Last Night I went to sleep in July and woke up in September!

At least that's how the weather feels. I shivered all night and woke up to chilly (relatively speaking) temperatures. It got down to 55 degrees, which after nights of 75 degrees feels cold. Tonight the low is forecast as 47! What happened? It feels like I should get out the flannel sheets and winter jammies.

However, I won't, yet. Because no matter when I get them out we have another heat wave and I regret getting them out so early (even if it's the end of October!).

Honestly, we love this kind of weather and are so grateful for the break in the heat. Rain is in the forecast for next week and we are looking forward to that; I believe I've said before that I love rain!

The boys got home from their High Adventure looking tan and Taller! They grow like weeds. Turn your back and whoops there's another couple of inches.

Noble Skyped this morning (midnight for her) so she could give me a tour of her room and then open birthday presents with me "present". It was delightful. And she liked everything I had sent. Another box is on the way so she'll get a couple more things next week.

JET called today with his birthday wish list. So now I have something to work towards. He'll be 20! Where has the time gone?

School begins in less than three weeks. Yikes! Must keep focused and finish the summer projects.

Hope all is well in your corner of the world.

July's almost over and I'm not done with my To Do list

This has been a busy month. The bathroom is painted as well as the two walls in the kitchen where we removed a huge banquette bench. I've moved all my winter clothes over to the bedroom closet and taken measurements for curtains. Noble's birthday presents are all done and the second box is on it's way. She turns 24 on Sunday. I finally got some pictures developed to send to my Dad who doesn't do email. I've helped with Dr. Hair's film project by baking cakes, breads and cookies for his fund raiser on July 4th, then shopping for costume pieces in Council Bluffs with members of the cast. I've worked in the yard pulling weeds and moving plants around; keeping a dog and two cats fed and happy, as well as taking care of a bird bath and feeder (new to my life this summer).

I've decluttered and taken bags of stuff to the thrift store. Moving is a good time to do that sort of thing. Items I haven't used or even unpacked from the last move are good candidates for removal.

My sewing room is a total mess again and will stay that way until we move out of this house and I can spread it out between the three bedrooms upstairs. I have PLANS! And with space to work in I fully expect to accomplish them.

I've given a lot of thought to my frugal lifestyle. My way of thinking is so natural now that it is automatic, without a lot of thought. The only times I think about it is when I hear what someone else does and I think to myself "That's not the least expensive way to do that." or something similar. When I think about topics for this blog I decide "Oh no one would want to know about that." I wish readers would ask questions that I could answer to give me some direction as to what you'd like to know.

This week Dr. Hair and Dandylion are off to the Scout High Adventure in South Dakota. TopDad and I are enjoying the peace and privacy. Just three short years until it will be like this all the time. Amazing! It took us ten years to get all five of the chuns here; it's only taking six for them to all leave us. (PW left in 2010, Dandy will leave in 2016) By the way, Noble is doing well in Korea. Several airmen (and women) have asked her to accompany them to Seoul because she speaks the language and can be their tour guide. She is happy to do so.

JET bought a zippy convertible sports car, red no less, and has let me drive it a couple times. It is really fun!!! He has a new job as a technician at a Honda dealership. PW is a pesticide technician for the summer earning money for school in the fall.

Everyone is happy, busy and making progress.

Lastly, the weather today is cool, dry with a lovely northern breeze. It feels like the end of September to me, rather than the end of July. But who's complaining, this is perfectly wonderful weather. Supposed to stay like this for the next week, then rain is in the forecast. Lovely!!!

A Quarter of a Century

Twenty-five years ago today, TopDad and I were married. The only thing I've done longer than that is simply live. We are in the midst of the first annual Thoelke Family Reunion. It's a tradition I've wanted to have for a long time. With three adult children I figured now was the right time to begin, then the habit will be established that each summer right around June 25 everyone will gather at Papa and Nana Thoelke's for a family reunion, which will include the Thoelke Family Golf Classic.

For our anniversary we are getting a couple of trees to plant in our yard. We did that for our 20th also. We hope we stay here longer and can actually see the trees grow up.

In other news, Noble is across the ocean and the international date line, so I now call her Future Girl. As we are getting up she is winding down her day; when we are going to bed, she is eating lunch the next day. Mind boggling, but fun.

PW is taller than TopDad, JET is still the tallest, Dr. Hair is not far behind, just a bit shorter than TopDad, with Dandylion bringing up the rear, and taller than PFCMom. I'm the shrimp now! But it is fun to be surrounded by five tall, handsome males.

Here's looking at the next 25 years and planning on even better things to come.

Thrift Store Score!

Today's shopping trip was great. At the thrift store I found a punch bowl set, complete with ladle, eight cups and hooks (still in their plastic bag) for $5.00! I was casually looking for one because our little church is hosting a wedding Saturday of a couple who were divorced, have reconciled and are getting married again. I'm providing the drink and I wanted a punch bowl to make it look special.

Also got two Christopher & Banks skirts, one cream linen, fully lined, the other a tan khaki, $2.50 each. My frequent shopper punch card was full giving me $5.00 off the total purchase so it was like getting the two skirts for free.

The other fabulous find was a Spring 1949 Vogue Pattern Magazine. Such gorgeous clothes! When I figure out my picture situation I'll post some pages from the catalog.

Happy thrift shopping to you.

 

Life in These United States . .

. . . is one of my favorite humor sections in Reader's Digest. Have you read May 2013?

. . .And One from Abroad
When I was pulled over for speeding, I told the officer, "I'm sorry, but the road seemed clear and . . "
"How would you have reacted if Mister Fog had suddenly appeared?" he interrupted.
Annoyed at his patronizing manner, I replied, "I suppose I would have applied Mr. Brake and summoned up Mr. and Mrs. Headlight!"
Enunciating each syllable, the officer repeated, "How would you have reacted if mist ... or ... fog had suddenly appeared?"
                                      Peter Melville, Cornwall, England


I laugh everytime I think of it!