tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post3004747897638671204..comments2024-03-26T19:10:34.328-08:00Comments on The "Make Do" Homemaker: When Life Gives You Lemons...: Frugal Friday: Money Saving Weekly Recap and Garden UpdateErika, "The Make Do Homemaker"http://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-8991001449423115942016-07-09T18:41:09.184-08:002016-07-09T18:41:09.184-08:00It sounds like you had a good week. I'm so gl...It sounds like you had a good week. I'm so glad people could give you things you needed. I'm sure that it blessed them as much as it blessed you, to know that the things would be put to good use.<br />We've just been house hunting like crazy, but still no luck.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-15006080312704182792016-07-09T14:23:22.600-08:002016-07-09T14:23:22.600-08:00That sausage looks so good! I am so glad you have...That sausage looks so good! I am so glad you have been encouraged lately! I wish I could lend your our dorm fridge. My husband used it when he moved out here before us, my older daughter used it last year for her freshman college year, and now it's going to sit (in the way!) for two years downstairs until my high school junior possibly needs it. I need to try to figure out if I can move things around in the storage closet to make it fit, but I just don't think I can. <br /><br />I won a $25 Amazon gift card at my crossfit gym playing a rowing game. :) We took our aluminum cans in and got $27. I got a few screaming grocery deals (price-matched at Walmart): family-sized Triscuits, Ritz and Wheat Thins for $1.67 (normally $3.99 at Walmart), strawberries for $.75/pound and cherries for $.97/pound. <br /><br />A huge downer that that CEO of my company announced that all merit increases will be deferred until profits are higher. It was especially disappointing to me because I took a bit of a pay cut to take this job because I felt the job security would be higher and it's been very hard and more hours than I worked in my old job. I got a glowing review so I was hoping that my merit increase would bump me up a bit, and make things less tight. In addition, it's worrisome that profits are down enough for them to defer merits. I hope layoffs aren't to come, but at least the job market for my area is better now than it was for years. <br /><br />The monsoon I was so excited about disappeared after one week. We have hot (90 degree) days with not a cloud in the sky. It's worrisome on several fronts. We live bordering a pine forest in Arizona and we have already been told if our A/C goes out it's not worth repairing, as it's 20 years old. So come back monsoon! We continue to open our windows/doors at night and then I shut everything when it becomes hotter outside than in. Normally we only have to use the A/C a few hours a day - probably why the thing has lasted 20 years, but being vigilant in doing this really saves us in electricity.<br /><br />I hope your next week is good! My older daughter and I are going shopping in Phoenix on Monday to look for some stuff for her apartment (she'll be in a studio apartment for this school year, and she is so excited about it). I'm so looking forward to a fun day! I was able to work Friday (I am normally off on Fridays) and take Monday instead, because my daughter has the day off her job that day. It reminded me of some very good things about my job even if I am disappointed over the money. Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09576874237914077289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-90812459539773739242016-07-09T03:27:40.777-08:002016-07-09T03:27:40.777-08:00You had a great week. I'm glad you were able ...You had a great week. I'm glad you were able to make the summer sausage. It will be delicious coupled with the cheese you mentioned. I also put it in a cold pasta salad with olives and Italian dressing a couple of nights ago and it went over very well. I'm looking at cold easy dinners as the temps and humidity here make it feel like well over 100 degrees.<br /><br />This week I've continued to dry herbs from my garden, made 3 pints of basil salad dressing to store in the freezer, got a great deal on bananas again so I froze them as well, found pork shoulder on sale for $1.29 a pound and got one 8 pound one that we'll smoke, the garden has started producing so I'm going to harvest the few beets that are ready and dehydrate them because there's not enough yet for even a small canner load, and the rosemary and thyme have gone wild so my plan is to harvest enough to make a batch of rosemary-thyme herbal jelly, which is really a delicious condiment with chicken, turkey and pork. You have inspired me to make my own mustard and the powder arrived yesterday so that is on the to do for next week. I love mustard but so many brands have metabisulfite in them that I can't use them. So this will be great. Dorothy<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-92101635617920180272016-07-08T22:04:06.027-08:002016-07-08T22:04:06.027-08:00You did really well. Thank you for sharing the li...You did really well. Thank you for sharing the link for the recipe for the sausage...I am going to have to try that out as well since I have been looking for ideas to use up some ground turkey also. ;) I am so thankful that you have been so blessed!Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16449564619872452771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-79178787934489522322016-07-08T19:31:49.829-08:002016-07-08T19:31:49.829-08:00Spaghetti sauce or bean soup sounds good to use it...Spaghetti sauce or bean soup sounds good to use it in. Thanks for the advice! I think, too, once I pair it on crackers or bread with some cheese that might very well help knock it back a bit (if I use Swiss cheese or something :). <br /><br />Yay for getting paid!!! I love it when that happens *laugh*. And yes, every single little penny adds up and certainly helps :).<br /><br />Oh! We have to go to the library this weekend and return books!!! I'd spaced it! I'm adding that to my errand list now. I'm glad you said the library!<br /><br />I didn't know grab bags still existed. That's great. I used to buy them at our local five and dime when I was a kid and would get some really crazy crafting things in them. It was worth the, I think they were like .50 a bag or something like that.<br /><br />The weather is calling for it to be hot this week (blech) so I'm expecting to have to can early in the morning to get pickles canned and lots of watering in the garden being added to the things I have to do. This summer is so weird weather-wise. We're getting rain but it still gets kind of hot and muggy even with the rain about 80% of the time and then the humidity is such that even though we're only in the 70's the weather feels SO much hotter than it is. I'm going to be running the air conditioner a lot this week.Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-5001952707849962872016-07-08T19:24:40.115-08:002016-07-08T19:24:40.115-08:00Aw, that function for your daughter sounds awesome...Aw, that function for your daughter sounds awesome. I'm so glad people are starting to realize functions like that are needed for kids on the spectrum. With ice cream my son KINDA likes it. He doesn't want to taste it because it's cold and then you shove a bite into his mouth and he'll eat some after that *laugh*.<br /><br />Good ideas for stretching the beef. Fajitas sound good right now *laugh*.<br /><br />The free concert series sounds like a lot of fun. I wish we had some stuff like that around here.Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-42948103967782061082016-07-08T18:30:23.351-08:002016-07-08T18:30:23.351-08:00That was so kind of someone to send you a backpack...That was so kind of someone to send you a backpack and school supplies for your daughter! I'm glad that your blog has resulted in some really wonderful blessings for your family. I have often wished I could send you some heirloom seeds from my garden, but unfortunately there are issues with sending such things across the Canada/U.S. border.<br /><br />I checked out the link you shared for making luncheon sausage. It looks really interesting. Please let us know how it tastes once you try it. It looks like something that my husband would enjoy.<br /><br />When I read about the advertising you did for the band, it made me wonder if you could make a side business doing this from home? Not sure if it would be viable for you or not, but perhaps you could do it around caring for your children. After all, any money you could bring in might help get you financially ahead or maybe just allow you to buy some things you wouldn't normally be able to afford.<br /><br />I completely understand what you mean about the meat not stretching as far. My daughter is now eating like an adult! Another suggestion is to use the steaks to make steak fajitas, wraps, stir fry or steak kabobs. It uses less meat per person because you mix it with other veggies/fillings.<br /><br />As for my frugal adventures, well it's been a pretty good week. We attended 2 free concerts this week, one by "I Mother Earth" and one by "Gowan" (our city has a free concert series every summer often featuring some pretty well known singers/bands). I found $1 buried in the grass at work (free money!). I picked some black raspberries at work this week which I froze. I don't have enough for one batch of jam yet, but there are lots of unripe berries still on the bush. I can also mix them with other fruit, so I'm thrilled to have free berries! I also bought 5 bunches of broccoli today for $0.99/bunch. I will be blanching and freezing it to have for winter (we LOVE cream of broccoli soup, but also use it as a side veggie and in stir fry).<br /><br />Last, but not least, my daughter participated in a free ABA therapy social skills group for teens on the Autism Spectrum. They were learning and practicing conversation skills. My daughter did amazing and really enjoyed participating in the group. They had ice cream sundae's with lot of topping choices on the last day as reward for participation (did I mention my daughter LOVES ice cream!). All-in-all a good week!Rhonda A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00448188064878559345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-24283270860840934292016-07-08T18:23:09.518-08:002016-07-08T18:23:09.518-08:00Holy cow...or, lol holy turkey! That sausage looks...Holy cow...or, lol holy turkey! That sausage looks incredible! And so, since it's salty, pair some over white rice, or in spaghetti sauce or in like a bean soup or chili or something? That was my instinct. <br /><br />Pepa pig is so cute! My nieces like her. If you don’t know already, nickjr.com has tons of games and free episodes that rotate of a ton of shows, her too.<br /><br />So this weeks adventures, the best was my husband got paid for a side job he did a while back. We have an agreement since it's an occasional paying hobby half he gets, half the household, so my household half a third was for dentist bill, a third misc expenses, and a third I'm setting aside for future car repair this summer. Every little bit adds up. But I'm happy he got paid, he'd been working on it for a few months. <br /><br />We've gone to the park and the library a few times and my mom gave me some yarn and a mystery bag full of interesting looking things she got from grab bags at Michael's craft store. I'll explore later. <br /><br />Overall not a bad week, just busy. Next week's going to be even busier though so hoping I can make it through easily. Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09360397522677275215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-73692643162752517132016-07-08T17:46:27.745-08:002016-07-08T17:46:27.745-08:00Hello there. I stopped by from Debbie at If you do...Hello there. I stopped by from Debbie at If you do stuff, stuff gets done. First, I want to say you have encouraged me. Second, God is so good and I am thankful to hear of the many blessings He showers on us.<br /><br />Blessings.Mrs. Chrissy Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09516870555452352931noreply@blogger.com