Yesterday I stopped by Mrs. HB’s place to barter. We were down to 3 eggs so I called her up to see if she was around {and if she had any extra eggs}. Her mom is in town for 2 weeks {wahooo!} and so the first thing I asked when I walked in to her house was “so what is your mom making for you this time?”
I think there is some sort of unwritten rule that Mrs. HB’s mom isn’t allowed to visit unless she makes something for Mrs. HB’s house. In previous visits she’s made duvet covers, curtains, and Halloween costumes {that I know of}.
This time around she’s making pot holders and a new tablecloth for the kitchen table.
Mrs. HB’s mom is from the south, and she loves to barter so she didn’t bat an eye when I brought over a butternut squash, a book, and some apples to trade for eggs and ibuprofen. She even tried the Valley Food Storage Apple Oatmeal from the Grab and Go Bucket I am reviewing this week. She gave the oatmeal two thumbs up. “This is nice. Very creamy” she said.
And then we all decided the Grab and Go Bucket could do more than hold food {if you know what I mean}.
I wish Mrs. Hillbillies’ mom was one of my neighbors because she knows a ton of useful stuff and she loves saving money. Later this afternoon we are going thrift store shopping. I hope I find something good. Maybe some fabric or window treatments for the master bedroom. We’ll see. Maybe next time I can get her to stay with me because I need pot holders and a handmade tablecloth too.
Oh. So get this.
Mr. Hillbilly has been making his own soap. I KID YOU NOT. He even went to a soap making party to learn how to do it. He bought a mold on Amazon and has been going to town crafting artisan soap. Mr. HB’s other hobbies include duck hunting and fishing so I find the fact that he is crafting soap in the evening hours a little odd.
It does however give me hope for the HH. Who knows, maybe this time next year the HH will have his own line of jewelry.
Stranger things have happened.
~Mavis
Dawn says
My husband is currently bartering fishing rod and reel work in exchange for the concrete work on our new house’s foundation. This was one of the few parts of construction that we are sub-contracting out. Bartering to help pay for it is great for the construction budget!
Tina W says
I have several buckets in my “earthquake prep” area. However, we have now upgraded: my Dad is living with us after having surgery and part of the equipment they delivered was a bedside commode. So now we have an ACTUAL toilet seat with a small container underneath that has a LID!
It just makes me giggle that if the worst happens and we’re dealing with chaos, by gosh at least we will be pooping in style!
erin says
I love this…pooping in style.
ozarkat says
Never thought about that—-something to keep an eye open for at garage sales—bedside commode. Handy for a prepper, a water disruption or even to take camping/hunting.
Cindy M. says
Hello from Spokane, Mavis!
I have a few questions about your reclaimed produce “hunts”… I am thinking about approaching my nearby Winco, where I do most of my shopping and I am feeling, uh, a little awkward! Should I ask for the store manager or produce manager? Since I don’t have any goats or chickens to feed these ‘scraps’ to, would it be lying if I referred to my husband as my ‘goat’? Seriously, I would love to give this a try,but it sounds a little intimidating! I found your blog a few months ago & love it! I gardened a lot more when we lived in north central Montana but since we have been here I haven’t really jumped in that deep-hoping to have some raised beds next year! Thanks for your inspiration!