Frugal Friday

Guess it's a gene passed on from my grandmother to my mother and to me, but I'm sure we all can be frugal in some ways or try to be (whether it works or not or even actually saves $)

So, share your best or favorite and think of some more to share next week. Maybe we can all learn something.... or at least have a laugh at our frugalselves.

Here are a couple of mine to begin with.

• Facial wipes. In trying to teach good hygiene to my punks early, they are to wash their faces morning and night. And, while facial wipes may not sound frugal, they are easier for them to use, and I buy the generic ones, of course, and cut them in half. Then, they use the same one to "shine" the sink and counter before they toss 'em. So, two punks' faces washed and sink/counter shined to boot -- all with one face wipe.
• Nylons. Oh, the many wonders of these. I don't even like to wear them much, but got to have them around just in case. My favorite use for these is the waist bands. They make such wonderful "rubber bands," but they don't gouge in a box so much. Great on a shoe box to hold it shut. Soft and supple, strong and sturdy. And, yes, they are kept in a box next to my string box. Don't you all have one of these?! There are a few small balls of string in my string box, but most are wonderful shoestrings or strings from worn out shorts. I really can't tell you when I used these last, but they are always saved. The kids, however, have used them many of times for fences strung across the furniture or floor, cat toys, etc. Ooo, and bonus, some are stretchy!

What are your frugal favorites?

Monday Motivation...

Monday's Motivation... or just thoughts

White and Fluffly

Last week was cold! Hubby got a picture of the sun dogs that were out.

And, here is our wonderful neighbor opening a path down our road so we could get out. It's warm today 37! But, I guess were are in for some more snow later this month. I need to take some pictures of the drifts on the roads.... they are already taller than the vehicles and some highways are still down to one lanes due to the drifts. Definitely very white and fluffy around here!

All Flakes welcome!

Yes, call me crazy, but I love all this snow. How fun. And, as long as we have family, food, and wood.... and electricity, we are happy! Here's the front of our house more than a week ago... now more snow and wind are coming (okay, I could do without the wind). Here is our front porch. Here is my friendly woodsmen... or loving hubby, hauling in wood to the house. These days take about three to four loads! The birds are really loving the feeders. We added some "trees" down our lane with lights for Christmas this year.... lovin' those LEDs.

Recycle and Reuse

Duct tape and staples….. always a great combo for a boy’s 4-H project! CJ and I made this tote from an old T-shirt of his. Staples instead of sewing covered with duct tape made the seams, and the duct tape again was used for the entire lining of this heavy-duty tote. And, besides fun colors, duct tape now comes in tie dye, which was perfect for this old T! (You can just barely see the duct tape under the handle in this picture.) Another purple ribbon! Way to go buddy!

Here comes the Sun

I have a way of coming up with 4-H projects, that I want done for the house or garden, and this vine trellis was one of them. Sticks from the creek, old garden stakes, and a trunk slab made this a Purple Ribbon project all the way to the State Fair... guess it even was considered for some art award too. It was photographed for a new Design Decisions manual, so maybe it will be "published." Kudos to you RJ!

Halloween

My one little guy wanted to be Frankenstein for Halloween this year, so I put hubby and him on that project. Didn't really have an idea for the other one, until I heard him talking in his sleep about fixing something or making something, and I thought to myself, "that kid is going to be in building or science of some sort." Then, it hit me. He could be the Mad Scientist! And, come to find out their cousin was the Bride of Frankenstein. Someone did get a picture of them running around town, but I don't have it yet. How fun!

And, Frankie came from an idea off the good ole www. The head is a cut out milk jug, and the clothes all came from Goodwill. Hated to cut up his "everyday" shoes! And, yes, my crazy idea of jumper cables for the Mad Scientist ended up a nice touch.

Summer 4-H projects

Besides not having much of an internet connection this summer, we were quite busy with baseball schedules and 4-H projects. I'll try to upload a few favorites. I think the boys each had a dozen or more projects, so we won't show them all. It was really fun, but again, we all have a goal to get these started and maybe even done (LOL) before summer hits.

For Computer Mysteries, the boys each made a faux magazine cover. It went really fast, of course using Creative Memories' Storybook Creator Plus. They both recieved high honors, purple ribbons, and CJ the Reserve Champion. They were both so great, but I told RJ, I'm sure the judge liked cute puppies better than calves.

Ferdinand the Bull

We have been quite busy this summer, and one of the projects were three bucket calves. The Pinzgauer calf I showed earlier this summer we finally named Marley. This little red angus our neighbor helped name Ferdinand the Bull from the 1930s Disney story. The first day I took him out for a stroll, he stopped at the honeysuckle bushes and loved them. In fact, after I carefully got him down for a snooze where I could see him from my studio, I lost him. I looked all over around the yard for him, knowing he couldn't have gone far on those new, very shaky legs. Well, there he was hidden under the honeysuckle bushes. Thus, Ferdinand the Bull fit him well.