Frugal Friday File 2019, week 22...

Successes:
1.  The hubs mentioned that he had read all but one book which I had loaded on his Kindle.  I asked if one of them was The Old Man by Thomas Perry, as I had loved it and thought he would enjoy it as well.  Then I remembered that it hadn't been available as an ebook from the library, and he refuses to take hard-copy library books to work with him in case they get lost or damaged.  I thought I might as well check Amazon to just see what the Kindle price was, and I was shocked...shocked I tell you...to find that it was only $1.99.  All other Kindle books by the author were around $10, but the very one I was wishing for was on special.  That.  Never.  Happens.  :)

2.  Wanted a specific shelf from Ikea.  Kasey was planning a trip there, so I had her pick it up for me.  No gas spent.  No impulse purchases.

3.  Emptied the pitcher of cold-brew coffee.  Immediately rinsed it out and refilled with water and coffee and put back in fridge to brew all day and overnight.  Oh, how I love iced coffee...but not enough to buy the massively over-sweetened and over-priced versions for purchase.

4.  Meatloaf and baked potatoes were on the menu, so while the oven was on anyway, I made a HUGE batch of baked potatoes.  After we ate dinner, I got busy with the rest of the potatoes; halving them, scooping out the centers, mashing (with butter, sour cream, minced onion, salt, pepper, garlic, some Hidden Valley Ranch mix, and shredded cheddar cheese) then refilling the jackets with the dressed-up mash.  As I filled the jackets, I placed them back on the baking tray, and once all were filled and topped with more shredded cheese, I covered the whole tray with foil sealing it well, and placed them in the freezer overnight.  Next day I individually vacuum sealed each.  I love knowing I have a large supply of twice-baked potatoes in the freezer to round out future meals...they are a favorite with my guys.  

5.  I was in a neighboring town near my favorite gas station.  Filled up saving 30¢ per gallon from what it is at stations nearer home.

6.  After we finish our supper in the evenings, we take reusable (microwave and dishwasher safe) containers and prepare individual servings of the leftovers to freeze for Carey to take for meals to eat at work.  I am going to start tracking that along with the weekly menu below.  This week I had a very nice number!

Saturday:  Pasta salad w/ chicken, carrots, celery, baby corn, ripe & Spanish olives
Sunday:  Meatloaf, baked potatoes, corn
Monday:  Monday family supper at Kasey & Beau's
Tuesday:  King Ranch Casserole, guacamole
Wednesday:  Dublin Coddle
Thursday:  *Taco Bell
Friday:  leftovers

Number of individual servings made and frozen for work lunches this week: 13

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

Planned overs...

A little planning ahead made an easy and delicious week.  It is such a head start to meal preparation to have the meat already cooked and ready to add to the rest of the ingredients.  The chicken I cooked last Friday was yummy (and simple) in all of its iterations, and nobody complained (or probably even recognized) the chicken as 'planned' over.

Friday:  
Seared four boneless/skinless chicken breast halves and six boneless/skinless chicken thighs on both sides, sprinkled a packet of taco seasoning mix over the pieces, poured mild salsa over the top of all, and cooked in slow cooker on low all afternoon.  

For Friday's supper Shredded Chicken Tacos:
I grilled some onions and bell pepper on the stove top.  I shredded one of the chicken breast halves and two of the thighs.  We assembled our tacos with flour tortillas, shredded chicken, grilled onions/peppers, shredded cheddar, sliced avocado, sour cream, and a squeeze of lime.

The rest of the chicken pieces I placed on a covered plate and refrigerated.

Saturday's supper Pasta Salad:
I cooked some bow-tie pasta.  Once cooled I placed it in a large salad bowl.  I added sliced carrots, sliced celery, sliced purple onion, baby corn, Spanish olives, ripe olives, and roughly chopped two of the chicken breasts and one thigh, and added all to the salad bowl.  I topped with a half cup or so of creamy Italian dressing and tossed.

Tuesday's supper King Ranch Casserole:  
In a fry pan I sauteed some chopped onion and bell pepper.  I stirred in one can of cream of mushroom soup, one can of cream of chicken soup, and one can of diced tomatoes.  I rough chopped the remaining chicken pieces and added to the soup mixture.  I stirred in a little milk to thin.  

I sprayed a casserole with non-stick cooking spray and layered three to four corn tortillas, about a third of the soup mixture, and about a half cup of shredded cheese.  Repeated the layers twice more ending with cheese.  Baked at 350° F for about 30 minutes or till golden on top and bubbling.  Served with guacamole.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Out of My Later Years by Albert Einstein

This is a book of essays 'drawn from Einstein's articles, addresses, letters, and assorted papers' dated from 1934 to 1950.  It's divided by subject matters of Science, Convictions and Beliefs, and Public Affairs.  I would never consider attempting (or dream of understanding) his scientific papers, but thought I might be able to garner a bit from his opinions on the world.  I'm enjoying it, though I do struggle a little with his syntax.

The River Widow by Ann Howard Creel

I figure I will need some fiction to rest my brain between Einstein's thoughts, so I will be starting The River Widow by Ann Howard Creel.

A woman accidentally kills her abusive husband, and must find a way to save herself and her stepdaughter from his cruel family out for revenge.

Frugal Friday file 2019, week 21...

Successes:
1.  Lately I've been very lax about making menu plans (as in none) and grocery shops (as in sending Carey for an item or two); that makes it way too easy to resort to take out.  A menu plan was high on the To-Do List this week, as was making a large grocery order to restock the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry.  Today I picked up the groceries, and got them all put away.  So nice to have things ready to prepare.

Kasey (she who lives by spreadsheets and budgets) assures me that because of the lack of exposure to impulse purchases, ordering groceries and picking them up has resulted in savings for her over and above the fees the store adds for doing the physical hunting and gathering.

2.  I have been using a PT-INR home-testing unit for about ten years now (it measures the amount of time it takes for your blood to clot...ah, the joys of taking warfarin).  I pay for supplies and services, but I have to believe that over these ten years I have probably saved a small fortune on office visits, and definitely on gasoline as my doctor's office is in a neighboring town.  (I hope that by mentioning this here it does not jinx my unit, as I would hate to have to replace it.)

3.  Received the rebate check that I had requested to be reprinted since I had lost track of it and found it after the date of expiration.  It is in my purse, and awaiting my next trip near the bank so that I can deposit it.

4.  I have been cooking boneless/skinless chicken breasts and thighs in the slow cooker today.  I will shred some of it for our chicken tacos tonight.  The rest I will chop and put in the fridge, and within the next few days I will have it ready to add to King Ranch Casserole one night and a pasta salad another night...easy starts to home-cooked meals.

5.  Carey is finally home after working three straight weeks covering for others on the job.  The overtime makes for a nice payday.

Saturday:  ?
Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday:  *chicken
Tuesday:  Buddha bowls w/ salmon and roasted vegetables
Wednesday:  Buddha bowls again
Thursday:  Swiss Steak w/ potatoes, onions, bell pepper, and corn
Friday:  Chicken Tacos

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

  

I'm still behind in my 2019 Reading Challenge.  My goal is to read a book which is set in each of the 50 states in the U.S. as well as one set in the District of Columbia...so 51 books total.  I've completed seventeen books toward that goal (as denoted by the shaded states on the map above), which means I am about four short so far.

I Shall Be Near to You by Erin Lindsay McCabe

I'm still working on I Shall Be Near to You, but I've had so much to do, that it hasn't left much time to spend reading.

I did finish the audiobook I started last week, and I listened to another as well.

One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd a novel by Jim Fergus

It was okay, but pretty implausible in my opinion.  The premise is that women were recruited by the US government in the 1870s to marry and help assimilate Native American tribes.  I did like the narration better than the previous audiobook. 

Frugal Friday file 2019, week 20...

Successes:
1.  Found an outdated rebate check for $30 that I had never cashed.  Called the company, and they will reissue.  It should arrive within two weeks.  I WILL cash it this time.

2.  I booked four work days over the next couple of months.

3.  Paid credit card, electricity, and phone bills before the 15th of the month so there would be no service charges.  The rest of the bills don't even issue invoices till after the 20th, so I end up having to pay in two batches.  I've tried to consolidate in the past with no luck, so I just have to remember.  I can't remember the last time I accidentally let it slip by, but I'm always afraid I will...I despise late fees.

4.  I made a big batch of ice, and also a big pitcher of cold brew coffee, so I haven't been as antsy for fountain drinks.

5.  I've been sticking pretty close to home, so haven't used much gasoline.  That doesn't mean the stay-home days were no-spend days.  I have ordered custom desk top and cutting -table top from Home Depot; some clothes when I came on a good online sale, a duplicate of a book I already own (grrrrrr!), and I caved and bought some fabric.  :(

Saturday:  *pizza
Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday:  leftovers
Tuesday:  tuna casserole, green beans
Wednesday:  *Tex-Mex
Thursday:  sandwich
Friday:  breakfast for dinner

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin

I checked out this audiobook from the library.  I thought I could listen to it while I'm working in the craft room.  I downloaded the necessary apps onto my phone.  I figured out how to set up the wireless headset I've had for over a year and never taken out of the box, and I paired it to my phone.

I am listening to it as I type, and remembering why I'm not enamored of audiobooks.  The narration is creeping me out!  I'd rather they just read it; I hate it when they change their voices and accents to represent different characters.  But I will try to stick with it.

From Goodreads:  A man with a painful past. A child with a doubtful future. And a shared journey toward healing for both their hearts.

From what I've heard so far, I'm guessing that the 'man' is a cardiologist who left his profession as he grieves his lost love.  The little girl is a heart transplant recipient/candidate.  They met on the street of a small town, and the little girl was hit by a delivery truck.  My prediction is that they will end up as family when he falls in love with her aunt/guardian.

I Shall Be Near To You by Erin Lindsay McCabe

I'm reading this one on my Kindle, but have just barely started.  

From Goodreads: An extraordinary novel about a strong-willed woman who disguises herself as a man in order to fight beside her husband in the Civil War, inspired by a real female soldier's letters home.

Making it Monday...

Today I have:

...made TEN thousand trips to the back door to let Rudy in and out.

...contacted NINE companies to update our payment method.

...checked the pockets of EIGHT pair of jeans before tossing them in the washer.

...walked SEVEN hundred steps to the mailbox and back.

...made SIX cards.

...paid FIVE bills.

...washed, folded, and put away FOUR loads of clothes

...shredded THREE bins full of old bills, bank and employment documents.

...eaten TWO pieces of peanut butter toast.

...talked ONE grandson, home from college, into coming over to exhaust train Rudy.  I'll bet the boy is more exhausted than Rudy is.

Frugal Friday file 2019, week 19...

Successes:
1.  I worked one day this week.

2.  I haven't purchased any fabric for over a month.  

3.  Carey's working overtime.

4.  Back strain let up before it necessitated a trip to the chiropractor.

5.  Keeping an eye on bank and credit card accounts.  I've also been working on assembling an emergency binder and a duplicate.  One for Carey and I, and one for Kasey to keep in their safe...pretty unlikely that both of our houses would burn down.

Saturday:  breakfast for dinner
Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday:  *chicken sandwich
Tuesday:  sandwich
Wednesday:  *burger
Thursday:  sushi from Kasey
Friday:  *chicken

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

What I'm reading...Thursday?

The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg

Saturday snail mail...

I don't even want to hazard a guess how much I have spent on rubber stamps over the years.  And yet this 'falling confetti' card--made today stamping only with a new pencil eraser and the clickie end of a ballpoint pen--is possibly my favorite birthday card I've ever made.  Let's not tell Carey, okay?

I totally CASEd (Copied Another Stamper's Example) a card by Heidi Baks that I had *Pinned* awhile back.  

This one is on its way to my sister for her birthday.  Now I want to make a dozen more.  :)

Frugal Friday File 2019, week 18...

Oops...forgot it was Friday.

Successes:
1.  Going through mail...shredding items with personal information...found redemption info for a $25 gift card for taking an at-home medical test within an allotted time period.  One of the gift card options was for Sonic!  :)  Redeemed online immediately, and card should arrive by mail in a week or so.

2.  Reading a library ebook.

3.  Another week with no fabric purchases.  Yea, for self control.

4.  I cooked in quantity this week, and was able to put at least ten individual meal servings (from three different meals) into the freezer for Carey to take to work.  He is working extra for a co-worker, so lots of quantity and variety of freezer meals on hand is a good things.

5.  Lowest electric bill of the year!

Saturday:  Curry
Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday:  *Schlotzky sandwiches
Tuesday:  liver and onions, pan browned potatoes, broccoli
Wednesday:  pork chops, squash casserole, cabbage
Thursday:  late lunch, skipped dinner
Friday:  *chicken sandwich

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

This one will be started tonight.  I've read other work by this author, and love the way he brings factual events to life.  The setting of this one is the Chicago World's Fair in 1896.

Now abut last week's book, Trouble the Water.  Someone had asked me about it, so I will say what I think.

I just finished it, and don’t recommend it.  It is a romance (though pretty tame) and it deals with the underground railroad.  All well and good.  I will tell you what drove me crazy.  The author was pretty sloppy about using expressions (“yeesh” and “cross-dresser” etc) which were not used in the 1840s (I mean I suppose ‘yeesh’ could have been, just as a phonetic utterance, but I’ve only seen it very recently).  Also, two young women were sitting on a veranda in the heat, one of them fanning herself, in January!  Come on...it was South Carolina, not the southern hemisphere!

In the main story line the hero is 26 years old and was supposed to be very rich and a great success in shipping in South Carolina.  However, his father was a doctor and academician at Oxford in England, and I can’t imagine that our hero was raised in great wealth as doctors didn’t make massive amounts anywhere back then, and the childcare of our hero was turned over to a slightly older child for a pittance a day.  Where exactly would our hero have gained the knowledge, experience, and connections to become such a fabulously-rich success in shipping in another country?  Also, his first wife and daughter were killed in a fire 4 years previous to the book’s main story line, and the daughter was 5 years old at the time of her death.  That means our hero would have had to be a shipping success and married at 16?  

As for our heroine, she was going to teach 7 and 8 year olds literature…Edgar Allen Poe...even though it was too gruesome for her own reading tastes.  Yeesh, indeed!

Sloppiness like this makes me crazy while I’m reading.  I bought it for 99¢ as a Kindle deal of the day, but the price is now $8.69, so I would recommend taking a pass on this one.  I wish I had.