After weeks of steam heat --
We are finally getting not only cooler weather, but rain. Yes, rain! Colorado's 'high desert' isn't too familiar with the wet stuff; normally we only get about 11 inches annually. But this year, we're up to 20-25 inches! Instead of the usual brown/golds, everything is green. Our Valley friends are particularly happy; they say this is the wettest it's been here for decades. Since this is the first spring and summer we've experienced in Fort Garland, we wouldn't know --
But it does make me feel a bit concerned about winter snow. I work this out by stocking up on fruit and fruit juices. At least we'll have something to go with our rice and beans when the blizzards hit.
It has been a difficult summer, healthwise. I fought off months of exhaustion and a series of 'I don't feel so good' days. It's improving -- but I have plenty of reports to catch up on.
FRUGAL HITS
(Some of these are from late July)
*Birthday presents for the girlies -- They both have birthdays in early August. I'd gradually collected most over the past few months, so expenses were minimal -- other than a birthday meal out to celebrate. (The Mama's natal day is Aug. 16 -- but now I just think of her, instead. Only one aunt, in her 90s, is left from that huge batch of brothers and sisters.)
*A year's membership at Costco for $20! (Actually $60 minus a $40 giftcard.) We let our Sam's Club membership expire. The nearest one is in Pueblo, and we found cheaper gas than the Sam's in Castle Rock. I made one final trip to Sam's before the end of the membership, to get some incredible cilantro salsa and a few other goodies.
*Five new Bigfoot statues, joining the two Daughter #2 and Son #1 already gave me. They're made of various rock types, including 'flamestone' that fluoresces under blacklight. Since we're watching their dog again -- and their current shows for Phenomenal Gems aren't that far away -- they're spending more time here. But I find the Bigfoot guys doing various things. Sometimes they're hugging, sometimes dancing. I never know quite how they'll be arranged. Shades of my Christmas Nativity set.
*Found Money: I'd been looking and looking -- and zippo, except for a penny in the washer. In mid-month, a half-dollar came in the mail (from AMAC), and I suddenly was given 53 cents (five dimes and three pennies) and 76 cents (three quarters and a penny), from Son #1 and Daughter #2's leftover change.. Apparently it's a 'bonus' for sorting bills from their recent shows. I even found a Where's George dollar bill!
Then I checked the return (yet again) from the change machine at Alamosa's Safeway, and BOOM!!
$1.06 in American change. Plus: Coins: 50 centavos (Ecuador), Mexican peso, 20 cent Euro, 10-something Chinese, 50 pence and 20 pence British, Canadian quarter
Tokens: Utah sales tax token (about $2) and an interesting San Jose railroad token - valuing for $8.95!
It never rains, but it pours.
*$10 - for answering a survey.
*Watched the Perseid meteor show. The back deck was a perfect spot. We saw more meteors this year than we had since Ann Arbor...in 1982!
*Ten Big Nate comic books for $9.41 -- plus a mix of treasure hunting, haunted spots and Jamestown history. All at B2G1 or special, plus free shipping.
*Four more books, this time on The Lost Colony at Roanoke, as well as Amelia Earhart -- two of my favorite mysteries. Discount-priced to start with, these were an add'l 15% off, plus free shipping, on Ebay's Thriftbooks, One more book on Amelia was snagged on Best Offer for $15.88, plus free shipping. (They were asking $25.00.) And I found Eyewitness by Thomas Devine, another AE classic, for $12, including shipping.
*A year of the digital Denver Post: $1. That beats last year's $3 fee. (Yes, I'll cancel before they start billing me for $14.99/month after the year ends.)
*Garden goodies: zucchini, squash, broccoli, green beans, cucumber, bags of basil and beet, chard and other greens, spaghetti squash, plus a tomato from kind church friends - saffron and a bottle of pesto-infused oil, plus packages of Turkish saffron, from other friends.
*Froze the beet greens for winter meals. (Go here for two ways to do it -- I picked the 'uncooked' method.) We had the biggest zucchini sliced and fried, using The Mama's recipe:
1 egg, 50/50 mixture of cornmeal and flour-- and plenty of salt & pepper. That's it.
Dip slices in egg, then flour. Fry in oil or butter (about 5 min.), salt/peppering each side. Drain on paper towels, then serve these crunchy delights asap. Works with even the 'baseball bat' zukes.
*Our container garden is starting to produce! The first pole bean was picked Aug. 7. I've picked handfuls of beans since then, and several small tomatoes. The bunching green onion bulblets, given by my generous friend, are starting to grow, as well. They'll do this until a heavy freeze -- then resume growth in the spring. We also have parsley and basil that I hope to keep going through the winter, then plant in the spring.
*Continued to play/sing for Worship Team at church. Piano lessons for my young student continued -- looks like I may be adding an adult student soon, as well.
*Freya's back in town. We've been watching our granddoggy while the kids are manning their booth space.
*Judged at the Prowers County Fair in Lamar, complete with free lunch for myself and my chauffeur, the Brick. A long three hours drive there, then back...but at least I was paid for mileage. I only wish we'd had time to visit Bent's Fort nearby. (I got done with only 30 min. to spare.)
*Pulled a ton of weeds, including 'pricker bushes.' I don't know what these are, but they grow into huge bushes, with tiny seeds that stick to everything. I also picked seed heads and pods, plus a wildflower plant, and planted them on the slope outside my office window. (I hope to have it full of perennials, eventually.)
*Some lovely rain...and a few days cooler temperatures by mid-month. We really needed it. Back to heat in mid-month again...try driving to Denver in 90-plus degree heat, and you'll see why this was a pain. Then cooler temps and more rain by month's end. Wow.
*Made up some terrariums, both with Bigfoot and crystals -- gave one to a gardening friend.
*Land's End black wool tunic sweater - $17 plus shipping.
*Thrift shop specials: Shorts for the Brick, $2 each, sandals for a dollar a pair, several books for $1, stocking stuffers for the present box, some antique sheet music, 50 cents each -- two flow blue cups/saucers ($2 each), some shirts ($3), a pair of jeans ($7)...and three sleeveless tops for a buck! (Nazarene Thrift Shop/Monte Vista) A Sherlock Holmes collection (oooh, that Jeremy Brett) and Season 1 of Little House on the Prairie ($8 and $4, respectively), plus three high-end towels ($6-7 each), some books, a bouquet of birthday cards (50 cents each) and two vintage Scrabble games ($4 each) -- plus a 20% seniors discount. (Treasures in the Park/Castle Rock)
*Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar -- 721 episodes for $28, plus $5 shipping. (They even threw in a free CD.) We both love this old-time radio show of an insurance investigator "with the action-packed expense account." Murder, mayhem and fraud -- you never know what he's getting himself into.
*A refurbished Magenta Prestige coffee machine: $478, including a $25 discount. (Which the Brick doesn't know why we got -- but we'll take it!) Plus free shipping. This sounds like a lot -- and it is -- but we had coffee from a similar machine at Brother Jon's, and were extremely impressed. And if there's anything these Bricks like, it's good coffee. P.S. Since this was a joint Christmas present, the Brick reluctantly agreed to watch a holiday movie. Poor guy - what a sacrifice.
(The machine retails for $819...so we still saved a lot.)
*A $5 Michael's coupon -- parceled out on oil paints, canvas (both on sale) and a Christmas present.
*Slices of cherry chocolate cake, plus a pan of gingerbread -- from the mom of my piano student. (Yum)
*Bought some silver coins -- prices are down right now. We keep them both for emergencies and long-term investments. We got Kennedy half-dollars (pre-1964) and Brittania coins, though I miss my Morgan silver dollars. They're much higher than melt content right now, though. (Why?)
*Bought some stock. When prices are down -- and they crashed bigtime in early August -- I buy more!
*Kept away from grocery stores for a few weeks -- except for a gallon of milk. A few...
*Grocery deals: Whole milk - $2.27/gallon (Safeway). Jamaican water crackers, plus seed crackers -- more than half off; Pellegrino and Monster juice drinks for 40-70% off (Amazon Warehouse Deals). Some of these will fill Christmas stockings...and keep the Brick from paying full price for his Monster drinks. Also -- all sorts of juices, stocking up for winter, including pomegranate and Kedem grape ($1.99 ea) and Knudsen pear (99 cents - yow!). Some packages of Kona hawaiian coffee ($3.29 ea) and bottles of Italian lemon soda, $1.99 ea (SLV Amish Grocery).
*Peaches in Palisade -- boxes of #2s for $25, and a box of #1s for $30. Plus a box of tomatoes for $15. Considering these were all selling for double or even triple at other stands made them a bargain. We have at least two peaches every day...often more. What a sacrifice...but hey, suffering produces greatness. (snort)
*Tomato 'gravy' and peaches in the freezer. The gravy is actually a thick Italian sauce, simmered for more than ten hours...and it's good. I hope to add some pesto in the freezer -- and maybe a peach pie, before the peaches run out.
*A hotel room in Grand Junction while on our Peach Crusade -- discounted rate (partly because of the Brick's veteran status), plus a free breakfast buffet and a pool. It was extra-appreciated, since it rained all night.
On our return -- Instead of a fancy supper for the kids, made BLT's, with fried zucchini for a side dish. Fresh peaches for dessert. (No one complained!)
*More suppers with friends and the kids, plus our famous second-Sunday-of-the-month church potluck, and a turkey feast. The only extra item I bought for the dishes was a $2 block of cream cheese. (And then I found a few in the freezer! Aaarrrghghgh.) I also picked up a lunch tab, to help pay back a friend who's kind enough to drive when we go 'wandering.' (Mostly thrift shopping, actually.)
*A meet-and-greet at Elways (yes, John Elway -- a VERY high-end restaurant)...for my ASA Denver appraisers chapter. Amazing appetizers: tuna tartare, jumbo shrimp cocktail, crab puffs, beef sliders -- and whatever drink you wanted. All free of charge. Well, sort of - I have to pay an annual membership fee. We took friends, who enjoyed it, too. I get credits for attending, and may also pick up a job. "Do you 'do' carousel horses?" the other appraiser asked. (He only does cars.) Nope. "How about antique furniture?" Yup. "Can I give this lady your card?" Sure!
*Cast-iron glazed woodstove -- for $50! It weighed a ton, though, and was a reminder why we need both a heavier furniture dolly, plus a furniture trolley.
*We found the source of the 'clunk' when the truck rounds a corner -- a bushing on the track bar the Brick replaced some months ago. He oiled and tightened it, and voila -- fixed. Hooray!
*We stayed off allergy meds, in spite of sneezing and sore eyes. (I think a lot of it was due to the smoke in the air, too -- from fires in Canada.)
*More appraisals, plus a teaching gig for the Palmer Divide Quiltmakers guild. Friends Bert and Berta put us up for two nights, so we brought supper -- and stayed for some music. The sweethearts.
FRUGAL MISSES
*I'm a stalker. When a Marketplace seller didn't get back to me (and I was supposed to pick up several books), I looked up her address and phone on the White Page site, then contacted her on FB to see if the info was accurate. Apparently it was...because she promptly said I was making her uncomfortable, and blocked me. Ah well...$10 and some time saved. Ironically, I paid $9.41 for roughly the same batch online. (See above.)
*A refurbished Magenta Prestige coffee machine. Yes, this was a Hit, too...
*Threw away a few REALLY out of date jars and cans...couldn't be helped. I had to throw out a few tomatoes and leftovers, as well -- too far gone. The dogs got a few leftover chicken thighs.
*Broke a plate. A Blue Willow one too, darn it.
*We drove -- and drove and drove. Extra hours were needed for all the gigs this month, plus our trip to Palisade. Fortunately, we were paid mileage for the gigs. The Brick was extremely kind, and drove nearly all the time.
*Mini-losses: Saw wild blackberries on Independence Pass -- but couldn't stop and pick them. Also: a pot of flowers lying in the highway. ("Are you crazy?!? You'll get run over," said the Brick, while flooring it.)
*Birthday supper at a sushi restaurant -- for Daughter #1 and her partner, us and two friends. It wasn't too bad, however -- we and friends split entrees. (Too full from the Elway's shindig - see above.) It was worth it -- we love our girlies.
*The wheel claim is STILL not finalized. And to make things worse:
*We could never get the credit card payments for the tires to register properly, including the phantom one we no longer own.. Finally gave up, and just paid off the card: $1150.
Last month's report is here. Last year's August report is here -- and the 2022 version, as well.
Now for September, and fall -- my favorite time of year.
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