Wow It's August

I am not sure what I have been doing but all of the sudden I realized we are in the bottom half of the year.  2023 you are moving too fast, please slow down a little.

Sunday: I had a mostly calm and restful day that was made so much better with a call from Sluggy. We had been texting back and forth but my slightly arthritic fingers really did appreciate the call. It is much easier for me to be on the phone than to type. Plus I laugh more during a conversation. 

Monday: The day was hot, sticky and I really did not want to get out in the weather at all, but Monday was the day for double freebies  (or almost freebies) at The Pig. I will only grab the free items if there are sales that make the $10 minimum purchase worth going to get whatever the free items are. This week they had chicken quarters for .59 a lb. in 10 lb. lots.  I had already decided to grab 20 pounds, but they only had 2 packages left, so I just took one to save it for another shopper. They had a good deal on potatoes, and a brand of ice cream that has a flavor TheHub loves that I don't like. Perfect! Dessert for him and no temptation for me and I spent the required amount to get The Pig's brand of vanilla ice cream  and a box of instant grits.

And yes I am aware I got two containers of ice cream, but one was the weekly free item and was/ will be used to top fruit cobblers (which is also a safe dessert for me since I do not like cooked fruits in any way shaper or form)

Tuesday: Humidity was down so the hot day was just hot, not sweltering. I enjoyed twilight,  my favorite time of day on the screened porch. It was a beautiful twilight, perfectly calm with crickets and katydids singing their little hearts out.

Fairly late at night I had a surprise phone call from my dearest cousin S. She has been in ICU for most of the week, and I had only been keeping up with her via test from her husband and her sister, M. I was beyond thrilled to talk with her and even more thrilled at how good she sounded.

Wednesday: The biggest joy was getting 10 pounds of chicken quarters processed. There was enough chicken for 4 dinner meals (for 2)  plus 4 quarts of broth. I felt pretty good about it, and my freezer loved it. (Though I think it might be time to open the electric pressure canner I bought well over a year ago and can the bloomin' broth)

Thursday: Talked with Sluggy! 

Did a huge house clean up (my least favorite thing in the world to do, but wow the house looks better)

I was waiting for an architect who is to draw up plans for the master bath.  We are not adding one, just taking the existing one down to the studs, requiring permitting, thus an architect. He had to be rescheduled. TheHub had something come up at work and could not be here with me to meet him. 

I am perfectly capable of talking to him by myself, but I want to make sure TheHub and I are both on the same page about the new layout. Plus we are undecided about where the new tub (AKA toilet paper storage container) should go and want us both to hear the architects suggestions. I had just as soon have nothing but a huge shower, but we are looking at selling in a few years and want to have one in place for those who take baths.

Friday: I woke to a clean house and thunderstorms. If that was not a message from the universe to read all day (other than necessary daily home management) I don't know what was. I read The Measure by Nikki Erlick. I can't say the book was a fun read, but it was one to definitely make me think, and I am glad I read it. I was also glad when I finished it so I could move on to a much lighter book and dove into The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise. I was less than a quarter of the way through it when I fell asleep, so the jury is still out whether I like it or not. 

Saturday: Woke to a beautiful morning and it was cool enough to have coffee on the screened porch  Win!!!

After coffee we ate breakfast then took off for our Saturday rounds. 

We go to the produce stand each Saturday but this time we had a longer than normal conversation one of the owners. He told us he dropped out of school after the 6th grade to work full time on the family farm. I did not think on my feet fast enough to let him know how much those of us who do not farm appreciate his chosen profession. I definitely will next Saturday, meanwhile one of my joys is knowing a family whose livelihood is dedicated to providing food for others. I am very thankful I can support their hard work and benefit from it in such a delicious way. 

Look for joys. They are always out there.

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne