Monthly Archives: March 2020

Friday stuff…

Posted in California, home stuff, Uncategorized by

Well, it’s Friday.  It seems like it’s been a weird week with Super Tuesday and then with all the Covid-19 stuff going on.  Maybe I’m just feeling off by it all. I kind of feel unmotivated and not doing much. Yesterday I didn’t even go to the gym. I just didn’t feel inspired.  I picked up a prescription for my daughter and then went to Goodwill.  I found a few cookbooks and a white t-shirt.

I don’t think I’m going to the gym today either. Fridays are super busy in there so… germs?

This was not a frugal week with the stockpiling shop we did but I do feel good about it. We rarely waste food and what’s in the pantry will last. If we do have a 14-day quarantine we would be fine. One thing I think I’m going to go get though is evaporated milk. Maybe some powdered milk too. I don’t drink milk but I like cream in my coffee. So it might be good to have some on hand. Milk freezes fine so I will get a few quarts to freeze. I just googled can you freeze heavy cream and even David Lebowitz said “YES”. So, I’ll get some heavy cream to freeze too. He did say shake it well though and defrost in the fridge.

It’s pizza night!

 

Stockpiling for the Covid-19 virus.

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So after some discussion, we decided to do a major pantry stockpile in case there is a shut down around here.

I’m already freaking out that at UCD med center there are dozens of health care workers home and in self-quarantine.  Barclay has a clinic appt next week and I’m thinking he should cancel. I’ll have him call to check. If I drive him, I plan to sit in the car or outside and wait for him.

So first we went to Winco and bought an assortment of canned goods like beans and salsas. Then I got 5 boxes of pasta as a backup plus some canned tomatoes. We tried to get hand sanitizer but it’s sold out everywhere. We did buy a gallon of bleach just in case.

Then we headed into Costco and Toilet paper was completely gone and so were any hand sanitizers.  We were able to get Kirkland wipes though so that was good. We picked up 2 bags of coffee and other assorted things.  As we were leaving the parking lot was packed with people pouring into the store. It was a little scary to see that many people stockpiling( hoarding maybe).

We spent my whole food budget for the month so all I will have to get is fresh stuff as needed.

This outbreak is very scary especially for people like us that have health issues.  We plan on staying away from Costco etc for a while. I had planned an Ikea trip for my new pantry but that’s on hold now.

Today is vote day and unfortunately, my vote for Buttigleg is wasted so to speak. I mailed in my ballot 2 weeks ago so there’s no re-voting. Oh well, it’ll be down to the final vote in November.  Anyone but Trump. He is destroying this country.  I’m not sure about Sanders as he is pretty extreme too but as I said, anyone but Trump!

We had a super scary racist incident right here in our little town. Actually up the road near Weimar which is maybe 3 miles away.  A pickup stopped in the middle of the road and 2 white men jumped out and began assaulting a Mexican tree crew that was trimming trees.  How is this blatant racism NOT a result of Trump speaking in racist terms about Mexicans and just about anyone not White!!! I am horrified at this kind of behavior that has clearly been escalating since Trump does it.  Fortunately, the 2 were arrested later and it turned out it was a father and his 25-year-old son.  Is that crazy or what?

Simple Sunday and a review of our first month of full retirement.

Posted in cooking, Flylady, Retirement, social security, Uncategorized by

 So it’s been a month since Barclay ‘officially’ left UNFI. With only now SS as our income, it went ok. We did get our tax refunds, which weren’t big but it was added income and I was able to pay our April property tax early.  So that’s a big win.

Essentially, our basic income with be under $3,000.  Moving is not an option and plus in the housing market here we couldn’t rent a place for what our mortgage is. SS does take out our Medicare and that’s good.

We can do it if we’re careful. Annual bills will need to be paid with the small savings we have. Also, by mid-year, I’ll expect our 2 adult children who live here( well, my son lives in the Studio) but still, there are utilities,  etc, to bump up what they’re paying in rent.  That will give us the padding we need.

We paid off the car last year so that was a big payment.

Food is the variable that gets me. If I add in a Costco trip my food budget gets blown. Even though most of that stuff is bulk such as coffee, TP, rice, etc. It still adds up. I’ve tried to separate nonfood and that helps some.  Still, if I combine that with a Trader Joes in the same month the food budget easily goes over $600.

This week was really nice and our trip to Tahoe just perfect.

Today is a gym day.

I’m also making Joanna Gaines Chocolate chip cookies. We’ll see how they compare to Tollhouse.

For dinner, I’m making crepes again with my new Lodge pan. I also ordered the crepe spreader from Amazon to spread the crepe mixture. I used the spatula last time and it did work ok but this tool allows you to have a broader surface to spread. I’m planning on ham and cheese for the meat-eaters and spinach mushroom for the veggies.  I’ll also make a gruyere sauce.

This week we are in the entryway zone and dining room if you’re following Flylady.

Be sure to clean off patios and front doors. I put up the spring wreath I have that is forsythia flowers. Plus I bought a few pots of pansies and violas. So perhaps just tidy and freshen up your entryways.  I try and keep shoes in a wood crate.