Raised Beds In Retrospect

We plucked the last few okra pods and buried new raspberry canes in hay. Yellow maple leaves blanket the front, ready to be chopped and layered on all 3 raised beds.

Our humble start at gardening surprised us. So few weeds, so many vegetables.

Definitely worth the investment. We may even skip the CSA next summer.

Bake Sale Packaging

Coffee filters remain my favorite cheap packaging for baked goods, like these super-size cake squares.

Hello there!

I stepped away to get our school off to a great start, but I didn't realize how hard it would be to return. I've decided to stop posting here for a while.

Though blogging has never gobbled much of my time, it does require focus--focus that I need in order to stretch and grow in other areas.

Don't worry, I'm not giving up my thrifty ways. I just won't be documenting it for the time being. I plan to keep bookmarking my favorite frugal links under the Food For Thought tab and return for the occasional update.

Thank you for your friendship and understanding!

Taking The Legos Away

There came a point this summer when I whispered some fateful words:

If you don't stop it right now, I will take away ALL the Legos in this house.

He must not have believed me. Not my finest parenting move, but I had to see it through to the bitter end.

Can I tell you how painful life without Lego has been--for both of us?

So it was as if the clouds parted and a heavenly ray of light shone down upon this battered but new box at Goodwill. The $2 tag matched the money he'd earned. I kicked in the tax.

We leave thanking God for this little bit of grace.

For both of us.

Dinner Improvised

Here's to make-ahead summer suppers.

Combining sale ingredients (75-cent organic ricotta!) with garden vegetables.

A lower carb lasagna which uses the last 2 zucchini? A win!

Recipe from The Italian Dish, inspiration from Happy To Be Called Mommy.