The Week Behind: Patiently Content

Saturday:  An absolutely beautiful day today.  Ever more green with each morning, nature is showing itself bound by no man, no calendar and no virus.

No work for us today.  I do make the bed, but dishes are rinsed and stacked, meals are super easy.  Today we had frozen fried chicken.  It was okay.  Not horrible, not great.  This was an item we used to buy years ago as a treat but the quality is not the same.  It was edible but I'll not purchase this particular brand again.



Jenny of Elefantz suggested that we take up our UFO projects (Unfinished Objects) and finish them during these days at home.  A good sound suggestion...I found myself restless today and needing to get some space between John and I.  We weren't spatting but sometimes...So I pulled out the adult coloring books and found several pictures I'd started but not finished.  I finished one of those UFOs this afternoon.  I promised myself last month a bit of creative expression in every day and I'm going to go back and take up that promise once more...I really enjoyed the time I spent coloring.

Meals:  Bagels, Bananas
              Pizza
              Fried Chicken, French Fries, Coleslaw
              (drive-thru made at home)

Sunday:  One thing about Saturdays: It gives me rest enough to be excited to start my work week.  After finishing up my post and sending it out, I determined that I could likely work outdoors before church service aired this morning. 

I watch Youtube's Mandy in the Making each week.  She put up a recipe for an easy Sausage and Egg Muffin a couple of weeks ago and then I watched as Jessica O'Donohue made them.  Then instagram exploded with others who posted they'd made them.

It's a protein rich muffin but it's not too egg-y.  It has a nice tender crumb to it.  I want to share this recipe with y'all because it's a good easy make ahead breakfast that you can double or triple and stash in the fridge.

Mandy's Sausage Egg Muffins
1 cup Bisquick (If you don't have this item see notes below)
4 beaten eggs
1 cup shredded cheese
1 pound of browned ground sausage

Drain the sausage if it's very fat.  Add all ingredients to the bowl and mix well.  Scoop into greased muffin tin and bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes.

*I do not keep Bisquick on hand so I mixed up 1 cup all purpose flour, 1 1/2 tsps baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt and 2 tbsps cooking oil.  This worked just fine.

My muffin pan is not a giant sized one but it does make large sized muffins.  I filled just half full and still got just 7 muffins from the mix but you ought to get 1 dozen regular sized ones without any problems.

I also prepared a half batch of apple muffins and we had one of each this morning...Well John had two of the sausage muffins and I ate 1 1/2...There's plenty for our breakfast another morning.  I hope you'll give this a try, especially if you've got family at home just now.  Imagine just getting up and popping one in the microwave and settling down with a cup of coffee instead of having to scramble together a breakfast for everyone.

After breakfast, I cleared up dishes from Saturday which mostly involved loading the dishwasher.  Made our bed, picked up our room and bathroom and after glancing over house to see if anything more needed to be done, I headed outdoors.

First task was to sort through the stuff at the end of the porch.  I emptied the old trashcan with a lid and discovered that the plastic bottom is starting to breakdown a bit so it has 'natural' drainage.  This made me determine to move it behind the shed to use as my next compost bin since the trash can John drilled holes in for me last year has gotten full.   I found I had two five gallon buckets with holes drilled in the bottom that I will use to pot tomatoes.  I have two nice plastic pots that I will use indoors to put houseplants in.  They do not have drainage holes but I'll put a good layer of broken pottery and get some deactivated charcoal to put in the bottom of those pots before I fill them with soil.  I have loaded up the 'new' compost bin with things meant to go out to the shed and all the tools are gathered in one place so that they too may go to the shed to be properly stored.

Then I moved all my pots from the little bed beside the back steps and weeded it well, touched up the mulch with some fresh mulch from the last bag I purchased last fall.  I set the base of the planter in the bed and we shall be able to fit it there very well with room to spare for tomatoes and flowers, too.

I noted a small hole in the siding and suggested John caulk it now before I refill the bed.  While he was doing that I went to work on the flower bed between the faucet and the AC unit.  I discovered that TA DA!  The Clematis I planted last spring that 'did nothing' had come up!!!  Right now they are about a foot tall.  I was so pleased.   In that bed, I dug weeds from pots...The Dianthus is lovely and the Angelonia is putting out little leaves at it's base.   Then I started tying up rose vines that were creeping everywhere except upon the arbors.   And last I broke off all the old Lantana stems. 

I have a love hate relationship with this Lantana.  It's an old fashioned variety that gets quite large. Bees and butterflies LOVE it.  It smells a bit like cat pee to me though, so I don't want it near the house at all.   However, I've been digging this particular section of plant out for YEARS now and always there is some remnant of root that sprouts and makes a HUGE new plant each spring.  When I was breaking off stems today, one piece came up that had two tiny stems of new growth. I shoved it in a pot.  Why am I planting something I love/hate to start a new plant?  Because I have this idea it would be rather pretty planted in a row with forsythia and quince in an old abandoned flower bed that is between a sort of oval of drive where cars come up one side and go down the other to head back into the driveway.  It's away from the house.   And currently the kids keep driving over my forsythia and spider lilies despite rocks...I figure if a honking big bush of some sort is planted there they won't drive over that!

John made quick work of caulking the little hole in the siding.  I then instructed John to spray the two baby sweet gum trees in the bed  i was working in with weed killer.  This is an ongoing battle.  Much as I love the sweet gum the roots run over a huge space of ground (we even found them under the house!)  Now and then little trees will spring up, always right next to the house or under a rose bush.  I fight these annually.

While he had weed killer out, I asked him to go spray the outside edges of the flower bed rocks that edge the back porch...It wasn't until much later that I discovered he'd brought his coffee outside and had apparently meant to settle to enjoy it on the porch.  My bad!  I should just make up a honey do list and let him tackle things as he is ready to work each day but he never said a word, just did what I asked which was very nice of him.   I've been far less patient with him interrupting my duties and leisure these past couple of days.

I can't paint the planter until I put bleach on the mildew and clear it off.  I think I'll paint the whole unit with a white mildew/algae resistant paint that we have on hand and then coat it with my pretty color paint.

We came indoors just in time for church.  While music service was on, I took a quick shower, but hung the clothes I'd worn outdoors on the line to air because I literally had them on only about two hours.  And since there is plenty more work to be done tomorrow, I see no point in putting them in to be washed.

While service was on, I sat at my desk with the fan blowing fully upon me.  I'd gotten pretty warmed up while working outdoors and the shower didn't really cool me off much.   I colored another not quite finished page as I listened to the pastor preach this morning.

John headed over to Sam's.  They plan to cut trees in both our yards today.  I gathered up the things I've saved for the chickens and added in some pieces of bread that are really just over running me at present.  I have plenty of croutons and plenty for making bread crumbs but I can't really afford to make a strata at present (too much cheese required) and really...I'm not terribly fond of loads of strata for just the two of us anyway.   I had started a bucket of things for the chickens but they molded and I wouldn't take them those  the other day.  Instead I started a fresh bucket which I kept in the fridge with a lid.    I walked over to the chicken pen which is a little more than halfway between our two homes. I swear those chickens said "Thank you!"  I'm happy to bolster their feed with things they might eat from our home.  Those chickens feed us plenty of eggs and it's my way of giving back a little to them.

Pulled leftover tuna pasta salad from the fridge for lunch for myself.  There's enough for John to eat the same when he decides he's hungry.   I cooked some barbecue chicken breasts on Friday afternoon and I think we'll have that for supper this evening.

Made my pillow cover for the chair pillow.

Matched fabrics up for aprons and found my apron pattern.

Made a new cover for the Kitchen Aid from a vintage pillow case.  Now I can change them out as I get them dirty.

John and Sam took down a very big cedar tree in Sam's yard.  The plan had been to cut down two trees in our yard as well but I think the guys got too hot and too tired.  John came in looking spent.  I felt pretty much the same.  Between the work in the yard this morning and the heavy sweating after my shower I am pretty sure I got depleted.  I had some electrolyte drink and put the rest of the bottle in the fridge for John.  Glad I did.


Meals:  Mandy's Sausage Egg Muffins/Apple Muffins
              Tuna Pasta Salad   Oranges
              Hot Dogs, Coleslaw, French Fries
             Not on the menu plan.  I was just drained after my session in the yard this morning followed by sweating so heavily after my shower.  We put the coleslaw on our hot dogs, Slaw Dogs we call them in the South.  

“To be content doesn’t mean you don’t desire more, it means you’re thankful for what you have and patient for what’s to come.” Tony Gaskins
I borrowed this from a blog this week...I know it's a quote but I borrowed it after seeing it on her blog post.

Monday:  Gracious it is Monday isn't it?  Let me see...yesterday we watched church online..Yes.  Today IS Monday.

I should say it's all this stay at home that's got me discombobulated but I've been struggling with days of the week since John started that silly 24/48 shift work two or three years ago...And though he's not worked like that in six months I'm still having a hard time getting my days straight!

I kept things simple this morning for breakfast and once Sam got here to help John cut down the persimmon around back that was crowding in my Sweet Gum, I hurried to do my few chores, which included stripping and remaking our bed and putting a handful of dishes away in the dishwasher.   Then I too headed outdoors and started priming that planter. 

Bess and the boys came along before I was done but the baby was placed in a baby chair near the inside of the back door, so I could see and hear her, the boys were sent to play in the yard and I finished off priming until I ran out of paint in my pan...Then I cleaned up and we all came indoors to be with Millie.

The boys wanted to watch a Baby Grampa video and I held that delicate and dainty little girl.  She was very somber today.   I got a bare half smile and then she was back to frowning but she looked the house over really well before deciding that her tummy was gassy and hurt badly.  This only resulted in her blowing bubbles, getting hiccups and scowling now and then with not one whimper.

Once the guys had loaded up all the limbs and carried them over to Sam's burn pile, he and John came back here.  Sam assured me he'd insisted on John having a heavy electrolyte drink today while at his place.  He told me he was just as wiped out as we were yesterday afternoon.  Yesterday's high was 85 and it was humid and thick.  Today we've topped out at 78 and there's a lovely cool breeze blowing.

When Sam and the children left, I went back to finish priming the pieces and then came indoors to make  up lunch.   It was nothing fancy and not really satisfactory but it was food, it was eaten and now we shall not have that batch of leftovers before us.

Back out after lunch to paint my pieces that lovely bright coral pink that I'd chosen.  I'll show you a picture...

Do you know that after lunch paint time was just peaceful as could be.  Carpenter bees kept pausing to see what I was up to and apparently admired that pretty color a good deal.  The breeze blew just enough to keep me comfortable.  The birds chirped and I realized as I was painting that at some point I'd completely emptied my mind of every.single.thing and was in fact simply in the moment of paintbrush and nature.  It is a rare thing for me to get to that space of being.  My head speaks too loudly and too incessantly for me to ever meditate but now and then it happens.  And today it happened and though I felt physically weary by the time I was done, I felt emotionally, mentally and spiritually that I'd drawn water from a well that I'd been thirsting after for a long time.

I was able to get all the pieces painted in about an hour and a half.   Just as I was finishing up John came out and said he was going to mow.  "I'll do the bottom first, then work behind the sheds and up at the top of the hill before working around the house.  That way your work will probably be dry."   I'm very grateful he thought of my own hard work in his plans.  Some men mightn't be so thoughtful!

I headed in to get a shower and felt pretty much all gone, all over again.  I thought about that ready prepared, already thawed casserole in the fridge and I just couldn't abide the thought of one more casserole at present.  I took two small sirloin steaks from the freezer and put them on the counter to thaw.   Not a hard meal to prepare and most certainly not another chicken casserole.  I expect that will be a meal for us Tuesday or Wednesday.

I want to share something I heard yesterday evening on a television interview and I know it's going to alarm a few, but I also know that not everyone hears the same interviews and I believe this is something we all need to pay attention to.  One of the senators was speaking with a reporter and he said  that the cycle of this virus is to die back in the heat of summer but then to ramp up again when cooler seasons return.  He said that we're looking at a year and a half at the least of dealing with this thing overall.

That is a pretty damned sobering statement and it shook me awake.  This truly is the 'new normal we're experiencing and it is just beginning.   He didn't say we'd be socially isolating for all that time but it's likely that we will be asked to at some point again in the year if things have already peaked for now.

I realized that it's a sort of call to those of us who want to be prepared to do what we can as we can about stocking supplies and food or planting gardens, gathering home school supplies, saving money now for later, etc.  This time we've had thus far is likely our first trial run of what life could be like the rest of this year and part of next.

Meals:  Peanut Butter Toast/ Banana
             Used the last of that buttermilk oatmeal bread...I think I'll try my hand at a new loaf tomorrow.
              Leftovers: fried chicken (1 small piece each), Chicken Wild Rice Casserole (less than a 1/2 cup each), Orange Slices, and John had a half slice of bread.
              Steak, German Potatoes, Green Salad
              I realized as we ate tonight that what I was really craving was that green salad...Note to self...It's the season to stay stocked with lettuce. Admittedly a little bit harder due to checks being just 8 days apart this month and limited fridge space.

Tuesday:  We were watching TV last night when John got a text asking if he'd work today.   He said yes, reluctantly, but yes...And now that he's at work he's working three days in April, including this Friday.  Note to self, he needs lunch foods...Best put that on my grocery list!

So he was up at 5 this morning to get ready.  Due to lack of space at work he asked if I could make him a lunch that required no refrigeration.  That I could do easily.  It's not as hard as it sounds.  Peanut butter/jelly, bread, crackers with peanut butter, canned chicken Vienna sausages, banana, and an electrolyte drink, plus some cookies.

I made him breakfast and sent him off with his packed meal.

After he left I put a load of clothes on to wash: sheets and towels.  He'll be doing a load when he comes in tonight as well as showering simply due to the nature of his work and the current environment.

Remade the Buttermilk Oatmeal Bread...And y'all it is delicious!   The only problem I'm currently having is that (a) I don't have bread flour so I'm using AP and (b) apparently despite measuring the yeast I have according to a trouble shooting site, my bread is getting too much yeast.  So I'll cut back a wee bit until I find that sweet spot.  This is not just a problem with the Oatmeal bread but the Easy White Bread recipe as well.  Both rise but during the baking it's like they collapse so the top is sunken.  Everything else about the bread is fine: texture, crust, taste but that slumped down top.

Anyway, here's my amended recipe and please note that I didn't use the measurements I posted in comments last week and I did do something else different so read on:

Buttermilk Oatmeal Bread

1 1/4 cups buttermilk, I increased by 1/4 cup.  I also heated in microwave to just above room temperature.  Last week's buttermilk was straight out of fridge.  It did separate a bit but I used it anyway and it worked fine!
3Tbsps. Sugar I increased this amount by 1 tbsp.
1/2 cup oatmeal decreased by 1/4 cup 
1 tsp salt
3 tbsps. cooking oil or softened butter
2 1/2 cups bread flour I am using what I have which is AP
2 tsps. bread machine yeast

Optional: this week I added a half cup of raisins and 1 tsp. of cinnamon powder

I used a 1.5 pound loaf setting on my machine.

This amended bread smelled so good baking and I barely let it cool before slicing off that rough top edge so it was level all around.  I ate that part of the loaf with some butter and it was every bit as good as it smelled.

As I said I'll play with my yeast to find the decreased amount that works best for it. I don't know why it's doing as it is, since it's the same brand of yeast I'd been using but I'll tweak it and see how it goes.

Not a big cooking day for me today with John gone.  I need to load the dishwasher before he comes in tonight.

I was going over the fridge trying to decide what would be best for a late supper for him tonight and remembered the BBQ chicken I cooked this weekend while making another meal.  It's just breast meat that I cut in half lengthwise to make fillets and then topped with Bbq sauce.  I'll make him a sandwich from that.

Remembered that we have a package of cream cheese in the fridge that apparently froze at some point.  The use by date was August 2020 but it was crumbly and grainy.  John was going to toss in the trash and I threatened him if he did, lol.  I told him I'd do something with it. Tonight I saw the jar of salsa, the packet of cream cheese and thought I'd make that yummy and simple corn chip dip.   Here's what I discovered: I used the whisk attachment on my mixer and the crumbly/grainy cream cheese whipped smooth even before I added the salsa.  I realized that I might add in flavored fruit jams or honey to make a spreadable cream cheese for our bagels or toast or as a dip for fruit slices.  Definitely going to keep that in mind because every now and then as a package nears expiration date I'll toss it into the freezer. 

Wednesday:  Grocery Day which was oddly enough very much anticipated, dreaded, excited and anxiety causing all at once.  First there's just the fact of leaving the house, period. I did tell John that we need to get out and just ride since we live in a rural county.  I do think it will help mentally. 

Anxiety and dread was due to the fact that we had offered to pick up anything needed by our neighbor and Mama and I wasn't sure what we would find for any of us, what sorts of limits we would be facing, etc.  Confession time, the anxiety over dealing with Mama's list was higher than concerns over my own very long list of needs...

So we stopped at neighbor's only to discover her two daughters had attended to her needs that day.  I was glad for her and we went on to Mama's.  I knew when she said "I have a list" that it would be a longer one.    When we arrived at her home her first request was for us to bring her fast food. I refused.  I'd made sure to keep my distance from her and told her we were not going to expose ourselves more than necessary today but we would be shopping at two stores, Aldi and Publix and would get what we could at each.   And for the record, I did pick her up something at the deli which pleased her when I returned  but I again made her keep her distance from me while I unloaded her things.

All in all it went well enough.  Aldi was out of some things and yet had others.  Publix actually had more empty spaces on their shelves but unlike at Aldi I didn't walk every aisle.  It wasn't an easy day nor especially difficult. I experienced a stupid amount of anxiety in trying to get things for Mama which was exacerbated by John's just wanting to be done with it all and saying so repeatedly.   I finally shushed him and told him to just let me do what I needed to do to get it all done.  I did tell Mama we'd only be going to the two stores so if she didn't get some things that was how it would be.

I picked  up lots of produce for us and Sam and Bess.  I shared quite a bit more than they asked for and when I was asked why, I told Bess simply that it was a fair trade for the eggs and venison they so generously share with us.  And it is indeed.

No real supper for us tonight.  We ate a late lunch  before we headed home though I'd no intention of going to fast food, but blood sugar drop demanded we do something and pretty quick.  John took the long way home which was lovely.   I called Bess as soon as we got home and unpacked produce for her then sat and chatted with her.  After she left,  I finished unpacking groceries.  I looked at the clock as I put the last item away and it was 6:45!  I couldn't believe how very long the day had been!

As Lana mentioned in her comment on this week's coffee chat, I planned no meals before shopping because I was unsure of what I'd find.  Because I know I often buy basics, and most of our meals are made from basics, it's no hardship to shop without a list or a plan.   I did go over my pantry and freezer to determine what we might best use if it were available. 

John asked if we hadn't spent more than usual and yes we did.  In fact I spent 3/4 of my monthly budget today.  I assured him that we had the money in the account and I'd adjust when we get our next check and spend less then.   I showed him this evening how much of what we purchased went into our pantry.  We didn't buy more than one of most items even if they were unlimited, but I did keep in mind our pantry/freezer stock and what would augment us best.

I made a smoothie for my late supper.  John opted for cereal and toast.

Do you know what did us the MOST good today?  It wasn't just getting out of the house.  The truth is that being in the stores was pleasant enough and people tried hard to keep distances between them.  Having to be so very aware of where people were did create a distraction and that led to stress as it was easy to miss things that were on my list.  I did some back tracking several times.   But the part that did us the most good of all, was John's decision to take the long way home.

There's a little town that I've always loved in John's work county.  I have admired it for years upon years and several times when house hunting in both my first marriage and this one, we have actually looked at homes in that town.   Well, I have my home here now but to drive through that little old town still gives me pleasure.   Then from there out into the country proper and crossing the river that an old ferry used to cross and back into our own county along roadways we haven't traveled in a long while.  Spring green leaves, waving fields of green wheat, red clover blooming were just lovely to see.  I felt tensions melt from my shoulders and I chattered away about all sorts of things.   I told John that was some of the best medicine I could have had, that extra bit of riding.

Goodness, it's late...I need to finish up and get ready for bed!
Meals:  Cheese toasted Raisin bread
             Burger and Fries
             Smoothie (me) Toast and Cereal (John)
Thursday:  It's done the expected thing now that April is here and turned off considerably cooler.  I had to bring in my ivy and parlor palms last night but left the rest of the plants outdoors.  There was no chance of frost but I felt the other plants would normally be outdoors in that sort of weather, unlike the ivy and palm.

Not a lot of work done today.  My hip has ached for unknown reasons.  Basic housework was quite enough to do.  I saw no need to try to do anything heavier.

So typically I made Shabat bread on Thursday.  Mindful of what I'd read that I might be using too much yeast (even though it's the measurement I'd used all along) I decreased the yeast by 1/4 teaspoon and also let the yeast bloom for only 6 minutes.  Success!  I had a lovely loaf with a beautifully rounded top.  The thing I'd kept doing was adding a bit more and it was the exact opposite of what was needed.  It had never occurred to me that yeast might be greater in strength, but there you are.  Now I've solved my mystery I shall experiment with a French Loaf on my bread machine.

I opened windows this afternoon until I began experiencing a headache that I'm pretty sure is pollen induced.    I actually got a bit cool and had to put on my jacket while the windows were open.  Ironic that the moment we shut them the AC came on.

I've been lax with my Pre-Algebra studies these last two weeks but I did manage to finish another chapter today.  I went ahead and did the end of chapter review when I finished off the last section.   I'm going to get myself in form once again and do my studies 5 days a week as I had ought.

Part of my push is because I've told Bess I'd help with Josh's home schooling.  I think per our last texts I'm going to be music/arts and crafts a couple of days each week for an hour or two.   I'm looking forward to that.   We'd been discussing it yesterday before I heard that the governor has said no more school for this year.  There will be remedial work next school season but we don't want Josh too far off base.

I've also had a hard time doing the reading I'd promised myself I'd do.  Why?  I think part of it is that I have three books I've started and all three have palled for one reason or another.  I am pretty sure I've stalled on the one book because I had expectations about it and the book wasn't meeting those expectations.  So I'm going to start it up again with a clear mind.   I think I'm just going to do all three the same. I started them all quite some time ago and then just dropped off and picked them up again.  I'll likely get more from them if I start fresh.

Friday:  The weeks seem to fly by and drag slowly like cold molasses all at once...How can it be so?  It seems it was just a day or so ago that I began this post.   I've thought of dozens of things to add or mention or to write in a separate post.   Do you all want/need to hear my extra thrifty tips?  Are your stores still poorly stocked?  I have been so focused on what is going on in Georgia that I haven't paid attention to any news other than New York's which seems to be front and center of the news reports.
If you would find posts like my budget tips two weeks ago helpful, or need help in transforming pantry items into meals,  or want to know how to start building a pantry, or harvesting at home from your own kitchen, etc.  please let me know in the comments.

John is at work this morning.  I've got a second load of laundry in already.  My first was his big old fuzzy robe and a Queen sized blanket of similar material that has been used all winter.  Now it's master bath rugs and entry door mats.  Next week I'll put in kitchen rugs and the guest bath rugs to wash together.  I'm hanging things on the line, but the robe and blanket will go into the dryer later this afternoon when they have thoroughly sunned.  The dryer will pick up the pollen on those items then.  Not so concerned over the rugs.  We don't wear or sleep under those!

I sent John off with a lunch and breakfast this morning.  He was dreading going in.  I told him this morning, "Then you know your limits now.  A shift in a couple of weeks time is fine but two days in a week's time is too much if you're feeling angst over it."   He's signed up to do two days at the end of the month, as well, but I'll make sure come May to remind him that a couple of shifts a month or just once a week is plenty!

He is convinced he needs  to work, in the financial sense.  We don't know if our main retirement funds will recover...but what we do have is secure and we can manage on it until I 'retire' next year, albeit the budget is snug compared to what he made when working.  I think when I say we haven't money for larger projects he'd like to work on that he thinks there is no money at all.  I can and do plan to start setting funds aside for his bigger wants but as with all things, the budget comes first.  He has an auto deposit that goes directly to savings from each of his paychecks and I'm trying to insure that the bulk of what he earns extra does go into 'savings'  of some sort after tithes are paid, whether it's a sub-account for his wants for his work shop/tools or into a proper savings account.

I have almost finished my work for the week, at least as much as I feel I want to get done.  I've done enough extra this week to feel comfortable in taking another slower day.  I've cleaned our bath, straightened up house, made the bed, done my Bible study, swept off the front porch.  It's too cool to go out with water to clean that porch so it shall wait until the weather warms up once more in the mornings.  My last tasks today will be to hang the rugs, run the vacuum over the carpet and empty the trash and compost.  I should check over the fridge to see if I've any leftovers that need to be transformed.  Oh and plan meals for the day and weekend and do any prep I can towards that end.  I won't make a big meal today.

I am just longing for a fish dinner but I haven't any on hand.  I'm not eager to run into town to the grocery and certainly not to pick up fast food anywhere.  I do have a small can of salmon in the pantry...I think I'll just make that up into patties for my dinner...Just must come up with something for John's supper tonight as he's not going to eat salmon in any form!

I was sweeping the porch this morning and realized that one of the amaryllis was in a lovely solid white container.  It will be just fine for re-potting one of the houseplants.  I'd said I was going to look for new, prettier pots for the houseplants as I find the cheap black or dark green plastic ones make the plants themselves appear cheap.  I'll plant the amaryllis in the flower bed along with two more I have.  They do beautifully in the ground here if Maddie doesn't cover them up with dirt when she starts digging.   They like their shoulders bare, much as an Iris does.

Well dears, I'll end here and send this post off early to make up for how late it was going out last Friday.    Have a wonderful weekend.  If weather allows, get outdoors and soak up some sun.  Listen to the birds sing and breathe in the fresh air.  It does a world of good in our days of social distancing.
Hugs to all!

Oh and do stop in and share what you've been doing this week.   And don't forget to comment if you're interested in my heavier duty savings sorts of tips.