tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post7340628256356018393..comments2024-03-26T19:10:34.328-08:00Comments on The "Make Do" Homemaker: When Life Gives You Lemons...: Frugal Friday: Money Saving Weekly RecapErika, "The Make Do Homemaker"http://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-51325115216919019192016-05-12T14:31:56.824-08:002016-05-12T14:31:56.824-08:00Great! As long as your bottle is 2 Liter and ha...Great! As long as your bottle is 2 Liter and has some 'flex' to it it will work. susanbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04184844597778432860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-17540116172893537692016-05-10T10:30:17.246-08:002016-05-10T10:30:17.246-08:00We're not at any high altitude or anything, so...We're not at any high altitude or anything, so I'll use the 1/4 tsp and see how it goes :). I'll just wash out the bottle we used for the other rootbeer and give it a go. Thanks!Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-37122343920898936272016-05-10T10:28:45.445-08:002016-05-10T10:28:45.445-08:00I had no idea you could cook potatoes in the slow ...I had no idea you could cook potatoes in the slow cooker that way! I'm so going to try that today! That would save me some time and wouldn't heat the house up so badly. Thanks!!!Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-25128518324436647592016-05-09T19:25:07.455-08:002016-05-09T19:25:07.455-08:00I put aging potatoes in my slow cooker, no extra w...I put aging potatoes in my slow cooker, no extra water or anything, and cook it on high for about 4 hours (depends on the size of the potatoes). If I check them and they are done, I let them cool in the fridge overnight and then grate them on the large-holed size of a hand grater (food processor turns them into mush). Then I freeze them in small quantities...I have also made mashed potatoes and frozen them. They come out okay, too, but we prefer the hash browns. Especially for use as crust in a savory quiche!Mablehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13889546378268171918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-12294628841131113732016-05-09T18:09:03.033-08:002016-05-09T18:09:03.033-08:00That orange marmalade is the most beautiful color!...That orange marmalade is the most beautiful color! I love it myself and I prefer 'good' stuff...I so understand why you'd make it, lol.terricheneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06865436021565986224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-36314416441055196502016-05-09T12:43:50.610-08:002016-05-09T12:43:50.610-08:00No - it comes out tasting really good - like deep ...No - it comes out tasting really good - like deep rich root beer (we use the zatarans, too). In fact, 'store bought' root beer tastes really dull now that we have had the good stuff. There is only a 1/4 t of yeast and at room temp, it will quickly create a lot of carbonation. Are you at altitude ? susanbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04184844597778432860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-11407694618562019382016-05-09T07:51:35.489-08:002016-05-09T07:51:35.489-08:00Definitely keep a hold of it. When the kids have ...Definitely keep a hold of it. When the kids have a really bad cough that isn't overly productive, our nebulizer has come in handy more than a couple of times over the years. The mist helps to break up congestion and open airways, so it definitely helps when the kiddos are really sick. It's helped out with a couple of croup episodes with my daughter as well. When we first got it I was worried it was going to be wasteful, but it has more than paid for itself over the years :).Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-72047093075433399222016-05-08T17:49:18.860-08:002016-05-08T17:49:18.860-08:00Thank you so much, but we are making it work! He s...Thank you so much, but we are making it work! He seems better, thank goodness (not counting that he fell on the stairs, banged up both legs and gave me 16 gray hairs before bed tonight and I pray didn't do anything serious to himself) and hopefully will only need that inhaler a few more days. Seems a bit wasteful, but at his 4 year check in august I'll ask if they think he will néed it again.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09360397522677275215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-37371451552782482182016-05-08T16:43:09.773-08:002016-05-08T16:43:09.773-08:00I'm so sorry about the hard times you are livi...I'm so sorry about the hard times you are living with and I hope they are better soon. <br />Your home canning is just beautiful and so resourceful of you! Rhondahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07898829593961271218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-40827667502349356722016-05-08T14:29:33.779-08:002016-05-08T14:29:33.779-08:00I was reading that method online. Does it come ou...I was reading that method online. Does it come out tasting yeasty or like rootbeer (I know, weird question)? I am worried about it tasting yeasty as my daughter won't drink it then, but if it tastes like rootbeer I'll definitely give it a shot :).Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-83623194953301606092016-05-08T14:26:21.492-08:002016-05-08T14:26:21.492-08:00Aw, I'm glad you and your husband got some bon...Aw, I'm glad you and your husband got some bonding time in. It's so hard when money is really tight to get alone time with your spouse, I know, so I'm really glad that worked out for you two. <br /><br />And I totally understand making money mistakes that don't seem so at the time. I felt like that more than once this last year when I'd put a significant payment onto our Care Credit that it would turn out that we could have used the additional money a few months later when we wouldn't have work for needed additional income. You'll feel good about it later, though, as it will cut down on the amount of time needed to pay for the truck. I mean I regretted those tooth payments at the time but when it came right down to it, if I haven't done what I did we would have really been suffering with interest charges and a hefty monthly payment on top of it and wouldn't have the available credit to get the rest of my husband's teeth taken care of. So, basically just keep telling yourself that it'll work out and it will :).Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-42131881533835066492016-05-08T14:20:03.982-08:002016-05-08T14:20:03.982-08:00Ouch! A three hour commute?? Yuck! I had a clas...Ouch! A three hour commute?? Yuck! I had a classmate in college that did that. Not fun.<br /><br />I thought you'd said something about your husband working long hours in the summer before. Glad you might be able to spend a bit more time with him and hopefully be able to bank some decent money before summer's end :).Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-85390185663285246032016-05-08T08:45:16.481-08:002016-05-08T08:45:16.481-08:00Thanks on the potato advice. I think I'm just ...Thanks on the potato advice. I think I'm just going to do exactly that. That way I don't have to find room to set up the dehydrator right now and honestly I think the potatoes will taste better than trying to reconstitute them to use :).Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-66501279281197955372016-05-08T08:43:31.721-08:002016-05-08T08:43:31.721-08:00Ugh. Why is it that the expensive things always b...Ugh. Why is it that the expensive things always break together? I'm sorry you got to deal with all of that. What a pain. Every time an appliance doesn't work right around here (the oven has intermittent issues where it doesn't like to bake things and my washer doesn't like to agitate clothes without help) or makes an awful sound (dishwasher makes a horrible intermittent screeching sound) I go into panicky mode right now, so I feel for you. Good luck finding a cheap new computer.Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-12744246045379154172016-05-08T08:37:57.891-08:002016-05-08T08:37:57.891-08:00Wow, that was nasty of a person to do, going throu...Wow, that was nasty of a person to do, going through another person's box! I'm so sorry that happened to you :(.<br /><br />With the inhaler do you have a nebulizer? Do you need the tube and attachment to go to the nebulizer (paper tube sounds close to me). If you need those parts, let me know and I'll look around here as we have one and I think I might have some extra parts to spare (I know how hard it is to get kids to take their medicine, trust me :). I'll be happy to shove them into an envelope and mail them to you if I have them and you need them.Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-78670777695948746942016-05-07T20:29:44.855-08:002016-05-07T20:29:44.855-08:00So sorry you've had a rough week! As for the ...So sorry you've had a rough week! As for the potatoes, I roast them, then cool them, dice and freeze. We love them that way. Just pull them out of the freezer, thaw and fry like hashbrowns. So much better!tdc2283https://www.blogger.com/profile/11011938460760463399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-6636699946410011752016-05-07T16:57:01.285-08:002016-05-07T16:57:01.285-08:00I'm so sorry you are having a difficult week. ...I'm so sorry you are having a difficult week. I hope next week is better for you. <br /><br />We had a yard sale today to make a little extra cash. We made $60 and the girls made $8 on their lemonade. Then a few hours after cleaning up the computer breaks. My husband took it apart, cleaned it and tried a few other things before throwing in the towel and saying it was fried. So I guess the extra $60 will go to the new computer. Two weeks ago our dryer broke and we had to buy a new dryer. ( we had it for ten years and we had bought it used.) I knew it was a huge drain on our energy and made sure this new one was energy efficient AKA expensive. So things are going to tight around here for a little while. busy little beehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12346196808048292667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-8822282283050821452016-05-07T14:47:13.863-08:002016-05-07T14:47:13.863-08:00Im so sorry your week was so bad. As I keep remind...Im so sorry your week was so bad. As I keep reminding myself as of late, hard times are just that...TIMES that are hard, not forevers. Its the same for you, and despite the odds, you always seem to work miracles, so keep hanging in there.<br /><br />We had a costly week medically, my 3 year old was doing really badly so we went to the dr, were told it was allergies. Next day, he was wheezing, and gasping for air, next morning I took him in, they measured his breathing and stuck him on a nubulizer for an hour. Turns out the smoke from the firest irritated him so bad, was closing his airways. So we got an expensive inhaler to use for two weeks, but the dr didnt write out the pers ription for a spacer, so the first dose was an hour long drag out fight which im sure he got none of. Then, thank goodness for youtube, learned you could make a paper tube, and hes fine using that to breathe it in. Not ideal, but since hes happy, not worrying about buying the spacer. We also got another bill frombbc.co the dentist...freaking nickle and diming...i swear. Whatever th e bill, its always an extra 50% they bill for later. Makes me angry. <br /><br />One good thing was our ward did a swap meet. I got some pint nars and a few kids clothes, but im heart sick, someone went in my box of things for me, with my purse on top, and took out somethings I was so excited for and i didnt discover it til later. Oh well. <br /><br />Your pie filling looks beautiful! !! I gotsome that ball book for christmas, I need to read it myself and start planning! Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09360397522677275215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-7030399480430713722016-05-07T13:18:01.180-08:002016-05-07T13:18:01.180-08:00Here's a recipe for rootbeer that we love. S...Here's a recipe for rootbeer that we love. Start with a used but clean 2 liter plastic bottle. Add one cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon yeast and 1 Tablespoon root beer extract. Add water up to about 2 inches from the top. Put the top on, shake really well and let sit for 2-3 days. You will know when it is done by the amount of 'give' that the 2 liter bottle has. Lots of give = not ready. Really firm/no give=ready. Put in fridge. Do not open while warm unless you want a big mess. And still be careful when you open it....(ask me how I know). The yeast eats the sugar and gives it carbonation. susanbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04184844597778432860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-81949782795287510002016-05-07T11:48:17.041-08:002016-05-07T11:48:17.041-08:00As I said, the one is only seasonal, so it will en...As I said, the one is only seasonal, so it will end in October. He used to work 50 plus hours per week at his old job during the summer, plus 3 hours commute each day he worked. Even though he will be working 7 days, it will probably work out to be a little less than 50 hours/week, and he only has the 3 hour commute 2 days/week. I am hoping I will get to spend a bit more time with my husband, despite him working 7 days!Rhonda A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00448188064878559345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-64903166961938943472016-05-07T07:23:52.632-08:002016-05-07T07:23:52.632-08:00And wow, Jeannie you got a LOT done this week! I&...And wow, Jeannie you got a LOT done this week! I'm impressed!!! And thanks for the tip on the peas. It makes sense in retrospect that other parts would be edible, but I had no idea that you could use them in a stir fry and things. That's neat. Now if my peas germinate I'd be a lot more enthusiastic. They still haven't popped up yet, so I'm getting a bit concerned. I'm going to plant some seeds in other areas (by the potatoes in the garden, in a planter on top of some potatoes I have growing) and see what happens I think. Hopefully at least a few of them will take.<br /><br />We are getting an overcast, kind of cool and not wet summer so far. We've had two brush fires burn so far this year in the local area, both human caused. We actually got smoked out pretty hard yesterday afternoon when the wind shifted from one of them. We got some rain yesterday, though and are hopefully going to see more here this coming week. If it is going to be overcast and dreary outside, I'd at least like it to rain and then clear up instead of just having the clouds lurking with nothing to show for it.Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-17524296085047329792016-05-07T07:17:38.060-08:002016-05-07T07:17:38.060-08:00Ha! Right now my husband and I are watching the p...Ha! Right now my husband and I are watching the political situation up here (politicians not cutting spending even though they promised to and they are working around the clock trying to figure out how to pass a bunch of taxes and steal the PFD for state spending instead of giving it to those who it is intended for...the population up here). We just got a notice that the state had cut back DDS (disability eligibility with the state) approvals and are going to cut them back to 50 approvals per YEAR starting this July. To put that into perspective 2000 people per year right now are applying for the DDS eligibility for Medicaid waivers for things like horse therapy or special equipment for those with special needs (like wheel chairs). We talked about it and if they keep cutting out services and things for those with special needs we might be trying to figure out how to move in the next few years as we have to take care of the kids first. I pray it doesn't come to that as I really like the area I'm living in, but we shall see what happens.<br /><br />Yes, some weeks are just like a deluge of "what in the Heck IS this??? It can stop any time now!" I'm hoping next week goes better too. Thanks :).<br /><br />You made me laugh with the popping lids thing. I totally get it and I'm the same way. One of the main things I don't like about the reusable lids is that they don't pop like the ball lids do. I know I did something right when I hear that lid pop :).Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-12869053900187923132016-05-07T07:06:47.823-08:002016-05-07T07:06:47.823-08:00So they freeze okay that way. I am such a novice ...So they freeze okay that way. I am such a novice when it comes to freezing potatoes that I get kind of scared to try it. Thanks for the advice! I'll use some of potatoes to do that!Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-47119601656003573902016-05-07T07:04:57.775-08:002016-05-07T07:04:57.775-08:00*Laugh* that's a great story, Becky! I have a...*Laugh* that's a great story, Becky! I have a similar one I was going to share as Jeannie's comments about "it's still good once you wash the tire tracks off" just cracked me up thinking about it.<br /><br />When I was a kid it was a tradition to go around our town (we lived in a small New England town that, of course, you could walk to anything you really needed to get to) the day after Halloween and pick up all the smashed pumpkins/Jack O' Lanterns off the road. My dad would always say, "It's still good once you pick the dirt out". That squash would always last all winter (much to the disappointment of us children as none of us liked that kind of squash). It just made me laugh thinking of going around with our wagon in the wee hours of the morning to pick up smashed pumpkins.Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-22182336777102059432016-05-07T06:55:51.419-08:002016-05-07T06:55:51.419-08:00That's awesome news, Rhonda! I'm so happy...That's awesome news, Rhonda! I'm so happy for you guys! From the sounds of previous posts your husband was used to long hours and such, but wow 7 days a week is going to be a lot of work. Hopefully one of the jobs will offer him more money to drop the other job (I'll pray for the one that is close by ;) and things will start to normalize, but yay for work either way! Congratulations!Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.com