tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84056128320654081242024-03-13T07:33:03.710-07:00Simplicity and FrugalityI plan to post about my efforts toward voluntary simplicity, frugality, and debt free living. Much of this is grounded in environmentalism, politics, and social justice.Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.comBlogger654125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-27170071742595834332024-01-05T08:12:00.000-08:002024-01-05T08:12:30.213-08:00Food Is Good....UltraProcessed Crap Isn't<p> So, here's the danger of reading science stuff, sometimes it makes you do stuff that is good for you. Not always, often, it is BS but this time...it makes sense.</p><p><br /></p><p>I read and listened to the book <i>UltraProcessed People </i>by Chris Van Tulleken several times and will do that a few more times.</p><p>I'd already read/listened to various other books and articles on how the ultraprocessed food messed with our bodies, brains, moods, economies, human rights, farming, soil, weather and on and on.</p><p>This one though, it brings it all together and the dude has a nice british accent of some sort so it's an easy listen.</p><p>Turns out, frankenfood is bad for you! I mean, I KNEW that but I didn't get scared straight. I'm getting there now. </p><p>For years I've been working on the diet. Decades. And the exercise.</p><p>NOW though...I have the means, the time, the motivation and group of friends and colleagues who also are a bit into it in their own ways. Is that what you extraverts call a support system?</p><p>So, last year I avoided cheap grocery store sugary foods. That made a major change in the diet and budget. Good for both as it turns out. If I really really wanted a treat, I didn't buy Reese's (this will be a complete shock to those who know me...I haven't had an industrial candy bar, even an expensive "good" one in over a year), instead, I either made it or went to a business, all turned out to be local, where someone actually MADE the thing. Like Moscow Candy in Moscow, Idaho where I got a really good peanut butter cup for 1$ or a "Bruttle" (what Butterfingers WISH they were) that is made in Spokane for 1.50$. They are smaller than the industrial versions, cost about the same or less and are astoundingly BETTER. Also, there are some road blocks to getting them. I'm not in Moscow most days.</p><p>Occasionally, I would get a locally made cinnamon roll or piece of pie or cookie. And occasionally I would make them.</p><p>This year, cutting back UPF, ultraprocessed food, as defined by the NOVA system. None of it is good and it turns out all of it wrecks my health. </p><p>FORTUNATELY I have the means in money and location and skills now to do that. I have enough $$ to buy eggs and live close enough to people who raise chickens that go outside. I know people who hunt (and hope to be one of them this year) and trade them informally for game meat. I know how to butcher chickens and other small things and can them. I live with enough outdoor space to have a garden and near lots of people who garden. I have enough money to buy produce from local farmers. </p><p>While it costs more upfront for the food, by avoiding the fast food and convenience foods, my total food spend for 2023 went up very little. Pretty much on par with inflation.</p><p>Recently people at work got into similar things and I talked one into reading the above mentioned book. Now he and I share labor on processing (not ULTRAprocessing...very different) meat and fish. For the holidays I gave home made mustard, ketchup, and vanilla extract. In return I got deer and elk meat, and some smoked salmon. We are all happy with that.</p><p>Now...to buy a 2024 hunting and fishing permit. The hope is to ACTUALLY use it this year. Especially for fishing because that's easy and doesn't have to result in 100lbs of meat like killing big game.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-21425399610568736352023-12-16T08:59:00.000-08:002023-12-16T09:01:29.235-08:00Natural Fiber, Quality, Durable Clothing is Important. Getting That 2nd Hand Is Even Better<p> All that cheap crap synthetic fiber clothing you buy, then return or wear a few times and "donate" or throw out (most of the donated can't be used because it is crap and no one wants it so it is thrown out).</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is a summary of the post-purchase, even if "returned" and you got your money back, damage it does:</p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/tAw_LCfHJtM?si=C4l6zWGve7Z79oCx">https://youtu.be/tAw_LCfHJtM?si=C4l6zWGve7Z79oCx</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u0Z-2mwGarw" width="320" youtube-src-id="u0Z-2mwGarw"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>SO DON'T.</p><p>Here's my latest thrift, at least 2nd hand maybe 3rd or 4th hand purchase:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiXGlUSYCQh2zYkvNokqBtD4EtwQNgwnToWvektcdj8S_HWksUgvmLBXwSv0nTd4Xb5LcA9aZO6xJaRh9mGzdTGKJxcLkkaX-bZ8RuLUq_tX21R3Qn87hE9JcncKSBZHzbPhqll9d4-VYqHAIZrCQXbc97zwFisnNthYP15zG0eeRSKLYuUASY8CdqSE/s1393/Untitled.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1393" data-original-width="1133" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiXGlUSYCQh2zYkvNokqBtD4EtwQNgwnToWvektcdj8S_HWksUgvmLBXwSv0nTd4Xb5LcA9aZO6xJaRh9mGzdTGKJxcLkkaX-bZ8RuLUq_tX21R3Qn87hE9JcncKSBZHzbPhqll9d4-VYqHAIZrCQXbc97zwFisnNthYP15zG0eeRSKLYuUASY8CdqSE/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pure wool (yeah..I totally took that phot in a bathroom...), in great shape. Warm as hell. 6$. It is from the 1970s to 1980s. Looks like the zipper has been replaced. The zipper is heavy duty metal so it will last longer than I will.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How many coats/sweaters have I thrown out? Zero in the last 20 years. Donated? Maybe 2 and those were "redonated" since I had gotten them 2nd hand as gifts or thrifts. And they were in good shape. I mend things as I can.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The natural fiber in this jacket will not become microplastics killing fish and birds and staying in the environment for eons. The bits that come off when I wash this will get picked up by birds or critters for nests (since I hand wash outside with these wool type garments) (also they rarely need to be washed).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I do have a pure wool sweater that wore out (holes in the elbows, so thin you could read through it, the seams gave way. I had had it 15 years and it was used when I bought it). I cut it into rags and am still using a couple of those. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The jeans that recently disintegrated off my person at the end of a work day (eventually cotton...I buy 100% cotton jeans at thrift) have been stripped of usable parts like zipper, waist band etc. And now the bits of it are used as firestarters. It was too thin and weak to use as rags though I do use it to stop up spills now and then. Once it dries out, it is a fire starter again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My used clothes do NOT end up on the beach in a different country. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you actually used it up, wear it out, or make it do, or do with out, then you don't trash the damn planet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">SO stop with the fast fashion. It might be "fast" in that it spends little time in your possession but the damage it does to the world, your budget, the people who make it, ship it, and sell it (all underpaid and exploited and often poisoned by the substances used in production and transportation and even off-gassing in the stores) is NOT WORTH IT. Also, it looks cheap and ugly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So buy decent clothes you will actually wear, wash, mend and enjoy. They are better, they feel better, they look better and they don't destroy the planet or your soul.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">End of rant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-61769380054002510752023-12-11T16:04:00.000-08:002023-12-11T16:04:52.666-08:00I Ate Pig Heart<p> Not one of the transplanted ones. This one was NOT GMO like the transplanted ones.</p><p>It was the cheap healthy meat available at the winter market.</p><p>First...a tiny rant: THE MARKET BOSSES LIMITED THE NUMBER OF BAKERS! to ONE per market. WTF? I want sweet treats, BITCH. The one baker there had some bread and some doughy looking cinnamon rolls. Where were the cranky lefse ladies? Where was my cute baker with her magical fig cake and lemon bars and every thing she makes? EXCLUDED. Plenty of crafts but here's something the market bosses might want to note: people with low blood sugar don't impulse buy as much as people hopped up on artisanal tarts.</p><p><br /></p><p>OK, so, I got eggs...some of the best eggs I've seen. And a pig heart. It was only 5$/lb for pastured meat. I asked how to cook it as last time I got a pig heart it was rubber band texture. And flavor. It was also small which is nice. 2/3lb. I cut off all the tendon and silver skin stuff I could which probably took 2oz of meat with it. The seller told me she cooks it hot and fast after marinating it. And that any tendon or silver skin would be gross. (of course NOW I want to can hearts whole in pint jars with the gross bits still on them...what great valentine gifts!!!)</p><p>So I did that. Not the canning, the trimming and marinating. I used the last tablespoon of olive oil in a jar, some vinegar and a scoop of ras al hanout seasoning from a favorite Aunt (Thanks Chris!). </p><p>I left that for the afternoon on Sunday. Then heated up the woodstove since it was getting cold inside the wee shed. And fried up slices of heart in a bit of coconut oil. It is REALLY lean meat. </p><p>The instructions were to get it to look about medium, take it off the heat and let it sit a few minutes.</p><p>I had eaten all my side dishes earlier so I was faced with a plate of heart chunks. I got out some spicy mustard.</p><p>It wasn't bad! So that's a great improvement on the last time I made it. It was "meh". The mustard helped. It cooled off super fast since it was like 45 degrees in the shed. I will try it again...and I really really want to try canning whole hearts in pint jars. It would be so gross and cool. </p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-38643963264199038062023-11-02T08:21:00.001-07:002023-11-02T08:21:15.071-07:00COOKING "WITHOUT POWER"....??<p> That's been a trending topic in the frugal and prepper youtubes and blogs.</p><p>Uh...you can't cook without power. They mean without electricity. Since any time I cook at home is is WITHOUT ELECTRICITY I do not find this challenging.</p><p><br /></p><p>Without "power" though...that's not a thing. It takes power to make heat and heat to cook. Ipso factoid: You need some type of power to cook.</p><p>Here are some of the not electric cooking methods I use all the freaking time and it is NOT a problem:</p><p><br /></p><p>Wood...burn it. Put the food to be cooked close to the flame. Voila...cooked.</p><p>Butane...use a butane stove. Put the food to be cooked close to the flame. Voila...cooked.</p><p>Candles...use candles. Put the food to be cooked close to the flame. Voila...cooked. Use only small amounts of food for this one and thin pans because candles do not put out a huge amount of heat. </p><p>Solar...use the sun via a solar cooker (I have 3 types). Put the food to be cooked in the solar cooker. Voila...cooked.</p><p>Propane...use a propane stove or little heater burner. Put the food to be cooked close to the flame. Voila...cooked.</p><p><br /></p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-87893928059350497872023-10-10T13:57:00.006-07:002023-10-10T13:57:49.067-07:00For Those Who Stayed<p> So, I super left Iowa. A couple of times.</p><p><br /></p><p>For those who didn't, there is an excellent new song out:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="440" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w-4_EpOmjDM" width="530" youtube-src-id="w-4_EpOmjDM"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-26822433754689430362023-08-01T14:50:00.003-07:002023-08-01T14:50:18.630-07:00A Month of Scratch Cooking<p> July I did an experiment...or as Gramma would have called it...did nothing at all.</p><p>Nowadays cooking everything I ate from scratch ingredients myself for an entire month is not the norm.</p><p>By "ingredients" I mean no premixes (no "cake mix" "pancake mix" etc)flavored coffee, bag-o-salad, prepped veggies from the store...whole veg and fruit YES, cut veg and fruit NO.</p><p><br /></p><p>There were 2 exception meals. I was invited to join friends in a meal made my a visitor from out of state. They actually made almost everything from ingredients! I had a few store bought pickles and some pimento stuffed olives. The main dishes were bean soup from dry beans and chili with meat. I had quite a bit of chili. It was great! I skipped the crackers and bread.</p><p>Fortunately I like making mustard so I had that as a condiment. Along with all the flavored vinegars I make. I needed to buy some kombucha from the folks who supply me with kombucha vinegar for free. SO...I re-brewed the kombucha with berries and mango skins. It re-fermented and we called it good. </p><p>The other exception meal was a pre-committed meal at a work event my department was hosting. It would be odd to cater a meal and refuse to eat it! We catered in bbq pork sliders, raw veggies with dip (they were cut and I ate them but I skipped the "ranch"...I hate "ranch" so that was an easy miss). We also had some coleslaw and another salad. No pastries or cookies which was a choice by someone else, though I validate it in general. The sliders were good! </p><p>I definitely appreciated the meals I didn't cook and clean up from more than usual.</p><p>It was easy. I just needed to think through the next day at some point of an evening. If I had a field day coming up, I made sure I had a "grab n go" option ready for the morning. Mostly this was nuts and whole fruit or clean whole veg. A few times it was boiled eggs and salad in one of my thrifted tiffins (those metal multi-tiered lunch carriers popular in India). It gets lots of use and even more this month! One person traveling with me was so impressed he kept asking about the tiffin. I had a spare, also thrifted, that I use very little so I gave it to him the next day. </p><p>Salad in a mason jar with nuts and chia seeds for protein is another good option.</p><p>I've been doing my own salad dressings for years so that's easy. Just throw vinegar and oil and whatever herbs/spices are handy, bit of fresh ground pepper. A dollop of my homemade mustard if I'm feeling fancy. I'm not much on sweetening them. All about the savory salads.</p><p>Once the serviceberries were coming on, a handful of those went in pretty much everything. </p><p>I am growing greens so actually went the whole month just eating my own greens. The bugs destroyed all but one kind this week so greens options are getting a bit thin. </p><p>For meat/eggs....lots of my friend's free range eggs that she lets me "u-pick" without washing or refrigerating. I ran out late last week and got a bit creative over the weekend. At work we had canned a goat and no one seemed to want it so I've been eating up the goat meat to free up the jars. We also got free salmon at work and I took one, cleaned it and am keeping it in the work freezer (a tiny one). I took a piece home now and then to thaw and cook.</p><p>I have a fishing license and could have made more use of that or any use, if things got thin. I also have good sources of frozen, local free range meat at a couple of farmers markets.</p><p>On days I was home, or going to be home in the late afternoon rather than not until late evening, I set up my simple solar cooker so lunch or dinner would be ready. Even used it for late morning coffee sometimes but that's normal. A new favorite meal is solar cooked quinoa and lentils with dried tomato and some herbs and a handful of service berries. When it is done cooking, I thrown on vinegar, oil, pepper and a bit of salt.</p><p>Normally I don't add salt because any food not prepped at home is incredibly SALTY which bloats me up like a tic, My sodium intake was consistently low to the point that on hot sweaty days, I actually included some salt to compensate.</p><p>Another result: I saved a boatload of money! Came in at about half my usual food spend, which is groceries and all meals out and coffee out. So that helps. I've cut back on meals out, coffee out is rare now, but I do buy pre-made bread at farmers markets and etc.</p><p>One factor in the low food bill is that my serviceberry bushes were bonkers so I ate a TON and have 7 or 8 quarts in kombucha vinegar to keep for the off season. Critters were eating the free potatoes I planted so I harvested those and ate them. Then all the canning at work resulted in quite a bit of free protein. I have had coffee in stock and got a gift of another pound of coffee so didn't need to even buy coffee beans.</p><p>Still...what I did buy is clearly cheaper than prepared food. For example, today I restocked with some ingredients, keep the habits going, and spent: 20$ for 4doz eggs and 8.50$ for a weeks worth of veggies. </p><p>I expect another 30$ this week to stock up my coffee, grains, and dry beans/lentils because those are all pretty tapped out. </p><p>I learned that having nuts on hand keeps me from running to the store for fieldwork lunches when I have low supplies of grab-n-go food. Nuts or seeds and an apple or orange can get me through a day.</p><p><br /></p><p>There is likely more but I'm supposed to be focused on a webinar...</p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-78323300178780367652023-07-31T11:09:00.004-07:002023-07-31T11:10:54.742-07:00R.I.Pee Wee<p> </p><p>Paul Reubens, Pee Wee Herman, died today.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDL8DJ4N-B9OGCjLiZXSYNc_i8nybJ8Po1M0PDBh0Qsn-v0diEKjwSEyUKXNZDsLszezJ-mZNuEiAhb880_odhIA_zJkFwcCn0f5ic8REtTUOSpfRPHVtLHobPlpukK4k6KUfa6xSOE1wJuwbtRJB26s8ZPAs8uJYKrwnQzLIkWfXA3D3CwqngovLivCo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDL8DJ4N-B9OGCjLiZXSYNc_i8nybJ8Po1M0PDBh0Qsn-v0diEKjwSEyUKXNZDsLszezJ-mZNuEiAhb880_odhIA_zJkFwcCn0f5ic8REtTUOSpfRPHVtLHobPlpukK4k6KUfa6xSOE1wJuwbtRJB26s8ZPAs8uJYKrwnQzLIkWfXA3D3CwqngovLivCo" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxIjI_DcoHK6Nlq9ifngSKJKCjG9xfkRFWbyKfs58l26b4BLAe13lWERe1r9bKYhfbiBtUgJqH_qNH6pg8bv5iLDFVfpIsZd2zQahLOHcLcVGfGob3NyDBZMQvV60WsAwh0lKdXRRCTY16y1N-uHq646slrS2YIUTajU1qpZJf8N2b04cUZd2La6iusng" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxIjI_DcoHK6Nlq9ifngSKJKCjG9xfkRFWbyKfs58l26b4BLAe13lWERe1r9bKYhfbiBtUgJqH_qNH6pg8bv5iLDFVfpIsZd2zQahLOHcLcVGfGob3NyDBZMQvV60WsAwh0lKdXRRCTY16y1N-uHq646slrS2YIUTajU1qpZJf8N2b04cUZd2La6iusng" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>He will be missed</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/BodXwAYeTfM"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/BodXwAYeTfM"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BodXwAYeTfM" width="320" youtube-src-id="BodXwAYeTfM"></iframe></a></div><a href="https://youtu.be/BodXwAYeTfM"><br />https://youtu.be/BodXwAYeTfM</a><p></p><p><br /></p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-52041623738371675062023-07-11T15:45:00.002-07:002023-07-11T15:45:20.516-07:00I Grew Free Potatoes!<p> And it kind of worked!! </p><p><br /></p><p>In April I came across free potatoes and carrots at a thrift store in the region. Some were pretty edible. But, I figured if they were at all edible in April, probably store well or overwinter in the ground well so I planted some.</p><p>3 Carrots in the wee greenhouse...2 of them are putting out flowers for seed (carrots are bienniels..so the seed saver book tells me)</p><p><br /></p><p>Maybe 10 potatoes with eyes in the ground on April 8.</p><p>The gophers or something have been murdering the potato plants and I'm low on veg at the house yesterday so I dug one or 2 plants (hard to tell when the little b*st*rd gopher things eat the tops off!) and got 2-3 lbs of nice red potatoes. I left a few tiny ones in the ground. </p><p>I had some for lunch today with the goat meat we canned at work a while back. This had loco-lime spice mix on it, that was a gift...and DELICIOUS!!</p><p><br /></p><p>My July experiment is cooking from ingredients everything I eat. Whole raw fruit or veg is allowed...which will help with an all day meeting I need to go to (and one person's bday dinner has been booked for this month since December so that would be a meal where I make an exception).<br />Getting free potatoes and having meat that I prepared in the past really helps. </p><p>I got enough greens out of the garden for salad and topped it with some service berries I picked over the weekend and soaked in vinegar, finished it with a vinaigrette that I made.</p><p>Over all, a very "local" lunch and dinner. Breakfast was eggs from a friend's hens so also very local. Spices for the most part are from elsewhere. Herbs mostly out of my garden.</p><p><br /></p><p>Last time I tried to grow potatoes, I got less out of the ground than I put in...sort of like this years corn "crop" (is it a crop if the harvest weighs less than the seeds you planted?) (perhaps an "anti-crop")</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-72797414574267243722023-06-24T15:04:00.004-07:002023-06-24T15:04:28.563-07:00Giving up on 3 local restaurants<p> For real!!!</p><p>My builder is at the place (YAY!!!) and the crew likes cinnamon rolls. OK then. I brought them cinnamon rolls on their first day back on the job.</p><p><br /></p><p>So. They needed 6 rolls. I had to go to 2 places to get a total of 6. That is fine. 2 from Restaurant G...um...they are OK. Dry. Frozen and thawed out. frosting on the side in a little plastic tub. Meh.</p><p>Restaurant Z. Those were really good. Not too sweet. Moist. 1 frosted, others plain (which personally I prefer. If you are hiding the roll under a giant pile of gunk, there must be a problem). </p><p>Today, I tested Restaurant T as they are closer to my place. Um. BARF!!!!!!! They heated up the roll in a microwave which makes the bottom BLAZING hot. the rest was still frozen. And the frosting was off brand shortening and powdered sugar. PUKE! I threw it out. I asked for a non-warmed up roll and they said they couldn't because they were frozen. They served it in a styrofoam container which I am pretty sure had been in the microwave too. Double barf. Nothing like the smell of hot cheap plastic to whet the appetite. I tried a cookie as well. You wouldn't think you could mess up a peanut butter cookie but alas...it tasted mostly like baking soda and shortening. Maybe margarine but I'm pretty sure it was shortening. Also threw that out. </p><p>I am at work today, the weekend, making up a bit of time lost to the construction and didn't remember lunch so ordered "to go" from Restaurant G. Well, 2 out of the 3 items I ordered were in the bag. I give up.</p><p><br /></p><p>Which is fine. I was going to see if I could do all of July cooking from scratch, minus 2 events that are already booked and a possible birthday dinner with a friend that is pending a date. No "to go" meals or "I can't be bothered" unplanned outings. Not even treats from the farmers market. So, probably good that the restaurants are letting me down. I won't miss them.</p><p><br /></p><p>Certainly the value for money isn't there other than bringing the builders treats and getting them to keep showing up.</p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-14332771653757702512023-06-15T08:58:00.004-07:002023-06-15T08:58:55.421-07:00ICWA Upheld by Supreme Court!!!<p> I generally avoid politics here but this is a big one.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Supreme court UPHELD Indian Child Welfare Act. This is such an important law. I can't even start on why and how because that is a graduate seminar in history, law, genocide and more.</p><p><br /></p><p>For the full background, or fuller because there is no way to contain the impacts that this law was meant to correct in a webpage, book or other written material, check out these pages:</p><p><br /></p><p>Native American Rights Fund</p><p><a href="https://narf.org/nill/documents/icwa/index.html">https://narf.org/nill/documents/icwa/index.html</a> which is HUGE so start here</p><p><a href="https://narf.org/nill/documents/icwa/ch1.html">https://narf.org/nill/documents/icwa/ch1.html</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>National Indian Child Welfare Association</p><p><a href="https://www.nicwa.org/about-icwa/#:~:text=The%20intent%20of%20Congress%20under,%C2%A7%201902)">https://www.nicwa.org/about-icwa/#:~:text=The%20intent%20of%20Congress%20under,%C2%A7%201902)</a>.</p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-12342460712304805012023-06-06T16:21:00.005-07:002023-06-06T16:21:23.091-07:00Excellent Presents Redux<p> MORE excellent presents</p><p><br /></p><p>cash for construction...because "construction"...</p><p><br /></p><p>Coffee bean sampler! Yay!!! I get to grind and taste compare 9 different coffees. AND a friend got the same batch so we can be precious coffee princesses together. I should blog the flavor options. </p><p>I even have an artisanal hand grinder at the office and a french press. So I can be a coffee dink at the office. Nice.</p><p><br /></p><p>And visiting relatives (HI!!) brought me that box of groceries...coffee beans (I just finished the first bag of 3 and it was DELICIOUS!!! I think I have enough for one last cup tomorrow), and other treats all of which I eat like nuts (heh heh...I said 'nuts')</p><p><br /></p><p>I got a bag of goodies and a free lunch from a friend today...including a new enamelware cup (that might be out of her overstocked cupboard and I do not mind at all) which I will be using for my coffee taste testery. And I'm sure the chocolates in the bag will go really well with coffee.</p><p><br /></p><p>All excellent gifts. I'm wearing undies and sox that were gifts in the past. (I am also wearing other clothes, not just undies and sox, that's for later while I'm eating my bday treats while watching Grace and Frankie Season 6 on DVD from the library)</p><p><br /></p><p>But what did I do as a warm up for my birthday you ask....butchered and canned goats. </p><p>You know, like all the single ladies.</p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-29648628495212636552023-05-11T15:48:00.001-07:002023-05-11T15:48:03.827-07:00Gertrude Stands Alone...<p> 4 more chickens went in a day a while back. Gertrude is the last one alive. I kept her in the coop for about a week (with plenty of food and water) but could not figure a way to fence out whatever can take chickens that stealthily and leave no trace other than a few feathers. </p><p>I'm not going to build Fort Knox for poultry. The investment is crazy high and the odds of it working crazy low. Keeping a chicken strictly inside is not humane. So, after several days we had a chat, Gertrude and I (I did most of the talking), and I told her she was on her own to be wily and careful. So far so good! And she laid a couple of eggs again. She shut down after the trauma of losing 4 companions in a day.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here's hoping she remains OK but for now, she's living her best hen life.</p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-46093719783888553622023-04-27T07:35:00.004-07:002023-04-27T07:35:51.112-07:00DAMMIT! ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST<p> Or rather, another one gotten bitten.</p><p><br /></p><p>There was a chicken kerfuffle this morning. This is not odd. They are chickens. They kerfuffle every time one of them lays an egg. And then there is the constant rooster rape.</p><p>I eventually looked outside and saw nothing. So, went back to my breakfast. I'd let the chickens out, fed them, the usual. They are free range, not fenced. </p><p><br /></p><p>Then, as I went down the hill to the car I see a bunch of feathers! Red ones. FROM A GOOD LAYER! Damn and blast. I found the carcass. dead, not gutted, ripped open or anything gross. Neck snapped. That is a canine type kill. Either a neighbor dog or a wild canine.</p><p>So, time to fence the chickens in for at least a while I guess. And get a game cam so I know what I'm up against. </p><p>If eggs weren't so expensive I wouldn't mind much losing a free chicken but the finance balance has changed now.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-35784090546834413822023-04-23T12:52:00.004-07:002023-04-23T12:52:53.402-07:00R.I.P. Prudence<p> And another bites the dust...</p><p><br /></p><p>Or rather something bit her dust.</p><p><br /></p><p>My hen, Pru, Prudence, went missing this week. She wasn't in the coop Friday night. Also wasn't in her favorite sleep away spot (the old coop). I couldn't find her. Sometimes chickens sleep in trees. Not often. And not elderly hens who can't get on the lowest roost anymore and have quit laying.</p><p>Hope did not spring eternal.</p><p> Saturday I found a SMALL cluster of black chicken feathers at the bottom of hill. Later, walking around, more black chicken feathers and 1 blue egg (that was her color of egg...but hadn't got one in over a month) with a hole in it and no yolk/white left. Interesting. ALMOST NO blood. One bit of bloody bone. Not enough feathers to account for an entire bird. But clearly, she's gone.</p><p>She came a few years back with Porky and Pearl. Only Porky remains...a giant barred rock who is still laying! Though sometimes her eggs look like crepe-y old-lady-neck-skin. Pretty gross and wrinkly. But sometimes they look fine. I'll have to look back to see what year they all got here. They weren't chicks on arrival, but at least 1 year old, likely older. </p><p>Anyway, farewell Pru and thank you for your service.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-17243455964973910432023-03-27T13:43:00.004-07:002023-03-27T13:43:42.405-07:00Selling Stuff and the Coolest Thrift Find of 2023!!<p> There is a vintage store in a near by town. Last time I was in UNIRONICALLY wearing torn up old Carhartt pants and a 25+ year old letterman's jacket, both of which I got at thrift stores years ago, I found the same items in WORSE SHAPE on the racks for sale for lots of money.</p><p>80$ish for the pants, 150-200$+ for letterman's jackets.</p><p><br /></p><p>SO....last weekend I went in with some of my crap. Some tatty Carhartts that I haven't worn in years because I lost weight. A coffee pot I got a thrift about a year ago but it makes weak coffee. It is like a moka pot from the 1980s. Got 10$ each. </p><p><br />No dice on the vintage Durango boots (that I got from thrift and they just hurt my feet) and a suede jacket I got for 25cents several years ago and never wear. It's cute and fits, but I never wear it. They didn't want it.</p><p><br /></p><p>Oh well.</p><p><br /></p><p>Earlier that day before the vintage shop opened up, I was doing a thrift store run with a friend (who also sold some vintage stuff to a different store) and spotted a super cool percolator for 6$ that looked damn old. Also a columbia shirt in perfect shape also for 6$. That's high for a shirt but my others are tatty and it's a new color, neon pink, that I can wear on job sites and skip the orange safety vest usually. Those are handy. It has zippy pockets too. </p><p><br /></p><p>The coffee percolator. I thought 1930s but the base is skinny and odd so maybe older.....HOLY CRAP!!!</p><p>Last made in 1908:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYHpmy9XLQsqmFvTjn0Azx_qBV2ue6Eb3HlmFHegBto9zJmw9fIl7OiweiKgllXo66z3zDepeIymBrku2lGz1MgOJrjta-YYG5g5UBFIKq9Kd88XImUGmS2v_uHyX266swujSGVo8o4dm0FZI63Sd97wH20IrNSJfpafLXEtJP4oT6mmAKFVYZQoAB" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYHpmy9XLQsqmFvTjn0Azx_qBV2ue6Eb3HlmFHegBto9zJmw9fIl7OiweiKgllXo66z3zDepeIymBrku2lGz1MgOJrjta-YYG5g5UBFIKq9Kd88XImUGmS2v_uHyX266swujSGVo8o4dm0FZI63Sd97wH20IrNSJfpafLXEtJP4oT6mmAKFVYZQoAB=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's it behind the tea cup (also thrifted a while back)</div><p><br /></p>It is super cute. I used the patent and maker info to google it and last made in 1908. That skinny base is odd but it works. <p></p><p>The coffee in that cup was nasty. I hadn't cleaned out all the bits of antique coffee dregs apparently</p><p>Now I'm running plain water through it when the wood stove is in use anyway. It is getting lighter and lighter. I've used a few bamboo skewers to pick at the nooks and crannies that are full of coffee munge. We'll get there.</p><p><br /></p><p>The same pot in perfect shape is for sale on the ebay for 250$. Ones in similar shape for much less than that but more than 6$. Also, looks classy so I'm going to keep it and enjoy it.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-69354067487205333262023-03-18T17:57:00.007-07:002023-03-18T17:59:44.122-07:00ACTUAL Caveperson Food...Kind Of<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Remains of a cooked meal or two or actually several, has/have been found from neanderthal times. While neanderthals are not cavemen, or even cavepeople, still, you know what I mean.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm basing this off the report in the Guardian</span></span></p><h1 class="dcr-y70mar"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/nov/23/oldest-cooked-leftovers-ever-found-suggest-neanderthals-were-foodies" target="_blank">Oldest cooked leftovers ever found suggest <span><span>Neanderthals were foodies</span></span></a></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 class="dcr-y70mar"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 class="dcr-y70mar"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span> Cool. They weren't "foodies." It's more that western academics think everyone remotely different or from any time in the past is a stupid savage stuffing grass and bloody meat with skin and hair on it down their gullets. </span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 class="dcr-y70mar"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 class="dcr-y70mar"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span>Turns out...DRUM ROLL... <span style="font-size: large;">WRONG!</span></span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 class="dcr-y70mar"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span><span> <span>Anyway, the upshot is, these neanderthals from various eras and epochs were mixing and processing ingredients and cooking them before eating. Not news to most of the planet but still, fun to hear about for me... a recovering academic.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 class="dcr-y70mar"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span><span><span>The food find was a mix of pulses, mustard type seeds, a grass seed (read "grain"), and some nuts. These were most likely mixed, soaked, then pounded or ground up a bit. Then formed into a patty type shape and cooked on a hot rock.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 class="dcr-y70mar"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span><span><span>I had lying around the wee shed, lentils (a pulse), mustard seeds (duh), cracked wheat (a grain) and some chopped walnuts. So, I mixed equal parts lentils, wheat and nuts, and a bit of mustard seed and soaked it overnight. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 class="dcr-y70mar"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span><span><span>In the morning, I ground it up a little in my way to small for this job mortar and pestle, pattied it, and cooked it inside the wood stove on a preheated tiny cast iron skillet (got that at goodwill...probably part of some cookie kit nonsense). </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 class="dcr-y70mar"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span><span><span>It was really good! Tasted great. The outside got a bit dry and crusty and did not stick to the pan even though I did not grease it (there was residual grease likely but not much as it didn't smoke or smell of burned grease). I used green lentils with the skins on. The pulses in the ancient food bits had the hulls on. I did drain off a little of the soak water but not enough to get rid of all tannins.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 class="dcr-y70mar"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span><span><span>The toasty nutty spicy flavor and slightly crunchy outside with still soft inside was just really nice. I'm going to make it again...and will make or get a bigger grinding stole. It was a tad messy but I think I can get the hang of it with a couple of tries.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 class="dcr-y70mar"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span><span><span>Not sure how long I cooked it. I put it in and got on with my yoga and making coffee and things (by the way, it went well with strong coffee). At least 15 minutes. The inside of the wood stove was probably about 400F based on how long I cared to have my hand in there.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 class="dcr-y70mar"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span><span><span>The walnuts were likely the least authentic item. Almonds or pistachios would be more like nuts used in the samples found. But, I wasn't going to drive to town for an almond or pistachio. Used what I had...which was an authentic approach I believe. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 class="dcr-y70mar"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span><span><span> <br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 class="dcr-y70mar"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span><span><span>I didn't take pictures but next time...must do that.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 class="dcr-y70mar"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span><span> </span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></h1><p></p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-53644859249008805282023-03-09T13:29:00.002-08:002023-03-09T13:29:33.731-08:00Words on my S--- List<p> Seriously people...stop over affixing your words!!!!</p><p><br />"Dangerousness"...formerly known as "DANGER"</p><p>"Resiliency" ...formerly known as "RESILIENCE"</p><p>These are the new "irregardless." </p><p>Just stop with the extraneous affixes.</p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-78021823679484966412023-02-22T11:29:00.002-08:002023-02-22T11:29:15.467-08:00WOOT WOOT UNDIES!<p> So, I have a reader (Hi Chris!!).</p><p><br /></p><p>I mentioned that one of my fave gifts is nice undies. And the aforementioned reader gave me fresh undies that fit and are "on brand" as the kids say. SO nice to have some that fit and are not in tatters. </p><p>My mood is much improved in general as I had been trying to use up my supply of off brand old tattered ill fitting undies. </p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-25584365380164451512023-01-13T08:06:00.002-08:002023-01-13T08:06:16.507-08:00PANTS!!!<p> I went through 2022 with zero clothing purchases. Full disclosure: I got 2 bras before the start of 2022 to make sure I could do this. And 3 undies. I broke out the 2nd fresh bra just a month or so ago. The old bras are "bra shaped" but...man...not enough elasticity left to bother with most days.</p><p>So, there we go.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have a conference coming up and while I have a pair of fishing pants with the zip off legs that are in great shape...they are also made of thin fabric that really shows when you sweat. So if I got swamp arse or otherwise sweaty at the conference, it would look like I'd had an unfortunate accident.</p><p>And ALL my jeans, well, the ones that fit, are in rough shape and faded, ripped, about to fall apart. No one sees them on zoom meetings but an inperson conference...no. </p><p>I hit a couple of thrift stores yesterday after an out of town appointment and TA DA! nearly new black jeans. "Idaho Business Casual". 7$ plus tax. This is the last thrift store in the area that hasn't raised the price to 15$ for used pants. Jeez. I grabbed them. Didn't even wait for the colored tag discount day because they were not going to stay on the rack. I will wash them this weekend during the laundromat run because this store washes the clothes before putting them out. They must use an entire box of cheap detergent on each small load because the clothes are crusty with it. </p><p><br /></p><p>These jeans have NO SPANDEX...I think we all know how I feel about stretchy pants. Ugh!</p><p>https://simplicityandfrugality.blogspot.com/2010/10/dear-universe-get-your-spandex-out-of.html</p><p>It makes me have this disorder:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ux2-b72kFBE" width="320" youtube-src-id="Ux2-b72kFBE"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So hard cotton jeans with NO SPANDEX in good shape for 7$...SCOOOOOOORRRRE</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-14130858712296154422022-12-15T11:54:00.003-08:002022-12-15T11:54:53.757-08:00Excellent Thrift Find<p> So I found one of these<a href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/325425634465?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1mBdQWKV9TrWrDW24HPqgNw6&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=325425634465&targetid=1585159292571&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=9029668&poi=&campaignid=15275224983&mkgroupid=131097072938&rlsatarget=pla-1585159292571&abcId=9300697&merchantid=113580231&gclid=Cj0KCQiAqOucBhDrARIsAPCQL1YaczIILedYhH85yKdoVMhXouVngpaP-oyxXCdfC8eSyMXnLyLnPvIaApZcEALw_wcB" target="_blank"> coffee pots</a>:</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLFRhPP4GWNRXhgvzsBxMEc9qp-XfirlqCrlQiFCSphQxCMRwOhUJc0k5x1xV-625yaEeSMpNDT_qmhPSXmvRa3z8DCfuKLaxsG-xLCnStlZb0Xr5XBG9lFVb-HllvPIHOLSSvlrXS85dcoA87RjZ4QZxq8mg5N5ijueN6smrX0mq5_Oh3TNeD9Gba" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLFRhPP4GWNRXhgvzsBxMEc9qp-XfirlqCrlQiFCSphQxCMRwOhUJc0k5x1xV-625yaEeSMpNDT_qmhPSXmvRa3z8DCfuKLaxsG-xLCnStlZb0Xr5XBG9lFVb-HllvPIHOLSSvlrXS85dcoA87RjZ4QZxq8mg5N5ijueN6smrX0mq5_Oh3TNeD9Gba" width="240" /></a></div><br />at a thrift store in Lewiston Idaho. I paid 5$ plus tax so like, $5.30. <p></p><p>The pic is bogarted from ebay where the person is trying to get 64$ plus crazy expensive shipping. The one I got is in better shape than the ebay one. We'll see if that one sells for that price.</p><p>I've already used it multiple times.</p><p>Protip: Turkish grind (like talcum powder) coffee is a bit fine for this pot and takes about 20 min to drip through and leaves a good quantity of sludge, but is delicious. I will try it with a proper grind size when I get some.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-22535431614822936802022-12-09T08:44:00.007-08:002022-12-09T08:44:53.321-08:00Thrifty Gifts I've Given and Gotten That Were Actually Appreciated.<p> 1) A pound of good coffee beans. I get this one often and I LOVE it. I like coffee. I like the process of making coffee rather than going out for coffee, which is also fine but not as rewarding to my aspergery brain.</p><p>2) Really good sox! Who doesn't like really nice sox? And it saves me spending on sox. I give and get these.</p><p>3) Complete cookie mix in a jar. I like to give this when I can get ahold of powdered egg and dry milk powder (the full fat kind) if required.. Powdered egg is gross if you try to fry it but for baking JUST FINE. When I can get that, the cookie mix usually just needs a bit of oil or butter and some water. People love it. Layer it up in a jar so the various ingredients contrast in stripes or wedges. Then fill the remaining space with candies or chocolate chips or whatever wrapped in a bit of plastic wrap. Put the lid on. I make a tag with the recipe, including a list of all ingredients, and tie that on with a bit of ribbon. Old christmas cards make nice tags. Just cut the front off and either cut out the santa/angel/other-featured-element, or use it whole. </p><p>4) Homemade jams, jellies, canned goods (if you trust the person who canned them!). GIVE THE JARS BACK with the bands. </p><p>5) Dried fruits and mushrooms. I get these and I like it. They are home dried by a relative and are super handy as shelf stable food. The mushrooms work really well in soups and casseroles. If I put them in water for a bit, then blot dry, they can go in omelets. </p><p>6) Any other homemade product. I make mustard with no sugar or salt so it is keto/diabetes/glutenfree/lowsodium diet friendly.</p><p>7) Undies! In college one of my favorite aunts always sent me nice undies for christmas. As I was chronically broke, my undies would get a bit tatty and I'd just keep wearing them until you didn't know which was the leg hole and which was just a hole. I kind of miss getting undies...(cough cough...jockey's for her hipsters size 6</p><p>8) Grocery store gift card! I gave this to a young friend when he was in college and he was GIDDY. It was from a discount grocer so he really made it stretch and was able.</p><p>9) Handcrocheted throw from a friend now deceased. She also made me an appliqued blanket from a cheap furniture blanket and felt cut outs with scenes from my life. Awesome!</p><p>10) A cartoon alphabet similar to Edward Gorey style I got as a graduation gift YEARS ago and still love. It has a scene for every letter, a rhyming phrase under each picture. Composed and drawn by my broke-ass college friends.</p><p>11) Wine glasses with beaded skirts. I was broke...but wanted to give a good gift so I found some affordable but nice wine glasses and beaded tiny skirts on them. I think they might still be in use and it was a good 30 years ago that I made them.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-19988665425504460682022-11-04T14:02:00.005-07:002022-11-04T14:02:48.318-07:00Grocery Debacle<p> I'm fine-tuning the budget. As one does when prices go up.</p><p>Beyond tracking my grocery budget, which is at or below the "thrifty" level of the USDA food cost thingy. </p><p><a href="https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/media/file/CostofFoodSep2022Thrifty.pdf">https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/media/file/CostofFoodSep2022Thrifty.pdf</a></p><p>For one old chick: 51-70 years $51.30/week $222.50/month.</p><p><br /></p><p>I thought I could do better. I have in the past. </p><p><br /></p><p>So, I did a couple of things.</p><p>In the grocery budget, I made a subheading for spending called "crap" meaning candy, industrial kombucha, sugary treats at the farmers market. Stuff I can live without or make myself. </p><p>In October the "crap" category was about 27% of the spending! That's about 50$ last month of my actual spend at the grocery store and farmers market. Without that 50$ of crap, I had plenty of nutrition and calories and variety. If I repurpose even 1/2 that amount into DIY treats or some local meat that will be a better option. Cooking treats at home with the honey/cocoa/etc I have in stock is not "crap", for the record.</p><p><br /></p><p>We'll see if I manage that this month. The only trip to a grocery store this month I spent 3$ on crap! Granted, it was a good deal for what I got, really high quality dark chocolate, but I did not need it. Damn that discount grocery store.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-44275409251949126612022-10-24T14:46:00.002-07:002022-10-24T14:46:20.560-07:00NOOOOO!!!!! Leslie Jordan Has Suddenly Died<p> I am so sad,</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is a link to some of this megastar's best work:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/SFbzbWnUgQs?t=190">https://youtu.be/SFbzbWnUgQs?t=190</a></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhW7PFANoI1xeK9CUu4RfZemF4LVabxzVmGulRbQVDK8pJPENNemeNb7vR4zHi7AMnqivChPpUCgjk1KuQfQ5ptrz6Qk5_Kf_Nn3tTF1j-49I0vPOvwqsIyDAyGEN3YCOJjHhh0kGUrDtr9Wg0T-Zwz7XW7JUIp_jd2lywP88F85dsfXUxURrigsTGt" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhW7PFANoI1xeK9CUu4RfZemF4LVabxzVmGulRbQVDK8pJPENNemeNb7vR4zHi7AMnqivChPpUCgjk1KuQfQ5ptrz6Qk5_Kf_Nn3tTF1j-49I0vPOvwqsIyDAyGEN3YCOJjHhh0kGUrDtr9Wg0T-Zwz7XW7JUIp_jd2lywP88F85dsfXUxURrigsTGt" width="160" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-27619645216041620942022-10-04T10:56:00.005-07:002022-10-04T10:57:11.896-07:00Soooo...APPARENTLY....I had the 'Rona<p> Also apparently, the Red Cross tested me for antibodies when I donated blood in May of this year. They had stopped the antibody testing ages ago. I didn't realize they had re-started for a short time to find "convalescent plasma" donor options. I think they aren't testing again...</p><p><br /></p><p>ANYWAY...I was booking or rebooking an appointment for the future and was looking through my old vitals and whatnot from past appointments because, why not. I have great blood pressure and sometimes my heart rate is so low they have to call HQ for permission to drain my blood. They say things like "no, she's fine, just calm" or "I guess she meditates" and then they can do it.</p><p>On the May appointment record was also a covid antibody test that said "Reactive +"</p><p>When one has the vaccine and an immune response to it, you get "Reactive" but no "+". So I looked that up! I had enough antibodies for convalescent plasma donations (to help those who are sick). </p><p>You have to have "had" the disease or at least mounted a major immune response to it.</p><p>I had tested my nose several times through spring before travel or when I was seeing someone with a compromised immune system. And in the spring when I sneezed once and once when I was tired on a Friday. All negative. Interesting.</p><p>As far as I know, I didn't infect anyone fragile! I hope!! There was a time when everyone at work but me and another woman were out sick. She also has "never had" the 'rona. But people she lives with have had it multiple times.</p><p>Probably she and I had those no-symptom cases I've heard about. I figured I would be one who had that but was also enjoying that I might be the LAST person to get it. Guess not!</p><p><br /></p><p>I'm fairly glad to know I've had it. More immune having had vaccine and the disease than either one alone and I've had my vaccines. And a booster. Cool.</p><p><br /></p><p>In much much sadder news...Loretta Lynn died today. </p><p>Here are links to a couple of songs that were banned from radio and something more recent:</p><p><br /></p><p>Rated X about divorced women being treated poorly </p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/SVlnhB3xPtY">https://youtu.be/SVlnhB3xPtY</a></p><p><br /></p><p>The Pill...about birth control and how important that is:</p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/E2pd1l0i0A8">https://youtu.be/E2pd1l0i0A8</a></p><p><br /></p><p>And something she did with Jack White because...why not!</p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/11tjR5ZflSw">https://youtu.be/11tjR5ZflSw</a></p><p><br /></p><p>RIP Loretta.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQRYEDbkij_UD-sVGhmA550_3QDql4YzMs32RI313uiors8zuGN8nn349lh6vb8KGjy6R5a4a4_-uBjSHhsFEmRU4yTtwuKsLtvt48EDnGHhLAbJkHhAuTNqylPYSPTVIoKSykNXJJANNIzbA0eUkOwTqdKaUOGkGnM9a-SNjdeajxDN2byyJalzEN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="350" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQRYEDbkij_UD-sVGhmA550_3QDql4YzMs32RI313uiors8zuGN8nn349lh6vb8KGjy6R5a4a4_-uBjSHhsFEmRU4yTtwuKsLtvt48EDnGHhLAbJkHhAuTNqylPYSPTVIoKSykNXJJANNIzbA0eUkOwTqdKaUOGkGnM9a-SNjdeajxDN2byyJalzEN" width="169" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405612832065408124.post-16518921794013949912022-09-28T08:02:00.004-07:002022-09-28T08:02:31.690-07:00Juanita Turns 200,000<p> Miles that is...</p><p>Juanita being the Honda I bought in early 2021, like February or something. I could look that up but I can't be arsed. </p><p>Here's the blog post where I talked about it:</p><p><a href="https://simplicityandfrugality.blogspot.com/2021/03/brand-new-extremely-used-car.html">https://simplicityandfrugality.blogspot.com/2021/03/brand-new-extremely-used-car.html</a></p><p><br /></p><p>SO...yesterday I had extra running around to do after work, which wasn't frugal but crap comes up sometimes and there you go.</p><p>Headed to Moscow and noticed that Juanita was at 199,982 a bit south of my place (which is north of Moscow). Cool. By the time I left Moscow, where the aforementioned run-aroundery took place, I was nearly at the big 200k.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here are actual before and after photos: </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">BEFORE<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotJQSMi9Mfm3NLfm4Xpye4TgWnKeNoy4NwMSvzYMXZ-lhtuzJZ2A9LUgRV9riNrVRg2mhFKz2VkXGPOF5D-4Vc7IeYFfyYDWFoWrCJlc1BV35EqxCTb0N9tsaiS3lzDmXxjJ9vsSAsjUe0vCt65M-5wUm6WyCBZtmxLdwDhfQFBsDV8ShtjTF7QG5/s2560/KIMG0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1920" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRQaAZ-ljLSQ7uljZMgdzUbAp7U-3Nwb5Or4Nmr3Y9VthI3TfYR2Cz24RWXLN3RN71MHJMfTqtmVUh6cr8H3Yoo23_nLs5hWye3tNm0N8NadbGnfR55nwSfk0VoLohUTLuAxGzYgvgPcrFvrTFVodJ2K7mz1jwUm_C6u_k2IiPTjNWf5X8pbMbCgv/s320/KIMG0207.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" width="240" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotJQSMi9Mfm3NLfm4Xpye4TgWnKeNoy4NwMSvzYMXZ-lhtuzJZ2A9LUgRV9riNrVRg2mhFKz2VkXGPOF5D-4Vc7IeYFfyYDWFoWrCJlc1BV35EqxCTb0N9tsaiS3lzDmXxjJ9vsSAsjUe0vCt65M-5wUm6WyCBZtmxLdwDhfQFBsDV8ShtjTF7QG5/s2560/KIMG0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotJQSMi9Mfm3NLfm4Xpye4TgWnKeNoy4NwMSvzYMXZ-lhtuzJZ2A9LUgRV9riNrVRg2mhFKz2VkXGPOF5D-4Vc7IeYFfyYDWFoWrCJlc1BV35EqxCTb0N9tsaiS3lzDmXxjJ9vsSAsjUe0vCt65M-5wUm6WyCBZtmxLdwDhfQFBsDV8ShtjTF7QG5/s2560/KIMG0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotJQSMi9Mfm3NLfm4Xpye4TgWnKeNoy4NwMSvzYMXZ-lhtuzJZ2A9LUgRV9riNrVRg2mhFKz2VkXGPOF5D-4Vc7IeYFfyYDWFoWrCJlc1BV35EqxCTb0N9tsaiS3lzDmXxjJ9vsSAsjUe0vCt65M-5wUm6WyCBZtmxLdwDhfQFBsDV8ShtjTF7QG5/s2560/KIMG0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">AFTER<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotJQSMi9Mfm3NLfm4Xpye4TgWnKeNoy4NwMSvzYMXZ-lhtuzJZ2A9LUgRV9riNrVRg2mhFKz2VkXGPOF5D-4Vc7IeYFfyYDWFoWrCJlc1BV35EqxCTb0N9tsaiS3lzDmXxjJ9vsSAsjUe0vCt65M-5wUm6WyCBZtmxLdwDhfQFBsDV8ShtjTF7QG5/s2560/KIMG0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotJQSMi9Mfm3NLfm4Xpye4TgWnKeNoy4NwMSvzYMXZ-lhtuzJZ2A9LUgRV9riNrVRg2mhFKz2VkXGPOF5D-4Vc7IeYFfyYDWFoWrCJlc1BV35EqxCTb0N9tsaiS3lzDmXxjJ9vsSAsjUe0vCt65M-5wUm6WyCBZtmxLdwDhfQFBsDV8ShtjTF7QG5/s2560/KIMG0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1920" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtoETwQG7ucGzLo0X0hJ3UmVFIJDmyAiK0-mp8U2s2hHiP7K2fL99t571D5uJICuOXTMCWnCmlZSFBIr-COU-fOEA39iyxwwrxS8exfY-EwoZKKPq3xyJVYFpoJkzzaR5Nf3ta_l_VPGT2CrPHtu99O7ILHYrElPtcUBOF7ASTPLkY1Q4vwfcwqKt/s320/KIMG0208.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />Here's how she looks as of earlier this week</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotJQSMi9Mfm3NLfm4Xpye4TgWnKeNoy4NwMSvzYMXZ-lhtuzJZ2A9LUgRV9riNrVRg2mhFKz2VkXGPOF5D-4Vc7IeYFfyYDWFoWrCJlc1BV35EqxCTb0N9tsaiS3lzDmXxjJ9vsSAsjUe0vCt65M-5wUm6WyCBZtmxLdwDhfQFBsDV8ShtjTF7QG5/s2560/KIMG0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1920" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotJQSMi9Mfm3NLfm4Xpye4TgWnKeNoy4NwMSvzYMXZ-lhtuzJZ2A9LUgRV9riNrVRg2mhFKz2VkXGPOF5D-4Vc7IeYFfyYDWFoWrCJlc1BV35EqxCTb0N9tsaiS3lzDmXxjJ9vsSAsjUe0vCt65M-5wUm6WyCBZtmxLdwDhfQFBsDV8ShtjTF7QG5/s320/KIMG0204.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Note the new sticker...bit small but makes her look large and in charge</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Closer view of the sticker:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimIgj_zPhwe_Skk77uuQ66Jn_vf5RP5fMkZFCmOdw-cGmrgG6geik1jvJcZgEPDWBLS66JhklP1iA2xG5o6hTgAevN7P1a7ldWDV12UX-0uMIPuOt_twv7OrTbf7ViZaTQUR_1lVeM7r6qJsNsE0Mo_WuvwI7div1GzK28SfBAJAjbyNQuaUD4lzgL" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimIgj_zPhwe_Skk77uuQ66Jn_vf5RP5fMkZFCmOdw-cGmrgG6geik1jvJcZgEPDWBLS66JhklP1iA2xG5o6hTgAevN7P1a7ldWDV12UX-0uMIPuOt_twv7OrTbf7ViZaTQUR_1lVeM7r6qJsNsE0Mo_WuvwI7div1GzK28SfBAJAjbyNQuaUD4lzgL" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I put one on each front door. They look like the real agency stickers but smaller and with more 'sqatch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have had the vehicle for 19 months and put 34,000 miles on it. That is an average of 1789miles per month, give or take. About normal for me. I used to average 30,000/year. This would be 21,500 per year. A few more on on the pick up, but with a busted odometer, no one knows how many. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ANYWAY: 5000$ purchase price. About 1200$ in tires and repairs (tune up earlier and brakes recently). 6200$ for 34000 miles... Ownership and major repair costs as of now: 16cents/mile</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">IF she goes to 300,000 miles, assuming I will need more brakes and something else, and tires that would end up at about 7500$ total (because I did pads and rotors this time, rotors should last so next brake job should be less) for 134,000 miles is 5.6cents per mile...nice! We'll see if that happens.</div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><br /></p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515778267115773998noreply@blogger.com2