It's Dead Jim

I am pretty ok at making bread.
So, I thought I'd try to make a sourdough starter using wild yeast.
That is using the flour's own yeast, not having a packet of it.

Lengthy process, daily feeding.
In the end...it met its end.
Many reasons for this...
Even though I used filtered water, it may have had something in it that killed the yeast.
They suggest distilled water.
I didn't discard enough starter when feeding it.
Flour could have been too old (doubtful)
Either way...I will try again

Some separation, can be saved

 

I took some out and continued to feed...It's dead

I practice what I preach

No paper towels...No problems
I haven't used them in years (I have posted this topic before)
I have a rag basket in the kitchen 
Again, Cloth Diapers are great, old wash cloths, cut up old towels and t-shirts 

Stack of rags on left.  Cloth napkins and gym clothes

I launder with the hubby's gym clothes, so all sanitized
I keep them in a basket on kitchen counter

And dirty ones go in basket next to recycling

Here is a picture of my clean napkins and rags to be put away

Eggs-preserving

In the time of hoarding and panic buying
Here is a tip to extend the life of eggs
Mineral oil
Wear gloves! Coat eggs in mineral oil
Store in egg carton (Plastic or styrofoam is best) small side down, store in fridge.
If storing for long period of time, rotate eggs
They should last several months longer (Some blogs have even said a year)
To check if they are good or bad, put egg in glass of water.
Floats = BAD
Sink = GOOD
Rinse oil off of eggs before preparing to cook/eat

What is She Doing Now??

Eggshells?

Yep, I have rinsed them, and dried them.
I will make a tea from them and use that water to nourish my plants.  Good to boost calcium and potassium.
5-6 eggshell to 1/2 gallon of water.   Boil.  Let steep over night
You can also crush eggshells into powder to add to soil.

1/2 gal water 6 eggshells

Reuse - Dryer sheets

You all know I cut my dryer sheets in half and still get the same effect as a whole one.
I also throw a couple used sheets in the dryer and get another use out of them.
Other uses for used dryer sheets:
If it is a whole one, they fit onto a swiffer
Great for dusting baseboards too
I put one in the bottom of my pots when planting.  Lets water drain from the hole without the soil leaving.
They can be used for light scrubbing.
I am sure you can google more, but these are just a couple way I reused dryer sheets.

Reuse-Cloth Diapers

Cloth diaper and Swiffer type broom

Love the cloth diapers I got 16 years ago when my son was born.
I still have some and use them all the time.
Greats rags, dish towels...
Particularly dust rags
And they fit on a Swiffer too
Then just wash and repeat. 

A little big, but that helps getting into corners

Ready to go

Lots of dust bunnies from under the couch

Being Frugal

I am lucky that I haven't had any teasing about my frugal ways or couponing...
I've never been deterred or given it up.
I take breaks now and again.  Lucky to have learned so much.
So now, with supplies low and possible price gouging,
My family is fine.  We are fully stocked.  Well before the panic buying set in.
I hope this will all settle down in a couple weeks.  But even if it goes more, we have what we need. I hope my tips on being frugal have armed you with some ideas to make things last or make stuff from scratch if need be. (Also thank goodness for the internet, you can Google anything)
Reuse, save, be practical and kind. 
Help a neighbor in need.  Appreciate what you have.

Instant milk

Yuck right?
Well, with these trying times (COVID-19)
I don't want to waste milk, or anything.
Plus, at this very moment, milk is in limited supply.
My son wanted Mac and Cheese, the instant kind.  It requires milk.  So I whipped up a batch of instant milk.  We had Mac and Cheese.  But now I have leftover instant milk...
I made Pudding! Actually a pudding pie!
Win Win.
I have always had instant milk in the pantry.
I use it for recipes instead of my fresh milk in the fridge.  Also I make instant hot chocolate mix with it.