Day #33 – So Much Easier + Comfort Food

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The other day when Donny and I were cleaning out the shed I found this attachment that I was pretty sure went to the lawn mower. I had no idea what it was and Donny was ready to throw it away. I looked a little closer and realized it said what it was right on the side.

I knew we had the ability to mulch our grass, but I had no idea how to do it. Now I do. I didn’t know when I was going to be able to mow again due to my back and not being able to lift the grass bag, but this was a game changer. You can still kind of see the mow lines, but not nearly as bad as if I’d used the chute.

I got the mowing done just before a little storm blew through. It was a welcome respite from the very hot and humid weather. I actually love a good rain shower. The house darkens and it feels so cozy.

Tonight I decided to make Green Chili Enchiladas. I loved when my mother used to make this when I was younger. Anytime she had to bring a dish to an engagement this is what she would bring. To be perfectly honest, it was the only meal she really cooked since my dad did all of the cooking. There are a few things I would change in the recipe though.

This is what I used.

I would use Rotel instead of the diced tomatoes. I would also add chili powder and cumin to the meat while I was browning it. I used Colby jack for the cheese.

It actually turned out just like I remembered it. There’s enough left over to freeze and to also have for a few of Donny’s lunches.

For a side I just cooked some black beans in the instant pot. So easy! just add your dry beans, water, the caldo chicken power and badia seasoning. Really just add whatever seasonings you like. I cook on manual for 85 minutes with a natural release.

The leftovers are great on breakfast tacos or actually by themselves with some purple onion and cheese.

I snapped this picture this evening because we have been getting the prettiest sunsets lately.

Now I’m going to go check on Donny. When he was getting the eggs from the coop he got attacked by yellowjackets and they stung him 6 times. Even one right on the nose. We’re just going to load him up on antihistamines. Hopefully he wont’ swell up too bad.

Day #32 – Meal Planning

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Lately I have been in such a cooking slump. In fact yesterday I just told everyone to figure out what they wanted on their own because I wasn’t making dinner. Yeah, it had gotten that bad. I just felt like we aimlessly went to the grocery, not really planning what I was going to cook. Today I decided that that was enough. Donny had an appointment at the DMV, so while he was gone I leafed through some cookbooks for inspiration. The two that I pulled recipes from were these.

The Altar Society is from 1980 and the vp-49 is one that we did when I was in the Officer’s Wives Club in 1987. I made a list of the 10 meals I wanted to make.

It helped that I cleaned out the fridge and freezer before making my list of what we needed to buy. I already had some chicken breasts for the fried rice and a pork tenderloin for the stromboli. We headed to Aldi to do some damage.

I was actually shocked that our total came out to right at $100. I think it helps that we don’t buy soda or many processed foods. Here’s what we bought.

This actually includes all of Donny’s lunches that he takes to work. I already had staples such as dried beans, rice and frozen vegetables. I’m sure we will have to buy more milk because we got through it like crazy. But just think about it. For, a little over since I had some meat already, $100 I can make over 10 family meals. That’s what we spend on ONE meal eating out for the 4 of us. It really does pay to eat at home.

Tonight I had already thawed out some pork that I was planning on cooking last night before I had my meltdown. I did feel bad so I made a Sunday dinner. I know it’s not Sunday, but it is for us because of Donny’s days off.

Pork cooked in the instant pot.

Potato wedges in the air fryer. So easy and good, Peel and wedge you potatoes. mix up oil, garlic power, onion powder, kosher salt and hot sauce. Coat the potatoes and cook at 375 for 20 minutes.

Cabbage because we had half a head left in the veg bin and I didn’t want it to go bad. I don’t know why the pic looks so overexposed.

Yeast rolls. These are a labor of love because they are time intensive with the double rise, but oh so worth it. I don’t eat bread so Hannah is always my guinea pig with anything gluten. She loved them and she worked at Texas Roadhouse which is the recipe I used.

I will say I feel better about cooking now that I have a plan. I’ll let ya know how each recipe turns out especially with my pickier eater son.

Day #31 – Getting Closer

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One thing about me is that I hate asking for help, especially if I don’t know the person very well or at all. The day that my car started its deceleration problem I took it immediately to get an oil change thinking that could be what it was. The guy who checked me out mentioned that he had the same style car as I have and that he bought it as a part out car but changed or replaced everything in it. He was telling me all the things he had done to it, which I found pretty amazing.

After we changed the spark plugs and that didn’t work, we called the Hyundai dealership but the soonest they could get me in was almost a month away. Last Friday I asked Donny if he wanted to run up to the oil change place to see if that guy was there so I could just pick his brain for a few minutes. This was completely stepping outside of my comfort zone. Not only was he there (his name is Christian) but he told us to just bring the car up to his work and he’d take a look at it. I honestly wasn’t sure about asking him to do this, but he seemed like he really wanted to help.

He called us a few hours later and said that the car threw a code and it looks like it’s the knock sensor. When I googled what that was the symptoms were the exact same problems that I’m having. We went to pick up the car and he said that if we didn’t feel like we were getting good service at Hyundai that he could replace it for us. What a super nice person. Yes, we did pay him and will continue if he does any more work. His boss was even okay with him tinkering while he was working. We’ve always gone to get our oil changed at this place because they’ve always been so nice and have never tried to sell us anything more than what we ask them to do. So now we are one step closer to figuring out what is wrong with my little car. If we don’t feel like we are going to be able to fix it 100 percent then we will be getting another vehicle, even though I do love my little ride. I’m just so skeptical about mechanics in general, especially dealerships. Anyone else?

And Hannah’s boyfriend Gavin’s brother had birthday today and Gavin brought us cupcakes.

Everybody needs a little Jesus

Day #30 – A Little Snack Prep

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Today is our Friday since Donny’s weekends are Thursdays and Fridays. I decided to prep some easy go to snacks so if we get hungry we can just dish some out. I hate being hungry and not having something I can just grab. I made carrot salad.

It’s just grated carrots with a little mayo, Dijon and honey mixed together. I didn’t have any raisins so I added chopped pecans.

I love this cucumber salad. Finely sliced cucumbers with rice vinegar, a splash of sesame oil, soy sauce, grated ginger, grated garlic, salt and pepper. It’s so good especially on a hot day.

I also roasted some sweet potatoes. I just add some olive oil, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, cinnamon and maple syrup.

These are just some quick snacks I like to keep on hand. I feel that when you have healthier snacks on hand you’re not tempted to grab some junk food.

I’m going to be harvesting some of our basil tomorrow because I want to make some pesto. I can’t believe how big it’s gotten. I wish my tomatoes would have produced more because I love having pasta sauce put up, but with two tomatoes (that’s all that we’ve produced so far) that doesn’t make much sauce. Looks like I’m going to have to actually buy some tomatoes this year. Those darn aphids.

And Baby Ruth is getting so much bigger. Her and her dad (they have the same distinct meow and look so much alike. She was created when he was a stray and not yet neutered) decided to snuggle up while I folded laundry.

Day #29 – Plant Shelf Day

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I cannot tell you how long I have needed to tend to the plants and the plant shelf we have hanging in our kitchen window. The pothos had gone crazy. I also needed to tend to the hanging one over the sink. It had gotten so ropey and unmanageable.

The vines had wrapped themselves around the chains and took a while to untangle.

I ended up cutting a lot of it off. It’s still a bit ropey, but much better than it was.

The biggest problem I had was the very large pathos on the top shelf. It had actually grown through the lampshade.

The vines alone were each about 12 feet long. It was a mess with the vines just going everywhere.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the vines, just in a more controlled was. I ended up planting the plants that I had been proprogating and then cut off more to start. Such a weight off to know that this task is done.

The basket on the wall is my dirty rag hamper for the kitchen. We keep our recycling in the metal tub.

I found this little pot at the thrift store a while back and just love it. It’s from the 70’s and is signed and numbered. I love little treasures.

Day #28 – Progress

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I slept so good and woke up to just a sore hip not the gripping pain of the last couple of days. Y’all, I’m swearing by my avocado seed rub. That’s all I’ve used.

But today I’ve felt like I’ve made actual progress compared to the last two days where I’ve done little but watch movies. I was feeling bad because the cookie jar had been empty since Saturday night so I made Milk Cookies.

Another task that I have been meaning to do is oil my cutting boards. We use the heck out of our boards and I noticed that they were beginning to dry out. They are much less thirsty now.

I went outside to water the plants and I have little pumpkin seedlings.

I counted 8 in all so far. Fingers crossed they make it.

Now it’s time to turn in and finish watching the 1983 campy horror movie Sleepaway Camp. I can’t believe I have never seen it considering horror has always been one of my favorite genres. Last night I watched Lake Eden. It’s a British horror flick that has the woman who played Beth on Yellowstone. I have never watched Yellowstone, but who would have thought she was actually British. It was way too gory for me. I don’t like gory movies. I finished The Following so I’m looking for new things to watch. I was seeing videos recommending movies but was so bummed that I didn’t have a Tubi subscription because that service seemed to have such good movies. I googled it to see how much it was and IT’S FREE!!!!! If you haven’t watched The Following I 100% recommend it. It’s only 3 seasons but each season has 15 episodes and the acting is amazing.

Day #27 – Ouch

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I missed day 26 because I was in so much pain. My whole lower back especially my left hip was hurting so bad that I spent the day with an ice pack, tens unit and trying not to move. Today it was a wee bit better. It is now mainly concentrated on my left side which is weird because I never have problems with the left only the right.

Sitting too long hurts. Bending over hurts. Lifting my left leg hurts. Donny has been so helpful. He’s been cooking and cleaning the kitchen. Ibuprofen, Tylenol or aspirin hasn’t touched it. Today when I was looking in the medicine cabinet I found the liniment that I made months ago.

It’s avocado seeds that are chopped up with 91% rubbing alcohol poured over. It has been the only thing that makes the pain bearable. I’m so happy that I found it . I don’t know why or how it works, but it does. I think it’s going to take a bit of time to fully heal my hip, but at least I don’t feel incapacitated like I did on Saturday. Only time will tell I guess.

Day #25 – The Shed

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It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I have been wanted to clean the shed out for months. Well, today Donny and I finally got to it. It has been a catchall for a while where we were just throwing things in it and not really caring where they landed. Here are some before pictures.

We couldn’t even really step into it without having to move so much stuff around. Trying to find anything was a nightmare.

I can’t believe it, but we finished in under 2 hours. We have a pretty big bulk trash pickup which the city can’t pick up until August 1st. We ended up taking 4 bags and several boxes to donate.

I feel so much better knowing this chore is done. Unfortunately, I hurt my lower back. I don’t know how I did it. Probably picking something heavy up or just turning wrong, but it really hurts. The TENS unit has been such a help. And Donny because he’s been massaging it. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll feel better.

P.S.

Wrigley update: Another citation was left on their door, but so far the neighbors have done nothing to comply.

Day #24 – Do What You Want

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There are some days when I just need rest from normal tasks. I did mow the yard, but that’s about it. One thing that I’ve realized in the 3 weeks of this 100 days is that sometimes doing nothing at all is okay. I’m tired of cooking dinner. So tonight I didn’t. And it felt okay. I have 3 adults living in our home and I’m pretty sure they can figure out how to make something to eat. And I was right, they can.

I’m grateful for Mr. Lawrence who edges the side and front of my house when he mows the neighbor’s yard. I think a weed eater that I can handle without tearing everything up will be a purchase I’ll make in the near future.

I actually got dressed and put on makeup even though the only place we were going was to Drug Emporium.

I found some yummy snacks.

Now I think I’ll find a book to read because I hardly ever take the time to read anymore.

I think everyone deserves a day to just do what they want and not feel guilty for doing it.

Day #23 – Tie Dye

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We all agreed that the white curtains I hung up on the patio were just too white. Everything else is colorful so they stood out and not in a good way. I had two tie dye kits that we had gotten a couple of years ago and never used. I only had turquoise and blue so that’s what we were going to use. Because the curtains are polyester I had to boil them after I had rubber banded them.

After they boil for a few minutes I applied the dye.

I put them in trash bags and waited 8 hours. I honestly didn’t know if the dye would take because polyester is notoriously hard to dye. After I rinsed them off I was pleasantly surprised. The turquoise came out very close to the color of the dye. The blue turned a light lavender. It’s hard to tell in the picture though.

I think they look pretty good.

The turquoise color matches our front door.

And our little busted up skunk friend showed up to have his dinner. I know I’m not supposed to feed it, but he’s so crippled that the only way he could even eat a bug was if it jumped into its mouth.

Now I’m going to go watch The Following. If you haven’t seen it, it’s so good. We watched it when it first came on in 2013, It seems impossible that it’s been that long ago.