Clothes On The Line

My husband lost his job about 6 months ago.  Now, I know that this is a common story for so many families out there, but this time it hit home for me.  He filed for unemployment immediately, but he's never been the kind of guy to sit around and wait for something to happen.  Within a few weeks he got another job and has been working since. 

Since he has had the change in jobs, I have started to think about money a little bit smarter.  I began to wonder, "what are some ways that we could save a little money here and there without a total lifestyle change?"  Now, there are some things that I absolutely will not sacrifice on, i.e. the quality of my food.  As I have said before, I am a foodie through and through and am totally obsessed with food, recipes, reading cookbooks, etc.  That being said, I will not compromise much in this area. 

I was washing the dishes one day in the kitchen sink and looked out my kitchen window.  Duh, I thought...we have this refurbished (by me) super cute, red clothesline outside that I never use.  It came with the house and was rusty and unusable when we moved in.  We sanded it, painted it red, replaced the lines and it was ready to use in a day.  That was about three years ago and I can count on one hand the number of times that we have used it.  

So, here's my goal...as long as the weather's nice, I will hang the laundry out to dry on the fully functional clothesline.  Just a reminder...we do live in the country, so for those of you thinking, "OMG, what an eye sore" just remember, no one really sees it and, if they do I hope that they think how smart and frugal I'm being.  Maybe they will even buy into this idea too.   

State Of Origin

Lakewood, CO.
(My old Stompin' Ground)

How much does the location at which we were born shape us? The premise of this blog is about my previous life in Colorado and my current life in the Midwest.  I, of course, have noticed enough of a difference between the two locals to dedicate this forum to these differences.  However, I have begun to ponder something..."Am I the only one who has experienced this Bittersweet struggle?" Is there anyone else out there who feels that they were shaped by the location (state, country, whatever) where they were born and is finding it hard to ease into a new existence? 


Glenwood Springs, Colorado
(the town I was born in)


Since I moved from Colorado I have always said that I never knew how much Colorado was a part of me until I left.  It has been a grieving process for me.  I'm still trying to figure out how much of the "old" me to keep and how much of me should embrace the "new" opportunities and accept that my life will never be the same.  Just as I wrote that previous sentence I realized how dramatic it sounded... What I mean is that I know that it will never be the same, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.  Change is healthy and is makes us stronger.  What I have leaned about myself is that I am very, very strong and I can get through anything. 

As I have said before, there are great things about my life now.  My life is simpler, costs less and I have learned to appreciate things that I never thought I would even know.  Part of this comes with age and being more comfortable in you own skin, but part of this comes with accepting of where we are at this exact moment. 




My New Home



Time Away

For the past two nights my son has been away from me.  Now, he's 8 months old and, prior to this weekend, had only spent one night away from me.  My husband had an alumni weekend in his hometown and I had to work, so it just worked out that my husband took him with to see the "old gang." 

I was able to get some much-needed sleep (our son typically gets up 3-4 times/night) and my husband was able to spend LOTS of quality time with our son.  This time away from my son has reminded me of two very important things: 1. Never take sleep for granted and 2. My husband is in-love with our son.  As I spoke with my husband on the phone numerous times this weekend, he was never without our son.  I could hear our son "talking" and laughing in the background and my husband was doting over him.  He took our son with him to the basketball games, out to eat, and played with him nonstop. 

More than most people, I am very aware of the "absentee father" epidemic.  There are not many things that I am sure of in life, but I can tell you this, my husband would never, ever take our son for granted, no matter what life brings us.  I am so comforted by this and know that my son will never have to know the pain that I, and so may other children, know. 

Re-purposing

Before we moved in to our house we worked for a few days to clear the overgrown areas outside.  We live on a small acreage which is surrounded by farmland.  Our house had been abandoned for a few years and was in serious need of some TLC.  As we cleaned the overgrown areas outside, we found some random items here and there.  We found old bricks, glass bottles, pop cans, tires, you name it.  One of the semi-useful items that we found were old, metal milk crates.  When we found them I put them aside and sort of forgot about them.  This weekend I rediscovered them and found a use for one in my country kitchen.  I scrubbed it with water and soap and began to reorganize my pantry.  I re-purposed this crate as an organizer for pasta, rice and other grains in the pantry.  I love this simple, rustic idea.

Re-purposed Milk Crate

When I find random items on our property I always find my imagination begin to run wild with ideas about the origins of the people that left them here.  For example...so, this place used to be a farmstead and they had dairy cows and they sold their own milk to the townsfolk and carried the milk into town in these crates, and on and on....  What is probably the truth is that when the house was abandoned, random teenagers brought these milk crates (that they found in their grandparents basements) to this unoccupied house and they put empty beer bottles on top of them and shot at the bottles while they continued to drink more beer.

Chalkboard Label

 

Camper Spring Cleaning

This past weekend we began to officially get our camper ready for the upcoming camping season.  Well, I should say that my husband is doing most of the work.  Before we had our son we were able to do all outside activities together, but now my unofficial role is to watch our son while my husband does the "outside" work.  It's still pretty chilly outside so my son and I are cooped-up inside A LOT!  We definitely have Cabin Fever and cannot wait for warmer weather. 

Anyway, we bought our camper in 2003 when we moved to Nebraska.  Before we bought this camper, we had a "pop-up" style camper that required a lot of setting-up and taking-down.  When I was growing up we only camped in tents and it was perfectly fine.  I should also say that when I was growing up we only camped in Colorado.  Now, this is notable to mention because if you know much about the climate differences between Colorado and any Midwestern state, you are familiar with this equation : Midwest + Humidity = LOTS OF BUGS!!! Needless to say, since we moved here, we ditched the old-style camping of tents and pop-ups and had to get an actual hard-sided camper.  

The only way that I was ever going to be able to enjoy camping again for the rest of my life was to cough-up the money and get one of these campers.  I told my husband that there was no flippin way that I was going to be violated by those bugs and humidity and even pretend to have a good time in those stupid tents in this climate!  Of course, people do camp in this climate in tents and other temporary shelters, but not me.  I love my queen-sized bed, my bathroom, sink, shower, dining room table, air conditioning, DVD player and kitchen in my camper.  Our camper it pretty modest, but it does the trick.  Trust me, those three years of monthly camper payments were so worth it.  

Tornado Alley

Yesterday I was reminded again that I live in Tornado Alley.  I seriously cannot believe that those two words are in my vocabulary.  I tornado literally touched down about a mile from my house yesterday.  I wasn't home, but that doesn't really make it any easier to take.  We didn't suffer any damage this time, but it's way too close for comfort. 

Ever since I was little I have been afraid of severe weather.  Thank you to my grandmother who jump-started my unnaturally healthy fear of thunder and lightening.  She was terrified of thunderstorms and they literally paralyzed her with fear.  If we were at her house during a storm we would have to hide in the closet, in the dark with that tiny, little radio.  And so, a neurotic child I became whenever a chance for storms was on the horizon. 

When my husband and I would visit his family in Nebraska during the Spring and Summer there were always severe storms.  I would be a total nervous wreck and no one else would even flinch.  However, one time we were at my in-laws and the storms must have been bad enough for even them to be concerned.  My mother-in-law told me to go down to the basement, crawl under a desk and put a pillow oever my head.  I was totally freaking out.  Needless to say, we were fine and the storm passed, but I'm sure that I aged at least a year from the stress.  I used to be so relieved when I was able to leave Nebraska and go back to Colorado where my hypervigilance could take a break. 

Now, I live in Nebraska and tornado season is upon us.  I live on an acreage, in a really old farm house.  We literally have a storm cellar outside our front door.  This totally freaks me out... I told my husband that a storm would have to be pretty bad for me to go in that cellar because I'm sure there are lots of creatures with 8 legs living in there.  I also told him that the cellar door is so heavy that if he was not home to help me, I wouldn't be able to lift it myself.  He then tells me that if I'm home alone and a tornado is coming, that my adrenaline alone will lift that door.  Here's another thing....I seriously cannot believe that we have to have this conversation. 

Yes, I know that "hate" is a strong word and that your're not supposed to use it and...yadda, yadda, yadda, but...I hate living in Tornado Alley.

I Love Fish Frys

We are officially in the midst of the season of Lent.  Now, I should preface something right now, I don't exactly celebrate Lent itself, but I still look forward to it every year.  I know, I know, you're all thinking that you should stop reading right now after this proclamation....but, please read-on. 

As many of you know, I was raised in the Lutheran school system in Denver until the tenth grade.  Because of this I am very aware of the Christian calendar and that we should "keep Christ in Christmas" and all those things that we were taught from a very early age.  But there's another element to this upbringing that can shed some light on my indifference and the not celebrating Lent issue...we weren't really a religious family at home and we we're OK with that.  We initially attended Lutheran schools for the education and we stayed because we made great friends and there was such a close sense of community.  We payed our tuition money every year and attended all the required activities until we were "excommunicated" from the Lutheran church (yes, that's my reference to Martin Luther if you're familiar with the history of the Lutheran religion).  Talk about leaving a "nasty" taste in my mouth.


Ever since we were "thrown out" of the church I've had this "bittersweet" feeling about those memories.  Yes, these were some amazing times, with great friends and fellowship.  However, I still have this sick feeling in my stomach as I think back to how committed we were and how quickly and harshly it all changed.  Enough said.  


So, back to the Fish Frys...
When I moved to small town Nebraska I started hearing about these Lenten Fish Frys.  My husband and I first attended one in Valley, Nebraska and it was AWESOME! We didn't know a single soul, but that was fine because we came for the food and only the food.  From what I hear these things are hugh fundraisers for these churches, bringing in thousands over the Lenten season. 

Here's how it goes...you go to a Catholic church on  any Friday night during Lent.  You typically go in the doors, pay the lady with the cash box and then you enter a large cafeteria-style room.  You stand in a very long line and wait your turn.  When you finally make it to the serving window there are a few ladies dishing-up the food who will ask you what you want.  The typical choices are; catfish, shrimp or pollock.  You tell them the type of seafood you desire and they plate it for you with scalloped potatoes and cole slaw.  You'll notice that behind them are lots more volunteers who are actually frying the fish and keeping to large operation afloat. Next, you take your tray of food and go to a long table with various salads and side dishes.  These items are typically made by the other women in the church.  They make these dishes in their homes and bring them to share with everyone at the Fish Fry.  Then you choose your seat.  There are typically many large tables to choose from. 

The best part comes last as you can go to another table where the desserts are.  You pick a dessert from a HUGE variety of choices.  The deserts usually cost extra, but it's a nominal fee for what you get.  Now, here's the crazy part, at least to me it's crazy...they sell beer for you to drink while you wait in line and while you're eating.  In fact, the beer "station" is typically one of the first things you see when you enter that large, cafeteria-style room.  When I first saw this, I was shocked.  The Lutheran churches I grew up in do not promote drinking alcohol at all, let alone in the actual church itself?!  Yes, these are Catholic churches we're talking about here, but still so shocking for me! Doesn't seem right to me, this drinking in the church business, so I don't partake. 

Anyway, the food is really good and fresh and it's just plain fun.  We went to the Tekamah Fish Fry last week and had the shrimp, catfish, potatoes, dinner rolls with butter, side salads and BETTER THAN SEX CAKE! How funny is that? Yes, they were serving a dessert called Better Than Sex Cake. By the way, this  Better Than Sex Cake  is really good and simple to make.

BETTER THAN SEX CAKE

Thank goodness for the season of Lent, the Catholic Church and their need to fund raise. By the way, in case you're wondering, I do know that there's a "bigger" reason behind all this eating of fish on Friday nights in the Heartland.