The Week Behind: Marching On

Saturday:  A very easy day at home.  It was cooler than it was on Friday and we sort of shivered a bit, but we did not turn the heat a bit higher.  It wasn't deeply cold indoors (nor out) and we found a jacket or throw over our legs soon warmed us nicely.  I am too well aware of that extra on the electric bill to want to turn up heat and besides, just yesterday the AC ran off and on from morning to evening and likely will run at some point next week as well.  This is the in-between season for us.



We had the last of the cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  I absolutely love the recipe for rolls I am currently using. I think part of my success has been what I've gleaned from watching The Great British Bake Off series.  I've learned how to knead the bread in my mixer and what the texture of the dough should look like.   I found the recipe in my Betty Crocker cookbook. It is such a fine textured nice bread.   The recipe calls for warm milk and an egg as well as butter, so it is a rich dough.

Tuna Casserole was for lunch with plenty of leftovers.  John liked this rather well the first time I made it but he seemed rather 'Meh' about it today.  He said it hadn't enough salt, which I found odd, since I thought I'd put in a bit much!  Obviously it didn't hit his taste buds just so.  I have enough for two servings left so I shall put one aside to heat for my lunch tomorrow and the other in the freezer as a single serve for another day on my own.

I amused myself by trolling about online looking for new dinnerware this evening.  I've wanted to be done with the current lot of Corelle dishes for quite some time but I haven't found that great combination of good price/love the item yet.  I did find some dinner plates I rather liked that are still Corelle but they are pricey besides and it's only dinner/salad plates and cereal bowl...Ah well, I shall look further. I'm going to find something I can afford and truly love if I just keep on looking.

After Shabat was done this evening, I looked at skin care on the Mary Kay site.  I've nearly finished the moisturizer from the set ordered just after Christmas, despite using only a small amount  and that not even every day as I ought.   The formula changed and was repackaged between my order in August and the order placed in December and I do not care for it.  As well, it's less product for the same amount of money.  I decided to go back to Clinique (same price) and get the Dry/Combination formula.  I like that this product is fragrance free (as is Botanicals Effects but with the change of formula, the aroma of the product also changed) and made for sensitive skin. I feel rather put out to sea in having to change skin care routines again but all I know to do is keep trying products until I find the one that is absolutely the right one for me.  I got 15% off my order as a first time online customer.  Fingers crossed on liking this product.

While making my salad this afternoon for our big meal, I toasted pecans.  It takes just as long to toast a pan full as it does a handful.  I went ahead and did the pan full and then mixed the remaining toasted pecans with salted almonds and cashews for my homemade mixed nuts.  John must have liked this rather well because he ate a goodly portion this afternoon.

Sunday:  John off to work this morning amid a heavy downpour.  He went off with coffee, lunch and a long sleeve shirt even though it was humid when he left.  I'm glad he had on that long sleeved shirt because the wind came up and blew pretty hard and cold, which cleared clouds and humidity by 8am.

The house didn't need lots of attention after John left for work today.  The porches and patio are thoroughly wet at present as is the yard for the morning at least.

The prediction per the weather app on my phone was the rain/clouds would last into the morning.  I washed sheets and towels and dried in separate loads indoors.  Alas, by 10am it was sunny outdoors.  Sometimes being eager to attend to housework is to my detriment.

I do not generally do dishes on Shabats.  I prefer to rinse well and stack neatly in the sink so I can load them into the dishwasher on Sunday morning.  That worked well for this morning, since there were not a lot of extra dishes about.  That's the luxury of preparing a meal ahead.

I sat down after doing my bits of housework and finished bills.  I had to add extra money to  the electric bill, since it was much higher than I'd anticipated.

Doing bills reminded me that I'd promised John to try and work out a retirement budget, working from only what we   know at present our income might be and not touching any savings.  Well...it took some wrangling and thinking hard but I do believe I've planned to the penny what we'll have.  Of course, this took into account that my own insurance costs would be lowered and did not include any social security I might eventually draw as additional income.  When you are working with a theory, you can't accurately anticipate every expenditure or bit of income you might have but we could cover all our present expenses  and if needed we could trim some categories down a bit tighter but I left all of our sub account savings in place and that was what I wanted to keep going so we don't have to dip into our bigger savings to cover annual expenses or vacation or Christmas.

I have been thinking of how seasonal my earnings have been in our home.  Just three years ago I had a steady amount of income monthly, albeit quite small, from Swagbucks and surveys and My Coke Rewards.  All of those sources have ended for me.  Ditto for the earnings I received from Jamberry.   I thought back over the years to other savings programs I'd been involved in.  At one point I got free cat food about every 2 months by saving proofs of purchase.   I was able to use Coke Rewards to get free soda or snack foods.  There was a time that rebates and coupons netted me a small savings that expanded our income.  Over the years I've had a few small ventures that paid us, but it was all for 'just a season': housekeeping for Mama for instance, and a term of selling things on eBay.  Yet each source has dried up.

Interestingly enough, in my deeper exploration study of long lived blogs, I was reading through Mrs. Sharon White's Legacy of Home blog yesterday.   She and her family went through a bit of a downturn of fortune during the recession a few years ago (you know...the one that wasn't a recession but most surely was for many of us) and she posted about contentedly living on whatever her husband earned rather than focus too hard upon what she might do to earn.  Her theory was based on the fact that provision was always forthcoming and when she didn't focus too hard upon extra earnings but focused instead on how best to use what was at her disposal, her husband relaxed his tensions and worries.   

I know firsthand that the moment I start making deep cuts while John is earning more than enough to provide for us, he begins to look into working extra hours and seeks ways that he might cut way back on his own desires which he fulfills only rarely anyway.   I'm learning to be silent in my economies and making cuts in ways that he seldom notes.  So I serve a meatless meal once a week and cut back on a purchase of some food item there or make do with my wardrobe pieces for a little bit longer or tweak how I use a product so that it's still effective but the cost per use is lessened.  It's the obvious lack of items we'd normally have or the very obvious economies he sees me making that disturb him unnecessarily.

I am not suggesting that my husband be kept in the dark about real shortfalls that cause a big strain on the budget.  He should be made aware of those and we ought to decide together what steps we'll take to overcome them but for my part, if I can make a series of small economies to overcome a minor shortfall rather than suggest he need work more hours or do something more, then that is what I shall do.  I shall do my part with  a smile, not a frown, silence rather than complaints and just get on with it.  Looking over the future budget this morning, I feel confident we can manage about as well as we do now, albeit with a decrease here and there and slightly less savings each month but certainly deprivation shouldn't be necessary and so I shall make clear to him when I show him this budget sheet work up.  What he wants to know is "Can I still provide for my household when I retire if I am unable to find a part time job?"  Yes, he can!

This long view of our future has made me more determined than ever to do my utmost to save and stockpile now.  I will be content living on the income we will have rather than the one I might wish we might have.

Monday:  I was up a wee bit earlier than planned this morning.   I'd thought I'd sleep in.  Maddie thought the school bus on the hill needed to be warned off.   It worked in my favor as I had penty of time to prep the breakfast and have a cup of coffee with Bible study before John came in.

I decided today would be my kitchen prep day for the week.  I know that I'll be busy the next few days and so only have the end of the week to get things done outdoors.  If meals are quick and easy and initial clearing up is done then I'm way ahead of the game.

I prepped a big package of a bit more than a pound and a half of ground venison into Swedish meatballs and a small meatloaf.  I cut chicken breast halves into four fillets.  I chopped vegetables to make egg rolls, meatloaf, coleslaw and mashed potatoes later in the week.  I got quite a lot done but not quite all I'd meant to do.  The egg roll filling is in the fridge where I put it after lunch before we went to pick up John's paycheck.  

I made the pinto beans for today.  There were a few leftover. I  used Rhonda's recipe for
refried beans ...But I didn't blend them.  I served them straight up and put the rest in the fridge (about 1 pint but I made less than Rhonda's recipe (about 1/3 her recipe).  I will blend the leftovers to make refried beans and fix bean burritos for the freezer.  I'll need tortillas...If I have time I might make them but I'll pick up some just in case when we are at market tomorrow.

I mended a sheet, a towel and a shirt pocket this morning.  I hadn't planned to do all this mending but it all seemed to suddenly present itself and I figured I'd just go right ahead and get it done.  Each repair saved quite a bit of work later on, prolonged the life of each item.
  
 Today while we were in his work county, I asked to go by CVS to pick up a few necessary items.  Necessary for me: eyeliner.  I ran out a few days ago and I've been using a wet brush with dry shadow...but none of my eye shadow is really dark enough.  I've also been longing for a new lip color to serve as a neutral.  My other reasons for going in were for two first aid items and a couple of over the counter remedies.   I failed to take in my phone which has my card display.  I had the clerk pull up my account via my phone number and so I was able to access the savings and earnings for the day.   I earned $13 in extra cash bucks and the register printed out a slew of coupons.  I haven't been getting the sales ads lately nor have we had coupons in the Sunday papers we've picked up so these sales and ECBs were a real blessing.  I picked up a gift card for our son, the last of the February birthdays for this year.  Now to get through the end of May/first half of June.

While I was in CVS, John called the local pizza place and ordered us a pizza for our supper.  He also surprised me with cinnamon sticks.   Now we have a funny sort of calorie control system built in to our lives these days.  We had a cinnamon stick then called Bess and we went up to deliver the sticks to them.  I'd wrapped a couple in paper towels to pass off to Bess on her way to work.   Glad I was prepared, as we met her in the roadway.   We saw the boys and Sam and met their new family member, a white bulldog mix called River Flash (I'm assuming Josh named her).  She is a lovely dog and was gentle in her greetings.  

I arranged a Shabat evening visit at our house with the boys before leaving the other household.  The boys were so happy to see us, however short a visit it might have been.  I think we're all getting easier with the fact that we are none of us  going to intrude on schedules and won't overstay our welcomes though we all enjoy longer visits at times.

Tuesday:  I have been on night watch since the weekend, sigh.  It comes and goes as I know too well, but it's apparently my turn to be on duty during the darkest watch of the night.  I am not worrying, but I do find there are certain thoughts that want to become worries.  I have learned to shut them off entirely and distract myself with videos, prayer and reading.  Usually after an hour two I am yawning and ready to go back to sleep until daylight breaks.  At least I am getting quite enough sleep even with these 'watches' thrown in at present.  And I did learn a new crochet stitch last night that I can almost execute now, lol, one that will actually net me a scarf or dishcloth (thank you Frances for that idea!).

John slept in a bit later and I slept in later still this morning, although I clearly heard the bus arrive at the head of the road this morning, yes and Sam's truck, too as he returned home once more.  However, I did go back to sleep and slept quite soundly.  I had slipped to the guest room about 4am or so this morning because last night's watch hours were longer than some and I was afraid my restiveness would awaken John who was sleeping hard.  He'd told me yesterday morning, after examining the retirement budget that he was satisfied we might make it, but in the meantime he's on mandatory overtime for at least one more month.  Oy.

I made us breakfast and unloaded the dishwasher and had my first cup of coffee all at the same time this morning.  My sleeping in threw me off schedule and pushed my plans to a little later hour.  Today was grocery day.

We did the bulk of our shopping at Aldi and while I said I needed only produce I found myself putting quite a few items into the buggy and the total showed the effects.  I was fully aware of what i was doing.  I stocked heavily on peaches, various long lived produce items as well as some that will require using right away (like that fully ripe Mango), added singles of items we have a goodly stock of already and bought two or three cuts of meat we'd normally bypass.  I knew I had extra money in the account this week and that I am quite hopeful I shall not have to purchase a thing else until end of March.  I feel sure we've adequate supplies in all areas now to keep us from making another major shopping trip for four weeks.  This too is part of my overall plan of living off retirement income.  I want to learn to do the bulk of my shopping once a month and only go into the stores if there are remarkable sales on pantry/freezer items.  I did not splurge at all on baked goods, sweets nor pricier meats like steak.

While in the grocery I picked up an extra bag of carrots for Sam and Bess.  Bess had called to ask to borrow carrots the day before and I knew that what I'd had was just enough for their immediate needs.  She told me I didn't have to buy them carrots and of course, I didn't...but I was standing rih there before them, and it was as easy to pick up one for my home and one for theirs.   I also picked up a couple of items for Katie's home, namely coffee and coffee creamer.

One thing I've learned with Aldi, their stock is never stagnant.  Last pay period there were no lentils in the store at all.  This week, they had brown, green and yellow lentils on the shelf.  I did note the price was exactly the same as at Publix last pay period, so no savings but I'll be sure to watch for them in the future.  I really like the texture of lentils and find it a good meat substitute in tacos and plan to make a lentil Bolognese sauce next week.

We went by Publix to pick up breads, a smaller jar of peanut butter to go into John's lunch (more in  a moment), cornmeal mix and fresh Brussels Sprouts.  I indulged in one of only two lunch meats we ever buy at the store these days, Boar's Head Beef Bologna.  I got just 1/4 pound which is sufficient for six to eight sandwiches for the two of us.

John was beginning to feel puckish, as we call that almost hungry but not yet raging appetite stage.  I recalled that I had free gift cards to Chick Fil A and suggested we drive a couple of miles out of our way to visit that eatery.  The cards were expiring the last day of this month.  I got free sandwiches for us both, bought unsweetened tea for myself, a cup of soda for John.  Our expense for lunch ended being $3 or so.  I had a couple of mandarins in my purse and we had those as our dessert.   All in all the meal was quite satisfying.

I got to see Josh briefly this afternoon.  He and his dad stopped by to pick up the carrots.  Sam had a work call come in while he was here and stepped outdoors.  Katie had arrived at the same time as Sam and Josh.  Josh, John, Katie and I were sitting at the dining room table chatting, when Katie asked if she might have the half bottle of Coke I'd left the day before.  This is my little trick to keep the carbs in line:  I buy 12 ounce bottles of soda and drink only 6 ounces which is more than sufficient when you pour it over ice.  I figure that in the early years 6 ounces was considered more than enough and so it likely still is...Anyway, Katie asked if she might have the rest, which prompted Josh to say right away that he would like a Coke as well.  We all knew his Dad would quickly veto that idea...and so did Josh, who gave up with out much fuss.   But that smart little boy meant to get a dig in about being vetoed.  He looked over at Katie a few moments later and said "That's a dark liquid...." and paused a bit,  then he added "and only dogs drink dark liquids!"    This amused Katie and I a great deal.   Sam came in just as Josh was finishing his statement and was sure we were mistaken in thinking he'd said 'only dogs' but Josh made sure his dad knew that was indeed exactly what he'd meant.

Since we'd had a smaller lunch today (although it was good), I planned to cook Swedish Meatballs tonight.   I served them with mashed potatoes (less carbs than noodles would have been) and opened that jar of Lingonberry.  The taste is quite good, something close to a sweet berry and tart cranberry combined in flavor, although the berries are smaller than cranberries.  I told John I could happily eat that on my morning toast as well, though it's not very sweet.  I'm glad to put that pantry item to good use.  I may never buy it again, but I shall be able to say I've given it a try and found it tasty.

I put a portion of food aside for my dinner this weekend when I shall be on my own again.

Wednesday:  Sent John off to work in the usual way...Then I did Bible study and started a full load of dishes washing.  After that I went to make the bed, but I was a little chilly and my headached, so I crawled into the bed and promptly went to sleep and slept hard for two full hours.  I must have really needed that added rest!

I had to hurry up to get ready to go pick up Kate so we could visit with Mama today...but I'm glad I got that bit of sleep.

My turn to pay for dinner today and it does seem to hit hard.  I suggested when we got back to Mama's today that we've had two visits now, with each of us paying for the meal in turns, that we'd had a pricey sort of February and let's see if we can't find less expensive meal options for March days out.

Stopped by Dollar General to get lightbulbs.  The light in the lamp by my chair blew the other day and all we had were cfl  and low wattage LED bulbs which cast a bluish light.  I picked up some lightbulbs today in a warm soft white 72w LED.  Much better.  Now I don't feel I'm sitting next to a dimmed light, so it's nicer to read and work by.

I feel the week has quickly gone away from me  and nothing of the tasks I'd meant to accomplish have gotten done.  I knew the week would be busier.  I did.  I just hoped I'd slip in a bit more work than I've done but there's really been no time.  I hope to accomplish more tomorrow and Friday before the boys arrive for their visit so I have something to show for the week beyond a refrigerator full of  prepped foods.

Thursday:  I was so disgusted at what I hadn't done thus far this week that last night after writing that last bit, I got myself up out of my comfy chair and commanded me to work.  I made myself a  quick supper of yogurt with the last of the homemade granola.  That granola had gotten quite dry and so I let it soften in the yogurt a bit.  While that was happening, I unloaded the dishwasher and swept the floor.

When I unload the dishwasher, I put everything away immediately.  I tend to take things out according to where they go: baking center/good plastics/jars, recycled plastics, glasses/cups, plates/bowls, pots and pans, frying pans and casseroles.   So if I have a measuring cup or two and a glass jar and one of my bought plastic containers, I'd gather them all at one time and then carry them to the baking center and put away.  This is a lot quicker way of putting away dishes than it sounds.  my last task is always to empty out the flatware into the little glass pitcher on the counter where it sits.

After I ate my granola supper, I hauled myself up out of my chair again and went into the bedroom where I put away the clothes I'd left lying about.  I'm usually quite good about putting things away right away, but I hadn't done so Monday nor Tuesday evening and there I was with Wednesday's clothing out as well.  I hung Wednesday's clothes to air but put the other two days of clothes into the closet.  I took time to piece a couple of more outfits to replace the two I'd worn the last few days.

Back to the kitchen.  I took out all I needed to assemble the egg rolls and got 15 of those rolled and put into the oven to bake.  By the way, the egg roll wrappers I'd bought a few months ago and failing to use them by the best by date, I'd tossed them into the freezer.  I thawed in the fridge and they held up just fine except for the two on top which had splits.   I was able to use one of those but had to toss the other as it was far too fragile to even think of filling.

With the egg rolls baking, I took out cheese and the pinto beans I'd cooked on Monday and the tortillas I'd bought on Tuesday and went to work rolling bean burritos for the freezer.  I filled 7 or 8 (can't remember just now) tortillas.  I shredded the rest of the block of cheese and filled the last tortillas with cheese for quesadilla.  I wrapped all these items separately in waxed paper and then stowed them in baggies and popped into the freezer.

I removed the egg rolls from the oven while they were still a little soft so they can withstand a bi more baking to become good and crisp when we reheat them.  I left those to cool on a rack and popped them into the freezer to freeze overnight.  I bagged them this morning.   And with that task done and the kitchen cleared up, I said "Good enough," as a day's output of tasks and watched a couple of favored programs on Netflix.  Speaking of which I really really need to stop watching The Great British Bake Off Master Class at night.  It does things to my appetite!

This morning, I rose at my usual hour.   I'd planned breakfast out in my head last night: Blueberry muffins, sausage and boiled eggs.  I grated a bit of lemon zest into my muffins.  It's so delicious with the berries!

John and I had one of our discussions this morning...not that kind, but the sort where we've been thinking separately without speaking to the other but we're both on the same page.  I mentioned to you all my desire to set aside income now for those days when retirement does hit.  John said to me this morning, "If it's at all possible, while I'm working some overtime, I'd really like to see you set aside some extra money, but not neglect the sub accounts."   Ha!  My thoughts exactly.  I suggested we start a new bank account at a different bank and make a monthly deposit there.  I then announced that I'd set aside a small amount last month, and our tax refund and a portion this pay period and we could make a sizeable deposit right away as soon as he determines which bank he wishes to go to.  Then, since I knew us to be in agreement,  I made myself a little growth chart and felt rather smug at marking out that first rung on the ladder...

I spent the rest of the morning puttering about the house doing little jobs, going over our bank statement and making adjustments as needed to our account, and doing the last bit of dinner prep.  It was a most excellent start to the day and I felt well rewarded to have time this afternoon to troll about on Pinterest since it rained this morning and early afternoon which pretty much ended my idea of working in shed or on porches.  Tomorrow, perhaps.

Friday:  March is here.  It came in not roaring, but with a loud growl of thunder and rain.  Thunder makes the rain seem spring-like somehow.  And so despite the cloudy sky outdoors, it also seems lighter and brighter than the gloomy cold winter rains have been.   I suppose this feeling of spring is as much because the birds have been fairly screaming with excitement since yesterday.  I've waited for that noisy intro to a day for the past few weeks, knowing that it would  be coming soon.  Today was the day.  It seems fitting to say we're on the cusp of a new season given the sounds.

There are fat buds swelling on the Sweet Gum at the back corner of the house, but hardly a raised bump on the branches of the Sweet Gum at the driveway's edge.  I am always  curious at how individually the like species of trees grow, even as children do.  Josh was still very much a baby looking boy at two but Isaac has shades of nine and sixteen and twenty-five in his two year old face, all fleeting across as his expression changes and then he is two again, but definitely a little boy and not a baby at all.

Today is an easy day.  The housework is done, the clothes continuing to dry in our heavy humidity from their washing yesterday.  I have only to fold them later in the morning when they complete their drying.  Dinner is going to be fairly easy.  Tonight is Shabat, a time I look forward to a great deal each week.  Supper will be pancakes, with bacon for the boys and likely mild sausage or fried Turkey Spam for John and I.  I've tried to give the boys turkey bacon but it's a bit thick and chewy for them.  I'll put a bit of bacon by in the freezer for another visit but send the rest home with them tonight.

I guess you know by now that Josh and Isaac will be here tonight with us.  Josh loves Shabat for itself, but Isaac has only just begun to love it.  For him, it's all about blowing out that candle, which he decided he was big enough to do last time I had them here for Shabat.

It's been a week of gentle easy work and family.  All in all a lovely week, despite the night watches, which seemingly ended as of last night.  Somehow, this too gives me hope that a new season is coming upon us.  May it be so.

Come and tell us of your week, your savings, your triumphs and your struggles too.  Join in.