Ha!  Beat you to it---first time for me!  How are you all going to be stretching those dollars this holiday weekend?

I'm up late so, technically, it's still Friday 7/4 for me.  Had a rough day with my depression.  I appreciate so much everyone's prayers on Thursday.  This is the best community I've ever been a part of on the internet.  I feel like you all are friends.

Struggled w/ depression and it was particularly difficult and exhausting to put on a "happy face" at my parent's cook-out/birthday party for my dad.  I am up now waiting for my meds to kick in so I can get some sleep. I even took extra meds but am not feeling myself relax.

So my $ stretching for the weekend will be this:  Preacher is coming to Sunday dinner after church so I will cook the smothered chicken and brown rice I didn't get to cook the other night.  I already have the ingredients: boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins, bacon, swiss cheese, green bell peppers, onions, brown rice,  and mushrooms.  I will need to go to the store and pick up something for dessert and some staples to get us through until I feel well enough to do major shopping.

Hubby and DS will be playing golf in the morning ($35).  I encouraged them to do this because DS received a very nice set of golf clubs from my parents for his birthday.  They are going with my father and brother, so my dad will probably just pay for everybody.

My plan is to nap, clean, rest, clean, read, clean, etc. so I can get the house clean for our Sunday dinner guest.  Hope you all have a good day and I'll check back in with you later.

In Christ, Dolly

Dolly, so sorry to hear you're struggling with depression. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. (((HUGS)))

Saturday:

~ no plans to go anywhere
~ Brian is wiring an addition, so will be gone most of day
~ I'll be home all day with kids
~ 1 load of laundry, at least
~ cleaning up kitchen; dishes, clearing off counters, decluttering & tossing junk mail, hope to clean out pantry cupboard
~ dust livingroom
~ supper: grill pork steaks, corn on cob, potatoes, & melon
~ showers for kids

Sunday:

~ big family breakfast: bacon, eggs, & toast
~ clean up kitchen from breakfast
~ dust livingroom
~ vacuum 1st floor & mop kitchen
~ Brian will be changing the oil in both trucks (saving us TONS of $$$)
~ 1-2 loads of laundry
~ supper: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, & green beans is on the menu, but might modify some, to use up leftovers and not heat up the house.

We didn't get hardly any of Friday's plans completed but we have a very good excuse!  We took off on the scooter and motorcycle and stopped at the diner to have our hamburgers.  It started clouding up so we hurried through the last of our meal, got out back on the "bikes" and started off the parking lot and the clouds opened up--and I do mean opened!  I stopped and was trying to get back into my parking place (about 5 feet away) and was drenched within seconds!!  We ended up having to stay at the diner for almost 2 hours.  I was wet all the way to my skivvies!  So that pretty much blew the day for us.

I did pick up a handkerchief doll for one of my nieces Friday  for Christmas.  She needs a little wash on a leg and her skirt than I'll embroider her name on the hem to make it special.   That dollar will turn into a nice present!   

We watched our last Netflix and need to pop them in the mailbox along with some bills.

Today will be some garage sales and re-washing the clothes that were on the line when the rains hit.  We will also be loading the dishwasher since the dishes have gotten away from me with DH home.  And I hope to get another box or two de-cluttered in my path to the sewing machine!

I'm sure we'll have lunch out (cheply though as in JIB tacos) but I've laid the steak down for steak fingers Saturday evening.

Mostly, I'll enjoy having some time with DH.

re-tired

Good morning! Be kind to yourself Dolly, life can certainly feel overwhelming so get as much rest and/or fun this weekend as you are up to.

We are hanging out at home this weekend. DH and me both work tonight, tomorrow night he works but I'm off all day on Sundays. Some cleaning out of closets, some yard work, and just basically getting ready for the week ahead. Decided to work on a 5 year business plan for my writing hopes and dreams - I would love to work exclusively from home in five years but right now it's hard to visualize it with all the bills, college costs, etc.

Will be eating out of the pantry this weekend in order to conserve $ and tomorrow I plan to write a menu plan for the next few weeks so we don't get tempted to eat out (our biggest unwarranted expense.)

peace.

Today we will be taking our little "vacation"....

We will be driving up to the next county above us (Holms) to visit the Amish store that we used to visit ever other month.

This will be the only time that we will be going this year.   It should be fun.    

I'm afraid this will not be a stretchy weekend, though the money spent will be money well spent.

While this is not money spent, but it is frustration.  We have no plumbing available in our kitchen right now.  Yesterday I mentioned we were having problems....  well, they got worse.  And our maintenance people couldn't fix it so they called the plumber.  He couldn't come out until at least 10 so I asked if he could come first thing in the morning, which they said was fine, so he should be here soon.  I'm trying not to dirty dishes, but that's really hard!  LOL  I may clean the tub, lay down a towel and clean them a few at a time in the bathroom.

I have to pay the rent today.  I'm also driving my daughter to her other grandma, who wants to see my new (to me) car.  But this is totally okay with me for two reasons: 1) I'm right near the new GoodWill that is apparently AWESOMELY stocked right now, so I'll drop in and see what I can find for my daughter for both the fall/winter season and Christmas gifts (probably books) and 2) I'm also near pet-co and I think (I'll have to review my notes) they are having a sale of catfood.  On the way home I'll finish up the shopping at Farm Fresh and Kroger (right next to each other). 

I wanted to take DH to a movie today, just the two of us, but I don't think he's feeling well enough.  He didn't sleep well last night and now it's going to storm all day which means barometric pressure changes which means headaches all day for him.  He's also having extreme muscle pain so I made him an emergency appointment with his massage therapist.

Because today is so packed I'll do laundry tomorrow and use the time at the laundry mat to read the paper, clip coupons, and start the next menu plan.  I'll have to put a little money on the laundry card, but $10 should be enough.

Yeah, definately not stretchy, but there's no way around most of it.  At least everything except the massage was planned for and we have money for the massage, so I'll try not to stress too much.

Dolly... a is one way to help with depression. I have battled it too so I know what you are going through. You're in my prayers!! 

Saturday:

• Been awake since 11pm last night thanks to the neighbors being stupid. I woke up out of a nice sleep and looked out the window where someone was shooting fireworks out of the window! and was aiming for rooftops. Called 911.  Before that... I pulled weeds in the alley and did dishes (washed by hand). Got muscles sore to the point where I am now severly medicated.
  
• Walked to the grocery store this morning. Got some things to carry me over til the14th. (Will post in Food Stamps section). Also shipped out a package to a friend in PA...total spent on that was $1.85.
• Staying in today and resting and watching movies (and try to resist sleeping).
  
• AC is on still since it's getting muggy out... and mid 80's for high today. Allowing it too since I am not feeling good (fibro pain).
  
• Eating simple foods... either microwave or toaster oven ready. Leftover lasagna is going to be lunch. Warm weather is also starting to decrease the appetite.
  

Dolly, prayers for your wellness, have depression myself and sometimes i forget to take it easy and it comes back. Was not felling good for 2 days ..had no appetite and very tired. Had afriend over last night and wasn't overly visit like. But this morning after a lot of rest, am feeking better! Stretchy day here, DH at work and have B-Day to attend, will go to the store and buy so staple foods, Milk, Coffee, and bread! Prayers to all...I put away some money yesturday in our house savings..have 1258.00 and need 8000 more..long road ahead

Not having a very stretchy weekend here dh got a bonus in his check and has been spending it (I'm pretty sure including the money he was going to set back for Christmas). His behavior is a little off, he ran out of 1 med and had to borrow some from dd#1 who's on basically the same regiment the only difference is that she's on a slightly higher dose of this med than he is. He only had to borrow 2 days worth before his dr was able to call in a script but sometimes not getting the right does, even for a day or two, can make a difference.

Today we're going to grab some groceries, run to wally world for somethings ds#3 needs and to Home Depot for more both wood and wallpaper strippers then dh is taking ds#1 for his first driving lesson.

Tomorrow it's church (maybe) and home.