Happy Sunday to all. Hope his finds you all well this morning. I have been out to feed all the animals, and Bits and I have both had our morning 'meal'. It is a damp feeling morning, but temp wise doesn't feel too bad. It is rumbling and dark off to the NW. We are supposed to have a few scattered storms this morning. OOPS - it has started! (gentle rain right now)
Last night, I heard thunder about 10:30 - then dozed off. Guess it got pretty windy, as there were sticks down this morning and a lot of tulip poplar leaves down. Things were very wet, but I don't think we got a lot of rain. Enough to give everything a drink and it seemed to clean out the gutter/downspouts! Lots of gunk on the drive, in front of them this morning.
It seems the rain has cooled things a tiny bit (only going to be low 90's). It has also been cloudy a lot over the past couple days, which has helped. Looking for midweek and a little cooler temps.
I have grapes starting to get ripe! This week I should be picking for jelly this year. YAY
It has been a quiet week. I was supposed to go to a luncheon this week, I had something come up, plus I also just had a funny feeling about making the drive - so I didn't go. I do believe in listening to that nudge that we get from time to time.
My frugal week:
- I used birdbath water on plants each time I cleaned it this week
- Did some deep cleaning, dusting this week - my LR shelves (oh my). They sure get dusty, but I only clean them every few months (so much stuff).
- I did move around a few items just for a little different look - can't move much
- Made a big bowl of chickpea salad to last the week
- Changed out furniture covers and laundered
- Got in my car to remove some items, and then the driver door wouldn't shut. The latch was stuck and I couldn't move. I tried WD40 and it was still stuck. I asked my neighbor to check it out and with a little effort he got it unstuck and really greased it up. I have thought back and seem to remember that happening once before years ago - but it was still a pain. (happy it wasn't raining) Glad he was around and knew what to do.
- I finally got to mow the yard. Did the entire thing, but I did pace myself and worked on it in sessions. I did not trim, however. I did have to rake the front - as I didn't get to mow last week due to moisture. It was hot!
- I did probably the last trim of the bushes out back, for the season.
- Paid bills over the phone
- Picked lots of produce. Squash, and lots of peppers and tomatoes! I think I got about 2 dozen tomatoes this week!!! I knew they would all start at one time! They taste soooooo good.
- Eating meals from home and keeping them simple
Meals this past week:
Green beans, corn on cob and sliced tomatoes
Chickpea salad and some fruit
Grilled burritos
Beans/rice/beef, chickpea salad side
BLT - fruit
Fried green tomatoes and sweet banana peppers, corn on cob
Combo nachos/taco salad (used l/o rice/beans/beef)
SNACKS - fruit, sliced cheese, tomatoes, salad
Nothing exciting at all. Big bird (the hawk) has showed up a lot this week - I go out and off he goes, so the birds have been quieter this week.
How has your week been? Did you get any good deals? How are those gardens doing? Anyone done anything exciting this week?
Give us a shout out - love hearing from everyone!
I hope you all have a great week ahead and that you all stay safe and healthy. Prayers for all, especially those needing God's healing touch.
Blessings to you and yours from me at my humble little home.
****************
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you. Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.
1 Peter 5:6-7
Lord, we know You have us in Your loving arms, and that we need to place all our trust in You. Your will be done. That is so hard for us to understand, but our faith helps us each day. Thank You for all the many blessings we received these past days, and may we recognize ever single one we get this week. Please place your healing, loving, and protective hands upon us all. AMEN
Good morning, Nothing too exciting has been going on around here unless getting a new fence and upgraded sprinkler system is exciting. Just things that need doing. We did take a run to the coast yesterday, there was a car show that a friend of DH was in. And we took tomatoes to 3 people. DH must have had a bushel we gave so many away. Got to visit with 2 different relatives and of course his friends at the car show. Our weather is warm too, 86 today and cloudy, so muggy. I had zucchini on my front porch yesterday when we got home!! So I'll be taking care of that today.
ReplyDeleteGood morning. Oh that sounds kind of exciting. New things always are exciting in my book. Sounds like a nice day trip. I bet all the folks appreciated the tomatoes. Nice to get those little visits.
DeleteYay on the zucchini. Tis the season when those things magically appear!!!! LOL
Have a wonderful and blessed week.
Have a great day! I had to ask for the zucchini. Nobody seems to have grown any around here, hmm
DeleteI bet they got used to you growing them in the past! Next year girl!!!!!
DeleteI'm glad you had someone that could help you with the door.
ReplyDeleteIt was a long week. Got a rusty nail in the foot so I tried to spend a couple days off it to avoid pushing in any bacteria or dirt. School started back for the oldest, speech therapy started back for the youngest. It was exhausting - dealing with people completely wipes me out. The oldest's skin biopsy came back, basically fluid buildup under his skin causing blistering/scaling and we have to go back in a couple of weeks to discuss treatment options.
I went to Kroger and they had a stand with free fish that expired that day so we (adults, kids won't each fish) had free Chilean sea bass for dinner.
I picked a couple of squashes and a few tomatoes.
We went ‘train hunting’ for the train obsessed little one in the next couple of counties. Got to watch two freight trains and a tourist train going to an old coal mining camp go by. He loves them but hates loud noise so the horns scare him.
I got a free McChicken as a birthday (38 Thursday) freebie from McDonald's.
I am glad someone could help too. I think I could do it now that I watched, I was afraid of breaking it. He used a bit of force and it worked. Sure hope it doesn't happen again.
DeleteOh shoot, a nail is awful! I hope it heals quickly for you. That is a lot of stuff to deal with in one week. I get to where I think things are to peopley sometimes!
Wow, free fish - here they would just discount it. Free is nice.
Gresh goodies - yum.
Love that there is a train fan. I have a friend that does that with his granddaughter - they go train hunting too.
Happy birthday young-in!!!
Have a super week.
Excellent devotional! Yehovah does not like pride; humility should be in our soul. Give Him the glory.
ReplyDeleteWe had quite a thunderstorm this morning. Looks like 3/4 " of rain so far. Just watering the weeds...ha!
Good thing your neighbor could assist you with the car door. It's always something with a vehicle.
Harvesting in the garden has picked up. You had a nice haul! We are waiting for the figs to ripen.
Thanks.
DeleteI heard thunder off in the distance - but we just got rain here. Nice rain - but yeah, it sure does make the weeds grow.
Oh my garden is really starting to produce. Picked a bunch more today.
Yep, especially an old vehicle! One of these days I am going to have to break down and get another. Sigh.
Have a great week.
Happy Sunday Cheryl. It's still hot here. We're under a heat advisory until Tuesday night then it is supposed to cool off a bit. I can't wait. TBG is out now trimming the yard but with the heat and lack of rain it doesn't need mowed this week. It's too hot even if it did.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got your door fixed.
Your meals all sound good. I hope you have a great week.
The cool down is supposed to hit here about the same time. I am ready for a cool down too. I wish you would get some rain. We have been fortunate.
DeleteThanks!
Have a super week.
I like that meme. The Good Lord will definitely give us the strength to get thru these hard times too. That was very nice of your neighbor to help you get your door unstuck. You can't beat good neighbors. Your meals all sound tasty. Glad you were able to mow, you are smart to do it in sessions.
ReplyDeleteYes mam. We have all had our worst day ever so far in life and here we are. He gets us through it.
DeleteGood neighbors are a treasure.
Thanks.
Have a wonderful week.
Fall is in the air with cool temps, ripened grain crops, garden harvest. The paltry garden would not see me through the winter. I did manage to freeze some green beans & make pineapple zucchini. Fried green tomatoes were a seasonal treat this past week. I've recovered from the 8 hr trip home from Dawson Creek. Glad to go; glad to be home. I can cross that off the bucket list. I went to the last chuckwagon race of the season yesterday & wore a winter jacket; it was that cool. In the kitchen: zucchini! Sauteed w/ onions & cheese served w/ roast beef slices from the freezer; spiral sliced w/ tomato sauce served w/ souvlaki; cucumber & cheese sandwiches. I did a deep clean of the bedroom. Enjoy your week, Cheryl.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, you are that cool that you needed a jacket? WOW, that won't be happening here for quite a while. I see the forecast is for a very warm fall.
DeleteThat is a long trip. Glad it is something you have wanted to do.
Thanks for reminding me of my spiral cutter - I forgot about that. Need to get it down and use it.
Your food sounds good. Roast beef sounds especially yummy.
Time to think about those deep fall cleans!
Have a lovely week.
Sometimes I get just freaked out over whatever is going on in my life. Your picture/illustration is a good one for that. I should paste it on my mirror so I see it every day, both morning and evening!
ReplyDeleteHad a visit yesterday from the man who is to fix my heating system and his wife who is to cat-sit Ally when I'm away. So glad that is now settled. :) They're nice folks, neighbors, and I'm eager to support neighbors.
Babysitting the littles is on my agenda for this coming week. I love and dread it. Two boys, both very smart and very active, are a bit much for this 80+ year old lady! :D They really make me aware of how old and feeble/frail I am, just the contrast... and hour after hour of trying to keep up with them is a real challenge, both physical and mental.
Be well, all, and have a lovely week.
MaryB
Things get scary sometimes - yet here we are. We have made this far and look at what we have all been through.
DeleteLove neighbors helping neighbors.
Hopefully the boys will be on their best behavior with you! Hopefully they will entertain themselves a bit. Kiddos have a way of putting us in our 'age bracket'! LOL
Have a blessed week.
Good devotional. I struggle to release anxiety.
ReplyDeleteIt is still hot. I’m thankful that Hurricane Erin did not come our way - and hopefully it will not directly affect any land at all. I have been really scrimping on my a/c because otherwise I hear it running, running, running which is not good for the system or my pocketbook. I like to keep it at 77 F. but almost a month ago I turned it up to 80 F. daytime and a week later decided to try 80 F. nighttime, too. Not too bad and I have fans when I need them. I got my bill yesterday and my scrimping paid off. It was still the highest bill I’ve ever received but nothing compared to what I’m reading on the local community Facebook page. Our electric company raised rates to pay for the tremendous rebuilding they had to do after last year’s hurricanes. I don’t blame them (and they say this increase is only for one year) but many, many people are furious with the company and want our area to change or establish a municipal utility or something.
I have a lot of expenses coming up in the next few months. It is more the hassle of getting things done than the money that is on my mind.
I’m still decluttering. Yesterday I dropped more items at Salvation Army.
A friend of almost 50 years was here this week cleaning out her sister’s house. Her sister has moved to a memory care facility out of state - near another sister. It reinforced my determination to declutter more.
Anxiety can be a lot for some. It does not serve us well. It accomplishes nothing and gets us no where - but I have done it too.
DeleteThat is a lot of scrimping on the AC - glad it paid off. I usually keep mine 76/77 - just having the humidity out of the air is huge for me. I understand trying to keep the bill low. You did good. Seems most utilities have gone up - infrastructure repair really does cost a lot, and no one wants to pay for it.
You will get through these things you need done. Decluttering is an always ongoing thing here too. It makes one really appreciate having less, when you see things like that happen.
Have a great week.
Yes, 80 degrees is certainly doable! Remember how we managed *before* AC, and play that game: close out the sun with blinds and curtains, keep windows closed so hot air stays out, use fans. When the outside air feels actually cooler than inside, then open things up.
DeleteGood job on your electric bill. I know ours costs more too, because of the mess last fall, so much repair work! Somebody has to pay for it, and it's gonna be *us* no matter who owns the electric company. We either pay in bills or taxes. ;)
MaryB
It has been another hot week here, although it has now cooled down to more tolerable levels. I mainly stayed indoors, but did do some light gardening and also harvested some herbs to hang up and dry. A house in the next street had boxes of plums and pears with a 'Free. Please Help Yourself' sign, so I bought home 4 pears and a couple of handfuls of plums. The pears made a delicious crumble, along with an apple someone gave me. I did some mending, rejigged the hanging of some pictures, which gave a new look to my living room, then braved a comparison website to find a better deal on my home insurance. I am feeling particularly pleased about the last one as I will be paying half of what my old company had quoted me. They really do treat loyal customers badly!
ReplyDeleteLight harvesting is about all that is doable in that heat. How neat on the pears and plums. I bet that crumble was good. I think I would check again this week!
DeleteJust changing out those pictures or a piece or two of decor can sure make a difference in how a room feels. I like that - been doing it too.
Good job on the insurance. It sure can be expensive anymore. I am glad my homeowners is only paid once a year.
Have a great week.
We got a bit of rain last night also with a lot of thunder and lightning. It is way too hot and humid to spend much time outside although we did have do some harvesting.
ReplyDeleteThe tomatoes will be picked and processed most of this next week.
I will admit to hoping for cooler weather and while I hate winter/cold I am starting to long for Fall or at least temps in the lower 80's instead of high 90's.
JC
Glad you got some rain too. It sure does give the plants a nice little drink. It is hot and humid, but after the rain I went out too, to harvest tomatoes and peppers today.
DeleteI am not ready for winter - but I agree a little cooler and less humid will be fantastic!! I long for the 70's!
Have a special week.
It is so incredibly HOT this afternoon…lol. I am glad I got my thirty minute walk in (6 am) before I started to get ready to go to sacrament meeting at church this morning. Supposed to rain this evening but I will believe it when I see it. It has been hit or miss here. I made teriyaki chicken, baked potato and green peas for dinner last night. Used the leftover chicken, peas, added sautéed cabbage, egg, and rice, and made kind of an unconstructed egg roll bowl to eat this week. I have boiled a couple of eggs for breakfast in the morning to take to work. It will be a busy week at work so I need to be as prepared as I possibly can be to make it flow smoothly. I washed my suit jacket in the tub and hung it out to dry and have now put it in the car to take to work tomorrow. My new 11 yr old dog the vet gave me has adjusted well to living with me, probably bc we are both old… lol. I just did stock up and replaced what I had used. I bought a small watermelon, eggs, bread, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, shredded coleslaw mix, pistachios, and mayonnaise. I bought Sprite Zero on sale as well as diet Mt Dew. I bought on sale for $4.75 a large container of Blue Bell no sugar vanilla ice cream. I need that like I need a hole in my head but I do not care. Just enjoying the peace and quiet in my own home bc I paid for it might as well enjoy it. Peace and quiet is underrated.
ReplyDeleteCindy in the South
We went on an extended weekend out of state with my daughters, their husbands, grandkids, my brother and my 89 yo mother. Mom fell & broke her hip. She's out of surgery which went well. Praise God. Few more days at the hospital then transfer back home to a rehab center. So that's the coming week for us.
ReplyDeleteThe hospital cafeteria is surprisingly good and affordable.