Do You Know Your Net Worth? (and Blog Update)

 Good Morning All ~

I just wanted to share the next video

which details how to calculate your net worth.

Also, a regular blog post is in the works,

so never fear.

This won't just be a site for video links.

I will probably discontinue after a few videos,

but the blog will remain a blog.

Hope you are all enjoying the later part of summer.

A Porch Swing

 Perhaps old age is creeping up on me.

Though I typically have enough energy

and am plenty healthy,

I've found that I'm okay with not rushing.

I've never been the Tigger of the group,

and as some of you know

have a preference of Eeyore~

so much more my speed even as a youngster.

We have been on the go a lot lately.

We've had multiple family events,

both joyous and grievous.

All serve as a reminder that life is circular,

and we should revel in each day we are given.

Time at home therefore, has been precious.

Last night as I was looking at the few things left

to be put in the ground,

Hubby asked where the broccoli was.

When I replied that I hadn't planted any,

I was met with that sorrowful expression,

"But I like broccoli."

This morning as I was running errands,

I picked up a six-pack of broccoli plants.

I'm not sure where I will put them,

but I will find a place.

My garden outlook is a little different this year.

I am usually rearing to go by garden season,

but not having a real winter break,

I've been a little slow starting.

As I dig and weed and plant, I also think.

We aren't meant to rush through just to finish,

for a garden is never really finished.

My little apple tree that is maybe 4' tall

has 9 apples on it so I've been watering it well.

The weeds I pulled last week seem to replace themselves

before I make it back through.

Just as we think we are to maintenance mode,

harvest will begin and canning season will ensue.

And this is where that porch swing comes in.

We can produce a masterpiece of a garden~

I said "We" like mine is part of that.

I'm a funny one, am I not?

Regardless of what we've created,

we need to take a moment here and there

to sit and absorb all that we've done.

There is health both in the creation of a garden

and in being emersed in it.

My mock oranges are blooming and smell so sweetly.

The honeysuckle is waning but the hummingbirds

have been enjoying it's blossoms.

I fed the first ripe strawberries to Hubby last night.

They too share their sweet aroma with us,

but we must make that brief pause to appreciate it.

It doesn't take long~

but the benefit gained is remarkable.

I headed into this Monday much more at peace

having spent 2 days mostly barefoot digging in the dirt.

If you are unaware, 

being barefoot in the dirt has its own health benefits.

I will leave you to research that and

won't mention making mud in the bathtub in the evenings.

Whatever you have for a garden,

pour a cup of tea,

take your seat on that porch swing,

and enjoy the beauty of the day.

PS~

I don't have a porch or a swing,

but we have a couple chairs we drag around to the shade.

They serve quite well.

It's About Today

 Have any of you noticed how the days are growing shorter?

No?

Well, let me share.

As I type this, it is Halloween.

I suppose it is officially the Holiday Season.

While I very much enjoy the holidays,

each in their turn,

I enjoy each day for what it is.

The made up hoopla prior to each of these 

promoting early and excessive spending

isn't the part I appreciate.

I mentioned in my last post that we keep it

pretty simple as far as gifts go.

Source

There were some wonderful comments.

(Thank you for each of those)

My thinker got stuck on that bit.

I wasn't sure why but seeing the Halloween costumes,

the Thanksgiving paper plates, and the Christmas décor

all being presented for sale at the same time

might have had something to do with it.

Please don't get me wrong.

I like seeing little ones dressed up as puppies

 or superheroes or goblins.

I love the idea of giving thanks for our blessings

as we sit down to a feast with our loved ones.

And I very much appreciate celebrating

the birth of our Savior.

Each of these is really a celebration of the heart.

We can enjoy each day just as much

as the day set on the calendar telling us to do so.

I think everyday last week was

"Look at the jewel-coloured leaves day."

Today is "Blessings falling in drops from Heaven day."

Tomorrow is looking like another of those.

We've not had real rain for quite a while so it's much needed.

It's cool and blustery

so tomorrow might be a "Yummy bowl of hot soup day" also.

I'm not saying all this simply to be a PollyAnna.

It's to be a rebel of sorts.

You already knew I was a rebel though right?

We don't need to be told when or how to celebrate.

We can do our own thing.

I had a friend in college who's family 

went skiing for Easter each year instead of looking for eggs.

They were actually very involved in their church,

so this surprised me, but it's what their family did.

It's the perfect example.

They didn't do what others did or expected.

They were/are a wonderful family and did their own thing.

We can each do that.

Go ahead and celebrate the day you are given

since we aren't guaranteed a tomorrow.

How you celebrate is entirely up to you.

Have a cup of the good coffee or tea.

Allow yourself an extra 10 minutes to read in a favorite book.

Go for a walk around the block.

Or just look out the window and appreciate the beauty.

The celebration can be internal, 

in your heart.

Perspective is a wonderful thing.

Well, being a rebel is sorta fun too.

Happy, Merry, Jolly Today

(and tomorrow too).

But It's a Good Tired

 You can find me in the garden ~

Well, this is a garden too, heehee.

Where to start?

I guess by sitting down for a moment.

I've been on the go.

Between work and regular home activities like

cooking and cleaning, etc. in addition to

getting the garden in and trying to clean up after winter,

it's been fun.

The summer kitchen is a hot mess.

I've somehow amassed a collection of items that require repair.

How does that happen?

I have just about everything planted.

I think there is one cuke waiting for me.

We've been eating radishes, and the lettuce is looking promising.

We have new planter boxes this year.

They are now all planted, but you wouldn't believe 

what it takes to fill each of those things.

Photo bomb curtesy of Ness as well 

as wood chips from filling the bottom half of each one.

I have a huge pile of pots to scrub but that's another story.

This past weekend,

we hiked 9 miles and equivalent of 74 flights of stairs.

We went back to our old hunting ground

which is where the first photo was taken.

We were looking for morels.

We didn't find any, but found 7-8 lbs. of calf-brain mushrooms

which are Hubby's favorite so he's happy.

We've been fortunate so far this year.

It's been a mild spring, and we've enjoyed occasional rains.

Last year, it seemed like the sun came out from its winter's nap and turned to triple digits immediately.

So, we are thankful everyday of this real spring.

This isn't a long post, but I wanted to let you all know

what was going on around here.

I need to snap some real pictures with or without 

feline assistance and share what's growing.

*Also*

I am having troubles leaving comments on blogs.

It says I need to sign into Google

which I am already signed into.

If I click on the button to sign in, 

it takes me back to the home page of my blog.

For some there is a drop down, and I can type my name and url.

Others won't let me at all.

I might try unfollowing and re-following 

to see if that does anything.

It really is discouraging.

If any of you know of a fix, please share in the comments.

It seems like there is something in privacy settings

that needs to be switched on,

but I can't remember what.

To Make

 Most of you who have been around any length of time

have probably figured out that I don't let not knowing

how to do something stop me.

That's not always a good thing, but . . .

I have learned so much by doing.

Children also typically learn by doing

so this can be rewarding on multiple levels.

Perhaps you've not noticed, 😉

but things have been a little sketchy for the past year or so.

It doesn't appear as though the current stresses

are going to be alleviated any time soon.

With that in mind,

I'd like to share something that happened to me years ago.

We lived about 45 minutes from the nearest grocery store.

This was when we were living up the mountain.

I was getting supper ready, making enchiladas

with left over roast beef.

I was getting everything out and ready when I realized

I didn't have any enchilada sauce.

I was evidently set on those enchiladas (still love them!)

I thought, "This is nuts.  There has to be a way to make it.

I'm sure they didn't just go buy it years ago in Mexico."

I think that was it - the moment I started asking the question,

"Can I make it?"

I don't recall ever being afraid of making things,

but that moment sticks in my head as the moment 

I was no longer interested in purchasing things that

for so long I didn't think of as being optional.

That first batch of enchilada sauce wasn't supreme,

but it was good.

I don't think I've purchased enchilada sauce since then.

Like most recipes, they are better once changed-up 

to suit our own tastes.

Since then, I've figured out how to make so many things.

Not just in the kitchen.

It's become a way for me. 

(again maybe not always a good thing)

Regardless of what it is, I tend to ask if I can make it or do it

rather than buying it which is really no more than paying

someone else to do it for me.

Over the years, it's been a good thing.

The first perk is that it nearly always saves money.

Other perks to making your own or doing for yourself are

you can make it exactly how you want it, and

you are not reliant on anyone else for it.

That last part in particular is important right now.

It seems to vary by area,

but I've experienced, read of, heard of 

not being able to find certain items (shortages),

and not being able to have someone do certain jobs.

An example: Some shingles blew off our roof. 

It was about 3-4 months before 

someone could come take care of it.

It's been like that with mechanics for the rigs also.

I could make a longer list, 

but I have a feeling most of you get it.

The thing is, there's a lot we can do our selves.

From changing battery cables to that enchilada sauce,

you can do it.

Changing a battery cable requires only that you know the difference between red and black and are able to operate a screw-driver or wrench.  It really is that simple.

Enchilada sauce is no more than tomato sauce and broth 

(or water in a pinch) with a couple spices stirred in. 

Now, why on earth would we want to change our own cables 

or make our own sauces?

You might choose not to.

That's up to you.

But there is no guarantee that the products & services

will remain available as many of us have learned.

What is available right now is knowledge.

There are online instructions for just about everything.

We each live in our own way, and

we each have things that are important to us.

I could tell you to learn how to make your own cat food,

but if you don't have a cat, that would be useless.

So I guess what I am suggesting is that you ask yourself

the question - Can you make or do it yourself?

I will make a list of some of the things we make or do ourselves.

If I have done a post, I will link it.

If there is something on the list I've not posted on,

feel free to ask.

Enchilada Sauce

Taco Seasoning

Poultry Seasoning

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Meals (cook at home)

Canned Foods 

(multiple canned foods so won't link, please use search tool)

Process Meat Animals

Rabbit Hutch

Chicken Tractor

Pantry Shelves

Small Sitting Bench

Vintage Trailer Restoration

Socks (I'm still learning)

Yarn (spinning)

Rugs

Clothes

Candles

Gifts (so many possibilities!)

Linen Bath Towels

Hand Towels

Pillow Cases

Toothpaste

Deodorant

Lotion & Lotion Bars

Laundry Soap

Body Soap

Apothecary 

Garden Path  (& another)

Tomato Trellises 

(I see they are 8 yrs. old, only 1 has needed repair.)

Garden plants (from seed)

Chicken Coop

Change Vehicle Oil & simple maintenance

I'm sure there are more things I'm not remembering.

Once you get started, you will discover that it does

become a way of living.

You won't think twice about it.

You will also find that many items are multipurpose.

This means with a few basic ingredients,

you can make many products.

An example is tomato sauce:

think of all the dishes you can make with it.

Olive oil is similar in the hygiene/apothecary dept.

A few basic tools will enable you to do many 

mechanical and home/construction tasks.

One more thing to think about ~

Time.

As with most things, experience expedites most projects.

I work outside the home so time is a very real factor.

We can't do it all, all at once, all the time, every time.

We are human and can only do what we can.

This is why humans develop communities.

For me, doing things myself brings peace of mind.

That peace of mind equals less worry and less stress.

Having restored a trailer (with MUCH help from Hubby), 

I'm not sure I'd be up to do that again.

I don't regret having done it.

It was sorta fun (that's a big sorta!) but

it was a lot of work and time consuming.

But now, I've done it.

Nobody can take that knowledge away from me.

Once you've done something,

you can then judge or prioritize accordingly.

I prefer to wash my own car.

I do a far better job and get in the door jams, gas hatch and

double scrub the grill and wheels.

There are times however, I don't have time

and go through one of those drive throughs.

I might grumble a little about the price for the outcome,

but it's all on me, my decision.

It is empowering to be able to make that decision,

not only with a simple car wash, but with many

aspects of our lives.

And lastly, there is something to producing something 

with your own two hands.

There seem to be so many jobs today that have nothing to show for the hours of input.

To actually produce something or fix something 

feeds the soul and is visual feedback for your labor.

I know this sort of feeling well.

I like to be able to see what I've done

even if it's washing the dishes or mowing the lawn.

I can see the results of my labor and that fuels me.

I love the reassurance of pulling up a video if I'm uncertain,

then giving it a shot.

Success doesn't happen without trying.

And. . .

It only takes a question.

Of Tea & Labels

Okay dear friends.

Time for something pleasant.

I know coffee gets all the glory,

but tea really is a lovely drink.

It seems I'm always trying new teas.

My favorite tea was "lemon blossom" 

which was discontinued several years ago now.

Since then, I've stuck with mint tea but have searched

for a new favorite tea that I actually really enjoy and look forward to.

There are some pretty spendy teas out there!

Many of them don't taste like they should be spendy at all.

Well, I finally found not just a tea, but several

that I really savor.

Each one I've tried, I've loved!

Where?  

Hummingbird Tea

I think I've tried six or seven of their teas and

have purchased six of them so far. . . 

and there's another I want to try - citrus chill.

I am not connected with them and I don't get any payment from them

for saying these things.

I just really like their teas and appreciate finding them.

Of all their teas I've tried, I would describe them

as "whole flavors."

So often it seems like there is something missing (like flavor).

These taste complete.

So like I said, I've ended up with half dozen different teas.

I've had these bailor jars for ages.

I purchased them at a dollar store long ago,

and they've come in handy.

I decided they would be good for the teas.

I think they are as pleasing to look at as to drink - 

well, almost.

Many of you might have figured out by now 

that I'm more about function than about fashion.

I like things to look nice,

but when it comes down to it, it has to function

and be as usable as ever.

Weeeeellll. . . . story time 

Some time back, I purchased some attractive

reusable labels to give as a gift.

They were actually for my mom who loves lavender.

The labels are good quality and very pretty.

My mom loved them.

Where did I get these great labels?

I knew you'd ask.

Mistress of the House

(Again not affiliated)

But wait, that's not the end of the story.

So Jes has a way of making things beautiful.

She takes those extra steps and it shows.

When I received the labels for my mom,

there were also a few extras in the form of samples.

Those teas above in the bailor jars needed labels

and they were handy so I wrote 

the name of the tea and put them on the jars.

I used a fine point permanent marker.

If I ever want to change them,

a quick spritz with hairspray wipes it clean.

Hairspray also works for getting permanent marker out of jeans.

Don't ask me how I know that.

Anyways, those little samples worked!

I like that they are a nice quality unlike the little paper stickers.

End story: I ordered some for me and some more for Christmas gifts.

My family is to the point in life that we really don't need "things."

So we try to give smaller things that can be used or consumed.

These are perfect!

I am having so much fun using them.

They are both functional and beautiful.

Pantry stocking this time of year can be wearing.

I am still working on the tail end of tomatoes

and will be dehydrating greens and cidering some apples

within the next week.

It's pretty easy, for me at least, to just get the stuff canned

or jarred and not label it (for shame!)

I know - that's bad.

These are certainly handy and if I'm sipping tea

while I'm canning or prepping foods,

it makes for a much nicer time.

I've been on the go quite a bit lately,

but I wanted to post something nice.

These are the items that came to mind first.

They are things I am grateful for~

I hope you enjoy them.

 

September~

 It's September~

Can you believe it?

September is that nondescript month without a season.

It makes up for it with all its activities.

For me, it's a time to preserve.

The gardens are growing in full force since the Heat Dome dispersed.

I've done pretty well this year so far.

The heat made things a little wonky, but it all somehow works out.

Now I'm down to tomatoes.

I was completely out of sauce and down to 5 jars of diced.

That's only 2-3 meals of diced for us depending upon what's cookin'.

I did not photoshop this pix.  They really look like that 😂

So I am trying to get them canned up while I can.

I have reusable lids so am getting used to those on things 

that only require water bath canning just in case of operator error.

During the 2 months of triple digit weather,

anything outside wilted about as quickly as the sun rose.

By the time the weather broke, most flowers at the markets 

were marked down for quick sale.

I happened upon some of them and rescued them from their

garbage bin destiny.

They have thanked me in the most generous way.

Their blooms are beautiful and though my little area

is still a work in progress, it is a welcome spot.

And I am thankful I was able to have a few flowers

to brighten the area even if a little later than usual.

My bean wall took forever to get going but now is going crazy.

The bean blossoms are usually white and some have been, 

but we are also seeing these beautiful spice colored flowers.

I think I have 3 different kinds of beans in here due to

them being eaten in the spring.

I have potatoes to dig and will be rearranging the raised beds 

before next year.

I have another idea for next year (heehee, go ahead and shake your head.)

And lastly, I started this post the beginning of the month,

but we've been hoppin'.

Hubby had a goal of 60 gallons of salsa this year.

We have currently made 99 quarts.

I had to chime in and tell him he can't hog all the tomatoes.

I still need more sauce.

Our pepper plants are going like gang-busters also,

and he doesn't want them "to go to waste."

I told him we could freeze some poppers to use some up.

I will get this posted and hopefully be able to put together

a more reasonable post soon.

Hope each of you is enjoying the turning of the leaves.

Those Useful Things

 Y'all already know I'm nuts right?

I purposely try to give thanks when I meet 

a real, genuine, kind, and 

normal (by my standards whatever that might be) person.

This week, I met one of those people.

Some time back, I really worked on getting plastics out of our house.

There were some things that were easier than others.

One of the challenging things was to find a good laundry basket.

I did find one about a year ago, but it was expensive.

It was expensive enough that I went home and stewed on it

for a week or two before finally deciding to buy it.

I am hoping it lasts the rest of my life. 

I love my laundry basket!

Now how many people can really say that?  

As I said, I've used it for about a year.

It seems just as sturdy as the day I purchased it

and shows no signs of wear.

This was important to me if I was spending money on a basket.

We have a small area for laundry right inside our back entrance

so there's not a lot of extra room.

The basket sits on the washer 

and acts as our hamper during the week.

Laundry day, I set it on the floor to sort loads.

Then as each load is done, I take it out to the summer kitchen

where I have the clothes line set up.

We have so much wind here, 

it's almost impossible to hang clothes outside.

They get dirtier than before washing.

So I do the next best thing under the circumstances.

To haul the wet clothes out to the summer kitchen,

I use a slightly smaller basket that is. . . . 

plastic :-(

As far as plastic baskets go, it is a good shape and size

but it stands out in our home like you wouldn't believe.

I recently contacted the maker of my basket to inquire

if she would be willing to make me another one only slightly smaller so it will fit right inside the one I have.

She said she would and asked if I could bring my basket by

so that she could make sure it would fit as she was making it.

We made the necessary arrangements,

 and I dropped it off at her home.

I had never met her in person.

It took about a half an hour for me to simply drop off a basket.

She is a delightful person.

Isn't it funny how when we meet some people,

there is little to say and much silence.

Then with other people, it seems like there should be a pot of tea

so the conversation can keep going.

She was one of the later, and I was ever so grateful to meet her.

And aside from her genuine character,

she has a fabulous skill.

It will be a couple weeks before I get to use both of my baskets

to do the laundry.

Doesn't that sound silly~

to be anxious to use laundry baskets.

Well, that is my kind of excitement.

I truly appreciate quality items and even if a purchase is difficult

to bite off from a financial perspective,

not only not regretting a purchase but also being glad of it

is even better.  

And I'm learning more and more

quality people tend to make quality items.

Perhaps that's part of the draw.

That's all I really have for today.

I just wanted to share the appreciation of something good.

I hope each of you finds a bit of goodness today.

Other Ways

 So you might have figured out by now that I'm just not normal.

I'm getting more and more okay with that

the more I see what so called normal is.

                       I spoke a few posts back about a master list I keep

of things I'm continually on the lookout for.

Well this week, I got to mark another thing off the list.

This is about a 1940 model wringer washer that works!

Now I already had a wringer washer, but it didn't have a lid

and the head no longer swiveled.

Since I actually want to use it, not having a lid meant 

it wasn't okay to use in the house.

The water would splash all over.

Other than that, it works great, and I have used it a handful of times.

When we moved to the house we are in,

there was a new washer and dryer already in the house

so we intended on leaving our old washer and dryer up the river.

After using the new set a couple of times, we put it in the basement

and brought our old set from the mountain.

The new washer only put about 4" of water in the bottom

and the clothes came out in knots and dirtier looking than when they went in.

The dryer wasn't much better.

I use our old set and will until it dies at which time it will not be replaced.

I seldom use the dryer.

I do use it when crazy happens in life, and I just need to get laundry done,

but that isn't the norm and even in those circumstances, I could hang the clothes

and deal with the inconvenience.

The washer on the other hand, I use regularly (of course).

When the ol' trusty Kenmore dies, I don't want to be stuck

depending on a newer model.

                One thing I've strived for over the past however many years

is to replace newer inferior products with old dependable items.

Like I said, I had an old wringer that would work,

but if I had to use it regularly, it would be a little less than ideal.

That's why I was looking for an upgrade.

                        It's sure interesting how things work out sometimes.

Most of the old wringers I've seen that are in working order

have been selling for hundreds of dollars.

I had mentioned to a friend that I was looking for one.

This past week she let me know of one on FB marketplace.

I'm not on FB so it took a little coordinating,

but the end result is a couple days ago, this darling gem came home with me

for a very reasonable price.

It was funny when I went to look at it, the fella had it handy to look at.

It was in a little "town" of a couple hundred people out in the middle of nowhere.

There was an outlet right there, and I asked if I could plug it in.

He looked a little startled and asked, "Are you going to use it?"

I grinned ear to ear and replied, "Yep."

He looked amazed.

We plugged it in, and it worked fine so we loaded it up and I paid him.

Now whenever our washer gives out, we will be okay.

You'll laugh, but I refer to that as insurance & investment.

This is the kind of insurance I believe in.

I also see it as investing since I should never have to buy another washer.

These are work-horses, they last, and are repairable if they do breakdown.

If only I could find clothes and shoes that would last as long.

  

I was by myself so couldn't really get a picture while putting the clothes

through the wringer.

We get our work clothes really dirty

 so I was curious to see if they would get cleaner with this washer.

They do appear to be cleaner which is great.

The wringer didn't seem to get as much of the water out

as the spin cycle of the Kenmore, but that could be partially

due to operator inefficiency.

It had been a long time since I used a wringer for laundry.

So they did take a little longer to dry, but that wasn't a big deal to me.

Like I said, I will continue to do laundry with our "regular" washer,

but I really like knowing that I have a back up

and that it really wasn't that big of a deal to use it.

I used it outside and don't have it set up in an optimal situation,

but it was only a test run.

If I was going to use it regularly,

I would have it set up so that filling it with water and draining it

were easier.

The other note is that I did a full load of laundry.

The basin looks so much smaller and is easier to reach 

because of the shape, but I fit just as many clothes in it

as in the large capacity Kenmore washer.

I guess other than letting you know I'm a little goofy,

I'd like to encourage you to think outside of the box a little

when it comes to things we do as part of our routine

without giving much thought to what goes into it.