Necie

Jeepers, that’s funny about flashing!! 

Many, MANY years ago, DH got his picture put in “In The Wind” magazine. He and a bunch of buddies (bikers) were camping and were drunker than skunks. In another area of the campground there was an FOP picnic going on. He rode his bike around the whole area. He said that one of his buddies said “I can’t believe you didn’t get arrested!!” DH responded “I’m legal. Got my boots and goggles on!” Well, that’s ALL he had on!!   Later, one of his buddies saw his pic in In The Wind and gave him a copy. Caption said: This guy’s got the balls to ride through an FOP picnic. It was submitted by one of the officers. 

Tuesday made venison and noodles. Yesterday we polished off the leftovers. Tonight DH made venison burgers. Tomorrow, I think I’ll get the leftover sloppy joes out of the freezer to use up some of the leftover buns from tonight.

Went to pick up DS1 this morning and thought I’d stop by the Amish store near DS2’s house. It’s on the way. Found maple sausage 3#/$5. Got 12 of them to use making brats. 
DS1 and I went to another Amish store near him— highlights... I found 1/2 gallon jars $16/case- bought 2, gallon coconut oil $7.50 each- bought all 6 they had for soaping, 3# rolls of regular breakfast sausage $4.50 each- bought 4 for venison burger. Then we stopped at a small meat market. I got 2# frozen raw shrimp $6 each. 
Got back to mom and dad’s and the home health care aid was there today. Dad had an *episode*— stood up from his chair and passed out. The aid was right there and *caught* him... help him up between her and the chair til he came out of it. First time she’s seen him do it, she said now she understands what we’re talking about. They’ve upped mom’s help. The aid is coming 3x a week instead of two (5 hrs/day). They have a nurse coming in once a week, and an occupational(?) therapist... I’m not sure how often (these are new). AND they’ve approved dad for transport!! This is great for mom and DS1– no more having to load him in and out of the truck for appointments. 
Went to DS2’s and we skinned and quartered the doe. Not nearly as big as the buck. I took the hind and front legs, backstraps, and cut some meat off the neck and hip area. He kept the spine and ribs to feed his chickens. Told him to get busy... he owes me 3 more does for that buck, and if he gets the other buck he wants, then another 5 does on top of that. 
Got home, unloaded everything, DH made venison burgers for dinner, and now I’m sitting on my butt being lazy. 

and

Necie

8 hours ago, Jeepers said:

 

Ahem...Hello. My name is JEEP-ers.   

 

I never even thought of that. I was thinking like Scooby Doo. Something that era age kids would say. 

DH loves jeeps. It would be his vehicle of choice. He had one years ago before I met him. Maybe for his next vehicle.? Also a Chevy van. If we hit the lotto, he’d buy one of each— classic, of course. 
He watches a bunch of YouTube videos of these kids living in their vehicles. A couple of Jeep ones. He gets a real kick out of them... and ideas. 

8 hours ago, Jeepers said:

I'd be driving it topless in the summer (the car not me) 

I was dating a guy and he was from Michigan and I lived in Indiana. We had his Harley out one day bar hopping. We were leaving one bar (Indiana) and heading to another, and I said: “I’m going topless.” Boy, his head spun around and his jaw about hit the ground!!  I pointed to my head— “No helmet!!” 

22 minutes ago, Littlesister said:

I might in a couple of years buy a new van but more of a camper style one.

I love my mini-van. I don’t think I’d like something bigger. Personal preference (don’t like driving *bigger* vehicles) and worse gas mileage. I have been kinda looking at smaller campers— 12’ or less that my van could pull. Kitchen would be nice... potty a bonus. 😉

Got the venison burger mixed and bagged. 27#. DH ran up to DG and overpaid for a lb of sausage ($5.25) so I could get it all done. 🙄 I’ll find it cheaper tomorrow and stock up. Might even have some in the freezer, but I don’t feel like digging for it... especially not being sure that it’s even there.

DH is still going berserk looking for bullets for reloading. I think he found some-2nds. He was grumbling about it all day. That and the cost of shipping. 😞 

2013 Dodge Grand Caravan. Before that a 2006. I love these vans. Have hauled everything from goats to antiques. Besides hauling stuff, I have it set up for camping. Air mattress with blankets/pillow rolled up behind 2nd row seats. 3rd row mostly stay folded down for hauling room in the back. Picnic basket, cooler, camp chair, fold up wagon, small shovel, tackle box w/telescoping pole, Coleman propane lantern w/stand, flashlights, battery lights, clothes/bathroom bag, etc, etc, etc... It’s my get-home mobile. And being packed for camping, I can SIP if I have to until it’s safe to get home. And I do use it for camping— good practice. 😉

DH drives a 4wd Chevy Silverado pickup. 

Got the venison ground up and weighed out into *batches*. 24#=3 batches. Am short 1# of sausage/bacon so it’ll have to wait til Friday or Saturday. Mixing and bagging up the other 2 batches today. 
Tomorrow am going to pick up DS1 and go do something... maybe find some cheap sausage/bacon?? Might walk through the cabin to check it out and figure out what I wanna do first in the spring. On the way home, will stop at DS2’s and pick up the doe he has hanging. Hopefully, he’ll get another one soon.

@Jeepers, it was late and I couldn’t sleep. Got up and this thread had been commented on new. Humor Me forum... talking about tp, bidets, clothes, etc... 

And you said BUTT instead of BUT. Hit my funny bone! 

On 3/16/2023 at 1:21 PM, Jeepers said:

I want to get a little portable bidet. Even if it is only for cold water. Would be nice in the summer. I think . I made some flannel cloths. I don't plan on using them butt I will if I have to. 

On 3/16/2023 at 1:21 PM, Jeepers said:

butt I will if I have to.

10 hours ago, Littlesister said:

Finished up my Christmas shopping except for a couple of gift cards.

9 hours ago, Becca_Anne said:

 

All but the stocking stuffers purchased! It's starting to look like the holidays here. Excited to get the outdoor lights up when they arrive.  My favorite time of the year 

 

2 hours ago, snapshotmiki said:

Me too! Becca Anne!  Except for the cat.

I haven’t even started.  Buying gifts or decorating. Although, the only decorating that I do is to put up the tree. I do put lights and garland on it, but the box of ornaments sit there til the kids come down on Christmas Eve and they put them on.

Christmas isn’t my favorite time of year. 

WHOOHOO 

One of my pints of venison has a false seal this morning. So into the fridge it went. Now I don’t even have to think up what to make for supper tonight... VENISON AND NOODLES!! 

We are still eating leftovers. 🥴 I think I need to make something new tomorrow... 

Finished canning venison— 14 qts and 9 pints. Tomorrow I start grinding. 
 

Saw on FB that the company I order my lotion bottles/lids from was having 20% off today, so decided I’d better order for the year. I missed that they had 30% off on Friday. 

So I usually order the bottles in bulk (720) and the lids in bags of 48 (15 bags). It wouldn’t give me the discount on bulk. So I went back and changed it to 15- 48 pc bottles like the lids. It cost a bit more than bulk, but came out quite a bit less with the discount. Goofy!! Saved $86. 
Supposed to get more snow tomorrow. I hate snow. And cold. I looked at the weather app at 7:30... 19* with 8* windchill. Good thing I don’t have to leave the house for anything. DH is taking my van up tomorrow to have one of my new tires looked at— it keeps losing pressure. He thinks it’s the rim. Hopefully an easy fix. Gas is down in the area, so I gave him $40 and asked him to fill it up for me while he’s up there. 

9 hours ago, Homesteader said:

Depending on Bidenomics red ink, we may not be shooting very many bullets today.

That’s a double whammy. Money not worth as much and less of it, and ammo more expensive or non-existent.

DH has been looking for bullets for reloading. Can’t find what he wants anywhere. He’s not a happy camper the last few days. 

Just turned the canner off. Another 7 qts of venison. Not enough left for another batch, so tomorrow I’m gonna finish it in pints. Hopefully, I’ll get 8-10. Then I gotta start soup and grind. Then start on the next one. 

Boring day yesterday. Took longer than I thought to thaw out the venison. Did get quite a bit of crocheting done while I waited. Ended up getting 7 qts of venison done at 7:30 last night. Finishing that up today and may start a batch of soup to can tomorrow. Or... I might start it tomorrow. 😂 Winter is down time... no rush to do anything.

Oh... and it’s snowing out!! Grrrr

I just got the kitchen aid last year for Christmas from the kids. I use it constantly. They love that I’m making cookies again! 😂 Couldn’t stir up cookie dough with my hands. Same for bread... and I love making bread. 

I got the slicer/shredder attachment this summer for garden veges.
I have a  good meat grinder that gets used every year for venison. And access to an even better one if something happens to mine.

Pasta maker is next on the list because we eat so much of it and I don’t have anything manual to make it. The noodle slicer is completely unnecessary, as I said—I don’t even use the manual one.

Then grain grinder. I have 2 manual ones, but as I get older, I’m adding the convenience appliances and keeping the manual as backup. 
I don’t think I’d use the spiralizer at all. I have an attachment for it on my manual food processor and have never used it. 
In a few years, I may add the food strainer (like victorio/squeezo), but for now my victorio is fine.

 I have all manual appliance thingies that I use and will keep them, but like the ease of electric. 😉 I’m also a hoarder of all things utensil. I need to go through my utensil drawers and get rid of doubles... but I love them!! 
My favorite *helper* that I bought a few years ago is an automatic pot stirrer. Runs on 4 C batteries. No more burnt sauce!!! 😁

Yeah... our *on sale* butter at Aldis is $2.99. 🥴 

We do eat a lot of pasta. When I find it for $1/# or less, I buy a bunch... usually at the discount stores. Amish store bulk pasta is OUTRAGEOUS— $2.50-$5.00/#. 
I do make all our egg noodles. I have a manual noodle maker, but it’s more of a novelty thing... DGD(12) likes to use it when she’s here. I still tend to roll and cut on the counter. I have the kitchen aide PASTA maker attachment on my Christmas list... maybe one of my Santas will surprise me. 🥰

Pre-pandemic beans and pasta were always $1.00/lb. Now I can’t find them under $1.50... usually closer to $2. Last year, I couldn’t find kidney beans (dry) to save my butt!! Finally found them at a small Mexican market. Not many, but I bought all they had even though they were over $2/#. I started looking this year, and WM nor Aldis had kidney or black beans. I’m out!! I’m hoping I got enough for this year, but may stop back there the next time I go to DS2’s. 

Local Amish store. I stopped for mayo cuz I’m getting low after making macaroni salad twice this month. They have 16 oz jars of Kraft for $0.99 — got 10.

They had margarine for $0.79 — got 5. 
 

BEANS!! Dry beans. I noticed a couple bags were marked $2.49/#. 😳 Others behind them were marked $1.49/#. Are bean prices skyrocketing for some reason?? 🤷‍♀️ I bought 10 bags each (marked at the $1.49 price) of dark kidney and black for canning. Spent ~$60.00 total on them. 

Yesterday:

turkey/stuffing 

potatoes/gravy

green bean casserole 

candied sweet potatoes 

scalloped corn 
macaroni and cheese 

deviled eggs 

macaroni salad 

banana bread (with and without walnuts) 

rolls

meat/cheese tray 

relish tray 
pumpkin and apple pies 

cookies 

ice-cream 

Tonight: 

cookies 

Busy couple of days. 
 

Yesterday was a typical Thanksgiving... the Lions lost. 😡 😂

Actually, it was a very not-typical Thanksgiving. First time I’ve had Thanksgiving in probably 20 years. DD usually does it. She requested that I do it this year. Not sure why, but I’m glad she did. It was fun!! We had 7 adults and 3 kids. Although, DGD(12) keeps getting closer to being an adult than a kid. She was helping in the kitchen more than doing kid stuff. She sliced up all the summer sausage and cheeses and did that tray with crackers, and put together the relish tray for me. Then she helped DD make deviled eggs. DD had text me when she was half way here and said she forgot them, so I tossed a dozen in a pot and had them ready to peel when she got here. She said she felt bad about forgetting them, but was glad she did cuz she got to make them again with her niece.

DS1 spent the night. On the way taking him home this morning, we stopped at a local meat market. Looking around we saw fish... perch— $20/lb!!! bluegill—$16/lb!!! I turned to DS and kinda whispered “omg... we got a fortune in our freezers!!” We both got a giggle outa that. 

Then we stopped at DS2’s and dropped off some stuff that DDIL forgot yesterday. 
Then we stopped at a local Amish store and found a couple of good deals.  I’ll post about that in Pinching Pennies.

Got him home and went in to visit with mom and dad. Mom had found an estate sale she wanted to go to. It was 1:00 and my youngest sister was supposed to be there at 2-2:30, so I said: If ya wanna go, let’s go so we can get back before sis gets here. She was really wanting to get out of the house, so DS stayed with dad and we went. Good sale... spent too much. 

Got back to mom’s and pulled in right behind my sis and BIL. Sis and I had a good visit. She came out and sat in my van with me *while I had a cig*. 😉 Talked about all sorts of stuff. And I did a thang...   Will post about that *elsewhere*.  

Stopped back at DS2’s to drop off a pair of slacks that DIL had my mom sew up a ripped seam for her. Then... home!! Now I’m sitting on my butt being lazy! 

and

Necie

pics of: DDIL, me, DD and DD and DGD making deviled eggs 🥰 

Ordered carry out tonight. Deep fried cod and *roasted* potatoes. They cut a BIG baked potato into 6 wedges and bread them in the same breading they fry the fish in... it’s a wet then dry breading. OMG!! SOOOOOO YUMMY!! 🤤 I drown the fish with lemon and TONS of pepper, slather the potatoes with butter and dip in sour cream. Every bite, I’m mumbling: “This is sooooo good!” DH laughs at me! 😂 We only get this 2-3 times a year cuz it’s a bit expensive- almost $30 for a lb of fish and one order of the potatoes. It’s plenty for both of us. We’re STUFFED! I could eat the fish every day... and used to! I was the bartender there from May 2000 til Oct 2011. 😁 After gaining 30# in the first 3 yrs, I learned to limit myself. 😉 But, it’s our tradition for Thanksgiving Eve. This is our 23rd year!! 

(Sorry... it was half eaten before I thought to take a pic. lol)

I’m pooped!!

Crocheted this morning. This afternoon, made macaroni salad and banana bread, did dishes, finished cleaning up the kitchen. I love my kitchen, but it can be a disaster— organized chaos. It’s big (16x26), but I wish it were bigger. 😂 Or maybe a second kitchen. ?? I do have a stove and sinks in the basement, but I mostly use them for soap/lotion making. We will use the second oven tomorrow. 😉 Everyone is planning to be here tomorrow by 12-12:30... in time to watch the game. DD is bringing the turkey and deviled eggs, DSIL is making green bean casserole, DS1 made 2 pumpkin pies and cookies, DDIL is making mac and cheese, DH is making the potatoes (instant)/gravy and stuffing (stove top), I’m making sweet potato casserole and scalloped corn. So, with everything here early and we won’t eat til 2-2:30 (halftime 😉), we’ll need both ovens to get it all done. Anywho... didn’t get everything done and straightened up and final touches til about 7, so ordered carry out for dinner. Called my mom at 8 (I do every night)... sometimes she’s exhausting. Tonight was such.  I just try to remember that she’s dealing with a lot with my dad (dementia and heart failure) and just try to listen. But she can tend to *exaggerate* and make up stories herself... which can be frustrating. I either don’t know what to believe or what not to. Or if I correct her, then she gets flustered and confused. Most of the time, if it’s not a big deal, I just let it go. 

Hoping everyone has something to be thankful for this year!! 

and

Necie