Frugal Friday

 

I hope you all have had a lovely and frugal week. Mine has been pretty darn good as far as I can tell.

Now what frugal happenings have been going on here on the old homestead.

1.  I don't remember if I have said this before, but I found out that I could use bubble bath as handwash. Lovely as I don't have to give away or discard something that if I use it in the bath causes me problems. I also have the chance to use up a bit more of those extra tubes of hand cream. I always cut them open to get the last little bit. Winter weather is very drying to my hands.

2.  Drapes have been opened during the sunny portions of each day. Allows us to keep the lights off for a longer period of time. Also the solar heat keeps the furnace from running.

3.  No shopping this week. That means I only used the vehicle to go to Bible study this week. It also means I get to shop the pantry and fridge for meal prep.

4.  Walking outside at least twice a day for free exercise.

5.  Harvey fixed his saw yesterday. The switch had gone, so he pulled the electrical panel off and got the switch working once again. He also managed to make what he calls a hot box. This will be used on cold days to get our snowblower up and working. It was made with bits and bobs from his workroom. However he now says he is running out of materials. 

So that are the bigger things I can remember. I may have to start writing things down. 

As prices rise in the grocery area, heating, and lighting changes are going to need to happen in our budget. When Harvey gets my Excell sheets ready for next year. I will be going through them with a fine tooth comb I am sure there are areas of savings I am missing. This isn't really necessary as of yet, but I am taking this on like a game. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty Thursday

 

Another thrifty week has drawn to a close. Things are moving along nicely, but I am still a bit worried about getting all done. I will try my best though.

What thrifty things have I been up to this week.

1.  Using up scraps of fabric in both the rug and the quilt. I have also been using up the odd spools of thread on the quilt (same could be said for the bobbins as well). 

2.  Using up everything I can in the fridge and fridge freezer in order to make room for the Christmas leftovers.

3.  Fixed two buttons on a shirt. Got to love those button jars at times like this.

4.  Making extra food to freeze during those busy nights coming up very soon.

5.  Enjoying free TV using my minicomputer attached to the television. 

6.  Reading a free book on my ereader. Planning to download a few more very soon.

7.  Making another bits and bobs knitted blanket.

Probably many more, but that is all I can think of right now. Still every little thrifty savings helps in the long run. Things add up over time and every little bit of thrifty happenings makes me very happy, and contented. Most times it also means a clearing out of items so decluttering happening as well.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Questions & Answers Plus a Couple of Pictures

 

It's Wednesday and time to answer any questions I have been asked over the last week.

I was asked what kind of rotary cutter I used. Well, I use a Fiskars, that seems to work the best for me. I have tried a few others and they just do not cut as well. 

Only one question this week so I thought I would show you all a few pictures of what I accomplished today.

I managed to get the center three small squares of 8 more blocks sewn. I them moved on to some pinning.

Enough of the denim squares pinned to finish off the 8 blocks. 

I have been working on the rug, but not getting as much done as I had hoped. Barely got one more stripe done.

Christmas is coming much too quickly so I need to ramp things up a bit. Still have cards to do, and of course the baking that the guys expect. Wish me luck!!!

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless 

Tuesday Tidbits

 

Just a quick post tonight. It has been a very quiet day. The sun shone, things melted a bit, and I stuck pretty close to home. 

By sticking close to home, I managed to get a few things completed. Not only were all the household chores completed in record time, but I also even managed a bit of work on various projects and baked some pies to use as dessert this week. 

Pinned the centers of the 9-patch blocks which I will quickly sew together tomorrow, and perhaps even get the jean portions finished on a few of them (well at least pinned and ready to sew). I did another strip on the rug and gathered the strips for the next two rows. Some had to be cut a bit more before being able to use them. I am hopeful of getting more than one row done tomorrow. 

I pulled fabric to cut two more patterns out and some of the leftover scraps will be used in the rug. 

I read three chapters of my Bible study and hope to finish that reading tomorrow. 

My finger is feeling much better, though I have to keep a band aid on it so that the cut does not catch on any little thing I am working on. Hopefully tomorrow it will be healed enough to remove. 

No visiting tonight, but I plan on visiting you all early tomorrow morning.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

A few switches in this week's menu plans. Nothing big, just changing a few days around in order to use things up.

Monday

Honey Garlic Sausage and baked beans. Served with homemade bread.

Tuesday

Leftover Butter Chicken on leftover rice. I think that this time I will use up the broccoli in the crisper.

Wednesday

Chili and toast.

Thursday

I plan on using up the leftover roast beef, and the beef broth and making soup. I will make grilled cheese sandwiches as well. The leftover soup will be frozen in containers to use at another time.

Friday

Perogies, sour cream, and fried onions.

Saturday

Leftover Chili, this time over pasta.

Sunday

Roast pork, roasted potatoes, and roasted carrots. 

So, I will have used up some leftovers in the fridge as well as some things in the crisper. Also clearing out a bit more in the freezer.

I need to think of some kind of dessert for the rest of the week and will do so tomorrow.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 

It has been a very quiet weekend all told. I think we are beginning to move into the nesting phase or perhaps hibernation. 

I really did not get much done the last couple of days on my projects. Most was completed at the beginning of the week. Now that the back is feeling much better, I started to work a bit harder at the cutting table. Perhaps not the best idea to work for 3 or 4 hours straight doing the same thing over and over,

For the first time ever, this happened.

I have never cut myself with my rotary cutter, but I guess there is always a first time. I haven't even looked to see how bad it is, just quickly threw on some band aids and hoped for the best. I see by the picture that there has been some bleeding through.... I still hopeful that I can get the remaining fabric cut into those strips and the sashing cut for the quilt. I had planned on cutting out a pattern, but that will need to wait until tomorrow.

Oh yeah, and I managed to cut myself with a knife as well. Guess that today was not a great day for me to be using sharp items.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

Hello from snowy Estevan, Saskatchewan. But the sun is shining and the temperatures are not too bad. 

I am pretty much over the back pain, but because of it I think I developed a lovely headache for most of last night and today. Still with the help of Tylenol I have kept it pretty much at bay.

I managed to cut out another dress pattern, some strips for the rug and did a few finishing touches on my various projects.

Here is the knitted blanket for Kurt's friend. All ends now woven in.

Not sure if this was the best yarn choice, but it is what it is.

I made more blocks as well this week. The pile more than doubled.

I have figured out how many more I need so will get those done over the next few days. I am hoping to cut the sashing tomorrow or the next day. 

And here is the rug. Slowly growing and getting even more colourful. I do hope Kurt likes it. Man, it is heavy. 

I processed the last of the pumpkins today as well. 

Tomorrow, I hope to not only get the sashing cut, but even more strips and perhaps another top or dress. Thus, giving me yet more knit fabric to make strips of a different colour.

I may just actually get all done before Christmas with luck and if I stick close to home. 

I ordered myself a bit of a gift. I used points from Neilson HomeScan to order myself some Kobo gift cards. I didn't use all my points but enough to get me three $25.00 cards. Should keep me in books for the next year as when I purchase any I wait for a great sale. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.