I messed up my kitchen with a variety of cooking projects. It was a hot day to do it, but I'm both on a budget and trying to stay with the alternate day fasting and taking a healthy lunch with me to work means I'm less tempted to 1) spend money for lunch or 2) eat something not so healthy.

I started this hours ago then walked away from the computer. Susie came by and we had a light summer dinner of a cheese quesadilla each, a salad, and a slice of warm homemade bread. We washed it down with a bottle of Martinelli's sparkling cider. The dishwasher is running now and other stuff I was working on is put away. My zucchini casserole is for lunches and the batch of black beans for various things. Three jars are in the freezer and one in the fridge to use tomorrow.

After she left I grabbed my towel and soap and headed for the back patio. A friend this week mentioned his outdoor shower, and I realized I hadn't put mine to use at all this year. I have a showerhead set up and it's next to the hose with a shutoff valve. It's wonderful in hot weather to take a shower in semi-warm tap water. The only time you can get the thrill of a slight chill out of doors in August in Texas. With no lights on, no view from neighbors, and the woods behind the yard, it is private. I have to remember to bring in the soap or Zeke would eat it.

Michelle, we also have a few things that have been replaced with a policy like the Bass Pro folks have. You can add L.L.Bean to the list. Over the years I think we replaced my son's school backpack twice. I've replaced sweaters and parkas through there also. It sounds like you have a great ritual for the socks! Eddie Bauer used to do that, but I don't know if they still do.

For your quilting business you might be able to get some bounce from a blog, and if you have a Google account you can set up a Google+ page for yourself and spin off one for the quilting business. A friend of mine in West Texas (the folks I stayed with for a week while my transmission was being gold plated, or so it felt by the bill) has a large quilting machine, it fills a room and is programmable. It's a hobby that she has kept up over the years. I don't know if she has sold many, but she is always making quilts for friends and baby showers and such.

Back to work tomorrow, and I'll drop off the expired wood chipper at Harbor Freight (for a refund) on my way home. One more bulky thing out of the garage.

SRS