Happy November to all! This is just hard for me to believe- 2 months and a new year.
Did everyone that needed to - change your clocks?? UGH - I hate this. So many dark hours now and for a couple months.
I don't know about you - but my internal clock doesn't JUST CHANGE! It stays the same, as does the internal clock of my pets. So now I will be getting up an hour earlier according to the clock. No extra hour of sleep here.
It is a windy and chilly day here today. Today and tomorrow are supposed to be really chilly and then back to mid and upper 60's this week.
We had a lot of rain earlier this week. I think the past couple weeks it has been trying to make up for no rain for a couple months. Wednesday into Thursday we had about 18 hours of non-stop rain. Then it cleared and no rain predicted for at least another week.
This was birthday week - can't believe I am 66! I keep wondering how did this happen? It seems like yesterday I was in high school. LOL
I got to see lots of people and got lots of fun phone calls. I even got to go out to lunch! It was a good week. Thankful God has seen fit to give me more days on this earth.
Another quiet week:
- Our only nephew on Glen's side came by Sunday for a visit with his girlfriend. It was a nice time. I think he visited for about 3 hours! It was good to catch up.
- I did a bank run this week - I just want to have enough cash funds on hand for Christmas gifts and for WHATEVER for the rest of the year
- While out - I did get all the holiday gifts for all the little kids. The 'littles' are done!!! Lots of noisy and messy fun to take home!!!!! (all educational though). That is what aunties are for!
- I also got a few more odds and ends for gift basket stuffers and I also got 4 re-usable grocery bags to use as 'baskets' for some.
- My brother and sister in law came for a visit one day
- Laundry and used dehumidifier water in it
- Made tea and flavored with OJ - tastes like those fancy bottles of tea you can buy
- My sister took me out to lunch at Arby's one day.
- Cooking from scratch, drinking tea and water, using what I have
- Have been working on de-cluttering in the basement some more - oh my!!
- Reading and watching some You Tube
Meals this week:
Dinty Moore stew - late dinner
Chili (from freezer) topped baked potato
Loaded cheeseburger and fries
Baked spaghetti (from freezer)
Quesadilla
Arby roast beef and cheese and potato cakes - sis shared mozzarella sticks as well
Mac and Mex - mac n cheese topped with leftover meat/beans from quesadilla topped with crushed corn chips
Another basically quiet week.
This coming week I plan on staying home (maybe for next couple weeks). I just want to be safe and I worry about the stupidity that might take place after the election. I really have no reason to shop or go any where except to the PO up the street. I could put mail out for postman, but I am leery of that. Let's call me a nervous Nelly! I know I am not the only one.
I miss the old days where riots and meanness were not an everyday occurrence.
How was your week? Are getting ready for the upcoming holidays? What have you been up to?
I think my gifts are bought - I still have some things to make - and maybe a couple GC's to buy (but can get them at grocery). My plan is in motion and getting done!
How about you?
I pray you have a wonderful week ahead. Stay safe and be healthy, Stay frugal and on track.
Sending blessings from my humble little home to yours.
When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but with the humble is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2
Happiest of birthdays wishes!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were able to celebrate with family. Your meals sound good, and now I'm craving a cheeseburger. I think I will have to fix us one this week.
I really hope that things will get better.
Kathy thank you! Let me tell you that cheese burger just hit the spot. It was so good. I had a craving that day - and it hit the spot.
DeleteHappy belated birthday and how nice to hear that you managed a couple of family visits!
ReplyDeleteMy family all live outside of the city and I haven't seen most of them since last October - did see a couple for a brief visit in early February but won't see any of them until probably next Spring (with hopefully a vaccine available). The only Christmas celebration will be a visit with the one friend that I have a small bubble with. I have cards already bought and may include a few gift cards but that will be it. I'm kind of hoping for a "Christmas in July" type celebration next Summer!
I work at my church and we are already working on our Advent and Christmas services - we do things via Youtube so can record a lot of things ahead of time. I will miss our two Christmas Eve services but since we get around 650 people it just won't be happening. We will do the best we can.
Meals this week were meatloaf with mashed sweet potato and carrots & cabbage, chicken with broccoli cheese and cod with oven fries and peas. One night I just had toast and tea - it had been a busy work day with a long conference call - simple meals like this are one of the advantages of being on your own. :-)
I hope things go well for the US next week - I'll refrain from commenting any further - I think you are wise to just stay home and keep to yourself. Hope the weather improves.
Thank you.
DeleteYour meals sound good. Yes, being alone does allow for 'whatever' for meals - reason for a can of stew one night for me!
I hope they can do your Christmas Eve service via YouTube as well - so you won't miss it. I will probably get with some family on Thanksgiving and Christmas - but not many.
Lots of churches are doing services online.
Have a great week.
Happy belated Birthday!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much
DeleteHappy birthday! I will also be 66 in February but I still think of me being in my 40’s! I don’t want to grow up. 😉 A daily viewer but rarely comment on blogs. Nice you got together with family.... I have little family and most likely won’t see them for many months. I am also ready to hunker down if things get out of hand from election and I think that there is a very good chance for disruption in our daily lives for quite a while. I live in a more rural area away from cities but you never know what can happen. I enjoy your postings.......like visiting with a friend! Off to make some lasagna today.... making a large recipe since it is so cumbersome.... will give most away and freeze portions for February when having my 2nd knee replaced in a 4 month time frame.....makes things so much easier!
ReplyDeleteHello Karen - first thank you! And second - glad to have you here.
DeleteI am not sure my head has even reached 40's yet!!!! LOL I still think I can do what I did in 20's but the body says NO.
My life is pretty quiet anyway - and I am prepared - so no real disruption for me - just normal life!
Lasagna sounds good. I am making veggie soup today.
Look forward to hearing from you!
hi -truly need help learning how to stock pantry n avoid daily trip to store.
ReplyDeleteStart slow and just add extras each time you go. I couple extra cans or boxes of everything. Eventually you get there. Go back and read some of the many posts about prepping and read the comments - my readers give some really good ideas.
DeleteSlow and steady will get you there. REMEMBER - stock what you use and use what you stock!
Have a great week.
Carol, Cheryl's advice is simple, but that's how we all got started. When I was buying something on special, I would just buy 2-3 times as much as I immediately needed. It all adds up, and frequently much faster than you think.
DeleteAnother piece of advice I got from an impoverished college student was "never run out of anything." It always seems to cost more when you are out, especially if you make a dash to a mini-mart to get it. If you are out of toothpaste, buy TWO and add toothpaste to your list when you open the second tube. Always have at least one of everything in reserve. If you start stocking up on things when they are on sale, pretty soon you will have more than one item of everything in reserve.
When you are buying in quantity, it helps to put the date on the package with a sharpie, and to put new items behind older ones. Also, remember that consumables don't automatically "expire" on the date on the package.
Good luck!
Great advice. Thank you!!!!!! You expanded and I love it.
DeleteWise words Carol - see I told you the posters are all great!
Belated Happy Birthday from me too!
ReplyDeleteI have started my Christmas shopping. With one family in another state, I purchase online and ship directly there. I use the name line to designate who it's for. Ex: ForSally JoeSmith. As long as the last name is correct and the address, it gets there. Or sometimes I'll put it on the box if I have to ship/mail from here.
The local family I can wait and purchase locally in my little home town. I usually buy everyone's books from our Indy Book Store or art decor from our Art Gallery. And then there are always gift certificates to the grocery or restaurants.
Different subject: Today I am making breakfast sandwiches. I purchased a dozen croissants for $5. We have the sausage from the hog we bought & had processed. Eggs were $4.50 for 18. I have the cheese. I know a box of Jimmy Dean's (4 per pkg) are almost $5. I used the price of JD's sausage and I found I am not really saving anything. Comes out to the same price. BUT, I'm pretty sure my sausage would come out cheaper per/lb. If nothing else, I know what's in it and I know where the eggs, sausage came from.
I'm off to strain and package up the chicken stock I made yesterday. I'll make another batch today. I have about 6 more carcasses to use out of the freezer. I need the room!
Enjoy the warmer temps. We'll be in the 70s this week. Crazy for November!
Thank you!
DeleteGood job on the gift buying. Great ideas.
I love homemade breakfast sandwiches. I have made and individually wrapped and frozen many times. They are so nice to have on hand. Like you said you know what is in them and homemade is just always better.
Yay on the chicken stock - yummy stuff.
I know high 60's here this week - so not griping at all!!!!!
Have a good one.
Happy Birthday Cheryl! I hope your birthday was a wonderful one. Your photo of the sunset is a beautiful one. Rioting after the election has been in the news so much lately. You're right. It happens too often these days, unfortunately. Better to stay home and be safe rather than sorry. Your meals sound delicious. It's been so long since I have been to Arbys but their potato cakes ae good.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI hadn't had restaurant food of any kind since last Oct. Arby - well I imagine it has been at least 3 - 4 years. Love those potato pancakes too - I always put one on my sandwich!
Have a good one.
Happy birthday! Glad you were able to celebrate with family visits. I hadn't thought about possible disruptions, but now I'll stock up a little on fresh produce when I go grocery shop tomorrow. I've got plenty of dry and canned goods. Best, Celie.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThis is a time when you just never know what could happen. Hope you get a bit extra.
Have a good week.
Happy Birthday Cheryl! It sounds like you had a nice birthday. : ) I'll soon be 60 and my husband is 67. I know how you feel...What?! Where did the time go? I can remember things from my childhood like it was yesterday.
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful you got some Christmas shopping done too, I did the same and got some things at Dollar General for my two grandbabies. So fun!
I was able to purchase quite a few canned goods and extra bag of dog food for my emergency stash (a bit worried about any interruptions this week) and a second jar of popcorn for our stash. I told hubs that I got that idea from you! : ) I also bought more canned tomatoes, you were the one to remind of us that valued item for cooking in an emergency. (Wow, so true! I'm half Italian and even my potatoes are baked with tomatoes!)
Hoping you will have a productive week and that you will continue to have a nice birthday time of month. I have thought of you, I know you lost your husband last year and this kind of thing is very hard. You are a blessing here in blogland.
Thank you so much and thank you for your very kind words. They mean a lot to me.
DeleteGlad you are adding to your stock and preparing for "anything". It is nice to hear that this little place in the world can impact people.
Have a great week.
Happy Belated Birthday. I hope that your day was wonderful.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Thank you so much.
DeleteBlessings
Happiest of Birthdays! Sounds like you had a splendid one! So good that you got to visit with family. That's better than any gift from the store. The time does seem to fly. Think of all the things we have learned over the years. I feel like I am still learning from reading blogs like yours.
ReplyDeleteThe weather is a whole lot better but we were sure happy to have the rain. Still have some garden cleanup to do. Finally got through all the canned goods and they are in their proper place, in their proper order. The only thing we are low on is canned greens. We eat the plain ones, nothing with extra seasoning. I will buy some more dog food. I had been ordering it from Amazon but Meijer is cheaper.
I did find some hand sanitizers at Walmart that were marked down dirt cheap. No pun intended... Paid a quarter for the purse/pocket size.
Your sunset picture is beautiful. I appreciate the Scriptures you post.
Thank you. Yes, many things better than material objects!
DeleteI do try to learn something every day and believe I do.
Yes, the weather is much better and going to get even better by the end of the week!
Thank you and have a good day!
Happy belated birthday--
ReplyDeleteI am topping off my fresh items today...good on canned everything/full freezer. Your posts have been really motivating about stocking up. Sometimes I watch YouTube videos on pantry stocking and so on, but many of them are so "over the top"!!
Enjoy your nice weather...let's all pray for a sane week following tomorrow's election...
Thank you!!
DeleteI like You Tube as well - but I agree. So many just go crazy. We just need to be steady and keep our eyes forward and be prepared best we can for anything.
Glad you are getting done today.
Oh how I have been praying. I just hope people are civil and kind. No taking to the streets and rioting.
Have a good one
Happy Birthday! Sounds like you had a wonderful week. You are not alone when it comes to taking precautions with your mail. Last January (Martin Luther King weekend), I put 4 bill payments in the blue drop box outside of our post office -- none made it to their destination. I learned (about 6 weeks later) that the box had been "compromised" (their wording for some unauthorized person opened the box with a key and removed all contents). Over the summer, someone presented a check at a different bank branch from what I use, with a drivers license with my name on it (their picture), and tried to cash a check for a "significant amount", more than I had in my account, and requested that the amount be transferred from my savings to checking to cover the draft. Luckily, I'd placed a flag on my accounts, and the bank asked for a second form of ID. I now only deposit my mail in the inside drop boxes. Better safe than sorry! Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWOW now that is scary. Many neighbors just put mail in their own mailboxes to have the Postman pick up. Years ago I did - when I had the same mailman for years.
Not now - dropping inside is the best way.
My bank sees my regular record and if someone presents something TOO big they actually call. When we had the new roof done several years back - the guy went right to the bank on Friday afternoon - and they called - because it was so much larger than our 'normal'.
Nice to have good people looking out for you!
Have a good one.
Belated Birthday Greetings!! Taking a vacation from the internet for a while, so don't be concerned if you don't see me here. Have a good week and stay safe and frugal!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!!
DeleteSmart idea - have a fantastic electronic vacation!!!!!
Happy Birthday! A few years ago when I turned 70, I was shocked! How did this happen? So, I know the feeling.
ReplyDeleteThank you. It sure seems to have come around fast!
Delete