Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: October 28 ~ November 3, 2018
- Thread starter ReneeT
- Start date
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Well, our nightly temps have fallen into the low 40's. DH got both of the chimney flues cleaned out, and we have already built a small fire in our wood stove. Typical Mississippi Fall, it's going back into the 80's today for a few days, then turning cold again with rain.
Hoping for an uneventful week, until Thursday. That's the day we will go to Sam's Club for a big sale they are having. It's a good time to buy the sales in bulk for my pantry. Even if I'm not low on a few items, I go ahead and buy those things that we use on a regular basis. Sooner or later, we'll need them. There's a lot of items on sale like that this go around.....Coffee, toilet paper, paper plates, dish wash, mayo, bottled water, etc.
Have a great week, everyone!
Hoping for an uneventful week, until Thursday. That's the day we will go to Sam's Club for a big sale they are having. It's a good time to buy the sales in bulk for my pantry. Even if I'm not low on a few items, I go ahead and buy those things that we use on a regular basis. Sooner or later, we'll need them. There's a lot of items on sale like that this go around.....Coffee, toilet paper, paper plates, dish wash, mayo, bottled water, etc.
Have a great week, everyone!
prudentwatcher
Veteran Member
It's been a busy few weeks. My shoulder has been killing me and I finally went to the doctor. He prescribed PT before anything else and I had my first appointment on Friday. Already feeling lots better. There is an "impingement" of a tendon in the shoulder and everything on that side is so inflamed and irritated. I have my stretches and exercises to do, so hopefully things will be well soon. I also saw the dentist last week--all good--and see my regular doctor this coming week. Just got a refill on all my meds, so I am once again restocked.
No sales or coupons to get excited about. We have a 2 year supply of things, so I don't worry too much. I rotate when I find things on sale. I have finished Christmas shopping for the grandkids. Only an order to Omaha Steaks for my dad and an order to Collins Street Bakery for my brother to go.l
Made some extra money on a side job and keeping busy with a ton of social obligations. I also voted by mail, though I did have to hold my nose for a few candidates. I picked my health insurance plan for next year and can make it official after Thursday. I maxed out my ROTH for the year (yay!!) and the budget is on track for the remainder of the year, especially since I will only need PT for the shoulder, not surgery.
No sales or coupons to get excited about. We have a 2 year supply of things, so I don't worry too much. I rotate when I find things on sale. I have finished Christmas shopping for the grandkids. Only an order to Omaha Steaks for my dad and an order to Collins Street Bakery for my brother to go.l
Made some extra money on a side job and keeping busy with a ton of social obligations. I also voted by mail, though I did have to hold my nose for a few candidates. I picked my health insurance plan for next year and can make it official after Thursday. I maxed out my ROTH for the year (yay!!) and the budget is on track for the remainder of the year, especially since I will only need PT for the shoulder, not surgery.
We got some of the limbs picked up out of the yard. I also got some of the garden clean up done. We also got the hay baled. We sold some off the field. The rest we are putting in the barn.
We had to put our old dog down. We were sad, but have been putting it off as long as we could. She will be missed, but her quality of life was getting much less. She lived a pretty cushy life the nine years she was with us. It is sad giant breeds do not live as long. Bree was at least 11. She was a rescue so we are not sure of her age. She was grown and had at least one litter of pups before we got her.
We had to put our old dog down. We were sad, but have been putting it off as long as we could. She will be missed, but her quality of life was getting much less. She lived a pretty cushy life the nine years she was with us. It is sad giant breeds do not live as long. Bree was at least 11. She was a rescue so we are not sure of her age. She was grown and had at least one litter of pups before we got her.
Sorry to hear about your pup, Digger; it is so hard to give up our furry friends...
Sounds like you folks have been busy getting things ready for winter; I'm trying to decide if I want to mow my yard one more time or let it go. The blasted Asian ladybugs came out in force today, and tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer, so it's for darn sure not going to get done today or tomorrow; and then I've got something going on every day until 11/8. I need to pick up about 20# of white clover seed and a few bags of pelleted lime (helps to distribute the seed better) to overseed the yard with anyway, so might as well wait until I've got that on hand before I mow.
Hubby went to a buddy's house this afternoon to practice for their next IDPA match; while he was there, I sent him a text about a sale at a nearby gun shop - a case (10, 500 rd boxes) of .22 Thunderbolt for $129.50. Wishing now that I'd had him pick up two cases instead of just one, but I'd already ordered 10 silver Maple Leaf coins through our group buy this week so had pretty much finished off the prep budget for this month. Then again, the sale runs through the week, payday is Thursday - which would be NEXT month...hmmmm...
On the down side of things, the word came down that there will be no more overtime at work (not that I really wanted to work any, but it was nice to have it available occasionally); guess at 4 months into the fiscal year, we are already way over budget on OT. I'm waiting for them to figure out that they can work us 2 - 12's and 2 - 8's (40 hrs) instead of our usual schedule of 3 - 12's, and be able to fully staff the shifts and yet not have to pay overtime... I'd hate to tie up 4 days a week with work instead of the usual 3, but I'd rather do that than run short staffed all the time.
Well, Hubby has supper ready, reckon I'd better go fill my plate - taco salad, YUM!
Take care all; stay safe!
Sounds like you folks have been busy getting things ready for winter; I'm trying to decide if I want to mow my yard one more time or let it go. The blasted Asian ladybugs came out in force today, and tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer, so it's for darn sure not going to get done today or tomorrow; and then I've got something going on every day until 11/8. I need to pick up about 20# of white clover seed and a few bags of pelleted lime (helps to distribute the seed better) to overseed the yard with anyway, so might as well wait until I've got that on hand before I mow.
Hubby went to a buddy's house this afternoon to practice for their next IDPA match; while he was there, I sent him a text about a sale at a nearby gun shop - a case (10, 500 rd boxes) of .22 Thunderbolt for $129.50. Wishing now that I'd had him pick up two cases instead of just one, but I'd already ordered 10 silver Maple Leaf coins through our group buy this week so had pretty much finished off the prep budget for this month. Then again, the sale runs through the week, payday is Thursday - which would be NEXT month...hmmmm...
On the down side of things, the word came down that there will be no more overtime at work (not that I really wanted to work any, but it was nice to have it available occasionally); guess at 4 months into the fiscal year, we are already way over budget on OT. I'm waiting for them to figure out that they can work us 2 - 12's and 2 - 8's (40 hrs) instead of our usual schedule of 3 - 12's, and be able to fully staff the shifts and yet not have to pay overtime... I'd hate to tie up 4 days a week with work instead of the usual 3, but I'd rather do that than run short staffed all the time.
Well, Hubby has supper ready, reckon I'd better go fill my plate - taco salad, YUM!
Take care all; stay safe!
I've managed to get the garden and flower beds all cleared off ready for winter. Leaves mowed/mulched and stored to use for garden mulch next year. I still need to burn two piles of garden residue and may do so later today if the wind stays down. The garden tools are all cleaned and put away then I just need to haul hoses to basement and I think I can call everything done. Garden was a total failure this year and I did not can a single thing. I did do some dehydrating but not much. I was staying with my mom (she broke her arm) for two weeks when the tomatoes were ready so a friend picked and canned them so not a total waste. Too much rain and excessive heat made for a miserable gardening year. Hopefully, 2019 will be a better growing year.
My pantry shelves still have a good supply of home canned products canned in prior years so I'm good for those. I don't need to add much to the pantry to get through the winter. I've let some stuff get old so am trying to work my way through using and replacing those items.
My pantry shelves still have a good supply of home canned products canned in prior years so I'm good for those. I don't need to add much to the pantry to get through the winter. I've let some stuff get old so am trying to work my way through using and replacing those items.
prudentwatcher
Veteran Member
Forgot to mention that better half went to Petsmart and added $138 worth of cat food and treats to the stash. We still had $78 in gift cards, so not all was out of pocket and we just got another $50 gift card in from Discover to save up for next time. That is 2+ months worth of wet food and treats. We have plenty of dry food at the moment. I remember when $50 would buy all wet and dry food for 3 dogs and 4 cats for a month. Now it doesn't even cover 1 month for 3 cats. Pet food has certainly gotten expensive.
Dinghy
Veteran Member
I just looked at the new Aldi ad this morning, and will be making a trip tomorrow. They have confectioners and brown sugar for .95 each. Also have chocolate chips for $1.29.
The baking supplies will start going on sale for the holidays at all the stores now, so I’ll be watching the ads close, and stocking up for the year. I have just gotten to the end of the confectioners sugar that I bought last year. Giant Eagle had their brand of flour and granulated sugar for .99 each around Christmas, so I’ll be watching for that again.
The baking supplies will start going on sale for the holidays at all the stores now, so I’ll be watching the ads close, and stocking up for the year. I have just gotten to the end of the confectioners sugar that I bought last year. Giant Eagle had their brand of flour and granulated sugar for .99 each around Christmas, so I’ll be watching for that again.
Thanks for the heads-up on the Aldi deals, Dinghy; it was about time to start stocking up on baking items again!
Decent pet food is high; we are down to just one old cat now, but she is a picky thing sometimes. Prudentwatcher, do you still get the gift cards through a discount site? I bought some the last time the address was posted, but have since lost it.
Miss Anna, I am also hoping for a better garden year next year - I didn't get a single sweet potato this year; they were about the size of my finger and even those were few and far between. We are currently using chicken canned in 2013 and it is just fine. The only meat I have ever worried about after a year or so was corned beef, as I was afraid the spices would get too strong, but so far so good. A few home canned things don't seem to keep as well as the meats do - peaches, for one; likely because I don't use a heavy enough syrup, so I try to use them up in biscuit topped cobblers or dumplings. Carrots darken a bit after a year or so; applesauce also darkens somewhat.
The Hallowe'en Trick or Treat foot traffic was up a bit this year, but I still had several bags of extra candy; I'll be dropping them off at work as they have a program that sends the candy to US Servicemen. One of the things that I almost ran out of were the applesauce pouches I picked up on a whim - figured I could use them in the grandsons school lunches if no one wanted them, but they turned out to be really popular, especially with the toddlers. I kept out of the candy for the most part (just a couple of York peppermint patties) so I should sleep okay; I'm just wondering if my daughter has managed to get the boys corralled in their beds yet as they were pinging off the walls when I left for home at 8pm - sure glad I'm not a teacher as there is liable to be a whole lot of grumpy kids at school tomorrow!
Speaking of sleep... I reckon I'd better head that direction
Take care all; don't let the news stations make you crazy the next few days!!
Decent pet food is high; we are down to just one old cat now, but she is a picky thing sometimes. Prudentwatcher, do you still get the gift cards through a discount site? I bought some the last time the address was posted, but have since lost it.
Miss Anna, I am also hoping for a better garden year next year - I didn't get a single sweet potato this year; they were about the size of my finger and even those were few and far between. We are currently using chicken canned in 2013 and it is just fine. The only meat I have ever worried about after a year or so was corned beef, as I was afraid the spices would get too strong, but so far so good. A few home canned things don't seem to keep as well as the meats do - peaches, for one; likely because I don't use a heavy enough syrup, so I try to use them up in biscuit topped cobblers or dumplings. Carrots darken a bit after a year or so; applesauce also darkens somewhat.
The Hallowe'en Trick or Treat foot traffic was up a bit this year, but I still had several bags of extra candy; I'll be dropping them off at work as they have a program that sends the candy to US Servicemen. One of the things that I almost ran out of were the applesauce pouches I picked up on a whim - figured I could use them in the grandsons school lunches if no one wanted them, but they turned out to be really popular, especially with the toddlers. I kept out of the candy for the most part (just a couple of York peppermint patties) so I should sleep okay; I'm just wondering if my daughter has managed to get the boys corralled in their beds yet as they were pinging off the walls when I left for home at 8pm - sure glad I'm not a teacher as there is liable to be a whole lot of grumpy kids at school tomorrow!
Speaking of sleep... I reckon I'd better head that direction
Take care all; don't let the news stations make you crazy the next few days!!
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
You aren't kidding. Ours are a bit picky, but even with the middle of the road cat food, it is not cheap to say the least. When ever we can get the $10 off with $50 purchased, we load up. Half of our food bill seems to be cat food. Though we have found that the $ 4.99 chicken roast from Sams does work as a treat for about a week. I get the wings and legs and the cats get the breast. We then can boil down the rest for broth. Lasts about a week for the cats and they seem to love it.
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
We canned 6 quarts of salsa last night. All went well with no issues. The suggestion someone made to let it rest in the canner for several hours worked like a charm.
I was surprised how east and fast the prep for salsa was.
No spills, all sealed and they look just like they came from a store. I can't wait to try them.
Next project is canning chicken. We are going to buy a couple of the 10 pound leg bags and see how it goes.
I was surprised how east and fast the prep for salsa was.
No spills, all sealed and they look just like they came from a store. I can't wait to try them.
Next project is canning chicken. We are going to buy a couple of the 10 pound leg bags and see how it goes.
20Gauge - when I can chicken legs and thighs, I cook it first, remove from bones, cut up and then put in jars and cover with broth before canning. While I'm cutting everything up I put the bones and skin back on to boil and use that broth plus cooking liquid after removing fat. I usually put onion, carrots and celery in with the chicken when cooking to add flavor to both the broth and chicken. I usually have extra broth which I can along with the chicken. Its nice to have "real" chicken broth on-hand when I'm not feeling well. The stuff from a can works in a recipe but is way too salty to drink especially when you feel sick anyway. I'm currently using chicken canned in 2006 and its just like it was canned last week.
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
I agree with the salt thing. We don't use much salt or sugar and it kills me how much is in canned food
ivantherussian03
Veteran Member
Temps will drop near 0 with the wind tonight . I am placing spruce log into wood stove and damping it down. Gotta love wood heat. It will burn till morning. Our house will stay warm till I check in morning. Rivers , ponds, and lakes are freezing.