Hello to all. Good-bye to August! Yes, here we are saying so long to another month. Tomorrow is September and the unofficial beginning to fall for many. Some will be starting their spring in the down under. It may feel like fall this next week, but I am sure it will warm once again. Goodness, time is just floating by. Tomorrow is Labor Day and there will be a lot of picnics and end of summer fun. Less than 4 months until Christmas and then the end of the year!!
Until then, I am going to enjoy as much lovely weather as can be.
My frugal week:
- I cleaned and cleared a lot out of the front flower beds
- Cut back my 3 climbing rose bushes
- Did a lot of mending
- Cut back more stuff from neighbor's yard - growing at my fence and through it (no mowing this week!)
- Did a LOT of walks this week - sometimes at least 2X a day (or more)
- Picked a bunch of produce again - about 35 lbs. of tomatoes and more peppers. Shared a bunch. Seems with cooler weather and cloudy days tomatoes have slowed a bit. There are tons of green toms hanging out there.
- Had an old friend from my workdays stop by. We caught up and talked a lot. His wife was one of my best friends for years until her passing several years back.
- Cut a couple roses for inside
- CANNING - did 2 big batches of salsa and canned, and also a quart of peppers
- Did go out once to fill gas tank (needed 1/4 tank) for the month and get my discount (.40/gal)
- NO grocery or other shopping
- A neighbor brought me homemade zucchini bread - it was soooooo good
- I had juice from tomatoes from canning (wanted salsa thicker) and I added a little salt and drank it
- I had some older milk to use, so I made pudding
- I was gifted more cukes
- I made a big fresh salad using all kinds of veggies to eat for a few days
- Got to air the house - NO AC for many days now!
- I did put out my fall door wreaths - sunflowers and pretty leaves
one at each door
- Moved some things around in the house - putting away and in different rooms - just clearing up space
- Meals from home and using what I have
Meals this past week:
Cube steak, mashed potatoes (flavored w/ranch) and tom & cuke salad
Potato/corn cakes and cuke & tomatoes
Jalapeno/cheeseburger, fried corn & onion, sliced tomatoes
Tuna/broccoli mac & cheese, cukes & toms
Super veggie/shaved ham sandwich
Pintos over rice, salad
Chicken sandwich, small potato into fries, and salad
SNACKS - fruit, lots of veggies, pudding and zucchini bread
Just a nice quiet week here. I did get things accomplished and have plenty to do yet. More canning is in store. I have thoroughly enjoyed the cooler days and took advantage when I could.
It seems that there is much to do as fall approaches. Cleaning, cooking, clearing and gardening.
How has your week been? Did you get any fun things done? Any deals? What is the weather like in your area?
I hope you all have a pleasant week ahead and enjoy your holiday and stay safe. Blessings to you and yours from me at my humble little home.
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...be at peace among yourselves. And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that none of you repays evil with evil but always seek to do good to one another and to all.
1Thessalonians 4:13-15
Lord, we come to you this week in thanks for all our blessings, and to ask you protections over all of us. Help us each one to love, forgive and honor all others in some special way. We ask for peace and love and health for everyone. Amen
I'm loving the cooler weather. So nice. Going to miss pool time though. The kids loved it and my back feels so good when I get out.
ReplyDeleteThe oldest turned 11 and said he didn't want a party. We never do anything big, just my parents, siblings and their families, but it still saved us money cause I always buy pizza, chips, cookies, drinks, etc for everyone. He did well on using his birthday money wisely instead of just going to store and grabbing whatever he sees.
Found fruit and grain bars on clearance at Kroger for $1.23. When I checked out I discovered they were part of the $1 off sale when you buy five or more items, so I ended up getting each box for .23
Went to a kids consignment sale held twice a year and found some good deals. Found a few books at a little free library. Got half price popsicles at Walmart. Used my Walmart+ to get .10 off per gallon. Picked a few tomatoes. Cashed out $20 from Ibotta and $10 from Fetch.
The cooler air is just so refreshing. I am sure the pool will be missed.
DeleteGood for your eldest - don't need a party every year. Smart to use his money wisely.
What a deal you got on the fruit/grain bars. That is fantastic.
Sounds like you had a good money week! That sure does make one smile. Good things each one!!!
Have a super week.
Temps spiked to the +30C range this past week. Any outside activities happened <9AM. Lots of harvesting happening in the fields. Finished processing the gifted cucumbers - 2 gal of refrigerator pickles & 12 pts of relish. Some of that will be gifted. Enjoyed watermelon w/ feta cheese. Finished up left overs from last week in preparation to go to my son's 4 hrs away to attend a folk fest. Great people watching with good music. Attended one performance of the Lakeland Rodeo Finals where a niece & nephew were competing. And that's the end of summer. Have a good week, Cheryl.
ReplyDeleteThat is warm for sure. I would want to get things done early too. YAY on using up all the cucumbers - what a great way to use - and gifts to boot!
DeleteI bet that was a good time and fun spending it with family. How cool that family is involved in the rodeo. So many things seem to mark the end of summer for people.
Have a great week.
It's our 40th wedding anniversary today! Looks like we're gonna make it. Lol
ReplyDeleteWe had trouble getting a summer date. While I know people who think a winter wedding is lovely I wasn't interested in dealing with nasty weather. (My daughter got married in January during a blizzard.) So we managed to get a summer wedding on the last day of August of Labor day weekend. Turns out the weather the next day & for the week turned unseasonably cold.But we were at a beach so missed it.
Fancy dinner out later.
Hubs gave me a dozen red roses plus the dinner. Not even going to think about the cost. Lol. That's huge for me!
DeleteYep, I would say the wedding stuck!!!! Happy anniversary!
DeleteI got married to G in January, and we had a huge snow in the days prior. He worked for the city and was always out for snow removal - they knew better than to call him on that one!!! LOL
I think a late summer/fall wedding would be lovely. How wonderful on the dinner and roses - enjoy! We all deserve a special something now and then. Many more years to you both.
Have a lovely week.
Happy Anniversary!
DeleteHappy Anniversary!!
DeleteThank you! It was a lovely day.
DeleteIt is still quite warm here, high 80s forecast all week but some rain every day. Our cooler weather typically doesn’t start until mid-October. My a/c is running slightly less.
ReplyDeleteI’m spending a lot to get my old house ready to sell. Painting done. Plumbing done. (At one point I thought I had a broken pipe under the cement but the washer faucet was dripping slightly and splashing. I donated my washer and dryer so area is empty.) I’ve ordered the flooring. I’m going to buy a new stove, hood and probably a refrigerator. I may look tomorrow with the Labor Day sales.
So far I’ve paid for everything out of cash flow. But the remainder of the flooring (I had to put down half) and appliances will have to come from savings.
Reorganized my garage at new house a bit. I need to call Salvation Army for two pieces of furniture. I put an extension ladder on the curb with a free sign in hopes that a metal scrapper would take it but not so far.
My Discover card offered 10% back for August if used with Apple Pay. I set it up and used it a few times, enough so that my cash back will almost pay my September trash bill (which I automatically charge to Discover). I don’t plan to use Apple Pay regularly unless there is another good deal.
Earned $5 Amazon credits from Bing but will wait until I have enough points for $10 to apply it to my account.
I got my water bill and it was good. I’ve been trying to conserve but I’m wasteful when I wash dishes.
Sure sounds like you have been busy. I just can't imagine ever wanting to go through all that to sell my home. Glad you have been using your funds and not having to go into debt. Gosh, new appliances - I think I would let new owners do that - but that is just me.
DeleteThat is nice to get cash back on CC.
You sure would think someone would like the ladder - for use or scrap.
Hope you have a great week.
Believe me, I wish I didn’t have to do anything to sell my house. But 35 years without doing any upgrades except the necessary (roof, a/c, water heater) have come back to haunt me. Our real estate market is VERY slow, also. My stove and hood are original to the house (1986 almond) - still work - and no one wants that now.
DeleteHave had a few mornings of downright chilly weather but I dress for it in layers and peel off as needed.
ReplyDeleteTomatoes are still coming but have slowed down for the time being...they will ripen albeit slowly.
Harvested honey yesterday, will clean the endcaps and wax later. The bees are cleaning the frames now.
Second planting of green beans are producing but will probably be eaten fresh as they are not abundant but oh so good.
Cucumbers are finished and didn't produce well, will try another variety next year.
Acorn squash are forming as are summer squash....beets still growing and I will leave them until closer to frost unless I see them getting too big and possibly woody.
BFF has let me know the grapes are ready so will be canning grape drink this week.
Dried beans (soup beans) aren't dried enough so will wait to harvest, and its okay because I have plenty to do while waiting. LOL
Hard to believe this month is done. Time flies for me except of winter. I am not a cold weather person, so winter seems to drag on for me.
JC
The mornings have been cooler for sure. Yes, the tomatoes will eventually ripen. All in good time. Oh how neat on the honey hives.
DeleteYum on the beans. My neighbors cukes have sure produced well. I don't have good luck with them. Sounds like your garden is producing nicely. My grapes are about done. Nice of your friend.
You really have a lot going on.
I am with you, winter drags and I don't like it at all.
Have a super week.
Yes, it's the End of Summer here.
ReplyDeleteYesterday was a hymn singing from a book with a new edition coming in September, so we sang many to-be-removed songs one last time. Sad, but looking forward to new songs!
Garage repairs are done and paid for. Garden cleanup awaits. Neighbor gave me seeds from her Celosia plants - says they reseed well and I hope they'll like my garden. Beautiful shade of Carmine.
This fall I'm planning an upgrade to my heating system. All this prep for winter! I hope my daughter will come visit before bad weather.
It was a lovely summer for me and mine. I'm very grateful to have had one more year in my home and garden. :)
MaryB
Gosh, I wonder why they have to remove songs. I would think they would be good to have.
DeleteYay on the garage being done. I have n=been working on the yard - but garden won't be touched for a while.
Wow, a heating system update. That is big. You have been doing all kinds of upgrades.
I hope you daughter comes too.
We sure have been blessed for another year.
Have a wonderful week.
Oh Cheryl, they *must* remove some songs or the book will be the size of an encyclopedia! There are statistics on what songs have been most often led in groups where records are kept. Some of the least led may go away every 25-30 years when the book is redone. Part of that is sad, because always some song being dropped is somebody's favorite, but I see the reasoning. :) And there are new songs being written, some are most excellent! We can give them a try, and in 30 years or so when the book is redone again, maybe some of the old dropped ones will be reinstated. It's happened before. :) Fortunately the traditional style remains the same, that's a pretty firm standard. There have been 7 editions since 1844!
DeleteMaryB
I guess that makes sense. I am just a fan of old fashioned ones. Of course, I probably haven't heard many of the new ones.
DeleteI am also, and I found that many of the songs from the 1960s or 1990s in the book are indistinguishable from the ones written in the 1800s. Many words are from the old hymns or the Bible. It's interesting.
DeleteMaryB
Happy Labor Day weekend!! It sounds like you had a really nice week. Your meals all sound good. I feel like this is such a busy time of year. The gardens and yards, fall cleaning, putting up for the winter...whew. It's all worth it when winter arrives though. Glad you've been able to get out and walk with the temps being better. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteThanks. It was a nice week. Yes, this time of the year is always busy and then places to go on top of it all. Walking has been really been nice. I notice I have several neighbors who watch out for me and know I walk. That is nice.
DeleteYep, come winter we will be glad to have had this summer around and all the yummies we collected.
Have a lovely week.
Happy Labor Day weekend, Cheryl! It’s hard to believe we are already at the end of summer. You’ve been busy this week canning, weeding, and walking. I love to stay busy like that too. Sounds like a good week for you. Your meals sound delicious, it’s been a while since we had cube steak. Yum!
ReplyDeleteThanks. It really is hard to believe that fall is around the corner. I am truly enjoying getting outside in this weather.
DeleteI found it in the freezer, when moving things around - I do really like cube steak and they seem to cost a lot any more.
Have a fantastic week.
It's been comfortable, temperature-wise, this week. It has been so nice to have the windows open and enjoy fresh air through the house. My poor garden looks frazzled, but I have continued dead-heading and tidying. A couple of friends are going through trying times and I sorted a card for each, just to let them know that they are thought of.
ReplyDeleteMy husband bought an antique writing box this week. Unfortunately it was missing the key and, although the box was open, the lock was in the closed position, so the top and bottom halves of the box wouldn't meet. He thought we had a key which would fit, but it didn't. 30 seconds with my stitch ripper and I had it unlocked. The look on his face was priceless! So funny!
Glad you are enjoying the weather. It is that time of the year that all things outdoors looked frazzled, I think!
DeleteSeet of you to think of you friends.
Hey you - look at that. Using one thing for another! I love it when a little old-fashioned ingenuity comes out! LOL - had to chuckle thinking of his look!
Have a great week.
I love your gas bill! I drive an hour one way to work four to five days a week weeks a two hour drive per day adds up on my gas bill. I do have a Toyota Corolla. Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteExcuse typos
DeleteI hardly ever go anywhere. I imagine I drive less than 15 miles or less on a normal week! Even when I worked my last job, it was 2 blocks away. I was fortunate!
DeleteHave a super week.
Sounds like a great week for you, lots of stuff achieved in your own time, and that's a good feeling.
ReplyDeleteI caught up with an old friend too, and quickly realised why I let our friendship slide. I had to go out twice for new canning jars as this year Linda has been a preserving machine. I thought by saving EVERY SINGLE jar in the past 12 months would do, but no, she has outdone me again. I don't know where she gets her energy, I'm just about done.
We now have a new employee called Ryan. He has Down Syndrome and has recently moved to our town to live with his Grandfather. My son gave them and old DVD player and some western movies that he was big on as a teen. Linda then gave Ryan an old hat of her husbands ( think BIG like Larry Hagman in Dallas) Ryan now wants to be called Wyatt Earp, not even just Wyatt ,as in "Hey Wyatt, can you bring me a hammer", it must be "Hey WYATT EARP, can you bring me a hammer". Then Ryan tips his hat and says "Yes Sir". It's the most loveliest thing I've seen for a long time. He and his Grandfather are a real blessing to us.
Take care, Louise.
Sorry that is was not a great rekindling of a friendship. Wow, Linda is a go getter. Sounds like she is really enjoying all the canning.
DeleteOh my goodness, I love the story about Ryan. He sounds like a dream employee! That is just so incredibly sweet and you know from his heart!!!! Love tips the hat and says Yes Sir!!!!!
Thank you for that smile!!!!!
Have a lovely week. Tell Linda hello for me. Oh yeah, and Wyatt Earp as well!
I will tell her and she will be thrilled.
DeleteI am glad a did catch up with the old friend, her mother had recently passed and I did need to offer my condolences as I didn’t attend the funeral because my son was having surgery. She always was an opinionated person, but I guess my opinions have changed or maybe I have mellowed with age, and stuff that bothers her now, I really couldn’t care less about. You have a great week, I can’t wait to see what topics are on your table this week.
Excellent devotional! "be at peace among yourselves..."
ReplyDeleteYou have had a busy week! You accomplished a lot. We were busy but not quite the same. We did work out in the garage and set several things aside for charity shop. Some things were trashed and other can be reused. I thought my fall wreath was lost but found it in the mess. Need to freshen it up a bit.
It's nice to reconnect with people from the past.
We are loving these cooler mornings and temperate days. It definitely feels like fall is on the way.
Thanks - yes we sure need that peace.
DeleteA garage is a big tackle! Always so much 'stuff' accumulated. Glad you found the wreath. Nice to get things gone sometimes.
The cooler days are sure refreshing.
Have a wonderful week.
It was a low-key week here. It is hot! Today 99F and the remainder of this week in the mid-high 90s as well. It was 78 at 0600 this morning. Ugh!
ReplyDeleteDoctors/treatments for hubster, 1 doc visit for me. I walked 32 miles total which is lower than my usual. Harvested anything ready and made 10 quarts of Ratatouille that is now in the freezer. Continue eating fresh veg from our CSA and preserving the garden for winter.
For anyone interested, my recipe is here: https://www.salon.com/2010/08/07/ratatouille_weapons_grade_style/
Dang, that is hot. I sure don't envy you gals with the hot temps.
DeleteI wouldn't be walking as much in that heat either. Luckily I am walking more now. Yay on all the veggies. That will be all so good this winter.
Thanks for the recipe.
Have a lovely week. Stay cool.