Happy Thursday - Life is Busy

 Hello all.  How is it going for everyone?  Lovely morning here.  It is going to be a little cooler today and maybe tomorrow - then back to warm days again.  I love it all.  It seems spring is here in full force now.

Everything is green, early flowers are starting to bloom, buds cover everything, weeds are growing like........well, weeds!

Cute pic - not mine.

So what are you doing this fine week?  What do you have going for the weekend?  

I have worked my rear end off the past 3 days - last night I was so achy and fell into bed - then I couldn't sleep.  UGH I hate it when that happens.  I think I was too sore and tired to really get comfy.  Finally got to sleep about 2AM.  Hopefully tonight will be a good sleeping night - it will be cooler as well.

I have some things I want to accomplish today, but nothing that will task these sore muscles!!  LOL

Yesterday evening I was out front picking little weeds out of the rock, when a neighbor stopped over.  We set on the edge of the porch and talked a few minutes.  Another fellow walked by and told me how much he admired my front flower bed - he said it always makes him smile when he walks by.  How nice!  He said not many have flowers and keep things up like that, and he admired that.  Sure is nice to hear things like that.  Makes the work worth it all.

Do you all have plans for Mother's Day?  I hope those that celebrate have a lovely day with family.

I sure miss my momma.  I always bought her flowers for her porch boxes and planters - so she could enjoy them all summer long.  I wish I could that again for her.  Maybe I will plant a few 'posies' here in her honor!

I came across this picture in my memories the other day.  Not sure where this is - but wouldn't that be lovely to have a privacy fence painted with flowers?  Any type of flowers!  I would love to be so artistic - I just love this idea.  Maybe one day!!

Well, I am off to get busy on this fine day.  I am going to go in and change the bedding out and probably put a different spread on the bed as well.  Then laundry and a little gardening and weeding.  Nothing strenuous!  

Have a wonderful day and enjoy every little moment and every little thing you are shown and given.

Life is beautiful!

Do You Spring Clean Your Pantry?

 Howdy all.  Hope everyone is doing good this midweek day!  I woke to 57*F outside and 71* in the house.  Pretty darn perfect.  It may get into the 70's today.  I plan to be outside and working, so I will enjoy the temps.  Just saw that in Colorado the mountain areas could get a foot of snow today!!!!  YIKES!  They can keep it.

I have been out to feed already.  I saw Chucky the groundhog!  It has been out a lot the past couple days.  It sure is big, considering it has just come out of hibernation!  Luckily, I haven't seen it in my yard yet.  I watched it this morning, and it was trying to find a way out of the neighbor's yard, walking my fence, and it gave up and turned the other way!  Maybe the cat has something to do with that (marking territory)!!!  I think it was looking for a shortcut - as it gets in their yard the same place every time - way out back!

Today, let us talk about pantry and freezer clean-out.  Do you do a spring clean of those areas too?

There has been a lot of talk by many, that you are trying to use up the older items and maybe clean-out the older from the freezer.   That is great!

It pays to know what you have, to use it, and to keep it organized.  It is sooooooo easy to come home from the store and just stick stuff in either place, because we are busy.  In no time, it is all disorganized again!

Here are a few ideas that could help us all.

IF you are doing a thorough clean of the pantry or freezer - take everything out.  Clean off the shelves, defrost, and wipe down shelves, cans and jars.

Decide what you are going to keep.  If there are things you know you won't use (shouldn't have anyway), if they are still within 'date' - donate.  Now remember those dates mean really nothing to our daily use, but donations generally have to be within dates.  This weekend is donate to the Post Office Day in many places.  You can leave a bag of food out for the postman to pick up, to help others.

If you find partially used and stale items, either trash or compost, or figure out another use.

When placing back in the pantry/freezer - organize!!!

Group like items together - baking items, canned fruits and veggies, soups, cereals and breakfast foods, paper good, pasta and grains, sauces, snacks, meat types, etc.

Think about how you can make your pantry easier to maneuver.

Airtight containers, baskets, racks, spice organizer, hooks, light, tiered shelves, pull-outs, etc.  Also a step stool if needed.

For the freezer think about bins (maybe different colors) for different types of meat

Don't put heavy bulk items up high, place the heaviest items closer to the bottom.  Be safe.

Make sure you have things facing forward, so labels are easy to read.  Maybe label your shelves.  ROTATE regularly - as you bring new items in, place them to the back, and bring the older items forward.  That way nothing gets lost.

Think about cleaning out every 6 months or so.  It helps you stay up on things.

Most IMPORTANT - use what you have!!!!!!!  As you use, you can replace when needed, so you don't run out.  But it is very important to USE IT!

I am all about stocking for emergencies or for the future, but it does me no good if it doesn't get used and goes to waste.  Not only is that just wrong to waste, but you are also wasting money.  No deal is a good deal if the items aren't used.

Do you have any special technique for organizing your areas?  How often do you do it?

As gardens will be growing soon and farm markets are starting, there will be so many yummies available, and hopefully you can enjoy them, freeze them and maybe can them.  It is so lovely to have those things available in the winter.  Start thinking ahead.

Have a fantastic day to you all.

Winner, winner - Chicken Dinner

 Good morning all.  Hope this finds everyone well.  It is a lovely morning.  Around 50* and dry!  There is a lot of dew on the grass right now, but I plan on mowing after it dries.  Been outside and fed everyone.  I woke to this, this morning.

It almost seemed to be glowing!  Standing tall and beautiful, the first of many.  Look at all those buds!  I love them, they are so cheerful, I just wish they lasted longer.  Seems the flowers I love early in the blooming season, don't last long.  Poppies and peonies!

Every day on FB I see someone make a post similar to - 'I have chicken (or whatever), give me some ideas.  I am tired of fixing it the same old way.'

That magazine I got last week is all about chicken.

It says 125 weeknight recipes!!!  That sure is a lot for just chicken.  Now if you look at the pictures of the opening pages it shows all kinds of ideas and recipes.

Soups and stews, sandwiches and tacos, dinner salads, skillet meals, pasta & grains, grilled, baked........

This is all in just ONE magazine!!!  It goes from spicey to mild, colorful and full of veggies, to somewhat basic.

The thing that got me, was it listed none of the basic recipes that we might all make.  Chicken and noodles or dumplings, chicken pot pie, or just plain old chicken and noodle or rice soup!  Guess they figure we all have those down pat.

Now the thing that is neat, in my thoughts, all of these could be made with any meat!  Turkey, pork, or beef, not just chicken.  That would equal 500 meals, each a little different than the other.

Now this is just one recipe book.  There are hundreds of magazines and cookbooks available online or in book form - the variations of meals are astounding.  Boy, do we get in a rut!

Then you think about all the different types of sides that can be served with meat dishes - my goodness.  Why is anyone stumped?  This magazine shows 32 different 'sides', many that never entered my head!

Some of the things they list as a side, makes a meal for me.

So the next time, you think 'I am so tired of the same old thing' - checkout your cookbooks or look online and get a lot of inspiration!  There are many, many dishes that are quite simple - just different.  Add a different spice/herb or sauce and you can change things all up.

Get inspired - get creative - and never be bored.  It doesn't have to take a lot of time.

Have fun and play with your food!

Have a wonderful day to all.

Weekly Wrap Up 5/4

 Good morning this first weekend of May.  I hope you are all well and safe.

It is a very chilly and WET morning here in central IN.  Rain and more rain has been the order of the last month and surely starts the month of May.  The next few days will be chilly for May.  This morning feels more like March than May.  I have been out to feed.  Licorice was in the greenhouse - he came out to his little covered area - ate and went back inside!  LOL!  Usually he goes on walk-about after breakfast, not today.  

Saw my first Grosbeak of the season this week.  Goodness that is one pretty bird.

                                                                         Fun facts!

This has been a week of this and that:

• Worked on weeding the beds some
• Cut and chopped wild onions for freezer
• Went to a birthday party for a 4-year-old and had dinner there (taco bar)
• Ran to store for milk and strawberries early on and found meat clearance and ice cream (showed earlier this week) on clearance
• Mowed and trimmed early in week - sure needs it again
• Took apart an old bench I had and set parts out back in alley - someone took all the metal - wood is now stacked out back for someone
• I dragged a big glider I have from back of house to the deck and behind the greenhouse.  That was a big job - but got it done
• No heat this week and hardly any lights needed - aired house a lot
• Made nectar and put up the hummingbird feeders
• Paid everything I had including the property tax for the year
• Got orders for 2 more T-shirt blankies - got the shirts for one already
• Ran up the street to WM family market for kitty litter (my cheapest place) - found deli whole chicken on clearance (deli is right at the door).  Bought 2 and came home and broke them down and froze and put bones in freezer to make broth later

• While out I ran to the thrift store around the block from WM and got a new Food Network magazine - 14.99 value (can you believe people pay that?) for .50 and some decorator re-usable straws for .50 (fun for company).  Got a FREE pack of fresh rolls as well.

• Cleaned out the finch feeder and refilled and scoured the birdbath and watering holes.  The robins love the birdbath and after a couple baths it looks muddy!!  Dirty little birds
• Doing all the normal stuff we all do

Meals this past week:

Meatless 'taco' salad (used leftover rice & beans)

Cheese & crackers and nice salad

Taco bar at party

Grilled chicken & cheese sandwich (yum) and homemade fruit salad

Philly cheesesteak style burger (no bread) and fries

Homemade breaded pork fritter and fried corn w/salsa

'Taco' chicken & veggie rice bowl

Small bowl of fruit salad - eaten over a couple days.  Used what I had on hand.

There you have it - just doing all the spring things when the raindrops aren't falling!

How was your week?  What has been going on in your household and yard?  Love hearing from you all.

Hope you all have a great week ahead.  May you all be productive and successful in all you do.  Stay safe and healthy and happy this week.

Blessings to you and yours from me (and Bitsy) at my humble little home.

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Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua1:9

Lord, we thank You for this week and thank You for getting us through it.  Let us keep goodness and joy in our hearts and know that no matter what we face that You are there with us each and every day.  Guide us to be the best children of the Lord that we can be.  Please lay Your healing hands on all that are in need to give them healing and peace.  AMEN

New Day, New Month, New Start

 Howdy all!  It's May Day, it's May Day!  What a fun day!!  I remember it being fun when I was a kiddo.  We always made little cone shaped baskets out of colored paper in school and then picked dandelions and violets and left them on the front doors for our Mommas!  We really thought we were doing something big!

We also did a May Day flagpole dance at school - using the old 'witches' hat' playground pole!  Streamers were added and we would do a silly dance around it - just having a fun time.  Gosh, the simple fun of childhood!

I think we all look at May as the unofficial start to spring/summer - depending on where you live.  Farm markets generally start in May.  We have our first outdoor ones this weekend around here.  Outdoor flea markets start.  Yard sales really get going.  People are planting flowers and gardens.  Pretties are popping out all over.  I bet my poppies start popping open in the next week!  They have huge, big buds on them.  The peonies are covered in buds.  The roses have buds on them.

MAY, I do believe it is one of my favorite months!

Pretties in the yard.  My vinca vine is blooming with little blue/lavender flowers as well.  The world is coming back to life.

Yes indeed.  As hard as it is, stuff happens in life that isn't always what we thought.  We just have to get up and get going - and we need to believe life goes on and we can make positive changes.

It sure isn't always fun - but life does get better.  Make each day a new path to a new life.

Let May be a rebirth of sorts, for yourself as well as all of nature.  We are a part of it!!!

Make new starts this month.  If you haven't done the things, you thought you might, so far this year - start now.  Each day and month gives us a new opportunity.

Get up and get out and enjoy a little bit.  Get that sunshine and fresh air - enjoy those rainy days, enjoy all the new growth and life popping out everywhere - and know you have been given a gift on this day - ANOTHER DAY!

It is a cloudy and damp morn here and it is 68*F this morning.  Looks to be damp for the next week or so, rain off and on for a while.  I will be getting out in between raindrops and getting things ready for garden and planting.  It will make weed pulling easier!!!

It is an exciting time of the year.

Enjoy this day and here is a wish for you to have a fun, productive and happy May!!

SMILE and LAUGH a little today!

Go with Natural - Much to be Said

 Hello to all on this last day of April.  Hope you are all well.  It is a beautiful morning here today.  Looks like by the end of the day, we will be back into rain again.  It has been such a wet April - sure hope that says something about May's growing season!

Yesterday was rain off and on a lot of the day and the humidity was unreal.  I had forgotten how uncomfortable humidity was!  I managed to make my outing, and it was dry upon my going and I came home in a downpour - but all is good, and I made it safely.

Today I am going to post a couple of items of things we should all be doing for our personal health and well-being and then a couple natural/homemade recipe ideas.  We need to stay on top of our health by doing as much as WE personally can.  Taking care of ourselves is important - and doing some of the simplest things help.

Water is essential to all living things.  It is so important.  I know so many people who say "I can't drink plain water" - odds are you don't want to!  Add a piece of fruit or a cucumber slice for a bit of flavor and DRINK!  I love ice cold water most days, but especially when I am hot!  I always keep a jug of water in the fridge.  I have a couple bottles I refill myself, as I do not buy bottled water.

Water is not just for mornings in my house!

Again - so important to life.  It does so much more than we think.  I am outside at least a little bit 365 days a year - no matter the weather.  I do not feel alive unless I get fresh air and sunshine.  When I get up each day and it gets daylight, I let the sunshine in my home until it gets too hot.  This is something I have always NEEDED.  

I truly attribute my good health to enjoying the outdoors and sun, and fresh air and just getting out and moving each and every day.

Many people can't have salt.  I do really like salt and it doesn't really bother me much - but there are so many ways to get wonderful flavors in your cooking and salads and such without salt.  Put together your own blends of seasoning.  Whatever you like!!  You can use something like these or just make up your own.   You know exactly what is in it and can adjust to any palette.

Click on pic to enlarge for easier reading.

You can make your own specialty sauces as well.  Sauces and dressings are really easy, often using the simple ingredients that we keep on hand all the time.

Click on pic to enlarge for easier reading.

Funny - I do always keep a small bottle of Fireball whiskey on hand (called for in the Fireball BBQ sauce above).  No, I cannot stand whiskey, but I keep a small bottle for making a "hot toddy" in case of cold or flu.  I have always made that if I feel like I am getting sick, and it has always done the trick.  I cannot remember the last time I took a store-bought cold med.

So get out and enjoy that sunshine and fresh air - drink that water and stay hydrated and help yourself stay a little healthier.  

Make a mix on your own and have a healthier version of store-bought.  No added ingredients you can't pronounce or don't know what they are!

Take your life back and make it wonderful.

Have a beautiful Wednesday!

Convenience Costs - Ways to be Mindful

 Hello all.  I sure hope you are all well.  It is a very cloudy morning here.  Storms going through the north part of the city.  We are supposed to have storms later - of course, they are supposed to hit about the time I need to be out and about.  Fingers crossed they aren't too bad.

Grab a cup and sit for a minute.  Let us talk about convenience can cost us money.    I understand that we all buy things at time that just make things easier - but most usually 'from scratch' is cheaper.

Of course there are the basic things we should all heed:

Shopping alone is usually cheaper than with kids or spouse!

Cooking from scratch is usually cheaper

Shopping the store perimeter is the healthiest food - usually fresh or frozen

Shop early if you can - produce is usually fresher.  Of course, check with your grocer and see when they restock their shelves - so you can get the best and freshest

******

CONVENIENCE

*Don't buy those precut veggies and fruit in packs!  It costs a ton more than buying the whole item and cutting yourself.  ACTUALLY, you pay almost 2X the price for pre-cut.  Those precut salad mixes give you a few ounces for a lot of money!

                                     Cut up your own and serve in a fun way!  Saves money!!!!!

*Individual packs of snacks cost a lot more.  Those multi packs of chips cost more than buying a big bag and doling out yourself.  Also snack packs of lunchmeat and crackers (Lunchables) - make your own.  Those premade packs cost a small fortune for what you get.

*Individual cans of flavored coffee or flavored tea or smoothie drinks.  You can make you own so easy and for a lot less.  I make flavored teas all the time that taste like those expensive cans/bottles

*Coffee pods - get one of the re-usable/washable pods and make your own with cans/bags of coffee (also no trash after)

*Granola bars - trail mix.  It is so easy to make your own and your bars are fresh, and you know what is in them

*Spices - know you don't have to get brand name.  You can buy lesser brands and still get good flavor

*Out of season goods always cost more than in season

*Bottled water.  If you don't like your tap water - get a filter.  The cost will work out much cheaper and it will last a long time (again - no trash after)

******

Always go with a list and a plan!!!!!  Now that being said - keep your eyes open for special deals!!  You never know what you might find.  It is always good to keep a bit of the budget open for unexpected deals.  Those deals are like money in the bank - they save you future spending.

I ran out yesterday to Kroger to get 3 things - 2 were their specials of the week.  Milk and strawberries and I wanted a few bananas.

Well, me being me, I walked around and looked.  Sure, I spent more than I planned, but I got some good deals.

1 lb. packs of taco seasoned ground beef for $2.10 a pound!!!!  1 lb. ground pork for 2.74 a pound!  Both are much cheaper than the best price for plain ground beef.  I brought them home, opened, portioned out and froze.  The pork makes the best smashed 'burgers' breaded and fried up like fritters.

Did I need these?  NOPE.  Are they healthy food?  Nope not really.  But for that price, they will make many a fun and cool snack on a hot day!

OK, this is something I have never purchased.  I found these marked down to .69 a can (manager special) and thought it would be a handy thing to have on the self for "in case".  Dated 2027.  I can donate or keep for a time that a fast cheap meal is needed.  No shame here.  Maybe not the heathiest - but sometimes if a person is hungry for whatever reason - healthy might go out the window. I got 4 cans

Think about ethnic markets if you have some around.  They often have a lot of fresh fruits and veggies that are a bit different than your grocery store - and foods that might be fun to try.  Also, spices are almost always cheaper.  There is a lot of variety at these stores.

Try to grow some herbs this year.  They can be grown in pots on your porch/patio or windowsill.  Growing your own and having fresh is super and it sure is cheap and convenient.

And as always - reduce waste.  Use things up and find new ways to reuse those foods left after a meal.  Try to go for ZERO waste!

I know there will be someone that thinks - "mind your business".  I am just putting out options that actually cost us more money, and if you are looking to save or looking to stock up cheaply - then these are some ideas you might want to follow.  We all want to get the best value for our money.  We need to open our minds to doing things a little differently.  We need to branch out a little.

It also saves on trash - less bags and plastic being used.

If you don't care how much you spend - well buy as many convenience foods you want.  That is your choice. 

This is for those needing/wanting to save.  We often have to look outside the box.  There are good options out there that help us save some.

Do you have any ideas of things that can be made cheaper at home, than spending the big bucks at the store for?

Have a super day everyone!