November and More

WOW, here it is November.  We are definitely on the short end of the year.  A few short weeks till Thanksgiving and then on to Christmas.
It is supposed to hit 80* here today - unbelievable!
I will be hanging laundry out here shortly and I have flowers still going strong (and a little garden).

My clematis bloomed and died back after it's early summer flowering.  It has regenerated growth and it is BLOOMING again!  The plant is covered with big old fat buds as well!
I have never seen this happen this late in the year.  It is so pretty.


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I know that many us open our hearts and pocketbooks to help others as much as possible throughout the year.  Many people seem to do more during the holidays and the winter.  I guess that is normal - as we all seem to see the need more then.

 

 

I save my change during the year and use it for special things. 
YES, it may be for extra Christmas money.
It may be for buying gift cards for people we know in need.
It may be for buying a couple gift cards (grocery) for ourselves to keep back in case times get tough.

MOSTLY, it is for purchasing items for the area food pantries and soup kitchen.
For buying inexpensive hats and gloves and throws and passing out to the homeless at the soup kitchen and area park.
For gift cards given to the food pantries - so they can buy specific items they need.
For buying gifts for the 'giving tree', so a child gets Christmas.

Our spare change can make a big difference in OUR lives and also in the lives of OTHERS!
Take some time this fall/winter and do something nice for someone less fortunate.

****Remember when donating to pantries that the basics can be the difference between existing and living.  Children's bellies may get full.
*Dry packaged goods (pasta, mac n cheese, dried beans, rice, etc..)
*Peanut butter and jelly
*Canned goods and sauces
*Canned fruit
*Fresh potatoes (find a great deal - buy them)  One year Aldi had 10 lb. bags for .99 and I bought a 150 lbs. and donated.  The pantry was so excited - as everyone would get a few fresh potatoes - and usually they get no fresh.
*Don't FORGET laundry soap, bath soap, dish soap,  hygiene products (Dollar Tree is a great place for these items)

I realize that many people reading this may be struggling financially.  If so, I hope someone donates, so that you can receive some help.  If you are doing OK - then do something nice for others.

Give with an open heart and love. 
GIVE JUST TO BE GIVING AND EXPECTING NOTHING IN RETURN.

It is only by the grace of God.............
Thanks everyone!

Fruga Happenings 10/30

Happy Sunday to everyone.
Here we are on the last weekend of the month, Halloween is tomorrow, and Thanksgiving will be here in a few short weeks.  EEKS - how did this happen so quickly?????

We are having beautiful weekend here in Indiana.  Last week we had some mornings that we needed to run the furnace a cycle or two.  This coming week, both heat and AC will get to be off.  YAY.  We are to have upper 60's and low 70's all week!  I am sure loving this.
It is giving everyone a little extra time to get all the fall yard work done - and who doesn't need extra time for that?

I have had a roller coaster of a week.  Many highs and lows and much laughter and tears.  I guess this is how it will be TILL it's not!  So I will graciously accept it a day at a time - as the "NOT"  will be too soon, no matter when it comes.  I hope you all appreciate your family and friends and give them a hug when you can.

I have the crockpot going this morning with Mexican taco chicken, laundry going, and getting ready to go out and do a little work in the flower beds before the sprinkles come in.

My biggest frugals this week were my Kroger savings.  I ran to the feed store and passed a Kroger I have never been in before - sooooooo I needed to check it out!

• I got 8 cans of various veggies for .19 each   (scratch and dent)
• 2 boxes of Oreo's for 2.50 each.  Each box had 10 packs of 13 cookies!  That's 260 Oreo's for $5.00.  I couldn't  hardly buy a package of cookies for that!
• I got many  different packs of candy for .75, .49, and .25.
• 2 non-stick cake pans for 1.75 ea.
• L.E.D. light bulbs for $1 a package  (I have enough bulbs now to last for years)
• No-cook pectin .25 can (freezer jam) - (good till 8/2018)
• Liquid pectin - .10 box (2018)
• 10 cans of refried beans for .25 ea.
• Pita bread .25 a pack and several loaves of bread for .25 ea. (for drying for dressing or croutons)

Not a bad haul!!!

• G has a little stool that he uses to roll around on in the house instead of using his big power chair.  The rollers were starting to go wonky - and he figured out a way to fix them very cheaply.  Beats spending $80 on another heavy duty stool!  He's so handy.
• Had the furnace check done this week.  We are good to go for the winter.  It was paid for at the beginning of the year as our yearly check-ups, so no money spent this week.

Spent the remainder of the week doing all our normal stuff.

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Meals this week:
Last of the leftover hamburger stew
Roast, veggies  (in crockpot)
Beef Manhatten's with leftover beef
Homemade pizza
Homemade beef/bean/rice burrito supremes  (yum)
Dirty rice with beef and salad
Burrito filling leftovers with cream cheese in pitas
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How was your week?  Tell us about any bargains you got.  Making any gifts or crafts?  Give us some ideas!

May you each have a splendid week and be blessed in every way!
God bless

60 Days and Counting Down

Today is exactly 60 days till Christmas.  Hard to believe - isn't it?
Have you started getting ready?
Buying gifts - making gifts - making menus - planning, planning, planning??????

Last week I went through the gifts I have accumulated over the past year  at various sales, clearance bins, yard sales and thrift stores.  I have all gift items in a very large tote.
I also have all kinds of containers to use in wrapping and presenting gifts in another tote.

Today let's talk about wrapping options.  I hate doing what everyone else does!  I like to be a little different (ask those who really know me!).
So begin thinking outside the "box"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• I always keep a few individual water/pop bottles (people leave them when visiting).  I wash, de-label, and use for all sorts of things.  They make cute holders for M&M's, Skittles, etc..  Also for nuts or even birdseed.  You can add your own labels.
• Jars from coffee mayo, etc. are great for jar recipes.  You can use Mason jars - but this way you don't have to worry about getting them back.  These are great for soup mixes, bean mixes, cookie/brownie mixes......
• TP tubes - are great for very small gifts.  Stuff in the tube and wrap up like a stick candy or piece of taffy!
• Confuse those people who ALWAYS seem to know what is in a box!  Use cereal, cracker, cookie boxes.  Any type of box will work and you are recycling.
• Get a strainer/colander and fill with a jar of pasta sauce, pasta, and parm. cheese.  Maybe a cute dish towel in the bottom
• Wrap homemade bread or sweet breads in a pretty kitchen towel (Dollar Tree)
• Buy cute holiday or pretty china plates or dessert saucers at yard sales or thrift stores.  Use as trays for giving homemade cookies or candies.  They get to keep the dish and pass on the love to someone else
• 2 liter bottles are great for gifting t-shirts or logo hats.  Cut the bottom off the bottle - stuff with tissue paper and gift - then use clear tape to put the bottom back on
• Gallon or plastic jars are great for filling with all kinds of goodies for teens (then their moms can use when empty!)
• Buy cute coffee mugs at Dollar Tree and add some flavored tea bags or a baggie of hot chocolate mix  
• Baskets from thrift stores are great for giving home canned goods, or misc. goodie baskets for adults or kids
• I love giving goodies in re-usable cloth bags - they can then be used all year
• Flower pots (plastic or clay) can be filled with gloves, tools or seeds for the garden
• A bait bucket with fishing lures, filet knife, or 6 pack of their favorite beer
• Find a nice straight glass (bottom and top same diameter) and fill with homemade cookies.  Not only do they get cookies - but a nice milk glass to go with it.
• Pringles cans are great for gifting cookies
• I keep the plastic containers that I buy mushrooms in - wash and dry - and use to give fudge and other homemade candies

Hopefully this gives you a few new ideas.   You can start saving items to use now. 
Have fun with your packaging.

DO YOU HAVE ANY COOL IDEAS TO PASS ON?  Let us know!!!!

Frugal Happenings 10/23

Happy Sunday my friends.  I surely hope this finds you well.

We have had all types of weather this week.  Started out quite warm, then rain, and very chilly.  We are having normal fall weather finally.  I have had to run the furnace one cycle on two mornings to take the chill off.

I found out this week that my other next door neighbors are to be moving soon.  They have rented for 26 years!  The landlord (I call her a slumlord) will never fix anything.  I know she wants them out, as she has not raised the rent in all the time that they have been there, and she wants more money.  She is one of those nasty, greedy rich folks.  She IS wealthy - probably because she doesn't spend any money.  I can't imagine what kind of new people she will get to rent.  This really scares me - I DON'T LIKE CHANGE!

I got my Blazer back on Friday!  YAY!!!  While they were bleeding the brake line they fixed, another broke, and then another!  WOW did I get lucky.  They also fixed my 4-wheel drive, my driver's side window and the back window and hatch.  I feel like I have a new vehicle.  LOL
It all cost us less than one third of what we had saved back for vehicle repairs!!!

My frugal week:

• Line dried laundry
• Colored my hair with supplies I have on hand
• Cut a bouquet of roses
• Crushed up the remainder of a bag of stale tortilla chips and placed in a jar.  Will use as casserole toppings
• Picked the last of the bell peppers, green tomatoes and one zucchini
• Dried more mint
• Made hankies out of an old t-shirt
• I was gifted more canning jars!  I received 4 dozen pints, 2 dozen quarts, and 8 jelly jars.  ALL had rings with them.  Also got 5 boxes of lids and a turkey roaster.  WOOHOO!
• I went through things in basement and got my gift tote all organized  - so I know what I already have for holiday gifts
• I bought 5 - 1 lb. bags of 'crunchy' M & M's on clearance at Kroger for 1.59 bag.  They went in the gift tote!!  (Shoot I can't buy choc. chips that cheap)
• I got 2 whole pork loins on clearance at Kroger as well.  I brought home and cut one into 14 thick chops and a bag of pieces for stir fry - and cut the other in half for 2 roasts.  Check out this savings! (Click on picture to enlarge)

 

• Had enough points saved back to save .30/gallon on gasoline.  Paid 1.59/gallon!
• Been working on organizing more daily use items in glass jars (in the kitchen)
• Stayed home biggest part of the week
• Made a library run - got an interesting cookbook to look at

Meals this week:
Homemade chicken gumbo (2X)
Chicken strips, mashed potatoes and side salad
Hamburger stew (2X)
Fried chicken and nice size salad (2X)
**We kept it simple this week

Snacks - a little of this and a little of that

HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?  Did you do anything interesting?  Did you find any great deals?
Give us a shout out - I know we all love reading about each other.

Take care of yourselves and your families.  May God bless you all with good health and safety this week.  Stay frugal my friends.
PEACE

More easy Homemade

We are having a very cool and rainy day today.  These are the kind of days that get me motivated to cook.  I have a nice big post of hamburger stew going at the moment.  YUM!

I thought I might list a couple more recipes that come straight from the pantry and that are quite simple.


FRUIT FLAVORED GELATIN
4 C fruit juice - any flavor you prefer (I have also made this with flat  flavored soda pop)
2 envelopes (.5 ounce) unflavored gelatin
Optional:  2 C fresh fruit (frozen or canned is ok too)

Pour 3 cups fruit juice in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
Pour remaining juice in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with gelatin.  Let it sit for 5 minutes, then pour the hot juice into the bowl and stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved.

If you are adding fruit, lay it on the bottom of the pan, mold, or individual dishes.  Pour liquid over the fruit and refrigerate, uncovered till set.  6-8 hours

Just think of the neat flavor combos you can come up with!!!!!
Make unflavored gelatin a pantry staple.  It has many uses.

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MAYONNAISE
1 large egg yolk (it won't be cooked - so use freshest eggs you have)
1 C olive oil
fresh lemon juice to taste (I use bottled)
salt to taste
Optional:  1 tsp. Dijon mustard

Whisk egg yolk and 1 tsp. water in a medium mixing bowl.
Using a measuring cup with  a spout - pour a few drops of oil into yolk mixture and whisk vigorously.  Add a few more and repeat.  Combine until you have a thick yellow sauce, then add greater amounts of oil at once.

Add a squeeze or dash of lemon and a pinch of salt and whisk again.  Add flavors to taste.
Store up to 4 days in covered container in frig.

**Don't over pour oil into egg - it can cause mixture to separate.  Just do a few drops at a time to start.  Be patient while you blend.
This is fresh tasting and keeps you from having to make a special shopping trip for a get together.

Hope you enjoy!  Have fun making homemade!

Homemade Cheese Goodies

Last week we talked about homemade vs. store bought.  Homemade is always better in my opinion.
I just love knowing what is in the food we are eating.

Here are a couple of easy cheese recipes that I think you will enjoy.  Simple ingredients and no artificial stuff added.



PIMENTO CHEESE
2 C shredded sharp or extra sharp cheddar cheese
8 oz. softened cream cheese
1/2 C mayonnaise
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. cayenne powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1 jar (4 oz.) diced pimentos (drained)

Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix till thoroughly blended (use paddle if you have one).  Salt and pepper to taste.  I put mine in the Ninja (blender) and pulse 2 - 3times.  It makes it a little smoother blend (how we like it).  This is so yummy!!!!



VELVEETA
1 1.2 C water - very hot
1/2 C instant  (dry) milk PLUS 1 Tablespoon
1//4 oz. envelope of unflavored gelatin (1 1/2 tsp.)
1 1/2 lbs. shredded cheddar cheese

Line a 8 x 4  loaf pan with plastic wrap.
In a blender mix 1/2 C very hot water - 3 Tbsp. of dry milk and 1/2 tsp. of gelatin.  Blend well.
Quickly add 1/2 pound of cheese and whip.  Pour into pan.

Repeat the above process 2 more times until all ingredients have been used.
Cover with plastic and refrigerate.  Keep refrigerated.
Makes 2 lbs.  So creamy!!
Better than store bought!!!


Both of these are easily made and use ingredients most people have on hand.  OK, maybe I am different, but I always keep plain gelatin on hand (use in suet too), and small jars of pimentos.

I hope you all give these a try. 
These would be fun gifts to make for Christmas as well.  Attached recipe and maybe a pack of fancy crackers!  It would sure be an original gift.  I would love to receive this!

ENJOY my friends.

Frugal Happenings 10/16

Hi there my friends.  I hope you have had a wonderful week blessed with good health and many savings.

We have continued to have great weather, which is really unusual for this time of the year.  The next couple  of days will be in the 80's and then the temps drop again to the upper 50's at the end of the week.  No frost in our area yet. 
The fact that we have had no frost, means that our trees have not really started to turn color yet.  There are a few changing (sugar maples), but for the most part there is a lot of green out there.

I was leaving to visit my brother this week, and got just up the road when my brake pedal went all the way to floor!  I guided myself slowly back home.  I had a brake line go, therefore no brakes to speak of!!  I was lucky to be so close to home.  I had to then clean out the Blazer (I store all kinds of stuff in it), and called a tow truck to come take it to the repair shop.
I have had a couple other issues with windows as well, so we are having them fix everything.
The GOOD NEWS is, we received $2,500 about 3 years ago for hail damage to Blazer (could hardly see it), and that money is still in the account just for the Blazer.  So it will not cost us any out of budget money!!!!!!   YAY!!
*I am just happy this happened now and not on ice in the winter.  God definitely had me in His hands.

My frugal week;

• Laundry in cold and line dried
• No AC.  Love having the windows open
• I dug out blue jars and a couple old square jars I found in the canning jars I was gifted this summer.  I will use them for dry storage.

• Have picked cherry tomatoes, 2 kinds of peppers, lettuce and green onions this week.  Have some small zucchini growing in the garden still
• Aldi had squash on sale this week.  I got 2 spaghetti squash, 2 acorn, and 2 butternut for .99 EACH!  They are all firm and great size.  Great deal and they will last us through the end of the year.
• I did a thorough scouring of the stove with vinegar and baking soda as cleaners.  I figured most of the canning is done - so get it ready for the holiday season!
• Did a lot of yard work.  Bundled up a lot of refuse for yard waste pick-up.  I used strips of an old t-shirt to tie stuff up.  Much stronger and versatile than twine!
• I went to the first craft bazaar of the season on Saturday.  Did a lot of looking and got a lot of cute ideas.  I did spend $5 (basically a donation to church) for a pineapple upside down cake!  My favorite.  My mom always made me one for my birthday - that is coming up at the end of the month - so I treated myself. (sweet memories).
• Harvested some dried bean pods I found in garden to use for planting next spring.

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Meals of the week:
All leftovers and some fried green tomatoes (yum)
Banana/pecan pancakes
Stuffed pepper skillet dinner
Flavored rice, sausage patties and salad
Soup and grilled sandwiches
Mexican baked potatoes (topped w/nacho cheese, jalapenos and sour cream)
Cajon rice with chicken chunks and brussel sprouts

Leftovers for lunches
Snacks:  cake, jerky, and Chex Mix
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We have been enjoying watching all the nature in our backyard.  Seems they are all getting ready for winter.  We normally have 10-12 squirrels at any given time, birds of all sorts, "Chuck" the ground hog and "Opie" the little possum, and of course the 3 kitties are out there.  We have some very young squirrels, which I find unusual this time of the year.  One little guy has what appears to be a damaged tail (it's about 2" long), so it's name is "Bobbi".  I am crazy I know!!!!!!  I name everything.

Just at dawn - IF YOU CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE, you will see Chuck and Opie and in the back ground you will kitty eyes glowing.  Everyone gets along thank goodness.


I pray you all have a safe and healthy week.  Many your frugal finds and adventures be many!
Give us a shout out and let us know what you are up to!
PEACE