Gratitude and Change

I have to say that I am total overwhelmed by all the comments.  The love, prayers, sadness and tears shared with me from every corner of the globe is just astounding.  I know I am totally surrounded with love.  I cannot begin to express what it has meant to me.
Every single service person I have had to deal with this week has been absolutely lovely.  All were so kind, compassionate and caring.  I have been hugged and I have been cried with by professionals.  It has been astounding.
My family and friends have surrounded me with love and support.

I have had a lot of loss in my life, but Tuesday was by far the absolute worst day I have ever experienced.  The shock and suddenness and tremendous loss is beyond words.
I am comforted by all the support shown and by knowing that my sweet husband is in the Lord's presence.
Everything about my life changed Tuesday morning.  It will never be the same.  I don't know why or what direction life will take, but I give it to God to direct me and hold me up.

I will have a second worst day this Tuesday when I see my sweet Glen's actual face for the last time.  I then have to figure out things about going forward.
I will need to check his retirement and social security accounts and insurance eventually.  He set his retirement up so that I would also receive full benefits for the rest of my life.  I have to work on paying bills - he paid everything online -  and I don't have a clue how to do that.  Needless to say I will be visiting with the bank a bit.  He did make sure that I would be OK financially, for that I am grateful.
I have to get used to new routines.  My life was very structured with him and now nothing.  I do have my sweet kitties to take care of and my nature - so I have some things to do each day that are important.

My kitties are so confused.  Lilly eats her breakfast in the morning, then goes in and lays in "daddies" spot on the bed all day.  Both have gotten sick a couple times this week.  Their world turned upside down as well.  They sleep with me at night, and Coogy loves on me constantly.

I do believe my blog posts will be changing some as well. 

I will not be doing bargain hunting and shopping for a long time.  Goodness knows I have enough food here to feed an army, let alone just me.  I well imagine my only food purchases will maybe be milk and something fresh.

I probably won't have weekly menus to share for quite a while.  How interesting and varied can it be when it's only me?  Soup, sandwiches, a salad or cheese isn't much to write about.

That big garden I had planned for this year - will be much smaller.  There will be no need.  I will grow enough for myself and maybe my neighbor and maybe a few things to make 'canned' gifts from.

So please be with me as things evolve - as I am sure they will.

I look around and wonder why do I have all this stuff?  My sweet man was an absolute pack-rat on his own!  WHY oh why did he keep so much paperwork and stuff?  Eventually I will get through things and figure it all out.

So for now, I will go forward one day at a time.  I will see the joy again I am sure - but it will take time.  Glen would want me to be happy and continue on a positive path of life.  That I know for sure.

He is in every nook and cranny of this house and I do feel surrounded by his presence and love.

Again, thank you all for all the beautiful thoughts and words.  It means so much.

Hang in there with me - as I will get back on track soon.

Love harder, hug tighter, and speak kinder every day.

God bless you all my sweet, sweet friends.  I love you all.

The Worst of Times

I have been missing this week, but it has been a tremendously horrible week.
Sadly, I must say that my sweet teddy bear of a husband, Glen, very suddenly and unexpectedly passed away on Tuesday.
We had a great start to our morning and had made plans to go outside and do a couple projects - and then our world turned upside down.

He went 10-15 minutes without a heartbeat or respiration.  His heart was revived, but he was on a ventilator.  Too much damage had been done to his brain with basically the most grim outcome.  We had discussed ours wishes many times over the years - so I knew what I had to do.  It was the hardest decision ever in my life, yet an easy one.  I knew he was already in the Lord's hands and I knew he would never want to just have his body exist.

My life just changed forever in a moment.  I am so numb, sad, angry, overwhelmed and just broken hearted.  Yesterday was the first day in 33 1/2 years that I did not get to see him.
I have made arrangements and will follow his wishes on that as well.  I can't wrap my head around all there is to do.

I will be back here as soon as I can.  Please keep checking in.

HUG your loved ones and tell them you love them.  A split second can change everything.
Please talk to your loved ones about their wishes as well.

I love you all.  I am so glad to have so much support.
God bless.


*Please forgive me if I do not respond to each comment - I will be reading.
 

Frugal Happenings 4/21

Happy Easter to all who celebrate.  HE IS RISEN!  What a glorious day.

Today the skies are clearing and the temperatures are going back in the right direction!  We had rain for 3 straight days and crazy winds and cooler temps.  Woke to fog this morning, but sun is shining now and we should get to about 70* today.
The world is most definitely coming back to life.  Trees are leafing and flowers are popping up,  All is green and looking lush.

I have been rather sore this week.  Monday I had gone out to do some errands, and when I came home I decided to go to the basement for something.  I still had my 'shopping' shoes on. (I never wear shoes going to the basement - carpet on stairs).  Well step 2 I slid and landed on my bum and rode the stairs down on my bum and back.  UGH!  My right arm was on handrail and hung tight - so I pulled the muscles a bunch.  Left elbow hit the cement block wall, and rug rash and bruises on lower back, hip, and upper legs.  BUT I AM FINE!!!!!  Thanking my lucky stars!
I guess it is a good reminder of how quick things can happen.

My frugal week:

• Renewed library books on-line
• Refilling pantry jars from home stock
• Working on baby quilt
• Got to air house and have no heat several days first of week
• Took a big bag and a box of goods to the Christian thrift store
• Received 2 - 8 count bags of hoagie buns from the thrift store for FREE.  Will repackage and freeze

• I went out bargain shopping on Monday.  MEIJER - got a 20 lb. Honeysuckle White turkey for .49/lb. (limit 1).  Also a whole boneless ham for 1.99/lb. (10 lbs.).  I will slice and freeze in various size packages.  I can't buy deli ham that cheap (no way close).
• Ran across the street from there to MENARD'S and purchased 24 cans of diced potatoes and 48 cans of tomato sauce.  .49/can with a .40 per can rebate!!!!!!!!  Final cost will be 9 cents per can!!!!!!  WOOHOO - I have already sent in rebate.  What a deal.
• I was gifted a cook book of soups and stews - so many yummy looking recipes.  I can't wait to try some of them.

• Doing all the regular stuff - laundry cold, making tea, eating from home and scratch, recycling what I can and just staying home!

Meals this past week:

Homemade white chicken/bacon pizza

Blueberry pancakes

Cube steak, mashed potatoes & steamed asparagus

Chili/cheese dogs and fries

Pork pieces with sautéed veggies over rice

Spaghetti with meat sauce (used veggie rotini instead of spaghetti)

Homemade sausage/egg/cheese/tomato McMuffins  - Yum!!!

How was your week?  Did you get any good deals or recycle anything? 

Anyone still de-cluttering?  It is an ongoing project here!

I hope you all have a glorious Easter with your families.  Prayers that your week be healthy and happy and frugal.  I hope that each of us do a little to help our yards, neighborhood, community, or towns in this Earth week!  May we each work at it everyday.

Blessings from our humble homes to yours. 

To Preserve and Protect

I think this is why human beings are on this planet.  Our job is to preserve and protect the earth.
We only have this one planet, and thus far I truly don't think we have done a crack up job of taking care of it!!!!!
I will not refer to humans as the superior being - as there are times I don't think we are.  Animals do not go out of their way to trash the world, to ruin nature, to fill the earth with filth and rubbish. to cut down all of our trees and put up parking lots.  They hunt for food and use what they kill.  They make their homes to flow with nature.

I think we really need to educate the youngsters of today.  I am a firm believer that if WE don't - the concern and respect for the earth will be gone in a few years.  Many young people don't have a clue where their food comes from and how it evolves to get to our plates.  They don't realize that we can ruin this planet to a point of no return.
YES, there are some young folks trying to get into farming and learning the old ways - but I think they are few.  I would love to see people turn off devices and get back in touch with nature.

Earth Day is April 22nd.  This has been celebrated for about a half century now.  It is a gentle reminder to us all to do what we can to take care of what we have.  There are many ways to do that on many levels.

• Reduce, re-use and recycle - number 1 in my book!
• Quit using plastic whenever possible.  Many stores have obligated to stop giving plastic grocery bags completely in upcoming years.  Some states have already outlawed them.  Plastic and Styrofoam does NOT break down.  Use cloth grocery bags and produce bags.  Quit buying individual serve containers.
• Use more glass containers.  Buy in bulk (less packaging) and store products in your own glass containers.  Use glass as leftover jars. 
• DO NOT litter!!!!!  If you see litter - PICK IT UP!  Don't wait for someone else to do the right thing
• Plants trees and bushes - they help keep your air clean 
• DO NOT use chemicals on the land - keep it natural.  Yes, there are ways.
• DO NOT use chemicals in your home.  You are contaminating the air you, your children, your pets, and everyone else is breathing.  Natural ways of cleaning is so much healthier and it works.
• Be resourceful and mindful of all of your utilities.  Do not waste water or power.  Collect rain water if possible to use on gardens and plants or even for gray water for your home.  Turn off lights when not in use.  Keep your heating/cooling to a reasonable level - fresh air is wonderful!

Next time you hard boil eggs or boil potatoes or steam veggies - let that water cool and use it to water houseplants or garden plants.  It is full of nutrients.  

Another re-use of water is when canning.  After I am done with my water bath canner for the day - I carefully take it outside and pour that scalding water on weeds/grass at the fence row or around the porch or driveway.  They die lickety-split!

You can use tub water to flush toilets or even to water plants.

Shower water can be caught in a bucket and re-used.  Otherwise it is just flowing down the drain for no reason.

This is what I use for areas that I simply want no growth.  I use in the gravel area out back and behind the shed (where mower won't fit).  I also use to keep the fence row (under the fence) clear.  It works quite well and there are no harsh chemicals to harm animals or humans.  The stuff you buy at the store is horrible!  Yes, you may have to repeat this every so often - but to me it is worth a little extra work to keep the animals safe.

NO it doesn't really work as fast as it says in the picture - but within a day two weeds and grass are dead.

Do not spray on desirable plants!

Yes, this is what I use as a fertilizer as well.  Many of us have used or still use Miracle Gro - but read the labels!  There is nasty stuff in it.  I don't want that leeching into my food.  I will continue to make my own.

Also think about using chopped and blended (with water) banana peels, egg shells, homemade compost, manure tea, etc.  There are so many natural things that will make your garden flourish and they are all healthy for your body!

Let us help the earth and leave it a better place for the future.  I sit back and watch the state of the world now and often wonder what it will be like when the babies being born today get to be our age (if that even gets to happen).  It is sad.

We need to do our best to protect and serve the earth - it is a wonderous thing that we have been gifted.  We need to educate and teach anyone who will listen.

IF WE EACH DO A LITTLE - THAT BECOMES A LOT!

Let's Not Forget Nature

We often think about stocking our pantry with our garden items and store bought items, but with many times forget about nature!
There is so much growing in our yards that we can use each and every day during the spring, summer and fall.  We just need to look around and do a little research.
I think we all need to learn to play with our food!!!!

Now is the time in much of the U.S. that folks can find mushrooms flourishing in the woods, there are fiddle heads and wild onions and garlic.  There is much out there that can be eaten and much that is quite nutritious.

I like making jellies with different items.  So many flowers and 'weeds' can be used.  Dandelions, violets, clover, peonies, lilacs, honeysuckle, roses, lemon balm and mints can all be used to make jelly.  I have used several of these and they are quite tasty and just fun!

These are so good for you.  The greens are tasty in salads, soups, and homemade salves.

Don't forget to take care of the bees as well.  PLEASE don't kill the beneficial weeds (flowers) and plant lots of lovely flowers.  Without bees - we will have no crops.  They are unsung heroes in the plant kingdom.

I will be doing posts on beneficial weeds.  There are so many yard plants that add to our diets and health and well being.  There truly is no reason to be hungry.

Please do not use weed killers.

NEVER eat plants that have been sprayed with chemicals and beware of animal "locations"!  If you know what I mean.

My kitties always go to certain areas to potty - so I know much of the yard is SAFE!

Take care of nature and it will take care of you.

We all need to educate ourselves of the benefits of 'wild' plants and lovely flowers.  The may someday be the secret stash of food that we all will need!

I advise everyone to get a book or two to have on hand about all the benefits.  OR read and copy from posts and other internet sites.  Make yourself a binder with all the oddball information that you can - you never know when it might be needed!

LOVE THE BEES AND WEEDS AND FLOWERS!  

Frugal Happenings 4/14

Good morning to all.  Happy Palm Sunday to those who celebrate the Easter season.
It is a very windy, wet, gloomy and chilly day here.
This week we got to over 80* one day and had much lovely weather.  Tonight they are calling for flurries!!!  Old Mother Nature just can't decide!
It seems my allergies are going absolutely crazy!

The grass is green, the trees are leafing!  Tulips blooming, and the peonies have grown in leaps and bounds this week.  In one day - they popped up at least 8".  I swear we could have watched them grow.

This week we had that nightmare (that we all fear) happen.  I was out in the garage getting the mower ready and thought I would get something out of the freezer to thaw for dinner.  No problem - IT WAS ALL THAWED!!!  AS IN ALL BAD!  A GFI on the outlet had popped, thus turning off power to that outlet.  It could have been much worse.   I don't have to replace the freezer and that freezer didn't have the bulk of food in it.
It was just starting to get stinky!!!!  I got everything out and in the trash just 20 minutes before the trash truck came to pick up.  (I used my bin and the neighbors).  I was so thankful I didn't find it later - as all that meat would have set outside for a week smelling!
I lost a couple small turkeys, a ham, lots of shrimp and fish and some chicken.
I calculated what I paid - approximately $220 for all - regular price would have been about $400.
Our insurance will NOT cover any of it.  That sucks!
Lesson learned - check the freezer every couple days. (We are getting a new GFI outlet as well).

My frugal week:

• Did a bunch of yard work.  Got the front flower beds all clean.  Raked all those gazillion sticks out of the yard.  Mowed the yard (the saga begins) - the front got done twice!
• Got one rain barrel set up
• Picked a lovely bouquet of tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths
• Got to air the house bunches this week.
• Rarely had the heat on
• Got the freezer all cleaned and ready for new purchases (what a smelly job)
• Cooked a really small pork roast in crockpot
• Cleaned all the window jambs this week (that part between inside and outside windows).  They sure got dusty and dirty over the winter
• This was a good grocery deal week.  I got lots of goodies for continuing to stock up.
• ALDI - had butt ham portions on for .65/lb.  I got 2 - each was $5 and some change.  (we prefer butt over shank).     8 oz. cheese blocks were 1.49 each.  Got a few to add to our cheese supply (we love cheese).  Cream cheese was .69/8 oz.  I added several of them as well.  Butter 1.99/lb.  (6) YAY!
• KROGER - 18 count eggs/.99 (I got 2).  Fresh potatoes 10lb./1.99.  Maxwell House coffee - 3.99. (3)  Pasta - .49/lb. (6).  Green beans - .49/can (6).  Found a 1 pound bag of chopped walnuts for 2.49 (in the freezer now).  I also found a marked down rump roast (4 lbs.) for $9 - regular price $18 (Easter dinner). Fresh  asparagus - .99/lb. (3 lb.)
• Did all the normal stuff and used all leftovers

Meals this past week:

Homemade pizza bites/rounds -  (made with older slider buns)

Taco salad
Cold sandwiches and chips (the day of freezer clean-out TIRED)
Goulash (added leftover taco meat as well)
BBQ non-breaded chicken tenders and salad
Pork roast, smashed potatoes and steamed asparagus
Pork/rice/cheese enchiladas (sort of)

 

Added filling and just folded over soft taco shells - covered w/sauce & cheese (EASY)

So there you have it.  Getting ready for spring/summer, cleaning (whether I wanted to or not), and bargain shopping.  That pretty much sums up my week.

What did you do this week?  Any deals?  Getting any yard work done?

May you all have a blessed and wonderful week.  Stay healthy and safe and frugal my friends.
Have a wonderful Holy week.
Blessings from our humble home to yours.

Here's My Plan For The Summer

I have a plan for my pantry and our future.
I guess it may not be much different than what I do now - but I plan on working it harder.

My plan is to buy just the basics I need each week - remember - I have lots of food here.  Basically, all we would need would be milk, eggs, and occasional fresh veggies or fruit.  Summer is coming soon (as in gardening), and Farm Markets will be starting in a few weeks, so I will be able to have lots of fresh on hand.  We don't eat much that isn't fresh during the summer, so that is a help.

I will be spending my money on stocking up.  I should never need to spend more than a few dollars on have to haves and the rest will be stocking up.

As usual, I will be watching markdowns and clearance and making purchases at Aldi (case lots) and odds and ends at the Dollar Tree.
I know this isn't buying all local - I wish I could find all I want locally.  It really is hard to do here in the city.  I will try my best with farm stands and local farm markets.

There are some items that have to purchased at stores.  Toilet paper is one, and pet food, dish soap, health and beauty, peroxide and medical are others.  I try to keep plenty of items on hand - but I want to be able to feel totally comfortable, should the worst happen.

I don't really have a grocery budget - never have.  I buy what I want and need.  As I said, we have plenty here - and when I plan my meals - I go to the pantry and the freezer and get my supplies.  I will continue to use our supplies, but I will concentrate on adding to the lauder.
I plan on growing as much as possible and canning/freezing what I can.  I plan on watching the farm stands for things I have no luck growing.  Stores will fill in the rest.

I am making a concerted effort this summer to fully prepared for anything.  I am in no way trying to panic, I just want to be prepared for whatever.  I want to feel secure.  SECURITY IS EVERYTHING!
I know prices are going to continue to rise for many, many reasons.
Our pantry is kind of like another bank account for us.  Sale prices are literally money in the bank.

SO, that's my plan and I am sticking to it!!!!!!
What is your plan this summer?