Bugs on My Plates, More Chores Out, Witch Burning

I washed one small plate from my new set and ate off it several times. Each time I was a little horrified at the bug that had gotten onto my plate. I have had ladybugs in my freezer, food, skillets of food, and everywhere else in some years in my other house. But, there have been no ladybugs in this house. Everytime I startle, I realize it is a ladybug in the pattern! Finally, I check all the plates. The salad plates ALL have a ladybug in the pattern. None of the dinner plates have a ladybug. 

We headed out for a few local and short chores.

Yes, Dollar Tree items are higher! I went there looking for two things, did not find them, but found other items to buy. I was looking for a witch hat for Lynda, a bunch of fall leaves, and something else. Everything I did purchase was $1.25--construction paper, cupcake papers, three small notebooks, package of two potholders. 

I needed green and red construction paper. The package had one green sheet. The three small notebooks are for the Pink Purse Project to put in three purses. The potholders were pretty and very cheap. Even expensive potholders may be ugly or not sturdy. We are rough on potholders. When I went in DT that has no electric carts, I stayed right up front where Christmas is quickly replacing Halloween, and one trip halfway down one aisle to get the construction paper! There were some pretty and cheap Thanksgiving dinner plates up front and other accessories, but not for me now. The plates were autumn leaves, so okay for all of fall. 

We wanted to see the yard in another neighborhood decorated with a 10 or 12-foot skeleton. It was not out. None of the yard was decorated. Are they going to do it before Halloween? 

I used the last cooking bag so got three more boxes. If they are cheaper on Amazon, I will buy there. 

The tablet needs to be set up. Could find no one to do that. I looked at the directions and feel inadequate. 

We sat in the park and ate a small cup of ice cream and watched the world...lol. 

Right now, Tommy is setting up two squashes given us. He drew a face on a butternut squash and is take in little decorative squash Lynda gave me to put in another flowerpot. 

There is a little ratty iron wire table in front of the house where we placed the one we bought yesterday. The new one is putty with glass top. The wire one will be sprayed white and put on the porch in place of the one there now, that I paid $3 and think it is ugly and falling down. Spray paint is the most I do now so it has gotten no attention. I cannot make anything better like I could before. The one on the porch will go on the curb! 

The Tupperware sits unwashed, so I need to get on that. 

My crow needs to replace the bluebird on the porch or rather, on the shepherd's hook in front of the porch. 

There are so many little piddly things to do today. Nothing is large, heavy or earthshattering, just little things. 

Along with those, I want to make meatloaf and chopped burger meat. Tommy really likes it on salads or just with his vegetables. Plus, he does not eat as much as he would eating a hamburger. 

Hummingbird feeders need to come in. 

On Saturday Lynda was outdoors when I called. She was making a witch to look like it was burning at the stake. She said she had witch legs, black cloth, and a milk jug for a head. She has looked everywhere for a witch hat with no luck. She said she put black cloth over the milk jug head and now it looks like she is burning a nun! I almost choked I laughed so hard. Today, we drove by. Yes, it does look like a nun! I need to go look in my Halloween stuff and find a witch hat before the priests come and march in front of her house. 

We are drawing on gourds and she is burning a nun. I have to go now! 

Any hilarity happening at your house? More decorating? Cooking?

Dollar Tree Find + Bone Wracking

Last week when I went to the Dollar Tree for shelf stable milk which was not there, I found something interesting. There were very small boxes of Suddenly Salad Ranch and Bacon. Of course, they were $1. I had found the regular boxes for $1, so I have plenty. The regular size costs over $2 in regular stores, sometimes $2.98. So, $1 is my price, the most I am willing to spend. 

I wanted to compare the boxes and data on them, so I bought one. 

large box--7.5 ounces small box--3.7 ounces

large--4.5 servings      small--2 servings

Large box--upwards to $2.98/box  small box--$1

While I cannot imagine me buying the small box, I can see how it can be useful. I am not going to compare it to my sale price. So, 1) the small box is cheaper per serving and per box. 2) If a person is trying to not eat so many calories, the smaller box will save calories. 3) By buying a smaller box, a person can have a variety in meals. 

By the way, the large box I buy calls for 1/2 cup mayo. I use  half that and add a touch of milk sometimes if it seems very dry. Oh, don't use Miracle Whip in this Suddenly Salad. It is gross.

I awoke in the middle of the night Thursday night having hard chills. I checked and I had sufficient cover over me, my back was covered, hands, and I felt warm all over as opposed to being chilly anywhere, feet warm. Finally, the chills were so hard I thought bones would break from the force. Then, I did a mental check to see if anything about me seemed sick. My throat was okay, no sinus pain or ear pain. My toe that was sore was okay as well as the foot that hurt from arthritis. I did not feel feverish, no sweating, just bad chills. I tried breathing through the feeling. Then, I went to sleep. I have no idea what happened and it has never happened before. 

This morning, I am fine. It looks like October will be so much better for me, health wise, than past Octobers. Last night was a mystery. It was one of the better night's sleep I have had, only going to the bathroom once...lol. 

I may need a sweater today since the temperature will be in low 50s all day. 

Tommy had the last of the pumpkin muffins made into a cake. He said it was better the first day when it was warm. He said it was sort of "gummy" the second day. He was not complaining but answering my question of whether it was as good the second day. Maybe all the extra milk made it gummy the second day. 

We may have twin two-year-old boys here on Halloween night. I want to get candy they won't choke on. Since they will be invited, I will probably not get a full bag of candy, maybe just a candy bar each. I watched mine like a hawk at that age and broke things up or cut them. But, I am trying to figure out a full-size candy bar for these little children. What would you suggest? We would eat the rest of a bag! So, not going there. Plus, two candy bars will be cheaper than a bag.  We don't need leftover candy!

So, what would you suggest?

Too Pooped to Type

I was so sad Colin Powell died. He was a hero of mine. His situation shows why we should be so careful of infecting people. He was vaccinated, but had multiple myeloma. So, the vaccine was not very effective for him. I mourn. 

If I don't visit or leave a comment, consider I am exhausted and have been busy. Today, Tommy had an appointment to get new tires at 11 am. We got there at 11 am and asked how long it would take. I rode with him. Then, my gastrointestinal tract betrayed me and I had to go home and change clothing. So, he took me home; I jumped out; he went directly back. We are less than a mile from the shop. 

Once I cleaned up and changed clothes, tried to recover and went back in my car. Tommy got into my car because I needed something to eat. So, did he. 

We went back about 1 pm and the car was not done because she said, "he had to leave." Yet, it was on the rack with only one tire, and old one on the vehicle. She was very accusatory which I did not like. Okay, at 3:15, the woman called back as it was done. 

I drove him back, so he could get it. It was over $800. However, there was a b3g1, and he had a coupon for free installation. So, with alignment, he paid ~ $790. I asked and he has absolutely no idea what the savings were.  And, and this card will give him cash back. So, now we are driving on good tires. 

Today, I wanted to go and buy a recliner with the lift mechanism. I really need it. But, I spent all day at the ready and spent the time getting tires! I saved one of my stimulus for this purpose. Tomorrow, we must do something else. 

The Dollar Tree was on my list of places to go. I managed to get in and shop. There was no shelf stable milk, what I was looking for to buy. It is $1, so I try to keep it. Just before it expires, Tommy drinks it. Then, I get more. No, that was not in the cards today. So, I still need to do that. 

My new wool blanket is wonderful. I put it on my bed last night, right on top of a quilt, a comforter and a fuzzy blanket. It was warm when I got into bed, but I lay still, cooled off and slept well all night.  The comforter was the only thing pulled up to my shoulders. The comforter and fuzzy blanket were only over my feet, how I have used them all summer. Now, I want to find another one on eBay. 

Right now, I am going to try to get a gigantic hen in a baking bag. This meat will be taken off the bone by Tommy. Chicken and dumplings is on the menu some day. 

Does anyone have a recommendation for a brand recliner? I hate the wide arms that recliners usually have, but I want the seat to be wide. I also hate that big bumpy part for the head. It pushed my head forward and crushes my hair, and wraps around my face!

Another Shortage and Bargains, Found Clove Oil, and Another Clue for You

First of all, I have given you two clues as to what my charitable project I have talked about in the last  post.

This past week, Publix had a bogo for my favorite bread. I think it was $3.58, something near that. So, two loaves would be $3.58 or $1.79 each. Then I had a $0.55 coupon from another loaf of bread that I had bought, maybe at the bread store. That brings the price down to $3.03 for two or $1.52 for each loaf. 

At the bread store I can get one loaf for $0.99. This may seem like a bad deal to buy bread for $1.52. However, we have to drive so far along a busy, two-lane road with no other place to shop. We go so far--11 miles! I am willing to buy bread for $1.52/loaf this time instead of $3.58! 

Keep me out of Dollar Tree! I went in to get two dishpans and came out having spent much more than $2. I got several thing--set of 6 red sparkly ornaments for my 3' tree, small wire tree that holds a votive candle in the base, Solar Santa, two ice creams on a stick. I bought the Santa specifically for Tommy, and he laughed and said it was cute. Putting it in light makes it dance. 

Ir's a good thing I was hurting and could barely get to the dishpans I went in to get. Everything looks like such a good bargain. Of course, being at the register led me to buy the ice cream. The woman at the register had to blow up balloons, answer the phones, and something else in addition to running the register. I was in great pain by the time she got to me. When I ran a register at TG&Y, that is all I did. 

Really, it is not hard to keep me out of DT since it hurts to go into the store. If I had not been intent on saving $7 on the two dishpans, I would not have been in there. They are cheap, thin, not sturdy, but I don't need anything better. So, there! 

In Publix there was a sign under the space for Pint Ziplock Freezer Bags with something about due to the demand the item was not available. Sooo, I am not the only person searching for pint Ziplock freezer bags. There will probably be other shortages, so get anything you need and double that. 

Have you found a shortage of ziplock pint bags or any other bags? What else are you having trouble finding? Okay, I went out on Saturday and could find no pint bags in the one place I looked. So, I stocked up on gallon, two-gallon, and quart freezer bags. I decided I would buy several Cooking bags--Turkey and Large.  

While I was out in the electric cart in a big box store, I waited for a woman to move on. As I sat there, I glanced to my right and there before my eyes was clove oil. I had checked there twice before and was told they did not carry it. 

Clue: my charity plan involves a gallon storage bag. Guess in the comments here today or in the last post. I need a way to contact you. 

Dollar Tree Fail

How bad can foam rollers be from the Dollar Tree? Pretty bad. A blogger friend gave me foam rollers in a case, bought at a thrift store. They were great and had a nice plastic, zippered storage bag. Well, they are gone as is my curling iron. Needing a bit of oomph for my hair at the least possible price, I spent $1 on DT fam rollers. Don't do it. One end is supposed to unlatch, not both ends of the plastic that hooks onto both ends of the foam.

Last Friday, I was so ill, I had Tommy take me to the doctor. As usual lately, I staggered in and had to be wheeled out, UTI. I feel like I am getting worse. Tomorrow, I will find out about the culture. I was given a shot and prescription.

Today, I had business in Cullman, so went to take-out lunch and brought home another for dinner. I picked up info from doctor and had other business.

The free lunch was wonderful--baked chicken tenders in balsamic tomato sauce and topped with mozzarella cheese, green bean casserole with water chestnuts, whole baked sweet potato, roll, brown sugar and cinnamon for the sweet potato and another butter for the roll, As usual, we took it to the park, and sat facing the lake. We are both looking forward to the same thing for dinner.

I went to a food bank and came home with a huge package of frozen chicken thighs and frozen sausage patties. Even though we will have the box dinners. I will cook the thighs tonight and freeze most of them for Tommy and leave two out for two nights.

Next week, we go to the farm to get Beauregard sweet potatoes. I hate I cannot eat the skin anymore.

I have trouble sleeping here. Last night, I got to sleep at 4 am and had to get up at 8 am. Several nights, I have heard noises. Sunday night, I got up, took my $1 flashlight and came down the hall. The living room where Tommy sleeps was closed. I opened the door and there he was in his underwear, holding a belt and a plastic bag and had just closed the front door. "WHAT are you doing?" He had just come in from smoking. I knew I heard noises at night.

His house cracks the strangest cracks I ever heard. Remember. I lived in an old creaky house. This is worse. One day, I told him I heard something near the house and it was not my imagination, something moving about. It seems two dogs in the next fenced yard play at night. Thankfully, they don't yip and bark at each other.

I need a sound machine again. I had had mine or at least 30 years, just white noise. The quiet here disturbs my sleep. But, I cannot afford another. Pooh!

The curling iron is a necessity right now since I have a big even coming up and would like a little oomph to my hair. I curl it but am happy my hair just turns, no curls...lol.

Have you been disappointed by DT items that are so simple and should work out? Consider I bought house shoes that were a bust!

Dollar Tree Find

Dollar Tree Slippers

This is my favorite slipper. They were at other dollar stores from $3.99 to $5. They are so flat, thin and lightweight. I love them. The others I bought were washable and washed well. I have no idea if these will hold up in the washing machine. Of course, I bought pink.

One year, I decided to get a "better" pair, thicker but the same terry cloth look, at Belk's for about $16. They were cushy, foamy and a disaster. I kept falling off them from the first step! They were not stable, just 3/4 inch of foam. I took them off within a minute and returned them.

I haven't seen a pair like this for years. For $1 this is a bargain. Unfortunately, I bought the wrong size. I had both sizes in my hand. Obviously, I put back the pair that was my size. Have you ever worn this slipper, the one with no form or stylishness?

Monday was laundry day, I suppose. I had to hang on the line the clothes I washed at the laundromat and fold them. There was also a load of black pants and blouses to hang in the house. A load of whites went into the washing machine.

Monday was a much less stressful than Sunday! (last post)

On Sunday, I put butter on my last piece of bread, put it on a piece of foil in the oven on broil.. Then, I went out to the car with woman who came for about ten minutes. I almost cried because it was black and ruined. The kitchen was so smoky. Later that night my eyes started stinging me. So, the laundromat incident was just one of many incidents that had me feeling so "off" on Sunday. Anne described it perfectly in a comment on my last post--"everything I touched turned to crap."

Kitty left me two half-consumed presents...right in the path from door to car. Thanks, Kitty!

Heaven Help Me in the Dollar Tree

Small items in the bathroom have been commingling with disastrous results. I carefully planned how to remedy this confusion. I have seen the long dividers for utensils used in junk drawers and such. These are about 10"x3" and look just right. The ones at the Dollar Tree are cheaper than ones at WM.

I headed to Dollar Tree for one item only--small mesh lingerie bags. I want these to use for produce instead of plastic bags. The damage to the earth caused by plastic makes me sick to my stomach, yet I continue to use some plastic. The reusable bags are 3/$1. I bought two packages. These are so small that I can wash them in the sink after using them  for produce. Hanging them on the line will be easy.

While in the store, I remembered the dividers. I found no long ones, but think the square and rectangular ones will work out, maybe even better.  I remembered a conversation with Tommy about how I lose small things in the freezer or that they slide out when they are small. I got another two plastic dividers to hold single servings.

I passed a display of books and decided I would buy two interesting looking titles. Then, I saw a little crossbody bag of plastic that looked just right for my purposes. Of course, two dishes caught my eye--one heart-shaped dish and another star-shaped.

Oh, I passed a bottle brush. I have been wanting the old-fashioned kind with bristles. WM bottle brushed were too expensive for my tastes. This one only cost $1.

Thankfully, I was hurting and could not shop any longer. I was horrified that I spent $22. It is a good thing I was at the Dollar Tree instead of Macy's or even Belk's! I have not been in Macy's in 10 or more years.

Remember the hypertufa? Well, it was molded over a plastic pot. But, it will not come off. I told the teachers that my pot had four holes, sort of like straws and 1/2 inch long. I was assured it would be okay. Well, it is not okay. The hypertufa filled the holes and the concrete makes it impossible to remove the hypertufa. ??? Maybe a screwdriver and hammer will remedy this predicament.

My yard is a mess. The mower guy has been moved to the third shift and sleeps most of the day. Although it has not rained in two weeks, the grass and weeds have taken off.

Do you ever get carried away in the Dollar Tree or your favorite cheap place? Share please.