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My mother passed away this past Monday. The last 6 months have been devoted to her care. I haven't given much thought to anything else.

Now I have extra time to fill. I put a lot on hold so I have many things to chose from to get back to. I'm not sure where to start. 

Today I washed the inside of the fridge though.

Greetings,

I have been focusing more on the food aspects in this study and also decluttering the more modern items I have bought and am not using due to their shoddy construction.

Really am streamlining the many choices I  had in my pantry. Two kinds of pasta instead of the plethora of shapes and sizes. Incorporating more lentils, beans and rice into my dishes.  Basic breakfasts of eggs or oatmeal or just toast. These small changes of not buying so many varieties of food is really helping my food budget. Fixing hamburger or sausage gravy over rice or mashed potatoes has become a go to dish.  Lots more vegetables served also. 

I owned and operated a restaurant for 5 years and also did catering jobs after that - I find it difficult sometimes to make smaller portions or less variety.  I did find several wartime recipes for cakes that make a 8x8 dish. I was surprised my family enjoyed those as much or more than the elaborate ones I used to make.  

As my family is not on board with this study - I have struggled with implementing many ideas I have to live a simpler life. Which is why I enjoy reading the pearls of wisdom from GDonna and the commenters. I can live vicariously through others. 

Margaret, my thoughts and prayers are with you as you go through this grieving period. 

Blessings, Tammy

Another reason to soak beans before cooking is that they will cook quicker and use less energy. We have a lot of projects we want to finish up this year, so we always have something going on. I feel like I have been doing and doing for years to make changes, and I want to be finished so I can finally enjoy my new life. :) That's why we're making a big push this year to get done. I am tired of making changes and just want serenity in my life from now on. 

My Mother's Day carnations that I planted last year are still doing great, so I am excited to have my special flowers on the holiday. :) The violets in the flower border will top my birthday cake as usual. I've ordered a special English rose bush and look forward to the beautiful fragrant blooms in the house. Easter will have the lilies of the valley again. There will be the bulb flowers in the yard and house soon, and sitting outside by the lilac bush in spring to catch the fragrance on the breeze. I guess my special touches are done with flowers. :) 

Margaret, I am sorry for the loss of your mother. When my parents passed after months of caring for them I found myself a bit "adrift".  More time but what to do first, take your time and I will pray for you.

I have been eating more in line with what I have read about rationing, a lot more veggies and very little meat. It helps that lately I have very little taste for meat. Tonight is broccoli salad and baked potato skins.  I made baked potatoes today to use in potato salad to be eaten tomorrow. I like my potato salad to sit in the fridge and meld. The potato salad tomorrow will be my main dish and will have carrot, and celery sticks along with it, maybe some crackers also.

I also soak my beans, sometimes I soak and cook extra and freeze a serving or two. It's hard to cook enough beans for just one person.

We have had false spring here in Indiana this week, many of my perennials are trying to poke through the leaves but I know better than to uncover them.  I really was tempted to clean up flower beds but didn't as I know there are birds and insects that need that cover. 

I have kept myself busy doing repair work on garden decor and some crafting with things I have on hand. 

I have started pouring any leftover coffee into a mason jar in the AM and reheating it as wanted. 

I try not to let outside news get to me, reading a lot of old housekeeping books from the 1890's.