I LOVE: The arrival of fall! I hope you’ve had a great September. We also had our trying times. My hubby had covid. My backyard weeds are ridiculous, in my flower beds. It’s just been too hot to bother with them. That’s my next goal. But, overall, it was a good month. There’s something about … Continue reading “TEN THINGS I LOVE ABOUT SEPTEMBER”
I LOVE:
The arrival of fall!
The Texas State Fair begins.
I can open my windows to let in a breeze.
I’m able to go for a walk, and not die of heat within a minute.
School has began again, giving us good schedules to work around.
My piano students are all back from their summer relaxation.
Making pumpkin pie and hearty crockpot meals.
Decorating for Fall and Halloween.
Spending time with my grandkids.
Seeing the change of seasons in the garden.
I hope you’ve had a great September. We also had our trying times. My hubby had covid. My backyard weeds are ridiculous, in my flower beds. It’s just been too hot to bother with them. That’s my next goal. But, overall, it was a good month. There’s something about Fall arriving that makes me want all things cozy.
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We’ve just been through a week of covid. It was a time to think, rest and feel better.
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This past week was going to be one of our busiest weeks of the month. On Sunday morning, at church, Dick was liturgist and I taught Children’s Church. We both enjoy doing these things. I had my two grandkids with me, which made it extra fun. They had spent the night with us, on Saturday night. They are like two peas in a pod. I love how they play together! They were both going to go home, right after lunch on Sunday.
I believe every school district in Texas must have scheduled Grandparent’s Day at their schools, for that week! We had one scheduled to attend, in Waco, for our Granddaughter, Libby. That was on Wednesday. But first, I went to the Dentist, on Monday morning, and that evening, I went to Bunco. When I returned home from a fun night of Bunco, Dick and I figured out what time we would leave for Waco, on Wednesday. It’s an hour and a half drive, so we were going to leave about 9, with a stop at Buc-cees for a gift. Not only would it be her school’s Grandparent’s day, but the next day would be her birthday.
Tuesday afternoon, I gave my two piano lessons. One is a beginner, and is quite enthusiastic! This day, she brought four of her stuffed animals to listen to her lesson. One of these, she sat on the edge of the piano, because he had “a big, fat butt that would sit there nicely.” Yes, yes, I know, my child. We can barely fit on the piano bench, for duets, because of my big, fat butt.
That evening, Dick was sitting in his recliner, with an afghan wrapped around him. Now let’s be completely honest here. I am Woman, He is Man. He always complains about how freezing cold it is in the house. I thought he was trying to make a point. I rolled my eyes. It wasn’t THAT cold! But then, later, he told me he had the chills. Hmmmm. Didn’t sound good.
Wednesday morning, we are 15 minutes from leaving for Waco. Dick said he felt like he was coming down with something. Uh Oh. I suggested we both test for Covid. We had heard, by then, that six other people from church had covid. Dick’s test came back positive. Mind came back negative. I banned him into the bedroom, which also has a couch, the master bathroom, and let him go into the office to watch the news. While he went and laid down, I made phone calls and sent text messages. Here’s most of what I cancelled: My other 10 piano lessons for the week; the Grandparent Lunch with Libby; Choir Practice; the once-a-month Cleaning Lady; Dick’s sister and hubby coming to stay all night with us on Thursday evening; going to my grandson’s (Isaac) Grandparent Day at his school; and heading to OK for the weekend, to celebrate Dick’s sister’s 80th birthday at a big party. There had been a lot of plans for that week!
So, we both stayed home for the week. Dick was feeling sick for several days, though not severely. I used my Freezer Meals, watched TV, and thought about doing yard work, but that thought passed. When Dick was feeling better, past his 5 days of isolation, I had him change out some pictures for me. I got out the decorations for Fall, and have been slowly decorating. We’re slowly venturing out. Dick has gone swimming, and rode his bike for 30 miles. My piano students are back this week. That’s good! Not only did I miss them, but so did Bill, our Black Lab. He LOVES piano lessons!
Sometimes we just need to slow down. We had packed so many things into last week’s plan, that I was wondering how we’d get it all done. I’m sorry we missed out on the activities. But I enjoyed the rest. Kind of. I don’t think Dick enjoyed it. Bill was bored.
And so, God said, “I have given you rest. Now, GET WITH IT!”
Wow! The last two months have been full of things needed for our house . And I’ve used some bargaining chips with my hubby. If it were up to him, we’d sit and think about something new needed for awhile, and he’d save up for it in the budget. That’s not a bad thing…unless we need something immediately! Hmmm.
About two months ago, hubby had finally decided we could get a new hardwood floor in the music room. The carpet was old and stained and embarrassed me when anyone came over. That room is generally a living room, in most houses. I give piano lessons, so it is my music room. Directly across from that room , is our dining room. That carpet was 20 years old. The area rug, under the dining room table, never laid down properly. I wanted to have hardwood in that room too. But Dick wanted to wait and save up for the dining room. He had saved for the music room. When the rug people came, she said it would only be another couple of thousand dollars for the dining room, since it would be done all at once. Here comes my bargaining chip!!! I said I would pay for the dining room, which they said I could pay it gradually for a year. It would come from my piano money. Grumble, grumble. Finally, that’s how we did it. I also bought the area rugs. Oh, it looks SO MUCH BETTER!!! And that, folks, was Bargaining Chip, #1.
We had planned a sibling trip to NYC, for the second week of August. I had saved up about $900 for that trip. However, I barely spent any of that. When we returned , with our suitcases of dirty clothes, our dryer worked for one load. When Dick tried to put his clothes in the dryer, it wouldn’t even start. He ended up going to the laundromat to dry his clothes. (Yes, I know I’m lucky that he does his own laundry.) We were having two groups coming to our house, in the next few days. For some reason, I received a $400 check in the mail, the next day. It was for overpayment to our health insurance. I think it was a God thing, that that came when it did! I signed my name, and put it on Dick’s desk.
So the next day, I went to Lowe’s, took a picture of what I thought would be good…mid-range…and texted my hubby. Well, he thought maybe we needed to think about it for awhile. WHAT??!!! I let him know I was taking back the check, and he would be doing laundry for the household, at the laundromat, for the rest of time. I know, I know…I am not a patient woman!!! The next Sunday, we went out to eat. Across the highway, was a Best Buy. I suggested that we check out their appliances. There we found a great dryer, that could be delivered in two days. And it was time for my Bargaining Chip, #2. I told him that he could use the $400 check for this. In addition, we only had to pay about $300 to buy the dryer. So that was Bargaining Chip #2.
At the last Church garage sale, I sold our kitchen chairs and bar stools. Our round table has a glass top. It has a ton of scratches on it. It looks pitiful. We’ve been sitting on folding chairs. Wondering what to do with that scratched up table. I think we’re going to put it out for bulk pick up. The last thing we put out, was gone by early morning, by the pickups that come around.
Yesterday, I convinced Dick to just shop around for table and chairs, during the Labor Day sales. I said I’d pay half. We ended up at Rooms to Go. We found a table that we could order, but didn’t like the chairs. We ended up sitting on every chair in the store. I am getting old…I need Cushy on the Tushy!! Finally found a kind that we liked. So we ordered the set. I still had some of my $900 savings. We divided up the cost, 50/50. That was Bargaining Chip #3.
I am now out of bargaining tools. But the house is looking so much better. And Mama is a happy woman! I’d better start saving again.
Have a good Labor Day weekend. Let me know what your bargaining chips are! Please press the LIKE button and leave me a comment.
Jim Brown’s Peach Cobbler is the best! Check out the recipe.
I am going to share with you one of my easiest, favorite desserts to make. Recently, I took this to an event, and everyone raved over it. One of the men from our church, Jim Brown, used to make this. Hence…the name, “Jim Brown’s Peach Cobbler”. Probably not officially a cobbler, but not a pie, and not a cake. Just yummy!
Here are the ingredients for the recipe.
2 cans of peach pie filling
1/4 c. of Amaretto or enough Almond extract to spread over filling
17 oz Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
1 c. sliced almonds
1 stick butter.
Preheat oven to 350*. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with non-stick spray.
Spread peach filling in bottom of pan. Pour amaretto or almond extract over filling. Spread sugar cookie mix over top. Sprinkle almonds over mixture. Top with 1 stick of butter that has been sliced and dot over cookie mix. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. It is best to take it out of the oven while the dough is still soft and doughy. Top with whipped cream, ice cream, or eat plain.
Last night, my husband was going to go to a United Methodist Men’s cookout, at one of the members’ home. According to my hubby, there was going to be a cookout, and they were probably going to play dominoes. They could bring either an appetizer or dessert. One guy said he’d bring a bag of chips. I decided to make cookies to send with my hubby.
I made my chocolate no-bake cookies, and they turned out really yummy. Sometimes they work for me, and sometimes they don’t.
Then I decided to try a different recipe. I have my favorite recipe for peanut butter blossoms. I decided to make it into a bar cookie, and put either chocolate chips or hershey kisses on them, to look like dominoes. Clever idea, huh?
Unfortunately, those were kind of dry. I didn’t taste them at the time, because I was hurrying to get ready to go to Mexican Bingo. I was assembling a charcuterie board , to take to that group. Anyway, I found a nice tray, and put a selection of the no-bake cookies on it, and some of the “dominoes”.
My husband said the no-bake cookies were a big hit. The “dominoes” were kind of dry and he had to explain them to the men. The host had no plans to play dominoes! Where did my hubby get that idea???
You win some, you lose some. I tend to try new recipes on friends. This one didn’t work. Tell me….how could I have changed the cookie recipe into a bar cookie recipe? Should I have added another egg? Give me your suggestions. Of course, one of your suggestions might be to only send tried and true recipes off to a party.
What has been some of your wins and losses? I have mainly wins, but this time I threw away all of the rest of the cookie bars. My recipes are kind of like a game of dominoes…you win some, you lose some.
