5 things . . .

Five favorite summertime treats:

• Cotton candy

• Homemade lemonade

• Berries, berries, berries

• Grilled burgers and brats

• Smore's, of course!
  

Just a little push . . .

Last night, as I was driving home from the grocery store, I came upon a father and two sons riding their bicycles up a long hill. They boys were really pumping to make it up the hill. About halfway up the father reached out his hand and put it on his younger son's back and gave him a little push.

To me that was a very endearing moment.

Don't we all a little push sometimes. A little help along the way. I am blessed to have people in my life that can give me that little push every once in a while.

Rushin'

Today was a long day.

1) I got up early (yeah, I know) and went with my dad to film the areas that were flooded a couple weeks ago.

2) Then I went to the library and worked extra hours.

3) I went to church and did my thing there.

4) Then I mowed my lawn . . . that grass just keeps growing and growing.

5) Now I'm doing laundry and packing.

My family is going down to TX to visit my grandparents this weekend. So tomorrow we are going to be traveling -- to the airport and then to TX.

::sigh::

And right this minute I'm taking a blog break. :-)

Wordle . . . wait . . . what?

The sister pointed me to this website yesterday and I had a chance to mess around with it today.

I used this verse:

He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:29-31

I needed to be reminded of this today.

Smell-o-vision

I really wish I could post a scent because these smell so lovely!

5 things . . .

5 favorite board/card games:

• Skip-bo
• Trivial Pursuit
• Catch Phrase
• Phase Ten
• Scrabble
  

We're cooking now!

I just finished making cheesecake. Well, technically, I'm not finished as it is in the oven baking but I really can't take credit for what the oven is doing for me.

I have to say -- it is so much easier and much more fun cooking in a very clean kitchen!

And, as I am sitting here finished (see above), it is still clean! Dishes are in the dishwasher . . . and the counters are clean. You can't see a speck of powdered sugar.

[Note: I had a mishap with the powdered sugar bag as I was pulling ingredients out of my pantry. Apparently the powdered sugar wanted to join the party. I stuffed it into a freezer bag. No parties for the messy ones.]

Now, I just have to wait for the cheesecake to bake and hope for the best.

It has been a while since I have made cheesecake and I used a recipe I am not familiar with. We shall see.

Isn't it beautiful????

My kitchen . . .

that I cleaned from tip to top in and hour this evening!

My kitty . . .

who apparently believes the unusually temperate weather is a heat wave.

The sunset . . .

I captured a couple evenings ago.

I'm walking

I have been walking a lot the last couple days. Which is good . . . for both my body and my mind. Obviously, it is good to get up and around. It is also is relaxing.

Tonight walking home from work was the best part of my day.

I am trying to get in as much walking as I can -- hopefully it will become a habit.

A walking habit.

Resolutions revisited

As I begin my second year of blogging (yea!) I thought I would evaluate the progress of my New Year's resolutions.

1) Spending habits & saving -- I'm getting better at this. Using coupons, curbing my unnecessary spending, saving more, paying off my debts.

2) Household management -- I still haven't gotten the hang of this one yet but I am still working on it. I think this one is hard simply because I dislike the cleaning part. :-P

3) Health and fitness -- I have been doing pretty well on this one I think. Walking and eating fairly well.

4) Spiritual life -- This one still needs some work but I have some things in the works.

5) Focus on those around me -- This one I have to be constantly aware of but I think I have been doing better.

Overall, I think I am in a better place than I was 6 months ago. Which I think is the point of resolutions . . . to better one's self.

I just need to keep pluggin' along.

5 things I'm thankful for today . . .

1. The sunshine after the rain
   
2. The fact that it isn't unbearably humid out yet -- sunny, breezy, and beautiful
3. My blooming clemantis
4. The end of VBS -- I love it when it's here but it is a relief when it's over. :-)
5. My internet connection that allows me to blog at the end of a long day.
   

It made me smile . . .

. . . to see my clemantis blooming.

So tired . . .

This has been a long week. And it's only Wednesday!

I have been working more hours at the library (yea!) and my church is running a VBS program in the evenings so I have been helping out there when I get off work.

Sometime this week -- in between the thundershowers -- I have to mow my lawn.

::sigh::

I can't wait till Sunday . . .

Water, water everywhere

Seems that much of Iowa is (or will be) under water. And more rain is on the way -- tomorrow afternoon and Thursday.

We have been blessed here. The the worst we have is water in the basement. I think my parents have water in theirs as well. But I don't believe they have lost any crops. Which is very good!

There is a lot of flooding in neighboring towns.

Tonight I am thankful for a little water in my basement and praying for those affected by flooding.

Laundry anyone?

Tonight I mixed up some laundry detergent using the recipe from this site.

My friend tried this out (actually she recommended the site), telling me it was simple and worked very well. She was right! It is so simple to do.

My initial investment for all the supplies: $14. One batch washes 48 loads of laundry. I have enough supplies for 12 + batches. That's some great savings.

I have to leave the mixture set overnight. Tomorrow it should be a gelatinous pail of goo.

I can't wait to try it out on my laundry!

5 things that made my day

1. Spending the day with my mom!

2. Having fish and scallops at Red Lobster!

3. Coffee chiller!


4. Spending an hour in Barnes & Noble!

5. Not spending any more than I budgeted!

The loot

Shopping list

With my new thrifty lifestyle, I have to rethink how I go shopping.

My mom and I are going shopping tomorrow and I am sitting here trying to make a list of things I need. Then prioritizing those items by how much I need them.

We will probably go to Sam's. Although this is a great store because of the bulk savings, it is easy to talk yourself into buying much more than you need. So you end up spending more anyway!

I am planning out exactly how much I can spend and I AM going to stick to it!

Another good thing about going shopping tomorrow . . . it will get me away from the internet. I have been gorging myself on it. I have gotten caught up on all the sites that I have missed since my service was suspended.

Next week I am planning on regulating my usage better.

One good thing . . . I have "talked" to the sister a lot this week! (Maybe not so good for her!) :-)

Belated Memorium

Here are some photos from last Monday's Memorial Day Ceremony:

Color Guard:

It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. -- Abraham Lincoln

Animal Menagerie

These are some baby robins that were living on my friends balcony this spring.

Cleo enjoying the spring weather . . .

Wooo - Hooo!

I'm getting internet tomorrow!

Tomorrow instead of posting from the lovely library I will be posting from HOME!

Yeah!

I never thought it would happen! ::sniff::

Okay, that may be a little overdramatic but I am so very excited!