Happy Valentine's Weekend!  

This week has felt 10 days long.  Actually this whole month has felt Big and Long.  A week ago we had our annual tax appointment.  It always feels so good to have that done.  As soon as we got home from running errands and visiting the Littles; I fell to organizing and putting away the 2019 paperwork,  And then I started on entering the 2020 receipts.  My goal is to stay on top of it this year.  (I say that every year!)  But I mean it this year. To this date I only have about 5 or 6 receipts to enter and that can be done in less than 15 mins.
I also purchased an "in-box" so I have a place to collect them during the week and then can enter them on Saturday.

Sunday the 9th we stayed home from church.  It was the annual Chili Cook-off at church and I'm not a fan of chili and not eating grains, so no cinnamon rolls for me.  We both took a late morning nap and just piddled the rest of the day, RESTING.  I  helped with chores and made a few food items for my week.

A week ago Tuesday my best friend's dad passed away.  The family viewing was Monday evening so we went to that and spent afterwards with B & A.  Tuesday was the funeral, so I worked until 10 a.m.  Farmer picked me up and we went to the funeral and luncheon.  The country cemetery was terribly muddy so we chose to not go to that.  I went back to work from 1:30-5.

Wednesday evening thru Friday, the weather turned cold.  We had wind chills at -20s all day on Wednesday.  I could feel the cold seeping through the north wall in the living room.  I kept the thermostat at 68 until bed and then turned it to 64.  Farmer wasn't cold sitting in there, covered in 3 quilts.  My computer room is right above the furnace and it stays nice and toasty.

Friday was Valentine's Day.  We are both just fine with a verbal greeting, a kiss & a  hug.  I found a great deal on Under Armor fleece shirts for the Bigs and had sent them out in time for the holiday and sent the family a Universal Yums box to share.  I got the Littles each a card and a toy.  P is very into super heros and Lego people.  He got a Super Hero card and the generic brand of people.  Sissy does everything P does, so Lego people for her too and a Minnie Mouse card.  N is too little to care.  She got a Minnie Mouse card too and a teething toy.
I also got inexpensive ($1 or less) gifts for my Boss' kids and 2 other special friends.  A pack of pencils for $1 to be split up and a pack of Reece's Cups to be split.  The other 2 each got a $1 gift and a tube of Kisses.  
I also gifted my work guys with donuts as we haven't really celebrated or observed anything in a while.  They are a good bunch of guys and work hard, so I'm happy to be the "office mom" and do these things.
By evening I was "done."  Neither of us wanted to go to town and I don't need much for groceries and can easily wait until next week.  Farmer wanted a frozen pizza and I had my sausages in the fridge.  We ate what we wanted and enjoyed a quiet evening.

And that brings us to Saturday, today.  We were up early to drive 2 hours south in to Kansas to look at a sprayer Farmer was interested in.  We enjoyed touring some small communities and seeing some of the big older homes.  Clay Center KS was a delightful little town.  I'm sure I could move there and fit right in.  We stopped at the little bakery, and were the object of everyone's attention (New Comers in town!)  
After Farmer's inspection was done (he hasn't decided if he's getting it  yet), we took a different route through the Flint Hills and back to Nebraska.  By then I was getting car numb, so I took a nice nap.  

During the morning I had had 2 service calls on the after hours phone.  I needed to stop at my office to check on something for Monday morning, so we took the round-about way home through our small town.  While there we called DS2 and asked if we could stop by to see the Littles.  He wanted to come out with them to get them out of the house.  So we agreed and hurried home get the house "baby ready."

4 hours, 3 yucky diapers, a snack and evening meal (Dinosaur chicken nuggets, green beans, mac & cheese, & pears), lots of imaginary play and Bubble Guppies later; I am doing laundry, running the dishwasher.  Farmer is in his chair and I'm here. 

Tomorrow may not be a church day again as I am still in need of some real REST.  The workweeks are pretty stress-filled and the past few Saturdays I have not been able to get much done here.  I don't want to get run down as the Flu is still rampant around here. 

Menu
Last week
Friday:  Whole 30 Spinach-Artichoke Dip on Sweet Potato Toasts
Saturday:  Pizza Buffet (salad and small amount of non-compliant items)
Sunday: Salad for lunch.  Fish Sticks and Fries for supper.
Monday: Fast food out with friends
Tuesday: Waffles & Sausages, Smoothies
Wednesday: Cast Iron Skillet Burgers
Thursday: Salads with grilled chicken breasts
Friday: Frozen Pizza or Italian Sausage on Salad greens.
Today:  Donuts, coffee; Sonic burgers; Water, Pistachios & Craisins

Next week I hope to make pizza one night.  We haven't had steak in a while.  Or Meat loaf.  We have some salmon in the freezer.  Probably Chef Salads again as I have a ton of lettuce.  Some kind of soup (other than chili) sounds good.  Maybe Salmon soup with plain nut milk?  Or Chicken Pot Pie Soup?

Homemaking Ways
I MUST clean out my pantry.  DS2 was looking for any leftover homemade jelly.  I couldn't find any of mine so let him have a pint of some  yummy apricot a neighbor gifted to me.  I think I have some left but all I could find was pepper jelly.  Not so good on toast. 
I need to find anything we are not eating anymore and donate it before it expires.  That is a huge waste.  And I cannot walk in that room due to all the stuff on the floor.  
And I just need to declutter.  I've decided if I haven't used it in the last 2 years, I'm boxing it up and will have the daughter-in-loves go through it and then offer to nieces before donating or selling on our local Swap.
After the pantry, I plan to go through the kitchen.  Then the closet under the stairs and then the back porch.  All this over the next 2-3 months since I only have Saturdays now.  Once it gets warmer and lighter longer and Farmer is in the field, I can work upstairs on Saturdays and on the main floor in the evenings. (one drawer or cupboard at a time.)
I also need to make up some Elderberry Syrup.  The Flu is going around here for the second time.  That's the LAST thing we need.

Being Creative
My quilting is calling.  I'm patiently waiting for Farmer to get the rocking horses done. Gifts for the Little Girls.  Then I can finish B, K & N's quilts.  
I also would like to plant up the sprouting bulbs I got for cheap.  (Maybe tomorrow!)
I have cards I could make.  And produce bags.  

Learned Ways
I have several "deeper" books on Biblical subjects I'd like to get started on.  I don't have the mental wherewithal to read them during the week, but Sunday afternoons seem like the perfect time.
I would also like to learn more about eating Paleo or Gluten-free.  The more I test it, the more I'm finding grains are not my friends.  This past week was heavier on them and I can tell.  I get bloated and my face gets blotchy.  Sugar is another no-no.  That with the grains makes my Rosacea flare badly.  I had a bad reaction after the holidays, and am just now getting it under control.  Shea Butter and Helichrysum EO has helped enormously. 

So all in all, I'm still busy and have lots to do.  But I will work Smarter, Not Harder and will continue my Year of RESTING in Him.

See you soon!
Kay

**February is the border between winter and spring. 
~Terri Guillemets, "Years,"