tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post3186866712621341532..comments2024-03-12T03:55:23.359-04:00Comments on Living the Frugal Life: Bits and PiecesKatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-1489790675333079412009-09-17T10:39:50.269-04:002009-09-17T10:39:50.269-04:00Allie, thanks for the encouragement. Do you mean ...Allie, thanks for the encouragement. Do you mean you find actual bolts of fabric at thrift stores? Or that you find clothing of which you repurpose the fabric?<br /><br />Cheryl, they do look like the huckleberries I've seen pictures of. But I always got the impression that huckleberries were at least twice this size. Difficult to say though without seeing them in the flesh, as it were.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-17962015058810239772009-09-16T10:57:47.301-04:002009-09-16T10:57:47.301-04:00Those look like my Sunberries and garden Huckleber...Those look like my Sunberries and garden Huckleberries I bought from Seed Savers.... I ate them raw... The small ones were good.. The bigger ones were bitter...Cheryl Anderson (SwineInsanity)http://swineinsanity.spaces.live.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-44850343740644102382009-09-14T11:19:03.088-04:002009-09-14T11:19:03.088-04:00Try the thrift store for fabric.. I have had good...Try the thrift store for fabric.. I have had good luck there. Good luck with your sewing, I am sure you will enjoy it once you get past the frustrating, learning phase.Alliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358256209465847615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-46462656154020152382009-09-12T13:03:23.347-04:002009-09-12T13:03:23.347-04:00Daniel, I think there are times to spend money, es...Daniel, I think there are times to spend money, especially when the return on investment is a sure thing.<br /><br />GCD, thanks. The girls do love them!<br /><br />THM, I had planned to give some of wraps away as part of the gift. It was certainly my hope that they would be re-used for many years to come. But once they're given away, you can never be certain. I will keep at least two that I make and re-use them. So yes, there is some return there.<br /><br />Debbie, those bags sound lovely. I will be looking for some sturdy ribbon that can be reused for these wraps.<br /><br />Lorna, I wrap each loaf or half loaf up pretty well in plastic wrap and then put it inside a ziploc bag. The problem with most breads is that they shrink when they freeze, so that the plastic wrap comes loose. Wrapping it as tightly as possible and then bagging helps. But so does the fact that my chest freezer does not cycle. Standard frostless freezers cycle, which contributes to freezer burn on many items.<br /><br />Shari and Anna, there are several types of nightshade, and some of them are indeed poisonous. I was pretty certain of my identification of this plant, and the guide I have said that the ripe berries are safe to eat. So yes, I did try them. They are eerily reminiscent of tomatoes, but not so good that I felt it was much sacrifice to give them to the hens. Huckleberries are not members of the nightshade family, though I agree that their berries are similar to these volunteers. Eastern black nightshade doesn't seem to get much above 18" while the huckleberry bush will reach 3 feet tall. Beyond that I would suggest you look for a good plant identification guide for your area at the library. And of course, NEVER eat anything you are at all uncertain about.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-27486298825621666742009-09-11T20:29:06.091-04:002009-09-11T20:29:06.091-04:00I didn't know nightshade berries were edible. ...I didn't know nightshade berries were edible. Do you eat them, too?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-64095640042324025032009-09-11T20:00:36.424-04:002009-09-11T20:00:36.424-04:00Your deadly nightshade berries look an lot like my...Your deadly nightshade berries look an lot like my garden huckleberries that I tried growing this year. Do you know if these are the same plant? My landlord that I rent from (and who loans me a patch in his garden) almost ripped them out because he thought they were nightshade. I know the garden huckleberry is in the nightshade family along with tomatoes and potatoes, etc. <br />Anyway, I haven't harvested any of the berries yet (although they do taste like tomato) because I read the berry needed to turn from shiny black to a more dull black to be considered ripe. Any other info you have would be appreciated.Sharihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00621144313666339643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-38633574645236335672009-09-11T13:09:51.146-04:002009-09-11T13:09:51.146-04:00I also prefer to use cloth for wrapping gifts. Wh...I also prefer to use cloth for wrapping gifts. What a simple and lovely way to make a difference.<br /><br />On another note, could you please tell me what/how you freeze your bread? I've tried double wrapping mine (in plastic), but it still turns out dry once it's been frozen :(Lornanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-77040714173498043542009-09-11T12:25:53.937-04:002009-09-11T12:25:53.937-04:00About 15-18 years ago I decided to make bags from ...About 15-18 years ago I decided to make bags from fabric as paper was getting to expensive, and I always got stuck doing all the wrapping. I didn't do drawstrings, I just use elastic bands to wrap around the top and pull the fabric into a puff then tie some ribbon, or faux pearls or even other material I cut into strips. They take even longer to unwrap than paper presents. I reuse them year after year. You can even use plain broad cloth in your Xmas colours. Mine is burgundy, white, cream and pink. On a burgundy I use a white/gold bow or pink. Looks lovely under the treeDebbienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-813416653822819892009-09-11T11:14:09.363-04:002009-09-11T11:14:09.363-04:00Will you reuse the fabric wrapping? If so then con...Will you reuse the fabric wrapping? If so then consider this one time outlay for years of future use. If not then I make the fabric wrapping part of the gift (i.e. a baby blanket, towel, shirt, etc).Tree Huggin Mommahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08473115182978929738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-87481395470349659172009-09-11T10:40:30.146-04:002009-09-11T10:40:30.146-04:00Love the cold frame and the berries look very rip ...Love the cold frame and the berries look very rip as I am sure the hens are getting quite a treat!Gourmet Candles Distributorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11427612677905758699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-4675484414449201152009-09-11T09:58:40.030-04:002009-09-11T09:58:40.030-04:00I know it's not very frugal - but I'm hopi...I know it's not very frugal - but I'm hoping my new coldframe from gabriel ash will bring me plenty years of supplies of fresh salads ! I went for the baby cold frame - you can see it on www.coldframes.comThe Enduring Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16764293248512591581noreply@blogger.com