At the Cottage ~ August 11, 2023

    A little cloud of sorrow hung over my week, as my beloved twelve-year-old cat, Button, died.  Colton got him for me a month after we married, so he was with us right from the start.  He is greatly missed.

    I am very glad to have Ginger following me around the way Button used to.  No, she isn't Button, but her antics amuse and delight me.  She is a good little companion, getting in the middle of everything I do.  I trimmed my mint this week and set some of the clippings in jars in hopes of propagating them.  We'll see how that goes- I think I need younger, more tender cuttings.  Here she is getting a refreshing drink of mint water.

    I also got my last remaining rose bush weeded.  Hopefully I can get that flourishing again.  Ginger thought to help, but she was on the other side of the fence in the garden.  I managed to capture the exact moment that she realized she could no longer fit through the fence like she used to.

    Our A/C went out this week.  It had been making some funny sounds, and finally it quit working.  Colton called my dad, who came over and helped troubleshoot.  He brought a bag of beef for us that he picked up on his way!  And he included some little treats for the boys.  Just pure kindness and generosity. 

    He and Colton were able to figure out the issue but needed a part, which the local A/C repair man didn't have, but he kindly let us borrow a part from his scrap pile to get us by until we could get what we needed (different size).  My dad made some phone calls and arranged for us to be able to get the part wholesale, saving us about $100, and who knows how much by doing it all ourselves.  When we return the borrowed part, I will send cookies as a "thank you".

    I've done a little clothes shopping this week.  I had intended to wait for the Tax Free Weekend, but as I was searching online to see what sales would coincide with it, I saw that one of the children's clothing stores (The Children's Place) was running a good sale, with an extra 25% off when you sign up for their emails.  As a bonus, they were having an early tax-free special for Texas shoppers.  I ended up getting the boys several shirts in their next size up for about $4.50 each.  Shipping was free and I didn't have to fight the crowds!  I also earned some coupons for $10 off my next $20 purchase, so I am very pleased with all of that.  We still plan to go to the brick-and-mortar stores tomorrow, as Colton needs some new clothes and will have to try them on.  I'm hoping it won't be a madhouse, but I expect it will.

    I ventured into town to get some grocery specials.  We usually do our grocery shopping in the next town over, which is thirty minutes away, because our town's grocery store is so expensive.  However, they do run some good sales, so I always check the flyer.  This week, I got a ten pound bag of potatoes for $3, bananas for $0.33/lb, and a pound of ground beef for $0.99 with a coupon.  I may or may not have bought two cartons of Blue Bell ice-cream that were half off.  See?  I do buy convenience foods and treats sometimes ;)  

    Fun fact: We visited the Blue Bell (a Texas company) factory in June with some friends!  I don't have too many pictures without us in them, but here are a few:

A display case in the Blue Bell Museum

Looking out the Museum window at an old ice-cream delivery truck replica

Display case in the ice-cream parlor above the factory

    Photos were not allowed in the actual factory part.  Top secret, you know.  But we did get to see them make the ice-cream and package it from the upstairs observation deck.  The flavor that day was Cookies 'n Cream.  A good time (and ice-cream) was had by all.

    Ice-cream is certainly not part of the gut-healing program I am on right now, so my recent purchases are waiting in the freezer.  Once I finish the program, I am allowed to maintain an 80/20 balance of healthy/not-so-healthy, and boy have I been dreaming of that 20%!  I'm almost there.  This is week 8 out of 13, and I have seen so much improvement.  I had a little setback over a food that didn't agree with me and that reminder of what I used to feel like is enough to keep me from falling off the wagon once the program is over.  I've had a taste of health and energy and I'm not giving that up!  Moderation, Kelsey.  Moderation. 

    I've been saving the supplement bottles from the program since the pills came in glass amber jars.  This week I took the labels off and washed them up.  A tip for getting sticky label residue off is to coat the surface in peanut butter or almond butter and let it sit for a bit before wiping it off.  The oil in the butter is what makes it work, so you might be able to get away with just olive or vegetable oil.

    I think I will store dried herbs in the bigger ones and maybe homemade vanilla in the smaller ones.  What would you store in them?  I'm looking for some ideas.

    I want to show you how big my grocery store lettuce grew in a week's time.  I can't believe it!

    Over the last couple weeks, I have been freezing bananas that get overripe before the boys can eat them.  I flash freeze them on a pan and then put them into a bag in the freezer for smoothies.  Really this goes for any fruit that is past its prime but still good.  The boys love smoothies in the summertime and I feel good about the ingredients and no waste, so it's a win/win/win.  To the blender I add:

    -2 frozen bananas 
    -A few handfuls of frozen fruit such as strawberries, blueberries, or peaches
    -A few generous spoonfuls of plain Greek yogurt, for probiotics and creaminess
    -Milk, to cover

    I don't add any sweetener because the bananas are sweet enough.  I also add Amazing Grass green powder if I have it, which has two full servings of vegetables per scoop.  Hidden in the smoothie, the boys can't taste it.  

    I made extra one day and froze it into popsicle molds.  The boys thought this was the best treat ever!

    Hmmm...maybe I should do a cost breakdown and comparison for homemade smoothies for a Grocery Savings post...

    Upstairs in the loft, I started a few craft projects, but didn't get any finished enough for pictures.  I did get some tidying done up there, which will make completing those projects much easier and enjoyable.  I also got caught up on my ironing, finally.

    I did more deep cleaning in my bedroom, too.  I got rid of the clutter piles that had built up, dusted the rest of the furniture, washed the walls and baseboards, and laundered the bedspread.  One good thing about this heat is that my bedspread dried on the line in no time!

    Everything looks and smells so nice and fresh.  My bedroom feels like a restful retreat again.

    This cabinet holds our bedroom blankets and linens: 

    The frame on top holds a sign that my friend hand-lettered for me.  It says:

"Let the wife make the husband glad to come home and let him make her sorry to see him leave." 

- Martin Luther

    The wooden box was made by Colton's great-grandfather, and the vase belonged to his grandmother.  The vase holds dried baby's breath from a friend's wedding.  The hat, clock, and doily were thrifted.  The vast majority of décor in my home- if not all- has been acquired very inexpensively.

    There are still a few more things I'd like to do in my room, but it is mostly done.  I want to implement the Fly Lady system again, as it worked well for me when I did it before.  Colton starts back at his school nurse job on Tuesday, and John will be starting homeschool in September, so getting a good routine down is going to be crucial for keeping everything running smoothly.  

    I will be taking the week off from blogging as we adjust to our new schedules, but I will be back again on Friday!  I am also going to continue Thrifty Thursday and my Grocery Savings series on Mondays, but they will be on alternating weeks.  I have a few extra posts planned, so this will allow me to squeeze those in, as well.  I do love sharing in this space and appreciate you taking the time to read what I have written.

    I hope you have a wonderful week to come.  Happy homemaking, ladies!

Thrifty Thursday #9 ~ What is Frugality?

    

    Welcome to another Thrifty Thursday!  Today I want to chat a little bit about frugality itself- what the purpose is and what it means to me, as well as what it doesn't mean.  

    I love the definition of frugality found in Webster's 1828 dictionary:

"FRUGALITY, n. Prudent economy; good husbandry or housewifery; a sparing use or appropriation of money or commodities; a judicious use of anything to be expended or deployed; that careful management of money or goods which expends nothing unnecessarily, and applies what is used to a profitable purpose; that use in which nothing is wasted. It is not equivalent to parsimony, the latter being an excess of frugality, and a fault. Frugality is always a virtue." 

    Frugality, at its basic level, is being a wise steward of what we have been given.  As it applies to money, we don't spend foolishly, excessively, or beyond our means.  Rather, we save where possible, spend when necessary, and invest where prudent.  Nothing is wasted, nothing is squandered, nothing is done carelessly or without diligent thought.

    For me, frugality is not the goal itself.  It is the means to an end, a way of living that serves the purpose of prospering my family and making sure our financial needs are met with as little stress and worry as possible.  While we do enjoy the lifestyle, we don't save just for the sake of saving or because we like to hoard money.  We save so that our needs are taken care of, so that emergencies can be covered with peace of mind, so we don't owe anyone anything, and so that every once in a while, we may comfortably enjoy some little luxuries or experiences that are important to us.  It also means we are able to help others who need it. 

    Frugality means being thankful for what we have and seeing the opportunities to exercise that gratitude by taking good care of what has been entrusted to us.  We stretch it, increase it, and use it in the best way possible to benefit our homes. Making do, fixing, mending, shopping sales, using coupons, buying used, creating, building, growing, and investing all play a part.

    Frugality involves sacrifice.  It means saying "no" to a lot of things in order to prioritize things that are more important.  It means being countercultural when the rest of our instant gratification-geared society is saying "yes" to every whim without a thought to how it will be payed for.  People may laugh at us or think we are strange or call us party poopers, but we carry on knowing that we are getting ahead by not putting our families under the burden of more debt and its accompanying stress.  We know from experience that any sacrifice involved is well worth it, and it makes the accomplishment of reaching our goals that much sweeter.  

    Frugality doesn't mean being cheap.  While part of it may involve looking for the best prices and hunting for bargains, it does not ignore the quality or the lifespan of a purchase.  Sometimes that means saying "no" to less expensive or cheaply made items, even if the lower cost seems alluring in the moment, in order to invest in something that will serve us for a long time.  As in the definition above, frugality "employs what is used to a profitable purpose."  The money we spend should profit us in some way.  A good investment, while potentially being more expensive, will save money in the long run.

    Along the same lines, frugality isn't about not ever having anything nice.  Nice things can still be had on a budget, whether it be through sourcing things at a good price, making them, or by saving in other areas to free up the needed funds.  It used to really bother me when Colton and I had worked hard to save for something nice, and people would say things like, "Wow, you must have a lot of money" or "Hey, you want to give me some money since you have so much?"  Of course, these people had no idea what our bank account or income looked like.  I would think, if only they knew the sacrifices we have made and things we've done without to get this, while they regularly blow money on xyz without a second thought.  It doesn't bother me anymore, as I care less what people think.  Instead, I've learned to turn it into a teaching moment, and I actually taught one of the above commenters how to budget!  Now she comes to me with her financial victories and we celebrate together.  In turn, she has even taught some of her friends how to budget!  

    That is what I want Thrifty Thursdays to be about- encouraging and helping each other in areas of frugality, learning from each other, and celebrating our victories together.  It is no small thing to be tasked with managing the household finances.  Our prudence or lack thereof can build up or tear down our homes.  For our husbands to trust us with the money they labor for is a serious matter and requires prayer, wisdom, and yes, frugality.   Ladies, let's endeavor to prosper our families.

If I Could Excel at One Thing

    The other evening, after the boys were tucked into bed and I was alone with my thoughts, I pondered the talents of various people who are extremely gifted in their particular fields.  Each of these people seemed to excel at what they did, and I admired how they used their gifts in a way that brought glory to God.  As I was marveling at their abilities, I turned my thoughts towards myself and considered my own talents. 

    While I have many interests, I couldn't help but feel like my own efforts in each of them fell short.  Before I knew it, I had fallen into the comparison trap and envy started to build up within me.  What great thing could I do?  Was I just a Jack-of-all-trades, master of none?  Mediocre?  Average?  

    The Enemy whispered, "Why even bother?"

    I prayed, "Lord, what can I excel at?" as if I had some hidden gift or talent that I just hadn't discovered yet.  Was there simply something within me that just needed to be unlocked?

    My eyes swelled with tears at his humbling response:

    "No one can love your husband and children like you."

    And suddenly that was enough.  If I could excel at one thing, that would be it.  

    The devil hates that.  He hates godly homes and families serving God together, wives and mothers creating a Christian atmosphere in which the souls of their loved ones are nurtured in the ways of the Lord.  He will try all sorts of things, present all sorts of distractions, and tell us all sorts of lies to try to keep us from looking well to the ways of our households because he knows our influence is so important.  I think we sometimes forget.

    Ladies, will you endeavor with me to excel at loving our husbands and children like no one else?  What a powerful difference it would make in our lives and in the world, all for the glory of God. 

"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all."

~ Proverbs 31:28-29