Saturday!

 We all slept in this Saturday morning. No need to get up early since the sun now comes up after 7am. It felt good to sleep till at least 8a.m. 

Last night we ventured out to Hudson Wisconsin, about a 30 minute drive from home. Such a nice river town with so many good restaurants and bars. We checked out a new to me, bar/restaurant that had a panio player taking requests. I wrote down "great balls of fire" and sure enough he played it just before we left on to the next bar in town. 

Look at the old pay phone. You don't see these any more! 

I almost got a puppy yesterday! Being sold for $200, chipped, wormed and vet checked. There were 2 females left! Ugh! This would have been a great puppy, but Steve was against it. Zoey would not be happy and probably not want to be around another dog anyway. I was 100% ready for a lap dog! A perfect price and size and super cute! 

Maybe the next dog we get?? 

Trying to do daily planks and weights. I did run on the cross ramp for .3 miles. Not very long because Logan was FaceTiming and I wanted to talk with him. 

Diet, well, I had 4 beers last night, fried wings and bread with cheese. We went out, so I need to plan ahead for weekends and preplan meals/drinks out. 

I might get one more weekend use out of our tent. It's going to be in the mid 60s next weekend and we plan to camp Friday night in the Dells and then drive to Milwalkee to visit Logan for the day. Probably will just stay at a hotel one night and come home Sunday. 

Today, I met Kendra at a model home furniture clearance. Such good deals if your looking for things around your house. I need to get rid of stuff before I can bring in more! Yikes!! Super good deals! She bought a few items, 2 platters, a cake stand and two outdoor pillows. I just looked. I could have used some decorative items, but its not a need. 

We also stopped at Fresh Thymes and purchased some food to make chili and pork chops tonight. I need to get out and mulch up the leaves. Already vacuumed the house and cleaned up the dishes. 

Might go for an afternoon drive to look at the fall leaves. Or ? 

White Surprise!

 It's not the surprise I wanted! SNOW!! It's too early, October 14th. It's still coming down but I'm sure it won't last. Only and inch but enough to cover the grass. 

I do love to cross country ski, but too soon to think about that! 

To think this was taken last night, looking out my bedroom window. Who knew we'd have snow on the ground today with Tuesday out in the boat and 80*F! 

Looks like we will be home this weekend. We see mid 60's for next weekend and will make the trip to visit Logan. I really wanted to go somewhere this weekend, but we will find other things to do, maybe wineries, using gift cards to restaurants or movies? Plus, we have yard clean up of leaves and furniture to put away with a garage to clean up. 

Of course we were planning on doing a no drinking for 5 weeks /diet till T-day starting today. I have a plan... 

I'm going to add those drink packages to water. This way I have a zero calorie drink with flavor. 

I need to lose weight. If it's just 5 pounds a month, till spring. That's a loss of 30 pounds by spring. Which I need to lose. My weight keeps creeping up and I'm tired of this extra weight. It needs to go! So time to get serious and start on making progress. 

Breakfast- nothing as I'm not hungry 

Noon- veggie soup, just a can so I can control portions and know the calorie number

Dinner- what ever Steve cooks in small portions, skipping butter. 

Snack- popcorn (must measure out 3 cups)

I'm sure lunches will be changed up, but I want to make sure I know exact calories. 

Exercise: 

Planks

Dumb bells

Cross ramp 1 mile (10 minutes) 

Walking the dog 

Biking/running/skiing

Work mornings

Now to get moving and make it happen with exercise! I'll do measurements tomorrow and won't concentrate on the scale. Just on how my clothes fit and more importantly, just follow through with staying on a lower calorie meal plan with getting in exercise though the day. No more sitting on the couch after work for hours. I need to plan an afternoon workout daily at 2pm. Maybe a walk at night with Zoey too. 

Just a fall day!

Steve made a delicious meal yesterday. Chicken, potatoes and red cabbage with a side salad. 

I have a beautiful view out my front window. The trees are so pretty in our yard this year. I have a lot of mowing to do!! Today, will be mulch up the leaves!

 

Got my flu shot yesterday. I decided to combine riding my bike, taking in fall colors and going to Cub pharmacy. 

Scenery on my bike ride. Took a path that went behind houses and around a lake. I used to run this path and didn't know it looped the lake. 

On my way home it got super windy and started raining. Good thing I dressed for colder weather with gloves and a head band in my bag along with a warm jacket. I might have to bike again and combine it with another errand. I think next year, I'll be adding a bike rack to be able to pick up some food too. Right now I just use a draw string backpack and that seems to work for a small amount of items. 

Last 80*F of the year! in October!!

 We had our last 80*F day. Now temps dipped to 58*F for the high and we might see 60's again next week. 

We took our last fall boat ride on the Mississippi River. It was super windy so the St. Croix had ocean waves. It was still some what rough boating on the Mississippi but it worked and we didn't get soaked from waves coming into the boat. I got smashed a few times, but not that much cold water landed on me. 

It was a nice ride... 

A perfect day. 

We ended the night by going to play Bingo. Steve won $21. Had to split with another good Bingo which cut the $43 in half. 

We are undecided about our weekend plans. Probably should stay home and mow the lawn, clean the garage and put away all the camping stuff till next summer. I kind of want to go to Racine Wisconsin and visit Logan in Milwalkee. It's only going to be in the 50's, so chilly. I did find a camp ground with electric and they have plenty of spots still to camp that are open. Makes for a cheaper weekend if we don't have to pay for a hotel. Although, we'd be eating out in the city which is quite a bit of money. Plus, we'd stock Logan up on food and what ever else he needed. I'd love to visit him at college, but not sure we should spend the extra money since we have 3 November B-days coming up, along with T-day and soon Christmas and 3 more b-days. It's a lot of spending the next two months. Plus, we are waiting to hear if Steve's work schedule is full. Two possible big jobs coming up, but no set start date as they both are waiting to see when they will have sold houses. It's a wait and see, but at least possible work. We have Logan's college school bill to pay also in December along with the new road bill, Yikes!! All crammed into a few months. 

I too lose a few customers that are snow birds going south for the winter. So I need to pick up a few more new ones to make up for the loss. Although, I do pick up extra work at the holiday time and of course get tips which also help with gifts. 

I need to get back on the losing weight and working out more to take care of me! Trying to make little changes in my morning. Doing daily planks, lifting dumb bells and taking Zoey for walks, running on the cross ramp, biking and soon cross country skiing. As long as I keep moving every day! Just need to be more productive in the afternoons. 

Celina has yet another interview on Thursday. I'm hoping she gets a jobs soon. I'm ready to turn her cell bill and car insurance over to her. Plus have her help buy her special foods. We won't charge her rent, but I'd like to pay less every month on some items that she can cover once getting a regular pay check. Fingers crossed she starts working asap! 

In other news. I need to get a covid booster shot, flu and shingles shots. I keep putting all off, but need to start taking care of this too! Might start this afternoon and just do one a week! 

I'm helping Kendra next week bake cookies and make truffles for a wedding order she received for her small business. We will bake Thursday/ Friday and deliver on Saturday. I'm so happy she asked me to help. Gives me something to do and I love when my kids still need me as adults. So glad I was able to watch Madelyn on Monday. It was nice to get some one on one time with her. 

I have nothing much planned for the rest of the week. Just working in the mornings a few hours. I have some errands to run today. Picking up some stuff from Costco and that's about it for my todo list! 

Day with Madelyn

Weekend in Brainerd

We spent the weekend helping our neighbor friends move into their newly built Lake house. 

A beautiful house! 

Some inside photos looking up from the living room

Fireplace with TV

Kitchen

More kitchen

Great view of the lake

Entry, stairs and living room

I didn't take photos of the bedrooms or the bunk house upstairs. 

Thankfully, it wasn't all work. We took an October boat ride over to Earnie's for dinner Saturday night. Came back on a moon light boat ride to the cabin. 

Beautiful fall lake colors. 

A little chilly, but not too bad! 

Stopped at Lake Minnetonka in Mound at a brewery on the lake and happened upon a outdoor vikings game. Perfect timing and weather to watch outdoors have some lunch and a few beers. 

Super fun way to watch the game. 

After we met Celina and don at the winery and then went to dinner at another brewery in Bloomington. 

More Amazing fall colors From our Bike ride in Hastings.

 We went for another fall bike ride Wednesday before the temps started dropping. 

The fall colors were amazing!! 

I'm still sleeping out in the back yard. It was down to 41*F last night, but with two heaters the tent was up to 82*F far too hot, so I turned off the smaller heater and it cooled off to 72*F which seemed perfect last night. I actually slept though the night till 5:30am. Imagine that! 

Forgot to take a photo of my hair all curled yesterday. I got a hair cut and styled at the local beauty school for $20 a deal! I just had 2 or 3" cut off which I needed! Probably should try a hair style at some point, but I like my hair out of my face and up in a ponytail. 

Leaving today for Brainerd for the weekend. Helping neighbor friends move into their newly built lake home. They only have one other helper this weekend. It most likely will be a long Saturday of moving stuff, but they invite us up and it makes for a cheap weekend away, so no complaints there. Its the least we can do. Others bailed on them and I don't want to be that person! 

Not sure when I'll put the tent away since next week is going to be in the 70's for two days. I'm going to extend my outdoor time as much as possible! Just enjoy every day I can get before it snows. Still tempted to do some winter camping. Although, Steve brought up a good point. Ice, snow, water freezing. Well, that might be a problem! 

In other news, Steve might pick up a big job! Fingers crossed!!! It's a customer of mine needing a basement done. 

Other news, Celina has two job interviews next week. Fingers crossed she gets one job and starts working asap! I'd like to give her the bill for her cell phone to help out! Plus, pay for her own food etc.. Not sure how long before she wants to move out. I'm hoping she will stay and save up for a house. 

Me, I might have another new customer too. Just got a call and playing some phone tag. I'd like to pick up at least 3 more new customers. Should advertise to pick up a few more new customers! More money for the holidays would be nice! 

Still thinking about dog grooming. I need to purchase a grooming table and can get one for around $150. I would just need a place to give the pups a bath and that's another $450. Still a cheap start up. I just need more practice grooming! And a more powerful hair dryer another $100. So a few more things to get started and a designated area to do grooming other then my half bathroom or laundry room.