Mississippi has been good for all of us, but for the first time in years I can add myself to that list. Since we have made the move and gotten settled in I have noticed some subtle yet substantial changes in myself.
To begin with, I have started losing inches...not just pounds but inches. Which means I have been toning up as well as watching what I'm eating and the portion size. I have been cooking more from scratch as well as drinking more water. I have more energy and my sleep schedule is more "normal." I am feeling better and looking better as well. My face is also responding to the extra vitamin D and is clearing up to the point that I am surprised. I have been off of the blood pressure and antibiotics for 2 months now and this is the clearest I have been since Tennessee.
I have also been getting outside a LOT more. We have a 15' x 42" pool we have been using to cool off and to give the kids something to stave off the boredom of summer. I have been going out and floating relaxing in it during the day. The result has been that not only do I have color for the first time in years, but I feel a LOT less grumpy and confined. I also have a tan that looks pretty damn good! LOL
I have been researching ways of cutting costs on things we use a LOT and ran across ways of making some of our most commonly used things. I made our first batch of laundry detergent. I am also going to make our own liquid hand soap. I also bought a bread machine and have been baking bread on a daily basis. I love how soft the bread is and how much cheaper it is! I have been looking up recipes for bread machines and am looking forward to making them. Christi says that she's "going to make a prepper out of me yet." I don't know about that, but making things versus buying them definitely gives me a sense of self pride I haven't had in many years.
We are also in the process of paying off a loan Gary got against his 401K a couple of years ago for the electric bill. Gary has said that once he gets that paid off (in 2 more paychecks) he is going to take out another one so that we can move closer to Oxford. I would love to stay out here, but the mileage and bugs are making it damn near impossible to save any money. The house we are in was empty for a year before we moved in and the yard had not been treated in god knows how long. The kids love being out here in the country and I have to admit that I really like it too, but I also miss living in town just for the convenience of being able to run down the road to pick up something that we need. We are in Oxford 5 out of 7 days a week and if we were to move there, the gas would go down. It would also give Ash a better chance of finding and keeping a job. She's going to be 18 this summer and is anxious to move out on her own. Moving into Oxford would give her a better chance for success than having to find a way into work every day that she works as well as do well in school. We're hoping to be moved by the end of summer so the kids can get settled by the time school starts.
It hasn't completely sunk in yet that we are here to stay. There's a part of me that thinks of this as "home" but there's another part that still can't believe we're here for good. Yes, we're going to visit friends and family up north when we can, but we're not planning on going back. I guess it just has to do with not having been here long enough to familiarize myself with the area. I'm getting there, but it's just going to take some time. It's beautiful down here. I'm finally getting used to the road signs and differences in ways to measure distance. I am also finally getting a mental picture of surrounding areas. Like I said, it's going to take time. When Gary moved to Kirksville so many years ago, I remember him feeling lost and wondering how he could feel lost in a small town like Kirksville. I guess now I know. By the time we left, that lost feeling had been gone for many years. I am sure that will happen here too. I just hate feeling unprepared and "out of place."
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Here We Go!
Well...today is the day. It's the day that I am going to battle the crowds of people at the store so that I can fill my cupboards with food stuffs. I have my list, menu, and working on the energy to arm myself for the upcoming battle. I'm anticipating at least 2 carts and some really tired kidlets by the end of the day. I'm also looking forward to all the goodies I will be making. Things like homemade bread, rolls, crusts, cookies, pies, cakes, and even tortillas!
Now just to get to the store and finish the hardest part of it all...getting it and putting it away.
Tari
Now just to get to the store and finish the hardest part of it all...getting it and putting it away.
Tari
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Update and Goals
It's been three months since I last posted. We made the move, have unpacked, and can...for the most part...say we are settled in. In the time that we have been here, there have been some adjustments that the family has had to make. Here's the list, so far:
As mentioned before, I have been remembering when I only had 3 children and was buying groceries once a month (excluding things like milk, eggs, bread) and we were not only eating better, but we were saving money. To buy those groceries for a month, it was only about 350 dollars and I was cooking more, eating healthier, and things were more organized. I have been trying to get back to that for several years, but found one excuse or another to postpone it. Living out here has taken away all of those excuses. We are not being forced to cut our trips into town down to a bare minimum due to the cost of gas as well as the time spent on the road. So, beginning as soon as possible I am going to be re-organizing the cupboards, freezers, and refrigerator in order to make room for the food. I am going to be cooking a lot more from scratch, planning ahead and preparing for those meals, and enjoying not worrying about the infernal question: "What's for supper, mom?"
I actually MISS baking cookies, brownies, cakes, pies, and the like. I miss setting the meat out for that evening's meal. About the only time I do that anymore is around the holidays and it's always stressful so not as enjoyable. Now that we're in a one-level house where cleaning is much easier I have not only the time, but the energy to devote to cooking like I used to. And, now that the kids are older, they can help much more than they used to. Believe it or not, I'm actually considering getting some chickens for eggs and also for meat when they no longer lay eggs. For less than 100 dollars I could build a coop for those chickens and in less than a year I could be having fresh eggs daily.
I'm hoping to not only save money, but also to become less dependent on mass production. Life is different here, but only in comparison to how things are done today. Life here is more reminiscent to how I grew up 30 years ago...where people took time to do things right the first time instead of replacing things for the convenience of it.
I'm excited for the challenges coming up. I know that they are not going to be easy, but with some elbow grease and some stamina, they will be able to be accomplished and the results will be so very worth that effort!
Tari
- Hubby is 25 miles from work so that's 50 miles a day/5 days a week being driven
- School is not as high a priority here as up north. We are in the last week and a half of school and the teachers are telling the kids that they do not need to come to school on specific days. (WHAT???) And, homework is not sent home on a nightly basis (Yes!!!)
- We are out in the middle of nowhere and LOVING IT! We can see the night sky in all of its glory, hear the insects singing, and the kids are playing outside much more than when we were in town. They are finally learning to entertain themselves with only their imagination as "toys."
- The kids are getting to experience what it was like when I was growing up...getting the small town atmosphere with the mandatory respect for elders taught by not only us as parents but also seeing their peers living the same way.
- Shopping daily is NOT possible out here. I am researching and beginning to employ things like making my own laundry detergent, dish detergent, insecticide for the animals AND yard (flea, tick, ant, and spider control), dishwasher detergent, and even fabric softener. I'm remembering when I used to do major grocery shopping once a month and putting those things into action so we can eventually have more money at the end of the month...which translates into gas into the gas tank so hubby can continue to work without worrying how he's going to get home.
- There are NO movie rental places here other than Redbox! I find that the one thing I miss the most about Kirksville is HASTINGS...go figure?
As mentioned before, I have been remembering when I only had 3 children and was buying groceries once a month (excluding things like milk, eggs, bread) and we were not only eating better, but we were saving money. To buy those groceries for a month, it was only about 350 dollars and I was cooking more, eating healthier, and things were more organized. I have been trying to get back to that for several years, but found one excuse or another to postpone it. Living out here has taken away all of those excuses. We are not being forced to cut our trips into town down to a bare minimum due to the cost of gas as well as the time spent on the road. So, beginning as soon as possible I am going to be re-organizing the cupboards, freezers, and refrigerator in order to make room for the food. I am going to be cooking a lot more from scratch, planning ahead and preparing for those meals, and enjoying not worrying about the infernal question: "What's for supper, mom?"
I actually MISS baking cookies, brownies, cakes, pies, and the like. I miss setting the meat out for that evening's meal. About the only time I do that anymore is around the holidays and it's always stressful so not as enjoyable. Now that we're in a one-level house where cleaning is much easier I have not only the time, but the energy to devote to cooking like I used to. And, now that the kids are older, they can help much more than they used to. Believe it or not, I'm actually considering getting some chickens for eggs and also for meat when they no longer lay eggs. For less than 100 dollars I could build a coop for those chickens and in less than a year I could be having fresh eggs daily.
I'm hoping to not only save money, but also to become less dependent on mass production. Life is different here, but only in comparison to how things are done today. Life here is more reminiscent to how I grew up 30 years ago...where people took time to do things right the first time instead of replacing things for the convenience of it.
I'm excited for the challenges coming up. I know that they are not going to be easy, but with some elbow grease and some stamina, they will be able to be accomplished and the results will be so very worth that effort!
Tari
Monday, February 6, 2012
The Times Are A Changin'
Let me give a little back story to why times are changing. In 1998 my husband died three days after I found out I was pregnant with our son. I decided then that it was time to start over. By starting over I meant to leave the state...no this particular part of the country. I had a 3 year old daughter and a child on the way and I wanted to get them away from the area I grew up in.
Well, fortunately (or unfortunately, I still haven't decided) I also was in love with the man I am still with and I told him that I was moving after the funeral and why. He asked me to stay. I decided to give US a try so I did. Here it is 14 years later and we are finally going to leave.
The job situation in this area is virtually nonexistent and promotion within a current job is even more so. He wants to go back to school, but not here. The kids are beginning to understand why I did not want them to grow up in this area. He is finally ready to leave. The kids (save the 2nd daughter) want to start over. Me? Well, I don't know if it's the impending upheaval in our lives or just out and out terror, but I'm scared.
Why? I have been wanting this for years. I know that where we're going is going to be great for the family. I also know it is what my oldest daughter needs for her own sanity. I know he needs this for his peace of mind. We are moving closer to members of my family that I want to be around. We can afford to live in this part of the country without sacrificing safety for the kids. What is going on?
The furthest I have gotten is that over the years I have discovered that I prefer familiarity. I know this area. I know what to expect here. I know where to go for help. I have relationships here that I will miss when we leave. However, we will have more opportunities there. The weather is warmer there. The people are "good ole boys" there. The cost of living is similar as to here. Other than the familiarity, there's nothing but 600 miles and different people between this town and that one.
I have decided to leave it up to the powers that be. If it's meant to be, we will get the house we're looking at (and will find out about today). If they are feeling really generous, he will get the transfer. If not, he says he will look at a competitor for employment. I will pack the house up and make the arrangements to move our lives from one place to another. I will get Luna road-worthy (she needs new tires, an oil change, turn signal replaced, and front end aligned). I will transfer the kids' school records. I will set up the utilities, deposits, get the tags transferred, make sure the insurance will cover from here to there, and a multitude of other things that come with a cross-country move. And then, when that is all over and done, I will want to sleep for a month!
I went to Walmart tonight with the intention of getting toilet paper for the house and came home with a new tool box, a new drill, packing tape, sharpies, quick tabs (personal joke), baggies, and a socket adapter for the new (more powerful) drill. I walked out of there thinking that I must be getting older and set in my ways because I'm taking on one hell of a job!
Tari
Well, fortunately (or unfortunately, I still haven't decided) I also was in love with the man I am still with and I told him that I was moving after the funeral and why. He asked me to stay. I decided to give US a try so I did. Here it is 14 years later and we are finally going to leave.
The job situation in this area is virtually nonexistent and promotion within a current job is even more so. He wants to go back to school, but not here. The kids are beginning to understand why I did not want them to grow up in this area. He is finally ready to leave. The kids (save the 2nd daughter) want to start over. Me? Well, I don't know if it's the impending upheaval in our lives or just out and out terror, but I'm scared.
Why? I have been wanting this for years. I know that where we're going is going to be great for the family. I also know it is what my oldest daughter needs for her own sanity. I know he needs this for his peace of mind. We are moving closer to members of my family that I want to be around. We can afford to live in this part of the country without sacrificing safety for the kids. What is going on?
The furthest I have gotten is that over the years I have discovered that I prefer familiarity. I know this area. I know what to expect here. I know where to go for help. I have relationships here that I will miss when we leave. However, we will have more opportunities there. The weather is warmer there. The people are "good ole boys" there. The cost of living is similar as to here. Other than the familiarity, there's nothing but 600 miles and different people between this town and that one.
I have decided to leave it up to the powers that be. If it's meant to be, we will get the house we're looking at (and will find out about today). If they are feeling really generous, he will get the transfer. If not, he says he will look at a competitor for employment. I will pack the house up and make the arrangements to move our lives from one place to another. I will get Luna road-worthy (she needs new tires, an oil change, turn signal replaced, and front end aligned). I will transfer the kids' school records. I will set up the utilities, deposits, get the tags transferred, make sure the insurance will cover from here to there, and a multitude of other things that come with a cross-country move. And then, when that is all over and done, I will want to sleep for a month!
I went to Walmart tonight with the intention of getting toilet paper for the house and came home with a new tool box, a new drill, packing tape, sharpies, quick tabs (personal joke), baggies, and a socket adapter for the new (more powerful) drill. I walked out of there thinking that I must be getting older and set in my ways because I'm taking on one hell of a job!
Tari
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