Frugal happenings 9/4

HAPPY SEPTEMBER everyone!
Here we are on the last big hoorah weekend of the summer!  Now the countdown begins for all the holidays!!  OH MY.

This past week seems to have been an absolute blur to me.  Busy, busy, busy sums it up.  There were visiting trips to rehabs, meetings at rehabs, an all day event  at the hospital, one complete day of yard work, then time for some shopping, laundry and company.
My second brother went in the hospital Wednesday for a heart cath, they found an 80% blockage in a major artery, so they did a stint.  He is fine now and good to go.  That is always scary though when someone is going through that procedure.

I sure am hoping for a quiet coming week!  I plan on doing almost nothing (but enjoying the weather) today.  I want to get outside a bit, eat some yummy food, and relax!

We have had three days and nights without AC.  It turned to such nice temps.  I am sure I will have to turn it back on later today as the temps increase.  Hot and humid again this coming week, but I am not complaining, as these warm temperatures will soon be gone.

I believe my hummingbirds are about gone.  Last Sunday and Monday was absolutely incredible and awesome.  I had more birds than I have ever seen in such a flurry to get nectar.  I sure enjoyed that.  I guess we had many that were going south coming through the neighborhood.  I usually have 4 birds!  I think I am down to two - so they are too soon to be gone till spring!  That makes me sad.

My frugal week:

• I went to the library and got some free reading material
• Made a faux apple crisp from zucchini.  YUM  I just used zucchini instead of apples and increased the spices and sugar a bit.  Tasted like apple crisp!
• Shaved my brother (at rehab) 2X this week, saving one of us $40 ($20 per)
• Still picking some veggies from the garden
• I was given 2 lbs. of nice jalapenos from my brother.  I will making 'poppers' from them.
• Lined dried laundry
• Windows open for the 4th day
• Did a ton of yard work - free exercise
• Stopped by Kroger to check out clearance.  I got 3 large boxes of Kellogg's Corn Flakes for 1.29 each.  2- quart jars of Italian balsamic vinegar for 1.99 a bottle.  (We use a lot making dressing and this stuff is wonderful).  I got 8 - Almond Joy candy bars for .39 ea.  (TREATS)  I also got 2 packs  of 2 lb. each of bologna (non-sliced) marked down to 1.39 each.  I will be making sandwich spread with that.
• I had a $5 off coupon I used at Kroger as well!
• Ran to Aldi - I had another $10/$40 coupon.  So I purchased more goods for my stockpile.  I couldn't resist.  If I threw that coupon away - it would be like throwing away a $10 bill to me!!!!  THAT WON'T EVER HAPPEN!

I noticed this week that my pepper plants are going through a second season.  They have lots of small bell peppers coming on again!  I will take whatever I get.  I also have green onions and lettuce growing again!
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Meals this week:
Biscuits/gravy and homemade hash browns
Mexican casserole and broccoli slaw (2X)
Arby's (with coupons) - too tired to cook on hospital day
Chicken strips, broccoli/cheese rice and tomatoes
Leftover Arby sandwiches, leftover rice and some sautéed squash and onions
Chicken and dumplings and salad

Had cantaloupe and grapes as fruit this week.  Also had nuts and popcorn for snacks.
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I love that we all got learn and get some new ideas from each other for our Christmas gift giving this week.  Thanks to all that checked in.

I hope you all get to enjoy this last summer holiday with your family and friends. 
Give us a shout out to what you have been up too!  I love hearing from each of you.

Have a wonderful and blessed week.
PEACE

Thinking of Fall

Well here we are on September 1st.  It seems that Labor Day marks the "unofficial" end to summer and the beginning of fall.

Today the weather feels a bit fall-ish!  Our highs are to be in the 70's.  Of course that will only last a few days then the heat is back for a while.
We will lose about an hour and 15 minutes of daylight this month.  The average temperatures will be getting cooler, and it will be time to start preparing the yards and gardens for the winter.

It is also the time that many of us start to REALLY think abut the upcoming holidays!  I have picked up odds and ends over the past year, for Christmas baskets and I also give lots of home canned goodies.  I love making cookies, candies and sweet breads as well.
Baking goods will really start going on sale in October and November.  It will be time to stock up.

This year I will be cutting back a lot on gift giving.  There are so many that I do not ever see during the year (or hear from), and I just see no reason to worry and fret about gifts for those folks.  Gifts are going to be meaningful this year!  My peace of mind will thank me!!!!!!


Do you start thinking about Christmas gifts and holiday dinners this early?  Are you making any cute home made gifts? 
Pass on your ideas to us.  I think we might all like to shake it up a little with new ideas!!

I am making some of these this year.  They are just too cute!

These are cute little stocking stuffers for the kids.  Packs of gum all decorated up.  Sorry video does not work

 

 

Frugal Happenings 8/28

Hello there my frugal friends!
WOW, here we are again at the end of another month.  This year has just flown by.  A few more days will be September and the 'unofficial' end to summer.  Heck, the holidays will be here before we know it.  I saw Christmas stuff at the store the other day!!!!!!

We sure had quite a weather week.  We did have 3 days that were lovely and we got to have the AC off.  Then the heat, humidity, and RAIN came back with a vengeance!  Wednesday, there were 8 tornados that hit the state and did tremendous damage (thank God no one was killed).  Friday evening we had more terrible storms go through the state, some hitting the same areas as those of Wednesday.
Rain most of the day Saturday.  Luckily, we just had lots of rain and no damage in our immediate area.  Friday there was 2.4" of rain in 1 hour and 15 minutes downtown (10 minutes from us).
Streets were flooded and buildings were flooded.   Luckily it was just our back yard flooded!
I think someone forgot to tell us - IS IT APRIL - not August?  We sure have had the rain.

My frugal week:

• Got to do  a bit of yard work when the weather was decent - FREE exercise
• G & I did a tune-up on the lawn mower making it run so much smoother
• Been picking lots of garden produce
• Did all laundry including bedding when nice and line dried
• Baked a ham from the freezer (bargain from Christmas) and used it off and on all week
• Wanted corn bread one night, but didn't want to heat the house with the oven.  So I made corn bread into pancakes - they were yummy
• Colored my hair at home.  Used the last of an open dye - got 3 color jobs from it!
• Dehydrated more squash and dried more tomato skins
• Stopped at Fresh Thyme and got cantaloupes 2/$1.  They aren't the best but not the worst.  Good for snacks.
• Stopped by Kroger to look at clearance and got a bunch of pudding mixes for super cheap on mark down.

• Made a bowl of PayDay candy mix (salted peanuts and candy corn) - tastes like a PayDay candy bar

• Canned 8 pints of what I am calling sweet Harvest relish (one went straight to frig).  Contained cukes, zucchini, yellow squash, onion, celery, peppers, carrots, and cabbage
• Canned 6 quarts of salsa
• Made grape jelly from grapes from freezer (about 2 weeks from harvest).  2 pints and 5 half pints.
• Froze 10 quarts of green beans

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Meals this week:
Homemade pizza
Ham sandwiches and sliced tomatoes
Soup beans (2X)
Loaded baked potatoes
Chef salad
Leftover night

Snacks were nuts and fruit

How is everyone's gardens doing?  Are you just starting to get good harvests or like us - slowing down on harvest?
How was your frugal week?

I hope you all have a wonderful week (next weekend is a long weekend for many).  May you all be blessed beyond measure and stay safe and healthy!
PEACE

CANNING TIP

Just a quick canning tip for those who are still in the canning mode:

If you are using a water bath canner - you will need 4 1/2" of water in the canner for 6 - 7 pints jars.
You will need 4" of water in the canner for 6 - 7 quart jars.

This allows for the water to be displaced by the jars and proper coverage for canning without boiling over the pot!

HAPPY CANNING!

IN THE LONG RUN

We have been talking a lot lately about getting our stockpiles and pantries in order.  There have been recipes to make ahead, and many have shared their reasons for stocking up.

Times are getting really scary.  There is not a week that goes by that there is not some terrorist act in some part of the world, and often times it happens more than once a week.
I know America is a huge goal of those kind of people.  They are attacking so many other countries, and we will be in their sights again soon.
There will be unrest during and after the election - you can bet your bottom dollar on that.  Whether it be home grown or international - terrorism is knocking at our doors.

I for one want to be prepared and I want to be prepared for the long haul. 
I know we have talked about items that last a long time before - but here is a reminder.  I recently read an article about this and thought it was the appropriate to share the info again.


These are items that WILL NOT EXPIRE OR GO BAD if properly stored.

1.  HONEY - honey will never go bad.  It may discolor or crystalize, but it will still be good.  Honey is about the most perfect 'food' there is.  It is full of nutritional value, it's filling, it's antibacterial (both inwardly and outwardly).  It has great antiseptic qualities as well.  Make sure you have plenty of honey on hand.  It can be substituted for  sugar in anything.  It makes a great barter tool.
Try to make sure you get local honey is possible - as it has local pollens in it, which is great for those with allergies.

2.  WHITE RICE - If kept dry and sealed, white rice will last for years, as will wild rice, Arborio, jasmine, and basmati rice.  Brown rice has too many oils in it, and can only be kept for long periods of time in a freezer, otherwise it can go rancid.  Rice may get dusty looking, but it will be fine.  Keep it dry and sealed, so as to prevent bugs from getting in packaging.

3.  WHITE VINEGAR - will last just about forever, and never go bad.  It can be used in pickling and preserving, it can also be used in all sorts of homemade cleaning products.  Vinegar can even been used as an antiseptic.

4.  SALT - All types of salt will last for years and years if kept dry.  Great for seasoning, preserving meats, pickling, etc.  This is also a great barter tool.

5.  CORSTARCH - We have all purchased a box of cornstarch and very rarely use it.  Don't throw it out - it will not expire.  Keep it dry and in a sealed container (try to keep in a cool place as well).
It is handy to have as a thickening agent for cooking and baking and even preserving.  It can also be used as an antiperspirant or dry hair cleaner.

6.  SUGAR - Keep it dry and in sealed containers.  The biggest problem with sugar is that it sometimes hardens.  It can STILL BE USED.  I have grated sugar before to use in recipes.  Keep white sugar on hand at all times.  It can be blended into powder sugar, and you can add molasses to it to make brown sugar.  Another great barter tool.
Those holiday popcorn tins (decorative) that we all get each year are great for storage and well as sealed totes.

7.  HARD LIQUOR - I know many people DO NOT drink, but this is a product that would be wise to have in your pantry for bartering  and even for use as a sedative or antibacterial dressing for wounds.

8.  DRIED BEANS - will never expire.  Granted they may take a lot longer to cook (after they get to be years old) - and they may not soften as much as they should - but they will never lose their nutritional power.  Beans are a great protein when there is no other option.

9.  INSTANT COFFEE - will never go bad (sealed or not) if kept in a freezer.  If unsealed it will last for years on the shelf.

10.  MAPLE SYRUP - will last forever if kept in a freezer.  It will last a long, long time on the shelf, and even if it crystalizes it can be heated back to liquid.  It makes a great sweetener for all kinds of things, and truthfully, who wouldn't need a sweet treat when things are at their worst!
It is wise for all of use to keep a couple jars or bottles of maple syrup in the freezer.  Most people never think about freezing it.

Another thing I have decided to keep on hand is sorghum molasses.  I have purchased a couple jars which will stay unopened, until I have no means to get other sweeteners.  It is also full of nutritional value (great when your ill).

POPCORN is another item we are keeping on hand.  Granted it may not have a ton of nutritional value, but it would keep us full, and homes with youngsters need something like this that lasts.  I am speaking of bulk popcorn, not the microwavable  type.
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Hope this list helps you get prepared for the long run.  We just live in a very volatile time right now, and we all need to remember that NO ONE will be looking out for you and your families - EXCEPT YOU!
Try to add these supplies to your stockpile and pantry each and every week.  You don't have to spend a fortune on these supplies.  Work with your budget and add a little at a time and put it in storage for the future. 
It just may save your life!!!

Frugal Happenings 8/21

Hi there my friends.  I hope your week has been good and healthy.

We have had a very humid, warm, and wet week.   We had 6-7 tornados within 40 miles of us one evening.  I think we have had rain 6 out of the past 8 days.  We have finally cleared off and cooled down.  I am sitting here this morning with my windows open and I am enjoying a lovely cool breeze.  YES!!!!!!  I love it.

My garden is starting to slow down some.  Again this week my hummingbirds are drinking like crazy.  I have 4 birds and they emptied one feeder (it had 1 1/2 C nectar) in 4 days!  I sure do love watching them.  What a joy!
I have been doing some major cleaning.  My kitchen and dining room always gets the brunt of canning season.  My kitchen is so little, that everything spreads into the dining room.  I just tried to get things looking more back to normal (although I am not done canning).

G had his home doctor visit this week.  I did find out some interesting news from the doc.  He said that I can also be his patient even though I am not on SS or Medicare, since I am the care provider.  That is great to know.

I think all of G's family that were in hospitals this week have either returned home or gone to rehab.  That is a good thing.

My frugal week:

• Chopped 5 more pints of bell peppers and froze
• Dried more squash
• Canned 6 pints spaghetti sauce
• Canned 8 quarts of soup/chili started (tomatoes/peppers/onions/spices)
• Received a $3 rebate check in the mail - Hey $3 is $3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Did a lot of yard work over a period of 2 1/2 days.  FREE exercise
• De-cluttering more - yet it seems it does not make a dent!
• Cut G's and my hair at home
• Took a ham out of the freezer to bake this week
• Boiled a dozen eggs for the week
• All meals and drinks from home
• I did stop at Meijer on my way home from hospital this week.  The store is remodeling, so many things on clearance.  I got 7 of the really large cans of Dinty Moore beef stew for 1.67 each.  The small 15 oz. cans cost more than that - so I snapped up all 7 cans they had.  That was my ONLY store purchase all week.
• I did place an order and receive from Spices, Etc.  We ordered a large container of a spice blend that we use daily.  I also got horse radish powder and powdered butter for stock.  I ordered chocolate extract as well. (I have tons of flavors).  Received a FREE jar of bay leaves with order. 
• I received another $10/$40 coupon for Aldi which I will use this coming week for winter stock up.

Soup/chili base for this winter.  YUM

Check out this ginormous cucumber that was hiding behind a corn stalk.  It weighed 3 lbs.!!!!!!!!  It is solid as can be.  If the meat of it is not bitter, it will be made into relish this week!
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Meals this week:
Homemade enchiladas (2X)
Burgers and leftovers
Fried zucchini and fried green tomatoes  (my favorite)
Mexican casserole
Chicken and leftover casserole
Breakfast
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How has your week been?  Fall will  be here soon, which means winter is just around the corner - so are you getting your pantries filled?
Let us know how your frugal week went.

Take care my friends.  May the Lord bless you in every way in this coming week.
Peace

LEARNING

Hello  everyone.  I have been busy this week with all sorts of things, and blogging just kind of slipped by.  OOPS!

I kind of wanted to talk about learning today.  I try to learn something new every day, of course sometimes it may just be a reminder of things 'learned' - and forgotten! 
I hope you all strive to learn new things each day.  I guess that is why I enjoy reading blogs and different Face Book pages.  It is just amazing to me, that here we all sit reading and conversing from all over the country and even the world!
HOW COOL IS THAT?
I also love to read all kinds of self help and instructional  books and publications.  There are just so many ways to learn.

People from different regions often cook differently, play differently, and just have different ideas of doing every day things.  I love seeing that and learning.

When it comes to saving money and keeping our pantries, we all have different views.  Saving money is a challenge to me and I love a challenge.  It used to be a necessity, now it is just a way of life.  My pantry is my security for my family.
Many people try to be frugal in many ways, for the purpose of being able to takes vacations, travel, pay off debt, etc..  I just want security.

WHY ARE YOU FRUGAL and WHY DO YOU WANT A STOCKED PANTRY??????
Share you ideas so we can all learn (hopefully something new)!