Homesick for Home Business

Thinking of dating

2011-11-28T07:28:00.001-06:00

This is the time of year when I really notice that I'm alone. Sometimes, I'm lonely for companionship. I've been a widow since 2005 and have only dated twice...that was in the past year.

It's hard to meet someone when all I do, it seems, is work. So, I'm thinking about joining a place that offers free dating online. Maybe I can find someone like that. I know to be careful and not just agree to meet someone in some out of the way location. I also know not to give too much personal information out. I don't want some stranger coming up to my door or to my workplace!

Still, with proper screening, this could be a way to meet a new friend who could come to mean much more.

Technorati Tags: dating

Mom's recent problems

2011-11-28T07:22:00.001-06:00

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving. I traveled about 85 miles north of where I live to spend some time with my Mom, who is now 89 years old. She's not been doing too well lately.

She fell at home then about a week later called my sister for help. Not from the fall itself, but because she was experiencing some very bad bleeding. She was very weak and had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital, where she stayed for a few days. It turns out she had a bleeding ulcer. She received 2 units of blood while there, and a few tests. The doctor put her on a new medicine to control the ulcer.

Now, she's still trying to regain her strength and it's been almost a month. She's staying with my sister who is helping her. She's making sure she takes her medicines correctly and she has arranged for a physical therapist and a visiting nurse to come by a few times a week.

The PT is helping. Mom is now able to walk some with the aid of a walker. Her earnest desire is to go back home and be with her cat again, so that's been a real incentive for her. Still, it will be a few weeks at least before any of us will feel comfortable with her staying alone.

Technorati Tags: physical therapy,hospital

Store startup

2011-11-14T13:38:00.001-06:00

I have often thought I'd like to have my own little store. A small operation where I could serve some coffee in the morning and sell grocery items, clothing items, and house wares.

To do that means using the resources at a store supplies seller. This particular one guarantees their products 100%. They also don't mind smaller orders and do offer good prices on everything from mannequins to shelving to displays.

For a person to begin a small store business means choosing your supplier carefully. You don't want to be ripped off price-wise, but you do want quality fixtures that will stand the test of time. After all, they are going to take a lot of wear and tear from customers and their children. It also means using borrowed or saved money to get started. The less you have to pay up front, the greater your chances for turning a profit sooner.

Technorati Tags: business

More about homestead income

2011-11-14T13:25:00.001-06:00

Son and I were just this morning discussing more ways to generate some income with farm or homestead based business. For instance, we can make chicken feeders at a very low cost and in turn, sell them for a low price. They aren't difficult to make at all and anyone can really do it, but the thing is -- will they?

Most folks would just as soon buy an item than spend the time to make it, especially if the item is priced reasonably. I found that to be true back when I made and sold crafts.

Now, some folks will still buy some crafts but not as many as it used to be since we have a down-turned economy. Most people now will be shopping for items they can really use, even on a homestead-like spot in town. The larger town nearby is fortunate in that the citizens can still raise small gardens, have a few chickens or a goat, and still be within the law. The town began as a rural based community and has not forgotten its roots, even though now it surpasses 50,000 in population.

Attractive and functional chicken feeders might just sell well in that town. The bucket portion is white but the feeder portion can be just about any decorator color. The one I use for my own chickens is hot pink!

There are other things we can create here that could be of use to urban homesteaders -- small cages, small chicken runs, small rabbit hutches, and even watering systems for small animals.

Technorati Tags: entrepreneurism

Business helping through social media

2011-11-14T13:18:00.000-06:00

I know you've seen those ads in the sidebars of Facebook. I have. Some of them are pretty interesting. Some of them are even from local companies, since the social networking site knows where we are located and can let advertisers gear ads toward us.

But I bet you didn't know that many companies use Facebook advertising as a way to help put the word out concerning the ways they are actually helping others. Some of them are going more green. Others are donating a part of their income to special needs and humanitarian efforts.

So, the next time you observe those ads, take a closer look. Not every big corporation is completely greedy. Some are actually trying to help.

Technorati Tags: business

Set up for power failure

2011-11-14T13:04:00.001-06:00

I have been waiting all day for a storm to arrive. It's not that I like storms, but I'm ready for this one! All the animals have been cared for early. Their homes are pretty well weather proofed so they won't be getting wet and chilled.

I have the generator grounded, filled with gas and oil, and ready to fire off should the power go out. I have a heavy duty cord in place that I can plug into a power strip to keep my laptop, wireless modem, a light or two, and my phone charger going.

I'll go out in a bit and check for eggs in the hen house and in the quail cages, so that chore will be out of the way. Other than that, nothing much to do but wait and watch the skies and weather reports.

I have signed up for a weather warning phone call in case it gets real bad. However, the last time it got bad, the storm was fully engaged over my house before I got the call saying it was in the vicinity. I'm not sure how much good that will really do.

Technorati Tags: weather,generator,electricity

Promoting your business

2011-11-14T03:27:00.002-06:00

From time to time a small business really hits it big. Sam Walton started with a simple Five-and-Dime store in Bentonville, Arkansas that developed into a global enterprise known as Wal-Mart. He had a dream and he worked hard to make it become a reality.

It's so much easier with today's technology to reach hundreds if not thousands of possible customers for your business. That's where a place like an Advertising Agency comes in. They are strictly an internet advertising company.

They know the ins and outs of online advertising and can help you achieve the reach you desire on the web. The highly trained individuals who work for them can lead you across the bumpy miles of web advertising to achieve even more than you ever thought you could.

They have the software to help you track exactly how successful your advertising program is, and exactly where your advertising dollars are going. This gives you the opportunity as the business owner to see which campaigns are working and which ones aren't. If something isn't working as you'd hoped, you know which way you need to go next to achieve the desired results.

The way they are set up, they have personnel who are experts in their field and who have focus in particular areas. This enables them to streamline and advertising plan for you based on your particular business. They don't use the broad brush to create advertising that is one-size-fits-all. It's tailor made for your online advertising.

Technorati Tags: business

Multiple Streams of Income

2011-11-14T03:10:00.001-06:00

"Multiple Streams of Income" What does that really mean? It doesn't mean having a second job, I don't think. What it means to me is maybe having your base job plus developing other ways to generate income.

It can mean having some chickens in the backyard that lay enough eggs so you can sell a few dozen a week. It can mean raising chicks, quails, or rabbits to sell as pets. It can mean developing a craft idea that can be marketed at craft shows or flea markets. It can even mean teaching classes to individuals or small groups of people in a field where you are excellent.

In fact, it can mean doing more than one of the above, or finding your own multiple streams of income. For instance, I can sell enough eggs to cover the chicken feed, though nothing more. However, that's just fine since it saves money that would come out of my regular income. From time to time, I can write paid blog posts. That helps cover my internet and phone expenses. I can even sell items on eBay to add to my income.

What can you do to supplement your income? Perhaps it's only seasonal, as those who create Christmas decorations to sell. Perhaps it's something you can do year 'round to pull in a few extra dollars a month.

Technorati Tags: entrepreneurism,income

Small business

2011-11-06T22:29:00.001-06:00

We have all heard about the bailouts for banks and large corporations. I have sat wondering about the little guy. The "mom and pop" business that don't have access to the kind of money they need to grow their business.

I discovered that there actually is stimulusfunding small business loans that are available now. Someone who operates a small manufacturing business or retail business can access this money, with provisions, to add to their business or hire employees.

I like the idea of small businesses being helped. I truly believe they are the backbone of the economy.

Technorati Tags: business

Resolved pay issues

2011-11-06T22:23:00.001-06:00

Good news. The pay issue will be resolved. I'm going back to a regular paper check instead of direct deposit. I am very happy about that. The company I work for has had all manner of problems with the large banking corporation they are doing business with. It's been glitch after glitch until they are sick of messing with it.

They gave me a nice advance on my pay, which I'll return when it finally does hit the bank. In the meantime, I can put gas in my vehicle, at least, and minutes on my phone.

Still, this makes me even more determined to further reduce my expenses and find more ways to generate income that don't involve working for someone else.

Technorati Tags: job,work,paycheck

Still upset about pay

2011-11-05T09:33:00.001-05:00

This whole paycheck/direct deposit thing has me really upset. Somebody needs to change the way this is handled. I'm not alone among those affected who are pretty fired up at the delay.

These folks operate a multi-million dollar business and this is the best they can do? If we all headed into their corporate office on Monday, they'd need Bolle Gravity ski goggles to protect them from all the smoke coming off our heads over it.

One person is sort of rolling over on it. I've rolled over on plenty of stuff, but this is one area they should take special care of. You just don't mess with a person's pay!

Technorati Tags: paycheck,direct deposit

Payday delayed till Monday

2011-11-05T09:14:00.001-05:00

So, here I sit wishing I got paid today. My company changed from paper checks to debit cards or direct deposit. Well, apparently if you don't use the same bank they use, you don't get paid until this coming Monday. This is a terrible way to do business and a terrible way to treat workers.

Some, crew people, will be getting paper checks today, Managers, on the other hand, who put in a lot of hard work and who don't use The Bank won't see a direct deposit into their accounts until Monday morning.

Sorry, folks. Sucks to be you. Sucks to be me, too. I don't use their bank and the way they set this up is really uncalled for. The technology is in place to pay people at any moment.

Like anyone, I have bills to pay. I desperately need gas in my truck. I used up all my funds over the past couple of weeks when Mom fell, and again when she wound up in the hospital, to go be with her. I wouldn't do anything differently, of course. But I was expecting a payday today so I could continue with everyday life. It's not happening.

I am extremely upset about this.

Technorati Tags: paycheck

Selling some eggs

2011-11-03T17:03:00.001-05:00

Looks like I'm venturing into the egg selling business. Not by leaps and bounds, by any means. But I can now sell 4 or 5 dozen eggs a week, which will help to offset some of the feed costs associated with keeping backyard chickens.

I've started by offering them to co-workers via a popular social networking site. I offered three dozen extra large brown eggs, noting that they are organic and free range, and immediately got a response for two of them. I don't think I'll have any problems selling them.

Today, one of the ladies who works with me, who doesn't have computer access, expressed an interest in buying eggs. So, next trip into town, which will also be a work day for me, I'll but eggs into my styrofoam cooler and see who want some.

Besides the extra large ones, I also have some regular size eggs. To me, they look very small but in reality are probably around the same size as store bought medium or large eggs.

I'm offering them for $2 a dozen, which is pretty cheap I think. Eventually I may have to go up on the price if feed prices go up. By the way, the feed I do give them is whole grains and oyster shell. No medications of any kind.

Technorati Tags: egg,chickens,feed

Surveys to build business

2011-11-03T16:53:00.001-05:00

As a person who is keenly interested in generating income from home, I am also very interested in testing the market from time to time to see what people are really wanting. I have a few skills in various areas, including but not limited to, teaching, homesteading, and various crafts. Every so often, I run something for sale on eBay or other online sales sites.

Selling is one way I can earn extra income, but it doesn't always work out so well. What people may have eagerly bid on in the past they may skip over now. I'm sure it's a direct result of the state of the economy. When you're trying to begin or improve your business, a survey is in order.

You can get a survey template online from a site that generates them for you or allows you to create your own. In fact, you can find free survey templates there that you can use. For a small monthly fee, you get access to more survey tools. email addresses, more surveys per month, your own brand marketed on the survey, and so much more.

Those of us who are serious about our business will find these enormously useful. In addition, you are able to engage in live chat via a toll free number to get more help and tips. Some of the biggest names in business use this survey service. I'm thinking, why not rub elbows with the best and build a small business using the same tools they do?

Technorati Tags: business,surveys

Egg production up

2011-10-25T00:06:00.001-05:00

Slowly but surely, the hens are beginning to lay more eggs. Today I got 6 eggs, two of which were smaller than the rest. I'm assuming they are from two of the spring chickens that we raised.

They began laying the week before last, with us getting only one or two a day. I went for a 4-day visit to my Mom's and my son said he was getting more eggs. He thought maybe we'd got about a dozen during my visit, several of which he used for meals.

Right now I have about a dozen and a half in the fridge right now, so I'm pretty happy about it. We ate some for supper after I got home and I still have that many left.

Most of the eggs are too large to fit into the egg cartons I have on hand. You can't close the lid on them, and they were for large eggs at the grocery store. I suppose that means these are jumbo eggs? Regardless, since the hens free-range during the afternoons, and we don't feed any medicated feeds to them, I'm pretty happy with what they are giving us now.

If the production continues to improve, then I'll have enough to sell a few dozen a week to help offset the cost of feed.

Technorati Tags: eggs,chickens

The Place for Us

2011-10-24T23:36:00.001-05:00

The Author of this post is Cheryl Martinez

Moving here was an undertaking…it’s so far out in the country I had to learn all kinds of new stuff about pest control and satellite internet and even well water. Well water! I’m a city girl through and through but at the end of the day it just made sense with all the dogs that I would move outside of town and end up with more land so that’s what I went looking for late last year. I’m finally starting to settle in here and the boxes are more or less all unpacked and the dogs are just in hog heaven with the big yard to run around in and the park nearby. I’ve always been an animal lover and when I adopted my third last year I knew I had to make some changes to my lifestyle to accommodate them. I don’t mind it at all though since they’re so happy and they feel loved. That’s my goal in life, to love these dogs and make them as happy as possible!

Technorati Tags: dogs,home,moving

Quail for supper

2011-10-24T23:29:00.001-05:00

We culled 5 of our quails today. One of them wasn't perking along very well anyway and the others had picked at him. Another one was picked at as well. So, those two needed to be dispatched. The other three were smaller males. We plan to keep the largest males for breeding, which will occur probably around March.

The quail hens aren't laying much right now, even though we are keeping a light on them at night. Like chickens, quails need at least 14 hours of light per day to continue laying. The next thing will be to add drop lights next to the cages with incandescent bulbs in them to produce some warmth. We'll add one to the chicken house, too.

We already wrapped the cages with clear plastic. No, not so much as to smother the birds but enough to keep out the cold wind and rain. They don't do well if they get wet and chilled. Hypothermia can really take its toll on quails.

We fried the culled quails like chicken and had them for supper. We had enough leftover to share with some friends, too.

There's something very basic and satisfying about raising your own livestock and using it for food on the table.

Technorati Tags: quail,quails,eggs

Planning for a utility trailer

2011-10-18T15:12:00.001-05:00

For me to continue with my small homesteading projects, I'm going to have to either get a pickup truck or a small trailer. I need to be able to haul building materials, feed, hay, barrels (for the feed and for rainwater caching), and other items that are too large or bulky to fit inside the back of my Explorer.

I don't want to get rid of the Explorer. It's been such a good vehicle with few issues so far. It's fairly comfortable to ride in and drive. There are times, such as when I bought a lot of quails and had two cages to haul them in, when I need it for protecting what I'm carrying. It's also handy for groceries, to keep them from getting wet when it rains.

My oldest son has a small utility trailer he's willing to let me use, if I can just find tires for it. I think I may have two tires that will fit it already. What I don't have, though, is a trailer hitch for the bumper or a receiver hitch. This means doing a bit of shopping for curt trailer hitches or something similar to add to my Explorer bumper. It also means wiring in a light plug and making sure I have a way to hook up safety chains.

So much to think about!

Technorati Tags: truck,trailer,hitch,homesteading

Unique gift giving for Christmas

2011-10-17T00:02:00.001-05:00

No, it's not even Thanksgiving yet, or even Halloween, but this is when you really should be shopping for Christmas. While there aren't throngs of shoppers you can shop as you will, taking your time, searching out the best deals, and not being hassled by salespersons.

This is also the time when you won't be inundated with TV ads for everything from lighted sneakers to kitchen gadgets. You can think and decide with a clear head.

The truth is, some of my most treasured gifts for Christmas have been ornaments for christmas decorating. They aren't all tree ornaments, either. Some are parts of vignettes that I set up around the house. They have mostly been gifts from my dear Mother, who thinks in terms of things that aren't faddish but which will last with memories of Christmas past.

That's exactly how I like to give to others, as well. It's not always about the latest kitchen gadget or electronic device. Sometimes, it's about a handmade work of Christmas art that connects to a memory.

Technorati Tags: Christmas,gift,shopping

High cost of higher education

2011-10-16T23:53:00.001-05:00

I recently watched a video centered around how much it costs college/university students to complete a degree. It was pretty scary thinking about how much these young people wind up owing by the time they graduate. Even scarier is how much they wind up owing after going back to upgrade their degree. Then, so many of them can't even get a job in their chosen field.

Gone are the days, it seems, that a young person could work their way through college and be debt-free at the end of it. There was a time when a kid could work at a burger joint, play guitar at a local eatery, or even work on campus to foot the bill for classes, labs, and books. Some kids are still able to do this. One things is they don't live beyond their means. They use their income for education and basic necessities, not for dining out, nights on the town, fast cars, or designer duds.

Maybe that's the real answer -- learning to budget.

Technorati Tags: college,education,debt

Cool mornings

2011-10-14T11:53:00.001-05:00

Fall is coming on in spurts this year. For instance, a few days ago it was in the 70s for overnight lows. This morning it was in the lower 40s. Brrr! I know, that's not the coldest it's going to get, but it's definitely time for flannel jammies instead of teddies lingerie.

In fact, when I woke up this morning I was quite reluctant to come out from under the covers. I did manage to brew a pot of coffee, but I sat on the sofa with a throw wrapped around me, sipping the steaming coffee. I was just trying to warm up.

I don't want to run the heaters yet and increase my electric bill. As long as I can layer on some clothes or wrap up in a blanket, I'll keep them off. I know that in a few weeks it's going to be a lot colder and that tactic won't work. Then, I'll roll out the heaters and use them, but with great care and discrimination.

Technorati Tags: autumn,weather

Eggs and beans

2011-10-14T11:34:00.001-05:00

Well, we finally got our first chicken egg today. It's a promise of more to come. This will really help supplement our diet and could save money on groceries, as soon as they are laying enough to offset the cost of feed. The quails give us a few eggs each day, too, though they are so small it takes at least 4 of them to equal one medium to large chicken egg.

I'm still picking beans and peas from the garden. Some of the plants have pretty well quit producing, but the butter beans are still gorgeous, blooming, and producing pods. We have eaten quite a few delicious meals from all the beans and peas. I pull a couple of carrots to throw in with them and it makes for a nice medley of veggies.

I have late tomatoes and cucumbers growing. I'll be surrounding them with heavy plastic to make a sort of mini-greenhouse and keep them going for awhile.

Technorati Tags: gardening,chickens,eggs

Growing into a job

2011-10-06T06:35:00.005-05:00

It's funny how things turn out in life. We begin with big dreams of being rich or famous, but later we sometimes dream of just raising the kids and making ends meet.

Sometimes, though, we happen onto a job that offers us advancement and more good pay. Maybe even good benefits. My younger daughter has done just that.

She started out in food service, working at a sandwich shop. She then changed jobs and began working at an eye doctor's office. Mostly what she did was fit people for glasses. Now, she has advanced in her job and her training so that she works in a Medical & Clinical Laboratory for an ophthalmologist, assisting in the eye surgery wing and helping people with contact lenses.

I'm really very proud of her.

Technorati Tags: career

More self-sufficient

2011-10-06T06:27:00.001-05:00

Things are rolling along here pretty well. I've added 50 more quail to the "livestock" plus 3 more rabbits and 4 more hens. This should be enough to establish some good breeding that will give us meat for the freezer in the next couple of months. Plus, we will have eggs to eat as well.

My gardens have about played out, but I'm still picking beans and peas. I planted a fall crop of turnips and cucumbers. I figure I'll have to cover some things with plastic to keep them going for a long enough time to really produce. For instance, I have three late tomato plants that will need protecting.

The intense heat of a few weeks ago really took a toll on everything else. Add to that the fact that we were and still are under drought conditions, and you have an idea of how poorly some of the vegetables produced. Yet, we have had some meals from the gardens which means I saved some money on groceries. (Seeds are cheap.)

I managed to save some seeds to plant next year because I grow non-hybrid, non-gmo vegetables. Also, some of the seeds I purchased this year have been saved because I had only so much space for planting and there is a minimum amount you buy from the seed store.

I am hoping by next spring to have a couple of milk goats here, which should round out my food needs pretty well. Plus, when they have kids, the kids can be sold or butchered for meat.

My plan is to not have to buy so many groceries. Maybe only cooking fats, butter, flour, and coffee. Doing so will greatly reduce my need for more income.

Technorati Tags: country living,gardening

Shopping for cheaper insurance

2011-09-16T11:44:00.001-05:00

As long as I'm using coupons for shopping, figuring out ways to live more cheaply, and growing as much of my own food as possible, I should probably be scouting out places like www.wholesaleinsurance.net for my car insurance. I might just find a better deal than what I'm getting now.

I don't have full coverage because my vehicle is too old for that. A fender bender would render it totaled anyway, so why bother? But, like so many states, we are required to have liability insurance. My driving record is outstanding, which helps me get lower rates. It never hurts to shop around, though. Loyalty doesn't give you much when it comes to insurance costs!

Technorati Tags: shopping,insurance

Goals getting closer

2011-09-16T11:32:00.001-05:00

I am slowly building my self-sufficiency stockpiles and gardens. I've got quails, chickens, rabbits, and several garden plots in my yard already, and plans for more. I eventually want a couple of small milk goats to add to the mix for milk and eventually more meat options.

I don't plan to raise pork or beef since either of them take up too much room on my small place. I am hoping that with time, regardless of what happens with the economy, I can feed myself and perhaps some Friends and Family with what I'm producing here.

My next project will be connecting my solar panel to my batteries. I have two old batteries I can exchange for more, when the time comes, thus extending my solar capabilities. I hope to someday pull off the grid and be entirely self-sufficient.

Technorati Tags: self-sufficiency,off grid

Using coupons

2011-09-02T02:15:00.001-05:00

I have rediscovered coupons. It's not that I didn't know they existed or where to find them. I used to use coupons almost religiously for everything I could. But now, with the keen interest focused on "extreme couponing", I decided to start seeing how much money I could save on my purchases.

I set a few rules for myself.

I won't be using coupons for things I never use anyway. It makes no sense to me to buy something I'll never use.
I won't be trying to cheat the limits rules. I might get the advertised limit of items, but I won't be returning time after time to get even more just because it's "one coupon per visit".
I won't drive all over town to use coupons. Gas prices are too high to travel miles from store to store.

Having followed my own rules, I saved about 1/3 of the total cost on a list of items from a national drug store which also sells groceries. This amounted to about $22, which, to me is as good as check city payday advances. These coupons were used on items I use and buy anyway, so I think I did pretty good. I kept some of my hard earned money in my wallet instead of spending so much.

Technorati Tags: shopping,coupons

Looking at another service provider

2011-08-15T23:45:00.003-05:00

I really wish my internet service was working right now. The whole reason I got it was so I could post from the comfort of my home instead of driving to a place where there is free wifi. However, if this keeps up, I'll either switch providers or give it up altogether and just bite the driving bullet.

In the meantime, maybe my provider should be looking at network cable wiring reviews to see what's going wrong with the way they are doing things. It's bad enough that I can only get 1.5gb download capability where I live, but to have it off part of the time, well, it's just not working for me and they shouldn't be satisfied with it either.

Has anyone tried the Verizon air cards? Do they work alright?

Technorati Tags: internet

Saving seeds

2011-08-15T23:45:00.001-05:00

This past spring I attended a seed swap. I didn't have much to offer this time, since it was my first time attending. However, I think I'll have plenty of seeds saved from the things I've grown so far. A few things I planted just for the seeds. Why? Because I didn't have enough for a full plot.

Saving seeds is a good way to ensure the survival of heritage plants. Some of these plants would be lost forever otherwise. They are generally hardy plants with good production levels. The haven't been genetically modified and the seeds grow true to the mother plant. They are open pollinated, so it's not hard to get viable seeds from them.

I did learn that for tomatoes and cucumbers, you have to put the whole fruit in a bucket or jar and just let it rot. Once rotted completely, you rinse them to get the seeds and let the seeds dry. This method is used to get rid of the gelatinous coating found on their seeds.

Technorati Tags: gardening

Growing tobacco

2011-08-15T23:44:00.001-05:00

This is my first year trying to grow tobacco, and it hasn't really done that well. I started some plants in peat pots and they did sprout, but all died before I could get them outside. I even tried sowing some seeds directly in the ground, but they also failed.

A week or so ago, a friend gave me three or four well-started plants, so I planted them outside. They seem to be doing ok right now. His suggestion was to plant them in a more shady area as our extreme heat has damaged some of his. He started putting bottomless buckets and boxes around his plants and that really helped, he said.

Now, I won't have enough tobacco to really do anything with out of 4 plants, but it's a fun project to try. I'll let Backwoods cigars do that actual growing and harvesting. However, tobacco plants are really pretty and they have very fragrant blooms, so they are a good choice for a flower bed. You do have to watch out for hornworms on them, just like with tomatoes. They can eat a plant down in no time!

Technorati Tags: gardening

Fall gardening time

2011-08-15T23:43:00.001-05:00

It's the time of year to plant late and fall gardens. Can you believe summer is halfway over with? I can't, although for a few weeks there -- with extreme high temperatures and drought conditions -- it seemed like it would never end.

For us here in Arkansas, it's time to plant turnips, collards, mustard greens, carrots, lettuce, radishes and even cucumbers and some beans. We've got a lot of growing season left for these quicker crops.

I've already got seeds for everything but the mustard greens, so I'll pick up a small portion of them this coming week. In the meantime, I have plots available for planting everything else. The fall garden should be pretty full and maybe it won't burn up like the summer one did!

Technorati Tags: gardening

Hot dry summer homesteading

2011-08-13T22:43:00.001-05:00

We've been under a terrible drought the past couple of months. It has finally started raining again, though, and I'm very happy and thankful for that. It has almost come to late to save my garden beds, but at least some things will still produce into the fall. I'll be canning, freezing, or dehydrating what I can.

We lost a couple of quails due to the high heat, too. I hated it but then, we really only want the strongest, fittest of them to survive. The ones that are left obviously got pretty hot, but with plenty of fresh water and shade, they made it through the worst days. I'm figuring to buy about 10 more females so we can start having more quail eggs and incubate them for new birds. We will rotate the quails out -- killing the older birds and raising the younger ones for meat and eggs.

The rabbits are doing well. We have kept a fan on them during the hot afternoons and supplied them with frozen water bottles to lay against for cooling down. In the past, I've lost rabbits in the heat and only this year learned of these two tricks to help them beat the heat and be comfortable.

It's time to separate the buck from the does now, so that means a new hutch or at least partitioning off a portion of the current one. We don't want any unexpected breeding to occur. We will also need to build a grow-off hutch for young rabbits that we plan to sell or eat.

The chickens seem to be tolerating the heat OK. They have a very shaded area and plenty of water. They aren't laying eggs yet, so they aren't too stressed. They should start laying in a couple of weeks. The potential for laying hens is pretty impressive. Averaging 300 eggs a year times 8 hens, that's 2400 eggs a year possible, if all goes well. If I break it down into weekly production, it's about 4 dozen eggs a week. During high production months, it can go higher. During low production months, much lower.

Now, we'll never be able to eat all those eggs but in my state we are allowed to sell "country eggs" without inspection or licensing as long as the carton is clearly labeled. We can use cartons we've collected as long as the original printing has been obliterated in some way and we've re-labeled them. We do have to wash the eggs well before we sell them, of course.

Technorati Tags: gardening,weather,homesteading

How to heat this winter?

2011-08-10T23:22:00.001-05:00

I am really looking for a good way to heat my small house without going broke on electricity. We aren't allowed to have gas or wood in this house. Well, we can have gas heat if it's vented, but there really isn't a place to put a vented gas heater. So, it means I have to use electric heat instead.

I currently have three of the oil filled radiator heaters, but I'm seriously considering replacing two of them with one infrared heater. The wattage is about the same, but I think the infrared will give off better heat plus it's fan-forced.

Do any of you have any experience with these? I know it's only August and still hot weather, but I really want to be ready when cold weather does come along.

Technorati Tags: winter,weather,heater

Surviving

2011-08-10T22:53:00.001-05:00

There is a movement afoot. It's a prep movement, and it no longer includes "crazies" who are trying to build a fort against the onslaught of the government and their neighbors. It's ordinary, everyday people trying to live more sustainable lifestyles and getting prepared for whatever nature or the world economy may throw their way.

Some of these folks are in small, efficient cabins and are working toward living off-grid. Others are using RVs, campers, and motor homes. They are making sure their 5th wheel insurance is paid up, but they are also making sure their RVs are more self-sufficient than ever, including adding solar panels and battery banks, composting toilets, and water filtration systems.

In a sense, I'm among them. I live in a small house and I raise much of my own food in an organic manner. I've got a generator, solar panel, batteries, and propane stoves. I've even got kerosene lamps. If the power goes out, or if I can't afford electricity, I can still survive.

What about you?

Technorati Tags: solar panel,generator

Fried gardens

2011-08-07T12:40:00.001-05:00

I have my work cut out for me. It's been viciously hot the past few weeks, setting new records for high temperatures. One day, we surpassed 115 degrees F. here, a new all-time high. That's not the kind of records we really want to break!

In the meantime, we've laid low during the day, opting instead to remain indoors and cool. Because of that, we've really fallen behind on our outside chores and projects.

I had hoped by now to have a feed/garden tool shed built. We started it, but didn't get very far on it. We still have to build more rabbit hutches and quail coops if we are going to be able to live more self-sufficiently throughout the winter.

The gardens have really suffered with the heat, too. My tomato plats practically fried with me not having gotten a single fruit from them. I don't think even a raleigh business lawyer could find compensation for the damage this unusually hot weather has wrought.

Technorati Tags: gardening

Training for home business

2011-08-05T00:03:00.001-05:00

I am hoping to develop my quail operation to the point that I can actually earn a little income from the sale of birds and eggs. I might also be able to sell chicken eggs, since country eggs in our state do not have to be from a licensed farm.

I know not everyone can do these things, but there might be other options for generating income where you don't have to go to a regular job every day. For instance, you might look into chiropractic school. You could set up your own small clinic and help people with this alternative form of medicine. My own sister has used a chiropractor several times over the years to relieve the pain she sometimes gets in her back.

You also might look into cosmetology and have your own hair salon at your home or build a small shop near your home for it.

Just use your imagination -- what are some things you could train for that would allow you to stay home and still earn income?

Technorati Tags: home business

Fresh quail and eggs

2011-08-04T23:51:00.001-05:00

I have entered into a new phase of self-sufficiency. Besides raising chickens, which will begin laying eggs very soon, I've started raising quail.

We began with three different breeds but have decided on one breed that is larger and they are more docile. Quails generally are still wild birds and behave that way every time you approach the cages. The most skittish ones we have are Golden Manchurian and White Texas A&M. The more calm ones are Jumbo Brown Coturnix.

All the females will lay eggs -- up to 300 a year. We've already enjoyed several dozen eggs from them. We had too many males so we killed some and had them for a couple of lunches. I figure that keeping the quails alive till we're ready to eat them is better than having to process them all at once.

These birds will give us a source of meat and eggs that are fresh all the time, and we know they haven't been fed hormones or antibiotics.

Technorati Tags: quail,eggs,poultry

Comfortable rules!

2011-07-22T01:04:00.001-05:00

I'm kind of a jeans and sneakers kind of person. I like being able to wear comfortable clothes day in and day out, but it's not always possible. I do still work, which means a uniform for that. And, if there are work-related meetings, it means wearing business casual clothes. At least I'm not stuck wearing a suit!

My comfortable personal style is one reason I am very tempted to haunt the local sneaker stores to see what comfy shoes they have available.

Of course, when I'm outside tending to the garden and doing other outside chores, I wear my muck boots. As dry as it's been lately, there isn't any "muck" out there, but they somehow seem to be appropriate footwear for yard work.

Technorati Tags: shopping

Combating high gas prices

2011-04-03T18:13:00.003-05:00

Can gas prices go any higher? Of course they can...and they probably will. What can we do to combat this or at least save on the gasoline we really must use.

Try combining all errand trips into one. You've heard this before so it's no big news, but are you really doing it? As long as your car is parked and not running, it's not burning expensive gas.

If you live in town, take the bike down off the hitch bike rack and start riding it. I mean it. Is there any good reason to drive a few blocks if you can walk or ride your bike? Besides the exercise and fresh air, you can know you are saving gas and reducing your carbon footprint on the planet.

Car pool. Want to see it again? CAR POOL! Anytime you can ride someplace with someone else, do it. If a couple more people join in, then you can split the gas cost among you and save money, plus get a few more cars off the road.

Technorati Tags: gas prices

FreeCycle mania - glass windows

2011-04-03T18:13:00.001-05:00

Another item I received from a fellow FreeCycler is a set of windshields that came off an old speed boat. What do I have planned for them? I'm going to try to build a solar heat grabber and use it in the summer time for a solar dehydrator.

With a solar dehydrator I can dry a lot of veggies and herbs along with fruits that I pick or buy. I've used my organically grown herbs before for Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, and for other occasions. Of course, I use them in my daily cooking as well.

Last week, I dehydrated enough green onions to fill the dehydrator. Of course, since dried food is much smaller, it wound up being a quart of chopped, dried, green onions. I've used some of them already and they are loaded with great flavor.

So, if I can get the solar dehydrator built I can dry a lot of foods to use later and to give away, without using any electricity at all.

Technorati Tags: gardening,dehydrating

4 Gift giving

2011-04-03T18:10:00.001-05:00

There are so many new babies in our family now. Every year several are added and the family just keeps getting bigger. Our family gatherings are so much fun, but there are times I can barely remember the names of all the new children or who they belong to!

Along with babies in the family, friend and co-workers are busy getting busy, it seems, because there are also a lot of babies being born to those at work. Which leaves me wondering --- how do the actual grandparents, aunts, and uncles ever keep up with all the names/

It might make it easier if, every time a baby comes into the family, the parents make sure to announce it, plus invite someone to be the godmother or godfather. This way, whoever accepts that invitation can purchase a godmother gift that will help trigger their memory.

I can just imagine a personalized rattle or a storybook with the child's name being given and helping the giver to remember the details. It's important, in my opinion, to include these kinds of gifts and also be someone in the family who can share this information with others.

Technorati Tags: gift

FreeCycle mania - rabbit hutch

2011-04-03T18:09:00.001-05:00

I have always found a few things on FreeCycle from time to time. Lately, though, I've been getting some things I really need to help with going off grid and being more self-sufficient.

Last week, I got a rabbit hutch. It's large and heavy, but in good shape. It's big enough to actually house two bunnies. My thought is that it will be good for two does and I can fashion another one for a buck. I'll probably also need a separate hutch for kindling (rabbits giving birth) so the doe who is bred will feel more secure.

As our rabbit population grows, I can either butcher the rabbits for meat or sell them to offset the cost of feed. I'm hoping to be able to expand from 2 does and a buck to 5 or 6 does and a buck. The free hutch gives me a very economical beginning.

Communication

2011-03-30T22:48:00.001-05:00

What did we ever do before cell phones? I take mine with me all the time and feel nervous if I forget it. I always think, "What if I have car trouble?"

My Sis, on the other hand, rarely takes hers with her. While she's at home, she has it turned off. While she's shopping, it stays at her house. In fact, even when I know for sure she should have it with her and turned on. often as not, she doesn't.

I, though, always have mine. I don't even have a traditional land line in my home. No, I take that back. There is a line, I just don't have a regular phone to plug into the service. I only use the internet portion of it.

Technorati Tags: cell phones,telephone

Odd coins

2011-03-30T21:59:00.001-05:00

Working in a restaurant as a manager means I count money several times a day. When I start my shift. When I get smaller change for the order taker. When I'm taking orders and giving change. When I make out a deposit. I see all kinds of money, all US, of course.

Lately, we've been getting a lot of gold dollars. At first, I thought I might collect them. However, they are so common now that I just add them to the deposits since I don't like them in the drawers.

From time to time we get Canadian currency or what seems to be military coins. We even occasionally receive coins from South of the Border and tokens from toll booths. I am not really sure why anyone would accept these since they are worthless to us. I suppose the person taking the money just wasn't paying attention.

Once, a couple of years ago, we got what appeared to be $10 gold coins. It turns out they were worthless. Just something made for "fun" or something. I'm just glad I wasn't the one who accepted them. There were about $50 worth of them that had to be paid back by the person who did accept them!

Technorati Tags: currency

It's been a day

2011-03-30T21:21:00.001-05:00

As usual on days when I open, I got up at 3 AM. What was unusual was the fact that since Son now has a job, but no transportation, he had to get up as well and ride with me.

Around 8, he left my workplace in my vehicle to go to his job, then returned around noon to pick me up. His day, unfortunately, wasn't over yet. I took him back to work, came home to take care of Dog, then went back to town to run a couple of errands and wait for him to get off. I had thought he'd be off around 5, but he informed me it would be 6 instead.

He was worn out when we finally got home. I'm so glad we had leftovers from last night's supper to eat tonight. I don't think either of us was up to cooking anything. But, at least he is back at a job now.

Technorati Tags: work

Retirement

2011-03-29T15:31:00.001-05:00

It seems that the Social Security administration will allow seniors a cost of living allowance raise. The COLA won't be much and I've read that their Medicare insurance will go up, consuming any raise they get.

This might be a prime time for seniors to consult a professional about their Medicare part D plans to see if there is anything that can be done. My dear Mother is on Social Security, and truthfully, if it weren't for my sister living next door, Mom would be in dire straits by now.

I don't believe Social Security was really designed to be the total income for retirees, but rather a supplement so that families could help the elders in their families without having to sell the whole farm and go bankrupt. Maybe I'm wrong, but with fewer paying into the system, and more retirees drawing from it, it could be time for families to ante up and help their elder family members.

Technorati Tags: Social Security,retirement

Feeling the pinch

2011-03-29T15:24:00.001-05:00

Gas prices keep going up. That's not really big news, is it? Along with gas prices, grocery prices and other goods are also going up. Everything has a direct correlation with gas prices since transportation of goods depends on fuel.

Whether goods are shipped by truck, train, river barge, or plane, fuel is involved. How has this impacted you?

I can tell you now, it's impacted a lot of my purchases. Because I have to spend more for gas, I spend less on groceries, paper goods, and other things. In that sense, the high gas prices have actually slowed economic recovery since gas isn't figured into the equation -- only consumer goods are.

If millions of people across the country are doing what I am doing, then spending at retailers has dropped and will continue to drop as gas prices go up.

For nutrition, this means more people will be eating some less nutritious food simply because they can't afford to buy anything else. They will be purchasing cheaper, less quality paper goods, too. Families will reassess their budgets to see what they can cut. Entertainment and new clothes or shoes will probably be the first to go in order to simply keep food on the table and a roof over their heads.

This could also lead to folks dropping their internet, phone, cable, or satellite services just so they can afford to pay the electric and water bills.

Gas prices affect everything.

Technorati Tags: gas prices,economy

Let the growing begin!

2011-03-16T18:35:00.001-05:00

This has been a busy day outdoors. Son and I raked leave into piles, away from the clothesline. We also trimmed tiny limbs from trees as high as he could reach to allow more sunlight into the backyard area. I'm sure there is more trimming to be done, though, and maybe even a couple of small trees taken out.

We filled several containers with layers of topsoil, manure, compost, and potting soil for planting. We also topped off one of the raised beds and half the other one. Only half because half of it already has lettuce growing.

We planted seedling cabbage and broccoli, covering them with plastic and anchoring it down to help them grow for the next couple of weeks. I got my seed potatoes cut up and they should be ready to plant in the morning.

I went back outside after a hearty mid-afternoon meal and planted carrot, beet, and radish seeds, as well as some more onion sets and some garlic. The onions I planted a couple of weeks ago are about 3 inches tall. Spacing out the planting will help ensure a continuing harvest of fresh green onions. I'll leave some of them in the beds to grow into large onions.

I am companion planting a lot of things to make the best use of the limited soil and containers I have. I ran out of topsoil and potting soil today, so I'll get more over the weekend to finish filling containers. What I had on hand was enough to do what I wanted today. I still have lots of manure left to add, too.

I love gardening!

Technorati Tags: gardening

Frugal gardening

2011-03-08T13:52:00.001-06:00

OK, so I'm a cheapskate and I know it, but Son doesn't have to remind me! I'm just joking, and so is he, of course, but being a cheapskate is akin to an art form with me.

To give you an example, I recently used a plastic 32 ounce cup from a fast food place to make plant identifier spikes for my seedlings. I cut off the rim and the bottom, then cut strips from the cup. I cut those in half and made points on one end of the smaller strips. Now, I have a way to write the name of the seedlings and poke them into the seedling trays so that later I'll know what's growing.

Most mail and unneeded papers and receipts are dutifully shredded and added to the compost heap, along with egg shells and veggie/fruit waste, coffee grounds (with the filters), and tea bags. I also add leaves and grass clippings, and even fallen, rotten tree limbs to the heap. After all year of doing that, the heap is still only about a foot deep, which means the goodies at the bottom are decomposing just the way I want them to.

I'll be turning the pile and mixing the bottom layer with manure, topsoil, and potting soil for my garden beds and containers.

I've saved foam egg cartons so that my seedlings can be put in those after they've sprouted and are touching the top of the mini-greenhouses. Then, it's an easy move for them to be put into peat pots, then later into the ground, without much stress on them. By the way, planting from seed is the very cheapest way to have veggies in the garden. Plants can be a couple of dollars a 4-pack. I've spent under $20 and so far have about $44 worth of plants, not counting the ones I just planted today!

I'm not a cheapskate. I'm thrifty. I'm frugal. I'm discerning.

Technorati Tags: gardening,frugal living

Like fine wine...

2011-03-02T13:09:00.001-06:00

My Sis and I recently celebrated our birthdays. She is 10 years older than I, and her birthday is 10 days before mine. Weird coincidence, huh?

We don't go all out for gifts. Her gift to me was a new hairstyle, which I got at the hairdresser she uses. I like it, and will continue to have my hair cut this way. In fact, I have an appointment this Friday, which will be when I'm in her town for a visit.

We are both long past figuring out creative 50th birthday gifts. My next birthday I'll be 60. That seems pretty old when I see it in writing like this! Still, I'm a fairly healthy person, I'm still working, and I'm still making plans for gardens and my future.

I would love to retire at 60 and draw widow's benefits, but I'll have to see how my finances and the economy go when that time comes. Maybe I can work part time and still draw the benefits. I just don't know yet. Or, maybe I can do more at-home work (online stuff, eBay, etc.) and still make a decent living without having to go to a regular job every day.

Technorati Tags: birthday,retirement

Collectibles anyone?

2011-03-02T09:47:00.001-06:00

I read MoneyNing's blog faithfully via email updates. It covers a broad spectrum of financial advice and there is always something every week that I can apply to my own finances. This morning, I read the Personal Finance blog on collectibles, and even left a comment (which I do from time to time).

Part of what I commented was this:

If there is something you really love and enjoy owning, then that should be your collection. It may be that eventually, your collections will be valuable, but to go out looking for a lot of junk you really don’t like that well means you will eventually just discard it for nothing. People become experts on what they love the most, and that’s where collections spring from.

Right now, I have some McDonald's toys that really caught my eye. They are from the series a couple of years ago of Wizard of Oz characters and were manufactured by the Madam Alexander toy company. Did I get them because I thought of their increased value later? No. I got them because they are unusually lovely, well made, and reminded me of viewing the movie from days when I was a child.

More recently, McDonald's had little stuffed animals that have velcro on their paws so they can "hug" a pencil or something else. I got the full set and put them on my Christmas tree. Not because they might increase in value, but because they are so darned cute! They have such sweet faces and really added to the tiny tree I put up each year.

Are you collecting anything? Collections ought to spring from things you really love to look at, not from what certain experts say is a good investment. If you don't love it, leave it. Collectibles are a very "iffy" way to invest money, so just enjoy the things you are collecting. Maybe someday they'll be valuable to someone else, but for now, they are valuable to you!!

Technorati Tags: collectibles,collections,investment

Stricter grocery budget

2011-02-27T00:38:00.001-06:00

Included in my efforts to rein in my budget even further are my gardening projects. I may not be able to totally forego visits to the grocery store, but at least I can have some fresh, organically grown vegetables to round out meals.

I already don't eat much meat. It just doesn't interest me. Incorporating more vegetables is better for health anyway and could help me get rid of stomach fat that I've carried since having babies.

I've got a dehydrator and water bath canner, so I can put some things up. I need to get another pressure canner so I can put up regular vegetables, too. That way, I can save some money next winter and still know I'm getting healthful meals.

Technorati Tags: gardening,vegetables

Reducing the need for expensive gasoline

2011-02-27T00:29:00.001-06:00

It's time to get back to the regular business, I guess. The business of trying to live within a budget, cutting costs, and making the best of what we have.

Around the country, gasoline prices are on the rise. A couple of days ago, I spent $35 for gas and didn't even fill my tank. Gas prices here are around $3.25 a gallon, and it's predicted to rise even more. What's a person to do?

Once a month, I take a 4 day trip to my Mom's, which is around 85 miles away. She is 88 years old, and will be 89 this week. That's not a trip I'm likely to cut out due to high gas prices. This just means I'll need to cut back further in other areas.

One thing I'm going to do is ask my supervisor if I can work 4 days a week, for 9 or 10 hours on those days. That reduces my driving miles per week by about 30. It's not much, but it's a little and could help for now.

As always, I combine trips. Days that I work, I also may run needful errands in town, since I'm already there. Days I'm off, I stay home. Most things can wait until I have to be at work again, anyway, because I make sure to stay pretty well stocked up here.

I also pay bills online as often as possible. In reality, since I'm already paying for Internet, I might as well make use of that function. I don't have many bills, and most can be paid online. Only my rent can't be, but it can be collected while I'm at work, saving my son-in-law the drive out here and saving me an extra trip to another town to pay it.

While I'm at it, I keep my electric bill as low as possible and am looking at supplementing my power with solar and wind energy options. I would like to be completely off-grid, but that's still in the future.

Technorati Tags: budget,gas prices

Naps are not always good

2011-02-26T22:06:00.001-06:00

After an early start to a rather long day, we ran by a local discount store and picked up some more stuff for the gardens. I got 4 of the 40 pound bags of potting soil and 2 of the 40 pound bags of manure. My original intention was to start mixing soil for my raised beds and containers, but that just didn't happen.

Between the chicken noodle soup, potato soup, and barbecue sandwich, I didn't even need sleep aids this evening. I dozed off on the sofa and was right there until around 9 PM! Guess I needed the sleep, alright, but it sure threw me off on getting anything else done.

I have to get up at 3 AM and now I'm wide awake. Maybe after I surf the 'net for a bit, I'll get drowsy again and doze off till the alarm goes off. I hope so!

Technorati Tags: health,sleep

Fun family get-together

2011-02-26T21:53:00.001-06:00

I had a great time at our family gathering today. I really enjoy these events because there are several family members I never see until something like this occurs.

Of course, we all communicate through a popular social networking site and keep up on one another's goings-on that way, but there's really nothing like giving hugs all around to warm the heart. And believe me, there were plenty of hugs given out today!

One of my nieces (the event was held at her and Nephew's house) said there were 43 in attendance. Not all were direct relations. Some were guests of family members, which is just fine.

There was an announcement that Nephew and Niece's older son is getting married this June! We were all very happy about that. It's so good to get good news like that, and the girl is very well liked by everyone.

Of course, there was plenty of food to go around and we all ate a little too much. That's so easy to do at a get-together like this. There were tons of children running about, having a good time. The ones who were old enough spent a lot of time playing outside in the large yard.

Technorati Tags: family

Water in the garden

2011-02-25T18:53:00.001-06:00

While I am definitely ready for spring and the growing season, I'm really not ready for mid-summer and the extremely hot temperatures we usually have to endure. It's hard on my garden and it's hard on me when we go for several weeks with 90+ temperatures and little or no rain.

Those weeks work like Lipofuze in the garden, stunting growth and wilting the plants and their produce rather quickly. Since I am on a well, I can water everything, and I do that almost daily during those days. Still, there's nothing like a God-sent rainfall to really perk up what's growing outside in the gardens.

A slow steady summer rain can soak into the soil much deeper, it seems, than just watering from a hose. Probably because I don't spend enough time out there watering. For me to lay in that amount of moisture to my plants would mean at least a couple of hours of watering.

This year, I'm going to attack the problem a little differently. I'm going to be reserving bath and laundry water in a livestock tank, then letting it irrigate the gardens through the use of a small water pump. These pumps are usually used for water features in your yard, but my "water feature" will be a functional irrigation system!

Technorati Tags: gardening,water

Seedlings update

2011-02-25T18:27:00.001-06:00

My cucumber and squash seedlings are about 3 inches tall already. I've taken them out of the mini-greenhouse and put them under a grow light in an old egg carton. I can keep a good eye on them, water when necessary, and brush the tops of them every now and then.

I've read that lightly brushing the tops helps the stems grow stronger, so I'm doing it. It certainly can't hurt. They have good color and are just beginning to put on real leaves, very tiny ones right now. But it gives me hope of a bountiful garden later in the summer.

In the meantime, I've order more seeds. There will be enough for a really large garden, so I'll have some I can save for future use since I won't be having a huge garden this year. Mostly, it'll just be container and raised bed gardening. I do hope to be able to do some very intensive gardening, given my limited space. I want to be able to dehydrate, freeze, and can produce to use during the winter months.

I need to plan ahead how much of each item I need to put up to do me through the winter. There are charts online and also my Ball Blue Book has a guide for how much you need for a family of, say, 4.

Yes, the seedlings sprouting up have already given me lots of pleasure and promises!

Technorati Tags: gardening

Gardening begins

2011-02-20T19:39:00.001-06:00

I have some seeds planted in a planted in a table-top grow kit. It came with peat pellets that get larger when you add water. The price was good -- only about $7 each -- so I got two sets.

So far, I've got cucumbers, squash, and tobacco seeds planted. The cucumbers have already started growing. It's pretty exciting to watch things grow like this! I also ordered some non-GMO seeds to plant and can hardly wait for them to come in so I can get them started.

I purchased a grow light to use for the little seedlings until it's time to set them out. Since the seedlings have started up, I set up the light to help them along.

I also got some onion sets and put about a dozen of them in the ground outside. I'll plant them a few at a time over the next few weeks for fresh green onions to eat.

I'm hoping for a lot more vegetables to eat and put up this year. Using organically grown, fresh vegetables works on my waistline as well as anything including oxyelite pro results. Besides the fresh air and exercise I get from gardening, I have the assurance that there are no chemicals used because I grow it myself.

Technorati Tags: gardening

Be prepared

2011-02-17T18:28:00.001-06:00

Earthquake preparedness doesn't differ a great deal from being prepared for any other type of event. These can knock out power, contaminate water wells and city water systems, make septic issues a real problem, disrupt communications, and even make it impossible to travel to other locations. Because of this, it's important to have a plan and some emergency supplies on hand to last at least three days. (I figure longer, since I'm in a rural area.)

The advice is to NOT run outside in the event of an earthquake unless your actual house is crumbling around you. We are instructed to find a sturdy doorway to stand in. Find a place to get under, like a sturdy table or flipped over contemporary sofas to protect yourself from things that are falling and could injure you.

After the event, if you smell a gas leak, LEAVE! Don't try to find it. Don't try to turn lights on or off. Don't even start your car or cause any sort of ignition source, such as lighting a cigarette. Just leave and let emergency workers deal with the gas leak.

Stay away from downed power lines. The grid could fail completely, but then again, those power lines may still be fully charged and lethal.

Stay in or near your own home if other dangers there don't exist. Don't make it even more difficult for rescuers to find you. Do the best you can where you are.

Have a plan and emergency supplies where you can easily get to them. Include drinking water, non-perishable food, extra clothing, blankets, and any medicines you take.

Technorati Tags: earthquake,emergencies

More earthquakes

2011-02-17T18:18:00.001-06:00

Strange events have been occurring in our part of the country. Earthquakes.

Although experts say these have always occurred here, they haven't been strong enough to actually feel them. A number of years ago, there were earthquakes centered in an area about 15 miles from here. I lived in that area when we got one that rattled the windows and scared the wits out of me. Now, they are happening in the town where I work and in an area a few miles north of where I live.

We will hear a sound like thunder, then the ground shakes. It's not hard, and it doesn't last long, but it is unnerving. The fact is, the tectonic plates under the earth are really active and sliding right now. Also, because we live near the New Madrid Fault line, we are likely to get a really big earthquake at any time...it could be soon.

Besides the usual spring weather events -- strong storms and tornadoes -- common to our area, this adds yet one more reason to be fully prepared in case there is a really catastrophic event.

Technorati Tags: earthquake

Smoking still?

2011-02-13T11:45:00.001-06:00

Even with the high prices on cigarettes, the health warnings, and the limits on where people can smoke, many people still do. It's a difficult addiction to break, there's no question about it. I've read that it takes three or four times of trying to quit before a person is finally able to quit entirely.

Some people have met with success by going cold turkey. Others have used gum, patches, or prescription medicines and quit. More recently, people are trying e-cigarettes in an effort to at least avoid the harmful results of tar, and to take a step forward toward quitting.

I've read and heard both good and bad reviews for e-cigarettes but I haven't tried them myself. I am wondering if any of my readers could comment on their experiences with them. I've been looking at smoketip reviews lately to try to figure out if one brand or flavor is more successful than the rest, but reader input from reader experience is the best, I think.

Technorati Tags: health

Gardening time soon

2011-02-13T11:25:00.002-06:00

The weather is warming up again, at least for now, which makes my thoughts turn to gardening. Several years ago, I had a very nice, productive garden which was all in raised beds. They were easy to work with and using intensive gardening methods, I was able to produce enough basic vegetables and herbs to can, dehydrate, and freeze for use in the winter time.

I miss that a lot.

I have two small raised beds now, but my plan is to once again take in the entire front yard in vegetable, herb, and flower gardens. I also want to plant an asparagus bed, a strawberry bed, some fruit trees, a few grape vines, and maybe even some tame blackberries.

Below are a few pictures of the raised beds I had where I used to live. Hope you enjoy viewing them!

Technorati Tags: gardening

Cabin fever

2011-02-11T12:06:00.001-06:00

I don't have it. Even though I've been stuck at home for a few days due to very bad winter weather, I still don't feel the urge to leave and go someplace. I do have to work tonight, but even so, if I didn't have to work, I'd just stay right here and enjoy being home another day!

See, I can usually find plenty to occupy my mind and hands at home. Not only can I go online and cyber visit with friends and family, but I can pay bills, do banking chores, work on my bookkeeping, work on crafts, cook, clean...well, you get the picture. I also go outside and take photographs from time to time and work on those.

On a favorite social networking site, I've seen a lot of comments about being tired of being home. I can't even remember the last time I thought that! While it is necessary from time to time to re-supply the pantry and freezer, it's not necessary right now. I keep plenty on hand at all times just so I don't have to shop very often.

Probably the only thing I'm wishing for now is the supplies I need to start seeds indoors for my garden, and the warm days and time to begin preparing beds.

Technorati Tags: gardening,cabin fever

Need a new laptop

2011-02-11T11:30:00.001-06:00

My poor laptop is probably on its last cyber-legs. I've had it for over three years now and loved every minute of owning it. However, it's developed some old-age related glitches lately and it's probably not worth having them fixed anymore.

I have a lot of info on it that I'd like to keep before it crashes completely. In fact, I'd like very much to invest in a new laptop soon, before this one fries itself, and just hang on to the old one for the pictures and recipes alone. Getting a new laptop, though, means breaking it in and also transferring some of the information I have here to the new one.

Not sure as yet what would be the best way to do that. Write it to CD-ROM, computer network cable, some kind of transfer cable, upload it to an online storage, save it on a flash drive?

I'd love any suggestions you might have!

Technorati Tags: laptop,computer

SNOW!!

2011-02-11T11:21:00.001-06:00

Holy cow, we've had a lot of snow lately! OK, so it's not as much as some other parts of the country, but bear in mind that I live in the Grand Ole South where average winter time temperatures are about 50 degrees F. Not so this year, I think. We've had 5 snowfalls since the first of the year, and it's just now going on the middle of February.

The first and second snowfall fell on my sister's and my birthdays respectively. We've had snow every week since then, with the last being a full-blown winter storm. Totals in our state ranged from 24 inches in the northwest to 3 inches in the south, with the area I live in receiving 8 inches. For us, with no real winter road preparations budget in place for the state, that's almost a disaster.

Temperatures this past week have been extremely low, too. Where I live, the temperature dipped to 0 this morning! Thankfully, I do prepare for every event, which means I had fixed air leaks around the doors, pulled heavy curtains over windows and doors, and even covered the front of the window air conditioner with a heavy bath towel to help ward off frigid drafts.

I have large single pane, solid glass windows which have been covered with plastic to help insulate them. In the afternoons, though, I can actually open the curtains and blinds on the living room windows and allow the sun to warm the house to a point where I can turn off all heat but the small bathroom heater, which I have just done. Since the winter sun is farther over the rooftop, it works out to do this around 11:00 to 11:30.

I am really hoping this is the last snow event of the season, but there are still a few weeks to go. We've been known in the past to get snow in March.

Technorati Tags: weather,snow

Between jobs tips

2011-02-02T12:41:00.001-06:00

It seems as though there are at least part-time jobs available in my area. I just did a quick search for merchandising jobs and came up with several that were a short drive away. I bet you could find something through this, too.

Some of these jobs are full-time, which could be a real bonus for many of you if you've been looking for work. I realize these might not always pay what you're used to, but it's a start.

If you are out of work, then maybe it's time to reset your priorities.

Do you really need two cars, a boat, a jet ski and a camper?
How many TVs do you need in your house, if any?
Can you cut the cable bill out and still survive?
Can you cut the home internet out and use one of the many available free wifi hotspots?
Assess your wardrobe. List things on ebay or Craigslist for sale. You probably don't wear half the things you own!
Take a look at your meals. Eliminate eating out until you've got your feet back on the ground financially. Cook from scratch using Once a Month or Once a Week Cooking techniques. A few hours in the evening and you can have a lot of meals prepped and in the freezer!
Reduce your need for electricity by installing CFLs, learning to turn the thermostat down in the winter, and plugging everything into inexpensive power strips that can be switched off when the item is not in use. Unplug chargers and eliminate those phantom loads.
Preplan your trips so that you can do all your shopping and errands at one time.
Pay bills online to cut out wasteful trips in your vehicle.
LIVE CHEAPLY!!

Technorati Tags: job,employment

Employment troubles

2011-02-02T12:27:00.001-06:00

Every so often I think I should get a part-time job to help fill in the financial gaps. However, I'm not going to. After all, my goal is to be able to walk away from the job I have now! Adding more hours to my schedule will not make that happen. It would only serve to make me even more exhausted and less able to build a home income.

Thoughts recently have crossed my mind about switching jobs. It's hard to do in this economy though. Many people who have quit their jobs are now unemployed, and the outlook is pretty bleak. Finding new employment just isn't that easy, regardless of your skills and training. I know of a fellow who has two years of law school but is working in a local factory. He couldn't complete his schooling and he couldn't find anything better to work at, so now he's sort of stuck.

It's not a bad job. It's just that his level of intelligence and education don't suit the work he does. Maybe, though, that's the way more people should be thinking. Lower the standards a bit so you can be employed at something. Bills have to be paid, and collectors don't really care what your job is as long as you're paying the bills.

I hear so many people complaining about foreigners taking American jobs. Well, maybe if Americans didn't think it was beneath them to wash dishes, clean toilets, or pick produce, they'd have a job today!

Technorati Tags: employment

Pantry must-haves - Part 2

2011-01-24T12:15:00.001-06:00

So, now you're wondering what you should have on hand for a stocked pantry, and if you're going to have to spend mega-bucks to accomplish this. Here's the answer, and you might be surprised.

5 lb. all purpose flour - 1.99
1 can baking powder - 1.50
1 small box baking soda - .50
salt and pepper - 1.00
5 lb. sugar - 2.50
4 cans whole tomatoes - 5.00
6 cans each corn, green beans, sweet peas - 9.00
3 cans each mixed veggies, carrots, potatoes - 4.50
3 cans fruit - 4.50
10 lb. bag potatoes - 2.50
3 lb. bag rice - 2.00
1 lb. packages of pasta (macaroni, spaghetti, egg noodles) - 3.00
1 lb. bags of a variety of dried beans and peas - 5.00
3 lb. bag onions - 1.50
shaker of chili powder - .50
1 dozen eggs - 1.50

That will get you started. As you go along and need them, you'll add

shaker of cinnamon - .50
shaker of lemon pepper - .50
shaker of paprika - .50
shaker of onion powder - .50
shaker of garlic powder - .50
shaker of Italian herb blend - 1.00
butter or margarine (I prefer butter) - 2.00
cooking oil (I prefer canola) - 2.50
box of powdered milk - 4.00
canned fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna) - 6.00
4 cans evaporated milk - 3.00

If you want, you can add fresh meat, fresh veggies and fruit, and fresh or frozen fish to the list to round out the meals. But, these lists will give you enough to get a good start on home cooking without being too involved or expensive. Once things are in place, it's a simple matter of shopping for replacements when something runs out.

Technorati Tags: shopping,groceries

Do you smoke?

2011-01-24T11:48:00.001-06:00

Do you smoke? Of course by now you've heard all the health warnings, and all the financial savings you can gain if you quit. However, I'm not here to tell you what to do in that area. It's a highly personal decision you have to make for yourself.

If you do smoke, you might want to try saving a little money by rolling your own cigarettes. You can buy kits that include a tube machine, filter tubes, and tobacco for around $15. You can also buy hand rollers, filters, rolling papers, and tobacco. Buying these things from a tobacco store will cost you a lot less than from a department store, if the department store even has them.

You also might want to get a cigar humidor so that your extra rolled cigarettes and tobacco don't dry out. Dry tobacco burns much faster than fresh tobacco, even though "fresh" has been dried to a point.

Placing an orange peel or a small slice of apple in a large pouch of tobacco helps to keep the tobacco moist enough to roll and burn well. Neither imparts any flavor to the tobacco product.

Carrying rolled cigarettes can be a problem if you don't have a proper case for them. Using old cigarette packs doesn't work out very well because they wind up drying out too much. You can purchase a cigarette case pretty cheaply and use that to help retain the moisture needed for a proper smoke.

Not everyone is going to quit smoking. Some will try and fail. Some will try and succeed. Some will never try. Unless and until you do, at least figure on saving a little money along the way.

Technorati Tags: tobacco

Pantry must-haves - Part 1

2011-01-24T11:18:00.001-06:00

Part of generating extra income isn't really generating extra income. Sound confusing? It's not, really.

Part of that issue is to learn to live within your means, even below it. Live a more frugal lifestyle. Being frugal doesn't mean being miserly or doing without a lot of things. It means making the most of what you have already, only making purchases that are absolutely necessary, and setting your priorities so that you aren't going broke before you receive your next paycheck.

For me personally, part of it is means not eating out as much. I can mimic almost any restaurant dish right here at home, and for a lot less money even if you include the energy required to prepare the dish. As long as I keep ingredients on hand, I can cook just about anything!

I find that by doing this, not only do I save money ($20 for one meal at a restaurant vs $20 for enough groceries to make several meals at home), but I enjoy the challenge and the result. Keeping a basic supply of ingredients in the pantry is a must. I didn't go out and buy a lot of stuff to stock the pantry because I've had a home for a long time. I simply re-stock from time to time if I'm running low on something.

I keep a nice supply of whole canned tomatoes, canned fish, rice, various pastas, seasonings and spices, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and a variety of canned vegetables on hand all the time. I make my own hot beverage mixes and my own baking mixes. If I never bought meat again, I could still survive quite nicely on just this short list of pantry items.

In the next post, I'll go into more detail about what pantry items I have on hand continually.

Technorati Tags: shopping

Shopping ahead

2011-01-14T13:52:00.001-06:00

Just because Christmas is past doesn't mean gift shopping is over. You might already be shopping ahead for next Christmas or upcoming birthdays or anniversaries.

This year, I did less shopping. I actually made gift baskets for family members that included chai tea, hot chocolate, vanilla latte, and home made muffins of several varieties. I included enough of each for the whole family to have a snack and hot beverage when they got ready for it. I used powdered mix recipes I found online. I did give cash to my teen grandchildren and small gifts to my under-5 grandchildren, but other than that, no purchased gifts.

In this economy, I just couldn't afford to spend a lot of money. Gasoline prices have risen sharply as well as energy costs.

However, I do understand that many folks are still shopping for things like personalized footballs, bath and beauty kits, or electronics, all of which seem to be on sale right now. So, it's really a prime time to shop for next year, isn't it?

Technorati Tags: shopping,gift

New Year's Goals

2011-01-14T13:45:00.001-06:00

It's a new year, and most people make New Year's Resolutions. I stopped doing that a long time ago in lieu of setting New Year's Goals. I don't create unreachable or vague goals, either. And I leave myself open to reset the goals, if need be, or create new ones once the original ones have been met.

So what are my upcoming goals?

Dedicate 2 hours a day to building my eBay sales
Take a course in Excel to improve my marketable skills
Visit my Mom at least 4 days a month
Train two people a week at work so their work skills are improved
Pass The Gift to Heifer International more consistently
Clip coupons and really use them!
Set up a wind turbine for electrical power to parts of my house

As I go along, I may add to this list, but these few items are specific enough and they are doable.

Technorati Tags: New Year's Resolutions

Alone or not?

2011-01-14T11:56:00.001-06:00

As I get older, I sometimes wonder if I'm going to end my life totally alone. I don't want to but I also don't really want to be married again, I think. I'm not sure if I want a set of wedding rings again. I kind of like my life as a single person.

I earn my money in a variety of ways, can come and go as I please, and can have whatever I want in my house. I don't have to "report in" to a husband about my whereabouts and activities.

On the other hand, I really enjoyed being married. Knowing a special someone was there with me, through thick and thin.

Who knows? Maybe that "special someone" will enter my life again and I can go through my golden years hand in hand with someone who really cares about me.

Technorati Tags: marriage

How did your Christmas add up?

2010-12-26T15:56:00.001-06:00

Christmas is past. Now it's time to get on to regular life again. However, I'm wondering what kinds of gifts were given this year?

What I gave is all very low-tech. No gadgets at all. I made breads, muffins, and lovely hot beverage mixes to give out. I got the two youngest grandkids a princess outfit and a Sesame Street indoor tent. They played with these two imagination feeding toys for all the hours I was at my older son's house.

Some folks gave the men on their list garage door openers and computer gadgets. Computer games and iPod "bucks" were also a big hit with the teens. My son-in-law actually got a new Foreman grill and a Veg-O-Matic, which was a throwback to the days when his mother had one.

People were using their imaginations more this year, I think, in selecting gifts. None of the usual socks and ties for dad and home appliances for mom.

Technorati Tags: Christmas,gift

Alternative energy lighting

2010-12-26T14:03:00.001-06:00

As you all know by now, I'm working and planning for the day when I can go off-grid or at least mostly off-grid. This means I've been researching various methods of alternative energy, collecting materials I can use for energy projects, and reducing my current pull on the grid in a number of ways.

Because I live in the country, I want to have something outside to light my way as I go to my car or when I come home from work, to get up my porch steps. So, I've looked at Kichler outdoor lighting and other sources to see about solar outdoor lighting. I have a few solar lights outside already, but they don't produce enough to depend on them for footing safety.

Until I find the lights I really want, I'll continue to work on the energy sources.

Technorati Tags: solar,lights

Collected information

2010-12-18T17:56:00.001-06:00

On my desktop I have a folder entitled "Homesteading". This includes a lot of stuff. Part of it is plans for solar and other alternative energy sources. Part of it is recipes that are pretty easy to make -- things like the master mixes are included. Part of it is actually homeschooling, which we did until the kids graduated.

I've got Lamar's e-books in there, gardening documents, etc.

You get the idea.

I'm kind of a pack rat when it comes to downloads and documents concerning homesteading and off-grid living. I've actually been collecting this stuff for several years, dreaming of the day when I could become more self-sufficient. We were nearly there when my husband passed away. We had milk goats, chickens, rabbits, and a very nice though small garden. We used propane for heat and for cooking.

Everything changed when I had to get a job to support myself and too older teen children. They were working, too, but only made enough to pay for their car, insurance, etc. with little left over for household expenses. Now, though, I'm finally in a position to be able to pull back some from my full time job and focus more on changing my lifestyle to the one I've dreamed of for years.

I'd love to hear from my readers about their adventures into this simpler lifestyle, if you're going that direction.

Technorati Tags: solar,homesteading

Christmas parties

2010-12-13T12:58:00.001-06:00

I am not attending parties this year. There really aren't that many going on and I usually have to work anyway. I even have to work on the night our store is having our party, which means I won't be attending. However, since they are catering catfish dinners to that party, I'm going to ask someone to at least bring me a plate of it!

If something came up, I'd probably have to go shopping for women's dresses. I have a "little black dress" but I've lost a lot of weight and it hangs off me terribly. I do have a few dressy tops and skirts, though, and those would probably do for the kinds of events we'd have around here.

Technorati Tags: Christmas

Finalizing Christmas

2010-12-13T12:48:00.001-06:00

How is your Christmas coming together? Mine is coming along, but I feel like I'm still pretty far behind in getting everything done that I'd planned.

I will be giving gift baskets I've put together this year. I am only planning to give to family members. There are a lot of folks I'd love to give things to, but I just can't do it financially. I certainly hope they aren't offended, and if they are then they are really missing the true meaning of Christmas.

Some of what I'll have in the gift baskets includes date nut bread, granola bread, artisan yeast bread, chai tea mix, and hot chocolate mix. I also have some yarn projects to finish up which include crocheted or knitted cotton dish cloths and winter scarves made from homespun. These projects take the longest and I do hope I can get them done!

I will probably put hand made skin cream in the baskets, too. It all depends on finances and time.

I feel like Alice's white rabbit right now.

Technorati Tags: Christmas,shopping

Spending much or spending wisely?

2010-12-01T09:10:00.001-06:00

It occurs to me that a lot of people really do spend more than they need to. I don't know if it's because spending more makes them feel special, or they just want some kind of bragging rights to purchasing a more expensive item. This happens in tangible goods and in intangible goods, such as insurance.

I am here to say there is nothing wrong with cheap auto insurance. Compare prices and coverage when shopping for insurance of any kind. If you're like me, and your vehicle is over 10 years old, you probably don't even need collision insurance. After all, a damaged fender might cause it to be totaled by the insurance company because the cost of a new fender is equal or greater than the total value of the vehicle.

The same philosophy applies to all areas of shopping. Buying the most expensive isn't the same as buying the best of anything. It only means that you've spent more money, and who really wants to do that in today's economy?

Technorati Tags: shopping

Hand made gifts

2010-12-01T09:03:00.001-06:00

I am going to have to do some shopping soon after payday. I want to get the ingredients for Chai Tea, home made lotions, home made salt scrubs, and home made bath salts.

I also will get some fiber projects on the needles and on the knitting boards for gift giving. I might even bake some artisan breads to give for gifts.

This is going to be the kind of giving I'll do this year. None of it is expensive. But I will need to dedicate some time to get it all done. The gifts are made with the love I have for the receivers, which will make them be light work.

Technorati Tags: gift,shopping

Gift baskets

2010-11-28T23:20:00.001-06:00

I have a few things planned to give as Christmas gifts. All of them involve me making things -- knitted items, crocheted items, baked goods, home made wrinkle cream, and jewelry. I just hope I can get everything completed on time!

I have a few things finished already. I still need to shop for inexpensive baskets, decorative tins or buckets, or something else cute and clever to put the gifts in. I will most likely make family baskets that include a variety of items.

Technorati Tags: gift

Feeling better

2010-11-28T22:24:00.001-06:00

Brrr...the cold air is in our state and the chilly winds make for some raging headaches sometimes. Add to that the dry winter air being even drier inside the house due to heat, and you have a formula for not only headaches but bouts of bronchitis.

Last week I was experiencing both. I had a dry, hacking cough that wasn't caused by a cold or flu. I just couldn't stop coughing. To aide in relief, Son put a small pan of water on the stove and set it to simmer. In minutes, my cough abated and I could breathe more easily.

I normally keep a pan or can of water on the top of one of the heaters to add moisture back into the air at home. But for some reason, I just hadn't done it this year. Doing that one small thing can really help prevent the terrible cough due to chronic bronchitis. Now I need to find a natural migraine headache relief so I can stop suffering so much after an outing in the chilly wind of winter. Those headaches are so painful that all I want to do is sleep them off.

Sleeping so much really isn't an option.

Technorati Tags: health,headache,bronchitis

On the rise again

2010-11-28T22:23:00.001-06:00

Gas is going up again. This doesn't just affect you and your car, it affects just about every aspect of your life. When gasoline goes up, so does diesel fuel. When diesel fuel goes up, so does everything else.

That's because at some point in time, everything you see around you --in your home, in grocery stores, in the department stores, in the furniture stores, in the restaurants. What happens when diesel goes up in price? Shipping costs go up overall. Consumer prices go up. You will see the result of higher gas prices on the grocery store shelves and everywhere else that you shop.

Generally, those prices don't go back down when gas prices go down, either. Merchants tend to keep the prices, and sometimes even raise them more, even when their costs for goods are reduced. We do live in a capitalistic free enterprise system, so there's really nothing to stop them.

However, we must be even wiser with our dollars. More and more, people are turning to gardening, DIY projects, and other ways to cut spending. Are you doing this as well?

I'd love to know in comments what you are doing to reduce your spending.

Technorati Tags: shopping,Tough times

Wasting time

2010-11-28T22:14:00.001-06:00

Sometimes I realize that I am not taking good enough care of myself. It shows in my skin, in dark circles under my eyes, and in the way I get tired easily.

I know that if I don't take care of myself, no one else will. Still, sometimes I think that I just don't have time to treat myself well. That I don't have 5 minutes a day to take vitamins or use blackhead remover or rest the proper amount of time. I know I'm just lying to myself.

I have exactly the same amount of time as anyone else, I just don't use my time wisely. In fact, I'm often very guilty of wasting my time.

Before you gasp, admit it -- you are probably just as guilty as I am. What is a person to do? The next few posts will be dedicated to establishing a schedule that really works without expecting every moment to be filled with productivity.

Technorati Tags: time

Power outage

2010-11-28T22:13:00.001-06:00

I've been gone since Thanksgiving Day to visit my Mom in a town about 100 miles from where I live. Son stayed home.

Friday night he called to say the power went out. He had just finished preparing himself some food, it was about 8:30 PM, when the power went off. He's pretty resourceful, so he got the kerosene lamps filled up and used them for light. Since we have a well, no water is available when the power goes off, but I told him I had emergency water stored under my bed. We also have a couple of small propane emergency stoves, so he could use those if he got too cold.

He has an inverter in his truck if he needed to use it to charge his phone or laptop, but there would be no internet connection without taking the wireless modem and phone line out to the truck and somehow hooking it up out there. Still he did have his cell phone so he could at least communicate with others if he had to.

He told me Saturday night that the power came back on around 1 AM. I felt sorry for any of our neighbors who don't have emergency supplies on hand for food, water, and heat!

Technorati Tags: emergencies,electicity

Shopping the big sales

2010-11-23T11:16:00.001-06:00

The biggest shopping season of the year begins Friday, also known as Black Friday. It's called that because this is the day when merchants are hoping that there will be enough transactions to put them in the black financially. And, the sales are abundant.

There are Doorbuster Sales everywhere, special in-store-only deals, sales that only are available during certain hours of the day, and items marked down to almost ridiculous low prices. This is also a day when many will avail themselves of the lower prices to help round out their Christmas shopping.

For some of us, though, it's been a week or more since our paychecks have been handed to us. The everyday needs have taken up a lot of our finances and we may feel the need to acquire payday advance loans in order to take advantage of the sales. Just be careful.

Using this as a tool and making sure you are going to pay back what you should, on the date promised, is very important. You are borrowing against your next paycheck, so crunch some numbers, do the math, work your budget and only borrow what you absolutely need to and what you are very confident you can repay in a timely manner.

Technorati Tags: shopping,holidays

Holiday kickoff

2010-11-23T11:10:00.001-06:00

Are you ready for the Holiday Season Kickoff? No, I don't mean football, either. I'm talking about Thanksgiving and Christmas. You can throw New Year's Eve into the mix, too, if you want.

This is typically the season when we encounter a lot of rich, fattening foods, endless shopping, and last minute dashes for a gift for someone we forgot to add to the list. It's also a season full of stress and sometimes depression.

I find the darker days bring me down a bit. It's reported that adding indoor light will help with that, but I'm such a skinflint I don't want to use the extra electricity! However, if I dedicate some time to creativity I can bring myself out of the doldrums without adding expense to my lifestyle.

I accomplish this through knitting, weaving, crocheting, painting, and jewelry making. These things bring joy to my ordinary life and I can use what I produce as gifts, reducing the amount I need to purchase. I can do some shopping online and get good deals without having to be pushed and shoved in the stores. (That really gets to me -- I hate being jostled about.)

Technorati Tags: shopping,holidays

On the go

2010-11-23T10:59:00.001-06:00

Son has a pretty good communications system setup. He's got game machines that will go online, using our internet access. He has a phone that can go online. And he has an ipod, though I don't think it's an ipod nano. He can go online with the ipod he has, store tunes, and use applications.

I'm a bit techno-challenged when it comes to this kind of thing. He has suggested to me that I need to get an ipod so I can use the internet without lugging along my laptop. However, since I have old eyes, I find the small screens a bit difficult to read and I think I'll just stick with my laptop when I go places.

I see a lot of folks with the smaller devices, though, and they seem pretty content with them.

So, tell me what you have and what you think about these newer, smaller tools?

Technorati Tags: ipod nano

Clean, or clean and sanitized?

2010-11-23T02:59:00.001-06:00

There is a difference. An item for the kitchen or a bathroom fixture might be clean, but it still might not be sanitized as well as clean.

Cleaning simply means the dirt has been removed. However, bacteria may still remain. I don't want bacteria lurking about on my cutting board, kitchen counter, or bathroom fixtures, ready to grow and possibly make someone sick. So, after cleaning it's a good idea to also sanitize the surfaces.

I have read many sites that recommend vinegar as a good all-purpose cleaner -- and it is. However, it does not disinfect. The food preservation qualities of vinegar (keeping food bacteria from growing in pickles and other canned foods) is not the same as killing germs and bacteria.

To kill the "bad guys" you also need bleach or some other kind of real disinfectant. Diluting 3/4 cup of bleach into a gallon of water is sufficient to kill germs on surfaces. (Be sure to spot test the surface in an inconspicuous location before using this full on.) Put some of this solution in a spray bottle to make the application of it easier. Use it on doorknobs, faucet handles, toilets, cutting boards, and other surfaces that may harbor bacteria.

Do save money by creating your own cleaning products. This is a good idea. But don't put your or your family's health at risk by not killing germs in your home.

Technorati Tags: vinegar,bleach,cleaning

Reduced electric bill

2010-11-21T20:28:00.001-06:00

Things are working out well as far as reducing my expenses. For one thing, my electric bill has now dropped by $30, which is pretty amazing.

Basically, to get it to drop, I've been very mindful of things being turned off...even the CFL bulbs. As low-cost as they are to operate, they aren't free to operate.

I have everything plugged into power strips so that when I leave, I can just switch off the strip and turn every item off. This includes my coffee maker, microwave oven, TV, DVD player, and surround sound system. I also make sure all chargers are unplugged. These so-called "wall warts" pull electricity even when you aren't using them if they're left plugged in.

My AC is turned off completely so that the timer and other digital functions don't pull power while it's not in use. I only use the hot water for bathing and for washing dishes. I use cold water only for rinsing dishes and for all laundry. I make sure to turn the water off when I'm brushing my teeth and between sinkfuls of dishes to be rinsed. (I am on a well so I'm trying to use less water which equals less time the pump has to run.)

We've had some really chilly days and nights lately, but I only run a space heater in the room where I am, and even then, it's turned down enough just to knock the chill out of the air. I dress in warm clothes in the house to help reduce the need for more heat, wearing socks and house shoes instead of going barefoot.

Technorati Tags: electric bill,cfl bulbs,compact fluorescent bulbs

The fun just never stops

2010-11-19T22:29:00.001-06:00

And I really mean that! Today, Son and I sorted through a lot of stuff again, getting it out of the house if it wasn't absolutely necessary. We also worked on tearing apart an old electric space heater that looks like a wood stove. I salvaged the front glass, the smoked glass behind the fake logs, the heater unit and blower, the part the turns to make the fake fire appearance, and the light bulb that reflects against the fake fire attachment.

We also salvaged the cord and switches, one of which is actually a dimmer switch. What plans do i have for this stuff? None, as yet, but I'm thinking some of these parts might prove very useful as I reduce my needs for grid-tied power and move toward wind and solar.

Recently, I got some conduit and bicycle parts from FreeCycle to add to my "junk pile" of things that may be useful during the transition. Son's old truck (motor is bad in it) has a large alternator that I can also use for my soon-to-be-built wind turbine.

Gathering these materials really is fun to do and puts feet to my dreams of going off-grid and living a simpler, more frugal lifestyle.

Technorati Tags: off grid

Weaning off the power company

2010-11-15T10:03:00.001-06:00

As I continue my off grid plans, I find I need to add up the watts I'll need to produce. This means looking at every single thing I plan to keep and seeing how many watts it consumes when operating. Only then will I know how many I'll need to generate through the batteries and inverter.

I figure heating will be the biggest watt hog unless I find a small propane heater. Space heaters and other heaters consume a great deal of electricity when operating. So, what I'm planning is tantamount to electricity diet pills -- I'm reducing the amount of power I pull so that I not only reduce my electric bill while I'm still on the grid, but I make it easier to transition to off grid power sources.

I'm probably going to have to remain tied to the grid for awhile until I've got all this worked out, but at least I'll be weaning myself off of power company dependency!

Technorati Tags: electricity,off grid

Steps toward off grid

2010-11-15T09:57:00.001-06:00

I am gathering supplies and materials to begin some off-grid projects. One of the things I'll be attempting to build is a small wind turbine for generating electricity. I'm picking up bicycle parts from a local FreeCycle member today, and some of those should prove useful in the project.

Soon, I'll purchase a generator, 3 deep cycle batteries, and an inverter to power at least part of my home. The wind turbine can be used to charge the batteries, but when there's no wind and the batteries run low, the generator can be used as a backup system.

The biggest obstacles to overcome are:

the well pump, which is a deep well pump and therefore operates on 240 volts
tying the alternative power into my home without tying into the grid

I'm just taking baby steps in this right now, but hopefully will have it all set up over the next few months.

Technorati Tags: electricity,off grid

The road to self sufficiency

2010-11-12T09:31:00.001-06:00

I actually have some very definite goals for how to spend my time if I can reduce the number of hours I work.

Making jewelry to sell at craft shows and eBay.
Blog reviews about various topics including the side effects of diet pills, eateries, movies, and products.
Gardening for sustainable living.
Producing knitted items to sell at craft shows.
Making unique, original painted glass projects to sell at craft shows.

Actually, I could do some selling at a local flea market or perhaps at a farmers market that allows hand crafted materials. Maybe by next summer, I will have enough herbs to sell at a farmers market, too.

I need to develop more raised beds (ground here is pretty rocky just a couple of inches beneath the soil) for growing herbs and some basic vegetables. I want to also plant fruit trees and grape vines. Maybe even eventually get 4 or 5 chickens and a milk goat, like I used to have.

Technorati Tags: self-sufficiency,gardening

Moving toward off grid

2010-11-12T09:23:00.001-06:00

I've been doing my homework, so to speak, on going at least partially off-grid. I'd very much like to be out from under the electric bill, but it means cutting back on some conveniences. However, since I live alone, I'm not overly concerned about them.

I already use CFL bulbs throughout my house. I don't use the electric stove that's in the kitchen but have opted for low-wattage countertop alternatives and a couple of single burner propane stoves for all my cooking needs. In fact, the single burner propane stoves actually do most of my cooking.

There are two major items that are 220v, though -- the water heater and the well pump. I can probably do a lot toward using a different water heating source, such as solar water heating for baths or just using the propane stoves for heating water for other needs. But, since I have a deep well pump, it's going to be hard to get around that obstacle. Still, if I can eliminate the need for much of the power consumption here, maybe that will be the only thing still on the grid and it shouldn't cost too much to operate.

I'm going to be installing some gutters and rain barrels so I can have water for cleaning, laundry, and bathing. Drinking water can be transported home, thus eliminating the pull on the well pump even further.

There are a lot of thoughts in my head, whirling around, as to ways I can reduce expenditures. These reductions will allow me to reduce the amount of hours I have to work at my job, giving me more time at home.

Technorati Tags: off grid,electicity,power

Getting ready for an uncertain economy

2010-11-07T22:21:00.001-06:00

Sometime in the very near future, I'm going to have to set up my own domain again. I had 4+ domains a couple of years ago, but times got hard and I had to let them go. I was working way too many hours at my job and not making nearly enough money.

I might think about managed hosting next time around, depending on my needs.

Right now, though, I'm saving up for off-grid equipment. I am looking at a 2000 watt generator that isn't terribly high priced. I've also been studying plans for a wind power turbine I should be able to set up in my yard to help with some power. Of course, I'll also need several deep cycle batteries to store the power, once it's generated. And a place to keep all this stuff out of the weather.

Can't keep the batteries inside, of course, which means a small lean-to type of shed, probably at the back of the house, out of sight. I don't want people seeing this stuff and stealing it!

Once I get these things in place, I can get an inverter or two for running small wattage items. I'm already using CFL bulbs, so the total drain isn't high even if they are all on, which, of course, they never are. My small chest freezer doesn't use much wattage and I'm still seriously considering using a second one in place of a traditional refrigerator. (The theory is that because the cold air doesn't "fall out" when the door is opened, it runs more efficiently and for fewer hours a day.)

Technorati Tags: economy,off-grid,electricity,compact fluorescent bulbs

Tough Times - making the most of what you have

2010-10-28T16:15:00.001-05:00

Long title, no doubt.

Anyway, as I alluded to in the previous post, it's the small stuff that really gets you, even when times aren't so tough. Developing good habits about what you have on hand helps you later, if the times get even tougher.

Invest in a rubber spatula that will fit down into jars. Use it to scoop out every last bit of mayo, peanut butter, jelly or any other food that's stored in a jar. I have found that I can usually get two more sandwiches out of a seemingly empty jar this way.
Add a little water to the last bit of shampoo, conditioner, liquid laundry detergent, or dish detergent to get every last drop out. Why throw it away just because it won't easily dispense?
Add a little water to the last bit of ketchup to get it all out of the bottle. Use it in a recipe when you need a tomato product.
Buying the most expensive toilet paper may make you feel special, but it all goes into the sewer anyway. Use a less expensive, thinner brand. I'm not talking the put-your-fingers-through-it thin. Generally, the thinner brands are friendlier to your sewer system since they break down much faster than the thick, heavy ones. That could save you a plumber bill later!
Use mid-priced paper towels, and even then use them sparingly. Invest in a few more kitchen or hand towels for most purposes. Save paper towels for cleaning up things where you want to avoid cross-contamination, such as raw meat residue on the counter or cutting board, or cleaning your hands after handling raw meat. Avoid cheap paper towels because they just aren't absorbent enough.
Keep your household cleaners limited to a few old-fashioned standards - bleach mixed with water, baking soda, vinegar. You can find ways to make your own cleaners from a few ingredients online at places like YouTube or Green sites. They are cost-effective and work just as well as name brands, but without the perfumes and dyes.
Air fresheners are a waste unless you've just cooked fish for dinner. Even then, burning an incense stick is less expensive and works wonderfully to eliminate indoor odors. Your house doesn't have to smell like a breeze off the ocean or the great piney woods as long as it smells clean.
Invest in inexpensive plastic containers in a variety of sizes to store leftovers. Even if you don't plan to use them right away, you can freeze them for later. Reusable containers are better than zip bags because you can wash them and get them clean. Also, they will stack and store better in your fridge or freezer. Hint: Make sure they are square and not round. Round wastes space.
I never buy small trash bags. Discount and grocery stores give them to you for free every time you shop!

I'm certain I'll think of more ways to make the most of what you have on hand in later posts. But for now, consider these tips and see if you can incorporate them into your own life and lifestyle. The rich didn't get rich by wasteful spending!

Technorati Tags: tough times

Do sweat the small stuff

2010-10-28T15:36:00.002-05:00

Where I work, we go through a lot of pickles. A particular number of them are designated for certain sandwiches. To the people who work there, it's just pickles. So what if they put on more? So what if they throw away 5 or 6 of them left in the bottom of a container? So what?

Well, here's what...

Say the pickles only cost us .005 each. That's half a cent. Piddly amount, it seems. But over the course of a day, if we make 500 sandwiches and each sandwich just has one pickle too many, that calculates out to about $912 a year. (And that's just pickles. Imagine all the other stuff that goes into making a sandwich incorrectly, that's money thrown down the drain!)

It's entirely in the realm of possibility to make that many, or more, sandwiches each day having pickles.

That monetary amount doesn't even include the number that may be thrown away in the bottom of a container, the number that may be dropped on the floor, or the number that sneaky crew people may eat while on their shift. It's only the number if there is one too many pickles on the sandwiches.

Now, look at your own life. Are you wasting money on the piddly stuff? Are you saying that it's only $5 for a latte a couple times a week, or it's only another $3 in gas to go there twice a week, or how much electricity can one little incandescent bulb burn anyway, if it's left on 24/7? Are you throwing money away by throwing away leftovers, not using every bit of the peanut butter or mayo left in the jar, or tossing out an almost depleted roll of toilet paper or paper towels?

The next few posts will again address the Tough Times issues, covering wastefulness and spending.

Technorati Tags: tough times,waste,spending,finances

Wholesale suppliers

2010-10-27T12:31:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I search the Web for places where I can buy wholesale products to resell. I have actually found quite a few, with some having better wholesale prices than others. Some even offer drop-shipping for a reasonable price. I can pass that cost along to the buyer, of course.

What kinds of things have I found? I've found kitchen gadgets, movies, video games, vitamins, best calcium supplements, OTC medicines, craft supplies, scrapbooking supplies, electronics, home decor...well, the list just goes on and on.

So, I'm going to see which ones I think would really sell the best, at the best prices, and start my eBay store again. Maybe I can earn a little off of it. The eBay store is very inexpensive to set up and run month to month. If it doesn't work out, I can always take it down again.

Technorati Tags: ebay,wholesale,selling

Tough times - products

2010-10-25T14:24:00.001-05:00

There comes a time when we have to assess the products we buy. We should ask ourselves questions about them.

Are they living up to the advertising?
Are we buying them because Sally Jones down the street buys them?
Is the shampoo for thinning hair for women working? (If it is, then continue to use it, by all means!)
Is the expensive laundry soap really cleaning better, or does it just have more perfume residue when the laundry is done?
Are the $1 dryer sheets just as effective as the $3 ones?
Are we using 15 different products for cleaning, or will just one or two actually do the job?
Can we save by making our own cleaning products and are they effective?
While generics are generally less expensive than name brands, make sure they have similar quality. They usually do, so feel free to purchase them.

Technorati Tags: shopping