06.06.11 / Uncategorized / Author: TWGranE / Comments Off
Thank you, George’s Bike, for taking me down memory lane this weekend and helping me create new memories.
This past weekend was the auction and closing of George’s Bike (no, he didn’t call it a shop or repair business — just bike). Having a soft spot for bicycles, running the town as a child not knowing what the handlebars were for, biking across Kansas, entering a few races, aspiring to become the first woman to be in the Tour de France and, now, shopping for bikes with wide padded seats with bells and baskets — I had to go.
My first bike was so cool. It was completely orange. Orange metal, orange banana seat, orange sissy bar, orange tires and orange grips. My name was drawn at a crowded theater to win the bike. I walked that bike (I had yet to learn how to ride) out of that theater past hundreds of jaw dropping, salivating kids. I was so lucky.
For weeks afterward my mother took me up and down a bumpy dirt hill by our house holding on to that orange sissy bar. Eventually she would let go without telling me until I would no longer feel her grip then I would freak out and crash.
One year, for Christmas, all three of us kids got grown-up Schwin Varsities. All the same size. It didn’t matter back then what your inseam was; if you couldn’t reach the pedals, then you stood up to pedal.
This weekend I got an awesome red, white and blue Varsity. The roll tape around the rounded handlebars is new — can you still buy that? Just the chance to take a photo to send to my sis is worth the five bills I put down.
My pride is my new vintage, silver Country Traveler women’s bike, complete with oversized reflectors, bell and split wire basket over the chrome fender on the back. It rides like a dream.
My daughter got a bike that matched her purple shirt, Miami Mist (I love bike names). I told her we were not transferring training wheels onto this one. So last night when all the neighbor kids went inside, we went out to the parking lot to practice, practice and practice. It will take many more evenings, but I know that this is something she will remember. And one day, I’ll be able to say, “By George, I think she’s got it!”
Thanks George!
05.18.11 / Uncategorized / Author: TWGranE / Comments Off
Will it go ’round in circles?
I got a story, it ain’t got no moral
Let the poor guy win every once in a while
I got a story, it ain’t got no moral
Let the poor guy win win every once in a while
I am going ’round in circles with these well-rounded (geez, I’m killing myself here) bargains:
Go now to http://bigdeal.upickem.net to buy $14 worth of buffet and two drinks at Cici’s pizza in Lawrence for $5. My daughter at KU will be eating well, at least 4 times!
Also my good friend George is closing his bicycle shop. If you ever took your bike into George’s to be repaired, you know what great work he did and his reasonable costs. I always liked to take the family’s bikes in there for all the minor repairs and enjoyed seeing all the vintage bikes and new hot rods that he had on the floor.
Get your tape measure out to check tube sizes and meet me at 116 W. 3rd, Ottawa, Sunday, May 22 at 1 p.m. to bid on entire inventory of George’s Bike Shop. I am guessing that this might be such a specific item sell that we might be able to get some good bargains because there might not be the usual household and farm equipment auction seekers.
For more information on this auction, go to: http://www.ottawaherald.com/auctions/
Good luck on these Tightwad Deals, and let the music move you around.
05.17.11 / Bargain / Author: TWGranE / Comments Off
Open a lemonade stand. One of the best things you can do for your children is teach them the fine art of making cash…fast.
If you are beyond the age-appropriate, baby-faced lemonade seller (no one is going to buy from a 40-something taking it easy under an oversized umbrella — unless it’s hard lemonade and that may cost you some legal fees).
The grown-up version of a lemonade stand is using what you have to make something that people want to buy. I have a fellow-blogger friend who uses her leftover yarn to make up the cutest, funkiest handbags and sells them like crazy on Etsy online. Find your niche and open up a shop selling your brand of lemonade when the well runs dry.
Tightwad Tip: Speaking of lemonade. Did you save your USA Weekender from Saturday’s paper? There is a great coupon in it for a FREE Frozen Strawberry Lemonade from McDonald’s.
05.06.11 / Uncategorized / Author: TWGranE / Comments Off
Moans and groans are heard every year when Ottawa plans its citywide garage sale. Most of the complaints revolve around it falling on Mother’s Day weekend. I hear complaints like “What am I going to do? Buy my mother a gift from a garage sale?”
Well … YES!
I was happy to meet a fellow garage-saler this morning who was very excited to get going to all the sales. She was picking up a map and plotting her route. Her family had given her Garage Sale money and said “Go! Have fun!” And fun she was having. I thought what a great family to think to give her extra cash to go spend on useless kitchen utensils, ugly Christmas sweaters, dusty books and costume jewelry.
With 78 garage sale’s listed in The Ottawa Herald, you may have to give your mother a whole roll of quarters!
See sales here: http://www.ottawakan.com/ottawa_herald/classifieds/0165.shtml
See map here: http://www.ottawaherald.com/widegraphic/Garage-Sale-Map
04.20.11 / Bargain / Author: TWGranE / Comments: (0)
- Special Meat Bundle
The deadline for ordering is approaching for this month’s Mid America Foods.
The order deadline is Monday, April 25.
Mid America Foods offers restaurant quality food at discounted prices. Their motto is “Bring peace of mind to those who want to stretch their food dollars.” Ohohoh, I want that.
Luckily there is a center in the area that participates in this program. Volunteers at the First Baptist Church found at 4th and Walnut in Garnett, Kansas, work hard to unload trucks of this bulk packaged food.
This month’s menu is a Family Meal Box for $29
It includes:
- 2 – (1 lb pkg) flame broiled meatballs
- 1 – (1 lb) ravioli entrée
- 1 – (2 lb pkg) porkroast
- 2 – (1 lb pkg) ground beef 85/15
- 1 – (1 lb pkg) premium breakfast sausage
- 1 – (1 lb pkg) berries1 – (1 lb pkg)
- California blend or broccoli florets
- 1 – (1 lb pkg) boneless chicken breast (about. 4 – 4 oz)
- 4 – 4 oz Tilapia or 1 – (1 lb pkg) breaded chicken tenders (fully cooked)
This program also has suppertime premium entrees, frozen fruit and veggie box, dessert box and special meat bundles.
I am going to try this mostly because I want to support the program and their ideals of ending starvation.
Buying groceries as a group purchase will force me (or more correctly—the real cook of the family, Sir Spendthrift) to be more creative with our menus. Looking at this menu, I will have to find something to do with the berries. What a great way to add a little creativity to our food prep!
Visit the website, www.midamericafood.com to sign up for next month’s groceries. Look under the Group Sign up tab to sign up your church or organization.
