I love bargains!

We made a Walmart run today; I needed a few groceries, and Cliff had something to return in a store in the same town.

I noticed an employee at the meat counter changing prices on some packages, and went to investigate.  The meats were about to reach their expiration dates, so he was lowering the prices by 30%. 

I ended up spending almost $50 on meat and poultry, but I now have roasts, steaks, ground beef, turkey steaks, and chicken breasts in the freezer.

Cliff and I each had a beef eye-of-round steak for dinner awhile ago, fixed on the Foreman grill.  Yum.

I do believe I'll cook a round roast in the crockpot this coming weekend, as the main course of our family dinner.

I Wish I'd Written That

Cliff and I were listening to Merle Haggard songs tonight.  When this one played, I had to say, "I wish I'd written that".  But alas, Merle beat me to it.

I wish a buck was still silver.
It was back when the country was strong.
Back before Elvis; before the Vietnam war came along.
Before The Beatles and "Yesterday",
When a man could still work, and still would.
Is the best of the free life behind us now?
Are the good times really over for good

Are we rolling down hill like a snowball headed for hell?
With no kind of chance for the Flag or the Liberty bell.
Wish a Ford and a Chevy,
Could still last ten years, like they should.
Is the best of the free life behind us now?
Are the good times really over for good?

I wish coke was still cola,
And a joint was a bad place to be.
And it was back before Nixon lied to us all on TV.
Before microwave ovens,
When a girl could still cook and still would.
Is the best of the free life behind us now?
Are the good times really over for good?

Are we rolling down hill like a snowball headed for hell?
With no kind of chance for the Flag or the Liberty bell.
Wish a Ford and a Chevy,
Could still last ten years, like they should.
Is the best of the free life behind us now?
Are the good times really over for good?

Stop rolling down hill like a snowball headed for hell.
Stand up for the Flag and let's all ring the Liberty bell.
Let's make a Ford and a Chevy,
Still last ten years, like they should.
The best of the free life is still yet to come,
The good times ain't over for good.

Monday Photo Shoot

Your Monday Photo Shoot: First Photo of 2006

Keeping in the tradition of keeping the holiday photo shoots simple, here's an easy one for you:

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Display the first picture you took in 2006. Couldn't be easier (unless the first picture you shot was, you know, one that would violate AOL terms of service. In which case, show off the first one that doesn't).

Well, this is easy.  Just check out this entry I made yesterday, right HERE.  Or just scroll down to the motorcycle entry.                                                                                             

If you'd like to join in the picture-sharing, just put your first photo in an entry and leave the link at John's blog.

Patrick's Sunday Seven

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
Don't think of them as Resolutions. Think of them as Goals or even just "Things You'd Like." But list up to seven things you hope to accomplish before 2006 draws to a close.

Either answer the question in a comment or answer it in your journal and include the link in a comment at Patrick's journal.

1.  Lose weight, and help my husband to do the same.

2.  Stick to my daily Bible reading plan

3.  sing at least one song a day, accompanying myself on guitar

4.  get back to writing a poem a day

5.  ride my horse at least once a week, even in winter

6.  get back on the "Flylady" plan

7.  appreciate life every day

Patrick's Saturday Six

For those who'd like to join in on the fun, playing is simple: you can either answer the questions in Patrick's journal or you can answer them in your own blog and leave a link. It is strongly recommended that you answer the journals in your blog and post the link.

1. From a financial standpoint, was 2005 a good year or a bad year for you? about the same as always  Do you expect 2006 to be better or worse?  better, because so far in my life, every year is better than the one before

2. What was your least favorite moment of 2005?  Since I don't want to air any family laundry here, I'll choose this:  The day Cliff sold our beloved Allis Chalmers D-17 tractor

3. Did you lose anyone close to you in 2005? If so, who were they?  I lost a tractor that was part of the family.  But I don't believe I've been to any funerals this past year.

4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What do you know about blogging?  I'll pass, thank you very much; but I don't think I know much about it, from looking at the questions.

5. Where were you when 2005 began? I was right here at home.  Where were you when 2005 ended?  At my daughter's house, watching granddaughters throw confetti I'd painstakingly made out of newspapers.

6. Did you make new year's resolutions for 2005? Yes  If so, how many did you keep?  Sadly, none.

Just a quick little story

I usually bring my dog, Mandy, inside for the evening, and then take her to her pen at 8 PM or so.  Unless she lets me know she wants to go to bed sooner.  I shut her in the pen so I don't have to worry about her running around at night.  She has a nice, snug bed there, with hay bales for walls, and loose hay for her mattress.  She crawls in happily, as snug as a bug in a rug.

After our next-door neighbors' house burned, I've been feeding their dog, Buddy (Mandy's best friend).  Well, I was already feeding him.  But now I'm feeding him more, because they aren't here; I told them not to worry about him, I'd take care of him. 

It's funny how I started out hating that silly hound dog, and now I love him.

So tonight, Mandy let me know it was her bedtime.  I walked her out to the barn and shut the door to her pen behind her... and then I saw movement in the cave she calls home.  It looked like there was something white in there.  And she hesitated at the opening, and wouldn't go in.

Buddy has not only accepted this as his home;  he's decided to take over Mandy's bed.

I coaxed him out and told him to go sleep in his usual spot on the hay, in our barn.  He followed me to the house, looking sad.  So I gave him a dog biscuit.  Hopefully by now, he's comfy on the hay.

Geesh.  Give a dog an inch and he'll take a mile.

New Year's Day Motorcycle Ride

With temperatures in the fifties, we rode about fifty miles with Charlene and Pat to meet with a group of bikers; there were seventeen motorcycles in all, mostly Harleys.  Once everyone showed up, we rode to The Corner Cafe in Liberty for lunch.  Cliff and I were surprised to find out that we can actually split one meal between us (we had a Reuben sandwich) and still be full when we're done eating.  And it's cheaper that way!  Our next money-saving trick will be to learn to order water with meals instead of an expensive soft drink. 

I understand it's a biker tradition to ride on New Year's Day, no matter what the weather.  This biker will be breaking the tradition if it's below zero or sleeting, trust me.  But today was fun.  Even though I was getting pretty cold by the time we got home.