How I'm Saving Money this Month

Saving money is always important, but especially right now for my family.

In the last 30 days, we have: installed a new well pump, replaced a no-go refrigerator/freezer, and paid for major repairs on my SUV.

I'm feeling poor.

But I always say a little creativity goes a super long way.

So this month, I'm saving money at the store by not buying any beauty products.

But I won't be ugly in February. I promise.

If you're like me, you've collected quite a few versions of wrinkle creams, serums, and lotions in your bathroom cabinet. Did I mention eye cream?

So this month, I'm burying my brand loyalty and using up everything I have. I won't spend a dime, and I'll clean out the cabinets at the same time. Sounds like a plan, right?

If I have to sneak, I can always pick up my trusty Aldi brand facial cleanser (hey, it's European!!) at the store for a little more than $2.

Using what you already have is economical and always eco-friendly!

Love,
TCB

A little correction

It appears this morning's post included a strange, blurry photo of my dog at the end. This is actually a video that apparently didn't come through! I won't win any photography awards, but I can take better photos than that! If you want to see the real action, here's a link to the actual blog page that displays (and plays) the video correctly.

http://thecountrybelle.blogspot.com/2013/02/make-your-own-fun-in-country.html

Have a great day!
TCB

Make Your Own Fun in the Country

Sometimes it gets a little quiet in the country.

That what I love about it.

But sometimes it gets a little boring. That is, if you ignore the weeding, feeding, housekeeping, painting, and general fixing that needs to go on every day.

Sometimes the animals make their own fun.

And sometimes they get a little help.

We call this "Laser Light Show Extraordinaire."

Wonder when Happy will figure out we're playing her?

Happy day!
TCB

How to Keep Deer from Eating Your Plants

In the spring, we hear a lot about keeping deer away from our landscape plants; however, it is in the winter we need to be extra alert to deer strikes. Foraging for food in the forest is not as profitable this time of the year. When it gets extra cold for a long period of time, the deer sprint up the hill from the river to see what delicacies are available to eat in my backyard. And of course, they never come during the daytime when I can shoo them away. They come when I am snoozing away. (Although sometimes I am dragging opossums out of the hen house).

There is a list one of my local gardening centers has pulled together of plants typically found in Southern gardens that deer like LOVE to eat. Several of these are in my garden right now and nary a deer has tasted them.

These include:

Fatsia Japonica - Planted near my house - so near, in fact, it is touching brick columns - is too close for comfort for a deer to attempt a nibble.

Pansies - I tried planting these at the front steps. A nasty varmint (that's what we call deer who eat landscape plants and not woodland fodder) plowed through 10 plats of pansies in one night. Do you know how much 10 flats of pansies cost and how much time it takes to plant them? Never again. I have found planting them in a basket that swings on a hanger is a good deterrent. Which is also good for putting a little color at eye level to see through the kitchen window.

Hosta - A candy-lickin' treat for deer, this beauty is best saved by putting them under a motion light and dousing them with deer-off repellent found at garden stores. Sorry, but this one is a struggle to maintain. Most years I do, but sometimes I lose to the deer.

Camellia - Every good Southern garden has one of these shrubs. I have been fortunate. I think my leaves are tough enough and the plants so close to the house, the deer decide to look for better options. Older is better. Young leaves are what deer like to eat best.

Keep an eye out. Baby, it's cold out there!

Love,

TCB

Related information:

List of Deer Resistant Plants

Wedge Pillow: Useful at Any Age, Stage

I love my wedge bed pillow. Never mind it is 11 years old.

It has been used multiple times for multiple purposes by more than one person.

For example, I first used it (and bought it) when I was pregnant with my son and could not take anti-reflux medication. It kept the heartburn at bay.

It next went to work when I had a sinus infection. It helped me breathe at night.

Then, my son used it when he started coughing all night with a cold.

Next, I used it to help relieve the pressure from lying down at night when I suffered a bout of TMJ.

I've tried to get Mr. Country Belle to try it out. He has yet to take me up on the offer.

I encourage you to try it. If you already have, leave me a comment below and let me know when it was most useful to you. I'm always looking for good tips to share!

Love,
TCB

Born a Pack Rat

My son was born a pack rat.

He doesn't look like it, does he?

Or maybe he does.

Actually, I don't think he's alone. Almost every mom I've talked with says their kids are hoarders, too.

I tried for many years to break him of the habit of keeping every little thing he has ever laid his skinny fingers on.

I gave up in 2006.

I gave it another go in 2012 and finally broke through (a little).

I learned money always talks, even with children. I offered to let him keep all the cold hard cash he could earn by cleaning out and selling his toys that received no attention whatsoever anymore. He bit.

We sold a few on the web. We sold some at a kids consignment shop. We donated the leftovers to charity.

My house is cleaner (yea!), I can walk in his room (hooray!), and he has the money to buy more ammunition for airsoft guns.

Our initial stab at decluttering actually convinced him to clean out the purely messy insides of his desk drawers, too. He filled up the trash cans and Mama took the trash out. Score!

Now go tell your children to clean out because there's money in their rooms. (Or bribe them with candy - whatever works).

Happy 2013!
TCB

Freezing Broccoli

I have been away from The Country Belle blog for some time, and let me tell you, I was the laziest person over the holidays. Once I slipped into non-work mode, all bets were off. I managed to vacuum the dog hair from the floor and that, ladies and gentlemen, was the extent of my Christmas cleaning.

I did manage to slide myself off the couch and out of my "Storage Wars" TV-induced coma to make a little trip around the corner to a local farmer's produce stand. I've never had much luck with growing broccoli, but this man produces some outstanding broccoli every winter - nice and tender. I've never found anything like it in the grocery store.

So I bought him out one day - I think it was 13 bags of broccoli. I washed it all and let it dry thoroughly. Drying well is important to minimize ice crystals on the broccoli when you freeze it.

Then I cut each head into florets and packaged them in freezer bags. My chickens love the leftover stumps!

Now my family can enjoy the taste for many months to come. It's one vegetable everyone in my house seems to enjoy.

Using the freezer to keep a supply of locally grown produce ensures you are still eating well (and in this case, organically) when the vegetable (or fruit) is out of season. I similarly freeze strawberries in May and blueberries in June to enjoy all year long in pancakes and smoothies.

Happy New Year and happy homesteading!

Love,
TCB

Related Posts:
Why does my freezer look like this?