If April showers bring May flowers, we're not doing too good.
It has been a very dry month, with occasional rain/hail -- but 'not enough to spit at,' the Mama would have said. The mountains got more than us...but this is the country's largest 'alpine desert.' We always need more. I did keep the rosebush and some baby greens from freezing -- we've had temps down into the 20s at night. Luckily, the daffodils by the front porch have been blooming their heads off.
We are definitely better, healthwise -- but need a lot more sleep. Does this mean our bodies are still healing? I still notice 'crackly' noises while breathing, and run out of steam easily. Give it a bit more time, and I think we'll be stronger in coming weeks.
FRUGAL HITS
(Some of these were from late March. This is a few days earlier than I normally submit -- but I have some commitments to finish up.)
*The Brick paid $3.52/gal for gas, using the Love's app. (Normal price around here: $3.76-4.00/gal. It would have been even worse for diesel.) Another visit, I got $3.50 a gallon.
*Went without a second vehicle for a few weeks. The Brick took the Highlander off to play music with friend Bert for a few days...and the kids borrowed the truck to return the skidsteer and bring some items back, We also kept granddog Freya for most of the month, while they worked. Considering we only had one vehicle - the truck - for years, this was a terrible burden. (Limp hand to forehead.)
*Found money: one dime in the City Market Coinstar machine, and $1.75 in quarters and dimes, left in the truck's ashtray by the kids. (Keep the change, they said - it was "truck rent.")
*Two sessions at our friends' house, on dogcare and giving shots. (They threw in dinner and supper -- thank you!) We're taking care of the dogs now -- see the May report for more.
*Played and sang at church. Refreshing to be there, after being sick or gone for so long. While I was there, I checked and restocked the Little Free Library.
*Five meals out -- in one week?!? Took friends out for Sunday dinner (Mountain View - meal #1). Monday, had lunch with a new friend at Lu's Cafe (meal out #2). Then a few days later, other friends for supper at our favorite Chinese place, Wonderful House in Trinidad: great food, good conversation, and three (count 'em) meals from leftovers. (meal #3) Then we went to a concert at Lu's (meal #4 out), and saw the Michigan/Arizona game at Chili's (meal #5) on Saturday night. Ridiculous, but tasty.
*Finished a big batch of appraisals, including a huge job I've been working on for months.
*Royalties from Arcadia, for Ghosts & Legends and Colorado Curiosities...always welcome!
*Gave away a few books. Of my own, that is. No books were purchased online, except a housewarming present for a nephew. (This is incredible for me -- but hey.)
*Amazon sales: Dewart cordless drill kit for $137, queen sheet sets for $17 and change -- plus free shipping. They sent 2 two-packs of flashlights, by mistake. (I only ordered one.) Keep or donate the other one, they said. Thank you, I'll keep it! Gave one to Daughter #2, and kept one. I also ordered some clothes, including a Spanx for nearly 50% off. (If you don't know what that is, male Gentle Readers, you don't need to know.)
*Spent our Devoted allowances for OTC products. Our Medicare supplement plan gives us $60 each every three months to spend on Tylenol, cold medicine, etc. It's the same as the $58 grocery card, though -- if you don't spend it, the money disappears. (We ordered one day before the deadline.)
*A $50 giftcard for doing a Zoom wellness meeting with Devoted. This is our Medicare supplement people. Maybe got my $10 gift card too, after all. The Brick did a Zoom meeting, as well, and also got a $50 giftcard. This will cover gas for the next month.
*Saw Michigan (barely) beat UConn for the basketball championship. Well done, Blue! (Had the $10.99 Three for Me combo at Chili's while we were watching.) The Brick found an app special that let us watch one hour daily during March Madness games...so we saw part of nearly all the Michigan games, at least.
*Two separate trips to Colorado Springs, Golden and Castle Rock. The Brick had a daylong commitment for COS during the Republican primaries; I had three appraisal sessions. One person stayed home, and the other had a very long day...but it worked.
*Bought a few more shares of Red Robin stock. After the doldrums, it's now zooming up in value. Go figure.
*Discovered a new discount outlet! Our friend Bert has been raving about My Bargain Mart in Colorado Springs for months. Both the Brick and I stopped there recently, and it was fun, albeit a little scruffy. Essentially it's a big warehouse, with dusty corners and shelves full of who-knows-what. "The Amish grocery store on steroids," the Brick says. We'll be back.
*Grocery deals: Marked-down salad kits; roma tomatoes, 82 cents/lb (Walmart). Two free pounds of butter, with more butter at $2.49 each (I got 7 total); 99-cent pineapples; red mesh bag of several limes, $1.50; 3-pound bags of mandarin oranges, $2.49-2.99 (City Market/King Soopers). Large Snickers bars for 72 cents each (Amazon). Canadian cookies (99 cents each) and presliced ham, approx. $1.25/lb; big cans of mixed almonds/cashews/pistachios for $3.99; 99-cent loaves of Pepperidge Farm bread, including cinnamon raisin, Jewish rye and sourdough, as well as BOGO bags of hotdog buns (My Bargain Mart, Colorado Springs) Cans of Pellagrina and apricot nectar, 20 cents each; Oscar Mayer chili-stuffed hotdogs, $1.79 (SLV Groceries). Two dozen duck eggs, from a friend at church: $10. These are richer than chicken eggs, and especially good for baking.
Went through a TON of meat, thanks in part to the kids' new diet. (See below.) Finished off a barely-hanging-on ham, but couldn't find a replacement until the Bargain Mart. (City Market, bless their li'l hearts, were totally out of ham when I stopped by. They rarely keep weekly specials in stock.) Got a big batch of meat sticks from the Amish grocery store, as well as Amazon, for all four kids.
(Have you noticed how much rice prices have gone up? In Colorado, at least, they're roughly 75-100% higher per pound than a few years ago.)
*Booked a hotel room for Aunt Ruth's service. (Saved a lot because the hotel didn't have a pool.) I plan to drive, and will meet Daughter #1 and Adopted Son #2 there. Eleven hours each way -- anyone need a ride?
*Thrift Shop Buys: Pale blue suede shirt ($3), Easter teapot, $2.49 -- I couldn't help myself (PALS Pet Assistance Shop, Trinidad). We met two friends in Trinidad, who were heading north to their summer home....with just enough time to stop at the thrift shop.
*Easter celebrated -- including the rabbit teapot, plus a dollar rabbit candleholder and plenty of cut daffodils. Instead of their usual chocolates, Daughter #2 and Son #1 got a wooden box of Alaskan smoked salmon. (No chocolates for Daughter #1 and Adopted Son #1, either -- they're also on a largely meat diet.)
*Freebies and cheapies: .a handful of Easter cards and a few oranges, handed out free at church. Plus two beautiful yellow roses. Two tubes of cinnamon rolls, from friends who came to visit. We found bags of Lindt chocolate truffles ($1.59 ea) to give to the ladies at church for Mother's Day.
*Helped a friend move.
*An incredible Excel bill: $6.69! Plus a $40.42 bill from the Solar Garden people. Not bad for a month's worth of power during cold weather.
FRUGAL MISSES
*My truck key is not working properly. It often refuses to start the truck. Is it the battery? Is the key defective? Or is the truck pouting because we haven't been using it much, now we have the Highlander? I'm not sure I want to know. (Update: the Brick ordered a new truck key -- approx. $70.) The Brick tells me that both vehicles need an oil change -- which in the truck's case, means $300 or so IF he does it himself.
*Property taxes are paid. I figured out a way to use our regular deposits, plus the money from royalties and a few unexpected checks, to cover the bill. That way, our savings account could continue to earn the extra interest. (Our regular account earns just pennies.) The sting hurt just a bit less that way.
Nonetheless. And of course, there are:
*Income taxes. These are paid, too. A tiny $50 refund, thanks to Tabor, but that's better than owing anything.
More than that, actually.
*Tiger's (and probably Bo's) latest snacks: A container of driveway salt chewed on. (Fortunately, they didn't get sick.) Plus the handle of a dustpan, Blue Moon cardboard box, discarded outdoor plastic hood (aeration), one of the Brick's socks, empty plant containers, etc. And for dessert: a sponge mop. (sigh) No pee or poop accidents, though Freya contributed some minor throwing up. Shit happens -- literally.
*I got a mammogram. It was necessary...or so I was told. And yes, in spite of all the hospital staff denials, it did hurt. But now it's done. 'Nuff said.
Last month's report is here. Last year's April report is here, plus the year before. Spring is coming -- just taking its time. If that means rain, bring it on!
