Let's keep it real

Prices continue to rise but we can still keep it real. That's my goal. And I believe it to be very possible.

Local Nourishment has a great post on this, full of links to give you more ideas. It can be done! And then I want to point you to Storybook Woods who will show you how to do it with class!!! I'll be making her Roasted-Garlic Pumpkin Humus, only I don't have pumpkin. I really don't think it will be a problem. I'll just roast some squash! We all like humus, but my oldest has a love for the creamy dip! And all that garlic will be good for him as he's trying to recover from the flu.

Last night we had two large homemade pizzas that were, oh, so yummy! They only cost us $4.50. That's 75 cents a person. We might just have to implement a regular pizza night!

A new Bible verse

While putting Zeke down for his nap, he was reciting some of Bible verses for me. He recited his new one this way...."All we like sheep, have gone to the fair." :)

Food Budget Inspiration

I'm simply out perusing blogs trying to find some new ideas and motivation to keep the grocery budget in check. I thought I'd share them with anyone who might be reading here. And this post will serve as a reference for me.

I enter a state of shock every time I walk into a grocery store. I guess its just my personality. I never get over it. I'm sorely missing my garden vegetables! I didn't realize how much they were saving me. Which reminds me, I need to get out there and plant a bunch of garlic.

30 Bucks a Week This lady appears to be an excellent cook. I'm not seeing any "cheap" food here, lots of interest and variety using whole foods.

I like her cookbook list which features books by Mark Bittman and Alice Waters.

Sugar Crafter I'll show this to my husband and I'll just bet I'll be getting a Pumpkin Spice Latte! Sounds so yum!

TasteSpotting Just another new-to-me food blog. So many options!

Seven Spoons Oh, so many good looking recipes and cookbooks! The chutney looks incredibly scrumptious and the brussel sprouts call my name.

While browsing around I ran into a lot of articles that I remember reading a few years back about the Food Stamp Challenge. Basicly, people spent a dollar a meal per person. Even politicians gave this a try. Actually, this is quite standard in our home. This is my goal. I know other moms who spend less than this. I was visiting with one just yesterday. She has 3 times the children I do (Yes, that's 12 children that she is blessed with!) and she was sharing some of her techniques for staying within a budget.

After my little tour I have new inspiration. I'll continue to cook real food on a budget, always trying new recipes and using what is available to us at the time. I'm off to enjoy a hot cup of tea while I read aloud. Maybe a latte this weekend.....

The Charm of Simple Things

My side yard in the morning.

A sweet friend game me this book. She's the kind of friend you can never out give. She is constantly doing so much that it is impossible to "pay her back". She's a mentor to me, a real live mentor. What a blessing! In my homeschooling journey most of my mentors have been online friendships. Women, who I've never met, except at my keyboard, who have taken the time to invest in my life. I'll be forever grateful to those few who have shared their wisdom with me. And now God has blessed me with an "older woman" to encourage, admonish, and, yes, correct me!

My mom has always been there for me. I can't even begin to describe all the ways she has invested in my life. And I realize more every day the heritage that I have been given. It's in me. It's who I am, because of all the hours that she and my dad spent with me. It comes from the home she built for us, the food we cooked together, the clothes she sewed for us, the games we played together. And the list goes on and on. Some things are just part of my fiber. I don't remember learning them. But now I have friends who are learning these things as adults, I don't mean cooking and cleaning, I mean all the lessons my mom taught me as we were cooking, cleaning and playing, just going about our every day lives. And then I realize so much has been given to me by my parents. The life we lived together was a simple life! And I'm so glad.

I found several quotes in book The Charm of Simple Things that I want to take note of.

"You will be surprised by how much of an adventure can enter into ordinary things."
Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Most of us, if we are honest with ourselves, will admit that we live too fast, too erratically, too crudely, and too thoughtlessly. The remedy or antidote for all of this is to live gently."
W. Phillip Keller
Taming Tension

"Simplicity is not just another interior design option. It is also one of the great expressions of Christian faith. Simplicity is devoting our lives to one thing and one thing only--to loving the Lord our God with our whole being and our neighbors as ourselves."
Harriet Crosby
A Place Called Home

Zeke was washing up some dishes tonight, greatly enjoying himself. For some reason when you are little bubbles and water is enough to make doing dishes a delight! He was kind of talking to himself and I could hear in the next room. "You know how long this is going to take me? Years to get this done, all done."
Hmmm...that's how I feel some days. :)

I realize the picture has nothing to do with my post, but I like it anyway.

Kailee Grace

Here she is so fresh from Above!

My baby brother's first baby!

Duties~our joy

No unread emails in your It is wholly impossible to live according to Divine order, and to make a proper application of heavenly principles, as long as the necessary duties which each day brings seem only like a burden grievous to be borne. Not till we are ready to throw our very life's love into the troublesome little things can we be really faithful in that which is least and faithful also in much. Every day that dawns brings something to do, which can never be done as well again. We should, therefore, try to do it ungrudgingly and cheerfully. It is the Lord's own work, which He has given us as surely as He gives us daily bread. We should thank Him for it with all our hearts, as much as for any other gift. It was designed to be our life, our happiness. Instead of shirking it or hurrying over it, we should put our whole heart and soul into it. --James Reed

This quote really blesses my heart, speaks to me. And when I live this way I'm truly content and happy. I feel I experience true joy. I'd much rather enjoy the simple joys of the day to day than live to be ready for the next big adventure. This week (so far) has been one of those weeks. It's a "Grace Week" after being back to our studies for 7 weeks already!. We are still learning a lot but just not while doing our normal lesson routine. We've done extra cleaning, some yard work, odd jobs for the neighbor, etc. Today we made a huge pot of pear butter and also a quart of yummy pear syrup. This afternoon we whipped up a batch of no-bake cookies and decorated a container so that we can deliver them to our neighbor later this evening. Oh, and we've flown kites! It's been perfect weather for successful kite flying and I'm so glad we've taken the time to enjoy it.

I first read this quote in an article in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. Today it appeared in my inbox from Crosswalk.

Gratitude List ~ The Thousand Gifts

#21 ~ chocolate (I was blessed to find these chocolates for only $1.60. All I can say is they do me much good!)
#22 ~ Kailee Grace, she's here, with us, on this earth, healthy and whole!

#23 ~ my little brother, he's a wonderful man and I'm so proud of him. He'll make an awesome father!

#24 ~ my friend who teaches my children art ~ She certainly inspired them this week!

#25 ~ soil ~ I love soil, the texture, the scent, the life it holds.

#26 ~ Indian spices, make simple food so very yummy!

#27 ~ The Arts, I'm by no means educated in them, but every little bit that I learn enriches my life and opens up new avenues of joy.