Been awhile since I last posted. I've been a bit depressed over my continuing unemployment. Four weeks of unemployment left. A 13-week extension is available but if I understand correctly, that kicks in after your initial claim period is over. My claim period started 04/08 and is not over until 04/09; however the money is all gone. Does that mean I have to wait for the extension until 04/09? We could very easily lose our home. Good news is that my husband has finally found a job. Pay starts out at $9 an hour, ouch, but it's better than what he was bringing in, $0.00. I continue to search every day, something will come in. I hope.
I planted a fall garden this year. First time for that. My spring garden didn't get plowed so I ended up planting the plant starts I had already purchased in a flowerbed. Unfortunately, it's on the semi-shaded part of the house. I have finally been able to harvest some tomatoes, long green chilies, jalapeños and some lettuce from the fall garden. Even my zucchini plant has not done well this year. It finally has 4 4-inch long fruits on it but as the nights continue to cool I don't know if I'll be able to harvest any. My fall garden consists of peas, 4 types of lettuce, spinach, broccoli, parsnips, turnips, onions and rhubarb with everything being seeds. Turnips came up pretty good - boy do I hate thinning turnips. Or anything for that matter. : ) Peas came up real good, best of everything. I've been out every day making sure their little vines reach and twine around the strings. I'm pretty sure its rabbits that found them and nibbled them down to the ground. No fall peas for me this year.
What didn't come up at all: parsnips, rhubarb, spinach and 3 of the 4 types of lettuce. A red leaf lettuce is finally growing but not in the rows I planted. It looks like the seed was blown in the wind. I'm guessing I must have planted everything too deep. I don't think onions are usually a fall crop but I had the starts so I planted them. Maybe half came up but they are only about 5 inches tall. I have no idea how long they will survive if a frost hits. Broccoli recommends starting seeds inside and planting starts. Next year. The seeds took a long time to come up and then those darn rabbits nibbled some of them. They are only about 2-3 inches tall.
Once again, if we had to live off of the garden we would starve.
The problem with the spring garden was not being able to get it plowed in a timely manner. The neighbor that always plows it for me sold his tiller and didn't get around to getting a new one. Lesson there is you shouldn't depend on others for the important things. My folks gave me their tiller that attaches to the back of the garden tractor. Took us a long while to figure out how to use it. Finally found the instruction manual on-line. It couldn't be used in the original garden as the tractor (this is a small riding mower type thing) couldn't get over all the barn waste I had been spreading around.
I picked a new spot and finally got it tilled. No fertilizer was added though and I'm guessing that's why nothing did well. I will be buying some for next spring. No barn waste though. Thistles have taken over the original garden and I'm guessing it's from seeds that passed thru my goats' systems. Lots of thistles in the pasture that the goats eat. I don't have thistles anywhere else so...
The new garden spot is small. I plan on tilling several small spots next spring and planting them. Maybe different types of beans in one spot and tomatoes and onions in another. I still want to till one more spot to plant winter wheat in. Probably during October as I plan on planting garlic in October to winter over. I also have 2 plum pits I've saved I plan on planting in the garden. They need winter before growing so I'm going to see if I can get them to do anything. I have 4 plum trees already but I love plums.
I picked walnuts yesterday for the first time. Not all are ready for picking yet so I'll be watching the tree every other day or so. I need to go on-line to see about how to dehull them (they are not black walnuts) and dry them. And my apples should be ready for picking pretty soon. Not sure what I'll be doing with them this year. Last year I made so much pie filling (froze it) that we still have plenty left. I don't care for dried apples much but applesauce sounds good. I'm thinking of trying to make apple cider vinegar from the peelings and such too.
My mother brought over her canner for me to use. It's an old one. It was my grandmother’s forever until she passed. I had the gage tested and it's good to go. I have the Ball Blue Book on canning for figuring out how to use it. It's a big, intimidating canner. I was thinking of canning the applesauce rather than freezing it and taking up freezer space. I also want to can a couple batches of this delicious lentil barley soup I make. Nothing like instant soup out of a can - home made can that is. I need some more quart jars which I can get from my mother. They are in the well house which used to be buried under blackberries. They had some well problems not long ago though so the berries are gone. I'd better get the jars before the blackberries come back. Hmm, maybe I'd better do that today.
In May I purchased 4 cords of green wood. It was delivered and dumped on the ground to start seasoning. We had about 2/3 of a cord left over after winter. I've been slowly, very slowly, stacking wood. We've had some rain of late, with more to come so I've been working on getting the rest of the wood stacked so we can cover it against the rain. I fill a wheelbarrow and then wheel the wood over to the stack. Back and forth. I've done 9 loads so far this morning but have lots more to do.
My plan was to have the wood finished this weekend. However. My mother is in the hospital (hopefully getting out today) from cancer surgery. I spent a good portion of Friday and Saturday at the hospital. Saturday was also the 4th birthday of my middle grandchild so after leaving the hospital I went to her party. She's really into being a princess and she certainly can do that after her party. Lots of lovely princess type dresses, shoes, tiaras - the whole bit. She had a castle cake made by my nephew's wife. Niece-in-law? Beautiful cake. Lots of food to eat. My hubby had to work yesterday (today too) so I brought him home a plateful plus enough for lunch today and maybe tomorrow. That's always appreciated.
It's supposed to be up to 83F today. I had planned on going back outside to stack more wood but now I'm thinking I'd better go get jars. My aching back will appreciate the break but, you know, winter is coming.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Home canned butter
I've been reading for several years about home canning of butter. Many people do it but canning books do not recommend it. I keep quite a stock of butter in the freezer but if power should be lost it won't last. Home canned butter is shelf stable, I'm told, for 3 - 5 years. The instructions I have says to use the cheapest butter you can buy, although the good stuff works even better.
So I tried it. I canned 4 pounds of butter today which made 4 1/2 pints. The butter is finished and now sitting on the kitchen table. In a bit I'll put it on a shelf in the pantry. My hubby is quite leery about this. I'll wait a few months and then open a pint so he can see how it's just fine. I'm hoping this will be another step towards being prepared for whatever. I'll be keeping an eye out for cheap butter too.
So I tried it. I canned 4 pounds of butter today which made 4 1/2 pints. The butter is finished and now sitting on the kitchen table. In a bit I'll put it on a shelf in the pantry. My hubby is quite leery about this. I'll wait a few months and then open a pint so he can see how it's just fine. I'm hoping this will be another step towards being prepared for whatever. I'll be keeping an eye out for cheap butter too.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Groceries
I normally shop for groceries on a monthly basis. At my last job (still unemployed) we were paid once a month so shopping monthly was easiest. I think I spend less this way too as the less I'm in a store the less I'm tempted to buy. I always shop with a list and I try to stick to it. I admit, however, to always buying off the list at least a little.
My mother and I went grocery shopping last week. I always start off at the local Costco and then go to the local WinCo. Now that I'm on unemployment the list is shorter and I have crossed off usual buys like books. Sticking to the list is much more important now but I still have some money for stocking up. Not anywhere what I had before, but some. Those items are on the list as well and I have a pretty good idea what everything will come to.
Last month I came in under budget so perhaps I was too cocky this time. Over budget by about $80. My spouse's dental work was cheaper than expected so I used that to cover all but $37 of the overage. My unemployment does not allow any overages at all. This is going to have to be a new skill for me to learn.
I can blame part of the overage on higher prices. When you only shop monthly you can really see the price hikes on some items. I can also blame - and this is really the big problem - on shopping off of the list. I bought some fibers tablets for my spouse. Two tablets give you 4 grams of fiber. 220 tablets for $19.99. Only 4 grams of fiber for $20.00?! Won't do that again. I also bought some of the best tasting fruit and nut bars I've ever had (Costco had samples). Better to eat one of them than a candy bar if a sweet craving hits. However, they were $17.99. Again, not a good buy. Hmmm, right there is the $37 dollar overage. It's that easy.
My mother and I went grocery shopping last week. I always start off at the local Costco and then go to the local WinCo. Now that I'm on unemployment the list is shorter and I have crossed off usual buys like books. Sticking to the list is much more important now but I still have some money for stocking up. Not anywhere what I had before, but some. Those items are on the list as well and I have a pretty good idea what everything will come to.
Last month I came in under budget so perhaps I was too cocky this time. Over budget by about $80. My spouse's dental work was cheaper than expected so I used that to cover all but $37 of the overage. My unemployment does not allow any overages at all. This is going to have to be a new skill for me to learn.
I can blame part of the overage on higher prices. When you only shop monthly you can really see the price hikes on some items. I can also blame - and this is really the big problem - on shopping off of the list. I bought some fibers tablets for my spouse. Two tablets give you 4 grams of fiber. 220 tablets for $19.99. Only 4 grams of fiber for $20.00?! Won't do that again. I also bought some of the best tasting fruit and nut bars I've ever had (Costco had samples). Better to eat one of them than a candy bar if a sweet craving hits. However, they were $17.99. Again, not a good buy. Hmmm, right there is the $37 dollar overage. It's that easy.
Friday, May 23, 2008
The library
I should be keeping busy doing all those things I always said I would be doing if I had more time. Now that I'm unemployed I have the time but those things are still waiting. Funny how that works. One of the things I have cut out of the budget is book buying. I love reading and have many books but I used to buy at least 4 to 5 new books every month. Even at Costco's great prices, usually $4-$5 dollars each, it's just not in the budget. So I turn to the library.
Actually, I've always used the library. For example, when a new garden book would come out I would often borrow it from the library to see if it was one I would like to have. That has saved me a lot of money right there! We have the inter-library loan which is great. You go on-line and find the book you want. Regardless of which local library has it, you can reserve it and they will send it to the library of your choice. We have a small library here in town so I just pick them up there. New books, old books, books from a favorite author. Whatever I want is pretty much available.
I got an email from the library today and 3 books have come in. I'll be off to town shortly to pick them up. I bet I have over a dozen on reserve. Some I'm number 30 on so it's going to be a while before I get those books. Still, it sure saves a lot of money. I need to go browse a book store and look for new titles so I can see if the library has them yet. Looking forward to the new books!
Actually, I've always used the library. For example, when a new garden book would come out I would often borrow it from the library to see if it was one I would like to have. That has saved me a lot of money right there! We have the inter-library loan which is great. You go on-line and find the book you want. Regardless of which local library has it, you can reserve it and they will send it to the library of your choice. We have a small library here in town so I just pick them up there. New books, old books, books from a favorite author. Whatever I want is pretty much available.
I got an email from the library today and 3 books have come in. I'll be off to town shortly to pick them up. I bet I have over a dozen on reserve. Some I'm number 30 on so it's going to be a while before I get those books. Still, it sure saves a lot of money. I need to go browse a book store and look for new titles so I can see if the library has them yet. Looking forward to the new books!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
How low can we go?
Been awhile since I last posted. I was laid off on April 18, 2008. I didn't have this blog link at home and I just now found it again. I knew the layoff was going to happen and it was a matter or when so I had made a list of all user names, passwords and links - except this link.
Anyway, my household now consists of two unemployed people. Ack!
As I said, I was pretty sure it was coming. One of the things I did to prepare for the loss of income was to decide to refi the house. The 15-year mortgage was a high payment and by refinancing to a 30-year mortgage the payment would drop a little over $500 per month. Although I really hated refinancing (there's about 9 years left on the 15-yr one, and the cost to refinance would add around $3300) it seemed the right thing to do.
It was approved almost immediately and I was just waiting to sign the papers. The week we were supposed to sign came and went so I called the title company. The lady handling our loan had gone on vacation so we should sign early the next week. I got laid off that Friday. Since everything was approved I figured it would go OK anyway - Hey, I wasn't going to tell anyone about the layoff. Unfortunately, it turned out the title company hadn't verified my job yet so when they did, I was already laid off. End of the refinance.
I had initially budgeted with the regular mortgage payment so I knew we could do it. At least on paper. On paper there is enough money to pay all the usual bills with about $4 left. Pretty scary as life has a habit of flinging things at you that aren't on the budget. I got paid monthly so I had a little over half of a regular paycheck plus 3 days of vacation time coming. By signing the "No, I won't cause problems" paper the company wanted signed I got 4 weeks of severance pay.
With the severance pay I did some stocking up on the food storage and other things. Might as well while I have the money to do so. Food and such bought now will be much cheaper than months down the road - if you can get some of the stuff like with the recent rice shortages. I've spent way more than I should have though. Even though I know I shouldn't be spending anything extra right now, I continue to do so.
My economic stimulus check arrived and I've spend most of it already. It was a planned expense though. We heat mostly with wood and there was no money in this new budget to buy firewood for next winter. I had 5 cords delivered (wood is also cheaper when you order it early in the season rather than at the last moment I discovered) and it is piled out back waiting for me to start stacking them. My spouse has to have a tooth pulled (the expensive way) so I can pay that and still get a dab of money in savings. End of the stimulus check.
There's also no money in the budget for hay for the goats. I was able to sell a few stock options (which would have expired tomorrow, I will lose most of the options as they are all underwater) so I earmarked that money for hay. We also had a garden tractor that had quit running and was just sitting. My bnl came to look at it for us, asked me what I wanted for it and wrote me a check for that amount. He got a good deal as it turned out it was just a pulley that broke. Still, with his check and the small stock check I have enough for at least 2 tons of alfalfa, delivered and stacked. I'll buy another ton of cheap grass hay from my neighbor. I plan on selling a few goats so that might make it thru winter, or at least mostly thru. Another big worry taken care of.
The weather has taken a hard right from really cool and wet to hot and dry and my garden still isn't plowed. The neighbor that usually plows it for me sold his plow and I haven't found anyone else to plow yet. I usually see signs for plowing but not his year, although I do have one more place to look. If I don't get things in very shortly, it will be too late. I had already decided on just a small garden due to still being lame from foot surgery. Just a few basics this year but the plants are going to die if I don't get them planted. Oh, seeds are one of the things I stocked up on. I think gardens are going to be a necessity and I wanted to make sure I had seeds.
I'm wondering just how low, financially, we can go before trouble sets in. The latest budget has no money for savings, retirement and very little for my alcoholic spouse to drink. On paper we can make it - if I can stick to the paper. For over a year now I have cut back and cut down and adapted to lower money. I'm at a point now where a year ago I would thought I couldn't survive, but we are. I am job hunting but there is very little out there that pays close to what I earned before. I had a job with very decent pay for what I did. I hope to get a job much closer to home but the pay is also very much lower in this area.
It is scary and worrisome and sometimes I don't sleep well. The rest of the time I try not to think about it much.
Anyway, my household now consists of two unemployed people. Ack!
As I said, I was pretty sure it was coming. One of the things I did to prepare for the loss of income was to decide to refi the house. The 15-year mortgage was a high payment and by refinancing to a 30-year mortgage the payment would drop a little over $500 per month. Although I really hated refinancing (there's about 9 years left on the 15-yr one, and the cost to refinance would add around $3300) it seemed the right thing to do.
It was approved almost immediately and I was just waiting to sign the papers. The week we were supposed to sign came and went so I called the title company. The lady handling our loan had gone on vacation so we should sign early the next week. I got laid off that Friday. Since everything was approved I figured it would go OK anyway - Hey, I wasn't going to tell anyone about the layoff. Unfortunately, it turned out the title company hadn't verified my job yet so when they did, I was already laid off. End of the refinance.
I had initially budgeted with the regular mortgage payment so I knew we could do it. At least on paper. On paper there is enough money to pay all the usual bills with about $4 left. Pretty scary as life has a habit of flinging things at you that aren't on the budget. I got paid monthly so I had a little over half of a regular paycheck plus 3 days of vacation time coming. By signing the "No, I won't cause problems" paper the company wanted signed I got 4 weeks of severance pay.
With the severance pay I did some stocking up on the food storage and other things. Might as well while I have the money to do so. Food and such bought now will be much cheaper than months down the road - if you can get some of the stuff like with the recent rice shortages. I've spent way more than I should have though. Even though I know I shouldn't be spending anything extra right now, I continue to do so.
My economic stimulus check arrived and I've spend most of it already. It was a planned expense though. We heat mostly with wood and there was no money in this new budget to buy firewood for next winter. I had 5 cords delivered (wood is also cheaper when you order it early in the season rather than at the last moment I discovered) and it is piled out back waiting for me to start stacking them. My spouse has to have a tooth pulled (the expensive way) so I can pay that and still get a dab of money in savings. End of the stimulus check.
There's also no money in the budget for hay for the goats. I was able to sell a few stock options (which would have expired tomorrow, I will lose most of the options as they are all underwater) so I earmarked that money for hay. We also had a garden tractor that had quit running and was just sitting. My bnl came to look at it for us, asked me what I wanted for it and wrote me a check for that amount. He got a good deal as it turned out it was just a pulley that broke. Still, with his check and the small stock check I have enough for at least 2 tons of alfalfa, delivered and stacked. I'll buy another ton of cheap grass hay from my neighbor. I plan on selling a few goats so that might make it thru winter, or at least mostly thru. Another big worry taken care of.
The weather has taken a hard right from really cool and wet to hot and dry and my garden still isn't plowed. The neighbor that usually plows it for me sold his plow and I haven't found anyone else to plow yet. I usually see signs for plowing but not his year, although I do have one more place to look. If I don't get things in very shortly, it will be too late. I had already decided on just a small garden due to still being lame from foot surgery. Just a few basics this year but the plants are going to die if I don't get them planted. Oh, seeds are one of the things I stocked up on. I think gardens are going to be a necessity and I wanted to make sure I had seeds.
I'm wondering just how low, financially, we can go before trouble sets in. The latest budget has no money for savings, retirement and very little for my alcoholic spouse to drink. On paper we can make it - if I can stick to the paper. For over a year now I have cut back and cut down and adapted to lower money. I'm at a point now where a year ago I would thought I couldn't survive, but we are. I am job hunting but there is very little out there that pays close to what I earned before. I had a job with very decent pay for what I did. I hope to get a job much closer to home but the pay is also very much lower in this area.
It is scary and worrisome and sometimes I don't sleep well. The rest of the time I try not to think about it much.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Catching up
Boy, don't post for awhile and Google will deactivate your account. Took me a bit to get back here. I don't want this to become a diary but I don't have much to post about. There are soooo many good blogs out there that talk about Peak Oil, food storage, homesteading, being frugal that my blog just can't compete. I can only talk about how my family is coping with all the new stresses and changes.
I've been sending lots of articles to family and friends lately on the shortages: wheat, corn, and rice. I have all three stored and have been stocking up even more on wheat and rice. Thanks to a kind local LDS member (met on my food storage group) I have been able to purchase 300lbs of wheat at very good prices. I also purchased 50lbs of rice but realized that they weren't any cheaper, maybe more, that what Costco sells. They came in nice boxes though (25lb each) so store easily. (I usually store everything in my food grade buckets but I've lost my source for free buckets and I'm almost out. This is worrisome too. I'm looking as I really hate to have to buy buckets.) I've also added 50lb of beans to the storage.
Used to, I had food storage enough for 5 adults for 2+ years. The family has grown with my son's addition of spouse, kids and in-laws. Now I have enough for 8 adults and 3 kids for almost a year. I have a Costco trip planned for later today and have plans to add rice, beans and oil to storage plus other stuff for the pantry. I need more canned stock too and that's planned for today as well. I recently purchased a cookbook that is just for cooking out of one's food storage and it uses a lot of canned stock that I don't have.
I worry about my friends though. I send the articles - and I think they are scary things - but I don't hear what, if anything, they think about them. I hate to directly ask what they might be doing for food storage/prepping. Seems intrusive to me. I send the info and it's up to them as to what they do with the info. Wish they would just volunteer some info one day.
My hubby was asked to fill in a job specific application yesterday. He went and got the forms and filled them in last night, returning them this morning. Pay is OK and he would be good at the job and I think he could do the job easily enough. Fingers are crossed hoping they call him in for an interview. No word back but one call on all the resumes I've sent out. Not surprising but disappointing nonetheless. One of us had better get a new job pretty soon. While we're good on food storage, we are NOT good on money storage, lol. More to come on food purchasing, job hunting, job loss and just living in these economic times.
I've been sending lots of articles to family and friends lately on the shortages: wheat, corn, and rice. I have all three stored and have been stocking up even more on wheat and rice. Thanks to a kind local LDS member (met on my food storage group) I have been able to purchase 300lbs of wheat at very good prices. I also purchased 50lbs of rice but realized that they weren't any cheaper, maybe more, that what Costco sells. They came in nice boxes though (25lb each) so store easily. (I usually store everything in my food grade buckets but I've lost my source for free buckets and I'm almost out. This is worrisome too. I'm looking as I really hate to have to buy buckets.) I've also added 50lb of beans to the storage.
Used to, I had food storage enough for 5 adults for 2+ years. The family has grown with my son's addition of spouse, kids and in-laws. Now I have enough for 8 adults and 3 kids for almost a year. I have a Costco trip planned for later today and have plans to add rice, beans and oil to storage plus other stuff for the pantry. I need more canned stock too and that's planned for today as well. I recently purchased a cookbook that is just for cooking out of one's food storage and it uses a lot of canned stock that I don't have.
I worry about my friends though. I send the articles - and I think they are scary things - but I don't hear what, if anything, they think about them. I hate to directly ask what they might be doing for food storage/prepping. Seems intrusive to me. I send the info and it's up to them as to what they do with the info. Wish they would just volunteer some info one day.
My hubby was asked to fill in a job specific application yesterday. He went and got the forms and filled them in last night, returning them this morning. Pay is OK and he would be good at the job and I think he could do the job easily enough. Fingers are crossed hoping they call him in for an interview. No word back but one call on all the resumes I've sent out. Not surprising but disappointing nonetheless. One of us had better get a new job pretty soon. While we're good on food storage, we are NOT good on money storage, lol. More to come on food purchasing, job hunting, job loss and just living in these economic times.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Chickens
I've been going thru a chicken catalog getting ready to order my chicks. Hubby is working on the new door to the chicken house. The wind, which can be ferocious in my area, keeps ripping the door right off the hinges. This time instead of repairing the door, it's all new with super duty hinges and better hooks to keep it closed. Hopefully, this door will last awhile.
A minimum order of 25 chicks is required and I have that number plus I keep saying I should have a couple of this breed and, oh, look at that one! I talked to my sister-n-law on Saturday and if she can get my brother to build a shed she's in for some chicks. Maybe a nephew as well. Guess the order will be for more than 25 no problem.
This is nice. I've been trying, subtly, to get family members to prepare more, have some food storage and maybe alternative ways to heat and cook. I haven't had much luck so far. If they get some chickens though, they will at least have fresh eggs and perhaps a stewing rooster or two. Not much in the way of being prepared, but hey, it's a start. Hmmm, I'd better get the catalog over there so she can fall in love with some chickens.
A minimum order of 25 chicks is required and I have that number plus I keep saying I should have a couple of this breed and, oh, look at that one! I talked to my sister-n-law on Saturday and if she can get my brother to build a shed she's in for some chicks. Maybe a nephew as well. Guess the order will be for more than 25 no problem.
This is nice. I've been trying, subtly, to get family members to prepare more, have some food storage and maybe alternative ways to heat and cook. I haven't had much luck so far. If they get some chickens though, they will at least have fresh eggs and perhaps a stewing rooster or two. Not much in the way of being prepared, but hey, it's a start. Hmmm, I'd better get the catalog over there so she can fall in love with some chickens.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)