Life one step at a time

Although snow is once again in the forecast, the signs of Spring are everywhere around us. They bring great anticipation and joy but also that overwhelming sense of work that must be accomplished. So... I'm back on my "little bit at a time" view of household and lawn-garden work.

Not that I really left it. Yesterday I had more energy then usual so I made three dinner meals in the afternoon (yesterday, today, and tomorrow... all taken care of now) as well as browning sausage I'd defrosted. Since I'd purchased it on clearance as it was near its' "use by" date, I thought I'd better cook it right away. I used a little of it in scrambled eggs this morning and the rest will go as "seasoning" for lentil soup on Saturday.

I placed chicken pieces in a brine and then fried them for dinner last night. I cut a roast in half, putting a whole piece in the oven with Cream of Mushroom soup and cubing the other half to make Peek-a-Boo stew (aka: No Peek Stew, Steph renamed it when she was little). They both require the same slow baking so the two dishes worked out well together. I normally don't have three meat meals in a row but I needed to use defrosted meat.

I've shared a lot how I deepen the pantry when possible (all the meat was bought on sale or on clearance). Since I don't have much cash right now, I'm using what is in the pantry and freezer. However, I was in Meijer's recently while waiting for Christopher to get his haircut nearby and noticed they had King Arthur flour on sale. If I had the money, I'd buy four or five to "put back". On a budget I bought... one. A little addition at a time eventually reaps big rewards.

I also bought a box of Wheat & Honey Krusteaz pancake mix since it was on sale and I've heard so many good things about it. Usually I make my own from scratch but it is always good to try new things... especially on sale! Those two items and one pineapple (on clearance as it was on its' "use by" date) were all I could get but having a good idea what I use the most helps money to be spent wisely.

In the event I sound too sacrificial, Christopher and I stopped at White Castle on the way home. We love White Castle. Long ago, when my late brother was a truck driver and there was no White Castle here, he'd stop for a sack of them in the nearest city where he could buy them. We've noticed semi trucks parked near by here, too.

Christopher said we are making a new movie, "Chris and Mom Go to White Castle". He watched the original movie about the two Indian guys with one of his best friends (whose family is also from India). He says the only way I can watch it is if he finds a "clean" version as (unfortunately) it has a lot of bad language. I find people either hate White Castle or (like us) they crave it. It's cheap food. Don't tell me what is in it.

I'm loving my laptop! Last night I watched the Wednesday Night Franklin Springs show (on the NRB channel if you get it) where they play one of their DVDs each week. As I enjoyed it, I was typing away responding to an e-mail from Stephanie. Laptops are a good thing and I pray daily that my friend who sent it to me be blessed.

I'm reminded of Psalms 23 where God provides a banquet for me in front of my enemy. It's been a rugged couple of weeks but God's blessings have overwhelmed any and all frustrations. :)