Building Fence

Yesterday was a glorious day!  I don't get to go to the farm with the Mr. very often anymore since there is so much homework to be done.  But yesterday we were up there and building fence.  It's been a tough job, but I love getting the physical exercise that I crave.  It's also wonderful putting in this time getting the farm ready for cattle again.  You get such a workout using all of your body....stretching wire, walking along, putting clips on the wire, bending, stretching, pulling.....all the things a body is supposed to do.  People are too sedentary these days.  A body longs for movement and exercise.  Even when I am at school, I park the car as far away as possible and always take the stairs in the buildings.  I've getting my weight bearing exercise everytime I grab my rolling bag and heft it up or down the stairs.  I originally had reservatons about getting a rolling bag but after a couple of times to the chiropractor after trying to carry a too heavy bag around campus, I'm ok with the idea.  Besides, there are lots of young people also using them!  So, today, get up and go take a walk or ride your bike!  There is no excuse with this beautiful weather we're finally having.  It's finally cooled off and the air is a little crisper, especially in the mornings.  You don't need to join a health club, just lace up your tennis shoes.  So, get up and get out there!  

Dog Bed from recycled materials

Maybe my two dogs are special or maybe not. There is an inside bed and an outside bed. The big dog, Annie is an outside/inside dog. And the little one, Petie is mostly inside now while she is still young. Also, since she is still a puppy, she chews on EVERYTHING!

So, the outside bed has been shredded and stuffing all over the place. I didn't want to spend $35 on another and began to think about what I could do instead. So, last week while at a garage sale, I found a twin sized comforter for $2.00 and thought, ah ha....there's what I need for another bed. So I brought it home and folded into half twice and that worked for a little while, until Petie discovered there was stuffing in that too! Well, yesterday at another yard sale, I found a piece of fabric for .10 that someone had folded in half and stitched on three sides already. Wahoo.....I thought here is what I need for the dog bed. I'll just put the comforter in this and stitch it up. Well, then I began to think about using some velcro or a zipper in it, but then I thought that I probably wouldn't be washing it. Before putting in the comforter, I folded it in half length wise and then half again and stitched it where I could to keep it from shifting. Then stuffed it into the other piece of fabric, turned under about 1/2 inch along the edge and stitched it shut. The dogs love it and can't tell the difference in it and one that I would have paid $35 or more for!

Since being in school now is taking up a lot of time, some things just don't get addressed as they have in the past. I like decorating for the different seasons a little. I don't get obsessed with it as some do, just a little touch here and there. In the fall, I like to use a mum, which can be planted in the flower bed later and a few little pumpkins, which can be eaten later. The gourd can be saved and the seeds planted next spring for more gourds.

At the farm store, I have had my eye on this cute little container and bought it the other day. It's not only cute, but could be functional too. It could be taken to the garden and used to tote things or hold harvested items.

Now, we're decorated for fall and it took all of 5 minutes. That's a good thing! This will last til after Thanksgiving and I'll be able to enjoy the mum for many more years each fall in the flower bed!

Tuesday Bouquet

Finally fall is with us and cooler temperatures are here. We're still not getting as much rain as I would like to have, but it is helping our flowers look better. It's time to enjoy this time before we get a frost! The tomoatoes are looking beautiful with lots of green ones hanging on the plants. I'm watching the weather hoping they ripen before a frost too. If not, I'll pick them and bring them in the house to ripen. Here's to you...hope you enjoy!

Waste not Want not

Good Morning all!

While fixing my breadkfast this morning, I thought about sharing my way of using up jam or jelly that has gone beggin'. In other words, a way to use up some of that jam or jelly that is lurking in the back of the refrigerator or cupboard shelf that's just not getting eaten. When you make your hot cereal for the morning, instead of dumping in a bunch of sugar, spoon a dallop of the jelly into it instead. Stir and enjoy knowing you've done a good thing!

Cream Soup Substitute

While perusing the Internet this morning I ran across a healthy substitute for those cream soups that recipes sometimes call for. Sometimes you want a healthier alternative or you might not have one on hand. Either way, over at www.Cheaplikemeblog.com/food/recipe-cream-soup-substitute/ check out the recipe. I'll be filing this one away for future use!

Happy Dance

Yes...I am doing the Happy Dance today. I just found out that the insurance companies have paid for our little mis-hap; rental car vs. Montana deer. It was not a pretty picture. This past summer we flew to Spokane, WA, and picked up a rental car. We spend the next week touring Idaho, Montana and Washington. On the next to the last day of vacation, a deer jumped out of the brushy road right of way and crashed into our car. Me being the frugal one that I am had declined the car rental companies insurance policy. We have our own car insurance and you are covered in a rental car with that same policy. The only down side to that is you still have to pay your deductible, which in our case is $1000. We always carry a high deductible to keep our premiums low. So I was feeling a little low after that vacation. But then in a statement from Avis, it mentioned that if you pay for your car rental with a credit card, sometimes there are provisions for situation like this. I promptly contacted Discover and .......Happy Dance......they covered the deductible! Yeah!!!! So the lesson of the day......Check with your Credit Card company when something like this happens to you!