What's Happening, and What Is Not

There's a lot going on around here these days. Here's a recap of what we're doing and what is not getting done:

1. We've been working away at sorting the auction items we came home with. That means sorting, cleaning, fixing, pricing and listing for sale. Some things go to our booth at the antique mall, others are to be listed on eBay. I was a happy camper when plates bought for less than $2 sold for $70 in one day. Researching the maker, an obscure company in Ohio that went out of business in 1958, paid off big time. The same was true for a vintage Pyrex casserole. It didn't look like much, perhaps, but apparently the piece with a pattern called "bar code" is in demand and it sold quickly. Research pays off for these vintage items. I learned that from the buying direction when I searched eBay for a particular kind of glass. When a seller doesn't know what they're selling, the buyer can get a great deal; I ended up with two pieces of Fenton for under $5 because the seller hadn't done their homework.

2. The log cabin Larry is working on is coming along. He had to cut some new logs to replace some that were not useable because of rot, and he has torn down an old equipment building that was really getting ready to fall down so he could reuse the lumber and tin roofing. Two birds with one stone, isn't it?

3. Bread-making with my KitchenAid mixer is a total joy. I love the way the bread comes out; it puts the electric breadmakers to shame. I've finally hit on the recipe I like best, one that is 1/2 whole wheat flour and 1/2 bread flour. I am still using the 2 pounds of yeast I bought early last fall on Amazon. What a bargain that was! I hope the price is still as reasonable when I finally need to buy more. We eat very little bread these days; a loaf a week is about it. Which leads to #4...

4. Weight loss is still happening. We've both lost over the winter. I am now down by 22 pounds from a year ago; Larry has lost about 35 pounds. It's a slow process but I'm happy with the results. Larry looks great; he's about 20 pounds from his goal. I've got a lot further to go but the weight didn't get on me overnight and it won't leave that way either. We've made a big change in our eating habits. Breakfast is a good meal, lunch is usually a lot of food but light, and dinner mostly doesn't happen at all; if it does it's a salad. Talk about cutting food costs! Our grocery bill is under $50 a week and that includes all cleaning supplies and sometimes the cat food. Usually the bill is around $36.00, and I can sure live with that. We have so much food stored, and we have our own eggs too, that we just don't need to buy much beyond fresh veggies and dairy.

5. Writing is not happening as much as I'd like. I've been so busy with getting the booth set up that I've almost stopped writing. I'll get back to it this week, that is a promise to myself.

6. The greenhouse will not happen this year. Larry has so much on his plate already that this project will have to go on hold. We'll still get to work on it, and may get it built but it will be too late for this year's garden crops. We'll have to suck it up and buy plants this year. That doesn't make me happy but I'm a realist and I know what we can and can't get done.

7. And I am sad that there is no lettuce seed available in our town yet. What??? It's almost the end of February and the local feed stores still don't have lettuce seeds! We have the bed ready and waiting and it's so frustrating. I should have ordered my seeds by mail but it never occurred to me the local stores would be so far behind the curve. Ah well... patience is not a virtue I possess.

8. I have been working on the plans for the Sistersville Storytelling Retreat and the evening concert of Irish/Celtic stories at the Gaslight Theater. This all happens the first weekend of March. We had the retreat last year and it was so successful we're planning to do it again, and adding a concert for the public to the mix. Plans are pretty much in place; a few more things to do, a trip to Sistersville this Saturday to check everything out and we should be set.

9. Cadyn is coming! My great-granddaughter is coming once a week now, and my goodness do we have fun!

10...and I got to see Ronda of the Pauley Principle blog this week! That is exciting and I am so looking forward to it! Meeting blog friends is a real joy and I know we'll talk a blue streak.

So that's what is and isn't going on around this place. What's happening in your neck of the woods?