A Journal of My Days: 1/22/24

The theme for this year is “Laser focused, hunkered down and spending as little money as possible.”  

Let’s see how we did this week …

In the Garden:  I continued to thin carrots and pull spent plants from containers and raised beds.  The spent plants went to the chickens and the thinned carrots went straight into the compost bin.  The thinned carrots went into the compost bin instead of to the chickens for two reasons, (1) the compost bin is located really close to the raised bed and (2) there really wasn’t enough to make the effort to walk down to the chicken coop!  At any rate, they didn’t go to waste, and will return to me in the form of food via compost. 

I’m doing a garden seed swap with an online friend.  I’m excited about this as it is a way for both of us to get something we want for our gardens for the cost of postage.  Have you noticed the price of seeds? If so, you will understand my excitement.  Remember our theme for the year: ‘laser focused, hunkered down and spending as little money as possible?’  This is a perfect example of what that looks like in real life.

The seed testing, I did on old 2019 cabbage seeds gave me one seed that germinated out of about 50.  That’s not enough return on my time to make it worthwhile so I’m going to toss them in the compost heap!  Hey, maybe they’ll germinate there!!!!  (I’ll keep an eye out, you know … just in case!)    I have more old seeds to test so it’s on to the next selection.  (This year I’m testing and clearing out all our old seeds.)

In the Kitchen:   Last week when I canned turkey, there was one jar that didn’t seal.  This week I took that jar, drained the broth off and used the turkey to make turkey salad.  I make a very simple turkey salad:  (all ingredients are to taste)

Cooked, chopped turkey

Chopped onion

Sweet pickle relish

Miracle Whip salad dressing

I just mix it all up and refrigerate.  I’ve been enjoying a turkey salad wrap for lunch this week and it is quite tasty!  According to my calculations, ¼ cup of this turkey salad and a low carb tortilla wrap comes to 151 calories, which I might add are quite delicious calories!  I don’t know about you, but I want my calories to taste DELICIOUS!

We must not forget about the broth though, what did I do with it?  I put it in a freezer container and froze it to be used in future soups, stews, etc.

(air fryer potato wedges)

 Remember that 50-pound box of potatoes hubby got on a great sale, here’s how I’ve used them thus far:

 Baked potatoes

Potato salad

Homemade French fries

Air fried potato wedges

We’ve still got about 40 pounds to go, so stay tuned as I work my way through this big box of potatoes!  I’m pretty sure I see some potato preserving in my future …

In the Pantry:  My preserving day this week was on Tuesday … what did I preserve … lemons!  Yes ma’am!  You can read the post I did on the process and details HERE, but in a nutshell, I added the following ‘lemon’ products to my pantry:  lemon ice cubes, lemon zest, and then made lemon vinegar cleaner with what was left.

What I’m Reading:  I’m about halfway through re-reading Delay, Don’t Deny by Gin Stephens.  It’s been a good reminder as well as encouragement for me.   

I also read How to Stitch an American Dream by Jenny Doan.  I enjoyed this book so much that I read it all in one sitting! (The Libby app that I read it on said I read it in 1 hour and 11 minutes!)  

I read and am reading both of these books on Libby the library app for free!

Health/Fitness:  I want to talk a little bit about intermittent fasting.  I am doing the 16-hour fasting with an 8-hour window for eating.  I can’t really say that it’s helping me lose any weight, but what I can tell it’s doing is helping curb my appetite.  It’s helping me feel more in control of my plan.  If it does nothing else, intermittent fasting is worth that to me.  I do not do what is called a ‘clean fast’ meaning that during the fasting hours you only drink water, unsweet tea or black coffee.  I may work up to that at some point, but that’s just not where I’m at right now.  Throughout my fitness journey I have done things in baby steps and that’s what I plan to continue doing.  Any changes implemented will be introduced one baby step at a time, regardless of how long it takes.

Bargain and/or Loss Leader Shopping:  We’re staying out of the stores as much as possible, so none this week!

(possible quilt coat pattern)

From my Sewing Nook:  I’ve been going through my patterns, and I think I’ve decided on the one I’m going to use to make my quilt coat.  I want the coat to be big and boxy and I found an old Vogue pattern that fits the bill on which I can make a few modifications on the length, etc.  I’ve still got a few patterns I haven’t checked through yet, so I won’t make a final decision until I do, but I’m leaning heavily towards this Vogue pattern.

Continuing Education and or Skill Building:   Let me tell you about a skill I’ve set the goal of learning over the next 7 days.  You will probably think it’s funny, but here goes …

We have a nice air fryer!  It is the second one that we’ve had.  The first one I gave to my daughter, because we just didn’t use it (It had been given to us by someone who it had been given to that didn’t use it either.).  About a year later, after reading so many good things about them and after seeing one on sale, I decided that I wanted to try again, this time with more intention!  I think I’ve used it once!  Well, it’s time to learn how to use it or rehome it, never to be replaced.  (Space is at a premium in our house, items don’t stay that don’t get used!)

(air fryer chicken thighs)

I was talking with a friend via email about my ‘just sitting there taking up space’ air fryer, as she has one and is a faithful user of hers.  I mentioned that I needed to start using it or rehome it.  She gave me lots of inspiration and pointed me to a website that had a whole section on cooking with an air fryer.   

Long story, short is that I’ve committed to use ‘Mr. Air Fryer’ every day for 7 days and then make a decision about whether I’m going to keep it or rehome it … never to be replaced if rehomed.

Here’s what I’ve prepared so far and what my opinion of it is …

On day 1, I cooked chicken thighs in it … they were delicious!

On day 2, I cooked potato wedges … Yum!  Yum!

On day 3, I cooked Bratwurst … Not bad at all!!!

I have four more days to go and then it’s decision time!  I’ll let you know in next week’s ‘A Journal of My Days’ post, what the decision was.

Bible Study:  I signed up to audit a women’s Bible class being taught at the Christian university my husband attended.  (It was a free offer!)  The title of the class is Women Teaching Scripture and I’m looking forward to learning ways to improve in my Bible class teaching to women and children.

In addition:  with these cold frigid temperatures we’ve had for the last week, can you believe that our temps are going to be in the mid to upper 70’s this week?  That’s going outside and doing garden prep kind of weather!  Bring it on!

That’s it for this week,

until next time,

mrs. patsi @ A Working Pantry

She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27 

Sharing 44 years' experience of frugal, prudent living and pantry building 

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