Five plus on Friday

Happy Pi Day! We are planning to visit a food truck midday to pick up a small pie to celebrate math and  🥧.

1. Glorious Spring weather on a few days so I took some long walks by myself for the exercise and to enjoy the sun and flowers plus I did some yard work. Our yard re-landscaping choices have paid off in very little yard work thankfully.

2. Hubby gets the top 2 money saving wins. He noticed the tv we recently bought was now on sale and still within the return window so eligible for price matching. A significant refund! Then he replaced the latch on the crawl space door as it was falling off. He also patched and repainted the rotting wood where the old one was. No handyman costs. 

3. My thrifty efforts were mostly food, home admin, and library related as usual. Exciting things like using up the food we have on hand, to make (mostly) enjoyable meals, paying occasional bills online for no charge/postage/lost mail (car registration this time), running the dishwasher and doing laundry at lowest electric cost time, getting lots of library books. I did spend a chunk on ordering new PJs, but they are needed. Hope they fit or can be altered to fit. I also bought new glasses and of course picked out expensive frames. I like them a lot though as they have a bit of color so more fun.

4. Happily our floor over the crawl space doesn't feel as cold since the crawl space air sealing and insulation was completed. Next is sealing both attic spaces and putting down new insulation to code.

5. Updated the paper copies in our GO BAGS due to health insurance changes, etc. This was part of my get the "d*** paperwork that has no deadlines" done push. I'm not enjoying it but I'm slogging through it. Then it is on to updating documentation of home improvements, taxes, etc. The fun never ends.

6. We made a donation to the 8 year old’s school PTA for her doing the school's 12 day read-a-thon. That is our local impact donation for March as they fund extra science and PE class time. I think I'll donate the county food bank for our other monthly donation.

7. We are amazed at our super reader 2nd grade granddaughter. She was very focused and read for 22 hours and 6 minutes over 12 days! She read everything from graphic novels to reading out loud on a pretty hard book to jumping feet first into Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

 8. I’ll end with some big things I am really thankful for this week.

• As always that our sons, DILs and the grandgirls are healthy, happy and want to spend time with us. By the way, I mentioned that I think of them as the Grandgirls as they are grand and that got a smile out of the 8 year old 🥰 We want them to feel very loved and accepted as well as encouraged and recognized as individuals by us grandparents.
• That those sons and DILs encouraged us to get a puppy almost 3 years ago by all offering to take him if we ever became unable to take care of him. Our happy, friendly, funny dog brightens up each day and has helped us meet many people since our move.
• That we remain healthy in our 70s.
• For the ability to purchase things like home improvements or new glasses without having to pinch pennies. That is in part due to our own efforts but also a lot of luck including inheritances. I was poor during college and remember having to be really careful to be able to afford to go out occasionally with a friend for a cup of tea and pastry so our current situation is a joy.
• For lucking out once again by having kind, helpful and friendly neighbors.