Thrifty Thursday: Not Quite Done

 

Saturday:  We went to our favorite restaurant today.  As usual we skipped the appetizers, we ordered water to drink and then we brought home half our meal each, which we had for dinner.

Sunday:  John went into the grocery to pick up the chicken for today's dinner.  He also bought me an iced tea and himself a bottle of water and then he got a small fruit cup and a lemon.  Why the lemon?  Because he's on a gig of drinking lemon in his water which will do him no harm at all.

I entered the receipts into both Ibotta (earned 20c) and Fetch rewards.  It all adds up.

Savoring December 2023

 

This is one month that can be very busy and hectic.  It's also a month just full of things that we can enjoy, many of which cost next to nothing.  It's not hard to right a 'Savoring' list for a month like December. 

I'm not going to say I'm doing every one of these things, but I am listing a load of things that I find pleasurable in this month and perhaps some of them might go on your bucket list as well.

#1.  Obviously the putting up of a tree is a moment to enjoy.  I encourage you, even if you live alone or generally don't put up a tree, get a small tree and just put lights on it.  The soft glow is the best sort of ambient lighting, and you'll find it oddly consoling in the dark of the evening and early morning, to see those lights glowing softly.  

December Goals: I'm Not Early...

I was sitting down going over various lists and such and realized that December is a busy-ish month.  It happens that our small groups have all decided to table all meetings for the month and I think that is just as it ought to be.  We've already got one firm commitment for a special program for our church.  There will be other things we wish to do.  It's going to be a busy month.

And for that reason, I'm declaring the last week of November as prime planning time for December and for getting started on all the extra tasks that December can bring.

The Homemaker Plans Her Week: It Goes So Quickly

 

We had a lovely time alone last week. I enjoyed it thoroughly.  I got several tasks done and I rested well.  I am still amazed at how easily we fall into our old routine of work and creative pursuits.

I missed Caleb and Katie like crazy...Seriously.

Caleb goes to school three half days this week.  There will be plenty of free time and plenty of time to fall back into our former routines.  I was telling Caleb on Thursday that he'd be going back to school on Monday and Katie said, "No Mama.  Not until December.  He'll be home all next week.  They are closed."  Ugh.  Not because I don't want to see him...I just hate that he has to miss another week of school.  He honestly thinks we aren't telling him the truth and that he's not going back to school.  I think I'll fix him up a calendar page so he can count down the days until he's back in school.  If weather is pleasant, we'll be spending LOTS of time outdoors and if not, then we'll figure out how to give him enough time outdoors to burn off some energy even if it's just on the porches.

Thrifty Thursday: Two for One

 

Friday:  I don't know why this popped in my mind last night, but there I was at midnight, suddenly thinking of what was in my freezer and one casserole dish in particular that I recall is there.  Which led me to think of the fact that I also tucked some chow mein noodles into the freezer to go with the casserole and then that led me to think of someone saying that chow mein noodles can turn rancid rather quickly.  Which led me to, "Oh! I have another packet of chow mein noodles in the pantry...I should do something with them."  Yes, this is indeed how my mind works.  

That last thought of using the chow mein noodles had me recalling that in the past few months I'd noted that some people make what I call haystacks but with chocolate chips instead of with the butterscotch chips Mama used.  I knew I had a container of mixed salted nuts that we weren't eating as quickly as I'd thought we might...So I had this inspiration to make chocolate haystacks using the mixed nuts.

Diary of a Homemaker's Week: Thankful

 

Saturday:  John was sort of pushed into serving as the worship leader for a ministry that the church has a huge hand in.  Mind you all, the person who 'pushed' did so nicely and brought John and the man who does the ministry together and they agreed that John would be at the Homeless Outreach today.  Of course, John wanted me to come along, something I'd rather dreaded, not because I feel I am above the homeless that they serve, but because I sincerely 'feel' so deeply for these people and the plight they are in, as well as finding myself struggling with old skeletons in my own closet regarding substance abuse and an unwillingness to take responsibility for where they find themselves.  Some are truly just lost souls, not necessarily spiritually lost, but mentally incapable of doing better and without protectors of any sort who could help.  Some appear to be no more homeless than I am but seem to show up routinely for the free handouts and meals.  Seriously.  You can tell the difference.

November Coffee: Abundantly Done

I'm going to take the week off from posting this week.  There will be no menu post and probably no Thrifty Thursday, but I may pop in with a diary post on Friday.  And then, following the holiday, I will be back to my usual schedule of posting.

I want to take time this week to think about my plans for next year.  I have a few categories that I dwell upon and think about and jot down ideas for: spiritual, marriage, family, personal, blog, finances, home.  I think about what I hope life might look like in the year ahead, consider what it has looked like in the year behind.  It's an important process for me, because without that consideration I tend to just sort of drift aimlessly about through the year.  I gave myself that luxury this year without any resolutions made and no real purpose but, in the year, ahead, I foresee that I might possibly be having a bit more time to myself in which I might actually accomplish things.  And then again, life might toss another curveball and whack me painfully in the shin.  One never knows.