Monday Message

"A cardinal principle of the gospel is to prepare for the day of scarcity. Work, industry, frugality are part of the royal order of life." (Bishop Keith B. McMullin)

As I write this, tomorrow is Thanksgiving where I live. While life is crazy, we all have lots to be thankful for. Let's think on those things when life looks rough. Do our hardest to find joy.

I have finished the Christmas stocking...

The one on the left is the one for this year that I just finished. The one in the center was last year's and the one on the right is two years ago.

I am not yet very good but still trying to learn this skill.

How are you doing at building your skills?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpfLTb56fMc - here is a beginner knitting tutorial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd0BPAtQpNQ - how to cast on knitting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esEtUaa-Pwg - how to work the knit stitch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbtnjHrb_Hg - how to purl.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTAO80lAQOs - how to cast off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8yU4qu46WI - once you learn from sites above here, you can learn to make a scarf.

Here is something on my list to make that would make a great gift...https://files.allpeoplequilt.com/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/sites/42/2021/04/26/Pinwheel-Pot-Holder.pdf?_gl=1*aq3b6l*_ga*MTkzODUyMDM3OS4xNzYzNTg1Nzg2*_ga_DK3GDWHWJH*czE3NjM2ODIyNzEkbzQkZzAkdDE3NjM2ODIyNzEkajYwJGwwJGgw

If you like to crochet, I am going to make these for our car it could be gifts or can be a regular set of coasters as well - https://www.lifeawayfromtheofficechair.com/2014/05/crochet-car-coasters.html

Christmas is coming fast!

https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/christmas/g1704/american-state-gifts/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_del_d_bm_prog_org_us_g1704&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=11760168925&gbraid=0AAAAACq-IPy17KxgvE972FY6GRlQna7cI&gclid=CjwKCAiA55rJBhByEiwAFkY1QNPErHeLHCub6gotzmyF8JSyxusX6_rheC6YE8Y6f5QpH_M0rYjrAxoC-wwQAvD_BwE. - this has great food ideas. I like the reindeer fudge.

One thing I decided to do this holiday - I started early is I am taking this elf and each day he will be somewhere different.

Our holidays will have to be a low-spend one so I have the elf doing this for holiday cheer.

I am knitting my hubby two hats for cold weather. 

I will make goodies from what I already have in the house (having storage is a great help here).

If you are needing to have a low-spend holiday, don't be down - find free ways to make it fun! We can do this!

Tomorrow, I will set out the puzzle for the holidays.

Unfortunately it seems we will have a snow storm this weekend which I am not ready for. But I plan to dust off The Long Winter to start reading it again. If you have kids, you can read aloud by candlelight. Get some cookies and have a fun time.

Continue to look for free things to make your holidays fun. Share what you have in mind. We loved dropping cookies and running or making a food gift.  

No matter what kind of holiday you have planned, remember to take care of yourself - rest well, eat well!

Missy is horrified at the current prices - hard to think of them going higher!

There is no indication prices will be coming down and every indication they are going up. So every time you are in a store, pick up one item for storage - like a jar of peanut butter or even just a box of Jello, just make sure what you get is something your family likes.

Missy says find time for joy - we really need some at this time!

Tippy Longstockings says she is pretending to be the tree this year - try hard to find fun!

Monday Message

"Let us be in a position so we are able to not only feed ourselves through the home production and storage, but others as well." (President Ezra Taft Benson)

Things still are indicating higher prices ahead for us so I encourage you to be as frugal as you can.  Work on your storage and skills. They will help you a lot in the coming days.

It is easy to be complacent. Don't be.

I know the temptation is to just do things like you always have and deal with it later but that is not an option. It would be better to prepare for it than to try to figure it out later.

It is hard to admit you have to cut back but the alternative is much harder.

At this time, I am still working on the Christmas sock mystery knit-along but by the time you read this, it will be all done.

It will look better after it is blocked. I do them for fun and to try to get better at colorwork knitting.

Plus, we get the pattern free as part of the knit-along. So this is a totally free thing for me to do as I had the yarn already.

Thanksgiving in the United States is a week from the time of this writing. I thought I would show you what I did with this turkey I got at the recycle place. Not sure if it was to hold a plant or not but I thought it could be festive in the bathroom.

Might have to get him out to put a pot with a flower in it for summer.

So many have been laid off recently. It is a very bad thing but it's so much worse during the holidays. I just think we should do whatever we can to help. 

I stopped in to Salvation Army to kill a few minutes till the next stop was open. They were playing Christmas music but there wasn't many people shopping. Don't rule out going to thrift stores, they're the best ever place to get gifts. Think of ways to make things into gifts. Like, I saw all sorts of glass containers. You could put a cookie mix inside one you make up.  Cute mugs you could put your hot cocoa mix in. I saw baskets you could fill with treats, toys and games and puzzles that you could pair with things. Loaf pans - bake a loaf of bread, wrap and put it in the pan then attach the recipe. Pizza pans... just so many things one could do. You could do a giant cookie on the pizza pan and add an ornament. So just stand for an extra minute and think, how can I make this a gift? 

We went to the library yesterday in a bigger town to our north. They have books for sale - three dollars each. Find a book that goes with your person's interest, like quilting or sewing or watercolor. They had cookbooks - pick a recipe in the book, get the ingredients to give with the book. Who wouldn't like that? Same with children's books. Is there a child's mystery? Attach a little note pad and pencil, cover the note pad and draw a spy glass and write clues on the cover. I think that would be fun. Is there a food mentioned in the book? If not, make a big cookie of the character... things like that.

I know someone who picks up used dolls at the thrift store, washes them up, fixes their hair, makes clothes for them and gives them as gifts.

You could even print off a free pattern to put in the card to your person that they would love.

Games with popcorn or movies - they are $1.99 at my Salvation Army store. Put popcorn with a fun movie. There are frugal ways, we just have to think harder and smarter.

I hope this has your thinking juices flowing!

https://www.sewingbeefabrics.co.uk/quick-and-easy-diy-pot-holder-sewing-tutorial/

https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/bags-pillows-gifts/gifts/pinwheel-pot-holder - I love this one.

https://scrapfabriclove.com/quilted-double-pot-holder-tutorial/

https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g645/crafty-christmas-presents-ideas/?src=arb_fb_d&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_clv_md_pmx_hybd_mix_us_18459994477&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18456255285&gbraid=0AAAAACq-Irv6irVNjVpHUozPFmlz3ySfm&gclid=CjwKCAiA8vXIBhAtEiwAf3B-gybALHwjeZ7Dkg0jjMytAxrhjoJJwKAeC5aURCTTAFRqfyoLuPMelhoCGX4QAvD_BwE - I like the cookie idea and the gnome. I really like this site.

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/holidays-celebrations/gifts/g33416427/diy-christmas-gifts/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_pw_d_bm_prog_org_us_g33416427&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=15358799983&gbraid=0AAAAABxutSqcYmfAd0E2UM077Vkd_7hw_&gclid=CjwKCAiA8vXIBhAtEiwAf3B-g9M1chtetHmzQqxOuuUQaWgOEjoHX3mrMqGgWi8ECIlO4UL2RW2niRoC6v8QAvD_BwE - this is very good too.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/12525705208918801/ - some ideas here.

I know this is a busy time for us all but remember to take care of yourself too.

Remember to give care packages to those in need. With all the layoffs happening so many more will be in need.

This is the time of year food goes on sale so be thinking about how to build up your basics - flour, rice, beans, etc. Do what you can to stretch your dollar. I do not think next year will be better so have things in storage to help over the rough patches.

Missy says don't overdo it. Find frugal ways to doing holidays and take time to enjoy being with family and friends.

Tippy Longstockings says remember those in need this year, make it a family thing!

Monday Message

"Today, I emphasize a most basic principle: home production and storage. Have you ever paused to realize what would happen to your community or nation if transportation were paralyzed or if we had a war or depression? How would you and your neighbors obtain food? How long would the corner grocery store—or supermarket—sustain the needs of the community?" (President Ezra Taft Benson)

I don't think that we have to imagine when we see all the turmoil all around the world, but especially  here in the U.S. we are seeing so many troubling things, so many things we cannot do anything about but vote and this is so frustrating. Out side of our country, we are seeing things happening to your country too because of things here in the U.S. Just know we cannot do anything till the election. And also know that it is a few that are to blame, not us as a whole.

The great thing that happened here was getting to read our daughter's book. We both loved it very much. She is a very good writer for sure.

I sure do not see things getting better. The holidays are almost here and many cannot get food, let alone gifts. Keep working on your storage. If you can, stock up on rice, beans, oats, etc. things that will go the furthest to feed your family. Learn those skills and use them to do gifts for your family.

https://www.familybalancesheet.org/2022/11/free-christmas-gift-ideas.html

https://www.quora.com/What-are-good-gifts-for-Christmas-when-youre-low-on-cash - I always like ideas from others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6414OkRp9wk - This is the basic knit stitch and you can do this as gifts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eORO9c3OWss - this one is crochet, if you prefer.

You have time to work on these for gift giving. Things will be hard this year so time to pull on our skills.

Remember, if people have a favorite treat, you can make and give that person that for a gift as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EasoV3mBCHA - here are some ideas for sewing gifts. I like the pencil bookmark and the apple pad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3zPJ9vdGBg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdg-fPoT5_0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoOPvorBKik

I think just watching these will inspire you to come up with ideas of your own.

DO NOT GO INTO DEBT FOR CHRISTMAS! This is very important right now! If you did thinking that things will be better later, they won't.

What ideas do you have? Share with us all in the comment section below.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2013/10/monday-message-fugal-christmas.html - some ideas.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2016/11/monday-message_21.html

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2015/12/monday-message_14.html

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2015/12/monday-message.html

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2015/11/monday-message_30.html

I threw in these Christmas blog posts so you can find other things with ideas.

A report back to you on the binder that I talked about a few blogs ago - it has been such a great help! I am glad I got it made up, it has been so useful!

.I did have to move it to a larger binder, but it has worked great.

Busy Day Soup Mix (I like to have jars of it on the shelf ready to go)

Into a pint jar put...

6 beef or chicken boulion cubes

1/4 c. lentils

1/4 c. ABC-shaped pasta

1/8 c. yellow split peas

1/8 c. barley

1/4 c. green split peas

1/4 c. wide noodles

1/4 c. dried onion

Then I tuck a few bowtie pasta to fill in the rest.

To make it...

Add the ingredients of this jar to six cups of boiling water that you either cooked a cut-up pound of chicken in or a pound of hamburger (which is still in there by the way). Simmer this for an hour.

It is terrific and so nice to have on the shelves.

This is a favorite I got from my friend years ago and this can be made up and given as gifts as well, just include directions to make it.

This is what the Mystery Knit-Along Christmas stocking by Arne and Carlos looks like. We get six rows a day. It has been fun! I had the yarn so for me this is a free project and in the end, I will have the pattern free. After that, it is for sale in their shop so I do it for fun and the pattern for free.

We got an early taste of winter this week. Can't say I am looking forward to it.

Missy says things will be hard but remember what is really important, we will get through this together.

Tippy Longstockings says find a way to cheer others and help as you can - even if a smile is all you can do - it will warm someone else!