Happy Halloween!

I thought today would be the perfect day to introduce my new pet.

Meet Agatha.  She is a juvenile stripe knee tarantula.  It took me over a month to get her.  I had no idea that tarantulas were so popular.  She will eventually grow to be about 8 inches.  She is quite laid back and is happy with her diet of a daily cricket.

In the people world of Halloween, I spent all day yesterday making decorated sugar cookies to pass out to trick or treaters.  Since we live out in the country, we only get families that we know well stopping by. Otherwise I would not give out handmade treats.  W helped out with decorating when he got home from work.

This is only my second time working with royal icing.  I am gradually getting better.  I do not think the children will care too much about how they look though.

Weekly Goals Update: Week 44

1.  Completely Finish New House & Update Property
W have put down a fair amount of molding.  We still need to finish the kitchen and back bathroom, but the hallway and living room are done.

W put up the door to the laundry room, and we picked up the door for the pantry.  I am hoping we get more molding put up this week.  I also want to start painting the aquarium cabinet.  Honestly just having most of the molding in makes the rooms look finished.  

Wondering why we are still doing finish work a year after moving in?  W was burnt out.  It is so much work to build a house rather than have one built.  He simply needed a break.

2.  Plan Ahead for Birthday and Holiday Gifts

I am done with birthday gifts for this year.  I have started on my handmade gifts and plan to have them done by Thanksgiving.  I will finish my holiday shopping by the end of November if all goes as planned.  I try to avoid stores in December.

3.  Use the Garden to Be More Self-Sufficient

The cooler weather has given my pepper plants a bit of a boost.  The greens seed we sowed have sprouted.  I know the rabbits and chickens are looking forward to those.  I planted more artichoke seeds.  I am hanging on to all of the summer garden plants until a frost kills them.  Sometime in the next couple of weeks we need to recover the greenhouse with plastic.  I will move my fruit trees into there to protect them during the winter months.

4.  Take One Class a Month

Can I just say that I was completely lazy over the past couple of weeks?  I do not know what got into me.  I have a bunch going on this week, and I am not sure that I will get anything done on this goal.

5.  Pack Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes on a Budget

My youth have been a bit scattered over the past two weeks.  We still have time to get the boxes packed the first couple of weekend in November.  I still feel on track with this one.

6.  Boost Savings

I have more money to add to our fence fund.  We were a bit spendy but on necessary things.  I took Tucker and Libby to the low cost clinic to be fixed and get rabies shots.  It cost $80 to get both of them fixed and have rabies vaccinations.  I was happy to spend that money as it was cheaper than at our local vet, and it will keep them happy and healthy.  We also had our gas tankless water heater serviced.  This annual maintenance will save money in the long run.  I can see next year that I will need to add in more small funds to cover these extras.  

Weekend Book Reviews

Murder Over Mochas by Caroline Fardig is the fifth book in the Java Jive Mystery series.  Juliet is done investigating murders.  She keeps that agreement until her no good ex-fiance Scott dies in front of her.  She is the main suspect.  I have not read any of the previous books, but I did not feel lost.  The mystery was interesting, but the main focus of the book seems to be on Juliet's love life.  That includes her ex-fiance, her ex-boyfriend, and her current boyfriend.  If you lean toward enjoying romance with your cozy mystery, this is a wonderful book.

The first book in the Brie Hooker Mystery series by Linda Lovely is Bones to Pick.  Vegan chef Brie finds herself working and living on a farm after her Aunt Lilly's death.  She takes over several duties to help out her Aunt Eva.  Things take a bad turn after her aunt is accused of murder when the skeletal remains of Eva's long missing husband are uncovered by the farm's pig, Tammy.  I loved the southern setting complete with southern sayings.  This is a nice start to a fun series.  I was less than thrilled with Brie's overactive hormones in the midst of a lust (not love yet) triangle. The mystery was not as strong as it could have been, but I see potential for future books. 

Munchies by JJ Goode  and Helen Hollyman promises recipes for Late Night Meals from the World's Greatest Chefs".  I was very disappointed with this book for three reasons.  First, I do not understand the foul language.  I know professional chefs curse, but adding it to a book does not make one cool, intelligent, or professional.  Second, one of the recipes is for a grilled cheese.  It literally lists the ingredients as bread, butter, and cheese.  If someone needs a recipe for a grilled cheese, I am not sure she should be operating a cook top unsupervised.  Third, another of the recipes includes two cans refried beans in the ingredient list.  Am I supposed to believe that the "World's Greatest Chef's" use canned refried beans?  Refried beans are easy to make.  This book is obviously for a different audience than myself. 

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

Quakery by Lydia Kang and Nate Pedersen discusses all of the medical wonders that turned into "I wonder why anyone thought that was a good idea".  It combines humor with medical history to give readers a glimpse into the highly questionable medical practices of the past.  The book was fascinating and scary all at the same time.  It made me wonder which medical marvels of today will become the cautionary tales of tomorrow.  I do wish the book had been a bit more serious.  Otherwise it was well put together.

Julie Mulhern's Cold as Ice is the sixth book in the Country Club Murders series.  I have not read any of the previous books, but I was able to easily keep up with the characters.  The book is set in the 1970s yet it did not feel dated at all.  Ellison is raising her teenage daughter Grace on her own after her husband's death.  Ellison has her hands full with Grace's no good boyfriend and wild parties.  Add in a demanding mother and social activities, and the last thing she needs is to find a dead body.  Unfortunately that is exactly what happens.  I adored the characters and Ellison's prim and proper mannerisms.  This book was good enough that I have added the first five to my reading list.

The Dinner Plan by Kathy Brennan and Caroline Campion offers a variety of Simple Weeknight Recipes and Strategies for Every Schedule.  I marked several interesting recipes.  I liked that most of the recipes used basic ingredients.  Another bonus is that there was little risk the dishes would include anything my sometimes picky husband would not eat.  I opted to make the Pasta e Fagioli.  I stuck to the recipe although I did cut back on the spinach (picky husband, remember?).  The picky husband declared that the soup was delicious and that I could include more spinach next time.  I love having another meatless meal we both enjoy.  The soup came together quickly and like many of the recipes is an excellent weeknight meal.  This is a wonderful resource for busy families.

Best Laid Plants by Marty Wingate is book six in the Potting Shed Mystery series.  Gardener Pru thinks she has found the perfect job.  She gets to look at reviving a neglected arts and crafts garden and bring her husband along on the trip.  When the garden's designer is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Pru's detective husband steps in to help the police.  He even invites Pru to help him investigate.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the plants as much as the mystery.  Pru and her husband are joined by a variety of great supporting characters.  This is a wonderful gardening themed cozy mystery series.

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Frugal Friday

  I have not done the best job with keeping track of my frugal doings recently, but I figured a post was long overdue.

I watched a free movie through Google Play.  I need to keep a regular check of any specials.  W and I never go to the theater.  When I figure in the drive, cost of the tickets, and cost of snacks, I would much rather rent a movie online or buy a used DVD if I think we will really like it.

I have wanted nice, tall planters for the front porch.  I had hoped to find something on clearance at the end of summer.  Everything I saw was more than I wanted to pay or not the style I wanted.  I decided to just work on getting some gift cards through Swagbucks to buy what I wanted.  I ended up getting the two planters I had been eyeing for less than $5 total.  I used two gift cards and a coupon code, but they are perfect for the porch.

I used a promo code to order a free 8x10 print. 



W and I purchased more pumpkins at the grocery store.  One store has had them for $2.99 compared to $4.50 at other stores.  These pumpkins are much larger than the ones I saw at the higher price.  We will use them for decorations through Thanksgiving.  After that they will be tasty treats for the chickens.  Most of our other decorations are left from last year.  My only other purchase was live plants that will last through the fall holidays.

I knew we had a long errand day ahead of us this week so I planned ahead.  I had leftovers for us to eat when we returned home.


I made appointments to get Tucker and Libby fixed at the low cost clinic.  I can get both of them fixed for less than the cost of one at our regular vet.  My parents are also taking their new cat to be fixed so we will split gas costs.  I know the kittens will not be happy, but it is for the best.


Thanks to the cooler weather, our a/c unit has barely run at all.  The sunny, windy days are perfect for drying laundry too.


I was happy to see that the phone company followed through with lowering our bill after the internet mess last month.  We will save $30 a month.


I have continued to try to plan meals using what we have on hand.  It will help my grocery budget and keep the freezer/pantry under control.

Free Craftsy Class: Tuesday, October 17 Only!

Last week I talked about how much I love Craftsy classes.  Today only anyone can sign up for a free class:  Pasta Like a Pro.  This class offers six lessons.  You get everything from classic to contemporary pasta dishes.  You can even learn to make fresh pasta and gnocchi.  If you have wanted to try out a Craftsy class, this is the perfect opportunity.


The class will only be free on Tuesday, October 17, until 11:59pm MT. 

Weekly Goals Update Weeks 41& 42

1.  Completely Finish the New House & Update Property
The first week I did not get any painting done due to the rain and general damp weather.  This past week I painted all of the molding/trim.  If all goes well, we can get some of it put up this week.  W also got a good start on refinishing the yard sale chair he bought in March.  I am quite impressed with how well he is doing.

We did finish setting up the area for my new pet.  When we bought our big aquarium we also got a smaller corner aquarium.  I am still waiting on the new pet to arrive though. 

2.  Plan Ahead for Birthday & Holiday Gifts
I knocked one birthday gift and two holiday gifts off my list this week.  The two oldest girls on my side of the family are turning into readers.  Yeah!  I ordered one a Junie B Jones book set for her birthday.  For Christmas both girls are getting books from the series.  I came in under budget on both. 

I still need to order two more birthday gifts for this year, but then I can focus on the holidays.  One of the items for my handmade friend gifts did not work out so I ordered a replacement and am waiting on it to arrive.

3.  Use the Garden to Be More Self-Sufficient
I feel in between seasons right now.  The days are getting shorter so it is definitely not summer, but it is much too hot to be autumn.  Water from the hose is just not helping my plants so I am hoping for some rain.  Later this week I want to pull some weeds and plant some more greens for the chickens.

4.  Take One Class a Month
I decided that while the opera cake is doable I simply have too much going on.  I am going to do it later and take a simpler class.  I need to make a confession first.  I am southern, and I cannot make biscuits.  Well, I cannot make typical southern biscuits.  My mom makes thin biscuits - basically two crusts - since my dad calls normal biscuits cat heads.  W on the other hand likes typical southern biscuits.  I am determined to learn and started a new class:  Tea Breads:  Biscuits, Scones & More.  The first lesson was biscuits!  I think they look pretty good.  I still need some practice.

I may skip around in this class and do the pound cake before the scone lesson.  It depends on how the week goes.

5.  Pack Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes on a Budget
I decided to get the youth at church to help me pack the boxes this year.  We have finished 50 so far.  I do need to go behind them and rearrange things and probably add some filler items.  For the most part they are doing a great job.  We are on track to finish up by the end of this month.

6.  Boost Savings
I added some extra money to add to our fence fund.  Our electric bill was lower than budget so that extra money can go toward some house expenses. I am keeping with the goal of having the fence projected funded by the end of November.

Weekend Book Reviews

When I first looked at the table of contents for Sally's Cookie Addiction by Sally McKenney, I was not sure I would find any interesting recipes.  Then I started reading the cookbook and marked recipe after recipe to try.  I did end up making the Big Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and gave them to my taste testers.  Everyone loved the cookies.  The bit of molasses added an extra depth to the cookies.  The book is a nice mix of classics and unusual cookies.  The tips and tricks are an nice addition especially for new bakers.  Cookies always seem to be hit, and this book offers something for everyone!

The Anne of Green Gables Cookbook by Kate MacDonald and L.M. Montgomery is a great cookbook for fans of Anne of Green Gables.  The pictures of the finished recipes are beautiful.  I appreciate that the recipes use basic ingredients.  I made the apple dumplings.  Although I needed to seriously adjust the cooking time, the flavor of the finished dessert was delicious.  It is something that I will make again.  I have several more recipes marked to try.  The recipes are simple enough that they can be made with children. 

Perilous Poetry by Kym Roberts is book three in the Book Barn Mystery series.  Charli is thrilled when her cousin and aunt show up with two surprises.  Her cousin wants to use the Book Barn Princess to unveil his new app, and he has arranged for author Lucy Barton to do a book signing.  The problems begin when murders start happening that appear to be tied to the app and Lucy Barton's books.  Reading the previous books is not necessary to follow this one.  The why of the murders is sort of explained but seems to be a stretch.  This series is a bit heavier on the romance than some other cozy mysteries, but it is not annoying.  I did find the repetitive phrases (OMW - oh my word - and Get Out) to be tiresome.  Still this is a fun series.  I love the book store set in a barn, and Princess the pet armadillo remains my favorite character.

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

Cat Among the Pumpkins by Mandy Morton is part of the Hettie Bagshot Mystery series.  Hettie and Tilly are cats and run the No. 2 Feline Detective Agency.  The book features only cats who live in a world just like people.  I wanted to love this book.  I had two problems with it.  The cats were too human for me.  I would have preferred that they were just cats. Second I found everything overly described.  I appreciate the scenes being set up for me, but I like to use my imagination some.  I think this series could be toned down a bit and would be perfect for the preteen crowd.  It is a clever idea.  I just did not care for it as much as I thought I might.

Rich Newman's Ghosts of the Civil War is part ghost story and part history.  The book covers everything from the major well known battles and locations to the lesser known areas of the Civil War.  October always makes me reach for a good ghost story.  I enjoyed Ghosts of the Civil War although it was a big light on the ghost stories.  I would consider it more a travel guide for Civil War ghost hunters.  I do recommend it for those interested in Civil War history with a side of ghosts.

Running Out of Time by Suzanne Trauth is the third book in the Dodie O'Dell Mystery series.  I have read the previous books, but I do not think it is necessary.  Dodie, manager of the Windjammer restaurant, is working on desserts to pair with the theater's new play.  It is a version of Our Town and is called Eton Town.  The production has plenty of problems but none as bad as the body discovered on stage on opening night.  Dodie once again investigates a murder to save the play and the theater.  I like Dodie.  She is fun but very real.  Etonville is a wonderful town full of eccentric characters which add to the story.  I adore this series and am already looking forward to the next book.

Kathi Daley's Fireworks in Paradise is book eight in the TJ Jensen Mystery series.  TJ rushes home from South Carolina when she receives word that her father is in a coma following a serious car accident.  As she begins to piece the story together, it becomes obvious that the wreck was no accident.  TJ and her friend Kyle investigate along with police officer Roy.  The investigation has to be done quietly when Roy's new partner threatens them.  I have read a previous book in this series, but it is not necessary.  I look forward to seeing how the characters progress as the series continues.


disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Craftsy Classes

Terri asked about the online cooking classes that I am doing.  I do all of my classes through Craftsy.  I live in the middle of  nowhere so taking classes locally is not an option.  Craftsy is convenient and allows me to go through the lessons at my own pace.  Another plus is that the purchased classes never expire. 

To make the classes more frugal, I highly recommend signing up for the emails.  Craftsy offers specials all of the time.  I normally pay $14-$16 per class by waiting until what I am interested in is on sale. 

The information provided is extremely helpful.  While there are free recipes/tutorials online, I appreciate the professional information provided.  The macaron lesson is one that springs to mind as being worth the cost of the entire class.  By taking the class first, I avoided all of the common macaron making problems. 

The classes include video lessons and downloadable recipes.  You can also interact with the instructor to ask questions.  Each class generally covers multiple things under the chosen topic.  You can see the topics covered prior to purchasing as well as read reviews.

disclosure:  I was not compensated for this post.  I just adore Craftsy classes!

Weekend Book Reviews

Ellie Alexander's Death on Tap is the first book in the Sloan Krause Mystery series.  This cozy mystery series deals in depth with brewing beer.  While I do not like beer personally, I found the information on craft beer brewing to be very compelling.  Sloan works as a brewer for her husband's family.  Her world is turned upside down when she finds her husband in a compromising position with another woman.  Sloan takes a job with a new to town brewer and owner of Nitro.  Things are off to a great start until she finds a body in the fermenting tub.  While the mystery in this book is not the strongest, the characters and town make up for it.  The town features a range of characters from those I loved to those I did not like at all.  Of course it takes all of them to make the story work.  I look forward to seeing how the characters as well as some of the side stories develop as the series progresses!  

Death by Eggnog by Alex Erickson is the fifth book in the Bookstore Cafe Mystery series.  I have read some previous books in this series, but it is not necessary to enjoy this book.  Krissy's vacation becomes a staycation after her father plans a last minute trip.  The co-owner of Death by Coffee insists that Krissy take time away from work.  That leads to her taking a part in the local theater company's holiday musical.  Things are going well enough until Santa is murdered and Krissy's ex is the main suspect.  The characters and setting for this book are fun and perfect for a cozy mystery.  Reading this book only makes me look forward to more from the author!

disclosure:  I received these e-books from NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner by Ann Larkin Hansen gives readers advice on when do necessary chores on the homestead.  It includes chores for the garden, orchard, barn, pasture, and equipment upkeep.  This book provides good guidelines but definitely no hard and fast rules regarding the seasons.  According to this book, my area would be in early summer for the majority of the year.  It is geared more toward those on a larger homestead.  People with established homesteads of that size might find the information too basic.  The information on garden and orchard crops was good.  While the book does include a wealth of information, readers should skim through to see if the information would be helpful for their homesteads.

Raquel Pelzel's Sheet Pan Suppers Vegetarian covers everything from breakfasts to snacks to desserts.  I found that it went beyond sheet pans and neared the casserole dish territory.  While the ingredient lists are long, the recipes have minimal preparation steps.  I was most impressed with the breakfast chapter.  It is filled with dishes that will appeal to vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.  My favorite recipe was the mushroom risotto.  With the variety of recipes included in this book, it offers something for everyone!Ov

The Comfort Food Diaries by Emily Nunn is about her journey to overcome her brother's sudden death.  She is also dealing with the loss of her relationship, her dysfunctional upbringing, and the separation of her family.  The book was well-written but take the discussions of the South with a grain of salt.  The author was fascinated by real dirt roads.  While I have seen many real ones, I have no idea what a fake dirt road would be.  I enjoyed the recipes sprinkled throughout the book.  Overall I found the book interesting.

disclosure:  I received these e-books from NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekly Goals Update Week 40

1.  Completely Finish the New House & Update Property
This past week some extra items popped up that had nothing to do with this goal. We did router out the boards needed to finish most of the molding.  It made a mess on the back deck that was quickly swept away. 

We need to pick up one more board and get our previously purchased on sale can of paint tinted.  My plan for this week is to paint the molding so W can start putting it up.  I wanted to burn one pile of leaves/limbs, but this week is forecasted to be windy so that is out.

2.  Plan Ahead for Birthday & Holiday Gifts
I ordered the supplies needed for my handmade friend gifts.  Since several of my friends read this blog, I will not be sharing any more details about that.  Everything should be here by the end of the week so I can get started on those. While W has a lighter schedule, I want to work on the personalized cups for the youth I work with at church.

3. Use the Garden to Be More Self-Sufficient
I need to order the seeds for W's hydroponic system.  He wants to try bok choy and butter crunch lettuce.  I need to weed the garden and clear out a spot to plant some mustard and turnips for the chickens.

4.  Take One Class a Month
I need to watch the opera cake lesson this week and make the cake toward the end of the week.  Then I will move on to a new class.

5.  Pack Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes on a Budget
I have to spend a day this week setting up everything to pack the 25 boxes for the 2-4 age group with the youth group.  If it goes well, we will pack the remaining boxes and be ready ahead of the collection date.

6. Boost Savings
I shopped sales this past week or skipped purchases all together.  I earned a $25 gift card from Swagbucks which I will use for a flower pot I want for the porch.  This month's goal is to focus on saving for the new fencing.  W wants to get it done before cold weather sets in.

Weekend Book Reviews

Dial Meow for Murder by Bethany Blake is part of the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series.  I had read the previous book in this series, but it is not necessary.  Daphne is the laid back owner of a petsitting business.  She is the complete opposite of her high strung sister, Piper, and her highly motivated realtor mother.  Daphne agrees to help with a pet fundraiser at a local mansion.  The evening is cut short when the town's wealthy volunteer Lillian is found dead in her bathtub.  I enjoy the characters is this book - both the human and furry ones.  The mystery kept me interested, but the sub-plots were the highlight.  I am already looking forward to the next book.

Meera Lester's A Hive of Homicides is the third book in the Henny Penny Farmette Mystery series.  I had read a previous book in the series, but this one easily stands on its own.  Abby, a former cop, is happy on her farm with her dog and chickens.  She attends a her friend Paola's vow renewal at a local winery and is shocked to witness a shooting.  Paola is seriously injured, and her husband is killed.  Abby cannot completely escape her former profession and begins her own investigation.  In the previous book I had some concerns about this series going forward.  I was completely happy with this book.  The characters and story line flowed well.  I am excited about Abby's character development from this point onward.

Turkey Trot Murder by Leslie Meier is part of the Lucy Stone Mystery series.  Lucy is training for the annual Turkey Trot 5K when she and her canine side kick discover a body in a partially frozen pond.  Wealthy Allison's death is blamed on an overdose, but Lucy has her doubts.  Sadly this cozy mystery strayed into the political area.  Personal opinions are fine, but I read for entertainment not political commentary.  For me it does not matter whether or not I share the opinion, I am tired of politics taking over everything.  While I enjoyed the mystery, the politics ruined the book for me.

disclosure:  I received these e-books from NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!