Day 3 of snap challenge

We shall hope I get better at this as I go along. Breakfast today. . . Marty had toast and milk. . . milk .06 toast .14, smear of butter .05 total .23 breakfast for me -- 2 eggs .11 x 2 = .22 3 spears of asparagus .07 each = .21 handful of chopped spinach approx. .05 total for me .48 I should probably note that I drink water almost exclusively due to my kidney issues. I am not including that in my costs unless I happen to buy bottled water while out, etc. Marty drinks water unless he's drinking milk or we go out to eat. No pictures of lunch - but I had a sandwich and an apple, Marty had 2 sandwiches and a banana. 6 slices of bread, .07 x 6- .42 lunch meat .40 x 3= $1.20, apple .24 banana .14 Total for lunch = $1.98 Dinner tonight -- sheet pan dinner. . . roasted chicken breasts and asparagus. There were 5 huge breasts in the pack I purchased. I cooked all 5 tonight as I get scared of raw chicken if it sits more than a couple days. Tonight we split one breast, the others will go in the freezer for future meals. Tonight Chicken $1.89, asparagus (part of the pack I purchased, still have about 1/2 left) approx. $1.50 a handful of cheese on the chicken .75 - total for dinner = $4.14 Total for the day = $6.83. . . we are allowed approx. $8.40/day.

Day 2 -- sadly no photos as I was at work and didn't think.

Day 2 I skipped breakfast. . . Marty had a banana and glass of milk. Milk 0.06 Banana .14 Breakfast .20 Lunch for me - tuna .77, carrots/celery sticks .50 $1.27 lunch for Marty - 2 sandwiches, apple bread .07/slice x 4 =.28 lunch meat .40 x 2 = .80 apple .24 $1.32 $3.86 for lunches for both of us. Dinner - Marty ate at his mom's. . . I grabbed a sandwich when I got home as I was just exhausted. .54 Total for the day: $4.60

shopping recipt week 1

I went over already :( I am not including the foods that I gave to a local family, but I am including the foods that I make to feed the kids, guests, etc. My total was 69.29 (subtracted the $5.75 hamburger and $1.32 eggs that I gave to the family in town) Goal is $66.30 Several of the items I purchased to day will carry over to next week. . . the cabbage alone weighed 5.8 lbs so should last into next week.

SNAP challenge day 1

I haven't gone shopping for the challenge yet -- however, I want to get started today. Breakfast for me was 2 eggs scrambled and a stewed apple with cinnamon. eggs were purchased at .42/doz at Aldi's a couple weeks ago apples were $3.49/3 lbs at Aldi's a couple weeks ago So breakfast for me today eggs 7 cents (3.5 cents each) apple approx. 44 cents. 51 cents for the food and a bit more for spray for cooking the eggs and the cinnamon I added to the apple.. . I will round it off at 55 cents for breakfast.

Hello again

I have been thinking of doing the SNAP challenge again, so I thought I'd revisit my abandoned blog LOL. Last challenge got me quite a few horrid comments, so we shall see if I actually post my meals, etc. during the challenge.

Change . . . I don't handle it well apparently

Too many changes being thrown at my, at once. . or I'm getting less flexible as I get older. My BP is up, my weight is up, my mood is down, my libido is down. Looks like most of my stress triggers are just going to get worse , before they get better, so hang on for the ride I guess.

He's Still Working On Me

Several conversations over past few days have had me thinking, praying, pondering and searching the scriptures. "How can you continue each day, with a husband who is terminal/chronically ill?" "What have learned through all of this?" "I know Satan's tricks" "I want to see a psychic" "I'm a Christian, BUT. . . " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY9nii6s9mM I never want to be so arrogant as to assume that Satan can't touch me, that I'm above the trials of this world, or that I can disregard His words and commands.

Trinity - my thoughts after last Sunday's sermon

After last Sunday's sermon at church, I have done a lot of thinking and studying about the Trinity. How can God be one, yet three? My grandfather, had very little formal education, yet was probably one of the most educated people I have ever met. He read, studied and pondered on things. This is how my grandfather explained the trinity to me, as a child - and I have never forgotten it. Water is sorta like God. . . in it's liquid form, it's God the Father. . . When you spill a glass of water it gets every where. . into every nook and cranny. Places you didn't know existed until the water seeped into it. God the Father is like that -- He gets into every nook and cranny of your life, every crevice and you soon find places and thoughts that you didn't know existed. In it's solid state - water is ice (still has the same molecular structure, so it's still water, just as God is still God) And Jesus is sorta like that for us. . solid, tangible. He came to show us God in the flesh. and finally in it's gaseous state, water is steam (again still has the same H2O structure, so still water- and God is still God), and God the Holy Spirit. . steam soothes the aches , cleanses impurities, and permeates even some solids. . The Holy Spirit was sent as a comforter, a conscious (to cleanse impurities of our life), etc. Any way -- just my ramblings about our sermon last week.

March came in like a lion

4 inches of new snow, on top of the last snow that hadn't melted yet. Most everything is cancelled for today. No church, no Easter cantata practice, etc.

Our little Chirstmas - 2014

So most everyone has other plans for today. . . so we just had our usual dinner, and Jake come over for a few minutes and ate lunch with us.

Wow -- what a roller coaster

My little sister had a heart attack (major one) last Friday. Wasn't sure she would make, several times over the last few days. Been a whirl wind of tests, travel and emotions.

Ugh - I'm so done with renters.

This is the mess the last set of renters left for us to clean. Once I get it cleared out, the trailer goes away. No more renters and the headaches to go along with them.

Final food stamp challenge update

$155.92 for the month -- including the disastrous meal out, and the trip to the river. . . we also bought a huge bag of candy for trick -or-treaters, some things for Marty's mom, and have some foods left to carry over until next month. We were fortunate to have some very good sales this month on various things. . . I know that many could not travel to the city to get the deals - but I work there, and the stores are all on my route home. Generally I also supplement our meals with items that I've home canned. . . and many of our items this month were from our garden, but I figured the costs at the supermarket rates. Our target amount to stay under was $278.90 -so $122.98 left of our amount. Food stamps are being cut for recipients in November - if we were truly getting food stamps, we'd lose another $36 of that amount.

Food Stamp Challenge -- day 25

We are still staying well below our daily amount of $8.99 Today's supper was cooked in the crock pot while I slept. Meatloaf in the bottom of the crock, and diced sweet potatoes , wrapped in foil - cooked on top of the meatloaf. Yummy.

Belated food stamp challenge update

I've been feeling puny - got a TDaP booster and it made me feel really wiped out. That said, we have maintained on the challenge. We've not resorted to beans/rice, nor have we varied too much from our usual meals. We have cut out most desserts (not a bad thing) other than fruits. Marty did get a craving and baked a pineapple upside down cake yesterday. . . total for the cake $2.27 - we ate about 1/4 of it last night, since we had the girls. Supper last night was baked pork chops in a homemade breading, and roasted broccoli/cauliflower mix. . with garlic and Parmesan cheese sprinkled on at the end. .97 for each pork chop, we ate 3. . . $2.78 for broccoli and cauliflower but we only used half the cauliflower and then only ate 1/2 the total we cooked. . . add in 2 T.olive oil and a sprinkle of cheese the pan cost approx. $2 and we ate 1/2 so $1 - kids drank water (flavored with some left over Mio that Marty used on his colon prep drink) I had tea and Marty had soda. . . .55 for drinks. . . $4.46 for supper.

I promise it tasted better than the picture looks . . my pork chop folded up on itself when I took it off the pan, so the edges look like fat, when in fact it's just where it tore/folded. I did an Aldi's shop on Tuesday for bread, milk, lunch meat, chips, flour, cereal, a bit of meat, fruits and veggies-- spent $61.78, we still have almost $80 left from our allotted amount, and we should not have to shop again before the end of the month.

Food Stamp Challenge - Day 18

So I packed food for work again - I picked up an extra 12 hour shift. I took some block cheese, an orange, a yogurt , 2 sodas and water - cheese .55, orange .33 yogurt .33 soda .42 = $1.63 Breakfast was an egg, one slice toast, tea - egg .04 toast .05, tea .05 = .14 Marty had cereal, milk - cereal .20 milk .35 = .55 Breakfast for both of us = .69 I slept through lunch. Marty had his usual sandwiches, chips, soda $1.13 Supper was baked chicken, pasta salad (pasta, ranch dressing, peas/carrots) 2 pieces chicken each and 1/2 the salad - chicken $1.20, salad .30 milk for Marty .35 and tea for me .05 = $1.90 for supper Our total for the day $%.35

Food Stamp Challenge - Day 17

I packed chips .12 and salsa .25, soda .21 for a snack - .58 Then had 2 muffins .20 yogurt .33 for my "meal" and of course my ever present frozen bottle of water - .55 Total for my work foods -$1.13 For breakfast Marty had cereal .20 and milk .35 - .55 I had toast .20 and peanut butter .14 with tea .05 - .45 Total for breakfast = $1 I slept through lunch. Marty had his usual 2 sandwiches, chips, banana, soda - $1.13 Supper was ham and homemade scalloped potatoes in the crockpot $2.10 for the entire pot and we ate about 2/3 $1.40, tossed salad - $1 Milk for Marty .35 and tea for me .05 - total for supper $2.80 Total for the day = $6.06

Food Stamp Challenge - Day 16

I packed 2 slices of turkey lunch meat .18 x 2, some raw cabbage (cause I love the crunch and taste) .12, an orange .33,a slice of angel food cake that Marty's mom gave me , leftover from their lunch - I'm guess at the cost of .20 and 2 sodas .42 My total for my snacks/meal $1.43

Breakfast for me was a yogurt .33 and tea .05 = .38 Marty had cereal and milk .20 and .35 = .55 Total for breakfast = .93 Marty had his boring 2 sandwiches, chips, banana , soda for lunch $1.13 My supper was 2 eggs with a slice of turkey lunch meat and onion diced into them, a banana and tea - eggs .04x2 , lunch meat .18 tsp of diced onion .05 ? banana .17 tea .05 - .53

Marty has opted to eat odds and ends of the leftovers in the fridge - things that have been already figured in previous posts but we have a bit of this and that left over. . . and milk .35 Our total for today = $4.37

Food Stamp Challenge - Day 15

Sorry I missed posting this yesterday, but life happens sometimes. Breakfast for Marty was cereal and milk - .20 cereal .35 milk = .55 I had 2 muffins and tea .20 muffins .05 for tea = .25 for me Total for both of us = .80 Marty had his usual lunch of 2 sandwiches, chips, banana, soda $1.13 I had one sandwich, chips, tea - .32 for sandwich, .10 for chips , .05 for tea .47 total for lunches = $1.60 Supper was leftover spaghetti and garlic bread which had been figured into a previous post, we just didn't eat as much as I thought we would. tea for me, milk for Marty .05 and .35 so .40 for supper Our total for the day $2.80

Food Stamp Challenge - Day 14

I hope this post makes sense -- I'm sort of weary, having only a few hours of sleep today. So I packed my work meal last night -- left over baked fish from supper last night (cost was figured into last night's meal, I just couldn't eat it all at the time), carrot/celery sticks - .25, yogurt .33, soda .21 x2 - total for my work food = $1

Breakfast for me was 2 scrambled eggs and tea - eggs .10 tea .05 = .15 Marty had 2 slices toast with butter, and milk - toast/butter .10 milk .35 = .45 Our breakfast total for both = .60

Lunch for Marty was his usual 2 sandwiches, chips, soda, banana - $1.13 I slept through lunch. Supper was teriyaki chicken cooked on the George Foreman grill, and steamed snap peas - chicken breast $1.32/lb we at 1/2 lb -.66, approx .25 of teriyaki glaze and peas on sale .88 bread .08. . tea for me, water for Marty - $1.92

Snack tonight -- we baked a loaf of sour dough bread in the bread machine, after supper -- after it cooked with both had 2 slices with margarine . . .for a snack while watching TV. I had tea with mine, Marty had milk -- bread .28, margarine .02 tea .05, milk .35 total for snack .70

total for the day = $5.35