25 years ago...

I met my hubby 25 years ago today skiing in Colorado, and we have been together ever since.  Although we didn't each other growing up, we had lived only 14 miles away from each other and met 700 miles away.  A long distance relationship for nine months, we married two years later.  I truly do love our love story. 

Garage sale junkie

A friend of mine told me about this garage sale she saw and just thought I might want to check it out.  Oh so fun!  Old barn light for hubby, couple old skateboards for the CJ's room, door knobs, old fan, baseballs, folding ruler, sund dial, water cooler.... should have taken better pictures, but check out how so many things have that cool blue color!  Super fun!  And, I walked away with all this, including the display rack and a double wash tub all for $20!  SCORE!  My heart just putters remembering the fun!

The other day my DH saw this praying mantis at the gas station.  We saved it, brought it home, and released it.  It was so interesting to watch.  Would have loved to put it in a jar and watch it but felt it best to be free. 

Gothic Glory

The church replaced its slate shingles, and no one wanted these wonderful top pieces.  So, of course, I did my duty and loaded them up before they were taken in for scrap.  Now, if we can get our greenhouse up, wouldn't these "top it!"  Or what about some garden borders.   Any other ideas?

4-H projects

Phew... long time no talk, but thought I'd start by sharing some fun 4-H projects we worked on with our kiddos. Here is a clock I had an idea for and RJ was very excited to take on the project. He won the champion recycling award at the fair and a purple at the state fair. 

He also designed this shelf from the PB Teen catalog to fit his room.  He received reserve champion in Design Decisions and another purple at the state fair. 

We repainted these picture frames we found at the Salvation Army store with homemade chalk pain.  We used left-over paint with a bit of grout added.  Turned out fairly well.

CJ made these note pads for a computer project.  There are six different designs in every notepad.

RJ made this sun from old copper.  The middle spins to show a turbine for power of wind.  Love it in the yard. 

CJ made this rocket.  He drew a gator head and then we copied it and shrunk it on water decal paper.  He had the champion rocket at the fair.

Just what the doctor ordered

My youngest punk was learning about prescription drugs, how to take them, and bad drugs (alcohol and tobacco included). Great overview I know from my other kiddo having the same class. Anyway, CJ asked me one morning, "Mom, that stuff we put on my eggs, is that bad for me, will that kill me?" What!? Amazing how these questions can stop you in your tracks... even in the morning rush. Oh...wheels in my old noggin' were turning.... no, you put Tabasco on your eggs not tobacco! So, I had to try to explain that difference, but yes, my little finicky eater loves hot sauce on his eggs and is a big breakfast eater. Crazy little guy. I'm sure he fretted about this all day in school. So, glad he asks!

The Happy Dance

You know there are days or weeks, when I just didn't have/take the time to wonder through blogs, and there are days when I just didn't take the time to post motivations or frugal tidbits.... but, I need to remember just to post what makes me happy.

This just made me smile.... well, actually Dance!

Frugal Friday...

This week's Frugal Friday favorite is coffee filters.  They are usually about the right size to cover a dish in the microwave and stop the splatters.  Otherwise, I use a paper plate, but those are thicker, so I feel I can't toss them out every time.... oh my, that sounds ridiculous, but it's true!  I've used them to wash windows and mirrors.... no streaks!  I also like to use a crinkled up newspaper for this job too.  The real test of my favorite will come with spring window washing! 

You can also use them as a quick funnel... make the hole as big as you need, or use it as a strainer for liquids.  These are also great for kids snacks, popcorn, chips, etc., and they are great to hold a taco! 

I know there are lots of fun crafts you can make with coffee filters like snowflakes, flowers, etc.  I think this can be an endless frugal treasure!

What is your frugal favorite?

What I like....

One of these things is not like the others,

One of these things just doesn't belong,

Can you tell which thing is not like the others

By the time I finish my song?

My DH gave me the glass on the right since I chipped one of my favorite mugs.  It doesn't look like it would be great for hot beverages but it is wonderful!  It is called a Bodum Pavina double wall thermo glass.  It is handblown and has this little valve thing on the bottom.  It is so light it seems like plastic.  And, it is microwave and dishwasher safe.  I just zap it in the microwave and the outside doesn't get hot like my mugs sometimes do.  The very cool thing... or should I say "hot" thing is that my coffee or tea stay hot extra long!  It is amazing!  And, it is great for cold beverages too, keeping them cool longer without the sweat dripping down the sides. 

Now.... if it just came with a handle and fun artwork!

Monday Motivation...

Frugal Friday....

Today's Frugal Friday tip has a little creativity to it, but great use of a household staple for a cute decoration.  This was a placesetting decoration at my niece's baby shower.  It took me a minute to see this, but do you see how this styrofoam cup was transformed in to a "diaper."  Way cute for a baby shower, and of course held yummy goodies inside. 

And, one other frugal tip regarding those multitudes of plastic bags from the store.  Ours get used for hauling snowboots to and from school and toting things here and there, but someone told me once they make great beanbag filler without such a mess as those pellets.  I haven't tried this, but if you need a little more stuffing in your beanbag, you might want to consider this.

What is your frugal favorite?

Monday Motivation

TGIF!   My Frugal Friday tip today is using those wonderful cheese boxes.  I think people have been saving and using these for hundreds of years.  Anyone know when they first made these great wooden cheese boxes?  I use an old wooden one on my table for my salt and pepper, and other little treasures get dropped in there, marbles, beads, etc.  The cardboard ones aren't as fun to display, but they are great in drawers and cupboards.  I have one for pens and pencils, magnets for the frig, kids' markers, and they have helped keep my plastic container cupboard neat by holding the lids.  They just seem the perfect size and are still quite sturdy. 

What is your frugal favorite? 

Wow!  Where did the week go!  And, of course, when I tried to do this last night, I was in a spot with lousy connection. 

Okay, again, should add a picture, but just need to get this posted for now.  My Frugal Friday tip this week is using gift bags.  Of couse, who doesn't reuse them for gifts, but just to make my mudroom look somewhat organized and fun, I use a bag labeled for different trips, e.g. grandma's house, Norfolk, Wisner, Library, School.  This way when I make my run to Norfolk, I can grab that bag and hopefully return or do what needs to be done in that bag.  Obviously, large items won't fit, but I can add a note to remind me to grab it.  Books to go back to the library usually fit nicely as do little things back to grandma's house.  And, you can hang them neatly on hooks, easily accessible to dump in stuff and notes and are quick to grab.

What are your frugal favorites?

Monday Motivation

Giggles and Grins

We have a wonderful Longwood furnace, which we can put in large logs and the house stays roasty toasty.  I was tossing in some wood one morning rather quickly as I needed to run to my next adventure, and I tossed in an odd-shaped piece and then I stopped and thought.... that was a really odd piece of wood.  We do get those, but this one did make me stop, think, and watch it burn for a minute.  Yep, somehow a big chunk of horse poo got hauled in on the sled and I just tossed it in.  It could have been part calf pie as they were around too, but what was I to do, grab it out of there.  No way.  I just laughed at myself and thought, well that's what the pioneers sometimes burned isn't it?  Luckily, the furnace is filtered so no smokey smell comes in the house.... and I didn't stick around to smell the outside smoke either.  Isch.  Oh, and yes, I was wearing gloves.  I've tossed one of those in to before.  whooops. 

Frugal Friday

I hope to edit in a picture later, but my one camera is on the fritz and a new one should be here tomorrow… yeah! (Oh, the horror of being without a camera!)

Anyway, my Frugal Friday idea this week is recycling egg cartons. These make great organizers. I have a couple I use for jewelry. They keep necklaces separated and earrings matched up. And, then you can stack them to save space. You can also use them to catch your loose change or organize your beads or buttons at your craft table. Again, you can stack them. Use them in your desk drawer to organize paper clips, rubber bands, push pins, chalk, staples, etc. The kids can keep their little Lego piece organized too!  Once again, you can stack them!

What are your frugal favorites?

Amazing Machines

As mentioned before, I love the snow (except for the ice and wind that may come with it), and most often when those fluffy flakes come, I cheer, "3 feet, 3 feet!"  This year my eldest lad wanted and wished for 8 feet -- guess someone was listening! 

These are a few photos I received... just amazing and beautiful.  This article must have been in some paper, and I would love to give them credit for it, but I don't have that info.  

"These photos were taken on the Bellwood Subdivision, between Seward and David City, Nebraska on the BNSF RR. Seward is about 25 miles west of Lincoln, on the Ravenna Sub. A few blizzards and sub zero temperatures coupled with moderate winds made for a beautiful, but, flash frozen environment. A freight train was snowed in at David City and a rotary snow plow was sent to clear the track of drifts that varied from 6ft or less up to 12ft in spots!! The photos were taken on Jan. 8th through Jan. 10th"

Apparently, my cousin's wife's grandfather invented the railroad's rotary snowblower... cool to be "related" to someone famous!  :-)

Just thought I would share one of my favs... I made chicken enchilada soup last night and am out of my favorite spice to add.  Ugh.  Love this Olde Westport Enchilada Spice for quick easy soup.  Yum.  So, have ordered some (in the bulk size) and will try some of their other spices.  They have recipes too, but I have my own concoction.  Hubby and I would probably add more vegies, etc., but the kiddos like it a is and it is very simple... no chopping!  So, we go with this for now unless we're trying to be fancy.  (Ha!  Usually fast and simple wins over fancy any day here!)

• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 can of fiesta nacho cheese soup (Campbell's makes this)
• 1 can of green chili enchilada sauce
• 2 soup cans of milk
• 3 cups water
• 2-3 chicken breasts, diced and browned
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup of this enchilada spice
• serve with crushed up tortilla chips, sour cream, and shredded cheese.