Diary of a Homemaker's Week: Good to the Last Drop

 

Late Friday:  Katie texted me late this afternoon because the Women's Wellness Center had called her back due to low iron labs.  It has dropped by about .8 points though she is taking a supplement.  However, when she looked up her symptoms, they perfectly align with all of her various ailments, aches, and pains.  However, no one seems to be in a great hurry to do much of anything about it.  Nor did they when they tested her as low iron several weeks ago.  She started taking the supplement on her own...

Thrifty Thursday: Another Month Glides On By

Friday:  Thursday evening meal:  Lasagna (from freezer), Salad, Garlic Bread

We've puttered around the house today.  I did my usual Friday/Shabat cleaning and then I did a few tasks extra.  John stirred himself to go outdoors and do a bit of work, after he'd done all the laundry today.

When I cleaned out the buffet on Wednesday, I had a huge stack of cloth napkins that looked dingy and grey and didn't smell very nice, even though they were all clean and had been put away freshly washed.  I had read of others boiling dishcloths and tea towels and I thought I'd try that with my napkins.  I put them into a tall, heavy bottomed stock pot (an Aldi find some years ago which has lasted very well...Hint:  Don't snooze on the Aldi Crofton cookware offerings!).  I filled the pot with water and baking soda.  Later, when it had begun to 'stew' John and I glanced in the pot and were shocked at how filthy the water looked.  Honestly, you'd think I'd started with dirty mop water, not freshly drawn water!   

Iced Coffee Chat: Playing House

 

I know it is not Autumn.  I know that, even should we have an earlier autumn, that date is likely beyond September 21, but this past week with chilly mornings and breezy, sunny days that were comfortably cool, I got bitten by the Autumn bug.  I'm so ready for it.

I've spent the past few days cleaning and playing in my house.  I've hung pictures, and decorated the mantle in the living room with a fresh look and am constantly looking for some item I can move into a fresh spot where it will once again garner notice.  

The Homemaker Plans Meals: It's HOT Again

 

Mid-week we're soaring back into the upper 90's in temperatures.  I'm not keen on it but it's August and I can expect nothing less.  But boy am I longing for the homier comforting sorts of foods.  I'm this way every single year about this time.  I want soups and stews and casseroles, but it is absolutely salad weather. Ho Hum.  That's how I feel.  

However, planning meals makes my life a lot easier so I'll plan meals, no matter how uninspired I might feel at this moment...I do love to cook, I do love to cook, I do, I do, I do...

The Homemaker Plans Her Week: Squeezing the Last Drops out of August

 

It's going to be HOT this coming week.  But we had the most awesome Autumn preview, much cooler than we're accustomed to having, this past week.  And the truth is that for the most part, we've had one of the most pleasant August's we've had in years.  In fact, the whole summer has been rather nice.  A little stressful here and there but for the most part, an easy relaxed summer.  I've enjoyed it very much.

Diary of a Homemaker's Week: Autumn Preview

 

Saturday:  I was not happy to hear the alarm go off this morning.  The night was far too short for my liking!  But we had plans and a timetable, so I got up and got ready for the day.  I'd planned in enough extra time to have a leisurely cup of coffee.  That's my gift to me on these sorts of days.  I'll do the same tomorrow before church, too.

John performed for the Outreach ministry.  We were all done and wrapped up a good bit earlier than usual.  That's because a different pastor subbed for the one who runs the ministry.  I enjoy the people watching.  Over the past year I've watched one little boy go from baby to toddler boy and each month I look forward to seeing how he's changed.  Another little family came in, a mama and three children.  The glow on her face as she looked at each of those children!  And the care she'd put into making sure those three were presentable.  It was a joy to see how she talked and laughed with them.  It was very genuine.

Thrifty Thursday: It Adds Up

Friday:  Meals yesterday: Plain Toast for both of us

                                           Lunch Out.  We brought half our meals home.

                                           Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole, Green Beans, Sliced Tomatoes

Yesterday we went to the grocery store to pick up my prescription refill.  I did get a couple of BOGO deals that were well priced, and which went into the pantry.  I also got cartons of Orange Juice on sale.  I've been pricing the frozen concentrate, and this was about the same.  The cartons are dated for October, but I freeze them so we can just pull one out to thaw.