Monday Message

"Start now to create a plan if you don’t already have one, or update your present plan. Watch for best buys that will fit into your year’s supply. We are not in a situation that requires panic buying, but we do need to be careful in purchasing and rotating the storage that we’re putting away. The instability in the world today makes it imperative that we take heed of the counsel and prepare for the future." (L. Tom Perry)

I just heard Costco was putting limits on the things that were in shortage at the beginning of the pandemic...hopefully you have been getting a little in each week.

Along that line, you know how to slow the toilet paper roll - you step on it and squish it so that it just won't roll freely. Also, to find out how fast you use the toilet paper put the date on the inside of the roll. When you switch out the empty one, check the date to find out how long it was. Do this to all bathrooms and that should tell you how much you need to stock. Do you have people in the house who never use the last of the roll but get out a new roll? Get one and start adding those last bits to it and one day set it out for the new roll.

This is frugal. Look for ways to do things that save money, find ways to save and stretch...I am thinking there could be more limits over time

I know when I do a Walmart pick-up order lots are limited.

Check out Tightwad Gazette from your library and read it. If you already have it, well, now is the time to reread it.

I noticed prices have gone up so we all need to learn to make do with less because it will happen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJjtqCdf0BY&t=2s - Tessie has some wonderful ideas here in case you don't can. She does a lot of canning, if you do can she still has great ideas in this episode.

I remember when we lived in New Hampshire I was in line to check out and the lady behind me said don't you just love all the choices they have at that store. I thought hmm, not as many as Iowa. She was from some parts way north, she said they did not have as many choices. So while I was thinking not as many as what I was used to this lady had way less. I started to see some things start to disappear, off-brands that were a cheaper brand were discontinued a while back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdrb-8OXNDk&lc=z23uvfshkqnix1ustacdp433oozabmqzcw5vfbglfvpw03c010c - lasagna soup. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbOUdxwrUWA - crockpot lasagna.

They do thirty favorite soups in September, then in October they do favorite crockpot recipes.

So you might want to follow along.

I then watched this where she walks you through crocheting flowers, and how to cover buttons, and how her daughter makes a key chain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi9ybokrfqM

So here is what I came up with...

She gives you a good lesson. Even if you haven't crocheted before you can learn by stopping and starting and reversing the video as you go and eventually you would get this. Sometimes it is just fun to have a small project to brighten the house and cheer the mood. A frugal skill to learn. While I was getting my crochet hook out to do these flowers I got the hooks back in order. Years ago I got some cigar tins, each would hold one cigar but they were ten cents and I got them. Each holds the hooks in a certain size and I keep these in a short coffee pot type container so those all got tended before starting the flowers.

The weather has been, so wonderful. At the time I am writing this, tonight will get down to 38 degrees. Brrrr!

I have been spinning as I can and I'm almost done with this fiber. My plan is to chain ply it.

My hope is to do some dying of fiber before it gets too cold.

The garden is almost done. I have green bean seed yet to pick and another watermelon that was hiding. I hope you will try your hand at gardening.

Soon it will be time to put the hose to bed for the winter.

I find myself thinking what needs to be done before winter hits.

Tomorrow we will have the last of our tomatoes to make an open face sandwich.

Zucchini Sandwich

In a frying pan take a couple Tbsps of butter, when it melts, I sprinkle garlic salt in the bottom and add diced zucchini  and diced tomatoes, what ever you want. Then I sprinkle more garlic salt and dry onion flakes over all. Stir every now and again. When it is mostly cooked, sprinkle fresh parmesan cheese on and cook till melted. Serve on hamburger buns that you have spread with butter and sprinkled garlic salt and toasted in another pan. Scoop the mixture over those grilled buns, it is so wonderful - one of our favorites!

I knew these were buttonhole cutting scissors. I noticed for the first time a gear imbedded in the one scissor handle. I looked this up and what you do is pull this out, choose one of the notches, and the other handle has a pin so when you go to cut the buttonhole it will only cut so far and not through the buttonhole. So I learned that this week which was fun. They came from a yard sale long ago with other sewing stuff. I had never noticed it before and just started to look it up on the computer. I knew by the shape that it must cut buttonholes but back then there wasn't so much information as now.

Keep building your skills and your storage.

Missy says be friendly and helpful to others, don't be disrespectful that is not the way to be...spread kindness wherever you go for people and critters need it more than ever.

Gus says find some time for nice warm sunshine. Social distance like I am doing in the basket and wash your paws, wear your masks, and get the booster when you can.