PRACTICAL PARSIMONY: Surprise on the Porch

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Surprise on the Porch

TADA!

I was thoroughly shocked as I stumbled out half awake to feed the chickens, knowing they had frozen water and no food. It was about 12:30 pm or something like that. It was the second night of staying up all night to keep the pipes from freezing.

I have often said I am terrified of Crock Pots. Maybe I should clarify. I am terrified by the thought of a small appliance running all night long. I am afraid of the house wiring failing. I watched my house burn when I was four because of failed wiring. Reading other people's crock pot adventures actually made me think about getting one in the future. However, this was going to have to be a

desire deferred.

Not now!

The box was so large that I could not get outside. I had to come back in and put the hot water for the hens and the food down on the table and go back and shove it out of the way. I am telling you the guy put this leaning against the door. I barely got this in the house because of the weight and sheer bulk. But, who would not try her best and succeed to find out what treasure awaited?

16" x 21" x 11" box

Okay, I overestimate a bit...lol.

Plus, this Internet angel included:

365 Year-Round Recipes

I tried to put a picture of the recipe book, but

copy and paste places the recipe book

squarely onto the crock pot picture.

???

In the midst of all the chaos of frozen pipes, finding more glass on the far flung corners of the kitchen, and having water cover much of the floor on three days, this was a very, very good distraction.

This will help put some heat in the kitchen!

Thank you

No, the angel wants to remain anonymous!

Your turn

Does an unexpected gift put a little zing in your heart and a lightness in your step? What surprise, large like this one, or small gift or kindness have you experienced lately. Maybe it is a long ago memory that still resonates with you.

16 comments:

Jason and MichelleJanuary 30, 2014 at 5:41 PM
That is a sweet gift. I love my crockpot.
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AnonymousJanuary 30, 2014 at 5:48 PM
You know how I feel about crock pots..crock pots are your friend. And if they heat up your kitchen a little even better :)
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AnonymousJanuary 30, 2014 at 5:57 PM
I have a personal crockpot pot roast recipe I loooove! Making it Monday in fact. Be sure to post photos of your creations.

P.S. Do YOU at least know who gifted it?
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Sue FrelickJanuary 30, 2014 at 6:05 PM
Oh, how wonderful! What a thoughtful thing for your angel to do. You are going to love it!
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JessJanuary 30, 2014 at 6:49 PM
The photo made me think of a hearty stew, some baked bread to soak the gravy and the contentment of a full belly on a cold winter night.

That's a special gift and I'll add it to my favorites.
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JanetJanuary 30, 2014 at 7:57 PM
Oh I predict you are going to fall in love with your crock pot. I have several! If you are apprehensive about leaving it on while you are not around or awake then why not just use it during the day while you are there? I have never run mine overnight.I do understand that many people are apphensive about pressure cookers ... they did have a bad reputation but as far as I know crock pots are SAFE! It should not make your house warmer. They take very little electricity. !

I will be waiting to hear what you cook first.

You have a very thoughtful friend to have that shipped to you.
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Janie JunebugJanuary 30, 2014 at 8:17 PM
Favorite Young Man took me out to dinner recently. It was so nice.

Love,
Janie
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WhispermistJanuary 30, 2014 at 11:21 PM
Now that's a special friend who surprises you with such a thoughtful gift. Enjoy your crock pot with all the great meals to come.
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Okay, hoping the annoyances have gone away.

The Cast

Fancy is my favorite hen. She is one of the three youngest hens I adopted. Because she is so gentle and friendly, she may be the one I rescued when she was being pecked to death after she could no longer stand. She got to live in the house in a box. Sometimes, I let her sit in my lap while she was convalescing. Now, she comes to sit in the swing with me, cuddling up to my body like a cat or dog. She died in February 2012.

Fancy follows me begging, complaining, needing me to do for her. She talks to me in various voices. She allows me to pick her up and carry her. When she became an adult, her head was a darker red and her body was light brown. Around her neck were tips of black feathers. It appeared she had a necklace of jet around her neck. When I showed this characteristic to a friend, he said, "Oh, you have fancy chickens and plain chickens."

Chessie has a broken toe. I broke it! She had a habit of jumping really high and almost sticking. A raccoon ate her in October 2009.

Thelma is the blonde. She is also the largest hen and the alpha hen. I suspect the gigantic eggs are from her. She often squats and presents herself to me. She is top hen, but I suspect she knows she had better be deferent to top feeder of the flock--me.

Louise is the auburn-feathered hen. She looks like the true Rhode Island Reds in pictures. She is almost as large as Thelma. Some days I suspect she is trying to be top chicken. When I got Pepper, I found out Louise is the Alpha hen.

Pepper came here from the same home as the first four. We were discussing putting red pepper on their food, wondering if it really would increase egg production. Pepper is the only name we agreed on. She is terrorized each day by Louise. Even after the worst was over, she was and is still filled with terror and very wary.

Linda is owned by four hens. They allow her to fetch for them. She loves them dearly, so she allows them to boss her around. Linda comes out in the rain to perform chores for them and make sure they have food and water. She begs scraps from all sorts of places to make sure they have fresh fruits and vegetables.

Parsimony is not a vegetable

Parsimony is extreme care in spending money. Stick around and learn about my random thoughts on accomplishing goals economically--dumpster diving aka safari, gleaning, do-it-yourself, sewing tips, recipes, and whatever is happening in my life.

Okay so maybe "parsimony" is not your thing. How about thrift, frugality or just plain saving money? I try not to go the tightwad route as that seems to imply others will suffer from my habits.

Some of my not-spending habits have very much been a part of my lifelong habits. Other habits are newly acquired and are an extension of my lifelong not-spending habits.

I am very imaginative when it comes to substituting or making instead of buying. I will tell you about making a heater for the chickens' water. Not one dime was spent since I had everything I needed right in my basement.

Practicality must rear its head alongside parsimony. For example, I will use the dryer in bad weather or because of allergies in the spring. But, I will not wash clothes in a tub as long as I have a washing machine or can find one.

You may hear more about my four Rhode Island Red hens than you care to hear. They lay delicious brown eggs.

Contact Me

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Surprise on the Porch

16 comments: