crazy week

This last week has been crazy......to say the least.
If multiple sporting commitments every single day, weren't enough.....
My beloved 1955 Hotpoint Golden Anniversary Super Automatic Cooking Range died.
Panic set in on several levels. I LOVE that range, and also, I bake nearly everyday. And not always fun dessert baking, I mean bread, a necessity in my house. Oh and granola, a necessity for sure.
When I called the local appliance repair guys they told me that a range that old would need to be rewired to the tune of $1500.00-Whoa.
So I set out to find a new range. BTW, I am picky.
No digital controls. Appliances with a computer + me=BAD.
I really wasn't sure if I wanted gas. I have never cooked with gas, and I have heard that baking with gas takes a little getting used to.
And I am thrifty. I always thought that my next range would be a mid range, stainless, dual fuel, pro type, you know the ones.
When it came down to it I could bear to part with the money or my Hotpoint.
I took the back off my range (after I unplugged it) and saw that quite a bit of the wiring was new-ish. The previous owners had apparently had some work done on it. I was instantly hopeful.
I did a little more poking around and discovered the problem. The part that needs to be replaced is a simple fix, IF I can find the parts. If not, we will have to have the smaller oven re-wired only. This will only cost a few hundred dollars. Well worth it to not have to spend thousands on a new one. Or not at all, I am very hopeful that an antique appliance guy in Florida can locate the part for me.
In the meantime, I have one oven that works and the stove top works, and there is nothing that needs to be done with those. YAY!
I gave my range some love today and cleaned it inside and out. Having almost lost the privilege of owning this beautiful beast, I am so grateful to have it (mostly) working and looking spiffy. A happy ending to a very stressful week. Play ball!
It looks like No-Spend March is spilling into April. Yes.

Watch this video for a good look at my range and a good laugh!

Have a blessed day, Tami

a no-spend update

I feel like March has gone very well. I am adopting new behaviors in place of a old ones. There have been a few challenges. So many things broke this month! We opted to repair instead of replace in most instances (really good in my opinion), but wow, we had to spend a little money. That's okay because we offset the costs by selling a few items on Craigslist that were hanging around needlessly. As I'm typing I realize how much I like that - clearing out the unnecessary and making a little money - yay!
My personal spending, which is never much, has stayed minimum. It's more of the habit of treasure hunting, not the money being spent, that I want to be keenly aware of -  the amount of time I'm spending doing it. That's where the big savings is seen, in my time. I am terrible at time management, and when I am juggling too many kid activities, and spending a lot of time messing around, I get a little stressed. Being deliberate about my time helps me stay sane. When I do need a little personal time, I take it, that keeps me sane too.
So far, this month has done exactly what I wanted it to do. We have saved some money, but more importantly, I am more deliberate. I think more about where my money and time is going. Priorities.

April will be clear it out month.
The sun will (hopefully) be shining, and I will be energized enough to get some Spring cleaning done.

Have a blessed day,
Tami

this and that

{Applesauce Bread}

{Soulemama's Leftover Oatmeal Muffins}

~Tried SouleMama's leftover oatmeal muffins, we really liked them.
~Planted our Yukon Gold's using the tower method. Put the Snow Pea and lettuce seeds in the ground.
~Waiting patiently for "Free-range Chicken Gardens" to come in at our library.
~Finishing the freezer clean out, just some strawberries and rhubarb waiting to become jam.
~Baking, baking, and more baking. Keeping the lunchboxes full of homemade goodness, instead of buying snacks.....yay No-Spend March.
~Tempted by a beautiful stainless Copco kettle that I don't need, a kitchen timer which I do need, and so far I have resisted. That kettle just might go on my birthday list though. :~)
~Anxious (for hubby) to dive into a few Spring projects. Making doors for our corner cabinet, finishing the molding in the master bath, making built in beds for the little boys attic bedroom, and general sprucing up.
~Trying out a few new vegetarian meals. My goal is to only buy organic, free-range, grass-fed, uncured (etc.) meats. I am trying to keep costs down by preparing vegetarian meals more often during the week, and using the meat we buy as an ingredient instead of the main course.
~Dreaming of building a little guest cottage in my side yard.
~Hoping a blessed day for you.

Tami

crazy weather

7 a.m. this morning.

I know that it doesn't look like much, but snow in March in the Seattle area........freakishly unusual.

And they were big flakes, and sticking........a few hours later and we now have blue sky and the most beautiful fluffy white clouds. Crazy. It's been a very strange winter around here.

Yesterday, I baked, and baked, and baked.
I am cleaning out the freezer as part of No-Spend March. Use it up is my motto. I pulled out some frozen plums from our tree last summer, and made Plum Crumble. It's a recipe that I found on the Southern Food website. The topping is so good. I'd like to try this with other fruit, too.
I also baked 4 loaves of sandwich bread (Tassajara-of course), 2 loaves of banana bread (bananas from the freezer), and Martha Stewart's Giant Chocolate Sugar Cookies.
We had homemade Chicken and Rice soup (turkey stock from the freezer). I made this soup with a teriyaki base and it was so good. I used soy sauce, a little sesame oil, onion, brown sugar, and ginger. My family loved it.

Have a blessed day,
Tami

weekend

We had a very busy weekend. On Saturday we attended a Cub Scout banquet, and Sunday was filled with church and then the kick-off of our baseball season. The sun came out, but it was cold. Nothing like standing outside in the cold for hours. Bring on the ballgames! By the end of the season we will be in sunglasses and short-sleeves. At least it didn't rain. I am sure there will be plenty of that to come.

We are 5 days into No-Spend March! I am enjoying the challenges so far. My biggest obstacle is staying out of the thrift stores. (and Starbuck's) - I am saving money and time if I stay out of them. I am also saving money on gas, that is a big bonus seeing as though gas is approaching $4.00 per gallon here. OUCH.

Here are some of my recent "No-Spend March" victories.

• I baked a cake to donate for a silent auction instead of buying something.
• I cut 4 heads of hair on Sunday evening. (a 80.00 savings!)
• We participated in a gear swap and outfitted our kiddos for baseball.
• I am baking bread today.
• Making a birthday gift out of supplies I have on hand.
• Said no to extras at the grocery store.
• I darned 4 pair of my favorite wool socks, instead of replacing them.

I love being absolutely deliberate about spending, and I love saving money!

Have a blessed Monday, Tami