Happy Sunday to everyone. Hope this is finding safe and well.
It is starting to rain here!!!!! YAY!!! Boy do we need it. Right now it is just light showers, but may get heavier as the day goes on. We have had a pretty decent weather week. It wasn't too hot and the humidity was very low!
This coming week looks to be pretty decent as well. We do have a few shower chances, but not holding my breath after today!
I love the smell of rain!
This last week there was a haze over the area a lot. It was seen mainly early and later in the evening - looked like fog - but was from the Canadian wildfires. Late in the evening you could smell it as well. That is just amazing to me that it came so far.
The lightening bugs have just started to show up - not a lot - but I am now seeing some.
All the various flowers are starting to bloom. Roses, tiger lilies, D'oro lilies, clematis, mallow plants - I love it!
The garden is really growing, and I am getting flowers and buds!!!! All after just close to 3 weeks! I can imagine how the rain will bless them!
I have had a very low keyed week! Nothing much exciting.
- Told you, I called and got excused from jury duty! YAY
- Mowed and trimmed the entire yard
- Pulled weeds here and there
- Picked a few lettuce leaves to use
- NO A/C except for maybe 3 or 4 hours all week. Windows open
- NO shopping - didn't even leave the property
- Using what I have here and cooking at home
- Washed my car and cleaned all the windows - here at home
- Laundry and used dehumidifier water in it
- Just cleaning, washing windows and doing all the normal stuff
- Have done a lot of porch sitting. Sitting with my kitty, reading, and talking with neighbors. Have had several come and sit a while this week.
- I am reading: A Life Beyond Amazing, By: Dr. David Jeremiah and reading some cookbooks I have on hand
Meals this past week:
Bologna, lettuce, tomato and potato chip sandwich
Pasta/veggie salad
Tuna patty and pasta salad
Taco salad
Open face chili cheese dogs and side salad
Fried potatoes topped with leftover cut up hotdog & chili sauce and cheese
Mixed greens with ham added (from freezer) - fruit
How has your week been? Love hearing what all are up to. Are your gardens/pots doing good? I sure hope the smoke hasn't affected any gardens. Any great deals this week? Nothing looked worth going out for here.
Wishing you all a safe and healthy week ahead. Prayers for you all.
Blessings from my humble little home to you and yours.
***********************
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.
Matthew 6:34
Nothing is gained by being anxious and worried. Turn it over to the Father. We certainly can't control situations.
ReplyDeleteLoving the rain this morning. We sat on the screened porch for breakfast and listened to the rain on the metal roof. If there had been sofas out there, it would be a good place to nap. You know this rain will be a wakeup call to the weeds..."get up, get up, get up!" At least they will be easier to pull or hoe out with the ground damp.
Need to go out and cut a broccoli for lunch. Maybe the rain will let up for a few minutes...if not, we won't melt. A good day for reading and napping.
Hope you have a good week ahead of you!
No fret and worry help nothing, I have learned the hard way at times.
DeleteThe rain is just bliss!!!!!!! I am sitting here listening to it, nice cool air coming in the window and thinking about laying back down for a while. Just one of those days!!!! Turn on the TV and then I will be 'lights out'!
I love getting out in the nice rain like this - it just feels so refreshing. Got all the critters and Blackie fed before it started - now he is in the greenhouse!
Yep the weeds will sure grow - but they do any how!
Have a wonderful week!
The last of the bedding plants have been transplanted, grass was cut/trimmed & I sat back to enjoy the beautiful yard. Unfortunately, the vegetable garden is spotty. Peas & corn did not germinate. Too dry? I need to water regularly until there’s rain. I’m seriously thinking of starting corn next year to transplant. Time to do some weeding & clean behind the garden. I cared for the little neighbor while her parents processed cattle. One evening, I watched her at the family rodeo event. She hung on to the saddle horn while her dad led her around the barrel pattern. So cute at 2 yrs of age. I attended a chuckwagon race to watch friends compete. In the kitchen: pickled eggs; puffed wheat & rice krispie squares; baked beans, coleslaw, broccoli salad; bbq burgers; tomato lazy holupchi from the freezer. I need to remember that nothing is gained by being anxious & worried.
ReplyDeleteSorry the seeds haven't germinated. Water is probably the culprit. I have seen greenhouses sell corn starts and green beans!
DeleteOh how cute that had to be with the little one! I bet she thought she was something!!!! Sounds like fun.
Broccoli salad sounds so tasty! I love that stuff. It all sounds tasty!
Have a fantastic week!
Good morning, Cheryl! I shared the last bit (in black and white) with several I know who need it today. Your clematis blooms are gorgeous! Isn't it amazing how those things we're sure didn't survive winter bloom to beat the band when summer months arrive? I think there's a lesson in there. Your meals sound wonderful. Oh, and I've ordered a used copy of the book you're reading. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy week was busy in spurts. I made 6-half pint jars of strawberry preserves/jam. 5 lbs. of blueberries went into the freezer for future use. 4 more lbs. of fresh strawberries will be cut up today or tomorrow for another batch. Hubs turned 63 Monday; we had sliced beef sandwiches with veggies and birthday brownies. He got the last of the shrubs planted this week. I worked in the house cleaning, organizing, and continuing to work on home decor. Dropped off more donations to a local charity. Browsed garden centers when Hubs ran errands; finally settled on Russian sage for pots that I'll plant thyme and basil seeds around. Planned craft projects.
In the kitchen: made 4 dozen meatballs and 13 meatloaf burger patties, all in the freezer. We had breakfast for dinner twice. Sandwiches twice. Salads a few times. $7.99 pizza on Thursday. Took advantage of Basha's sale prices (strawberries 99 cents per 1 lb. pkg., ground beef, etc.)... total of $42, saved $48. Used the $5 off $25 coupon at Dollar General yesterday for more 1/2 pint canning jars, canned pork and beans (88 cents ea.), canned pineapple, cereal and burger buns... total of $21.
No rain here yet. I'm grateful, as 15 tons of gravel will be delivered this week for Hubs to finish up the front "yard" before monsoon season kicks off. Mornings have been cool; afternoons hot. Winds kick up dust, but do cool things off. Hoping the gravel also keeps the dust down. Grateful has been my theme for the week as I continue reading "The Sacred Heart of Jesus" devotional this month. Excellent whether you're Catholic or not.
Prayers for all to have clearer air quality, rain where it's needed, and moments that warm your heart this week. --Elise
P.S. When the neighbor finally gets his house up for sale (by the end of the summer, and we're getting the city involved in this part...) we'll have an extra 30 ft. that his mule corral and dog (fenced) area that's on our property. We'll need a water barrel, but that can be a huge "growcery" area next year if we till under the manures this fall and early next spring. --Elise
DeleteIt is amazing how plants just surprise and come back all pretty and lovely.
DeleteI think you will enjoy the book - I am. It really makes one think and has given me some areas to change and work on.
You got some really good deals. What a busy gal you are tending your home and kitchen. Hope hubs enjoyed his birthday dinner!
The rock will sure help with erosion. Tat is a lot of work.
Glad you will be regaining some of your property back. Yes, after tilling under and sitting that will be very fertile soil.
Have a lovely week.
I've been thinking about clematis too, but have not bought one yet. I had one years ago, a pink one, but it died after about 10-15 years. I miss it! Now all I have are wild ones and they bloom in late summer. Trained them on a cattle-panel arch and they look pretty nice.
ReplyDeleteBeans are beginning to climb. :) Squash are putting out some real leaves. I saw a tiny Roma tomato on the vine this morning when I watered. We're supposed to have rain, but I no longer trust the forecast, they've been so wrong so often and it's very dry.
For sure it is unpleasant to work outdoors now... not heat but bugs, little flying things, "face flies" we used to call them, always trying to get into eyes or ears or hair. Most annoying. I'll have to try bug spray and I do hate that stuff, but I need to be outdoors working before the main heat of summer arrives.
The orange daylilies are in full bloom and the other colors are budded. Some were newly planted last summer from big clumps I dug and separated. Sure hope those will bloom, I'd like to see what I accomplished! :D This year there are some hostas that need separating and replanting. Free plants, I'm in favor of it!
MaryB
I really do like the clematis - mine seem to bloom most of the summer. Your garden sounds like it is coming along nicely. I know a gal who wears a net over her face/head/neck when working outside for that very reason. Kind of has a draw string at neck - it sure helps her.
DeleteI hope your separated lilies thrive.
Got to love free plants!!!!
Have a great week.
The orange daylilies are my favorites, MaryB. They grew wild along the roads (in ditches) in Ohio... Columbus are. My Stellas started blooming early this year, but the other colors still aren't showing any buds. --Elise
DeleteWe could use some rain here too. We had to fill the cats giant water bowl yesterday as it was very low and usually the rain keeps it full. Staying home all week is so nice and we do it often here. It’s a big money saver too. I hope you have a great week, Cheryl.
ReplyDeleteI see KY is getting some rain, hoping you will too. It has been dry for a while now.
DeleteYes mam, staying home is a great way to not spend, at least for me. I don't shop online, so I am good. I figure if I need nothing, no reason to be out and about.
Have a great week!
We are lucky to have rain - it has been dry for weeks here. Helps to clear the air as well. Hope you get some rain.
ReplyDeleteYour dinners sound right up my alley! YUM
Glad you are getting some harvest. I saw flowers on my zucchini. You better be careful what you wish for - once they start coming on - you can't give them away fast enough!!!!
Hope you find a bush and location. That is another thing I thought that died off - but it came back!!!
Have a wonderful week!!!!
Hoping for rain here also, it was barely sprinkling when I went out this morning to let the chickens out and feed them.
ReplyDeleteWe really need rain, I water but it is not the same.
Taco salad has been the main dish most of this week alternating with salad and chicken strips. The chicken breast are so big that there is at least 4 meals in each for me.
We haven't mown grass for a couple weeks, too dry and no need. Other than fresh salad greens and some fruit nothing from the grocery stores.
Really would love some good strawberries but hard to find at a decent price. Produce managers have told me they aren't coming in. Oh well, substitute and go forward....
JC in Northern Indiana
I hope you get some rain. From what I hear northern part of the state to get less. It has rained most of the day here!
DeleteI love taco salad - so yummy and simple.
Kroger has had strawberries on sale a few times around here, and I am 15 minutes from Waterman's Farms - they have been having pick your own days. I haven't gone.
Hope you get rain!
Have a great week.
Twenty-two days without rain here; hit-or-miss thundershowers earlier in the week missed us completely. I'm keeping the garden alive, but not flourishing. Haven't mowed in 2 weeks. The only green is clover, and the bees are loving it. We very much need rain to wash out the wildfire smoke and pollen in the air. I've been walking the trail early in the morning to avoid the worst of the smoke. Winds changed a little yesterday, and I hung out a lot of laundry while it wasn't quite so smoky.
ReplyDeleteHusband's BP is still all over the place, though today seems to be a relatively good day. I'm still reading the book by the author my Dr. recommended and working on reducing my anxiety.
My weight has stabilized at 113 now that the physical anxiety symptoms have abated somewhat. I'm working on putting a few pounds back on both of us.
Meals last week included taco bowls, Mediterranean stew, and tuna salad on a whole wheat spinach & herb wrap. Yesterday I made a big meatloaf and had mashed potatoes. I'm slowly adding back foods I had eliminated (like white potatoes) on a limited basis to see if my inflammation stays under control. I have to in order to gain weight.
Grocery deals were at my local Shop'n'Save: 1 lb strawberries $1.49 and 1 pt. blueberries for $1.49. Got a 1/2 gallon of milk at Aldi, and the lid wasn't on right. It slopped over in the back of the car on the way home. Good thing I use a plastic tarp to set the groceries on. Spoiled milk would be an awful mess to get out of the carpet! It forced me to give my cloth grocery bags a long overdue washing.
My strawberries are done for the year. The drought is so bad that some of the local orchards cancelled their strawberry festivals this year. We're eating spinach and beet greens, and have blossoms on the peas.
Reading: "Feeling Great" by Dr. David D. Burns and the Harmony series by Phillip Gulley.
Crafting: knitting a colorful blanket for Project Linus. Worked on it for two hours at the Honda dealership while my car was in for inspection. Our chapter recently received a donation of 1500 skeins of yarn and is having a giveaway to members in July. I can't be there in person (because of Husband's health), but the chapter coordinator said they would find someone to select 20 skeins and get them to me. What a generous donation!
The car is going back in the shop this Tuesday for a lot of work (tie rod ends, CV boots, axle bearings, and 45,000-mile maintenance). It's an all-day job, so they'll bring me home and pick me up when it is done. The estimate is $2600. Ouch! We have the worst roads in the nation here in Pennsylvania, so it is no surprise that it needs this work.
Got some personal financial business taken care of, but it sure raised my anxiety for a while. A monthly disbursement didn't arrive during a company transition, so I spent time on a customer service chat only to be told that "the computer missed" our standing instructions. Finally was able to get the money for this month and get it set up correctly for the future.
The orioles are feeding babies now and have been emptying my jelly feeder three times a day. We have at least five pairs coming, and fights over the pecking order have been happening. I moved the hummingbird feeder more out of the oriole flight path, and we are seeing a few more hummers.
Praying for everyone, and praying for rain for those who need it.
--Frances in the Trailer Park
Continuing to pray for you and your husband, Frances. Also that rain will come and knock all that smoky haze out of the sky. What an amazing donation!! 1500 skeins of yarn! WOW!
Delete--Elise
That is a long time no rain. We were like 2 1/2 weeks - it is raining today. It sounds like you lost a good deal of weight - my gosh 113 I haven't seen since I was a teenager!!!
DeleteGood to add some things back in and it gives some variety.
What a generous donation - that is fantastic. Glad you get some of it - it will sure bless a lot of people.
I continue to pray for you both. I sure hope they get your hubs stabilized. I know that adds stress to you.
Lot for car repairs - but it sure beats paying a car payment forever. Maintenance can really be costly ever now and then. I hope they get it all taken care of for you.
Glad you got your other problem taken care of.
I have never had orioles - that is neat.
Prayers and have a grand week.
IT IS RAINING!! A nice, easy rain that will soak into the parched ground and start to fill the rain barrels.
DeleteI'd lost 18 lbs. I haven't weighed this little since before having children.
Helped Husband with his weekly shower this afternoon. He was so weak afterwards that I had to get him into the wheelchair to roll him into the kitchen where, unfortunately, there is a step up into the living room. We managed to get him safely into his easy chair, and he is doing better right now. The funny thing is that his BP wasn't even all that elevated when he was so weak. I sure pray the Dr. can figure this out. We both very much appreciate everyone's prayers.
--Frances in the dripping Trailer Park
YAY on the rain!!!!!!!
Delete18 is a lot to lose. Oh heck. You poor guys, I sure hate you going through this. Prayers they get this all figured out and QUICKLY! Huge hugs to you both!
My "excitement" for the week...
ReplyDeleteMailed a card and letter and $25.00 check to granddaughter in the slot inside the post office on Memorial Day...as we were going out of town. Arrived home on the 6th to discover someone had stolen the check out of it and made it for $2500.00 and that was deducted from our bank account! Crossed out her name. Wrote over the written amount, and it still was cashed. Probably using a phone or VPN or something. We were floored! Went to the bank the next day to report the fraud. We will get our money back at some point. Then to the police department to file a theft report. They can't really do anything; they suggest we change our bank account number. We plan to do that tomorrow---will be a major pain as we get 5 different direct deposits monthly and several things like supplemental insurance are automatic deductions. I will never send a check through the mail again! Special place in hell for scumbags who steal from you.
Other than that angst, all is well in our world...today is our 56th wedding anniversary and we are so thankful to have each other.
Happy Anniversary! Sorry to hear about the check fraud. Grrr. --Elise
DeleteWell crap!!!! What a mess. I always use gel type pens as they say they cannot be washed and re-written, but in your case, they didn't bother with that. I hope the place that cashed it gets fined or something too. They should have known better.
DeleteThat is a lot of work to go through for you. I am sorry that happened to you.
Happy 56th anniversary - what an accomplishment!!!!!!
TRY to have a great week!
Gosh, I just read about the stolen and forged check. That is infuriating. When I was an office mgr a gazillion years ago, someone stole our outgoing mail off my desk at lunchtime. When we got 2 late notices on paid bills, we requested bank copies. The person just whited out the business name and handwrote their own. It was so obvious. Long story short- it was a corner check cashing business and they were refused reimbursement due to fraud. If you can believe it, the owner of the check cashing place actually came to us and complained that we had cheated HIM lol. He threw a fit. My boss showed him the check and asked why anyone would cash it. He mumbled a bit and then stomped out. We suspected someone was getting fired lol. Just ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteAnother correct market receipt! We found some good deals. Half gallons of milk were on sale for $1. It's usually $3.39 per gal. I found some legal envelvopes in clearance for a buck. Big boxes. And I got 2 beautiful bouquets of carnations for $2.50. Kraft BBQ sauce was 79¢.
I found a home decor item on clearance at Hobby Lobby that was marked from $40 to $9.99. Lucky find!
Did some more deep cleaning in my craft room and tossed/recycled a lot. Donation box is nearly full.
I emptied my "current reading" shelf. I still have several dozen books from my MIL. I group them by author, characters, order etc. and then I grab from the left side. The shelf ho.ds about 20 books so it's always exciting to empty it. It slows during the summer when I read my childhood faves.
I saw a great blue heron at our neighborhood lake!
I occasionally see great blue herons on my trail walks or even flying over the parkway. Very shy birds, you have to watch them out of the corner of your eye or they will stalk down the creek for more privacy. Seeing one always gives me a thrill.
Delete--Frances
It is too bad people can't work as hard at an honest living as they do stealing!!!
DeleteGlad the receipt was correct - you are on a roll! Good deals.
Gosh, I have so may unread books - they will outlast me.
Oh how cool on the heron!!!! That would be something.
Have a great week.
I've been picking and sharing loads of strawberries. Guess the bees are around after all. Tomatoes, butternut squash, cukes and peppers have been planted out. Wax beans for my granddaugher. Got lots of beet greens, not bulbing yet though. Peppers aren 't too happy this year, I missed a potato last year so I have a nice volunteer Viking potato plant. I know you aren't supposed t o let such volunteers grow, (disease risk), but it's my garden so it stays! I just seeded some herbs and flowers for next year because I couldn't find oregano at my usual shops and mine winterkilled. I won't pay $8.00 for a geranium in 4" pot. so I am growing white ones and pink ones from seed. Shout out to Swallowtail Garden Seeds, Select Seeds and Botanical Interests.
ReplyDeleteand Pine Tree Garden Seeds in Maine. I dug up the daffodils in our yard because they always blow over when they are in bloom. Boy did they multiply! Now I have space for the perennials I am growing from seed. In other exciting news , (only to me), our Fowler's toad is back. I think it likes our straw mulch because I never saw toads when the yard was just grass. It is so cute and it's keeping the slugs down. We had three mockingbird fledglings and their parents in the berry patch this week. Organic gardening is the best! Dee/NY
Sounds like you have a lot going in the garden. I see lots of bees here too on the clover.
DeleteYour garden sounds amazing. Heck fire - you are right - your garden your rules!!!!! Let that baby grow!
I doubt I would have luck or patience with geranium from seed. Hope yours grows.
How neat on the toad. I had one years ago and he stayed all summer.
Sounds like a lovely place! Love you are going organic!
Have a great week.
Thanks for mentioning that book! I think that Dr David Jeremiah is terrific, and I was not aware of that title.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome. I found it at the yard sale I went to, and it just spoke to me. I am enjoying it. It sure makes you think!
DeleteHave a great week.
Hubby and I were out on the deck around noon rearranging flower pots and furniture when it started to thunder. We hurried along and had just finished when we heard the raindrops on the tree tops. We ran in the screen porch and sat listening to the rain for an hour. It was wonderful. All the flowers are happy after about 3 hours of a good soaking. I am so thankful!
ReplyDeleteSuch a blessing. The rain is so much better than any water we can give the plants!
DeleteGlad you got some too.
Have a great week.
Sounds like you had a great week Cheryl, finished off with some good rain.
ReplyDeleteI could sure use some.
This week I got rid of my third and final freezer to a good home. Instead of $$$, I swapped for a load of firewood, so it was a win for us both.
I got some great half priced pork belly but that was about it on the bargain front.
Have a great week everyone. Louise
Glad you have the freezers out and gone, since you wanted them gone. That is a win on the barter!!!!
DeleteGreat deal for half price!
Have a lovely week.
We finally got rain on Sunday. We sure needed it! Our robins sure loved it. On Saturday we went to Laura Ingalls Day in Illinois with one of our daughters and our two granddaughters. They had the one room schoolhouse, a blacksmith house with a real blacksmith, and many other displays. My almost 14-year-old granddaughter kept saying, "They really had to work hard back then!" They sure did.
ReplyDeleteSounds like many of us lucked out with the rain. Yay!
DeleteWhat a fun adventure that would have been. Neat. Yes, those folks had to work hard for anything and everything!
Have a good week.
Love the prayer and the b/w blessing. Perfect for me! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure many are blessed by reading that Cheryl. : )
We really like David Jeremiah, I bet it's a good book! I'm reading little by little: Putting an X Through Anxiety by Louie Giglio, a Christian author.
We got rain a couple of times last week and it's already dry again! Getting hot this week! I'm going to try to go out to the garden and pick some of the eggplant and cook that in pasta gravy today. I've been mending some clothing to make them fit. I had several sleeveless knit tops that were too long, not long enough to be a tunic but long enough to hit at a bad place! lol Hemmed those and took them up a little under arm.
You wrote: "Yes, please God." Amen to to that, I find myself praying similar words to the Lord too...Very comforting words in that meme and I know the Father is faithful. I always remind the Father that I'm His little girl and I need His help... <3
Have a sweet Monday! ~Amelia (Listening to 40s music, Glen Miller)
Thank you. The book you are reading sounds interesting as well. I may need to find that one.
DeleteNice that you have the talents to revamp the clothes. Not only does it save some money, but it recycles.
Yes, being a 'child' of God means we still have our fears and anxieties, we just need Him to help us through them.
Have a great week.
It was a week of mostly staying inside here due to the smoke from the Canadian wildfires. There were no beautiful sunrises to enjoy as the smoke covered the sky. The air quality was such that there was an advisory to wear a mask if going out. We did that when we went over to the farm to shop. I was able to get 5 whole fresh chickens which we cut up ourselves saving a bundle by doing this. Lamb chops were on sale and we got 4 of those. Of course, fresh pastured eggs, and some vegetables and berries.
ReplyDeleteWhile indoors I made a batch of gluten free tortillas, cooked a turkey breast and divided it up into meals for the freezer. Finished up Fathers Day cards and started designing cards for June and July birthdays. Embroidered tea towels and caught up on some reading.
Harvested the first arugula, basil, and zucchini. I have 9 zucchini plants going-- some that were started indoors and some that were planted directly into the soil. To me there is never enough zucchini as so much can be done with it. I made pesto
Today we have been blessed with rain. We hadn't had any rain for nearly a month. It's been raining all day, for which we are so thankful. Meals this week were rotisseried pork loin, sweet potato, and asparagus; air fried chicken drum sticks, salad and butternut squash; chicken, broccoli and mini shells with alfredo sauce made with cauliflower; steak, salad, twice baked potato; turkey, homemade cranberry sauce, brussel sprouts; sandwiches of leftover turkey, lettuce, bacon, and homemade chips.Cookie
So sorry the smoke has been so bad for you. That is just awful. YAY on the rain. That should help clean the atmosphere some.
DeleteSounds like you got some good items at the farm.
I love zucchini too - so many ways to use it.
Your meals sound wonderful. Yum.
Have a great week.
We definitely need rain here as well. Mornings are hazy with the smoke from the fires in Alberta. I sure hope they get rain there and in B.C. and my provinces northern portions very soon.
ReplyDeleteYou had a lovely week.
God bless.
Praying for rain in all the northern areas. For the land and the air.
DeleteHave a blessed week.