Last day of Boho Baby freebie

This is it - last day of Boho Baby:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/og5oeultbg3k0l5/ws_BohoBaby_30.zip?dl=0

Tomorrow we begin with a Halloween kit. No fancy title, just going with Halloween 2017. Typical colors. Finished Sandy's lapghan last night and started a messy bun hat for Robin, one of our pharmacists. I'm off to go back to Dad's and work, then come home and do more work. Relaxation today will be watching Big Bang Theory and crocheting. Oh and packing up first zip of Halloween kit for tomorrow.

Hugs!

Mid week & freebie

Got a few things done yesterday but not all I'd planned. Went to post office with a packed envelope of papers to send to paralegal and a stack of bills ready to go out. Had solved the mystery of APS retirement vs New York Life retirement checks. Don't know how the paralegal missed it but I had too. The check stub from New York Life clearly reads APS pension plan/retirement check! So that one stub we had reading APS from December 2016 was just a summary of benefits paid that year. The paralegal kep putting it down in calculations as a $300+ check he received monthly. I suppose because who can imagine only getting $56/month as pension payment? But APS, which my husband remembered stood for Auto Parts Services (or did he say Systems?) - anyway that company went bankrupt soon after my father retired and it seems New York Life picked up the pieces of the pension plan. They must have done some investing because the most recent check stub shows that this year so far they have paid out more than $500.

I stopped by Dollar Tree on my way to my parents house and was able to pick up a few small boxes. I started by tagging a few things I know are going to various family members. Then I went into the "car room" and started going through a couple stacks of papers to see if they were something I needed to keep or trash. The only things not trash were some tax assessments on the house and paperwork for the covered gutter system Dad had installed a few years back. Next I cleaned out the desk drawers and filled boxes with adding machine tape (there's an adding machine somewhere in the house), scratch pads and post-it notes etc. When I ran out of small containers to box the stuff up, I put the other small office supplies in the long top drawer. Took a couple boxes back to Dad's bedroom and boxed up outwear Tee shirts, bagged clean but used undies & socks for thrift store.

Next I decided to gather up family photos. Thom and I had discussed seeing stacks of frames in the bottoms of the closets in my old bedroom and the car room. I began pulling out those in the car room. The majority of the frames were empty! Started boxing those up. Found my paternal grandparent's 50th anniversary album and the album I made my parents for their 50th and set those aside. The only photos I found in frames were a couple from my brother's wedding, a small collage with his boys, and a double frame with my son's graduation photo on one side and wedding photo of John and I on the other. Put the ones for my brother on the bed he'll use when visiting and mine in a bag to take home. I was especially looking for a photo of my mother taken when she was 16 for her piano recital. So beautiful. It used to be on the dresser in my old room but was moved at some point. Figured I'd find it in the closet there. Pulled out more empty frames! No clue to what Dad did with the photos that used to be in them. I wasn't feeling well - stomach pain again - and began to get upset over the missing photos. Why had he taken them out of their frames? What did he do with them? If he didn't want them, why didn't he ask me if I did? He's asked me about other stuff he wanted to remove - odd things. I would have said yes. Suddenly I was sweating and it was only 71 degrees in the house. I had planned to go to the bank to deposit a check and get funds, drop off my mortgage payment, and stop at the grocery store for a few things. Started having bad reflux with acid coming up in my throat and serious headache. Had to come home and go to bed. Pretty well ended my day, once again unable to do much more than sip water.

Today is better but then I slept in late because I was up and down all night. Deb, your suggestions about the buttermilk were right on target. And, as it turned out, my husband had made buttermilk pancakes for his breakfast and saved some batter for me. He was happy to make it for me when I got up and they were so good! I've only had buttermilk pie once when I was at a tearoom in Richmond but a dear friend who was with me had given me her recipe for it. Wanda said their mother used to make it often when they lived in West Virginia. Thanks to Deb's suggestion, I'm going to pull that recipe out and get busy.

We are supposed to pick up Sissy and John E. and go for Chinese buffet tonight. To be honest, I'd rather stay home and do liquids but if I don't go, my husband won't and everyone's plans are ruined. Guess I will make a show of craving wonton or egg drop soup and then get a little rice. Afraid to do anything heavy.

Finally, here is another Boho Baby zip:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/oyunfytxgmruaua/ws_BohoBaby_29.zip?dl=0

Cooking adventures, clearing things up & freebie

It's about 1 am here and I'm still up because of an upset tummy. Hope to get a lot done tomorrow so going ahead to post. A few days ago we came across a copycat recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken, something my husband really enjoys. I can't eat it because of the MSG - makes me deathly ill. We decided we would try to make the recipe minus the MSG. That is, my husband would attempt it. First quandary was would the breading stick to skinless, boneless chicken breasts? Thought of a fix for that, mixed up all the spices etc. Recipe suggested cooking in a pressure fryer. We have a pressure cooker that includes a fryer basket and is supposed to be able to fry stuff. Getting the oil to the proper temperature recommended was a bit of a problem. Got it all going and after a while it smelled good. When it came time to remove the chicken and put the fries in the new crisper in the oven, I could hear my husband grumbling. He had taken the chicken out and put it on a rack to cool down and drain but it looked awful. Oil soaked with a gooey coating. Don't want to tell you what my first thought was when I saw it. He scraped off the coating and tested the chicken. It was done and had flavor so once the coating was removed, he deemed it edible. One disappointment. As for the crisper, I was cooking frozen fries meant for oven prep. I can't see where there was any improvement over just cooking them on a foil covered baking sheet. Weren't supposed to have to turn the fries with the crisper but might have helped. Disappointment two. Fixed a veg and sat down to eat. We both ate the portion of chicken we had on our plates but agreed it was too salty and oily. My husband isn't one to throw food away but he told me we weren't going to bother with the rest of it. He said he is looking forward to safe, leftover goulash tomorrow.

Re-read Thom's message and it made a little more sense. Then he called and told me what happened. His doctor had made arrangements with a facility in West Virginia to fill his pump. He and Roberta had driven as far as North Carolina and stopped to see their son and family. Thom got a little nervous because there have been problems with pump refills before so called to confirm they had all the required information and were ready for him. They said they never got the information his doctor sent. So he called her and she contacted the facility again and this time was told they would not refill a pump for a patient who did not live in their state! My nephew paid to fly his parents back to Florida so Thom could get his meds. They plan to fly back to North Carolina on Friday, spend a couple days with son, DIL, and grandkids, pick up their car and drive up here. We talked a little about clearing out Dad's house and how things are. Explained I'd been ill a good part of September and am feeling overwhelmed. Even the simplest things I have to do for Dad's fiances and Medicaid application get complicated. And meanwhile, I'm not getting my own stuff done.

Now, having complained yet again, I'll give you more Boho Baby.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/woatdcii1byl3z4/ws_BohoBaby_28.zip?dl=0

Guess I'll be dreaming about what to do with the rest of this buttermilk hubby bought for the chicken recipe. Biscuits sure but what else?

Monday & already behind for the week + freebie

I seem to be slipping in terms of getting posts published. First I didn't get Saturday's post out on time because I forgot to push publish button and walked away. Then I just wrote a little chat note yesterday and today I see I hadn't published that either. Not that it makes any difference but still. Lots on my mind.

Went to see Dad yesterday but he was determined to sleep even though I tried to wake him a couple times as he's told me to do. Cleared out all the phone messages he ignores and discovered one was important; have to see to that today. Went by Walmart and picked up signs for garage sale and house for sale. Both have to happen this month. Tried to contact my brother by email. He wrote back something about having been in West Virginia but had to fly home to get his pump refilled and would call me in a few days. West Virginia? Guess I'm confused as he had said he and his wife would be coming here in September to help me with Dad's stuff. Not hearing any more from him, I'd assumed he was ill and that was why they didn't call or come here. Yes, I had a moment of hurt and anger. But there is probably some great explanation, right?

Anyway, here is more of Boho Baby. One of you had suggested I do some babies in Halloween costumes but I didn't feel I was up to the task. However, I did come across some free vectors of costumed babies and I'm including them.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ql9ntbgxgons4r6/ws_BohoBaby_27.zip?dl=0

Last day of September and another Boho Baby freebie

Today is the last day of another month and Boho Baby is coming to an end. I've begun working on something for Halloween. I've done so many Halloween kits over the years that I just don't want to do a full fledged kit. What I've started to put together is a set of Halloween borders and some papers. Might do some clusters. Depends on if I get inspired and right now I am not. In addition to having been battling illness, I've been procrastinating on clearing out my parents home and getting it ready for sale. Dad isn't going to get better; the medical staff has been frank, saying that with diabetes, congestive heart failure and kidney disease, his condition is only going to deteriorate. And he's 88 years old. My brother hasn't even called me since letting me know they came through the hurricane alright. Time to face the fact that I am on my own. My brother has said he wants to go through Dad's tools to get what he wants before we put things up for sale. Dad also has a small bedroom that, since my mother's death, he has devoted to a car "museum" - the cars being a huge collection of scale model cars ranging from Matchbox cars to detailed models produced by the Franklin Mint. Plus all sorts of car related paraphernalia. We intend to contact the Children's Museum in Portsmouth to see if they would like the collection and could perhaps have a little sign saying donated by my father. My husband suggested we could go ahead and at least clear that room out but my brother has said he wants to pick out a few things from the collection to save for when his grandson is older. I don't know what Thom wants and he isn't making a move to either tell me what to put aside for him or get here and do it. It's frustrating.

But enough whining. Here is today's zip:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h4a4u8dkzyi0z7r/ws_BohoBaby_26.zip?dl=0
***Sorry - I forgot to push the publish button last night after I previewed.

Friday freebie

Today we have a little girly zip:

Link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/f3sgcsq98u2qhoo/ws_BohoBaby_25.zip?dl=0

Quick post for Thursday freebie

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/re0yu6ujic3apr4/ws_BohoBaby_24.zip?dl=0

Windy Wednesday & more Boho Baby freebie

Two days now with real meals. Today we will be going to dinner with Sissy & John and having Italian food at Ynot Pizza. I'm not in the mood for pizza so will probably have their ravioli. Anyway, worked more on lapghan for Sandy and I'm getting close to point I can start adding border. Next crochet project lined up is a messy bun hat and fingerless mitts for Robyn at my pharmacy. After that, another big project - poncho for step-daughter in the new Caron Cakes yarn. It's variegated in neutrals - black, grey, ivory. Should go with anything. If she will wear it. Hard woman to please and never worries about pleasing anyone else. Still, she is my husband's daughter and mother to our grandchildren. I do my best to get along with her.

And today we have zip 23:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wylr0xz04qw1xle/ws_BohoBaby_23.zip?dl=0

Yes, I've noticed that despite intent to get away from conventional pink and blue, I too keep coming back to it. Did you know, in Victorian times little boys wore pink a lot? It was considered the infant form of red which was thought of as a masculine color, ie., anger/war/blood.

Rainy Tuesday & Boho Baby freebie

Last night I had a real dinner! Chicken, mashed potatoes and peas. Pretty good day. Was overcast when I left home for treatment plan meeting at nursing home. Dad didn't have hearing aid in but he sat in with us. Nothing much new really. Left there and dropped into TJ Maxx looking for some sweet almond oil (which I found) and picked up a new top in an autumn wine. No sooner left there when the wind increased and rain started up. Not a surprise really since I know there is a storm off the coast of North Carolina. Had planned to drop by Hobby Lobby or Michaels, since I'm feeling so much better, but rain was getting worse and I still had to stop for milk so headed back home.

I've been trying a couple new things the last few days. One is a roller bottle blend of essential oils with magnesium. I've been putting it on the soles of my feet each night before bed and haven't had foot cramps. The other thing is my own concoction loosely based on some other alternative remedies. I've been told turmeric might be helpful but don't want to take it in capsules. Tried golden milk before bed and turmeric ginger tea. Because turmeric settles, you have to keep stirring. For last 2 nights, I've taken an 8 oz bottle of room temperature water and added a teaspoon of lime, a teaspoon of turmeric, and a teaspoon of sugar (to cut the bitterness). Seal it up, shake well and drink. The nice thing is you don't have to drink it all down quickly. If the turmeric starts to settle, just seal up and shake again. I've gotten to sleep a little more easily, slept well, and have woken up earlier than usual well refreshed. Sure, it might be coincidental but I think it's making a difference.

My friend, Tosha, has been invited to sell her products at 3 craft shows/fairs. I'm excited for her but I remember that you can get excited thinking of all the exposure and how much you might sell but you have to consider all factors. Sent her some hints Sandy and I learned about record keeping to see if such events are really worth while, questions to ask organizers and so on. And in between bouts with belly and pain, I had fun playing with some designs for her. I found her current business card too busy and hard to read so came up with a couple alternatives to offer. Finished up the master for her thank you cards, and made up a printable pillow box she can use if she wants to give away samples. I've explained to her that she's under no obligation to use anything I give her, it's just fun for me to design and if it helps her, so much the better.

And now here is today's zip:

There is a double feather ring wreath in the package too.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/rh4kx78cq8bro3x/ws_BohoBaby_22.zip?dl=0

Monday again. Freebie time!

Yes, I have to remind myself of this. (& I should have tried to correct their spelling. )In my mind, I wasted all of last week, or almost all due to combination of fibromyalgia flare-up (I know I've talked about this before) and gastroparesis flare-up.

I slept as much as possible to get away from the pain and ate as little as possible. Fortunately, I had Glucerna on hand and that, lots of water, and occasionally a bowl of instant oatmeal got me through. Today I am feeling better and thank you all for your kind well wishes. Now I've got a lot of catching up to do! My house is a disaster zone. Tomorrow I have an appointment at nursing home to discuss next 3 months of care (not sure what there is to discuss) and technician from Cox Cable is coming out to install some kind of updated box for telephone service. Loads of paperwork to copy for paralegal and send off. Have heard nothing more from my brother since he called to say they made it through storm okay and would be coming up in September to help with Dad's house. Don't know what's going on there but suspect I'm on my own. It's 9/25 already, lots to be done at the house (I can't manage it all in 5 days) and house should be put on market in October. Fun, fun, fun.

Usually by this time of year I'm doing holiday planning but the thought of this year's holidays is depressing. Don't know what to do about Dad during holiday. It takes people to get him into his chair and medical transport to take him any where and if we were to somehow get him here, we can't move him or change him. So I guess it will just be going over to see him. Jeremy and Berkeley won't be coming home this year for Thanksgiving or Christmas. For me, Jeremy is Christmas. Tyler is in college in South Carolina and whatever time he gets to come home has to be divided among a lot of family. Larkin's time will be divided between her mother and aunt's family so it will probably be like last year when she and Lisa were here for a day between Christmas and New Year's. Aunt Sissy and John always spend time in North Carolina during the holidays at some peaceful time share place. Haven't even begun to think about shopping and all I know for sure I'll be doing is making fruit cakes next month. Got to come up with a way to make things more enjoyable. Certainly focusing on the reason for the season but something too for the secular side of festivities.

Now finally, here is zip 21:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/7ugar619jkgvrs0/ws_BohoBaby_21.zip?dl=0

Still ill; freebie

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4w43l7i5jr7hlqm/ws_BohoBaby_20.zip?dl=0

Next Boho Baby freebie

Has not been a good day. I have partial gastroparesis which means my stomach is partially paralyzed and doesn't "process" as it should. Have been miserable and careful last few days but last night it got worse. I've had to force myself to even drink water because I don't want to be dehydrated, but eating anything has been impossible. That's why I'm running late.

Without further discussion, here is Boho Baby 19:

Overalls, even for girls are practical so I tried to give these a Boho girl slant. Another frame for you, papers, deco.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ld92c2s1tgf35jm/ws_BohoBaby_19.zip?dl=0

A few graham crackers should keep me from low blood sugar and tomorrow things are sure to be better.

Miserable Thursday & freebie

Fibro still in high gear. Went to my appointment, quick stop at store to pick up an item needed for dinner, then home to crash. Did get some good news. My friend, Tosha, has been booked for 3 craft fairs based on customers who loved her products! I'm so excited for her and have promised to create some thank you cards for her. She and her husband put together a flyer about the products, which you can download here, if interested.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3x66lgpcps36kfk/ScentsbyToshabrochure.zip?dl=0
Today I tried a roll on essential oil blend that has magnesium, camomile, marjoram, and lavender. Supposed to help relax muscles. I put some along my jaw line because TMJ acting up too and it really helped! Not much relief on neck but also put some on the soles of my feet and was able to drop off quickly for a nap. Nice how something so simple (and much less toxic than many medications) can help.

Here is today's zip of Boho Baby:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/lg2593vkunneuz5/ws_BohoBaby_18.zip?dl=0

Midweek freebie of Boho Baby

Having fibro flare-up so short post. Last night there was a hint of autumn in the air and despite pain, it had me smiling. Was getting the urge to bake bread and make beef stew. Temps back up again today, darn it. Still, I found some recipes that look good and am prepared for a cooler day. Here in Norfolk, when you go to the local store and look for Italian bread what you get is a loaf shaped a little shorter and fatter than the French bread that tastes about the same. According to my husband, Italian bread should be crusty on outside and soft in the middle which store bought isn't. So I've collected a few recipes and intend to try making him bread like he grew up with in New York. Also found a great looking recipe for cinnamon raisin bread. But for tonight, we will have leftover spaghetti and/or meatball sandwiches and dessert will be more cheesecake with pineapple topping.

Today's zip of Boho Baby makes me think of the Bohemian love of nature with the greens and a little owl toy.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/kn77bvu3wksk4tb/ws_BohoBaby_17.zip?dl=0

Today is gloomy & wet. Zip 16 of Boho Baby

Got a few things done yesterday and when I visited with Dad, he looked good. He was sitting up in wheelchair and had finally agreed to let faculty barber trim moustache, beard and hair. Almost all the family called or e-mailed birthday wishes for my husband, which was very nice. He enjoyed lots of crab legs and a little Chinese food at dinner. Guess I had maybe 30 minutes to read on Kindle while he finished up. Cheesecake turned out well. With weather acting up - rainy and pressure changes - we both had aches and pains last night. My fibro gave me a fit so I had to get up and take some Tylenol and Benadryl just to take edge off so I could sleep. Better now. Going to make this an easy day though.

Today Boho Baby is going out to visit so we have a portable cradle. In addition to usual take alongs, don't forget some powder and some booties as little toes chill quickly. We're adding to nursery decor too with some word art to express one of many values we hope for baby to grow up with.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ya96q8iqg8wkkj9/ws_BohoBaby_16.zip?dl=0

Happy Birthday to my husband & Boho Baby freebie

Today is my husband's birthday. I was up late last night making his favorite birthday cake - cheesecake with pineapple topping. Next month will be the 50th anniversary of the day we first met at a Halloween party I had in high school.

And today we have a little floral touch to Boho Baby. The zip includes a plush blanket paper, embossed paper, watercolor lavender wreath, floral border, and butterfly word art.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ou7ggbuib27hizx/ws_BohoBaby_15.zip?dl=0

Saturday again? Freebie - Boho Baby

A little more boyish today:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/cz6clcmipqa73p9/ws_BohoBaby_14.zip?dl=0
BTW the background paper is supposed to be a blanket - in case you couldn't tell.

Not superstitious are you? It's Friday & 13th zip of Boho Baby

Feeling better today. Went to Dad's house to get mail & packed a few boxes with clothes to sell or give away. Quite a number of items still have tags on them, never worn. Need more boxes. Lidl features products from a different country each week and this week was Britain & Ireland. So I dropped by to see what they had. Not much actually. Picked up 2 boxes of tiny frozen tea party pastries. Should be nice for next tea party with grand-daughter. They also had some fresh croissants with hazelnut filling so I got a couple of those. I've had one before and it was good. Pass on the apple turnovers though as they are bland to the point of being tasteless. Don't have to cook tonight so will get more laundry done and do some printing of statements I need to mail to paralegal for Dad.

Today's zip is a little more boyish:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/km4euzduzjz1n9i/ws_BohoBaby_13.zip?dl=0

I'm prepared for tomorrow's post but this weekend I'd best get busy setting up next week. I know we need some ribbons and bows. Maybe some borders? Templates? Are you interested in brag book pages for the bracket shaped books?

Zip 12 of Boho Baby

Not feeling well so quick post.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/zn59wzqb9z7356u/ws_BohoBaby_12.zip?dl=0

Freebie & more essential oil products

Long day. Took Dad to dermatologist. So glad I had medical transport when I saw the difficulty the nurse had getting him out of bed and into wheel chair. Biopsy report on lesions removed last visit to dermatologist said benign. One little blast to freeze a tiny place on nose that has bothered him,and after checking his arms and back, we were good to go.

Today's zip of Boho Baby has a bedtime theme:

I remember when my Jeremy was little & still in a crib, if I'd had a hard day I'd go in once he was asleep just to look at him all snuggled up so sweet and reach over to pat his duck fluff hair. I'd come away smiling and feeling peaceful.
Link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/l1hg6w6aehg7mnq/ws_BohoBaby_11.zip?dl=0

Tosha's been busy making lip balms:

She said the strawberry one has a tint because it was made with finely ground organic freeze dried strawberries. Nice huh?