Today I Am . . .

by Katy on November 5, 2014 · 32 comments

Today I am . . . 

  • Happy that my middle-aged near sightedness can be fixed with a $1 pair of Dollar Tree reading glasses.
  • Planning a Safeway grocery trip to take full advantage of their monthly $10-off-$50 coupon. I’ll also ask the neighbors to save their coupon for me.
  • Needing to clean one of my mother’s guest cottages today since I work tomorrow and the new tenants arrive on Friday.
  • Making sure I have a good library audiobook on my phone to listen to while I clean.
  • Pleased with my new Descoware (Le Creuset) trivet that my step mother gave me yesterday. I grew up with it, and since there were two of them, I’ll give the extra one to my older sister. I often have to move the hot tea kettle from the stove to use the good burners on my stove, (the back burners are too small to be useful) so I now have a cool vintage trivet to sit on the counter.
  • Needing to photograph a few items to sell on eBay and Craigslist. “Crap out of the house, money in!”
  • Amazed with how quickly my maple trees lose their leaves this time of year. I just raked the backyard a few days ago, yet the leaves are so thick that the lawn isn’t even visible!
  • Weirdly bummed that Amanda Valentine didn’t win Project Runway, but am moving on and rooting for Portland’s own Michelle Lesniak.
  • Layered up to stay warm. I did turn my heat on a few days ago, but it went right back off again after Portland temperatures came back up again.
  • Enjoying the mental challenge of coming up with great holiday gift ideas while spending almost nothing.
  • Thinking about asking my neighbors if I can have the uncarved pumpkins that sit on their porch. (Gotta freeze enough puree to get us through to next Halloween!)

Now your turn. What are you doing today?

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

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{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }

marie November 5, 2014 at 10:05 am

Today I am picking the last green tomatoes and eggplants off the vines. I will wash, dry, and wrap the tomatoes up in hopes that they ripen. Also will find something wonderful to make out of tiny little eggplants.
Waiting to hear back from someone that maybe wants to buy the wetsuit I posted on Craigslist. It’s a hard item to sell.
Labeling my boysenberry jam I canned last night. I’m done making jam for this year,I have strawberry, boysenberry, raspberry, and blueberry, we give away most of it. I still have gallons and gallons of frozen berries,So I have to fiqure out a plan for that. Maybe barter with sister in law who has tons of pumpkin puree.
I am enjoying the H*ll out of my new marked down Shark vacuum. I’ve vacuumed every day, since I bought it. Wish I’d have bought one sooner.
Have to research my Zelda cat’s puking issue. She’s 12 yrs old, and has started puking catfood2 to 3 times a week. Doesn’t seem sick, just keeps blowing chunks, and the red dye in cat food is not being kind to my beige carpeting.
We only use our woodstove for heat, but have only had to make a small fire in the evening, basically for Zelda the puking cat!!!

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Renee November 5, 2014 at 1:47 pm

Blend the eggplants up into Baba ghanoush!

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Kathleen November 5, 2014 at 6:16 pm

I made salsa with all of my green tomatoes. I made one cooked version with peppers, cilantro, and onions that I pureed. I also made a fermented green tomato salsa that was by far the best. So delicious.

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Christine November 6, 2014 at 5:49 pm

I don’t know if this will help for a cat, but it works for dogs. Feed her the CRYP (pronounced “crap”) diet: Cottage Cheese, Rice (white), Yogurt (with live cultures), Pumpkin. The cottage cheese provides protein, white rice helps to bind loose stool, yogurt provides good bacteria for the digestive tract, pumpkin provides fiber. My dog is allergic to chicken and whenever she has stomach/bowel problems, we switch to this diet and it seems to help. Check with your vet first, because it could be something more serious.

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K D November 5, 2014 at 10:12 am

Today I am:

Glad that the cold, windy weather has abated, if only for a couple of days.

Happy that we were able to watch Chef the other night, thanks to a free rental code from RedBox. It was enjoyable.

Eating an orchard apple, they are just so darn good.

Contemplating what to make for dinner, based on what I have on hand.

Grateful for you blog and that you are posting frequently.

Happy that I spent time with friends this morning, helping with tasks they needed done.

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kris November 5, 2014 at 10:28 am

*Working and just finished a free lunch prepared by our kitchen staff since we have a meeting going on that they cooked for. Chili, salad, cornbread, corn-chips and cheese along with a little cream cheese-y pastry thing. Mmmm.
*However I just realized I took some already prepared Chili out of the freezer this morning for dinner tonight. I’ll be ‘chili-ed’ out.
*When I get home, I’ll be leaning the bathroom, sweeping and mopping my wood floors and vacuuming my area rugs. Also I’ve got a little bit of laundry to do.
*Packing for a out of town wedding we’ll be attending.

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erin @ dfmi designs November 5, 2014 at 11:40 am

I hear you about the leaves!

After much negotiation, we are closing on a new home today. It is a 1920’s built Craftsman in need of some work, (mostly cosmetic, but we are handy!) We are so happy to have lots of original features (hardwood, moldings and pocket doors!) and a bit more space. Three cheers for reviving an older home!

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Loris November 5, 2014 at 11:51 am

Trying to return things to their rightful owners. I borrowed a bunch of summer maternity clothes from a close-in-size friend and now that the weather has changed and I’m enormous, it’s time to give them back.

Buying a Costco case of beer. This is actually a frugal move because it’s a reciprocity gift for a friend who will watch our dog for the second time this fall. Doggy doesn’t have to be boarded, and I save a bundle!

Saving other people money! I found a Loft blouse on the ground at the fair and took it home to wash. It wasn’t my size, but a younger colleague who recently lost some weight and very properly has been spending her money on car repairs instead of wardrobe was able to use it. I was very glad to help her out and it didn’t cost me anything.

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Betsey November 5, 2014 at 1:08 pm

Erin, I just moved too! I bought a cottage style home which fits me to a T.
Today I got the car ready for winter. The oil is changed, tires rotated, cleaned in and out, and a full tank of gas. I also swept out the garage, tore down boxes for recycling, found a dead mouse which I put in the bushes, and returned all the things I borrowed for the move.
I visited my mom in the nursing home and took her clean clothes for the week.
I am also working on bills ( I am taking a time-out ) and getting the ironing ready for tonight while I watch TV. I think Nicholas and Alexandra is on TCM.
Tomorrow is yard work. I have a mulcher so I never rake. Dog and I are also planning a long walk.
Cheers everyone. Katy, I check your site almost daily.

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Karen November 5, 2014 at 1:20 pm

First of all, be very grateful that you vision can be corrected for so little cost. I have had vision correction for about 50 years now, and my eyes are so bad that correcting my vision just to be able to drive is very expensive.

I am finishing packing up several boxes of items to redistribute to other family members. Cleaned out the home of a relative a couple of weeks ago who will no longer need these things.

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Vickie November 5, 2014 at 2:22 pm

Today I am…
Glad to have a job, but a bit heart broken that a 4th Team member is moving on to another job. I’m so grateful to have worked with such intelligent, hardworking family guys. They’ve taught me so much, which makes their departure bittersweet.

I’m thankful my daughter doesn’t have a heel spur. She has plantar faciitis, which has caused her alot of pain, but the Dr said it’s treatable and she needs better shoes!

I’m thankful I feel better today. I had a horrible stomach ache yesterday and went home early, but I feel better and made it to the end of the work day today!

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Andrea A. November 5, 2014 at 4:04 pm

Vickie–I am dealing with this condition also. My podiatrist recommended the Spenco RX Orthiotic Arch. I bought a pair for about $21 in a local pharmacy (also available on Amazon) and I use them in shoes I already own. I bought the 3/4 length ones and they fit in most (but not all) of my shoes. It’s kind of a pain to switch them in and out of shoes but it is a more frugal alternative to buying special shoes and they help a lot to make walking more comfortable and less painful.

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Debra November 7, 2014 at 5:13 am

Thank you for this info, Andrea. I’ve just developed this condition and will give these a try.

Debra

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Vickie November 10, 2014 at 1:40 pm

Thanks, Andrea – I did buy her a pair of new shoes with good arch supports in them, the ones she had were over 3 years old and getting ratty.
She also has bunions and one is getting worse, so she has to wear extra wide shoes. It ends up she does have a heel spur too, but i think she can get heel supports to put inside the shoes for that.
She’s having horrible problems with her feet. I just told her the shoes would have to be her Christmas gift. She’s like me though, she’d rather have something useful than junk, so that’s one less gift I will buy this year!

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John Benton November 5, 2014 at 3:20 pm

I am kind of bummed out as I haven’t found any items at Goodwill lately that I could make some money reselling on eBay. I supplement my meager pension income doing that. My expertise is with electronic, Hi Fi audio, pocket knives, toys and mechanical stuff. I don’t buy what I don’t know about, having been burned in the past. One gripe I have with the Goodwill is that they tell me all the electronic items have been tested and that is just not true. I have been disappointed often. Only getting a credit if you bring it back within a week is a little disingenuous. The other issue I have with the Goodwill is that they overprice many items and take advantage of unsophisticated customers. I am not asking them to let me steal stuff at undervalued prices from them to resell at a great profit. I do however watch grandma types pay way too much for real junk to buy for their family. I know it is difficult to price thousands of items and get it right all the time. Being almost perfect would take expertise that wouldn’t pencil out financially. But I do think they err by pricing high. It is interesting in spite of all of this I see many pickers every time I go to the Goodwill. The competition is getting fiercer since the economy is still in the doldrums. On the other side, the people that buy on eBay are not spending as freely as before the recession. One has to be really sharp to do well.

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Mary November 5, 2014 at 3:53 pm

Today I tried out a new recipe for pita bread cooked in a cast iron skillet. DH and I thought the result was delish….just like the naan bread from Whole Foods! I also made apple crisp from seconds scored at the local market for .33/lb. I visited my parents in their nursing home and took them for a ride through the northeast Ohio countryside to see the last of the fall foliage on the trees. I brought them homemade tapioca pudding…my dad’s favorite. I encouraged my college age daughter on the phone, as she is sick with a bad cold. I hung a load of laundry on the line in the basement. I scrubbed a pair of boots I got free from a friend a few years ago…they look so good after their date with Mr. Murphy (oil soap) that they will last for a third season. I gave my cats homegrown catnip as a treat today…they loved it! Life is good.

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Linda November 5, 2014 at 4:42 pm

If the recipe you use doesn’t give the result you’re looking for I recommend Kristin’s recipe http://www.thrfrugalgirl.com/2011/04/wednesday-baking-how-to-make-pita-bread

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ellen November 5, 2014 at 5:48 pm

*worked today, thankful I have a job.
*made dinner for me an the kids, dh working tonight
* made homemade banana bread, and pumpkin bread for a party at work (tomorrow its apple crisp for said party)
* packed up 5 items that my daughter grew out of that I just sold on ebay.
*got my lunch together for work tomorrow. (to expensive to order out, and it usually taste like crap anyway!)

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Groovecatmom November 5, 2014 at 9:00 pm

Today I am observing a moment of silence for the beautiful antique bed that just broke…thankfully my teen girl wasn’t sleeping in it. The wood side rail just completely split all along one side. Considering its age and how much it’s been used, it’s ok. It’s been in the family for years and years, I still use the dresser and nightstand from the set (having paid zero for this furniture). But I am sad. Meanwhile there are lots of metal bed frames available on Craigslist–frugal and cheaper and non-consumer-ish. And we got to vacuum under the bed finally.

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Kelly in MA November 6, 2014 at 8:20 am

check with your local Goodwill (or equivalent) My bedrail did the same thing last year and they had a bunch of them I got a new set of side rails ($10!!!) and got to keep the bed I love so much. Many people have the new style metal bed frames and just by the head and/or foot boards. All of those side rails get left behind, sometimes you can find cross braces there too.

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Groovecatmom November 7, 2014 at 7:23 am

Thanks Kelly, I will look into that. Might be a needle in a haystack, but you never know!

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Monica November 6, 2014 at 7:19 am

– Coffee Maker Saga: Our 7 year old (Made in China) coffee maker died last week, so we’ve been making due with a 20 yr old 4-cup Mr. Coffee (made in America) my hubby has held onto. Hubby was able to find a $1.49 part at Radio Shack and fix the heating element of a 15 year old Made in Mississippi Mr. Coffee he’d been also been holding onto. He is very handy! We hated to have to buy a new Made in China coffee maker for $40-$60, so I was patient while he search online and in local stores for the part he thought he needed. Yay!

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Katy November 6, 2014 at 11:19 am

That’s great!

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Karen November 6, 2014 at 7:18 pm

I still have my Mr Coffee that I received as a present for my college graduation in 1977. This includes the original glass carafe. I tried several years ago to contact Mr. Coffee to tell them this, thought they would want to hear this, but could not find their number.

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JD November 7, 2014 at 11:23 am

I’m making overtime today, which will come in handy since we know we have a vet bill coming up.
I finally used up some old frozen blueberries instead of throwing them out — they weren’t freezer burned, just kind of old. I made blueberry jam and it turned out pretty good. I keep a jar of powdered pectin to use in whatever quantity I need and I always have jars and reusable canning lids (Tatler brand), so I had all I needed to make it.
I ordered some more pastured/grass fed meats from a local farmer. That’s not frugal, but our improved diet has given us clearly improved health. I think it’s well worth it to eat the best food we can grow or find, and we do grow as much produce and fruit as we can, which is cheaper than buying.
I’m enjoying the fall-ish weather today. Even here in the deep, deep south we get to see a few trees change color — our dogwoods are turning red, and I love it.

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Diane C November 7, 2014 at 12:09 pm

As someone who is nearsighted, farsighted, with thin corneas, astigmatism and a side of glaucoma, I’d like to politely point out that you might be farsighted if your problem can be corrected with dollar store readers. Lest that sound whiny, I assure you I am grateful that my vision is correctable with glasses every single time I put them on and even more so every time I take them off.

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Kristen November 7, 2014 at 2:53 pm

So true. I am SO nearsighted, I can only see clearly about six inches in front of my eyeballs.

When I start getting age-related farsightedness, I figure I will not be able to see anything without vision correction. Ha.

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Diane C November 8, 2014 at 2:29 pm

I am the same way, but I am happy to report that I can still see enough to read in bed without my glasses, so all is not lost.

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april m November 7, 2014 at 2:45 pm

Hi katy, it’s not NEARSIGHTED, it’s FARSIGHTED at our age, FYI. Love the recent posts.

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Katy November 7, 2014 at 3:22 pm

Yup, I was wrong on this one!

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Gina November 9, 2014 at 10:34 am

Today I took the kids to watch planes landing at the airport and throw rocks in the river. They love this (free) activity.
Then I came home and cleaned the hell out of my upstairs — also free, and makes me feel great.
Contemplating making banana bread with bananas I have in the freezer.
Then it’s off to a (free) dinner at my parents’ house.

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Katy November 9, 2014 at 11:33 am

That sounds like my kind of day!

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