What a $20 Bag of Groceries Looks Like in 2009

• 1 loaf of bread
• 1 head of lettuce (on sale)
  
• 1 jar of pickles
• 1 package of lunchmeat (on sale)
  
• 1 package of sliced cheese
• 2 packages of blueberries (on sale)
  
• 4 Braeburn apples
• 4 Roma tomatoes (on sale)
  
• and some snacks
• Total: $20.04 (with tax)

No wonder we can't afford anything anymore! We have to make our mortgage payment, we have to make our truck payment, we have to pay our utilities, we have to buy gas for the truck, we have to buy food, we have to get clothes for the children, we have to pay our doctor bills... with all the "we have to's" there's nothing left for anything else. Forget vacations, or going to the movies! We're fighting for survival here! And, savings?... Are you kidding me?!

Another Year is Almost Gone

We had a good Christmas, and hope you all had a good one, too. We ate too much, bought too much, spent too much and stayed up too late! LOL

But seriously, folks, we tried to tone it down as much as possible this year. We got a few things for the kids, wished everyone a very Merry Christmas, and had a relaxing day. We got some nice sparkling wine, Barefoot Sparkling White Zinfandel, and had a small meal – we still had turkey! We also tried a new recipe that I found in a magazine and it turned out great! I'm posting it below because we liked it so well, and also because I promised Grandpa that I would post it so Steve could try it out.

Grandpa, I know you're not fond of brussels sprouts, but give it a try and tell me what you think.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts
With Pecans
2 lbs. fresh brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved (we could only find frozen so we thawed and drained them in a collander so they wouldn't be soggy)
1 c. pecans, roughly chopped
2 T. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Kosher salt and black pepper

Heat oven to 400° F. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss the Brussels sprouts, pecans, oil, garlic, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Turn the Brussels sprouts cut-side down. Roast until golden and tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Serves 8. (But we 4 demolished it!)

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We aren't planning to do much for New Year's Eve. We'll toast the new year with some more Barefoot sparkling white zin and have a couple of glasses of tawny port and maybe watch a movie or play some cards.

How did we get to 2009 so quickly? The year 2000 was supposed to be far into the future, a futuristic world with flying cars and people living on Mars... But, here we are, no Enterprise to explore strange new worlds and civilizations... no flying cars... no colony on Mars... not even one on the moon. I guess mankind's dreams have always exceeded his reality.

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A couple of quotes to leave you with:

You know you're getting old, when Santa starts looking younger. -- Robert Paul

I stopped believing in Santa Claus when my mother took me to see him in a department store, and he asked for my autograph. -- Shirley Temple

Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year everyone!

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Things I'll be doing today: Wondering where in the heck I'm going to put all the Christmas decorations, dreading packing up all the holiday stuff, housework, figuring out something for supper, and enjoying the fair weather while it lasts.

It's Hot, Hot, Hot!

It is hot (in case you didn't catch that, it's HOT!). We finally broke down and turned on the A/C. Mike asked me yesterday how folks managed before air conditioning. My answer was, "I suppose since it wasn't an option they had to manage as best they could, and they were probably a bit more acclimated to the natural temperature than we are."

Actually, I'm guessing there were lots of factors determining how people who lived before electricity stayed cool in hot weather:

1. Housing was built differently
2. People were used to the outside temperature
3. People weren't in and out of A/C and outside air
   
4. People wore layers of clothes that helped to keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer
5. There weren't any air conditioning units and other mechanical equipment heating up the atmosphere (this doesn't mean I agree with global warming)
6. There was less asphalt and concrete to reflect heat
   
7. The overall pace of life was slower

I don't know if any of these things are valid. I came up with them on the spur of the moment. So, if anyone has anything to add or if anyone disagrees let me know. Be sure to use the "comment" link so others can see your comments as well.

And now, as a treat, I will share a couple of pictures I took of Bee at the softball field.

Activities I'll be doing today: Trying to stay cool! Paying bills (YUCK!), and grilling some yummy burgers with potato salad and a very nice wine for supper.

We'll be drinking:

• Castle Rock 2006 Mendocino County Pinot Noir which I think is an excellent wine for hearty foods – like burgers for example. It's a dry red from Sonoma, CA. ($14.95)
  
• Bolla Chianti 2006 from Italy. This one really should age a bit before drinking, but I'm going to open it (decanting it, of course) tonight anyway. Also, it's a new one so I'll let you know how I like it. ($8.95)
  
• And, finally, Forest Glen 2005 White Merlot from California which I LOVE! This wine is an off-dry fruity red that is one of my favorites. ($9.95)
  

Now, I have to tell you I've only just got interested in wine. I'm reading Wine for Dummies and it's quite interesting. I don't know how much of an expert I will eventually be, but wouldn't it be grand to be a Master of Wine?! Hm... wonder how much that pays. LOL!

Enjoy your weekend everybody!

Memorial Weekend

What a weekend!

We spent our weekend doing some spring cleaning, planting hostas and visiting both the Scott County and Pence cemeteries.

It was quite interesting when we got out to the Pence cemetery since it's surrounded by dirt (mud after all the heavy rain) roads. We almost got stuck once, but persevered until we found a passable road.

When we got to the cemetery, we found that the silk flowers we put out last year were still there, a little worse for the wear. We pulled out the worst of the old ones and added the new ones.

It's so sad to see all the baby graves in that old cemetery. I think there's more babies buried there than adults. There are about four rows of graves, probably forty graves or so in total, and grave upon grave of headstones carved with "baby." We've made guesses as to the cause of all the infant deaths, but haven't gone seeking answers.

There's a lot of gravestones made from sandstone that are now nothing more than lumps of soft stone. No nothing to mark them as anything more than a rock lying on the ground. Someone has set out new stones to mark several of those graves, but they are blank granite stones. Maybe, someday, there will be something on them.

In contrast, the graves in the Scott County cemetery are very well taken care of. And, of course, the newer ones are marked with granite headstones, not sandstone. We placed flowers at all the family graves and were on hand for the ceremony they have every year. I tried to get some video of it, but I only had my phone and it's limit of 15 seconds just isn't long enough. I must remember to take my camera with me from now on.

The weather is insanely cold! 62 for the high today with brisk north winds. I had to turn my heater on today and June is just around the corner! (And they say we're having trouble with global warming?!)

There were several people injured and at least 2 killed in tornadic activity across the state of Kansas over the weekend. Reports of close to 20 tornadoes occurring in central and western Kansas were given on several of the weather sites I read.

Needless today, we didn't attempt camping in this weather.

Josh was a bit upset. He really wanted to go fishing. He hasn't yet had a chance to use his new fishing pole (it's green! – his favorite color) and he really wanted to roast marshmallows. He said, "Now we can't make 'em black and eat 'em!" :O( Poor kid. There's always next weekend...

According to the Farmer's Almanac, the central USA is supposed to have above normal precipitation this summer. Hm... maybe we already reached that "above normal" part. I hope the 4th is clear.

Activities I'll be doing today: Staying warm! Visiting the library, that good 'ole housework and fixing a nice warm homemade chicken noodle soup to warm everyone up tonight.

Yesterday and Today

I ended up spending the day yesterday in Dodge City. A friend called and asked me to go with her to test drive a new truck. We ate at Montana Mike's, stopped by Wal-Mart and Bath and Body Works in the mall and, of course, test drove a truck. (I was the test-rider.)

While we were busily eating our lunch, I got a call from my Mom asking me if I knew we were under a severe thunderstorm warning and tornado watch.

Nope, I didn't know that.

So, on the way back we changed our route and tried to avoid as much of the storm as we could. We did a pretty good job going between the rain and hail although when we got within thirty miles of home we began seeing a LOT of storm chasers, gawkers, video-tapers and even the KAKE News van. Not sure what they were all looking at, but I grabbed my phone and took a picture of the area of clouds they were all watching. (See image above.)

We got home safe and sound, no problems. No nothing as far as we could tell.

We got some more rain this morning and lots of wind this afternoon, but at least the sun is shining...so far. (Blog update: The sun didn't last long. We're back in severe weather. Rain, hail, possible tornadoes...)

Mike had an interesting afternoon at work yesterday. He told me the mill broke down and they had to scramble to get everything working again. I'm not sure what exactly the problem was, but he said he had grain pouring down all over him for about 4-5 hours. When he came home he had grain stuck to his clothes and in his hair. (And when I say stuck, I mean it was like cracked wheat that had gotten wet, stuck in his hair and on his clothes and dried. It was a mess!)

When I talked to him earlier he told me they were having the same problems today and his boss told him it would probably be a late night. What a great way to start the weekend.

Well, at least it'll be a three-day weekend. Maybe time for some fishing, camping or at least playing frisbee at the park!

I also, FINALLY, got the plants I ordered from Gurney's and need to get them planted as soon as I can. I ordered a mix of hostas for a total of twelve plants I'm going to line my front walk with. They came bareroot and are sitting in my refrigerator as I type, awaiting their new homes in my front yard.

And now it's back to watching the radar...

Last Day of School

Today is the last day of school.... again. Bee is excited because her class gets to go hiking at the lake this morning complete with a picnic lunch followed by swimming at the city pool this afternoon. We ordered her swimsuit Saturday from Amazon with a two-day delivery so she's a bit nervous it won't get here in time. I'm on call to take it to her when it gets here.

She was showing me all the awards she got at school this year: she lettered in volleyball and basketball, won two awards in art and got an award for quiz bowl. She's kept straight A's all year though some of those A's are A-'s. And she will be in advanced math again next year.

We won't talk about Chris' grades, but he will be in Sophomore Honors English next year. He's also going to take Art II, Beginning Guitar, Algebra II, a history class, Biology I, and a computer class.

Josh and I are going to hang around the house today. He had a fever last night and wasn't feeling well. We're not sure if his allergies are causing problems or if it was something else. He seems fine this morning, no fever. But, we aren't going hiking like he suggested. LOL

Activities I'll be doing today: Laundry, dishes, updating my Flickr account and blog, reading library books and enjoying the sun.