For the last few weeks I have been composing this post. I am too exhausted to do anything else in the way of writing, so this is it.
*dumpster diving, more in past and a little now
*using rags from clothing for cleaning cloths instead of paper towels
*use diapers bought in 1975 to dust
*use net produce bags tied in knot for a scrubby
*look through coupons in paper or online
*study all store ads several times
*try to match coupons with sales
*use straw broom instead of plastic
*use cotton mop to clean the floor
*use old-fashioned dust mop
*vinegar and water in spray bottle for car windows
*Shoe Goo for holes in shoes
*take shoes to cobbler for other repairs
*use table salt to scrub stuck spots in sink
*use dilute Clorox and broom for dingy, stained concrete
*sell excess belongings from kitchen
*put sock tops on canning jars to prevent dings
*use canvas bags at grocery store
*order free generic checks from bank
*use free pens from businesses
*use 34-yr-old vacuum that was expensive but worth it--Royal cannister
*do not smoke
*do not drink
*cook from scratch mostly
*use old toothbrushes for cleaning tool for dishes, bathroom, kitchen, car
*trade yard labor for use of my mower
*spray a very dilute Dawn solution to kill fruit flies
*trade school supply for loaf of bread at bread store
*use fund-raiser car washes to get car washed
*pick up pennies and occasionally a larger coin
*keep tires inflated
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Monday, July 30, 2018
Planning for a Doctor visit (And it is done.)
One day next week, I have a doctor's appointment in Birmingham. Exbf will drive up to get me, drop me off, and wait in the car until I come out. (TODAY WAS/IS THE DAY)
He will come in and eat lunch unless I have him come just in time to pick me up. He can decide that.
It is hard for him to get into the office. He hates paying for valet service. And, I make the wait in the car quite comfortable.
I pack stuff for him. This week his little bag will have: bottle of cold water, Pepsi if he wants it, slices of cheese, crackers, grapes, cherries, sliced apple, jerky. (NO JERKY)I still have to buy a jerky stick for this week. And, I make sure he has a new Reader's Digest. I never buy one, just get one from places that have stacks of free magazines. ( I gave him four because I could not remember what he had read.)
Sometimes, he takes a nap.
Before the trip, I will pack what he will take home for dinner. I make a list so I will not forget anything. I am too tired when I get home to remember what to take out to the car. He prefers to just let me come in and get the stuff and just leave. It is usually so late that I am exhausted, and he has a long drive. (I forgot the pie, so I will freeze it for him.)
I didn't get the meatloaf baked, but I will make that, cook the last of the carrots, and give him lettuce and tomato for a salad. He will probably eat the carrots and meat loaf and maybe a can of peas or green beans. He will probably save the salad for the next day with more meatloaf. Who know? I don't care.
(I gave him portion of pork loin and lettuce and tomato for a salad.)
When he does come into the doctor's office, I pack this bag that came from AARP when he or I joined. Everything fits, no matter how much I give him, even his water bottle and RD. He snacks in the waiting room. Remember, he has diabetes. What he does not eat for a snack, he eats for a snack on the way home..
I am too tired to even think, but I will talk about the dermatologist visit tomorrow. It was traumstic and I had to be naked and be poked and looked at closely.
Only the last paragraph and things in parenthesis were written tonight.
He will come in and eat lunch unless I have him come just in time to pick me up. He can decide that.
It is hard for him to get into the office. He hates paying for valet service. And, I make the wait in the car quite comfortable.
I pack stuff for him. This week his little bag will have: bottle of cold water, Pepsi if he wants it, slices of cheese, crackers, grapes, cherries, sliced apple, jerky. (NO JERKY)I still have to buy a jerky stick for this week. And, I make sure he has a new Reader's Digest. I never buy one, just get one from places that have stacks of free magazines. ( I gave him four because I could not remember what he had read.)
Sometimes, he takes a nap.
Before the trip, I will pack what he will take home for dinner. I make a list so I will not forget anything. I am too tired when I get home to remember what to take out to the car. He prefers to just let me come in and get the stuff and just leave. It is usually so late that I am exhausted, and he has a long drive. (I forgot the pie, so I will freeze it for him.)
I didn't get the meatloaf baked, but I will make that, cook the last of the carrots, and give him lettuce and tomato for a salad. He will probably eat the carrots and meat loaf and maybe a can of peas or green beans. He will probably save the salad for the next day with more meatloaf. Who know? I don't care.
(I gave him portion of pork loin and lettuce and tomato for a salad.)
When he does come into the doctor's office, I pack this bag that came from AARP when he or I joined. Everything fits, no matter how much I give him, even his water bottle and RD. He snacks in the waiting room. Remember, he has diabetes. What he does not eat for a snack, he eats for a snack on the way home..
I am too tired to even think, but I will talk about the dermatologist visit tomorrow. It was traumstic and I had to be naked and be poked and looked at closely.
Only the last paragraph and things in parenthesis were written tonight.
Sunday, July 29, 2018
The effect of refrigerated and frozen storage on butter nutrients, flavor and texture
A few years ago, I read that freezing butter destroyed some of the nutrition. I decided I would investigate. What I found was an article from ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. When you go to the ARTICLE, you can see what the alphabet soup means. Hint--National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Health. Plus, ".gov" makes me trust the information.
No. Refrigeration or freezing will not diminish the nutrition of butter. However, how you store it is crucial to taste. You cannot just toss the butter in the refrigerator or freezer. It needs to be airtight. I plan to freeze mine in foil and put it inside a freezer bag.
To the right of the abstract are several articles about butter. Since this is just an abstract, there is more in the article. But, I cannot access that. Can you?
Now, if you find articles from credible institutions stating that freezing butter is detrimental to the nutritional value of butter, feel free to post it in a comment.
Your turn
Do you freeze butter? Can you tell if butter has changed once it is thawed? If so, how did you wrap it to freeze it?
No. Refrigeration or freezing will not diminish the nutrition of butter. However, how you store it is crucial to taste. You cannot just toss the butter in the refrigerator or freezer. It needs to be airtight. I plan to freeze mine in foil and put it inside a freezer bag.
To the right of the abstract are several articles about butter. Since this is just an abstract, there is more in the article. But, I cannot access that. Can you?
Now, if you find articles from credible institutions stating that freezing butter is detrimental to the nutritional value of butter, feel free to post it in a comment.
Your turn
Do you freeze butter? Can you tell if butter has changed once it is thawed? If so, how did you wrap it to freeze it?
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Groceries July 22--28, 2018
eggs $1.28/doz.
3 bananas
mushrooms 2@$0.99
2 half-gallons a2milk, 2/$7
sour cream
cherries $1.49/lb
grapes $1.79/lb.
strawberries $0.99
blueberries 2@$0.99/lb.
jar of artichoke hearts
1 lb. butter $2.99
4 bananas
onion
bell pepper
Miracle Whip $2.99
My total this week was about $30. Butter was $2.99 at Sav A Lot. It's a brand I have never heard of, but it is mine now. I will check other stores to see if it is carried anywhere else and what is the price. Okay, I checked and the butter is Coburn Farms, a Sav A Lot brand. And, there is a coupon that will make it $1.99!!!
Tuesday was the last day of the a2milk at $7 for two half-gallons. I bought two last week. Even though I have two unopened cartons from last week, these last two have a date of August 23, 2018. As I was trying to juggle things in the refrigerator to fit two more cartons in, I made a happy discovery. There were two milk cartons that each were about 1/3 full. When I combined those, both the same date, things were much less crowded! I don't think I have EVER before had two cartons of milk open and in use at the same time.
Immediately, I opened the jar of artichoke hearts at home. I ate two, gagging and spitting out the corn husk like portion. I will be taking these back. They were nasty.
The blueberries went straight into the freezer. I had just scraped the last of my last jar of Miracle Whip from the jar.
There is dehydrated bell pepper in a pint jar, but I bought a fresh one. The last time I put dehydrated bp in meatloaf, I remarked to exbf that the bell pepper had been dehydrated last year. He said and made sure I understand that he was not complaining, that the bell pepper was hard as a rock. He kept saying it was okay because he could taste it in the meatloaf. So, I have fresh bp for the meatloaf this time.
Two stores had great sales this week, Aldi and Save A Lot. Otherwise, I would not have bought so much fruit and mushrooms.
Do you have a Sav A Lot where you live? Have you ever used Coburn Farms Butter or any of their products?
3 bananas
mushrooms 2@$0.99
2 half-gallons a2milk, 2/$7
sour cream
cherries $1.49/lb
grapes $1.79/lb.
strawberries $0.99
blueberries 2@$0.99/lb.
jar of artichoke hearts
1 lb. butter $2.99
4 bananas
onion
bell pepper
Miracle Whip $2.99
My total this week was about $30. Butter was $2.99 at Sav A Lot. It's a brand I have never heard of, but it is mine now. I will check other stores to see if it is carried anywhere else and what is the price. Okay, I checked and the butter is Coburn Farms, a Sav A Lot brand. And, there is a coupon that will make it $1.99!!!
Tuesday was the last day of the a2milk at $7 for two half-gallons. I bought two last week. Even though I have two unopened cartons from last week, these last two have a date of August 23, 2018. As I was trying to juggle things in the refrigerator to fit two more cartons in, I made a happy discovery. There were two milk cartons that each were about 1/3 full. When I combined those, both the same date, things were much less crowded! I don't think I have EVER before had two cartons of milk open and in use at the same time.
Immediately, I opened the jar of artichoke hearts at home. I ate two, gagging and spitting out the corn husk like portion. I will be taking these back. They were nasty.
The blueberries went straight into the freezer. I had just scraped the last of my last jar of Miracle Whip from the jar.
There is dehydrated bell pepper in a pint jar, but I bought a fresh one. The last time I put dehydrated bp in meatloaf, I remarked to exbf that the bell pepper had been dehydrated last year. He said and made sure I understand that he was not complaining, that the bell pepper was hard as a rock. He kept saying it was okay because he could taste it in the meatloaf. So, I have fresh bp for the meatloaf this time.
Two stores had great sales this week, Aldi and Save A Lot. Otherwise, I would not have bought so much fruit and mushrooms.
Do you have a Sav A Lot where you live? Have you ever used Coburn Farms Butter or any of their products?
Friday, July 27, 2018
Least Likable Bug?
My spaghetti coma lasted until six this morning. Then I napped until 9 am. I was still very tired. I had a horrible nightmare that depressed me, so I napped a bit more. Finally, at 2 pm, I got up for good.
Thinking my funk and stuffy head might be because I was hungry and dehydrated. I drank water, ate something not good for me...forgot what. Then, I got one chore done. ugh Thinking some sardines might cause me to feel better, I opened a can only to find they tasted disgusting. But, I ate them, anyway. What's with that?
Today, it was 85 F and beautiful. The humidity had to be fairly low because it was sooooo pleasant. I got little done today outdoors, but it was pleasant. Usually, I have broken a sweat by the time I get to the car. Not today.
I had the doors to the car open, so now it is filled with mosquitoes. If I could banish just one bug, it would be mosquitoes. Flies and roaches are nasty, but easier to avoid and kill. And, they are not trying to bite me.
I found out that a neighbor's lawnmower was stolen this last week. So, I went out to check and see if my stuff is still here. The mosquitoes found me. When I told my next door neighbor just to let him know about the theft, he just shrugged. I know he keeps his mower on the front porch as well as a tiny grill with a handle on top. It is not his mower, just one he uses that belongs to a friend. He has one of those porches that is brick all around, so you cannot see stuff until you go on the porch.
Tonight, I will put a 3 lb package of ground beef in the crockpot for exbf. I make it in sort of a loaf. I will slice it and he can get one piece out and use it for a hamburger or whatever. I might get really ambitious and make a meatloaf. We will see.
Nothing is happening here. Nothing has happened since spaghetti last night. I am here and frugal.
Your turn
If you could banish one bug/insect, what would it be? My choice is mosquitoes.
Thinking my funk and stuffy head might be because I was hungry and dehydrated. I drank water, ate something not good for me...forgot what. Then, I got one chore done. ugh Thinking some sardines might cause me to feel better, I opened a can only to find they tasted disgusting. But, I ate them, anyway. What's with that?
Today, it was 85 F and beautiful. The humidity had to be fairly low because it was sooooo pleasant. I got little done today outdoors, but it was pleasant. Usually, I have broken a sweat by the time I get to the car. Not today.
I had the doors to the car open, so now it is filled with mosquitoes. If I could banish just one bug, it would be mosquitoes. Flies and roaches are nasty, but easier to avoid and kill. And, they are not trying to bite me.
I found out that a neighbor's lawnmower was stolen this last week. So, I went out to check and see if my stuff is still here. The mosquitoes found me. When I told my next door neighbor just to let him know about the theft, he just shrugged. I know he keeps his mower on the front porch as well as a tiny grill with a handle on top. It is not his mower, just one he uses that belongs to a friend. He has one of those porches that is brick all around, so you cannot see stuff until you go on the porch.
Tonight, I will put a 3 lb package of ground beef in the crockpot for exbf. I make it in sort of a loaf. I will slice it and he can get one piece out and use it for a hamburger or whatever. I might get really ambitious and make a meatloaf. We will see.
Nothing is happening here. Nothing has happened since spaghetti last night. I am here and frugal.
Your turn
If you could banish one bug/insect, what would it be? My choice is mosquitoes.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Headed for a Spaghetti Coma
Tonight was the free dinner--spaghetti, Parmesan cheese, salad, dressing, garlic bread, unsweetened tea. I got seconds on spaghetti, cheese, and bread. I turned down cookies, ice cream, and chocolate syrup. Well, I did eat one bite of ice cream and took one cookie with me.
The meth addicts with whom I speak are funny, polite, and determined to do better for the future.
The people running the programs are good company and interesting.
I got an invitation to a Cowboy Church. Yeehaw!
Now, I am home and watching Young Sheldon. Maybe I can fight off this coma for ten more minutes.
Tomorrow, I may go chicken shopping....much fun. I went to Aldi's. More later.
I don't think I have ever had spaghetti I did not like if I had enough Kraft Parmesan Cheese in the green shaker bottle. How about you? Are you a fan of spaghetti?
The meth addicts with whom I speak are funny, polite, and determined to do better for the future.
The people running the programs are good company and interesting.
I got an invitation to a Cowboy Church. Yeehaw!
Now, I am home and watching Young Sheldon. Maybe I can fight off this coma for ten more minutes.
Tomorrow, I may go chicken shopping....much fun. I went to Aldi's. More later.
I don't think I have ever had spaghetti I did not like if I had enough Kraft Parmesan Cheese in the green shaker bottle. How about you? Are you a fan of spaghetti?
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Coupon that expires Dec. 31, 2018
As I purchased Daisy brand cottage cheese, a few days later I notice a pad of coupons for Daisy cottage cheese. The expiration date in Dec. 31, 2018.
The reason I buy Daisy sour cream is because it has one ingredient: cultured cream. Check your favorite or cheap sour cream. Likewise, Daisy cottage cheese has fewer ingredients than the rest: Cultured skim milk, cream and salt.
I love to find a coupon with such a distant date. I am quite sure these will be on sale around the holidays. But, I doubt the coupons will be there for long. Maybe you can find this coupon, too. Maybe there will be a Daisy sour cream coupon, too, someday.
Do you use sour cream? Maybe for dips? Cottage cheese? Does the brand sour cream and cottage cheese you use have as few ingredients as Daisy?
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