Hello all - and happy Sunday to you. It is an overcast morning here, I guess some had rain over night. I see no signs here. We are really in a drought - the back yard has big cracks in it! There are chances of rain for a few days - so here is hoping. Looks like this coming week will be cooler (70's), but a bit humid. That's ok if we get some rain!
Leaves are falling, but it really has nothing to do with fall or color. It is just dry and the dead leaves fall - not pretty at all yet.
I think we are probably done with the 90's for 2025. Fall equinox is tomorrow!
My frugal week:
- Ran to Kroger on Sunday to get a special. Got cider for $5 for 2 -1/2gallons (been craving), got milk 2.39 gal. and 12 pears on clearance for $3. The best fresh pears I have ever had! 8 plums for 1.50 on clearance - tasty.
- Picking produce. Got 20 lbs. of tomatoes and many peppers. My tomato plants are just so thick, it is hard to find the tomatoes - it has been a great year. Lots more out there.
- Froze 4 more quarts tomatoes
- Went to lunch with an old friend from growing up. She lives in Ft. Wayne, so we haven't seen each other in years. Lunch at Uno's was delish. Got a huge grilled burger, tons of fries and unlimited drinks for 10.99. Brought home a bunch of fries. She brought me a handbag/tote she made from vintage fabrics and a beautiful necklace she made. She is very crafty. We had lunch with 2 other gals from the neighborhood.
- Later that day - went to 70 birthday party for high school class. There was over 100 that showed up! Served pizza and cake - met new people again (after 52 years). We had a huge class, so I always meet new folks. It was really nice. Theme was 'music from 1970' - so lots of folks wore group t-shirts. I had my 'Stevie Nicks' flowy cover-up on!! LOL - (and bell bottoms)
- Made a big bowl of pasta veggie salad to last the week
- Lots of walks
- Been watering plants and filling bird baths and feeders from rain barrels (trying t use it all up)
- Haven't had to mow for 2 week - nothing growing
- More hummer feed - they are drinking like crazy
- Using up leftovers and eating from home (other than 1 day)
- Have managed to keep AC off every day until late afternoon
- Cleaning and trying to declutter some more
Meals this past week:
Bacon/cheese topped chopped steak, salad
Eggroll bowl
BLT
Smoked sausage on bun, pasta salad
Out to lunch
Chicken breast, leftover fries (in air fryer), pasta salad
Fried green tomatoes, bacon, fried egg
SNACKS - fruit and pasta salad, popcorn one day
Nothing real exciting, except the outings. That was a fun day - tiring, but fun.
How was your week? Any fun adventures? Any good deals? Are you still getting garden goodies?
Look forward to hearing from you all.
Stay safe and healthy and hoping you all have a great week. Blessings to you and yours from me at my humble little home.
*****************************
Thy word is the lamp to my feet and the light to my path.
Psalms 119:105
Lord, we send up thanks for our week and all the blessings that we received each and every day. Thank You for being our guiding light. I know I would be lost without You in my life. Your word and Your will be done always! We are blessed indeed. Amen
Good morning Cheryl. Your week, reunion and tomato bumper crops, sounds like a good one. Well except for the ground cracking…all good here in Phoenix, had a nice week and am spending the weekend in Tucson. I made a list of potential vacations in the next year and I was astonished at the estimated costs, holy cow! So most likely I will do short trips. Even cheap cruises, that start at a price of $900 end up costing $4,000 by the time I add in the single surcharge, airfare, taxes, fees , etc. just crazy. That’s okay, I don’t need to see Alaska or Hawaii that badly ;). Have a good week, Hilogene in Az.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good week!
DeleteTravel is so expensive. I really don't know how people do it. I guess they save and scrimp to do the big ones. I would find smaller local trips better for me. Have fun and enjoy your little excursion completely.
Have a super week.
Good day, Cheryl. My week started w/ my sister treating me to brunch & the Downton Abby movie for my upcoming birthday. Nice. And the week was bookended w/ a reiki retreat "where forest, frequency & energy meet to cleanse, align & reset in harmony with the new season upon us." I took my cousin who's had the stroke to a medical appt 2 hrs away on Wed. I'm pushing my cousin in the wheelchair. We were told by a security guard that there wasn't a washroom available to us on the main floor & we'd have to go to the 4th floor where the office was. She obviously had a change of heart b/c she came out of her kiosk & took us to a washroom off the beaten path. My faith in humanity was restored. I spent 4 hrs, mostly on hold, with CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) dealing with mom's estate, hoping to get to the final assessment. I'll never get the time back that I've spent on hold dealing with government & utility services. The garden is cleaned out & some of the fall prep is underway. I got 4 1-mile walks in this past week. The air is fresh after the fog that has been lingering late into the morning. The road is littered with bear poop as they feed on the berries in preparation for hibernation. In the kitchen: leftover sante fe chicken, borscht; BLT; chili w/ cornbread.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good week for the most part. I would love to try reiki sometime. Your little retreat sounds like a great way to connect with nature. Nice of the security guard to help out.
DeleteGovt. - ugh! Them and utilities - it is never easy.
Wow, nice on having the garden cleaned out. It will be a while here, so much to harvest yet.
Oh my gosh, bear poop! There must be a lot in your area. That is just scary to me.
Your food sounds wonderful!
Have a great week.
Sorry it's so dry and yucky there. Hope you get rain. Here we have autumn earlier than you and it's very pretty with the leaves. My new banner has some red leaves in it. So fun. I go outside and in the woods, pretty leaves fall all around.
ReplyDeleteI LOOOOOOOVE this time of year!
Hoping we get rain this week. I do love the colors of autumn - none here yet. Still too warm too - we usually need frost before the colors get real nice.
DeleteHave a fun week.
Cheryl, I hope you get some rain. It sounds really parched there.
ReplyDeleteI had the new stove and hood installed in the old house last week. Talking with the guy who installed the hood, he said he’d like the big extension ladder and he also took the glass I wanted to declutter.
Ongoing birthday celebrations when my friend and her husband treated me to lunch this week.
I trimmed a lot off some foliage I had let get out of control at the new house. It is now at roof level which is where I want to keep it. Not easy to trim because I’m short but I got it done.
Tomorrow the new kitchen/laundry/bathroom flooring will be installed in the old house. Salvation Army will pick up a few things (bookcase, TV cabinet, computer desk) on Saturday at the old house and then on the following Wednesday I have them picking up two large pieces of furniture in the garage at my new house.
So far I’ve funded everything without tapping savings. I should be able to cover the carpet cleaning, too. Hopefully I’ll recoup spending on the old house when I sell but we’ll see.
Electric bills for both houses were decent again this month by keeping a/c at 80 F. The nights are now a bit cooler, mid-70s. Used a $5/$20 and got the free birthday frozen yoghurt at the alternative grocery store, $90.30 in grocery spending so far this month. Water/sewer bill will increase 8.5% starting next month.
I feel for the people who expected living expenses to fall this year. I never for one minute believed it.
We are in drought mode here. The whole state virtually.
DeleteGlad you got the stove and hood done, and that the guy took some things you didn't want. Yay, on the flooring. Sounds like you are getting things all taken care of.
Glad your bills are still moderate - that helps. Great on your grocery spending.
My spending stays pretty much the same every month. No complaints here.
Have a lovely week.
Good week here also, we need rain and got a bit overnight. Hopefully more this upcoming week.
ReplyDeleteWe are very dry and dusty here. I pulled and picked the last of the green beans and the dry bean yesterday. Only picked 5 tomatoes and 6 corn squash. Leaves beets and cabbage in the garden. There are still some summer squash vines but I have no idea if they will do anything more, maybe if we get rain.
Haven't found "good" cider yet but I will! LOL
JC
Oh it is so dry. It is always sad to see things end in the garden. Hoping you get more goodies.
DeleteThis isn't the 'best' cider I have had - but I really wanted some. Our local orchard closed a few years ago - so I get the best I can.
Have a great week.
I'm so glad you had a nice day with old friends and the party. I bet you looked awesome in your Stevie Nicks outfit. I just love her.
ReplyDeleteWe finally got rain last night and it perked things up a bit. We're supposed to get 3-4 days of rain, and I hope we do.
It was a good year for gardens, wasn't it?
Have a wonderful Sunday!!
Thanks - it was fun. I don't know about awesome - but it fun. Found out there was a trick to going to the restroom in that thing!!! LOL
DeleteOh I glad you got some rain. Still nothing here - I sure hope we get some.
It was a great garden season here too! I have been blessed.
Have a wonderful week.
Good morning, I'm glad you had such a good time at your party! We had a large graduating class too so I don't know everyone either. Our weather is still hot here and we still have tomatoes on the vine. We rented a storage unit yesterday mostly for the SW collection. It takes up a lot of room and we are going to put a few other things in too. This way I can set up for my yard sale in the garage on tables and take it all out on the day of. I have been getting rid of things and putting them on the curb too. They go fast. The fall festivals are starting around here and boom then it's Christmas, ekk!
ReplyDeleteThose big classes, sure made it hard to know folks. So many names and people that seem foreign to me.
DeleteI hope you cool down. It sure has been good for tomatoes. I picked a bunch more this morning.
That is a good idea - to remove things as you go, and have room to set up for a sale. I bet you will do good. You having it this year yet? It is sure amazing the stuff we accumulate.
Falls festivals will be starting here soon. Sure not ready for Christmas!!!! I know you love it.
Have a blessed week.
It must be really dry and in a drought for the ground to be cracked. I do hope you get some rain soon. Your lunch with friends from the old neighborhood sounds like a good time. Your burger sounds delicious. Is UNO’s the pizza place too? It’s been so long since I’ve heard the UNOs name. Your 70th birthday party sounded like fun too, and your outfit so retro! Your tomato harvest this year has been excellent!
ReplyDeleteIt is extremely dry. They predict rain for next few days - I hope so.
DeleteI believe they serve pizza as well. It is called a bar and grill. First time there and I was impressed. The sandwich tasted like it was made outdoors on a grill and it was huge.
I had fun with the flowy retro garb. People got it!
I have been so blessed with tomatoes and my neighbors in turn have been.
Have a beautiful week.
Is that Bits on the chair? What a cutie!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a nice week. I do hope you get some rain, just not an overwhelming amount at a time. It's dry here too, but the it is fall, so lots of colour and leaves falling. My daughter used the mower to mulch up the first pile, but has promised to use the leaf blower to add them to the garden patch later this week. I've got a pile of day lily stalks as well to use as cover for the asparagus and strawberries.
Yes that is Bits! He is such a soft cuddly sweetie.
DeleteI wish we had some rain. We sure need it. It hasn't brought color here yet, just dead stuff!
The leaves work great for mulch. I always put them on the garden.
Have a great week.
We had a very brief rain shower earlier. We are supposed to be getting a bit more the next couple of days which will be great.
ReplyDeleteFrugal wise this week I cashed out $16 to PayPal from a survey site, picked tomatoes, peppers, and butternut squash from the garden, borrowed movies and books from the library, found several kid books at a few little library, was given a pumpkin roll, and took the kids to the park for free entertainment and exercise.
I found some really good deals, Amazon had a buy one get one free on Nivea lip balm sets (the only brand I've found that doesn't break me out or feels nasty to me), and Walmart - $5 quilts full/queen and king size, $1.50 for large storage tubs, and $1.62 for a two pack of baby pants (baby shower gift).
Glad you got a little rain.
DeleteWhat a lot of great frugal things.
$5 quilts - wow!!!! That is a find. Glad you found such good deals. Sure helps the pocketbook!
Have another good week.
I do hope you get some rain. Even after all the rain we had at the end of last week, we could use a bit more. I am still getting tomatoes and there are a few peppers yet as well as one or two eggplant.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Glad you got some rain and so happy your produce is still giving!
DeleteHave a blessed week.
Aww, cute kitty and pillow! He's quite a model for you.
ReplyDeleteWe had a mini thunderstorm this morning just be before 6 a.m. Just a good dampening of the ground.
There were a lot of people who showed up for the 70's party. Nice gifts from your friend who lives in Fort Wayne. That's quite a hike to Indy.
He is a cutey!
DeleteLucky you - got nothing here yet.
It was a great turn out. Yes, that is why we haven't seen each other in years. She never makes it this far south often, and she has had a myriad of health issues over the years. It was good to see her.
Have a wonderful week.
Hello Cheryl,
ReplyDeleteWe are in much need of rain. BAD! The leaves that are falling is like you said, because of drought and nothing to do with fall. We have no rain insight and still high 90's this week. Our grass is looking crispy. Usually, I can start doing my fall landscaping and planting fall type things to prepare for spring but I just don't think it is wise. My rose bushes are begging for love. But once again, I can't really feed them in this heat or prune like they need. I learned the hard way in the past.
I had a nice week with a few outings. I did go to a FREE Yard Sale that was hosted by a church and found some great items for FREE. It was a neat experience.
Have a super week ahead.
Gosh, your forecast sounds yucky. At least we have a chance of rain for a couple days this week and cooler temps. Brown crispy grass here as well. The ground is just too hard to dig, and you sure don't want to distress your plants any worse.
DeleteHow nice! A free yard sale - that would be a treat.
Have a lovely week.
I am still picking tomatoes and flowers from my garden. I pickled some shallots for Christmas, but I didn't grow those myself. I think that home-made pickles taste much nicer than shop bought ones, so I always try to keep some to hand.
ReplyDeleteWe have had some low temperatures recently so my heating is on, but I turn it down after breakfast once the sun starts heating the house for free. We have also had a lot of rain, so I have been keeping an eye on the weather forecast so I can get my washing done on days when I can get it outside to dry.
My husband has been taking cuttings from plants that might not survive the winter so that we can still have them in the garden next year. They are in a small cold-frame, so all we have to do is remember to water them. Easier said than done!
Goodness, rain and cold temps - you are our exemption on all the dry and heat! I hope I don't have to turn on the furnace for quite a while.
DeleteGlad you are getting produce still. It sure tastes good. Have to keep an eye on the skies when you want to hang laundry outside.
Hope your plant cuttings survive.
Have a super week.
You are a busy girl. Things are slowing down here also.
ReplyDeleteI am ready for a slow down - I know you have to be.
DeleteHave a good week.
Your kitty is so beautiful, Cheryl 🖤🤍🖤 =^.^=
ReplyDeleteMary in OK