Some Days Can be Rough, but We Shall Overcome

Thursday morning began like any Thursday with the trash to the curb and the milk box placed on the front porch for late night delivery.  Then out to the garden to pick the few blackberries that were ready a couple of weeks before the full crop should be.  It was then that unpleasant thoughts came to mind.  Thoughts that put me down as a failure.  Sadness covered me and I - at first - agreed with the put downs.   Then I recognized it for what it was.  My friends and family pulled me through with lots of prayer and words of encouragement. 

Those who know me know that there's not much I don't find a way to conquer.  It may take a few tears brought on by anger, but a way is always found to overcome.  Mostly I pray for wisdom then move forward with action.  I can't deny that I am a strong Catholic girl who is in love with what heaven offers.

Daughter number three called to invite me for a nice lunch.  After playing a couple of games of Memory (my favorite) we enjoyed a pasta bake, cold crisp celery, fruited jello and French bread.
Before I left she packed me enough for dinner.

A trip to Wal Mart grocery store with a few price matches was accomplished before I headed home. There were quite a few fresh veggies and fruit on the list such as a European cucumber, .99 cents (Grown in Canada!), cherries from Washington state, South Carolina peaches,.99 a pound, and one corn for .20.

Added to the good for me foods were three boxes of brownie mix, 1.00 and Oscar Mayer bologna, 16 ounces for 1.49.  I love bologna made in a sandwich with mustard, mayo, and bread and butter pickles.  A concoction my husband introduced me to in our early years of marriage.  I might add he was stoically patient with me while I made fun of him before he convinced me to try it.  I was instantly hooked.

The bologna package was opened so I replaced it with a
bunch of bananas!

A trip to the dollar store was needed to check for bread.  The bread was not interesting, but I did buy a pack of English muffins and a pack of bagels from a hoity toity baker.  Those are the items that are priced well over their worth, but at a dollar, are a bargain.  New items I picked up were windshield washer, cheese cloth, rubber gloves,  pop corn, and grill cleaner.  I was trying to figure out how to clean the table top grill I got off of the virtual yard sale site on Facebook.  Problem solved with the purchase of a cleaner and grill scrub brush at Dollar Tree.

It would be nice if I could jot down a list of accomplishments this week, but not much was accomplished.  I'm not sure where the week went, but I know I have neglected the floors and laundry.  Both of those things can't be put off any longer so they will be done today after a shower and the bed is made.

One thing I did do is go to Penney's to use my 10.00 of 10.00 purchase coupon.  The only thing I needed was soft socks, so I paid .85 cents for a pack of three and walked away from the register with a slight smile.  The smile was not only for the out of pocket expense, but the sale that was attached to that price, as well.

I wear socks all year these days.  These are soft and cuddly.

Penney's has a store within the store called Sophora.  I've never gone in to check it out, but I did that day.  I asked what the store was all about and was impressed with the explanation.  I'm not a big one for beauty products, I prefer natural items and very little make up.  This is in direct contrast of what was expected of me before I retired.  I have been enjoying that particular freedom since retirement, with the exception of special occasions. 

Since most facial cleansers react on my skin, my normal routine is a really hot wash cloth twice a day. This has worked well for me for years reducing any eruptions that occurred when I used cleansers.  There was one cleanser in the shop that caught my interest that was created with no additives or preservatives and was formulated for 'mature' skin.  After I use it for a while I'll reveal the name and do a review on it.

And how was your week?

Good Food and a 'Me' Day

Welcome to reader, Karla.  It was a nice surprise to see new comments from a new reader.  Thank you.

Something simple has just been revealed to me.  I have transitioned from grocery shopping every week to shopping every other week.  I'm not sure when this occurred, but it has.  I've been cooking up a small storm yesterday and today making some of my favorite foods.

Yesterday morning I made French toast-  the Italian way, cooked in a half inch of olive oil.  Since one egg netted four pieces I had two yesterday for breakfast, one this morning, with one saved for snack time.  This morning's breakfast included only one slice because I also had oatmeal, strawberries with home made whipped cream, and milk.  I was famished.  One would have thought I haven't seen food in days the way I packed it in this morning.  I think the weather has something to do with appetite because the humidity has gone way down after the storm we had last night.

This morning's hog fest!  I'm not a fan of foods being all mixed in
together, but I'm not put off by it either.  There's a famous dish made
 in my home town that's called a garbage plate that is to die for,  I'll eat
that until I feel like exploding!

Last night's meal was a huge stuffed artichoke (which I'll finish for lunch), garbanzo beans with small chunks of blue cheese and dressing, with strawberries and cream for dessert.  I also had a snack last night eating a slice of French bread I cooked up with peanut butter and a glass of milk.  (The loaf I froze the last time I made the bread was defrosted and cooked.)

This is the biggest artichoke I've ever seen.  Yummy!

I love a good storm and enjoyed listening to the thunder last night's storm brought with it.  I had no idea the storm got a bit out of control while I slept.  My back yard is a mess with organic debris this morning.  Thankfully none of the plants were affected.  Even the sunflowers didn't droop from the force of the winds.

I guess I have some work cut out for me today when the
yard dries out.

Yesterday was a take care of me day.  I rested, washed my hair, and did a pedicure.  Not a poke me as much as I can to get the last bit of cuticle removed one.   Just a feels good to have clean feet one.  When I worked I had a pedicure done every month.  I got tired of the poking and prodding so I do my own now.  When someone is working on your feet they have no sensation of the pain they are causing, they only have the goal of removing every thing in sight that doesn't belong there.  Ouch!

The pup was basking in he morning sun when I saw a small lizard run by.  He changed directions when he spotted the dog, but the dog was clueless and just kept snoozing.  I guess even older pups  gain wisdom as they mature.   Either that or she can't be bothered any more.

I'm off to a short appointment.  I hope your day is blessed and stay safe.

Angie

A Day with William Morris

I was pleasantly surprised to read a comment from reader 'Anonymous' quoting the famous English architect, William Morris.  I've not heard of him, but he seems like a pretty down to earth, bright, man as his philosophy was to have nothing in your home that is not useful or beautiful.  A modern day spin on this thought is the Konmari method where the author of the book instructs us to ask ourselves if an item brings joy.  I see this as the same line of thought.

I've taken a break from organizing and de cluttering for about a week to focus on other projects.  This morning brought with it a desire to continue the path of de cluttering.  One would think that I wouldn't have much since I moved in a bit over three years ago with a clean slate.  However, I have made some mistakes in the purchases I have made.  As an example I bought a juice container from a famous home party company when I moved in.  I have never used it because it's too big for my needs.  My family are big water drinkers so that is the drink of choice when they visit - straight from the refrigerator door.

I also recently purchased a set of four matching coffee cups that are bright and cheerful.  I always choose the unmatched cups that a family member gave me that have a sentiment on it or a picture imbedded on the surface.  Only twice have I chosen the matching cups, and that was when they were new.  The ones my family gave me bring joy.  The others are pretty, but no joy is evoked.  So, out they go.

The most recent cup sent to me from the North from
daughter number two.  This one brings joy to my heart.

The kitchen cupboards were emptied and wiped down with peppermint spray with only the useful and beautiful (in my eyes) items returned.  Useful and beautiful.  An especially easy formula to follow.

This morning's activity removed nineteen items from my cupboards.
All are in pristine condition so I will offer them to my daughters
before I send them off to donate.

I don't have many items in the garage because of the simple fact I live in a condo, I don't need many tools.  I have a rake, a broom, a hand fueled mower, and a leaf blower.  The other items consist of things like 'hurricane' water, canning supplies, gardening bin and tool bin.  Saturday I bought a second shelving unit to use for the items that were scattered on the floor.  I love the feel of the room now because it would take very little effort to set up a table and chairs for a family get together when the temperatures are too hot to enjoy the outdoors.  I'm seriously considering looking for a few beach looking items to hang on the walls.  I also have room to pull my vehicle in during inclement weather. (Hurricanes) 

During the sweeping I found a little spider behind the mower that was kind enough to catch a couple flies for me.  Even though I considered the fact that 'it was earning it's keep' I didn't want to take the chance of finding a number of babies running around the garage. 

The small grill will be going outside when the sun goes down a bit
this evening for a good scrub.  If it's stored under
the back eve the weather won't affect it. 
The dog?  I can move her any where else in the house with just
one word!   LOL

The shelves were wiped down with(you guessed it) peppermint spray and items re arranged to fit the space better. The floor also received a spray of the peppermint bug spray.  My house is beginning to smell like a peppermint shop!

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

Quite a few ladies on yoo toob do a video explaining what their favorite items are each month or every other month.  Since I enjoy watching these videos and learn about new items available, I thought I would make a list for my readers to see if you are interested in the same thing. (Let me know in the comment section or on  FB.  My list will include things that can't be bought, but things I consider to be fun and/or enjoyable.

Learning going back to basics recipes such as making mustard and mayonnaises

The squirt bottles I got from amazon to use for condiments in the refrigerator.  I don't understand why, but they create joy in me.

The idea to put rubber shelf lining in the refrigerator door to prevent glass bottles from shuffling around.

The time I spend with my family, especially the grandchildren creating bonds and friendships.

The calls I get in the evening (at his bedtime) from my five year old  grandson in the North to tell me about something he likes or what happened that day.

Bubble gum!

The foaming hand soap I learned to make.

Comments on my blog. These are encouraging me to continue because the comments demonstrate an interest in the blog.

The garden pictures a reader sent me from a European country.  They were beautiful and encouraging for me to continue on the garden journey,

Pictures, past and present, that family members post on Facebook.

My favorite yoo toob channel this month is  'Living Like Julie'.   Julie has developed a softness about her in the past few months that is appealing to me.  I'm glad I stuck with her channel.

Are there any favorite things you can think of that have brought you joy this month?  I'd love to hear what inspires you and brings joy to your heart.

Stay safe.

.

A Joyful Transformation

Quite a few of the ladies I watch on yoo toob have read a book titled 'The KonMari Method of Organizing'.  The book has inspired them to declutter their homes and it is enriching their lives by experiencing the joy of a streamlined home environment.  Not only has the information in this book helped people to live a more simple life, it seems to transform some of their personalities in a more peaceful and loving way.

I have not read the book, but I have followed through on some of the suggestions my yoo toob ladies have mentioned they read in the book.  The information tends to work on the spirit as well as the home environment.

Yesterday I watched a video by 'Living Like Julie' (Video below) where she admitted she does follow the method outlined in the book, but tweaks it to match her personal needs.  She moves slower in the decluttering process because she wants to maintain her efforts.  Julie is currently going back through items she decluttered in the winter to see if there were items she didn't use.  This is brilliant!  She has inspired me to do the same.

While following this train of thought a realization flashed before me this morning.  I keep things 'in case' I will need them in the future.  I thought I dealt with that glitch a few days ago while watching Julie's video, but it appears that I only dealt with the obvious things like holding on to children's clothing in case I needed it.  I did this for a number of years because I knew we couldn't afford to replace an item that we 'may' need.

This morning I realized I still cling to this mentality, but with smaller more practical items such as toiletries and even food. 

As an example I have a bottle of my favorite perfume.  I thought I was forgetting to use it because it was in a drawer in the bathroom.  So to remedy that I got a tray and set it up in my closet where I choose clothing for the day as a reminder that I have it and can use it whenever I want.  Still, I don't use it often.  This morning I realized why.  I'm afraid to run out of it and never be able to purchase it again.  This is absurd because I can purchase it any time I want.  Or not, if I choose.  The mentality that developed when we were broke is still haunting my spirit dragging down the joy that that item could bring.

Who knew that our consumer habits are formed by emotional set backs?  I knew the obvious, but not the hidden secrets behind the things we don't pay attention to.  Armed with this new information my spirit is a little bit more free and joyful.  All of the little bits add up to reveal a complete picture of joyfulness.  I like joyfulness!

I have asked myself what brings joy to me.  Top of the list is a clean and un cluttered environment.  That's a no brainer.  My pup brings a smile to my heart whenever I look at her under bite and uneven eyes.  (One is a boxer breed eye and the other is a bull dog breed eye.)  She is beautiful to me and makes my heart melt when I look at her.

A small thing that brings joy is the clear squirt bottles I purchased on amazon with credit card points to fill with condiments in the refrigerator.  They are clear and match in size and shape.  A small thing, but joyful to me.

How meat is this?  These are the items I use most with meals.
I have two more that I can fill.  I'm thinking one will be for home
made salad dressing.

I think I'm liking the joyful transformation I'm currently going through.  My smile is becoming more relaxed and real because of the small things in life.

Stay safe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8p4U0mWY_Q

Peppermint Bug Spray

PEPPERMINT BUG SPRAY

20 drops of peppermint essential oil
Distilled water (Has to be distilled)
To kill flying insects also add
10 drops of lavender essential oil to the
peppermint oil.

Peppermint oil attacks their skeletal system thereby killing them.  No one wants to be over run by insects, but by using this mixture people and pets are safe from the ill effects of chemical sprays.

The Week in Review

The garden is growing and will soon be considered lush.  I've picked all of the strawberries that were intended to be used to make jam.  This won't happen because they've all been eaten - one by one!  The strawberry plants are now putting out feelers and creating new plants.  The miraculous cycle of life is in progress.

The weather has been conducive to growing healthy plants and fruit.  I had to trim the blackberry bush because it was going wild with it's tallest branch reaching well over the six foot fence.  I noticed quite a few berries on the back of the plant when I hopped in to the garden to prune the bush.  Until then I noticed all of the berries growing in the front.

I'm hoping for enough berries to make a batch of jelly this year.

The bay plant has quite a bit of new growth on it and the olive tree is forming flowers which, hopefully, will be olives.  Excitement plus!

If you can see the tiny white flowers growing in the center
of the leaves, then you may see - if all goes well - olives
in a few weeks.
 

The bay plant has doubled in size since I re potted it a while back. 
Maybe 2 months ago.

I made my weekly trek to the dollar store which netted me a pack of three exacto knives.  I'm not concerned with hauls, just the little things that are needed to perform life tasks.

 Time was spent with the two eldest grandchildren yesterday until their mom got home from work.  When she got home we sat and talked for a few minutes before I left for home.  By the time she arrived home the grands had enough and were rather quiet and resting.  Until then we had a good time playing and talking, as well as snacking.

Daughter number three is cutting my hair this morning which is in need - big time.  That will be a relief and cooler in this summer heat.  In addition to looking quite a bit better than it does right now.

I think peanut butter toast sounds like a winner for breakfast.  I have some strawberries left that I'll mix with bananas for lunch and green beans that are cooked and cold.  Dinner will be steamed clams and corn on the cob.  Most likely GMO corn, but I do eat corn on the cob a couple times during the summer anyway.

The bathrooms are clean for the week and the kitchen has been scrubbed down and sprayed with peppermint spray so bugs don't feel they can take up residence in my home.  I thought peppermint deterred bugs, but I found out yesterday it actually kills them.  So peppermint spray it is, and often.  My major task today will be cleaning the floors.  I also have to put moth balls out in the yard and call the plumber to fix two leaking faucets.  Also on the agenda this week is going to Home Depot for one more shelving unit for the garage.  Of course, the sheets and clothes need to be washed.  I'll most likely tackle that in the morning.  I'd also like to climb onto a chair to reach the high garage door windows to clean them.  I'm tired of looking through foggy windows!

 I hope your week is going well.  Let me know what you have been doing in the comment section.

Stay safe.

Yoo Toob, The Modern (Interactive) Magazine

Let's talk about magazines.  This is one form of media that I spent half a lifetime coveting.  While bringing up our family spending money on a magazine was a frivolous act, so I bought very few.  Mostly I would grab one from a doctor's office (since we spent so much time in them) and ask if I could have it.

I would read every word that was between the covers with relish, thinking that I was being educated.  In quiet time I would pour over the pictures again and again scoring the images to memory.  I did this for about ten years, thinking that the authors were so wise.  One day reality hit.

That day was the day that I noticed all of the previous 'wisdom' was being pooh poohed and new 'exciting' information was now available.  Information like margarine was so healthy and butter was a no no in any healthy diet.  Opps, we were wrong.  New studies reveal butter is natural and better than the spread we use to tout because margarine is one molecule away from plastic.  ONE molecule!!!!  Good thing that special heart diet my husband was on that didn't allow him the pleasure of butter was so healthy for him.  My love affair with women's magazines began to waiver. 

I turned to decorating magazines for inspiration realizing that the authors of the women's magazines knew nothing more than I did.  The same procedure for acquiring them was in place.  Until a magazine called  LIVING debuted.  I had to gift myself that one.  I loved it for years - too many to count.  Then two years ago I read where the new CEO let go of 500 employees the week before Christmas.  I became so disgusted that I refuse to even read the magazine or purchase anything with the name attached since. 

I realize every company has an individual tax year, but these modifications could have been put on hold and enacted later in the new year.  Living began soliciting me to renew my subscription - the one I had for twenty years.  Sorry, I've lost total interest in a firm that has demonstrated it does not take into consideration the loyalty of it's staffers - appearing, instead,  to covet only  the bottom line.  It's in an instance like this that I have to ask how many millions is enough.

I see this conglomeration has been loosing luster ever since allowing this to happen at Christmas.  We consumers are not as clueless as this company thought.  Even if the company was loosing money, waiting three months would not have made that much difference.  I know this as a fact as the company I worked for did the same thing for years until it was pointed out to the owner how badly it reflected on him.  He changed his ways and began gaining headway in the market place, making less people angry who complained to anyone who would listen to them.

These trademark products are now often on sale and the company is begging people to subscribe to their magazine, something that was not considered appropriate by it a few years back.

Currently the only magazines I purchase are specialty ones that have information in them about a specific subject such as canning, organizing or Christmas décor and projects.  It's rare that I purchase any these days.

My new 'magazine' is yoo toob.  I love yootoob.  I have found a group of ladies that are so talented that Martha should hang her head.  The kicker is these ladies don't spend thousands on their projects.  They glamorize garage sale finds and super discounted items and their homes are gorgeous.  They create their own pillows by using fabric glue and low cost embellishments.  They organize using dollar store bins or TJ Maxx items.  No snobbery going on here.  I admire them because they are uplifting and have a heart for young families and beauty.

I can't remember which one said this, but it stuck with me. She said God created beauty and an organized environment therefore He has shown us that both of these things can bring peace into our hearts and homes.  This is the kind of wisdom that is forever motivational.

So, yoo toob, you have my vote as long as the bottom line is not more important than the people who  brought you to fame.

Stay safe.

What do Bedding and House Hunting Have in Common? Not Much

What a lovely morning in this part of the USA.  The sun is shining with no humidity, after 4 days of down pours and showers.  The continued rain has my yard looking like a jungle.  I cut the grass the evening before the rain started, yet it looks like it hasn't been tended to in weeks.  As soon as the drying sun moves to the grassy area, it will be clipped and tended to this morning.  The spinach that has gone to seed will be pulled to make room for the melon plant that's peeking through the soil.  I will also replant a bunch of bean seeds so I can get at least a few plants from the seeds. 

The tomato plants are flourishing in the front yard pots, which is exciting.  They were too heavy to move when the rains began and I hoped and prayed they wouldn't get water logged and die on me.  The plants that are potted in the back yard were easily moved to below the eves to protect them from too much rain. The rain was coming down so hard for a day that it looks like it battered the dill plants.  I'll play the waiting game before I decide to pull them to see if they recover.

I read an article this morning about keeping a pantry bug free.  The first thought was I have most things in tight sealing containers.  Then a picture formed in my mind of the boxes of cereal I opened for the grands when they visited.  After breakfast I went to the pantry and threw out the boxes while sealing the inner bags in a food storage bag.  I threw some bay leaves on the floor and was, once again, (but I'm sure temporarily) satisfied.

Yesterday was a gloomy day so I stayed indoors deciding to wash all of the bedding, including the bed skirt.  I thought about how to remove it by myself and came up with using the 'jiggle' method.  I got on my knees and lifted a section of the mattress up with one hand using the other hand to 'jiggle' the skirt down towards the foot of the bed.  Then I went to the other side and repeated the process.  Rinse and repeat until the skirt was free.  I reversed the operation when the skirt went back on the bed.  It would have gone much quicker if there were two people working on the removal, but I did it trying to not think of that and concentrating on the final accomplishment.

The bed spread is a king size so I wasn't sure if my washer could handle it.  It worked fine, but the dryer didn't dry it after two hours.  I spread it on the kitchen table to dry and now it's in the sun on the patio table drying.

When I was making the bed with the clean bedding I began to chuckle to myself.  When the bedding is going on after it's washed the most affable care is taken to remove all wrinkles and make sure the folds are all lined up and done well.  The next day (as well as the following days)  I ignore the wrinkles and just bring up the spread and put the pillows in place.  That's the lazy streak in me rising to the surface. 

The other thing that sticks with me is being imperfect keeps me humble.  Never do I want to get to the point that I feel I can accomplish everything on my own.  I want to always need heavenly support in all I do - no matter how trite the task may seem.  I not only pray often, I offer up my duties and tasks as prayer for those in need.  I have no one in mind, but I figure God knows who is in need.  I'm a retired Italian Catholic woman.  That's what we do as our contribution to society.  Catholic women are known for being able to pray and work at the same time.  I'm proud of that feat.

The made bed (minus the spread that's drying in the sun) the
day the bedding is washed.   Everything nice and neat.  When
the spread is dry I'll take a picture to show you the lazy man
way the bed is put together.  When I'm expecting company
there are more elaborate pillows set up.  These are the ones
I lounge on.

I may be going with my daughter and her family to look at a house this afternoon.  So far the hunt has been unsuccessful, but when they find 'the house' they will know it would be the right one to turn into a home.  The houses she likes tend to reflect the cozy home she grew up in.  I want to say that every time, but I said it once and have been holding a smile back for the rest of them.  The house we are looking at today was individually spotted by S. and her husband.  They sent pictures to each other. 

Stay safe.

A Low Key Week

The week - so far - has been quiet and slow.  I've been doing piddilly little projects to keep me out of trouble.  Monday I went to my daughter's house to help my son in law with a project.  Nothing he couldn't do by himself, but four hands made the work lighter.  The project took three hours with the two of us working on it, so I imagine it would have taken at least four hours if he were by himself.

I made new bottles of room spray and bug spray since both bottles were close to empty.  I use lavender essential oil for the room spray then for the bug spray I mix the lavender with peppermint essential oil.   Since I was already making a mess in the kitchen I made more hand soap using empty pump bottles I saved.

A short trip to the dollar store netted a pack of chalk board (like) stickers that had greetings on them.  The type of greetings that could be used if someone wanted to make their own thank you notes and such.  Pulling out my small tin of craft items I grabbed a couple of pieces of card stock, folded them, then simply placed a sticker on them.  Plain and simple, just like their creator.  I think by this time  my readers realize I'm not the frilly type.  The cards reflect that fact.  Not super creative, but along the level I'm at right now with my creative streak.



One of the cards is a thank you note card that I can write a
sentiment in that would be appropriate for the occasion. 
The other is an encouragement card that can also have
a hand written note inside.  I know a little girl who will be
receiving this one. 

I also went to a garage sale and found the perfect table for my back hall area.  On top of that I found a great lamp with lots of character.  Another trip to the store,  TJ Maxx this time, and I'm so happy with the results.  The table was the perfect color and size and I parted with 20.00 to buy it.  The lamp was 10.00.  The accessories I bought at TJM were 7.00 and 14.99. The cost of the total project was about 52.00.



The table is a slim parson's table.  I'm not sure how to describe
 the lamp other than to say it's 'cool'.  The mirror was there which
was a gift from my daughter for a birthday.  To say she got
a great deal on it would be crass.  (But, she did!)

Meals this week have been good and made from the pantry.  I made white clam sauce pairing it with bird nest noodles that covered two meals.  I also finished off the French bread I made for breakfasts-once toasted with peanut butter and once toast then sliced in thin strips to dig into soft boiled eggs.  It's difficult to remember what else I had for meals, but those two things remained in memory.

What was your week like?  Was it as 'exciting' as mine?

Organizing, Part 4

I had this post written up, and almost completed, a few days ago.  To my surprise my computer ate it and never returned the post.  Rather than getting upset, I walked away until it struck me to redo the post.

The last entry in this series is meant to help us reflect on storage and stockpiles.  The end result will not be the same for everyone because we all have different needs and commitments, as well as the amount of space available.  I would only ask that the foundation of whatever you come up with is kept in mind.  The foundation of all of our efforts is scrutinizing the amount of real estate space we have and how we'd like to use it.  This differs with personal needs.

To begin, ask yourself what you want to get out of this exercise.   Taking notes on a scrap of paper to remind yourself later what the goals are can be helpful.  As an example:  Do you need more useable drawer space in the kitchen?  What can you do to accomplish this?  Do you need a junk drawer or can the things that reside  in there be placed in a pretty bin and stored in sight to add to your decorating theme?
(I just gave myself an idea.)  Do you use all of the kitchen towels you have, or can they be rotated or pared down?  Maybe there are three boxes of disposable baggies in a drawer.  Having one open and one as backup may work for you.  These are the questions that will help you look at your personal space and use it to it's full advantage.

Organizing and de cluttering can be such a cleansing thing.  Not so much because the end result is reached, but more because we learn about our true wants and needs.  We grow and mature with knowledge.  Knowledge is power.  Power to be more content and relaxed as we strive for that simple life everyone is talking about.

Items To Reflect On

Linens: towels, sheets, table cloths, cloth napkins
Storage items for food: foil, wraps, baggies, etc.
Repurposed glass jars
Office supplies: pens, paper, staples, etc.
Socks
Freezer containers
Make up
Nail polish ( Do you really love all 100 bottles?)
Holiday decorations:  If you chose not to use it last year, you're unlikely to use an item in the future.
Shoes
Scarves

Cleaning out the kitchen towel drawer made room for me to add
the wraps I use most often.  Organizing is an on going process
that makes life easier.



 

There's nothing wrong with re thinking what we have bought in the past.  As we mature, our needs evolve.  It's up to us to recognize the changes and rise to meet them.

Stay safe.

PS:  Welcome to a new follower, Elizabeth.  Thank you for liking this blog.  We hope to hear from you in the comment section now and again.

The Lettuce is Pulled and the Week Was Lazy!

Today is a hot and humid day in the South.  I got ready to go to the grocery, but I'm waiting until a little latter when the sun is not so glaring.

The week has been quiet, The lettuce has been pulled from the garden and washed a few times to make it sparkling clean.  Dinner will have a salad of lettuce and chick peas along with some barbeque pork that has been in the freezer.  A small piece of the French bread I made on Friday will be an addition so I can sop up the salad dressing.  Earlier this week I made some tuna salad which netted
three sandwiches.  The first one was a grilled tuna with cheese and tomato while the other two went into the refrigerator for later meals.  I ate from the cupboards this week to use up some items.  The refrigerator is mostly bare now, as well.

I forgot that I lined the refrigerator door tray the milk goes in
so the glass bottles wouldn't slide around when the door was opened
or closed.

I used a shelf liner from the dollar store in the refrigerator.
This has been working well because I don't hear the bottles
shifting around when I open the door.
 

The lettuce needed to get pulled because the temperature
has gotten too high.  I didn't let it bolt this time because
I think I will take a readers suggestion and use the space for
something else next year.


 

I live on the Inter Coastal Waterways which separates my house from the eldest daughter's house.  When vessels need to pass through, the bridge is raised.  On the way home last night the bridge was up so I took a detour and went to the dollar store to see if they had sunglasses that would fit over my glasses.  In a few minutes I was back in the car with sun glasses on.  I don't know how much I saved by going to the dollar store, but I'm sure it was over 10.00. ( a conservative estimate)

My accomplishments were few this week.  The grass was clipped, the lettuce pulled and the soil turned.  Two loads of wash plus sheets along with the small things I do every day to keep order in the house. (dishes, make the bed, etc.) 

Not much is going on which makes me content.  The days of running around like a chicken without a head are over for me.  Thankfully I have the pleasure of choosing what I want to do now.  It has not always been like that.  Now my days start when I choose while in the past they started at five in the morning and went non stop until at least ten in the evening.  I think I would drop over if I still had to live like that.

What have you been up to this week?

Memories of A Sailor and Current Things

The weekend was so active that I haven't gone out this week with the exception of a dollar store trip with my daughter.  Morning wake up time has been normal, but I fall back to sleep an hour or so after I wake up.

Pretty pup basked in the sun as I planted a few seeds.  I added to the parsley pot, planted some marigold seeds at the edge of the garden, and planted a few heirloom melon seeds in the bare spot that was created when I pulled the radishes.

A few minutes to watch some videos and I was sleeping again.  I have favorite videos I watch that include ideas about decorating, cooking, and organizing.  The last few days, however, I have been watching dollar store haul videos.  I'm ashamed to call my finds 'hauls'.  These women really haul. I thought I had an addiction to nice paper, but I'm a novice compared to these ladies. They purchase multiple stickers, tape and paper items.  One girl had three large bins filled with pads of paper.  I'm not sure there would be enough years to use it all.  The dollar stores are a great resource for keeping life frugal, but These hauls bring a new meaning to the word frugal.. 

The Dollar Tree has some great food finds, such as the frozen fruits and veggies that contain no additives or preservatives, brand name breads, and even pure and organic foods.  Most of the gift wrap is made in the USA and the tape is a national brand.  I love the washi tape they have as well as the seeds and garden hand tools.  I try to remember to visit the store before I shop for anything else on my list because there is a chance the store has an item on my list.  This week I picked up a pair of small wire cutters and a box of Cow Tails.  This is where I buy bubble gum to have when the sugar cravings hit, too.  I can't say I've never bought labels there because I have.  A total of three packs to use in various projects is enough.  I love to look at everything, but for the most part I go to a dollar store with items in mind.  Most of the time I am successful.

As the saying goes in this part of the country, 'Bless their little hearts' for loving that store.


This is Bob with our son many years ago when Jr. first learned 
to ride his bike.
 

Cooking hasn't been on the agenda this week so far as I brought food home from a picnic we had on Monday.  Memorial Day and Veteran's Day have a deep meaning for my family.  It is because of the service my husband did for our country that he is no longer with us.  This fact is in the back of our minds and each of us is reminded through the weekend of our great loss.  To us, it is a great loss.  My husband was the best dad and a great husband.  To us he was perfect, even his faults were perfect. We remember those faults with a combination of laughter and quiet tears.  He will never be forgotten by his family.  The pain and suffering he endured most of his adult life will always be remembered with sadness, yet his infectious smile will be remembered with love.





Bob with one of our new born grandchildren a couple of months before he passed.
He loved children and felt honored to protect and care for them.

Bob was a man's man.  So when a fellow staffer was astonished when he found out Bob believed in God, Bob's reply was he wanted to err on the safe side.  The man was puzzled by this response.  Bob went on to explain his philosophy - If there was a God and he didn't believe, there would be hell to pay.(literally) If there wasn't a God and he believed there was, there was no consequence.  LOL!  Only Bob could get someone thinking about such a subject.

The tomato plants are doing so well that I gave one to my daughter and I transplanted one into another large pot.  I have a total of four in two pots.  They seem to like their home in the front yard.  I hope they continue to grow and produce lots of fruit.  This will be the last year I plant them if these plants fail.

I haven't really accomplished much this week.  One of the bigger projects was to clean the garage.  I swept it and sprayed home made bug spray.  Videos were also a big part of my week.

What did you do this week?  I bet it was more than I did! LOL


Stay safe.

The Weekend

I'm not sure when this will get posted, but this morning is a sunny, yet cool early Sunday morning.  Since the term 'cool' is relative I'd define it in this area as being in the 60s.  As soon as I got out of bed the garden got a visit.  Among the plants that were woken up to my prodding were the marigolds and dill.  Both are in pots as seedlings with little production.  Each pot has only two seedlings peaking out.  I aerated the soil and gave them a drink placing them on the patio table where both of the plants will get more sunlight.

The radish experiment did not go well (I didn't cull the seeds when they were babies to see what would happen.)  The space was needed for additional food, so I pulled the radishes and weeded the area to make room for something else.  I also amended the soil with compost, egg shells, and coffee grounds.  A rest for a couple of days and something else will go in the space.  I may plant a melon plant knowing the spinach will be pulled as soon as seeds are formed.  Since the spinach is next to the radish space I'm hoping there will be plenty of room for a melon plant or two.

The beans have not broken through the soil yet, but the sunflowers have.  There are four flowers along the fence near the gate.

Saturday was fun because my eldest daughter picked me up to take me shopping for tops.  I found two - a black and a white one - at Target on sale for 5.40 each.  If they last a year, I'll be satisfied. Then we had to go to the book store with the kids in tow.  Each of them can choose ten dollars worth of books that grandma will happily pay for.  I bought one book and my daughter picked up one, as well.

At home we went our separate ways, me for a short nap and her to the YMCA for a lay by the poolside with my other daughter.  Of the two in the Northeast, one had a garage sale and the other spent quiet time at their cottage.

My daughter in law posted some of the items for sale in the garage sale on Facebook.  The eldest spotted a toy police car in a box of hot wheels and requested that be sent to her.  I told her she had eagle eyes to have spotted that car in the box of many.  Since her husband is a peace officer they collect little police cars.  Not too many, though.

I have no plans for today, but since it is Sunday (the day of rest) I will not do any housework other than dishes and make the bed.  It's difficult for me to go an entire day without the bed made up.  Even when all four kids were growing up my bed was made most days.  My mother in law, who had eight children, told me if a bed is made and the dishes were done a home felt more comfortable,  I took that to heart because she was a wise lady.

While I have been writing about organization, I have also been working on an organizational project.  The master bedroom closet has been receiving a tweaking.  This is the perfect time since I finally changed over winter clothes for summer ones.

The closet is a nice size so I've tried to use it to it's fullest advantage without crowding and cluttering it up.  The closet not only holds my clothes it holds: shoes, a sewing basket, craft items, medicines stored on a shelf so the kiddos don't get into them, winter sweaters in bins, extra pillows, stuffed animals that my grands have given me, and a tray displaying the scent items I use.  A picture hangs on the back wall that was a birthday gift from the COO of the company I worked for.  The picture is a reminder of the good times during that season of my life.




Summer clothes and a couple of winter tops in case the weather
dips.  I also keep the four dresses I own in here all year.  Two
for winter, two for summer.  All pans stay in this closet, as well.
Dressy pants can be worn in any season.

These bins hold craft supplies and medicines/ toiletries.

The bins on the top shelf hold winter sweaters and socks.


Stay safe.
Angie

Areas That Are Most Encouraging to De Clutter and Organize, Part 3

In most homes the kitchen is the area with the most need for organizing.  If this area is un organized, then a habit of not wanting to cook meals can easily sneak into our spirits.  I know if I leave dishes in the sink I have little desire to cook because it means more dishes.  Keep the sink empty?  Too easy of a solution.  Use the dishwasher?  Not frugal friendly for a one person household.  To beat this lazy habit I have decided if washing a dish takes less than 30 seconds, I will do  it right then.  (Make no mistake, I can be lazy in the this area.)

Space - or real estate - is costly and precious to most of us.  Using it in it's most productive way is imperative for a pleasant experience in the kitchen.  Here are a few ways to maximize and organize kitchen spaces.

The utensil drawer:  If you empty out this drawer and take stock of what's in there, you will most likely find items that 1. you seldom use and 2. items that are doubles or can perform the same function.   How many slotted spoons reside in that drawer?  Are there more than three wooden spoons?  Are the other wood utensils that came with the wooden spoon ever used?  One way of making more room in the drawer is to use a utensil holder near the stove.  Items that are used most often can reside in the holder.  If you don't have one on hand, using any tall container, such as a water pitcher or canning jar, will serve .the need.

The famous linens drawer.  Mine recently got revamped.  The linen napkins were placed in the closet with the table cloths and I rolled the kitchen towels to allow for a more organized drawer.  Next to the rolled towels there is room for the wraps I use the most for storing foods in the refrigerator or covering when cooking.  This includes plastic wrap, foil, parchment paper.  (I use a cloth washcloth when needed while I eat.)

You may recall that I have a penchant for kitchen linens.  I now rotate them placing the ones I have for decoration in the one dedicated drawer in the bedroom for my 'pretties'.

To add to this, I use three sets of towels in the kitchen.  One to look nice as a decoration hanging from the oven door, one for drying hands that hangs on the refrigerator door handle, and one for drying dishes which is usually covering the draining dishes,   They are kept in separate areas and have different patterns so they don't get mixed up.  Why bother to wash dishes by hand in hot soapy water then dry them with a germy dish towel?

Do you have a junk drawer in the kitchen?  How many pairs of scissor are in there?  Or rubber bands?  Or tape dispensers, pens, pads of note paper?  Emptying it to go through the items will be worth the time invested.  Perhaps enough room could be found to put other items such as cells in there. 

When the project is complete I think you'll discover more space to use for the items that are actually utilized for cooking.  I have only five drawers.  Here's a breakdown of what's in them.

Junk drawer:  Note paper, tape, pens, pencil, tacks (in a small container),  Just those little things we use but can't really be categorized.

The junk drawer.  It's not a study in perfection, but at this time it
serves my needs.  Yours, too, should be personalized to serve
your family's needs.

Silverware drawer:  This is a small one and can only hold the silverware we use to set the table with.

Utensil drawer:  This one is the least pleasing to me, but contains items I use often like scissors, can opener, bench scraper, tea ball, etc.

Knife drawer:  This holds the kitchen scale, knives, and pot holders

Towel drawer:  Towels, dish cloths, and wraps are stored in this one.

Towels are fold in half the short way, then folded again.  The ends are brought
 in to meet each other, then folded again.  I found this saved enough room to put
the wraps in the drawer where they are easily accessed.

All drawers, with exception of the junk drawer, are utilized for items that pertain to cooking.  The junk drawer is for ease of use.  I may rethink this one at a future date.

Let's move on to the glass and mug cupboard.  Most homes have an over abundance of these mis - matched items.  Old plastic water bottles, cracked plastic cups, souvenir cups from a ball game, to name a few.  Going through these items and pitching the ones that no longer are reached for can  free up quite a bit of space.  If you find you're having an emotional attachment to the cup you received at an event, keep in mind you will always remember the event in your spirit.  The smile comes from a memory, not the item saved.  The new found space can be used for serving bowls or something that you use most often.

Food storage containers can also be an area that needs organization.  This is where I'm at, at  the moment. I've been trying to figure out what my needs are.  I know that left overs, in my case, are small.  I also know whatever I choose, the shape needs to be consistent for stacking in the refrigerator.  Currently the plastic containers that soup comes in from a restaurant are the choice.  I like the size and shape so I may stick with them - but not too many.

If all of this talk about organizing the kitchen is overwhelming, look at just one of the areas at a time.  It took me a few months to organize and down size.  The time passes anyway, might as well use it to benefit you and your family.

Stay safe.

Organization, Part 2, How Many Do I Need?

No one understands the concept of, 'I may need this some day',  better than I do.  It began as a child when the only treat we received was a pack of five sticks of gum to last for the seven day week.  The pack of gum concept was introduced to me when I was six or seven - with no instructions on possible ways I could make it last.

I began by splitting two pieces in half thereby have my treat each day of the week.  From there I discovered that chewing half a stick was just as gratifying as consuming a whole stick, so I began using a half a stick a day.  My stockpile grew out of hand because the gum eventually became stale.  I still used it, but softening it was a chore.   This is when I learned about rotating stock.

As an adult when we had four children and loads of chronic illness in our home I saved EVERY glass jar, EVERY rubber band and paper clip.  EVERY everything!  I had no where to store the items I used every day in an organized manner because the 'reusable' items took up lots of space..  If you know me at all, you'll understand how de stabilizing this was to me.

Then one day - when I was about to clean and save a rubber band that was wrapped around a veggie -I stopped and thought about how many rubber bands I actually used. Maybe four a year.  Then why did I have a whole peanut butter jar filled with them?  Soon I realized I would never use the number of jars, or the paper clips, or anything else I thought I was in need of.  This was the beginning of the de cluttering process for me.

 Fear (of being in need) can be disabling.  We can carry it around with us like an old friend, but really it's an old adversary.  Have you ever noticed how quiet it is?  It's favorite hiding place is in the back ground in plain sight.

This is under one of the bathroom sinks  If an item
doesn't fit in the fake book box, I don't bring it home.
I keep my hair items, cleaning items, and Christmas cooking
brandy here.  No E., I don't throw it down the drain!  LOL

The point I'm trying to make is, yes reuse, but pay attention to how much of something you will need before the need to reuse again arises.  We all have limited space, or real estate, in our homes.  Filling it with fear items is not a productive way to utilize that space. As a matter of fact, the space we don't use is more productive because it's for us to use.  After all, we pay for it, we should be able to enjoy what we have.

Things I Will Always Have A Problem With

Linens:  Any kind.  Towels, sheets, wash cloths, EVERY type of textile know to mankind.  I have learned to admire items in the store then walk away reminding myself I have what I need and some of what I want.

Soaps:  Pretty ones, organic ones, nice smelling ones.  Dollar Tree ones, all kinds.
I force myself to walk away from these, too.

Books:  I've been really good about this one.  The truth?  Not many come will large print!

Stay safe.

Ragu Napolitano, Two Greedy Italians

Since I haven't been cooking much these past few weeks my eating habits have a lot to be desired.  For inspiration I have been watching a BBC documentary series called 'Two Greedy Italians'.  I love these guys as they travel through Italy checking out all of the foods native to particular regions.  These are the foods I love such as lemons, cheeses, pasta, and olives.  I've learned that each area in Italy has it's own recipe for  these foods.

I hit the jackpot when one of the gentlemen cooked up what he called Ragu Napolitano.  I'm off to the butcher this morning to purchase a cheap cut of beef, pork ribs, and Italian sausage for this dish.  I have everything else in the house.

I began the day with a hearty breakfast of oatmeal, milk, fruit, and an English muffin topped with peanut butter.  Hopefully this breakfast will be the start of my journey back to healthy eating because I'm one to not eat a meal when I should be eating three a day..  I also brewed tea for iced tea that will flush out the kidneys, making them happy once again.  Plain unsweetened tea is my favorite.

I took a few minutes break from blogging to go to the butcher for the meat needed to make the Ragu Napolitano.  Next to the butcher shop is a garden store that had a sign declaring there was a farm market inside.  Again, I hit jack pot.  Right there in front of me was a bushel of South Carolina peaches,  Ripe
 ones.  Small peaches with fuzz on the skin.  Real organically grown peaches that when I bit into one the juice rolled down my arm.  Heavenly is the only word to describe that first slobbering bite.  Life is good!

The Ragu is on the stove and needs to simmer for 2 hours more.  Add some noodles and I've got a meal fit for an Italian Mama.  I can't wait for it to be ready.  I think I'll pick some of the outer lettuce leaves in the garden and top them with olive oil and lemon juice for a side salad.

Organizing, What A Challenge!

I was talking to a friend on the phone yesterday for quite a while as she has become exasperated with her efforts to organize.  She looks around and feels defeated before she even begins.  How many other women feel the same way?  Then in a hopeless emotional state walk away to hide from 'it all'.

E told me that whether I know it or not my desire for organization is a gift.  To see an area and figure out a way to make it acceptable to me is envisioned by her to be a gift.  I never looked at it this way.  It's just who I am and I go to lengths to accomplish an organizational goal.

The key here is to focus on one small area at a time.  Looking at the big picture is so overwhelming that I don't think anyone could achieve a goal  to revamp the whole thing at once.

She came up with a number of questions for me about organizing which I jotted down and will do a series on organizing.  You must know at this point, I'm no expert.  My need for order is what drives me.   I kind of looked at it as a glitch - if I were being honest.

E has certainly been working on de cluttering her house for a few months.  The amount of items that that have been donated or sent to the land fill -in her estimation - is astronomical.  This has been very pleasing to her and  her family.  She is currently in the mode to fine tune her previous efforts.

.As she  went on she brought to the surface the things that have been bothering her.  We talked about storage containers first.

I love these Mason brand storage jars.  I'll be adding to the collection. 
They match my canning foods nicely.

Recently, I have discovered that - for me - just having containers is bothersome.  Having them does not serve to reach my goals 100%.  I had to rethink the way I have been looking at things for many years.

When we had a large family to spend our resources on, then I would save jars and containers from store bought foods.  Doing this served it's purpose and was great on the budget.  But, I don't have to do things like that anymore.  This realization was very moving, meaning it got me to move forward.  I'm still frugal, but the need to be frugal in all areas is no longer a concern.  Neither is it a concern for E at this stage in her life.

The thing that opened my eyes was a birthday gift from my daughter of two quart Mason storage jars.  I've been wanting these jars for some time, but refused to pay the price.  Why?  The twelve dollar asking price was not out of reach for me.  I think it falls under old habits are hard to break.  When the filled jars were placed in the pantry, my heart sang a hippy tune.  At last!  I finally figured it out.  Consistent looking containers is the key to an organized pantry. Organizing life after that was so much easier.   To be continued....

This video has quite a bit of wisdom in it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUOVYATHRgQ

A Fun Birthday Party and Dollar Tree

Saturday we are celebrating my grandson's fifth birthday.  He promised his mom that when he turned five, he would be a 'good boy'.  LOL  He's too bright and spunky to be a 'good boy' all of the time.

My daughter and son in law rented a city park for the day so all of the excitement can be let loose in the great outdoors.  My contribution to the food will be a macaroni salad, potato salad, and baked beans.

I got a five pound bag of potatoes a couple of weeks ago for .99.  The mayonnaise was on sale for 2.00 each with a coupon.  The eggs I'll use are the ones I get from the milk man, so they are a bit more of an added cost.  A dozen goes for 3.29 and I used eight for the two salads.  The  baked beans were on sale for 1.67 for a large can.  With my senior discount the savings was .07 a can.  Since two large cans went into the cart the cost was 3.12 for the pass around dish.  I'll add a bit more brown sugar to sweeten them up a bit. The pasta was .49 a box, so I got a good deal on that, too.  So a total of approximately 6.50 plus a few stalks of celery and carrots which were also purchased on sale.

I had to put the macaroni salad in two containers because
there was so much of it..  This turned out super good so I brought
some home.

Let me interject a word of wisdom here.  If your celery or carrots become a bit limp while being stored in the refrigerator, place them in a bowl of ice water for about 30 minutes to re - crisp them.  The only reason they become limp is the moisture was being drawn out.  This stands only if the color is still intact.  Brown veggies are rotting veggies.

I started this post on Friday and got side tracked.  Today is Monday so I can report that the party went well.  All the kids had such fun with water guns and empty water bottles.  The day was perfect - weather wise - so the water that soaked their clothes quickly dried them.  There's nothing like a gaggle of boys running around acting like boys!   The laughter was infectious and so nice to hear.

I didn't realize I could have brought the pup with me if she was on a leash.  Next time we go there, I'll do that and let her check out the lake.  Who knew there was a large lake tucked in the center of our city.

I like this city, even though I have always preferred a rural setting. The tallest building I have seen is the City Center building which is four or five stories.  Needless to say it sticks out like a sore thumb.  Our buildings are no more than two stories and the city is sprawled out like a big suburb with lots of green space and beautiful flowers everywhere.  Small forests are tucked between housing plats for an added touch of nature.

The city is also clean because residents take great pride in the area.  I have seldom seen litter and when I do, I pick it up just like others do.

After I left the party I was close to the Dollar Tree so I stopped in to check things out.  I only
bought four items; shelf liner, Lysol wipes, labels, and computer paper.  I watched a video where the poster used rubber shelf liner in her refrigerator door to prevent glass bottles in the door shelves from shuffling around when the door was closed.  Great idea since my milk comes in glass bottles and resides in the door.

My dollar store finds this week.  The labels will be used to
identify what goes in the clear containers in the refrigerator.
The wipes are for the vehicle and the paper is just because I have a
'thing' for good paper. I know I'll find a use for it.

Accomplishments this past week are:
1. Planted four bean plants.  Since the spinach is going to seed, I'll plant more beans when the spinach is pulled out.
2.  Washed all of the bedding and scrubbed the bedroom.  It's time to wash it again today.
3.   Scrubbed the kitchen with home made orange cleaner.  I love this concoction on the stainless sinks in the kitchen.  It removes the film that accumulates which no one can see.
4.  Watched videos on organization.
5.  Put back all of the items I had to put up when the carpet cleaning man came to clean the rugs upstairs and in the master bedroom.  I let the upstairs wait until I had time to replace things and go through them to sort what I wanted to keep and donate.
6.  Did a small grocery haul.
7.  Went to dinner with the family.
8.  Weeded the garden.
9.  Watered the garden on the days it didn't rain.

Other things I can't remember!

Stay safe.

A Little of This, A Little of That

I may have found a way to grab pictures and post them on the blog.  It's rather time consuming, but for now, it works.  Here's a picture of my cucumber plant all tucked into a mix of compost, soil, egg shells, and coffee grounds.

 

 

 

The first red strawberry of the season.  There's lots more green ones. 
I may have enough for a batch of jam, if I don't eat them all!

There's five small tomato plants in a very large pot.  I'm thinking the
strong shall survive.  If my experiment does not work this year,
I'll turn to local growers to provide tomatoes.  This variety is
an heirloom one so it's not as resistant to predators and disease
as hybrids are.

A big shout out to my son in law today.  It's his birthday.  I'm proud of the man he has become.  A good dad (spoils the girl), an encouraging husband, and he likes his mother in law to be around!  Both he and my daughter, S, work hard to provide a good life for their family.  Happy birthday, JJ.

 

 

I have a short list this week for shopping.  I need more moth balls as the rain has been heavy.  They were just dispersed around the outside of the house a few days ago, but are close to being gone already.  The other two items on the list are Cliff protein bars and allergy medicine.  I take one pill a day to prevent a build up of fluid that turns into a continual sinus infection.  One before bed and the infection only appears at the change of the seasons in the spring and the fall.

 

Here's some news.  I'm getting use to it - I got a cell phone.  One of those track phones for 18.88 for 160 minutes of talk time, 160 of text time, and 160 minutes of internet time.  I have to renew minutes every three months, but the ones I don't use stay so I can accumulate them.  Now all I have to do is remember to charge it and carry it with me.

 

 

Now for the deal of the month.  Look what I found at a community garage sale for 5.00.  Slip cover and all.

 

 

 

When I moved in this home three years ago I purchased
a (fake) wicker chair on sale so I would have something
to use in the bedroom.  I knew it would someday be replaced with a comfortable one
and I was willing to wait for the right one.  I'm so glad I waited
for just the right one.  5.00!  Can't be beat. 

Whistle While We Work

Tuesday was one of the most productive days I've recently had.  My accomplishments truly astonished me.  I know I'll not remember everything, but here's to a good try.

I reorganized the pantry.  I know it was done a few months ago, but I'm also realizing that this will be an ongoing project.

I scrubbed down the kitchen counters, then polished them with Jubilee polish.  This is a product from the 1960's I was happy to find on amazon.com  Just a small dab on a clean cloth and the counter surface is protected from scratches and cuts.  Warning:  Lots of 'elbow grease' is needed to bring it to a shine.  To me, it's not only exercise, but worth the shine and good smell.

I washed the bedding and mattress pad.  Then I vacuumed the rug and the mattress.  With a damp cloth with tea tree oil on it, the mattress got a wipe down.  The decorative pillows were next to get a wipe down, then the kick boards.

Anything on the counters was washed in hot soapy water after the microwave was cleaned.

In the evening I cut the grass.  Three companies -so far - have said they'd fill in the grass with rocks so the ground would be level and I wouldn't have to worry about cutting grass.  No one has shown up to complete the project.  I guess when you want something done, a person must do it themselves.

When I look at my accomplishments on paper it doesn't look like much.  But, the efforts took most of the day.

This morning I weeded the carrots and pulled three radishes up along with more parsley and spinach.  What a feast I'll have for lunch.  I also sprayed weeds in the rock area with vinegar.

As a side note, I apologize for no pictures yet.  I'm having a difficult time finding where they went to on my new lap top.  I'll keep trying to find them.

Stay safe.

The Garden

I've been doing quite a bit of reflecting, mainly on the use of the computer.  The first thing I did was remove the Angie page on Facebook.  It got to the point it literally reached one person.  I could reach more if I 'boosted' my page by paying them 10.00 a day.  Although I appreciate 'ya'll' thinking of me, I'll decline and remove the page.  I don't like being strong armed, even with an inoculate word such as 'boost'.

I've even been thinking of leaving Facebook.  What holds me back is keeping in touch with family that live in other states.  My friend list consists of sixty eight friends, mostly family.  Not a lot compared to others.  I'm still thinking about that one.

I've taken a break from the blog because I really didn't think it was a help to anyone.  A friend told me she looked for a post every morning.  I told her I thought it was getting boring for readers because my life isn't too very exciting.  She relayed that's what she likes about it.  She went on to say my posts motivate her to do things.  I have since received a number of requests to blog.

Because of that one statement, I begin again.

THE GARDEN

It's gardening weather.  The cucumber and tomato plants have been transferred to the ground.  I enriched the soil with compost that brewed over the winter.  I now see why it's referred to as black gold.  It's beautiful. 

The moth balls are down around the perimeter of the house to discourage those little creepers from making their home in my territory.

Dill is planted in a pot because this is the first year I've planted it.  I don't know what it's suppose to look like.  I made the mistake of planting the asparagus in the ground without knowing what it looks like.  I don't think any seeded well.  Or, I pulled it out thinking it was a weed.

The spinach I planted last fall survived the winter.  It has already began to bolt.  I've had three salads with it with a couple more in my future.

The garlic is huge!  Well over a foot tall.  I counted thirty two growing which is less than I planted.  (I don't remember how many I planted.)

The blackberry bush has shot out three shoots.  It's so tall I had to clip off a few branches.  This year there are too many berries forming to be able to count them.  Since the birds are multiple this year, I shrouded the plants early.  Jelly, here we come.

Strawberries are huge, too.  I have green berries showing.  This area has a long strawberry season so I'm hoping to have quite a few more.

I've harvested and dried three batches of parsley and planted more in a pot.  They're slow to pop out of the soil, but produce quite a bit of product.

The lettuce, radishes and carrots are doing well, too.  I love this garden.

New to me this year:
Bay leaf that a friend sent me for my birthday.
Dill
Asparagus?
Sunflowers

How is your garden growing?  Please consider using the comment section on the blog if you would like to reply.  Comments are encouraging and helpful to other readers.

Stay safe.