Weekly Wrap Up 6/4

 Hello to the first weekend in June!  Hope this finds each of you well and happy.  Amazingly we are into June - almost halfway done with the year!

Hope you are all about done getting your gardens in.  Mine is really growing - amazingly so when only in less than 2 weeks.  They cukes I planted last week as 3 times the size they were when I planted them.

It is a beautiful sunny and breezy morning here.  Quite nice and cool, considering the heat we have been having.  Looks like maybe it might cool a bit this coming week.  Still dry!

I got a jury duty summons in the mail yesterday!  Oh boy - NOT!  I guess the only good thing, is that the court is no longer downtown.  It is actually 5 minutes from my home, since they built the new court.  Hoping my number doesn't come up - but if it does, at least no driving in crazy downtown!!!!

My week:

• Cut my hair - at first I cringed and thought it was too short (because it had gotten so long).  But now I love it.
• Finally used the George Foreman I bought myself around Christmas - used it 3X this week instead of the oven or frying on the stove
• Made another gallon of tea
• Pulled tons of weeds early each day.  Dry or not they seem to thrive!!!!
• AC only in very late afternoon - only to cool for the evening and sleeping
• Cleaned and refilled the hummingbird feeders
• Paid all the bills I had - including vehicle registration
• Used up some of the sliced and frozen zucchini from the freezer - since new will be coming soon!
• Cut lemon balm and mint to dry
• I ran out on Friday to get myself a couple cucumbers, got a .99 bag of tomatoes as well. That was about it  
• Whiles out I actually stopped at 3 yard sales!!!!  First in almost 2 years.  Spent a total of $2.  I got 2 inspirational books and one of those 3-tiered hanging racks for fresh fruit or veggies.
• Just doing all the basic stuff

Meals this past week:

Grilled small steak and a salad

Loaded brats on bun and fruit

Grilled breaded pork burger and salad - Grilled made it like a fritter!!!!!! So good.

Beans and rice, toasted bagel and salad

Fried zucchini and salad

Veggie topped cheeseburger

Sauteed Brussel sprouts and ham slice

How has your week been?  Did you get any deals?  Get things planted?  Stay cool?

Love hearing from you all.

Thanks for all the nice words this week about the blog.  So happy I decided to do this years ago, it is just hard for me to believe that it is still thriving.  What a great group we have.

I hope your week ahead is healthy, safe, and happy.

Blessing from me and my humble little home to you and yours!

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

fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah:41:10

Dear Lord, I thank You for the reassurance, as I have needed it so, this week.  Help me and others as we struggle with trying to understand the why at times.  I cannot comprehend why bad happens and why people are so evil, but I know it must all be part of the plan.  Help us and guide us to understand and trust in the 'in Your time'.  Calm our hearts and minds.

Amen

How Did That Happen so Fast?

 Thursday - JUNE 1st!!!!!!!  My goodness, how in the world has 5 months gone by so quickly?  Amazing.  Seems just like the other day we had frigid cold temps, snow and just plain miserable weather!  Now here we are all warm or hot, dry and in the middle of the year!  Time flies!!!!!

Will take a moment to wish all those with a birthday this month a very happy anniversary of your birth!  Another year to enjoy.

This month is the anniversary of my starting this little blog in 2015.  I started with my first post on June 11th.  It is amazing how this is still going after 8 years!  I started it as a diversion for myself and a few friends I had met online.  Look what has happened!  I have made so many wonderful friends here - and I do mean friends.  You have met each other.  I find that so neat that we can all have such bonds with one another when we have only met online. 

There are so many caring and wonderful people here.  We worry about each other, we pray for each other, and we truly care and love one another.  We have been with each other through the best and the worst of times and have made a difference to each other.  That is a pretty terrific thing.

What have you all got planned for June?  I have no specific plans - except to just keep the garden going and hopefully attend a few farm markets until my produce starts.  I am so craving FRESH produce.  Sure I buy stuff at the grocery that is called 'fresh' - but it aint the same!!!!!!!!

We have sure started the month hot!  Going to stay that way for a while and it is pretty darn dry right now.  Doesn't look like rain for a good many more days either.  Will do what needs to be done.  I have been collecting the water from the faucet, as I let it heat up for dishes or bath.  That will help with watering.

Yesterday I did get the very last thing planted!  I had 4 cuke plants started from seed, that got put into pots yesterday.  I am officially done with garden planting.

I pray you all have a very healthy and safe month.  Those who are having any surgeries, treatments, or health concerns - prayers for healing.  I hope your gardens take off and do well.

Stay cool and cozy and enjoy this new month to the fullest.

Have a blessed month my friends.

Thank you so much for being here!!!!!!

Retail vs. Rescue

 Well, here we are beginning summer.  There comes with summer, many options to do our 'shopping' in a rescue fashion, instead of a retail one!!!!!  Yes indeedy - we have options!  Just as a reminder for most, and new ideas for others - let us go over a few.

Not only do most of these ideas give us 'special' prices but they can be a great inexpensive day of entertainment as well!!!!!!

FLEA MARKETS - can be a fun day.  You can find just about anything you can imagine and things you never knew existed.  Prices are generally very good.  There are lot's of different people offering their wares - so pricing options vary.  I have purchased many an unusual gift from a flea market.  

YARD SALES - ESTATE SALES - got to love a good yard sale!  I have a friend out west that goes to lots of estate sales.  I mentioned one day - there must be a lot of people dying there!  It is kind of a retirement area!!!  LOL

Anyway, yard sales - just people clearing out their houses and getting rid of stuff.  You never know what you may find.  I have found a few great deals over the years.  I got a brand new Nuwave air fryer for $10!  I got my soda stream with an air canister and lots of supplies (brand new) for $15.  Both were worth tons more money than I paid.  I would never have purchased these items, if it were not for the price.

Yard sales are great places to find small appliances, bake ware, dishes, glasses, toys, clothes, etc.

Laurie gets the best stuff at the estate sales.  You figure most estate sales are elderly people, who have accumulated much over their years = good items!  Estate sales have lots of quality goods.

AFTER YARD SALE - many put items at the curb for trash pick-up or take it - it's free!  I know many have found great items on the side of the road!!!!!!  I have!  That is where my Mantis tiller came from!  Side of the road find (for trash) and our friend grabbed it, did a little tweak on it and gave it to me!  Still works.

BARTER - this a great deal, especially in the summer.  Maybe your neighbor has a tiller you can use - then you can provide produce.  Tree trimmer maybe for whatever skill you have.  There are so many things we can do for each other.

THRIFT STORES - open all year round.  Now these aren't going to be as cheap as say a yard sale - but it gives another option.  These places are needing to charge enough to help to pay the help, utilities and rent & maybe make a profit - so things do cost a bit more.  It is generally still better than paying retail.

DUMPSTER DIVING - yes, that is an option.  Some people make this a lifestyle.  There is so much GOOD stuff thrown away every single day all over the world.  The U.S. is horrible for wasting.  Now there can be a squeamish factor.  Some people would never consider this, others make it a daily event and help others along the way.

You might check out the YouTube channel 'Freakin Frugal'.  This is their life - they find the best stuff - much of it food.  They help many others and give to the food pantries.

There is also dumpsters at college dorms - at the end of each semester, these people throw out tons of stuff that mommy and daddy bought for them!!!!!!  You can find all kinds of stuff.

Apartment complexes - people move and just get rid of lots of stuff.  Might have been a split-up and the others person's stuff is trashed.  Some just want a new start.  I remember getting several good items out of the dumpster area, when I lived in an apartment.

BUILDING SUPPLY STORES - yes, they are retail - but never underestimate what you might find.  They often have broken bags of dirt, rock, bark, fertilizer for just pennies on the dollar.  They toss a lot of plants they claim to be dead - you can get for free or little dollars.  I have gotten many a plant that looked really bad - but I revived them.  Really wasn't out a thing if it didn't live!

SPREAD THE WORD

Let people know you are looking for XYZ item.  They may have one or may know a person who does.  It doesn't hurt to ask.  

HELPING OTHERS

Help someone move - they may be wanting to get rid of some decent items and you may be at the right place at the right time.  This is kind of a barter as well.

MAKE THINGS from something else.  Learn to get a little creative.  Quilts from old clothes.  Bird houses from 2-liter pop bottles.  Purses or aprons from old jeans.  You get the idea.

Use big old rocks found by the stream or river to trim a garden/flower bed.  Old flower pots and saucers can become a bird feeder or bird bath - just need a little paint to pretty it up.

GROW food from scraps.  Lettuce, celery, etc. can be regrown.  Save seeds.

Look for some of the new apps that let you get great discounts on food deliveries.  Think about joining a local food organization (fresh produce).

There you go - lots of ideas to get great stuff without paying retail.  Do you have any other ideas or ways you have gotten great items?

Just be willing to look around, have an entertaining day and get some deals.

Have a good day!!!!!

Happy Tuesday

 Good morning all.  Even though I am retired and all the days blend together - for some reason I get all discombobulated when there is a Monday holiday!  I have no idea why.

I hope each of you had a nice weekend and got to spend time with family and friends.  That you got to enjoy whatever festivities your areas had.  Remembered and reflected.  Rested.

I got up early this morning, and sat and watched a family of racoons running around the backyard.  They are very pretty - but I would just as soon not have them show up here.  They finally climbed the back fence and went back to the wooded area a couple doors down on the other side of the alley.

I have started removing all food sources that I put out for squirrels, before dark now.

Good golly - you never know what you will see here in the city.

It looks like 'maybe' we might get a little rain later this afternoon.  We could sure use it, it has been 10 days without any.  May is usually our wettest month - not this year!  It will be nice to not water the plants.  LOL - good grief - only had the garden out for days and here I am complaining about watering!!  Just no satisfying some of us is there?  hehe

It is going to finally become summer this week!  We are supposed to be in the upper 80's and around 90 all week long.  I guess I have done good with no AC until now!  I am sure it will come on some this week.  Right now the windows are open.

I guess I am still in weekend mode - and don't have much gumption this morning.  I will get back to regular posting of goodies tomorrow.

I think I will go out and work in the garage a bit before it gets too hot.  Today is going to be a puddle around day.

May you all have a blessed day as you get back to work and regular life.

Till tomorrow!!!

Weekly Wrap-Up 5/28

 Happy Sunday.  I hope this finds you all well and safe.  Hoping you are getting to enjoy some wonderful weather!   And I hope you are all enjoying your weekend.

We have had lovely weather so far this weekend.  Couple days this week we woke to temps in the 40's - but all the plants are good.  It supposed to get really much warmer this coming week.  High's in upper 80's.  No rain in sight for much of the week.

It seemed to look a lot like winter earlier in the week.  I guess it was cottonwood - but the white fluff was flying like crazy and the allergies were going!

My week:

• My double wide blinds in the living room broke this week (very old).  It is an odd size, so will take some time to find a replacement.  I had curtain and valances on hand and put those up and they will work for now!  
• Did replace a blind on another window (had it on hand)
• Garden IS PLANTED!!!!!!!  Weed barrier down, plants in, and soaker hose laid!
• Cut a couple more bouquets
• Made new nectar for hummingbird feeders
• Did some painting and refreshing of a few yard accents
• My front area is now finished!!!!!!  It looks lovely.  My nephews company got the materials and his daughter and SIL did the work.  He refused any money whatsoever - said it was a gift to me!!!!!  Dang - I had no idea.  My gr. niece and her hubby will get something from me for the work.

                                                                Before - UGH!

                                                           AFTER - just lovely

Many neighbors have come by to say how much they like it.  I have looked out the door and seen neighbors on the outer walk or standing in the yard looking at it!!!  It sure looks better than dirt!!!!!  They obviously think so too!!!  LOL

• Mowed and trimmed everything
• Picked a bunch of rhubarb - had a few strawberries from last week and made a strawberry/rhubarb sauce with s little honey for sweetener - it was soooooo good.
• Ran out to get bird seed.
• Stopped at Kroger across from feed store - checked markdowns.  I got a 1/2 gal. milk for .55, a 12 pack of Kroger brand diet soda for 1.77 (will last most of summer/treat) and sour cream/dip for .55

                     This stuff is tasty - used on a baked potato this week.   Mmmmmmmmmmm

Menu this past week:

Breaded shrimp, steamed broccoli, crusty garlic rounds

Baked potato topped w/broccoli and above dip

Huge salad

Chicken tenders, broccoli

Tamales and rice

Tuna salad sandwich and fresh veggies

Pizza quesadillas

Had fruit and strawberry/rhubarb sauce for treats

I guess my most time consuming events were getting the garden in and redoing the window treatments.  The kids only took about 2 1/2 hours to get the front done - I was out there the whole time and did help pull weeds and such.  I know it would have taken me days to do that and I wouldn't have been able to move afterward!!!!!!  What a blessing.

How was your week?  Did you get your gardening done or are you doing it this weekend?  Get any deals?  Enjoying good weather?

I know many are busy this weekend, so if I don't see you guys on here I understand.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend with family, friends or just peace and quiet and reflection.

Blessings from my humble little home to you and yours.

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

For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

Dear Lord, thank you for this reminder that we are never alone.  Even in our darkest hours You are always holding us in Your protective and loving hands.  Amen

The Weekend - Plans?

 Happy Thursday to you all.  Woke to cooler temps this morning (50*) and a sunny and breezy day.  It is just lovely.

This weekend is a long holiday weekend here in the U.S.  Many people make big plans.   Some folks have cookouts and parties, there will be many graduations this weekend, Many will be watching and listening to the 500 Mile race on Sunday.  Others will make visits to the cemeteries to pay respect to those that have gone on.  

Memorial Day is a lot of things to a lot of people - but it should always be solemnly remembered as a day to honor and respect those Veterans that have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

What have you got planned?  Is your family getting together?

I think my weekend will be pretty much like all the others!!!!!!  I am not a big race fan - despite that being the thing my city is famous for.  I don't plan on going to any cookouts. I will work around the house and yard and maybe catch up on some programs I have recorded.  I will continue to air the house - loving this weather for that.

Hmmmm - I may make myself a steak filet this weekend.  You guys keep mentioning steak, and for some reason that sounds good to me.  I will probably chop on this head of hair of mine - oh my, it has grown so much.  It is driving me nuts!

Maybe sit on a lawn chair and read a book.  Maybe porch sitting.  Who knows.  I just know I will be doing whatever here!!!

What are you all doing?  

I bet some will be gardening - either getting the first plants out or just finishing up.  

Tell what you have going on - it may give some of us some new ideas.

Whatever you do - be safe.  There will be even more crazies out than normal.  Stay healthy - always remember safe practices with your picnic foods.

Maybe take a moment to say a special 'thanks' for all those that have sacrificed for us and their families.

Remember and enjoy yourself as well.

Have a great extended weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a picture I took several years back at our largest cemetery in the city - Crown Hill.  This is just a very small segment of the military stones.  Think about how many there are in cemeteries all over the country/world.  It is pretty darn humbling.

Weekly Words and Love

Happy Wednesday my friends.     It is a beautiful morning here.  Sun is shining and the windows are open letting in a breeze.  

I am tired and sore a bit this morning - yesterday was garden day!!!!!!  Whew, that was work.  Now let the 'grow'ceries begin!!!!!!  Here is hoping we all have a great growing season.

Sometimes life gets so messy and things just get us down and we ALL need to stop and just remember how fortunate we are.

I know I do.  Despite the anxieties and stress I feel at times - it is still good.

I am so very thankful for all the wonders I receive.  We are so much more fortunate that a huge part of the world.  Truly there are days that I think we all forget this.

I often wonder how terribly unhappy and disturbed people must be that go out of their way to do harm to others or to anything.  It is so pitiful.  I pray daily for these folks, that they may find peace and some joy in their lives and God.

I needed this meme today!!!!!!!  Our faith gets tested every day.  In so many ways.  But I know in the end I am loved.  You are loved.

Life can knock us off our pedestals some days.  It can make us cry.  It can make us sad.  It can make us angry.  It can make us wonder.  BUT - it can give us joy and happiness as well.

I pray for each of you daily.  I love you all.

Have a wonderful day and go out live your best life today - and PRAY for those souls that seem need it most!

Blessings to all.