Sam Squared

                                          As a reminder in case you feel repetitiveness to my Friday posts, I copy the previous week, delete the old and update as I go along the week. This will help me add as the week goes on. Here's my recap of Friday, February 13 to Thursday, February, 19 . I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing.  Use it Up/Avoid Waste    Matched up three pairs of socks from the assorted sock bag. I noticed my supply had been dwindling. Turned two with big holes in the heel into Swifter duster covers. These were just Hanes socks but maybe I'll learn to darn, but, I can always use rags.  Avoiding Spending/Saving on needs Entertainment  continued to be  cheap this past week with a lot of Olympic watching. . Meals have all been from loss leaders and adapted to what fill in items are low cost but nutritious...

               I'm trying to use this gift of early retirement better than I feel I have been since my days became my own last April. Now granted, I have substitute taught a few days, took a 12 week part time contract, travelled  a total of 6 weeks (two short and a long) and then got into the holiday season which seems to have calendar of its own. My days vary depending on it the big dog is here and if he's being particularly clingy, antsy and we need to get outside more. But typically, while my days vary, typically each day is a  mix of life admin, housework, errands, meal preparation, personal care/exercise, and free time. Here was a glimpse from yesterday.      My daughter had stayed over the night before, so I didn't even get up with the big dog, but lazed in bed until after 7:00 when I then started coffee. I got showered and dressed and by then, could guzzle down cup number one before brushing my teeth and taking him ...

      Photo by Tara Clark On Tuesdays I try and gather a list of things that have made me smile or brought a bit of cheer. Spring is in the air, but it's a bit false as anyone in Minnesota knows, we do not get through the highschool winter state tournament season with out one or two major snow falls. Still, I'll start with weather in my list. I like that grocery stores carry simple bouquets.   Not my shop above but I enjoy seeing them and occasionally buying a bunch.  Weekend temperatures were crazy hitting the 50's° F. I watched the men's hockey game Saturday and took walks during both period breaks as it seemed silly to be inside for three hours straight. Lots of people were out and there was a cheery mood.  My sister's cat, plus the wanderer instantly greeted me by weeks end. Even the aloof one rubbed up against me and let me give him a little pet.  My sister had a great time, so glad, as she's going to have a rough time after her foot procedur...

      Valentine's Day is come and gone, and I I had not a hint of the day beyond stupid adverts popping up during the Olympics. My sister got home late Saturday night so I didn't have cat feeding duty today. We got along just fine and even the black and white one seemed to like me coming by weeks end. Of course, he knew I was good lady and he likes his food. I tried getting pup outside a lot with the warm temps, but as you can see from this little video, the melt freeze, melt, freeze makes for challenging walks with an old dog.       This week should be quiet and slow. My daughter has tomorrow off for Presidents Day so no big dog tomorrow. Friday is same sisters surgery. I asked for a few favorites from her for recuperation and lasagna and sloppy joes were instant requests so I'll make two separate pans of lasagna and a batch of sloppy joes. She likes goulash how my mom made it with leftover sloppy Joe meat. I'll make that too over the weekend but unli...

      Screen shot of a Jacquie Lawson Animated card      It's Valentines Day-not that I do much to celebrate it. If you do, I hope you enjoy. I liked it as a child and as a parent. The cheesy little cards bought in bundles, then carefully put together with a sucker or mini candy bar. One year I hit a great deal on the conversation heart boxes for both the older kids and those were their give away for the school Valentine's exchange, but we cut out assorted pink, red, and purple hearts to attach as the tag. With the youngest, I think we used fruit chews or fruit by the foot as the treat, though not at all healthier than candy but it felt like it was.       The grandmas got into Valentines action. My mom had a lot of grandchildren, but she'd buy the individually wrapped Russell Stover heart for each of them. The other grandma, not near the numbers of grandkids my mom had, but to this day sends a card with a $5 bill in it. Quite appreciated...

                                        As a reminder in case you feel repetitiveness to my Friday posts, I copy the previous week, delete the old and update as I go along the week. This will help me add as the week goes on. Here's my recap of Friday, February 6 to Thursday, February, 12 . I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing. I'm adding a subcategory, technically part of avoid spending and saving on needs, but with an emphasis on being more intentional- Use It Up/Prevent Waste. Use it Up/Avoid Waste  We had a very simple, but delicious little Super Bowl spread with loss leader pizzas, using the last of the Christmas brie with pears, some sausage my son received at Christmas in a charcuterie box, plus various chips and dip. I had these fun napkins from years ago.  Made four mini loaves of banana bread from bananas that ripened oddly My weekly b...

      In my old blog, before my husband passed away, I dedicated Tuesday  to find something positive to post about. The reason why I did Tuesday and not Thankful Thursday as so many people do was because I dreaded Tuesday's. Monday always felt like a brand new week and I was ready to begin. But by midday Tuesday, I was dragging low. The work week was in full on problem mode it seemed. I'd be juggling work and life and Tuesdays seemed crowded in both. Being retired, I don't have that same angst about Tuesdays. I don't have a crowded calendar. If I don't get something done, no worries, it can be done the next day instead of pulling a late night to get it done.       But to break up the week a bit, I think it's still a nice day to highlight anything positive in my life or that I'm seeing for others. Admittedly, some weeks it feels like I had to dig deep to find something worthy to post. Most of life is just live, rinse, repeat and that's not necessar...

      I enjoyed the Super Bowl and the halftime show. If fools want to explode on the Internet arguing about entertainment performed in Spanish in the middle of a football field, they're free to do it and look ridiculous doing so. Did I know any of the music? No, but to be fair, I rarely know anything music wise in the last decade; just ask my trivia friends just how unhelpful I am in certain sound rounds. The wedding was a real wedding I learned! Pedro Pascal and Jessica Alba dancing on the porch. The old men playing dominoes. How much more wholesome do people want?  Green Day was phenomenal to open the game and the always wonderful Brandi Carlile's America the Beautiful would bring a tear to a Patriots eye. (Maybe that's why the Patriots fell so flat on the field, too choked up, lol). Green Day      It was a small gathering. I ate too much pizza and as it's been ages since I made black bean and corn salsa ( some call it Cowboy Caviar), I went to town...

                                       As a reminder in case you feel repetitiveness to my Friday posts, I copy the previous week, delete the old and update as I go along the week. This will help me add as the week goes on. Here's my recap of Friday, January 30 to Thursday, February, 5. I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing.  Avoiding Spending/Saving on needs I mostly just wandered but spent a full $2.25 total on these wildflower seed/ gift tag/ card ( which I'll use for MIL for Mother's Day and plant for her) and a very cute pick for spruce tip pot next Christmas. I really need February to because lower than low spend month and tuck anything unspent in my line items towards Greece. I took out my spending money for the month in cash and when it's gone, it's gone, but I've got ideas to make the month not feel tight entertainment wise. Really planned m...

      I'm blogging up a storm this week. I'm in full avoidance mode, even though I made my hefty goal list for February. I'm making lists, getting a thought in my head, then going down rabbit holes and links to other rabbits to chase.       Yep, I "research" then write when I should be spending my days clearing shelves, going on donation runs, or getting items thrown out. I've not been a complete shut in though. I get outside with the dogs. The big guy chases balls, rarely returning, making me go to him. The old man just saunters the yard, exploring the perimeter. Little Miss watches from the patio doors. I spent a long day at a show choir competition. It was enjoyable, but I probably will not attend more than one a year. When it's not my own kid, there's only so many mashups of Broadway, pop, and movie themes set to choreography that I want to sit through. I had a night out with the mom friends- really therapy session, but not for me this time.  ...

           I mentioned I'm starting to play around flight, accomodations, and other details associated with potential trips. Even if deferred until next spring, Scotland is top of my list, probably via London first. I easily could have spent another week ( months) there and not been bored. Going that far, I'd want to spend several weeks. It's just too hard to spend that kind of money in airfare for a one week trip. Pup is a big consideration though, so need to make sure he's cared for at a house.       My friend has thrown out the option of maybe even us camping when I get to Scotland to stretch the budget. I was pretty cold to the idea thinking if I'm going that far, I want comfort. But, I've thrown Googling a few campground type accomodations and my goodness would it be beautiful to wake up and have a good hike in the Scottish greens or down to the coast. I'm no longer ruling it out, though a few musts include easy access to a toilet a...

           I'm going to put myself into the deep and have a few goals that fit within my overall 2026 plan to have a more contented life. I've got six categories (7 if money goals are included) and know I can't tackle a lot in each, but aiming for intentional effort.  Personal healthcare   Schedule mammogram Walk four times per week, 30 minutes or more. Strength, toning 3-4 times per week.  Research alternative seasoning that brings out flavor similar to salt, but without salt (recommendations please)  Lose 3 pounds and be back at a certain target weight by March 1. Get through February 14th with some big distraction. Even though Valentines was never a big deal in our marriage, it's still a painful reminder of loss and sadness on many levels Social Battery/Connectedness Schedule one outing with a friend monthly Schedule one group outing with mom friends  Play trivia at least 1X this month  Decrease Facebook to no more than one ...

     My heart, mon coeur, is a bit fuller after Sunday's comments. How nice to get such special comments and encouragement to blog about anything. Lucette commented in French, giving me the opportunity to try to reply in my horrible remnants of the language that 40 years ago, while not fluent, was fairly capable. Maybe it's sparked a new passion not through duo lingo or the Facebook advertised three hour sales pitch guys, but to find local language classes. Peut tetre.       I think I shared that I spent the summer I was 18 in an exchange program and lived with a family in Solies Pont, France not too far from Toulon. I've long since lost contact with the family. They were frequent hosts and I bet they had dozens of foreign youth and young adults in their lives, too many to track. In fact, two English girls overlapped my stay by a few weeks. Somewhere I have faded pictures but did not do a good job saving or organizing after my parents home, to our firs...

      I'm still doing my Friday Fiscal Wellness Checks but have been slacking in other blogging. I'm trying to figure out if there's anything to actually blog about without me going down either politically driven frustration path or bits of whininess about widowhood and feeling left behind in life path. So, on those days, which has been most, I've just not been blogging at all.       I thought I'd try and breath a little life into this space and at least maybe share some things we might chat about in the comments or share snippets of outings. I'm also trying to come up with lists of topics I want to research or explore and use the blog to capture. I don't know how well this will go, but if you're of a mind to, feel free to hang out with me.      My wander around a garden center in January was a tiny bit of a morning brightener after the doctor. I thought the inside would be much bigger than it was, but there was still a good assortment o...