Friday, October 30, 2026

October Monthly Photo Challenge: Stationery

 Eileen at A Bracelet of Days hosts the monthly photo challenge and the theme for October was "Stationery".  

Here are my photos for this month:

A Display of Greeting Cards at the Store



Notebooks and Folders

Journals and Planners



Pens, Markers, Index Cards, Sticky Notes, etc.



Halloween Cards

Thanksgiving Cards

Even More Thanksgiving Cards



Christmas Cards

Some Notepaper and Cards 
(Purchased at a neighbor's yard sale)



Homemade Pressed Flower Notepaper

The pressed flowers are buttercups and violets I picked when I was at university in Wisconsin, back in the 1970s!  I used one of them to make a birthday card for my sister, earlier this year.

Thank you for hosting the monthly photo challenge, Eileen.  I had fun joining in.  

October Grocery Shopping - Part 6

October Groceries - Part 5

I ordered groceries yesterday evening and had them delivered this morning.  This is the sixth (and final) grocery shop for the month of October!

I needed half and half for our coffee (I've started drinking the occasional cup of coffee, myself, recently, after going off of coffee for years) and daughter wanted a container of cottage cheese.

In addition, there were a few things, such as Miracle Whip, that I've been wanting to get for some time and had been waiting until they went on sale to buy (my current jar is nearing the end).  Well, Miracle Whip was on a "buy 3 or more participating items and get $2 off each" sale.  So, I bought a jar of it, a bottle of ketchup and a box of cereal qualify for the deal.  I also chose to get a bottle of apple juice, too, as a fourth item, just in case they were out of one of the other three items and I get charged the full price for the remaining two (which has happened before).  The cost of the apple juice was less than paying full price for two of the sale items.  As things turned out, however, everything I ordered was in stock and delivered.

Other than the half and half and the cottage cheese, everything I bought was on sale or had coupons that I used.  I also redeemed $8 in store loyalty card points accumulated during previous grocery purchases.  

Here's the receipt:

Order Summary

Original Item Total$73.89
Item Coupons/Sales-$23.95
Order Coupons-$8.00
Fulfillment Fee+$0.00
Other Fees+$0.40
Sales Tax$0.00
Order Total$42.34

Item Details

12 Items

BOOST Original Ready to Drink Chocolate Protein Shake Multipack, 12 pk / 8 fl oz
$19.99
1 x $19.99 $22.99 each
Item Coupon/Sale: -$3.00
CA Redem Val
$0.10
1 x $0.10 each
General Mills® Honey Nut Cheerios™ Cereal, 10.8 oz
$1.79
1 x $1.79 $4.49 each
Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.70
Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.00
Heinz Tomato Ketchup, 32 oz
$3.99
1 x $3.99 $6.29 each
Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.30
Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.00
Kroger® 4% Milkfat Small Curd Cottage Cheese, 16 oz
$2.59
1 x $2.59 each
Kroger® Half and Half Half Gallon, 1/2 gal
$5.49
1 x $5.49 each
Kroger® Onion Bagels, 6 ct / 18 oz
$1.54
1 x $1.54 $2.79 each
Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.80
Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.45
Miracle Whip Mayo-Like Dressing, 30 fo
$3.99
1 x $3.99 $6.79 each
Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.80
Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.00
Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels Chocolate Chips, 12 oz
$3.49
1 x $3.49 $6.29 each
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.80
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00
Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Oven Roasted Turkey Breast & Smoked Uncured Ham Thin Sliced Lunchmeat, 9 oz
$2.99
1 x $2.99 $5.79 each
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.80
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00
PLANTERS Whole Dry Roasted Lightly Salted Peanuts, net wt 16 oz (453g)
$1.99
1 x $1.99 $5.29 each
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.80
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.50
Tree Top® 100% Apple Juice, 64 fl oz
$1.99
1 x $1.99 $4.99 each
Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00
Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.00

Order Coupons

-$8.00

Store Coupon-$1.00
Store Coupon-$7.00

Other Fees

$0.40

Bag Fee$0.40
4 x $0.10 each


My total came to $42.34

My October grocery budget = $250.

Spent to date:  $43.94 + $68.71+ $19.31 + $29.78 + $42.89 + $42.34 = $246.97

Balance left/carried over to November: $3.03

Yay!  I stayed under budget this month!  I am very happy about that!

As always, I am grateful for:

- Being able to order the groceries online
- Being able to have them delivered
- The availability of groceries
- Coupons and sales
- Keeping to my budget

My November grocery budget will be $250 (plus $3 carried over from October!) 

How did you do with your October grocery spending?  I know that not everyone has a set budget, but, even so, were you happy with the amount you spent?  Or, do you feel that you spent too much?  

Thursday, October 29, 2026

On Thursday

 

More Halloween Decorations

The mantelpiece is decorated for Halloween.  Almost all the items have a memory associated with them.  I made the wreath featuring the witch my mother had bought for my daughter when my daughter was little; my mother also bought the scarecrow that is standing in the jack-o-lantern mug my sister gave my daughter.  Daughter's collection of Hamtaro and friends all dressed in their Halloween costumes were bought when a fast food hamburger chain was giving them out as toys in their children's meal deals one year, when daughter was in middle school; she and neighbor S's daughters were really into Hamtaro and we'd buy the hamburgers specifically to get the toys.  Daughter made the two felt Pikachu jack-o-lanterns and the little windchime was a gift from my mother.  Daughter stores the Hamtaro toys in a special case in her room, but, the rest of the decorations are stored in a bin in the garage.  

Today, I went to the pharmacy in the morning to pick up the two medication refills that were ready and I also got my flu vaccination.  

Afterwards, I went to the dollar store that is next to the pharmacy to buy a few household items I wanted - a large 2027 calendar/monthly planner to put on the fridge door and paper plates, paper cups (two sizes), and a packet of paper napkins.  I don't normally use paper plates, etc., however, I like to have them as part of my emergency preparedness.  If there is a major earthquake and our water mains break and we don't have water on tap, I am not going to use my precious bottled drinking water to wash plates and cups! I spent $11.68 at the dollar store as everything I bought was more than one dollar each!   

Later in the evening, I ordered more groceries to be delivered, tomorrow.  When I tried to order the groceries yesterday (Wednesday), the store was out of the store brand half and half that we needed, but, they had bread.  Today, the store had the half and half (and I'm very thankful for that), but, they were out of store brand bread!  Oh, well; I still have some bread in the fridge and I ordered bagels, instead (for brunches).  

Today, I am grateful for:

- The availability of vaccines
- The availability of medications
- Health insurance to cover the costs
- Safe drives to the stores and back
- Being able to order groceries online

Today's joyful activities included spending time in the garden watching the hens enjoy themselves.

Plans for tomorrow (Friday) include having the groceries delivered, taking daughter to get her vaccinations, and tending to the garden with M in the evening.

How was your Thursday?  What are your plans for Friday?    

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Mid-Week on Wednesday

 

Halloween Decor

I decorated for Halloween on Sunday.  On the dining table, I set out a table runner I had sewn many years ago, the plastic jack-o-lantern trick-or-treat container I bought for my daughter's 1st Halloween, and the plastic bucket I bought when she was 5 and we were on our way to her piano teacher's house to trick-or-treat and realized that we had forgotten to bring her jack-o-lantern bucket!  I suppose I could declutter the bucket...

On Monday, I went to the pharmacy and got my Covid vaccination.  I declined to get the flu vaccine at the same time because I prefer to get my vaccines one at a time.

Afterwards, I went to the bank.  I prefer to go to the teller for my bank transactions; there's almost always a line because they seem to have only one teller these days, but, I don't mind standing in line for my turn.  Usually, one of the bank employees will come around and ask the people standing in line what they are there for and offer to help them use the ATM if needed.  For some reason, they seem to assume that I am Spanish speaking and address me in Spanish.  Monday was no different.  As usual, I answered that I didn't speak Spanish and they repeated the question in English.  I used to be quite amused by these incidents (it happens when I am shopping in a store, too), but, these days, I am starting to feel less amused and more concerned.  Why are people assuming that I am Hispanic and don't speak English?  Based on what?  My appearance? Am I being racially profiled?   

On Monday evening, friend R stopped by to pick up her packages.  Her visit had been postponed several times due to the weather and our schedules, etc.  She declined the cup of tea I offered and didn't want to eat anything, either, but, I gave her some blueberry muffins that I had made, earlier, to take home with her.  

Later in the evening, I took the trash cans to the curb to be collected on Tuesday morning and filled out my ballot for the midterm elections.

On Tuesday, daughter and I dropped off our ballots in the ballot box at the library, after she got off from work.

Damaged Sari

I spent most of the day on Tuesday mending one of my saris, which seems to have developed a series of holes on the part that falls over the shoulder, where it has been embroidered:

Holes in the Sari

Some of the holes are small, but, others are larger.  I am darning them with embroidery thread that I already had on hand that is very close in color:

Mended Holes

Some of the embroidery is also coming undone, as can be seen in the photo above, but, I am not going to mend that.  I will know, next time, not to buy machine embroidered saris (as opposed to those with woven designs)!

Today, Wednesday, M was here to tend to the garden in the early afternoon.  He watered the garden and started to prune some of the overgrown shrubs along the back garden wall.  There's a lot of clearing up to be done.

Midweek, on this last Wednesday of October, I am grateful for:
- The availability of vaccines for those of us who want them
- Health insurance to pay for vaccines
- Weekly trash pick up
- M's help with the garden
- A visit from friend R

Today, I received a notification from the pharmacy that two of my medication refills were ready for pick up.  So, my plans for Thursday include going back to the pharmacy to pick up the medications.

How is your week coming along?  What are your plans for the rest of this week?




Tuesday, October 27, 2026

October Week 3 Meal Plan Options Review and Week 4 Options

Raisin Bun from the Japanese Bakery

These were the options for the third week of October:

Brunches:  Blueberry pancakes with sausages and syrup; Scrambled eggs and toast or fried potatoes, Egg salad or tuna salad sandwiches, Tortillas with eggs and lunu miris;  leftovers

Dinners:  Smoked sausage and kale stir fry with rice; Chicken curry with rice and cucumber salad; Tortillas and chicken curry; Breakfast for Dinner (scrambled eggs, bacon, fried potatoes or toast); Fried rice; leftovers

Snacks/Desserts: Fresh fruit; Raisin buns that daughter bought from the Japanese bakery for me; Melon pan that daughter bought from the Japanese bakery for herself; Yogurt; Ice cream; Chips, crackers, popcorn, etc.

And this is how that worked out:

Monday:
Brunch: Raisin buns and banana (me), melon pan (daughter)
Dinner: Assorted leftovers from the fridge
Snacks/Dessert: One of the tuna salad kits I had bought (me); Fuyu persimmons (daughter)

Smoked Sausage Stir Fry with Carrots and Kale

Tuesday:
Brunch: Raisin bun, banana, and peanut butter (me); banana and peanut butter (daughter)
Dinner: Smoked sausage stir fry and rice
Snacks/Dessert:  Hot cheetos, pomegranate, ice cream

Fried Rice

Wednesday:
Breakfast: Raisin bun (me)
Lunch: Fried rice
Dinner: Egg salad sandwiches
Snacks/Dessert: Pomegranates

Thursday Dinner: Rice & Smoked Sausage Stir-fry


Thursday:
Brunch:  Raisin buns (me)
Dinner:  Rice and smoked sausage stir fry
Snacks/Dessert:  Bananas, crackers with peanut butter

Daughter's Friday Night Dinner: Rice, Fried Eggs,
Stir-fried Kale, Chili Crisps


Friday:
Brunch: Hot pockets 
Dinner:  Scrambled eggs and toast (me); rice, fried eggs, stir-fried kale (daughter)
Snacks/Dessert: Strawberries, cookies, ice cream

Saturday:
Brunch: Scrambled eggs, fried diced potatoes, calamondin-ade to drink
Dinner:  Chicken curry and tortillas
Snacks/Dessert: Cookies and ice cream

Sunday:
Brunch:  Chinese take out
Dinner:  Leftover Chinese take out (daughter); microwave "baked" potato (me)
Snacks/Dessert: Dates, graham crackers

Well, I didn't follow the meal plan options that closely, but, I didn't veer too much from them, either.  I'm fine with all the little adjustments I made.  

Moving forward, here's are the meal plan options for the last week in October:

Brunches:  Scrambled eggs and toast or fried potatoes; Waffles, Hot pockets; Boiled mung beans, milkrice (on Sunday, November 1st); Fried rice; leftovers

Dinners:  Chicken curry with vegetable rice (rice cooked with mixed vegetables and chicken bouillon); Tortillas and chicken curry; Breakfast for Dinner (scrambled eggs, bacon, fried potatoes or toast); Chicken and vegetable soup; leftovers

Snacks/Desserts: Fresh fruit; Yogurt; Ice cream; Chips, crackers, popcorn, cookies, etc.

At least, that's the plan.  Unless I go off plan and make something different.  

As always, I am grateful for:
- Having enough to eat
- Being able to have a variety of meals

Are you making a meal plan this week?  

Sunday, October 25, 2026

The Weekend

 

After the Rain

After Wednesday and Thursday's rain, Friday turned out to be a mostly sunny day, with big puffy white clouds scudding across the sky.

On Friday morning, I received my grocery delivery.  Afterwards, I went to put gas to the car.  I still had just over half a tank of gas, and, at first, I was going to wait until November to put gas to the car, but, I read about gas shortages in some areas due to supply issues and decided to just go ahead and fill up the tank while I could.  I went to the cheapest gas station in my neighborhood and it was $5.89/gallon.  One of the other stations in my area was charging $6.49/gallon.  

After that, I went to the library to return the one book (Running in the Family) and check out the book that was waiting for me (The English Patient).  

After I got home from the library, I baked two of the hot pockets in the air fryer for our brunch.  I called friend R to let her know that I was home for the day if she wanted to come and pick up her packages (she had indicated to me, earlier, that she would like to come by on Friday), but, she declined, saying she'll come over the weekend.

In the evening, M was here to tend to the garden and he transplanted the strawberry plants in one of the raised beds for me.

Love Watching the Clouds Drifting By

On Saturday, daughter had arranged to attend a Pilates class with one of her friends in the late morning.  It was in the adjoining city and I went with her and while she was at her class, I drove myself to the library there.  I had not been to that library in a long time and my library card to that library had expired.  But, that was not a problem; they issued me a new library card right away and I spent a pleasant 45 minutes or so browsing the library shelves.  In the end, I checked out three books to read: one about quilts, one about Dorothea Lange's photography, and one by Philippa Gregory titled, "Normal Women: 900 Years of Making History".

I had just finished checking out my books when daughter texted that she had finished her class.  I picked her up and drove home.  After brunch (fried diced potatoes and scrambled eggs), I called friend R to let her know that I was home if she wanted to come by, but, she said she'll come on Sunday, instead.

Daughter took a nap in the afternoon and I watched some videos online and relaxed.  Later in the evening, we let the chickens out and daughter and I put chicken wire around the raised bed where we planted the strawberries.  On Friday night, we were visited by two young raccoons (I watched them from the sliding glass doors) and it looked like they dug up the planter with the strawberries!  But, at least they left the chicken coop undamaged and didn't harm the chickens, so I'm thankful for that!  

Mochi on Guard Against Raccoons

Tora on Guard, Too
(He found a grub worm under the log and we fed it 
to the chickens!)

Mimi Isn't Sure About Raccoons

The Chickens Aren't Bothered

Today, Sunday, I tidied the linen closet (three old bedsheets were decluttered), dusted the living room and dining area, put out the Halloween decorations, did some paperwork (being inundated with election material), and did a load of laundry.

Daughter treated me to Chinese take out for lunch as my October treat.  When she first moved back, she said she will do her share of the cooking, but, her work load has been such that she's not had a lot of time to cook.  So, I've been doing the majority of the cooking, which I don't mind, but, she felt bad about it.  I told her that what I'd like is for her to treat me to a meal out (well, a take out meal, really, since we are still not eating out) once a month and that's what we've been doing.  I chose our nearby Chinese restaurant as we both like their food.  There are plenty of leftovers for dinner and probably lunch on Monday, too.

Friend R was supposed to visit today, but, she texted to say she'll stop by on Monday, after work, instead.  I do have plans to go for my Covid or flu vaccine (whichever one is available, as I need to get both; but, I won't get both at once), on Monday, but, I can do that in the morning or early afternoon.  

This weekend, I am grateful for:

- The availability of gas for the car
- Libraries 
- The raccoons didn't get to the chickens
- Sunny days after the recent rains
- Working appliances and electricity/gas to run them

The weekend's joyful activities have included visiting libraries, getting new books to read, being treated to lunch, and spending time in the garden with the chickens and the garden cats.

Plans for Monday include:

- Getting vaccinated
- Meal planning
- Taking the trash cans to the curb
- More laundry

How was your weekend?  What are your plans for next week?

Tora

Mochi 

Friday, October 23, 2026

October Groceries - Part 5

October 23 Groceries

I put in an order for groceries on Thursday night and the items were delivered on Friday morning, about half an hour after the delivery window, but, that's okay; the shopper might have had multiple deliveries.  This grocery order was mostly to take advantage of a few sales on some favorite drinks, convenience foods, and treats.  The only items I bought that were regular priced were the cookies.

There was a bit of a mix-up with the strawberries.  The strawberries I ordered were priced at $2.49 (with a digital coupon) for a 1 lb. container and I specified "no substitutions".  However, the shopper substituted a container of organic strawberries for $6.99!  When I contacted the store, they refunded the money and told me to keep the strawberries.  I do appreciate their generous refund policy!  

Here's the receipt (which includes the strawberries):

Order Summary

Original Item Total$77.72
Item Coupons/Sales-$29.04
Order Coupons-$1.00
Fulfillment Fee+$0.00
Other Fees+$0.60
Sales Tax+$1.60
Order Total$49.88

Item Details

45 Items

Bakery Fresh Chocolate Chip Cookies, 12 count
$3.00
1 x $3.00 each
Barilla Ziti Pasta, Quality Non-GMO and Kosher Certified Pasta, 16 oz
$1.98
2 x $0.99 $1.99 each
Broccoli Crown, 1 ct
$3.93
1.81 lbs x $2.17 $2.39 each (approx.)
CA Redem Val
$0.80
16 x $0.05 each
Farmer John Chicken and Pork Wieners, 12 oz
$2.00
2 x $1.00 $3.49 each
Fresh Organic Strawberries - 1 LB clamshell, 1 lb
$6.99
1 x $6.99 each
Hot Pockets Pepperoni Pizza Crispy Crust Frozen Sandwiches Frozen Snacks 4PK, 18 oz
$7.98
2 x $3.99 $6.49 each
Simple Truth Organic® Unsweetened Coconut Flakes, 8 oz
$6.00
4 x $1.50 $2.99 each
Sparkling Ice Zero Sugar Strawberry Lemonade Sparkling Water, 17 fl oz
$6.00
6 x $1.00 $1.67 each
Sparkling Ice® Coconut Pineapple Flavored Sparkling Bottled Water, 17 fl oz
$2.00
2 x $1.00 $1.67 each
Sparkling Ice® Peach Nectarine Flavored Sparkling Bottled Water, 17 fl oz
$3.00
3 x $1.00 $1.67 each
Sparkling Ice® Pink Grapefruit Flavored Sparkling Bottled Water, 17 fl oz
$3.00
3 x $1.00 $1.67 each
Sparkling Ice® Strawberry Watermelon Flavored Sparkling Bottled Water, 17 fl oz
$2.00
2 x $1.00 $1.67 each

Order Coupons

-$1.00

Store Coupon-$1.00

Other Fees

$0.60

Bag Fee$0.60
6 x $0.10 each

My total came to:  $49.88 - $6.99 for the strawberries = $42.89

My October grocery budget = $250.

Spent to date:  $43.94 + $68.71+ $19.31 + $29.78 + $42.89 = $204.63

Balance left: $45.37

I am pleased with this week's grocery shopping, the amount I spent, and the amount left over for next week's groceries.  

As always, I am grateful for:

- Being able to order the groceries online
- Being able to have them delivered
- The availability of groceries
- Coupons and sales
- The store's generous refund policies   

Daughter and I had two of the hot pockets for our brunch, today.  Baked in the air fryer, they were quite tasty and we enjoyed them.