Our Christmas tree is giving up the ghost…slowly but surely. Mr. FixIt came back in the living room last evening and looked at the tree with a puzzled expression.
“I think more lights have gone out.”
“Oh, surely not,” I said as I whipped around to look. Indeed…there was a mysterious black hole where I distinctly remember light the day before.
Rats. I snapped a quick picture and compared the lights to Tuesday’s, and sure enough…they’re dying off, one by one. Double rats. Our new angel arrived yesterday…a full twelve days before it’s estimated delivery date. The tree is going to stay up till at least Valentine’s Day. So, I think I may run to town and get a new one. This one is a “pencil tree”…a tall, thin job that doesn’t take up a lot of floor space. It’s exactly what I needed when I was living at the farm. But this family room is huge. Think “extra-large-two-car-garage” big. We can go with a fatter tree…with more lights! LOTS of lights! LED lights that don’t burn out in five short years. Yep…I think I’ll go tomorrow when I see the chiropractor and shop for a new tree.
The endless saga of Christmas decorations. Not every year goes smoothly…what can I say?
Mr. FixIt and I went shopping for the cookie containers for Christmas giving. They had a pretty good sale at Dollar General. We bought a box of 32 Christmas cards and three sacks full of containers for $15. I didn’t think that was bad at all. I sent out about 3/4 of our Christmas cards yesterday. I love getting cards so in order to get them, you need to send them. Postage has gone up so much, I balance that by buying more affordable cards. Gone are the days of Hallmark cards with foil envelope liners and 3D cutouts and pop ups. If I had my act together, I’d make cards like I did in the old days…but I didn’t help work five acres of land back then. It’s the thought that counts. And, I do take the time and write a personal note in each one, so…there’s that.
Around here, I’m seeing just a little lower supply in some things. I noticed a lot of the processed meats for sandwiches were picked over. I don’t usually buy them anyway because of the sodium content. We’ve never had to go without something we really needed. I bought gas yesterday for $3.02 at Sam’s. That’s an improvement. It seems meat is staying high. I’m not paying $35 for three ribeye steaks. I bought a rotisserie chicken for $4.98. We each had a leg/thigh quarter last night with a hefty serving of steamed broccoli. A huge bag of broccoli florets cost $3.74. That will give us side dishes all week. The breast meat will give us at least three meals of sandwiches, and I can simmer the carcass and add the last of the broccoli for a nice chicken noodle soup this week. Two bags of chopped salad came to less then $6.00 and blueberries were on sale as were clementines. They’re both great in salads and an excellent source of fiber and vitamins. I did spring for a bag of pecan halves. I like to break them up a little and make my own candied nuts to add to oatmeal, yogurt, and salads. And, if I candy some of the halves and wrap them, we can add them to the holiday gift baskets.
I remember when Hubby #2 was in Medical School and Residency. We made it an adventure to see how far we could stretch our food and entertainment dollars. I’ve lived the fat years of plenty and the lean years of want. I know we are incredibly blessed to be in the financial situation we are in now and I am incredibly grateful to be at Medicare age. The trick is to know contentment and gratitude no matter where you find yourself. I thank God every day for His bountiful provision.
Today, we bake!
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“But all things should be done decently and in order.”
1 Corinthians 14:40 ESV