Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: March 1 to March 7, 2026

[anna43]

I have several oil lamps but prefer to use battery sources instead. The fumes from the oil lamps bothers my asthma. Still, I keep them plus oil and extra wicks on hand just in case. I keep flashlights all around the house or I guess I should say, I've left the ones dh put all over in place. I keep one at the top and one at the bottom of the basement stairs and battery lanterns in the tornado safety area. Which reminds me, it's time to do a deep clean of that area so I don't have to share it with spiders and other creepy crawly things. Mostly for emergency lighting and everything else, I depend on my Generac which kicks on automatically anytime the power goes out.

All of my cast iron came from auctions except the huge one which I purchased new in the 1960s. I gave that one to a friend at church who has 4 teenagers so cooks BIG. I could no longer lift it. I seldom use my cast iron Dutch oven for the same reason. I have a couple Griswolds, one that just has USA on the bottom and two cheap made in China smaller skillets. What I use the most of my cast iron is a flat griddle which is perfect for grilled cheese or warming tortillas. Lately when I need a larger skillet, I've been using the Revere Ware I picked up for $1 at a thrift shop a couple years ago. It is easier to lift when full and cooks okay. It was a hot mess and after checking that it wasn't warped, I bought it and put in the elbow grease to clean it up. I already had a lid from a prior Revere Ware skillet that I'd saved when the skillet went.

I had a LOT of dirty dishes to clean up this morning. All are done and draining in the drainer, on the counter and on the table! After I finished the dishes, I mixed up a meatloaf for supper and washed up that bowl too. Used a paper plate for lunch!! I still have a bit of leftover chicken, a gallon of chicken veggie soup and now will have leftover meatloaf so no cooking for a few days. I'll peel the last of my potatoes and a few carrots to cook with the meat loaf.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

We're back. The vein specialist that Mom saw today did tests and diagnosed the problem with her leg that hasn't healed, since June of last year. Nothing serious, but she will have to wear compression stockings from now on. I'm so glad that we now know what the problem is and what caused it. A nurse went ahead and measured her for the stockings, and Mom got them, before she left.

We went out for lunch and did all the shopping we needed to do. Mom found some items she wanted, but I didn't buy anything. Cary got the parts he needed for the lawn mower. Always good to have extras.

I went through all the soap Mom ordered. I got 3 bars. She also had a gallon bag of small assorted colored peppers in her freezer for me and a 12 ct. bag of frozen artisan ciabatta rolls she had bought at the bakery in her town, but didn't like. Last, but not least, she had been cleaning some of her kitchen cabinets and came across something she knew I would want. She had it laid out for me. It's a small cast iron square veggie basket with handles on each side that you use on a grill or open fire. I didn't even know she had it, but she said Dad had bought it years ago. Now, I've got to make room on my cast iron wall in the kitchen for it. 95% of all my cast iron cookware is displayed on that wall. All the regular cast iron Dutch ovens are stacked on a shelf. I keep all the lids for it all in a big drawer in the kitchen.

All in all, today was a very good trip.

 

[Wildwood]

I keep an oil lamp in each room...just in case thing....mine are old...was they belonged to the older ones who have passed...I was the only person in the family who wanted them...
I also have my grandmother's brass candle stick... she saw her way to bed using it as a child....she was born in 1870...
Just a reminder ....never...walk.. around the house with a lit oil lamp

None of mine have the finger ring. I've sold a few of those and if I were forced to carry one around, I'd like it to be one of those. It would be an absolute last resort.

I do have family members who would love to have the three I'm gifting...that is the only reason I'm letting them go. I ended up with way more than my share of family heirlooms because I'm the oldest by several years and my mother, MIL, aunt and grandmothers had just been waiting to offload some of what I ended up with plus I've always loved the older things and now the sons and nephews are old enough that I know who really wants it and would treasure it. I've saddled my boys down with about all they are willing to take. We would have to be starving for me to sell anything that belonged to mine or DH's elders.

I have several oil lamps but prefer to use battery sources instead. The fumes from the oil lamps bothers my asthma. Still, I keep them plus oil and extra wicks on hand just in case. I keep flashlights all around the house or I guess I should say, I've left the ones dh put all over in place. I keep one at the top and one at the bottom of the basement stairs and battery lanterns in the tornado safety area. Which reminds me, it's time to do a deep clean of that area so I don't have to share it with spiders and other creepy crawly things. Mostly for emergency lighting and everything else, I depend on my Generac which kicks on automatically anytime the power goes out.

I can't tolerate the stinky stuff either. I get the liquid parrafin that has no scent but they would be my last resort. If I burn one for fun, kind of like burning a candle, I want electric and running water just in case. I'd still use one if I had nothing else but I have several vintage enamel tubs I'd set them in.

I do remember mama firing up a couple of the ones she gave me when I was child but it was only if the power went out. I rarely have anything in my house with a flame after losing the barn to fire. It made me hyper aware.

The cast iron does get heavy to move around. I've got all I need for a lifetime. I may get another tortilla press. DIL has mine and loves it so much I can't take it away from her. She uses it much more than I ever would and I do have a rolling pen or two hanging around here. My Dutch oven is cast iron covered in enamel. My grand bought it when she lived in France when I was a little girl...it's the good stuff LC. I also have a couple of the deep cast iron skillets and lids to go with them. I had three but gifted oldest son with one and his wife uses it to make loaves of bread in. I'm going to try and offload the other one on the other son lol. The one I use all the time belonged to DH's great aunts. They were both widowed at 39 and lived the rest of their lives together. They were a treasure for sure. They mostly fried chicken in it and I wouldn't take anything for it. I think of them every single time I drag it out which is usually at least once a week.

 

[hd5574]

None of mine have the finger ring. I've sold a few of those and if I were forced to carry one around, I'd like it to be one of those. It would be an absolute last resort.

I do have family members who would love to have the three I'm gifting...that is the only reason I'm letting them go. I ended up with way more than my share of family heirlooms because I'm the oldest by several years and my mother, MIL, aunt and grandmothers had just been waiting to offload some of what I ended up with plus I've always loved the older things and now the sons and nephews are old enough that I know who really wants it and would treasure it. I've saddled my boys down with about all they are willing to take. We would have to be srarving for me to sell anything that belonged to mine or DH's elders.

I can't tolerate the stinky stuff either. I get the liquid parrafin that has no scent but they would be my last resort. If I burn one for fun, kind of like burning a candle, I want electric and running water just in case. I'd still use one if I had nothing else but I have several vintage enamel tubs I'd set them in.

I do remember mama firing up a couple of the ones she gave me when I was child but it was only if the power went out. I rarely have anything in my house with a flame after losing the barn to fire. It made me hyper aware.

I always set my oil lamps on old saucers or larger plates that fit them

Grandmom's has the finger ring...and I have an old candlestand by a wing chair in the living room that it lives on...my aunt gave it to me years ago..

 

[hd5574]

I have most of my cast iron on a metal bakers rack. some hanging..and some on the shelves..some of it came from my grandfather's hardware store...he passed before I was born...

I my deep old chicken fryer...in a cabinet...the only thing I use it for is frying chicken..

 

[anna43]

If you set your oil lamp on a mirror tile or tray, the light reflects so you gain light.

All the dishes were dry by the time I came home from Bible study, and everything is now put away. One load of laundry dried, folded and put away. The other load still in the dryer. Supper is in the oven, therapy is done and I think I'm going to call it a day.

Except for my Dutch oven all my cast iron is hanging on the wall along with a few pieces of Revere Ware. So much easier than digging them out of a cupboard. I've watched for a used chicken fryer for years but not found one. I guess they are too valued to end up at an auction or in thrift shop. The only new cast iron I ever purchased was the Dutch oven and I got that with trading stamps back in the 60s. The only copper bottom Revere Ware I got new was a wedding gift in 1960. The rest (and I have a lot!) is mostly from auctions and the skillet from a thrift shop.

 

[feralferret]

I installed chair rail in one corner of the kitchen with heavy duty cup hooks both here and at our old house. That is where our active cast iron skillets hang.

Dollar Tree has inexpensive small battery lanterns for $1.50. I have several of these. They are adjustable brightness and use three AAA batteries. I also have a push on push off battery powered stick on light on the wall next to the toilet. That way you can see to do your paperwork if the power goes out. It has come in handy a couple of times already. We also have a kerosene lamp, but I am not crazy about using it due to the safety and odor concerns. My wife and I are both unsteady on our feet at times so there is a risk of accidentally knocking it over. I also have a large dry powder fire extinguisher handy for just in case.

 

[hd5574]

Many of my oil lamps sit in front of a mirror on the wall...

 

[WanderLore]

Son and I went to grandsons band concert at school tonight. They did pretty good.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I think the only piece of cast iron I don't have that I would like to have is a couple of the cast iron irons. I've never managed to find one of those. We have a couple of the old cast iron dog irons that we use to hold the double gate open out at the road. Some days, it's windy, and the gate needs to be propped open.

Temps for today are 80 for the high and 65 for the low. Partly cloudy skies. A good day to go grocery shopping. Shopping in 2 towns, today.

I haven't weighed myself, since we got back from vacation. I was afraid to see how much weight I had gained from eating so much while out and about. I weighed this morning, and to my surprise, I haven't gained any at all. I guess, all the walking we all did kept the weight off. I do feel a bit sluggish all over, though. I get to start back on my eating plan, today. Mom was wanting a cheeseburger, yesterday for lunch, so a cheeseburger is what we ate, plus fries, and I got a root beer. I can't remember the last time I had a root beer.

 

[patriotgal]

I have a couple of the irons as well as an old gas iron. Need to clean them up.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I have a couple of the irons as well as an old gas iron. Need to clean them up.

I could have bought a couple of the irons at the Lodge Store, but they had too high of a price on them, because they were new. Passed them right on by!

 

[Meemur]

It's 40 and overcast here. There's a few drifts of snow left from the mounds the plow kicked up, but the streets, walks and trails are all clear. I saw about a dozen bikers on the trail when I took my walk this morning. RAGBRAI, the week-long bike ride across the state, is mostly across the middle portion this year, so lots of local bikers are training for it.
The warmer weather we've been having is a blessing for that.

However, the warmer weather is also scary. As we've discussed previously, if the fruit blooms too early, we could lose the apple and cherry crops to blizzards.

As for cast iron, I'm not using any right now. It's too heavy. I bake/grill a lot of my meat in the toaster oven and steam frozen veggies in a pan on the stove.

 

[prudentwatcher]

Getting ready to make some mixed berry jam. Helped clear the freezer of some frozen berries. Walmart only had one box of pectin the other day. Glad I have a good backstock, but I was looking to replace. Also got another case of jelly jars.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

77 degrees with sunny skies right now. It should hit 80, today. It sure made for a great shopping day. I got everything on my lists. We made it home, and I have everything dated, rotated, and put away. Cary was so tired, he laid down for a nap. The place we get our gas had gone from $2.25/gal to $2.59, today!!!! Cary did a fill up, but, OUCH! It was only $2.15/gal a month ago. I imagine it will go even higher.

Tomorrow, we have it planned to work outside all day. Rain is supposed to move back in on Saturday, so we'll have plenty of time to get it all finished by then. Everything here is beginning to bloom out. I know we'll still have at least one more cold snap, before it turns warm for the duration. The cold snap happens every year, once the blackberries and dewberries are in full bloom. I haven't seen any sign of that happening, yet.

I'm tired, too, so I'm just making us Chef Salads for supper. I have eggs on boiling for those. I had plenty of shredded turkey and chunks of ham in the freezer that I'm thawing out for them, too. I got lots of produce and fruit, today.

 

[nomifyle]

85 today, ugh, ac is running

 

[feralferret]

Stopped at grocery store after my medical appointment this morning. Got one pound of marked down 86% lean ground beef and a small package of marked down steak. Also picked up a few other items including a package of cherry fritters. I haven't seen cherry fritters in years and have always preferred them to apple fritters. They were very common until about 35 years ago then just dropped out of sight. I will be eating one of them shortly.

Forecast is for mid-fifties today, mid-sixties tomorrow, and mid-seventies Friday. Then back to mid-fifties Saturday. Some rain off and on. Enhanced risk of severe weather on Friday.

 

[Digger]

We survived the gutter cleaning. Hubby also brushed out to flue since he was up there. I wrote that on my calendar so we will know when it was done. I still need to clean out the stove, but no hurry. I am not sure if we will build another fire this season or not.

We went to Hubby's pain specialist today. He scheduled an injection in about 3 weeks. But said if he changes his mind, we can hold off. Hubby has fallen twice lately. Once on the ice, and once working here at home because he tripped over some firewood. His pain has been up a notch or two after those falls. Hopefully, it will calm back down before his procedure date.

We went to Sam's since we were close. We picked up some things we needed and some things we just wanted. But we did not go overboard.

We are expecting storms tonight. But so far they are diminishing before getting here. I hope we get rain but no storms.

 

[patriotgal]

Had a sudden round of hail today followed by a very heavy rain. DH got to porch as heavens opened. I had stepped out to see the hail. We were standing on porch when a skunk came running from the field, across the yard and went straight under the deck. It didn't care that we were standing there. It just wanted out of the downpour. Our power blipped but came back on. I had already unplugged everything because the storm started with lightning. Supposed to start back up in an hour.

Colored my hair today. Mopped the kitchen floor after letting the robot vacuum run last night. Washed and dried the light blankets we throw over our chairs. Faux leather is just uncomfortable. Vacuumed living room. Emptied trash baskets and gave my kitchen stove a good scrubbing.

Now I am chilling. We really need to get away for at least a day but can't decide what to do. My leg is still stiff enough that if I drive I have to use my left foot for braking. The weather is supposed to be nasty for 4 days. Don't care about getting out in it. Maybe next week.

 

[moldy]

Been a busy week. Both recipes I tried this weekend were flops. I've gotten to where I don't use tiktok recipes/FB recipes/very few internet recipes due to the fact they just don't turn out. These were from library cookbooks and I am so disappointed with the wasted time and ingredients. Think I'll stick with books from 2000 or earlier.

Talked to one boss (side gig). She still wants me, and we'll start back up mid-April. Do any of you know much about guardianships as a paid side gig? This would be more for clients that are not friends/family. Tell me about it please.

 

[Wildwood]

I could have bought a couple of the irons at the Lodge Store, but they had too high of a price on them, because they were new. Passed them right on by!

They aren't nearly as good as the old ones. A quality iron gets seasoned just like a skillet after it's been used a while. I try to keep a couple in my booth but they sell in waves. You can find an old one in good shape for around $10 if you aren't in a hurry...that's what you want. If you really intend to use it, don't get a painted one.

I have nineteen in my bathroom right now but many are miniatures. I have the minis displayed with all those rub boards I mentioned a while back and a few out in the storage shed. The full sized are on my dry sink. I collect irons too...what don't I collect? It's why my house is so hard to keep dusted but I just love the old, well loved stuff that almost seems to have a soul. They can have an auction and sell it all when I'm gone.

 

[Wildwood]

I took my DIL to the doctor in the city today. It was so warm, neither of us even took a hoodie and she had on shorts. By the time we got to our destination, it was so chilly I was thinking about stopping and buying us each a hoodie and her a pair of leggings...we had a long day ahead of us. By the time she was through with her appointment, it had warmed up some and within an hour or two, it was spring again lol. You never know about weather in Arkansas.

I stopped and bought what looked like a bale of compressed peat moss. I mixed my seed starting mix last week. I always add the Pro-Mix with a lot of fluff and mistakenly bought the wrong kind. It was just a potting soil and the whole mess was just dense and there was nothing in my small town except Jiffy Mix to lighten it up. It would have taken a dozen bags. DH had a $6 dollar credit at the store I went to so I ended up with all that peat moss for $22.

We went by my booth and I topped it off and then on across town to the biggest Dollar Tree in the state...I spent almost $100 but they had so many good groceries including the Goya pinto beans. I finally have my goal on those. There were some new cleaning products I needed too.

I came home and cooked DH and I a hamburger...a woman's work is never done.

 

[WanderLore]

Lol truth

Got my new dog set up for neuter. End of month. $200. Also set up spay for new kitty that was a stray last year, gave to my grandsons. Price doubled in a month. It's $105. This is for any cat, tnr or pet. Just the spay. I already got vax from vet and did that.
I promised I'd cover whatever was needed but holy smokes. Just a few weeks ago it was $45. Then they had no appointments available, and now this.
She's a sweet affectionate kitty. One year old I think. They love her so I'll do what I can.
I'll have to have her here for a night and leave early to take her. Same with my new dog Scout.

 

[WanderLore]

I'm training him to be my service dog. I've had other service dogs. He's very gentle and smart. He knows fetch, help, sit, shake etc. but still not good on the recall. He's 9 months old. He is with me always unless he has to be in pen for short time.
I went got coal yesterday. I'm worn out. High is 47 I think and looks like it rained.
Getting more coffee.

 

[WanderLore]

I have a lot of cast iron. Haven't used it for a few years except one large frying pan that I made cornbread in. I have a medium sized fry pan that is light as a feather.

We took pics at concert. Everyone looks great except me. I need a whole makeover.

 

[ginnie6]

Its been a good week here. Harvested two roosters and have two more to go next week. Cut my finger doing them so letting it heal up. Kept the grands Tuesday night for dd and dsil to go to an event for the child loss group they're involved with. Little man gave me a run for the money lol. He took the bottle fine for me, even had to get another bag of milk out of the freezer, but I'm not mommy and he didn't want to sleep! So we walked outside. Don't know what it is but I've never had a child that wouldn't quit crying when you take them outside. Dgd was crashed out on the couch so he and I walked around and around the front deck. He was fascinated with the stars and airplanes going overhead. I logged three miles walking him! You know that country song by Tim McGraw that goes "I threw out my shoulder but I won her that teddy bear" ? Well I threw out my back but I got him to sleep! He finally laid his head down and gave it up, and was I glad! Seriously that kid is heavy and my back was screaming.
I've also managed to take Rufus walking every day this week. I'm dragging this morning so we will see. We're also loading up and going to the rental to spend the rest of the week with dh. Rufus has never stayed anywhere else but here so this will be interesting. I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to go there at least once a month if not 2x. I'm tired of being alone. The two kids that are here are grown and not necessarily here much. There are many days I'm alone all day, they come in and eat or just change and head back out. And as much as I love Rufus its just not the same as having dh here lol. So since he's got a few more years before he plans to retire I'm going to go with him half the time. Now that may change during gardening time as I feel like we NEED a big garden this year. But I'll be so tired keeping up with that I'll fall in bed at night and not have time to be lonely. It never bothered me him being gone before because we had so many kids at home. But now? Different story. I need a purpose and wife makes me perfectly happy.

Oh and eta:
I LOVE my cast iron. I cook in cast iron or stainless. I saved and bought stainless a few years ago and all the cheap pans are saved for when a kid moves out lol. I have one of my Grandmother's cast iron pans too and her oil lamp.
I have fond memories of her making the best ever eggs ( I still can't make them as good as she did) and lighting that oil lamp on special occasions. I've added to my oil lamp collection over the years and the fireplace mantel is full of them.
I found a square cast iron pan last month at an antique store for $20 bucks and you bet that thing came home with me! I had it seasoned and cooking in no time at all. It was a mess when I got it. And I've never seen a square one for that price. They've become the "cool" thing to have now and the price has gone up around here but welcome to being a "suburb" of a city.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

They aren't nearly as good as the old ones. A quality iron gets seasoned just like a skillet after it's been used a while. I try to keep a couple in my booth but they sell in waves. You can find an old one in good shape for around $10 if you aren't in a hurry...that's what you want. If you really intend to use it, don't get a painted one.

I have nineteen in my bathroom right now but many are miniatures. I have the minis displayed with all those rub boards I mentioned a while back and a few out in the storage shed. The full sized are on my dry sink. I collect irons too...what don't I collect? It's why my house is so hard to keep dusted but I just love the old, well loved stuff that almost seems to have a soul. They can have an auction and sell it all when I'm gone.

Yes, I want an iron that I can use if need be. It has been a while, since we have gone into any antique stores. Cary has a good friend who has an antique store in Mom's small town. I might call him to see if he has one in good shape. LOL, speaking of "rub boards", I have two. One hangs on the wall in my kitchen, and one hangs on a wall in the laundry room. They are both usable. There is an old hardware store in Tupelo that carries nothing but items you would find in Lehman Bros. or any Amish store. I bet they would have those irons, too. I haven't thought of looking there, until just now.

 

[Wildwood]

I have a lot of cast iron. Haven't used it for a few years except one large frying pan that I made cornbread in. I have a medium sized fry pan that is light as a feather.

We took pics at concert. Everyone looks great except me. I need a whole makeover.

I could use a makeover myself. I'm still struggling with the hair color thing. I'll never change my wardrobe. I'm a jeans and t-shirt girl and have been all my adult life except the years I was an office manager and then I was a jeans and nice shirt kind of girl...my idea of dressing up lol. In the summer, I switch to cut off jeans. I like leggings too.

I mostly use my favorite skillet even though I have several other pieces of cast iron. It's not an expensive skillet but my grandma gave it to me for a wedding present almost fifty years ago. There's no telling how many pans of cornbread and biscuits it's made. I do use my deep iron skillet/dutch oven that belonged to DH's great aunts quite a bit too. I'm so sentimental about both of them that I just always grab them.

Scout is a beautiful boy. I'm still in the market for a new larger dog as a companion and protector since I'm still here alone so much of the time. I need it to be attached to me more than the others and DH will have a hard time with that because all dogs love him. I'm not in a huge hurry because we have four old dogs that will have a hard time adjusting but if the right dog showed up, they'd have to adjust. One will be fifteen this month and the others are probably from eight to ten and not a one is the least bit protective but we took most of them in as adult dogs and the other was about 3/4 grown when he showed up. I'm thinking black female lab but I'm not set on it.

 

[Wildwood]

Yes, I want an iron that I can use if need be. It has been a while, since we have gone into any antique stores. Cary has a good friend who has an antique store in Mom's small town. I might call him to see if he has one in good shape. LOL, speaking of "rub boards", I have two. One hangs on the wall in my kitchen, and one hangs on a wall in the laundry room. They are both usable. There is an old hardware store in Tupelo that carries nothing but items you would find in Lehman Bros. or any Amish store. I bet they would have those irons, too. I haven't thought of looking there, until just now.

I bet they would too.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

81 degrees for our high, today, with a low of 60. Sunny skies. We're letting it warm up a bit outside, before we start our chores out there. I'm doing laundry right now. I ask Cary to bring out our grill, so I can grill pork chops for supper, tonight. He'll have to clean it, since it has been stored in my mini barn for the winter. We have a cover for it, but it will still need to be wiped down and the grill grate cleaned.

Our nearest neighbor tilled up his huge gardens, yesterday. He's getting ready to plant his early garden. He has beautiful gardens every year. It won't be long, before it's corn planting time. I hope all the farmers in the area are able to get their crops in on time this year. Last year, it was a bust for them, because of a late spring and too much rain.

 

[Wildwood]

Its been a good week here. Harvested two roosters and have two more to go next week. Cut my finger doing them so letting it heal up. Kept the grands Tuesday night for dd and dsil to go to an event for the child loss group they're involved with. Little man gave me a run for the money lol. He took the bottle fine for me, even had to get another bag of milk out of the freezer, but I'm not mommy and he didn't want to sleep! So we walked outside. Don't know what it is but I've never had a child that wouldn't quit crying when you take them outside. Dgd was crashed out on the couch so he and I walked around and around the front deck. He was fascinated with the stars and airplanes going overhead. I logged three miles walking him! You know that country song by Tim McGraw that goes "I threw out my shoulder but I won her that teddy bear" ? Well I threw out my back but I got him to sleep! He finally laid his head down and gave it up, and was I glad! Seriously that kid is heavy and my back was screaming.
I've also managed to take Rufus walking every day this week. I'm dragging this morning so we will see. We're also loading up and going to the rental to spend the rest of the week with dh. Rufus has never stayed anywhere else but here so this will be interesting. I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to go there at least once a month if not 2x. I'm tired of being alone. The two kids that are here are grown and not necessarily here much. There are many days I'm alone all day, they come in and eat or just change and head back out. And as much as I love Rufus its just not the same as having dh here lol. So since he's got a few more years before he plans to retire I'm going to go with him half the time. Now that may change during gardening time as I feel like we NEED a big garden this year. But I'll be so tired keeping up with that I'll fall in bed at night and not have time to be lonely. It never bothered me him being gone before because we had so many kids at home. But now? Different story. I need a purpose and wife makes me perfectly happy.

Oh and eta:
I LOVE my cast iron. I cook in cast iron or stainless. I saved and bought stainless a few years ago and all the cheap pans are saved for when a kid moves out lol. I have one of my Grandmother's cast iron pans too and her oil lamp.
I have fond memories of her making the best ever eggs ( I still can't make them as good as she did) and lighting that oil lamp on special occasions. I've added to my oil lamp collection over the years and the fireplace mantel is full of them.
I found a square cast iron pan last month at an antique store for $20 bucks and you bet that thing came home with me! I had it seasoned and cooking in no time at all. It was a mess when I got it. And I've never seen a square one for that price. They've become the "cool" thing to have now and the price has gone up around here but welcome to being a "suburb" of a city.

Lucky you with the baby and the square skillet. I haven't seen a square skillet in years and our grands are ten and fourteen, no babies to cuddle around here...they are both taller than me. DGD got sick a couple weeks ago and we kept DGS here for over a week trying to keep him from coming down with what she had...it worked but his voice changed while he was here and it is very deep like DH's but maybe even deeper. His sister is having a hard time adjusting lol

I don't blame you for wanting to spend more time with DH. I'd do the same.

 

[Digger]

We didn't get any storms. They went north of us. Unfortunately, we didn't get much rain either. The float in the rain gage isn't even visible yet.

Our daughter took our grandson to the dr after she got off work. He has a double ear infection and is beginning a sinus infection. The little granddaughter seems to have kicked her sniffles. The smoke has been awful lately. The forest service has had several prescribed burns. Lots of people sick from all the smoke for days.

I made Hubby his favorite cream cheese pie after we got home last night. Today is our anniversary. We are just going to be home. I am not sure what's for supper yet. For years, he worked outage during our Anniversary. That's just the way it fell. Sometimes we would not remember till a day or two later. But it's never mattered. What matters is we still choose each other every day. Been doing it 38 years. I have never understood women who insist their husband has to make a big production out of dates on the calendar, but don't seem to appreciate what the husband does every day. To me the everyday stuff is what's important. I had a brother in law that made a big deal out of special dates and spent lots of money celebrating. But he didn't treat my sister well every day. He would yell and scream then buy things to make it up. But she ended committing suicide after one of those fights. That was just over 30 years ago. It's still heartbreaking after all these years.Hubby and I don't have a perfect marriage. But we love each other and we are a team.

I am going to put some turkey eggs in the incubator. We will see what the rest of the day brings.

 

[Wildwood]

We didn't get any storms. They went north of us. Unfortunately, we didn't get much rain either. The float in the rain gage isn't even visible yet.

Our daughter took our grandson to the dr after she got off work. He has a double ear infection and is beginning a sinus infection. The little granddaughter seems to have kicked her sniffles. The smoke has been awful lately. The forest service has had several prescribed burns. Lots of people sick from all the smoke for days.

I made Hubby his favorite cream cheese pie after we got home last night. Today is our anniversary. We are just going to be home. I am not sure what's for supper yet. For years, he worked outage during our Anniversary. That's just the way it fell. Sometimes we would not remember till a day or two later. But it's never mattered. What matters is we still choose each other every day. Been doing it 38 years. I have never understood women who insist their husband has to make a big production out of dates on the calendar, but don't seem to appreciate what the husband does every day. To me the everyday stuff is what's important. I had a brother in law that made a big deal out of special dates and spent lots of money celebrating. But he didn't treat my sister well every day. He would yell and scream then buy things to make it up. But she ended committing suicide after one of those fights. That was just over 30 years ago. It's still heartbreaking after all these years.Hubby and I don't have a perfect marriage. But we love each other and we are a team.

I am going to put some turkey eggs in the incubator. We will see what the rest of the day brings.

Happy Anniversary!

We are the same about anniversaries. I'm just so thankful to have a good man to do life with. That's so sad about your sister...nobody can hurt you like a spouse. I've watched both of my siblings struggle and it's hard.

 

[Digger]

Happy Anniversary!

We are the same about anniversaries. I'm just so thankful to have a good man to do life with. That's so sad about your sister...nobody can hurt you like a spouse. I've watched both of my siblings struggle and it's hard.

Thank you. My sister is buried up the road from your house. Decoration is still hard for me. But I go each year. Decoration is getting smaller each year.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

We're taking an early lunch break. I need more coffee. We managed to rearrange all the cast iron items on my wall to make room for the cast iron veggie grilling pan Mom gave me. It all looks very nice and organized just the way I wanted it. It took a while, but we got it done. Cary has also brought out the grill and will clean it up, later. I have all my laundry done and put away.

I'll be starting on yard chores, after we finish lunch. I already have everything out that will be needed and ready to go.

 

[Meemur]

It's raining and in the mid-40s here. I have happy little marigold sprouts in my kitchen window. They'll be joined by tomatoes in about two weeks or so. Yes, I jumped the gun a bit, but marigolds grow well there, and they can go on the garden cart and get wheeled out to the patio on warm days.

No killdeer, yet. I've been listening for them. Others are reporting new robins but a lot of them over-winter here. I know it's spring when I hear the killdeer or red wing blackbirds. Maybe next week . . .

My little tree is sleeping. It didn't have buds until the end of March last year, so I won't worry about it, yet.

 

[anna43]

Talked to one boss (side gig). She still wants me, and we'll start back up mid-April. Do any of you know much about guardianships as a paid side gig? This would be more for clients that are not friends/family. Tell me about it please.

When I was working at law offices, we prepared guardianships and conservatorships. First is overseeing physical welfare and second is overseeing finances. Sometimes it was both if the individual had financial resources that needed managing. In Iowa a guardian has to make an annual report to the court regarding the wellbeing of the individual and a conservator a detailed report on finances. Occasionally, a conservator would need to petition the court for permission to spend a bigger sum of money.

If I were to agree to a guardianship appointment, I would want to know details about the individual first. Mentally or physically, handicapped, living in an institution where they have daily care, transportation for medical, etc. would be one thing. Living semi-independently or independently where daily/weekly/monthly oversight is needed would be something else.

 

[nomifyle]

Looks like we are hitting another record high again today

 

[WanderLore]

I could use a makeover myself. I'm still struggling with the hair color thing. I'll never change my wardrobe. I'm a jeans and t-shirt girl and have been all my adult life except the years I was an office manager and then I was a jeans and nice shirt kind of girl...my idea of dressing up lol. In the summer, I switch to cut off jeans. I like leggings too.

I mostly use my favorite skillet even though I have several other pieces of cast iron. It's not an expensive skillet but my grandma gave it to me for a wedding present almost fifty years ago. There's no telling how many pans of cornbread and biscuits it's made. I do use my deep iron skillet/dutch oven that belonged to DH's great aunts quite a bit too. I'm so sentimental about both of them that I just always grab them.

Scout is a beautiful boy. I'm still in the market for a new larger dog as a companion and protector since I'm still here alone so much of the time. I need it to be attached to me more than the others and DH will have a hard time with that because all dogs love him. I'm not in a huge hurry because we have four old dogs that will have a hard time adjusting but if the right dog showed up, they'd have to adjust. One will be fifteen this month and the others are probably from eight to ten and not a one is the least bit protective but we took most of them in as adult dogs and the other was about 3/4 grown when he showed up. I'm thinking black female lab but I'm not set on it.

I've had Scout since last September and the other dogs barely tolerate him, even though he is very sweet!
Right there with you on the wardrobe. I have 3 outfits for winter and same for other three seasons. Pretty good is hard to beat

Happy Anniversary to you both!!!

Your so right about the celebration stuff. Celebrate every day just being together. That's the real deal.

Ran over to free store and visited friends over there. Back home, all is done. Son will cook dinner. I'm back in bed.

 

[anna43]

Today I realized another reason I love small towns. I left home at 11:10, had to wait on a train, dropped a friend off to pick up her car, got gas, to city hall to pay water bill, to bank for cash, to eye doc to pay bill, hardware store bought seed and then 5 minutes early to noon haircut appointment and finally to post office for stamps. Back home by 12:15.

This is an exciting week in Iowa if you love girls' basketball as it's state tourney time. Friday and Saturday night games are televised on PBS so I will watch. I guess with the right ap you can watch on U-tube today, but I don't have time today.

I learned the hard way not to trust the weather when we lived in Wyoming. It was a warm, sunny day so I took dd and went to town (35 miles) to shop with both of us in light weight jackets. The weather turned and it was suddenly cold and snowing. If we'd had car trouble we'd been in serious trouble but fortunately the car heater worked fine. Now, if it's a sunny warm day, I will wear the light jacket, but I will throw my winter coat, scarf, gloves into the back seat "just in case."