Frugal Happenings 8/20

Good morning my friends.  Hope you are all safe and well.
I am anxiously waiting for tomorrow to be done - I am so over hearing about this eclipse thing!  I know it is a rare occurance, but I prefer it was even rarer!!!!  LOL
I just know we are going to hear horror stories of people damaging their sight despite ALL the many warnings!

Summer came back to our area this past week with hot temperatures.  We did get rain on Thursday (nice gentle rain) which was desperately needed.  This coming week is supposed to cool off again I believe!
The hummingbirds have been so active and just a delight to watch.

My frugal week:

• I have been diligently preserving my garden produce - I love harvesting from the yard!!!!!
• Chopped and froze a dozen bell peppers
• Stuffed and froze many servings of jalapeno poppers
• Canned 28 jars of tomato products - pasta sauce, pizza sauce, and plain tomatoes
• Dehydrated tomato skins, basil, thyme, and rosemary
• Finished filing a second jar with ground tomato and a 2nd jar with basil
• Made a blend of tomato skins, basil, thyme, dried garlic, dried onion, and broccoli leaves.  Made a full pint jar.  My own homemade veggie bouillon!
• Used the scalding canning water along the drive and killed weeds
• Noticed we have lots of baby cabbage and 2nd round broccoli coming on in the garden.  The peppers are loaded with blooms and baby peppers!
• Picked round 1 of grapes.  De-stemmed and froze enough for a batch of jelly when I am ready to make.  Lots more hanging out there!  YAY
• Line dried laundry
• Made a dozen hard boiled eggs
• Dr. Housecall came this week for G.  Good check-up.
• Used rain water for my potted garden plants - cucumbers are really reviving!
• Went to the Grand Opening of Safeway in the old building of grocery that recently closed (glad they re-used that building)
• At the stands outside store I received 3 - 16 oz. bottles of Prairie Farms chocolate milk FREE, a cheddar brat sandwich and a bottle of water FREE
• Got 8 packages of Colby cheese (8 oz. each) for 1.49 a package!  8 was all they had on the shelf.  2.98 a pound for cheese is a bargain every day here!

• I stopped because ad said they had bananas for .39/pd.  YUM.  I can never find for less than .59.lb.
• I got a ginormous local cantaloupe for 2.99.  I had never seen one that large and took a chance hoping it would be good.  It is wonderful!

This cantaloupe weighed in at 11 1/2 lbs.!!!!!!!!!!!  Mmmmmmmm good.

I love that we are gaining so much harvest and food for our pantry from the yard.  What a wonderful blessing.  Are you adding to your pantry via your garden?  Are you doing any canning?
I have spent an active week canning and dehydrating.  More to do this coming week!  I LOVE IT!

Meals this week:
Had a leftover day to clean out frig
Skillet goulash (new recipe)
Leftover goulash, steak burgers and sliced tomatoes
Dinner from the 50's diner (I was tired from canning)
Spaghetti with meat sauce, coleslaw and sliced tomatoes
Roast beef sandwiches and salad
Taco casserole
Quick snacks - cheese and crackers, pickles, yogurt, and apples

WHAT did you do FRUGAL this week?  Canning, gardening, crafting, special buys???????
I look forward to hearing from you.

THANK YOU ALL for such interesting posts this past week.  I enjoyed everyone's stories and contributions.  I think it was fun for all.

I pray you each have a safe, healthy and frugal week.  May the Lord bless you and keep you in His loving protective arms.

Life Before Grocery Stores

Here is something to ponder.  The first major grocery stores in America didn't show up until 1946!  That was definitely BC (before Cheryl!),  but not by much!  I was born in the 50's.
We had a couple small family owned 'grocery' stores in our area and both were in walking distance.  Those continued to last for several years (into my teen years).

I remember going to Standard grocery and once in a while the A&P.  Green stamps were given at the store and those were saved and used to make special purchases with.  I loved the job of licking them!  I felt so grown up.  LOL

Prior to the major grocery chains opening up, there were the small family stores and general stores in more remote areas.  It is crazy to think you couldn't just run in somewhere every block or so, and buy anything and everything you could imagine.

Most families were like mine.  We grew so much food and preserved it.  Daddy had a quarter acre in garden, and poor Momma had to preserve it all.  We had apple trees, a cherry tree, rhubarb, raspberries, 2 huge grape arbors, strawberries,  and the neighbors had a peach tree.  Apples were bartered and traded for peaches.

Before I arrived on the scene, there were chickens, both for meat and eggs (and selling).  There were goats for milk.  Daddy raised rabbits for years for eating and selling.
He fished and fished when he had free time (mostly in winter and ice fished), as did my brothers.  They hunted squirrel.  I don't remember ever hunting anything larger, as we weren't real close to the woods.
We had a milkman after I arrived, who delivered milk and milk products.
Mom and Daddy would save and save and every few years, they would purchase half a cow or hog from someone they knew.  That was a huge big deal.  Meat was a side like everything else in the meal.  You got a piece of meat with your dinner - no one got to make pigs of themselves! 
Leftovers were used for another meal of some sort.
Absolutely nothing was wasted.  If there were scraps of something, that is what fed the pets.

Mom made all sorts of snacks - cookies, candy, cakes, pies, donuts, you name it.  I don't remember how old I was when I first ate sliced bread from the store!  I do remember it was disappointing!
Never in my Moms house was a store bought noodle ever served - up until her death at almost 91 years old.  I was an adult and married, before I had a store bought noodle - and I was the one who bought them.
Still to this day, store bought cookies just don't satisfy me.  Of course there is nothing like Mom's cooking!

I do remember going to my grandmas, and she lived about 65 miles away - which took forever to get to.  There were NO interstates! 
On the way home, it was an adventure to forage for nuts, pears, mushrooms, persimmons, or whatever was 'in season'.  Sometimes the farmers who were about done with their season would let folks glean corn, field tomatoes, pumpkins, etc.  That was a huge find.

Daddy not only grew every kind of veggie you could imagine, and some I still am not sure about, but he also grew popcorn and melons of all sort.
He made wine as a hobby (much to my Mom's horror) from green tomatoes, dandelions, grapes, elderberries, mulberries (we collected those too), etc.
Mom made jellies and jams from all different types of berries.

Soups were homemade -  NEVER  from a can.  All meals were from scratch.  We did drink tea, water, milk, and the folks had coffee.  Once I came along - soda pop was a once a year treat.  Daddy would take me to the hardware store up the street, and let me pick out a case of Nehi flavors.  It took me forever to decide!!  It lasted all summer/fall and was considered a real treat!  That day would be the highlight of my summer!!!!  LOL
At Christmas we would sometimes get a six pack of those little Cokes because Daddy thought "Santa" might want a change from milk!!!

Never did any of us go hungry (there were 5 older than me) - never did we feel a want for something.  We were happy and didn't really know any different.  Life was simple (albeit hard work).

DID ANY OF YOU have this type of life?
Do you REMEBER  life before big grocery stores?

How many folks could survive today - if trucking stopped, gasoline was short, railways stopped, disaster happened?
We all now grocery stores would be empty within a week or less, so we would be on our own.


COULD YOU SURVIVE? 
I think we definitely could - if for no other reason, than the lessons I learned from my parents growing up.
If we ran out of meat, it would be ok.  That is not something we HAVE to have on a daily basis.  I know how to grow, can, and preserve and we have a nice, nice stockpile built up.  I know people I could barter and trade with, and I could glean and forage.  We would be ok for a long haul., although life would be different.

This sure is something to think about.  I know not everyone would know what to do.  Young folks today would probably die simply for lack of knowledge!
This is why so many of prepare for whatever.

I would love to hear your stories, as I am sure others would.

Creative Pantry Storage

I know we have talked about this before, but it is always good to get some reminders of things we can use, and places we can keep our pantry stockpile.

We are at a volatile time in history again - where just about anything can happen in the world.  It is very scary to think about.  I know we all want to be able to take care  of our families and keep them nourished no matter what happens.
I have faith in the Lord to hold my hand through whatever turmoil we may bare - but I also know that He expects us to help ourselves as well.

I want to be prepared for whatever may happen, whether it's world events, mother nature, illness, loss of funds, no mater what!  I can pretty much bet you are the same way.

There are so many great ways to store our pantry items in out of the way places, and in pretty neat and original ways.

JARS - keep them all.  You can store all kinds of things SAFELY in jars.  I love the half gallon and gallon glass (and plastic) jars I have accumulated over the years.  Some came from the store with product in them and others I got a flea markets and yard sales.
Anything can be stored in jars.  They are bug free - safe zones.  I have some large plastic (gallon) ones - that I store products in, that I leave in their original containers.  Bags of beans or pasta, small packets of mixes, extra health and beauty items, etc.  They stay nice and dry and clean!
Check out Annabelle's site on the blog roll at right - at The Bluebirds Are Nesting for some adorable and creative ideas on labeling.  She makes everything look pretty!

BASKETS - oh my we all love baskets.  I have received many over the years as gifts and every one has become useful.  Extra storage for TP in bathroom, Extra storage for books or magazines that I choose to keep.  Small baskets hold recipe books in the kitchen, packets of mixes, fruit or veggies that aren't refrigerated.  Can goods can be stored away in baskets, linens, snacks, you name it.  Baskets are pretty so they fit just about any where.

BOXES - never discount good old fashioned card board boxes!  I have many canning jar boxes, that I use for storing my canning.  I simply label the outside of the box as to contents and date canned, and place in storage area.  Boxes from liquor stores are great - they are heavy and many times they are compartmentalized.  Boxes stack easily, for out of the way storage. (Back corners of closets, etc.)  I also buy lots of items from Aldi by the case, and those items stack nicely.

POP BOXES - can be used - even decorated to hold canned goods.  Not only are you creating storage but you are recycling.  Old cereal boxes can be done this way as well.

TOTES of all sorts can be used.  Small ones for certain items or large ones for are variety of items.  Keep your products safe, dry and clean.  Totes can be stacked and labeled for those long term storage items.
PLASTIC ICE CREAM container are good gallon size storage as well.

MILK CRATES are wonderful if you can get them.  I have several older ones that are nice and sturdy.  They are easy to stack, have great air flow, and take up little space.

POPCORN TINS from the holidays are another storage solution that is great.  I have many of these, and they are used from storing bird seed - to holding bags of powdered sugar, sugar, flour, etc.  Insect free, and items are dry and safe.

Make some additional storage in out of the way places.  Behind doors is a great area.  I had a nephew make me an extra spice rack that fit inside my pantry door.  Now I can keep extras (of much used items) in an out of sight way and on unused real estate!

Shoe bags can also be used for storage of things other than shoes!  Small toys, bathroom supplies, packets of seasonings, anything that is smallish.

Again this is on the back of a door - so you are creating storage from unused areas of the home.

I saw an idea for a rack that was made to store all those pots and pan lids.  I think it is cool, but I think it could be done easier.

My idea is, instead of building something like above - attached old fashioned café curtain rods to the backside of the door.  I think it would work superbly - and I may try that on the inside of a couple cabinet doors.  If the rod is too deep - it could easily be cut off on the ends to make a shallower rack.  I have a ton of those old curtain rods stored in the basement, so all I need is a few brackets from the hardware store. 
I think it would be a great solution on the back of closet doors for scarves, jewelry, belts, etc.  (I know that may not be considered pantry - but it is extra storage)

RECYCLE - coffee cans for storage.  They can be painted or contact paper added to pretty them up.  Coffee creamer jars are good for holding popcorn, candy, dry milk, flour, etc.  Peanut cans, oatmeal boxes, you name it - it can be used for storage.

Get yourself some METAL SHELVING, or an OLD BOOK CASE, or a ROLLING RACK.  Use whatever you can find.

Here is an old rolling rack someone gave me - it works great for lots of smaller items.  The shelving behind it is in our laundry room.  I don't store laundry down there - so I utilize it for extra long term pantry items.  Behind those curtains are shelves that are full on home canned goods.
There is no limit to the ways to store stuff.
We also have a bar in our basement that is no longer used - I cleaned off and got rid of most bar items on shelving under it (gave to someone who would use), and now I use those shelves for long term storage.

Keep turntables or lazy Susan's in the corners of cabinets so as to utilize every space you can.
Tension rods placed in open areas of the pantry or in cabinets allow you to hang items.  Use those plastic pant hangers you get at the store - or add clothes pins the metal rings for hanging.  You can even get clip type shower rings.
Old drawers from unused furniture can have rollers added to the bottom.  They make great under furniture or under bed storage.  Takes up less space than a big ugly piece of furniture.

Utilized the back corners of closets for stacking boxes of labeled pantry items or packages of toilet paper or cases of water. 
DON'T FORGET under the stairs.  That area is such an unused area in our homes.  Add shelving, racks, or if enclosed add a door.  Turn it into usable space.

I have even used a couple of G's old t-shirts (bigger ones he no longer wears) and make hanging storage for bags of snacks, nuts, or any light packaging.
This works great.  Any size shirt could be used, depending on what you are wanting to store. I have a much smaller shirt cut this way and hanging on the back of the basement door in the kitchen to hold onions. I like that because it's breathable material. (you could even add slits ever so often for more air flow - since material will not fray).

 

Another neat idea if you have a basement with rafters - place some heavy wire shelving on the underside of the rafters and you can store ON it and in between the rafters.  No wasted space.
If rodent free - paper goods can be stored in attics or garages.                                      

I have a couple of those older wicker laundry hampers from days gone by (the ones with lids attached) - I use those for storing extra blankets and quilts.  I have put some cedar blocks in them to keep any buggers out.  They would also be good storage for extra warm clothing or even dry goods for food storage.

                                                       **************************

When you think you have no space for storing those maybe life saving long term pantry items - think again.  THINK hanging - think vertical - think behind and under - think above. 
Just stop and think and get creative with your storage plans.

DO YOU HAVE ANY CREATIVE WAYS FOR STORING YOUR LONG TERM PANTRY ITEMS? 
PLEASE LET US KNOW!!!!!

Be prepared for ANY emergency!

Frugal Happenings 8/13

Hello friends!  Happy Sunday.
I truly hope all are well, safe and staying frugal.

We have had some lovely weather this weeks.  Lots of down time for the A/C!  We did get some rain on Friday and it was truly a splendid rain.  My rain barrels were happy to get an addition of water as well.

One of my 'newer' neighbors moved out yesterday.  The single mom with two children left.  I thought she was going to be a good addition to the neighborhood at first, but part of me is a bit happy she left.  The kids were adorable, but she was the most negative person ever.  She let it be widely known that she deserved to live somewhere better and around better people!  Really?  Well, the people in this little burg are hard working people, and good neighbors who watch out for one another.  Come to find out she received a notice of eviction this week for not paying rent for 4 of the last 6 months!  I think that speaks volumes!!!

Hummingbirds have been extremely active in the past week or so.  I hope that isn't a sign that they will be leaving soon!  They sure are fun to watch.

My cucumber plants are actually trying to revive a little.  I got very little off of them and planted new - the new plants are growing and the older ones are greening up and blooming again.  I think the cooler temps have helped a bunch.  That extreme heat and sun we had just burned them up.
The onions I planted a little over a week ago are really growing well.
Going to plant lettuce again today!

My frugal week:

• Canned 16 jars of mild salsa (last week I made hot)
• Used the last 3 peaches - cut up and sugared for short cake
• Received a free Reminisce magazine as a promotional.  They want me back!!!
• Used Italian bread, hoagies, and pound cake from the freezer (all were free)
• Used a $10/$40 coupon at Aldi - all items were for long term storage
• Line dried a ton of laundry
• Did lots of yard work for free exercise
• Dehydrated and ground all my tomato skins
• Meals from home
• Harvesting lots of veggies in the garden - love me some fresh and basically free food!
• Did stop by Kroger to look at clearance.  I found 5 - 2 lb. 8 oz. bags of Hershey miniatures (9/2018) for 2.49 each!!!!! They were regular 9.99!   I also got 10 - 5 packs of cat treat sticks for .49 pack (regular 1.07).  My cats love these - although it is NOT a normal every day treat!

I split one stick up amongst the kitties for a treat now and then.

These will be great for Halloween or even the upcoming holidays.  There are 130 pieces per bag!

• AC off and on this week.  More off than on - and windows open.  Sure have been enjoying the fresh air.
• Our grapes are starting to ripen - YUM

Meals this week:
Lunchmeat/cheese and tomato sandwiches (a summer favorite) and salad
Sausage/spicy rice/zucchini/cheese skillet dinner
Italian bread pizza
Chicken strips, fried green tomatoes and fried onion slices
Mushroom/salsa beef hoagies and chips
Loaded hotdogs and salad/pickles
Pork chops, red beans & rice and sliced tomatoes


The weather has been so beautiful this week - it seems I have spent many moments just standing outside and taking it all in.  I don't know how many times I stopped and just said "Thank You God", for all the beauty I have enjoyed and the smiles it has brought me. 
I go out some days, and Momma kitty literally comes running up the path to me all wide eyed and happy, wanting petted.  It is just so sweet.
I have had hummingbirds just hover in front of my face.
Butterflies are every where.
The squirrels are a hoot to watch - they play and play.
Cardinals, blue jays, woodpeckers, gold finches, you name it - flitting all around.
The little bunny hopping all around showing his pretty white tail.
These precious moments make me smile!


HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?  HOW ARE THE GARDENS DOING?

May you all be blessed with health and happiness in the coming week.  PLEASE take a few moments to appreciate the "little" things in life.  Stand still and soak it in. 
God bless.

Tis the Season (for savings)

Back to school time is here.  Gardens are growing at maximum speed.  Stores are getting in the mindset for the holidays.  Labor Day is coming up (summer's last hoorah).
Sooooooo, there are deals to be found every where - if you take the time to look.
Now is the time to stock up on all those sales.

FOOD
GARDEN PRODUCE is at it's cheapest right now.  If you don't have a garden - think of buying at farm markets or from farmers direct and can or freeze that wonderful produce.
PEACHES are coming in all over - now is the time to buy.
APPLES are starting to ripen - depending on the type.
MELONS are every where.  Jams, jellies, fruit leathers, etc. can be made with them.

Labor Day will be here before you know it.  This means a lot of GROCERY STORE deals!
MEATS - hamburgers, hotdogs, anything for grilling
CONDIMENTS - will be on sale
POP - and other type of drinks should be great deals
PICNIC SUPPLIES of all types.  Beans, buns, eggs, potatoes, etc...............
Cookouts and picnic times make some great sales.  Now is the time to take advantage and freeze  or stock up on non-perishables

CLOTHES
**Undies, shoes, jeans, t-shirts, etc. are on sale for back to school clothes.  Stock up - if necessary get a larger size when the price is right.  Always be prepared for those growing kids.
**Buy stuff and keep it as gifts for the holiday - nothing says you have to buy winter clothes - especially for teens!!!
**SUMMER CLEARANCE is starting at all discount stores.  ALL summer goods are getting marked down as the stores are getting ready for the fall/winter holidays (UGH).
Buy beach supplies, swimsuits, beach towels, picnic stuff (neat idea for gifts), shorts.............

OFFICE/SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Office supply stores are having great deals.  Stock up for the kids entire school year, the office, or just for home.  Notebooks, pens, pencils, copy paper, markers, etc. are dirt cheap now.  Many grocery stores are having sales on these items as well.
I always get notebooks, markers, folders, pens & pencils as part of the kids stocking stuffers.  I like putting them in a little bin or storage container that they can use in their rooms.

Take some time and look around for the best bargains.  It is a wonderful time to help fill the pantry and to get the young-ins decked out for school, and to buy gifts for later.

What goodies do you stock up on this time of the year?
HAPPY SAVING

FRUGAL Homemade Gifts

It seems Sunday's post about me thinking about making Christmas gifts, got lot's of us talking!  Basically it is just a little over 4 months till that special day.
I know that some people that read the blog, maybe don't have any funds for gifts, and that can make the holidays so stressful and miserable.
I don't want anyone feeling that way.  That is supposed to be a magical time of the year, so I want to offer a few ideas (thank you Pinterest) that can be made at home with ONLY what you have on hand!

Money doesn't have to be spent to have some wonderful and thoughtful gifts to give.  I love homemade gifts, and I would gladly take any of these.
Enjoy and hopefully someone will find something they can use.

I love these wine holders.  It's simply the sleeve of an old sweater and some yarn.  You don't have to give wine (that costs money) - you can make herbed oil, flavored vinegars, or homemade extracts.  Shoot you could even add a cheap (Dollar store) bottle of bubbly fruit juice.

How cute - a button tree.  Could be any solid color or it could be done in miss matched buttons (how pretty).  Use an old frame - maybe paint it up, and a piece a plain fabric in the back.  We all have a button box don't we?

Love this idea for a young gal.  Any old picture frame painted (to match their room), and either back it with some chicken wire, or simply add some wire rows.  It could also be done with a corkboard back and stick pins or thumb tacks to hold jewelry.

Here you go - use some older balls or a Styrofoam ball and twine and pieces of ribbon.  These are the cutest country looking ornaments.

Anyone that has a fireplace or wood stove (or knows someone who does), can make these cute little snowman ornaments.  Twine could be added to the tops to hang - but I think they look cute for table/mantle decorations.

If you are anything like me, you have a pile of worn out jeans in your sewing stash!  Jeans make great pillows, potholders, quilts, etc.  Use your imagination on the decoration.  I see tooth fairy pillows - just made on a smaller scale!!!

Here is a cute way to use the rest of the sweater (from bottle covers).  Stuff with the guts from an old pillow, or old panty hose, dryer lint, or even shredded grocery bags.  Do a cute little rope stitch around the edges with scraps of yard and add a tiny ribbon to the top.  Cute decoration.
***You could even use old sweaters cut in squares to piece together a warm and cozy lap throw!!!!

An old mason jar can become anything!!  A little stuffing (cotton or batting) or a sponge, a little piece of fabric and some pins.  You can toss a couple spools of thread in jars, a tape measure, some needles,  buttons, etc..  I think this would be a cute idea for a college student - Momma isn't always going to be around!

Check the trash for 2 liter pop bottles.  A little paint, glue and imagination and you have the prettiest little bird houses.  I'd love to see these hanging about my garden!


Ok, there you have it.  Many gifts that can be made for nothing - nada -  zip - zilch - FREE!!!
There are so many things we can all do for little or no money.

I will try to give LOT'S more ideas over the next couple months or so. 
Let us all challenge each other to see just HOW FRUGAL we can be this Christmas and still give nice gifts!!!!
Get creative and crafting!



 

Frugal Happenings 8/6

Hello everyone!  Praying this finds you all well and happy.
We are doing great this week.  Nothing in the world to complain about - and if we did - it would just be trivial stuff.  So all is good!

The weather has made a dramatic change.  Friday we didn't even get out of the 60's for a high!  It looks like it will be in the 70's most of this upcoming week - YAY!  This is perfect in my opinion - it could stay that way all the time.  It is a very cloudy day, today.  We are expecting a little rain off and on, and I am sure the flowers and the garden will love it.

This was the week that the surprise lilies bloomed - or resurrection lilies or naked ladies or what ever you call them in your area.  I love them so much - as they take me back in time to Momma and Daddies.  That is where they came from.  They had a 75' row of these out by the garden and it was so pretty when they bloomed.  I love having flowers that came from my childhood home.

Frugal this week:

• Line dried laundry
• Lots of yard work - free exercise
• Used rain water for plants
• Received a $10/$10 coupon for Kohl's - which I will use for a gift item when I am in the area
• AC has been off since Friday morning - windows open
• Dehydrated cabbage leaves and ground up - and dehydrated some older canned jalapenos
• Picking lots of garden.  Tomatoes every day - zucchini at least every other day - bell peppers, jalapenos, and 3 heads of cabbage this week!
• Cut up and jarred 7 quarts of kraut to ferment
• Restocked many items in pantry from downstairs stock
• Went to visit my brother and stopped at Kroger a couple blocks from his house.
• Kroger deals - I found a shelving unit in the produce department that has special bags of fresh produce - each only costing .99.  Not seconds - it's all nice.  I got 2 bags of crunchy apples (6 in each), a 5 lb. bag of yellow potatoes, and 2 purple onions all for .99 per bag.  CHECK YOUR Kroger the next time you go!!!!
• I also got 4 boxes of onion soup mix for .49 each (I don't usually buy), and 8 packs of 6 ea. of candy bars for .49 ea. (2018)  Those will be saved for Halloween time.

The same potatoes in a different bag 15' away in another aisle were $4.99!!!!  I don't know why they have this  area - unless to just help folks out - but it's nice.  I have seen this shelf for a while, but just never really stopped to look.  They have oranges, lemons, limes, apples, potatoes, onions, etc.  I will definitely be checking this area as well as the clearance area EVERY TIME I go in.

Meals this week:

Ham/cream cheese/veggie roll-ups in tortillas
Poor man Swiss steak, smashed potatoes, sliced tomatoes
Creamy zucchini soup with tortellini added (2X)
BLT's - Mmmmmmm baby!!!!!!
Chef salads
Smoked sausage/cabbage and fried potatoes


I have also been going through my stash of fabric and pile of old clothes to come up with some ideas for making Christmas gifts.  Thinking of making some lap throws, throw pillows, pot holders, etc.
Planning on doing some more canning this week as well.

What have you been up to?  Did you get any good deals this week or do any canning?
Give us a shout and let us know how you are staying frugal.


Be safe my friends.  Praying the Lord protects you and yours and keeps everyone safe and healthy.
I hope you all have a pleasant week - and stay frugal everyone.
God bless.