It has been a gorgeous weekend! We have had sunny skies and cool temperatures with low humidity. Yesterday we took the girls and a friend of theirs hiking on a nature trail at the State Park in Gulf Shores. We didn't get to the end of the trail but hiked 2.5 miles in all.

I missed watching Beverly Lewis' The Shunning on tv last night. I forgot all about it! We did watch Evan Almighty - which was a cute movie - and a couple shows on Animals Planet (It's Me or the Dog and Cats 101). Alfred and I were just plain tired last night and went to bed before 10pm. I guess that's a good thing because the dogs wake us up early every morning, like it or not. Today it was 6am.

With this cooler weather, the dogs have been enjoying the outdoors. It's so funny to watch Zeus stalk Mr. Cheeky. Then Cheeky will bark at Zeus and then the chase is on! Gracie tries to get in on it, too, but she is mostly interested in watching the squirrels in the trees!

No real plans today other than going to visit with Mama and to tidy up around the house. Monday comes all too soon. Hope you are having a beautiful weekend! 

Grocery Savings & Freebies

Just finished my grocery shopping for the week. Grand total was: $118.53 before coupons and Reward Card Savings.

Items for FREE this week:

10 oz. Far Rich Mozzerella sticks ($1.99)

Honey Bun Little Debbie snack cakes ($1.59)

6.6oz. Lindy's Italian Ice ( $3.49)

64 oz. Hawaiian Punch ($2.50)

Gallon of store brand milk ($3.89) 

box of Froot Loops ($4.19) B1G1F

That's $15.85 in Free groceries right there.

Then I had $1.50 in manufacturer coupons and a $5 off $55+ Winn  Dixie coupon.

That's $6.50.

So far that's $22.85 in freebies and savings.

Total OOP was $84.49 which brings my total savings to $34.04 for this week.

Not too shabby to feed a family of 5 for a week, eh?

 

Our Cozy Cottage

We managed to get the yard work done this weekend and this is the finished result. I can think of a ton of projects that I would like to do in the front yard alone! The columns on the porch need a fresh coat of white paint, as do the shutters. And I still want to finish the flower beds in front. I am thinking hanging ferns would be a nice addition to the porch, too.

A couple of Adirondack chairs would be lovely under the River Birch, don't you agree?



The roses in the backyard are full of abundant blooms! We (Alfred) finally got the pond cleaned out, but it was getting dark when finished so I couldn't take a decent pic. There are a zillion projects to do in the backyard! But bit by bit we'll get it done. :)

Hope your weekend was wonderful!



Suzie Homemaker Doesn't Live Here Anymore

After reading Debra's post yesterday titled, A Funeral for Suzy, I realized in a way I have been grieving the loss of being a full-time homemaker. When I started work back in November, I had no idea I would still be working outside the home six months later.

I find it hard. Hard to get things done that I previously had loads of time for. I haven't been able to read a good book in many months....I'd lost interest in just about everything and nothing seemed appealing. Spiritually I lost my center and didn't pray nor pick up my Bible for months. I have been in a stagnant place. 

But I am beginning to come out of it. I am at a different stage of life right now. I would prefer to be home full-time and I will be again. How am I gonna make this happen? 

~ I am going to keep clipping coupons and matching them to sale items at the grocery store.

~ I will plan my meals each week based on what's on sale, look for new quick & easy dishes and get my girls to help with the baking of treats.

~ I am going to create a plan for my homemaking and do a little each morning and each afternoon.

~ Save change in my big glass jug and tuck dollars back as I am able, while I keep contributing to my Christmas Club account.

~ Keep lights, computer, and various items off and/or unplugged when not in use.

~ Clean up the kitchen right after dinner.

~ Do one load of laundry each day.

~ Make Sunday a day of REST.

~ And, most importantly, trust God to make a way out of the workforce and back home full time.

Grocery Savings & Freebies

Did my grocery shopping for the week. The total started out at $127.68.

 I got several items for FREE after using my Reward card:

gallon of milk

Nutrigrain bars

cranapple juice

Martha White muffin mix

two Kraft mac and cheese

Ronzoni spaghetti noodles

loaf of Wonder bread

In all, I had $4 in manufacturer coupons and a $5 off $55 coupon with my toal out of pocket expense being $85.13. That's a savings of $42.55!

I had enough pocket money to buy a $5 box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts from a teen girl standing at an intersection with money to spare. All in all, a good week. :)

Beautiful Homes and Gardens

I love this house down the road from me! Whenever I pass by, I always gaze with admiration at the neat and pretty landscaping. 

I hope one day my yard will be just as pretty!