Saturday In The Garden

First on my list of things to do was to pick up my coffee grounds from Starbucks and my free beverage coupons. No problems today. They already had them waiting for me.

This morning Darryl and I finished planting the last of the plants. Unfortunately we still haven't planted all that we have. I still have a pack of watermelons and a pack of pumpkins that have gone unopened.

We planted corn, beans, and tomatoes in the garden. Well mostly we transplanted them out of the containers that they were planted in. The weather was good for planting as there was a bit of a breeze and it was overcast as well.

I can't believe it by about 7:12 this evening I had over 1,234 visits to ThriftyMaven.com. Even better 22 new people signed up for my site. What sparked all this interest? I'd like to say it was because so many people were interested in my huge list of Memorial Day activities. Instead I was looking at the referrer and I noticed that a radio station KLOVE had linked onto my site. As a matter of fact it was the link at the top of the page.

KLOVE is a Christian radio station online. They had linked to my post about free ice cream. Actually it's a rebate form for a free rebate. I gather they seem to have a lot of listeners. How's that for exciting?

Why is it when I finally have some time to really catch up I spend most of the day working on piddly things that can wait? For example I entered codes on MyCokeRewards, then set up and Office Live Workspace, and then I spent some time cruising the net. I could have, should have, entered sweeps but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Why did I do that?

PS, At 10 pm I checked ThriftyMaven for the last time today. The view count is now 1,461. I remember being excited that was the monthly count. I also got 23 more new subscribers.

Here are the blog contests I entered today:

Prize: $50 Fancy Fortune Cookies gift certificate.

Prize: $50 Fancy Fortune Cookies gift certificate.

Prizes (5): Mod Squad: Season 2 Volume 2 DVD.

Prizes (5): Gunsmoke: The Third Season Volume 2 DVD.

Prize: Hotel for Dogs DVD.

Prize: Black three-tray Worm Factory composting system (ARV $117).

It's Sunday So It's Grocery Day

It's Sunday So It's Grocery Day

As you know I am a creature of habit. Sunday mornings I wake up and post something on ThriftyMaven. Not long after I post there I enter the contests that will expire on Sunday. By then I'm starving for my weekly treat. Every week I head over to Starbucks on my way to Kroger. Kroger sells buy one get one free newspapers which mean that I get twice the coupons for the price of one paper. When I lived in Acworth the Starbucks people were much nicer and always got my order correct. The one here in Cartersville often screws up my order but it is the closest one to my house so I'm trying to wean myself off my green tea latte fix. I asked the young man behind the counter if I could get some coffee grounds for my garden and he said yes come back at noon. (more on that story later)

Once I'm home, tea and paper in hand, I go through the paper trying to match up the coupons with the sales brochures. Darryl feels he has to go with me when I go shopping. Personally I don't like it but I've learned to deal.

Today I thought I'd take some pictures of our bird's nest. A bird built a nest above one of our light fixtures. It seems a bird builds one behind that fixture every year. There are four eggs and Mom waits until she sees you head past the fixture on the way to the driveway before she takes off. I thought it would be interesting to document their life with occasional photos.

A cold front has come through so it is a little cold today and it has sprinkled a little throughout the day. This and the fact I have two big blisters on my hand kept us out of the garden today.

I'm not certain when they will announce the winner of the Stovetop Stuffing contest. I'm afraid to go on the Blogher site to find out when they will announce the winner. Afraid that it will jinx it if I go there. Sick to my stomach that my recipe did not win. The other day I threw the idea over in my head that I won the grand prize. That would be a $1,00 gift certificate and a trip to the Blogher conference. What an amazing opportunity. If I won I would see the Kraft kitchens. Then I get this sick feeling in my stomach. The dread that I already know the answer and the answer is I didn't win and had no chance to win in the first place.

So back to the Starbucks Drama. I went back at eleven right after grocery shopping and they had no coffee grounds. The guy behind the counter. The same one who promised me the grounds said, "No come back later." Well just when is later. I mean I came back one time now I have to come back again? He said, "Come back at 5 pm."

Darryl and I watched the last six episodes of Season Eight of Dallas. Then we were headed out to drop off the DVDs, pick up some soil conditioner for our garden, and of course pick up our coffee grounds.

Well visit number three to Starbucks was not the lucky one. I got there and they didn't have it. They didn't put it aside for me as they promised. I was so frustrated I told the girl that half the time they can't get their orders straight and now I've had to waste my gas for nothing. I didn't appreciate it. I got the card of the manager, Mr. Josh Small. I called and left a message for him. The person on the phone couldn't even seem to take the message correctly. Then I emailed their corporate headquarters.


Here are the blog contests I entered today:

Prizes (11): Tyson Heat ‘N Eat Dinner Meats product.