Unexpected vacancy

I'm been missing for a while because we had some unexpected events here.  Our number four grandchild was admitted to the PICU at a local children's hospital after experiencing some difficulties controlling his asthma.  It was his third trip to the hospital in his short (nearly) four years.  Hearing he was being sent to ICU was scary but it turned our to be about the same as his other stays.  While he was there, we had the six month old in our care.  Needless to say, we had our hands full.

Then, as soon as he was released and home, our new replacement windows were installed.  Overall, we're happy with the appearance and functionality.  Energy savings is still to be determined.  Initially, I was disappointed that the house did not feel warmer but, I think my expectations were too high.

From there, we just right into preparing for Thanksgiving which will be upon us in just a couple of days. In the meantime, I finalized a couple of gifts for the little boys.  Still more to get done and I still need to work on homemade ornaments for 2013.

I had some hope of getting the tree up before Thanksgiving but that will have to wait until next weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving in case I don't get back here before the big day.

Buttoning up for Winter

We just got the call today.  The replacement windows we ordered last month will be installed next Wednesday.  (They were originally scheduled for this week but were delayed.). We're having the four front windows replaced on this first phase with plans to replace all in the next year or two.  Good quality replacement windows are expensive.  These windows in question are about 34 inches wide and 84 inches tall.

Additionally, we did some work last weekend trying to mitigate some of the cold were feeling on the living room floor.  We suspect that there is some air leakage at the garage doors and its traveling directly up to the living room floor.  We're putting some foil backed rigid insulation up between the joists.  It's a tedious process because each piece is a different length and width.  We installed two four by eight sheets ( each cut into thirds) and just couldn't do that third sheet.  

Hubby also discovered that there was no seal at the top of the garage door.  (You'd think we might have noticed that sometimes during the ten years we've been here.). He installed a seal at the top Monday and said it was inexpensive and quick to install.

The outside faucets have been turned off, which is a good thing because it is supposed to be 29 tonight.  It should only last a day or two and then we're back to moderate temperatures for a while.

We have a decent stack of firewood in place - I think we need more by hubby seems happy with what we have.  

I finally got around to canning something - two pints and eight half pints of applesauce.  A great use for some past their prime apples.  I'm looking for some more sales because I'd like to dehydrate some more.  I handed a quart of apple slices to my pantry.

I'm working on the LAST Dresden plates for my quilt.  I'll have 30 and then I'll begin working on the quilt blocks.  I really need to spend some time working on Christmas gifts.  In fact, I'll do that now.  Have a good week.

Things that make you go "Hmmm..."

A co-worker recently spoke with me about our new medical insurance policies and their associated HSAs.  I suggested that she needed to contribute some amount of money towards the HSA to have funds available to pay medical expenses.

(We previously had an excellent plan that had low deductibles and co-pays for medical visits.  We now have high deductible plans with HSAs.)

Her comment to me was that she really didn't have the money to contribute to that.  She was thinking that maybe she could do $10 a paycheck or $240 a year.

I could maybe understand this if she were a single mom working a low paying job but that's not the case.  She's a CPA whose husband is employed and they have two children.  She drives a new car and carries a Coach purse.

I guess it is really about the choices.  

In contrast, I'm going in the opposite direction with the HSA account.  I'm committed to $100 per paycheck ($2400/year).  I was already doing $33 per payday to a flexible spending account so it really will only be an extra $67.  This along with the money the company is contributing will be more than enough to cover our deductible for next year with a little left over.  

My plan is to save my medical receipts and try to cash flow what we can throughout the year.  If we need to pull the money, so be it.  If the unexpected happens, I won't be able to change this but my medical costs will be mostly covered.  I can always pause my 401k contributions if we're in crisis mode.

I think that we're looking at high deductible plans as the new normal.  The more I can roll each ear, the better.  

In regards to how we can afford this, we just will.  Anytime I want to put some money away, I always start small - maybe $25 a payday and hike it up frequently.  $50 the second month and then $75 after four months and then before you know it, your savings is consistent and growing.  I'm doing this now with two bank accounts.  

Along with our aggressive plan to pay off our last car loan (double the payments), these savings plans allow us to have money for projects or emergencies.

As we roll into 2014, I'll update you on how that $200 extra a month impacts us.  Honestly, if it never gets into your bank, you never miss it unless you're living with no margin.  I like a lot of white space!

New daily task and a menu

Sunday - beef stew

Monday - leftover spicy chicken vegetable soup

Tuesday - leftover beef stew

Wednesday - chicken and dumplings

Thursday - spaghetti/frozen Chinese or ham steak

Friday - homemade pizza

It's back to exercise time.  A little bit, every day.

I still want to try some salsa/taco chicken in the crockpot.  I was going to try that last weekend but it never happened.  

More focus on gift making every night and I need to start thinking about Thanksgiving dinner.  

Accomplishments this week and this weekend

Both hubby and I are getting some last minute doctor visits out of the way before the first of the year.  We're just about done, just one left I think.  We're expecting to foot a good portion of our healthcare cost next year before any insurance kicks in.  We're just trying to anticipate what we might need and get the ball rolling now.

We "treated" all the ghosts and goblins on Halloween.  We don't get many but we enjoy decorating and seeing their little faces each year.

I finished my first Christmas gift this week.  It took about four weeks to complete it any I'm very happy with the way it turned out.  I have two other small items that I completed some time ago.  I have plans for some other things, it just very difficult to find the time to work on them.  With the time drawing near, this will have to be a priority.

This weekend, I tackled some little things that have been needing attention.  I hung my metal measuring cups on the inside of my cabinet.  This works well except that the cups bang when I open the cabinet.  I purchased a small sheet of craft foam and attached it under the cups.  It doesn't eliminate the noise entirely, but it does make it much better.  

I found a curtain rod and clip rings to hang up my decorate quilt in my sewing/guest room.  I had it hung up with push pins which would eventually damage it.  I'm every happy with this and I can switch out the quilt at any time.  It cost me about $22 for the rod and clips.

Hubby re-wired "Frankie" because we went through three fuses and two bulbs Haloween night.  It's clearly an upgrade to the electrical.  We've had Frankie about 15 years.  I don't recall how much we paid for him but it has been a good bargain over the years.

All the Halloween decorations are ready to be put up and that will happen this week.

The laundry is caught up except for the ironing.  The sheets are changed and the shower curtain was switched out.  

I had some chicken fat in the fridge so I reheated it to allow any moisture to evaporate and then transferred it to the freezer.  I'm looking forward to using a bit of it to make a crust for a chicken pot pie.  Bringing some extra chicken goodness in the mix.

We bought some bagels at BJs but they were too hard to eat by Monday.  I sliced up the two sesame bagels and toasted/dried the slices in the oven.  These will be great on a salad or a bowl of soup.  Right now, they're unseasoned but a quick spritz of olive oil and a sprinkle of garlic would be nice.