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).  

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The Mini Ice Age, Book and Bread Sale, and Spring Cleaning!

 

So, one morning after feeding the chickens I started to come back into the house and noticed the handle on the screen door was frozen.  I went inside and grabbed my phone so I could show you guys what terrible cold we are dealing with (like most of the country).  As I came out, the door shut real good, and I couldn't break the ice off the handle.  I was stuck outside in my housecoat.  I had to walk around the house to the back door and my daughter let me in.  I really must start dressing properly before going to feed the chickens.

I bought three books at the library book sale this past week and the cookbook at Habitat for Humanity.  I paid a $1.00 each.  I'm loving the cookbook.  I wish I was at the library book sale the first day but I felt the roads were too bad.  I'm thankful for what I found but it would have been a better selection.

 

We went to the Aunt Millie's Bakery store yesterday and happened upon a buy 1/get 1 free sale on the low carb bread that we love.  So we stocked up on that plus we bought hamburger/hotdog buns, bagels, and cinnamon swirl bread for a good price.  

They were closing for a week to do some repairs and yesterday was their last day.  Someone put their car in drive instead of reverse and ran into part of the store.  I'm not sure why or how that happened but how scary.  Thank God no one was hurt.  That's my interesting news this week.

Really not much going on except I'm still Spring Cleaning.  I finished organizing the pantry and a closet.   This week I hope to get to another closet and wash down the kitchen cabinets.   I love to Spring Clean/organize right now because as soon as the mini ice age is over I'm going to be in my garden.  This weather mess will all be forgotten.

What's it like where you are?

**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.

 

Saving Money on Cleaning Supplies!

 With the rising cost of groceries I hope you might consider some of the ways I save money every week.  Oh I watch those coupons and sales but saving money on cleaning supplies helps me put those dollars back into food.

I cut my SOS pads in half.. saves money and rust on the sink!  

I'm also making dish scrubbies ahead for the year.  So far I've made 10 for my stockpile.  I like to do this in the winter (gardening in the summer).

Every week I also make Dawn Dish Soap and Foaming Hand Soap.  This little chore is done on Saturday of every week.  Just takes a minute and I save big $$$.  

***You can use the cheaper brand of dish detergent also for the Spray bottle.  It works.

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).  My thred up link is also a refer a friend link.

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

The Leftover Dinner Menu for three this Week for around $45.00 .... 2/13/24

I've thought about the leftovers this past week, a lot.   After going to the store I'm making sure I use all of it -one way or another.  I've been planning it out in my head as I go along.   I thought I would let you know what has been on the table up till now and what I have planned.

We have 3 adults that live here -2 grandkids visit.  One grandkid wants anything we have fixed, the other wants McDonalds (ha ha).  When they visit if we don't have anything they will eat, I fix Mac and Cheese, fried bologna, etc.  They usually have dinner with Mom.

The Leftover Dinner Menu 

Friday.. Liver and onions,  French fries   (2.50 for 1 pound of liver)

Saturday.. Soup beans, fried cabbage, leftover liver  ($2.25 for 3 cans of soup beans, cabbage $1.50)

***Have you ever heard of a meal that will just gag someone if they smell it cooking or just see it.  My daughters have.  It's liver and onions.  The best meal ever we think, yet they won't eat it.  It's a good cheap, healthy meat with loads of nutrition but many people pass it up.

Sunday... BBQ chicken wings mashed potatoes leftover sides (No we didn't watch the game, we just wanted chicken wings LOL)-  (Another flash food meat for $3.00 and No sugar BBQ sauce for $4.00 a bottle)

Monday...Roast (flashfood for $9.00), mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans (potatoes and greens beans from our garden, $9.00 for Roast, gravy in a can $1.00)

Tuesday (today)....BBQ roast sandwiches (the rest of the sauce) and a salad (.99 lettuce, .99 tomato, 25 cent grated carrrot, buns are leftover from last time and I froze them) 

Wednesday..chili (using soup beans)  -Hamburger $3.99 a pound, tomatoes canned from our garden

Thursday ...Hot dogs with leftover chili on top- (buns are low carb $1.50-$6.00 for hotdogs)

Friday....sausage, eggs, gravy, and biscuits  (fresh eggs from our chickens, sausage $2.99, gravy $1.29 in a bag, and homemade biscuits maybe $2.00)

FYI: Things I fed my chickens so far this week: the little bit of leftover green beans, a few fried potatoes, one piece of liver chopped up, and mashed potatoes.

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, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog

Are You Bored Yet? Free Things to do in the Winter!

 

Here are some ideas for things to do for Free when you bored in the winter:  Warning: Make sure you call first to the place you are going.  If the schools are closed for bad weather most of the time the activities will be closed also.  Make sure to call or go on their website to see if they open.   Depending on the weather you might want to stay off the roads!  

This list also comes with another warning ... if you think about it, free sometimes is not totally free.  If you have to drive then consider the gas, if you have to take the bus consider the fare, etc.  Consider staying closer to home for the free things if this is a problem.   The kids are going to get hungry, are you going to dine out?  Even Mcdonald's now can break a budget.  Consider taking a lunch.

Here is a list of my favorite free things to do in the winter:

The Library:

A vast of resources, libraries are one of my favorite places!  

On line winter reading challenge!  Yeah, I'm on it!  Prize is a $50 Meijer Gift Card

There is a story time for the preschoolers.  I've used this resource for my children and grandchildren.  

Free or low cost passes to our favorite museums are on the libraries website.

Hold on before you spend big bucks on how to do books, consider checking and seeing if they have them at your local library.  Then if you like it and  need in your home for reference then buy your book to keep on your shelves.

Nature preserves:

Nature preserves have a lot of great things to do like:

Hiking trails that are both education and fun.  If they have a map it's even more fun.  Look for unique birds or other animals.

Don't forget to go in the Visitor centers.  Ours has a lot of educational things to enjoy inside, like a active bee hive.  The bees come inside to a container and you get to watch their activity.

Sometimes free or low cost programs are offered like night owl watch, star gazing parties, story hour etc.

Pet outlets

Watch for free dog wash days.   Our pet store has them it seems like once a month.  The mess is theirs and if you have kids they would love to watch too.

Baking:

Stay home and have a baking day!   It will even help warm up the house with the oven going. I have a list of my favorite recipes here but my apple pie recipe is here.  Husband will be disappointed today though because we are making a cake.

Sledding:

We have went sledding a lot over the years with the grandchildren.  We have a sledding hill that is not too far from us.  This is not an good activity for us today because of the -20 windchill.  Too cold for us and them!  

Stay safe and warm!

What fun activities do you have for winter?

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, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

Waiting for the Snow, Making Pasties, and Getting Books at the Library!

You know, I don't know how much snow we will get, the totals are all over the place.  I do know it will be enough for sledding. I found the sleds yesterday in the backyard and made sure to get them ready to go.  They have a snow day today as most of Michigan does and I know they are sleeping in this morning.

I found this small bag of mealworms for $1.00 on Marketplace.  We were by his house going to Aldi's to pick up milk and other things  for us and a neighbor before the storm.   I don't think we will get out much after it starts, except to shovel.

Along with fiction, I love to read non fiction books that help me with gardening, cookbooks, and health.  Sometimes I find them at garage sales, most of the time I buy them.  I get hooked on some when I listen or read reviews and can't wait to buy them.  There was one I was extremely interested in after listening to a review and decided I would see if it was at the library.  It was. They sent it from another branch and held it for me.  I saved $10.00 because most of the stuff I already knew well except for raising Angora rabbits and selling their fur for yarn.   So, I did learn something and now of course I want to raise Angora rabbits.   If you interested the book was Made from Scratch: Discovering the Pleasure of a Homemade Life by Jenna Woginrich.  Great for beginner homesteaders.

I'm following an Michigan U.P. facebook group -yep I'm a troll following the yoopers.  Anyhow, I found their recipe for the pasties and made some with leftover pork roast.  I'm almost ashamed of how they look but  they were very good.  I'll get better at making it pretty, I hope.  

The pasties were made by the wives of miners in the Upper Pennisula of Michigan.  They were great for lunch because they could hold them in their hands.

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, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

Christmas Happenings: Decorations, Great finds, Free Entertainment, and Grocery Deals!

 

I started using a mini tree I think about 5 or 6 years ago and I love it.  I don't want to go back to a big one now.  Last week I crocheted a star for the topper using yarn I already had and strung popcorn garland for it.  

When we go to put it up, I use a garbage bag to cover, store it in the garage,  and it's good.  

These would be great for small apartments, tiny houses, or old people (like me).  

My big find:

We stopped by a Goodwill on a drive and I found these snowmen salad plates.   They were $12.00 for 12, so $1.00 a piece.  Christmas paper plates would cost you that, maybe more!  

Free entertainment:

I've went to two school concerts this week for the grandkids.  Such great entertainment and I'm so proud of them both!  The kids love that we are there too!  

Groceries:

Just basics this week for groceries except for the spiral ham on sale at Meijers for .89 a pound.  

They have a special there this week if you buy $100 you get a $10 coupon.  I only spent $40.  I like to think that I saved $50.

How is it been going at your house?

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, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

 

Busy Week,,,, Fundraising Ideas and Apple Butter!

 It's been a busy past week.  I made apple butter in the crockpot and canned it.   With all the spices, it smelled wonderful in the house. 

The jars are all done and resting on my cabinet.  They have been there for days...today I'll label and put them on the shelf..I hope.   

I have made million dollar fudge with the grandson and sold them for a fundraiser for his school trip to Washington D.C.   This along with the bottle drive has turned out to be great fundraisers for him.  

We actually still have mustard greens as Fall has turned in to Winter with snow and freezing cold,  then back to Fall again. Yet, they have made it through it all and are still so good.  They are very hardy.

This is the same picture has before...they still have looked the same when the snow comes on them.  Ha ha!  

How is it been going at your house?

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, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.