I had a beautiful Mothers Day.

I had let the kids know that I didn't want/need anything...but I ended up with some sweet, sweet gifts.

DD1 threw a BBQ for all the moms/grandmas in hers and SILs family...quite a group...POTLUCK, so no one person spent too much. Very good food. Great company...nice day.

Then she potted starters off of her favorite spider plant...so all us moms/grammas went home with a 'baby'. She also gave us a framed photo. (The photos were all different and special in their own way....Mine was the 4 generations...my mom, me, DD1 and GD)

DD3 painted a rock with a sunflower- which I LOVE.

DS and his wife gave me a cute makeup bag with cherries on it...and some of my fav chocolate.

What a beautiful day. They each gave me a card with the /sweetest nicest notes inside.

I feel very blessed. What a beautiful day.

The sounds of summer have arrived.

Yesterday, I listened to lawn mowers galore...sparrows fighting predators from their nests, and children playing in a neighbors pool.

Followed up last night by a serenade of frogs down at what we call 'Frog Creek'.
The truly HOT weather hasn't yet arrived..so simply leaving a window open will cool the house down and allow the song of the frogs in.

Drifted off to sleep in those freshly, line dried sheets...(I got to put the nice cool cotton ones on instead of the flannel.)

I love the sounds that come with summer.
And I continue to say...the best things in life are free.

First, Happy Mothers Day to all of you! I wish you a lovely day spent however your hearts desire...

It will be a family day for us. DD1 has planned a bbq with everyone at her house...so no work for gramma today

It should be a no spend day as well...just the gas to get to DD1s house.

Confession time: We are 'Survivor" fans...so we are looking forward to the finale tonight...This is one show the entire family likes to watch...so during the season, it is a 'shared' event from our individual homes.

Again, I wish you all a day of joy!

Well, today is the day DH and DD3 (14) chose to spend together. The pick a day or a whole weekend once a month and just go bond.

Today was breakfast followed by miniature golf and bumper cars. I am sure they are having a great time.

I was using the free time to catch up on deep cleaning, when the phone rang...Uh, oh...

DD1: "Mom, what are you doing"...in that sweet (can you babysit) tone!

Sure enough, Miss Kaitlyn Rae (9 months) was delivered to me about 20 minutes ago...Her mom and dad are off to see Poseidon. Katie is already down for a nap...so I am continuing on with the work. Im hanging ALL bed linens on the line this afternoon for a nice, fresh bed tonight!

Amazing how much I DONT spend when I stay home...lol. My number one clue for saving...STAY HOME. It works for me everytime!

I went to town to deposit DHs paycheck and get a prescription filled for my dad. Dh wanted to go to Olive Garden for lunch...which he rarely asks to eat out so we splurged. ($35)

Then, I wanted to stop by Michaels and get a pretty banner/flag for the front yard (they were on sale for $6.99). I had taken a 40% off coupon...but then I saw their scrapbooking organizers.....Last year at Christmas, I had given DD1 one of those...and in February, it was stolen out of her car....with my coupon it was only $24...a reasonable price, and I knew whe would really appreciate it...so I splurged again. Bought the organizer and couldn't decide between two banner/flags.....so......I bought them both ($37) (Iknow, I know...)

Then when I picked up my dads prescription, I saw the Dairy Queen and knew he would just LOVE a pineapple blizzard...he's been sick and all......so I slurged AGAIN ($5).

So, not the most frugal day Ive had in a while...but it sure made several family members smile! And you know what, every once in a while, that's ok.

This is my little GS....

(Testing out adding a picture)

Question: Can you bury a piece of bread in the carpet?

Answer: Of course not. Why would you even try?

I have no flippin clue...but that is what Grace (12 yo blind, possibly senile lab) has been trying to do for the past several minutes.

She is on a mission...Now mind you, she is the only animal in the house. But she is trying to 'hide' this piece of bread from the cats...(they live outside).

Further, she is getting carpet burn on her nose in her attempts.

What a funny girl. But this past week or two I have been seeing signs that she is starting to mentally lose it.

They told us she only had about 6 months to live....almost 4 years ago.

If nothing else, Grace is doing it "her way".

And her way has kept me smiling for 3 1/2 extra years and counting.

For all her silliness, I love that darn dog.

I found boneless, skinless chicken breast on sale for $1.29 lb today!! so I stocked up...and I will most likely go back this weekend and get even more.

I bbq'd steak for us and dad tonight. Had gotten a huge london broil on sale for $1.79 lb a few weeks ago...so this steak was about 2 1/2 lbs...enough to feed all of us a good dinner.

DH and DD3 decided not to go on the 3 hr drive this weekend, but rather do something closer to home. (a good thing) DHs check has about $75 in OT this week so he will use that to fund his day with DD3...I see a nice breakfast, movie and maybe some fishing in their future!

Im looking forward to a quiet day on Saturday. I hope I can sneak off and not have to take care of anyone or anything for a few hours...(shhh, don't tell anyone!)

Friday is almost here...looking forward to the weekend....it has been a busy week.

We are getting a Sonic Burger....

Do you have one near you? Are they any good?

Not that I am looking for a way to start eating out again...There is just an air of excitement when a new kid comes to town...and I have heard people really like Sonic Burgers...

If you have one, what is your experience?

Is this common?

I am going along thinking (smugly- which is a big mistake by the way)...Oh, we are doing great...Ive paid all the bills early this month. There is a little left over for savings...Arent we doing great!!

Then, blammo! Something breaks...then, something else happens, then, then, then...

And all of a sudden your back at sqaure one??

It feels like that has been the week this week....I am not planning on spending any money today...but DH has ordered two new blades for his chainsaw ($50-60 each)..that need to be picked up..Which, once he starts making money, these will be paid for, but right now we are having to front money to the business.

Then, each month DH and DD3 spend a weekend or at least one full day on a 'bonding day'. They go do something together just to connect. I learned last night that DH is taking her to his dads house (3 hours away) to change dads oil in his truck...WHAT? Thats about $75 in gas just to change your dads oil??? grrrr... It wouldnt have been so bad, but his dad isnt even going to be home...Hopefully DH reconsiders and does something less expensive and more condusive to a fun day with DD3.

Vacation is coming...just under 3 weeks now...I have save about $300 for the week...and we will turn in all the cans/bottles to help...plus I have our 2 Exxon gas cards to help with fuel...

End of rant...off to enjoy the nice sunny weather.

I knew today would be a spend day.

Met DD1 in town to get my dads car fixed...on the way home DD1 wanted coffee ($6 for both of us)...ugh...

Dad needed milk...so I stopped and bought 2 gal of milk, bread, coffee creamer and cereal...($11)

DD3 and I went to town and I bought her a few new clothes for this warmer weather we're having. ($40)

I also needed gas from all the trips to town this week...($32)----ouch

Then I stopped by the budget grocery store and bought several things we were out of ($60)

DD3 really wanted some dippin dots...($8) (that's enough $$ to buy a couple of 1/2 gallons....ugh)

So, over $150 dollars today. The coffee and dippin dots were not budget items...but everything else was...so $14 out of my allowance.

Grace (my 12 yo blind female lab) just made it on the endangered species list tonight!!!!!!!!

Im not kidding, Im calling the horse food factory tomorrow to see if they want her.

I ran up to check on my dad one last time tonight, right at dusk, and that dad-blarned dog knocked the backdoor to my house open...now I have skeeters (mosquitos) everywhere..

{{frustrated sigh}} She is laying there asleep, acting all innocent...totally oblivious to the nuisance that she is...well, ok, maybe shes not a nuisance...but she is still on the list...

I think Im getting a fish the next time I need a pet. (Hear that Grace!!!)

My dad is resting (sleeping) and is doing much better. I will check on him one more time before bedtime. My mom made it to Alabama safely.

I would have had a no spend day if not for that ($#*$()# $2 parking fee at the airport this morning...oh well.

We had quite a few calls today in the bug business, if all of the sales result in jobs, todays tally will be about $2000.

I was able to work the phones all day- as the doctor just faxed in prescriptions for dad and I didn't have to take him to a Dr appt...so DD1 was able to hand out flyers instead of working in the office.

All meals at home again today. Hung laundry...pretty frugal day.

Oh yeah, I called and cancelled Great Fun...I received the gas cards right away...This actually was a membership I might use in the future...but for now, I am committed close to home with my parents and couldn't justify the membership fee.

Possibly, this vent is nothing more than having to get up so early this morning...(4:30am)....

But I dropped Nana off at the airport this morning. They call it an 'airport' but we are pretty small town here and it really just a big building where little prop planes pull in and those roll-up steps are used to board, unboard. Not big at all.

Nana is elderly and slower than most...then there were all the security lines to get through..(3 in all)...

I got Nana into the restricted area ok...and then went to leave the airport and they charged me $2 because I had parked 3 minutes beyond the free 30....grrrr...all because of those security lines..(Anyone know how to bill to terrorists??? another expense thanks to them!)

Actually, I am all for security...Id rather they take a few minutes longer to make sure innocent travelers are safe.

A lady almost shut down the airport while we were there...she was through security and then she TURNED AROUND and took off running out of the building..BAREFOOT...(yes, they make you take off your shoes)...She came back in and the security gaurds were all over her.....she had forgotten her cell phone in the car ....lol

Papa is still sleeping...it is just after 7am here...so no doctor for a couple of hours yet... Good news, his fever broke during the night.

I need a nap!

Egads....Nana is due to hop on that plane at 6am....and she just called to tell me that Papas fever is up to 102.6.

He is a lung cancer survivor with a caveat....he gets pneumonia very easily...and his symptoms tonight are suspect....

Sooooo...I will be taking Nana to the airport at 5am and heading home to take care of Papa until the Dr Office opens...very possible he will end up in the hospital while Nana is gone on this trip.

Poor Nana is a wreck...Papa is in and out of awakeness....

And Im doing my best to keep it calm...

***bonk****

Oooops, just dropped one of those balls Im juggling on my head...Looks like DD1 will have to run the pest business tomorrow while Papa and I do doctors.

breathe in....breathe out....

Nana is going on a trip. Her first solo trip in almost 30 years...

I wish it was for pleasure...but it is to see her younger brother, Leon, who has just been released from the hospital to hospice care.

Nana leaves very early tomorrow morning...and will be gone for 10 days. She is meeting up with her youngest brother, Harvey, at one of the stop overs and they will fly into Alabama together.

Papa is going to be here alone...so I have been given strict orders to keep an eye on him...(Nana takes good care of papa.) These two have not been apart except for hospital stays themselves....for as long as I can remember.

I am sad for nana...she was the oldest of 4 (and only girl) and her job at a very young age (starting at about 6) was to take care of the boys....while her parents worked the cotton fields.

She has always adored her brothers...and is sad that she is losing Leon, who was always closest to her. (Leon's twin, Cleon died a few years back)

Oh, lifes journeys....makes the small stuff seem pretty miniscule today.

DH and I looked at the brochures last night on the travel trailers. It is so fun to dream and play 'what if'.

We found a trailer that we both really liked yesterday (way more than I will spend at this time however)...It is a better quality than the one we have now...
Our current trailer has been a wonderful starting one...but because it was a starter model (less costly) it was not well made and is starting to fall apart in areas. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it is also too big for us now that the kids have grown up and gotten their own devices.

So I am going to open an account and start making 'payments' to the new trailer and see how well we can do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wood Business:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DHs momentum on his little wood business is still going strong. He continues to make contacts and to sell. He sold two cords this weekend...but the wood won't be delivered until late summer.

Our log deck deliveries can't start until the trucks are able to get back into the woods...but this shouldn't be too much longer now. I would love to get much of it done before those 105 degree days hit us in the butt. (ugh)

I have added another $14 for last weeks stair challenge which brings this account to $214.06.

I am having fun watching this little account grow!

Watched GS this morning/afternoon until about 2pm.

The DH and I went to look at the other wood job, which didn't pan out...

Then we went and looked at new RVs. We have a nice travel trailer...but it is 5 years old and is a little too big (32 ft) now that the kids are all grown. We found one that we liked really well, but it is $33,000...ouch...so I told DH that I would try to set aside the monthly payment on that amount for the next year and see how much we can save...expecially if we add the extra money to the pot....we shall see...I know the LAST thing I want is a payment on anything right now...and I am in no big hurry to replace our current trailer.

DH had offered to help a friend move a washer and dryer, so he dropped me by Barnes and Noble for about an hour while he helped the friend...I found lots of books to look for at the library...I rarely buy books since our library system is online and I can reserve pretty much anything I want from the catalog and have it shipped here to the local library.

Then DD2, SO and GS were still here when we got home and they bar-b-qued with us for dinner again. Since it was all leftovers from last night, tonights meal for all of us plus my parents was FREE.

All in all a great day.

I think the kids are all catching the money making bug.

Today, DH is going to his second wood job this weekend. (Yesterdays job netted us a truckload of great fir...probably 3-4 cords...so appx $500 in wood)

DD2 and her SO are going to a job that DS referred them to. They are cleaning some eaves of a house for mold. ($125)

DS and DIL are working a side job ripping uop carpet (not sure how much they will make)

I will be home (PLAYING) with GS while his mom is at the eaves cleaning job.

It is sure to be a busy day for all today!

Just got a call from DD2 and they want to come over for a bar-b-bue this afternoon...She'll pick up the hamburger...

"OK"....

DD2: "Great, lets invite DD1 and DS too.."

......'okaaaaay"....

DD1 "Great, we can make it. I will call my friend Crystal and invite them too"...

...............................o...k....

"Don't forget nana and papa"..........

..................................................*&%$*&$(............

I just added it up...12 adults and 4 children...for a bar-b-que I didn't know I was having an hour ago....

sigh....better get the house tidied up.

DD3 and I went to town this afternoon after her talent show. (Which went marvelously!)

She was pretty eager to go to a diner for dinner (wanted an omlette)...but I offered to make her a ham and cheddar scramble at home instead....So we stopped at the store and bought food for the weekend and for those omelettes and spent WAY LESS than we would have at the restaraunt...and she was pleased with the dinner(breakfast) at home.

I did tell her that we could go to the diner sometime when her dad can go with us. So I think she was ok with that....

FRAK:
I picked up a "tell us about our service" card from the bank today and am filling it out and mailing it in for one of the employees who has been so friendly and helpful.

I also decided to refund an unhappy customers money from the bug business. This actually is a FRAK for my son the pest tech, as this lady was a royal pain in the neck (honestly, we never have customers we cant please...but she was over the top) So my son won't have to go back a THIRD time to a home where we will never please this customer.

DD3 is having a car wash tomorrow (fund raiser) so my FRAK money ($4) will pay for some unsuspecting persons car wash...(shhh, don't tell)

As I mentioned in my earlier blog, I received the Gillette rebate for $9 and change...I decided to round it up to an even $10 and add it to the challenge, which puts my balance at $200.06!!!

woo-hoo!! This little account is growing fast!

The good, the great and the not so great...

Received my first rebate check today for $9.43 from Gillette...I will put that into my $20 challenge. (update balance later)

DH got paid last night and this check was huge thanks to all the overtime last week....we will put some of the extra in his business account to help with these expenses until the earnings start coming in.

and the not so great...
I cancelled my Complete Home membership today (30 days was up) and I never received the circuit city gc's nor did I get credit to my points (200) for signing up...

But the good stuff far outweighs the not-so- good today!

We are going to have a nice busy weekend here.

DH has his first two logging customers. Both are elderly and have trees that need to be taken out before they fall on their homes.

DH is doing one for the wood- which we will process and sell...Sweet elderly lady- a real go getter. She bought her firewood from us last year...and DH instantly made a new friend...she truly is a delight.

The other is a combination of wood and cash. Elderly gentleman who has 20 acres and he wants the dead/dying trees removed.

Because they are seniors, DH is taking good care of them and charging them a reduced fee.

He is pretty eager to get going.

DD3 has a car wash this weekend for her youth group.

I am hoping for some time to just relax and catch up on reading/ knitting...but I do not think realistically that'll happen.

Last year, DD3 went to the advisors at her school and asked if she could put together a talent show. Which she did...almost entirely on her own.

She worked for weeks and had auditions...and on the big day, she was the emcee for the event. It was a huge hit with the staff and students.

Today is the second annual talent show. DD3 is spearheading this one as well...she is pretty excited and nervous...but I know she will do great!

Next year she starts high school...so this is the last hoorah of her middle school journey. Mom is happy and sad at the same time. She is growing up much too quickly...But is turning into such a lovely young woman.

I am looking forward to attending the talent show this afternoon...I wouldn't miss it for the world. Hopefully no one will notice if there is a tear or two in my eyes.

Since DH has to work tomorrow night, I splurged at Costco yesterday on a mexi appetizer platter for $9.99 to eat an early dinner befor e he leaves tomorrow afternoon.

There is enough for two meals...and I will make up some spanish rice and refried beans to go with....so the meal will be around $6.50 for the three of us (DD3 too)....and we will celebrate the day with frugal festivity!!

Ole'!

PS....For those who celebrate: Happy Cinco de Mayo tomorrow!

We were so busy in the 'office' today, that I forgot my towels on the line... I now have a new form of sandpaper to use after my showers.....


Should be interesting....ouch.

What a nice surprise I received when someone went out of their way to help me today.

I have mentioned DD3s recent visits to the specialist and insurance. Ended up insurance said no-go afterall....but this nice lady took extra time in her day to carefully document the medical necessity for the prosthesis.

She said DD3 absolutely needs it or she will eventually suffer scoliosis type symptoms and back, neck pain.

She is going above and beyond to help me...and, especially since it is helping my child, it is a kindness I won't soon forget.

Being on the other side of kindness today, I am re-energized to continue on with my goal to be kind to others.

Took DD3 to the specialist and was told insurance was not going to cover afterall

However, the specialist is going to challenge the insurance as she thinks this problem is causing DD3s back pain...and that it will get worse if we do not correct it now.

If insurance does not end up covering, I will still go forward- as I believe it is necessary...cost will be about $300.


After the appointment we went to Costco...and I picked up a 'few' items...$104... But I did stock up on meats for the next couple of weeks...so next weeks food bill should be small.

DH has two customers for his new wood business and is pretty excited...He will do one job on Saturday...and start the second on Sunday...so it is looking up for the logging end of business...

And bug business is booming...i sold almost $1000 today...It is fun having busy phones...I enjoy helping people...even if it is with bugs...lol