February Grocery Tally

February is pretty much over- I don’t think I’ll be at the grocery store again this week since we went this morning, and I have my meal plan done for the week. February’s total includes a big trip to Costco to stock up on bulk items- we receive a refund check from our credit card [...]

January Grocery Tally

This month totally doesn’t count, and I’m not 100% certain I found all the receipts to enter them into my database.  We were also unemployed, and just entering the “freak out” stage where I basically stand on a table shouting “WE WILL SPEND NO MONEY EVER AGAIN UNTIL WE HAVE STEADY EMPLOYMENT!” January grocery total: [...]

The Grocery Tally Project

Periodically, I go OCD on my groceries.  Totally true.  I haven’t done it for a few years, but it seems like now is a great time to get a better handle on what we’re eating and buying.  Some of us (ahem) could stand to lose a few pounds, and we all need to eat a [...]

Looking

We found mini microscopes on Amazon for about $3- Just opened up a whole new world for Ernie. Who knew leaves could be so amazing and textured and covered in teensy bugs?

Where I Plant

  This is what my garden looks like right now, and this is basically where everything will be. In the top right corner are four garden boxes, each roughly 4 feet x 8 feet. Along the top of the retaining wall is a border bed- by the stump is (what’s left of) my strawberry patch, [...]

Garden Book

I started a garden book today- a running commentary on daily garden activities. One page for each day of the year, used year after year. A quick reference to remind myself that yes, we really waited that long for the tomatillos to ripen. I really did spend all July weeding. Today I started my tomato [...]

Vanilla Yogurt, a No-Fail Updated Guide to Making It Yourself

It’s time to update my yogurt recipe.  I’ve found a method that, for me, is completely no-fail! At it’s most basic, yogurt is a really simple process. Heat milk to kill pathogens. Cool milk to NOT kill yogurt cultures Add yogurt starter and flavor Keep it warm. The recipe is here. You’ll need: 1 large [...]

So Much Trouble

Guys?  Remember that list of seeds I gave you?  The bonkers one? Someone please tell me why I came home with a dozen more seed packets today.  I think I have issues. –Myrnie

Make a Wreath with Garden Cuttings

I finally dove into our busted bushes after the winter snow storm- six feet high, and all bowed to completely block our side path.  Definitely time to get a move on that chore, yeah? Part of the problem is that these bushes make bright red, gorgeous berries, in the Fall.  So, of course, I won’t [...]

2012 Garden Plans (Seeds)

I have a goal this year- to plant every single seed I have.  This list is enormous- I KNOW.  It’s absurd.  That’s kind of the point.  I don’t want to have a box of half-used (or never used) seed packets at the end of the year- I want to be able to purchase my new [...]