Menu Plan Monday July 26th

This week is fair week as in the County fair. We are taking two calves to exhibit in Open class. Next year my daughter will be old enough to show in the junior show so this is kind of a test run for her. I'm thinking I'll be doing the majority of the work but that's normal right?! So if you thought my menus were simple before this is the simplest. I'm sure I'll be ready for some real food on Sunday!

Monday-Homemade pizza and salad

Tuesday- Sloppy joes, salad, corn, and pickles

Wednesday-Leftovers or grilled cheese and tomato soup

Thursday-Supper at the fair

Friday-Supper at the fair

Saturday-Supper at the fair

Sunday-Simple supper at home...popcorn, sandwiches, nuggets, or frozen pizza

So my plan for keeping cost down at the fair are bringing ham sandwiches, string cheese, beef stick chunks, beef jerky, chips, twizzlers, cookies, granola bars, cinnamon rolls, and lots of drinks. Hopefully all the junk during the day will keep the food tents at bay. Although I do love the homemade lemonade which I'm planning on buying the big refillable container. YUM!

What Keeps Me Moving

Finished baling our 2nd crop hay last Tuesday. We had two balers running and had everything unloaded an into the barn in three hours. The above picture was the last load on Saturday before the storm came through and drenched the cut hay. I was already in the house because I parked my tractor as far as I could in the shed and came in. That was kind of nice because I was able to read a book for awhile in peace and quiet. Then a couple of the guys hung around and I made up some noodles (I didn't have enough spaghetti) and heated up the meatballs I made the night before. Added a jar of spaghetti sauce and they were very happy. The night before after I had the urge to make about two pounds of meatballs I was wondering what in the world I was going to do with them. Worked out quite well.

Watch this mom! Do you think I'll get dizzy? My little girl is full of questions and likes to quiz people. Especially Kurt, what colors are on this, that, and the other thing...Sometimes I tell her enough but she's too funny. She's in swimming lessons right now and in denial that she needs to face her fear of deep water. Mind you she takes lessons in an actual swimming pool but she is afraid of sinking even with a life jacket. I'm quite sure she will be in level three come next year.

That would be the inside of our bulk tank. That "foam" on the sides is cream. I like this picture a lot. We were filling the tank like this regularly until the humidity came...Dear Humidity, it's you not me. Signed, Heat. : )

Every morning after chores all three of us work with the two calves we are taking to the fair next week. This really takes up more time than it seems it would but by the time I get into the house it's time to leave for swimming lessons. This picture was from April or May. The hooded sweatshirt was a give away. I need to get some more pictures similiar to this because she is doing a poster on her calf. She's actually going to do the poster on the calf and the other girl's in Snow-Red's family which are all of the other red and white cattle we have. Today since it's 1:30 am...I am going grocery shopping and regular shopping after we are done milking in about twelve hours from now so I had better hit the hay. Kurt is talking on the phone to his friend who is on call and driving home. He's keeping him awake and both of them like to talk. : )

Walgreens

I am a big fan of Walgreens and I mention this only because CVS was my former favorite drug store. When I did the Grocery Game, I did the majority of my stockpile buying at CVS. Looking back I didn't do that great of a job spending the lowest amount I could out of pocket. Now I am back playing the game (not officially through The GG) but at Walgreens and I love it. My biggest problem before was I would buy extras that were a low price but then I still had to pay out of pocket more than you actually should if playing "the game." This first group was back on June 23rd and I have been meaning to post it since then obviously I've been a little busy.

First Transaction 1st store

Contact solution 7.49

-Previous RR -6.00

Total w/tax=1.86

RR earned 7.50

Second Transaction 1st store

Razor 9.89

Shampoo 2.99

-Previous RR -7.50

-Razor coupon -4.00

Total w/tax 2.02

RR earned 5.00

RR earned 2.00

First Transaction 2nd Store Normally I wouldn't go to another store but I was running errands around town for my job and I really wanted the body washes which were not at the previous store. Shelf clearers are not our friends : )

Contact Solution 7.49 (this was such a great deal)

Candy bar (for filler item) .89

-Previous RR -5.00
-Previous RR -2.00

Total w/tax 1.75

RR earned 7.50

Second Transaction 2nd Store

Body wash 4.49
Body wash 4.49

Shampoo 2.99

Candy bar .89

-Body Wash B1G1 -4.49

-Previous RR -7.50

Total w/tax 1.47

RR earned 2.00

RR earned 4.00

So I started this post last Tuesday and am now completing it almost a week later. Ugh, I need a vacation or an assistant either way it sounds lovely. I just could not afford either.

PS-Thanks for sticking with my blog if there are any readers out there : )

Menu Plan Monday July 12

We have been working around the weather trying to get the remainder of our second crop off the field and into the hay mow. What fun that has been and I have the funky sunburn to prove it-blah!!! We only have about four wagon loads or 600 bales to be made. It's looking like tomorrow I will be on the tractor raking the hay which means I'll be pulling a piece of machinery that will flip over the winnrowed hay so it dries on both sides. We made a huge effort to get it done on Saturday and we had a tons of help to unload the wagon but a storm came through and rained us out.

This week starts swimming lessons which for some reason I now feel like I am in a groove for summer. Which means I feel like I am actually accomplishing things, and I accomplish things most days just not all I want to get done in the house. It's a good feeling, but my menu this week is keeping it pretty simple so I can make food ahead. Trying to get this hay done is not friendly to menu plans. I planned on grilling up burgers, brats, and hot dogs for everyone on Saturday so maybe that will be tomorrow night...I don't know. I even planned lunches since I have Maclayne to feed which makes lunch an actual regular event that has to occur otherwise I'm a bad mom. : )

Lunches (or we call it Dinner)

Mac n cheese and hot dogs

Turkey burgers

Grilled cheese

Homemade pizza

Spaghettios (that's for Mac)

Supper

Cheesy Tuna Noodles

Hamburger Helper (Mac's request of course)

Taco Casserole

Leftovers

Pork Chops

Crispy Chicken Breasts or Chicken Stirfry

Planning on making this later too

Kurt's Favorite Cookies