SIGH ... Just ran over.

I pray all of you are well, that you have the strength to handle anything that comes your way. 

Hubby had hand surgery. Can on lift 5 lbs instead of the 10 lbs he thought he would be able to. He's at a stand still of doing much at all as even a gallon of milk is 8 lbs so he's putting his hand in his pants pocket when he gets in the frig for the milk . I am making sure we eat foods that he doesn't need to hands (AKA sandwiches that are messy). He was able to cut his own meat since he holds the fork with that hand.He didn't want to put a knife on that palm until the stitches come out on the 26th.

We got our 1 ton of nugget coal in, the company put it on our trailer for us so one of the Amish sent their son over to unload it off the trailer. So Hubby can still use the trailer to haul odds and ends.  

One offered to unload the wagon full of sawmill blocks when he gets out of the hay fields at end of month. Ones needing cut to size will be put to the side on a pallet for cutting later (Something for Hubby to do in the winter).

Our "meat order" will be in Sept/Oct. I need to make sure I have room for storage as I am looking at canning at least half of it. I have the jars etc. I might want some for the freezer so will need to make sure I have that room also.

Winter squash is up, hoping for a decent growth even though we are getting hit with high temps of feel like over 100 ℉.

We had the AC on for the day when we had bad storms go through (tornado north of us). Turned it back off when the weather got better. Only put it at 78 ℉ instead of Hubby's preferred 72 ℉.I have curtains pulled to keep heat out, windows opened in AM, as long as there is a breeze, the windows will be open. We put an umbrella at the French doors to keep the sun out of the dining rm/kitchen.

We did our mid year budget. Couple things won't get done this year since we got a different truck. We decreased our retirement withdraw bracing for Social Security to drop in payment.

Our biggest outlay now is the meat order coming in this fall . repair for pump house due to water line break, needs new insulation and wall covering that is water proof, and the propane order for summer fill ($1.699/ gal) and winter fill ($1.999/gal)  I just put on my credit card to get points and give us a month to finish getting that amt out of savings. We have 2 months emergency fund that I DO NOT want to touch and would like back up to 3 months.

We can tighten the belts and get it done with planning and staying with it.

Nephew is doing okay. Said he thought he was going to die and was okay if that was GOD's plan. 

catch up

 This is one of the coldest springs we have had since 2018. I am running the furnace at 70 ℉ at night at 10 PM It goes down to 60 ℉ at 5 AM. We are just at 38% in propane tank. I am crossing fingers we can stay above 30% until October winter fill. Winds are higher than usually also.

There is a possibility of Hubby having to have wrist surgery. He sees the surgeon this coming week to see exactly what is needed. One doctor thought carpal tunnel, another thinks it's coming from a broke bone repair done 40 some years ago.  EITHER way, he won't be cutting or moving wood or coal for a couple months after it's fixed. 

Son 2, who is single, is filing for medical retirement on advice of 4 of his doctors and his top boss. He's had 2 mild heart issues in last 2 months along with his feet going numb and swelling. He has to walk for his job.

I am definitely hitting the red zone of over load.Thankful for Son2 best friend willing to step in and shoulder some of the weight from the military side.

I am using the grill for cooking meat or the air frier to keep the usage on the main propane tank on the low side. Our water heater is propane. Hubby already turned the pump house propane heater off.Thankful he did it before we had a main water line break and spray every where. Thankful that our baby monitor in there let us know there was a change.

We cleaned the wood stove pipe. I want to do another cleaning of the actual stove. 

I ordered the creosote cleaner stuff, which is good as it was on sale.

I ordered our dishwasher soap as it was on sale also after checking prices locally.

We ordered our nugget coal... 1 ton, it will be in on the 14th for us to pick up. That will make 3 tons of nugget coal and 3 tons of regular coal.

We ordered 3 wagons (est 3-3 1/2 cords per wagon) of blocks from the sawmill. First wagon load is to be ready next week.

E gave us 2 birch trees that is cured, Hubby is cutting them up, there are 2 more in E's maple woods he needs hauled out when the woods dry a bit more. 

I will call Monday to see when I can order the 700 gallons of propane.

I harvested strawberries and dehydrated them. Will continue doing that.Will make some strawberry butter ( https://www.wyseguide.com/how-to-can-strawberry-butter/ ), first time for that but sounds good. We like fruit butters usually especially Hubby over cottage cheese or cream cheese.

Other berries are starting to come on.

I found a few spears of asparagus that just came up so harvested them. We have a decent amount of ferns to make asparagus next year.Hubby is talking of making a box to fit over them to cover them next year if we get hit with a cold spell like we did this past spring.

I bought mushrooms on sale and dehydrated them. We should have plenty now with canned ones Son 2 ordered for us.

I harvested snow peas , had some fresh in salads, other with stirfry. Will start freezing the rest as soon as peas are ready this week most likely.

M got ran over with eggs so sent me some. I whipped 2 eggs, then put in sandwich bag and froze them. Now in freezer bag.They will do well for scrambled or cakes or for Charlotte as her eating an egg or two a day keeps her from breaking out in rash in spring and fall. Her meds are $150/month otherwise.

I got some cheeses in bulk and am wrapping them to store long term.  Soft cheese in crisper drawer. Some hard in freezer and other is cool dark storage.

I had a person send my sweet potato plants. Purple skin with white inside and purple skin and purple inside. I will be planting them this week. 

I will finish planting the winter squash, another round of Burpee long term keeper tomatoes with in next 2 wks for late tomatoes.I will be starting head lettuce for this fall crop. 

Mint is up so I will make mint jelly (we eat it with chicken or pork) and dry some for mint tea.

I bought some blood oranges to make blood orange marmalade.

I bought some oranges to make orange marmalade. 

I plan to make apple pectin to can when we have the June drop of apples. Trying to get liguid pectin has been limited.

I have leaf lettuce, carrots,beets, scallions, radishes coming in. I harvest from the gardens in afternoon then fill in with what is already in frig before pulling from the pantry and freezers.

I went to the store 2 wks ago, removed half of what was on my list as I wasn't willing to pay that price. Got home and Hubby mentioned that 90% of what I bought was for finishing the stock list... OKAY with me as I am stocked up except with what is coming in from the gardens and SUGAR for jams, jellys, fruit butters.

I would like to get some bulk monteray jack but that's only for the right price.

Take care of yourself. Prayers for peace

Blessed be

Doing what I can

 Harvest strawberries,radishes and their greens and a few green onions. 

Fixed stuffed mushrooms, tossed salad with strawberries, radish greens and green onion tops to go with our steak and rolls. 

Set out tricolor rotini, meatballs, pizza sauce and cheese is in frig for Mock Pizza Hut pasta that I used to get 50 yrs ago for our supper tonight. Got raisin pie for dessert from M.

Having issues getting liquid pectin, got recipe from thespruceeats.com to make it from apples. Got old apples so good to go.

I dehydrated extra mushrooms,radish greens and froze banana slices. Will be adding strawberries when they over run us.

I got a recipe for blood orange marmalade, regular orange marmalade and will save zest for all. 

I have 4 more tomato plants that are sprouted and doing decent to take out later June/early July. I have more squash plants to plant this coming week when this freaking cold snap goes away.

We decided to stack wood on the front porch in June instead of waiting until Oct. Hubby took the tractor in for regular maintainence and the shop found a couple things that was going to need fixed so did it now so it won't break on me while he is down with surgery.

I bought some puzzles he can put together so he has something to do. 

Hubby was going to take the wood fencing down so he could cut down the old oak tree that stands taller than our 2 story barn.... NOPE, because it will sit there 2 years down just like the other one E gave him that he still doesn't have cut up and doubt if he does get it cut up before surgery.  He might if E helps but it's a NO GO on the old oak of sitting in my yard when I swing. 

Got it verified that the truck payment should be set to auto pay. 

Since we went shopping Tuesday and still had some things we couldn't find. I ordered them on line. Since Son2 is off without pay while he battles them over it... I will be sharing groceries. Since he likes to cook it will be more of him figuring out what he can eat alone and not have a lot of leftovers. I worry since he won't have much spending money that he won't have any one visit him. Most of his friends are still working and raising kids. 

Dog needs nails clipped, we have doctor appts next week. Regrettfully we can't take her with us like we do the chiro as she would sit far too long waiting on us as our doctor is ALWAYS late. BUT he is a really good doctor and worth the wait. He's one of those that if you need 30 minutes that what you get. Not the you get 10 minutes and then he is walking out the door before you are doing talking about your issues.

Prayers for peace.

Blessed be

With God's Grace go I.

 First the  4 ft by 100 ft Asapargus bed got hit with freeze.

Then 14 beds of garlic got hit with freeze. 

Now 2 solid months of temps 15 to 25 degrees colder than normal.

The F 350 started nickle and diming... okay it was more like $10,000 a year to keep running so got a 2024 F 250. Had it two days and found lights to connect to trailer did not work. Two trips trying to find the problem when another customer walked over and fixed it. Pin to hold it was half way out. The dealership fixed the other guy's truck for free also. 

Nephew got hurt at work, broked leg, the other leg has 15 stitches and his arm is broke in 2 places and having to have surgery. Thankfully he still lives at home so he doesn't have to worry about covering his bills. Car is paid off also. According to his mom, she must have went to be a nurse for this alone.

Son 2 was home on admin with pay to finish filing his medical retirement... he got notice today they suspended him without pay.His "old" boss got moved to another building .His doctor finished the paperwork yesterday  so Doctor thinks they are trying to get out of covering him.. Now lawyer will have to get involved. I told him to finish his SS first so he has some income coming in. 

Hubby talked to the surgeon's office. Most likely he will not be able to use the hand for 6 months, possible up to 12 months based on how long it took him the first time of recovering. SIGH. He goes in first week of June to figure out when. 

Couldn't figure out why my heels hurt... got planter warts on both feet. GRRRR.

With God's grace go I.

finances.

 Half our bills (the larger part) is due before Social Security comes in. I FINALLY got it so there is enough in the joint checking to pay those bills. It's taken a few months to get it rolled completely. 

BIG relief to look and write out where the new truck payment and increase in insurace is coming from for the next 3 months. We had to take it in to have a connector fixed for the trailer lights, still not working right so it's going back in today. 

ALSO got 3 months of mortgage put back. Goal is 6 months by the end of the year.

The tractor's alternator broke... yes broke and fell off the tractor. Hubby said he had never saw that happen but the repair shop said it happens due to metal fatigue. That got fixed. It's due for maintenances soon.  We have that money put back also.

We have school taxes coming due next month. I have that put back. I am hoping to have enough to just pay them completely off. 

I stocked up on some spices/herbs and odds and ends needed in the pantry. 

Hubby is going to have carpal tunnel surgery so he won't be able to cut or lift wood for awhile . He had this surgery our senior year. We took bets he was going to graduate with his cast that he wore for a YEAR. I really hope he doesn't have the issue of healing again. BUT we decided to prepare that he was down for the year. 

I will be ordering 700 gallons (OUCH ON COSTS but have the money for it) of propane. It's twice as much as we normally order but if he has a slow recovery, we might need the fuel.

 We will buy another ton of coal nuggets.We use "lump" coal for night (last longer) and nugget for the day time.

 We have already ordered 3 wagons( 3-3 1/2 cords per wagon) of the blocks from the sawmill. Lent the wagon to an Amish.

We have a tree cut down and waiting for Hubby to cut it, if he doesn't get to it, we will still be okay as the night wood for this year is already cut (coal will help it last longer) and I can use blocks for the day wood.

He was wanting to finish the rest of the garden beds but I told him to not worry about it. We have a good amount in the pantry.And we have fresh coming in with the garden. We will be okay. 

Son 2 is having serious health problems. He is already retired out of Army.  Looks like he isn't going to be able to continue working like he hoped . He did burn pits 2 yrs in Iraq. He has 8 medical appts this month alone. His boss is trying to work with him to keep him working until he gets disability. His buddy took him to the ER the other day, he couldn't walk, his legs and feet had swollen and was in extreme pain. 

We have rain almost daily. I pull weeds in gardens between them. Not the greatest year with gardens. 

Blessed Be 

Prayers for all

Still raining and why we bought a new truck

 4th day of rain. At least it is a gentle rain even though all day long. Yesterday it stopped through the afternoon and the sun tried to peak out. Raining again today.. suppose to until 5 pm. I remind myself that it's dreary day after day but this summer is forecasted to be hotter than normal so we need to store what we can and bless we are getting good soaker rain not down pour and the river out of the banks.

We bought a 2024 USED F250truck. It was owned by the Ford dealership.

We have been looking for over a year, didn't want a ton of this and that on it... just a basic truck. Didn't need the F350 for hauling like Hubby was doing in his business before he shut it down. He does some hauling ... like a solid metal dump wagon of our wood from one of the sawmills/pallet makers. Or soybeans to the elevator for one of the Amish. Our tractor to the shop that does maintenance.  

Hubby took the F350 in for maintenance and get the truck appraised as he started thinking of selling it on his own when one of the guys asked if he had found what he was looking for. Not yet was his answer. Head of maintenance asked what he was looking for. F250 (smaller truck won't haul our wagon loaded with 3 cords of wood) GAS not diesel. Guy came back as he went to see if they had one on the lot. Two hours later he called him. He found one that was used, owned by on of the dealerships and was a Feb 2024. Did he want to look at it when we went back over to drop off truck for a exhaust job?

We went yesterday morning, looked it over, took it for a test drive and then they crunched the numbers. I had already checked our credit score. Unfroze the credit report. Checked out different loans. I knew an estimate of what the payment would be and costs were going to be that they would have to match or be better.

They took the truck as trade in, they reembursed the charge for fixing the truck on Friday, so I put it on the truck. Got a maintenance plan so when the parts start costing our arms and legs we have a limited outlay. Got a tire/hubcap coverage as Hubby curbs the tires all the time and it's common for Amish to have nails in their driveways. As Hubby said we paid extra for the bells and whistles to keep the truck clean and looking good. For $20/month it's worth it. 

Got 6.5 % interest, 72 months (plan to pay it off in less) and finance dept told us we were one of the very few to have a credit score at any age in the mid 800s. 

We plan on having this truck at least 10 yrs , would like it to be 15 years. My Silverado is 20 yrs old.

Now to redo the budget. 

Blessed be

PRAYERS FOR OUR COUNTRY

Changes..

I planted potatoes in grow bags... not sure how that will do but at least I am trying as some of the Amish have mentioned last year was a bad year for potatoes. 

We will get sweet potato roots to plant towards the end of May to plant. 

 I stocked up some things that look to be very limited or expensive in the coming year like canned citrus and some canned tomatoes from Italy.(spoiled as my Nonna was from Northern Italy) I finally found some seeds for the tomatoes so I am trying to grow them this year.  

We are going to focus more on root cellar foods (Root Cellaring by Mike Bubel)after trying with pumpkins last year and it went well. Means I will be planting through the summer also.

 Amish family bought us a sprouter so we can have fresh sprouts from the late fall through winter to spring. I got a variety of sprouts to try.  Might try them sooner if we really don't like them I can throw them in stirfries or soups. Or just pass it back to the family that gave it to us..

I went through the pantry and freezers , what is low (asparagus, peas, corn, broccoli and cauliflower, not carrots they will go in root cellar). Meat is fine. I rechecked holiday meats... Only need the prime rib for Christmas. I was able to get 2 hams at Easter for 79 ¢/lb. Got one butt ham for Easter and a shank to make broth to can. It's in the freezer to deal with later. Son2 was in the store and found another shank ham that was marked down to 69¢/lb and picked it up and used his military discount and shoved it in his freezer for me to get later. Anytime I find meat at $1/lb or less I try to get it.

I went through the spices and herbs... need anchovies and garlic bulbs since every single one in my 14 garden beds froze. 

I went through the medications and first aid. Pretty much set there.

I am going through clothes. Hubby might need jeans. His weight is floating on him. He is trying to lose weight so don't want to buy much. He was wanting flannel long sleeve for winter but the ones we were finding he didn't like too bulky,so he went with jean shirts. I had some stored in the barn for him. 

I went through garden supplies then canning supplies. Need apple cider vinegar, 10 cases of wide mouth pints and 60 lbs of sugar. I kept track of what I used.

I have lost so much weight since covid that 2/3rds of my clothes don't fit. So they are going to donations. I will stop in thrift stores to see if there is anything I can get to replace a skirt and 2 dress pants. 

I found a cheaper place to get our furnance filters by 25%. 

Got the water softener and refrigerator filters on sale with 30% off so I bought a year's supply.

Hubby called our plumber for a pipe elbow that had sprung a leak, He sold the part to us for his cost. Hubby had it fixed in 20 minutes by himself.Another plumber would only come to fix it not sell us the part and it was $150 just to come look at it.

The silverado is at the point it has to be replaced. Hubby wants to down size he work truck  the F350 as between the maintenance, fuel and insurance it's a bit too much.  We weren't actively looking. The dealership we get the maintence(he was getting oil change and exhaust) from asked if he would like to trade it in. He said MAYBE, depends on if they can get us a F250, gas, four door truck. They found one. We look at it on Monday morning. We are still at the point of needing 2 but I think we can limit the silverado to local and make it last a bit longer.

I looked at our budget, we already know what the 2024 asking, price is, we know what our trade in is worth(they just told us before they knew we were looking) and I know what title, fees etc are going to cost along. I figured up what we can do for down payment. I checked what interest rates were, then figured what the payments would be depending on length and then with changes between down payments. The insurance rates will be close enough to the same even though the truck is newer. It's going to come down to the final payment and how long.

Mean time we decided to try tonight a radish greens,asparagus and radish salad with our chicken salad wraps. 

Back to work... storms every other day if not daily. I get my weight lifting done moving patio furniture. 

gardening hard times

  First the 100 ft by 4 ft asparagus froze... so no asparagus for the freezer. BUT the crowns didn't die, some came up to fern so we will have asparagus next year.

Second, all 14 bed of garlic were killed by the freeze. I actually dug up the beds to see if I could find any that had made it. SO will have to buy my garlic for usage and to plant in the fall. 

We checked our fruit, looks like we lost at least 3 blueberry bushes, maybe up to 5. We lost at least 3 fruit trees with possibility of total of 5. Won't get much or any of fruit from rest as the last 2 freezes came in after they bloomed. Just hoping that only the blooms was damaged and not the trees it's self.

The strawberries are starting to bloom.

The snow peas and peas look okay, slow in growing but it's supposed to be warm this week so should sprout up more. 

The vegepod is slow also but showing signs of growing.I can see the radishes greens up and barely see the other rows. 

I have the first round of plants being hardened off. That's where you take them out of grow cart and take them outside each day, lengthening the time they stay outside. 

I have tomato plants,broccoli,cauliflower,eggplant,kalettes,peppers,collards, and onions that will be planted within the next couple weeks. 

I just planted in grow cart Christmas melon, peppers and a couple tomato plants.

I will be planting more in grow cart but if it's warm enough I will roll it outside and not use electric. 

We stopped yesterday to get flowers from the 2 local Amish greenhouses. I got 8 hanging baskets, some flowers for 2 planters, some herbs as my herb garden got destroyed last year, and a couple veggie plants like lettuce. Both of the green houses went to burning coal to heat with during the freezing spells and said things definitely was touch and go about losing stuff. The one husband slept in the green house to keep the fire going.  They compared it to winters of 2013 and 2014 (polar vortex). Not as bad but bad enough. 

What else?

 Norton won't let me sign in to Onedrive to down load my photos from my phone.

Our Retirment guys didn't think about those of us that work when they set up a webinar for noon so didn't make arrangements for it to be recorded nor is it written so the information gets out those that are working. They are working on it. Can you tell their ages  of not thinking of it. I've told classmates that they need to complain instead of tagging us asking what it was about.

Daughter 4 got a new job that pays more and has health insurance AND only had 1 more payment on her car. One son is finishing high school and looking for full time work. Right now he is working 10 hrs a week after school (would like more but he doesn't get his license until 18) The older son got himself fired and then after NOT looking for work, got himself threatened to be put out by MOM. HE can go mooch off his friends as she put it. She'll help if he was looking but sitting home playing video games doesn't float with her.

Daughter 3 is still employed, two oldest are working odd jobs, the youngest 2 are still in school. Daughter 3 doesn't let her kids work during school year except for their dad until 18 when they start driving.

Daughter 2 is working 2 jobs. Could lose the main one as she is last hired at school. Her boys are all working for their dad for  jobs and fencing and some landscaping. At least they are all working and getting their bills paid. Daughter 2 figures she is going to have to do something as a couple of them are moving out and she's have to add those bills to her own bills. 

Daughter 1 has cut off the family and several life time friends including her late father family since we all turned her in for selling her pain meds and drinking on her medication. We have tried everything to get her help but you can't force them to get help if they don't want it. We just pray for her like crazy.

Son 2 is having sever pain in his feet and legs and throat. VA has tried meds, therapy etc. Sending him for more testing. He is military so worried about his job. Best would be, he doesn't get fired, worst would be he sells his house and moves home with us until he rebuilds.

Son 1 is working steady but said orders were down for the company he works for.

We have been hit week after week with below 30 freezes. Even with asparagus covered 100 ft by 4 ft. IT froze. We crossed our fingers that the crown is still okay and it at least grows ferns or we  will be replanting asparagus and waiting 2 years to start harvesting again. THANKFUL I harvested enough for freezer to go 18 months. I have enough to go through the year if I am careful.

My potatoes should have been planted last week in grow bags, glad I didn't as they would have froze. 

I didn't plant my golden raspberries as soon as they came in on Saturday night. Glad I didn't do that either. 

It has made it very clear that it's going to be a very hard year. 

 

Growing asparagus... ours just froze

 Plant in the early spring at correct depth, and wait 2 years before picking.  Do not fertilize until following year. DO NOT use manure. 

I will be doing this next spring, several 20 degree temps back to back has froze the entire 100 ft by 4 ft row.  The Amish that put it in orginally can't remember what variety he planted.

We have another round of freezing this weekend. Usually will only get a light frost this time of year that a good cover will take care of. 

We are hoping after this comes through that it stays warm and MAYBE fingers crossed, that it didn't kill the "crowns" and only the asparagus. SIGH. 

This is why I can/freeze/dry enough food for at least 18 months if not 2 years.

IN the gardens

 We are getting enough aspargus for a couple meals every other 3 days.

Snow peas,peas, radishes,spinach, couple different lettuces, carrots and beets are coming up.  

I fertilized the strawberries and blueberries.

We had sever storms all night, will have them again tonight and rain daily the rest of the week. BUT in a few days we will have lows in the mid 20s... yes FREEZING temps for 4 days. So the day before that hits no matter what the weather we will be covering garden beds.

I chitted the potatoes...ummm cut them in sections,making sure there are 2-3 eyes and some of the potato to feed them as they start to grow. I have 6 varieties as Daughter 2 was going to start gardening , and I was sharing. She realized that not only did she not have the $$ to start that but didn't have enough time working 2 jobs to make ends meet. Daughter 4 had kept track  a few years ago of the cost and time and shared that with her.  I told her to start with like a tomato plant , lettuce and scallions but she didn't want to set up a water barrel at this time and can't water the garden with city water.  

Grow cart veggies are doing decent. I did have 2 that died so I will start them again this week.

Storms rolling through.

We took some to Hubby's parent yesterday as we spent most of the day there. MIL had eye surgery last week and it was the first day she felt up to visitors. FIL was happy to have company that wasn't just talking about her surgery.

We took them eggs, I gave them enough they could share another 2 families. I still have enough for us. It gets cold again this week like they are forecasting, chicken's won't be laying as much for E and M.

Storms came in early this morning instead of tomorrow so not in the gardens. Not putting my hands in any water as I had friends have their homes hit by lightening. One was in the shower and barely made it out before it hit. She watched the sparks fly passed her. The other one was at the kitchen sink running the dish washer. Came out the faucet (she thinks) and burnt a hole in her wall over the stove across the kitchen. Both have had issues with their eye sight since.

Under sever weather threat for a couple day with a sever drop (below freezing so cover asparagus back up a day or so before those temps hit) for 3-4 days after that. April in Ohio. 

I donated 32 items off my clothes rack of my clothes. Still have a wardrobe, bureau and chest of drawers. I do not have a closet . Hubby has an open closet in his bathroom, a clothes rack and two wardrobes. Goal is to have ALL of it gone through before end of April when I pull the summer stuff out of rubbermaids from barn. Then go through those to donate.... shoes and boots also. I dropped 5 sizes after having covid and have not gained it back in 2 yrs. Done keeping it for if I gain it back.

We might have at least one child moving home due to loss of work as they work for government. They are researching options to try to stay in their home at least if they get terminated. They really don't want to have to sell their home as it's half way of being paid off let alone touch the "I'm adult in 40s and shouldn't have to lose a job after 25 yrs of working it" feelings.

We had one child change jobs. Her old employer called and asked if she would apply. She was working a temporary job, 3rd shift, no insurance, $15/hr, 100 miles round trip daily. Now back to work for the old employer full time, 1st shift,  health and dental insurance,$22/hr, 44 miles round trip. 

Hubby's hearing aids were only staying charged for 6 hrs. He got new ones OUCH on costs, but his doctor told him to keep the old ones as back up incase he lost his or something happened to them.He would still have ones that some what worked until he got new ones.

NEXT DAY... we had sever Tstorm with winds and knocked out electric yesterday before I could hit publish. I could see the storm coming behind us so just unplugged and shut down even though we have a whole house surge protection. 

STAY SAFE.

Blessed Be 

Prayers for peace.

Garden work

We had to cover the 100 ft of asparagus due to a "freeze" spell for over a week. We had just had 2 Amish families come dig some of them up a few days before to start their own asparagus patches. We only need about 30 feet of 2 rows for us.N planted it when he owned the home for selling at the auction. 

We planted 6 blueberry bushes, cleaned 6 of the strawberry beds leaving 6 more to clear and replaced 4 of the old beds with new metal beds and refilled them.

My potatoes  tubers should be in today so the 12th we will be hauling stuff down to kids. Son 2 is paying for lunch. 

I transplanted some of the seedlings to larger pots to be ready to transplant them to the gardens in May.

I bought red onion sets, white onion sets, yellow onion sets and candy onion sets to start planting after this rain goes through.

Rhubarb is starting to leaf out. 

Five different radishes are up.

I cleared the old flower garden on the north side so this year's can come up and bloom.

Charlotte is pacing, wind is starting to go up and it's raining so it makes her feel like a storm is coming.

Have a good day 

Blessed be

in gardens

 E's wife M and one of their sons came over and dug up some of the asparagus last night to plant in their garden. 

W is  around 80 years old is now outside digging with Hubby for asparagus to replant at his house.

We have 100 ft long and 4 ft wide patch of asparagus. 

I planted in vegepod some spinach, lettuce,4 different radishes, bunching onions, carrots,and beets , and in garden beds I planted snowpeas and garden peas. 

 I moved the 2 planters that had 5 "tray " beds each to the east side of barn instead of having it on the deck. Let's it get more sun and rain so I am watering less. I also will not have to move them when high winds happen. There are 2 trays already filled from last year. I put them in the top tray area as it's chamomile.

I have all my pots empty and cleaned out and ready to fill with soil.

I trimmed all the berry vines. 

I will wait at least a week and then do another round of direct sow seeds in gardens.

I'll be putting more in grow cart, not sure what. Need to get onion sets also.

 

Groceries/grocery budget

 Jan 28th spent $63.61 on groceries (left $116 in grocery budget)

Feb 11th bought 1 gallon of milk $3.19

Feb 25th bought 1 gallon of milk $2.98 (left additional $298 in grocery budget) 

March 3rd spent $329.61 SAVED $135.

Kroger's had good sales. I got 3 chuck roasts, 2 boneless pork loins, 3 lbs of bacon, 1 80/20 roll of hamburger, 2- 1lb. ground beef, 1chicken thighs (that scored me 2 free packages of chicken wings). I got carrots (regular, not baby), celery (coupon) broccoli (coupon), cauliflower (coupon), 2 bunches of scallions, 2 packages of mushrooms(coupons), and 3 bags of mixed salad (on sale). I got a loaf of bread for 50 cents. Got  5 salted butter on sale (coupon) milk (coupon) half and half (coupon), cottage cheese (coupon) and yogurt (on sale).  Got peanut butter .... 10 total between Kroger creamy and Jif chunky for $1.49 each, both on sale. Got 3 of 6 pack of coke and one of sprite on a buy 2 get 2 free PLUS coupon.  Had a $20 coupon if I spent $200 or more. I still have one chest freezer empty. 

I still have a couple of boxes of shelf stable mik that I will use this month since they need used up.

Amish gave us eggs and 1 pound of smoked bacon (tonight's supper).

I ordered different dried beans, Great Northern (share with son 2) Pinto (share with daughter 4) navy (share with daughter 2) small red (OURS LOL),red kidney (share with MIL) and black bean (OURS) Split the costs.. our share $128. The kids decided they needed some beans incase things get worse.

We still have $256 left in budget. 

We know we will eat out at the local restuarant that does all you can eat fish through Lent. I called and asked what the price was going to be.Times it by how many times I think we will go and will use what is left in the grocery budget including tip.  Will still have some left in budget. 

I should only spend about $60 in April for dairy and fresh veggies... IF it stays warm I should be able to grow lettuce and maybe spring onions.

Amish neighbor told us he got us a pig that he is raising. We can "donate" food scraps if we want (we usually do even though we don't get a pig) and he was also getting a steer that we could have whole or half (he never has problems finding someone that wants half). Both would be ready in fall. He will also have corn for us. Asked if we needed it for fresh eating or freezer or both. His siblings and parents are grateful for the help we have given while his Dad has been fighting infection and then a knee replacement. Between emails and phone calls to Doctor in Mexico and going after meds and running him to xrays. You would think it was Hubby's dad instead of the neighbors. 

 We asked if he was "helping" the widow on the other side of him. Said she had already "placed her order" age 77 and laughed. The other widow age 80 on our side said her kids were growing gardens  and running her over at times.  

Back to work.

Take care, be safe, and I pray you don't get the flu I caught AGAIN  

Garden work.

 Hubby is clearing the asparagus patch today. I saw some of the "green" that comes up before the spears break ground. Tomorrow it's to be close to 60 before it plunges to below freezing again.

In grow cart I started kohlrabi, collards, 3 different tomato plants, celery, bunching onions, cabbage,eggplant,and brussels sprouts. 

End of this week I will pick more to start.

Our primary doctor and his wife said they have been growing "salad" lettuce all winter in their grow cart and then complained about the $600 electric bill when I pointed out he got an electric car and their electric company has different rates for times of usuage. They checked and found that if he started charging at one time that was on the higher rate, it stays the higher rate until he is done charging. Was in the contract they signed when they installed the charging station. So they put it on an alert on their phone to go out and charge it when the rates go down. They also have the grow cart on at that time. We suggested putting it on a timer since they work long hours. 

So if you are new to growing or even restarting... check what you are using and when. It might make a difference cost wise

LOL... when you have a family member call you

 in an anxiety attack and panicked and you got them doing slow breathing etc to calm them down as they lost their ONLY set of keys to car and need to leave for work...

After several , I already checked theres.. I reminded them that I was walking through their home in my head as if I lost the keys. ... Started laughing when I said check the stove, check the oven (yes I have put them their) check the frig (that was were Pop put his, Mother did the freezer) Daddy always hung his up . 

Check you badge for work... oh that is already on you???? then silence...when they checked the badge they remembered where they put the keys...

IN THEIR PANTS POCKET WHERE THEY PUT IT WHEN THEY PUT THEIR BADGE ON. 

We both laughed and they went to work.

short...

 still trying to get over this bug...

ordered blueberry plants due to last year's not doing very well. 

Propane company filled our tank as winter heating season is ending and the costs of propane is going up. We used 2200 gallons when we bought the house. From Feb. 1 2024 to Feb 25, 2025 we used 246.9 gallons.  Burned 1/2 ton coal and 6 cords of wood(about half that was scap from the sawmill)

I have finished sorting seeds. 

I ordered more dried beans as we consumed all the pintos and are low on small red bean, Great Northern, Navy and black beans.

Sap is running so Amish have tapped the maple trees so in a couple weeks I will be getting maple syrup for the year. 

We have ate enough that we have 1 chest deep freezer empty. Half the corn, asparagus and peas is gone also.

Take care 

GARDEN

 Okay, I am zone 6A... after March 15th I can plant IF GROUND IS 50℉. Dandelions should be up. 

I can plant collards, onion sets, peas, snow peas, radishes, spinach, turnips, beets, kale, cabbage, broccoli,carrots,kohbrabi, softneck garlic,  chard(aka Swiss chard) brussels sprouts, rutabagas and some lettuces.

I usually hold off on cabbage and grow Chinese cabbage instead, save full head cabbage for fall growing.  I take row cover out and set it up so if a late freeze or heavy frost comes in I can just toss covers over it within minutes. 

I can do leeks (have a couple times) Potatoes and mustard after the 25th. 

Since we are still in solid freezes, I held off a couple weeks before starting my seeds. I will be doing that this weekend and finishing up with setting up the gardens as it's to get in the forties..

Daddy and several of the Amish plant potatoes by Good Friday, I have always done it mid March 

Still trying to get rid of flu

 At least my potassium is stable. I am eating, Doc told me to eat what I craved and then wondered about me when Hubby told him I couldn't keep broth down but ate 1/4th of a Philly steak sub.... I am a strange one.

Got two more family that got cut off from survivor benefits of social security. They got lawyers. 

Got 3 cut off of Medicaid. One I never could understand how she qualified to begin with the other two are in Medicade nursing homes... so we wonder if something wasn't filed correctly. Used to be the county nursing home but changed hands 4 times in last 5 yrs.Daddy told them to not go there before he went in nursing home himself.

Son2 might get fired, even though he is a retired Army with almost 22 yrs and now 3 yrs at Airforce as civilian, because he changed position, he got promoted, he is considered probationary even with 9 months in the position which is exactly what he was doing in Army for last 10 yrs. He's definitely worried as he is single and will lose his home without work.I told him he can either move into barn with his cats or upstairs. He isn't going to be homeless. He is also worried about his medical as they are shutting the hospitals down in places due to staff being let go by goverment. I told him civialian is understaffed also, has been since pandemic... he just hasn't been sick so didn't realize until the past few months. Too young for retirement. 

Had my Straight Talk acct hacked and someone ordered a new phone. My credit card asked me to confirm the order. Nope Not ME. Even though I could use a new phone, I can't afford it at this time.

Amish are trying to figure out how to go to a medical Appt in Mexico with the border rerestrictions in place. They do NOT do photo id's.

My doctor ran 5 blood works and then told me to finish what ever I still had at home of OTC vitamins/meds etc stuff but not get more. I am now to the point I am growing my potassium, B etc (sweet potatoes, winter squash, Spinach Etc) so he figured I would be saving a good amount of money as that pretty much left me only a multivitamin if that. That is a savings of $838.90 (didn't realize it was that much myself) a year. Hubby is down 2 but went up one that matched the savings. 

 We have 2.5 tons of coal left but on low side of wood.

Tired but holding on

 

menu... OWN YOUR OWN... I had the flu... garden seeds..finances

 after dehydrating

50 lbs before dehydrating

This is a Dickinson pumpkin/squash (yes pumpkins are winter squash). It is the vartiety that Libby's pumpkin in the can is.

I actually got 2 of this size done of the pumpkins. Have 6 more yet to do but figured I would give it another day of making sure I am over the flu first as more than one of the kids/grandkids/greatgrandkids got it back within a few days. I told them to quit giving me that crap through the phone. 😲

Hubby finished up some of the odds and ends. Finally yesterday I fixed a grilled cheese and lunch meat sandwich. I ate 1/2 of one and called it good. He is having pot pie for supper tonight. I am not sure if I will.

BUT since I was sick, I went through the seeds, checked and rechecked what we had and what we needed vs what we wanted since we decided to grow more of our own food...Then decided with how things were going to order enough to go 3 yrs and focus on more heirloom, open pollinated and fewer hybrid favorites. 

Found about 1/ 4th of what I would have ordered not available at all or not available for 2025. A  few was from China (radishes) not available pretty much at any of the of where I shop, it's okay, I just ordered something else. Definitely reminded me of pandemic and trying to get seeds. At least I have enough canning jars. I usually order between 4 to 6 places. It took almost 10. I told Hubby I will pull 2/3rd of what I have,  split that in half and vacuum seal them and place them in freezer for next year and the following year. I will go back to making sure I have a "seed" plant in a container planted away from anything else so it doesn't cross pollionate. Been awhile since I have done that. Might get a I think I have a book on that subject. Might go to library and look for one. 

Since I am no longer grocery shopping every 2 wks. I am starting to feel homebound. A couple of the Amish ladies mentioned it as they had medical tell them it's not good. I told them in the old days my grandparents called it cabin fever and women would have mental issues due to it. My aunt suffered twice from it before my cousin started driving and got her out of the house every other week. 

After a couple of the kids read this...https://itreconomics.com/2030s-great-depression/... I understand their fear... 2 just lost their jobs due to Trumps cuts, one is looking to lose his along with his medical. Grandkid lost his survivor benefits.By time they battle for it back he will already have lost his medical he was paying himself. One working as custodian will lose hers if funding to schools ends or gets cut especially if they go pay to play as most in her area can't afford that and she's the last hired so would be the first fired...So in their eyes a Depression is coming.Even though we don't think it will get THAT bad, it's going to be hard... you can't keep running up debt and not pay the freaking bill off.  A recession is local (like only the USA), a Depression is global is the best way to get them to think of it. Or as I put it, quit doing Door Dash and COOK.

There are a couple things we would have liked to finish changing for wheelchair accessible but okay for now it's not getting done. 

I have to do the finances Wednesday. Electric bill is in early.... it's on the higher side...$150...minus the $15 for security light make it's $135.... I used the dryer for bedding, throws and such twice last month, it ran 4 hrs total (yes I kept track). 5 chest deep freezers, 3 refrigerators, 2 humidifiers running full time . Grow cart will be on. I had already saved the $$ for seeds...and part of the $$ for soil needed for the new garden beds.

Charlotte says it's nap time LOL

I think it came from FB but so fitting for me in the garden.

 

I think I even have a hat like that. LOL

I have listed all my seeds... by color, with each color on a different notebook paper, since we want to make sure we are eating our colors of fruit and veggies... white is a struggle as Hubby's parents didn't eat potatoes and mine ate them 3 times a day EVERY day. I added more white and purple colored veggies. I also added more flowers as two of the Daughters decided they wanted some that no one grows around here or where they are. 

I ordered (on sale) which meant I had to hunt around several sites to get the best price. I paid NO shipping and the least savings was 10%. I increased the order amount as Hubby felt things were going to head like pandemic did with the grocery stores. Reimer seeds are from Mexico. Several Amish are worried about not getting medical treatment as they do not have photo ids.

I brought all the stuff... grow cart, potting soil, seed starting soil etc into the house. Check fertilizer, blossom rot spray, innoculate etc that I will also need. Should be set.

We promised to bring the garden beds we are giving to the one daughter with in 2 wks as she wants to figure out where to put them etc. 

Hubby needs to finish getting the purple martin house fixed so he can finish putting the rest of the metal beds together.He does that in the barn so he doesn't get so cold or rained on.

Kind of feel like I am spinning wheels during Feb. But I know if I start planting in the grow cart and it stays cold until April (been there and done that) it will hurt my plants to plant too soon or too late.

Menu Jan 25 -Jan 30th

 Jan 25th Leftover pizza from freezer and salad 

Jan 26th Turkey Enchilida soup (home canned),left over corn bread from freezer, tortilla chips and sour cream

Jan 27th Beef pot pie with homemade bread *from M*

Jan 28th, Leftover bean soup and leftover corn bread from freezer.

Jan 29th Chinese take out ... Chinese New Year

Jan 30th.and 31st. Leftover Chinese, odds and ends soup with grilled cheese.

Garden plans for January.

I pulled out my note book and checked to see what I planted where last spring. 

If you planted the area before make sure you rotate. Corn is followed by legumes, Legumes is followed by root veg. Root vegs are followed by fruit (cucumbers, eggplant, squash, tomatoes, peppers and melons). Fruit is followed by leaf plants.  This also goes for raised garden beds.  

Also check to make sure if you do companion planting (two different plants in same bed) that they are helpful to each other. I forgot and planted dill with my one bed of tomatoes... it wasn't a good thing. 

We have 4 wooden garden beds 3 ft by 16 ft. Two of them will be going to Daughter 2 . We have 4 metal beds *2ft by 8 ft* to replace them.

The other 2 wooden beds will be cleared out and replanted with flowers only. 

 Fourteen of the metal beds has garlic in them. The company I ordered garlic from made a mistake, corrected it but let me have the "wrong" order for free. Some will be ready in May so I can plant late summer crops in those beds.The rest should be done by mid June in time for me to plant fall crops. I will be checking to see what I can plant with the garlic and after it. I plant 3 seasons so this is doable for me.

 I have potato grow bags (never used this type before). 

I have the vegepod.

I have black grow bags we have used off and on through the years and Hubby said he thought we had 4 to 6 more metal beds in barn to put together. I have flower boxes and baskets.

I checked my supply of seed pots for the grow cart. 

I checked my supply of seed starting soil, potting soil and fertilizer. Hubby checked the raised garden bed soil and put it on the NEED list. Since we are filling new beds I had already budgeted for it plus topping off last years mixed with our compost.

I went through all my seeds and listed them giving each veggie a page and listing variety. 

I have a seed list from Root Cellaring (Mike and Nancy Bubel) and seed list from Victory Gardens (https://u.osu.edu/ohiovictorygardens/) plus what Amish suggested to plant as it grows good here. 

I checked what I do have in seeds against those lists. I added some I have grew for decades such as scarlet runner beans. I ordered purple broccoli seeds and Heshiko heirloom bunching onion you can plant in the fall to have a crop the following spring from Pinetree aka superseeds.com which is new to me.

I want more "color" in a meals to help us stay healthy without getting it from the store unless it's winter, preferrably from my pantry. I want something red besides beets or tomatoes of veggies (have plenty red in fruit).

This week I will go through the lists again, separate what I will plant this spring and where into a container with list AKA brown sack labeled SPRING. I will rearrange the laundry room for the grow cart and put those seeds in one of the trays. Grow cart gets planted in Feb. The weather people are forecasting a warmer, slightly wetter spring for us. SO I will start my part of my seeds early Feb.

Blessed be

Prayers for peace...

prayers for the govt workers having to return to offices. I know the one base here just had water damage and 1/4 of the workers have NO office due to that

Menu Jan 18th thru Jan 24th

 Jan 18th Taco Bell.

Jan 19th Chuck roast with potatoes,carrots and onions

Jan 20th French toast with Bacon (Bacon from E)

Jan 21st Leftover chuck roast, potatoes, and carrots (no onions)

Jan 22nd Pot pie, baked apples and bread.

Jan 23rd Spaghetti and meathballs , 

Jan 24th Breaded fish, potato skins, salad, asparagus, black raspberry pie

Raised metal bed gardening.... SAM

 You need ground cover aka weed barrier.You can use cardboard but the weeds will come through in a couple years. Hubby puts a double layer of ground cover down including between the beds so I don't walk in mud.

We used cattle panel and fence stakes for the trellis bought from Tractor Supply. Our beds are 8 ft long (same as cattle panel sometimes called cattle feed panel) and 2 ft wide and 2 ft deep. 

You should try to remove grass including roots etc before putting down the barrier. 

You want to buy raised garden bed soil,it has compost in it also. Home Depot is the cheapest here. Tomatoes can have deep roots and you will most likely have to add soil at the end of the year or beginning of the year.

We add our own compost at end of year and usually buy more soil at end of year and store it on property as they don't want "store" it usually put it on sale. 

You have to figure out what you want to raise and what can be raised together. 

Daughter 2 is starting her first garden this year. She wants herbs and flowers. But also potatoes (russet and Yukon gold), different peppers and regular tomatoes.  We are giving her a couple old wooden beds that we were just going to give to neighbor to burn. She will have to decide between determinate tomatoes ,bush like that comes on all at once or indeterminate which needs support,vines and produces all season. I have some old tomato cages if she goes indeterminate.  I am sharing some potato grow bags. I don't think she will continue to grow potatoes after this year so she can give me the bags back. 

You have to think about if you are going to water it if it does not rain enough (1 inch a week is good) and if you are, how are you going to water it. I've carted 5 gallon buckets, Hubby made a 50 gallon barrel to put on back of lawnmower. We drag a 150 ft garden hose here. I am looking at putting in a drip system. Got some of it so deciding where to install it this year. 

I am going to do some winter sowing.  I did this several years ago following this blogger at that time. It's a Feb project.

https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/your-2018-winter-sowing-project/

I will start my grow cart up in Feb. also. I have a few seeds I would like to order for some different plants. Pinetree has a purple broccoli I would like to try.

You have to make sure you give plants room to grow fully. I will plant quick crops, radishes, leaf lettuce, green onions etc. at edges with tomatoes etc. 

I am growing more flowers this year, the lady that I got most of my flowers from died in accident last year. Her helpers and the new wife are going to reopen the greenhouse but they aren't sure if they will do flowers or veggies or both.

Blessed Be

Prayers for peace

Menu 10th- 17th

 Jan 10th  Leftovers went into burritos

Jan 11th Leftover salad with lunch meat and boiled eggs on top

Jan 12th  Leftovers (odds and ends)

Jan 13th Stirfy from leftovers from night before with bell peppers (from freezer), onion and water chestnuts (store bought) over rice

Jan 14th Tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwich

Jan 15th  What Hubby calls big egg, onion, bell pepper, potatoes mixed with eggs and fried, along with bacon.

Jan 16th Pizza rolls (last of them)

Jan 17th, Meatloaf sandwiches with chips and raw veggies.

Bills paid for month, Going forward

 All bills were either at budget or below....ones below... "extra" $ got moved to saving for when they are above. So Dec bills good. 

We spent $2.98 on a gallon of milk.

We spent $77.81 on extra large pizza, 2 chef salads, boneless chicken wings with garlic butter dipping sauce, and 2 large chef salads, it made 8 meals...four of those are in the freezer. Figured it would count as the Christmas to each other instead of the steak house as it's a freaking mess with the bitter cold and snow.

I skipped going to the grocery store due to weather. Figured I can go in 2 weeks. So I have only gotten the milk this month.  I will go the 28th so I can use my Kroger coupons, maybe. 

GOING FORWARD

Our income has been cut in half unless we withdraw more from IRA.  I really really don't want to do that unless we really need to to pay the mortgage.  If I had the mortgage paid off and not pay my arm and leg for medical (which is actually half of the cost when we were working) We could live on Social Security

Hubby needs new hearing aids, $4500 was estimate given.

Hubby's work truck needs replaced with a smaller, less expense to repair and maintain truck. We can sell his truck or trade it in.

My truck needs replace as it's on it's last legs. Can not drive it farther than into town without worries of breaking down. Bed is starting to rust to the point of "falling" on the tires. I am looking at SUV or another small truck. We thought about not replacing it.

We put a hold on the final projects we need to buy stuff for to update some areas OUTSIDE.

We are saving (got about half of $) to extend gardens to increase what we grow. We have the raised metal garden beds and about half the raised garden bed soil. I have the seeds, including to start my own plants. I had to order potato tubers and sweet potato starts. , that's paid for. Sharing costs with another so it's not real bad. Got heirloom so I shouldn't have to buy more. 

We plan to cut the amount of propane we order also. I have to June to decide on that amount.

Blessed Be 

Prayers for peace.

Geeze it's only the 6th and the freaking hackers

 are going strong.Thankful that it was stopped but lost a couple posts etc. They didn't get into any emails or financial stuff. I imagine that they tried as Son2 had some of his info leaked but that was stopped also before they withdrew any money.

So... out of 15 of family and friends who had health and other issues, everyone is home and doing better. Couple of them still have follow ups. Son 2 did get update on his ex's child. He is living with his grandparents and has a lot of physical therapy but doing okay.

!!!!! I will add that of you do not drink water... please start...dehydration can mimic mental illness. Urine should be clear or pale yellow... not like motor oil like Son2 who now has his parents and best friend breathing fire daily to remind him to drink WATER. 

Several are working from home due to weather not as bad as TN and KY but we haven't had snow like this for years. Another frigid spell is coming in this weekend so we loaded the wood  and brought in coal that we haven't used in 2 yrs.

Took us 3 hrs but at least we won't be trying to haul wood from the barn or be out in the woods dragging timber to the barns to cut because we didn't deal with it and now need it done like a few Amish did.

I put my back out of place. Only sore now but has slowed me down. Nothing like twinges when you turn and feeling like you are getting a hard pinch on the spine. Already scheduled the chiro appts.

We have one utility still to come in to pay this month and the chiro co pays. Since it's the electric bill I am expecting it to be higher than average. Should be online by tomorrow. Figures crossed we will be coming in under budget.

How has your new year started?

Blessed Be

Prayers for peace

Menu Jan 3rd to 9th

 Jan 3rd  Leftover chicken into a stir fry with bell peppers, onions, garlic,carrots, celery and mushrooms with turmeric rice.

Jan 4th Leftover pork loin, kraut with apples, spinach and hominy 

Jan 5th Taco soup with tortilla chips, cheese dip and pineapple rings

Jan 6th Lasagna, salad with mandrain orange and spelts garlic bread.

Jan 7th Roasted ham, leftover spinach, leftover hominy and buttered potatoes. (rest of ham going in freezer, broth going in bean soup)

Jan 8th Leftover lasagna (froze rest) salad, pineapple rings

Jan 9th, Going to have great northern bean soup with White Lily cornbread. 

menu for past week

Dec 27th Left over prime rib, left over baked potato, left over mixed green salad with goat cheese crumbles and raisins. 

Dec 28th sausage gravy and biscuits, mixed tropical fruit, carrots and asparagus.

Dec 29th  sausage and potato soup.... added leftover baked potato and milk to sausage gravy until it was soup. Served with rolls

Dec 30th Roasted chicken,leftover baked potatoes (peeled and reheated in butter) summer squash from freezer. Squash pie (had pumpkin pie spices)

Dec 31st BBQ (Mom's recipe of sauce) ribs, tossed salad with cranberries and apples. Dinner roll.

Jan 1st pork loin (from E and M for Christmas), homemade kraut with diced apple, mashed potatoes and Apple feta tossed salad.

Jan 2 left over ribs, mashed potatoes, spinach, yellow hominy and mandrain orange

2025... plans

 Still need to buy raised garden bed soil for the last of the garden beds. Hubby said we might need more ground cover for under them. I ordered flower seeds, potato tubers, sweet potato slips  and lunch box mini peppers (the only one not heirloom or open pollinated) to share with Daughter 2 and possible Daughter 4. I will start them myself so they can plant in baskets, flower beds or garden beds as both have dogs. I need to set up an area to put the grow cart and start seeds.

We have to build bookcases for 2 bedrooms upstairs. We have salvaged lumber stored in barn. Should have enough screws, nails or what ever to put them together for FREE. Right now the books are stacked on the floor causing issues when I clean. I will call the library to see if they are going to take donations this year for their book sale... they didn't last year. 

Hubby is working on a new purple martin house as he has all the wood he needs to build it. We might need paint. 

I have 4 Christmas decorations that need repaired by Nov also, most of what I need is here. 

We got a 10% discount for being willing to wait until late Jan/ Feb for the lawnmowers to have maintenance service. Even if they get to them before then we still get the 10% discount. Tractor is due for maintenance so Hubby is going to schedule that next week.

We changed our softener salt delivery. Doubled the amount to be delivered so only paying for 3 deliveries instead of 6.

Property taxes, property insurance , school taxes went up which means the extra payment on principal will go down to keep from withdrawing from Retirement funds. I don't want to pay more income taxes on top of that for sure.

We will need to replace the Silverado and Hubby's hearing aids. 

We are not in need of anything needing restocked. I will see how much I can cut there, split what is saved to restock and savings. 

We will hold off on finishing the last 2 wheelchair paths until we have finished the gardens and saved up for the paths. Expanding the gardens. 

Any plans for 2025?

Blessed Be 

Prayers for peace and health. 

 

2024 update for year.

 Final year Update..

15 (one had a baby girl but we about lost her Momma,doing okay now) people in and out of hospital, over half was borderline losing them due to heart issues. Right now everyone is home. We have 2 still in treatment (both veterans).

Year came in 5% under budget even with ordering flower seeds and tubers of potatoes and sweet potatoes, still need more raised garden bed soil. Daughter 2 is taking the old 2 wooden garden beds that are 3 ft by 16 ft. so it's just toss them on the trailer and take them down late Feb early March. We will share seeds and tubers since her money is going for ground cover under the beds and raised garden bed soil. I have potting soil and empty hanging baskets for me to grow our own flowers and seed starting soil to start my seeds.

Hubby changed his part D,Doc took me off 2 meds that had costs. We dropped 2 subscriptions between us. We still need to get the tractor in for maintenance, lawnmowers are in but won't be doing until Feb, which is fine as they go over all of it not just oil change, blades sharpened. Got a 10% discount for waiting until Feb for it to be done.