Hello, Reader.

I'm not sure what happened to the newsletter I emailed earlier today. I finished writing it and hit send, then it completely disappeared and delivered a very barebones draft to your inbox instead -- some of it in Latin even.

Oops! Sorry about that. Please permit me to try again:

Today (August 19) is National Potato Day! To help you celebrate, I'm sharing all my best potato recipes and resources in today's link list. Enjoy!

Free resources for you this week:

• ​​Potato Salad​ - this recipe makes enough for a crowd
• ​​Plant Gardens Coloring Page​ - a good idea, whether you're planting potatoes or not
• ​​A Cure for Couch Potatoes​ - for concerned parents whose kids are glued to screens
• ​​Creamy Potato Soup​ - a yummy comfort food; great plain or fully loaded with toppings
• ​​A Potato Stamp Craft for Kids​ - use these potato prints to decorate cards or gift wrap
• ​​Sweet Potato Fries​ - spray lightly with olive oil, season, and roast in the oven

What I'm reading this week:

My youngest daughter and I finished reading Jeanne Birdsall's The Penderwicks on Gardam Street​ aloud to one another just a couple of days before school started. What a sweet story! Mr. P reluctantly starts dating again at the urging of his deceased wife via a handwritten letter she'd penned before her death and entrusted to his sister for safe keeping until the time was right. Rather than risk getting saddled with a potentially problematic stepmother, the four Penderwick daughters come up with a "Save Daddy" plan to thwart their aunt's efforts to set him up. Meanwhile, a young widow moves into the house next door and provides a sympathetic ear and motherly advice just when the girls need it the most.

What we're eating this week:

I baked 25 large russet potatoes for our family potluck last night, and the kids brought the topings: salt, pepper, butter, grated cheese, sour cream, crumbled bacon, chopped green onions, and vegetarian chili. One son made a large dish of scalloped potatoes to complement the fare.

What we're watching this week:

We set up the projector and watched all six episodes of The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls as a family this week. It was fun to see the actors of the hit show The Chosen trade in their robes and tunics and sandals for backpacks and parachutes and hiking boots for an unforgettable wilderness adventure.

The new series is free on Amazon Prime. If you aren't already an Amazon Prime member, you can use this (affiliate) link to get a free 30-day trial.

On the podcast this week:

Loving Life at Home: Episode 114 ​TOP THRIFTING TIPS & FAVORITE FINDS​ In answer to a recent question from one of my subscribers, today I’m sharing my best tips for buying things secondhand — including where and how to look for what you need, and my favorite categories of things to buy used. Listen Now

Progress on last week's goals:

I finished most of the goals on last week's to-do list: I ✅ had a follow-up mammogram ✅ celebrated my 39th wedding anniversary, ✅ went to a baby shower, ✅ attended a book club meeting, ✅ kept the books for my daughter's volleyball game, ✅ started back to co-op classes, ✅ hosted our family's monthly potluck, and ✅ edited 5 more audiobook chapters.

The only items still needing attention? I did NOT finish ❌ clearing off my closet desk or ❌ emptying the work table in our garage (though I ✅ did make a little progress on both projects).

Personal goals for this week:

• shop/volunteer at the CCC Sale​
• make sample decoupage plate for my craft class
• edit five more audiobook chapters
• reduce m inbox to 25 messages
• clear the rest of my closet desk
• record another podcast episode
• donate two more boxes of stuff from my garage to Goodwill
• reserve an Airbnb for our family Christmas trip

If you enjoy this newsletter and would like to support my work, there are five ways for you to do that:

1. Say a prayer for me & my family 🙏
2. Invite a friend to subscribe to this newsletter 📭
3. Subscribe to my podcast on your favorite platform 🎧
4. Follow me on Instagram 📸
5. Buy & review one of my books 📚

Thanks so much for all your help! I'll be back next week with more links, reviews, and resources. If you have any special requests, hit reply and let me know. 😊