This Month's Grocery Spending - September 2022

 

I think I did amazing this month.  Once thing I can say is when it is primarily just one person, you sure go through a lot less stuff.  And apparently I did a good job stocking up before I retired because I'm pretty much eating out of my freezers and pantry and so far I've yet to make much of a dent.  I even pulled out six packages of Italian sausages from the chest freezer in the garage and canned them up and you can't even tell I did that.  The freezer is still FULL.  I don't know how that works, perhaps a little divine intervention at work here… I dunno.

 

All of these got canned up with some onions, pepper & tomatoes

I only did two shopping trips this month.  At the beginning of the month I did a big produce run to Winco and picked up a lot of really good fresh and frozen veggies.  I worked on those pretty much the entire month and still have some of the fresh produce left in the fridge.  Green and purple cabbage, carrots, an onion and most of the celery as well as a lemon cucumber a friend gave me.  Most of the frozen veggies are still in the refrigerator.

 

My first shopping trip this month was to stock up on vegetables

After weeks of no grocery shopping I popped into Dollar Tree and picked up a couple loaves of the Keto bread I like.  They don't always have it so when I saw it I grabbed two loaves for the freezer.  At $1.25 a loaf it is far more affordable than paying the $6 they charge for it at the grocery store.

 

A couple days later I went and stocked up on cheese, got a bag of mandarin oranges, pecans, cream and for the first time in quite a while I picked up some deli meat along with a package of smoked sausages they had marked down.  Pretty much everything I got in this trip was on sale and I had coupons to go along with.

 

This was pretty much all stock up items on sale

My final tally came in at only $66.10 for the entire month which included a lot of vegetables and several stock up items that I got for a really good price.  I was quite happy with that.  I ate really well and enjoyed the meals I prepared.

 

I got a lot for not a lot of $$

Along with canning the sausages I also did some meal prepping and put up some freezer meals which I have in the kitchen freezer for quick and easy dinners.

 

Look at all this fast food 😁

I think that because I did so well this month and am pretty well stocked at the moment I won't need much at all in October.  I may just have to challenge myself to a super low spend month.  I'll think on that and we will see how well I do.

 

I got these for $3.99 each

Anybody else get some super good buys this month?  As we head into the holidays is there anything you are hoping to stock up on?  For me its nuts - walnuts and more pecans.

 

Making Fall Pillow Covers

 

I had shared with you that a couple weeks ago I went to Hobby Lobby for some fun goodies, one of which was a yard of this adorable fall themed fabric to make some pillow covers for my living room.  These are super easy and very inexpensive to make.  You can make up a couple of these in no time.

 

I began by cutting my yardage in half up the crease lengthwise right along the fold to make two equal sized pieces.  Then with an iron I turned over and pressed 1/4" along the top and bottom edge of one piece and straight stitched across that fold.  Then I turned it over and pressed again 3/4" along the top and bottom and straight stitched 5/8" from the edge across the top and bottom making a neat hem for the pocket of the pillow cover.

 

Simply hem the top and bottom edges

Once I had done both ends I pressed the entire piece then folded the top down 11 inches, right sides together, and the bottom up 9 inches so they overlapped.  I pinned along the sides and then stitched straight down on each side using a 5/8" seam allowance making sure I caught any selvage edge inside my seams.

 

Only two hems and two side seams

You can trim your side seams with pinking shears if you are concerned about them fraying

Lastly I turned the cover inside out making sure to get the corners nicely turned out.  You can clip the corners if necessary to make them crisp, especially if you use a thicker fabric.  I gave the cover a nice press before inserting my pillow form inside.  Just repeat the same steps with the other piece to make a second cover.

 

A travel pillow I had purchased at Wal-Mart

The pillow easily slips inside

I use travel size pillows as my pillow form for these covers.  You can find them at most Wal-Marts and on Amazon.  I have Christmas themed covers made too.  The fabric was on sale for $4.99 a yard so two pillow covers at that price is a bargain making it very affordable to make a cover for each of the holidays all year long. 

 

If you are interested in another pillow project I have made click here.  Happy sewing!

 

 

My Tireless Retirement - Week 25

 

Somehow in all my travels the previous week I picked up a nice little stomach bug to start off this past week.  I awoke Sunday with horrendous stomach pain along with the general feeling of being unwell.  Not at all how I was hoping to get started with my day, but sometimes that is just how it goes.  I spent all of Sunday resting and slowly eating toast with 7-Up and later in the day I was able add some canned soup to my menu.  Looking back I was pretty sure this was starting up the day before because I was feeling like the wind had been knocked out of my sails while at the park Saturday.  It had hit me full force by early Sunday morning.  By Monday morning I was doing much better, not tip top, but much improved.  One thing I was really grateful for was not to have the added stress of being well enough to go to work or not. Retirement is very nice in this respect.  I do hope none of you ends up getting this crud.

 

I did a Christmas craft for my front porch

Monday afternoon I was feeling so much better.  I worked on some fun holiday craft projects which I'll be sharing with you in some upcoming posts.  It's that time of year again!  So much fun was had.  On Tuesday I got caught up on my chores and laundry and then placed an online Home Depot order using a gift card I had earned by doing surveys for some supplies to complete some projects I would like to get done before winter sets in.  It was very nice to get those supplies for FREE!

 

Dollar Tree had my bread in stock so I grabbed a couple for the freezer

Wednesday was my errand running day.  Normally I do my errands on Tuesdays, but I had ordered a book from the library so I waited until they had it ready so I only had to make one trip.  I made a loop and went to Dollar Tree where I picked up a replacement glass for one that had broken sometime last year, I think.  Now I have a complete set of four once again.  The liquor store is practically next door so after being told I "was dangerously low" on vodka, apparently there is less than a shot in the old bottle, so I picked up a new bottle.  Next I stopped by our neighborhood thrift store and dropped off my small pile of donations, which always feels good.  Then off to the library to pick up the book I had ordered and drop off the DVDs and all of the books I had read.  Lastly I was off to Wal-Mart to return something and buy something else before making the trek back home before the storm hit.  I just made it too.

 

I made this fun quilted Halloween pillow

Thursday I went hiking and stopped at Home Depot on the way home to pick up part of my online order that was ready.  Friday I stayed home and just puttered around the house.  Saturday I finished running my errands by visiting two grocery stores.  I had pooped out on Wednesday and with a storm looming I decided to call it quits.  Probably still not quite ship shape from being sick on Sunday.  Anyway, once I got everything put away I hopped on my bicycle and went for a ride.  The weather was perfect and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  I finished out my day by watching Fried Green Tomatoes that evening and then heading off to bed.  Oh man, that is such a great movie.  If you've never seen it, or it has been awhile, I heartily recommend.

 

A great day for a bike ride

I hope it was a great week for you as well.

 

The Current State Of My Health

 

I'm going to start off straight away by saying I am doing great.  It has been nearly eighteen months since I had my last two myocardial infarctions, heart attacks, whatever you want to call them.  I was 56 years old at the time and in no way was I expecting to have this happen.  I was in the best shape of my life and my bloodwork was impeccable.  It was a shock for me and everyone else that this happened.  For those that don't know about any of this, I'll try to do a brief recap.

 

In January of 2021, while doing dishes, I had what I thought might be some kind of a cardiac event.  I had some pressure in my chest and what felt like a band tighten around the middle of my left forearm.  It lasted just seconds so I made an appointment with the doctor and she sent me for some tests which showed a possible mild myocardial infarction and detected that I have chronic tachycardia.  The cardiologist I was referred to put me on medication and after some adjustments it seemed to be working.

 

On April 6th, while in a staff meeting, I had heart attack number two and I knew it was more than a mild one.  I quietly slipped away to my office cubicle, called my cardiologist and the nurse sent me directly to the ER.  I calmly told my co-workers I was leaving the office and drove to the ER.  Yes, I drove myself, I know that was stupid, but that was the frame of mind I was in.  I parked, walked into the ER and told them why I was there.  No one seemed to be in a rush because no one there really thought I was having a heart attack because I looked completely fit and normal.  I didn't have to wait, but they took their time checking me in and walked me all over the ER until they found a room in a back corner to stick me in.  After checking my vitals and hooking me up to a monitor they drew blood and left me alone for half an hour.  Then all hell broke loose once the blood results came back and it was confirmed that I was in distress.  I was put on a heparin drip, admitted and shortly after midnight I had attack number three and that one really hurt.  They ended up giving me fentanyl for the pain and were surprised by the dose that it didn't knock me out, but it didn't.  It did relieve the pain however and that was a relief since I'd been in heart attack mode since 11:oo the previous morning.

 

Many tests and doctors later they found an undiagnosed defect in my heart I'd had since birth but no direct cause of the heart attack.  Because it was during a pandemic they surmised it must be viral and that is what they labeled it.  I was doubtful of that diagnosis, but went with it.  After a four day hospital stay I was discharged home and more tests were scheduled and more things were discovered like the fact that I also have Fibromuscular Dysplagia and my arteries are messed up.  No one in Idaho specializes in this disorder, in fact most doctors have never heard of it.  So in October I ended up at the Mayo Clinic for two weeks and was finally able to get things sorted out.

 

This place is amazing!

It has been nearly a year now since my visit to the Mayo clinic and at the end of August I had my latest visit to my cardiologist.  It has been a long slow process, but the treatment I've been on for the last year has been working, quite well in fact, and I've made remarkable progress.  I am no longer under any restrictions with my activity and can resume my normal activities.  I am thrilled with this news and I literally got back to my life that very day.  And!  I don't have to go back to see him for one year!  That is huge.

 

It feels so good to be where I'm at right now but I've got some work to do.  I'm not in the same physical shape I was before, far from it, so I'm going to have to build myself back up and that is what I've started to do.  I immediately went on my first hike in my brand new trail shoes.  Before I was only allowed to walk on flat surfaces and slight inclines so hiking in the woods or the foothills was off limits.  I ordered a fresh can of bear spray so I can safely head into the woods once again and I'm super excited about that.

 

I do have one surgery in my future, but we are in no rush to do it.  In fact, we aren't going to discuss it further until my visit with him next year.  The reason for the surgery is because eventually the medication I am taking will start to lose its efficacy over time as my body gets used to it.  We can up the dosage if we need to, but eventually it will stop working.  I want to address the root of the problem and have the surgery, just not right now.  First I want to get into the best physical and emotional condition I can and then I'll get it done.  That way I'll have the best possible outcome and a better recovery.  So I have some work to do and I'm excited that I get to do it.  You are now up to date.

 

The End Of A Busy Summer 2022

 

My favorite seasons are spring and summer.  I do enjoy fall too which is good since it officially begins tomorrow.  While there are plenty of things to love about winter time, it is darker and cold and my least favorite of them all.  But once it is over we are back to my favorites again.  This summer was a busy one for me.

 

Beginning in May while it was still technically spring, I started on my long list of projects with the big re-landscape of my yard and I pretty much  finished up with purging and cleaning up my backyard.  I still have more things I want to do outdoors, but for now I am quite pleased to have finished everything I had planned to do this year.  While my gardening endeavors didn't quite pan out as I'd hoped I'm still happy about everything else.

 

In May my youngest daughter graduated high school and subsequently moved out on her own in July.  Thus, I became an empty nester.  Another huge project I tackled was to renovate and redecorate her bedroom after she moved out with new trim, paint and carpet as I got used to the idea of living on my own for the first time since 1985.  I'd say it took me a good month before I was fully comfortable with it and I can honestly say I do love it.  I'm really embracing this new chapter in my life as for the first time ever I am completely on my own schedule.

 

In between projects I've been crafting.  I started building a dollhouse, making miniatures, doing my greeting cards and other paper crafts, drawing, crocheting, embroidering, rehabbing some dolls and I have been sewing, all with reckless abandon.  Indulging in the hobbies I love to do feels so frivolous and I'm just thrilled to be able to do these things much more often now.

 

I'm spending more time with my friends while dealing with the loss of one of my dearest friends that passed away in June.  She and I had plans once I retired and sadly we didn't get to do any of it, but I'm ever so grateful for all the things we did do together before.

 

My birthday dinner with wine, chocolate & a mum

I've begun to make regular trips to my local library to check out books and have been reading each night before bed.  I've started going to the movie theater for the first time in years and I've even gone out to eat a few times.  I went to the fair all by myself and had a wonderful time doing only what I wanted to do.  I celebrated my 58th birthday, started hiking again, went to Art In The Park which I haven't done in ages and I'm riding my bike a lot too.  My life is much less stressful and a lot more fun.  I don't miss my job.

 

Art In The Park event

I'm doing more, working harder and am busier than ever and I'm loving every bit of it.  I'm excited for the next season this year and my next chapter.  Life is genuinely good.

 

 

My Tireless Retirement - Week 24

 

Oh my gosh what an amazingly productive week I had.  I began on Sunday waking up exhausted from everything I had done the week prior so I spent the majority of the day in my recliner with my feet up watching movies.  Monday I wasn't feeling much better surprisingly, even though I had a good night's sleep the night before, however by the end of the day I figured it out when a migraine reared its ugly head.  And on Tuesday and on Wednesday and again on Thursday.  Grrrr.  I hadn't had a migraine in a very long time so I guess it was time, but this one was a booger and it was hanging around as if we were friends.

 

Damned you migraine!  You will not defeat me!!

I was not about to give in to that stupid migraine so I persevered and got on with it.  All week long I would work on something for a little bit, then take a break.  Then work again and take a break and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I was able to accomplish.  It was amazing!

 

Monday I canned 18 pints of sausages and peppers to add to my long term food storage.  Only one of those pints failed to seal so I was good with that.  I just added it to the fridge and figured out how I would use it up when I did some meal prepping in the coming days.

 

I did get my errands run on Tuesday and I even went to the movies and saw Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris.  I loved it and it was exactly what I needed to lift my spirits and the fog that you get with one of those nasty headaches.  I went to the library and picked up a DVD before going to DSW with a$10 OFF coupon I had received in the mail and picked up five pair of hiking and padded trail socks for only $20.  Those puppies can be expensive so I was thrilled to get them.  My feet will be thrilled too.  Next I went to Bath & Body Works with a coupons I had receive in the mail and treated myself to a couple candles that were on sale, a bottle of shower gel and a pumpkin marshmallow latte scented foaming hand soap for the upstairs bathroom.  Then it was off to the feed store to pick up a 50# bag of chicken feed and some dried meal worms to set aside for the girl for Christmas.  They are still working on the bag I got them last Christmas.  Next it was the movie and then on the way home I stopped in at Wal-Mart to pick up some miscellaneous items on my list.  I was pretty impressed I was able to get all that done.  I'm sure having a long break at the movie theater was my saving grace.

 

Wednesday afternoon I went to Hobby Lobby and picked up some fun stuff for future projects I have planned, few new Fall pieces, as well as a new tabletop Christmas tree on sale for 50% OFF.  One of those projects I have planned is actually a result of something I saw there that I fell in love with, but it was outside my price range.  More on all of this later in some upcoming posts.

 

On the way home from Hobby Lobby I stopped and got my $25 monthly allotment of gasoline.  This time I put it in my car.  I had just under a third of a tank and now I have just over three quarters.  I used my fuel rewards card to save 3¢ per gallon paying $4.36 for 5.78 gallons.  Still a ridiculous amount to pay for gasoline, but I won't complain since I'm doing fine and have plenty to get me where I need or want to go.

 

One of the things I wanted to accomplish before winter hit was to finally finish purging the garage and get it reorganized.  I have been steadily working on this project all summer.  Wednesday and Thursday I went through a ton of stuff and listed a bunch of items for FREE on the Facebook Buy Nothing Group I belong to.  It all went and I was thrilled!

 

Thursday I cleaned and reorganized the garage - again - and for the first time in never it looks truly amazing!  I have so much extra space out there now that I can actually work on some projects out there instead of having to do them outside.  This will be so nice, especially if the weather is yucky.  It feels so good to get rid of stuff I don’t need or want anymore.  While I was waiting for someone to stop by for a pickup I was able to plant three chrysanthemums.  Two in my flowerbed near our big tree and another one, my birthday mum, in the pot I previously had pansies in.  They look so pretty.

 

Friday I woke up with just a hint of that migraine.  Mid morning I put on my new socks and my trail shoes and went for a hike in the Boise Foothills.  The weather was perfect.  After lunch I went outside and did some work in the backyard near the chicken coop.  Details coming on that.  Then I had some supper and a settled in for a quiet and restful movie night watching the DVDs I had borrowed from the library.

 

Saturday was a fun day as it was Museum Day and I had a FREE ticket to the Old Idaho Penitentary.  I always look forward to this annual event.  Afterwards I was off to my favorite park for a picnic lunch I had packed and a walk through the nature center.  By the time I was done eating though I was pooped out so I opted to sit in the sunshine next to the Boise River instead and just be.  It was a fantastic day!

 

Throughout the week I meal prepped not only the meals I ate last week, but also several freezer meals to put in the kitchen freezer.  I want to use my kitchen freezer for meal prepping so I can store freezer meals, side dishes and bags of frozen fruits and veggies.  I want the chest freezer out in my garage to be used for long term storage of meats, seafood, cheeses, breads, extra vegetables and butter.

 

Freezer meals I made including using the pint of sausage and peppers that didn’t seal along with some leftover sausage I had from the week before to make Pizza Bake.  I used ground turkey to make red sauce enchiladas and pork sausage to make Lasagna Bake.  I added riced cauliflower to the lasagna sauce to keep it low carb instead of layering it with noodles.  This recipe is what I use to make my Lasagna Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms.  I also added riced cauliflower to the pizza bake just to boost the nutrition.

 

Other things I got done include pulling the A/C units from upstairs and getting them stored away for the season, a few items on my quarterly checklist completed, my regular housekeeping and laundry, did quite a bit of writing, read a book, had company over for wine and a visit, did some more Fall decorating, cleaned and reorganized the refrigerator and freezer in my kitchen, brewed a batch of beer, made a pan of brownies and did some surveys to earn points toward another Home Depot gift card.

 

Friday's Movie Nite

Looking over the past week I cannot believe I got done as much as I did while sporting that stupid migraine.  I hate to think what might have happened if I didn't have one.  I would've probably run myself completely ragged.  Now you know why I titled this blog the way I did.  Ha, ha, ha, ha!

 

I hope you all enjoyed a spectacular week.  Let me know what you've been up to.  I love hearing from you.