Random Happenings

Earlier today Toby was playing with my parents' oldest dog and he ran over a water spigot/pipe in the back yard.  Truthfully it was in a bad spot - right out in the open and up out of the ground.  W had all of the materials to repair it.  While it had to be repaired, he decided to move it against the garden fence and brace it with a piece of rebar.  He also went ahead and wrapped it for winter.  He used half of a pool noodle purchased on clearance at Dollar General.  We paid just 10 cents for the noodle which works as well as the more expensive foam sold specifically for wrapping pipes.

Our angel fish laid eggs.  Of course not all of them survived, but we do have about 20 teeny, tiny angel fish babies swimming around.  They are too small to photograph just yet.  Instead here is a picture of the daddy fish who gets very annoyed when anyone tries to look at the babies.

Finally a couple of the acorn squash I had bought for wedding shower decorations had started to rot.  W sliced up the squash for the chickens to eat, but he saved the seeds.  I washed them and spread them out on a pet potty pad to dry.  This is my new favorite way to dry seeds.  The absorbent pads soak up the moisture quickly, and the seeds do not stick.  I did the same thing with pumpkin seeds last week.



Weekly Goals Update: Week 43

Hopefully this week will go more smoothly than last.  I definitely need to work on some household stuff since the house is petty much in total chaos.  I have a few posts planned.  Be sure to go here to enter the book giveaway!


1.  Disaster Preparedness
Week 43 was gardening and livestock.  I feel like I have a pretty good handle on the garden.  We are expanding our fruit trees each year.  While I do continue to buy seeds, I often save my own.  We have piles of chickens as well as rabbits and turkeys.  For the time being they are pretty much pets rather than food.  The garden is something I have always done.  Homegrown food just tastes better!  I also have what I jokingly call my zombie apocalypse garden.  It is an herb garden full of medicinal herbs:  nettle, yarrow, etc. 


2.  Makeover the Garden
I managed to get in the garden one day to give everything a once over.  I lost one cabbage plant and will need to plant a few more seeds.  The seeds were older so the germination rate is not as good.


3.  Organize Recipes
*Sigh* I am going to get this done but it will probably be after Thanksgiving.


4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
Technically I bought groceries last week, but they were for my mom and ingredients for baked goods for my cousin.  Since my cousin and mom reimbursed me, I am counting that as a no spend week for myself.  That brings me to 14!  I hope to get a couple more in before the year ends. 


5. Focus on Saving
I did not do anything extra special last week for this.  I did take advantage of a couple of pet food coupons this past week to save money.  I have two savings goals.  We are working to completely pay off the credit card, and I am saving to purchase new living room furniture.  Obviously the furniture goal will be funded at a slower pace until the credit card is paid off.  For now I am saving quarters for furniture.  It will be interesting to see how much I can stash away.


6.  Etsy Store
I got nothing new listed last week.  I am working on a couple of projects and have a few quick projects planned for this week. 

Book Giveaway: Go To My Grave

Go To My Grave by Catriona McPherson is a mystery set in a bed and breakfast.  Donna is in charge of the current visitors - cousins returning many years after a tragic event.  The book is an interesting gothic style mystery.  This descriptive book is full and twists and turns.  It is perfect for reading on a cold fall day.  You can win your own copy courtesy of the publisher.  To enter simply leave a comment letting me know your favorite fall activity.  Good luck!

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*Contest is open to US Residents.

Weekly Goals Update: Week 42

1.  Disaster Preparedness
Week 42 was characteristics of an ideal retreat which honestly does not apply to my idea of disaster preparedness.  Personally I like where I live.  An ideal/perfect place does not exist.  I am going with the "make do" philosophy on this one.


2.  Makeover the Garden
I managed to water the garden and then we got some rain.  I do need to see if any of my seeds sprouted or if I need to replant. 


3.  Organize Recipes
Ummm....No.


4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
I really, really, really want to stay out of the grocery store this week.  I do need to make two cakes and a dozen cupcakes this week.  I expect I will need to pick up a couple of ingredients to make that happen though.


5.  Focus on Saving
The only spending this week was business related - patterns and supplies.  We are again focusing on the "make do" philosophy first for projects, meals, etc.  I am happy to stay home and out of the stores!


6.  Etsy Store
I added a couple of items to my store.  I finished up some warm and soft dragon tears fingerless gloves in children and adult sizes.

 

Toward the end of the week I added some pumpkin coffee cozies.  I rotate between the three colors since it is hard to choose a favorite.



Weekend Book Reviews - The Cat Edition

A Catered Cat Wedding by Isis Crawford is the fourteenth book in the Mystery with Recipes series.  Bernie and Libby are sisters hired to cater the wedding of two Russian blue cats owned by Susie, the town's crazy cat lady.  It soon becomes clear that the wedding is meant to rile her enemies who are all guests at the wedding.  After someone plays a mean prank following the service, Susie is found dead.  The suspect list is long.   Due to some unfortunate events, Bernie and Libby have one week to find the murderer or face charges themselves.  This was a fun cozy mystery, and I enjoyed the cat theme.  I am anxious to go back to the beginning to read this series and get to know the characters more. 

The third book in the Cat Groomer Mystery series by Eileen Watkins is Feral Attraction.  Cassie owns a cat grooming and boarding shop.  Her friend Dawn enlists her help in protecting a feral cat colony at Dawn's mother's condo community.  When one of the vocal supporters of the colony dies, Dawn suspects foul play.  Cassie goes from protecting cats to investigating a murder.  The author includes some good information on feral cat control in addition to a strong mystery. 

Bells, Spells, and Murders by Carol J Perry is the seventh book in the Witch City Mystery series.  Lee is the new field reporter for WICH-TV in Salem.  One of her first assignments is interviewing a local man who oversees a charity.  It turns into a breaking news story when she finds the man dead in his office.  In spite of the fact that I figured out a large portion of the mystery early on, I enjoyed this book.  The characters are interesting, and Aunt Ibby is my favorite.  I also enjoy the cats features in the book.  The Salem setting is a favorite of mine as well.  The book does include tarot cards which might be off putting to some readers.  It is not a focal point of the story however.

Laura Levine's latest book in the Jaine Austen Mystery series is Death of a Neighborhood Scrooge.  Jaine and her friend Lance are house sitting in a no pets allowed mansion over the Christmas holidays.  When her cat Prozac gets thrown out of the pet hotel, Prozac ends up moving in the neighboring mansion.  The owner, Scotty, is a former child star who makes Scrooge look like a spendthrift.  When he is murdered with a discount Yule log, the suspect list includes neighbors, the current wife, an ex-wife, the renter, and the maid.  Jaine is determined to solve the mystery and rescue Prozac whether she likes it or not.  This series falls on the lighter side of the cozy mystery genre.  It is enjoyable nevertheless.  My favorite part of this series is always the e-mails from Jaine's parents which did not disappoint!

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

Weekly Goals Update: Week 41

1.  Disaster Preparedness
Last week was spent literally doing this.  We moved the extra large rain barrel to the front of the house so we could catch water coming off the porch.  I collected water in jugs inside for us to drink.  The water outside plus buckets of water in the house were for flushing.  I stored jugs of water in the rabbit house for the outside animals.  Items that could blow away were put away.  W also put up extra coverings over some of the outside animals.  We were blessed that the storm shifted slightly moving away from us.  Otherwise things could have been much worse.  Most people here are focused on clean up and doing what we can to help those more affected than we were.


2.  Makeover the Garden
Since I did not know what the hurricane would do, I chose not to do any planting this past week.  Between falling limbs and the possibility of heavy rain, seeds and seedlings could have been washed away. 


3.  Organize Recipes
No-again.  I will do this before the year ends though.


4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks - Done
With the storm and real possibility of power outages, I opted not to buy any groceries last week.  I am going to continue to work on this to see if I can get more before the end of the year.


5.  Focus on Saving
We had planned to buy pavers to finish up the back yard area.  In the end we opted to wait.  I am going to work on Swagbucks to earn some gift cards.  I plan to combine those with coupons to hopefully have very little out of pocket on this project.


6.  Etsy Store
I focused on storm prep rather than the Etsy store last week.  I did get some crocheting done.  My plans are to add some items this afternoon.  I have various projects to finish up this week as well.

Weekend Book Reviews

Simply Bento by Yuko and Norika is a nice combination of Japanese and American recipes. A few of the ingredients will be a bit difficult to find, but most recipes feature easy to find items.  One of my favorite recipes is the Spicy Chicken Wrap Bento.  Each recipe features a "plan ahead" section letting you know what steps can be done in advance.  The Fresh Fruits Jelly is another easy recipe that can be altered depending on what is in season.  Overall this is a nice cookbook with something for everyone.

The third book in the Bread Shop Mystery series by Winnie Archer is The Walking Bread.  Ivy is the official photographer for her town's art car show.  When she finds the body of her brother's rival artist, her brother becomes the main suspect.  Ivy must investigate to find the true killer and clear her brother's name.  The characters in this series are strong, and the mystery kept me guessing until the end.  This is a strong addition to the series.

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

Weekend Book Reviews

The Dogfather by Sparkle Abbey is the tenth book in the Pampered Pets Mystery series.  I had not read any of the previous books in the series, but I had no trouble following the characters and storyline.  Melinda owns Bow Wow Boutique and has her hands full with her spunky employee and ex-boyfriend.  With local businesses being vandalized, everyone is on edge.  That becomes more true after the owner of a designer handbag shop is found dead.  Melinda is determined to find the murderer before things get completely out of hand.  This was a fast paced book and a quick read.

Joanne Fluke's latest book in the Hannah Swensen Mystery series, Christmas Cake Murder, is actually a prequel to the entire series.  It is meant to explain how Hannah got started with her bakery.  The dialogue in this book felt forced and very unnatural.  The mystery was almost non-existent, and too much time is spent on very mundane things.  This particular book would have worked much better as a short story rather than a full book.  I did find a couple of interesting recipes but not much else.

Silver Anniversary Murder by Leslie Meier is the twenty-fifth book in the Lucy Stone Mystery series.  The book started off well with Lucy working on an article for a couple's 25th anniversary celebration in Tinker's Cove, Maine.  This gets shoved to the side for a murder mystery in New York City.  Lucy runs off on her own to investigate leading to a great deal of rambling and filler.  The solution to the mystery is rushed together at the very end.  I was disappointed that the first story line was cast aside for another less believable story.  I expect that every person has political views, but I read for enjoyment and was not thrilled to see them mentioned over and over in the book.  It does not matter if I agree with the views or not.  Politics should not invade every single aspect of life.  I hope the series returns to its roots for future books. 

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

Frugal Friday: After Michael

Hurricane aftermath first... Michael came by my area as a category one hurricane.  We had gusty winds and a bit of rain but no real damage.  A few neighbors did suffer some damage, but overall my area is in good shape.  Our power went out as expected.  It was back on in about 17 hours compared to 18 hours after Irma last year.  We will be cleaning up piles of limbs/branches, but I am thankful to be safe.


Frugal doings for this week -

1. We did not need to buy many supplies to weather the storm.  We had containers on hand to store water as opposed to buying water.  We had plenty of rechargeable batteries.  We had non-perishable foods to eat.  Not opening the refrigerators or freezers allowed them to stay cold while the power was out.
2. W dropped me off at an appointment and went to the grocery store to buy pumpkins.  After he picked me up, I realized he was overcharged.  We went back to the store where I argued for a refund.  That included pointing out that even though the sale ad ended on a particular date the prices were still good on that same date. 
3. The rabbits ate extra produce from my parents' garden. 
4. I used a gift card earned through MyPoints to cut the price on some Command strips for putting up pictures in the bedroom and craft room. 
5. W found a prop for us to use for our trunk or treat decorations later this month.  I will share more about that later.  It is frugal since it is something we already had on hand.  I am making most of the other decorations. 

Waiting

The latest forecast has a tropical storm warning for my area with the brunt of the storm arriving overnight.  We had a good dinner and will eat a homemade freezer meal for supper so there are very few dishes.  The wind is picking up just a bit so we will be heading out to feed the outside animals soon.  It is just dreary now but definitely cooler temperature wise. 


I have spent the morning working on a crochet parrot.  I cannot finish until after the safety eyes arrive from Amazon - supposedly Friday, but it could be Monday. 

This is my first amigurumi piece, but I think it is coming along nicely.  Next up two pirate hats...


Toby saw me get the camera out, and I asked if he wanted his picture taken.  He immediately sat and posed.   What a ham!

Hurricane Michael

We have spent the past two days doing some preparations for Hurricane Michael.  I do hope he will just be a tropical storm by the time he reaches my area, but I am planning for worse.  We have water caught for drinking, the animals, and for flushing toilets.  I have plenty of easy no cook foods on hand. We have also charged up everything we could.  Now it is just a matter of watching and waiting. 

Our area is under a curfew for 24 hours beginning tomorrow evening.  We did have to run a few errands earlier today, but I have no intention of going very far at all for the next two days.  At most we will check on some neighbors. 

I have books to read, crochet projects to work on, and some letters to answer.  If I can just handle being stuck inside with puppy Toby, two cats, and W for the next two days all will be well.

I will check in tomorrow if we still have power.  Prayers for everyone in the path of the storm!

Weekly Goals Update: Week 40

1.  Disaster Preparedness
Week 40 was cold weather preparedness.  I think many of the items in this section are just smart winter items. Insulating pipes and making sure weather striping are just smart things to do before cold weather arrives.  It is hard to think about cold weather when summer temperatures are still hanging around here.


2.  Makeover the Garden
It is still hot but rain is on the way later this week.  I am hesitant to plant many seeds as some of the rain will be heavy.  Instead I will wait until the end of the week to plant the seeds and get started on the fall garden.  Cooler weather should be on the way as well which will help the fall plants.


3.  Organize Recipes
I did print off some recipes for things I kept having to look up online.  Winter will arrive eventually, and I will tackle this one.


4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
I am holding steady at 12 on this one.  I will need to pick up just a few things this week but plan to skip shopping after that for a week at least. 


5.  Focus on Saving
I have been sticking to necessary purchases so far this month although we do have some items to buy later in the month.  It is all about seeking out the best deal possible on all of the purchases.


6.  Etsy Store
I finished up a big item this week but will not list it until the end of the month.  Hopefully I can get several more items added to my shop later this week. 

Weekend Book Reviews

Just in Time by Suzanne Trauth is the fourth book in the Dodie O'Dell Mystery series.  Dodie, manager of the Windjammer restaurant, is looking forward to the local theater's production of Bye, Bye Birdie since her boyfriend has a small part.  The theater is combining forces with a theater group from a nearby town.  When the visiting pianist, Ruby,  is found dead in her car, Dodie finds herself in the middle of another investigation.  Ruby has more secrets than anyone imagined.  The characters work well together, and I loved the addition of the restaurant sous chef.  This book easily stands on its own, but I recommend the others.  The theater tie in with the restaurant makes for an interesting series.


The second book in the Wine Trail Mystery series by J.C. Eaton is Chardonnayed to Rest.  Norrie is still at her family's winery, Two Witches, while her sister and brother-in-law are in Costa Rica.  At the monthly wine owners' meeting, a neighbor, Rosalee, lets everyone know about her problems with a new land owner.  When the land owner is found murdered, Rosalee is suspected of being an accomplice at the very least.  Norrie jumps in to help solve the mystery.  I enjoy the setting and the characters of this series.  My problem with this particular book is that the guilty party was very obvious early on.  It was a little frustrating that Norrie could not put the pieces together.  I am looking forward to a stronger mystery in the next book. 

A Killing by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge is the second book in the By the Sea Mystery series.  Liz has settled into life at the Indialantic by the Sea.  The peacefulness is broken by the discovery of the body of a fisherman who went overboard.  I enjoy the series although I wish less time were spent on Liz's aunt's former tv and film career.  I also find Liz's love interest to exhibit some red flags in his behavior.  He tends to run off and pout like a two year old if Liz does not act exactly like he wants.  The series has promise with the growth of a few characters.

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

Weekend Book Review and Giveaway

Haunted Hayride with Murder by Auralee Wallace is the sixth book in the Otter Lake Mystery series.  Erica and Freddie of Otter Lake Security are hired to provide security for a local apple orchard during their October Halloween events.  When some teenagers roaming in the woods searching for the Apple Witch uncover a body, Erica and Freddie initially refuse to be drawn into another mystery.  Despite Freddie's reluctance, they are soon deep in a mystery.  This cozy series has a humorous element that has me laughing out loud at times.  The characters are quirky and maybe a bit immature at times, but for this series it works.  The Halloween theme was well done, and I am already looking forward to the next book.


Want to give this series a try?  I am giving away one paperback copy of Haunted Hayride with Murder.  To enter please leave a comment on this blog post telling me your favorite thing about October.  The contest is open to US residents and ends on Monday, October 15. 


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Frugal Friday

I treated my own sprained ankle.  I knew that nothing was broken so going to the doctor would be pointless. As soon as I got back in the house, W slathered my ankle down with my homemade comfrey salve.  This helped it not to bruise and minimized the swelling.  I borrowed a cane from my dad to help me walk.  I have no problem paying for a doctor's visit, but in this case I could treat myself.


We did not resort to takeout while I was off my feet.  I had a few simple meals planned as well as some homemade freezer meals.  W was able to handle all of the cooking.  He is especially happy that he now knows how to make pizza dough.


I needed to add airtime to my Tracfone.  I searched for a promo code and got an additional 60 minutes of time free. 


A friend suggested that I set up an Instagram account for my craft items.  My phone is not a smartphone.  I got an old smartphone from my mother-in-law.  It connects just fine to our wi-fi so I am able to use it for Instagram.


I was very tempted by some e-cookbooks that were on sale through Amazon this week.  It was especially hard since I was stuck on the couch.  None were previously on my wish list though so I chose not to purchase them.  It was not a huge savings, but it probably saved $10. 

House Projects

Work on the house projects has slowed down just a little.  W has had other projects that needed his attention including some work at the church we attend.  He did touch up the paint in the hallway.  When he finished he decided to add a bit of detail to the hallway doors which are pocket doors.

We started some work in the bedroom but unfortunately did not get very far in there yet.  W did finish up Toby's bed. A few months ago he found a toddler bed tossed out along a highway.  When he went back a second time, it was still there so he picked it up.  He cut it down, added a bottom, and painted it using materials we had on hand let from other projects.  It makes a lovely dog bed for Toby.



This week my plans got turned upside down.  I had intended to organize my craft room.  I got off to a good start on Monday.  Then that afternoon Toby and my parents' Chihuahuas were playing in the yard.  Toby ran full force into me and left me with a badly sprained ankle.  My time has been spent on the couch, and W has been doing all of the things I would normally do.  Hopefully next week we can get back on track.

Weekly Goals Update: Week 39

1.  Disaster Preparedness
Week 39 was alternative power sources.  I definitely want to get a solar battery charger since we primarily use rechargeable batteries.  I would love, love, love a solar generator, but that is not happening any time soon.  It is a goal though!


2.  Makeover the Garden
It is starting to cool down so I plan to get areas of the fall garden going this week.  I picked tomatoes and peppers last week as well as a pile of basil.  We ate some raspberries as well.  I did have to water a couple of times this past week, but we are getting rain again now. 


3.  Organize Recipes
Nothing this past week and most likely nothing this week!


4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
I was out of several things last week and had to make a stop at the grocery store.  This week I am doing our big monthly shop.  I hope to knock out the last week later this month.


5.  Focus on Saving
I am looking for any extra month I can come across this month.  I am trying to get back to the Dave Ramsey mindset of paying off the bit of money we owe on credit cards.


6.  Etsy Store
Last week I added two items to my Etsy store.  I also added some additional colors of the kitchen items I have for sell.  I plan to add at least 6 more items this week.  I also created a Facebook group for Chick-a-D Designs. 

Hunting Hat

Deer Baby Photo Prop Outfit

Kitchen Wash Cloths

Dish Scrubbies