Sewing, Birding, Jamming

What a difference a week makes. We had a high of 57 on Saturday and we made it to March. Hurray!

Can I just say how much I love sleeping in a little on Saturdays, then coming downstairs to sunshine pouring in the windows. Slowly making coffee and toast, not rushing. Jotting down a few ideas of things to do while savoring the coffee as the kids make their way downstairs (or home from someone else’s house). Best part of the weekend. I do not mind that we don’t have travel soccer games on Saturdays any more…

I’ve been working on the seedlings this week, separating the tomatoes and onions out into more and bigger containers. I also started some marjoram, parsley, sage, thyme and cilantro (three of those were using saved seed). And I sowed scallion seed for the first time ever.

I continue to use existing items, like a Swiss Miss cocoa tub, for the seeds. I did need to go to Ace Hardware for more potting soil. I took a look at some of the freestanding planters outside, and they just need a topping off. Nothing is frozen anymore. I want to get carrot seeds sown nice and early, pretty much ASAP.

We also took the dog over to the riverside dog park on Saturday. He had a grand old time as usual.

Today’s endeavors were more kitchen focused. I made gravy, with meatballs and chicken from the freezer and garden tomatoes. I also took a stab at strawberry jam, the type you freeze, to use up berries both fresh and frozen. It will be ready to use or freeze tomorrow. It didn’t turn out like I remember, but then again it’s probably been more than 10 years since I did it. It still has chunks of berry. Also, the pectin was a different type and I didn’t quite use it how the directions specified so… we’ll see.

I wanted to bake bread too but it didn’t happen. I spent a lot of time in the car this weekend ferrying N and F places.

Just now I did some sewing, attempting a patch on a hand towel. It came out pretty good.

Like I always say, intentional mending is meant to be noticed 😊

The cat is always very interested in anything I do on the table. She was swiping at the thread, driving me nuts. I wish I had a picture of Rocco the other day, “helping” Tom while he tried to fix a doorknob. Right smack between him and the door.

I also washed a lot of Ziploc bags and random containers for reuse. They pile up during the week and it feels good to get them out of the way on the weekend.

Two other items of note: I cashed in my Fetch points for a $50 Target gift card (Acme seemingly dropped out, so it’s Target or Walmart now if I want to use it on groceries). And I finally got my car loan refi squared away, after a delay. The new rate is 2 points lower, not what I wrote before — I was confused/misled. But still, a savings, and I’m going to try to pay more on the principal too. The term remains the same as it was (so  I have about 4.5 years left). So that is a bright note in the midst of high utility bills and repairs on said car (tire and back hatch).

Meals this week:

Sunday: chicken cutlets, mashed potatoes, baked sweet potato, broccoli, corn

Monday: chicken soup; buffalo chicken pizza

Tuesday: chicken nuggets, Kraft mac n cheese

Wednesday: chicken nuggets, baked sweet potato, Ellio’s pizza

Thursday: pork chops, broccoli and grandma noodles

Friday: Stella Pizza

Saturday: scrounge: pasta fagioli from the freezer and a slice of leftover pizza for me.

Sunday: out to eat with parents

Monday and Tuesday lunch: sandwiches at home. Wednesday: tuna. Friday: bought.

So it was a good week and a good weekend. The kids made some money shoveling snow, but it started melting quick and there isn’t much left now. I didn’t buy anything this week besides the bag o’dirt. And the birds continue to visit! New types since my last post: a tufted titmouse, house finches, northern mockingbirds, common starlings and house sparrows. I was thinking how if my grandmom C. were alive, she would so love having one of these.