Work Stress, hard work (getting on my soapbox)

Well we finally went live with the new computer system at work, things are going OK with that. It is actually easier that we went live, the unknown is no longer in from to me, it is here, and it is not as bad as I thought it would be. We are working through the bumps in the road, pinning down management for processes, and pulling together to get things done.
I have always been a worrier, and also someone who put it on myself to be "responsible" for too many things. Maybe that is why I have struggled with Crohn's disease, and hypertension!
What makes us who we are, is it how we grew up? My Dad had a stroke at age 50, I was in Junior high, life changed a lot after that and it changed my childhood a lot. We no longer had extra money for pretty clothes or dresses for the school dances, Mom worked more, I was Dad's helper more, went up to the high country with him to be his "camp cook",  as soon as I could I got my drivers license and would often do the families grocery shopping, I started working at Miners Inn as a dishwasher at age 15. Worked when I could to have spending money. I was the baby of the family - most babies of the family are not thrown into working and helping as much as I was. By the time I graduated from high school I knew my parents could not afford to help me even go to Junior College, so I joined the Navy.

I am thankful for my ability to work, I am thankful I have had the skills to support myself and my family when I needed to. I do not understand those who are able to work but do not, who use Welfare or disability (great for those who need it!), but too many in our society are able to work. How much less would our taxes be if more people were hard working and self reliant? I believe that is the way our forefathers were, building this country from nothing. I am thankful for parents who taught me to work hard, to grow a garden, canning, cooking, sewing. I am thankful my husband is able to make something out of nothing, to do some plumbing, electrical, fix a car, change my oil, cut wood, build a house, weld, and too many things to list.
I am thankful that my children are hard workers, and I am very proud of them for taking such great care of their families.

Busy life - the winter update

Just some quick thoughts and happenings in the last few weeks. Work has been so crazy, this is the first time in a long time I have no desire to be there. I have worked at Mercy Home care on and off for the last 20 years - there was about a 6 year break in there where I had been laid off and then resigned, because they were reducing the # of people in the office at the time and I had went to 32 hours per week for health reasons, I was laid off because I was part time (now 32 hours per week is considered full time). Things in life happen for a reason though, I learned a lot when I was in different positions and I did meet my Tommy - so all is well. 

We have been working on implementing a new computer system for about a year now, and we will "go live" in March. Still have a lot of work to do. I do not think I would have made it through the last year except I work with such a great group of people and one in particular has been a huge help in this project. Without him I could have not made it through the stress.

My Crohn's disease is effected by all of this stress, so I have been put on a new pile of meds - I really do not like taking meds (as most people do not) and it has been a rough month. Away from work I have been busy at home, worked on things I was not able to complete during the holidays.

Baked some bread to stock the freezer (we do not eat that much bread really!)

Sewed 2 charity quilts for Quilts for Kids - a nationwide program that is sponsored by Downey - the kits were put together so nicely, and the fabric was nice quality. I really enjoyed doing this, but in the future I want to work on charity quilts that will stay in our area.

Quilt #2

My sweetie had a birthday last Sunday, on Saturday we decided to take a day trip to Monterey, it was nice, but we really do prefer the mountains and the quiet life! But once every 5-10 years we have to do these things to remind ourselves we like home better! Happy 62nd birthday Tommy!!

Our awesome view at lunch, (the view was better than the food though)

A super sweet friend surprised us with dinner on a Thursday night (when I was super tired) 

My new toy - I got a sale on a Neat desk scanner, makes keeping up with the paper in the house much simpler for me. Even though I did need my son to help get things set up for me, thanks Ry!

I am working on the Tyra paperwork reduction act of 2015 - that is my goal, to find the top of my desk!! 

Still praying for more rain in California, especially the central valley, but for today the grass is green and white windows are open in the cabin to "air it out" - Happy Day!

Food Storage challenge wrap up

For almost 4 weeks we challenged ourselves to a food storage challenge, I have to admit it was not easy. By the last week I did break down and buy some produce, so for 4 weeks our grand total of food spending (not counting a few meals out because we were working or out of town) we spent about $100. This bought apples, lettuce, some veggies, sodas (we could not make it without them), and one rotisserie chicken. Tom ended up working in Fresno all week, and we needed some things for him to take some food with him.

Things that were good for us using the food storage challenge:

1. Now when I do go to the grocery store I ask myself "can we eat this", I realized how many items that are non food item we I am putting in the grocery cart. These items add up, and it takes a hit on my food budget.
2. I am really going to think now about "do I NEED to go to the store" or is it just for something to do. I really am not a clothes buyer, or like to shop that much, but I do stop by the grocery store many more times than I NEED to, every time I walk in the store I will spend money, this is a great reminder for me.
3. We have A LOT of food that is getting outdated or will be outdating soon, I need to cook from food storage at least 2x per week ongoing to help the rotation of canned meats, and short shelf life items.
4. I enjoy making bread, and others around me like when I make bread also.
5. Tamales are a great break from routine meals for us and super simple to pull out of the freezer, I made a ton of them at Christmas and they blessed others and continue to bless us. I really like having them in the freezer for potlucks also.
6. I am pretty good at creating a meal out of what is on hand, this is a true gift and talent, Tom is not able to do this.
7. Having home canned meats in the pantry is awesome!
8. Homemade flour tortillas are better, been a while since I made them and now I am wondering why I stopped.
9. I was better mentally with finances all month because I did not go into stores and did not buy things I did not need. I worked on cleaning up financial paperwork, budget.

Things I did not like about the food storage challenge, things I learned or was reminded of:

1. We do not have enough canned fruits and veggies on hand.
2. I like fresh fruits and veg better - need to work on greenhouse and/or garden.
3. We drink sodas, I ended up not quitting - work has been super stressful and I did not give up my sodas.
4. My husband like to eat out too much, he did not participate in the food storage challenge as much as I did - and I will leave it at that!
5. When we had company it was harder to do the food storage challenge.

Would love to hear your comments about food storage and/or food storage challenges. How did you, or how do you think you would do?

Food Storage update

So, Tom and I have been eating off of our food storage for almost three weeks now, are we are doing fine. We have bought some food; apples, lettuce, cheese (only $5 worth), a few veges. All total we have spent $40 or so on necessities. We have both eaten out about a couple of time, one date at Carl's Jr (CJ lounge as a friend from work calls it), and once during traveling for work for me, and I cannot speak for Tom and his fast food during his working day....can't control that environment!
I have spent $4 on soda, Tom has spent about $25 on soda - my last planned diet coke is today, I see no end of sodas in Tom's near future - but I love him anyway.
We have eaten well, used a lot of canned goods, worked on cleaning out the freezer, still have meat left for the week, I want to hold off shopping for one more week. More to follow.

Testing food storage

LDS people have food storage,

LOTS of food storage usually. Tom and I have been married almost 9 years now, and we have accumulated a lot of dry canned goods, freeze dried canned goods - mostly grains, foods that will store for up to 30 years. Some of our food storage will not store that long, and rotating it has not been my strong suit.
So to learn a little more about what we want in our food storage, what we like, what we need....we have decided to live off of it for the rest of the month. I think it would be a good  thing to do this every 6 months. But we are going to see how this goes and see if it is something we only want to do yearly for a few weeks at a time. This will give us an opportunity to use items before they go bad.
There is a few items I would have a very hard time living without, these are true staples in our house;

1. Apples
2. lettuce
3. carrots
4. cheese
5. corn tortilla (going to try to make some with Masa left over from tamale making)
6. Yogurt
7. diet coke (bad, bad habit!)
8. tom's diet dr. pepper (not sure how we will not buy this...??)

These items we will give ourselves a very small budget for in the next few weeks, need to have some fresh fruit and veggies, and a treat.

Items we currently have a lot of, that will help us get through the month.

1. canned chicken that needs to be used up (I canned it a few years ago, still good though)
2. 20 plus pounds of sugar (we will be able to make a treat if our sweet tooth gets to calling)
3. salt  and spices, makes everything taste a lot better
4. canned butter, also canned some a year or so ago and it needs to be used up
5. peanut butter
6. canned and dry beans
7. milk ( I buy milk at the dollar store, shelf stable until you open it, then keep in fridge)
8. home canned jam and syrup
9. herbal tea
10. meat in the freezer, we do not have enough for the entire month, but have enough to last that we can have meat every other night or so.
11. wheat and a wheat grinder, non electric and electric
12. good mixer to make bread, we make most of our own bread anyways, is better!
13. Tamales - I froze quite a few during Christmas, is wonderful for a quick dinner

Wish us luck, and maybe invite us over for a fresh salad for dinner! I will keep you up to date on how it goes!!

I am back

I just was looking at Pinterest (one of my favorite things to do), I opened a sweet blog of a young mother who does a freezer meal exchange every month - then it accrued to me, I have not touched my blog in MONTHS.

Life has just gotten too busy, have a new computer system going in at work, that has drug on for months and still is not go live. This has added too much stress to me this year, I think I have just turned off of many things I enjoy.

I have been quilting like crazy, I do not know how many quilts I have made in the last 6 months, probably 10, and that is a lot for someone who works full time.

Tom has not been working, so the stress of making a living has really been resting on my shoulders, it it is hard, but we are blessed to have one good job between the two of us, and we are doing fine.

We have not been eating out as much. We have been so disappointed in the local restaurants that we (I) am cooking at home more, eating very simple meals.

We have started square dancing again, taking lessons at the Bootjack Stompers in Mariposa, would like to dance another night also, but it has not worked out that way yet.

Hoping to get to see my son and family soon, it has been 4 years since they made it to California for a holiday.

Looking forward to seeing this guy soon, Jack Austin Chinnock. :)

Being a Gramdma

Yesterday my Daughter in law, Danielle and Ryan had a beautiful baby boy, so happy for them as they start their life together as a family (not just a couple), their lives will be forever changed. Love you both, Congratulation.

Grandma will be working on booking a ticket to Virginia, cannot wait till you move to Cali to see you baby Chinnock. XXOO Pictures to follow when Grandma comes to visit.