What's For Dinner? New House Edition

 

Now that I am settling into a new daily routine I find myself taking on a bit of a change in not only my eating habits, but also the way I’m planning and preparing my meals.  I still create meals based on what I already have on hand in the house, but instead of having an actual meal plan or meal prepping batches of food I’m following more of a repetitive eating plan.  I learned about this from a Youtuber I enjoy watching.

 

One of the biggest changes I’ve made is to have one big meal a day about mid afternoon and then a small snack in the evening if I’m feeling hungry.  Because of this I only need to prepare about two meals per week.  One of the first meals I wanted to prepare once I had a workable kitchen again was a pot roast cooked slowly all day long in my slow cooker.  I wanted potatoes and carrots cooked in the roast juices as well as buttered green beans alongside of that roast.  Topping it with delicious mushroom gravy took this meal right over the top and was a perfect way to break in my new kitchen.

 

The next meal I made was stuffed bell peppers with baked potatoes and a green salad on the side.  I used red peppers and stuffed them with pork sausage filling and baked them in the oven with the potatoes.

 

One evening I used some of the leftover roast to make shredded beef quesadillas.  A small dish of salsa with a spoonful of sour cream made a delicious dipping sauce.

 

I took the last of the roast, chopped it up along with some mushrooms and onions and sautéed that altogether.  I added the leftover gravy, some milk, garlic powder and dried parsley and allowed it to simmer while I cooked a cup of bowtie pasta.  I stirred in a half cup of sour cream along with the cooked and drained pasta and served it with leftover vegetables on the side.

 

Something I haven’t made in a very long time was BBQ ribs.  Labor Day seemed like the perfect day to have this meal.  I slow cooked the ribs all day in my Crockpot and then added some BBQ sauce near the end of cooking.  I served it with macaroni & cheese as a side.

 

Once the leftovers were cleaned up I put together ingredients in my little Crockpot to make pasta sauce.  I was planning to make spaghetti for my birthday at the first of the month, but I had so many leftovers I decided to wait.  I enjoyed my spaghetti dinner with a nice salad on the side.

 

I also made this scrumptious BLT one day 😋

Like with the pot roast I am doing my best to stretch meat and turn leftovers into new meals.  As always I am making sure food isn’t going to waste, especially with prices being so high on groceries right now I feel it is even more important to curb food waste.  Getting creative with preparing meals and having an idea in my head or jotted down on paper of what I want to do each week helps a lot.  How do you think I did?  What meals have you been preparing?

 

My Tireless Retirement - Week 233

 

Today marks four weeks already that I have lived in my new home.  I guess time really does fly when you are having fun and I can attest, I am really having fun.  It has been a month of steady productivity setting this place up as my functional and cozy home, but it hasn’t felt like an overwhelming process.  My approach to moving and ultimately moving in has been to just take each day as it comes and to do what felt right at the time and so far it seems to be working rather well.  I call it my “free flow” approach to life.

 

It was amazing to me how much a simple little bookcase, one I’ve purchased before and then sold at my estate sale, can change a closet and make a huge difference.  I was able to re-purchase this bookcase at Wal-Mart and use it to store items that had previously taken up five different banker boxes.  Fantastic!

 

My final September shop

Another thing I managed to do last week was to complete the restocking of my kitchen.  I am thrilled that I was able to do this so quickly and for very little money as it turned out.  I’ll go into more detail about this project in my monthly grocery wrap up.  I think you will be impressed.  I know I am!

 

It required one of these.  Just wait to see what I did with it. 😁

The really big project this past week was to start setting up my new laundry area.  I’ll go into more details in a separate post, but so far it is coming right along.  As you can well imagine, having the ability to do my laundry at home rather than at a Laundromat is one of those things I truly appreciate. It will be a bit of a process to get done and I am eager to share the completed project with you.

 

Wednesday was a full on rainy day, perfect for staying home, lighting a candle and enjoying my new little home so that is exactly what I did.  It was nice to sit and watch the rain come down and flow down the road toward the big drainage wash nearby.  It was a lot like having creek front property.  I love a good rain.

 

Blessed with some freebies 😊

Thursdays are the day I will walk my trash down to the dumpster and then pop into the clubhouse to see what is on the FREE table.  I was told the local food bank drops off their leftovers on Thursday so it is fun to take a peek and see if there is anything I can use.  Last week I picked up a two pound bag of dry pinto beans, a pound of navy beans and a can of green beans and a can of diced tomatoes.  The week before, my first visit, I picked up a can of pumpkin, an onion and a package of powdered milk.  I don’t take too much and only what I feel I will use so there is plenty left for my neighbors to enjoy.  I also get a FREE copy of the local newspaper too.

 

I made some delicious refried beans 😋

And with that another simple week in retirement came to a close.

God Met Me At Costco

 

The day after accepting the offer on my house and going under contract I found myself at Costco where I was getting a tire pressure sensor replaced on my car.  While waiting I decided to treat myself to a hotdog and soft drink, something I hadn’t done in years.  Still $1.50!  As I sat in the food court preparing to eat my lunch I prayed to God for guidance and thanked him for all that He had blessed me with.  I had a lot of decisions ahead of me to make and I knew that I really needed His help.  This was going to be a big change to my life in a way I hadn’t exactly planned and I always liked to have a plan.  At this moment in time I didn’t have one.

 

The place was crowded, it always is, and a gentleman asked me if he could share my table.  Of course I said yes expecting to sit in awkward silence as we ate our respective lunches, but to my delight he engaged in conversation.  We chatted between bites and he mentioned he had a small farm on the outskirts of southeast Boise with a large garden and some animals.  I asked him what kind of animals and he told me.  I don’t know what made me do it, but I asked him, “Do you have any interest in perhaps adding three new chickens?” to which he replied, “My wife was just saying she wanted to get a few more.”  I told him about my girls and we exchanged numbers so he could talk to his wife and let me know.  That afternoon I received a call from his wife saying she was very interested and I sent her a photo of the hens.

 

The next morning I received a text from the gentleman saying he and his wife had discussed it and they would love to adopt my girls.  I was beyond thrilled.  They came a day later and picked them up and took the time to visit with me before they left.  In the process they shared with me some of their experiences with moving and offered me a lot of encouragement.  It was exactly what I needed to hear that day, every word of it.

 

Later I received a photo of the chickens exploring their new home and they looked so happy and content.  I knew in my heart and soul it was simply meant to be.  I thanked the Lord for placing these wonderful people in my path and for giving me that chance encounter at Costco while I ate a hot dog and waited for a tire pressure sensor to be replaced on my car.  Thank you God, so much, for meeting me at Costco.

 

Setting Up My New Bathroom

 

The first room in the house that I tackled was the bathroom.  I scrubbed it clean, disinfected the surfaces and then started to move in my things.  This bathroom is small, about half the size of my previous one, and has a shower with no tub.  First thing, I ordered a teak shower bench so I can sit while shaving my legs.  It’s safer this way.

 

At Wal-Mart I selected some new towels and a rug for the floor.  I decided to go with soft shades of green to decorate my little bathroom and I think this color compliments the wood cabinets and the floors quite nicely.  The rug is super soft on my bare feet.

 

Under the sink I have a bin with bath towels and a bin with hand towels and wash cloths.  In between I have a skinny bin to hold my flat iron and some hair accessories.

 

For extra rolls of toilet tissue I ordered a holder that clips onto the toilet tank.  I thought that was rather clever.  Between the toilet and sink I have just enough room for the trash can which I can line with plastic produce bags.

 

I added a Command adhesive hook on the back of the bathroom door for hanging my pajamas or a wet towel to help keep things neat and tidy.  And that is basically it, my tiny little bathroom in my tiny little home.  It’s comfortable to use and suits me rather well.

 

Restocking My New Kitchen

 

As you might imagine, decluttering my previous home and getting ready to move included the kitchen in a very big way.  I had to completely dismantle and rehome my long term food storage (LTFS), everything in the freezers and the refrigerator.  I sold the freezers and the shelving that had stored my home canned items.  The recipients of that bounty, my friends, were very happy to receive these things, although for me it was a bit bittersweet.  Yes, I was blessing a lot of people, but I was also saying good bye to a lot of planning, procuring and hard work.

 

This is what I brought from home

I went through my old kitchen and chose only the items I wanted to take with me and let the rest of it go in the estate sale and by donating items to the neighborhood thrift store.  I packed some dishes, cookware, bakeware, silverware and utensils, my favorite vintage Pyrex pieces, some food storage containers, some Mason jars, a few appliances and I let the rest go.  I also packed up one banker box filled with spices and condiments, another with canned and dry goods and a third with a very basic starter pantry.  I was also able to use my 12V camp fridge set on the freezer setting to bring some of my Butcher Box meats while the rest went to my lucky friends.  That was it as far as the food.  It was all I could bring.  The food items came with me in the car while the other boxes and a bin of canning jars went into the U-box.

 

As soon as I could I fired off a new Butcher Box order to refill the freezer.  I was able to redeem points and credits to shave off quite a bit from the bill and in addition to my regular items I was also able to purchase four packages of lean ground beef and four packages of breakfast sausage on sale.  That order was the perfect starter to this next chapter.

 

Thank you Butcher Box!

A trip to Wal-Mart allowed me to buy a few things to supplement and add to what I had already brought with me.  I focused on fresh and frozen basics like eggs, cream, sour cream and vegetables.  My plan is to take my time restocking so I can buy items on sale and at best prices without blowing the budget or overspending.  

Some home canned goods came with me

It will definitely take me a little while as I now live in a small town and grocery prices are a bit higher than I am used to.  So is sales tax.  But, I’m sure I will manage it just fine.  As you know, I’m always up for a good challenge so I’m just going to consider this a fun challenge and enjoy the process.

 

My Tireless Retirement - Week 231 & 232

 

Slowly I find myself settling into my new home and surroundings quite nicely.  Things are getting organized and put away, I am able to cook regularly in my cute little kitchen and I’m starting to loosely build my new daily routines.  My one constant through all of this has been keeping up my morning coffees.  I even bought myself a nice new coffee pot.  I’m not addicted, just committed.

 

I've started to hang up my wall art

Once the U-box was picked up and removed from my driveway it really felt like I was officially moved into my home.  In the shed there are plenty of bins and boxes to unpack, but for now I am settled in enough that those items can wait a bit.

 

I am at that stage where I can slow down and unpack at a more leisurely pace

I’m learning my way around town as I figure out where to shop for groceries, buy gas for my car and, of course, where the local Home Depot is located.  We have a Wal-Mart, a Safeway, Dollar Tree and a local supermarket we’ll call Benny’s.  Not a lot of shopping options, but sufficient nonetheless.  What I’ve noticed about all of these stores, including Home Depot, is they are much smaller and more compact than what I’m used to.  Online shopping is filling in the gaps.

 

Cherry limeade margarita - delicious! 😋

On my birthday I celebrated by taking myself out to lunch and enjoying a fun cherry limeade margarita.  Then I picked up a tiny chocolate birthday cake and a carton of vanilla bean ice cream.  It was a simple relaxed day and absolutely perfect.

 

Jack is settling in just fine

As Fall approaches the sunsets have been coming earlier and earlier.  I love to sit on my porch and watch as the sun goes behind the mountainside and disappears.  The El Nino this year has brought warmer than usual daytime temperatures, but the nights are nice and cool.  Right now our highs are in the mid to low 80s.

 

I bought some new plants!

Getting all of the bills I’d accumulated in the move collected and paid was a huge relief.  It has been a very long time since I’ve had bills like that, but it was good because everything I had made by selling my truck and motorhome plus the proceeds from my estate sale was exactly what I needed to cover those expenses with enough leftover to set me up nicely in the new house and cover those extra costs including utility deposits/fees, groceries, new carpet as well as some new furniture and appliances, mainly a washer and dryer.  That blew my mind.  What a blessing!  I am so very thankful.

 

Dude!  What are you doing up there?!

Labor Day weekend I gave myself permission to be a bit lazy and rest up after the big push to get moved and then moved in.  I had no particular agenda and just did whatever I felt like doing.  It was nice not to feel pressed to do stuff and be overly productive.

 

Mums just speak of Fall to me

I visited the nursery near my house and was able to add some new plants.  Nothing quite makes a home like something green and alive.  I potted up a magenta chrysanthemum to sit on the table next to my porch rocker.  I can see it from my living room window as well.

 

A new pothos

One of my neighbors informed me that naptime is a requirement in this community.  Admittedly, Jack and I have had a few catnaps together in the recliner mid afternoon a couple of times.  He's doing his best to get me trained. 😉

  

I got my ghosties out because I just love them so much 😊

The remainder of the week was mainly spent puttering around the house as I continue to unpack a box here and there.  I was able to get some of my artwork hung up on the walls.  I’ve also been organizing and re-organizing spaces to make them more efficient and workable.  It’s all a process.

 

A new peace lily

Thank you so much for all of the well wishes, birthday wishes and words of encouragement.  It has truly meant the world to me.  It makes this journey so much more fun when you have others to share it with.  Have a great weekend and I wish you a fabulous week ahead.

 

Moving Into My New House

 

Once I closed and accepted the keys I was all about giving that house a really good clean.  It had sat empty for a short time, the previous owner was a bachelor and the hired cleaners that were supposed to show up before the place was even listed didn’t.  The bedroom carpet needed to be replaced as well, it was dirty and worn out in several places.  The condition of the home made for very good leverage to get this place for the price I wanted to pay.  I made sure to adjust the price accordingly and offer to take care of cleaning, replacing the carpet, as well as a few minor repairs that should’ve also been done.  I offered much less than it was listed for, so it took a bit of persuasion by the realtor, but in the end I won my case.  😉

 

The bathroom was by far the dirtiest room in the house

Even though I’m pretty handy I did have an inspection done to make sure I hadn’t missed anything and thankfully that turned out uneventful.  With that completed I was able to move forward with closing knowing I only had to tackle the things I was initially thinking I would need to.  A little bit of touch up paint, a couple plumbing repairs and a lot of cleaning followed by tearing out the old bedroom carpet and installing something fresh and new.  I also needed to remedy the makeshift laundry situation, which I will go into more in depth later on.

 

I was so grateful I thought to bring rags and
cleaning supplies with me in the car

This carpet had to go!
Dog pee stains near the door made it non-negotiable! 😟

The U-box was delivered about a week after I closed and I was able to empty that out placing my neatly labeled bins and boxes in the rooms where they belonged.  Then slowly and methodically I began to unpack and put my things away.  I’m sure, knowing me, I will still be arranging, rearranging and reorganizing for a while, not to mention finding things to get rid of and wondering how that item made the cut.

 

Much better!

The kitchen got a good scrubbing and some minor repairs

My camp mattress worked out perfectly as my temporary bed until my new one arrived.  Bringing my camp bed and sleeping bag along in the car allowed me the option to check out of the hotel and start sleeping in my new house right away once I was done cleaning.

 

Jack made himself right at home on the camp bed 😆 

Gotta love move-in chaos! 😦

I’ve been going room by room to put my things away and make this place into a home and I can tell you it feels wonderful to be here.  I’ve already met some of my neighbors too.  I am so very happy I made the leap and took it on faith that it would all work out and be just fine.  Honestly, it is better than I ever could’ve imagined.  It is so good to be home!