From My Home to Yours
~ We've said 'no' a lot this week ~
With medical bills rolling in and one of our once-a-year bills coming due, this month has been one where we've had to literally watch every penny while making everything count stretching it as far as it will go. Consequently, we've said 'no' to a lot of things ...
we've said no' to ...
eating out
grocery shopping (made possible by our well-stocked pantry)
unnecessary purchases
and unnecessary driving
We said 'yes' to using our personal allowances for the things we did have to purchase.
Is it fun to say 'no' to ourselves, nope, but by hunkering down for a 'season' we've been able to pay our bills ... monthly and the one yearly one that came due this month and pay the extra medical bills. Let me tell you that that felt so good! We both are in agreement that the sacrifices we chose to make were and are well worth it!
Those two little words, 'yes' and 'no' are doozies that carry great consequences in our finances! It's up to us whether they're good or bad ... depending on our self-control!
For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and love and self-control. II Timothy 1:7
I made a big pot of spaghetti sauce from scratch using part ground beef and part ground pork because that's what I had. I had some pepperoni slices and cut a few of those into pieces for added flavor. I seasoned it with home-made Italian seasoning spice mix. It was delicious and while I was making, I made enough for another meal!
I harvested more nettles. Take a look at my simple labeling system ... a piece of freezer tape with the name of the item written on it stuck to the side of the colander. This helps me remember what it is after it's dried. So many herbs look similar once they are dried and if you're drying more than one, it can be a problem to remember which one is which!
In the garden, our potatoes are coming up ...
She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27
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What kind of nettles are you harvesting, Patsi, and what do you do with them? We've never had good luck with squash in our area. Too many squash bugs, unfortunately! Enjoy the beautiful weather!
ReplyDeleteJennilee, I don't remember the variety of nettles I planted. It was several years ago, and they are a perennial, so I haven't needed to replant them. I use them in the following ways: dried and powdered to go in my greens mix, as an ingredient in herbal remedies, and as an ingredient in homemade broth.
DeleteThose squash bugs are a menace for sure, I tend to plant enough to get enough for our needs and just work around the squash bugs.
We have a month where lots of bills become due at the same time and it is not fun! Well done for staying on track.
ReplyDeleteI have kept squash for months just by putting them in a cool, dry place. I also make marrow chutney from an old family recipe.
Like you, I am also trying to keep myself healthier. I try to do some stretches and/or weights every day and have recently worked in a few more exercises. I can't stick to regimented exercise routines, but just doing bits here and there, wherever I can work them into my day, seems to work much better. It also means that I don't feel guilty if I miss a day. I just do a bit more the next day if I can.
Tracy, good for you for doing what you can in your efforts to be healthier. Our health is dependent upon a lot of factors, some we can't control. But like you I am working on those that I can control and honestly that looks different in different seasons of life. We have to be realistic and know what we can and can't do or will and won't do, but something is better than nothing ... or at least that's my motto!
DeleteLove reading your posts. I am transplanting cabbage and lettuce today and starting my tomatoes. Our potatoes have not popped up yet and onions need fertilizer. Do let me know about the sauerkraut because let’s say things move slowly and sometimes not at all through my gut. Praying you both stay well.
ReplyDeleteDiana, thank you, you are just so encouraging to me! At the moment, I'm consuming probiotics in 3 ways: kefir, sauerkraut and kombucha. I try to have some of each every day and after adding probiotics to my daily routine for over a year now, I can see a difference in my overall health. While I still get sick from time to time, it's not as often and doesn't appear to be as bad. I've always read that your health begins in your gut and I'm coming to believe that is true for me. I don't have all the answers and I'm the first to say that there is not a one size fits all answer, but so far, the decision to add probiotics to my diet daily has been a good one for me.
DeleteThis post is very inspiring and such a great reminder that watching your pennies can really add up! It also makes me want to attempt to grow something :)
ReplyDeleteDebbie, thank you for your encouraging words, pick something easy to grow that you will enjoy eating and jump in ... for me, gardening not only saves us money, but it is quite addicting!
DeleteHappy Spring!
ReplyDeleteCheryl, I hope you are enjoying a beautiful spring in your area!
DeleteI'm with you. I'd rather say no and be able to cover all the bills, too. It is such a good feeling to get t all taken care of. I haven't found a way that we enjoy later for preserving squash. We don't have any success with growing it but our neighbors keep us well supplied! Last year I did find that it keeps for weeks in the fridge because they pick it and bring it right over. Those little bee bags are adorable.
ReplyDeleteWe enjoyed a visit from some friends and enjoying hearing about their work in Africa and they are early 80's and still serving faithfully. The very first time we met them 31 years ago she gave me a dozen eggs from their chickens and we have been friends ever since.
We cherry picked some great grocery deals and cashed out iBotta for about the same amount we spent so no cost out of pocket this week for groceries.
Lana, you are a master shopper!!!! I loved reading about your friends and their work in Africa and especially their ages. It is my heart's desire that I can continue working for the Lord where He plants me for as long as there is breath in me. I never plan to retire either!
DeleteSaying no is sometimes hard, yet in the end it's worth it. Love the bee fabric, it's so happy!
ReplyDeleteWendi, yes, saying 'no' can sometimes be hard, but like you said, the end results are so very worth it. Stay tuned for what I'm doing with those 'bee' bags!!!
DeleteCongratulations on getting bills paid! I know that denying ourselves hurts but it's so necessary, these days especially. Last week I 'harvested' leaves from a very leafy bunch of celery and dried them. I puttered in my potted garden and found four herbs are returning. I bought 5 items from the dollar store (a fairy, a gnome, a windmill, a well, a signpost) for $5 and have harvested moss from my yard to make a fairy garden. My 5-yr old granddaughter is so pleased that we're going to do this.
ReplyDeleteBut my biggest 'savings' this week has been staying OUT of the grocery store.
Terri, I love it that you are making memories with your granddaughter!
DeleteIsn't it exciting when you discover the first signs of your perennials (in this case, herbs) returning! I get so excited!!!
Having been through a "season" like that, financially, it is such a good feeling when things are paid off. Such a good reminder of how to handle unexpected bills and get them paid in full. I shred zucchiini squash and freeze it in 3 cup bags, so I can have it ready and measured for quick breads in the winter months. For hard squash, I just keep them in a basket in the garage and they'll keep for the winter and into spring. I got 4-6 small acorn squash and 4 butternut squash last fall and, earlier this week, noticed one starting to get soft. My grandparents always kept a bushel basket in the garage, covered with burlap. As winter progressed, they'd move the basket from an outside wall to the interior of the garage, and if there was a really cold spell, they'd move the baskets to a corner in the basement.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, thank you for sharing your preserving tips for squash. That's a good idea to shred and preserve in packages the size you will use for specific baking items. I really like the tips about how your grandparents stored winter squash. I'm adding that to my notes!
DeleteHappy Spring! It's still pretty cold in my area but looking forward to planting season. I know you have much on your plate but I want to ask you if you have a recipe or blog you follow on making your sauerkraut that you would share with me. I looked in your recipes but I was unsuccessful in my hunt. Thank you in advance.
ReplyDeleteLaurieS, I use the same method as this lady ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3CJFzmRhvI
DeleteI added the link to the post. It's really easy and I think quite good! Happy Spring to you too!