Weekend.. October!

62*F and windy didn't feel very warm. We still went for a walk again around Lake Jensen. 

After our walk, we went right to breweries. Stopped in Prescott for a drink then on to River Falls. 

Funny picture in the bathroom.

This morning We went to the gym once again and I just lifted weights. I figure we will go for a walk later with Zoey. Today we are also tackling the garage, putting away all the summer camping stuff. 

A few more photos from our fall walk around the lake yesterday. 

 

Hello Saturday and an Ice pumpkin spice coffee.

 

This was a coffee fail idea. You put whipped cream on the cup to look like a ghost and fill with coffee. The eyes are just a black sharpie on the outside of the cup. Maybe if I used cool whip it would actually have worked? Whipped cream in a can just didn't hold up! Cute idea if it actually would work! 

I had another coffee fail. I made coffee today, then added in my cold brew pumpkin spiced coffee and then iced it. Turned out to water logged, so I took out all the ice that wasn't melted. Added more whipped cream because it's not sweet enough and more iced coffee. It still doesn't taste very good, but I'll drink it. I probably should have stuck with warm coffee instead of trying to ice it. At least adding whipped cream adds less calorie then adding straight sugar. Once I'm done drinking the iced coffees that I purchased, I'll just go back to not drinking coffee. 

I did see these new Holiday flavored whipped cream toppings to try. I might have to buy all three!! I'm sure we could find some desserts to make and use them up or just add to coffee/hot chocolates. 

Our maple out front is finally getting red, little by little. It's also losing leaves fast. The colors right now are so pretty. It's going to be sad when all the trees are bare and I will be craving just seeing "green"! We might even get snow next week depending on how this storm system plays out. I'm just going to enjoy today's 60*F temps with sun shine. 

Steve is working this morning for a little bit to get ahead on this job. He wasn't able to work Thursday due to an eye appointment that took forever. Celina and Don are doing a 4 mile race out in Bloomington this morning. I'll go to the gym and walk Zoey at the park. 

I also want to pick up one more shelf and bracket for our panty. I want to clean that out and re-organize.  There is room for one more shelf up high where we can store stuff hardly used. Our pantry is pretty full, so this extra shelf will help, plus get me motivated to do this clean out project. 

I haven't done much in purging our house junk lately, but Sunday we will tackle putting away all the camping stuff in the garage and get that all cleaned out so we can park in the garage this winter. We keep all the camping stuff down in the summer to get to easily since we use it all the time. 

I'd better get going and get to the gym. It's already close to 9am and I'm still on the couch! 

Happy Fall Saturday! 

Lake Jensen fall walk

Celina and I took Zoey for a walk around Lake Jensen yesterday afternoon.  It's part of Lebanon park the area I've never walked around off Pilot knob road. It was a 2.5 mile walk around the lake. Too bad I didn't know about this path/lake sooner, because it would have been a great other running path option. 

There were a lot of ducks and geese on this lake. 

I bought more iced coffees and whipped cream flavors. 

I bought little chalk boards to make my own flights. This was my first sloppy attempt to do a coffee flight. I just wanted to try it out quickly. 

Peak Fall colors, October 19th

 We are finally at Peak fall colors and the fall weather is perfect. Close to 60+F and even warmer upper 60's on Friday. The warmer weather will be around till next week and the weekend temps will drop to the low 40s. I was really hoping to do one last lake get away this weekend. The night temps say 38*F and then there is the wind, up to 25mph on Saturday. Looks like our plans are going to change! I was really looking forward to one last get away too. 

New flight

 Celina and I went to try this new coffee shop attached to a brewery out in Minnetonka this morning.

We shared the flight and Celina got a coffee. 

The flights were kind of expensive at $20, but they let you choose iced or hot and what type of milk which was oat. 

I liked two of the four. We are thinking of making our own flights from now on as they are a lot of $$. 

I also like it when they add little desserts on the side or candies. This one was kind of boring! 

Acid Reflux?

 So here I might have acid reflux! I've been coughing every morning and mostly after I eat for maybe a year? or longer? I finally went to the doctor to see what she thought I had. I also had blood work to rule out thyroid issues, which the Dr didn't think I had. So now I'm taking Prilosec for a week or two to see if that helps. I also have some nasal over the counter spray to also try the following week. So far I think the Prilosec is helping after just one pill! I didn't realize I would have acid reflux since I'm not getting heart burn all the time. Who knew!! Glad I'm not feeling like I need to cough and get my throat cleared from drainage. That feels awful, like you have a cold in your throat all the time. I will be put on some other not  bad for your liver meds for acid reflux if the Prilosec works. I just didn't really want to be on pills forever. Ugh!! Well, it's either that or don't eat anything spicy, etc.. which I just want to eat what I want. 

I've also discovered I like having iced coffee. I started out wanting to try some coffee flights a year ago and then last week I bought some pumpkin spiced coffee and some whipped cream spiced. What a great combo. Now I want to drink a coffee every day. I did try a hot coffee today and found out I really like it iced and diluted better. I've been a hold out coffee drinker for years and now I finally tried it and gave in. Might as well have something to enjoy in the mornings. I just don't like feeling dependent on anything, so it has to be a once in a while treat, not an every day one. 

I also need to get back to weight loss. I gained some, not all my weight that was lost over last winter. Time to get back to taking care of myself. Which means going to the gym in the afternoons, sit less and move more. Eat less, back to popcorn, fruit, veggies. I have all winter to work on weight loss and there is no better time to start. Might as well be this week! 

I still can have treats, but will save them for the weekends. I need to start counting calories, making better choices and make sure I don't go above 1500 cal for the day. Mostly it's getting back to the gym and working out daily to burn more calories. Plus, working on house purge/clean up! 

Today, I'm working in the morning, it's going to be 64+F today which is warm for October 17th. I should get in a bike ride or walk the dog around Lebanon lakes. Plus, go lift weights tonight after 6pm at the gym. I should also do some advertising, but I'll wait till next week. I want to enjoy the nice few days left we have this year because it will be a long winter! It's also supposed to rain Wed night, so no since advertising , right? Plus,  Steve got two calls yesterday for work and picked up more jobs. Not huge jobs but more work to keep him busy for the next 3 weeks. We are still okay for October, November and part of December right now and longer if we need without more jobs. I also have a client that needs a lot of work done and they will call, just is when they figure out paint color. They tend to drag their feet on home projects so?? It will be a big job if he gets it. I was pushing for Nov/Dec work! Fingers crossed!! I'll still need to do more advertising till his schedule is booked out months again. 

I also want Steve to do our house projects. Our master bathroom needs an update. New counter, raised vanity and new tile for the floor and re-do the shower. A full bathroom make-over! We need to finish up projects that have been on hold for years. Just little things like nail the trim on the walls, finish the quarter round trim on the main level. Finish the upstair nook. Re-paint the half bathroom to freshen it up. Touch up the cabinets, trim /paint. 

I'm still in purge mode. Plus, I want to redecorate our shelves in the family room and photos on the wall. I'd like to do all this before we have everyone over for T-day. I'll have to look for 8 x 10 photos to print in Black and white. Time to get cracking on that project. 

Eras tour..and pumpkin patches

Saturday we checked out two local pumpkin patches in Rosemount that were down the street from one another. Brand Farms and Crazy legs. Each had a little something different to offer. We didn't get anything but did take photos.  

We should have checked out the back of the farm in the pumpkin patch as there were more photo opportunities. 

Cute decorations. I need a selfie stick to take better photos! 

The pumpkins were huge! It was nice that the vines were still a little alive. We haven't had a hard frost yet so it still looked good with some green. 

Then it was off to the Taylor Swift Eras tour movie. Tickets were kind of expensive for a movie at $25 each. I originally was going with Steve but he changed his mind and Celina along with Tim's gf Amanda came to watch the movie with me. It was 3 hours, but sooo good. It reminded me of a theater play with all the costume/set and dancing/story telling. I'd highly recommend going to see this tour. Even though the tickets were $25 it was by far much cheaper then actually going to the concert and we got up and close which you can't do at a concert unless you want to pay thousands of dollars. I hope other artists with productions like this also do movies after the concert. Seems like a smart business plan for the artist and theaters since October is a slow movie month. 

We took photos before the show. I was disappointed that we didn't have anyone to exchange our bracelets with or give away. We got there kind of early, and not many people waiting around. They did have a table set up to make bracelets and the movie theatre was exchanging bracelets too, which I did. 

I would have liked to give away a few bracelets, but gave three to Madelyn. 

Steve and I stopped on Sunday at the river / Spring lake park overlooking the Mississippi River. We went to Hastings to soak up the sun and have a beer in the afternoon. 

Just a few Zoey fall photos from my google memories from last year. 

I've been enjoying this fall iced pumpkin spice coffee with spiced whipped cream. Too good! I might have to try this hot too! Which I just did, but wasn't as flavorful. I'll stick to iced! Unless I'm freezing cold! 

Not sure if it will be warm enough to go to the lake one more time this weekend. It's going to be at least 57*F cloudy during the day on Saturday but get down to 43*F at night which is going to be COLD! I was thinking car camping, but Steve thinks setting up the tent would be better. We will just bring the smaller/instant tent with lights. I would like to purchase one more cot and not have to use the air mattresses. The mattress gets cold, but we can top with thick foam layer and then put the sleeping bags and huge comforter on top. I also tested out the hot water bottle idea. It lasts for about 3 hours which will add warmth to our feet. I just tried it with a normal water bottle but will pick up two flat bottles at Walmart for $6 each. All we need to do is boil water and pour inside then put then in our sleeping bags at night. If your feet are warm then it will be warmer to sleep! I've been wanting to try this out and this is the time to do it. I keep saying that 50 is the coldest I'd want to camp without electricity. Well, we are pushing that at 43*F!! We will see how or if we sleep! I figure we can always go to the car blast the heat for bit to warm up. We can at least try this for one night! 

It's a busy work week, with a doctor appointment today to figure out what is going on with my throat. I always have to cough after I eat, feels like mucus dripping in the back of my throat that I need to clear out. It does eventually clear. It is allergies, thyroid? Not really sure?? Hopefully its nothing to be concerned with and just nasal drip. Guess we will find out today! 

I also need to do more advertising this week and in the next few weeks until Steve builds up clients again. He has been booked out since before Covid non stop. Is is finally getting towards the last of his booked jobs. I think only two weeks, maybe 3 weeks of jobs left to complete. Which makes me nervous, so need to advertise as much as possible the next few weeks. He does have an estimate tonight, but it for a smaller type job. Everything helps! Seems when I do advertise, he gets at least a few calls which turn into a few new jobs to line up. I just dislike advertising and glad I don't have to do it that often. I do know every spring gets super busy, it's just this time of year all slows down till after the holidays. 

I'm thinking we can get some home projects done that I've been wanting to do for years. We have our master bathroom tile and shower along with vanity counter to re-do. It's been needing a fresh update for a few years and the last of the bathrooms to update! We have Menards rebate money that will cover the cost of a new vanity and maybe the cost of faucets. It won't be enough for the tile, but we might just do that anyway if he has the time. We also need to finish the quarter trim on the main level from re-doing the floors. We also need to purchase more trim and we need to finish nailing the trim upstairs and add some in our master bathroom. In all, I don't think the tile or adding trim will cost that much out of pocket. Just projects he never gets to while working on other customers houses. 

We also need to add a shelf to our pantry and re-paint the half bathroom. Maybe finally install the front closet light and finish the upstairs nook. A few projects that have gone unfinished for years. Of course not working and spending extra for projects around the holidays is not ideal, but this is the time to do it. There will always be more jobs so we aren't worried till we have to be. 

We are also trying to eat more meals at home. It's been easy so far, just like to go out for a beer here and there. It still saves money by not eating out as much. Plus, we make better food at home. We do have gift cards to use up, so we still can enjoy a meal out and save money at the same time,  a win/win. 

I need to book Logan a train ride home for Thanksgiving weekend. The ticket costs have gone up $50. Plane tickets are up $200, so train it is! Unfortunately, the train schedule isn't the best and he won't get in till midnight on the Wedneaday 22nd and will have to leave at 8am on Sunday. A short time home, but home at least for the holiday. We won't see him again till Christmas break which is over a month long! It would be nice to just pick him up, but that would be a 10 - 12 hour day of driving at least! No savings and you just don't know the weather situation if it will snow. I'm at least thankful we have the train option! 

Other than working and advertising, I'm still working on purging our house room by room. I have completed the kitchen frig/freezer and under the sink. I still have the pantry to go though. I'd like to add one additional shelf before doing that project. 

My room is also finished with hanging up all my clothes and cleaning under the bed, going through the bathroom drawers and cabinets in both bathrooms. I still have the spare room or Steve's closet room to go through. That's a project for another time this winter. 

I have the office and the porch to tackle this week. We gave the bookshelf to Logan, so I have books to find a new home for or purge. The office also needs to be cleared out with stuff to sell or find a new place to store. 

I'm in need of two new rugs one for the front sitting room and the other for the entry. I keep looking for a low cost rugs that are on clearance that I like. Plus, looking for new chairs to get rid of the old ones that aren't the best quality. 

I did list a few items for sale on Craigslist. I should post of FB market place too. Time to list more for sale! Plus, I need to make a few trips to Goodwill and purge more clothes. I think once I go through the spare room, we will have plenty to take to goodwill. It's my all winter project! 

I'm also wanting to redecorate the book shelves in the family room/new dining room. I've had the same photos for years and it's time for a change up! Plus, I have a wall of awards that need to be taken down as its been years for that too. I'll replace with black and white prints of family photo or just nature? Not really sure just yet. It's time to start working on this too. 

December 2026 our house will be full paid off. I can not wait. Well, I can wait to get older, but it would be nice to no longer have a mortgage. We will still be paying at least $800 per month in taxes and homeowners insurance. So that will never change only increase but that's cheap for expenses every month! That's the only cost I see going down. We will probably always have some car payment. Just as we get rid of one, we purchase another vehicle. Steve will need a new truck next once my SUV is paid off. It's nice to only have one car payment and not two! We seem to trade off with maybe having a year or two with zero payments. It is what it is! Eventually, we won't have Logan's cell to pay for and college expenses will be done when he graduates in two years. That alone will save $1000 a month or more! We are looking at at least $2600 in savings! That money will go towards a cabin build, which we plan to rent out when not using. It will be nice to make some passive income for a change. I'd like to rent out the house too and do some traveling. I'd like to build out some van and then travel. Steve thinks an SUV would be better suited. Seems we could sell a van build easily and make money off it. Guess that's an idea in progress!! We have a plan at least for the future. Seems I've been waiting for the future all my life. It will be here one day and then I'll be waiting for something else. I'm just going to live in the moment now and enjoy that my family is all near and Celina is still at home and Logan back in the summer. Kendra and grandkids live near, but that could all change fast. Kendra has a job opportunity in Texas which might require moving. Celina will eventually move out and Logan might have a job this summer somewhere else. Steve and I have our health right now, hopefully for a long time to come. We are getting older as retirement age is creeping up sooner and sooner. Although, I want to keep working to stay active and get paid exercise. I also want to do more traveling and have less expenses to be able to do that. I want adventure and some thing to look forward to as we age.