Beef & Winter Vegetable Stew...

The soup that I made yesterday turned out really well.  The guys liked it.  

I like winter vegetables.  I especially like rutabagas...cooked and mashed with butter...mmmmmmm.  I love having another way to use them.  I love that my UK friends call them swedes.  :)

In addition to the beef and rutabaga, this stew also has parsnips, leeks, onion, sweet potato, new potatoes, and cranberries.  The recipe is up at What's Cookin' 4 Miles North of Nowhere.

Saturday snail mail...

I put the little matryoshka on a card and in the mail a couple of weeks ago.  That made me very happy.

When I attached her to the card front, I was very light on the adhesive, so she can be removed and used as an ornament, bookmark, or gift tag to pass on.   I added a hanging loop through the tag's hole, folding it over the top of the card and taped it inside the card front.  

I loved how this one turned out (if I do say so myself). 

This week I made these two 'braided' wreaths.  I'd seen 'braiding' on the straight edge of a card before, but these round braids made me have to try it immediately.  

edited to add:  Circle braid tutorial here

I made these for fall, and think the braids will be gorgeous in year round versions.

Today I cleaned off the dining room table...all the stamp stuff put away...maybe we will get to eat supper there tonight...because tomorrow the sewing machine will be set up there for the next couple of weeks.  :)

Today I have a Beef & Winter Vegetable Soup in the Ninja (slow cooker).  It smells fabulous, and my stomach is growling.  It's really not soup weather here; though we had one nice coolish day this week, it is so hot and muggy today.  :(  But I had to give the soup a test run before I make it at the quilt retreat.  I think I will go put some cornbread in the oven.  Thank heavens the A/C is working!

Frugal Friday File 2018, week 39...

Successes:
1.  Closet cleaned out, wardrobe pared of everything irreparably stained/tattered items.  I downsized my work wardrobe even more; things that I wasn't wearing because I didn't like the fit; things in colors no longer flattering with my new natural hair color; shoes that I know I will never wear with current knee issues; handbags that never really fulfilled my needs (I'm so particular about handbag organization).  All neatly packed into back of car for next batched-errand trip that will take me by Goodwill or Salvation Army.  None of that may be truly frugal (except the batched errands), but it will be frugal for others, frugal of my closet space, frugal of my time spent on frustration.

2.  Made two cards from supplies on hand, and popped them in the mail with letters enclosed.  I think a handmade card and newsy letter gives a lot of good feelings for the cost of a 50¢ stamp.

3.  A regular trip to the vet for Rudy for a wellness checkup, immunizations and heartworm protection wasn't cheap, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  And they clip his nails as a courtesy to owners, and give their canine patients a healthy dog chew instead of a lollipop on the way out.

4.  I was able to make the annual home insurance premium payment in full.  It doesn't save a lot of money to pay annually rather than installments, but a few dollars, and no worry about doing it monthly (or accidentally NOT doing it monthly).  Also recently paid premiums for car insurance and Carey's life insurance.  One never wants to have the headache or heartache that would mean being able to collect on any of these.  Insurance is a bummer to have to keep paying, but gives a certain peace of mind.

5.  Did a ton of chores around the house instead of having a housekeeper; working on Christmas gifts; reading library books; drinking iced tea; cooking meals and making meals for freezer.  The normal stuff.


Frugal From the Kitchen This Week:
Saturday:  Salmon, wild rice, broccoli
Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey's & Beau's
Monday:  Omelette w/ sauteed vegetables
Tuesday:  *Schlotzky sandwich
Wednesday:  *Chinese
Thursday:  Chicken & Peppers marinara w/ spaghetti squash
Friday:  leftovers

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig

It seems there is a small percentage of people who are born, age fairly normally until puberty or so, and from then on they age very, very slowly.  The main character, Tom, thinks of it as possibly an abnormality on the opposite end of the spectrum from progeria (the genetic condition that makes some children age at an accelerated pace).  Tom was born centuries ago, but he passes for 41.  He can never stay in one place for long, or else people would start noticing that time is marching on for them, but not for him.  And he can't return to a place he has lived before until a sufficient time has passed, so that anyone who knew and would recognize him would no longer be around.

This is set to be made into a movie soon starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

Frugal Friday File 2018, week 38...

Successes:
1.  I worked three days this week.  I know you must get tired of reading that on the list lately.  It's very unusual that I work this much.  This year I have already worked twice as many hours as I did in the whole of last year, and we still have a quarter of this year left.  However, I am cutting way back for the next couple of months to do fun stuff...and to catch up on much needed household chores.  Today I have emptied my closet, and will downsize and donate before putting everything back.

2.  At the moment, I am brewing tea.  Three weeks, and not a sip of Coke has passed my lips.  Yea!

3.  Next year's (2019) long-term care insurance premium savings is fully funded.  I put a set amount of dollars away each month into a specific savings account so that when the premium is due in January there is no emotional trauma about where we will possibly find the money.  I will continue to fund it each month for the rest of the year just in case the premium goes up.  Whatever is left over after it is paid will go into a general savings, and I will start over for the 2020 premium.  Carey grumbles about this, but it is very important to my peace of mind.  He says it is like making a separate mortgage payment; I agree with him, and then tell him I am pre-paying our future housing (not to mention nursing care).

4.  It has rained so much the past few weeks, that Carey's had lots of mowing to do.  I am SO thankful that he is able to keep up with it and we don't have to hire it out.  Three plus acres is a lot of mowing.  

5.  When Carey visited his mother this week, he decided to make it an overnight visit so that he could stay late into the evening to watch the baseball game with her.  (That is their common denominator, they both love baseball.)  His brother and sister-in-law were gracious enough to host him overnight, so no hotel bill.

No time for entertainment expenditures this week.  We were pretty busy with a grandchild overnight, work for me, cooking meals for home and packing meals for him to take to work, home maintenance, mowing, etc.

Frugal From the Kitchen This Week:
Saturday:  *Chinese
Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday:  egg on toast, fruit salad
Tuesday:  chicken curry w/ rice
Wednesday:  *Luby's
Thursday:  breakfast for supper
Friday:  smoothie

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

They May Not Mean To, But They Do by Cathleen Schine

I have been wanting to read this for a long time.  I was hoping to find it at the library, but no such luck.  I finally bought a used copy.  

Aging parents and middle-aged offspring cramp each others' style...they may not mean to, but they do.  :)

Making it Monday...

Another couple of things I worked on over the weekend.  

Another card finished.  I will mail it from work today.

And I'm back to cross-stitching tags.  I was so happy to find a pattern for a matryoshka (nesting doll) that would fit on one, and it worked up much quicker than I expected.  It's one square off center...and I could have adjusted the pattern, I suppose...but done is better than perfect!  It will end up on a card front, hopefully this week.  

I ordered some more tags.  I had previously ordered a die to cut my own, but it is hiding somewhere in this mess.

I really need to start getting ready for the quilt retreat.  It is only a couple of weeks away, and LOTS to do to get ready.  As soon as I finish working the three days this week that I have scheduled, I will get right on retreat preparations.

Saturday snail mail...

I have been meaning to sit down and make cards for ages.  I have quite a list of people who are in need of letters, and yet no cards or letters go out.

I have a splitting headache today, so creative mojo is at a minimum.  I managed a not-so-fab card out of whatever was lying about on my dining room stamping table.  Chloe is spending the night, and I wanted her to write a letter to her great-grandmother while she is here, so I whipped out the card while she and Carey went through his old vinyl LPs.

If you squint, it's not too awful.  I wonder if great-grandmother has had her cataract surgery yet?  Oh, I am terrible!

Frugal Friday File 2018, weeks 36 and 37...

Can't believe I forgot to post the 'file' last week!  Oh well, here's a double dose.

Successes week 36:
1.  Worked three days when I really didn't want to.  Done with commuting...yea!  (Unless I have another weak moment.  If that happens, I promise I will try not to whine further.)

2.  Breakfast at home every day.  

3.  Since I was in neighboring town anyway for work, I ran an errand for a friend.  Saved her gasoline and time.  Doing nice things for friends is frugal when they are the reciprocating kind.  :)

4.  Library ebooks! No gasoline to pick up or return them.  Love that!

5.  Umm...I saved water by not doing laundry until I was out of clean clothes?  :)

Successes week 37:
1.  Worked three days right here in my own community.  Saved gasoline, time, and sanity.

2.  Meal planning and trying to cook what's on hand.  Packing individual meals for freezer for Carey to take to work.

3.  I picked up one and one-half dozen free fresh eggs from my favorite POA-unsanctioned chicken wrangler.

4.  Gave up Cokes cold turkey.  It's been 2 weeks now.

5.  We had planned a day trip today to see my mother-in-law.  I woke at 5:49, showered, dressed, did face and hair, got in car and drove 30 miles of the 200 mile trip in the dark and rain...at which point my husband decided he didn't want to drive in the rain all day (tropical disturbance coming inland on the Texas coast) and called his mother to say we couldn't make it.  (I was game, but not really keen on it either, but didn't want to be the one to say let's not go.)  Delayed the gasoline and lunch out cost (because he will probably go while I'm at work next week), but what was really frugal was avoiding any mishaps that can happen on slick roads...you know...accidents, car repairs, funerals.

Frugal From the Kitchen Week 36:
Saturday:  Dublin Coddle
Sunday:  Sunday supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday:  grilled chicken, seasoned rice, pan fried squash, 
Tuesday: *Tex-Mex 
Wednesday:  *barbecue
Thursday:  tacos w/ leftover chicken and grilled peppers/onions
Friday:  egg on toast

Frugal From the Kitchen Week 37:
Saturday: Salmon, seasoned rice, green beans
Sunday: Sunday supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday: Chicken Salad Wrap
Tuesday:  chicken breast, salad
Wednesday:  *Schlotzky sandwiches
Thursday:  spaghetti (pasta for C, squash for me) & meatballs
Friday:  breakfast for supper: bacon, eggs, pancakes

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin

I think I saw this recommended on popular blog.  I'm a little less than halfway through.  It's okay.  Parents raising teenagers in the digital social media age struggle with a crisis of character and introspection.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin

I think a commenter here recommended this one awhile back.  I thought it was Peggy, but I looked on her blog and can't find it.  

I haven't had much time for reading lately.  Not sure how I feel about this one yet.  

I wish I could stay home and read tomorrow, but it's my last day of my three weeks working in the neighboring town.  For the next couple of weeks I'll be working here in town, then I will be off for awhile.  SO looking forward to a bit of a break.  Our quilt retreat is coming up in October, so I have some planning and cutting to do to get ready for that.

After that we have vacation time, so I will need more books to read!  Have you read any books lately that you would recommend?