Frugal Friday/Living Well

Frugal Friday/Living Well

Another week just past and I am a weary woman. It has been work, work, work all week long this week...well except Mother's Day and that was my day after all!  Still a lot was accomplished this week and it all took some serious thinking to keep costs down. 

I'm including Living Well moments in each day's frugal doings.

Saturday:  Shabat service was followed by Oneg, a meal that is served  monthly following the first sabbath after new moon.  I thought and thought about what to take.  Finally decided upon Turkey and dressing.  I'd found half a turkey breast (cooked and frozen) in the freezer, made dressing from leftover cornbread I'd put in the freezer.  I crumbled the corn bread, added homemade chicken broth (from that freezer, are you catching the theme of this main dish?) chopped celery leaves and onion.  Baked until almost done and then topped with sliced turkey.  Wrapped the whole while hot in a thick towel, put into my insulated shopping bag and it was still hot when we were ready to serve dinner.  Works like a dream every time.

The rest of the meal was an easy salad: canned peach slices with mayonnaise and shredded cheddar on a bed of lettuce.  Chilled cranberry sauce and a reused plastic juice bottle filled with cold tea I'd made at home.  Any guess as to where the Banana Poundcake served for dessert came from?  That's right!  That lovely freezer.  This was without a doubt the easiest meal I've prepared to take anywhere in a long while. 

We were offered and accepted BBQ chicken sandwiches from the wealth one of the other members had leftover (planned for a larger crowd than we had).  I put them in the freezer for work lunches later in the week.

Had leftover turkey and dressing and made sure to wrap well and put right into fridge for dinner on Monday.

A long day and a night short of sleep added up two tired folks.  When we came in we unpacked foods and then crawled right into bed for a nap.  Best 25 minutes sleep I've had in  a long time.  I felt so much better afterwards.

Our supper this was cereal and toast.  We never want a heavy evening meal when we've had a more than substantial dinner midday. 

Sunday:  I'd bought Mama's Mother's Day gift earlier in the month opting to pay for something she'd bought for her home, since I knew it was something she'd wanted for some time. I was with her when she started to purchase it.  The money for this gift came from my personal savings where I stashed cash I received for Christmas.  That little fund has been handy for all sorts of nice things.  I'm so happy I stashed it and didn't squander it all at once.

Although all my children called this day, I was alone.  Chance worked two 12 hour shifts back to back (24 hours straight)...Some of this extra earnings will be set aside as gasoline money for our vacation.

Visited with Granny.  Took off trash since I was going out anyway.  Also dropped off some mail that needed to go out, and picked up a paper, too. 

Didn't much feel like cooking my own dinner.  The store where I stopped for the paper has a food counter and fried chicken was reasonable.  I did splurge a wee bit...I bought a bottled lemonade, a treat I indulge in only now and then.

Since all roads led homeward and were the same distance, I opted for the slow country roads well away from the main highway.  Such a beautiful day and a really lovely drive past country churches,
homes where families were piling out of cars greeting moms and grandmothers, some carrying dishes of food in their hands as they went up the steps.  Wild roses bloomed here and there and the breeze caused the trees, which have been fully leafed out for weeks, to sway nicely and created that lovely liquid sound that leaves and wind make together.

Spent the afternoon watching my Netflix selection: Season Two of Larkrise to Candleford.  I am so enjoying this series!  I get lost in the scenery, the costumes and the story lines.  It's one of the rare programs I'd say was as good as reading.

Monday:  Up early to make breakfast for Chance when he came in. I'd meant to make a big meal but thinking ahead in my day, I realized we had a heavy meal planned (leftover turkey and dressing) so we had a lighter meal of cheese toast and juice.

Made three pints yogurt.

Washed a full load of clothes.

And a full load of dishes.

My hands are looking better since I started washing dishes only once a day.  Since we load most of our dishes into the dishwasher this isn't a big problem.  As well we're saving water, by filling the sink only once a day and rinsing only one full sink at a time.

Dinner: leftover turkey and dressing and pear salad.  Added steamed broccoli since we had some in the fridge that needed to be used up.

Set up computer in the craft room and went to work on new series and next issue of PennyAnnPoundwise Newsletter.  Making good use of my home space to give me a quiet spot to work has been very beneficial. 

Another benefit of that workstation?  It looks out into the back yard  right into a shady area.  Watching birds in search of insects and seeds was so calming, and allowed my mind to rest periodically.  I saw Brown Thrasher, Oriole, Rust Sided Towhee, Cardinal, Mockingbird and Wren.

Cleaned shower. I love using toilet bowl cleaner on the shower.  In fact,  I use Lysol toilet bowl cleaner in the sink and tub too.  It cuts right through soap scum.  I can put a little on a sponge, wipe over the walls of the shower, leave for five minutes, come back and wash away scum with only minor scrubbing.  I usually buy the cleaner when it's on sale b1g1Free using a coupon to save still more money, for a cost of about $1 a bottle.  A bottle lasts several months.  Saves work, money and TIME.  Triple play savings.

Chance hung a few clothes to dry, put a few in the dryer until almost dry and then hung them to dry.

Had windows open and fans running until a bit past Noon.

Tuesday:  On my own most of the day, Chance went off to play golf.  First thing was light housework (all that work done on Monday saved lots of steps on Tuesday). 

Put a frozen roast into the crock pot with a mix of root vegetables from fridge and pantry.  Cleaned out several bottles of BBQ sauce, syrup, mustard, etc and made a tomato-y topping for the roast, which also gave enough moisture to the dish to steam the vegetables and roast nicely.

Set out meat to partially thaw for rest of week's meals.

Too steamy to open windows.  I opted to dry clothes on the line rather than turning on the dryer indoors.  Hung two loads (sheets and towels) to dry.

Spent the day sewing...or trying to.  Every project started ended the same way: I ran out of thread.  Made out a list of items to shop for the next day, did what work I could. 

Packed Chance's lunch while he was gone.

Sorted out fridge.  Found we had a bowl full of grapes that fell off the stem under the two remaining stems.  Chance doesn't like grapes that fall off the stem...but I'm devious and frugal, too.  I knew my husband loves chilled grapes, that it was hot outdoors and he'd come in steaming.  When he came home, I sat him down with a nice cool drink and a big bowl of chilled grapes, conveniently off the stem.  Not a grape left!

Boiled a half dozen eggs.  Some for egg salad, one for chicken salad, two for my lunch...The shells and water I boiled them in went into waiting plants to give them a nutritious drink.

Neither of us was sure what the other meant to do for lunch and we both ate a light snack and then waited...About 4pm we both decided we didn't want to wait for supper.  Our roast was perfectly done by that time.  I added a crisp green salad.

My unfinished projects (photo taken after I shopped for thread on Wednesday).

   
While working on piecing together pillows (the top of the stack) I discovered the fabric I'd chosen to back them was actually a silky sort of fabric.  Not at all what I had planned for a pillow to use outdoors.  I dug about in my fabric stash and round a red and white gingham with a border print down both edges.  I cut off the border print and then cut my squares.  I think this is a much better match than my original choice of blue and white gingham and this fabric is a nice cotton similar to the napkins I'm using as the pillow fronts.

Wednesday:  After a brief bout of housekeeping, I went off with Mama for our Wednesday shop and lunch.  We went to Walmart which suited both our shopping needs.  My Walmart still has a fabric/craft section and it was the perfect place to buy threads.  I remembered my desire to put a ribbon border on the curtains for the guest room and bought the ribbon and matching thread.  I stuck pretty hard to my list.  I  had only one deviation which was these:

They are plastic salad plates from the Better Homes and Gardens collection.  I thought they were perfect to hang on the wall in this room.  You can see my bedding set below and the ribbons I bought for the curtain borders. 

Those plates were under $2 each and so were the ribbons.  Not bad for decorative touches'.

Half a ripe mango, yogurt and ice cubes made a breakfast smoothie.  I froze the second half of the mango.

When I got home I put these items on the bed and suddenly thought of another children's tea set I'd tucked away.  It would help fill out the empty shelves of the whatnot shelf, I thought.  And so it did.

After playing about with my pretty things, I decided to do some kitchen work.  I made up a pan of biscuits.  Some for breakfasts during the week, some for an evening snack that evening. 

Cooked three small cubed steaks and cut two to fit some of the biscuits.  Used one piece to make a sandwich to go into the work lunch box.

Turned the AC up to 80F while I was out.  Forgot to turn it down when I came in...so it didn't go down to 76F until about an hour before Chance came home.

Too tired to bake.  Now's the time to pull out one of those super sales priced packages of cookies I bought.  Filled the cookie jar without much effort and for under $1.75.

Thursday:  I decided to approach the yard work the same way I approach big jobs inside the house.  Choose an area and work on it.  I began by pruning trees and seedlings right around the house, then went back and picked up all the branches and stacked them.  Raked under the sweet gum in the back yard.  Then I sat on  the deck and noticed the paint daubs on the red shutters.  I've been looking at those daubs for three years or more.  I went inside and got a scrubby sponge and soap and water and went to work.  Removed a good portion of the paint daubs.

My bits of work took about three hours.  Alan came by about an hour after I'd done all I could.  He dug up a rose bush that needed to be moved pronto.  Mentioned that I'd decided to pot the bush until I can settle it to an online friend.  One of her friend's is a landscape gardener.  She sent word to cut it back to the root and let it put out all over again.  Removing the limbs and leaves allows the roots to really focus on growing.  Free advice is priceless when you really want to save a plant!

Alan's fee for his share of yard work (another two hours worth and he accomplished way more than I did) was dinner.  Not a hardship since I cook a meal most every noon anyway. 

A leftover chicken breast from that meal was chopped for Chicken Salad.

After Alan left, I cleared the kitchen, made Chance work lunch for Friday and then settled into my chair and took a much deserved nap. 

Promised Chance a special treat when he came in  that night because the day was HOT.  95F with 59% humidity.  Ugh.  His treat?  A frozen Coke, made with ice cubes and a 12 ounce soda and a tray of ice cubes.  That made enough to give us both a treat at day's end.  I pay about $1.49 for one of the small frozen Cokes at fast food or gas stations.  Our cost?  Less than $.40 for two medium sized drinks.

Friday:  Some mornings the alarm is extremely annoying...Nevertheless the day was begun and so was the work of the day. 

The mango I froze on Wednesday, more homemade yogurt and a cup of pineapple chunks I needed to use up made this mornings breakfast smoothie.  So good and filling.  No added sugar and 3 fruit servings for this day.

I knew I needed some fresh produce and fruit, eggs and a loaf of bread to go through the weekend.  I've been reading thrifty blogs and been re inspired about coupon shopping...I looked at sales of various stores, sorted coupons, gathered the best of the best for the day's shopping and off I went.  I also had plans to spend a set amount of money on mulch and plants for the house.  And I had a thrift store agenda based upon a change of decor in the living room.  Tall orders for a day that must also include my pre-Shabat cleaning for the weekend, planning meals for the weekend, etc.

I thought long and hard about my route before leaving home. I had no desire to waste gasoline.  I knew I'd need to fill up the car and was not anxious to see that total.

First I ran errands here in town, going by the bank and post office, dropping off trash at the dumpster.
Then I drove two towns over to a thrift store that was on my route.  Walked in the front door, went right to the section I needed to check, found one item, walked down two aisles and found a second item.  Both are perfect for my living room and I had no need to look further.  Spent $3.

Next was Goodwill.  I look for several things when I go to Goodwill.  I always check the books.  Today found two, for $4.   Nice hardback editions, too.  Then I always wander down the furniture aisle.  Sorely tempted today by a big outdoor metal table (the grid sort of metal) and eight chairs for $60...Realized it was the lifestyle the table represented and had nothing to do with my own life...sigh.  Saved that $60 anyway.  Sometimes it pays to really think about why we want something.  I liked the idea of having guests seated around the table.  Reality: guests usually want us to be the guest rather than drive all the way out to our home.  I live in Georgia.  An outdoor table would be used only about 4 weeks out of the year.

I always look for nice baby blankets.  I donate these and try to find the ones that were obviously not used.  I found a like new receiving blanket today for $1.  While digging through the linens I came across four brand new packets of matched napkins, two to each packet.  They were the right color to match two sets of place mats I already have.  The napkins were less than $2 per packet.

My real goal today was to find pillows to go into those pillow covers I was making.  I needed a small set of pillows for the front porch and larger ones for the deck chairs.  Why buy brand new pillow forms to put into outdoor pillows?  If I forget them and they get wet or Maddie takes them out to the yard, I'll be a lot sadder if I paid more for them.  I found 2 pillows for $2 each. Satisfied, I left that store only a little lighter in pocket and richer in goods.     

Next shopping took me to the home and garden center.  I needed to buy mulch, wanted six packs of potting plants, and herbs.  I had some of that Christmas gift money set aside for these purchases.  I bought 8 bags of mulch, six packs of portulaca, three colors of petunias, one of impatiens and one of salvia.  These are all hardy, long lived annuals.  They will survive our heat and reseed and bring on new plants as the season goes on and on. 

My herbs were basil, sage, thyme.  I spent far more for them than for the six packs but I should be able to harvest from these plants all summer and well into the autumn months, possibly even into winter before the plants begin to die back.

Next stop grocery store.  I bought buy one get one free deals on grape juice and cat food.  Found an unadvertised b1g1 deal on bread, too.  I knew I had plenty of room in the freezer so I bought the two loaves.  I walked the perimeter of the store.  I got a bag of apples (far less expensive to buy a bag of apples than to choose individual apples.  A bag cost $3.99.  Individual apples of the same variety cost $1.99 a pound.  That's about two apples. 

Another good buy this week was seedless watermelon.  I love watermelon and cucumbers.  Both have a vehement dislike of  me.  In summer, I will always buy seedless melon even though it's a bit more costly than regular melon.  I bought a small mini melon today for $4.  This is what I did with it.

First I cut into quarters. Then I slice it.  I set aside the end pieces.

Now I have a big bag of wedges ready to chill.  My family loves to have a wedge or two for impromptu summer snacking.  I scooped the melon out of the end pieces and put them in a container to send in Chance's work lunch.  Working atop the cloth is much less messy than trying to cut the melon a cutting board or counter top.  The cloth absorbs the juices that run out of the melon and I need only to rinse the cloth and then wipe the counter.   

Doesn't it look like a much more substantial purchase when it's all divvied up like that? 

I didn't make any impulse purchases at all in the grocery.  That is a record for me!  Think of all the money saved in that store alone, just by sticking to my list and buying nothing but what was on it.

Last stop CVS.  Milk there is more expensive than at the grocery, but this week was a little lower and had a $1 ECB offer.  That made it less than the cost of grocery store milk.  I had ECB I needed to spend.

I noted a sale on a brand of razors: b1g1 50% off. Normally I pay no attention to those sorts of deals but I'd just sorted coupons and recalled a coupon that read b1g1 Free.  I paid less than $1 a package for the razors.  The amount spent used the last of my expiring ECBs. 

Bought toothpaste and toothbrushes on sale as well.  Used coupon for both items.  Earned ECB back on the two purchases.  Final cost to me worked out to $0.  That's my sort of shopping.

Was pleased to note gasoline had dropped nearly $.60/gallon since Sunday.  I filled the car up.  I'd heard oil prices were on the rise again and I'm pretty sure that means gasoline is going right back up.

It was late.  I was famished, and hot and miserable.  I wanted to get something to eat and something cold to drink, but decided to drink the water I brought from home.  I came home and heated up one of those BBQ chicken sandwiches we'd put in the freezer over the weekend.  Settled with a glass of iced water, sandwich and peaches left in fridge.

Put that new gallon of milk in the freezer since I have almost a full gallon in the fridge.

Spent the last part of the afternoon preparing work lunches for Saturday and Sunday, planning meals ahead for the weekend and cleaning house.  It was so nice to sit down on the porch with Maddie while she ate, sip my iced water and rest.  Satisfaction filled me.  I'd put in a hard week of work and I couls see my accomplishments inside, outside and in the checkbook as well.  Flowers nodded at me, basil and sage scented the air.  A nice breeze kept gnats and mosquitoes at bay.  Lovely end to a busy day and a busy week.

NEW SERIES: Homemaking 101 Intro Post

A couple of months ago a young woman, V,  came to spend the day with me.  We had such fun talking all day long!  She's a newlywed with a deployed husband and in June of this year she becomes, in her own words, "A member of the bon-bon club."  That statement refers to a joke between Chance and I about what a homemaker does all day long "Sits with her feet up, watching soaps and eating bon-bons..."  Fulltime homemakers know that isn't true at all!  The problem however, is that many homemakers, new ones and old ones alike, haven't a clue how to keep a house, make out a budget, develop a routine of housework, have a bit of fun and plan their time for play and craft.

V contacted me early last week. She's going to try her hand at being a full time homemaker and work from home part time.  She has lots of questions about how to manage her budget, her time, her skills and I'm all for helping her.  If I can save her some of the trials and errors I went through I'll be happy.  If I pay attention to her as she goes along, I may even learn a few things myself and that will make me even happier!

I didn't step into homemaking knowing all about it.  Mama had made sure I knew how to do basic cleaning but deep cleaning was unheard of in our home and in mine until this recent time at home.  I could can and freeze garden harvest but had (have) no clue how to plant.  I could sew, but can't cut a pattern and alter it to fit.  I could iron all sorts of fabrics all day long and Daddy said my creases rivalled military regulation creases, but washing clothes?  Hadn't a clue.  I could plan for and cook a decent meal but didn't know a thing about grocery shopping.  Money management was never mentioned...And let's just skip the whole time management issue okay? That was unheard of in my childhood home as well.

I learned the hard way that a limited amount of time daily plus an unlimited number of duties could lead to one of two outcomes: an overtired frustrated homemaker, or a sloth. I've been both in equal measure!  That's why I say over and over again, this incarnation of being a fulltime homemaker I was determined to treat it as a vocation not a vacation, but I'm a huge believer in giving up perfectionism as well.  My goals are simple: a clean orderly home without undue labor, know and live within my budget, good meals with little waste, work and rest in good measure, quality time with my husband. 

It took quite a bit of trial and error to get here.  There were mistakes, poor choices, advise from both seasoned and new homemaker's alike that helped me reach this point.  Mind you, I'm still learning.  It's important to remember this about homemaking: it's never stagnant, always changing.

In this series of posts, I plan to address budget, home routines, order and beauty in the home, recognizing time and money wasters, self-sufficiency and other subjects that relate to creating and running a home that is uniquely suited to those who live there.

As always, if there are any questions about a post or areas you'd like to see addressed then please let me know.  If you have helpful suggestions send those in too, because we can all use a little extra expert help and any woman who runs her own home successfully is certainly an expert.

Make Do and Mend Mondays

Heidi @ Cranberrychronicles.blogspot.com has started a new Monday project that I just love.  I promised her last week I'd join in and post the logo she made to my website as well.  This week she posted her photo of her make do project and promptly emailed me that  she was anxious to see what I came up with.  Well...I certainly had put myself in the hot seat! lol  My projects are not nearly so nicely executed as Heidi's but this is what I've done today.  I've had these pieces for some time in my chifforobe where I keep china and it seemed a shame not to use them.  In fairness, the big compote has been in the fridge for the past several weeks with fruit (apples, and later grapes) but since I'm out of both fruits the bowl was washed and slated to go back to the cupboard.  I posted a photo at the beginning of the year from BHG where they used such pieces to organize a desk and I thought of that this morning when I was about to put away the compote.  So here's my "Make Do" project for this week:

I just remembered I have a creamer in the shed with a chipped edge.  I think I'll do as Granny used to do and sand down the chipped place then use it to hold my color pencils.

What ways can you Mend or Make Do today?  Anyone up for the challenge?  Let me and Heidi know if you join us and let us see your project. 

Menu Monday: A New Week, Work Ahead

A new week is well underway and it's time once more to plan foods, tasks and fun.  I've actually got so much on my plate for this week that I might well collapse exhausted and call a nap 'fun'!  Sewing, yard work (my plans for that job just keep growing), house work, writing, errands,visits,  meals...Golly but those of us who are full time members of  The Bon-bon Club surely do have a shortage of time!

I didn't do much of anything yesterday.  It was, after all, Mother's Day, and if I were alone it seemed to me I ought to honor the day by taking my leisure.  I called Mama, who was visiting down at my brother's and I went to see Granny.  I stayed near the phone after that so I could take each of those four phone calls from all four of my lovely children.  What a treat to speak to them all. Now if those two grand sons of mine will begin to talk I might get to talk to everyone eventually.

Monday:  Turkey and Dressing, Steamed Broccoli, Pear Salad, Cranberry Sauce
I had just enough leftovers from Saturday's dinner for two servings if I stretched a wee bit, hence the broccoli being added to the menu.  And just in time, too, as it happens.  I'm produce rich and need to use it all up in a hurry.

Tuesday:  Tuna Salad Nicoise, Saltines, Banana Splits
Chance is going to golf this morning.  When he'll return is any one's guess.  It's dependent upon a lot of variables: cost, heat, tiredness...So I'll plan to make a plated salad, which will keep until whenever he returns or to have as late as supper if necessary.  And if I get too hungry, I'll just make myself a sandwich.

Wednesday:  Mustard and Pepper seasoned Roast, Italian roasted vegetables, Baked Potatoes
The roast is so easy to season: a good quality Dijon or whole grain mustard is my favored choice, but I've used the plain old store brand yellow mustard with equally outstanding results.  Coarse ground pepper over the mustard and bake to medium rare.  My roast is a shoulder roast, excellent for roasting and will slice nice and thin for sandwich meats for the working man of the house.  I'll use zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers in various hues, Vidalia onion, garlic, olive oil and oregano to make our main vegetable dish.  I so love this medley of vegetables.  Leftovers are excellent tossed with pasta as a makeover entree.

Thursday:  Sweet and Spicy Wings, Rice, Coleslaw, Biscuits
I love theses wings!  The extra sauce is excellent spooned over the rice as a 'gravy' of sorts.  The wings are sticky and messy but so tender and good.  It is likely Alan may be here this day to help with the yard work.  This is one meal I can easily make and leave to cook while we're working. 

Friday:  Eggplant Rollatini, Green Salad, Crusty Bread, fruit
I don't expect I'll use up all of the eggplant in the roasted vegetable dish, so I'll make rollatini, which are worth the extra effort they take to make.  I bought my eggplant for just $.50 this past week and it's the absolute best price I've seen on one in ages.  Pears and grapes are the best buys in my produce section at present, but strawberries may be well priced too, so any or all of the above may appear as the finish to this meal.

Saturday:  Chef's Salad, Crusty Bread, Strawberry Shortcake
I'll make extra salad Friday and set aside for today.  A boiled egg, slivers of roast beef, cheese wedges will make a nice chef's salad.  I've almost let strawberry season get away from me, so I'm going to indulge in my favorite dessert of shortcake. I'll bake sugar topped biscuits when I bake on Thursday and set them aside.   I like an easy to assemble meal when I come in from synagogue.

Sunday:  Chicken Pot Pie, cranberry sauce, Carrot and raisin salad, Strawberry sundae
I'll boil chicken breasts on Friday as part of my work ahead plan for weekend meals.  It will take no time to assemble a pot pie for dinner.  Leftover strawberries will be nice over vanilla ice cream, over even over strawberry ice cream.

Frugal Friday/Living Well

Frugal Friday

Saturday:  Drove to synagogue Saturday and rather than add miles to the car, I went on into the next larger town to spend the afternoon.  It was less than 10 miles to the next town, but if I'd come home and driven back that evening for my friend's birthday party, I would have added 80 extra miles to my car.

Take out lunch was in order.  I chose a casual restaurant where I ordered a sandwich and water.

Made a return at a clothing store and had it credited back into my account rather than take cash.

Stopped in a retail store I love but seldom visit due to prices.  Found two napkins for $.98 each on clearance.  Bought them to use as the fronts of pillows for the front porch chairs.

Stopped by two local Goodwill stores.  Unplanned, yes?  Worth it?  Oh yes!  I found several items I'd put on my list for other stores at well below the price.  A Queen sized flat sheet will make two panels for the guest/craft room window.  A heavy canvas like fabric to use for cushions for the back porch and 1 lightweigh aluminum wreath (?) of sorts that I plan to hang on the wall of the house above the table and chairs on the deck.  Oh and one butcher block cart to use as a work station next to the grill.  The cart was $30.  The sheet, the wreath and the fabric were $5.

Ran out of things to do so I grabbed one of the books I bought (paperback for $.50), found a shady spot to park at a shopping center near my friend's home and read for a couple of hours.

Turned AC to 80F before I left home Saturday morning.

Washed a full load of dishes.

Sunday:  Didn't go anywhere at all.  Admittedly it had as much to do with being dog tired after a busy latter part of the week. 

Turned AC up immediately when I got up.

Dinner was a salad made using one of the cooked chicken breasts in the refrigerator.

Planned grocery shopping using online ads.

Had yogurt for my nightly milk since I was running very low on milk.

Monday:  Went over grocery list once more and pared it down to the needed items and the very best sales.

Spent the day making bread, preparing a good sized dinner.  Made up a batch of meatloaf and two burgers from two pounds of ground beef/buffalo mixed half and half.  I made a small meatloaf and a smaller meatloaf.  Used end pieces of old loaf bread as the filler for the meatloaf mixture, as well as the last of a can of tomato sauce opened last week for a recipe.

Made two loaves of bread and three hamburger buns from the batch of dough.

Wanted a cool snack.  Ate chilled canned pineapple chunks from fridge.

Used last of milk.  Ate homemade yogurt for my nightly milk portion.

Washed a full load of clothes.


Tuesday: Went over grocery list one more time to double check planned purchases.

Got cash to cover gorceries.  I find I stay on budget far better if I know I'm carrying a limited amount of cash.

Even if I think I have the best sale price on my shopping list I look high and low and compare prices.  Doing so meant I saved an additional $1.40 on two loaves of bread.  We love our homemade bread, but Chance likes to have a loaf of store bought on hand as well.  I bought extra when I saw the second loaf was marked down, since I meant to put it in the freezer anyway.

Looked over the reduced price meat bin.  Found a pound of ground chuck for a $1 less than the ground round on sale.  And a packet of sliced sandwich meat that went into the freezer for a road trip later.

One store had a special $5 off 10 participating items.  The bread I didn't buy would have counted for two of my items.  I made it up by picking up 2 extra of a much less expensive item that has a long shelf life.  I've messed up these deals in the past so I kept a careful record of what I was picking up towards that deal and I counted it twice.  Checked the receipt before leaving the story to be sure I received credit of $5.

I double checked and triple checked my list in each store to be sure I got all the sales I'd meant to take advantage of while in the store.  Not only did I double check the list of store sales items but of the basics lists on another sheet of paper.

Wednesday:  I forgot to take out my turkey breast to thaw...which led to a change of plans. I had chicken out but that also remained frozen.  Thankfully it was partially thawed, enough that I could cut into nuggets to oven fry.

Two sweet potatoes went into the microwave to cook for just 5 minutes. That was enough to partially cook the potatoes.  I cut them into wedges and oven fried along with the chicken nuggets.

Two breasts and two sweet potatoes netted enough food to feed three.  Could have fed four if I'd bothered to make slaw.

I love using the toilet bowl cleaner on my shower stall. It cuts right through the soap scum, takes far less effort and product to clean than using other items.  I smear on the walls with a damp cloth, let sit for a minute or two and then lightly scrub over the surface, then rinse.  It takes about 3 minutes start to finish.

Realizing we just weren't going to eat a packet of ground lamb bought for $1 earlier in the year, I cooked it and mixed with cooked rice.  Made a nice couple of meals for the dogs.   


Washed a full load of dishes.

Thursday:  We turned the AC on only during the very late evening hour to remove a slight stuffiness from the house.  I think it ran less than 30 minutes total.

No AC needed again this day, with the cool morning temperatures.  We planned to be gone from home, so we turned up to 80F.

Plans for the day were to take pizza to Alan's and spend the afternoon with him.  I grabbed a bag of cookies, soda and off we went for an afternoon on his deck above the lake.  Lovely lovely way to spend a cool Spring afternoon.

Took off trash and carried along mail to be sent out with us when we left home.

Supper, after the heaviness of our dinner of pizza was bowls of cereal.

A broken sunvisor on the passenger side of our car has refused to be mended by anything we do.  We ordered one to replace it.  Not from the manufacturer but from an eBay site that specializes in replacement parts for our auto make.  Cost is about 1/2 what the dealership wanted to order the part.

Friday:  Hung a load of clothes to dry on the line outside.

Open windows invite cooler breezes indoors and offset the need to run AC until late this evening.

Leftovers for breakfast?  I had enough grits for two, four slices of bacon and waffle batter in the fridge, all leftovers from breakfasts this past week.  We cleared that portion of the shelf very nicely.

Since I forgot to take out my turkey breast half for Wednesdays dinner, I took it out last night to begin thawing.  I'll take Turkey and dressing to our Oneg dinner tomorrow at synagogue.  I also had a Banana Poundcake in the freezer.  Might as well thaw that, too.  I'll make a pear salad to finish off that meal and think it will do nicely.

Having found only 1 6pack of Chance's favorite soda at the grocery this week (even after checking three stores) I thought he would be very limited.  Checked pantry and have two more six packs there

Although I watered my potted plant well earlier this week, I discovered it looking rather shriveled this morning.  I set it to soak in a pan of water.  This should saturate it enough to perk it up once more.

Reading through the older magazines I rediscovered a product I'd forgotten all about: Jobes houseplant spikes.  I found a double pack in the dollar store for less than $2.  I stuck one or two into each potted plant and boy have they all had a growth spurt over the past two weeks.  I'm glad I saw the advertisement that led me back to this easy to use product.

Careful measurements of pet food have done exactly what I'd hoped it would do.  The dogs and cat are losing the extra weight they put on over winter.  They don't seem hungrier than usual either.  I simply read what was on the package recommendations list.  I do feed them a little extra in winter especially when the temperatures are very low, but there's no need of those extra calories in warmer weather.

Living Well

I'm very proud of my husband this week.  I wrote last week about taking care of myself, being kind to me in ways that only I could be.  Well my husband had a tough week at work last week, far worse than usual to be honest and this week he's done something extraordinary.  He's planned to relax, planned it by writing in what he'd do on the calendar!  And he's treating it as a 'cannot under any circumstances be cancelled' appointment! 

So yesterday we went off to visit with Alan.  We took along pizza and cookies and drinks and sat about on the deck of his apartment overlooking the lake and sunned ourselves.  We relaxed into that almost stupor of ease that comes with sun, food and peace.  The kind of deep relaxation that sinks into your bones and lingers all evening long.  It was like taking a vacation  mid-week, truly it was. 

He's planned a day next week to go golfing.  I'm not going to go along on that day, but he'll have company in a friend he's asked to join him.  After a few days of resting like this I think he'll be more than ready for the next phase of work for the month. 

In other news, Granny is our rehab after her falls in late March.  She's back at the Assisted Living center and pronounced it good to 'be home once again,' as she went through the door.  I'm glad she feels at home there and was glad to return.  I hope to see her on Sunday.

Susan reported Miss Rose was thrilled with her rose covered tin tea set that we sent for her birthday last week.  Hard to believe that little miss has turned five!  And she'll be off to school this autumn, a thing she is more than ready to do. 

All's well in the Poundwise home.

Coffe Chat - Looking Ahead

Good Afternoon!  There's a variety of cookies today, both Fig Newtons and Chocolate Chip.  The coffee is decaf Kona but there's also cool iced water for refreshment as well. With the temperatures lower today, you might well opt for the coffee.  This cool weather was a nice surprise after yesterday's humidity and heat.  The wind chnaged directions and began to blow in clouds galore, but all we got from it was enough of a shower to dampen the grass about 3am.  The change of weather brought in a few forecasters:  my hip ached, Chance complained of knees aching.  It's not at all funny how well we can tell a weather change is about to occur.

I went out grocery shopping yesterday.  I didn't have a lot of coupons, in fact, I had none.  I shopped sales only, required very few things aside from sales items.  I found quite a few good buys on meat and produce.  I'm pleased because, TRA LA! I'm spot on my budget for the month...Now if I can just hold on until next pay period, and I should be able to do so since I bought extra bread and milk and heartier, longer lasting produce.

 I've had big plans for May.  There's a deck spruce up and I'm pleased how quickly some of the dream list items came to me.  I wanted a work prep space for the grill...found a butcher block island at Goodwill for $30.  Solid wood with two shelves under the block top and casters so we can roll it about.  I plan to weatherproof it with stain.  I also wanted a nice piece of heavy canvas fabric for chair cushions.  Goodwill again.  I found a piece of fabric just big enough for four chair cushions (if I use an alternate backing) and it will really help pull together the color theme.  It's all charcoal and blue, white and olive green and rust.  I found a flat aluminum form that is like a wreath...I plan to paint it charcoal black like the table.  It is light and I can hang it on the siding of the house without worrying about doing too much damage.  I think the deck will look really nice once I'm done with plants and all.


Also at Goodwill this weekend, I found a Queen flat white sheet, which will be turned into curtains for the guest/craft room.  I moved a corner shelf into the room and put out my antique china tea set, the pictures I picked up two years ago at Peaches to Beaches (all those lovely women photographs).  It's starting to come together and I'm liking it.  I think it's going to end up in a sort of shabby cottage direction.  I'll be painting that bamboo and rattan table I bought at Goodwill last Spring, covering my desk chair, skirting the craft table (and creating some nice under table storage when I do).  I noted bi-fold paneled doors at the thrift shop yesterday...seems to me that might make a nice headboard for a bed.  I'm still thinking about that one.

I guess I just needed a good thrift shop fix this weekend.  I found two paper back books I thought would be interesting and a few receiving blankets which have been washed, dried and are ready to donate for newborn babies at the Crisis Pregnancy Center.

Yesterday while doing my grocery shopping, I happened to go by the church thrift store.  I spent a whole $3.  One purchase was a really pretty handmade accent pillow, long and narrow, that is now on my bed and which has given me a whole new idea about where I want to go with my bedding, (still using the reverse side of the quilt at present) but it will also go with what I planned earlier, IF I'm brave enough to mix the two floral patterns. The pillow is made of a high end fabric and has pricey tassels and trim. 

Decorating, decorating seems to always be on my mind.  I'm always trying to refine my home and make it more comfortable, prettier, etc.

I have gardening plans as well, provided my son can work it into his schedule.  I'm not sure that is going to work out since the job he's up for will be sending him out of state for two or three months training.  I may just have to start these projects on my own and what I can't do, I can't do. 

I talked to Chance about the proposed re-use of the unused kennel for an enclosed raise bed garden. He was all for it! Isn't that great? I plan to make good use of the space there. I want to hang pots of herbs on the fence to extend the use of the space. I've spent time this week plotting the sunlight the area gets. One section between the two sheds gets less sunlight, but another section at the back gets full sun from morning until night. I'm not a gardener yet, but I'll learn just how I can go about using this to my advantage. I thought a nice row of trash cans on the outside of the fence would do for potatoes.

Chance and I have been discussing ways to keep our electric costs lower this year. Now the allergy/pollen season is done we can go back to hanging clothes outdoors to dry.  As well, we'd decided that a 110V window unit in our bedroom would sufficiently lower the temperature for us to sleep comfortably without having to lower the thermostat for the big unit.  I have a hard time sleeping when the termperature is above 70F.  We typically would lower our thermostat to 72F at night but that meant the AC would often run for hours on end when the weather was very hot and often not stop running until well into the cooler morning hours.  Chance mentioned he planned to buy a 110V AC to a friend who offered us their window unit now they've put in a new system in their home.  Now we'll leave the house thermostat set to 78F at night and cool our room.

Oddly enough, this has placed a high priorty on some yard work.  You see, the window where the unit will go has a rosebush right outside it and that must be moved in order to put the unit in the window.  I put a lot of work into that particular planting area several years ago but honestly it looks pretty rugged these days.  I would really like to take it all out and start over again and this  opportunity seems too good a one to pass up.  I find I am drawn to much neater, heavily mulched areas with smaller plantings right around a home's walls anyway.  As said, I may end up having to do a great deal of this a wee bit at a time all on my own, but I will get it done by planning to spend a half hour or so in the yard each morning.

I spent the majority of the early Spring months dreaming about the yard and how I'd like to have it look.  Oh the dreams I've dreamed!  I'll need a backhoe, about five hired helpers and a chunk of money!  Seriously, dreams I've dreamed and most of them are quite do-able with a little help and a little cash and a lot of time.

Items of interest lately:

I've been reading through my April, and now May, vintage magazines.  Did you know that in 1932 BH&G was promoting the idea of 'Thrift Gardens'?  This was in the height of the depression years and the magazine pushed the idea of growing your own fruits and vegetables in order to occupy unemployed workers and feed families.  In another few years these gardens would be billed as Victory Gardens to help feed Americans so the bulk of produced foods could be sent to our men in service.

We like to think the 'modern' look in homes began in the 1950's...True that they were most popular then, but you'd be shocked at how modern the 'modern' homes of 1935 were!  Very sleek, full of windows and most assuredly the forerunner of the '50's moderns.

Seasonal fruits and vegetables are often featured in the older magazines, because in those years, seasons truly dictated the majority of what one ate, quite unlike our day and time where we can buy strawberries year round.  Strawberries were frequently paired with other fruits and melons. For instance, two popular pairings from the '30's and '40's were strawberries with pineapple (usually fresh) and with cantaloupe.  An idea in a 1940's magazine: apples stuffed with strawberries, baked with brown sugar.  Or what about berries topped with meringue in a pie?

Two new ideas for future posts, both in the form of  "How to" type series.  I'll start one of them this month and the other at the conclusion.  How To Get Out of Debt and Have Fun Doing It, and  How to Keep House.  I'll lead out with the latter series because of a note I received from a young wife this morning.  She told me she was going to be joining The Bon-Bon club (based upon Chance's teasing phone comment whenever he's within hearing of females at work) in June.  She asked for tips and pointers on how to be as efficient as possible.  It's especially important to her to be on top of tasks because while she'll be a stay at home wife, she'll also be working part time from home.

I read an article on yahoo this morning. I've been learning for a year or two now about how beneficial certain foods are to our bodies, so this article was of great interest to me.  As a note on the kiwi: thos e of you who prefer to try to eat locally do not assume kiwi are shipped in from a foreign country.  The next town over has a large kiwi orchard right within the city limits!  I once met a representative from New Zealand who travelled the U.S. to promote the idea of growing kiwi here in the States. 
http://health.yahoo.net/caring/12-foods-with-super-healing-powers

It's been a good while since I shared inspiration pictures with you.  I thought I'd like to share some I've collected over the past month or so related to gardens and porches.  Most are from BH&G site unless otherwise noted.

I love this galvanized bucket planting.  It could be contemporary, it could be country (especially as the buckets lose their shiny newness.  I've thought often of using varying sized buckets such as this in the beds around the house.  I figure they are more easily portable if we need to move them to get underneath the home as well as more easily moved if I find a plant needs more shade or sun or less water, etc.

This photo is from Country Living.  It is a potting center in the corner of a garage or carport.  Isn't it lovely?  I suppose next to a pantry the next dream of many is for a sink dedicated to potting and flower arranging.

I love to look at the dreamy sort of patios and porches and those planned renos that install outdoor fireplaces etc. every now and then.  But what I really look for in photos are ideas that are do-able for the average budget gardener.  Like this hanging pot idea that makes good use of a wooden fence.  Isn't this pretty?  Can't you imagine a little pebble based terrace for seating here in front of this area?

This photo seemed another do-able sort of thing.  I've a big unused at present patio in front of my home.  I hate that it's just there.  I've been thinking some sort of entrance area would bring it more to the forefront, and perhaps inspire us to furnish it at long last.  My focus here was the arch and the gate with planting beds either side.

The letters on the photo represent what each plant is.  No clue, didn't save that info and didn't mean to do so.  What I liked was the bright pretty pots.  I think these are no doubt those inexpensive plastic urns that you snap together.  Aren't the colors just gorgeous and happy?  I want to use this idea on my deck.

It's not the stone edging that drew my eye to this photo, nor the planted urn...It's that lettuce border!  What a fun accent for a spring flower bed, especially if garden space is a premium in your yard.

This 'hose guard' made from an old tire was a clever idea.  In fact, I have a lawnmower tire that Chance told me I might have and I think this would be a good use of it.  I liked the pea gravel surround at the faucet as well. 

This image is from a blog.  I found it on Yahoo!images.  You see these things, these tire planters have a special place in my heart.  They were a common site in yards when I was growing up here in the rural South.  There's a few homes still that sport them and I think a home in the country just ought to have a couple of them.

This is a very rustic arbor, but it was a photo that I felt embodied the 'use what you have' philosophy nicely. 

It can hardly be called an expensive makeover or luxurious remodel, but this is pretty to me.  With two sheds on the property and one side shaded by a good sized tree, it's an idea worth thinking about in the future.  I like that the shed in this picture is rustic, and note those hanging buckets on the wall.

Here's an idea I've been toying with for the past week or so and I found the photo at BH&G this morning that has done the very thing: hanging pictures on a wall outdoors.  This is something I may consider for the front porch where less sun means less fading.  I love the symmetry of this grouping both on the wall and the bench with the two planters, the pillows.  It's very composed looking and that to me often translates to peaceful. 

I thought this photo looked rather neat and nice.  There's a log cabin on the way to the city the owners painted their porch floor a bright crimson red...then added a red painted swing.  It's unusual to see the furnishings and the floor the same color, but it works somehow to make it all look so...prim and proper.

Big news this year in plantings: TEXTURAL planting.  Seriously, gardens and container plantings have current trends just like home furnishings and clothing styles.  Texture is where it's at this year.  Note the stone planter, the different leaf textures, the complimentary but opposing colors which highlights still further the textural differences.  I like this look and am considering the same for our planters.

I think that's about all I have for today. Hope to see you later in the week for Frugal Friday.

Menu Monday: May Day

It's May, it's May!  Yes, I am singing because it's May...it's a new month and I am prepared with a new list of goals for home and person, a list of projects as long as my leg, and the calendar is filling up with fun and wonderful things to do.  The heat of the hot months shouldn't hit us too hard until June, which makes May a prime time to work and play.

For the beginning of May, I've done an inventory of freezers so I'm sure of what to look for in sales.  Fortunately I had a few hidden surprises I'd forgotten I had, just meant for extending my foodstuffs for the month.

Monday:  Meatloaf, Green Beans and New Potatoes, Coleslaw, Cornbread
I made two meatloaves, one larger and one small.  The small one is enough for two meals for me.  The other went into the freezer uncooked.  I'll bake it later in the month.
Chance's work lunch for Tuesday: Burgers on Homemade Buns, Coleslaw, Potato Sticks

Tuesday:  Monday Meatloaf Sandwich, Chips, Pineapple Sundae
I'll use meatloaf to make myself a sandwich after I come in from grocery shopping. I ate out so much last week that I don't feel inclined to even buy deli takeout today.  The pineapple sundae is one of those experiments that turned out well: scoop of vanilla ice cream, juice packed pineapple, swirl of butterscotch topping laced with buttered rum extract.  It's easy and very very good. 

Wednesday:  Turkey and Dressing, Broccoli/Apple/Raisin Salad,  Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes
I found 1/2 a cooked turkey breast in the poultry basket in the freezer.  I'd forgotten all about that.  Perfect for a meal and sandwiches, too.  The trick is how to serve Chance's favorite turkey and dressing and keep it light enough for warmer weather.  I think the broccoli salad will do the trick.  Leftover Pineapple chunks and a cake mix (I'll use the rest to make a cake for the weekend) will do for the Upside down cake.

Thursday:  Delivery Pizza, Salads
Chance asked for this especially.  No pizza delivery place in it's right mind would deliver way out here...they will however, deliver to our son's apartment.  The plan is to take lunch to him and spend the afternoon on the lake where he lives.

Friday:  Spring Chicken Salads, Rolls, Grapes, Dark Chocolate
I cooked chicken breasts over the weekend for sandwiches and a salad for Chance's lunch.  One leftover breast will be sliced thin, along with green onions, radishes, bean sprouts and chow mein noodles over a bed of fresh greens.  I have Raspberry vinaigrette dressing to go on the salad.  Served with warm rolls, icy cold grapes and creamy dark chocolate...I think it will be the perfect warm spring dinner.

Saturday:  Oneg dinner: Macaroni and Cheese, Chunky tomato and cucumber salad, Crusty Bread, Coconut cake with Lime filling
Mac and Cheese in the crock pot for the main dish.  The cake baked earlier in the week will be split, filled with lime butter and frosted with coconut butter cream frosting.

Sunday:  My favorite: Chicken Pot Pie, Green Salad
I know it's Mother's Day, but no plans here.  My kids will call, so I'll stay home to hear from them.  I've taken care of Mama's Mother's Day present and she'll be with my brother and his wife for a meal.  Since it will be just me, I'll heat a frozen pot pie (love those things!) and make a simple salad.  If there's leftover cake I'll eat a piece and if not, I might just break out that Chocolate Bunny, lol.