.

Happy Canada day to our neighbors up north!