It's Okay to..........

 Hello to all.  So happy to have you here.  Hope you are all well.

My thermometer said it was 40 this morning and it is pretty breezy.  Chilly but not as harsh as the past couple days. We are now back on a warming trend.  Most all snow we had is gone.  It looks to be a bright day!!  That is a treat - as sunny days have been few lately.

                 Everything about this picture makes me smile!!!   The ultimate winter picture!

Each evening, as my day is winding down - Bitsy is following me all around, then I come in to sit on the couch for a while, and he jumps up too.  He gets right up against my left thigh, and I put my arm around him, and we sit and snuggle for a while.  I watch a little TV and give him loving, and he is snuggled and sleeping.  Every evening!

Yes, it is OK!!!!!!

We all have times in our month or even our weeks, that we just wonder what the heck?  Everyone has a hard time sometimes.  We all question ourselves at times.  Some even just get to a point that starting completely over is the only option.  It is OK!

None of these mean you failed!  You only fail, if you NEVER try again.  A slump is just that - a slump.  There is always some way to get back up and go forward.  If you only go forward a little at a time - that is fine - it is still going forward!

Be kind to yourself.  Of course, we need to be kind to others, but we often forget to be kind to ourselves.  That is so important.  You are enough, you are special, and you are one of a kind.  That is pretty special.  

There are all the things in this world that God created, and He created a YOU as well.  That is just awesome.

Sometimes we just all need a little reminder.  I love having you all here, and I find you all terrific.  We are 'another' kind of family.  Family isn't just blood.

I wish you all a beautiful and pleasant day.

Fun Food Fixes and Some Cheaper Food Items

 Hello all.  Hope you are all well.  Baby it is cold outside!  We got a blast of winter weather for a couple days.  We had snow start Sunday late afternoon and through yesterday until about 11 AM here.  It covered everything.  At one point yesterday, I wasn't sure what was falling faster - the huge snowflakes or the leaves!  It was something to see.  No leaves left on the tulip tree now, and the maple lost a lot.  The ground was both yellow and white!  Some has melted, depending on where the sun was hitting.  I got the back walk cleared off as it melted - those leaves get slick.

Goodness, the sunrise was beautiful this morning.  The bright pink only lasted a bit, but it sure was pretty.  We get a little warmer each day, until we hit 70 again on Saturday!   Crazy stuff.

Looking out my west window at the tree in neighbor's front yard - yesterday morning.  It was really coming down at one point.

While the snow was blowing around on Sunday, I stayed in and did some TV watching.  I got into watching a show called Struggle Meals on the Taste network (235 on Direct TV).  It is also on You Tube.

The guy doing the cooking is Frankie Celenza.  The whole series is about using what you have, spending little and having fun and yummy food on the frugal!

The guy has some really neat tips - things I never thought of in all my years, and some really good sounding food ideas.  I got a lot of ideas.  It is worth trying to find and watching.  His holiday ideas were really fun too!  CHECK IT OUT!

I am sure you have all heard about the DEALS for Thanksgiving dinners going on.  They are everywhere - which is good.  Most all large markets and their affiliates are having deals.  Many are lasting until Christmas.

You have seen them - feed a family of 10 for $40.  There are also stores having feed 4 for $20.  Some in between.  They are all making it hard to NOT being able to afford a great dinner.

ALDI has a $40 deal - there are about 21 items on their list, and you get multiples of several - making it about 26 items.

WALMART - has a $40 deal and it has 20 items

KROGER has a $40 deal, and it has 16 items.

Both AMAZON and TARGET are advertising $20 deals to feed 4.

Seriously I like Aldi's the best - all include turkey as well as canned, boxed and fresh items.

It isn't a packaged deal - so you can pick and choose for variety.

Looking at the pre-ads for this week (starting Wed.) Some Kroger will have turkey for .49/lb. and Meijer will have turkey for .39/lb.  Not sure what restrictions there are - but dang - those are the best prices I have seen in a few years!

Just think you can get all that food, make a lovely dinner, maybe have visitors bring a side as well - and you will be eating good for a while.

You cannot buy lunchmeat or deli meat (or any meat) for the price of turkeys!!!!  It is healthy and you can use it in so many ways.

I know not all live in bigger towns and not all have affiliates of big grocers close by - but for the deals, it sure would be worth a little drive for me, if I needed any of it.

I have a turkey and a turkey breast in the freezer and a couple hams - so even if I had no other meat - I would be good for a long while.  THAT is the reason we hunt for the deals and keep our freezers stocked!!!!

If you can take advantage of the cheap turkey prices and have room - get what you can store!  You could also can the meat.

These deals are fantastic and come at a time when grocery prices have been up.  Look for baking items in the next few weeks as well - they will all be going on sale.  My niece works for a WM produce dept. in southern IN, and they have reduced all their fresh cranberries to .99/lb.  Not sure if that is everywhere or just there.  Might be worth checking.  Making sauce or marmalades or making juice - super good ways to use them at such a good price.

I will have a post of ALL the ways to eat/use T-day leftovers - IT AINT JUST FOR THANKSGVING ANYMORE!

I hope many of you can take advantage of one or more of these deals.  A lovely meal can be had for your family with minimal cost.

Have a great day.  Stay warm.  SMILE!!!

Weekly Wrap Up 11/9

 Good morning, all.  Hope you are well and safe this Sunday.  It is a chilly morning here.  We had rain overnight.  Cold weather is coming for a few days.  We will be below freezing a few nights, then back to the 60's!  I see some of you gals up north of here, have gotten some of the nasty S word this morning!  ICK!!

Early in the week, I saw several robins around - they drank and took baths.  I guess not a lot of water holes available for them.  One morning I saw a bunny running like the wind down the alley! There was nothing after it - but it sure was running fast.  Yesterday morning I heard a noise in the tree as I was feeding Licorice - figured it was a squirrel coming to eat.  Nope, there was a racoon in the tree - looking at me.  Haven't seen one in a while.  Oh nature - it sure is something.  Beautiful sunrises and sunsets some days, the huge full moon this week - God sure is amazing.

My tulip poplar is getting close to being leaf free - but the maple tree is still loaded with leaves.  Color has become apparent all over, but with the wind and rain many are now falling.

Just finishing up some stuff this week.

My frugal week:

• My key fob has been sluggish for a while.  Thought it might need a new battery - but I took it apart and cleaned really well.  Soft toothbrush gently over the circuit board, then cleaned all the undersides of the buttons (they were dirty!).  Works like a charm now!
• LOTS of laundry in cold and hanging to dry
• Finally got all the garden out and the garden cleared and cleaned.  Down to dirt
• Cut down the big row of peonies and that is all cleaned up
• Got to air the house 3 different times this week
• I did a deep clean of the Ninja blender - I use it every day and wash it every time - but I used a rag and a butter knife and a toothbrush to get in all the crevices and such
• Cleaned out the last of the sedum out front and cut back the last of front bed
• Walked the alley 2 times and picked up trash.  People don't follow the rules of the city when it comes to trash day and on windy days and full carts - things go everywhere - Grrrrr
• Hooked up the heaters for the water bowls and birdbath - for a few days
• Made up a batch of Mex. mix for a couple meals.  1/3 lb. grd. pork, garbanzo beans, corn, homemade salsa, taco seasoning - tasty
• Changed out handbags this week
• I did run to Kroger to look at chuck roasts on sale - super fatty - didn't get.  I did get 5 lbs. of apples for $5, extra cat food, and grapes .99lb.
• Using Soda Stream a lot for bubbly fruit drinks

Meals this week:

Taco pasta bowl

2 cheese (cream & cheddar), tomato roasted Naan and salad

Grilled fish (on G. Foreman), green beans and fried potatoes

Fish sandwich, mac n cheese & tomatoes

Nachos (using above mixture)

Fried chicken and salad

Homemade 'chimichangas' in air fryer (used above mix), salad

Snacks: Apple w/PB, fruit, Cinnamon/sugar toast, cheese

Still eating garden tomatoes every day at some time during the day!

There you go - just finishing up outside stuff and getting ready to stay indoors for a while.  How was your week?  Are you done outdoors?  Did you find any good deals this week?

Let us know what is going on.  Love hearing from each of you.

I pray you are all safe and healthy and that your families are doing well.  

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

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When I am afraid, I put my trust in thee.

Psalms 56:3

Thank You for this new day and all of our many blessings.  Please give us all strength and guidance we need to face what is ahead.  Let us all keep our eyes on You and Your word, and not all the evil of the world.  Help us each to not be anxious, worried, or stressed.  May Your love, joy and peace fill us all this week.  Amen

Have a Joyful Day

 Good morning to all.  It is a chilly frosty morning here. Looks to get to 60F today, and much less wind than yesterday.  Yesterday was gorgeous - 70F and sunny, but very windy.  Looks like it will get downright cold by Monday!  Below freezing cold at night!!  That will be our first freeze.

This morning that big old bright orb, we call the moon was in the West sky, and pink puffy clouds were in the East.  Just so pretty.

Boy, isn't that the truth.  We are always striving for something other than the moment.  We need to take more time for those 'moments' in our lives.  You know, the ones that just make you smile!  Appreciate them more.

This morning, the kitties outside were so happy to see me - LOL - and they were all talking.  "Food now"!!  Bitsy woke me this morning, by scratching at his post and softly talking.  Jay the big old bluejay was out there calling out, "peanuts are out".  The sky was glorious.  I could see my breath - I have breath to see!!!  The sun is shining.  My house is warm.  Yep, those moments are precious.  They are joy. I am so thankful and grateful.

I hope you all have a great weekend, whether it is cold or warm out.  There are a couple of fall bazaars this weekend, not sure if I will make them or not.  I like to look but can't think of a thing I need.  I do think when the colder weather sets in for a few days, that will give me a good excuse to work on crafting some.  I sure won't be working outside.

Staying in, comfort food, catching up on shows, and snuggling with Bits sounds nice.

Bazaars, fall harvest festivals, crafting, snuggling, seeing the sites, planning the holidays, shopping, inventory the pantry and freezer.................. what is on your agenda?

Whatever you do - do it with joy and know that you are soooooo blessed to have choices.

Have a wonderful day and weekend.

GIVE THANKS EACH DAY

Sometimes We Need a New Strategy

 Good morning to all.  Hope you are all well.  It is a lovely morning here.  50's and bright and sunny.  Pretty breezy, but it is going to be a super day.  We will surely be changing by Sunday and the first of next week - the cold will be here at least for a while.  Time to get the birdbaths ready for heaters for a day or so.

Sunset last night from my front porch and what I also saw out my living room window.

Did you see the moon?  This was right at sunset, and it was full and bright.  The same this morning as well.

As you can see the trees have finally started changing color.  There are so many beautiful colors.  Lots of green too - but the colors just glow!  I am thankful for nature.

Grocery shopping can be a pain.  I keep hearing people say they are spending more and more every week.  I hate that.  Today I looked at the Kroger ad, and I see ways to change up the strategy some may have.  I know many don't believe me, but I am actually spend less when I go shopping and I think very different about things.

First there are many discount markets around today - that we didn't have years ago.  I hope some of you get to take advantage of those.

If you are in need, do not be ashamed of going to a food pantry at your church or in your community.  They can help so much.

I see chuck roast on sale this week for 5.99/lb. - that is $3lb. discount!  Do people really spend that?  Not this gal.  5,99 sounds like too much to me.  I would check markdowns - if nothing, look for a different cut.  BUT a choice that could be made for a pork loin for 1.79/lb.  Yes, it is totally different, but it is a lot cheaper.  We normally have half and whole pork loins on sale for 1.99/lb.  They sure can make a lot of meals in so many ways!

Chicken wings for 2.99/lb.  Remember when they couldn't hardly give them away?  No one wanted wings back in the day.  Anyway - you can have for 2.99/lb., or you could buy already cooked ones for 7.99/lb.!!!!!!!  Good golly, what a difference in cost for just a little work.

Chicken and pork are often quite a bit cheaper here than beef (almost always).

The other day we mentioned potato skins in the comments.  I remember they were a delicacy at restaurants back years ago - they got smart and thought of a way to make money on something they would have trashed.  Like many, I have always used the skins (kept them on).  My only exceptions have been mashed and potato salad.  I know many always use the skins.  This week they are ADVERTISED for a small box of cheesy skins for 8.99!  Good golly Miss Molly, I can buy an awful lot of whole potatoes for that amount.

Convenience foods are costly!

Fruit is another big-ticket item.  Buy what is cheaper and utilize the sales.  Apples are currently in season.  I wish they were still cheaper - but around $1 a pound is a normal sale price around here.  There are 5 lb. bag for $5 this week.  Grapes (seedless) are .99 lb. (coupon).  I find those items good - vs. 6 oz. of blueberries for 2.99.  Sure they are good - but you can get a value for your dollar subbing something else.  Buy what is in season and what is on sale.

There are eggs - 18 count for 1.99 (coupon) and you can get 5 boxes.  Great protein.  Think about making more meals using eggs.  Cheese (Kroger brand) is 2.49/lb. (coupon) - same with this!  So many ways to add cheese into meals.

Soon potatoes, sweet potatoes, and cranberries will be super cheap.  Take advantage and plan meals around those.  Turkeys and hams will be cheaper as well - much cheaper than any deli meat or packaged lunch meat.  It is also healthier.  These items can be used in so many ways.

Baking goods are soon to be on sale.

Always look for clearance items in all departments.  I recently got 5 huge peaches for 1.50 and a few weeks ago, I got 6 juicy pears for 1.50.  Much cheaper than they were selling for on the non-sale racks.  I find ground pork and chicken often for $2 or less a pound.  Cook with other seasoned items (in soups and chili) or add beef bouillon to change the flavor.  WM generally has loaves of French bread for $1 on clearance - great for garlic bread or pizza.  Freezes well.  Many church thrift stores have FREE bread days.

I know not all have Kroger - but just giving examples of how to change up your thinking and your recipes.  Use what is on sale!  FIRST use what you HAVE!!!!!!  Check your freezers and get out the things that have been lounging in there for a bit too long.  USE IT.

Hopefully many still have garden produce to use - squashes and pumpkins keep and last.  Cabbage lasts and stores well too.

Take some time to develop a new strategy to shopping and cooking.  It surely can save you funds that can be used for stocking up or for some other bill.

Have a wonderful day - get out and enjoy the sunshine if possible.

SMILES and HUGS

Let's Celebrate Thankfulness

 Hello to all.  Hope you are all well and safe.  It is a chilly and frosty morning here.  I have been out and fed everyone, and the fingers got cold!

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate the time change?  Yeah, I have.  Still do.  Gosh, I am now up an hour earlier according to the clock. (Kitties want, what kitties want, and when they want it!  They don't go by the clock).  Then it is dark so early now (and not time for bed) - the day just seems so long!

At least it is a sunny one today.  Sunrise was lovely. All is well.

November has become the month of thankfulness.  I mean the word is right in the holiday name!  I am thankful every single day.  There is much to be thankful for - we just need to open our eyes.

I know we are now approaching the time of the year that many do not like.  HOLIDAYS!  Not everyone has family, or somewhere to be, or someone to be with.  Many have bad memories.  Days are gray and cold.  People get all stressed out.  It is said the be the 'saddest' time of the year for many. 

Maybe, just maybe, we can all focus on the little things that makes a day better.  Maybe, just maybe, we can all find something to be thankful for every day.

You can hibernate - but still find something each day to be grateful for.

Celebrate your thankfulness.

Small things - add up to a big thing!  A happy heart!!!!

• Support a good cause in some way
• Donate time
• Donate things you no longer use - maybe a woman's shelter or a homeless shelter
• Donate old towels or buy food for an animal shelter
• Connect with your spirituality
• Handwrite a letter to someone
• Slow down and appreciate your surroundings - your pets, nature, a kind neighbor, a sweet stranger, a tasty meal, a warm bed, another day!
• Create something
• Reward good service - give a bigger tip or give a kind word
• Keep a journal or a list all month - write something each day
• Focus on gratitude = If you focus on gratitude more and more, the negative seems to melt away
• Hug more, say I love you more, smile more, just BE more

Don't be pressured with tradition.  You don't have to have a traditional meal - eat whatever you like.  You don't have to decorate.  You don't have to spend a fortune - it is more about the 'meaning of the seasons', and the people.

The earth is beginning to quiet, so should you.  You don't have to be stressed and panicky.  Just do what makes you happy.  It is OK!

I am so thankful for all of you - you make my life better.

Have a wonderful and special day.

Weekly Wrap Up 11/2

Hello to all and a happy November.  Hard to believe, isn't it? We are a cool morn here, in the mid 40's.  It will get to upper 50's today and back to the mid 60's this week.  Not going to complain at all!

On Monday, I picked a rose!  I am sure it is probably the last one of the year - but it is still smelling sweet and looks pretty, after all these days.

I looked out on Nov. 1 (yesterday) and there was a robin in the birdbath!  I haven't seen a robin in 2 or 3 months around here.  What a treat.

I changed all my clocks, except the bedroom clock.  When Bitsy comes to say "get up & feed me" - the clock still looks the same.  It's a mind thing I play every fall.  I will eventually change it, but I leave it for a while.  My head says it is 6:30AM - but actually 5:30.   The animals don't change their habits - just us silly humans.

Those little things are HUGE sometimes.  The pretty leaves, the birds passing through, 

the crunch of an apple, children laughing, hugging someone - all blessings.

My frugal week:

• Last Sunday, I did run to Kroger for a weekend special.  I got a turkey breast for .99/lb.  I spent about 6.50 for it, and it will sure be some good eating and several meals and sandwiches!  Heck, I can't buy lunchmeat that cheaply.  I also got 5 huge peaches in the 1.50 clearance bin, and 3 caramel apples for 1.50 total.  They are generally 3.99 each!
• I filled my tank while out - saved .60/gallon due to the 4X points you can get on Fridays.  I spent very little last month - but those extra points sure do help.  Even had a coupon for 300 points if spending $30 as well last month.
• Changed out yard flags
• Some walks - didn't get them in every day, but got other exercise in yard
• Re-did my weather stripping on the front door.  No more gaps!
• Did a major dust and vacuum this week. (deep cleaning)
• Washed the woodwork and windowsills
• Fixed (straightened) and rehung a couple of valance rods
• Had visitors stop by a couple times this week.  My old neighbor that moved to KY was in town for Dr. so stopped by for a few.  Sent them home w/ a bunch of tomatoes
• Pulled out more garden - have about 1/3 left to do.  Did more cutting back of flowers
• Mowed, trimmed and mulched the entire yard
• Put the area rug back in the kitchen - to keep tootsies warmer
• Actually, got to air the house 2 or 3 times this week (in afternoons).

Meals this week:

Double cheeseburger and fresh veggies

Naan bread pizza (bread from freezer)

Broccoli/cheese soup and tomato sandwich

Air fried corn on cob and fish and fries

Broc/cheese soup over rice w/sour cream & cheese

Salad topped burritos - supreme (homemade)

Pork chop strips, mashed pots, slaw

Another sort of quiet week, just doing THE stuff!  I seem to manage to keep busy, not sure what all I really do some days.  Has anyone gotten any good deals this past week?  How are you doing with winterizing and getting ready for the new season (whatever season you are in)?

I sure hope you are all well and safe.  Thinking of all of you - many missing for a while.

Prayers to all for health and safety and prayers of healing for all in need.

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

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Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.

Psalms 31:24

Thank You Lord for all our many blessings this week.  Thank you for Your guidance and love for us.  Please help us each to gain our strength from Your love and from our faith.  Strength in everyday matters is often hard, but we know with You in our lives, we can get through all things.  I pray that You lay Your healing hands upon all that are in need.  Amen