Thank you so much!

Father already painted areas I planned to help with so we brought 15 large bags of mulch to freshen up landscaping around garage and deck.

Visiting with sister and her family tonight. She opened up a small cafe (45 seats) in small town nearby and is doing a really great business. They have huge smokers so have smoke house specials. She is a very hard worker. We both are.

When I went on disability she had a hard time understanding me "walking" away from my career and earning capacity. Why can't you make this work? No matter how hard we try, trying does not make it happen every time. That was the first of many compromises I had to make due to illness.

We are a very strong group of ladies (and gents). I so enjoy the support we give each other.

so sorry she gave you pressure rather than unconditional support
bobby

15 bags of mulch is A LOT!!!!:eek:
hoping that you spread out the job.....


bizi

Fifteen bags is a lot. We took our truck and it loaded it down. Found out the air conditioner in truck no longer works. Was a warm windy ride 5 hours one way. My dog loved it.

Trip was tiring. I will have to take it easy next couple days. Just doing laundry and making menu for the week so I know what I might need from grocer. I just run out of good ideas. Any good ideas for dinner ladies? I am willing to try anything, as long as it does not require long prep.

I need to give our dog a bath. She is a mini Australian Shepard about 40 pounds.

I will have three grandchildren next weekend. They are 6 and under. Hubby and I will tag team this small herd. My eldest sons children. We have three kids and four grands. They are so much fun and well behaved. The middle child can be a bit bossy/whinny but I just ignore it and he eventually comes around.

Have a great week. Take it one day at a time. I sometimes take it one hour at a time.

how about eggplant parmigiano(sp)

tuna fish sandwiches or in a tomato...hubby made that for dinner tonight, light and delicious...he used 2 bowls one for his miracle whip and one for my real mayo. He put sweet pickles in mine...for got to tell him no and it made mine taste like miracle whip!
and he picked up the best soup at whole foods. spinach lentil...it was delicious.
bizi

Thanks for the suggestions. I need to put these ingredient on my shopping list.

I am making homemade soup today. Either chilli or tortellini veg. Ended up having take out chicken from local place. Delicious. It came with real mashed potatoes, gravy, coleslaw and rolls (16 pieces) for less than 20$. I don't know how they do it because it was large. Giving left overs to daughter and her hubby. She is not well (physically and mentally) and we support them in any way we can, small and large.

Hubbys family home is soon to go on the market so we cleaned some during our trip over weekend. We both grew up in same town. We found his mothers state board of pharmacy certificates, starting in 1946. The first female to graduate from school of pharmacy state of residency. She was a career women and mother of 4 boys married late in life had last child at 45. Lord I admire her. She paid her own way. Here's to strong women.

Have a great Tuesday.

Have had tortellini before, .How do you get them so they are not hard?
chili sounds good too.
bizi
I love fried chicken!

I am so sick of making the same stuff all the time, and have a really hard time coming up with new things to make that don't require a lot of time and energy. I recently made a pork pie. I hadn't made one in ages. It takes a while, but it's pretty easy. I made meatballs the other day, but instead of pan frying them, I brown them in the oven now. It makes life a lot easier.
I love making chili! The leftovers are even better. I have never made tortellini soup before. That's something I'll have to try :)

I can kinda relate to how your sister reacted to you filing for disability. When there was absolutely no way I could work anymore, I called SSA to file, and cried the whole time I was on the phone. But when I told my sister, she told me she liked me better when I was a fighter. I think you have a much better relationship with your sister than I have with mine tho. I'm so glad that her business is going so well.

I understand all too well about making compromises due to illness. I'm so sorry. I know how hard every one of those compromises can be (((HUGS)))

It sounds like you had a great time with your father, sister, and her family, even if the trip was taxing :)
And I bet you and your husband are really looking forward to having your grandchildren over next weekend! :)

I am so impressed by your mother-in-law! What a strong woman! Are her certificates in good enough shape to frame?

Hugs to you both. Its hard to give up the dreams along with
the jobs. But you have to do what is best for yourself.

Donna :hug::grouphug: