More Frugal Fun at the Grocery Store

Hi everyone!  I hope you are all keeping warm these cold days & nights?  We’re doing fine here on the Prairie Farm.  Our new windows still are amazing in the way they keep out the cold drafts!  But now we can really feel the lack of good insulation in  the living room and kitchen walls.  Brrr~~ 

I’ve been continuing with my 7-9 hours of sleep per night and I’m trying to get in at least 3 times of sewing/quilting each week.  Just today I downloaded some audio books into iTunes to put on my MP3 player when I’m doing handwork.  Currently I’m listening to “Enchanted April.” 
I’m also trying to read a little every evening.  And I am watching at least a little tv with my Farmer (his favorite form of relaxation) or play some Kinect bowling and not spend as much time on the computer.

With the start of a new year, the economic news and some changes in our farming practices, I’ve been thinking of more ways I can save money.     

One way, is by playing the coupon, loss-leader game at the grocery/discount stores.  Last month, I saved $27.37 by getting the loss-leaders, price matching and coupons. 

Some examples:
Loss-leader Sales
Hormel Thick-cut bacon, less than $3 per pound.
Betty Crocker Family-sized Brownie Mix, 89¢  (woo hoo!)
Store brand Dry Roasted Peanuts, $1.69
Crystal Farms shredded cheeses, 8oz, $1.39 (great price, so I got a lot!)

Coupons
Hershey’s candy bars, BOGOFree:  saved $1.48 and got 2 FREE!
Ziplock sandwich bags: $1.00 off 2 packages
Contact solution 2-pack: $4.00 off pack
Rayovac D Batteries, 6-pack: $1.00 off multi-pack


Price-matching
Russet baking potatoes: 59¢ per pound, saved $1.11 on 3.6#
Land O Lakes Milk, 1/2 gal: $1.39, saved $1.20 on 2 and $1.00 C on 2 containers
Crest toothpaste, 6.4 oz: 99¢, saved 40¢, $1.00 C (FREE!)
Old Orchard frozen all juice: $1.00, saved 48¢ on 4
Orowheat Bread: $1.99, saved 50¢
Hefty garbage bags: $5.99, saved 90¢ PM and $1.00 C

I saved $4.59 in price matching and $11.95 in coupons alone!

During last month we took the opportunity of a little extra in the budget funds to stock up on pantry staples.  We purchased that $1.39 cheese, unbleached flour, sugars, ziplock bags and toilet paper.  All items I can store for several months and they will be available for leaner times later this year.

On Monday this week as I mentally took stock of my pantries before the “Major Winter Storm” set upon us. I decided we were stocked up except for Half-n-Half for my coffee.  So, I did a little price-matching on sale items that would be going off-sale on Tuesday.   I got the following: Yoplait yogurt for 50¢ each and with a 40¢ off on 6 coupon
Era laundry soup, 96 loads, price-matched for $8.69 (Very good price, normally I pay $10.88)
Fresh asparagus (regularly $2.94#) price-matched at $1.79#
Heinz Ketchup, 40oz, $1.69 (was on sale for $1.98)
Pepsi products, 12-packs, $2.50, regularly $3.98 and I was able to get the “throw backs” made with real sugar for this price.

That was a savings of $10.08 on price-matching and coupons.  Plus I saved the ads for the Era and Pepsi products and will get more before those ads expire.  Of course the store I price-match at **cough** (wal-mart) **cough** has a tendency to pull items with too large of a price difference off the shelf and then say they are “out.” 
It pays to check all the ads as the Era was at a big box “lumber” store and the Pepsi at a higher-end discount store (did that make sense?? )

(oh, and guess what one thing I forgot to pick up at the store... yes, the Half-n-Half!! >_<  )

And while I’ve been doing a bit of grocery shopping, at the same time, I’m shopping my pantry and freezer too.  Our chest freezer is almost bare!  We bought a hog from a co-worker and our beef goes in to be butchered in 2 weeks, so we want to eat all the remaining meat.  Right now I have 3 packages of pork chops, 3# of sausage, 4# of ground beef and 3 packages of short ribs, plus several chickens, some fish, 1# of bacon and a few packages of leftover spiral ham.  My upright freezer is full of cheese, some easy lunch items (ravioli, chicken strips) and frozen fruit, veggies and chicken odds and ends to make stock.
Our pantry has a nice variety yet and I want to use up the canned goods I bought last fall and start to bring in some new stock.

Also I’ve been buying a few more staples in bulk, such as Real Maple Syrup, EVOO and vanilla at the natural foods store.  I get my eggs there from the bulk cartons too.  I filled 2 containers of EVOO (5.46#) for $8.49#.  Seems high but this is cold-expressed oil and always tastes fresh.
I also got a little over an ounce of crystalized ginger for $1.17 ($14.59#)  The same amount (or less) in the small jars at the grocery stores was over $7!  I’ll be going back soon for more eggs and I need cayenne pepper.  I’m eager to see the price difference on that!

I know this is a long post with a lot of numbers.  I didn’t write it to brag, but to encourage you to read the ads, cut the coupons, read the saving blogs and start cutting that grocery budget.  Create a pantry (even a small one) and start saving for a small chest freezer. 
Remember that “Mega Winter Storm”.... a friend of ours in Missouri shared a photo of the empty bread aisle at his local Wal-mart.  I read several other friends status updates on needing to go get “supplies” just a day after the storm passed here. 
I’m not belittling anyone, but just want to pass on some peace of mind.  If your pantries are well-stocked with easy to prepare foods and the ingredients to make staples (like bread), you won’t have to worry about being snowed- or iced-in. Then you can concentrate on filling water jugs, maintaining an alternate heat source and light sources. 

Just a little wisdom, I’ve learned through the years, living on the Farm.


And just in case anyone is looking at those candy bars, brownie mixes, soda with a critical eye... what can I say... it’s mid-Winter and my Farmer has a sweet-tooth. 

Stay warm and safe, my Puffins!

Hugs
K~

**Thrift comes too late when you find it at the bottom of your purse.  ~Seneca

Thrifty Thursday

Another quick post... seems to be the nature of my life lately.

I have been going through all this week's sale ads and have been keeping a close eye on my frugal bloggers.  It's beginning to be "that" time of year.  Holiday gift shopping and holiday baking and food shopping.

Our local stores are running sales on turkeys (77¢ per pound), and sales on spices, flour, sugars, canned fruits and vegetables, special chocolates and the "better" deli meats and cheeses.

I found online coupons for dollars off on some family dvds/blu-ray sets.  You know there will be Black Friday ads for movies and I plan to keep these handy for then.  

If we don't want these particular titles, I'll donate them to the local charity gift drives.  I bought the toys months ago for Stuff the Cruiser drive that will be coming up soon.

Many of my favorite on-line clothing stores are holding 40% off sales right now.  And all the big toy catalogs have come in the mail.

I know alot of you are waiting for Black Friday or December to start your gift buying but let me tell you.... in past years I've found the best deals are Now.  You just have to take the time to look for them, compare prices and watch for extra helps like coupons or free shipping.

I hope I've inspired you to go search for the best prices now.  Let's try for a happy holiday season but spend less than in past years.  I have my budget, do You?

And speaking of shopping.... remember I'm holding a Amazon gift card to celebrate my 4th blogiversary!  (I'd tell you the amount of the gift card but the site I use to get them is funky tonight.  It will be a "significant" amount, I promise!)   Just comment on any post starting with  THIS ONE and ending on 11:59 p.m. Nov. 8th.  Since I moderate commments I get your messages sent to my inbox and I'll randomly select a winner from that list.  If you don't comment, you can't win!  

Hugs,

Kay~

** Oh, for the good old days when people would stop Christmas shopping when they ran out of money.  ~Author Unknown

Random Thoughts on the post by cookblog: "The Pig Dies At Noon"

cookblog: "The Pig Dies At Noon": "That's what the email said, just to ensure that the more squeamish guests would be arriving around 5. "
I just read this post by Peter....  about the progress of going from a living pig to a pork dinner.  (Note to the "squeamish"... there are photos of blood and gore, so you may want to hide your eyes as you scroll down.  But do read it.)

I was also interested in this statement:

"... I was surprised that more people didn't want to see a bit more of the butchering, or at least talk about what went in to bringing the meal to fruition. As it was, nobody at all in the house seemed to have any interest at all in what we were doing, let alone a desire to learn or hear about what we did."

I'm on the other end of the food equation ... in the birthing end of the beef... well, not me actually birthing any beef,... *grin* ... but our being the care-givers and midwives(mid-husbands?). We see the start of what will end up in our freezer and stomachs. We watch it grow and mature and fatten, caring for it along the way. Also knowing that if we neglect our responsibility, we won't be eating beef this winter.

I wonder if more people are not interested in knowing how their meat gets to their tables, because as a nation, we have never really been hungry or in want. There appears to be food galore in our grocers... most people not knowing that your average store only has enough stock on hand for maybe 3-7 days and that is not for everything on the shelves. You can find food (or what is marketed as "food") in almost every kind of retail establishment in the country. (Even Farm Stores have candy and nuts and a pop machine.)

I wonder what would (will) happen if (when) there would be a break-down in the transportation grid and the trucks could not get to the warehouses or stores? What if a huge natural disaster happened or national emergency and we were required by law to stay in a small area for our safety? What if the food ran out?
What would you do? Rely on the government to air-drop food in? Or could you forage, barter, grow, hunt for your own?

Just some thoughts running through my mind today as we continue harvesting corn and as I have been helping with chores-- feeding the beefers and as I looked in my freezer for something to defrost for supper. I see my the end of my garden and look at the filled canning jars in my pantry.  I smile at my various "kitchen helpers"-- grain mill, stand mixer, dehydrator, vacuum sealer.  I pat the bags of wheat berries and cans of beans on the shelf.  I think about my neighborhood and how we share not only food but life lessons.  And I thank my Father God again for how much He has truly blessed us.

I'm interested in what you have to say about any of these thoughts....

Hugs,
Kay~

** Maybe a person's time would be as well spent raising food as raising money to buy food. ~Frank A. Clark

Another Blue Chair

 We'll just keep that spot of paint on the picnic table our little secret, ok?  Blue-eyed Farmer was not keen on my using the table as a painting station as it was.  Opps....  sorry Honey!

I started painting the final wicker chair yesterday.  I've given up on the loveseat.  It is in really, really bad shape and I would hate to have some unsuspecting guest fall through when sitting on it.  So it'll be hotdog roasting fodder sometime soon.  Ya'll Come!

And yes all of my wicker is frayed and shabby looking.  Hey!  I have yard/barn cats who do not understand that there is a whole farm of wood/trees/posts/etc... to sharpen their claws on...... just like they can't figure out that my lawn is NOT a litter box and they could use our entire 80 acres for a bathroom... just leave my lawn alone!!   

Oh sorry... what were we talking about??  Oh yes, my chairs... they are a bit frayed and tattered, but then 2 of them live outside for 3 seasons and this one did until we enclosed the porch.  They've had a hard life, but like all of us, a little "paint" and "color" hides a multitude of imperfections (I know... it's "sins." but I would rather confess my sins than hide them.)

 

As I was saying... I started painting the last chair.  This is the nicest of the three and obviously not a sibling to the other 2.  I got this at a yard sale long time ago.  It was painted tan once before when I was in denial about my love of color.  (Sorry Neutral Lovers, whose homes are mono-chromatic... it's soooo not me!  Makes me depressed, not calm and mellow.)

Anyway.... It was painted tan and since the other 2 are blue, this one had to be blue too.  It told me so.  What?!   Your furniture, quilts, walls, don't tell you what color they want to be?  That's a shame.  Life is much more fun that way.  And I can't be blamed if something clashes.  It wasn't MY idea...  

So.... even though these three "cousins' don't share the same space, they are now more closely related by color.  I think they harmonize very well, don't you?

I'm looking forward to next spring when I open the shed doors and reveal this surprise of BLUE!  For I know I'll forget I painted them and it'll be "WOW!  Lookie at these!"  My life is made up of these kinds of brain lapses turned into happy blessings!

So... what you are you painting today, Puffins?  Or are you one of those Mono-chromatic lovers... share your reasons/love.  Or maybe you listen to your possessions talk to you too... quilts and fabric seem to be the most talkative... share with us.  :o)

Happy Weekend!!

Hugs,

K~

** "I cannot pretend to feel impartial about colors.  I rejoice with the brilliant ones and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns."  ~Winston Churchill

The canning continues and other frugal ways

Just a quick update here Puffins....

For the record, 8 small jelly jars and 2 pint jars of Hot Pepper Jelly.  I stopped in my Favorite Thrift Store yesterday because I WON a very cute green vase in the silent auction (photo soon) and you know I can't just buzz in, pay and leave.  I had to look around a bit.  I found a red sleeveless top, like new; a feed sack piece of fabric with pink and blue flowers-Cute! (photo soon) and a hard-back edition of Little House on the Prairie (collecting those for read-alouds with the grand-girlies).  And at the checkout was a box of nice cucumbers for slicing and some jalepeno peppers.  I just bemoaning to myself that I was down to my last small jar of hot pepper jelly and no-one seemed to have any to give away.  (I am trying very hard to not buy much when it is so readily available if I just say I'll take it off 'your' hands.)

I came home with 7 cucumbers for salads and eating fresh and 7 peppers. Six went into the jelly with the 2 remaining green-turning-red bell peppers I had gotten for my relish earlier this week. 

Today should be the turning day of the heat.  Thank Goodness!  I need to mow but it's still too dewy out there, so I am off to use the remaining Colorado peaches and plums in a cobbler  and do some pantry diving to find the ingredients for White Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes (ala Vivian) for Sunday School tomorrow. 

I did have to do some shopping this week, but I was happy to save over $15 on storebucks back deals at Walgreens.  And I found some Columbian coffee pods on clearance at the dreaded Walmart in the clearance aisle.  I save $1.20 on each package of 12 and bought all 8 packages.  If I'm stingy and only have one cup a day I can stretch this for over 3 months.  We'll see how I do.  (more on these deals later)

A final frugal report, the evening Farmer-dear and I went to town, I was determined to not spend much.  We did the Wal-greens run and then Menards for a locking doorknob (on sale) (ours on the kitchen door is on it's last leg).  I talked him out of going to the grocery store because I knew I had coupons and sales @ our local Sunmart the next day (Schoolbucks savings-- more on this later) and I also knew we'd end up spending at least $30 because we'd find "bargains" or we'd not know if we needed an item and get it "while we're here."  We have food galore in the freezers and pantry. 

We did need to eat some supper, however.  So again, being frugally-minded, I reminded him I had a coupons for free Limeades at Taco Bell.  It is our "not healthy but frugal" bad habit.  I got a combo meal-main dish, side taco and large drink.  He got 3 ala cart items and the free Limeade.  We split it up and I ate my main dish and the Limeade and he ate my side taco with his 3 selections and used my large drink cup.  Plenty of food (I was stuffed) & drinks for a little over $10 (and we could have kept it under $10 if he'd left off one of his items.) 

How were you frugal this week?  Where do you want to conserve even more?  Comment on it and we'll chat more on saving our hard-gotten money.

I'm off to play in the flour!

Hugs!
Kay~

Can you Can-Can?

Susan at The T-Cozy asked in a recent post, if anyone canned fruits and vegetables anymore?  Do We??!! 

I canned 18 half-pints of sweet pickle relish last evening from too-big cucumbers my dear neighbor gave me.  I juiced a flat of her tomatoes and have that freezing in some retangle-shaped pyrex dishes to use in chili this winter. 

I'm watching the pear trees around here and hope to can Farmer-dear some pear halves or else I'll dry some slices. 

And then this fall I need to make some apple pie filling and can it and also make some apple butter and applesauce. 
These fruits usually come to me for free also and I hate to waste anything like this. 

I haven't done much drying this summer simply because there hasn't been much to dry.  And my jars of dried foodstuffs are pretty full right now.  I'm watching my basil and thyme plants and will be sure to harvest them before the first frost.  I love the dried basil I did the last 2 years.  It smells so fresh whenever I open the jar.
I'll probably be drying onions when we pull those from the weedy garden. 

Not a huge amount of preserving going on here but enough.  It's another of my Simple Pleasures.  :)

What about you dear Puffins?  Do you "can" or is that for old women back in the 40s?  Would you like to learn how to can/preserve?  Is there a need, still, for these skills in this day?  

I'm interested in your thoughts.

And to firmly establish my identity with the Old-fashioned Ladies.... I'm off to sew on my quilt blocks. 

Hugs!
Kay~

** "I got the blues thinking of the future, so I left off and made some marmalade.  It's amazing how it cheers one up to shred oranges and scrub the floor."  ~D.H. Lawrence

A little Thriftiness

Again... I love Thriftiness.  As in Shops and in finances.

We have been VERY thrifty here on the Prairie Farm.  It's as if the rest of the country's financial woes finally caught up with us here in the middle states.  Actually, it's just that we've had some major repair bills this past spring and Farmer-dear did not plant any winter wheat last fall, hence, no mid-summer cash flow.  We'll make up for it come fall and the extra corn & bean acres, but it's a bit of an adjustment right now. 

So seeing how the bank account is hurting a bit, we've been staying home more.  Eating "out" less (alot less) and conserving where we can.  It's good for our bank account and good for our waistlines. 

It is hard on my creativitiy, however.  I've been cooking some on the grill.  I refuse to use the oven when it's over 90° outside.  So it's been salads, sandwiches, fruit and stove-top meals.

I'm running out of hot-weather meal ideas.  We're getting tired of the same-old, same-old.  But thanks to my wise friend Penny-Ann Poundwise, and her great idea, I'll be perusing my old women's magazines for ideas.  Those ladies back in the early part of the 20th century fed their families every summer day WITHOUT air conditioning.  I'm pretty sure Mama 1930, didn't fire up the cobstove and make a roast when the heat of August was on. 

Other thriftiness.... made a quick stop at my Favorite Thrift Store yesterday.  And came home with 2 summer tops for me, a pretty pin to wear on my cardigans, 3 paperbacks to read on these hot afternoons, 2 canning jars (one is a half-gallon, which I hardly ever find!  Will use that for dry goods storage in the pantry) and 2 wine glasses with black stems (I only had 2 wine glasses, so not enough if we have company and serve wine).  Nothing over $3 and I silent-bid on a green pottery vintage vase in their display case.   Any one of these items would have easily cost $5 new. 

And while I love buying from the thrift store, I did buy 2 new books from Amazon.  Now... before you start scolding... I used some of the gift cards I "purchased" from my Swagbucks .  (Go HERE to read more about that or click on the swidget button at the bottom of the page for more information on Swagbucks.)  "Free" new books is alright with me!

Since I've been reading more these hot days, I've been using my library (LOVE my library) and reading from my personal library.  I have a few books to get rid of and so will be adding them to my Paper Back Swap account.  I may have to pay for shipping to whoever requests my books but any I request from someone else are FREE to me.  Can't beat that deal.

Final thrifty activity.... as I said, it's been HOT here.  Really hot.... and humid.  So I've been running the A/C.  We've been keeping it set at 77° when we're home and 82° when we are gone for the day.  I found that if I run the ceiling fans when we are in a room and the floor fan to help circulate the air and if I close off the laundry room and the bathroom on the south & southwest sides of the house And shut the shades when the sun shines in; it all makes a huge difference on how the cool the house stays.  

We're utilizing the pool we got for the grandgirlies and sleeping in the basement where it's naturally cool.

And speaking of naturally cool, we are having a mini-cool-down this morning, so I'm off to bake up some of the cookie dough balls I have in the freezer, so my Farmer can have a treat this afternoon.

Stay hydrated and remember to check on your pets and elderly neighbors.  September is coming!

Hugs!

Kay~

Savings & shopping

Yes, the video is still coming.... patience Grasshopper... lol

Did a quick coupon shopping trip to Wal-greens this evening. There were good coupons in last Sunday's paper and accordingly, good sales in some stores.

I got the girlies their Easter baskets/purses: 2/$5

Estroven Energy: BOGOFree $21.99 for the two

L'Oreal Mascara: $6.79 on sale

TUF Garbage Bags, 2 sizes: $3.99 each on sale

Venus Razors, 3-pack: $8.99 & coupon

Always pads, 2 sizes: $4.99 each & coupon

Crest toothpaste: $2.67 on sale & coupon

Advil Liquid-gels, 80 ct: $7.49 on sale & coupon

Swiffer Wetjet refill: $5.99 on sale and coupon

I ended up with $5.28 in coupons and $35.61 in WAG advertised savings, equalling $40.86.

Not bad, if I do say so myself. :o) I'm stocked up on these items and shouldn't have to get any until summer now.

I love working sales like this.

As for other news... calving in the cold, wet & slop continues. I'll tell that story later.

I just ordered my Easter outfit and need to check on my shoes to see if I need to find some.



Sunday I may find my Farmer a new shirt and tie to go with his suit.

Easter Pageant preparations continue at our church. I'm helping with costumes and fellowship again and Farmer is helping to park cars and will probably help with fellowship that evening too. And I'm making goat diaper covers again. Better those than "Jesus" loincloth for the crucifixion scene. The goats aren't particular and they only have one scene.

I received the free Quilts for Kids kit today, I ordered from Downy. It is very cute... young prints. I'll use what I have in my stash to make more to donate. No child should be in the hospital without a quilt.

A few days ago the new recycling bin that I ordered, arrived. It took my Farmer and me about an hour to put it together. Of course, it's not solid wood but it'll do. I can't complain for $35 (it was $125 originally).

This is what it looks like,


only I have lined the bins with trash bags and am using it for aluminum cans, tin cans and bottles.

And that's the newest news on the Prairie Farm. We're just hanging out, waiting for Spring!

Hugs,
Kay~

** "If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant;
if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."
~Anne Bradstreet

Thrifting again

(Winter fog can be beautiful)

I made a quick stop at the local thrift store today and found the following:

2 large sacks of Spring floral vines and picks

2 name-brand sweaters for the Girlies

4 bright-colored zippers for bag making

4 3-ring binders in various sizes

2 3-pound hand weights (look brand new)

All purchased for what would have been the regular price of one of those sweaters. I love thrift shopping!

I had been watching for those weights. I'm always waiting for something to become available there. Right now I'm also watching for: 1/2 gal jars, a yogurt-maker, a bread machine or pan to fit my ABM, audio books, and a chronological Bible.

I also have my eye on a pair of vintage outdoor Christmas candle decorations at a local shop. Please, local readers......Don't beat me to them, Please....

Anyone else been thrift-shopping lately?

Hugs,
K~

** "I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered living."
~ John D Rockefeller

Garden 2009 final report

Blog Jan 7

A small update on the Garden 2009, I finally had to toss the last 3 onions. 2 were very sprouted and the third was rotting. It was definitely worth the cost of the sets and the time and effort of planting them and harvesting them. I can’t say I did anything else to them. Matter of fact we had to hunt for them in the weeds & grass to pull them up. They lasted from a good 3-4 months in my pantry, resting in a coffee-filter lined colander.

The last 5 pounds of red potatoes are still in the pantry in a cardboard box.




A few of them are getting wrinkly and sprouted so I need to get them cooked up asap. I’ve been reading through some old food-preserving Yahoo group emails and found a method of shredding the potatoes, boiling them, then drying for 8-12 hours. When dried you can power them for “instant” potatoes. It may not be as good as commercial instant mashed potatoes but it’s better than throwing away 5 pounds of home-grown potatoes. That may be my project for this weekend. The dehydrator will help keep the kitchen warmer.

I also found a way to dry pumpkin, which was exciting to me. I did freeze some pumpkin pulp blobs last year but didn’t vacuum-seal them, so they are getting freezer-burnt. The pumpkin was free so I’m only out of my time and the electricity used to cook it, but still....

Speaking of freezer-burn, I’m so miffed at myself. I tossed 2 bags of frozen vegetables this evening, that were all freezer burnt. It’s been months since we’ve eaten frozen vegetables, so I shouldn’t have been surprised. Just erks me that they were wasted. There just wasn’t any way to save them. I doubt they’d even be good in soup or pureed and added to red sauce or meat loaf.
And that zucchini in the fridge, was wasted also. But the peppers are still looking good.

I also did a little pantry reorganization after the holidays it got to be a bit of a mess with all the big storage containers stacked up and then falling down. I can see I need to watch for some canned vegetable sales, but everything else seems to be plentiful for now. I need to do a thorough freezer inventory yet and then will have a complete restocking list. Right now I know I need walnut pieces and bacon. Also I think the cheddar cheese is low. I have a gift card to our local natural foods store and can’t wait to get some local organic cheese for eating fresh. We don’t drink alot of milk, so we get our calcium from cheese, half-n-half and yogurt.

Winter is also a great time to plan ahead for the growing season. Even if you don’t plan to garden, there are local farmer’s markets, pick-your-own farms, road-side stands, neighbors with extra produce; all that can be processed and stored for eating later. I would much rather eat locally produced foods.

Have you done a recent pantry and freezer inventory? What is your favorite long-term storage method? Canning? Drying? Freezing? Do you use what you store? Are you planning to learn a new skill this year?

My goal is to can some meat this year.... if I still have my pressure canner and if it works. I am hoping to have a neighbor help me do this. I’ve never pressure canned anything before.

Hugs!
K~

"Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end.
It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing;
it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it."
~ Margaret Thatcher ~

Why I shop at Thrift Stores and other frugal ways

If you've read PQ&K for a while, you know I LOVE the hunt of thrift stores, flea markets and antique malls. You just never know what you might find.

I recently took a gander around our local "antique shop" to see what they had. I found a large square-round jar that almost matches my coffee pod jar (also a thrift store find). With the recent mouse-in-the-pantry drama, I'm watching for large jars to house my dry goods.

I also found a 8" square glass cake pan. I first looked at the 9x13", thinking I needed a second one for when my blue glass pan is in use.
But then I remembered, I'm trying to cut down my cooking & baking to our 2-person household. The 8" size will make more than enough for us for a meal and some leftovers.

Neither of these items are antiques. But they were inexpensive and that's why I shop these kinds of places.

I plan to go back to that store on Monday. I looked at a 12-14" cast iron skillet but didn't get it that day. The clerk assured me that she would make me a good deal if I came back for it soon. I know it'll be too big for just us most of the time, but sometimes my 10" cast iron is too small.

Also, I had looked at a vintage citrus juicer. Very 1950s. Today as I hand-squeezed orange juice for the muffins I made, I wished I had gotten that juicer.

And then in the back was a Senseo coffee maker similar to mine. It has been used and not cleaned very well, but looks to be complete. I think I'll pick it up for a friend and if she doesn't want it, I'll keep it for a spare or give it to ddil.

I keep hoping I'll find a Zo bread maker there or at least the pan, like mine.

At my favorite thrift store I got in on the end of their "All Clothing 1/2 off Sale". I got a pair of shorts and a top for me and 2 pairs of shorts for the girlies.
I also found a newer book I've read before and enjoyed.
And 2 sets of hangers for 50¢ each. One set is the plastic tubular ones that I'll donate to our church's costume closet and the other were nice plastic pants hangers for F-d's dress slacks.
I also found a few more vintage refrigerator dishes that I've been using in F-d's lunch and for storing food in the fridge. I'm becoming less comfortable with using plastic for reheating.


My favorite online nursery has day lilies on sale every July. I purchased their pink/red collection plus another large rooting of another pink variety. With the new borders put in this spring, I have some empty areas that need some color. These, along with the unhappy lilies from the back of the house, should fill it all in nicely.


Grocery / household savings:
49¢ Powerade for F-d;
25¢ tomato sauce;
50¢ packages of Ziplock bags;
$3 12-packs of soda;
99¢ per lb nectarines.

Discount store:
$1 Crayola markers;
$1 Bic pens;
79¢ wooden pencils
and $1-off coupon on Advil which was on sale as well.

At the second store I should have picked up the Coffee grinder/maker for a wedding gift and I'm struggling with not getting the AeroGarden for $80. I know they will be more come Cmas time! Not that anyone I know wants an AeroGarden, besides me of course. And do I really have the room for it? No. This is a case of "It is not a bargain just because it's clearance priced, if you don't need it." I will check out the gift lists for the weddings we have coming up and see if anyone wanted one or the coffee maker.

It's Saturday and we may have company this evening, so I'm off to do some cleaning and laundry and be available if Farmer-dear needs my input on the new feed bunk construction.

Hugs!
Kay~

** "Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end.
It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing;
it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it."
~ Margaret Thatcher

Thrift Shopping & Sewing

So what does 30 mins. and $37 get you at the local thrift store? All of the above!
5cup Hitachi Rice Cooker (looks brand new, never used. Was able to download the manual.)
3 hardbound books & one cartoon book
1 fake minature rose plant to brighten some corner of my home (looks pretty real to me)
3 small gold-colored baskets for little gifties or adding sparkle to somewhere

8 rolls of fabric, none less than 1 yard

2 twin-sized sheet sets in a perky yellow/red/pink
1 full-sized sheet set in blue/white

The blue/white sheets will fit on the basement guest bed. I plan to join the flat sheets into one full-sized top sheet and find a yellow or pink fitted sheet for the grand-girls' guest bed. The twin-sized fitted sheets will be used in either room decor or for quilting. They are 100% cotton.


*warning to non-fabric lovers-- extended gushing about my finds ahead, scroll through if not interested*

Is this not the coolest design! I really like paisley. This material has a brushed suede feel to it. I suppose for skirts or light jackets? I just like the richness of the colors.

Oilcloth anyone? Not really but has that feel. Avocado....caning.... from the 7os, perhaps?

This one and the paisley are going to be used to make new shopping totebags.

The blues.... love them for their individualness. The grid, so masculine and orderly, but the shell design is more "me." These will be for covering old canvas tote bags. (I wish the shell design was 100% cotton. Would love to put it into a quilt.)

And then we have these lovelies. The yellow/blue vines remind me of Jane Sassaman's fabric and quilts (http://www.janesassaman.com/core-pages/quilts.html ). Again, none are 100% cotton and won't work for quilting. The red/yellow floral is glazed & would make great pillowcoverings. Or great tote bags!

I have this as an idea for covering my tote bags:
Aren't these yummy? I copied this from someone's blog and forgot to note where. Sorry!!! (If it's yours, please LMK and I'll give proper credit.)

And on that site, these: Sweet pincushions. No pattern but I bet I can figure it out. That "vine" fabric would work for these.

Then, yesterday afternoon, after fondling all my fabric finds and washing the sheets, I decided to hunt up my tote bag patterns. And in the pile I found one for the Humbug Bag that one of my quilting friends had sent me, complete with fabric she had quilted. I LOVE batiks and this is just my style! Well here... take a look at what I made from that material, a 10¢ thrift store zipper and about 30-45 mins. (would have taken less time but I was learning how to use my zipper foot):


and a close-up of the inside, the zipper and the thrift store organza ribbon accent. (Have I said how much I LOVE my local thrift store! )

This little bag will be perfect for my lipgloss, mints, etc in my desk at work.

I can't wait for Sunday, more sewing. (this evening- eye exams & dinner out; tomorrow-Bull shopping [yee haw I'll be reading in the truck])
I just need to decide what to sew.... the Anniversary Quilt? More bags (but I need more zippers)? Those pincushions? The tote bags &/or tote bag covers?

Oh! And want to know what spurred on my Muse to make this bag? Restitching Farmer-dear's zipper in his chore coveralls. LOL Hey! Whatever works, right?

Finally, thanks for all the good thoughts, prayers and well-wishes you all sent for Farmer-dear & me. He's feeling lots better. Good enough, in fact, to trim some trees with the chainsaw yesterday. I'm about half-way through my cold. At the gunky stage (sorry) & with a sore nose, but no more fever, so I'm on the mend too. Definitely time for Spring weather!

Hope you all have a Fabulous Friday and a Wonderful weekend!

Hugs!
Kay~

** "Methinks it is a token of healthy and gentle characteristics,
when women of high thoughts and accomplishments love to sew;
especially as they are never more at home with their own hearts
than while so occupied."
~ Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Marble Faun, 1859

GREAT Dining Out Deal (and Flowers!)

In this era of economic woes and PORKulus spending, we are all looking for ways to conserve and yet no one wants to feel deprived, right?
In my on-going blog reading I found this great deal. (go HERE)

Save 60% on a restaurant.com certificate and get 15% off at FTD.com (The FTD certificate must be used by 3/31/09. I just happen to have someone's bday coming in March, I can use it on.)

I just found a $25 certificate to Skeeter Barnes (regional [?] BBQ place) for $10, applied the coupon code and paid $4 !!! That's right, a $25 gift certificate for $4!! We have 3 different "dates" with 3 different couples coming up in the next few weeks. I plan to look for more restaurants we want to try. Between this and the gift cards we already have, I can see lots of "date nights" for very little money.



So a BIG Thank You to Iva at Horizontal Yo-Yo for linking me to The Bargain Shopper Lady at bargainshopperlady.com which shared Esscie's blog, Coupon by Coupon, where I found this deal.

It just started SNOWING and "they" are predicting 4-8 inches or more for our area. Soon it will look like this out there:


I have to go to the mailbox this morning and then I'm snuggling in for the duration.

I'll be making either Chili or Baked Potato Soup, trying out that No-Knead Bread recipe (finally! It has to ferment for 8-18 hours and I have to figure out how to schedule that into my life.), putting those pineapple pieces in the dryer (Farmer-dear is not eating it fast enough) and finding something sweet & warm to make for my Valentine.



I stopped at the library yesterday and brought home 3 audio books and 3 other regular books to add to my stack. And I have several projects in the sewing room calling to me.

The house is pretty clean, the laundry almost caught up and the dishes too. I will have a snuggly day. I hope you can have one too. Local-Yokels, stay safe!

Hugs!
Kay~

** "Come now the wild dark days of February when the house seems a
lovely warm little island with winter billowing outside."
~Gladys Taber

Life in late winter, In the Prairie Kitchen and more Frugality

"Life" on the Prairie-Farm

The "girls"

Mama & Baby #292

She really was not happy with me at all.
This was taken from about 100 feet away and she still was glaring at me.

First Baby of 2009

Go ahead and say it, "Awwwwwwwww~~"
Isn't she just the cutest thing?

"Thistle"

There is beauty, even in the "dead of winter."

---

In the Prairie Kitchen:

We're baking again in the Prairie Kitchen. I made a full batch of THIS BREAD on Sunday, 2 loaves. One in the freezer for possible gifting and one almost gone now. (what is it, Tuesday? How can it be almost gone? Oh yeah, I've had about 7 slices. )
Anyway.... I am mixing up The New Bread (No Knead Dutch Oven Bread) this afternoon. The Olive, Rosemary, Parmesan variation has me very intrigued. This bread calls for 12oz of lager. It was a bit embarrassing to remember I had a 6-pack of beer in my cart yesterday when I ran into an old neighbor who has no idea why I'd be buying beer except to drink it. Which I don't. And I didn't even think about it or that I should have explained. oh well.... maybe it added to their dinner conversation.
I thinking the regular version of the bread with Fluffy Orange Butter sounds wonderful.

I have been using the French Vanilla Creamer in my morning oatmeal. I only need a little bit, cut with much more milk, or it's wayyyyyy tooooo sweet for me. The French Onion Dip has been tossed. It just wasn't working it's way into any of our meals.

Farmer-dear has been making his favorite 1000 Island Dressing. We had all the ingredients so, Another savings! I will be digging out my dressing recipes for Dorothy Lynch (it's a Nebraska thing!) and Raspberry Vinegrette. I have some Splenda I need to use up (don't like it as a normal sweetner) and I think it will work in this.

This is tonight's supper:

Carolyn's Bacon Tater Crockpot Breakfast
1 pound pkg. frozen tater tot potatoes
1/2 lb. Canadian bacon
2 onions, chopped
1 and 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
6 eggs
1/2 cup whole milk (I used skim... no difference)
2 TBSP flour
salt and pepper to taste.

In crockpot, layer ingredients in order... one third of the tater tots, bacon, onions, and cheeses. Repeat layers two more times, ending with the cheeses.
In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, milk and flour until combined... season with salt and pepper if desired. Pour mixture over layers in crockpot. Cover, cook on low for 7 or 8 hours.
Will serve 6 - 8.

I used dried onions as I wasn't in the mood to chop up onions at 8 a.m. And I think using the sandwich sized Canadian Bacon would be better than the pizza size that I used. I'll give you a review later on it.


More Frugality

1. Still trying to be frugal but not doing as well as I'd like. I bought a few inexpensive things for the girlies for Valentine's Day. We went out to eat twice over the weekend. It was breakfast both times so at least that was cheaper than a dinner meal out.

I did take a trip to the grocery store for Olives (Feta-stuffed, Garlic-stuffed and Kalamata, they are my guilty pleasure right now....6 sliced up on my salad / dinner meal.); and a few ingredients for the recipe above. We've been eating just salads for dinner lately. Bagged salad is on sale through Tuesday (99¢!) and I want to get more of those 38¢lb bananas. They were really GREEN yesterday.
We're trying to get our 7-9 servings of fruits and veggies in every day. Farmer-dear takes some kind of fruit in his lunch and I've been putting dried cranberries in my oatmeal, baby carrots with my lunch or for afternoon snack and fruit later too.

2. Remember I told you about Playlist.com for free music. I found another site.
http://www.pandora.com/
You can put in a name of an artist, song, types of music and it finds songs that meet the criteria. You can approve songs or disapprove. You can add more than one "station." So far I'm liking the variety. I have some pretty obscure intrumental music likes and it's found plenty to play. Seamless playing without having to rebuffer all the time. (one of my biggest pet peeves with iTunes radio) NAYY, just sharing what I've found.

3. I'm drying pineapple again. When fresh pineapple drops below $3 each, we buy 2 or 3 and I dry it in 2-3" slices for Farmer-dear. It's a healthy (and less expensive) treat for him in the evenings. I use the "ugly" bits & pieces in my evening fruit & yogurt dessert.
We'll continue to do this until the price goes back up. Out of the 2 fruit we got on Sunday, I had a large Tupperware mixing bowl full of slices. Easily 4 large cans worth. A can of pineapple here is close to $3 so I'm definitely saving money.

4. I did start my Cash for Christmas savings. I emptied Farmer's change container (except for the quarters that he uses everyday) and my change plus my loose dollar bills into gallon ziplock bags and have it tucked away so I can add to it every week. When the bag of coins gets full, I'll take it in and get bills. Not sure if I'll open a savings account with it or just put it away here. We'll see...


That's the latest news from the Prairie Farm. I'm off to find some lunch (leftover pizza) and then OMG! SEWING!!! After all, dinner is taken care of and doing laundry is sooooo boring.

Hugs!
Kay~

**"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."
~e.e. cummings~

Another Random Thoughts Post

Busy.... but want to visit with all of my readers..... no time to plan & edit and make it pretty, so this will be another random thoughts posting....

1 large pumpkin & 2 smaller pumpkins + baking and blending and draining = 10 cups of pumpkin pulp now freezing in 1 cup blobs for future pies, bread and desserts. Something good from what what might have been just thrown away.

The new SunHeat heater is working great. We are able to keep the furnace on 62-64° and it is very comfortable on the main floor. We added the humidifier now and my lips and hands are happier.

Working ALOT now as the Christmas season is here. Orders coming in and going out. I like playing Santa's helper.

Trying to understand how some women do not like to cook..... but then maybe they don't understand my disdain for mowing.....

Christmas gifts purchased online are arriving. BIG boxes stacked in the garage when I arrive home from work. I need to start wrapping.

I was able to get some decorations up on Saturday. Not the tree or the Christmas Village yet, but hopefully this week. One batch of cookies made and almost all eaten. More this week too.

Things can't be too bad economically. Butter was on sale today for $1.78 per pound; cheese at $1.48 a 12-oz package; sugar, pop, chips, tomato juice, bread.... all on sale. (I'm sorry about the chips and pop. They are for Farmer-dear....really! I don't drink Dr. Pepper or eat too many Doritos.)
I'm still thankful for stores that "price match."

Wonderful times at church lately. Thank you Pastor Aaron! The Spirit is moving at Southview. I love that the alter is open now and we are taking advantage of it. May it continue.

If you found you had to register, ask to be allowed in, emailed me for a "What's up with your Blog?"....sorry. I've needed to add some moderation to my site.

I have photos of my recent cookie baking and my pumpkin mess but I'm not happy with my recent photo quality. Not sure if it's the lighting & my yellow walls or my messing with the camera settings but they are coming out very sallow and ugly. And Farmer-dear says no-one wants to see photos of pumpkin pulp blobs. If you do, then leave a comment saying you do, so I can prove him wrong. LOL

Hope this made some sense. Have a wonderful week! Celebrate Christmas this year, not just X-mas. (thanks again Pastor Aaron)

Hugs,
Kay~

––"One sprig of holly in a house filled with love and contentment
is better than a house full of garlands without love."
~~from Elsa Connors column, Woman's Day magazine, December, 1939

A Frugal Kitchen

I'm feeling virtuous. I made roasted veggies for our supper tonight. I also made a rhubarb cobbler from the rhubarb in the freezer. That healthy meal alone is praiseworthy, but the reason I'm feeling so good is I'm following through with my goal of using the produce I buy and not letting it go to waste. The normal potatoes, carrots and onions are not the trouble, it's the more expensive things like peppers, squash, etc.

Today I bought asparagus and baby yellow squash to roast. I snapped the ends of the asparagus and was about to throw them out when I remembered someone on a preserving foods Yahoo group saying they dried the ends and flaked them to use in various ways.
So I dug my dehydrator out from under the stairs. I trimmed off the dried out woody bottoms from the snapped ends. Those almost trashed ends filled one tray.

And since I had the dryer going, I figured I should make better use of the electricity and fill more of the trays. A quick look in the fridge found a tired looking orange and lemon. I sliced those up and they filled a tray. Once they are dried, I can crumble them up and use to flavor drinks or icing or anywhere you would use extract/flavorings.

I still had 2 trays empty. I looked again and found a partially filled serving bowl of fresh pineapple pieces. That filled another tray.
I couldn't find anything to put on the 4th tray, but I'm pretty proud of what I did find to preserve in that 5 minute search.

A final frugal doing.... After we ate supper and I put the leftover roasted veggies away, there was some olive oil remaining in the bottom of the pan. I cubed up the end of the home-made bread and tossed the cubes in the oil. I put those in the fridge and will toast them tomorrow. They'll be great on a salad.

I found tonight that if you leave garlic cloves in their skins, they'll roast without burning. I'll stink tonight but mmmmm~~~ they were good!

Tonight's Menu:
Roast Vegetable Medley
Home-made whole wheat/oatmeal bread
Rhubarb cobbler with vanilla ice cream

I plan to upload new photos of the grand-twins tonight too. Be watching.

Hugs
Kay

** "It is a good thing to be rich, it is a good thing to be strong, but it is a better thing to be beloved of many friends."  -- Euripides (480-406 BC) Greek Playwright