I was outside late one afternoon this week, and the weather was absolutely delicious–low humidity, and cool but not chilly. Fall feels truly here!
I’m sharing highlights from this week with Susanne and friends at Living to Tell the Story.
1. Connect Four painting. I mentioned last month the Connect Four program our church ladies’ group does, where everyone who signs up is divided into groups of four, and we’re to meet together once a month over the next four months. Each group can do whatever they want when they get together. Last year, we just met for lunch each month, which was great. This year, we met for dinner one night. When we discussed what to do for the next meeting, someone suggested one of those places where everyone paints the same picture. But that was going to be expensive. One of the ladies said she was doing a Van Gogh paint by number painting, and somehow that morphed into getting together to paint by numbers. 🙂 There were some gorgeous kits on Amazon, but they were 16×20 and very detailed. I wanted something small. I found a pink rose set at Michael’s. It was so relaxing and fun to paint together and talk and get to know each other.
2. Cini Minis. Burger King used to make these, and I’ve never quite forgiven them for discontinuing them. I have fond memories of dividing them with the kids. But we saw a commercial this week advertising that they were back. One morning Jim got some, as well as a ham and egg croissanwich, for breakfast.
3. Setting aside things for the thrift store. I have a box where I place things to give away as I come to them. But I also had a few other things in mind to add to it. I didn’t do a massive whole-house purge, but I was glad to finally get these things boxed up to go out soon.
4. Several odd jobs completed like cleaning out my purse, a stack of catalogs, and the catch-all baskets on my desk and kitchen counter.
5. Pre-order discounts. A favorite author has a book coming out soon. I saw on her Instagram account that her publisher was offering a 40% discount and free shipping on the book.
Bonus: These gripper things that help open jars and bottles. I was trying to get a container open this morning with no success and was about to go find my husband for help. Then I remembered I had a couple of these in a kitchen drawer.
I hope your week has been a pleasant one!
Stray Thoughts 
Sounds like a good week. 🙂 I have a friend who decorates the gripper things on the edges with yarn. Very pretty and handy to have in the kitchen. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂
What a nice list of blessings from your week.
Those gripper things are very handy!
my sisters Joy and Hope and I used to LOVE it when we would have paint by number sets under the Xmas tree. My sister Jill came along 15 yrs after me and they were no longer a “thing” but I have seen them back in the craft stores. So fun. Glad you have a group to do that with!
It’s so nice to get things checked off the to do list like going through items for thrift stores or emptying out drawers, etc. I need to do some of that next week when we have rain predicted.
I hope you have a nice weekend!
Paint by number what a great idea for a group to do!
I too set aside things for Amvets. You’ve reminded me there’s probably enough for them to do another pick-up!
That’s a nice list Barbara. I need to get a jar gripper like yours – I had one but it seems to have disappeared. I bought a handle type gripper but it’s not as easy to use. We’ve nearly got rid of a box of books we had by taking them to the local “Little Libraries”, just a few left to distribute. I need to attack our filing cabinet and paperwork though. Have a good weekend.
You’ve had some very special blessings this week, Barbara. Now you have me thinking about the paint by number pictures. I just may have to check into that because your rose is beautiful! And what a great way to get to know your sisters-in-Christ as you all worked on your paintings.
That was quite the discount on the book! Glad you saw that and was able to take advantage of it.
Those gripper things are amazing! I have one similar to yours (ours has WVU on one side 🙂 ), and it really does make a difference when it comes to being able to open jars by myself now.
Hope your weekend is lovely.
Oh those gripper things! I think I am going to have to look for one of those. I’ve been having a hard time opening containers lately. I love when favorite authors have new books!
Your rose painting is very pretty. I do color by number games on an app on my phone. They are fun but so addicting. I think it’s great for you ladies to get together and do this!
I just took a trunk load of things to the thrift store last week. It feels so refreshing to purge things that I no longer need.
I have one of those “jar opener” things as well. So handy.
Have a lovely weekend.
Those gripper things are a life saver for me. (otherwise, I might starve with not being able to open a food jar)
I remember doing to paint by number pictures when I was a child. Lots of fun.
Have a good week! Willow
Those grippy things definitely get put to good use in my house. The paint by number night sounds like fun. Great idea to have the same experience more economically. Books for great deals! Can’t go wrong with that blessing!
I left SoCal in the 80s and entered Washington’s 50s — it was a jolt into fall weather! I’m sure you’re glad the heat and humidity have gone for the season.
I like the idea of a box collecting things for thrift. Glad you were able to get a few “smaller” projects done.
Roomie’s brother was gifted one of those 16×20 paint-by-number things — beautiful, but required a magnifying glass for the intricate bits. Nice to know there are simpler kits out there.