Last year I had two large containers of potatoes.  This year I am going with three (stealing the one that was used for the non-producing pumpkins last year).  As I turned over the dirt I found several large potatoes. How on earth.  I had gone through them last year after the plants died off.  I guess something was left behind that ended up growing potatoes larger than anything I harvested.  Too bad they were outside to freeze the rest of the winter.  Mental note:  take a second pass on the potato buckets as it gets truly cold outside.  I put these containers in the garage for now, which gets cold, but not freezing.

I put some tomato seeds and old sweet 100 stragglers into dirt, more peppers, and some cauliflower and broccoli.  If you recall, last year I learned that I need to get the later two going very early to get them in before the heat comes.

According to my Clyde's Garden Planner I can't put the potatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower outside until ~April 7.  Hopefully by then I have little plants going.  I will wait a few weeks to do something in prep for carrots and beets.  I may want a few more large buckets -- I want more beets!

I should also note that a few of the peppers that I attempted to winter over this year appear to still be alive.  Fingers crossed.  The second grow light is now plugged in over the seeds, which will spill over giving these a bit more/extra light.

A wee bit of snow is flying this morning after a few really temperate days -- we're talking going for walks with the kid on her scooter and wondering if I needed my coat.  Yeah, yeah, it's February, ok.  The weather alert emails have been coming, which gives me anxiety since kiddo has a birthday party to attend in a few hours.

After that I am hoping to get back here and find the motivation to get a few seeds into dirt and under the grow light.  I really should have taken advantage of those nicer days to get this done outside, but I didn't think about it until just now.  I am debating between using the little plastic seed starter cups and toilet paper rolls, which I've seen as a viable "hack".  While I'm waiting for the girl to get up this morning maybe I'll start cutting some of those rolls in prep.

It's Valentine's day and the first day of Lent.  While this combination meant I didn't go Valentine myself a cake or ice cream I did get to have fish fry, yum.

Happy lent to all!  Are you doing anything special or "giving something up" for lent this year?  I'm not so much giving something up as I am hoping to use it as a reset.  There will be a cutting of daytime eating because it's way too easy to grab a pretzel or other portable munchie when I get up to stretch or put the dogs in or out X times a day.  I simply eat too much and it's showing both physically in weight and physically in my ability to be comfortable and general aches.  I sure wish they would come up with that magic pill.  Attempts at weight loss is hard and way too time consuming.

Today I am feeling old and pensive.  If it was still a thing for me, I'd think I was pms-y.  I discovered (by accident) of someone's passing (a year and a half ago) - it's a meaningful person from the past, so that has me bummed, moreso to think about how long ago it was that I could say I really knew them.

Work is in a state we used to stress through on a regular basis.  If you've ever been in a place where you feel pretty sure you're okay but you aren't 100% sure -- and you know that others may not be... well it weighs on me.

This evening in the car a song that the frat bros had on constant rotation my junior year was on the radio.  Avery recognized it - something from school that used it - and she asked me if I knew that song.  Boy it took me back to a time, a place, and all kinds of feelings.

Well it happened.  Avery dropped her first cuss word in a moment of frustration.   I have no one to blame but myself.  I haven't purged distasteful words from my vocab and they come out in my moments of irritation (messes from the dogs, idiots in traffic).  I feel horrific about it, like big time bad about it.

After she went through her penalty/timeout and apologies, I apologized to her for not doing better and asked her to tell me about it when I say things I shouldn't.  I'm hoping she can help me by keeping me honest.  I know she's destined to be a lot like me -- and there are worse people to be like -- but gosh I want her to be so much better than me.

The floors (upstairs bathrooms and laundry room) are done!  Of course in doing so they had to take the toilets out (and replace the wax ring etc).  Just that amount of time being drained and disconnected both of them decided to have issues when put back together -- go figure!  The one in Avery's bathroom was leaking from the bottom down the supply line (gasket).  The one in my bathroom needed a new flapper all of a sudden and new guts -- again.  I swear I've changed each toilet at least 2x since I moved here, this is at least the 3rd time in that bathroom.

I like it!  I like that it isn't as slick as the vinyl; my callused feet would often slip on the vinyl.  I like their work.  But most of all, I like the way it looks.  I guess writing my end of year posts does get in my head, for good.

School was, in fact, cancelled on Friday.  Blizzard packet #3 is now complete.  The good news is it is a bit warmer and there was enough snow for Avery to go play w/ a few neighbor friends last night.  I knew her boots were an 11, but I was hoping they would still work this year.  That's a big no.  Can I just say that kid's snow boots are inordinately expensive for all the more often they get to be worn?  I online ordered a pair from our favorite consignment store, so we just have to run and snag them.  I'm buying big so they will last another winter.  We may need some thicker socks this year.

In other news, our fosters Pickle and Summer just left.  Pickle wailed a bit in the carrier.  Poor guy.  I'm so glad they're going together.

Wednesday ended up being a 2 hour delay.  I'm glad they went!  Other than it being cold the roads were clear.  I love having her home, but it's tiring when I have to get work time in and we are responsible for doing school work.  We have another storm that is coming in - snow expected overnight tonight.  This and the fact that it warmed up a bit (20s) means there should be some snow for Avery to play in this weekend.  It also means I'm wondering how things will play out for school on Friday.

It's funny, one day she's bummed when I tell her school is cancelled and excited to go back to school.  The next day she's bummed I woke her up because school isn't cancelled, only delayed.  I'm glad you love home/me as much as you do school/your friends kiddo.

Saffy had her yearly vet appointment yesterday.  I (and the vet) am pleased to announce that the vet indicated her heart still sounds good and strong.  She was due for her rabies and a few other things, but we have backed off on a few things that aren't necessary given her age.

Avery was off yesterday for MLK day.  Late last evening we got the call for a 2-hour delay.  It is pretty cold out there and there is a fresh layer of what looks like snow from a distance but is more pellet-like up close.  (As I type this I can hear the firetruck horn down on the main road.)  Fortunately yesterday she slept til 11am (she did the same on Saturday morning too - I hope this isn't a signal that she fighting something off).  After that she worked on some of her homework for the week and got to watch a bit of TV until I wrapped up my day early.  (Update:  Remote learning again today.)

Also, I made a leap.  I had a flooring company come a while back to look at my carpet (I was hoping they could re-stretch the living room to resolve that transition issue and perhaps fix the spot in my bedroom - unfortunately they felt the carpet would just rip).  I stopped into their store the other day to look at their flooring options.  It feels crazy to trust a company to do your whole house (and that is crazy expensive) so I am baby-stepping.

They are scheduled to come replace the flooring in the two bathrooms and laundry room upstairs.  I went with one of those pieced together floors that is water proof, but also has what looks like grout lines.  I forced myself out of the dingy beige toned one and went with one that has both gray and slight brown tone to it - but it's bright.  I think it's going to look great in the laundry and Avery's bathroom, I just get nervous because of the brown tile in my shower.  Hopefully it goes well and I am enthused.  If so I will have an easier time pulling together the bank to replace all of the other flooring (all the carpet upstairs, the carpet downstairs, and the fake wood downstairs).

Today was our first "snow day".  It was really some sleet and wind right at freezing temps this morning that did them in.  I have to say how impressed I am.  Long gone are the days of watching the news ticker for delays and cancellations.  I woke to a voicemail from the school district (they provide transportation) indicating they were on a 2 hour delay.  I also had an email from her school indicating a two hour delay.  While I was in the bathroom I got the phone call from the school reiterating the 2 hour delay.  I hadn't even looked out the window yet to get an inkling there could be weather issues.

After getting a bit of work in I woke her with plenty of time... but also just in time to get the call indicating that the school district was closed.  If they're closed we don't have their transportation to school so I went ahead and emailed her teacher to let her know she would do a remote learning day (I was not driving that way if the roads were gross).  About 40 minutes later the call came saying that her school was closed too; at this point I was driving to help my favorite egg drop his car at the dealership for something to get checked.  The roads were a bit sloppy but it had warmed up enough that it was fine.

It definitely took that hour first thing in the morning and a long rest of the day to get my hours in while also taking breaks to facilitate her remote learning.  I would give her the info she needed (since she can't read well enough just yet) and help her understand two sheets and return to work while she finished it and then got to watch some tv.  Loop this 5 times and we managed to finish her work around 2pm. 

A few months ago I purchased a new faucet for my kitchen sink.  Note I said purchased, not installed.  Today my favorite egg said, let's install that... sigh.  It leaks right at the handle and into the cabinet below.  Not sure if it is a bad cartridge or what.  I ordered another (fortunately, the same one is still available both on Amazon and Home Depot), but it won't be here until Friday the 5th.

I quickly learned that if I don't have running water I would be quite challenged to do dishes in a manner I find acceptable - and that was with me bringing pitchers of water from the 1/2 bath.  At least I had the presence of mind to get things going for dinner before we started that task -- too bad I hadn't made and cleaned up from dinner first.

This right here is what I hate about home improvement.  Further, I have to admit, if I had tried to replace this myself I wouldn't have gotten very far as there were pieces of the old one that he had a hard time getting loosened - I would have been doomed.

Here we are again.  Another year has blurred by.

Let's take a look back at 2023:

- I got past my anxieties about traveling after so long without.  I also resolved the lack of cruising situation.  Win-win!  Avery and I took two absolutely delightful vacations, both of which included a cruise, but also a few days before relaxing in paradise. Our time in Galveston and Cocoa beach before each cruise was just as fun and therapeutic as the cruises themselves.  Sailing with a kid that heads off to Adventure Ocean definitely is different.  I didn't really know what to do with myself - but it was nice to have a chance to sit and read.

- We again had passes to the public pool this summer and Avery had a few more swimming lessons. There was a trip to Kennywood (and Avery rode the rides she was big enough for like a champ).  We didn't get out to other new adventures, but I think the vacations counted big time.

- Saffy had her moments this past year that really worried me.  It is to be expected, she's going to be 16 in a few days.  For now, she seems to be doing ok.  The poo accidents are just part of our daily routine now.  I don't love it, but it could be worse.  I'm glad she's still with us.  Zero is still crazy.  He just celebrated his 4th birthday, so I have a couple more years before I can expect him to chill out a bit.

- Church has done well this past year, although we did have a UTI late this year that scared me thinking he was blocked again.  He loves having a new brother.  Barnabas didn't stay little long.  He loves to plop on my chest in the middle of the night and purr his little heart out.  They keep each other entertained.

- We have had more foster cats come and go in 2023:  The three that were with us over last new year (Vader, Buddy, and Christian) all went to on to their forever families.  Then a few as singles that came and went (Viktor, Cupcake)... and one that came and never left (Barnabas)!  Presently we have three more from the trapping efforts this year (Summer, Pickle, and Jackson).

- Supporting the rescue I applied for a few grants.  I am proud to say that we secured a $2000 grant from one of the places I had identified.  The have more trapping to do in one location and of course the bills are constant, so it will definitely help out.  We also helped out at the mass trapping efforts with a few activities; it was an interesting learning experience.

- As noted last year, my mortgage has been stretched out and will be going well into 2024.  Honestly, if it stretches beyond this year I will be disappointed with myself -- but that does necessitate me _really_ stepping up my pace again.  This also means that I need to keep other spending in check (this statement does not apply to cruising, come at me).

- My health hasn't changed.  Take that for what it's worth.  It means I'm still way too fat.  It means I still ache here and there.  I'm not giving up on myself making a change, I just need to find that spark and it isn't something I can manufacture.  The days go by so quickly.

- The house remains neglected. The carpet desperately needs to be replaced, but it doesn't make sense with a 16 year old dog.  I wish there were things on my to do list that weren't major undertakings ($$$$) so I could make a bit of progress.  I did replace a few lights downstairs, so that's something.  I'm quite pleased with what we put in.

- The garden went well with a few exceptions. Carrots did way better than the year before.  Beets did great.  Lettuce did great, tomatoes always do pretty well.  Potatoes did decently.  We had a few peppers, but they were small and unlike last year the cubanelles were duds.  Broccoli was a huge fail.  The pumpkins were a tease.  The one notable win in that I got a lot going from seeds in the basement under a grow light - which is a first for me.

- We did spend quite a few evenings outside enjoying the nicer weather.  It's good to have the swingset, scooters, and the awesome neighbors.  Remember the years where I said I wanted to be a bit more open and friendly with neighbors?  It took some time (and the right people) but success!

- I did take a solid pass on the whole garage clearing some things out (not as much as I probably should have), reorganizing, etc.  Let's not talk about the basement.

- Work is what it is.  A bit like Groundhog's Day with numerous cycles of stress and repeating activities (weekly and monthly statuses) that highlight how quickly time is flying by.

- Let's talk about ick.  Early this year Avery got really sick - vomiting and all - for the first time since she was little.  At least now she knows what her stomach is telling her and she is able to grab the garbage can in time.  Late this year (right after Thanksgiving) I went down with chills and all (flu?) and a cough that continues to plague me.  She's been coughing even longer.  I'm ready for that to all go away.  I will say that I count myself fortunate that we did NOT get sick while on vacation.  Perhaps I need to maintain the crazy amount of preventative vitamins year round for both of us.

- Then there's the kiddo!  She graduated from Pre-K and started Kindergarten at Central Christian Academy (which was indeed my first choice) -- which she gets to ride a bus to (much to her pleasure).  We dance, spin, and laugh in the mornings out front while we wait for the bus.  She even had her first field trip (to the Children's Museum, which I never got around to doing this year, so that's a win).  She's doing well at school learning to read, doing basic math, learning more about God -- all the good things.  She doesn't fight me on doing her homework and likes to read books together.  She also enjoys catechism class, making that necessity a whole lot less painful than I expected.  She remains helpful and kind - the best thing I've ever been a part of.

- This year Avery was Wolverine for Halloween.  She still likes her superheros and cars, but has added transformers to her likes.

Here is the wish list for 2024:

- More cruises!  We do have two booked for this year, one in June and one in July.  We really need to get back to my sister's place too, but I said that last year as well.  The travel window now that we're in school is definitely narrow.

- I said it last year and I'll say it again - I need more local activities.  We didn't get to the Zoo last year or the Pittsburgh Botanical Gardens.  As she gets taller and can do more we need to get back to Kennywood again too. I really need to do what I did a few years ago - and just block a day off for each summer month that we can go do something.

- I will keep going on the mortgage - as noted before, I need to step it back up and get it gone.  Fact is next year I can start contributing to retirement with "catch up" amounts - how horrifying is that?  I'll need those extra funds there.

- We didn't start karate this year, but I'm hoping she'll have interest when she turns 7, which is the age the one school will allow her to start the one style of interest.  I am pretty sure we'll do more with swimming lessons, I want her swimming actual freestyle this year and able to swim in deep water.

- I will continue with my garden.  Spacing out lettuce worked out well this past year.  Give us all of the tomatoes - the kid will gobble them all up.  I need to get things started earlier this year - relatively soon.  We will keep going with potatoes and carrots.  I will try again with my peppers - I do wish cubanelles grew from seed.

- I hate writing this because I get disappointed in myself every year, but I have to say it and I have to feel bad about it if I miss the mark... I want to lose weight.  I also want to stretch more both to reduce the aches and pains but also to regain some of my lost range of motion.

- I also want to learn how to do something new.  Have I made my own pasta yet?  No. Have I figure out how to make a good chinese brown sauce?  No.  This might warrant a separate list.

- Another big goal is to clear things out that I don't need.  Sell it, donate it, trash it - whatever the case may be.  I need to get some things cleared out.

- We will continue to foster cats.  I want to do more to help them identify the resources they need to keep doing the work they're doing.

I hope everyone who stuck it through and read to this point had an amazing 2023.  I pray that your 2024 is blessed.

I went for a massage this morning - definitely needed to work out the knots in my shoulder/back from compensating for my ribs.  The ribs are good - but if I press directly, I can still feel the tenderness.  My cough is 99% gone too.  That means Avery's cough has been going on longer than mine - and mine was around for a month.  Soooo... I called her doctor yesterday and they got her in.  There was no concern about her cough and honestly they felt that it could have an allergy component, so claritin it is.  At least I was able to get her the flu mist while we were there.  She dodged getting the flu when I caught it, but there is still a few months of flu season left.

It's been a good week off.  I managed to get 2 naps in!  They say you can't "catch up" on sleep, but I beg to differ.  I feel so much better.  Yes, I still slept all night both nights w/o issue.

Leading up to Christmas I managed to get all of the cleaning done, which at least means I didn't have a ton of that type of stuff to do this week  I also got that batch of chocolate chip cookies made - we needed it for Santa's plate.  I made a cranberry, pineapple, apple, mandarin orange dish for Christmas eve.  Christmas day was a chicken fajita bake, rice, and salad.  We have one more obligation tomorrow that I need to make something for.  I'm going with another fruit-salad type thing.  I'm so over the big to dos.

Avery seems to be happy with her gifts this year.  We even took a nice long walk yesterday.  Well, I walked, she rode her electric scooter.  I am feeling compelled to take the decorations down.  It would be nice to not need to use a weekend after I'm back to the grind to do all of this.  Maybe with what remains of my time off I will take most everything down and strip the tree to just lights.