Gearing Up for Retirement

The Mr. is planning (once again;) to retire (for good) at the end of 2013.  That gives us one year to adjust our budget (and attitudes) for life on his pension(s) and what savings we've squirreled away.  He deserves to hang up his badge after 25+ years of community service.  We have plans .. and then the Lord has plans .. hopefully some will be the same.

You can bet (Lord willing) we won't be sitting around (much).  We have fire wood to gather this summer, mini vacations to take (Glacier National Park), family to visit (us), and odd home repairs not to put off. Grandchildren to fuss over.

We've worked like dawgs paying off debt the past few years (knock on wood .. ) and have learned to be content not needing the latest or greatest gadgets; this all on one income.

We won't be jet setters or pet sitters.  We have a special needs son, Nathan, that will keep us young at heart and close to home; he's a blessing.

So with the New Year about to begin, may the good Lord prepare our hearts, minds AND finances to be adequate and sustaining.  May He give us peace and servant's hearts to give of our time and help to others.  Welcome 2013

Going Paperless?

I said no and then yes to re-subscribing to the newspaper over the summer.  We canceled the paper at the beginning of May to go on our financial diet.  I really felt bad about the paper as it employs local people and we have a slow economy.  Paper newspapers are becoming a rarity these days ... yesterday's news today (so to speak).  Still, I have no TV connection and rely on news from the radio or internet.  But ... I did start to miss the paper.  So .. when the subscription dept. called yesterday offering the paper 1/2 off for the summer AND two free boat cruise tickets on Lake Coeur d'Alene, I said YES!  I'm a sucker for a bargain ... and a boat cruise!

My Brain Works Overtime

 .... coming up with ways to save money around the home.  Cutting grocery expenses in half, fermenting this and that, baking, gardening, It scares me to think what job I would have had if all this energy was unleashed beyond my front door. 

Next Week ... Next Year ...

I just love when January rolls around. A fresh new start. A clean - unmarked calendar. Vacation plans that are for 'this year' .. instead of next year. This is the month that I start my really deep cleaning. Washing walls. Pulling furniture away from the walls. Cleaning under the washer and dryer. Washing and storing seldom used china so it will be clean and ready at a moments notice. Polishing furniture with oil instead of just using a feather duster. The lazy end of December will be just a memory of .. well, just that ... a lazy memory that needs to be shoved into a mental closet and forgotten for a long, long time.

In between all of the household chores will be some bright spots. Looking at the seed catalogs and plotting my garden on paper. Hubby has promised to buy me a 'mulcher' .. although I know he means rototiller as a birthday present. He's so practical, eh;)

This time next week there will be a spring to my step. No more gloom. With or without mountains of snow, I will take a few winter walks; I'm prepared with shoe chains and snow shoes for ice and for powdery snow. No more excuses! No more resting on the couch recovering from Christmas. And did I mention that the kids will be back in school? Aaaah.

Image from here

Sprouts

My veggie seeds have sprouted in my mini-four-shelf green house. Now if I could just sprout an idea for a post! I have lots of stuff/ideas floating in my head ... but 'nare the time to sit and ponder. This week I've been teaching myself to knit. It's a nice no brain cells wasted type of activity that is very soothing. A person can actually multi-task (watch a show and knit at the same time). I'm getting pretty good and not having to rip my work apart any more. Today I planted more seeds in my recycled 'trash' containers (empty toilet paper rolls, take home salad boxes, egg cartons, etc.) It's a rewarding feeling knowing that gardening doesn't have to cost a fortune. So far I've planted: Marigolds, beefsteak tomatoes, onions, snap dragons, Roma tomatoes, petunias, herbs and peppers. If the snow melts before summer there's a chance for a decent garden. Here's hoping for more warm days.

Soldier boy is on the road making his way home. He's currently at his grandparent's home for a little visit. He really needs a good home cooked meal and some spoiling from his mom.

Don't Cast Your Irons Aside

Do you have a few cast iron skillets sitting idle in your kitchen cupboard? Have you used them in the past decade? Well, before you put them out for a yard sale this spring, why not dust them off, re-season them and start cooking like grandma used to. Yes, they are heavy ... but in their defense, they retain and can take the heat (unlike today's non-stick pans). From stove top, oven, broiler or campfire, cast iron is a sure bet. My grandma 'B' used black cast iron skillets and cooked everything from squirrel :) (no kidding) to fried chicken and in between. Libby 'B' was quite the homemaker with skills of canning her garden goods, making feather beds, raising lots of kids, and cooking up a storm when we visited her. Just ask my pop.

This past year I've been itching to get my hands on a Dutch oven (DO) to cook in outside by the campfire. For Christmas I received a cookbook with all the how to's and what not to do's listed, along with many tall tales and bonafide recipes. To start practicing for when the snow melts and I can once again find my backyard, I'm planning to use my flat bottomed DO inside this winter. It won't be the same, but practice makes perfect. The photos show my newly seasoned DO and a newly acquired 12" beauty of a skillet after their final seasoning. Also shown is the aforementioned cookbook.

What's Cooking?

This week I've been in the kitchen making batches of delicious beef jerky. The process is very simple and with my convection oven's drying setting, takes very little time. I usually wait until I can purchase London broil on sale to use. The meat is sliced thin, then marinated 24 hours. From Cabella's I have purchased stackable drying racks for oven use.

Chicken stock is easy to make also. When I purchase twin packs of whole chickens from Costco, I cut up the meat and repackage in smaller portions for the freezer. The chicken backs are saved and frozen separately as well. When there are at least eight backs, they are turned into a delicious stock by simmering with celery, onions, carrots and herbs. The liquid is strained and defatted, then stored either in freezer containers or canned for the pantry shelf.

Photos: chicken stock simmering, beef jerky piled high for brief high heat temp for food safety.

Our Special Day

November 8, 1980:
Happy Anniversary Sweetheart! Remember when we just started out in our married life? Full of such promise ... yet living on a shoestring budget. You have always made me feel safe and protected. Never once have I doubted that the Lord would provide us a home through your hard work...Thank you for sharing the memory making process we have both lived through. We're not quite ready for the rocking chairs ... but just in case you want to sit a spell, let's meet on the porch after dinner to try them out. You bring the hot cocoa, and I'll bring a few quilts. Our love for each other will take the chill right out of the night time air.

All my love,

Babydoll

Photo: vintage 1983 photo of Mr. & Mrs. Mac & Mac Jr.

Out And About

My daughter Elizabeth and I are going saleing. There are some great garage sales listed in the paper today ... and with a growing grandson, this granny needs to pick up a few good toys for him to enjoy at her house ;)

Here's an excellent post from gramma_s regarding her humble beginning to married life. Now go pay her a little visit ... and I'll be back later.