Five Frugal Things
You may have noticed that the blog took a leap back in time over the weekend, transforming into the above 2010 version of The Non-Consumer Advocate. This was a result of attempting to provide a "subscribe" link for readers and frankly, I'm still confused as to how this even happened. Seriously, WTF?!
Anyway, we're back on track, (although still confused why the subscription link doesn't work) so please enjoy a classic "Five Frugal Things" blog post!
1. I went to a Buy Nothing meetup and brought home this free cat toy. "Mama's Little Meatball" has been visiting for an extended period, as our youngest's apartment has been undergoing extensive never starting ending repairs.
It's been a huge hit!
2. My friend and I drove to Ikea to work on blog issues and enjoyed their free coffee, as well as a baggie of Dollar Tree ginger snaps from home. We splurged on a pair of their veggie dogs, which have risen in price from $1.15 to $1.40 apiece! The horrors!
3. I sold a Rogue Brewery Christmas sweater on eBay, likely prompted by the news that they abruptly shuttered all locations. It took me a hot minute to find the sweater, having forgotten that I store some hanging garments in my daughter's old bedroom. It did give me the opportunity to tidy up my eBay storage, which is always a plus!
4. I turned a used poly mailer inside out to package up the Rogue Brewery sweater, no need to prompt the manufacture of a new item whenever possible. Hopefully someone who chooses to source used items on eBay won't be persnickety about such things.
5. I've been a real homebody lately, which is always a frugal endeavor. I guess people who indulge in online shopping can do serious financial damage from the comforts of home, but that's just not me.
I'm so glad you're back.
1. I sold a pair of boots on Facebook Marketplace. Money in, crap out.
2. I watched my daughter and son-in-law's dog for them while they were gone for the day. I'm so glad we can trade dogs back and forth. It saves us so much money.
3. My youngest came home for the weekend. She helped me carry my heavy rocking chairs to the shed for the winter. I've had these chairs for over 20 years and they are still going strong.
4. It was a busy weekend for Ebay. I packaged up 6 items and the post office will be picking them up today.
5. I had my mower deck swapped out for the snow thrower on my husbands garden tractor. I'm all ready for winter. No more mowing or weeding for a while. Doing these things myself is a huge money savings.
Glad you're back! I missed you.
1. Attended a lovely community choir concert with my sister. We each donated $5 to the freewill offering. Came back to my house for dinner (see #2).
2. Received a ginormous Costco cheese pizza from Buy Nothing. It was left over from a gathering. It has provided so many meals, even after freezing four slices.
3. Received a mitre box from Buy Nothing. We're going to use it for a small project and then pass it on to another BN member who expressed interest.
4. Opened up Nielsen junk mail and found two crisp $1 bills! I wonder how many people will just throw this money away.
5. Needed one cup of cashews for a cashew chili recipe. Had about ½ cup of cashews on hand and found another ½ cup by picking through the mixed nuts we had left over from a gathering.
Used Arthur Schwartz's book "What to Cook When You Think There's Nothing in the House to Eat" to make brownies last night, using some baking cocoa bought last year at Dollar Tree. They are delicious.
The refilled bottle of bleach I use in the bathrooms had the spray mechanism fail, so I unscrewed the top and poured the remainder of the bottle into the washer with a load of dirty cleaning rags.
Made up a grocery list for later in the week divided by which store has the best deal. Repaired the cover of a thrifted 32-year-old paperback book bought for book club. Used a free sticky tape roller on all the lamp shades while cleaning the house, which works a treat to remove cat hair. (My cars love to rub their cheeks on the edge of the shades.)
FFT, Yay, Katy's Back! Edition:
(1) First, I'm greatly relieved (as the rest of the Commentariat is, I'm sure) that you were able to bring the blog back from the Twilight Zone. But you must be the most relieved of us all. Having the NCA restored = definitely frugal.
(2) I went to the next city west on Saturday for our JASNA region's "JA's 250th Birthday Open House" at the Barnes & Noble where we meet. I did a poster on Jane Austen's family and friends (which didn't cost me a cent, since I had all necessary materials on hand). The artistic director and three of the actors from a local theatre's production of "Persuasion" did a Q&A, and JASNA friends ran a raffle, did a presentation on JA's importance to the novel, led a demo of English country dancing, and showed how to tie a cravat! All free fun.
(3) I did NOT enjoy the drive home, during which the heavens opened up on me: rain like Niagara Falls, plus thunder, lightning, and small hail. Worst weather I've ever encountered on the NY State Thruway. I drove for the second half of the trip in the right lane at 50 mph with my emergency flashers going! But Nellybelle the Element and I did make it safely home. Surviving is also definitely frugal.
(4) My JASNA friend who works at a Panera gave me two big bags of bread and pastries, which I have shared with the Bestest Neighbors, NDN1, and my two Sunday morning walking buddies. (I know that some Paneras do give day-old stuff to local food pantries, but evidently this isn't one of them. Seems almost criminal in this day and age. But at least my friend is doing what she can to prevent waste.)
(5) And since we have another winter weather advisory today, I'm staying home, commenting here and on The Frugal Girl, doing laundry, and doing a bird count for Cornell's Project FeederWatch. Glad I ran all necessary errands yesterday.
My Roommate works at a local bakery and one of her perks is that she can bring home one loaf of bread and one sweet every day she works. On days she closes, she chooses to bring home more if there are things on our 'we love this!!' list.
She was joyously gifting bread (the bread fairy) to her friends, however my son and his partner are going gluten free due to her digestive issues. It means more bread for me!! (LOL, as if I need it) and Roommate is learning that she is of value to us all even without gifts of bread.
The bakery does have a rotation of local food hamper/bank/lunches charities that they send most extras too, however it is rather nice to be getting these lovely gifts.
More walking required for me, though, if I indulge too much!
You're living my dream!
Whew! All is right again! What a relief!
I have enjoyed another weekend of volleyball -- watching my grandson play, that is. The tournaments were long. I haven't totalled up yet what I spent on commissary food. It isn't pretty, but at least this venue was not as expensive as some others. And I did manage to sneak in a sandwich and an apple.
I was planning on driving to the venue on Sunday, but my DIL wanted to borrow my car and my SIL drove. I did treat her to lunch. This particular venue was more than an hour away.
I picked up a book on hold for me at the library, the latest Elizabeth George mystery -- she's one of my favorites.
I have found a number of receipts -- 5 or 6 -- to scan to Fetch in addition to my own buys.
Glad you are back! That veggie dog looks delicious! I had a stressful week but was able to:
1. Fit a thirty minute walk in most days.
2. Make my standard turnip greens soup with frozen turnip greens, carrots, leftover pinto beans, can of diced tomatoes, chicken, Cajun spices, etc. I took my standard pbj sandwich to work.
I had a lot of enormous frugal fails I just do not have the energy to talk about but that is for another day.
1. Attended a free mandolin concert at the library which was joyful.
2. We received a set of 4 dining chairs from a neighbor (for us to sell and keep the money) and sold them the same day.
3. Received $15 worth of free persimmons at the farmers market.
4. Successfully made a pop up card for my grandson who remains on his kick of lift-the-flap and pop up books.
5. Thanked my last-year-self for buying a cashmere wrap on sale for our daughter's birthday this year. It is 3 times the price this year. She's our fashionista and it's really hard to buy her gifts.
I haven't commented in ages because we had company, covid, a series of little home repairs. I had a craft show which did well so I guess that's my first frugal thing.
2. We have hauled many boxes of stuff to Goodwill, and to the donation art/craft store.
3. I used a $16 off $160 coupon on groceries. I wondered for a minute if I had spent enough to use the coupon. Ha. I was way over.
4. I bought 3 bags of reduced produce apples (which are now $1.50 instead of .99) and made applesauce for the freezer. So much better than store applesauce.
5. Going through jeans. I have lost a little weight and some are now too big in the waist. I am wearing them in turn and if they fit well or can be made to fit well without too much effort, I put a safety pin in the top to mark them. If they are really too big, into the donate box they go. I can't remember which is which without the safety pin indicator.
It is so reassuring to see the 4 Mason jars on your heading again, and to know that the feds/ICE didn't come snatch you away and/or do away with your current blog. It had me worried! Glad you're back in the present!
1. After the yard man cut down the big shrubs that were too heavy for me, I was able to stealthily dispose of all but one of the heavier/longer limbs. Also crammed piles of leaves and smaller branches in a contractor's bag, and an empty-40 pound pet food bag, and put everything in the garbage dumpster like household trash. I therefore won't have to pay extra to haul anything to the landfill!
2. Was able to finagle the computer so that I could watch PBS for free. I got to see Ken Burns' Revolutionary War documentary, Episode 1, online last night. IIRC, they're streaming it free until sometime in December (in the USA). Hope to also binge-watch it on Thanksgiving Day!
3. Got the salesclerk in the health food store to give me some free samples of pain relief cream, instead of having to buy any high-priced stuff.
4. Paid extra principal on my car. If I keep on paying at this rate, it's 100% mine in 6 months! (Of course, I can also pay even more....can we say tax refund, boys and girls?)
5. Made arrangements to have my watch battery replaced for free (I only have to buy the battery), instead of buying a new watch or paying a jewelry store to do it.
I laughed about the tree limb disposal. My husband replaced a water heater in the condo. (You are supposed to get a building permit & notify HOA, etc.) All that costs $.) What to do with old water heater? Under the cover of darkness, husband hauled the old one to the contractor's dumpster. They are doing construction on the buildings in the condos. I told him to put it with the rest of the debris. He knows how to replace a water heater & the condo is on the 1st floor. So ridiculous to require all this nonsense to get a replacement.
I applaud your ingenuity! I hate all these schemes to collect extra fees/money. Many a time have I paid for a permit, where there are no inspections, nothing, just a way to collect a fee! And don't get me started on the whole convenience fee for buying tickets on line!!! The consumer should be charging the convenience fee for making it so freaking easy on the seller!!!
Thanks, Lisa, for the reminder about streaming the new Ken Burns. I do have PBS Passport, but don't remember often enough to use it.
1.Made pancakes this morning on my griddle. Enough for three days!
2. My pantry shelves collapsed so in the transfer of items to the new shelves I weeded out really old stuff to throw away, things that need used up and a few items I’m not going to use to take to our little free pantry 2 blocks away.
3. Used the griddle my friend gave me to make the pancakes. I can now make 6 at a time instead of just two.
4. Gave dog the empty peanut butter jar. Free “Kong” and will keep him busy for several hours.
5. Neighbors dropped off pumpkins on my porch for my chickens. Free food for the flock!
Julia, if that peanut butter jar is plastic, please be sure and watch your dog. My Miss Lucy Dog once got hold of a (mostly empty) plastic peanut butter jar left on the counter. By the time I got home, she'd chewed up the plastic until it looked like little bitty broken glass shards. It was obvious that she'd ingested a bunch of it, too, along with the peanut butter. So I had to take her to the vet for treatment so that the sharp edges of the plastic shards didn't tear up her insides. Miss Lucy survived the ordeal, but it was definitely NOT frugal!
1. Vacuumed out my car using my trusty cannister vacuum.
2. Spotted more hard pears on my daily hike. The homeowner said I can have them. I'll go w/ my car to retrieve them.
3. Put the peels from previous pears in the field for the deer to eat. They were gone the next day.
4. Trash picked 2 insulated tumblers. One was a Yeti and the other a True Religion brand. They are disinfecting in the sink w/ bleach water. (The True Religion tumbler had a 69.99$ price tag on it.)
5. Trash picked 2 small purses I think my 12 yr old niece will like. Steve Madden brand. I kept a small Michael Kors purse for myself. I cut off the frayed shoulder strap & replaced the strap w/ one I already had. Free Fast Fashion.
1. Hosted friends on Friday for a roast chicken dinner before going to a concert. It was filling, delicious, and way cheaper than eating out. Plus, we already had everything we cooked in the fridge already which means we didn't waste the food eating out instead.
2. Went rock climbing with some pals who have guest passes to a local rock gym. We had a great morning re-learning how to climb and bonding. More soon I hope!
3. Library books continuing to come through on a timely basis
4. Looking up what I want to bring to a potluck on Thursday. Found a recipe I love for pecan pie bars where I have almost all of the ingredients. Any purchases of additional pecans and corn syrup will certainly get used up quickly as well.
5. Put the chicken carcass from #1 in the freezer to make stock once we run out of what we have so far.
My husband and I went to Home Depot because he needed a 100 foot extension cord so he can blow our leaves and the neighbor’s leaves into the street for the city to pick up. They cost around $50, so I asked him to hold off until after the weekend so I can check estate sales. I bought a brand new one at the first estate sale I hit for $5. I also picked up assorted household cleaning supplies.
Since the estate sale was next to a Goodwill outlet, I decide to take a quick wander through the bins. It was my lucky day, because I found an exact duplicate of my snobby SIL’s designer handbag. It’s a more obscure brand that, apparently, wasn’t on the radar of the resellers, because it was in a bin that had been thoroughly searched. My SIL likes to make passive-aggressive comments about how I’m cheap, and I’m pretty sure she thinks I’m an unsophisticated boob, which isn’t very upsetting because I know I’m not! I think I’ll pretend I’m noticing her handbag for the first time, and say something like, “Oh! I have the same one in the back of my closet! How strange!” If she is nice, maybe I’ll gift mine to her when hers wears out.
Other finds at the bins were a platter for Thanksgiving, and a beautiful bed skirt from LL Bean. I never shop at LL Bean because they donate to conservative causes, but I’m OK buying their stuff second hand.
I had a SIL who was also prone to passive-aggressive remarks. Not that she disapproved of all my frugal ways--she once had me surfing the thrifts for alligator polo shirts for her sons--but she and I were simply like chalk and cheese, as the Brits say. I've remarked in the past that if DH had been *anything* like either her or my MIL, I'd never have married him in the first place.
When she makes her comments, I try to remember that it’s probably coming from a place of insecurity. Nevertheless, I’m having SUCH A GOOD time thinking of ways to troll her with the purse!
Good job Li! Last week I was on the way to Walmart to buy a new hair dryer as the old one went kaput. Stopped 1st at a thrift store & snagged one for 3$. Just what I needed.
I needed a new flat iron. New, they've doubled in price from my last one.
Quick stop at the thrift store. $3, yes please
I love it when that works out!
1. I went to Target a few times this weekend and scored marked down produce at about 1/4 of the original price, as well as a cake for about 2/3s of the original price. I had a small get together and this allowed me to do it on a budget.
2. I went to Aldi and got red meat and chicken at half off. I made a meatloaf ahead of time for an easy dinner night this week.
3. We spent more time at home this weekend where I cleaned the porch, edged the driveway, and got the Christmas tree up, and my son got the outside lights up. It feels good to be caught up on things we want done at home. All things we did we already had much of what we needed on hand.
4. I found I needed a new extension cord for the Christmas tree and went to Target (they're open late and close to the house) where I found I had a $10 reward on my Target Circle account. I was able to get the cord and two drinks for .39 cents. Score!
***5.Winner Winner***
In light of friends coming over I cleaned the front porch and gave it a free upgrade. I had brought home a nice curb picked outdoor rug months ago and finally unfolded it, vacuumed it, and then carpet cleaned it, and used it to replace my 10+ year old outdoor carpet which was dry rotting on the edges. This new to me carpet is not perfect, but 100 times better looking than what I had previously. It gave an upgrade to the whole space and was inspired by Katy with her many documented times she has taken home curb picked carpets and given them some elbow grease. It was great to have this upgrade without putting cash out of my wallet.
A willingness to clean or repair other people's discards is a powerful tool to living a frugal life.
Bought an Army heavy canvas tarp at a former HS teacher's shop sale. I was able to cut out 6 log carriers to sew up for holiday gifts. I will wax them with bees wax.
I broke down and bought a new tv as the extra tv that was in storage turned on for 5 minutes and then poof, nothing. Boo!
Got a black Friday deal early @ Costco. Wonder boy/man Bought, installed it. bless him. House guests were thrilled. $379. Not frugal, but not ridiculous. My mom loves it and it brings her joy...priceless. Regardless of her watching hallmark holiday movies 24/7.
That's a great idea for gifts!
Yay for your return to the internets! 🙂
1. I did not leave the house yesterday, as it was forecast to rain all day and I pre-planned some holiday crafting to align with the weather. It ended up only raining a bit on and off, but it was a gray, blah day, so the indoor activities were appreciated.
2. In an effort to prepare for a craft fair I'm tabling with my mother-in-law next month, I made some beeswax taper candles to sell. They are not perfect, but they're made with love and local beeswax, so hopefully I'll sell enough to cover the cost of the supplies. If not, I'll give them as Christmas gifts. This is a frugal win, as I enjoy making candles and only learned to do so last year from watching Rajiv Surendra's YouTube tutorial. I found Rajiv through a post Katy shared, and he is a true gem -- I highly recommend his channel.
3. Our neighborhood food drive is complete, and we collected 2 big barrels of shelf-stable goods for the local food pantry. This cost me nothing but time to request collection barrels from the food pantry, a half-hour on Canva to make a flyer, and 2 minutes to post the flyer on our little library and on my socials.
4. I'm continuing to assemble meals from what we have on hand, as I simply do not want to keep going to the store. So, tonight we'll have black bean and ground turkey tostadas with whatever fixins we have on hand. I usually enjoy going to the grocery store, but lately our teens have been eating through the food extra quickly, and I'm having to refill our coffers more than I'd like. Time to get creative!
5. I did not buy matching family pajamas this year, even though I want to! My family doesn't seem to want to wear these types of items other than on Christmas day, so it's a real waste of money to spend $100+ for something that no one really wears long term. Instead, I'm scouting eBay and Poshmark for LL Bean's scotch plaid pj pants in long length for my fellas. They're all over 6 ft tall, and LL Bean sells their pants in different lengths. They're also the best quality I've been able to find. Some of the pajama pants I've seen in stores lately feel paper-thin. The cost of buying the LL Bean pants new is quite high ($60 each!), so I'll continue to scour the internet for the fellas' sizes. I was able to do this last year with success, so I just need to remind myself to have patience.
Lindsey, I too am a fan of Rajiv's because of Katy! When I started reading your #2, I immediately thought of his taper candles and had to smile when you mentioned his name two sentences later.
Oh yes, Rajiv Surendra is a gem!
Love this video that put him on my radar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uo2nomf4I0
LL Bean clothes last a long time, good quality.
I thought I lost you this weekend! I don't subscribe to blogs out of principle. So I was very sad en frustrated that a blog like yours also would required it.
I love your blog and hope i can keep reading it Europe!
Thank you, I appreciate you reading the blog from so far away.
Hey Everyone!
1. I was taken out for lunch for my 15 year anniversary and my boss included my son! She wanted to meet him (as did my other teammate). I was really happy that they wanted to include him.
2. Took the train into Boston for specialized testing. And purchased lunch at a small Brazilian place near the hospital. I’ve eaten there before and the food is amazing. It has been six hours, and I am still stuffed. I could’ve come home (would’ve been an hour and a half) and eaten something at home, But wanted to purchase from a small restaurant while in town.
3. Working at home this week and next, so no commuting for me. Then I’m only in work for the first two weeks of December and the first two days on the third week, when I will hand over my laptop and my badges, etc., and officially be retired. Technically, 17 more working days.
4. As a test, I started some spinach and lettuce in my basement with a grow light, I want to see how it grows over the winter. The seeds have already come up and looking pretty strong. I hope this works.
5. I started a small batch of sourdough starter (the no waste kind) and should be ready to make a small loaf of bread on Wednesday. I remember doing this back in the 80s, so it’ll be interesting to see if I have the same luck now as I did 40 years ago.
Let us know how well your spinach and lettuce does.
A Buy Nothing group meetup sounds awesome! What a great score finding that butterfly toy for Mama's Little Meatball. 🙂 How did they organize the meetup? Did people each set up their own individual table of items to give away? How did they handle the items that were leftover at the end of the event?
I am curious about this too. I have been thinking about using the meeting room at my library to host something like this. I was thinking like a free swap meet, and if people don't want to take stuff back home it could be boxed up and donated. I was thinking of doing it on Boxing Day or Earth Day.
It was actually my mother's Buy Nothing group meetup. They had tables set up for different categories such as toys, clothing, books, kitchenware, etc. Everything got donated afterwards.
SUCH a great idea! Sounds like a fun event for sure.
So glad to have you back!
thank you, happy to be back!
1. Made two pumpkin loaves after processing three more of my pumpkins. That's the last of them. Also made a pot of pumpkin and coconut milk soup. The remaining little bit of pumpkin went to the dogs. Also roasted one more butternut squash. I'll also make soup with that.
2. My SIL and BIL came from out of town and stayed two nights in our cottage. I don't charge family of course (I have it on AIRBNB). They enjoyed themselves very much, and left me a $100 gift card to Winners, which was very generous.
3. DD asked what we wanted for Christmas, and it's the same thing every year, I ask her what she wants, and usually we can't come up with anything. So she suggested we don't give gifts. I'm very happy with that and told her I just wanted her and her partner to spent some quality time with us.
4. My very generous 90 year old father cashed in some investments recently and has gifted my siblings and I a significant amount of money. A portion will go to DD to help with her bathroom renovation costs, and the rest I will be hanging on to while I decide what to do with it. There will definitely be some set aside for mortgage payments, and maybe some travel.
5. A family member was arranging a get together and wanted to do the "white elephant game" where everyone brings a $30 gift. The only people getting gifts from me this year are the grandchildren, so I don't do any shopping, as their gifts are sent to them as they don't live near us. (Amazon). I said I wasn't a fan of that game, but it seemed everyone else was so I said of course I would participate. She then changed her mind on that, and instead we will play other types of games. I am not cheap, I just don't want to receive any stuff and I don't want to buy any. We will all bring an appy to share.
What a lovely family you have.
Such a relief you are back. Still glad it was just some computer issue. Really showed me how much I rely on your posts for reality doses against a backdrop of other news. Thank you for continuing to focus on small real ways we can make differences in our worlds and life by continuing to pay attention and care about our choices.
You make a big difference for a lot of people and spread the message and ideas. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your kind words. <3
Woohoo, you're back!
1. Made egg fried rice for lunch with leftover rice from yesterday’s dinner.
2. My friend was able to score a Lidl Waste Not fruit and veg box and gifted us a large packet of raspberries and a large packet of strawberries as the box contained 2 (!!) of each.
3. There were some bananas in the fruit bowl that needed using up so I made freestyle gluten free banana and tahini cookies.
4. My daughter’s birthday is coming up and I ordered a bottle of her favourite perfume for her. The website I used offered free delivery for the first order (I qualified for this) and a 15% discount for students which I was able to use through my son.
5. Recent favourite library read: Don’t look back (Jo Spain)
You are a leftovers wizard!
Hopefully that's the end of your blog's misbehavior because I sure missed these posts.
Those Dollar Store ginger snaps (not to neglect the pickle chips and soap) are reason enough to go into that store. I love that you took some along to Ikea for dessert.
Debi
When you fail to plan, you plan to fail!
So glad to see you are back! I missed your posts.
Thank you, it was a scary couple of days from my end.
My five (quick version)
1. Accepted free food from neighbors
2. Went on a family hike at a park
3. Cashier gave us a senior discount! That was a first! We're only 42 and 37!
4. Got some shirts from Goodwill.
5. Have greens, beans and cornbread for supper.
Unabridged version: https://practicalwalk.com/2025/11/18/frugal-five-18/
That sounds like the perfect supper!
Oh, I am so glad that you and the commentariat are back, Katy. I came to realize how much I have been relying on/ enjoying the regular posts and followup chatter of this lovely community. I'm so sorry you had those eek moments, it brought me back to a few awful days when I had a business and we had internet technical difficulties. Very little sleep in our case until things were fixed.
These 5 frugal are from a few days ago, but still pertinent, I think?
1. Wonder James came by and did a LOT of leaf collecting and delivering to the raised beds down in the field. He loves the riding lawnmower with trailer that I got the summer before last – and I do too, as he can get even MORE done in the time he is here.
He was able to the the leaf blower running until it ran out of gas, then it was grumpy. He did a youtube search and told me it needs a new fuel filter, which he can put in. I was able to pick one up during a Grandson delivery for under $5. I did, however, spring for a new set of garden clippers with a good brand name while I was getting the filter, so I no longer have to share my own with James when he is here.
2. Two days of Grandbaby afternoons meant two days of me outside in all kinds of weather – I am committed to as many outside days as I can offer to him, and neither of us are made of sugar so a little rain won't melt us. He has a great time, still is at the abrupt sitting stage of walking, yet also independent so often won't hold hands. Whatever! He already has face planted multiple times – only once on gravel, poor thing.
A very frugal part of his visits is that I don't have toys for him (just don't seem to be that kind of Gran). Outside, he plays with sticks and rocks (mostly outside of his mouth) and admires the sheep and chickens; inside it is whatever random kitchen items appeal on the day. The dog appeals both inside and out. I am learning again to flow with a child's pace, and my meditative mindset is shifting beautifully.
3. A young friend came over to hang out with me and the grandbaby. I am delighted to have made this new-to-me friend, and she expressed the same sentiments.
She invited herself along for the drive taking grandbaby home, then we came back via the dented vegetable store, where we were gifted some stale-dated bread by the cashier (it was closing time!). English muffins, dinner rolls, a loaf of french bread and a bag of powdered donuts (!!).
We inhaled a donut each, then made a joint dinner together using some home-prepped salad (cabbage, carrots, celery, peppers etc) and random items I pulled from the fridge. She is learning how to take better care of herself with good food choices that are accessible to someone with a physically demanding job and cerebral palsy, and we both had fun brainstorming some healthy ideas. Good thing she loves veggies and fruit!
4. I finally got my house insurance transferred to a new insurance broker. It has been a trial for the broker and for me, lots more hoops to jump, but finally we were approved!
I just need to get the wood stoves re-certified, which we will sort out in January when my chimney sweep is available. I am learning to keep better physical and on-computer records so I can FIND the paperwork for these things, however it is always painful.
5. I had my 4th physio appointment and somehow had mixed up the time. They called and I can (and did) get there in under 5 minutes - so I rushed over, thinking I would only get half an appointment – however, lucky me, he has a practicum student! After he did the needling stuff, she was able to do the sonic hammering stuff while he went on to the next patient. They give the practicum students extra time, so I won and got my full treatment! YAY
My insurance continues to fully fund these treatments which is super bonus as I really am needing to get this shoulder impingement under control. Getting treatments 'free' to me is wonderful. (and yes, I pay for this insurance however I get back much more than I am putting in, particularly with what I have booked since mid October).
Sticks and stones and household items are the BEST toys!
Love this: "my meditative mindset is shifting beautifully."
Wishing you many more happy afternoons with your grandbaby 🙂