Projects from last week, now planning this week

Good morning everyone.  Our weather is cooler than summer but it's not really feeling like fall yet.  

I did some simple decorating around our front door.  

The wreath is one we've used for several years. 

The green balls were picked up by my grands from a tree near the pond at the entrance of our addition.  They are Osage oranges, also called hedge apples.  They are not edible but I think they are pretty and fresh looking.  

Big roses are still in full bloom in the flower bed, they look a lot more like spring than fall.  

In the master bathroom,  I sewed up a new curtain for the glass block window by the tub.  The valance and wall hanging were used in different rooms at other times,  I think they will stay here for now as I like this look.  

I need to see a matching shower curtain for this room too- maybe this week! 

I found this cute fall themed washi tape at Dollar Tree and will use it on future lists but for now- 

My to do list isn't fall themed yet either.  

The red dot tape is from Dollar tree, the designs are made with rubber stamps.  

Lots to do this week, so I better get busy now! 

CVS today

There are a lot of good deals at CVS this week but not much we need.  This toothpaste deal was very good so I stopped in today while I was doing errands.

It includes quite a few Crest products.  When you spend $10, you'll get back $10 ECB. 

I used $3/3 Crest coupons and a $4/20 CVS Redbox coupon on dental products.  

I had a $2.50 on this brand new product, Centrum Vitamints. They were not on sale but I wanted to try them and they taste really good.  I have a hard time swallowing big pills and if I do manage to swallow a big vitamin, they usually upset my stomach.  So I am hoping these candy like vitamins will be a good solution for me.  

I used coupons and $10 ECBs, I spent $7.85 cash and got back another $10 ECB.  

To do and Two babies

My list for next week - I just put the necessary chores on it and some sewing I hope to do.  Last week was busy but I still got most of that list done.  

Thr designs are made with rubber stamps and colored pencils.

The 2 youngest grands were here today.  Charlie is almost 3 months old and big for her age.  Jackson is 4 months old and is really big for his age.  There is plenty of them to love!  

Aren't they just sweet as can be?

A very sweet online magazine (and it's Free!)

A Heart Of Grace And Joy

I guess our family got our first desktop computer and Internet about 1998 or so.  Soon after that,  I discovered YahooGroups and joined a small private group called Creative Home Life.  It was a close knit group of mostly homemakers.  We chatted and encouraged each other and shared tips and recipes.

One of the leaders of that group is Joanne and she is now publishing this new online magazine.  She writes some of the articles and some the original members of that sweet YahooGroups list contribute.

A new issue just came out and it is has recipes, patterns, gardening tips, just all kinds of good stuff - A Heart of Grace and Joy is a magazine that I really think will appeal to the same readers of my blog. 

You will have to enter your email to view the issue but that's all.

Some of this week's cooking

One morning I baked a batch of blueberry muffins from a Betty Crocker mix bought on sale for .99.

I used a Pinterest tip about how to increase the flavor by adding the blueberry juice from ththe can that is usually discarded as part of the water.  This made the batter quite purple but once it was baked,  the  muffins were almost normal color and they did have a stronger pleasant blueberry flavor.

Heidi in Holland says this a very common meal in the Netherlands.  It is potato cubes simmered until tender and then mixed with sautéed onion and sliced sausage with a can of drained green beans.  

I haven't made this in a while. It tasted very good and is a nice dish for the beginning of Autumn.

Heidi mostly blogs about stitching these days and has a very sweet blog

Stitched Memories in Time

This is French Bread Pizza inspired by a YouTube video by DivasCanCook.  

The loaf of bread is cut lengthwise from top to bottom, then opened and flattened.  Brush with a little garlic butter and bake for 10 minutes until it just starts to toast.  Then add the desired toppings and bake about 15 minutes more.  Her video is really good but just 3 minutes or so,  so if you want to try this pizza,  her instructions are quick and just right.

That's what's been cookin' in my kitchen.