Hello friends and fellow bloggers,
I trust you had a great start to the month of June. Can you believe we're almost halfway through the year already? Are you making the most of it?
I can't say I'm making the most of it yet because it's been a very busy year so far with lots of unexpected things happening both with regards to health and hearth. But I am doing well and grateful for being able to handle everything so far.
On Saturday I had a slow start. I couldn't decide whether to relax as I was tired, or whether I should do some work. Thankfully the work part won out because I just know I'll feel mentally better having cleaned and gotten things ready for the week ahead. At least I won't feel behind as the week gets underway.
I try to follow the general outlines of a cleaning system called Fly Lady. On weekends one is supposed to rest, have family time and so on. Mondays are for what is called the Weekly Home Blessing hour (WHB) in which you vacuum, sweep, wash and generally pick things up so that the week starts off on a good footing. It's just a quick hour of working as fast as you can to get things looking in shape as the week begins. I often, though not always, do a WHB on the weekend. That way I can enjoy a tidier space during the weekend and have less to do come Monday. I also do the bulk of the laundry and bedding on Saturday so I might as well get other work done at the same time. Since I do mine on the weekends, I take my time. One hour is not enough time to do everything when you move more slowly. Can anyone relate? What about you dear reader? Do you follow a certain schedule for household tasks? Do you do housework on weekends or do you like to keep those days free for fun and outside tasks like shopping and errands?
On Friday, I went for a walk and did some errands though I really wasn't expecting to buy much. I did a bit of thrift store browsing, shopping at the dollar store, buying groceries and looking for a graduation gift for a friend's son's high school graduation. I've been invited to the graduation ceremony. I didn't know what I should get for a gift. The young man will be moving across the country so I didn't want to get him anything that takes up a lot of space or is heavy to carry.
My friends live at the university campus and the graduation ceremony will be held in the same place as the university graduation ceremonies. After the ceremony we'll all go out for a tasty Kenyan dinner afterward. My friends are from Tanzania but they speak the same Swahili language as in Kenya and they share many of the same foods.
After browsing, I had the idea to buy a small container of items that can come in handy for a student. I bought things like sticky post its, a journal, pens, paper clips and magnets, some small organizing trays, and a book of prompts for daily prayer. I also added a wooden puzzle that will give him something to distract his mind when he needs a break from studies. I just have to wrap the gifts now and think about what to wear on the day which is forecasted to be mixed clouds/rain and sun.
I also stopped off at the thrift store for a little 'look see'. I bought a small rolling cart organizer for the main bathroom. I've been thinking about getting one of these for the narrow space between the bathroom cabinet and toilet. It fits and I think it will work well. I didn't take a photo but it looks like the one in this photo from Ikea. I believe they are also sold on Amazon.
I've been fighting a cold and it doesn't help that it turned quite cool for several days. I though some Vietnamese Pho Soup would hit the spot before I continued with my errands. The soup was very good but I couldn't finish it. I should have ordered the small bowl since I'd also ordered spring rolls.
On Saturday I was in the mood for a bit of cooking.
I made beef brisket in the Instant Pot, mixed lentils and rice in the rice cooker and a sauteed mix of okra, eggplant and green beans. It was good and also filling. Again, I couldn't finish it but it will make a good Sunday snack.
I made ground beef and vegetable soup for Sunday. Normally I put rice, potatoes or pasta in the soup but this time I did not. Since I didn't cook and render the fat from the ground beef first, I'll skim it off after it cools in the refrigerator.
I hope you had a great weekend. Thank you for stopping by and enjoy the week ahead.
