Saving Money One Load At A Time

A while ago I stopped using my dryer and started hanging the clothes on the line to dry.  I've said this before but I'm gonna say it again... I really enjoy doing laundry.  I know, I know, I'm crazy, right?!  Not really.  The process of hanging the clothes on the line is soothing and I know that with each load that I am accomplishing something, saving money and restoring order in my home.

We have many nice days here for drying clothes outside but there are times when it's not so nice.  And sometimes those not-so-nice days are consecutive.  If we have a couple if icky days and it's time to wash Country Boy's uniform for work then I have no choice but to use the dryer... cha-ching.  I also found out that the clothes weren't drying on really cold days here because it's too damp.  There are also times that I have more clothes than will fit on the line (especially socks; boy, they take up a lot of room!).

I found a really nice handmade drying rack online; much better than any of the cheapo ones I've seen in stores (that is, if you can find them at all) but it was a little pricey for me.  I showed it to Country Boy knowing that he could make one similar for me (he's so awesomely handy!).  After pondering the design awhile and getting my input, here is my new drying rack...

You can see the clothesline in the background and Precious in the foreground.  I can now do all the laundry in one day and on icky days I can bring the rack inside and get at least one load done.

It worked really great; I was quite pleased and am very happy with it!  It is also lightweight and folds and unfolds easily AND it was a fraction of the cost to build vs. buying the rack online.  This new piece of homesteading equipment makes the cheapskate in me very happy!

Speaking of cheapskate, I just finished reading The Cheapskate Next Door, The Surprising Secrets of Americans Living Happily Below Their Means by Jeff Yeager.  What a great read if you're looking to live within or even better, below your means.  

Since Country Boy and I willingly chose to become a one-income family, I have become quite the cheapskate (and am proud to say so!) and have made it a point to find ways to not spend so much money, to pay off any debt and to actually put money in savings each pay period.  It is not an easy task especially in this day and age of instant gratification and the sheer magnitude of 'stuff' that is available for purchase.  And technology?  Don't even get me going on all the latest electronic, technological contraptions and devices.  One can never keep up with it.

This book is chock full of ways to save money.  For example, do you waste money by throwing food out that you think is spoiled because of a date on a package?  Here's the scoop on dates from the USDA (straight from the book)...

 - A "Sell By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale.  You should buy the product before the date expires.

 - A "Best If Used By (or Before)" date is recommended for best flavor or quality.  It is not a purchase or safety date.

 - A "Use By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality.  The date has been determined by the manufacturer of the product.

The USDA also says that because "Use By" dates usually refer to best quality and are not safety dates, "even if the date expires during home storage, a product should be safe, wholesome, and of good quality - if handled properly and kept at 40 degrees or below."

So there ya' have it.  Don't throw your hard earned money away just because of a date on a package.  If you notice you are approaching or have even passed the Use By date on the package make it a point to eat that item right away or fairly soon therefore not wasting the money that you spent on the product.

There are lots more ideas on how to be frugal and to save money so if you're interested in taking back your life and would like to live happily below your means, whether that's one income or two, then go to your local library and check this book out; you'll be glad you did!

Meanwhile, I've got some yummy cake to eat up whose Use By date was 1/27/2012.  I'm off to make some coffee to go with it.... mmmmm!

Till next time,

Toaster Oven Hot Pad

Do you ever store anything on top of your toaster oven?  Have you ever forgotten to take it off before using the toaster oven and now you have melted plastic stuck to the top?  Thankfully, I haven't forgotten but that's not to say that some day I wouldn't!  I got the idea of making a hot pad for the toaster oven from my sister-in-law.  She had a folded crocheted table runner on top of her toaster oven and I thought it was a great idea!

So when I got home from vacation I decided to make my own toaster oven hot pad...

I modified a table runner pattern to fit the top of my toaster oven.

Now whenever I use the toaster oven I won't have to remember to move whatever is stitting on top!

I've been crocheting a lot since I've been home.  It's something I really enjoy doing (of course, I enjoy doing anything that involves working with my hands!) and I can make so many useful household items and hopefully one day, some clothing.

I will be participating in a crochet-along next week with Miranda from An Austin Homestead where we are going to be making some market bags.  If you're like me, someone who tries to reuse, reduce and recycle, then you know how those plastic bags in the produce section of grocery stores are not very environmentally friendly.  Every time I grab one, the environmentalist in me cringes yet I was never able to come up with a better alternative.  Until now.  I saw Miranda's crocheted market bag that she made as a gift for someone for Christmas.  She is willingly sharing her pattern with her readers and I am so thankful and excited about this crochet-along!  If you're interested, check out the above link.  She tells you what materials you'll need and the stitches you need to know (chain stitch, slip stitch and double crochet).  We are going to start on Monday.  So, why don't you join us and help reduce the use of those awful plastic bags!

Have a great weekend!

Till next time,

Did We Get Ducks or Pigs?

The ducks are a month old now and are quickly catching up to the chickens...

They're growing like weeds and eating like pigs!  They are the fastest growing animals I've ever seen.

They love their 'pond' yet I've not been able to get a photo of them swimming in it.  I did catch them taking an early morning dip this morning when I went out to feed everyone.  When they heard the back door open they all scampered out of the pond as if they got caught doing something wrong!  Meanwhile, the chickens were sleeping in.  Lazy chickens!

I think they're camera shy.  One day, I'm going to sit out there and just wait for them to go swimming so I can get some pictures.

Remember what they used to look like?

Such tiny little things!

The ducks and chickens get along just fine.

The chickens are about three months old now.  They're still establishing the pecking order and the rooster is perfecting his crow.

The first time he tried to crow, he was standing on a roost outside and just about fell off.  Wings were flapping and he was bobbing forward and backward to keep his balance.  He managed to stay on the roost but it took him quite a while to get the hang of crowing while keeping his balance!  Also, the first time he let out a good crow, every single hen hightailed it back into the coop...  it was the funniest thing I ever saw!

Such pretty girls (and you too Mr. Rooster!).  In a couple of months they should start laying eggs.  I can hardly wait!

Till next time,

Remember when I mentioned that I am selling some of my cross stitch pieces that I have made in my Etsy shop, all except for one?  Well, here's the one...

I just love it!  I have it hanging in my living room and will leave it there until Spring.  Never mind that is has been 80 degrees here and already feels like Spring!

Till next time,

To and From

This is the last of my vacation photos and you can say they're the beginning and the end!

It was an easy (but long) drive up.  With three drivers we were able to switch off before anyone became overly tired.  I was on my second stint of driving around 4:30 or so in the morning.  We were driving through Pennsylvania and I had been driving for about 2 1/2 hours when a slight snow flurry began.  Never having driven in or on snow I became a little concerned for the safety of everyone in the vehicle.  I was also getting very sleepy!  I pulled over at the next rest area and can I say, it was just in time!  About a mile or so down the road the flurries got thicker and thicker!

I think everyone in the car was thankful that I was no longer behind the wheel *laugh*!  I know I sure was! We were also thankful to be behind this car because the flurries were so thick that it was difficult to see the road.

We pulled over at a gas station to get some fuel and the snow plow was busy shoveling the parking lot and road.

This is not the best photo but I just liked the scenery.

We finally made it out of Pennsylvania and it stopped snowing.  A while later, we arrived at our destination  safe and sound and totally exhausted.

After a good night's sleep, my sister-in-law and I went to the library in town and checked out some books. On the way there she drove me by this peaceful stream.

My buddy, Dufus (who reminds me of my Big'N, who you can see under my 'Cats' tab above)...

He loved to sleep on my jacket and 'help' me when I was crocheting!  He and I managed to get a scarf and hat crocheted for my sister-in-law before I left.

The way home was a little simpler and much quicker.

That's the end of my vacation photos.  I hope y'all enjoyed taking a look around upstate New York with me!

Till next time,

Big Brother's Backyard & Beyond

I didn't plan for the title to begin with all B's, but I like it!

The day before I was to head back to Florida it finally snowed!  I really enjoyed watching the flakes come down (while sitting on the couch in the warmth of the house *smile*) all morning long.  So peaceful.  When the flurries subsided a bit in the afternoon, I went around to the back of the house to get some photos.  No words are necessary so sit back and enjoy the beauty of God's handiwork!

Till next time,