A Tale of Happy Tail & Frugal Accomplishments

Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

Once again, I'm joining in with this week's Frugal Accomplishments.  At the discount grocery store, I bought several cans of organic black beans and garbanzo beans, 4 large jars of Alfonso olives, and a #10 can of sliced black olives (for $4!).  I've read of people finding these big cans and canning the olives in smaller portions over the years, but this is the first time I've run across them. I'm excited to see how much I end up with.  I see lots of pizza in our future :o)

Used a 15% off coupon for a deli item at the grocery store.  I have gotten many of these at checkout in the past, but this is the first time I remembered to bring and use it.  I reached my Swagsbucks goal several days, and cashed in some points for $5 Amazon gift cards.

Mardi Gras float at the Mobile Museum of Art

I made a waldorf salad and a tomato rice loaf using celery from our coldframe, used scrap paper for lists and notes, composted, froze vegi scraps for broth, saved bread ends to use for bread crumbs, and hung laundry on the line.  We got 4 seven week old Barred Rock chicks from a neighbor for $5 ea.  Though we had asked for 4 hens, we are pretty sure one is a rooster... time will tell.

Ate sweet potatoes, garlic, green beans and eggs from our homestead.  I made a pizza (olives, mushrooms and garlic) and salad Friday night.  We watched a Netflix movie we both enjoyed, Begin Again.  I like the idea of Friday's being pizza and movie night, and will try to have more of these during these next few cold months.  J and I went through our seeds, and discovered the only ones we need to buy are spinach seeds.  Between what we had left from last year, and seeds of my Mom's, it will be our smallest seed purchase ever.  I harvested lettuce from our cold frame, and collards from the garden before we had a night with a low of 8 degrees.  Made popcorn for snacks.

Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

Sweet McNibs required a visit to the emergency vet over the weekend.  Guinness had his annual well visit during Christmas week, and I intended to make McNibs an appointment for the coming week.  Last week, I noticed him licking the tip of his tail a lot, then saw a sore.  I began giving him vitamin C with each meal (a powdered one purchased for dogs), then added in elderberry and astragalus to support his immune function.  Over the weekend, I was quite sure it was infected and did not want to wait until Monday for him to be seen.  He has what is called "Happy Tail", where the tail is injured from regular and exuberant wagging, which then became infected.  That fits him to a tee.  He is the only pup I've had that regularly wags his tail while he sleeps.  He is feeling quite forlorn wearing an Elizabethan collar.  I'm pretty forlorn about it too, but if it helps him heal, it is worth it.  If you're so inclined, a little prayer that he once again has a truly happy tail would be most appreciated.  Not the most frugal week, but life has it's bumps in the road, doesn't it?