2025 Frugal Friday File, January 17...

1.  I recycled Amazon delivery boxes to make ornament organizers rather than buying pre-made.

2.  We ate leftovers two nights in a row, to avoid food waste.

3.  I received a check from our Medicare supplement company to reimburse some of my chiropractic treatments.

4.  I sewed some insignia patches on sports apparel for Jared.

5.  Semi-fail, and I don't care.  I had a semi-annual doctor appointment to review bloodwork.  Ferratin (stored iron) levels too high, so had to get phlebotomy...bad, bad veins...they have to access blood through my port...that's the only reason I have a port...drawing blood from it not easy...for them, pretty easy for me...except for the time...it took two hours to remove a pint of blood...left exhausted...stopped for takeout on way home for supper.

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  out for breakfast for dinner

Sunday:  Family supper with Kasey & Beau

Monday:  Twice-baked sweet potatoes w/ brisket from Beau's cookoff entry

Tuesday:  leftovers

Wednesday:  leftovers

Thursday:  Tex-Mex takeout

Friday:  ?

Working around the house...

I spent a good part of the day Tuesday measuring, cutting, and assembling these ornament trays for this bin.  I looked at pre-made dividers, but I since I wanted to use this precise bin with others like it that stack very well, and since (goodness knows) we had plenty of boxes to reduce/reuse/recycle, I just did it myself.  It made a good project to do while I watched a series of videos (which I can't even remember the name of at the moment).

Christmas decorations are all down, but I haven't gotten everything packed away yet, as I wanted to rearrange the closet they go in a bit.

I also washed (and hung to dry) all the bath mats.  And before putting them all back down, I cleaned the floors in the master and guest bathrooms.  I had ordered a new rug to use as a bath mat in the guest bath, so I put that down in there.  The laundered bath mats are very thick, and so they will need to continue hanging to dry overnight.

Feeling good about making some progress on this week's to-do list.

I still have some mending that I promised to do, so I will try to get that done before I call it a night.  Tomorrow I have an appointment with the chiropractor.

Reading Challenge - Book 4 finished...

This is the one I chose for free from Amazon First Reads.  I like a good time travel, and this was a little of that.  Parts of it I really liked, and parts dragged a bit.

2025 Frugal Friday File, January 10...

1.  Monday was quilting at the library day.  Two of our members created a group activity based on the cooking show Chopped.  They assembled brown paper sacks containing a collection of color coordinated scraps (each bag different prints and colors), embellishment, and batting.  We each chose a paper bag and had an hour and a half to complete a project of our own choice and design using at least some of each item that was in the bag.  All the bags were stapled closed, so we truly had no idea what we were getting.

My sack held all red, white, and blue scraps.  I made a miniature quilt (slightly larger than a hot pad).  It was not my best work.  But it was fun!  :)  And it was frugal, because everything (fabric, embellishments, and batting) was donated by the two ladies (who planned the activity) from their scrap collections.  The use of the library meeting room is free.  Such a fun group.  

After I got home, Caitlyn dropped by, saw the 'hot pad,' thought it was cute, and took it home with her.

2.  Before I left the library, I remembered to pick up a book I had on reserve.  Saved a trip.

3.  One-skillet meal on Wednesday from items on hand that needed using.  Sausage from freezer, head of cabbage from over purchase, apples from fridge, at the last minute I saw the half jar of leftover Alfredo Sauce in fridge from Monday's supper, and decided to add it so it wouldn't go to waste.  It actually wasn't bad.

4.  Still haven't gotten a hair cut...but it's gotta be soon!

5.  Amazon First Reads has been hit or miss for me lately...mostly miss.  This month had a pre-release book that sounded interesting.  I'm reading it now.  First Reads are a selection of books each month that haven't released yet, from which Prime members can select one for free.  I think the hope is that early readers will leave customer reviews.  

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  Chicken & White Bean Chili

Sunday:  Family Sunday Supper at Kasey & Beau's

Monday:  Chicken fingers, Pasta Alfredo, Garlic Green Beans

Tuesday:  Schlotzky's sandwiches

Wednesday:  Sausage, Cabbage & Apples Skillet Dinner, Cranberry sauce

Thursday:  Carey had leftovers, I had late lunch so skipped

Friday:  Beef Stew and Cornbread

Reading Challenge - Book 3 finished...

 

I started this one before #2, but just finished it tonight.  Really liking this series so far.

Reading Challenge - Book 2 finished...

 

I reserved this one at our library, and picked it up after quilting there this morning.  Of course, I have read Shirley Jackson's story before (it always gives me the willies), but wanted to 'challenge' myself by adding a graphic novel to my reading list for the year (thanks for the suggestion, Juhli).  This authorized adaptation is by Miles Hyman, who is the grandson of original author Shirley Jackson.

His art is beautiful, and like a setting for a jewel, this gem of a story settles securely into it.  The salient points of the story were condensed down and shared through speech bubbles.

Glad to have read this.

Reading Challenge - Book 1 finished...

 

For some reason this title just spoke to me.  :)