Relax. I'm no AI.

 😁 I heard yesterday that a growing number of internet articles are now AI.  That includes many names that are well known in media.  Even they have jumped on the AI band wagon to help with their writing.  Well you can rest assured that isn't me!  😉.  Can you tell?  

Full disclosure;  I recently started asking Chatgpt some questions.  I see the attraction.  Chatgpt helped me decide what colors to paint my living room and dining room.  It helped me in repairing a vinyl dolls eyes.  Which is great, since I'm teaching myself to restore vintage and antique dolls.  It helped me fix our sliding glass door.  You get my drift.  The one thing I haven't used it for is my writing.  Good or bad grammar; it's all mine.  Not giving that up.  I don't care if it might make it sound better.  It isn't me.  So know when you come here all the thoughts, information, antics, mistakes, etc. are all my own.  I will be your contact with reality!

Okay, so now, back to reality:

I finally got around to taking the 12 roosters to the processor.  One of those twelve got a last minute stay of execution because the processors wife needed a rooster.  She choose from the lighter of the 12.  So he now has 10 ladies of his own.  I'm happy he got to get a reprieve.  I'd reprieve all of them if it wasn't for the fact that I had 15 roosters crowing at 5 a.m. every morning.  My neighbors can only take so much.  The two roosters we kept were the low man on the totem pole so never put on enough weight.  In fact he almost starved.  I had to remove him from the roosters and feed him alone in order for him to come back.  The second, miraculously was the one who laid his head on my shoulder a couple of weeks ago.  He'd been lost in the crowd of identical roosters until I picked him up to load him in the truck.  When I went to carry him to the truck, he once again laid his head on my chest.  Of all of the roosters, he's the only one that did that.  I've named him Swanson, and I think I'll name the second one Sanders.

We learned a lesson with these guys.  These were meat birds and we should have been feeding them a high protein 24% feed at the point of hatching.  We didn't.  We fed them chick feed according to the directions on the chick feed bag.  Had we done that one thing they would have been ready for processing weeks ago.  Instead we had to wait longer, and therefore pay more in feed over time to get them to a decent weight.  We did change feed a few weeks ago, but we've still lost time and money.  Now we know.  In fact we're switching to the high protein feed for everyone, layers included moving forward.  This will help the layers during molting, and can increase egg production.  We hope!  

My house looks like a tornado struck because of the painting process.  I'm hopeful I can get it all together soon.  I have to say Chat did a great job with his paint recommendations.  I choose from the options he offered, but he gave me some good option.  I'm loving the colors so far.  I will post the finished pics later. 

Thought I'd include a few of my past projects.  These were done before I met Chat.  The top two are circa 1940's total composition dolls.  The last one with the long hair is a 1955 EeGee Susan Stroller doll.

 

I failed.

 Yep!  I went over my grocery budget, and it was intentional.  I already know where I made my mistake; bad planning on my part.  

You see, we have chickens.  Well, actually we have a lot of chickens.  Back in May we decided to buy specifically meat birds with the intention of starting a sustainable meat bird flock.  The idea was that we would buy 24 birds.  Of those 24 birds, half would be hens, and half roosters.  We'd keep one rooster to keep the flock going, and the rest would be processed.  We chose a heritage breed call "Jersey Giants".  Males can be up to 13 lbs. at adulthood and females 10 lbs.  

Two things have thrown a wrench in this plan: we didn't know to give them a high protein meat feed starting at birth, and we didn't realize DH would get an opportunity to tour with a wrestling group.   So when we had planned to process the birds, they weren't at a decent weight.  That meant a longer wait, and more expense for chicken feed.  We have since changed their feed to the high protein, which is a little more expensive than what we were feeding them.  That's when we found out they should have been given this feed from the time they hatched.  So because these guys are needing a more expensive feed, and they're still here, means I went over my budget.  In addition, because of DH schedule, we've found a processor to take care of these guys when the time comes (needs to be soon.  Imagine how much fun it is to hear 14 roosters crowing at 5am.).  So even more added expense.  So now we know.  This lesson cost us some dollars, but now we know.  We're still following our plan as far as raising meat birds, but now we know where we went wrong and can tweak things moving forward.  

A couple of weeks ago, I picked up one of the roosters to see if he had put on weight.  The stupid thing laid his head on my chest like he was cuddling me.  I'm like DRAT!  Okay.  You get to be the one that stays with the hens cause now I can't process you.  Well that worked for a couple of days until he got out of the enclosure for the hens to be with his brothers.  I did tell you he wasn't that bright.  Now I can't tell them apart.  They all look the same.  I looked up the breed and apparently this cuddling behavior is common among this breed.  That's terrible!  They should be ornery so I have no problem letting them go.  If they cuddle me every time I'll never be able to process them.  Sigh.  

In other news, one of the reasons I've been quiet on here the last few weeks is I have yet again another project.  I'm now painting our living room and dining room.  I don't think I shared my kitchen, pics, I did that a month or so ago.  

That red phone will be in use soon, as soon as I can figure out what VOI system I want to use.  I miss being able to work and talk on the phone at the same time.  You can't hold a cell phone on your shoulder. 

 This picture frame is my favorite piece in my kitchen.  On the bottom is the actual WW2 food ration book, with unused stamps inside, that belonged to  my great grandmother.  It has her name, Ollie, on it as well as her address.  I looked up the address in Atlanta and her house still stands.  Anyway, I framed the ration card along with some pictures of her and my dad when he was a boy

My garden is done for the season except for some peppers and a few valiant tomatoes.  Once we have a first freeze I'll get out there to put it officially to bed for the year.  I've decided my garden will slumber through next season as well to give it and me a rest.  With DH touring, I don't want to get into an "over my head" situation like I did this year.  

So that's my update.  I'm off to start painting again!  Thanks for reading!  Have a blessed day!

Thought this might still be relevant

 Hello again!  Hello cousin "K"!  How are things?  STILL EXPENSIVE!  Even with the rate of inflation down, it doesn't mean there is no inflation.  Throw in supply line issues, drought, etc.  Gone are the days of a $400 grocery budget.  (sigh).  $400 was our average for years, but when DH and I got married, I could fill our pantry and fridge for a month for about $150.  (double sigh)

I've been trying to get us back on a good grocery budget, and by a good Grocery Budget I'm shooting for $600 a month.  This would include all pet food, chicken feed, paper products, and cleaning supplies.  This may be a bit of a challenge, but I'm determined to at least find a comfortable budget in the ball park.  $600 was the budget I had in August.  I stuck to it pretty well, but had some accidental debit purchases I'd not planned on.  September was the same, but, again, lost track of some things so not exactly sure of numbers.  So I'm trying again to do a cash only grocery budget.  October 1st is the day I get my grocery money.  Not sure how this is going to go, but in lieu of my foray into the grocery battle; I thought I'd bring forward an article I wrote o so long ago in 2021.  I found it useful for my own situation and thought it might be helpful to you dear reader.  I'll let you know how it goes.  😓

Stretch what you have

What can I say?

Charlie Kirk was a day younger than our son, Einstein. That doesn't make his assassination any worse than it already is, but it does strike us as to how young he was. DH and I were up last night talking about it all. Not just Charlie Kirk, but the senseless murder of the young Ukrainian woman, Irina Zarutska, on the subway in NC, and also the general state of things. I'm stunned, saddened, and worried. DH is MAD. Mad at what happened to Charlie and Irina, but mostly mad at the politicians that have whipped people into such a frenzy that a young man and woman are no longer here. He's calmer now than he was the day Charlie Kirk died, but still mad.

DH says he changed that day. I asked him what was different. His initial reaction to the death of Charlie Kirk wasn't a positive one, and he knew it. It was visceral. Now he confesses he's more guarded. He's keenly aware of the fact that someone could take something he posts and use it to target him or his family. He believes one on one he'd be bolder. During the course of our conversation, however, we determined that to be silent in any capacity is to give a win to the shooter.

To me, and this is my opinion, politics and faith go hand and hand. I believe this because our political beliefs are usually guided by our faith and values. I say "usually" because politicians are very adept at twisting faith to fit their narrative. Because I believe they're intertwined; I can't speak out about one without the other. For instance, I'm pro-life. Therefore I vote for candidates with a pro life platform. I wavered from that this past presidential campaign season when RFK Jr was running. He's the closest I've ever come to voting for a Democrat. The reason I came that close was due to his approach to abortion. To quote RFK Jr " every abortion is a tragedy". His plan was to find a way to support and incentivize mothers to keep their children rather than just a blanket statement that women shouldn't have abortions. I still would rather abortion not exist, but he was at least trying to solve the problem.

So I'm not supposed to be silent about my faith. As a result, my politics will show up! So just so you know, dear reader, I'm a conservative. I believe in the Father, Son, and Holy ghost. I believe in being responsible for my actions. Dh and I learned long ago to live our lives in such a way as to NOT need govt help. We learned that tough lesson a long time ago. We live within our means and want the government to do the same. I believe we are made in the image of God. God doesn't make mistakes. If he intended a child to be a boy; it's a boy. As an aside. I will never, ever, refer to a man by female pronouns. You haven't paid the dues buddy. You're a dude in a skirt. Anyway. I believe in Biblical marriage. I believe my husband is the head of the house, and Christ is the head of him. Does that make me weak or dumb? No. Does that mean he can abuse me? NO! I believe in life at conception. As unplanned pregnancies go, my first was not stellar. My daughters biological father was married at the time, and not to me. I worked at Wendy's. I lived with my daughters biological father AND HIS WIFE. Top that Geraldo! I was married, technically at the time, but separated from my then husband. I had to tell my parents!!!! Ugh! I had every reason in todays' world to have the pregnancy quietly terminated. I didn't, and I wouldn't. Even in the midst of the craziness of my heathen life, I still was prolife. I've never regretted bringing my daughter into this world. She's beautiful, funny, sharp as a tac, and she gets it all from me😁. Read my testimony here

So there you go.  You know me.  I will not be silent.  

Vaccine Vent. Well more of just my thoughts, but "vent" goes well

 Do you, dear reader, believe vaccines work?  This isn't a trick question.  I happen to believe that some do.   The idea of injecting a weakened or dead form of a virus for the immune system to learn and fight off is a good idea.  In fact I believe the return on the investment for some of these vaccines is worth it.  Vaccines like Polio.   However, I do believe there is a limit.  I don't believe every virus needs a vaccine.  Chicken pox for instance.  Our idea of a Chicken Pox vaccine was to nurse our children through it.  All three of our children caught the Chicken pox.  Yes it was miserable for them, but they're through it.  Before anyone brings up Shingles; vaccinated for Chicken Pox or not; it's still a possibility.  Vaccinated for Shingles isn't fool proof either.

What I don't believe in is the number of vaccines given to children before the age of 18. 72 if I remember correctly.  I also don't believe they have to be heaped on babies as they are.  In the first 2 months of life, it's recommended that an infant have 7 vaccines with 2nd shots given before they're 4 month old.  2 at birth, with 6 of the 7 having second doses between 2-4 months of age.  Some of these are a cocktail of illnesses rather than just one.  Rather than list them all here, I've included a link to the CDC website for child vaccinations.  Click here to see

I will pull out one of these vaccines; Hepatitis B.  This is given to every newborn regardless of potential risk: mothers drug use, mother having multiple partners, or diagnosis of Hep B.  While it is possible to decline this vaccine for a newborn; many times the hospital presents this vaccine as "newborn care" or phrases it in such a way that many parents don't realize they can opt out.  If a mother is at high risk the vaccine is prudent.  However, if the mother doesn't have Hep B, isn't a drug user, and/or hasn't had multiple sexual partners, opting out is an option.  As an aside, part of my nursing assistant, and home health training, was in wording requests in such a way as to get compliance from my patients.  It isn't just obtaining vaccine approval.  ALL medical staff knows the best way to approach a patient to get compliance.  During a hospital stay, my mother refused physical therapy.  We told staff she was independent.  She was in the hospital for a digestive issue and not a mobility issue.  She refused physical therapy out right.  Instead of honoring her wishes, the physical therapist showed up again the next day and pushed her into a session.  This physical therapist even acknowledged her prior refusal!  Unfortunately I wasn't with her at the time.  She was afraid if she refused they wouldn't treat her so she complied, even though she was too sick.  I'm hopeful my mother never has to attend a hospital again, but should she have to; I'm packing a bag and I will be camping there until she comes home.  Anyway, I digress.  

What I also don't believe is that the Covid "vaccine" has a place anywhere.  What started as "95% chance of not getting Covid or spreading it"  went to "well you can still get it and spread it but it won't be as bad".  In fact the 2024 strain specifically targeted people who had been vaccinated!  My husband was vaccinated.  My sons and I weren't.  We had Covid naturally twice; once in 2021 and once in 2022.  Then nothing else so far.  Even though all of us were exposed, he alone got Covid last year.  In addition are the recent revelations that have come out about the side effects of this vaccine.  No Thank you!  Myocarditis in young men especially, increase chance of heart attack and blood clots.  In fact we suspect the issues my mother had the year she was hospitalized came from her having been vaccinated a month prior.  

What set me off on this tirade is an interview on CNN with Senator Mark Mullin.  During the course of the interview the News Lady ( I don't watch CNN so forgive my ignorance of her name)  made a statement about her vaccinated child being at risk if another child wasn't vaccinated.  She, and others that believe like her can't have it both ways.  Either vaccines work or they don't.  If they don't, vaccinating a child is just mean.  If vaccines work the only person at risk of disease is the unvaccinated person.  So let people make their own INFORMED choice.  Let them know the risks, and benefits.  Let them know clearly that they can opt out or even take the shots at a pace they're comfortable with.  My choosing to not vaccinate either myself or my children doesn't in any way hinder another's choice to do so.   Full disclosure, we did vaccinate all of our children when they were small.  Not as many as are offered now, but we did.   However, by the "booster time" we knew enough to say "No".  To each his own, but know how, why, and when.  Be willing to accept the risks of each decision.  Just be informed.  Don't let the media tell you what to think.  

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.