In My Home: New Year Resolutions

I wanted to share my frugal and living well doings though I was taking a blog break. I kept up with what I'd done on a daily basis.

Saturday:  Quick prep of fruits and vegetables this morning and got them laid out in containers.  I came very close to buying cheap plastic serving pieces yesterday and I brought myself up short.  Hadn't I just thrown out loads of such things at Mama's and groused at the idea of how many really nice pieces she had that she'd never used while accumulating all those cheap plastic bits?     Well I'm glad I didn't buy a thing.  I found my usual daily serving pieces looked quite nice.  I've upgraded a good bit of those over the past year.  A big aqua pasta bowl was gorgeous with rows of fruits in it and I think the color of the bowl just made the colors of the fruit stand out even more.  A large French White corning baking dish (9 x 13) stood well for a cake platter with cookies laid out in rows by type.   A rectangular cake carrier worked well for the vegetable plate.  Various bowls and pretty plates from the cupboards served up cheese and crackers, sausage balls, chips.  Had I felt like squishing across the yard to the shed, I could have brought in milk glass, plates, serving platters, etc. to add to the wealth of items I had inside the house.  So take that! Dollar store cheap plastic pieces.



No one brought soda.  Frankly I was sure that item at least would be forthcoming, as it was the only one I asked one to bring, but no.  He came in with 10 pounds of ice and five bags of chips instead.  He went home with chips and ice, bless him.  I served water to everyone.  And coffee.  Next year I'll skip the request and make Iced tea.

Sam kindly brought us all a large package of ground venison.  That was awfully nice of him, I thought and no one is complaining about having nearly 2 pounds of fresh meat on hand!

Sam bagged up all the trash and took it off when he left to go home.

Supper for the Cheneys (us and Jd and his children) was a simple meal of sandwiches and chips and cookies and smoothies made with the leftover fruits and some of my homemade yogurt.

I washed a full load of dishes in the dishwasher and did a sink full besides.

I started piles of things that belonged to others who'd gone home.  I've always heard that when people leave something behind it's because they really want to return.  I'm extremely flattered by how much people apparently wanted to return, lol.  I had a big pile for Bess and Sam, a pile for Katie and a small pile for Mama.

I enjoyed being with my family but I have to confess it's the two youngest who stole my heart hard today.  Isaac, when they arrived ran towards me calling "Mamama,  Mamama" and smiling from ear to ear.   I got a big hug from him as I scooped him up in my arms.  Taylor and I colored together and she kept telling me how beautiful my harlequin wall on the coloring page was.  It was fun, too, to see her and Isaac both interact with the older children.  Josh is really the go-between in ages.  He's played plenty with the bigger kids but Isaac has always been too small and Taylor too shy.  This year they all ran and played and enjoyed themselves.

Second big happy moment was when the three older children dug into the toybox full of old toy and played and played with them.  They needed no Kindles, nor fancy things, just the same old toys that have been in that box for the past 8 years.

Sunday:  Up early with John.  We tried to stay quiet so the others could sleep. I packed up his lunch, made a simpler than usual breakfast and we talked very quietly before his going out the door with lunch bag, coffee and warm jacket.

The moon was big and bright this morning and outshone the LED security light which is saying a good deal.  It was frosty out and the moonlight just shone on every single surface which looked like a world dipped in glass glitter.  It was just beautiful outdoors and despite how tired I was, my mind couldn't let go of that image.

I went back to my room and lay in bed, but no extra sleep for me this time.  I listened to various vlogs and read emails and checked Instagram updates.  Finally I got up and stripped my bed and gathered a big load of sheets and towels.  I showered and dressed and discovered my family was up.   They are a much quieter lot of folks than I've known in awhile.

I kept breakfast simple for the children, cereal and peanut butter toast.  I made Jd a cup of hot tea (the only non-coffee drinker among us grown ups...even Taylor and Josh asked for coffee yesterday afternoon).

I swapped my army cot for Jd's toddler sized cots which are better suited to the grandchildren I am most commonly having to stay.  He'll bring the army cots with him when he comes to visit again.  I'll keep my eye out for one more for his crew.

I washed and hung the laundry to dry outdoors.

After my family left this morning, I picked up and straightened but did no real heavy cleaning.  It was enough to just do the general righting of things.

I pulled January vintage magazines from the chest and have made a decision to keep only a few issues of each month of magazines.  Some of my magazines are in very rough condition with brittle pages.  Some are in very good condition.  I've decided that really I needn't keep more than 5-7 issues from each month.

I have begun the tentative list making and idea jotting for the year ahead.  I was shocked at how easily I managed a budget with what we'd have if John were to retire...I haven't looked at the hard facts and figures but it's looking very doable.  Mind you he's not really ready to retire per se.  He is interested in retiring but continuing to work outside the home, but I'd like to know that we could manage on solely the retirement income and it appears we can with adjustments.

I must say I enjoy the planning processes almost as much as I enjoy seeing things come to fruition through the year.  List making mode suits me and makes me feel the full weight of possibility in the days ahead.

Part of that planning process has been to look at all the old hacks of how to save money.   I know I don't have much to learn but it's always helpful to have a memory aid at this stage of life, lol. Seriously, it's surprising how often I KNOW things but I forget that I know them.  Jogging memory is a good thing.

Katie ran by this evening to pick up the items she'd left behind.  We talked about this and that and when she left, I went out to sit briefly on the back porch.  It was just past sunset and the air felt almost balmy after all the frost we had this morning.  I sat and listened to the world about me.  There were peepers singing up the road in the wetland.  I am always amazed to hear them this time of year and yet there they are for every warmer day that comes along.  I was also reminded that no matter the weather, I need to be outdoors for a few minutes at least most days.  I need to feel the world about me and hear the birds and wind and such.

Monday:  John in from work.  Big breakfast day for us, but I didn't do too much.  We've had plenty of calories in the house with cookies and we'll have a special meal tomorrow morning for the holiday.  Save calories, save money.

I didn't want to do a big deep housekeeping this morning but there were more things to do just the same.  I cleaned the bathrooms and vacuumed carpets.  I folded and put away the linens I washed and dried yesterday.

Quick and easy lunch was a frozen entrée from the freezer.  I steamed the last of the broccoli from the vegetable tray.

We did a quick errand in town this morning.  We stopped to drop trash at the county dumpsters, went to the bank and went by the grocery.  I had a very short list of what I meant to get in the local store.  I was disappointed that they had no orange Danish.  I'll know in future to buy those out of town.  I told John I could make an orange glaze to go on the canned cinnamon rolls but we can also eat them as they are.

The local store is not the best priced place, but I still find temptations aplenty.  It took some self talk to get out of there with a minimum of items in the buggy.

Katie needed creamer.  I told her she could take home the partial  bottle I had here.  I don't use flavored creamers.   I don't care for the sweetness and there is carrageenan in most of them.  I had it here strictly for family day as the kids like it in their coffee.  No problem at all sending it home with Kate.

Katie gave me a nail polish she didn't care for.  I gave myself a manicure this morning before lunch.  I've been admiring her pretty manicure for the past two weeks and I've decided this is one thing I can do for myself on a more regular basis.

I tend to think at times that it's a bit of a waste to do a manicure when it's only going to get messed up but I've learned to use the type of Gel topcoat that does not require the curing light...and I have loads of polish I can use, as well as many nail wraps.  It's foolish to NOT use it.  Case in point this morning, I threw away a half dozen polishes that had gone bad.  And as Katie pointed out, it was a lot of money even with a representative discount!

Tuesday:  We woke to a very frosty world this morning.  As I'd said just yesterday, we'll be using more propane and less electric heat in the mornings when it's coldest.  John turned on the propane heat and the electric heat pump came on several times anyway until mid-morning. It was quite cold!

I made canned cinnamon rolls and we had some of Sam's deer sausage and some polska kielbasa as protein.  I had both on hand and they were considerably less in cost than the packages of sausage I'd priced at the local grocery yesterday.

Just before lunch, while our potatoes baked and the salad chilled and we waited on Katie, we ran up the road to Sam's to see the little boys.   Apparently Christmas Eve was a tough day in the household and it was threatened Santa might bring switches instead of gifts.  Josh tickled John when he told him he'd 'won' and Santa had come anyway, lol.  The gifts at the other house were simple enough which is something I appreciate about Sam and Bess, and Katie and Matt, as well.  They don't go overboard yet the gifts received are special .   Josh was happy over his bubble gum machine and 'tablet' which was pretty cool, though not electronic.   Isaac got a little giraffe ride toy.  He was still trying to figure that out...which is okay because Gramma kept calling it a cow...

We were truly only at their house for about 10 minutes.  They were about to eat dinner and we were expecting Katie.  She arrived moments behind us.

The table looked pretty with the  grocery store china which truly I think must be my favorite set of china.  I used the new red placemats and striped red and white napkins.   I used our green glass goblets.  I used the coffee cups and saucers and we had the Brockway clear glass plates for salad plates.  Wish I'd taken a photo.

Our menu was a simple steak dinner.  I had leftovers of steak which we'll have later in the week as a second meal.

It was a brief but enjoyable day.  I'm accustomed to very quiet Christmases so to get to see Katie and Sam and Bess, and the little boys even for minutes is a great deal for which to be thankful.  Katie left shortly after dinner.  John went to bed and napped all afternoon.  He left to go to work before dark.  I confess I wanted to be a little sad over such a brief Christmas but it would have spoiled the day to cry even a little except out of happiness.

I spent the evening quietly.  I had the Christmas tree lights on, lit the votives in the hurricanes and sipped hot cocoa.  I spent a lot of time gathering my thoughts about the year ahead.  I went off to bed early and slept hard.

Wednesday:  John in from work.  I gave him Steak and Eggs for breakfast.  I didn't use all the leftover steak for this meal, but it was meant to be indulgent for him and so it was. The remaining piece of steak will be stir fry or something that will stretch it hard.

I spent money today and not at after Christmas sales.  Once I make up my mind what it is I want, I can go full speed ahead.  Today's purchases were mostly skin care items but I did order one item for my home.  As I placed orders, I tucked the cash to cover the purchases in an envelope with a deposit slip so I can cover the costs.   I'm very serious about putting the credit card away in the coming year.

 I looked long and hard at things for the house today but ultimately I ordered only the one item.  I am doubly cautious.  I want my money to work hard for me this year, harder than ever in the past.  I have some big goals.

Thursday:  John and I watched a movie on Netflix last night, The Meyerowitz Stories.  It was a tough film to watch and I don't recommend it due to the nudity and language.  I had to cover my eyes several times.  It was still good but it made me quite sad overall as the family relationships reminded me much of my own.  I won't watch it twice, and more because of the emotional fall out I felt than the objectional things though those were enough that I don't think we would have watched it again in any case.

John made an appointment to get his car's oil changed today.  While there it was suggested he needed two new tires.  I was pretty sure it was about time.  John and I talked it over quietly and said we'd budget for four new tires, as we see little point in replacing two when they are all the same age.  However, the quote given was beyond shocking in cost.  John shall have to do some research and get prices together but we'll save to get the work done.  His holidays on his next two checks will go a long ways towards this expense.

We went on to run another errand that he'd meant to do tomorrow.  I knew the forecast was for rain and I had no desire to be too far away from home in the weather.    After we took care of that task we went to the grocery.  I completely forgot to pick up milk, sigh, but we stocked up on some items that, while not on sale, were necessary for home.  I bought several bottles of Dawn dish detergent.  I was going to buy the largest available but checking the shelf label I was surprised to discover that the larger bottle was actually more per ounce than the next size down.  I bought four of those.  I also purchased four small rolls of heavy duty foil.  These rolls are sold only at this store and are not as long as the usual heavy duty foil.  The rolls fit nicely in my vintage paper dispenser.  I was glad to get both items.  It's a good start to my plan of building a stockpile of items.

We picked up two storage bins for John and while on the aisle I was pleased and surprised to find the hermetically sealing locking bins that I've been looking to purchase for quite awhile now.  John's two storage bins were a bogo deal that is on sale each year at this time at this grocery.  We pay under $5 each for the regular bins.  While John was at his second errand I'd stayed in the car and noted that I could buy them online at Amazon, Target, Kroger and Walmart.  They were a little more expensive than those in the grocery and I'd have had to pay shipping unless I could get them as an Amazon Prime product.  I bought two of these.  I found that one will hold 32 pounds of sugar (eight 4 pound bags) and 30 pounds of flour (6 5 pound bags).   I plan to get two or three more of these containers.  One will be solely devoted to pastas.

We bought deli fried chicken as a meal for us.  We'll get another meal off those items, likely Sunday dinner.

I sat down to work out a tentative retirement budget using hard facts and figures.  If we cut an area or two, we can do this.  Our savings will be considerably less and we'll have to make adjustments in a few places we might rather not, but we can manage it.   That gives me peace of mind about it all.  And if he determines to hold off on retiring or does and goes on to work elsewhere that will be fine, too.  All in all, I find myself feeling rather positive overall.

After playing with those figures, I worked on totting up the checkbook and then I worked up bills for Monday's Harvest day.

I find myself chomping at the bit ready to start on my planned projects for the month/year ahead...I'm restraining myself and have pulled a favorite book from the shelf to read.  I did promise myself that this week would be one of thinking and rest and that's really all I mean to do.

Friday:  John made pancakes and fried Spam for our breakfast.  It was nice to have breakfast made for me.

Though it did rain yesterday evening, it was light.  It was overcast this morning but not raining. I asked John if he'd like to go to the huge antique mall about 40 minutes from home.   We took off trash, carried mail to send out as we went.

I had a fairly clear idea of the sorts of things I was looking for and I restrained myself mightily, lol.  I could truly just load myself up with all sorts of pretty things but I was specifically looking for items to do some redecorating here in the house.  I had many of the elements on hand already and I do not need to buy more of same.   I was pleased with what I chose to bring home and we enjoyed our day out of the house.  It poured after we got in the mall. Poured.  Had it been before we left home, John would never have gone.

We went by Burger King on our way out.  We skipped the fries and opted for unsweetened tea and black coffee.

When we returned home, I prepped food for the weekend.  We'll have a beef stir fry tomorrow with rice and I'll start soup in the crockpot on Sunday before we leave for church.

We had leftover fried chicken, green salad and green beans for our supper tonight.  We had a much smaller lunch than usual.  I confess I like these early Shabat evenings when we can eat after we say our prayers.  We allowed the candles to burn and ate by candlelight which is even cozier on a rainy night.

I've begun the slow task of undecorating the house.  The tree is up and decorated but the rest of the items are down.

I hope you all have had a lovely week and will have a great weekend ahead.