Backyard Work

I have been working steadily in the backyard a little at a time. I usually have about an hour each evening to work on projects so this photo line up actually happened over several nights! I did manage to get the boy's play area done, the area around my bird feeders complete and mulched around my compost bins. I have started on the side yard with clean up and washing off the cinder blocks so I can reuse them. I am hoping with the boy's help tonight to get them painted.

 

 

I found a small container for the tic-tac-toe markers

Material I have on hand to make a path in the side yard.

Books July 7th through July 25th

In print I finished Everything Everything and moved on to Lists of Note which I did not enjoy as much as Letters of Note. I am a list maker so I thought I would enjoy the book more than I did. Once I finished it I moved on to Abominable Science!: Origins of the Yeti, Nessie and Other Famous Cryptids which I had started a couple of years ago and not finished. I am determined to get through it this time.


I did manage to complete several audio books including In The Great Green Room which I liked, You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life which I hated, Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit which I liked, Insane Clown President: Dispatches from the 2016 Circus which I found fascinating, Real Murders by Charlaine Harris which I am on the fence about, The Hour of Land: A Topography of America's National Parks by Terry Tempest Williams which I loved and this morning I started The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple.

4th Week of July

Vacation ended and we are trying to adjust to our regular schedule!

Sunday:
Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls
Lunch: McDonalds
Dinner: Pulled Pork from A Mind Full Mom served with Creamed Corn from Good Dinner Mom using some leftover corn on the cob and green beans.

Monday:
Breakfast: Bacon and leftover Cinnamon Rolls
Lunch: McDonalds
Dinner:  Jolene's Cheese Potato and Smoked Sausage Casserole from food.com using leftover smoked sausage and the end of the potatoes and velveeta I had on hand.

Tuesday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Flautas with a friend
Dinner:Bacon Fried Rice from Buns in My Oven. Of course I altered the recipe a bit. I used butter rather than bacon grease as my bacon was leftover. My rice was also leftover. I used the last fresh carrots I had from the CSA share, frozen peas, some mushrooms left from another dinner, and leftover corn I cut off the cob. I also used Teriyaki sauce and left out the siracha. It was still yummy!

Wednesday:
Breakfast: Banana Bread (I baked it and forgot I had put it up which is why I had cereal yesterday)
Lunch:Ramen noodles, a peach and some chips
Dinner: Hot Dogs

Thursday:
Breakfast: Banana bread
Lunch: Ramen noodles, a nectarine and some chips
Dinner: Soft Tacos using the leftover pulled pork, some fajita chicken, and most of the lettuce I had remaining.

Friday:
Breaskfast: Cereal
Lunch: PB&J sandwhich, chips and fruit
Dinner: Homemade Naan pizzas

Saturday:
Breakfast: Donuts
Lunch: Chick-fil-a
Dinner: Chicken Cacciatore from Cafe Delites which was yummy!  I was able to use a carrot and some tomatoes from that morning's CSA pick up. I also used up some mushrooms and an onion from a previous CSA pick up. This recipe also used up some leftover tomato paste from another recipe.

3rd Week of July

Saturday morning I picked up our CSA share. I was a little surprised at the size of it....was prepared for a little more but will ride this out to see how it goes. After picking up the CSA the boys and I went to the farmer's market and picked up some tomatoes.

The menu may change on the fly this week as my mom is coming in town for a visit.

Sunday:
Breakfast: Biscuits
Lunch: Treated by friend for birthday
Dinner: Cheesy Chicken Broccoli pasta

Monday:
Breakfast: Donuts
Lunch: Treated to chicken by friend
Dinner: on the road getting my mom from the airport.

Tuesday:
Dinner:::Pizza

Wednesday:
Dinner: Italian Chicken and Vegetables Sheet Pan Dinner from Yellow Bliss Road. I used Carrots, Asparagus and Potatoes as the veggies.

Thursday:
Dinner: Cotton Patch

Friday:
Dinner: Mexican restaurant

Saturday:
Dinner:  Sausage, Steamed Rice and Corn on the Cob

Finishing the Hop Scotch Area

I finished the hop scotch area , added a tic-tac-toe board and then made a track with tunnels for the boy's hot wheels. Tonight I need to clean up the remaining area and finish mulching.

Backyard Hop Scoth Play Area

The front yard is currently in maintenance mode so I am working on the backyard with most of that being the boy's play area.

I am ALMOST finished with this project. I got through number 7 set last night so I am hoping that I can finish setting them tonight and get the mulch down.

2nd Week of July

This week we have Clark's birthday to celebrate! I am also super excited as I will be picking up the first CSA basket on Saturday.

Sunday:
Breakfast: cinnamon toast
Lunch: Rosa's to celebrate a friend and Clark's birthdays
Dinner: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Gnocchi from the Jo Cooks blog with garlic toast

Monday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Salad, pb&j sandwich, and watermelon
Dinner: Clark requested chicken and corn on the cob

Tuesday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Met friend at Wendy's for lunch
Dinner: Friend treated Chick-Fil-A for Clark's birthday

Wednesday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch:Ramen noodles and Watermelon
Dinner: Korean BBQ Short Ribs from the My Korean Kitchen blog with steamed rice.  Review of this one is complex. I will not buy the ribs from Winco anymore. I have given them many chances but they just can not seem to cut them even. Some were really fat, some paper thin and some nothing but bones. That truly affected how the marinate tasted. Phillip was not a fan of the marinate as it was slightly sweet . I will likely never make these again.

Thursday: 
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Pizza with friends
Dinner:  Hamburgers with Dr Pepper Baked Beans from Sugar and Soul Co blog.  These beans were just bad, there is nothing I can say that will redeem them. The sauce actually seemed to form a hard coating of the beans that made them harder than dried beans. Phillip was also not crazy about the taste of the sauce.

Friday: 
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Greek with friends
Dinner: One Pan Garlic Herb Chicken and Asparagus from the Creme de la Crumb. After 2 failed new recipes this week I am happy to report this one was a resounding success. Phillip asked about the seasoning and said that it was really good. Clark asked for a second helping. I enjoyed the meal but also how insanely easy this was to pull off!

Saturday:
Breakfast: Biscuit
Lunch: Sandwich
Dinner: Omelet

 

More on the front yard

Yard projects are on going this year. I am honestly hoping that once September gets here and we seed some native grass that we are done with all the big projects and will just be in maintenance mode.

I had some help putting in another curb side bed in the front as well as planting along our front walk since no grass will grow there. 

Books starting July 1st!!!

I am not going back to my last post and updating the books I have read as it is just too many. I am however starting over from July 1st and posting on a more regular basis.

I finished Into the Fire by Jeaninene Frost on audio book yesterday afternoon and immediately started In the Great Green Room by Amy Gray which I may finish by tomorrow. 

In print I am reading Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon. It is a young adult book and goes fast when I have the time to sit and read it which has not been much lately.

First Week of July Menu

I originally was only going to be off work on the 4th but my sitter went on vacation so I had off the 3rd also!

This week's plan:

Sunday:
Breakfast: cinnamon toast
Lunch: potluck at church
Dinner: Fried rice using leftover rice and the remaining fajita steak from the freezer

Monday:
Breakfast: cinnamon rolls
Lunch: McDonald's
Dinner: Grilled cheese

Tuesday:
Breakfast: Bacon, eggs and warmed up leftover pancakes
Lunch: honestly can not remember.....
Dinner: Crock-Pot BBQ ribs from The Rising Spoon blog, roasted potatoes and leftover cream peas

Wednesday:
Breakfast: cereal
Lunch: treated to Flautas by friend
Dinner: Bacon Asparagus Pasta  from Gimme Some Oven

Thursday:
Breakfast: cereal
Lunch: Chicken
Dinner: BBQ Pork with Cheesy Grits from Kevin is Cooking. The review on this one is I loved the cheese grits and could not believe I had not made them at home before. The boys thought they were spicy so when I make them again I will leave out the Cayenne. Phillip was not crazy about the redo of the ribs. Maybe with pulled pork next time but this will definitely happen again.

 Friday:
Breakfast: cereal
Lunch:Chinese food with friends
Dinner: Ranch Cheddar Chicken from the Damn Delicious blog and corn on the cob 

Saturday:
Breakfast: Biscuits
Lunch: Cookout with family
Dinner: Naan Pepperoni Pizzas

July Groceries Thus Far

I joined a CSA and prepaid for the 10 week share which comes with delivery every other week. I am excited since my first pick up is next weekend!! I will split the cost up and add the month's portion in my grocery total so for this month I will pick up on the 15th and the 29th which totals $48 which was the total cost of the share/ the number of pickups*the pickups this month.

Farmer's Market trip to stock us up until the share comes in. I also know it is pea season and I want to put some up as well as eat them since I am trying to feed us more seasonally but know we are not huge fans of root veggies that are prevalent in the winter.

This was $41 worth of produce, locally made gouda and some locally made beef jerky

I shared with Grandma since she needs produce in small amounts. She shelled herself some peas with the help of the boys and took 90% of the tomatoes which worked out since I bought them with her in mind.

I cut into the gouda once home and had to stop myself from eating the whole wedge it was soo good. The cantaloupe was cut up for potluck and the leftovers have come to lunch with me. The watermelon was amazing and Clark was eating it as fast as I could cut it up. He and I have been snacking on it.

On to the staples for the month:

Winco Trip #1:
2 boxes Rice Chex     $1.96
Little Debbie Brownies    $1.88
2 boxes Handi-Snax    $7.66
2 boxes Tea Bags    $3.16
1 loaf Velveeta  $5.98
1 box gnocchi   $2.70
1 pkg diapers    $6.97
4 bars soap  $1.46
1 box dishwasher detergent   $4.48
1 pkg dishwasher cleaner   $3.89
1 pkg dishwasher tabs   $2.98
2 bottles soy sauce  $3.26
3 pkgs biscuits  $3.84
1 box yogurt tubes   $2.61
4 bags frozen veggies   $3.96
1 pkg baby back ribs   $5.37
4 pkgs sliced cheese  $9.92
1 lb sliced ham lunch meat  $4.88
1 pkg pepperoni    $2.76
3 lbs shredded cheese   $3.98
 1 gallon milk   $.98
1 lb ricotta cheese   $2.80
1 lb shredded mozarella  $1.88
2 pkgs ribs   $16.38
1 box ice cream sandwiches   $3.06
1 lb bacon  $3.98
1 pkg breakfast sausage   $2.98
1 jar peanut butter   $1.68
1 pint chocolate milk   $1.48
1 jar Nutella   $3.48
2 bars soap   $1.15
1 jar Parmesan cheese    $2.18
~3/4lbs dog biscuits   $.26
2 kids toothbrushes   $5.26
~1/4 lb dental chews    $1.08
3 Gallons Apple juice    $10.44
6 bottles Powerade   $2.88
1 can diced tomatoes   $.58
2 pkgs sea salt   $3.66
1 Dublin Root Beer    $1.28
2 bottles cranberry juice  $3.76
1 box Kosher salt   $2.44
4 (6) packs of Dr. Pepper   $5.78
1 Watermelon   $2.98
6 ears of corn   $.60
1 box fruit snacks    $3.68
~1/4 lbs cinnamon gummy bears   $.40
~1/2lbs fruit snacks   $.94
1 pkg variety crackers  $1.98
~1&1/4lbs peaches     $1.17
~1&1/4 lbs nectarines  $1.14
~1/16lb ginger root   $.14
~1/2 lb pasta shells   $.45
~1/2lbs penne pasta  $.41
~3lbs sugar    $1.90
~1&1/4lbs spaghetti noodles  $.87
~2&1/4 lbs baking soda    $1.67
~1&1/4lbs white rice   $.48
~3/4lbs raw sugar    $.70
1 bag spinach   $1.78
2 pkgs Naan    $4.16
1 gallon vinegar    $2.29
1 variety pack chips   $6.98
1 bag chips   $1.08

Total::::: $183.53


Target Grocery Trip:
2 jars cherry jelly   $5.30
1 jar Nutella   $2.36
3 jars marinara   $3.51
1 pkg granola  $2.79
8 cases soda   $17.76

Total::::: $ 31.72


Sprouts Trip:
~2lbs asparagus       $1.99
~2&1/4lbs  grapes    $4.18
1 head of lettuce  $2.99
~1&3/4lbs apples     $1.60
1 jar paprika   $2.99
 ~1&1/4lbs whole cashews   $8.67
~2lbs bacon   $6.96
~2lbs ground beef    $5.81
1 loaf apple cinnamon messy bread    $3.99
1 pkg  choc chip muffins   $2.99
1 loaf garlic bread  $1.99
1 gallon liquid soap   $9.74

Total:::::  $49.58

Winco Trip:
1 box ice cream sandwiches   $3.36
1 box ice cream cones    $3.06
1 gallon milk   $.98
3 salads    $5.94
2 pkgs skirt steak   $9.91
1 pkg marshmallows   $1.15
2 cans bean dip   $5.00
1 pkg brownies   $1.88
1 honey bun  $.88
~1/4lb corn grits   $.40

Total:::: $32.56

Subtotal which I hope is the total:::: $386.39

Broken Record

I feel like a broken record sometimes. Life got in the way again and once I was out of the habit of blogging I had a hard time coming back. I was actually afraid for a couple of weeks to open the page. I am here again for as long as I have time to put life in print.

I will start posting grocery and farmer's market/CSA information again next week as it will be July already.