Today....

is one of those pre-planned/written post days I promised.

As this post goes live, I'll be running all over the South Central part of KY setting up utilities, hunting down washers/dryers and refrigerators, lunching (hopefully) with my sister and not losing my mind being trapped in the Kia with the Screamers and Tanker.  At least that's the plan.

The losing my mind part is likely to happen...it usually does at least once per road trip.

We've spent the past week debating the merits of fridge sizes...small without a freezer, large french door with bottom freezer, side by side, traditional freezer on top model, etc.  We have the large upright freezer, so have been trying to justify spending more money on a fridge with a freezer...or not.  Hopefully by the end of the day we will have decided.  We shall see.

With the move just a couple of days away, we'll also be taking a look at plants for the container garden and gathering up supplies for growing things in the greenhouse...late season start sort of limits us but the greenhouse should give us the extension we need.  I've got plans folks....plans I tell ya!

So whilst I pack away and get to moving...what are you planning this weekend?

Recycling...

shortly after the move to the new house, there will be a move of blogs.  For good.

I've thought about it for a while, even had one setup over at wordpress for a good long time...the latest fiasco with AdSense just gave the push I needed/wanted I guess.  With all the changes going on in our lives and such, a change in direction was inevitable.  The new blog will be as random as this but probably a lot less filled with politics (no, I'm not giving up on fighting the good fight) and the likes.  There will be more talking about life, food, in-town living, etc.

So I'll be going through and recycling some of my favorite posts and some of the most viewed posts on this blog over the next few weeks.  This blog will remain active (as in I won't be closing it) because frankly I'm lazy and have no desire to c/p a bunch of stuff over on to the new one.

You're welcome to travel over and take a look, stick around, follow, etc....there's only one post there at the moment because, again, I'm lazy AND 98% of my time over the next week will be taken with the move and all things it requires.

I'm not leaving the blogging world...just changing focus and changing the view.  And I'll still be giving away something to celebrate this blog's 6th Blogiversary.

Google...

in all their infinite wisdom has decided that I'm asking you to do something bad by asking you to click those AdSense ads.

So they've decided that my AdSense account should be disabled...for the first time ever in 6 years...funny enough right when the account was about to hit payout status...for the first time ever in 6 years....payout that was meant to go to the giveaway in August to celebrate the Blogiversary.  None to me...no profit for me...prizes for you, dear readers.

I've appealed.  We shall see how that goes.

If Google, in their power role, decides that I was super dee duper bad enough to have my hands slapped with a permanent disabling then all that payout cash (minimum is $100 btw) will go back to "the advertisers" and nada goes to prize packages.

So do me a favor...don't click those ads.  It took 6 years Google...6 years...to get to your insanely high (for small time bloggers like me) payout.  My apologies for requesting a boost for celebratory purposes.


(No worries on the giveaway for the Blogiversary...it will happen.  It may not be what I wanted to do...but there will be something given whether Google gives or not.)

Excitable....

goings on around here....okay, not really.

We pulled everything from the basement yesterday...Tanker successfully squashed no less than 3 large woman eating spiders (alright, maybe not woman eating but they were big...bodies the size of quarters big)...2 I saw, 1 I didn't but it was attempting to crawl up me when he spotted it.  Thankfully, I did not see it until it was squished.

Normally I just let them be; I used to be deathly terrified of them...now, as long as they aren't attempting to scale me like a rock wall, I just ignore them.

Camel crickets, not so much.  Which is part of what made yesterday so "fun."  The basement is crawling with them.  They creep me out.

Guess who was IN the basement handing things out the door...go on....guess.

Yep...me.

My skin is still crawling.

There Are Things....

that I "forget" about every single time we move...I call this selective memory loss due to moving trauma.

Like I forget how annoying it is to get utilities setup; particularly since these particular utility companies require your actual presence...no online capabilities.  So we get to take a day out of our insanely busy week next week to run down and get everything setup in our names.

Okay, I'm not too overly annoyed at that...consider it a small break; a daycation of sorts from all the moving madness.  And since we are packed up...with the exception of 3 pots/pans, the mattresses we're sleeping on and the table I'm sitting at...I honestly don't mind taking the day away.

This weekend we are finishing with the emptying of the basement and storage space under the deck.  Pulling everything up to the deck and covering with tarps...hopefully the weather holds decently for this move.  I really don't want to move in the rain again.  Right now it's looking as if there is some possible.

Alas, I will let you be for the weekend (after this of course)...hope the sun shines on your BBQs and you remember the reason for the long weekend.

Post #350, Plans, Previews and Pinterest....

Well, here she be...post #350 (which means I have between now and August 4th to really get cracking and hopefully flood you with posts in order to make it to #500 for the 6th Blogiversary).

Gonna share the love of food and exercise in this one...along with some links.

First up, awaiting me at the new place and preppin' to start on June 15th is this:

21 Day Fix

My friend and coach, Lindsay Baker (who is freakin' fantabulous btw), just finished her first round and posted a review.  I'm just dying having to wait to start.

Thankfully, there aren't many changes (from what I understand) that will need to be done with the diet, as we've already started those changes.  I've got links posted to favorite foodie haunts on the Foodie Links page AND here ya go...a look at my Pinterest board filled with Clean, Paleo and Primal food yumminess that is finding its way into our chow rotation.  I highly, highly suggest the Paleo Chicken Nuggets...always a win here.

The next week is going to be completely nutty around here as the Great Move approaches and since I'll be MIA (due to utility transfers and weekends not getting along) I'll be attempting to write up some posts for the "down" days.  In other words, be prepared for out of place randomness from May 30th to June 2nd.  You've been warned.

Money Saving....

over at My Patriot Supply until the 26th!

Deals of the Day

Just wanted to share since Tattler rings are in there along with some other really good deals.

Enjoy!

If You Had Your Druthers....

would you prefer a gift card to Amazon or an actual something (useful) as a prize in a giveaway?

Polling, of sorts, here.

Coming up on the 6th Blogiversary here (and it will likely coincide with the 500th post at that) and would love, love, love to hand something over to one of those of you that have stuck around all this time.

Shoot me your opine!

Sometimes....

it's best to say your piece and walk away without looking back.

Even when it is family.  Blood family.

It's no secret to those that know me in real life that I have very little tolerance for self-centered ignorance.  The only surprise might be that the reason behind that intolerance being that I've spent a huge chunk (aka for as long as I can remember) of my life watching a part of my blood family make everything about them; whether it was or not (and usually it was not).  I've watched as they've hurt, time and time again, those that love them by hateful words or actions...intentional or not...and then make it out to be the other person's fault.

I've stood by and taken in everything.

I watched them make my father's funeral about them (maybe not intentionally but it ended up being that way).  I'm watching as they turn my grandmother's failing health into a pity party for themselves.  I'm watching as they say "if something happens to (insert family member name here), none of you are welcome at his service."

I am disgusted.

And I've written them off for what they are.

After all these years of "being disowned" (when they were not, they CHOSE to stay away and make themselves feel unwelcome), guess what?  They have been...by me, at least.

There's no accounting for blood and family.

Often times the family you chose it better than those you're given in this life.

But hey, here's a win for their column...this IS all about YOU.

Mmmmmm....Good Book...

just a quick line to opine about a series I've been reading.

Links to the Kindle downloads.

Infinite Sacrifice (free at time of posting)
Infinite Devotion ($3.99)
Infinite Loss ($4.99)

They're fairly short (this coming from a vorocious reader that demolished Under the Dome in less than 2 days...so, grain of salt), but particularly rich in detail.  Not for everyone, especially those that are offended by the possibility of past lives (since that IS what the entire series is about).  But for people like me that do...they're wonderful.

Oh and another, if you'd like, that I read last year and liked alright:

Threads: The Reincarnation of Anne Boleyn ($3.99)

I finished the Infinite series and started on Exodus Lost (was free when I posted the link a few days ago, is now $2.99) and I'm thoroughly intrigued.  I'm loving the Egyptian/Olmec connections being made and finding the whole thing just highly interesting.  If you're into ancient history and New/Old World connections, this one is a good one to have.  I'm loving this one so much that I see myself procuring a hard copy, soon.

And now I'm off...

Taking the Guesswork Out...

of my container gardening plans with this!

can be found here as well

Happiness...joy, joy.

I'm seriously thrilled.  With this and the obscene amount of containers, soil and seed awaiting me at the new place, I'm beyond certain that I'll be able to get in a decent amount of fresh veg despite the lateness of planting.  The greenhouse will help with that as well.

I, for real, cannot wait.

(Clickty one of those ad sense ads, would you?)

To Do List....

it just keeps growing and growing.

I started pricing out storage sheds today...the current place has lots of basement type storage (sorely lacking in the in house storage area however) for tools and lawn equipment.  The new place...not so much.

At first I thought about one of those rent to own sheds but upon doing the math and such decided that I'm quite happy with one of those $300 (or less) metal sheds that Tanker, me and my bro (once properly bribed with a meal) can throw together.  All we really need it for is lawn equipment...there is plenty of storage space for my beloved power tools in the house until we're ready to build a real garage/workshop.  $300 spent (plus the cost of bribing my brother) is a whole sight better than $2k or more.

And it's all about saving monies, don't ya know!

Speaking of saving monies...okay, not that this is exactly SAVING money but when I get the distinct pleasure of furnishing a house that is twice the size of what we are currently in this is sorta saving (really it is)...I'm so super excited about this:

400 mile Yard Sale

The weekend after we move...close to our little area...a massive playground in which I get to frolic about in hopes of finding treasures to assist in filling in the spaces our severe lack of furniture will leave.  I'm hoping to find some goodies on the cheap that a little TLC can spruce right on up...I'm handy with a paint brush, staple gun, fabric and sander among other things.  Let me at 'em!  If all goes well, I'll bore you to bits with before, during and after shots.  Fingers crossed that all goes well....I've really got to be finding more chairs to cozy up to the massive dining room table I have plans to build!

All of that, of course, hinges on finding hidden treasures cheap.  I know, it can be done.  I'm keeping the budget on the shopping fun low however.  As much as I would love to go and spend thousands bedecking the grand ol' Victorian out in true style...I know that on a cash only diet that's just not feasible.

But I'll sure try!

20 days......

and a wake-up.

The countdown continues to clip on at a rapid pace.

Tanker is itching to finish packing up but I'm holding him back with both hands.  I'm not ready to pack everything but the cast iron up...I like my little non-stick skillet for making my eggs every morning.  I like that I can just wash it out, toss it on the drying rack and walk away without fear of rust setting in because I didn't grease it.  I'm lazy.  I readily admit that until I get at least a full cup of coffee in me it is best to not trust me with the care and feeding of anything important.  How the screamers survived thus far is beyond me.

As it is the house has been pretty well packed up for a month (probably more as at one point days began bleeding into one another as the mass of boxes grew).  Granted, I still have way more t-shirts unpacked than needed but that is neither here nor there (we will not discuss the whole t-shirt and heels addictions...thank you very much).  The kitchen cabinets (with the exception of the spice/oil cabinet) are empty; the books (oh, my beloved books) are all packed away.  I am stuck with the Kindle (not bad, but not a book).

Tanker and I are discussing foster/adoption still...no preaching on the "dangers" please, I hear that enough from my mother; which is why we no longer discuss it with her.  It's something we feel like we need to do in a way.  So we're looking to start the required courses shortly after the move.  Not a word to Mom until it's all said and done so I don't have to hear "how can you do that to your children?" again.  I love my mother...but she is the epitome of what is wrong with too many....do good for others for the recognition and selfish reasons but to hell with it all if it interferes with your plans or life in ways you don't want.  (Insert snide remark about not being very Christian here...you decide 'cause I'm just not feeling repetition today.)

So here we are...moseying along by the lake for a bit longer...me wishing I could remember which box I put the seeds in (I could totally start some and them be alright for the move), Tanker counting down the days until he no longer is driving 1.5hrs each way for class.  Oh the gas to be saved!

The next 20 days just can't fly fast enough!

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Happy Mother's Day...

to all you Moms out there.

Be you Moms of human, chicken, cow, cat, dog, etc.....

Momming is hard.

You rock it.

Pre-planned Randomness...

for you today as I will be attending CF's funeral and have no clue what time we'll be back home.

Here comes the random....

I've been "swagging" a lot lately...loading up on Swagbucks to load up on Amazon gift cards. I've earned enough the last two days (not signing up for anything that requires a payment of any kind, btw) to get 2 $5GCs.  Not shabby considering most of it is stuff I can knock out in less than an hour.

I've also been freebie hunting like a fiend...scoring left and right.

And Bzz'ing...freebie and product testing galore.  Oh and you earn MyPoints through them as well (if you do MyPoints).

More random....

You, my readers, slam the heck out of this blog when I go all political or worldly.  Seriously, you do.  I was browsing through all of the posts made on here and the ones with possible mindless ramblings and/or political/world stuff tags have a viewer count that is insane.

As much as I'm an opinionated gal, I want more from this my little slice of interwebz.  Hopefully, once we're moved and settled and I start posting other stuff...you'll love them as much as political stuff.

Now...rambling done...click that big ad down below for me if you don't mind.

Learning Curves....(and Lumpia)

I have a bunch of friends struggling with what we'll call "the new normal"...they had been accustomed to living high without a care, racking up credit debt...they are now not living so high and learning to live on a much tighter budget.  They are experiencing a learning curve.

In the past week I've gotten no less than 10 emails or FB messages from said friends; wondering how we did it for so long, living on just above minimum wage but still slowly bringing down debt.

Um...prioritize.

Stop planning those vacations to Florida...stop buying the rapidly growing children brand new expensive clothing...thrift, stay home and hang, find local FREE entertainment.

I tend to forget that people are really just looking for an easy answer because honestly, that is stuff they all know really.  And I know they all know how to use Google.

Now...on to more important things....Lumpia.

H/T Google for the random image that came up during a search.

I adore them...I crave them...I need a good recipe for them.

Yes, I googled.

There are a half dozen now bookmarked and saved in my "Cook Me!" file.  But if, by some random chance, you have a recipe you love...share...pretty please!

(Clickity an ad, if you will, perhaps the large one down below...no purchase necessary...another pretty please!)

TBT

or Throwback Thursday....ya know #TBT.

Tossing you a link to one of my very first (therefore generally more educational) posts on the blog.

Why Prep?

Sound logical reasoning that still holds true.

(Go on...click that big ad down below...you know you want to.)

Somewhere....

in vast reaches of the youngest screamer's former room, amid towers of boxes that stand twice as tall as me, there are two boxes that are meant to be elsewhere.  Boxes that were supposed to be mailed off to someone else, boxes that never made it out the door despite numerous reminders.  Boxes that will get to where they are supposed to go, sometime around mid-June...instead of February.

Also in that mass of towering boxes are my seeds.  Seeds that I have containers and soil for...but have no clue as to which box they are residing in.  Oh yes, I labeled the boxes...carefully...so as to make organizing during unpacking easier (we've played this game a few times, ya know).  The problem is...the sheer height of the box towers negate my ability to find diddly squat.

There go the plans to have some sort of garden plants containerized before the move.  Guess we'll shoot for an early June start and hope for a good turn out before Fall hits.  Theoretically, it's possible...but with Ma Nature and her mood swings the past year plus...well, she don't run on theory.  So the greenhouse (yay we kept it) will be going up ASAP, just so I can have it all situated for extended growing.  I may even get adventurous and use it for some late Fall cold weather crops...providing I can keep the temps/humidity inside steady enough that little plastic-y thing might just keep me in spinach and lettuce all winter (keep in mind it's one of those $200 dohickies from Lowe's...not the most efficient but useful).  If not, hopefully it will be sufficient enough to keep the temp tender citrus trees alive through winter.

Ah, the joys of mid-garden season moving...and towers of boxes.

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Oh Boy!

More linkage to get me in trouble...

H/T to Survival Mom for this one.

How have I gone all this time and not known about this?

Minimus

Travel size EVERYTHING.

Perfect for BOBs, camping, all around having on hand.

I foresee some of the saved $$ going toward a few things.  Go...take a look.

(Psst...help a gal out....click that big ad down there.)

In the End....

Currently, I'm chatting with a friend...brother of the childhood friend that drowned on April 21st.  Her body was finally recovered on the 2nd and they are headed today to make final arrangements.  There seems to be a sort of power struggle going on as to what should be done and what certain other family members want done.  Childhood Friend (hereafter known as CF) was unemployed and without any form of life insurance at the time of her passing...so the financial burden of final expenses falls to her family.  Her 'husband' (they were legally married, I just personally do not think highly of him and haven't since high school) is most likely also unemployed (I do not know this for sure but that tends to be his boon in life) and has little to no money to help.

I'm baffled (but not really) at the idea the family is fighting over arrangements (I'm sure some are wanting to go to the excess end while others are attempting to be practical yet still grieve in a proper Southern fashion).

Here's the philosophical:

She's not there, here, etc.  The final arrangements are for family and show.

Here's the practical:

Keep it affordable.  There are debts involved that shouldn't but probably will fall to her children...who are just starting out in life.

The family has set up a memorial fund to try to get some help with the expense, of course.  And I'm sure that if even half the people that new CF donated even just a little that a very nice service could be had.  However, CF's brother knows that the reins need to be taken now in an effort to make sure that things stay in control.  I feel for him...I most honestly do.

All of this has prompted us (me and Tanker) to review our own plans and, knowing what I know from Dad's funeral (i.e. cost), up both of our life insurance policies.  The point of having them is to insure that our expenses would be paid, debt (that isn't cancelled out by death) be paid and our children have at least a little something monetarily to start out on should we pass before they are of age (hellooooo trust fund).  While it shouldn't matter (the money) we all know it does.  The very least we can do is leave the screamers with less shaky ground to stand on financially.  And a bit of positive in a time of not so positive.

Because in the end, none of it is for you...but it is about what you leave behind.

Freebies....

for the Kindle...or Kindle App.

(Note:  Please check the price before downloading...while they're free at the time of this post, they may not be free for long.)

Preppers Pantry: How to Build a Perfect Survival Pantry for Food and Water Storage (Survival Pantry - Your Complete Guide to Stocking Up and Surviving Anything)

Exodus Lost (the History geek in me can't wait to read this one)

The Procrastination Cure: How To Stop Procrastinating, Maximize Productivity And Master Time Management (Become Productive, Get Rid Of Procrastination, Increase Productivity) (the procrastinator in me needs this one)

Things Mother Used to Make A Collection of Old Time Recipes, Some Nearly One Hundred Years Old and Never Published Before (I've had this one since November and love it)

Baking in Your Skillet: A Collection of Skillet Recipes

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Almond Flour Recipes: The Complete Guide for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and More (Every Day Recipes)

Gluten Free Oven Recipes: The Beginner's Guide to Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and More (Every Day Recipes)

Survival Guide for Beginners

JeBouffe Home Canning Step by Step Guide (second edition) Revised and Expanded

Rice Flour Recipes - 40 Gluten Free Rice Flour Recipes For All Occasions

Thyme & Oregano: Healing and Cooking herbs, and more than 30 Ways To Use Them

Okay...pretty sure that should keep you busy for a bit!  I know, it's such a random list.

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Yesterday....

I spent a large part of the day researching things that are only important to me (insurance related) and sneaking out to watch the just discovered babies in the holly tree.

Today....I sauntered out to enjoy my coffee in the sun (and super cold wind) to find the nest already empty.  Those crafty robins.

The only reason I even noticed the nest (despite in being in the tree RIGHT NEXT to the porch) was that one of the parental figures rather ferociously emptied out the suet feeder that was stationed in said tree on Thursday.  I'm guessing in an effort to discourage other birdies from invading the flight training space.

Nature is a remarkable thing...gets along just fine without us and our interruptions...adapts to deal with the human stupidity.

Bye, bye baby birdies!  Safe flying!

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Ch-ch-changes.....

a few on the blog...did you notice?

Pages are popping up...unfinished but there now to give you an idea of what is to come.  Of course, the nature of blogger means that I'll have to put up a post to let you know of additions.  But that's cool.  I like you lot.

Foodie Links is the most complete thus far, but that's due to the fact that we've been focusing pretty much on that while working on packing and prepping for the move.  Gimme time, k?

In the meantime, click that ad down below and help support my blogging habit!

Thanks!!