Green Swamp water and Friends!

<--- Lovely shade of green isn't it? LOL! This is the first year we opened the pool to find a swamp! What happened? Well during the bad storms this winter our cover blew open and let tons of bad things fall in to contaminate it! Then when the weather warmed up...it all grew.....yuck! SO it was a bit more work than I thought it would be but it's all better now. Took about 4 days and a second round of opening chemicals to clear it all up. Plus the not so fun task of scrubbing the sides and bottom free of algae- thanks Hubby!! There were frogs in there too...we fished a few out and the rest left as the chemical content rose....they aren't stupid....not one dead frog in the skimmer....YAY! This is our recreation for the most part this summer. It isn't free per say....it's about $100 dollars a month for the extra electricity and chemicals...but it's here at home and at our convenience. It's a nice ministry too...to gather people, friends, and children around a central activity....throw in a few hot dogs and some potato salad and there ya go...instant fellowship with family and friends!

Other things we may do that are free.....

1.) Our Library has about 5 events planned this summer that look promising.

2.) Nature center walks.

3.) Free water park fun at local park.

4.) Picnics

5.) Free public "beach" (it's really a lake- we pack a cooler lunch)

6.) Camp out- in back yard

7.) Bon fire cookouts/ star gazing- in back yard

Sometimes there are free events near us like concerts or festivals....you can call your local cities chamber of commerce or welcome center for information. You DO need gas to these events but the admissions are free....and if you plan to eat before you go....it can be very affordable! It is also good to learn to enjoy being at home. We actually prefer some of the at home events to always running about here and there on hot days.....and honestly...the more you go out...the harder it is to NOT spend your money! When your kids are having fun...they rarely even stop to think about what it's costing you...so why not think of some fun things that will cost you much less! Cheap is counting every penny...frugal is making every penny count! My hubby trades his life for those hard earned pennies....I want to make them go just as far as I possibly can!!

~Moxie