Finally Finished another room!

 Hello again.  I just wanted to take a minute and show off my new laundry room.  It's not a new addition; just a revamp of the old.  I've been looking at this same laundry room for almost 30 years.  Aside from having new floors put in last year due to water damage; nothing else has been done to it.  That changed this past week.  

This is the after.  I wish I'd taken time to get a before picture, but I didn't.  Sorry.  Think dreary, aged wall board original to the mobile home.  The pattern had faded and the wall board had yellowed with age.  The cabinets, also original, were dark cherry colored and had no shelf, except the floor of the cabinet.  I had no other storage between the washer/dryer, and cabinet.  Still need to replace the side door, but that will be, hopefully the end of September beginning of October.

We had to have our AC changed out last month.  It was a must do.  Our power bill last month was $682, because the unit we had couldn't handle temps over 85.  We've dealt with that every summer for the past 24 years, but never could afford an alternative.  This year we ended up having to change it out, so spent what we were going to spend on converting the back deck to a screened in porch to replacing the AC.  So we've put off the screened in porch until March/April we hope.  Because we had a total change out of the AC, or I should say heat and AC, we had space in the laundry room where the old indoor unit had been.  Our new unit is under the house.  This new space became a broom closet; taking all of my floor cleaning and dusting stuff out of the laundry room area and into this new "broom closet.  I did the conversion, such as it is.  It's no where near professional, but it works for now.  It just needed to have the duct hole covered so the cats won't go down it, and be set apart from the water heater.  I'm proud to say, and you can probably tell, that I used materials I already had on hand.  I had the paint, but not the primer, so the primer was purchased.

Last but not least is my area above the freezer.  I neglected to mention that I added shelves to the cabinets over the washer/dryer.  This allowed me to store a huge amount of things I had sitting on these shelves.  Now these shelves are for my canning equipment.  That rather old looking canner at the top was my grandmothers.  I can't use it anymore; although I did use it for a long time.  The base is cracking and so it isn't safe to be put under pressure.  You can read the story about that canner here.

While the rest of my house has gone to rack and ruin, I have to say I love, love, love this room!  I think I've over done a little with my left wrist, so am taking it easy on projects for today, but come tomorrow I think I'm headed into the kitchen!  I'm going to try out doing a back splash!  We'll see how industrious I get.  Any tips on that?

Simplifying my life by getting rid of some convenience.

 


I know.  That title sounds crazy doesn't it?  It was, however, the best way to describe what I'm doing.  I'm a proud Gen Xer.  My dad worked for IBM as an engineer, and we actually had a Commodore computer in the house.  No internet then.  We played computer games on it: Shamus and another space game I forget the name.  Daddy used it for grown up responsible stuff.  You know BORING!  Lol.  It's not like technology was absent from me as a child or teenager.  However, I was an adult of 31 before my husband and I got a computer and dial up internet because he was going to college and needed it.  We thought it was cool.  I was a woman of 53, I think, before I got a cell phone.  I only did that because our then pastor told us we would need one since we were part of the leadership.  SMH.  I got one.  UGH!  Talk about being tethered.  Where's my phone?  I need to charge my phone.  Don't drop the phone.  Etc..  Crazy.  I've said ever since I've had this phone that as soon as it breaks I'm getting a land line.  As an aside, the best way to insure longevity for your cell phone is to say that very thing.  It will never stop working!  So my phone is going(hopefully) to be replaced by, not the landline I grew up with, but some form of internet phone.  That's what I'm looking at.  I miss being able to talk on the phone and still do a task at home.  Now, with my cell phone, I have to stop what I'm doing if I'm going to talk for any length of time.  I'll probably get a little prepaid number for when I'm away from home.  

My phone isn't the only thing I'm changing.  My husband travels a lot.  When he's traveling, it's easier( and cheaper) for him to eat healthier if he can have groceries delivered to the house in which he temporarily resides.  For that reason we opted to get a Walmart Plus membership.  It does help him considerably.  He says he feels better eating normal food instead of the junk he has to get at restaurants or continental breakfasts.  That's all well and good, but I have to say I use it  here as well.  I've been looking over finances and I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that this membership, with my using it too, is costing us money.  All in the name of convenience.  So while we're keeping it for his convenience, I'm laying off it.  This morning my kitchen is cleaned and ready to receive the groceries I'm going out in person to purchase.  My freezer is defrosted, and my refrigerator is cleaned out and sparkly.  I'll be going by our bank to draw out $600 dollars in cash for my grocery budget for the month.  That month starts today.  I used to could do this for $400, but inflation you know.  Some prices are coming down, but still this will be snug.  I'm drawing out cash because it's too easy to whip out a debit card.  Cash will make me think twice about purchases.  In fact I've cancelled autoship/subscriptions as well.  There's something about having to get up and go to the store to make you think twice about how bad something is needed or wanted.   I also plan to have my phone off and in my car while I'm shopping.  I'm taking a techno break.  

Fast forward to this afternoon.  I'm Back!  SO refreshing!  In addition to the satisfaction of getting my own groceries, I chose to not go into Gainesville and instead opted for the mountains.  There's both an Aldi and a Walmart across the street from each other and I decided to patronize both.  It hasn't been ruined by construction yet, and so I got to enjoy the mountains as I left the store.  Not to mention the staff at the Walmart there were wonderful.  

So what were the plusses of doing things this way?

1)  Saved paying a tip to the person delivering my groceries.  Don't get me wrong, if someone delivers groceries; they deserve a tip.  By doing this myself; the tip was mine.

2) Saved myself from accumulating crazy amounts of bags, and boxes for those items I had on Autoship

3)  Added steps to my day for a little more movement for me.

4)  Got out of the house!

5)  Saved more money by making myself get in the car to go get what I need.  As a result of that, I'm less likely to order things willy nilly.  It's like avoiding all of the last minute buys in the check out line. 

6)  Saved more money by being able to shop mark downs in meat and produce.  I got drumstick chicken legs for .66 lb!  Plus I got to determine what meat and produce to buy. 

7) Saved more money by using cash for my purchases.  Keeps me using my list.

It felt GOOD!  

Now that I'm home I'll get started making the fill in things I didn't buy: bread, mayo, and chocolate syrup.  I might make yogurt.  Haven't decided yet.  I have some milk to use up.    

Sometimes advances aren't necessarily a good thing for every person.  There are pros and cons.   for instance my mom can't drive.  Being able to have her groceries delivered gives her some independence.  That's awesome for her.  It helps my husband when he travels.  Another good thing.  For some of us, this is a crutch we shouldn't have.  I haven't aways been frugal.  I don't need to fall back into bad habits.  o for me this is something that doesn't fit.  Who know.  Maybe I'm just an old fuddy duddy.  

We Need to Just Stop

 Brace yourself.  This might turn into a rant.  

First a little back story.  I commented to a young mom today, on our neighborhood website, whose baby wasn't tolerating formula, and she was looking for a way to get breast milk.  I will throw in the caveat that I didn't specifically state "If you can't find breast milk do this".  I made an assumption that this would be understood.  I guess I need to be more specific.  To my knowledge she had no problem with what I said, but another commenter did.  What I shared was that goats milk and or the homemade baby "formula" recipe that parents used when I was a baby could be a better alternative (If she couldn't find breast milk).  I included the recipe.   Here comes the commenter saying that making your own formula "isn't safe".  Now I'm not mad at this person.  Not even close.  I know she was giving information she believed to be valid.  The comment frustrated me because it shows a blind allegiance to Government Approval.  If the FDA didn't okay it then it isn't safe.  If  the American Medical Association didn't okay it...(yada, yada, yada).  Whatever alphabet group must have more knowledge than us lowly common folk.  I have a healthy distrust of three letter organizations.  They've done me no favors.  The commenter stated it was their job to know this. Well here are my credentials.

1) Was raised on this formula as were most at the time

2)  Ran a state licensed daycare out of  my home, and as a result was part of a food program that reimbursed daycare providers for the food they served the kids.  I was in an area with a lot of low income families.  Because I was a part of this food program, I had to adhere to their guidelines; USDA guidelines.  One of those guidelines was whole milk only below the age of 2; not between 1 and 2.  Below the age of 2.  

3)  Mother of three, and wish I had avoided the baby formula route.  Had I known what I know now, I would have attempted breast feeding with all of my children, and not give up after the first.  Had I failed miserably, I would have gone the homemade formula route, and not store bought formula.  Unfortunately I didn't know that then and so followed 'the experts".  

4)  While not a doctor or nurse ( although I passed the entrance exam to be a nurse; top score), I have been a Certified Nurse Assistant, Home health Aid, Patient Care Tech, Bed Control, Heart Transfers, and Finally Hospice admissions.  I started my employment in healthcare in 1991 and retired 2015; with a few years off to have my daycare.  In college had Human Anatomy and Physiology split session with a final score of 96.  Highest in the class.  I was taking 18 hours which is a massive load and was on Deans list.  Not bragging.  I have a brain.  Vast majority of us do.  

The first 'Baby formula" was developed in 1865 and consisted of cows milk, wheat flour, malt flour, and baking soda.  So for all the years prior to 1865 what did babies do?  Starve?  No.  If the mother didn't or couldn't breast feed, and a wet nurse wasn't available, cows, goats, sheep's milk was widely used.  In writing this post I looked up a name brand baby formula just to double check it's ingredients.  Included in the ingredient list were Seed oils, added because instead of whole milk, non fat milk was used.  Have to add back in the fat, only the fat chosen isn't good.  Why is nonfat milk used?  I'm guessing here, but after the butterfat is removed from milk; the resulting non fat milk is usually given to livestock.  So it's cheaper I'd guess than whole milk.  Then they add back in cheap seed oils to replace the missing butterfat. 

 Seed oils- Vegetable, Canola, Corn, Soy bean, Sunflower are cheap, but bad for you!  

Poly dextrose is a nice way of writing "sugar" without telling parents it's sugar.  I find it amusing that the name brand I researched advertised " no added table sugar".  They didn't say no added sugar.  

Soy Lecithin as a thickener.  The thickener had to be added because nonfat milk is very watery without the butterfat that makes milk yummy.  Soy beans are one of the most pesticide sprayed crops in the US.  So tell me again how Whole milk, Karo syrup, Distilled water and a liquid multivitamin are unsafe? I will say if one can lay their hands on an organic, Non GMO corn syrup; that would be a plus.  However, these basic ingredients far out weigh what's listed in our FDA approved store bought baby formula.

We have to stop allowing the powers that be to think for us!  We need to do our own research and come to our own conclusions!  

Know what else we don't have to buy to care for a baby?  Baby food.  Puree your own meat, vegetables, and fruits.  Baby cereal:  Make your own hot cereal only thin it some and let it cool.  Nursery water:  If you want a special water for your baby just buy the store brand bottled water and save some money.  Coconut oil makes a great baby oil/lotion.  Ivory soap a great bath soap.  

If I was to have another baby (that's not happening post menopause) I would do all of these things, only I do think I would attempt breast feeding.  I tried it with my first and didn't do well.  I think there's more info out there now to help breast feeding moms.  They helped my daughter.

I know I've been fixated on baby formula, because that was the topic that set me off (sorry). 

Here are some gems I personally have garnered over the years from "experts"

1)  Cardiologist "You should get the covid shot".  Me " but I had covid".  Cardiologist " You should still get the shot.  We don't know how long your immunity will last".  Me " but we do know how long the immunity from the shot lasts; 6 months."  Cardiologist " yes, well you should think about it".  I did get covid again, about a year or so later.  Had good medical care the second time around so lasted only three days.  Haven't had it since.  Won't say I won't get covid again.  I will say a covid shot will only enter my body if they hold me down and force it on me.  

2)  Me "Could my heart attack have something to do with my being hormonal?"  to every doctor I saw and the response "no".  Now I know they were ALLLLLL wrong!  Boy they were happy to have me on a Statin that I didn't need, Nitro that I didn't need, Imdur, that I didn't need.  They were happy to bill my insurance for tests I didn't need.  

3)  Here's the one that really ticks me off.  My dad was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphoid Leukemia mainly due to his 6 months of chemo from colon cancer.  His oncologist put him on a chemo pill that he was supposed to take for the rest of his life.  He also had COPD, and CHF.  This pill kept exacerbating both of those conditions and putting him in the hospital.  My mother finally asked how long he would have if he didn't take the pill.  His Oncologist said only three years.  So he stayed on the pill.  He died in 18 months.  Up until the last five weeks of his life he was in and out of hospitals due to exacerbation of COPD and CHF.   Every time, that oncologist would put him on another pill that had the same side effects.  The hospital sent him home that final time with no hospice, no follow up care, and no hope.  It was only my experience as an employee of a hospice service that got him set up so that his final days were comfortable and as peaceful as they could be.  After he passed we found out that the protocol for his form of leukemia is normally to NOT TREAT men his age.  In my opinion that "Expert" took 18 months of time with my dad and for my mom; her husband, away from us.  

Sorry if this is a bit of a rant, but seriously guys, the only way this stops is if we take the power over our lives BACK.  That means asking questions, learning about things, standing your ground, and not blindly following the powers that be.  I promise you this; their priority isn't our welfare.  It's their bottom line.

Self imposed Austerity.

 Now, before anyone that I know reads this and thinks we're in financial difficulty, please know we're fine.  What and why we're doing this is voluntary and I'll share why without too many details.  Just know.  We're fine.  

A little back story.  We got out of debt about 10 years ago, and aside from our mortgage, have been debt free ever since.  We've managed to cash flow any major repairs over the years.  The only exception being the small inheritance we received last year that helped us pay for some much needed repairs and my greenhouse.  This year we had managed to squirrel away enough money to have our back deck converted into a screened in porch.  Unfortunately we've had another expensive issue come up and so our screened in porch will have to wait until next year.  We had the repairs done last week, and everything seemed fine; until they weren't.  Unfortunately there was an underlying issue that wasn't caught before.  So to fix this will add a considerable amount to our bill.  The reason I'm being vague is because what happened doesn't happen often these days.  The company contracted to do the initial repair has not only offered to remedy the situation asap, but to do so at their own cost.  This is a cost that is considerable.  It's also something they can't do often so I remain vague.  

So with that back story in mind, my husband and I are doing everything we can to cover half of what the overage will be.  We're not doing this because the company asked or required it of us, but because we want to honor their work ethic, faith, and generosity.  In this day and age, it's rare to find a business that isn't out for the quick dollar.  Many lay their integrity at the feet of their greed.  This company doesn't.  The owner told me that he knew God would see this cost returned to  him.  We plan to do our part.

So, hence our self imposed austerity.  We're going to do everything we can to gather the funds to help them out.  My part of that is to get back into the kitchen to get meals, and extras covered rather than just dropping an order at the grocery store.  I have gone through my pantry to take an inventory of everything: bought, canned, fresh.  My focus will be utilizing those things first and foremost.  Amazingly I was thinking I needed salsa, and chicken broth, but doing an inventory showed me I had them and had just missed them.  I make our chicken broth, and had put off making more because it was hot.  Then I found it.  Smh.  My recipe is here.  You'll need to scroll down a bit to see it.  It's after Yogurt, Bread, and Mint extract.  My salsa is here.  You'll also have to scroll through a few recipes, but their worth the read.  There are times when I start to take it easy, but then something jars(pardon the pun) me into action.  This is really fun for me.  I like the challenge.  Stretching my frugal muscles.  (Sigh) wish I enjoyed real exercise as much!  

As I sign off here, my list includes Chocolate syrup, Salsa(I only have one jar), Bread, Granola, Cereal Bars, Frozen Biscuits, and grinding corn, and wheat berries for flour and corn meal.  Whew.  Better get started!

Canning Extravaganza!

This summer has been HOT.  Not the hottest we've ever had, but hot in recent history.  We've had a few years of mild summer weather, so this year has been a bit of a shocker!  In addition to that, we're having AC problems.  These will be fixed come Tuesday!  Yay!  As a result we've been using window units to cool the place out of necessity.  Don't ask me about the power bill!  UGH!  Hence the reason for not heating the house up with canning.  

As the harvest started to roll in, I was minimally processing and putting in the freezer until I could can.  By "minimally processing", I mean tomatoes became sauce, Blackberries became juice.  Then day before yesterday we moved our grill from the back deck to our new deck on the side of the house.  For the past two days I've been happily using our grill and side deck as an extension of my kitchen; pulling out the frozen sauce and juice to combine with the current sauce and juice I've been making and canning it all.  This has actually been quite nice.  In fact I do believe this will become my summer kitchen from now on.  

   

Please excuse the water trail from the grill to the table.  I can be a little messy since I'm outside!

So far my tally is 35 pints of tomato sauce, 12 pints of blackberry syrup, 6 pints of blackberry juice, 14 quarts of tomato juice, 2 pints and 4 quarts canned tomatoes.  That doesn't count the canned rhubarb, and green beans I put up earlier in the year.  Still have many more tomatoes to can.  The amount in the picture has doubled today, even with me processing more tomatoes.  Not complaining mind you.  This is a hot, steamy process with great returns come winter time.  The blackberry syrup is great on ice cream, pancakes, or even mixed in ice tea for a great fruit tea.  

Well I'll Be! Learn something new everyday!

 Many years I've planted corn for fresh eating.  Many years we have a good thunderstorm that flattens said corn.  Not all of it, but a big chunk of it.  At times like that one would find me outside attempting to help the corn stand tall once again.  Over the years I've tried many different planting methods to see if any could give my corn a stronger hold on the ground.  None of them seemed to help.  They all got flattened anytime we had a serious wind.  This year I started my corn plants from seed, and then transplanted them in their rows.  All seemed to be going well until we had a serious afternoon thunder storm.  Then it went how it always does.  My corn was flattened.  Not all of it.  Two stalks were left standing in the middle and it seemed the other corn was surrounding the two standing stalks and paying homage to them. 

                                                            

I was in the middle of a chicken coop/run redo and had no time to get out and baby my corn stalks.  I figured maybe a few would come back, but didn't hold out much hope.  I wasn't too worried as we had another bed of corn in our "upper garden" that was surrounded by field fence.  It was doing great because it had a frame around it.  Wind had no affect.  So I figured we'd just have that corn.  A few days passed and I noticed a few of the flattened corn stalks  began to RISE UP!  I took notice, but no other action.  Then they all started to rise, and tassel!  They were green still!  So fast forward to yesterday.  As I was out taking care of the chickens; I noticed once stalk of corn was actually flat on the ground, but at a point had started growing straight up!  It almost looks as if the corn stalk is doing a sit up. Without looking, I'm assuming it laid down more roots and left the old self behind.  There's a sermon in there somewhere!  So my corn that was flattened is once again standing tall.  We may actually get some corn from this bed which would be awesome!  

So today's lesson is never give up!  Create new roots and leave the old self behind!

Philippians 3: 13-14- "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus"

2 Corinthians 5:17- "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new".

Isaiah 43: 18-19- "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?  I will make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

A Wom(hen)'s Prerogative, lessons learned, and a promising experiment!

 Well she changed her mind.  Yes, our little broody hen has decided not to brood after all.  At least she did it early on.  We think the reason was having to share a nest with other hens.  It doesn't matter that we have another nesting box available.  The other hens HAD to use the one she was in.  As a result two eggs were broken.  Knowing the eggs she was sitting on were now messy, she moved to the other nesting box to sit on clean eggs.  That's what we think.  She might have done okay with those, but we aren't needing more chicks and she wasn't too determined.  We'll see what happens in the near future.  

So now on to the experiments I tried this season.  I always try new things if I'm not gong to be out much.  It's a way to learn, and perfect skills.  This season I tried two different experiments.  

1) Allowing my tomato plants to remain uncaged.  I did have some caged, but I ran out of cages and just let the rest go to see how they'd do.  I was thinking I liked uncaged better, but when all was said and done; caging is best.  In a pinch though, uncaged still works.  Caging did make it easier to view the tomatoes as they ripened so I could get them before they went bad.  However, with indeterminate tomatoes, their continued growth can become too heavy for the cages, so have some good sturdy cages when you do.  The advantage of uncaged tomatoes is they lay down more roots as they spread making an over all healthier tomato plant.  However, the disadvantage is they are so thick I can't see where the tomatoes are.  It's literally a jungle.  Both experiments had yellowing lower leaves.  However it took longer to get the yellowing leaves on the uncaged plants. Still, if I can't see tomatoes, that's a problem.

2)  Elderberry Branches as pest control.  The second experiment was the most promising of the two.  I'd seen a lecture on the benefits of Elderberry plants.  I've known about the benefits from the berries, but this lecture covered the whole plant.  During the course of the lecture, he spoke of Elderberry leaves being good for pest control.  We'd had a storm take down some branches off my Elderberry bushes; so I tried it out by laying the downed branches around my beans and squash plants.  I'm not out anything except branches that were broken off anyway.  I've dealt with Mexican Bean Beetles every year for the past 29 years we've lived here.  Every.  Year.  Today I saw one; middle of growing season, and my bean plants are almost done.  One.  That one was found on the very first bed of beans I planted, and the one bed that had no Elderberry branches placed.  I did find some squash borers on my yellow squash, but it was after the plants were finished producing.  I'd not put more branches around it in weeks, probably longer.  So while my proof is anecdotal, It's enough where I plan on doing that again next year.  I've included a link to the video if you're interested.

Here's the link

So last but not least is my lesson learned.  Do not attempt to trap Japanese Beetles or June Bugs.  The scent will draw every single Beetle/Bug in the surrounding area to YOUR GARDEN!  I chose to stop putting out traps this year and have seen very few of these insects.  The ones I've seen I can easily knock off into soapy water, and give them to the chickens.  NO TRAPS!   Learn from my past mistakes.  Just say NO!

So what experiments have you tried?