Doctor office (sorry for the ramble)

 gave me a list of inflammatory food additives to remove from my diet. You would think since I grow my own veggies etc., there would not be much.

I just bought salad/ lettuce the other day and then had to toss it as it is on recall and I had ate some of it. SIGH. They didn't test for food poisoning when I went in for Crohn's so there might have been some of that. 

EDTA is used in salad dressings amongst other things... I have lots of different salad dressings that are now in the trash can WHY? EDTA was formulated formaldehyde. I do not think I need to eat that.

Another one that is being pitched is Carrageenan that has been used for hundreds of years and indeed is organic, there is damning health research around it, suggesting that is in not necessarily safe to eat. It is linked to IBD, IBS RA and colon cancer and is banned in European Union ... My cottage cheese had it in it which funny thing is my go to when having Crohn's attack. 

I HATE reading labels especially in a store where I have to keep flipping reading glasses up and down. One lady suggested I look only for ingredients... like what I would buy to make it. As I don't see me  looking for carboxymethyl cellulose for a dish (ok in small amounts, large amounts ferment in large intestine).  Worse they go by different names depending on where the product is made.  Some even have numbers. 

Hubby and I started through the salad dressing and condiments. Now we wonder if the raw veggies/salad that we thought was messing me up was actually the dressing I was putting on it. SIGH.

Doctor office said also since I am not in the hospital (still no beds and selective procedures being canceled again) my recover time will be at least twice the time (as least 16 days) and the pain will be longer to deal with as my home med is no where close to the strength of morphine I take in the hospital.  

I am in pain, I compared it to the final stages of natural childbirth and Daughter 2 asked if it was when I delivered her or Son 2 which I went into labor ... hard labor 7 times for, Daughter 4 I didn't have labor as I was too busy puking from the flu . I look like I am pregnant for the bloat.  

I went from walking 10,000 plus steps a day to less than 1,000 steps a day. I didn't eat for 3 days, than ate cottage cheese and crackers. Last night was double pumpkin pie as it was what Hubby fixed from scratch. I figured it was safe.  Tonight is potato soup.  I have no energy (need to eat for that right?) 

I am tired, either fall asleep at the drop of a pin or not sleep due to pain and just be tired. Have to be careful not to shut down the digestive system with pain meds and then have to go through the pain of starting that back up. Been there and done that. A HELL far worse than now.

I am whiny... I haven't gotten to the point of Hubby telling me to knock it off but he does point out improvement which is next to nil at this time. Well , maybe not as one was I was home not in the hospital surrounded by covid  And I have Charlotte to cuddle some with me.

I have started inventorying the seeds coming in and planning what season to plant what. Hubby wants to try a 4 season with storage veggies. 

I need to look up salad dressing to make from scratch.

IN ER

 all day Saturday due to Crohns attack.

They had to send me home as there was no beds and since Crohns means you spend a lot of time in the bathroom , it was not that they could keep me in the ER or the hallway until a room was available. 

Two injections of Morphine did not wipe out pain .... been here and done this.. 

4 injections of Humira did help calm it down but not take it away.

Blessed be everyone , stay safe. wear your masks

drip lines for garden vs cold storage/root cellar vs pay off mortgage

 Hubby is all for root cellar and waiting on the mortgage. 

I am for drip lines as I know how much time I spend watering all the gardens and fruit trees (in pots)and possible cold storage for some things as I felt we didn't really have an area for a root cellar... might be because I have built a couple with Daddy for his sister and his Dad.

Our friend who is a Community Emergency Management Director, CEMD for short (aka Prepper) made the choice for us.

Basing what he knows and on our age and abilities and then he added the layout of our land. His suggestion was No root cellar ( not enough slope and would lose 2 trees) and no buried tanks, freezers etc. Our health in 5 yrs will not be able to handle climbing in and out with ladders or being on our knees uncovering frozen stuff that would cover the lids of what ever we buried.

The drip line for the gardens was a yes. (Showed us on line where to buy it local) Saves us electric from running the well pump, saves me time, and as it takes less water, more on target of plant, it will save more ground water and that also affects our neighbors on the same  underground water supply. He was glad the pond was not graveled as that allows the dirt around the pond to absorb water (more ground water). He was glad we have 90 % of rain water going to the pond and the other 8% going to the county drain, 1 % going to a cistern and he wished we would reroute the one that just goes to the ground at the back door of all places (ME TOO).He suggested it be routed to the cistern. That can be done when we rebuild those steps.  

He then pointed out some areas that could be used for food storage. We could drill out concrete in north wall of basement for venting and do an enclosed 8x10 area. That is my pantry area now. I would lose space for 3 shelving units that I would have to find other places for. CEMD understood this and went looking for other places for those shelves. He suggest to move all empty canning jars to barn where we are going to set up the canning stove, add a refrigerator (we have 3) and a sink (we have that in barn not hooked up) Move the shelving units to those areas where the empty jars are sitting. Start canning our meat (I don't do much ) and get rid of 1 frig (as the 2nd one would be moved to barn) and at least 1 freezer.(two would be better)(lower electric, more food easier to fix). Put shelving units for meat where frig and freezer is at. 

Thought two places in barn that would be good for storage (cabbage) but Hubby was against it as he would have figure out where to move what he has stored in barn. CEMD being his buddy politely told him to quit keeping things that needed to go to junk yard. That is now on the March project of clearing the barn, as I had not put the back stalls in that as it's mostly tractor stuff and stuff along that line.

He found a decent place in house in north south lofts for winter squash, temperature is perfect thought the humidity is a little low. We have a small humidifier that was Son2 that would work there.

Said to leave beets, turnips, etc out in the garden with cover of screens to keep mice out as we have raised boxes and some other cover. Thought of other ways we could keep stuff in gardens that overwhelmed Hubby for sure. He personally had never used row covers for winter growing and was interested in how it does after this spell of wind chills at 10 below zero.

I do need to focus on heirloom/open pollinated seeds and harvesting the seed. Suggest I plant one or two  of each variety in pots and move them behind the house so they don't cross pollinate with anything. 

CEMD then walked through looking at how the home is set up for emergencies. We have 2 generators, one diesel and one gas. We fuel for both on hand. We have a wind mill at pond that we could move to the water pump. We would like to get some solar power down the road. We have thought about getting a non electric pump that some of the Amish use for the deep well. I have a hand pump on the cistern. He strongly suggested we do that even though it is expensive. We just need to know how deep the well is first. (On to do list now). CEMD thought we were in decent shape except for needing a way to heat without propane. We have looked a bit for a wood/pellet cook stove for the barn as it has the chimney in place. If things got real bad we would move to the barn. Front bay was where the guy(age 18) lived while he built the house. It has water, septic line and the chimney for the stove right there. Would be easier to keep going in bad times. 

He strongly suggested Hubby to get his HAM radio back on line. We are in an area that we get NO alerts or warnings of bad weather. IF he had his HAM radio on (we have it on antenna) we would hear other HAM radio operators sending out alerts and warnings. 

Over all , we are in good shape and he priced the drip lines for the gardens including the fruit trees at $750 if we did the installation our selves.

We got to visit with someone of like mind, that understood where we were trying to head for. He is also hunting for some seeds I haven't been able to find that is good for winter storage food. He would like to try them himself. 

Enjoy your day. I got seeds in the mail I need to inventory and to get the ham in the oven.

meals

 My Amish water bath canner that holds 19 quarts or 36 pints with the shelf added is in. 

I am not sure it will fit on the canning stove as well as the kitchen stove. It is stainless steel (my copper and brown back splash reflecting onto it makes it look brownish).

Meals have been the following

1st Pork and kraut and mashed potatoes and pickles

2nd sausage gravy with left over rolls, mashed potato patties and asparagus

3rd Spaghetti with homemade sauce using onion, fresh garlic, mushrooms, bell pepper, home canned tomatoes and home canned pasta sauce and hamburger. 

4th Due doctor appts one at 10:45 and then my EEG at 2:30 we had leftover sausage gravy, leftover mashed potato patties and the last of the leftover rolls for breakfast (neither of us eat bfast often). At noon, we ate at Perkins (pancake restaurant) as I had to eat a meal before the EEG. I brought home half of my meal.

5th I took Perkin leftovers of 2 pancakes, 1 French toast, 3 sausage links and 1/2 cup of home fries and diced up the link and chopped up the home fries and put them in to a big egg aka frittia. I cut the French toast in half and split the pancakes between us. Hubby got some toast as he was still hungry. Then M sent over dessert so we had that.. vanilla cake with mini choc chips and some kind of topping baked on it. 

Today we have chiropractic so we will have the leftover spaghetti with bread sticks and salad ( I planned that to have dried fruit in it) and the last of M's dessert.

Friday we will have roast ham, sweet potato, and apple sauce

I am not sure of Saturday, depends if Hubby works. I might do a scalloped potato ham casserole. We haven't had that in awhile.

Jan 3rd I have no clue

 to why she thinks she has to be UNDER my legs when I am propped up on the bed.

I was using the heating pad for my back. Guess she thought it was nap time. 

Stopped to drop off stuff to late husband's daughter aka Daughter 1 who was in a car accident. Car total, she's bruised and has a swollen knee. Was supposed to start back to work from surgery on wrist and elbow the next day and now that is not happening.  We also handed her some money for groceries and such. Her insurance is getting her a rental.

Stopped to drop off stuff to Daughter 4's as they were celebrating Christmas on NY Day. The night before her car got TOTALLED along with a neighbors by a hit and run driver... cops are looking into another neighbor as the driver. Going to take a lot of evidence as no one has security camaras in that area. She is now driving her daughter's car and looking for a new place to live as that is the 2nd car totaled while parked in front of her home (no driveway). The other one was the city's trash truck.

Texted rest of kids about those two, surprised I was the first to know about both.  We are usually the last to find out as they don't want to worry us. UNLESS it is Son2 and then he has to tell us each and every detail. His new girlfriend said she figured out she does NOT have to ask how his day went as he will tell her immediately.

I went through all the seeds, glad I made notes of what to not reorder. Still spent 3 hours going through it, checking notes I made of what grew better and when. I have some that did horrible in the spring but wonderful in the fall.  Made a buy list with options of something we would like to try. This week I will be searching for what I need for the best price.

We saved $95.72 on propane as we prepaid for the year and it has increased by 35 cents/gal. PLUS we went 4 wks past our normal fill.

We went to the store for dairy only. Took 4 stores to get milk, large curd cottage cheese, plain yogurt and cream cheese. Hubby put the word out to local dairy farmers he is looking for dairy shares.

We saw an old friend that used to work with Hubby, his wife and him are preppers (actually it's his JOB to handle communities emergency's like wild fires, tornadoes floods etc). I out canned him and then gave him sources for canning lids and jars. He did let us know a local bakery has sales on Tuesdays. We got bread for 25 cents. It costs me 60 cents to make the same size loaf. We got four loaves for M as she had just got back in state so that took some pressure of getting bread on the table off her. We got bread, tortilla wraps, pita bread, buns, rolls, hand pies, doughnuts and bread sticks for 25 cents each for us and split it with Daughter 4. We finished off the pumpkin yeast bread and the homemade rolls first.  I spilt some of it up to freeze and eat.  We won't make it a habit to stop as eating processed breads are not in our best interest.

I am doing Frugalwoods Uber month (no spend except for necessities) and a pantry challenge (Good Cheap Eats) for the month of January. We both have several medical appts so we have tried to combine them so fuel costs are not so high as our medical out of pocket will be high. I am glad we have that money already in savings.

Blessed Be everyone

2021 2022

 2021 :we got a lot of big goals done.

House reappraised and refinanced to remove PMI. Two years paid off house mortgage in 3 months.

2022 health insurance co pays and out of pocket in savings.

Front porch and ADA ramp done.

Kitchen porch done.

Three garden beds  covered with row cover for late fall early winter gardens. 

We produced 61 % of our produce. Bought 20% from Amish/farmers markets and the rest from the grocery store

More gravel into the driveway.

Concord grape harbor removed (wasn't getting much grapes anyways)

White seedless grapes and purple seedless grapes planted.

Butterfly, hummingbird, bee garden started.

A second purple martin bird house installed. 

PLANS FOR 2022

More gravel to widen driveway (especially where the old grape harbor was) Hubby routinely has 2 wheels of the dually in the yard.  

Finish clearing the barn of Mother's, Pop's(step dad), Daddy's and late husband's stuff (his daughter down sizing due to injuries and gave it back to me to see if the rest of the kids want any of it). Goal is to have this done by end of March as our township has a clean up day in April to haul anything the normal trash won't FOR FREE.

I want to add a drip line for the gardens so I am not spending HOURS hand watering and to be more frugal with our water.

We want to make a cold storage area, not necessarily a root cellar. 

We want to produce 75% of our produce, buy 20% from Amish/farmers markets and 5% from the store.

I want to sew winter curtains for my bedroom and one for the north stairwell as it has no door (can't put one there).

I want to start Halo red twig dogwoods from our bush.

I want to get a Blaze rose started.

We want to plant all the fruit trees in ground and prune back the 2 apple trees and berry bushes. 

I want to transplant blueberry bushes to add more acid soil (ours is sweet)

I want sit and have coffee on the kitchen porch or deck in the morning and possibly meals in the evenings on kitchen porch (deck would be hot.)

I want my "canning" kitchen in the barn set up

I want spend evenings in the swing watching the fire pit (marshmallows any one?)

We want to eat on regular times. It's been all over the place this past year. Hubby is going to have to curtail some last minute add on to his jobs.

We want to eat healthier (lower my inflammation and Hubby's weight) Surprisingly we didn't GAIN weight during the pandemic but we did not LOSE either.

We want to continue to pay off the mortgage early. Hubby would like it paid off when he turns 65, that's 22 months from now. I really don't see that but He might get it for his 68th birthday instead.

Here is a toast to strength, will power and blessings of this new year

As Morning breaks

 I think everyone is still trying to figure out where and who they are seeing for Christmas. We just decided to deliver to the kids on Christmas day evening when we go see Army Grandson that is suppose to get in later today from Italy, he stated he doesn't have many openings left to see everyone. We knew that because of Son 2 being in the Army. We have 2 that are coming up Boxing (Dec 26th) day for lunch.

Son 2 called last night as he lost a good friend who was 70. She helped him find his house, the first he has bought. 

We have set the budget for 2022 to start paying off the mortgage. I had to tweak it a bit but don't we always? I already paid Jan mortgage and a small amt. extra in the principal. Bills are paid until the 6th. 

I figured up we produced 61 % of our veggies and 4% of our fruit last year. Amish produced 10% of our veggies and 6 % of our fruit.  I did not start any plants last winter since I was having hip replaced and then only bought 6 when I started in the gardens. Oranges, limes, lemons, pineapple and raisins are always going to have to be bought.

This year we are aiming for 80% of our veggies and 25 % of our fruit. We have berry bushes, grape vines and fruit trees that are NOT producing yet. Maybe one to two more years. Probably will still get winter squash from Amish. 

We bounced around ideas to eat healthier or basically just eat as neither of us eat bfast and I don't eat lunch... I'm more a brunch and early dinner person(2 to 4 pm) with a small snack  3 hrs. before bed. 

I hope everyone stays safe, finds a small joy each day.

Blessed Be 

Holiday schedule and medical crap

 This week I am making for a potluck dinner on Saturday

sweet potato rolls (first time) 

Vintage Betty Crocker Refrigerator dough (for rolls , first time)

Basic soft white sandwich loaf (our go to now days)

Amish pineapple pudding (M's recipe) (first time making it but we have ate it )

Apple-Cider doughnut cake (first time)

Cranberry custard pie (first time)

Nantucket Christmas Cranberry pie (first time)

Christmas tortilla rollups (old favorite)

Jalapeno popper dip (spicy and mild, old favorite)

Crock pot Buffalo chicken (will be turkey) dip (granddaughter's recipe and we liked it)

celery sticks and tortilla chips 

MAYBE Cranberry eggnog salad (think jello salad) if I have a 8 cup ring mold.

Why? Because this is how we test new recipes and not have to eat or bring the leftovers home if we don't like them. Someone at this dinner will take it instead. 

Tomorrow I have physical therapy starting for the ice pick headaches I have gotten. Specialist mentioned dry needling (I hate needles) but left it to the therapist to figure out the best. Since I have rebar in concrete (what my deep massage therapist called them ) for shoulders. They are not sure that is the answer when maybe regular deep massage would be better. My massage therapist retired after getting hurt at his day job.  Therapy is an hour away so they are going to try to work my therapy into Tuesdays when I am already in the area but it might not happen that way. We will see. 

My EEG for the ice pick heads and to see what damage the stroke in 2000 did is Jan 4th. Specialist said the headaches gave him the opening to run the test. It will show if I have vascular dementia caused by the stroke. 

Meantime, Doc thinks Hubby has the beginnings of Parkinson due to hand tremors... his hands have done that since he was 17, he broke a carpal tunnel bone, that did not heal and had to have surgery in the left hand which is the one that shakes the most. They had put him on a med that no longer works. So they are going to start running tests in Jan on that. We know his grandpa had and his dad has Parkinson and both also had dementia from it. 

I said something to Hubby's parents and they said we are now at the age where driving each other to medical appointments is the "date" of the week ...OH MY.

Mortgage and what we saved this past week

* means the sales tax we did not pay on what we saved is included  

We refinanced our mortgage and on Sept 01, 2021, the first payment of the new loan had the mortgage balance at $247,500.00 with final payment Sept 01, 2051.

Cash back from Hubby's credit card (new card)  0.35

Cash back from my credit card  $79.00

Pinecone survey's $10.

Swagbucks $23.

Rite Aid $4.29 *

Cash discount at Dentist $10.20

Amazon coupon $4.29 *

Walmart sale 0.26 * 

CVS coupons/discounts $4.40* 

Total saved and transferred to mortgage $135.70

As of today with all the extra payments we have paid.  

We are at $237,108.85 with final payment to be Oct. 01, 2049 (Dave Ramsey mortgage calculator for the date) According to our Amortization schedule we have paid off over 25 months, just short $334 to be 26 months. 

We have ate from the freezers , pantry, gardens, and what others has given us. 

I turned the furnace down daily to help save propane. We have already cut usage to get us 3 wks (hoping for 4) farther on this tank than we did last year. 

I bought groceries for the rest of the month and for 2 dinners we are going to, one being for our grandson that is home from Italy. 

We are trying to coordinate Christmas deliveries. 

 Daughter 1 and Son 2  are before Christmas, 

Daughter 2 (whose had son coming in from Italy) Christmas day (supper time)

Son 1 is not sure yet, usually Christmas eve but he comes to us or he might be on vacation out of state by then. 

Daughter 3 is not sure yet .

Daughter 4 is celebrating Jan 1st (takes pressure off her daughter and son in law with holiday conflict).

  

wondering thoughts

 

Does she think if he can't see her, he won't know she is there looking for what ever he drops while eating? As begging is not tolerated.

If I change the laundry routine and do table linen on Sundays to ease Monday laundry even though I don't like doing laundry on Sunday but with being limited to 2 drying racks it is happening. Can I get the bedding washed after supper and dried on drying racks over night through the week and not use the dryer at all? I already "air out" the blankets over the railing of the deck . I really miss the kitchen porch clothes line and so does Hubby

If I change the menu to use the stove oven on cold days will it help keep the main area warmer without turning the furnace up higher? A cold east wind hits the entire house and it's colder (and Hubby cranks the furnace up to 74 or higher) than a north western wind as it only hits the one corner . The barn protects a lot of west and northwest side.  We have already changed Wednesday and Thursday to meals that can be heated or reheated when Hubby comes in the door as he floats between 1 pm and 8 pm from work on those days. Like today that he was supposed to be done at 2 and got a call that a driver went down and they needed a load that is over 2 hrs. away one way. By time he gets it and gets back, then unloads, it will be close to 8 pm. 

I made an itemized spread sheet to list all credit card charges. Hubby caught 2 things he thought he had canceled on his credit cards. 

I ordered my Amazon order history.  I usually do it end of Dec but since our "new finance year" is starting the 20th. I ordered it now as I won't be ordering anything before then. 

I walk around the house wondering what else I can do to save money.

Frugal maybe

 We got Norton 360 with Life Lock. I went through Rakuten and got a nice rebate for it. Why did we? We have a family member that just got arrested for using another  family member's Social Security number. Even with the shock everyone immediately dealt with it to protect them selves . Stupid was they used a number that was already under Life Lock. The family member admits they went through stuff in the homes when there for family meals for the last couple years. Better safe than sorry as we already had another member mess with us over 20 years ago that took five years to get completely out of.

I spent a day unsubscribing from "ads". IF I do not see it I will not want it or want something like it. 

I cleaned out folders on my google accounts so to keep the amount in the "free" zone after I got my photos downloaded (Google sent it as a zip file) and on a thumb drive (old term  LOL).

I checked to make sure that paying for Amazon Prime is still worth it. It is. 

I unsubscribed from two "newsletters" that is no longer related to how we live ... that's a savings of time. 

We looked for dental insurance. After a week of hunting we have found we are in a OUT OF NETWORK area( unless we drive 50 miles where we never go to) including for AARP, for pretty much any insurance we could afford. SO I went and asked several seniors in our area how they cover those costs, four had dentures, two had bridges. Our dentist for regular care, cavities etc. , they take care of Amish also, and two other places for bridges and dentures including snap in dentures. Hubby's Social Security alone is over 200% poverty line so we do not qualify for the community health/dental program.  I nearly lost my Aunt as her entire system because infected due to bad teeth. Hubby's parents use Aspen Dental even for their dentures. 

Hubby needed new work tee shirts, he was down to 2 and they were pushing rag bag time. I found a sale using Rakuten and got him Hanes Beefy (which last years instead of months). I pulled the ones he has for "dress" and moved them up to work and the new ones will go into "dress" drawer. The lighter colored ones he wears during warm weather is now in spring/summer clothes in Rubber maid in barn loft. Earned $8 digital on the orders from Amazon.

I mended Hubby's work pants.

I turn the heat down from 72 to 70 during the day, turn it up at bedtime and turn on the fan to ON instead of Auto when Hubby comes in as it helps warm up the front room. By doing this our propane has lasted 3 wks longer than it did last year (temperature average the same).We turn it down to 65 when we are gone for longer than 1 hr. The upstairs is 54, the basement is 62 and the pump house on a separate gas heater is on 37,just enough to keep it from freezing the pump. Our water heater is instant ready so it only kicks on when you turn on the hot water.

The electric bill is still below the amount we budgeted with a week of Christmas lights on it and with more usage of the airfryer than the oven. The outdoor and 1 inside Christmas lights are on timers, 3 hrs. in the morning and 3 hrs. in evening. The only time they will be on all the time is Christmas eve morning until Christmas Night.

We did not go to the grocery store this week during errands. I have plenty of milk and just harvested enough greens for salads. 

I have found by lighting 4 candles at the dining table we "feel" warmer and the thermostat also goes up by 3 degrees. It's not that close to the table LOL. I have plenty of candles, yard sales, auctions and family that must think I burn a dozen a day over the years.  An oil lamp (our go to during winter) does not "warm" us as well. 

As usual I used homemade laundry soap, cold water wash and short cycle in the washer and dried everything on the racks. If  I need to wash bedding or table linen., I wash them at night so they are the only thing on the drying racks.

I got 2 $10 Amazon gift cards from Pinecone and 1 $5 gift card from Swagbucks. 

We decided to eat at a sit down restuarant after 2 back to back doctor appts. We ordered the specials and then immediately asked for take out containers and put half in the container. IF I add salad or fruit we might get two more meals out of it. Pretty good for $30

Hubby is supposed to get tested for damage to his left wrist (surgery in 1976) and I now need a EEG that the neurologist has ordered . Both his doctor and mine are trying to get us in before the New Year since the out of pocket amount has been met. We figured it will be next year due to the covid spikes around us.

I canceled my Real Simple magazine. Even though I read it, and two others of the family read it. We jointly decided to cancel it after seeing the renewal costs. The other two can read it at their library. 

Hubby has picked up a couple hauling jobs he normally wouldn't take to make sure he has enough in his business account to cover next month, Supply chain problems affect the Amish that he hauls for that build pallets for the supplies to be transported on. If you don't work in a job it affects you don't realize who it affects.

Due to kids struggling with on and off wages, they have all asked for cash instead of gift cards. Four of the six of kids (adult grandkids don't care if we give them anything or not as long as we text or call at holidays) have said they are using it on the groceries sales after Christmas and New Year's  to stock up for Jan as they all are figuring things to be bad.

We had 2 appts changed to Tuesdays as that is our errand day and we combine that with Appts. Our chiropractic floats our time so we can work that in also. So less gas bought for truck and less miles put on truck.

Blessed Be 

Hum? Is this frugal?

 I had the menu planned from the pantry and freezers....

Monday: Hubby comes home with gas station pizza... I'm like what gives? 

Amish bought it for him for doing extra work for him at the last minute. 

So I add our salad from the garden ,Little E knocks on the door. He had a small jello type dessert from M. 

Tuesday we had doctor appts so we ate out for a late lunch and brought home leftovers for Wed. Had Popcorn for a snack since neither of us was hungry

Wednesday Hubby calls and tells me to NOT cook or warm up leftovers. SIGH. Mennonite he hauls for gave him calzones and cheesy bread. So I added salad again and the last of the dessert M had sent over.

Thursday was leftovers of the take out. I added pickles and cottage cheese.

Friday was the leftovers of the calzones. Salad and pickles. 

Saturday was Brat patties for lunch and Hamburger pie aka Shepherds pie for supper. 

Sunday is leftover mashed potatoes and leftover noodles (from freezer) 

I need to focus to get the freezers down enough to get prime rib in it as it looks like neither one of the sons' is going to be up to help eat it. 

I was a little frustrated not to eat much out of the freezers but thankful for the free food

The laugh is mine

 The financial company that I use for my IRA sent a generic financial form, something they do every Dec.

Every time I hit save it would come back to I needed to answer the question. SO I started entering the words none and the number zero.

I shot an email to back to them and told them their program does not like it when someone does not enter personal loans (I have none, the business does but I don't). The credit cards are paid in full each month and mostly utilities, medical and groceries. I have no car payment. There was no place to add what Hubby pays so it looked like I was in the negative even after increasing my withdraw. 

Head of the branch said my guy walked into his office and told him I had an issue with the program... he asked who I was ... the gambler's daughter . OH WELL , that explains it. They always called Daddy the gambler, it's how he earned his living when he was younger. He did it when he retired and refused to get rid of stock that I still hold because I refuse to get rid of it also.

They did a manual report. Added Hubby's side also and filed a complaint to the head office over it along with the fact I had already met with my guy and dealt with every thing.  They did acknowledge they don't see many that can live on social security with very little of an IRA especially with a mortgage. 

I am my Daddy's child. Brother is Mother's when it comes to money.  I feel for his wife. 

OH GEEZE mess up

 I forgot eyeglasses, no insurance coverage for that. This past year that was about $1200 for the two of us with exams. I have 5 pairs :sewing, computer, reading, long distance and sunglasses long distance. Hubby has two pairs of computer and two pairs for driving. He wears bifocals when driving. Need to put $100 a month back for that.

I forgot dental and remembered it when they sent a card to remind me of my appointment on the 13th. They offer cleaning only and dentist only. They see a lot of Amish that do not have their teeth cleaned. I get both which is $150. This year we both had work done at $250 each. So we spend $1100 for the year. I figure I will just round it up to $1200 and put back $100 a month.

Hubby said take it from the extra money for the mortgage. I really don't want to do that unless we have to.

I called my IRA guy. He said he was just getting ready to call me as he had miss figured and I had 8 years left to pull the money instead of 7 and that he could add to what I am pulling now to cover those two bills and I would start getting that figure this month. 

WHEW.... Now I have to go redo the budget to reflect that. 

We do know we will be replacing two laptops that can no longer be updated but they are working fine for now. That can be on 2023 list (HOPE)

Son2 then texted me he had paid off the last of his medical bills so he set his checking up to automatically send me $100 a month to pay off what he owes us for fixing his car. He really likes his new job.

Daughter 2 called (something she does not like to do but is willing to text) which scared me as I thought something was wrong. She paying for her son's flight home, his dad is paying for him to go back to base IF HE EVERY GETS TO COME HOME, still is paying off court costs and probation costs (she was ONE hundredth over the limit of drinking and then got busted for driving without a license as hers had expired LAST YEAR). She was not sure when she was going to be able to start paying us.  Not bad news like I was worried about but we really figured she wouldn't pay us until she got her taxes back if then because she has one ,LAST one, graduating from high school.. he does take some college classes also and works as a cook and she is a server. BUT she did offer to give us gas money(wanted to know how much she should put back for us) when we went down to drop of Christmas or/and see her son. WHICH NO ONE EVER OFFERS US. Glad I was already sitting down. 

Daughter 4 is working overtime. From 3 days a week (32 hrs.) to 6 days a week. She has a couple past bills she has to pay off that she forgot about or we would have paid them off  and is continuing to save for a house of her OWN. The person (referred by my mortgage guy)  that works with first home buyers is working with her and her son in law and daughter to get them on track and be supportive of them. Daughter 4 said her credit score it almost there and she is saving for the down payment and closing costs. She is looking at the HomePath program as she is able to do repairs in a home. She won't be making payments to pay us back until 2023 as we agreed. We want her on her feet and in a better home as the one she is renting has a slum lord.  

Daughter 1 had surgery on her elbow and wrist of her left arm(had right arm done a couple years ago). They told her it's from running registers for a long time. She is in management now and finally sucked up going for surgery. 

Son 1 is waiting to see how things go with the new covid before he finalizes plans for his vacation in Jan. 

Daughter 3 said she is working extra hours due to people quitting. Just let her know when we would be down like a day or so before. We might have to drop off gifts(cash in cards) to her at work if none of the kids are home. Two oldest are working thru their vocational school , next one down is working with his dad and the youngest is babysitting.

 They grow up so freaking fast.   

January 2022 through October 2024

 YES that is correct. Hubby said he wanted the mortgage paid off. I told him that the last of the big projects then would have to be put on hold until that. He moaned and groaned  and thought I was out of line.

We had our semi annual meetings with our IRAs guys. BOTH backed me. At this point if he continues to pull what he is then he is going to out of money in his IRA in 20 yrs at a 6 % interest rate (that has been the average and when it is over that is is called FROSTING on the cake) I looked him right in the eye and called him DAD. Because that is exactly what Daddy did on 2008 which is probably why I caught it. Mine is an inherited IRA that has to be closed out in 7 yrs. IN four years, I will have monthly amounts be sent to an account to be invested under my name instead of Daddy's when the taxes will lower (if someone is NOT pulling so much out of his IRA)

This is how the budget is and I am using my blog to hold myself accountable.

Monthly budget which runs from the 20th of each month as that is when all the money is in. 

Mortgage $1450.02 includes property taxes and farm insurance as according to our loan.

Medical insurance thru Hubby's old employer $828

Medical co pay and deductible  $420 ( I already have this in savings so it's not in the budget this year since we have to pay it upfront and we know Hubby is being tested for his tremors). I will pull 2023 from our tax refund. 

Propane $150 , we have to prepay in Aug for the next heating season. This is set to automatically go to savings.

Electric $150. Our company does not offer the budget so I just put the money that is NOT needed over into a savings . I figured up the average (holding for 3 yrs now)

Trash $17  this will probably go up since diesel went up. They have changed their routes to try to lower expenses. (Billed every 3 months so 2 months goes into automatic savings and then pulled)

Landline (cell phones don't work well in home) and internet $100  Only ONE company in our area even though others have said they were coming in... still not here.

Water softener co $65

car insurance (my truck and the motorcycle) and farm umbrella insurance $92.65

Life insurance $111 (his and mine and 5 of the kids that are not covered at work and we are not willing to put burying them on a credit card like 3 of our friends have)

OTC/ medication $20 

MS 365 program . We tried Open Office but there was things from Hubby's old employer  that would not open on that program.$12(goes into automatic savings until the bill comes due).

My cell phone $53.82. Business pays for Hubby's

Amazon prime $12 (goes into automatic savings until the bill comes due.) 

Kindle $11(rounded up)

Graduation IN SAVINGS  We should have 2 graduating but Daughter 3 warned us her older daughter might graduate this year as she has enough credits and she is in nursing school. She was suppose to graduate next year with our other grandson. ) Hubby uses his "odd jobs" he picks up off and on to pay for graduation. Since we know ahead of time who is graduating

Charlotte... $25 , includes food, treats, vet, nails clipped and tags.

Fuel $200, includes my truck, motorcycle, 3 lawnmowers (we will be selling one next spring), snow blower  and the tractor. Right now it's my truck, snowblower and the tractor (snow blade is on).

Regular savings (we get free checking due to savings) $150.

Cleaning items ZERO I should have enough to get through most of the next 2 yrs IF my kids don't need to raid me.

Home maintenance $20.  We have some Menards Rebates the will help cover this. It goes to savings until needed

Vehicle maintenance $100. This is my truck only and our mechanic will let us make payments if it's more than that.

Garden $20. I might need a little fertilizer or soil. 

Food processing ZERO. I have enough canning jars, lids, vacuum bags, and freezer bags probably for the next 2 yrs 

Personal items ZERO. We are stocked for 18 months.

Paper good ZERO for 2022. UNLESS kids raid me.

Office supplies. ZERO for 2022 

Weddings ZERO. we give what we can afford and if they are living in the area we fill their pantry from ours.

Christmas $100 automatic savings

Bday $30 automatic savings

Groceries $150 (what is left will be put back for stock up)

Eating out (as Hubby will not go to movies or watch one on tv and there is no rent a movie place in this town) $80... if we eat at one of the two sit down restaurants that is once a month with the tip. IF we eat take out Chinese or pizza/calzone that is twice a month. IF we eat fast food (Wendy's or Arby's once in a blue moon Taco Bell that is four times a month.   

OTHER RULES.

Any tax refunds minus the following year's copay/deductible must go on mortgage.

Any cash back from credit cards must go on mortgage.

Any money paid back from kids, will go on mortgage. 

Any money left over  will go on mortgage. 

Any extra money earned not ear marked for something is to go on the mortgage. 

Any money found (like the 50 cents I found today at the mailbox) will go on the mortgage. 

Hubby's IRA (which I talked him into and his IRA guy backed me) withdraw has been cut to 40% of what he was withdrawing AND it goes on the mortgage completely UNLESS we need it for a crisis. Just to clue you in by doing that it will now last 

We will see how close we can get to paying it off by then.  

Last month of the year

The lights are all up (Hubby did a great job again with the outdoor lights) and I have started the list of what needs replaced. Son 2 is going to give us his tree as the lights don't work any more and he is tired of fixing them (added a strand to get him through this Christmas) so he is going to get a tree AFTER Christmas. 

Our Army grandson MIGHT get to come home from over seas for Christmas...the Army Nonna does not see it happening with the new covid crap, the civilian Nonna prays it does.  When you have been an Army Mom for twenty years you know how that goes. If he doesn't get to come home I will send his Christmas money to him as he said he is saving for a new car when he comes out in 3 yrs. I did order the prime rib for Christmas eve. BUT anything else is on hold until we find out if he is coming stateside.

Hubby is trying to lose weight. He lost 8 lbs. and then gained 6 lbs. back (I think he forgot to take his work boots which weigh 3 lbs. off this time). He started paying attention to how many steps he takes a day. Days he works hauling he gets the average of 6,000. Days at home, was 2,000. He said he lost count of how many times I have told him he was being lazy as he actually drove down the lane to get the mail, drove next door to talk to E or wanted to get the tractor to pick up something that he could easy pull in the wagon by hand. He realized he was really being lazy. Said something to his Dad and his Dad told him that is good part of why he went down hill with his own health. I also pointed out how much snacking his parents do especially before they go to bed. Hubby is going to sleep at 8:15 (was 9:15 during daylight saving time and more often I am turning off the tv and lights because he fell asleep with the remote in his hand when getting ready to set the timer for 30 mins. on the tv) and gets up at 4 am (was 5 am).  At least he is now paying attention and trying to get more steps in.  We moved dinner up to before 5 unless he is working and then it's either soup or a light supper. Days he is not working our big meal of the day is lunch. 

We are down to 167 items on the punch list. Probably will not start back on that until March  or April. February and beginning of March is pruning time.

We changed the budget for the 50th million time. Hubby said he wanted to focus on getting the mortgaged paid off. I told him how it had to be and both IRA guys backed me.

We are ending the year in better financial place since Hubby is still hauling 3- 5 days a week. Usually at this time he is down to 1 or 2. So it is nice to not have to cover the bills of the business. He has enough "net" he could cover the expenses of the business for the winter which is usually slow until April. He has 3 years payments left on his truck. He is 3 months ahead on it. He plans to continue the business until the truck is paid off.

On the sad note, we have had four deaths, 2 of the young men friends of the kids/grandkids gunned down with a random shooting. One of the kids friends wrecked after getting drunk and high, the people he hit are recovering  and another killed himself after hearing his parents one more time arguing over child support. His note was "Problem solved" Probably a good thing his parents are not one of my kids or I would be in jail for beating them.

Thanksgiving for two, menu for 14 days

 
Thanksgiving dinner for two. 

We had leftovers for two more meals and then decided on meatloaf to finish off the stuffing, Brussels sprouts and cranberry sauce. Turkey went in the broth pot.

We sat down and made the menu for the next 14 days. Twice we will be out for doctor appts etc so those are eat outs.  We then decided on the other 12.

Grilled ham and cheese sandwich (bread or wrap) with soup (something in pantry)

Brat's patty sandwich with soup (something from pantry)

Fried cabbage with fried potatoes and cornbread

Haluski (use leftover cabbage) with smoked sausage and peas

Leftover turkey with apples and sweet potatoes skillet

Pot pie

Hamburger pie (like shepherds pie)

Turkey and Dumplings

Cuban black beans and rice

Philly steak either sub or pizza

Pasta e fagioli

Jambalaya 

Last menu we ate 5 out of 9... I forgot to list Thanksgiving LOL.

We have everything we need for these meals in the pantry/freezers.   

memories of late Husband, table up

 When Garry and I got married, he bought me an old tiger oak (veneer) table that would seat all us.  He would not let me put it up in the rental as we were starting to work on the one step above condemned house we bought. 

Then his daughter and I moved everything into that home even though it was not anywhere near finished, no running water in kitchen , okay no kitchen as half the floor had fell through to the basement. We both understood it would take years, did not need to be paying rent and mortgage and her and I could handle it with the little ones. He flipped but too late as we rented from his uncle who backed us so much he rented the furniture truck and drove it himself.  

He still insisted the table not go up until he got the dining room done. He was down to redoing the floor when he dropped dead at work at the age of 39 of a massive heart attack ... inherited from his father's side as we learned later. 

I put the table up that very night. Told my mother and kids to NEVER wait to enjoy stuff. Every day life is a special occasion. 

When we moved out of the old home I left the table for Daughter 3 who had her 4 boys and her man's 3 girls. She passed it back when she became homeless (spent $2000 on Christmas but did not pay her rent. Not sure she learned the lesson but her boys definitely did when their friends had to take them in). It's been in storage for six years.  

I saw it in the barn and told Hubby I wanted in the house. He was fine with that. 

 The veneer is coming loose and one leg needs reglued but Hubby already said something to H who repairs and builds furniture and he said to mention it again after Christmas and he would work it in his schedule to repair it. Right now H is doing Son 2 cabinet that was Mother's that fell apart. 

I used Howard's restore for golden oak and the applied Howard's bee's wax and let it sit here as this is the warmest room in the house. Was not much "oily" feel next morning. Wiped off and took it to the dining room,

And then had to find a chair I could sit in and not have my chin to the table. I used the computer chair for a couple hours and then Son 2 reminded me the chairs he gave me when I lived on 245 fit the table and they were upstairs in the sewing room. I brought one down. If his lady comes to eat, I will have him go get the other one (he only had 2 chairs) as she is small as me. 

I put the table cloth (folded in half as it was for this table at full 8 ft) on it, Hubby put the oil lamp on cake stand and the tempered glass I have the candle, butter, salt and pepper on (that gets moved if I need to put a hot plate on the table) back on the table. When we sat down to eat he mentioned he didn't realize how crowd the other table was  until then. 

If I hadn't seen the blanket while looking for other stuff I would not had realized we still had the table. I thought it had went back to her. Even texted her to confirm we were keeping it. 

ANYWAYS, it was a nice ending to a whacked out week.

On the gross side.

 E wondered why I peeled out of our driveway and hauled butt down the road.

I cut my thumb on the mandolin while cleaning it. Did not feel it but definitely saw blood. After 15 minutes of not getting it slowed down let alone stopped. I drove into the Urgent care as Hubby was over an hour away working. Holding it above my head while driving.

In total it bleed for 45 minutes. I am not on any blood thinners and have been off the aspirin for over 2 weeks (thank heavens) due to going in last Monday for injections.  

yeah it caught the nail bed also . 

The glue dried purple and then Doc used steri-strips as he felt stitches would cause more issues and I had it pinched together so well he had to turn my hand to see the cut.

He said to let it come off on it's on. Probably 5-10 days and not use the pad of the thumb for at least 5 days . No getting it wet and use gloves while cooking. I have gloves .

Hubby took one look and added a wrap that I can slide on  and off to keep me aware to not use it. At night I had another one taped on and it was a good thing as I woke more than once to Charlotte licking the wrap. 

OH well.

In the pantry

 I still have grape jelly (from juice) to make

I still have apple jelly (from juice) to make

I still have tomato paste (from canned tom.) to make

I have turnips I will end up canning 

I have radishes I will end up pickling.  

I now have 15 gals of apples to deal with as we finished clearing the last tree. It even over whelmed our Amish neighbors.

I know after Thanksgiving I will have turkey meat to freeze and broth to can.

After Christmas I will have prime rib meat to freeze.. but probably no broth as the butcher shop said there probably would be no bones but I could stop in if I wanted bones for broth. Not sure I want to pay for bones. 

I need to make more homemade noodles as we are not out. As I am now getting free eggs I can make the noodles for just the price of the bread flour.

In the pantry ... remember I "put up" for 18 months, it was a year until the kids had to come get food last year. By bumping it up to 18 months we can make a year and still help the kids.  FYI, my buckets hold 25 to 35 lbs.

This is the basement door in the hall. My onions hang here. I don't really have a good storage at this point for keeping onions but Hubby can get 6 lbs from the Amish for less than I can get at the store until around Jan.

Looking down the stairs. Starting to the left and go right , the bucket you barely see is White Lily white cornbread mix, then regular AP flour, then sugar, then regular bread flour, then long grain white rice then just barely the bucket of minute rice. 

Oils, vinegars, on top of cabinet nuts and M&Ms that Hubby make trail mix from along with muffin mixes.

This holds dry mixes of just about everything. Jell-O, pudding, cake, stuffing, crackers, dry milk, Bisquick that Hubby can not live without etc.

Cookie mixes in the washer. They are Hubby's that he likes to make so I keep them separate and don't have to worry about mice getting in the washer with the lid that goes on it. Rubber maid is dried mashed potatoes and mixes for baked doughnuts.

 Lots of empty canning jars, buckets have White Lily AP flour, White Lily bread flour, White Lily self rising flour, regular self rising flour, regular oats, quick oats and 00 flour > I call this the bucket room as it has the most buckets , Hubby changes what he calls it almost daily.

more canning jars, gray frig is dairy (heavy cream, half and half, extra milk, cheeses, some beverages , freezer part is breads or such. Black frig is fresh produce and the freezer is produce and bagged turkey. 

Shelf unit next to black frig is the appliances like crock pot, roaster (behind jars) cake decorating stuff, al. pans and my bigger pans I use for bulk cooking.

The other shelf unit is paper goods, foils, freezer back, vacuum bags, paper plates , ice cube trays for broths or fats. Some larger serving dishes

Where the rug (actually dog bed as Charlotte likes to lay there during storms) is the door to the mechanical room where the furnace, water softener, breaker box and water heater is.

Freezers 2 and 3, 3 is at the door. Three has fruits, nuts and desserts, two has a veggies, pork and poultry and some odds and ends.

Freezer 1 beef, sausage, bacon, breads, meat fats, condiments like carmelized onions etc. The shelf unit at the end is canning stuff and camping things if Hubby needs it. 

We do have a small freezer in the barn, I use it for leftovers and meat that will be ate in the month. By April, lates May it will be cleared as it's the freezer we use if we end up making ice for the Amish neighbors if the pond doesn't have enough water or freezes.

ignore the double buckets as you saw those in the down the stairs pic. The first single bucket is the White Lily white cornbread mix the next one is semolina flour. The next 3 buckets with crates on them is dried sliced potatoes, dried hash browns and dried cubed potatoes. Crates are white potatoes and sweet potatoes.

applesauce. fermented foods, veggies, condiments  1st shelf unit. Coffee , coffee syrups, booze next unit (I cook more with booze than I drink and Hubby only drinks hard cider now days) , last unit Charlotte's Den I am clueless why she claimed that spot but she kept digging the canned goods out of there to lay so I just put a bed in it for her. Spices and herbs on the two shelves about her bed (I have over 100 and yes I use them all) and then top shelf is the extra pasta.

Bucket closest is Jasmine rice, the other one is Basmati rice, container on floor beside it in home grown dehydrated greens and herbs. Shelf units is pie filling and juices, other is soups, more pie filling and some grocery store canned veggies.

Bucket is par boiled rice, bottom shelf is pickles of different kinds , then dried fruit, then canned fruit and pickled beets then more canned fruit and then homegrown dried fruits and veggies.

left four buckets of 25 lbs. sugar AKA emergency supply for M  Shelf unit is different pastas, bucket is ramen noodles.

condiments, canned butter, Crisco, flavored vinegars and oils. Top shelf has dried veggies and canned red bell peppers. Karo syrup beside butter.

Taco shells, tomato products like pasta sauce, sauce, pizza sauce, hot salsa, mild salsa, green tomatoes, already got empty spots there .  Bucket on crate is for homemade noodles which I am out of, upside down bucket is for coleslaw that I can or kraut if I ever decided to go that way. Behind those buckets is more pasta, wild rice, black rice and risotto rice. Next unit is beans and canned meat. Combination of store bought or home canned. Bottom shelf has different lentils and broths . Bucket is brown sugar and XXX sugar and container in corner is corn starch, baking soda etc. Kitty bucket (there is two that Son 2 bleached and passed to us for storage) ) hold bags of smoke chips for the smoker.

Right side against wall, special flours, yellow corn meal, syrups sugars, stuff to make desserts from. The one between that and the condiments has lemon and lime juice, fruit butters, jellies and jams, more dessert stuff on top. 

beans, most of it home grown. 

Dining room dry goods used daily or weekly, bottom shelf is dried fruits. Next is different sugars, vanilla beans and paste, powdered lime and lemon juice and different syrups (some are medical used like elderberry and molasses) Next shelf is bfast items and dried soups and flavorings One more shelf up and you have the stuff Hubby uses for his trail mix, different crackers, peppers, bouillon, some dry mixes of sauces and gravies that is hard to make for just two.  Next up, fig newtons, different salts, herbal tea and the glass container that holds the family size tea bags for our kettle tea. Up one more shelf, powdered drinks, extra family size tea bags and herbal tea . Top is extra tea. I buy tea once a year. I know what we use. 

I had to move the 3 plastic pitchers I have that sits on this. I have one for whisks, one for wooden spoons and rubber spatulas and one for cooking utensils. Left to right, self rising flour in ice cream bucket, White Lily self rising on top of it, Ap flour next with AP small can for when I need to dust the board, instant flour, then bisquick and almond flour. 

Baking supplies, corn starch, baking soda, pomegranate molasses malts, stem ginger (thanks to Great British bake off) all the little goodies of adding different flavors as Hubby is definitely in to giving me new recipes.

I do have half a dozen cooking oils on roll care and two dozen bfast bars boxes on top of another cabinet . Hubby does not get "lunch time" when hauling so he carries trail mix and bfast bars that are not sticky or crumbly as he does not like the mess in his truck. Dust is fine, crumbs isn't LOL.

I usually get asked how much we end up pitching due to it going bad. Very little. If I have something that needs used up I either plan to use it or ask Daughter 4 or Son 2 if they could use it. If it is flour or sugar I pass it to M and she just refills it with fresh . They go through 25 lbs. of sugar and 50 lbs. of flour A WEEK. Sometimes more like when canning. Believe me, I've been to her house to ask if she had something that I ran out of like yeast.

I know what we use in a year. I have the same line for cleaning, dog treats(a little high now since we just lost two but Daughter 4 has 5 dogs so nothing will go bad) paper goods and personal items. Paper towel usage is down because I push the use the rag first.  Hubby just picked up pet friendly sidewalk salt and got enough for two winters. If we get a lot of freezing rain we will use twice as much because he KNOWS what we use in one year.

All the kids get rice off me, none really eat a lot of rice so it goes bad on them. They have learnt to come get it from me and as a family we get through it before it gets bad. 

Another thing I will point out, I am organized , everyone in the family knows where things go as they also know I date pretty much everything and it's first in first out to keep the "oh crap that got shoved to the back." I do have to watch that a bit more if Hubby takes something to the basement frigs and does not think to tell me he did. I've gotten to the point I go down and check every other day to keep that issue down also.

How often do I shop? Twice a month is the most.  One will be a major dairy and what ever produce (mushrooms, carrots and celery) that I don't have any more of. The second one will be milk. Maybe something that is on sale that I try to keep stocked like butter. Bfast bars and trail mix is once every 3 months if that. Flours is maybe 9 months but closer to 12 months depending on if M or the kids need some (M replaces, kids give kisses and hugs, I did have a grandson that did some of my chores while I bagged food up for him.)

Right now I am low of popcorn. We didn't grow any this year thinking we still had some in the freezer. I just pulled the last pint.