May - A Good Month

May is a great month.

One reason why is because some of my favorite people were born in May.  On the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, my Brother, Nephew, and Sister were born.  My Dad was born on the 23rd, and my Brother-From-Another-Mother on the 28th.

Another great thing about May, this year at least, is that it’s a three-paycheck month.  People who get paid every other Friday have these once or twice a year. That helps a lot with all those May birthdays, too.

In May, I can start harvesting some of the veggies I planted in April.  I think  lettuce and spinach might be just about ready to eat by the end of the month.

May is the gateway to Summer.  What a great feeling that is.  I remember when I was a kid how much I anticipated summer vacation.  This tingly feeling started up in May.  We never went anywhere or did much of anything special, but we had fun.  During the summer we were allowed to stay up as late as we wanted.  We could finally catch up on all those Love Boat and Fantasy Island episodes we missed during the school year. Boy, I read for hours and hours at a time.  Good times.

May is also the last month I can go without turning on the AC full-time for almost the whole month.  Last year I turned it on May 28th, and didn’t turn it off again until (probably) right before Thanksgiving. The house I grew up in didn’t have air conditioning.  It would get hot.  But somehow, it didn’t bother me too much.  I think it was good Frugal training.  Even now, hot weather doesn’t bother me as much as it does most people.  That is a good thing here in Texas.

I can really get going with my solar cooking, too.  I decided to “treat” myself to two more solar cookers.  Bad, yes.  But now I have enough to actually cook full meals.  I can now turn to my solar cookers to churn out food in a way that I would normally rely on my kitchen for.  I really considered making my own cookers, but I do like the fact that my solar cooker purchases help out people all over the world.  BUT, and this is a big BUT (ha, sorry I just love that. Totally unnecessary) - if I want more solar cookers, I will have to make them on my own.  I have spent enough already.

I think I will attempt to make my own after all.  I was inspired by my birthday presents sent from California - they came in some great boxes.  I went to Hobby Lobby and spent about $7 on black Tempera paint and the Ultimate Non-Toxic Super Glue.  All the other materials I will scrounge.  I’ve been really wanting a solar cooker that could accommodate my big turkey roaster.  So I think I’ll give it a try.

Here’s to May!