Weekly Wrap-Up 8/16

Hello my friends.  I hope you are all well and safe.
Here we are starting another new week.  My goodness, how the days tick away.

It has been very WARM to say the least.  Humid as well.  It looks like we get another refreshing break this coming week.  I guess we shouldn't complain about the heat, as nasty old man winter will be here before you know it.  I know some places don't get the kind of winters we get here - frigid temps and snow and ice are not on my happy list!
My allergies have been off the charts this week - I won't miss that.

The hummingbirds have been ever so active the last couple weeks.  I hope it is just because it is not AS hot and not because it is getting time to leave.  I have beautiful butterflies every where and bees galore.
The birds and the squirrels (especially the squirrels) seem to have another food source at the moment.  This happened last year as well, and had me worried.  I keep seeing the remains of walnuts all over, so they are enjoying that great treat.  Isn't it something how they just eat and eat them and crack them so easily with those little teeth?  It takes everything I have to get into a black walnut!!!!

It is very cloudy and gloomy looking this morning.  I think the sun will shine later - maybe a chance for a shower.  Just a good day to relax and feel blessed and thankful.

MY WEEK:

• Harvested basil, thyme and lemon balm
• Made lemon sweetened water (with lemon balm) and froze in cubes to use later in tea - both hot and cold
• Made and canned a lot more salsa - a gift favorite for the holidays
• Cut my hair
• Mowed and trimmed the yard
• Used dehumidifier water in my laundry
• Picked 3 zucchini, some small cucumbers and lots of different tomatoes.

The cherry tomatoes are hanging thick.  I have 2 plants and from top to bottom they are just thick.  There are hundreds of blooms as well - if the weather holds out - my goodness I will have tiny tomatoes for ages.  The regular tomatoes are now on phase 2 - pretty much have picked all ripe ones and waiting for second round to ripen.  (click on picture to enlarge)

• Staked up all the tomato plants after early week storms.  The ground was saturated and the heavy plants were leaning
• I went out about every morning when cooler - and started cleaning out spent flowers and deadheading flowers in the perennial bed.  My goodness that is a huge job.  Will take weeks to get through it all.
• Did a bunch of weed whacking in different places - it is so nice to go out whenever I want to do that, instead of having to lug around and wind up an extension cord!
• Did NOT leave the property once this week.  Stayed home and made no purchases whatsoever
• Using what I have, making Kool-Aid, laundry in cold, line drying, just doing all the normal stuff

These tiny little Lilies have started blooming - I can not remember the name.  Each flower is about the size of a quarter - and there are several on each stem.  They are so sweet.  The D' Oro (sp) lilies are starting to rebloom as well.

My Meals this past week:

Beans/rice leftover, turkey burger (freezer) and bread sticks

Beef Manhattan

Pizza slice and bread sticks (both from freezer)

Small potato/chicken and cheese skillet mix-up and sliced tomatoes

Chicken sandwich and slaw

Veggie/pasta salad  - heavy on veggies.  Made just a small amount for a meal

BLT - enjoying while I can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My huge frugal this week, was not spending even a dime.  Staying home sure does save money.  Working on my home canning stash and not wasting anything was also frugal.  I am trying to incorporate as much as possible from the great outdoors into my pantry.

How about you?  What have you been up to and how are you staying frugal?  Did you find any good deals?

I just love these little flowers - rose moss.  The variety of color is glorious - I have 5 pots and each is filled with many colors - beautiful.  The pictures don't do them justice - they are so bright!!!!!

I send love, hope and wishes for health and happiness your way. May you each be blessed with health for you and your families in the coming week.  

When fearful and scared please lift your worries up to a much higher power.  We can do this thing called life together - but not alone.

Blessings from my humble little home to yours.