Filling the pantry for a year FRUGAL

Living around farmers you get to hear how the price of corn is down, how it's too wet for the beans to be harvests and the price of meat is going to go up.

We already have a good pantry but when the man who used to own this house offered us free tomatoes because they had fell off the vines (he called them seconds) and he doesn't sell them at the auction , we went to glean them...

110 lbs of tomatoes with a possibility of more when he cleans his hot house if his helper doesn't take all of what is left.

Hubby on his tractor with the new tiller preparing the south garden (the one that will have seasonal plants) He already did the north garden which is perennials and the garlic.

After we was done gleaning the tomatoes Hubby mentioned the freezers are pretty low on meat. I told him Kroger's had a sale of roasting chickens (7-8 lbs) for 69 cents a pound. Don't see it lower than that anywhere around here. So we decided to go to Kroger's before home.

We had decided the other week over our morning coffee to have 730 meals in the pantry. That is lunch and dinner for a year.

We save 1/3rd of what we bought... they had other meat on sale but it wasn't listed in the weekly ad. I now have an additional 75 meals of meat (not meat, I list things by how many meals it will make us to make sure we have enough food to go a solid year)

We got 10 dozen eggs (for less than $1/dozen) which is not counted in the meals as I will use part of them to make noodles,2 pork butts, 1 boneless rib roast (for Christmas as the price was cheaper than I have ever paid at Christmas) 2 racks of ribs (one for New Year's),3 roasting chickens, 2 pkgs of rib eye steaks (for when Hubby craves a steak after so many casseroles and soups)2 bags of frozen thin chicken breast, 2 pkgs of fresh chicken breast,3 pkgs of ground pork,12 lbs of ground beef, 2 pkgs of chicken thighs, and 2 pkgs of chicken wings (for when we miss our favorite wing place)  I cut the wings in 3 pieces and bagged the tips for broth. I broke the pkgs down to meal size and vacuumed them. What is already in the freezers is 4 prime rib roasts(from Christmas) a pork tenderloin, a pork loin, 10 meals of pork chops, 2 roasting chickens, 2 hams, 40 meals of pepperoni, 1 rack of ribs, 1 qrt of beef cubes for stew or noodles, a bottom round roast, 1 pkg of thin chicken breast, bacon, bulk sausage, and smoked sausage. Total meals in freezers are now at 117.

I then checked the pantry.
Dried beans : cranberry , navy, black, red, great northern, lima, garbanzo, cannelline, and blackeye peas.

Canned beans: refried, baked, lt kideny, dark kidney, chili beans, blackeye peas, garbanzo, pinto, cannellini and black.

I have red lentils and green lentils

Soups: chili(mild and zesty), beef veggie, asparagus,tomato,and beef stew, turkey white bean chili.

Canned meat: corned beef hash, corned beef, tuna, mackerel, salmon, pork, spam,dried beef and turkey pot pie.

Potatoes: canned sweet potatoes, canned whole white potatoes, canned sliced white potatoes,dried hash browns, dried diced potatoes, and dried sliced potatoes.

Grains: Rice-Jasmine, parboil,long grain, basmatic,arborio,brown, black, and minute. Grits, quinoa,barley, farro,millet,polenta, corn meal, oats and cream of wheat.

I have 28 varieties of pasta all bought on sale

My to buy list is now

1 roll of G&R bologna (8 meals as it is 1 inch thick)
4 Aldi's hams (20 meals)
6 turkeys(use carcass for broth) (36 meals plus broth)
1 case of Walter's dinner sausage (12 meals) or more hamburger.
12 winter squash
50 lbs of white potatoes
20 lbs of sweet potatoes
20 lbs of onions
10 lbs carrots
4 bunches of celery.

We figured out after buying what is on this list we would be short 213 meals... that we decided to have them be vegetarian. So we listed 54 meals we enjoy that have no meat/beans(though might have scraps of what ever meat was leftover aka ham bone, or eggs) so we can rotate through those meals. Hubby doesn't care much for soup but I added 7 soups (ThePrudenthomemaker.com has several) so we can rotate through the soups 4 times in a year. He will do better not eating the same one a lot.

I baked 2 loaves of bread and froze one for when I don't have time to bake. Hubby didn't realize that baking bread takes about 4 hrs. Told me I needed to buy another bread pan so I could do 3 loaves at a time. Considering he already ate half the loaf I might agree with him though I know he won't eat the same bread all the time, something both of us don't care for. I baked Amish white bread this time. I plan to make oatmeal bread (Owlhaven.net) then a potato bread (simplyrecipes.com), and my favorite English muffin toasting bread (Kingarthurflour.com).

Back to canning tomatoes
Blessed Be

The start of a frugal month

Yep...saving big time...how... we didn't have to pay Oct rent for the old place along with the mortgage here, a savings of $700 PLUS the landlord said since we weren't actually living there through Sept we wouldn't be paying the electric bill for that month, especially since we had turned off the AC before we moved here at beginning of Sept.That's another $125.  We won't be driving every day the truck with trailer and the car 120 miles round trip spending $160 a week in gas....for a savings of $640.
We won't be eating out 3 times a week at $15 a meal to split between us saving us $60 a month. That's $1525 a month savings.  JUST FYI, we came in at $10 over what we budgeted for 209 including gas and eating out.

That will be split between, savings, mortgage principal (goal it so have 20 % paid off in 3 yrs) and a new truck payment for Hubby(which we have already figured out how much he can pay down and what he can carry as a loan and the interest rate he can afford.

I harvested the last of the ripe tomatoes and the last of the green ones. I will be saving the seeds for next year.

I harvested the last of the hot peppers. I won't save these seeds as we didn't like the peppers all that well.

I harvested the last 3 heads of cabbage.

I harvested the last 2 green onions that got missed when I thought we had them pulled a couple months ago.

I harvested rhubarb by cutting it back to get ready to transplant it to the north garden.

I harvested grapes, there are some not ripe so we will eat those fresh if the birds don't get them . Buying a net for the grape vines is on the buy for gardens list.

I found a source for eggs  and a couple suggestions for bulk goods . I will be checking out the bulk goods to see if it has what I need and if it does I won't be renewing our membership to Sam's club that is almost an hour from us now.

I cut the pork loin in half and vacuum bagged it for 2 roasts for this winter. I cut the second one I bought into 20 pork chops and froze them on cookie sheets so I can vacuum them 2 to a bag for our meals.

I sliced the 2 sticks of pepperoni I got (that I was given a discount on due to moving away and being a regular buyer) and now have 20 months of pepperoni unless we eat more of it than we regularly do.

We found a tiller for the tractor for about half the price of what we were seeing. We were able to till our north garden today without paying for it to be done.
I will be transplanting the strawberries and rhubarb to this garden and planting the garlic, hopefully if the rain holds off...I'll do that tomorrow.

The Amish neighbor stopped by and asked what we were planning on doing with the 3 acres we let him plant corn in (for free), He had a look of surprise when we told him we were planning on him planting it with what ever he decided on with no rent . He said he felt better if he paid us rent and told us what he rents other properties for. I did qualify before he offered money that he had to find me an bulk store for flour and sugar and where I could buy 2 to 4 dozen eggs a month.
Hubby added someone to buy straw from... he laughed and said he could do the eggs and straw and when his hens weren't laying there was a couple others that sold eggs. He told us where the bulk stores were at and then offered to pay rent for the property. It would cost us more to maintain it so letting him do it for free
 actually saved us money. Hubby said the rent would go in the savings for what we needed for the gardens. I think I will put it in savings for when we are short on $$$.

I sewed my skort twice before I realized it kept ripping because it's too big on me and rides lower that normal so when I walk it pulls the old tear back apart.

We went to our grandson's wedding... tempted to buy a new outfit but chose to wear my little black dress that I've only had 40 years. Yes 40 years, I paid $100 for it and it's averaged out to $2.50 a year and it looks good enough to go another 5 yrs at least. I got several complements on it and my grandson remembered the dress from his childhood and mentioned it to his mom, my daughter2 and she remembered me  having it during her childhood so they decided to ask how long I had it. They were surprised it looked so good being that old... I was surprised I could still fit in it. LOL

Blessed Be 

A bright morning

and the light at the end of the tunnel as we moved the last load and finished cleaning the old place. NO more spending $$$ for gas for driving back and forth any more.

I had a bit of a worry as Daughter 2 had shut 2 of the dogs in her bedroom while she was staying with us and they did this to an 100 yr old door

We weren't very happy with her but like always in her mind she can do what ever she wants and it's always right.

I got Restor finisher for dark oak and now it looks like this. Landlord's oldest son asked for what it was because he now wants to redo all the doors and woodwork with it.

He hadn't realized that the door was 2 different woods.

We came home the other night and was a bit worried as Charlotte wasn't in the yard with the boys... we found her in the house which bothered us until I found muddy prints on the back storm door and the mudroom inside door had muddy prints also. Hubby didn't make sure the storm door was shut and Charlotte definitely knows how to get in and out. Wilbur tried to get in to her as every single window had his muddy prints on the newly painted siding.

SO now it's 118 things for this HOME and over 100 boxes to sort and put away.

Sam's club, 209 and old house... frugal choices

We had Amish ladies paint the house. They charged 1/3 of what we were quoted by "Englishers" as the term is used around here. There are 3 places they could not reach as our ladders weren't quite tall enough on the ends. I told Hubby we could park the truck next to the house and put the ladder in the truck bed giving us the 3 ft needed in height to finish the house. The house looks great and a big check mark off the to do list

The back splash at the stove was installed by Hubby instead of having the contractor do it at $150 , he put Plexiglas over it to protect that almost $250 back splash from grease from the stove.

We cleared the inside of the old house YEA!!!! We still have 2 loads in the garage...just because of the size of things not the amount. I still have to clean the house and do some minor repairs. We have chiropractic appt Tuesday morning so will be in that area and Hubby has 3 month check up on Wed with his doctor also in the area... I figured we can pretty much finish it on those 2 days ( saving gas for not making extra trips)and do the removing of the mantle that will go to our oldest on Sunday (when she is off work and Son 2 can help us) and give the keys to the landlord along with the garage openers and get our mail one last time.  Last 4 wks we spend around $600 in gas moving. SO done with doing that.

We went to Sam's club today. I had a very detailed list of what needed restocked along with price point.

I got gal./qrt/ and sandwich bags. Foil and press and seal wrap. Potato chips, Frito's and Cheddar cheese chips. Plain choc candy bars, almond candy bars and Heath candy bars. Dried cherries and dried cranberries. Cashews. Club crackers.Choc. chips.Limes,lemons,cucumbers and apples.Spaghetti and Velveeta cheese.Peanut butter.Olive Garden salad dressing. Goat cheese and fresh moz. Minute rice and 20 lbs Jasmine rice. Canned pumpkin and coffee for me. Chinet plates to replace what we used at the family reunion. The big buy was 7 lbs of light brown sugar, 25 lbs of all purpose flour, 25 lbs bread/pizza flour (definite need after we at frozen pizza because we don't care for the pizza place that is close) and 50 lbs of sugar.

About half of the buckets I have , this is the flour and sugar section.They are sitting on pieces of wood as you should never store food directly on concrete.

From Amazon I ordered 
White Lily bread flour and all purpose flour, popcorn,panko crumbs, case nacho soup,case of bean sprouts,case ramen noodles,Arborio rice,2 cases of whole potatoes, coffee for Hubby for 1/5th less than I could find it else where.

I still have manicotti, lg pasta shells,red cabbage with apples and saran wrap on the buy list.

I have my "fall/winter" list of winter squash,pork loin, pork butt, pork ribs, dinner sausage(Walters)pepperoni (IGA) G&R bologna (G&R) Prime rib(Walter's at Christmas) Turkey (Thanksgiving) Ham(Thanksgiving/Christmas and Easter). I am looking for Roasting chickens and hamburger.

I need to find a local source for eggs.... I forgot to ask when the ladies were here painting the house.We are going to the Pumpkin Auction at the Amish produce auction on Friday with our friends so I might find a local seller there.

We have the furnace on but turn it off when it's warm enough to prop doors open for the dogs and turn it down to 60 when we are gone. I said something about it being cool in the house and Hubby suggested I turn the furnace up, I came back with I could put socks and slippers on and a shawl or sweater instead of cranking the furnace up. He laughed.

Dogs are no longer staying in the kennel and their run at the barn while we are gone as Rascal has learned to climb over the 5 ft gate. Since we don't want him without water and food for hours we decided to leave the run gate open and found that they do stay in the yard (meaning he doesn't climb the 5 ft fence) and will take shelter in the kennel or on the kitchen porch when it rains. Both neighbors have checked on them and said they do very well like that.

We saved $250 on getting a dumpster instead of paying extra for the boxes etc we have from moving. I still have about the same amount of boxes to go through. I plan to have that done before the dumpster is removed.

I put darts in a couple pairs of pants. I don't want to buy new clothes going into winter when I usually put on weight. But my belts are no longer holding the pants up either.I'm still a bit under weight from last Crohn's attack.

Blessed Be

trying to set a new routine....menu

It's starting to be every other day we have this sight in the morning.

The routines seems to be settling in some. I changed a couple things in the kitchen drawers since I kept walking to one drawer for the can opener and it was in another. Easier to move the can opener than retrain me LOL.

Mornings are started with us sitting either on the kitchen porch or at the dining table drinking our first 2 cups of coffee, talking about what needs done, who is doing what etc. I start a load of laundry between cup 1 and 2 and then I hang that out on the kitchen porch clothesline. It's 8:45 ...the Amish kids walk by to catch the buggy ride at the end of this road at that time.

I then unload the dishwasher and put that away.IF I am going to the old place I leave for there. Usually around 2 I will head back here with my car looking like this.

Yesterday it was both my Jeep and my Ford. Ford blew the muffler on the way here and since it's heading to the junk yard as the axle is going bad I won't be fixing it. Hubby was kind of shocked that I was driving it even with him following. Not the first time the axle broke with me driving that car.

When I get home it's fix dinner, load dishwasher and set to run after bedtime. Put out what ever needs thawed for the next day's dinner. We spend some time either on the Kitchen porch or sitting at dining table. If we can we will watch the news for the weather in the front room. I will do some computer work,balance the budget, update punch out list for both places and then read until bedtime which is around 8:30.

If I don't go over to the old place I do something in the gardens or on the yard work in the morning and again in the evening. I unload the car and put it away. Continue to work my way through the boxes that are here and moving furniture around to work better during the day until dinner time. Our morning and evening routines are pretty much the same.

Breakfast is usually toast,cupcakes, cake, cookies (as we had some left from the reunion last Sunday), Hubby does cold cereal few and far between. I know when it gets cold it will be oatmeal or cream of wheat...maybe grits for him. Milk gravy and bread or biscuits. We prefer warm breakfasts when it is cold. Pancakes,French toast and waffles are more of a weekend or breakfast for dinner item.

Lunch is leftovers or lunch meat wraps except on Wed or Thursday then it might be Pfieffer Station lunch of meatloaf(Wed) or beef and noodles(Thurs).

The last couple nights for dinner we had leftover fried chicken my brother brought to the reunion along with the leftover mashed potatoes son2 brought for the noodles my cousin brought ...which I didn't get any of  noodles🙁🙁.  Tonight is 123 pasta using smoked sausage (freezer), onion( I grew) and bell pepper( neighbor gave us) with diced tomatoes the I have canned. We are eating mostly from the pantry or what we are given.

I've pretty broke the routine of going to the grocery store(Kroger's) every week. Last week Hubby spent $4 getting milk at the gas station when he got fuel because he figured it was cheaper than him going into the local Walmart and spending money on what we didn't need. I then reminded him that Save A Lot was a block from that gas station and the milk would have been less than $2.

I would like to get a cleaning routine set but right now it's clean as needed and focus on the moving etc still. Every Saturday morning I do dust mop the dog hair (HA HA) off the floors.

Blessed Be

Can't think of a title LOL

because lots of things running through my head. We need to finish getting the stuff from the old place and then find a place to put it away or get rid of it here.I need to restock pantry, winterize this house, get winter clothes and blankets ready, prepare gardens,prune bushes, trim and mow the entire property.  NOT touching there is still painting etc to do. NOT have a Crohn's attack.

SO I will start with this picture that I found a long time ago on the internet somewhere.The woman reminds me of my Nonna who was from Northern Italy. It's my favorite style of apron. The kitchen is real close to what I grew up with except Daddy enclosed under the sink so Mother could have more storage. It keeps me focused on what I need to do because as a child I learned the necessities of making it through the winter since we didn't go to the store for food at all and there was no such thing as assistance if we couldn't pay the fuel oil bill or electric. Nonna, my grandparents and my parents all went through the Great Depression. I've been taught well on what I am using to get us through this next year, that we planned on being on the rough side. Don't know how much fuel it will take to heat this house, run the water heater and the cook stove. Don't know how well the insulation is or how well the windows will keep the wind out. Lots of unknowns to deal with.

It will be officially Autumn this week, we watched geese flying north west this morning.I bounce from windows open, AC on to furnace running in 24 hrs.It's fall in OH.

The pantry is lower on the veggies than I like going in to winter but doable but I do have more jam than usual and more dehydrated potatoes than usual. We just won't have the variety that we are used to having. I don't have extra money to pay for it out of season as we still need to finish getting the stuff for Hubby to start welding and his truck is limping big time.

I have the material for the winter curtains but until we are out of the old house (NO later than the 28th because I refuse to pay another month of rent and electric and we stopped due to me getting an eye infection and not being able to open my eyes at all..and not being able to see..(better, not completely over it but better) I am not focused on the sewing.

As our Amish neighbors told an Englisher at the Auction the other day when they were asked, they eat from the gardens during the season and from their pantry when out of season. If they don't can or dry it (as they don't have electric so no freezers) they don't have it when it's not in season. We intend to be the same.

I hope everyone is doing well, adjusting to new schedules with school/work or just every day life changes.

Blessed Be

what i buying this month

Our Sam's club membership ends the first part of Oct so I will make a run before than as we don't know if we will need to have that membership since a few of the bulk stores carry flour and sugar in 25 lb bags.

We decide to try to find a local butcher shop and see what specials they have and if that doesn't do well for us we know the local Save A  Lot store (like Aldi's) does a weekly 4 packages of different meat for $19.99. Packages are for a family of 4 so that would make us 2 meals at least.

On the list (which was easy to start since I just moved the pantry and freezers.

50 lbs sugar
25 lbs All purpose flour
25 lbs bread flour
25 lbs White Lily bread flour
25 lbs White Lily All purpose flour (White Lily flours is what Southern's use and I use it in recipes that I got while taking classes down south)
4 lbs light brown sugar
case of ramen noodles
Panko crumbs
Minute rice
Arborio rice
Jasmine rice
case of bean sprouts
case of whole canned potatoes (unless neighbor teaches me to can potatoes)
case of Nacho soup
1 box of manicotti
1 box of jumbo shells
3 jars of red cabbage and apples

Meat...
3 pork loin (I use for roasts and cutting my own pork chops)
4 pork ribs (for BBQ or smoke ribs or flavoring in sauces)
2 pork butt roasts
3 roasting chickens
4 hams
1-5 bone prime rib (At Christmas) (Walter's Wapa OH
2 logs AKA sticks Italian pepperoni (IGA Anna or New Bremen OH)
2 logs of G & R bologna (G & R Waldo OH)
2 cases dinner sausage (Walter's in Wapa OH)
6 whole turkeys. (wings for broths, dark for hubby and white for me)

Hamburger will be bought on sales as I find it
Beef roasts will be bought on sales as I find it

At the Auction I hope to get 

25-50 lbs of onions
50 -100 lbs of potatoes
25 lbs of sweet potatoes


IF I get cabbage I will make freezer slaw.

I have 3 pumpkins that grew in the compost pile the other owners had started so I will freeze pumpkin puree.

If I get more tomatoes I will make more sauce. Neighbor has offered and her tomatoes are the size of soft balls.

I will get  frozen peas,peas and carrots,broccoli,cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts when the local stores have their buy 10 or cheaper.

If the neighbor gives me any more soft ball size bell peppers I will freeze them.

Daily life at 209

We start our day here

It's the only place completely set up and is functioning like we want. Mine is on the left with medium brew, Hubby's in on the right with bold brew. My tea box is to the left of my coffee pot. If the weather isn't bad we sit even in drizzle out on the kitchen porch and watch the dogs run around and the Amish kids walk to the corner to catch a buggy ride to school.

This is okay...not thrilled to have it sitting at the cold air return but for right now it works as there is NO drawer space for my kitchen towels.

This is set up real close to how it was so it's good. I used to have my metal bowls sitting on top which I do prefer but that causes issues with open bags of potato chips and boxes of cereal on top of frig. I think Hubby will get away from the cold cereal.

I still open the right side for the milk which is now on the left side due to water filter on the top of the right side. This is SMALLER than our other one which is now in the basement. I think we both regret not spending the money and ordering the same size in black.

In all the years we have had this cabinet I've never been able to use the side table because it sat at a door way. It's nice to be able to put what ever we are putting in or pulling out on that now. We do need a better radio, as the local radio station plays decent oldies and has weather every 30 min and local news at the top of the hour. The tv is on an antenna that gets a station over 90 miles from us. Okay for the weather but nothing about local news here.  I was able to put my bento boxes and steamer baskets in with Mother's pots and pans that I keep in the cabinet.

For the past week, at least once a day if not twice a day, this is what the back of my Jeep looks like. Boy do I miss the Ford being able to be driven because I could get twice as much in the Ford as I do the Jeep.IF I do twice in one day I stay home the next day and put the second load away while Hubby goes and gets a load of stuff from garage or farrowing house that he will put away.

We have started to have a routine. Coffee and kitchen porch in the morning to discuss what needs done, sometimes at the breakfast bar or dining table.

Our Amish neighbor told us this morning they didn't know if we were out of bed yet since there was no lights on... a friend of his needed a ride due to a horse not doing well on the way to work and stopped at the neighbor's house. We open curtains and as long as we can see what we are doing we don't turn on lights.This house has a lot of windows and it not as dark as the old place. Since he now knows that he can't go by lights on and to just look to see if the back door blind is up any. We raise it when we let the dogs out the first thing as they go out the back door instead of the kitchen. Their preference for what ever reason.

I will do a load of laundry and hang on the kitchen porch clothes line unless it's really raining hard enough to get the porch wet. Then I wait until the next day.

I put 3-5 boxes away or sort through them to list what I need to find a place for.It's now , where can I put this so I remember to look for it here mode.
Hubby now has 3 wardrobes and I have two clothing racks.Lack of closets is a pain. A place for shoes for both of us is worse. I can see some items going away.

If we are both home we eat lunch at 11:30. If not then we try to have dinner together between 4-6. Otherwise we are known for grazing for what ever that is quick.

Back to work for me...
Blessed Be

I refuse to buy

something I know I have but can't find because it's not in the box I thought I packed it in. SIGH I really really thought I had it better organized. I guess that is being frugal...frustrating but frugal.

Items I don't know where are going are put in boxes and put in a certain place and a note of what it is so when I figure it out I can put it away.

We decided to change the furniture around and if we don't have a place for it right now it will go to the barn until next spring. That way when I finish doing the lofts it won't be a "blast, should have kept that".

I started washing the blankets etc Hubby used to protect things while moving them. Since he hasn't had time to put in my new clothes line I am hanging them on the clothes line on the kitchen porch that the Amish lady had. They hung clothes on the porches and basement when the weather was bad or cold. That means I can only hang a few blankets at a time but cheaper than running the dryer.

We have been sticking to the menu for a change and I've not felt too tired to eat let alone cook and clean up. Decided leftovers once a week.

We now have hot water so I was able to use my dish washer last night and let it run after we went to bed.We did have to have the plumber come back in due to an error code on the water heater and what we thought was a leak. Wasn't a leak just no one had used the hot water and the plug in the tub adjusted. While he fixing that he realize the sump pump had been shifted and the float was sticking on the wall so he adjust that and check a couple other things to make sure everything was how it should be.

I put a couple bath towels up at windows that still don't have enough curtains to keep the sunlight out from heating up the house... we are in 100's with heat index. I  folded a panel of curtains in half to use in the dining room. The curtains are too long but work fine folded. When I get time (ha ha)I might just sew them so that is how they are.

I opened the house this morning as the rain came in to cool things off for awhile. It wasn't raining in on the east side due to porches and overhangs. Nice to turn the AC off at least for a bit.

We changed how the railing /banister to the staircase to the lofts are going to be so we can do them ourselves instead of paying the contractor that is coming in on Saturday.

Saturday.... contractor and his crew got the flooring down in the north and south lofts. He will come back next week to put the pine panels on the bottom of the walls. He is hoping to have the rolling pantry cart for my regular bathroom done when he comes back as he decided to make it at his own home. I put together meat and cheese platter with assorted breads, a veggie tray and fruit tray for the 5 of us.

Hubby and I finished the veggie and fruit trays today, Sunday. I will most likely put part of the meat and cheese in the freezer with some of the bread. The rustic white bread is almost gone. I already made notes for the menus in the next weeks to use up the rest of the bread, meat and cheese.

I went over to the old place and packed up another car load of things that can't be transported in the trailer.

Punch out list was 304 a couple months ago, was down to 119 on Friday. We have it down to 109 today.

Calling it a day, I was up through the night with a migraine due to my arm hurting (weather is now 60) with the colder weather.

Blessed Be

First thing I cooked on my new stove/menu

 WAS>>>>Hot water to wash the new pots and pans with...sigh..still no hot water.

At least I am now set up to cook and clean without the hot water heater working. Talk about going back to my childhood.We shifted our work day to mornings here and afternoons back at the old place to finish it up and take hot showers before coming back. The old landlord was fine with it for another week but since I am feeling a bit rough I was concern with another flare up of Crohn's so I paid Sept rent. He said he would prorate it for when we actually are completely out.

We are focusing on becoming zero or very little waste. I know it won't happen over night. 

First we decided why the change... truthfully it was because we very seldom have 1 full white trash bag of trash a week but have to pay the same as someone that has 10 bags of trash. I talked to the lowest priced company and they suggested I pay for 1 month to start. From what they have seen the most trash is produced when you first move in and when you move out.  They figured we would start living closer to how our neighbors do and end up with zero waste because our township does recycling once a month.

Second, I hate paying that much for something I can get by without using.

We still might end up spending the money but at least I will have tried.

We will not be getting cable but using the tower Hubby bought from a fellow HAM radio operator. That's on his to do list.

We spent time with our ins guy and he priced out 2 different ways to insure us and we chose to do the suburban farm as it was only $200 more but allows us to earn money doing hobbies. The other required no income from the farm and we know that will change in the future. Ended up with it not being as expensive as we thought AND it covered more of our stuff that wasn't covered before...like hand tools...AKA 35 screwdrivers we have between us and yes we have used them ALL.

I figured out the menu based on what we have right here at this time.

canned corn beef hash, biscuits(canned) salad and canned mandarin oranges

pasta with meatballs (freezer)  homemade sauce ,garlic bread (freezer),peas (freezer)and canned tropical fruit salad

meatloaf , mashed potatoes ,rolls($5.99 split a meal from local store) corn(freezer),and canned peaches

Beef and noodles, mashed potatoes,rolls ($6.99 split a meal from local store) , cole slaw (from local store as we don't eat enough of it to make it) and home canned applesauce

One pot green beans(home canned), potatoes and ham(leftover in freezer), cornbread (from scratch), and home canned pears

Saturday we have 3 contractors coming in to finish the south and north lofts. I already told them I would provide lunch. I know two of them are sandwich eaters. I will make a meat and cheese platter, veggie tray and fruit tray along with assort breads. I plan to bake brownies or a cake also. What ever is not ate will be our dinner and then frozen for meals later.

Sunday will be leftovers or home canned beef veggie soup and leftover bread.

1st morning at 209.

We slept in to 7 am... even the dogs. AND they didn't get us up during the night. Charlotte went out at 10:30 pm but Hubby was still up.

We had our first cup of coffee watching the sun come up over the trees and listening to the horses' hoof hit the road as they went down the other road about 1/3 mile from us. Even the dogs would cock their heads to listen. Not a sound we are used to.

Wilbur decided to check out the perimeter which is now all fenced so we don't have to worry about any of them getting in to the fields or the road. It's about 2 acres for them to roam around. He decided to come check us out to see if we had anything for him.

Rascal has now marked every single tree, bush, plant , building, fence posts LOL

Charlotte swiped Rascal's ball while he was busy.

Hubby was just enjoying sitting and relaxing before we started back to working.

And since I snapped Hubby's picture he insisted I have mine take also...

Nope I didn't brush my hair yet LOL...

We still have tons of work to do , still have things to box up and bring this way also.

The dogs have adjusted so well that when we went over the other day , they wanted back in the truck within 30 min , didn't even go check out the barn or cows.

Frugal choices for this week to come

Yes to come....

We figured out we have almost 9 loads with our trailer to move us by Thursday Friday the latest. Hubby figured up  what it would cost with fuel and wear and tear on the truck. He then called and priced rental moving trucks . Enterprise (once again) was the best deal especially adding AARP and ENTERPRISE as we have a membership (have since 1998). 26 ft box truck, 400 miles free, Tuesday to Saturday was $100 LESS than what is was going to cost us for our own trailer.AND it should be only 1 trip except for dishes, glass canning jars and frozen/refrigerated food. Those I am transporting in my car.

I am hoping tomorrow or Wed to go see my Dad as he fell going to the bathroom and busted his face and glasses. The Nursing home called my brother immediately after taking care of Dad and they aren't sure if he had his slippers on his feet or was in socks because his slippers were under his wheelchair where he fell. Heart breaking to hear about and my brother did take a picture and send it to me... Brother told Dad he was sending me the picture and Dad told him I better bring him pictures of the house being done... so part of his memory is still working. Not much but some.

We decide to not try to fix meals at night. I cooked a ham in the crock pot and sliced it up and put in the frig so we can have sandwiches at night time or for breakfast. We buy our lunch at the local store that has a special lunch daily for $4.99 to $7.99. Wednesday is meatloaf and Thursday is beef and noodles. Those are big enough to split between us so it won't be as much. Today was suppose to be country fried steak and mashed potatoes for $4.99. She was sold out at 12:30 so gave us Swiss steak with mashed potatoes for the same price. Hubby bought 2 since there wasn't enough to split... AKA he was hungry as he didn't eat breakfast before leaving this morning.

Got to go pack the car and wrap up the evening.

Blessed Be

SHE (209) IS DONE

or at least the main floor is done.

A good cleaning left to do in the mudroom , east loft and west loft.
Contractor already hired to redo south and north loft (our schedule conflicted with his or it would have already been done).

New furniture is in.

I've ordered slider shelves for a couple of the cabinets that will hold pots and pans.

Loads left to move...

1 of furniture. (plus one to take mantle to daughter 1)

2 of pantry(including freezer and frig)

2 of household (pots, pans, dishes, holiday stuff etc)

1 in farrowing house

Hubby said 3 in garage with all his tools and tables etc but I think only 2.

and then cleaning here.

Plan is to be OUT of here completely by the 30th/31st except for cleaning part.

I doubt if we pack, load and unload and Reload 2 times a day... but we will see.

View from front room door way through dining area unto kitchen, you can even see the lime green laundry room

what is now sitting between the stove and the cabinets so MAYBE we won't be stupid and sit a hot pan down on my onyx counter tops.

I'm not going to put up my knife magnetic strips or the paper towel holder etc until I see how I actually use the set up of this kitchen. We have decided to try to be zero waste so I need to now work on how to set that up when our recycling is only once a month at the township hall. The Amish family next door offered to help do that as they are zero waste.

This is my new china hutch. I'm still thinking of how to put what dishes in it. The every day dishes will probably go in caddy that is sitting on the end of the counter right now.

I've ordered sliders for a couple of cabinets for the pots and pans since I put the Hoosier where  I was going to hang my pegboard. The corner cabinet I already decided for small appliances. The rest is kind of wait and see.

Oh yeah... 20 yrs later, we got new furniture ...

The was my Mother's rocker she had when she died. It won't be sitting here for long as I want a "game/puzzle table to sit here so it will most likely move to dining area or even the bedroom. Either place where I can sit and read.

moving this week

It might be a hard shove as Hubby is not home from fishing trip until Saturday night but he asked for the plan of attack to be written up so we can post it on the wall to stay focus to be moved by the 30th with cleaning on the 31st.

He is changing the barn around to reflect, woodworking/weld shop area, furniture restore area. 2 car garage area, tractor area, and dog kennel area.
THEN he is finishing the fence and gates .

I have to finish cleaning...I haven't touched the east and west lofts yet so that's on the list for today. AFTER they deliver the furniture.

Ins agent is coming in Monday (which is why the barn needs changed around 1st) and needs a some what set up to make sure we are covered correctly.I already got an estimate of what it would cost us to replace the barn as we are using it that he definitely under estimated.

SO here's what I have

I went out to the barn and got Mother's rocker that I was using to sit in out there.Cleaned her up , needs a repair but usable as is and put her in the corner when I will probably sit a table for us to do puzzles and games during the winter. Painters teased me about sitting watching them work since I was actually eating my lunch.

I did not plan to match the paint(which is the color of Hubby's truck) to this chair. This chair has floated through the family after I went and got it out of state. A friend was closing plants down (the heart breaking part of his job) and the company he works for told him to give the stuff away or to toss in dumpster. He gave everything away even when it meant he took it to the thrift shops to keep things out of the dumpster. This is a chair that came out of the 1st plant he closed where I took 2 loads and brought it back to OH for several families.Needs a couple little repairs but usable. My furniture repair area is going to over flow LOL.

Our head painter was waiting for drywall to dry so he could repaint a wall that he caught that was messed up, you could see it when the west sunlight hit the wall as you walked in ...not acceptable to this perfectionist in his job.  He went around and gave another coat to all the window sills as they are the ones that take the hardest hit of wear according to him especially if you have children or pets... which is the same thing to him also. He did touch up where they installed the counter also. Put a door back on after adjusting the hinges.

Our 2nd painter finished his section and was waiting on the head painter asked if he could fix both bathroom doors (he realized if you stood the the side you could see in especially coming out of the laundry room down the hall ) and installed the hook and eye locks on the doors and then since head painter was still waiting on drywall , he chose to hang ALL my curtain rods, sweep down all the walls and then the floor  and empty the trash cans in the barn, porches and house while I was cleaning the wheelchair bathroom and shoving pots and pans in the cabinets.

This company don't believe in sitting around and doing nothing, if they can't do what they are there for (like waiting for drywall or paint to dry) they find something to do that helps the owner with permission.

One of them will be back today to finish the wall as the drywall still was damp when we all left.

The negative side of this move...

These 3 don't understand. Wilbur (boxer) has moved several times so I think/feel we are triggering him as the last move he didn't go with my daughter or her kids, he came to us.This week was hardest with Hubby on the fishing trip and not coming home at all and I am working longer hours at 209 carrying both our loads. 

My first 2 hrs of my day is attention and play time with these 3. THEN I get ready for work and I take them for a ride around the block(4 miles). Charlotte goes in the cage (that goes away when we move as they will stay in kennel in barn so they can go outside when they want) and the doors to bathroom and bedroom get shut. If Charlotte can't lay on the bed then no one lays on the bed .

I try to be back in 9 hrs (basing it on if I was working for a company). I do have a couple friends  that will come let dogs out if I have to go longer than that. We do the same for them. Which is why we decided to build the kennel so the dogs could go in and out when we are gone and yet keep the house secure as we couldn't put a dog door in... we would have to take the bottom half completely.

My 1st hour home is focused on getting them outside, playing with them and giving tons of attention. Then we all sit on the couch and watch the news (that is usually Hubby) while I eat dinner. Then back outside to play and just be outside for another hour. Then I get things around for the next day. We take a ride again. Then get around for bed with one more time of being outside. When we come in , it's off to bed, a little later than usually but I want to get the outside time in as much as possible with being with them.

The positive of being outside with them and playing....I've lost another size in clothes and gained some muscle.

Off to work  I go.... no whistling... I can't whistle... breaks my heart a little because both parents and brother whistled. Daddy told me Grandma couldn't whistle either.

what was done yesterday at 209

Barn gutters are on. Hubby has a down spout to put on (it's there but Hubby forgot to get the piece to add it to the other pipe.)

counter top is installed. Sink is installed. Plumber notified so he can come back and hook up faucet and dishwasher.

This is the basement door. The door handle had been sticking and we were leaving it open a bit...well, it got bumped shut while moving things down the hall and it decided to latch and break...so the painter that had finished his work and was waiting on the other painter decided to work on it thinking he could fix it... he ended up handing me the handle and told me to replace it and the one on the bedroom door and laundry room door because they are starting to do the same thing... they are original to the house and the springs in them are wearing out... at least this door won't lock shut on me.

Back to work.

209 update ...short short short...

or maybe not.

First I had another bout with my Crohn's but I was sitting in the doctor office waiting for a following up so he gave me a shot to help with the cramping and told me it was just doing it's job and it would cramp some so he gave me meds to take daily for another week... yeah really the ilium was starting to die when I was in. and since I've had this happen before (penicillin shut my system down) I know it hurts horribly to start back up. With in 30 min I felt okay....I'm okay with okay LOL

Head contractor found out I was in hospital and put all his crew on alert to do what ever they could to help me....so when ever one was waiting for something they wiped down walls and ceilings...

AS of today (8/22/2018) There is touch up on 4 spots, a coat of poly on one section of floor that was redone and another coat of paint on one of the mudroom walls.  ALL that is to be done Thursday (tomorrow). Would have been done today BUT

COUNTER TOP IS COMING IN TODAY (right where the floor is being redone) at 12:15... yes, really, that is the time they gave us...weird.

Barn gutters are coming in either today or tomorrow (depends on weather)

Screening for house gutters that got missed is Monday or Tuesday.

Final appraisal is Thursday at 1 pm

Friday the new furniture will be in at 1-2 (they are coming from an hour away).

Hubby is fishing in the gulf... HA HA...if I knew it would have kicked up the finish mode I would have moved his trip up.

I couldn't find my brand new dust mop so decided to clean the stove

I am so glad they didn't test the oven when they tested the burners and Hubby remembered the contractor that helped him move it in put it in there because he thought I would be using it the next day but they were going to put it in the laundry room when they got it in the house.

So I cleaned the regular bathroom

So now when I walk down the hall I see this... still need goop be gone to get the paint splatters off the tub and the floor.

But except for installing towel hooks and the curtains this room is DONE.

At least I can soak in the soaker's tub and crawl onto the lounge for a nap LOL

well geeze... 209...

Okay, We go over to 209 this morning.... I was told Thursday morning the bedroom and hall would be finished Friday. Kitchen, staircase in kitchen to lofts  and dining room would be finished today and the mudroom and front room would be stained TODAY.....

SIGH... did not happen at all...

Bedroom and hall will be finished today (Monday) 8/13

Staircase MIGHT be stained depending on time of finishing the bedroom and hall.

Tuesday 8/14

stair case either stained or steelwooled and 1st coat of poly.

kitchen and dining room steelwooled and cleaned and then 2nd coat of poly.

Front room and mudroom cleared of tools and paper removed from floor.Floor will be checked to make sure it's ready for stain.

Wednesday 8/15

staircase steelwooled and1st or 2nd coat of poly

Kitchen and dining room steelwooled and 3rd coat of poly

Any thing needing touched up so mudroom and front room can be stained will be done so.

Front room will be stained maybe.

I have GI follow up early afternoon and will swing by after appt to pick up boxes from Son 2 's garage on way home.

Thursday 8/16

staircase steelwooled and 2nd or 3rd coat of poly

front room 1st or 2nd coat of stain (2 coats due to being oak instead of maple like the rest of the floors)

mudroom 1st coat of stain

we are cleared to move stuff in to bedroom, laundry room and bathroom that is connected to hall. I have taken the 2 shelves that was suppose to go in the wheelchair bathroom and put them in the laundry room as the finish was not brushed nickle like the bathroom. I needed 2 shelves over the washer and dryer anyways..

 I will clean bedroom, bathroom, laundry room and hall.

Clothes washer, dryer, and black frig will be moved to 209 . Frig will be set up in barn until we can walk of kitchen floor. I hope to have at least 1 deep freezer that can go over to 209 also.

Friday 8/17

staircase steelwooled and 3rd coat of poly if not finished.
We can walk on it the next day as what he is using on the steps dries a lot faster than what is on the floors.

Front room 2nd coat of stain or 1 coat of poly.

mudroom 1st coat of poly

AC in lofts will be turned on due to contractor coming in next day.

Saturday 8/18

contractor coming in to finish lofts. Thinks it will take 40 hrs (20 hrs each as his son is coming to help) so it's going to take 2-3 days.

Kitchen and dining room cleared to walk on.

I will clean kitchen and dining room.

Son 2 is coming up to move furniture we can do without either to house or barn. Hubby and I walked through the house here and put notes on the furniture to be moved so who ever is looking at it knows it goes and I can focus on making sure it's ready to go.

Peg board to 209.. First 85 % of these pots and pans will go to daughter 3 who is literally down to her last pot (thanks to her teens walking away while cooking on high) . I am going to clean, lightly sand, primer and paint yellow to match walls in kitchen with it at 209 since that is were all 6 sets of my saw horses are. DUH

Sunday 8/19 

We are going to lunch with friends and Son 2 at Hong Kong. and Hubby will be shopping for the last of the odds and ends he needs for his fishing trip that is on Tuesday.

I will finish clearing Monty deep freezer if he's not done.

Monday 8/20

I will finish cleaning kitchen and dining room.

I have follow up doctor in late afternoon.

Waterline to frig, power and plumbing to dishwasher to be installed and dryer vent put in.

I will clean peg board, lightly sand (re-clean) and primer.

front room steelwooled, 1st or 2nd coat of poly.

mudroom steelwooled 2nd coat of poly

Will take Hubby to son 2 to spend night as son 2 is taking Hubby to the airport the next morning as he lives 20 mins from airport and the flight is at 6 am.

Tuesday 8/21

Front room steelwooled , 2nd or 3rd coat of poly

mudroom steelwooled 3rd coat of poly (walk on day 8/24)

I will put 1st coat of paint on peg board, might get a 2nd coat if paint dries well..

Wednesday 8/22

I will constantly check my cell phone for updates of Hubby leaving airport, his flights and arrival when he get to Florida. His buddy is going to take pics for me also when he meets up with him.

I will finish peg board if that's not done.

Front room steelwooled and 3rd coat of poly if not done  (walk on date 8/25)

Kitchen counter gets installed at 12:15 pm.... They will also install the faucet.

I will bring a load from the kitchen to put away.


Thursday 8/23 

I will bring another load from the kitchen.

I will clean the cabinets, install shelf paper and put everything away that I can.

I'll pit stop at the trash company to start service the following week. We already set the trash service to stop here 8/31 the last day of the billing cycle here the company we have here.

I will check my phone for updates of fish being caught LOL.

Friday 8/24

I will clean mudroom and load in what goes in that area that I can deal with by myself.

I will clean east and west lofts(I doubt if the south and north will be completely finished at this point if they are I will clean them also)

I will hang curtains in rooms that I can walk on.

Saturday 8/25

I will go get Hubby and spend the day listening to him about his trip. He might want to swing by 209 depending on how he feels. I am leaving the day open for what he wants.

Sunday 8/26

We will go to 209 and check what is left on the list. I can see Hubby mowing.

I will clean front room

Monday 8/27

Another load to 209, and put away.

Hubby will work on finishing the fence for the dogs.

New Furniture is delivered which is most of the front room furniture.

Peg board hung so I can put pots and pans on it.

Curtains in any rooms still needing that.

Tuesday 8/28

internet and home phone service will be installed. ( last utility )

Fencing should be finished this day


Later than what we wanted and definitely later than the contractor wanted

We plan to load trailer and take a load every 3 days instead of every other day since I am on the icky side still.

I hope the house stuff ,including the pig barn and farrowing house cleared we use for storage is over to 209 by the 18th leaving just Hubby's tools etc in the garage and his motorcycle (which we could take sooner) to be moved at this point.

but we all know...the best laid plans...kind of like wanting to take pictures this morning and not being able to get to any room that was done enough to take a picture LOL.

Blessed Be

frugal while in the hospital... finishing up 209

Yep, I'm in the hospital with my Crohn's....Hubby decided against going after daughter 4 who was going to help finish packing up the pantry and moving it and cleaning the east and west lofts on Saturday because he wasn't sure he wouldn't have to turn around and come back to the hospital because me.

 I got a dozen pictures of boxes of food asking where to put it from him instead. She knew exactly where to put it and made us both laugh when I shared them with her that he hadn't realized how I organized the pantry.

We were giving the estimate of what my hospital bill will be after insurance with the offer of 5% off if we prepaid now (up to 10 days after release) and if it was more than the estimate they would still take 5% off the balance since we did prepay and if they over charged us they would send out the refund with in a week of the insurance paying.I seriously doubt if we are over paying with the meds I am getting.

Doctor making the hospital calls for my GI has decided along with my GI and the hospital doctor that my meds need changed to stop this cycle of being in here this time of year. So he checked to make sure what he was wanting to give me had no blue dye since I have a sever allergy to blue dye (not natural kind ) AND that my insurance would cover the costs because he thinks stress is my biggest trigger... I am also to be on anti anxiety meds until things settle down and I can get in to a good routine and stabilize my diet. PLUS he checked to make sure the meds were generic so they would be cheaper.

I brought my own diapers... saving the charge of those items which is double what I spent on the diapers. I brought my own toothpaste. But forgot the tooth brush...oh well. I brought my own soap, so there is no charge for that either.

I have food at home that I can eat (soft diet) so no having to pit stop and grab something on way home. Since I can't cook at 209 I asked about the food I was eating for lunch there and it was okayed to eat also... well the egg roll was NOT cleared due to cabbage but if I make my own with bean sprouts and hamburger I can have egg rolls. I probably won't be making egg rolls or eating them for 2 weeks. In 2 weeks I can go back to my regular diet. WITH including 2 servings daily of  kefir or Greek style yogurt daily along with my vsl#3. I can have 1 - 20 oz soft drink per day, ginger soda/ginger ale being the number 1 preference but any others okay. I can still have up to 3 cups of coffee per day (I drink 2) and
up to  48 ounces of tea (hot or cold) PLUS water of course.. Smaller meals, more often or even just 6 snacks a day.

I have been ordered to get UP and MOVE more... as a chef I had a very active day at work and then more at home, now I sit more and my body is taking the blunt of the lack of movement. I am also going back to yoga as stress is a big issue.

I've wrote up a "if I can" plan to finish packing and moving this week AND had it okayed by all 3 doctors with acknowledgement I will get sore core muscles and I will be tired but I listed timed breaks with food since I habitually carry water with me while working.

As for 209... the last of the floors and odds and ends will be done by Friday. We have a person who is bring his son to finish the south and north lofts since I am down on Saturday. They think 40 hrs but more like 20 with the two of them... Already gave us the costs unless it takes longer.Hubby and I think we will give them a bonus as they are coming in last minute on the weekend to help us out after their day jobs through the week instead of having us on their regular list of jobs.

Counter tops come in on the 22nd. Barn roofing has been delivered to be installed and the screening for the gutters should be in this week also.

Just finish cleaning 209, packing up Staley, move everything and unpack it and then cleaning Staley... BEFORE Hubby leaves next week for deep sea fishing...

Pictures...lots of pictures will be coming.

Blessed Be everyone, stay healthy, take care of yourselves, give yourself ME time.