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The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

February 20, 2023

No.733: February’s Frugal Accomplishments

FEBRUARY’S FRUGAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

My Goal: Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
And if you have to spend money, do it with intention.

+ We bought a new washer and dryer.  After months of sort-term fixes, we knew our money would probably be better spent just replacing them.  We found a pair in our price range that also fit a specific need: no fancy parts!  No touch screens, glass tops…just your run of the mill, all metal, no frills machines.  They are a little smaller than the last pair, but I’m hoping their lifespan will be considerably longer than the last ones.

+ I cooked dried beans to use in recipes.  So much cheaper than the canned variety and it makes a ton!  I use this recipe to cook the beans and this one to make refried beans.  Oven baked tostadas are a delicious and quick meatless meal we’ve been loving lately.

+ After months and months off, I went back to making our daily homemade bread.  I’ve gotten into a good routine with the bread machine doing the mixing and first rise, then I separate into two loaves for the second rise and bake.  I’m also considering doing a big “baking day” and making a week’s worth of bread/bagels in one swoop.  Maybe next month.

+ I cleaned the coffeemaker with inexpensive vinegar and water.  We’ve been terrible about doing this regularly, but I want to be better about it in this new year.  Better tasting coffee and a better working machine = win/win!

+ I used some of last year’s garden produce that we saved in the freezer.  So nice to eat something fresh in the dead of winter!

+ I’ve been selling a few things on ebay, Poshmark, and Pango.


Previous Frugal Accomplishments
2019: JULY  //  AUGUST  //  SEPTEMBER  //  OCTOBER  //  NOVEMBER  
2020: JANUARY  //  FEBRUARY // APRIL  //  MAY  //  JUNE  // JULY
2021: WINTER  //  SPRING  //  JULY  //  AUGUST  //  OCTOBER  //  NOVEMBER
2022: FEBRUARY
2023: JANUARY

February 16, 2023

No.732: Lent 2023 with Abandonment to Divine Providence

It’s that time of year again!  Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent is one week away.  I’m planning to read through Jean-Pierre de Caussade’s Abandonment to Divine Providence (affiliate link).  From the description: “God is to be found in the simplest of our daily activities and especially through total surrender to His will for each of us. That is the message of this 18th-century inspirational classic by Jean-Pierre de Caussade. Its encouragement to ‘live in the present moment,’ accepting everyday obstacles with faith, humility, and love, has guided generations of believers to holiness and spiritual peace.”  A very timely and necessary read for me, I think!

Like in past years, I split up the sections and made myself a reading calendar to keep me on track.  Sharing my plan below in case it’s helpful for someone else someday:


Lenten Posts from the Archives

Lent 2021 with The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

40 Days of Lenten Soups (including Part Two & Part Three)

Lent 2019 with The Life of Christ by Fulton J. Sheen

February 10, 2023

No.731: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Life // February 2023

A monthly project featuring ten photos throughout the day that show a peek into our extraordinarily ordinary life.

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Highlights of the day:

  • A gorgeous, spring-like day!  We sped through our school day so we could be outside.  We don’t have any sidewalk chalk, so the kids were resourceful: they found chalkboard chalk and used that instead!
  • The kitten is so adorable and entertaining, but also crazy and full of energy.  He doesn’t like to be left behind and will cry (loudly!) at the door.  Oh boy.
  • The dishwasher is being replaced at the end of the week, so we’re still hand washing.  I don’t mind the task, but hate that the sink never seems empty for long.
  • Lots of art being created around here lately.  My second oldest son has been working on realistic pencil drawings; I’ve been so impressed by his progress.

February 7, 2023

No.730: Lessons in Self Care // A Month of Winter Walking

I take terrible care of myself.  I’m less than two years from 40 and I still haven’t fully learned the lesson that you cannot pour from an empty cup.  I put myself dead last on the priority list and the cracks are beginning to show.  I burn out, I fall into funks, I lose my spunk.  I don’t want to be that person anymore.  So in this year of endurance, I’m embarking on true self-care: treating my body, mind and spirit in the way I would my best friend.  I want this balance desperately and this is the year I’m making it happen.

A MONTH OF WINTER WALKING

I knew two things were true: I need to be out in fresh air every day and I need to move my body, even if it’s just a walk around the property.  Even though it was January and winter and cold, I put on my big girl pants and committed to 31 days of getting outside.  I was like the mailman: come rain or shine, I was out of the house for at least 30 minutes!  And you know I have a tendency to be a little dramatic, but I’ll say it anyway: I think it changed my life.

The first five days were a huge blessing for getting a new routine established.  We had a winter “heat wave” with daily temperatures into the upper 60s!  Things got trickier as the temperatures fell to more normal levels, but I persevered.  And it got easier and easier!  I eventually adapted to the cold (having the right amount of layers is crucial!) and started looking forward to getting out there each morning.  The time that worked best for me was around 7:30-8am, as the sun was rising and before the real craziness of our days began.

To document this month, I decided to try a mini-movie in 1 Second Everyday style.  It started as a mix of beautiful sunrises and beautiful things I saw along the way, but soon became a visual journal of farm chores and my animals:

https://thebigwhitefarmhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/1sec-January-2023.mp4

OTHER HEALTH WINS

  • I took added/refined sugars almost completely out of my diet.  As much as I try to minimize it, sugar is just terrible for you in so many ways.  And that’s not even counting how addicting it is!  This is the year to reset my taste buds.
  • I was very consistent with my vitamin/supplement routine.  Every morning, I took a multivitamin, D3, a probiotic, and even tried apple cider vinegar gummies!  (A little added sugar “cheat”.)  Three or four evenings a week, I would drink a magnesium supplement with my tea.  This regiment seems to be working as I feel really, really good.
  • I went back to intermittent fasting.  I varied my start times in the morning – eating anywhere from 8:30 to 10am – but I always closed my window at 6pm.  I do IF for multiple reasons and the weight loss is just an added benefit.  I lost about five pounds in January, but the mental clarity, increased energy and stable blood pressure are even better wins.

Looking forward to seeing what I can accomplish in Month #2!

 

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The 10 Year Reading Plan for the Great Books of the Western World

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