This morning, I had a wrecker on the way as soon as they opened. They hauled it off on a rollback. I really like my car riding instead of having it towed with wheels on the ground. At least now the car is with a mechanic.
I have a long list of places I need to go--CVS, WM, local pharmacy, PO, Lowe's, local business for a payment due, doctor appointment.
I don't have milk or bananas. That is a catastrophe. If I had known my car would not start after the Sunday repair, I would have chosen to do all the above instead of seeing Star Wars.
Even though the temperatures are below freezing, I turn off the heat at night and never get cold while in bed.
Somehow, my gloves were all scattered last year and never put back where they go. It is definitely glove weather, so I need to find all of them. Otherwise, my hands will suffer! I still cannot figure how they were scattered so since I have a little red gift bag from a business where they all lived inside a drawer. Maybe glove fairies played with them.
This morning, I emptied dried blackeyed peas into canning jars to store them. Now, I am beginning the task of rotating them into and out of the tiny refrigerator's freezer compartment. That way, bug eggs will be killed in the freezer and my food will be protected.
Since the temperature is above freezing, maybe I will hang out clothes. Maybe that is just too cold. I knew a woman long ago who had arthritis in her hands and could barely move her fingers. Her hands and fingers caused her pain year round. She said it was because she had to hang clothes all winter long and the frigid water and frigid clothing she hung on the line caused arthritis. I don't know. Is this true?
I have never been diagnosed with arthritis. However, at almost 70-years-old, I am told by friends my age I probably do have some arthritis, that everyone has arthritis when older. Is that true?
Since the low water pressure to the dishwasher causes it not to clean well, I have started using the "pots and pans" cycle. I can hear the dishwasher and it washes for much long on this cycle. Usually, it is pretty quiet while it runs. Well, even on this noisier cycle, I can still be in the kitchen and carry on a conversation.
Here I sit--anxious. Jose said he would take me around today. But, no, he went back home to have someone work on his car since his truck uses too much gas.....grrr. I understand but will give him gas money to drive me now in the truck. Exbf never says he will come and does not!
While I wait, I can curl my hair, load the dishwasher, and feed the chickens. I just want my car or a ride!
Your turn
Does keeping hands cold and damp in the winter cause arthritis in fingers and hands? Do you freeze beans for a few days to kill eggs before you store them on a shelf? Do you become anxious when waiting for someone who has a history of telling you he or she will be there soon and just never shows up at all?
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Canning, Candy Canes, Car
Candy canes always get soft and sticky. Around June I try to get rid of candy not eaten around here. Even kids don't like candy canes once it gets icky. When I had lots of company, I kept bowls of ribbon candy and other hard candy out at Christmas for visitors to eat. It is too sugary for me, so it sits for months in the covered candy dishes. Now, I don't have a lot of company, so there are never any candy dishes around. However, there are candy canes.
Using a quart jar, I put 20 candy canes inside, some crook up, some crook down, still in the cellophane. That left 4 candy canes. After I took off the cellophane those last four and broke them into 1.5" pieces, I had only half-filled a half-pint jar. This way, I can use the canes in recipes or share with friends or children before the are icky. Or, I can have a tiny piece once in a while.
The car won't run. The mechanic won't come back. Well, he is not answering the phone. Another friend insists I use his shade-tree mechanic friend. I told the guy I cannot pay his friend or buy parts. He insists I wait until I have money so his friend can do the work. I am furious. I only want this guy friend to remove boxes from my car, not find a mechanic. Calling a tow truck is the only thing I want now. The guy STILL insists I use his friend! I can only borrow another friend's cc to pay for this whole thing! It's like he goes deaf when I say that.
What I did was to talk to the owner of the shop where I will take my car. He was very enthusiastic about the Sea Foam, explaining in detail what the mechanic in my yard said about cleaning the engine.
Using a quart jar, I put 20 candy canes inside, some crook up, some crook down, still in the cellophane. That left 4 candy canes. After I took off the cellophane those last four and broke them into 1.5" pieces, I had only half-filled a half-pint jar. This way, I can use the canes in recipes or share with friends or children before the are icky. Or, I can have a tiny piece once in a while.
The car won't run. The mechanic won't come back. Well, he is not answering the phone. Another friend insists I use his shade-tree mechanic friend. I told the guy I cannot pay his friend or buy parts. He insists I wait until I have money so his friend can do the work. I am furious. I only want this guy friend to remove boxes from my car, not find a mechanic. Calling a tow truck is the only thing I want now. The guy STILL insists I use his friend! I can only borrow another friend's cc to pay for this whole thing! It's like he goes deaf when I say that.
What I did was to talk to the owner of the shop where I will take my car. He was very enthusiastic about the Sea Foam, explaining in detail what the mechanic in my yard said about cleaning the engine.
Monday, January 4, 2016
Sea Foam for the Car
My car would not start on the morning of New Year's Eve. Sunday, I was in WM trying to buy a gas cap and HEET. A man heard what I was saying and offered to come to my house and repair it. He and his family had no money and came to WM just to look around.
Several years ago, this car would just stop in the road, stop going up hill, not start at all after sitting all night or after being left in a parking lot for an hour. This only happened when I was low on gas. My back hurt so on the 23rd I decided I would get gas on NYE when out. I had lost my gas cap about two months ago and never remembered to get another when I could afford one
I rightly assumed that there was trash in the fuel line and condensation caused water. He had me buy a product called Sea Foam. This video explains what this stranger did. Oh, the guy said he was a mechanic and ran a garage. When a person has no money or friends to look at a car, sometimes a person has to trust. His wife and kids came with him and sat in their car for two hours while he worked.
The car ran Sunday night after he worked on it. Then, I started it about 5 pm to show exbf how easily it starts and how nice the engine sounds. Well, two hours later, it would not start! I called the guy and now he says it is a short somewhere. He told me but I forgot. He is coming by tomorrow to do something else.
When I asked how much this would cost as we were in WM, he said whatever I wanted to give him. I gave him $40 and he gave me back $20, so I don't think he is all bad. Since I was looking at a $60 or more tow bill, I felt he earned it.
Many people have said Sea Foam is good and good for cars.
I was not able to mail packages, not able to pick up my repaired purse from the cobbler, not able to do lots of things. I could if the car had started after exbf and I had gone to see Star Wars. We went to an early movie so he could get home early and I could do chores in the car.
Star Wars was wonderful! I love Harrison Ford. I saw the first Star Wars and the last. Well, I heard this was the last one.
Your turn
Have you heard of Sea Foam? Have an opinion of it? Ask your husband. Have you seen Star Wars?
Several years ago, this car would just stop in the road, stop going up hill, not start at all after sitting all night or after being left in a parking lot for an hour. This only happened when I was low on gas. My back hurt so on the 23rd I decided I would get gas on NYE when out. I had lost my gas cap about two months ago and never remembered to get another when I could afford one
I rightly assumed that there was trash in the fuel line and condensation caused water. He had me buy a product called Sea Foam. This video explains what this stranger did. Oh, the guy said he was a mechanic and ran a garage. When a person has no money or friends to look at a car, sometimes a person has to trust. His wife and kids came with him and sat in their car for two hours while he worked.
The car ran Sunday night after he worked on it. Then, I started it about 5 pm to show exbf how easily it starts and how nice the engine sounds. Well, two hours later, it would not start! I called the guy and now he says it is a short somewhere. He told me but I forgot. He is coming by tomorrow to do something else.
When I asked how much this would cost as we were in WM, he said whatever I wanted to give him. I gave him $40 and he gave me back $20, so I don't think he is all bad. Since I was looking at a $60 or more tow bill, I felt he earned it.
Many people have said Sea Foam is good and good for cars.
I was not able to mail packages, not able to pick up my repaired purse from the cobbler, not able to do lots of things. I could if the car had started after exbf and I had gone to see Star Wars. We went to an early movie so he could get home early and I could do chores in the car.
Star Wars was wonderful! I love Harrison Ford. I saw the first Star Wars and the last. Well, I heard this was the last one.
Your turn
Have you heard of Sea Foam? Have an opinion of it? Ask your husband. Have you seen Star Wars?
Let me Recommend
I think it was last year that I praised watermelon candy canes from Brach. WM had hundreds of them marked down--12 for a quarter. This year, there was not one watermelon candy cane. Bummer!
This year, a clerk recommended cherry candy canes. I bought a box for a quarter. Let me tell you these are scrumptious. Have you had cherry candy canes? I should not be eating so much sugar, and I should not eat them before bed because my teeth are coated with sugar.
I have never been crazy about peppermint candy canes, but would eat a tiny one as an obligatory part of the Christmas experience. But, I never really liked them. I don't even like peppermint! Plus. candy canes are too sugary.
While I was digging around in the trunk today, looking for HEET, I was pleasantly surprised by things I had forgotten I had in the trunk. More about that in another post.
Tomorrow, Christmas presents are set to be mailed. Well, if the car still works, I can mail them.
Your turn
Did you try watermelon candy canes? Have you tried the cherry candy canes? Did you like either? Have you ever eaten something you did not really like because it was expected? Did you really think you would like it after 50+ years of not caring for it?
This year, a clerk recommended cherry candy canes. I bought a box for a quarter. Let me tell you these are scrumptious. Have you had cherry candy canes? I should not be eating so much sugar, and I should not eat them before bed because my teeth are coated with sugar.
I have never been crazy about peppermint candy canes, but would eat a tiny one as an obligatory part of the Christmas experience. But, I never really liked them. I don't even like peppermint! Plus. candy canes are too sugary.
While I was digging around in the trunk today, looking for HEET, I was pleasantly surprised by things I had forgotten I had in the trunk. More about that in another post.
Tomorrow, Christmas presents are set to be mailed. Well, if the car still works, I can mail them.
Your turn
Did you try watermelon candy canes? Have you tried the cherry candy canes? Did you like either? Have you ever eaten something you did not really like because it was expected? Did you really think you would like it after 50+ years of not caring for it?
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Why Don't I Have Flour?
A blueberry cobbler seemed like a great idea. But, there was no flour in my flour canister. I had to think hard about where my extra flour was stored. Then, it hit me: in the freezer that died last spring.
I always use all purpose flour in five-pound bags. Last Monday I gave away a tiny bag of flour given to me because it was self-rising. That was a bad move. I really could have used it! Now, I was going to have to purchase more flour. Fortunately, I remembered I had a huge box of Bisquick.
Since I don't bake as much as I have in the past, I decided to see if the tablespoon of flour in the canister was still good. Nope. It was rancid. The flour canister had to be washed and dried. I now have more flour. I DON'T have freezer room to put in five pounds of flour! I do this to kill the eggs that come in flour so they won't hatch in the airtight canister.
My only recourse is to somehow get more food out of the freezer or put the flour in pint jars to freeze a bit at a time. This is all disheartening! I never realized how much I used and depended on my freezer.
The cheap chest type freezer is small. But, more than that, I cannot lift food out of there to search the bottom for what I need. grrr
I received a $50 coupon from Lowe's since I bought the washer, but really cannot go into debt for any more.
There is no flour here because it was all thrown in the trash. The End.
Your turn
Has the lack of a major appliance thrown you for a loop? Made things more difficult?
I always use all purpose flour in five-pound bags. Last Monday I gave away a tiny bag of flour given to me because it was self-rising. That was a bad move. I really could have used it! Now, I was going to have to purchase more flour. Fortunately, I remembered I had a huge box of Bisquick.
Since I don't bake as much as I have in the past, I decided to see if the tablespoon of flour in the canister was still good. Nope. It was rancid. The flour canister had to be washed and dried. I now have more flour. I DON'T have freezer room to put in five pounds of flour! I do this to kill the eggs that come in flour so they won't hatch in the airtight canister.
My only recourse is to somehow get more food out of the freezer or put the flour in pint jars to freeze a bit at a time. This is all disheartening! I never realized how much I used and depended on my freezer.
The cheap chest type freezer is small. But, more than that, I cannot lift food out of there to search the bottom for what I need. grrr
I received a $50 coupon from Lowe's since I bought the washer, but really cannot go into debt for any more.
There is no flour here because it was all thrown in the trash. The End.
Your turn
Has the lack of a major appliance thrown you for a loop? Made things more difficult?
75% Clearance!!!
Every year I prepare for this clearance sale. I look for it. After Christmas items are first marked down to 50% off at WM. On New Years Day the clearance is 75% off. YAY
Glad Ziploc quart storage bags with Christmas designs, 48 in a box, are the same price as the regular quart storage bags--$4.46. At 75% off the Christmas designs are $1.11, not a bad price. I bought 8.
Glad Ziploc gallon storage bags were also $4.46, 38 in a box. They were also 75% off, making the box of 38 also $1.11. I bought 5.
This is a $57.98 value for $14.43.
Saved 75%. Of course, I did.
Snack crackers with a holiday design were also 75% off. I got the last two boxes of Wheat Thins, my favorite cracker. Originally they were $2; clearance price was $0.50. I spent $1 on two boxes of Wheat Thins.
Saved 75% again...lol..
A $4 value in Wheat Thins cost me $1.
Total:
I paid $15.43 for merchandise worth $61.98.
You're right. I am giddy. Hopefully, I have enough bags to last until next Christmas and beyond. When I give exbf food to take home, I try to use these bags instead of Tupperware or breakable glass. He cannot stand much to wash dishes, either. Right now, we probably both use too much plastic. But, it is necessary for the present. Or, you can come wash my dishes.
I gave my friend a box of the quart bags and a box of the Wheat Thins for taking me to WM + $2 for gas.
Your turn
Do you find these items on Christmas clearance at WM? Maybe there are still some left. What items on Christmas clearance have you gotten?
Glad Ziploc quart storage bags with Christmas designs, 48 in a box, are the same price as the regular quart storage bags--$4.46. At 75% off the Christmas designs are $1.11, not a bad price. I bought 8.
Glad Ziploc gallon storage bags were also $4.46, 38 in a box. They were also 75% off, making the box of 38 also $1.11. I bought 5.
This is a $57.98 value for $14.43.
Saved 75%. Of course, I did.
Snack crackers with a holiday design were also 75% off. I got the last two boxes of Wheat Thins, my favorite cracker. Originally they were $2; clearance price was $0.50. I spent $1 on two boxes of Wheat Thins.
Saved 75% again...lol..
A $4 value in Wheat Thins cost me $1.
Total:
I paid $15.43 for merchandise worth $61.98.
You're right. I am giddy. Hopefully, I have enough bags to last until next Christmas and beyond. When I give exbf food to take home, I try to use these bags instead of Tupperware or breakable glass. He cannot stand much to wash dishes, either. Right now, we probably both use too much plastic. But, it is necessary for the present. Or, you can come wash my dishes.
I gave my friend a box of the quart bags and a box of the Wheat Thins for taking me to WM + $2 for gas.
Your turn
Do you find these items on Christmas clearance at WM? Maybe there are still some left. What items on Christmas clearance have you gotten?
Friday, January 1, 2016
Yummy Dinner and Goat Cheese
Last night was all about dinner. It had been a long time since I had this combination--ham, blackeyed peas, turnip greens, and macaroni and cheese. The mac and cheese is gone and rarely eaten with this dinner. Now it is time to bake sweet potatoes. Soon I will also have my New Year blackeyed peas for good luck.
Last night, I managed to eat a whole log of goat cheese with crackers. The log had been covered in blueberries and came from Publix. It was a splurge for the night. There were chips but no pimiento and cheese since I could not get to the grocery store. The cheese went well with crackers, of course.
Blackeyed peas were $1.52/lb at Walmart. That seems like an exorbitant price! Of course, I did not have to pay that price because I have bags of the peas bought on sale earlier last year.
As I was choosing crackers, I found Wheat Thins, Lightly Salted. The lightly salted crackers had something like 40 mg sodium while the Original Wheat Thins had something like 180 mg. The taste did not fight with the goat cheese and blueberry. I only buy Wheat Thins about three times a year, but these will be my choice next time. Have you had them?
Last night was verrrry quiet around here. There were no neighbors illegally shooting fireworks! I did not hear any legal fireworks. I wonder if a legal fireworks display was at Smith Lake.
Back to the Rose Bowl Parade!
Your turn
Did you have company or any sort of festivities on NYE? Have you tried the Lightly Salted Wheat Thins? Do you eat blackeyed peas for good luck on the first day of the year?
Last night, I managed to eat a whole log of goat cheese with crackers. The log had been covered in blueberries and came from Publix. It was a splurge for the night. There were chips but no pimiento and cheese since I could not get to the grocery store. The cheese went well with crackers, of course.
Blackeyed peas were $1.52/lb at Walmart. That seems like an exorbitant price! Of course, I did not have to pay that price because I have bags of the peas bought on sale earlier last year.
As I was choosing crackers, I found Wheat Thins, Lightly Salted. The lightly salted crackers had something like 40 mg sodium while the Original Wheat Thins had something like 180 mg. The taste did not fight with the goat cheese and blueberry. I only buy Wheat Thins about three times a year, but these will be my choice next time. Have you had them?
Last night was verrrry quiet around here. There were no neighbors illegally shooting fireworks! I did not hear any legal fireworks. I wonder if a legal fireworks display was at Smith Lake.
Back to the Rose Bowl Parade!
Your turn
Did you have company or any sort of festivities on NYE? Have you tried the Lightly Salted Wheat Thins? Do you eat blackeyed peas for good luck on the first day of the year?
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