Canners At The Ready!

A month or so a Cabella’s opened up in Louisville. I think My brother in law refers to it as the Holy Land.  He’s there about once a week and trolls through the bargain cave looking for deals. Yes, we are a family of tightwads and always on the look out for frugal finds.

  A few weeks ago he showed up at my house with this….

Retail nearly $100.00 he picked up for less than $20.00!  It has a small surface scratch on the back and tiny ding dent on the edge…..I can live with that!     Then the week after that a co-worker of Mr.Fix-It sent him home with a pressure canner. Much nicer than the one I currently use. Using 2 at a time will save me hours of canning time.  He and his wife are moving to a smaller home in town & will no longer be gardening. This is the same couple who have sent him home with literally hundreds of canning jars & rings. I think they will be the recipients of the “firsts”of many jams this summer as a thank you.  Makes me want to fire them all up right now. I wonder if I step out to the gardens and shout “GROW” if it would help any ?  Nah only the weeds would listen.

Ahh, the blessings of friends & family!

Wishing you a fun family Sunday!

Katie

Technorati Tags: Katidids,canning,fun finds,frugal finds,gardening on the cheap

 

Free Finds…The traveling boarders

Have found a home. 

One of Mr.Fix-It’s sisters had these brick boarders along her flower beds.  When she changed her garden plans, they no longer worked for her and she passed them on to her neighbor. 

As it turns out, the neighbor decided not to use them and unless she found a home for them, they were on their way to the curb free for the taking.  My SIL called & offered them to us. When the weather clears a bit we will use a few here around the tree to retain the rock but other than that…they are perfect for the new little house we bought!

Score!  She said there were 25 or so & I thought great…they will at least go across the front of the house……um, there were over 75! Thank goodness we took the truck (and gloves) to pick them up! 

The house needs some serious help in the landscaping department. Can you say blah!? Other than the huge out of control bushes, there is nothing planted nor has there been in the last 20 years.. 

The budget for landscaping is basically “0” so, we’ve been brainstorming what can be separated and thinned out from my flowerbeds to perk it up.  I’ve hosta, mums, lily, iris, stonecrop…It’s in sore need of color and personality but we will need to do it on the cheap using what we have or can find free from friends..  We’ve no  idea what the soil is like but, I’m sure it will needing to be amended, along with painted shutters, installing gutters…the list is getting longer but we’ll take it one step at a time.

R I g h t…who am I kidding, Erika & I will dive in full steam LOL! 

First things first, we need to get them moved and settled in

15 days to closing…we’re not excited at all can you tell? LOL!

Technorati Tags: Katidids,gardening on the cheap,property,frugal finds

Monday’s Thrifty finds

 

After running a few errands to today Evie & I stopped into our local thrift store.

I think Evie is going to be a another sewing nut.  I’d seen the fabric in this sundress and was making plans in my head for it when Evie spotted it and shouted ”a Skirt Grandma a SKIRT FOR ME!!

I had already been planning to cut the top off and have a ruffled skirt for her & I think there may be enough left in the bodice for a skirt for Alix.

After looking closely I don’t think it was worn and washed but once.  Not bad for 80 cents!

 

Evie’s no different most other 3yr old little girls,  & holds the firm  belief the color pink was created solely for her.

So, in Evies little world, in her mind anything pink is or should be hers.

Do you have any idea how many “pink” items there are in a thrift store?

I found this pink t-shirt still with tags that will soon become another skirt for her

 

 

At the check out I found a new Easter tablecloth, it’s 50X70  & perfect for the kitchen table.  It was marked $3.50 with an additional 50% off. SCORE!

Since I already have a nice one I think it may become an apron and napkins….bread wrapper & dish towels, who knows!

Now to carve out the time to get it all sewn up.

What good thrifting deals have you found lately?

Katie

Technorati Tags: Katidids,thrifting,frugal finds,sewing,Evie

A few More Handmade, Homemade Frugal Christmas Ornaments

Cinnamon Applesauce ornaments using SMALL cookie cutters..To big and they are to heavy for the tree! I have some from 3 years ago and the scent is still there! These are fun to make with children, as the cookie cutters needed are the perfect for little hands

Make Gift boxes for small items from recycled Christmas cards. Use for those small gifts or simply as ornaments

Most of these could also be made with children

What fun memories you could create…

Beautiful sphere Balls from more cards or colored card stock

Beaded wreaths or Candy Cane

Beaded Stars

Recycled light bulbs can also be used

Snowmen from wash cloths…this is to cute!

There are Just to many to list!

Tell me when you’ve seen enough!

Technorati Tags: handmade christmas,homemade,ornaments childrens can make

Yesterdays Fun Finds

Yesterday I had errands that took me from one side of Louisville to the other, with a few added stops in between. Fun stops, its gotten to the point I think my little car’s stopping at thrift stores on its own !

My oldest daughter Danielle loves “Tea Cups” so I’m always on the lookout for cheap good buys on them.This is what I found yesterday……for $1.00!

I have yet to identify the pattern, so please give a holler if you know, however I did find a bit of information on the Colclough Company here. Dani as we call her, works as a residential therapist at a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Center for Adolescents and Children. Long shifts, lots of highs and lows. She has worked nights for quite a few years & finally just switched to days. She’s learning all about sunlight again! The cup is just a fun way to help celebrate her new hours.

One of my other stops was the fabric store. Well, I coupons..for 40 & 50 % off…I couldn’t let them go to waste!

Plus flannel was on SALE!

I picked up a few new boyish prints, could be PJ’s for Isaiah and diapers for another little man

For our Diva Miss Evelyn I found this cute owl print pinwale corduroy…super soft, I’m think it will make a warm little pinafore for for this winter. I almost missed it then the bolt some how jumped into my cart……

No I didn’t think you’d believe it but it was just to cute to pass up. Besides I still had my 50% off coupon to use and I couldn’t let it go to waste! Its my duty to help boost the economy!

Make Do Monday Frugal/Cheap Chair Cushions

OK, I did the work on Saturday but..
Heres my make do Monday!

I love this table & chairs
Spill something liquid,
it falls through

Spill food?

drops right through

(Buddy, Clean up table 0ne!)But here is my issue..

the chairs are the same mesh

If you have any "fluff" on your back side

You have "Mesh marks" where you don't want them

I have fluff

Lets just say lots of fluff

(we'll leave it at that OK?)

These are the plastic/vinyl cushions that came with the table

We've had them for 10 yrs, and they were old when we received them

The foam & covers are sad but in fairly good shape

I figured if they lasted this long, they would see

another ice age in a land fill......and i'm being frugal right?

Ok, cheap!

I decided to just recover them.

It also added stability to the cushion

$3.00 of remnant fabric later...

Trim off the ties or tabs,
measured the cushions;

cut the fabric.

Its best & looks nicer

if you can match the patterns

My fabric had a big fade mark in the center

so for $3.00....

They are not "centered" stripes

but they do match

sew the sides, miter the corners

so they don't smoosh up

Sew the back leaving a 6 inch opening in the center,

flip right side out

I rolled the old cushion

slid it in the opening and flattened it out

Tuck in raw edges and sew closed

the fabric was heavy enough to finger press
Repeat 3 more times,
grab a cup of Fresh cup of coffee & relax
with no fear of



fluff marks

Fun Funds Frugal Friday

My Daddy was a Saver.

Never had much to save but, like the rest of us

he found little ways here and there.

I love Dave Ramsey....

It's like listening to my Dad.

Don't spend money you don't have

& if you want something

save for it.

We usually found we didn't need/want

what ever that "something" was!

Every year we would camp for 2 weeks into the Mountains.

I think I have camped & hiked through every mountain range

in Calif, Washington & Oregon.

Dad funded the trips with pocket change.

He Never spent his pocket change.

It always went in a jar at the end of the day.

His bottom drawer was full of jars of change.

His dresser was on a un-level floor and tilted back a bit

when a jar was full

he would open the drawer and lay the jar in

& it would roll to the back.

Yes the weight split the bottom out of that drawer

Many times!

As a young wife I made comment to him

that we were saving for a freezer.

With a house full of children it would come in handy

his response?

Save your Change

And I remembered his jars

and I remembered dumping my purse

to find enough coin for milk the day before

But I got out a jar & as hard as it was at times

I saved my change.

I don't ever spend any coin.

It all goes to

"Bertha"

She sits on the counter in my kitchen
Hideous isn't she?
But, you don't miss her
She won't let you forgetEM>


she crys out to be fed
as soon as I come in the door.


Strangers have been known to feed her
just to shut her up


She has purchased
bicycles,
cribs,
dishes,
Birthday Gifts
Christmas Gifts

When she gets full


Erika takes her to work (at the bank)
as banks no longer have coin counters
(and I'm not going to pay for one of those machines to do it) she sends it thru the bank messenger to the main office

Its become a joke
Haven't seen Bertha for a while or
Berthas almost full by now....

They like giving her to the new person
to empty.



Ask my children how many hideous banks they have been given

cute ones get overlooked
& its easy to forget



So, buy the most ugly bank you can find

place it in a area you cant miss




And save your change

Signs of Spring and Fun Finds

Do you see what I see? BUDS!!!!

Signs of Spring! That means FLOWER BEDS! Gardening!

Completing the WIP Patio!

Opening the Pool!

Re staining the Deck,

Painting the Play Yard

Mowing the Lawns

cutting back brush at the edge of the woods

Painting the Fence,

Oh,

this is going to be a LONG list......

After the wind storms, I'll be able to see if my "Face" will have hair again!
Fun Finds for the day...
I stopped in at Michael's Crafts, Winter White & That's Pink Patons Wool is being discontinued. Mine has now been cleaned out! :D
I love the $1.00 bins they have. Today I lucked out and caught them 2/$1.00.
I Try and keep a few things tucked away for quick gifts & love using them myself. One for knitting, plans, idea's & mods to patterns, sewing gardening.....
Just the right size to tuck into a bag.
A few of these may be tucked into Adult Easter Baskets

Want to pass it on?

I think all of us know someone on a tight/tightened/limited/nonexistent budget now a days. We know of quite a few that have lost jobs or, accepted severe pay cuts to keep their jobs. Prices have gone up on everything; groceries have increased an average of 29% nation wide. So, how are you making ends meet? What changes have you made to meet the needs of your families?
I know quite a few young couples that are really struggling. Some have never been taught to cook, have had fat/unlimited budgets or, are living on a dime. Some of us are fortunate to have lived thru this type of economy before, learned the hard way how to provide “Basic nutritious, frugal meals”. Budget stretchers, stick to the ribs type…..whatever you call them meals.

Would you be willing to share? I don’t care if its beans & rice, fish, what ever. I love to attend a potluck, there are always a few dishes that are duplicates, but each tastes totally different! Do you cook one meal with plans for a casserole using the leftovers? How about grocery shopping tips? Would you be willing to pass those on? For example shopping at most “mega big Box” stores the entry sale display, the bottom right is the loss leader or, your biggest savings. They are willing to sell at a loss because they just know you will want the other items above it.
So, send me you recipes & ideas, cooking, cleaning, laundry, crafting tips etc. (my e-mails on the top left) I know there are quite a few websites that are devoted to this type of thing, but some are just unrealistic. I’m not looking to reinvent the wheel, just help feed the fish in my small pond. I will omit names to protect the innocent if you would like, just let me know! I’m going through writing down some of my families fav’s, or, my budgets fav’s & will post one soon. I’d like to do this as often as possible. So send your ideas & recipes in! Just keep in mind, what may be basic for you, are fresh ideas to someone younger. Ahem, less experienced

Frugal Fun Finds Friday

I stopped in to Michael's Crafts the other day and was sucked in to the dollar bins. I can't resist the dollar bins, if you take a few minutes to pick thru you can usually come up with some good bargins.

I like to keep a bag or 2 of gifty things in the house. You never know when you will need a quick "little something" for someone. Or.....forget a birthday, NO! never mind, I'd NEVER do that!

This time I picked some cute note cards & 2 nice sized note books. I have one in my purse, one for knitting notes, and another for just reception plans etc........ I'm getting a bit A.D.D. about them but they help me keep organized. The note books & note cards have an initial on them, kept hidden for secret gifting purposes!

My other finds were recipe cards. Quite a few had a holiday motif but these are generic. I can stick them in a basket with home made jam & dish cloths for a last m inute holiday gift. You know, just in case!