Did I Tell You

I am tired of winter. We have had very few nice days. It has been colder than cold, snowier than snow and way too cloudy. We are however 20 days or so out from the first day of spring. Not that, that comes true up here in the prairies. 

I tried making myself a sweater. I was sure I had enough yarn. Nope, it has become a glorified vest. It’s okay as it is pretty or will be once it is done. Very nice pattern for bulky wool. Will post a picture when done.

This month so far, I have paid off $1100 on one debt. Feeling good about that and hoping I can keep it up. I have not put gas in my car since the beginning of December and I still have 1/2 tank. I have had to start my car to let it warm up over the past week. Yup even plugged in I have been thinking it may not start. My battery and fluids are all good thankfully. All my January bills are paid and most of my February ones. I am dead on for groceries using my $200 wisely. I should only need fresh items next month. 

I did all my ironing and I got rid of a bunch of shoes that were worn out along with a couple of purses and socks. My entryway closet was over stuffed. I put my coats that are not being worn right now into my bedroom closet. I took everything else out and cleaned then rearranged it. I brought in a set of bins that has three bins. The bottom one I put all my tools in. The middle one is my hats, scarves and extra gloves/mitts. The top one belongs to his royal highness. He sure has a lot of gear for just one dog.  

Today I am making baked beans. The beans soaked well over night. Now I am giving them a big boil. Then into the oven. They are going to be too good. 

Pictures of my frozen tundra. Thank goodness for snow clearing.

Jean

2024 RUN DOWN

 January stayed on budget except for food. I was over by $134.94. I was over due to The Golfer and his kids staying here. I did not charge him anything, I wanted him to save up for his move. I am pleased I came out only by that much. Managed to pay into my taxes and savings. Give it a 10 out of 10

February being a short month, I did pay all the usual and added to my savings and my tax account. My food was over by $88.84. This was when food was starting to go way up. I had 78.89 in personal spending. As I am losing weight consistently, I needed a few new items. Everything by now was falling off. Also I admit to being sick of the wardrobe I had been wearing for quite a few years.  Other than those items I did pretty well. Give it a 9 out of 1o. My food should not have been over as I was back to being a household of one.

March I gave myself a raise in the grocery area to $150.00 from &100.00. I paid into my taxes and savings accounts. My groceries were just a tad under coming in at $149.09. Big whoop. My person spending was $41.97. I ate out once spending $8.78. The rest was for a gift. I was pleased except for the personal spending. Give it an 8 out of 10.

April. As it is tax month I spent another $100 for tax preparation. I paid into my taxes and savings and savings account. I was way over in groceries. I desperately needed to replace and add to my pantry. It was a good month, but I spent $594.05. When I worked it out at regular prices I would have been within cents of $800.00. I will take that as a win. Part of it was also to pay for our family 18th Birthday celebration. It was allowed. We are proud of her. Also, April is when the majority of our Birthdays are.  Got a large tax refund so paid a debt. Give it a 10 out of 10.

May. Paid the usual into my tax and saving accounts. Groceries, I gave myself another raise to $200.00. I was still over by $91.57. A small amount went to a Birthday the rest me not being careful enough. We all have a bit of a slip sometimes. Under personal, I paid for Costco membership. Normally I don’t shop there, but I need glasses and  hearing aids. In the end , they are 1 year behind, so in 2025 I will need another membership. Bummer. My province pays $2000.00 towards hearing aids. Costco costs $2000.00. So a win in one way. I will do some shopping there I guess. I also purchased a stitching pattern and ate out twice. Once with relatives. Give it a 6 out of 10.

June Groceries were over again by $80.55. Sure am having trouble with groceries. I did have to purchase a propane tank for BBQ. That will do a couple of years. Paid into my taxes and and savings account. Not much going on. I give it a 10 out of 10.

July Paid into taxes and savings. Paid all the usual rent and hydro. Did not spend anything in my personal account. I was over by $51.51 in groceries. I don’t usually purchase alcohol but did for an event. Give it a 10 out of 10.

August. Bad month for groceries, but it all went to canning, stocking up etc.I was over by $223.52. I must clarify that when I stock up, it isn’t just for me, it is also for my family. It was raining non stop and I needed some rain gear as well as assorted underwear. I splurged. Nuff said. I am happy with what I have.  It will last me for years. I do need to get my muck boots back from daughter. My vehicle is paid off yay. Only one more debt to go

September Groceries were $129.65. Ah, that’s better. Paid the usual plus taxes and savings. Not a bad month. Give it a 10 out of 10.

October, November and December were horrible months. Money poured out like a sieve. Way, way over budget. Ah it is what it is. Give it a 0 out of 10.

On the yay front. It is light out at 7:40 this morning. Bring on the light.

J

Nuts and Bolts

 Just got the nuts and bolts made. All has already walked out the door. Tomorrow I will make my homemade PoppyCock. I finished a sweater for DIL. Christmas Day I will deliver some, the rest will be delivered on New Years Eve when we do Christmas. What a crazy world this year.

Usually I make it with Shreddies cereal but none to be had. It’s still tasty though.

Well, well now we have fog and freezing rain. Oh joy, there is still a thick covering of ice from last time. Out comes the ice tracks for my shoes/ boots. Tomorrow will bring snow, but much warmer temperatures. I hope people will be safe on the roads during the holiday season. Temperatures will be on the plus side for the foreseeable future meaning +C.

Jean

TIME - IT IS A RUNNING

 Can’t believe it has been so long since I posted and no not due to Christmas. 

I have done zero baking for Christmas. If I bake, I eat it. Gifts are finally done. Will need to pick up boxes to transport them. Not doing Christmas till New Years Eve morning. SHMBO is in Hawaii for the holidays. The Golfer just returned from tournaments in Florida so he is madly trying to get year end done at the course. His old course has invited him back for New Years Eve. They are doing a grand opening of the new building. The old one burned down just before he left. He will enjoy the evening as all the people will be excited to see him. They were so disappointed when he took his new position. The Jack Of All Trades is working pretty much all through the holidays, we may or may not see him and his family. The Golfer will come spend the day with me on Christmas. We will probably go for a long walk and snooze the day away. He suggested I not cook. That’s good with me. The Hockey kid has tournaments over Christmas and I suspect Mr. Basketball will also. The Grad will be working lots of hours, probably getting overtime and her boyfriend the HVAC guy will be working. Yup those in trades must all be on call or take turns being on call

Sewing/craft wise nothing going on. I will have lots of time this week so may get back to it.

His bed is hung on the tree with care in hopes that Santa is near.

He puzzled on the tree for a week, looking and searching. He finally found two branches with nothing on them. So, what does a dog do? He hangs his bed on the tree. Yup smart and cute.

TTYL

Jean

t.. 

Sadness

 I am feeling a bit sad. SWMBO has decided to go with friends to Hawaii for Christmas. The Millwright’s wife won’t let him come over. The Golfer wants some time down, so his boys won’t be over till maybe the 27th and maybe not till the next week. No Christmas for us this year. I am hoping to get to some Advent programs. Going to be quiet. At home, we never celebrated Christmas. We were too poor. Mom only had what money she got from chickens and that was only from late spring till late fall. Dad never gave mom a cent of his pay check. It went to drinking. I think that is why I feel sad. I wanted to always make a good time for my kids and grands at Christmas. To read them the first couple of chapters of Luke, bake some goodies and make sure they received a gift. Now, I am back to the way it was. Oh well, there will always be another get together once the Birthdays start.

I’ve been knitting and walking Oakley. People are still mowing.

I am at a stand still with my weight. I need to walk more. The way I eat is good, just a plateau. I feel cold more this winter, so am not inclined to go to the provincial parks to walk. 

(Friday)

Took Oakley for grooming yesterday. Met daughter in the city and bummed around with her. She needs some stuff for her trip. She also needed a new item of exercise equipment. I found some new 5lb weights. My BIL took my previous ones. She needed an X-ray of her back so did that. Oakley still wasn’t done so I went to the local fish and chip place. What a mistake. It was awful. Hadn’t been there in 13 years. It use to be good. Then headed back to the groomers, picking up dog food and a toy for you know who lol. Then Oakley and I headed home. He walked, slept, ate, walked then went to bed. It was a long day for both of us. 

Today, we got a skiff of snow. To the west was hit hard and now they are predicting another big storm to come through. Will be interesting to see if we get any on the east side of the province. 

J

Still Warm

 November 12th and still warming. We hit 9C today, but the wind was brutal. 45-75km/hr. Mr. Oakley  could pass for the dog in the Never Ending Story. His ears were flapping. I thought the ind would pick him up a few times.

SHMBO called. She had a few hours between appointments, would I come to town to look for a new Christmas tree. We searched high and low. Nothing cheaper than $400. Yup the prices are bad. We have a strike on both ends of the country. This means no containers are arriving or being unloaded, so not much Christmas stock around. She decided she would set up both trees she has and see how she can selvage one. The other one will go to The Golfer. That was my day out. It was nice to see her though. I mean I haven’t seen her for two whole days. 

She visited The Grad at work. The grad did not like that. She got rude and snotty. It hurt SWMBO feelings. The Grad takes her work seriously and doesn’t want us to go shopping there when she is working. It reminds me of some books I read where a gal had psyscofrenia (sp). The town gave her an old navy uniform and had her direct traffic around the town monument at noon time. She wouldn’t talk to anyone as “she was working and everything has to be regulation. Taken from the Mitford Series written by Jan Karon. I think that’s how The Grad feels. Also, her granddad worked for the same company just a different division. I think she wants him to be proud of her.

I made stuffing balls this morning. Now resting in the freezer to add to meals. I also made beef vegetable soup. It all smells so good. Am looking forward to this freezer meals. Tomorrow I need to make a salad.

J

Remembrance Day

 My father was too young for the WW1 and too old for WW2. I am not sure if any of his brothers/sisters went to war. He was the youngest of nine.

On my mother’s side, I do not know if any went to war. My BIL was in the Canadian Army and was posted to Egypt during the 50s.

 When he got posted to Calgary, I remember being conscripted to go to the Remembrance Day at the armoury. All military family were to line up outside, wait for the service to be over then provide a crowd as the military marched out. It was a beautiful warm day. We took along light jackets but did not need them. A beautiful sunny day. 

My husband grew up in a family where peace was taught in the church. I do not know if any of his family went to war. If they did, I am certain they would be kicked out of the church. However, they did have a boys army group in town in which my husband was part of. He has one cousin that was in the war in Iraq. He was in the bomb search, clean up section. He said it was horrible with all the oil fires 🔥. He has had health problems since then. My husband wanted to join the military, but had $200 in debt, so he gave up on that dream.

Where I grew up, a large number of men signed up. I am not sure how many did not come back, but a large contingent made it home. I do not know if there were wives who helped out in some way. I am sure there were.

To me, Remembrance Day is not a significant day family wise, but I do remember all those who gave up their lives for freedom. May we all take time to be thankful and remember today.