Frugal Friday & Living Room Update

This week I sewed more pillow covers for Toby. I used fabric that W got for free.  He came across someone throwing out some items and asked if he could have them.  One was a tote full of various fabrics.  I will have no problem getting six covers made.


We did a variety of home projects and spent nothing.  We used up some items we had previously purchased.  W also used materials from our old house.  I share some of those below in the living room update.


I listed some items we had decluttered on eBay.  Most were books or video games we had bought and read/played. 


I made invitations for a bridal shower I am helping with next month.  I used materials I had in my craft room so I only spent time on them.


I shopped a 75% off Schoola sale and purchased some nice children's jackets to donate to my church's clothing drive.  I also took advantage of a clearance sale at Dollar General to get three pair of shoes to donate. 


Last week we worked on finishing projects in the living room.  First on the list was the dog cave.  At the end of the aquarium cabinet is a opening for Toby's bed.  He does sleep in there at times.  W build an opening which helps finish it off. 

He also used an old door from our old house to build a coffee table and end table.  The trim is made from boards from the old house as well.

Originally he had build a stand for Agatha's tank, but he was never happy with how it looked.  Instead he painted the original stand. 

That wrapped up the last of the projects for the living room.  This week we have been working on the foyer and hallway.  I feel like we are on track to finish everything by Thanksgiving.  I love seeing all of the little things done.

Weekly Goals Update: Week 37

1.  Disaster Preparedness
My prayers go out to those affected by Florence. At some point nothing you do can prepare you for the devastation that follows a natural disaster.  My heart just is not in discussing my own preparations when so many are suffering.


2.  Makeover the Garden
I have been so busy working on other projects that the garden has taken a backseat. This week I will spend at least an hour a day working to get it ready for fall planting.


3.  Organize Recipes
I have a large box of page protectors so once the time changes and the weather turns cold I am ready to organize.


4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
I stayed out of the grocery stores last week bringing my total to 12.  This week I will have to shop for a few things.


5.  Focus on Saving
I did an awful job last week with the earning websites.  I finally figured out my problem with the Swagbucks videos so this week should go better.  I am making it a point to work on them while I am drinking my coffee in the morning.


6.  Etsy Shop
I have been busy making samples.  My plan for Friday is to spend some time posting the items I have made and setting up a Facebook group page.  A friend suggested that I set up an Instagram page as well so I want to look into that.  I will continue to make samples of items too. So much to do!

Weekend Book Reviews

Pandemic 1918 by Catharine Arnold is a well written book about the 1918 Spanish flu.  The first hand accounts painted a vivid picture of the horror that people faced during that time.  It ties World War I into the story and explains how trying to stop the spread as in the case of Alaska and Australia was futile.  The book also carries readers to the present and shares how researchers are working to prevent history from repeating itself.  I have read several books about the 1918 flu, but this one was especially griping due to the first hand accounts of survivors and caregivers. 

Allison Brooks' second book in the Haunted Library Mystery series is Read and Gone.  Carrie is happy with her job at the library and her visits from the library ghost Evelyn.  She gets a Christmas surprise when her often absent father Jim returns.  It would be a good thing if he was in town to see her and not track down his share of stolen jewels.  When Jim's partner Benton is murdered, Jim is the first suspect.  Despite his treatment of her, Carrie is determined to track down the gems and clear her father.  I did not read the first book in this series, but I had no trouble keeping track of the characters.  The mystery was strong with several likely candidates for the guilty party.  I loved that Evelyn was a serious part of the book rather than a silly addition.  I look forward to catching up on the first book and reading future ones in 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

In Want of a Knife by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli is the third book in the Little Library Mystery series.  I had read a previous book in the series.  I had hoped to see some stronger character development in this book.  Unfortunately Jenny is still moping around since she has no man in her life and appears weak.  Her friend Zoe comes across as bitter.  The story did not flow well at all.  It jumps from one thing to the next without ever accomplishing anything.  The idea for the books is wonderful, but for me the execution falls flat.

Southern Snacks  by Perre Coleman Magness includes 77 recipes.  Some of the recipes are in most southerners arsenal including cheese straws and comeback sauce. A few were new to me such as the collard pimento cheese dip.  I was slightly offended at the thought of adding anything except salt to the water for boiled peanuts.  Good boiled peanuts do not need anything else.  Of course each southerner has his/her own family twist on most recipes.  It is a nice mixture of traditional and new.

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

Frugal Friday

We needed one more gallon of paint to finish a project in the kitchen and do some touch up painting.  Sherwin Williams had a sale ending earlier this week so we went on the last day to take advantage.  We will not start the painting for another week or two, but I wanted to buy the paint while we could get a discount.


I added a couple of containers of taco seasoned meat to the freezer.  I might reach W's goal of a month of freezer meals with little grocery shopping.  It took about as long to make an extra big batch of taco meat as a regular one.


We did some projects in the living room using materials and supplies we already had on hand.  I will share pictures next week.  Now that W has more free time we are determined to finish all those little things that never quite got done on the new house.    We are off to a good start.


The batteries in our heating/air conditioner temperature control went out.  I was happy that they lasted nearly two years.  We replaced them with rechargeable batteries.  The unit gives a low battery warning, and I always keep a supply of batteries charged. 


W has started tearing down our old house.  I asked him to pile up any trash in one area so I can dispose of it.  Yesterday evening I took time to fill our trashcan as full as possible with the trash.  We pay a set amount each month so it makes sense to take advantage of it.

On The Farm: Animals

We recently took in a few more rabbits. They are all girls and fit in nicely with the rabbits we already have.  Unfortunately not all of them like to be still long enough for pictures, but here are a few of the ones that cooperated.

This white rabbit is beyond fluffy.  She also sheds like crazy.  She is very friendly and comes right up to me for her treat each evening.

This rabbit is velvety soft.  She has a lovely gray/black coat.


We recently got some peafowl - a few peacocks and several peahens.  The boys are starting to get their new tail feathers.  They are currently shedding the fluffiest gray feathers I have ever seen.  I collect some each day to use in craft projects.





The turkeys are doing well.  Whitey actually has nicer tail feathers than Frank this year although no one could convince Frank of that.





Rebecca was hanging out under a building in the shade.

The triplets are growing well.  W is still convinced they are all three girls. 

When I zoomed out you can see that neither Toby nor the turkeys pay any attention to each other.





A Few of My Favorite Cozy Mysteries

Over the weekend olderandwiser asked about my favorite cozy mystery authors.  I thought I would share some of the series that I particularly like.


The first one that comes to mind is the Bird Lover's Mystery series by J.R Ripley.  I enjoy the mix of characters in the series and the bird watching theme.


The second series that I love is the Cora Crafts Mystery series by Mollie Cox Bryan.  The setting for this series is a craft retreat and the characters change a bit with each book.


Perhaps my favorite series is the Bunco Biddies Mystery series by Julie B Cosgrove.  This series focuses on a group of very active seniors at a retirement community.  The books do have a religious aspect to them.


Each cozy mystery series has a theme be it cooking, a craft, a location.  If you have a particular interest, that is a great way to narrow down what cozies you might like the best.  Hope this helps a bit.