Frugal, um, Sunday - Frugal Happenings this Past Week

My first fall "tablescape" this year - all things we had on hand, gourds from our CSA, flowers from the garden, a small pumpkin, and candles from the cupboard.  It's actually in the middle of the table because we have company and are eating all the way around it right now (don't worry we pull it out from the wall first!).
 

I have been remiss at posting about our frugal things since school started.  Now that we seem to have settled into a rhythm of sorts, I am finding a bit of time for things less urgent (like blog posting!).  I'll pick up with what we did this week that may count as frugal rather than trying to recap since my last Frugal Friday post.

We have had so many large bills this year - several emergency visits, many, many doctor appointments, several scans, and medications.  We had a large plumbing repair (the only original pipes left in the house - after almost 50 years, I guess it was time), and both cars needed new tires and one needed new breaks.  I feel like all we have done this year is spend money!   John and I renewed our commitment to keeping expenses down the rest of this year, trying to catch ourselves back up to comfortable (to us) levels of savings and the like.

Here are some things we did this past week with that in mind:

* I baked four loaves of bread, cookies and an Angel Cake at home this week.

* We made two types of soup, pork stir fry, and pizza at home this week. 

* My Mother (who is visiting currently) and I made a Halloween costume for our son using some items we had on hand and a lot of creativity.  He chose a favorite book character for his costume this year - we think it turned out well!  I have one more accessory to make but that will be finished later this week or next.

* My mother also made a skirt for our daughter and two pairs of lounge/athletic pants for our son.  All were made using material we had on hand or that she brought with her. 

* I hemmed 3 pairs of pants and let down the hem on three others for our son.  He has grown almost 3 inches since the beginning of September and his pants were all so very short!  Now they are the correct length.

* We sliced and dried apples for later use.

* We won a very nice rocking chair, an apple pie and three bottles of wine at a charity event.  The apple pie was greatly enjoyed by all, the rocking chair is a nice addition in our sitting room and we will use the wine as gifts as we drink very little.  We will keep the bottle of pink champagne we won for an at-home date night later this year. 

* We renewed several library books and checked out a couple of movies and games as well as new books from the library.

* Our daughter and I signed up for free class at the library.  We will learn to make soft toys from stray/lonely socks.  It should be fun!  If we bring a single adult sock in good condition, the class is free. 
* My Father (who is visiting currently) completed a couple of minor repairs using materials we had on hand and the children's extra hands.  He cannot climb a ladder anymore and used the opportunity to teach the children how to make the repairs rather than doing them himself. 

* I worked on 3 different Christmas presents this week.  I do not have any completed yet, but hopefully will be able to share some with you soon.

* We enjoyed a local high school football game for free, including watching several friends play in both the game and the absolutely wonderful marching band.

* We also attended a fundraising event for our children's school.  This cost $4 per person to attend.  Included in the admission price were several games with prizes, a limited number of raffle tickets for the raffle (more could be purchased for an additional price), a Ninja Warrior style obstacle course, a t-shirt, the opportunity to try the dunk tank and pie the teacher contests, and a light breakfast (pastries, fruit, etc.).  We had a wonderful time and the money goes to purchase items for the children's school.  We came home with several snack-size bags of treats and one very large pumpkin, that will be carved for Halloween early next week.  I will roast the seeds for snacking at that time.

* John officiated both a funeral and a wedding this week and was paid for both.

* John brought home a food leftover from a Synod event hosted at our church and we ate that for dinner one night.

* Our son and I picked all the green tomatoes from the garden - we will let them ripen off the vine as frost is predicted this week. 

What did you do this week that might count as frugal?