Firsts of the Season

This was a beautiful weekend from start to finish.

Yesterday, Tom and I took Rocco to Timber Creek dog park and got our steps in. It was a little breezy, in the 70s, and sunny.

Back at home, T. and I sat down and knocked out some of our college-related tasks: filling out forms, watching required videos, etc.

Then it was into the garden to work on covering the path with cardboard and the free wood chips, and adding mulch in some spots.

After a scroungy dinner (a quesadilla for me), we had our first fire pit night of the year, complete with s’mores. It was just me and Tom at first (and Rocco), then the kids arrived home one by one and joined us.

Sunday (warmer and even nicer), F., my mom and I went to the Haddon Heights farmers’ market and then out for coffee. We also stopped at Peak Secondhand in Audubon – such an adorable thrifting spot! I bought F. two T shirts. I’m a sucker for them. One was a pink Soundgarden shirt and the other was an Elton John concert shirt.

F. and I continued on to Acme for some targeted buys (spent $112): eggs, yogurt, milk, chicken breast, etc. Some mint chocolate chip ice cream, my Mother’s Day gift to myself. Back at home, I planted some flower seeds out front (birthday gift from mom/from the seed swap): cosmos, black-eyed Susans, and zinnias.

Dinner was salsa chicken in the Instant Pot, on soft tacos, with lettuce from the garden —  the first pickings. Not sure exactly what kind it is — from my unidentified lettuce seeds — but it was tasty.

Capped off my Mother’s Day sitting out back reading the great book my friend got me for my birthday, Margo’s Got Money Problems. I’m flying though it.

This past week I was able to spend some time most evenings in the garden. I also downloaded the Merlin app and have been having fun seeing what birds are nearby.

At Goodwill on Thursday night, I returned some things that didn’t fit from me and F’s Sunday trip. The $9 credit was used by N., who was with me. I also dropped off more yard sale leftovers and some Christmas decor.

Our dinners weren’t too bad:

Sunday: birthday dinner at my parents’

Monday: fried chicken sandwiches with steamed broccoli and leftover potato salad

Tuesday: tilapia filets, battered fish patties and scalloped potatoes that Tom pretended he made but which were from Acme.

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Scrounge (I had a peanut butter sandwich)

Friday: Pizza from Stella Pizza

Wednesday and Thursday nights we were running around a lot (haircuts, Goodwill, etc.). I feel guilty whenever I report a scrounge night, since it seems unorganized, but they are thrifty — everyone eating different things and using up what we have.

Lunches: I bought a chicken Caesar wrap at Sprouts Monday night and had half for lunch on Tuesday and half on Wednesday. Friday was cafeteria soup ($2.69).

No bread baking this week; my morning toast has been white bread. Hard to want to be in the kitchen this time of year…

Not much to report in terms of frugal wins. I did cash in my Wawa points for a free coffee for Tom. And I didn’t buy anything besides food Monday-Saturday. Well, except an 8th grade graduation lawn sign for F. No way I could have one for T. and not for her. I think some portion of the cost ($16) goes to the PTA.

Onto another week… I accomplished a good amount of errands and such this weekend, but there are yet more appointments to make and keep. The to-do list never really gets shorter, especially not this time of year.