I harvested artichokes, peaches, blackberries, chamomile, garlic chives, oregano, Swiss chard, lemons, and parsley from my garden.
I fixed two leaks in an irrigation line. The section kept having pieces come out of the main line, so I spliced the main line and put in a new section of main line before reconnecting lines. I had everything on hand, so I didn’t have to spend time or gas to go to the store for supplies.
I mended a couple of holes in a pair of pajamas.
My husband is home again. I had him cut my hair and I cut his.
I arranged three monstera cuttings that I am rooting into three vases I have for my entry table. I love the way they look there and will probably cut other leaves or branches from the garden during the summer to replace them.
I sowed okra and roselle hibiscus seeds in my garden that I collected from my own plants last year.
What did you do to save money last week?
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I love being able to read your blog regularly again…
Have you had any success rooting roses from cuttings? I’ve read some YouTubery on this, but wanted your method, if it worked better.
Not yet. I took a local class on it, but mine died. I plan to keep trying; it’s just a matter of time with all I need to do.
I had one major expense last week when I had brunch with a couple of friends. I used the money from my allowance and thoroughly enjoyed the time catching up.
I bought only dairy, 1 loaf of bread and fresh fruit & veg – except for two proteins, ground pork which went into the freezer and a small brisket which was cooked on the weeknd. Both were on sale – I don’t even remember the last time I cooked a beef brisket but decided that the price was right at $10 and it will make about six servings. I also cooked a big pot of chilli with half going to the freezer and a tray of chicken thighs – half to the freezer. This way, I have proteins for the week and for the future when time is tight. I’ve also cooked up some mashed potatoes and peppers & zuchinni so vegetables are also ready. Then I made some protein balls – again, half to the freezer and then baked a dozen muffins (oatmeal & apple sauce). This way I’ll have some treats for the week with no need to buy anything.
I also decided to change up one shelf in my pantry – and of course that led to a complete re-org! It was worth the effort as it gave me a much better idea of what I have, what I need, and what I won’t buy again. I moved some jars into the kitchen for immediate use and consolidated a few items, this has freed up some mason jars. I plan on sterilizing a batch this weekend and packing up some dried goods for long term storage. I’m learning to use lentils and dried beans etc. in many more recipes but it helps to have things front and centre.
Picked up 90 days worth of my two BP meds – admin fee was $3.33 and that was it. I also picked up a couple of eye drops that I will need before my cataract surgery in a couple of weeks – should have been 3 different kinds but thank God my pharmacist noticed that one is something that I am allergic too! Very annoying as I had told the clinic verbally, twice, and also completed a six page medical history that clearing outlined my allergies! Pharmacist is checking on a substitute. The drops cost me another $3 fee but otherwise no cost.
Did the usual, ate at home aside from once – took lunch and snacks to the office as needed – washed and reused zip locs and foil – and did some more hand laundry when I didn’t have a full load for the washer. Picked up two library books – both are mysteries by authors who are new to me and so far so good. It will be a busy week at the office so not too many extra plans – so no money to be spent. Have a good week everyone.
Fresh peaches – yum! We won’t have those locally until mid summer (WA state). However, it is the time of abundant rhubarb, a favorite of mine. A friend of the family used to share hers with me, but she passed away a couple years ago. So on Saturday I asked on Nextdoor whether anyone nearby had any extra they would be willing to share. I was able to pick up a bunch today from someone who lives in the neighborhood. I’m very grateful, as it’s $5 a pound in the store. My plan is to make some blueberry rhubarb compote, which I will eat plain or with yogurt. I could eat rhubarb every day and never grow tired of it.
I always wear a Japanese style apron when cooking because I inevitably spill or splash stuff on myself. I have two identical lightweight linen ones I got years ago at Trader Joe’s. They have been washed probably hundreds of times, and have a few holes. I took some time to patch them with scraps of muslin and colorful thread (in the visible Japanese mending tradition). Now they can live on for hopefully many more years.
I can’t remember whether I posted this before, but a couple months ago I found a nice cooler someone had put out by the garbage. I looked inside and there was something moldy in there. I guess they didn’t want to deal with cleaning it. It was not pleasant, but free is free, so I scrubbed it and aired it out outside for a few days when we had some sunny weather. Now it’s as good as new, and I have a really nice cooler.
The co-op had a free lip balm for members, so I picked that up when I was in the neighborhood. Also bought some bulk spices there which are way cheaper than the bottled ones at the grocery store. Went to a free shred event and got rid of a bunch of old documents. A friend gave me a bag of elastic, webbing, ties and small pieces of waterproof fabric which I will use for mending and projects. Attended a free driftwood art show with my sister at a local venue (I had seen a poster about it at the library). Found out that you can send faxes for free at the library, so I faxed something instead of sending it by mail. It may seem odd to send a fax nowadays, but faxes are still used in medical offices/for medical insurance and in some state agencies. It’s more secure to send a fax than to send sensitive documents by email.
Have a great week, everyone.
I envy you the rhubarb as I love it and it has become incredibly expensive! I haven’t seen any in the stores just yet but I’m checking as I love to get some into the freezer, both raw and cooked.
The last couple of weeks have been awful. My 14yo dog felt bad the first weekend of May. I took him to the vet that Monday. Found out he was in kidney failure and his insulin was very high(he was already being treated for heart failure since last September). Brought him home with fluids and nausea meds but he declined so quick. Last Wednesday, we went back to relieve him of his little failing body. 😭💔 Im just glad I finished up my classes before he got sick cause I’ve been a mess. On top of the theft and now the extra expenses of this, plus almost being off work for three months, I need to watch every penny we have.
I froze some mandarin oranges that were going bad. Ill use them to clean the garbage disposal.
Finally sold a ridiculous computer monitor my husband waited too long to return at a $200 loss.
Was given a bunch of butternut squash. I roasted some one night with potatoes for dinner, then froze 3 quart bags full to use another time.
Seen a promotion for AMC+ for $29.99 for a year. I have been paying $10.99 a month through Amazon prime, so I jumped on that, canceling the one through Amazon.
Used $100 in rewards at Petsmart for dog food.
May 1st was lunch worker day, so we received some treats at work. We got a lunch purchased by our principal, flowers from one of the classes, candy from the counselor, a muffin from our supervisor, and even a gift card to Aldis. Plus tons of pictures and notes from the kids.
Last week was Teacher Appreciation week and there was a lunch provided every day for all the staff.
My teen got me two different teacups, plus flowers for Mothers Day. We went out to eat(she and her brother paid). Ill have enough leftovers for lunch twice this week.
I have been making sure I clean out the refrigerator before I buy groceries. It has been cutting down on so much waste.
Made sure to enter receipts in reward apps.
April, if the mandarin oranges aren’t too far gone… they make nice smoothies when frozen. Sort of like an Orange Julius, if you add milk and a little sugar.
(So sorry about your puppy.)c
Oh April, I am so sorry to hear about your beloved dog. That hurts your heart so deeply. I feel for you.
Jeannie
April, I’m sorry you lost a piece of you.
That was smart with the mandarin oranges.
April, so sorry to hear about your beloved dog. Such a hard thing.
No matter how long our furry family members live, it just isn’t long enough. Sending warm thoughts your way.
Oh April, I am so sorry for the loss of your dog. As a pet parent, I know that pain all too well. I am sure you gave him a life filled with love.
I’m so sorry about your pup. We also had to make the same decision this month for our 16 year old little dog. It’s a heartbreaking time. 💕
In the past week, I curb shopped 3 pairs of jeans, a hoodie, a tee shirt, a new undated National Parks planner, and a blouse.
I rescued a bouquet of flowers that looked sad but revived beautifully in a vase of water. For food, I rescued a lot: 3 ready to bake pizzas, a pack of pork chops, a pack of ground beef, a pack of chicken thighs, a pack of bacon, a side of salmon, a large salmon filet, 4 packs of hamburger patties, a quart of whipping cream, a container of cream cheese, a brick of mozarella cheese, a pack of tortellini, 2 large containers of pretzels, 1 pack of soft baked chocolate chip cookies, 1 pack of cake pops, a bag of tortilla chips, a container of popcorn kernels, and a LOT of produce: zucchini (many packs), 1 cauliflower, 1 pack of brocccoli, 5 bags of French beans, a bag of red onions, a bag of yellow onions, 2 packs of 3 bell peppers, 8 packs of snacking tomatoes, 6 cucumbers, a bunch of salad kits, a bag of romaine hearts, a bag of baby spinach, 10 pounds of strawberries, 3 packs of blackberries, a pack of blueberries, a bunch of bananas, 2 bags of apples, 2 bags of grapes, a jug of lemonade, a head of celery, a pack of portobella mushrooms, a bag of fresh ginger, and 10 Glucerna nutrition shakes. Some of this I put into the community fridges and pantries. The rest I kept.
Mother’s day is a difficult event for me. I engaged in self-care and went for a walk at a large park with many trails. I took some photos of blossoming wildflowers and a large pond at the park and sent them to friends. I walked a card over to a neighbor. I texted my neighbor who is in the hospital unable to receive visitors due to undergoing cancer treatment. My kids and I just did a photo together, no cards, gifts, meal out or anything else was offered or given to me for the occasion. I planted native flower seeds I got from a sustainable community group, using pots and soil I had already. I went to a community free store and got a sweater, jacket, and some household items.
At an independent thrift shop, I got a free instructional pattern for a project related to my hobbies, 6 free blank note card & envelope sets, and a new with tags small heating pad that can be microwaved. I walked to my polling place to vote in the primary. My child had a school field trip and packed a lunch from home instead of buying food there. They have another field trip this week and plan to do the same thing. The child’s school had its annual big fundraiser and we had leftover tickets from a previous year (they can be saved and used later), so no tickets needed to be purchased. They used the tickets to get some food and to play in a bounce house.
I’m sorry about your Mothers Day. Good for you for doing things to take care of yourself.
What a lovely peach harvest Brandy! I am currently sailing in Alaska with some other family members. We took public transit from the airport to the cruise port to save money. I am picking up a rental car from Truro in Skagway tomorrow as it was quite a bit cheaper than through the mainstream car rental agencies. We just spent a lovely day enjoying the Glaciers and the wildlife in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska. Luckily it was sunny with no rain as we were out on deck a lot. Just had afternoon tea aboard so I will be skipping dinner-I definitely don’t need to eat 4 times a day!!
When I arrive home next week a friend has kindly agreed to pick me up and take me home-which saves the cost of taxi or public transit and we can have a little catch up visit enroute as well.
What a lovely trip!
I, we are doing an Alaskan cruise in September. I have never been on a cruise. Do you have any suggestions for this trip in particular? Thanks so much!
I think you cant go wrong in Alaska! You can often book shore excursions once you get off the ship-or usually more pricey booking aboard. Yesterday we went on a bear watching excursion with no success. But a guy who went whale watching saw 3-go figure!
I live in Ketchikan & it’s too early for the bear watching tours. Where they take you to watch bears, are usually salmon streams & salmon are not running yet. The bears are out & about eating grasses & vegetation & even swimming across channels, but have not yet migrated to the salmon streams. Sorry you missed seeing them.
I used points to buy $30 of groceries and ordered 3 PC frozen entrees (PC is a Canadian brand, usually $12 each for $7 so saved $15 and a block of cheese which is usually $10 (after a hefty rise in price) for $6.00 so I spent $21 for groceries priced at $51.00 and saved $30.00
I broke a tooth yesterday so my budget for plants is pretty much depleted by the cost for the dentist.
My main expenditure has been food. I don’t bake at all and I eat very modestly but still it adds up.
I cannot believe that I have spent more on groceries for heating sometimes this winter (about $400 per month).
it isn’t long ago that I spent only about $150 per month. I did manage to replenish my pantry with a lot of pasta, canned soup, baked beans, other beans. I also am trying to make an emergency preparedness bag. I’d really like to get a sleeping bag for it. I plan on putting an external hard drive off site perhaps in a safety deposit box. The house needs some repairs. It will be a a summer filled with repairs. I’m very happy that I spent quite a lot of money last summer hiring a gardening team last summer to weed for three times. They were superb weeders and weeded in a fraction of the time it would have taken me. Alas, they got jobs elsewhere so have stopped doing gardening. I should be able to manage without gardening help this summer which will save money. My lawn has been overtaken by moss, is so shady that the grass that still survives will not need regular mowing.
My husband worked the fires in California last year. When houses burn down, the insurance adjuster has to rebuild your entire house in the computer, down to every single outlet.
Take photos and videos of your house and include them on the harddrive. This will be invaluable if you ever need to file an insurance claim.
Oh that is such a good idea! I’ll take photos a little later after I’ve done a few things. Thanks a lot!
Brandy, we will take pictures and videos of our house. We have an extra hard drive at one son’s apartment with both of our stuff. He updates it a few times a year. I’m not worried about fires, it is tornadoes that will probably get us.
Jeannie
Great advice Brandy and also open every single drawer and cabinet and storage box and take pictures/videos. I lost my home in the Eaton fire and I took a video while walking around the house before we evacuated but I guess I didn’t feel like I had time to open everything or I thought I’d remember but I can’t. I was very lucky that I had time to pack all my photo albums but the saddest thing is losing souvenirs and mementos that were never photographed so they’re lost forever.
Cleared up the tiny ants visiting my kitchen by leaving them a meal of borax and powdered sugar. Hope they are gone now.
Planted some herbs and petunias in the outdoor pots I already had, adding soil I also already had. Will put the seeds I didn’t use back in the freezer for next year.
I lined the edges of the pots with black plastic forks, stuck into the dirt with just the tines sticking up above the dirt. The points seem to startle the squirrels or cats or whatever likes to dig there.
My white azalea bush died after fifteen years or so. It never got big and would put out leaves whenever there was a warm snap in winter, followed by freezing again, so it wasn’t a surprise. I have another bush I can put there, hopefully with better luck.
A new “Chet and Bernie” book is out, by Spencer Quinn. Bernie is a PI and Chet, his dog, is the book’s narrator. Very creative!
Heidi Louise,
Ants hate peppermint oil, so rubbing a line of it across where they made their trail, and putting it where they’re coming in works really well!
Good luck!
Brandy, thank you for sharing the dresses you purchase from time to time at Ross. I went there and purchase 2 name brand dresses for only $35.
I direct sowed johnny jump up seeds around my rose bush. My rose bush has bloomed and I enjoy smelling the roses (literally) every time I go outside. I continue to cut down weeds and prep the garden to plant this month.
They have the most dresses this time of year. So glad you got some that you like! They have several locations here and I find that each one has completely different items, so if anyone is out there looking for dresses, and this is an option, stop at another location and look there as well!
We joke that Ross, Marshall’s & TJ Maxx are like indoor garage sales or a scavenger hunt. You can go in with a vague idea of what you want, but you just never know what you’re going to find. And you’re right, each store has wildly different stock.
My peach trees are setting on with tiny peaches and I can hardly wait to see them as beautiful as your harvest! We got more weeding, amending soil and planting veg and herbs in our garden.
On the building up our food storage, I bought 65 pounds of boneless chicken breast for just under $54 (83 cents/pound) and 2 whole chicken , each over 7 pounds for $3.66 each! I had intended to can some up for myself but the 4 families that I share these deals with wanted all 80 pounds so I got none. But I was thrilled knowing that this would really help their families. Then, the very next day, I found 13 packs (about 1.5 pounds/pack) of boneless skinless chicken drumsticks (I didn’t know there was such a thing) for 49 cents per package!!! I got my canner out and will have dark meat boneless chicken chinks in pint jars on our storage shelves!
We got busy the last 3 days and when we went in, we found 27 fresh eggs in the coop!
Took $4.55 in coins (including a penny roll) to the bank to deposit into our savings. Tiny amount but every bit counts and it’s not just rattling around in an old Altoids tin!
I love seeing and reading all that you’ve been doing, Brandy, and your commenters too! It gives me lots of inspiration!
Gardenpat in Ohio
I can only imagine how happy honeybees are in your part of the world to have found your garden. Do you ever buy any local honey? It would be interesting to see and taste “desert honey.”
Most of my frugal accomplishments this week were discovering or doing free things. I have an abundance of wild strawberries growing in various locations on our property. Many of them get eaten by our animals or wildlife or trod upon by teenagers but I always manage to enjoy some of them. I have a few extra wire plant enclosures so decided to strategically put them on top of areas with vigorous vines to protect them and see what kind of yield I can get. I filled four galvanized water troughs I got for free from a neighbor with partially rotten logs and branches to reduce the amount of soil needed and to retain moisture so I can use them as planters. I have done this many times in other containers and it works really well. It also helped me clean up one of our wood storage areas as it gave the odd shaped, hard to stack scraps a job other than fire wood. I was pleased to see I have several tomato plants coming up that seeded themselves last year from fallen fruit. I planted Bachelor Button and Coneflower seeds I got from our library’s Little Free Seed Library. I made a chili from a 13 bean soup mix given to us by a neighbor who decided that 13 beans was a few too many for them. 😁 Many of our meals are focused on beans and lentils as I move through items in our pantry that need to be eaten and limiting grocery shopping to a few things to go with what we have in the pantry and the bits of things coming in from the garden (lettuce, kale, radishes, and herbs so far.) I hung clothes on the line for free drying. I gratefully accepted egg cartons from church friends and neighbors and sold eggs. I discovered an interesting resource for teaching my boys financial literacy. It’s called Next Gen Personal Finance ngpf.org and it offers everything from middle school and high school curriculum to units on individual topics like banking and investing. I had to show them our homeschool registration to register as a teacher but all resources are free. My boys are pretty financially aware for their ages but I have been looking for an organized resource to help and am eager to see what I learn, too. In this 250th anniversary of the founding of America, I also want to expand and deepen their knowledge of the founders and framers a bit more. I have found some great resources on YT from Crash Course and PragerU. I am also using another course from Hillsdale College – love their courses! All of these resources are free. We enjoyed lunch and card games at my parents house – free fun for all. My youngest son went on another camping trip with his Trail Life troop – still one of the best bargains and a great experience. Three nights of camping at a state park with friends with all meals provided (and a ride there and back) for $15. I gave the troop leader some eggs from our chickens as a thank you for all he does for the troop.
Have a lovely week, all!
Thanks for sharing that!
MoutainMamaDawn, when I was homeschooling my boys these are the two financial books we read together that have made the biggest impact on our future. “The Millionaire Next Door” by Stanley Thomas taught us all that glitters is not gold. “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”, by Robert Kiyosaki taught us how to build wealth. I was impacted the most by “Tightwad Gazette” by Amy Dacyczyn. My sons weren’t assigned reading it because it didn’t apply to them as teenagers but I shared the principles as they began supporting themselves. The most important thing I gave them was an understanding of economics, a desire to learn more on their own, and no fear of “the experts”. They think for themselves and can see through propaganda.
You are a good mom.
Jeannie
Jeannie – Thank you for the advice and the compliment! 😁 “The Millionaire Next Door” is a powerful resource _ I read it in my early 20s along with another gem – “Your Money or Your Life.” I have shared lessons from those with my boys here and there as appropriate. You are right – sharing philosophy and encouraging discernment is important for us all. We’re having some great conversations!
Yum, Peaches! They are $4.99 a lb where I am at, on sale! I made a meal plan and am incorporating beans into the meal plan at least 4 times this week. I haven’t had a ribeye steak in years. I found three on quick sale, original price was 87 dollars! I got them for 32. I know that is a lot of money to pay anyway. But I was so excited to save 55 dollars. Also my husband and I thought about going out the previous day to a steak restaurant. I took a look at the menu and prices. I chose to make dinner for all three of us instead. Even though 32 dollars is waaaay more than I usually pay for dinner. I am excited about this splurge. We will enjoy them this weekend along with potatoes and roasted veggies or salad. Menu for the week includes Dinners: Tacos made with ground turkey, pinto beans, Hamburgers, carrot salad, or beet and carrot salad, homemade fries, Tuna Thoran with rice, Chicken and wild rice , salad, Catfish potatoes, coleslaw; Lunch: Ham and collard green soup with navy beans, Chickpeas with mint and garlic, Soup and sandwich, veggie soup, Chicken curry salad on lettuce, Greek Beans, Chicken or fish, veggies, Indian moong dal vada and onion fritters; Breakfast: Oatmeal with raisin apple cinnamon and maple syrup, Chocolate Malto meal, fruit,Sausage eggs and oranges, Omelet with veggies, Crepes with lingonberry jam.
We continue to use cloth napkins, towels and hankies. I enjoy watching Youtube, playing with my son’s dog. spending time with family and looking at my flowers. Oh yes, listening to my son sing and say poetry. I haven’t done much in the way of playing musical instruments lately, but would like to do some practicing soon. We have enjoyed family’s company this week. It has been fun! Practiced just a bit a French with someone from France. I am very rusty! I need more practice! My husband picked some daisy’s for me, I love daisy’s! I’ve enjoyed them on my kitchen windowsill all week. One of my son’s got me two raspberry bushes and. a blueberry bush. My husband planted the blueberry and probably will plant the raspberry bush tomorrow. It’s been a good week!
I love that picture of the flower and bee!!
1. I made garlic herb butter using herbs from the garden.
2. A storm watered the garden for me…and hailed on it.
3. We finally got our storage unit cleared out, so we don’t have that monthly payment.
4. I pulled 3 onions from the garden.
Do you keep specific track of your harvest, if so, how do you keep track? I want to do a better job of that this year, but not sure if I should just jot it down on a paper or keep track on my phone.
I don’t really, other than photos. I got a garden notebook to keep track of what I planted that does well, but I never ended up writing in it.
I just pay attention to which varieties do best for me and try to grow those again.
WOW! Brandy, what an awesome harvest especially the peaches! That is some money saved!
Last week I asked everyone here to help hold me accountable because I feel overwhelmed by the mountain of projects needing to be handled. I kept a list of all of my money saving activities to see where I can make improvements. Advice is welcome. Here is my week.
SEWING
I mended a hole in a pair of underwear and a couch cushion. The plastic tub in the shed that holds the hoop house covers had a corner of the lid pop open. A mouse moved in, built a nest, chewed through the mosquito netting used to cover cabbages, and left a nasty mess behind. I WAS NOT HAPPY! Instead of tossing the netting, I sewed up the holes. I REALLY wanted to trash it but the damage didn’t justify the waste. I was vindicated when another chewed rat hole was discovered in the plastic bag of rat poison (ha ha).
MAINTENANCE/CLEANING
Cleaned and polished the kitchen counter top with “Perfect Countertop” which has set in my cleaning supplies so long the bottle needed dusting. I put on four coats and it lasted two days. The laminate counter looked a little better as long as I didn’t touch it or sit something hot on it. It couldn’t hold up to my hard use. Now that I have tried it, it was not worth the money.
Cleaned out the refrigerator and made a huge pot of soup. Found half empty jars of canned fruit, added an apple and a very ripe banana to make a fruit salad. Dehydrated fruit was added to soak up some of juice. My husband eats canned fruit and nuts as a before bedtime snack so there is often partly eaten jars. The fruit has been canned, frozen, or dehydrated when in season. If the fresh fruit over ripens it is dehydrated. Two bananas were dehydrated this past week.
In the refrigerator hidden in the back was whole milk, half & half, almond milk, plus a cardboard carton of milk with a sell by date of 2024. (It was part of the emergency preparedness supply that was given to me by a friend who is squeamish about expiration dates. It smelled fine when opened so I used it.) One gallon of milk was made into yogurt, the whey was frozen to be used as starter later. There was still too much fresh milk that could be used before it all spoiled so I drank extra cups of coffee with staggering amounts of milk and cocoa.
.
The refrigerator trays and drawers were scrubbed. The outside was washed and the rest of the “Perfect Countertop” polish was used. I kept spraying until it was all gone so the bottle could be tossed.
Tried new cleaners and youtube suggestions to clean my filthy bathtub. Nothing worked well enough to repeat. I’m looking for something that cleans without elbow grease to avoid bending over.
SHOPPING DEALS
On Wednesday I checked the online grocery sales in mine and my sons’ areas then sent recommendations. They work long hours, don’t have the energy, patience, or frugal expertise to spot a deal. They can be taken advantage of and stores know they are vulnerable. One son sent me his grocery list and asked if I would check prices for apples, oranges, bleach, paper towels, and shampoo. Aldis won on everything except for one thing – shampoo. He wants the cheapest: Suave, White Rain or VO5, in the 22.5 oz size. Prices were: Kroger/$2.19, Dollar General/$2.00, Walmart/$1.94 but the clear winner was Dollar Tree for $1.25. However, the big shocker was Aldis. They only carry name brands and the least expensive is Pantene Pro-V Shampoo, 12 oz for $5.73. YIKES!
UPDATE: I stopped by Dollar Tree to confirm they are $1.25 for a 22.5 oz of Suave shampoo and learned they had other brands in smaller sizes but the price was still $1.25 If my son had walked into Aldis and quickly grabbed two bottles of shampoo it would have cost him $11.46 for 24 oz as opposed to $2.50 for 45 oz at Dollar Tree. Multiply that by every time he buys shampoo and it adds up.
PANTRY MEAL RECIPES
Crockpot chili made from canned hamburger meat, pinto beans, tomatoes, caramelized onions, pickled sweet peppers, pickled jalapeno, and frozen ice cubes of pepper juice saved from draining the peppers before freezing. A pint jar of the extra watery tomato juice leftover when canning tomatoes was added to the pot. It makes the chili runny so a cup of dehydrated diced squash was tossed in as a filler. It absorbs the juice without changing the flavor. It looks like bits of browned hamburger meat. Everything came from the garden except for the hamburger meat (obviously) but it was purchased on sale. The next day the leftover chili was eaten over spaghetti and the following day it was served over nachos.
The following day’s meals were the last of the chicken legs purchased for $.50 months ago at Aldis. They were tossed in the crock pot while we worked outside. Hubby chose my canned asparagus, added shredded cheese, and it was his dinner. (Occasionally grocery stores will have fresh asparagus on sale quite cheaply. It is rare but it does happen. Canning it is much less expensive compared to store prices, the flavor is better, but it is still mushy.) The next day, the leftover chicken was boned, tossed into the crock pot as the refrigerator was cleaned and it became the base for soup. The chicken skin was air fried until crispy hard and spices were dumped on top to help me choke it down. I need the collegian for health reasons. The chicken bones were put into a tiny crock pot, cooked overnight which created three cups of a rich broth, which later became a rice side dish.
Greens from the garden were used to make salads, mayonnaise was made and turned into a dressing, plus a small batch of crackers were baked in the air fryer.
Next on the menu was hamburgers and homemade buns. Dry oats, dehydrated onions, tomatoes, peppers, and squash were mixed into the meat to add bulk and flavor. (The winter squash was diced by my Kitchenaid attachment which saves hours of work and then dehydrated or frozen. The dehydrated squash is used as a filler in everything. Any variety will do. The butternuts taste like carrots so they aren’t added to hamburgers.) The hamburgers were served with fresh lettuce and onions along with my bread and butter pickles. Could have made fries from last year’s canned potatoes but I was too tired. I threw a bag of chips at hubby and called it done.
Also canned 4 quarts of small red beans, 8 quarts of pinto beans, 5 pints of black-eyed peas from the stash of dried beans. While the canner sits unused and because I am out of beans this project will slowly continue until I have built up a year’s supply.
PANTRY RESTOCK FROM GROCERY SALES
Inventorying my supplies a few weeks ago revealed how much has been used – which is a good thing! It is so low it is concerning me. Hopefully, I can get it restocked before prices rise. I’m watching grocery sales closely searching for good deals. There weren’t any deals close by us so no trips were planned until an emailed sales flyer arrived Friday morning from a small grocery store in another town. They advertised a fantastic sale that day and the next. We stopped everything and went early the next morning. They had:
One dozen eggs for $.79. We got 30 dozen. They will be frozen. Hubby eats 4 every morning.
Chicken quarters $.69 per pound in a ten pound bag. Got one bag.
Potatoes in 50 pound bags were $12.99. Got one. They are from Wisconsin meaning they were harvested last year and will soon start sprouting; hence the clearance price. I must can them quickly. We are hoping for a bumper crop from our garden but this price couldn’t be beat.
While in that area we drove across the street to Aldis for the sale on fresh mushrooms, 8 oz, $1.29. I bought the16 that they had. They have been put in salads, sauteed to cover hamburgers, dehydrated and canned. When I first canned them years ago careful measurements were made and it was saved quite a bit. Now, I do it to save money, for the better flavor, as a meal starter, and because there are no fillers or chemicals. They are blanched so two of the 8 oz containers fit into one pint jar. I only got 5 pints because we ate so many.
GARDEN
HARVEST: lettuce, spring planted spinach and seeds from the winter spinach, onions and the green tops were dehydrated to make onion powder, strawberries, snow pea leaf tips (delicious!), and chamomile flowers were dried for tea.
EPIC FAIL: For the first time ever, all my tomato and okra seeds have repeatedly died. They sprout, fall over and croak. I called my agriculture son, sent him text pictures, and he walked me through a list of tests (sniff the seedling, does it smell like horse manure or rotten food? Pinch and slide your fingers down the stem, does the outer layer mush off leaving a hair like root?) and on and on. However, he was using technical chemical jargon which I could not understand. The final result was (of course) user error. My soil has (insert long technical virus name here that I can’t pronounce or spell) caused by me over watering. I HAVE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE! Our spring weather has been a drought that went from blistering hot (normal) to dry cold. The virus thrives in cold, damp soil which is something new to me.
CONSEQUENCE OF MY ERROR: All new seeds have been ordered ($20) but at this point the tomatoes and okra will be at least two months behind. It will make a huge difference in the volume of food at the end of the season, so I bought tomato plants at the nursery ($35). To cheer myself up, I kept quoting Brandy, “buying tomato plants are an investment.” They didn’t have any okra so I must wait for the new seeds to arrive which is putting me very far behind. Last year we didn’t have enough okra so I was planning on more. I’m not sure what to do.
SUMMARY
Am I pleased with my progress? Not really. A lot was accomplished but my goal was to tackle the procrastinated projects that I pass by daily on my way to the urgent matters. I focused on the immediate pressing problems. I seem to always be putting out fires and only oiling the squeaking wheel. Those things on my procrastination list that I am proud of accomplishing were: polishing the kitchen counter even though the product was a failure and trying new cleaners on the bathtub trying to find one that worked great.
This coming week will be different. I am writing down all the things that are driving me crazy to try and make an “Anti-Procrastination Plan”. I really don’t know where to start.
Jeannie
With your “filthy tub” have you tried Wet & Forget? I use it on my shower doors and tile. After the shower (or in your case, the tub), you spray it on while everything is still wet and walk away. After letting it sit for at least a few hours, you wipe it away with a wet cloth. When I first used it, I had to use it for several days in a row to remove the soap scum. Yes, admittedly, my shower doors were really that bad. When used regularly, it really does work! The only place I could find it was off Amazon.
Debora, I have never heard of “Wet & Forget” but I will be getting some! My Walmart’s website says they have it in stock so I will be stopping by there this weekend. Thank you!
Jeannie
You are welcome! I always hated cleaning that particular bathroom because the shower doors were so bad looking. I couldn’t get them clean, no matter what I used or how much I scrubbed. I saw the “Wet and Forget” recommended on another website, ordered it, and tried it. I’m glad I did.
I use the outdoor Wet and Forget to get algae and such off of my house. But for soap scum, I’ve found that toilet bowl cleaner works very well indeed. I smear it on and then rinse it off after it’s set a little bit and I like the fresh smell it gives the bathroom as well. I can usually buy toilet bowl cleaner pretty cheaply.
I did use the Dawn/Vinegar/Water solution but the acid of the vinegar pitted the drain and shower door trim over time. The toilet bowl cleaner does not.
Hi Terri! What a great idea! Have been using Dawn and vinegar for a long time in one of those dish wands. I never thought about the pitting…I rinse immediately so I wonder if that helps. 🤷🏼♀️
Never thought about using toilet bowl cleaner on my shower doors. Now to find something that gets the calcium buildup off the inside of the toilet bowls. We have extremely hard water even with a whole house filtration system and a water softener.
Try this pumice stone cleaner! We have very hard water here and these are the one thing that finally worked for me!
I think you did awesome and I am inspired by your post
Pam, thank you for the encouragement. I often feel like the world is crumbling around my ears. Part of it is age and poor health so I am just moving slower. Yesterday I sat down to rest and fell asleep in my easy chair for three hours. Three hours in the middle of the afternoon! My body needed it I guess because I awoke refreshed. I am not aging gracefully but fighting it every step of the way.
Jeannie
Jeannie, you’re doing great! Grant yourself some grace, you’re working hard, cooking good food and you’ve tackled some of your procrastination list. Baby steps as they say. Well done.
What store were the deals from. I am near the Tennessee border so it sounds worth a trip when they have sales
Bama Holly, the deals were at the Save-a-lot in Columbia, Tennessee. Each store seems to be privately owned or franchised or something because I have visited others and found different deals. I don’t know but the sales were not in the regular printed sales flyer but in the email. At the store they had handwritten signs up, the store was straightened, and cleaned more than in the past – perhaps new management? Anyway, check their website and sign up for the weekly sales flyer.
I recommend watching the youtube channel “Adventures with Danno.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjHZpub5Ofw He visits stores, compares prices, and lets you know of the good deals. (I skip when he is covering cat food) He is in Cincinnati, Ohio so his products and prices are not always the same. However, Danno often points out things I missed. I have been waiting for a good deal on mushrooms to can but the last time I purchased them (two years ago) I got them for $.79. Danno said Aldi “knocked the ball out of the park” with the $1.29 price. He also mentioned mushroom prices were rising in another store’s video. I realize my price was too low and $1.29 is now the new “low” price. Sigh. They are on sale again this week so we will be visiting an estate sale in Columbia (TN) and I will get more mushrooms to can at that Aldi. I also checked prices on canned mushrooms online and realized those prices have doubled and tripled since the last time I checked (two years ago). Sighing again. Check online every store in your area no matter how small on the first day they put up their ads. Small stores often have loss leaders to get you inside which is fair. I always buy at least one other regular item as a thank you. At Save-a-lot last week I bought a bottle of mustard because it was on my shopping list so they got my business instead of another store’s. Oh, I also used their clean lady’s room so that deserved a purchase as a reward too.)
If you are close enough, I recommend the Plowboy Amish Auction in Etheridge, Tn. https://www.facebook.com/plowboyproduceauction/ It is where I get my produce in bulk to can. Check the market report so you can know what was sold and the high/low prices before you make a trip. The prices fluctuate depending on whether or not something is in season. If you do go, let me know and I will give you all the pointers on how to get the best deals.
Jeannie
I have spent the week in bed . My all day visit at the airport last Saturday left me sick. As usual, a horrible cold has drained into my chest and created another series of symptoms. Thankfully my collection of health type products from my collection hobby had me covered. I literally have every imaginable product to treat an illness. Getting old is bad enough but the stress incontinence with a wicked cough is miserable. Thankfully I had every thing I needed but a bottle of Delsym. I strolled through the internet and bought some pet food at 50 % off. The dog and cat are about the only things I really need to buy for. I rolled some savings over to a new CD and got anew credit card. I’ve cancelled most of my random cards. My new one has no fees. At my age , my credit is solid. I don’t need a stack of cards . I’m not likely to make any more large purchases in my life time. I figure at the most , I might need a hot water heater. I’ve always heard older people say they don’t need or want anything and I understand that now. My brother recently purchased my very elderly dad a stake in a racehorse. My father gets great joy in watching his horse race. That may have been the only thing in the whole wide world that my dad would truly love at 86. Mother’s Day was non existent. Later we will have a family meal. I hope everyone has beautiful weather and gardens.
I think i’d like a stake in a horse; so unique!
Hi Brandy and everyone
Your harvest is increasing week by week, that is such a good feeling. The peaches look amazing,I’m sure they are much more tasty than store bought.
We used rhubarb, leeks and parsley from the garden and I cut Sweet William, iris and sweet rocket for the house.
My husband put the frames up for beans and planted out runner and French beans. We are spending a lot of time pricking out seedlings, potting on and planting out. A daughter bought us tickets for a garden festival and we were pleasantly surprised at how reasonable the prices were compared to garden centres. We went with a specific list so we didn’t go mad like children in a sweet shop.
We had breakfast for dinner one night to use up leftovers.
I bought reduced price pork chops and a big pack of turkey steaks I split up for the freezer.
We politely declined an invitation.
At my monthly sewing group everyone brings along a magazine or book they have read and don’t want anymore and we swap.
I have so many jamjars I won’t use them all so I am repurposing some of the metal lids as plant labels in the garden. I write on the inner lid with a permanent marker, then half bury them in the soil so I can still read the label. They stay secure, don’t degrade and I know what variety of plant I’ve got.
I so enjoyed last week’s post and comments Brandy. Where else would you get such a great discussion on mulch, watering, prices, recipes and much else! Perspectives from different countries are so interesting and helpful. Thank you everyone!
It has been a few weeks since I posted a comment. I love the peaches. They are a long way away, here. I have picked chives, rhubarb, lovage and some oregano. Just the perennial crops so far. We are supposed to get down to about 35 degrees this weekend. So waiting on planting most of the garden. I have, however, planted some lettuce snow peas, potatoes and candy onion. The garlic we planted in October looks really good.
My DIL is expecting in late July, so I have been helping with the two young grandchildren for a few days every couple of weeks. One is almost 3 1/2 and the other will be two on July 4th. Every time I help, I understand why we have children when we are young. They are a joy, and also very energetic.
I have maintained by twice weekly volunteer work at the local food bank. 3 hours at a time, twice a week. I also was asked to do a project at my old place of work, from which I retired 2 years ago. It is paid work, but I think this will be the last time I say “yes.” I have too much to do at home with the garden and all. At least the last time that is not the winter.
The last three weeks, about 3/4 of the laundry has been hung on the lines. Love the smell of freshly aired laundry. We changed from flannel to cotton sheets. It feels so nice.
I have made beef and black bean tacos, meatloaf, homemade pizza on homemade focaccia bread, chicken bruschetta bake, stir-fry veggies with a little bit of chicken, BBQ, and rhubarb crisp. I also made a chicken, black bean, corn and salsa mixture in the crockpot. It made a lot, so gave some to son when they were visiting to take home for his lunches for work. I made a rhubarb crisp for a neighbor.
I really enjoy reading everyone’s comments, including looking at post ones. Hope all have a great week.
What a beautiful harvest. I love the picture with the flower and the bee. It was wonderful you could fix your lines without using any extra money or gas. Last fall I put some small limbs with colored leaves on my table and I loved them. Those green leaves on your table make me smile. I love how green the leaves are right now. I received two blackberry bushes and a new tablet for Mother’s Day. My husband made me a wood trellis and I have room for two more bushes. I am so blessed to have bonus daughters that I love and love me. We had a family fish fry Saturday afternoon for the family and their in laws. We had about 30 people at our river spot and they fished, played in the water, played volleyball and we cooked fish and the trimmings. Everyone brought desserts, drinks and salads/slaw. My husband and I got some life insurance this week. I already had some thru my work but we needed policies to help with end of life expenses. We did not want to burden our families with extra expenses. We continue to walk everyday and use the library. Our church gave all the ladies cookie mix and measuring spoons for Mother’s Day. My husband and I have been working in our garden. We are so close to harvesting squash and zucchini. I have picked a handful of blueberries. I love being outside before it gets so hot.
It’s such a joy to read your blog again regularly!
This week, I managed to
Pack lots of meat that had gone on sale. $3.49 ground beef, $.79 chicken quarters. We filled up the corners of the freezer. We’ll use the ground beef as a treat a little at a time and try to stick to meat that’s around a dollar a pound.
Baked as usual. Kids wanted to start a cottage baking business with friends.
Repaired my sneakers with dental floss – idea from Tightwad Gazette book. I just discovered that book and am so inspired to more sales resistance and more mindful saving.
I found knee pads for my son’s roller blades used on Facebook instead of buying new.
We went to a local bike swap, donated one bike that was the wrong size for our kids, and received a wonderful new bike for my husband that just needed a tire repair.
The smell of warm peaches are as good as tasty peaches in my book! I was thinking still on your picture from last week of the berries in the bowl – a modern American Gothic is where I ended. 🙂
This week’s small floral arrangement is purple irises, spurge and a purple leaf plant that I also need to re-identify.
I replanted seed potatoes – one pot was lost to frost. I planted tomatoes and a few herbs that were gifted.
Divided a few more plants from last years plantings in the small cutting garden for pops of color elsewhere instead of investing in more plants. Thankfully, there is so many free therapeutic chores to be dine and to keep my mind off of things I cannot change for the next few months.
Our insurance will cover 3 appts with a nutritionalist – as I am at a loss of why (progression). First appt I was tasked to add way more protein than what I am used to – so I am focusing on researching how to that and keep the grocery budget. Thankfully, this doctor knows what insurance will cover and will cover a lot in those 3 visits.
Finished a sewing project that has been shelved for over a year. Took time to learn new to me techniques. It was a great way to pass a quiet rainy day.
Wishing everyone a calm and productive week!
Hello, frugal friends! Your peaches look so yummy, Brandy. I love peach season. It will be a few more weeks for us before we get any peaches around here. This week has been mostly frugal. Nothing really big, but it’s really the little things adding up which make the biggest difference. This got me to thinking about some of the little things I do around here that add up. Things like saving the wrappers off of sticks of butter/margarine. I freeze them and pull one out when I need to grease a pan. There is plenty of butter left on the wrapper. This keeps me from using any spray oils which at $4+ a can saves me plenty over the course of a year. I have only been buying loss leaders, mark downs, clearance and fresh produce as needed at the grocery stores. This past week I was able to get 5 pounds of Jimmy Dean sausage for $1.99/pound. I usually cook sausage as crumbles to add a little to different dishes like stir fry, pizzas, and casseroles. I can make 3+ meals from a pound of sausage. I add extra protein sources like eggs, lentils or cheese for nutrition. I was able to get 2-18 count eggs for $2 each and 2 loaves of wheat sandwich bread for $1 each marked down. I don’t buy a lot of bread as I make my own sourdough breads, but I like to keep a loaf or 2 in the freezer for when I do not have time to bake. Gas here is around $4.12-4.19. Mr . FixIt and I have been limiting our errands and when we do go out we use the hybrid gas sipper Toyota we own. We are enjoying the spring weather and look to get more of the garden planted soon. Wishing many blessings on my frugal friends.
I am impressed with your skills at fixing the irrigation issues! Wow!
I bought ground turkey at Aldi and made tacos and spaghetti.
No heat nor air turned on this week.
Taking time to love the things we already have has been my frugal win for the week. I spent the UK Bank holiday pulling things out of cupboards and arranging my vintage crockery on the dresser. More work to do, but I made a start. I inherited a lot from my MIL who worked in the pottery industry. Feels like I have not really got organised since we finished the house renovations. Slowly making decisions on things like hanging pictures.
We had some drying days for putting washing out on the line, but now are back to pouring rain in the wet and windy west of England. Resewed the hems on a pair of trousers.
Mostly needed to buy fresh fruit and veg rather than store cupboard items. Since it was a short list we took the opportunity to try out Aldi. I have been buying fewer branded good recently anyway. Found some items noticeable cheaper than Morrisons where we usually go. The 1kg size tub of yoghurt I have been buying on sale for £2 was £1.49 at Aldi. Will definitely go again. Reading all your posts I am having rhubarb envy! We had to move ours when we had the house extension built and it is not liking the new spot. We have started another crown in a different location but won’t be getting any rhubarb this year. I shall have to see if the neighbours have any to spare! Hope you all have a happy and healthy week.
Good Morning, call.
This is an expensive month. I have to pay for the rugs that are the last stage of the renovation. I will try to pay by check to save 3%.
I am still trying to clean up two houses inside and out ( one is a rental) we are putting on the market. I Also have to go save 30 rose bushes from powdery mildew and/or rust. i pruning off all the dead and then spraying.
Beautiful photos as always, Brandy! I can smell those peaches from here. 🙂
Someone in our building had disposed of a pretty new, working mini fridge. My husband loaded it up and we took it to my office to replace my older one that was on its last legs. This one is larger and even has a freezer compartment so I can keep frozen lunch items. My office suite is quite far from any of the communal refrigerators or lunchroom spaces, so it is a real convenience and saves money on going out or having to leave the office when I’m busy. I took items from home and took advantage of some grocery store sales to stock the fridge.
I attended a conference for work and lodging was in a posh hotel. Was reimbursed for hotel, travel, and meals. Enjoyed checking out the local area and then enjoyed a relaxing evening in the hotel room watching tv and eating room service. The conference was wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed it – they also provided amazing lunches each day, included in the conference cost.
We were both sick for several days last week so saved some money on gas by not going to work or going out much. I suppose that counts as frugal! Other frugal things – I continue to do my own Gel-X manicures/pedicures at home. We were able to turn the AC off and open the windows for several days due to cooler temperatures, which is a real treat in May. Meals at home included salmon filets with rice pilaf and green beans, sliced brisket sandwiches on homemade buns, brisket-topped baked potatoes, chicken street tacos, cold cut sandwiches, sloppy joes, roast turkey breast with stuffing, and leftover roast turkey enchiladas with sour cream sauce. For Mother’s Day my husband made a lovely and delicious brunch at home.
I hope everyone here has a lovely week.
I have been tackling some projects I had all the materials for but hadn’t done yet.
I made some compost bays from pallets.
I made two gates to keep my toddler out of the kitchen garden. I just need to get some hinges to attach them.
I made some netting supports for my brassica bed.
I made an apron with and for my daughter.
But now I think I need a rest!
Thank you. I see a doctor in Columbia and have an appt in June. I went to Save A Lot last time up there. I got canned sausage gravy for 79 cents. I thought it would be a good emergency item on the shelf.
And Ethridge is an hour and 10 minutes away. So, I will have to go on auction day. I get the covets riding through the rolling hills of that area 🙂
Happy belated Mother’s Day!
It’s been a great frugal week in Houston, TX!
I had to stay home from church Sunday due to a sick kiddo: whatever stomach bug he had worked its way through 5 of my kids, but fortunately I never had more than 2 down at once. We are fortunate to have extra “sick buckets” which are just old ice cream pails for when the bathroom is occupied or the child can’t throw up there in time. I felt a bit under the weather, but was mostly fine. We skipped grocery shopping and mostly ate soup and crackers, so I guess we saved money on groceries? Unfortunately some of the produce didn’t get eaten and is still rotting in my fridge. That happens, I suppose.
I had to drive about 90 miles to the co-op where I buy feed for my daughter’s steer. It’s fresher and cheaper than the places about an hour away from us. I stopped at the Ollie’s in College Station, where I “shopped” markdowns that were missed. Anything from last month (or earlier) they mark down 75% at the register. I bought several cases of Prime sports drink, beef sticks, animal crackers, and granola bars for 75% off. It’s mostly processed junk, but I’m fine with a bit of it as we eat healthy most of the time.
I trash picked a doormat from the neighbor’s trash that is in great condition once I hosed it off. I also got some big shelves that I will use to better organize my garage, from the same trash pile. One man’s trash is another’s man’s treasure! I also got a pump sprayer, but it didn’t work, so back out to the trash it went.
My friend gave me a crib mattress protector that she didn’t need. I was able to pass some clothes down to one of her daughters.
We’re splitting some expensive medicine with another FFA family. I’m buying one dose at $10 for tick and lice treatment, from the family who paid $90 for a bottle that doses 10. Win, win!
We got a bit of rain and haven’t watered the grass.
I bought some things to resell at the consignment store from Goodwill Outlet, where I also found a rain jacket my son will need at boy scout camp this summer. Still looking for a used trunk, as this is his first time and they mostly use plastic ones now. I didn’t find any Lululemon, but when I do, I add it to a bag for their trade-in program. Goodwill Outlet charges $2.49/# for clothing, which makes lightweight athletic clothes super-cheap.
I registered 3 of my kids for a free baseball camp (Astros Youth Academy) this summer, although the gas will be expensive getting them to and from the camp each day.
We checked out some items from the library.
I took my son to get my drink from Panera. I have the $100/year drink subscription, which I know is awful, but I stop their at least twice a day for iced coffee, iced tea, etc., as it’s across the street from my oldest daughter’s school. The cashier gave him a free cookie.
I took the kids to Whataburger on Mother’s Day: I use the survey receipts at the bottom to get the free burger when you buy fries and a drink (did this three times), then I add an extra small patty ($1.39) to each burger and bun on the side (.40), which gets me 6 burgers, we share the 3 large fries, and a few sodas + free waters, coming to around $26. I pay using a discounted giftcard when HEB does the giftcard promotions. A couple of the kids weren’t very hungry (due to stomach bug), so this was enough to feed them this time. Otherwise, eating out gets expensive with a large family, even fast food.
I’m on Instagram: Frewgalfamily_HTX if you want to say hello!
Hi Brandy!
I’ve been following your blog for years now but never comment. I so delighted in it during the hard pandemic years. We’ve recently moved to Vegas – I believe that’s where your at from my recollection – and I’m curious which fruit trees and vegetables you’ve found easiest in this climate? And is there a good discount type store you get trees? I’ve seen Costco sells them – we got some years ago in northern CA – but they never produced fruit. Thanks so much!
Hi Sarah!
Star Nursery has the best prices on fruit trees, but now is not the time to plant them. They should be planted in fall so the roots can grow well before the heat sets in. You want to bring in lots of good soil; some places the ground is hard enough to require a jackhammer (my entire yard is caliche and needed one). You also want to have drip irrigation set up as well before you plant.
I have lots of info including a garden calendar on my site under the garden tab. I grow peaches, pomegrantes, almonds, lemons, grapefruit, limes, grapes, figs, mulberries, apricots, apples, and pistachios. Plums and pluots also do well here.
If you’re planting in pots right now, you can direct sow Armenian cucumbers or Indian Snake cucumbers. Other cucumbers don’t do well here; it’s too hot. You can direct sow okra, butternut squash, and pumpkins now through July.
Zucchini and long green beans can be sown July-August for a fall harvest. Any sown now tend to die.
Hello everyone,
I feel like since my business trip at the end of last month, I haven’t been as organized with anything as I’d have liked to be. I’m feeling the pinch with end-of-the-school-year activities, grading for my college class, work and getting ready for my youngest’s graduation.
Here are the little things I’ve been able to do so far:
1) Stocked up on plants at the local scout and FFA sales for things I wouldn’t start from seed. At the FFA sale, they were giving away iris bulbs that were reclaimed from a re-landscaping project. I took some home, planted some, and gave away others to 3 people.
2) Got some shade plants from a friend who was dividing.
3) Also received some lilies from a friend who was dividing.
4) Was able to repair my husband’s grill/smoker with a $30 part bought online.
5) Did not print and mail graduation invitations this time. Instead I posted online asking if anyone wanted a print copy; everyone was happy with texted or emailed versions.
6) Shredded paper and cardboard for browns for the compost bin.
7) Son built me a small sifter for on top of my wheelbarrow, so I can sift my compost. Only had to buy staples; everything else was from scraps in the garage.
8) Going to start some baking for breakfasts for when my family is visiting for graduation weekend.
Speaking of…Any smart ideas for graduation open house food? We are thinking pulled pork sandwiches but are trying to think of anything else we might want to have.
Good grief-we were in Hoonah Alaska yesterday and the guide told us milk is $14 a gallon-wowsers.
I spent the past week clearing up the music room where my husband kept far more musical stuff than I’d realized, plus all his sentimental keepsakes, etc. My plan is to turn it into a writing space for myself but goodness the amount of work required to even start to think I could get in there! It overwhelmed me both physically and emotionally, especially since he practiced or wrote nearly every single day. My plan is to keep it part music room to encourage the grandchildren to use some of the stuff. Left handed guitars are no good to any of them, but there is a left handed six year old who might want one in the future. There’s also a set of drums, spoons, harmonicas galore, a keyboard, tambourine, maracas, triangle, flute, etc. I hope that at some point someone will profess an interest in something and pick it up and start to play.
In working so hard on the room, I ignored the other things I ought to have attended to but this week I am back on it all. I’ve nearly done all I can do myself and must wait on legal authorities to deal with a couple of items, but I hope that I personally am completely done by the end of this month with all such paperwork, etc.
I have managed to pretty much keep grocery expenses down, mostly by using what I have here at home. Cooking for one was mentioned last week as an issue and I find it to be problematic. Fortunately, I do like to cook and am tweaking recipes to try and trim them down to size suitable for one. In the past I was never picky about eating leftovers, but suddenly, I can’t face a second and third round of foods that I happily ate as leftovers with company. And because I can forget to eat entirely, I’m trying to plan meals out weekly and cook daily for myself.
I am sticking to my resolve to buy nothing major nor make any major changes for a solid year. I have seen that decisions can be made in the heat of emotions that are often regretted (watching others) and I don’t want to be foolish. John has left me in good financial shape, and I’d like to stay there. Continuing to be thoughtfully frugal is the key to that. I’ve made the determination that when I do spend money it will be for things that will be very beneficial, such as crushed run rock on the driveways leading to the house, necessary upgrades (porch railings, entry doors, windows) and that sort of thing.
Most savings this week came from my son working on the lawnmower transmission and getting it to finally stop leaking like a sieve every time we ran the mower. We’ve decided that in the future, when we do replace the more, we will go halves on a commercial mower which is more suited to mowing the type and size yards that are mown.
This month, I began getting in bills from John’s brief hospital stay. So far, I’ve been able to pay every single one out of pocket without charging any of them on credit card, because the amount owed following Medicare was so low. I’m very grateful for that!
Terri – just wanted to say how sad I was to hear about your husband’s passing. I’d read your blog off and on for years but didn’t realize what had happened until I read it hear.
I think you are being very wise not to make any big decisions for a year and keeping some of his music room as is for the grandchildren is a lovely idea.
Give yourself grace to do what you can and when you feel up to it – and eat what appeals – but look after yourself.
I am sorry; I know this is difficult, and I wish you forbearance, fortitude and wisdom, please accept my condolences.
Terri, I admire your fortitude and perseverance in all the work you have been doing. Also your wisdom in waiting a year and the choices you are making. From your writings on the blog, you have been careful financially for a long time. I find much inspiration in your posts. Sending comfort.