My Tireless Retirement – Week 163

 

Hello my friends!  After a busy Friday at work I headed home for an even busier day at home on Saturday.  I ticked quite a few items off of my Housekeeping Checklist by cleaning, purging and reorganizing my spice and coffee cupboards and then washing down all of the cupboard doors and the walls around them.  By the time those tasks were completed they looked amazing.

 

Clean, neat & tidy 😊

Next up was to pull out the fridge to wash the walls and floor as well as vacuum the vents on the fridge and wash down the top and sides.  Then I slid it back into place.  I also went through everything inside and did a little spot clean.  I ran a load of my regular laundry followed by two more loads of throws and decorative pillows from the living room.  I checked those items off my list.

 

I am on the hunt for a new doormat
I also need to touch up the paint where the kitty scratches

Planting flowers!

Mother’s day was on Sunday and I enjoyed a quiet and relaxing day.  I headed off to the nursery to pick up some bedding plants to fill my flower pots.  I ended my day with good food and an even better dessert to celebrate my career as Mom.

 

This T-bone was huge

A warm weekend gave way to much cooler temperatures on Monday and Tuesday.  I worked both days continuing my checklist projects before I headed in to work my afternoon shifts.  Wednesday and Thursday I did not work so I had much more time to tackle a few more tasks on my list which included some cleaning of the downstairs bedroom carpet.  I grabbed my little carpet cleaner and was able to spend a fair bit of time in there throughout the days cleaning the carpet section by section, just like eating and elephant.  Over the course of two days I had it all done, smelling and looking fresh and clean.

 

Daisy loves it when I clean

Along with cleaning the carpets I am also making my way through the house to do some decluttering.  I added a set of sheets to a large worn out grocery shopping bag I had saved just for this purpose as well a cute little truck and camp trailer for a fairy garden that a friend had gifted me.  I don’t have a fairy garden and I am not planning to make one so I will pass this along to someone who does.

A fun surprise!  I came home one day to find those tiny little sugar ants crawling all over the kitchen counters.  After smooshing them all and cleaning the counter top I set out two little piles of borax onto the counter, one on each side of the sink, for about a week and they were  gone right away.  No more ants.  Thank goodness!  To be extra sure I also sprayed some ant spray the yesterday under the kitchen sink and behind the dishwasher where I thought they might be coming in.

 

Love this!

I love to decorate with an American patriotic theme from Memorial Day through Labor Day.  At work on Tuesday our thrift store received a donation of the cutest patriotic porch and garden décor from a local grocery store floral shop.  I picked up a tin ribbon and two whirly gig picks for the bargain price of $14.  I hung the ribbon up on a wall of my front porch and then put one pick in my porch flower pot and the other one in the pot by the coop.  So cute and festive.  I love them!

 

Mother's Day dessert - a brownie bite with a dab of ice cream

I hope everyone is doing well.  Our weather continues to be temperamental so I am doing a combination of indoor and outdoor tasks right now depending on whatever the day brings.  Did you have a nice Mother’s Day?  Have you planted any flowers yet?  I’d love to hear what you did this past week.

 

For Better Or Worse

 

We might as well assume and accept that things are going to get worse before they get better.  It really doesn’t matter who the president is these economical situations just take time to work themselves out.  The good news is that we’ve done it before and we made it through then, we’ll make it through this one too.

 

In hard times we tighten our belts, lower the thermostat, drive less, travel less, shop less, use the clothesline more, eat more soup, stretch and make do with what we already have.  We can glean, swap, barter, trade, work for and grow a lot of the things we need on a daily basis.  Often we can make what we need by recycling or repurposing something we already own.  For us crafters, we all have a stash of something we can work off of.  In essence we become more resourceful and we waste nothing.

 

Some of us have an extra room so we can take in boarders to bring in a little bit of money and share the expense of utilities.  Others of us work a part time job.  We can start a food or meal co-op where we all bring something we already have in our freezer or pantry and then leave with a variety of premade freezer meals.  Sometimes a trip to a food pantry can make all the difference and alleviate some uncertainty.

 

There are programs available to help with groceries, heating bills, medical and dental care.  Your area senior center is a great resource to aid in finding the help you need.  If you can give to or help others then by all means please do so.

 

Need some ideas on how to lower costs and save money?  There are countless bloggers and vloggers who love to share their ideas, knowledge and experience with others.  Google and Youtube are a great place to get started if you need to research a topic.  So is your public library.  Learn all you can.

 

Above all, recognize that we have limited control over the economy, but what we do have is a lot of control over how we navigate these particular times.  Maintaining a positive attitude while practicing gratitude and knowing that with all things, these situations are only temporary.  In the meantime do all you can to ease your life and make it comfortable.  With patience and good stewardship, better days are ahead.

 

My 2025 Gardening Season Has Begun - Sort Of…

 

I don’t want to plant a vegetable garden this year.  I’m just not feeling it, with so much that has been going on lately (more on that later because right now I might just come across like a raving lunatic), so I decided not to.  I also think it is because of having to have the dying maple tree removed and the giant gap it has left in my landscaping.  I miss my gorgeous tree so much so instead I want to simply work on taking care of the mess that was left behind after the removal and make things pretty again.

Lots of good choices

Someday I would love to add a hydrangea to my yard

As per usual I filled my flower pots over Mother’s Day weekend.  That is my launching point for gardening season.  I added a new flower pot this year.  After replacing my enamel water bath canner last year I am repurposing the old one for the backyard.  I drilled a few holes in the bottom for drainage, filled it with potting soil and planted flowers.  I think it turned out quite cute and fits the theme in the backyard nicely.

Off to a good start!

When I got home I used my drill to add drain holes to this old canner

 

What to do with the vacant space where the maple tree used to live is something I’ve mulled over quite a bit over the winter.  I think I’ve decided to plant fruit trees there.  In doing so I’m creating myself a mini orchard with the apple tree, a new peach tree, a new plum tree and the pear planted in a row along the fence.  I’m excited for the future produce these trees will be blessing me with.

 

I sure miss my tree, but this area is going to get a total revamp

Making progress!

Once the trees are planted I’m also going to bring the curved garden beds out further and increase those spaces.  I want to add more perennials to the garden beds as well.  In the fall I may add more bulbs too.  I’m in no rush to get it all done this year.  I plan to work on it little bit by little bit.  By fall it will look a little differently around here, but it will be simple, nothing too fancy or overlyspectacular.

 

The coop is looking snazzy!  I love the canner there 😊
I think the girls approve!

Do you have any big garden plans this year?  Are you landscaping or planting a garden?  Have you had to remove trees or shrubs and what did you do afterward?  Please share any summer yard or garden projects you have coming up and we can all inspire each other.

 

My Favorite Keto Cheesecake

 

This past Easter Sunday I served up a lemon blueberry cheesecake and it was absolutely delicious!  I typically will make my cheesecakes using this Keto recipe and no one I have ever served it to thinks it is a low carb sugar free dessert.  It tastes absolutely sinful and I get rave reviews every time.

 

Low Carb Keto Cheesecake Dessert 

8 oz. cream cheese

1 envelope unflavored gelatin

1/2 cup boiling water

1/3 cup sweetener (I use monkfruit or stevia)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup whipping cream 

Set cream cheese out until it is room temperature.  In a medium bowl beat whipping cream with a mixer until stiff peaks form.  Set aside.  In a small bowl dissolve gelatin in boiling water.  In a large bowl beat the cream cheese until it is smooth, no lumps.  Continue beating on low speed and drizzle in the gelatin mixture.  Once blended add sweetener and vanilla.  Fold in whipped cream until well blended.  Pour into 9 inch pie plate.  Chill in the refrigerator four hours or overnight.  Serves 8. 

Approximately = 2g carbs, 21g fat, 3g protein per slice (plain).

 

There are so many varieties of flavors I like to do with this recipe: 

Raspberry – substitute one small pkg. sugar free raspberry gelatin for the unflavored gelatin and sweetener.  Fold in a cup of frozen raspberries before pouring into pie plate. 

Strawberry – substitute one small pkg. sugar free strawberry gelatin for the unflavored gelatin and sweetener.  Fold in a cup of fresh or frozen of sliced strawberries before pouring into pie plate. 

Lemon Blueberry – substitute one small pkg. sugar free lemon gelatin for the unflavored gelatin and sweetener.  Fold in a cup of frozen blueberries before pouring into pie plate.

 

Add just a little more decadence with a sour cream layer across the top: 

Sour Cream Layer - mix one packet of sweetener into a half cup of sour cream.  Spread across cheesecake and chill until set.

 

I will often make my cheesecake without a crust, however if I do feel like I want a “graham cracker” crust I have that covered too. 

Low Carb No Bake Crust – Stir together ¾ cups almond flour, two packets, sweetener and ¼ cup (half stick) melted butter in a bowl until crumbly.  Press crumb mixture into a pie plate and chill in refrigerator while you make the cheesecake. 

This recipe makes eight nice servings and if you feel the need to “gild the lily” just a bit you can add a nice dollop of whipped cream on top as well.  Oh, yeah!  Give this easy no bake cheesecake a try and let me know what you think.  Crust?  No crust?  Either way I think you will really like this recipe.

 

My Tireless Retirement – Week 162

 

Hello everyone!  I began this week in retirement with a very busy and hectic day at work.  It was great and I loved it.  Tons of activities going on including a big pottery sale and a blood drive.  We had loads of new people coming in to check things out and get a tour and our thrift store was hopping as well.  It was a great day!  I came home exhausted and very glad I had planned ahead so dinner was quick and easy to put together and get onto the table.

 

Our weather changed on Saturday.  The morning sun gave way to clouds and then we got dumped on later that evening.  It was quite a storm.  I managed to get quite a few small tasks completed and then decided it was a good day for us to work a jigsaw puzzle and watch movies that evening.

 

Sunday was windy and cloudy.  I got the laundry done – clean sheets and towels, tidied up a bit around the house and then spent some quality time in my kitchen with a little meal prep to set myself up well for suppers for the beginning of the week, I worked Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.  I made a pot of egg drop soup for a quick light lunch with salads.  I also made a delicious chicken pesto pizza for supper which my houseguest loved and so did I.  It was very good.

 

I did manage to carve out time to deep clean the fireplace 

I worked a lot this past week, and to be honest, it was my saving grace.  I needed the distraction from the drama that has been taking over my life in recent months.  I’ll be sharing more about that later on, but suffice it to say – I Love My Job!!!  So this is a very short and late weekly post because sometimes monkey wrenches get tossed into your life and you just have to roll with it.

 

Take care my friends and here is to a quiet weekend, a Happy Mother’s Day and much love to you all.  Cheers!

 

 

Put It Down

 

Are you a nomophobe?  Does the thought of losing your cell phone give you cold sweats and keep you up at night?  Are there callouses on your thumbs and forefinger from endless text messaging and scrolling?  Do you dream about the next great upgrade?  Do you go into sheer panic when you realize you left the house without your phone?  And then turn around and go back to get it?  Even if it means you’ll be late?  Is your cell phone and the case you keep it in fancier than your car?  Does it have a name?  Do you love your phone more than your first born?  If so, for the love of all that is holy, put it down!

 

All joking aside, the majority of cell phone users have an unhealthy relationship with their device.  Many are addicted to it to the point that it never leaves them.  Ever!  The mere thought of putting it down causes such emotional and physical anxiety they simply cannot do it.  But the fact is, hanging onto it all the time causes even more stress and anxiety than they could possibly imagine.

 

Consistent cell phone use leads to sleep loss, unhealthy behaviors, low self esteem, increased stress and anxiety, agitation, mental health issues, low physical activity, unhealthy habits, poor nutrition, physical injuries, car accidents, the list goes on and on.  Why do we invite this into our lives? 

 

Don’t believe me?  Research it.  For our own sake and sanity we need to put them down and take a break.  We all need to take breaks from pretty much everything, except for maybe breathing, but for the rest we need take time away.  Nothing in excess is ever good for us, including oxygen, so put down the phone.  It is amazing how much better you feel when you do.

 

My unhealthy relationship with my phone is that I wish I didn’t have one.  I don’t like what they do – eavesdropping, tracking, distractions, targeted advertising, loading game apps without my permission, etc.  I hate intensely dislike them and everything they represent.  In retaliation I have a very basic android with a very basic pay as I go plan.  It is used for phone calls or to text someone a message and for them to answer me back.  Please don’t send me memes.  I have never set up my voicemail and I don't want to.

I will admit Google Maps comes in handy on occasion unless it gives me the wrong directions and gets me lost in which case I will curse it like a sailor.  I rarely use it for anything else.

 

I don’t live for my phone and I don’t expect it to live for me either.  I can leave the house without it and I am completely fine with that.  In fact, I feel FREE whenever I do that and I do it often.  If I let it go dead and miss half a dozen phone calls or a dozen text messages I don’t care.  Sorry, but I don’t.  I also know that I am not the norm.  “But what if you need to make an urgent call while you are out?  There are no payphones?”  Seriously?!  I know that everyone around me has a phone and will call 911 if something bad happens.  And film it too.  Yeah, there’s that.

 

My favorite things about my phone are Airplane Mode and Do Not Disturb.  Sometimes I forget to take those off.  Oops!

 

The average person spends 4.5 hours a day on their phones.  Not me!  We are not friends.  I have more important things to do like eating, going to the bathroom (no way is that puppy going with me!), clipping my toenails, taking out the trash, getting a colonoscopy, just about anything you can think of.  If I go outside to check the mail my phone stays in the house, somewhere.  I do not need to know where it is at all times because I don’t care.  There is no endless stash of selfies on my phone either.  I know what I look like and that I’m good looking, I don’t need proof.

 

My phone is just another tool, kind of like a screwdriver.  When I need it I use it and when I don’t, I don’t.  To be perfectly honest, on any given day, I’m more apt to have a screwdriver in my hand than a phone.  How about you?  How important is that cell phone to you?  How much time do you spend mindlessly scrolling on your phone each day?  Are you a nomophobe?

 

Thrifty Meals - Lunches & Dinners

 

In order to enjoy things like steaks, salmon fillets and shrimp and still stay on budget I like to intersperse a lot of thrifty meals into my meal plans, especially if I’m feeding a crowd which I tend to do from time to time.  I also make a lot of soups as I really enjoy a good soup, salad & bread meal.

 

Meatloaf is something I really enjoy and even though the cost of meat has gone up in price substantially it is still on my thrifty list because I buy my ground beef and pork when it is on sale and freeze it in half pound portions.  I make my meatloaf with a half pound of ground beef and one pound of ground pork with diced onions, minced garlic, grated carrots and zucchini, a little bit of oatmeal and an egg as my binder, plus ketchup, Worstershire sauce, some spices and salt & pepper to taste.  Served with baked potatoes and a can of green beans makes it a complete meal and I usually have plenty of leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day or two.

 

Chili is another one of my go-to meals.  I use two cups of dried beans which I soak overnight (or not) which keeps the cost even lower than if I used canned beans (unless I can them myself) a half pound of ground beef, pork or turkey, some diced onion, minced garlic, a can of diced tomatoes with chiles, a can of tomato sauce and some spices like chili powder, ground cumin and salt & pepper.  I will brown the meat with the onions and garlic, drain off the fat and then assemble everything in my slow cooker on high until the beans are tender.  Leftovers freeze very well and can be used to make chili & cheese stuffed baked potatoes.  Top with a bit of sour cream and you have another thrifty, yet tasty lunch or dinner entrée.  Chili dogs with homemade fries – yum!

 

I think we all can agree that spaghetti is another wonderful and thrifty meal.  I brown a half pound of Italian style sausage as it adds a lot of good flavor and then add a can of tomato sauce, a can of diced Italian style tomatoes as well as some minced garlic and dried basil for a simple tasty pasta sauce.  Served over cooked spaghetti and sprinkled with a little bit of parmesan.  Fabulous!  Leftovers freeze and reheat very well.  Using different pastas like linguine, penne, rotini or farfalle can fancy it up a bit.  At least we always think so, ha, ha.

 

Leftover spaghetti sauce and pasta can be made into a quick and easy pasta bake.  I put it into a dish and sprinkle a cup of grated mozzarella over the top and a bit of dried basil, then give it a spin in the microwave for about five minutes or until it is heated through.  My kids always loved it.  A simple lettuce salad with some grated carrot or a can of green beans complete this meal nicely as well.

 

Crack chicken is another budget stretching meal that I can easily make up and serve a few different ways.  I place a large chicken breast half into my slow cooker and allow it to cook in its own juices until it easily shreds with a fork.  Add a block of cream cheese and a cup of salsa, enchilada sauce or a half cup of buffalo wing sauce.  Once the cream cheese melts I stir it all together and serve it over steamed rice, as a filling for tacos or burritos or as the topping on a taco salad.

 

Tuna is another economical item I incorporate into my meal plans.  Creamed tuna over biscuits, tuna schooners or tuna salad are all great options.  I make my tuna salad with a little bit of mayonnaise, some sweet relish and a chopped hard boiled egg.  Served on some really good homemade bread with lettuce and cup of tomato soup – quick and easy.  I make my tuna casserole with shell shaped pasta and peas to make it just a bit more “fancy”.

 

I am just getting started with these thrifty meal ideas so look forward to more posts in the future.  In the meantime feel free to write in the comments what your favorite thrifty meal is.