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Thursday, November 15, 2012

An update from the Frugal Workshop

Here is a photo of Wednesday night's dinner. I had half a pound of ground beef that I browned in a skillet with some onions and afterwards added a can of beefy mushroom soup. I also made some green beans with onions and evoo. I also used up one of the bags of Ore Ida County Inn Creations Peppers & Onions Hash Browns that I bought in September from UGO.  I added a can of cream of potato soup from the pantry and sour cream and some bread crumbs and made a hash brown casserole. The entire dinner cost just under $6.00 to prepare and there is enough left for lunch today. 

For Thursday night's dinner, I am going to use the other 1/2 pound of ground beef and season it with taco seasonings. I have some Mexican Rice I took out of the freezer this morning along with some cheddar cheese. I have tortillas on hand and will make something for dinner along this theme. 

Yesterday was the first day I had been in IGA in at least two months. We've just been so busy with Mom in the Rehab Center that I have not had time to stop in there. I ran in for some milk, bread, and butter. While I was there I noticed they had cans of Libby's vegetables for 50¢ each, so I picked up eight cans. Four green beans, two corn, and two peas. If I can find the time between now and Tuesday I may go back for more. 

 Pictured above is a Verizon bag that I had carried some items in, but the bottom of the bag gave way and I was unable to use it anymore. I brought it back home to remove the nice handles though, so I could reuse them on another bag. There are many tutorials online on how to make your own gift bags, so I kept these to use for that purpose. This bag could also be used as a pattern to make another gift bag.

This is going to be the start of a very busy week for all of us here. Mom has been away from home for 52 days as of today and will be coming home on Saturday from the Rehab Center. Her Insurance would only pay for twenty days of rehabilitation and after that it would cost her $150 per day to stay there. They wanted her to stay for four months, but she cannot afford that and so we are bringing her home. My Dad will be here and my sister and her family are coming in from Illinois to help us out and will arrive on Friday morning. 

My daughter and I have spent numerous hours cleaning out her bedroom to make room for the hospital bed, wheelchair, lift, walker, and bedside commode that is being delivered tomorrow. That is where the majority of my time has been spent lately. My daughter and I hauled away three van loads full of stuff. I do believe my Mother saved everything she ever had. It was like a walk down memory lane. My sister's family will be here until at least next Friday while we get Mom settled into some kind of routine. Afterwards the majority of her care will fall on my daughter and me. 

So, I may or may not find the time to blog within the next week. Time will tell. I really wanted to post some of my Thanksgiving Day recipes and I may still find the time to do that. Hopefully we will settle back into some kind of routine here and life will settle down some. That would definitely be a blessing. 

Hope you all have a good Thursday. :)
 Belinda
© Belinda Richardson and Frugal Workshop, 2012.
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without”

10 comments:

  1. Wow, you're going to be busy! I am glad your mother will be with you, though--if she can't be in rehab, it's good she can be with family. It sounds like you're all pulling together.

    Please take care of YOURSELF as well.

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    1. Thank you, Pamela. My sister told me I had to rest while she was here since I was going to be doing a lot of the work after she is gone. So, I will take care of myself too. Thank you. :)

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  2. Oh Belinda,
    my thoughts and prayers will be with you, as you make this new transition. Try to take advantage of your sister being around this next week, and maybe rest a bit yourself. Life has it's challenges, doesn't it?

    On the grocery front, good buys! Are you finding that the super deals are just not there this year? I can't find the really great Thanksgiving deals this year.

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    Replies
    1. I have found that true here too, Lili. The super deals are just no there this year, unfortunately. Maybe Christmas time will bring some better deals. I sure hope so. And thank you, I do plan on resting some next week.

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  3. Praying blessings for all of you. Your mother is very fortunate that you are close enough to help her.

    I'm in the same boat on the groceries -- the "really" great deals aren't so great, but we're trying to keep stocked up none the less.

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    1. Thank you, Shara. :)

      We too are trying to stay stocked up. I've been taking inventory to see exactly what we have on hand. With company coming, I might need to wait until after they leave though. lol

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  4. I assume your mom will be getting some kind of PT. Will they be coming to the house or will you have to take her yourself? Insurance is tough with rehab. I had a friend who broke her ankle in three places and her insurance wouldn't cover any rehab so she went straight home. It's hard work and I give you credit for this undertaking. I know it's your mom and, of course, you would do anything you could to make her comfortable but still use your extra help while you have it.

    More good thoughts coming your way.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Mary Lou. :) Home Health will be coming to the house for the first 20 days for up to 2 hours per day and my Dad did mention some type of therapy coming as well. She definitely still needs therapy, but I don't know how we would get her out of the house because we have two flights of stairs to climb to get in the house, which is why we need the help getting her in the house. I am afraid it is going to be really hard on her. We could really use a miracle right now. Thank you for your good thoughts. :)

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  5. Glad to hear your mum is coming home. I expect she is as well. I think doing an inventory of your store cupboads etc is a good idea. I stick some paper on my cupboard and when I use something I put it on to my list and that becomes my shopping list.
    Not many bargins, in the food section, here in England. Sometimes it's as little as 20p, don't know why they bother.
    Good luck with everything and enjoy your sisters' visit.
    Carolx

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  6. Thank you so much, Carol. :) Mom s very excited about coming home. Every time I see her that is what she wants...to come home. That is a good idea about the paper on your cupboard. I need to do that too. :)

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