Weekly Goals Update: Week 34

1. Disaster Preparedness
Week 34 was all about dried beans.  I am surprised at the people who are not fond of cooking dried beans.  Not only are they good to have on hand for emergencies, but they are very frugal and healthy.  My favorite way to cook them is in the crock pot.  Sometimes I presoak them, and sometimes I do not.  It just depends. 


2.  Makeover the Garden
I am still cleaning out some areas for fall planting.  It is just too hot right now to think about planting any fall crops.


3.  Organize Recipes
I cleaned out more digital recipes this past week and chose some new recipes to try during September.


4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
I knocked another no spend grocery week out last week.  That brings my total to 10 weeks so far this year.  I am planning a big shop this week that should mostly stock us up for September.  If all goes well, I can get another couple of weeks crossed off next month.


5.  Focus on Saving
My plan for September is to make do with what we have.  I am bartering with a neighbor for a fall decoration.  I am sure we will have some necessary purchases, but I am planning to limit spending as much as possible.


6.  Etsy Store
My plan is to start spending a minimum of four hours a week on my Etsy shop.  I need to make time since just having time is not working out.  The four hours a week plan starts this week.  Wish me luck!

Weekend Book Reviews

Halloween Murder by Leslie Meier is a collection of two Halloween themed short stories.  Lucy Stone is the star of both mysteries although they take place many years apart.  In the first Lucy's children are young and the focus is a town Halloween party.  The town is on edge after a rash of arson that destroys many of the towns oldest buildings.  This is a fun Halloween centered story.  I did not care for the second of the mysteries which was focused completely on witchcraft.  I understand that witches are a big part of Halloween, but the story line was too far fetched for me to believe.  Lucy seems to have no problem with her daughters playing witchcraft and having a "witch" cure her serious poison ivy outbreak with a spell is more science fiction than mystery.

Betty Rowland's first book in the Melissa Craig Mystery series is Murder at Hawthorn Cottage.  Melissa has moved from the city to a small country cottage.  She lives beside one neighbor Iris and her cat Binkie.  Melissa is hoping the quiet country life will help her work on her next mystery novel.  Melissa finds herself in a real life mystery when first Iris and then Melissa herself discover dead bodies and a complicated web suspicious events.  It proves that country life is not always so quiet.  This book has more depth than the usual cozy mystery, but it is still fun and enjoyable to read.

The Trouble with Truth by Kathy Krevat is the second book in the Gourmet Cat Mystery series.  Single mom Colbie and son Elliot have settled into life in Colbie's hometown.  Elliot is starting school and Colbie is set to launch her gourmet cat food into stores.  When one of her part-time chefs is confronted by her former foster family, Colbie steps in to offer support.  After the foster dad is found murdered, the teen chef is at the top of the suspect list.  I adore the characters in this book.  I particularly like the Polish chicken that visits from a nearby farm.  The mystery is strong and has several twists and turns that kept me guessing.  This book tackles social issues without being overly serious.

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Frugal Friday

1.  I skipped grocery shopping this past week and made a menu plan for now through the end of September.  I plan to do one big shop for basics and one or two trips for perishable items.  Soon I will be able to plant lettuce again as the temperatures will continue to cool down slightly.

2.  I mentioned earlier in the week that I used an afghan for the main decoration in the social hall at church for pastor appreciation day.  For the table decorations I used items left over from Bible school.  This year's theme was sports so I saved everything that was football related.

3. I filled our trash can yet again and added a bag to my parents' since they had extra room. 


4.  I took care of a matter over the phone which saved a trip into town.  It probably saved a bit of aggravation as well.


5.  A trip to the chiropractor this week took care of my hip and shoulder problems.  It was tempting to spend the next couple of days pulling weeds since I felt so much better.  Instead I took it easy reading in my garden lounge chair while Toby played.  Sometimes being frugal means not doing much.

The Project

*I apologize that this did not show up yesterday.  I scheduled it but never clicked on publish.*

I wanted to do a gift for pastor appreciation day and also wanted something that could double as a decoration for the social hall during the dinner.  I had the great idea of making an afghan.  I found the pattern on Etsy.  I ordered the yarn from Amazon and gave myself two weeks to make it.  I really should have thought of this idea one or two weeks ahead of my two week deadline.  The pattern was well written, but I felt like I spent every spare minute working on it. 

Our pastor was very happy with it, and it made a nice decoration.  Next time I decide to do a large afghan, I will give myself at least three weeks to finish it.  It was a nice accomplishment since I have never crocheted anything so large.  It gives me the courage to try more challenging things!

Weekly Goals Update: Week 33

I did finish "the project" so stop by again tomorrow to see it.  I am hoping (fingers crossed) that this will be a calmer week.  Right now I do not know of anything out of the ordinary going on.  I have plenty to work on though.  My hip is improved, but I do have an appointment with the chiropractor this week. 


1.  Disaster Preparedness
Week 33 was essential fats and oils.  Being a good Southerner, I have plenty of fats and oils on hand.  That includes a large container of Crisco in the pantry at all times.  This was a trickier stock up week.  I am thinking more along the lines of a hurricane or ice storm than the zombie apocalypse when it comes to disaster preparedness.


2.  Makeover the Garden
I have realized that next year I need to seriously scale back how much I plant in each raised bed.  I have one set of fruit trees left to weed this week.  Unfortunately hornworms got into my tomatoes last week and did quite a bit of damage.  I got the last laugh when the chickens gobbled up the worms.  I hope to do some maintenance work in the main garden too.


3.  Organize Recipes
We enjoyed the new recipes I cooked this past week.  I am planning to continue to try more of the ones I have saved and more from some cookbooks. 


4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
I plan to stay out of the grocery store this week.  Even though the grocery store was out of several things on last week's list, I feel certain we can get by.  So far this year, my total is nine.


5.  Focus on Saving
I am planning to stick close to home this week and work on cleaning up the yard and my craft room.  Both are in serious need of attention.


6.  Etsy Store
I am hoping to work on a few more crochet items to add to my Etsy store this week.  If all goes well, that is.

Weekend Book Reviews

Crochet Animal Rugs by Ira Rott features crochet patterns not just for rugs but also for an assortment of matching accessories.  The book includes both row by row directions and charts.  The in progress pictures included are helpful to see how the finished projects go together.  The pictures of the finished projects make me want to do every project included in the book.  It is hard to choose a favorite, but I am partial to Sassy the Kitty Cat.  The projects are rated by skill level which is helpful for new crocheters.  Any of the projects included would make a wonderful gift for the children in your life!

Stephanie L Tourles is the author of Stephanie Tourles's Essential Oils:  A Beginner's Guide.  The book covers a variety of essential oils and includes recipes using them.  The recipes are easy to follow and very useful.  I appreciated that the recipes make use of common essential oils.  Being able to purchase 11 or so to mix and match in the recipes is wonderful for anyone who wants natural remedies without breaking the bank.  I also like the safety information included for each essential oil profiled.  With recipes for everything from sore muscle bath salts to a foot gel for colds and flu, the book is well worth the price.  I will be adding it to my library of natural remedy books.

Engineering for Cats by Mac Delaney feature 10 projects for the felines in your life.  My favorite is the drinking fountain although the cat treat slot machine is a close second.  While all of the projects are fun and useful, I do think they are geared toward people with advance DIY skills.  Each project features a detailed supply list and instructions.  If you are interested in building some clever cat items, this is the book for you!

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

Against the Claw by Shari Randall is the second book in the Lobster Shack Mystery series.  Allie is still home recovering from her broken ankle.  She is helping out at her aunt's lobster shack but continues to work toward the goal of dancing as a ballerina again.  While helping out on a lobster boat, Allie discovers a body which goes unidentified for days.  Allie and her Aunt Gully have there hands full with the regular tourists and a special catering job.  When a second body shows up, Allie ramps up her investigation into the mysterious deaths.  This is a strong second book full of wonderful characters.  Against the Claw easily stands on its own and is a great late summer mystery!

Lucy Burdette's Death on the Menu is the latest book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series.  Haley is the food critic for Key Zest magazine in Key West, Florida.  She agrees to help her mother cater a three day conference between American and Cuban officials.  The tense event gets worse when Ernest Hemingway's Nobel prize gold medal goes missing and worse still when a body is found.  Haley investigates to help the family of the dead man and hopefully save her mother's catering reputation.  I loved reading all about Key West and the Cuban food.  A few times I was concerned that the touchy subject of immigration would overshadow the story, but the author handled it very well.  Overall it was a very enjoyable book. 

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Five Frugal Things

It has been a busy week, but the end of the project is in sight.  I will definitely give myself more time for something this big in the future.  Oh, well,  live and learn.

1.  I stuck to my grocery budget this week and have no intention of buying groceries at all next week.  I did make bread and a big batch of refried beans.  I am working to fill the freezer with homemade convenience foods. 

2.  I swapped laundry pods which just do not dissolve in my washing machine for some liquid detergent that my mom had. 

3.  We learned that we could dispose of large trash items by calling ahead of our regular trash pickup date.  We were able to get rid of the toilet from our old house.  I also filled up our regular trash can with items from around the yard this week.  There is a minimum fee for hauling things to the land field so this was a big savings.

4.  While working on the project, I watched free movies on the Roku.  There are several channels that offer free movies and shows.

5.  I gave Toby a bath.  He really loves baths as long as the water is warm so it is not a difficult chore.  It saves over taking him to a groomer which is an hour round trip from where we live. 

Weekly Goals Update: Week 32

I apologize for the lack of posts last week.  My wish for a normal quieter week did not happen.  I tweaked my hip one day last week and was in pain for a few days.  Our neighbor's sister passed away.  That meant cooking and an extra long day at church yesterday for the funeral.  Plus I decided to work on a big project...

I hope to have it finished by Friday and will share it next week.  It is to be a gift for our pastor at pastor appreciation day on Sunday.  Last week I thought finishing it in time would be hopeless, but I am feeling more confident now.


1.  Disaster Preparedness
Week 32 was a second food supply list.  I am actually trying to use up some things so I can restock as cooler weather approaches.  I have not done much with the list.  I do keep a decent stockpile so I am not going to worry about this for the time being.


2.  Makeover the Garden
I did start clearing out some of the dead plants.  I think it is still a bit early to plant fall seeds.  I will wait until later in the month.  On the list for this week is weeding around the fruit trees again.


3.  Organize Recipes
I went through a couple of cookbooks and noted recipes to try over the next two weeks.  W will eat more foods than he used to eat so I am branching out and trying new foods.  I think it will help menu planning if I have a bigger list to draw from each season.


4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
I did not go to the grocery store last week.  We ate what we had on hand.  I was even able to cook the requested items for the dinner following the funeral with what I had in the pantry.


5.  Focus on Saving
Staying out of the grocery store helped this goal.  I also did the usual - drying clothes outside and turning off lights when we left a room.  I watched some free movies through Vudu while working on my project.


6.  Etsy Store
The project kept me busy all week, but I am hoping it will lead to some custom orders in the future.


I hope to make a bit of time to post this week.  If not please know I am busy and will get back to it next week!

Weekend Book Reviews

S'More Murders by Maya Corrigan is the fifth book in the Five Ingredient Mystery series.  Val keeps busy running the fitness club cafe and helping her grandfather with his cookbook.  To earn extra money she adds caterer to her resume.  She takes a job recreating the final menu from the Titanic for a murder mystery dinner party aboard a yacht.  When the host disappears and is later found dead, Val is in the midst of a real murder mystery.  Val and her grandfather are a great pair, and the mystery kept me guessing until the end.  This is a wonderful, well-written series.  While this book can be read on its own, I highly recommend the other books. 

The second book in the Cat Cafe Mystery series by Cate Conte is Purrder She Wrote.  Maddie and her grandfather are excited for the opening day of their cat cafe.  Things seem to be going well until one of her volunteers gets into a shouting match with a wealthy visitor who wants a cat right then.  When this wealthy woman is later found murdered, the volunteer is the main suspect.  Maddie jumps in to solve the mystery to exonerate her volunteer and save the cafe's reputation.  I enjoy the idea of a cat cafe in a small town.  This book had quite a bit going on.  Some things were resolved, and the rest I expect will carry over to future books. 

Death Over Easy by Maddie Day is the fifth book in the Country Store Mystery series.  Robbie's country store and cafe are a big hit.  She opens her small bed and breakfast just in time for the annual bluegrass festival.  Two of her first guests are her dad and her stepmother.  When a performer is found murdered, her family members are among the many suspects.  After a second body is found, Robbie wonders if there could be more than one killer.  This particular book focused on the bluegrass festival.  Robbie is a strong cozy mystery heroine who spends more time in her business than most.  The mystery kept me going from one suspect to the next.  I look forward to the next book in the series.

disclosure: I received these e-books through NetGalley and the publishers but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekly Goals Update: Week 31

Sorry for the late post.  Yesterday was hectic, but the rest of the week should be normal.  Fingers crossed!

1.  Disaster Preparedness
Week 31 was Inventory Management.  I do not do well in this area.  I tend to start a list but then never mark off things as I use them.  Instead I keep a chalkboard in the pantry.  As we take the last of an item, it goes onto the chalkboard.  I do my best to keep a running inventory of things we use often, but as with the flour last week it does not always work.  I definitely need to work on this one.  Do you use an inventory system?  I would love to hear what works for you.

2.  Makeover the Garden
W did mow the garden last week, and it looks much better.  I was able to do some weeding closer to the beds.  This week I plan to continue weeding, pick up the trash, and clean some of the beds out.  The cantaloupe never did anything so I will pull those plants and plant purple cabbage seeds. 

3.  Organize Recipes
No time for this last week.  This is definitely going to be a fall/winter project.

4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
I had planned to add one last week, but we were completely out of all-purpose flour.  I bought two bags and nothing else.  I am not doing any shopping this week though.

5.  Focus on Saving
I am planning to make do this month.  If I can get by without something, I will. 

6.  Etsy Shop
Still working on items....

Weekend Book Reviews

Knot My Sister's Keeper by Mary Marks is the sixth book in the Quilting Mystery series.  Martha's daughter gifts her a DNA kit which leads Martha to discover a half sister named Giselle.  Outspoken Giselle cannot provide many answers about their father who disappeared 30 years ago.  Together Giselle and Martha decide to solve the murder.  The mystery and the side story lines in this book kept me reading whenever I had a free moment.  Giselle is a wonderful addition, and I hope to see her in future books.  This book easily stands on its own, and a love or knowledge of quilting is not required.  This is a wonderful addition to an amazing series.

Libby Klein's second book in the Poppy McAllister series is Midnight Snacks are Murder.  Poppy has her hands full trying to get her and her aunt's bed and breakfast renovated and opened.  Add in the fact that Aunt Ginny is not sleeping, her former mother-in-law shows up to "help", and a snack bandit is running rampant in the neighborhood.  When it seems the snack bandit escalates to murder, Poppy finds herself in the middle of another mystery.  The characters in this book are funny.  The mystery is strong, but the characters really make the book.  Aunt Ginny is an eccentric lady.  The handyman and Poppy's mother-in-law would drive the best person crazy with how helpful they both are.  It was a relaxing and enjoyable read.

disclosure:  I received these e-books from NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

A Souffle of Suspicion by Daryl Wood Gerber is the second book in the French Bistro Mystery series.  Mimi, owner of a bistro, is gearing up for crush week at the neighboring wineries and a sweets festival held on the grounds of the inn.  When the festival organizer who is also her chef's sister is found murdered, Mimi jumps in to clear her chef's name.  The mystery moves along quickly, and the characters all work well together.  I had read the first book, but it is not necessary to enjoy this one.  I am already looking forward to the next book. 

Kathi Daley's ninth book in the TJ Jensen Mystery series is Beaches in Paradise.  This was a fast paced mystery that moved only quickly with only a small amount of side information.  It can be read on its own, but I felt that I got more out of the story from having read previous books.  TJ's friend Gina is missing and a dead man is found in her vehicle.  TJ and her boyfriend, Kyle, are racing to find Gina and the murderer.  This series deviates a bit from the typical cozy mystery.  While it has many of the normal parts (family resort, animals, slight romance), the characters lean toward the methodical side when solving a mystery.  It is a more serious but still fun cozy mystery. 

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Frugal Friday

I have had another busy week.


1.   I mowed yet again and am continually thankful I do not need to pay someone to do it. 


2.  I mopped the social hall at church for a wedding shower this weekend.  That will add a bit to my August check.  After VBS it was dirty.  No one came to pick up the VBS leftovers.  Before I threw everything away, I sorted out things I could use to decorate for pastor appreciation later this month.  I also set aside a pile of items to use for the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. 


3.  I ended up doing some grocery shopping since I was totally out of flour.  That was all I purchased though.  I made macarons to take to the shower.  I used leftover Oreo icing to fill them.  I had everything on hand so there was no out of pocket cost.


4.  I made a dish scrubby and three dish cloths for the shower gift.  I had the cotton yarn on hand.  The registry was picked over, and I knew these would be a useful gift.


5.  We went to an estate sale this past week.  The house was packed full of nice things - vintage and antique.  Most of the items were things we would never use or were a bit out of our price range.  I did find a crochet hook that I needed, two cones of cotton yarn, and a mini French press.  I gave $11 for everything.  The French press alone sells for about $18 on Amazon, and the yarn would sell for $15 each.  Everything I bought was useful.