Hello Bloggy Friends!

Hello, everyone! Never fear, I have not dropped off the face of the Earth, and nothing catastrophic has happened here in Barrettpotamia (for which I am grateful)! I have just had a very, very, VERY busy month. The old adage "Biting off more than you can chew" has been very pertinent in my life, lately. April has consisted of four birthdays, one anniversary (twenty one years, thank you very much), numerous church committee meetings ( I have found myself the new coordinator of activities for our church's ladies organization and I have been volunteered to be Assistant Camp Director for this summer's Church girl's camp), baking for our Church's annual Cake Auction ( two cheesecakes and a gift basket of home made salsa), teaching a class on Square Foot Gardening, and throw in work and the worst cold in the history of colds (total duration 22 days of misery), for good measure. I have been left with very little time to do much else. In fact, at one point I even debated giving up blogging.  However, several dear, sweet readers voiced their concern over my lack of activity in the blogosphere, and that really touched me!  Thank you!!! Then I realized how much I LOVE blogging, and how much I have missed it, and ALL OF YOU!  Plus, if I am not blogging about my ventures in frugality, I find it much harder to maintain my lifestyle. You see, fabulous readers, you have been keeping me honest and on my toes! Oh, how I have been tempted to serve meals on paper plates, and stop at the drive thru  this month! Now though, it seems I have some breathing room, again. Of course, the next couple of month's will still be busy, and some posts may be short and to the point, but "This too, shall pass"..........right?

Never fear, though! I have been keeping my frugal nose to the grind stone most of the time! I still have found time to:

 Start this year's garden plants. I have discovered using a small black plastic shelf  absorbs the heat from the sun and helps the seedlings to grow. The shelf  is also portable so it can be taken apart and stored with the rest of the planting supplies for next year.

This year's tomato plants are coming along nicely.

So are the pepper plants. Can any one say SALSA?

Continue baking from scratch. I have expanded the hamburger bun experiment to include hot dog/ brat buns,too.

Incorporate more fruits and veggies into our diet. Bless Bountiful Baskets (check their website. Bountiful Baskets has been expanding, and they may now be in your area). Unfortunately, my menu planning has been lacking lately. This week I am back on the wagon with a written menu ( I will post it soon).

Well, there it is in a nutshell! I am a crazy women, but crazy isn't alway bad..........right?