Happy Sunday all. Sorry I am a little late this fine day. My neighbor and I have been wrangling 2 huge very aggressive racoons since about 6:30 AM this morning! I guess they must have been young, as usually the older ones aren't so aggressive. I was having none of that - as they even jumped up on the rail where Blackie was sitting. They had rummaged all through the greenhouse and dirtied all the watering holes. They tore up my corncob trash can. Needless to say, they were kind of hungry - so trapping wasn't that hard. They have been relocated now far away, and they are no longer a threat to our area pets!! What a way to start the week. UGH!
Geesh - Cheryl's Critter Corral - is hopefully closed for a while. As Rosana Danna used to say, "It's always something"!!! LOL
It has been a hot one for sure. I know it is so much worse in other places. Mornings is when I go out to get things done.
This coming week it looks like a more normal week with temps in the 80's and maybe some showers. They say there is a chance of rain each day.
Yesterday morning a big front moved through. It got black as night (the sky) and wicked looking and the wind was fierce. It lasted quite a while - and not one drop of rain!!!! It did clean out dead wood in the trees.
I do believe that my zucchini are about done. I know one plant is - and the second plant looks to be about gone as well. No bugs - plenty of water - just not sure.
Life has been kind of quiet this week. Nothing much exciting happening here (until this morning). It has been so hot, and my energy seemed to be depleted. Just piddling a lot.
- Harvesting - okra, peppers, got a hidden zucchini that was a little large, tons of cherry tomatoes, and 3 'regular' tomatoes! They aren't huge tomatoes - but ripe. I have some big green ones out there. Oh, I got my first cuke as well!
- Dehumidifier water in laundry
- Did a feed store run
- Stopped at the bank while out
- Still no mowing - but I did weed whack around the yard and did half of the newer neighbor's yard (our shared fence)
- Weeded some in garden
- No grocery store
- Changed out toothbrush and put the old one in the toothbrush jar! I have many, that I use for all sorts of cleaning
- Yesterday had a ton of limbs come down out of the tree - must have picked up a hundred!
- Just doing all the regular cleaning and decluttering. Nothing exciting at all.
- Worked on baby blanket a bit
- Used all leftovers in new ways
Meals this past week:
Mexican skillet dinner
Fried fish, corn on cob and cukes & toms
Enchiladas (used leftover Mex)
1 enchilada and bean/cheese tostada
Fried chicken, veggie/rice
Rueban
Rice/bean/chicken bowl (all leftovers)
SNACKS - yogurt, fruit, cookies
How have you all been doing? Are you staying cool? It sure has been a hot and dry one. Did you get any deals this week? Garden harvest?
I hope this finds you all well. Stay cool. Prayers for a good week for all.
Blessings from my humble little home to you and yours.
*******************
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Dear Lord, help us to stay on our path. To be determined in our work. Help us to be more patient with others and with ourselves. Guide us each one to know and plan better for our families.
Amen
Good morning, Cheryl. I'd say "Happy Sunday", but wrangling racoons 1st thing in the morning isn't a happy thing! Glad you were able to trap them... eventually.
ReplyDeleteSome very GOOD things happened this week, although they weren't exactly frugal. We hired a team to remove all debris from our acre and build up the driveway, repairing a botched-job culvert at the street. Words can't express what a difference it makes. This no longer looks like a construction site where no one lives there yet. But it didn't come cheap.
Hubby went grocery shopping with a marked up flyer to stock up on some meat sales. Not too common anymore. For about $80 I've been able to be my own butcher and (mostly) fill the fridge freezer with beef and pork. I oven roasted the pork bones and am making pork bone broth right now. I also made 25 large meatballs yesterday from 85% lean ground beef that had been on sale, what we don't eat right away can be frozen.
Dollar General receipts always have a coupon for $5 off of $25 the following Saturday: I've been making use of those to stock up on staples like flour, sugar, etc. It's slow going, but every little bit helps.
It has been very hot here, but cools off a bit when it rains, and temps are supposed to drop at least 10 degrees this coming week. Wishing you--and everyone--a very blessed last week of July.
--Elise
What a fantastic week you have had!!!!! YAY on getting all cleaned and cleared and the drive. Sometimes peace of mind comes with spending some serious change! That is OK - you can always save again.
DeleteWhat a deal with meat - sounds like he did great. Good for you on being your own butcher! Those small stock ups add up in a big way. Baby steps still gets us to the destination.
Hope you have another great week kiddo. So happy for you!!!
Excellent Scripture choice, excellent, heartfelt prayer!
ReplyDeleteYou just added another title to your name: Raccoon Wrangler! Despite the fact that the Urban Farmer caught the opossum, something is still eating the tomatoes.
This is heat is too much. I know it is hotter elsewhere but this is my limit. The weather person said that it will be cooler this week with chances of rain. Wonder what August will bring?
We bought one of the roasted chickens from Costco and had some of it yesterday. Today's menu is chicken and noodles. Probably the rest will go into the freezer, some of the scrappy pieces will be dog food.
Since it's too hot to do anything outside, I have a list of piddly things to do in the house. I have been reading Grace Livingston Hill's books and got too sleepy to finish it last night.
Well you could have a racoon as well. You never know. The opossums never bothered my tomatoes. Hope you figure it out. You need a little inexpensive trail cam - you will be able to find the culprit easily.
DeleteYes, it is hot. Glad for a cloudy day yesterday and it has gotten cloudy here again today. It sure makes a difference as that sun would be miserable. The kitties hide out under the deck and under the back stoop to stay cool.
Chicken sounds good. Never been to Costco but figure it must be like Sam's chicken.
I have a lot of household things to do as well. Hoping for a bit cooler and damper week! Enjoy your reading!
Oh how I love her books! I have almost all of them and read them over and over. They are perfect for times like these when you need some peace.
DeletePeople blame opossums for all kinds of things they rarely do. They're ugly and look mean, but are mostly passive. They prefer to eat bugs, small rodents, dead animals (especially road kill), and seeds. I never minded them when I lived in Indiana, they didn't bother me or my cats. Too cold here in north aWiscomsin for them.
ReplyDeleteOh I know. We have opossums around here too. They leave the cats alone and the cats leave them alone. I have even caught them sleeping in the greenhouse at the same time as the cats!! I have had them eat a garden veggie now and then, but not often. I don't mind them - I usually don't mind the racoons - but these were very aggressive. I will remove racoons and ground hogs - they do too much damage.
DeleteHave a good one
I didn't do any bargain shopping this week. My daughter and grandson both got sick with different things so I was helping out at there house. And when I wasn't there I was decluttering at home. That always seems to be an ongoing project for me. I think because as life changes so do my needs and interests.
ReplyDeleteWe are living with Chimney Swifts in our chimney. They're a protected bird so we have to just wait for them to leave. Then we'll get the chimney cleaned out, repaired and a new chimney cap installed. Yes, it's always something.
Terrible storms and hot here!
Garden is about to burst forth with its bounty!
~margaret
I hope your family is feeling much better now. Nice of you to helps them out. De-cluttering never ends at my house. I have so MUCH stuff.
DeleteWow on the birds. That is something - good things it isn't cold out! Yes mam, make sure you get it capped.
Hope you had no damage from storms. YAY for you on the garden front. That is a tremendous gift!!!!
Stay well.
Looks like everyone had a good week. My biggest score this week was my Hydro electric Bill. A whopping $15.15 for 35 days. I only used 62kes. Did not go anywhere from Tuesday onwards. Today is much cooler so am making ham bone stock which will be ham and navy bean soup. I so needed the extra room in my freezer. Guess I won’t end up with much room once I put the soup in. Jean
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a good hydro bill. I know mine will be high with all the AC - but worth it to me. I am on a budget plan - so I pay the same amount all year long, every month.
DeleteThat soup will be very good on a chilly day. Have a good one Jean.
Oh wow! I am glad those raccoons are dealt with! And I am glad they did not find your garden! The heat here is just oppressive and after about 11 AM it is time to stay in completely. We took breakfast to the nearby park on the lake this morning before church and it was so nice. A cool breeze off the water did not seem like the hot day to come at all. We need to do that more often!
ReplyDeleteThe grocery deals were super this week and we got a lot of food in jars. Bad news is that I am almost out of jars. I had no idea until Hubby came in from getting more jars and said there were only 9 left. I do have plenty of quarts but they are most of the time too big for the two of us. I am weighing my options. Now if all those green tomatoes would just ripen!
I am glad they didn't get to the garden as well. They were probably teenagers - so full of *iss and vinegar - they could have done some damage.
DeleteYour breakfast by the lake sounds divine.
Glad your week was full of deals.
I have tons of quarts as well - gifted many, some time back - but I use pints too. Would be nice to find someone to exchange with. Maybe you could find a neighborhood marketplace thing - find someone to trade with.
Hope you get some jars some way!!!! Mmmmm tomatoes.
ENJOY
No deals here this week, but that’s ok too since it means we didn’t spend the money for them. Glad those pesky raccoons are gone. We trap them here too and our friend takes them off for us. They can be the biggest pests. Sounds like it’s been hot there too like here, although we’ve had rain. I hope you can get some soon.
ReplyDeleteThey sure are pests and these buggers were BIG!
DeleteYep, hot for sure. We need rain so badly. Hopefully this week.
Stay safe and cool!
I know what you mean about wild animals..they are very hungry in my garden too! We mowed once in a month..just to mow the weeds. Might mow this week now they we have rain!
ReplyDeleteCritters can get hungry and find food where they can!
DeleteIf we get rain - I might take the top off weds - but it will take a bit for grass to green.
Hope you get cooler and rain!
You might have just added a side-job to your resume! Good work catching those critters! Did groceries this week, shopping sales at 3 stores, and stuck to my list. I'm probably 25% over budget (set in Jan.) for the month, but with price increases, I'm feeling pretty good. It was quite hot here, and we had severe storms early Thursday morning, and heavy rain overnight last night. My CodeRed NWS notification woke me out of a dead sleep around 5:45 AM on Thurs. There'd been a tornado spotted west of me and my area was in the storm's track. And then hail and other debris started hitting my bedroom windows. Evacuated to the lower level in under 2 minutes, where pup and I waited it out for about 45 minutes. No significant damage here, but it did touch down about 3 miles south of me. I spent one day this week on canning, when I felt the temps were still doable for heating the kitchen. I made a wonderful raspberry peach melba jam for our fundraiser for the counseling center where our Bible study group meets. I tried the foam I removed on a grilled cheese made with white cheddar (thought I grabbed white American from the pre-packaged deli case, but grabbed white cheddar by mistake) and it was delicious! This week, I'll be making a half-batch each of two savory spreads for the fundraiser, and I need to get a birthday gift for my daughter and a bridal shower gift for another friend's daughter who is marrying a 2nd friend's son. These "kids" grew up together during summers on the dock from the time they were 5-to-6ish, didn't really hang out or maintain any contact as they got older. After college, they reconnected at a bonfire and have been together ever since. So happy for them!
ReplyDeleteYou are still doing good on groceries. Stocking the pantry is important.
DeleteThat had to be scary. Glad you had no damage with the storm. It is thundering here right now. Drizzles - but it is all welcome. I just love that you are working so hard for the fundraiser. How neat that the gals reconnected and have become 'new' friends. That is pretty cool.
Don't work too hard this week, but have fun!!
Do you mind explaining how you use dehumidifier water in laundry? Doesn’t the washer control the water level? Or do you hand wash with it? Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteI put my laundry detergent in first - then my clothes - then I dump the water in. I then start the washer and it adjusts for the water I put in. I have a machine with no agitator - and water is determined by load setting. I hope that helps.
Deletesure does - thanks for sharing!
DeleteYou are welcome
DeleteOh my!!! Racoons are no fun! We had a possum issue once. My squash are done. It is soooo hot. over 100 everyday and for the future weeks as well. I dread water my plants because it is so hot no matter if it 5 AM or 10 PM. Just the season we are in. :) Blessings!!
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful creatures for sure - but I don't trust them at all around my pets.
DeleteI think heat may be my problem with the squash as well. Bummer.
I water about 5PM to 7PM most days - then it has time to dry, if plants get wet before nighttime. Yes, it is the season. Better than ice and snow in my book!!!!!!
Stay cool!!!
Had some answered prayer today in a big way. A heavy thunderstorm with 70mph winds blew through yesterday and knocked our power out at about 2:15 p.m. Reported it to the electric co who kept giving later and later times for anticipated restoration of power. By this a.m., they were saying 11pm Tuesday! After getting very little sleep last night, we spent today sweltering in 87F in the house (92F outside). I was getting rather worried about Husband, who refused to leave the house for some place cooler. Last night, I had run out and bought two 20lb bags of ice and put some in the refrigerator, the 'fridge freezer and the chest freezer. This a.m., I used cardboard to block the sun in the window in the mud porch (where the chest freezer is) and covered the freezer with an old quilted moving blanket. Then I started preparing mentally for the worst (losing all that food-full freezer) and praying for the best. Called my mother and asked her to pray, too. To make a long story short, the power came back on this afternoon after 26-1/2 hours. I checked the thermometers in both freezers. The 'fridge freezer read 30F, and the chest freezer was 20F! Only lost some ground pork and chicken I had defrosted to use this weekend and some ice cream. Definitely answered prayer!
ReplyDeleteUsed my camping skills to fix Husband's coffee (boil water on (gas) stovetop and pour over grounds) and fix his toast (in a frying pan). Heated more water and washed dishes. Just like camping without the mosquitos!
Went out of the trailer park for the first time in 2 wks last Wed. when I went to Aldi. Picked up a library book I had ordered Sat a.m. Other than that, it was a quiet, very hot and humid week. More storms but more moderate temps this week.
Forgot to mention that I've picked 4 zukes and 2 cukes in the past 3 days. Now for the tomatoes to ripen!
DeleteOh my gosh - how awful. What an ordeal to go through, especially with your husband. Thank God it all worked out well, and you didn't lose other items. That would have been awful. Your hubby sounds stubborn - but heck, he's a guy, so understandable! Minne would have been the same way.
DeleteIt sure saves money staying home doesn't it? Take care.
YAY on the zukes and cukes! It won't be long till you are eating maters!!! Love it.
DeleteThat is one pest we haven't had to chase out of our yard or garden. Here it is more skunks and rabbits.
ReplyDeleteTemperatures have cooled down here for the next week and I am loving it. No air conditioning which is a really big electrical savings.
I told Harvey I want to use the water from the dehumidifier downstairs to water some of our plants, so I guess while it is off I should go and do that.
God bless.
I walked out this morning to feed the cats and work on wrangling and there was a big old rabbit on the front walk - just hopping down the block! So far, no problems with them - just don't think there is a way for them to get in easily. Eeeewww on skunks!
DeleteSupposed to cool some here this week as well. Enjoy that cool weather and have a great one.
Cheryl, varmint control - that's ranching. Some gopher control needs to happen in my yard; they will be "relocated," all right. In NE Alberta, produce is just appearing in the garden. There will be peas to pick this week. I plan to make some rhubarb juice as well. And the flowers are gorgeous. It was a very social week with a friend for brunch & cards last Sunday. There was a "pool" party at my neighbor's with her 1 yr old on Tues. A bunch of old (long time friends, not age!) friends celebrated a friend's 65th BD on Wed then a get together with some old work colleagues on Thurs. And finally, my aunt & 2 cousins spent the night on Fri. There was an early bedtime on Sat. Saw the movie "Where The Crawdads Sing" today. Good movie, IMHO. There was 7" of rain in June and only 11mm in July. Lots of haying being done in the area and the crops are heading out. I love the changing of the seasons.
ReplyDeleteRancher you say? LOL Gophers are nasty critters too - so much damage. I hope you get them.
DeleteWhat a wonderful week you had. Social indeed. It sounds lovely. I have heard that is a good movie.
Your rain sounds like us - June wasn't that much - but July has been so dry. Hopefully this week!! Got some drizzles today.
I bet things are pretty and greening up nicely. It is always nice to see all the life coming back into things.
Maybe get some rest this week you social butterfly!!!!
Raccoons can be so destructive. But they are cute little buggers. Well not really after you have wrangled with one.
ReplyDeleteLOL - yes, they are beautiful creatures - but I just don't want them here. They have no fear.
DeleteIn Alabama it is illegal to relocate a raccoon. So, don't advertise if so in your state.
ReplyDeleteNot illegal here
DeleteThere was nothing cute about raccoons when they killed my hens, growled at me with open mouths, and just destroyed things and scattered garbage. They are evil little pests.
ReplyDeleteYes, they can be mean and destructive. They are aggressive - but they are still a pretty looking creature.
Delete