Things I have Done to "Rescue" my $$$

With the shortening of hours, and the economy the way it is we have had to cut back on expenses, so I was visiting an online friend over at "Confessions of a Former Bookworm" and saw that she had posted her list...so here is mine...

1. We have ran an ad to rent out a bedroom to a college student.
2. Reduced the number of times we eat out each week to 2.
3. Changed our 2 landline phones to 1 and got "Magic Jack" for the 2nd one.
4. Changed our grocry shopping to necessaries only and no extravagant "name brand" buys.
5. Limited our yearly flying vacations to 1 and take more RV trips.
6. Empitied the jacuzzi for the winter months.
6. Turned the dishwasher to "air dry" and only wash before 9am or after 4pm hours.
7. Use coupons for restaurants and grocery stores to save on our purchases.
8. Eat at home before I got to my LYG meeting instead of eating there.
9. Started washing my own car every other week instead of running it through the car wash
10. Cancelled my netflex, and my yarn kit of the month club.
11. Started to make gifts for next Christmas instead of planning on buying them all. :)

So what changes have you made to make your life a little less stressful $$$ wise??? Let me know by leaving my a post so I can come and visit you...Thanks for reading mine... :)

My Yard Flowers and A Wild Tomato Plant

These little "chocolate" brown finches left for awhile because the back of the Oleader bush was cut, but they have returned and they are so cute. :) Yesterday we had two bright yellow finches come and take a bath in the falls in our pond, they were so quick that I wasn't able to capture them in a photo but I did some other visitors... :)

The little doves were running all over the yard and then I almost cut down this big bush.....

But when I looked closer I realized that it was a wild tomatoe bush, and little tomatoes are already forming...

Wow I will have some fresh home grown tomatoes this year!!! :)

This little orange one in the middle has really grown...he was just an inch long last spring...now look at him he is a good 5" now.....wow...

Working on Our Sidewalks and Reading

This week it has been a mess on our street. They are not only working on the water pipes in the middle of the street they are also redoing the sidewalks where the tree roots have damaged them. It is great to see our city workers at work, but at 7am with huge jackhammers and lots of big trucks all over it gets to be a bit much! Then today they blocked me in and I had to waddle through the muck and water to get out to my car that my hubby parked down the street. sheesh......

I was so pleased to recieve the book "Guest House" by Barbara K. Richardson from her agent. :) I get to read it and critique it on my reading blog, DaBookLady's Reading Life. Be sure and go see....I just got another notice that she is sending me another one called "Whiter Than Snow" by Sandra Dallas, that just went on sale this month. I cannot wait to start that one. I am almost done with "Guest House" and will be putting up my critique by the end of this week on it... 

Flowers and Field Trips....

My good friend brought me over some beautiful roses from her garden and I had to share them with you all...I just love the smell of fresh cut roses...

My LYG went on a field trip to the costa Mesa shops....lots of soft and cuddly yarn and always fun to see the new projects....one of yarns we saw made into a cool scarf was the This sheep was outside one of the shops we stopped at and I couldn't resist sitting on it!!

A lizard bookmark I made....

My Pet Squirrel Visits Me

My pet squirrel visited me again this am...as usual she was here to eat...she is so cute and always sits and poses for me.. :) Her name Chi Chidee [Chi Chi] comes to me takes a peanut out of my hand and follows me around the yard. My dog and cat do not bother her as they are used to her and she is used to them....:)

Easter Celebration with Birthday!!!!

It's my Birthday!!! What a fun day kids and g-kids were all here and the egg decorating began then they hunted for their baskets and then we ate Lasagna and salad and then I got to open all my presents...I got a gift certificate for Joanns, a certificate to detail my car.. :) oh goody and $$$ and candy, and my g-daughters made me cute hand painted cups... :) I had so much fun with everyone over....then we tried taking a "serious" group photo...as you can see my family is not serious.. :) ....

Its My Birthday Tomorrow

It's my Birthday tomorrow, yup right on Easter Sunday....hmmmmm ...I have to share my presents...hmmmm looky at what my DH got me... :)

 I have been wanting to replace those GREEN chairs with the ugly blue stripes to wicker ones for quite some time...and he went out and got me these pretty ones for my "B" day...I ama  happy camper...yes I am...and one is even a rocker...I love them... :)

 They match in color my other two and he is painting the tops of my wicker tables to match them... :)

The girls at my knitting group surprised me with this HUGE Pink egg...I couldn't imagine what it was???? Then I started to unwrap...and unwrap...and unwrap.....I swear it took me an hour....oh my....it was so much fun...they had the waitress deliver it to me...so I wouldn't know who made it up....see the end photo for all the goodies that were tucked inside... :) And to top it off once I got down through all that ribbon there was yarn wrapped around the next stage of my gifts...and not 1 skein, but 2 skeins more to unwrap...LOL....my arms got really tired...but it was my knitting friend Diane who had done it,,we all laughed and after I scolded her I gave her a BIG hug for her idea and thoughtfulness to make my "B" with my friends such a fun time!!!!

I just love my knitting friends...

Happy Easter to Everyone!!!!!