Week 48: Miscellany

I walked 39 miles this month with my phone in my pocket. Clearly I walked a lot more than that as I only carry my phone on actual outdoor walks. There were also lots of stair climbs with a two story house again.

My back hurts less. Pilates sessions with a very good trainer is addressing the issue well. Much thanks to my son for finding this trainer who diagnoses and customizes extremely well. I like her as a person too.

So much for reducing grocery costs in November: I thought we could keep our November grocery, household, toiletries and alcohol spending similar to October. I was way off. 

Having 2 more adults to feed for a week, Hubby’s birthday dinner party for 7, and providing significant hors d’oeuvres for Thanksgiving added almost $200 to our spending for the month. Happily spent I should add as the family time was lovely and fun. Today is my local DIL’s 40th birthday party so, although my older son is sick and stayed home, my DIl is back for 2 nights. They will be gone much of December and January visiting her parents which makes these visits all the more precious. 

We still have spent less in these categories this year than last and I have lowered the budget goal a bit further for 2024.

Insurance costs and coverage: Once we decided not to switch insurance companies we took a close look at our homeowners, earthquake and excess liability policies. Raise a deductible here and get an earthquake retrofit discount there and it adds up. Plus we noticed the earthquake insurance still listed us as owning 2 homes (there was a few weeks overlap) instead of one and the homeowners insurance had not noted the recent roof replacement. 

Now I just have to go to city hall and get copies of all the permits for the property and hope there is one for updating water pipes!

Speaking of city hall: I submitted the form and documentation to get part of our city transfer tax refunded because of the retrofit. This is enough money to care about.

The county is slow: Still no word on our property tax credit for seniors who sold and bought a home in California. We are owed a discount on our property tax and submitted the form 7 months ago. To be fair, they did say it would take at least 6 months.

Our 2 year old furnace is oversized: With colder weather we have discovered that the expensive furnace the sellers put in is about 50% oversized so it was shutting down because it got too hot. Hubby found an experienced technician knowledgeable about this brand and he was able to make an adjustment to the gas flow so it works ok and doesn’t overheat. Whew. We did not want to have to buy a new furnace.

Planning for 2024: The new year definitely will see me focusing away from the house and yard. I’m starting to get excited about it!

Our yard landscaping results

 We tried to make it low maintenance and low water use as well as pretty, attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies plus dog friendly and deer resistant with nice places for humans to hang out!

 That was a lot of requirements plus we had to have decades of plants, old bricks and stone, yucky compost and up to 3 layers of weed barrier material removed. I’m not showing the pre-existing patio because it is bare at the moment since it is quite chilly these days.

Eventually there will be tall shrubs providing a screen along the back fence plus the camellias and other plants blooming. The front yard is much more welcoming now and we like coming home to it.

Week 47: Fun and company

Yesterday my 2 DILs, 2 granddaughters and I had a girls adventure by going to a holiday crafts fair held in a former shipbuilding facility next to the Rosie the Riveter Historic Site. It was a really fun afternoon.

It was a great week with son and DIL here all week. 2 family birthday celebrations and Thanksgiving although I spent Friday feeling pretty tired as did the pup. Very worth it! Next Sunday we have another family birthday party and then are done until Christmas. 

The 9 month old granddaughter is crawling although her belly stays on the ground right now. She is fast on all the wood floors once she decides to move. I picked up a few toys for her age group from the Buy Nothing group. Also a bit of Christmas paper since I only need a small amount.

We have declared our yard done for now and gave away the leftover flagstone to a couple with 3 sons and a puppy who were very excited to get it to cover a muddy section of their backyard. Just one more bench to put together and then nothing until summer except keeping the plants alive and replacing the free one that has died. Oh, and enjoying it!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Hoping your day is what you wish it to be and that you go though it with a thankful heart.

Thankful: November 22

Today I am thankful for having had choices about how to live my life and for having had loving parents and grandparents.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful: November 21

I met Hubby in graduate school decades ago. Today I am not only thankful for our life together but also for his turning 71 with no serious health problems and that we are celebrating his birthday with our sons, DILs and granddaughters.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful: November 20

It was fun to see my older son playing with our pup this morning. They both had so much fun. I am thankful for these moments together.

What are you thankful for today?