Random Thoughts From Home!

I am so excited that Nolan will begin playing soccer this Fall! Another generation of Mitchell's on the socceer field. I love watching the game and  if we lived closer you can bet we'd be at every game! I'll be there in spirit for sure!

I found out my grades for this last quarter of school. I received a 3.5, a 3.9 and a 4.0! Tell the grandchildren that it's never too late to learn new things and that I'm having the time of my life discovering the joys of education!

Jordan and Ginanne have just a little over a week left before they head out on their new adventure. I'm sure proud of both of them for all the hard work and effort they put into achieving Jordan's teaching degree and now they step out into the world ready to conquer Arizona! Go San Luis Sidewinders! This little family is going to do great!

Dad's garden is doing great and he's almost got my strawberry patch finished. Can't wait to post pictures! I start volunteering at West Central Community Center next Thursday working with Mrs. Fowler doing storytime with the children. This will be a great opportunity to apply some of what I've learned in my classes. Can't wait!

Have a great week and we'll talk to each of you soon!

Love, Mom



Shopping for Bargains!

I went to Cash & Carry this morning. It's a bulk product place that I really enjoy. But here too, you have to make sure you're getting the best deal. For instance, C&C has a 5-lb block of Tillamook cheese for $17.87. Not a great deal but usually here you'll find a good deal on cheese. However, I noticed in the Yoke's ad this week they have a 2-lb baby Tillamook for $6.99. That would be $16.50 for 5 lbs worth. I would never pay this much for cheese anyway but it's an example of making sure you're paying the least amount. I ended up buying a 5-lb bag of shredded cheddar Jack for $9.98! Whoo-hoo! I also bought a 50 lb bag of flour for which I paid $13.87. The last time I bought flour was back in 2010 and I paid $11.69 for 50-lbs. How do I remember these things? I don't. I use a price book which some of you will recognize as an idea from The Tightwad Gazette. Mine is just half sheets of paper which has been used on one side. I hole punched it and started keeping track of main groceries I buy. Because of my book I know that I used to pay $3.75 for a #10 can of pizza sauce at C&C. Now I pay $4.39 for the same can. I like comparing the past to the present and keeping track where I got the best price for a product. I also bought 2 #10 cans of tomato sauce and 1 #10 can of tomato paste. I'll be canning spaghetti sauce soon and I'll post my recipe on my other blog. I paid about $11.00 for all three cans and should get about 14 quarts or more of sauce.

Happy thrifty shopping and here's to 'a penny saved, a penny earned'!

Love Mom

Random Thoughts from Home!

Ever since I read Lindsay's blog and saw Nolan's picture of his garden I've started getting excited for Spring! Dad's started a new raised flower bed for me in the northeast corner of the backyard and that meant using the dirt from my raised strawberry patch. But this year I'm going to take my sister Patty's amazing strawberry patch idea and put it in my garden. I'll share pictures as soon as we get going. Patty is an amazing gardener! And she shares her bounty of veggies and flowers with me. She makes my yard look good. Isn't it amazing how you never realize the gifts of your siblings until you're older? But thank you Nolan for your inspiring picture. You are wonderful and you are a great artist! Hurry up Spring!

Love

Grandma Mitchell

I'm posting recipes on the blog: grandma mitchell's recipes! Check it out!

Addition to Crouton Recipe!

Sorry, so very sorry. Forgot one of the most important steps for the croutons. Once you have them all shaken, put them on a cookie sheet and bake in an oven that's set at 300 degrees and let them cook for 15 min. They are so great!

Wow, that could have been disastrous!

Love

Mom

Random Thoughts from Home

I know it will come as no surprise to all of you that food prices are ridiculous! I went to Yoke's this morning to buy eggs and bananas that were on sale. I thought I'd pick up some bologna for Brady's sandwiches while I was there. Do you know how much their name brand bologna was? Let me tell you! It was $4.98 for 16 oz! Is that crazy or what? Well, I thought we could share some grocery budget tips with one another. If you have one, e-mail me and I'll get it out to everyone.

But let me start with this. Most of you have my homemade croutons recipe:

4 Tbls Parmesan cheese

4 Tbls salad oil

1/2 tsp. oergano, celery salt, and garlic salt

Put about 8 slices of diced day old or older bread in a bowl. Put the spices on top then the oil. Now put the lid on the bowl and shake away! Put them in a container and then enjoy. I use the heels from the bread because no one seems to like them here. These croutons are so easy and cheap, cheap, cheap!

Let me share an extra tip about these croutons. After the croutons are gone, at the bottom of my plastic container I had a bunch of bread crumbs. I was throwing them away and then I realized I was throwing away seasoned bread crumbs! AAAARRRRGGG!!! What a waste. Now I put those bread crumbs in a marked contaiiner and keep them in the freezer! You can use them for toppings over casseroles or vegetables. I recently used them over a great broccoli cheese bake that I found on Jamiecooksitup.blogspot. Try this blog. She has some great recipes that don't call for unusual ingredients. Just what you probably have on hand! I love it. Anyway, save those heels from the bread and try making the croutons. You'll love them.

Love and lots of savings!

Mom

random thoughts from home!

Just to bring everyone up to speed. Sr. Nygaard passed away last Saturday. Her funeral was yesterday but Dad and I worked at the temple so we dropped off our cake, paid our respects and went to the temple. Helen will be missed by all who knew her. She personified true, unconditional love!

So what's new? Jordan has started subbing in surrounding school districts! Yay for jobs, temporary though they may be. He is a great teacher!

Becky is flying to Virginia in April to spend some time with Maran and family!

Brady is now a ward missionary in the singles ward. Whoo-hoo!

Zach finally got his fafsa worked out so he can start classes at SFCC in Pullman this Spring!

Auburn is getting so big. Can't wait to see the far-away grandkids this summer!!!!!!!!!

Dad and I painted our bedroom and bathroom. About time, I tell you. Now Dad is working on finishing the window in Zach's room downstairs.

We love working in the temple. Such a great spirit and always busy. The 6 hours fly by!

I love school. I love that I remembered how to write whole sentences and put thoughts together on paper. I used to be good at that and it's coming back. You are never to old to start something new. Dad is busy doing taxes again.

Happy anniversary to Maran and Devin. Check your calendars for date. And Happy Birthday to Velma on the 7th.

In closing let me say that the greatest gift I ever gave you kids was when I married your Dad!

You're welcome!

Love

Mom