MAKE DO for one more day!

I have a tale to tell of a 'not so pretty' bedspread. This bedspread covers a queen size bed in our
office/guest room/sewing room /cat room.  The bedspread was given to me about 8 years ago. It was missing the pillow shams so I turn it sideways to cover the sleeping pillows. It's an older print and certainly doesn't look like the comforters I see in the stores. It adds no spark to the room whatsoever.

Strawberry tower and BB girl!

I often think about buying a new bedspread but then I check the prices and decide that I can make do for one more month. I've asked myself 'why' I think I need a new bedspread since there are no holes in it and it's not falling apart. There is still a lot of life left in that old bedspread. I'm not sure but I imagine it's because it doesn't fit the image of the bedrooms I see on TV. It would be nice to have a beautiful room when company comes to visit.   But, once I think about other needs... real needs... I decide to be content a while longer. Trying to gain the approval of others can be costly in more ways than one.

"Our identity in Christ, knowing that we belong to him, serves to remind us that material luxuries, status symbols, and clothing, houses, and cars are meant to be enjoyed but were never give to stamp a sense of identity on our lives. Our gracious Lord has already done that.:    Jeff Manion

The garlic is doing great!

One 'need' is a dental and eye care fund. I use the 'envelope' method to save for upcoming expenses so we're not caught off guard. I have 'envelopes' for car repair, savings, vet bills, hair cuts/weave, DMV registration, birthday gifts, alms and a general household savings for appliance repair or replacement.  But, I do not have an envelope for dental or eye wear. We have a new dental procedure that costs $95 a couple times a year. I need to prepare for that ahead of time. My sweetheart will be needing glasses sometime soon.  So, I moved things around in my budget and I will be taking out a little money each month to put in a dental/eye wear envelope.

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. Proverbs 13:11   ESV

 If I put money into 'fluffing' my nest then I won't have money for future dental and eye wear expenses.  It's more important to care for our health needs than impress someone with a fancy spare bedroom. (The cats really don't mind the bedspread at all! *wink*)

My camellia bush  is full of flowers this year.

So for TODAY, I am learning the wisdom in lessons of contentment and making peace with my old bedspread for ONE MORE DAY and thanking God that I HAVE a spare room with a comfy bed to put that old bedspread on. I'm working on changing the way I think about this bedspread. I'm finding ways to enjoy it. I'm practicing thankfulness by God's grace. His grace really is sufficient. 

 * Now there is GREAT GAIN in godliness WITH contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 1 Timothy 6:6 ESV

 * Keep your life FREE from the LOVE of money, and be CONTENT with what you HAVE, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5 ESV

  *My emphasis

*~*~*~*~*~*

A Typical Frugal Day

Here are a few things I've been working on this past month:

1. I made a new batch of spot remover for the laundry. This time I didn't add baking soda to the recipe as I have in the past because I thought it was rough on the clothes. I keep it in a quart canning jar above my washing machine with a tooth brush.

 Spot Remover

2/3 cup Dawn detergent (original blue formula)

2/3 cup ammonia

2 cups warm water

'Hen and Chicks' are blooming.California weather has been so warm that the plants think it's Spring.

2. I love trying new recipes. It keeps it fun in the kitchen. This salad dressing was from Barefoot Contessa's website on Food Network. The salad was wonderful but a little pricey with the Feta cheese and the Kalamata olives. I'll watch for the olives at my discount canned food stores and sales on on the Feta cheese since it freezes well. It would be a lovely salad to take to a potluck (blessing).

Greek Salad

* Put in this order in the bowl. 

1 large head Romaine Lettuce, chopped.

2-3 whole ripe tomatoes, cut in wedges

1 whole cucumber, peeled, cut in fourths, diced large chunks

1/2 whole red onion, sliced very thin

30 (or 1 cup) whole pitted Kalamata olives, cut in half (used less)

Fresh parsley, chopped roughly

Salt and pepper

Toss with tongs

Toss above ingredients with tongs. Just before serving add 4 oz. Feta cheese and squeeze with a little fresh lemon juice. Squeeze fresh lemon over the top.

Greek Salad Dressing

 2 cloves of garlic, minced

1-2  tsp. oregano

1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 tsp. dried basil

1/4 c. good red wine vinegar

1 tsp. Kosher salt (I used sea salt)

1/2 t. freshly ground pepper

1/2 cup good olive oil (I used grape seed oil)

(I added about 1 tsp. Erythritol to sweeten)

I made the dressing in a canning jar and kept it in the fridge for 24 hours. Shake regularly (the jar! *smile*)   This is my new favorite salad dressing. (I made a double batch to keep in the fridge for lunch salads)

I love this picture of the 'grands' being silly for Grammy. They were so young then.

3. This is the second year that we had our taxes prepared free through our local library. We waited 2 hours  but it saves us a lot of money.

4. I finally used up the floor cleaner that we found in the garage when we moved here.  It's so expensive to purchase cleaning products so I did a search and found a recipe to make my own. It works great. As always, please check any cleaning recipe on an 'out of the way' spot to make sure it works well on your floors.

1/3 cup water

1/3 cup rubbing alcohol

1/3 cup vinegar

2-3 drops of dish washing soap

I put the lettuce pots on an outside table to deter the snails.

5. A new law passed in California that the egg laying companies have to give chickens room enough to move around in their cages. As a result, our egg prices have double. I had no idea about the law being passed until I went to buy eggs and saw that a box of eggs had literally DOUBLED. Gasp! So, I started adding water to our scrambled eggs. Normally, for 1 serving I'll use 1 egg and 2 egg whites but now I cut back one egg white and fill half of the egg shell with water and add it to the scrambled eggs. It makes the eggs fluffy.  I've also cut way back on low carb baking which uses a lot of egg whites. I stretched our eggs to last an extra week.

6. I went to taste some sugar free cranberries I was making on the stove and the syrup scalded my lip. It was bad. I should know better. I remembered my daughter in love had given me an aloe plant. I used it often throughout the day. The burning stopped and it healed quickly.

7.  I have a small ironing board for quilting that a friend made years ago. The cover has been stained for years and I've always wanted to make a new one. My daughter in love, a few friends and I are planning on sewing together once a month, so this was just the encouragement I needed to replace it. I used the old cover as a pattern. The material was free from a friend. It turned out great.

8. I stretched my hair appointment for an extra month. I put $20 in my envelope fund each month to pay for hair needs. Normally I go to the hair dresser on the 3rd payday but I always have to dip into the budget to pay the balance of the bill. So by stretching my hair appointment for an extra month, it freed up that extra money to use somewhere else.  A friend said that my gray 'roots' just look like a lighter blonde. Such a nice friend. *smile*

9. My sewing machine turn wheel froze up and wouldn't not turn. I read the manual and oiled it but it still wouldn't move. I looked on You Tube for a video on repairing sewing machines and found one that showed how to take it apart.  I took the sewing machine apart and had my husband oil it where he thought it needed oil. Now, it works good as new and I saved a repair bill.

Onions and garlic in a raised bed I added last year.

10.  I found whole milk on sale for $2.99 for my sweetheart. It's normally a dollar more. The expiration date would come sooner so I froze half of the gallon. It doesn't end up being watered down since it's whole milk and has a higher fat content.

I have more things on my list that I did this past month but I'll save them for another time. Groceries continue to rise and our electric has gone up.. yet the Lord continues to teach me how to be content with all He has given. We really are a blessed nation! I thank Him for His goodness throughout the day as I go about my work. He has been so good to us!

Saved, Re-purposed and Re-used:
~ Rubber band from radishes (washed and reused)
~chicken bones, cooked (chicken broth)
~ Salsa jar (to discard grease)
~ Gizzard from whole chicken (I freeze them until I have enough to make a meal
~ Chicken liver from whole chicken (fishing bait)
~ plastic bags (LC tortilla bags, vegetable bags,etc. washed and reused)
~ Small sturdy box (drawer organizer)

Well, these are just a few things I've done this month to stretch our income. How about you ladies? How are you doing with your grocery budgets now that prices continue to rise? I love to learn from you!

Blessed to be home!

Georgene

Come by for a chat...

The New Year is here! It feels like 2014 flew by is such a flurry. I remember when I was a young mother and how long the days seemed ... but not any more. Not sure what has changed but I rarely finish my 'to do' list each day.

December was a busy, busy month but a lot of fun. My work at home got behind with all the celebrating, so I'm working through  FLYLADY'S  'House Blessing' and 'Zone' work each week to catch up. I've already accomplished so much.  I've been using her housekeeping plan as a guide for over 10 years. It's the only plan that has ever worked for me. I love it! I don't follow all of her suggestions but the 'House Blessing' and 'Zone' work have made a huge difference in how I keep house. 

Our '1st' Christmas! We celebrated Christmas 3 times this year!

My winter garden is doing very well. I've been harvesting broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Swiss chard and collard greens and oranges. I should have enough garden veggies to last a minimum of 3 more weeks. I froze some broccoli to use once the garden is finished. I've started a list of veggies and herbs I want to grow this summer. My daughter in love used graph paper to draw up a plan for her vegetable garden. I liked that idea and hope to start working on mine in the coming weeks.

Cabbage from our backyard garden!

I have a few sewing dates this month with family and friends. I'd like to make as assortment of gifts  for next Christmas to cut costs. I don't want to put it off until next fall because it won't happen if I do. I hope to work on a new apron pattern and a fancy pot holder to start off. I also hope to make a couple of quilts this year.

.My big goal for this year is to memorize more Scripture. I can't even put into words what God's Word has meant to my life. I decided this year to try and memorize an entire chapter of the bible. I felt like my thoughts really needed a project to focus on so I chose Romans 8 because it's one of my favorite chapters. I started slowing down when I got to verse 8. Thankfully, I ran across this booklet that has a great method for memorization. I just finished verse 16 this week. This old brain has trouble with the order of some of the recent verses I've memorized but if I see the first word then I'm good from there. :-)  I'm more interested in hiding God's Word in my heart than knowing the order perfectly so I'm enjoying the journey instead of stressing about my imperfections. It's been a delightful practice!

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV (Letters in bold are my emphasis)

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***
A Typical Frugal Day in my Home

So, here are a few things I've been up to:


1. The price of bacon costs nearly as much as a steak these days, unless it's on sale. I buy 1 package a month IF it goes on sale for less than $3 a pound. I cut the bacon into 6 sections, put them in baggies and freeze. It adds a little variety throughout the month without breaking the bank.

2. I always have a lot of  cilantro leftover when I buy it for a recipe. I tore off the leaves and packed them in a ice cube tray and filled each section with water. I froze it and then placed the cilantro ice cubes into a large freezer bag and labeled it. Now I don't have to run to the store when a recipe calls for cilantro unless I need it as a garnish or in a dish that isn't cooked. The frozen cilantro works great in soups. 

3. I've never tried making a Fritatta. Can you believe it? We eat a lot of eggs for breakfast so I decided to try one. We really liked it and I was able to stretch it for quite a few breakfasts.  I used this recipe from Pioneer Woman called, Sunday Frittata. Here is the link to the recipe.

Sunday Frittata

4. This is another new recipe that we really enjoyed. I made a large pork butt roast and used a pound of it for this recipe.

Posole Verde

1 pound of boneless pork (I used cooked pork and cut it into cubes)

Salt

A few tablespoons of oil

(2) 15 oz. cans hominy, rinsed and drained (I used 1 can)

(1) 16 oz. jar salsa verde (I like 'roasted' salsa verde)

2 cups chicken broth

1 medium onion (I used 1/2 onion), chopped

1 4oz. can diced chiles (I used roasted chilies from my garden)

5 tsp. jarred garlic or 5 cloves

1 Tbsp.  cumin

1 tsp. dried oregano

* Optional Toppings: avocado, radishes, chopped cilantro, lime wedges and sour cream

*  Season pork (if you're not using cooked pork) with salt and brown in oil until brown on all sides. Stir in hominy, salsa, broth, garlic, cumin, onion, and spices. Add salt to taste. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or put it in a crock pot for 41/2-5 hours (use raw pork if you cook in the crock pot).
* Use toppings, if desired.

5.  Our orange tree is full of fruit this year. I've been taking the peels and putting them in a small crockpot along with cinnamon sticks and whole cloves and lemon peels. As  the 'concoction' heats up it sends a nice fragrance through the house.

Camelia is in bloom. 

6. I've been able to harvest 4 cabbage heads out of my backyard garden so far. There are 7 heads left in the garden. I use it to make coleslaw, Crack Slaw, Fried cabbage and eggs for breakfast and the new recipe listed in #8. I also like to throw a handful into my soups and stews.

7. My neighbor offered me some Meyer Lemons from her tree. They have such a wonderful flavor and I was thankful to get some for free.  I squeezed the lemons and then poured the juice into ice cube trays and froze them to use in recipes or in a cup of tea.

8. This new recipe is a keeper. I took it to a pot blessing and it was well received PLUS my husband liked it. I used the cabbage from my garden. It was very yummy. I made a few changes to make it lower carb.

Spicy Southwestern Slaw 

3 c. shredded cabbage

1 carrot, shredded

1 onion, diced (I used 1/2)

1 red bell pepper, diced

 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced

 (I used a small handful of 

jarred jalapenos)

1 Tbsp. chopped cilantro (I used more)

1/2 c. oil

2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1 Tbsp. sugar (substituted 2 Tbsp. Erythritol and 1/8 tsp. stevia to taste)

1 tsp. cayenne pepper

Salt and pepper to taste

1. In a large bowl, toss together the cabbage, carrot, onion, red pepper, jalapeno and cilantro. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, sugar, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Pour over vegetable mixture and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.

8.  It's time to clean out the my old bill invoices from 2014 to make room for 2015. I'm  shredding the paperwork and putting it in the compost pile. I cut up the pages that are blank on the back to use for note paper. I keep notepaper in almost every room of my house so I can write down a thought before I lose it. (Losing thoughts happen a lot at my age! Ha!)

9. I'm running low on 'fast food' freezer meals for breakfast and dinner. So, this week I spent some extra time in the kitchen making low carb muffins. I put them in the freezer for a quick breakfast choice on Sunday's before church.

10. A law has been passed in California that plastic bags can no longer be used in large retailers starting in July of this year. I use their plastic grocery bags in my kitchen garbage can and for other purposes.  I don't want to add anything else to my grocery list. I remember my mother using newspaper to line her garbage cans. So, I decided to start saving any newspapers that come through my door so I'll have a nice supply by July.  .

Saved, Re-purposed or Reused:

- Cotton from my vitamin bottle (reused to remove fingernail polish)
- Clean and dried plastic bags and reused as food storage bags (walnut bag, Erythritol,etc.).
- Bacon grease (used in place of oil to sauteed veggies or eggs)
- Washed, dried and reused tinfoil (no dairy or meat).
- Comics from the newspaper to use as wrapping paper for the younger grandchildren.
- Twistie ties from the veggie department.
- Buttons from an old shirt that no one else would want. I put them in an empty Altoid tin and then placed the tin in my 'button box'.
- Chicken bones (soup broth)
- Empty glass jars from salsa, artichoke hearts, etc. (used for leftover grease before it goes in the garbage can.
- Paper bags from the grocery store. (I use these to dry flowers and veggie seeds). 

So what is new in your home? What do you have planned (Lord willing) for this coming month? I always learn from you ladies!

Blessed to be home,
Georgene

Grace for the New Year!

Happy New Year to you and your family! I loved this devotional from Pastor John Piper and decided to share it with you. May we live (coram Deo) before the face of God today and always!
 

***

By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)

Grace is not only God’s disposition to do good for us when we don’t deserve it. It is an actual power from God that acts and makes good things happen in us and for us.

 
God’s grace was God’s acting in Paul to make Paul work hard. So when Paul says, “Work out your salvation,” he adds, “it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Grace is power from God to do good things in us and for us.

This grace is past and it is future. It is ever cascading over the infinitesimal waterfall of the present from the inexhaustible river of grace coming to us from the future into the ever-increasing reservoir of grace in the past.

In the next five minutes, you will receive sustaining grace flowing to you from the future, and you will accumulate another five minutes’ worth of grace in the reservoir of the past. The proper response to grace you experienced in the past is gratitude, and the proper response to grace promised to you in the future is faith. We are thankful for the past grace of the last year, and we are confident in future grace for the new year.

http://solidjoys.desiringgod.org/en/devotionals/grace-for-the-new-year

Our Tongue and the Family

I recently read a question that captured my attention.

Are you growing in how you love your spouse?

Right on the heels of that question I began reading a book called, The Hardest Peace: Expecting Grace in the Midst of Life's Hard which shared how their marriage was blessed by   speaking the 'law of kindness' to one another. 

I thought of what the opposite of kindness might look like. A cold shoulder? Distancing ourselves? A sharp, biting reply? Sarcasm? Standing up for ourselves with a cascade of unedifying, prideful words? Oh my! How many of us have given in to these temptations? I surely have at one time or another.


She opens her mouth with wisdom; and on her tongue is the law of kindness. Proverbs 31:26 KJV

Playing a new 'thrift' store game.

I've noticed how different seasons of life can tempt us to respond unkindly. I remember when my children were young and following a sleepless night there was the temptation to snap out a command instead of asking kindly. Sickness, retirement and growing older (the last 2 are my current season) can prove a temptation, too. We surely need the power of the Holy Spirit to respond kindly when we are in a weakened state.  

Jesus is the best reason to entice my heart to return a kindness for an unkindness. He showed the ultimate kindness by dying on the cross to pay for my sins... a death I deserved! While I was STILL a sinner.. undeserving of His kindness...an enemy...He died for my sins. The ultimate act of kindness!

Returning good for evil...a  kind word in response to an unkindness... is a beautiful opportunity to daily live out the gospel message to my family and others.  

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

It also shows my Savior how much I love Him by obeying His command.  


 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. John 14:15

      The grands and I playing Apples to Apples. (Can you see my cat on the back of the couch watching the neighborhood?)

"God, please help me to live by the 'law of kindness' towards others. I have often returned an unkindness for an unkindness. Help me by the power of your Holy Spirit that lives in me to deny myself and follow you.  In Jesus Name, Amen."

 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love KINDNESS, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,KINDNESS, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22  Galatians 5:22  ESV

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, KINDNESS, humility, meekness, and patience.. Col. 3:12 ESV


***

A TYPICAL FRUGAL DAY


1. Our ladies group at church is starting a new bible study in January. I found a used workbook through Amazon for half the price. 

  2. I've been off of wheat (except for an occasional indulgence) for over 3 years now. I normally don't miss it but lately I've been having problems with insomnia and find myself dipping into my husband's crackers in the middle of the night. I'm not sure why carbs are appealing to me at 2am in the morning... but they are! :-) So, I decided to be proactive and make some low carb crackers. I put them in the freezer for those 'I can't sleep' nights.

                             

Sunflower Crackers

3/4-1 cup sunflower seed flour (or almond flour)

4 tsp. Erythritol

1 egg white

less than 1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/8 tsp. garlic powder

1/8 tsp. onion powder

Mix together and then divide into 20-24 small balls. Place on a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Put a piece of Seran wrap over a small can to flatten the balls and then peel off the Seran wrap and place on the cookie sheet. Bake at 325 for 15-20 minutes. Watch closely the last 5 minutes. Edges should be brown, center will be light colored.

3. I had an old kitchen cabinet in bad shape that we hoped to use in our garage but we just didn't have room for it. I hated to have my son take it to the dump since he is so busy so I kept thinking how I could repurpose it. I finally came up with the idea to make it into a compost bin. The doors and the back were taken off leaving just the frame. It works PERFECT! 

4. I found a new game at the thrift store. The grands loved it! 

5. I was inspired by Crystal's post over at Homemaking on the Homestead on canning Chicken Noodle-less soup.  I didn't have 2 whole chickens but used a very large package of chicken thighs and breasts. I canned 5 quarts of soup. My husband said it was very good. I hope to can a lot of soup this winter. 

6.We had a big crop of hot peppers this year. I froze some but there was still a lot left. I decided to dry a batch. I'll use an old coffee grinder and pulse it into red pepper flakes. 

7. I made Pioneer Woman's Spaghetti Sauce. It's a keeper and I think the best recipe I've made so far. We put it over the spaghetti squash we grew in our garden. 

Pioneer Woman's Spaghetti Sauce

Ingredients

• 5 pounds Ground Beef (I used 3 pounds)
• 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 2 whole Large Yellow Onions, Diced (I used 1 onion)
• 2 whole Green Bell Pepper, Seeded And Diced (Omitted)
• 6 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1 cup White Wine (or Low Sodium Beef Broth If You Prefer)
• 2 cans 28 Ounce Crushed Tomatoes
• 1 can (14 Oz. Size) Crushed Tomatoes
• 1 can (small, 4-ounce) Tomato Paste
• 1 jar Good Storebought Marinara Sauce (can Use Another Jar If You Like The Sauce To Be More Saucy Than Meaty)
• 1 teaspoon Ground Oregano
• 1 teaspoon Ground Thyme
• 4 whole Bay Leaves (omitted)
• 2 Tablespoons Sugar (I used Erythritol)
• 2 teaspoons Kosher Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper (optional)
• 1/4 cup Finely Minced Fresh Parsley (or 3 Tablespoons Parsley Flakes), More To Taste
• 1 whole Rind From One Wedge Parmesan (optional, I'm dairy free so I omitted)
• 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (optional, I omitted)
• 2 pounds Spaghetti, Cooked Al Dente And Tossed With Olive Oil
• Extra Minced Parsley, For Serving
• Extra Parmesan Cheese, For Serving

Preparation Instructions

IMPORTANT: This recipe can easily be halved! I just like to make a ton so I can freeze it.
In a large pot over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until totally browned. Remove meat from pot with a slotted spoon and put into a bowl. Set aside.
Discard any grease in pot, but do not clean the pot. Drizzle in olive oil. When it is heated, throw in the diced onion and diced bell pepper. Stir it around for 1 1/2 minutes, then add the garlic. Stir and cook for an additional minute.
Pour in the wine and allow it to bubble up and reduce for about 1 1/2 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and marinara sauce. Stir to combine, then add oregano, thyme, sugar, salt, bay leaves, and crushed red pepper (if using). Stir, then add cooked ground beef and stir to combine. Place the lid on the pot and allow to simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Add a little water or some low-sodium broth if it needs more liquid
After an hour, add the minced parsley and the rind from a wedge of Parmesan (or grated Parmesan if you prefer--or both!) Stir to combine, then put the lid back on and allow it to simmer for another 30 minutes or so. Discard bay leaves before serving.
Serve a big bowl of oiled noodles and spaghetti sauce so guests can serve themselves. Top each serving with minced parsley and grated Parmesan (or Parmesan shavings) and serve with a big piece of garlic-cheese bread.

My grandson's are getting so big!

8. I don't like to run out of an item and I especially don't like to spend extra money on a trip to the store because I ran out of something. So I try to keep a backup of most essential items. For instance, I save about a 1/4 of my hairspray and put it in an older bottle. It doesn't take long before I have a full extra bottle which then will become the next bottle I use. I also take out a roll of TP from the package and store it away. I keep an extra tube of toothpaste, shampoo and deodorant on hand, too. This also helps to not pay the highest price for these items so I can wait until they go on sale. 

9. I'm picking broccoli and Swiss Chard from my winter city garden. The cabbage is almost ready along with the collards. Just planted a kale plant but it won't be ready to pick for quite a few months. We're still getting some raspberries and the oranges should be ready within the month. Now if I can just keep that rascal of a gopher out of my garden! Ugh!

10. It seems I'm always wanting a bag of cranberries to enjoy with that last turkey in the freezer but after the holidays they are hard to find. This year I've purchased 3 bags and hope to purchase a few more. I keep the bags in the freezer. I dried one bag in my dehydrator and used the other bag to make sugar free cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving. I hope to make some low carb Orange Cranberry Muffins soon. 

Drying Cranberries

Praise Report:

~ A friend called and said she had some free turkeys and food to share.

Saved, Re-used and Make-Do

- I saved the cotton from my vitamin jar to take off fingernail polish.
- I'm raking and saving leaves to put in the compost pile.
- I saved tea bags (3 make one cup of tea)
- Repurposed a cabinet for a compost bin.
- I saved chicken bones and a ham bone to make broth.
- Broccoli stalk and grated it for a salad. 
- I saved/washed the rubber band from the veggies I bought at the   
  store to to reuse. 
- Newspapers to use under the cat box. 
- Grocery garbage bags to line my garbage cans. 

I hope you all have a wonderful, Christ-filled Christmas! 

Blessed to be home!

GEORGENE

Making do with OLDER HOMES

My little 745 sq. ft. cottage was built in the early 1900's. It has a lot of personality! :-) It's not fancy and it's definitely not upgraded. But, it's comfortable and it's God's gift to me. He has entrusted this home into my care for a specific number of days that only He knows. Perhaps I will live here until I'm close to leaving for my heavenly home. Or perhaps He will move me on tomorrow. Life is full of surprises and only He knows the winding and turning of the path He has planned for me. I want to always remember that this home is His gift to us. I want to fight to cultivate a contented heart and accept it with all it's quirks and so called inconveniences.

 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15

Alberta is the name of the woman who previously lived in this home for 50 years into her late 90's when she fell and then moved in with a family member. I never met Alberta but I feel like I know her from the little bits and pieces that the neighbors have shared about her life. I often think of Alberta when I'm tempted to upgrade an outdated feature of this home. I'll remind myself, "Alberta lived in this home until she was 98 years old without central heat and air! Now, so can you!" Or, "Alberta lived in this home without automatic sprinklers! Now, so can you for at least one more year!"

She saved herself a lot of money over the years by not keeping up with the times (or the Jones's). She never had to incur a large electrical bill because her heating and air conditioning went on the blink! Or pay to have her garbage disposal fixed or replaced... because she didn't own one. The less things you own the less things need cleaning, repairs and maintenance and TIME. Alberta lived a simple life in this home.  I think Alberta was a smart woman! A lot of older people live this way but rarely does our generation or our children.

I recently read that a simple life is not always a contented life. I've really been chewin' on that one like a dog with a bone. I've mulled it over and over in my mind and I believe that it's very true. I don't know the state of Alberta's heart. Maybe she was contented living in this 'simple' home or maybe not. It's now my choice to decide whether I will cultivate a heart attitude of thankfulness and contentment. It's a daily choice which starts with my thought life and whether I will obey God's Word.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Phil. 4:11 

So, instead of upgrading I'm focusing on maintaining what we already own. These past few months I've worked on improving the way the grout looks on my kitchen counter and also sealing the bathroom grout to help with the mold problems. I look for small little projects to do that don't cost a lot of money but help to improve the way our home is maintained. It's important to take care of what God has entrusted to me.

I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns' the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. Proverbs 24:30-34

My 'sweetheart', daughter and grandson

I know it's not a sin to upgrade and who knows but that someday we might find ourselves doing just that very thing if the need and finances present themselves. But, not for today! Today I want to enjoy my home just as it is with all it's quirks and old fashioned ways. My heart is satisfied! My heart is content!

***
Read about A TYPICAL FRUGAL DAY

Here are a few ways I've kept busy in my home:

1. My kitchen sink is old and made of porcelain. It has chips in it that show black spots. Last year my mother bought a kit to paint the chips white. It lasted about a year but now it looks like it did before. I have a friend who accidentally spilled nail polish in her bathroom sink and couldn't get it out. So she bought 3 different colors and dabbed them all over her sink. It looked really nice. So that gave me an idea to see if I could find white nail polish to cover the black spots on my sink. I found a bottle for around $4. Guess what? It worked! I love finding ways to make things in this old house look nice and clean.

2. I've been saving cooked chicken bones in my freezer and finally had enough to make some broth which I used to make a new Chicken Paleo Tortilla Soup recipe. I put the bones in my large crockpot and filled it with water and cooked it all day.  After it cooked I let it sit in the fridge overnight and then skimmed off the fat. The broth was then used in this soup recipe. It was so good!

Paleo Chicken Tortilla Soup

You’ll need:

• 2 large chicken breasts, skin removed and cut into 1/2 inch strips (I used thighs)
• 1 28oz can of diced tomatoes
• 32 ounces organic chicken broth (homemade chicken broth)
• 1 sweet onion, diced (less for lower carbs)
• 2 jalepenos, de-seeded and diced
• 2 cups of shredded carrots (1 cup to lower carbs)
• 2 cups chopped celery
• 1 bunch of cilantro chopped fine
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced – I always use one of these
• 2 Tbs tomato paste
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• (I added 1 tablespoon of Chicken Tortilla seasoning mix)
• sea salt & fresh cracked pepper to taste
• olive oil
• 1-2 cups water

In a crockpot or large dutch oven over med-high heat, place a dash of olive oil and about 1/4 cup chicken broth. Add onions, garlic, jalapeno, sea salt and pepper and cook until soft, adding more broth as needed.
Then add all of your remaining ingredients and enough water to fill to the top of your pot. Cover and let cook on low for about 2 hrs, adjusting salt & pepper as needed.
Once the chicken is fully cooked, you should be able to shred it very easily. I simply used the back of a wooden spoon and pressed the cooked chicken against the side of the pot. You could also use a fork or tongs to break the chicken apart and into shreds.

Top with avocado slices and fresh cilantro. I added a dallop of sour cream to my husband's bowl.

Remembering a fishing trip with some grandsons

3. I always have a lot of cilantro left from the bunch I buy for a recipe. So, this time I froze it in an ice cube tray. I picked off the leaves and put about a tablespoon in each cube and added water. Once frozen I put the cubes in a plastic bag and wrote the name on a piece of masking tape. I do this with fresh parsley, oregano and basil from my garden, too.

4. I made a batch of pie crusts and put them in the freezer for the holidays.

5. We have a winter storm heading our way tomorrow so I decided it was time to prepare for winter. I put away the summer chairs and covered them with plastic. I took down the patio table umbrella and stored it in the garage. I moved the patio table under a covering to protect it this winter and covered a wooden bench with a large piece of heavy plastic. You can buy rolls of heavy plastic at hardware stores. The window air conditioners have been covered with plastic on the outside so that the cold air won't blow through them into our house.  It's a bit too soon to fold up the hoses but those will be next. I also put extra blankets on our beds and on the cats and the dog beds. We're all as snug as a bug in a rug! I love making sure everyone is warm and comfortable for the winter (even my pets).

6.  I've been reading about 'deepening the pantry' over at Coffee, Tea and Books. It has inspired me to find ways to add to my own pantry. I added canned tuna and canned roast beef to my pantry this past month.

'Grand' birthday party with CANDY BALL played to Musical Chairs.

7. Since winter is coming I was able to cut back my watering time to once a week for the lawn and from 10 minutes down to 7 minutes. Oh, am I one happy girl that winter is almost here and I can take a break from hours of watering in the garden, flowers and lawn.

8. I had a bumper crop of peppers this year which were grown in large pots. I looked online and discovered that I could freeze the Poblano's. I roasted them and then put them in a freezer bag once they cooled. Now my husband can enjoy Chile Rellenos throughout the winter.

9. My mother and sister and I visited our favorite thrift shop. I keep an ongoing list in my purse because for the life of me I can't remember what to look for by memory. I added 'purses' to my list once I realized how expensive they have become. I was faced with spending over $30 when my last purse became worn. I figured I would keep an extra one on hand so I'm not forced to pay higher prices. I found a nice purse for $4.

 Sweet times

10.  I made homemade mac and cheese for our family gathering. My husband requested it. He eats low carb meals in between our family gatherings so I try to make what he wants on those special occasions. I took a small bite to see how it tasted and it was good!

I kept it bland since I knew the grands would be eating it. 


 Kittencals Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

• 4 cups uncooked elbow macaroni 
• 4 tablespoons butter ( additional 2 tablespoons to mix with cooked pasta)
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced garlic ( optional, I didn't use)
• 1 teaspoon onion powder (I didn't use)
• 1 teaspoon mustard powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)(I didn't use)
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 3 cups half-and-half cream ( or use milk or 1-1/2 cups each)
• 1 1/2 cups old shredded cheddar cheese (I used Monterey Jack/Cheddar)
• 1 (16 ounce) packages Velveeta cheese ( cut into small cubes)
• salt & freshly ground black pepper ( to taste)
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (optional)(I didn't use)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease a medium casserole dish.
3. Cook the pasta in a pot of boiling salted water until al dente (do not overcook the pasta) drain but do not rinse.
4. Place in a bowl and mix with 2 tablespoons butter to prevent sticking; set aside.
5. Melt 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
6. Add in minced garlic, onion powder, mustard powder and cayenne pepper; stir with a wooden spoon for about 3-4 minutes.
7. Add in flour and stir for 1 minute.
8. Slowly add cream and cook stirring constantly over medium until bubbly and thickened. 

9. Reduce heat and add in both cheeses; mix until melted and smooth.
10. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
11. Add in the cooked pasta and toss to combine.
12. Transfer to baking dish.
13. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes.  

Summer fun with the grands

                                                                                                                                                Saved, Stretched and Reused:

~ I add a little bit of water to the glass before I add WHOLE milk for my husband.

~ I saved clean, previously used dishwater in the dish pan and used it to rinse the next load of dishes. 

~ Twistie ties from new measuring spoons. I always save my twistie ties. 

~ I saved the cardboard tubing from a paper towel roll. I wrap reused baggies around it.

~ Cardboard egg cartons along with cardboard tubing from toilet paper rolls (compost pile).

~ Cotton from the vitamin bottle (to remove fingernail polish). 

~ Wrapped celery in tinfoil. The celery lasts twice as long. 

~ Bacon grease. I put it in a small jar in the fridge and use it instead of oil for flavoring when frying. 

~ Washed and reused a LC tortilla bag.

~ I used 'saved' peanut oil from the last time I fried chicken. I keep it in the fridge. I can get one more frying out of it. 

~ I saved the extra coffee by putting it in mason jars and storing in the fridge to use the next few days. We never drink an entire pot. 

~ Saved tea bags. Three saved tea bags will make one more cup of tea. 

~ I've been hungry for oatmeal. I cooked some Steel Oats and divided it in 1/2 cup portions to freeze for later. 

That's all for this time. Are you ladies 'deepening' your pantry? Do you have any good tips you could share? 

BLESSED TO BE HOME,

Georgene


* Bible version used is the ESV.

The Bible, books and old brains!

I am a lover of books. Not just any books... but books that will draw my heart closer to God. I love biographies and instructional books!  It's my one weakness, as Dorcas would say in Larkrise to Candleford.

Sweet Williams are still blooming

 

As much as I love godly books, I love God's Word a hundred gazillion times more! My heart swells when I think of the priceless value of His Word. His Word has changed my life! Period! End of story! It just has!

Every area of my life has been touched by His Word. My marriage, my emotions, my thought life, my desires and my goals.  But, far greater than what God has done in me is the treasure of learning more about Him through His written Word. There lies a joy that matches none else. 

Broccoli plants for winter

  
So I am excited to share with you one of the sweetest little treasures on the internet that is helping me hide God's Word in my heart. My long time beloved friends, Kim and her husband John, have a wonderful new website called REFRESHINGS CHALLENGE.

  

Refreshings are described as, "... a surprisingly simple and effective method to renew our minds and saturate our hearts with God's Word (and other related helpful things), using condensations from a repertoire of bible studies we've done, skills we've learned, and helpful things we've condensed from other people."

This is how I have used their website. I picked out specific teachings and Scriptures that I want to be reminded of on a regular basis. I've chosen posts that apply to my life or teachings that I can use to encourage others.  After I  printed these posts I placed them in sleeve protectors and filed them in my REFRESHINGS NOTEBOOK under a category similar to the headings she has on her webpage for each post. The notebook sits next to my living room chair so it's convenient to pick up and REFRESH myself daily.

Raspberries are still giving fruit in my backyard

I've added other sections to my binder such as The Godly Woman. I need daily reminders of what Scripture says I should be doing daily with my time.  I've also added Scriptures on the sovereignty of God to encourage me during trials and suffering. Another goal for the notebook is to use it to battle weaknesses and daily temptations. 

Learning, knowing, memorizing and teaching God's Word is one of my greatest joys. I want God's Word to take the highest priority in my life.  The REFRESHINGS CHALLENGE is one easy way to guard what I have learned in God's Word throughout the years. This old brain needs all the help it can get. 

Dragon Tales

 

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11 ESV

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16 ESV


***

A Typical Frugal Day 

Here's what is happenin' in my neck of the woods:

1. My husband's T-Shirts are noticeably worn. I've been watching for sales but nothing has come along. I stopped in our local thrift store while the oil was being changed in the car. Lo and behold, I found 5 T-Shirts, BRAND NEW for $4.99. I had a 25% off coupon bringing the total to $2.99 a shirt. Thank you, sweet Lord! 

Lettuce ready to harvest. Chicken wire to keep cats away from snail bait.

2. I normally throw away the stalks of broccoli but decided to peel it and then use a grater to shred it. I added a slaw dressing along with cranberries. I had enough to use for a lunch salad from an item that normally would be thrown away.

3. Did you know that Nature Made vitamins has a reward program? I may have told you before. I enter the reward code on each bottle I purchase of Triple Flex from Costco. I accumulated enough rewards to receive a $7 coupon to use at Costco for Nature Made products.  The coupon can also be matched with Costco's sales which could drop the price by a total of $14. 

4. I cashed in my Swagbucks for a $25 Amazon Gift Card. Click here to learn more about Swagbucks. It's an easy way to make money by doing online searches. 

5. I read about an idea to line your fridge shelves with placemats but decided to buy the plastic shelf paper that does not have a sticky back. My mother has always lined her fridge shelves with tinfoil but it's an expensive habit because eventually the tinfoil tears apart after multiple cleanings. This shelf paper (it's made of a rubber type of material) can be washed and should hold up indefinitely. My shelves look so nice and clean. 

Shelf paper lining fridge shelves

6. I'm saving cooked chicken bones in a freezer bag to make broth. 

7. I live in my aprons. I have a few nice aprons and a few 'not so nice' aprons. I rotate my aprons as they get stained and worn. I keep a very worn apron in the garage to wear in the garden. Aprons save my clothes from spots and tears. I love my aprons!

8. My house was built in the early 1900's and I think the kitchen grout is probably as old. Maybe not but it sure looks old and dirty. I've tried several cleaners but nothing has worked. I found a tile renewal product/sealer at Home Depot by Polyblend called, Grout Renew. It comes in different colors. It painted and sealed the ugly grout on my kitchen counters and it looks almost like new. So happy with it! It cost less than $15. I used a fine tipped paintbrush instead of the recommended toothbrush. 

9. My mom and neighbor lady save their newspapers for me. I've started using coupons again to help offset rising food prices. I visit Coupon Mom on Sundays to see if there are any good deals for the week. Last week I was able to get cold meds for .99 cents. 

10. I used the library instead of buying a book that had been recommended to me. 

Saved, Stretched & Re-used!
- banana peels (buried around my rose bushes)
- coffee grinds (buried around my rose bushes)
- tin can tops (put in a bucket with water to make a fertilizer tea for grapes and hydrangea)
- dog food can (washed out and used to pour grease into rather than down the sink).
- egg shells, fruit & veggie peelings (compost pile)
- tea bags (saved in fridge, 3 used for new cup of tea and then thrown in the compost pile)
- LC tortilla bag, cranberry bag, broccoli bag,etc. (washed and reused as a baggie)
- Rubber band off of radishes and broccoli (washed and reused)
- Hair from vacuum (compost) 

That's all for this time. What are you ladies doing in your homes? Are you getting ready for winter? I've started pulling out my blankets and heaters to make sure they're in good condition.

Blessed to be home,

Geogene