Ah, the joys of the first day of firearm deer season in Michigan. For a woman and a mom, that is. Daughter off to her dad's, and R out in the woods with his little brother, while I play Rip VanWinkle. I can't remember the last time I slept in til 11 or so.

It is disgusting outside. Like today is trying to rival last night, and today is winning by a landslide. (Oo, I shouldn't say that too loud, it is pretty wet out there.) It has been raining all day and the temperature is nearing the freezing mark. It is cold and gray and yucky. Not exactly what the deer hunters had ordered in the weather department. They prefer snow and colder weather. Easier to track the deer, and the deer would probably be moving around a lot more than in this nasty stuff. Hmm, I wonder if the deer slept in today too?!?

I just finished my fajita marinade for the meat, so it will be ready to throw on the indoor grill tonight. I am making sort of a fajita beef salad, with a taco ranch dressing. There are tortilla chips and creamy salsa to go along. With the price of food, I have been writing menus according to what is on hand and on sale in the stores, and then cooking around that. I think if you do try to plan around what is left, then you waste less and save more.

I have been couponing again, in conjunction with the sales in the stores. Kroger offers double coupons up to a dollar so I often pay little for items that would cost a lot without the sale and coupon. You have to take advantage of the "loss leaders" too. That is the sales where they deeply cut the price of an item, often half price, to get you into their store so you will buy more.

This is how I have been buying meat recently, so that we can have meat interspersed with vegetarian options. Of course, vegetarian, using beans and canned or frozen vegetables is even cheaper, but it is nice to have chicken and beef too.

Well, if I plan to walk to the library today I will need and umbrella. And hat and gloves later, as the rain is supposed to turn to snow. It is to be expected, of course. This is Michigan, in the middle of November.

Happy Saturday, everyone!