Tightening the Belt...again

Things have been a bit tough the last couple months. With Michelle cutting down to a part time job and my check being what it is, we've had to be EXTREMELY frugal. We found a new
market in town, Saars Market, that has bottom of the barrel prices for fruits and veggies and we do a lot of shopping at Wenco where we can shop in the bulk section. We already stay away from processed foods and do most of our own cooking so we can save money (and be healthier).

I made a batch of homemade croutons last night (nothing goes to waste here at the Parson home). Just basically cut up your bread ends and "getting old" buns into cubes, seasoning them, then mixing them by hand with melted butter and spread them on a cookie sheet. I put them in a 400 degree oven and let them bake for about 10 minutes. I let them cool, then store them in an old pickle jar on the counter. They are good on soup, casseroles, and salads.

I'm also on a fix it instead of replace it kick for my family's clothing. That means that I'm doing a lot more mending and sewing as well as reusing old clothing for new things. I made a throw rug for the kitchen and fixed some clothing. I've been researching and bookmarking sites that give mending and sewing advice and have hit the library as well. Michelle had some old work shirts from her previous job that were going to waste so I cut em down and made bags from them. I also cut the sleeves from full to 3/4 length on several button down shirts that I own and that makes them more practical to wear around the house while I work. I researched how to make near invisible patches on jeans and fixed some of Michelle's old pants and took in some skirts that needed repairs done. It is possible to make clothes wearable and last.

Yup, I Moved Again!

This time we moved from California to Washington. Yes, I know, I said I was happy living in my little house in the desert, but unfortunately, my fibromyalgia and other health problems didn't agree with me and we had to go somewhere cooler. We decided to move in with my daughter and share costs again like we did in Los Vegas. We're in a small apartment with absolutely no yard or patio, so I had to put gardening on hold for a bit until we can find a good window solution.
We live in a small town in the Pacific Northwest and I forgot how much I missed the tall trees and the cool, moist, air. I grew up in this region of the country and was really missing it.
I was able to finally pick up the old singer sewing machine that I inherited from my Great Grandmother and with only a couple small fixes, I plan to make it a working machine.

I need to find a small gasket that goes on the bobbin winder and figure out how to re-install the cable that goes to the treadle part of the machine. 
Our place is really small, so we decided to pass on the traditional styled living room and instead we turned it into an office.

We have a couple normal living room pieces of furniture, but the rest of the living room is taken up by my and my daughter's desks and our different craft, art, and sewing projects. 
I love being near my extended family again and have had the opportunity to visit my brother and my Aunts and Uncles since we moved in. After marrying Randy 35 years ago, I got to see them very few times. Either the lack of money or distance was an issue. Now I smack myself in the head and wonder what got into me! Not only did I self impose the lack of contact on myself, but I also left possibly the most beautiful place on earth

and ended up in the hot, dusty, miserable desert!

Happy New Year!

So, to celebrate, I'm going to try another stab at selling my needle crafts. I decided I might have a better chance if I don't try it online since the postage was killing me. Instead, I'm going to organize yard sales in my front yard. I plan to do a regular yard sale, but add a table for crafted items as well. I figure on trying to sell my baked bread, veggies from my garden as well as bedding plants, and clothing from the thrift shop that I work at. My friend that owns the shop is going to give cloths that she can't sell and I'll mend them and attempt to remove stains so that they will be presentable. John, my son, wants to take a stab at selling his origami as well. It'll be a great way to re use and recycle old things and use some of the excess yarn I have here.

Not much else to report on the frugal front. I'm still working at using less processed foods in our home and more real food. I joined a yahoo group called "Compact" that is about buying nothing new for a year. I figure, I'm almost there already out of necessity.  Haha