Another Frugal Week

Of all the things there are to can, green beans are my favorite!

We have been working our new routines and chore lists this week.  In part, this was to adjust back to having one child here instead of two.  It was also in preparation for our school year, which started on Thursday.  Here are some ways we saved money and enjoyed life:

I made bread crumbs from the heels from a couple loaves of bread. 

We watched an awe-inspiring rainstorm.

Daughter and I are fighting a cold.  Our primary weapons are lots of water,  lots of tea and a little off-brand cold medicine at night (to help with sleeping). 

I picked zucchini, green beans, dug new potatoes, and harvested various herbs from the garden.  I canned my first 8 pints of green beans this week too!  Husband brought in the first few ripe peaches from the tree, so I'll be freezing and drying peaches soon.

We didn't plant potatoes this year - these are volunteers that sprouted from ones we missed last year.

 

I re-arranged some furniture to make Daughter's room more spacious.  She had a full size bed, but now she has a twin.  It's a trundle, sort of.  The bedframe (which I got a couple weeks ago, used, for $10, though it looks brand new) is structured in such a way that I can slide a second twin mattress (which I got free) in and out beneath it.  This keeps Daughter from sticking junk under her bed and gives us some additional sleep space if we need it. 

Shhh...she's reading....about Lego Star Wars...as usual...
 

We read library books and watched DVD's from the library.

I planned a menu, which helped me remember to use what we have on hand. 

I bought some cubed pork and some ground pork on markdown, and put them directly into the freezer. 

In the interest of research, I had to try the frozen hot chocolate recipe that Momma Lana suggested.  We used chocolate chips from the pantry (Nestle' semi sweet minis, bought on sale and with a coupon back at Easter), a little hot cocoa mix from a packet I received last Christmas, a little sugar, a cup and a half of milk and ice.  It was really good, and the recipe makes 4 cups, so it's enough for 2-3 people.  So even though the recipe says 'the best chocolate you can find', rest assured that if that's some chocolate chips or something, you're still going to be just fine. :)  Thank you, Momma Lana! 

On town day, Daughter and I stopped at Panera - I had two free pastries on my card, so that was our mother-daughter brunch. :)  We combined that with our town errands for the week.

I made deviled eggs, beef broccoli, cake noodles, enchiladas, carrot and celery sticks, Szechuan green beans, hamburgers, cole slaw, corn bread, parslied new potatoes, zucchini, panfried trout and nachos this week.  We also ate salads, lots of fresh watermelon and other fresh fruits and veggies. 

This week's catch. 
I love that they have a cleaning station at the lake - it's so nice to get most of it taken care of there! 
(Then we put them on ice.)

I gathered up excess stuff to list/sell on craigslist.  Now, who needs a rice cooker or an American Girl Doll?  Or both?   UPDATE - Josefina has found a new home.  :)

Josefina, in one of the adorable dresses that Grandma made for her.

I purchased a small appliance that works as a griddle, sandwich maker, Panini maker and grill.  It's the type where the plates are interchangeable, plus you can take them off to wash them (yay!)  The lady I got it from had used it once...and it's something we've been wanting to try for a long time.  It was $15, and I used summer sales fund money to pay for part of it.  As soon as I sell a few more items, I will repay the house fund.  At last, I can make more than one pancake at a time!  And since this will replace our wee, tiny Foreman grill, I can make more than one hamburger, too!

We opened windows at night to cool the house.

We got our teeth cleaned.  We have dental insurance, and if we're going to pay for it, we need to actually use those 'free' cleanings.

I hung our laundry on drying racks in the basement, except for sheets and quilts, which I hung on the clotheslines.

We went fishing Saturday and caught three pan trout.  We had them for Sunday dinner with homegrown vegetables and homemade corn bread.  :)

Two Rainbow and a Lake Trout...we think.

I went to Happy Needles, to catch up with friends and try to figure out how to read a crochet pattern for a button flower I really, really want to make.  I think I've figured it out!

What did you do to save money this week?  I'd love to hear about it and learn something new, so leave me a comment, okey-dokey?  Have a great week!

-Laura at TenThingsFarm