Trying To Be Resourceful

In case you were wondering, yes, the beep beep beep continues.  I decided to rummage through my toolboxes and see if I could find the magic screwdriver to remove those screws on the beeping machine.  I was hoping it would eventually die, but that doesn't appear to be happening!!

At long last, and with much force, I was able to remove the screws.   Hey .... there are only two wires and they used the same connectors I used on the drip irrigation system.  I think I can DO this!!  I'm pretty sure that will save me $75 ... if I can find the right monitor, which shouldn't be a problem.  Yay ... I'm actually being resourceful!

I even spent a good part of the day fixing up my REPAIR book.  Should I ever decide to sell this beast, it's a very good feature to have.  Dan says it's what sold his rig.  I bought the binder and dividers and gathered up all my papers.

Oops ... while scrounging in the drawers, I found the FIRST binder I made for the exact same reason. Half my work was already done!!  I have kept every receipt from warranty and repair work (surprisingly there are not many) AND all the maintenance invoices.  100% of the credit for making this book goes to Dan Chance.

With the book done, I figured I should be a little more resourceful and start cooking more of my own meals.  Try as I might to find the required kitchen utensils, I had come up with nothing.  Time to hit the internet for a restaurant supply store.  It was deep in the heart of Tucson, but I didn't have anything else to do.

The store was practically empty.  I wandered through the trash cans, kitchen wash stations and shelves full of glassware looking for just one small pot.  Here is what I discovered about this restaurant supply business.  Literally EVERYTHING comes from China.  

Update:  I really can't say everything came from China, but everything I picked up did.

I've been to China not once, but TWICE.  We were taken to lots of silk and jade factories, but never once did we see anyone making pots.  So here's my final stash.  One small pot for egg boiling, $5.97. Mini pie pans for 11 cents each, just to see if I can beat Walmart's price of 50 cents.  

I even got a wok ... made in the USA ... and a magnetic knife holder to keep my knives out of the silverware drawer.  The entire pile came to under $50.  It was NOT a good thing to realize that it SEEMED practically everything used in the restaurant kitchens of America are made in China.  I'm hoping this really isn't true.  There must be American manufacturers somewhere.

Back to looking out the glass door ... the hummingbird feeders are inundated with customers.  It looks like the new crop of babies have all taken flight.  These guys are tiny!!!

In the end, I did not use one single kitchen item I purchased when making dinner.  What I HAD was a box of soon-to-be spoiled mushrooms.  Although I didn't have ALL the ingredients, I tried to be resourceful in making this chicken marsala.  

It actually turned out quite tasty, alongside some squash with cheese and thyme.  Everything tastes better with cheese!!  Notice it's placed upon my $25 plastic plates, now available at TJ Maxx for $2.  You may remember that day I was trying to use up $100 at Williams Sonoma and needed a body guard to get to the Jeep.

So that was my rather boring day, although I did spend some time in the sewing room.  I was so happy to start a new project until I went to put the first piece up on my board, only to discover I still had an entire quilt with 88 pieces that needed to be sewn together first.

In the meantime, there were more critters that posed for me.  Pictures tomorrow!!