Goodbye 2015

It has been a very busy and sometimes hectic year around here.  We finished our kitchen remodel. We finished the craft room remodel. We did a lot of decluttering.  Teri thought the house looked like it did 20 years ago with the exception of the new kitchen. A few dozen items were knit for charity.  All in all I think we had a good year despite a few bumps in the road. I would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy 2016.  

Cooking Dinner

Tonight John and I used the broiler for the first time. I kinda guessed what I should be doing, after all it is just a broiler. Well, I have used broilers since oh so last century and this was not like any I have used in the past. John started reading the directions as I was cooking. First of all the broiler has a high and low setting, yes really. Apparently the high setting is used for searing the meat. The low setting is used for standard broiling. Oh and chicken must be broiled on the bottom rack of the oven. Over all it took longer to cook the meat, but it came out perfect.

My question is how the simple act of making dinner has become more complicated over the years? After all we have been using fire to cook with since the caveman days. I think I have the closest version of the 1960's Disney/GE house of the future in Tomorrowland vision of the perfect kitchen that is available today. Although I am still waiting for the table that will clear  itself, wash the dishes and reset the table. Not to mention the self cleaning house. I think that we may have been lead astray as to what would happen to the kitchen of the future. Until it arrives I would recommend that everyone read the manual.

Now if I could just find a manual to explain why my sinuses try to drain every night at bedtime.

The Party is Over

We dropped the kids at the airport this morning.  They have arrived at their destination safely. We then headed to Costco to pick up a few items. We put everything away and finished the leftovers for lunch.  Laundry has seemed to have grow exponently today. 

Now that everything is back to quiet, I plan on finishing the rest of the of decluttering. Most is in Teri's room. The down side of decluttering today so far has been finding more partial yarn skeins that I am using for hats.  So I guess I will be making a few more hats.  By the time the house is done, I hope it will be warm enough to work in the garage.  

Car Keys

You know that the visit has ended much too soon when your children return the car keys.  The week went much too quick. I am looking forward to more visits from my very busy daughter Teri. 

A Very Early Morning

This has been a crazy morning so far.  The barametric pressure started dropping around midnight.  By 12:30 I had the beginnings of a very bad headache.  Around 3 am when that began to fade Eric woke up with leg cramps. I took care of that. Then John helped with a full change out.  I hated to wake him, but since the little bump on the 7th I have not been able to do a complete change out of Eric by myself,hopefully pt will fix that soon. 

I am also sure that Eric is doing his part to keep the pipes from freezing this morning by making more laundry. So as my headache fades I will try to fall back asleep to the sound of the washer running.  If the 1st load of the morning does not do it, I have another one ready to go.  

Teri Time

We are getting a brief visit from our daughter Teri and her friend Tej. Eric and Teri are enjoying their time together. John and I are enjoying the time too.  I have been too busy to blog much.  

Fruit Cake

I have finally found a fruit cake that John likes. I used the King Arthur Flour traditional fruitcake mix.  I did add some fresh pecans and extra candied cherries. I also used soy milk and margarine instead of milk and butter.  It was very easy to make. The only change that I would make is to butter and flour the pans  or use parchment paper on the pan bottoms, because the cake did stick to the pan 

It would not be a holiday around here if someone did not get sick. This time it is Eric's turn. He got the tummy bug going around thanks to those who refuse to stay home when they are sick.  All I can say is that it was a long night and the last load just hit the dryer at 8:30 tonight.  His fever also broke tonight.  

We are also enjoying Teri and Tej's visit.   

Another Use and a Fond Farewell

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that my craft room has had a major design change. What most people don't know is that the white cabinet on the wall also hides a Murphy bed.  The bed is now down in anticipation of Teri coming home for a visit.  I really like the versatility of having a multipurpose room, although when down the queen size bed takes up most of the room. The shellfs that John put up elimated all the bags that use to be on the floor, that way we can add 2 chairs and a foot stool in the room for company.  It seems so strange to me that my darling daughter has now been out of the house and on her own long enough to be considered company. 

I would also like to say good bye to the first pair of socks that I knit by hand. They are now amassing wholes in all sorts of places.  I have the skills but not the inclination or matching sock yarn for repairs.   So at this time I would like to say darn, darn socks.  Now they have been darned. They will not be heading for the landfill but rather they will be part of the stuffing for another dog pillow. 

Now to post the pictures and get on with my day.   

A Finishing Touch

Today Mike Levy from The Blind Guys here in Tucson installed our new Hunter Douglas Vignette Modern Roman Shades with the new Power View Motorization. The instlation went very smoothly and they fit the space to perfection.  The pebble is easy to use and we can even use or pads and phones to adjust the blinds. 

But I need to digress for a moment. John did our homework. He researched every Hunter Douglas shop in Tucson. We interviewed 3 Hunter Douglas shops in Tucson before we picked out The Blind Guys. We are very happy with the results. Durning the day the fabric has a red brown color and at night it looks more brown. 

The smaller blind is run off a battery pack.  The larger blind is running off an AC plug.  All that is left to do is to take down the curtain rods from the last window coverings, that will be done after our vist with Teri is over. 

I would like to make it very clear the we did not receive any condersition from either the Hunter Douglas Company or The Blind Guys.  The money for the  blinds came out of the money we budgeted for the kitchen remodel.  

On another note just when I thought I was over with the deep cleaning, I found more things to recycle. I am also making another trip to Goodwill this weekend. It seems to easier to get rid of things that we don't need anymore. 

A Really Horrible Day

Today was one of those days that I never want to see again. No do overs would make this day any better. Tommrow must be better than today or I am going to spend part of the day baking brownies, fruit cake and what ever else I can think of.  

A Great Day

I have a very serious request from my east coast friends, please take your freezing weather back. Last night was our first hard freeze of the winter. Yes, we do get hard freezes in Tucson.  We have at least 2 more days with lows in the 20's and highs in the 50's. It is a little, ok a lot too cold for me. I know it is still December, but I am ready for spring and summer. Not to be picky thought I would like it between 80 and 110f.  The only positive I can think about for the cold, at least I get to show off my knitting for a month or 2 a year.  

Every thing that John and I could move out of the living room has been moved. Tomorrow we are in for round 2 of carpet cleaning.  We are also cleaning the tile and grout at the back of the house, then having it sealed.  I took the time to do another round of deep cleaning.  The living room as not been so empty since the kids used it for a playroom oh,so last century.  

On a really high note, we picked up the van from the auto body shop today.  John and I are so happy.  Eric does not seem to care one way or the other as long as he gets to hang out with his friends.  I also went to Grandmas Spinning Wheel to wind my yarn for the "Deadwood Cowl" by Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark, with Dream in Color yarn.  Now it is time kick back and to knit.  

Ugh More Paperwork!

As you can see by my two piles, I am just a little bit behind in filing Eric's paperwork and ordering books on "tape" from the Libaury of Congress. I will start with the filing and then go on to the books.  Maybe I can get one of the two projects off my plate today.  The to be shredded basket and the recycle basket are handy. Wish me luck. Ready set file....

Happy Holidays

As I light my grandmother's menorah for the last time this year, I would like to wish you and your families a year of learning and health. 

Finished

Eric's bathroom is finished the faucet and pop up drain were put in today.  

Granite and Cabs

The bathroom granite went in today.  This really changes the look and updates the bathroom. The sink was also put in too. He plumber will be here tomorrow to put in the faucet.  

The van will not be ready until next week. So today we tried the taxi. Besides being expensive they got Eric to his program 1 hour late and picked him up 1 hour late.  I am not impressed.  Eric really wants his van back. 

Bye Bye Old Bathroom Counter

Today the old counter in Eric's bathroom was removed.  I should have emptied the drawers. After that was finished I went on a hunt for a size 8 by 16 inch circular knitting needles to start a new project. All I can say is that I found more projects. Knitting needles in every size that I did not need. And a box full of projects that need to be knit.   Oh well I will post some pictures of Eric's bathroom demolition and do some more knitting. 

Random Thoughts

It has been quite a while since I painted a frosted cake with cocoa butter and cocoa blended to different shades of brown.  I should do that again soon. 

Getting real tired of parents of special needs kids complaining how hard it is to take care of their children once they have been placed in a group home for someone else to do all the work.  If you really want to complain join the ranks of us who care for our kids all the time.

I am really upset with the person who hit my van that I use to take Eric to his day program. I did not realize how hard or expensive it would be to get Eric around with out the van.  I guess he is not 5 years old or 30 pounds anymore. They really put a huge whole in Eric's life.  

I think I bought too many DVDs for Eric's holiday presents.. I may need to do more shopping. Only 3 gifts were not DVDs.  

It's getting harder to tell the difference between a drunk and distracted drivers on the roads. So please don't drink and drive. For heavens sake please put that cell phone down. If you don't want to pay attention to your driving please be a passenger.  

Hopefully the carpets will be dry enough to put things away tomorrow.  This is getting to be too much for me. Yes I know how unorganized  I normally am, but this is much worse.  Now if I could just remember where I put the?

I love the not on the menu chicken vegetable soup that they make upon request at China Phoenix at Oracle and Ina in Tucson. It can really make my day and is even better than brownies. I love their dim sum too, but don't get there often enough for it.  

A Bump in the Road

Today was a very busy Monday. I had started the laundry, dropped Eric off at his day program and just finished my errand. Then I got the call that Eric was eyrpy and wanted to go home. Just as I was making my left turn into his day program my car got bumped by an inattentive driver. Aside from a headache that lasted a few hours, I am fine. The van however is my worst nightmare.

John drove the car across town to check out the ramp which at this point seems ok, but then again it has not be on a lift yet. So then John headed to the body shop. The original plan was for them to make a list of parts that they needed to order and call us when all the parts arrived. So much for plan A. The rear was so mangled that they will need to tear down the back of the van down to find out what parts we need and the van will be in the shop about a week.

So we are without transportation for Eric for a week. The "maybe good" news is that Eric is home sick today and tomorrow. Which means we should not need the van. The bad news is that I have never signed Eric up for transportation services so we don't know how we are getting Eric to program when he is feeling better. It is a little too far to walk and the big hill on 1st avenue would be awful going both up and down.  Not to mention the lack of sidewalks for most of the way.

Since I always like to end on a good note, and this is a hard one today. As of the time of this post there are less then 8 hours left for December 7. Tomorrow will be a whole lot better.

Still Awake

I am having trouble unwinding tonight. Just as I was dosing off, Eric had an asthma episode. Between giving him his meds and watching him until his color get better took 30 minutes. That was 30 minutes ago. I know its going to be a long day and a very long week. I am debating trying to do some cleaning, start some laundry or knitting to unwind. I want to be asleep before tomorrow. There is nothing like a sick kid in the middle of the night to get this mommy going and unable to slow down.

Eric Paid it Forward Today

Today Eric had a chance to pay it forward.  After his day program we drove to to the mall where the Salvation Army and a number of community sponsors were collecting toys for kids. So we loaded Eric up with craft projects and toys.  He was very happy to help.although I must say that the new design of the kettles made it a little hard for Eric to put money in the kettle.  

Ta-Da

The craft room is just waiting for a carpet cleaning on Tuesday before I finish putting things on the floor. No not junk, but organized boxes, spinning wheels, a loom and an Ott Lamp. So what do you think, is it better than before?