Spent the day working together

On Friday and  Hubby figured out that he moves like a snail (his words) and I am a Belgian plow horse. Since he said it in front of E, he got ribbed over the comment. Yes, I take breaks but I don't side track or wonder off to check something that has nothing to do with what I am working on. I will send a memo to myself on my phone to check it later. NOR do I look at my phone every time a notification or text comes in.It took him 6 hrs to scrape and paint a trim on the house that should have only took him 2 hrs. Since E was going up and down the road he could see him and how he was doing where I was inside working , E came over to see why it was taking Hubby so long.

The items still on the to do list
Mine:

finish stocking the pantry

finish inventorying the pantry

cut and sew the winter curtains for the bedroom

hang the rest of the winter curtains up (have 50% up)

finish 72 things off the energy audit list. I am fall cleaning while I do the audit stuff.

build, paint laundry room closet

install deck railing.

Hubby

the trim has been painted that wasn't on his list but should have been.

He has 1 board STILL to cut to finish the deck and then start on the ramp

He looked at the list he made and realized he is going to working outside in the cooler weather when he really should have had that stuff done and be working in the attics before we start getting freezing temps. E talked to him about taking care of the home on the way over to get some lumber for E's calf barn.

I wrote up a routine...AGAIN... BUT this one includes me spending time doing National Novel Writers Month that starts Nov 1st.

It worked for over the weekend.

disagreement and frustration.

Hubby and I have been doing a lot of talking about our lack of routines or what messes up the routines we have... lots of talking and lots of ideas. AND then I clued in after a frustrating difference of opinion.

First we have things needing done from the energy audit. Do this will savings us $$$ in the long run while it is costing us $ in the now. There is 120 items. I could do all of it myself if I had to.

Second we have the remaining 139 things on the punch list that we set a deadline of 2 yrs (now into year 2) to finish except for big projects aka basement ramp redone and the gravel in all places. Those items were set at 4 yrs. I average 8 items per month. Hubby averaged 1 item every 3 months. This is going to take both of us to work on to get it done in that time frame. And 1 every 3 months isn't going to get it done.

Third there is the daily living items...

Mine is meals,(planning, shopping, cooking and cleaning up, cleaning frigs) home blessing (decluttering, dust, shine, swish, swipe, sweep, mop and vacuum along with burn trash and half the time take the other trash to the can or/and to the road) Laundry (sort, wash, dry (clothes line or drying rack) iron if needed mend if needed) Putting the food up, maintaining the pantry. Being the one to manage the finances for the home.

Hubby is in charge of keeping all vehicles maintained.We schedule health appts that we both need together to save fuel $. I try to schedule my others... so I can combine them with other errands.

We both do yard and garden jobs. We both do repairs on the home.We both take care of the dogs. We both drive Amish or elderly that don't drive any more or take messages to those without a phone or to the English neighbor who forgets to charge her house and cell phone and her kids are worried since she isn't answering. 

Hubby is doing more hauling this year than expected due to 3 other haulers down on medical or retired out. The one that retired out is back as semi retired and the medical ones are starting back slowly.

I clued in to that he was trying to pay back the money he spent on all 3 trailers in this year. Unrealistic goal. I did business management in college. He also wanted to have his truck paid off 2 yrs early... that might be possible if he wasn't trying to pay back the trailers even with just a paying hobby which is what he is doing.Which is why he started booking so much that he wasn't home for 12-14 hrs 5 to 6 days a week.

I also clued in when he wanted me to do something that he offered to do for someone else even though doing so meant I lost 2 days of doing my own work right in the middle of me canning and trying to caulk 3000 plus square feet of this home and he had a poor attitude with my response.

I refused and told him to call the person and tell them he couldn't do it or change what he was doing to get it done. I went to bed upset, angry and woke in the middle of the night with a mild Crohn's flare up.

The next day we were on the road for several hours. Nothing like being in a car where you can't just walk away. I did tell him it was a conversation not a dialog
so he needed to at least acknowledge he was listening. He was really upset that it flared my Crohn's but he understood it wasn't the disagreement it was the fact he disrespected me by not acknowledging the amount of work I already do. Funny thing is he has constantly told others I save him more money than I could earn (after taxes especially ) when he was working in the factory. Wonder how he thought I did that ?

We realized that he doesn't really understand the time it takes to care for a home even though he was a single parent with custody of his 2 kids. He did a pick up and maybe a dust and run the vacuum a couple times a month. His daughter cleaned the bathroom and kitchen as she said she couldn't' stand it otherwise...she was 10. He never saw his mom clean the home , his mom said he was either in the fields or one of his grandmothers did it while he was in school since she worked outside the home. Never saw his ex clean their home. It threw him I knew that average amount of time it took me to keep this much space cleaned on a regular bases and how long it took to fall/spring clean. How much time it takes me to do the finances, do the meals etc. Processing food changes all the time. When it comes in, everything else is put on hold.

But he realize I actually work over 40 hrs a week in maintaining the home. Add to that the energy audit, the punch list, and filling the pantry I am doing closer to 70 hrs plus and when I have to do the mowing because he hasn't done it add about 20 hrs to my work.

I bit my tongue to keep from saying most single parents do that. It used to be most women and a lot of women still do when they work outside the home but I know a lot of men that are doing that now especially when they have kids.

I did convince him that paying back one trailer a year with his paying hobby is really good and then after that is all back he can focus on paying off the truck. I told him to wait another year before he decided to make it a business , it will cost more to do but  he could do more hauling also... or stay with a hobby. He also knows he is going to have to focus on blocking time to do his work at home and if he does it as a business he will need to block time also.Amish have no issue when you say I can't do that due to work at home as they do it themselves.

Since tomorrow is his birthday and I am taking him to Lock 16 over in Lima (where he orders steak always) he is going to pick up his hubcap he ordered for his truck last month since we will be right down the street so no extra $ spent on fuel to get it.

 He asked if I could write down what part of our routine is working and some thoughts on what to change to get things done and taken care of without the stress to talk about while driving over, during the meal and driving home.  I wanted to bang my head on the wall.. or better bang his head as I have done this several times and the monkey wrench has been him adding to MY work load.  AND I POINTED THAT OUT...

I said I might as well be single and do everything myself.

Can I do all the work on the lists and not put myself in the hospital doing so... YES if I plan it out and refuse to do anything he has promised to another without asking me if I can fill in if he can't do it.It will take longer to do.

BUT that means I have to change MY routine to add that load to be done without his help.

Is this a solution ... not to my way of thinking but I am so over stressing because it's not getting done, I see $$$ floating away that doesn't need to be and I am definitely tired of the constant "I can't get to it because I told so and so I would do this" even though it's on his work calendar he has other work to do and then I have to either ignore it needs done and is costing us money or go into crisis mode and deal with it.

Frugal steps in past week.

We are still trying to work on getting routines beyond getting up at 4-5 am and going to bed at 8 pm.

Meals

Breaded chicken tenders and steak fries. Pickles and pickled beets (Thursday)

Spaghetti with meat balls and green beans (Friday)

Leftover Spaghetti with meat balls with mushrooms, bell pepper and onion added and applesauce (Saturday)

Spicy (not hot) cinnamon pork chops served in bed of apple butter with Brussels Sprouts roasted with apple and served with a basmatic vinegar, honey and dried cranberries dressing. (Sunday)

Cube steak with gravy,mashed potatoes and breaded mushrooms (last in freezer, good thing as we really don't like the breading on them) (Monday_

Pork cubes with pineapple and bell pepper served over rice and pot stickers (Tuesday)

Six meals cooked and out of pantry. That's a big deal as we have "snacked" our way through most of the summer. ROUTINE NEEDED !!!!

Hubby called our internet home phone provider and saved us $23.45 and kept the same services.

Last night Hubby asked why the house was up to 75 and then dropped 20 min later to 72... my answer... you propped the door open for the dogs so you wouldn't have to get up and let them in . He got up and shut the door.

Canning has been helping keep the house warm. I now have another 30 pints of applesauce and another batch of apple butter to make.

Winter bedding being washed and dried on clothes line off and on this coming week.

Hubby used leftover weed barrier from gardens to put under the stone under the steps to the deck. He has enough to put under the ramp when he starts working on it. We will have to widen the driveway as when he turns in with the trailer he ends up in the grass. That's next year's to do.

The oil lamp is lit every morning and every evening.

The furnace is turned on at 8 pm to 72 and then turned off at 6 am. The house drops to 62 but warms back up with the sun shining. Dark days it stays on the cool side.We still have not had to have the 1st propane fill of the heating season. Last year we were about half way through the tank.

We figure I have 10 days to finish fall cleaning and caulking. Our frost is usually around the 15th, last year it was a freeze.

I found another pair of tennis shoes in the winter shoe Rubbermaid. Since it still had tags on it I thought one of the granddaughters passed them to me. Not a style I have seen them wear but I don't care about the style of my tennis shoe that I wear around the house. But daughter 4 thinks it came from her younger son's grandma in his dad side as she wears the same size as me and she had gave Daughter 4 several pair of crocs and she thought a pair of tennis shoes. Daughter 4 kept the crocs as that size is too big for me in those shoes. I wear a 4 in children's crocs, and they were 6's in the crocs.

Our HVAC guy came down to do a repair on insulation on a heater vent that his guys forgot to tape closed. While here he installed the whole house surge protector. BECAUSE he was coming down for a repair he did not charge us the $53 trip fee and took 10 % off of the installation fee since we gave him the information and where we bought it from as he has had 2 more customers ask for it.

I canned 36 jelly jars of apple butter, froze 9 cups of corn and shelled 1 pint of popcorn.

I told Hubby that the next 10 days is getting stuff done off the energy audit and fall cleaning. That he is on his own for bfast and lunch but I would try to have dinner on the table at 5. IF he isn't going to be home at that time he needs to let me know so I can eat and just make him a plate. Instead of me waiting until he gets home to fix something.

I did more laundry and line dried. Told Hubby we are about to the time of using the drying rack over night.I hope to find another drying rack within my price point soon.

I started the fall cleaning in the front room as I am also caulking baseboard and windows there also. I got half of the room done, was feeling a bit bad about not finishing until Hubby reminded me that most rooms at 12 ft by 12 ft and our front room is 24 ft by 24 ft. So it's the size of 2 rooms. I also replaced the window insulation seal that had went bad on 2 of the windows. Figure that the other 2 will need theirs replaced.

There has been 2 fires, 1 a sawmill and another a calf barn in the past week. Last month a barn burnt down and a couple months before that a house did while the family was at Church. Amish community have already rebuilt the house and the barn. Yesterday Hubby said he stopped by the calf barn to see if they needed help and they were sending people down to the sawmill which was just 1/2 mile down the road because they had plenty of help. Today Hubby is hauling lumber in to the sawmill. No one has been hurt but the lectures of fire safety is going strong.

Monday Watching the fog roll in

after it's rained off and on during the night. Will be having a slow drying day for sure. Since the laundry room has been torn apart since last Saturday , I definitely need to do the laundry today and there is a lot of it.Since there is a small pond at the yard clothesline I will use the kitchen line and the drying rack for any thing that there is no room for. It took me 4 hrs to fall clean the laundry room and then do all the caulking in that room on Saturday. Only 12 more rooms to do.

I ordered the King Arthur Flour items, used a discount, got free shipping and now have 4 more discounts. SO that is off the Oct goal list

I ordered the Amazon order, using a couple credits I had and they had coupons. SO that is off the Oct goal list.I have one thing that was damaged that I will have to return.

We have put the Christmas money aside and paid 4 bills. So far on budget...good thing to say on the 1st day of the new budget.

Hubby put the steps on the south side of the deck so I can use the deck to go to the yard clothes line or the pump house. We decided to move it to the end of the deck towards the barn or it would have been right at the bathroom window. Hubby forgot to put the window in the drawing of of the house. 😏

We shifted the deck 2 ft to the north as I didn't want to have to "dodge" the grill when I opened the one French door.Something else he didn't think of. It should work out nicer since that's the side of the ramp and now we can take it straight to the sidewalk that goes to the front of the house without putting any concrete at the sidewalk.

We looked at ideas of the railing, decided on using the extra feed panels we have from the garden, 4x4 treated posts.... some 8 ft tall to come up from the ground so I can hang baskets and the hummingbird feeder from them.Maybe a shelf for eating at or sitting potted plants on. I told Hubby I would wait on the railing until he is done with the ramp and see what is left for me to use so we weren't buying something that we don't need.

I canned 14 pints of applesauce on Saturday after doing the laundry room. M sent over 12 ears of corn late Saturday night. I think she was done canning for the weekend.That's added to the tomatoes I am working on this morning, the apple butter I have simmering right now and the rest of the apples.

I have 1/3rd of the pantry inventoried. Would have been more but Hubby and I were talking about the condiments like mustard (not pickles or relish as I count them as veggies)and he felt I should inventory that also. I didn't because I will go without condiments.BUT since he asked if I would, I will.

My youngest granddaughter gave me a pair of tennis shoes she wore for 1 month and then out grew them. She thinks she wore them twice. Daughter 4  told me to look in Nov as tennis shoes usually go on sale then.Since I have wore the same 2 pairs for over 8 yrs before wearing them out. I doubt if I will go buy another pair unless they are cheap but good quality ..SO off the Oct goal list

I haven't been to the store. I think if I do go this week it will be for milk and depending on price, unsalted butter. I don't need anything else.

Hubby mowed, he didn't get all the trimming done but hopes that is the last time he needs to mow. Said if he mows again it will be late Oct.

The vehicle insurance dropped by 20 cents.

Tuesday

We have been running the AC during the night (90 and muggy) so Hubby feels rested when he is driving. I never feel rested any more. I turned it off at 6:30 this morning and opened the widows and doors as it was a bit cooler than the house. No sense running it during the day even with 90 degrees as I put the canning outside to sit when it comes out of the canner. Counter space is lost to stuff I use daily since the furniture isn't back in the dining room to hold it... so far behind. 

HVAC guy is coming back next Monday to fix the stink pipe to the wheelchair bath shower as it showed on the energy audit it wasn't done correctly. We keep a cover over the drain so the dogs won't drop anything in it or catch a toenail like Wilbur did when he checked out the shower. He is also fixing the insulation on a pipe that was supposed to be taped and wasn't and installing the whole house  surge protector. Was glad we sent him what we bought and the installation manual as he had 2 other customers wanting one and he had them get what we got. 

My health ins is requesting proof I needed a test ran that was ordered by my GI. They did say since I went directly to the lab I cut 50 % off what the bill would have been. Still I would think when a stool test is ordered by a GI I shouldn't have to justify it. BUT it is a $700 bill after the 50% so I will spend today getting that dealt with.

I shelled some popcorn. Now have almost 2 pints. Still have some ears in the garden to pick. Hubby looking at dealing with the garden this afternoon. He went to help an elderly Amish whose kids went to Michigan to live and he wanted to clean out his barn and storage shed. I will get canning supplies and Hubby will get some tools in exchange for the help. 

I canned 14 qrts of tomato juice yesterday and probably have about the same for today. Dishwasher is running from last night's dishes and a few of that I used canning. It ran last night but wasn't enough room to add more and I have the counter already full with the rest of the canning stuff. Was just too tired to dry the dishes LOL.

We decided to wait on seeing the parents until mother in law's beets she wanted came in this week. One trip to do all of it.

Back to work for me...

Blessed Be

October goals

MY LIST

Take Hubby to Lock 16 steak house in Lima for his 61st birthday.

Start the new budget and not have to rob Peter to pay Paul.

Have the money saved for Christmas.

Place order to King Arthur Flour for specialty items we are low on.

Place order to Amazon for kitchen pans needing replaced.

To have pantry fully stocked.

To have pantry inventoried to base menu on how much is there ..First note I do not start eating mainly from the pantry until Nov 1st. Just a habit from childhood most likely. Hubby's mom said that is how she did also when raising the kids.
Example I have 80 pints of pickled beets, that's at least 1 per week or 1 every 4 days (yes I can eat that much). I have 150 slices of green tomatoes for fried green tomatoes. We eat 8 slices per meal , that's 18 meals. So I can serve it every other week for 9 months or every week for 4 1/2 months. I have 10 cups of corn in freezer that is 10 meals, that's 5 months...(I have corn to process still to add to this). I want these amounts so I can use them up instead of buying something else at the store.

I want to have the bedroom winter curtains done.

I want to have to railing to the deck done. Which means I have to decide how I want it done. I know I want 4x4 posts... I just keep thinking about what I want between the posts as the deck is 3 ft off the ground and I don't want Wilbur and Rascal jumping off and getting hurt. Charlotte is still young enough to handle that jump... she jumps 5 ft high sideways as it is.I think she has springs instead of  legs, must be the terrier part in her.

I want 80 % of the energy audit items completed... and that is on me as Hubby can't caulk worth crap and of course there is tons of caulking to do. LOL.

I want to wash the winter clothes and get them in drawers etc

I want to get the summer clothes in storage.

I need new tennis shoes, not want but actually need.

I want to build a closet in the laundry room.

I want to have summer curtains down, washed, dried and stored

I want to have winter curtains washed, dried and hung

I want to decorate for the fall.

I want to complete 15 things on the punch list.

I would like to make some homemade preserved lemons, roasted red bell peppers and balsamic reduction to add to the pantry.

HUBBY'S LIST 

Take scrap metal, old appliances and old trailer to junk yard which should pay for his tags for the bike and the one trailer.

Last mowing/trimming

Garden down

All vehicles including tractor,mowers etc ready for winter

All air barriers listed in energy audit done or at least started (can't be in attics until it cools down) but the bottoms of porches can be done now.

Sept Goals status

Sept goals done:
4 rooms repainted but still need put back together LOL

deck (Hubby's part) will be done by this weekend

tractor mower fixed

truck maintenance done

green beans done

cucumbers done

beets done

butternut, acorn sq,spag sq.,  pie pumpkins and jack be little pumpkins rinsed in bleach water to store until late winter when if not cooked by then I will cook and freeze. Butternut and acorn do not need to be cooked to be frozen.

green tomatoes (wasn't on Sept goals) done

I have cabbage in the garden, apples, corn and tomatoes waiting for me to get home and do this weekend.Cabbage will be last since they are holding well in the garden.

We still are sitting at 45% on propane so not needing winter fill YET.

What a week...

 First. Charlotte has a clean bill of health

Second Wilbur had a light stroke that only affected the left side on his mouth a little... which means I now sit with a towel on my lap as I know he is going to wipe his drool on me. I also wipe his mouth after he eats or drinks or that slime gets every where. IT seems to be getting a bit better.

Third, Rascal... yes has a tumor, BUT with where it is Vet could not tell 100 % if it was a fatty tumor. Asked me to monitor it as he would like it to be removed like in Nov when Rascal isn't likely to be out running around as much. Said to really watch how he pees as that will show faster if it is growing that the lump it's self. He had a hard time finding it but I didn't have any problem finding it even with Rascal sucked his tummy in .

MY OWN blood work came in good...don't need to take potassium pill or B vit  etc. I will have to take Crestor 3 times a week as my cholesterol is 250. Good cholesterol is maxed out (LOL) but both my parents have/had numbers over 200. Hubby's was good. I will have to take my vit D during the late fall to spring. After my bone test in Nov we will decide if I need to go back on meds for that.


4 weeks ago I had no beets, not many was going to have beets. B is a dear sweet young lady planted beets last month so I could have some. They ran over both her and me in the last 3 days.  I now have canned 80 pints of pickled beets and she was still canning when Hubby stopped over to deliver a message to A. Told Hubby she has more coming in late Sept/early Oct and he told her good as his mom was looking for 25 lbs of beets and we have another friend that might also be looking for beets.

I also canned 16 pints bread and butter pickles 32 pints dill pickles, 8-12 oz of bread and butter pickle relish, 8-12 oz dill pickle relish,9-8 oz jars of turmeric banana peppers and 8 jars of apples slices. I simmered the skins and cores to cook down later for apple butter since I have 3/4 bushel to cook yet. I have onions for onion marmalade and pickled onions yet to do.I have to wipe all the squash down with bleach.

Pie pumpkins and butternut squash are in. I got acorn squash, jack be little pumpkins, spag squash and a couple green tomatoes at Hurley farm. I also got a dozen ears of corn to eat this week, Hubby got fresh cider.

Hubby was making a delivery and was told tonight that we have 125 lbs of tomatoes coming tomorrow from N... M told me today that while she is gone this coming week to harvest what ever tomatoes ripen. Hubby's mom then called a few minutes ago looking to tomatoes. She needs enough to make 14 qrts of juice. I think we can cover it LOL.

Hubby has gotten "blown up" with calls of everyone and their brother looking for a ride (like 1:30 in the morning when the Amish family south of us driver didn't show up to take them to the train station,Hubby almost took them but they found someone already heading that way and was within 5 min of being able to pick them up), 3-4 English wanting to know if he was going to be over to the eastern side of the state (Holmes Co  was one) as they wanted stuff to be picked up and the a couple "can you haul" calls. He finally just started saying I am booked you need to call someone else.... He now has 3 that changed when they needed him TO WHEN he can do it. Produce will be slowing down with mid-Oct being the end of the harvest so that is 2 jobs that won't be there. At this point I think Hubby doesn't mind as since the truck was in the shop 2 days he was able to get some work done on the deck and he is making a list of things to do this fall and winter. He even was called while we were at Menards and the Amish guy had been at the house and the truck wasn't there so he used the Amish neighbor cell phone that is kept in the barn to call and find out where Hubby was as he was looking for someone to remove wood to go to another Amish BEFORE he had church this coming Sunday.  The guy laughed when Hubby said I am with my WIFE running errands... told Hubby that was okay  still laughing. When Hubby hung up all I could say was GEEZE while we both laughed.

On Sunday I cleared and prepped laundry room (after I did Monday laundry)for the painters and then cleared the other 3 rooms. Was told it would take them 4-7 days to paint all 4 rooms. Wished I had the two show up when we first painted the house as the ones that came Monday as they did all four rooms in FIVE hours.They said first we cleared, and prepped the one room but also Sherwin Williams provided the top paint they had so 1 coat  was all that was needed. They usually have to have things moved etc before they can even set up.I haven't used Sherwin Williams due to price but after seeing this paint and how it went on I will suck it up and pay for the top paint, even their flat in this top is washable. Not only did it cover nice, it dried to touch in 1 hr and the fumes was very little with the house closed up and the AC running. We figured I would have to leave due to fumes as it triggers my asthma NO PROBLEM !!!!.

Now I can do the fall cleaning, caulking and outlet/switch insulators starting Friday since I am cat sitting and paper work at Son 2. ON TOP OF PRODUCE.

An Amish family this morning met him at another's house and brought tomatoes and canning (yellow) corn for us as they couldn't use it and knew we would take anything. If we don't want it, we pass it to who does.  BUT I can use the corn. Right now we have 10 cups of corn in the freezer.

I put 150 slices of green tomato in the freezer that I floured for fried green tomatoes. Not bad since I have no broccoli or cauliflower in the freezer.I also put in 2 loaves of bread sliced so we can get a few slices and not end up throwing away bread. I froze raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. I did this yesterday before coming to cat sit.

When running errands Hubby decided to get some staples he wanted stocked in the pantry that I normally don't get much of.We did very well staying on budget until we walked passed the bulk candy and it was about half price.... sigh. Still he was paying for it and even though I said "we don't need that" we got it. BUT we decided to put it in the frig in the basement and just take a few of each in the snack drawer in the kitchen frig. For what ever reason if it's in the basement, he thinks 2-3-maybe even 4 times before going down after it where I go to the basement for our meals usually daily. I am not taking his candy up for him.

Hubby said he has been blown up this morning with work and turned it all down as he trying to get "his" section of the deck done so I can do "my" section which is railing. He has a 3 hr job tonight and a 3 hr job on Friday morning. He might have a job on Saturday... an auction of building supplies.. which he was being iffy about going to himself because of it being out of state, he wouldn't mind being paid to go to it LOL.  His next week is full already.  One job is about to go away beginning of Oct. Two of the drivers that had been off work (both medical) are back which will help Hubby as he won't have so many calling for help. He hates telling someone no when he knows it's causing them a problem.

I am going to sit down and figure out where we are with the punch list, check to see where we are at with our goals , house and finance and figure out a better system of the pantry.

Have a great day
Blessed Be

Busy week...

Monday morning

Hubby has been working an hour or two on the deck off and on all week. Yesterday he started laying the actual decking.He laid some across at the French doors so if I had to go out that way, the dogs have something to walk on until they get to the edge. Which I would have to lift Wilbur and Rascal down as it's 3 ft off the ground and they can't jump that.

Contractors start painting next Monday so this week is take things off walls, move furniture, wipe down walls so they are painting a clean wall. If I have time I will sand 220 grit as that was part of the problem is the paint used needs to be lightly sanded between coats and they didn't do that. I don't think the staff that sold them the paint really knew what they should have.

Hubby lit the oil lamp this morning for the dining table for our morning coffee.

Leftovers for dinner tonight.

I down loaded statements from our ins. My primary keeps telling me that I have a deductible and my deductible and out of pocket is paid in full. Hubby's isn't.

Hubby is on his way to an auction. There was some things he wanted to look at and a couple of the Amish wanted to go also they are splitting the cost between them  of him driving even though he was going anyways. Nice as that cost isn't coming out of our pocket.

Rascal was acting sickly this morning so I checked him out... he has a lump...sigh ... probably cancer, we have lost a few to cancer, lump in same area. Will take him to vet later this week as they charge more for appts than walk ins.. He is only 7 but is acting like his is closer to 10.

I might get a pup when we lose him.Charlotte is only 2 and Wilbur is 8 and he can't play so much with her as he has hip and leg injuries. She gets in trouble when she doesn't have anyone to play with. Son 2 got promoted to E6 military side and will be changing drill units (he is in reserves) but will stay in state and go over to Whitehall in Columbus instead of Chicago like they first told him. Means I won't have to go cat sit when he has drill weekend.

Laundry is rolling and will be hung on the line.

zucchini ready to be shredded for freezer.

Cucumbers next to be turned into relish and canned today.

Beets to be cooked, pickled and canned will be today. Might have to finish them tomorrow as there is 40 lbs.

I will start clearing the dining room and part of the kitchen since it's an open area.

I will check garden to see if there is anything besides the cabbage which for what ever reason is growing decent.

Tuesday
Hubby will haul produce to auction for S .. S is paying us with pie pumpkins and butternut squash.

I scheduled chiro appt before primary doc appt so we are only making 1 trip. Will also slide a stop at the store as I am almost out of milk.

I will finish beets if I don't get them done today along with clearing the dining room and wipe down walls if not finished also.

Wednesday

Hubby has to take his truck to get serviced.

He will remove boards off basement ramp  so we can pull old frig out

He will make a block for staircase that goes from hall to basement so dogs and be in basement but not get upstairs while painters are here.

I have apples to make applesauce and apple butter

I have peach juice in freezer for syrup and jelly

I have pie pumpkins  and butternut squash to deal with.

I have onions for onion marmalade and pickled onions to can.

I will clear the mudroom, wipe down walls for painting.

Thursday

Take Rascal to vet.

finish any canning

clear area in basement for grow light cart and for frig that was in kitchen that has been sitting in front room (kind of nice to not go to basement for produce that needs canned) that will also go to basement.

I will start clearing front room.

I will start prepping meals for next week. I am thinking calzones, pot pies and lasagna, maybe a roast. The lasagna and roast would make 2 meals so that's 6 meals to get us through the week. I think I have everything in the freezers to make it except the cheese for the lasagna. That would save the $68 Hubby was going to spend on meals.

Friday 

Hubby produce auction

finish clearing front room and wiping down walls

finish prepping next weeks' meals

Saturday 

do laundry

Clear laundry room

Sunday

Move washer and dryer and wipe down walls of laundry room.

prep bfast and lunch for tomorrow, thaw tomorrow's dinner

Monday

move dog food and water to basement. They have water bucket out side

I will be cleaning the basement and working outside the whole week while the painters are here except for the overnight stay at Son 2's to cat sit while he is out of town. He has a class pop up since he was promoted. I will take my fabric for my winter curtains for my bedroom that I didn't do while at his house the last time. He said he now calls his dining room "Mom's sewing room"

What are you doing this week?

lowering the budget to match Social Security income

In a year Hubby will be 62... we have debated on whether to take social security or wait

Why are we looking at it now?

First he decided to not go to ODOT for the winter. If they could have promised him 3rd shift I think he would have but they couldn't.

Second , the RRA his company put aside for him that pays our health ins runs out next Oct. That's $1200 a month that will have to come out of our pocket. His social security would cover the mortgage (which is more than the health ins) freeing that money to pay the health ins. BUT not sure that is the answer at this point.

Third,  a friend suggested we leave the annual payments in the IRA until they are due and then  month before pull that extra amt. Our finance guy suggested  put half in a savings acct we already have that pays more in interest than our regular bank and leave the big ones like propane in the IRA.

SO We decided to live on the "budget" of social security and see if we could do it and how much we would still have to pull from IRA... looking at what he earned hauling in a year (that will be late April minus costs as it's a paying hobby not a business but still we do all of it) and what we can pull on top of SS and earnings and not take the hit on taxes

SO digging through the budget

1/1/2019 the budget was set at $8794 based on 2018 (2 homes for 6 months)

8/1/2019 the budget came in at $6123 (even after 100 degree days)

9/10/2019 the budget hit $7695. I paid off some extras that incurred while doing this home and moving just to get them out of my hair and not incur interest.

Last night 9/12/2019 we set the budget at $5883... we would have to pay the mortgage and truck from IRA at the budget. Social security would cover the rest.

That really limits us in some areas that I am not sure we can go as low as we set it.

What it affects?

I will not be putting in a garden next year as it would cost us $2500 to finish bringing up the soil at this point to have it ready for next year. Hubby talked to 3 of the ones that send produce to Produce auction and they are willing to sell us what I am looking for in the amounts I want based on what the going price at auction was. AND they are basing it on Tuesday auction where they actually get more money at Friday auction. They judged we would be spending close to $400 including canning lids according to the one that actually just set up her youngest and new hubby as they didn't have a garden this year.One heard I was looking for beets last month so she planted extra to come in later this month. I will buy soil for my grow bags to grow a few things I want. I can get the soil at the end of Sept/ Oct when the stores are clearing those items.

I will buy frozen yellow corn, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, peas and peas with carrots during Kroger's 10 for 10 sales.

I will get my acorn squash from the place I usually get my squash. The rest was grown by Amish so I don't need anything else. I only got pie pumpkins this year and no regular pumpkins.

Son 2 is military. He is going to check out his commissary to see if they carry things that I normally buy at Sam's club and if which is the better price.

Right now I save more that my prime membership at Amazon costs me.

It's going to be an interesting year.

choosing to be frugal

Sometimes it's a habit... like washing out freezer bags that didn't have meat or grease in them and reusing them. Washing foil also. Mixing dish soap with water... any soap with water. Bar soap scraps go with water.Making my own laundry soap, using vinegar for the rinse.Using the clothes line or drying rack over the dryer. Washing in cold water short cycle if not real dirty.It's combining loads to make a full load..

There are lots of things we all do automatically... but what about the other things?

Hubby and I was talking about trash bags. We know our Amish neighbors have MAYBE 1 every couple months... ONE and that is usually broken glass or something they can't reuse or have used it to the point it can't be used AKA cool whip containers that have cracked.

I asked M how they do that... first we are in a burn barrel community. M doesn't have one, they keep anything that can burn to use in their stoves or for E to burn to heat water to make milk for calves he raises for cash crop.They don't have magazines or newspapers. They get a couple "news" things that are for Amish etc that they use for lighting fires. Envelopes are turned inside out and reused for mailing letters to family and friends. Any paper that can be used for notes is done so. She cans 90 % of her food. Flours, etc either are in paper (burned) or cloth depending on where she gets it. Plastic like cool whip are used for storage, some will use them for carrying food. They use thermos for lunch boxes and cloth bags or butcher paper for sandwiches. They have dishes for "left overs".Milk is put in glass jars.She uses disposable pans for when she bakes for neighbors but that is the only time. She uses rags not paper towels, cloth napkins not paper napkins, and rags for cleaning  not paper towels or wipes.

Then she added "they respect their resources". They don't change styles of clothes,nor do the change what they wear according to season except the men go from straw hat to leather hat. Men might wear a white shirt more often when in the fields but it's not something just for the warm season. When clothes are out grown they are reused either for someone smaller or taken apart and made into something else. OR even into rugs and rags. Even the grocery store plastic bags are made into rugs. They are not tossed in trash or burned.

Then she mentioned men cleaning their tools and putting them away Her cleaning the home daily and then from top to bottom on Saturday, cleaning her tools she uses to clean and putting things away. If you take care of what you have it will last longer and that is respecting the resources. She talked about not running water down the drain when brushing teeth, showering, rinsing dishes,etc. Reusing gray water to water the gardens. Being very careful about what type of cleaners she uses (vinegar and soap is her main cleaners) They don't have a lamp (she uses kerosene her mother in law uses oil) on in every room when it's dark. The family gathers in ONE room and they use 1-2 lamps. She does her sewing and mending in front of a window that the sun is coming it.

She really tries to not have leftovers (they have a spring house that holds at 36 Degrees year around) as she feels that's an easy way to start wasting. Something I need to focus on. When she is baking she starts with breads as they take the highest heat then pies cakes and cookies, some time custard. She bakes 4-6 loaves at a time DAILY except Sunday. Saturday baking is HUGE. 18 to 24 loaves of bread, 3 cakes , 6 pies  and a couple custards as she won't be baking until Monday.IT takes 4 chickens to feed her family ONE meal. She might have a little leftover to go into noodles or a dressing.

I must have looked over whelmed as she patted my shoulder and told me "yes we get tired but it has to be done. Winter is easier and more time for rest. ROUTINE is the only way to get it done but at first it has to be a constant reminder to do it. She follows the routine she was raised with and there are a few times her mother in law mentioned she did it differently to make things easier. Mother in law raised 6 , M is the 13th child on her parents.

Her oldest girl in back in school and the 6 yr old (they start school at 7 yrs old) is now having to "watch" the littles, get the eggs, help mom with laundry and the daily cleaning. I can tell you the 6 yr old is happy to be helping, no whining about having chores and not having to be told to do her chores. She even went out to bring the milk cow up so her mom could milk... regretfully the cow didn't want to go and got away from her because she wasn't tall enough to get a hold of the halter when she turned away. BUT SHE TRIED because she knew her older sister used to do that before she went back to school so she thought she could. She is now watching baby A while Mom does that and she feels good because it helps Mom and she is now responsible for making sure the pup doesn't follow the rest to school as Hubby had to go get the pup down the road because the kids couldn't get it to go home and they didn't want to turn on out the other road, pup definitely would have gotten killed on that road.

Looking at my home, there is WAY TOO MUCH. Hard to clean, hard to know where something is or if I need to buy it, or worse , know I have it and can't find it and have to buy it wasting money and time to go get it. Too much paper comes in so I am canceling magazines I don't read or can get on line. There is NO routine in our lives except Sunday being the day of rest.

Something for me to focus on... routines and getting rid of the extra.

WHICH now is a good time with the contractor coming in to paint the four rooms the 23rd and Son 2 is going to paint his hall after that so I chose to get the same paint he is getting for a room we will paint( not contractors) so if I have extra he can have it.

Thoughts of changes ... respecting our resources

TEST RESULTS IN

GI cracked joke that since everything was NEGATIVE... my crap must be worthless.... AND SHE IS SO THANKFUL...

Definitely agreed that my thoughts it was the diverticulitis meds and too low of residue diet was the issue. For me to do what I feel is good for me with my diet and slowly increase the residue. It's now noted in my record that med can cause me sever diarrhea and mess up my Crohn's. The GI I am being transferred to, sent me the message that once again I was correct and he is willing to LISTEN to how I feel about things.

Going to go take a nap since I had a "big" day yesterday of 10 hrs between drive time and family reunion... it was a bit much. 

Okay, I am going to just bang my head

WED.

On the frugal side. I have green beans and cucumbers in the front room waiting to be canned as Hubby bartered hauling hay for the veggies with butternut and beets to come later. He also got a deal on tomatoes in about 2-4 wks when N closes up his hoop house, we will help clean it and get at least half off or more for helping on the 100 lbs I ordered from him. He might have some beets also. HIS wife said her sister might have more beets in a couple weeks and to check with her, sister's neighbor sent message to also check with her also. Friend is going to try to get some extra apples for us. I have a bushel of apples I got half price. The orchard we used to go to sold and the new owner asked if I would help pick some for the bushel to be half price. Their picker didn't show up. If I felt better I would have taken the job as it's not that hard, trees are not that tall and it's just when and what ever seasonal. I got beets, onions (for sauce, beets and pickled onions) and butternut , a few small zucchini and a couple green tomatoes from another market marked down as it was the last they had at the farmer's market

I am still looking for decent price on apricot jam for cake coating.

We got a handicap helper for the toilet when Hubby's parents are here.It can be used as a walker if needed, just need to raise it up higher.

I cleaned and filled the oil lamps. Hubby found out that some of the Amish use mineral oil/spirits to burn in oil lamps for the same reason I do ( I prefer unscented due to allergies) so he is going to ask E's Dad where to get some and how much since I already priced what it would take to get us through the season. Five gallons each yr not counting what ever candles I burn.

We sat down and reworked out  the routines. I now put Hubby's work here at home on his work schedule so he doesn't over book. E came over with his horses and hay mower and cut around the pond so Hubby didn't have to do it by hand . Said it was because they hadn't sent eggs over for about a month, chickens are starting to lay again. He is also going to cut the ferns down on the asparagus when he cuts his down.  While here he asked Hubby if he could help him with a couple jobs next month so that's on our calendar. E is going to help a couple evenings on the deck after he gets home from helping his brother in law.


Hubby has one area left on the house to use Great stuff on the foundation. Will still put insulation board there during the winter. He found 2 air vents ,to crawl space, that go right by the heat vent to the dining room and front room. The vents are not insulted them selves. SO those are on the list for next summer.

GROSS ALERT... BANGING MY HEAD
Saw my GI, she thinks they misdiagnosed the diverticulitis( she thinks parasite or virus) so ordered stool testing since I still have diarrhea (I always do have it for a couple months after the med they gave me but she said STILL)... to keep me IN NETWORK I had to go to a lab instead of the hospital. I picked up the "hat" for the toilet and the test bottles. I can tell you after having a tube down my throat due to crap come up the wrong way that spooning diarrhea in a test bottle is GROSSER. Along with Zofran dissoluble  taste worse than that crap. SO after 145 mile round trip twice for this freaking test I am waiting for the results (looking for virus or parasite) which should be in a day or two but I expect a week as I know this lab.. 2 days LOST to being on the road etc and definitely no energy what so ever as I sat down on the kitchen  stool today after getting home and fell asleep and landed on Wilbur when I fell off the stool. Neither of us hurt but the 3 dogs and I just went to bed and slept 4 hrs. IF there is nothing in the results then she thinks, meds ( like I said )along with too low of a low residue diet. IF there is something then another 145 mile round trip and possible hospital for IV. She listened to my stomach and had tears on her checks and kept saying your poor lady, you poor lady and then really broke down balling when I said it wasn't as rough as the weekend before. I really hate it when a doctor cries on me especially when I was feeling decent. She was so upset that she forgot to tell me that she was leaving the practice (she just got divorced and the time she was working was part of the issue and now she's a single parent of 2 teens so the time element is now a real issue). I got transferred to the doctor that prescribed my biologic (GOOD FOR ME) and the PA I always asked for but seldom get is now listed as my PA. I listed a second PA as the young lady has stood up to 2 GI as the hospital on my behalf to get things settle for me and she is usually the PA that does the rounds in the hospital.

Meantime... I can't eat more than 1/2 cup at a time or I get nauseated or sick, cramp up or what ever. I have blood work Saturday morning  ordered by my primary as his comment was I looked like a zombie walking around and decided to check Hubby's blood work also. The only day off this week for Hubby is Saturday.It's hard to sleep any when ever time you turn around you are running for the bathroom.

THURS.

I finally slept all night (except when daughter 4 text me at 4 that she had popped her knee out of place at work) even went back to sleep after reading it. Not that I can do anything when I am 2 hrs away  and she's already headed home from ER and going to bed so she can go to work tonight.

I even ate 1 whole cup of mac and cheese and had no problems HAPPY DANCE.

No results in , doctor called lab as it's usually within 24 hrs. The one test they have to send out and it wasn't back yet and warned it might be a week before it's in....WHICH IS NORMAL

I canned 16 pints regular green beans, 16 pints French style green beans, froze a quart of green beans and canned 8 pints of dill green beans. Might not like dill green beans , never tried them but I figured if nothing else they would be close enough I could use them for 3 bean salad that we have at least every other week during the year.

We ate leftovers for dinner.

Hubby called our internet and home phone provider because it went up in price. They offered to lower it less than what it started, we kept the home phone and they made the price permanent. We wonder how long is permanent but we took the deal.

Had a little nagging session with Hubby as he OVER BOOKED this week and didn't get finish the foundation with Great stuff. We will have to go either very early Sat or mid morning Sat for blood work FASTING BLOOD work to top it off because he OFFERED to go get concrete for one of the guys whose driver had a  heart attack. I am fine with helping someone but we have FASTING BLOOD WORK that has to be done GEEZE.

FRIDAY

up at 6 am wide awake, feeling decent. By 7:30 I had 16 pints of regular green beans in the canner, another quart in the freezer and 8 pints (last of green beans) prepped to make dill green beans. This batch I am putting a grape leaf in.

Cucumbers are after lunch

Rested after lunch...

Moved what was in canner to mudroom counter to finish cooling 24 hrs.

Did 8 pints of bread and butter pickles with grape leaf.

Wiped down the jars I did yesterday and took to basement and put in correct areas.

Brought up more jars.

I might get another load of pickles done but I doubt it as I am dragging now and probably over did it.

Picked 2 poblano peppers and 1 very small ear of Japanese hullless popcorn. The  bugs are eating what little squash grew...M's Guiana hens are eating the bugs...

They still don't have my test results back so NO biologic this weekend.My doctor is flipping but the one that is going to take over as my doctor told me to eat as I felt up to, rest a lot and stay calm, if I feel like Crohn's is starting up, take the biologic and if I have other issues I will be in the hospital with iv... I can handle that.

Hubby said he would update me about tomorrow's schedule when he gets home. I called doctor and asked for last day we could take blood work... it's Wed. AND that's the day we have to take dogs for check up and Rascal needs rabies shot so that might work even better.

Freaking tired... just freaking tired.

SATURDAY

before bed last night M sent over 1 gal of green beans and several small heads of lettuce ...

I dealt with green beans this morning with my 1st cup of coffee. at 6 am  They went in freezer. Dishwasher unloaded that I hadn't done yesterday. Reloaded and ran. Rest of dishes hand washed.

Got family reunion stuff around to load tonight as we leave early in the morning since its' 2 hrs away.

Drinking my 2nd cup of coffee 4 hrs after  I normally do waiting for this last load of laundry so I can get it on the line, then check the tablecloths for the reunion and pull the crock pot that the mashed potatoes will go in. Hubby got the water and pop and is going to wipe down coolers when he gets back. Didn't think I should mess too much with them as they were in barn near old insulation he had found.

THEN I have to rest for 30 mins. so I don't over do it like I done a couple times.

THEN wipe down yesterday's canning and put it in pantry.

I am not sure if I am going to do any canning today. The kitchen and dining room is a wreck and I don't want to start Monday dealing with it or try to do it after 4-5 hrs on the road along with 5 hr family reunion tomorrow.

Blessed Be

Sept goals

First house goals..


One year today we woke up for the first time in our new home...
 Still a work in process but love it dearly.

we want to have the 4 rooms repainted and out of our hair and I can tell you our contractor feels the same.

Hubby wants to finish the deck , get the tractor mower fixed and his truck maintenance done. (Tractor mower fixed Saturday night, truck schedule for 18th at dealership (under warranty) )

After talking to another contractor about the energy audit issues that  he specializes in insulating he gave us this advice. Great stuff outside foundations and  roll insulation work since not in attics and the insulation board of doors of pump house and attics during Sept. Outside caulking with silicone paintable caulking, Flex seal late Sept/Oct. Air barrier work Oct to mid Nov.INSIDE caulking AFTER CHRISTMAS as that's when the inside is the driest so the gaps will be their biggest and use silicone paintable caulking.. It actually made sense.
Broke this down on to post it notes and taped each section to correct month on calendar. Listed what was needed from Hubby on his work calendar so he didn't over schedule work and not get this stuff done (silent nagging)

I want to have the 4 deep freezers defrosted and organized by end of Oct. Put on my new wrote out routines to do one a week or every other week. E asked if we wanted to barter, he cash rents 3 acres from us...would we take meat instead of cash... YES. BUT that means I have to have room. He came over and looked at the freezers and told me more than the small deep freezer maybe 1/3 of the bigger ones.

I would like to have green beans, beets, tomatoes,cucumbers and apples ...maybe some yellow corn in the pantry. Hubby is going over to produce auction today to see if there is anything he can pick up. I NEED apples as applesauce/apple butter are daily on the table during winter. I have 2 jars of apple butter. Our one apple tree was stripped by coons. The other will probably take a hit next. E lost 3 acres of corn to coons and deer.

UPDATE. Amish guy took an order of cucumbers, green beans and beets for us. Will do what he can to find and get the amounts we are looking for.  Green beans and possible cucumbers on Tuesday. Got a few candy onions from A and B.  I will use stock up funds for these

 N has tomatoes and his wife E said to stop over and mid week and see when we can pick them up, she might have a few beets after she cans for the "church" day as her family doesn't eat beets. Payment out of stock up fund

 The old orchard we used to go to has apples coming on so I will stop there to see if what I need for chunky applesauce and apple butter is available. Payment out of stock up fund

Even with my health issues right now this makes me very happy.Mother in law can come help can if Hubby can't help me.Might have her come over anyways to get her out of the house. Had to order handicap toilet stand for her to be able to get up off toilet. Father in law has the same issues.... at least this way it will be here when I get to that stage so not waste of money since they don't visit anyone much now days.

UPDATE LOL... I have a few beets and a couple lines of where more will probably be in 2-4 wks.

Hubby wants to have the deck on and the garden wrapped up and fertilized/composted by end of Sept ...we have a few tomato plants that are producing and I need to pull the cabbage and make freezer slaw.But he could actually do the north garden before the south garden as it's pretty much dead.

Financial
Credit cards get paid in full every month. I have Amazon on a credit card so if it's hacked I have better chance of getting my money back where with a debit card connected to the checking isn't as good let alone they can wipe out the money for our bills.Hubby uses a credit card for fuel due to skimmers for the same reason.

We have $260,177.05 mortgage and will be paying 1 extra payment a year as we will be 90 when it's paid off otherwise.

We have $48,275.68 left on truck (7 yr loan)... Hubby's hobby of hauling (doesn't make enough to be a business as he is just even breaking even but gives him purpose and is needed in this community) is being paid by his hobby along with paying maintenance and tags etc on trailers and truck.So at least none of this is coming out of our budget. Might a bit during slow season of hauling.

We have $10,454.50 loan (taken in 2008 crisis) on Hubby's life ins. We will pay the $91/ month interest so he won't lose anymore of his life ins.

We have $6, 093.65 loan (taken in 2008 crisis) on my life ins. We will pay the $75/month interest.

We  are short $13,600 in medical funds to get us to 65.

We have $3,537.11 in credit for propane (doing things on energy audit should make this last longer than the 12 month I ordered  I set is $275 to savings to pay for next year's)

We have 2/3 of one month out flow in our checking combined together... we would like this to be at least equal to 1 month AFTER all bills are paid

We have 1/4th of one month out flow in savings accts joined together we would like this to be at least equal to 1 month AFTER all bills are paid.

We have equal to one month out flow with our credit cards since they are paid off before due ALWAYS.

GOAL this coming year is to get the checking and saving up to equal a total of 2 months and get the medical savings up closer to where it needs to be... I figured we are $22000 short of where we wanted to be at this time... Hubby got a really strange look on his face when I told him that figure... then told me that was the last 2 trailers that he hasn't made enough to "pay" back to our savings... okay, so it's not been frivolously wasted, he is making some money as a hobby. And we just have to be focused on him making "payments" as possible (because there is no rhyme or reason for whether he is hauling or not) and truck payment, maintenance and tags etc come first.  We have been told that slow times are winter...late Oct to March. Might get a load here or there of lumber/pallets/ or taking someone to doc appts. March it starts cranking up with plants and produce to the produce auction. SO we know the "extra" won't be there during those times. Hubby thought about working ODOT again, I really wished he wouldn't. We have things that need done that takes 2 of us to do during the slow times but I left it to him to decide. Another summer of NOT having the deck on and he is kicking his own butt because he just" sat" on days he didn't have anything to haul. Told me I was lousy at nagging LOL


Daughter 4 messed up her finances, didn't pay some bills in full that came due or shut off, paid them wiping out savings and forgot to make her car payment so lost her car. Can't find a car to borrow (no we can not go 2 months without our car and she lives almost 2 hrs away so I can't take her to work) and is short of making the car payment up as they want 3 months total to give the car back (she doesn't blame anyone but herself). Did find a place to get a car, know what her temp tags would be (her birthday is next month so going that route for cheaper to give her time to get tag $$ up) and the down payment and I asked if that included tax and title, she thought yes but is checking to make sure. She is having her daughter senior in high school, sit down weekly with her to read bills and stay on budget. Also helps daughter to learn how to run finances of her own place which most likely will happen next summer when she turns 18.

UPDATE NO it did not include tax and title, she just got a promotion at work that will put her in middle management and was looking at losing that job with benefits because SHE DIDN'T READ HER WHOLE BILL as it's in her email on her phone and would have to down load pdf. She read current usage and paid that amount not total bill which included part of the bill where she was on some plan that let her make a minimum and then the rest at beginning of heating season.SO she is on the budget for heat and electric and her daughter to now monitoring the bills and budget. We lent her the difference between what she had and what she needed. Her daughter is redoing the budget to reflect a payment monthly to us and will send us what to expect and when next week as she knows her mom's (daughter 4) car ins will go up as this is a newer car....UPDATE... her ins WENT DOWN. with newer car, full coverage and her teen daughter on it. WOW.. she got Progressive


We went to store, formula for M as she forgot to put it on the list when E went as she was focused on stuff for church tomorrow.

I got 1/2 gal milk saving 20 cents
I got chip dip saving 30 cents (found new recipe to try for onion chip dip)
I got 2 butters saving 60 cents
I got cottage cheese saving 38 cents
I got 2 lunch meats saving $3.50 (all most 1 free)
I got 2 breaded shrimp saving $8.50 for buy one get one
I got chicken breast (frozen 3 lbs) saving $19.50 (one free and savings on 2nd)
I got 2 bacon saving $3
I got 1 pork butt on sale saving $5 off price and another $2 with buy $10 get $2 off in meat dept.
I got 2 packages of  hamburger *73 fat* paying $1.59/lb instead of $2.99. lbs saving a total $8.40

SO I spent the last $20 for this month and half of next month grocery budget.

Told Hubby we might need produce or dairy at end of Sept but that would be it... That's about $60 if I buy it at Kroger's. Save a lot is cheaper and he can pick it up when he is getting fuel for the truck around the corner.

Hubby also was told today that the one place he hauls from stays constant until Tday week and Christmas and then goes well until Englisher summer shut down at July 4th. So that's a good solid route for 1 day every 10 days.  Guy just signed the contract and thought he best let Hubby know so Hubby wouldn't be just going south for the winter.

ONE year coming up of moving in the house/curtains

and the freaking furnace was broke down again. We tried to turn it on last night, house was on the chilly side and I was sick (feel better today, think it was allergies and mix of meds) so Hubby wanted to take the chill off the house... pressure switch AGAIN. HVAC guy down here AGAIN. This time instead of blowing the hose out as the MFG suggested, he replaced the switch and said since it's only a year old it shouldn't be having hoses issues so he replaced the switch and the hose. AND thank me that we turned it on last night not the first frost which is what others do and he gets tons of calls...happens on the first hot day also for ACs. He had 4 calls in route to us (we are 45 min from his shop) and 5 calls while here for 20 min. I would hate to see what a bad day was.

the photo of the house when we started looking at it

Stove pipes gone from roof, skylight in, fence in front of house was on the side of house that you can just see to the left of the first pic

We love the house and are very happy with the first floor even with somethings left to do... basement has a few issues with the ramp that we are still trying to figure out.I would like better storage for dishes that I use but not often in the basement. I haven't really worked on the four rooms upstairs or the barn. A lot of thoughts and ideas but nothing really happening. We decided to maybe add ramp also to the front porch and not just the deck...not sure we can do one ADA code as of how tall the porch is and the driveway.

HVAC guy is also coming back to install the whole house surge protector and do a couple checks on things that showed up in the energy audit that came from work his company did. Thought middle of Sept.

Painting to fix the bad paint is going to be the week of the 16th or 23rd of Sept which means the 4 rooms of the house need to be cleared for painting SIGH

We want to have all the energy audit stuff done by the week before Thanksgiving.

I want to have all the deep freezers defrosted and organized by the week before Tday. BUT I first have to take the stuff we brought from Daddy's out of my coolers to do that.

Hubby wants to gather all the metal including broken appliances etc to haul to the junk yard in Sept.

I got all the curtains done except the winter curtain for the bedroom. All summer curtains are hung

bedroom ... Daddy loves roses and this reminded me of him. I have sunflowers in the laundry room that reminds me of Mother.

Hubby picked this fabric out when we lived on Church st.. 2005. He actually preferred the wrong side of the fabric which is blue (other side is fuchsia). When he went in during the evening it had turned purplish due to the sun setting (faces west) and he LOVED IT, the room is a light periwinkle so it turns shades during the day also.

I fixed the kitchen French door curtains... guess this also reminds me of Mother as she drank wine. We love the fabric, reminds us a bit of Biltmore estates and the kitchen on Church st.

Winter curtains will go up Oct or early Nov. I'll take pictures of those then. I still have to put some grommets in some of the curtains and finish tie backs.

We didn't have to have a summer fill on propane. in June saving $430 (same price as last year).. we also have by passed the winter fill in Aug... MIGHT not need it to Oct. unless we have to kick the furnace on more than just morning to take chill off as we are sitting at 48%. I prepaid for the YEAR getting us a 20 cent reduced fixed rate for 2000 gallons. That's $400 AND if the propane is CHEAPER per gallon they use the cheaper price. I ended up with a credit at the end of the heating season to pay for a full tank that only cost me $100 instead of the $400 that was the usual price.

We don't have the deck on...nor is the smoker put together , sore point between Hubby and me.

I showed Hubby my Aug to do list ...only thing not done was the winter curtains for the bedroom AND the energy audit things I am waiting on him to bring home the stuff I needed in the livestock trailer.

He did look at his Aug to do list that HE CHOSE TO DO ...zip, nada nothing done on the list. Decided he was taking on too much work when he needed to focus on getting stuff for me and doing his own work around the house so this month that is his focus. SO today he worked this morning and was going to Menard's 11% rebate time to pick up the stuff I asked him to pick up LAST month. SO that means I am getting the stuff to do MORE on my list.

We have bounced ideas for Sept .... haven't finished working that out.Figured it was something we could talk about on the 2 hr drive to my cousin's funeral and 2 hr drive back home.

Each day

 WEDNESDAY

We got the scam call about SS number being suspended . SS does not suspend anyone's number. I did notify both our local law and SS .

Primary doc said my diet was to eat real food (when I can actually stand eating again).... He felt with some talking other doctors and a surgeon that my diverticulitis was from slow digestive system (4 days documented by camera) and the Crohn's blockage. I can still have my pop corn AFTER this heals and not a lot at one time. He did ask if I could do the same routine, etc as I did in 2014 and 2015 which when I was in remission. Hubby and I talked about it last night... not real sure we can do that here as one ,Hubby retired and not working 3rd shift, two, was our grandson was living with us in 2014 and three, finding produce I can process that is organic is hard in this area due to flooding and drought. Everyone is in the same boat.

I went to Aldi's canned fruit and veggies are running from 89 cents to $1.29  I picked up 4 cases mandarin oranges, 1 case French style green beans,xxx sugar, dried apricots,and raisins.

I went to Walmart to get sugar, they were out of the 25 lbs bags, so I asked manager if I bought 100 lbs of the 10 lb bags would she sell it to me for the same price per pound of the 25 lbs since they had already given out rain checks for the next delivery. GOT IT. I got 5 lb of corn meal for less than $5, every where else is around $10 . The guy stocking told me that the next batch was up at least $1 if not 2 as he was told to not stock it until the other had cleared the shelves. The elderly lady behind me asked if I would put the last one in her cart as it was on the bottom shelf. She wasn't going to buy it until next month but since he said that she was getting it now.

Went to our local Kroger's and bought what I have now named the basic grocery list. $180.18... leaves enough for milk during the month. Did my Kroger's survey. Hubby uses the points if it lowers the diesel more than the other place otherwise I use it for the car.

I decided after looking at the pantry that if I am given green beans or beets I would can them as I would like to have more (want not need) but I NEED apples for applesauce (we eat chunky and can no longer find it around here) and apple butter and tomatoes for sauces.

I also realized I am back up to carrying 30 lbs without straining or anything... GO ME. I was down to 10 lbs and it hurting the right shoulder that I had surgery on a couple years ago. I also have full range of motion which I was told I would never have again.

E told Hubby the chickens have been corralled to an area that is easier to search for eggs and it seems they are not laying. Not molting so they don't understand what is going on, they had changed feed and they think that might be it. These laid through sub zero weather (not normal around here) and through the 100 plus heat (not normal around here) and now that the weather is decent they are not laying. They don't start laying soon M will be butchering and canning chicken.

Frugal items... both of us combined errands with what we were doing. Hubby even asked one of his deliveries if he could flip the time as it would save him time and gas and they were fine. Timing actually worked better for them also as their English neighbor brought over a fork lift to help unload as they knew Hubby can use a fork lift.

THURSDAY

I am taking this day as the day of rest as I am worn out from yesterday. Good day to rest as the rain that was suppose to come in yesterday (glad I didn't get rained on) came in  this morning. I have the AC off and the windows and doors open that the rain isn't coming in but its a good walk (which is good for me) to check to make sure the wind hasn't shifted the rain.

Told Hubby we was having soft tacos, green beans (M gave us a mess for dinner) and cantaloupe  for dinner tonight.

Tomorrow is grilled pork, salad, leftover green beans, and cantaloupe

Saturday is hamburger patties with the works, cantaloupe,and boiled purple gourmet potatoes we grew .

Maybe if I fix it , I might feel up to actually eating it?

Brother called and told me we lost a younger cousin that had heart failure and kidney failure.


FRIDAY

Hubby off and running again 6:30 am , got the pick up , drop off in a route to save gas, 3 of the things out of 4 is for E and his family. He "scheduled" Saturday off to mow and work on deck if he has time after mowing.

I am doing laundry. Washing the items I sewed at Son 2 as they probably have some cat smell. Wilbur doesn't care, he was raised with cats but Rascal won't go in the laundry room now and Charlotte always grows when she goes by it. SO everything will be washed.

Washing the cloth bags I use at the stores.

Then I will wash the laundry.

I will test the soil I dug from gardens at 4 inches to see it there is better nitrogen that deep. If not we have to decide on hauling dirt in or going to square foot gardens.

I will scrub crates for the regular potatoes and finish getting the dirt off the gourmet potatoes and box them.

I need to order mesh bags for the garlic and silver grommets for Hubby's summer curtains as he doesn't like the rod pocket as he can't pull the curtain as open as he likes.


SATURDAY

ordered everything we need that was also on sale.

garden soil tested better, not good enough to support growing but better... potash and nitrogen on the low side of medium.We can do stuff without a lot of money to fix that.

I did the laundry today using clothes line.

Feeling decent so hopefully we will go see our parents tomorrow.

Hubby mowed and trimmed. Finished straightening the fence line so it can now be painted (late Sept/ Oct) and he brought all the deck stuff for the base from other side of barn, sorted it out and put it on this side of barn so if he can only do one board a day , his time is spent working on the deck not running around the barn trying to sort through the boards to find the right ones.

He did have time in the evening to take E to go get some stuff he needed for making pallets.

SUNDAY

Day of rest... we sat and talked about Sept schedule as  the 4 rooms with bad paint are to get painted in Sept which means I have to clear the things on the walls and move furniture and washer and dryer. I guess the blessing of a bad harvest is that I am not trying to can and deal with paint jobs.

Hubby found out we lost a classmate which was also a good childhood friend of my last night in a car accident. OVI is suspected.

We went to Marion and saw Daddy. He is doing as well as expected for a 92 yrs old and dementia. He knew who I was, asked where Hubby was as he was signing us in and Daddy didn't see him walk by as he was napping in his chair in the lobby.  We only stayed a few minutes as he wanted to go to the church service at 1:30 as it was the son of the preacher who used to preach at Daddy's church before my step mom died (1990s). Told my brother we were there when he went in later...Good day for Daddy. We saw pictures the nursing home had taken when they took the residents to a local park for fishing.Daddy did a bit of fishing, even took off his jacket and long sleeve shirt. I haven't seen him in his muscle shirt in about 5 yrs. The man still has muscles.I mentioned it to the staff and they said Daddy was one of the few that would lift himself (155 lbs)to and from the chair. They just make sure he doesn't fall during the move. Also lifts hand weights in therapy twice a week.

We stopped to visit Hubby's parents as his dad has lung issues from chemicals he used while farming. Admitted it was on the side of the chemical to use mask and gloves and he felt it was a waste of his money to buy that and time to use that.  Made the comment his younger self didn't care much for his older self.. They are doing okay... definitely on a diet as both are over 50 lbs of weight if not more. They offered to feed us but we declined as what they were eating I couldn't eat.

We stopped at our local Chinese buffet , used coupon and only got water to drink, even though I really like their unsweetened tea and it was still lunch prices. Cost less than going across the street to Arby's and I had fried rice (made sure I didn't get peas,carrots or onions in the rice) meatballs in sauce, green beans and mushrooms. Tapioca pudding for my sweet. Didn't go back for seconds or thirds which is normal. Owner told me she hoped I got to feeling better as she knew I had been down again.

We came home, watched British bake off and I took my biologic.

MONDAY
Feels like a fall day without sunshine as the rain comes in bands with plenty of wind. I only washed the towels as that filled the drying rack plus had to put 3 things out on the kitchen porch line as I ran out of room. Doubt if they will dry at all.
Meds for diverticulitis is messing with my Crohn's and didn't do as well with my biologic so my GI pulled me off the meds a couple days early. I am grateful I have another script in for nausea meds that Hubby is picking for me as I am still in PJs resting. I didn't sleep at all during the night. I would have rather floated in and out of a light sleep than none at all. Nausea hit hard this morning again. BUT I am eating lightly, crackers, banana etc.

Hubby was suppose to be home for lunch, didn't happen as it rained and caused 2 of the hauls to be flipped. He carries homemade trail mix and granola bars all the time now along with a thermos of coffee as all he hauls for will offer him water when he stops at their places.  He also told me the one that is having him work during lunch gave me a gift certificate for a free pizza at the local place. So he was getting that on the way home to have for his supper for me to not worry about feeding him as there is salad already made in the frig and 2 slices of cantaloupe. I will probably do soup if still feeling like this.

I had a talk to my bank about them changing the rules of how to keep fees off. They did look back and see they hadn't sent me notice of the change so refunded me the fees and then offered to change the checking acct to one I wouldn't pay fees...Then came back and acknowledged that when we opened the 3rd acct it was noted to change my checking also because I don't have automatic payments put in it and it didn't get done. So that got changed. HOPEFULLY correctly this time. Hubby keeps enough money in his checking he doesn't pay fees, we have auto deposit to the joint and my credit card was suppose to keep mine free.

Our house ins wasn't going to give us the discount for paying in full since it is in escrow.... they changed their minds when our ins agent reminded them that an escrow acct is PAID BY US like if we were putting it in a checking out anyways with an auto with drawl. SO we got that $200 discount for the year payment. He then started checking ALL his customers and followed up on a few that had the same issue. Was glad I said something to him about it instead just silently fuming... I am not silent when I fume...that's Hubby until he goes into steam roller mode.

Hope you have a great week. Going back to bed to rest

Where does the time go?

Well for me the last week has been going from Crohn's attack that my biologic helped avoid hospital stay to going to the ER due to diverticulitis  attack, which I've never had before... exhaustion, dehydration and malnourished now. I definitely bit my tongue after GI pointed out that... DUH. I really hope my primary doc doesn't make the same comment as I know I won't bite my tongue with him tomorrow.

Yesterday I was up to doing some things after the GI appt.

 We stopped at Menards to get food grade buckets and gamma lids, ant traps and fly traps and found jeans for Hubby to use for work. He wasn't happy about the price but Rural King has been out of his size in carpenter pants for over a month and he is down to 2 pairs of work pants. He has ruined 4 pairs of pants in last 2 months. I feel like I'm lecturing a child about paying attention to what he is doing to not ruin clothes. The rebates covered the buckets and traps. Hubby paid for his pants out of his hauling money.

We went to Sam's club.I wanted to buy sugar but it was higher than at our local Walmart so that got by passed. M had told us what that price was when she went to buy sugar at the bulk store that her uncle owns and it was twice the price of Walmart as a friend from her church had just bought sugar. But I got several items especially oil and rice that was on the restock list. I bought 6 jars of pickled beets. If I don't find beets to can I have at least 1 jar per month to get through the winter.

We came home and looked over what was needed done on the punch list and where we needed to be in 12 wks. That's stuff from the energy audit done and the repainting from the bad paint done.

We talked about routines... if flying by the seat of your pants is a routine we have that down pat.

We talked about meals... example, he has a haul job at 7 am and it should only be 4 hrs.... he walks back in the door 10 hrs later because the haul job ended up being 3-4 haul jobs. If it's for E or his family , they makes sure Hubby gets a lunch in there and I get told he is going to be late, other's don't. The one has arranged it that if Hubby is delivering to him, that he brings a load back this way(paid to come home according to Hubby as it's within a mile of us and right on his way) but that makes Hubby getting in after our supper waiting for his trailer to be unloaded. We both don't like eating supper after 6 when we both go to bed by 9.

He finally this week started telling everyone he will not take loads anywhere after 3 pm because he is missing supper.He is now going to pack a lunch even when he thinks he is going to be home as he can always eat it if it is home. I will cook my meals as I did at Son 2's, fix the meal at lunch and warm it up for supper. I will fix enough for Hubby to warm up when he gets home. Not that we like not eating our meals together but we make sure we have morning coffee together even if it means I have to get up at 3:30 am because of when he is leaving.

I have a doctor's appt tomorrow and we still have a things on the restock list so I will pick up some of that while out. I need to stop at N's and find out his price on seconds of his tomatoes for canning and see if he knows anyone with beets to sell. I need green beans, beets, tomatoes,corn and onions. Butternut squash if I can find it. I can suck it up and buy frozen at the store if needed. Prefer not .

I ordered the fabric for my winter curtains for the bedroom, last set of curtains needing made, saved 50%.

The dirt for the gardens have been pulled to be tested. They asked for 3 inches deep and 6 inches deep. Hoping that there is nitrogen at the 3 inch level so it's more of a "apply this, do that" solution and not the land is going to take years to repair before you can use as garden" solution.  I would have to say even my square foot gardens didn't grow this year unless you want to count the weird weeds that popped up at out potting soil. E said it's an airborne weed but wasn't sure what it was just that he was fighting it in his hay and oats also.

Lunch time. Leftovers.

Yack at you later
Blessed be

Frugal crohn's attack

yeah, I know not really but really...

Had a great last week at Son 2's and finished curtains, table cloths , napkins and 1 apron.

Got home Friday.

Saturday I reorganized the pantry and cleaned it (except for the floor). Made a list of what needed filled in .  Hubby washed his clothes and hung them on clothes line.

Saturday night we met with other classmates for a 60th bday party, we had a 59 yr old but we let the "baby" in anyways  😉. Mexican restaurant and it had food I could eat as it was not spicy.  Wonderful time,

Coming home I made the comment I must have ate too much. An hour later I was into a Crohn's attack...SIGH... decided to wait and see sometimes they calm down when triggered by over eating. 6 AM it's nope, now it's sever, BUT I want to take my biologic before going to the hospital since I would be in the hospital when my injection was due.... 15 min after taking the biologic I was like, nope don't need to go to hospital. Biologic kicked butt. Still hasn't been an easy ride but not as bad as it has been.

I did realize it wasn't from over eating , well it is but it's from over eating yeast dough and my system takes 4 days to process what I eat . Yeah really they were freaking out when I took the camera test and hadn't passed it in 8 hrs... took 4 days to pass it.  SO I looked back and realized I had pizza, 2 slices for lunch, 2 for dinner, 2 for bfast and last 2 for lunch BUT nothing with it. I thought by limiting the amount at a meal it would be okay ... 2 months ago I had a flare up from eating 4 slices and not the usual salad we eat with pizza. Last month I had 3 thick slices of M's homemade bread, had a flare up.

Lesson's learned... eat salad or fruit salad with 2 slices of pizza and not back to back meals. ONE slice of M's bread is plenty. AND don't miss injections like I did 2 wks ago.

Savings $7000 is what the hospital bill would have been not counting the stress on Hubby trying to be at the hospital and doing everything else. I have slept like a zombie for 2 days and could easily go back to sleep now. I didn't call my doctor to order any pain meds as I used what I already had on hand which is pretty mild compared to I usually take 2 shots of Morphine before it get kicked down. ALL AND ALL it was a good run as I now can say YES MY BIOLOGIC IS WORKING.

Hubby pulled a couple zucchini, a patty pan and a spaghetti squash from the garden with some cherry tomatoes. He is eating what ever he finds as leftovers in the freezer or eggs.M told Hubby chickens weren't laying, they think because they changed the feed so we didn't get eggs this week not a problem for us as I still have some.

Not much else has went on. Too tired to do anything

Frugal moments

when you don't want to cook, maybe don't want to eat and have cheese, Italian bread and olives for supper.

when E feels bad for your hubby because he has to cook for himself (Hubby does part of the cooking anyways LOL) while I am cat sitting and has his wife send over lunch every other day. M butchered chickens that weren't laying. They have had fried chicken almost daily. Hubby said there was enough each time he ate the"leftovers" for supper that night. M sent over a dozen eggs, some peaches and 2 cucumbers for Hubby. He sliced up the cucumbers with an onion and poured Italian salad dressing on it. Nice side dish or snack for him. As he is fighting a nasty bout that started with allergies.

I shut off the AC(90 with humidity make it feel like mid 90s) every morning and open Son 2 windows and curtains letting the morning sun come in for the kitties to sun bath. Close curtains an hour later before it starts cranking the heat back up. Don't turn AC until it's 85 , with a fan on I would be okay but kitties are old and don't do so well in the heat even laying in front of a fan on a tile floor.

I fixed my meals from what I brought here, decided to not buy produce this week since I am going home this weekend. I have enough milk to make it through.

Hubby said the only thing we will need when I get home is milk... if I remind him he will pick it up when he is in town towards the end of the week.

I'm not driving back and forth to home and back so have saved 1 tank of gas.

I am not running our electric up with the iron and sewing machine... that's on Son 2's bill, he said it's cheaper than a kennel for the 2 cats. So I guess he is still saving money.

Hubby said he has been mowing the 1 acre pasture (which is E's but we barter us mowing it for him up keeping the 3 acres and fence that is behind us that is ours) every other time when he mows the yard. He talked to the lady that lives next to that pasture and she was fine with that, said if it got to bothering her she would come over and say something. Not much is growing anyways... we have been without rain for over a week AGAIN.

NOT FRUGAL NOTE.

I finished tossing food from the pantry. I wrote down what we hadn't ate in YEARS.I know Hubby is like my Daddy and would eat anything no matter what year it was canned... I on the other hand can not figure out how I have food in my pantry from 2014.... that's the year we were raising our grandson. I think I canned too much as I thought we might end up finishing raising him. I also need to think about what we eat, what we should be eating and how much is needed. AGAIN... Mother in law suggested I go to the store and buy for each week and not go back until that is gone.... she lives in the city around the block from the store. I asked her if that was what she did when they lived in the country (same amt of miles from town like we do now) NO WAY she said... too much gas and if the weather took a nasty turn you could go hungry... then it was like, OH guess that would not work well for you to go weekly. She lived on a highway, we live on back country road that don't get plowed much during the winter.

Back to sewing... 5 sets left to sew (still have to figure something out for bedroom) and 4 aprons... Long days of sewing.