Two Beef Steaks = Many Meals

 

I had two sirloin steaks pulled from the freezer to thaw.  I like cooking with sirloin because it works so well in a variety of recipes.  Although the package said petite sirloin, these were nice sized.  I seasoned and cooked them in my cast iron skillet with some olive oil.  Then I let them rest before slicing them into strips.  My first meal was to have steak with sautéed green beans, also from the freezer.

 

The next meal was to place strips of steak over a delicious salad I made with a nice bed of greens and topped with diced tomato, shredded carrot, sliced hard boiled egg and balsamic vinegar.  I added a pickle on the side.

 

Shredded cabbage, carrot and sliced onion and peppers plus some more frozen green beans stir fried in olive oil was the last recipe I prepared.  I seasoned it with soy sauce and minced garlic, tossed in the remaining sliced steak and topped it with a drizzle of sesame oil.  This made enough for three meals for me and it was delicious.

 

I bulked up each of these dinners with a lot of vegetables.  Two steaks, five delicious and healthy meals.

 

My Tireless Retirement - Week 19

 

Sunday morning was so nice and cool I got outside early and worked in the yard a bit.  My main goal was to start some new compost.  I turned the "outgoing" compost pile and topped it up with the "incoming" compost from the other side, turned it again and thoroughly watered it since we really haven't had much rain to speak of.  In the "incoming" side I added an Amazon box, the stuff from my kitchen collection bucket and the yard debris I collected that morning.  Then I gave it some water and topped it with some of the established compost to get it all started.  I am amazed at how much compost I've made this year.

 

My first shopping trip this month

Monday was another super hot day with temperatures over 100°.  I decided to head out early that day and do a quick produce run to Fred Meyer.  However, when I got there I was not impressed with their meager selection of fresh vegetables or the quality of what they had.  The prices were terrible as well.  I think it is the first time I've ever left there without purchasing anything, but it was that bad.  I decided to make the drive to Winco and was very glad I did.  Not only was the produce beautiful but the prices were more in keeping with what I used to pay a couple years ago.  That made me quite happy.

 

A nice full crisper drawer in my fridge

On the way home I stopped to put my monthly budgeted amount of fuel into the truck.  Last month I paid $5.16 a gallon so my $25 didn't go very far, but I did end up with about two thirds of a tank of full one the 4.85 gallons was added in.  This month I went in with just a hair under a half a tank of gas, paid $4.76 a gallon and left with just over three quarters of a tank of fuel in the truck.  My plan next month is to put gas into the car which is currently sitting with half a tank of fuel.  I know a monthly $25 gasoline budget isn't much right now, but I'm making it work.

 

These burritos were amazing

I created meals for the week using up leftover beanless chili from the week before which I added a jar of home canned black beans to.  I made Spanish rice to go with it and served it up for burritos for four meals and rice and beans for two.  I also made tuna salad for sandwiches to break up all the rice and bean meals.  Later in the week I used up a half pound of breakfast sausage I had in the freezer to make a breakfast hash with potatoes, eggs, onion and red bell pepper.  I used some of that same sausage to make a pesto pizza for two with green salads as sides.

 

I made a half recipe of my pizza dough (I can share that recipe if anyone is interested) and divided it in half to make two small pizzas.  I ended the week with another pizza to use up the dough and used a small container of reserved marinara sauce I had in the freezer.  Along with all of these delicious meals using up items I had squirreled away in the freezer I was able to use up leftover salsa, pesto, vegetables, hot sauce as well as the leftover chili from the previous week that were hanging out in the refrigerator.  My fridge is looking much less cluttered right now and I can kind of see some space opening up in the freezer.

 

She loves her little hutch I made for her

I tidied up the chicken coop and cleaned their water buckets.  I cleaned the bunny enclosure and washed her blankets.  I washed kitty dishes and ordered cat food that was on sale at Amazon so they are all stocked up for winter now.

 

The new printer is working quite nicely

I took inventory of my computer and laptop situation, made some decisions and ordered pieces and parts to extend the life of my current equipment so it can continue to be useful.  I am not quite ready to buy anything new right now.  I redeemed my Fetch rewards points for a $10 Amazon gift card to help shave some off the cost of these parts.  Also, I ran out of ink in my HP printer and it is no longer available (it won't accept generic or refilled cartridges) so I went ahead and set up the new printer I got last summer.  I was able to get it for free with a COVID grant I received from the school district along with an extra one year supply of ink cartridges.  I knew the HP was destined to no longer be viable, but the ink I already had for it lasted much longer than I anticipated.  I really expected to be setting the new printer up this past winter.  It is very nice and I hope to get as long out of it as I did the old one, we shall see.  I had the HP for over ten years, but I understand the Brother printers are pretty good.

 

I made some miniature toilet paper

I had a busy little week doing a lot of odd jobs around the house eating some great meals in the process.  I hope you all enjoyed a great week as well.  I'd love to hear what you've been up to.

 

The New Doll Room/Guest Room

 

When I began the bedroom renovation I initially had in mind of a simple little bedroom with a sweet 1950s vintage vibe.  But as I worked on this project putting up new trim, spackling the walls, caulking and painting my mind was filled with all kinds of ideas for what I could use this room for.  I am very fortunate to have a beautiful guest room downstairs with a dedicated crafting space.  And... now a bunny.  The bunny was not part of the plan, but kids move out and they don't always take all of their stuff.

 

I've redone the upstairs bedroom a few times and have enjoyed the work each and every time I've done it.  At first it looks so cute and darling and it stays that way for a good while, but eventually the room succumbs to a teenager and it is difficult for any room to survive that trauma.  I suppose I could have reigned in my kids creative license, not allowed them to have pets and stood over them with an iron fist "CLEAN YOUR ROOM!!!", but I didn't.  Yes, I nagged on more than one occasion about the mess, but for the most part I just let them have their space.  And as each child has left the nest I've fixed the damage they created in their respective rooms and continued on.  That's what parents do.

 

My first baby doll

And my doll trunk

This time around I'm doing it for the last time.  Any future messes and damage will be my own now.  Ha!  So as I worked in the smallest bedroom in my home I was filled with all the possibilities of what I could do in here.  And I decided, after much thought, to make it a space to display my doll collection and the handful of childhood toys I've kept all of these years, including a well loved teddy bear and my first baby doll.

 

My teddy bear was nearly loved to death
Rub-A-Dub Dolly & my Baby Beans

Crissy dolls are just the best! 😁

I selected my favorite fashion dolls that I've lovingly rehabilitated and dressed in clothes that either my mother or I have made for them.  Most of these dolls are wearing my creations and I've thoroughly enjoyed sewing for them.  I plan to sew more in the not so distant future.

 

I already had curtains for this room but, when I saw these
at Wal-Mart I thought they'd be just perfect and they are!

In 2021 I acquired another baby doll from my childhood to rehab.  A Rub-A-Dub dolly in need of some love and attention.  Due to a lost package situation I ended up with two of these babies when the lost one eventually showed up.  Never planned on having twins, but then who does?

 

My Dad made me this furniture for my Barbie doll one year for Christmas
My Mom made the pillows and a gorgeous wardrobe any doll would envy

And then recently I added to my collection by purchasing a Ken and Barbie doll.  I've never had either one of these dolls before.  I've had some Barbies (Malibu, PJ & Francie) and a wardrobe created by my mother that one would kill for, however by the time they made it through me and my kiddos they were pretty much toast and I let them all go a few years back.  Difficult?  Yes, but sometimes you have to cut your losses and bid them a fond farewell.  I always figured eventually I'd find some suitable replacements to add to my collection.  I'm not sure how I feel about this Ken I chose, but we'll see.  I do love the Barbie.  Formal introductions are coming soon.

 

This little trinket dish used to sit on my grandma's bedroom dresser

Stuffies my kids have given me over the years
The teddy bear was sent to me by my son while he was deployed to Iraq
It says "Hello from Mosul, Iraq" on the little T-shirt

I decorated the room with linens I already had, pillows and doilies I made myself, vintage lamps I collected and shades picked up at thrift stores and on clearance tables.  I purchased two new pieces of furniture at Wal-Mart, just two basic white bookcases which were much less expensive than the worn out damaged ones being offered up on Facebook Marketplace.  I also purchased a new mini blind and these darling curtains at Wal-Mart plus a cute yellow throw to dress up one of my folding camp chairs.  The bed I already had, it was my daughters, and the nightstand is one I got at a neighbor's yard sale ages ago and repainted.

 

I made sure to leave space to grow with some empty shelves

About twenty years ago I purchased this desk for I think $20, probably less actually, and I've been threatening to trash it for a while now.  But other than being ugly, it is still super sturdy and a great size.  I've used this desk, both of my girls have used it and after getting a bit of a facelift I'm using it again.  After a couple coats of Rustoleum Sweet Pea spray paint I think it fits the theme of the room quite nicely and will make the perfect spot to display a "dollhouse".  Of sorts.  That falls under the category of great ideas swirling around in my head.

 

It totally reminds me of how my mom decorated my room when I was a little girl (I had a chenille bedspread she had dyed pink) and it makes me feel so happy when I come in here.  I still want to find some cute artwork to hang on the walls.  I'd love to find some vintage 50s or 60s art pieces, something with that vibe.  I guess I'll have to do some thrifting.  Oh darn!

 

Mainly this room is dedicated to display my treasures but has the added benefit of also being a usable guest room for anyone who isn't creeped out by dolls and several pairs of eyes watching you while you sleep.  And I'll probably play in here with said dolls from time to time as I update their clothes and build them stuff and what have you.  It is safe to say, I've never really grown up.  And that is perfectly okay.  What do you think of my little girl room?  I think it turned out super cute.

 

 

A $7 Desk Makeover

 

This poor old desk is one I've been thinking should've been retired for a good long time, however, other than being scratched up and ugly, it is super sturdy.  And the perfect size for small spaces.  Plus, I really hate sending stuff like this to the landfill.  So I decided to keep it and give it a makeover.

 

Lots of scratches and wear

It's a little rough

After disassembling the top, slide out keyboard tray and bottom shelf I wiped it all down with a damp cloth and it was pretty much ready to paint.  Outside on a tarp I gave each of these pieces a good coat of Rustoleum spray paint in the color Sweet Pea that I purchased at Wal-Mart for $6.48.  Then I gave it another one.

 

1st coat!

Once it was dry all I had to do was put it all back together again and it was ready to go.  It turned out great and is going to be perfect for what I plan to use it for.  And I sure can't beat the price.

 

Much improved!!

Pink!  Oh yeah baby, because I've got plans for this piece of furniture.  But, you're going to have to wait for my next post to find out just exactly what that is.  Sorry peeps.  I promise it will be worth the wait.

 

 

My Tireless Retirement - Week 18

 

Our heat wave finally broke on Tuesday and we have been enjoying temperatures in the lower 90s instead of being over the century mark.  Pretty typical of our summers really.  I focused on keeping my flowerbeds watered and making sure the hens, kitties and the bunny were as comfortable as possible.  Lots of fresh water and even some ice throughout the hotter days for my feathered and furry babes and I made sure the bird bath was filled each day as well for our wildlife friends.  I got my outside chores done in the cooler early morning hours and spent the rest of my days inside working on various items on my "To-Do" list and crafting.

 

I patched the hole in my pantry door with Bondo and let it cure overnight

Once it was sanded and painted I drilled a new hole and it was good to go!
I love this new knob much better than the old one

My pantry has a bifold door on it and over the years the weight of the knob has worn the hole it is attached through quite large making it very loose to the point I can no longer tighten it.  I got out the Bondo and did a patch over the hole, both front and back, letting it cure overnight, did a little sanding, touched up the paint and then redrilled the hole.  I also replaced the knob with something much lighter and more in keeping with my current home décor.  Since I already had the Bondo, sanding block, paint and the knob this was a no cost fix. I'll let you know how my repair job holds up.

 

New doorknobs throughout the entire house

I think they are so pretty

Something I've wanted to do for a very long time is to update the door knobs throughout our home.  As I've replaced the doors in each room I've stuck the old 1970s knobs back on, even spray painted them once or twice, but I really didn't like them.  They were pretty ugly.  I've also had to replace knobs over the years so I had some that didn't even match.  Not anymore!  I finally figured out what style of doorknob I wanted to go with and ordered new ones from Amazon.  I love them!  Once they were installed I felt so happy.  It really is the little things in life that bring me joy.

 

On Tuesday I went to visit my co-workers, apparently they were missing me.  I didn't stay too long and on the way home I went to the cheap seat movies and saw Lightyear.  I figured, why not?  I can tell you right now - way too many kids in that theatre and since the movie was more appealing to adults than children in my opinion, they got bored.  Really bored.  I was a little disappointed in the movie myself.  Glad I only spent $1.50 and it got me out of the house.  After the movie I was in close proximity to Wal-Mart so I stopped in on my way home and stocked up on cat food as I'm beginning my winter stock up now.  They had the big bags I was hoping to find, the feed store was out, as well as a small selection of canned kitty food.

 

I did not do any grocery shopping and prepared meals using up what I already had on hand.  I've just about emptied the crisper drawer in my refrigerator so I'll need to do a produce run pretty soon.  I ate leftover egg drop soup and egg rolls for three meals, cooked up four sirloin burgers and ate those with a salad on the side for four meals and finished up a couple hot dogs I had hanging around with some homemade canned chili one night.  It had been a while since I'd had a chili dog and it was pretty tasty.

 

I made some miniature food for a dollhouse

Too much fun!!

I spent all day Friday hanging out with a good friend of mine.  We talked and laughed a bunch, tried to solve the world's problems over lunch and finally decided we have zero control over anything and threw up our hands.  But, we had a very nice time.  We even saw puppies, but had the good sense not to bring any of them home with us.

 

I also made this miniature crochet set

Another great week has completely flown by and now I'm onto another one.  Holy cow!  Time is flying!  And little ones will be back in school soon.  How crazy is that?  I hope everyone is doing well.  Take care my friends!

 

I Still Play With Dolls

 

I've loved my dolls since I was itty bitty and I played with them and took care of them a lot growing up.  As a teenager I packed up my treasured dollies and the loads of clothes my mother had made for them and we sent a huge box off to my younger cousin.  My mom had told my aunt these were on loan, but when my cousin outgrew them she packed everything up and dumped them off at the Salvation Army, forgetting she was supposed to return them.  When my mother told me this she was extremely upset, to say the least, so I put on a brave face and told her it was okay.  At the time I think it was far more upsetting for her than it was for me.

 

I rehabbed and dressed all of the girls on the top shelf.  I rehabbed the ladies
on the bottom shelf and my mother dressed most of them in her creations
The detail my mother put into their clothes and undergarments is remarkable

I never realized how much I missed my dolls until about ten years later.  My grandmother and I popped into an antique shop just to poke around and I saw one of my childhood dolls (not my actual doll) in there.  After going nuts over it we left the shop and as I was about to start the car my grandmother handed me a $20 bill and told me to go inside and get that doll.  I told her it was silly at my age and she strongly disagreed.  She had noticed how my face lit up and how excited I was to see an old friend.  So I went back inside the shop, I got the doll and I was very happy to have her.

 

I created a brand new space for my doll collection

Time passed and another ten years or so later I began collecting vintage dolls, dolls from my childhood, especially ones that were" in need of a mama".  I got into rehabilitating old dolls and I've sold several of those dolls on eBay and in my Etsy shop.  It is a lot of fun for me and truly a labor of love.  Nothing makes me happier than to rescue a doll destined for the trash and give her a complete makeover so she looks nearly new again.  Giving them a new lease on life and allowing them to be enjoyed once again.

 

This little darling arrived dirty and her hair was a snarled mess
Didn't she turn out lovely?

Life happens and as my daughter's got older and their extracurricular activities swallowed up more of our time I put my dolly endeavors on hold, but they were never far from my heart.  I've really missed the work of rehabilitation.  Well, the time has come to get back to it and play with my dolls again.  I am beyond excited.  This is the biggest reason I've pushed myself so hard the last few months to get things done around here.  I am one of those people that can't relax or play if I know there are things that need to be done around the house.  I have to get that stuff taken care of.  Now that it is I'm going to be using my time to focus more attention on the things I really love to do.

 

The two girls in the middle are ones I have rehabbed and redressed

The "girls" and I have been moving into the new doll room where I can display my treasures and enjoy them as they are meant to be.  I am creating various work spaces throughout my home for the different tasks I do to rehab a doll and I'm hoping soon to add some of these things to my Etsy shop, perhaps in time for Christmas.  I'm not going to pressure myself though, this is a hobby to be enjoyed and no stress is allowed.

 

Waiting their turn

I have dollies to wash, dollies to repair, clothing to sew, accessories to make and things to build.  Load of plans swirl around in my head all of the time of what I can do.  It often keeps me from falling asleep at night, no kidding.  So there you go, you now know a little something else about me (I never grew up).

 

I'm curious.  Any other doll enthusiasts out there?  What dolls are, or were, your favorite?