Happy New Year 2024

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Happy New Year 2024

May be an image of fireworks and text that says '2024 HAPPY NFW H YEAR'

Out with The Old

Clean slate. Happy New Year. The page has turned. No resolutions. I’d only break them anyway. But I would like to improve on a few things. I celebrated my 1 year anniversary as a retired person in 2023. I must say that I like retirement except for the money restrictions so on my out list is money worries. I think I am going to look for a part time job in the spring. Need to let the bad weather pass before  making a commitment. My joints insist. 

In with the New

New goals are really old goals. Just making a new commitment to them. One is my blog. I haven’t been doing much so I haven’t had anything to post. I’ll try to do better. Two are my cats. I want to try to teach them some tricks. Balboa used to play fetch but now he only chases the ball and then runs back to me but never brings the ball back. Banner acts interested but doesn’t really engage so maybe I can get them both to play more. 

So cheers to 2024.  May it be healthy and prosperous for all!

Its Cranberry Time

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Cranberry Time

Cranberries, love them or hate them.  With Thanksgiving right around the corner the cranberries are coming into their own. This time of year you can find cranberry bread, cranberry muffins, cranberry sauce, Cranberry jam, cranberry juice, Cranberry Christmas Cake and now I have a new keeper. Cranberry Breakfast Cake.

photo credit-internet

Blueberries and cranberries are close cousins and every fall the bogs of southeastern Ma and Cape Cod blossom as cranberries are harvested and fall festivals abound. 

How cranberries evolved into a Thanksgiving favorite

Cranberry Harvest- photo credit internet

I’ve always loved cranberries from cranberry sauce to cranberry cocktails like the Madras Cocktail. But its only been in recent years that I’ve started baking with the little red berries. I love the Cranberry Christmas cake (follow link above for the recipe) but I only make it once a year. Its too sweet to eat large portions and there is too much for just me but now I’ve added a new recipe- Cranberry Breakfast Cake. 

Cranberry Breakfast Cake

Cranberry Cake- photo credit Deb Neumann

 

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Plain Flour
  • 1 Cup white sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 Cups fresh or frozen Cranberries
  • 1/2 Chopped toasted walnuts
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 Tsp almond extract
  • Confectioners sugar to dust

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350° . Butter a 9 inch round cake tin well. Set aside

Whisk: flour, sugar and salt together. Stir in cranberries and walnuts. 

In a separate bowl mix together the melted butter, eggs and almond extract. Stir into dry ingredients. Batter will be very stiff if you are using frozen berries.

Spread into prepared pan.

Bake 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and top is golden brown.

Serve warm, dusted with confectioners sugar.

Notes

*Although called a breakfast cake this is great as a dessert. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

*Be sure to mix the cranberries and walnuts into the dry flour before adding the liquids. This will keep the berries and nuts more evenly distributed 

* The recipe calls for almond extract but I’m not a fan. Next batch I’m going to try the old standard of vanilla extract. 

Cranberry Breakfast Cake – Photo credit Deb Neumann

 

 

Happy Anniversary to me

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Happy Anniversary

Today is the 1 year anniversary of the day that turned my life upside down. Yup I was laid off from Redfin 1 year ago today. It’s not as if I’d never been laid off before but I’d never been laid off when I was 70+ years old. I just didn’t have it in me to start over again. so I’m trying out retirement. Evan after  a year I’m not sure it suits me. I still wake up in the morning feeling guilty because I’m not rushing around to get ready for work.  I worry about paying the bills.  Social Security doesn’t go that far and my Redfin investments are still in the tank.  I got a nice severance package and I’ve been using that to make up any shortfalls but it can’t go on forever.

 

Medtronic, Halyard Health's Corpak to lay off 266 in Illinois - MassDevice

 

Typical Day since Layoff

I’m trying to live the frugal life since the layoff. No spontaneous shopping trips. Minimal take out or restaurant meals. I stopped taking road trips to save on gas.  One  big thing I did was restrict my time ordering kindle books. Since I like series I made it a rule that I had to re-read all the books in a series before I could add a new one.  I’m working on the Stephanie Plumb series now. I’m currently on book 12 but the new book is #30 so I have a way to go. 

I also dropped cable and just have streaming now. That saved me $100/ mo. I’m debating if I want to downgrade the streaming service. I have “Live TV” but the price just went up and I only watch a couple of channels. If I’m patient eventually the new programing will be added to my streaming service.

 

The Frugal Lifestyle - Blog

 

Entertainment

My cats are a constant source of entertainment.  Just last night Banner was trying to stuff his fluffy body into a paper grocery bag, The whole side ripped out. Balboa was quite interested in watching this and when Banner got out of the remains of the bag Balboa was there to try to get in.  Banner immediately lifted his paw and bopped Balboa on the head- no claws, no rough housing just  “BOP!” It was such a surprise and so deliberate. It just cracked me up. Surprised Balboa too. 

 

 

Banner Photo credit Deb Neumann

 

 

Balboa photo credit Deb Neumann

Conclusion

If I could just shake the feeling that I should be working I think I’d like retirement.  I don’t mind relaxing and reading or playing on the computer. I’m not bored yet. I guess as long as the money holds out I’ll keep up the routine. I wish I could think of something to do on my own time to make money. A side hustle so to speak.  If I get bored or get itchy feet and want to travel again I can look for a part time job to support my habit.