Hiking With My Honey

Last weekend we hiked several miles together.  These pictures are from the Sunken Garden Trail at Moraine State Park.  It was an easy walk and we found a geocache!  Score!  Enjoyed the scenery and the sunshine. 

Score!

Last week I picked up NINE tubes of Crest for a whopping $3.00.  That’s really cheap!  I gave them all to my coworker to share with her family.  In return… she will bring me some coupons.  Yay!

Yay For Warmer Weather

Saturday was a whirlwind of a day.  I left early for Butler and met up with my gal pals for Girls Group Bible Study.  Yummy Panera Bread breakfast and chit-chat… Wonderful.  Then I motored into work figuring that I’d do a few things there.  Well… six hours later I had printed some fifty application packets that need to be mailed this coming week and completed a small pile of data entry.  Ugh!

 

What better way to close out the day and the week but with a short hike with my Sweetie.  I got home with just about an hour of daylight to spare.  We tried to find a geocache that we failed to find in the snow a few weeks ago.  Unfortunately, we did not find it last evening either.  Grrrr!  However…  there is another one not far off.  It’s one we have found before.  So we trail-blazed for a short distance, walked the ridge overlooking the stream, scaled a portion of it and found ourselves back on the beaten path.  The spring thaw is flowing heavily in the stream.  It’s not just beautiful to look at, it sounds lovely too.  I wish I could capture that sound and take it with me.  The cache was tucked into a log just where we thought it was.  There were no exciting contents we wished to have, so we just left a travel bug and a geocoin. 

 

I’m looking forward to many hikes to come… 

Every Season Has Its Beauty

 

This was the scene as I climbed into my warm, garage kept, car.  The snow was heavy with moisture.  Each tree limb was perfectly defined.  I enjoyed my commute this morning, drinking in the beauty of this season. It will soon be over. Spring is already on its way.  I’m thankful to live in a place where I can witness the change of seasons and the unique beauty of each. 

It Is Done!

Today we paid off the remaining balance of my student loans!  ELEVEN MONTHS EARLY!!!!  I’m SO EXCITED!!!!  We also paid off one additional bill that has been lingering for a while.  It feels SO GOOD!!!  I’m thankful for the Lord’s provision and Keith’s decision making.  We have a plan to keep chipping away at our debt, follow a strict budget, and to save for our someday home and other aspirations.  We still owe some on the truck, his student loans, and a little bit more to Asbury.  We have ZERO credit card debt!  It makes us feel so FREE!  YAY!!! 

 

In celebration thereof, we purchased tickets to the Pirates Opening Day at PNC Park…and I’m thinking maybe I might make us a nice steak dinner one night this week. 

Better Than Expected…

Today started about the same as any other, except Keith was home and he was awake before I left for work.  I counted myself blessed to have a hug and a kiss from him before we departed ways.  Once I got to work the day seemed to fall apart fast.  One of the first tasks I started today was also one of the last.  There were many interruptions.  I feel as though tomorrow I will have to lock myself behind closed doors just to accomplish some things that are time sensitive.  (As if pretty much everything isn’t time sensitive in my office.) 

 

After work I got to the barn, just a little later than planned.  I missed the vet-call.  He was there for the ponies’ annual inoculations.  I skipped the blood-test again this year as I’m not planning on taking her to any shows or official organized rides.  I’ll just be riding around the farm and maybe a few local spots that we trailer out to on a whim.  Nothing where anyone checks for the test, so we should be good.  So Penny just got a few shots.  I presume she was well behaved as usual.  I’m glad that she should be safe from those particular ailments that target horses, especially since Janet does travel with her horse so there may be some exposure. 

 

After the chores were done, Janet and I took the dogs for a walk in the woods.  I SOOOOOO needed that!!!  I need MORE walks in the woods!  It was just about dark when we returned, so we timed it perfectly.  I kind of wish I would have had the GPS with me so I could see how far the loop is.  Maybe next time.  I’m just so delighted to have been out for a hike, even a little one.  The ground is soft on top but still hard underneath in most places.  Some area still had snow cover, where obviously the sun doesn’t shine as direct.  The ridge we walked along is beautiful in every season. 

 

So as I motored home I remembered that tonight is Bible Study night at church.  We are deep into Isaiah.  So even though I was a half-hour late, I stopped anyway and got a good hour of biblical intellectual discussion and direction.  SAWEET!!!!  I’m always grateful for the reflections of those in attendance and also for the prayerful hearts whom I know I can count on for prayer in need.  On my way out, I stopped and signed up for the Monday night women’s group again.  Am I stretching myself too far?  That’s THREE Bible Studies I’m in.  Hmmm… I figure I’ll get the material and attend when I’m able.  Sometimes Mondays are bad for me, but I’d rather be prepared to participate than to try to fit in after the fact.  Besides… this is another group of lovely ladies whom I can count on to surround me with prayer. 

 

I got home a short while ago.  Since then I’ve put some pork chops on the stove to slow-cook and a pot of scalloped potatoes in the oven.  I got the mail just to find that we are closer than ever to paying off my student loan and possibly one (or maybe two) additional bills that have been lingering.  YAY!!!!  I’m so excited!!!!  We very much want to buy our own home in the near future and we have some other aspirations as well…  so this feels really good to be a nice leap forward on such plans.  Of course… it’s not like we will buy a house tomorrow, but at least we have some forward motion.  YAY!!! 

 

So even though I was annoyed because Keith’s phone wasn’t functioning well earlier today.  Even though my work was stressful and boring.  Even though Keith forgot his lunch and his wallet.  (and was saved by someone other than me.  Thank you very much.)  This day has turned out a whole lot better than I had anticipated all along!   

Blessings Monday

A couple weeks ago I was pretty much so stranded on the snow-covered highway with no way to get home.  I was blessed to have a friend nearby who could rescue me and give me a warm place to lay my head for the night.  Looking back makes me grateful for the blessing of being able to get home tonight. 

 

The entire month of February Keith was working nights.  Last night he was home and able to sleep through the night with me.  I’m grateful for the blessing of sharing a closeness with my Man, especially after so many lonely nights.  I’m also grateful for the blessing of gainful employment for both Keith and myself. 

 

We are nearing the point where my student loan will be satisfied.  We have 11 more months to pay an exorbitant amount in order to bring a close it.  It’s taken a couple of years longer than expected as we had to defer it when Keith was in Grad-school.  It warms my heart to know that my Honey has developed a plan to pay it off early.  He is a good man!  I am so blessed!

 

Sometimes difficult times help to remind us of how blessed we truly are.   I’m feeling very blessed right now.  Thank you Jesus!

Saturday’s Savings & Meal Planning

I have a plan for this week.  Here it is:

1. Chili, cornbread, and salad
2. Chicken Stir fry
3. Pork roast or chop w/ scalloped potatoes & green beans
4. Spaghetti and salad
5. Fish Sandwich (for Keith)  I’ll have leftovers

I’m pumped about my shopping trip today.  I didn’t need to get much for my meal plan, but I grabbed a bunch of good deals.  Check it out:

Kellogg’s cereal were 5 for $10.  I had three coupons worth 3.40.  So I spent a whopping 1.32/box.  I already had 6 boxes of cereal from last week’s sales so now I have 11 boxes of cereal in the pantry.  Well… Keith already ate about half a box.  What’s for dinner when I’m too tired to cook a meal?  CEREAL!!!!

 

How about this!  Colgate and Colgate tooth brushes were on sale for $1.  I had 14 coupons for 75 cents off (7 tooth paste & 7 tooth brushes), which double at the register.  Double is more than the sale price, so they were all just simply FREE!!!!  Actually, I was one tooth brush shy because I cleaned them out.  They only had 6.  Oh well, maybe I’ll be able to use that coupon another time.  I don’t even use Colgate tooth paste!  I got 6 free tubes last week.  I gave away 3 of those.  Now I have 10 tubes of toothpaste in the closet.  Seriously… if you live close and want some toothpaste, let me know.  I’ll donate most of it to the ministry at church for the food pantry and/or college and military care packages.  It’s worth it to pick it up just to give it to someone else.

 

What’s this?!  It’s motivation to do laundry.  That’s what!  This was what I got at Rite Aid.  I picked up 8 bottles of Arm & Hammer 2x Laundry detergent.  These usually run $6.99/bottle.  It was on sale for $3.99 w/ a $1 Register Reward.   $3.99x8=$31.92 minus $4 in coupons = $27.92.  I got $8 back in Register Rewards, which means I actually spent $19.92 for 8 bottles or $2.49 each.  I saved $4.50/bottle from the usual price.  Not bad!  Both bottles of Gain liquid fabric softener were FREE w/ coupons.  I spent $3.25 on the 5 Dawn Hand Renewal dish soaps (with coupons) or a whopping 65 cents each.  SAWEET!!!!  That’s the kind I like because it keeps my hands soft.  We don’t have a dishwasher. 

 

These are just the bigger deals I found.  I was actually several dollars UNDER my budget at the grocery this week.  Imagine that!  Many thanks to all who gave me coupons they didn’t want!  This was fun.        

Wednesday’s C.O.W. (Coupon of Wisdom)

Besides last weeks answered prayers fresh in my memory, there has been a simple yet profound concept that continually orbits my mind day after day.  Have you ever prayed continually on one topic or for one person… wishing, hoping, begging for a change that you know would be so huge?  Keep praying, for answered prayers sometimes take time.  BUT… always TRUST that the Lord’s plan is perfect.  Let God write the testimony of the situation or person(s) you pine over. 

 

Blessings Monday

Last week was a particularly stressful.  Work stress was the brunt of it.  I’m so thankful to have a boss who’s got my back.  It all ended up swell.  I was all set to study for my certification exam this afternoon, but do you know what?  I’m just TIRED.  I’m all spent on regs at this point.  I’m glad our survey has passed and that we were deemed to have done a good job.  YAY!  There were many answered prayers this week!  I LOVE IT!!!

 

Keith’s schedule has been flip-flopped to overnights at a different store the last couple of weeks.  He doesn’t mind helping out where there is a need, but it’s weighing on his life.  His sleep schedule is all fussed up and he’s missing the routine of home-life spent with me.  I admire him for being able to accommodate the need of his employer.  I’ve reminded him that he’s making a good impression on some people by being the willing and available one.  I appreciate his dutiful making of a living to support us in our endeavors as a family.  I also appreciate the blessing of added shift-differential he’s getting while working nights. 

 

Albeit odd, sometimes the ability to stretch out diagonally across the bed at night is a blessing.  Not having to fight for a fair portion of blankets, pillows, and space can be a blessing.  I’d much rather be cuddling and snuggling, but I’m one that can find the good in all situations. 

 

Finally, we were blessed with the lovely company of the Zom’s for dinner tonight.  As is our custom, we enjoyed dinner and interesting conversation at Olive Garden.  YUM!

 

Thank you Lord for provisions, patience, peace, and good times.  This has been a busy and interesting week.  I’m blessed to know your presence every step of the way.

Saturday Savings & Meal Planning

I worked the Farmer’s Market today.  I got some meat as part of my pay and still walked away with some cash in my pocket.  SAWEET!

 

I’m so proud of myself.  I got about $100 worth of groceries today for $69.  Our standard weekly grocery budget is $60; however, last week we did NOT use any of it, so I do not feel bad spending some of it this week.  In that bundle I got SIX full-size tubes of Colgate toothpaste for FREE.  Anybody need toothpaste?  I don’t even use Colgate, but if they are giving it away for free… I’ll take it!  I’ll share it with whomever wants or needs it and what’s left I will donate to the food pantry.  Believe it or not, they do appreciate toiletries as well as food. 

 

After leaving the grocery store, I hit Rite Aid for a few deals.  I spent $12 and walked away with $7 in up-rewards for next week.  So really I only spent $5 out of pocket.  Not bad!  I got the last two bottles of Dial Nutri-skin lotion on sale this week.  I needed it SO BAD. 

 

So, looking ahead, I need to plan some meals.

 

1) Chicken n’ Biscuits w/ Salad --- Saturday Night Dinner!

2)  Olive Garden w/ Zom’s --- Sunday Night Dinner

3)  BBQ Meatloaf w/ potatoes & green beans --- Monday

4)  Gorton’s Fish Fillets & Salad (just salad for me) – Tuesday

5)  Pork Roast w/ Sauerkraut in the Crockpot --- Wednesday

6)  Eggs, Bacon, & Toast --- Thursday

7)  Cheese Pizza

 

Random fact:  I’m pretty much so addicted to Pomegranate Blueberry juice!  LOVE IT!!! 

Beautiful Sky

I love how the sun shines down through the clouds.  Awesome!

This is my favorite photo this week. 

2011 Hiking Commitment–Take 3

We planned ahead to go for a hike and by the time the day arrived we had invited our husbands to come along as well.  I was annoyed because I had planned to be out of work early to get my chores done and hoped to have a few hours of daylight to put some miles in.  As it goes… I got out of work late.  I asked Janet to take care of the ponies for me.  We were able to pound out a good 2.25 and then ran out of daylight.  We met at Tammi & Rich’s house.  We circled through the woods on their family’s farm and then a ways down the road as well. 

 

Tammi made baked spaghetti and salad and had Zanella’s chocolate chip cookies for dessert.  It was a delightful visit with friends.  We watched some of the truck race and enjoyed the company for a while before we departed.  All in all… a great evening with fantastic company. 

 

I can’t wait to go again!

Quick Weekend Jaunt

Keith and I set out for a quick hike today in search of some geocaches.  It was snowy.  The wind was blowing, but not too bad once we were under the cover of the woods.  I have to say that the terrain was a wee bit slippery because of the snow and ice, but we didn’t have much difficulty traveling. 

We hit the Rachel Carson Trail in Hampton Township.  We found two geocaches there.  One took some climbing down a hill and through some jaggers.  I cannot imagine trying to find this one mid-summer.  We made both finds in little time and hiked back to the car to motor on down to the next idea. 

There is a puzzle cache at the Hampton Township Community Center, but we decided we couldn’t put it all together today.  So we headed on down a little further to the Irma Knot Nature Area to look for the last one.  Unfortunately, after scaling the hillside and searching over and under just about every tree… we were NOT able to find it.  It’s just too snowy.  We’ll try that one another day.  The hiking in that valley is lovely.  There are bridges over streams, hills, and rocks, and wildlife. 

Overall, 2 out of 4 finds.  We talked about setting a goal to find a certain number of caches this year.  My hiking goal is with Tammi, because she and I cover miles.  When I hike with Keith, it’s usually shorter distances looking for treasures.  (although occasionally we’ll put in a good distance.) 

Any way you put it… it’s just good to be out exercising and enjoying each other’s company.  God’s creation has so much to offer!  I love it!

2011 Hiking Commitment–Take 2

Yesterday Tammi and I covered the 2nd hike of our 2011 200 mile challenge.  Jill came along too.  We covered 4.75 miles.  Tammi parked at the trail-head on Christly Road and then Jill and I drove to the trail-head near the park-office on Old 422.  The Weggeston Trail is a 3-mile hike one-way with a 1.5 mile loop at the end.  (plus a lil’ back-tracking in the middle)

Rain, freezing rain, and snow were all part of the forecast for the day.  As it goes, we were blessed with mostly pleasant weather.  Yes it was cold, but we warmed up quick and easy. 

There were a couple good hills.  Some places smelled like gas.  There are natural gas wells in the area.  We ran into a guy heading the opposite way who had two dogs.  We stopped to pet the puppies, but the little beagle was skittish.  After heading on our way for a good ways more, the dogs came barreling through the woods.  The beagle was hot on the trail of who knows what.  The bigger dog circled around us and then headed back from where he came, but not on the trail.  We thought for a few minutes that maybe the guy had gotten hurt, so we back tracked a ways until we found footsteps in the snow headed up the road we had crossed… that were obviously not ours.  Satisfied that they must be that guys tracks, we headed back on our way.  A short while longer we heard him calling the beagle… whew!  Glad to know he wasn’t lying in the woods somewhere.  We made another mile and a half loop and at that we were finished.  It was a GREAT HIKE!

By evening, and again this morning, I am a wee bit sore.  My hips ache, but overall I still feel pretty good.  It’s just a reminder that it was a worthwhile hike.  Can’t wait to do it again! 

Add this to our previous hike and we are now at 6.75/200.  Only 193.25 more to go!

Anyone Want to Claim Either of These?

Fusia/Siler and Black/Silver – both have platinum plated hooks.

Homemade Game–Take II

Sandy likes green.  Joyce says teal or purple.  Rachel wants purple.  And Denise says purple is her favorite, but she likes anything.  So…  Here’s something for my purple lovers…  just not sure which one to send it to:

 

Two down… a few more to go!

Homemade Game

On FB I agreed to send something that I’ve made home-made to 6 people in 2011.  Here’s my first item, for my friend Tammi:

A bracelet & earrings.  She said her favorite color is blue. 

 

FIVE more to go… 

Blessings Monday

I am very blessed to have a boss that has my back.  When we needed to leave town on a dime for a funeral… a few days before my big meeting… my boss accepted the load of responsibility to get everything accomplished for tonight’s big meeting.  He even updated me on Friday.  That made me feel better.  I made it back for the meeting and everything seemed to fall together nicely.  I really appreciate my boss. 

 

Thank you Lord for allowing me to work under the direction of a Godly man.  It is a wonderful blessing!

2011 Commitment

My girlfriend and I are making a pact to hike at least 200 miles together this year.  We are making our lists of places we want to hike and then we’ll put together a schedule.  I can’t wait to document this journey with her.  These will just be the hikes we do together… not counting miles we hike otherwise.  Yay! 

It’s Been Confirmed

We are officially crazy people!

We went geocaching again today, on the way home from Kentucky.  It was a whopping 7 degrees outside.  We are nuts!

 

It was fun tho.  We found 4/5 and swapped some travel bugs.  Not a bad day if I say so myself.  This really made the trip home more enjoyable.  We were disappointed to not be able to find the one at Cabela’s.  We will have to visit there again in warmer weather. 

We Must Be Crazy

It was –5 degrees when we woke up this morning.  That’s NEGATIVE!  By afternoon the balmy high was a whopping 23 degrees.  We had some trackable Geocaching bugs that we brought south with us intending to plant them far from where we picked them up.  This afternoon’s adventures took us out to do just that. 

 

The first find was easy, but it was just a log, not even big enough to leave any kind of trinket.  It was really close though, so worth it to stop. 

 

The second was a TB Hotel stop, near a rather large highway.  We found it with great ease.  We left two of our trackables and picked up one to hitch-hike north with us. 

 

The third and fourth caches we never found.  We blame it on the snow.  It’s hard to find something hidden in the woods when it’s significantly snow covered.  I thought it would have been nice to have snowshoes for this trek!  (still dreaming) 

 

The photo above was taken after we succumbed to defeat at #3.  The walk around the lake was really nice, even in the cold.  The sun was shining and I was in the best company.  I cannot wait to return in warmer weather to try this one again!

 

Now the house is empty… all have gone their ways.  Keith is playing poker with his cousins.  Tammy has gone out with her girlfriends.  Mom & Jim have gone out having special dinner invitations.  Me… I chose to stay home alone.  I’m beat.  I’m in need of some quiet.  I’m actually enjoying the solitude for the moment.   The dog isn’t thrilled to be left with me (of all people), but we exist harmoniously alongside one another.  He does his thing.  I do mine.  Sipping hot tea, perusing Face Book, and updating my blog.  Ahhh… peacefulness. 

Saturdays Saving & Meal Plan

My week was a bust.  I got NOTHING.  I saved NOTHING except the pennies that I did not spend because I didn’t get to do my weekly sales run.  I lost the Rite Aid Up Rewards that expired this week.  Boo hoo.  Oh well.  We had a family matter to attend to and we were glad that we could drop everything and go on a dime like we did.  I have coupons from last week to clip and should be getting more tomorrow as well. 

 

So then what’s on tap for meals? Hmm…

• Salad (hopefully what I left behind is still crisp and sweet)
• Beef Stirfry with rice
• BBQ Porkchop with mashed potatoes & veggie
• Grilled Cheese w/ soup
• Pancakes

What do I need to get?  Maybe a can of tomato soup and some milk.  That should do it.  YAY!!!!

Weekly Savings & Meal Planning

Once again, I hit Rite Aid at the last hour on the last day AFTER they had changed the signs and after most of the best deals were picked over and out.  Grrrr… I have to get there sooner next time!  I did get a couple good deals and I also did a quick grocery run as well.  I think we are pretty well set for the week.

 

Meals:

• Ham loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans
• Beef Stir fry with Jasmine rice
• Spaghetti w/ red-sauce
• BBQ Pork chop (boneless) w/ veggie
• Chicken quesadillas

We have enough salad to have some with every meal and then some. 

Trying Something New

I went snowshoeing today.  It was great fun with fabulous company and the exercise is a plus!  I so enjoyed it.  Now I want a pair of my own.  Hmmm…. not sure when that will fit in the budget.  This was the first REAL hike in 2011.  One other night I went for a walk in the woods, but I think anything under an hour doesn’t really count as “hiking.”  I wonder how many miles I will cover this year? 

These snowshoes would really be a nice thing to have in my car.  Sometimes I don’t make it the whole way up the long driveway at the farm, so I walk up the hill.  These have grippy claw-like teeth on the bottom that work really well for traction. 

 

Have I mentioned that I’d like to have a pair of snowshoes?  I can dream can’t I?

Mid-Winter

Yes, it’s mid-winter now.  I don’t mind it.  It’s part of living in western Pennsylvania.  I’m blessed with the ability to witness the change of seasons and for that I am grateful.

I had NO IDEA how much snow actually accumulated from last night to now.  I was surprised to see how high it was piled upon our trash cans this evening. 

I’ve now shoveled our driveway, porch, and sidewalk TWICE.  Shoveling is good exercise.  I’m not sure if it’s good for my shoulder or not, but I’m relentless when it comes to shoveling.  As a matter of fact, since I did not have to shovel at the farm tonight, I could not wait to shovel the driveway!  I probably need my head examined, huh?

This last picture is purely for amusement.  I should have swept first.  Try to look past that…  Crystal is spinning around trying to catch the laser I bought.  It’s great entertainment.  I really need to make a video of her chasing it.  She goes around and around and around and around until she just can’t do it anymore.  Then she plops her body down but her head keeps bobbing around watching the light.  Too funny!

 

Ok then, enough useless talk for tonight.  There is a big bowl of salad and a cup of tea with my name on them….  I shall go enjoy them.

Jewelry #4 - Amanda's Pieces

Both of these pieces are sterling silver. The top one is sterling silver on platium-plated hooks. Amanda picked out the embelishments for these so I could make them for her. I'm sorry but the pictures do not do them any justice. The little silver balls are textured and very sparkly. I can't wait to give them to her.

Jewelry #3

Amanda went shopping at the craft store with me and picked out some things to make a pair of earrings that she wanted to have made. These two pair above were my trial runs before I made hers. Aren't they neat?!!!

Jewelry #2

I bought this horse-shoe embellishment w/ matching earrings after Christmas. I LOVE it. All I did was add some coupling rings and strung it onto a necklace I already had.

I've made two of these sets. They are flat blue marbl-ish beads. I gave one set of earrings away to someone I work with. She says she really likes them. I do too.

These purple and blue beads are probably some of my favorites. These were gifted to me by Keith as part of the kit he got me. I've made several sets of earrings out of these and a couple of wire wrap bracelets like the one you see here. I've given away a couple pair of earrings I made with these. LOVE THEM!!!

Jewelry #1

I have seen those jewelry making kits in Walmart and craft stores and always think I want to try it. I asked for a small kit for Christmas and I got TWO kits and a gift card to get more stuff. It's been so much fun. Look at all the neat stuff I've made! I'm obsessed with making earrings. I've made a few bracelets, but earrings are quick and easy. I've only made one necklace so far.

If you especially like any of the ones I've posted, please let me know so I can share them. (but... you cannot have Amanda's)

Saturday’s Savings & Meal Planning

I set out with my coupons and grocery bag collection with good intentions yesterday.  I had Girls Group Bible Study in the morning followed by several hours at the office for a special project.  I was just cleaning off my desk and about to head home when a friend and I decided to help another friend.  So…. by the time I made it to Rite Aid, they had changed all the sales tags and didn’t have the cereal that I was after.  I bought some clearance Christmas cards and a bag of cough drops, but not the rest of my list.  I was too beat to do my grocery shopping, which is fine b/c the sales don’t end until Wednesday there AND I can pick up gift-cards at church which helps the church building fund.  So it’s all good.

 

Quick thoughts about the menu for the week:

• There is a quiche in the freezer!  YAY!
• Pork – either BBQ chops or a roast in the crockpot
• Cheeseburgers (need to use up the buns from last week)
• Beef Stirfry
• Pancakes
• Soup (wildcard item)

I have enough salad makings to have salad every day of the week or for a snack.  I need to chop it and put it in my salad bowl for easy access.

 

My grocery list includes stockpile items (good deals + coupon and/or discount) and that’s pretty much it.  I have everything else already.  Yay!!! 

Tuesdays With Jen, My Memoirs

A few random thoughts about horses:

 

• One time my horse fell in the mud.  I fell off of him as my feet came right out of my boots.  Wendy was sitting on the porch laughing about it.  I was more concerned with seeing that my horse was okay…  (more so than myself)
• One time my horse ran away from home…further away than I could track.  Later that afternoon someone called and said they thought they might have my horse.  A few miles away I found him safe and sound.  The lady there had a horse named “Jeepers Creepers.” She rode with me most of the way home, showing me the way.  I ran into her at a ‘horsie party’ just before Christmas this year.  It’s a small world!
• Another woman I recently ran into (at the same horsie party) said that her daughter (about 8yo at the time) clipped the for sale ad for my Magnium, slipped it into a homemade card that she gave her mother.  The card said “If you buy me Magnium, I will never ask for anything ever again.” Who knew?! How entirely sweet! 
• The neighbor girl once admitted to me that she was jealous of my horse.  This is the same girl that pulled me off of the horse and left me hurt and stranded in a field until my Grandma found me and called an ambulance. 
• Not long before Keith and I married, his sister was visiting and we took her to the stable.  He was going to impress her with his horseback riding knowledge.  Just before I gave him a leg-up onto Lacey, he said “This is how you do it.”  He swung him self up and over and kept on going.  He landed on his back, on the ground, with the saddle blanket between his legs.  Out of his mouth came “Ummm… this is NOT how you do it.”  We had a good laugh. 

Blessings Monday

New beginnings are a blessing.  New days, weeks, months, and years help us feel our new beginnings in a very real way.  We can re-focus and that is a good thing.  I’m so blessed to realize that each day is a new opportunity to serve the Lord and to try to do better than the day before.  Thank you Lord for new beginnings. 

 

Vulhop 2010 In Review

Saturday’s Savings & Meal Planning

Happy New Year!

 

I’m not much for resolutions; however, I am resolving to use my coupons, save some money, and pay off my student loan this year.  Tomorrow’s paper is supposed to have FIVE coupon inserts in it.  I think I might buy TWO papers!  Yesterday I caught up on all my coupon clipping and did some shopping.  I needed to spend the remaining balance in my FSA, which was approximately $60.  I bought a blood pressure monitor and some over the counter meds.  After 2010 they will no longer cover over the counter meds.  Grrr!!!  No sense letting it go to waste!  I also used some coupons yesterday…  Doritos for $2 – is that good?  I got a FREE Gillette gift-pack with razor and accessories.  NICE!  I got BOGO candy bars for Keith- ended up being 25 cents each.  That’s a deal.  I also got him 2 good size Toberlone for $1 each.  I’m not really a big fan of buying candy, but if I don’t buy it with a coupon, he will buy it for full-price.  I also hit Kohl’s as I had $20 Kohls-cash that expires today.  I picked up two sweaters for myself and paid a whopping $8 out of pocket.  Yay!!!!  I confess, I picked up some clearance items too…  I got a gold-colored holiday table cloth for $2, some bows for a few cents, and StarWars 4-mug Hot-chocolate set for 50% off at Target.  Not entirely cheap, but still probably worth it to spoil the boys.  I think I’ll take it to their Grandma’s house and let them share them there. 

 

Ok… meals for this week. 

• Quiche (Bacon & Swiss I think)
• Pork & Sauerkraut (At my parents)
• Ravioli
• Chicken Noodle Soup (from scratch)
• Breakfast (either pancakes or eggs/bacon)
• Salad Salad Salad – with or for every meal

Looks like I need some groceries:  Swiss cheese & salad makings plus dinner rolls to take to Mom’s for the family dinner tomorrow.

 

That sums it up for now.  I can’t wait to see how much I can save with coupons & deals in 2011.  I need to re-organize our closet and pantry soon.  Yay! 

A Meal Plan Is A Must

I realize that without a meal plan each week, we end up blowing our entertainment budget pretty quick.  We both realize it and agree that it’s an important area to focus on.  The Christmas smorgasbord is over.  It’s time to regroup.  I did some impromptu grocery shopping after work tonight.  I had no coupons, but most of what I bought were not coupon items anyway, and… I bought mostly store-brand items to score a 10% discount.

 

So, the meals we look forward to this week will include:

• Chili (already in the pot)
• Left-over chili over baked potato
• Grilled ham & cheese on health-nut multi-grain bread
• Salad – we have enough salad to have it every day
• Pork with a side of rice and peas
• Beef stir-fry

I’m thinking about making a quiche next week… Hmmm… something different.  Yumma. 

Lingering Christmas Spirit 2010

Church was lovely this morning, pews even in the balcony full of the Body joyously praising God together.  The music ministry was awesome this morning.  Two solos sung by men whose sweet voices I could listen to all day long.  They sure are blessed.  It was also great to see the abundance of youth participating in the service today.  Reminders about the birth of Christ, Mary’s journey, and of Peace, Love and Joy. 

 

I’m disappointed that Keith had to work this afternoon, so missing the Blair family Christmas celebration.   The amount of food was overwhelming, yet delicious!  I ate too much, as is custom for such celebrations.  Wrapping paper flung to and fro as joyous children discovered new toys and treasures with squeals of excitement.  How fun.  The children retreated to the spare room to piece together puzzles of legos into spectacular masterpieces, while the adults (and Joyce – soon to be adult) played Apples to Apples in the living room.  We busted some serious gut over that game.  I honestly think that was the longest we’ve sat together as a family in a long long time.  It was great fun. 

 

I’m sad to feel the end of the holiday quickly approaching.  Tomorrow morning will come soon enough and it will be back to the grind for me.  For tonight, I shall turn-in with a thankful heart, appreciating so many blessings, and praising God for his perfect plan. 

This Week’s Favorite Photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Christmas Toast… our own little tradition, and a photo to remember it. 

Christmas Day 2010

This is probably the longest holiday weekend we’ve ever had.  We celebrated our own little Vulhop-Christmas last evening.  Today we went to Rene’e’s house for her annual feast and festivities.  Tomorrow we are slated to celebrate with the Blair-family @ my parents home. 

 

Rene’e puts on quite a spread.  She cooked TWO turkeys and a ham plus the usual mashed potatoes, gravy, beans, stuffing, and then everyone brought more like cheesy potatoes, coleslaw, salad, and the like.  It was GRAND!  We stuffed ourselves!!!  YUMMA!!!  I wish I would have taken pictures of her tree.  It was really unique this year, and gorgeous as usual. 

 

Rene’e and Lee got me a Farmall A t-shirt and Keith got a hat.  We played the White-Elephant gift exchanged and scored an enormous plate of cookies, an eye mask, and a bucket of mojito mix (SCORE!).  We also got a tray of homemade cookies from Rhonda and some fudge too.  YUMMA!!!

 

It was nice to visit with extended family and to make ourselves useful in helping Rene’e in the barn.  It was great fun!  Now Keith’s off to a whopping 2-hour shift at work and then we’ll do it all over again tomorrow.   YAY!!!  Can’t wait to see the Blair kids!