Now I'm a Happy Camper!

Saturday morning we woke up and got ourselves going.  It was going to be another day at home so that's a good thing. Got some things done in the house while Ken worked at some things outside.  

Just a few pictures from last week when I didn't have a computer. Ken's doesn't count haha.

We've had quite a few of these lately!

Flourless muffins on the left, Ken's apple oatmeal on the right

Zucchini fries one evening..

John and Karen gave us this little frig for the bunkhouse. I
had Ken cut out the door and the frig fits perfect and still
fits the decor of the bunkhouse. 

Eventually I had myself psyched up enough to gather my camera and computer for the chit chat with the Geek Squad over the phone. With my old operating system on Mac I was able to plug in my camera and waalaa the pictures started transferring. Not so since I got it back. Once I got transferred to the level 2 tech it all began.  They downloaded my software from the camera (which never had to be done before) and were able to transfer pics from the camera to the computer.  The tech was very patient with me, as I'm no expert.  I wrote down the directions of how to do the transfer so we'll see how it goes. 

I found a recipe for my own taco seasoning mix..no salt or
preservatives and it's really good..This is looking at the bottom
of a clear bowl. 

Found a recipe for low carb taco chips. Low carb tortillas
cut into pieces and baked..this is less than 2 carbs! Beats the
17 or more in regular chips. Happy Camper here. 

My mama's turkey roaster..made a delicious one last week..

Turnip "mashed potatoes" yum!!

I had found that I couldn't comment on some of our friends blogs and some I could but wouldn't stay signed in the way it's supposed to..frustrating!  Spent some time googling some info and found it was probably in the privacy settings. Went in there and changed some things what? I really couldn't tell you. 

We were going to have Karen and John over for a fire outside but it was too windy here so we ended up going to their place where they have a wind block for their area.  Nice night, fire and music.  Even ended up dancing to a few songs in their back yard. We got home about 2200 and headed for bed. 

Sunday morning after a restless dream filled night we awoke near 0600 and started the coffee. Visited with our blogging friends and lo and behold I'm signed in just like before! This girl did a cheer (yes I did). I'm so happy! Took our time reading and commenting as it was another stay at home day!  Got some stuff cleaned up and a fire going inside. This morning was close to 33 degrees going to a balmy 55. So it's been a pretty laid back Sunday.  We watched a Boogey Man movie that wasn't too gory and had some snacks for lunch.  

Later in the afternoon we took the quad next door to pick up a flyer I made for Karen so I could make some copies for her once she added their ranch logo. I'll run them back over in a bit. 

Ken wanted tacos for dinner so we'll do that. Happy Hour here at home this evening. Nice, quiet Sunday..those kind of days are nice once in awhile. 

Hope you all enjoy your evening!  

Well, I am not a happy camper yet!

Wednesday morning we headed out towards Reno. A quick trip to Winco and Total Wine.  Got to Best Buy to pick up the Mac and we got right in a few minutes before our scheduled appointment.  Isaac help us, we've had him before.  Even he admits he is not an Apple person and just kind of ran us through things. Nathaniel had said we could figure which pics to put back on the Mac but Isaac didn't know how to do it. Stopped at CVI for lunch and then headed home. I didn't do the blog but did enjoy playing with Mac.  

Thursday morning found us enjoying looking and commenting on blogs.  I had a turkey in the freezer and after watching our Canadian friends enjoy their Thanksgivings I had Ken get it out on Wednesday.  

After our morning routines I got started in the kitchen. It was going to be a typical Thanksgiving dinner only a month early :)  The turkey got stuffed, mashed potatoes and a veggie casserole. I decided to try a new thing, mashed turnips since I wouldn't be eating the stuffing or mashed potatoes. I'm sure I will next month but not this time.  

I found a recipe for the turnips and I'm pleased to say they were awesome. Ken was working in the bathroom so i took him a bite without telling what they were. He thought they were mashed potatoes with some lumps in them. So there ya go. I finished up in the kitchen about 1700.  Happy Hour time! 

We enjoyed our dinner immensely and leftovers for days I'm afraid! haha. 

Ken ran to the dump this am (Friday) and after stopping at John and Karen's for a minute came home. Karen needed help painting some outside furniture so I dawned my best (not) paint clothes and headed over.  A few enjoyable hours and I was home in time to make lunch. Ken was working on the roof to help John out a bit. 

Why am I not a Happy Camper you ask?  Well, tried to load my pictures like usual and it's not working :((  I also am finding that I can't comment on blogs like I used to or get into the blog the same way.  Don't know if maybe I need to sign out and sign back in if that will help? So tomorrow am I will be calling the Geek Squad hoping they can help with the picture problem. :( 

On a positive note, my sister Wendy got to come home from the hospital this am. They were able to get rid of the blockage without surgery this time. I wish her the best and hope she remembers to take it easy for a bit and follow Doctor's orders. 

You all have a great evening.  Hope to get back to normal soon!

Catch up just because I'll forget :)

Decided to do a quick update just so I don't forget everything in the last week or so.  Friday we had a 1140 appointment at Best Buy to take the Mac in for service. Quick trip to Walmart to pick up what we forgot the last time :)  

At Best Buy we got checked in right away with Nathaniel, a very nice and smart young man.  He went through things and then discovered that I had so many pictures on the Mac that was the problem of why it shut down along with some old security software that popped up its ugly head.   Long story short, we bought a outisde hard drive (I believe) and left the Mac there for the updates and for them to transfer the pics.  He thought it would be relatively quick but that store is so busy and they don't have enough "Geeks" for the Geek Squad (my opinion). 

We had a great lunch at CVI and then headed home.  John and Karen invited us over for Happy Hour so of course we went. 

Saturday we had a 0815 appointment with our other neighbors at Dini's for breakfast and that's always enjoyable. I got my Christmas curtains done for the bunkhouse finally.  Ken did his thing outside, and because it's getting cold in the evenings some of that meant getting firewood on the front porch. 

Sunday was baking day for me and trying out making oven fried onion rings.  Ken was bar b quing burgers for dinner. The onion rings definitely need a tweaking or a different recipe but the zuchinni fries turned out well. We went to John and Karen's for Happy Hour once again, but left so we could get home to bar b q. While we were there we mentioned getting a little frig for the bunkhouse and they offered to give us one that was barely used. Yay.  We headed home, made a fire in the pit out back and Ken bar b qued.  Yum

Monday was a stay at home day.  Leftovers for dinner of spaghetti squash, sauce, grilled veggies (ground turkey for Ken).  Ken went and got the frig and it fits perfectly.  I'll do pics when I get the Mac back. 

There is no update on Mac, Nathaniel called on Saturday evening asking a couple of questions and said he was off Sunday and I'm assuming Monday but that he was leaving notes for another tech. I kept hoping to hear, so I called on Sunday evening and spoke with John who thought it would be ready later that evening or first thing Monday..uh huh.. No call Monday, so we'll see today.  We actually have an appointment to pick it up on Thursday so I hope it's not that long! 

My sister Wendy had to got to emergency on Sunday afternoon for stomach pains. She's got a blockage in her intestines, similar to what she had several years ago.  She's still there as of this morning but hoping they can take care of this without surgery. They had to do surgery the last time.  She's such a sweetie but doesn't take care of herself very well.  Hopefully this time she'll do better :) Love ya Wendy!

Mac is sick...

My Mac computer is sick. Going to the Doctor's today so we'll see if I get it back. Bottom line I won't be blogging until I get it back as I am ready to throw this one (Ken's) out the window at 0600 in the am.

Have a great day everyone!

Catch up post!

Friday morning we decided to head for Walmart in Gardnerville over a hundred mile round trip but it needed to be done.  Ken had a list of things he needed to pick up and I always can pick up a few groceries. 

Sunset on Thursday night

Headed out and I noticed my Patriot had a flat tire.  How'd that happen? Oh well, jumped into the Tundra and off we went.  

We did our divide and conquer thing and I was going to check the list I had put on the phone, but left my phone in the truck.  Sure enough we forgot some things, mainly the stuff for an oil change on the Patriot.  No way were we going back inside. Next time.  We got home in time for our salad lunch. We didn't want to head for CVI because we figured we'd probably end up there on Saturday after the Candy Dance craft fair. 

Ken took off the tire and changed it out, we'll take it to Gardnerville next time we head that way.  We bought a flat of solar lights to light up our new path from the back to John and Karen's so Ken got them placed where they need to be. 

We had our Happy Hour out back by the bunkhouse. We didn't start a fire though, because we knew we'd have an extended happy hour and we were getting up early on Saturday. Tacos for dinner again, but heck we like em! 

Sunset Friday night

Pathway from John and Karen's to the bunkhouse!

Saturday morning we got up about 0430 to head out early.  Genoa is about an hour and a half from us and we wanted to be there about 0800 to make sure we found some good parking. 

Sunrise 

We couldn't believe the people already there and the line of cars on the other road.  I took a picture last year of when we got there and then when we were leaving. This year the picture of when we got there looks like when we were leaving!! Unbelievable. We're thinking this is our last year of going, just way too crowded for us! 

Parking lot but if you enlarge and look out further you
can see the huge line of cars coming in!

Cute town and cute houses

People packing the streets at 0800

A house for sale..

Time to get out of here!!

The line coming in as we're leaving

We did support the Genoa Volunteer Fire Department with the purchase of a Screwdriver and a Bloody Mary.  We did some looking and I actually ended up buying this cute Santa plate for Owen and Cassidy.  The artist was busy so we were told to return in an hour.  Ok we can do that.  One more purchase of another Screwdriver and Ken had a Laguinitas in his glass.  We headed over to the other Fire department booth and purchased a shirt for him and an apron for me. Back to pick up our plate and then we took the walk back to the truck. 

The back of Ken's shirt

My apron..

CVI it was for us for lunch.  Great food, good service (Carmen doesn't work weekends)  great prices!  Walked out of there stuffed and buzzed (me anyway)..Naptime on the way home. When we got home I spent a couple of hours napping! Can't tell you the last time I did that! No dinner needed. 

Sunday morning we were up around 0600 or so. Visited with friends and then got ourselves going.  Ken wanted a crock pot dinner with chicken, cauliflower, veggies and some cabbage.  Joe brought us the biggest cabbage I've ever seen so it was a good way to use some up.  Don't have an idea of what I'm going to have.  I worked on getting things back into the dresser we put in the green room. They're both in there now and it looks good. 

The second dresser is in..

Ken worked on our outside light in the back and got it going again. He got my wine cooler set up in the old well house.  It had to have its own circuit breaker so it's done now and filled up with wine :))

Karen called from next door so we're heading over in a bit for Happy Hour but i wanted to get this done first! 

Well, I didn't get it posted before we headed over.  Had a nice visit and a fire outside with them. We got home about 2100. Ken wanted the stuff I made in the crock pot and he loved it! Sometimes the best things are just thrown together and let the pot do its thing! 

We were awake about 0515 this morning (Monday) but ended up falling back to sleep until 0630..uhh half the day is gone! Coffee, visiting with friends, a little treadmill and then time for breakfast.  I made Ken one of the almond flour waffles with eggs he likes. This is different for him as he's not a sweet eater and these really aren't (they would be if he put syrup on them, but he doesn't).  I added two fried eggs and he's a happy camper and so easy with our little waffle maker. 

You don't have the golden color because it's using almond
flour which is darker..

Did some general clean up and Ken did some work outside.  He came in to hang some things for me that we've been meaning to do for a year or so or more! haha. time flies! Paid some bills and then had some veggies and dips for lunch.  Now it's 1415! 

Time to finish off the afternoon.  We will head back to Karen's later to see if I can make up  an invite for her mother's birthday party they're holding at the end of the month. Sure our Happy Hour will be there too..not another 2100 night though! 

Owen was at the pumpkin farm driving a tractor

My nephew Dusty, Chelsea Owen and Cassidy in the sling..

Grandson Seth's Jeep is looking pretty sharp
with new tires, rims and window tinting! 

Ken's sister Diane's Birthday today!
Happy Birthday Di! 

Have a good evening!!

Ophthalmologist appointment, Electrical problems and some baking!

Yesterday we headed for Reno and Ken's ophthalmologist appointment in Reno.  We headed for a quick run through Winco first as his appointment wasn't until 1120.  Love that store and it's hard for me to make a quick trip, but I did. 

We were hoping the glaucoma surgery was a success and fixed Ken's issues. It didn't! The pressure in his eye is a couple of points higher than it was before the surgery...darn!  His doctor gave him some serious eye drops to try for the next month.  One drop in the evenings. It could discolor his eye and cause his eyelashes to grow. As long as it works that's all we care.  If it doesn't the doctor said there are still other options. He has an appointment on the 29th of October. We're hoping for the best!  

My garage sale dresser needed a little care on the sides. Ken
glued it up and he put the knobs on..Tomorrow you'll see
it right side up :) 

After we left there we headed over to Total Wine. We're in Reno right?!  We spent some time and got some good bottles of organic wine.  I ended up buying a case (12 bottles) of different kinds.  I figured we're there so why just get six? haha..I joked to Ken that I spent my social security check on wine and health insurance. Got the yearly increase notice of an extra $58.00 a month I'll be paying for health insurance.  $12.00 for aging ( better than not aging!) and the rest is just because they want to.  Don't want to rush 65 but it'll be cheaper then!  

I was talking to Ken's mom on the phone when we left Total Wine and we were headed to chinese for lunch.  Well before you know it we passed the exit and ended up at Carson Valley Inn..ok with me..my favorite place anyway.  Carmen had our drinks without even asking and then she pretty much knows what I'm ordering..5 alarm turkey burger without the bun and fries ( I only ate 4) so I don't feel too bad about that.  Ken changes between a few things, but we're really pretty predictable. haha. 

We left good and stuffed. Before you know it I had my nap on the way home. I had been awake since a little after 0200 so I was tired.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  Couldn't have been the 1/2 carafe of wine I had could it?! Nah!

Tuesday night when we were in the kitchen the electricity was going on and off and the lights were dimming.  Eventually it cleared itself. Yesterday morning we got up and no electricity in the original part of the house which includes kitchen, living room and green bedroom.  The blue room and main bathroom had power. Oh boy!  Ken fiddled with it a bit and then we had to go to Reno.  When we got home yesterday he went back out to the electrical box and the one in the blue room..anyway he got it narrowed down to what he thinks the problem was!! Yay! Hopefully he'd get it fixed on Thursday. 

This morning we were awake about 0600.  I plugged in the coffee pot using the main bathroom's electrical plug.  We visited with friends and got our day going. After breakfast Ken left to go to town and get the new circuit breaker that was needed out back. I was in the kitchen doing things but not using the oven. Our stove is gas but with electrical ignition so had to use a clicker to start the burners. 

These are spinach artichoke zucchini bites..before they went
in the oven..they were yummy! 

Once he got back from town wa laa a little while later lights on in the kitchen! YAY! For $48.00, time,lot's of patience and common sense we have power back on in the house. Electrical is not Ken's strong point but sure couldn't tell me that after these couple of days! Sure don't realize all you use electrical for until you don't have it! Thank goodness we didn't have to call an electrician either!! 

I spent the day in the kitchen doing some baking.  We're having tacos for dinner so got that all together so all I have to do is cook some shells for Ken. 

I smile every time I use this moose hot mat.  Grandson Adam
gave it to me for Christmas many years ago..but I find it's the
one I use most often! 

Thanks Patsy! These are awesome! Chocolate chip cookies with
dark chocolate
I only made half a batch as
I'm the only one who eats them! 

Peanut butter and banana flourless muffins..the right peanut
butter makes all the difference :)

Well, you know what time it is!  Happy Hour!  Have a wonderful evening all of you! 

Hanging out at home getting things done!

Sunday morning we awoke around 0600 and did our usual thing.  The mornings are so cool, nice though.  We had the broccoli quiche for breakfast and it was delicious. Ken liked it too!  Enough leftover for Monday's breakfast.  

Ken started a project out on the side yard.  He's making a path that will end at our neighbors John and Karen's backyard gate.  They are putting in a gate that we can just ride the quad to their place or walk over.  They are having a big party for her mom's 75th birthday at the end of October.  We offered up the bunkhouse and the Komfort fifth wheel if they need to house a few guests.  She was planning on lining the road we have coming around for the guests to walk over in the evening.  This path Ken is making will shorten that route immensely. 

I decided it was time to bake some banana bread, apple muffins and my peanut butter/banana muffins.  All went well except for the peanut butter flourless muffins.  Every time I've made them I've used the peanut butter that you ground yourself at Winco. Peanuts only. This time I was out, but had the Adam's brand of natural peanut butter...well...these didn't even cook together! It was just a blob of a mess. Wasted time and energy.  Adam's peanut butter says only peanuts and salt.  It separates and when you buy it there's oil on top.  The ground one at Winco is just peanuts and the machine grounds the nuts. That peanut butter never separates. There's something going on there for sure! 

Working on the path...truck full of tumbleweeds! 

Put my Fall quilt back on in the bunkhouse..pretty soon
Christmas quilt time!! :)

Later in the day we had our Happy Hour while Ken bar b q ued some turkey burgers and I made him oven baked fries, I had broccoli tots.  YUM>  Lotsa broccoli lately, but when it's fresh from the field hard not to eat it up! 

Monday morning I was awake before 0500 and started the coffee at 0530.  Then I woke Ken up with some muffins and coffee to start the day.  We finished the broccoli quiche this am and it was still tasty! 

Ken headed outside and i got myself ready and ran to Raley's for just a couple of things.  Ken wants green bean casserole to go with his bar b q  chicken tonight so I needed cream of mushroom soup.  A quick trip and home again. 

This is what the area looked like before Ken started making
a path to Karen and John's

We had a beautiful full moon..sure y'all did too!

After our salad lunch I went outside to the garage to paint the dresser I decided to keep for the green room. Not too difficult and it looks so much better already. Just have to wait for the glass knobs to match the other dresser. Hopefully they'll be here before too long.  

Before...I got this at a garage sale many years ago for under
$10.00.  Don't know why I never did anything with the paint
job..

I'll bring the dresser inside once the knobs are delivered..

Our neighbor Joe stopped by after work and brought several heads of lettuce and cauliflower freshly picked from the field.  I'm not big on cauliflower, but again it's been years.  If nothing else I'll be busy tomorrow freezing it...a good problem wouldn't ya say?! 

We had a nice surprise this am.  Ken was looking at emails and he had one from Toyota talking about our contract ending in a month. We thought it was referring to our service contract, but NOPE...our truck will be paid off next month!! 4 years already! YAY!  The plan is though to keep putting the payment away and when we decide to buy a new truck in a few years we'll have a nice down payment.  

Happy Hour now so y'all have a great night!! 

Well, that didn't get posted so here's Tuesday's blog too..

We woke up at not quite 0600 after a wild night of dreams..geez I was glad to wake up!  Coffees, muffins, visiting with our blogging friends and getting the day going.  Ken in the shower and the treadmill for me.  No excuse as we don't have to be anywhere today.  

Breakfast and then Ken headed outside to get some work done.  It was 34 degrees here this am but going for 80 in the afternoon, just perfect. 

After my shower it was time to get going in the kitchen.  Time to do something with all the cauliflower and lettuce Joe brought yesterday. I cleaned all the lettuce and bagged up the good stuff. Then on to the cauliflower.  Honestly in 46 years of being married, I've never handled the stuff except for what's in a veggie tray bought at the store. :)  It was something my mom cooked sometimes at home, but I didn't like it. Ken likes it with veggie dip.  I blanched and individually froze the little flowerettes. Now we have bags of cauliflower.  One head I cleaned and it's in the refrigerator to go with some dip later this week. 

Now on Pinterest and carb websites cauliflower mashed "potatoes" seems to be all the rage.  Ok I gave it a shot. I didn't make much, but sure made a mess in the kitchen. I figured if I didn't like it I didn't want to throw away a bunch of it. Honestly, it wasn't bad, but sure wasn't mashed potatoes.  Mine turned out more like grits (which I love). I took the little bowl to Ken and he said, "reminds me of grits"..ok.  So, when I get my next craving (and don't want to be bad) it will be cauliflower. There ya go! 

Mashed cauliflower potatoes..I call them grits!

After our lunch I made up the rest of the broccoli tots from the other night and the oven fries that didn't get cooked. Pretty much leftovers for dinner tonight so that makes it nice and easy.  

Broccoli tots and oven fries.  I used almond meal instead of
bread crumbs so it does affect the cooking and texture. They
still taste awesome!

Ken got the path done to John and Karen's and then he cleaned over by the temporary gate to their place. Looks so nice. We have learned we don't want to go too crazy with clearing the desert.  Every where you clear you've got to maintain. So this is just perfect. 

The new trail going across to John and Karen's.  We're going
to get some solar patio lights to light the way

Here ya go Don, no tractor needed he's got a mini one..with
a pull behind trailer 

Ken put the Tundra back together with his yellow box and rubber
matting to protect the bed. He added a piece of plywood so things
will slide easier

Tomorrow, Wednesday we head for Reno (90 miles one way) for Ken's glaucoma surgery checkup.  I'm hoping while we're there to be able to make a stop at Total Wine for more of the organic wine I like.  Then a quick one to Winco for some of the real ground peanut butter. So we'll see. 

Going way back here...My Oma holding my sister Linda, then me
my cousin Erica and my sister Wendy..

I have been telling my sister Linda that her granddaughter
Cassidy looks just like she did as a baby..thinking this
proves it! 

Cassidy's big brother Owen and a bunny :)

Owen wants to take after his cousin Adam in mountain climbing..getting
a head start!

Eric took the 61 Chevy to his little town of Cool to get a little
gas...runs like a champ!

Notice the plates expired in May of 1997..he said he was glad
he didn't have to explain the old plates to anyone :) It's had a
non op since then..

Grandson Seth got some new tires and wheels for the
Jeep..with the help of Dad and  making the wheel
wells bigger! 

Almost Happy Hour time so see ya later! :))  Have a wonderful evening!