The Frugal Friday file...

1.  Not a very frugal week.  Still recuperating from last week's terrible cough.  Then there were two chiropractor visits (TMJ), drive to neighboring town two days in a row for haircut and then for port flush.

2.  Turned in most library books on time, and rechecked my favorite two cookbooks.

3.  Made baked oatmeal for breakfasts.

4.  Carey changed 12 spark plugs on his truck.  He says he is too old for this chore; fatigue and soreness from the extensive time spent lying under the hood balanced on fender and engine parts.  He likely will be hiring this job out in the future, but boy has he saved us a fortune over the years with his mechanical skills.

5.  On Tuesday Caitlyn asked me to decorate her cap for graduation on Thursday.  😬 I want them to think I'm able to pull off miracles for as long as possible, but this one was tricky.  I texted her on Thursday morning that I was unable to complete.  Then I rested for a half hour and went back at it, and was able to deliver it, exactly as she had described wanting, by a couple of hours before she had to be at the school.  I had to buy the maroon fabric and some glitter cardstock in maroon and white, but the rest I had on hand.  

Chloe graduates next year.  She had better start thinking now about if and how she wants her cap decorated (if by me), because two-day notice was a trial to my skill, fortitude, and TMJ.

This week's meals:

Saturday:  meatloaf, twice-baked potatoes, green beans

Sunday:  leftovers

Monday:  Roast, potatoes, carrots (from Kasey)

Tuesday:  don't remember, could've been takeout

Wednesday:  takeout Baked potatoes w/ brisket

Thursday:  we grazed the fridge individually

Friday:  Fish tacos with slaw and guacamole

(not frugal takeout or dinner out)

 

The Frugal Friday File (Part II - Retirement)...

 

Welcome back Frugal Friday File, I need the accountability!

1.  My Social Security benefits begin this month, but that means that I won't get my first check till next month.  Trying to keep expenses in hand while we see how things will shake out with income versus outgo.  I have accepted one day of filling in at the other branch here in town that I agreed to help out in occassionally.  I know exactly how much I can make this year without getting overcompensated and in trouble with benefits.

2.  Cooking was mostly a pleasure this week.  We did have take out last night as I have had a terrible cough since Monday, and was very fatigued with a raw throat yesterday.  (Negative for Covid.)  When I feel that way I have a yearning for hot and sour soup from our local Chinese restaurant.  Carey's meal wasn't a deal, but my large container of soup was only $5.  I seem to have turned the corner today with the cough, so I'm sticking with hot & sour soup as my go-to remedy.  :)

3.  My boss gave me a generous Kindle gift card in honor of my retirement.  We have had such great book discussions over the years.  I have tried to talk him into just giving ebooks a try himself with no success.  He prefers hard cover books, but he knows I prefer ebooks these days, so it was a thoughtful and welcome gift.  I have decided exactly which books I want, but haven't purchased yet. 

Then today I got a notice that I have Kindle points that will expire on June 1, so I made sure to go to Kindle and arrange for them to be used on my next Kindle ebook purchase.  That will be a savings of $6.

4.  Taxes were filed last month, and we received a decent refund this month.  That was very welcome in this period between end of payroll checks and beginning of Social Security benefits.

5.  Carey did car maintenance on my car.  SO thankful he has this skill and the motivation to use it.

This week's meals:
  Saturday: Waffles, bacon, eggs, orange juice
  Sunday:  Family dinner at Kasey & Beau's 
  Monday:  * takeout
  Tuesday: baked chicken breast, Parmesan orzo
  Wednesday:  Left-over orzo w/ roasted vegetable and diced cooked chicken
  Thursday:  *Chinese takeout
  Friday:  Chicken chili
(* not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

Back in the kitchen...

Milk Street: Cookish: Throw It Together by Christopher Kimball

I cooked very little while I was working full time.  We started a meal subscription service very early on; those came fully prepared, and only needed heating up.  We were very glad to have that during the pandemic as it cut down drastically on the need for grocery shopping, but it did get boring

I was really looking forward to getting back in the kitchen upon retirement, but after four years of limited kitchen time, I've lost my mojo!  Last week while I was at the library for quilting, I picked up cookbooks to get my mind back in the game of meal planning and preparation.  One of the books I wanted wasn't available, so I had to put it on reserve.  I was notified today that it was ready for checkout.  I think it is my favorite so far.  Milk Street: Cookish: Throw It Together by Christopher Kimball.

This book is a great reminder that this is the way I like to cook.  Especially right now when I'm trying to empty the freezer and pantry of things that got bought but never cooked.  Start with what you have, and think of ways to put it together to make it taste good.  

This afternoon I found a package of boneless/skinless chicken breasts in the freezer.  After thawing, I baked the whole package so I would have the protein dish for tonight and cooked chicken to start meals with for the next few days.  I also found a package of orzo in the pantry; after cooking I added sliced ripe olives, leftover cooked bacon (crumbled) and made a dressing of olive oil, spices, and parmesan cheese.

Tomorrow I think I will roast some vegetables.  Tonight's orzo will be a great base for Buddha bowls with the diced, cooked chicken, and the addition of the roasted vegetables.

It feels like I'm getting back on track.

Happy Mothers Day...

 

I received flowers from both of the kids today!  The ones on the right smell good.  The ones on the left will last a long time.

I'll zoom in a little.  Can you tell what kind they are?

How about now?  They are Lego flowers!  LOL  Kasey knows I like Legos, and so was looking online for a kit I might like.  She was suprised to find a flower bouquet, and what could be better for Mothers Day?  She had one of her boys put them together for me.

It was a great day altogether.  I hope you enjoyed yours as well.

 

The end of the beginning...

flowers from a client

Today was my last day of full-time work.  From now on I will only be filling in as needed for two branches here in town (this one and one other), so probably just a few weeks a year.

Of course I did not complete everything today that I had wanted to do before leaving.  Somewhere in the middle of the day the whole thing fell apart with an equipment malfunction, with unplugging, rebooting, yada, yada, yada.  That was promptly followed by a money transfer issue that I had never seen in my twenty plus years with this company.  It is straightened out now, but it was a good two hours of phone calls and hyper-focused concentration.

At one point I said to the home office person who was assisting me, "and did I mention that today is my last day in the office before my retirement?"  And she said, "Oh, bless your heart.  I bet you don't have any regrets about that right now."  Understatement!  LOL

It was a beautiful week over all.  Lots of phone calls and clients stopping in to say goodbye.  Today a sweet man who always calls me Miss Kathleen brought me cookies and milk, "Because what are cookies without milk?" he says.  Lovely, lovely people this job has brought into my life.

Then Paul and I each got a little choked up.  And I left my keys for my replacement on the desk and rode down in the elevator.  

Monday I will be able to attend Quilting at the library with my group (YAY!).  Tuesday I have an appointment with a local chiropractor (my jaw has been bothering me a LOT).

And thus begins our new normal.