I feel the need to count my blessings

Mar 9, 2009 by pearsonsprogress    4 Comments    Posted under: blessings, Blogroll, saving money

Well, John came home today (Friday the 6th) from the bank, saying that our Spanish bank just made a new rule to hold our checks 1 month from now on. It used to be a week then 2, 3 and now 4 weeks. The process goes like this:

• we get our deposit each month on the 5th of the month from Wycliffe, to our USA bank
• we write a USD check to our Spanish bank and they give us Euros… at the exchange rate of the day, plus, a small fee.
• we live on those Euros and pay our bills here until the next month.

Well, now we have the dilemma of how to get money for the next month! One thing I know, is that the Lord will make a way for us. My part is to be diligent in all the ways I can. One of those ways  is to start a ‘blessing list’.

Here it is so far:

Today: March 6th, 2009-

1. a package came in the mail from our Jesseka. A book for John (a birthday gift) and a
2. Southern Living magazine for me! I look forward to relaxing with it.
3. The blessing of have had our family here: Greg, Abigail and Preston. They left today but we have so many good memories.
4. we got a letter from the cable company are giving us a month of free movie & program channels (hoping that we will get hooked… we won’t)
5. John went to the car wash and because no one is spending any money these days, lowered the price of a 3 ½ minute spray from 1€ to ,50 euro cents.

March 7th, 2009-

1. I was able to gather enough lettuce and broccoli from my garden/greenhouse for todays lunch.
2. I started the 3 day process for making my citrus marmalade with the oranges & lemons that we got from friends in the village.

March 8th, 2009-

1. we had a great day at church
2. a peaceful church business meeting in the evening
3. the blessing of sun today

Back in Madrid again!

Sep 9, 2008 by pearsonsprogress    1 Comment     Posted under: Blogroll, Grocery Challenge, Spain

We arrived back to Madrid to a whirlwind of activities and news. One of the ladies in our church had 2 of her sisters die in one week. Then the news of Evelyn who died from ovarian cancer at the age of 33. Apparently she didn’t know she had it and when she finally went to the hospital, she lasted just a short while. She and Rufus had just adopted a little boy, also from Nigeria this past year. We went to the funeral and the sealing of the tomb on Saturday. Our church has been going through some real losses these past couple of weeks.

As I mentioned in our prayerletter, we had friends over for meals both Friday and Sunday. We are also having a pizza night with 2 other families in the church this weekend.

The ‘ol grocery budget took a “hit” this week and I spent around 85€. I did get quite a bit of chicken for 30% off and depending upon how many guests we have for meals, will determine what I spend the next couple of weeks.  The pizza cheese accounts for 20€ of what was spent.   My goal still remains: reduce, reduce, reduce! We have gone to at least 2 “meatless” meals a week which seems so effortless to us because we really like beans.

I’ve planted my “winter garden” in our 10′ x 22′ piece of dirt in the yard. Daughters Rebekah and Bobbie sent me some great seeds, and they are in the ground. I brushed the dust off of the water timer and will install that in the next few days. I’m using up every last bit of fertilizer, potting soil and seeds that I have around the house, including seeds from the year 2000 and hoping for the best. My Mom, said that she sent me some seeds also and I am especially looking forward to the cilantro seeds. I bought 1 bunch of cilantro last week for 2,35€! Now that is just not right! I would have skipped it except we had guests for Mexican food and what would Mexican food be without cilantro??!! Anyway, I am looking at what I need, planting what I can, and praying for the Lord to bless, supply, and give me creativity. It’s very exciting for me to see how He answers my prayers.

Because I have been sharing about this area in our lives, I have heard from many friends and family who also are experiencing God’s blessings and watching HIM work! Can we ever get tired of hearing about His work in and for us?

Blessings last week:

1. A box of treats from kids, Jesseka and Greg.This was very fun for us!
2. A package from kids Rebekah and Dave. Amazing!
3. A letter with seeds from kids, Bobbie and Ron. They are in the ground!
4. A package with sauce mixes from sister Sue!
5. Several letters with encouraging news… especially from kids, John and Cheri!
6. A jar of Kiwi jam… get this: I made fig jam and gave a jar to my friend Ana at church, and she, brought ME a jar of Kiwi jam! What fun!
7. I prayed for some marked-down meat (30%) at the market and I was able to get several packages of chicken wings, legs, thighs and 1 whole chicken. I wanted the breasts but they were not on special so I passed.
8. 4 kilos of tomatoes before we left the village.

Here are some photos of my freshly planted garden. Click on the photo to enlarge. It’s very exciting for me. The tree is a pomegranate  with fruit on it.

What I have planted:

1. lettuce- at .79 cents a head (cheapest price) I should save a bundle
2. potatoes
3. winter onions
4. spinach
5. Fava beans (haba here)
6. chard
7. beets
8. carrots
9. radishes
10. brussel sprouts
11. broccoli
12. cauliflower
13. peas
14. garlic

On another note, John and I also set the alarm to get  up last week at 4am (we go to bed at about 12-1am) to listen to Govenor Sarah Palin speak at the Republican National Convention (via FOX NEWS). We are very impressed with her and she seems to be a no-nonsense kinda gal. We will be voting absentee-ballot this November. Did any of you hear it? Your thoughts?

My 13th-Gotta give myself a raise… to 15 euros a week

Aug 21, 2008 by pearsonsprogress    4 Comments    Posted under: Blogroll, Grocery Challenge

This has been a good and fun week! Well, it’s been 12 weeks, 3 months of spending 10€ a week! This week, I have to give myself a raise… to 15€ a week instead of 10€. I am just out of too many baking items. After having our guests with us, and all the beverages (juice every morning, coffee, soda, chocolate milk for breakfast for the daughter) for the adults and their teenage daughter, I need a raise. Normally, I don’t have to buy that stuff in such quantity, but it was worth it too, because we love them and love being with them.

I still have plenty in the pantry, but the everyday staples and toiletries, have been depleted. I’m going to try to do the 15€ a week for a while but I also may decided to go back to 10€ and then do a quarterly “larger” marketing day of say, 50€. I will have to decide on that… My goal remains the same: use up my pantry, and save money for other “funds” or adjust for the changes in the economy as needed.

starting balance: 15 Euros

.49- 1 kilo of flour

.49- 1 kilo of flour

.49- 1 kilo of flour

.98- 1 kilo of sugar

.69- toothpaste

1.15- 1 dozen eggs

.75- margarine

.65- chicken hot dogs

.71- 1 liter of non fat milk

1.98- dish washing soap

2.65- 1 liter of olive oil

1.45- 1 liter of sunflower oil

___________________

12.28€

*- I am officially out of nuts of any kind in the village house. I think I may have some almonds in the Madrid house. We will live without them for a couple of weeks!

Menus for this week:

Breakfasts will be: oatmeal, banana bread with jam or peanut butter (Mom and Dad brought that for us last year)

Suppers will be: pita bread sandwiches, veggie sandwiches with all of the tomatoes, zucchini, sprouts and onions we have, or leftovers

John and I feel that we eat very well.

Thursday, August 20th- 1st plate: Gazpacho 2nd plate: Pinto beans and rice, salad

Friday, August 21st- 1st plate: Tomato soup 2nd plate: fish fillets, rice-a roni, pisto ( squash, tomatoes and onions)

Saturday, August 22nd-1st plate: bean soup (using leftover beans) 2nd Plate: Pasta and meat sauce, salad

Sunday, August 23rd-1st plate: fish chowder (leftovers from the fish) 2nd plate: Pork Loin, couscous, sliced tomatoes

Monday, August 24th-1st plate: cream of zucchini soup, 2nd plate beef fillets with mushroom gravy, spetzael, salad

Tuesday, August 25th-1st plate:Leftover soup, 2nd plate: pork Loin, rice, zucchini

Wednesday, August 26th-leftovers

Blessings I have received this week:

Look at these veggies! I took a photo each time I was given them. I have had so many tomatoes that I canned some of them… they just keep coming!

The green peppers have been diced and frozen on a cookie sheet then bagged for recipes during the winter.

How does my garden grow?

Here are my vegetable seeds that I started. I have peas, broccoli, haba beans (may be called fava beans in English…not sure), and lettuce. I made “pots” out of newspaper, using an empty can as a guide. As the plants sprout, I will then plant the whole thing into the ground, paper and all. I have a few peat pots in the house in Madrid, but I will use this method from now on to avoid the cost of buying them again.

My baking for last week:

This is the baked oatmeal that I have included on this blog. It is really good and full of dried fruit. Since we are still in the village and have run out of brown sugar here (we have some in Madrid), I used granulated sugar. It’s good but definitely better with brown sugar!

Chocolate snack cake (1 egg, water instead of milk) I wrapped them individually to keep them fresh.

Banana bread

12 Pita breads- these are really yummy!

Ok.. that’s all… tomorrow I will bake bread and other pastries for the week. I’ll post those later. I hope you will all stay encouraged in your own goals.

My 12th week of spending 10 euros a week on groceries!

Aug 14, 2008 by pearsonsprogress    No Comments    Posted under: Blogroll, Grocery Challenge

I started with .11 cents from last week: so may starting balance is 10.11

.69- margarine

1.29- pre-mix bread mix

3.79-1 large can of tuna

1.35- 3 kilos of baking flour

1.65- beverage

1.10- 2 liters of beverages

.26- 1 can of beverage

———–

-2 cents

* we have had guests which accounts for all the beverages… I still stayed within my 10 euros a week even with 3 more mouths to feed last week. The Lord is blessing! I have found my self resenting buying toilet paper though! Ha!

Menus for this week:

*again, breakfasts are usually baked oatmeal, yogurt, baked goods or leftovers. Suppers are usually leftovers or toasted veggie sandwiches on homemade bread (zucchini, onion, peppers, tomatoes, sprouts and cheese)

Thursday- August 14th-1st plate: turkey vegetable rice soup, 2nd plate: beef filet’s (cut in strips) that are marinaded in a package of “beef and broccoli mix” but I am using it with zucchini, onions and peppers and Chinese noodles

Friday- August 15th-1st plate: Breaded and fried zucchini patties with sliced tomatoes, 2nd plate: Chili and rice

Saturday-August 16th-1st plate: lentil soup (using 1 leftover sausage), 2nd plate: hamburger patties, rice and zucchini and tomatoes and homemade onion rings.

Sunday- August 17th-1st plate: left over turkey soup 2nd plate: spaghetti with meat sauce (using the rest of the ground beef from the hamburger patties I made yesterday) and salad

Monday- August 18th-1st plate: Left over lentil soup, corn fritters, 2nd plate:Roast beef hash (frozen from another time we were in the village) and sliced tomatoes with roasted peppers

Tuesday- August 19th-1st plate: Pasta salad, 2nd plate: fried eggs, grits, toast and sliced tomatoes

Wednesday- August 20th-Leftovers

I think we eat very well!

* I will post the blessings we receive and the baking I do in a few days.

Week #11 and going strong

Aug 14, 2008 by pearsonsprogress    No Comments    Posted under: Blogroll, Grocery Challenge

I started this week with 11cents so my total to spend is 10.11

2.10- 2dozen eggs

.99-butter

1.09- tomatoes

2.19- Tortellini

1.30- 2 liters of fat free milk

1.29- pre-mix bread mix

1.04- 4 cans of beverage

————–

+11 cents

Menus for this week:

Thursday, August 7th-On holiday

Friday, August 8th-On holiday

Saturday, August 9th-On holiday

Sunday, August 10th-On holiday

Monday, August 11th- We return today. Ana and Angel will be with us. Planned meals will be:

PM-supper-1st plate, macaroni and tomato sauce, 2nd plate fish filet’s, french fries, sliced tomatoes

Tuesday, August 12th- Mid-day meal: 1st plate salad, 2nd plate: sausages, zucchini, tomatoes, rice

PM meal: 1st plate: breaded zucchini (fried in olive oil) & sliced tomatoes 2nd plate: meatballs, spaghetti

Wednesday, August 13th-Our friends left today so we are eating leftovers today.

My blessings I received this week:

~onions, peppers

~plums- 3 kilos (they are so good!

~zucchini

~tomatoes

~ Ana and Angel bought a whole wheel of manchego cheese!

* I was also able to send Ana home with baked goodies and veggies and plums.

~I have a few leftover groceries from our entertainment fund, that I bought on the vacation. Ana and I traded days of cooking and we both spent very little money. I have a can of tuna fish, 2 onions, dishwasher tablets, 2 eggs, 2 yogurt, bits of turkey and bones I saved for soup.

I am overwhelmed to see how the Lord has blessed us and I feel especially blessed that the Lord is blessing my humble efforts.

What I baked this week:

I made bread and cinnamon rolls yesterday but it looks like I will bake again today or tomorrow. I have 1/2 loaf of bread and 4 cinnamon rolls left.

Yesterday, I also started some of my seedlings for a winter garden. I will plant peas and haba beans here in the village and the rest at the house in Loeches. Since we plan to be back here on September 12-27th, I may plant some more too.

This is a lot of fun for me!

4th Week of my Grocery Challenge

Jun 19, 2008 by pearsonsprogress    2 Comments    Posted under: Blogroll, Grocery Challenge

As you have read, I have been asking the Lord for wisdom and provision as I challenge myself to stay within the 10 € limit for groceries and toiletries each week. So I can testify to His goodness. I’m listing the tangible blessings He sent our way last week.

• 11 lbs of cherries we picked from a neighbors tree
• 2 lemons from the lemon tree in the village
• sprouting seeds (like alfalfa sprouts) from my friend Dana
• packages of Splenda, from one of our daughters

These may seem like small things, but I believe with all my heart that I don’t even have breath, let alone anything else, except by my Fathers hand. So I’m sharing this to His glory.

OK… It’s Thursday and I have done the marketing for the week. On Tuesday, we had an unexpected guest for a meal, so I had to run to the market, and spent 5.50… my balance was 3.16€ so I went into “debt” for 2.34€.

Today I started with a total of: 7.66€ to spend:

Here is what I bought:

1.29- pre-made bread mix

.95¢- coffee

2.04- beverages

.45¢-1 kilo baking flour

.35¢-Q-tips

1.05- 1 dozen eggs

.39¢- kilo (2.2 lbs) of carrots

.40¢-2 green peppers

1.19- 6 tomatoes

————-

8.11€- total

…which puts me .45¢ in the red for next week. Next week, my 5th week, I will have 9.55€ to spend.

*I was so thrilled with the .39¢ spent on a kilo of carrots. I went to the market to see what was on special. 1 kilo of carrots gives me lots of possibles for the upcoming week! Believe it or not, this is fun for me!

*Living in Spain brings different “entertaining” expectations and we have to keep beverages on hand for proper hospitality.

My Menus This Week:

Thursday June 19-Split Pea w/ ham Soup, leftovers, Salad

Friday June 20- Cream of Broccoli & Cheese soup, Chili and Navajo Fry Bread

Saturday June 21-Chinese hot noodle soup , Lentil Walnut Burgers on buns w/ veggies (spouts that Dana sent!)

Sunday June 22- Cream of Broccoli Soup, Fried Eggs and Fried Polenta, sliced tomatoes

Monday June 23- Cream of Carrot soup, Pork Picatta, Scalloped potatoes, sliced tomatoes, Cherry Pie (guest in the house)

Tuesday June 24- Navy Bean Soup, Turkey Casserole, Brussel Sprouts

Wednesday June 25- Cream of Green Soup (daughter, Anita’s recipe) Turkey Fried Rice, Won Tons

In addition, I will bake bread, cookies and Fruit and Nut Baked Oatmeal (it’s so good! I will post the recipe soon on this site)

I would love to hear your comments (please leave those) and also about how you are making ends meet in these interesting times.

Having fun with this,

Bobbie