THIS WEEK'S FRUGAL FEATS

My goodness is anyone else feeling the strain of the economy?  The dollars are certainly not stretching as far as they used to. We home managers have to keep a very diligent eye on prices while practicing the difficult art of self-restraint.  

Each Friday here on Blueberry Cottage I will post my frugal feats of the week.  I am hoping to encourage myself this way and spur myself on. Would you like to join me?  If so, leave your list of frugal feats for all to see in the comments, or if you wrote a blog post about it leave your link. We can all learn from each other this way! There are quite a few blogs who do a weekly link up, such as, The Shabby Nest and The Prudent Homemaker. If you know of any others let us all know in the comments.

A WEEK OF FRUGAL FEATS:
*I am feeling like I could have done better this week.

• line dried the laundry
• my wonderful husband fixed my oven for $49.86. New cost would have been over $400.00.
• made more of my own vinegar/lavender rinse
• i had 4 extra kids last week to watch-made homemade pizzas and lots of pancakes and french toast from scratch to save money 
• this week we had an intensive writing workshop to take-brought all our own snacks and our own well water in our Kleen Kanteens
• mended a dress that Lydia cut a whole in a few years ago-COST FOR PATCH $1.00!
• harvested zucchini, tomatoes, swiss chard, romaine lettuce and basil from the garden
• planted spinach and more lettuce
• cut my husband and daughter's hair
• shopped and bought only sale items-buy 1/get 2 free from the local market, got a lot of meat!
• used a 30cents per gallon off coupon my mother gave me for a gas fill up-thanks Mum!
• didn't use the air conditioners all week
• bought 3 brand new books for 50 cents at the local second hand book for baby gifts
• made a baby quilt from scraps of Winnie-the-Pooh fabric I had and backed it with leftover chenille from another quilt-lovely!
• made my own dipping oil sauce after pricing it in the grocers--RECIPE FOLLOWS AT END OF POST

MENDING:

Lydia managed to cut a hole in a brand new jumper I had made Sophia several years back. I remember being upset:-) Well, I had not found the "perfect patch" until about 4 years later. I loved the pattern on this dress and wanted something to fit just right as the hole was not in an easy spot. While in an antique store last week I came across a vintage hankie holder. It had been crocheted and lace worked around the edges. I cut the back part off then sewed the patch on. It looks like part of the dress and keeps the drape nicely. I did pay $1.00 for the patch, but it is so unique and well worth it. Now, new dress for Lydia to wear--Sophia grew out of it long ago!  Guess it all worked out to her advantage.

Here is a dipping oil recipe I came up with. Very tasty with a crusty loaf of homemade or bakery bread!

Rustic Dipping Oil

1/ 2 cup olive oil

1 TBSP Balsamic vinegar

1 TBSP grated parmesan cheese

1 minced garlic clove

1 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp sea salt

a few cranks black pepper

a shake of red pepper flakes (depends on how spicy you like it)

Mix it all in a bowl and let sit on the counter for an hour before serving. Serve with some crusty bread. Refrigerate any leftovers. So good!

Recipe linked with Janelle's Feasting in Fellowhip Friday's.