Garden (and life) updates!

Hello!

Life certainly gets crazy at times.  What started as a kitchen refresh since we had to address a plumbing problem turned into a full gut downstairs remodel.  There were a couple of structural issues found that resulted in removing almost all the walls on our first floor.  I keep telling myself that it's going to be beautiful when it's done...we just have to get to 'done'.  

We ended up having to stay at our lake place for almost a month.  Normally, I have no issue with staying at the lake but when you're well over an hour from home and your home has serious issues, it's a tad stressful!  And all I could do in the garden was watch it via the cameras!

My poor gardens!  Thankfully, we did put down weed barrier fabric so the weeds are just crazy at the edges.  Although it rained for days, we have great drainage in this garden as we're on a hill causing it to dry out a bit at times.  Even so, the garden is doing amazing!  

Check out these tomatoes!  I am almost 5'6" tall, that tomato plant is about TWO FEET taller than I am!  The tomatoes this year are so big and loaded with fruit that some of them are actually bending the larger tomato cages over!  I think next year I am going to plant them right up on the fence to help support the cages that are supporting the tomatoes!  LOL

Here are a few more random pictures from the garden!

Zuchinni

Tomatoes

Sugar Baby Watermelon - the squirrel let this one get big...he better continue to leave it alone too! 

Eggplants

Corn - a new variety I'm trying, it's designed to grow shorter and can even be grown in containers on porches...or so they say!

Cabbage, I used a row cover and am pretty impressed with the results. 

Beets

Cantaloupe, or the start of one

Peppers.  My garden book got packed, I must find it to see which variety these are, I planted several!  Note, it got so big that I had to put a tomato cage on it.

Tomatoes.  Hiding in the shade.

Acorn Squash, the first time growing it.

Cantaloupe, can't wait to see these ripen!

Cucumbers!  The first time growing them on the cow panels.

Green Beans, we're about to be overrun!

Spaghetti Squash.  A great substitute for spaghetti and it gets additional vitamins and nutrients in too!

You'll notice some of the leaves aren't perfect, but what garden doesn't have a bug or two? I've also planned some things to encourage the good bugs and bees too!  I intentionally moved some oregano to the openings in the cinder blocks of my raised beds away from the other herbs, and let it go to seed for the bees.

I even planted some flowers to attract bees in little pockets in the garden where plants didn't quite fill in.

So even though it was neglected for a few weeks, the garden is still doing well.  I am experimenting with cow panel trellis, MI Gardener has a great YouTube video on making one here.  We got the panels and T posts at Tractor Supply, they were very reasonable to purchase.  We were able to put six cucumber plants in an area that is roughly 5' x 6', the area where we would have had one *maybe* two plants vining on the ground.  This year we have these trellises for the Acorn squash, Butternut squash, Spaghetti squash and cucumbers.    Here's your laugh of the day, I have another one...I planted yellow squash around it.  Yellow squash does NOT vine.  I'll call it a blonde moment.  Next year that trellis will be for the pickling cucumbers.  LOL

The Eagle scout project was great in that all the infrastructure was put into place for the handicap garden.  We found a couple of issues that we will adjust.  The raised beds weren't built deep enough so we'll take those apart and correct that.  Minor in the big picture.  

It's about time to start our second round of planting.  Once we pull the rest of the beets and carrots, we'll plant another round in those raised beds.  We have one raised bed that is currently empty and I'll be planting more salad greens in that one.

So far, we've had 2 minor and 2 larger harvests and our donation amounts are up to 164 pounds of fresh produce and herbs.  We look forward to being able to do more.  

Remember to check on your neighbors! I know it's not winter time but when it's as hot as it has been, we should still check in on them to ensure they're ok!

Gram's Gardens...and so it begins!

 

For those of you who may not know, I was chosen as one of the Marion County Neighborhood Food Champions for the 2021 cohort!  I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about this.  

I kept telling myself that I needed to get back to writing in my blog but I believe I've shared before how much I struggled during my pandemic lockdown.  As one of my students said, I am seeing a light at the end of this tunnel and I'm pretty positive it's not the train!  I am fully vaccinated, my doctors are approving cautiously reentering public, I'm loving that I'm going to get to see my grandkids in person...those are some of my short people in the picture above!  In a few weeks, I'll even get to go to my new office on campus...I haven't even seen it yet!

Let me tell you about Gram's Gardens!  When I wrote my Food Champion proposal, I had broken the plan into four parts that would happen over multiple years until the plan was fully in place. 

*Phase one was expanding the donation garden.   

*Phase two is to create a handicap accessible (including wheelchairs) gardens.  There will be seating areas and accessible pathways.

*Phase three includes community plots that will be available to those without an area to garden (or want to learn from/with others while doing it), the donation for these plots will be low cost and we have supporters lined up who will help cover that donation if someone is in need of that.  The goal of this phase is that those who want to garden, can regardless of budgets.  

*Phase four is multi-faceted.  It includes an educational area so children from schools, scouts, etc. can learn about how to grow things.  It will also include volunteering so that elderly or shut ins who are unable to get to a food pantry/distribution can have it delivered to them.  This will allow volunteers who need community service hours to get them, an example of that being my son's school requires students to complete so many community service hours in order to graduate.  As a non-profit, we can sign off on those hours.

I'm so happy to share that we've expanded the donation garden to between 2000 and 2100 sq. ft.  Last year we donated over 500 pounds of fresh produce (less than 24 hours between picking and in the hands of the recipient) and our goal this year is 1000 pounds!

We're also able to announce that our timeline on the handicap accessible garden which will include the educational area has been moved up!  There is a Boy Scout who had his Eagle Scout project cancelled because of CoVid restrictions who is now taking this project on.  If you are so inclined to help him, please watch for a fundraising link for this as he has to do some fundraising as part of the project requirements.  We've been able to expand on how this will look as well.  There will be a raised bed (on the ground) that will be for flowers as I really want to include fresh flowers in the deliveries to the elderly and shut ins just to brighten their day.  We also have an artist friend who is going to help us include art in this garden, whether that is a changing art installation/exhibit or even a little library type of set up with art kits for children...watch for pictures of this!  This area, once it is available, will be experimental this season to work out any kinks in the set up.  We plan for it to be fully functional next season!

One major roadblock we are currently facing is in the form of a giant tree.  This tree is becoming the bane of my existence right now....

I'd like to point out that my husband is 6'4" tall.  I really, truly, honestly, dislike this tree!  If shading my garden area isn't enough, it's now been hit by lightening and really needs to come down before any more damage happens to it.  We'll be looking at possible grants to help with the removal of this tree.  

Anybody want any wood?  LOL

We'll be setting up "work days" to help get the garden ready and planted.  Sunday, we're finishing the building of the final three raised beds in the donation garden for lettuces, spinach, and peas, filling them and laying out the weed barrier fabric over the rest of the garden.  I'll keep y'all posted about work days if you'd like to join us for planting or harvesting as the season progresses!

Thank you to those who've helped and supported my idea to do this.  I can't wait to see what we can accomplish!

Please, feel free to hold me accountable for writing more consistently and to provide updates on Gram's Gardens!

Dee 🎕

Gram's Gardens!

 Hello everyone!

2020 has been quite the year, hasn't it?  I hope this finds you all safe and healthy!

I wrote about my husband suggesting I garden to help my mental state with being home and not being able to be social.  I often tell him, he's a genius!  His idea truly helped me psychologically and emotionally.  

I turned most of our backyard into a garden, about 1600 foot of it anyway.  I planted my normal garden things and I planted things I'd never grown before.  I experimented with ways of gardening I hadn't employed before.  It was therapeutic for me.  

I knew there would be far more than we needed to eat for our family so I'd arranged to donate the excess.  After what we ate, what I canned/dried/froze, and what we gave to family, we were STILL able to donate 521 pounds of produce.  I had a goal of donating 200 pounds, I had no idea we could more than double that!

I've often wondered why more people didn't garden.  I mean, I know I live in the city now but you don't need 1600 sq. ft. to garden to supplement your groceries.  I find a lot of people don't know how or are unsure how to start.  Many people prefer organics, the best organics you can acquire are those you grow!  When you grow your own fruits and vegetables, you know exactly how those items were cared for. Watching it all grow from dirt and seeds to a colorful sea of fruits and veggies is truly art in motion.

I've wanted to create a community garden for quite some time.  With my husband's encouragement, I've taken the steps to get things started.  I have created a non-profit called Gram's Gardens...yes, a play on my business, Gram's Jams, that I had to close when I got cancer.  To me, the name also harkens back to my own dear, sweet Gram.  She was a cook...in the old school sense of the word.  No one went hungry around Gram and there was always something homemade lurking somewhere in that kitchen of hers! She didn't have a huge garden (that was my wonderful Uncle Luke!) but she always had fresh produce.  I'm in my 50's now and some day, I will learn to cut a cantaloupe with the finesse she had!

Gram's Gardens will start by expanding and continuing the donation garden that we did last summer.  We also own an empty lot nearby that we will be turning into a Community Garden.  There are already some fruit trees there (apple, peach, and pear) and we will be expanding that and also planting some other fruits (strawberry, blackberry, grapes, and blueberries), probably some rhubarb too (even though that's icky...LOL).  I have to move a fence and have one large...really large tree taken down to open the lot up to the sun.  We'll then have plots for members of the community to be able to grow their own mini garden if they don't have their own yard.  I am also looking at a way to allow those with disabilities or others unable to garden on the ground to be able to garden.  I see built raised beds so those in wheelchairs can roll right up to them to garden or the elderly don't have to get on the ground to do so.  I remember when my Mom was in hospice, the highlight of her day was taking her outside to the raised beds, built so a wheelchair fit under them and she could garden from her chair.  More people need to have that available to them.  Fresh air and sunshine are good for everyone!

We'll be showing people how to garden in the Community garden and eventually, I want to make deliveries to elderly and shut-ins who are unable to go to the local pantry or the Farmer's market.

Our state paperwork has been approved, we have a Board of Directors, I've enrolled in Purdue Extension course on starting a farm (I know...but that is sorta what we're doing here) and I've applied for a City program that focuses on successfully running a non-profit to be a food champion...cross your fingers that I'm chosen!  Everything isn't going to happen in a day, or even in the first season, but we're on our way!  

I'm looking forward to getting this going and giving back to my wonderful community!

Wear your mask - Wash your hands - Social Distance - Be safe!

Being a hugger when hugging isn't safe!

Hello again!

I hope you're all safe during these difficult times.  As I often remind everyone during times of bad weather, please check on those around you.  A lot of people aren't ok right now.  Be safe and social distance but a phone call to check on your neighbors or a message on Facebook may mean the world to someone. A couple of my friends have shown me this cool new thing called Marco Polo, I am sure it's not new but I'm learning this and love hearing from (and seeing) my friends. 

I've been 'quarantined' at home due to being compromised and it feels like it's been forever.  Don't get me wrong, I'm so very thankful I'm cancer-free (WOOHOO) but I still have many of the issues that put me in the high risk category for CoVid-19...so I stay home.  

Anyone around me knows that I am a hugger...a serial hugger if you will.  I'm also a pretty social person.  When shut down first happened in early Spring, I wasn't doing well with it.  Not even a little bit.  I won't lie, there were tears.  I was upset that my family was essentially locked down because of me.  They understood and didn't complain at all but it bothered me that once again, my health affected them.  My wonderful son, seeing me upset, asked his dad what he could do for me.  My husband said "just hug your mom".  And he did.  Often.

My brilliant husband, knowing my love of gardening, suggested that I put in a large garden.  More on that in another post.  

I have gone back and forth on writing this post for a couple of months.  In these crazy and dangerous times, we need to know that it's ok to not be ok.  Reach out for help if you need it.  Reach out to friends to check on them.  A friend had a great idea with the Marco Polo app...use it to check in with friends at least weekly.  I'm working on this.  Sometimes, it's tougher than others as I don't want to reach out when I'm down but I know that is when I need to do it the most.  I am trying to find something positive to share even if I'm having a down day.  I have decided to set some time on Sunday afternoon/evening to send some Marco Polos.  I know it takes about a month to create a habit, I'm not there yet, but I'm working on it.

My prayer is that you're doing ok under the circumstances and that you're safe.  Reach out and check on your friends and neighbors, it could mean a lot to them.

What are you doing to occupy the extra time and your mind during this time?

Cupcakes!

We're not big cake eaters around here.  So, I make cupcakes.  A cake mix makes a lot of cupcakes!  

What I do so I don't waste is once I make them, I don't ice them.  I put them in freezer bags.

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I just take out the number of cupcakes we want and put on a plate to thaw.

In about 20-30 minutes, they can be frosted.  You can make frosting, but when it's on sale/clearance, I'll buy some to have on hand.  Today in the pantry, I found this:

So, about 20 minutes after the hubby says "Do you have anything sweet, a cupcake sounds good", you have these:

Yes, there is one less than when I sat them out to thaw, the hubby grabbed one as soon as I iced the first one.  

As a reminder....check on your neighbors.  No, don't go over there during a shelter at home, but call them, text them, Zoom with them.  It's good for everybody!

Cleaning wipes

Hello again!

Let me start by saying that I hope you are all safe and healthy.  If you are an essential worker, you have our deepest gratitude and sincerest thanks!  Please be safe and rest when you can.

This past weekend, as I was cleaning I realized it was time to clean and restock my cleaning wipes. This made me think about sharing all of this with you.

Are you one who uses Windex wipes or Lysol wipes to help with cleaning at home?  I was for quite a while.  A little over a year ago in the midst of paying for cancer bills, I realized just how much I was spending on these wipes.  A quick internet search of Walmart shows Windex wipes are $3.08 for 28 wipes (11 cents per wipe) and Lysol wipes are $4.16 for 80 wipes (5 cents per wipe).  I know that doesn't seem like a lot but every bit adds up.  As my Gram used to say, "Mind the pennies and the dollars take care of themselves".  

As one cost saving measure, I decided to try my hand at making my own.  The things on Pinterest that used paper towels I found just didn't work.  I gave up and decided to try something on my own.  

I was at Kroger and saw a sale on Handi-wipes.  The big roll was right at $4.00 on sale, it was about 50 wipes. They're good size wipes too!

I bought a couple of SnapWare containers (again on sale) for $2 or $3 each.  I bought these because it's a waterproof container with locking sides.

NOTE:  LABEL THEM WELL!

And I used what I had on hand for the Lysol and Windex (generic this time)...and this is how I restock them too.  Even if I'd had to buy these, the Lysol is about $3.00 and the Windex (if you bought name brand) is about $3.48

Fold the wipes to fit the container, which for me is folding in thirds and then in half and put them in the containers.  I generally put about 6 at a time.  Pour on the applicable cleaner and lid them up.  Let sit until the wipes have soaked up the cleaners.

Again, MAKE SURE THEY'RE LABELLED CORRECTLY!

Now, here's the nice part.  You can wash these.  I generally will wash them once or twice depending on how they're holding up.  I have washed them three times but twice is usually the standard for them holding up.  And if I've cleaned up something icky, I'll just toss it.

These save money and the because we're using Lysol, it kills 99% of germs & virus.  Super important during this time.

Biscuits

In the past several days, I have been asked for a good biscuit recipe.  I always share my Gram's 1-2-3-4 biscuit recipe.  It's super easy and gives great results!  I even won 2nd place at the State Fair with these biscuits!  Sorry for not pictures, I had made biscuits before everyone asked for a recipe.  

The ingredients are simple:

1 tsp salt
2 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/4 cold butter
3/4 milk (I've used everything from buttermilk to half and half to regular milk)

The instructions are just as easy.  

I sift the salt, flour and baking powder but you don't have to.

Cut in the butter, I suck at using a pastry cutter so I just use two knives until it looks like cornmeal consistency.

Then using a fork, stir in the milk just until it comes together.

I take the mixture to a floured counter and using my hands press it out to the thickness I want..generall 1/2" or so.  Handle them as little as possible so they don't get tough.  I'm not precise in this.  Cut the biscuits, if you don't have a biscuit cutter, use a glass.

Bake in a 450 degree oven on an ungreased baking pan for about 12 minutes, give or take, depending on how hot your oven runs.

Be kind to one another

I've struggled with whether or not I wanted to write this.  I came to the conclusion that I *need* to write this.  

To start with, I want to acknowledge that COVID-19 is something that will change life as we know it in the near feature and quite possibly beyond that.  This is serious business folks.  Please pay attention to the directions from the CDC and local authorities.

I know many of you are doing what you need to do for the best of the community:  hunkering down, social distancing, not hoarding, etc.  I applaud you!

For those of you who think you are young and not compromised, that you'll be fine.  Let me say this loud and clear.  IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU!  Even if you do not get this awful illness, you can be a carrier and take it to your friends or family who ARE compromised or elderly.  I would hope you would not intentionally do something that holds the real possibility killing someone....possibly someone you love.

The directive to practice social distancing, or for those of us who are immune-compromised being quarantined...this is really what I came to write about tonight.  Yes, due to cancer and asthma, I am compromised. My doctors wanted me to stay home but knew that I worked so they requested other than my office, I was to stay home.  I am lucky that my employer decided (about this same time) to have me work from home before the full shut down of the college I work for.  I know how fortunate I am in that respect.  

My husband and I decided that we were going to go all in.  Full quarantine for my safety.  I am trying to do my part for my safety and the safety of my friends, neighbors and medical professionals.  The gearing up for this kept me busy and my mind occupied.  My doctor and I made sure I had 90 days of meds on hand.  I already keep a well stocked pantry & freezer, so we were good there.  I didn't need toilet paper, thank goodness since everyone is making a run on TP supplies!  I set up my temporary office.  Physically, I was ready.

I'll be raw and vulnerable here, so please be kind.  

I consider myself to be a strong person, a true bad-ass.  I've survived cancer, a traumatic brain injury, domestic violence and more.  I can do this, right?  Right.  I can and I will, but I am admitting it is far, far harder than I could have ever imagined.  I am a very socially active person, I am a hugger of all, a person who needs people.  

My work is going surprisingly well, even if I am in the office my students have the opportunity to meet by phone or online, so this is not vastly different...I just don't have to commute.  I have time to work on a couple of pet projects.  I feel like I am handling this part well. 

I miss coffee with friends, lunches with friends, former colleagues and former students, girl's night out, shopping (even for groceries), my son's DeMolay activities, neighborhood activities...shoot, even random conversations at the gas station or with the waitress, etc.  I miss human contact.  Desperately.  I live with a husband and son who are quite ok with being alone for stretches of time.  (Who are these people?  LOL)  I am envious of them being so comfortable with being alone.  They are trying really hard to help me out of my funk.  Bless their hearts I love them so much for trying.  I just feel like a hot mess.

I know I am not alone in what I'm going through right now.  I know this.  But, knowing this doesn't make it easier.  I've had several tearful melt downs.  Once was feeling sorry for myself, which in and of itself, irritates me to no end.  I'm a bad ass, remember?  The others were due to being so very angry at the situation.  More realistically, being mad at COVID-19.  Yup, extremely angry at a virus.  I can recognize that anxiety and depression are controlling all of this right now.  I'm working on researching ways to help alleviate some of this.  I will reach out to my doctor if needed.  There is no shame in asking for help.

Why am I sharing all of this?  I know often in this blog, during weather extremes, I've implored you to check on your elderly and shut in neighbors to see that they're safe and not in need of anything.  I am sharing this with you to remind you all to continue to be a community.  Yes, check on your elderly and shut in neighbors...please either call them or be absolutely sure you are utilizing social distancing when you check on them in person.  Additionally, please check on each other, even your strong friends.  Sometimes, we're not ok.  

Now that all fifty states are affected by this virus, we must realize that we are all in this together.  We are one large community now facing the same invisible enemy.  Let's show the world how awesome we all are in looking out for each other.  Break it down to the small community, even the small section of the street that you are a part of, check on each other.  Help each other out.  Check to see if a neighbor needs you to pick up something for them when you run to the grocery or the pharmacy.  Every little bit will help.  

We are in this together.  Be kind.  Check on each other.

What a crazy time we are in right now!

Hello everyone!  I hope you are all safe amid the COVID-19 crisis!  Please follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) guidelines for your safety!  More information on COVID-19 from the CDC is here

PLEASE, check on your elderly neighbors or those that are shut ins.  Don't go inside and expose anyone but call them or ask through the door, find out if they need anything...you can always get it and leave it on their porch.  We are all in this together!

Please take the social distancing seriously as well.  This will protect those with compromised systems and the elderly.  

Here are some suggestions from a Professor at Ball State University for getting through social distancing:

Practicing social distancing to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic may sound scary or impossible to do, but there are ways to appropriately handle the process.

“Social distancing can be tough on people and disrupt the social and economic fibers of our society,” Jagdish Khubchandani, a professor at Ball State said. “Given the existing crisis of isolation in societies—with probably the loneliest young generation that we have today—social distancing can also take a personal health toll on people, causing psychological problems, among many others.”

Khubchandani, a health science professor at Ball State University, has recommended 15 ways to counterbalance the effects of social distancing:

1. Maintain a routine. As much as possible, social distancing should not disrupt your sleep-wake cycle, working hours, and daily activities.
2. Make social distancing a positive by taking the time to focus on your personality and personal health, reassessing your work, training, diet patterns, physical activity levels, and health habits.
3. Carve time to cook for yourself and others in need.
4. Go for a walk or exercise at home.
5. Do not let anxiety lead you to indulge in binge eating or alcohol and drug use. Don’t oversleep, but do sleep at least 7 hours. A recent study found that more than a third of Americans sleep less than 7 hours.
6. Think forward and try to make best use of technology to finish your work, attend meetings, and engage with coworkers with the same frequency that is required during active office hours.
7. Small breaks due to social distancing are also times to reassess your skill and training- think of an online course, certification, training, personality development or new language to learn.
8. Engage in spring cleaning, clear that clutter, and donate non-junk household stuff.
9. Pay attention to you social media habits. While you can certainly become a victim of myths, misinformation, anxiety, and fear mongering, you may also inadvertently become a perpetrator, creating more trouble for communities.
10. Based on American Time Use Survey and leisure related time-spending patterns worldwide, we spend too much time on screen. Limit your screen time, but watch national news for general consumption and local news to check spread of COVID-19 in your own community, you are likely over-consuming information and taking away time from yourself and friends and family.
11. Reach out to people and offer help. Consider providing for and helping those at risk or marginalized (e.g. the elderly, disabled, and homeless; survivors of natural disasters; and those living in shelters). You will certainly find someone in the neighborhood who needs some help, this can be done from a distance, on phone, or by online activities and giving.
12. Check your list of contacts on email and phone.
13. Engage in alternative activities to keep your mind and body active such as: listening to music and singing, trying dancing or biking, yoga or meditation, taking virtual tours of museums and places of interest, sketching and painting, reading books or novels, solving puzzles or engaging in board games, trying new recipes and learning about other cultures, etc.
14. Do not isolate yourself totally (physical distancing should not become social isolation). Don’t be afraid, don’t panic, and do keep communicating with others.

Here are some links for blogs I've posted in the past concerning meals and stretching them, and a bonus one for cleaners.

Magic Chicken

Stretching the Chicken

Baking on Snow Days

Freezing

Leftovers

Homemade Cleaners

Again, please check on your neighbors...safely.  We need to work together to get through this.  Check on them...maybe call someone just to chat for a minute.  You don't know the change you could make.

We're going to eat better, dang it!

In the last couple of years, I really thought I was shopping smart.  And I was...if I'd been properly planning on how to use what I was buying.  And I wasn't.  I'm ashamed to admit, I wasted a lot.  And we ate out far too much!

At one point, I even went out and bought one of those FoodSaver machines to stop the waste.  Yes, it is wonderful for preserving food in the freezer and preventing freezer burn, but if you don't use that food, it's still not truly helping.  I mean the food isn't going bad but it still wasn't being used.  The FoodSaver is great for things besides meat.  As with Ziplocs or anything else that goes in the freezer, label and date everything!

I was off work between Christmas and New Year's and really put a lot of thought into how I was going to fix things.  I bounced a lot of ideas off of my husband.  I did a lot of Pinterest-ing.  I came to the conclusion that I really couldn't do anything until I knew what I had.  Do you dread going to dig in the upright deep freezers because you know if you touch something, it's all gonna fall out on your feet?  No?  Just me?  I put on good shoes and went in....

I just started with the big freezer because I knew the little one was where I put the "overflow" and knew it was the newest stuff.  I did not do a full clean out but I did toss some things as I came across those items that had dates I didn't like.  I did have a package of ham hocks land on my foot but the turkey breast missed me!  Ha!  I ended up tossing a couple of kitchen trash bags worth of more wasted food.  I can assure you, that is going to stop!  

I did a quick run down on what meat was in there and then made a list of some meals that I know we like, that in all honesty is what part of that meat was bought for.  I looked over the things I'd pinned on Pinterest and made a list.  

Side note, I love a good list!  Here is the list of meals I came up with:

Yes, I'm old school to a point....paper and pencil lists!  What you see crossed off is what we have used to date.  I figured out what i needed to complete the meals and went to the grocery for pretty much dairy and produce and a few canned goods.  Oh, and I made sure that I had plenty of FoodSaver bags.  

Every Sunday, I make a menu...having the food prep done will definitely help us stick to it.  Here is this weeks:

The Meatloaf isn't really a recipe, it's just something I make.  I used 2 pounds of 80/20 ground beef and 1 pound of ground pork, not sausage just pork.  With that, I add a diced onion, a little garlic, 4 slices potato bread (we use Aunt Millie's 35 calorie potato bread around here so that's what goes in this) torn into little pieces and soaked in about 1/2 cup give or take of milk, 2 eggs, about 6 strips off uncooked bacon cut into little pieces (use scissors, it's easier) and some tomato sauce, about half a can.  Of course there is salt and pepper and some paprika.  I used the other half can of tomato sauce to mix with brown sugar and salt and put on top of the meatloaf.  This made two meatloaves.  I liked the meatloaf pans with cling wrap and put half the meatloaf in each pan and put them in the freezer.  Once they were frozen, I lifted them out of the pan with the Cling wrap and then wrapped the cling wrap around it and then two layers of aluminum foil.  Back to the freezer until ready to use.  When you take the wrap off it just drops back into the pan to cook it.  Bake it for about an hour at 350 or until a thermometer is at 165 degrees.

The French Dip sandwiches are made with some shaved beef I bought at Kroger, it fries up really quickly, like a cheese steak meat.  I toast Ciabatta buns in the broiler.  I put the meat on the bread with provolone on top and back in the broiler to warm the cheese.  Make a packet of au jus and you have a meal in like 15-20 minutes.  We made french fries in the air fryer and I'd made up a batch of Coleslaw on Sunday for two meals this week.  

Gotta be honest, the Chicken Tortilla soup was bought at Sam's for a night that we needed quick...I just tossed it in the freezer so I set it out the night before and it warms up by the time you have grilled cheese made.

The Honey Garlic Chicken was shared by a friend, it's so easy.  The marinade is 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 tablespoons honey, 1/2 clove minced garlic and 2 tablespoons water for every 1/2 pound of chicken.  Mix the marinade right in the Ziploc (FoodSaver bags aren't for liquid unless you freeze it first and then it won't lay flat) then put in the chicken.  Get as much air as you can out of it and seal it lay it flat in the freezer.  This allows you to stack them and it thaws quicker if it's flat.  Move from freezer to fridge the night before and bake at 425 degrees for about 25 minutes.

The taco meat I made, I added some veggies in it to add some health benefits to it.  I used the frozen mix of carrots, onions and celery...not a lot but every bit helps.  I also add black beans to it.  When I made it, I doubled the batch and divided in FoodSaver bags.  

Finally, the slow cooker cheese chicken spaghetti is an experiment.  It sounds good and I hope we like it, but it's one of those that make you go hmmmm....Here's the recipe:

16 ounces spaghetti-cooked
1 pound Velvetta Light cheese
2 cups cooked chopped chicken
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can petite diced tomatoes
1 4 ounce cans mild green chilies
1 cup mushrooms chopped
1/2 cup water
1 small onion diced

Combine all in a gallon Ziploc bag, seal, flatten (as you can, it's a lot in that bag) and freeze.  When ready to use, thaw for 24 hours then pour in a crock pot for 2-3 hours.  Stir before serving.

Now, I didn't use cream of soups....I made a white sauce (equal parts butter & flour and instead of milk, I used chicken broth) it's healthier.  

There is week one of the menu.  I worked about 5 hours on Sunday to put together 29 meals that should not take long to make on a week night.  

This is longer than I expected but I wanted to at least share where I started.  I'm going to be as brutally honest as I can in reclaiming our home and diet!  This whole journey of balancing working these particular full-time hours, eating decent meals, and trying to keep my house somewhat decent is going to be a process.  Let's hope this makes it not so painful!  Thank you for reading!

I'm back!

Hello again!  It's been a while since I posted, but there's been a lot of 'life' happening to myself and my family.  Some good, some not so much, but all of it made us stronger individually and as a family.  
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In the last three years, I think my biggest accomplishment was beating cancer!  I took a simple genetic test for one of my daughters because of a medical condition she has.  That test not only showed a rare cancer gene but I subsequently found out I had two different kinds of breast cancer.  Seven surgeries in twenty-seven months and all the other treatments involved and I am currently cancer-free!  

Let me get up on my soapbox for a moment here...if you think something is wrong, fight to find out what.  I had mammograms every year, none of them picked up one of the types of cancer I had.  Additionally, one of my surgeries was botched and the doctor made it seem as if I was looking at it wrong.  I gathered my courage and asked for a second opinion which was probably one of the hardest things I did because I felt as though I was questioning a medical professional.  And I was.  And that's ok.  I learned that it's ok to advocate for yourself!  It took five surgeries to fix the mistake but if I hadn't advocated for myself, I would have still been living with that mistake.

I also learned that I am surrounded by a wonderful group of friends. They enveloped my family with love and support throughout every bit of the cancer journey!  

Some pretty great things happened along the way too.  I earned my Masters degree and a Graduate level Teaching College Writing Certificate.  My husband was also promoted to the Program Chair for his department at the college where he works.  He was also the Master of his Masonic Lodge and our son was Master Councilor of his DeMolay group.  And I got a new job at IUPUI.  

Ahhh, the new job.  I miss my work with TRIO Student Support Services, but I absolutely love what I am doing now.  The work is very similar, just at a four-year institution.  When I made the change, the new hours were 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.  I haven't worked those hours in more than 20 years!  Given my choice, I always took the earlier hours to be able to take care of errands, handle kid pick up, and have dinner at a decent hour.  I'll be honest, the first month was a hot mess around here.  The house was a disaster, sometimes we didn't eat until 7 or even 8 o'clock.  

Years ago, when I was a single mom, I did pretty intensive meal prep every Sunday for the upcoming week.  I had gotten away from that in the last few years...and it showed.  Since we now spend a lot of time at our place at the lake most weekends between April and October, I have to rethink how I meal prep for the work week so we can stay at the lake until Sunday afternoon.  Afterall, who wants to leave Nature's beauty to come back to reality any earlier than they have too?  LOL

Over Christmas, I did some research and planned out some meal prep.  I worked from what I had in the freezer and supplemented what I needed to create meals.  The amount of food I had stockpiled in my freezers was ridiculous.  Yesterday, I was able to put together 25 dinners.  I mixed them up, some are crock pot meals, some Power Pressure Pot meals, some oven meals.  I'll write more about this in the next post.  

I want to...no need to...get back to writing for me.  I hope you will follow along.  I'll always work to be frugal but I'll also be working on time saving work night ideas and now, ideas for when we're at the lake!  It's my happy place!  

Thank you for indulging my ramblings...talk to you soon!

Winter Recharging

Hello everyone!  I hope everyone is safe and warm in this first 'snow event' here.  

I love how 2" of snow is a 'snow event'.  I am always somewhat shocked at how people behave when it snows in Indiana.  It's shocking the number of people who run red lights or stop signs, even more so in the snow.  It's as though they don't care whether or not they are in, or simply cause, an accident.  I don't get that.  Then you have what we lovingly refer to as the "French Toast Preppers".  You know, the people who, at the first snowflake, run to the grocery and clear out the milk, bread and eggs.  Personally, I keep at least one half gallon of milk in the freezer and a loaf of bread.  I freeze the half gallons because they're easier to thaw out.  Just make sure you set them out soon enough to thaw for when you need them.  And shake it well before using it.  You can also freeze eggs if you scramble them first.  Well, don't fry them, just whisk them...LOL.  But once you whisk them, you can freeze them in ice cube trays and then when frozen, pop them out and put in a good Ziploc bag.    

I know we're all busy but even though we haven't had a bad Winter, this one seems to be wearing me down.  We have a lot going on and I was just telling my husband that I really need to find a way to recharge.  For me, I think that means I need to bake something.  Actually, that would require being home long enough to bake.  I'll get there.  

I should probably add sleep to that list as well.  Sleep would be good.  I'll get on that just as soon as my reading for my grad school class is done......LOL

As always, please check on your neighbors, the elderly and the shut-ins.  Make sure they're alright and not in need of any help.

Winter finally showed up!

Good morning everyone!  

Up until Saturday, it was about 50 degrees here in Indianapolis.  And at not quite 11 am on Monday, it's 9.  NINE!  I know, we've been lucky so far this year with such a minor Winter.  Mother Nature was being kind to us.  Evidently, our luck has run out and she's no longer in a generous mood.  Welcome to Winter!  Not just Winter snow but she sent ICE.  

As is my usual, I want to first and foremost, remind you all to check in on your neighbors, the elderly and the shut-ins.  Shovel a walkway, their steps to the house, clear a path in front of their home in case someone stops by to check in on them they can park.  Let's make sure those who may not be able to do as much anymore have the help they need.  

It's supposed to be colder tonight with the possibility of 2-5 inches of more snow.  Just a few hints, some you should already have had done but don't fret, every little bit will help!

Remember to change your furnace filters monthly.  My hubby is an HVAC/R professor and insists we use the cheap throw-away-monthly filters....something about what our furnace was designed to work with.  Check yours out and make sure you're using the right ones.  You should have had your furnace serviced before Winter, but sometimes you miss it, even if you are married to an HVAC/R professor...so no judgments here.  

Leave the cabinet doors open under sinks to help prevent freezing.  I leave a trickle of water running too, not a lot but just to keep the water moving.  

I know this if something we did in the country, just in case of power outages which I know don't happen in the city as often, but I put an extra heavy quilt at the bottom of each bed so that if there is an outage (or you just get cold and your hubby won't let you warm your feet on him), you have that extra blanket at the ready.

Speaking of blankets, I keep one in each car, in case of a break down, or in my case last Winter, when I ran out of gas on a dark highway.  Just be prepared.  Oh, and it's a good idea to keep a bit of drinking water in the car but not soda.  Don't ask me how I know this, just trust me here!

It's also a good idea (and not too late) to check the fluids on your car.  Make sure the window washer fluid is filled up and, if you're like me, have an extra gallon in the trunk.  I average about 3 gallons a Winter.  Hey, what can I say?  I can't stand a filthy windshield!

Don't forget our furry friends .  Thank goodness that Indianapolis now has a new law that you just can't leave the poor animals outside in this weather.  Do NOT be afraid to call someone if you see a dog tied to a tree or just out in this weather.  

Please, also remember our homeless.  If you're not comfortable giving to the directly, at least think about donating to a shelter, they'll welcome blankets, socks, gloves, hats, scarves, etc.  

Bottom line, we often think of taking care of ourselves, but let's remember that no matter how little we have, there are those out there with less than we have.  As my Dear Mother used to say, "We're all in this together!'

Stay warm!  Stay safe! Check on your neighbors!

Tis the Season

With the holidays quickly approaching, we are all working to get everything ready in preparation for a wonderful time with our families.  I know I'm running around like a crazy person trying to work, finish my semester in school, prepare for Christmas and 412 other things that are on my to-do list.  I also know I am not alone in this.

As I was going through my son's 'take home folder' from school, there was a flyer in there reminding us that his school was sponsoring families through the Servant's Heart pantry in Beech Grove, where my son goes to school.  They are a wonderful organization, they do great things in our area.  HERE is the link to Servant's Heart if you'd like to learn more about them.  They always welcome volunteers as well, my son's first time volunteering there was when he was 5.  We worked in the store room and he sorted canned goods by item.  So, even the young people are welcomed to help!

Back on topic.....we are blessed to have enough for the holidays.  Not everyone is as fortunate.  I would encourage you to donate to your local food pantry, shelter or other organization that helps families in need.  They need food, clothing, presents for children, money and manpower!  

Regardless of where you live, please find an organization that assists those in need.  Consider helping an organization that works with families.  Even if you can't give anything but your time, please consider giving something.  Every little bit helps.  

We're all in this together!