Making it Monday: Pancake Mix recipe...

I first saw this recipe on Do It On A Dime, so the credit goes to Kathryn.  So nice to have on hand when I just want to make an easy supper (because we never have pancakes for breakfast).

It was a snap to make a batch as part of Chandler's Christmas present.  And then while I had all the tools and ingredients out, I made another batch to fill my own empty jar.

In a BIG bowl place:

   10 cups all purpose flour

   9.5 ounce package of instant dry milk

   1/2 cup of sugar

   4 Tablespoons of baking powder

   1 Tablespoon of salt

I use a whisk to gently mix all the dry ingredients, making sure to get everything well blended throughout.  

Then I transfer it to a large jar with a lid.

I put the directions for the additions to make it into batter on the outside of the lid, so it's ready at hand when I need it.

Kathryn says use 2 cups mix, 1 cup water, and 1 egg, but that was too thick to pour when I tried it, so I decreased the mix amount I use.  Just try it out and see what works for you.

And I put the recipe to make another batch of mix inside the lid, so I can refill the jar when it's empty.  

We like pancakes and waffles at our house, and I use this mix for both.

Frugal Friday File 2019, week 52...

Successes:
1.  Carey & I were going to a place that has a Little Free Library out front.  Before leaving home, I picked up a paperback that I had finished recently so I would have something to trade, and I found a humor book to bring home with us by Dave Barry that I thought Carey would like.

2.  While I wouldn't say our Christmas was especially frugal, I did find ways to make some frugal and personal items part of the gift giving.  I already shared the Snack Cracker Mix recipe, and I'll share the Pancake Mix recipe in a day or two.  And everything was packaged in containers I had around the house and wrapped with paper and ribbon on hand.

3.  Carey and I agreed that neither of us could think of a thing that we wanted, and definitely didn't need anything, for Christmas.  So we gave each other the best gift of all:  a break from obligation shopping.  (Now, this may not seem like a gift at all to you, but for us...this year...it was!)

4.  Carey hadn't checked the car out for awhile, so he gave it a once over, and was shocked and euphoric at how few miles have been put on it since we returned from our vacation.  Short commute for the win again!  That, and I'm too tired to go anywhere after work, and the weekends are just for catching up with laundry and chores.  :)

5.  Pinterest.  I can find free recipes, ideas, patterns, and tutorials for almost anything I can think of and then some.  I no longer keep binders with top-loading page protectors holding cut-out magazine pages.  I don't buy cookbooks.  I no longer subscribe to magazines and keep piles of them around the house for years (and years and years).  

Saturday:  *burgers
Sunday:  *Popo's
Monday:  roast, potatoes, carrots
Tuesday: Christmas supper at Kasey & Beau's 
Wednesday:  sandwiches
Thursday:  salad
Friday: Spanish Rice

Number of individual servings made and frozen for work lunches this week:  5

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

Thankful, grateful, blessed...

I realized when I read Debbie's blog recently that I have completely forgotten to do a 'thankful, grateful, blessed' post lately.  So as I am sitting at the computer contemplating what I am really blessed by today, it suddenly came to me...literally.

Merry Christmas...

...and wishing...

This is not the least bit reverent, but I received it today in a text from a friend, and I couldn't resist, since I had nothing better to blog.

We have had a quiet day, as we shared last night with the kids and had a wonderful time.  Out of the seven gift cards we gave to the kids and grandkids, only three of them found the gift cards without being coached to keep looking.

Beau got a jar of Snack Crackers with a gift certificate to a specialty meats shop in a Christmas envelope taped to the outside of the jar.  He thought the envelope was just decorating the jar.  :)

Kasey got a box of chocolate covered cherries, with a gift certificate for two 1-hour massage sessions taped to the bottom of the box.  I swear she would have thrown the box away when it was empty if I hadn't just come out and told her.  LOL

Chandler and Bobby both got grocery gift cards to help with their grocery and/or gasoline purchases since they are both in college.  Chandler's card was adhered to a canister of pancake mix with a container of maple syrup.  And Bobby's was adhered to a jar of Cheezy Snack Crackers.  They both totally overlooked their cards also.

The youngest three found theirs easily.  

Diego received a big stocking filled with 52 ounces of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing.  I tucked a prepaid credit card inside the box, as he is saving for a new laptop.

Caitlyn had been the only one to actually tell me what she wanted (a new phone case) and sent me a link to the exact one.  Now THAT'S the way to get exactly what you want.  :)  The case didn't cost as much as what the others received, so I tucked a prepaid card inside her box as well.

Chloe is our primper, and she had added "Sephora gift card" to her Christmas list.  I wanted to 'personalize' it by adding something, so Kasey suggested she needed a makeup bag.  I tucked the gift card into the bag with sample-sized face wash and masque.

After panicking a week or so ago when I had only nailed down two of their seven gifts, I am pleased with how things turned out.  I managed to keep all gifting fairly equitable, and personalized the cards/certificates by adding them to items that each person really likes.

Oh, and I didn't mention what we gave Jared.  He got a stockpile of sandwiches from a favorite sandwich shop in our hometown.  Since we now live three hours away, they are a rare treat.  I placed a BIG order, and Carey made the trip to pick them up.  They are now all in the freezer, and Jared is as happy as a clam to have them to look forward to over the next couple of months (or weeks depending on how hungry he is).  :)

Making it Monday...

Here's a quick blog post and a quick recipe.  I'm giving mostly gift cards and gift certificates for Christmas, so I want to include them along with a little something else for the kids & grandkids to open.  This year there are no quilts like last Christmas!

But there will be some snacks and goodies, and here is one that is both super easy and super delicious!

Okay, these photos show the ingredients for 2 batches; one made with Cheez-Its and one made with Club Minis crackers (you can use regular saltines, but I couldn't find the small saltines, so I bought the Club Minis).  The recipe that follows is for 1 batch.  

Snack Crackers

In a bowl, whisk together:

   1 1/4 cup vegetable oil

   1 packet of Zesty Italian salad dressing mix

   1 packet of Ranch salad dressing mix

   1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or 1 Tablespoons if you like the heat)

Place 2  12.4 ounce boxes of crackers of your choice into a large airtight container.  Pour the oil/dressing  over the crackers, and turn to mix the oil throughout the crackers.  Turn the container every 30 minutes for 4 hours.

That's it!

I like to use my glass gallon jars, because the two boxes of crackers fit in them easily, and the jars roll easily across the counter top, which makes mixing the oil throughout the crackers a snap.  After mixing periodically for 4 hours, I will pour the finished crackers into a gifting container (because my gallon jars are keepers...yeah...I AM selfish with them!)

Frugal Friday File 2019, week 51...

Successes:
1.  Well, I haven't finished Christmas shopping yet, but almost.  I have some gift cards to pick up, and that should do it.  For the most part, the gifts are consumable and practical.

2.  I received a thoughtful, and most welcome, bonus at work this week.  

3.  Carey paid our annual property taxes today.  Thankfully I had been able to put money aside for them, so no panicky feelings.  Also, though taxes went up quite a bit in our area this year, we had taken care of registering for our homestead exemption when Carey turned 65, thus freezing our property taxes at the amount they were the year before he turned 65.  A very welcome savings.

4.  Congress passed the SECURE Act as part of the budget package.  If the President signs it, saving for retirement will be extended for a lot of people.  I heard about this as I listened to NPR on my five-minute drive to work this morning.  It caught my attention because the majority of my work is helping people who are planning/saving for retirement, and I was able to share the news with others in the office who hadn't heard about it yet.  I love NPR: it keeps me informed, entertained, and is a bargain.  (I am a contributing member.)

5.  You know what else is a bargain?  Blogger!  Yes, we all get frustrated with the hiccups it has, but over the past twelve years, using this free format has allowed me to interact with a lot of people around the country and the world that I would never have crossed paths with any other way.  Thanks, Blogger!

Saturday:  leftovers
Sunday:  barbecue
Monday:  leftovers
Tuesday:  sandwich
Wednesday:  *chicken
Thursday:  *Young's sandwich
Friday: *Italian

Number of individual servings made and frozen for work lunches this week:  

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

Frugal Friday File 2019, week 50...

Successes:
1.  Since we missed Thanksgiving, I still have everything I need to make pies when we gather for Christmas.  I considered making a pie for Sunday family supper, but decided it would be smarter to hold on to the pie makings so I don't have to restock as the crowds get crowdier.  Somehow I have overbought flour lately, and I had yeast that needs using up (best-buy date 2017, but every time I proof it, it is still active), so I decided to make cinnamon rolls.  They weren't my best batch.  Their rise was fine, and they looked perfect, but the flavor was in some way bland.  I wonder if I used 2 teaspoons instead of 2 Tablespoons of cinnamon?  Oh well, they were edible.  And when we got home from Kasey's, walking into a house scented of home-baked bread, Carey said, "At least the house smells good."  LOL

2.  Had planned to make a chicken curry, but there was no chicken in my freezer.  So I just added more vegetables.  Pretty much emptied the crisper drawer: yellow peppers, green peppers, onion, nearly-dehydrated baby carrots, added sweet potato and white potato, and served over rice.  A little starchy, but pretty tasty, and didn't require abandoning my menu plan.

3.  I stocked up on fruit for smoothies, and sandwich makings for lunch, and have eaten both at home every day.

4.  I have purchased only one (1!) Christmas gift.  Okay for my bank balance, but not so much for my family.  Seriously, I need to get it in gear!

5.  Once I do have some gifts to put under the tree, I have plenty of leftover bags, paper, and ribbon to wrap them without purchasing any more.

Saturday:  Vegetable Curry and naan
Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday:  pork chops, squash casserole, green beans
Tuesday:  slow cooker soy/honey Chicken Drumsticks w/ broccoli, rice
Wednesday:  Virginia's Taco Soup
Thursday:  *baked potato
Friday: *chicken

Number of individual servings made and frozen for work lunches this week:  11

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

Frugal Friday File 2019, week 49...

Successes:
1.  I filled up at the inexpensive station in a neighboring town while I was there anyway for a medical appointment.  (Almost two full weeks between fill ups, and I wasn't on empty, so could have gone a few more days.)

2.  Menu planned and grocery order placed.  Having a plan and groceries in the house mean it is way more likely that we won't resort to eating out.  It also means that Carey will have home-cooked individual meals frozen to take for work meals, so he won't have to eat out there either.  (Since I shop and cook with having extra portions for his work meals in mind, I may never learn how to cook in smaller quantities.)

3.  Thoroughly enjoyed my library book, and while I was running an errand that took me by the library, I returned the book early for the next person on the reserve list to enjoy.

4.  Mild weather is helping out with the power bill.

5.  I checked my pay check info, and noticed that it didn't have a deduction for a 401k contribution.  Dug a little deeper and found that somehow my choice for deduction didn't save, so I reentered.  I will continue to check each pay check until I find it is correct.  

Saturday:  
Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday:  
Tuesday:  *chicken
Wednesday:  *Schlotzsky sandwiches
Thursday:  Spanish Rice
Friday: *fish

Number of individual servings made and frozen for work lunches this week:  4

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

What I am reading Wednesday...

I'm a day late and a dollar short, as the colloquialism goes, but excited about the books I have to read this week.

 A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier

I love Tracy Chevalier, and this is her new one.  I put my name on the reserve list at the library as soon as I heard about it, and my turn came up very quickly.  I couldn't wait to dig in.

It's about Violet, who lost her brother and fiance in WWI.  At a time when so many young men were killed, they left a generation of spinsters to face a lifetime alone with limited options.  Violet is determined not to spend the rest of her life living with her bitter and trying mother.  She takes a chance and manages a transfer from her hometown job to the Winchester office, and on a visit to the cathedral, she becomes interested in the organization of broderers...a group of women who embroider (needlepoint) kneeler and bench cushions for the cathedral.

Oh my goodness!  England.  Handwork.  Women in community.  And romance.  It was as good as I hoped it would be.

The Body: A guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson

And at the same time my reserve turn came up for Bill Bryson's new book.  Which I will be starting tonight.

Frugal Friday File 2019, week 48...

Successes:
1.  I volunteered to decorate the office for Christmas, and I spent not one penny.  I found everything I needed in my stash of decorations.  Two wreaths, 2 over-the-door wreath hangers, a grouping of 3 trees (about 4ft, 3 ft, and 2 ft), 3 strings of LED battery-operated lights, a huge glass cylinder vase, river rocks for the bottom of vase, a realistic battery-operated candle for vase, yards of burlap to wrap all the office planters, white tulle to make bows for all that burlap, white cardstock and 3 sizes of snowflake punches to make a blizzard worth of flakes, fishing line to string all the snowflakes on to hang in front of the windows, a tall wooden angel, a large wooden 'J' and 'Y' with a small wreath in between them to make the word 'JoY', and a Norfolk pine.  This sounds like a lot, but really it is pretty understated divided among the separate rooms.  I do need some AA batteries, but I have a 'source' that can give me enough to keep my battery-operated light strands powered through the holidays.  

2.  Kasey & Beau brought over Thanksgiving dinner for Carey & I on Monday.  We were supposed to have our Thanksgiving with them last Sunday.  However, Carey had to go to the ER...TWICE(!)...on Sunday.  (Definitely not frugal, but when my extremely healthy, no-med husband says he needs to go to the ER, I took him without question.)  He is much better, and back at work.  And we enjoyed the dinner delivery!  

3.  Two ebooks, that I've been on the library wait list for, got delivered.  

4.  Completing surveys for free fountain drinks at Sonic.

5.  No need to fill up the car.  How often and fervently can I say how much I love my incredibly short work commute?!

Saturday:  Jambalaya
Sunday:  breakfast for dinner
Monday:  leftovers
Tuesday:  meatloaf, baked potato, broccoli, green beans
Wednesday:  *burger
Thursday:  leftovers
Friday: baked potato

Number of individual servings made and frozen for work lunches this week:  6

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

Frugal Friday File 2019, week 47...

I haven't felt very frugal lately, hence the lack of Frugal Friday posts.  But I'm transitioning, so I'm cutting myself some slack.

I took the new job with four goals in mind.  

1. Having group medical insurance available to me if Carey decides to retire now that he is of an age that he could.
2. Having a higher salary so that my Social Security income will be increased when I am able to start claiming it.
3. Putting as much money into retirement savings as possible before we have to start taking it out.
4. Saving funds for two large home improvement projects that will enhance the sale of our home when we decide to downsize: new roof and new floors.  (And doing them well ahead of planned sale--years down the road--so that we will get to enjoy them while we are still here!)

We are making a start on the objectives we can.

Successes:
1.  I've been putting money in savings for awhile now, knowing that our roof needs replacing.  Though we are looking at having it done in a year or so, Carey decided to get a bid on it so we have an idea of what we will be facing.  For a metal roof, they quoted a price of $75,000!  That is over two times what our first house cost...the whole house, not just the roof!  They said it was because with all the dormers/gables on our house, there would be a lot of forced waste of the metal roofing material.  For a standard roof, I believe the quote was for $45,000...still staggering.

Yeah.  I don't have anywhere near that much saved.  So I will continue saving from Carey's income as I have been...add a hefty percentage of my own income...and not rely on the first quote we got, but have a few other companies look at it and give us estimates!

2.  I set my 401k contribution at 25% of my salary (making sure that wouldn't put me over the annual maximum contribution for someone my age).  

3.  I found a free Kindle book that interested me.  Usually the free ones are not to my interest, but this one is an actual diary of a holocaust survivor.  I almost clicked buy on another, but passed on it, as the topic sounded appealing, but the reviews weren't great...and it was $1.99...so kept those 2 bucks in my pocket.
  

4.  Scraping the bottom of the pan with all of my makeup lately.  I believe I will use a pointy object to scrape the edges loose to make it more easily reached by my brushes.  I have replacements at the ready, but want to use up every bit first.

5.  Almost two weeks, and still on the same tank of gas.  I use more out for fun after work than I do getting to/from, but I've been running the grandgirls around a bit.  Loving the quick trip to work...especially when I look back on the days I used to have to fill up twice a week!

Saturday:  breakfast for dinner
Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday:  15 bean soup w/ Cheddar bay biscuits
Tuesday:  *chicken
Wednesday:  *Hot and Sour Soup
Thursday:  *Tex-Mex
Friday: leftovers

Number of individual servings made and frozen for work lunches this week:  2

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Miss Hargreaves by Frank Baker

Terra from Terra Garden, a self-described bookaholic, recently described Miss Hargreaves as "so amazing and original" that it made her list of 20 top favorite all time novels she's read.  So of course I had to promptly go track down a used copy.  :)

Weekending...

Yippee!  Finally all the books are read and all the states are filled in!

The laundry is done and work clothes for the week are ready.

A free program at the library was attended, which was very exciting, because I had been on the waiting list, and only realized at the very last moment that a cancellation had made room for me.

Dessert was made and taken to the family supper, where three games of Yahtzee were won by me (that hasn't happened in a long time!)

The weekly to-do list has been made, and a few things are already marked 'done'.

Now for a good night's sleep to start the week off right. 😴

Thankful, grateful, blessed...

Blessed to have the husband I do.  Tuesday was cold and icy.  I woke up late, and rushed to get ready for work.  When I went outside, my car was running, warm, and the windshield was ice free.  

While he was warming up my car, he noticed that it was low on gasoline.  So mid morning he came to my office, took my car, and brought it back filled with fuel.  

This is not to say that every day goes like this.  But on those other kind of days one must try to Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  (Philippians 4:8)  In other words, on days like today.

I am spoiled blessed, and I know it.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

One would never guess that I actually like this book by the pace I am setting.  Working is taking a severe toll on my reading time.

Thankful, grateful, blessed...

We are blessed with laughter!  Our kids, grandkids, coworkers, siblings, friends...bring so much laughter into our lives.   Rudy, in particular, is our own little clown.  As soon as I walk in the door after work, he starts performing.  Silly.  Goofy.  Daredevil stunts.  And he loves being laughed at, and will repeat what he knows get the biggest laughs over and over.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

I'm halfway through my Utah book!  Note I didn't say I'm only halfway through my Utah book.  That's the optimist in me.  :)  To be precise, I'm on page 243 of 469

 And I am adoring using this old postcard (that I recently found tucked away for safe keeping) as my bookmark.  My funny friend, Mary, sent it to me years ago after an unfortunate incident that she will not let me live down.

We both have a sometimes inappropriate sense of humor.  I read recently that a new study shows that people who enjoy dark-humor jokes are generally more intelligent and less aggressive than people who take offense to them.  Yeah.  We'll go with that, because Mary is pretty darn brilliant.  And now she has moved across the country, and I miss her. 

Frugal Friday File 2019, week 44...

Successes:
1.  I worked 5 days this week.  Next Monday (11/4) is my official start day in the new job, so I guess I will stop counting how many days a week I work from here on out...it will average five.  :)

2.  I did better at cooking at home this week.  Even got nine meals into the freezer for Carey to take to work.

3.  I haven't been going to Sonic as much lately, because 1) it is way out of my traveled path for my days now, and 2) they no longer have their all-day special on large drinks (which irritates me).

4.  I've been thinking about work clothes.  When I left full-time work, I really downsized my work wardrobe, and have not replaced.  So now I am I am thinking of a uniform of sorts.  I want to make laundering as simple as possible, and not have to think about multiple loads, etc.  I am hoping that I can order 5 identical tops through my company, to be worn with black slacks, and then just change up cardigans/jackets for winter, or scarves and or jewelry the rest of the year.  I haven't rushed into any spending, as I'm trying to think this through to keep things simple and frugal for the long run.  So far I have purchased only a pair of black shoes.

5.  I've been spending some time and focus on menu planning and grocery lists as well.  Keeping prep time as part of the planning has been a major consideration, and the time I am putting in now should really simplify things in the long run, as well as keep food expenses down.  It may even spark its own blog post. 

Saturday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's (on Saturday)
Sunday:  *Schlotzsky's
Monday:  Spanish Rice, refried beans, tortillas
Tuesday:  Pork Chops, Yellow Squash Casserole, green beans
Wednesday:  Virginia's Taco Soup, Mexican Cornbread
Thursday:  *McRib
Friday: Potato Chowder

Number of individual servings made and frozen for work lunches this week:  9

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

Thankful, grateful, blessed, week 5...

So very blessed to live within a mile of our children and grandchildren; close enough to bake them Monster Cookies for Halloween and drop their treats by their house.

When we sold the ranch to move near them, it was hard.  And I'm not going to lie, we still miss living on top of our hill.  But sometimes blessings involve sacrifice too.  We love sharing meals weekly, and games, and the occasional school pick up we are asked to make, the sleepovers we have had, and taking the opportunity to teach them the letter writing that has made their great-grandmother so happy.  So many memories we have made!

I was chatting with a friend online last night.  She is in the middle of uprooting her home and job to move over a thousand miles to be near one of her children and grandchildren.  I think it's a pretty safe bet to predict that she will love it too.  :)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Aaaaack!  No. Time.  To.  Read.  Sigh...maybe on the weekend.

Frugal Friday File 2019, week 43...

Successes:
1.  Hi ho, hi ho, it's back to work I go!  I applied for a full-time position with my current company.  I was offered and have accepted the job.  It is at the new branch office that is SO close to my house!  :)  We still have to finish out the hiring process before I 'officially' start, but since I am an employee of the company that fills in where needed, I am able to work the new job in my on-call capacity, so have worked all week, and will continue to do so until the official start.

2.  I am using less gasoline as my daily travel path has decreased.

3.  Carey's workplace is a little understaffed at the moment.  He got called in on his days off to work a couple of days.  Mama likes overtime!

4.  I paid all bills on time avoiding any fees.  Though I have to admit I came close on a couple, as I need to adjust my routines with the new schedule the daily work has added.

This hasn't been a very frugal week.  We ate out a lot.  I'm working on a menu plan and shopping list that I think is workable for the decreased home time and energy I am experiencing at the moment.

Saturday:  I cooked, I just don't remember what
Sunday:  Sunday family dinner at Kasey & Beau's.
Monday:  *Chinese
Tuesday:  *Tex-Mex
Wednesday:  *birthday dinner out
Thursday:  *burgers
Friday: ?

Number of individual servings made and frozen for work lunches this week:  0

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

Thankful, grateful, blessed, week 4...

Today is my 62 birthday.  And I am thankful, grateful, and blessed to be here to celebrate it.  And I do celebrate it!

I've had some really close calls (in 2008 there was the car accident, and then, in January of 2009 there were the pulmonary embolisms), and those were some excellent educational experiences.  

Each morning is now another chance to wake up and say 'thank you for this extra day.'

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Good Morning, Young Lady by Ardyth Kennelly

This is another one that I read when I was very young.  It's interesting going back and rereading a book, seeing what you still love, or find you have outgrown one and wonder, "What was I thinking?"  I haven't gotten too far into this one yet (it's out of print, so I had to order a used copy, and the print is pretty tiny), but I am enjoying it, and it's because I love the characters, and the author's writing style is very interesting.

This one is set in Utah.  Notice anything on the map?

Yep!  Utah is the ONLY state left!  Woohoo!!!

I don't have much reading time lately, so this one may take me awhile to wrap up.  I am very happy to have gotten to this point in the challenge, however, and I am looking forward to reading some books set a little further afield.

Frugal Friday file 2019, week 42...

Successes:
1.  I worked four days this week.

2.  I paid off my car loan!  Yea!!!  From now on that amount will be going into savings for next vehicle.  Carey has been talking about replacing his truck for awhile now, so it will be coming up soon, I'm sure.

3.  I've been doing some online window shopping for clothes, but was able to hold off on purchasing.  There's a possibility that I will need some things, but I decided to stand strong in the face of the SALE siren's song and wait until I have all the facts.

4.  Used very little gasoline this week, since worked very close to home.

5.  It's cooling off...FINALLY!  The electric bill was down just a bit this month, and am looking forward to it to continue dropping until we need to start heating.  I'm about to put the warmer linens on the bed...same ones we've had for years as all are still in good condition.

Saturday:  Frito Pie
Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday:  leftovers
Tuesday:  roast, potatoes, carrots
Wednesday:  *Schlotzsky sandwiches
Thursday:  *chicken
Friday:  ?

Number of individual servings made and frozen for work lunches this week:  2

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

Thankful, grateful, blessed, week 3...

Thankful for the rain we had Tuesday night / Wednesday morning.  It was a long, dry summer.  

I'm not excited to have had dripping in the attic, but grateful that we could hear it, and do something about it before it does too much damage over time.  Carey went in the attic, and was able to ascertain that it was the seal around the chimney that is leaking.  He attempted to get on the roof yesterday while I was at work, but quickly realized that the roof pitch was too steep for him to climb about safely.  Thrilled that he accepted his limitations and contacted a professional with the equipment and experience to access the heights.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

I'm still plugging away on the challenge books.  In the past week, I've scratched off North Dakota, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

Dakota Dawn by Lauraine Snelling

I rate it 7/10

We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg

I rate it 8/10

The Devil in Canaan Parish by Jackie Shemwell

I rate it 5/10

And now I'm reading:

Maud's Line by Margaret Verble