Mad about Freecycle

See.. if I weren't already a Freecycle nut, and hadn't already signed up for the emails and gotten used to scanning them for goodies...

I would have missed a really cool epiphany.

Some background first. I have never been a cloth diaperer.. not since the moment where my mother said... you put it in the toilet and then swish it around (with your hand).. have we even considered using cloth diapers regularily. The most I've done is for an occasional rash to air them out.

I have a now three year old son who is NOT potty trained, but is very interested and will toddle off to the bathroom with his brothers on occasion and even be productive about it. With a new baby, I'm dealing with enough diapers, and have been feeling the urge to train Squeaker to use the potty, but have been waiting til I could afford some good training pants, since my new plan was to fool him into thinking they were underwear like his brothers (who.. don't wear pullups all day long, do they???).

Back to Freecycle. Someone posted some cloth diapers, and in a weird reflexive moment, I decided that I wanted them, dashed off an email asking for them, and promptly forgot about it. Imagine my surprise when I was offered them! I picked them up this evening and my head was full of thoughts like, 'You stupid hoarder.. why in the world did you ask for these? Somebody else is sure to put them to better use" "You know you'll never be a cloth diaperer, this is a waste of time!". etc.

Even after the very nice Freecycler explained how they work (how hard can it be??? You obviously haven't seen modern cloth diapers, they have more snaps that a roll of shipping bubbles, and do you even know what a Fuzzibunz is?), I was still thinking.. (IDIOT, give them back, don't bring more clutter in your house!!). And then.. in a frugal, penny pinching moment.. I had my epiphany.

Ready? Are you sure???

Cloth diapers equals training pants.

That's it, really. So, I came home, told Squeaker that tomorrow he gets to wear big boy pants and doesn't "have" to wear a pullup, and that was that.

Which all goes to prove something, but I'm not sure what. Oh.. maybe that Freecycle is cool, but having sharply honed frugal make-do-ed-ness is better.

Hidden in Plain sight, or Why I know God cares about the little things...

God has (literally!) led me into a wonderful homeschooling blessing.

This year is our first non-packaged year (we were 100% Abeka before, now My Father's world/Charlotte Mason/eclectic), and I've been so overwhelmed with the need for extensive reading lists (for them and me), having to try things (spend money...) before knowing if it's a good fit, and the whole thing has been exhausting. (including the fact that I'm doing it with a new baby, a toddler in the middle of being very two, etc.)

Here's my blessing...

A couple weeks ago, (the day after DH and I were trying to figure out a way to budget in more HS materials), I visited my Mom after the DC's lessons, and she lives right across the street from a church. She is caring for my grandfather who is in the last stage of Alzheimers, and he receives hospice RN visits. The male nurse came down and gave us a look.. I thought.. "oh no! he thinks we're playing hooky, I'd better explain we're HS'ers!". Turns out.. he is a HS dad AND a priest at the church across the street, AND the church has a private homeschool library that is open to the public for a membership fee of $15.00 a year.. books can be held for an entire year, I can check out as many as I want, no late fees etc.

I made an appt and went today.. came back with a huge box of books, including several expensive curriculum sets that I've been wanting to try.
They have enough top curriculum books and parenting/teaching helps, and reading list material, that I'll never need to buy another piece of curriculum unless I just want to own it for some reason. I also found 20+ excellent books that complement our current topics for my DD's extra reading. Everything from Saxon (all levels), Rod and Staff, Pathways, Abeka, Calvert, Charlotte Mason.... the list goes on and on. I really think I'll be able get all my HS books for the $15.00 membership fee next year.

I'm so excited.. so forgive me if I seem to be gloating.. I feel like doing a happy dance!

This library would have been impossible for me to find on my own. It's not on any of the e-lists I'm on, none of the groups have mentioned it.. and they asked me not to refer people to them.. because they are trying to phase it down to once a month open day... I was their last appt, and last "new" member. Talk about God making a way!

If I hadn't decided to drop by my Mom's for a visit, and hadn't mentioned that we were HS'ing to the nurse/priest (who was late, btw), ... so many things fell into place so that we could be blessed.

It's even more of a blessing.. because I've been so tired and discouraged lately with our HS.. they are learning, but I'm so tired I feel like I'm not making it as interesting/fun etc as I could. I really needed a boost, and now I feel like a kid in a candy shop. We're going to start on our riches tonight, as I'm getting ready to read from one of several Thornton W Burgess books I found.

Just had to do my happy dance somewhere, and I figured my frugal readers would understand why I'm so excited! :D

Backyard Firepit for Free!

Last year, I really wanted a firepit for marshmallow roasts etc, but we just couldn't justify the money or time.
So.. a few months ago, I prayed and asked God to provide a way.

Last month, somebody freecycled a broken down concrete wall to me, and the bricks were EXACTLY the size and number to make the pit.

Husband has been overwhelmed with other more important projects, that I decided to tackle it myself. (after prayer, of course! )

First, I dug out a rectangle the right size and depth for one layer of bricks , then I just laid them out to make a box, then three more layers, and it was finished, the blocks fit together like they'd been hand picked for the project.. even the broken ones ended up fitting perfectly.. I also ended up with a little ledge to put a grill (rack saved from our old oven). I worked on it for 2 hours from first shovel full of dirt to finish.. then I scrounged around the yard and made two stools (logs on end), and a bench (board on bricks) and was done in time to fix dinner !

I'm always surprised, although I know I shouldn't be.. at just how much the Lord cares about me... even the small things I may want or need... He is willing and able to fulfill the very desires of my heart!

Now.. we're all set for my son's b-day party on Monday.
Our first marshmallow roast!
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U-pick Farms and Orchards

We had a homeschool "field" trip today. After violin lessons, we went to an apple orchard to meet with another homeschooling family. They were late, and while we waited, we picked raspberries.

This was my second time to pick raspberries there this year and the price was still fabulous. $ 1.50 a POUND! for RASPBERRIES! Wow!

My total bill for the outing (besides fuel to get there) was $ 46.00.

That bought

1/2 bushel mixed apples
6-7 cups of raspberries
4 perfect pie pumpkins
6 smallish gourds for the table centerpiece
1 gallon cider

3 super large red bell peppers (really heavy ones)
1 # green beans
1/2 dozen sweet corn (they were incredibly sweet too)

1 huge jar of honey
6 honey sticks (treats for the children)
2 Creme brulee scented votives (they smelt like caramel apples, I couldn't resist).

2 cider slushes
2 child's ciders

We spent six hours there and the children had a fabulous time (me too! :D ).

For affordable fun, great food bargains and a chance to make great memories.. I highly recommend a U-pick near you!

I love Krogers.....

In the 13+ years I've been a homemaker, many supermarkets have been available to me.

Payless, Marsh, Shop and Save, Piggly Wiggly, Winn Dixie, JayC, Jewel, and such.

Not to mention super-centers like the super Walmarts, Targets, K-marts, Meijer, etc.

The one that has held my affection the longest is Krogers.

Ah... Krogers.

The reasons I like Kroger stores are numerous... but.. since I'm blogging about it, I'll list some of them.

1. Krogers usually has 90% of my list on a GOOD sale. Better than I could get with a coupon somewhere else. It doesn't seem to matter what I need, I'm sure to find it on sale for a good price (and I do comparison shop, so I know!).

2. Kroger routinely has their excellent no additive cheese, sour cream, and 2qt. Acidouphilous milk on sale for $1.00. Also, just about every other normal thing I buy goes on sale for $1.00 about once a month. Not to mention nearly always carrying medium eggs for around $.58.

3. Krogers has super fresh produce, (including organic!) that is also on sale when I need it. A sparkling clean deli and meat counter, where they will slice roasts for me for free! (you know, those $1.87 lb pork or round roasts?)

4. Krogers's is laid out sensibly, and they don't keep moving the aisles. You can get milk and bread and bananas without wearing out your legs by circling the entire store.

5. The customer service people and clerks are nearly always polite and friendly. I still get asked if I need help out with my bags at Krogers. (and I'm not an old lady either).

6. Krogers let me sign up for their customer card using the name "King Kong" and 12345 Adams St, USA on the form, the lady said it didn't matter what I put down, and that no number was necessary. Granted.. this was about eight years ago.. they might be sticklers for accuracy now, who knows.

7. They have carts that look like race cars.. and get this.. they seat TWO children and have TWO steering wheels. This same cart has a little shelf for my coupon book/purse/whatever.

8. The managers have always been nice (mind now, I've had 6 major moves, and Krogers has been consistent for that long), and if I ask them to get something special in.. they WILL, and act like it's a pleasure. When I have a complaint (rarely) it's taken care of immediately and appropriately.

9. Along those lines... I can special order stuff online from Krogers. Check it out here
Krogers
I can also see the flyers online, which is nice when they fail to materialize in the mailbox.

10. Krogers doubles coupons (except when they triple them :D ), doesn't demand ID for a credit/debit card purchase, and will give me paper bags, even doubled ones, without pouting about it like some other stores (or like Walmart, who has fazed them out entirely).

11. Krogers has a whole organic/natural foods section that is laid out sensibly, has good sales and includes hard to find things like good tasting soy ice cream (Husband is allergic to milk), and organic milk that goes on sale for $2.50 2qt.

12. Krogers hires sweet old ladies who coo over my children when we stop to sample stuff. They also give out GOOD cookies from the bakery counter for the children(usually jumbo chocolate chip, sugar or snickerdoodles).. unlike Walmart, which gives hard, cold and mealy mini-shortbread lumps.

Take a Month off from Electric and Gas Bills

This is the time of year (Spring is another), where you might be lucky enough and smart enough to get a "bill free" month.

Turning off the a/c and not turning on the furnace can save us around $100.00 this month.

Instead of A/C, open windows when it's warm, and close them before it starts too cool down in the evening. Try it, you might be surprised!

Marry a man who can fix things....

My husband asked me last week.. as he put the finishing touches on a "DIY" project... "Honey, would you still love me if I couldn't fix your appliances anymore?".

I was shaken! Not fix things anymore!

Until he'd said that.. I didn't realize what an integral part of our relationship his "fix-it" personality was.

My answer was "I don't know, let's not find out.. ok?".

Seriously though.... marrying a man who not only CAN, but DOES fix things is the most frugal thing I've ever done.

Not that I put much thought towards frugal living back then.. but the fact remains...

Single people... consider your spouse-to-be's ways... are they like Solomons industrious ant? or are they talentless, slacker sluggards who'll just call a repairman or charge a new washing machine the first time it hiccups.