5-3-10

Took mom to the dentist this morning after
getting the kids on the bus.
Then I took her to Walgreens to get a
prescription and then to Kroger.

Ok if you buy mulch, don't leave it in your
vehicle overnight! The Tracker this morning
smelled like a tractor! Had to fix that in a
hurry! We bought 4 bags over the weekend.
I managed to mulch the side of the house
with the pompass grass which is starting to
grow very quickly. Pompass grass doesn't like
me. It makes me itchy if I come in contact with
it and I break out in red splotches.
It's starting to warm up outside. Putting
down mulch was making me sweat. Supposed
to be about 78 today.

Found mulch at Marc's for $2.50 a bag which
was pretty good compared to $3.50 to $4.00
everywhere else.
To do the whole yard, which is the front and
side of the house along with 3 other flower
beds will run approximately $25 to $27 total,
I'm guessing, for 10 to 11 bags.




After the kids got home from school
I headed out to the garden to do some planting.
All three 55 gallon water barrels are full.
So that will help out with watering all
these plants.
Still need to find stakes before putting
in the tomatoes. Also we plan to put up
some sort of fence around the garden to keep
the rabbits out. We have a few one of which
was out in the driveway this morning. They
tend to come out early morning or late evening.





Went to the South side this evening to
check out a drywall repair job.
Tony is trading drywall services for
transmission work.

On the way home since it was getting late
we stopped in Toxic Hell to eat.
Mistake, lol. Does a number on the stomach
leaving for a chilly ride home with
the windows down.




We kind of took the back roads to get to
and from the South end due an accident on
33 backing up traffic.
We passed by the airport and decided
to stop in the viewing area to let the
kids watch a few planes take of and come in.

The video I took was an airforce plane
that looked like he was coming in for a landing.
He came down low but never landed.







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Returned home about 8:30pm and no sooner
got in the door when mom called.
She said there was an accident on her
corner. We all knew it was due to
running a stop sign as that's a problem
on our street along with speeding.

The SUV ran the stop sign and
spun the other car like a pit maneuver.
As far as I know no one was hauled away
in the ambulance and everyone checked out ok.





Ok well I am off here for this evening.
We're watching Avatar for the second time
because we have to return it to our friend
tomorrow that we borrowed it from.
It is a very good movie.

5-2-10

9am-10:30am

Got up and popped the stuffed french toast
in the oven. It takes about an hour or
so to bake.

It turned out pretty good.
The creamy cream cheese and strawberry
filling was yummy.
I think next time I would cut down the
milk to about 1/2 to 3/4 cup
and grill these in a skillet.
I like my french toast a little firmer.



Got a load of laundry in as Sunday is
my day to wash clothes.
With warmer weather approaching laundry
shouldn't be so bad or take so long.
Reason being is because of smaller
clothes such as shorts and t-shirts
compared to pants, long sleeve shirts,
jackets and sweaters that make for
less loads of laundry.

Don't know if I'll be hanging laundry
this year. We'll see how it goes
and how my schedule looks.
While it does save money it takes
more of your time to do.

My goal today is to clean up the living
and dining area. I need to move a chair
out of the living room and clean carpet.
I HATE HATE HATE this light colored carpet.
It seems like I just cleaned it a couple
weeks ago and it looks filthy again!

I started working on my $5.00 church sale
curtains. They are way too long and don't
exactly fit in the bay window area.
So I started shortening them up this morning.
Got one done and have two more to do.

My thing is I try to make do with what I have
or can get for cheap and if I have to,
fix it to make it work.



11:40am

Got all the curtain panels hemmed up.
I decided to take it a step further.
Since I have 3 windows in the bow window
I cut the middle panel in half.
That way the curtains would look even
instead of the entire middle panel
being pushed to the right or left
throwing it all off center.

The wind's blowing a lil so
they may look a lil uneven
from blowing outwards.



Looks so much better having the
middle panel split to be even on both sides.
I still need to iron them but
not right at this moment with
everything else I have to get done!
I did end up making another valance
out of the fabric I used for the chair cushions.
It still needs a little something.
I'm thinking maybe some bead trim.




Time to retire the sewing machine
for awhile. Got so many other
things I gotta get done!



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LUNCH

Leftover BBQ made into sandwiches

Pork $1.31
8 slices bread .60 cents (used Texas Toast)

TOTAL $1.91
serves 4 @ .47 cents a serving

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SUPPERS

Typical kitchen in our house. Every burner going
and then some. Tonight's supper, lunches
and supper for tomorrow.




It's so humid in here from rain, cleaning
carpets today, dryer and then the heat and steam
from cooking and boiling things. Whew!

I was gonna make up some more rolls in the
bread machine & oven for sausage and eggs
sandwiches to put in the freezer.
I decided I'll do it another day.
Kids have cereal to eat for now for breakfast.

Ok gotta go check laundry. Then put it all away.
I'd like a slow down!
Mom's never get a day off or a vacation!






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5-1-10

10am

Rain, rain, go away.


10:30 to 11:am

Made up a jar of sugar-free strawberry jam.




Got some pork ribs with hickory brown sugar BBQ sauce
in the crock. Will be having pulled BBQ pork
sandwiches on homemade buns for a later supper tonight.
Also made some homemade coleslaw for a side.






Got the rest of the packages of pork ribs
packaged up for the freezer.



Put a leftover lunch for Tony in the freezer.
It is the weekend so leftovers have
to go in the freezer til Monday to keep fresh
til he goes back to work.

Here is an example of what he takes to work
with him for lunch every day.
This is mashed potatoes topped with
chicken and gravy, sides: stuffing,
corn on the cob and a roll.

Try buying this at a fast food joint
for around $1.00.
This is the reason for leftover lunches to save money!




__________________________________________________

3:00pm

Busy day so far.
Just got back from scrappin the air conditioners
at Tony's work.
The kids jumped right in with helping
and seemed to know exactly what needed done.














We then headed over to Kroger to
get a prescription for Tony.
While there I found a bunch of loaves
of bread for .39 cents. I think I got
about 10 loaves. I gave 6 of them to mom.
Also found $5 rolls of Bob Evans maple
sausage marked down to $1.49!
Ohhh those are my favorite.
I snatched up 6 rolls.
We also had to buy gifts for a birthday
party the kids are attending this afternoon.
They will be gone for 3 hours. Wooo Hooo
break time for mom and dad!

Me and Tony might head out to find
some potting soil and more seeds and/or plants.
I am wanting some flower seeds, especially
some marigolds that I will be able to plant around
the garden area.

Well it's almost time to take the kids to
the party. Had to throw down some quick
grub for lunch and pop each kid in the shower.
Gotta run to quickly wrap these gifts.


___________________________________________________

4pm - 5pm

Not much time for mom and dad to hang out and
do things. We went to Marcs and bought
2 banana pepper plants ($1.00 each)
and 4 bags black mulch ($2.50 each).
Left there and headed to Wally World to
look for some seeds.
Their seed selection sucked. We didn't
get any but did get a bag of topsoil
for about $1.80.

Shortly after Walmart the page decided to
go off so off to Tony's work we went.
He had about 3 calls to take care of.
That was 5-6:30pm.

Had to race back to pick the boys up from
their party by 7pm. Seems like we no sooner got
home and Tony got paged out again.
Jonathan went along with him this time.
Me and Christopher stayed home.

I took the ribs out of the crock
and shredded the meat up and added
a little more sauce.
Then I took the homemade hamburger buns
and spread a lil butter on them then
added sea salt and garlic from the grinder
and grilled them in a skillet. YUMMMMMMY!!
I'd have to rank this up there with
City Barbecue!




___________________________________________________

Almost 8pm and the day is winding down somewhat.
Just finished supper and have some waiting for
the other boys when they return home.

Now time to get breakfast started for tomorrow.
I'm going to make stuffed French toast in a
casserole dish and let it sit overnight in the
fridge. Then I can just pop it in the oven
when we get up.


Here is how I threw it altogether:

Place 4 pieces of Texas toast
in the bottom of a casserole dish.




4 ounces cream cheese, softened
mixed with 3 Tablespoons Splenda.



Spread cream cheese mixture
among the 4 pieces of bread.



Spoon jam over top the cream cheese.
I used the sugar-free homemade strawberry jam I made.




Place 4 more pieces of Texas toast on top.



In a small mixing whisk together the following:
(I just reused the mixing bowl that had
the cream cheese mixture in it. That's
why you see tid bits of cream cheese on top.)

3 eggs,
1 cup milk,
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 cup maple syrup (I used sugar-free)
1 Tablespoon Splenda
2-3 teaspoon cinnamon

Pour this mixture over top everything.



Cover with aluminum foil and place
in fridge overnight.




The next morning, preheat the oven to 350, and bake, covered, for 55 minutes.

Remove tinfoil, and bake uncovered for 5-7 more minutes

(optional) Sprinkle with Powdered Sugar

4-30-10

Last night I browsed through about 5 of
my garden library books. I feel like I am
studying for a test! AHHHH! So much to learn,
brain going into overload.

__________________________________________________

Just back from yard saling which sucked
as there weren't very many.

2 yard sticks .10 cents each



boot & shoe scraper .75 cents
looks like a porcupine with bristles
on top. Use to brush mud off shoes outside.



Sign that says,
"take off your shoes or scrub the floor" .50 cents
I'm starting to collect these cute and quirky signs.
Need to put this by the porcupine boot brush thing!
These sign go for $8 on up at Bob Evans.




Child wire shoe rack.
Holds 4 pairs of shoes plus
has 2 wire baskets underneath. $1.00



Train steam engine radio $2.00
For Christopher.
Looks like this one HERE.




A large plastic bag of yarn, twine & string $1.00
running out of twine for garden area so am stocking up!




HUGE basket $2.00
Want to line with plastic, fill with dirt
and put flowers in it for the outside
flower bed in the middle of the yard.




Trans Am ball cap .50 cents




__________________________________________________

12:30pm

Gonna get a nap in before the weekend starts.
Tonight we'll be scrapping. Tony collects
metals at work and we take them to be scrapped
to make a few extra bucks. We've got
3 air conditioners along with brass and copper
to cut up. You make more money per pound if
you clean up the metals of sauder and other
bolts and adapters that may be attached to them.

One summer we tore apart 850 to 880 furnaces.
Lot of work and it was a very hot summer in the
high 90's to 100's!! But we reaped the rewards
as the copper was price high per pound,
about $2.00 plus. So making $700 to $1,100
on the side per week that Summer for about
3 months was SO GREAT!!! So never frown upon
a scrapper that rolls by with what appears to
be junk in his truck. Sometimes that scrapper
is making big bucks! Probably more than you're
bringing home in 2 or 3 paychecks!!
Sure do miss that money. But we couldn't do
anything else to have fun. We worked hard at it
everyday. If you left stuff lingering another
scrapper was nearby ready to swoop it out from
underneath you, stealing your stash!

Current prices per pound from
Recycling Exchange North, Inc.

Item $ per #

Aluminum Cans 0.60
Steel Cans .00
Red Brass 1.40
Yellow Brass 1.10
Copper
Bare Bright 2.75
Copper #1 2.60
Copper #2 2.45
Copper #3 2.25
Insulated
Copper Wire #1 1.40
Insulated
Copper Wire #2 1.00
Auto Radiator 1.20
Aluminum Radiator 0.45
Aluminum/Copper
Radiator 1.25
Aluminum Mix 0.44
Aluminum Extrusion 0.48 - 0.62
Aluminum Siding 0.60
Aluminum Clip 0.55
Aluminum Cast 0.45
Alum Cast Wheels 0.60
Stainless 0.50
Steel & Iron 0.00
Catalytic Converters 5.00 - 40.00
Newspaper 0.00
Litho Printing Plates 0.60
Corrugated Cardboard 0.00
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I like to put recipes I find of interest on here.
If I write them down they seem to disappear.
So it may seem like a lot of recipes but I guess
it's for my own reference when I want to search
for it again and it's easy to find.

I'm trying really hard to make from scratch where
I can. When it comes to sugar free food those
seem to cost lots more in the stores so why
not make it yourself for much cheaper.

SUGAR FREE FREEZER JAM

2 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tbsp. water
2 c. fresh strawberries, or fruit of your choice, washed & diced
Sugar substitute to equal 1 c. sugar
1 env. unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch

Combine lemon juice, water, gelatin and cornstarch in a saucepan. Heat slowly, stirring constantly, until gelatin and cornstarch dissolves. Add fruit to gelatin mixture. Heat to boiling point over low heat, stirring constantly. Boil berries 3 minutes. (Other fruit may take longer.) Remove from heat and add sugar substitute. Pour into heat proof jars and cover. Let set at room temperature until cooled. Store in refrigerator or freeze.

-------------------------

Single-Serve Diabetic Marmalade
# Oranges.

Oranges.
Ingredients:

2 navel oranges
2 lemons
1 pt. water
½ oz. powdered gelatin
¼ cup Splenda

Cut the rind from both the oranges and lemons. Make sure to remove the entire white part. Cut the rind and pulp into small pieces. Place them in a pan with 1 pt. of water and boil gently for about 30 minutes. Cook longer if the pulp and rind are not yet tender. Add the Splenda and gelatin. Remove the pot from heat. While hot, put into a glass jar.

-----------------------

Microwaveable, Sugar-Free Orange Marmalade
# Orange Marmalade

Orange Marmalade
4 large oranges
4 cups Splenda

Yield 4 pt.

Prepare the oranges by removing the peel. Make sure to cut the white part away from the peel. Cut orange into chunks, remove the seeds. Place peels and orange chunks into a food processor and pulse until the pieces are small and uniform in size. Add Splenda and pulse again.

Place the mixture into a microwave-safe glass bowl and cook on high for two minutes. Stir, and return to the microwave. Cook again for another 2 minutes. Stir again. Repeat this process for a total of four times. Do not let the marmalade overflow. Transfer it to glass jars and seal them. Store in the refrigerator.

----------------------

Sugar Free Strawberry Jiffy Jam Recipe

Ingredients

* 2 CUP STRAWBERRIES
* 1 CUP COLD WATER
* 1 3-OZ PKG STRAWBERRY GELATIN - SUGAR - FREE


Directions

1. IN A LARGE SAUCEPAN CRUSH BERRIES
2. ADD WATER AND GELATIN ,MIX WELL OVER MED HEAT
3. BRING MIX TO A BOIL,STIRRING CONTANLY
4. REDUCE HEAT TO LOW AND SIMMER FOR 2 MINS
5. POUR INTO JARS AND ALLOW TO COOL AND THEN COVER
6. CANBE STORED UP TO 2 WEEKS OR FROZEN FOR SEVERAL WEEKS

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EASY ICE CREAM (SUGAR FREE)

12-18 packets Equal
5 eggs
1 1/2 tbsp. vanilla
2 pkg. instant sugar free pudding
1 can evaporated milk

Depending on how sweet you like your ice cream.

Mix together all ingredients and freeze. Change flavors of pudding for different flavors of ice cream.

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Didn't do the scrapping thang tonight.
Tony got a call out for emergency
maintenance and afterwards we were too pooped to pop.
Might head to bed and grab a few more books
to browse through.

There's never enough hours in a day
to get everything done.