GEEZE OHIO WEATHER

 Yes  I am yelling.!!!!

Snow pellets... first is was nasty cold rain and cloudy like late fall. Freeze warnings every morning... got one morning of frost warning and then back to freeze warnings. This CRAP is late February, early March weather.   I turned the furnace back down and we started the wood stove back up

Yes I know the ash door was still open. It had just started rolling. We have learned to wait to shut it until the smoke is coming out of the chimney outside. 

Asparagus is under row cover, M's oldest girl had Hubby show her how to move it so she could harvest. They were short some for Church supper. We did pick some before we covered it and E's Dad took it to auction for us. LOL. It sold for $3.50 a pound . Wow. He asked if we had more. Depends on how much his son's family eats and he asked for at least one more batch for him and E's mom.

We planted 12 roses, 2 elderberry bushes, 1 bee pollinator bed, 1 butterfly pollinator bed, 1 hummingbird pollinator bed, apple mint and orange mint. My peas in my hanging pots are starting to come up... they are now in the house ... not only for the cold but the birds thought they were a buffet . LOL

I cashed in Swagbucks and got a $25 card on discount and a $5 card. Both for Amazon.

I made waffles finally with the Belgian waffle maker. I did level 4 instead of 5 for darkness. Could have done level 3. Hubby said 4 was good in microwave but a bit hard with toaster. He wants me to label at what level they are cooked so he know which way to reheat them. We both liked the batter. I'll have to use the other waffle maker next time and a different batter.

We took Charlotte to the vet. She was limping. Nothing in her pads, got her toenails clipped. Taking the same med that Rascal took. Charlotte's mom started with arthritis at this age so it could be that. Athena, Charlotte's mom is on CBD oil and had done well. Doc said he could do an x ray to make sure that is what it is if she still is limping in a month. 

I made a extra payment on the mortgage that was equal to 7 months of the principal payment (no interest). Between it and the gardens and maintenance, back fence as the two pastures went bad. Looked like deer had ran into it and broke it in several areas. We put up cattle panels with metal posts. E told me to get some orange tape/ribbon and tie on the top and it would help stop that as they will see the ribbon and know to jump over it. He used in on the widow's next to us and it hasn't been broken in 6 yrs. I've seen deer run through her back yard so they will jump over it.... Anyways... we went over budget but not as I had been putting $$ back for those types of things.  

Now it's back to savings and hoping for warm weather so I can start getting more food out of the gardens to put on the table. Though I will admit eating asparagus daily for a week was plenty. I do have enough to have it twice a month thru the off season aka late fall/ winter.

Prayers for peace (and Sanity) 

Blessed be 

  

 

April's finances

 

Income

IRAs $6800.78

Social Security $3634.

Son 2 payment on loan $100

Business income $2600

Interest $89.98

Cash back from credit cards $100.05

Daddy's annuity $76.67

Swagbucks $30 (bought 2 Amazon cards)

CVS $10

Dentist $11 for paying cash 

Savings at Kroger's including Fresh Mode $125.61

Back pay from Daddy's Annuity $ 2453.44 

TOTAL INCOME $16031.53

Out go

Irregular expenses $2389.56

Down grid / maintenance $1327.90 (back fence to 2 pastures)

Automatic savings $180

Dog food/treats/vets $52

Household expenses $2543.55 

Business expenses $2522.26

Medical/OOP $1085.29

Garden $5228.73

Extra payment to Mortgage $3028.11( same as making 7 months of principal payments)

Extra to savings $780 (local bank has not increased interest so we moved a good part to our money market that is paying 4 %. We got 1 cent for interest from local bank.  If we didn't need cash on regular bases I would change completely. But nearest ATM for other accts in an hour away.

TOTAL OUT GO $19,137.40

IN RED $3105.87 

I transferred savings and still have almost 2 months saved for emergency. 

I am bored.

Had visitors this morning at 8 AM.

They don't usually come over , was actually on the front porch pecking at the door driving Charlotte crazy. I don't think she scared them at all as they wandered around the side yard and the driveway before actually going back across the pasture. 

 

 Lousy weather. Got past this, then last night and this morning it was rain (we needed it) but the freaking cold came with it. Temps dropped over 20 degrees.

M's girls will pick the asparagus late  afternoon so that's not on my list. Hubby  said we would cover the asparagus and pollinator plants late evening trying to give them as much sunshine as possible. Next 4 days will be cover plants at night and uncover when the temps get above 40 during the day

I gathered stuff yesterday to go to the Township clean up today. Widow on E's side gave us her stuff a couple nights ago. E was over last night asking if we could take his as he was at a horse auction this morning. Hubby had a good size load as I cleared out part of the garden shed and gathered some nonworking appliances (heater, AC, humidifier amongst others) that he had scattered through the barn thinking he would remember where he put it.  I saw it and piled it in the front bay right where he walks. Second pile was in front of the 1st stall barn door so he had to move it to go out to his truck and the third pile was by garden shed by the trailer.  He just text me and said the hauler said they would have charged $300 for what was just ours and $500 for everything. It was FREE sort of since it's part of our township taxes. Might as well use it.

 I guess I can go play with finances or go read.... 

Prayers for peace

Blessed Be

How we get it all done

 we will be uncovering this today and recover late Sunday for the frost/freeze coming in on Monday. We are watching the weather to see if it comes in earlier.

These are the 12 metal garden beds that make 8 ft long beds to replace the wooden ones that are falling apart. They were to come in on Saturday. They came in early. They will be put together by mid May when it's time to plant "summer" crops

How do we get it done? 

We are up between 4 AM and 6 AM. We don't set alarms. Hubby will set an alarm if he is hauling. Both of us are usually asleep by 9 PM.

We ONLY watch the evening local news 5-6:30 and Nora Roberts 6:30 -7. At 7 we get things around for the next day. Plan meal, what we are doing at what time and which of us needs help. Hubby is doing a LOT better with the 3X5 memo pad and ink pen in his pocket. At 8 I head to the bedroom with Charlotte to read and Hubby sacks out in his recliner (has to sleep at angle). He tried to sleep in bed, ends up laying flat which is not good.

We start the day with coffee.... I drink 3- 6 ounce cups ,medium blend, he drinks 1- 22 ounce cup of dark or French roast. We snack for bfast, not big bfast eaters. We talk over what needs done this day vs what we like to get done this day. Needs done gets done first. IF errands are needed for supplies like this morning, one of us goes while the other one starts the day. We had a gate damaged due to winds, but instead of another gate that we don't need,  Hubby is picking up more cattle fence panels and fence posts. 

By 8:30 AM Laundry is done and either on the drying rack or on the clothes line. I will do some computer like now, and then some during "rest" times. I work a solid hour and the take a 15 min break to spend time with Charlotte. Charlotte has arthritis in her front legs. 

Neither of us have social media on our phones. (FYI over half our kids and grandkids have left social media due to violence and lies in posting and what they said was wasting their time). Hubby said twice he had to tell his mom when he was helping her do some weeding to put her phone down and leave it alone as she would hear it ping and look to see what it was and spend 10-15 mins. scrolling. His dad took it from her and put it in his pocket. He only uses his phone for calls .Our family and close friends know if it's important to CALL us not text us. 

I spend 40 hrs. a week in the gardens,  Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Mondays are usually 4-6 hrs. as I do a lot of in house work that day. Sunday we try to keep as the day of rest.  Tuesday is errands and appts. That will change some in the summer as Hubby will most likely be hauling some to Tuesday Amish produce auction. Hubby gives about 20 hrs. a week

In summer and early fall, those hours can easily jump to 80 hrs. a week for me (30 hrs. for Hubby) with Tuesdays being half days before or after errands. We still try to REST on Sunday. 

I bought bigger canners to cut down on the time and fuel needed to can.

My walk to the mailbox is also to pull weeds daily. 

I have Stihl clippers, hedge trimmers and pruner saw. What used to take me 4 hrs. now takes me 1 hr. Tools make a difference. 

Hubby was a single parent of two and quickly realized if I didn't work outside the home he would immediately save $$ between child care, housekeeping etc. I was working 3 part time jobs as a single parent and I wasn't paying child care as the oldest could watch the younger ones for the 30 minutes difference of my job and them getting home.  Since he wasn't great with the finances (paid credit cards before his mortgage and home bills), I took over the finances when we got together. With in a year he realized not only was he saving what he spent on childcare and housekeeping, he was spending LESS on clothes, groceries, utilities etc.  I cut back to 2 part time jobs at the same time.  Hubby figured out basing on 160 hrs. each month like he worked I was at $10/ hr. (not counting what I was earning doing ironing and housekeeping) which was more than the wages at that time for work I would have done with a full time job.

Right now he has me "earning" $28.02/hr. He has it at earnings... I have it as savings.

I would normally say back to the gardens... but it's starting to rain and I really hope we get at least an inch.

Prayers for peace

Blessed be

What I do with what I grow.

 Lettuce and greens gets ate fresh, if it bolts before we eat it I dehydrate it and grind it for green powder to add to sauces, casseroles and soups. I got 1 that will take some for their smoothies. Green Ice lettuce is allowed to bolt and go to seed so I can replant the next year. I have to be careful to make sure I get it before it goes to seed because about 10 yrs ago I had a yard full of it LOL.

Radishes are ate fresh or fried (just like a potato) when they get pithy.

Beets are ate fresh, roasted and canned with water or pickled.

Carrots are ate fresh, stored in second (or third) frig. I have canned them, froze them and at one time dehydrated them (such a pain to do that)

Peas ate fresh or frozen. I will let some "dry" on the vine to either make pea soup or if heirloom to replant the next year.

I grow snow peas for fresh eating and freeze for stir fries

Green beans. I grow Jade for regular green beans fresh, seeds and canned. They grow the best in this area (I used to grow Ky. Wonder). I grow Roma Wide Italian beans for fresh, seeds and canned for green beans potato and ham meals. I grow long green beans green and purple fresh and frozen for stir fries. If they are heirloom I will save some for seed. Wax yellow bean fresh, canned and seed. I also mix half green bean and half wax bean in pints for 3 bean salad. Hubby floats which other bean he uses as we save a bit of the "dry" beans for that.

Eggplant for fresh eating and frozen "breaded" for fried, canned in ratatouille.

Turnips fresh (silky sweet and Toyoko our favorites for fresh) I cook and can purple tops turnips. I either slice them like potatoes and fry them or cube and boil them to mash like mashed potatoes. The greens are in salads or cooked or dehydrated

Rutabagas and parsnips are cooked like carrots or turnips and canned. They have been mashed like mashed potatoes. The greens are cooked or dehydrated

Kohlrabi, ate fresh, cooked, canned, with greens in salads, or dehydrated.

Collards, kale, chard, spinach and mustards are ate fresh, cooked and dehydrated. Well not the collards, if I have extra daughter 1 and daughter 3 will take them. Daughter 2 will take the spinach. A few times the English widows will take them if it's enough for 1 to have a salad.

I grow dried soup beans, some I just leave as dried,  others I soak and then can so I can make quick meals. I make sure I save some for seed.

I grow cucumbers for fresh eating and pickling

I grow asparagus for fresh eating, pickling and freezing.

I grow Chinese cabbage for fresh and frozen

I grow red and green cabbages for fresh, frozen, red with apples canned, green as kraut or canned coleslaw as Hubby likes it better than frozen slaw.

I grow onions for fresh, winter storage and dehydrate. Yellow, white, red, Candy onions, scallions and walking onions. Can you tell we use a lot of onions?

I grow garlic, fresh and dehydrated

I grow peppers, sweet orange, red, cayenne, banana and pepperoncini for fresh, dehydrated and pickled.

I grow broccoli for fresh, if I get enough some frozen.

I grow brussels sprouts for fresh, if I get enough some frozen.

I grow cantaloupe for fresh.

I grow yellow squash and zucchini for fresh, frozen and pickled.

I grow tomatoes, cherry, roma, pasta, goat bag, and ox heart... fresh eating, roasted or not, canned as whole tomatoes, diced tomatoes, pasta sauce, pizza sauce, tomato sauce, and juice. I also dehydrate tomatoes and I dehydrate tomato skins for powder.

I grow pumpkin, butternut and acorn squash. I will not be doing that this year as one of the Amish is doing it to help pay off their medical bills. Means I have 2 garden beds for other stuff . I freeze butternut and acorn squash. I cook then dehydrate then grind pumpkin. 

I grow potatoes (white, golden, red and purple). 

I have grown sweet potatoes (didn't get any slips to plant😢 this year) So I will have to buy sweet potatoes but Hubby is going to ask one of the Amish if we can have 1 sweet potato in the fall to grow slips for us. 

I grow blackberries, red raspberries, golden raspberries, strawberries ,rhubarb, and apples. Fresh eating, canned in water or juice, pie filling, jam, jellies, and fruit butter, frozen and dehydrated. Purple seedless grapes and white seedless grapes... fresh, frozen, jelly or juice. We have a Bird deposit of a concord grape that is now 2 yrs old. If it lives through the summer we will transplant it for juice only. We have small cherry and peach trees. This is the 2nd year in a row a freeze hit after they started blooming. I doubt if we get anything off them. 

I grow thyme, oregano, garlic, apple mint, orange mint, garden mint, winter savory, basil, rosemary, lavender, lemon balm, marjoram, dill (weed and seeds), cilantro, sage, chives, garlic chives, parsley flat Italian and curly. 

We added elderberry bushes (covered from freeze) and rose bushes(also covered). Roses produce hips (if you don't pick the roses) that have Vit. A and C. We also added horseradish and more rhubarb(covered from freeze). We added blueberries and black raspberries also safe as not planted since we knew the freeze was coming in.

I sometimes plant Lady finger popcorn when we look to run low. I keep my popcorn in the freezer in pint jars, then move them to the frig. I only put out what I am going to pop about an hour before we want popcorn so it comes to room temp to pop better.  

I get my corn sweet white for fresh eating and yellow canning corn from E.

We eat a lot of roasts (beef, pork, and chicken) with root veggies whether fresh, frozen or canned. 

I use a lot of frozen veggies in off season of fresh with pasta, casseroles and soups. 

 IF what I grow doesn't make I first try to get it from Amish or farmers markets before going to a grocery store. Cauliflower is one that is usually from the store.

The Amish buy bushels of different fruits from an orchard over in Columbus area so sometimes we order some of that. Last year was peaches and apples. There is another Mennonite store we go to that sells bushels of fruit also that I can get some from. 

I am adding bee pollinator garden, butterfly pollinator garden and hummingbird pollinator garden this year.

Also replacing some herbs that died for herbal garden and a "medical" herb garden 

We want plants at the doors to help keep mosquitos and flies away. 

Hubby wants some sunflowers as he likes the seeds but I am willing to bet the birds will get them first and I want my heart garden to have flowers in it.

I am doing better by tracking that we eat our "colors" (red, yellow/orange, green, white/tan, black/purple/blue) on a daily bases.

what a week

Friday

We told E that Candy was not doing well by herself. She's 13 and has always been with the other horses.  His oldest son brought Nifty (retired race horse age 20) 

Nifty has been here before so was comfortable. Candy settle right down.

We got half of the weed barrier and trellises up for the berry vines. 

I planted 12 rose bushes, 2 elderberry bushes, 10 horseradish, and 4 rhubarb. 

Hubby laid more weed barrier down for the pollinator gardens. They are laying there but no soil.

I picked half bushel of asparagus to process today.

Blanch, freeze on cookie sheets, and then vacuum bag.

Sunday through Wednesday morning the weather SUCKS. Cold (almost to freezing in the mornings) wet, rain , wind and today SNOW PELLETS

SIGH... 

Hubby is in barn putting together 2 more beds as it was too bad for him to even drive fence posts in.

He is now carrying a 3x5 inch notepad and pen in his shirt pocket. It's helping with the memory issues. I had to draw a diagram of how I needed the berry trellises and weed barrier after he installed 3 trellises backwards.  We will have to buy more posts to add support as he made it clear he wasn't digging the posts back up and moving them.  I saw him sitting on the end of the trailer with his head down and E came over to check on him. Sat down with him and talked a bit and they both went over to the trellises. E put zip ties where the extra support would be needed. Hubby wrote it down in his notepad the zip ties is where the extra posts goes. E made a point later to let me know also.

Hubby also let the Amish know he would not be making long trips without one of them riding with him. He is doing well with GPS on his truck (dash board not on his phone) but feels he needs that extra "we need to stop for break" person. Couple of them asked if their kids could go (16 and older) to let them see outside the community. We both thought that was okay. Adults seem to fall asleep on long rides where the kids stay awake.

We updated my to do list. Nine a day SIGH.... The 12 garden beds that was to come in next month will be here this week. SO Hubby ordered 220 of 2 cubic raised bed soil to be delivered Saturday. Well worth the $79 to have it delivered than the 3 hrs. spent going after it, picking it up and bringing it back NOT touching UNLOADING it. This way they will unload it right where we need it to be.

I am waiting to plant the last of the berry vines since he doesn't have that area done. I can after this crappy  weather gets through put soil in the pollinator gardens and plant it. Hubby is going after mulch for the roses and elderberries later this week.

I need to plan menu and prep meals...AFTER I finish the asparagus

Blessed Be

Prayers for peace and patience 

 

AND it starts

 Our 1st meal of asparagus. I have enough up that we gathered a meals worth for a friend. It went well with the bacon sandwiches we had for last night dinner.

I planted different varieties of lettuce, onions, beets, carrots, turnips, radishes, peas and greens yesterday. My fake hip and lower back are letting me know I wasn't supposed to do all of that in one day LOL. I took breaks a lot but should have stretched more than I did and used my tens unit pain doctor got for me before bed. Lesson learned NOT.

Hubby went to do a couple hauling jobs... told me to take it easy and then called me as he sat in the driveway and asked me to put some of the smaller garden beds (pollinator beds) together so he would be able to figure out how much weed barrier to put under them tomorrow. I laughed. I guess he figures that is taking it easy for me.

Stay safe

Blessed be

SORRY.. it helps to hit PUBLISH button LOL

last couple days

 This is Candy... she normally is the school buggy horse or the horse M uses.

But E has several foals and the moms are getting a little nasty towards Candy as she wants to be around the foals. So she's at our pond for awhile. Hubby calls her our pond lawnmower. 

We are turning the furnace down to 60 (6 am to 8 pm) during the day as highs are in the 60s. When we have sunshine the house will get up into the 70s. The weather is still iffy and will be for another month.

I have been looking for metal garden beds to replace the one that are falling apart. Regular price has been $203.75 with tax. I found them on sale $166.23 and was able to use my cash back credit card saving a total of $550.19.  I was able to order 12 (half of what I need) which kept the costs in the amount I budgeted for this month. 

We went to grocery store. I saved $51.98.  I didn't get a couple things on my list but will check in 2 wks. 

Hubby got fuel at Kroger's and used my points saving $6.02 on fuel.

We use LED night lights (in Christmas candles).There are 13 of them through the house. We decided to stop using 7 of them. I am leaving the curtains/blinds open where they were and the security light in the yard is giving enough light for those areas. Hubby wasn't thrilled with leaving curtains/blinds open until I asked E if he could see in from his house one night. He went over and looked and said not really. As he is the only one that is behind the house enough to see in those areas. Said the security light and outhouse block that view from his home.

Going to the gardens to plant

Prayers for peace

Blessed Be

Frugal week

 I stepped out on the front porch to what Charlotte was barking at, must have been a rabbit. I thought this "just before" the sun came up looked great.

Since we are expanding the garden we made a list of what we need.  Hubby looked it up and ball park figure was $2500 with taxes. We watched for sales and got it all for $1408.10. That included onion sets and the majority of plants and seeds for the pollinator gardens. I will have to completely redo the herb garden but I knew that last year and have been putting $$ back for that.

I am watching sales as 26 of the 32 beds need replace  with in the next year. I am buying metal beds when I find them on sale. Not looking for everything to match or like that.

The hall humidifier and the front room humidifier are off and unplugged. 

We have ate from home the whole week. Even though Hubby said he almost called when he was getting fuel for the work truck and ask if I wanted gas station pizza at $11. It's decent pizza. He decided not to even offer to be supportive of our(ok, mostly MY) choice to focus on getting perennials in and then getting the mortgage paid off as quick as possible. 

Our waffle maker died... we held off replacing it, waiting to see if we missed waffles. The second time I bought Eggo waffles , we agreed to buy a new waffle maker. Now I have to figure out a homemade waffle mix as I am trying to wean Hubby from Bisquick. Though I will admit I like it for cheddar biscuits.

Since it is light out longer, we are not turning the lamps on until an hour later.

I planted apple mint in the one grow tower and orange mint in the other. I am not sure where I want them yet so this will work.

I planted 4 varieties of dwarf peas in hanging baskets. I can't remember where I saw it at but they looked good so I decided to try it. 

On the 8th , I told Hubby I figured out my "work" for the month so I wouldn't trigger anything. April has 30 days minus the 8 days already past, minus 4 Sundays, 2 Tuesdays that are appts/ errands and 2 days to go visit the kids and his parents. Leaves 14 days for work. I have 28 "work items" on my list so I need to do 2 a day. Maybe I will be frugal with my time???

Prayers for peace

Blessed Be

 

What I do with what I grow

 We eat it fresh through the season. DO you know how tempting it was just say" EAT IT"??? 😋 I needed the laugh.

  I can (water bath canner and pressure canner), freeze, and dehydrate for when not in season. 

I used to "store" 2 yrs. of food. During the pandemic I ended up way too low after helping kids, grandkids and a couple friends. Two of the kids are now growing small gardens. 

Hubby told me to aim for 3 yrs. (I do first in , first out) this time as we have 3 that might not get paid (but still have to report to work ) if the debt ceiling doesn't get taken care of. Been there and done that the last time that happened. AND 2 that are having female surgeries this summer.

Heart.org says you should eat 4 servings of fruit and 5 servings of veggies a day per person. What I usually serve is 1/2 cup servings. That is 2 pints of fruit and 2 1/2 pints of veggies a DAY for the two of us.

That's 730 pints of fruit and 912 1/2 pints of veggies for a year.

 In my case I can 1460 pints of fruit (we don't eat the same fruit 2 days in a row) and 1825 pints of veggies for us for 2 yrs. 

That is not counting  the pints of, jam, jelly , fruit butter, pickles, relish, pie filling (for pancakes, French toast, waffles, cakes and ice cream), salsa, tomato sauce, whole tomatoes, or broths.

That's not counting the quarts of meat, beans, broth, soups, pasta sauce, tomato juice, grape juice. Or half pints of jams, pickled onions, pizza sauce and that types of things. 

Hubby asking for 3 yrs. Would be 2190 pints of fruit (minus what ever is left in the pantry) and 2737.5 pints of veggies (minus what ever is left in the pantry)

Since I freeze and dehydrate along with canning and I have large canners I can handle the increase. Plus he has no problem using the burner to the 3 turkey fryers to heat the water bath canners or sitting in the swing while watching them and timing them. Been and done that 5 yrs ago.

I would say most people don't think about how much they buy of anything when it's not done by season. MIL just told me Saturday that FIL asked why they have a case of green beans and a case of corn. She told him it would last 3 months... he didn't realize they ate one of week of each. 

And here we go

 I have to be careful or I will trigger the crap again with over doing it BUT

Here we go

We have to tear down the old wire fence (E said he will take it because he has a spot he needs wire fencing) and add 7 posts and install the cattle panels. Think 16 ft long , 50 inches high of wire fencing.

We have to plant 12 different rose bushes and 2 elderberry bushes (with 2 more to be planted next year).

We have 7 blueberry bushes to plant in the large grow bags.

We have 4-5 varieties of potatoes to plant.

We have to add cattle panels to existing berry rows and then make 2 more rows for the 2 varieties I just ordered of black raspberries. I also have red raspberries and golden raspberries to replace vines that didn't make it.

We have horseradish coming in to plant.

I have 5 apple mints and 5 orange mints to plant.

I have hummingbird pollinator garden to build and plant

I have bee pollinator garden to build and plant

I have butterfly pollinator garden to build and plant

I have a heart shaped garden to plant ... thinking cutting flowers ...

I have to transplant the walking onions 

We have 6 strawberry beds to build and restart the strawberries.

I have 6 hanging pots I am planting dwarf peas in to see if they work as well as I read.

I have peas, lettuces, greens, radishes, carrots, beets and maybe onions  if  Yoder's has them in, to plant this coming week.

Weather forecast is to be warmer every day ending in the 80s (I am considered north west here in Ohio. That warm is not common for early April)

MOST OF ALL

I have to make sure I am not over stretching stomach muscles and triggering cramps. Like two of the kids have just did after getting over the crap.

Better but not well...

Hubby said he used to see Rascal do this when I was sick but it's the first time he has seen Charlotte do it. He was surprised she didn't turn and look at him so he figured she was sound to sleep also.

I ate 3 bites of grilled chicken breast, 5 cooked baby carrots and 1/3 cup of mashed potatoes and retriggered the stomach SIGH. But reality is I HAVE to eat.  At least I am not "living" in the bathroom.😁  I actually walked around the perimeter 3 times in one day VERY slowly but I did it. Today I hung clothes on the line by myself... tummy a bit upset over the movement but not triggered much. LORD PLEASE.  

Since I couldn't do any manual work, I did paperwork. Budgets are redone, to do lists .. Hubby's, mine and ours (what takes both of us) is updated. 

We even tossed some future ideas around when I asked how we were going to mow if there is no way to get fuel. Hubby's first thought was E using his horses... that will work for the pond but since E mows our pond because we mow his small pasture as he can't get the horses turned around with the mower (mower is to the side not straight behind him). That thought isn't going to work especially if Hubby isn't picking up the horse crap after E mows . We might be able to "rent" his push mower and kids to mow around the yard. He is got that on his "think about" list. 

 Since most of the garden is above ground... I don't have to think about that.   I had already went through my kitchen appliances to figure out what I would have to do instead of using it. Though we did talk about more herbal and flowers for holistic and food. He asked if I would try growing sunflowers. 

We talked about how we used to get 5 colors of fruits and veggies daily and our grains etc... and why we don't now.  I showed him what I had written on the calendar which of course we haven't followed since I have been sick. He definitely pointed out we were doing a lot of stir fries (one sheet baked), 123 pasta(1 onion, 2 cups protein and 3 cups veggies), loaded pizzas and almost always had salad with the pasta and pizza. Snacks were fresh fruit in season with cheese and crackers.

We canceled see the kids, then we didn't go to baby shower on Sunday. We did check on everyone as tornadoes hit close to some family and friends. Everyone okay... some got roof damage but not bad.

I saw this and thought >>> WOW. why did I not learn this in school? Brother who taught history said that kind of stuff was kept quiet. He was "speeding".

Be safe

Blessed Be 

comparing Feb to March finances

 Business income was up, interest was up. I counted cash back since it was up so high. We got a new credit card at the local TSC to get a discount on a  purchase. It actually pays more back that our other credit cards for general stuff. 

Irregular expenses were down along with down grid/maintenance, dog, and business.

Medical/oop was up , garden was up and since we are doing a lot of changes to make it easier for 1 person to deal with, we put it in it's own category. Household was up due to grocery/eating out budget being up. We will not do 4 days straight of appts again if we can avoid it. Another out go was I cashed 2 CD's and then bought 2 other CDS with better interest rate.

Over all I felt it was okay.... Hubby was disappointed there wasn't a big amount paid extra on the mortgage. He also is very worried about losing money like we did in 2008. I showed him how the budget would be cut (already have some but he didn't realize that) and where money would be to help pay the bills. That calmed him.

 I did remind him that he can't go to the store and just buy what ever. He needs to stay to the list. If he sees something on sale that he needs... he needs to CALL me and see if it's in the budget. Tractor Supply CO (TSC) is where that happens a lot. I still don't know what he bought twice, he didn't give me the receipt and he can't remember. It is in his trip log he stopped there so he was in the work truck. But he put it on the home CC not the business CC. Since there are several small projects he is working on, it's hard telling what was bought but it racked up over $100 between the two.

Stay safe 

Blessed Be

Plans for April

 I took the Flylady calendar I usually use for what I am canning and put our protein on it and then in markers of yellow, orange, black, purple, blue, green and red for the color of the fruit and veggies we need to eat. I will either write the food down or just cross off the color it was. I used pencil for white/tan.

I cashed in 2 CDs and turned around and bought 2 more that are paying 1.5% more in interest. 

I got an annuity from Daddy... Man has been dead almost 3 yrs and they just let brother and I know it was sitting there. I got the back payment and then will get a monthly payment. It's not a lot but it would have gave him some spending money for the month. As it is Brother and I get 50%. 

I was talking to older cousin on Daddy's side about what to do with such a small amount and about gardening. I mentioned Daddy growing roses which seem weird as it was after my stepmom died. She remembered Daddy talking her mom, his older sister, into growing roses as the rose hips help with inflammation and have vitamin C. 

Hubby and I talked it over as we were already planning to put in more perennials. I figured this would be where Daddy who grew his own veggies until his late 80s would like his money used this way. 

I have or have ordered a dozen different roses (rose hips have vitamin C plus help with inflammation )to go along the back fence at the pasture behind the barn. It needs the fence replaced. So that's where the back payment can go on. I also ordered 2 elderberry bushes (helps with immunity) because right now I either get it from friends that get it from other friend or I have to order it. I ordered horseradish  as what we planted last year did not grow. I have 5 blueberry bushes in and 2 on their way. I have 10 black raspberry bushes (helps with inflammation, nausea and mouth sores) ordered.  

I still need to replace some herbs that died and find apple mint  also. 

We have another large medical bill coming in as our eye glasses will be in.  

Our federal, state and school tax refunds are in. I hope to put most if not all of it back after paying off this year's coming school tax due. I would like to see the budget cut by at least 10% BUT AND have 3 months savings incase something happens to one of us and the other doesn't have access to money

Hubby wants to pay the mortgage off. 

I'm still dizzy enough to not try to work on that.

Blessed Be

Prayers for peace

March finances

 

Until I got sick middle of the night Sunday we stayed on point with eating the protein on this calendar.  

Income

IRAs $6800.78

Social Security $3634.

Son 2 payment on loan $100

Business income $2992

Interest $87.45 (2 CDs cashed)

Cash back from credit cards $242.49

TOTAL INCOME $13856.72

Out go

Irregular expenses $1040.15

Down grid / maintenance $241.15

Automatic savings $180

Dog food/treats/vets $0

Household expenses $2448.46 

Business expenses $2444.64

Medical/OOP $2349.40

Garden $1284.23

New CD $1000

TOTAL OUT GO $8543.57

IN BLACK  $5313.15

Considering Hubby didn't work for a solid week we were surprised he was able to cover his bills. He lucked out and was able to double up 4 small jobs and then had one job hauling out of state. Which definitely put the business in the black this month even though not by much. 

Health update

 I saved money by calling my GI instead of just showing up to the ER for my Crohn's attack. After answering what seemed to be a million questions, the PA asked if anyone around me had the stomach bug that is going around. I didn't know so I called the kids I had been around.... Daughter 4 said it was like having hard labor while sitting on the toilet and dry heaving in the trash can... HUM... Called PA back and he said the treatment would be the same but they would run a CT Scan with contrast to see if it was Crohn's or stomach bug. Not putting my veins through that or spending that kind of money to be treated the same. Plus 3 hrs. of driving and the gas money.

Hubby said we saved 2 pots of coffee and 4 pots of tea as the only thing I could keep down was water... room temperature water. Last night I ate a grilled cheese sandwich with crusts removed (Charlotte love it as she got the crusts). Kept it down but still spent 2 hrs. in bathroom.

Last night was the first night since Sunday night I slept in the bed. Charlotte has been sleeping beside me on the bathroom floor. Rascal used to do that. She was happy to be back in her rocking chair that she has made into her bed. I got about 3 hrs. of sleep at a time with 30 minute bathroom break. BUT hey, I slept in bed and made it to the bathroom every time. Lots of improvement there. 

We saved gas as we didn't go see the kids and after I told my symptoms none of them wanted me any where near them. I got a lot of I love you BUT ... 

Hubby took a lot of short hauls to keep the money rolling in but still be able to check on me. He has a long haul today but different Amish along with the kids blowing my phone up will be checking on me. 

I get tired easy... not surprising with out eating. 

It took me 3 days to do finances that normally take me an hour. SIGH

Blessed Be

Stay safe

Prayers for peace

Sorry

 down with sever Crohn's attack😢

End of the week.

 M had the younger boys looking for this fellow. They noticed that Charlotte kept jumping at the door and barking... they thought at first she was barking at them until she ran to the other window and barked. So they were able to figure out where he was and get him back home. Since they got cookies for bringing the rooster home, they brought over two cookies for Charlotte for helping them. LOL.

A friend screen shot these to me

He thought it was interesting as he has always told his wife to pitch it after 6 months and they fought over it more than once. I just wanted to bang my head on the wall... or maybe his if I was close enough. 

Four days of medical appointments has been a drag, both of us are worn out from it. Hubby said we got 16 mpg with the work truck, we get 15 mpg with the other truck that we now only drive local as it's rusting out and we don't trust it to not hit a pot hole and frame break to drive it very far.  We saved 20 cents /gal on the first tank through his credit card with the gas station. Then 30 cents/ gal with Kroger's. We ate out once (instead of the normal every single time). 

We had lunch at friends home on the last one. I took a side dish and they did the main meal. It was a nice visit that we haven't had for a long time. They let us know they bought some elderberry bushes to grow and if they had extra they would share. I had already ordered some myself

On Wednesday I told Hubby we needed to not do the 4 days straight with appts as it is a killer and he wasn't able to work. As soon as  I said it his phone ran.

 A 144 was needing a load hauled Friday. It's on the calendar. 

On Thursday A B  called needing scrap hauled Sat... junk yard is not open on Saturdays so it's now on Monday. But Hubby told him he would bring the trailer over on Saturday afternoon so they could have it loaded. 

J. A. B. called right after needing to have stuff hauled to his in laws on Saturday. So Hubby dropped the trailer off after A 144 so J.A.B. could load it. 

When done hauling it this morning he will drop it off to A B. Monday he will haul scrap to junk yard, then drop trailer back off to J. A. B to reload for lumber for barn that is going up at his in laws and Hubby will pick trailer up on Wednesday.

Add in there we are driving 2 hrs. (4 hrs. total)to do pit stops to drop stuff off to kids on Tuesday evening. 

N... E's brother and whom we bought the house from stopped last night to see our stove as he is thinking of getting a new one for his wife. I told him to have her come over to see if she liked it.I know she would do the warming closet on the top that I don't have. He also needs 47 bunk beds he made hauled on Thursday. That's an all day trip and he is going with Hubby as there are a couple stores he wants to stop at. Hubby did tell N to remind him to drink his water as he is dehydrating and it's making other health issues worse. N has no problem with that as he said he has a worker that he has to remind also. Trailer is going to N on Wednesday night. 

As N was leaving I closed the window on my screen door. It has a retractable screen... N thinks he wants to change his doors out to like that as it would help during the winter when the wood stove is running them out of the house as his wife doesn't want to leave doors open with the little ones.

I bet ten bucks that A 144 and/or D P  most likely both, calls with a load on Friday.  

I am glad Hubby thought to ask Doc if he was okay for still hauling.

Hubby had to stop and get a piece of pipe and 2 fittings to finish the solar pump connection to the pressurized tank. He was upset about it and I just told him to laugh it off as it's ALWAYS something  PLUS he was able to pick up new leather gloves for us ON SALE and we wouldn't have been there if he hadn't needed to get the last of the items. He calmed down after that. 

He got upset when he went to make popcorn and couldn't remember where I kept the popper for the microwave. Told me that he wouldn't be able to make popcorn if something happened to me because he couldn't find it. Asked me where it was... small appliance cabinet... still a blank. I pointed out he would do what he has always done... get a skillet, lard, bacon grease and butter and pop the corn on the stove... He laughed until he cried because that's exactly what he would have done. 

I did tell him even if I label the cabinets when I spring clean (May, no sense doing it as long as we are using the wood stove off and on), I didn't think it would help him. Because I would put general list like small appliances.

I need to work the budget for April.

Blessed Be

Prayers for peace. 

Hubby MRI results, planning for the future.

 

This was Hubby's fortune after we ate at Hong Kong before we got his MRI results. Even our doctor who is a friend laughed. 

Doc told him he has to write down stuff that is important, to pull over and input jobs when they come in while he is driving (he has hands free but has twice forgot he agreed to jobs when I was in the truck with him). He has to have a set routine. He has to lose weight, exercise and eat healthier. IF he doesn't want me to nag... he is to do it... other wise I have doctor's orders to NAG.

He has small vessel brain damage, enough to be causing problems but not enough to stop him from working as a hauler at this point. He sees the neurologist May 25th.  

I will give Doc credit, he knows Hubby well enough that if he had said you have a type of dementia and it's the kind that lowers survivor rate, Hubby would go into denial and I would be battling daily.  When Hubby went to check out, Doc held me back, he said he was surprised I caught it like I did as it is in the early stages. Which means we can slow it down. He is at a higher risk of stroke especially when he had rheumatic fever as a teenager. 

I caught because I know what to watch for. Both parents and step dad had it. Hubby's grandpas had it and his Dad has it now. I first thought ADHD because he easily sidetracked ... then worried it was his heart since he had rheumatic fever. Then the migraines came back after years of not having them. The change in his personality, though slight was enough to send warning bells off. He cursed using the F word and loud enough for E's children that were playing in the pasture to hear him. That is not him and I knew it. Especially when I said something about the kids and he cursed me.

Since I just had my own brain MRI (It was good), we can be thankful it's only one of us and not both like Mother and Pop before they died or like Hubby's parents now.  

I know I can't put off or let him put me off of learning to deal with the tractor. I even said something today and he started to put me off when I reminded him I have a learning disability and it takes me awhile to learn to do something. True statement as he tutored me in high school. The tractor is the only thing I need to learn to deal with this home. Finances need changed a bit and the will crap needs updated (again). We talked about getting things around for cremation also. AND were already dealing with this before these results.

Daughter 3, daughter 4 , and Son 2 know small vessel damage is dementia... they both have worked in nursing homes/ elderly care.  The other 3 not so much but I am okay with that as Hubby hasn't clued in to it. He thinks vitamin deficiency or his migraines is messing with him. He can go right on thinking that... I'm okay with it. Means he is not stressing or worrying about what will come. 

He did mention getting longer welding sleeves so he doesn't get burnt on his arm again on the wood stove.  I wear one already when loading or cleaning the stove. 

I know I need to make a list to not miss getting something done. But I've always made lists LOL  

this coming week

 I thought of my brother when I saw the sun reflecting in the clouds. He lives in city so doesn't see the sunrise unless he is working (part time at high school as he is SUPPOSED to be retired) . He loved it. 

I also sent him these two.

I am not sure if it is the same two geese that was here when we bought the house but every year we have 2 or 3 come. They spend the day here and then go somewhere else for the night. Probably will be not visiting so much when the little ones come along LOL. Temperature is hovering around 32 but the wind is blowing around 10-18 mph. Keeps the pond from freezing but definitely cold. I was surprised they didn't take off when I walked up to the fence to take the pic... they are so used to Charlotte that they ignore her when she barks at them.

We finally saw a male and female robin. We have seen some wrens.  Hummingbirds are due to come in this week. Purple Martins should be coming in around the 1st of April. 

Four days this week we have appts. One changed times to a later hour, not real thrilled but it is what it is. As it's either the later time or 2 weeks from now. 

We made a list of what the errands are and then Brother texted me that Daddy had an annuity that just popped up. GEEZE, Daddy's been gone 3 yrs this coming July. You would think that places like this would clue in when banks accounts are closed. Brother thought it was part of the financial group we have but it's not.  I got the paperwork to get notarized only to find my name was misspelled. What a pain. SO more paperwork to fill out and get notarized. I am glad the person I am dealing with was willing to wait until we were already out this coming week.

I handed Hubby the break down of where our money went last year and the fact I cut the budget by $59,000 last year.(We spent $200,000 bringing this home to wheelchair accessible for our old age). He couldn't believe I was able to do that (taxes showed I did, if you don't pull it you don't spend it and it was out of my retirement not his). He was still upset when he saw he "blew" $15,000.  He has canceled some memberships he doesn't use, called his business insurance and got a reduction of $200 a MONTH.  I did show him that we might next year cancel Prime... right now it saved us $1000 in shipping and he watched the free shows. This year might not be worth paying for it. He also agreed to call me if he out buying something and wants buy something not on the list. 

We still have medical bills out, his MRI included. Eye appt. is Wed so we will know how much that is. We need to update wills etc. We need to have more in each of our own savings to cover monthly bills if something happens to the other one until estate would be settled. Hubby's is almost there but mine is lacking. 

Going into spring, I have 6 new strawberry beds, 3 new pollinator beds to fill and 1 heart shaped bed that I think will just be pretty flowers in the back yard as there is NOTHING there but the driveway to the pump house , barn and deck.

Have a great week

Prayers for peace

Blessed Be