"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Thursday, February 18, 2021

A Day of Sitting in the Parking Lot and Things that Stopped Working

 

Just a few days before yesterday, I sat in the Verizon parking lot waiting on my husband to get a new cell phone.  His phone was 5 years old and got a free trade in thankfully.  However, if you have a cell phone, you know buying a new one takes about an hour or more.  I had no projects with me that day either.

Yesterday morning, I had zero plans to leave the house.  It's cold, snow covered, and I didn't need a lick of anything important.  I him-hawed around in my slippers and pj's sipping coffee, stoking the fire, feeding the cats etc.

Hubby gets up and says, "Your daughter's phone died so you need to go with her to get a new one."  My best eye-rolling moment happened.  Sigh.  Another day of sitting in the parking lot.

We rolled in at 11:02am.  I see a truck pull in, and Daughter K was taking her time getting out of the car.  I literally ran in the store to make sure we got in there first (knowing the wait time). I go in, sign (which now it pops up on your own phone, you sign and it goes back to their tablet).  Anyway, I do all the things I need to, and an elderly lady came in but approached the counter with impatience.  Remember I said phone buying is at least 1 hour to do?

She apparently went over on her data and was charged, but not even the clerk could explain what "data" was.  The clerk at some point just shut off her data.  That women will be back for sure.  

Anyway, I'm thinking "oh my gosh, that would be my mother" then I ask about flip phones.  Thankfully they are continuing to sell them, so later that day I let her know (her flip phone needs replaced).

After I did what I needed to give access to our account, and she picked out a phone, I went to the car to crochet.  One hour later the clerk sends Daughter K out and suggests we go get something to eat and come back.  

We did, and we went back. 

Daughter K drove me all the way home, and went back and never got out of that Verizon store until almost 2pm.  She had that much to transfer from her old phone to her new phone.  

...and that my folks is how I spent most of my day yesterday.  

Once home though, I got 2 dish scrubbies crocheted.  I have 3 more to make for the person who ordered, but glad I at least had crochet time.

Our smaller bathroom has running water, but the drain is still frozen.  Don't get me started on the kitchen.  I hauled hot water from the master bath, washed dishes and when I dumped the dish tubs into both sinks a water line below sprung a large leak (drain froze and I didn't realize it).  I was grabbing whatever I could to fill until it was done.  Hubby walked in and said, "is it safe to come home?"  

He apologized over and over and said he'd heat tape it this weekend.  He also said, "why don't we think about doing this stuff over summer?"  I told him to not worry, I have a list and will put it in plain sight so we stay on task this year.

Oh, and get this....wood splitter is broke down.  So, if we stay on task this spring/summer/fall with wood splitting, we'll have wood and not have to deal with things like this in winter.  We ran out of wood, so the electric heat is on until Saturday.  Or until he fixed the splitter.  Always something.....

Snow and wind are back this morning.  We may actually get up to 26°F in our parts.  On a good note, the hot water line works in my utility room, so I can at least do laundry today. 


Ideas for revitalizing and energizing yourself (cont.):

46. Give in occasionally

47. Make clear choices

48. Face painful questions directly

49. Work toward deepening your life

50. Keep things in proper perspective

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Tidbits

 



The boys also shoveled me a path to get to the other side of the drive, but I needed to shovel out getting into the coop.  There was snow in the coop and a huge drift in the run.  Lovely.


We got 12 inches of snow by Tuesday morning.   We have 17 inches on the ground.  A nephew came and plowed us out, but more snow is coming.  Sigh.

They predicted -8°F last night.  I filled water jugs.  Woke up to a wind-chill of -11°F.  I made sure there was plenty of food for leftovers for today too.

Daughter K made it to work yesterday, as the downgraded us before she had to be to work (level 3 is a level the Sheriff can give you a ticket for being on the road). She got to work, but said all the stores in the strip she works in were closed.  She just wanted to go home, as the roads are still not good and no one was shopping (as should be).

Youngest was told she should not go to work, and if the salon opened, they'd just have two people there.  They ended up staying closed.  My husband who got his truck stuck yesterday, got it out with the nephews and he made it to work (although drove during a level 3).

I got busy in the kitchen, by first making a breakfast bake - zucchini, yellow squash, broccoli, onion, green pepper, jalapeno, garlic, dandelion greens, bacon and chives.



Next up was a strawberry crisp, using strawberries I froze.



Made some more homemade seasoned salt.

Made a double batch of my version of "chex mix" for the girls.  I normally only make this for the holidays.



Dinner?  A new recipe - pizza casserole (posting recipe soon) using Einkorn penne. Our side dish?  Zucchini and corn saute.  However, I didn't get the side veggie made.  I will get it made today though.




The craft supply purge continues.  It's gonna get me into more trouble.  I found these and they are USA made.  I may be making something.  Or not.  We'll see if the craft bug stays or goes.