October 2015 Frugal chatter

[Frugalbigmama]

TGIF!! It sure felt like a weird week with the holiday Monday. Tonight we have a relaxing night. Tomorrow, DS has a hockey game, then he needs a quick shower and we fly to my sister's for dinner then another Colts game! Sunday, not much planned so hoping to get stuff done around the house and if its nice out a hike in the bush. Hoping the puddle is gone so my dog doesn't decide to have another mud bath!

[Andit]

Good morning, everyone.

Critters are still asleep, as is houseguest, so I must type quietly. bff came by yesterday for a taste of my world. I called in a favour & got us tickets for Marat/Sade (my current fave & one that's definitely in my all-time top 10). D tends to be the restless sort, so when I didn't see any movement, I worried I would soon hear snoring. Nope. D said one word when intermission hit: "Brilliant".

After the show, we went to the pub for rootbeer (D has no qualms about fueling my addiction ), then came back to entertain the critters (we won't mention who begged non-stop for treats). Then we stayed up til 4am discussing the wonderful actors whose talents we were mesmerized by. I suspect I might have created an addict.

We're supposed to go to the Women's Show later today, if I have an energy left. We'll see.

Better go see what's happening in the world.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

[Natalka]

@Natalka I didn't know that apple trying to grow an apple tree from seeds darn it such a beauty tree with apples the size of baseballs I would have loved to have grew a tree or trees like that one.

You could find out from them what it is, and see how much it goes for at a nursery...

I ended up finding this out because when our son was maybe six, we planted apple seeds (they would have been either spartans or macs) in our yard - and enjoyed watching the tree grow over the years. Couldn't believe how long it took to grow actual apples, I think the first time there were three - but OMG they were absolutely disgusting tasting! The next year there were maybe 10 apples, but they were the same, awful tasting.
So then I did all this research, and found out about why/how you have to graft.

[Frugalbigmama]

Good morning, everyone.

Critters are still asleep, as is houseguest, so I must type quietly. bff came by yesterday for a taste of my world. I called in a favour & got us tickets for Marat/Sade (my current fave & one that's definitely in my all-time top 10). D tends to be the restless sort, so when I didn't see any movement, I worried I would soon hear snoring. Nope. D said one word when intermission hit: "Brilliant".

After the show, we went to the pub for rootbeer (D has no qualms about fueling my addiction ), then came back to entertain the critters (we won't mention who begged non-stop for treats). Then we stayed up til 4am discussing the wonderful actors whose talents we were mesmerized by. I suspect I might have created an addict.

We're supposed to go to the Women's Show later today, if I have an energy left. We'll see.

Better go see what's happening in the world.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

Darn!!! It's the Women's Show this weekend???? I saw no advertising! I would have planned a girls day for sure.

[coupon girl]

well bought my hubby a nice fall/spring jacket today talked him into going to marksworkwarehouse -I looked for second hand ones but none to be found
-he got a nice softshell black jacket 225.00 reg on for 135.00 -40% off-10.00 off my last bill for doing the survey paid 125.00 but he will have it for years -he deserves it his spring jacket /fall jacket from sears is 11 or 12 years old thin as can be -and its getting a little chilly here in the mornings

-we babysit on sat night and sunday have planned to go to the show with hubby's brother and sister-in-law -afternoon show -I have one pass from ages ago I have hung onto -so only have to pay for one of us

[sweet sparrow]

@sweet sparrow Oh my boys just loved those brio train sets, you can purchase a wood train set at IKEA fairly reasonably priced compared tot he brio. My eldest had a love affair with the brio trains sets but boy oh boy people think lego is expensive not even close to the brio individual pieces and small packs of tracks.

poor sweetheart being scared by santa, hopefully this year she loves him (haha)

@jasperandchar: Thank you for pointing out the Ikea set! It is very reasonably priced, but I'm going with Amazon for a much bigger set because I've saved up all my swagbucks for this purchase.

I hope she shows no interest in Santa for a few years at least. That way, I don't have to create a Santa budget and stand in long lineups waiting for a photo with a mall Santa. More than that, I think I would feel guilt about lying to her so I'm not sure I'm going to mention it until it's brought up in school. Last year, I was able to avoid it at daycare because they were charging each child $10 for a visit and photo. I told DH I'm not paying $10 for another picture of her screaming like the year before (free tears at the first daycare).

It was certainly interesting to hear what energy bills among the group of us were! We replaced the furnace/AC/windows/doors/insulation to the highest standards so we paid more upfront hoping for lower energy bills. Overall, they're certainly not as high as our parents' who live hours out of the city, but I get shocked when I see the usage numbers double. Our hydro bills are anywhere from $38 - $71 and that was just the increase from May to July. Our natural gas bills are $50 - $190. That increase, I blame on struggling a 30+ lb LO + heavy stroller + bags through the front door and then also for keeping the temperatures comfortable for LO.

sweet sparrow -toilet training is hard I remember not that much with my daughter but ohh my son wow took awhile
they haven't started ashlyn yet -she just turned 2 -I guess its up to them when they want to train her - she does say "kaka "after she goes the odd time -I guess that will be part of my job when I am babysitting her -ohhh fun times but again I have way more patience with my grandchild then I did with my own kids -plus I was young then too 23 and 25 when I had mine

@coupon girl: Good luck with your sale! Hope Ashlyn is easier to toilet train than LO! I think it's something about daycare that throws her off. All her accidents are right afterwards, and then she's had entire weekends where she's been dry. There have also been a few occasions where she's said she has to go and there are no bathrooms nearby so I tell her to hold it. Those occasions surprise me most when she stays dry, but she's done it on long car rides and trips to the park.

Well one more week and the golf course is closed, so I will have some free time on my hands, it has been such a beautiful fall here.
My specialist appointment went well yesterday, I have two 50% blockages one in the vertibral artery and one in my subclavian artery. I guess the protocol is having them repaired when and if they get to 70% blocked. This is why I have a huge blood pressure differential, so I guess I just have to get used to the pins and needles and dizziness and brain fog. I may never need to have them repaired because we are controlling it with medications right now. I guess compared to other bad health issues it is all good. Just would like some energy back though!!Nice to have some answers though!!
thanks for the well wishes everyone!

@thriftygranny: I hope you get some energy back soon but I'm glad it's all treatable. I wish these things would all just "heal themselves" as my chiropractor likes to believe.

@Granger and @Frugalbigmama: It's good to get the laundry done when you have the chance. Doing it at off-peak times makes for very late nights for me.

[thriftygranny]

J& C , you bringing up getting walnuts transported me back to being a little girl in Ontario, cracking walnuts and hickory nuts on the back porch in the fall so Mom could use them for her Christmas fruitcakes. Wonderful memories.

Thanks so much for the health encouragement everyone!

Another busy weekend planned, close the cabin tomorrow for the season and a family dinner on Sunday, now that the cold weather is coming it is back to family Sunday dinners! Not much in the flyers I need so should be a frugal week!! I am hoping to go through my Christmas totes next week and take stock of my purchases. I have four birthdays in November so I hope I can just wrap some of my year long purchases!!

[Frugalbigmama]

Took a quick buzz around RCSS at lunch (geez went the last 3 days!) Wanted to pm a few items. Well the white mushrooms were not white so didn't get those. Then the cashier touched my ipad and lost my page so that was over too. (think she would just take my word on it? she asked if I want at their price- nope as it was $2 cheaper!) My honey is going to make pasta with a simple meat sauce for dinner. Youngest loves that and the oldest I'm sure will be out so will be a perfect dinner. Finally can finish the bottle of wine in the fridge.

[Frugalbigmama]

medieval times Toronto. Awesome deal!!! $35 tickets -Adult or child ($5 per ticket donated to Breast Cancer Foundation) $140 for a family of to go is a great price!

[coupon girl]

-yeah another kijiji sale 13.00 from a betty boop item of my mom's -thats a sale yesterday and today -yippee

[Frugalbigmama]

-yeah another kijiji sale 13.00 from a betty boop item of my mom's -thats a sale yesterday and today -yippee

Awesome! Keep posting stuff because once the snow starts I find sales slow down!

[Ciel]

If anyone is chasing yard bag deals, Fortino's has the 5pk on again for $1.99. It was last offered in April at that price.
@Natalka is correct, @jasperandchar , that grafting is the way to get a quicker way to apples. Growing from seed might not do the trick. Interesting that you might get butternuts-in Ontario, that tree is said to be protected. Though that nut skin/husk certainly looks to cover something akin to walnuts inside!

Talize has 50% off bottoms tomorrow if pants/skirts are needed for wardrobes!

I noticed that @FallenPixels has posted on the blog about the upward tick on time of use rates for Ontario hydro users (Nov 1, time of use changes again, just before the clocks spring back). I had been thinking of looking for the very rates this week, so know I need to print the graph again for the washer, to give family an FYI about the change in when the peak period is. Sigh. There is a link for low income families who might qualify for an electricity supplement but there is a lot of info that must be submitted for it. Someone on the board pointed out the electricity rate reduction Ontarians have been receiving since Premier McGuinty's time is due to end this year?

[Ciel]

Speaking of snow, parts of Ontario can expect snow or snow showers this weekend. Looks like Hamilton will get its share on Sunday.

[Ciel]

For the fans of crochet, see the display at the Creativ Festival on Jennifer Valentyne's Twitter feed from today:

Igloo made of 3000 crocheted snowflakes
https://twitter.com/JennValentyne?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twg r^author

[Frugalbigmama]

If anyone is chasing yard bag deals, Fortino's has the 5pk on again for $1.99. It was last offered in April at that price.
@Natalka is correct, @jasperandchar , that grafting is the way to get a quicker way to apples. Growing from seed might not do the trick. Interesting that you might get butternuts-in Ontario, that tree is said to be protected. Though that nut skin/husk certainly looks to cover something akin to walnuts inside!

Talize has 50% off bottoms tomorrow if pants/skirts are needed for wardrobes!

I noticed that @FallenPixels has posted on the blog about the upward tick on time of use rates for Ontario hydro users (Nov 1, time of use changes again, just before the clocks spring back). I had been thinking of looking for the very rates this week, so know I need to print the graph again for the washer, to give family an FYI about the change in when the peak period is. Sigh. There is a link for low income families who might qualify for an electricity supplement but there is a lot of info that must be submitted for it. Someone on the board pointed out the electricity rate reduction Ontarians have been receiving since Premier McGuinty's time is due to end this year?

Yes, we get 10 percent off our bill