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Sunday, February 5, 2017

COZY

Hello dear friends!  Well, we made it through January.  February is such a frigid month here, thank goodness it's a short one! It's a good month for staying inside and keeping house.
Unfortunately, it's seems this week we've practically been living in our car.  At the beginning of the week, we had our big monthly grocery shopping day, then on Thursday we had to go to the big city to have our taxes done, ever since the government instituted the Affordable Health Care Act, our taxes are more complex than ever.  It pays to have a professional do them for us, because I can guarantee you that getting a letter from the IRS, cuts years off of your life from all the stress, I can attest to this from personal experience.  Anyhow, then on Friday we had to go back to our tax man because he could save us $500 if we had a form that we didn't bring along.  So it was go-go-go all week.  I know some people like to wait until the last minute to do their taxes, but I hate having any debt hanging over my head, so I like to get them paid as quickly as possible.  Our bank has such low interest rates, it doesn't really matter to hold onto the money a few extra months, so off the money goes!

Gardening

Wednesday was one of those perfect Winter days.  The wind was mild, the sun was shining, the snow sparkled like diamond dust, it was the perfect day for pruning in the orchard.  February is a great month for it, as the cold keeps the sap from running and the bare limbs make it possible to see the shape off the trees.  We prune away any branches that cross, those that have been damaged, and the ones that ruin the shape.


The cut limbs are saved for kindling.  And some, such as the evergreens, are piled back in an area that we call the Fen.  It's a habitat for all sorts of creatures.  The birds love it,  and the cutest little gray fox has taken up residence there.  Wild grapes grow there, and I guess foxes love them.  I know the birds do! Next windless day (the wind has been wicked lately) we'll prune the grape and blackberry vines.


Cooking

In between running, we have been cooking and baking more than usual.  This week I made Andrea's pagache with leftover mashed potatoes to serve with our meal of a hearty salad. Oh! speaking of salads, Rhonda, had the wonderful tip of squeezing out all the air of packaging that your lettuce comes in, to keep it fresher longer.  Works great and such a simple thing to do!  Now we won't have to make so many trips to the store for our green leafies. Sometimes something so obvious is the thing you never think of, it seems.
We had extra dough and it made excellent rolls.  Thank you Andrea for the wonderful recipe!
Less you think I'm starving the guys by feeding them all those salads, I did make this Cheesy Ham Chowder that's the sort of thing guys like. I kind of bristled at all the not-so-good-for-you ingredients, but every once in a while, you just have to let things go. We eat pretty healthily 90% of the time, so it doesn't do too much damage to let yourself go every once in a great while.
The only changes I made to the recipe, was to add a teaspoonful of dry mustard to the flour, because it brings out the flavor of both cheese and ham, and I added more corn and potatoes because we like our chowders chunky.  This was a very economical meal for us as all the ingredients came from the pantry or the root cellar, as I can bacon and ham. I used less cheese too.

Grocery Shopping

As old pensioners now, we get paid once a month, so the beginning of the month is a big grocery shopping day for us.  We spent just over $80, with plenty of money left over for fresh vegetables for the remainder of the month.  One thing we did was stock up on peanut butter, as our Mennards had all natural peanut butter on sale.  It's hard to find peanut butter without hydrogenated oil in it.  So $20 went to stocking up on peanut butter.  I don't think it helps to write about my shopping haul, because unless you live in my area, what good does it do for you to know that I bought ground round for $1.78/ lb. ?  But it is interesting to see what other people buy, I admit.  I love to watch grocery hauls on YouTube, I don't know why.  But one very educational grocery haul video I saw this week, was dear Marqueta's video. So much good information on healthy eating.  Thanks to her information, I'm now eating cilantro on a regular basis.

Housekeeping

What is about being cooped up inside that makes you want to remodel your home?  Winter is a great time to do all those little projects that you never have time for when warm weather beckons you outside.  This week Ran painted the ceilings in the hallway and bathroom.  Next up the stairwell. The pantry was cleaned and organized.  I've been going through my wardrobe and getting rid of a lot of things and reorganizing our lone closet. I also re-arranged the living room, or as it is becoming, Ran's guitar room.  Finding a place for seven guitars is a challenge in a tiny house.  I donated all my VHS tapes, some of the titles were rare and hadn't been made into DVD format, but I don't watch them because I don't have a TV anymore (I do watch DVDs occasionally on a small portable DVD player).  That freed up two shelves on our bookcase.  Sometimes, it seems that our house is too small, but we discover that it's really just a matter of us having too many things.  I'd rather get rid of things than pay to heat a larger house, or pay the taxes on one,  so I can have those things. We have a rule, for every one thing that comes into this house,  two must go out.

On My Mind

I've been pondering lately, is it possible to be too frugal?  I think the answer is yes.  If being frugal means you comprise on safety by using old dangerous tools, or avoid getting health care that you need for the sake of saving a few bucks.  If your frugality saps you and your family of all the joy in life.  And if it compromises your dignity.  A while back I was standing behind an elderly lady in the store and when her total was tallied up, she began to make a scene about being old and not being able to afford food.  I might have felt sorry for her and paid for her items, but a quick peruse of her cart noted that she was buying cookies, cakes, chips, beer, etc., hardly a healthy thing in there.  I'm sorry, but if people don't want to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, I  don't feel bad for them.  She did make such a scene that  the man behind me did pay for her groceries.  Another time, when my son worked in a grocery store a woman came in a returned a can of deodorant because it didn't work. Now, spray cans of deodorant hadn't even been on the market for decades, but again, the woman made such a scene that the manager gave her a 50 cent refund.  I wonder if the 50 cents was worth losing her dignity over?   Another man in a village we used to live in was known by all the bank employees as the moocher that came in and indulged in the free coffee and doughnuts they had setting out for the customers every morning. Is dignity an outdated concept?  And I hate to say a lot of bloggers seem to take advantage of others with their sob stories. Reminds me of that old TV show Queen for a Day, where the contestants would try to outdo each other with tales of their hardships to win a prize.  Some of the people were probably truly desperate, but now days with so many social programs, why do people humiliate themselves in such a way in the times we live in?   I know pride goes before the fall, but sometimes I think society has lowered its standards too much.  What do you think?

Thrifty Things We Did This Week

I forgot to mention last week that Toni sent me a skein of the loveliest wool as a thank you for some gloves I sent her.  I got the better end of that deal!

Made some homemade imitation maple syrup.

Stocked up on peanut butter while on sale.

Bought ground round for $1.78 / lb.  Can you believe how cheap beef has gotten?  Proably should have bought more and canned some, but was being lazy.

Saved some money on our taxes by some  things our tax accountant did. It was well-worth the money to hire a professional.

Bought paint for our ceilings and stairwell, at  a hardware salvage store for $10/ gallon.

Ran cut Jamie's hair.

Wove some potholders to tuck away for Christmas.

Used up the last of the apples that we picked and root cellared last Fall.

Saved the limbs from pruning to use as kindling wood.

Picked up some more pallets for firewood.

So that's it for this week at the old Zempel board house.  I hope that February is treating you well.  Have a perfect week!

Hugs
Jane









44 comments:

  1. Sounds like another busy week, Jane! How can anyone ever be bored is beyond me! There is always a lot to do, isn't there? Heading out to see the sweet one Tuesday, so I'll check in when I get home! Have a wonderful week!

    as ever.. m

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    1. Have a safe trip, Matty! Get in lots of hugs and kisses!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  2. Your pagache looks perfect! And your rolls. You just have a knack for this. I'm sure you can improve on my recipe also and give me some tips.
    My mom used to always make "imitation maple syrup". I think we liked it better than real...but then I don't think we actually ever tasted real..but just the store imitations. (Sure handy to know how to make the imitation!)
    You will appreciate, come spring...getting your pruning finished now! Plus no danger of the limbs being active.
    Good to point out your thoughts on frugalness....I guess it can cross lines into being stinginess at times!
    I was just thinking, lately, on how a lot of people use funding pages online for things that if they had bought life, fire, or other insurances, they wouldn't need to go begging! Some people just love getting something for nothing!
    Hugs, Andrea

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    1. That pagache was wonderful, Andrea. We liked it the second day toasted and we cut it into little squares with some dill dip for our card party. Probably not kosher, but good!

      Jamie actually prefers the homemade to the real thing. He says it's thicker and sticks to his pancakes better.

      I don't like this trend of funding people. I see people wanting to fund vacations, even. I think sacrificing for what you want and doing without until then, is good for the character. Oh well, I guess there's always those that get by on the backs of other people. Just not my back!

      Hugs
      Jane

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    2. I like to give charitable donations to the really, really needy.
      Like Mother Theresa used to say, the poorest of the poor! Hugs, Andrea

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    3. I'm in total agreement, Andrea!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  3. Hi Jane! I'm so jealous that you have a fox in the fen, that is so cool. I really love that you've made a place for the small animals. We have something similar, but I'm really feeling sorry for deer in my area. They used to have more space, but horrors, the sixty-five acres of land to one side and back of our place was sold two years ago, and now houses are in the making. Argh. Just two more years until Goodman retires then hopefully we'll be moving.

    Sometimes I wonder if anyone even cares about dignity anymore. Do they know what it is? Personally, I think people are so dumbed down that they don't get it or just don't want to bother. They way they dress is scuzzy, they teach their kids manners, cuss in from of the kids and it's all about themselves, no sacrifice even for family members. Double Argh.

    I'm droolin' over your cheezy chowder. I wish Goodman could have it. Potatoes (any really starchy dish) really skyrocket his blood sugar, though so we rarely have them.
    Hope you have a great week!
    Toni

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    1. It was really strange, Toni, one day we were looking out the back window and we saw what we thought was a stray dog lazing about under the apples trees. Turned out, it was a gray fox. We've seen him several times since then. Guess he just likes hanging out here.

      I don't know why people act so undignified these days, but I have an inkling it's just a symptom of an ailing society. And it's just not young people, either. Living in a resort town, we have plenty of opportunities to see all ages acting horribly. I'll never understand why someone would lower themselves for 50 cents, though. I bet you could find that amount just by keeping a sharp eye while walking about. Or find five pop bottles thrown out to turn in for a refund. I'd rather starve than sink that low, honestly.

      Too bad Goodman has blood sugar problems. He misses out on some good eating!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  4. Dear Jane,

    February does sound cozy there! And cold! :) Thank you for the mention of my "grocery haul" video; I'm glad it was useful to you! Ground ivy is another plant that takes heavy metal out of your body, and it grows everywhere for free.

    I hear you on musical instruments taking up lots of space; ours are stashed behind the couch at present, except for Audrey's harp, which is in her closet. It's worth it, though, when we're making music together!

    Love,

    Marqueta

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    1. You're welcome, Marqueta! You're one of the few people that I can learn a thing or two from. Thanks for the tip about ground ivy. We have practically a field of it out back.

      We settled upon grouping all of Ran's guitars in one spot, three hanging on the wall and four on stands. At least they are pretty instruments. Hope your week is cozy and warm!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  5. Jane,
    thanks for the reminder of the closets- I need to do ours! I want it all done before Spring! Have a great day!

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    1. Happy organizing, Vickie. It's pretty easy when you only have one closet!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  6. I also did some pruning last week. I'm not sure I've ever seen someone making a scene like you describe. That's got to be less than fun. I'm with you on not feeling too sorry for someone who is buying junk food rather than real food.

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    1. It's pretty uncomfortable to experience, Laurie. Hope you never have to. I'm not sure if the man that paid for her food, wanted to help, or just shut her up. Both of these incidents happened in a rather upscale grocery store in a wealthy little town (Frankenmuth), so I'm not sure if it was some sort of scam, the old lady was doing. You never can tell these days.

      Got to prune all the grapes too. Just been too cold lately. The groundhog definitely didn't predict an early Spring around here!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  7. It's a great idea to hang the guitars on the wall. I'll bet they look lovely there.

    We pay to get our taxes done, as well. We've had a couple of times when we did it ourselves, but have also found that the tax accountants save us more than they charge.

    I think the wintry weather brings out the cooking in all of us. I've spent a lot of time cooking this week, as well. The family seems to be eating more than usual, they go in spurts! Also, I put a little more time into it and made some favorites, so they like that and eat more, too. Since I had some food I was given from the retreat we helped clean up after last weekend, I had quite a few fun things to use up--leftover casseroles, tons of tortillas, a ham bone, and more. I have one daughter who will (and did) eat refried beans and tortillas several times a week, so she was happy.

    I love you pruning. I need to do some on the trees we have on this new place. There is an apple that is so big I don't think I can reach any of it, a peach that may be too tall as well, and a pear I think I can reach. I already pruned the blueberries (2). I'm itching to get going on this yard/garden. My plans are to make it into a very productive growing area.

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    1. You are always so busy Becky. Pruning is about all we can do here for a while, our frost date is Memorial Day. Next month we'll start some seeds, but like you, I'm itching to do more. I thought we wouldn't have as big a garden this year, but after looking at how much we use, I decided to forget that!

      It's nice that you have some fruit trees in your yard. I hope that you are enjoying your new home.

      Hugs
      Jane

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  8. Dear Jane,
    Your writing about the clippings making a home for the birds reminded me of what I do with our Christmas tree every year. I take it out and tie it up next to my bird feeder as a shelter for the birds. It lasts another 5 weeks or so outside and I dispose of it once it starts to look more orange than green!
    I had a frugal Moment of Joy this week: I found a box of fancy organic granola bars in the reduced-for-quick-sale section at the grocery store. The box was squashed but they were fine. It was marked to 1.50 and it had a dollar off coupon attached to it. Made me so happy!
    Otherwise, I've been cooking from scratch, using homemade laundry detergent and being more careful about shutting off electrical appliances as my bill crept up ten dollars since last month.
    I too am feeling the February urge to rearrange my space but I'm feeling it at work. Hope to get my cubicle reconfigured to afford me a bit more privacy.
    Well, I hope you have a great week. Thanks for all the lovely inspiration.
    Cheers,
    Dana

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    1. Those little moments of joy when you find a really good bargain are the best, Dana. It's like finding a diamond in the dust.

      They attached one of those smart meters to our house recently and they sent us an e-mail that our next bill would be approximately $100 based on the electricity we had used so far. That was unacceptable to us, so we went around unplugging our stereo and printer that we rarely use, turning down the dehumidifier, and only plugging in our laptops to charge them. Must have worked because our bill ended up only being $60. Which is still high but the blower on our woodstove automatically kicks on when the stove gets hot so there's not much we can do about that.

      Well, happy reconfiguring! Workplaces should be homey too, you spend so much time there.

      Hugs
      Jane

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  9. Good Monday Jane!
    Totally with you on the accountant. I adore ours, and I am grateful she can speak plainly when I have questions. I used a free tax program one year, only to be hit with an audit 3 years after. You can make mistakes with those free programs. That was quite an expensive mistake I made especially when I didn't know/planned for. Oh well, we got through it. I can't say I ever witnessed scenes like that either. I have witnessed the desperate trying to buy a loaf of bread and milk and have been short to pay. Those make me a sad b/c no one jumped in to help (someone 3 lines over did). These were obviously not scammers. I am glad you are bringing up dignity. It is something I really see missing and wish just a little bit would start to take hold with people. I know people who will buy a power washer, use it and return it. Great - now I might buy a used power washer at new price and knowing them, it's probably a little broken already. (sorry that one still bothers me to this day).
    A gray fox! That will surely keep unwanted critters to a minimum!
    Thank you for sharing and reminding me it isn't to late to get the pruning done that I missed this past fall. Have a great week!
    Hugs, jen

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    1. I so wanted to take that woman by the shoulders and tell her "Now if you put the beer back and buy yourself a nice bag of carrots and potatoes, put the chips back and get some flour, you won't have these problems" but of course, I doubt she'd listen. If you think it's uncomfortable watching a child have a temper tantrum in the store, an adult doing it is ten times worst.

      That's horrible about the power washer. Back when I used to buy my clothes from the mail-order outfits, occasionally I'd get clothes with stains on them. Makes me wonder if someone didn't buy it, wear it a few times, and then return it. I had a friend in high school that did that. It's shameful.

      Hope you have a wonderful mundane week!

      Hugs
      Jane

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    2. I ordered a pair of jeans from LL Bean last month and they came covered in cat hair. Yuck.
      Dana

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    3. That's disgusting! Maybe the person had the cat try them on. You'd think LL Bean would inspect their clothes before repackaging them!

      Jane

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  10. Its even cold and wet in S. California today! :-) We are feeling cozy too cooking and keeping warm. Knowing this colder weather was coming I had a chance to do some pruning before but the grapes still need done.
    It drives me crazy when so often people get up to the clerk at our used stores and Then start to look at each thing in their full cart and stop and look over each slowly to decide if they want to get it. Then even ask the clerk what they think of each. Come on! :-) People are so funny! I heard a lady say she was told my another that if you throw a huge fit you get your way... and then told us how she did it once and did get her way... All of us hearing her say this were shocked that our friend would stoop to such... ya never know.
    Clerks at an upscale store told me ..years back...that they often found dresses and even slips with lipstick on them from women putting them over their heads to try them on. They took them and used stain remover if possible to remove it. They were ever diligent to check garments before putting them back on the rack. They used to have small pieces of tissue like paper in the dressing rooms for women to put between their lips to keep the lipstick from not getting on the clothes.
    When I hear the word dignity I immediately picture older people I have known and loved. Some stoop shouldered by age and others walking confidently with shoulders squared but with such honor and dignity through out their lives. Dignity and humility. Honor and ethics. Deep faith and reverence for life. Love of country and people. Faithfulness. Many words come to mind. ..and just as quickly tears come to my eyes. I miss all of them. J/ Jody

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    1. Your last paragraph is wonderful Jody! I guess it is up to our generation to retain those qualities and show the next generation.

      Tissues for lipstick in the dressing rooms. Now days someone would probably swipe 'em. Miss the old days when there were dress shops. I guess I'd be pretty shocked too if my friends told me she threw a fit in a store to get a deal! Sometimes you have to wonder.
      You sure are getting a lot of rain now. Stay safe and warm!

      HUgs
      Jane

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  11. Having personally experienced an audit by the IRS, I'm so with you there my friend on the stress it causes. Praying we never have to go through that again.

    I would love to see that little fox. :) He must be adorable to watch. I have never heard of trimming blackberries back this early before but it makes perfect sense to do so now. Your food choices looked delicious this week by the way! YUM!

    I think there is a difference between being frugal and cheap. To me being frugal is all about making smart choices to save money. Being cheap is making bad choices and complaining about them and taking advantage of others or putting your health and the health of others at risk. Hope that made sense.

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    1. Makes perfect sense to me, Debbie!

      Our little fox is pretty elusive. Whenever we spot him, we forget about taking pictures and just watch him. But I'll try.

      Usually our taxes are pretty straight forward, but this year, Yikes! Hiring a tax consultant probably saved our marriage. Ha!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  12. Just stopped in to see what you've been up to! I'd sure love to see that little fox you mentioned, bet he's cute! They remind me so much of cats. You did great on your grocery shopping!It was awful cold here Saturday and we nearly froze on our walk, but Sunday it was back in the chilly 60s and we enjoyed a day on the beach and got a long walk in and the fresh air sure cleared out my sinuses and my head! LOL

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    1. I think foxes are pretty cute, especially the red ones, too. Our neighbor, Lori, thought the grey one was a coyote. Don't want one of them living in the backyard! Haven't seen our little guy in quite a while, but we do see his tracks and once a rabbit that he has killed. Hopefully he keeps them away for my garden's sake.

      60 degree weather sounds pretty good about now! We didn't get very much snow this year but this damp, just at freezing weather is colder than many winters when the temps. were much colder to me. The dampness goes right through you. Well, enjoy your walks on the beach!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  13. Happy sigh. I just love coming here after a new post! I settle in with my favorite mug of coffee and read the post and the comments and feel like I am out having coffee with the girls! Jane, you are a delight and so are all you commenters!

    I agree that no one seems to have any dignity anymore. I blame Jerry Springer for normalizing rude, in-your-face, out-of-control, base behavior. I think his talk show is very much responsible for the downgrading of our society by promoting the idea that outrageous behavior is cool. And all to make a buck. Well, that man has a LOT to answer for. :^(
    Okay, rant over! We have a "tax guy" too and he is delightful. I bring an envelope full of documents, he sorts them out and does the taxes right in front of me as we chat pleasantly about our families. And he does a great job! I trust him implicitly, which is a really good feeling to have.
    Jane, that potato cheese soup looks so amazing! Warm, creamy, cheesy soup--what could be better? Maybe I'll make a half-batch so I don't do so much damage. ;^)
    And finally, yes I DO think there is such as thing as too frugal--when it jeopardizes your health or the safety of your living situation.
    I have helped a few people make their payment in the grocery line before. But not because anyone threw a fit about the prices. Geez, maybe I should sashay into Whole Foods, fill up a cart, and then scream and fuss that I deserve all that premium food for free. Now wouldn't that be precious?
    Best to all, Sue

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    1. As I always say, I might not have the most popular or informative blog, but I have the best commenters, Sue. What a great bunch of gals, I consider them all very good friends.

      I hear ya on Jerry Springer! Remember when talk shows were about talking? Like Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin?

      I think I'll stick to bargain hunting and keep my dignity. There are worse things than being hungry, in my opinion. Hope you have a wonderful week!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  14. Jane! Yes and Amen! The observations you wrote about the lack of dignity in our society are so true. Between stingy cheapness and the goofy "pay for my wedding, help pay for my vacation, help pay for my... " GoFundMe campaigns, I tend to feel like the Grinch!

    As always, it comes back to the heart of the person. So many ancient, healthy character qualities are now considered offensive and mean spirited. It sure feels upside down some days.

    I wonder if that older lady tries that "poor me" routine after she has eaten her chicken dinner at Zehnders? Ha ha!

    Blessings on your day,
    Anne

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    1. That would make a person poor for sure, Anne! I'll tell you my stingy story about Zehnders.I signed up for the free birthday dinner. When it came time for my birthday everyone was busy so I went by myself. They still brang enough food for a family to the table, so I had enough leftovers to eat off of for a week, as at the time I was living by myself. I did feel guilty about all that food so I tipped the waitress $20. But, still, a person that wasn't as guilt-ridden as I, could have made out like a bandit. Still $20 for a week's worth of dinners wasn't bad! I'm enjoying your blog. It always gives me something to think about.

      Hugs
      Jane

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    2. Jane, I love your story! My husband is a total Zehnders freak. He goes bonkers over the chicken livers. I don't eat livers, so he always has a take home box. Yes, I think the $20 tip was well worth the week of pre-cooked dinners! Off to knit, struggling thru first sock syndrome!

      Blessings on your day,
      Anne

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    3. Have to admit I love their pate' also, Anne. My mother always made it for Christmas, so it just tastes like Christmas to me.

      I've been having trouble concentrating on finishing up a couple pair of mittens. So easily distracted these days. Good luck with your knitting!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  15. Hi Jane, all the time we lived in the country, I never saw a fox but I saw and heard way too many coyotes. Recently we were driving to church and saw a red fox, sitting on top of a small ridge. It looked so grand. Now I always look at that spot when we pass by but we've never seen him again.
    I'm glad my veggie storing tip is working for you. It really does work for us.
    I feel your pain at being in your car so much. I'm a homebody like you and get so tired when I have to away. I had a jury duty call this morning that took almost 4 hours this morning and then my husband and I needed to do a couple errands, I had to take a nap after all that 😴

    And about those old talk shows, we sometimes watch Johnny Carson reruns on our antenna tv. It was funny and so much calmer and quieter than current shows, the audiences just clapped, not all this whooping than audiences do now. It is one of the few shows we watch in the evening.

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    1. I hadn't seen any until the last few years, Rhonda. Now unfortunately, they seem to be so plentiful, I've seen quite a few along the side of the road, having been hit by cars. We've only seen our guy a few times but we see his pawprints in the snow, so we know he's still around. And we've seen some rabbits that he's had for dinner.

      Hope your jury duty is over. It seems like we are on a "special" list here. One of us is always on call for jury duty. Maybe we should move to a more populated area. Ha!

      At least on Johnny Carson, I recognize the stars. That sounds like something my mom would have said! Guess I'm just becoming an old fuddy-duddy. Have a wonderful week!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  16. Just found your blog and have enjoyed reading this post.

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  17. Hi Jane! My week so far sure has been far different than usual. We received a fairly significant amount of snow in the northwest which is unusual for us. You would probably laugh based on your part of the country but for us this closes the schools and the media suggests everyone who could to stay home. All of a sudden my busy appointment planned workdays on Monday and Tuesday evaporated leaving me at home sitting with a cup of coffee looking out the window at my peaceful snow covered backyard with a cookbook in my lap that held a bread recipe I have been wanting to try. My idea of blissful cozy! I was SO sorry to have to return to reality today.

    Your imitation maple syrup takes me back to childhood and reminds me of my mother. When I was young she always made it preferring it over anything else. Also, your chowder looked really good. Definitely warm and cozy there. Have a good rest of your week! -Sharon

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    1. There's nothing so cozy as a snow day, Sharon! Hope your bread turned out. You probably had more snow then have had lately. The forecasters were correct when they said we'd have a mild Winter. It always seem that when the NW has a mild one, we have a harsh one and vice-versus

      Jamie prefers the imitation maple syrup too, he says it sticks better to pancakes. Lately it seems the real thing has been on the thin side. I guess they don't boil it down as much. Hope your big storm is over and the roads are safe!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  18. Thanks for the recipes. Can't wait to try Andrea's bread. I agree with your assessment on dignity. I don't believe those people do it to save money. They make scenes to get attention. Sad. They must be so lonely.

    Well, we just got snow here in Ohio. I think the kids and I might get in some sledding and snow-ball fights tomorrow. Of course we will eat some snow cream.
    Blessings, Leslie

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    1. Sounds like you are in for a fun day today. You know, in spite of growing up around snow my entire life, I've never had snow cream.

      I never thought of the "getting attention" angle. That's even sadder then just wanting to get free food. Hope you have fun!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  19. Sounds like a cozy week! The weather here in Va has been so wonky. Today it will be almost 70 while yesterday, we had a high of 30. No wonder I have had a headache all week.
    Yum on the recipes. I have leftover mashed potatoes, so think I will try the pagache. The ham chowder looks good too, but will wait til we have another cold spell. We haven't really had much snow this winter, maybe an inch along with ice for a few days.
    Thanks for the reminder, I need to trim our grapes soon. How cool about the fen! A bit of Scotland in your back yard?
    I agree with you; I think some people take frugality too far. I think there has to be a balance. I want to make happy memories, while my kids are still home, but it is odd what they remember. We were watching something and heard the band, Riders in the Sky, who we saw when we took the kids to Tweetsie RR years ago. I asked my son what he remembered about Tweetsie (he was probably 6 or so when we went), and he said he loved the nachos with jalapenos. Um ok. :D

    Sad about that woman in the store. Wow on returning spray deodorant too. I know my grandparents didn't have much, but they had their dignity.

    Sounds like you have had a busy week. ugh on the taxes, but I am going to wait a while before we pay ours.

    Funny about Ran's guitar room-7 guitars! But at least guitars don't take up too much space. Now in my living room, I have a piano, a pump organ that my Dad left me, and a hammered dulcimer that Eddie made...:D

    Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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    1. Winter has been wonky here, also, Kathy. Not much snow, but the wind has been wicked. It really got to me this year. I'm thinking I need to move further south.

      It is odd what kids remember. The boys hardly remember or talk about the few expensive vacations we went on, but they do remember having picnics and reading all say under Charlie, the big tree in our yard. Or how we practically lived at the library in the Summer, as we didn't have air conditioning. Or standing on the chair to help Ran knead bread dough. So I wouldn't worry about the memories part too much.

      Do you play a dulcimer? My son was friends with a boy, whose family had a dulcimer band. They traveled all over the country playing. Very pretty music. Hope your weekend is going well!

      Hugs
      Jane

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