I am NOT Your Conventional Shopper

 Grocery shopping can be a chore for many.  Inflation has taken a toll for a lot of people.  Choices are being made in many instances - can I? or should I?

I can remember years and years ago - not having any extra left for groceries - these were my single years and I was paying off divorce debt.  YES, I have been there.

When I got remarried, I vowed to change things and never have to worry about what I would eat again.

I became quite the unconventional shopper in many ways.

I had a good knowledge of using what you have and being creative in cooking from my mom.  I learned to coupon from my MIL.  We accepted free food that stores were getting rid of.  I learned as much as I could about money saving ways and things I could make vs. buy.  Tightwad Gazette was my go-to book.  I learned so much from Amy D.

Today, because of years and years of working to stock my pantry, I do not grocery shop every week!!  I don't need to.  I know there are many, many people that have to go every week to get 'just enough' for the week.  I am thankful to not have to do that today.  

I go when there is a special crazy deal that just shouldn't be missed.  While there I check out ALL clearance sections.  I get as much as I can USE in reasonable time and add back to the stock.

I only regularly add things like fresh produce and milk and eggs.  I could even go a long while without those - thanks to canned, home canned, frozen and dehydrated.  Making use of what I have.

I shop many places that others don't think about.  Just because a store isn't designated a 'grocery store' doesn't mean it doesn't have groceries.  Places like Aldi (yes grocery), Ollies, Big Lots, ethnic stores and many specialty shops have deals too.  If you have a scratch and dent store - check it out.  I wish we still had one close by.

There are people that 'dumpster dive' - I know that has an ICK factor for many.  Grocery stores throw away perfectly fine items all the time.  One egg in a carton broken - they throw out the dozen.  I bad apple or orange in a bag - out goes the bag.  Bread hits it 'sell by' date - out.  There is nothing wrong with it.  There is a You Tube channel called Freaking Frugal - that shows their daily finds at various store dumpsters.  It is absolutely amazing what they find.

G and I use to get all our bread and sweet convections from a grocery throw-out FOR YEARS!  He had a friend at the grocery and they would call when putting out items - and the guys where G worked would go and get what they wanted.  We truly saved a ton of money that way.  We even had the area school have a freezer shut down - and we got boxes and boxes of still frozen chicken!  They were trashing it all.

SUCH WASTE!

ALSO - NEVER feel bad using a food pantry!  They have been set up to help people, and you can add to your own pantry by using this free service!!!!!!!  IF YOU NEED IT - USE IT!

I used to coupon like a queen!!!!  Back in the day stores did double and sometimes triple coupons.  I would get hundreds of dollars of groceries for next to nothing.  This is when I started stocking up in earnest.  From that point on it was just looking for deals and getting what I could and filling in the empty spots.  Now I look at digital coupons for my best deals - and the clearance sections!!

I can make a soup or casserole out of anything!!!!!!!  YEP - if I were limited to a handful of ingredients - I could make a pot of soup!  No problem.

I know I can walk out in the garden in the summer and pick fresh goodies and put them together and make a wonderful salad.  I can make this a meal - no problem!  Simple can be wonderful.

I have no qualms in mixing things together to make a skillet meal, a casserole or soup.  I have always been this way - even when I was feeding two!  NOTHING goes to waste!!!!!!  NOTHING!

I don't have to have meat every meal.

I always have an assortment of dry beans and rice on hand.  These can be purchased for very little money and can get one through just about any lean time.  They last and last as well - no need to 'worry' about those dates!  Not that I do!

That is another thing.  The dates are food are suggestions ONLY!  "best by", 'sell by', are NOT expirations dates.  Seriously, the food item DOES NOT know the date - and magically goes bad!!!!!!

Years ago, dates were never put on food at all.  People had some common sense back then!

Most all food items are perfectly fine WAY after date.  (only item with actual expiration dates is baby formula).  I truly wish the word 'expired' would be eliminated from our language!!!!!!

The library has a multitude of cookbooks you can borrow.  Some of my favorites that I keep always are the ones using simple ingredients - few ingredients - and easy to follow.  You can find books to keep at yard sales all the time.

I NEVER buy meat unless it is a terrific deal.  I have a freezer full.  I get it on sale, repackage into smaller packs, vacuum seal and put it away.  I do use it - and I replace next time a see a deal.  Coming up will be time for turkey and ham deals.  Keep a close eye on the sales.

Also other holiday items will be going on sale soon.  Baking goods, canned goods, produce - get it while you can.  Get as much as you can reasonably use or put back for the future.

This week - Kroger has canned green beans (and other veggies) for .49 a can if purchasing in quantities of 6.  That is cheap.  Most canned veggies are just veggies - so a deal.  Nice to have on the shelf.

I make 99% of my cleaning products from other items.  Baking soda, vinegar, salt, Dawn dish soap - all things I have already.  I make citrus cleaner with waste (citrus peels).  I can make my home smell lovely by simmering a pot of water with apple/orange/citrus peels and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

I watch for sale on vitamins and herbs - that keeps me healthy.

I grow many herbs that I use in cooking.  Super simple and can be done in a pot on a porch or patio.

I use nature - dandelions for jelly, clover for jelly, wild onions or garlic, wild berries or stray nut trees.  

I have learned to make basic mixes for many things that people buy.  Rice A Roni, biscuit mix, pancake mix, soup mixes - I know exactly what is in them and they are always great.

Learn how to SUBSTITUE - there are many things that can replace something else.  In my opinion, for the most part, a recipe is a suggestion!!!!!!  Calls for apples and I have peaches - sub.  Calls for beef and I have pork - sub.  Calls for milk and I only have canned, dry or cream - sub.  Calls for sour cream and I have cottage cheese or other cheeses - sub.   The list goes on and on.

You have to get creative!

I know this has all been talked about a lot here - but we have lots of readers that don't comment and are just learning.  We have on average 500-600 views on each post!!!!!!!  SO there are people reading and learning.  

I just want to give hope to those struggling.  The next couple months can be stressful enough - without worrying about your food for the table.

There are alternative ways to save a few dollars and to STILL find deals!!!!!  

ASK QUESTIONS!!!!  Feel free to ask about something you don't know.  Learn to be creative!  Learn to use what you have in a new way!

BUY WHAT YOU USE AND USE WHAT YOU BUY!!!!!

DON'T WASTE

SHOP with CONFIDENCE - you got this!!!

Another Month Comes to a End!

 Well, here we are 10 months down and 2 to go and it will be another new year!  It really is mind boggling.  I have so much to do to get ready for Christmas.  SO happy that some of you already have it done or have a huge jump on things.  That is great.

Today just a few pics to wind down the month and then will start all fresh and new for November.  

I had a cleansing month - just working on purging paperwork, decluttering and cleaning (deep).  Enjoying seeing the colors change.  Completed another trip on this story of life - hoping that the my 69th year will be a good one.  Still not sure how that happened so quickly!!!!!!! 

Last week looking out my bedroom window.  Leaves, black kitty and still some flowers.  Just a sampling of fall.

The tree outside my bedroom window.  This was last week as well - on Friday.  It was just so vivid yellow.  Tulip poplar.

Same leaves this morning - on the ground!!!!!!!  Yep, they are falling like crazy.  We woke to our first frost and freeze this morning.  It has been so windy the past few days.  Well, it seems it is windy all the time any more!!!

Went to my 50th high school reunion.  This group started 1st grade together and were represented at the high school reunion.  They did each grade school from the area.  My grade school had the biggest turn out of all the grade schools.  How fun to keep in touch with people you have known for 62 years!!!!!!!

This was actually the last day of Sept. - but I am considering it an October event.

Moved these to the porch last night - this pic was this morning.  They are still blooming.  I love the coral color.

A quick and yummy meal one day.  Chicken strips and veggies in a wrap.  I love easy and simple meals.  No need to make things complicated.  Meat, veggies, bread (tortilla) - with a piece of fruit for dessert!  Pretty well rounded.

Still using garden tomatoes - both green and red.  Still cleaning and sorting.  Going to do some painting this coming month.  Need to get busy with Christmas stuff.  I would love to have that finished by Thanksgiving.

What plans do you have for the month of November?  Any fun things or vacations?  Planning any gatherings?

Gals, not sure if you saw in the comments from Sunday post - but an update from Frances in the early morning hours today - her hubs fell and has some broken ribs - being moved to hospital in city for precautions.  Please keep them both in your prayers.

ELISE has been AWOL since Friday.  She mentioned she was going to go out shopping with her hubs - worried if maybe she hurt her foot or something.  Hoping just computer problems or something.  She never goes this long without posting.

Please keep good thoughts for ALL our gals here - some have had surgeries and are going to be healing, some are dealing with family problems, and others having problems that we know nothing about.  

Ending the month just keeping you all in my heart.

HAPPY END OF OCTOBER!!!!!!!!

Weekly Wrap Up 10/29

 Happy Sunday to all.  I do hope this finds you all well and safe.  Here we are in the last few days of yet another month - ever closer to the holidays and the start of another new year!!!!!  Just seems crazy.

We had a luscious week of weather here!!!  It was so lovely - warm, breezy and pretty.  Heat off, windows open.  I even slept with the window open and the fan on several nights.  Well, that has come to a grinding halt.  It is wet, wet, wet this morning.  Rained all night and more rain later today - and the temps are a falling!  We have 3 or so nights this coming week that we are to get below freezing.  Then it warms a bit again.  UGH!  So not ready for winter - just not my season at all!

I had a really good week this past week.  I kept busy, visited with friends and had some family come by as well.

The 'chicken' lady in the alley - had a big clean-up done outside and inside her privacy fence.  She put the fence up and we were all happy - it looked so nice - well then she never mowed or trimmed behind it EVER!  (it is backset from the alley maybe 15') It looked like a woods.  (also a trash magnet).   It looks wonderful now after a guy worked all day back there.  He even leveled the ground, put down weed barrier and spread gravel!!!  He had quite an assortment of attachments for his little dozer.  Inside fence must have been as bad - as he bush-hogged in there as well!!  I don't think she has chickens anymore - haven't heard them.  What a mess.  I just don't understand people and how they choose to live. (she is much younger than me and gets around good and owns the property).  At least it looks nice now and it is much safer for everyone!!!  You could have hidden a small army behind the trees and weeds.  Can't even imagine what she paid to have that done!

This week:

• Made a small batch of stew.  YUM!  Ate on it a couple times and froze the rest
• Using the fall scent candles (had on hand) - love those scents
• Cleaned out the chest of drawers that G used.  His clothes have been gone - but it was full of kinds of stuff.  I trashed a lot - no idea why we either kept, and donating a bunch.
• Found $30 in ones
• Started doing a deep clean on the living room shelves (oh the dust) and getting rid of knick-knacks that have no sentimental meaning.  Things I got at yard sales and no longer enjoy.
• Got rid of some scrap metal - it was gone within minutes of setting it out!
• Scrubbed down the outside of shed - mossy looking
• Still eating red/green tomatoes
• Picked the final last small green toms - probably about 15
• Did a little more yard work
• Went to lunch with friends from grade school.  It was supposed to be about 8 gals - and there were 20!  The gal that set it up - knew of my birthday and 2 others - all right together - and got lots of people to show and celebrate!!!  How cool!

                                                I got a little cake and a trick or treat goody!

• I received a gift in the mail this week from CINDY of WV.  I was so surprised.  I got a card and this lovely mug.  THANK YOU Cindy!!!!!!!!!

Click on pic to enlarge and read easily

• I mentioned I went to Aldi.  I did gets some gift items and some items for me.  I got broccoli so cheap, great tasting pears, cheese, milk and few other items.

                 The remote is for reference - it is 6 1/2" long.  Super lovely broccoli.  2 crowns.

• Windows open a lot this week and aired the house
• I received flowers from my brother and SIL.  They came for a visit.

• I got several cards and received a very cute Halloween card from COOKIE.  It looks homemade to me - and very well made.  Very cute - did you make it Cookie?  Thank you!

                                                        Cookies card is on the right!

• I also received a $25 GC from Kroger this week as a gift!
• All meals from home - except day I went with friends
• Using what I have, and using leftovers
• Talked with my friend in OR - and got to talk with some of my nieces who live out of town

It was a NICE week to say the least!!!!!

Meals this past week:

Stew with garlic toast

Stew and some crackers w/butter

Smoked sausage link, mac n cheese, and fried green toms

3 cheese grilled cheese and tomato soup

Chicken strip and veggie wraps

Out to eat - Prodigy Burger Bar

Tenderloin sandwich and oven fries and small salad

SNACKS - pears, apples & peanut butter, cheese slices w/crackers

Some weeks just amaze me at how nice they are.  I am grateful for all days on this earth, some are just what I call 'super smile' days!  

How was your week?  Did you get any good deals?  How are all those dealing with family issues and health issues doing?  So many are on my mind and in my prayers.

I wish each and every one of you the best.  I hope you all have a wonderfully safe and healthy week ahead.  Stay warm and safe - there is snow a lot of places!  EEK

Blessings to you and yours from my humble little home.

****************************

Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ for you.  Do not quench the spirit, do not despise prophesying, but test everything; hold fast what is good, abstain from every form of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

Lord, help us each to hold our faith regardless.  Never let us back down or be ashamed.  Help us each spread the Word, and perhaps gain new believers.  We pray for guidance and strength through all the trying moments we have in life.  Thank You for Your love and protective hands.  Amen

Finally Getting Started!!!!!!!

 Well yes, I am finally getting started on the Christmas gifts I will buy.  I have made salsa, relish, and will be making jelly soon.  I also have a few other homemade goodies in mind!!! (cookies, pie filling, etc.)

So yesterday I went to Aldi - I went to look for gifts and to get boxes (for donating).  

That is my story, and I am sticking to it!!!!!!!!  LOL

Aldi has so many specialty items, especially starting this time of the year.   I just looking around and there are many, many fun options.  You know I am a food basket giver!  So many just expect it now and they love getting so many things they may not buy for themselves.  I really enjoy giving them.

Well, I did buy a few goodies for me too!  Yep, I did.  I couldn't resist!!  I got a pack of 2 huge fresh broccoli crowns for 2.29!!  They are lovely.  A few items for snacks, a couple bottles of wine, a cheese I love, and socks!  They were packaged as Halloween, but I see nothing Halloween about them.  2 pair/1.99 - new markdown price.  They are so soft and actually quite thick.

I was tickled to get them.  I do tend to wear socks out a lot.  So yes, I bought myself a gift too.

Aldi recently had an article out that they are reducing the prices of hundreds of items between now and the end of the year - making it easier for folks to purchase holiday supplies.  I did see many items that were marked reduced (and actually were).

They also had a big freezer bin FULL of Butterball turkeys.  Not cheap yet - but there were turkeys already.  

OH, I did get several boxes too!  They put them in a bin for people to take what they want!!!!!

I digress, on to gift giving.  I got canvas totes for 4 of the gift recipients.  They will hold the goodies I buy/make, and they can use the tote as well.  I usually do cheaper reusable grocery bags - but I figure, how many do we all need???  So, these cost a bit more, but are part of the gift.  I got boxes of an assortment of fun crackers (for those holiday meat/cheese trays).  Mixed nuts/berries.  These folks all like healthy snacks - so those were perfect.  Got a couple packaged soup mixes for sis/brother (broccoli/cheese), and sis gets a box of 50 zip lock baggies!!!  LOL - she is always sending food home with her company and uses those bags - so I know she will use.

So much more to do.  The totes will be full to over-flowing when done.  I will be getting more and making more.  I also got chopped dates to make a type of cookie that I know my brother hasn't had in years and years.  Date nut bars were always a favorite of his, mom made them.  He will get some this year!

I plan a trip to Ollies soon as well.  They also have so many neat items - both food and things.  You never know what might be there, so you need to get what you want when you see it.  It is kind of like Big Lots.  They just have so much variety.  It is really fun going through Ollies.

I got lots of ideas yesterday going to Aldi, and I will get several other items a little closer to holidays.  Not that my family is big on it - but I was watching the 'best by' dates as well.  Just trying to keep dates off as far in the future as possible.

I love going to the stores that are a bit off the wall!!!!!

I sometimes add the oddest items to baskets!  Zip-lock bags, books, herb seeds & small pots, a Farmers Almanac, Ramen soup (one loves it), stuffed olives, you name it.  I listen to what people like or need and try to add those little tid-bits to the gifts.

It always brings a smile - because I remembered!!!!!  I hear a lot of "how did you know?".  I listen.

So think outside the box a little and have fun.  All people need to eat - so I find food, store gift cards, or even gas cards are the best gifts I can give.  It is something we all use and need.

I just like to have fun with it!!

Have fun with the gift giving this year!!!!!  All will enjoy your efforts!

A Simple Pledge for SELF!

 One thing that we all seem to forget about is ourselves!!!!!  Especially this time of the year.  We worry about holidays and shopping and stocking and doing all the things that lead up to the end of the year and somewhere in it all we tend to forget about OURSELVES!!!!!!  Well, if we don't take care of self - no one else will!!!

It is important - especially if you are a giver.  You and I both tend to give it all away, leaving not much left for us!   HEY YOU - WE are important too!!!!!!!!

"A balanced life begins with giving yourself the gift of a few moments each day to nourish your soul."

Anonymous

We all need to achieve balance.  It is hard to find the right mix of mind, body and spirit.  Where does it all begin?  Well, that is each person's perspective.  You need to figure out how important YOU are and how much time YOU need to keep yourself grounded.

Our mother's and grandmother's may not have understood this - as life was just about taking care of family.  Many of you have been the same - family and work - but now many of us are in the phase of life that we need to be mindful of ourselves as well.

If nothing else, set aside 20 - 30 minutes a day to do something that actually gives you joy and/or more energy.

Stress is inevitable.  We worry about family, pets, health, home, finances, jobs, the world, etc.  Yes, we tend to be worriers.  By dwelling on the negative, you tend to suck the joy out of your life.  You have to have a happy medium.  By dwelling on the bad - you can actually throw yourself into a depression. That is not a good thing.

Realize what you can actually do and change.  World problems?  You can't change it except to pray. People have been evil and fighting for centuries, that has not changed.  I hate the stuff going on, it saddens me, it makes me cringe, but all I can do is pray.  I personally cannot change what centuries/decades of hate has produced.  Turn off the TV - and limit your time with it.

Family?  You can only do so much.  You can't make decisions for others (well you can - but they won't use them).  We can't live another person's life - just ours. Each person makes their own mistakes - we just need to love unconditionally.

A home we can practice family time, meals together, game night, and long talks together, understanding.  We can, for ourselves, have a nice home spa night, listen to calming music, take a walk, enjoy nature............

Our home?  We as an individual can only do so much in a certain time frame.  As much as we would love to believe it - no one is Wonder Woman!!!!  Do what you can today - and then tomorrow and then the next day.  If you have family there, enlist them to help some - it is their home as well.

Preparing?  Do what seems right for you and/or your family.  Take care of your finances as well as possible and hopefully have some back for a rainy day, emergency or a pleasure.  Stock what you need to feel comfortable.  What I do or what Martha does - isn't you!!!!  You do what is right for you.  Keep what you eat, what you like, and what you think is appropriate and use it.

Start and end each day with pampering yourself.  Pamper your skin, have your hot tea or coffee, read you devotionals, pray, do yoga, whatever makes you calm and feel better.

If things are really bad for you and you can't seem to get yourself in a good head space - seek HELP!  PLEASE!  It is OK to admit you can't do it alone.  Depression may be more serious than many think and it can be life-threatening.  We have no idea what goes on inside another person's mind.  The good news is, there is help available.

If your depression interferes with your daily activities, changes your eating habits, affects your sleep habits, affects your feelings of self worth, concentrating, or presents thoughts of suicide - PLEASE seek help!

This time of the year is joyful for most - it is happy, family, children, festivities, etc.  BUT not for everyone - it often brings out the worst feeling in self.

PLEDGE to keep yourself happy and give yourself a break now and then.  Get up and move each day, eat right, get fresh air and sunshine, have good conversation with others, and know that there is ALWAYS someone that will listen to you and that there is someone who cares.

Care about yourself the way you care for others.

Invite balance into your life - you will be amazed.  Once you have balance and perspective - others seem to see it too and it affects them as well.  Your joy and happiness can spread joy and happiness to others.  They in turn can do the same and boy does the ball get rolling!!!!!!

One person at a time, one family at a time, one community, one city, one country............there is a ripple that happens!

We can't solve the world's problems - but we can gain a little balance and peace for ourselves and our families.  I will TAKE THAT!!!!!!

Have a wonderful day!

Decades Ago - It Was Fun!

 I am not a Halloween person today.  I have never decorated for Halloween - I decorate (if I do) for fall.  Until recent years, I did always give out goodies to the kids that showed up.  I quit doing that after being by myself - it just isn't a smart idea now.

Kids always loved coming here and remembered us each year.  I always gave full size candy bars - they loved that!  I just wanted them to have a good time!  In the past years we had huge amounts of kids in the neighborhood.  Now there are very, very few and those that are here go to EVENTS instead of door to door.  Probably a smart thing!

Anyway, I digress - I remember the fun of being a kiddo at Halloween.

not my picture

I remember dressing up and going Trick or Treat!  Oh what fun that was.  Daddy always took me out and mom stayed home to give out goodies.  He would walk behind me and just keep an eye on me.  I think I was probably around 10/11 or so when I got to go out with friends and no adult.  Back then no one was worried about the crazies there!

I got to have a Halloween party one year - and we had a bob for apples tub!  Daddy made a little fire to sit around, we bobbed for apples, got warm and had cookies and hot chocolate.  Nothing big, but it was fun for me and my little friends.

Mom always gave out homemade goodies - that was cool back then.  She either made wrapped popcorn balls or individually wrapped HUGE iced sugar cookies.  I remember the year of cookies, and just as things were winding down, there was a knock at the door.  There was a lady with a mask!  She lived around the corner and knew mom.  She came to get a cookie!!!!  She tasted her sons and wanted one of her own!!!!!

Mom was such a good baker.  She was the neighborhood seamstress, so everyone came to the house and knew of her goodies.  They also knew she worked at the bakery up the road.  Yep, I sure miss those cookies!!!!

Just a side note:  the cookie jar always had those iced cookies in it, even as adults.  Come Sunday when doing the family thing, the cookie jar was everyone's first stop!!!  Dang they were good.

We had a lady down the street - that was an elderly lady who enjoyed the kids.  She always a big pot (cauldron) with dry ice in it - that looked sooooo spooky.  We each got invited in for a cup of hot chocolate!  It was generally a welcome thing, as it was often cold.  Can you imagine that happening today and someone not getting arrested????

I remember getting apples, cookies, popcorn balls, brownies, just all kinds of homemade goodies.  What fun.

Way back (before me) masks were downright creepy!!!!!!!  Now those were scary.  Most often, I dressed up with stuff from home.  A ghost, a gypsy, a hippy, a hobo, etc.  I only remember a time or two of having a mask - I didn't like it.  I wore glasses and it was usually cold out - so my glasses always steamed up!!!!! LOL

I went to a party one time around the corner (junior high) - not sure why, as we weren't really friends.  Anyway it was like my first 'grown-up' type party.  I do remember taking soap from their house and my friend and I left - with thoughts of soaping windows!  We did not - we did write on the street, but we were good girls and soaped NO windows.  I never egged or did the TP thing either!

I also remember going to an event, and they organized a scavenger hunt.  That was fun.  Again, think about being a young person and just randomly going to people's homes and knocking after dark, asking for things today!!!  YIKES

It was a different time.  SO much more freedom.  I am sure there were bad people back then - but not as many it seems.  All the parents and kids in the neighborhood knew each other, and everyone looked out for others.  It is remembered in my mind as a time of innocence!

I remember having so much fun - and the goodies were a good perk too!!!!!!

What clean and innocent fun we had.

Do you have any special memories of those days when you were a kiddo?

JUST A THOUGHT - 2 months from today is Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!!!!!  YIKES! 😟😕

Weekly Wrap Up 10/22

 Hello to all!!!  Happy Sunday!  I am hoping this finds you all well and safe today.

It is a brisk morning here, still a bit breezy.  Yesterday afternoon and evening got downright windy!  This coming week we will have a few days back in the 70's during the day!  We sure have had our ups and downs with temperatures.  Overall - the weather has been lovely, except for that dang wind!  Still no frost at my house!

We still have a lot of green on the trees but the colors ARE changing!  There is also a lot of yellow, crimson, gold, orange in every shade.  My tulip tree is changing and dropping a lot of leaves - that is what leaves didn't come down in July!  The maple is 'thinking' about changing - you can tell, just tinges of color.  It is pretty to see the colors.  Next week should be about peak season here.

I still have a few tomato plants and pepper plants that I haven't pulled out - and there are baby veggies on the vine again and blooms!  Crazy.

I had a toad on the deck early in the week!  It has been forever since I have seen one around here - and it isn't that wet.  Birds and squirrels abound.  I had 14 doves out back one afternoon!

My week:

• I have been keeping the house pretty cool.  If I get chilly, I put on more clothes or cover up!
• Cleaned out my bedroom closet one day - what a mess!
• Paid everything I had in house.  Got the homeowners insurance and umbrella paid for the year.  UGH!  Glad that is just once a year.
• I have been working in the yard more.  I trimmed the grape vines back, did a lot of cleaning in the perennial bed (much more to do), cut back all kinds of things
• Decluttering continues!!!!  I have a big pile for donation (I need boxes - I am out), and I trashed a lot of stuff
• Cleaned up a lot of summer stuff, and got the items all back in the shed
• I have some metal items that I will be putting out for the scrap guy this week.  He gladly takes any metal - I know he supplements his income this way.
• I did run to the store for milk and plums. 
• Went to lunch with sis - she treated!  It was a lovely time
• Used up a few veggies and some buns that needed used this week - cooked up peppers and onion and used w/beef on an open faced sandwich
• Just doing all the normal stuff

Meals of the week:

Leftover unstuffed pepper skillet and salad

Dirty rice, pork fritter (freezer) and sliced toms

Baked fish, baby lima beans and salad

Leftover rice, bean and cheese burritos

Chili, sour cream and cheese topped baked potato

Philly beef and swiss open face sandwich and oven fries

Out to lunch with sis - Lotus Gardens (Chinese food)

How has your week been?  Hoping to hear from Frances that all things are progressing well, and it was great to hear from Penny this week.  I hope that many of our absentees check in.  

Have you been getting ready for the holidays?  Get any good deals?  What is going on in your part of this big old world?

Love hearing from you all.  

Hope you are all staying well and safe, and that things are moving in the 'right' direction for you all. 

May you all have a wonderful week.

Blessings to you and yours from my humble little home.

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For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching; but have itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.

2 Timothy 4:3-5

Lord, the people seem to making their own rules for living now. Please help us to stay the path and keep the teachings of truth.  Help those who have strayed so drastically and who are being seduced by evil, to see the truth.  Our prayers for peace and compassion for the people of this world.  Amen