11 June 2025

LOCKED & LOADED (now with less buffalo poop)

Guess what Boogerbutts? I'm baaaaaaaaaaack. Yeppers. And today, I'm reporting live from the outside cafe of a coffee house. It's a perfect day under the umbrella, writing a blog.

Delightful.

Today's drink is strawberry lemon with coconut milk, over ice. 

Also delightful. 

In other news, I'm happy to report that I'm in my third week of cleaning the kitchen as I go. Which I've never maintained for this long. 

Ever.

And, and, AND, we're also smack dab in the middle of week three of budget ingredient shopping. Years ago we had a food budget and then it fell off. I like having a budget again. 

A lot.

We spend 60 per week with a flexible 15 extra if needed. It's about having fun, creating new meals/snacks/bakes AND making ingredients stretch. It's not about squeezing a nickel so tight that the buffalo poops. 

In other news, I'm locked and loaded with DIY photography craft-like goodies, from today's Dollar Tree run. Sticky-back marble, foam boards, a sturdy box that I thought was groovy and then I decided to take a punt on the purple sparkly paper. Will this DIY work for photography boards and backdrops? 

Dunno. 

That's the fun part.

And in other, other, OTHER news, the adventures in non-dairy yoghurt making at home, continues. I freakin' love it. As I write, there's a batch fermenting at home, in jars, in the pressure cooker. The budget didn't allow for cashews this week so today's batch is oat-based, only. 

Excited to taste it. It'll sit for eleven hours or so. Oh my gosh, I had to look up how to spell eleven. Nothing I wrote looked right. Still doesn't look right. 

Eleven.

Looks funny.

And that my Boogerbutts is all that's fit to print. This is Ivy, reporting live from the coffee house, outdoor cafe. Headed home to take pictures of what I bought and post this blog.

Write again soon.

Huggs & Bugs, Me.





24 comments:

  1. I really need to get into the kitchen and sort the pantry too. I made a start, then caught a cold and I'm almost well, just coughing still (STILL!!) but I can't muster up any energy beyond making the bed. I'm happy things are working out for you. I didn't know you could get sticky-back marble paper, can you also get granite?I much prefer granite and now I'm thinking a granite covered cardboard box would make a great castle for a few little redheaded dolls.

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  2. Welcome back - and happy baking. And creating. I really like your header too.

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  3. Nice to catch up with you Ivy!

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  4. Non dairy yogurt???? What is it then?

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  5. Good to see you again! You sound like you are in a wonderful place in several ways!

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  6. Nice to find a new post, Ivy, and you have been busy, as always. We like yoghurt but have never thought of making our own.

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  7. You have me laughing like crazy over the line "It's not about squeezing a nickel so tight that the buffalo poops."
    How fun it will be to see how those different items work out for you.

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  8. Hi Ivy -- sounds like you're having a great summer so far! Yesterday at the grocery store, I saw that famous Swiss chocolatier Lindt now makes a Vegan chocolate bar that is oat-based. Whaaaaaat?

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  9. Great to see you back. You sound so cheerful! I've made yogurt a lot, usually dairy, so I'll be looking forward to hearing how the oat based works out.

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  10. I don't so much like having a budget (but I do), but I love squeezing out as many meals from something as I can also using what I have to make something new like you. Glad the kitchen cleaning is still going on, and that strawberry drink sounds delicious. :) Have a wonderful rest of your week.

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  11. YAY!!!! your BACK!!! and happy happy happy and spreading your joy around for us to enjoy with you... So happy you are back and wish I could have been out there under the umbrella with you. Can't wait to see what you did with the Dollar Tree 'finds'.

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  12. Good to see you post. Love the header! I don't have a per se budget - but I mentally do keep the amounts in a certain range.
    Take care.

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  13. Welcome back! Good for you being creative with a food budget! We don't have a specific number but I do try to keep it down and make good use of leftovers.
    Now I'm waiting to find out how the crafts go!

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  14. Yay...so happy to see you today. Sounds like you are having a lot of fun and wow, that drink sounds so good. I may need to take lessons from you on budgeting. My grocery bill yesterday was over 80.00 and my two little bags felt so light. I'm shopping for a good camera...nothing big, but yet something I can add a macro leans...any suggestions? Have a super good day Ivy.

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  15. Nice to see you! Happy cleaning!
    I have a friend who thinks "salad" looks funny.

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  16. Good to see a post from you. I had to laugh out loud at your comment on squeezing a nickel. Too funny!!

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  17. Thank goodness there's less buffalo poop :-)

    I enjoy the challenge of coming up with good meals on not much money.

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  18. Hey Ivy! Don't want no buffalo poop. And you only spend sixty a week on groceries and necessities? Holy cow! We spend close to five-six hundred a month.

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  19. I'm back from my vacation and I appreciate your comments on my blog while I was away. Your drink sounds refreshing and delicious. I am very impressed that you can eat on $60 a week. I am careful what I buy and look for sales, but in this economy I can't manage less than $125 week. Now I feel challenged to do better. !!!

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  20. What a jolly, happy post! That drink sounds great and well done on your shopping and cooking adventure. A budget is a wise thing -- I should follow one more often!

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  21. It seems like I am forever getting the kitchen in order. I think I have too much space and hang on to too many things I really don't need. Your strawberry lemon coconut milk drink sounds very refreshing.

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  22. I am glad you are so happy. Budget is a necessity here. Happy baking!

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  23. Your drink sounds interesting. I am off yogurt I have eaten so much of it I can't do more right now. But it was dairy. Good for you for staying on budget.
    Cathy

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  24. I need to try to clean as I go in the kitchen. I'm terribly messy. This is a happy post, I am smiling! Congratulations on setting a budget and sticking with it. Another thing I should do.

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