PhotoHunt Theme: Candy

This is the Bassett's Candyman. He was originally filled with Liquorice Allsorts. Now that he is empty, he is a money box (bank).

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Love Beads at Woodstock

Now that Frugal Grandpa has retired, it is time to apply for a "Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption" (real estate tax relief). This meant a trip to the Treasurer's Office at the county seat in Woodstock, Illinois. We have been to the court house several times to do jury duty but this time we were directed to a new annex building. I was very surprised to see a memorial there for the 35 service men who gave their lives during the Vietnam War. McHenry County only lost 35 men? Well, 40 years ago the county was agricultural and the towns very small - my, how things have changed since then.



On the Vietnam Memorial were a number of bead necklaces - Love Beads? How ironic. The Hippie movement was so anti-war. In those days servicemen were chastised and treated like dirt. I hope this time the beads were left as a symbol of gratitude for the brave men who gave the ultimate sacrifice. This time I hope the beads say Thank You, you deserve our respect and our LOVE.

Frugal Garage Sale Lessons

We happened to be watching the grandkids on a garage sale day last week. FG checked the classifieds and found a whole subdivision was having a neighborhood sale and suggested we hit it. Now, my first thought was "Augh! These kids don't need any more toys!". But reinforcing the idea that garage sales are a wonderful way to find useful (and not so useful) things is a very frugal lesson. After all, their parents take the kids to sales. Much of their clothing has been purchased this way. And, of course, many of their books and toys too.



We were blessed with a sunny day (our Spring has been such a soggy one). We spent a solid two hours hitting at least 20 sales. The kids were unbelievably good and seemed quite content to just look at things and play for a few minutes at each stop. Of course we had to splurge and buy them each something. Wullie got a Thomas and Friends Roundhouse and Beth was delighted with a Disney Princesses Wand and Care Bears House with bears and accessories. Pretty good entertainment for about half the cost of one Happy Meal at McDonald's.

Who was the kid that scored the absolute best !?! It was me, me, me !!! I confess, I collect. I collect too many things. But, nothing seriously - a small cottage and frugal lifestyle doesn't allow it. I collect what I find at garage sales. Things that I fall in love with. Things that I know I should put on Ebay but I am too fond of to part with - at least for now.



I have a small Charlie Brown, Peanuts Gang collection. I found this Hallmark Nativity Christmas miniature ornament set of the Peanuts Gang never removed from the box. The seller only charged me 25 cents. It was all I could do to keep a straight face. Having the kids with us helped - I also bought a cute top for Beth - another 25 cents. Surely the seller thought I was just an indulging Grandma - not a collector who knew she could make a very handsome profit on those ornaments if I ever wanted to part with them.



At the sale where we purchased the kids' toys there was a box of books. They wanted $1.00 each. Normally I wouldn't even look through them at that price but there were some nice large Disney books so I decided to have a look. Oh, be still my beating heart - there among all the newer volumes was a vintage Charlie Brown classic in very good condition. Printed in 1966 - it is a First Edition!!! Again, I just looked like the average Grandma buying toys and a book for the grandkids. It was all I could do to refrain from doing cartwheels up and down the gal's driveway.

It was one of those absolutely fabulous garage sale outings. We spent next to nothing. The kids had a fun time and got a new toy. Treasures are getting harder and harder to find. But I found two for myself!

Happy Dance! Happy Dance!

PhotoHunt Theme: Share ANY Photo

Happy Mother's Day!

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Bling For Mother's Day

I recently told Frugal Grandpa that there was something I wanted for Mother's Day. You should have seen the delighted smile on his face. FG loves it when I actually tell him I have a want, or more realistically, a need of something. Instead of feeling guilty for not acknowledging a special day with a present, he can feel terrific by giving me something I will truly appreciate.

I then told FG that I wanted something shinny and very expensive. Substitute a happy smile with horrified bewilderment. Now he knows I am not a bling kind of gal. I have never asked for anything expensive before. Gracious, has Frugal Grandma gone off her rocker? It didn't matter - I asked and I received. Isn't it gorgeous!!!

PhotoHunt Theme: Time

TIME for "Nick at Nite". This alarm clock gets us up on Time when we loose electrical power!

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Menard's Freebie Gladiolus Bulbs

Menard's recently offered two bags of Gladiolus bulbs free after mail-in rebate. Ah, yes, the magic word "free" - of course we got them. Planting the bulbs would be a good frugal, learning experience for the grandkids.

Now, before I go on, I must tell you that I have the brownest thumb in the Midwest and Frugal Grandpa isn't much better. The only reason we have a raised flower bed in our front yard is because Charles made it years ago when he was still living with us.

Our yearly gardening routine goes like this - if the Spring flowers come up fantastic - if not - oh well. When they are finished we might buy some petunias and plant those - they are hearty and spread. This year though, we are really watching our pennies so I doubt we'll buy any annuals. Our perennials -snow on the mountain and some ferns do well every year and they will just have to suffice. Another reason to skip buying flowers this year is that the deer are finding them too tasty. We have already lost most of our tulips to Bambie and friends.

We got a good chuckle from reading the instructions on the Gladiolus packaging. It says we need to pull the bulbs at the end of the season and store them in a dry, cool place. Yeah right, like that is going to happen - hardy har har! Once they are in the ground, that's it. If they even grow this year, that will be fantastic. If they come up again next year, it will be a miracle - a "free" miracle.



We don't even own a watering can. The kids ran around with cups of water to give the newly planted bulbs a drink.

What Frugal lessons did the kids learn - well, none. We didn't tell them the Gladiolus were free. They did learn that some plants come from bulbs rather than seed and that watering all the plants is very important. I guess, it's pretty pathetic that I can't expose them to a love of gardening myself. Di doesn't garden, besides they are renting a house. Luckily their other Grandma will teach them a lot more about flowers - her garden has quite a large variety. She also has a watering can and proper tools. Thank goodness Grandma #2 has a green thumb!