Another Activity Book

 

Cover Page

My daughter made another felt activity book for another friend's daughter who is turning two.

Page 1 - Tiered Birthday Cake

To be taken apart and put back together

Page 2 - Shape Hedgehog

Match the colors and the shapes

Page 3 - Slice of Watermelon

Count the seeds

Page 4 - Mail Box
(Daddy works at the post office)

You've Got Mail!
(Pull down the mail box flap and find the envelope)

The 'stamp' is removable

Open the envelope...

There's a card inside!

Page 5 - An Apple Tree

Let's Pick Apples!

More Apples to Pick

Sort by Color

Daughter also bought a printed preschool activity book for the birthday girl's older sister (who will be 4 in July) so she will have her own activity book and won't feel left out.  No doubt she'll be helping her younger sister with the felt activity book, too!  LOL.

Daughter found the inspiration for felt activity books online and adapted them.

Here's the card she made to go with the gift:

Birthday Card

I love this birthday card.  

Birthday Card

Itty Bitty Taters and Pests

 

Potato Harvest

When I reached the end of the last bag of potatoes I had bought, the remaining four potatoes were not only starting to sprout, they were starting to spoil, as well.  I planted them, one in a pot and the other three in the ground, to see if they would grow and three of them grew.  The one I planted in a pot had started to die back, so, M and I pulled the plant up and found it had grown three potatoes!  One of them was a decent size, the other two were tiny.  We've a long way to go before we can call ourselves potato farmers!  Nevertheless, my daughter and I are thrilled with our homegrown potato harvest!  

We've been busy this week, daughter and I, waging war against some itty bitty pests!  Even though Dancer is no longer with us, the garden cats are still there and they have fleas.  A few of the fleas seem to have made their way inside the house!  They probably hitched a ride on our clothes when we came inside after being in the garden, but, we didn't realize it until my daughter noticed one and then another and yet another!  We have been spraying and vacuuming and washing all the rugs and sofa covers, etc. in an attempt to get rid of them. The house has been vacuumed twice over in one week and the kitchen and bathrooms mopped.  Today, we vacuumed under the sofa cushions.  I'm checking spring cleaning off my To Do List!  

I am grateful for:

- Our potato harvest!
- Flea sprays
- Daughter's help with vacuuming, etc.
- M's help with spraying the garden
- Getting my spring cleaning done in record time!

Do you grow potatoes?  If so, do you buy seed potatoes or do you plant the potatoes you buy from the grocery store?

June Grocery Shopping - Part 3

June 16 Groceries  (1/2 gal. half & half not pictured)

I ordered groceries on Monday night and they were delivered today (Tuesday, June 16).  Next day delivery is free with the basic paid membership, so, that's the delivery option I choose.

I wanted half and half (not pictured above as I put it in the fridge right away) for my daughter's coffee, another loaf of bread as we are coming to the end of the previous loaf, some bananas as I am running short of fresh fruit and we haven't had any bananas, recently. some convenience items (cold cuts & frozen pot pies), canned meat (SPAM. 2-pack) for the pantry (plus it was cheaper than the canned corned beef I was also considering buying),  and I wanted to take advantage of a few sales to stock up.

I had come to the end of a 10 lb. bag of rice and I wanted to buy another bag to replace it.  The 5 lb. bags of store brand white long grain rice was on sale with a coupon, making two of them (= 10 lbs.) a little cheaper than one 10 lb. bag of rice.  We go through a lot of rice, so I stocked up and bought four of the 5 lb. bags of rice, for a total of 20 lbs. of rice (only one bag of rice is pictured, above).

The cold cuts were on sale, too, and I bought some for easy brunch sandwiches and the frozen pot pies are for an easy dinner on a night when I don't feel like cooking.  

The ice cream is a treat, of course, and so is the can of coconut water (I ordered 6 cans of it, but, apparently, they only had one can left! )

Here's the receipt:

Order Summary

Original Item Total$77.59

Item Coupons/Sales-$21.55

Fulfillment Fee+$0.00

Other Fees+$0.10

Sales Tax$0.00

Order Total$56.14

---

Item Details

19 Items

CA Redem Val$0.05

1 x $0.05 each

Cucumber, 1 ct$0.59

1 x $0.59 $0.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.40

Fresh Bunch of Bananas – 5-7 Bananas, 1 bunch$2.21

3.21 lbs x $0.68 each (approx.)

Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream, 14 Oz., 14 fl oz$2.99

1 x $2.99 $6.49 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.50

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Milk Chocolate Ice Cream Bars, 3 Count, 3 ct$2.99

1 x $2.99 $6.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$3.00

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Kroger® Cage Free Grade AA Large White Eggs, 18 ct$2.00

1 x $2.00 $3.69 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.69

Kroger® Half and Half Half Gallon, 1/2 gal$5.49

1 x $5.49 each

Kroger® Long Grain Rice, 5 lb$13.96

4 x $3.49 $3.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.50

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.50

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.50

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.50

Kroger® White Sandwich Bread, 20 oz$1.99

1 x $1.99 each

Marie Callender's Chicken Pot Pie Frozen Meal, 10 oz$9.50

4 x $2.37 $3.99 each (approx.)

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.50

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.49

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.49

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.49

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.49

Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Oven Roasted Turkey Breast & Smoked Uncured Ham Thin Sliced Lunchmeat, 9 oz$3.49

1 x $3.49 $6.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.50

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Parrot Coconut Water with Pulp, 16.6 fl oz$1.49

1 x $1.49 each

SPAM®(fo Classic, net wt 12 oz (340g)$9.29

1 x $9.29 each

---

Other Fees

$0.10

Bag Fee$0.10

1 x $0.10 each

My total came to $56.14. 

June Grocery Budget (for food items only) = $250 - $26.13 (spent in May) = $223.87

Spent to date = $59.60 + $57.80 + $56.14 = $173.54

Balance left in June Grocery Budget = $223.87 - $173.54 = $50.33

Oh-oh!  Only $50 left in the grocery budget with half the month still left!  I am going to have to keep the $50 for fresh produce, dairy, and bread, do minimal grocery shopping, and eat from the freezer and pantry for the rest of the month, if I want to keep to the budget!  No more stocking up for the rest of the month!

As always, I am grateful for:

- Being able to order groceries online and have them delivered
- The availability of groceries
- Sales and offers
- Being able to stock up from time to time
- Really pleasant grocery delivery people 

Do you have a monthly grocery budget?  Do you include household supplies in it or just food items?  Assuming you do have a grocery budget, are you able to keep to your budget?  

June Meal Planning: Week 2 Review and Week 3 Proposed Plan

Tuesday Dinner: Salmon, Broccoli, Rice/Wild Rice Mix

This was my list of meal plan options for June Week 2:

Brunches:  Burgers and Fries; Egg salad sandwiches; Pancakes with sausages and peach compote; Boiled mung beans with lunu miris; Peanut butter toast; leftovers

Dinners: Assorted Leftovers ( We have a lot of leftovers in the fridge, including Smoked Sausage stirfry; Hamburgers; Sauteed Salmon steaks; Pork fajita; Chicken drumsticks) with sides of rice/pasta/tortillas and vegetables (broccoli, green beans, cucumber, carrots, salads)   

Snacks/Desserts: Fresh fruit; Assorted nuts; Cookies; Crackers, Cake, Peach Pie

Here's how that turned out:

Monday:

Brunch:  Hamburger (daughter), 1/2 Spicy chicken burger (me), fries, milkshakes (vanilla for me; chocolate for daughter - a treat after my dental appointment and fillings)

Dinner:  Leftover 1/2 of chicken burger (me); not sure what daughter had, might have been rice and salmon
Dessert: Milkshake

Tuesday:

Brunch: Curried chicken sandwich (me); leftover rice and smoked sausage strifry (daughter)

Dinner: Salmon with broccoli and boxed long grain rice & wild rice mix
Dessert: Peach pie

Wednesday Brunch: Hamburgers

Wednesday:

Brunch: Homemade hamburgers (using up the last frozen hamburger patties); I ate only half of mine

Dinner:  Other half of my hamburger (me); salmon & 

Dessert: Grapes, peach pie; peanut butter & toast (late night snack)

Thursday:

Brunch:  Pancakes with fish curry and seeni sambol and/or sausages, peach compote and strawberry compote

Dinner:  Tortillas with pork fajita
Dessert:  Labne yogurt with jaggery; rose syrup faluda

Rose Syrup and Iced Water

With Milk Added

Friday:

Brunch:  Egg Salad Sandwiches

Dinner:  Pork fajita and tortillas

Dessert:  Galia melon (compliments of M who shared some produce he was given by another client), 

Galia Melon

Saturday:

Lunch:  (Friend R was visiting): Rice, pork fajita, chicken drumsticks, cucumber salad, peach chutney

Dinner:  Assorted leftovers - rice with salmon (daughter) or last bit of tilapia curry (me); peach chutney, cucumber salad, etc.

Dessert:  Peach pie & cake

Sunday Brunch: Scrambled Eggs and Fried Potatoes 

Sunday:

Brunch:  Scrambled eggs and fried potatoes 

Dinner:  Rice, salmon, cucumber salad, peach chutney
Dessert: Yogurt with strawberry compote; peanut butter toast for a late night snack

June Week 3 Meal Plan Options:

Brunches:  Tuna salad sandwiches; Scrambled eggs with tortillas and lunu miris; Cold cuts sandwiches; Peanut butter toast; Salad; leftovers

Dinners: Baked chicken drumsticks with rice and mixed vegetables; Chicken curry with rice and vegetables  (broccoli, green beans, kale mallung, etc.); Chicken pot pies; Ham fried rice, Leftovers

Snacks/Desserts: Fresh fruit; Cookies; Crackers; Yogurt; Ice cream; maybe Flan

Or, we might go off the menu and have something different!  

Are you meal planning this week?   If so, what are you planning to have?

The Week So Far

 

Latest Crochet Project: Lap Blanket

It was 86F this afternoon and there I was, with the latest crochet project spread on my lap!  I'm making a lap blanket using the yarn my neighbor S's mother gave me, along with some yarn odds and ends I had in my stash.  I've been doing quite a bit of crocheting this week and the lap blanket is part "stash buster" and part "stress buster".  

On Monday, I had an appointment with my dentis to start on the rest of my dental work.  At the previous appointment, I was given a proposed comprehensive treatment plan with two options.  The first option involved a lot more work for a "more aesthetically pleasing smile" (with an eye watering price tag) which I rejected.  The second option covers the absolutely must do dental work without any of the aesthetically pleasing stuff, but, the price tag for the second option is only very slightly less eye watering!  I was feeling very stressed about the cost of it all as this dentist is not in my dental insurance network of dentists and I will have to pay for everything out of pocket (I have stopped going to the in network dentist due to a prior bad experience).  

Anyway, I had two fillings done on Monday.  I made an appointment to go back in July for the next step, which involves crowns (multiple).  

I also accepted a package for friend R which was delivered to my address.

I took it easy on Tuesday.  I brought in the trash cans (daughter had put them out by the curb on Monday night for trash collection on Tuesday morning), checked the week's grocery ads, checked on one of my cousins, watched some videos online, and crocheted.

On Wednesday, I took the photos for the 10 on the 10th photo post, chatted with M when he came to tend to the garden (he watered and did some pruning and tidying) and served him a slice of peach pie which he enjoyed.  Two more packages arrived for friend R and she called later in the evening to ask when would be a convenient time for her to come to collect the packages.  We agreed that she should come on Saturday afternoon.  

On Thursday, I had a routine appointent with my primary care physician.  We went over my latest blood test results which were mostly in the normal range.  Two readings were flagged as high, but they are things we've been working on for some time.  I need to double up on some life style changes to address them - diet, exercise, and stress management, etc.  

I put gas to the car on my way to the doctor's appointment; I put $50 worth of gas at $5.65/gal.  

After I came home, I spent the afternoon crocheting, watching some videos online, checking in on cousin N and chatting with friend R.

Plans for Friday include tidying up the house a little bit, doing a load of laundry, and tending to the garden with M.  

This week, I am grateful for:

- The dental appointment went well and the fillings weren't painful
- The doctor's appointment went well, too, and the blood test results were mostly good
- The availability of gas
- Safe drives to the dentist's and the doctor's, etc.
- Sunny, warm days

This week's joyful activities have included spending time in the garden and crocheting.

How is your week coming along?  What are your plans for Friday?

Ten on the 10th - In the Garden

Blog friend Joy has started a monthly Ten on the 10th photo post.  I joined in April for the first time, but, didn't post anything in May.  However, I am joining in again, in June.  Once again, as in April, I am back in the garden for these photos taken on the 10th of June.

Iris

Gazania

Schefflera (Umbrella Plant) Berries

Calamondin

Pomegranate

Pomegranate

Lsntana

Bee on Lantana Flowers

Neighbor's Sunflowers

Bougainvillea

And those are my Ten on the 10th for June.  Thank you, Joy, for starting this monthly photo theme.  

June Meal Planning - Week 2

 

Sunday Dinner: Pork Fajita 

This was my June Week 1 list of meal plan options:

Brunches:  Milkrice with seeni sambol and/or jaggery (Monday, June 1)✓;  Tuna salad sandwiches✓, Scrambled eggs with sausages and toast✓; Pancakes with sausages and peaches (and syrup); Boiled mung beans with lunu miris; Peanut butter toast; leftovers✓

Dinners: Smoked Sausage stirfry with broccoli, carrots, and walnuts over rice (Monday & Tuesday)✓; Baked Chicken drumsticks with cucumber salad, broccoli, and corn;  Hamburgers; Salmon (need to buy) with rice and green beans✓; Tilapia curry; Leftovers✓.  

Snacks/Desserts: Fresh fruit✓; Assorted nuts✓; Cookies;✓ Crackers with tuna salad ✓or peanut butter; Avocado pudding; muffins; Cake; Peach pie

Here's how that turned out:

Monday:

Brunch: Milkrice, seeni sambol, jaggery

Dinner:  Smoked Sausage stirfry with broccoli, carrots, onions, and walnuts, served over rice
Dessert: Strawberries

Tuesday:

Brunch: Leftover milkrice (me); tuna salad sandwiches (daughter)

Dinner: Leftover smoked sausage stirfry and rice
Dessert: Strawberries

Wednesday:

Brunch:  Tuna salad on toast (me); tuna salad filled mini sweet pepper "boats" (daughter)

Dinner: Tilapia curry with rice and green beans (daughter) and stringhoppers (me)

Dessert: Yogurt and jaggery (me); mini ice cream bars

Thursday:

Brunch:  Scrambled eggs, sausages, toast

Dinner:  Leftover tilapia curry with rice and green beans
Dessert:  Yogurt and strawberries (me)

Friday:

Brunch:  Chinese take out (chow mein, barbecue pork, green beans and chicken, jalepeno chicken, chicken wings)

Dinner:  Leftover Chinese food

Dessert:  Mini ice cream bars; sesame candy

Saturday:

Brunch:  Chicken sandwiches (me); leftover Chinese food (daughter)
Tea: Butter cake with watermelon-strawberry jam, strawberry cream cheese frosting, and fresh strawberries (compliments of daughter's friend A who baked it and brought us a share; we gave her crepes I had just made and freshly picked blueberries in return); crepes 

Dinner:  Sauteed salmon steaks cooked with onions and tomatoes and served with rice

Dessert:  Peach pie (baked with the last of the fresh peaches on Saturday evening)

Sunday:

Brunch:  The last of the Chinese take out

Dinner:  Pork fajita tray bake with onions and peppers (daughter cooked), served on tortillas
Dessert: Peach pie

June Week 2 Meal Plan Options:

Brunches:  Burgers and Fries; Egg salad sandwiches; Pancakes with sausages and peach compote; Boiled mung beans with lunu miris; Peanut butter toast; leftovers

Dinners: Assorted Leftovers ( We have a lot of leftovers in the fridge, including Smoked Sausage stirfry; Hamburgers; Sauteed Salmon steaks; Pork fajita; Chicken drumsticks) with sides of rice/pasta/tortillas and vegetables (broccoli, green beans, cucumber, carrots, salads)   

Snacks/Desserts: Fresh fruit; Assorted nuts; Cookies; Crackers, Cake, Peach Pie

Peach Pie

I am grateful for:

- Variety in our diet
- Daughter's friend bringing us cake she had made
- Daughter making pork fajita for Sunday dinner
- Fruit from the garden
- Leftovers/planned overs

What's on your meal plan for this week?