Saying Goodbye 2019

My goodness, here it is the last day of the year.  Another year in the history books.  Another year older.  Another year of new experiences, both good and bad, gone.

No one would have ever convinced me that my year would end this way.  Alone.  I would never have imagined it, this time last year.  It is sad - but it is life.
We have all experienced losses and changes this year, yet here we are.  God gets us through each and every day.  I truly believe that.  We have a purpose that we have not yet accomplished.

Our skies yesterday were full of nasty dark clouds and ONCE the sun popped through.  This picture really does not do justice - as the clouds were BLACK.  It was really ominous looking.  The sun spike was so neat though.  Today we are ending the year with high winds, clouds and cold.

I will take it,  considering what is happening in other parts of the world.  Some people have tons of snow and ice and then there is the southern hemisphere where fires, heat and high winds are ravaging so much.  Prayers to all our friends near and far - for safety to you, your families, your homes and property and to all the wild life.

January 1st will be a new month, a new year and a new decade.  It is amazing how many decades we have lived through.  How much the world has changed in my life - and I don't like a lot of those changes.  I think we have become to reliant of artificial intelligence.  There is nothing private any more.  Nothing about your life is private.  

We have things like Alexis in our homes (not me), GPS (not me), store cards that track our every purchase, CC purchases that are tracked, on-line shopping that tracks you, and there are times you can mention something in a comment or say it in your own house and BOOM there is an add on your computer.  I swear I have thought about things (quietly in my head) and within an hour there is an ad popping up.  What is with that??  We have fingerprint scans, retina scans, or palm print scans for various things.  We freely take DNA ancestry tests - thus entering our DNA into a data base (don't believe that they don't).  There are self driving cars.  Computer usage, internet posts, music chosen, You Tube videos watched, even cable shows watched - it is all monitored!  Drones are used for everything and cameras are watching us everywhere.  The list just goes on and on.

I am just an old fashioned girl.  I do like some tech - but this all just scares the beejeesus out of me.  It will just continue on and on - I wonder what it will be like in 10 more years?!!  Scary!

I  look forward to simple changes this year and simple choices.  Shopping and spending less.  What will I plant in the garden?  Subtle changes around the home.  Getting out of my own way - that is huge for me.  I have been in a mindset of not going far from home for years (being a care giver) and it is very hard getting out of my head - that I can go and do.  It is OK to go and not have anxiety.  This will be a huge issue to work on for me this year.  All in all - small and simple things.

I want my life to be a K.I.S.S. life!!!!  Keep It Simple Silly!

Yes I am loved.  Here is a couple of my special gifts I received.  I am so fortunate to have family that loves me and lets me know.  I love them as well.  I am blessed.

I have friends that are wonderful and that love me.

I have all my friends I have met on this blog and from others over the years.  I just can't believe that I have made so many loyal friends and caring people from all over the world!  That is so amazing to me - this little Indiana girl who hasn't done much traveling nor done anything too exciting in life - that I actually have people following me here. (BIG SMILE!!!!)

I guess maybe there are more people than I believe, that just want to live a simple, frugal life.  We are more alike than different.  That is so cool.

I thank you my dear friends for helping me through this year - it has meant so much.

Thank you for reading and following this simple girl's blog.

Thank you for just being you!  I love you all.

I pray for a safe, healthy and wonderful year for you all.  May you be safe and secure wherever you live.  I pray for our world and our leaders that we have peace and security.

I pray for happiness for all of you.

Happy New Year to you all!!!!!!!!!

Thursday we get back to fun, frugal and informative posts!  Looking forward of sharing and learning with all of you!

Weekly Wrap-Up 12/29

Good morning my friends.  Here we are on the last Sunday of the month and the year!
We have had an exceptionally warm week.  All the snow from the week before was pretty well gone by Christmas.
Today it is raining and raining  some more and is supposed to be in the low 60's!  It was almost 60 when I went out to feed the cats at 6:30 this morning.  We will have a little cooling this week, but still all above normal.
I am glad we are getting rain instead of the snow many parts of the country are receiving.  I look at this as -  each day we have that is decent is one more closer to spring and one less of cold and snow!

The week was a blur.  Between being busy with last minute Christmas preps, visiting, cleaning and company - it went quickly.  I am really kind of glad - as it was a week that I was not looking forward to.  It ended up being a lovely week of visits with family.

My week:

• I cut my hair and colored it
• Thoroughly cleaned the stove, oven and refrigerator
• Made a Dutch apple pie, brownies, and 3 kinds of cookies
• House is the cleanest it has been in ages!
• I actually got to air the house this week.  4 days of no heat and 3 nights of no heat (in Dec.)!
• Made a ton of ice
• I received a gift in the mail from an old neighbor (owns the house our friend rents next door).  He sent me a lovely little bird feeder.  The gift came all the way from Lebanon - the country (where he currently lives)!!!!  It was so sweet of him to think of me.
• I got so many wonderful gifts.  Food items, flavored teas, GC's, home crafted wood items, a warm soft throw, bath items and lotions, a sweater.........  My nieces and nephews sure do love their Auntie!  I love them all so much.

I received the Discover book from a nephew.  It is about 1" thick and is full of coupons for discounts all over town and for all kinds of things.  There is a $5 coupon for every month for Kroger - that is a lot of money saved.   I got GC's for taco bell as well.  Everyone knows I love Taco Bell.

• I made a lot of goodies for company on Saturday.  Have lots of food leftover to take me through at least New Years.  All was made with items I already had here.
• I recorded The Wizard of Oz and Coat of Many Colors this week.  May spend new year's day watching movies
• I gave away the Aldi coupon I had to neighbor.  I decided not to go, and didn't want the coupon to be wasted.  He was glad to save $5

My weekly meals:

Stuffed shells and garlic bread (from my sister)

Burger and oven fries

Just snacked on odds and ends that was in frig

Dinner at my brother's home

Mac n cheese and ham, roll (brought home from brothers)

Small pizza from freezer

Christmas get together with many nieces and nephews - I made shredded salsa chicken, cheese and meat plate, veggies, crackers, tortillas, buns, chips, salsa, nacho cheese dip and lots of sweets

I got to meet a great/great nephew for the first time (they live out of town).  He just turned one.  He is the image of his daddy for sure.  I decided to pass along something to him.  I gifted him the rocking chair I got when I was one (64 years ago)!!!  I also gave him a large teddy bear that my sister (would have been his great grandma) gave me 36 years ago.  It was a hit.  His daddy and mommy was thrilled to get a family heirloom.

I am going to a baby shower today.  I plan on just relaxing to end the year.  Slowly putting away all my lovely gifts and put away all Christmas stuff.

I hope you all had a great Christmas holiday and hope you have a lovely end to the year.  May you all stay safe and healthy this week.  

Blessings to you all from my humble little home to yours.  

(I will be  posting Tuesday as normal)

The Count Down has Started

Well here we are at the end of another decade in our lives.  In less than a week a new year and a new decade will start.  Will this be the 'roaring 20's' ??!!!
We sure never know how the year will be.
We make changes and  changes make us.

I do not like resolutions.  They are just statements that we make that end up making feel bad, because most often we do not follow through.  I don't like intentionally making myself fail!

I may make some simple goals that I know I can accomplish.  The above it definitely doable.  If we want positive change, that is totally up to us.  You don't have to do things that are drastic or dramatic - just small things that make difference.

Smile more.  Unfollow negative people and things.  Show gratitude.  Get rid of clutter.  Get excited about little things.  Do kind things for others.  Try something new...……….etc.
AREN'T THESE THINGS WE CAN ALL DO?  They don't cost a cent and can make such a difference in our lives and in other's lives.

Small acts can make us a success.  Isn't being successful and happy what life is about?

Let us make 2020 a great year.
Let us all continue to offer encouragement and advice to each other.  Share ideas and heart felt emotions.  Let us make this new year a new start - to going forward and making changes in a good way.  Honoring others by moving forward and doing good.

In a week we get back to making new posts about being thrifty and frugal.  YAY!
I so look forward to spending the year chatting and sharing with all my friends here.  I love you guys and appreciate you more than you can possibly know.
HERE'S TO ANOTHER YEAR OF LEARNING AND SHARING!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

I just want to take a moment to say:

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I want to wish each and everyone of you and your families the absolute best holiday ever.  May you make this year's celebration the best.  It isn't about the gifts, it isn't about the food, it isn't about the hustle and bustle - IT IS ABOUT LOVE AND KINDNESS.
It is about the GREATEST GIFT - JESUS.

Hug your family tightly and make wonderful memories to last you forever.

Blessings to all

Weekly Wrap-Up 12/22

Good morning all.  It is officially winter (or summer) depending on where you live.  The daylight hours will start to increase here in the U.S.  YAY!  We gain 30 seconds today!!!!!!  LOL - That is what the meteorologist said.  I am just glad to be going in the right direction again.

We got around a total of 8" of snow this week.  Two snowfalls over two days.  First one, the neighbor did shoveling of drive and front walk for me.  God love him.  Second one I took care of.  Boy it got cold too.  Starting to warm a bit and the snow is melting.  Probably won't be much, if any, left for Christmas.  I know people want snow for Christmas, I just like that it makes for safe traveling, having none.

I watched a couple more different types of holiday shows again this week.  I saw Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.  What a cute show and another cartoon with a message.  Greed will destroy you!
I also watched a show called Love The Coopers.  I had never heard of it before.  It had John Goodman and Diane Keaton in it.  It was really pretty good - kind of a never give up on love/dis-functional family Christmas show.

The blue jays have really been in abundance this week.  They sure love their peanuts.  The  pileated woodpecker has been around this week as well.  Oh how beautiful and majestic.  Big Bird (the hawk) has been around too.  Sure keeps the little birds away and quiet.  THEN one day the crows showed up.  Good grief, they make the hawk look like a parakeet!  They look like turkeys walking around out there - just huge.  Glad they were just passing through.
Of course I have my cardinals every morning and evening and all those squirrels!

My week:

• I recieved a $5/$30 coupon (again) for Aldi.  Needs to be used by 12/24.  I don't really need anything - but will probably get a little stock and maybe a special item or two
• I cleaned the wood floors throughout the house - 2X.  They sure needed it again
• Moved a lot of snow this week
• Made 2 batches of candy and a batch of cookies.  Cookies were part of siblings gift.  Made chocolate coated mixed nut clusters, chocolate toffee bark and Springerle cookies (batch 1).

• Finally got the few cards I sent - mailed!  Parcels will be done after the holidays.
• Finished up the gift shopping
• Started working of wrapping and bagging gifts
• Had sibling Christmas yesterday.  Got some nice gifts.  Mixed popcorn in a tin, home canned goods (lots), cash and a gift card for Kroger.  Had a lovely meal that sister made.  It was a nice day.  My brother was soooo funny.  They got lots of jar recipes and homemade stuff, and he kept pulling things out of the bag saying "this is mine, this is mine...."  I told him he reminded of Ralphie's little brother on Christmas morning when they see the gifts!!!!!!! (from Christmas Story).  It was hilarious!
• Sis sent home some leftovers - so no cooking today!
• Been cleaning - mirrors, glass, throw rugs, dusting, laundry, etc.
• Loaded a couple more boxes of donations into the car - when I get down that way to drop off

Meals this past week:

Small pizza

Home made Rice A Roni and asparagus

Gumbo (from freezer) and added leftover rice from day before

Cube steak and mashed potatoes/gravy

Egg rolls (from freezer)

Chicken dumplings and a salad

Dinner at sis's - stuffed shells, chicken alfredo, garlic bread and Éclair cake (YUM)

Isn't it amazing that everyone has been hustling around getting ready for the holiday and it is almost here?  This time next week it will just be a memory!  It comes and goes so fast.

Wednesday I will go to brothers for a while and visit with his kids and grands.  Saturday the kids come up for Christmas here. (other niece and nephews/families).  Sunday next I have a baby shower to go to.  Baking to do in there in as well.  I have all I need for the food for next Saturday.  It will be a busy week I guess.  That is probably a good thing for me!

Are you ready?  What are your plans?  Any special traditions?  

Baking done?  Tis the season - fa la la la la - la la la la!!!!!

Prayers for health happiness and comfort and peace for all this week.  I know there are many who are sad this year - may God touch you and bless you with His presence.

Blessings to each of you and your families from my humble little home to yours.

I will be here again before Christmas - but others may take a break.

Merry Christmas to those taking a computer break this week!

FOOD for Thought

This is the time of the year that we hear so much about feeding the hungry.  Folks are hungry all year.  We need to be more aware all months - but especially in the winter.  Food keeps our bodies working properly, and when we are cold and shivering, we are using energy - thus we need to eat properly.
Food, water and air - the three things we all need to survive.

I have been noticing many stories lately about ways people are helping, and it warms my heart.

PACK THE PANTRIES - is an event that happens every so often in our area.  Many of the local TV stations have food gathering events and many other organizations do as well.
Many holiday events (that charge for admission) have been donating a percentage of each entry price to Gleaner's.  There are so many in need, and these organizations help so much.

South of us, in another county, there is the GOOD CHEER FUND.  This was started by a child and has spread over the years.  They now fill and donate over 800 bushel baskets of food to give to those in need.  Those will be passed out this Saturday and on Christmas Eve.

Aunt Millie's bread has just donated over 2,000 loaves of fresh bread to pantries in the state.  Most pantries here, only get bread that has been frozen, so fresh is quite a luxury.

Some area school teachers have asked for NO gifts to be given by the children (to the teacher).  They want the kids to bring in non-perishables to give to the pantries.  WIN-WIN-WIN.  Teachers don't get things they don't need and they are teaching the children a great lesson in helping and people are getting food!  I love this idea and think more teachers should do this.
Many of our area schools do have food drives, which I think is wonderful.

We have many areas here in my city (which is amazing to me) that are considered 'food deserts'.  That means there is no real grocery store within a reasonable distance to homes.  There are thrifty marts and corner stores that sell junk food, but no good groceries.  These areas are generally lower income neighborhoods, and stores have all moved from the area.  It seems like IF just one store came in the area - it would do great.  People need to be able to buy food, so why would stores leave?
Buses are costly, and many people have no other option than to buy the junk food or take an expensive bus to another area.
Now there is a program by Lyft (kind of like Uber), and for a $2 fee - people will have the option to ride to one of 6 different grocery stores.  That fee covers both ways.  I have heard stories that some drivers have provided the service for free - just to help out.
I love that the people in these areas now have an option.

Last year the organic grocery store up the road from us, went out of business.  Hubs and I were original investors in that, as the area was a food desert, and this place was providing healthy options.  Well, it kind of lost it's vision - and became the 'preppy' store for all the new age health nuts and got very expensive.  Again, the people in the neighborhood couldn't afford it.
The store remained closed for about a year.  Just recently a farmer from a northern county - opened it back up and is selling excess farm produce and great markdown deals for very little money.
He is donating a great amount of fresh produce from his farm.  He said that he feels it his duty to help!  He has gotten lots of other items donated and is getting many deals from manufacturers.  The people in the area finally have a place they can afford and can get REAL food!!!
Praise the Lord.

Don't forget others.  I know we are all wound up in holiday events and activities - but so many don't have the means for even a warm meal.  We have many soup kitchens and missions around, and lots of churches serve at the holidays - BUT people are hungry every day!

Just my little reminder to you - IF it all possible, think about spending just a little extra each month to donate goods to your area food pantry.  $5 or $10 can provide a lots of basics.
IF EACH AND EVERY ONE of us did this - what a difference it would make.


Blessings to you all!

Tis the Season - I Guess!

My goodness it is getting close!  I know I am not the only one having a hard time of getting in the mood.  I have been trying.  HONEST!

Glen absolutely loved Christmas shows.  Kind of funny, if you knew him.  Big ole lumberjack looking type of guy, who could act all gruff at times.  Yep, he loved the Hallmark channel as well.
I have DVR'd many movies this season - just haven't had the heart to watch them yet.

I have taken a more non-traditional road (for this house).  I started out watching Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving.  That was so cute.
The other night I sat and watched Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer (1964) with Burl Ives as the snowman.  I hadn't seen that since I was a kid.
Totally forgot about the isle of mis-fit toys.

Isn't that all of us??????  None of us is the total package.  We all have flaws and differences that make us just a bit odd!!!!  Funny how that little cartoon really made me stop and think about life.
We have quirks, different abilities (I don't like the word disabilities), ways of thinking, ideas, ways of doing things, ways of dressing and acting...……………………..
So aren't we all part of that isle of mis-fits????  I think we are.
I kind of like being an odd bird.  Individuality is what makes this world go round.  Embrace it and have fun.

Then I watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  Oh dear I haven't seen that in years.  I laughed so hard.  I sure did need that.  So many parts that I had totally forgotten about.  The total package of a dis-functional family at the holidays - yep, there are many.  In the end, there was happiness and love - despite all the weirdos and drama!!

I have been trying to listen to cheery Christmas songs.

Then we got snow!!!  UGH.  One day of it, right after it falls, I like - any after that is just excess in my opinion!  It looks like a flippin' winter wonder land out there.   LOL

I guess I got to this point years ago.  G worked for the city and had to be at work whenever it snowed (sometimes for days).  I have ALWAYS had to be the one to clean and clear and shovel and de-ice and trudge through the white stuff.  Fun - NOT!  Been doing this for 34 years and I am over it.

We got a snow blower and that did help some, but it was bulky and tiring too.  Only a couple times in all the years have I paid someone to do it.

Yesterday morning I got up and my drive and front walk were clean!  My sweet younger neighbor did the shoveling before I even got up.  God love him.  Actually he wanted to use the shovel, which sits by the side door and I think he just decided to it all.  APPRECIATED!

Last night he had to work at midnight, so I had to take care of round two.  I was out feeding kitties and critters and moving snow and the rest of the neighborhood appeared to still be in bed.  Hardly any lights on in houses.  Nicely, it looked like daylight outside with all the white on the ground.

Today the sun is shining, so thankful.  I hope it melts the snow of the cable dish (on the roof), as I can't get TV (it is covered in snow).  I had plenty of things recorded for last night to keep me occupied.  Tonight there are a couple of shows I really want to see - so hoping the snow up there melts!

Also need to get snow off the greenhouse.  It is warmer inside than out and melting snow dripped down in door slides.  That was a pain this morning at 7AM - trying to get door open to feed the babies.  Too bad I don't fit in the kitty door!!!!  LOL

I am going to start Christmas cookies and maybe candy today - that always helps get me in the mood.

I know I probably sound like the Grinch.  That's OK.  I am trying some new approaches to holiday cheer this year.
ALWAYS remember that you can do new and different things and it is OK.  Change is the only constant we have.

So there you go - go watch a funny holiday movie or cartoon.  Let out a little laugh!  Act like a kid for a few minutes.  Throw snowballs at the neighbor.  Sing out loud to Jingle Bell Rock.  Make a snow angel.  Just do something a little crazy and different - it is OK.
It is good for the soul.

Now I am going to start cookies and then go chip ice!  YAY!
Have a good day being YOU!