Frugal Happenings 8/14

Good morning dear friends.
I hope you are all doing well.  We are soggy at the moment!  We are getting rain and more rain!
It started raining yesterday morning and it's to continue through Tuesday evening.  We have already had about 2 1/2".  The nice part is that the temperatures have finally dropped.  We were in the 90's with awful humidity for days - now in the 70's today.

I have sure been enjoying the hummingbirds this past week.  They just about emptied the feeders, before I got a chance to refill.  I wonder if they are trying to tell us something - like early fall/winter!
I hope not.  I hope they were just unusually thirsty!

This week we had a problem with our whole house generator.  It comes on at an appointed time every week as a test - and this week all we heard was a loud pop and no running.  They came out to check it and the battery exploded!  Well we had to spend $375 to have it all taken care of (mostly labor-less than an hour - CRAZY). It is just a few days shy of being out of parts and labor 2 year warranty.  Battery isn't covered of course.  BUUUUUTTTT - the tech did see another problem and a bad part that he is scheduled to replace this week.  Had it gone out of warranty it would have cost us an additional $400 in labor and the part would have been $1,300!!!!!  So I am glad we spent what we did, to save that much.

MY WEEK:

• I purchased an additional 25 cans of tuna at .50/can for the pantry
• I used a $10 off coupon for $40 spent at Aldi - added to long term pantry supplies
• I cleaned an organized the upstairs pantry
• I inventoried and re-organize the pantry supplies in the basement
• I finally opened a new dish soap bottle this week - the last one lasted 90 days (I date things when I open them - helps with keeping enough on hand in our inventory)
• I dehydrated zucchini slices for a couple days

I am keeping one squash per baggy and then the bags will go into a gallon glass jar for storage.  These will be great for stir fry or soups in the winter

• I canned 14 jars of pasta sauce and 7 jars of pizza sauce
• Renewed library books on-line
• Dried more tomato skins
• All meals from home and scratch - using lots of garden veggies
• Picked about  50 lbs. of produce from the garden

Here is a jar of ground tomato skins.  I use a coffee grinder to grind.  I have 2 grinders - one for mild things and for spicy.  I paid $1 each for my grinders at yard sales!

Check out this jar I came across in my stash this week.  Not sure where it came from - but I am sure it's old.  Says PRESTO Supreme Mason.  The glass is about twice as thick as a normal jar, and it is heavier.  I used it!
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Meals this week:
Zucchini/sausage/cheese skillet dinner and salad
Grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and salad
Dirty rice with ground beef and fresh veggies
Chicken and beans and rice
Cheesy tuna casserole and fresh veggies
Leftovers and fresh veggies
'Unstuffed' zucchini boats (made into a casserole instead of boats)

Snacks - popcorn, nuts, chips
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I have about 30 lbs. of tomatoes sitting in my dining room ripening up.  I have to pick before they are completely ripe, as the critters keep eating them.  I probably have 10 -15 more pounds to pick if it quits raining today.  I will be canning a ton more tomato products this coming week - so I definitely know what my week will consist of!
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO?

Have you been adding to your pantry?  Doing any canning?

I pray you all have a wonderful, safe, and healthy week.
TAKE CARE!