March at a glance...

Mar 1 - the first of the month is my day to thoroughly scrub any grungy kitchen jobs I have (drains, etc) with the sponge that has been in use for the past month.  Then I discard the old sponge, and put a new sponge in use.

Mar 2 - Still loving and appreciating my knives.  Having good tools at the ready make me happy.

Mar 3 - Updated mantel.  I switched out the 'L' and 'V' from February's 'LOVE' and put in the 'H' and 'M' which will probably stay up for awhile.  On the left is a cylinder vase of antique white buttons and a vintage Westie cast-iron doorstop that was a gift from a dear friend.  I love rounding up things from around the house and giving them center stage for awhile.

Mar 4 - Winter temperatures here, but the men of the house are watching the boys of summer do some spring training on television.

Mar 6 - Beans and cornbread.  I like mine with a drizzle of molasses over the top.  

Mar 10 - Making cinnamon rolls for Sunday family supper.

Mar 11 thru 15 -  working all week

Mar 16 - Delicious samples at the library program on Irish Soda Bread.  DEEElicious.  And they even provided Irish butter molded into four-leafed clover.  :)

Mar 17 - Sent my men off for some male bonding...the Grand Canyon and spring training baseball (live on the field, not just on tv this time).  

Mar 18 - at home medical testing

Mar 22 - made a card and popped it in the mail

Mar 24 - a kitchen day.  Baked a cake for Sunday family dinner.  Made these cracker snacks for the quilt retreat this week.  And made Spanish rice for tomorrow night's retreat meal.

Mar 25 - first project at the quilt retreat...stops and starts...redesigning on the fly

 Mar 26 - As ye sew, sew shall ye rip.

Mar 30 - a day trip to see m-i-l.  A spring day is a good day to drive across Texas.

Mar 31 - completing online surveys for free Sonic drinks.  This is the first one I've ever seen that says free Route 44 "with any food purchase."  Hope this isn't the new norm; I rarely buy food too.  Received this one yesterday while en route to m-i-l's; hoping it's location specific.

Frugal Friday File 2016, week 13...

Successes:
1.  Frugal Quilt Retreat.  Everybody pairs up to provide and prepare one supper.  We take our own breakfast and lunches.  No expensive catering or meals out for us.

2.  Gathered up everybody's fabric scraps, as I've been wanting to make a string quilt, and haven't been saving my own scraps for very long.  It will still be awhile before I have enough.

3.  I finished a gift project while I was there (except for the binding).  I expected to get just a few blocks done, but they went together quite easily, and are so cute!  I got the whole project assembled, sandwiched with batting (which was a free scrap from another attendee), machine quilted, trimmed and ready for binding.  I have binding fabric for it here at home.  I will try to get the binding made and sewn to front of project, then take it with me tomorrow to do the handwork finishing on the back while we visit m-i-l.

And I have enough of all the fabrics leftover to make another one for a friend that I know would love it.  

4.  We trade pet care duties with the kids, so there was no need for kenneling Rudy while I was gone and Carey was out of town for work.  

5.  Hired Caitlyn to come help with chores around the house today after school...floors swept and vacuumed, flat surfaces dusted, and master bed changed...for $25.  Not cheap, but I want it to be worth her time so she will keep wanting to come.  I think we are both happy; me with results, her with the cash for her savings goal.

Saturday:  chicken salad with crackers
Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday:  quilt retreat eats
Tuesday:  quilt retreat eats
Wednesday:  quilt retreat eats
Thursday:  *burger
Friday:  tuna casserole w/ green beans

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

Frugal Friday File 2019, week 12...

Last week was so out of whack schedule-wise, that I forgot all about a Frugal Friday post!  =O

Successes:
1.  Attended free class at the library, and even came home with free samples.

2.  Opened free savings account at credit union.

3.  Picked up a dozen and a half free fresh eggs from my favorite POA-unsanctioned chicken wrangler.

4.  Avoided late fees by paying bills before due dates.

5.  Wearing jeans multiple times between washings.  I never used to wear anything more than once, but then my friend Allison told me eons ago, 'I wear my jeans till they can stand up by themselves.'  :)

Saturday:  *chicken
Sunday:  headache day, just snacked
Monday:  breakfast for supper at Kasey's
Tuesday:  *Tex-Mex
Wednesday:  Mexican Cornbread Casserole
Thursday:  chicken salad w/ crackers
Friday:  *Tex-Mex

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Last week I said that it was an odd coincidence that the just-previous and current book I was reading were both about fabric mills in 1832.  The coincidence was even greater than I realized.  After I read the first chapter or so of the second book, I realized the murder in each book were both based on the very same actual people and events.  The settings were in different states because a) they occurred very near the border between the two states, and b) the first author took quite a bit or artistic license by moving the murder into the town/state where the mill was located.  While Avery's Knot had some issues toward the end with the majority seemingly straight from court records and very little prose, I did prefer it over The Daring Ladies of Lowell as it seemed the better researched and written of the two.

This week I'm reading...

Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage, and Survival by Velma Wallis

This one is starting out very well.  It is based on an Athabascan Indian legend about two old women who were left behind in a harsh season of winter famine and their struggle to survive.

At only 160 pages, it should be a short read.  Not much time for reading this week, as I'm preparing for next week's quilt retreat.

Frugal Friday File 2019, week 11...

Successes:
1.  I worked ALL week!  And I made it!  For some reason this was a real challenge for me this week, but now...CHA-CHING!

2.  Carey reminded me that my work not only means a pay check.  It also means we don't pay fees for our investment accounts.

3.  This week was spring break.  I hired Caitlyn to come over after work on Monday to help me.  While I decluttered, she swept, vacuumed, cleaned the baseboards, dusted, and took out the trash.  Totally worth $20.

4.  I made cinnamon rolls for dessert for the family on Sunday.  I made them because I knew I could do it with what I had on hand; and what I had, needed using.  My jar of yeast is getting close to empty.  It for sure is past the use-by date, but I proof it with every use, and it keeps being active.  I didn't have any sour cream, but I just left it out, and nobody but me knew.  I was out of brown sugar, but I mixed granulated sugar and molasses together and used that instead.  Again, nobody but me knew.

5.  Read library books.

Saturday:  omelette
Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday:  *Chinese
Tuesday:  leftovers
Wednesday:  salad
Thursday:  frozen pizza
Friday:  something from the fridge

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

After I finished last Wednesday's book about the Punjabi Widows, I read:

The Daring Ladies of Lowell by Kate Alcott

This one is about female mill workers in 1832 Lowell, Massachusetts.  It was recommended by the same friend who recommended the Punjabi Widows book (which I liked), so I borrowed this one in hard back from my library.  It was merely okay.  The subject could have been interesting, but the writing was too simplistic for my taste.  The characters didn't have much depth or complexity.  I actually checked after I finished it to see if it was a YA novel.  It wasn't.

Now I've moved on to:

Avery's Knot by Mary Cable

I purchased this one last month when it was a Kindle Deal of the Day.  It is based on actual people and events in 1832 Rhode Island; the first clergyman to be tried in America for the murder of a woman.   And in an odd coincidence, the woman who was killed was also a mill worker.  Hmmm...1832 women mill workers in both books...I guess I am getting lots of American Industrial Revolution reading in.  I hope I enjoy this one a little better than the last.

Frugal Friday File 2019, week 10...

Successes:

1.  I've had a big jar of dried pinto beans in the pantry for years...well...let's just say a long time.  I figured they were so old that they might never soften up completely.  But I had nothing to lose, so while I was in the kitchen preparing dinner Tuesday, I also rinsed the beans and put them in the slow cooker to cook overnight.  I was dicing some ham for a quiche, so I added some to the pot of beans.  And I found some leftover sausage in the fridge, so I sliced that and put in with them too, along with a couple of tablespoons of bacon drippings also found in the fridge.  In the morning they were perfectly tender.  I let them continue to cook for the rest of the day on low.  They were SO good...maybe the best I've ever made...or maybe I was just really hungry as I hadn't eaten all day.  Hurray for no food waste!  :)  

2.  After coming to my senses last week and not ordering more coffee online (when I already have some in the pantry that needs to be used), I'm happy to say that I now have a bottle of cold brew coffee concentrate in the fridge, and I have been making and enjoying a large glass of iced coffee every morning.  No $ spent.  No food waste.  And my pantry is looking less crowded bit by bit.  :)

3.  Lots of individual servings of home cooked meals were prepared for the freezer.  Carey has lots of variety to take to work with him this week.

4.  I'm catching up on laundry today.  I choose to only buy machine washable garments, so we have no dry-cleaning costs.  I would love to have a clothesline, but crazily our POA has a rule against them.  I could probably get away with it, since it would not be visible to neighbors, but I can just see Rudy pulling the clean clothes down and destroying them.  So instead I clean the dryer vent with every load so it runs as efficiently as possible, Carey cleans the vent hose regularly, and I take clothes out and hang them up as soon as the dryer buzzes to prevent wrinkles...most of the time...for clothes anyway...for sheets and towels, I sometimes leave them sitting in the dryer for days.  :(  Just keepin' it real.  

5.  I'm working all week next week.  Happily I will be at the branch near my home, so no commute.  :)  

Saturday:  Chicken Curry
Sunday:  Sunday family dinner at Kasey & Beau's
Monday:  Beef & Vegetable Stew w/ cornbread
Tuesday:  Quiche
Wednesday:  Pinto beans and Cornbread
Thursday:  leftovers
Friday:  *burger

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal

This one was recommended to me by a friend.  In it a young English woman (born of Indian immigrant parents) at risk of losing her bar-tending job, accepts a job at a Sikh temple's community outreach program to teach women creative writing.  Or so she thinks.  At the first class meeting she faces a class full of widows, and she soon realizes that before they can undertake creative writing, she must first teach them to read and write in English.  

It's sort of an about face of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel as these, mostly older, Indian women get on with life while living in a culturally secluded pocket in England.  At least that is my impression thus far, as I'm only about a quarter of the way into it.

Making it Monday...

Today, possibly the coldest day of the year, was quilting day at the library.  

This is a W(ork) I(n) P(rogress) that I picked up to take with me today.  I believe the pattern is called 'Crosswalk.'  The center is made up of strips that are sewn together, cut to size, and then the white triangles are added to make a square.  The strips were sewn together and pressed a long time ago.  Today I added the white corners.  Now I need to press and trim the squares I finished today.  (The squares in these photos have been trimmed already.)

They will be assembled like so.  These bright Kaffe Fassett fabrics are so wild...not my normal palette at all.  I certainly have not been in a hurry to get this done.  It remains a WIP that is kept at easy access to grab to work on a bit at a time.

I had meant to put a meal in the Ninja slow cooker before I left this morning.  But I didn't, so when I got home about 3pm, I hurriedly seared the meat (right in the Ninja, which is why I love it so much) and tossed in onions, potatoes, carrots, celery, cabbage, some beef bouillon and two packets of beef gravy mix with about 4 to 6 cups of water, brought it to a boil, then turned it to the 'HI' slow cook setting for 4 hours.  I baked cornbread, and we enjoyed a hot and filling meal on this chilly evening.

Jurassic games...

Last summer a nearby business put these three dinosaurs in their parking lot near the roadside.  The large one is maybe ten feet from the ground to the top of its head.  They are made of metal.  I thought they were funny.

Back in October, Carey and I were driving to the city one day when I saw that a Halloween skeleton had been placed in the mouth of the biggest dinosaur.  That was it; I was in love.  I jokingly started asking for a giant dinosaur for Christmas so I could creatively stage it in our front yard.  Kasey said she would get me one if I would put Rudy in its mouth.  LOL!  I said no, but I would put one of the pesky deer from our yard in its mouth.  Boy, would that cause a hubbub with the deer-loving neighbors.

These seem to be prone to either tumbling over in strong winds, or being the victims of recreational tipping by local teens (in the absence of cows).  Happily, each time the owner sets things aright again.

This week Carey got home from work while I was still asleep.  When I woke up I found these on my kitchen window sill...

complete with a skeleton in the big one's mouth.  LOL

I cannot tell you how much I love these.  Periodically he repositions them to amuse me when I walk in the kitchen. "When you look at these with the front yard behind them, just imagine them outside and to scale," he said.  LOL  

This morning I woke up to the little ones playing tug-of-war with the skeleton.  Oh my goodness, sometimes that man cracks me up.

I kid you not, he has bought me jewelry that didn't make me smile this much.

Frugal Friday File 2019, week 9...

Successes:
1.  After procrastinating as long as I could, I finally got around to calling for a quote on auto insurance from the company that insures our home.  It should save about $400 a year to switch.  I took care of the paperwork to change over right before the premium was due to renew our old, more expensive, policy.

2.  I almost placed a $60ish order for coffee online.  It sounded so good.  Thank goodness I came to my senses and didn't press 'submit order.'  I rarely drink coffee, which is enough of a reason that I shouldn't consider spending a large amount on it.  But the main reason is I have some cold brew bags in my pantry which are delicious, and there is no reason at all to buy more until it is gone.  I mean, honestly, just add water!

3.  Had a book very highly recommended this week.  I checked the Kindle price, and it was $11.00.  Decided to resign myself to wait if it was available through the library.  Not only did the library have it...as an ebook no less...but it was available to check out immediately!  It is now on my Kindle waiting for me to finish the current 900-page read.  :)

4.  I went to Joann's yesterday, as I had a coupon for 40% off a regular-priced item AND another for 20% off entire order on top of that.  I've had my eye on a rather pricey tool for several months.  I went straight to it.  As I looked at it, I could not for the life of me figure out what I had ever seen in it, and I walked away.  I looked at irons, as my poor iron will be 43 years old next month and is dripping rusty water.  But I couldn't arouse any excitement about buying an iron.  No fabrics were calling my name.  I did purchase a small package of  extra large eyelets, and those coupons were, of course, used.

5.  I'm working today, and with no commute.

Saturday:  leftovers
Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday:  leftovers
Tuesday:  *barbecue
Wednesday:  leftovers
Thursday:  *Schlotzky sandwiches
Friday:  *Tex-Mex

(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)