November Visitors & Frugal Accomplishments

While going through my posts looking for something recently, I realized the first post on this blog was Nov. 4, 2008, the day President Obama was elected.  Here we are back at election week.  I voted early, and am curious about what the future will bring.  Last week, I made a batch of Fire Cider which used our garlic, onion & peppers.  The first batch I made was last fall, & I really didn't know if I'd like it, but I do.  It seems to knock out the beginnings of a cold when I take it before bed.  Good stuff.  This batch is slightly different than last year's, as I use what I have on hand.  I gave both pups a bath with homemade dog soap & cut nails.  McNibs let me cut 5 nails.  I was attempting to cut the 6th when he pulled his nail away.  Afraid I could hurt him, I decided to be happy with that for the day.  Lots of praises and treats were given.  Then, figuring it was the last day of the year in the 80's, I decided it was the perfect day to pick green lima beans and sit on the porch while shelling them.  Enjoying it while I can.

I harvested tomatoes, eggplant, hot peppers,okra, basil, oregano, dried lima beans and butter peas from the garden.  Made lentil soup from pantry items and our onions, and open face tomato cheese sandwiches with our tomatoes and oregano.  I ran all errands while in town for work.  At the grocery store, I used $1 coupon for cat food, got 3 jars of olives at closeout price & organic garbanzo beans for .60 on the markdown shelf.   Bought 3 items for my shoebox with a Walgreens 20% discount, shopped at the discount grocery store and found organic raisins for $2/15 oz., a box of natural candy canes for .75, dried blueberries $1/3.5 oz ($12.99 on Amazon!), large rolls of wrapping paper for $1, a canister for $4 (which I'll turn into a compost crock for my shop), & natural peanut butter & tahini @ $2/jar.  I did some online Christmas shopping, going through ebates for cash back, & used a coupon code combined with a sale to order some more garlic to plant, as we ended up having less than usual this year to plant.

Our garlic was used in a stir fry.  We've lost quite a bit of our garlic already, as the area we're keeping it in has too high humidity for it.  We didn't realize it at first, and have remedied that by running the dehumidifier.  It's a challenge, as the potatoes like higher humidity.  Some people have different zones to keep their produce, but we haven't figured out how to manage that just yet.  I harvested the first of the collards and made my favorite collards and rice dish, & baked our sweet potatoes to go along with it.  A dear friend visited after going to the farmer's market, and gifted me lots of apples... 4 different types, a spaghetti squash, herb butter and a beautiful bouquet. The bouquet has tuberose in it, which has the house smelling amazing.  I ground several cups of Red Fife wheat for baking, and tried a new roasted eggplant recipe.  The consensus was it's a keeper.  I'm joining in with Frugal Accomplishments today.  Have a great week, friends!