As I sit here and type this, the turkeys are singing a very loud morning song. It always cracks me up to hear them react to each other as they do. One will start whistling and then the other 2 will do it in response. It's amazing to me how animals can develop such personalities. We've name them by the way. Tyson, Hercules, and Dora. Tyson is he alpha male as it would seem. He's the dare devil that will attempt to fly, and ends up crash landing in the process. He's the loudest, and the one with the most feathers. Dora is the only female of the group ( we think ) and the meanest. She pecks Hercules, and steps on every body's heads and steals their treats. Then there's poor little Hercules. The other male, ( we think ) and the most submissive of the three. Dora has been pecking his behind for a while now, and as a result, it's pretty gruesome. I've had to save him from Macgyver wanting to dispose of him, and I separated him from the other two, in hopes that he can heal. So far he looks like he's doing ok. He's still eating, and drinking and grooming and chirping and moving around alright, it's just his underside that looks gross. So here's hoping he heals. In other news, the end of school is in sight. Only two more days. I'm not really happy about this. Not because I'll have kids home all summer, but because I feel like they are growing up way too fast. My babies are not babies anymore. They're growing and learning and becoming adults. Although I know not for a long time yet, but still. Not happy.
In other news, I'm not sure if our garden is going to survive. It has been nothing but chilly and windy for the past since we've planted it. The tomatoe plants are laying on their sides, and some of the leaves on the other plants are yellow and curled. I've tried to water them just enough and not drown them, but with the rain we had, and the weather, I don't know. If we get any crop this year, it'll be amazing. I REALLY want a sturdy green house honestly, to keep the plants safe from the elements, but that would be REALLY expensive. Not sure why it's so windy either. I mean I know Nebraska is windy, but I don't remember it being THIS windy for THIS long. Today it's supposed to be a warm 68 but it won't feel like it because the wind gusts are supposed to be as high as 40mph. I'm about tired of it all. We shall see if mother nature decides to calm down or not.
Also, in a few weeks, we will be going on vacation. I can't wait. We're going to go to Colorado to go gold panning. Should be an interesting experience. Don't worry if we strike it rich I'll let yall know.
Ok well my attention is now diverted, so more later.Until next time.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Mother's Day
Hey everyone! Well let me just say it's been a BUSY few weeks. Basically the weather has gotten warmer, and NOBODY wants to stay inside for too long. As it is, I'm tapping out this blog while I procrastinate cooking dinner. It's a brisk 85 degrees out there, and this is the kind of weather that makes even the animals lazy. Speaking of animals, we added 3 new members to our "herd".
That's turkeys folks. For now, they're babies, but once they get a wee bit bigger we can set them loose in our yard and they can fatten up on grasshoppers and various other bugs. We're not going to eat these guys though, they're already like family. Next week, we'll be getting guinies. They're kinda like chickens but not and they eat the ticks and sand spurs we have going on around here. Can't wait!
Changing gears, we went to a few yard sales last weekend, and found some new cabinets for our kitchen. Not a complete set mind you but when you're on a budget, you have to get the things you want in pieces. I think they look nice.
Please excuse the mess. I'm currently a slob.
Yesterday, we finished up our garden. Well ok, not completely finished, because we still have the potatoes to go into the ground, but for the most part, done! Macgyver put up the fence, while the kiddos and I planted the plants. Hopefully in a few months, we will have fresh tasty veggies and a smaller grocery bill. We are growing tomatoes ( of course ), cucumbers, banana peppers, potatoes, squash, strawberries and carrots. We also planted a peach tree, but if you did around my past blogs, you will find the post about that. We also learned our lesson last year with the weeds, and are trying out this fabric you put down to protect the plants. All in all, it was a lot of back breaking work, but hopefully worth it in the end.
It looks small in that pic, but trust me, it's big. Bigger than last year anyway.
So today being mother's day, I have been forcing myself to think about what it means to be a mother, and I came up with a few things. See list below.
1. You will wake up to the sound of kids fighting over the last doughnut, not birds chirping.
2. You will find yourself using the phrase " stop eating your boogers" a lot.
3. Kids meals will never be enough to satisfy a kid. They will always look to your plate to fill them up instead.
4. No matter how much fun they had the day before, kids will ALWAYS tell you that you never do anything for them and whine because they're bored.
5. They say the darndest things, usually around other grownups and usually those grownups do not have kids.
That's just a few that happened to me TODAY. But I would not trade it for anything in the world.
So now with all that being said, I must cook dinner for my brood, get them cleaned, and then fight the good fight for bedtime. Until next time.
Changing gears, we went to a few yard sales last weekend, and found some new cabinets for our kitchen. Not a complete set mind you but when you're on a budget, you have to get the things you want in pieces. I think they look nice.
Yesterday, we finished up our garden. Well ok, not completely finished, because we still have the potatoes to go into the ground, but for the most part, done! Macgyver put up the fence, while the kiddos and I planted the plants. Hopefully in a few months, we will have fresh tasty veggies and a smaller grocery bill. We are growing tomatoes ( of course ), cucumbers, banana peppers, potatoes, squash, strawberries and carrots. We also planted a peach tree, but if you did around my past blogs, you will find the post about that. We also learned our lesson last year with the weeds, and are trying out this fabric you put down to protect the plants. All in all, it was a lot of back breaking work, but hopefully worth it in the end.
So today being mother's day, I have been forcing myself to think about what it means to be a mother, and I came up with a few things. See list below.
1. You will wake up to the sound of kids fighting over the last doughnut, not birds chirping.
2. You will find yourself using the phrase " stop eating your boogers" a lot.
3. Kids meals will never be enough to satisfy a kid. They will always look to your plate to fill them up instead.
4. No matter how much fun they had the day before, kids will ALWAYS tell you that you never do anything for them and whine because they're bored.
5. They say the darndest things, usually around other grownups and usually those grownups do not have kids.
That's just a few that happened to me TODAY. But I would not trade it for anything in the world.
So now with all that being said, I must cook dinner for my brood, get them cleaned, and then fight the good fight for bedtime. Until next time.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
A Thrifty Day
Well today was a good day. Mcgyver and I drove our new Ford Focus to town, getting 35 miles per gallon, and only burnt a teaspoon of gas it seemed. We drove to Goodwill and dropped off a few tshirts, and then we went to Staples, and took advantage of some rebate savings. We got a pop up tape dispenser, and a pack of mechanical pencils free after rebate. Then we went to the mall, and got his ring fixed because somehow he managed to smash it at work one night. That was free also. Then we drove to Gary's Superfoods and that's where I got the most of my savings. I picked up 4 tony's pizzas, 4 2 liters of pepsi products and 1 can of redi wihp for 8.48 cents total! I had a cupon for 1 dollar off 2 pizzas and 50 cents off 2 pizzas. 35 cents off a can of redi whip and a 1 dollar off 4 sodas. Combined savings of 6.66! Yes, I know freaky right? Well here's a pic of my bounty!
See I've discovered the trick to getting things relatively cheaply. The trick is, buy only sale items and only the items you have cupons for. I've been managing to get bags of rolls for less than half off what they originally cost, bags of frozen veggies for pennies, and while I cannot extreme cupon, due to the fact that my stores do not double, and put HUGE restrictions on cupons and items, I am still managing to save a bit of money, and stock my fridge. I pour over the circulars every wednesday, viewing them online and whenever Mcgyver brings them home for me. Then I look at what cupons I have, and I go! I wasn't able to do this before. We had next to ZERO money to do any extra shopping with, so now that I can do a little bit, I'm having a field day! I love being able to run to the store every couple days and snatch up a deal. Also, I must say that after we did that amazing shopping , I went to subway where it was a dollar off my favorite sub, so I managed to pick up a footlong sub for 4 dollars, not 5. Aweesommmeee. Top that with the fact that Mcgyver sold his motorcycle for 5k, so that's 5k we can put towards our car, dropping the total down to just 9k left owed! Woop!
See I've discovered the trick to getting things relatively cheaply. The trick is, buy only sale items and only the items you have cupons for. I've been managing to get bags of rolls for less than half off what they originally cost, bags of frozen veggies for pennies, and while I cannot extreme cupon, due to the fact that my stores do not double, and put HUGE restrictions on cupons and items, I am still managing to save a bit of money, and stock my fridge. I pour over the circulars every wednesday, viewing them online and whenever Mcgyver brings them home for me. Then I look at what cupons I have, and I go! I wasn't able to do this before. We had next to ZERO money to do any extra shopping with, so now that I can do a little bit, I'm having a field day! I love being able to run to the store every couple days and snatch up a deal. Also, I must say that after we did that amazing shopping , I went to subway where it was a dollar off my favorite sub, so I managed to pick up a footlong sub for 4 dollars, not 5. Aweesommmeee. Top that with the fact that Mcgyver sold his motorcycle for 5k, so that's 5k we can put towards our car, dropping the total down to just 9k left owed! Woop! Anyway, I just wanted to tap out a quick one to brag about my savings. More to come I'm sure. Now if the weather would cooperate, I can start planting and then save even more! Hopefully it'll happen soon. Until next time lovelies.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
What a dreary day
It's so gray out there. All the colors mesh together and all I see are gray and bright green. Bad weather is looming and we even have a severe winter watch on our hands. All this and in the last few days, we've had nothing but beautiful weather. Weather nice enough that I could open the windows and allow the breezes to blow through my house. But right now, not so much. The heat is on and I'm back to doning sweat pants, socks and sweatshirts. Oh well. It'll pass hopefully and nothing but beautiful planting weather will ensue. I'm kinda glad we didn't plant our strawberries the other day like I was really pressing Macgyver to do. I'm just kinda worried about our little peach tree. I hope it can survive.
Soccer practice has been called off today and reschedule for 30 minutes before the game on Sunday. HOPEFULLY the weather isn't miserable like it was last Sunday. It was just horrible. Still the princess managed to score two goals and come away with a big grin on her face, not to mention a slight limp. Sports are rough on kids, but she's managing.
I have some chocolate chips in my freezer just begging to be made into something. Cookies are overdone, I want to do something awesome with them. Any ideas?
Anywho, I'm all sorts of scattered today so will continue some other time when I'm not. Until next time.
Soccer practice has been called off today and reschedule for 30 minutes before the game on Sunday. HOPEFULLY the weather isn't miserable like it was last Sunday. It was just horrible. Still the princess managed to score two goals and come away with a big grin on her face, not to mention a slight limp. Sports are rough on kids, but she's managing.
I have some chocolate chips in my freezer just begging to be made into something. Cookies are overdone, I want to do something awesome with them. Any ideas?
Anywho, I'm all sorts of scattered today so will continue some other time when I'm not. Until next time.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Cupon Rant!!!
Ok, so yah I know that those shows like "Extreme cuponer" is good for MOST people.. but what about those of us in the middle of nowhere, that do not have a choice of grocery stores like they do in those shows? Yes, it's amazing you can wittle your bill from 1200 bucks to only 150, but what about MEEEEEEEEE??? It seems unfair that the grocery stores we DO have, do NOT double coupons, And I always seem to miss the sales for some reason. I'm s irritated that it's almost a hateful spite I feel towards these people who can do amazing things with thier cupons. Not because I'm jealous of thier haul, but because I'm mad that our own grocery stores do not offer that. I guess I just need to find other ways to save money and realize that when you life in BFE Nebraska, there's no way you're going to save money on anything unless you work harder than the average person. *huff*
Monday, April 11, 2011
HOLY BREAD!!
Yes, I did it again! I am so excite at how wondefully I did on this loaf, I just had to share. It's so pretty!!
I think I might try to tackle some sort of sweet bread next. I know with bread, you can basically put anything you want in it, but I'm still new to this. I just perfected the art of using a glass meatloaf pan to make bread, so I still gotta catch up I suppose. Maybe I can make a cinnamon & raisin bread? Well either way, I think I might also make some home made cinnamon rolls later too. I am gonna have to stock up on yeast that's for sure. I just wanted to brag...Until next time!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Sunday Funday! ( well, not quite )
Hey everybody! Well it's Sunday and you know what that means right? Yes, house cleaning day. Fun fun! Though you know, I really can't complain much after the results. The princess is young enough to still want to help out all the time, and I can usually get rid of my messy boy to his friend's house if need be. There's nothing like picking up a pair of boots and rocks falling out onto your floor by the ton. I don't even know how they walk in shoes like that! I know as a kid, I hated it when my socks even bunched up. ( still do! ) I did notice that since I started a regular Sunday cleaning regiment, my allergies aren't so bad, and that's a good thing since I live on a dirt road in the country and have two dogs and a cat to mess me up. It's just staying on top of dusting that's a pain in the you know what. Oh well we'll manage.
It was my neice's birthday yesterday and so I called her up ( in the middle of her party ) and sang her happy birthday. My sister told me she looked confused, but that doesn't surprise me if you knew my sister. She's a bit confused herself but I love her. I really wish I could see them more, but you know distance prohibits that. I would be able to get around the distance if not for my own activities and family here on the homestead. It's getting into planting season, and family vacation season, and swimming season, so I'm finding it hard to get away. Not that I really want to anyway, I mean I love her to death but I'm actually enjoying Nebraska right now, and there's TONS to do. I do hope to make it out in September when she has baby noodles, but I think that's a pipe dream. September, the kids will have just started school, and Macgyver won't have any vacation time saved up. I think I've already exausted my inlaws too as they were here taking care of my brood a few years ago for almost 3 weeks when I went to New York and Virginia, and they came again when I got sick and was in the hospital. It might work out though so keeping optimistic.
I wish I could visit my other sister too , but she had to go way the hell out to Germany. :P If I even brought the subject up to Macgyver he'd have my hide. We just can't afford the plane ticket these days. Well I have three years, maybe sometime in the near future? We'll see though. It just makes me sad because I have a niece I haven't even met yet, and a nephew I haven't seen since he was 6 months old. I don't want them to not know who I am. Plus a brother in law I've never met either. One day though.
I can hear the heathens stirring in thier rooms. Good thing mom has a " no getting out of your rooms til 8 on a weekend " rule in our house. So I can squeeze at least 20 more minutes of me time in before they demand my attention. I'm thinkin' pancakes and sausage today for a good hearty breakfast. Gonna need it to get this day going. The princess has a soccer match today and while she's really good at it, and she likes to play, she's been complaining about the shin pads. Leave it to my kid to be picky about things. Oh well
Macgyver has been on the hunt for a rear tine tiller, ever since he got sticker shocked at the store and realized just how much a new one would cost. The neighbors have one just sitting in thier front yard in the elements, and he has been eyeing that, but I'm afraid it might be a lost cause. As far as I'm concerned, anything that looks like junk, has got to be junk and thus not worth the effort, still when Macgyver gets his mind set on something, it's hard to convince him otherwise. Speaking of, hes' been talking lately about wanting to go back into debt for a electric car, or to convert one of our beaters into a propane but I'm really not wanting to do that. I know sooner or later I'm going to have to crush his dreams because we REALLY can't afford it right now. Besides, I think it's a dumb idea anyway. He's chalk full of them usually but now I can't afford to let him chase them because they take money away from our family. He gets mad, but oh well. Can you tell I have a little resentment for him and his money spending ways? Well that's another issue entirely and I will not get into it here.
Yesterday we had a nice family day. It was a warm 81 degrees and so we had a picknick at the park. It was lovely! Got to watch the kids play and chow down on some good food. Food always taste better when you eat it outside in my opinon anyway.
Well I must flee for now, the brood is starting to demand some breakfast and I suppose I should feed them before they turn to cannibalism. Until next time my lovelies.
It was my neice's birthday yesterday and so I called her up ( in the middle of her party ) and sang her happy birthday. My sister told me she looked confused, but that doesn't surprise me if you knew my sister. She's a bit confused herself but I love her. I really wish I could see them more, but you know distance prohibits that. I would be able to get around the distance if not for my own activities and family here on the homestead. It's getting into planting season, and family vacation season, and swimming season, so I'm finding it hard to get away. Not that I really want to anyway, I mean I love her to death but I'm actually enjoying Nebraska right now, and there's TONS to do. I do hope to make it out in September when she has baby noodles, but I think that's a pipe dream. September, the kids will have just started school, and Macgyver won't have any vacation time saved up. I think I've already exausted my inlaws too as they were here taking care of my brood a few years ago for almost 3 weeks when I went to New York and Virginia, and they came again when I got sick and was in the hospital. It might work out though so keeping optimistic.
I wish I could visit my other sister too , but she had to go way the hell out to Germany. :P If I even brought the subject up to Macgyver he'd have my hide. We just can't afford the plane ticket these days. Well I have three years, maybe sometime in the near future? We'll see though. It just makes me sad because I have a niece I haven't even met yet, and a nephew I haven't seen since he was 6 months old. I don't want them to not know who I am. Plus a brother in law I've never met either. One day though.
I can hear the heathens stirring in thier rooms. Good thing mom has a " no getting out of your rooms til 8 on a weekend " rule in our house. So I can squeeze at least 20 more minutes of me time in before they demand my attention. I'm thinkin' pancakes and sausage today for a good hearty breakfast. Gonna need it to get this day going. The princess has a soccer match today and while she's really good at it, and she likes to play, she's been complaining about the shin pads. Leave it to my kid to be picky about things. Oh well
Macgyver has been on the hunt for a rear tine tiller, ever since he got sticker shocked at the store and realized just how much a new one would cost. The neighbors have one just sitting in thier front yard in the elements, and he has been eyeing that, but I'm afraid it might be a lost cause. As far as I'm concerned, anything that looks like junk, has got to be junk and thus not worth the effort, still when Macgyver gets his mind set on something, it's hard to convince him otherwise. Speaking of, hes' been talking lately about wanting to go back into debt for a electric car, or to convert one of our beaters into a propane but I'm really not wanting to do that. I know sooner or later I'm going to have to crush his dreams because we REALLY can't afford it right now. Besides, I think it's a dumb idea anyway. He's chalk full of them usually but now I can't afford to let him chase them because they take money away from our family. He gets mad, but oh well. Can you tell I have a little resentment for him and his money spending ways? Well that's another issue entirely and I will not get into it here.
Yesterday we had a nice family day. It was a warm 81 degrees and so we had a picknick at the park. It was lovely! Got to watch the kids play and chow down on some good food. Food always taste better when you eat it outside in my opinon anyway.
Well I must flee for now, the brood is starting to demand some breakfast and I suppose I should feed them before they turn to cannibalism. Until next time my lovelies.
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