It’s not because I decided to stop wearing clothing, I can assure you of that! In my frugal farmgirl world, clothing is one of the “four walls” of life (housing, food, clothing, transportation).  It’s probably part of your four walls too. But, the kind of clothes, or the brand and designer of clothes is a completely different matter. Clothing, yes, it’s important.  A $500 suit for work…not so much. When I took a cold hard look at how I wanted to increase my savings and thereby increase my investing, clothing was one category that rose to the top of the list.  Not because I spend ..read more

  Discovering your flock has a pesticide problem usually leads to a mad scramble to eradicate it immediately.  But that may not be the best solution. Whether you have a small or large flock permanent eradication is not possible, but what is possible is to manage the parasite population. There are risks in unchecked infestations, make no mistake about that.  Diminished egg production, weight loss, or even significant die-off can happen, and it can happen in a short period of time. Attempts to permanently eradicate parasites can leave flocks more at risk because they are not deve ..read more

  The 4th of July holiday means the summer entertaining season is in full swing, with long sunny days that last deep into the late hours you can’t help but want to be out of the house for as long as possible. I sometimes think that people assume I just sit around my homestead reading books by flashlight to save money and dining on the remnants of my refrigerator.  In reality, though, nothing could be farther from the truth.  My life is full of frugal luxuries…as I see them…in the midst of an abundance of frugal opportunities.  If you know where to look, free or almost free ..read more

  Bananas seem to be a staple in any home that has (or had) children in it.  It is the “go-to” snack for toddlers, a vitamin packed boost for after-school activity crazed grade-schoolers, and a perfect addition to the health conscious meal for older kids and adults.  Like I said…it’s a staple in most homes. In our home they were cut up into oatmeal for breakfast, whirled into smoothies for a cool refreshing drink, or dipped into melted chocolate for decadent treat.  But, with all those bananas hanging around there were bound to be a few that didn’t get eaten quite fast eno ..read more

  Grab a drink and a chair, folks.  This is gonna be a long one.   In the world today, monthly payments on a vehicle (or two) are at the top of the list of family expenses.  Second to that is the cost of groceries.   Whenever I get together with friends or family or for a potluck somehow the conversation always circles around to the cost of food and “how can I save on groceries?!”  It’s a darn good question too because unlike other budget items we can cut back on or eliminate (think clothing, take-out, fancy coffees or cable), food is a necessity.   ..read more

When I think of bread pudding I usually think of some kind of dessert.  Chunks of bread with fruit in an oozing sweet custard made of sugar, eggs and milk. And, that’s really not my thing. I’m not a dessert person, so this has never held much fascination for me.  I can take the sweet stuff or leave it. Savory dishes, on the other hand, are a completely different matter.  I love the full rich flavors, the layers of textures and tastes, and the mix of ingredients in savory dishes that accompany a well roasted piece meat.  That’s my culinary “love zone”. I love trying new foo ..read more

  Livestock panels, sometimes called cattle panels, hog panels or sheep panels are not only a God send to fencing for a variety of animals, but have many other uses as well. Panels are 16-feet long and made of heavy gauge galvanized welded wire and vary in height from 36-inches to 54-inches. With a few panels and tee-posts, a sledge hammer and some fastening wire a single person, or two people, can create a sturdy pen for their animals. As a single shepherd, I had no time for repairing fences or chasing escaped sheep, so livestock panels became my “go to” supply not only for fencing, but ..read more

I’m notorious for cobbling recipes together—seriously—no kidding!   I rarely—if ever—follow a recipe from start to finish without looking for ways to make it different (ah hem, giving it my touch, I mean). So, when I visited the newest addition to our culinary scene I just had to try one of the dishes at home. It was a work lunch.  Someone had suggested we try the new Cuban restaurant in town.  Being the foodies we all are we couldn’t resist.  Well—let me tell ya, we were not disappointed…not at all. It was a fun, lively open air place with long wooden tables where you, an ..read more

The effort to reclaim my little homestead is coming along, albeit slowly, which is fine by me.   And, although we are in full planting swing, weather wise, I am happy for a slower less rushed pace to get seeds in the ground. It’s amazing what a year of inactivity can do to a vegetable patch.  But, the respite has given me the chance to rethink my gardening efforts.  Now that Brianne is out of school and on her own I am cooking for one, rather than two.  You’d think that cooking for one person isn’t that different than cooking for two, but amazingly enough…it is!  More ..read more

  Set your Mother’s Day celebration apart this year with something truly unique and beautiful—Tangerine Mimosas!   Nothing says “I Love You” better than a sweet, bubbly, pretty cocktail perfect for moms special Brunch. I picked the last of the tangerines from my dwarf tree today.  It is by far the most productive fruit tree I have on my little suburban homestead, which always surprises me considering the little thing barely stands 4-feet tall.  Each fall it sets hundreds of sweetly scented white blossoms that turn into sweet, juicy tangerines months later, just in time to ..read more