July 31, 2013

I overslept till 9:30. About 15 minutes after I woke up I got a headache. I ate some of my homemade bread with jam and laid back down for about 20 minutes. The kids picked chores.The dishes weren't done last night and Nina got dishes. She and Ed were on their way out and I could t wait any longer so I did them for her. My headache kept coming and going all day.

I got my school book orders together and ordered my books for the new school year. Then I made tacos for supper for Tom and me. We went to Bible study at church and the kids all ate there.

After church Joe and I went to Winn Dixie. I bought produce, almond milk, and some treats-a piece of carrot cake, some cookies, and brownies. I don't know what got into me. Must have been the headache. I read "Captain Underpants" to Charlie and "Key West" to Tom. We are getting close to the end. I wonder what we should read next. 

July 30, 2013

Tuesday

This morning I walked to Walgreens. I bought hairspray, a notebook to keep my school records in, and ziplock bags.

After showering and breakfast I had the kids pick chores. They couldn't decide what to do with their friends over. Some wanted to play soccer at the park. Finally, they decided to go to the studio. The younger boys were disappointed they couldn't go. I didn't let Garrett because he blew me off with his history yesterday, so he stayed home to do that. Tommy and Charlie wanted to go too, but some of the other kids were being mean to them and didn't want them to come. There really was no reason for them to go, they just wanted to be in on the action.

I had Joe bring me the T-shirt box from the trailer. I refolded and bagged the shirts and labeled them with permanent marker. I also restocked them and put them into a new bin.

I made two loaves of bread and they didn't flop! :0) Finally!! I started supper preparations. The boys went to hockey. I had supper ready at 8:30 when they got back, teriyaki chickpeas with mushrooms, steamed broccoli and cauliflower, boiled potatoes, and salad. I was really craving dessert but there was none.

Rob came up to play hockey again. After we ate, we watched some youtube videos on the projector screen, and then some old videos of the band and Nina and Naomi. We ended with a funny video the kids made at the house in Missouri. It's called "The Fast and the Homeless." It's silly but it was fun. It reminded me again how much I liked living there. The video is on youtube if you want to watch it.

July 29, 2013

Monday

I went walking this morning. I must admit that the nutrition book I have been listening to has been a little boring, so I bought a book about the music business and started listening to that. So far so good. If it continues to be good I will make the older boys listen to it too.

As I got out of the shower, Kim called and wanted to take Charlie to Key West with her, so I had to wake him up and get him dressed as she was almost here. I made oatmeal for Joe, Charlie, Tommy, and me. I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but I wake Joe up every morning between 8 and 9 and spoon feed him yogurt. Then he goes back to sleep until I'm back from my walk and the real breakfast is ready. We are trying to keep his blood sugar from dropping too low. 

I made Tommy and Garrett finish the dishes from last night. I cleaned out the clutter under Tom's desk. Every day for the last two weeks I have been cleaning up something in my room. I had baskets of roving under my quilt frame that are now in bins under my bed. Stuff like that. 

I'm obsessed with Irish crochet lately. I copied some patterns to try. I also spent some time trying to clear off the kitchen table. Laptops, books, dishes, and the lacemaking stuff.

I helped Tommy pick up the floor in the boys room. We didn't get it all done, but cleaned up Lego, garbage, dirty socks. The younger boys had pulled out the dress-up costume bag  a few days ago, so we had to pick it all up and get it back in the bag. Ed had his stuff in a broken, dirty cardboard box under his bed. I had one plastic bin left from my room so I moved his stuff into it and slid it under the bed.

Next, I was off to the post office with my school portfolio papers. My plan was to have them in the mail the third week of June. I had them finished about 2 weeks ago and they had been sitting on the counter waiting to go. Yesterday Callie got plum all over the top sheet. I wiped it off and decided it was get them out of here. So that is done. They are mailed. Now I can start ordering books for the new school year. I don't have that many to get.

I chopped up a salad, added leftover beans from last night, and topped it off with strawberries and mango. I have to make it yummy or I won't want to eat it. Then I had to crack the whip to get them into the van to go to Sloppy's. While I was sweating in the hot van waiting for all the late kids, Ed was upstairs starting a cup on fire in the microwave. It was a metal travel mug. I had to point out to him twice that it was metal. You have to think, Ed.

I ate my food while Ben drove. I picked at the kids left over food at Sloppy's. Then Rob asked me to meet him and he took me to the Vegan Cafe. It was my first time there. TJ, Ang, Ed, and Nina like to go there. I wasn't hungry but ate some more. Then I took my leftovers back to Sloppy's for a treat for Ed and Nina. I was just in time for their first break. 

After Charlie and Tommy sang "Charlie Brown" we walked to Duetto's for gelato. (I didn't get any).

 

The night finished the usual way with a stop at Winn Dixie just before 11 PM for popsicles for Charlie. I read  "Captain Underpants" to Charlie, finished a chapter of Key West history to Tom, and went to bed. The older kids had 3 friends staying over. They were kind of loud but then watched a movie.

The pictures are costumes from the bag, (my little green men), oatmeal, and lunch/supper.

July 28, 2013

I ate my oatmeal and fruit for breakfast and was too tempted at church and ate again. I even had a pop-tart!

After church I crocheted and then we went to Ida's to go swimming. Right before we left Kim came over with her  bobbin lace pillow and she went with us. She taught me what to do and got me started. 

When we got home I kept making lace and the boys all went to play hockey. Rob came up to play hockey. I started messing something up with the lace and decided to start dinner. I made coconut black beans and brown rice, broccoli, and salad. For dessert we had some chocolate chips and cashews.

Garrett had a lot of dishes. I hope they are done when I get up in the morning.

Still missing the house in MO. Space. Room. Ozark. I had a school room. Now all our school stuff is in the living room/dining room. I'll quit thinking about that now.

July 27, 2013

Saturday

I helped the band off to their first gig at Sunset Pier. I made Joe breakfast and packed him a cooler. Angelica was weaving at Kim's studio so TJ brought the kids up when it was time for the band to leave.

I woke up Garrett and Tommy. Garrett had to go downstairs and clean up the mess the deer and garbage men left. I don't get the garbage men. If the deer knock over a can, and the bag is still in the can, the garbage men, for some reason, can't put it in the truck. And Garrett doesn't do the best job cleaning up the garbage in the grass.

The house next door is a vacation rental. The garbage men won't take garbage unless it's in a can. The renters put their garbage out at the street in a bag, no can. Pick-up isn't till Wednesday. That means the deer have three days to rip it apart all over our driveway and I get stuck cleaning up their garbage. Enough of that.

I emptied a bin that has been hanging out in a corner of my room, some books, CDs, DVDs, and photos. That moved me to the next job, the bookshelves in the living room. There are too many books, even though I left 2/3 of our books in MO. I picture my stuff in the Ozark flea markets. Anyways, I went through some shelves and gathered a box full to take to Salvation Army. I also pulled some schoolbooks for this coming year to move over to the shelves by the table.

I did some laundry and straightened up the shoes and entryway. I swept part of the living room and the hallway. I watered the plants on the porch. I need a new chair out there. The wicker rocker went down to the garbage. Maybe the deer would like to sit in it while they go thru the garbage. :0) 

Garrett mowed grass and still did not pick up the branches in the yard. Hmmm...I've only asked him about a bazillion times. Make that a bazillion and one. So he picked up the branches by the garbage cans but left all the others. He's on the bad boy list.

After Ang picked up the kids, I went to Winn Dixie and picked up a few things, put it away, and made a batch of coconut milk yogurt. Then I got Tommy and Charlie in the car and we went to Hogfish. 

Hogfish has the best food (and the best waitress). There was a great crowd there tonight. The only bad thing was that I ate too much, but not as much as I used to eat. 

I crocheted. It was a bit hot and I wasn't sitting near a fan. Plus I was on a bar stool so after four hours I was uncomfortable. I was anxious to go home and shower. So I rode home with TJ and the little boys while the other boys were still packing up. 

I showered and moved the yogurt to the fridge. Everyone else got home. I was too tired to read to Charlie but Nina did. Yay for Nina!!

July 26, 2013

Friday

I got up at 8 to leave for Blue Heaven at 8:30. TJ, Ang, Ed, and Nina were playing. We ended up taking two vehicles so TJ could come home afterwards to pick up his kids and then meet us at Rob's for a cookout. Ben brought the rest of the boys down about 4 o'clock.

Blue Heaven was packed. Usually I have time to myself there but Tom came today so I was never alone. Plus it was so busy that it just wasn't very relaxing, but I am still very happy that I went.

Rob's was fun too. He and Anastasia made us a ton of delicious food. We went swimming and sat outside by the ocean. It was a great day off!

July 25, 2013

Thursday

My yogurt was the best batch ever! Creamy and not runny, sweet, not sour. Joe even ate it without fruit or sugar.

I waked this morning, but only twice around the circle. Then I went down some of the dead end streets to the water.

I sewed my crocheted lace to Tom's pillowcase today. I was going to sew the lace to the sheet too, but it was a little too short. 

Nina and I went to Salvation Army. Then TJ dropped off the grand kids so he and Ang could go play at Blue Heaven. The younger boys went to Shannon's house. Nina took Jake and Callie out on the tramp for a while. I watched "Forks Over Knives" while crocheting and then made supper, a veggie stir-fry and brown rice. Jake and Callie emptied my plastic container cupboard. Bobby brought Charlie home from Shannon's. He was sick. 

I did the dishes. Then Callie was acting sleepy so I took her downstairs and laid her in her bed and she went right to sleep. About an hour later Jake did the same thing. That was easy. It was never that easy before. Usually they hang out till they drop.

July 24, 2013

I walked to Walgreens to buy printer paper. It's 2 miles there and back. A little shorter than my normal walk but sometimes I get bored walking in circles. 

Ed made pancakes so I ate 2 of those when I got home. My school portfolios sat on the kitchen counter all day and didn't get mailed. I did school with Charlie and then did some bookkeeping. I went to our Amazon account and printed business receipts  for February. Maybe I'll get the hang of this business work stuff. If not, at least I tried. 

Ben finally folded some laundry. I hoped to get to Salvation Army today but didn't make it. I didn't have time to make myself supper so I ate at church tonight. I haven't felt like cooking this week. 

The band had a gig but I didn't go. When I got home from church I reviewed some of the lace making video and got busy crocheting. I'm enjoying the instructor's Irish accent. I hope I actually make something and that it is pretty. I hope I'm not wasting my time, although I tell the kids that learning is not wasting time. :0)

Tom was annoying tonight. I think he was just taking out his frustrations about Joe on me. Nina texted him and said Joe didn't pack a cooler and was acting weird. He ate before he left and I figured they would have to buy something to eat. Tom is so convinced his seizures are sugar related but I don't know. Good nutrition is always a great idea, but I'm not convinced low blood sugar is causing the seizures. I just want them to stop. 

Joe tried riding a bike home from the studio today but the other kids wouldn't let him. Tom heard about that too and was complaining to me about how Joe doesn't take care of himself. I tried to point out how Joe must feel. He can't do anything. Yes, that was dumb, but he must be frustrated. He also complained that Joe wastes time. That seems to be a Doerfel boy trait. Laziness. But I cannot be everyone's ambition or motivation. It's hard enough being in charge of my own. Joe has a Dr. appointment in about two weeks. Maybe it will help to talk to the Dr. 

I did make coconut milk yogurt earlier today and tonight after church made granola. I need to finalize plans for school this year. Some things are done, some are not. Maybe tomorrow I should go to the beach at Bahia Honda or go swimming at Ida's.  I spend my whole day doing things I need to get done but don't do anything with the kids. I had plans to do some art with the kids this summer and we haven't even started yet. "Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you, tomorrow. You're only a day away."

July 23, 2013

Tuesday

I got up and went walking. I made my "to-do" list the night before and I had started taking care of number 1, finishing the kids school portfolios so I could get them in the mail. Ed ran into the kitchen saying Joe was having a seizure. :0( It lasted the usual 2 minutes, then it took him about 5 minutes to come out of it. Another 5 minutes and he was on his feet and sat down on my queens chair. He banged his head when he fell so I made an ice pack. He fell asleep on my chair. He was in and out for about 15 minutes. He asked me for a blanket. 

I started number 2 on my list, cleaning up the area under my quilt frame in my room so I could keep an eye on Joe. It took him a while to remember things. He asks a lot of questions. What day is it? What time is it? Did I eat already? Stuff like that.

He got dressed and I took Joe and Charlie two blocks away for hair cuts. They both look sweet!

Back home I continued picking up. I did some bookkeeping. I made pizza dough and let it rise while I went over to Kim's for an hour. We watched part of a DVD about making Irish lace. Ed, Nina, Ben, and Kurt went to a gig at Lazy Gecko.

When I left Kim's I stopped at Winn Dixie and bought mushrooms, watermelon, and bananas. I finished making the pizzas, with no cheese and lots of vegetables. The boys had gone to play hockey so I had a little time alone. 

I ordered two pizzas for the boys who I knew wouldn't like my veggie pizza. It took 1 1/2 hours for the pizza to come and one didn't have any sauce. Weird.  I also made a salad and cut up the watermelon. 

After I ate I crocheted a little and Garrett did the dishes. Bobby was here doing computer work for his job with Tom. I was too tired to clean up supper but I made myself put away the leftovers. 

Today was too long. Time for bed.

July 22, 2013

Monday

My alarm went off at 7 AM. I woke up Ed, Joe, and Tommy several times before they got up, and we headed to Key West for dentist appointments. Afterwards we went to Home Depot for some storage bins, chlorine for the hot tub, potting soil, and a huge pot to transplant a tree on our porch.

When we got home, I got to work with Joe as my right-hand man. We moved some plants around and replanted a few plants. Joe took done an old carpet And put it in the garbage. We also put to the road a wicker rocking chair that has been rotting away. Now I need a new chair for out there.

I made a salad and chick peas with teriyaki sauce. I packed some up and took it with me to Sloppy Joes.

Rob is home from his trip and he came to Sloppy's to see us. The crowd was a little quiet but our tips were pretty good. Darth Vader was in Key West tonight playing the glow-in-the-dark side banjo. 

On the way home we stopped at Winn Dixie for a treat for Charlie. Got home and went to bed. We've got to figure out a healthy snack for after Sloppy's. We always get home starving.

July 21, 2013

Sunday

Went to church and then swimming at Ida's. I ate green beans and Swiss Chard for lunch. we needed groceries bad. Kurt and Ed played with Nina's band at Sunset Pier. When we got home Garrett went to work at church. Kim came over and we started a painting. We are experimenting for a future piece of artwork for the wall over my bed. We painted the background. Next I will make two big patchwork flowers and we will glue them on. Then add sparkle and embellishments. Tom took a nap. The boys came back from their gig and went back to Key West to play roller hockey. I went grocery shopping.

Winn Dixie was super busy, and I remembered that some fishing season was starting. It was almost funny to see all these guys in the grocery store, all dressed the same, and crazy about fishing. Ben said it's mini season, which is lobster I guess, and only two days long.

I was going to make supper but I was too tired. I made corn on the cob and we had ice cream. I had a craving. :0/

July 20, 2013

Saturday

I forgot that Charlie was invited to a birthday party today at Curry Hammock State Park. I was planning on going with him but other things got in the way. So I called his friend's mom to see if she could pick him up but she was almost there. She called another friend who agreed to meet me at Dion's a block from our house. So I woke up Charlie, packed his back pack and took him to Dion's for his ride. While all this was going on, I woke up the band so they could get ready to leave at 11 for their gig at Sunset Pier.

I hurried over to church for a going away party for a friend and her daughter. Garrett and Tommy went with me. Kim and Doug got back late last night from their trip and they went too,  so it was nice to see them. They were gone for a week to a pastors' conference.

I came home, made a loaf of bread and a batch of yogurt. While the dough was rising I went all by myself to Ida's and went swimming for an hour. It was over way too fast and I had to go back home. I put the bread in the oven and jumped in the shower. The bread flopped again while it was cooking. :0( I will keep trying. It's so weird. That never happened to me in NY once.

Nina, Tommy, and I left a little after 5:30 for the 2nd gig of the day at Schooner Wharf. We stopped at Walgreens to get some eye medicine for Ed. His pink eye might be back. 

The show was going along fine when Joe got really lethargic. He sat down by me and I peeled him an orange. He was eating all day so I didn't think food was the problem. I had packed him a cooler before they left and he had eaten everything but the orange. He had eaten at the first gig and eaten supper at Schooner before they started playing. I had him test his sugar and it was 90. That was good. It was very hot today and both gigs were outdoors. I think it was just too much fore him, the late gig the night before and getting out kind of early, the first gig in the heat , and now this gig going to midnight.

Joe played a few more songs and then the band told him he could go home so he went home with Tommy and me. Nina helped the boys finish the rest of the show. Yay for Nina! :0)

July 19, 2013

Friday

It was only yesterday and I can't remember a thing. I walked to Walgreens and dropped off a prescription. Walking out of the store i saw a crab on the sidewalk. So i moved into the driveway, and there was a chicken. such is the animal life in the Florida Keys.  I walked home the long way thru the Winn Dixie parking lot. 

I made a salad and packed my dinner and we went to our gig at Schooner Wharf. We got home at 2 AM. Everyone was exhausted.

July 18, 2013

Thursday 

Went walking and the whole rest of the day was a blur. A gray day gave me a gray mood. I did some computer work till the computer glitched. I did some school work with Charlie till Charlie glitched (naughty little boy with bad attitude). I wanted to run away but I made supper instead, Super-sized salad with coconut black beans and brown rice. I think only half the kids ate. I'm tempted to get rid of the living room furniture so we can get a kitchen table that's big enough for us all to sit at the same time.

I finished crocheting lace on a baby blanket while listening to "The China Study" book.  I'm almost done with it. I used to treat myself with food and needed to find a new treat. Books might work. I like listening though so I can work on a project. I have a quilt top on my frame that I made 16 1/2 years ago. Do you think it's time to finish it?

I'm still mad about chores not getting done. I hope they enjoy doing them at 11:30 tonight.

I went to Winn Dixie at 10:30 to buy almond milk and apples. It seems like when we have a day off and I get to stay home I don't have much ambition. Why is that?

July 17, 2013

Wednesday

Somehow, I slept in this morning till 9:30. That put a dent in my day. It was sprinkling out when I went walking, but I needed to get out. It did stop raining though.

Ed must have felt a little guilty for not doing the dishes last night, or he just wanted to help me out, because he put the dishes away. Ben finally folded a few baskets of laundry. 

I've been taking the little boys' iPads at night and not giving them back till the next day when we drive to a gig. They were on them way too much. I had Garrett turn in his iPod last night. He set it on my desk. This morning I noticed it was just the empty case. I guess he thinks he's smarter than me. I've got plans in the making for him. Don't you just love surprises?

I read a few chapters of Charlie's book to him and paid a few bills. Then it was time to make my salad and get ready for Sloppy's.

We got 2 hundred dollar bills in our tips tonight! Yay!! That makes everybody happy.

On the way home we stopped at Winn Dixie to buy popsicles for Charlie. He's been having a good attitude during the shows. He's even doing the Michael Jackson spin. :0)

July 16, 2013

Tuesday

It poured this morning. I was going to walk, even though it was getting late, but TJ wanted me to watch the kids so he and Ang could go to the DMV. They bought a truck.

I made bread today and both loaves flopped in the oven. :0( I've never had that happen before. I never got to making another batch of yogurt. I made a salad for lunch and there was leftover bean soup.

TJ picked up my produce for me. I decided what to make for dinner and had to run to Winn Dixie. I have been inside so much with all this rain. I need to be outside more. 

I started crocheting a pincushion using Irish crochet. So far I am enjoying it. 

The boys went to hockey. Tom got hit in the face with a stick. Between that and his job he was pretty crabby when he came in. 

I hadn't gotten to the dishes earlier today. The big kids were at the studio all day. This doesn't work, them running off to the studio and chores never getting done. Or me, Garrett, and Tommy getting stuck with them. Ben hasn't folded laundry in over a week. It's starting to clog the hallway. I was not going to do the dishes after supper. Ed said he and Nina would do them, but they ended up babysitting for TJ so I did them, then I put my produce away. It was just before midnight. Charlie was still awake so we started another "Captain Underpants" book. 

When I was getting ready for bed I got sidetracked and started cleaning my bathroom. I usually do it on Saturdays, but we have been too busy the last two weeks and it hasn't gotten done. I swept it earlier today and now I washed the counter and sinks. And then, finally, I went to bed.

July 15, 2013

Monday

I went walking this morning and got to talk with a good friend on the phone. We both needed that. I showered and  ate my granola. Charlie had oatmeal. Tommy had toast with peanut butter and strawberries, and I don't know what everyone else ate.

TJ brought Jake and Callie upstairs so I could babysit. They went to the studio to record a surprise for somebody. Tommy and Garret's friend Heather came over . They all helped watch the grand kids while I ground wheat berries to make bread tomorrow. I also made a batch of coconut milk yogurt. I threw together some spicy beans and packed my salad to eat on the way to Sloppy Joes. 

I did some doodle crochet while we drove, since I didn't have a project ready to go. I spent a lot of time while at Sloppy Joes looking at Irish Crochet. I found a pincushion pattern that might be my first beginner project. I have lots of colors of crochet thread. I'm anxious to try it, and it's small enough that I might finish it.

We had a good crowd at Sloppy's. I think Ben was a little nervous being in charge with Kim on maternity leave. Their first two sets were great and helped boost their confidence. Their 3rd set seemed to lose some momentum or something. I think it's because they repeated some songs so it wasn't as exciting for them. They are going to pick out some new songs to learn.

We had 3 vehicles in KW. Tom met us at the gig when he was done working. Ed and Nina had driven the GMC to return the generator we rented for Saturday's show, and the rest of us were in the 15 passenger towing the trailer. 

Ed stopped at Winn Dixie for me on the way home and bought milk, berries, and popcicles for Charlie. He did great tonight. My yogurt was a flop and I poured it down the drain. I'm not sure what went wrong. I used coconut sugar. Either it didn't like that or there wasn't enough starter in it. I'll try another batch tomorrow. I am trying to find a recipe I like and then I will stick to it.

I read "Captain Underpants" to Charlie. We finished the book and hit the sack.

July 14, 2013

Sunday

Went to church. I hoped to go swimming afterwards but it was just too gray and dreary. I should have gone, but instead I sat in my queen's chair and crocheted. I am almost done with this project. I started listening to the book "The China Study." I also practiced the fiddle (I'm really, really bad) and the flute. Tom worked on the RV all day.

I didn't really want to be home. The house was trashed and I didn't want to use up my Sunday cleaning just so they could trash it again. Finally, around 6:30, I started making some soup. I took Tommy's friend home and then finished making a salad.  

The boys came home from playing hockey at the park and everybody ate. Tommy and Garrett picked up the living room and I did the dishes.  I read to Charlie and went to bed.

July 13, 2013

Saturday

The band left in the GMC towing the trailer at 11 AM. I packed a food cooler and filled the 5 gallon water cooler. Garrett ran out and bought me ice. The rest of us loaded in the RV and headed to Key West for Mel Fisher Days. Our generator quit about 5 miles down the road so we had no air for the day.

The band was setting up when we got there. We had 3 sets from 3 to about 7:30. The Newtons played and so did River and Tiger and CW. It rained for about 15 minutes in the middle of the show. They had a section of Duvall St. closed near Sloppy Joes and that's where the stage was set up.

I spent some time in the RV crocheting and being a referee for Tommy, Charlie, and Ian. I walked around a little bit and also went with Tom on a few of his jobs. That took about an hour. I bought the little boys gelato. 

It started sprinkling on their last song and then turned into rain. I packed up the CDs and stayed in the RV while they broke down the equipment. I really wanted to walk to Kilwins and buy chocolate but I didn't.  Kim started her maternity leave this week. A few people asked me about her. I think Ben is feeling some pressure with her not there. We will see how Monday's show at Sloppy's goes.