It's the Little Things

Keeping this short today.  I have several things I want to accomplish, and odds are they won't happen (LOL), but I can plan!!!!

I was just thinking about all the little things in life that make me smile and bring me joy.  Sure, I am blessed with all those wonders - like family and friends, being given a new day, health, my pets, my home, etc.

But today, it is the small things.

Those things we just don't think about very often.  That we take for granted.

The hummingbirds came back the first of July (a month late) and they have been flitting around the flowers and feeders

The last groundhog of the neighborhood has been relocated as of Monday.  So glad that worry is gone

I ate my first real tomato of the season.  YUM

As I was washing windows, I smiled - because Coogy likes to get in the windows and 'talk' to the outdoor kitties.  He leaves little smears!  I would sure miss those

I can go out and pick food from my yard!  How neat is that?

Barrels both got full last weekend with the rain and I am using rainwater for plants

Bees are hovering about the cucumbers.  Lots of blooms, no cukes.  Lots of males - so hoping this means there are female flowers and the bees are taking care of business

Walking through the yard and smelling the flowers

The tulip tree seems to have stopped its leaf release until fall!

OH goodness, the heavy trash truck came Tuesday for the first time in 4 months!!!  There has been stuff sitting in the alley all this time. UGH!!  It is all gone!!!!!!!  YAY!!  Happy dance here

My kitties.  They are waiting at the side door every morning at 6:30 for Momma!

Lying in bed and listening to the birds every morning before dawn and getting kitty kisses!

I have some pretty decent neighbors

Love watching my squirrels play.  There are many young ones, and they are a hoot to watch.

I have seen virtually NO pigeons for a week!  Don't understand why - but I love it.  All other birds are here.

Happy that I like simple things!  My tastes are pretty simple and my needs and wants are few.

And following yesterday's post - I have enough!!!!

There are so many tiny little things in this world that bring joy and laughter and smiles.  They don't need to be huge.  I can just stand outside and listen - and I hear kids somewhere playing, birds singing, squirrels chatter, the wind through the trees - and YES, even traffic, sirens and planes - but that is OK.  It is all part of my everyday life.

What little things bring you to a smile or a laugh?  Have you taken time lately to just totally enjoy the small stuff?

It is the small stuff that make up some of our best moments!

Enough - Too Much

 I know that each of us has a different idea of what ENOUGH is, and each has an idea of what TOO MUCH is.  I am curious what everyone thinks.

It can be household items, food, money, just stuff in general.

I know some people may wonder why I have so much food, considering there is just me.  Well, first reason is - it makes me feel secure.  My second reason - it is smart.  My third reason - I can help others if so desired.  Fourth reason - it's none of their business!  Yep - I said it!!!!!!!  LOL

I do have a lot of STUFF in my home that needs to go.  I keep working on that, it seems to never end.  I know what it is like to have to clean out a home after someone has passed - it isn't a fun job.  I really hate the idea of someone having to that at my house someday.  Thus, I keep working on it.

I think each one has a definition of enough.  I am not sure what my definition would be.  Maybe, I can live comfortably each and every day.  Whether it is food, shelter, funds, things, etc.  I am comfortable and know that I have my basic needs covered.

Too much?  Well, for me, I think too much is when things go to waste and help or aid no one.  When we can be comfortable and could help others and don't.  

I don't want food or consumable items to go to waste.  I will share and I will use before that happens.

IF I had tons of money, I would surely do good with it.  YES, I think there is a point that a person has too much $ - but it is not my call.  I can just think that - but they have to decide.

I do help and do good when and where I can with what I have.  Give me a ton of money and I would have a blast!

I guess for me, it comes down to things being wasted and not used.  I don't want to throw food away - goodness knows, that happens all too much today.  I hope that whether it is food or stuff or money, that I can bless someone else.  I don't want to see our resources wasted.

I am very curious to hear everyone's views on this.  Is there such a thing as ENOUGH?  Is there such a thing as TOO MUCH?

I guess I have been doing deep thinking lately, and this is something I have pondered.

What say you?

No judgements - just curious as to different thinking.

Blessings to all.

Weekly Wrap-Up 7/10

 Happy Sunday all.  Hope this finds you all well and safe.  It is a beautiful morning here.  

We sure had a week!  It got hot, hot, hot!  We had a high temp of 98* on one day (actual temp) and a couple others of 95* and 96*.  TODAY is perfect.  Humidity has dropped, this morning is very cool and my windows are open!

Friday we got rain - sweet, beautiful rain for most of the day and evening.  It was a nice rain - no storms in my area.  It was greatly appreciated.  Enough?  Nowhere close to being enough.  We are like 4" below normal rainfall.  So, still in drought.  But it sure was lovely.  I went outside and stood in it for a while.  I am sure I probably looked like a crazy lady - but that is OK.  It felt marvelous!!!!!

Basically it has been a quiet week here.  I was inside much of it, except for feeding the kitties and checking water bowls.  I did go out early in the mornings to do a bit of yard work - but it never lasted long.

My first tomato harvest!  Orange cherry tomatoes.  The best taste ever - fresh tomatoes.  Waiting on big ones!

My week:

• Hosed the porch, railings and furniture down - so dusty!
• My perennial bed is very natural in its growing.  Got out and pulled out a lot of weeds andwild stuff growing amongst flowers
• Weeded the garden 2X - once first of week and once after the rain.  Amazing how weeds grow even in the dry!
• Gave the back bushes a little haircut & trim
• Picking more zucchini, peppers and cherry toms
• Used dehumidifier water in laundry and lined dried
• Did cat maintenance!  Trimming Momma's nails - this hasn't taken several sessions - as she does NOT like it.  She isn't super active and her nails had gotten long.  Coming them all - it is so hot, so getting all that extra fur off.  Momma had several hair clumps (she has longer hair) - got those all taken care of.  Again, she was not happy - but has to feel better!
• Neighbor brought me more cucumbers
• My rain barrels are now full again!
• I raked again this week
• Made a batch of cucumber and onions for munching for a few days
• I made a Philly beef and cheese mock skillet.  I used ground beef, peppers, mushrooms, and onions and cooked together.  Added drizzle of Soy sauce and a drizzle of Worcestershire sauce.  Served of toasted hotdog buns and topped with Swiss cheese.  My goodness, it was good!
• Made more hummingbird nectar
• Just doing all the normal stuff around the house.
• NO grocery store at all this week.

Meals this week:

Hot dogs and cucumber/onion salad

Fried zucchini and corn on the cob

Grilled cheese, cuke salad and chips

Pork chop, corn on cob and salad

Taco salad

Spanish type rice (rice & salsa) topped with l/o taco meat, sauteed zucchini

Philly beef and cheese

Snacks: fruit, ice cream

I plan on going out in a few and doing a little yard work - trimming things that shouldn't be growing out there!  No grass cutting still - it is still pretty dormant.  I do want to trim around the fence - weeds!

How has your week been?  Are you getting decent weather, or have you been experiencing this awful heat?  Gardens growing?  Deals, this week?

I love hearing from everyone.

I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead.  Blessings from my humble little home to you and yours.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding, for the gain from it is better than the gain from silver and its profits better than gold.

Proverbs 3:13-14

Mixing It Up

 Today is just a couple 'recipes' for mixes to have and keep on our shelves all the time.  It is nice to be able to make up different items from scratch and to taste - and not to have to spend extra money.

These are all pretty simple and easy.

ONION SOUP MIX

3/4 C instant minced onion

4 Tsp. onion powder

1/3 C beef bouillon powder

1/4 tsp. celery seed, crushed

1/4 tsp. sugar

Mix and store in airtight container.

Use 2 Tbsp. mix to 1 C boiling water.  It tastes stronger than store bought onion soup mix, so you may use less to add flavor to things.

I love this stuff.  I get dried onions in big containers at Ollie's for a very decent price!

CREAM OF SOUP

2 C dry milk

1 1/4 C cornstarch OR 2 1/2 C flour

1/4 C dry chicken bouillon powder

2 Tbsp. dry onion flakes

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. thyme (optional)

1 tsp. basil (optional)

Mix well and keep in airtight container.

IF made with cornstarch use 1/3 C mix to 1 1 /4 C water.

IF made with flour - 1/2 C mix to 1 1/4 C water

This is great casserole consistency.  For soup add more water to taste.

I keep this on hand all the time!

SEASONING SALT

8 Tbsp. salt

3 Tbsp. pepper

2 Tbsp. paprika

1/2 Tbsp. onion powder

1/2 Tbsp. garlic powder

Mix and store in airtight container.

This is complimentary to most store bought 'seasoning salt'.  You can add or tweak it in your own way to your taste.

DON'T FORGET now that garden time is here!!!!

When canning tomatoes or tomato products do NOT throw away your tomato skins!!!!!!  They are seasoning!!!!

Keep the skins and scraps and dehydrate. You can use a dehydrator or your oven at its lowest setting (mine is around 200*).  Dry until crisp.  Then you grind them up and keep in an airtight jar or bottle.

This makes great flavoring for all kinds of things.  I use often in soups and casseroles.  Great way to add tomato taste in dips.

I use a cheap coffee grinder to grind up. (think $1 at garage sale).  You can also use your blender.  Whatever you have that will grind it finely.

Just remember you can powder about anything to keep on hand for flavoring.  I DO keep 2 on these coffee grinders and one is marked HOT which I use for spicey and hot peppers.

You can make you own onion flakes or powder

You can dehydrate lettuce or any greens to add to soups, dips or smoothies

Peppers can be dehydrated and used in pieces or ground

Celery - do the same

I have even heard that people do this with peach skins or apple peels.  Dehydrate and powder.  Oh yum!  I have made jelly with these 2, but I need to try dehydrating and powdering.  I can think of all kinds of uses.

So waste not - want not!

Make your own with what you have in your pantry.  No added gunk - you know what is in your food and seasoning.  Get creative and make up your own mixes.

There are so many things we can mix up ourselves and keep on the shelf.

Have fun and get to mixing and dehydrating!!!!!!!

Let's Talk Pantries

 We all have some kind of pantry.  It may be cabinets, a 'real' pantry, ender the bed storage, a room turned pantry, the basement, the garage, closets..........  Then we have freezers.  Medicine cabinets.  Health and beauty supplies.  Cleaning and laundry.  Pet needs.   There are all kinds of parts to our pantries.

How do you keep inventory?  Or do you?  I think we can all use some new ideas.

As far as my pantries - I just kind of know what I have.  My organization helps me stay on top of things for the most part.  Oldest items to the front and newer to the back.  Helps to ensure that I use things up. (Not always a guarantee!).  Sure, sometimes things get shuffled around and I lose track.  I find them and 9 times out of 10 - they will still get used, regardless of the 'best by date'.

I keep a 'sort of' inventory of the freezers.  I start out gang busters when I clean and straighten the freezers - I have a pen and paper and make a great inventory list.  THEN within a short time - that goes by the wayside and I back to sticking things in where they fit!!!  Yes I do.

I try to keep freezers sorted by beef, chicken, pork and veggies.  It starts out great when first cleaned - then...............eh, sort of goes to heck!!!!!  So I dig arounnd.

In the actual pantry and dry goods over stock area - I keep like items together and make decent categories.  I keep spices together, soups, beans, tomato products, baking, fruit, dried beans and rices, you get the idea.  Like items together and then try to rotate.

Most paper products (basically TP) is stacked downstairs or in a closet upstairs.  I have a hall closet that contains medical stuff and all my extra health and beauty items.

What kind of organization do you utilize?  What is your system?

Do you find it easy to 'shop' at home?  I think that is so much fun!  When I run out of something, I know right where to go to get extras.  No need to go out and spend money.  That is one of my great satisfying moments!!!!! 

 

My goal this month, is to stay away from the stores.  The garden is starting to come on with fresh items, and heaven knows I have more than enough food and supplies on hand to take of my needs and probably yours for a long, long while.  

I tend to go shopping when bored.  I spend IF I go - so I need to stay home for a while!  We will see how that goes - sometimes I just need a 'get out of the house' fix - but then I spend.  I guess that is OK, as I do use what I have and share when I can.

Let's share ideas on keeping your inventory and knowing what you have.  Organizational ideas are always welcome as well.  We can all use some new ideas and tweaking of how we do things.

Look forward to what you all have to share!!!!

Life can be Noisy

 Noise!  Life can sure be noisy.  In many ways!

This was a noisy weekend around here and I am sure many communities.  Fireworks galore!  I know Canada just celebrated Canada Day as well - so probably some celebrations there as well.

I have to admit - this year was not nearly as bad as years past.  THANK YOU!

We had a good 3 nights of noise, but not as much and not as late as in the past.

I can't help but think some people either moved, died or finally got an active brain cell in their heads!  The news said fireworks were almost 50% higher this year in price.  Maybe that was it.  I seriously doubt it - but it could have been.  In past years I know that some people around here had to have spent several thousand dollars!  These things were not legal and there were tons of them - all going on for weeks!!!!!

I do not live in an upper-class area - so no one around here is wealthy.  I have always wondered how these people wasted so much money and still paid their bills and fed their families.  Hmmm - maybe they didn't.  All I know I am ever so thankful that the "noise" was less this year.  Less is good!!

I hope you all had a nice weekend and that it was a safe one.  So much going on everywhere!

Other noise can come from the news, social media, family....................

We are inundated with garbage every day!  Sure, we need to be aware, but it doesn't have to overtake our lives or minds.  I know what is happening, I don't need to listen to hours of it daily!  I don't need to read about it every time I want to look at FB.  I don't need to be blasted with it every time I want to look at my computer for something.

BUT that is life.

I just had a person send me a message about a message they received - they needed to talk.  Well, I think person #1 thought I would totally side with them.  Both #1 and #2 are relatives.  I really have no need to get in the middle of this 'thing', as relations have never been great between them.  

I did say I though #2 made some valid points and they should be validated and not dismissed.  Life had not been good for that person when they were young (not their fault).

I guess that was not what #1 wanted to hear.   I got a very polite - thanks for your advice, but it was all in the past - they need to move on.

I think most people realize that the past DOES affect our lives today.  Bad stuff has a lasting effect - sure we need to move forward - but without facing the past that can be hard to do.

Any way - I told them to call me when they had time available (they work) and all I hear is crickets!  

The same thing happens sometimes on FB or on blogs.  People ask for opinions and that is truly NOT what they want.  They want people to agree with them - and if you don't, well they get testy!!!!!

That has happened to me a lot of FB.  If my 'opinion' is different than theirs - I get blasted.

I try to only comment now when I just can't bite my tongue any harder!  I see some things that just makes me wonder how people survive from day to day.  It appears common sense has sprouted wings and taken flight!!!!!!!

You all know how it is.  Everyone gets offended today.  Everything offends them - even the simplest of things.  We all have a right to our opinions.  We don't have to agree.  

THAT is why I stay away from many subjects on here.  No need for anymore 'noise'!  

We all see it and hear each day.  

I can't help but wonder what happened, that people think we all have to agree.

Noise comes in all forms.  Take control, when and where you can to eliminate all that scattered noise.

You will be happy you did.

Have a wonderful day my friends.  Stay cool!!!

Weekly Wrap-Up 7/3

 Hello to all and happy July!  This is the 4th of July weekend here in US.  Celebration of becoming a free country.  Despite all the things that go on daily - we still have a great country.  Celebrations actually started around here last night.  People shooting off fireworks.  I do not like them at all - but people will do them.  This year has been better than most to this point.  I will be glad when all the fireworks are done.

It started out cooler this week, then it got HOT!  Dry as a bone here.  We had sprinkles one night and that was it.  Today the humidity is down a bit - so that really helps.  Next week looks to be hot and at least there is a chance of rain just about every day.

We look to lose about 40 minutes of daylight this month!

                                                                Pretties from the yard!

My week:

• Neighbor across the street gave me a couple cucumbers
• Trimmed the weeds/grass at fence line on the other side of fence (the newer folks that moved in).  They have yet to get a weed whacker - so I reached over fence and whacked it all.
• Cut a bunch of wild stuff growing out back in fence row
• Used some very old apples and made an apple treat - stove top.  Apples and thick pancake mix - made a big and tasty fritter.  Used as dessert/treat a couple days!
• Raked the back yard MANY times
• Picked 2 mixed bouquets
• Worked on the flowers on front walk - deadheaded and cut back a lot
• Picking zucchinis!  Got 5 more this week
• Cut my hair and did a little color.  My hair sure needed cut!
• Just doing all the normal stuff we all do
• Got to have windows open and air house many mornings
• Stopped when out and got 100 stamps.  I am good for about a year
• I ran to Kroger for a couple deals.  Boy, did I get some great deals!!!!  Best shopping trip in a while.  The store was fully stocked - aisles had tons of pallets of goods being unloaded, and actually some decent prices.  I got TP - 12 pack of dbl. rolls for 3.99!  Didn't need - but I will eventually.  CHEESE was on sale 1.49 lb. for 8 oz. blocks and 1.49 - 6 oz. packs of sandwich slices.  I got 5 of each (limit of coupon).  FRESH CORN - .25 ear.  I just got 5 - for eating this week.  ALL BEEF HOTDOGS - 2.49 pack.  Got 5 for freezer.  Seedless GRAPES - .99/lb.  WATERMELON - was to be 2.79 - they didn't charge me for it I noticed when I got home.  Yikes - so Free.  Then I got bags of frozen veggies on clearance.  Broccoli/cauliflower and Brussels/onion/winter squash and one of okra - .50 EACH!!!!!  I got 5 each of the mixed and only one okra (what they had).

These snacks were 2/$1.  Kind like a combo of a brownie and Resse cup combined.  Nice to have treats on hand.

I also got Creamette's elbow macaroni 2 - 1 lb. boxes for $1.  I got 4 more pounds for stock.  A few weeks back I got 4 lbs. (2 lb. boxes) for stock as well.  I should be set with pasta - I have tons of long pasta.

All in all it was a great shopping trip.  I wasn't going to go - something must have nudged me. 

NOW my upright freezer is positively stuffed, jam packed full, and I have no plans on grocery shopping for July.  I will have garden and will use what I have.  Only things might be cat food (of course) or milk.

Meals this past week:

Leftover cheeseburger rice skillet and green beans

Chopped steak and tomato/onion/cucumber salad

Zucchini/sausage/rice skillet and leftover salad

Leftover zucchini skillet and corn fritters (freezer)

Cold cut sandwich and a bit of this and that - just a snacking kind of day

BLT

Sauteed zucchini, corn of cob, and onion/cuke salad

SNACKS - fresh fruit, apple fritter

I had a decent week.  I was pleased.  

I had a baby kitty show up for a couple days - and it finally found its way back home (across street).  It was so precious and little!  Glad it got home safely, as I didn't know where it was from.  I saw the neighbors with it - a couple days later.  I was really fretting about it - I sure don't need another cat!

Caught a relocated a huge racoon!  

My babies all got their flea meds yesterday. (I had on hand)

Goodness, there is always something going on critter-wise around here.

How was your week?  Did you get any deals?  How is the garden doing?  Staying cool?

I hope those in US have a nice and safe holiday.  I wish everyone a great week ahead.

Blessings to you and yours from my humble little home.

*********************************

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we are not contending with flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:11-12

Dear Lord, we ask you to bless our nations, our people and our communities, with heaven's greatest gift and earth's greatest need.  Peace and harmony.  So many have succumbed to Satan's evil ways, and they do not even realize it.  We ask that evil be gone.  Please help us all to be free and at peace. Amen