Thursday, July 03, 2008

Grocery ponderings and scenes from my scrapbook journal

It's a busy day today! I drove Christopher to his class this morning since I wanted to stop by the Super Target near the college (even though it meant I just had to peruse cooking and decorating books in the library for an hour as I waited on him... how difficult!). :) His CAD class lasts for three hours (or more).

Thankfully, most of the organic products at Target have not gone up much (butter, eggs, and organic Smucker's preserves are the three I purchase the most). They continue to be very close to the price range of non-organics. Otherwise, I just can't afford them and from what I've been reading online, other families are quickly getting to that point, too. I also bought half-half cream and organic lemons that were marked down for quick clearance since they were near their "use by" dates. I made certain at the cash register that they showed up on clearance (having learned long ago that computers sometimes have not been informed of price drops).

I can't stock up much at all this month. I bought six cans of tuna since they had the tuna packed in oil on a huge sale. I read a recommendation recently by a guy who is a tuna fishermen. He said the prices in the store will probably be going up a great deal as the cost of fishing is skyrocketing. He said if we can buy tuna for 65 cents a can... stock up. (That's about how much this was.)

I'm with Julia (Child), the tuna packed in water doesn't have much of a taste if you are using it in a recipe. If the circumstances were different this month, I'd purchase fifteen cans since most of the time they are on sale it is for the water packed tuna. We take life as it comes. :) I also purchased three family size cans of Campbell's veggie beef soup for the pantry. It was on a big discount, too. I prefer making soup from scratch but it is always good to have a back up.

That's about it for stock up this month but I was able to do more than usual the past two months. We'll be using some of our pantry items this month but I'll notice carefully what we use so we can replace it.

I'll continue with
Recession Proofing and Stocking Up posts but I'm slipping in these scenes from my scrapbook journal. Next week I'll show how I organize the pictures and such. This has become such a source of joy for me. It gives me a "place to go", where I can write out lists... and prose... and prayers... and Bible verses... all kinds of good things.

I know there are others who have shown their journals but it was Jewels' beautiful pictures that got me started. I miss you, my friend!

Click on each picture to enlarge...

These pages contain favorite Bible verses

These pages were about the Graduation Open House menu
and two recipes that went over very well at the Open House

These two pages have a few different lists...
from my stock up lists to my packing list!

These pages are where I record "Favorite Things"
as I think of them

as well as a few quotes I thought beautiful

Another of my Springtime lists
My Summer Reading List
of which I am quite behind in updating

Just a little tour... a journey so to speak... to inspire you as Jewels' gave inspiration to so many.

21 comments:

Heather L. said...

Loved seeing your journal! I miss Jewels too! I haven't kept up with my journal in recent months as with the return of so much of my energy my family calls. :) I must try to get back to it every now and then.

Cheri said...

I found Jewel's journal just a few weeks before she closed it. I would have loved to have read more, but I read enought to inspire me.

Your blog also inspires me. Thank you for the time and energy you take to encourage, uplift and inform us!

nanatrish said...

Brenda, what an inspiring journal. You are so organized and I strive to write more down and be able to look back at my thoughts. Great lists. You are always teaching and I so appreciate it!

Nancy Rosalina said...

I realy enjoyed your journal!! Thank You for sharing it! I have added you to my blog list, I really enjoy your blog. You may also add me to yours if you like. Hope you have a happy 4th. nancy

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

What treasures you do share with us, Brenda. Thank you so much. I never got to read Jewel's journal - I just discovered blogs just after she ended hers and I am sorry for that because more than one blogger has referred to how great it was. Sigh.....But I have your blog and a few others I treasure. Thanks, Brenda.

~~Deby said...

Oh Brenda this was so lovely and inspiring to read and the pictures....I enjoyed seeing every page...do you have them in any special order ???
**Jewels**...I was a new blogger when I started reading her blog and just loved it and her writings and family so much, it was such a loss when she left......oh that she would return even sporadically...she had a way of seeing things that brought a simplicity to life, does that make sense....
thank you Brenda for these pictures..
Deby

Susan B said...

Thank you for sharing your lovely journal. I used to read Jewels' wonderful blog too. I've never started a journal myself, but enjoy seeing the journals of others. I love the creativity!

Anonymous said...

The best part about having a well-stocked pantry, is HAVING that well-stocked pantry when it's needed. I know, I know....you (and I) are both trying to deepen the pantries a bit right now, but aren't you thankful that yours is already well-stocked right now when you need it? What a blessing!

I just put up a blog post tonight giving some information about starting and keeping a scrapbook journal, linking to one of your old posts in the process. What a fun thing to pop over here and see you've done a new post on journaling! How fun!

I, too, miss Jewels' blog. She was so encouraging.

Adrienne said...

Another one who misses Jewels a lot! Brenda, your journal is a priceless treasure. I studied Jewels journals and bought everything I needed, clipped and cut picture and have NOT ever started. Life seemed to get in the way. I'm going to start right away. Maybe tomorrow. Thanks for the inspiration. ~Adrienne~

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

I'll add my voice to the "I miss Jewels crowd"! Hers was such a calm & encouraging blog.

Loved seeing your journal!

Good tip about the tuna. I've also been trying to stock up on corn (canned) as that will be going up too!

Manuela

Niki said...

Hi Brenda :)
I just wanted to say I'm really gleaning alot from your recession proofing posts and I love the scrapbook idea. Maybe this winter I will begin one, it seems like a wonderful creative outlet.

Have a blessed 4th!
Niki

flmom said...

It looks as though we are going to have to go back to conventional extra virgin olive oil as the price for organic is just too outrageous now. Thanks for the tip about the tuna. We use canned tongol tuna, but may have to resort back to the regular (Bumblebee, Chicken of the Sea, etc.) on that as well. We had a national chain natural foods market here, but it closed in May and that has hurt us terribly.

Sandy said...

I didn't have as much money to stock up on items in June as I did in May, so I tried to buy one or two small things with each paycheck. I stocked up on Mrs. Meyers cleaning supplies, Seventh Generation laundry soap and dishwashing soap, and paper towels that were on sale. Not much, but I know the key is to put a little money in the pantry whenever you can. I'm planning to make a bigger pantry-stocking trip this month at the bulk store. I'm starting a journal too. I need to pick up a few supplies for it. I love things that inspire my homemaking and try to set aside money for them.

Anonymous said...

Brenda, your scrap books are lovely. I miss Jewels too. Wish we had an update on her.

Nancy

Kimberly said...

I started my journals after having seen the post you did on Jewels'. It was exactly the inspiration I needed. I use mine all the time and drag them everywhere. One never knows when one will have a moment to capture on paper.
I, too, miss Jewels!

Anonymous said...

Dee from Tennessee

Here's another..."I miss Jewels" too...such a calming influence, at least for me.

And I can say that your blog is truly one I look forward to and check EVERY day...you have a gift of reassurance ...and I thank you for it. (My blog list is ...oh, maybe 90 miles long!! and I don't pretend to check all of them but I never miss yours.)

Again, thanks for all that you do.

Seven's Heaven said...

Oh, I'm so excited! I have always wanted to combine scrapbooking and journaling, since I do both. That is exactly how I envisioned it! Now I have the inspiration to try it. Thanks! Blessings, Susan T

Mimi said...

What a lovely scrapbook journal.

Bonita said...

I must be one of the few who have never heard of Jewel, but I sure like your journal. Great idea! I may have to give it a try.

Anonymous said...

What a terrific idea to use the book for your favorite bible verses. I also started a book like this one when Jewels was on, but alas, I did not keep it up. I am so glad that you have, I feel quite encouraged to continue it.

Thank you for sharing.

blessings,

mari
(thanks for visiting me at my little corner of blogland :)

Firefly Nights said...

Your journal pages were great. I enjoyed seeing them.