Tag Archives: bills

Tipping The Balance

By | | , ,
8 Comments

The new garage roof is doing its job, keeping the garage dry! The project isn’t finished yet, but it is beginning to wind down. Last night Attila puttered instead of building. He spent his evening putting away tools, organizing materials, watering the garden, and just generally taking stock of what still needs to be done.

My attention is drifting away from the project. I am still cooking and making sure that everything on the domestic front runs smoothly enough, so that Attila is completely free of the day-to-day tasks that keep a home comfortable and functioning. But I am ceasing to watch, listen, keep a third eye focused on what he is doing. He is no longer working on ladders and on heights, which is a big relief to both of us. My mind is beginning to wander back into my own interests, welcome back me.

Yesterday the bills for the project arrived in the mailbox. Yikes! After careful navigation, I rearranged the financial structure to pay those bills. It will be close to Christmas before Peter is repaid by Paul, but it should all proceed smoothly provided belts are tightened, and discretionary spending avoided.

What a season, new windows, new attic insulation, and a new garage roof! These renovations were all expensive, by our standards, and vital to the integrity of Mist Cottage. Attila and I both agree, it is so much more like a home than a science project now, the balance has been tipped!

We are slipping towards what life will be like, Attila to his garden and studio, me to my research, web, and domestic projects.

Today seems much worse, weather wise, than yesterday. It was already 22C when I looked at the thermometer outside the kitchen window early this morning. I am very fortunate that I can stay comfortably busy inside Mist Cottage, at a temperature of 23C, with relatively low humidity. I will be glad when this heat wave subsides, but it won’t be today.

We picked up the car at the garage yesterday, but were unable to pay the bill because the owner was just locking everything up when we arrived, he had an appointment to get to. Today I paid a visit to the garage to pay the bill. Afterwards I went to the dollar store to look for materials to deter the rabbits from eating the beans and peas. I bought some bamboo trellises, and laid them along the outside of the fence, maybe that will discourage the furry fellas.

The air quality is very low today, breathing the cloying air is unpleasant. It was quite a relief to arrive home and walk into a lovely 23C environment, where the air is relatively fresh and easier to breath.

Attila was just too tired, and too hot, to work on the garage tonight. Best to rest, I say. With a humidex of 43C or 109F, it is best not to push, working all day in a hot factory was pushing pretty hard already. Heaven only knows how hot it was in there!

Time for another experiment in the Instant Pot. A recipe found on the internet, for Spicy Orange Chicken baked in the oven, sounded very appealing. Could it be adapted to the Instant Pot? There was only one way to find out, try it! And so a new recipe was born, Spicy Orange Chicken With Rice & Vegetables. It was a big hit with Attila, and I loved it too! Of course, writing it all down for oneself sometimes means ingredients are forgotten, or instructions seem vague to others, so feedback on the new recipe is welcome.

Well, I hope everyone who lives in heat wave affected areas is staying cool and healthy! And that everyone is comfortable in their circumstances!

Worldly Distractions

Weather

Another stinker of a day!!!

HEAT WARNING

23°C
Date: 7:00 AM EDT Thursday 5 July 2018
Condition: Partly Cloudy
Pressure: 102.3 kPa
Tendency: Rising
Temperature: 23.2°C
Dew point: 22.3°C
Humidity: 94%
Wind: S 11 km/h
Humidex: 33
Visibility: 24 km
dateDetailed Forecast
Today A mix of sun and cloud. 30 percent chance of showers this afternoon with risk of a thunderstorm. Wind becoming southwest 20 km/h gusting to 40 this afternoon. High 34 except 28 near Lake Ontario. Humidex 43 (109.4F). UV index 10 or very high.

Quote

“Our own physical body possesses a wisdom which we who inhabit the body lack.”
Henry Miller
1891 – 1980

Fly Strip

By | | , ,
4 Comments

On the weekend a fly strip was hung on the back porch. The hope was that it would immobilize the wasps who bumble into the area, and might deliver strings that are truly unpleasant. So far it has caught about a half a dozen mosquitoes, no complaints there, and two house flies. Another plan must be devised for the wasps.

It has been an uneventful day, quiet and peaceful. The crochet blanket gained a few rows, some bills were paid, administrative type emails were sent, software was updated, floors were swept, meals were consumed, sunshine was soaked in…

Worldly Distractions

Weather

18°C
Date: 8:00 PM EDT Wednesday 16 May 2018
Condition: Partly Cloudy
Pressure: 101.5 kPa
Tendency: Falling
Temperature: 18.1°C
Dew point: 9.6°C
Humidity: 57%
Wind: WSW 8 km/h
Visibility: 24 km

Quote

“Prosperity is only an instrument to be used, not a deity to be worshipped.”
Calvin Coolidge
1872 – 1933

Relief

By | | ,
16 Comments

After feeling very tired all day yesterday, I slept deeply all through the night last night. What a relief!

Another lovely day here, just above freezing and the sun was shining brightly. I got out for my daily walk in the morning. The road was dry and I got away with wearing my walking shoes.

We have been waiting with bated breath to see what Attila’s pay check would bring this week, and good news, it was enough to pay all of the bills! What a relief! Both of us had been experiencing low level stress about the possible size of the pay check, relative to the bills that needed paying. This morning, after the good news, I was able to pay all of the backlogged bills. It felt very good.

We received a message from our Doctor’s office, near the country house, checking to see if I had managed to find someone to give me my flu shot. I called them back right away to give them the details. I admit that I was completely and very pleasantly surprised by their concern. To be honest, I am extremely grateful for their concern.

Attila was very keen to have Cherry Squares for his lunch, so when the hydro was a bit cheaper this afternoon, I baked up a batch. I couldn’t resist them though, and had a slice for my afternoon snack.

Attila has to go in to work an hour early tonight, to attend a seminar on the company’s benefits package. Time well spent! We are not eligible for the benefits package until well into February, so we have our fingers crossed that we won’t need any medications, or medical extras, until after he qualifies.

I had to pay cash to get my last prescriptions filled, and was charged almost $24 in additional fees to have them filled. Ouch! That was on top of the cost of the medications. That medication bill has now been paid!

I am thinking about my Mom today. Hi Mom! xoxoxo

This is our new “kitchen cabinet” that we bought on sale before Christmas. It fits perfectly into the space between the refrigerator and the range, it has a lot of storage space, a wooden countertop, is very sturdy, is easy to keep clean, and it is on wheels, so we can move it easily when it comes time to install the new floor. As you can see, it is a workshop cabinet, meant for a garage, but it works perfectly in our kitchen. Oh yes, it is also stainless steel and therefore fireproof!
DSCF7793

Worldly Distractions

Weather

2°C
Date: 4:00 PM EST Thursday 7 January 2016
Condition: Mostly Cloudy
Pressure: 102.4 kPa
Tendency: falling
Visibility: 24 km
Temperature: 1.8°C
Dewpoint: -2.0°C
Humidity: 76%
Wind: ESE 4 km/h

Quote

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. It’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do. And that enables you to laugh at life’s realities.”
Dr. Seuss
1904 – 1991