Half of this month was spent finishing up our volunteer commitments for Ethnos360. Two months -- wow! In some ways, the time was long -- yet some days rushed by. It was sad to leave our friends here...especially our young friends David and Allison. We will miss them.
I will also miss the helicopters zooming by. One did some fancy maneuvers not far from the trailer, just before we left, and the Brick caught it in photos. So fun to watch this!
The second half of the month, we wandered for a bit... then met our kids in Tucson. After a week spent there, staying with friends, getting new tires on the fifth-wheel and visiting some wonderful gem show dealers, we hit the road again. Now on the way to Truth or Consequences -- and exploring a lost treasure story. More on this in the near future.
FRUGAL HITS
Some of these were in late March. NOTE: I realize that I often tell you about what the Brick would call "pennyanny" stuff. But it's things like these that add up in the long run. I read somewhere: "Save on the necessities -- then you can afford the luxuries." It's true.
*Stayed put half the month in McNeal. We worked by volunteering -- but Ethnos360 provided free electricity, water and access to laundry. A big help. (We also donated some cash to pay our way.)
*Wildflowers and green sprigs for our table -- finally, something is greening up in the desert!
The rosemary hedges at Ethnos360 were just finishing up blooming.
*Grocery deals: A $2.03 apple pie. From Amazon: 20-cent packages of various chips, Cheetos, etc. and 35-cent packages of fancy ramen noodles, Cheetos, etc; #10 cans of chorizo 'hash' (great in burritos) and corned-beef hash. (These were all markdowns on Amazon Warehouse Deals -- free shipping.) A free dozen eggs in McNeal. Not that many buys at the grocery stores, except produce -- which has uniformly been cheaper than Colorado, in nearly all cases. (Potatoes and onions excepted) Real homemade tortillas have been a bonus, even when they cost about the same as the commercial version.
*Imported coffee from Laos and Papua, New Guinea -- direct from the coffee plantation, via a missionary! We don't mind spending a bit extra ($12/lb) when it directly benefits the grower. Both kinds have been delicious. (We got enough to give some to friends and the kids, as well.)
*Spring rolls and potstickers -- luxury items, right? Nope, one - or two-serving packages are one shiny buck each at Dollar Tree. (Asian food has been rare, for the most part, where we've been staying. These, as well as the sauces and spices I keep on hand, help fix the cravings.)
*Made some meals for friends...and the kids, including our adopted McNeal ones. Saved a lot from going out to eat.
The McNeal version
*Continued to work with what was available -- versus what the recipes specified. It's amazing what you can do by varying the dish. Beans, nuts and dry items help. We've been using up quite a few cans of things, as well, which lightens weight in the fifth-wheel.
*Cleaned out the freezer...and discovered several packages of meat and fruit I didn't know I had. Steak for breakfast!
*A large wood Victorian-style dollhouse kit: $8! Our friends' children loved this impromptu gift, which I found some months ago at a Colorado thrift shop.
*McNeal volunteering -- The Brick worked on renovating the house. (He worked on a toilet for the house -- and also installed our new toilet.) I did some editorial work; made some more meals (or contributed to them); worked on the quilt for the sampler quilt class (and offered encouragement and tips via text); painted some trim at the house under renovation; and did the final cleanup on the laundry building.
*From the "Missions Barrel:" found a t-shirt, some nice gold sequin trim and a few books to take on the road. Donated more stuff, including cleaning supplies and toilet paper for the laundry building. (We'd been using it the past two months -- just made sense.)
*More free books -- from the Lordsburg public library. A t-shirt and tunic from a Tucson thrift shop: $4. (My t-shirts have been wearing out. Big-time. Now for some 'new' jeans.)
*Found a penny! (backseat of the truck) Two more in the wash.
*A final edit on the new book: The cover's looking great, and text has gone through the final copyedit. This book is going to happen!
*Bought a package of online training classes -- $39 from the New York Post. This will help expand my work online, particularly in the video area.
*Couldn't attend a Michigan birthday party in honor of our Dad -- so we sent a cake, instead.
*The Brick registered for hunting...hopefully, we'll have a Big Hairy Friend for supper this fall. (He also renewed his drivers license online -- one of the few benefits of the Covid effect.)
*Two Ethnos360 t-shirts and a ballcap -- $22 total. Our friends threw in a couple of keychains, too. The Brick went back later and got the $5 mug he craved. (Which, it turned out, that we needed -- you'll see why later.)
*Free boondocking and dry camping spots -- no phone or internet in some places, but that was actually a blessing most days. Used the hotspot on my phone to get work done. (And send this post, incidentally.) The rest areas have been open -- but any welcome centers/free information spots have not. Victims of Covid.
Texas Canyon rest area, near Benson, AZ
*A few new gigs scheduled! I also did several appraisals.
*Just one purchase at the gem shows: a curved petrified shell that's perfect for a paperweight. We saw plenty of other pieces, and at good prices. (It was the last week of the shows.) Just wasn't convinced they wouldn't shatter during travel.
*Stayed with kind friends in Tucson -- filled up our water, and did laundry, as well. (The sweethearts)
FRUGAL MISSES
*New tires for the fifth-wheel. They were needed; one has been consistently losing air. (small sigh) The bill: roughly $1000. At least it includes a road hazard warranty.
More repairs and replacements are needed, but we'll get those done in Michigan. Maintenance, maintenance.
*A broken shackle bolt on a trailer wheel -- $20, and $109 to install it. It's ok -- we expected much worse. Because we hit an especially high railroad crossing. Which caused things in the fifth-wheel to bang around. So:
*A mug smashed when I opened a cupboard. One of the Brick's favorites, too. Actually, a jar of pickle relish bounced out, and landed right on the mug. (sigh) Two candles also cracked badly, but are still usable. Considering the bumpiness we've been enduring during travel, this is minor.
*Some spills and crashes, foodwise. A jar fell out of the refrigerator when I opened it, and exploded at my feet. Chili sauce all over, including my feet, jeans -- and a bit on Charley.
Also spilled: some dried milk. (Didn't waste much produce, though -- which was an improvement.)
*More spent on gas and supplies toward the end of the month... but it was expected.
*Ate out in Tucson. A lot. Including a GREAT Ethiopian restaurant and outstanding Mexican food.
*Got to keep a copy of our friend Neil's magazine article -- because I spilled coffee on it. Ordered a fresh issue, and extended his subscription, as a little thank you. (What an idiot I am.)
*No money coming back from the world cruise cancellation. The last credit card company turned down our appeal. Yes, we can take this off as a business loss on taxes, because I've written extensively about it. But still...
Here's last month's report. And April's report from 2020. (We were finally home from the world cruise.)
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