~ from my home to yours, living the Working Pantry lifestyle ~ surviving today's economy ~ a can-do spirit and attitude ~

Sunday, May 22, 2022

This Week's To-Do List: 5/22/22

This is a very special week for me, one that I've been thinking about for quite a while ... it's my birthday week and I'll be reaching a pretty big age milestone.  I'm so very grateful!

I've been thinking and pondering and going over in my mind my 'someday' list of things I want to do but have for various reasons, kept putting off until 'later.'  I've decided that I'm not putting them off any longer.  I'm not getting any younger, ha!

(Picture:  this is the focal point in my container garden and raised bed area.  The tree is a pecan tree, the mailbox belonged to my hubby's grandfather, also in the picture are roses, comfrey, tea roses, echinacea and garlic chives.)

For my long-time followers, you will know that the past two years have brought a 'drawing back' in my writing and online presence.  I needed to do that as part of my grieving but now I'm feeling like I'm ready to do more online.  (Thank you to those who stayed with me during this time.)

I want to do more teaching in a class format similar to what I've done in the past, start doing some videos and even tackle another group.  I want to be more active here on A Working Pantry blog.  In short, I'm ready to get back to what I was doing before my world crumbled at my feet with the passing of my mom in such a heart-breaking way along with all that happened afterwards.  I have come to accept that I will never get over what happened and that I have to find a way to learn to live with it.  I have said so many times that I'm permanently broken.  I now think I'm ready to take those broken pieces and slowly try to put back together a life that God can use for His glory.  I am not the same person I was over 2 years ago, and yet I am.  I still have a heart for teaching, preparedness, well-stocked pantries, living frugally, beautiful flowers, big gardens, living a quiet life and so much more.  

Having said all this, I want you to know that I'll be easing into all these changes slowly starting with posting more often here on A Working Pantry.

I'm bringing back my weekly 'to-do' list, Here's this week's list ...

Read and study Bible every day (This is so important to me, I'm currently working my way through a study on the Life of Christ, teaching 2 Bible classes a week at our local congregation and working on writing another Bible study for women. Bible study is a priority for me in my relationship with God.)

Exercise 6 days (Having lost a substantial amount of weight I'm doing everything I can to keep the weight off and exercise plays a very important role in this.  This too, is a priority for me. You can read about my fitness journey HERE.)

Plant sweet potato slips in 5-gallon buckets

Plant tomato suckers in 5-gallon buckets

Can pork butt

Can ham

Bake banana bread

Dig another row of potatoes

Preserve potatoes

Plant October beans

Make chicken salad for hubby (he requested I make him some, so that's what I'm going to do)

Make chicken pot pie at the beginning of the week for heat and eat quick lunches throughout the week

Sand table (this table belonged to my mom and I'm ready to refurbish it and start using it)

Post one Instagram story (I'm going to have to learn how to do this, so if anyone has any pointers or advice, I would love it if you'd share.)

What's on your to-do list for the week?

Until the next post,

patsi

She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27

My pantry is intentional, purposeful, simple, practical, frugal and what works for my family.  It’s the food items and household supplies that keep my household running smoothly ready and available when they are needed.  It’s my contribution to our family’s economy and my work-from-home ‘job.'

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15 comments:

  1. Happy (almost!) Birthday, Patsi! *hugs* to you. I know things are still difficult, but I'm so glad you're going to be doing more teaching. You're such a wonderful teacher and you have so much to share!

    Most of my to do list this week is for meal prep, the majority of which will get done today, but I also plan on making some bread and some blackberry jelly this week. I also need to edge the walkways. I've been putting it off! Have a wonderful week!

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    1. Jennilee, thank you for your sweet words of encouragement. Good luck with your list, that bread and blackberry jelly sound yummy!

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  2. Happy Birthday! Your garden is beautiful as always. I am looking forward to all you have planned for the blog's future There is nothing to say about your Mom but how sorry I still am that your family experienced such heartbreak. I think that God will use it for good someday as so many have broken hearts from the last two years.

    That is a big list!

    My list-
    Work on plants for the deck as I am able-three done this morning before the rain-abut 2/3 of them just need to be cut back and fertilized because they were overwintered in the garage

    Haircut-this is difficult for me right now-getting there and being touched all over my head is awful

    Appointment for my genetic disease-sometimes I have some really great days after and sometimes I am out for many days

    Small group here on Thursday-bake muffins that morning

    Get some more veggie pots planted after we pick up pots I ordered from Target-Hubby will probably need to get some more compost out of the pile


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    1. Lana, I'm so very thankful for your support over the last 2 years, thank you just doesn't seem to be enough. It is my prayer that God will take what we've been through and use it to help others, my heart truly hurts for those who have gone through something similar. I pray that you continue to improve in your health and that one day very soon painful haircuts will be a thing of the past. Thank you for the birthday wishes!

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  3. Happiest of birthday wishes!! I hope your day is extra special! And I hope you are able to do the things on your "someday" list

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  4. Sending you wishes for a wonderful birthday! As we age, you'd think our lists would get shorter, but it seems they continue growing with us. The healing process following a loss is different for everyone and I'm thankful that you are working through your grief as only you can. Having been there, know that you're still in my prayers.

    I wrapped up a big cleaning and sorting project yesterday afternoon, so what's on my list seems almost trivial. My daughter and son-in-law came over and we went through the garage and sorted, purged, and boxed up items to be sold during our marina's annual dock-box garage sale and others for donation. I need to research pricing for a couple of items I'll be selling at the garage sale. These are items that I want to move out of my garage, but I don't want to just give them away. Need to find a middle point, so I'm prepared for any negotiations.

    Our Bible study group will meet on Thursday, and our book group was supposed to meet after that but was cancelled. I missed the last Bible study gathering and need to get myself back on track. I have two chapters to read and prepare for, as well as complete the book for Book Club.

    From my deck-box garden, I will likely have oregano, chives, and basil that will need to be harvested and dried mid-week, and possibly chives.

    I want to experiment with my bread maker and try another cranberry walnut bread recipe. I'm trying to replicate a commercially-produced loaf, made in the Publix bakery (which we don't have here); the last recipe I adapted was close, but not quite right. If I can replicate it, my brother-in-law's girlfriend said she'd hire me to bake it for her.

    In preparation for canning season, I need to do a pantry inventory. This way I can better plan for what I'll want to put up. With this task comes pulling my canning notebook, looking at previous quantities, reviewing recipes of what I've made in the past (what was good, what I could pass on, what new items do I want to try), investigate new recipes and determine what to add to my pantry, etc., all in preparation for the coming season. I also need to get into my stash of jars, lids, pectin, and other items, to make sure I'm ready to go when the produce begins to hit the stands.

    And lastly, I need to attend to some medical billing issues, and make dental and vision appointments. Somewhere in the Indianapolis area, there's a case with a pair of expensive prescription sunglasses and my spare everyday regular glasses. Both were tri-focals and the sunglasses were polarized, so it's going to be a costly replacement.

    That's it for here! Make it a great week and celebrate you!

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    1. Lori, thank you and I hope you find your glasses before you get them replaced. That's a huge loss!

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  5. Warmest wishes for a very happy birthday. I hope you have a wonderful birthday week.

    One of my tasks for this week is to bake bread. I used to do this regularly but fell out of routine a couple of months ago. I am determined to fix that this week!

    With love from,
    Kelly (Mrs. Kiwi)

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    1. Mrs. Kiwi, thank you. Good for you, making homemade bread is so satisfying to me.

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  6. Happy birthday, Patsi! I am glad to see that you are ready to increase your online presence once again. You are such a help and encouragement to so many through your posts.
    As you know I have been quiet online due to pregnancy and sadly I ended up suffering a miscarriage. I had complications and a trip to the ER revealed that I lost twins. So I have been healing from that. Like you I will always grieve my loss, but we keep pressing on, taking care of what the Lord has given us today.
    I am looking forward to following along as we are really amping up our homestead and preparedness efforts with everything that is going on. I will do my best to comment regularly. Much love to you.

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    1. Kelsey, it is good to hear from you! My heart broke when I read your news, I'm so sorry. I will add you to my prayer list for physical and emotional healing. Please take care of yourself and allow yourself the time you need to grieve and heal.

      We are amping up this year too, I think a lot of people are.

      Are you going to bring back your blog?

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    2. Thank you for your prayers, Patsi. They are greatly appreciated.
      I don't plan on blogging again any time soon. This season of little ones keeps me very busy and John will be starting homeschool this year, so that is where my focus is right now. My online contributions will have to be kept to the comments ;)

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  7. Big birthday wishes to you! Well, this week took a nasty turn for our household. Our 4 month old puppy was playing in our yard, jumped high in the air - landed and spiral fractured his tibia. (Lucky our vet & her hubby (an orthopedic vet) were in the office doing another emergency surgery. So, her husband took our puppy and put a plate in Fozzi's leg. Exercise - off the plate for the moment, planting - off the plate for the moment, life - surrounds the delicate care for the first 2 weeks and then gentle care for the next 6-8 weeks for the puppy. After following your blog - we had prepared items in our pantry and freezer that are saving our "bacon" for the next two weeks. Thank you for giving us plenty of learning opportunities and suggestions on how to be prepared not only for a big emergency but for the unexpected emergencies that life throws your way.

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    1. Rebecca, I'm sorry your puppy got hurt, but glad that you are in position to weather the incident without it destroying your budget. In my opinion, preparing for the unexpected is just as important as preparing for the expected. Thank you for your sweet words of encouragement!

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