Bit Of A Shock Today

I got a bit of a shock today when I filled up the vehicle, the cost of fuel had jumped 6 cents a liter from $1.29.9 a liter to $1.35.9 a liter. Yikees!!!!

What does this mean in the grand scheme of things???

The cost of shipping anything will go up, which in turn will cause prices to rise. Hey it's not like we are not used to rising prices, but I have a feeling things are going to go wayyyyyy up now.

To Harvey and I now that we are on a fixed budget it could mean reworking things to make ends meet. Right now I am happy that I don't work every day so a tank of gas, unless we go somewhere, will last me for at least a month, give or take a couple of days. It will also mean that if I accept a subbing position it better be for the morning (usually 3 1/2 hours) or an all day position. It would not pay me to take an afternoon spot for 2 1/2 hours. It will also mean that even more of the times I use the vehicle it will be for combined trips.

At the grocery store, well I will certainly be looking for the best possible deals and using as many coupons as I can find. I will also be sending for more freebies (Harvey has been quite surprised over the treats that have found their way to our mailbox the past little while) and doing as many surveys for points or cash that I possibly can.

I am tempted to buy one of those pull baskets so that I can walk to get my groceries and bring them home behind me, just as my Mother used to when I was growing up. Shades of the old days are coming back to haunt me........

We will be using up, making do and doing without a lot more than we had planned. Hopefully things will settle down very soon and after the budget gets reworked things are not as bad as I think they are going to be.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

One Unfinished Project Done, Many To Go

I finally finished the embroidery!!!

Here are some shots of the finished project on my dining room table.

One of the ends of the cloth. You can vaguely make out the small bouquet on the side.

The middle of the table cloth.

Sorry for the shaded area, but we have put in our air conditioner and the sun was shining through the window onto the table.

I started a "new" project. This is for our family reunion, as we always have a silent auction to raise money for the next reunion.

The start of the lapghan I plan on donating. That plus some dish cloths and a couple of ripple scarves will be my donation. Harvey is donating a wine basket with 4 bottles of his homemade wine.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

Getting an early start on things today. Since it is raining (and it is coming down pretty hard), I can not go out for my early morning walk. Hmmm, getting a great deal of inside work done so far this morning.

Anyways, here are my menus for the upcoming week.

Monday

Jambalaya, using up either the leftover frozen chicken or the canned shrimp in the pantry. I plan on making some biscuits to go along with the meal.

Tuesday

Pork chops, rice, and broccoli/cauliflower mix.

Wednesday

Roast Chicken Legs, a package of those noodles I have in the cupboard that need to be used up and some salad.

Thursday

Leftover Chili I froze served over pasta. Hopefully there will be leftover salad from last night.

Friday

Baked Fish, homemade oven fries and coleslaw.

Saturday

I have steak down but not sure what the weather will be like. To be on the safe side I think I will make smoked sausage, corn on the cob, and potatoes.

Sunday

Roast Ham, Rice, and perhaps beets or yellow beans.

So there it is. I have also decided that if the rain continues for too long I just may do some baking.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

Only one day left of our long weekend. Every year it seems like these long weekends go by faster and faster. Kris will be leaving tomorrow morning some time and Harvey and I will be on our own once again. I really miss having a houseful of people and the boys friends over all the time. I guess those days are pretty much gone and I will be grateful for the short visits that they both spend with us.

Speaking of visits or holidays, Harvey and I booked a lovely trip for three weeks all told starting September 16th.  We arranged it so that the garden will be processed, and my plants and flowers will be coming to an end.

We are off to the UK for a wonderful tour!!! I will get to see places where my Great Grandfather on my mother's side lived and saw. Harvey is really looking forward to seeing all the old buildings and places he has only read about in history books.

Hopefully we will have another trip next year to Germany or maybe Italy as Harv has always been interested in the history of that area.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless

More Flower Pictures

I promised these yesterday but because Kris got home and took over the computer, just did not get a chance to post them.

So here are my finished baskets and boxes.

Begonias surrounding the clothes line pole that comes through the deck.

The New Guinea Impatient plants in their shaded corner.

My Fuchsia is hanging in it's regular spot by our outdoor clock.

 The Moonflower and the patio tomato are all set up.

Once my overwintered bougainvillaea looks a bit healthier I will post a picture of it as well.

Kris looked around and asked if I planted way less this year. The answer so far is YES. But who knows what sickly or interesting plants I see while out on my excursions, they could end up in my garden as I have lots of pots left that could be filled.

Off to do some baking!

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Flowers Done!!!

I spent most of today getting my bedding plants out and for some reason I think we could have had even more. Harvey on the other hand says what I have planted is more than enough.

This is what I have at the side door. It is the door we always use to enter our house.

The front patio. It has all my herbs and a few flowers.

My usual hanging baskets on the back of the house. These have vines that will reach the bottom and hang down to add a bit of green to the back wall.

Some colour to attract those elusive humming birds hopefully.

Heliotrope and petunias in one large planter, Coleus in the other.

My impatients corner. This gets so bushy that you can not even see the rack they are sitting on by the end of the summer.

I will share the rest of my planting with all of you tomorrow. 

Now comes the clean up of all the areas. Whew, the job never seems to end.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Planting Season Is Here

The forecast calls for a weekend of rain, so Harvey and I are busy trying to get everything planted before the deluge happens.

Got to get that tiller started!!

Here we go, off and running.

Harvey has finished planting the veggie garden. The only thing missing right now is Eggplant. No one seems to have any, but we will be keeping our eyes open.

The perennial bed is starting to show some growth.

The Daylilies are starting to come. They just needed some heat.

My Asiatic Lilies are poking through. Looks as if they have spread a bit.

The tulips in front are getting buds....Looking good dear.

And I have all my potting soil ready to go.

Tomorrow I will share my flowers and herbs with you. I don't have them all planted yet so I am waiting until everything is done (well as done as it ever is around here, I am always adding more).

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.