More Accomplishments

To my surprise my energy level was up again yesterday. (Wednesday)  Even though I had an appointment to get my vehicle inspected in the afternoon, I accomplished some things in the morning.
The hardwood floors were dusted then washed.  While doing that I noticed a spot on the side riser of the stairs that needed a paint touch up.  Out came my little touch up kit so that was taken care of. Since the sun was bright I also noticed a couple of scratches on the walls. They are no longer.

The other small project was cleaning out the bin under the sink.  I've been a bit lax in keeping that organized.  The biggest change I made was combining two packs of Swiffer cloths into one baggie and labeling it.  How surprising it was to see how much room doing that one thing freed up.

Before being organized.

The two empty bags and the new
space saving set up for the
floor dust cloths.

All done and organized!

While the car dealer did the inspection they also washed the car and put windshield washer in it.  While they were doing that, I had a manicure done and made a cup of coffee while I waited. I also tried out the massage chair, but got up when it closed in on my ankles.  No thank you.  I'll rub my own feet.

Before going home I stopped at Wal Mart to grab five other ibotta rebate items.  Any bacon had a .75 cent rebate.  When I got home I made a BLT sandwich for dinner.  The rest of it will get separated into packs of three and frozen.

Other rebates were onions (.25), bananas (.25), any boxed mac and cheese (.25), and ultra thin cheese slice (.75)  After a little over one week I have collected 21.00.  Keep in mind I pass up most offers because I don't use the items.

ibotta purchases

My plan is to collect cash until close to Christmas, add my swagbucks gift cards and my credit card points, combine them and use amazon for gifts I send up North. (With free shipping)

What have you accomplished this week?  I'd be interested in hearing because I learn from what other women do.  As an example I watched a video yesterday where the woman put peppermint oil in her floor wash water as well as sprays it around the perimeter of her rooms.  I never would have though of that.  Or a comment left by a dear reader mentioned I could use a fuchsia plant with my fern. One is never too old to learn new things.  Thriving on new knowledge keeps me young at heart.

Stay safe.

Monday Accomplishments

I'm beginning to recognize a pattern with Monday.  I have loads of energy when my feet hit the floor.  After prayer time I balanced the checkbook and wrote out checks for a couple of bills.  They were mailed on the way to get my hair recut.  I did get it cut on Friday, but it was too long.  The stylist was new to me and she graciously accepted my return to clip a bit more off the top and front. 

From there I paid the vet for the final bill and dropped off things at the thrift store.

During a visit to Goodwill a few months back I asked where the money is spent in the community.  How shocking it was to find out that the only thing GW does is provide jobs for people.  That's a pretty prolific corporate policy.  The goods come in free, the corporation has charity status, (No taxes) and they pay minimum wage from the high priced goods they obtained for free, but charge customers.  It's genius, really.  You can see why my choice of donation has changed to the Salvation Army.  At least SA feeds the hungry.

The day ended with a visit to S's home to see the grands.

Oh, my gosh.  I forgot the trip to Wal Mart I made with ibotta rebates in hand.  I paid .27 cents for an onion and will receive .25 cents in a rebate.  The four bananas were .87 cents with a .25 cent rebate.  The Glad cling wrap (300' roll) was 3.12 with a 1.00 rebate.  The last rebate was 1.00 off cheese slices that were 2.74.

If you think ibotta is something you're interested in you can use my code to sign up.  A team will be created then teams get additional savings and offers.  My referral code is (jdwerpv)  You will receive 10.00 for signing up and I will get 5.00.  Please note that my motivation for signing you up under my code is the additional bonus (money) offers we will get.  It's a win - win situation.

The crackers were price matched and
the Glad wrap was ibotta.

Both the bananas and onion were
ibotta rebates.

Another ibotta rebate.  I noticed this
week the rebate went down to .50 cents.

I also price matched crackers, (1.88) grapes (1.49)  and oranges (.10 cents each).

When I got home I entered my receipt into WM savings catcher and ibotta.  Easy peasy.

The ibotta site has changed over the rebates adding any milk, bread, bacon, and eggs this week.
I'm off to open the rebates and make a list.

Stay safe.

The Garden AND Dollar Tree?

The week flew by quickly as there was a lot going on.  I went to the dollar store to pick up a few items that I needed.  I did come across a couple of wants, but the stock has not been refreshed even though the spring line is in.  Moth balls are a must for spring and summer for the area around the garden.  I use them to keep creepies at bay.  There was two choices of Dawn dish soap, but one of them appeared watered down even though the bottle was larger.  The caulk is for the master bathroom where the counter meets the wall.  Caulking was one thing my husband taught me how to do, so I will fix the small problem this morning.



Moth balls, caulk, and Dawn dish
soap

I ran out of bubbles for the little ones so this time I picked up two large bottles, one with an orange top and the other with a pink top.  These colors are their favorites.  The tape was a want rather than a need and the teeth picks - well - I need to stay clean.  LOL

I already used the yellow starfish tape to cover
a magnet I made from recycled advertising
magnets.  I clipped the magnet in two,
then covered it, then folded it over to
mark the current week in my planner.
I saw the small project on yoo toob, but can't
find the video to share with you.
 

I found the most delicious food item this week.  Made in the USA.  Dried peach slices with nothing added.  I told the three year old it was peach candy and she loved them, eating close to half the bag in one sitting.  Pictured is also a pack of plastic utensils to use during summer picnics with the kiddos, as well as ice cream spoons.

The peach slices are a great addition
to the snack bin.
 

The exciting thing that happened this week happened in the garden.  While shopping for rubber mulch at Lowe's I found huge ferns at the back of the garden center for $5.00.  I purchased two, one for the front porch and one for the back yard.  There was also a large pot of geraniums for the same price that I hung on the Shepard's hook with the pot that I paid full price for.

The fern will go in a holder my
daughter bought for me that sits
on the ground.  Right now it sits
on the glass table to acclimate to
the surroundings.

The back yards plans have been
altered this year.  It's getting difficult
to garden so I decided I would buy food
at the farm market and go for a bit
of color that was easily reached.

 

The biggest and best thing is S and her husband finished the areas that I wanted covered with rubber mulch.  Recycled rubber mulch that has a life time guarantee of seven years.  If a wind comes by, I'll just sweep it back in place.

  

I love the clean lines that the rubber mulch
offers.  No more grass to worry about.
I need about six more bags to cover the
blackberry section.  This area took
12 bag at a cost of a bit over $75.00.
minus military discount of  $7.50.

An over view of the garden so
far.  The blackberries and strawberries
look to be plentiful this year.





I feel the week has been productive.  The yard couldn't have been coming together so nicely if it weren't for my family.  Three stages with three families working on it.  What would I do without you guys.  Love from Mom!

Monday Morning Accomplishments

This morning my energy level increased as I'm getting use to Marley being gone.  It was a surprise, but a welcomed one.  A visit from C and her two boys really helped me Sunday.

Saturday I had a visit from a rescue dog, but the fit wasn't very good.  The dog was a good dog, but she wasn't fond of me.  I liked her enough, but she wasn't what I'm looking for.  With that out of the way, I think waiting is the best thing for me.  When it's meant to be, then I will know it.

I scrubbed down the master bedroom this morning.  I didn't take photos before I started, but remembered while the sheets were in the washer.  So there are photos in the middle and at the end.  One area that surprised me was the small bin I have next to the bed - between the bed and the side table.  It had more dirt and dust in it than has been seen in this house - ever.  The truth is I think I scrub down a room, but always forget one area.  It keeps me humble as a reminder that I'm imperfect.  I kind of like it.

This is the bin that was dusty and
dirty.

Time to empty the trash and wipe
out the can.

These decorator pillows have been
on the floor for three weeks.

The blankets stripped off the bed.
The winter one (blue) was washed
and put away.

The end results.  Smelling fresh
and sprayed with lavender
spray.


 

I also cleaned out the refrigerator this morning.  I've been lax with my chores for a few weeks, but decided it was time to get with the program.  I wiped down everything and put items in the appropriate containers.  I also took the time to put fruits and veggies in the drawers.What a difference.

Before

After

Since the weather has finally warmed up, I went out to the garden to see many flowers on the strawberry plants and the blackberries.  I also potted the bean plant that the five year old grandson and I planted in March from seed.

Strawberries

Blackberries

The bean plant in it's 'forever' home.
 

The only other thing I did this morning was washed the bedding and cleaned out the vacuum cleaner before I used it.  It was rather dirty, as well.

What did you accomplish today or last week.  Posting a comment helps me and others learn new things.  It's a great way of sharing information.

Stay safe.

Contest Winner

The winner of 'When They Practice To Deceive', by Carolyn LaRoche is (drum roll please)  Leisha from Australia.  Congratulations.  The book will be mailed as soon as I can get the author to sign it which should be about the middle of May.  Thank you to those who entered the contest. 

The author is working on another series.  As soon as the first book is complete and on the market, Angie will have another give away.

Ibotta, Marley and Savings Catcher

Time is passing and each day gets a little better.  When I start to think of Marley I say a few Hail Mary's which helps me handle things better.  The vet sent me a card to express his condolences as well as a friend.  Both were beautifully written, but I'd like to share the note my friend wrote in the card.  The front of the card had a picture of St. Francis, Mr. animal lover himself.

The note:
'... Marley was God's gift to you and you were His gift to her.  As heart broken as you are today, it was wonderful that she experienced much love and joy when you adopted EACH OTHER'

I had forgotten what I did for Marley, only remembering what she did for me.  At the time, we did indeed save each other.

This week has been a slow one with only one activity - going to a medical appointment.  Nothing traumatic and I like the doctor.  He talks to me like I'm a person and we discussed food and Amazon this last visit.

I can't remember if I mentioned that my son got me a cell phone when he was visiting and set up an app called ibotta.  I spent some time this week learning about it, then putting it into practice.  I saved $1.75 on five items.

Here's how it works:
You can sign up on a phone or the computer.  Search through the categories to find the one of interest.  Some of them are groceries, military commissaries, restaurants, drug stores, with many more.  It looks as if every category of consumer outlet is represented.  Then you find what rebates interest you and unlock them.  When you come back from the store you simply download or scan a receipt. 

If you are on my fb page and think you are interested in this app, sign up under my name (Use the whole name) and we will form a team.  Teams get many bonuses that individuals don't.  Plus 10.00 is deposited in your account after the first receipt is scanned.  Monies earned can be turned into a gift card after a 10.00 balance is acquired.
I bought bananas, eggs, tomatoes, onion, and bread (any kind)  I paid $4.74 for these five items and received $1.75 back.  If I did the math correctly I paid $2.99 for the five items.  Not too shabby.

The next thing I did was sign up for savings catcher from Wal Mart.  This app scans your purchases at Wal Mart and if there is an item that sells for less in your area they refund the difference.  I signed up online for this because all I have to do is put in the UPC code and hit enter.  They do all the work for me.

Besides cleaning that's how I spent my week.  I'm thinking about getting another dog, but to move so quickly is not within the parameters of my personality.  We'll see what happens.

Stay safe.

Miss Marley

My Miss Marley Girl went to sleep this afternoon.  Please understand that posts will be few until I can get a grasp on the situation.

Thank you for the prayers and support.

Angie

Give Away Time

I think Angie's in the mood for a give away.   One signed by the author copy of 'When They Practice to Deceive' that can be shipped internationally.  The book comes out May 3rd, then I will have to order it, then have it signed, and mailed.

To enter put the word 'Deceived" on this blog in the comment section.  I'll look for it in this post and the following two (2) posts.  That's it!  So easy and takes just a   few seconds.  Good luck!  This is an international give away.

The drawing will be on April15, 2016.

The winner can leave a comment with their contact information that I will not publish.  It will be viewed only by me.

Kitchen Goodies and Marley

Life's been a bit low key this past few days.  The weekends are usually spent at home with Sunday a day of respect for God.  The good thing about resting on Sundays is Monday morning I'm filled with energy and do quite a bit of cleaning before breakfast.  (Breakfast is normally mid morning for me.)

Yesterday (Monday) was no different for me.  I hit the ground running by cleaning the two bathrooms on the first floor, washing two loads of clothes, swiffering the hardwood floors, cleaning the kitchen, and cleaning out the master bedroom closet.  The laundry is put away which brought me to clean out the closet.

I don't remember eating breakfast, but I do remember lunch was a ham sandwich loaded with mustard and mayo, topped with lettuce on a roll I made from frozen bread dough.

Which brings us to the frozen bread dough episode.  I was watching a grocery haul video on yoo toob and she had green peppers.  I stopped the video and went across the street with pup in tow. Not only did the peppers hit the cart, so did strawberries,  melon, bananas, a cucumber, Cuties (small tangerines), chick peas and the frozen bread dough.  The dough was to satisfy a craving for cinnamon and sugar covered fried bread dough.

When I got home one loaf ( three to a package) of the dough ended up on the counter to defrost while I made a salad with the veggies, then one with the fruit.  I won't add melon to the strawberries and bananas again.  I ate the entire melon by the end of Monday - all by itself.  Veggie salad is still left over so I will eat that for lunch today. 

The dough was turned into four fried breads and seven rolls.  The rolls are gone, so I took out the second bread loaf to make a simple loaf of bread Monday.  Since the oven was still hot I made up a cinnamon coffee cake to eat as this week's dessert.  I'm not sure if it will last the entire week.  If not I have some Forbes taffy from the ocean front to hold me over.  Although I wouldn't turn away any taffy, my favorites are licorice and cinnamon.  My son brought me a pound of taffy when he was here visiting and went to see the ocean front with his family. (And his sister's family.)  So I'm covered.

Three rolls?  Didn't I say I made seven rolls?  The other
four were so good.  Three of them warm with butter
and home made peach jam.  Yum yum!

This morning I had two slices of the bread toasted with peanut butter and jam.  Of course, I had to share with Marley.

Marley has been ill for a couple of weeks.  She had a huge seizure on the 23rd of March.  The vet has informed me that boxer pups are a breed that often have brain tumors and the seizure is a sign of that.  As you can imagine my heart was broken as she is my constant companion.  She can no longer sleep with me because the vet said she could hurt me.  When she came out of the seizure she growled at me twice.  I've never seen her be aggressive in any way in the past.  The vet said this was common because the dog is disoriented for a period of time.  As well as confused.  So now I tuck her in on the couch and both of us are lonely through the night.  I check on her a few times each night to make sure she is warm enough or has not suffered another seizure. 

My sweet girl cuddled up on the couch. 

Marley's eyes are filled with pain -pain I could do nothing about.  The days were spent in tears so I took her back to the vet.  He prescribed pain pills which have been effective removing the sadness and pain in her eyes.  I'm thankful about that.  She still eats, drinks water and uses her doggie 'facility' on her own.  So I will take care of her until things become unbearable for her.  I sure do hope 'All Dogs Go To Heaven' after life on earth.  I won't think about that until the time comes for her to go to sleep.  She will be my companion and will be cared for with love until that time comes.

When First They Practice to Decieve, Carolyn LaRoche

My daughter's new book in her series of romantic suspense will be available May 3rd on amazon as well as other outlets.  I'm not certain which ones, but I know Barnes and Noble offers her other books on e-reader as well as special order.

How excited she was when her books appeared on our library shelves recently.  (Our system is huge!)



Carolyn has a number of readers in the UK and Australia, as well as the USA  After the USA, the UK readers seem to love her books.

If you're feeling the love, you can check her out on Facebook at Carolyn LaRoche - author.  Give her a thumbs up and say hi from Angie's Frugal House.

Princess Tea Party Via Living Luxuriously for Less YT Channel

After spring cleaning the kitchen sink and garbage disposal, I watch a delightful video from yoo toob by Living Luxuriously for Less.  It was filled with inspiration and fun showcasing a little girl's tea party.  The creator's concepts were so impressive,  She combined fun and education for five to ten year old girls. 

I feel the need to share the video here.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9ZK3nndJ8M

Enjoy a bit of beauty!

Cleaning the Appliances, Part One

If you've been with Angie's House for a while, you know I like to clean.  If you're a new reader then I will state right now  that cleaning brings me joy.  It feels so rewarding to me when I complete a task and step back to marvel in the results.  The other side of the coin is I clean to maintain the value of an object.  Meaning I am frugal enough to keep appliances and the like for as long as I can.

It's spring.  With this season comes lots of pollen, but also super deep cleaning to prepare the home for a long summer of canning and cooking.  I clean each room once a week, but in the spring I super clean.  Today began with cleaning the dishwasher using baking soda and vinegar.  The baking soda gets sprinkled on the floor then is swooshed around with a wet cloth along the sides. top, and bottom.  The rubber seal gets a once over as do any cracks and crevices.  Next comes out a scrub brush to remove any stubborn spots.

Another generous sprinkle of baking soda followed by a generous amount of white vinegar and the magic sound of chemistry is music to the ears.  Replacing the racks, closing the door and running the washer on the shortest setting is the final step.  Easy, quick, and rewarding.

Baking soda sprinkled on the bottom floor of the dishwasher.
Next came the vinegar.

Just to let you know I may use the dishwasher twice a month, but it was still dirty with a grease buildup on the arm and the short section that props up the arm away from the floor.  Removing the grease lengthens the life of a dishwasher.  To me being frugal does not have to mean going without.  It also includes care of what we possess  to have an object last as long as possible.

I would like to stress that I'm retired and can do these tasks whenever I feel the need.  I don't need a schedule.  If you are a young mom who works outside the home, you will need to make choices of what is important to you and/or  creating a schedule will greatly benefit you.  It may benefit you and your family if you used a vacation day to deep clean the home if at all possible.  If not, please don't fret about it.  You may only have the energy to focus on the personal needs of the family.  Just do the best you can.

A peek into my history:  My husband was in the ICU for days. (I can't remember how long.)  Two friends dropped over to bring food because they knew I spent quite a bit of time at the hospital.  Our eldest daughter watched her siblings after school and did light cleaning (dishes) until I could come home in the early evenings.

This particular day my mother (often referred to simply as 'Mary') came to visit.  I sure could have used her support and maybe a couple of loads of wash done.  She kept looking at me for a few minutes with disgust on her face.  Then out of no where she told me how ashamed I should be because my house was such a mess. The shock of her statement had my mouth hanging open and tears welling up in my eyes.  I was frozen.  Normally she would keep her nasty side hidden from others, but this must have been too much for her to keep in.  My friends came to my defense by shaming her for her attitude.  So, yes, I've been there and it hurts not to be perfect 24/7.  So please (I'm begging) don't worry if your life is full.  Do what you can when you can.  It's so much more important to show love and support to you family than have a clean dishwasher.  Keeping the family healthy in the home environment includes keeping germs at bay in the kitchen and bathroom.  Dust can certainly wait a while.

The only other item I cleaned this morning was the dryer lint catcher.  I scrubbed it down in the sink and dried it before using it to dry Marley's bedding.  That's it for the morning for me.  If I feel energetic this afternoon I will tackle the freezer hoping to find a pork chop for dinner!

Not the greatest picture, but a clean
lint catcher none the less.

Stay safe.

A Mashup of Things

I've wanted to post this for a while, but wasn't sure where to put it.  Since today's subject (s) is a compilation of unrelated ideas, I thought it fit in perfectly with this post.

Did you know that each toothpaste tube is color coded?  The codes are not because the companies want to add to the design of the tube..  The codes identify the ingredient makeup of the product inside.  I noted when researching this that the carton the toothpaste is enclosed in does NOT have this code on it.  Only the tube does.  The codes are as follows:

GREEN - All natural ingredients
BLUE - Natural and medicine ingredients
RED - Natural and chemical ingredients
BLACK - All chemical ingredients

I was horrified to see my freebie toothpaste had a black code on the tube.  This pretty much means I've been being careful of what I eat, then clean it away with chemicals.

The color code is located in the back, on the bottom.

I always wondered how people cared for their teeth when there was no toothpaste.  I found out (and have tried) a couple of things.  I use baking soda to brush with until I can remember to grab natural toothpaste from the store.  Then I will brush with both.

To avoid tooth decay a process called pulling was used.  It's simply swishing coconut oil through your teeth for five to fifteen minutes once a week.  The video I watched was put up by a physician who explained the benefits of pulling.  The amount of oil he recommended was way too much for the size of my mouth so I went down to 1/8 of a teaspoon.  I have to warn you if you try this the solid oil doesn't feel so good in the mouth, but it quickly becomes a tasteless liquid.  If you try this do not spit the oil down the sink drain.  Use, instead, the trash can.  The oil will solitify and clog the drain.


Speaking of coconut oil, I'm getting the impression that this natural food is a wonder item.  Following is a list of things the oil can be used for in a beauty routine.  I feel like we've been had by all the pretty packaging on cosmetics in the stores.

1.Makeup remover
2. Shave cream
3.Facial cleanser (I haven't tried this.  I would assume this is for dry skin.)
4. Diaper rash
5. Moisturizer for dry skin
6. Hair conditioner

Many of us don't appreciate what commercial weed killers do to the soil.  I tried this recipe for a natural weed killer and it works.  It took two days for the weeds to begin to show signs of death, but it does work well.

NATURAL WEED KILLER

1 tablespoon soap (I used Dawn)
1 tablespoon salt.  (I used table salt so it would dissolve quickly.)
Fill the remaining space in the spray bottle with vinegar.

To alleviate tomato blossom end rot add a compost of fifty percent ground egg shells and fifty percent coffee grounds to the soil mixture before planting.  Make sure the shells are washed then dried well before you grind them.  This keeps the soil safe and free of salmonella.

I have not tried this recipe for a tick repellant yet, but it sounds to have workable ingredients in it.

TICK REPELLENT

20 drops lemongrass oil
20 drops eucoliptus oil
4 oz. distilled water
Shake well and spray on clothing and shoes. 

Now for the pretty stuff!

These eggs are not colored for Easter.  They came to me this way in shades of blue, white, tan and brown.  When I ordered them from C's friend who raises chickens I had no idea they would come in pretty colors.  It was a pleasant surprise.

Toppings for our sandwiches that we decided on for Easter dinner.  My gift to my two working daughters is I will do all the cooking and provide the food for dinner.

To all my readers - may your Easter day be filled with loving recollections and God's peace.
                                               HAPPY EASTER

Things I'm Loving This Month

It's been a while since I've posted about the things I love.  This month is one of those months that quite a few things came up, some of them free.

I received the Victoria Secret free undies coupon in the mail.  I picked out the cutest undies and bought a bra to match, in pink.  It seems my chest is diminishing and the bras I have are too big for me.  I always thought they were, but when the ladies at VS measured me they all came up with the same measurement.  This time the girl did it correctly, and just as I thought I have been measured incorrect for two years.  The coupon for $10.00 off a bra was helpful.  I also found a sample  perfume in the bottom of the bag.  Another freebie.

Freebie undies all washed out and waiting to be hung dry.

My son was a prince because he left me a case of my favorite spring water before he went back North.  It's a big seller in the Northeast, but down here in the South most people don't care for it.  To find it here is close to a miracle.

Poland Spring water from springs in New England.
Fresh and a bit of a sweet taste.

Also free to me are the containers I cleaned out from  used up candles.  It took some time to clean the jars, but it was well worth it to me.  I now have a set of jars that look fabulous on my bathroom counter that contain cotton balls and ear swabs.  The candles were buy one free one free, so for the cost of one candle, I received two candles and long term storage jars.

So pretty on the bathroom counter.  I couldn't be more pleased if I
had spent lots of money on a set of jars. 

As I said in an earlier post all of my records are now organized in a hanging file drawer in the desk.  The one thing that is not upstairs in the office is bills that come in the mail.  I was leaving them on the counter then sitting down to write out checks when a couple bills came in.  Leaving them on the counter left them exposed to anyone who came to visit.  To alleviate this problem I purchased a set of three file folders at the dollar store.  I only use one of them at this time, but it hides the bills in a pretty folder.

My failure at photography is really apparent in this
photo.  The file folder is lavender and blue.

My husband always said I was a 'cheap date'.  He certainly knew what he was talking about.  These are the little things that can bring joy to a heart.

Stay safe.

Boss of the Swamp Waffles Turned into Angie's Pancakes

I've mentioned before that one of my favorite yoo toob channels is The Boss Of The Swamp.  Recently he put up a recipe for waffles that had proteins added to them so his meal would stay with him for a longer period of time.  They sounded yummy so I took at stab at making the waffles that looked so good.

My project was a complete failure as seen in the picture below.  I had forgotten why I never made waffles.  I simply can't get the hang of them.  I could use an entire bottle of oil to line the waffle maker, yet they always stick.  As I was reminded of this when the mess was revealed as the top of the waffle maker was lifted, I had to do something to save the rest of the already made mix.  So I added a bit more water and made pancakes.  I also added salt because the recipe called for oatmeal and I eat oatmeal with salt.

This is what failure looks like!

Here is The Boss's video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPh2DykPJ0Q  He put together two waffle recipes, one with pumpkin and the other with apples.  I have only tried the apple one so far.  This is the recipe I altered to fit my needs:


Apple and Raisin Pancakes

In one bowl, beat two eggs.
Add 3/4 cup of oatmeal
and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
One shredded apple
1/4 cup raisins (optional, but a good source of iron)
Salt to taste

Combine all ingredients together with a fork.

In a separate bowl combine pancake mix according to package directions.  Combine all ingredients.  These take a bit longer to cook because of the heavier ingredients that are added.  Top with your favorite syrup and enjoy.  The pancakes were cooked in an electric skillet at 350 degrees (F)  for about three minutes on each side.  I stayed full for four hours.

This is what my success looks like.
Let me know about your success if you decide to try this.

 

Family Visiting

I've had family visit for a few days, which was an exciting time for me.  It was a time to get to know my new daughter in law and her children.  Now that they are a part of our family, they are considered to be Angie's family.  My son loves them, then we love them.  It's that simple.  My son chose wisely.  (So did my daughter in law!)

My grandson is 16 and a strong and healthy boy.  He helped me so much by getting my yard ready for spring.  It took three hours of steady work in which he never stopped and did an extremely complex job.  I can't thank him enough.

The end of the clean up.  I should have counted the bags of 
debris he ended up pitching in the trash.  All I know
is I had a of a time rolling the trash barrel to the curb
for pick up.

B and his family spent time with his sisters and their families. too.  The most important thing was going to Virginia Beach to check out the ocean front.  I also can't forget the trip to Krispy Kreme donut shop that just opened in my area.  They happen to hit the shop when the donuts were being made which impressed B's 10 year old daughter.

Having fun on the boardwalk at Virginia Beach.
They brought me home some taffy from Forbes.
Yum yum!

B and I went to the meat store and he bought steaks to make a nice steak dinner with. He's a chef who specializes in meats.  Needless to say dinner was fabulous with a side of fresh green beans.

B also took the time to hook up all of the wifi elements in the house.  My printer now works and I can access the chrome cast from my cell phone.  About the cell phone.  I had one that minutes were put on every three months.  I messed that up - big time.  I don't even know how.  B bought me a phone and put me on his plan and downloaded a coupon app for me.  He tried showing me how to use it, but at this point, I'm having a hard time knowing how to answer it.  I've vowed to overcome the anxiety associated with this small device by taking small steps in learning so I don't throw it through a window.  It will not beat me!

Before they left they cleaned up the upstairs and even washed the sheets and replaced them on the beds.  I miss them already.

Friday night my 5 year old grandson spent the night with me.  He asked if he could and I was surprised, but it was by his request.  We went out to dinner with his aunt and cousins, he played in the garden dirt - finding two worms - and chalked a picture on the garage floor for me.  He asked if he could and I could see no reason not to so I have a flower on the garage floor.

Not everyone has a flower on their garage floor.  But,
I do!

He slept well in the middle of the bed and Marley and I slept in the upper left corner.  The highlight of the visit for me was when he sat up in bed and said, "La la, I love you."  My heart skipped a beat in the same way it did when my husband first spoke those words to me when we were so very young.

Stay safe.  Angie

What No Pictures Again? No Just Family Wisdom

I posted a request on Facebook asking if any topic of interest should be covered.  I received two requests.  One about the importance of family and the second about menu planning.  The menu planning will have to be set aside until I learn more about it.  It so happens I'm on that journey as we 'speak', but I would feel more comfortable waiting until I have tried out different approaches.

Today I'll try to approach the subject of family.  There's a saying in the USA that a person can choose their friends, but not their family.  Although this may be true to some extent, I will argue that we can appreciate our families even more than friends.

The answer may lie in how far we will go to accept each individual family member for who and what they are.  Acceptance leads to contentment which leads to love.  As an example:

We have four children.  I love them each with all my heart.  I now have a number of grandchildren and four in laws.  That's eighteen different personalities to enhance my life.  Yes, enhance.  I can learn from each of them by opening my heart to their specific personalities.  Not try to change them to meet my needs or wants.  One of my son in laws is a business owner.  He is so much like me that it can get scary at times.  He takes good care of his family (as do all of my son in laws) and worships the ground they walk on.  If I looked at the differences between us and had an expectation that he fall into line with me all of the time, friction would be created.  The friction would spill over into their marriage.  This is not what I want for my children or grandchildren.

I have another son in law who is a police officer.  He sees some pretty rough things in his job.  But, he loves helping others  yet doesn't bring his work home with him - even though he works many, many hours.   Above all I appreciate the love he has for his family.  He demonstrates his love in the way he knows how.

My third son in law told me before he married my daughter that he can promise he will always have a roof over his family's head, food on the table, and clothes on their backs.  I began to fall for him when he told me that.  He's the one who will put an arm around me when I cry and say nothing, just offer comfort.  So he provides so much more than he thought he could.  His family receives the benefit of his kind and loving spirit.  As do all of our girls and their families.

What if - just what if- I didn't accept any of them because I looked for their faults and complained about them all of the time?  Any contentment would disappear not only between them and me, but it would spill over into their marriages and home life.  That is NOT what people who love each other do. 

What people who love each other do is see the other person's gifts and run with them.  Everyone has faults.  To only see those would have a person turn bitter and angry.  As an old friend once told me, 'When we point one finger at someone, there are four pointing back at us'.

This post is a plea to make the world a better place.  Love one another without fault.  Just give love to those around you.   If enough of us do that, perhaps the world be become the better place we yearn for.

Stay safe.

No Pictures Today, Just Some Experienced Wisdom

No posts have gone up for a while because I couldn't think of anything of substance to post.  I have been busy cooking and checking out the dollar store, but I didn't feel like posting about those things.  Even the accomplishments seemed too hollow to post.  This morning I was watching Boss of the Swamp yoo toob video about money and I was inspired to post.

He was talking about the dreams we have coming before the mainstream thought about first dreaming about making loads of money, then going after the dreams - thinking money was the tool to bring on the dreams.  I agree with this philosophy.  What is difficult to go along with is a person has to live an off grid lifestyle in the middle of the woods with only our physical strength to provide for our needs.  It is, however, the ideal solution  people yearn for.  JC was only addressing comments from people who thought they needed money before a dream could be had.

In my experience the simple life is a state of mind.  I currently live in a condo because I'm at a stage in life that I no longer have a desire to do outside maintenance.  My fees pay for that task as paying for a number of other ones.  I have lived rural most of my adult life and loved it.  I have carried over my thought process to my current living condition. 

I do indeed have a power bill.  But, I use my power as efficiently as possible.  To the point that I unplug small appliances when they aren't in use.  I know the lay of my living space and use a night light to maneuver the space in the dark.  I do things that reduce the cost of being on the grid while embracing the fact that I don't need to cut wood to stay warm.

What if the grid goes down?  I have made accommodations using a rocket stove to heat and cook with.  Light at night?  I have four solar lights to guide the way.  No lap top access?  I have books with large print to entertain my mind. 

What about cash usage?  I still have the frugal outlook on money being a tool to obtain my needs and a couple of wants.  I need little and want even less.  There was no need to change this because I moved to a largely populated area.

I still have the same mind set, I only had to adapt to the current living condition.  Can you see what I'm getting at?  Ninety nine percent of life is what we think it is.  We can begin our journey where our feet are currently planted.  I say go for it!  Make a decision to be content with life rather than what mainstream society is telling us we want. 

SMALL WAYS TO BEGIN

1Use rags instead of paper towel for most clean up jobs. (annual savings, 30.00)
2Unplug small appliances when not in use. ( 120.00 for me)
3Grab a couple of solar lights when they are on sale to navigate in the dark. (Cost of lamps 28.00, annual savings 120.00)
4Use the grocery ads to shop sales on food.. annual savings 120.00 for me)
5Think about the amounts of a food your family uses, then streamline purchases to the need.  This avoids spoiled foods that have to be trashed.
6Define the difference of what is a need  and what is a want.  Food, clothing, shelter, transportation are basic needs.  Everyone has a 'habit' that brings them comfort.  I would include this as a need, then a want.  Like soda?  Does it bring you comfort when stressed?  Include it in the need category, but try to reduce the use.
7Get a good night's sleep.  This is important to maintain the ability to make informed and level decisions.  I think (In this country) we have forgotten how important this is.
8Reuse items when you are able.  The more you reuse, the more money stays in your pocket.  I save tissue that comes in a gift.  It can be ironed (I don't iron it) and used again.  The gift bags I have stay here after a family member opens their gift.  I use the same bag for the next gift giving time.  The bag may cost only a dollar, but with eight people to buy for in my immediate area, that adds up.  When I send gifts to NY, I use wrapping paper that is purchased at the dollar store. ( 32.00 annual savings)
9 Use two small squirts of dish soap and/ or run the dishwasher with a full load.  Just to let you know I wash dishes by hand unless I have people over for dinner.  I use dawn so one squirt of soap works well.
10When I used detergent in the wash I made my own with borax, washing soda, and bar soap.  Now I use wash balls unless I'm washing the pup's things.
11Be as organized as you are able.  This is basic, but it saves money when you can find the tape or ruler instead of having to buy a second one.  No one knows the difficulty  in this area more than I do.  I'm still a work in progress, but I'm getting there.
12Using home made cleaning products such as the orange cleaner, window cleaner, and stove top cleaner reduces a large amount from leaving my pocket.  I saw a video where the woman was saying she went through three bottles of window cleaner a month.  I don't even know how much these items cost any more but if I bought just these three items once a month at a cost of 2.50 I would save 90.00 annually.

On just these few items I save 482.00 a year.  What a good state to bringing down my costs.

What I'm saying is relax.  Start where you are.  Don't be pressured to be what other people think you should be.  As far as I can see, there is still peer pressure out there, the package has a completely new wrapping.  If you are looking for ways to live simply, I hope this helps.  If not, maybe you've just been entertained.

The Week in Review

I've been active this week, taking advantage of the nicer weather.  Yesterday it was in the low 70s (F.)  It was the perfect weather for a birthday celebration at a restaurant on the inter coastal waterways.  My kids took me out to lunch to celebrate and everyone had a great time.  The grandkids took a walk down the dock and enjoyed the nature the waterways had to offer.

I received a bag of gifts from each family, some practical and others for fun.

I scheduled Marley's surgery this morning for March 4.  I have to bring her in at 7:30 AM and she will be there the whole day, even though the surgery takes just a few minutes.

I also called the company that provides my home insurance because the rates go up every year, even though I have never filed a claim nor has anything changed in my living situation.  I asked a load of questions and found out that each year they add coverage, even if I didn't ask for it.  I was a bit put off that the minimum amount of coverage I could get on my furnishings was 15000$.  I don't have that much invested in my furnishings.  I lowered the amount to the 15000$ mark and saved 17.00 a year.  It may not seem like a lot, but the money is mine, not theirs to do with as they please.

After lunch my daughter took me to the dollar store.  The white bins I've been looking for were all gone so I left with only some tissue. (Kleenix)

I made a quiche this week and ate it for two dinners so far.  I'll have it one more time, then freeze the rest for when I have no desire to cook.

The hardwood floors got a firm scrubbing this week from the position of me on my bum checking out every corner in the rooms.

The bedding got washed along with the comforter.  It was time to rotate sheets so the second set went on and the current one will go in the linen closet until I want a change.  Nothing says comfort more than a clean set on bedding.  Since the bedding was fresh the rest of the room had to be cleaned, as well.

I made an 8x8 pan of brownies at the beginning of the week for the week.  But, I didn't finish them so they went stale.  What I should have done is freeze individual pieces for the future.  I will keep that in mind for next time.

I use a box mix that I purchase only when they are on sale.  Cake mixes are also bought the same way.  Here is some information I recently learned: Using the mixes beyond the expiration date can be dangerous because the yeast can grow spores.  Good information to remember.  I had to throw out five boxes of cake mixes that had expired.  I'm going to have to adjust my buying habits when it comes to mixes.  I don't use yeast when I make a cake from scratch, but it seems the manufacturers do.  Perhaps it's in the flour.  Who can tell?

I was talking to a friend (who has a 90% creative rate) and she came up with the word (s)of the week, without realizing it.  WORD of the WEEK:  Simple Life.  Something that doesn't involve a lot of stress.  Perfect!  That's the message I try to convey to my readers.  A person can live any where and live a simple life.  They can choose the things that help them reduce stress and choose not to do others.  As an example you know I make my cleaning products.  It's easy and takes very little time.  But, I no longer rely on this method for cleaning toilets.  I use a store bought wand and pad.  I've been cleaning toilets with my hands since I was ten years old.  I don't want to accomplish that task in that manner any longer.  I splurge on the product that does the work for me.  Stress gone.

Simple living is more a frame of mind than a location.  Anyone who chooses to follow the life style can do so right where they are.  Choices of which thing you wish to practice are there, too.  Learn what is good for you, research costs and go for it.  Choices not only should take into account saving funds, they should be enjoyable to you.

Stay safe.

 

Winter Can Bring Comfort

To know me now it would be difficult for anyone to believe I spent most of my years  in the tundra of Central New York State.  Temperatures have been known to hit 32 degrees below zero (F.), not counting the wind chill factor.  As a matter of fact while speaking with a friend who lives in that area this week, it hit 29 below zero. (F)

I've stayed in the comfort of my home all week because the temperatures were in the twenties and below.  In the house I wore sweats, three shirts and knee socks with an increased  thermostat setting.  And - I was cold.  Very cold.  My neck could hardly move, it was so seized up.  I think it may have been the cold. 

Last night we had a snow storm.  Today it's turned to rain.  That would be OK if the sun was shining.  But, it's not.  I pray the rain doesn't turn to ice when the sun sets at around six PM.  Tomorrow?  We're told to expect a temperature in the sixties.  Seems crazy, doesn't it?

I live in the one area of the East Coast that all weather fronts converge.  They meet from three directions - North, South, West, then move out to the ocean.  There you have it.  Never a dull moment.

This morning's breakfast was created out of bits and pieces from the refrigerator.  It came out quite nice so I named it 'plate quiche'.  I used all of the ingredients used in a spinach quiche, but cooked it on the stove top with salt and pepper the only seasoning.  Bread went into the toaster and was slathered with home made peach jam. 

Today I'm making a pan of peanut butter brownies to eat as my dessert this week.  I have to comb the freezer to see what I can make for meals.  I do have a ready made salad in one of those green bags so that can be for lunch with a side of canned peaches that are left over from yesterday. I put peanut butter in the brownies to add some protein.  That and a glass of cold milk should balance the carbs in the brownie.

Frugal accomplishments this week were simply no spend days all week, with the exception of one day and cooking from the pantry and anything else that was on hand.