Sunday, September 22, 2019

My Frugal Ways this Past Week 9/22/19!

Our weather has been great this past couple of weeks!  It's a lot better than the first part of our summer and we are loving it.   It also has gave us a chance to get our beans in and we are so happy (and exhausted)! 

Did I tell you they all came in at once?  My husband just kept saying, they are hanging in knots. We picked a total of 4 bushels of beans!  Whoo hoo.  So we've basically went from the laziest backyard farmers to working our bones off.  Why am I not any skinnier?



I ended up canning 29 quarts and 9 pints of green beans.   This is what my house has looked like for the past few days....kind of looks like a science experiment gone bad.

Right in the middle of all that I made a cake for the grandson's birthday (fortnite theme) and I also talked the husband into going trash picking.  He was just getting relaxed and then I sprang it on him, poor man.  I used the line, I guess I will just go by myself and it worked!   



We found this Sofia the First castle plus a barbie dollhouse for the granddaughter.  The lady was just taking them out of her car and putting them on the curb when we stopped. We hid the castle for her birthday and plan to buy her some dolls to go with it.  

We also found a empty propane tank along side the road.   

Goals for this week:

Clean the house!!

Pick and can tomatoes, cabbage,  and mustard greens. Of course, then the house will be a mess again!  Thank God.  Really we are getting a harvest and a messy house to boot!  

How did you save money this past week?

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14 comments:

Cheryl Kimbley said...

A messy house for all that good home canned yumminess is perfect! You sure get some good curbside finds. Nothing like that around here. Have a blessed week.

Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden said...

Cheryl I just keep hoping I get it cleaned up before company rolls in LOL! Have a great day!

Jenny said...

You are finding some great stuff!You must have some nice neighborhoods in your area....so fun.

I did well this week too but only because I have generous friends & family.

-My daughter-in-law went to a women's conference through her work. She always shares something with me from her goodie bag. This time it's a Dayspring Prayer & Share tablet. One side is for writing a note & the other side has a parer & a verse. I have a penpal & write lots of cards so she knew I'd use it.

I got a new book at book club (we trade often) called 'French Women for All Seasons'. It's a recipe book but I think I'm really going to like it.

I have a friend from church that I get together with to craft occasionally. We had a crafting day on Friday & she brought me some dried basil from her garden & a box of scrabook supplies she was getting rid of. I went through & kept most of it. She also made a little owl picture frame while we were together & put my grandson's picture in it as a gift for me...super sweet...& gave me 4 magazines. Her mother-in-law passes them on to her & she passes them on to me.

Then my other friend who gives me clothes often....I saw her again this week. She gave me some more felt (I'd asked her for some & will pay her for it but it will be less than I could buy), 2 blouses (I'm keeping one) & a very cute pair of capris. The really nice treasure from the week also came from her...4 new baskets. Two of them are super nice handmade...the expensive kind you see at craft fairs or Amish stores. They are all nice. I'd told her I was looking for a new large basket if she happened to come across one. She said that she'd had these stored for years & ever used them because she doesn't like baskets.....so they are really my Christmas gift, since they aren't cheap.

My last find wasn't that great but something I needed. My book club does costumes for the Oct. meeting & I'm going as Cinderella in rags. I found the outfit at Goodwill ($11) for the skirt & blouse. I still need to find an apron & a white scarf to tie my hair back. I'll carry a handmade broom borrowed from my crafting friend.

I also bought a new winter scarf at Goodwill - $2. I want to add more red plaid to my winter decor & wardrobe so I bought it even though I didn't need it.

Lana said...

Holy smokes that is a lot of beans all at once! I salute you for getting all that done!

We stocked up on Scotties tissues with the iBotta offer. 10 boxes for $4.95 total. Our two year old grandson was here with his parents on TR. We took a picnic to the park and instead of buying the little guy a Lunchable which is what they usually take for him I made my own from food on hand and using containers I have on hand. He gobbled it right up and it was healthier food too. On Wednesday we took advantage of an offer for a free huge cheeseburger with any purchase with was $1.84 for each of us. We took it to a nearby botanical garden and enjoyed eating our cheap lunch next to a babbling brook. Grocery deals were slim this week although there were some that would have been going store to store for only one or two items which we try to avoid. We just did one Aldi stop for what we needed which saved time and effort. It has finally cooled down from our near 100 degree weather although is is sill going to be in the low 90's for a week. I went ahead and planted lettuce seeds that I had. It could be near freezing temps in two weeks for all we know but at least we gave it a try and it cost nothing. The squirrels are eating the few tomatoes we have left. Little buggers!

Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden said...

What a great week you had Jenny! I would love to see your costume when you were all made up. How fun.

You have some great friends too. Such a blessing they are.
Have a good day!

Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden said...

Aww you had such a sweet time with the grandson. I think I need to go for a stroll in a garden that isn't mine and that has gardeners to care for it. I'm going to see about doing that!
Yes you know the weather will probably change quick -one minute summer next minute winter. Have a good Day Lana!

Elle said...

My garden suddenly started producing. This week I picked 40# of tomatoes (I put in 24 plants). My eggplant and peppers have started and my zucchini have been going for a few weeks. I've had a few cucumbers each week for 3 weeks now.

So this week? 11 pints of salsa are canned. 22 quarts of ratatouille have been made. This recipe is FABULOUS and worth the hours. I make a triple batch in my 11 quart stockpot. https://www.salon.com/2010/08/07/ratatouille_weapons_grade_style/

Happy gardening! To heck with a clean house-when the food is on, IT IS ON!!! :-)

tealady said...

A science experiment gone bad, now that's funny. I love green beans in the middle of winter so much better knowing that they came from your garden. Now do you pickle them when you can them or do you just can them plain? I always blanched and froze them.It's worth a messy house to have all that food set up.

Little Penpen said...

You find the best stuff on the curbs! The little castle looks brand new. I'm sure you are exhausted after canning all those beans. But I'll bet they look mighty pretty in your pantry!

Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden said...

It's kind of funny but its like you forget about the hard work when you enjoy them in the winter. Those green beans are like gold.

Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden said...

I just can them plain. His mother used to pickle them and I do love dried green beans but this year we were low on just plain canned ones.

Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden said...

Oh my your are rolling and I love that saying..when the food is on it's on! Can on!!

Belinda said...

How wonderful all those green beans you were able to pick and can. They sure will be welcomed come winter time, Vickie.

Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden said...

We are going to love them when the snow flies that's for sure!