Weekly Goals Update: Week 30

1.  Disaster Preparedness
Week 30 was nutrition and exercise.  After this week I feel better about the nutrition side of things.  Our 12 year old nephew stayed with us for a couple of days.  He asked both W and myself about snacks.  I told him to check the refrigerator and pantry (and found out W had done the same).  Our nephew complained that all we had were fruits and vegetables.  He did eat four Oreos that were left from making the cake last week.  This time of year I get plenty of exercise in the yard and garden.  Taking Toby for walks has also increased my activity level.  My focus needs to be on strength training though.

I did find some candles on clearance to add to our emergency supplies.  These are a good size and are made of thick glass.  At just 15 cents each I could not pass them up.

2.  Makeover the Garden

I did work on weeds a bit, but we had more rain.  I do not feel I am making much progress.  I might have to give in and let W mow in between the beds.

3.  Organize Recipes

Yet again I did not work on this goal.  Winter will get here eventually.

4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks

I bought just a few groceries this past week.  I am hoping to skip the stores this week though.

5.  Focus on Saving

My plan for August is to use up some things.  I am piles of samples and also need to work on the freezer.  I want to free up some space to do some freezer cooking.  My calendar for October to the end of the year is filling up.  Having meals in the freezer will save both time and money.

6.  Etsy Shop

I have been working on some items to add to my Etsy shop.  I just need to get those finished, photographed, and listed.

Weekend Book Reviews

Kappy King and the Pickle Kaper by Amy Lillard is the second book in the Amish Mystery series.  When Sally June Esh is killed in a hit and run accident while delivering pickles, the Amish community is devastated.  Kappy, an Amish woman living a bit on the edge of her community, and Edie, Kappy's friend who decided to live among the Englisch, find themselves in the middle of the mystery.  Edie is receiving cryptic text messages about the accident.  This is a wonderful series.  Kappy is a charming character, and her friendship with the eccentric, shunned Edie is entertaining.  The mystery was strong. The characters, mystery, and writing combine to make this one of my favorite cozy series. 

The second book in the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series by Lynn Cahoon is Killer Green Tomatoes.  Angie's restaurant, County Seat, is turning into a success.  Her sous chef introduces her to a new produce supplier, his cousin Javier.  Shortly after their meeting, Javier's former love interest in found murdered, and he is the only suspect.  Angie believes that Javier is being framed even after he disappears.  She has her hands full taking care of her neighbor's grandmother for the week but is lured into investigating.  I finished this book in just over a day.  One clue near the end helped me solve the mystery.  The family setting of the restaurant and the farm theme make this a delightful series. 

The Woman's Herbal Apothecary by JJ Pursell features 200 remedies.  It covers a wide variety of topics.  Some of the remedies, such as one for poison ivy, are good for anyone.  Most were made using four to five ingredients which could be grown or purchased online.  I do question the idea of taking comfrey internally as mentioned in the book.  Overall it had good information for any woman interested in natural treatments or care.

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

Weekend Book Reviews

Staged 4 Murder by JC Eaton is the third book in the Sophie Kimball Mystery series.  Phee is hoping to focus on her work at the private investigation company even though her crush has arrived from Minnesota.  Her mom insists on daily updates from the local theater company's production of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap.  Phee's mom and the members of her mother's book club are all taking part.  When Miranda, the lead actress, is found murdered, the suspect list is long.  Miranda was no one's favorite person.  Other members of the cast start receiving threatening notes, Phee and her co-workers are in the middle of another mystery.  I enjoy this series.  Phee's mom is quite a character.  The mystery was strong and kept me guessing until the end.  This is another hit from the husband and wife writing team that are among my favorite authors!


Book two in the Sister Lou Mystery series by Olivia Matthews is Peril & Prayer.  The advent season is nearing, and Sister Lou's congregation is having a retreat at a local resort.  She is tasked with planning the retreat and with  keeping Sister Marianna in line.  Things are not going well when Sister Marianna has a confrontation with the owner over the menu.  When the owner is found murdered, Sister Marianna is at the top of the suspect list.  Sister Lou, her nephew Chris, and journalist Sheri are determined to solve the latest mystery.  Sister Lou is a wonderful cozy heroine.  The mystery kept me guessing up until the end.  I also like the side stories involving Sheri's job and Chris and Sheri.  I look forward to more in this wonderful series!




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

Chocolate Oreo Cake

Lindsay at Life, Love, and Sugar is my absolute favorite cake blogger.  I honestly no longer look at any other cake recipes since I started baking cakes from her recipes.  Now that W no longer has co-workers, I am looking for opportunities to try out new cake recipes.  As delicious as cake is, two people do not need an entire cake.


This past weekend we had Vacation Bible School at our church. Sunday night is always family night with hamburgers and hot dogs.  Every cookout needs desserts, and this was the perfect opportunity to try out Lindsay's Chocolate Oreo Cake.



After two full days of VBS (plus all of the time spent prepping), I did not have piles of patience to completely smooth the icing.  I still think it turned out quite nice.  W is not a big Oreo fan, but he said that the icing was good.  The cake was a hit, and I brought home an empty cake carrier.

Weekly Goals Update: Week 29

1.  Disaster Preparedness
Week 29 was charity.  I have a hard time thinking of myself as not being charitable.  For short term disasters it seems cruel to not be charitable.  Following last year's hurricane, we got power back much earlier than most people.  We opened our home up to family and friends who needed a hot meal, shower, etc.  Living in a small rural community, people are always helping out each other.  Neighbors got together with chain saws to clear roads.  Having extra items on hand to share with those in need is part of daily life.


2.  Makeover the Garden
Last week was hectic here.  W cracked two ribs in an accident in the yard which meant he could not handle mowing.  I mowed our yard yet again, and I also mowed the cemetery at our church.  Add in getting reading for Vacation Bible School, and I had no time for the garden.  The weeds are taking over so my plan this week is to work on those.


3.  Organize Recipes
I did nothing on this goal last week. 


4.  Have 13 No Spend Weeks
I planned to add another to the list last week, but I found discounted milk, chocolate milk, and cereal. 


5.  Focus on Saving
I did not purchase a single thing during Amazon's Prime Days.  I did look at the sale items, but I saw nothing that I needed or even really wanted.  Not shopping is the best way to save money!


6.  Etsy Shop
I definitely did not have time to work on this project.  I am hoping to work on it over the next couple of weeks.

Weekend Book Reviews

Formerly Known As Food by Kristin Lawless explains all of the problems with America's food.  Most of the information should come as no surprise, but the scope of damage is shocking.  I expected for this book to read like a textbook.  The book was enjoyable to read although a bit repetitive at times.  At the end the author offered some "solutions" but no feasible way for them to be enacted.  A system broken due to big corporations and government apathy cannot be fixed by more government involvement.  It does discuss important information regarding the issues facing current and future generations.  Formerly Known as Food was much more enjoyable to read than similar books on the same topic.

Kate Carlisle's twelfth  book in the Bibliophile Mystery series is Buried in Books.  Brooklyn has everything under control for her upcoming wedding and is confident she can also handle presenting at a librarian's convention in town.  She gets a big surprise when her two college roommates show up at the convention.  None of them have seen each other since her roommates argued over a guy in college.  The friends try to one up each other with rare book gifts.  When one of the friends is found dead buried in a pile of books, Brooklyn sets out to find the murderer.  I have read previous books in the series, but it is really not necessary.  This series features a strong female character, and this book is no exception.  It is action packed until the end!

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

Weekend Book Reviews

'Til Dice Do Us Part by Julie B Cosgrove is the fourth book in the Bunco Biddies Mystery series.  I have read the previous books in this series.  While it is not necessary, I highly recommend it.  The residents of Sunset Acres are preparing for a wedding. While decorating for the wedding shower, one of the ladies falls resulting in a trip to the ER.  She overhears a suspicious conversation that has the ladies in the middle of another mystery which threatens the wedding.  I absolutely adore this series and appreciate the subtle religious aspect.  Ms. Cosgrove has written another wonderful, entertaining book which I read in just one day!

Lena Gregory's Murder Made to Order is the second book in the All Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery series.  Gia is finally settling in to her new life in Florida with her breakfast cafe.  She discovers her cafe is in jeopardy due to a zoning regulation.  When Gia discovers the city council leader dead in the woods, she has another mystery to solve.  This book has several side plots, and the mystery had me guessing until the end.  I am already looking forward to book three in the 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 am happy to be back with a thrifty doings post after a break of several weeks.

I often spend time in the garden reading while Toby and his best cat friend, Tucker, play.  I had a decent chair to sit in, but I was longing for a nice lounge chair.  While at a farmer's market/livestock sale, W ran across a metal lounge chair for just $10.  It was missing the screws, which he had, and the cushion, which we did not have.  I had planned to make one out of some fabric and old pillows.  We ended up going to some yard sales the following week and found a perfect cushion for just $5.  I am very happy with my $15 lounge chair.

I dehydrated basil and canned fig preserves.  Both the basil and figs were free from my yard.

I did not buy anything during Amazon's Prime Day sale.  I saw nothing that I needed so it was easy to just skip it.

I had car troubles earlier this month.  We were less than 5 minutes from home when my car just died.  Our neighbor let us use his car dolly, and my uncle helped Warren get it home.  Warren did the repairs himself, and the parts cost less than $40.

With all of the rain this year I have been mowing our lawn at least once a week and sometimes twice a week.  Even with the mower upkeep and fuel, I have saved a pile of money this year.


I took advantage of free shipping from Joann's to order some acrylic paint for a fall project. 


I did end up buying a few groceries.  I got super cheap cereal and discounted milk and chocolate milk.  Otherwise we have been eating from the pantry.

In the Garden: Insects

I have had fennel growing in the garden for a couple of years.  This year we started to see a few black swallowtail caterpillars.  I suspected that the few we saw were being eaten by birds or the chickens.  When we noticed another batch of caterpillars, we covered both of the fennel plants with netting.  So far it seems to have worked as the caterpillars are still there and have grown.  I am hoping for a garden full of butterflies. 

Next year I will make sure to have plenty of fennel in the garden and netting handy to keep the caterpillars safe.

My garden is also visited by piles of dragonflies.  This one posed so perfectly that I was happy to have my camera handy for a photo.

In the Garden

It has been a few weeks since I shared pictures of the garden.  The pears have really grown.  We are still on track for a wonderful harvest this year.

I was not able to get into the garden for a couple of days.  Unfortunately hornworms got into the tomatoes and peppers.  The chickens happily ate the worms I plucked off.  I only had one tomato plant that was severely damaged, but I am hoping it will sprout back out.

At least two of my mystery tomato plants are yellow pear.  These are easily my favorite tomato!

I used old tobacco stick to stake up many of my tomato plants as well as some twine.  Using what I had on hand was much cheaper than buying more tomato cages.  Most of the tomato beds resemble a jungle as the plants are so big.

The bell pepper plants are starting to produce.

I am fairly certain that these are blueberry tomatoes.  I got very few off of last year's plants, but the ones this year are loaded.

The cucamelon vines are out of control.  Next year I will plant them where they can run along the fence.

I was excited to finally spot some of the tomatillo "lanterns".  The bees have been all over these plants, and I am hoping for a good harvest.

I am thrilled at how well the raspberry plants have done this year.  They are still loaded and blooming.  We tend to just eat them fresh although I did make a jar of jam.

Stop back by tomorrow to see a few insects in my garden!

On the Farm

I thought everyone might enjoy an update on the feathered members of our little farm.  First up the quail.  They share the large flight pen with the pheasants.  For a few weeks we had trouble with the quail getting out even though they never really went anywhere.  They are finally staying put in their area and are quite tame now.  They happily eat birdseed out of my hand each evening.

Our turkey family has expanded.  We have four grown turkeys, three "teenage" turkeys, and eight baby turkeys.  We did have six "teenage" turkeys, but three were killed one night a few weeks ago.  We are pretty sure we trapped the culprit - a possum - earlier this week.  He was taken far away from our property.

Frank & Whitey

Wanda & Rebecca with Wanda's two babies

The "Teenagers"

Finally are our newest chickens.  They are big enough to be on the ground now.  We combined the Polish and the Mille Fleur back together for now although eventually they will have separate areas.

This is Penelope, our free chicken.  We are unsure exactly what kind she is.  She is so sweet and will sit calmly in my lap.  

Weekly Goals Update: Week 28

1.  Disaster Preparedness
Week 28 was pandemic preparedness.  I sort of think of this one as the need to be quarantined either to prevent the spread or prevent catching it.  I am not a complete germophobe, but W and I never share illnesses.  Even the year he got swine flu, and the doctor's office tried to schedule me an appointment for several days after his since they assured me I would catch it from him.  Nope, did not happen.  I keep a scary amount of disinfectant spray on hand and a variety of medicines - over the counter and home remedies.  I actually prefer to avoid going into town when there are outbreaks of the flu, viruses, etc. during a normal year. 

2.  Makeover the Garden
I spent a couple of mornings last week adding supports for the tomatoes, tomatillos, cucuamelons, and cantaloupes.  I have a garden post scheduled for later this week.  With recent rains, the weeds are once again out of control.  I have so many other things going on this week that the garden may take a backseat.  I do need to find a bit of time in the evenings for weeding.  I also want to dehydrate some oregano.

3.  Organize Recipes
I actually spent some time on this goal last week.  I put a few recipes into my cookbook and tossed some paper ones that I either no longer used or could not see myself cooking.  I also deleted a bunch from my Pinterest boards.

4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
I stuck to my budget last week, and I am hoping to skip the grocery store for our groceries.  I do need to pick up a few things for church, and I budget separately for that.

5.  Focus on Saving
My focus for the next couple of months is going to be using up what I have.  I have plenty of stuff and need to use it up.  This is mainly in regard to food items, makeup, and craft supplies.

6.  Etsy Shop
I expect adding any additional items will have to wait until next month.  I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with other things at the moment. 

Weekend Book Reviews

Stuffed! by Marlena Kur is all about edible food boats.  Everything from avocado to zucchini is covered in this book.  I found a recipe in every section that I wanted to try.  I admit my favorite might be the s'more stuffed sweet potato which includes chocolate, marshmallows, and crushed graham crackers.  A close second is the shepherd's pie potato boat.   The pictures are lovely and tempting.  This is a fun cookbook that offers something for everyone!

Storey's Guide to Raising Rabbits by Bob Bennett is the fifth edition of this particular book.  This book is more focused on farm raised rabbits than pet rabbits.  I suspect the author would not be happy with how I raise my rabbits. I disagree that rabbits should stay in small cages.  I would also have liked to see more information on distinguishing between male and female rabbits.  It offered good information for beginners, but I was disappointed at the lack of in-depth information.

Malcom T Stanford and Richard E Bonney are back with the second edition of Storey's Guide to Keeping Honey Bees.  I found this book to offer very basic information.  I would have been happier to see more varied information.  I got the impression that the authors had concrete ideas and stuck to those.  Maybe this is common among beekeepers.  I like to read about all of the options and make my own decisions.  The textbook style was hard for me to read, but that is a personal grievance.  This is a good starter book on beekeeping.

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.

Weekend Book Reviews

Weekly Goals Update: Week 27

1.  Disaster Preparedness
Week 27 was emergency light.  As far as my goals for this, I have added solar lights and a hand crank lantern to my list.  I am not interested in making animal fat candles, but night vision goggles would be fun but not practical for the budget.  Instead I am going to keep my eyes out for a good price on the non-battery options.  I also keep our rechargeable batteries charged up. 


2.  Makeover the Garden
I did very little in the garden last week aside from picking herbs, cucamelons, tomatoes, and peppers.  I did plant some more pumpkin seeds.  We also pulled up the cornstalks and hung them to dry.  This week I need to do some weeding and stake up the younger tomatoes.  I also need to add more area for the cantaloupe and cucamelon plants to climb.  Both are starting to crowd the tomatillo plants.  I also need to start thinking about the fall garden.


3.  Organize Recipes
Nope, it did not happen last week.  I have a full list of chores for this week and will not work on my recipe books.


4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
I skipped grocery shopping last week.  That brings my total to eight no spend grocery weeks.  I do need to pick up a few items this week but plan to stay well within my budget.


5.  Focus on Saving
I baked bread.  We ate leftovers.  We used items on hand for projects.  I sorted through some stuff we no longer use that can be sold.  The past two weeks were all about the little things.


6.  Etsy Store
I have opened my Etsy shop:  Chick-a-D Designs.  Unfortunately I was not able to work on any items to add to it.  That will be on my list for later this week if I get some down time.  I know it is going to take time to build it up, and I am happy to have at least gotten started.

Weekend Book Reviews

Doodled Cats by Gemma Correll is an excellent book for the cat lover in your life.  I consider it more a fun book to read rather than a book to teach you to draw cats.  The instructions for doodling are few and basic.  It does include plenty of ideas for those who are artistically inclined.  It is a lovely cat focused book and would make a great gift.

Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot by Sarah Osborne is the first book in the Ditie Brown Mystery series.  Ditie (short for Aphroditie) is a pediatrician in Atlanta.  She does not hesitate to take in a flighty friend's children for a few days.  When her friend is murdered, Ditie finds herself guardian of the two children who seem to be sought by the their mother's murderer.  This book was full of action with more excitement than a normal cozy mystery.  The characters were strong, and the mystery had me guessing until the end.  If you like thrillers but want to skip all of the gore, this is a wonderful book!


Lynn Cahoon's Rockets' Dead Glare is a short novel in the Tourist Trap Mystery series.  Jill, owner of Coffee, Books, and More, is preparing for the 4th of July weekend.  The holiday is uncertain for all of the businesses when the volunteer fire chief threatens to shut down all of them for noncompliance with the fire codes.  When the fire chief is found dead during a training burn, three suspects are the focus of the investigation.  This is a short story, but it still packs everything needed to make it an exceptional one.  I enjoyed the quick, holiday themed read. 


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

Weekend Book Reviews

Murder with Cinnamon Scones by Karen Rose Smith is the second book in the Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series.  Daisy is busy getting ready for a quilter's weekend while running her tea garden.  Her friend and employee, Tessa, is dating another local business owner who seems quite secretive.  When he is found dead, Tessa is the number one suspect.  Daisy sets out to clear Tessa's name.  The tea room setting is lovely and makes me wish I could visit the tea garden.  The characters add to the charm of this series, and I look forward to many more books.


Krista Davis' latest book in the Domestic Diva series is The Diva Cooks Up a Storm.  Sophie plans for a beach vacation seem like they will be sidelined by a hurricane, but she has a pop up dinner party to look forward to attending.  The following morning things take a drastic turn when one of the attendees ends up dead.  This same man had recently asked Sophie to help him check his food for poisons.  Now amid the aftermath of a storm, Sophie and her friends team up to solve the mystery.  I loved this southern themed mystery.  The idea of a neighborhood cookout following a storm is all so true.  I think everyone has an annoying (bossy, almost perfect) Natasha in their life.  I look forward to going back to read some of the previous books in this series.


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

Weekly Goals Update: Week 26

1.  Disaster Preparedness
Week 26 is the second part of emergency sanitation.  Reading over the suggested list I noticed one of the points was having a two week supply of toilet paper.  I generally have at least a month's supply.  I guess I take for granted that people live closer to stores than I do.  A quick trip to the store (other than Dollar General) means an hour drive round trip.  Going to town more than once a week annoys me to no end.  I prefer to stock up for normal life which translates into emergency preparedness to an extent.


2.  Makeover the Garden
I did not get the pie pumpkin seeds planted last week.  The area I wanted to plant them is just not going to work. This week is plan B:  find a new spot.  I am harvesting tomatoes and cucamelons daily.  I will be doing a garden update this week to show how great the cantaloupe are growing.


3.  Organize Recipes
I printed out a couple of recipes that I use regularly.  This week I want to order some page protectors and start back on my books.  I need to toss a few more recipes I no longer use or have replaced with better recipes.


4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
I am seriously hoping to skip grocery shopping this week.  I have zero interest in shopping right now.


5.  Focus on Saving
I made foods for a family reunion using what I had on hand.  I used coupons to get a good deal on cat litter. 


6.  Etsy Store
My Etsy store is called Chick-a-D Designs. I currently have stationery mainly, but I am working on adding some crochet items to the store.  My goal for this month is to add eight additional items.