Cinco de Mayo...also known as feed the need day!

 

*278* <----sustained for a week now..goodbye 80s

Cinco de Mayo  is observed in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride, and to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War. In the state of Puebla, the date is observed to commemorate the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín. Contrary to widespread popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day, the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico, which occurs on September 16th.

  Now we all know (according to Wiki) what Cinco de Mayo is really about. It is not about gorging ourselves on mini tacos and doing tequila shots off of that hot dude or chic at the bar.  I will probably be making my standard carne asada. I know I have the meat but I do not think I have a lime. I will have to go pick some up. Maybe a couple tomatoes too so I can make some salsa.  I wonder if I have enough cheddar?  I am not really a drinker anymore. I used to be a major booze hound but not alcoholic territory. I knew when to say no. After I had kids and the years passed, I just did not really want it. I will occasionally get my drink on but those times are few and far between. Diabetes does not like alcohol.  If you are going to be out tonite drinking, Please be safe!

Two Astilibe and one forget me not

  I never did plant these yesterday. I was busy planting seeds and got side tracked. Then it started to downpour so I was done for the day. Today these pretties are going up those stairs behind them. In the shaded area to live a nice life in dappled sunshine. They will be happy, hopefully.
Oh I wanted to show you my free Earth Day tree from Lowe`s home improvement stores.....

Eastern White Pine

It is an Eastern White Pine tree. It has to live it`s life in a pot like this and then gradually it gets bigger into bigger pots. Then it goes into the ground. I will probably eventually plant it in the top yard in the back when it is old enough to handle being in the ground.  We will see if it survives the winter. I had wished for a fruit tree but you gets what they give ya.


 You will find that I will blab on and on about my gardening. Especially when the veggies start to come in. I get all excited over some produce! LOL I am truly sorry for that if it bores you to pieces. I just love to garden. I love that something that I put into the ground, prospered and came up to be something beautiful and edible and I did it organically. My dad had a veggie garden when I was growing up. We lived in an apartment in a big house. The landlady let him have a spot on the side. I think that is where the bug bit me when it came to plants. Before we owned a house, I had over 30 houseplants in my apartments. All different kinds that I pampered..LOL I have about.....10 now. three of them are cacti. I will always love it. I am no expert about stuff but if I know something, I will share. 
Okay, it is freaking cold in here! I have the kitchen window open behind me and my arms are cold. The temp outside says it is 59 deg F but I do not believe it. Feels colder. Brrrr!

Dressing up feels good

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I had a Dr appointment today and I decided to dress up a bit. I have gotten out of the fatty rut of dressing dumpy. When you feel bad about your physical self, you tend to dress like you are hiding..you do not want to be seen. All black clothes styled by Omar the tent maker. I will never wear tight clothes in the condition I am in but I have been adding more color. I have a long fuchsia scarf I wear when it is really cold out. You cannot miss me with that on. I have started wearing different colored winter hats, I have been braiding my hair or even letting it go long, and I have colored my hair red!
 So today I wore a bright peacock blue flouncy shirt that hung down onto my thighs with black leggings, and my kicky black winter boots. I looked good! I felt good! Since it was warmish today I even wore my dressy denim jacket.
 I think what I am trying to point out is that the more weight and inches that i lose, the better I feel, so being I lose more inches and weight. It is a good cycle!
Of course when  I got home, I got into my t-shirt and comfy sweats, with slippers! LOL. I have housecleaning to do and do not want to mess up my couture. I like the way I have been feeling. I do not have to strain to put clothing on anymore. I hated that when it started happening. Now that is gone. I know I can work this and lose so much more.
Last night I made carne asada and pico de gallo for dinner for Fred and I. There is enough leftover that I am going to have it for dinner again tonite. YummY!

Battle of the budget

New London Alleyway

*281*
 Sometimes lately I feel like this is my life. A narrow steep hill. Not exactly my life but everyone`s life really. It all comes down to money, honey. I had to run out to the cable company this morning and pay the bill...cause we were shut off..yet again.  I am going to be 42 years old in 16 days and I cannot keep the bills paid on time. I am not spending on anything frivolous or going to the casino. I am just buying food, gas, coffee, newspaper, and the bills are just higher then they have ever been. The mortgage is paid, the electricity is paid, and the water is paid..always! I have to scrape money together to buy oil when it is time and the rest of the bills wait until I get a shut off notice and then I pay them. I am basically robbing Peter to pay Paul.
  And I know that I am not the only one. I have always been frugal. I think that I am not frugal enough now. I have been thinking of the idea of either getting rid of cable all together or downgrading to the basic package. We have the internet and Netflix (so worth the $10 a month!).  I dont know anymore.
So I am going to do the old budget dance but this time I am going to be serious. This is how much we have, this is how much the bills are, this is what is leftover. That is it!
Chelsea does not give us a penny of her money to help out, and that has to change. She either has to start giving us money every paycheck or she has to find another place to live. Wow, I said it out loud..for others to read.  When Natalie finishes school, she will have to find work and either go or stay and pay.  You see, I get social security disability. For the past 8 years, I have been getting money for the girls also. Well, 2011 will be the last year that I will get money for Natalie. She turns 18 in October and the last check will probably be in September. It will be a loss of almost $500 a month. Big chunk. Scary sort of. I know we will manage but it will be hard. So this year is the year of change in terms of money and how we spend it.
I may document (kinda sorta) what I am doing, what I am learning, and how I am saving. Losing weight and gaining money!

First on the agenda is food. I was going to get something simple and easy for dinner tonite but then I decided as I was leaving the cable company parking lot that I am NOT going to do that. I am going to cook dammit!  So tonight is going to be my famous egg rolls. I have the hamburger and spring rolls skins defrosting. I also took out a steak that I bought last month for the carne asada for Un-Thanksgiving...It was an extra and I think I am going to make it again for dinner tomorrow.
So for now, that is what I am dealing with...money and how to spend and not to spend it.

Wish me luck!