Life on a little urban homestead in the making, with ideas for self-sufficiency, Permaculture, DIYing, organic gardening, food preservation, Chicken keeping, cookery, crafts, thrifting and more...

Feb 21, 2015

Independence Days, Thrifting Score!


Independence Days-
Well, I'd be the first to admit I've been lazy about posting about this! But I have been doing it, really. So without further ado...

1. Plant Something- 
Just a couple houseplants, too early (and wacky!) here.

2. Harvest Something- 
Just eggs and chives :) LOTS of eggs, 3 every day!!! Good girls...

3. Preserve/Store Something- 
Fermenting water kefir every few days. I need to make more veggies...

4. Manage Reserves- Get a Good Deal/Barter/Stock Up/Prep- 
Got a good deal (1/2 off) on homeopathic flu remedies. I'm actually working on the Pantry Challenge still, using up frozen, canned and pantry foods. I've really saved a lot of $$$, and we need to defrost the freezer! Our washer finally died, after 15 years, and 1000's of loads! We got a nice, new scratched/dinged front loading washer at Sears outlet, saved about $150.00 anywhere else on a cheap model. This one was 1/2 off, for $599. with a 1-day sale with 6% off which covered sales tax. We looked at repairing our old one, but it would be more costly than a replacement. We also noticed how much FASTER the spin is, as the clothes are coming out much DRYER. Yeah for saving on the power bill drying the clothes! We got it on Valentine's Day. How romantic :) I should have put a big heart on it for the photo-


Got a great deal on the little desk for the bedroom office. $69.00 here Realspace Limble Computer Desk It's nice and sturdy!

5. Eat the Food- Try New Foods/Recipe- 
Made the Italian Chickpea Farinata, and have been eating lots of Kale salads with grapes and blue cheese. I found a local food coop down the street a while back, but never went it. They sell Non-GMO oats from Montana and I bought a loaf of their bread. Amazing! Moist and great stuff, with no wheat. I'm cutting WAY back on my wheat, more about that later... Started using Hemp protein powder in fruit smoothies. Hope I don't have to pee in a bottle for work!  Also started using some coconut oil, great in smoothies too. Making a big omelet for dinner tonite. 

6. Build Community Food Systems- 
Still selling eggs to a co-worker, $3.50 a Dz., so the girls are earning their keep and then some :)

7. Recycle/Re-Use- 
We donated some leftover items from our home office re-do to our daughter, and the rest to a charity. Moved some things around too. I did a separate thrifting post below since I had such a great score today! I have a few things for eBay I will sell. Too much great stuff I just don't wear much. We put out the old washer for the recycling guy, but the steel thieves took it first. Oh well, not worth much anyway...

8. Skill Up- 
Learning some new recipes. And LOTS about how much we should be saving to "retire". Fascinating, yawn... And I put a book truck together, all alone, with an Allen wrench. I feel so special.


9. Regenerate What is Lost/Salvage Something- 
I'm going to re-paint our bedroom over spring break. The crisp, white bathroom paint of our DIY remodel inspired me to go with a much lighter wall color (peach now), some blue or green accents, and some new blinds. Someday we 'd like a new bedroom set. Maybe something decorated like this-


But that's not all!!!

Thrifting-
I had to go to a dental appointment this morning and knew Goodwill was in the area :) Of course I had to drop in! I got some fun deals!!!


I found these 2 two in a plastic bag for $1.50 and they're from The Netherlands (Holland)! My daughter went there and brought me back a similar wooden shoe version. Now I have a little set! I LOVE blue and white patterns.


When I saw the mark when I got home I was thrilled! Delfts (if the mark is genuine) is a world-famous ceramic maker Delftware, and I recognized the name. The piece is either a salt cellar or a wall mounted vase. It's triangular and flat on the back with a hole on the top for hanging. Anyone else guess? I think it may be fairly old, but I can't find anything online on the markings... Got the Serendipity DVD for $2.00, love that movie, charming and sweet~~~


Classic windmill by the water motif

Nice little stainless steel cheese slicer


Fun washboard/key hanger $2.00. I may take off the flowers and do something else with it? I also got 2 brand new Coldwater Creek sweaters, gorgeous. I also found a brand- new retro, lightweight blouse/jacket I'll save for summer. Everything was $20.00!!!

At my last stop, Shopko, I found these drinking jars. I saw them last summer, $20.00 EACH and passed. $1.99 today, so I got 2! Score! I may go back and get a few more, great for yard work and a summer gatherings. I LOVE the Mason Jar/pie pan fluted edges, and they're BPA free...



17 comments:

daisy g said...

You got some great deals! I always prefer practical gifts, so the washer would be a wonderful present!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

That find with the windmill is beautiful. I love visiting thrift stores away from my area. We are surrounded by college students, so the "good" finds are limited.

Unknown said...

Yes, it's practical. I have hit and miss times at thrift stores...

Unknown said...

Yes, it's practical. I have hit and miss times at thrift stores...

Leigh said...

Cheese slicer! Fantastic find. I've been looking for one of those too. I shall not give up!

Unknown said...

Thanks! I gravitated towards the blue and white baggies among all the others :)

Klyn said...

For the challenge, I did plant lettuce in the garden, under an old window pane. It has come up. I couldn't stand is any longer, I had to plant something.
We are eating from the freezer.
We took our steer to the butcher, and shared the meat with our kids. I had the butcher save the scraps and bones for our dogs. I put the scraps in sacks and froze them to supplement the commercial food.
We are repairing fences. DH made some new rock jacks from used welded wire panels, and we have filled them with lava rocks, that are laying all over this place. Making do with what we have.

Unknown said...

Klyn, good for you! I'm not ready for spring yard work yet :) Good to use what you have...

Valerie Cottage Making Mommy said...

Doing a great job on your challenge. I too love to thrift the stores are just so far away.
Thanks for linking to Simple Saturdays.

Hugs from Oklahoma,

Valerie
Cottage Making Mommy

Unknown said...

Thanks Valerie!

Quirky Homemaker said...

This looks like an interesting challenge. :) It would be so nice to be self-sufficient. Love the blue and white thrift finds as well. I've always loved blue and white. Stopping by from the misAdventures blog hop. have a great week!

Unknown said...

Great challenge and great finds! You are the feature post this week on my blog for the HomeAcre hop! Thanks for the submission.

Unknown said...

Thanks Quirky, and thanks Heidi!

Janet said...

Wonderful post and the number one post from this weeks Simple Saturdays Blog Hop! Congratulations on being featured. We hope you will be back to link up again this week. - Janet @Timbercreekfarmer.com

Unknown said...

Thanks Janet!!!

Unknown said...

I am exhausted just reading all that LOL You are a busy person indeed! Thank you for being part of the (mis)Adventures Monday Blog Hop!

Unknown said...

Thanks Mindie!

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