Motivation Monday Task Tuesday Waste not want not Wed.

Heavens what a week.

Since trash is hauled to the road on Monday night. My motivation was to check all 3 frigs for anything that needed tossed(lost celery that Hubby forgot to wrap tight with the foil). I also finished decluttering the "bucket"(flours and oats in 5 gal buckets) room. Had 2 bags of trash, some recyclables and 3 boxes of stuff to go to Daughter 4. She uses it, passes it on or sells it.  I started a spreadsheet to track what we buy from Amazon. It helps to keep track of stuff and the amount not going on to pay the mortgage down. 😁Boy did that comment make Hubby change his mind about ordering some stuff.

A neighbor sent over a meal... 3 glass containers that were 8 x8 inches. Main dish in one, two sides in the other and a dessert in the 3rd.... just the right amounts for us to have 2 meals from it. Hubby liked the idea of the 3 dishes, he asked if we had any thing that size... NOPE. We hadn't downsized those type of dishes. He did order those from Amazon after going through The Prudent Homemaker site. Maybe we won't have so many leftovers in the freezer because we got tired of eating it.

I made a casserole that I got off Amish365. Zucchini hamburger casserole. Texture was soft like custard can be. We really liked it and have leftover in the freezer for when I am down with surgery.

Task Tuesday...

I used my walker and walked around the 1st floor to make sure I can get around safely after surgery. 

I spent 30 minutes working in the east loft decluttering.

I updated finances and the calendar.

Then I went to bed sick... 24 hr bug

Waste Not Want not Wednesday.

Hubby used the last piece of chicken in the frig to make a wrap (tortilla wrap) for his lunch as he will be between jobs and will be able to eat.

I took a package of thin sliced beef out of freezer for supper. Not sure how it's going to be used until I know what time Hubby is going to get in. If it's going to be late it will be wraps (he loves wraps but not sandwiches)

random thoughts

Slow down Sunday? 

Make it Happen Monday? 

Task for Tuesday?

Waste not, want not Wednesday?

Thankful Thursday?

Finally Friday?

Speed up Saturday? 

 I have a bored kid LOL

Did the budget

We are over in a few areas and under in some others so it balanced. BUT I don't want that to continue through this year. 

Instead of paying the bills, buying the groceries , blah blah blah and then saving what is left or putting it over on the debt AKA zeroing out. I paid the house bills (the electric is the only one that floats but I figured out the average as they don't do budget billing) then I pay all the "extra" amounts on the debt. Leaving what is left of groceries, fuel for dog truck, all the odds and ends that can nickel and dime you if you are not careful. 

I bought vacuum bags for my food saver, bought generic. I would like to have more wide mouth canning lids. Maybe 10 more dozen. The bulk store has not gotten any in yet.

I would like to buy some plants for the garden since I am not growing any of my own this year.  I priced them at Burpee as they are usually the most expensive.SO I at least have that cost. 

I down loaded 2020 orders from Amazon, check what I spent and on what. Pandemic cost us an extra 1k for things I wouldn't have bought.  I have set up a spreadsheet to track what I am buying and the costs for each month instead of at the end of the year. Daughter 4 is going to help keep me on track

Tuesday update

We stopped at CVS and I bought $42.72 worth of granola bars for Hubby and paid $2 after coupons and extra bucks. 

We went to chiro which was right around the corner from CVS. 

 Then we went to go pick up our dog truck at the mechanic's. It was on the way home. I drove it home. Was a bit leary trying to get in the truck by myself. Out is easy as I just turn sideways and slide out. I did it better than I did getting off the recliner part of the couch last night. Definitely will be sitting in the chair behind the couch to watch tv after surgery.

Hubby went to pay his work truck payment and fuel up since he has work this morning at dawn. He also stopped at Michael Angelo's pizza and brought supper home. 

We had talked about getting some take out since we didn't go out for my birthday but I didn't bring it up thinking if I just didn't say anything he would forget and I would just do something with eggs. Since it was supper time when we got back. 

WELL... he brought home plain coated popcorn chicken with garlic butter sauce, deluxe 18 inch pizza, cheesy bread with garlic butter sauce, a sausage, onion, and ham calzone for him and a "pms" calzone for me... (pepperoni mushroom sausage), and a chef salad for each of us. He thought we could put part of it back in the freezer for when I have surgery. Good thought but GEEZE. 

We had sunshine ... 

been awhile since we have saw the sun rise.. back to dreary with clouds and snow flurries today

Blessed Be

Weekend savings

 I roasted 5 pie pumpkins, made puree and then put on dehydrator sheets over night.

This is the result

I then crumbled it

to put in my spice grinder

and ground it up to use in puddings, breads, pancakes... I haven't done pie. But anything that I can toss a couple spoon fulls into does great...even whipped cream . I do usually add some pumpkin spice along with it.

This usually lasts me a year. I try to keep enough to add to vanilla pudding to make pumpkin mousse at Thanksgiving.

I made 5 gallons of laundry soap. 

We ate from the freezers and pantry. I have 25 empty jars (some fruit and veggies came from freezer) and the kitchen freezer top drawer is now at just a little bit of ice cream, a bag of peas, a bag of peas and carrots and a bag of ham for what ever casserole. We will be working on the second freezer drawer of that frig next... I know there is some fried chicken in it. Plenty of fruit and some cooked hamburger for casseroles etc.

I placed an order with Amazon for some things that Hubby needed stocked for his homemade trail mix. He paid for it out of his money since the only time he eats it is when he is in the truck working. Let's him keep his sugar level and not have to worry about where to stop for something to eat or making a mess in his truck as he really doesn't like to eat sandwiches or such in the truck. 

I inventoried my canning jars and canning lids. I still need to buy bulk wide mouth canning lids when they come in again. M said she had enough to get through canning her meat and if she found any more wide mouth lids she would try to get me some also. I need 730 more jars if I am feeding daughter 4 for a full year.

I made a list of what veggie plants I will need to buy this year AFTER I made the list of what I want to put in the garden minus what I can buy at the auction or from Amish growers. I will go through my seeds next. Since I am having hip surgery Feb 16th , I am not growing my own plants this year. Less frugal but less stress.

For my birthday Hubby trimmed all the oak trees that had limbs low enough to hit me when I mowed. He also finally put up the tv in the dining room that we have had now for 2 months. We want to watch the weather news while drinking our coffee at the table. We do NOT watch tv while eating. 

Son 2 had our dog truck while his car got fixed. When his car was done, he dropped off our truck to get the oil changed... he also figured out where the tiny coolant leak was since the truck sat in his garage instead of a gravel driveway. 

This is what my granddaughter sent me for my birthday

She says she feels huge... Mid April is the due date

Blessed Be

Did you know salt had sugar in it?

 Yep... I checked it out. 

2nd ingredient.... I have to "eat" 1/8th of a teaspoon a day for my goiter. 

I have the mudroom decluttered and the laundry room decluttered. I would have continued but my hip and leg said they were done... I might coax them to declutter the kitchen later.

I am waiting for the pie pumpkins to cool so I can puree the flesh and then dehydrate. I will grind that for powder afterwards. Easier to make pumpkin pancakes or muffins that way. 

How the year ended financially.

 

Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without: 

 It was during this time that Calvin Coolidge was quoted as saying “Eat it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without” (Later, the phrase became more popular with, “Use it up.”)

We live in our Ira's and what ever we earn. In Dec  Hubby started getting his Social Security.

We had several projects to do, some had the stuff here already.

Jan 2020 our investments were down to $300,000. Hubby decided to not work for Ohio dept of transportation plowing snow. SO he started a business hauling and doing odd jobs for Amish/Mennonites. We picked up some cash making ice blocks for E and M since no ponds or river froze for the Amish to make ice blocks. I picked up some selling asparagus, traded asparagus for 10 gallons of beets also (mother in law got half of it)

We pay for our health ins, co pays, meds, otc , out of pocket came to a total of $14,600.  

We had NO money put back for anything.

Mortgage, property taxes and farm insurance remained at $22,800.

Propane was 6 tanks at $1.899 ($4075 with tax)when we moved in for the first year to 5 tanks at $1.699.($3098) Our propane company said that was great.

Electric average was $150/month ($1800)first year to $125/month ($1500)

Trash service  remained the same $204 a year.

Life ins remains the same of $1332 a year 

Internet/ home phone dropped from $1440 a year to $1020 a year.

Cellphones dropped from $1380 to $1320 a year. We both carry to cover large amount of data that we do use.

Car insurance stayed the same since Hubby bought a new truck $8500 a year.

Dogs (we did find cheaper food and meds that work better for Wilbur and Rascal, Charlotte still needs shots for her allergies), non food, pandemic crap, food, gardens, fruit trees and berry bushes etc . I did not track very well since the goal was to restock completely for a year.

THEN in Sept Daughter 4 was diagonized with ovarian cancer. The new job she had for only 25 days let her go as they would not cover her time off, they offered her to quit due to medical so they could hire her back when she is recovered as they don't do rehires any other way. IF she had stayed with her old company whose pay was about half of the new company she would have had medical time off, with pay and medical ins. That so called "change for the better" she thought she was doing, actually was for the worse. We figured out her budget...$24000 a year since a hit and run driver totaled her car she is driving and I CUT our budget so we wouldn't pull more from our IRAS to cover her. I am thankful I am completely stocked in non food and food before she went down.  The money we are using to support her would have been used to redo the front porch and add an ADA wheelchair ramp. 

GOALS FOR 2021. 

Within the last week we have put money back for emergencies so we don't need that now. 

We put money back for the medical out of pocket needed for the year. 

Hubby is now getting his social security to cover his business if needed as he did know there would be slow months. Any money he doesn't use is being divided by 4 between the mortgage, 2 loans and savings.

When I start getting my social security the same will be done 

Any earned money gets divided by four also.

When Daughter 4 is supporting herself we will let the money divide the money by 4 until we reset for next year.

I need to keep  better track of the finances going out and in. 

How are things going for you?

Blessed Be 

Son 2 test results Daughter 4 (Anne ...she said I could share pic )

for you. 

Son 2 came back negative in 3 tests. He did talk the friend into going to get another test and she told her dad she was not coming back to take care of him if he didn't go get tested. Her dad went with her to get tested. 

Daughter 4 came up to get the car tags and some odds and ends and bring jars back to me. 

Wilbur was happy to see her.  Rascal gave kisses because Wilbur did as he is only friendly with someone if Wilbur is... and Charlotte who is actually the pup to Daughter 4's dogs kept barking at her and wanting her to play chase..you can just see Charlotte over Wilbur sneaking up to tug on Daughter 4 sleeve.

She had her hair dyed lavender because she let a person that was taking their tests for recertification for hairdresser...she flunked as she burnt Daughter's blonde hair to white with yellow burnt roots. Another hairdresser conditioned the hair, gave her special shampoo etc for her hair to use daily to help it get healthy again and then hair painted her hair lavender (Daughter's choice) ... actually as much as I hate to say it...the lavender does more for her than her natural hair of blonde as she looks to have some color in her face instead of being Caesper as she is called. Does not help she is starting to lose her hair due to chemo.Said she was thankful her hair was thick to begin with as it might be too thin or gone in 5 wks.

We all had masks on in the home, social distant, I sprayed her with lysol before she got in the car and sprayed the house with Lysol after she left.

She is tired and is having some side affects of Chemo...she knows it's the side affect as her doctor wrote out what they could be so she can just keep telling herself she is okay, it's just a side affect. Glad she takes it at night and usually sleeps through most of it but has had some visual hallucinations when she wakes up in middle of night to potty. She has learned to turn lights on and that seems to have stopped it. She can't wait to go back on her lupus meds and she really never figured she would say that.

 We are figuring her recovery from the cancer and mine from hip replacement should be about the same time. Which is also about the time her daughter should be delivering Elizabeth AKA Lizzy.

Hubby put the cup she bought him on his desk and put his pens in it. He only drinks out of a travel mug from Speedway. She thought it was good since that is where he pays his business bills LOL.

Dreary Monday

 My 3rd cup of coffee which is also my last cup of the day. Laundry is on the drying racks and it is very damp and dreary today. Dishes including the pans are washed and on the drying pad. Stuff for daughter 4 is gathered except some things she is taking from the freezer like green tomato slices and Brussels sprouts. She should be here late morning. 

Son 2 called to tell me his friend just tested positive so he is not bringing our dog truck back until he is sure he didn't get covid. His car is still in the shop being fixed so we didn't plan for it to be back this week. He did tell his friend to get a second test to make sure it was not a false positive as she takes care of her elderly father and he refused to get a test but was willing to quarantine. He spent the past week working from home so he deep cleaned everything (laundry, bath and office left to do) of his 3 bedroom home. Change the guest bedroom to the bigger bedroom since he got Daddy's bedroom suit and moved his to the guest room. I got the twin bed he had as child for my guest room. It looks really nice. His kitchen and front room always looks good. He was talking about getting a file cabinet for his office... we have 2 in the barn so he doesn't need to buy anything.

It's take trash to the road tonight. I have a couple things in the frig that needed tossed, not even a serving which is why it's getting tossed. Hubby usually eats those things and he shoved them behind the eggs when he cleared the table...so I didn't see them and he forgot he shoved them there . I put that kind of stuff that needs ate first in the drawers. SO they don't get shoved behind stuff. I didn't bother to ask why he pulled the eggs which were in cartons out to put the stuff behind them. When the oldest eggs are in the bowl so we know what to eat first. SIGH.

One deep freezer has been emptied, defrosted and cleaned. Only 3 more to eat through along with 3 frig freezers. We did not buy any turkey as I have enough turkey packages to go 6 more months or ham for stocking this year. I will look at ham at Easter.

We got the electric bill in. It's the last "floating" amount of the bills as everything else is a set amount pretty much. It was $40 less than last year at the same time and electric cost had went up some. We had more Christmas lights, I used the kitchen aid mixer for 10 days straight that I didn't do last year. Everything else is pretty much the same. The only thing that is different is Hubby did the insulation of attics. Must have been the difference of the fan running on the gas furnace. Weather has been about the same as last year also. 

We did not go to the store. Hubby grabbed milk when he was picking up meds at CVS that was the only thing. We had grocery money left last month that I have put aside to help with stocking up. 

SO far the only things bought was Dreft newborn laundry soap so I could wash the baby stuff I had in storage for granddaughter. I got 2 bottles, one for me and one for her. I bought vacuum belts when I had to replace the broken one and found we only had one left. My seeds I ordered in December are in.

Neighbor told Hubby to get a 1 liter bottle , cut ends off and make into sock helper... She has the same size 3 in children's foot I have. He is going to use the ropes off the one we bought.  

How are things in your neck of the woods?

past couple of days..doggie pic

 

Charlotte

She sleeps so weird at times.

Besides watching the news which causes grief. 

I paid the bills, we have 1 left to come in which is the electric and then the regular stuff like gas for the dog truck, food, etc. I transferred the money to cover the out of pocket medical costs (I know I have to pay in full  before surgery to the medical account we have. I made another extra payment on the mortgage and loans.  I checked to see what was left and decided to transfer money to savings of what was left leaving just enough to cover us until the next "payday" from the IRAs. 

Hubby was going to get cereal for bfast this morning, I ask where we were on the bread. He decided we would finish the loaf as toast. He ate 3 slices and I ate 1. I will make biscuits next. We have tortilla wraps.

Last night, I used part of the leftover kraut from the 1st to make Rueben sandwiches using the last of the rye bread from the freezer (unless some is buried). I used 1 can of corned beef. I now know 1 can makes 2-8 inch wraps and 1 sandwich. I used ketchup, mayo and green tomato dill relish to make the  thousand island dressing. I have one more kraut in the freezer for later as we never eat a full jar and I only use jarred kraut.

Today ,I took the meat mixture I made and froze for hamburger pie.  I had froze it in the casserole dish I use to make the "pie" and then took it out and put it in freezer bags. So as this thaws it is already back in the dish. I put out the frozen corn (from the gardens) and will use leftover mashed potatoes I froze from the 1st. I will "drain" off the extra water before spreading it on top. 

I am making a list of things I can do without straining my hip while recovering, thanks to suggestions of others that have had this surgery. I also started a list of meals as Hubby's work has started picking up.

I got my "hip kit" from Amazon. The scrubby to wash your legs is too short and I am only 5 ft so maybe it's my arms are too short. The sock helper is worthless. Even Hubby that wears a extra large sock and Son 1 who wears a size 16 shoe couldn't get their socks over the end of it let alone my sock fitting over it. I will be looking for something else as some times Hubby leaves for work before I get up and I don't want cold feet all day. I will wear socks to bed but usually find I have taken them off in the night .

Blessed Be 

New budget for Daughter 4 and her chemo

 She started the chemo pill. Said she took it how I told her to and didn't have much issues. Went to bed and for the first time in YEARS slept through the entire night. Had some nausea, compared it to the end of the flu when you are getting better. 

She ended up going into the office of who does pipp (program in Ohio to help with utilities). They did find her application she filed in Nov. State had received it but they are behind in processing it so the local couldn't do anything to over ride the state. BUT they did get the gas and electric to be set on a budget for $85 a month  each compared to the $10 a month each. At least until the state gets done processing her application. Not great news but good news. That still keeps her on budget and $130 less than she was at since she had just cut her budget. 

Her boys when there have decided to sleep in front room instead of the bedrooms when its cold so not to turn on the electric heater. She said 9 times out of 10 that's where she finds them anyways with the electric heater running in the empty rooms because they went up and turned it on so it would be warm when they went to bed. 

Her youngest had went to the store with his other grandma and there was a lot of sales on produce she was getting that was buy one get one. He asked why she wasn't getting both... she said because it would go bad before they would eat it... he picked up the "free" one and stuck it in the cart and told her if his mom didn't need it then he would drop it off at the food pantry around the corner from his mom. His grandma went back and got the other free ones, swung by daughter 4's and gave her what she wanted and then she took grandson to the food pantry to drop off the rest. This side of the family are bursting with pride that he understands the need for others to give. The other side decided to bring it up in church and try to get some donations for the pantry. His grandma told Daughter 4 that she felt shamed that she never once thought about giving to a food pantry and he did.

Which I didn't understand since BOTH his parents have used food pantries off and on. Daughter 4 always tried to give once a month when she was doing good and a "pay back" for when she needed the help herself.

Hope everyone is well. 

Blessed Be

starting a New Year

 Punch list is down to 125.5. Hubby added caulking the outside of windows and doors to the list for next year. We are focusing on projects we have the stuff or most of the stuff for.

We have claimed this year as Decluttering done in 2021.

We have decided that any extra money be divide by 4, the two loans on our life ins, the mortgage and the savings. Goal is to have 3 months emergency funds. We have 2.

Any money we make from garden or ice blocks goes on to the garden to add to what is budgeted for that. What we made in 2020 doubled that budget for this year.

 Hubby figured he would have to cover the business for six months a year. One during the summer (July 4th factories shut down) and again from late Nov to late April. So far he hasn't had to cover any of the business. He picked up enough work this coming week to pay to start covering Feb. bills. He was offered 6 different jobs on the 4th (tomorrow) but only one could be worked in with him having to drive me in the morning to the doctor appt for my hip(right hip so I can not drive due to pain) and we are down to just the work truck as Son 2 blew something with his radiator and it's not a year old. It was dropped off at the shop today and he took our dog truck. 

Daughter 4 cut her budget by almost $300 a month.. BUT she then got notified that the one discount she was getting on heating and electric hadn't went through. IF she gets it she will still have it cut by $300... if she doesn't get it ... the $300 will go on those bills meaning she won't have to ask for an increase from us. 

I made a $1000 mistake on the budget.... it's okay, I made it in the income not the out go so we decided that amount would also be divide by the 4.

Lots of changes this coming year as Daddy used to put it, we will see what comes out in the wash.

We are eating from the pantry. I have a list of 30 minute meals, it would take us 30 minutes to go to town and come back (if not longer) with take out.

I reused freezer bags

More than once LOL. I took the leftover Christmas prime rib and made Philly cheese steak pizza and then tossed the last of the roast in eggs 

I found a bread recipe that gives us the right height for the toaster... was a little denser than I like but Hubby was fine with it. I will change what flour I used (White Lily bread flour) to maybe just all purpose and see it that lightens it.

Daughter 4's Christmas gift to her Dad. She thought it suited this year.

Blessed Be 

Update on Daughter 4 cancer battle and her plans

 She is at week 12 of radiation so they did an ultra sound scan to see how the cancer was.

One spot (the largest) is dying and smaller, the other two spots are the same. Her doctor and her looked at this as good news as it was NOT spreading.

So the next 3 weeks she will be on chemo alone. Since she has bad veins they are doing a "nasty make you puke horse pill" ... that was her doctor's words. She will be taking Abrarane. 

THEN she will take Abrarane for 3 more weeks with daily radiation. 

THEN another ultra sound scan and IF there is any cancer left they are doing surgery. This puts her through everything about the same time her granddaughter will be born in April instead of July.

This plan is replacing the 12 wks radiation, 4 wks off and 16 wks chemo and then possible surgery. 

There is concern for her immunity system as her lupus along with her bipolar is starting to flare up. Her county is extremely high on covid.

SO since she is not working at all and trying to social distance and stay in her bubble.. she decided to figure out how much food "we" needed in the pantry for next year. She also decided the majority should be in by mid September instead of late Oct (or Dec this year with tomatoes and I don't have the pumpkins or dried beans dealt with yet)

Please notice the WE as she really meant ME and our pantry but she was counting in feeding her as she doubts she will be able to find enough work to pay her bills and feed herself. Her goal is to be able to at least pay her own bills by August where we budgeted supporting her until end of Dec 2021.

Here is what she came up with...

Fruit   1643 pints 

Veggies 2190 pints

Grains 822 lbs.

Protein 548 lbs. ( legumes is 1/3rd of that weight)

69 gallons of milk

69 gallons of yogurt

104 lbs. of cheese

I did ask if she had a broke down account of per fruit or veggies etc.

She said no. She figured if I didn't grow it or the Amish didn't grow it, we could go without it or find a seller that supplies it.

She stayed with pints since it is two of us in this house and her in her own house. That way if she didn't need our help, it was canned in a way that worked for us.

Makes me wonder what other things she will be figuring out for me

 

Choices for Frugal 2021

 We are doing Uber Frugal Month in January with Frugalwoods.

We have made a menu of 49 (no day specified) meals we know we have in the house that does not need much to be added. I even noted how much milk something takes as that is all that I hope to buy during the month of January. 

We are focused on a NO buy month except necessities. 

We are using the oil lamp for our light in the morning and at supper. Even though all the lights in the house are LED. Hubby gets the lamp oil for free because he hauls the barrels for the Amish. It's a bonus or the tip depending on how you look at it.

We moved dinner up so I don't have to turn on the light over the stove to cook.

Hubby has a digital thermometer in the pump house so he does not have to worry about having the gas heater too high out there (or too low) when keeping the pump and pipes at the well from freezing. He tries to keep it between 34 and 40 degrees.

I turn burners off (we use propane to cook and heat) and the oven off before the food is done. Food continues to cook but I am saving a few pennies on the propane.

We have been staying home. Hubby is in the slow period of his work so he's mostly at home. 

We have started recycling. We are using an old trash can for the plastic and glass. We burn paper for ashes for the gardens. We compost, not very well but enough that we spread it on the area we don't plant as the soil is very poor.

I use my unlimited Kindle nightly. We check to make sure we save enough on shipping to continue the prime at Amazon. Hubby watches the shows as we don't have cable or satellite (over $100 a month around here).

Our goal is to pay off the mortgage in 5 yrs but will settle for 8 yrs if needed. Our mortgage original payoff date is April 1st 2048. Right now if we paid no more extra we would be paid off in April 1st 2038. 

How are you looking at the new year?

Blessed be

 

Anne ...picture of buckeyes

 

About 1 1/2 inch ball of peanut butter mixed with powder sugar and dipped in tempered chocolate. 

pictures Hubby confessed to kids

 empty buckets from flour and sugar.

empty of cranberries and King Arthur fruitcake fruit blend. The rest of the jars was in the dishwasher.

Hubby rolling the snickerdoodles

377 later, I don't care to see any buckeyes for awhile LOL Took less time to dip them than it did to roll them.

Vacuum packed cookies. Hubby always cracks on me when the homemade bread is holey.... I think he decided it's not just homemade bread that has that issue.

Box is for the VFW the bags are for the kids and grandkids... delivered. SO I can get back in my freezers as they covered all 3 up before I bagged and the VFW and sons covered a counter top.

Hubby confessed to kids he opened the present he bought for me and played with it. I asked for an air nailer from Menards.  Worse is I caught him playing with it as he thought I was asleep, like I wouldn't know that it had been opened??? The kids and grandkids "nailed" him. He is one of those husbands that if you don't ask and tell exactly what you want and where to buy it, he won't get you a thing not even a card.I just have given up. 

Cookie/buckeye update

 I got the 5 varieties of cookies of 36 dozen a variety done and 277 buckeyes done  and delivered. Regretfully we are still being asked to not have family gatherings and stay with in our bubbles of who we live with. So with masks and gloves we dealt with this year. 

First let me add we usually give the kids and grandkids $50 each and the great grandkids $20. We also donate $100 to our son's VFW (very small membership). Instead the kids asked for cookies and candy and when son 2 said something while at a meeting, the VFW asked if we could do that instead of the donation. The bakery they usually order from shut down and they couldn't afford to get the cookies from the other bakery. 

We usually spend $1800. We spent $648.02 on ingredients and $55.20 of fuel for the cook stove and fuel for deliveries for a total of $703.22. Savings of $1096.78. I did not count the 80 hrs of work. 

It breaks down to 27 cents per cookie/buckeye on the average.

I kept our meals simple , cookies or buckeyes was for lunch and a sandwich was for dinner. It was not a healthy week.

Today we delivered the last of it. The kids were grateful but a bit worried as they know I pushed it since I did it in a week. There was talk of getting together to bake next year...I really don't see it happening But I did tell Hubby I want part of the one freezer empty so I can put cookie dough in the freezer. I might just send them the dough and let them cook it.

Things I need to replace...parchment paper, dried fruit namely cranberries and King Arthur baking Fruitcake Fruit blend. Sparkling sugar and oatmeal will be later next year.

Still waiting for my laptop to load the pictures... 

Busy time this week

 A company Hubby has been hauling for part time finally found a full time hauler (Hubby turned it down) so he isn't getting last minute calls from them any more. It was becoming more of a hassle than what it was bringing in. 

SO since he didn't have to wonder if he was going to get called to haul... he hauled us and the 3 dogs to the vet. 

Wilbur took up have the back seat and he is sound to sleep. 

Charlotte and Rascal (who is taller and longer than Wilbur) was smashed together on the other side. Charlotte was not happy but Rascal finally just sit between her and Wilbur and but his head on the console between Hubby and me and went to sleep. Everyone has shots current, toe nails clipped, ears cleaned and Charlotte got a shot because she itches all the time (so does her mom and brother that lives with Daughter 4)

I've been baking... I am now down to the sugar cookies and dipping the 360 buckeyes. Deliver starts the 22nd and finishes the 23rd which really works well as the weather is to turn bad on the 24th.

PLUS I will get to see Army grandson who is in from AZ. 

He is carrying his paperwork that says he is covid negative. Mollie, is the lady to the right. I am surprised Sky's dad was able to get this pic without her jumping into Sky's arms before he got it.

Back to baking... still have 36 dozen sugar cookies and have to dip the 360 buckeye centers

Goals for 2021 part of a rant at a grandchild

 I have a grandchild that went on a rant about how hard older generations have made it for her generation... planet dying, things based on test scores , It was the older generations job to make things easier for them ... she and her girlfriend stepped a bit on my toes so to say. I stomped back on theirs. I am not sure but I think I might have kicked butt to a couple of my own kids. 

Plant has always been dying since it's birth, it is just like a human. DUH and how much are they recycling? (none) Eating out with throw away containers?(a lot) Mending clothes? (no way)Did you vote (they did not) are you involved with your local government (No).

SO the granddaughter thinking she would be a smart butt asked me what I did. Her mom and two aunts replied with the word MOAN on her post and her mother said you asked for it.

I know who my Ohio house of representatives and Ohio senator are. I pay attention to how they vote on things. I know who is my US house of representatives and US senators are. I know who are on my township board.  I know what they are voting on and how they vote. I do give input and write letters BUT I make sure I am not whining. I do vote ALWAYS. I research the issues being voted on.

I have went from 6 bags of trash a week (for 2, think tin cans, boxes, take out) to 1-2 a week. The 5 R's of zero waste is refuse , reduce, reuse, recycle and rot. Goal is to be like Daddy of using a grocery plastic bag for his weekly trash. Brother said most of the recycling was cardboard and cans.

Our township was recycling and then stopped. I will be checking to see if they are going to start back up. We do not have a recycling center in the area... closest one is an hour away.SO if they are not going to start back up then I need to focus more on REFUSE # 1 of zero waste

#2 of zero waste REDUCE

I will be focusing on reducing our use of propane (fossil fuel). Goal is to lower it by 1 tankful this year (already lowered it one tankful last heating season).

I will be focusing lowering electric (fossil fuel) Average amt this year was $150/ month for 2020. My goal is to average $125 for 2021.

I don't have a water bill but we have lowered that by adding rain gutters to the barn that is goes in a drain to the pond and rerouting 2/3rds of the house gutters to drain to the pond. SO we won't be trying to put water in the pond with a garden hose. SMILING.

We will limit take out to once a month and think about what containers it comes in. Chinese has reusable and recyclable plastic, pizza and calzone has card board. We burn our card board and paper and the ashes goes on the garden. Wood like limbs goes to E for him to burn when he heats water to make milk for the calves. 

I refill, I add water to shampoo, conditioner, soap, dish soap. etc. I make my own laundry soap in the same 5 gallon bucket.

#3 REPAIR.

We do this a lot but we could do better.

#4 Recycle 

We do not have recycling in this area but we do recycle within our home. I reuse a lot of stuff. Such as the plastic grocery bags that we get *when I can't use cloth bags* goes to Amish that sell produce during the growing season.

#5 Rot

We compost. The leaves that come off the tree is left to rot. 

There are other areas that slowing are going to be put in place. 

frugal ???

 Not sure but I have been unplugging inside Christmas lights at 8 pm. I plug them back in when I get up and then unplug when there it light out around 8 am. I plug them in at 4:30 when we sit down for supper.

I put a ham bone, 2 packages of ham chunks and 5 cups of ham (gel) broth in the freezer.

Hubby got a small prime rib roast for half price at the butcher shop. It was Saturday and they were closing and they were going to put it in the freezer since they aren't open on Sunday. 

Hubby thought he found some store bought bread cheaper than I could bake. It was 5 cents an ounce. He figured up my home made bread . It was 3 cents an ounce. It's hard to judge the cost of fuel to bake it as I never bake just a loaf of bread. 

Hubby made the snickerdoodles (requested by daughter 4 and her daughter) since they can actually tell who made them by the taste (really, we have repeatedly tried to fool them, they know) I did the baking and vacuum packing. I have already done the choc chips and the peanut butter cookies. Thirty six dozen cookies takes it's toll for sure. Have sugar cookies, oatmeal with King Arthur fruit blend and buckeyes left to do . 

We have used new recipes for some of the cookies and found that the recipe either yields less or a lot more than stated even with using the correct measure for the size. I don't know if I should be thankful I have extra supplies or upset.

We have ate from the pantry. Quick meals that can be done in 20 minutes otherwise I might collapse on the floor in exhaustion. 

I mended Hubby's work pants, a dish towel and a button my pants.

TIS the season

Another covid and wedding postponed

 Due to the bride's grandma getting covid, the kids postponed their wedding... then the bride's boss came down with it. Now she's worried she had it and did not know it.

Grandson from Army base, at this point is still suppose to be coming home. But he said it's a wait and see how covid is at this point for him.

Meantime I am making cookie dough one day then baking and vacuum packing the next.

And Hubby is trying to stay out of my way but is bored out of his mind since he has no work to speak of and most of his outside work is done. I told him to go rake the stones out of the grass was left from him plowing snow. Tomorrow he is making snickerdoodles for the kids so I am not in the kitchen LOL

Frugal week

 Our Amish neighbor E gave us 12 lbs of pork loin when they were butchering. No one wanted it. I got 3 roasts and 4 meals of chops.

I got ground sirloin for half price to use on the chili I canned *32 pints*

I got St Louis style ribs for half price so got 2. One we will smoke for New Year's eve/day. The other might get BBQ sauce.

I got 2 half hams that were sliced that was marked down 30%. Another 14 meals in the freezer.

I got on sale Christmas pretzels, buy 2 get 1 for dipping in choc for gifts for the kids and grandkids. I got 3 bags.

I got store brand peanut butter for the peanut butter cookies. I will use the "good" stuff for the buckeyes. That was a savings of 15%.

I got 5 dzn eggs for $3.50 less than if I had bought them by the dozen. They were out of the 18 eggs size. Even M is having to buy eggs, her 50 chickens are not laying enough.

I already have plates and vacuum bags to package the cookies and candy.

I mended the work pants Hubby tore when he fell sliding on ice coming from the barn.

This weekend I cooked our meals in the oven and added a couple extra dishes to just warm up in the microwave when I start baking the cookies 

Cookies is 81 dozen of each varieties ,5 varieties. Candy will be of 4 varieties. I have most of everything except maybe needing more eggs.  

We ran errands with doctor appts and dropping off prescriptions to be filled with grocery shopping. 

We shut off the inside Christmas lights at 8 and the outside go off at 10. Our English neighbor to the side and back a bit, our one set of lights can be seen from their bedroom. They just asked if we could have them go off by 10 when they go to bed Sunday through Thursday. No problem for us at all. Also they like them on Christmas eve and Christmas night and if we still have them up New Year's eve and Day

On the sad side, Son 2 lost another friend (older than us) to covid and my cousin lost her husband age 59 to covid, he had just recovered from fighting cancer. No funerals for either. 

Blessed be

2021 punch list goals, groceries and food to the pantry

 Punch list is a construction term of "to do" to finish project. 

As of Nov 1st we had 140.5 jobs listed. I remember when it was over 1000 when we bought this house.

Dec 1st, we were down to 128.5 . Since we moved in we have been averaging 4-6 a month until Nov.

I listed 30 things off the punch list and 10 things we know needs done this coming year. We have supplies for 19 of them and 14 are "work" only. That leaves 7 that will need supplies as we can afford to get them.

My list is 12 items

Hubby's list is 13 items

Our list of what will take both of us is 15.

He still has air barrier in north attic and I still have winter curtains to finish for 5 windows and the French doors for December. I start cookies Monday(tomorrow) and candy next Monday for the Christmas gifts. Grandson's wedding is still on for the 20th , masks, social distancing, stay in your bubbles out side mini greet from the bride and groom. Said for me to bring the Christmas stuff then so we aren't sharing cooties repeatedly and saving gas for us and time of me not sitting (which locks up my hip when over hour) so long in a car. We have 1 child that won't be at the wedding as her grandparents on her biofather's dad is not well and she's seeing them, she thinks they won't make it to next year.

We went to the store, was out doing errands and dropping off prescriptions and decided to do the grocery shopping now and take the dogs to the vet on Tuesday when we have doc appt and pick up meds. 

SO in the pantry I have added... 3 roasts and 4 meals of pork chops from the loin E gave us, 2 meals of ribs (one for New Year's eve/day), 14 meals of sliced ham and 32 pints of chili. I am dog tired and hip is aching.

Decided against another bone in ham. BUT if Hubby finds a small prime rib roast he said he is getting it.

I placed an order to Amazon going through The Prudent Homemaker site for some things my doctor now wants in my diet. I can beets, but I have been sharing my beets with Daughter 4. My doctor wants me to either eat beets or do a beet supplement daily. Same goes for grapes. 1 1/2 cups of fresh grapes (not happening) or a supplement. I can use raisins but I don't usually eat a lot of dried fruit. 

I had to order green tea, almost out and not sure if my son is getting me any for Christmas. Plus I ordered a multi flavor pack and I know I don't like 2 of them, he is getting them for Christmas as he drinks green tea LOL.

Unsulfured Black strap molasses. I've used this for years for my heart but now for my bones also. It's hard to find unsulfured in this area. 

That is it. I told Hubby, if he finds a small roast and specified what I thought was small with bones and without bones, it's okay. Other wise we are down to dairy only. MAYBE a salad. I will not be getting another bone in ham, one: do not have the room for it, two: do not need it since I have 14 meals of sliced ham and the one I am cooking today will do us for beans and such. I will do lamb chops (have them in freezer) for Easter. 

I think are saying for next year is going to be

2021 get the decluttering done. 

Blessed be

November Done and December to do list

 Done from Nov.

green tomatoes

Brussels sprouts

kale

insulator board on attic doors and crawl spaces

perimeter fencing

Nano 

Back injections

I got a bone in ham (would like another bone in) and 5 lbs of sweet potatoes. 

**** Hubby hauled 2 stoves and a dryer (Daughter 4s), a frig (original owner here) , fencing, 2 metal clothes line poles (about 4 ft tall) and an old flat bed trailer to scrap yard. The money he got goes into the fund for projects. E is taking the old dog house and some pieces of metal roofing and the fence around it can be used on a spot that the dogs could go through when the dog house is moved. Getting rid of the trailer (everything has been sitting on it) cleared a good area so Hubby could move things around to make it easier for him to park his work trailers and his truck.

STILL LEFT TO DO 

2 hot sauces 

red tomatoes 

north attic.

DECEMBER done already

appt for primary doctor. Weight stable and blood work good for me. Hubby lost two pounds and his blood work was great like always.

First vein procedure of left leg done. Next one is Dec 29th if injections are needed to finish closing vein down. 

Appt with ortho , had MRI of both hips and lumbar (wished I had the back injections afterwards as it took me 3 days to walk right ) Had follow up for results of MRI. Arthritis in every joint (duh) and the right hip will need replaced but hopefully it will last a bit over 3 more years as Doc said Medicare pays better for it than my health insurance. In Jan I will see what that estimate costs through our ins and get it put aside.

House, inside and outside is decorated. 

What is still needing done

Starting the  7th I will be making cookies for 50 people.

Starting  the 14th I will be making candy for 50 people 

The 20th we will be at grandson's wedding( Army in AZ and bride here in Ohio). Masks required. Families sit in their bubbles. Church used to be a roller rink.  They asked to include Christmas exchanges (yes they know all are getting cookies and candy from us)Thought it would help with gas costs and social distancing. Having a nonalcoholic "cocktail" outside (heaters will be there) while there will be a bride and groom dance, and mother and son /father and daughter dance. Nothing else. Soon to be granddaughter said they would be greeting each and everyone.  

The 8th we have chiro and vet for the dogs

We added some things to the grocery list: hamburger to make more chili, Hubby has ate a lot of it as a dip. Ribs for New Year's eve. IF I can find a small rib roast I will get that other wise is will be steaks E gave us a couple months ago for Christmas eve.  We still need a boneless ham to slice and another bone in. Milk.  We didn't spend all of Nov's money so I am okay with it within reason.

E sent over 10 lbs of pork loin I cut into 3 roasts and 8 chops to flash freeze. I will vacuum seal tomorrow.

I need to finish the last 2 hot sauces.

I need to finish canning the last of the red tomatoes 

I need to bake, puree, dehydrate and grind 5 pie pumpkins

I need to can dried beans (first time to ever do)

I need to transfer stuff to the 2021 calendar 

I need to set the goals for 2021. Household and personal. Hubby won't do any goal setting... that is his goal...not setting any goals. 

Snow

 we had a light snow Nov 1st

We got 5 inches in the last 48 hrs. 

I snapped this last night

Hubby asked for it to be the Christmas card next year.

Off to appt of the primary doctor. 

Blessed Be

Nov 30th. I am thankful

 We are both well.

I am thankful for food in the pantry. Even with holes in some areas. 

I am thankful for medical insurance as I face 4 medical appts in the next 8 days. 

I am thankful Hubby is able to shift work around so he can take me to the appts. 

I am thankful there is money in the checking to pay most of December's bill though it will be squeaky as we are not counting on SS or my IRA payments to make the bills.  

I am thankful the company that makes my biologic its putting enough on my acct to cover a good part of my co pay for my meds as in Jan my ins goes from $50 for 3 months to $125 EACH month.

I am thankful I heard the brakes on the work truck squeaking, Hubby had a low tire . He got it fixed today, had a screw in it. Brakes are fine.  He was told by the repair guy that truck will have brakes squeak when the tires are low. Nice to know even though Hubby checks his tires before he hauls, he did not check them when we left Daughter 4's after dropping of frig and stove.

I am thankful we are not having to go to appts today as the weather is crappy, rain turned to snow with temps dropping below freezing so that means black ice on the back roads if not salted.

My Amish neighbors are home from the funeral in Indiana and they said they were thankful for a safe trip, the masks we gave them to keep them safe and that the weather has turned so cold. They are butchering this week, means they won't need as much ice from us to help keep meat cold.

Menu to Dec 8th

 Hubby loves Wendy's baconator sandwich and fries. I have what is needed to fix it for him tonight as he finishing putting up the outside decorations before the nasty cold and snow comes in.

Monday. We have a bag of tortilla chips that is down to the "crumbs" I have some tomatoes (still) we can use and I have taco meat from the freezer, so taco casserole(from my kids public school days over 20 yrs ago).

Tuesday. In Sidney (1 hr one way drive)Primary doc appts for both of us. I will get the lecture (again) for my bad cholesterol again, some more, what ever. Both parents ran over 200 WITH MEDS. BUT anyways we will be in Sidney so decided our Christmas present to each other would be a Al's combo pizza and two chef salads from Al's pizza. 

Wednesday In Sidney (1 hr one way drive) My procedure on my veins in left leg. Left over pizza and the second salad (we split one between us... I will boil some eggs as they only put one per salad.)

Thursday, In Sidney (1 hr one way drive) My appt to go over results of MRI of right leg/hip.  Leftover one pot green beans, potatoes and ham and cornbread from freezer

Friday HOME .... HOME  Leftover potpie in freezer.

Saturday Home ..Tuna noodle or fish patties, boiled potatoes with peas in a cream sauce.  Both meals are something Mother would fix the first part of Dec.

Sunday Pork Tapas (Milk Street recipe) veggie tray and snacky food. 

Monday 123 pasta (1 onion, 2 cups protein and 3 cups veggies with 12 oz to 16 oz pasta)

Tuesday IN Sidney for chiro. Leftover broccoli cheddar soup in freezer with rolls or bread.

Note, I need nothing from the store for any of these meals. IF we don't get the pizza and salad from Al's in Sidney we can get a different one from the local pizza place as we grew up with the pizza restuarant (the original sold to this one) so it's like having our childhood pizza. 

Last week of Nov Frugal

 We spent $17 at the grocery store, 1 gal of milk, 2 cartons of sour cream, 1 carton of cottage cheese, a 3 pack of colored bell peppers, 1 bunch of celery,1 pack of white mushrooms, and 1 pack of portabella mushrooms. That should last us for two weeks.

We ate from the pantry except for a gas station $10 pizza the night we didn't get home until 7 due to waiting for appts an hour away from us. We have been combining appts so we are making less trips. The last one that day was running an hour behind and then took an hour. SIGH.

Daughter 4 had a company give her some money to help her buy her frig and stove. She passed that money to us to put on that bill. Now it's down to the same as if I have bought the frig on sale. Stove is now "free". Considering her old frig froze her milk, the new one is up and running just in time and she was baking a cheesecake in the new stove.

We decided to Not buy a live tree this year. but use the old little tree we had when we lived in the 800 sq ft rental. I bought a light tree instead

for less money than the live trees would have costs. We buy two, one for front porch and one for inside . I haven't decided how to decorate the deck yet. I should say I haven't found anything in the decorations to put on the deck yet.

The holiday dinner we usually attend for HAM radio was canceled so I did not buy anything for it as it would have been this coming week.

thankful

 hard right now with our friend dying and his sister fighting covid

but my soon to be granddaughter asked me what I was thankful for. 

I am thankful her and my grandson have one another. 

I am thankful that my vein surgery has not been canceled, it is NOT cosmetic. 

I am thankful that I was able to hang my laundry including all the Christmas towels, table linen etc out of the yard line.

I am thankful a company stepped in and gave us money to help pay for Daughter 4s stove and frig (which she is going to pay us back for it and all the money we use to support her).She had mentioned us buying it for her while at treatment. It's now down to the same amount of buying her just the frig with is being on sale.

PLEASE STOP AND THINK

 I know we are all tired of the covid and politics.  I've had a brother in law, 2 sister in laws, and nephews already go through this. They got off lightly.

BUT

I just lost a good friend... his sister tested negative for Covid and so did he. They spent the day together in his apartment as he is disabled. 

The next day she had "allergy"coughing, her doctor tested her. She was positive( 2 day turn around on results), She called her brother, he was already in ICU as of that morning. He did not make it. She is in ICU on ventilator. We worry she won't fight it because of his death. 

From internet ...

If you continue to have no symptoms, you can be with others after 10 days have passed since you had a positive viral test for COVID-19. Oct 27, 2020

Just because the test is negative does 

not mean you do not have it. You canhave it and not had it long enough to test positive or are n

not showing signs of it.

False negatives — that is, a test that says you don't have the virus when you actually do have the virus — may occur. The reported rate of false negatives is as low as 2% and as high as 37%.

 But the infected person doesn't begin producing antibodies immediately. It can take as long as three weeks for a blood antibody test to turn positive.Nov 20, 2020 Harvard edu.

If you have symptoms, there is a 70 per cent the disease will be detected with a positive result, said Cheng, who recently wrote a scientific article summarizing research so far on COVID-19 testing. On average, symptoms develop five to six days after exposure, but it can take two to 14 days.

Son2 said a lot of people including MEDICAL do not realized they have it. He had a soldier in ICU on ventilator because his doctor thought it was bronchitis and did not send him to be tested for covid. YOU will most likely test positive until 5 to 6 day after exposure .My son has been guarantied for 2 wks due to others having it around him. He is NEGATIVE but still staying away most except at work as he has to go to work  and he is now wearing his mask even alone due to the heating system runs the whole building NOT just his office. The ones that were positive around my son, had NO symptoms. , except the one that was told he had bronchitis, which he gets often.

My kids told me they could not live with themselves if I got it because of them and put on oxygen the rest of my life because of it or died. I definitely know I could not handle giving it to my children, grandchildren or great grandchildren...

COULD YOU? 

My grandchild whose wedding for next month is at "we will see"  said her florist who works from her home is now moving it to the garage due to her Hubby's health as he has Parkinson's and the CDC told her that the in home business was putting him at a higher risk even though she requires mask and has hand sanitizer.

Because of covid shedding. 

• It’s when an infected person releases virus particles into the environment
• Viral shedding is highest when COVID-19 symptoms are getting worse
• It’s possible for asymptomatic people to shed the virus, as well

Upon infection, a virus multiplies inside the body, and when that person sneezes, coughs, or (in extreme cases) speaks, it has the potential to be released into the person’s environment. According to WebMD, this occurrence is called viral shedding.

Knowing how viral shedding happens is beneficial in understanding how COVID-19 spreads, and it helps scientists figure out the point when a person with the coronavirus is the most infectious. Researchers reportedly use terms like “low” and “high” to describe levels of viral shedding. 

you can shed for up to 20 days on the average.  There was a woman in Washington that did it for 70 days. Makes me wonder if she was what they call a long hauler of covid.

CDC and the companies making the vaccine have repeatedly said even after taking the vaccine (TWICE, it is TWO shots not one) you will still need to wear a mask and socially distance. SIGH.

I really looking forward to cookies and candy for the kids and grandkids but worried about spreading germs. Grandsons and daughter working in culinary field said I could do it still, the only change I would have to do is wear a mask. 

Happy Thanksgiving

 Enjoy the day. 

Store shelves empty again

 All six kids warned me that shelves were bare of essentials... my essentials is COFFEE and DOG FOOD. 

Our Amish neighbor has been hunting for deer slugs for a month so he can hunt deer over Thanksgiving. Said he finally found some that he is sharing with 4 other families. Factories making it was shut down due to Covid. He was glad he had gotten a couple deer during bow season.

Things you take for granted as not available like they used to be. 

I have 8 spots on shelves that have nothing. Between us and Daughter 4 we have cleared those spots. That is 120 pints of food. In one month gone. Not counting anything from freezers or fresh. Thirty pounds of sweet potatoes gone. I have two for Tday and Daughter is out. I usually buy 50 lbs bags of potatoes for everyone. Can't even order them. Out of 60 lbs of red onions I have maybe one pound left. Had 30 lbs yellow onions , they are gone. 

Can you tell we eat? 

It will be interesting to see what we run out of completely and what we still have when garden starts coming in. I know I did not get any peas to grow this year so that is a BIG need to grow next spring and again in fall. Hope the garden season is better than it was this year.

Do you have a pantry? Are you stocked for the winter? How are the grocery store shelves in your area?

Thankful 21st through morning of 24th.

 Sister in law and her family recovered from Covid. Brother in law and his family down with it now but staying home... 

Son 2 was tested Monday... said he has no symptoms but every single person that has been around him in last 3 weeks has it. He waited until day 7 to be tested.

MRI of hip done, struggling to walk thanks to it.

 Food supplies to daughter 4 along with some old magazines for her to read. She sent back 2 cases of canning jars.

Have chiro this afternoon. Which I hope with easy some of the pain of the MRI of having my legs in one position for 30 mins. . 

Daughter 4 oven had quite working, she bought her self a roaster, then a burner went out (glass top stove that is 20yrs old) so she gave me a heads up to look for used stove. HER daughter texted me that Daughter 4's frig has been freezing things on the frig side with no rhyme or reason and she had lost some of her fresh veggies she had just bought. SO I check out used appliances came up with the cost that was equal to brand new when on sale. Hit a sale of a stove with coil burners and knobs along with a decent size frig for the total price LESS then the two USED. We are picking up the stove tomorrow and we will haul the old away. Frig is coming in next week. Daughter 4 decided to keep the old frig as second freezer and is having her kids move it to the other room. Said she can keep water bottles and stuff that doesn't matter if it freezes in it.  Thankful granddaughter got ahold me and that I hit a great sale. 

I am thankful the election is moving forward 

I am thankful the vaccine is moving forward

I am thankful for the tomatoes in the grow cart turning red so I can finish canning them this week.

I am thankful Hubby has picked up some work between our appts as he is working on paying Dec bills for the business.

I am thankful that all the kids are staying in their "bubbles" for Thanksgiving. We were invited with the note that we had to wear gloves, masks, glasses  and sit in the dining room by ourselves LOL. Daughter 2 was going to be serving everyone, mask and gloves. 

We will just stay home. I have medical procedure next Wednesday and Grandson's wedding Dec 20th is still on with 7 ft social distancing from each "bubble". 

Blessed be 

Frugal Friday

I reused the inserts in cold cereal, bisquick and such boxes. In fact I am still using ones that Daddy had used that are over 3 yrs old. I wash them, dry them, roll them up and reuse. They hold up better in freezer when flash freezing than parchment or wax paper. 

Hubby reused the foil off the lasagna he washed (SHOCK) and put it on the brownies, then used it to cover the pot pie after he washed it again. Said last night it was beyond washing as it fell apart in his hands. Believe me it took wanting to pay the mortgage off early to get him on board of washing foil and plastic food bags

I washed freezer bags and sandwich bags and hung them on the kitchen porch line to dry. I used silicone covers on some containers that do not have lids. I put them on the clothes line to dry also. I've been known to use a saucer on a bowl and a plate over a serving bowl also.

I froze brussels sprouts, caramelized onions and hamburger rolls. I am still canning tomatoes that are ripening in the grow cart trays. I am tired of tomatoes LOL

We did not go to the store even though Hubby thought we should check out the sales.

I saved the crumbs from a box of cold cereal to put in the fruit crisp that is on the menu next week 

I  put 1 meal of leftover broccoli cheddar soup and 1 meal of chicken pot pie to go with the leftover green beans, ham and potatoes that are already there. Those are on the menu for first week of Dec due to 3 medical appts back to back. 

We set the budget for buying Christmas decorations and live trees. Hubby pulled the decorations down from the barn loft so I don't have to climb up and down stairs to carry them down. I can start looking at one container each day. This is the first year of decorating the deck.

I have combined 2 blood works, 1 MRI, 3 vet appts and our chiro appts into 2 days this coming week as they are an hour away from us. 

Except for Thanksgiving, meals will be simple with plan overs (instead of leftovers) . For Thanksgiving we are smoking a turkey breast (cutting legs and wings off whole turkey as Hubby was not paying that price triple of a whole turkey just for a breast and roasting them for another meal and bones for broth). Home grown sweet potatoes, home grown brussels sprouts, Amish grown pumpkin into pie and homemade bread or rolls.  Extra smoked turkey will be froze to make what I call blue plate special... turkey over bread dressing (rolls or bread if not dressing) or mashed potatoes, green beans or corn gravy over all of it and cole slaw and some dessert. 

Thankful 20th

 I am thankful I have extra stock that I can take to Daughter 4 ( no one else needs anything) 

I am thankful that I have more tomatoes ripening and being canned, even though I am tired of seeing tomatoes.

I am thankful of another small harvest of volunteer kale and mustard. I wonder what it will take to kill since we have had a couple freezes.

I am thankful that due to the colder weather, M won't need as much ice and I will have room for at least two hams in that freezer. 

I am thankful my health ins is doing a 3 day turn around on approval of medical testing so I can get it done this year when it's not costing me anything since I have maxed my out of pocket

Blessed be