DG's frugal journal

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Dgflorida
Posts: 4381
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2015 8:10 pm

Re: DG's frugal journal

Post by Dgflorida »

Sunday-am

As soon as breakfast is done, I will put cherry tomatoes in the dehydrator and shrink them for convenient storage. It is very effective and some get eaten as a chewy snack before getting to storage. This batch should fill the freezer baggie and then it will go into the freezer for later use. Normally, dehydrated bagged tomatoes could be kept in the pantry for several months, but with our high humidity here, it is not recommended. I am not sure if we are at the peak of the produce or not. The return of rain and normal temperatures should extend the life of the tomato plants or it can activate the bugs and diseases. It is always a race in the Florida garden.

The black beans I cooked up yesterday did not swell as expected, but both hubs and I liked them with the turkey leftovers. I put the removable crockpot in the refrigerator and will hopefully get 2 pints of black beans for the freezer. Tomorrow, I will cook up some pinto beans in the leftover tasty juice. Tonight will be skillet stir fry with fresh broccoli. Right now, the fresh broccoli is very nicely priced. That will probably change when the restaurants open back up. Frugal, healthy cooking.

I believe I have successfully blocked the night time yard digger from my newly planted passion vine a long the northwest fence. I can't tell if the plant will survive replanting twice after being dug up and tossed about. The passion vine is the host for the gulf fritillary and zebra long wing butterflies and they are keeping the original plants chewed to stubs. Looks pretty ratty, so I have morning glories and moonflowers planted there as well. Many of the local produce farms are selling directly to the public because the restaurants are closed. It is tempting, but my plate is too full of home stuff to make the drive. I hope the wonderful rains will kick the fig plants into fruiting. That would be nice. The surinam cherries are plumping up as well. They are predicting weekly rains and normal temperatures for the next month. I sure hope that happens. Frugal, healthy eating. Yum.

Places are beginning to open up and almost everyone is happy. Of course, there are those who ominously predict more body bags. Masks are not required in public, but recommended. I wear one when I am out. I may go out early next week for basics and a new trashcan. I intend to make it into a diy rain barrel. The price on the cheap rain barrels has doubled. A good quality trashcan is only about $35. A quarter of the price of the rain barrel. They hold up pretty well when water filled. Hard to refuse a frugal savings like that.
Dgflorida
Posts: 4381
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2015 8:10 pm

Re: DG's frugal journal

Post by Dgflorida »

Sunday-thought for the day

Risk vs. Uncertainty. The difference between them makes a "world" of difference. Risk says we know there are dangers and risks and we believe the risks are .... Do you want to take those risks for a hope for reward. The stock market purports to deal in risk. Uncertainly says there is danger and we don't know what the risks are. Do you want to take those risks not knowing what the risks are and not knowing what might happen? This translates into the basis of capitalism vs. socialism. Capitalists take risks. Socialist prefer safety. The philosophy of the US is capitalism. The philosophy of Europe is flavors of socialism.

This forms part of the push to reopen the countries. Here in the US, it poses a problem. Red states want to open soon. Blue states want to be safe first. Of course, there are voices in Red states that want to be safe and there are voices in Blue states that don't want to be left behind the Red states economically.

Interesting times.
Dgflorida
Posts: 4381
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2015 8:10 pm

Re: DG's frugal journal

Post by Dgflorida »

Monday-am

Monday is a good day to plan the upcoming week's projects. It appears that the drought is over and that will free up an hour or more a day from watering. And increase the time needed for weeding. So probably a wash time wise.

This week I want to re-organize my outside kitchen area. I have been giving it thought for awhile and I think I have a plan now. This will allow me a larger working area and a second electrical outlet. Meanwhile I will continue on my regular landscaping projects.
Dgflorida
Posts: 4381
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2015 8:10 pm

Re: DG's frugal journal

Post by Dgflorida »

Tuesday am

Monday was not a total success. The storms looked rough on the radar and I worried that we would lose power like last week during the storms. An interruption to the dehydration process would be bad and the pre-storm humidity much too high to try to dry anything on the porch. The process generates a lot of heat, so on the porch is the only option. So I put it off until today.

I did work on the outside kitchen. I moved things here and there and just wasn't satisfied. Thinking on it. I think I need to reduce the number of pots and pans I have. Cooking habits have changed since starting keto. And changed some more since I am cooking on the porch about 75% of the time. Also, I am looking more seriously into suitable porch furniture for eating meals out there. The issue is hubs limitations. Thinking on it.

Also started on re-organizing my bedroom.

The house humidity is up. Not a surprise given yesterday's high humidity. But the temperatures are nice.

The drought appears to be over and weekly rains are expected. Building new gardens continues.
Dgflorida
Posts: 4381
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2015 8:10 pm

Re: DG's frugal journal

Post by Dgflorida »

In May, I will rename my journal.And go to another posting. I had hoped it would prove continuity. It didn't. My goal is to increase my frugal journey. Never be afraid to change if things don't work. Never stay with a loser.
Dgflorida
Posts: 4381
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2015 8:10 pm

Re: DG's frugal journal

Post by Dgflorida »

Hubs went out to walk. The neighbors were happy. They wondered if he was sick. It is that kind of neighborhood. He did good.
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