Gramma Ray's Blog

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

I have been asked this question alot lately...

By DH and all the kiddo's.

I have told them all...

I want a day without housework or cooking.

I want time with each to enjoy being a mom.

I would love a sunny day, not too hot...to sit outside and enjoy the blooms everywhere.

As far as gifts, there is HONESTLY nothing I need...so please don't spend your money on gifts...

I have beautiful flowers in the yard, so please don't buy cut flowers...

But if you'd like...a strawberry pie would taste great, along with some sun tea.

And maybe some bar-b-que for dinner...out on the back porch.

If you really are ambitious, my car could use a bath.

I am lucky enough to have a healthy family..(Thank you Lord!)

I don't really need anything else.

I was looking through a pile of mail for our car insurance bill and found, what looked like junk mail...but it was our two Great Fun gas cards $10 each.

I have tucked them away to use on our vacation to the coast at the end of the month.

Just one more savings made from all of your advice!!

Happy Dance...

I am taking DD3 (14) to a specialist this afternoon that I did not think would be covered by our insurance. (She is going to need to wear a special item of clothing until she can have surgery in 4 years)

When i called to make the appointment, they suggested calling the doctor and getting a 'prescription' for the appointment/purchase.

I called our insurance company, and sure enough...because it will be prescribed, our insurance is going to cover...about $100 saved...(although I would have spent this money anyway.)

DD3 is so excited!

Still need that whoopin stick...

Box just delivered...

A purchase from one of those catalogs that clogs up the mailbox each day...

Their health won't allow them to go shopping...but NO PROBLEM, they can shop right in their home...flipping pages..."ooh, I NEED this" "I could use this" "Oh Bill, look at this"....

Their little home...that they have no room left in...because of all the stuff they buy from the *#)&%*$ CATALOGS.

This is the third such box in as many weeks...

On their limited budget...

What's a girl to do?

On one of the discussion boards there was a question about "Healthy lessons you learned from your mom"....

DO NOT REPEAT THE MISTAKES OF YOUR PARENTS. That is my lesson....

Off to find the brick wall (again)

My challenge money is at $190.06 (thanks to another week of stairs and interest)...next week I will top $200!! yesssss!

That's what I need to borrow....

You got one???

Must be strong enough to whoop two parents....

Seniors...

Limited budget...

live month to month...

and often do not have any money the last week of the month due to a very limited budget....

but yet find logic....

in spending almost $300 for 3 pair of shoes while their daughter (ie ME) is off camping for a few days...

If you have one...(whoopin stick) please reply....

I will pay shipping expenses....

and will return when Im done...

thank you...now I am off to beat my head on a brick wall! or something....


arrrghhh...

I read this book over the weekend...and I was dissapointed to find that we are way outa whack....

We do not spend anywhere near the 30% for wants...and we overspend on the must haves.

Then I started thinking about our life.

We have a home in the country that we adore...which is what tilts the balance. Last year, we had to refi in order for me to stay home and care for my parents..and so the payment now is a little steeper. (we rolled all other debt into this one to do so)

And I kept thinking...we eat well, we save, we have clean (yet not new) clothes, we have lots of family time, we get a small allowance each, we camp , we have satellite tv for entertainment...and we have $$ set aside for vacations....but we do not spend very much each month on wants.

I had cracked this book hoping to find some great advice for making things better...and ended up realizing that things were pretty good already....even if we are a little off-kilter....It made me proud to think that we had come up with a plan that allowed us to feel 'rich' in love...without feeling 'poor'in things. and I guess thats about all we wanted/needed. Am I crazy to not want more for wants??? we seem pretty darn happy here....deprivation? whats that? lol

Because of my newfound focus and blogging here on a routine basis, I just enetered my first month of having an ENTIRE MONTH worth of bill$$$ saved up in my bill pay account and am ready to pay all my bills at once!!! (hooray!)

Ordinarily I have to use a little out of each weeks checks to stay up...but we are finally ahead of the game!! (Where is some wood to knock on!!...I guess my head will have to do)

DH has been working alot of OT and I have just left that in the bill pay account...which is a primary reason that we have enough there now! (woo-hoo)

I hope to stay on this path through the summer and hopefully get at least three months worth saved in that account.

I owe the strength to get here to the support from all of you...in the past, I have been working kinda blind...but I really have found my focus!!

Happy May Day to you all!

Just got hame from our camping trip ---and we had such a nice time!

The original couple that we were going with had to back out at the last minute...so it ended up being us, and all the kids and their families.

The weather was great. The food was wonderful...(potato packets are well worth the effort!!) Everyone had a great time.

I was up there all alone for about 6 hours on Friday and I read the Nickled and Dimed book...I enjoyed most of it and the overall message was good.

Friday night...it started to get dark...and no one had shown up yet...now mind you, I am alone...back in the woods (very remote)..no car, no cell reception...and visions of wild animals and axe murderers start running through my head...and my new best friend is a bumble bee more interested in me than I was in him....

Luckily, just as the sun said it's last hoorah, DD1 and SIL show up (hallelujah)...and the rest of our time was a campers dream...everyone went home exhausted yesterday afternoon except DH and I...we stayed and enjoyed the SILENCE!

A great weekend!! I hope all of yours went eqaully well....it is nice to be home again...and I can't wait to catch up on everyones posts!

I just checked our electric bill for this month....and it is $115 (compared to $163 last year...yeah!!)

Our electric bill is for our home and my parents little RV home. We are all electric...so I am always happy when the bill is under $150.

My (stubborn) dad insists on paying $50 of this bill for their 'rent'...boy did we argue over that one when the first moved here...but he still wins most battles...

So my portion is $65...I budget $100...I wished I could say the rest could go towards my challenge, but I think Id best put it in an electric bill reserve for this summer's bills as they are predicting a warm (hot) one.

Ive been busy with laundry and packing all day. I made a master camping list last year so I just have to go through it and check everything off.

This trip started as just DH, DD3, me and another couple...but now DD1 & DD2 and their families are going as well as a friend of the family....and DD3 has invited a neighbor girl too. So, we will have a small village this weekend.

I am little concerned about the grocery shopping this afternoon. I think I am going to do the shopping for everyone...which will now be a sizable bill...and they will pay me back their share...but it never seems to work out that way...hmmm

I am taking a couple of good books...I have a feeling reading time will be limited, however.

Ahh...but the fresh air and relaxation will be worth it!

Since DD2 and her family are going camping with us, I needed to get everything ready a day earlier- as we will now take the trailer up Friday instead of Saturday. Which means I have my work cut out today!!

Packing, cleaning, shopping, list making...it is sure to be a busy day...but it will all be worth it tomorrow.

The site we are going to is free. We eat pretty much the same when camping as we do at home (add s'mores)...so the only money spent will be gas for DHs truck to get us there and propane for the trailer and sunblock .

Come to think of it...we actually save on electricity- cause we won't be home...and there are no impulse shop opportunites for DH or DD3 while we are in the woods...I wonder what else we save on...Ill have to ponder this!