Hi everyone! I know I'm a day late for Thrifty Thursday. But, oh well.
1. Pantry stock up: I did a big pantry stock up this week, topping up the pantry to have a year's worth of nonperishables like rice, beans, pasta, sugar and canned tomato paste. There were a few items that I don't quite have enough of, like tuna and pasta, but I will work on topping those up in the weeks and months to come. Still, I feel very happy with where I'm at in regards to the pantry. Last year my goal was to buy 6 month's worth of food, and this year I've expanded that inventory to a full year's worth. 2. Thrifting: I spent about $10.00 at the thrift store on books and sewing supplies (see the picture above). I want to restock my zipper collection this year and beef up some of my other notions. These days I buy thread whenever I see it, because good thread at Walmart or Joann's will cost a couple of dollars, but often I don't need a whole spool to complete a project. The spools I found at the secondhand store were about $0.25 each. 3. Centerpiece: I cut some forsythia and lilac branches to make an arrangement for our kitchen. I'm hoping that the leaves will at least unfurl, if not flower. In the past I've had good success with the forsythia branches flowering, and they are such a beautiful, spring-like yellow color when the whole countryside is still dull and brown. Twigs are so easy to arrange, and you can always find an abundance of them here. Of course it's nice if some bud out and flower, but even if they don't, it's still visually interesting and adds a touch of nature to your home. I was reading a piece in the Epoch Times several weeks ago about decorating with nature or nature-themed items. Studies have shown that being in nature provides a sense of calmness, lowers blood pressure and heart rate and inspires a feeling of well-being. Even when a direct connection with nature isn't available, even imagery of nature has positive benefits; so, for example, pictures of leaves, bark, snowflakes or ocean waves would have some effect. And twigs. Twigs have an effect. 4. Book: I found a biography of William McKinley at a discount store for $4.00. It seemed fitting for me to buy it, since the biography I'm working on now is Edith Roosevelt. I'm also exited to read it, given that McKinley was apparently one out of two Enneagram 2 presidents. Some day I would love to read at least one biography on each president. 5. Garden: I've been harvesting beets and parsnips from the garden, and trying to use up most of our pantry stock from last year; canned and dried produce (of which the wasn't much to start with), frozen produce, and also what's left in cold storage; a cabbage or two, onions, butternut squash and a few apples. When I first set a goal to garden year-round, I had no idea what I would do for the months between November and May, since midwestern winters can be so harsh and long-lasting. Somehow, each year I find new vegetables to grow, or new ways to keep those vegetables fresh. Last year in March, all I had was a fistful of lettuce and a couple of parsnips. This year I have enough parsnips for two per week, March-April. In addition, I have a couple of beets out there still, spinach beginning to grow, and even a bit of swiss chard that I haven't dug into yet. Last year's lack of canning lids really forced me to be creative in how I preserve or keep produce, and the results this spring are amazing. I'm still buying potatoes, but I've quit buying nearly everything else. That's all I have for this week. Blessings, ~Prudence~
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
About PrudenceI am a Christian homemaker who lives in the Midwest. I enjoy sewing, gardening, reading and thrifting. Archives
June 2022
Categories
All
|