Month: July 2026

Fix It

On By thefunkyfrugalistaIn Frugal LifeLeave a comment

My belief is that if it breaks or there is just something wrong you try to fix it yourself. If you read hear you already know about the dryer I got in the storage auction for $23. It’s been over 4 years and I’ve only had to replace the latch switch and belt. As I was putting the final load of towels into the dryer the timer knob wouldn’t turn. I pulled it off and tried to turn it using pliers but no go. After some googling I found out that it could be a cracked knob or the timing mechanism. I removed that and took it to Nipper’s to see if they had the replacement parts.

ALWAYS take pictures so you know which wires connect where.

When I got to Nipper’s Mr. Nipper himself was at the counter. He’s kind of gruff, but is always so helpful and knows his stuff. He had the knob in stock but said he’d have to order the timer. He asked me if he could see the timer and took one look at it and said that it wasn’t the timer because it looked good. He grabbed some pliers and wrenched the part where the knob connects and told me that older GE dryers can sometimes stick but my knob was definitely cracked. Put my old timer back in and put on the new knob and it started right up. $37 spent instead of having to buy a new dryer.

I noticed a smell coming out of the drain on the side of the sink that our dishwasher was on. I had done a drain clean and that worked for a bit, but there was something else going on. I emptied out the cupboard and the hose that drains water from the dishwasher to the sink pipes was SO gross. There is no way that I could stand to know that was there and not do anything about it.

Just look at that hose. Disgusting. I took it outside and used the jet spray to clear out as much as I could. After that I poured half a bottle of mint oil cleaner down into it and left it out in the sun turning it over after about 30 minutes. That got a lot of the gunk out. Next I poured bleach down and left it again. I need to get inside the hose with something to scrub it. I found an old fishing rod and that seemed to do the trick. After several rounds with the rod, more cleaner and bleach it looked so much better.

There were some areas that I think were just stained because I could not get those parts clear but I’ll take it because it’s a vast improvement from what it started out looking like.

I will always and forever try to fix something myself because YouTube and Google are pretty amazing.

Refillery + A Little Thriftin’

On By thefunkyfrugalistaIn Longview, txLeave a comment

Longview has a new store near downtown. It’s called Good Steward Refillery. I have been hoping that this type of store would open in our town. Donny and I drove over to see what it was all about. I also wanted to speak to the owner about the company she rents from. She rents from the same company that Jensings does. I heard that the company bought all of the old buildings around both Jensings and the Refillery. I left my name and number so that I could speak to them because this is exactly where I want to open a little shop.

Okay, back to business. I love the idea of bringing your own bottles in a filling them up. They actually had bottles that customers had brought in for others to use. I wanted to try the shampoo and conditioner but I wanted it in one of their pump bottles.

I chose the Milk and Honey. I chose my bottles. Weighed them to get the tare and then myself and one of the workers helped me fill them up. They have body wash, hand soap, laundry products. They also carry teas, holistic body care, just a whole range of different products.

I put a sticker on the shampoo because it’s almost impossible to tell which one is which. I used them last night and my hair feels amazing and smells amazing, like creamy honey. I can’t wait to try more of their products.

I haven’t really been thrifting much lately, but I did pick up a few things here and there over the last few weeks.

I loved this mug. I’m slowly getting rid of the mugs I don’t really like and replacing them with ones I do like. I thought this one was perfect.

On that same trip I found this elephant tea light holder. I love elephants and this little guy fit right in.

I had just been using jute rope to tie our curtains up. There wasn’t anything wrong with that but I found tassel tie backs for a dollar and they match the curtains exactly.

My favorite find was this lantern.

Right now I just have it on our kitchen table with a color changing light inside.

I have been snipping the overgrown basil plant and putting the cuttings in water. They small good and are actually propagating.

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I didn’t get this lantern at a thrift store, but I just love a lantern. I hung one in our bedroom and this one in the living room.

I need to bring it down a couple of inches but for right now it’s fine.

If anyone was wondering if Mr. Whiskers is still around, he is. Yesterday was two egg day, the last one being at almost 11 pm. He was here bright and early just talking a little rest.

He was laying much cuter but every time I get my camera out, no matter which cat it is, they sense it and automatically move. He is letting me hold him now so that’s a plus.

House Chicken

On By thefunkyfrugalistaIn chickensLeave a comment

As I’ve written before, one of our OG chickens, Penelope, got fly strike. She is also unable to move one of her feet. She has been living in our house for a while now. I’m sure she is going to be here until she goes to the big farm in the sky. She had been doing really well. Two days ago I noticed that when I got her out of her night nest there was liquid soaked into the pad. A quick Google search told me that she has vent gleet. That is just a fancy term for a yeast infection.

We got her vitamins and probiotics that you just mix into water. This morning I noticed that there was only a little bit of liquid on her pad which is a huge deal. If she wasn’t getting better we were going to have to tube feed her to make sure she was eating the foods that will get rid of the gleet.

From everything I’ve read, it’s not a hard process but it sounds awful to me. We would have to open her mouth and make sure the tube goes down the right side of her throat and not into her airway.

We give her Epsom salt baths every few days that she seems to enjoy.

This is her night nest. I cover it up with the quilt so that she feels safer.

During the day she prefers this spot. I think it’s because it’s out of the way of the a/c. She can move around. Sometimes she’ll flap her wings and move that way or she’ll just hop.

She’s been eating the plain yogurt that we started her on yesterday so I think that is helping quite a bit. I do take her outside and stay with her but truthfully she enjoys being inside more. She is just such a sweet hen and has always been my favorite so we are going to keep chugging along and hope she keeps doing well.

The Patch

On By thefunkyfrugalistaIn gardeningLeave a comment

I am trying not to make the same mistake I made last year by starting our pumpkins too late. The space that I would normally plant the seeds is where our watermelons are growing now so I had to come up with another plan. Pumpkins, like watermelons, need full sun. The only place I had that I knew might work was the back of the backyard. So I grabbed my pickax and got to work.

First I had to get all of the weeds and grass dug up and figure out how big I wanted to make the garden. We chose 3 different types of seeds.

It was so hard work and extremely hot. I got as much done that day as I possibly could.

Donny had brought the huge bag of potting soil out to the area when I got home from work so the next morning I was ready to start tilling up the area. I mixed the soil into the dirt that was already there. I decided to make two different gardens.

I had to come up with some type of barrier to keep the chickens out. They love nothing more than digging in fresh dirt.

I used our baby gate that we use when we have new chicks and a tomato cage that we aren’t using right now.

I pulled the garden fences from the front because we didn’t need them there anymore since the plants are big. I always think I can remember where I planted what, but I always forget. I took the seed packets, covered them in packing tape and attached them to wooden skewers. I’ll removed the barriers once the vines start growing. It’s amazing how long they get.

Ever since the neighbor behind us accidentally cut our string lights when they were cutting the trees down, I have wanted to put more lights out there. We found these solar lights at Harbor Freight. They are 66 ft long and are pretty bright.

It’s hard to tell in this picture because my phone takes such crappy night photos, but they look pretty good and stretch the whole fence length.

When I tell you it is EXTREMELY hot and that I’ve been working outside for the past several days, it’s no joke. This is how I have been looking most of the summer. My shirt is soaked in sweat and this is after the second shirt change.

I actually don’t mind the heat. What I do mind is my freaking carpal tunnel. I will be sleeping like this until winter.

My poor wrist brace has been through it. Whatever works.

Fly Potion

On By thefunkyfrugalistaIn Home StuffLeave a comment

We live in the South. East Texas to be exact and it is BUGGY! Especially during the hotter months. One thing I cannot stand are flies. They drive me crazy! Even though I keep everything wiped down and cleaned up they still love the kitchen. I found the best thing ever to deter them. I call it Fly Potion.

You just have to diffuse eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender and lemongrass essential oils. I don’t even measure how many drops I use because no matter what, it works. I keep it going all day long.

Donny decided he was going to go a different route.

He actually didn’t get it for the houseflies. He saw a video on Tiktok where you can wave it through your garden and it kills the bugs that want to eat your plants.

It actually works. You just have to be careful to not get the helpful bugs or lizards. It’s in essence a portable bug light. Since we don’t use any type of poison in the garden it’s been very beneficial to keeping our vegetables bug free.

New Arrival

On By thefunkyfrugalistaIn Day TripLeave a comment

Life has been lifing lately so it’s been a minute since I’ve made a post. I am happy to announce that we have a new grandson!

Forrest Paine was born on July 9th at 11:55 p.m. weighing in at 7lb 6oz. If he’d only waited 6 more minutes he would have been born on his aunt’s birthday. We were hoping, but the doctor almost didn’t make it in time to deliver him. The nurses had Nikki on her side with her knees together. When the doctor did arrive it was 3 pushes and he was out.

Donny and I didn’t go down right away because dad’s mother was visiting from Georgia and we also wanted to go when Bethany and her two kids were going to be there. So last Thursday all of the stars aligned and we were all able to be there together. We were only missing Nikki’s two oldest because they were visiting their dad.

He is such a little nugget.

Donny makes such a good paw paw.

It was so good to be able to see Cassidy, Rory and Phoebe.

That’s Cassidy on the left. He’s Bethany’s oldest. Phoebe is Nikki’s 3rd baby girl.

Rory is such a cutie. She has the blondest hair and bluest eyes.

My girls with their babies. I hate that there was so much backlight, but I’m happy to have pictures no matter how they turn out.

It was such a good visit. We only stayed about 4 hours because Mom and dad were very tired and needed to get settled into a routine without so many visitors that have been coming over to see the baby. Can we just get a shout out for face time? Even though we all have busy schedules it just makes it seem like everyone isn’t so far away and I’m very thankful for that.

Celebration

On By thefunkyfrugalistaIn The Enchanted NomadLeave a comment

I took my day of rest yesterday because I was WORN out. Hannah and I got to the convention center about 3:30 to finish setting up. Even though the city website said that the doors opened at 6 it was actually closer to 5. Not many people came in then but that was okay because we were walking around looking at the other vendors.

We were positioned right by the stage. It was so loud when the musical theatre groups started singing. There was also bingo and trivia going on. After about an hour and a half we noticed people were walking in drenched. It was pouring outside.

The weather drove everyone inside which was great for sales. We met some really fun people. In fact, Hannah might have a job at one of the big haunted houses come Fall. I was nervous about using my square for transactions but it worked without a hitch. The reigning hotdog eating champion took a liking to Hannah. He won again. Fourth year in a row.

I’m actually surprised that we did so well because what we sell is very niche to the bohemian hippie(ish) crowd. So many people wanted to know if we had a store. I wish we did, but they took business cards so I need to get to work on the website for sure.

The rain finally stopped enough for them to announce that the fireworks were still going to be set off at 9:30. At 9 they announced that the convention center was closing and for everyone, except the vendors, to exit the building. We packed up so fast to get out before the rush of traffic. As we were carrying our things out to the car the fireworks started and it was like we were right under them.

We managed to start heading out during the middle of the show. I do love fireworks, but we were all so tired by this time we just wanted to get home. We were parked in the back and had to drive around the side to get out onto the main drive to leave. There was an Escalade in front of us that just stopped and started backing up. We backed up. They backed up more and almost hit us. I told Donny to stop the car and I got out and banged on their window (they did not roll it down) and told them to keep moving. They drove off as soon as I got back in our car. Donny told Hannah, “she’s going to get shot”. That never entered my mind, I’d just had enough of people that day.

All in all it was a fun day and I can’t wait to do another one. I hope everyone had a happy 4th and stayed safe.

Happy 4th!

On By thefunkyfrugalistaIn The Enchanted NomadLeave a comment

Gotta say I’m a little nervous about how this evenings event is going to go. We had the option to set up yesterday or wait until today. Hannah and I decided that we would go ahead and set up early so if we needed anything extra we wouldn’t be rushing around the day of.

I didn’t want to spend a lot of money so I made the jewelry holders myself.

For the stand up block I had been looking for a bulletin board at the thrift store but could not find one. I did find this though.

I just painted it dark purple, put it in a stand and used colored thumb tacks to hold everything one.

The ring holder in the tray is just floral foam covered in fabric with stained dowels. The burlap covered cuff and ring holder is a styrofoam display that was empty at Dollar Tree and they just let me have it. Everything else I just pilfered from our house.

The wooden box is actually a plant stand that I just turned on its side. The treasure box sits on top of the plant stand at home. We did pick up the linen tablecloth from Treasures Thrift for $3.

When we got to the convention center there were a few vendors setting up. The t-shirt bar had a woman putting together this awesome multi level clothes rack. Here’s Hannah and I trying to jam together our Walmart racks. Hey, whatever works. We did run out of hangars so we’ll finish that this afternoon since we need to be there early.

All in all I think it turned out pretty good for coming in blind and never having done this before.

I decided to sell some of my wrapped sea glass necklaces and made a few more today. I’m interested to see how they go. I’ll keep ya posted. Wish us luck. Happy Independence Day!