Saturday, November 29, 2008

Photohunt Theme: Metal


Is she transversing a METAL maze?.....no, just having fun on some shinny new playground equipment!

For more photos and this week's Photohunt check out tnchick.com.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

PhotoHunt Theme: Reflection


Who's that handsome boy in the mirror there?

For more photos and this week's Photohunt check out tnchick.com.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

PhotoHunt Theme: Ruin(ed)


My sweet, sugary expectations have been ruined!

I admit I have a sweet tooth - not so much for candy - I crave pastry - the gooier the icing the better! So it has been with much anticipation that a combination Dunkin' Donuts - Baskin Robbins store was coming to town. Before, those donuts were only a rare treat. The closest Dunkin' Donuts was several towns over. Now, those sugary morsels would be conveniently available - oh yum!

The store opened a couple of weeks ago. We didn't rush right over - we were hoping for a "Grand Opening" coupon to arrive in the mail - so far zilch. So yesterday we decided to just go over and splurge on half a dozen donuts - ooooh, sweet anticipation!

Upon arriving at the new building I had hopes of taking a picture of the shop outside - it looked pretty festive with all the orange flags signaling that the store was indeed now open. But, there happened to be a group of teenagers smoking by the front door - um, not the best timing - forget it. My only thought was - you silly young people - you will so regret this choice later in life while you are trying to quit. (Charles and Di were both smokers and it was very difficult for them to break the habit so that's why I simply felt sympathy for those clueless young people).

Once inside I was surprised at the lack of donut quantity and variety. We arrived before noon but the shelves were three quarters empty. There was no indication that they were going to be replenished. My favrorites were missing: French donuts, jelly filled Bismarks, and crushed peanut covered cake donuts. They did have a few toasted coconut cake donuts left which we purchased.

I took the picture of Wullie waiting for our six donuts to be boxed. I was all set to take more photos when the clerk realized what I was doing and told me it was not permitted. Did the clerk not want his picture taken? Or was it really against store policy? I have never in my whole life been told I couldn't use my camera in a restaurant. Golly, I am a gray haired little old granny - is that the profile of a spy from Krispy Kreme?

Next came the reason this whole experience was ruined for me. We were charged $6.42 (including tax) for our purchase! Are you kidding me????? $1.07 per donut?????? OK, I know some of you are going to tell me I am out of touch with reality - that this is a reasonable standard price. Our local Dominick's Supermarket sells donuts for 60 cents (including tax) and they are just as good! They don't have a big variety but then Dunkin' Dounuts didn't have any variety either.

So sorry Rachael Ray, this Frugal Grandma ain't coming back anytime soon!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Garage Sale Finds: Planet of the Apes


A historical museum is the last place you would expect to find a second hand treasure. The McHenry County Museum had a table set up covered with donated books for sale - hardcovers 50 cents, paperbacks 25 cents. I must admit I am not much of a reader - the books were mostly novels and I just didn't find anything that interested me. But, there in the center of all the romance and mystery was "Planet of the Apes". Now, it happens that the movie of the same name is one of Charles' favorites. And, yes, he belongs to the NRA and is a Charlton Heston fan. I just know he is going to love adding this book to his personal library. Book purchase was on the honor system - you put the money in a box provided. Luckily Charles didn't even notice the table - he was off with the kids in another section of the museum. So taking the book out to the car and hiding it was easy enough. I will wrap it up as a present - just a fun little surprise Christmas morning!

Monday, November 10, 2008

Free Admission Day At The Museum


The 1847 log home at the McHenry County Historical Museum, Union, Illinois.

Each town in McHenry County gets a free admission day at the museum. When it was our town's turn Charles wanted to take Beth and Wullie for their first visit. He asked us to go along to help with the kids. Of course we said yes. The museum has lots of hands on exhibits for youngsters so it's great family fun. And of course I saw it as a chance to get a few good photos. Oh, and it ended up not being free. We all had such a good time that Charles and Grandpa both gave donations and I purchased some raffle tickets on a quilt.


Wullie checks out this funky old keyboard typewriter.


Beth got to ring the bell at the West Harmony one-room School.


What's a museum without a Sock Monkey on display?

Friday, November 7, 2008

PhotoHunt Theme: Together


Wullie and Beth are sitting together at a desk in a one room school house.


Museum guide teaches the kids what is was like for all grades to attend school together.

The 1895 one-room, West Harmony School is located at the McHenry County Historical Museum, Union, Illinois.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Garage Sale Finds: Antique Elephant

OK, I got caught - Alice over at Alice's Restaurant took me to task for declaring that we have already had snow for my "Blue" Photohunt picture. I admit the photo was taken last Christmas - shame on me for not stating that fact. No more artistic license for me - bloggers will see through it every time.

Last weekend was not cold and snowy. It was balmy and gorgeous - we are having a true Indian Summer. So I wasn't surprised to find two final garage sales in town. I really think this was the end of the season - colder weather is on the way.


I only bought one item - a old elephant figure - $5. Sometimes it's hard to gauge the age of an item but the detail and patina of this statuette screamed vintage. The gal who sold it to me said she purchased it 20 years ago at the estate sale of a world traveler. So the age and origin of the piece is a mystery. The one feature that is most interesting to me is that the trunk is pointed down - not up as in the usual good luck elephant. This is yet another item that I will put on Ebay and if it doesn't sell, well, I won't be the least bit sad. It is one cool pachyderm!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

October Freebies

We received a few "Treats" in October - it was a good month for Freebies.


The Pert Shampoo was on sale - after using a manufactures coupon and store coupon it was free. The Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber was free after mail-in rebate. And the L'Oreal Cleanser was free from the Walgreens EasySaver Catalog.

After many months of waiting they have finally started construction on the CVS Pharmacy in the next town - wahoo! Hopefully it will be open for Christmas. So looking forward to even more bargains - love love love playing the Drug Store Game!


Surprise, surprise - I actually got a few goodies off Freecycle this past month. First I got a carton full of disposable diapers. I didn't bother photographing them - took them right over to Henry. They were used immediately. Also for Henry, two and a half gallons of Baby Laundry Detergent. The gal who was giving them away got a new washer that only uses HE detergent. Lucky for Henry that Mom & Dad have an older top loader.

And finally a pack of cloth napkins. When these were offered I got the impression that it was a pack of paper napkins. I wanted to include them in a Christmas gift box of consumables/edibles. Now, I am not sure what I am going to do with them. If Grandpa and I were by ourselves we would simply use them. But, it's a very rare meal that we are alone. It's just more practical for us to use paper napkins for the family especially with the grandkids. I could give them as a gift but I don't know anyone who would use them. I might come up with a clever way to incorporate them out of package in a Christmas gift - like lining a basket or bowl filled with cookies or candies. If I fail to get inspired I will simply offer them again on Freecycle after the holidays.