Buckets of Spuds!

Today I spent some time thinking and writing out what I need and want to do in the 2013 and trying to decide when it needs to happen.

Don't we all do this?

We always start out the New Year with such high expectation of ourselves and set high goals to achieve.

First thing I need is to build a nice notebook with a 2013 calendar and lots of dividers. This will help big time with keeping track of all the dates, times and little details with record keeping.

One of my biggest goals is to grow lots and lots of food and plan and plant not only for this year but for the future like more fruit trees and perennial batches.

I also want to keep track of the cost I pay to plant and grow and how much I harvest VS. the cost it would have been for me to just buy it in a store. But still nothing beats knowing whats in my food and on it when my children place it in their mouths.

I also realized today while out in the garden that I do not have nearly enough 5 gal. buckets to plant my potato plants in. WHAT? HUH?

I came across this great article awhile ago about planting potato plants in buckets and how it makes the harvesting of the potatoes so much easier because they are all neatly growing in the bucket.

This year I am going to give this method a try! It also claims that the space is way less and the yield of food is greater with this method. I guess we shall see!

Just finished texting my husband who works in the field of construction to not to forget to gather me up those paint/Spackle buckets that are thrown out on the job sites. My favorite cost for supplies FREE!

I am thinking I will need about 30 or so before spring. :-)

But for now I can lay out the plastic to defer weeds and every time I get a bucket place it upside down for now to keep it clean till it's time to fill with earth and potatoes.

The New Year's Food Budget 2012...can it be achieved?!

3 days ago started the 2012 new years budget as I begin paying bills marked due by 2012 and purchased food for the up coming week. I gave myself the budget of $50 to feed my family of 5 for the week. So far for week number one I have managed to do this. I also gave myself a budget of $30 instead of about $100 for the family new years celebration and yes I managed to hold up to that too and did I cut corners?... why yes I did but honestly no one even noticed the menu was down sized to fewer choices but bigger proportions.

The menu for the celebration is.
English muffin pizzas
mini cupcake pan quiches (broc and cheddar and spinach and swiss.)
pig in a blanket
and over loaded potato skins.
For a fancy punch for the kids is fruit juice with ginger ale to make it bubble

Our weekly menu for meals is ...

Breakfast -
pancakes with fresh fruit,
oatmeal with fresh fruit,
eggs and toast
yogurt with granola and fruit
homemade bagels with homemade jam and peanut butter
milk or OJ

Lunches-
 left overs
 ham or bologna sandwiches with cheese.
soup and salad
 homemade cookies or rice krispie treats
 fresh fruit
carrot and celery sticks
drinks.

Dinner -
Monday- roasted chicken. mash potatoes and carrots
Tuesday - Chicken and Broc Alfredo.  (using some of the left over chicken) and a salad and bread
Wednesday - Meat loaf, peas, mash potatoes
Thursday - Over stuffed, double baked potatoes with broc. cauliflower, cheddar cheese, chicken from the roasted one and bacon. and salad
Friday - Scrap pizza with bread sticks.

Dessert

pudding and jello

I hope it all works out well this will free up on the avgerage of $100 a week to place towards othe debt.

Happy News Years Everyone and please Be Safe!

A New Beginning...2012!

As I sit here thinking of things I would like to chance like, money, relationships, organization to be better and more I am reminded of the things I can not change like my battle with cancer is not over and I have 7 weeks Monday thru Friday of radiation still.

I only hope God gives me the strength and the knowledge to continue with my life and the wonderful ways he has taught me to be with friends and family. My relationship with my husband has never been better in both worldly love and spiritually!

One of the biggest chances that will effect us the hardest is living up to the no credit way of life that God has expressed many times over to be a sin. If that means to live without then that is what God wishes.

I am actually looking forward to a more 1950's way of life then I have been trying to live already.

I hope you all follow along while we go through this very hard process in this 2012 way of life. The outside world with it's un-Godly influences can be strong at times and that is where our strength and prayers will come in handy. You can pray for us too in that we can stay focus and on track. That would be greatly received. <3

Today I started with cleaning out the bill file and setting it all up for a cash only way or life and recording for 2012. I was even able to apply a small amount of money into the savings and on a credit card.  I am hoping to not only build up the savings but take care of all the credit cards once and for all this year.

I have also asked hubby and I will do the same, to record all daily expenses to be reviewed and tracked. This will help with keeping track of un-necessary spending and possible spur of the moment spending because you will think twice before writing it down... at least I know I will.

Well enough said and I hope you follow along like I requested as we go through daily scheduling of chores and money debt recovery and crafts and baking and much much more!

Do not forget to take time with the Lord today and write your blessings and I am thankfuls  in your journal. even the smallest things are Blessings in Life!

Mama Oak