Frugal doings in July

July has not really seemed like a frugal month with the air conditioner running almost non-stop

and the prices of everything at the store going up .

Still.....

There were some frugal doings though.  

I've dried  many loads of laundry outside.  I really prefer to finish in the dryer but it is so hot,   I just hate to turn on the clothes dryer.
Most loads are drying outside in about 30 minutes - that is probably faster too.

and you tell I am not running up the water bill by doing much outdoor watering either......

 produce
raised by Gavin and Braeden's other grandparents
 it was as delicious as it looks too!

Hand-me-down playhouse that Nina got from another family at church.  They passed it on to us as their children have outgrown it and it was passed to them from another family.
Gavin and Elizabeth are already enjoying it and little Andie says she will be playing in it with them as soon as she can.

I was hoping to find one at a yard sale this summer so I am really happy to have one given to us.  

One of two piles of flower bed pavers we got from a neighbor who was getting rid of them.  

this is one of 3 rose bushes we bought at Aldi 2 springs ago.
It has bloomed like this 3 times,  more than 50 pretty yellow roses each time.
I think the bushes were $3.97.

Several months ago 

I bought 3 different scents of aromatherapy lotions and body sprays at Bath and Body Works,  

I really like 2 of them and noticed that they were 1/2 gone already.  

Since I don't like the 3rd scent and Bath and Body Works has a satisfaction guarantee,  

I returned  that unliked lotion and spray and traded them for a scent I will use.  

 It was a very easy transaction and I am really glad I did it.  

Theo likes a new brand of dog treats called Waggin Train.  

The small bags sell for about $2 and their was a recent news paper coupon on Waggin Train treats for $3 off 2 packs.  

I've already used the coupons from my papers and ordered a dozen more coupons from an Ebay dealer for just about $1.  

I don't seem to use a large number of coupons anymore but when there is a coupon deal like that good on items we use,  I like to look on Ebay for additional coupons.  

We went to Texas for a short trip and I stayed at my parents for a couple days. 

I helped my mom do some cleaning out of her clothes and craft supplies.  

We put a lot of her castoffs in their garage sale and organized everything she did keep. 

 I brought home 4 storage tubs of her unwanted and extra fabric and quilt supplies.

Mom and I also wear the same size shoes.  

She cannot wear the styles she used to so I brought home dozens of pairs of nice shoes and boots.  

I cooked all meals at home this month except for meals we ate on the road.

I really think most eating out is over-rated.  and way too salty!

I continue to clean out cabinets and closets and have another growing pile of stuff to give away 

If none of my friends or family take it all,  

I will be offering it on our local facebook "free" site or taking it to a thrift store.

how about you?  Has July been kind or harsh to your bank account?  

Happy Birthday Jeff~

My husband's birthday was the same day as the Olympic opening ceremonies so Nina baked his cake with an Olympic theme.
Isn't it great?
She use edible paper and her silhouette machine to make the decorations.
The sports emblems are Jeff's favorite Olympic events.  

All our children and grands were at Nina and John's Saturday evening for a birthday party for Jeff.

Gavin thinks Aunt Nina's cakes are the best part of birthdays.
Elizabeth likes the present opening part the best.

Grandpa Jeff thinks having all his children and grandchildren together at one time is the best.  

And Zerbie, the worlds largest and sweetest Doberrnan,  thinks sitting on the couch
 just like the other guests is the best.   

Last week's baking

It is another crazy-hot summer in Oklahoma but I am still doing a little baking.

I do it all the same time so the oven only gets heated up once.

Last week,  I made 3 loaves of banana bread

a pan of brownies - and shhh, don't tell my family but I used a jar of baby food prunes  that I found while cleaning out,  the recipe called for 1/2 cup of butter - I instead used just 1/4 cup of butter and that tiny jar of prunes.  They were delicious too.  

I also made a batch of whole wheat bread dough in the machine and added some of the vital wheat gluten I got from Amazon last week.  They turned out much lighter than 100% whole wheat normally is.  

I am sold on it and will be using it in all my recipes.  

This camera angle  gives a distorted view- 

it makes the hot dog and sandwich buns look bigger than the bread loaves  :)

yet another switch-a-roo that led to another big project

just like that book, 

  if you give a mouse a cookie, 

one thing leads to another 

The computer - craft room before the switching started
but it is a mess because this set up is just not working.
My supplies are mostly in big storage containers and in the closet where it is hard to find and see things.  

guest room as it looked before I started switching things ..


So,  I decided to move all those tall white shelves to the computer room to store fabric and  craft supplies.  

the shelves have been moved but that was the easy part - now I have to organize everything

Nina's old furniture got moved to the guest room
and I am wondering how all those books on will fit on those 2 sets of shelves.

hmmmm
I  have more work to do and it may get worse before it gets better!

I started this project in June- now it almost the end of July and it is getting close to be finished.  

I've also been ruthlessly decluttering closets and drawers and cabinets.  My friend Terri said she is also cleaning out and pretending to be moving,  asking herself "would I move this?" about everything.

I am not going quite that deep but I am culling out lots.  

and while I was cleaning out,  I found another big project that needs to be done- 

this is just part of 30+ years of family photos,
what a jumbled mess, right?
There is no good way at all to store all those assorted size albums and boxes.
Our wedding photos came in some very nice brown leather albums but that leather has deteriorated and   flaking off onto  whatever it touches.

So for now,  I have been taking all the photos out.
Then I plan to sort them by events, child, family- etc.
I hope to store them in safe storage boxes with dividers but have not gone shopping for these boxes I have dreamed up.

How do you store your photos?  Any suggestions?  

When you can't find what you need locally.....

I've been baking almost all our bread this year.  

I want to start doing more whole wheat and whole grain breads but all the recipes I want to try call for vital wheat gluten.

So,  I shopped at the 2 biggest grocery stores in my town this weekend but neither one had vital wheat gluten.  

Then I turned to Amazon.com.  

I found several sellers with gluten at good prices.  

I ordered this giant can Sunday evening and the friendly UPS delivery man brought it  to my front door Tuesday afternoon.  That is really fast I think.  

Here's my ticket- just $12.59 - no delivery charge as it was covered with our Amazon Prime- for this giant can  about the  same size as a large can of  coffee or  canned fruit.  

I know gluten has a bad reputation and some people are allergic to it with really awful problems if they eat it.  

But if you are not,  then gluten added to your yeast baked goods makes them much lighter.  

Vital wheat gluten also has 35 grams of protein in just a quarter cup.