Mrs. Fix-it

Last night I washed a load of Donny’s work clothes. This morning when I went to get them out of the dryer the timer knob had never moved and they were wet.

If you read my blog you know that our very old dryer went out over a year ago. I found a storage locker auction where the only thing in it was a dryer. I bid $23 and won. We took a chance and it actually worked. Lately though I’ve been having to keep the door open and push down the door switch and the start button at the same time while shutting the door quickly. Today the door switch finally gave out.

i used a flat head screw driver to pop it out and remove it.

I called Nipper’s, the used appliance place around the corner and they told me they had one.

i didn’t think 30 bucks was a bad price considering used dryers are running over $300. Well, I got it home and the prongs were different.

I went back up there and they didn’t have the one that I needed. The man there asked me that if I wanted he could fix my old switch. Well, yes I did. He opened it up and filed down the corroded parts. They tested it and it worked. He didn’t charge me anything and refunded my money on the other part that didn’t fit.

I took it home, plugged the part in and now it’s like I have a new dryer and have still only cost me $23.

My whole point of this is, don’t jump to get rid of something if there is a way to fix it. I will always try to buy used things, especially appliances. We won’t buy appliances with the computer boards in them because when they go out it costs a fortune. Older appliances were built to last. I have an ancient Galaxy gas stove that keeps perfect temperature. It’s not pretty, but works so well.

i realize that some people may just prefer brand new items and that’s fine, it’s just not me and that’s fine too.

Old Hwy 80 Sale + Easy Dinner

For more than 25 years there has been a 392 mile garage sale than runs down old Hwy 80 from Texas to Georgia. People bring their trailers and just set up shop in parking lots and on the side of the road.

It happens twice a year, once in the spring and again in the Fall. I needed to run to Aldi today so I thought I’d take the back way down Hwy 80 aka Marshall Ave. The first one I saw were two very sweet ladies who told me that a lot of the vendors had packed up and left the day before because of the heavy storms. I’m glad I stopped because they had some cool stuff for sale. I ended up with a Buddha head and a cute little plant all for $2.00.

A little ways down the road I saw a whole parking lot filled with different vendors. There I found a lampshade, curling iron and a pretty summery blouse by Indigo Soul. I spent a whopping $9.00 there.

The lampshade worked pretty good on the lamp I was wanting it for. I like the fact that when you turn it on it looks like glowing little moon.

The Buddha head works well next to the stereo with my other brass objects.

I specifically got the plant for a flower pot that I had picked up several months ago.

When Donny got home from work we needed to run to the grocery. He’s been itching to find a plant for the rooster he got me for my birthday. It has been sitting in our living room and has now found its place outside. Please excuse the dead circles, we have moved a lot of pots to the backyard. It’s some kind of palm. I just know it works well in shade or sun.

After a busy day, I didn’t really feel like making a big messy meal. A shrimp boil is one of the easiest meals to make with very little to clean up. Right now shrimp is on sale here.

Growing up on the coast in Corpus Christi, we would go down to the T-heads when the shrimp boats came in a buy shrimp fresh off the boats. This is definitely not the same, but it will do in a pinch.

I like to use the bagged shrimp boil, but when did it start coming in the plastic pouches and not the net ones? So strange.

I also like to throw in a healthy dose of Old Bay seasoning.

I make a pretty simple boil. Fill a big pot with water. Add seasoning and red potatoes. Boil until they are tender. Add sausage and corn on the cob. Boil for 5 minutes. Add shrimp and boil for 3 minutes. You’re done.

I use a big commercial kitchen pot. I worked at a catering company and the owner gave me this pot so I’d always have one big enough to do this, gumbo, etc. Using it reminded me of the fun, hectic, sometimes stressful time I worked there. He has since passed away so it’s pretty sentimental.

And that’s it. My son doesn’t like shrimp so I made him some boudin and cut up some pineapple. Easy peasy meal.

Plant Away

After our greenhouse collapsed, we couldn’t get to it for a couple of days due to the rain. Luckily Donny was able to save most of it. We just moved everything to the side yard where the other garden is.

It’s not pretty, but it works, hopefully.

The potatoes and tomatoes are growing big and strong.

The mint comes back every year no matter how cold it gets.

I’ll be planting the top of this pineapple this weekend. They make great plants and grow really big. My last two died when it froze. It’s a cheap was to add plants to your flowerbeds. Plus, you get to eat the pineapple.

The Hostas are doing well in their new planters.

Please ignore all the solar lights. I am trying to see which ones are still working. I also need to power wash the front stoop. All in good time.

My oldest daughter sent me a recreated picture.

Nikki at age 3/4 with her favorite two stuffies.

Same exact stuffies a few decades later.

Hannah’s prom is tomorrow so we are going to practice her hairstyle tonight. Wish me luck!

Sasquatch Trading Post

We found out about a grocery outlet in Gladewater that is just a short drive down Hwy 80. We didn’t know what to expect, but it looked interesting online. It’s called the Sasquatch Trading Post.

We drove right by it the first time because you actually drive through the gate and park on the side. When we walked in there was just so much stuff.

A lot of it was restaurant sized. There were also a lot of items from Germany and England. The prices were very good. For $40 this is what we got.

A 6 pack of cranberry juice, 10 packs of craisins, Louisiana Hot Sauce and 3 onions

Sliced Gouda, Camembert, broccoli, and slab bacon

Corn and hash browns

Hand rolled butter and European butter

Pretzel buns, hamburger buns and 2 huge baguettes

We were very impressed and will definitely be coming back to the Sasquatch Trading Post. All of the employees were so nice and the store was clean and products were easy to find. I can’t wait to make corn chowder and bruschetta.