209 update

Head construction company guy *head contractor* told me end of May the house would be finished... The he got informed by the carpenter that wasn't going to happen and the carpenter had him come down and see why not...

I am glad I wasn't there when the butt kicking started.

Last week I let Head contractor know that once again the same crew that he kicked butt was not showing up and it was really causing problems and SLOWING down the drywall crew.

Twenty four hours later crew was in, forty eight hours later we had this:

Yeah Hubby is drinking from an old garden hose. Then I did... didn't even taste like garden hose and oh yeah we both know that taste.

and then we got the hand pump to the cistern working, not tasting that water...will need to have cistern pumped out and clean and rain spouting that doesn't let the birds play in it before we use it.

hot water heater is on wall, not fully installed as it is gas. There is also the plumbing for the regular bathroom and tub/shower combo frame in started...

bath/shower pic 1st, toilet drain hole 2nd and sink drain hole 3rd

and also

My kitchen sink drain and plumbing. While Carpenter was waiting for this stuff to be done... he walked around and was checking the work that had been done and found these 2 sections of roof that was missed (including by us) and let the company know to send the roofers back.

Then he started installing the storm doors. He got 2 out of the 3 done.

Hubby borrowed the disk from the Amish neighbor  and finished working the south garden

This has the strawberries ...you can barely see the edge of them in the upper left had corner...this garden is 120 ft long and 40 ft wide... We will be cutting it back to 80 ft long and 40 ft wide.  I would like to move the rhubarb into this area also instead of the middle of the yard. The other side where the asparagus is is 100 ft by 50 ft. We will be turning this to grass except where the asparagus is. Too many tree roots in the dirt.

Hubby was there this mowing while waiting for the truck to deliver the deck stuff we ordered. Said he got it pretty much done, probably because he didn't have anyone stopping him to get answers LOL.

We have a big pow wow with the Head Contractor on Tuesday afternoon so I am hoping the work continues as it has the last 3 days.

Bragging on Hubby

Hubby received an award from the OH EMS Star of Life for helping save a coworkers life last year. Coworker had a massive heart attack...everyone else that was helping work on the coworker said the only reason the guy lived and recovered (is back to work ) is because of Hubby aggressively using CPR until the squad got there with the automatic chest compression system.

I am blessed by this man

and then my computer crashed with Windows 10 update

SIGH... it has been a week...maybe two... geeze.

The rule at this point is BEHIND... behind in 209, behind in housekeeping here, laundry here, meals, sleep...really sleep  as they brought pigs in and the dogs are jumping and barking when they hear the noises the pigs make and then Wilbur thinks he must charge the pigs and try to dominate them (the pigs are behind a fence he can not get through but he could get his nose bit off when he sticks it through the fence). SO Wilbur was on a shock collar... that died and now on a leash when he proceeded to knock me off my feet and bash my head into the door jamb because he tried to run to get to the pigs. At least I got to him before he could charge the pigs again. Looking to buy a new shock collar... maybe something for the massive headache I got but no concession or whip last.

Windows 10 update and wiped out my computer including it's memory...Lucky I had posted Dad's 91st birthday picture here or I wouldn't have it. I usually back up once a month, got side tracked with everything. Friend that does a lot of computer work told me to back up on thumb drive every day and on external hard drive once a month.

Computer guy can reinstall original Windows(Windows 8) but I would have to buy Windows 10 ... I'll take the freebie and use that computer for other things.

Bought a computer (http://theprudenthomemaker.com/ bought this and thought it was good).Used some Amazon credits to pay for it.

Everything was running behind due to a contractor on over load without enough man power to handle all the work he agreed to... Several powwows later and a big shove from the carpenter/drywaller/clean up with mess the other left behind guys ...things started rolling again... 209 update on other post. AND both of us are having to drive as one of us needs to stay and lock up as we had someone casing the place and Charlotte is still being caged and can only "hold it" 6-8 hrs... we lean towards 6 because of her being hyper. With 2 hrs of being driving time that's only 4 hrs work time. Between the two of us we can get in 8 hrs. WHICH is more work time than the other contractors except our carpenter and his helper...

Hubby's truck is making a sound and we are hoping it's just dirt in the brakes.

I've still not go my garden stuff in as I get started and I get motioned to come make a decision. Hopefully by next Saturday that will be done. I have 18 tomato plants and some herbs left to plant.

Was suppose to install Son2 new kitchen sink last month, it's getting done this weekend. Was suppose to spend time with a friend at their RV last month, will be after we install Son2 kitchen sink on our way home.Another time of both of us driving due to long hours.

I love to say we stayed frugal...the only frugal has been where we chose to eat with coupons, discounts and gift cards...except for the little grocery store near 209... Beef and noodles, mashed potatoes and roll for $6.99 that makes 2 meals is cheap.

update 209

Carpenter ripped out this section yesterday so we will now be able to take a queen size bed and dressers up the stairs without issues. He is going to frame it in to look like the rest of the doorways.
I have a couple choices with the space beside the door... a cabinet I already own or shelves built...either corner or like a book shelf. Since this is my dining room I can see building a bookcase for my cookbooks. While he was working on this he told me that it will be at least 6  weeks before HE is finished and isn't sure the paint or floors will be done for 2-3 weeks after that.He had a worker putting drywall in where they cut it out to put electric boxes so he could start "mudding" the drywall this week.

Electrican got the front porch light done, he thought it went well with the house.

All the ceiling lights have wires now..

but now my north and south lofts floors look like this due to putting in ceiling lights. They were glad we were changing the floor anyways. Just another job for the carpenter unless Hubby or I get to it before him.

This is the wiring still sitting in the basement waiting for the final wiring to the lofts,kitchen and pump house to be ran.

This was delivered...and every single one of us wondered why they put it at an angle when there is a perfect place to set it straight and not take up almost all the parking area.

This is our -$1.00 electric bill...which is definitely a  mistake but thought I would share it as it will probably never happen again LOL. We have a security light that is $10 a month not counting the electric that the contractors have used.

and one last picture... I asked permission  and was given it as long as they weren't in the picture so I waited until my neighbors left for Church.  I am amazed of how the lady of the home gets everything clean,laundry done,  gardens taken care of, 3 meals and 3 snacks daily with 7 children under 9 yrs of age with NO electric or running water unless you count running to the hand pump and pumping it. Man of the house has a lot to take care also with cattle, horses, plowing, planting, roofing etc.

The good news is....Carpenter told me to move anything that goes in the garden shed and barn now, deal with our plants, trees and fencing now. THEN the basement should able to have stuff moved in about 2 wks (thinks we can do the deck and porches then also)and the lofts AFTER the main floors have been sanded ...then we will be on hold until the floors are completely done.

I was thinking of summer curtains being put up when we moved but since we are looking at August I think I will plan on winter curtains.

Blessed be

Frugal week and No pictures but update on 209

I used my Free Mother's day gift of 8x10 photo from Walgreens for this picture ad Hubby's parents and grandparents had a picture hanging in their homes of their farms when Hubby was growing up. I thought it would be a good gift to Hubby.

I stopped in at Krogers and got asparagus (for daughter4 cookout for her son's birthday, was cheaper to buy them then take a trip over to 209) and strawberies and angel food cake for us for today (Mother's day). I used coupons and saved 1/3rd of costs. That's all I bought even though I would have loved to got some of the black bean hummus on sale with the coupon I had.

Daughter4 sent back the belt I had lent her so I don't have to go buy another belt or jeans since I've lost inches playing outside with the 3 dogs, mainly Charlotte,I gave her several shirts I was not longer wearing and I got a picture from my granddaughter in one of them as she went through the shirts first and got several tanks so Daughter4 won't have to buy her any for summer.

Hubby took some leftover fence down to Daughter4 and helped her build it with the wood she already had to block her dogs to the back so they would stay out of her garden pots and sq ft box at her trellis on the front porch.Since they were not able to move like they hoped to a bigger place with a bigger yard.He also put the dirt that was in the sq fts we tore up and took it to her. We won't be putting ours in until later this fall or next spring.

Son2 came up Saturday bringing  a car load of boxes for me to use to pack in and paid for our meal to go out to eat as he was suppose to come up today but had a conflict that would have put him here after 6 pm.Then he noticed I have a china buffet in the garage that I intended to redo... he thinks he would like if for his own dining room..I told him he had a week to decide plus he offered to buy it...then he wanted the tables and chairs Hubby just bought at auction... I'm not sure I am willing to give those up.

We used of Kroger fuel pts, and Speedway gift card for fuel this week.

Didn't go over to 209 unless we were needed as there was nothing we could do or we would be in the way of the contractors. Head contractor (who owns the business) is pushing to have it COMPLETED by  FIRST WEEK of JUNE.Told neighbors and seller that they needed to harvest asparagus and rhubarb as we wouldn't be there for a week. Hubby stopped by when he was coming home from some other place and said the daughters of the neighbor were out picking both areas. GOOD.

The one day we were there we used our coupons for DQ and I got my "summer has started" foot long coney (not many places around here do actual footlongs but do 2 hotdogs in 1 bun)

I canned 7 pints of pickled asparagus, 7 pints of asparagus soup, 11 pints of strawberry rhubarb pie filling, 11 qrts of rhubarb pie filling and 8 pints of victoria sauce (rhubarb). We had asparagus and rhubarb at every lunch with what I harvested.

Hubby dug up 2 maple tree starts that had been in the old sand box here and put them in pots to see if we can get them to grow a bit more before planting them over at 209.  There is another one right at the electric pole here he is going to try to dig up also but figures he will end up killing it.

Hubby went to auction and got a $700 patio table, 4 rocker swivel chairs,umbrella and stand,along with  post hole digger and auger for the tractor for  a total of $418.28. that doesn't cover the table let alone the post hole digger.

Our trailer that we haul anything and everything that's over 20 yrs old finally broke beyond repair .We use this 3-4 times a week plus Hubby has job offeres that require it also.Hubby found one on sale plus the price was getting ready to go up because cost of steel is going up with the next delivery of trailers

tractor on old trailer... new trailer that it will fit on better.

We went in to Menards to order the deck stuff on Wed.Solid part is where the French doors will be. Ramp will end at sidewalk to mudroom (AKA back door)

We had an estimate awhile back and it was almost $9000. We changed the flooring part to a textured compost, less chance of slipping when wet and what fasteners we were going to use and dropped the price below $6500. Sales person suggested we wait until this week to order is as the 11% sale would start again today.

I started a chuck roast I had got on sale last week for today's meal... I plan to take part of it for meals later this week of  beef, bell peppers and onion subs , a blue plate special of shredded beef, mashed potatoes with gravy over all of it and then maybe some noodles or at least soup with what is left. I have kale, red cabbage and apples to make a salad for tonight. I can fry what is left of the red cabbage to go with fried potatoes and smoked sausage for later this week

Head contractor sent me a Happy Mother's day email to let me know they plan on finishing gutting 2 walls that we wanted removed, drywall everything that needs is, carpentry work will be done, electrical will be finished and the plumbing for water and propane will be started and finished by this weekend also sanding the floors. Next week is primering ceiling and walls, doing knock down (looks like orange peel or golf ball dimples) on the ceiling, then painting the walls, then it's finish the flooring and the roof on the barn and spouting on the house.... He is hoping to have us ready to move in Memorial weekend.  I think he is looking positive when the negative of weeks delays are common with this house and his crews.

I did get this month's electric bill... it was -$1.00... not sure how we got a negative bill especially when there is a security light there that costs us $10.00/month to run. I'll have to check on that one this week.

Blessed Be

Sick and tired, tired and sick LIFE GOES ON

and then I look at these pictures and keep right on going. My Daddy.

I got him to smile by telling him it was for his first grandson and he first great grandson.Wnat Daddy to do something, corral a grandkid into getting him to do it. We thought we would lose him, he was sick of life in general and dog tired.Could barely get out of the wheelchair let alone adjust himself on the bed

 A little blurry as he didn't want to stop eating the brownies I brought him for his 91st birthday... is always a little sad on his birthday. They buried his Mommy on his 16th birthday. BUT as he says, her death freed the family to move where there was better work and a better home because they had to stay at Hocks Station while she was living to get her meds. Train was 3 days late due to flooding in the area and she died from withdraw. He eats like a horse now, can stand and balance and hit a ballon that the therapist hits to him. He pedals his "mini " exercise bike 40 min a day now.

 My Mother,

First day of the nursing home that she knew she wouldn't be walking back out of as her cancer was back and running full force through her body. Still she didn't have to be bribed to smile for the camara. She's been gone 6 yrs and the hole she left can't be filled by any one of us. She ran this family with an iron fist like her great grandmother ran hers. Didn't know how to handle those of us that didn't buckle under and do as she wanted us to do. Said on her death bed she was proud of those of us that stood for what was best for us,that she didn't know it all. I should have recorded it as at times it's hard to hear her voice. Except Daughter 2 and Daughter 4 and I all sound exactly like her. Even Daddy, Pop(stepdad),Hubby and Son2 would not know who they were talking to if we called and they couldn't see us. LOL.

Daddy could have gave up but he fought instead, Mother fought to her last breath...  How can I do any less?

My congestion heart failure is flaring a bit, understandable with 209 and losing an Aunt that was like a sister to my brother. Daddy in the nursing home and we aren't sure if we will be able to bring him back out or how to pay for him to stay in.Son2 reenlisted, proud of him but heavens the worry of him deploying and me dealing with his cats and house is always there. Hubby is having troubles with his memory.... is it stress or dementia?....

GOD only gives us what we can handle as he carrys us when we can no longer walk.

daily tracking being frugal

April 30th
We had a slight frost,not the freeze we were warned. So I uncovered my plants and moved them back out into the sunshine on the porch.

Today I  start hardening off  the tomato plants I have raised  as we are to reach 70°.

I took the straw off the last of the strawberries and garlic, put it in a boxes to take to 209 to use there. Hubby spread it out in the barn so it can dry out .

Hubby took the flooring, tractor, and a small bistro table(we have folding chairs there and I would like a table to eat lunch at) to 209. He worked on the area that is fenced in to make secure for the dogs when they stay in the barn while we are gone.Decided on buying cattle panels(50 inches tall strong wire fencing) over feed lot panels( 34 inches high) which were only $1 different in price. He took a thermos of coffee and a wrap for his lunch.

I made creamy turkey enchilidas and no bake cheesecake pie using pie filling for topping ...pantry meal.

I signed us up for rewards from TSC as that is going to be our local supply store at 209 as the nearest Home Depot, Lowes and Menards are over 30 min away.

I signed us up for VIP rewards at Ponderosa as it opened in Marion and we no longer take Daddy to lunch(he gets confused thinking he is going home to his house). Since I know we will at least half the time end up eating out when we go see him, I figured it was best to go were we get a senior citizen discount and rewards.In warm weather I will probably pack a meal for us. Once we move it won't be an issue as we will only be 30 min away and can go home.

May 1st...May Day.... I harvested asparagus from 209 that will be enough for a meal for the two of us. Checked the rhubarb, should be ready Friday or Saturday.
We went to chiropractic then took things over to 209 and while there tested the fenced area at the barn for the dogs...Charlotte and Wilbur enjoyed it as both of them love a barn where the blue heeler cattle dog,  Rascal cried the whole time we were there even when he could see me...We still have a lot of fence to move and add before they will be safe to run the yard...I mean acre. LOL

May 2nd, My Aunt that my parents raised died this morning. She was like a older sister to my brother. Her own daughter is a year younger than me. With Daddy turning 91 tomorrow and having a viewing and funeral I know we will have 2-3 meals out during the next week so I am not planning to be  buying any groceries unless I need milk or flour tortillas. I had to go down to the Pain doctor (2 hrs away one way) and he is going to see if ins will approve for another round of injections as my hands are going numb in my sleep and I struggle with sitting or bending without a lot of pain.

May 3rd... I baked Aldi brownies for Daddy for his birthday gift. I had already used a discount and ordered him flowers with a ballon to be delivered in the morning. We stopped at 209 to drop off a few things, ended up answering several questions and since we mentioned we were going to the next town over to see Daddy, they asked if we could pick up a couple things for them and drop off on our way back... a couple items ended up being a lot more as they texted 3 times to add things (texted so it wouldn't interrupt our time with Daddy with a phone call). We dropped off everything on the way home. SO that worked nice, made a late dinner though.I did another harvest of asparagus and dropped some off to the people that sold us the house.Their patch from their previous sellers is only in it's 2nd year.

May 4th. We removed the trellises  from the gardens and staked some things I didn't want to forget to dig up and take to 209. We had lunchmeat wraps and aspargus for a late lunch. Not sure what we will do with dinner as the viewing today is 5-8. We might stop some where with Son2 who was close to my aunt and get some dinner if any of us feel like eating.

May 5th. Last night we didn't stop anywhere to eat, no one was hungry, so Son2 went to check on the VFW he is a board member and stops in 3-4 times a week to make sure everything is going okay. We went to Krogers since that was on Sunday's to do list and the weather is suppose to be decent we decided to go to 209 and do some cleaning up inside and out on Sunday (plus we won't be working around contractors). I don't like going to the store on the weekend but there is double fuel points and I can use all the break I can get on fuel at this time.

Hubby went to an auction to try to get a post hole digger with auger. It looked to be in decent shape. I moved all the potted plants back out from where we put them when the storms and high winds went through and put the tomato plants out to harden off also. Played outside with the dogs to help burn Charlotte's( 11 months) energy off. Sometimes she will wear out both Wilbur(7 yrs old May 3rd) and Rascal (6 yrs old March 4th) unless we get her out and start playing with her ourselves. The good news is I lost a size playing with her outside...the bad news is I lost a size and I lent my belt to Daughter4. I've already darted these pants twice.Hubby called me droopy drawers the other day and told me to make sure I didn't wear those pants out in public. LOL I will just go back to wearing skirts more instead. I harvested 30 lbs of rhubarb.

May 6th
We went to 209 and cleaned up the yard around the house so Hubby could mow (still needs trimmed)
I did some weeding and harvested 20 lbs of asparagus. I moved things they had gutted out of house (they are careful to not tear up anything as they are doing demo especially woodwork etc) that we might need later to the barn. We loaded the outside doors that we promised to give to the seller. The house they bought had solid doors for outside doors, no windows and no screen doors. Since we were replacing the doors at 209 we just gave him the doors. I see no sense of wasting them and he and his brother that is our neighbor has been helpful in watching the house and making sure no one is messing around that shouldn't be.

We ate leftovers and spent some time sitting on the porch just watching the birds and the dogs.

Blessed Be

I wasn't going to get much groceries

Milk, possible tortilla wraps...

then we checked both frigs and coupons and sales.... and Krogers has their double fuel points if you shop Friday.Saturday or Sunday... Since 209 needs mowed and the house and gardens need dealt with and it's not working well for us to do that with the contractors there... we decided to go over on Sunday and grocery store Friday after Aunt Carole's viewing since Son2 didn't feel like going out to eat either.

I paid out of pocket $94.41 and saved $50.59 on 36 items...only 5 of those items didn't have a sale or coupon or combination of the two.

I got the following:
chuck roast (coupon on sale) $2.99/lb 7.8 lbs $
23.38
coffee (coupon on sale) 4.99
bacon 2 (coupon on sale)4.49
coleslaw mix .49 ( coupon on sale)we also use it in stirfrys)
tortillas 3 (coupon ).99
psst tortillas Regular .89
old EL paso taco seasonings ( FREE)
Cremet Pasta 5 (coupon on sale) 5 lbs .49/lb (pasta now restocked completely)
Apples 3 lbs (coupn on sale)1.99
Romaine hearts Regular (bag of 3) 2.49
Mushrooms 6 lbs (coupons on sale) 11.97
Bell Peppers 6 (coupons on sale) 5.28
Shredded carrots(being lazy) .99
Avocado2 (coupon on sale).39
Ground beef 3lb (coupon on sale) 1.99/lb total 5.97
Psst bread Regular .89
Sub buns regular 2.89
Doritos chips FREE
Centrum vitamins for Hubby (doc prefers him to be on this brand) 250 vitamins (coupons on sale)14.98 
Liguid castille soap (coupon on sale) 5.99

Notice I didn't get milk because I saw I had one in the garage frig.

Good thing I didn't load up as I ended up with 30lbs of asparagus from 209 gardens and 20 lbs of rhubarb from here also.

Canning season as Hubby calls it has started again.

Blessed Be

Frugal week

Stopped at Walgreens and got Hubby vitamins on sale with a coupon and picked up the pic Daughter4's daughter sent me of her in uniform (ROTC, she's 15(turns 16 in July) in her 2nd year of college that she wanted my Daddy to have for his 91 st birthday this week .Told me today she wanted to follow in her Uncle's (Son2)footsteps. I didn't want to tell her she already blowed way past him as he definitely was not in college at 15. 

Stopped at Krogers and got fuel and facial tissues as we were out completely and it counted for my 5th trip (6 trips this month and get $10 digital coupon) Tomorrow I will get bottled water for 209 and milk

April grocery budget is at $208.14 so should be under the budget of $250 with buying the milk and water tomorrow.

Opened the house and turned off furnace on warm days. Opened the  house at 209 to WARM the house as the house is so well insulated that it doesn't allow the heat of the day to warm it up that much either... good and bad on that.

Changed our big meal to lunch and went to eating either leftovers or appetizers/soups for dinner. Hubby was starting to pick back up the weight he had lost and that simple change he had started losing again.We are working hard on 209 and here during the day and pretty come to a stand still at dinner time.

Hubby watched some shows using my Amazon prime.

I have drove Hubby nuts with "is it on sale? Can we wait until it's on sale? Is that the best price we can find?" mode of everything.

I cleared an area at 209 to plant some plants even though I will have to carry water to them if it doesn't rain. I got a lot of plants including herbs for 50% off as with it pushing May most won't care to plant cool weather crops now. 

I mended a pair of jeans for Hubby, a top for Daughter2 and fixed a dress that was given to me.

We used gasbuddy to find the cheapest gas. Used Speedway fuel points that Hubby cashed in for gas and Kroger points that I got with groceries.

We have taken our drinks and a couple times our lunches to 209. If we eat out while there(mostly to get inside some where WARM) we either get the special at the local store or go to the Chinese restuarant during lunch hour which on the cheap side (can't eat at McD's at that price)

Blessed Be

209 update..pics included

Okay... the tractor ordered came in . Hubby already mowed here with it just to make sure it ran decent before hauling it over to 209

We got this used 500 gal tank for diesel fuel for the tractor for less than an used 200 tank was running.

We got this tower for Hubby's Ham Radio antennia and for the tv antennia for less than 1/10th of the going price.

Today Son2 went to Home Depot and bought our flooring for the 2 baths, laundry room and the 2 loft rooms he has claimed when he comes and spends the night.
It is Anderson, Rigid Core Vinyl plank flooring Sterling oak.It has rubber backing so it can be in wet areas also with out adding a extra liner under it.

It worked well for him and us as he needed us to bring our trailer down as he bought a riding lawn mower and wanted advice on a trimmer. We dropped off a small load of odds and ends to Daughter4 since we were in her area.

Hubby said when he went over Saturday that he got all of the temporary fence we had for the dogs down and had a decent start on the section we will be making for the dogs for when we are not at home all day so they aren't cooped up in the house. They will have a nice section of the barn and fenced in area so they aren't out rooming around. Our neighbor is going to have his kids and himself make friends with the dogs so if needed, they could take care of them is something happened.

We got 3 doors put on (not the storm doors yet) Both front doors which we now call kitchen door and front door along with back door is put on.

One of the pleasures of where we moving to is watching the neighbors horses when they are grazing in the field next to us.

 We also watched the truck deliver feed as the neighbor took his wagons down to the road as it's hard for the feed truck to turn around up at the barn. Hubby would have just backed it up the lane so it must have been someone not comfortable with backing up long lanes.

We met with the head contractor to firm up bathrooms as he wanted to upgrade the wheelchair shower since that area is bigger now that it is gutted than what he thought.ALSO he changed the cabinets in the kitchen (again, some more HA HA HA)When he sat down with the onsite head contractor they figured out that I could have a L shape with base cabinets (I am not getting any upper cabinets at all) I had picked out different styles but stayed with Maple coloring. It' looks on the brown side but when we had it in 209 it picked up a red tint to it.

This was my favorite pick. They were talking of making double sided cabinets vs single side and a longer section. I made the limit at 8 ft. in length as lon as I get my dishwasher, sink and 6 ft of work counter I am fine.

Head contractor is now on the onsite head contractor (it can get confusing at times) about not having the electric down, and the plumbing done as he wants to get the painting down before he does the floors and the floors done before he put in cabinets and wants to be done by end of MAY.

Said he wanted to get things on site and Hubby pointed at me and I rattled off what was ON SITE.. I missed buying one light (did that today) and having the last of the paneling for the lofts picked up (waiting for sale or rebate) and the paint chips to him ;he uses Sherwin Williams and they told him for me to take what I wanted into the local one here and they would help me match it so if they can't match it exactly I can chose which way I want to go. I know the colors and shades so that's on the to do list tomorrow.FLooring is on trailer to go over tomorrow with tractor. Hubby is working on area for the dogs again with hope of getting that off the list this week.

Our Amish neighbor stopped over as his wife wanted to know if we were keeping the strawberries or plowing them under( they would have dug them up for themselves)... definitely not plowing them under. He offered to have his girls and wife to take care of them (red clover is thick through them ) and harvest them for us if we would split the harvest 50/50... works for me and since it was his brother that planted them he was willing to share with his brother also.If I can I will also be taking my strawberry plants from here and will be sharing those plants with the neighbor and brother. Very connected community even with part of us being Englishers.Very helpful and the Widow (as they refer to her and she is Englisher like us) told our neighbor she had closed our mailbox a couple times as it was opening back up when the mail lady would pull out. We replaced the mailbox.I left her a thank you note as we seem to be passing each other on the road a lot.

Blessed Be

planning frugal,relearning old habits.

Son2 sent this to me as he was eating it in a motel restuarant ... wanted to know what it cost to fix it at home. I ball parked the apple kale slaw at $1.50 and the eggs benedict around $2. Asked why... they were charging $12.99. with a coffee.I told him they were really charging him for the glass plate he was eating on... He wasn't the one paying for it and he thinks he might try to make it at home for dinner as that was when he was eating it there.

Baby is a 7 cubic ft chest deep freezer

Newbie is 17 cubic ft chest deep freezer

Monty is 27 cubic ft chest deep freezer (Montgomery Ward)

That's so you know what freezer I am talking about.

I cleaned out the second frig freezer and can say it doesn't do me any good to cook and put in freezer if I don't put it in vacuum bags.Things that got shoved on bottom and in back were freezer burnt pretty bad. It's the "odds and ends freezer". So when I transferred what was left to the new frig freezer. I limited it to meat that was going to be ate in next 2 weeks (unless I want beef and that's in Monty). I have my nuts and seeds, cheese and butter now in the freezer of the 2nd frig. Was given 18 lbs of assorted cheeses and 30 lbs of butter from a friend that we have helped  with food off and on.

Cleaned more of  Baby. This one shows what I was eating until I ended up in hospital 3 times in 1 yrs and then not much has been eaten out of it . Tossed all the( 32 bags) corn that was frozen in 4 cup servings (we had 3 in the house at that time) that was now freezer burnt.This coming fall it will be put in 1 cup servings and vacuumed bags.Tossed out ham fat, chicken fat, and some bags that I couldn't read the date or the writing of what it was.Found smoked sausage, the last of the peas and peas and carrots. That should have been put in Newbie(my fruit/veggie/ dessert freezer) Smoked sausage went in the kitchen frig freezer.

I cleared the north strawberry sq foot , saving the straw (in a box Son2 gave me) for 209 gardens/compost. This week is to be in the high 50s-low 60s and nothing in the lows to freeze the plants.

I stayed out of the grocery stores, I stayed out of Menards etc stores. I did shop online at Walmart as our printer died and I have no more ink for it anyways. Microwave is barely workingis making a grinding noise and now taking 2 min to heat up coffee and the toaster just went on the blink and is burning everything... got what we needed and on sale with ship to store so no shipping costs and to all be picked up together.

I car pooled with my girlfriend to go to her soon to be daughter-in-law's bridal shower. Had a great time and good food while learning some of the young lady's past.

We ate dinner at my girlfriend's as she was suppose to have family from out of state stay with them after the shower but they got sick and didn't come at all so they had extra food. They are remodeling their house and was showing me the bathroom they got finished... the flooring was EXACTLY what I have been hunting for.BETTER yet, their bathroom is close to the shade that will be in our wheelchair bathroom so I could see how well the wall color and the flooring went together. ALSO Son2 offered to buy it for us so he can use his discount as a gift for our new home.

Head contractor needs to meet with us to go over some details as a few things got changed (again, some more what ever LOL, got to keep the humor there) and it worked out that we all are free on the same day and NO one had to change anything to meet at the house and we were going to be there anyways working on putting the new doors on and the gardens.

Our French doors are in so we have to pick them up and take them to 209 along with the cook stove that came in and hadn't been taken over yet.

We found an used 500 gal fuel tank, didn't really need that big but the smaller ones were running higher. We need one for the fuel for the tractor as I don't want to cart 50 gal of fuel in my car or have several sitting around the barn for when we need it. Not driving the tractor to town to get fuel LOL.

I am relearning to turn the water off when brushing my teeth, while soaping my hands, saving the water from washing produce etc.... Even though I won't be paying for water and sewage, I do pay for the electric.I don't know how good our well is as there is several other Englisher houses in that area that would be using the same underground water supply. The river is 2 miles from us (we are not in flood zone and are up on a knoll) so we should have good supply.

I organized my seeds by planting time. cold that frost does not affect, cool that frost does affect and summer. Checked what I was low on as I am hoping to plant a fall garden and will need to start seed for that garden as I know that noone in that area sells plants for fall planting.

We checked out the produce auction Friday... not many plants yet and we could tell there price was going to be high as there was more people than plants. So we will check back on Tuesday to see if it's any better. Left empty handed.

This coming weekend is our local community garage sale. I have a list... winter curtains.... small side tables for beds...maybe wood or something I can turn into closets or storage for basement or barn. Railing for the basement outside ramp and the front porches.

Blessed Be

Staying a float/overwhelmed ????

Or as my insurance agent said ... tired, we was making him tired.


April 19 2018.. there is snow on the ground. Not a lot but with freezing temps I am hoping the rhubarb and strawberries survive it.... reminds me of Spring of 2011 our first year here.It was late May before we could plant anything and then it got so hot most of it fried before it made. I try not to worry, does not change a thing.. we have plenty in the pantry even with holes but I know the next 3 yrs are going to be really tight.

I told Hubby that I was going to get some of my 12 inch flower pots and plant lettuce, scallions and spinch. Maybe some little finger carrots. I can plant them here and easily enough take the pots to 209

We finally found a car I liked, could sit in and get out of without help and could afford. 2014 Jeep Compass Latitude 18645 miles( less than 5000 miles a year). Appraised at $16500 and we got it for $14000. We had set back $20000 for a car for me. SO the extra will go for new tires this winter, tires fine for now but not for winter and a go over by our mechanic in a couple weeks and cover the insurance( I increased the deductible) until I get rid of the Ford which will be next month as my son is in need of borrowing a car while his is in the shop for a week. He paid for the tags for the Ford as I transferred my speciality plates to the Jeep and the cost of the ins, still was cheaper for him than renting a car..The lady was selling it for her mom that is no longer driving.She is in her 80s.

 We are still looking for a truck for Hubby. He is looking at starting a welding service for the Amish (they mentioned the one that was doing it retired and they needed someone that had a portable welder). Hubby's brother in law does this type of work and is willing to sit down and talk it over. We just have to mesh with when we can meet.

Hubby called to check on when the French patio doors would be in... they were suppose to be in 2-3 weeks ...They are in.. We will be picking them up next week as the contractor said he would have full crew in all of next week and could help unload them.

Hubby called about the tractor that is to be in 3 wks..It will be in Monday but the company will "test"  everything before letting us pick it up... so sometime next week.

I have breathing issues with the cleaner we have to use here...we have a lot of rust from the pipes even after having a whole  house filter to filter that from the well. Daughter4 whose has a child with sever allergies and asthma gave me her list of cleaners. I couldn't find any of them around here but found them on line and got them on sale with a discount coupon and free shipping...and ebates.I also got a microfiber mop (can be used wet or dry) for our wood floors and extra cloths. SO thanks to those that let me know microfiber mop works for hard wood.

We had pork butt roast, then sandwiches. Then we had sloppy joes on top of Ramen noodles . Last night was the 2 chicken breasts I had froze with a leftover baked potato split between us and broccoli along with strawberries with plain Greek yogurt and choc syrup for the sweet. Today is leftover shredded pork butt, cheesey potatoes and an apple kale slaw . I have a graham cracker pie crust and strawberry glaze in the butler's pantry. Condensed milk in the pantry and cream cheese and strawberries in the frig so I decided to make a no bake cheesecake with strawberries and strawberry glaze on top.

Tomorrow we will be going to the Scioto Valley produce auction (AKA Amish auction) so we will have soup and sandwiches when we get home. I need to finish that "to Buy" list.

I need to update my seeds list. I am trying to make over 90% be heirloom to cut back on what seeds I buy.

Blessed Be

Groceries for the week

My girlfriend (who is in the middle of remodeling their home and we crack jokes about being at Menards,Home Depot and Lowes and ordering on line) sent me a text that Krogers had strawberries on sale 99¢/lb as she knows I just pitch the ads. So when Hubby went to pick up the doors we ordered that came in at Mendards, we swung by Krogers for me to pick up a few things.

On the list, apples, kale and red cabbage (son2 had a apple kale slaw he said was to die for and he doesn't like kale at all) and strawberries....bananas.With a check on meat marked down...

What I got was:
strawberries 99¢/lb... 4 lbs
potatoes 10 Lbs 3.99
yellow onions 3lbs 1.99
kale bunch 69¢
bananas 6 a little on the green side 92¢
apples 3 lb 3.99
red cabbage 1.87 lb for 1.10
frozen boneless skinless chicken breast 3 lb 6.99
fresh boneless skinless chicken breast 4.77 lb 8.49
pork butt 17.9 lbs for 99¢/ lb for $16.83
spending a total of $48.64 and saved $38.38

at the local store I got
milk
5 -6pks of coke for $10
3lbs of ground beef
and 4 center cut pork chops..
Spent a total there of $48.64 but tossed my reciept before I inputted the info in price book

We had hamburgers for supper and this morning I shoved half of the pork butt in oven and the other half in the freezer along with the porkchops. I finished cooking the last of the hamburger and made it sloppy joes which fed us lunch for today (pork butt will be dinner). Hubby and I came up with using the rest of the sloppy joe as sloppy joes, hamburger pie, coney sauce,tacos(burritos, enchilida, nachos) sauce on Ramen noodles )or any pasta) over rice etc... I have to let it cool down so I can package it for the freezer. We will have the pork butt as roast tonight, over grits with gravy with slaw tomorrow . Then into the freezer with thoughts of pulled pork, BBQ pork, mock Brunswick stew, in tortilla wraps and with kraut and mashed potatoes.

What did you buy this week?
Blessed be

Budgeting to stay frugal

I am acknowledging the dip in stock market, the lay off of 26% of GM employes in OH plant and an one day a week no pay no penalty until after shut down in July at Honda Engine plant in Anna OH triggered some fears of 2008 where we lost 2 houses we own... so it "fight those fears" I sat down and worked on a new budget and checked the pantry and nonfood . I had to estimate what the utilities will be and did it on the high side of what we were told was the average.

Starting May 1st we will be making a mortgage payment and paying rent. I did orginally plan for this scenario for 6 months. Since I don't want to fly by the seat of my pants or have to take another draw from our retirement account (probably will for a car and truck). I spent yesterday, pretty much all day reworking the budget, checking on some ways to lower or keep things with in budget. Researching cleaning products like a microfiber mop with reusable head etc for my wood floors.

These are my favorite places to glean thoughts :

http://www.theprudenthomemaker.com/ (everything and anything)

https://www.frugalwoods.com/ ( moving to country and costs)

https://oldworldgardenfarms.com/ (house thoughts and gardening)

And I read this book. I do NOT get any thing at except knowledge from posting this book. I do read Kevin Williams Blog   http://www.amish365.com/ (way of life as I am moving in the middle of many Amish)

This is the book I  read he wrote.

https://www.amazon.com/Amish-Cook-CookBook-Classic/dp/1449909442

As our lifestyle will change a lot with the move.

I set the budget... basic bills first that included paying the health ins along with copay and deductible. Then savings 10%( Hubby retirement trip with Son1 and best friend and 6 mos expenses) and reinvestment 10 % since we have retired early and don't want to run out of money, maintenance for house and vehicles , pet care . Then the "extras" memberships that we use a lot aka Amazon prime,Sam's etc, bday $ for the kids and grandkids, Christmas (gift cards this yr)  and then the gardens,groceries and non food. Yeah groceries and garden  got put behind the extras because we have a full pantry/non food and it's more of restock and restart the gardens(I have a lot of seeds especially since I ordered more heirloom this year) with acknowledgement we can always pull from the Christmas if needed.

I have wrote the budget in a spiral notebook that I will track expenses daily  just to keep on top of fuel costs and items bought for 209 which is STILL under budget.We are hoping to have enough left to set up the gardens like we want.

I need to change how I am "running" the kitchen (still, again, some more). More from scratch, less junk food, planned snacks. SOUP on the table more often, Casseroles and stir fries are common but I can do better.

A major thing we noticed was we need to decide how we are going to garden. The Amish does in ground only, there is an area plowed and ready to disk when we get the tractor in(Amish neighbor offered to prep it for us). There is an area where they had the greenhouse(which they took) that can be converted to garden easily enough. We could just plant everything in dirt this year, spend the summer hoeing( something we both hate) and decide what to do later.

We need to grow more ( and more heirloom) but keep in mind that the produce auction is only 6 miles from us and according to the Amish neighbor I will have several Amish families in the area selling their overflow along with eggs,noodles, etc.

Blessed Be