Working with what You Have

I have $10 to  get Dinner for Three

I wondered what I could get at the grocery store clearance sale.  Turns out, creative.

I have been visiting this spot in the meat department frequently lately. I want to know the differance between yesterdays regular priced food and today's clearance.

I'm using the same skill (skill?) I use when an absolutely fatalistic well fitting item shows up at the beginning of the fashion season that I don't want to pay full price for. I wait.

Like most middle aged divorced women. I developed my patience during my post divorce bar scene phase. Waiting to be picked. After a few years I came to. I had a new skill and traded in my leopard print blouse for a lasso, but that's another blog post.

At the grocery store on this day I got dinner of Jacksonville "brats" for only

$1.99; a savings of over 300%. Added some crusty buns, onions, apple and cabbage. TA-DA supper inexpensive dinner. It took me too long to prepare it, I was heading to evening class, so I ended up eating fast food.  Still the total cost including the transgression was under $10.00
I am glad I am not a food blogger, I don't think I have the flair for it.

Get the Most

My health benefits expire each year. This year they expire September 1st, as will the homey generic ointment in my medicine cabinet.  I am doing my best to cram into these last weeks all that I can take, health wise. My body is not the 4.0 it once was. I went to the Natural-path Doctor and start my cleanse tomorrow maybe Friday). I need support from more than Dr. Scholls it based on the tears and limping. I have one more massage left which is booked for next Tuesday, it will be  my 4th in 5 weeks. Last time I had this much rubbing was the summer of conception, 1987.  I used all my psychologist allowance in the first week of last September.

As a post secondary student I have no choice but to enroll in the extended health program.  I appreciate this patriarchal system. The coverage requires that I pay upfront and the send in the receipts and weeks later a check arrives. The check (which does not often cover the full costs) is meant to go back into my health budget but sometimes I forget and think it is free money. Free money should not be confused with someone else money, which can be fun too if there is no interest rate attached. So sometimes I am tempted to go for sushi or treat my guy to a movie.  So I signed up for the direct deposit at least there is a chance the money will be viewed as income and treated  as the  limited life energy that it represents.

There are downsides to the system. I seem to have tonnes of money for prescription drugs and very little for the dentist. Which is weird because everyone has teeth but not everyone has legitimate drug need. This tells me that there is a chance the insurance industry and drug companies have a deal, but what do I know?

Other disappointments include coverage for orthotics at the rate of $100 dollars per year when any legitimate pair of inserts run $400-$600. Thankfully my Podiatrist gave me a 4 month payment plan.  I had a tooth issue and it would cost $1400.00 including the crown to 'fix'. I read the insurance estimate incorrectly and the tooth ended up costing me $1200 and the insurance covered $200. Really, the dentist won on that. Again I asked for and got 6 months to pay for it.  If you ever want to see what a $1400 tooth looks like go down to your nearest Holt Renfew and pick out a decent bag or as a more conservative depiction consider a flight from Calgary to Victoria staying at the Hotel Empress for a few days and add a spa visit.  How about groceries for 10-12 weeks. Teeth maybe overrated but ignore them and much like the "change oil" light on a car you will respond now or you will respond later but you will respond.

There is coverage I will not use. I never had a ride in an ambulance or needed to have a semi-private room in a hospital though it was one hell of a Canada Day party. No need for Trusses, Crutches, Casts or Leg Braces, Artificial Limbs and Prosthetics although I feel a tremendous amount of pain still from last weeks hot yoga session.

I have thousands of dollars of prescription drug money that will likely be left on the table however I still have 7 days left.

Back to School

I have been waiting to hear about my student line-of-credit.  A student line-of-credit is very helpful for someone like me. Me who cannot get a student loan. Me who for some reason could not get a job all summer, save 10 days with the transit authority during which I quit on day 7 and went back on day 8. The job was standing and standing  after which my feet burned like I was walking on the ceiling of Hades. I found out later I had developed Plantar Fasciitis. (normally I would link this but who really wants to view a photo of a distressed foot) For this I needed treatment which included massage, orthopedics and ice, plenty of ice. This total costs of my treatment, about the same as my transit pay. Thank God I didn't work the rest of the summer I couldn't have  afforded it.

Meanwhile, I have been trying to stretch my money out.

Day Seven - Cash Available Today - 30.00 + 27.42 = $57.42

Wednesday - Changes - Total Spent $22.20

To see this from the beginning of the project click here.

You might ask, how often can one attend to the thrift store? Everyday, I would answer. Old things become new and retro items move to chic must halves. I will post a photo of all my finds soon.

Sally-Ann Thrift Store

Handkerchief New .58
Linen Napkins New 1.98
Silk Scarf 1.98
Blue asymmetrical sweater 2.65
Total - $7.20

 

The Dress

On 'Day Two' the first day we shopped the thrift store there was a dress in the window. It was $20.00 new. An Evan Picone black Marilyn dress with a sheer back and sleeves. My size. Mary ordered it out of the window and insisted I try it on. She has a background in woman clothing as do I and we both knew this was a great score.

I said "Sure but I am not buying it it is out of my budget, I have to save my money for Sushi tomorrow". It looked fantastic, Mary bought the dress and said she'd sell it to me at the end of my stay if I had any money left. We noticed a small flaw and asked the price be reduced.  Today I bought the dress from Mary for $15.00.

The EdGe Restaurant

For dinner I was treated to the EdGe. I recommend this restaurant for the food. The food was fantastic. The food was perfect. Did I mention how great the food was? The restaurant was cold and the door could not be closed due to the kitchen ventilation problems. I am sure there is more to this than was shared with us since the door must be closed at some point this year. The servers were a bit rushed and busy and could have used some help with clearing which was too bad because this could have distrated from the great meal.

I did my best to ignore the cold and the average service and focused on the Food. But still why oh why did I change out of my pants and sneaks to dress up in a skirt and sandals with my bare legs? If you have ever seen the senior citizen covered from head to toe in August they are probably on their way to dinner, wisdom.

Soup
A cold restaurant does increase soup sales but not beer sales.
We each had the fantastic mushroom soup -$5.95

We split a couple of Appetizers and the Entree

Crispy Squid with spicy coleslaw and cherry-bomb oil – $7.95
Sesame Ginger Scallops with guacamole, salsa, iceberg lettuce and crisp noodles - $9.50
Roasted Halibut with preserved lemon sauce, Israeli couscous and peas - $20.95 we swaped out lentils for the couscous.

 Dessert

Yum Apple Spring Rolls with whipped cream cheese and house made apple jelly – $6.95
Mary  enjoyed-Lemon Curd Tartlet with maple cream, rhubarb sorbet and melon sauce – $6.95

To drink we had tea and then coffee. Did I mention it was cold?
Thank you Mary
Cost to me $0.00



 
Total Cash Consumed $22.20
Cash Forwarded $35.22

I am leaving tomorrow. Earlier than my free ride home. Earlier than I expected.
This was not in the plan, anybody's plan. I wonder if I should have left earlier. Writing this I am sure I should have. My attentions are called to my family and the loss of a very special friend.

Day Six - Cash Available Today 30.00 + 66.71 = $96.71

Tuesday-Day in the City-total spent - $69.29

To see this from the beginning of the project click here. 

Coffee at the Stix - I had my own coffee left from the morning but was treated to yet another scrumptious snack from the Stix, the
Egg-a-majig. Meanwhile, Mary was conversing with on an attractive sailor/gnomish fellow with a barrel house bod and an interesting line of questioning. Ah well. 

The girls were going to run a muck in Victoria while Mary volunteered and I had a list a nautical mile long for my day in the city. We would all meet up with Mary's other relatives in from Manitoba for dinner on the Dock.

Car 
 

At the last minute Mary offered me her car for the day, this was a mistake as it turned out. I just had to drive 6 blocks drop the teens off for downtown shopping. An hour and a half later I completed this task. Had I not been the driver I would have said it took great effort to not find my way.  I had maps I had directions, I had driven this many times...eventually a new Canadian provided me an escort down to the Bay. They girls were great supporters, had it been me as a teen I would have cussed out the drivers' skills, exited the vehicle at a light and thumbed a ride. Luckily these kids had two parent upbringing and stayed in the car asking only to stop for a pee. 


In Victoria parking is stupid or maybe it was me; the longer one parks the more per hour one would have to pay; also I could not park for  more than 90 minutes. In the end I moved the car three times and paid a total of 12.00 for my 4 hours of parking. In between feeding the meter I shopped and ate. There were other options for parking but I was too dis-orientated, distracted and busy making up for lost time to take advantage. Slowly my day was slipping away, my optimistic list growing ever short to only one item. 

The Bengal Lounge  Fairmont Empress Hotel

I love coming here having a beer sitting in the big leather club chair by the window and enjoying the Curry Buffet.


My chair was booked...aghast I was then offered a couch niiiice.

Neither the time limit on the parking meter or cash budget could handle the $28 Curry Buffet and so I went for the $14 Vegetable Samosas and Onion Fritters with mango chutney, cumin & ginger yogurt appetizer. Added to this a pint of Race Rocks.


Total was 24.64 + tip = 30.00!


Visited yet another thrift store - shirt for $3.99
Saw China town and visited Fantan Alley
Sampled tea at Silk Road Tea 


Soon it was time to pick up Mary. Wanting to be punctual I left 30 minutes for my 9 block drive.  I found another thrift shop along the way and picked up a wool vest for $2.00.

We checked out Value Village which now seemed expensive with shirts starting at $5.99 and pants at a whopping $12. The store was so big and overwhelming I left with nothing even tried on. As I skulked out I noticed my great pedicure and immediate felt better.


It was getting close to the time to meet up with the 'tobins at Red Fish Blue Fish.

We arrived 40 minutes early and slyly gathered and hoarded 10 wood stools waiting for our party and the teens to arrive. The 'tobins were on time the teens 25 minutes late.


I ordered two Tempura Cod Tacones with a sweet smoked chili adobo and lemon pickled onions without the pea shoots for $9, a Limonata for $2.50 and 1/2 order of Curry Chips to share for $3.50 with tax coming to $16.80. I didn't tip, no reason just missed the opportunity. 

  
The fast-food style building set up is on the wharf  where you order and then are called to pick up your food. They could have a tip jar at the pick up window for people like me. 

                                     

Too bad for me the curry chips where 
so hot I couldn't eat them.

We walked around the Harbor. I gave $2 to a busker and another $2.50 to this guy who had a enticing tale.

His sign said " busking to take my wife out for a romantic dinner"

We took the girls to the Ferry, I drove. This takes about 45 minutes. Then we drive to Sooke another 45 minutes. I use a car-share program at home. I drive about twice a month. I don't miss it. 

Todays Big Deal

Wine and cookies and that's all I'm going to say about that.  


Total cash consumed today  $69.29
Cash forwarded $27.42

Day Five - Cash Available Today 30.00 + 51.71 = $80.71

Monday- Beach day Total Spent - $14.00 To see this from the beginning of the project click here.

We packed up for the Beach. East Sooke Park was close and provided the perfect backdrop for working on editing my book. The teenagers could boy watch and Mary could  be Mary in all her west coast beauty.

I bought a pop to drink on the beach which was a totally unnecessary purchase much like my bikini. $2.00


Big surprise, a blogger has a book to be edited. A few years ago I entered the Three Day Novel Contest with my BF and daughter. All weekend we worked on shitty computers around the clock to produce limp excuses for entry into the contest. As reward we each got a sticker and bragging rights.  It was a great experience, it did put me off blogging for a very long time but I now had a shell of a book to build on.


The girls were ready to leave and desperately wanted to go to the Potholes. 

To avoid having them plunge in and break a nail we opted for the more subdued area of the water.  They don't know what they missed. 


To show their appreciation for Mary's hospitality they wanted to buy dinner. We were off to Mom's Cafe. I had been to Sooke yearly for the past five and heard various grumblings about this eatery but wanted to try their homemade pie. I will let the linked reviews do most of the talking here. Me, I won't go back even though they had an excellent poutine made with curry sauce and sweet potatoes. 




They were out of all but two types of pie. Cream of tears and loathing was available but I had enough of that by the time dinner was served. We were in there almost two hours waiting and forgotten. I paid $12 for my portion of the bill and waited in the parking lot as the tab was settled. I realized two days later I was suppose to pay more but my sense of justice must of stopped me. I suppose I've written more than I intended to. I will wrap this up with a warning. Don't go to Mom's for Pie unless you want to be treated like the uninvited relative -ignored, forgotten and expected to clean up after yourself.


Today's Big Deal 

Nature. There was no charge for today's natural beauty, It's entertainment or it's restorative properties.









Total Cash consumed today $14.00
Cash Forwarded $66.71

Day Four - Cash 30.00+21.71= 51.71

Sunday - Total Spent - $0.00 To see this from the beginning of the project click here.

Somewhat jangled from last nights frolicking I looked forward to coffee at home. Today Mary had new visitors arriving, two 15 year old screenagers. Now that their were minors in the house until Tuesday my demeanor shifted and so did the sleeping arrangements. I am awkward around teenagers and usually resort to trying to teach them something or feeding them or teaching them to feed themselves. Which all usually comes off bossy. 

Twilight the cat would now be my roommate. Twilight was much improved in her bathroom habits of the past when I refered to her as Toliet. Sleeping with the cat now meant I would have to take drugs some of them legal. I never knew I was allergic to animals until one day I stopped eating them. Of course this is a joke, I know I have readers from all over the world and don't want to confuse any of you. Hot mustard.

Mary would be gone for about 3 hours with the drive to the ferry. Time for me to update this blog. It was not to be, as the slow internet connection and her gas powered laptop turned blogging into work and I lost three hours of a Sunday afternoon.

However the view from her balcony was fantastic and the gardens surrounding the property very peaceful. Much cheaper than a trip to Butchart Gardens.

 

I prepared some deviled eggs for what I was sure would be hungry travelers on their return. I saw there was no mayonnaise and made some. It really is the easiest thing to make next to making a mess. Which I also did.

We picnicked on the bay at the edge of the property courtesy the friendly neighbor lady. The girls did some beach-combing but were soon board and wanted to go into town. Sunday in a small town was dismal to these young city dwellers and they soon returned.

Meanwhile, Mary and I attended to the dinner menu and shopping. I offered to chip in some cash for food but I was lucky she even let me carry the basket at the grocery store. Instead I made a big deal out of my BBQing knowledge and insisted I cook.

The BBQ was a charcoal model. The last time I used one of these I had 8 inches of cleavage.

BBQ Salmon & Shrimp
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Grilled Zucchini
Fantastic Organic garden salad
Potato Salad


So the girls were put to work. They did a great job and didn't even hesitate. Peeling the corn and the shrimp. The latter of which they had no clue so of course I taught. Picture the two of them peeling shrimp, grimacing and squeals included they had a story.
 
Today's Big Deal

 For desert we had Creamsicle ice-cream with fresh raspberries. Yes it was so sweet I knew I was headed to an insulin plunge that would end my day. To read more about this flavor...

Total cash consumed today Nil 
Cash forwarded $30.00

Day Three - Cash Available Today 30.00+9.35=$39.35

Saturday -Wedding Party Day To see this from the beginning of the project click here.


There was a fantastic party planned for this evening. The couple had tied the knot some weeks before and chose to have their party on the August long weekend.

As a guest I would bring something for the table from Lina's Italian Market & Cappuccino Bar of Calgary and a modest gift of Rose Cuvee from Barefoot Wines.

Before the party we had lot's of time for being a tourist, shopping and eating.

Coffee from the Stick this time included a tour of the roasterie.- $2.25
I learned heaps about the coffee industry like how although I take my coffee black adding sugar and cream would bring out the true essence of the roast. Up until this moment I only added to black when I was hungry.

Thrift Stores which in B.C. do not charge HST.
The Salvation Army Thrift Store yielded
Cozy Hat .99
Grey Cords 2.65
Shirt 2.15

To the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store. This store is about 1/3 the size of the Sally Ann store and is a little more thrifty smelling but always has something excellent just for me.
Cream and Navy petite short suit jacket 3.75
Navy leather flat sandal 1.75
New cotton embroidered hankies (4) 1.00
New linen napkins (2) 1.00

Farmers Market
We stopped in at the Sooke Saturday Farmers Market

I didn't buy anything here this time but encouraged Mary to purchase some organic chicken eggs. Yes there were duck and goose but I was sure I'd get to do that at later tonight. Check out Full Circle Seeds they offer open-pollinated, untreated seed grown without herbicides, pesticides or synthetic fertilizers.

A nice young man offered us
some delicious tiny strawberries
which we ate yum yum yum. $0.00





Organic Gardening



Every Saturday Mary goes to a local organic gardener so we made our way to Deb and Brian's. I was offered a complimentary tour. I was offered the first ripe cherry tomato, boom flavor explodes.








Last Minute Purchase
I had forgot to bring along a nail polish from home and simply must do my
toes to show off my $1.75 new sandals.
Off to Shoppers Drug Mart.
I got lucky with a Sale on Rimmel Hot Cocoa.
Only $3.35 including HST. I took a chance and did not buy remover.

Lunch
Mary created a kale, tomato, white cheddar frittata. I dipped zucchini in a parmesan, egg and rice bread crumb mixture and cooked it in a skillet and finished it in the oven. We added potato salad and wine from Mary's stock. $0.00.

Today's Big Score

At the Stick we were offered a complimentary strawberry. I dipped the berry in the nearest topping I saw and was immediately
reprimanded. No charges were laid.



How did the party go?
It was a great event taking advantage of the mix of friends a musician couple would have and adding great food, a beautiful outdoor venue, bottles and bottles of champagne, live music and dancing to original beats. "Let's go to the Pot Holes" was a house favorite led by Caledonia. I met fabulous people and recorded so many observations in my comic notebook, great jokes from real people and unfortunately the notebook was MIA the next day when I went back for my clothes.

Total cash consumed today $17.65 Cash forwarded 39.35-17.65=$21.70

Day Two- Cash available today: 30.00+20.05=$50.05

Coffee at the Stick  To see this from the beginning of the project click here.

$2.25 for my dark roast; plus I scored ½ of Mary’s giant cinnamon bun, complimentary. Read more about

The Stick.

Sale at the Trift Store.

Three shirts - $3

Clarks black suede lace-ups - $5

Sushi on the Deck

All I could eat $30, maybe should have stopped at $10. I had sushi in Sooke B.C. last summer on the Sushi Boat. It was fantastic. Our host wasn’t missing an eye but he was a swarthy seafaring captain and entertained us with stories of bootie and such.

This year’s sushi gathering is at the general store in a neighboring community, Kemp Lake. Friendly, rural and clean without that cuties forced feel, I was in love with the idea of this local stores’ product diversification efforts.

There were 14 of us on the picnic tables arranged in the north facing deck. They served scallop, smoked eel, smoked tuna, crab and tempura prawn all in rolls. The only filling raw was the scallop which was delicious even if a little intimidating with a full disc of scallop balancing on the roll also stuffed with scallop. I was surprised by the pork ‘sushi’; really did anyone ask the pig his opinion? Where in nature will you find a pig and sealife together? Chinese astrology? Perhaps the chef was experimenting for the woodsmen in the area.

Many of the rolls were deep-fried, which was disappointing. There was no fresh salmon, boo. However the host/organizer did an excellent job of making the event enjoyable and although he was a fellow diner he saved the day with his serving and clearing and connecting us with the food.

Dessert was several ice-cream sandwiches cut into manageable pieces. It seemed only proper to end this off-beat meal with a mucus producing finish. I am told it’s usually much better so I will try again but for now I can’t recommend spending money on this deep-fried sushi.

Today’s Big Score

In small communities complimentary local freak shows are available from time to time. I witnessed such a show in the parking lot, as a Ritchard announced he was taking his ‘cat’ to the vet. As shown in the photo I don’t believe a vet can fix bald, but most would admit there is an upside to a hairless pussy.

Total cash consumed today- $40.25
Cash forwarded 9.80