Weekend Reading

Isn't it lovely?  The picture, I mean.  Because so far autumn doesn't even begin to describe the appearance of our landscape.  The trees look a little thinner, the lawn looks terribly dry, the flowers look scrappy and the golden rod just can't seem to make that final push and really bloom.  But hey, I've got a picture full of fall beauty right there.

I saw this on MSN last week.  I love big piles of fall leaves and this series of videos captures the joy they can be for kids and pets.

I plan menus here on the blog.  I then forget all about them and have to have the computer up and running in order to see what my plan was.  Nine times out of ten I won't bother.  I thought menu plan sheets might change all that.  I haven't printed any out just yet.  I had to buy new ink cartridges just in case I ran us completely dry, since the warning sign keeps coming up.  Perhaps tomorrow I can choose something pretty and print it out for my home notebook.  Here's a post I found on Pinterest with loads to choose from.



I don't have Microsoft Office on my computer.  I refuse to pay the huge price for it.  I'd heard of this program earlier this week.  Virginia got a new computer and installed this program but it played heck with the particular word program software that makes up her work.  I don't know how this will work on anyone's computer but it's free and if you don't need something very specialized or specific it might be a great answer for you.  Apache Open Office.

I have really been enjoying the ideas behind the posts at GoodCheapEats.  This one asks some relevant questions about rethinking the grocery budget.  And this one has some good ideas for cutting down on meal prep time.  I don't have to have dinner on the table quickly, but if I'm in the midst of a project I sure do like to cut out all the stuff that takes me away from my project work.

I happen to like to clean bathrooms (except to scrub the shower).  I think sparkling white porcelain and shiny chrome are the most rewarding of cleaning jobs.  That said, I know it's not to everyone's taste and some of you might even like to {{shudders}} dust, instead.  To each his own.  That said, we must all clean the bathroom and why not make a grand job of it and be done with it?  You might appreciate these professional hints in this post.

I love my gas stove and oven.  I don't like the idea of cleaning it and mixing gas fumes and pilot light with crazy oven cleaning chemicals.  This MOO (sort of a trademark from this blog that stands for Make Our Own) oven cleaner.  Anabelle tried it and liked it.  I'm going to try it myself, though I confess I have found that just wiping it out each time I use it is the very best method of all for keeping it clean.  And while you've got the site pulled up look at all her other MOO mixes.  You might find something useful!

That's it for this week.  There's the most wonderful bit of sunshine coming through the sheers that I kind of want to gaze at just now.  Enjoy your weekend!