Have gotten a lot done today, which seems to be my personal litmus test as to whether I'm a worthy human being. Woke up at a reasonable time....and trying to relish the last few days before school starts here on Tuesday. Sleep is good. Melatonin is a blessing.
Made 8 bottles of tinctures including an Elderberry, Chasteberry, and Lemon Balm. The Elderberry has been my go-to healer when any sniffles or fever comes calling. Works every time. Brilliant stuff.
Now cake is baking, and middle daughter will mix up some yeast rolls in a bit. Making Julia Child's Potato/Leek soup that's mentioned in Julie and Julia. Was reading that last weekend, skittering past the $%@# that comes repeatedly. Do folks really cuss that much, and in the company of just about anyone? Call me naive. Anyway, reading about that potato soup made me hungry, even though the leeks yesterday at the store were $2.69/lb., which is awful, especially considering that 3 leeks all wrapped in an elastic was about 2-3/4 pounds themselves. Seriously? But, since I got 3 bags of those yummy yellow potatoes for a buck a bag (5# each), can't complain overmuch. The savings on those counteracts the expense of the leeks.
Do you see a pattern here? Seems I have to justify my actions, sort of having to earn a treat (the leeks) by making a sacrifice in another way. Case in point: My brothers, who have very little to do with my mom now since she's leveled off since her stroke, have told me to pay myself about a monthly $200-250 for what I do for her. Okay, fine. I appreciate it and tend to just let her buy me groceries a bit every visit. It pans out. BUT. But. I get all het up when I get too close to that amount, or if her bank balance gets a bit lower than I'm comfortable with (property taxes due this month, and still hammering out her hospital bills). The thing is, she always has money, and I'm very cautious. But I feel guilty using her money, even though everyone (including her) knows I'm doing it.
I need to give myself a bit, fat break. The girls just shake their heads at me, as they should.
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About to read more of Middlemarch. After dragging myself through that book this summer, I'm finally in the home stretch. My copy has 811 pages, and I'm on page 697 now. Finally it's coming together with some romances either under fire, or in the throes of something-or-other. I'm not sure how they'll all end, and without cheating, should be finished by tomorrow night. Had given myself the summer to finish it, and am right on time.
Will go now. Need to turn off the sprinkler. It's dry as can be here, and have had the water on in the backyard. The chickens are sort of scared of it, but it does bring some coolness to their run. Take care all.
