Nevadans?

[SunnyDawn]

Sunny & Co.
Good luck with the move. Sounds like a fun (work) party. The ice cream sounds like a nice reward for a job well done.

In re: Poor
I've had a bout or two with near-poverty in my time. Most memorable was post-divorce... Wow! It certainly separated the friends from acquantances. But you know what? When you end up with nothing, you appreciate *everything* so much more. AND you discover what you're really made of....and how little one really needs to survive. It's interesting and eye-opening to have lived on both sides of the fence. My friends now comment on how down-to-earth I am. Well, could it be because putting on airs is just that? Seriously, I'd rather have a good honest bucket of dirt than a gilded box of sh*t. Everybody and every body has value; we're all the same underall and the sooner we realize it, the sooner we can all work and co-exist together. Sure, some folks are better off than others, but to lord it over another is just, well, so shallow of character.

DH & I left CA and some well-paying jobs for the unknown of NV. DH is making about 30% less, I'm making about half what I used to. It took a little adjusting. Got rid of cable-osity. We both drive older-but-paid-for cars. I've become a master of supermarket shopping and kitchen recycling. My mom is rather vociferous that I don't visit as often as I used or do as many family holidays, but I realized I cannot go broke keeping her happy when the 1600+ round trips were costing a fortune in gas, car wear-and-tear and lost income. The only other thing that has kept us above-water is that religiously I take out 10% BEFORE figuring bills. It disappears into the buffer account meant for emergencies and savings. This has more than once saved our behinds when the paycheck was short and the mortgage looming....and then paid back ASAP the borrowed amount. (Nice to be your own banker) We try not to rely on this amount/account, but are grateful that perserverance pays off.

I count my blessings every day and in every way. Being grateful keeps you real. And, honestly, just taking pride (much like a kid, I think) in my DIY stuff -- "Lookit at what I did!" -- is truly more satisfying than the material stuff.

Thanks Dee! I agree that we don't need near as much as we think we do. Of course we think we need a lot because advertisers are very skillful at making us think that. I have nothing against folks making money, I just like to think I have a little more intelligence than the average consumer so I try to avoid falling for every ad I see. It's such a huge part of our society that I think folks forget that most of it is an illusion created to entice you to hand over your money.

 

[SunnyDawn]

That's always hard. We have 2 very good friends in the Bay Area that are quite well to do and even before these last few tough years, when we lost almost everything, it was strained. Not that they aren't the sweetest folks but it is much easier to have something in common with the people you hang out with. They own a few lovely houses in the states and a couple condos in other countries and never rub it in our faces but it is a little awkward still.

 

[chicharomirinda]

spent some quality time with the chicks this afternoon. the silkies are warming up to me. the speckled sussex are super duper friendly as is the brahma. I have no clue what the genders of the silkies are. the smallest one has a single comb and large wattles already so that one may be a roo. other than that I don't know but they are darn cute.

p.s.

There's a thread on BYC called "Just curious who else is living super frugal" which is chock full of good advice and tips.

I'll have to check that out. Good tip you have on putting away 10% for emergencies. I'm working on a one month buffer fund. Had one awhile back and have to rebuild it. eventually of course, the goal is to build that into a larger emergency fund. We also have been driving paid-for cars for a long time. So freeing not to have any car payments. Now let's hope our

15 year old car will keep chugging for awhile longer.

OK maybe it's just something me Steffanie, Pam and Kim would appreciate (the ones that have a thing for chocolate covered bananas) but I just finished making the chocolate banana ice cream and I am floating on a cloud right now!!! It is seriously yuu-uuh-mee!!!!! There may not be any left for you guys by tomorrow!

I am halfway through making the lasagna sauce too. Not everything is packed yet but that's ok. As long as the big stuff gets moved Steve and I can handle the rest.

Steve took next week off to give us time to unpack, clean the old place and get animals set up in their new home so we should be just fine (The uber tired Sunny is trying not to stress lol).

the food sounds really yummy! We will be over close to 9.

Quote:

Speaking of excess kale...my sister just made "kale chips" and I thought they were quite tasty. She cut it up put some olive oil and salt on it and baked it until they were dry and crunchy. You don't want to burn them though (yuck!). Snacks like a chip! I thought, "Man, what a healthy, cheap treat." I also agree that being poor isn't as bad a thing as it used to be, but we've lost a few friends lately too. Not really lost, I guess, but I just have such a hard time being around people that pity me. Plus it's a bit hard on the little one...the friends' kids are somewhat spoiled and she gets a little green when we get together. Ah well, "two roads diverged in a yellow wood..."

sounds good. i have some gorgeous kale I am growing for the first time this year. I'm definitely going to plant some more for a fall crop.

 

[SunnyDawn]

Quote:
Cool! See ya soon!

 

[NevadaRon]

YES! Very good advice! We will be setting up the guest bed first. We finally broke down and ordered one of those memory foam mattresses we were talking about a while back and it is in transit right now so we can sleep on the guest bed til it arrives.

Anyone else want to come tomorrow? There will be plenty of lasagna and ice cream to go around!

Cool! Where did you get it from?

I wish I could come tomorrow - sounds like fun! But my nephew is home from Afghanistan and we are having a barbecue tomorrow in his honor. He just got enrolled at UNR, too, so that is awesome 'cause he is discharged from the Marines in August and then we will have him close by for a while.

 

[SunnyDawn]

Quote: You mentioned that before. That is so cool to have him home again!!! And it will be so nice for you all to have him close by after missing him for so long. Our son-in-law and Steve's nephew did 2 tours each and it is such a relief to finally have them here to stay! So hard when they are over there and we have no idea how they're doing.

We got the bed from a company called Olejo. It is the Serta icomfort bed. We got the mattress only since it will be a cheaper to just get any box spring to fit it. It has that cool gel technology and gets great reviews but it is such a new mattress that we have no idea how it will hold up over time. *sigh* That is the same story as with the Sleep Number bed that we dislike so much. Hopefully this one will have a happier ending. They made us a great deal so we are pretty excited about it!

 

[SunnyDawn]

OK tonight I'm planning on a much better night of sleep. G'night all!

 

[gaited horse]

OK tonight I'm planning on a much better night of sleep.  G'night all!

I wish I could help you move Sunny but I work 2-10 and I'm having a super rough week. Family problems.

 

[sherylreno]

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't been on here, lot's of stuff was going on with Nonni but I believe she will be okay. The last few months her feet and legs were swollen, her doctor took her of her water pills thinking they might be hurting her kidney's and at her age her kidney's only work 2/3 of the time. I kept telling Nonni she must get the water off but she wouldn't listen. Last Sunday she started coughing and I knew it was the fluid going to her lungs. She said no it was just a cold. I told her it can't be, she hadn't been exposed to any germs. She told me it was the weather changing all of the time. Anyways, Wednesday I was able to get her into her doctor and she was very surprised how much fluid build up Nonni. The doctor looked at me and said I can hear it in her lungs, it's in there. The great news was the doctor didn't believe it reached her heart. WHEW! She kept getting worse so today I took her to get a chest x-ray just to make sure she didn't get pneumonia from all of this. I'll keep everyone updated on her progress. Last night she asked me why she was coughing so much if she didn't have a cold. I smiled and explained what the fluid does and where it goes. She looked at me and smiled and then she said, Sheryl, I'm hard headed. I laughed and I said yes you are but you are allowed to be.

Sunny, I can't get on John's insurance because he works at the same place as me. He was the RV park manager but he was lowered to a clerk now and so was his pay. I wish I could help you with the move but John's truck broke down and it's in the shop. They are trying to find a hub for his left front wheel. He's using my vehicle and I must be home with Nonni too. She's still coughing tons and she's still swollen in her legs & feet.

I know we will be just fine. We do not owe anything on credit. No credit cards. Our house payments are really low around $550 a month and we own our trucks too. We just have the normal stuff like every one else except for the cable, which we can't stop. Nonni also must have the daily newspaper and that won't stop either. Just a few things here and there she likes to have and we won't stop those either. Just like Aubrey said - What Nonni wants Nonni gets! She has lived here for 98 years now and for the ones who has met her they know she does not act like it nor does she look like it. She reminds me of someone in their late 70's or 80's but with a lot less wrinkles. She still does her own laundry, housekeeping, and just about everything else you can think of. She has done her time all of her life, I don't think she should need to do anything again. But she got pretty mad at me when she first moved in because I wouldn't let her do anything. She told me she was going to move out and get her own place so she can do the housework there. I let her do it when she can. I don't fuss about it. It's not as clean like it once was but so what. It gives her stuff to do.

Good night all. Enjoy tomorrow! I know it's work but it's also a nice get-together.

Oh and talking about inspiring, everyone on here was inspired me to really look up and not to worry so much. Yes, I won't be going to Florida this year but hey, I don't like Florida, I like the people there but not the place. I think it's time they come this way anyways. My dad will be here Wednesday for almost 2 weeks. I'm really looking forward to it.

 

[pigtail21]

Sorry for the late reminder but for those of you who are interested, NNPFA is having another Chicken Swap tomorrow (Saturday June 9th)9-2pm @ Feed World this month and then mark your calendars for July 15th at 1-Stop Ranch and Feed. We will be holding our raffle on July 15th too! We are getting Gift Certificates from local feed stores and hope to get some other donations as well. Raffle tickets are $5 each and 100% of proceeds go to pay for the Livestock Event Center rental for our show(the bldg costs us nearly $2000 to rent!).

Thanks Aubrey for the referral on the Showgirls, The lady really wants to get some but can't make the drive from Idaho so if anyone is headed to Idaho and can deliver 4 showgirls let me know thanks!!

Have a great weekend everyone!


Some young Calls hatched by me. Blue Pied, Gray, White, and Blue Fawn....I really love my calls this is the 2nd year we have hatched them, such big attitudes in little bodies!!


Heathers Sebastapol goslings, hatched Easter weekend, they are very tame and the male, Elvis, will sit in her lap, the female Marilyn stays just out of reach but will nibble on your clothes when you are not looking