Frugal things I did this past week.

re-hemmed a pair of grey slacks, older slacks, but still look new and feel good on.
removed a spot on a rust coloured sleeveless top.  Had put it in the dryer and didn't see this huge grease stain between the boobs!  put Dawn on the stain and put in the laundry bin, then the next day when I was washing a load of light clothes I put some home made laundry stain remover on it and washed with the rest of the clothes.  Stain actually is gone!  I didn't think it would go as the top is 65% polyester and only 35% cotton.  Hung it to dry and it is good to go!  No stain, and top saved from the dust bag.
So basically saved 1 outfit!  Better than buying a new outfit for sure.

Helped split the cut up wood ( Ed and Dot came down to help as Ken was in bad shape this week).  Today Ken is using the tractor to bring the cut/split wood ( Johnathan cut for us) into the carport.  We will stack it later.  Johnathan will be coming over to cut more of the wood today.  This is wood we bought last year and should do us this winter and part of the next winter too. I will help split the rest with the old wood splitter.

Not especially frugal thing we did this year, but it will help us live in our home longer and that is frugal I think.  We had a propane furnace put in to replace the old oil furnace.  Since the duct work was all in that saved a fair bit of money.  Propane tank filled at 49.9 cents a liter.  With taxes and all it came to $638. for a winters heat.  Using the wood in the living room stove will cut that heat bill down and should make the house very nice and warm , esp. for Ken this winter. Paid the propane bill this week and it's nice to know the heat is in and all paid for in advance.  ( saved like all major bills by taking a total and dividing in by 12 and putting it into it's own account for taxes, major annual bills.  When you are on a limited budget like a pension, you have to plan ahead as much as you can, and then just know the rest is what you have to live on till the next pension!  So cut down on entertainment, clothing, anywhere you need to.

Another frugal thing I have done this week is to make sure I am using the things I have in the house.  Especially in my cooking.  I get into a rut. So I have used the crock pot , made chili using the leftover spaghetti sauce and ground beef  from supper the night before.  I added chopped onions, celery and chopped mushrooms (4) to the spaghetti sauce that we had ( cheap brand no name original) , then when I put what was left in the crock pot I just added 1 drained and rinsed can of kidney beans, 1 tin of pork and beans, and 1 tin of Mexican diced tomatoes with chilli's chopped in it. ( all 14 oz. tins and on sale for 69 Cents a tin!) also added chili powder, and some home blended Tex-Mex spice.  With toast this made a nice supper.

Tonight we are having sticky Chicken, I am doing it in the oven. It is a very frugal dish and the Chicken was only $5.05 ( one I got in the States).  The giblets and things are on the stove simmering for soup base for lunch.  Depending how hungry we are at supper this should do us 3 to 4 meals.  With sandwiches, soup and perhaps pot pie.
( dog will enjoy all the trimmings from the soup with the exception of the neck - not bones for her from chicken!) But heart, liver, mm mm she loves them.

Off to go have a coffee and check the soup for lunch.

Little Home in the Valley

We came to our little home in the Valley Nov. 1 , 2002. It seems so long ago now.
We were looking for a place to love, a place we could afford, a place close to nature, and natural beauty, and a place we could enjoy the remainder of our years, however long that may or may not be.
Over the past 6 years we have created a garden area. With 4 trial green houses ( the 4th we have the makings of, and will be built this spring).
Several perenial beds surrounded on all sides by logs, and several with stumps placed in the middle of the bed... those flower beds being given the wonderful name of " The stump Gardens" .
Our retreat is nestled in a lovely little green valley, and the back of the property rests on a little creek called like many creeks "Meadow Creek".
Here we enjoy a quiet retirement life. Getting and cutting and splitting our own wood for heat. Gardening, and enjoying the fresh flowers, and vegetables. Visiting with our neighbours, of which we have been blessed with many wonderful friends. Dear Heart, loves going into the surrounding Mountains and Valleys, and hunting and fishing with his friends. I like fishing down at the creek from the banks at my own place.
Today our little valley is being quietly filled with light fluffy snow. Dear Heart has already ploughed the long driveway out so Christmas Day visitors can stop by, but by late evening or early tomorrow morning it will need doing again. We didn't get any snow till December this year, but now it is working over time to give us lots. While it makes for poor driving on our winding roads, it is beautiful to look at, will create lots of moisture for the comming year.
I hope to post more on the frugal living style we practice, and the wonderful freinds we have made in the Valley.
I will stop for today, and check on our Christmas dinner. Just the two of us today, but we will have Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and mashed turnips, and Cranberry sauce. MMMMMM I love Turkey and stuffing.