The Frugal Friday File 2021, week 8...

 

Successes:
1. Hooray for my employer.  Though  whole week of the winter inclement weather was spent at home, it was all paid without having to use up vacation.

2.  This week's "What I'm Reading Wednesday" book was recommended by a friend whose brother had just recommended it to her.  I checked it out on Amazon, decided that it sounded like something I would enjoy, then I went to my library website to find that it was owned by the library and was on the shelf.  I placed a reserve on it, and picked it up a few hours later.  Already finished it, and I loved it!

3.  I was at the point of having to place an order for more hand-sanitizing wipes, as I've used up almost all of the ones I had on hand while we didn't have water in the house to wash hands with.  But now we do (have water), so I can wait for awhile to order more.

4.  Carey's work bonus has arrived, and it has been put into the designated savings for property taxes at the end of the year.

5.  Not so successful:  I had a weak moment, and ordered this month's stamp kit from Simon Says Stamp.  I actually thought about it for a couple of days before ordering and did some research.  I added up all the individually included supplies and found that it was a big savings versus buying them individually later; and I knew I would use all of its included parts.  Since they are only sold within the month or until they sell out, I didn't want to risk waiting till next month. 

Thankful, grateful, blessed...

Water!  Water!  Water!!!  Yesterday was our turn for the plumber, and we now have water.  I took yesterday off, and was hoping to catch up on laundry and dishes after the repairs were made, but the plumber said that I needed to give the 3000 gallon storage tank all afternoon to refill.  So I waited till evening to put in a load of clothes.  I wanted to wash with warm water, so I started running the hot water only it never got hot.  Called the hubs, and he had forgotten to tell me that I had to go outside and flip a circuit breaker...and then wait a couple more hours for the electric water heater to heat all the water in its tank.  Not even that could lessen my elation at having running water back in the house.

I think it's time to make another donation to build a water well in a village without one.  Nothing like being without to remind one of the true blessing that it is.  Makes me want to share it with others.

 

What I'm reading Wednesday...

 

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa

How do you form a relationship with an employer for whom each daily visit is a first-time encounter?  

After a car accident, the professor has only 80 minutes of memory at a time before the slate is wiped clean and starts over.  He copes by writing himself notes and clipping them to his clothes where they are visible to him as reminders.  His life constant is mathematics.

What did my parents do to me?...

Please excuse my free-flow thoughts today.  I was sitting at my desk, minding my own business, and enjoying a 'fun size' bag of m&m's.  When it was empty, I folded it up the long way and tied it in a knot.   

Nothing new here.  I habitually tie candy wrappers in a knot.  It's not a terrible habit as habits go, just a little weird.  I've done this for as long as I remember, and today I started wondering when and why it started .

Was it back when we used to fold gum wrappers and insert them into one another to make long chains?  Was it to make them less recognizable?  Or was it just to make them as small as possible?

Then when I threw it in the trash, I got a clue.  

Exhibit 1: disposable cups.  Those six cups would fill half the trash can if I didn't slide them one inside the other.

Exhibit 2: plastic water bottle.  I  empty them, crush them, then put the cap back on so they  don't re-expand.  

Exhibit 3:  paper wrapper from a ream of paper.  Tightly twist to its smallest form.

Growing up it was a rule at our house that we couldn't throw anything large in the trash unless we weren't able to disassemble it, crush it, or otherwise consolidate it.

I think it started with my dad not wanting to take the trash out five times a week.  My mother probably got tired of him grousing about it, and practiced the trickle down theory before it was a thing.  Between the two of them we were trained to break down packaging so that more would fit into the waste basket so that it had to be emptied as few times as possible.

I'm probably dating myself here, but milk came in cardboard cartons back then. We had to crush those cartons, and there was a 'right' way to do it.  We opened the seams at the top, then crushed/folded the bottom up so that the whole carton laid as flat as possible.  You empty it, you flatten it.

Cereal boxes?  Open the bottom (the top was already open of course), and flatten the box.

Remember when ice cream came in a cardboard box too?  Open both ends, and flatten.

Tin cans?  Make like they are Russian nesting dolls.

So, see where I'm going with this?  Now, not that candy wrappers are large.  They're probably the smallest things that go in a trash can.  But mine are a sign of training run amok.  

Nah, it's a highly efficient way of doing things.  One that I was unable to pass on to my children.  Probably because their father was not a willing partner in this particular training.  Now Beau drives their spill-over trash to our house before our garbage pick-up day.  

The end.  For now.

The Frugal Friday File 2021, week 7...

Successes:

1.  Nineteen days into the month, and still no non-grocery online ordering by me!  I'm on the downhill side now.

2.  No meals out this week.  Of course, no restaurants are open in our winter-disaster weather conditions.  :)  I've been able to cook a little, but have to think it through first as no water for handwashing or clean up as I go.  Also I'm about out of cookware.  Ugh, there is going to be a massive dish washing job to do when the water is back on.

3.  Carey found out he will be getting a bonus after all this year.  It will be set aside for property taxes at year's end.

4.  Extremely low amounts of gasoline were consumed this week...by us, yes, but also state wide!

but on the not-frugal side

5.   There will be plumbing bills; not sure how much that may run.  Have read that electric bills will rise.  And my car's windshield spontaneously cracked...small for now but will spread.  

...and...

Here's a little frugal bonus for ya:  my recipe for

Winter Disaster Broccoli Cheese Soup

Ingredients:  

• 2 to 3 cups frozen broccoli florettes
• 1/2 cup salted butter
• 2/3 cup dried milk powder
• 4 to 5 cups water (all total)
• 2 Tablespoons flour
• 3 slices Kraft American cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• salt & pepper to taste

If you are in an disaster situation, just guess at the measurements, 'cause ain't nobody gotta dirty up more dishes than necessary when rinse water is a luxury you cannot afford.

In your last clean large saucepan, bring  approximately half of the water (with a dash of salt added) to a boil (I used distilled water, because that's the consumable water we had open at the moment).  Add frozen broccoli florettes (if they are a little frosty from being in the freezer for awhile, no problemo), add a stick of salted butter (it can be frozen solid, just throw it in there, it'll melt).  Turn down heat to medium low and let simmer covered for 10 minutes.  Place the flour in a relatively clean bowl and slowly add 1/2 cup of the remaining water while beating with a fork till smooth; set aside.  Remove lid from broccoli pan.  Do NOT drain!  Begin stirring the broccoli in its water, and slowly add the dried milk powder while stirring so it doesn't form lumps.  Then add the flour/water mixture and stir till thickened.  Add the rest of the water as needed until a not-too-thick consistency (if you don't use all the water, for goodness sake don't absent mindedly toss it down the drain; you'll be thirsty tomorrow!)  Remove wrappers from the fake cheese slices that have been in the refrigerator drawer since I don't remember when (those things never mold!)  Tear it into strips and toss most of them in the saucepan, but accidentally drop a bite or two for the begging pup at your feet.  Add the shredded cheese, and stir till melted.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Serve in soup mugs, and top with stale salad croutons from the pantry.  

One-pot cooking in its finest hour.  The hubs would never be able to tell it from the bechamel-based version I usually make...but then he's not a big fan of broccoli, so I don't serve it to him often.

Thankful, grateful, blessed...

 

So much to be thankful for.  

• Thankful the power is back on.  
• Thankful that even though we won't have running water at our house for awhile, we do have drinking water, and also water to flush the toilets with.  
• Thankful that sweet daughter lives close and DOES have water back on, and that she invited us to come take showers!
• Thankful that Carey can work from home for a couple of days before going back.
• Thankful that my wonderful boss says stay home.  
• Thankful that I live so close to office, as I did go up to work for about an hour and a half this morning to make sure that I had things in order for some money transfers for clients.
• Thankful to make it back home safely on snowy roads, and the house is still warm.

I stopped on the street to get a photo of our house while it was snowing.  The snow from a few days ago finally melted yesterday, so this is new as of this morning.  (This was about 10 a.m.)  I haven't been near a window to see how much more has accumulated since then, because I don't want to disturb the warm puppy that is sleeping across my legs (whom I am also thankful for).

Falling snow always reminds me of my mom.  She loved to tell about the first time I saw a  snow flurry as a toddler.  We were visiting my great-aunt in Iowa for the holidays, and it started snowing.  When I saw it out the window, I exclaimed, "birdies!"  Lots and lots of tiny birdies.  :)  So very thankful for the memory of her telling that story over and over with love.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

 

Little Comfort by Edwin Hill

I started this book Tuesday.  The cover looks a lot like my yard (minus the blood trail), and this is south Texas.  I understand from friends that the cold weather we are having this week, along with the problems it has caused, has made the national news.  I wouldn't know; no TV.

All the things that I had planned to get done on the long weekend ground to a screeching halt when our power went out .  No cooking, no baking, no sewing.  And unfortunately no laundry.  Nothing that required electricity.  And since our house is all electric, that meant the heat also ground to a halt.  The temperature has been in the 40s inside our house.  Carey and Rudy and I all just stayed under the covers.   And since we have a water well, for which the pump runs on electricity, we have no water either.  Without the pump running the pipes between water storage tank, pump, and house have frozen underground.

Electricity was out for something like 38 hours.  As of now it is back on, but I am writing this Tuesday night, and from what I understand we are expecting more sleet, snow, and ice tonight, so I would not be surprised if the power goes out again.  As for the water, it could still be days before we know for sure if it will be a major problem.  I am very thankful that Carey was home, so all the preparations were done properly (draining water lines in the house etc before those froze).

I know how easy we have it.  I am sick thinking of people that are homeless, and worried about linemen that have been out working on power lines.

None of us have been able to go to work.  I'm not sure when I will get to go back...going to have to figure out a way to get a bath before then!

The Frugal Friday File 2021, week 6...

Successes:

1.  Twelve days into February, and I'm still holding strong on not placing any online orders.  I did place a grocery order for curbside pick up, but I said at the beginning that I was not going to count groceries.  I did waver on a Kindle book, but when I was looking at it on Amazon, a popup informed me that I already own it.  Whew!  :)

2.  I predict we will have a large electric bill next month.  Today through this weekend is COLD, and Monday has a predicted low of single digits and a high in the low 20s.  Brrrrr.  But we will be hibernating at home for the weekend and Presidents' Day holiday with home cooking...homemade pizza, soups, and casserole are on the menu...maybe even some baking to help warm the hearth and home.

3.  A few months ago I ordered what I thought was a mask kit, but was instead a large cut of washable mask lining material with static charge to better hold on to airborne particles in the fiber so there's less chance of it getting through.  Since we don't have any vaccine in our foreseeable future, and since they are encouraging double masking with the new variant that is now in our local area, (and frankly I imagine mask use is likely long term) I think I will be making more masks this weekend putting my past inadvertent purchase to good use.

4.  We were due to have our water well's 3000 gallon storage tank replaced this week, but the weather put the kibosh on that for now.  We will have to dish out the money eventually, but not this week.

5.  Planned overs.  Last night I made chili for homemade Frito Pie.  The leftover chili will make enchiladas for supper in a day or two; the leftovers of which will make a meal or two for Carey to take to work.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold

I've barely started this one.  From the Amazon description:  "'For more than a century, newspapers have been keen to tell us that ‘the Ripper’ preyed on prostitutes. Not only is this untrue, as historian Hallie Rubenhold has discovered, it has prevented the real stories of these fascinating women from being told. Now, in this devastating narrative of five lives, Rubenhold finally sets the record straight..."

Saturday snail mail catch up...

The photos of cards have been stacking up...

I love this flower set, but does the center (which I also used for the background) remind you of anything?  Maybe it's just me.

Here's one that uses a different fold and the Darling Donkeys stamp set.  I CASEd this one from Kelly Acheson.

This one, as well as the next six, use the December 2020 Paper Pumpkin.  The card bases that came in the kit were so gorgeous, but they looked way too sophisticated to go with these cartoon-like images to me.  So I made all of these using orphaned papers and scraps I had lying around for more kid-like designs.  

We needed some sympathy cards to have on hand at work, so I came up with this one last night.  It's a larger card, being about 5" x 7".  Though I like how it came out, it is a single layer card.  I think I will do the stamped design on a separate sheet and cut it out, then pop it up.  Still simple, but a bit more 'special sauce'.  :)

This one is from an old Paper Pumpkin...last year?...the year before?  It is the first Valentine I've made this year.  I love how it turned out.  I'll probably make a few other designs as well.

Now I'm off to start weekend chores.  If I get everything on my to-do list done, I can stamp some more!  :)

 

The Frugal Friday File 2021, week 5...

 

Successes:
1.  Self control.  I haven't ordered a single thing this week!

2.  Enjoying something new with zero current output.  I found a new pair of Birkenstocks in my closet.  I ordered them last summer on ebay for a really good price; and since they are closed toe, they got pushed to the back to await cooler weather.  I'm so happy I came across them before it's summer again!

3.  DIY doggy pedicure. I snuggled, cajoled, bribed with treats, wrastled Rudy into a death-grip submissive posture (don't worry, that just means he was cradled in my left arm...him on his back...my left hand holding his paw) long enough to get all his front toenails trimmed and filed.  He's perfectly happy lying that way, he just hates being maneuvered into the position.  Thankfully his back paws stay filed down by his repeated jack-rabbit starts going after squirrels off of the concrete patio .

4.  Another month has gone by without a haircut.  It may just be back in a ponytail this summer.  The salons are open, I'm just not comfortable going.  Lots of people around here don't wear masks, and almost every day we hear about someone else in the community who has come down with Covid-19.  So we are staying cautious and vigilant.

Because...

5.  You know what the most frugal thing of all is?  Avoiding astronomical hospital bills or funeral expenses. 

What I'm reading Wednesday...

 

Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

Jumping from a sweet book last week straight into Stephen King.