A Day of Doing

This morning the last stage of our garage improvement project was completed. Last month we had a heater installed, and today insulation was blown into the garage attic. Now Joe can stay toasty while working in his home machine shop during the cold winter months.

The two installers didn’t leave empty-handed—they went home with serrano and jalapeño peppers and yellow cherry tomatoes from our garden. In return, one of them shared some peppers from his lunch that he had brought back from Mexico. They’re called Chiltepin peppers, a wild heirloom variety native to the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. According to Google, they’re known as the “mother of all peppers.” These tiny, round peppers are only about a quarter inch across, but they pack a fiery punch!

After the installers left, we headed to Maple Grove to run errands. Joe got a haircut (while I read in the car), and then we stopped at Costco for gas and groceries. Gas prices have held steady at $2.80/gallon for the last six or seven weeks. That’s not the lowest we’ve seen—back in January 2024 we paid $2.46/gallon at Costco—but it’s nice that it hasn’t climbed higher.

Groceries were a mixed bag. Eggs are finally down to $3.49/dozen at our local grocery store, which feels like a big improvement. The price drop is thanks to fewer avian flu outbreaks and an improved supply chain. We go through plenty of eggs, so this helps balance out the rising costs of nearly everything else we buy.

Back at home, I spent some time cooking before we headed over to Megan’s. Joe worked his magic on her car battery while I visited with Jeremy and played with Oliver. With Megan and Charlotte off at a Girl Scout camping night and Caleb away at a Boy Scout campout, it was a quieter house than usual. The battery needs to charge overnight, so tomorrow we’ll know if Joe’s efforts saved the day or if Megan will be shopping for a new one.

Now we’re finally back home, listening to the rain that’s been falling off and on all day. The forecast calls for more through Sunday, which means no mowing this weekend—and Joe isn’t the least bit disappointed about that. We’re looking forward to a quiet couple of days.

Sometimes it’s the balance of big projects, small errands, and family moments that makes a day feel full. Today had a little of everything, and I’m grateful to end it quietly at home.