From My Home to Yours: 10/30/31

 From My Home to Yours

10/30/26

~ So Long October! ~

October, in our area, started off with sweltering temperatures ranging from the low 90's to 100 degrees and ended with highs in the 70's!  Let me tell you we welcomed those more normal temps for our area with open arms!

(a rose from one of my rose bushes ... yes, in October)

We have been the recipients of much giving this week ...

Someone gave these walnuts and hazelnuts to my hubby while at work.   Both will be used in baked goods and or snack mixes!

A friend at church shared her bounty of sweet potatoes with us ... they had a bumper crop this year!  Isn't that what God wants us to do, share our abundance!  Hmmm ... roasted sweet potatoes; sweet potato fries; baked sweet potatoes; sweet potato pie; sweet potato casserole and more are in our future!  No preserving needed as they are well cured and will last until we finish eating them throughout the fall and winter!

Last week I received an early Christmas gift from one of my readers!!!  This lady is so very talented and blesses me with the work of her hands during the holiday season.   Her surprise came at just the right time to give me the pick-me-up that I needed.  (I have a whole new admiration for caretakers.)

 Stephanie, I put the Tim Tam in the freezer to bring out during the holidays for that little taste of Australia you mentioned.  Thank you, may you be abundantly blessed!    

I finished this unfinished sewing project this week ... it's special to me.  This bag is made from a quilt that hubby and I were given when we got married over 45 years ago.  I don't remember who gave it to us, but I do know that it was hand made and hand quilted.  The quilt had become worn, had several holes and was beyond repair, however, I was able to salvage enough  to make this bag.  Yes, the fabrics are a bit faded but that holds it's own special memories.  I plan to add a note and attach it to the bag regarding it's special place in my heart so that when my time on earth is over, those left behind will understand it's place in my life.  In the meantime, it is home to the drawstring bags I am stitching up for gift giving purposes.  The drawstring bags are lightweight and aren't too heavy for the bag.  I looped the handles over a doorknob to an inside door that seldom gets closed, I think it looks great hanging there!

(meatloaf we enjoyed last week)

In the kitchen I made 2 meatloaves and cooked them, both were added to the freezer part of our pantry.  I froze both as I had made a meatloaf the week before and we weren't ready for meatloaf again just yet.

I roasted some of the butternut squash I harvested a few weeks ago, oh my was it ever good!  The taste just burst in my mouth, the flavor of homegrown produce, it has been my experience, far outweighs mass produced produce.  Whenever possible, I always opt for home grown!

In the garden our cool weather crops continue to grow and grow.  I'm watching the forecast closely as our average frost date is upon us.  I have several herbs to harvest before that first killing frost happens ... maybe I should just go ahead and get started!!!!

For the pantry I'm watching for sales on whole turkeys.  In the past during the month of November, I've been able to find them for $.29/lb with a $35 purchase.  I hope the store that runs that deal does so again this year.  If I can find the deal, I'll be canning turkey for use throughout the year!  You can't beat the price!

___________________________

I did a little more 'fall' decorating this week, not much, mainly adding touches of fall color here and there around our home.  I call it 'fluffing' my home, nothing major, just several little things that add up to the ambience I am striving to make and maintain.  What's the ambience I'm going for  ... for this fall and winter, it's cozy, warm and welcoming.

The joy is in the journey!

__________________________

My Christmas preps are coming right along.  This week I finished updating our Christmas card list that we mail as well as the list for the ones we hand-deliver.  I also checked my Christmas gift wrapping supplies and we are in good shape there.  The last thing I did Christmas related was to purchase our Christmas cards.  Once I have the cards in hand, I can start working on a theme.  I like to include something a little extra with the cards and that's where having a 'theme' comes in handy!

I did more baking for the holidays and gift-giving ... 4 loaves of banana bread were added to our freezer.  I'm seriously considering doing a sampler type gift in a tin/box/bag of 3 different breads (one slice of each individually wrapped ... applesauce, banana and sourdough breads). What are your thoughts, is that a gift you would like to receive? 

My sister and I are nearing the end of our holiday sewing project ... drawstring bags for gift giving purposes.  I hope to be able to share pictures next week!

The joy is in the journey!

___________________________

I finished reading book 8 in the Bregdan Chronicles, Shifted By The Winds by Ginny Dye and started reading book #9, Always Forward by the same author in the same series.

Ladies, lesson 6 of our Bible study on Anna has been posted HERE!  

The final week of our October pantry challenge, week #4,  has been posted HERE!  Week #1 pantry challenge for November will be posted tomorrow, so be sure and check back.

That's it for this week, I hope you've found something in my ramblings that will help and or encourage you in the upcoming week.

Until the next time ...  

mrs. patsi @ A Working Pantry  

~ quietly holding the home front ~

Sharing 46 years' experience of frugal living and pantry building (if you include my frugal childhood, well that would add several more years to my experience!)

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

Other Places You Can Find Me ...

Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine 

From This Heart of Mine  

Mrs. Patsi on Instagram

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means. 

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay.

If you are encouraged by what you read here, please consider supporting my work via one of the following ways. Your expressions of appreciation help me keep my pantry well-stocked and me motivated to keep on keeping on with my attempts to inspire and encourage you (Titus 2:3-5) through my writings!