Well, I am back from my visit with my son. And guess what? That's right, no hearing. It does not really surprise me. I did get another date on Monday from my attorney. This time the hearing is set for Tuesday, November 24th. Hopefully this time the hearing will happen. I had a great time with my son this past weekend. We played alot and spent some time just sitting together. He was feeling better, or so he said. He was a little bit more tired and a little bit less active. But all in all, he seemed to be better. He did eat really well too.
For our visit around the hearing, I will see S on the 21st and 22nd, meet with the attorney on the 23rd. Have the hearing on the 24th, hang out on the 25th, and see S again for Thanksgiving holiday on the 26th and 27th. That's a lot of living at a hotel. Not my favorite, but better than the cold wet campgrounds. Man, I can't believe how wet it has been this year. It's been hard to camp some weekends. A few times we ended up just going to the hotel because it rained so much. Other times we toughed it out and hoped we didn't get washed away.
My mom and I learned how to cook in a dutch oven over a fire this summer. That was some tasty eatin'. We made a pork stew. I found a store that carries large cans of pork. I have never had canned pork like that and thought we would give it a try since it needs no refrigeration prior to opening and that makes it handy when camping. So we took some onions, potatoes, celery and carrots to put in it. We added some spices that I always have in the camping kit (salt, pepper steak seasoning, and garlic). We also brought along a bit of cornstarch to make a thickening sauce, and dumped it all in. That was it. We put it over the fire and let it cook up and it was really good. It does not take very long to cook, and it stays warm for a long time as well.
The pork we used was not like the canned ham that I have found in the grocery stores. It was like a roasted pork loin that had been cooked and then stuck in the can. I think it would have made great BBQ as well. I do plan to try that next time. The can was a big can too. I think it was like 28 ounces or something. Enough to feed a whole bunch of us. And even better was the price. I only paid around $5 for a little over two pounds, instead of the $1 + I spend on the cans that are only around 5 ounces. If you can find some in your area, it is worth the price for the convenience of precooked ham that does not have to be kept cold.
So have you found any neat food items in your searches for good deals? Made anything tasty lately?
Monday, October 26, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
What to Cook Wednesday
Today I am going to take a bit of a different approach. In trying to keep my blog non-political I will just post that I think everyone should think about storing up some food. I know that many of my readers do, just because the couponing makes things easier and cheaper to stock up. For those that don't coupon, I think now is the time to take advantage before prices start going up. I worry that inflation is going to get us all sometime in the future. And by future I mean sooner rather than later. Maybe not in the next 6-12 months, but sometime shortly after that. I want to take advantage of these (relatively) low prices and get some food squared away. Some of the things that I worry may be hard to get in the future are wheat, rice, corn, and anything made with soybeans. I don't know how many of you watch the news, but there are many stories of food shortages coming due to bad weather conditions. I know here in the heartland it is wet. I mean really wet. Crops are not coming in and there is concern that they will rot in the fields due to too much moisture. This is soybean and corn country. I know that wheat plantings were down last year to begin with and now there have been problems with the wheat and a fungus taking out the plants. So, for what to cook Wednesday, I propose that instead of what to cook, I let you know what I am gathering.
I always try to keep some whole wheat flour in the freezer. I also keep cornmeal and bread flour in there. I also have many boxes of pasta and sauce (thanks Meijer!), canned chicken and tuna, and of course fruits and veggies, and dry beans. I also keep canned soups in stock and things like evaporated milk. Not the tastiest to drink, but can be used in cooking. I don't usually eat white rice, but will eat brown rice. I also keep this in the freezer. There are many things that thanks to couponing I have been able to stock up on. For example, I love oatmeal. I bought oatmeal at the first of the year when the coupons came out for them. I am just now running out of oatmeal. I do still have the oats in the canister, but I meant the instant packs that I take for work for meals. Those were some great deals as I love oatmeal. I will run out of the instant packets before the next really good sale, but I will still have the regular oats to eat and cook with. I do plan to go to the store and pick up a few items, but nothing that I have coupons for. Just some random things that I would like to have. Like milk, marshmallows, a jug or two of water for my trips, and some beans. I love beans. I really do. You can do so much with beans, they are so versatile. I usually get dry beans because they are so much cheaper than canned. It just takes a bit of planning or batch cooking on the weekend. Which I am still not doing. Shame on me, I have become so lazy when it comes to cooking. I have not even made bread or desserts. Wow, I must be feeling overwhelmed and lazy! I think I need a good kick in the a** to get up and get going again. Maybe after the court date next week I will feel renewed and energized. In the meantime, I will just eat canned soup *gasp*. It isn't too bad I guess. Well, I know it isn't because I keep eating it.
What things do you like to keep stocked up on? Any favorites or just whatever is on sale and has a coupon? Let me know.
Just an update on the new to me van. It has been great. It hasn't had any major problems, just a couple of easily resolved ones.
I always try to keep some whole wheat flour in the freezer. I also keep cornmeal and bread flour in there. I also have many boxes of pasta and sauce (thanks Meijer!), canned chicken and tuna, and of course fruits and veggies, and dry beans. I also keep canned soups in stock and things like evaporated milk. Not the tastiest to drink, but can be used in cooking. I don't usually eat white rice, but will eat brown rice. I also keep this in the freezer. There are many things that thanks to couponing I have been able to stock up on. For example, I love oatmeal. I bought oatmeal at the first of the year when the coupons came out for them. I am just now running out of oatmeal. I do still have the oats in the canister, but I meant the instant packs that I take for work for meals. Those were some great deals as I love oatmeal. I will run out of the instant packets before the next really good sale, but I will still have the regular oats to eat and cook with. I do plan to go to the store and pick up a few items, but nothing that I have coupons for. Just some random things that I would like to have. Like milk, marshmallows, a jug or two of water for my trips, and some beans. I love beans. I really do. You can do so much with beans, they are so versatile. I usually get dry beans because they are so much cheaper than canned. It just takes a bit of planning or batch cooking on the weekend. Which I am still not doing. Shame on me, I have become so lazy when it comes to cooking. I have not even made bread or desserts. Wow, I must be feeling overwhelmed and lazy! I think I need a good kick in the a** to get up and get going again. Maybe after the court date next week I will feel renewed and energized. In the meantime, I will just eat canned soup *gasp*. It isn't too bad I guess. Well, I know it isn't because I keep eating it.
What things do you like to keep stocked up on? Any favorites or just whatever is on sale and has a coupon? Let me know.
Just an update on the new to me van. It has been great. It hasn't had any major problems, just a couple of easily resolved ones.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
MIA
It seems I owe everyone an apology. My life is crazy and hectic right now. We have had court dates come up and be cancelled and new dates set. I have not been shopping to share deals in ages as I am saving up to pay for attorney costs, court costs, filing fees; it seems like the list never ends. I have been super busy at work since I have been taking time off for court dates that never happen. I have been trying hard to keep a positive attitude through all of this. I have been really struggling this last month in particular. I feel like I have so much to do, so many things that I want to accomplish, and just not enough time to get to all of it. So, I let you, my readers down. I am sorry for that. I will do my best to get here and post. It may not have much to do with deals and steals. It may just be random musings and updates on what is going on with my son and me.
I have been feeling down in the dumps for many reasons lately. I was told by my son several weeks ago that he needed more dental work done. This little boy, well not so little boy, is only nine years old and because of the poor nutrition and shoddy dental care has had to get eight cavities filled. While this was going on, because he is also stressed, he wound up mouth ulcers. I know they were painful. He hardly ever complains about pain, and yet he continually told me how his mouth hurt. My son had some dental work done earlier this year, and more done this fall, and who knows how much more before his dad is done ruining his teeth. Just last week they had to pull a tooth because the dental work done was not the greatest and because his teeth were in such bad shape, the tooth broke. So, out it came. He was terrified and when I called him, he was in tears because he was so afraid it was going to hurt. With my policy to never, ever lie to him, I told him it might hurt. He should ask his dad to tell the dentist that he was scared it would hurt. He told me his dad does not go in with him, he has to go in by himself and that scared him too. I swear I don't know what is wrong with that man. He did get the tooth pulled last week and thankfully he did not have any pain. Then he tells me that he got the flu shot. That was on Tuesday. Friday when I called he was sick. Saturday when I called he was sick again. "The doctor" said he had bronchitis. Or bronchy-itis as my son used to say. Then on Sunday he did not say anything about not feeling well. When I called last night, he was even sicker and this time he went to the doctor and he was diagnosed with the flu. If it was up to me, he would have never gotten the flu shot. I will save my rant on the flu shots for another day, but suffice it to say, I don't like them. In the midst of all of this, I have to keep hearing snide hateful comments from my ex, listen to my son repeat them because that is all he is hearing down there, and in general just feel stressed out by the upcoming court dates. And I only get every other weekend for a few hours to try to make up for all of it.
I don't mean all of this as a pity party. I don't even really want sympathy. I just wanted to let you know that I may not always post right now because it would not be very nice of me to post a bunch of negative things out here and bring you all down. I will try to get back on schedule of posting and try to keep them positive.
On an unrelated note, I have also been very worried about our economy, and the direction I see our government headed. What I see scares me. Not like the terrified, can't sleep at night sort of thing. The scared just enough to try to figure out what I need to do to be prepared for anything. Like job loss, outbreaks of swine flu that our local government over reacts to. You know, that sort of thing. I also have been stressed at work. There is a woman that I have to work with that is awful. You know the kind that wants credit for every good thing and blames you for every mistake. She has even tried to get me fired on more than one occasion. I used to not be too worried about it as I had a buffer. Now, the buffer got tired of working here and moved on. So, no more buffer. Then she has maintenance move her office so she is right next door to me. She comes in at least once a day to "say hello" or just "ask a question". I don't believe her for one second. She is back to her old tricks of complaining about me to everyone and anyone. Fortunately, most people are already onto her games and don't listen, but a few do. And those few could make my life hell. I am trying not to borrow trouble, but with this kind of person, I must always be ready and prepared as best as I can. She attacks when you least expect it.
So, I have been trying to be good at work, get things done at home, fret about finances, simmer and stew about my son, worry about the economy, and just try to keep a smile on my face and steam in my engines. I am certain that I am not accomplishing much these days, even though I feel like I am constatly on the go and pulled every which way.
Okay, after all my whining, how are you all doing? Better I sincerely hope.
I have been feeling down in the dumps for many reasons lately. I was told by my son several weeks ago that he needed more dental work done. This little boy, well not so little boy, is only nine years old and because of the poor nutrition and shoddy dental care has had to get eight cavities filled. While this was going on, because he is also stressed, he wound up mouth ulcers. I know they were painful. He hardly ever complains about pain, and yet he continually told me how his mouth hurt. My son had some dental work done earlier this year, and more done this fall, and who knows how much more before his dad is done ruining his teeth. Just last week they had to pull a tooth because the dental work done was not the greatest and because his teeth were in such bad shape, the tooth broke. So, out it came. He was terrified and when I called him, he was in tears because he was so afraid it was going to hurt. With my policy to never, ever lie to him, I told him it might hurt. He should ask his dad to tell the dentist that he was scared it would hurt. He told me his dad does not go in with him, he has to go in by himself and that scared him too. I swear I don't know what is wrong with that man. He did get the tooth pulled last week and thankfully he did not have any pain. Then he tells me that he got the flu shot. That was on Tuesday. Friday when I called he was sick. Saturday when I called he was sick again. "The doctor" said he had bronchitis. Or bronchy-itis as my son used to say. Then on Sunday he did not say anything about not feeling well. When I called last night, he was even sicker and this time he went to the doctor and he was diagnosed with the flu. If it was up to me, he would have never gotten the flu shot. I will save my rant on the flu shots for another day, but suffice it to say, I don't like them. In the midst of all of this, I have to keep hearing snide hateful comments from my ex, listen to my son repeat them because that is all he is hearing down there, and in general just feel stressed out by the upcoming court dates. And I only get every other weekend for a few hours to try to make up for all of it.
I don't mean all of this as a pity party. I don't even really want sympathy. I just wanted to let you know that I may not always post right now because it would not be very nice of me to post a bunch of negative things out here and bring you all down. I will try to get back on schedule of posting and try to keep them positive.
On an unrelated note, I have also been very worried about our economy, and the direction I see our government headed. What I see scares me. Not like the terrified, can't sleep at night sort of thing. The scared just enough to try to figure out what I need to do to be prepared for anything. Like job loss, outbreaks of swine flu that our local government over reacts to. You know, that sort of thing. I also have been stressed at work. There is a woman that I have to work with that is awful. You know the kind that wants credit for every good thing and blames you for every mistake. She has even tried to get me fired on more than one occasion. I used to not be too worried about it as I had a buffer. Now, the buffer got tired of working here and moved on. So, no more buffer. Then she has maintenance move her office so she is right next door to me. She comes in at least once a day to "say hello" or just "ask a question". I don't believe her for one second. She is back to her old tricks of complaining about me to everyone and anyone. Fortunately, most people are already onto her games and don't listen, but a few do. And those few could make my life hell. I am trying not to borrow trouble, but with this kind of person, I must always be ready and prepared as best as I can. She attacks when you least expect it.
So, I have been trying to be good at work, get things done at home, fret about finances, simmer and stew about my son, worry about the economy, and just try to keep a smile on my face and steam in my engines. I am certain that I am not accomplishing much these days, even though I feel like I am constatly on the go and pulled every which way.
Okay, after all my whining, how are you all doing? Better I sincerely hope.
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