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
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
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
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