The January Table and Frugal Accomplishments

Merry Monday, friends!  I'm happy to be joining in with Frugal Accomplishments today.  Last week, I ran all my errands while I was in town for Hospice massage work... bank, library, made a soap delivery, picked up a few hardware items, filled the car with gas, and bought groceries.  When I got home, I heated up a small amount of leftover mac & cheese with a vegi burger that had been lingering in the freezer.  The combination was pretty tasty.  I had bought ravioli on sale while at the grocery store, and prepared that with lots of our garlic.  Gathered chickweed and dandelion greens for the chickens.

daffodils hoping for spring

I discussed the egg quandary with the vet, and was surprised to learn he felt that either 3 raw eggs twice a week, or boiled eggs substituted for 1/2 of their daily diet would be fine.  He did say that if the boiled eggs were used long term, they would likely miss out on some vitamins and minerals over time, but as the egg supply is variable, it shouldn't present a problem.  He also said this, knowing they ate dry dog food, but with what they get from their grated fruits and veggies, yogurt and kefir, herbs, etc., I would think it would be even less of a challenge. So, I'll be incorporating more eggs as the supply is available, and saving money on store bought dog food.  They do love eggs, so it's a good thing all the way around.

suet ingredients

I made a cranberry pudding with one of our eggs.  It was quite sweet for my taste, so I'll try it with less sugar and may also look for another recipe.  Boiled eggs for us and the pups.  Melted oils for 2 batches of soap on the woodstove.  Hung out three loads of laundry, done with homemade laundry soap and soap gel.  Tore up a cardboard tube (from wrapping paper) and added it to the compost.  Added apple and pear cores, and carrot and  rutabaga ends to the broth bag in the freezer.  Washed plastic bags for reuse.   Made a side dish with our spaghetti squash and lambs quarter.  Made suet for the birds, incorporating dried berry pulp from making berry jam last summer.

finished suet

Saved boxes and shipping materials to reuse.  Saved the half sheet of paper left after printing a shipping label for lists.  Made Swagbucks goals several days.  Made yogurt and kefir.  Made zucchini soup with our zucchini and tomatoes, garlic, parsley and basil.  Spoke with my bank and Paypal about an incorrect charge.  They were of no help, so I've contacted the seller. and am waiting to hear back about it.  Crushed a pan of egg shells, and added them to the compost bin.

kale has been the hardiest green in the garden

Though not frugal, J & I headed to Raleigh to see the M.C. Escher and Leonardo da Vinci codex shows at the Museum of Art.  Looking at da Vinci's notes and sketches was quite impressive.  While there, we also wandered through the galleries of Italian, African and Northern European art.  While in that neck of the woods, we stopped at Trader Joe's and bought a few things... breads, cheeses, produce, rice for less than we can buy them locally.  I've been enjoying the Home Fires series through Netflix. We had snow Sunday morning... just a little bit, but I'll take it.  The sun came out in the afternoon, and there is no trace remaining.  I'm hoping for a good snow before winter is over, which is always questionable in central NC, but I can hope...