A good week

In my daily planner I haves lists and lists of things to do… some of them checked off.  I find I am more productive when I have thought about what needs to be done.  I don’t always get everything in the right priority, but at least I accomplish more.

The left column has work related things, the right column everything else in life.  That way I hopefully stay balanced between the two.  I have finished my paying job and so am back to Learn, Write, Market myself.  I did get a request to write for …oh… about $5 an hour.  I declined.  I’ve been learning about bottom feeders, professional rates, and “rock star” rates.  Professionals expect to pay a certain amount.  I need to know what that is.  Price too high or too low and it raises suspicion and doubt in the client’s mind.

The week began with hot weather. Next week is finally expected to be cooler.  We did have rain Wednesday, Thurs, Friday, and Sunday. Praise the Lord.  Not inches, but we are grateful for everything we get.

Tuesday we invited a single sister over for dinner.  She is a textile designer here taking care of her mom.  She expected to be here a short while, but illness has cropped up and so she’s been here months.  Lovely lady, and we had fun talking fabrics.

Wednesday we prepared for a temple trip and left Thursday morning.  We drove to Kansas City. Thursday was our stake temple day and Friday was our annual ward temple day.  We did two sessions on Thursday- noon and 5pm.  We had bread, soup, and salad at Olive Garden for dinner.  Our hotel seems to be in the midst of dining heaven.  There are SO MANY restaurants.  We could come for a year and never try them all. 

Friday we went back and served from 9-2:30. It is really fun to be in the temple with people you know.   We helped one sister be sealed to her parents.  What a sweet event. We dined at 5 Guys, and then headed home.

On the way we stopped at Gordon’s Orchard.  They had #2 peaches for $10 for 24lbs and nectarines for $8 for 24 lbs.  In a fit of insanity, we got 5 lugs of peaches and one of nectarines.  One and a half lugs are for Miranda… but I think my freezer will be full of fruit.

Saturday I slept in, and then did some gardening.  It was HOT and I was drained when I came in.  We still have tomatoes, peppers, carrots, and cucumbers.  I did get one more melon before the critters.  I pruned some bushes in the front flower garden. 

After collapsing and fiddling on the computer for a bit, I hauled my sorry behind to the kitchen and started on the fruit.  Sorted it all to ripe-for-jam, ripe-for-freezing, and not yet ripe.  Then froze (on a tray) and bagged 2 gallons of nectarines, two gallons of peaches and made three batches of jam.  Tom pitched in and that really helped.  No one had to coax me to bed!

Good day at church today.  I got my temple recommend renewed.  Good testimonies.  Good lesson on not murmuring in Relief Society… err, about accepting change in all areas of life and submitting to God’s will and not murmuring in all times and places… not just not murmuring in Relief Society.  Although likely the RS president would be glad of that, too.

Miranda’s coming next week to claim and can her peaches.  We’re looking forward to seeing Ethan and Camden... oh, and Miranda, too.