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| Peach Flowers |
The peach tree is very confused and thinks it is spring! Hardly any of the buds were open on Friday, but, they started opening, this weekend! The problem is, February is usually our coldest month and these flowers might have bloomed too soon. The bees, however, are going crazy!
Thank you, everyone for the kind comments on the collage in yesterday's post. I had discovered the collage function on the phone quite by accident and, today, I couldn't remember just how I did it! But, I played around a bit and figured it out! I'm still learning how to take pictures on this phone (you have to click on a specific round spot on the screen to take the picture, whereas, in the old phone, I could touch anywhere on the screen - I keep forgetting and then, wondering why it is not taking a picture!) As a result, some pictures are blurred and out of focus.
Today was another sunny and warm day. In the morning, I did a few things around the house and took these peach flower pictures. In the early afternoon, I went to pick up my groceries. I had received a text saying that one item I had ordered was unavailable and they had a substitution for my approval. I agreed to the substitution, so I received pork and vegetable frozen potstickers/gyozas instead of the chicken and vegetable ones I ordered.
The pick up went smoothly; it was the young boy, again, who brought out my groceries and loaded them. Maybe Jennifer left! Or got into trouble for giving out so many discounts! I hope not, as she was a really pleasant young woman.
Other than that one substitution, the order had everything I wanted. I bought:
2 lb. package 80% lean ground beef (reg. $9.98) = $8.98
1 package (5 count) Italian sausages (reg. $5.79) = $3.99
1 package (20 oz.) frozen pork and vegetable potstickers = $4.99
Bananas @ $.65/lb. = $1.35
Pears @ $1.49/lb = $1.91
1 Cantaloupe = $2.50
2 Mangos @ $1 = $2.00
2 Avocados @$1.25 = $2.50
Apples @ $1.48/lb. = $2.29
1 container (64 fl. oz.) cranberry juice = $3.99
Broccoli @ $1.99/lb. = $2.15
1 Cucumber = $0.99
Green beans @ $1.99lb. = $2.43
1 Iceberg lettuce = $1.69
1 lb. kale = $1.49
White yam @$1.49/lb. = $1.61
1/2 gal. half & half = $3.99
1/2 gal. milk = $2.29
1 package (8 oz.) tofu shirataki noodles = $1.69
1 lb. package quinoa = $3.79
1 lb. red lentils = $2.29
1 loaf (24 oz.) multi grain bread = $1.99
1 bottle (2 oz.) garlic poweder = $1.25
1 bag hot Cheetos = $3.50
The total came to $65.65
My January grocery budget is $200. So far, I have spent $23.12 + $83.06 + 65.65 = $171.83
I might or might not do another grocery order before the end of the month. This week's grocery ads (prices effective Wednesday to Tuesday) arrived today and chicken drumsticks and thighs will be on sale for $.99/lb. and ground beef for $2.99. Those are good stocking up prices for me. Besides, daughter will need a new container of half and half by next week, anyway.
On the whole, it looks like I will be able to keep to my new budget of $200/month (down from $250/month), at least in January.
I cooked some of the potstickers for our lunch, today. I added some freshly picked snowpeas from the garden and sliced carrots to the potstickers to make it a more balanced meal. According to the bag, 3 potstickers are a serving, with 150 calories per serving and a bag contains about 7 servings. But, 3 potstickers aren't enough for a meal in my opinion; I cooked 5 for me and 6 for my daughter. There is enough in the bag for one person's meal or a light snack for two.
I was going to cook the ground beef for dinner, but, when it was time to cook dinner, I changed my mind and cooked the package of sausages, instead! I added onion slices, bell pepper strips, and half a can of diced tomatoes to the sausages and cooked a fresh pot of rice to go with it. There are leftovers for tomorrow's lunch or dinner.
Today, I am grateful for:
- Being able to afford groceries
- Being able to pick up groceries using the store's curbside pick up service
- Receiving everything I ordered with only one substitution
- A safe drive to the store and back
- Daughter figuring out how to set the voicemail function on my phone
Today's joyful activity was picking fresh peapods from the garden.
Plans for tomorrow include having M tend to the garden.
How was your Tuesday? What are your plans for Wednesday? How are you doing with your grocery shopping? Are you able to stay within budget?
I keep reading of problems with supplies and with empty shelves in stores so it's good to hear that you received everything you ordered with just one substitution. I'm reviewing my budget now that I am eating differently but it's a work in progress!
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting for my piano to be delivered. The carrier phoned to say they were close so it should arrive within the next 30 minutes 😀😀
I am very grateful I was able to receive all the items I ordered and the one substitution worked out well. My budget is a work in progress, too, especially these days when I am ordering things like cat food and laundry detergent in larger quantities (to qualify for free delivery), but, less frequently. But, it all works out in the end, I think.
DeleteHope the piano has been delivered by now and you are enjoying playing it! :)
Mind blowing pic
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteYour pictures reminded me of the peach tree we had at our old house. It was always so beautiful in the spring, but only yielded a few edible peaches over the years. The bugs and squirrels saw to that.
ReplyDeleteI have to watch out for the birds - they seem to know just when the peaches are ripe to eat them! So far, the garden cats have kept the squirrels at bay!
DeleteBudgeting, especially around food, is quite a challenge these days & oh so expensive. I joke that Mr Man & I will have to take turns eating, if prices keep soaring. Peach flowers are very pretty, another good collage. Let's hope they know something of forthcoming weather that we don't!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the cost of food keeps going up! I am going to try growing more vegetables, etc., in my garden, but, by the time I pay for the gardener and for the water, the resulting vegetables are quite expensive!
DeleteI hope the peach tree didn't flower too soon! It is supposed to be an early variety, with the fruits ripening by mid to late June, but, I don't think it flowered quite so early in the previous years!
You must be getting some nice weather for your peach tree to bloom like that.
ReplyDeleteIt is so pretty. This is the one M did a hard trim on, right? Do you have 2 peach trees? I think you only have this relatively new one, right? That's so nice that the bees love it.
That's great that you will probably be under your new grocery budget amount. You are buying nice things and making delicious food for you and your daughter.
Just looking at my budget and I will be under as well. But I was over in December because of stocking up so I knew this month would work that all out.
It's funny you mention the potstickers/dumplings. 3 would not be enough for me either lol
We used to get ours at Trader Joes. The store is a bit less than 1/2 hour away so whenever we were in the area I would take a cooler and stock up on them.
I haven't been to TJ's since the pandemic began so I've been out of them for a while.
My history with buying other brands is not good so I've just gone without.
Just this morning I was thinking I'd like them so I added some to my cart for a grocery pickup next week when the new month begins. They are smaller ones made by Bibigo and I thought they'd be nice in a soup I sometimes make.
Do you have a grocery store brand you'd recommend?
I made bread dough yesterday but didn't bake it so I will be making that later to go with a vegetable bean soup for dinner.
Our night time temperatures are in the low to mid 40s, these days, and daytime temps. are in the mid to upper 60s, occasionally going up to the low 70s (today's afternoon high is supposed to be 72; currently 68). Maybe spring will be early, this year.
DeleteI have only this one peach tree, still relatively new, and yes, it's the one that M pruned way back! Since the main trunk broke off at the top (taping it didn't work), two side shoots from two side branches have grown upwards to take its place!
I am happy with how the new grocery budget has worked for me, this month. I will spend the remaining $28 to stock up on meat, next week, before the sale ends.
I don't have a favorite brand for the potstickers; I used to buy Ling Ling brand which was available at a different grocery store I used to go to (before Covid); the Kroger store didn't carry them and they substituted a different brand (forget the name) which they have also stopped carrying! The chicken and vegetable potstickers that I ordered were Wei-Chuan, but, the substitute they provided were O'Tasty pork and vegetable! Which were pretty good! My daughter has tried the TJ potstickers and says she likes them, especially the Thai shrimp ones, but, I haven't tried them, myself.
Yum! Fresh homemade bread with soup sounds delicious. :)
Wonderful peach flowers! I hope the weather is kind to them. I make a peach crisp the other day with frozen peaches. I think potstickers are worthy of indulging in more than 3 at a serving!
ReplyDeleteI called someone I hadn't spoken to for months and then wrote two snail mail letters which will go overseas tomorrow when I drive into town. I refuse to walk up the road and check the mailbox this afternoon, even if the local paper is due in today - it's too cold!
I thought you might like to see the flowers, Bushlady. :) Your peach crisp sounds delicious!
Delete3 potstickers might be alright for an appetizer or, perhaps, in a serving of soup, along with some other items. But, not enough to make a meal of it!
Sounds like you are staying in touch with friends and family while staying indoors, keeping warm! The local paper might have to wait until you can pick it up, tomorrow on your way to or from town. :)
I hope that the sausages were good. Sometimes you just have to commit to buy when you see a good deal. I love those pictures, they are a glorious colour!
ReplyDeleteThe sausages were very good! Daughter and I enjoyed our meal. :)
DeleteThank you; I am hoping there will be a good crop of peaches this year, too. :)
I hope the peach tree hasn't flowered too early. It's flowers are looking lovely tho. I have an old (30+ years) WW recipe for chicken gyozas, it's quite simple using bought wraps, and very good. I make them and freeze, they are a treat on tired work days! I'm sure the ones from the grocery are better, but I've never tried them. Celie
ReplyDeleteI, too, hope it hasn't flowered too early, even though they are an early peach (ready to be picked in mid-to-late June). I'm sure your homemade gyozas are much better from a nutrition point of view than what we can buy from the grocery stores! In fact, I was looking up a few recipes and maybe making our own might be something to try with my daughter, one day. :)
DeleteThis may be the first time that I have seen peach blossom (unless you have posted a picture before). It's beautiful. I keep thinking spring is not far off here, too, as the birds have been singing a lot and seem very active. However it's not unusual to have snow in February and March so let's see. I do hope that the fruit blossom won't be destroyed by a surprise cold snap.
ReplyDeleteI might have posted a picture or two, earlier, but, this is the first time I've done so in a collage format. :) They are very pretty, aren't they? I hope it doesn't get too cold in February and we'll still get some peaches, this year! Maybe it is a sign of an early spring, because the blueberry bushes are also flowering!
DeleteYou'll have to ask the young boy if Jennifer is OK if he's there on your next grocery pickup, he won't mind your asking I'm sure. You're doing well with your food budget considering how fast prices are rising, they are here and I notice it each week.
ReplyDeleteThe peach flowers are lovely.
Yes, I think I will ask him about Jennifer. It's probably due to their schedules/the days I choose to pick up groceries, etc. I'm trying to keep my grocery costs down; I am finding that various other things are also going up in price! Makes it a bit of a challenge for those of us who are on a fixed income!
DeleteThe peach flowers look lovely.
ReplyDeleteGlad you were able to find almost all of what you needed. Shelves were pretty sparse here, but I suppose it varies from shop to shop. I am trying to limit my spending so staying away from unnecessary shopping trips. I do have a couple of things on my list in case we stop at a different shop this weekend.
Thank you, Sharon.
DeleteThe grocery shopping has gone pretty well; in my experience, there were more things in short supply at the beginning of the pandemic than right now. Keeping a list of needed items is a good way to shop. :)