In My Home This Week: In September...

In my home this week...

...I am looking forward to cooler temperatures, especially at night, and crisp fall leaves, apple desserts and the smell of wood smoke drifting on the evening air...and I'm waiting impatiently for such a time to come as we finish up summer.  

My anticipation is enhanced by the appearance of trees about the place and in the woods in areas where we drove over the past week and this weekend.  The leaves are changing, some are noticeably changed, others are more subtle.  Outside the living room window a single stem of leaves on the pecan tree has gone solid gold.  I don't recall ever seeing the pecan tree change this early in the season.

In many ways, even though the season has two weeks more before appearing, this weekend signifies the unofficial end of summer for many folks.  From here we are leaning hard towards autumn, getting short timer's disease much as though leaving an old job for a new one.    

All that said, can any of us really think of much except our Texan and Louisiana neighbors?  I've thought of them all through out each day and looked at the houses underwater, debated what, if anything would be of the most import to me under the same circumstances.   I can't even imagine homes that might have hefty mortgage payments, and people who can't go to work or who might not have a job after all is done.  Prayers continue here for all those folks, as I'm sure they do in your own homes.

And just a word of warning:  we're all likely to see some rising prices as things get sorted out in Texas.  Oil refineries are closed, fuel prices will likely rise and that means cost of things will rise, as well.  We've all been through it before and there's not much point in complaining.  Let's just tighten our belts and stretch our resources and keep thinking of those who've lost a lifetime of belongings and dreams.

...I plan my work week:

No plans to labor on Labor Day this year as I did last year.  That said, the vacation time is over and done.  Time to get back to work both on the blog and in my home.  John returns to work at the end of the week.  He has a meeting and a court date mid-week which will take him away from home, but mostly he'll be home the bulk of the week, so not a whole lot of planning going on.

Make up a few freezer meals, some individual entrees and some family sized, and this includes cookie doughs, cake, and perhaps a couple of apple pies.  This sort of work is easily done with John at home, unlike some of the bigger tasks I sometimes I want to accomplish, lol.  

Get the slipcover on the living room chair done.

Do a little autumn decorating.  We visited with Katie this weekend and as I wandered around looking at her new décor downstairs, I couldn't help but notice she'd put out a few fall touches.  It was subtle but definitely fall.  A little later her mother in law stopped in to speak to me and she looked around then turned to me and exclaimed "Oh GOOD!  She's got her fall things out, that means I can go home and pull out mine."  I chuckled to myself that we two fully grown and older women look to Katie as the guide for when to decorate for fall.  However, for all of you, Katie assures me that it's acceptable to put out fall things anytime after September 1.  Just sayin'!

Look online for fabric to replace my desk chair cover and possibly make another, as I've inherited John's old chair from the music room.   I also want some lovely colored velvet to make soft pumpkins with.   I looked at Hobby Lobby for fabric last week not finding anything in the least like what I want, though I did find two nice heavy upholstery quality pieces that I think will be pretty for pumpkins.

If the sun shines, then I'll hang those new white sheers in the living and dining room.  I'll wash the curtains and hang them to dry on the line.

Just continuing to do routine jobs and enjoying the time off that John has.  That's the biggest plan of the week.

...I plan our meals:

Despite meal plans last week I got off track.  Some of it had to do with more leftovers than I'd thought we'd have.  Some of it had to do with a general lack of interest in the meals planned.  We ate out only one day, which I had planned for last week.  

On my own x 1

at Katie's on Saturday

Leftovers on Sunday

rest of the week:

Shredded BBQ Chicken, Chips, Coleslaw, Lemon Pudding

Tuna Salad in Tomato Cases, Deviled Eggs, Potato Sticks

Kielbasa with Potatoes, Carrots and Cabbage, Corn Muffins

Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole, Green Beans, Tossed Salad

...I plan leisure:

"Hazel", "The Danny Kaye Show", "Perry Mason", "Leave It To Beaver"...get the idea?  I've found a bevy of lovely old shows on television and that is what I've been watching these past two weeks.  It's done me as much good as anything I've tried.  

I am especially enjoying "Hazel" who is thrifty and practical.  Did you know she put her nephew through law school?  That she had stocks and bonds she'd purchased, one at a time?  That she used essential oils?  Ah yes to all of these things and that's just what I learned in three episodes!

Listen to good music that fills my soul.

I've found it helpful to look at silly dog and cat pictures for a good hearty laugh or at least long healthy giggles.  I plan to continue this week.  

And read.