Nix the Cable and Stroganoff

Take your monthly cable or satellite bill and multiply it by 12. Does the amount of money you are willing to spend in a year to be entertained or receive news through your television surprise you? Now imagine what you could do with that money if you were to cancel your cable or satellite bill. What a nice chunk of change you could add to your savings or apply toward a vacation.

I don’t have cable or satellite here at Poet’s Cottage, but that doesn’t mean that my daughter and I are unable to watch our favorite television programs. I recently purchased an RCA digital indoor/outdoor antenna for a mere $40. Frankly, I was surprised at the number of channels I receive from such a small antenna. For that one time cost of $40, I have access to four major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS) and a number of other stations. 

But what about the programs I am unable to receive via the antenna? Thankfully, nearly all networks stream their programs free over the Internet nowadays. Usually, there is a slight delay, maybe a day or so, before I’m able to watch on my computer what was broadcast on television. Toss in a few bucks for an HMDI cable and I can connect my computer to my television and watch my favorite shows on a much larger screen. Bottom line, I don’t have to miss episodes of Duck Dynasty or Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

Even a monthly charge of accessing movies and television programs on Hulu Plus and Netflix is far cheaper than a monthly cable bill. 

If you have any questions about digital antennas or connecting your computer to your television to watch programs streamed over the Internet, let me know. I’d be happy to help you save several dollars.

There are alternatives to paying exorbitant prices for cable or satellite TV.

Today marks the anniversary of my becoming a resident at Poet’s Cottage. I want to thank you all for your support and prayers. Sometimes, it is better to move on and make your own happiness rather than expend the energy to change the unchangeable.

Here’s an easy recipe that my daughter and I enjoy:

Crock Pot Stroganoff

2 lbs stew meat
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
3 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce (or to taste)
1 to 2 sweet onions
1 16 ounce sour cream
a package of egg noodles

Add first three ingredients to a crock pot. Cook on low for eight hours. 

Add chopped onions half way through the cooking time.

When the Stroganoff is ready to serve, cook egg noodles according to directions on the package. Turn the crock pot off. Add sour cream and stir thoroughly until well blended. Serve over egg noodles.

You can also serve Crock Pot Stroganoff over mashed potatoes, rice and sliced bread.

I’ll close with a kyoka that was originally published in Prune Juice:

that poor birch tree
scarred with our initials
decades ago . . .
how I wish someone
would chop it down

Prune Juice –  Issue 2, Summer, 2009