January Goals Update: Week 4

1.  Set Up a Routine
The main part of the routine is in place.  I was reminded why routines are hard when you work for yourself from home.  This past week I picked up two tutoring jobs.  That is a blessing, but it means that some of my routines need to be reworked.  I am not sure that this is a goal that will ever really "work".  I am always going to need to be flexible.


2.  Pantry/Freezer Challenge
This has been a definite hit.  I spent $42 on groceries so far this month.  I am giving myself $18 to spend this last week.  That will leave me plenty of money not spent from the grocery budget to cover my spring seed order.  I did fall short in keeping track of what we ate this past week.  I apologize for that. 


I decided we need to do a pantry/freezer challenge at least one week every month or two.  It helps use up items I may have forgotten about or be creative with items on hand.


3.  Plan the Garden
I did not make any changes to my plans this past week.  We are getting a hard freeze this week so I will cut back the last of the basil for the rabbits an will cut back the pineapple sage.  I will most likely cover some of the smaller herb plantings.  Normally the garden is done weeks before now.  The garden peas will do fine as it never gets cold enough here to kill them.


I hope you will stop back by Friday to see my February goals!

The 25th: Holiday Prep Day

After being so far behind for the holidays last year, I have decided to spend a little time each month on the 25th getting ready.  I hope some of you will join along so we can encourage each other.  Some of my plans are to work ahead on handmade gifts, plan to do lists, and  keep an eye out for things to add to my gift pile.  I am calling this holiday rather than Christmas since I want to plan ahead for birthdays as well as Secret Sister at church.


Today I want to update my Christmas card list.  I bought cards during the after Christmas sales. 


I added a small gift which was bought on clearance for our nephew to the gift pile.  It can be either birthday or Christmas. 

My family does a dirty Santa type swap at Christmas.  I am keeping my eye out for items to use.  Often I get a pile of smaller things rather than one gift.  I am working on bag #1. I purchased a pair of scissors for a quarter.  If I can shop all year long, I should be able to spend a small amount on two nice gifts.


I also want to make a list of Secret Sister gift ideas.  I have a questionnaire to help with ideas, and we have a budget amount in place.  I will try to share ideas throughout this year of how I am able to be involved but still stay within my limited budget.

This month my gift is a bird feeder and bag of sunflower seeds in a snowman basket.  Technically the basket is Christmas, but I think a snowman theme carries over through winter.  I bought both the basket and birdfeeder on clearance.  I took the seeds from the bag I use to feed birds in our yard.  I only have about $3 in the entire gift.  I will dress it up just a bit with items I have on hand and have a nice gift.

Crochet Projects

I am not getting as much crochet work done as I would like.  That is mostly my fault for not sitting and working on it.  I seem to get too distracted.  I have managed to finish a few things so far this year.

I finished an order for some messy bun hats.  I love the star stitch.  The brim makes it easy to roll up as much or as little as needed.  If only my mannequin head was sized like a normal human head.

I love this pair of baby snow boots.  I want to do another set in girl colors.

My favorite thing might me this giraffe lovey.  It is so soft and cuddly.  I almost wish I was a child again. 

Now I just need to get busy this week listing everything in my Etsy shop.

January Grocery Shopping

I went grocery shopping for the second time this month.  I am still within budget even with purchasing a couple of extra items.  I spent $22 on this trip.  Here is what I bought:


Colby Cheese
Corn Tortillas
Chips
Half & Half
Hot Dog Buns
Shredded Italian Cheese
Salsa
Pepperoni
Sour cream
Tortilla Chips
Almond Milk


I needed something to snack on so that explains the tortilla chips and salsa.  We also have a pile of oatmeal which I plan to eat for breakfast with the almond milk. 


I have $18 left for next week.  I bought $15 worth of seeds and still have $45 of seed money left.  This worked out well for using up items in my pantry and getting money for the spring garden!

January Goals Update: Week 3

1.  Set Up a Routine
W was out of town last week so the routine was all one me.  We have different morning styles.  He has no problem getting up early but prefers to dilly dally before he gets going.  On the other hand I am not a morning person, but I like to get right to work when I awaken.  The routine is really a work in progress.  I do think we are getting better as each week goes by.  I just need to get W more on board with the whole idea.

2.  Pantry/Freezer Challenge
I did no grocery shopping last week.  While W was away I ate a variety of single serve leftovers I had frozen for days such as this.  I even took pictures of a few things I ate.

I could definitely have eaten healthier, but it is hard when it is winter.  There is little fresh produce growing in the yard/garden, and I am trying to save every grocery dollar I can this month.  When W returned, we did have salads with some lettuce from the garden.  

I am planning to spend no more than $40 to get us through the next two weeks.  That will be made slightly easier since my mom dropped off a box of groceries.  My dad needs to be on a low fat diet, and he does not believe in doing anything half way.  

This will give me several more meals for this month and next.  I did give her some extra whole wheat flour that I have, but I definitely got the better end of the deal.

3.  Plan the Garden

Our anticipated hard freeze did not happen which makes me happy.  All of my herbs are still growing strong.  My pepper and eggplant seedlings are doing well.  I will share some pictures of them and the outside garden later in the week.  On my planning list for this week - plant jalapeno seeds.  I found some more peat pellets and will add them to the tray I already have growing.  

Would you be surprised to learn that I made some changes to my seed order?  I decided to check a second small seed company that I have ordered from in the past.  I found that MIGardener had about half of the seeds on my list for discounted prices.  I also had a coupon code and some reward points.  That dropped my seed total from $60 down to $42.  Saving money is the goal this year.  Now I only need to save $13 to cover the fruit plants I pre-ordered.  I will not be charged until they ship so I have time.  

My ultimate goal this year is to cut down on our spring/summer grocery bill by eating from the garden.  Things like flowers will be an added bonus.  Are you dreaming of a garden this year?  What are you growing?

Weekend Book Reviews

The Crock-Pot Ladies Big Book of  Slow Cooker Dinners by Heidi Kennedy, Katie Handing, and Sarah Ince is full of recipes for more than just dinner.  It includes everything from appetizers to desserts.  I was happy to see that the recipes went beyond the "add these ingredients and cream of whatever soup".  I also liked that the size of crock pot required was clearly noted for each recipe.  I served the Beefy Au Gratin Potatoes after a day of running errands.  They were full of flavor, but the potatoes were not mushy.  I have marked several other recipes to try which is the sign of a good cookbook. 

Rachele Carmona's The Art of Crochet Blankets features designs inspired by modern artists.  I found the designs to be beautiful and varied.  This book is best for more experienced crocheters.  I did find some of the blankets to be on the small side (just over 2 foot by 3 foot).  For several of the patterns an enormous variety of yarn colors are listed - over 26 - which would bankrupt me.  It would also have been nice to see a good overall photo of each completed blanket.  If you are looking for unconventional crochet blankets, however, this would be an excellent book.

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

Murder at Harbor Village by G.P. Gardner is the first book in the Cleo Mack series.  This book is a true cozy mystery without the folly found in some series.  Cleo is offered early retirement by her current college employer and finds herself in Fairhope, Alabama.  She stumbles into a new job at a retirement community, Harbor Village.  It seems like the perfect place until the body of the director is found in the community pool.  Cleo gets promoted to the director position and inherits the mess left by the former director.  She sets out to do a bit of investigation of the murder and of the problems with the community.  I loved that this book had everything needed for a cozy mystery (life change, adorable pet, mystery) without the silliness that can be found in some cozy mysteries.  Cleo is an intelligent woman and has a great cast of supporting characters.  The premise of how things fall into place is a slight stretch, but it was not enough to make me dislike the book. I would describe this as a mature cozy mystery, and I am already looking forward to the next book!

The fourth book in the Kate McCall Mystery series by Gail Oust is The Twelve Dice of Christmas.  Kate and her bunco friends like in the active senior community of Serenity Cove in South Carolina.  They agree to help Eula Mae decorate her home for the upcoming Christmas home tour.  Kate is sent to the cellar to find old Christmas ornaments, but instead she finds an old body that is now just a skeleton.  Even more shocking it is the skeleton of Eula Mae's husband who has been "gone" for over 20 years.  I figured out the killer very early into this book, but I did enjoy the southern theme and the characters.

'Twas the Knife Before Christmas by Jacqueline Frost is the second book in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series.  Holly is busy between helping out at her family's Christmas tree farm and filling orders for her jewelry business.  She still has time to comfort her friend Caroline who had a very public altercation with her date the night before.  When the man is found dead and put on public display along with Caroline's monogrammed knife, she is the obvious suspect.  Holly comes to the rescue by investigating the murder.  The various suspects kept me guessing until the end.  I loved the quaint holiday theme and look forward to the next book!

Vicki Delany's fourth book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery is A Scandal in Scarlet.  Gemma, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop, and her dog Violet are out for a walk one night when Violet alerts her to a burning building - a local history museum.  When the new director is murdered at a fundraiser auction at the tea shop soon after, Gemma again finds herself in the middle of a mystery  Having gotten accustomed to Gemma's mannerisms, I enjoy this series.  New readers may find her less than charming, but she grows on you.  This book is a nice addition to the series!



disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

In the Garden

I guess technically this should be titled "in the house - for the garden".  We have had some frost and the threat of a hard freeze later in the week.  I did spend a bit of time pulling a few weeds and cutting back the herbs  The rabbits are happy since they have been eating basil, lemon balm, and raspberry leaves this week.

Inside I have started some pepper and eggplant seeds in peat pellets. Both seem to take forever to sprout and grow.  I have an under cabinet led light which is what I set the seed tray beneath.  I need to order another bag of the peat pellets so I can start some jalapeno seeds.  I like to give myself 12 weeks before the outside planting date on peppers and eggplants. 


This year I cannot plant outside until Easter which this year is April 21.  That is part old wives tale and part common sense based on past experiences.  We tend to always get a cold snap at Easter no matter how late it is. 

Peafowl: Q & A

Last week "Out My Window" asked if peafowl were cranky?  I admit that I was not certain about peafowl when W first announced we were going to get some.  I had seen them from afar a time or two and a neighbor down the road used to have some.  I can say that our peafowl are not at all cranky.  When they first arrived they were skittish and did not like sudden movements.  Some are quite tame.  When the weather warms up, I plan to spend more time with them and hopefully tame them further.

Tammy asked if they were just for fun.  Yes, although we may raise some to sell in the future.  I cannot imagine eating one.  First of all they are too cute, and second they are too expensive to even consider for a meal. 



Part of our peacocks came from my cousin's girlfriend's parents.  They wanted to get rid of them as they were noisy all of the time.  Since they have been at our house, we have only heard them a couple of times.  W reminds me that they will be very noisy when they start to mate.

A Few Peafowl Facts

The males have to be at least three years old before they grow their fancy tail feathers.  As they get older, their tail feathers get bigger and more showy.  Each year they shred their tail feathers.  When W was moving them, one lost all of his feathers in one lump.

The males are peacocks.  The females are peahens, and the babies are called peachicks.  If peafowl are not raised on your property, they must be kept in pens.  Otherwise they usually will not stay.  Peachicks raised on the property will stay.  We have two large flight pens for our peafowl with several swings.  Our plan is to raise a few that can free range on the property during the day and go in flight pens at night.

Peafowl can live up to 20 years with some saying up to 40 in captivity.  The one in the picture above is about six years old.

Peacocks are not fans of snakes and will kill/eat them.  That alone makes me love them.

Our peafowl eat a mixed diet.  They get a grain and seed mixture.  We also feed them a bit of dry cat food each day.  It gives them an extra boost of protein.  Truthfully all of our birds would eat cat food or dog food if we let them.  I feed two of our outside cats in the rabbit house and one in a wire crate with the door closed but not latched.  The cat can open the crate with his paw to go in, but it keeps the chickens and turkeys out.  All of the birds get some vegetable scraps, but we will also give them fresh vegetables and fruits from the garden as it starts back producing.

January Goals Update: Week 2

1.  Set up a Routine
This took a bit of a sideline this week as I was under the weather with sinus stuff and then a migraine.  Fun times. I was already on autopilot for some things.  I managed to do a load of laundry every day and keep up with the basic cleaning chores.  I know a routine is going to have to be flexible to work for us.  If I can get a set schedule on the main things, I will be happy.  I think minimalizing the amount of stuff we have in the house help.  I spend too much time cleaning/putting things away.  That may be a goal for a future month.


2.  Pantry/Freezer Challenge
I did an awful job of keeping up with what we ate this week.  We had pizza with ground meat since we were out of pepperoni.  I mixed some beef chorizo with ground meat for nachos.  I had already been warned that the chorizo was very greasy so the extra meat cut that.  W was on his on for a few meals as I was just not hungry.  Hopefully I can do better this week.


I have only spent $20 this month.  I plan to stay out of the grocery store this week but will do some shopping before the month is over.  My goal is to only spend $40 more.  That will give me $60 for the last monthly goal.


3.  Plan the Garden
I did a bit of changing on my seed wish list.  I actually found some nasturtium seeds and some sunflower seeds.  I marked nasturtium and the mini bell pepper off my list and added marjoram and another flower seed.  My total will still be under $60 which is the goal.  I am happy with the three tires we picked up to use as raised beds.  I am gardening on a budget this year.  I do hope that the garden produces more than enough food to offset these purchases.


Flowers are not a necessity, but they are on my garden list.  I noticed several other bloggers mention wanting to be able to cut bouquets for their homes.  I am looking to do the same as well as attract pollinators to my garden. 


I am growing more herbs this year.  One reason is for my own use.  Fresh herbs are hard to find in stores here and not really fresh.  I want to have enough to dry for use during the winter.  The second reason is for the farm animals.  Many herbs are wonderful for chickens and rabbits.  If I grow them myself, I know they are safe.

Weekend Book Reviews

A Cold Brew Killing by Lena Gregory is the third book in the All Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery series.  One of Gia's business neighbors finds a body in the freezer of his ice cream shop.  Gia's breakfast cafe becomes the meeting place following the murder.  It soon becomes apparent that the mystery involves events from years ago and many suspects.  This book could be read on its own, but I highly recommend the previous books.  The mystery in this book was strong, and the characters fit together well.  I look forward to many more books in this series!



The seventh book in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber is Wreath Between the Lines.  Jenna and the staff of the Cookbook Nook are in full holiday mode.  A neighbor and family friend Jake returns home to find his friend murdered.  When Jake is poisoned, Jenna begins to suspect he was the original target.  She is determined to find the killer before Jake falls victim.  The characters and setting in this series are wonderful.  It has just a touch of romance as well as a couple of side stories.  The mystery was strong and worked well with everything else.


Breaking the Mould by Victoria Hamilton is the eighth book in the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series.  Jaymie is getting ready for the Christmas season and the town's Dickens Days.  The local scrooge, Evan Nezer, is trying to stop it once again.  He seems to be picking fights with everyone.  Unfortunately for Evan he makes the wrong person angry and winds up dead in the diorama Jaymie helped make.  In order to bring the killer to justice and save Dickens Days, Jaymie jumps in to investigate.  This is a lovely series full of wonderful characters.  Breaking the Mould is a nice addition to the series.



disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Furry Friday

Some of you may have seen this post earlier in the week since I published it rather than scheduling it.  That will teach me to try to do anything requiring too much thought when I have a migraine.  Thankfully it only lasted one day.

The animals here enjoyed the warmer weather that started this year off.  Toby likes being outside anytime, but he loves it when someone else is out there with him.

His best cat friend is Ezekiel.  Ezekiel came to visit us last year and has just moved in.  He adores dogs although he has no problem letting them know if he has had enough.

Toby's best dog friend is Shadow.

Sunny and Butch are his frenemies. Toby loves for them to chase him around the yard, but his favorite thing is getting them in trouble.

Tucker enjoys hanging out in the rabbit house.  No one bothers him there.

Thea and the turkeys can often be seen hanging out together.

Around here everyone tends to get along.  I always hear "you cannot have dogs/cats with chickens/rabbits".  That may be true in some cases, but it is not always true.

Peacocks

Our oldest peacock finally cooperated with showing off his new tail feathers earlier this week.

It amazes me to see all of the colors and the intricate designs in the feathers. 

I have mentioned in the past that chickens like to swing.  Peafowl like to swing as well.  We have one peahen who absolutely loves the swings and can be found on one several times throughout the day.

In the Garden and Planning for Spring

Spring garden plans can be a bit dangerous when made in the winter months.  When it is terribly cold and I am stuck in the house, everything in the garden catalogs looks tempting.  My first priority was to check the garden and last year's seeds to see what I already had.  I came up with this list:

Jalapeno
Hungarian Jalapeno
Violet Bell Pepper
Pimiento Pepper
Pepperocini
Fish Pepper
Cucamelon
Yellow Pear Tomato
Cherokee Purple Tomato
Brandywine Tomato
Moneymaker Tomato
Sage
Parsely
Borage
Chives - Onion & Garlic
Bee Balm
Fennel
Roselle (Hibiscus)
Basil
Oregano - Italian & Mexican
Thyme
Mint - Peppermint, Spearmint, and Chocolate
Pineapple Sage
Lemon Balm
Stinging Nettle

Then I made a list of what I want to add:

Popcorn
Luffa Gourd (W's choice)
Mini Bell Pepper
Radishes
Lettuce
Lime Basil
Lemon Basil
Chamomile
Cilantro
Dill
Echniacea
Anise Hissop
Plantain
Yarrow
Calendula
Nasturtiums
Zinnias
Bachelor Buttons
Pie Pumpkins (on our farmland)

I also pre-ordered kiwi and passion fruit plants (will not be billed until they ship in April) and will order two elderberry plants (money already set aside).

Depending on how much of my grocery budget I can save this month, I may need to divide my order into two parts to fit my budget.  The flower seeds which I will sow directly into the beds do not need to be planted as early as the peppers.  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds offers free shipping to North America so I will not have extra charges if I split it up.


W has started work on the greenhouse. He is using boards from our old house so the cost of the remodel is very minimal.

These boards give it a very rustic look.  I am excited to see how it is coming along.


In the actual garden the turkeys discovered the cabbage.

I definitely need to come up with a better protection system if the turkeys are going to continue to free range.


I have several pepper plants that are small.  They were small enough to easily move so I dug them up and put them in buckets.  They will go into the greenhouse and then stay in the buckets in the garden area in the spring.  This will also free up a bit of space in my raised beds.

The herbs have been loving the warmer weather and have hit a growth spurt.

The kumquat tree is loaded with fruit.  Everyone's favorite way to eat them seems to be walking by the tree and plucking off a few. 

January Grocery Shopping

Even though I am doing a pantry challenge I knew that I would need to purchase a few items.  Since my goal is to save as much of my January grocery budget as possible, I stuck to necessities.  The money I save will go toward purchasing my garden seeds for spring.

First stop:
half gallon half & half - $4.69
feta cheese - $2.59


Second stop:
cream of mushroom soup - $0.49
2lb carrots - $1.49
1lb cheddar cheese - $3.29
8oz Colby cheese - $1.69
8oz mozzarella cheese  - $1.69
half gallon buttermilk - $2.49
16 oz sour cream - $0.99


Total for both with tax:  $20.19


I am going to round down to $20 since I had the change in my wallet.  That leaves me $100.  I have no plans to shop next week and minimal plans for shopping at the end of the month.


My mom gave me broccoli from her garden which explains some of my purchases - half & half, cheddar cheese, and feta.  I plan to make a broccoli salad and broccoli cheese soup.  The buttermilk and sour cream will be used in several dishes.  I will update on Monday with our meals for the week.

January Goals Update

1.  Set Up a Routine
I think the routine will be a work in progress.  I typed up a list of things that need to be done daily:  changing dish towels, sweeping the house, wiping down counters, etc.  Then I assigned a day to each room of the house.  I divided the extra cleaning chores over four weeks.  We are doing much better at keeping the house clean.  I find that I have more time to work on crochet projects and some time to read in the evenings.  I think we are off to a good start.

2.  Pantry/Freezer Challenge
I decided to keep up with what we eat each day since I know I cannot remember back a day or two. 


Wednesday:  I had pound cake, and W ate cereal for breakfast.  For dinner (lunch) we had chicken tenders and French fries.  Supper was leftovers.


Thursday:  Breakfast was the same.  For dinner (lunch) we had a homemade hamburger pasta dish.  Supper was leftover waffles, sausage, and bacon.  The remaining leftovers of that went into the freezer.


Friday:  I had cake for breakfast, and W ate eggs and toast.  Dinner was ham sandwiches and chips.  Supper was homemade tomato soup.

Saturday:  I took the ham that was left and served it with tomato gravy and rice and some peas.  Supper was a frozen pizza.

Sunday:  We ate dinner with my parents and just snacked for supper.


3.  Plan the Garden
We had a slight change of plans on the raised beds after I showed W this post from Rural Revolution.  Living in farm country means old tractor tires are plentiful and free.  This year free is very good. 

My main to do for the first week of January was to make a list of everything I wanted to grow.  I already have some seeds while others will need to be ordered.  I thought it would be better to share my plans as a separate garden post.  Check back on Wednesday for that!

Weekend Book Reviews

Never Home Alone by Rob Dunn takes a look at the microbes, bugs, and other organisms that inhabit our homes alongside us.  The author made this topic thoroughly entertaining and educational at the same time.  The thought of bugs and fungi inside my home should have made my skin crawl.  Instead it made me want to start searching the windowsills and corners to identify the things living in my home.  I am sure I drove my husband a bit crazy with my constant "did you know...." while reading.  This is one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read.

Mikita Brottman's An Unexplained Death is about the mysterious death of Rey Rivera at the Belvedere in Baltimore.  The book had great potential with the mystery surrounding Mr. Rivera's sudden death.  I wish the author had been more focused.  She jumped from relevant topics to random things from her everyday life.  She honed in as much on past suicides at the Belvedere as she did on the death of Rey Rivera.  I would have preferred a more centralized story. 

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews. All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

Harvest of Secrets by Ellen Crosby is the ninth book in the Wine Country Mystery series.  I have enjoyed the previous books in this series but was sad to find that was not the case with this book.  During the busy season at the vineyard for Lucie, readers are bombarded with enough plot lines for three books.  First a long dead body is discovered as a hurricane threatens the vineyard.  Second the winemaker at a neighboring vineyard is murdered.  Finally Lucie makes some astonishing discoveries about her own family.  Each of these could have easily been the main focus of a book.  When they are put all together into one, it is tiring to read.  I was also disappointed that the author felt the need to address so many social issues in a single book.  I do love the characters and hope this is just a temporary blimp in the series.


Marty Wingate's seventh book in the Potting Shed Mystery series is Midsummer Mayhem.  Pru and her neighbors are excited to have an outdoor performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream at a local estate.  When the current gardener quits, Pru is called in to help.  As opening day draws near, one of the actors is murdered.  Pru's husband, the detective inspector, needs her inside knowledge to uncover the murderer.  While I did guess the culprit early on, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.  I love the characters, setting, and the garden theme, which were just as strong in this book as in previous ones.



disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!