Catching up...Up North living, Garage Sail finds, a Menu and the Garden!

We traveled up north a couple of weeks ago and had a mini vacation.  It was so nice to take it easy.  We took our fishing poles but no luck this time.  

Then we came back and that night there was a storm that knocked down two big branches out of our tree.  Just missed our van!  Thank God for grandsons!  With this wood I think we are good for the winter.

We have been garage sailing every Thursday and Friday if life doesn't get in the way.  This has to be our greatest find these last few weeks.   A radio in a toaster for $2.00.  Everything works!

Our Menu for the week we went up North:

Mornings:   We are basically on our own for breakfast.  We are three grown adults so we eat what breakfast makes us happy.  Here are mine:

Monday:  Left over low carb, no sugar chocolate Gravy

Tuesday:  low carb blueberry muffins. bacon, and coffee

Wednesday:  leftover muffins and hard boiled eggs

Saturday:   Fried eggs with tomatoes and muffins I froze

Dinner:

Monday........ Roasted chicken in the crockpot with a side of green beans and carrots

Tuesday........ Chicken Fajitas (low carb tortillas-I'm using peppers that are frozen and vadilla onions.

Wednesday .....Up north Cracker Barrel

Thursday..........Cereal for Breakfast and KFC for dinner

Friday..............Big Boy for Breakfast then home yeah!! I was glad to see my bed again!  

I looked on Flash food while we were up north and was able to get two Koegel's chili sauce for hot dogs for $1.25 (reg around $5.00).

The Garden:

We've had to plant some of our white half runner beans three times-where the seeds too old or was it too much rain?  Who knows but I ordered new bean seeds and we are good to go.    I also replanted some pumpkin seeds that didn't come up.  Everything else is growing good so far.

I cleared out a bed and I now have an abundance of green onions in the fridge.  They keep longer in a glass of water.  Today I'm thinking about making ham roll-ups with cream cheese and green onions.  That will probably use two... What to do with the others, I'm not sure!  

How's everything in your neck of the woods?

**Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden! As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).   

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Book Review: The Busy Mom's Decluttering & Home Cleaning Challenge: The Simple 7-Day Plan to Clear Clutter, Tidy Your Home, and Feel Organized Again in Just 15 Minutes a Day

 

The Busy Mom's Decluttering & Home Cleaning Challenge: The Simple 7-Day Plan to Clear Clutter, Tidy Your Home, and Feel Organized Again in Just 15 Minutes a Day

⭐ Built exclusively for busy moms — not minimalists with empty schedules
⭐ Just 15 minutes a day — no free weekends or perfect conditions required
⭐ Combines decluttering AND cleaning — two problems solved in one daily routine
⭐ Fixes the cause of clutter, not just the surface — results that actually last
⭐ Backed by real science — UCLA, Princeton & University of Bath research
⭐ 10 exclusive done-for-you bonus tools included — free inside the book
⭐ FREE audio podcast you can listen and learn the decluttering technique anywhere
⭐ Works around real family life — kids, partners, school chaos and all

My Review:

I knew there were rooms in my house that needed deep cleaning but life seemed to keep me too busy to get to them.   I downloaded this book when it was free a week or two ago and it has helped me make time to really get down to business.

I started with the computer/sewing room and I feel like I've had amazing results! It's a room that has started to be a catchall and I just let it go.  Now it's not a make over ...but it feels like it!.

The before:  

The After:

The Before:

                                                  

The After:

I was tempted to finish projects but then I knew I would never get done. Those projects will be there this winter after gardening season.  I just folded, cleaned, and donated.

It didn't overwhelm me at all ...just 15 minutes a day.   It has taken about 1 week and half.

One secret I might as well tell you ...yesterday I looked up and saw the ceiling fan.  Well that was enlightening to say the least.  

This book gave me a system that helped get it done.  I feel like I can keep this room looking nice and tidy now.

**Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden! As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

Book Review: When They Met Again by Leslie Gould

 

When They Met Again (Letters from Lancaster County): An Amish Friends to Lovers Contemporary Romance Set in Lancaster County by Leslie Gould

A gently humorous just friends romance from Leslie Gould, threaded with heart-deep characters and the timeless traditions of simple Amish life.

It's love at first sight for Adam Slaybaugh, yet while Joanna Grebel finds him attractive and is intrigued when he declares his interest, she's less certain of the potential for a romantic future together. Instead, she proposes they be "just friends," but Adam's not willing to settle for anything less than a romantic relationship. In response, he leaves Lancaster County for Florida, and soon after, Joanna begins courting Jacob Byer--someone she deems a much more suitable match.

When Adam returns to Lancaster County years later to pursue a career in his grandparents' successful home renovation business, he finds Joanna suffering from a broken heart. Misunderstandings and matchmaking schemes begin a tender journey of healing and romance--but is Adam's love enough to finally win Joanna over?

My Review:

Broken hearts and life circumstances abound in When They Meet Again by Leslie Gould.  Sometimes life doesn't go as planned and we can experience a total different romance than expected.

Joanna works hard at her job and thinks she has life all figured out until the unexpected happens out of the blue.  She quickly finds out that life can throw some curves both in the romance department and everyday life.

Very interesting read.  I loved hearing about the grandmas stepping in a little and never giving up hope for a good outcome.

**Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden! As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

Gardening and other News 5/29/26

Memorial Weekend means it's time to plant here in our part of Michigan.   We have a lot going on so we have planted a little each day.  The first day in the garden we planted our favorite green bean, white half runner.  The white half runner tastes great and is a great producer.  

We used our new to us seed planter we found at a garage sale for $10.   It was amazing how fast it got the job done!   You can find it on Amazon but we got a great deal!  

                                 

 Then yesterday, we planted the russet potatoes and sweet potatoes in the garden.  He planted the white -I planted the sweet.  The sweet potatoes we planted were called Jet and Beauregard.  I also grew some of my own sweet potato slips and planted those.  

The day before (not a great picture) I planted the tomatoes with the help of granddaughter.  Lots and lots of tomatoes. Probably too many tomatoes.

Today I plan on planting the rattlesnake beans on the teepees I made and the peppers and zucchini.  

All this while they are putting on our roof. It's a good escape from all the noise.  Tomorrow the roof should be finished.  yeah!  

Other news:  

I won a book contest by Dianna Lanser  -4 books total plus beach gear!  I need to enter more contests!

I was able to get 6 photo cards from Walgreens for free.  I made Christmas cards.

I planted flowers at Mom and Dad's grave for Memorial day.

We had the quickest Memorial day picnic on record. We were ate up by mosquitos and had to grill, eat, and run.  We had Off but there were so many attacking us.   

How was your Memorial Day?

**Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden! As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

Finding Meat deals at the Grocery Store!

I stopped in at Aldi's on Tuesday morning after an appointment. They had some meat marked down 50% too so that was great! I had to have those advantage bars -they are good and not too bad for you. 

Aldi's

3 advance bars -$5.39 each

bananas $.98

Chicken tender loins 3 packs- $3.37, $3.89, and $3.51 (after 50% off)

Whipped topping -$2.49

Hamburger 2 packs of  80/20-$3.91 and $3.88 (after 50% off) 

My total was $41.50

I also found some Meat deals on Flashfood at Meijer

Two roasts for approximately $10 a piece and three thin angus beef NY Strip Steaks for $10.37 for a pound.   So that bill was around $32.00.

Meat deals are hard to find and I try to stock up when I can find them.

We fixed the ice maker line on the fridg (ok he did but I gave him encouragement) -the part was not covered under warranty.  I think they pinched it maybe when they put in the kitchen floor.  Not a big deal really till you want some ice.  Everything is working now.

I think the roofers are coming this morning.  So the more we can save elsewhere the better for us.   The floor and the roof are the two major things we had fixed this Spring....Nothing more till Fall.

When I fed the chickens our scraps this morning I went to the greenhouse and picked a bowlful of lettuce for salad.

We haven't yet planted the main garden...it's been cold still (46 this morning) and we usually try to wait till as close to Memorial day as we can.  Not only does it need to be warmer at night but the soil needs to be warm or what a shock to all those plants!  

**Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden! As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

The Price of Everything and Free things this Week!

I finished the pillowcase for my Mother in Law and sent it off on Wednesday for Mother's day. The cost of mailing everything of course as risen ($34.00 for the large box).  She is worth it though and we are so blessed to have her.

Price of gas rose very close to $5.00 a gallon on Wednesday night here in Michigan...

Anyway, we  had decided to go on Tuesday morning and filled up two cars with $1.00 off a gallon at Meijer.  We saved $30 that day ...it would have been more if we had waited.  We find that the money off gas is the best deal on MPerks.  There are other deals to buy with the mperks but the gas to us is the best deal.

We also bought a lot of the $7 for 7 deals last week.  The apples and corn was our favorite deal...4 corn on the cobs for $1.00 and 2 lbs of apples for $1.00.  By the way, the same deal is running this week.

Free things this week (kind of)

I made a big spring salad with lettuce, green onions, and radishes from my greenhouse.

I also picked some asparagus and chives in the garden.  Not sure what to do with just 5 stems but I was excited!  

We stopped at some M15 sales that were out early on Thursday.  I picked up these egg cartons for free plus a few other things. Egg cartons are running around .74 each so I love it!

We are going out again this morning to see what we can find.   M15 garage sales in Michigan are 67 miles long this first week of May.  Although we have to figure in the price of gas...hopefully we can find something that will make it seem like a deal that we went. 😃

 

**Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden! As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

Finding to a Way to Get it all Done and Make Dinner Everyday?

 

Spring has sprung, the rains have calmed down, and now the outside chores seem overwhelming.  I have a list a mile long to complete outside as well as cleaning house and making dinner (I'm sure everyone has this problem).

Here is a sample of my outdoor work:

Clean up front yard garden 1/2 done

Plant the rest of the Herb ladder

Set up my worm bin I bought for $25 at a sale (seemed like a good deal).

Trim peach tree as well as hydrangea bushes

Plant onion plants-1/2 done

and that list gets added to everyday!

The husband has his own list...I see him running around all the time fixing and cleaning things (I know he is secretly praying that I don't break anything else).

Dinner Everyday? 

Pile on the indoor work of cleaning, laundry, etc. making dinner everyday can be exhausting.  Monday was a cooler day with just greenhouse work, I made lasagna and garlic bread.  Then we had enough to have leftovers on Tuesday.  

With the warm spell on Wednesday and a husband who does a great job on the grill, we had enough dinner for 3 days ..it included hamburgers, hot dogs, and hamburger steak.  I work on the side dishes like salad with lettuce from the green house, cornbread, wilted lettuce, green onions, and baked potatoes.  Today (Friday), we are on our third day.  

I have a great goal for his grilling on Saturday marinated chicken and grilled rosemary pork chops.   I need to get it out of the freezer to thaw today.

Planning as far ahead as we can helps a lot.  Working together is priceless.

**Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden! As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.