Hitting the Ground Running on Monday

I love Mondays when I don't have to go to the office!  I slept in, had my cup of coffee, responded to comments on the blog, swept the bathroom, took my shower, trimmed my toe nails, and planned my day. 

First, I went to the auto club to have my daughter put back on my insurance so she can drive my car when she visits, as she will need to drive me home from the hospital.  That was done without any difficulty and I received a free tote bag, as well! 

From there, I drove to the dollar store to buy a few items I wanted - two more lint rollers (helpful to remove cat fur from the sofas), a packet of cotton swabs, a package of 2 "D" batteries to replace the batteries in one of the flash lights, and a packet of elastic hair ties.  Yes, my hair has grown out long enough (almost shoulder length) for me to gather it up in a sort of pony tail!  It looks like the tail of a cotton tail rabbit, when I do so, but I don't care!  I have hair, again!  I also bought a bouquet of artificial (fabric) roses, just in case my mother's grave hadn't been cleaned up and I couldn't place fresh flowers due to the lack of access to the in-ground vase. 

Then, I stopped by the cemetery.  I thought today would be a better day to visit, rather than over the weekend, because, if they hadn't cleaned the grave, I could go to the office to complain to the manager, since she would be working during the week (she's not there during the weekend).  However, the grave site had been cleaned and the vase was accessible!  I was so happy.  I left the bouquet of artificial flowers, there, today, but I will return with fresh flowers, another day.

Daughter texted me while I was still at the grave site, with a picture of her lunch:

Salad, Chicken Taquitos with Pico de Gallo, and Plums, Pomegranate Dressing.

That's it!  I need to get this girl to come home and fix lunch for me!  I was also reminded that I hadn't had any breakfast or lunch, yet! 

I went to the grocery stores, next.  I had checked the store ads and decided to go to the Armenian grocery store for the majority of my items, as they had some good sales and then, to the Kroger store for milk ($1.99/half gallon; $2.99/half gallon at the Armenian store) and cantaloupe ($.50/lb; it was more at the Armenian store).

At the Armenian store, I bought:
Bread (24 0z) = $1.99
1 can (15 oz) mackerel = $1.49
1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk = $.99
1 container (16 oz) yogurt/kefir cheese = $1.49
1 bottle (44 oz) ketchup = $2.99
1 lb (approx) beef shoulder steak (4 pieces) @$2.99/lb = $3.17

2 peaches @$1.99/lb = $1.09
Apple bananas @$.99/lb = $1.34
1 bunch spinach = $.79  ($1.49/lb. at Kroger)
3 potatoes @3 lb/$1 = $.61 
1 yucca root @$.79/lb = $.61 ($.99/lb. at Kroger)
1 zucchini @$.39/lb = $.12 ($.99/lb. at Kroger)
Green beans @$.79/lb = $.29 ($1.79/lb. at Kroger)
1 cabbage @$.20/lb = $.18
Onions @$.20/lb = $.30
Broccoli crown @$.49/lb = $.17
Total = $17.62

 I forgot to check the prices of other items at Kroger, but most were more expensive than at the Armenian store, this week, except for the cantaloupe.

At the Kroger store, I bought:
1/2 gal. milk = $1.99
1 cantaloupe @$.50/lb =  $1.85
2 lb. butter @$2.99 = $5.98
Total = $9.82

Dairy: Milk, Yogurt, Butter

Butter was $2.99/lb., which seems to be the best price, so far.

Fruits

I decided to buy the apple bananas for a change, this time, for $.99/lb.; regular bananas were $.87/lb at the Armenian store (expensive!) and $.49 at the Kroger store.

Vegetables

I mostly bought the vegetables that were on "loss leader" sale, this week.

Bread and Beef

I bought 4 beef steaks, which came to a little over 1 lb.; each steak was approx. 4 oz.

Pantry Items

I had come to the very end of the ketchup (bottle is set upside down in the fridge!); I also decided to buy the canned fish and the coconut milk to replace what I used, last week.

2/12 Receipt - Store1

2/12 Receipt - Store 2

Total spent today = $17.62 + $9.82 = $27.44

February grocery budget = $75 +  $17.23 carried over from January =  $92.23

Spent to date = $7.03 + $27.44 = $34.47

Balance left in the budget = $57.76

 

I also put gas to the car; gas was $3.15/gal. and I put $28.01 worth of gas - I now have a full tank of gas for the week ahead.

 

By then, it was almost 4:00 p.m. and I was starting to get hungry!  So, I came home, took pictures of the groceries, put away the perishables, and ate a banana and some of the bread I had bought, followed by a cup of tea.

 

Later in the evening, I took the trash cans to the curb, put water (with the garden hose) to the front garden and with the sprinklers, to the back garden.  Folded and put away the quilt I washed yesterday and put another quilt to wash (it is draped on the drying rack in the living room, in front of the heater, to dry overnight).  

Then, I cooked dinner:

 

 

Beef Steak

I sauted the steaks with onions, tomato, salt, pepper, curry leaves, and Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce.

Mixed Vegetables

I cut up two carrots, half of the head of broccoli I had bought, some of the green beans, and boiled them in a little bit of salted water, along with a handful of frozen green peas.

A whole steak was too much for me, so I served myself half of one with about half of the vegetables:

 

Dinner

 

I had a slice of bread with butter and golden syrup for dessert, along with the orange that fell from the tree, today, and another banana. 

There's enough leftover steak for the week, unless I decide to freeze some of it and cook a fish curry, midweek.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Getting all my errands done!
- My mother's grave has been cleared
- Daughter is now back on my insurance and can drive the car
- A free tote bag
- Bargains at the grocery store

Tuesday's To Do List:
- Go to the office
- Bring the trash cans in
- Water the indoor plants
- Another load of laundry?

I am very pleased with what I was able to accomplish, today.  How was your Monday?