Getting Back to the Good Life

Now that graduation is done, we are moving on into summer. I spent this morning trying to get the kitchen fully back to its pre-party state–throwing away the food that didn’t get eaten, cleaning, putting away platters and other special dishes. All this past week we ate leftovers (soooo much lunchmeat) or takeout, laying low, avoiding the merciless heat (it didn’t break til Friday), but now we have to get back to meal planning and lunch-packing.

Yesterday I hit the farmers’ market and Sprouts for blueberries, corn, yogurt, strawberries and more. Then it was garden time — the first time in a while I could give it my undivided attention with no other plans looming. It was hot, but not deadly hot, and it felt good to get sweaty and really feel the summer heat and smell the cut grass, the spicy scent of creeping Charlie. I transplanted some sage to the front yard garden and some parsley into the back yard garden from a pot, and did a lot of weeding. Earlier this week, I pulled the cilantro, so now I had room to plant arugula, Crispino lettuce and Coastal Star lettuce. Not sure how well they will germinate in this heat, but we’ll see. I might start some inside too, along with broccoli and Brussel sprouts.

My Jade green bean plant has produced some beans! Exciting. Haven’t tasted them yet. And the strawberries are flowering again!

My two books arrived and I decided to start with “The Good Life” by Helen and Scott Nearing. Very interesting so far. Looking forward to sitting out back later this evening with some cold lemonade and reading some more.

The main news of this week was that my car arrived.

So far, I’ve had a very good experience with Carvana and I really enjoy having a smaller car again. I don’t love driving my husband’s giant pickup truck.

Almost forgot — after the farmers’ market, we stopped at a nearby estate sale. Hadn’t been to one in a very long time. There wasn’t much of interest to me and F, but I did get an ice cream scoop, which we’ve been needing forever. F. got some markers and scrapbooking materials. It was fun to poke around.

F is a bit bored so far this summer. (Though she did have a great time at a pool party yesterday.) Volleyball league starts in another week, and also we are going to foster puppy(ies) again, starting July 6th. That ought to keep her busy! I’m hoping to not have to buy too much stuff, as we still have supplies from last time and can maybe borrow some things.

This past week I had some expenses: new sandals for F (needed) and fish oil capsules for my son to help with skin dryness. And some small wins:

I got a giant bottle of ibuprofen for 40% off at CVS with a coupon and earned $5 in their bucks in the process.

I got a free Wawa coffee for Tom using points (on his birthday, no less).

Our ongoing address confusion with an office building a few miles away meant that we received some office drone’s Chopt wrap on our doorstep. It made for a yummy dinner for me and lunch the next day! Grilled chicken, avocado, egg, sweet potato, ranch… delicious! (Have I had my food get delivered there? Oh yes. It goes both ways.)

Now just a lazy Sunday afternoon ahead of dinner at my parents. Had a nice time out with friends last night at Holy City Public House in Gloucester City, which has been on my list for some time. ☘️