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| The Garden Plants are Loving the Rain (Those tiny plants are osteospermum seedlings) |
Monday was a mostly sunny day and "warm" with a high of 65F. I must be getting used to the cooler temperatures we've been having because I didn't need to switch the heater on until quite late at night. Of course, I was wearing a pair of leggings under my jeans and three sweaters plus a scarf, so, I was well insulated! LOL. But, it's only 55F, today (Tuesday), and rainy; I'm wearing the same number of layers, plus a knitted poncho and a scarf AND my fingerless mitts, but, I had to switch the heater on as I felt cold (thermostat was set at 65F, but I was still cold and I've since raised it to 70F). Now we know why I have so many clothes in the closet! I wear multiples of them in the winter to keep warm! LOL!
On Monday, I paid my gas bill of $337.74 (for the billing period 1/20/23 - 2/17/23). I had used fewer therms of gas (104) than during the same billing period in 2022 (136), but, the cost of gas and associated fees and taxes have gone up, so, the amount of the bill ($337.74) had increased, too (last year's bill was $277.46). I used 32 fewer therms and paid $60 more! Sigh. The next meter reading will take place 3/20/23; the current estimate of that bill is $263.22.
I also cleaned the litter box, took the trash cans to the end of the driveway, took the kitchen scraps to the compost pile, and checked on the garden, a bit. The blueberry bushes are in planters set under the cover of the patio overhang and they don't get much of the rain, so I watered them. The rest of the garden is getting rained on, today, and there's more rain in the forecast for tomorrow, as well!
In the evening, I cooked one of the trays of chicken thighs I had bought on Sunday. There were 10 thighs in the tray. I sauteed them with some onions and two of the Roma tomatoes I had bought, earlier in the month. There was a tiny bit of teriyaki sauce that my daughter had made when she was here and kept in the fridge for me, so I added that to the chicken, too, along with some salt and pepper. Once they were cooked, I decided to have one for my dinner (although that was not in my meal plan!) with the leftover rice I had in the fridge, and I stir fried some carrots and broccoli to go with it.
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| Monday Night's Dinner |
I froze some of the cooked chicken in meal sized portions and kept the remaining couple of pieces in the fridge, along with the leftover stir fried vegetables, for later in the week. I will cook the remaining tray of chicken thighs, tonight, and freeze them, too. Having cooked chicken in the freezer helps; they are easy to thaw and reheat in the microwave.
- Weekly trash collection services
- Working appliances
- M's roof repairs seem to be holding up
- Delivery services - I ordered some kitty litter and one box was delivered yesterday and the other is expected to be delivered today.
Gardens certainly do love the rain but not me I'm afraid as I've been wet through more than once while out walking this week. I'm glad M did a good job on your roof repairs and they are holding up well. Your meal looks delicious. That's a good idea to cook all the chicken at once then freeze and just take out what you need for reheating in the microwave, something I should do.
ReplyDeleteMy garden is enjoying all the rain we've been getting! But, I get to stay indoors and be dry, since Dancer doesn't need to be walked! I'm sorry you and Tilly have been getting wet on your walks.
DeleteI baked the second try of chicken, today, and it is ready to be frozen. I added just a little salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, ground ginger, and soy sauce to them before I baked them. So they are seasoned and ready to be reheated and eaten as they are or cut up and added to a stir-fry or something. I figure it doesn't take that much more time to cook several pieces of chicken in one go as it take to cook just a couple of pieces. :)
All that rain looks like your garden is thriving in it. Hopefully it will warm up soon so you can peel off a few layers of clothes :) Glad to read that M did a masterful job of fixing your roof & no leaks to report.
ReplyDeleteThe garden is enjoying all the rain! Believe me, that warm weather will not come too soon for me! :D M checked his roofing repairs today and he's not too happy with them, but, then, he's a perfectionist. I think they'll hold well enough to keep the water out until I can have a professional roofer check things out.
DeleteLove seeing all of you happy flowers!
ReplyDeleteThank you, June. :) The garden is enjoying the rain!
DeleteYour garden is looking lovely with all that rain you've been having.
ReplyDeleteYour meal looks very tasty. I do the same as you and prefer to cook all the chicken so it's seasoned and ready to be made into another meal. Sometimes I freeze it in individual portions and sometimes go ahead and cool up the other meals and freeze them like that. Either way I always have something ready cooked so whatever I choose to do it'll be quick! xx
Thank you, Eileen; the garden is getting well watered for a change!
DeleteYes, I think I prefer cooking the chicken and freezing it. I was debating whether to cook a couple of sides and make my own freezer meals, but, that takes up more freezer space. Having pre-cooked chicken in the freezer will come in handy in summer when it is too hot to cook!
That sounds delicious. I plan to make buttermilk biscuits today. Chicken is so versatile. The broth is so healing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Stephenie; buttermilk biscuits would be lovely, too. I found a recipe for biscuits using yogurt; I might make some using my homemade yogurt. :)
DeleteI like chicken and right now, that's a good thing because all other meat is more expensive!
Those flowers look happy with the rain they have had. I cooked chicken thighs last week and I was annoyed to find that underneath 2 of them was a large piece of skin and fat attached that I had to remove. The other 2 had slightly less to remove. I baked mine, too.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I had a good visit with my friend round the corner and it was a nice day for walking, too. DH was busy installing taps in maple trees again. Nothing is running yet, it isn't really warm enough in the day.
The garden is enjoying all the rain it has been getting!
DeleteI used to remove the skin from the chicken and that was my least favorite part about cooking chicken. These days, I cook it skin and all. I remove the skin when eating it and and Mama Cat gets a treat! :D I keep the bones in a container in the freezer and when I have enough, I make broth with them. Waste not and all that! :D
That's lovely that you were able to visit with your friend and the day was nice for walking, too. Sounds like your DH is getting ready for spring! :)
The garden is looking wonderful! Great idea to use the dustbins as water butts while you don't need to fill them. It will be interesting to see how your garden develops throughout the year, having had this period of wet. And you have photos to look back and compare!
ReplyDeleteDinner looks tasty.
Thank you, Lady Ella. I checked the bins today and I have at least 3 inches of water collected in them! More rain is expected later this week and into next. I am thinking I should empty the smaller buckets into the bins so that they will be able to collect more water as it drips off the roof.
DeleteI will be taking photos of the garden in the coming months. I anticipate a spurt of growth in the spring only to be parched in the summer! It's boom and bust over here!
Thank you; dinner turned out well, but, I think I should have sprinkled some sesame seeds over the vegetables; it would have added another layer of flavor. Maybe next time. :)
Your flowers are so lovely. The rain are has brought them out. Today I made three soups, tomato, potato, and split pea! I'll get four servings from each to freeze. The split pea has chicken sausage in it since I don't eat pork. Tomorrow Im going to make potato-spinach curry, and stuffed shells, both also to freeze in single servings. I'll be set for lunches for a while, and even a few dinners. I like your idea of cooking the chicken and freezing it, I might do that. I have some chicken thighs I should thaw and cook up. You give me many food ideas! Thank you! I hope you stay warm all bundled up.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Celie; as M says, "Just add water!" :D
DeleteYour soups all sound wonderful! I had replied to another blog comment, earlier this morning, that one could add sausage to the split pea soup instead of ham, or make a vegetarian version. :) I haven't made tomato soup in a while - that might be the next soup to make! I have made a potato and smoked sausage soup and that turned out well, too.
I baked the second tray of chicken thighs, last night, and froze them in portions. They are ready to be thawed and reheated to be eaten as is or cut up and made into other dishes. :)
Glad to have given you some meal ideas and you have done the same for me, too. :)
The flowers are just lovely. You have certainly been a busy girl! Can you believe how expensive gas is now? We paid over $500 twice this winter for a one month gas period. It's crazy. I cook chicken ahead and freeze it--it's so convenient.
ReplyDeleteHave a great night- xo Diana
Thank you, Diana. Yes, our gas prices have gone up and I am not happy about that because I like to be warm in the winter! I feel cold very easily these days (can't imagine how I managed when I was up there, in Green Bay!) Having cooked chicken in the freezer is definitely convenient! Hope all is well with you. :)
DeleteThe garden looks amazing. All that rain must have been just what it needed to flourish.
ReplyDeleteI've been keeping a close eye on my gas bills as well. I like to know how much I am using. Xx
Thank you, Jules. Rain is just what the garden needed! I am waiting for the warmer weather to arrive when I can turn the heater off.
DeleteCongratulations on reducing your gas bill. Yes, the units are more expensive but you've made a real effort in reducing your usage to help compensate. I know you are looking forward to the warmer months - spring is almost here :)
ReplyDeleteYour flowers are looking so lush and loverly with their many colors.
Nothing is blooming here - well that's not true - Our Witch Hazel tree has had yellow blooms for a few weeks now and my hellebores are blooming. Both are so welcome as it's still quite cold here.
Your chicken, rice and vegetables looks very good!
Thank you, Debra. Yes, definitely looking forward to the warmer weather!
DeleteBy the way, Bushlady has posted her baked falafel recipe in the comments section in my Friday's post (A stroll in the backyard).
Thanks for letting me know
DeleteYou are welcome.
DeleteDon't you love it when we can see the benefits of the rain in all the bits of color in our gardens. Gotta love spring!
ReplyDeleteWe've had quite a bit of rain this winter and spring and the garden is thriving! Spring is probably the best season for my garden - the summer is too hot! :)
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