The kids and I went to several thrift stores today in search of kids clothing. My kids have outgrown a lot of their winter clothing and being a growing family on a tight budget can be difficult and stressful. We managed to find some of the items on our list from the thrift stores. The only things we still need of several pairs of pants for Ashley, which I found on Ebay and I bid $5 per pair on them. I hope to win at least a few pairs of them, as she really needs them. Also, I need to take the kids to Target and get them a few new pjs. Then, I will be finished.
Today, we got up this morning and heard kittens crying outside. Come to find out the mom cat had be attacked by the wild coyotes and her kittens were left abandoned. We took them and drove them to the humane society. One of the was pure black and the other was black and white. Poor things, I bet they got cold at night.
Lastly, a few minutes ago I stepped outside and two huge raccoons were behind me. Trash was everywhere. Eventally, they had gotten into our trash and had a party. After I started cleaning up the mess, they just sat their watching me work and eventually they climbed up the trees.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
Halloween treat prep, San Francisco?, Ebay stuff, and Knitting
Today we got the kid's homeschool group Halloween treat bags ready that we are gonna pass out. We got cute Halloween pencils, erasers, candy, and glow bracelets to hand out in little paper Halloween bags. We have also cleaned up outside and put the summer-time plants away, due to their beginnings of seasonal death. Christian contacted another traveling agency today. He said they have jobs in San Francisco that we may be interested in taking in a few weeks. The contract here in Southern California is over Dec.1st.
Today we had dinner while watching the debates and then I cleaned up the kitchen. Now we are just having a few glasses of wine and I'm fixing to read to the kids before they get tucked into bed. Christian isn't feeling well today. He has been complained that his jaw is hurting since this morning and he turned down steak this evening, which tells me that it must be really painful, because he loves steak.
I mailed off the 1st package sold on Ebay today of the kid's clothes. The 2nd was paid via an e-check so that one will be mailed off later this week. The women's clothing couldn't be mailed off because I discovered that it would take several boxes to fit it all in and that would cause me to actually lose money, which I would never agree to do, so I refunded their payment and explained the situation.
I am continuing to practice my knitting each night and seem to get a bit more comfortable with it each day. It can be difficult with my OCD because I seemed to have skipped one stitch early in the job and every time I notice or think about it, it bothers me, but I have not restarted the entire thing, but continue to press on and practice more, telling myself that I am not making anything special, but only practicing. I have to press on if I plan to learn about the knit socks and fingerless gloves in the near future. Both those items would be wonderful to be able to knit for use in Northern California, whether it be Eureka or San Francisco.
Today we had dinner while watching the debates and then I cleaned up the kitchen. Now we are just having a few glasses of wine and I'm fixing to read to the kids before they get tucked into bed. Christian isn't feeling well today. He has been complained that his jaw is hurting since this morning and he turned down steak this evening, which tells me that it must be really painful, because he loves steak.
I mailed off the 1st package sold on Ebay today of the kid's clothes. The 2nd was paid via an e-check so that one will be mailed off later this week. The women's clothing couldn't be mailed off because I discovered that it would take several boxes to fit it all in and that would cause me to actually lose money, which I would never agree to do, so I refunded their payment and explained the situation.
I am continuing to practice my knitting each night and seem to get a bit more comfortable with it each day. It can be difficult with my OCD because I seemed to have skipped one stitch early in the job and every time I notice or think about it, it bothers me, but I have not restarted the entire thing, but continue to press on and practice more, telling myself that I am not making anything special, but only practicing. I have to press on if I plan to learn about the knit socks and fingerless gloves in the near future. Both those items would be wonderful to be able to knit for use in Northern California, whether it be Eureka or San Francisco.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Learning to knit again, crocheting along, and Homeschool Halloween Party
I was just retaught how to knit a basic stitch and cast on yesterday by my friend at park day, Stephanie. She even loaned me a ball of yarn and connected needles to practice with. :) I am also excited about next park day with the homeschool group here because we are having a Halloween party. We will all be bring a potluck item and a bag of candy to pass out to the kids who will be "trick or treating" to each parent. They are also going to be doing various crafts and games. My kids are really excited because they get to go in their costumes.
I plan on knitting at least one or two rows each night for practice so that I don't forget. Then working a while on our crocheted blanket, which is coming along great. I cannot wait until I get good enough to knit socks and fingerless gloves, which we will be able to use a lot in Northern California. It is usually pretty chilly by the coast and those are quite expensive to purchase at the store completely knitted.
We went to see the Black Knight yesterday afternoon at the cheap theater. We hadn't been to see a movie in a while so it was really nice. Then we went next door to the large Hispanic grocery store because they had a one day sale on chicken legs. We got like 10 pds. of chicken legs to BBQ for like $8. We had mashed potatoes and salad wedges along with them. It was yum, plus a really nice meal on a budget. We also have a bunch of chicken legs leftover, although I am not much of a meat person, unless it is homemade burgers or porterhouse steak, which is the best. Although, porterhouse is quite pricey, so we cannot do that too often.
So, I am including a picture of my beginnings of my knitting and what I have completed on my blanket.
I plan on knitting at least one or two rows each night for practice so that I don't forget. Then working a while on our crocheted blanket, which is coming along great. I cannot wait until I get good enough to knit socks and fingerless gloves, which we will be able to use a lot in Northern California. It is usually pretty chilly by the coast and those are quite expensive to purchase at the store completely knitted.
We went to see the Black Knight yesterday afternoon at the cheap theater. We hadn't been to see a movie in a while so it was really nice. Then we went next door to the large Hispanic grocery store because they had a one day sale on chicken legs. We got like 10 pds. of chicken legs to BBQ for like $8. We had mashed potatoes and salad wedges along with them. It was yum, plus a really nice meal on a budget. We also have a bunch of chicken legs leftover, although I am not much of a meat person, unless it is homemade burgers or porterhouse steak, which is the best. Although, porterhouse is quite pricey, so we cannot do that too often.
So, I am including a picture of my beginnings of my knitting and what I have completed on my blanket.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Movies and Emotions on Family
Today we rented a few Redbox movies and watched one with the kids. I crocheted a few rows on our blanket while watching the movie. We have basically had a lazy "hang out at home" day. Tomorrow will be a bit more busy. We are going to the homeschool group weekly park day to let the kids socialize with other kids for a few hours. We are planning on running into the large Hispanic grocery store because they have a sale on chicken legs for like 79 cents a pound. I am planning on making mashed potatoes and veggies to go along with them. We are also planning on taking the kids to see a movie. Caleb won 2 free movie tickets a few weeks ago, so it will be less costly, plus I got the movie candy for the kids from Walmart to take to the movie, instead of buying their expensive candy. You can get a box of the same candy or chocolate for 98 cents what you would pay $4.00 at the theater for. We usually get a few sodas and a popcorn, so they still make a bit of money off us, only because I can't sneak that stuff in.
My clothing lots on Ebay all have bids but one lot, so most of them will be being mailed off on Friday, along with our absentee ballots. Right now the bids are around $5.50 per lot, but hopefully this last 19 hours will be where I will see the move increase in price. I could really use the money to put towards some new winter clothes for the kids. Unlike most kids, my kids just don't have all the grandparents who fork out money or time with my kids to take them shopping. Sometimes, I feel a bit jealous and cheated by hearning about others parents taking them out shopping and doing all this fun stuff with their grandkids, but I suppose such is life. Two of my children's grandparents aren't alive anymore and the other two have nothing to do with them at all. My kids are quite cheated, but I can only hope that they don't know that. My own grandmother, their great grandmother, tries to fill in the gaps that remain for them.
My clothing lots on Ebay all have bids but one lot, so most of them will be being mailed off on Friday, along with our absentee ballots. Right now the bids are around $5.50 per lot, but hopefully this last 19 hours will be where I will see the move increase in price. I could really use the money to put towards some new winter clothes for the kids. Unlike most kids, my kids just don't have all the grandparents who fork out money or time with my kids to take them shopping. Sometimes, I feel a bit jealous and cheated by hearning about others parents taking them out shopping and doing all this fun stuff with their grandkids, but I suppose such is life. Two of my children's grandparents aren't alive anymore and the other two have nothing to do with them at all. My kids are quite cheated, but I can only hope that they don't know that. My own grandmother, their great grandmother, tries to fill in the gaps that remain for them.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Halloween Decor and Pumpkin Bread
Today I was planning on taking the kids to a few thrift stores around the city. Well, that was kind of a flop because the few thrift stores that I found were so creepy with bar all over their windows and punk guys hanging around outside that I didn't think it wise to bother with it. I have decided that I will stick with going to Target, Kohl's, Ross, and Children's Place for the kids clothes that they will need for this fall/winter. I would love to save money, but my daughter is already hard to fit and I'm sure that those type of thift stores just won't cut it.
So, after giving up on thift stores, we ran into the Dollar Tree and got a few $1 Halloween decorations. I found these cute blow up decorations to hang from the RV ceiling. We got a blow up bat, a spider, a jack o latern, and skeleton. I also got a bag of fake spider webbing that included 4 fake spiders. I grabbed a thing of colored construction paper for the kids for school while I was there and a box of privacy envelopes for mailing bills off. My total was only $7. I went by the Starbucks drive thru and got the kids a Frappicino to split and a small pumpkin spice one for me and we went home. The kids finished their schoolwork while I put up the decorations. We even have fake spiderwebs and spiders outside under the gazebo.
After the hubby went off to work, I finished social studies and art with the kids, washed dishes, folded and put up clothes and then made pumpkin bread for breakfast tomorrow and to warm the RV before bedtime. I'm just waiting on it to cool down so that I can put the loaf pan lid on it.
I have included pics of the decorations and of the queen size single crochet blanket I am working on for our bed. I only have the first full line completed. It will be a long project. Enjoy!!!
So, after giving up on thift stores, we ran into the Dollar Tree and got a few $1 Halloween decorations. I found these cute blow up decorations to hang from the RV ceiling. We got a blow up bat, a spider, a jack o latern, and skeleton. I also got a bag of fake spider webbing that included 4 fake spiders. I grabbed a thing of colored construction paper for the kids for school while I was there and a box of privacy envelopes for mailing bills off. My total was only $7. I went by the Starbucks drive thru and got the kids a Frappicino to split and a small pumpkin spice one for me and we went home. The kids finished their schoolwork while I put up the decorations. We even have fake spiderwebs and spiders outside under the gazebo.
After the hubby went off to work, I finished social studies and art with the kids, washed dishes, folded and put up clothes and then made pumpkin bread for breakfast tomorrow and to warm the RV before bedtime. I'm just waiting on it to cool down so that I can put the loaf pan lid on it.
I have included pics of the decorations and of the queen size single crochet blanket I am working on for our bed. I only have the first full line completed. It will be a long project. Enjoy!!!
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Ebay, Weather and Crocheting
We've been busy over the past several days. Several nights ago I was up with the kids until nearly 11pm going through their last years winter clothing with them. They have outgrown a lot of their clothing and so I put all of their winter clothing in lots on Ebay to try and make a little money to put towards the clothing I will need to get for them this winter. There clothing isn't cheap as they get older. So far all three winter lots have had their first bid, so it can only get better from here.
The weather here is in between fall and summer and it cannot decide which way to go yet. The last few days the highs were in the 60s and this week the highs are in the high 80's or low 90's. It makes it difficult when you only have so much room for clothing inside the RV and you need to store off-season clothing in the storage outside in the storage areas below. Hopefully we will switch to fall-like weather soon.
So, we have decided how we want to do our queen sized crocheted blanket. We have chosen the yarn and we have decided that it will be single crocheted instead of double crocheted. It will take a lot longer then a double crocheted blanket, but it will be thicker and warmer. We will have to get the yarn a few skeins at a time from JoAnn's because we cannot afford all the yarn needed at once. Good thing their is a JoAnn's here and in NorCal.
Well, I better get off here for now. I need to get started homeschooling and working on the laundry for the day.
The weather here is in between fall and summer and it cannot decide which way to go yet. The last few days the highs were in the 60s and this week the highs are in the high 80's or low 90's. It makes it difficult when you only have so much room for clothing inside the RV and you need to store off-season clothing in the storage outside in the storage areas below. Hopefully we will switch to fall-like weather soon.
So, we have decided how we want to do our queen sized crocheted blanket. We have chosen the yarn and we have decided that it will be single crocheted instead of double crocheted. It will take a lot longer then a double crocheted blanket, but it will be thicker and warmer. We will have to get the yarn a few skeins at a time from JoAnn's because we cannot afford all the yarn needed at once. Good thing their is a JoAnn's here and in NorCal.
Well, I better get off here for now. I need to get started homeschooling and working on the laundry for the day.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Halloween Fun and Muddy Mess !!!!
Last night the kids and I did a few Halloween crafts to decorate the RV main room. We made Halloween cupcakes together and they loved decorating one of them by themselves. Before bedtime, I read them a chapter in the 3rd book of the Rats of Nimh series that we have been reading together for several months. I felt bad because I couldn't afford to take them to Six Flags on the Homeschool day when it is cheaper to go for Homeschooled kids. Even with the cheaper tickets, the cost would still be $125 with parking. It's just not in our budget.
Yesterday, the kids also played in the sand and mixed it with water and made lots and lots of mud! They made mud pies and mud cookies. There was mud on the table cloth and mud all over the outdoor carpets. It was a real mess, but I was just glad that they were being kids and having a good time. I went outside after they were finished and hosed them down and put them in the shower. Then I went outside and hosed their sandals off, hosed the table and the carpets, along with all their sand toys.
The weather was awesome today with a high of 76 degrees, along with a light breeze. Right now at 8pm it is wonderful outside. We are sharing a bottle of Refresh Turning Leaf Red Moscato 2011 California right now. It is our favorite wine, plus it's a red wine so it's the best for us. My hubby was supposed to go to work tonight, but was cancelled, so we are spending some time together.
Below are pictures of the kids finished crafts, cupcakes and their muddy play time...enjoy!!!
Yesterday, the kids also played in the sand and mixed it with water and made lots and lots of mud! They made mud pies and mud cookies. There was mud on the table cloth and mud all over the outdoor carpets. It was a real mess, but I was just glad that they were being kids and having a good time. I went outside after they were finished and hosed them down and put them in the shower. Then I went outside and hosed their sandals off, hosed the table and the carpets, along with all their sand toys.
The weather was awesome today with a high of 76 degrees, along with a light breeze. Right now at 8pm it is wonderful outside. We are sharing a bottle of Refresh Turning Leaf Red Moscato 2011 California right now. It is our favorite wine, plus it's a red wine so it's the best for us. My hubby was supposed to go to work tonight, but was cancelled, so we are spending some time together.
Below are pictures of the kids finished crafts, cupcakes and their muddy play time...enjoy!!!
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