Happy April to all! Hope this finds you well and safe.
We have had another one of those roller coaster weeks. Lots of wind and rain and cool temps. I am so ready for some dry days and warmer temps. Patience, Cheryl!!!!!
I have walked around out in the yard and things are coming to life. The roses are leafing. I have a small shoot on the clematis, peony shoots popping up, poppies up, lilies of every kind, tulips up and the daffies are still blooming like crazy. The grass is so green and will need mowed soon!
We have no real time to get out and do much outdoors - it has just been too wet, cold, and windy.
This coming week looks to be much the same. It appears it will be soggy and a little warmer.
My week was fairly quiet again
- I made an appointment to get taxes done this coming week
- Paid everything due
- Cancelled an account - saving myself $30 a month
- Picked a bouquet
- Cleaning out a storage closet - so much stuff hadn't seen light of day in ages!!!!! Making ready for more donations
- No groceries or shopping of any kind
- Met my best friend from high school for breakfast/brunch one day - such a lovely time
- General cleaning
- All laundry hung inside to dry - except towels (they went in dryer)
Meals this past week:
Egg, sausage and cheese biscuits (leftover biscuits)
Greens and ham, roasted baby potatoes (leftover greens)
Homemade crunch wraps
Mex. rice bowl (used leftover meat/beans from crunch wrap)
Fried okra and summer sausage 'pigs in blanket'
Out to eat
Pork chop sandwich and banana/orange whip (kind of a shake)
SNACKS: cake, biscuit & jelly, fruit, popcorn
How was your week? I hope you are all getting better weather than we are. Did you get out and do any yard work? Find any deals this week? Using up leftovers in a new way? Inquiring minds need to know!!!
I hope this finds you all safe and well. I wish each and every one of you a wonderful week ahead. Blessings to you and yours from my humble little home.
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
Lord, help us to be what you want us to be. Help us to be full of compassion, love and peace. May we live our best life always. Amen
Those daffodils are sunshine in a vase. Still weeks to go before there are blooms of any kind around here but day time temps are >freezing and there are many signs of spring, i.e. geese, robins, pussy willows. We made it through another winter! The timely task of getting the taxes done is complete and I'm doing some decluttering in the house in preparation for spring yard sales and recycle. I spent yesterday on odds & ends, i.e. put away paint & tax leftovers, reorganize the freezer, vacuum upstairs. It feels so good to cross those things off the list. I enjoyed Canada Reads on tv where the "book of the year" is picked from 5 finalists. The winner happened to be Five Little Indians by Michelle Good, a book recently gifted to me. I got to visit with my son's family who lives 4 hrs away; I hadn't seen them for 3 mos. It's wonderful to be moving into a new month in spring.
ReplyDeleteWe are slowly moving in the right direction! Glad you are having SOME signs of spring!
DeleteYes, it feels good to mark things off the list. Sounds like you have been busy and accomplished.
Happy you got to visit with your son and his family. That is always a huge plus.
Have a good week.
Love your daffodils! Nothing is coming up yet here and won't for a few more weeks. But the snow is disappearing and I think I heard a robin yesterday so we're getting there.
ReplyDeleteHopefully your weather improves soon and you'll be able to get out into the yard and enjoy the beauty you've created.
You and Mona are in the same boat! Hopefully spring comes your way, sooner than later!
DeleteI will get out there eventually.
Enjoy your week.
I like reading about your week and your menu plans. I look forward to checking to see if you have new posts. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteWell thank you so much. It is a pleasure to have you here!!!!
DeleteAfter a week of lousy weather (including snow squalls), yesterday was in the mid-50sF and sunny for a very welcome change. It seemed like nearly everyone in the neighborhood was outside doing something. Today is back to gloomy skies, cold rain (and a few flurries) and temps in the 30sF. Supposed to be gloomy most of the week.
ReplyDeleteI took advantage of the good weather yesterday to do some more garden and yard clean-up. The trailer park is bringing in a dumpster at the end of this week, so I made a pile of things to take: concrete chunks from old fence posts and rotting wood that had been thrown over the hill out back. I had suggested "Dumpster Days" years ago to a former manager, and I'm glad the latest owners are keeping the tradition. They want our lots cleaned up, but we have to have a way to get rid of things. Not everyone has a truck or can get to the dump, and the garbage haulers won't take a lot of things.
This morning, I was motivated to work in the kitchen. I made a loaf of Strawberry Bread (with frozen strawberries from last year's garden), then started dinner in the crock pot (BBQ Cheeseburger Macaroni). While the oven was still hot, I made a small blueberry muffin mix (6 muffins) that I had received in the food box. Then I made up 8 bean burritos for the freezer for future lunches. And I washed dishes. Then I crocheted an edging around a fleece Project Linus blanket. This afternoon, I am going to index for the Family Search website. I recently started volunteering that way and really enjoy it.
Husband had his annual physical this past week and received a good bill of health. The dr. doesn't need to see him for a year. We were both very pleased with that good news.
I'm still reading Charles Dickens. This week I finished "Nicholas Nickleby" and "A Christmas Carol" and started "Oliver Twist". All from the library, of course. Our library system will let one check out books for up to 9 weeks, so I've started getting a lot more books at a time to keep the trips to the library to a minimum.
This week's plans include cleaning the inside of the refrigerator. Something leaked, and I need to take the shelves apart to get it clean. I also would like to defrost and inventory the deep freeze. Really need to get some of my seeds started in the house, too. Going to be a busy week!
Frances, is this your first time reading Charles Dickens? Are you enjoying them? A few years back, I decided to read some 'Classics' that I somehow missed in school. I started with Wuthering Heights. By the time I was half through it, I was ready to stab a pencil in my eye!! I still think of it as several hours I can never have back. My second book was The House of Seven Gables. I barely made it through 70 pages and decided the -ahem- Classics we're not for me and life was just too short! However, I'm being drawn to read Jane Austen. My best friend has never read her either so we're going to try one in May or June. I hope we aren't disappointed!! That's why I'm curious about Dickens....
DeleteIsn't the community dumpster such a great idea? Our HOA brought on during spring break week for several years. It was a walk in type so you could leave usable things near the front and put the true junk in the back. But, as someone always has to ruin it, word got out and it turned out to be a giant expensive mess. People from outside of our community would empty truckloads of their junk and we had to pay to empty it daily instead of twice. Worst, they just dumped everything at the curb and stuff blew and we had to pay extra to have it loaded. Now we don't have it anymore. Another example of total disrespect for others. I hope yours works better because I thought the basic idea was a great way to keep things neat.
Frances you always get so much done. First, let me say YAY on your hubbies clean bill of health. That is wonderful.
DeleteThe park should have a dumpster provided for everyone to remove things. They want the trailer park clean looking, that is the least they can do.
I haven't been to the library in quite a while. They let us keep books a pretty long while and they got rid of the late fees.
Sounds like you have been busy in the kitchen.
Today is lovely here, and I did go out and do some clean up - they comes to a grinding halt tomorrow - rain most of the week.
Have a good one!
Debby - my oh my you sound like me. I am sure I "read" the cliff notes to many classics in school - but back then reading was not my thing. As I got older I thought like you - I should read these things. Well, I started with Hemingway - LOL. Crap that was a joke on me. I have a lot of classics on my shelves - but most have not been opened!!! They are all older copies - so maybe someday!
DeleteIsn't that the way - someone has to ruin good things. What a shame on the dumping. That could have been great for your community. So many irresponsible people today. UGH
This is my first time reading Dickens. I am a highly analytical, facts and numbers sort of person, and books full of emotions and feelings turn me off completely. I HATED English Lit. in school. However, I love history. I had ancestors in Yorkshire during the time period Dickens wrote about the conditions in England. "Nicholas Nickleby" is about the incredibly abusive schools in Yorkshire in the 1830s. I had a distant ancestor who was a student in one of the "blue coat" charity schools there in 1841, right before the family came to Pennsylvania. I had read "A Tale of Two Cities" when I was interested in the French Revolution - again relating to family history. I found that I actually like Dickens once I get around the archaic language, so now I'm reading him for fun. His books are mysteries with a strong element of social justice (not usually my thing) worked in.
DeleteThe dumpster has been abused in the past, but now there are cameras in the parking lot where it is. Last year, someone left tires, and the manager made them come back to retrieve them. The first couple of years were full of out-of-the-trailer park abusers, but not so much lately. If someone is elderly or handicapped, the maintenance man will come and pick up their junk. Unfortunately, the people who need most to take advantage of the dumpster (having a lot of junk on their lot) don't usually use it.
Francis you have more grit than me - I don't know if I could still make it through those books!
DeleteI hope management makes a decision for those who don't use the dumpster - like telling them they have to clean up. That ruins the look of everything for others.
We had breakfast with friends we had not seen for awhile on Thursday. It is great to be able to catch up with those old friends! A big job was accomplished this week and that was defrosting the freezer. We still have some tubs in there to sort through but the worst is done!
ReplyDeleteI am undergoing treatments for a genetic disease that has shown up in our family. It is really knocking me down and decreasing what we are getting done but I am in less pain and having some better days than I have had in months.
Yes, breakfast with friends is the best. My friend and I hadn't gotten together in the last 2 years - so it was catch up time. Glad you had a good time.
DeleteI am sorry you are going through that - but if it is helping you, then fantastic. I hope your stamina comes back and you are back to your busy self. Glad there is an upside. HUGS
Good afternoon to all the Frugalistas!
ReplyDeleteI got thru my stricter eating plan this week. There were a few learning curves, but I think it's gonna work! Hubs loved it so that's a good thing. I based it on things I bought on a great sale price. Instead of constantly trying to come up with new menus, I'm trying to stick to one basic plan for a month. It also added several meals to the freezer, which we had pretty much depleted during our mutant illness.
I worked on a Christmas gift this week and am hoping to finish it in the next few days. I just realized I need to giddyap a birthday gift for mid month and have no idea what that will be. I'd love to send fudge, but it's too hot in Cali. We'll see what brilliant idea I can come up with, bahaha!!! I'll let you know.
Good for you on sticking to your plan. I am happy your hubs is on board - that always makes it nicer!
DeleteChristmas - already! I haven't gone there yet. I do need a gift for a one year old who has everything a kid could want/need - not sure what I will do.
Good luck with coming up with a gift! Let us know what you decide!
Have a good one.
Those crunch wraps look good! The idea of wrapping a tostada in a tortilla is intriguing. I've never liked eating tostadas because they break apart and make a mess. I'm going to try this wrap! Thanks! Celie
ReplyDeleteThey are quite good. They sell them at Taco Bell here and I have made them before and loved them. It had been a while. Hope you enjoy!!
DeleteI admit I have a magical freezer. Just when I think I can't possibly get one more thing in it I somehow manage for fit in some item I had to buy because the price was good.
ReplyDeleteSo this week I am going to focus on eating out of the freezer. I still have a lot of tomatoes and cherry tomatoes in there from my 2021 garden. I'm probably going to make a sheet pan gnocchi with some of the cherry tomatoes. I have been using them for soups and Mexican bowls, but those tomatoes esp the cherry were prolific!
This week I have plans to sew! I made grandson 2 pairs of shorts last week and want to make him more. I found several good pieces of fabric in my stash to use and my daughter appreciates it. Saves her money and I can use up my stash.
Hope everyone has a good week!
Oh I bet those meals with all the little toms added are so good. I love cherry tomatoes - eat them like candy in the summer!
DeleteHow neat on making the shorts. Clothes are so expensive today and many aren't made well. Your sewing will be a great goft on all counts. Lovely!!!
Have a good week.
Tommy uses wraps. I showed him what you made so he can wrap things like you did. He did look interested. I love flowers but allergies prevent me from bringing any inside.
ReplyDeleteI hope he likes it - it makes it easy to eat!!!
DeleteI have to have my flowers and open windows - allergies or not. I take my pills!!!! LOL
"Fear not for I am with you"...words to live by.
ReplyDeleteThe crunch wraps look yummy! Always looking for something new to add to the menu. We watch Rachel Cooks With Love on YouTube and after seeing her make tortillas, I think we'll try it.
Isn't it great to watch all the plants and trees come back to life? The Urban Farmer went out to check on what he has planted and the beets that he nurtured in his garage greenhouse were gobbled up by a squirrel. Guess we will have to cover everything with netting. The climbing rose outside the window by my desk is leafing out. Need to start spraying early this year to ward off the nasties.
Trying to collect up info for the tax man. His office is on 31 South so we'll probably drop off the stuff early this week. Did get several things checked off my to-do list this morning.
Yes mam, words to love by.
DeleteTortillas are really easy - and they taste so good!!
Oh no, dirty little buggars eating your beets! Small tender plants are just so tasty to them. I would cover them for sure.
I go to a company on Shelby right across from the Garfield Park, so super close. Got my stuff ready to go. It sure was a lovely day to be outside today. I was surprised!
Have a good one.
Cheryl, May I ask you a question? I read that the war in Ukraine will impact some food shortages, mainly flour and cooking oil. Ukraine was a huge grower of wheat and sunflower oil. It was known as the 'bread basket of Europe.' So world markets will look to American wheat to fill the gap, hence the rise in prices/shortages. Question: Can flour be frozen? Will it absorb odors and flavors? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely it can be frozen. I always freeze mine for a week or so any way - it supposedly kills any 'bug' eggs that may have survived processing. Then I remove from freezer & allow it to come to room temp for a day or two and then I wrap and keep in a dry cool place. It can also be put in mylar, jars or tins.
Deletewhen I freeze mine - I wrap it in a plastic grocery bag first.
You can definitely leave in freezer if you have the space.
Hope that helps!
Cheryl, your yard is bursting to life! Our dogwood trees are in full bloom this week. I hope the cold and wet weather passes you by soon and that you have another good week. Your piggies look delicious!
ReplyDeleteIt is all coming back. I love all the flowering trees - not much yet here. The magnolia trees went brown over night after they bloomed so pretty from a freeze!
DeleteThanks they were quite tasty. Heck you can put any kind of meat in them and have a tasty bite.
Have a good one.
Nope, no stores this weekend at all. I made it a point to not go into a single store. I can't trust myself, I know if I walk into a store I am not walking out empty handed. And I didn't need anything so I stayed away. I'm impressed with your crunch wraps. They look exactly like Taco Bell's. Were they as yummy as they looked? I am definitely going to try those. No rain for us, though we could sure use some. Any you don't want, please send our way. LOL
ReplyDeleteOh trust me, I would send you rain if I could!!!
DeleteI am that way - if I go in the store - I am not coming out empty handed. Best to stay away.
They were very tasty. I really enjoyed them. When you grill the bottom - just put a little pan or something on top to keep it folded - then flip it and grill the folded side.
Have a good one.
Forgot to mention that both my daffodils and strawberry plants survived one night of 14F temps last week. I'd covered the strawberries but couldn't cover the daffodils. The daffodils are blooming profusely and are so pretty.
ReplyDeleteYAY!! I covered my daffodils the first couple nights of below freezing - then stopped. They are doing good too! Glad the strawberries made it!!!!
DeleteI love daffodils, and wish I had some growing here. They do not last long after picked.
ReplyDeleteI have managed to keep each bouquet for close to a week. - warm water and aspirin!
DeleteI love them too.
No yard work here as of yet, still a bit too cool to do much of anything.
ReplyDeleteI have a list of projects to do outside once the weather improves so I am trying to get the inside projects all finished.
God bless.
If you are like me - that list just keeps getting longer!!!
DeleteHave a great one