A Second Look--November 26, 2014

We're preparing for the first snow today and depending on where you live, they are calling for a couple of inches to a foot. However before this, we were treated to a lovely weekend in the 60's when we took the opportunity to do some yard work. However, it was less successful than I had anticipated because the ground was still frozen hard. All I hope for in this fluctuating weather is that it is safe to travel early Thanksgiving day when we are taking a seven hour trip for a family filled holiday.

Here's what I saw this week 

during a Second Look.

Despite the cold weather, the volunteer petunia has not totally died yet.

 

However, the cold weather has rendered these hosta leaves translucent.

 

All that are left of the balloon flowers are their seed pods.

Even though they are wilted, the mums are still adding a bit of color to the landscape.

 This woolly worm was frozen hard. I assume that this is just part of its winter hibernation.

Spending habits

My first savings bank

I've been thinking recently about the way we spend our money, and how and why we have developed the style we have. This is a huge topic involving at least a hundred years and multiple generations. However, I'm going to try to summarize it in this blog post.

Ward and I both came from parents who had difficult lives growing up. Tragic circumstances as well as effects from the Great Depression often left them wondering where their next meal was coming from and where they would sleep that night. However, through the foresight of their parents, they learned that education and hard work were the way out. How did this translate into how they raised their kids? I'll give you a glimpse through my eyes.

The result of my mother not always knowing where her next meal was coming from was to make sure that food was never an issue. When I was growing up, we always had plenty to eat. We grew most of our food and got our meat from hunting, but there was never any concern about whether there was enough money for baking a cake or making a pizza. My mother had ideas about good nutrition that sometimes limited what we ate, but we were never deprived in any way.

My mother, the 1st one in her family to graduate high school.

Also, self sufficiency and education were top values. Early on, I heard that you should always be able to take care of yourself. You might get married someday, but you should have enough education for a job that can support your family. You never know what might happen. My mother was the fortunate one in her family to get an education and she saw how much better she fared than her siblings. Thus while we worked very hard at home, an extra job outside was not a priority until after our studies were done. And my parents made sure that each of their four kids had a college education. My father worked overtime and my mother worked two jobs to make sure this happened. Because like having enough food, education was a priority.

How did this translate into the way that Ward and I managed our lives? Because we had a good education, we had a decent jobs. However, we followed in our parents footsteps and we were careful with the way we spent our money. We never bought a house that we couldn't afford on one salary. Before I quit my job to be home with the kids, we put all of our new spending habits into practice to make sure that it was what we wanted to do. I knew the savings of our groceries down to the penny. I volunteered in a thrift shop and most of our clothes and toys came from there. We knew every free activity in the area. Ward and I enjoyed game nights and meals with our friends. Our every day frugal habits allowed us to contribute to college and retirement funds and take trips back to see the relatives. It also allowed us to eat out occasionally or go to a special museum or to buy furniture for our house.

Then we made another move to be closer to our relatives which is where we live now. We moved into an area that had a much higher cost of living. Our new house was ½ the size for twice the money from what we left. Groceries cost more, gas cost more, clothing cost more. We were uncomfortable in the beginning, but it was worth it to be closer to relatives. However, we soon adjusted to our new finances. We were still able to grow the college and retirement funds and pay off our house early.

Now we're sitting in a pretty good spot. We have enough money coming in and good benefits to go with that. (However in this expensive area, we're below the median income). Our kids are almost educated (one down, and one almost down) with no student debt. We are in our fifties and thinking seriously about early retirement. We don't have enough money that we can abandon our frugal ways, but we do have enough money to not fret. Life is good. We know that we have been lucky with only minor set backs along the way (especially compared to our grandparents), but Ward often reminds me that we have also been smart with the way we've lived. And that slow and steady wins the race.

All of grandparents are gone now, but I think they were happy that the cycle of poverty was broken, and I know our parents are happy that we learned from their lessons.

Thankful Sunday--November 23, 2014

We are thankful for new gloves.

Ward cleaned the gutters and put up some of our Christmas lights this weekend. He got new gloves for the job and is very thankful that his hands stayed drier and warmer than they ever have before. And of course, I am very thankful that Ward does this job for us.

Food Waste Friday and True Food Confessions

It's time for Food Waste Friday, when the Frugalgirl and Jo at Simply being Mum encourage us to post pictures from the previous week of wasted food from our household. This accountability hopefully will help us to be more careful with our food and maybe save some money. Also, I am using this public forum to encourage us to eat out less which includes better meal planning. You can follow how we are doing in this endeavor by reading True Food Confessions. Occasionally, if our eating is going okay, I'll talk about some other food topic.

This Week's Food Waste

Mystery Meat

I've been trying to use up things in the freezer, so I decided it was time to get out a piece of meat that's been in there for a while. Oddly, it wasn't labeled but I thought when it thawed, we'd figure that part out. I told my carnivorous husband that he had a piece of meat to cook for supper and I'd have something else. When he got ready to cook it, he said it was a chicken leg that he didn't like the looks of and didn't want to eat it. Well, we certainly don't want to eat bad meat here, so out it went. However, as I was handling it again, I figured out that it was the innards of a chicken. and it would have been just fine to make a broth with even though we don't like to eat organs. That is if we'd only figured that out before it had spent much too long on the counter.  :( Now, I don't know how it ended up in the freezer without a label, but I'm going to claim that someone else did that. Because you know, that I never make mistakes or at least that's what I tell my family. :)

This Week's True Food Confessions

 

Imagine that you're also seeing meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, chicken salad,  and pizza

It's week three in our renewed efforts to have more control over meals and all is well--meaning I don't feel guilty when I think about what we've been eating.  This week I had a plan, (wait, yes, I did say that I had a plan!) and after a week of good home cooked meals, we're going to have a nice supper of leftovers tonight. 

Until next time...


 

A Second Look--November 18, 2014

Brrrrrrr...

The cold is finally here. After teasing for a week or so, there is no doubt--it is cold.  It's been very windy and in the 20's F today, so when I went outside to do my Second Look, I only made it part way around the house. Then I decided that it was time to go inside. However, Ward says that weather like this is refreshing, so if he ever gets home from work before it's dark, maybe I'll send him out to see what he can see. In the meantime, I did get a few pictures.

Here's what I saw this week 

during a Second Look.

The view out of my kitchen window. Doesn't it look cold?

I'm going to have to do something about the ice in the bird bath if I want them to be able to use it.

The cold-hardy mums haven't quite disappeared, but they are looking a little scraggly.

The buck visited again this week, but this time he was alone.

The red-bellied woodpecker visited today for the first time since spring.

The downy woodpeckers have also been enjoying the suet.

A Special Trip to the Zoo--Part 2

The O-line lets the orangutans travel from one house to the other.

Last week, I told you about a special trip we had to the National Zoo. During this trip, we got a behind the scenes tour of the great ape house (orangutans and gorillas). Here a few more details of that tour.


The tour took place in the back of the exhibit. We were seeing the same things that we had seen as regular visitors to the zoo--just from a different perspective. We were seeing the back instead of the front. Speaking of the front of the exhibit, there are several layers of glass there that make things virtually sound proof for the animals. So the bad jokes and gorilla sounds the public are making aren't actually heard by the gorillas and orangutans.  The back of the exhibit is covered by a strong mesh.

We learned during our tour that first and foremost is the safety and well being of the animals. Thus there was a line that we could not cross that kept us an arm's length away from the apes. Also, we had to wear masks so that we could not pass on any colds or other illness we might have. The keepers also have to wear these when they are sick.

Lucy, 41, the oldest orangutan there.

The animals were very happy to see Eddie and us, and as described in the last post, some of them started to show off. Also, they started to push pieces of bamboo out of their enclosures. Eddie said they were tidying up for him. He said that one of the enrichment activities they do is to have them clean up their houses. This included getting rid of clutter. They love to do it because there's usually a tasty treat waiting for them at the end. I wish my kids, or me, for that matter, could be motivated so easily to clean up.

And speaking of tasty treats, they do get some (usually fruit), but their diet is very carefully controlled. Gorillas are herbivores and get a variety of vegetables and fruits every day. They had already been fed that morning and the only thing left was kale. They're just like us. They go for the "good" stuff first and leave the "good-for-you" stuff for last. Also, the day before, Eddie had cooked them some beans with stronger spices in them. The animals also enjoy some spicy food occasionally.  In addition, the keepers use spices sometimes as enrichment for the animals. For example, they may spread some cinnamon around the exhibit just because the apes enjoy the smell.

We also saw how they were training one of the gorillas to be a mother. They wanted to breed her, but wanted to make sure that she was up to the task because she hadn't been raised by her mother. She was improving because she no longer ripped the head off of the doll they were using. However, she still had a ways to go. :)

As you can tell by the way I'm going on and on, I was very excited by this trip. Actually, I could continue to go on and on but I think that's enough for now. Let's just end it with, life is good for both these apes and for me because I got a chance to meet them.

Pictures courtesy of the National Zoo.

Thankful Sunday--November 15, 2014

I am thankful for simple but well made things.

This is one of the first pieces of woodworking that Ward's brother did. (He has since gone on to become a master woodworker.) First it resided with their grandmother for decades and when she died, it came to live with us. After putting it to good use for many years, it is time for it to move on to live with my son. And the beat goes on... (Everyone knows that Sonny and Cher song, right?)

Food Waste Friday and True Food Confessions--November 14, 2014

It's time for Food Waste Friday, when the Frugalgirl and Jo at Simply being Mum encourages us to post pictures from the previous week of wasted food from our household. This accountability hopefully will help us to be more careful with our food and maybe save some money. Also, I am using this public forum to encourage us to eat out less which includes better meal planning. You can follow how we are doing in this endeavor by reading True Food Confessions. Occasionally, if our eating is going okay, I'll talk about some other food topic.

This Week's Food Waste

I'm very happy that I got to this week's food waste before it exploded all over the refrigerator. I had a sealed bag of pineapple that I was going to eat with cottage cheese (one of my favorite combos). However, apparently I didn't do that soon enough because when I took it out yesterday the bag had expanded to a tight pillow shape. I think some good fermenting was going on in there. So away it went.

This Week's True Food Confessions

This week included the rescues of a butternut squash and French toast from some old bread. We also had a blast from the past with hamburger rollups. Haven't had those in years.

Despite great urges this week to default to the old system (eating out or take out), we ate at home all days except one. And that was a special day when we visited Wally and took him out to his favorite hamburger place.

So Hooray!

A Special Trip to the Zoo

We like to go to the zoo. We like watching the animals. We like the plants. And Ward likes the gift shops. We like to visit them wherever we're traveling as we did in Philadelphia last month. Recently we went to another zoo--the National Zoo in Washington, DC. We had been there before but not for many years. The last time we went was when Wally and Theo ran from exhibit to exhibit and climbed all of the animal statues.

 

Mischievous Lucy

This time, Ward and I went with a grownup Theo, and besides enjoying the various large and small animals, we got a behind the scenes tour of the large ape house (orangutans and gorillas), courtesy of Eddie, my nephew who is a keeper there. He took us for a private tour at the back of the exhibits where he told us about the general traits of the apes, and we got to individually meet each of them.

Baraka, the very laid-back silverback

And what a group they were. There was the very laid back silverback gorilla who only got excited when he thought he might be able to steal a piece of fruit from one of the females. (By the way, silverback means no more than the gorilla has reached full maturity. Before that, their back is black.) There was the orangutan, Lucy, who filled her mouth with water when our back was turned and was ready to spray it on us just for fun and a bit of showing off. Fortunately, we moved on before she got a chance. There was a very cute orangutan that pulled a sheet around herself and was playing hide and seek with us. (The orangutans make a nest in hay at night and then they like to pull a sheet or blanket over themselves while they sleep.)
 
Then there was the very mischievous teenage male gorilla who waited until our backs were turned and made a very loud sound hitting a metal door. It had the exact effect he was looking for because we all jumped. Then once he had our attention, he ran large barrels into the sides of the enclosure making very loud sounds. Eddie told us that he was showing off for our benefit. Some how that just seemed right for a teenage boy.

I could go on and on because this was one of the most interesting things I have done for a long while. But I'll save some of it for Part 2. Stay tuned.

Kwame. He and his brother Kojo were the male, showoff teens.

Pictures courtesy of the National Zoo website. None of my pictures turned out very well because of the lighting.

A Second Look--November 12, 2014

Here's what I saw this week 

during a Second Look.

The sweet gum trees are some of the last to turn.

The volunteer petunia continues to bloom.

Japanese maple

Mum

A high pressure system brought blues skies for a few days this week. Rain is forecast for tomorrow.

The juncos are returning for the winter.

A few forsythia have been tricked into blooming this fall.

Look at the changes in this maple tree from the end of September until now.

Veterans Day

One Man's Experience

Today is Veterans Day in the US when we honor people who have served in the Armed Forces. My father was one of those people when he was drafted into the Army for two years during the Korean War. After basic training, he spent his time in Germany as an engineer who could build or destroy bridges at a moments notice. Luckily, he didn't see combat, but his time in the Army was difficult all the same.

He was newly married and hated leaving his wife alone. When he left, my mother had to find work and teach herself to drive. Soon after, they discovered that she was pregnant. Also because his father was sick, he still felt an obligation to his mother, siblings, and the family farm that he grew up on. It didn't help that when he was shipping out of New York Harbor, the army band played, “So Long, It's Been Good to Know You.” My father told that story until the day he died. Someone in the army didn't think that one through very well.

A few years ago, I was lucky to find letters that he wrote to his mother while he was away. These were remarkable not only because they were a part of the family history, but also because my father did not like to write—at all. So to see things he had written was indeed special. To truly appreciate his experience you need to read all of his letters in order. However, below is a sample.

Dear Mom and All,

How is everyone? Fine I hope. I am fine.

We have been so busy, I've had hardly any time to do any writing or much of anything else. I try to write my wife every chance I get, so don't worry if I don't write too often. I just haven't had the time.

We have already moved once and we have only been here 12 days. I always did hate to move and now I think even less of the idea. We have been standing one inspection after another ever since we got here. Last week we went on 3 hikes with combat packs and rifle. There were several of the guys that could hardly walk. Friday evening I was as sore as the devil but otherwise alright. We are having physical training again on top of the hikes plus some work.

This is an awful climate and right now it is about 20 above zero. There is a heavy coating of frost on the trees and everything. That makes the scenery really nice but the sun hasn't shown in a week here.

How is everything going there? What's Paul and Harry doing the most of right now? How are the kids getting along in school?
I must close for now. Tell everyone hello for me. And write soon and tell me all the news.

Your loving son,

Earl

P. S. Say, Mom, has anyone told you that we are expecting a baby. It is due about the first part of Aug. I'm hoping for a boy, but I'll be very happy with either one.

Thankful Sunday, November 9, 2014

I am thankful I get to spend time with Sarah today.

Below I am rerunning a post about Sarah so you will see why.

The Present is the Present

I am lucky that I get to spend some Sunday mornings with my friend, Sarah, a special needs teenager. I buddy with her during Sunday School as we visit different programs that she enjoys. Two things you need to know about Sarah (other than how sweet she is) is that she loves nature and can be quite determined.

She was exhibiting these two traits one day last fall as we were walking from one building to another on the church campus to go to a singing activity. I was trying to hurry her along only half listening as she showed me a bug or a leaf that she found interesting along our path. When we were almost to our destination, she said she was not going any further and sat down under a maple tree. After a brief moment of frustration, I stopped and remembered that there was no agenda for the morning except for Sarah and me to enjoy ourselves. It was okay if we skipped singing this time.

Sarah then told me to come and that we were going to play a game to see if the falling leaves would touch us as they fell from the tree. We sat still and felt the warm air of the morning and watched the leaves float around us in a gentle breeze. Up until this point, I hadn't even noticed what a beautiful morning it was.

You have probably heard the saying, “The present is the present.” Never has this been more evident than it was that morning with Sarah. 

(In case anyone is wondering who won the game—she did. Sarah had a total of three leaves fall on her and I had two.)

Food Waste Friday and True Food Confessions--November 7, 2014

It's time for Food Waste Friday, when the Frugalgirl and Jo at Simply being Mum encourages us to post pictures from the previous week of wasted food from our household. This accountability hopefully will help us to be more careful with our food and maybe save some money. Also, I am using this public forum to encourage us to eat out less which includes better meal planning. You can follow how we are doing in this endeavor by reading True Food Confessions. Occasionally, if our eating is going okay, I'll talk about some other food topic.

This Week's Food Waste

My bagel bird feeder--a save this week.

I had to throw away a molded bagel this week, but I saved another one. My husband brought home some leftover bagels from work--which was great. But I think I know why they were leftover. They were not very popular flavors and we didn't like them that much either. So we let them set around until there was only one left that hadn't molded. (Like somehow we were going to suddenly develop a taste change while they sat around.) But I'm very pleased to say that I made that one into a bird feeder. I coated the bagel with crunchy peanut butter and hung it outside for the birds. And when I have time to get to the store, I will coat the peanut butter with some sunflower seeds. Such a simple and fun idea. If you're looking for an activity to do with the kids one day, you might try it.

This Week's True Food Confessions

I'd say that this week was a vast improvement over the recent past. The menu plan never quite came together, but the work-with-what-you-can-find did because there were no trips to the grocery store. That resulted in a big pot of chili, loaded baked potatoes, roasted carrots and hot dogs, breakfast burritos, spinach salad, and a couple of pizzas with added mushrooms. And for added treats, we had apple muffins that the little girls next door baked and some M&M's. Oh, I guess we did go to the store. Ward made a little wooden bowl that he determined was just the right size for a good serving of M&M's. So, of course, we had to go buy some to see if he were right. I think he was, but more testing may need to be done in the future. :)

Until next time...

A Second Look--November 5, 2014

It's unusual that we haven't had a frost yet this fall. That means that although there is a major transformation going on outside, there are still a few signs of summer left--such as begonias and purple sage that have been blooming since June.

Several trees are bare and many only have a few colorful leaves left. However when I did a Second Look this week, I noticed that several trees are just starting to turn. That's what a second look is good for. Last week, I said that we were at peak or past peak as far as the color goes, well that applied to our maple trees. Then I realized that just as I associate the smell of walnut trees with autumn, I have the strongest association of the changing colors of autumn with maple trees. Of course, I notice trees of all different colors and shapes, but I seem to judge what stage the color transitions are in by maple trees. Who knew that my mind was taking such broad concepts and filtering them into such small examples? I've always said that I wanted to study brain science some day and these examples are another reason why.

Here are a few things I saw this week 

during a Second Look.

Since these begonias bloomed for so long, I never got around to replacing them with pansies like I usually do in the fall.

Mums (They are further away from the heat pump that they appear.)

 

Purple sage

 

Now that some of the leaves are starting to fall, I can see that this sweet gum tree is hanging onto a lot of its balls from last year.

  

The group of deer that were in the yard this afternoon were acting differently than normal. That may be because the typical group of just does was accompanied by this young buck. They were running playfully in circles and there didn't seem to be one standing guard like usual. I assume that this had something to do with mating, but I don't know.

Mum

Since the time change, I have to get up earlier to see sunrise.

Thankful Sunday--November 2, 2014

I am thankful for free community events.

The parks and libraries where I live sponsor many free events. One of those was held yesterday at the local library--Train Day. It's an annul event that is eagerly anticipated by both young and old. It features several rooms with model train layouts as well as special music, story times, and lunch. It is fun for one and all and I am thankful that I got to be one of them.