Sprouts Is Bankrupting Me

This past week I was off Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It wasn’t quite as satisfying a staycation as the one I had in August. I had dreams about work from Friday night right on through, frustrating dreams in which nothing was going right. But it was still relaxing and peaceful. I got some things done but didn’t overdo it:

Cleaned T’s room thoroughly and got all his clothes up off the floor/out of open bins and washed and stored them (at least 3 loads of clothes).

Ran errands and took N and F to the mall for homecoming outfits: a dress for her, a jacket and pants for him. The rest, they already had or borrowed. I didn’t leave us enough time to try thrifting first…

Covered the garlic and other areas of the garden with mowed-up leaves.

Took Rocco on a midday walk each day, which I love being able to do.

Tried out a new mashed potato casserole (see recipe below).

Cleaned some odd spots that tend to get overlooked.

Worked on this here blog and finally figured out how to make it do certain things, and uploaded all of Edith, Emma & Me to Medium.

Really, I just tried to savor being at home, mostly alone, and not being at work. And getting to tootle around town and enjoy the weather, which was mild.

Tuesday night I went out to dinner and then thrifting with friend T! I spent about $34 on a red peacoat, a scarf, two purses for me and a purse for F for HoCo — all very needed. My super old winter coat doesn’t have a working zipper and my old purse was flaking apart. T scored this adorable Xmas decoration. I think she spent $10; look what it retails for!

So that was a lot of fun. Why buy new?

So then it was back to work for two intense days; then the weekend. I hit the farmers’ market on Saturday for Yellow Delicious apples, sweet potatoes, red potatoes, and some baked goods. Back at home, I picked still more green beans, checked in on the brassicas and cut some flowers for my little vase. I also planted some lettuce, cilantro, arugula and swamp milkweed seeds in various spots (that I will probably forget). Perhaps too late for lettuce, but worth a shot. I have one Crispino head out there now — the only result of all the lettuce seeds I’ve planted indoors and out since July.

The snapdragons are looking so beautiful. Such a great flower, showing off their colors for so many months.

In the late afternoon we went to see Grandmom M and the uncles, and had a fun time. Pizza for dinner there.

It was T shirt weather yesterday and today, but cold weather is coming.

Today, Tom and T left for their big adventure to Lambeau Field for Monday Night Football. My plan was to stay home and cook and bake, but F said we had to go to Sprouts. With T gone, I was also on full dog walking duty, and had to drive F some other places. Still, I got a loaf of bread baked for the first time in months! The first rise was great; the second not so much. But it’s tasty! I used white whole wheat flour.

I was determined to use up a lot of our veggies, so for dinner I made mashed red potatoes (skin on), sauteed green beans and roasted carrots. This was the giant carrot from the garden. I wasn’t sure if it would be sweet, but it was (probably thanks to being roasted). Along with some chicken piccata (slapdash version). Lots of leftovers for tomorrow night, since it was just the three of us.

Just realized that this entire meal was farm/garden to table. 😊

I did some more work on the blog as well.

Our Sprouts trip was pricey. I really have to stop bringing F with me, or else lay down some strict ground rules. She is always coming up to the cart with some bit of culinary frippery (today it was some kind of shelf-stable Nutella crepes). Plus N wanted creatine powder. I end up buying stuff that I could buy elsewhere for cheaper (e.g., that powder, grape jelly) since it’s right there. I spent $150 there today — ouch. But it’s definitely our favorite supermarket right now.

Meals last week. I’m going to make up a new inventory list tonight! And clean out the fridge!

Monday: Panera

Tuesday: Steak, canned corn and mashed potato casserole to use up potatoes; also used green onions from garden

Wednesday: Ellio’s pizza with extra cheese; sauteed green beans

Thursday: McDonald’s

Friday: Nachos for me

This week: a full week of work, a full week of school. Thanksgiving on the horizon. Maybe I will have broccoli and Brussel sprouts to pick by then?