Showing posts with label heat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heat. Show all posts

Friday, February 5, 2016

Friday's Frugal Roundup

I’ve been keeping track of my frugal accomplishments, or the things I’ve done this week (actually the past two weeks) to spend less, not spend at all, or otherwise save money. In no particular order here goes.

Gave TopDad a haircut
Fixed a pair of reading glasses (the arm had fallen off and the hinge was tricky!)
Turned down the heat
Found three future birthday presents at the thrift store (can’t show or tell because the recipients read the blog)
Ground wheat, baked five loaves of bread and made a quadruple batch of cookies.
Froze six bananas that were overripe to use in smoothies
Ate out only once! (TopDad likes to eat out more than I do)
Used up all the leftovers, didn’t waste any food
On sunny days opened all the blinds and curtains to let the sun warm the house
Turned the laundry detergent bottle upside down to drain the last of it, then rinsed it out to get the very last of it for another load; did the same with the dishwashing soap (or detergent)

Some frugal things are so habitual for me that I don’t even think about them, such as measuring dish detergent instead of simply squirting it in the sink; or squeezing the toothpaste tube for a week past when I think it is all gone, then cutting it open and using the very last dregs; drinking tap water instead of bottled; using a silicone spatula to get all the food out of a pan, bowl or container; turning off lights when I leave a room.

I like to read what other people do because there is always some new trick to learn. 

What did you do to save money this week?

Monday, March 3, 2014

Ten Things of Thankful - Brought to you by the Letter H

1. Health - as in good; after last week's bout with the flu I'm thankful for good health and only the normal aches and pains.

2. Humor - Saturday night I said to TopDad, "I missed you last week." He replied, "I didn't know you were aiming." It felt so good to laugh!

3. Heat - We are still in a deep freeze here in Iowa; I wear three or four layers and still shiver. I'm thankful I'm inside and not crossing the plains in a handcart.

4. Hairspray - It's the glue that helps me grow out my hair. I thought today of a way to motivate myself to keep going: I'm growing historic hair. I like to dress up in historic clothes and long hair looks more authentic hence the need for historic hair.

5. Handkerchiefs - My old linen hankies are so much softer on a sore nose than paper tissues. I love my pretty hankies!

6. Harmony - As in the boys getting along and laughing together; as in beautiful music too.

7. Hats - To cover my ears when the wind is blowing; however, I'm not so thankful for hat hair, but one tries not to think of that.

8. Georg Freidrich Handel and Franz Joseph Haydn - two of my favorite composers.

9. Hindsight - which, of course is 20 20; unlike my current sight which is almost legally blind.

10. Homemade - Just smell that fresh baked bread!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a look around and I hope you'll be back.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Ouch!

After breakfast we heard a really weird grinding noise and couldn't figure out what it was. The guys all went off to school and I was just getting into the shower when I got a call from PW telling me about the break-in to his truck last night. Poor guy, he filed a report with the police, but there's no hope of getting anything back or catching the perp; and he called the insurance but they won't pay for replacing anything since it was just loose personal stuff. Okay, I got off the phone and felt really cold so I checked the thermostat and it read 62. What? No heat! A quick call to TopDad and he said try turning the switch on the heater off and back on again, bye I have to get to class. Down into the basement and I found the switch and turned it off, and then back on again. The burner started up and I thought all is well. Went back upstairs and got a Skype call from Noble. I love my chuns, but sometimes I don't get anything done because of them! So what else is new? Anyway. After I got off with her, I got permission from the holder of the purse strings to call for someone to come out. I took a quick shower, then called and was able to get someone out here in short order.

Well, it wasn't the blower that pushes the hot air up through the vents; it was the other fan motor, the one that moves the heat from the burner to the heat exchanger. Learn something new everyday. So I have heat again, and I guess that's a nice Valentines present. Darn, I was hoping for something I could wear.

What else can go wrong today?

Monday, November 11, 2013

Three More Things

Day Eleven of Count Your Blessings 2013

I seem to be incredibly busy this year. And I don't like it. So to catch up (again) here are three more things I'm grateful for.

1. Thermal underwear. Baby it's cold out there!

2. Slow cookers: which make it possible for me to serve a delicious meal even when I have a busy day. Tonight we had Black Bean Chili.

3. Today of all days, I'm so grateful for those who have served, are serving and will serve our country in the military.
  • My father served in the Army Air Corps at the end of WWII
  • My three brothers served in the Army and Air Force
  • My brother-in-law served in the Army in Viet Nam
  • My husband's grandfather served in the Army
  • My husband's father served in the Navy
  • My husband is a Retired Marine
  • My daughter is serving in the Air Force
  • My son is signing up for the US Marine Reserves
  • Uncles, cousins, and friends have served in various branches of the service
All these loved ones and so many more who I don't know have served to keep us free. Not all have served in combat situations, but all are needed to keep things running smoothly. THANK YOU!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Heat

Day Five of Count Your Blessings

I heard the heater kick on this morning and felt go grateful for automatic heaters and programmable thermostats. You know how much I love studying history, but I don't know that I'd want to live history. The father or mother has to get up in the cold and stoke the fire and feed it and wait for things to warm up. I think I truly would hibernate if I had to do that!

Winter is closing in.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Vacation or Where Was My Brain

We spent almost a whole week with my Dad in San Diego and I didn't even think about taking a picture of him with our boys. ARGHHHHH. Where was my brain?

We had a great time in Utah and California; especially San Diego where the weather was perfect.

Here are the few pictures I did take, such as they are.

Dandylion, Dr. Hair and PW ready for take-off

Topdad the Captain

"Captain, we've lost two of our crew."

Lincoln Monument at the highest elevation on Interstate 80

Dr. Hair

PW and Dr. Hair at the Purple Heart Trail Marker (same spot on I 80)

Smoke from fire near Scipio, Utah

Another view of smoke

Crew restored and ready -- well, maybe just restored

Moonrise over Southern California, north of San Diego
Dr. Hair wanted to go the the San Diego Automotive Museum to see his beloved DeLorean and to his astonishment and delight there was a Steampunk exhibit:


Fantastical Flying Car - We thought it looked just like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang


Another fabulous creation with our three boys to the left

Side view of the wild buggy

Hats and goggles and other gizmos and gadgets

Different Angle - Same stuff

(When I got home and caught up on my blogs I found a link to this scrumptious collection of Prada clothes for men from their fall collection. Check it out for great Steampunk looks.)

We spent an afternoon at Coronado Beach, named one of the top ten beaches in the country, of course, one of our favorites (San Diego is my home town, after all).

Dandylion and Dr. Hair

Dandylion warming up in his cocoon of sand

Dr. Hair gloating
We toured the aircraft carrier USS Midway and were awestruck at the immensity of it. We covered only one deck besides the flight deck before we were tired. Just enormous.

PW -- future pilot

We stopped for gas in Las Vegas -- check out the temperature!
And that's about it. Doesn't look like much, but my journal entries tell the whole story. We had a great time together and accomplished all our goals.

Now back in Iowa we're enduring a killer heat wave! Our local church leaders have asked us to join in a day of fasting and prayer this Sunday (July 29) for drought relief. We sure need it.