Happy Sunday to all. My goodness, here we are almost at the end of another month. My how time flies. Soon April will be here, and many of us will be starting and thinking about gardens. Those of us here in the middle parts of the U.S., know that we need to wait to plant outside for a while. We can still have frost, snow and cold up through early May. Mother's Day, has always been the magic date!!!
It is still every stinking Friday - that we have a nasty weather event. Cold, wind and snow or rain - every Friday for almost 2 months. They are predicting the same for this next Friday!!!!!
I know the saying about April showers - but I think we started early here!!!
I will say the grass is so very green and growing!!!!!! It really needs cut in some places - just too wet and muddy out there now.
This week has been much of the same.
- Cleaning and de-cluttering galore!!! Drawers, closets, pantry, basement, etc.
- I have found some things that help in other areas. I found a couple great scrapers that will help with the continuing wallpaper saga. I found 2 boxes and an 8 pack of Kleenex in the med closet. I know I got those free years ago - and just stuck them back for in case!
- I got rid of REALLY old herbs and vitamins (really old).
- Paid all the items on hand
- Made a new batch of seasoned rice/pasta mix to have on hand
- Found and used some items in the deep pantry - partial jars - blended together (dry goods). Found a gifted mix for chocolate pound cake which I made and shared.
- Used some older buns for dinner (from frig). They were a bit stale - so I toasted and they were great
- Unplugged all the outdoor water bowls for a few days. Saves a little on electric.
- Got to air the house 1 day
- Picking and clearing sticks and trash from wind (when it wasn't raining!)
- I did run to Kroger Friday (4X gas points on Fri.). I got some on sale fresh asparagus, Cara Cara oranges - 3lbs. 2.99 (they are almost red & super sweet), peanuts for squirrels (cheaper than feed store), and 1/2 gals. of ice cream. It was on sale 1.99 half and I had .65 off coupons - so got 2 for 1.34 each.
- Froze a couple helpings of leftover corned beef for other days!
- While out - I ran to the bank and got my cash 'allowance' for the next couple months
- Using what I have for meals and cooking from home
- Just doing all the normal stuff we all do
Meals this past week:
Broc./Caul./Mushroom and corned beef chunks over rice
Grilled 3 cheese sandwich and tomato soup
Hard tacos
Braats on buns (toasted) and side salad
Mixed bean soup (freezer) over rice
Eggroll bowl
Beef and cheese jazzed up nachos
So there you have it. Just the same old, same old. De-cluttering and working on the JUNK! Ugh!!
What have you all been doing? How was your week? We had some good conversation this week - look forward to the coming week and hearing from everyone.
May you all be safe and well, and I pray your coming week is a great one.
Blessings from my humble little home to you and yours!
**********************
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 3:5-7
Dear Lord, Yes please guide us each one to do the right and good things. Help us to have faith and know that You are in control. Guide us to not follow men that can lead us astray, but to follow You and Your absolute word. May we each do good, to help another.
Amen
Good morning Cheryl! Well I listed my house for sale starting tomorrow. This house was perfect for Stu and me, but now it is too big and too much of it will sit empty (like the detached garage that was his lair). I want a smaller more well protected place next. I have been looking around for where to live (and in what type of place). Haven’t moved in 31 years so it is a chore to go through the useless stuff that we held onto ;)…I am still not cooking at home, which you said was normal…any guess on when I might get interested again? I have food to give the food bank but not sure how much to keep for myself. Happy Spring! Hilogene in Az.
ReplyDeleteI hope and pray your house sells quickly, Hilogene. Things are still selling fast in the White Mountains. Also hoping and praying you find a perfect place you love very soon!
DeleteMy mom was widowed twice. Each time it took from 6 months to a year before she felt like cooking. What got her over the hump (I think) was inviting a few friends over for lunch or dinner. It just takes time. Hugs! --Elise
WOW - I hope you have great luck on selling. I haven't even touched the garage here. Full of G's tools. But my home is smaller - so I am comfortable. Good luck.
DeleteIt took several months - luckily it was summer soon after - so lots of fresh stuff. You will get there - it does take time.
I wish you great success on the sale. Many places are going fast - hope you get cleaned out and BOOM sell!
Have a good week.
Elise and Cheryl, thank you both! I will aim to keep six months then ;). For the two of us, I had about a year in storage, and Stu ate far more than me, so I can definitely fill up my car with donations again. Some lucky ducks at the food pantry will be happy! Thanks again, Hilogene in Az
DeleteHilogene. Are you planning to stay in the Valley? Three of my relatives now live in the same subdivision in Mesa. They love it. Me, I don't like HOAs, and I've grown accustomed to country living with space between neighbors plus quiet. Everyone likes different stuff. Hope you find the perfect spot.
DeleteEllie
Central Az
Our own understanding isn't worth too much when we have access to the Father's wisdom. We can't believe too much (or any) of what men say.
ReplyDeleteWe have the wind and rain for sure. Not like those poor folks in Mississippi. I can't imagine the process of cleaning up and rebuilding after that storm. You probably remember the Palm Sunday 1965 tornado.
We have corned beef in the refrigerator that we'll cook this week. Today we have a pan of lasagna left and I will make a beet and mandarin salad for the side.
Oh the poor folks down south are going through so much. It is just awful. Yes, I remember that tornado and so many others that came so close by.
DeleteLasagna sounds good. I just love corned beef.
Have a great week.
Doesn't time pass quickly? It's starting to feel like spring even tho' night temps are still -10C or so. The snow is slowly melting on the hill behind the house where the deer are gathering. It's been another busy week. The baby mama is still in recovery mode post-tonsillectomy so I had the little one for 2 days in a row. There's a reason we don't have children in our 60's! Such busy days but so fun at the same time. There was a card date & supper with a friend & a 2-mi walk with another this past week. Today is the celebration of life for my dear friend's son who died from complications of muscular dystrophy. We did a little planning for that this past week. This is her second son to die with this disease & a more grounded & engaged woman I have never met. I'm hosting a friend this w/e who's flown in from another province for the celebration. I had a sound whupping at scrabble last night as we caught up where we left off. I finished the scrapbook project for my granddaughter's 13th birthday. I helped her celebrate at her provincial ringette tournament 2.5 hrs away, a long day for this grandma but worth the effort to see her face & that of the rest of my son's family. Meals this week: store-bought fried chicken with salad, Mediterranean fish noodle casserole, chicken thighs with roasted lemon potatoes. I made carrot pineapple muffins this week for the freezer. I'm looking forward to a quieter week moving forward.
ReplyDeleteYou do stay busy - my goodness. LOL - yes there is very GOOOOOOOD reason we don't have children at this age!
DeleteG had MD and had a lot of problems from it. Got to where he could not walk at all. His brother (younger) is now in a nursing home because of MD. He can do very little for himself. Breathing is even tough, as well as speaking. It is such a debilitating disease. My sympathies to her and the family.
Wishing you a good and relaxing week.
Oh my, I've been very busy this week doing more decluttering than I thought possible. At long last, hubster was willing to through clothes-I will not toss his stuff, I'm respectful that way. Off went to all slacks/jeans 2 sizes smaller than current-10 total along with 9 sweaters/t-shirts and 8 neckties. I let go of a pair of above-the-ankle boots, 1 sweater, 1 cami. Also various office supplies, books, pile of magazines. All of this went to FB Buy-Nothing and hopefully will serve the recipients well.
ReplyDeleteI've been cooking from the freezer pantry. I cooked up a big batch of taco meat-gr beef/gr turkey and it's frozen. We'll smoke up 14# of pork butt today, shred and freeze. I made about 5qt of chili (no purchase needed) and this will go in the freezer. Today's dinner will be mac n' cheese to use of some ham that has been sitting in the fridge.
And as luck would have it, I got to the end of dental floss and lotion. I love using the end of something, especially when the next one is on hand. It's like decluttering but in a zero waste manner.
And the timing is perfect-and actually the push. We're finally having all the flooring replaced as well as a few home repairs done. This was the impetus to declutter rather than pack/move/store in garage. Cooking ahead means not having to use the pretend kitchen on the card table in the garage 🤣🤣 Everything that is GONE will not have to come back in!
The interesting thing is, with everything off the walls in half our home, I don't know how much I will actually put back. Our hallway is about 20 feet and both walls covered with family photos over 40 years. Not sure I want to cover those walls again. So I am going to be thoughtful of what returns. The nieces/nephews are now 27-48yo. Do their HS graduation pics really need to go up alongside their wedding pics and pics of their kids? I love the history of my big family (we didn't have kids), and I do look at the pics several times a week. All that to say, when we are finished with this project, I think I will lay a sheet out and lay all the framed pics there for awhile. I told hubster last night that I believe I will slow to hang anything on the walls. Did I mention painting the entire house too?
I am open to suggestions from others on what to do about all those pics. Phew, aren't I longwinded this morning.
Blessed Sunday to all.
Elle, what you're planning for your family picture wall sounds right. We've done that, too... Mom, Sis and me... as time passed and babies grew up. Usually when we moved or painted. You might ask the nieces and nephews if they'd like some of their younger pictures? Often they don't have a lot from their growing up years. Or you could put them in photo albums for their kids later.
DeleteMy thoughts and prayers are with you as the home improvement projects are underway! It can be a mess for awhile, but the end result is always so refreshing. :-)
--Elise
Elle, I would definitely take this opportunity to edit some of the photos. I'm doing the same right now. You'll be amazed at how fresh it makes everything feel. I'm at the less is more part of my life. I put the photos that I took down in an album. I hope the home improvements go smoothly.
DeleteGood on the decluttering and YAY on home repairs.
DeleteI would keep up the most recent - then either place the older ones in books or share with other family. I have also got many pics saved on disks (scanned and saved to flash drives).
I do have really old pics (like those before me) on display. You are like me - no kids - but lots of nieces and nephews.
Best of luck with all the repairs and remodeling.
Have a great and industrious week!!!
We've had the same Friday crazy weather for a couple of months. This Friday evening into Saturday morning brought thunderstorms that dropped 3 inches of rain and crazy winds all day Saturday. We've had a very wet winter.
ReplyDeleteLove al your meals and good job on continuing the declutter. It's a never-ending battle it seems.
Have a great week Cheryl!!
These week ending storms are enough! Over it. Yes, lots of rain.
DeleteThanks. I am still working on it - it doesn't end!!!! At least no time soon.
Have a blessed week.
Thank you for the verse and prayer this Sunday, as always. I was going to say I love your Sunday round up posts, but in truth I just love your blog and everyone here, EVERY day. :-)
ReplyDeleteOur weather this week was multi-seasonal many days. Sun, wind, rain, sleet, snow, you name it. Woke up to a light dusting of snow again this morning. Hubs said the AZ weather service noted a (so far) seasonal snow amount of nearly 15 ft. in Flagstaff. At least we haven't had that much!! But it's been a snowier 1st winter here than I'd expected. We take advantage of the sunny, dry days for sure.
Simple meals this week included spaghetti, chili, chicken salads, etc. Nothing exciting, but healthy. I made 2 pints of jam from the strawberries that were $1.27 per lb. package (2 pounds). We still have blueberry jam from last week; I did give some as gifts. Only a few grocery buys this week (all sale items), and of course I forgot to buy milk. LOL! My projects for the week included starting another pile for donation. Do you ever have the feeling your stuff multiplies while you sleep?!! Have a blessed week. --Elise
Thanks. I love hearing what everyone is up to. We have good conversations here.
DeleteIt has been a weather season for sure. Yep, all 4 seasons in one week! Nothing to see here!!!!! LOL
Shoot we usually have a bunch of snow - this year I think our TOTAL has been less than 10". Thank goodness all the rain was just rain!
Your meals sound good. I like simple.
Yep, it secretly multiples I do believe.
Have a wonderful week.
My seedlings are coming along, a couple of marigolds are even showing their second set of leaves so should be transplanted soon. Lots of tomatoes are up but they're a bit further behind. And no petunias - I suspect the pods I saved for the seeds may have been empty.
ReplyDeleteCool here again today, though the sun has been trying to peek through the clouds. I'd take a good rain right now as it would help rid us of this snow but it has to come with warmer weather.
WOW, good for you on growing plants. That is great! They will be big, by the time you can plant them. You can have our rain - and NO I don't want your cold or snow or ice!
DeleteI hope it warms up for you soon.
Have a great week.
I am about 70 miles north of you and it sounds as if we are having the same weather but slightly lower temps. I am so anxious to get the sticks picked up and yard ready. I did use the leaf blower to remove leaves from the front flower bed this AM. Yesterdays wind took care of the stragglers in the front yard. I love Spring but right now we are in what I call the "dirty looking" time of year. I did plant some pansies but the are close to the house which holds heat for them. I have different micro climates around my yard.
ReplyDeleteI am ready to start purchasing bags of mulch and getting it laid down. Trying hard not to rush it but it is hard! LOL
I have a lot of seedlings rescued from the overflow of a green house and trying to keep them alive until I can safely transfer them to the popup greenhouse. I can't do it yet because of the wind and the temps.
I have been able to air the house a couple of times and it is wonderful.
Cheryl, your blog is an inspiration to me. Thank You
JC
Howdy to yet another Hoosier! Yes indeed, it is a messy, bland time of the year. Things just starting to pop open, I want color. I want lots of fresh air. I want to smell fresh cut grass! LOL
DeleteI hear you, so many things to do - yet it is just so messy out.
Thank you for being here and thank you for your kind words.
Have a great week!
Avocados have been cheap here the last week so I've been basically eating a Mexican bowl for dinner every night. Lol They were on sale again this week so last night I made corn bread and more pinto beans. I like it so why not? It's simple-- everything is already made or cut up so I all I do warm what I need to in the microwave and pile on the goodness.
ReplyDeleteMy poor mother calls me most everyday lamenting about what to eat. By her way of thinking you can't have the same thing 2 days or more in a row! She doesn't get my way of eating. Sometimes if I make a lot of something I like I will eat it for lunch and dinner for 2 days. I admit the 3rd day it gets a little harder! Lol
I spent the last 2 days cleaning/reorganizing those problem areas around the house like the junk drawer and makeup drawer. So freeing! Hahaha
I also spent a day organizing papers into binders. I made up one to hold my maintenance lists for my car, home, & appliances, including warranties & anything related to the appliances etc and their upkeep. This is better than me trying to remember the last time we had something done. I alao made up one for one for keeping ideas for places to take my grandson. I'll cut out an article or page from a brochure then I have nowhere to put it so then I throw it out and of course later can't remember where I wanted to take him. This way I can look in the binder when I need an idea. I made 3 other binders for various categories but the maintenance one I'm especially happy about.
~margaret
You have been busy. I like how lots of people are in the declutter mode and cleaning them drawers out!
DeleteI do the same with food - if I like it, I eat it. I can do 3 days - then I freeze it. I usually mix things up a bit. You know chili, then chili over baked potato, then chili mac, etc. I eat what I like. Funny your mom thinks you are strange - I do it your way too!
Good idea on the binders.
Have a great day!!
You have picked a lovely verse today Cheryl, thank you. Louise
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome. Thank you.
DeleteHave a wonderful week.
You have a wonderful week too, with hopefully some Spring-like weather. Two nice days in a row would be fantastic this week.
DeleteLouise
I never tire of eating Mexican, in one form or another. So, I'm right with you! I too have been organizing decluttering. Must be the season. Also been making homemade cleaning supplies. Thank you, Cheryl. You gave the push I needed. Strawberry jam is on the list for tomorrow. Yum!
ReplyDeleteWhen we went through my Mom's photos after the funeral, we had pictures of people we couldn't recognize. We took a stack to a family reunion and person after person said no, I don't recognize them. Finally, an aunt said, that was our neighbors way back when we were kids. We tried to give her the pics, no. She didn't want them, so we finally just threw them away. So, my suggestion is to label your photos. Even if you keep them in the frames, put who it is and if you know, the date the pic was taken. The year or maybe the timeframe.
My back aches from tending chickadees/grands. As much as I loved their babyhoods, I'm grateful they are out of dialers and don't need to be carried anymore. Children in your 60's! It hurts to think of it.
Ellie
Central Az
I am a Mexican food fan as well. Love it.
DeleteGlad you are making some cleaning supplies now. So easy and just simple and clean! It must be the de-cluttering season!
My family was notorious for not labeling pictures. I had so many that no one knew. Old pictures that were beautiful - no idea who they were. That or mom would write on the picture front!!! LOL! Yours is a wonderful idea - make sure pictures are labeled.
Kids are great - but carrying them is a bit much today!! Glad you got to spend time with them.
Have a great week!
Cheryl, I'm catching up on your posts and you have so many comments that I was afraid you didn't need one more! But I had to let you know that I'm enjoying reading and being inspired by your decluttering posts and your rice-a-roni recipe. I recently bought the ingredients to make my own because I could eat it every day :) Thank you for sharing what you've been up to. I need the motivation to do the same. Have a wonderful (and hopefully dry) week!
ReplyDeleteHello Debbie. Please always feel free to comment on anything. Never too many comments.
DeleteGlad you are here and enjoying yourself. I do like the seasoned rice/pasta as well - just great flavor.
I hope a few people get motivated. Truth be known - you all are who motivate me!!!
Raining this morning - so not dry at the moment.
Have a lovely week!
Hi Cheryl, Lovely verse and prayer. I always pray that the Lord would keep us from crossing paths with those who could harm us in any way and to please help us to cross paths with those who encourage and that we could encourage too. : )
ReplyDeleteLast week I made vegan zuppa tuscana with almond milk in it, spinach and Italian tofurky sausage served with brown rice pasta elbows. That was eaten three days in a row, unusual for us but it worked. Hubs had leftover pizza with his. We also had my Italian grandma's eggplant with pasta gravy on Thursday and on Friday night with leftover pasta. Saturday is pizza night, I made buttered corn and kale to go with that. Sunday was "fin for yourself' lol Hubs had leftovers from a Greek pita for lunch and I had canned lentil soup from aldi with multigrain crackers dipped in hummus with some kalamata olives from aldi. Later snacked on little refrigerated mandarins (so refreshing!) and then popcorn. Watched a wonderful sermon from a Christian Florida university on Daystar channel and later after pj time started watching 'The Big Heat' with Glenn Ford. ...Such a good movie and so appropriate even for what goes on today in every place imaginable.
We got our junior chicks out, so that was nice. They are loving it. We put them in a little coop under the large coop with their own little yard in the big yard. They'll stay protected for a little while til the two hens get nice and used to them. So far everything is fine! : )
Been sewing another one of those skirt and top sets out of a lighter green cotton lawn cloth. I'm going to put navy ric-rac on the top vneck so the color will be more palatable with my fair skin tone. I love the color, navy on my clothing. : )
You would like the pattern I use for my tops, Cheryl. No buttons or zippers! It's an older Simplicity (leanne marshall) #1690, cap sleeves. I make mine vneck. It makes a cute tunic too if made longer. No darts either, very simple and very flattering.
Today I will embark on more decluttering and finish that skirt set up! I think I'll make a stir fry with veggie eggrolls tonight. I love the veggie eggrolls from Walmart's frozen section, I get the frozen bag of stir fry veggies and sautee them in olive oil and put a tiny bit of the hot sesame oil on it from trader joes and serve that with brown rice.
It's a cloudy and foggy morning here, I've got *very* old retro music playing in background on youtube over television screen. It's like I'm sitting in an old, old house listening to music in the next room...
Have a sweet day, enjoyed hearing what you are up to! : )
You have really been on a roll sewing. Good for you. I bet that is a good pattern. I have an old one that I will be using as well. I think it is a 70's type pattern.
DeleteGlad the chicks are doing good. Sounds like they are well loved and taken care of!
Your meals sound tasty. I am getting in the mood for fried rice - maybe this week!
Rainy, chilly and gloomy here this AM. Local news on at the moment - then I go to the oldies station on TV for music as well.
Have a great week!
Cheryl, No pressure at all but one day when you have time and have the druthers...Could you post your fried rice recipe? I never have gotten the hang of that! Haha! I bet yours is a good recipe. : ) (Only when you have time of course!)
DeleteNo problem!
DeleteOh, and Cheryl, the skirt I make? I make a simple 2 piece skirty Simplicity 4881. One pattern piece doubled. It's great! Easy breezy...And I just make a wide tie belt over the top I make or over elastic waist skirt. Or wear the skirt with a sweater type top over the skirt. It works! : ) ...That is how I can do that much sewing. hahaha!
DeleteI will write down those pattern numbers - never know when I might find them! Thanks
DeleteAmelia, I absolutely agree with you, Simplicity 1690 is a great pattern. I have made that one multiple times, it's easy and always turns out well. I recently got rid of a lot of my patterns but that one was definitely a keeper. Louise.
DeleteIt’s so nice to get rid of old clutter. I was able to toss a lot of stuff like that (old vitamins and medicine) from Mom’s room after she passed. Your meals sound delicious and just like things we enjoy eating. The weather here is sunny and breezy and about 61, so just a beautiful day. 😊
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to get rid of stuff. You and I have a lot of the same meal ideas - we eat much the same!
DeleteLucky you - sunny!
Have a great week.
Just the usual decluttering around here, using things up, and working on various handcrafts. Started those mitts for the students at Kurt's school for next winter.
ReplyDeleteYou had a very fruitful week.
God bless.
You do stay busy gal. That is neat that you are making mitts for the students. Such a kind thing to do.
DeleteYou have a great week.