Feeling really guilty about my new phone

Now that I am (somewhat) less stressed, I am feeling really guilty about purchasing the iphone 6 plus. I'm going to rationalize by saying that I am no longer lusting after a tablet since the screen is so big, but I fear I may lust for a tablet at some point again. And one of the unanticipated problems is that accessories must be bought new. I'm not finding used or deeply discounted super-protective covers, etc. I'm used to picking up those kind of things on the way-cheap. And I missed one of the important hospital calls anyway because my family member knew my phone had been stolen so didn't try calling my cell. It seems I can't win.

Full disclosure: I got a new-new iphone 6 Plus...under duress

Well, within hours of my cell phone being stolen, a close family member was rushed to the hospital. I needed a phone, right away, and I was very distraught when I went in to purchase it. Still am. It was too difficult to focus on all the details. All I know is they managed to get me off my unlimited-data plan (they admitted my Internet access was automatically slowed after I reached 1 gig...and I had noticed and was frustrated by it). They claim my data won't be slowed on my new plan. I still have more data available than I actually ever use in a month. And my bill will be the same as it has been...perhaps a few dollars cheaper. I am committed for 30 months, but I wasn't planning on switching any old how. After 30 months, my bill will go down as my phone will be "paid off" (that's never happened before). I'm sure I could get the phone for a better deal if I had time to shop around, but I didn't. Coulda been worse...I coulda been buying a car under duress.

My cell phone was just stolen.

I was hoping I wouldn't have to get a cell during my "not new" year, but looks like things aren't working out that way. I lent my iphone 4s (so it was past its prime and not that big a loss...it was starting to lose functions) to the offspring who has some issues (inattention being a big one) and his backpack was taken while he was being inattentive. (Or, he could have left the backpack some place, but either way I don't imagine I'll see the phone again...there was no contact info in the backpack.)

I don't have time to do a lot of shopping/waiting for shipping on a used phone. I'm hoping they have something used at the AT&T store. We'll see. I have out-of-=town company coming in tomorrow, but they should be on their way before the store closes. If it's not one thing, it's another thing.

New, but not-the-usual-way, prescription eyeglasses.

A post from a friend reminded me about my way-cool (I think), but way-cheap glasses. I got these a few years ago and they have forever changed the way I shop for glasses.

I found the frames on closeout at a store when I was on vacation, so I bought three pair (at $25 each, different styles). I didn't want to lay out a lot of cash getting three new pairs of lenses all at once, so I nosed around. I found an eyeglass place that would put in plastic lenses for $25 per pair. (Look for places called things like Value Vision, etc., and located in working class neighborhoods.) I thought I'd scratch up plastic lenses fairly quickly as I am not careful about putting my glasses down properly, but this was not the case. The lenses have served me well for years. And the store told me that they could put prescription lenses into almost any glasses including "readers" or sunglass frames from the drug store. I may have paid a small upcharge for getting these tinted to sunglasses. I cant recall. But, now I never pay more than $50 (complete) for trendy prescription eyeglasses. (But, I still love this old pair the best.)

Full disclosure: had to buy a new dish strainer.

My old dish strainer was positively disgusting when it finally fell to pieces, so it's no surprise I couldn't find a nice used one. They had some fancy ones in the store upwards of $20, but since my kitchen is a disaster, I went with a cheap ($6) strainer to match. It even came with its own runoff base. It is all-plastic, so I don't think it will last too many years. However, I really should not have let my old strainer get so deplorable -- I figure built-in obsolesensce will keep me from letting things go too long.

Free, "not new" hostas...hopefully.

I split my hostas all the time, but this time I got very aggressive and very lazy. I'm hoping these will take, but if they don't, I probably spent less than 3 hours on them, so not too big a waste. I dug up two of my hostas and cut them into very small divisions, laid then on the ground, threw a shovel of compost on top, then threw some chopped leaf mulch on. When I was done, I worried the plants couldn't take the stress, so I cut off the leaves (woulda been easier to do that BEFORE putting them down, oh well). I'm hoping these babies will root themselves. I'm also hoping I'm not creating a maintenance nightmare for myself (the hostas will block the grass/weeds right?) Doing this mainly to try to help out my neighbor--on the other side of the fence--whose dog barks when he sees my dog in the yard. Hoping the hostas will block his under-fence vision.

"Free" safflower? Will I get what I paid for?

There appears to be a forest of safflower taking root under my bird feeder. In my creaky old age, I am inclined to let it be and see if it amounts to anything interesting. The images of safflower on the Internet look attractive enough, but I can't imagine this will bloom in the shady spot where it exists. I figure if I let it grow a bit, I at least won't have to reach down so far to pull it up. Or am I just tempting fate with a root system that will break me?

Love my "not new" wet saw from craigslist.

One of my favorite craigslist finds, perhaps because I decided I needed it, found it right away and bought it (neaby, even!) the next day. This wet saw goes for $99 or more new. I purchased it for $40. The seller said it was very lightly used. He bought a pallet of them to resell. He does a lot of stuff like that as he is handy and can fix broken stuff to resell (but only one broken one in the lot he got). We are both guessing as to why anyone would have a pallet of slightly used wet saws. A very interesting guy (another bonus to the purchase). Can't wait to try out the saw.

Had to buy yet another damn used toaster.

First the offspring broke my cheap, new toaster. Then, he broke the used toaster I replaced it with. I purchased another used toaster (these are actually pretty difficult to come by...in the rare chance I see them at thrift stores, they often seem too scuzzy to purchase and the last one I saw at an estate sale had a $20 price sticker) and I think it will be my last used toaster. If this one breaks, I will bite the bullet and buy a new, quality toaster. I'm not saving myself or the environment if I keep tossing out cheap, broken toasters.

Talked to the Town Building INspector's office about my "structure."

My temporary hoop house is in a murky, grey area of the building code. Very difficult to define what a structure is and what temporary means. I could see that the Town would rather not have to deal with it. I was going to take the hoop house down by the first week in June anyway, but I I was thinking I may want to put it up again for a few weeks in the Fall or for even a couple months in the Spring. I did find out who complained (it's a matter of public record). Unfortunately not someone I really know (a few houses down and across the street), so it might be kind of awkward to just go over there and talk about compromise. I don't want them to feel uncomfortable that I know they complained. However, I think once they see things starting to look nicer with the plantings establishing, they won't be bothered...they really aren't that close that they have to look at it. This did give me pause to think about less offensive options and it occurred to me that I can build a Spring greenhouse in the backyard...there won't be leaves on the trees then, so there should be plentiful sun through just bare branches. It will be a lot more work moving plants to the front plot in June, but if it keeps the neighbors happy, well worth the effort I suppose. Hopefully no one will get upset if I put it up for a few weeks in the Fall (the way our Winters have been arriving early, I'll be lucky to use it in the Fall...we got 7' of snow this past Nov.)

If this is a structure, I may be in trouble.

Well a "neighbor" blew me in to the Town building inspector. (I would think a "neighbor" would come over and talk to you if they had a problem, but I guess that's just me.) If my temporary greenhouse is a "structure," then I needed a building permit (the letter I received was ambivalent because the inspector had only seen the hoops and was unsure what I was up to). I will call on Monday and sort through the mess. Even though I was planning to take the greenhouse down soon anyway, I was also thinking I might put it back up for several weeks in the spring and/or maybe a few weeks in the fall, depending on the (lately very weird) weather. If I have to get a building permit each time, that will be a pain. And what about a trellis? I guess I'll have to button down the building inspector when I talk to him. The town's definition of structure seems ridiculously broad (might even include the bench the neighbor I think blew me in has in his front yard...bet he didn't bother getting a building permit...but that's just me being snarky).

Bird-brained free entertainment. Just don't use bread

On the coldest months this past winter, I would go feed the ducks. They were in such bad shape, they would cast fear aside and eat right from my hand when I offered (just tried it once, but felt it might be stressful for them). It was fun and likely very helpful for them. (Note: feed cracked corn or other appropriate food. Bread will actually lead them to an early grave even quicker than junk food does with humans). If I had time, I'd go to park benches and feed the ducks during the summer as well. It's almost as much fun for me as it is for the ducks.

The thing I love most about thrift stores? The crazy items that turn up.

I did not buy this saddle, but I was slightly tempted. Fortunately, I don't have a horse or a place to put the saddle. Or the time to turn it into seating (though it would go nicely with my buffalo skull and longhorns). It was $79, so not cheap. Beautiful tooling on the leather, but it was well worn. Kind of entertaining to come across, if nothing else.

"Not new" shopping: too much of a good thing?

I haven't been shopping in quite some time, which makes me wonder if I have some sort of inner cash register that makes me want a certain amount of stuff. When I went to Savers yesterday, I seem to have overdone it. This stuff is not for me, per se. I am hoping to upcycle it into yard art that I will (hopefully) unload, ahem, I mean, sell, at a craft show in July. In the meantime, storing it and keeping it clean is a chore...not to mention that I feel the need to examine every single piece I have "in stock" before I put together a single garden stake. So far, I have one half-done. And July is looking closer by the minute. (BTW: basketful added up to $105 after my "senior" discount. Fairly pricey, but the other local thrifts don't have the inventory Savers does.

Just bought a giant ham I don't need. At 69 cents/lb., how could I not?

Every now and then I join BJ's because they have something I need and can save more than the cost of membership when purchasing. Then, when they send out their coupon books, I tend to get drawn in for a visit...as was the case today. They had Smithfield spiral cut hams ("purchase by" date later this week) for .69 lb. This is one of those times when I have a lot of food in the fridge. But, at that price, it's cheaper than dog food (and far more appreciated). While we will eat some of the ham, the pooch will get a lot of it. I'm sure I'm creating a demanding monster (things haven't been the same since the dog tasted cheese), but the bargainista in me couldn't refuse. At least I already have it disassembled and bagged up.

A kinda "not new" greenhouse...that may turn into a kite.

I made this from new materials, rather than buying a greenhouse kit, so it's on-the-line when it comes to being "not new." Trouble was, it was hot as Hades out there today while I was constructing it, so it's not as well done (think "tight") as it should be. Which I didn't think would be a problem since I"m only going to have it up for 2-3 weeks (then put away for reuse in the fall or next spring. But, as I was driving to my class immediately after building the dang thing, I heard a high-wind warning on the radio: 50 mph winds predicted at 10 am tomorrow. Sooo....when I got home tonight, I installed as many weights around the perimeter as I could manage. I think it may hold. Cross your fingers for me.

Finishing projects eliminates waste. Today: necklace.

I am guilty of starting things and not finishing them. To have an unusable item sitting there, taking up space is silly. I finished stringing this necklace. I really like the flower I embroidered with beads, though I'm not as happy with the way everything strung together. But, at least it's wearable now.

The problem with free mulch day is the "day."

I can't complain about free mulch, but I can complain about the weather. Our town only offers mulch fee to residents one day a year. This year, it was 87 degrees during pick up time. It took me an hour in that heat to shovel the mulch into the bags and load up my car. Mostly it was old men and women picking it up (perhaps the young are wiser than the old.) I had room for more mulch, but no energy left to get it. Especially when it got up to 91 by the time I had to unload it. I suppose it could be worse. If it were raining, the mulch would have been a lot heavier and messier.

As you can see, I still need a lot more. When I go back, I'll have to pay for it, but it will still be cheaper than the store's mulch...and I'll know it's made from waste wood that would otherwise, well, go to waste. (But I'm not going back until it cools down and my son can help.)

Leek lovers, save your cardboard tubes.

Last year, I put the tubes from paper towels and toilet paper around my leeks when I planted them (as seedlings). Worked pretty good to create more "white meat" and keep the dirt out.

No more raised veggie garden bed in the front yard.

I heard a neighbor was very upset with the raised bed I was putting in my front yard, so I nixed it. Far be it from me to ruin someone's life with my garden. I did not discard the idea of a veggie garden altogether, though. I am putting in a regular bed instead. I don't think anyone will be able to tell the difference between my flower garden and my veggie garden once it's done (thought the raised bed woulda looked okay, too, had it been given the chance). Probably won't get a huge yield this year as I don't have enough planning/time to till the soil. I'm hoping a week or so of the black plastic will kill some of the grass, then I will just plunk the veggies down with lots of compost. Next year should be much better.

Finally got around to making lentil soup with my "not new" ham bone.

If you've got family nearby that aren't so domestic as to be making soup, you can usually get a fee ham bone from them. They'd just throw it out. This one's from my sister's Easter dinner. Luckily, they freeze or even store in the fridge very well. I love soups as they can be all five daily servings of veggies in one big bowl. (Especially if you tend to make them more like stew, as I always seem to end up doing.

One of the neighbors might be upset about my veggie garden.

Not really sure what to do. I've put an awful lot of sweat and manhours into getting my garden set up, but the dirt still hasn't arrived. Today a neighbor told me another neighbor seemed upset by it. I was planning to screen it from view as much as possible, but the plantings will only hide it from about JUne-Oct. I called the town and there are no regulations against having a veggie garden in your front yard, raised or not. I also checked before planning the garden and their are no regulations against a greenhouse either. In fact, they specifically state this is a "pro agriculture" community and greenhouses of any kind are allowed as long as they adhere to setback rules, which mine will. It will only be a temporary, hoop-style greenhouse up for the cool months (March-May and Oct-Nov...unless we get more 7' snowstorms in NOv., in which case I will have to take it down early). What would you do...continue with the garden or take it out? I'm going to try to make it look as nice as possible, but veggie gardens do get raggedy late in the summer. I will be sharing my harvest as much as possible.

Repurposing for free "not new" seed starting containers.

While many gardeners might not buy things in such containers, I'm sure your neighbors might. A walk down the street on garbage day could result in all sorts of containers for seed starting: most with lids!

Full disclosure: I bought "new" gardener's tape.

Could I have torn up old t-shirts to tie up my tomatoes? Yes. But, that would take an awful lot of time (I'm planting a lot of tomatoes). And I don't really have old t-shirts to spare: the very worst turn into the odd dusting rag (I never seem to have enough) and the rest go to Goodwill, where they likely go to better use than tomato ties. So, I allowed myself to purchase the gardener's tape, which is so very handy and convenient.

Free, "not new" entertainment. Tonight: an albino deer and more.

The husband and I go on nature walks as often as possible. We get free entertainment and free exercise at the same time. (OK, not totally free as you really need a nice pair of binoculars to enjoy some of the fauna.) Tonight we saw a great white egret catch and devour a crayfish. Later in the night, I almost ran over a deer while dropping my son off at work. Fortunately, it was a full moon and the albino deer (shown in a shot a doubled back for)...allowing me the visual needed to stop about a foot short of making it my hood ornament.

I hope these pop bottles work for the raised bed.

It doesn't look like I got anything done today, but I am once again too tired to make my soup. I filled soda pop bottles with water to start forming the sunward side of the bed. I left room in the bottles so they (hopefully) won't break when they freeze. I think I'm going to have to use at least one more row of pipe so the bottles don't push out when I add dirt. I am also going to have to tie the sides together through the middle...not sure what I'm going to use for that, maybe just a non-rotting rope? You can see I have one support in for the "greenhouse." I was surprised that the conduit pipe would bend enough to form an arch. It's way too high, though (considering this is in the front yard of a neighborhood where people haven't been putting veggie gardens in the front...okay, one person had one, but it is gone now). Still trying to decide what height to cut it down to. I think I'd like to add more height to the bed as swell...the pop bottles are about 6" shorter than I'd like.