159 - Frugality

So far being in the house has been everything I'd hoped, at least in terms of the kitchen. I've been able to implement all the money saving ideas I've been saving up for the past year and I'm loving the refrigerator, stove and microwave. Love the rest of the house too, but it's a work in progress. Once the boxes are gone it will help me feel more at home... I can't believe we're still moving in. Last house I had everything unpacked in two days, but I also moved from a one bedroom apartment to a four bedroom house... this time it was a four bedroom house and garage full of stuff to a three bedroom house with a damp basement.

Strawberries and cherries were on sale at Walmart last week, so we bought two containers of each. I sliced them up, froze them in a single layer on a cookie sheet, then put them in ziploc bags so that they aren't glued together in a big wad, and I can take out what I want for ice cream, pies, smoothies or snacks. Also did that for bananas that were on the cusp of becoming overripe, and I had apricots left over from the chicken apricot dish I made, so they will get sliced and frozen as well. Trying to let nothing go to waste. I also cleaned the celery and wrapped it in foil because I've heard it will last for weeks, and instead of letting the lettuce sit for too long and rotting, I cleaned it and tore it into pieces that are in my salad spinner. And the celery leaves are awesome in salads, so they are in a ziploc to be added to the salad mix.

Last night I roasted a chicken. Turned out MUCH better than the one at Christmas because I had time to defrost and brine it. The skin was sooooooooooo crispy and delicious. Last night we had a snack after it came out of the oven. This morning I shredded it and used the last of the pesto and Greek yogurt to make a different kind of chicken salad sandwich. Tonight we'll use the rest for burritos. I froze the liquid from the pan as well as the organ meats in case we feed the puppy a raw diet, and the carcass is in the slow cooker with some veggies to become chicken stock. Added a little vinegar to leach the calcium and marrow from the bones. I've read a lot about the health benefits of bone broth and we can use all the help we can get. I'm determined to get healthy again, to have more energy, to lose weight.

Also have a bunch of scraps to compost, just need a composting barrel. I'm afraid that if I just toss it all out and create a compost pile, it will attract animals to the yard and I don't want that. In the suburbs it's not as big an issue, but out here there are strays and all kinds of wildlife. Heard there was a mountain lion in Granville and someone shot a bear in Gainesboro last year. The mountain lion is verified, the bear is hearsay. Either way, I've only seen turkeys and rabbits out here. And the cows across the road with their cute little calves. And deer on the side of the road... taking a nap. They sleep with their tongues hanging out.

We met our neighbors. They're about our age, a little younger. The husband is in a band so they have get-togethers about 3-4 times a year. Even with the windows open we couldn't hear the music, so if for some reason we didn't end up over there, it wouldn't bother us. Met a few people and had a good time. Everyone here seems to be friendly, we've met about half the people who live on the road by now.

And I've found people who have worse luck than we do: Dream House: Log Cabin. Every time they turn around there is something else wrong. Wow.

Jason should be here tonight. Since our truck has no a/c, Jason is picking Mike up to take back to AL. Mike left a voicemail with our Dodge case manager since we've fixed the a/c twice now, it's getting to be ridiculous and we shouldn't have to pay anything more on it. Anyway, it'll be good to see my cuz and he needs a break, so we'll probably go canoeing and I'll make yummy food. And then in a day or two I'll have the house to myself. It's nice for a couple of hours, but I'm used to having Mike around and I kinda like him... so... We do what we have to do and I'm glad that he and Jason get along so well and can help each other out.

Anyway, gonna go do something useful. Just feeling good about being frugal and wanted to share.