Either Way, I'm It

Sometimes I'm torn between "Cheap by Necessity, Frugal by Choice" or "Frugal by Necessity, Cheap by Choice" , when it boils down to it, it's all the same and I'm It!!!

I can't count how many times I have searched Goggle, Pinterest, etc. for Living Cheap, Saving Money, Save on Electric Bill, etc. only to come up empty handed. It's get very frustrating when I can't find any more corners to cut. Take my electric bill, before winter that is, I had it down to where I was paying less for what I used then when it cost to have electric hooked up to my house. I still think there's ways I can get it lower. I think the freezer and the refrigerator are the biggest uses of electric, just can't figure out how to stop using them.

If you come to my house in the winter any windows that don't have plastic on them, have aluminum foil painted black and taped to them, for free heat from the sun. It might not be the prettiest thing, but it really helps. The other day it was only in the high teens outside, but nice and sunny. When I got home it was 75 in my dining room just from the aluminum foil heat. Last year I kept the thermostat set at 50 and the only time it was warmer was on sunny days. This year thanks to my Mom & Jim and Jim, I have wood heat also, so nice!!!

Okay I'll get to what started this thought process tonight. I hate picking out clothes and shoes, I hate even more paying for them. Thanks to Sandy and Sharon I do have plenty of nice warm shirts to layer and keep me warm this winter. Thanks to my Mom I have socks. (She really hates when I wear my socks till it's only little strings holding them on my feet) Pants and shoes are another story. Sandy has gave me some shoes to try, but either my feet are too small or hers are too big :) Jim has been nagging me for over a year to go buy new ones, I refuse. I tell him I bought new clothes at the Salvation Army in 2011, because I didn't have any clothes except-able to wear for my new job. I paid $3.00 a pair for the jeans, I was really hoping to get the average cost down to .50 a year. My favorite pair has had a couple of the belt loops ripped off over time. I've had to sew a few holes shut around the back pockets, but they fit the need. That was until Saturday, I got home from work and bent over to pick up a piece of wood and rippppppppppppp, there goes the ass of my pants :( I was so grateful they waited until I got home to do that, but still very sad. I haven't gave up on them yet, I'm still going to dig out the sewing machine and see if I can at least repair them for non work pants.

Oh shoes are even worse!!! They are damned expensive and I can never find any that I like and that fit right. Nobody likes going shoe shopping with me. John just used to buy me a pair, I'd hate them, but when it got to the point the ones I was wearing just couldn't go anymore I'd give in and wear them. After a while they were like family and I wouldn't want to let them go. I always have shoe goo and tape around to make them last just a little longer or a lot longer :) My work shoes now I also bought in 2011 for $30.00, that about gave me a heart attack. They have multiple layers of shoe goo on them, I've replaced the insoles with insoles out of other old shoes at least 5 times that I remember. Well they are to the point of no return now. My feet are always wet when it snows and my poor feet and legs start aching after being at work an hour. Tonight I had to go to town, so I told Jim I would look at shoes. Meijer's first because that's where I needed to go for bird toy parts. I found a pair of shoes that looked like they might be comfortable. To be sure I put them on, put the box from them and my shoes in the cart and walked around the store, got to make sure they fit right. (Jim couldn't believe I did that when I talked to him on the phone) They were okay, but I just couldn't justify spending $40.00 (plus tax) on a pair of shoes. I decided to go to Walmart, they have to be cheaper. They had a poor selection for what I could wear for work. I did find one pair that I thought would probably work. I tried on a 9, too big. Okay let's try an 8 1/2, nope too big again, very surprised at this. But alright an 8 then. Take a few steps not too bad, let's try on the other shoe. It's too small, wtf??? Maybe the last person that tried them on put them in the wrong boxes, nope checked they are right. Ummm. maybe one is labeled wrong, hold them up to each other and compare, same size. Really??? That must be a sign I'm not suppose to get a new pair of shoes, so I say "heck with it" and head home. So here I sit knowing in the am I have to go back to wet sore feet :( I wonder if I can figure out how to make my own shoes??? But I'm sure all your thinking is "boy she rambles a lot", so I'll stop, I do feel better for getting it all out if that helps ;)

Any saving money tips to pass along?

Food for Thought

Just recently I have thought a lot about me not being "normal". On my way home tonight I was thinking it again. And the thought crossed my mind that part of my not being normal is how I eat, though Jim does try hard to change it. For breakfast this morning I had some oh so yummy Pickled Beets. A very dear friend of mine made them. The first time she gave me a jar she had canned I took them to be polite, but never really thought I would like them. Well I was wrong, I love them, the first jar I ate in less then 24 hrs. There was only a few beets left this morning which didn't fill me up, so on to the second course of Pepperoni Slices and Dill Pickle Potato Chips. Mostly filled up so off to work after all the critters around here were fed.

This morning while I was putting up the mail I snacked on some more Dill Pickle Potato Chips and ate a little bit of cake. At lunch time on my way to Jim's I snacked on the Cheddar Cheese Pretzels in my car. When I got there I had a handful and Jim asked me what kind of junk I was eating. I told him it wasn't junk, it's mostly made from the same ingredients as bread so I was just eating bread, he didn't buy it.

Time to eat lunch. Jim made Homemade Mashed Potatoes and Baked Cube Steak. I love his potatoes and the Cube steak was so delicious!!!! He insisted I take the leftover potatoes with me. I always agree because they are so good. I put them in the dish and smothered the top with shredded cheese.

Fast forward 2 hrs and I'm back at work and hungry again. Not really wanting any more chips or cake right now, so I zoom in the cookies a Co-Worker brought in yesterday. Maple Bacon, from a mix she found at the market and thought sounded good. Yesterday at work I ate 2, one in the am and one in the afternoon. I thought "not too bad, but too maply and not enough bacon flavor" Well today I ate one and the stomach said "try another I'm still hungry". Well if you eat 2 in a row, the bacon flavor comes out a little more. Maybe see if it gets even better after 3, well it did and before long I had ate 10 of them!!! I'm sure I would have kept eating them if I hadn't already ate them all :(

When the thought occurred to me on my way home from my second job tonight, I was actually munching on some Cheddar Cheese Pretzels in my car. They are in the same bag on the front seat as the Nutella. For supper when I got home I had the leftover potatoes. While I was eating them I made a couple hard boiled eggs, someone suggested trying them in my leftover beet juice. I thought why not, I'm sure if I don't eat them some critter here will. I think at this point I'm down eating for the day. Oh now, not just yet, I have to eat my daily Mounds Candy Bar yet, it's for my health so I can't skip it. Go grab yourself a snack and enjoy!!!

Too much good stuff for a Facebook post

Up to do chores this morning and then off to meet Jim for a few hours before work. When we get out to the farm he decided today should be the day I attempt to ride a bicycle. Growing up my best friend Becky and I put a lot of miles on our bikes, that slowed down when she got her driver's license and totally stopped when I got mine. I haven't been on a bike since then, well unless you count an exercise bike I had to have, for a month or so :) Russ assured me the other day I could still do it, even of it has been 20+ years. Jim was true to his word and held on to the handle bars and the back of the seat for me while I made my re maiden voyage. Which was all about 6 ft. and then I told him I couldn't do it myself it was best to stop. No arguments, he just put the bike away and said we'll try again another day. See why I love him?

When it's close to time for me to go to work he goes to the meat market to get some cheese, so I have a snack later. He buys a 3 lb block of Baby Guggisberg Swiss Cheese, expensive, but very good and he knows I'll eat it. One more stop, ice cream!!! He knows all my weak spots :) He orders us both sundaes, mine was blackberry, yummy. As long as it's not breakfast, he does okay me eating dessert first. He packs my lunch while I eat my sundae; steamed yellow squash, mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey, hot dog, dinner roll and of course a chunk of cheese. See why I love him?

Not a big deal, but it is for me. Today we have been together 9 months!!! Today, as everyday, I'm so glad I had to courage to say life is short, want to go out? I love him more everyday!!!

See why I love him?

After work tonight I went "pickin" with Russ and Peg, lots of laughing and joking around. They are so much fun to hang out with. We picked for about an hour and I ended up with another car load of "stuff". Can't wait to get it all cleaned up and sorted out, lots of cool old stuff to send to new homes.

Thinned out the carrots in the garden at Jim's tonight for the chickens. Kinda funny, but they don't like the little bitty carrots, they prefer the ones bigger then a pencil. I put the carrots in the outside run when I got home, so they will find them first thing in the morning, betcha they will think it's Christmas. I'm sure it will be a good egg day after they eat all of them.

The icing on the cake.... I got to stop at Catherine's to pick up my most favorite food, White Spaghetti!!! I still think she should open a White Spaghetti restaurant, Sir and I would eat there everyday. As soon as I got my car unloaded tonight I ate a big plate of it. Jim doesn't have to worry about me eating candy for breakfast tomorrow, it will be White Spaghetti!!!

Oh so yummy!!!

All in all it has been a great day, very tiring, but great. I'm very blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful people!!! 

Today

First person who made me think today was a guy, probably in his mid 50's. One of his Uncle's 80th birthday was on Sunday and he cooked 120 chickens 1/2's for the party, something one of his other Uncles who is now passed away taught him. His Aunt, one of my most favorite people had a 1/2 for me on Monday and 1/2 a pie for Jim. I told him today I thought the chicken was great. He thanked me and said he hoped his cousins and rest of the family realized how important his Aunts and Uncles were to them. He said they had such a big hand in who they are today. I told him how I had heard a bunch of stories about him and his child hood just the other day. Of course I also had to tell him how amazing I think his Aunt is and how I'm amazed at all she does at her age, 86 today. He told me how he sneaks around and does stuff for her to help out, because she doesn't like asking. He was raised in a generation where you take care of your elders and he does a great job of taking care of things for her, my hat is off to him!!!

Second person was another one of my favorite people, she will be 91 next month. When ever I see her coming to the Post Office if I don't have a customer I will go out and help her in, she doesn't get around the best. While I was walking her in today,  two guys came and went in the Post Office, do you know neither of them stopped to hold the door. I don't know what there hurry was once they got inside they had to wait for me anyways. On the walk in she said she would have been sooner, but she had to get out of her pajamas and get dressed. I told her I wouldn't have cared if she came down in her pajamas. She said "but I had to put on clean under wear in case I was in an accident" I laughed and said "yep that's what our Mom's taught us. Does anyone say that anymore? I got her in the lobby and went to wait on them while she made her way to the other door. Guess what when she got to that door, neither guy went to open it for her. Why? Were they really raised that way or are they just lazy? After they left I waited on her and we had a nice visit. She caught me up on all of her family and asked how the animals were. (I'm always amazed at her age she remembers all I have) She asked if I was ready to settle down and think about getting married yet. I told her I didn't think he was ready for that :) She said I was just joking with you, I didn't know you were dating and asked if it was anyone she knew. I told her who it was and she was just tickled pink and told me I was lucky and he was even more lucky and wanted all the details. She said "well when you get married maybe I'll take a little sip of whiskey." She said "you know I have never tasted whiskey, beer or wine, when I was 12, the Woman's Christian Temperance group came to my church and told us we would go to hell if we drank and alcohol and they scared me enough I never tried it to this day" I love stories like that :) We chatted some more while I walked her to her car and got her into it. She said "make sure you call me when you get married, if I can, I want to dance at your wedding" I told her if it ever happens, she will be one of the first people I call and she will be sitting in the front row. She said "oh I would have to sit in the back row, in case I have to go to the bathroom" I love her!!!

Moral of my story: I love old people and I'm not such a big fan of the younger generation. And even though it's not a part of my job description, though I think it should be, I genuinely care about my older customers and look forward to giving them their hugs when I work.

My Boys are Weird

I was just sweeping the kitchen when I realized my boys are weird. Since they are all big dogs they all have/had raised feeding stations. At one point I had 4 of them in the kitchen, I'm down to two. Butt's went after he passed away because it upset Bradley by being left there. Goober's was next to go, I decided since he didn't use it there was no need for it. He never ever drank out of the water bowl and no one else did either. He is a spoiled child and has to eat in front of the TV, so no need to keep a feeding station in the kitchen for him. Tub's leg is too bad for him to get to the kitchen anymore, so he eats in the living room with Goober. I can't get rid of his feeding station though because his is the only water bowl anyone will drink out of. That leaves Pogo to eat alone in the kitchen, which he is fine with, he won't drink out of his own bowl though. I don't know where they get their weirdness from :)

The House with a Broken Heart

Ever since the first time I drove by this house I have loved it. Last week I drove by and traffic wasn't too bad, so I slowed to take a picture. I'm sure someday that it will be completely gone, so I will have a memory. It always makes me sad to see abandoned houses and I wonder the story behind them. I was talking to a friend today and he reminded me of a poem that AJ Covington recited to John Boy on the Waltons. I Googled it and it describes "my house" perfectly. And if I did have bottomless pockets I would so love to give this house another chance at life.

The House with Nobody in it
a poem by Joyce Kilmer

Whenever I walk to Suffern along the Erie track
I go by a poor old farmhouse with its shingles broken and black.
I suppose I've passed it a hundred times, but I always stop for a minute
And look at the house, the tragic house, the house with nobody in it.

I never have seen a haunted house, but I hear there are such things;
That they hold the talk of spirits, their mirth and sorrowings.
I know this house isn't haunted, and I wish it were, I do;
For it wouldn't be so lonely if it had a ghost or two.

This house on the road to Suffern needs a dozen panes of glass,
And somebody ought to weed the walk and take a scythe to the grass.
It needs new paint and shingles, and the vines should be trimmed and tied;
But what it needs the most of all is some people living inside.

If I had a lot of money and all my debts were paid
I'd put a gang of men to work with brush and saw and spade.
I'd buy that place and fix it up the way it used to be
And I'd find some people who wanted a home and give it to them free.

Now, a new house standing empty, with staring window and door,
Looks idle, perhaps, and foolish, like a hat on its block in the store.
But there's nothing mournful about it; it cannot be sad and lone
For the lack of something within it that it has never known.

But a house that has done what a house should do,
a house that has sheltered life,
That has put its loving wooden arms around a man and his wife,
A house that has echoed a baby's laugh and held up his stumbling feet,
Is the saddest sight, when it's left alone, that ever your eyes could meet.

So whenever I go to Suffern along the Erie track
I never go by the empty house without stopping and looking back,
Yet it hurts me to look at the crumbling roof and the shutters fallen apart,
For I can't help thinking the poor old house is a house with a broken heart.

Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary

I was listing a candy dish that says "50th Anniversary" tonight on Ebay. It made me think back to the other night when I shadowed at the nursing home. Two different rooms I was in, there were pictures saying "Happy 75th Anniversary" One was a widow on her own and another was a couple still together, they were both in their 90's. I thought to myself how lucky are they to be still together after all these years!!! The picture in the couple room was the photo from when they first got married. They looked so happy, the entire wedding party looked very elegant. How I wish I could have sat and talked to them about that day and the days since. What was it like when they got married? Were they in love? Was it a family arranged wedding? How much has changed since they first got married? Are they still in love? Or did they stay together all these years because that was how their generation was raised? And so many more questions.

In a way it makes me sad, because I will never know that kind of long time love. If I was lucky and got married right now, I might be able to eek out a 25th Anniversary, maybe even 50, but I probably wouldn't have a clue it was actually happening and 75 that is just out of the question. I guess for now I will just enjoy each month Anniversary I get with Jim and hope to be counting years someday with him.

I raise my glass to all the couples that have made it together through good times and bad. And if your looking for a 50th Wedding Anniversary gift, well you can even buy my glass.

Happy 50th Anniversary Glass