Frugal Friday With Marsha--Week in Review

The days just fly by!  It's been a busy week as usual.  Of course, I would go stir crazy if I really had nothing to do.

I've been working more on the rug I wrote about in my WIP Wednesday post.  It's not going to get to 52 inches, but I am going to put these more strips in.  I will then contact the gal and see if she wants it the size it ends up.  If not, it will just go up for sale in my Etsy shop.

I was babysitting at my middle daughters last weekend and took this picture of her table and window of plants.  She is going to try to transplant today.  I gave up right away on my own garden.  I could give you 100 reasons why, but none of them are really good enough....although a lot of it is because my seeds didn't sprout at all.

I'm getting a little smarter.  I always get upset when I cant read at night when hubby is in the bed and I can't turn my light on.  I finally started opening up my Kindle app and reading books that way.   Right now I'm reading Pinch Like You Mean It 101 Ways to Save Right Now.
This one is FREE, so why not download it for yourself?  It's interesting and there are some good tips.  Most I already knew, some I hadn't thought of, and some that don't pertain to me at all, but still worth the read.



I received 2 items in (actually 3) this week for review that I will get written soon.  A children's book and 2 Disney Princess Crochet Kits.   I need to get pictures, and hopefully a start on one of the crochet kits.

I found a website that I hope to share with you in a post as well at a later date.  Just wish me luck there for now please.

Until next week, keep on saving!

Frugal Friday with Marsha-- Gardening on a Shoestring-- Book Review

So far my few gardening attempts this year are failing.  My seedlings never did sprout.   I rec'd the book Gardening on a Shoestring- 100 Fun Upcycled Garden Projects in and knew it would fit perfectly for this weeks Frugal Friday post.



Gardening on a Shoestring is exactly what we need around here!
This book is just pretty awesome.  Not only is it full of cool ideas, it also has sections with great gardening tips.

Chapters include:
How to be a Shoestring Gardener
Pots for a Pittance
Style on a Shoestring
Grow Food for Peanuts
How to Make New Plants for Free
How Not to Waste Money on Gardening Supplies
Keep Your Garden Healthy for (Almost) Nothing

I can't wait to read this book cover to cover, take notes, and most of all give some of these things a try.
What stands out to me right now is how to make starter pots with toilet paper rolls and newspapers.  I love those ideas!  Another idea in the book that I see that I know I will use is making raised beds from bricks.  I already have the black roll that you lay on the ground to help prevent weeds, and we have stacks of bricks in our garage just waiting to be used.

The tips alone throughout the book should really help me to know what I'm doing.   My dad was such an awesome gardener, and he gardened on a shoestring.  He grew up very poor, living with 5 brothers and a sister in a  tiny shack in a field in Missouri.  He learned hands on.  I wish I had paid more attention.  I see in this book how I can make my dream come true of gardening like my dad did.
I also hope to make use of several of the landscaping ideas in the book as well.

If you are a gardener, or like me, and want to be one, I highly recommend this book!




Disclosure:  I rec'd this book in exchange for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way and any opinions are my own.  This post does include affiliate links.

Frugal Friday With Marsha--Thinking of Gardening

This past week the major conversations with my middle daughter have been all about gardening.  Her asking questions, her telling me what she is learning (such as planting Marigolds around to help keep bugs away).
For 2 years she came here for a day and helped me get a garden going (never very successful).  Last year I planted NOTHING, not one thing.   Last year she ended up with a great set up that I wish I had a picture of.  She took pallets and laid them down and covered them with potted plants.

Here is a picture of her starter plants:

I have told her all week how much I really want to get some things going for a garden this year.  You know, it may be on the frugal side as far as growing your own food, but getting started is not really cheap at all.   I know one year we spent over $200 on boards to surround, dirt, plants, seeds, etc.  We had a very abundant garden that year but when I attempted to keep track of what I would have spent for the food at the store, I didn't even get up to $100.
I also know that you can find many ways to garden very frugally, and very cheaply.  (I have picked out some books from amazon to share at the end of this post that I would love to have myself and then actually learn from)

I am currently reading devotions from a book called The Power of Proverbs by John Schroeppel.  Last nights Proverb was 12:11-- He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.
Personally, I am taking this as a sign---a message from God, that I am indeed to get a garden going this year.

My middle daughter is here and has brought me dirt and some seeds to start.   We are about to get to work on that.  I will save out and buy at least tomato plants, bell pepper plants, and plant peas.  Off I go!

Here are the books I would like to have to learn from:

Frugal Friday with Marsha 7/18/14

I hope this finds that everyone has had a good week.
It's been cooler here in Kansas. It's only been in the 70's this week, which is sure strange for July.

Hubby's been on vacation this week. I would like to say that we were frugal and stayed home, but really we stayed home because we made no plans and didn't save any money to go anywhere!
He's been really working hard in the yard doing things that should always be kept up to begin with.
I can't say that I've done much.

I did pull a few small cucumbers from the garden yesterday. That was a pleasant surprise to find them. One of these years I just might get this gardening thing and actually be able to grow enough that we would no longer need to buy fruits and veggies from the store.

Otherwise from the garden we've only gotten a few strawberries that we ate right away and a couple of tomatoes. I bought what was labeled as bell peppers but they aren't. They are some sort of super hot pepper. I don't know what kind. I noticed that one of them is turning red now. I have no idea what I'm to do with them.
We did pick lots of snap peas and if I can figure out where I put the rest of those 'seeds', I can plant more like I did last year.
We did cut lettuce and spinach a few times, but not I've allowed it all to go to seed. I think I could still cut leaves.
The overwinter onions aren't the same as regular onions, again, I'm not sure how to use them. I have bags of them cut up in the freezer. I've cooked some of it with ground meat several times. I used the greens in potato soup. There are still lots of onions out there. I've given away quite a few of them to others who can replant the tops and get their own started.
I have wild garlic, but again, I'm not sure how to use it.
Looks like I really should start taking the time to do some research!

When I list is out like that, it doesn't seem like we've done too bad, but really it's not that much.

Thanks to those of you who linked up last week. I hope to see some links this week as well.

An InLinkz Link-up

Frugal Friday With Marsha 4/11/14

It's garden time!
I am ready to get my gardening on.
This year I am going to try  something different......again.  I bought 3 raised bed things from my cousin last year.  One I did use to surround a compost pile, but I will plant something in it.

I'm waiting for my paycheck in today's mail to buy good soil to mix with the compost piles (even though they really didn't compost).
I have bought the black netting to lay in the bottom of each of the boxes.
I also bought some other supplies for a couple of plant food recipes that I want to try.

Here are the links to the 2 recipes that I am going to make:

Banana Peel Plant Fertilizer Spray

Ways To Stretch A Dollar: Homemade Liquid Miracle Grow Concentrate For $0.35 A Container! 

I only have a set amount of money to spend on dirt and seeds, and plants so wish me luck that I can get a good garden going this year!

My friend paid for an ebook up Growing and Up Garden.  I read it out loud to my daughter, counting it for science in our homeschooling.  I learned more about composting so I hope I can be more successful with that this year.

I am going to turn on youtube with her and watch videos too.

This makes 3 years in a row that my compost pile didn't compost and I really don't know what I am doing wrong.

Our dirt in our yard is just not good.  That is why I am going to buy dirt to fill the raised beds.  I know it won't be too cheap, but I'm hoping I will then be able to just amend that from year to year after this year.

Do you have any gardening tips?   Link up anything frugal, money saving etc, even if it doesn't have to do with gardening!

 

 

 

An InLinkz Link-up

Frugal Friday With Marsha 4/4/14

How is Spring going?
I've worked a little here and there trying to clear dead from my flower gardens.
I'm itching to get the food garden going.
I looked at the extended weather forecast last night.  It looks like after April 10 it's safe from going down to freezing at night.
I am in hopes that my next merchandising pay check can be used to buy the black roll for under the soil, good soil, seeds, and some plants.

I have read 2 blogs that have recipes for mock Miracle Grow and plant food.  I am going to try both recipes.  One of the blog was linked here last week.  Keep up the good work!

Yesterday I shopped at the bread store, aka the day old store.  I went a little overboard.  They have some items that I don't see at any other stores around here such as the larger containers of the garlic salt that I like, larger gravy mixes, etc.  I ended up spending nearly $30, which got me 4 more marks on my card towards getting $6 in free items.
My husband gets a 15% discount at the bread store but for some reason he has to be there with me to get the discount.  I think they should give it to me too!
There really is no discount on items at the bread store except for the bread that is brought in.  As you know, it's brought in when the date won't allow it to be on the store shelves anymore.
I did get a manager's special of .50 for a bag of stuffing.  I bought 2 bags and put them in the freezer.

I'm working diligently on my coupons again.  If I can keep it up they will soon be in order in my binder and I can keep up with them.  Time to get back in to the coupon business and get the savings going again as well as the stocking up!

Until next Friday, I hope you link up lots of posts to inspire and motivate us all towards a more frugal life.

An InLinkz Link-up

Squidoo Hopping----Spring!

Please tell me that Spring might really be here this time!
They say there is to be no more overnight freezing temps---and no more snow, sleet, or other winter weather.  I really do hope they are right!
I am leaving soon to go out of town and bring my middle daughter back with me to help get our garden going.  (We do have covering planned for nights just in case).

This week I am asking that you share any lenses (1 or 2) that have to do with Spring--the season, gardening, flowers, events, etc.    Maybe the weather will get the hint!

Please share any blog posts you have written in regard to squidoo as well over the past week.

Tuesday

Good morning! I was just looking at the 5 day forecast and it looks like its going to be a bit cooler again for the rest of the week....in the 80's. Just about perfect for me.

We have a home visitor this afternoon and Heather has her group therapy. I thought that was a 12 week course but I guess it's 18 weeks so she still has 6 more weeks counting this week.

My garden is still doing well. The lettuce is still growing. The carrots are starting to sprout. There are even flowers on 2 of my tomato plants. We had a bit of rain last night so I don't have to water this morning.
There is something strange growing out there. I think it looks like rhubarb....my mom says its just a weed LOL However, the neighbor man and my boyfriend both said rhubarb right away too. How it got there?? Who knows! It's getting larger everyday.

Today's ebay listing is a textbook. Speech for Effective Communications. Heather just finished this book this past week.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330237850987

Have a great day!
Marsha