Tuesday, April 30, 2019

So Much To Do! Here's My Elephant.

With Daughter moving out on May 19th(less than 3 weeks from now), we are in a holding pattern on home repairs/renovations until then.
This doesn't mean I can't take this couple of weeks to plan how to attack this elephant and what we will do and in what order these things will get done.


Over the past month I've been searching the house(other than her room)for Daughter's stuff that she is taking with her to Louisiana.  Here are the things I've found and gathered in the living room so far(not the turquoise book and the purple items under it).  This is hardly everything-the hanging torture rack takes up the whole side of the living room behind me from where I was standing taking this photo, the huge dog crate which her dog never uses is taking up 1/8 of the den floor space, there's a "dreadmill" folded up but still taking up lots of space in the garage(and blocking access to some of Hubs garage cabinets), a metal trash can full of her dog's food also in the garage, the automotive tools and such her Fiance left in the shed, plus everything in her bedroom. 

The only thing I think I'll miss is her portable deep fryer(makes some tasty pork tenderloins and shrimp tempura).lolz

So here are the things that will get done once Daughter leaves.  It's a big old game of Dominoes really. ;-)


*  Her old room gets cleaned(clear out furniture/vacuum/shampoo the carpeting/clean walls/trim/ceiling/ceiling fan/dressers she isn't taking.)  Then EX-CB moves in his crap and takes that room.  He was planning on moving out within the next few months but then the new job search happened so that's delayed.

* After EXCB vacates his room, rinse and repeat cleaning that bedroom(clear out furniture/vacuum/shampoo carpeting/clean walls, trim, ceiling, ceiling fan/dresser.  Then I am painting that room(hasn't been painted since 2005).  Once we get the room cleared out we can evaluate whether carpeting needs replacing.

*  Once that bedroom is cleaned out and up I can move all my crap into there-a combination of sewing crap and toiletries stockpile(what doesn't fit into upstairs hallway closet).


                 Hubs "man cave" aka the room of toiletries/books/fabric/brewing equipment.

*  Once my crap is out of Hubs' room then we clear that bedroom out and rinse and repeat all the cleaning/fixing.  This bedroom will definitely be getting new paint and carpet(original carpet from before the previous owner we bought from in 2000 so very old and nasty rug).
Hubs puts his room back together.

      One side of the master bedroom where a coffee table(Hubs refuses to get rid of)and a plastic etagere are stacked with my fabric stash(well, some of it).  Also I've got piles of clothing sitting there as well.

* Once all these bedrooms are done we can attack the master bedroom, the whole cleaning deal including the furniture.  We will be getting a new mattress and bed frame(adjustable one). 

* Also on my plate is the master bedroom walk-in closet.  I've used that closet to hold, besides clothing, some out of season clothing, my Xmas gift boxes(shopping all year round does have it's downsides in that you need places to keep all the things you are gifting until Dec. lol), as well as the bulk of the family photo albums.  I have NOT done the seasonal clothing change out from there yet because of the upcoming Domino game of cleaning/sorting.....I want to get it all done at once.

*  Then we can move on to the upstairs hallway.  Cleaning and clearing it.  We need to have someone come in and fix the drywall and finish painting the hallway(where I couldn't reach-especially the stair well).

* This leaves the laundry room and the main upstairs bathroom to fix/redo, both of which will wait until EX-CB moves out or we set a date to move from this house.(Update-EX-CB may be moving out before the year is out.  He wants to move but this leaving his job/finding a new job has delayed his move-out time table.)

These few projects, along with a few others, will keep us busy for most of the rest of the year.

The expenses on all this?
Paint supplies, carpeting and installation, paying for someone to fix and paint the upstairs hallway.  I'v got tons of cleaning supplies already so the rest is just physical labor which Hubs and I can handle.  Carpet(if only 1 small bedroom needs it)and paint will come in around $600 and no clue on having someone drywall/paint hallway.  The mattress/bed frame will cost about $1500.  I'm "optimistically" thinking of keeping all this under $3K total.
The big expense will be the main bathroom redo and isn't happening this year.  Perhaps next year so it's not THAT far down the road and once we get all this finished we need to start planning for that project(planning for the outlay and who we'll contract with to do the job like we did the master bathroom a few years ago).

So besides our trip to New Hampshire in June, this and the garden and Chester and other home projects will keep us busy and at home most of the Summer. 

It is feeling overwhelming right now but we'll take it one step at a time until it's all done...plus with Hubs retired most of it won't be left to me to do. 
Like the old saying, "How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time." 8-)

I'll share photos, progress reports and more laments as work begins in May.

Have you got home projects planned for this Summer?  Tell us about it.

Sluggy


Monday, April 29, 2019

This Week on the Dining Table

The "It's a Week Late" Edition....


Above is my plate from our Easter dinner(sans deviled eggs). I forgot to share this last Monday.....
We still have heaps of food from that meal leftover so it will figure largely into this week's menu.

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned--

1. Sunday---Ham, Mac and Cheese, Green Beans, Deviled Eggs, Rolls, Apple Pie(Easter)
2. Monday-Leftovers
3. Tuesday--Leftovers
4. Wednesday--French Onion Soup or Leftovers
5. Thursday--Leftovers
6. Friday--Pizza, Salad
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday---Ham, Mac and Cheese, Green Beans, Deviled Eggs, Rolls, Apple Pie(Easter)
2. Monday-Leftovers
3. Tuesday--Leftovers
4. Wednesday--Leftovers
5. Thursday--Shrimp Stir-fry w/Noodles
6. Friday--Leftovers
7. Saturday--Steak, Tossed Salad, Baked Potatoes

Last week saw 3 nights of home cooked dinners, 4 nights of leftovers/fend for yourself, 0 nights of Eating Out/Take-Out.  
We were able to dig through the bulk of the leftovers from last week(and some from the week before) this past week.  After 3 nights in a row of leftovers though, "leftover fatigue" hit us(and most of the leftovers were gone except for the Easter dinner items)so I cooked 2 nights and we got another leftover night in between those 2 cooked meals.
I am calling this week a success in the using stuff up column. ;-)

What got put into the freezer last week.....
* 2 packs of corn dogs
* 2 small top round steaks
* 2 bags of shrimp stir-fry

What got taken out of the freezer and used last week.....
* 1 bag of shrimp stir-fry

Two small trips to Weis and a trip to the Shurfine market and a small trip to Maines brought the food spending last week to $62.28 and my April total to $387.72.

My savings percentage last week was 45.25%(without Rite-Aid trips)and April's monthly savings total came to 54.06%(w/out R-A). 

I have 2 more food shopping/spending days in April but I am done grocery shopping for the month.

Leftovers going into this week.... potato salad, some barbecue, Cole slaw, ham, green beans, rolls, mac and cheese.

Here is this week's "food plan".....

1. Sunday--Homemade Pizza, Salad for those that wants it
2. Monday--Mac and Cheese w/Ham and BBQ), leftover Green Beans, leftover rolls
3. Tuesday--More Pizza, Salad
4. Wednesday--Chicken Fajitas, Rice, Beans
5. Thursday--Ham and Beans, leftover rolls
6. Friday--Leftovers
7. Saturday--Breakfast for Dinner(maybe)

This week will see 6 new meals cooked, 1 nights of leftovers/FFY, and 0 nights of Take-Out/Eating Out.
We are going to be using up the Easter foods(ham, mac/cheese, green beans)and putting leftover bbq in the freezer. 
Monday....I'll dress up the leftover mac and cheese with more cheese sauce and add bbq and ham bits to it and serve leftover green beans and rolls.
Tuesday....I made a big ball of pizza dough(made 2 large pizzas which are gone already) but I had enough dough left for another large pizza which I'll put together on Tuesday.
Wednesday....I have some red bell peppers that need using thus the early Cinco de Mayo type chicken fajita meal plus chicken will be a welcomed change at that point in the week. lol
Thursday....I'll take the ham bone and some ham and soaked beans and make a pot of ham and beans.  Depending on what we are hungry for it will either be a thick pot of beans and ham(slightly sweetened)or a pot of non-sweet soup/stew...stay tuned.
Friday....can't tell this far out what leftovers will be left or if we'll just do a Fend For Yourself night.  There most probably will be Fajita fixings and ham left(ham sandwiches anyone?).
Saturday....Calls for a change-Breakfast for Dinner or ?

What needs buying for this menu? Nothing except mushrooms(as I put those in Fajitas, yes I am strange that way!lolz).

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten last week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week? 

Sluggy  

Friday, April 26, 2019

Frugal Friday.....the April 26th Edition

Let's take a took at the frugal wins we had here at Chez Sluggy this past week.......


*  I got the Weis freebie last Friday.........


a bucket of fake whipped cream.  I'll put this in the freezer so I can use it to make a chocolate peanut butter cream pie this Summer to go with a cook-out.

*  I bought some ramen noodle cups at Weis........


Each one costs .93¢ OOP.  I bought 5 but Ex-College Boy got into them before I got a photo. lolz
I claimed 5 x $1 cash rebates on Ibotta so I got paid .35¢ to bring these home.


This same Ibotta rebate was back in my gallery on Wednesday when I went back to Weis so I did it again.  Another 5 cups and .35¢ back in my pocket.  ;-)

*  I got a $10 certificate to use with my fat lady clothes company.....


It doesn't expire until sometime in July so I'll tuck it back to pick up some clearance clothing then.
It will be enough to cover the shipping on what I buy.

*  I kept from cooking until Thursday and we plowed through TONS of leftovers between Monday through Wednesday.  We are now down to a bit of spaghetti and meatballs(which Hubs will make quick work of!lol)and the Sunday's Easter dinner leftovers.  Thursday made NO leftovers so I'll probably make 2 pizzas tonight, we'll cook steaks out at some point this weekend and then it's back to leftovers again for a couple of days.  Stay tuned.

*  I found some money!


A penny in the parking lot before I went into Rite-Aid early in the week.

*  I found more money inside of Rite-Aid........

A quarter and then another penny near the register counter.  That makes .27¢ this week for the change envelope.  I need a new envelope as this year's is getting too heavy at this point with coins! lolz

*

I already reported on the better than free cosmetic brushes I got at Rite-Aid.  Paid $5.09 in Bonus Cash and earned back $6 in new BC for each 6 I bought.


*  I bit the bullet and bought myself some "real" luggage this past week.  Kohl's had a good deal on this American Tourister stuff so I put it in my online cart and left it there.  I had a $5 reward to use, plus a $10 off $50 Q but I couldn't pull the trigger.


The last night of the sale Kohl's sent me an email for an additional 30% off so I bit.

I got a 20" carry on bag in purple and a 24" bag in lime green(the green bag hasn't gotten here yet so I pulled this image from online to show).
Green and purple, my fav colors!

Both bags came to $359.98 reg. price(but who pays full retail for luggage, right?).
$186.92(w/sales tax)but for $122.41 w/sale prices, discounts, free shipping and reward used.
I also earned $20 in Kohl's Cash which I will be spending as soon as I get this done. ;-)
Oh and I used a rebate portal company to purchase so I'll get a couple of cents on the dollar back in a cash rebate too.  8-))

So that's it from here this past week.


What frugal wins did y'all have this past week?


Sluggy

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Should I or Shouldn't I?

I got these two credit card offers in the mail recently, on the same day.


An offer for a Capital One Visa and an offer for a Bank of America Mastercard.
Each came with the incentive of a $150 Cash Bonus if I put $500 worth of charges on the card within the first 3 months of having it.

1 has a permanent 1.5% cash back on everything you purchase and the other has a varying schedule of cash back(between 1 and 3%)depending on where you spend your money.

As for interest rates.....those don't matter to me as we NEVER carry a balance and we don't take cash advances either.
And I am not one of those people who can't resist using a credit card when they can't pay off the balance each cycle.

I don't NEED another credit card(I have two already)so I'd just get these for that $300 cash bonus. 
I know $300 is not much in the scheme of things but still it's free money and that calls my name. lolz

I would cancel the credit cards at some point(whenever it was safe to do so)or maybe keep one of these and cancel one of my other 2 cards, depending on which one was better for my needs.
I don't worry about dinging my credit score at this point in my life as I don't buy anything on credit so don't need to have a high rating really.

So should I get these cards just for the cash or not?

Have you ever gotten a credit card for some incentive?  What did you do if anything?

Sluggy




Wednesday, April 24, 2019

And the Winners Are.........



So I nabbed Ex-College Boy a little bit ago before he flew out the door to a job interview.
Be thankful he had one today or this post might not have gone live until after 5pm. lololz

He picked the winners by drawing names out of a hat.

For Giveaway #1 for new readers and all non-winners.
The Winner is.........



Crystal K!!!

And for Giveaway #2 for folks who have already won before and folks who sent new readers to enter Giveaway #1.
The Winner is.......


Belinda who blogs at Frugal Workshop!!!

Congratulations to both Crystal K and Belinda! 

Now I need both of you to email me with your full names and mailing addresses.
Belinda I also need to you to give me a list of what you want in your box too. ;-)

And as always thank you to everyone who plays along and everyone who reads this tiny blog(some days I don't know why you do but I am humbled and thankful that y'all do).

And thanks for all the good suggestions y'all sent in with your entries and/or emailed to me.  I'll be going through all those comments/ideas and writing up some stuff in the coming weeks.

Now I am off to the grocery store as it's Wednesday and that's what I do on Wednesday dontchaknow. ;-)

Have a great day everyone!

Sluggy

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Rite-Aid Post for the Week & The Giveaway Reminder

As requested I am trying to get to Rite-Aid earlier in the week and post about my trip to possibly help those who also "do" Rite-Aid to sniff out what's worth buying there before it's too late to take part in the sales.


The elf brand is "Buy 3 items/Get $3 Bonus Cash"(limit 2 Deals) this week.  This seems to include the make-up brushes and there are some that are regularly $1 each.  If you have the Gold 20% Wellness discount associated with your card, these brushes will be .80¢ each

So here is what I bought on my son's card...........


6 x elf cosmetic brushes assorted $1 ones-20% discount=$4.80+.29¢ tax=$5.09 paid for with Bonus Cash.
$6 in new Bonus Cash(2 x $3 BC elf)was earned back.
This purchase grew my BC by .91¢ and rolled $5.09 worth of existing BC.
If your state doesn't have sales tax your deal will be a bit better than mine(like .29¢ better lolz).


I bought 6 more elf brushes on my daughter's card...........


Rinse and repeat......$5.09 paid for with Bonus Cash and $6 in new Bonus Cash earned.

This deal doesn't require any coupons.  It's pretty straight forward and all the $1 cosmetic brushes my store had worked on this deal.

If you don't use make-up and don't need make-up brushes(or don't have giveaway boxes to stock lol)you could always tuck these back for gifting or find a women's shelter or a non-profit that helps women seek employment(and stocks clothing/toiletries to give to women)and take them there.

Also I noticed my store had quite a few clearance tags....items at 50% or 75% off.  I found most of them in the food section and the stationery/school supplies section(along with all the Easter products being 50% off too).  Be sure and check your store aisles for some cheap items.

So there you go......an early in the week post for a simple Deal anybody near a Rite-Aid can partake in.   ;-)

And speaking of Giveaways.............today is the last day to enter my April Giveaways.
Go HERE and please make sure you include or you email me your contact information(at least the email addy associated with your name)in your entry if you aren't on my Giveaway Master List.
At least one person has entered under "anonymous" with no name or anything identifying in the comment.  If I don't have your info. you can NOT win!!!
Please, please, PLEASE put your email information in your comment or email me privately(arcure-at-ptdprolog-dot-net)your info.
Drawing of the 2 winners sometime tomorrow when I can rouse Ex-College Boy out of bed to pick the names.  8-)

Sluggy

Monday, April 22, 2019

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Feeling Wicked" Edition....


I think I've bounced back a bit to feeling more like myself.  I knew because when I saw this meme on FB I laughed out loudly and long.
Mmmm, shit pie.........lolz

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned--

1. Sunday---Leftovers
2. Monday-Chili Hot Dogs, Potato Salad, Baked Beans
3. Tuesday--Leftovers
4. Wednesday--French Onion Soup or Leftovers
5. Thursday--Leftovers
6. Friday--Fried Haddock(or Baked), Cole Slaw, leftover sides
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday---Leftovers
2. Monday-Chili Hot Dogs, Potato Salad, Baked Beans
3. Tuesday--Leftovers
4. Wednesday--Fried Haddock(or Baked), Cole Slaw, Brussels Sprouts
5. Thursday--Leftovers
6. Friday--Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad, Garlic Bread
7. Saturday--Leftovers

Last week saw 3 nights of home cooked dinners, 4 nights of leftovers/fend for yourself, 0 night of Eating Out/Take-Out.  Had to make a new veggie side w/the fish as all the leftover sides were eaten already and enough other leftovers that the French Onion Soup wasn't needed.

What got put into the freezer last week.....
* 2 stuffed turkey small roulade
* 2 packs of Panko pork cutlets
* 2 packs of Bratwurst
* .56 lb. of thin cut sirloin steak
*  8.32 lb. turkey breast

What got taken out of the freezer and used last week.....
* 2 lbs. haddock
* small bag of hot dog chili
* 1 bag Brussels Sprouts

Two trips to Weis($59.70 and $27.58)and one trip to  Walmart($22.48), the CVS spending from my WAM of $2.42 and the forgotten Dollar Tree($5)and Bread Outlet($7.79)trips from the previous week's tally brought the food spending last week to $124.97 and my April total so far to $325.44.

My savings percentage last week was 50.22%(without Rite-Aid trips)and April's monthly savings total came to 55.43%(w/out R-A). 

I have 9 more food shopping/spending days in April.

Leftovers going into this week....a little lasagna, some Beef Pie, a little Beef Stroganof w/rice, hot dog chili, potato salad, baked beans, a couple pieces of fish, spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread, some barbecue and Cole slaw.
So many leftovers!!!

Here is this week's "food plan".....

1. Sunday---Ham, Mac and Cheese, Green Beans, Deviled Eggs, Rolls, Apple Pie(Easter)
2. Monday-Leftovers
3. Tuesday--Leftovers
4. Wednesday--French Onion Soup or Leftovers
5. Thursday--Leftovers
6. Friday--Pizza, Salad
7. Saturday--Leftovers

This week will see 3 new meals cooked, 4 nights of leftovers/FFY, and 0 nights of Take-Out/Eating Out.
We have so many leftovers including Sunday's so I am hoping I don't even have to cook the 2 nights I have planned the rest of this week.  Because the kids don't tend to want to eat leftovers(when are they moving out and whose children are they really!!?)and will go buy themselves Chinese, Subway or other fast food instead.  Hubs and I don't go through them quickly so I think we'll be eating leftovers ALL week and no cooking will happen this week.  Stay tuned to find out next Monday on what happened.

What needs buying for this menu? Nothing except for some milk.

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten last week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week? 

Sluggy  

Sunday, April 21, 2019

Happy Easter

From everyone here at Chez Sluggy..............




On the menu today here.......

Baked Ham
Mac and Cheese
Deviled Eggs
Saute Green Beans
Family Recipe Rolls
Apple Caramel and Walnut Pie
We hope you have a great day and are eating something yummy too.
Happy Easter!

Sluggy

Saturday, April 20, 2019

A Survivor's Story.......Part Two, The Trial of the Century

Go HERE to read the rest of the backstory first.

In this chapter, just for fun, I am inserting how each of these people involved are related to me because I can. 8-)

So Judith and "Nancy" Randolph were sisters, Judith born in 1772 and Nancy in 1774, making them close in age(and my 8th cousins 6 x removed)
In 1789 their mother, Anne Cary Randolph(7th cousin 7 x removed)died at about the age of 44.
Judith and Nancy were 17 and 15 years old, respectively when their mother passed.
At the end of December of that year Judith married her cousin, Richard Randolph(my 5th cousin 5 x removed).

Richard was the son of John Randolph and Frances "Fanny" Bland of Matoax(a plantation in what is now Chesterfield County VA).
John and Fanny had three sons in quick succession before John Randolph died in 1775.
This meant that when Richard was 5 years old his father was dead and his mother was a widow of 23 years of age and in control of a large plantation in Virginia.

Fanny Bland Randolph didn't stay single for long. In September of 1778 Fanny married St. George Tucker(my 3rd cousin 8 x removed), a young lawyer born in Bermuda but sent to Colonial Virginia to attend "William and Mary" for schooling.
St. George Tucker was the son of Henry Tucker and a descendant of Royalist ancestors who had fled England for Bermuda when King Charles I was executed by Oliver Cromwell and the Roundheads at the end of the English Civil War.
Richard Randolph got along well with his new stepfather and St. George Tucker became a role model to him.
Richard was eventually sent to Williamsburg VA to study law at William and Mary College under George Wythe(husband of 1st cousin 1 x removed of husband of 4th cousin 8 x removed)one of the preeminent legal minds of that time.  Richard Randolph eventually transferred to the College of New Jersey(the forerunner of what is now Princeton University)and earned his degree.
He went back to Virginia after his schooling was complete to return to the family plantation known as "Bizarre" near present day Farmville, VA.  Soon after, Richard became of age and inherited "Bizarre" and in 1789 married Judith Randolph his first cousin and moved Judith and her sister "Nancy" in with him.

"Nancy" was young and lovely as it is told and men flocked to her like bees to honey.  But she had her heart set on Richard's younger brother, Theodorick.  It is said that all three Randolph brothers, Richard, Theodorick and John, were in love with their young cousin Nancy.  Theodorick died young after a brief illness in February of 1792.

Nancy seemed to be a very affectionate soul(a teenager and a bit naive perhaps)and was often seen cuddling with her sister's husband Richard, who seemed to welcome the attention.  At any rate, as the months went on, it became apparent that Nancy was "in the family way" and all eyes turned to her brother in-law as the culprit of her predicament.

The whispers and rumors came to a head on October 1st of 1792, on a visit by the trio of Judith, Richard and Nancy to a cousin's estate named "Glenlyvar" for a house party given by the Randolph Harrison(5th cousin 9 x removed)and his wife, Mary Randolph Harrison(5th cousin 9 x removed)
.
Nancy arrived in a poorly state and hardly was able to climb the stairs to her guest room.
Everyone in the house was awoken later that night by screaming and commotion coming from Nancy's room.  She was given Laudanum for the "hysterical fits" she was prone to have and Richard refused to leave her bedside.
Some time afterwards someone was seen leaving the house with a bundle and returned later in the night. Mary Harrison reported that when she entered Nancy's room later on she saw blood on the pillowcase and on the stairs leading from her room.

"Old Esau"(not related as far as I know), one of Glenlyvar's slaves, said he had seen Richard Randolph leave the plantation house with a baby and left it on a woodpile a distance from the house.

Word speak quickly throughout the region and then the state that Nancy had given birth to her sister's husband's baby and he had killed it or left it to die to cover up their shame and the scandal it would cause.  No fetus or baby's body was ever found.

After some months of gossip and innuendo among people of the region, Richard Randolph wanting to clear all their names asked his cousin, John Marshall,(long before he became Supreme Court John Marshall)for advise.  He instructed Richard to send an open letter to his stepfather, St. George Tucker, now a Virginia Judge, for him to have published in the newspaper, The Virginia Gazette and Chronicle.  Taking this step Richard hoped would call out the authorities to either charge him or put an end to the character assassination and vindicate his good name.

Here is Richard's letter in it's entirety.........

To the PUBLIC
MY character has lately been the subject of much conversation, blackened with the imputation of crimes at which humanity revolts, and which the laws of society have pronounced worthy of condign punishment. The charge against me was spread far and wide before I received the smallest notice of it—and whilst I have been endeavouring to trace it to its origin, has daily acquired strength in the minds of my fellow-citizens.
To refute the calumnies which have been circulated by a legal prosecution of the authors of them, must require a length of time, during which the weight of public odium would rest on the party accused, however innocent—I have, therefore, resolved on this method of presenting myself before the bar of the public.
Calumny to be obviated must be confronted—If the crimes imputed to me are true, my life is the just forfeit to the laws of my country—To meet and not to shrink from such an enquiry as would put that life in hazard (were the charges against me supportable) is the object of which I am now in pursuit.
I do therefore give notice, that I will on the first day of the next April Cumberland court appear there and render myself a prisoner before that court, or any magistrate of the county there present, to answer in the due course of law, any charge or crime which any person or persons whatsoever shall then and there think proper to alledge against me.—Let not my accusers pretend an unwillingness to appear as prosecutors against me in a criminal court. The only favour I can ever receive at their hands is, for them to stand forth and exert themselves in order to my conviction.
Let not a pretended tenderness towards the supposed accomplice in the imputed guilt shelter me. That person will meet the accusation with a fortitude of which innocence alone is capable.
If my accusers decline this invitation, there yet remains another mode of procedure which I am equally ready to meet. Let them state, with precision and clearness the facts which they lay to my charge and the evidence whether direct or circumstantial by which I am to be proved guilty, in any of the public papers.—Let no circumstance of time or place nor the names of any witnesses against me, be omitted. The public shall then judge between me and them, according to other rules than the strict rules of legal evidence.
If neither of these methods be adopted in order to fix the stigma which has been imposed on me, let candor and impartiality acquit me of crimes which my soul abhors, or suspend their opinions of my guilt until a decision thereon can be obtained in some other satisfactory mode.

RICHARD RANDOLPH, jun.


Richard did indeed present himself to the authorities at the next court session and John Marshall advised Richard to hire a lawyer for the hearing the following week. 
Richard and Nancy were held without bail on April 29th 1793 for the murder of a child said to be Nancy Randolph's.

Richard engaged none other than Patrick Henry(yes, that Patrick Henry, the step great-grandson of my 2nd cousin 10 x removed)for the princely sum of 500 guineas.  Henry was semi-retired and elderly at that point but he agreed to try the case along with John Marshall(6th cousin 8 x removed).
Patrick Henry examined the witnesses, or rather the few that could be called as witnesses.  Nancy did not testify and slaves were not allowed to testify in a court of law even though they were mostly the ones who had any first hand accounts of that night in question.
Witnesses mostly were family relatives-Major Carter Page(the husband of my 7th cousin 7 x removed)who was Richard's uncle testified to Richard's and Nancy's closeness but denied any impropriety.  Mary Cary Page(my 7th cousin 7 x removed), Carter Page's wife and Nancy's aunt testified that she knew Nancy was pregnant and that the father of her baby had to be Richard as she had eavesdropped conversations and had stooped to spying on Nancy and her maid through the  keyhole to Nancy's bedroom door and had seen Nancy's naked pregnant body.

Martha "Patsy" Jefferson Randolph(Thomas Jefferson's daughter, and is my 6th cousin 8 x removed)who was Nancy's sister in-law was called to testify.  Patsy had married Judith and Nancy's brother, Thomas Mann Randolph Jr..

Judith has asked Patsy for a potion for Nancy's "colic" and Patsy had said to use  gum guaiacum and sent Judith the potion a few days later.  The question of whether Judith gave Nancy this potion in order to bring on a spontaneous abortion came into question, as was well know that taking too much of this substance could result in one.  Patsy proved unflappable on the stand.

But Judith's testimony sealed the verdict on this inquest.  Patrick Henry opened with, "Mrs. Randolph, common gossip brought charges to this Court that your husband committed murder that night.  A new-born child, his child, delivered of your sister in that inner room, was carried by Mr. Randolph, scandalmongers say, out into the hoary night and cast cruelly on a pile of shingles.  I ask you, Mrs. Randolph, if you saw anything to indicate so heinous a crime was perpetrated."
Judith answered, "I saw nothing."

Judith went on to perjury herself that Richard never left her side that evening and that she had been awake all evening.  Even under cross examination Judith stuck to her story, not for any great love of her sister it turns out later but to keep this shameful incident from besmirching the family name.

The 16 judge panel dismissed the case and dropped the charges.  In John Marshall's note he wrote, "The friends of Miss Randolph cannot deny that there is some foundation on which suspicion may build; nor can it be denied by her enemies that  every circumstance may be accounted for without imputing guilt on her.  In this situation, candor will not condemn, or exclude from society a person who may be only unfortunate."
It seems evident that the panel came to the conclusion that Nancy was indeed with child out of wedlock(and by all accounts pregnant with her brother in-law's child)but that she had a miscarriage and no "baby" was ever found.

Nancy recounted in her later life that she and Theodorick Randolph(Richard's younger brother)were engaged to be married but that happy news was known only between themselves and the families hadn't been told of their plans when Theodorick took suddenly ill in mid 1791 with what was most probably consumption.  He died within 8 months in February 1792 and Nancy gave birth in October 1792.  Nancy stated in her old age that the pregnancy/baby she lost in 1792 had been her betrothed, Theodorick Randolph's child.

This meant that there had been probably no adultery with Richard back in 1792 and Richard had probably been just trying to help and protect poor unfortunate Nancy.
There is no way to know for sure but if you delve into the character of the players in this drama you can draw fairly accurate conclusions.

Part THREE next time.

Sluggy

Friday, April 19, 2019

Frugal Friday.......the April 19th Edition

This week started off as pretty shitty for me but using some frugal mojo I turned it around as we went through the week.

Here's a look at what passed for frugal around here lately............

*  I got all this at CVS........



All but the cosmetics were Zero OOP.


I spent $2.42 of my WAM on the make-up.  Yes, I actually spent some WAM for a change. lolz

*  I got the Weis(PMITA)Markets freebie last Friday........


A bottle of lighter fluid.  This will come in handy in a month or so as we have lots of brush to burn from the yard and I have finally nagged Hubs enough that the big old pile of brush will get lit up soon!

*  I got a few Weis deals this past week......


Ritz crackers were $1.97 per box when you bought at least 2.
Checkout51 had a .75¢ per box cash rebate until this past Wednesday so I got 5 boxes(the limit of the rebate).  My $9.85 purchase cost me $6.10 after my $3.75 rebate. 8-)
We should be stocked up on crackers for a few months now, even with Ex-College Boy being on a cheese and crackers binge lately. ;-)



Weis(PMITA)Markets had their "Buy 6 Items/Get $3 off Instantly" Deal.  I bought 5 Lysol cleaners and a bag of frozen veggies the first time.
$12.49 w/sale prices and $3 off=$9.49.
I also had 5 x .50¢/1 Lysol Qs that doubled to $1 off so $9.49-$5=$4.49 for all 6 of these items.
(Even better there was a coupon to use later on the veggies.) ;-)


I went back to Weis and did 3 x Lysol and 3 x frozen veggies.
$11.97-$3 instantly off=$8.97-$3 in Lysol Qs=$5.97 for all 6 of these items.

*  I used a Weis rain check for Scott tp.  2 weeks back they had 12 pack rolls of this tp for $3.99 on Friday, limit 4, but were out so I got a rain check for it.


Cashed in the rain check this past Friday, 4 packs for $15.96.
Except you should know I'd have Qs for this.....of course!!.....4 x .50¢/1 IPQs that doubled to $1 off each.
A $2/2 Scott items digital Q also came off my loyalty card so I got $6 off and paid $9.96 or $2.49 per pack.  This stuff costs $6.39 regular shelf price at Weis so I am thrilled with this buy especially as it's something we throw away! lolz

*  I also picked up dessert for Easter dinner at Weis from the 50% off Bakery shelves.....

We like these Lyman Orchards Caramel Apple Walnut pies but I don't spend $8 on them, no no no!
I wait until they get a 50% off sticker so they are $4.
And I also used a $1/1 Weis bakery pie Q they snail mailed me so my pie was $3 OOP.
Apple pies are a PITA to make from scratch with my stiff hands and I've got enough cooking to do for Easter already so this is the compromise I make. ;-)


*  After two + weeks of being on a dry spell I found some money!


First a rare find, a $1 coin shoved under the counter at the register at my Rite-Aid sort of wedged into the corner of the candy racks.
And it was sticky and gross but nothing some soap and water once I got home couldn't handle.  I used a cart wipe from R-A to tote it home until I could de-germ the thing. lolz


Then a quarter in WEis(PMITA)Markets over by where they moved the greeting cards to in the store, right out in the open.  Who can't be bothered to pick up a quarter if they drop it?  It's a crazy world I tell ya!!

*  My 2 Rite-Aid Discover Gas Reward Cards finally arrived!


Of course they arrived on two different days rather than both at the same time.  I am just happy they got here and I didn't have to call Corporate. sigh

*  Speaking of Rite-Aid, they emailed me a 30% off coupon good through 4/18 so I bought this earlier this week..........

1 x Colgate mouth wash(30% off coupon)=$3.91
1 x Colgate double toothbrush pack(30% off coupon)=$4.99
1 x Cover Girl clearance mascara=$1.57
SubTotal.......$10.47

I used-
1 x $2/1 Colgate mouth wash ManuQ=$2.00
1 x $2/1 Colgate toothbrush double pack ManQ=$2.00
1 x $2/1 Cover Girl eye product ManuQ=$2.00
2 x $2/1 In-Ad RA Colgate Q(on select items)=$4.00
Coupon Total........$10.00

$10.47-$10=.47¢ paid for with Bonus Cash

I also needed to use some BC on Daughter's card so I bought this..........

2 x Olay body wash(30% off coupon)=$11.88
I used 2 x $1/1 Olay body wash ManQ=$2.00
$11.88-$2=$9.88 + .59¢ tax=$10.47 paid for with Bonus Cash.
These items qualify for the P&G "Spend $50/Get $15" Rebate running through May.
Plus I LOVE this body wash brand!
I am up to $17.68 toward that $50 spent rebate.


*  Last week I went to Kmart and bought some clothing and earned $10 in Points to spend this week on almost anything in the store.
I decided to get this...........

3 x 12-packs of Mountain Dew for Ex-College Boy.  The Baja Blast flavor is only available in the Spring/Summer around here and hard to find.  Kmart has Mtn. Dew 3 for $10 this week on sale so these were free(no sales tax on food items in PA)w/my $10 Points Voucher.  ECB can use a little cheering up as he job hunts. ;-)

*  I had enough Weis points to get a freebie so I picked it up this week.....


An 8+ lb. turkey breast.  I am not a big ham person(unless it's a salt cured country ham and I can only eat that very rarely)so a turkey breast it was.  Saved $12+ getting this free.

*  I earned a whole .10¢ on Ibotta this week(for buying any item in the store).
Go me.
*  I also received a $45 credit card credit back this past week from one of our motel stays in March.  It was a special they sent me-if you used Booking dotcom to make a motel reservation you'd get $45 back on the credit card you used to pay.  This amount covered 2/3 of one of our motel nights.

They also sent me an $80 back rebate last year which I used to make the Cape Hatteras reservation for the short 2 day trip we took with my brother there last October.  Of course I split that rebate with my brother as he paid half of that motel reservation.
I am still waiting on $39.94 in motel rebates on Ibotta from the March trip.  Those can take up to 3 months to clear. Ugh.  Hopefully I'll get those rebates cleared before my mid-year Small Finances report the end of June.

That's about it from Chez Sluggy this week.


What frugal wins did y'all have this past week?
Anybody get any Easter meats/entree items for free or at a great reduction from your grocery store this week?


Sluggy