The Deep Freeze Project

Back to school time was always an exciting time for me. One of my favorite things was getting new school supplies. I loved the crisp edges of the folders, the clean, empty notebooks, and the perfect shape of the unused crayons.

School brought an inevitable dilemma, though. You were forced to use the folders, notebooks, and crayons. They soon became imperfect. They soon were tattered and worn.

One work-around I had as a kid was I kept a box of crayons at home. I never used them, I just looked at them. I didn't want to use them because then the tips would get worn down and they wouldn't look as pretty. So I kept them in their box.

This mentality of not using what you have plays out in my adult life too. I have a new spin on it, though.

Each June I make strawberry jam from fresh-picked strawberries. The jam is such a treasure! I want to make sure I have enough of it for the whole year, so sometimes I hesitate to use it because I don't want to use it up. Often this results in 5 jars of jam that need to be consumed in May before the next strawberry season begins in June! I do the same thing with green beans I freeze, or sweetcorn, or rhubarb. All of the "special" things get saved because I don't want to use them up.

I tried to think of a way I could ration out my special treats so that I would be able to give myself permission to use them knowing that there was more for later on in the winter. Then it hit me - organize the deep freeze with 12 small bins, one for each month.

On the first of each month, I could bring up that month's bin from the deep freeze and put the contents in our refrigerator/freezer. Then I would know that I could have at it with all of the goodies in the upstairs freezer, and not have to save a single strawberry for the next month!

Another perk to this project is that my entire deep freeze will be cleaned out each year, because every item is spoken for. There won't be meat sitting in there for decades, or unidentifiable vegetables hanging out in the bottom. Every item will be used and enjoyed.

To start this project, I went to The Container Store and picked out 12 bins.


These particular bins are AWESOME because turned one way, they stack on top of each other; turned the other way, they nest and maximize storage space.



I laid them all out on the kitchen table and began to unload the contents of the (very full) upstairs freezer.


I had a good time deciding when to give our family some of the special things that were scarce. For example, I put in a package of frozen rhubarb in January's bin thinking that we might need a pick-me up in the winter months and a reminder of the yummy things spring will bring. I put in a pie crust in October's bin so we can make an apple pie if we end up going to an orchard. It was so much fun to think about what we will be doing in the future, and loving on my family for the months ahead.



I also wrote each month on a recipe card and threw it into the appropriate bin. I want to believe that I would have remembered which bin was which, but I think that would have only lasted a week! This way I'll know for sure.

I'm so glad I had this opportunity to create an organizational system that will hopefully benefit us for the whole year. I'm also grateful for the time to do it now, before our lives get busy with kids!

More Wildlife Adventures

If the last few posts haven't been enough for you, here's another one. I'll use pictures this time to tell Frank's story.

This is Frank.

I'm hoping to unite Frank's friend Ramone with him soon, if Ramone likes the apple slice I set out for him yesterday.

Amber the Victor

If you've been following my blog, you know about my little run-in with two centipedes in the basement. Well, friends, the war continues!

Last night as I was tucking myself into bed, I noticed a mosquito on the wall, right at the top near the ceiling. Nobody wants to wake up to the hum of a mosquito in their ear, so I decided to get it before it got me. Zac wasn't home, so I looked around for something to stand on to make me taller. The step stool was too far away, so I decided to pursue another route - the Swiffer Sweeper.

This was going to be beautiful. Not only would the long broom handle enable me to reach up high, but I wouldn't actually have to kill the mosquito with my hands! I opened the closet door to get it, and there was a spider!

Oh dear. Now which one to get? If I go for the spider, will the mosquito fly away? If I go for the mosquito, will the spider hide? I decided to go for the ugliest first - the spider.

After taking care of him, I moved onto the mosquito with my Swiffer Sweeper in hand. Oh, it felt great! I got him and was just about to put my weapon down when I saw a long dark object tucked near the wall. You guessed it - one of the centipedes back for revenge!

Turns out a Swiffer Sweeper can be a multi-purpose tool. I slammed the edge of it onto the centipede and got him! I pulled the broom back and his little legs were all over the swiffer cloth. Gone! The tough part was getting so close to his dead body to pull the swiffer off the broom. Ew! I tried to blur my eyes a little so I wouldn't have to see all the gory details. (Yes, I realize this is just a centipede but EW!)

I threw the swiffer away and thought I had better reload just in case there was anymore funny business. It was pretty ridiculous, after all, that I had killed three bugs within 5 feet of my bed in 5 minutes! What was going on here?

Upon entering the bedroom again, I heard a buzz, then a clatter which sounded like a flying bug hitting the wall. I looked down to spot a HUGE grasshopper beside my bed! Where in the world did this guy come from?

Luckily, I was still armed, so I slammed the Swiffer Sweep onto the grasshopper. I gingerly lifted it up, and he started to move! I slammed it down again, then was too afraid to lift it up! I ran to the bathroom to load up on kleenex. It's always better when you can give yourself some extra padding so your hand never touches the bug. I quickly lifted up the Swiffer Sweeper, grabbed the bug, threw it into a garbage bag, and tied that thing tight!

Placing the garbage bag near the front door, I walked cautiously back to my bedroom. What would be next? The intruders were getting progressively larger, and I had just killed 4 bugs in 10 minutes. FOUR BUGS! This has to be some kind of a record for me.

I'll be honest, I was not excited to get into my bed. What noises would I hear? What might -ew- crawl across me in the night? The risks were great, but it was getting late.

I placed my Swiffer Sweeper beside my bed, just in case the battle was to continue...

The Complaint

I drove away from my friends' house remembering the good conversation from the evening and the relaxing atmosphere of the campfire. What a perfect way to end a weekend.

Driving to Walgreens to pick up some pictures, I sang along to the songs on the radio with the windows down and the evening air blowing by.

Turning into Walgreens, I was thankful for only 2 other cars in the parking lot. What a quiet night.

Stepping out of my car, I noticed a piece of paper on my windshield wiper. Wait a minute, what is that?

_____Relaxing evening comes to a screeching halt_____

The top of the paper reads "Compliant - State of Minnesota Hennepin County Judicial District" What in the world? What did I do?

Number 1 Offense reads, "Parking-parallel to curb-right tires w/in 12 in of right-hand." Come again? What does that mean? I quickly scan for the dreaded word fine. I can't find it anywhere. I scan faster - okay so maybe I messed up in some way I don't understand but what is it going to cost me? I can't find any information.

The worst part of all this is the sinking feeling in my stomach. Somehow while I was conversing and enjoying the company of my friends, a police office took offense at my parking job. He or she isn't there to talk to me in person; I just have this slip of paper that tells me I was wrong.

I want to tell whoever wrote it that I'm a good kid. I play by the rules, I try to treat others with kindness, I pick up trash in the park, and I smile at old ladies and babies. If only they knew me, surely they'd see this was a mistake.

It kinda makes me wonder who I've seen and judged without knowing who they are. Who have I written off when they haven't had a chance to explain themselves?

Friends Visiting

We have visitors right now from Germany! Two years ago we met a great friend named Julia who lived with us for 1 month. She is now back to visit and brought her husband Simon with her. They arrived on Friday and we have been having so much fun together!

On Monday we were lucky enough to have a ride on Lake Minnetonka with my aunt and uncle. We had some great conversations and made some great memories that evening. Here's a picture of Julia and I bow-riding.


We also had a small get-together so Julia could see some of the friends she met two years ago. The weather was absolutely perfect, and we sat outside all afternoon. Here is a picture from that event.



And what could a trip to Minnesota be without a visit to the Mall of America? We saw Legoland, ate some Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, enjoyed the food court and even took in a movie.



What a great week so far!