Well, Hello and Merry Christmas

I have been so touched by the comments and e mails many of you have sent me! It has really helped me get through a rough patch, to know that so many of you enjoy and look forward to my posts! I have not died, or worse, went over the deep end and started living a lavish lifestyle. My life has just simply spiraled out of control, and I found myself needing to focus on my family, for a while. Never fear, everyone is doing fine, and as soon as the holidays are over I will be back to share what's been going on in my life. I am also excited to share alot of fun, and uber cheap ideas that I have been knee deep in the last few months. I also want to share ways your can make healthy lifestyle changes, and not kill your budget. Plus, my son made me feel a little guilty the other day, when he asked me with some concern, "Mom when are you going to start blogging again? I liked clicking on your blog, and reading our weekly menu. Then I knew what we were having for dinner!". Apparently, he hasn't realized it has been hanging on the fridge, written on a piece of.....PAPER!

I want to wish you all a VERY HAPPY HOLIDAYS, and look forward to catching up with all my FABULOUS bloggy friends, after the New Year! I love you all, you are a great inspiration to me!

History Always Repeats Itself

As I was hanging this particularly LARGE  load of "delicates" outside to dry this afternoon, I was struck by the thought....

That "History is destined to always repeat itself!".

P.S. Can you tell that I live in a predominately male household?

Happy Birthday To Me!

Today is my Birthday. I am not really a huge fans of birthdays. Mainly because I don't like being the center of attention. Plus, each birthday seems to bring a few more wrinkles, another pound or two to my posterior, and comments from my children about how I am now middle aged. (Cheeky Little Devils). I am trying to be more positive and gracious about Birthdays. I suppose that each birthday means that maybe I have gained a little more experience, a little more wisdom, and a little more gratitude. Maybe it just means I get to pick the flavor of the cake (and no I do not want a Barbie cake, Star Wars cake, Neon Funfetti cupcakes, or a Motorcycle Riding Up A Hill cake. Just a nice Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting will be fine), or that my children will refrain from from squabbling, or being cheeky for one day (or maybe not).  There have been broadly dropped hints about fabulous (well thought out) presents by my Dear Hubby, and that has my intrigued! It really doesn't matter, it just makes my feel good that my family cares enough to hint about presents, and maybe a birthday dessert I don't have to make.

The best present of all, though, is that I now have 102 FABULOUS FOLLOWERS here at Tightwad Mom's. You all are the most wonderful Bloggy Friends a girl (middle aged or otherwise) could ask for! I consider you all great friends, and I ADORE reading your comments (So don't be shy! Let me know what you think!). Your comments are the high point of my day. Thank you all  for becoming followers, so that I could reach my goal of 100 faithful readers by my Birthday. It really means a lot to me that you are all so willing take a minute out of your busy lives to stop by (some of you every day), and see what going on here at Tightwad Central! I hope that you all have found something here on my blog that has helped stretch your budget a little further. After all, "Tightwads of a feather, really should stick together!"

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!!!

The Camper's Survived!

Dear Daughter and I are back from our week at camp, and I am happy to report that we returned home with the same number of girls we left with!!! Nobody gotten eaten by bears (they were probably scared away by all the giggling and screaming). We did have a skunk wander in one evening (brave soul), but I don't think he stuck around for long. The allure of garbage must have been short lived, once he heard the general who ha of all those girls (318 in total)! We smelt him, but never did see him; which was fine by me. There were quite a number of mosquitoes (there is a pond in the camp). Most of the campers got a few mosquito bites, but nothing serious..........except for me! Apparently, I am the equivalent of mosquito chocolate!

I am also thinking that I may be having an allergic reaction. Needless to say, I am a little itchy. Dear Hubby lost count at 60+ bites on various parts of my anatomy (including my posterior.........OUCH!).

Everyone had a fabulous time. There was lots of singing, games, crafting, eating, giggling, and jumping in the pond. We only got rained on one night, which was wonderful, because we have had pretty much a solid month of rain here. Despite my lack of enthusiasm for living in the wilderness in the beginning, I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

The menfolk also survived my absence. Largely, because the Daddy Bear bought pizza most nights ( I found the remains in the fridge). I made sure the boys got an extra good scrubbing  the night I got home, so they got a good defunking, too. Now, I am trying to clean my house and restore some sort of order.

It's great to be home. I have really missed posting for the last week. I have some great posts bouncing around in my head that I can't wait to share!!

P.S. WOOT! WOOT! 101 readers!!!! What a great surprise to come home to, and there are still 12 days until my birthday. You guys are the best readers ever!!!!

Hello!

 (this picture has nothing to do with the post, but I like posts with pictures. My kids actually stood still for 3 whole minutes while Dear Hubby took this picture, and 3 out of 4 were smiling. That is quite a feat at our house!)

I just wanted to let you all know that I haven't dropped off the face of the Earth. I am just down to five days until I head off to camp with all the lovely young ladies (ages 12 - 17)  from church. You can read about it HERE. So, right now I am in the throws off finishing up the handouts for the dinner time devotionals, organizing camp awards, shopping for enough food to feed 34 hungry people for 3 1/2 days (On a budget, of course. I am the Tightwad Mom, after all!), digging all my camping equipment out of the garage ( kind of like digging for buried treasure), and generally adding more to do's to my list.....daily! My goodness, camping with girls is a lot of work! Apparently, they care if they change their socks, what their hair is going to look like after three days of camping, and they like to be entertained (whittling a stick and skipping rocks in the lake are NOT  considered entertainment. (They much prefer crafty stuff and baking refrigerator biscuits on a stick over the camp fire.)

I also have to think of the crew of boys, Darling Daughter and I will be leaving behind. I must definitely make sure there is easy to heat up food in the fridge and freezer, clean socks and undies in their drawers, and enough toilet paper to get them through until I get back. I don't want them to end up on the neighbor's doorstep begging for a hot meal and/or a roll of toilet paper!!! I definitely don't want them turning their skivvies inside out for a second day of wear!  Crazy men folk!!!

P.S. There are now 98 FABULOUS FOLLOWER here at Tightwad Central! I just have to say that all my followers ROCK!!!! You are the best bloggy readers......EVER!!!! Thanks for supporting all my frugal antics!

Wish me luck! I'm really going to need it. Surviving in nature isn't really my thing. I guess "That which does not kill us, makes us stronger".........unless you get eaten by a bear! Be back soon!

Tell Me What YOU Think!

 (Don't you just love when you can make your child pose for your blog?)

Well, Dear Readers, I have been mulling over the idea of maturing the layout of my blog for awhile now. When I started blogging a year and a half ago, I was basically computer illiterate.  I started this blog to record some of the different ways I recycle, reuse, and make do. I also wanted a venue to record my projects and self challenges (to keep myself on task, so to speak), and a place to put down my thoughts and personality. It has been a slow work in progress, but a very rewarding one.

I never in a bazillion years, thought I would end up having so many great followers and readers! I consider you all Fabulous Friends, and I ADORE when you all leave comments! Your comments make my day!  So, I am asking for your opinions!!! I want to continue to make this blog a place you want to stop by, visit, and MAYBE glean some useful information. Here are my questions:

1. Do you like the new layout? Is it to "Red"? Would you prefer something a little more subdued?
2. What topics, thoughts,recipes, or ideas would you like me to blog about? 
3. Would you be up to joining me in a frugal challenge or two?

Please, FABULOUS BLOGGY FRIENDS,  share your opinions! Even if you have never commented before, I would love to hear from you!

P.S. I have set a little goal to hit 100+ followers by my birthday (which just happens to be July 7th). If  you enjoy your visits here at Tightwad Mom's Frugal Forum, please consider becoming a Follower (and boost my self esteem a little bit)! Thank you, you are all the best readers any blogger could ask for!

Odds And Ends

I just love a Saturday when I can stay home and get some "odds and ends" done.  Those kind of days seem to be few and far between, lately. Today is also a beautiful spring day: warm and sunny!  I am amazed how a sunny day just changes your whole outlook on life.  My Big Boy (Child #1), roto tilled all my garden spaces for me, so this week I can lay out and plant my garden.

 

Don't you just love the Rock my Big Boy decorated us for Christmas this year?  Who doesn't need a rock with their last name on it ?

My little seedlings are enjoying an afternoon basking in the sun! Hopefully, next week I'll be able to plant them in the garden.

I could finally start hanging the laundry outside! The last few attempts have ended up with me frantically scrambling to drag the wet clothes inside before they get rained on.  Followed by my hanging them all over the house to dry.  I haven't put up my official clothes line, so I have improvised for the time being. 

Call me crazy, but I LOVE  watching laundry blowing in the breeze!

I also baked  six loaves of bread this morning . We were completely out. The toast lover's were a little put out this morning! This week I baked Buttermilk Potato Bread and Honey Whole Wheat bread.

I can hear the lawn mower running,  Dear Hubby is deep cleaning our garage (a.k.a. taking a couple loads of garbage to the local land fill. It is free Dump Day at the landfill today), and the baby (Child #4) is creating a "squirrel trap" to go and catch squirrels in the neighborhood park with his buddies. I didn't have the heart to tell him that a squirrel is probably not going to go sit under a card board box propped up with a stick, and eat stale cashews, so you can pull the rope and drop the box on him. Besides, what do you do with an angry squirrel after you catch him?

Is it just me, or is life EXTRA FABULOUS today?  I you are all enjoying a beautiful spring day, as well!

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?

The Children Are Saved!

Ridley's ended up having 12 packs of Coke products on sale for 5 for $14.00 (or $2.80 each). That is not a fabulous deal I have gotten them for $2.00 a 12 pack before, but prices have gone up and I did not have coupons this time. $2.80 each is much better than $3.98 each (which was plan B). Now I can feed my addiction and the children are safe from the bodily harm that may have befallen them if I ended up having to go cold turkey!!

Utilities Saving For January

Tonight was bill paying night. After  paying the bills and having a Pow Wow with Dear Hubby on the State of the Finances, I did a quick comparison of last months utility costs with this month's bills. According to my calculations we saved $8.35 on our electric bill, $6.51 on our water (sewer and garbage) bill, but our gas bill went up $23.56. I was a little bummed out about the increase for the gas bill until I realized that we have had temperatures in the teens and below freezing for the better part of last month. I also compared this month's usage with January 2010 and we used exactly the same amount of natural gas. Last January was much warmer than this year, so that made me feel better. All in all it was not the huge savings I was hoping for, but even a little bit saved is better than nothing at all.
This month I am going to make a better effort to line dry more of our clothes and conserve our water usage. The days are starting to get longer, so maybe we can start using artificial light a little less, too. I guess, "Rome Wasn't Built In A Day", so I guess ginormous utility savings isn't either. 

Ridley's and BiLo's (Associated Food) Deals1/18 - 1/24 ( And A Thought Or Two)

 I know it's been awhile since I posted Ridley's weekly deals. I didn't really grocery shop during the holidays this year. I really relied on the plethora of  meat and veggies residing in my freezer, and pantry basics (not to mention all those home canned goodies I "put up" this summer and fall). Throw in holiday parties, dinners, and bless the fabulous friends and neighbors who kept my family fed the week before Christmas while Dear Daughter recuperated from surgery; and I really didn't need to buy a lot of grocery extras. Now that I am back in the frugal saddle trying to stretch the grocery dollar a little further, so that I can pay down medical bills, perusing the grocery ads has become a necessity, again.

I am a little disheartened, though. I have noticed a trend the last few months. The grocery ads for my local grocery stores are offering fewer sales items each week. Those items that go on sale really aren't a super cheap price, and coupon match ups are not fabulous, either. Pair that with the fact that I am trying to remove most prepackaged and processed foods out of my families diet (cold cereal is still a staple I just have been buying "healthier" options)  has kind of made me revamp how I shop. Ridley's has actually been offering better sales prices than either Smith's or Albertson's, lately. So, I will be going back to posting the weekly deals, if only for my benefit. Here are this week's deals:

• Quaker Cereal (Life, Oatmeal Squares, Capt'n Crunch) $1.89 each
• 2 liter Pepsi products $.93 each
• W.F. (4oz) Diced Chilies 2 for $1.00
• Dole (12 oz) frozen 100% Orange or Pineapple Juice concentrate 4 for $5.00
• Old Orchard (12 oz) frozen  100% Juice Blend concentrate 5 for $5.00
• Libby (12 pack) canned Corn, Green Beans, and Peas $6.00
• Fresh Pineapple $.79 pound
• Broccoli or Cauliflower $.79 pound
• Hunts (26 oz) cans of Spaghetti sauce 11 for $10.00
• American Beauty (12-16 oz) packages of pasta 11 for $10.00
• Kraft Macaroni and Cheese (4 pack) $2.32 each ($.58 per individual box)
• W.F. Cream of Mushroom or Chicken soup $.69 each
• Tillamook (5 pound) brick of Medium Cheddar Cheese $11.95 ($2.39 per pound)
• 10 pound box of Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts $13.95 each ($1.39 pound)
• Boneless Country Style Pork Ribs $1.79 pound
• Tide (100 oz) Laundry Detergent $9.69 each
• Sauve (15 oz) Shampoo or Conditioner $.88 each

Harper's Home Made Bread (White, Honey Wheat, and Bran) are still 4 for $5.00. A little heads up for any couponers. Ridley's no longer accepts internet coupons, but still accept regular manufacturer's coupons.

I'm just curious, have the local grocery stores in your area changed their sales tactics, as well?

Sometimes..............

Sometimes it takes a couple of really great friends to kidnap you, and make you take a night off!

Sometimes they just need to make you stop loading the dishwasher........and yelling at the kids..... and whisk you away from everyday monotony.

Sometimes you just need to break into your secret stash of cash that you've been saving for a rainy day to pay for the movie ticket (at the second run theater).

Sometimes you just need to sit in a dark theater with your buddies.....and sip Diet Coke........and eat movie theater popcorn....... and laugh........and laugh.........LAUGH!

Sometimes that is all it takes to make you realize that life is wonderful, again..............and that you are REALLY LOVED!!!!!!

What I Spent My Christmas Money On

Every year I save any Christmas money or gift cards that I get to spend on the after Christmas sales. I am very boring when it comes to spending Christmas or Birthday money. I always seem to spend it on something I want or need, but can't bring myself to buy out of the regular family budget. This year I received a $30.00 gift card to Bed, Bath, and Beyond from my employer. I also received $20.00 in cash in a card, and returned a pair of dress boots that weren't my size for another $15.00 dollars (Child #2 accompanied Dear Hubby on the after Thanksgiving Day sales, and scored the boots for 50% off. I believe, I see another Tightwad in training.....I am SO proud). My grand total to spend was $65.00. I needed a second calendar, and I found one (with cute pictures that I can frame after I am done using the calendar) for 50% off at the mall. The final cost for the calendar was $6.00. I dropped my pizza stone on the floor and broke it into several pieces, earlier this year. I have been making pizza on my cookie sheet, but it is just not the same. I found a new pizza stone at Bed, Bath, and Beyond for $14.99. I have really needed new bathroom towels for a long time, but I have been making due. You can see through most of mine, at this point!  I consider towels an investment purchase (the last time I bought towels was probably 8 years ago). I never have good luck with cheap towels. They always shrink up funny, they aren't as absorbent, and they tend get get holes in them fairly quickly, too. A decent towel that will last for years are about $10.00 a piece. I lucked out today at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. They had some really nice towels on clearance for $5.99 each (regularly $9.99 a piece). I bought 5 bath towels and 2 hand towels ($4.59 each) for total of $39.13 ( $34.13 after I used a coupon for $5.00 off your total purchase). Today's shopping spree cost me $55.12. I am so excited to have fluffy towels, again. The best part is there are few dollars leftover. Maybe I'll hit happy hour at Sonic for a Diet Cherry Coke to celebrate!

It's My Blogiversary Today!

I can not believe that it has been a year since I started blogging! I give full blame to my Dear Sister In Law, who after many months of cajoling, finally convinced me to take the plunge! I really didn't believe that anyone would care one iota about what I had to say. I am just a silly gal, after all, who has made frugality a bad habit.........mostly out of necessity, but partly just for the fun of it! I am amazed that in the past year I have made so many fabulous new bloggy friends, from all over the world, and have had over 25,000 hits!
So, thank you Dear Friends for supporting my humble blog, and especially all of you who leave comments! I enjoy reading everything you have to say! You are all FABULOUS!! I have thoroughly enjoyed my blogging experience this past year (dare I say, it has become the high point of my day).  Hopefully, something I have blogged about has helped make your lives easier.

Since, it is the Christmas Season, here are some holiday posts from last year that many of you may not have read. With any luck, they may give you an idea or two!

• Candy Bar Snowmen
• Decadent Cocoa
• Eggnog French Toast
• Holiday Tablecloth Recycle 

For those of you who are new to Tightwad Mom's Frugal Forum, or are just wondering why I started blogging you can read about it HERE! Once again, THANK YOU ALL for your support!

Anatomy Of A Frugal Christmas Tree

  

(This is what happens when a Charlie Brown tree gets it's BLING on!)

 Every year Dear Hubby and I argue over real vs. a fake Christmas tree. When we bought our house, the person we bought it from sold us his Christmas tree for $50.00.  The tree is 8 feet tall (we have a vaulted ceiling in our living room), and it would not fit into the smaller home he had just bought. We used that artificial tree for 10 years (he had used for 10 before that), but sadly the tree is on it's last leg. It's an some assembly required  project. It's kind of like a Christmas tree jigsaw puzzle. Each row of the tree limb were color coded. I say were, because, the colors have worn off or faded until they ALL look the same. One year I tried to recolor them with Sharpie markers, but that all rubbed off quickly. So, now it just "Russian Roulette". If you follow the picture diagram included, and you argue with your spouse for two hours if those are the red or orange limbs, the tree might come out looking normal, or it might not. Then there was the problem of the branches just popping out of their allotted slots at any given time and falling on the floor. This freaks out the dog who was sleeping under the tree, sending her into with corner with a nervous tick!  This also freaks out the stressed out Momma, and sends her into the corner with a nervous tick, too! Needless to say, two years ago, I made the corporate decision to retire the tree. I have been on the look out for the past two after Christmas sales to buy a new tree on clearance, but so far I have been unsuccessful! :(

The last two years we have had a live tree. We are lucky to live in a semi rural area. We can purchase a tree permit for $5.00 from the U.S. Forest Service. Dear Hubby and the kid's have been making an after Thanksgiving trek into the woods to find our Christmas tree. Dear Hubby's brother lives on the way to the place designated to cut our tree, so sometimes his family buys a permit and tags along too. Sometimes Grandpa tags along to offer advice. There is the cost of the gasoline we use to drive to where the tree is cut (about 40 miles from where we live), but they always stop and visit Dear Hubby's brother's family, and they are making family memories. I consider it money well spent. Now that you know way more about my Christmas tree adventures than you ever wanted to know, I will get back on track!

Artificial Christmas trees are definitely an investment purchase. You want to buy something you will be happy with for along time, and will hold up to some wear and tear. After Christmas clearance sales are a great way to find a cheaper Christmas tree. I have been going that route, because Dear Hubby is a MAJOR Christmas tree connoisseur . He is very finicky about the style and general "bushiness" of artificial trees; hence, my lack of success on the clearance sales.  I have also seen lovely trees at consignment shops, and thrift stores. Yard sales, Craig's List, and the classified section of you newspaper are other resources for finding a good used Christmas tree.

Decorating your tree can be a budget buster, too. I have been lucky, because my Dear Sweet Grandma started a tradition when my siblings and I were little. She would deliver a home made Christmas ornament for each grandchild along with our Christmas gifts. The theory behind this tradition was that at some point we would all grow up and go out on our own. When the time came we would have ornaments to put on our own Christmas trees. Grandma was a very wise woman! I was the only granddaughter, so I ended up with a bevy of  angel and pink themed ornaments. My mother carries on the tradition now for her own grandchildren. Each year  I alternate themes. One year I use our homemade ornaments. The next year I decorate with glass balls (bought on Christmas clearance for $.75 a box), snow flake ornaments (Dollar Store purchase) and candy canes (grocery store purchase). Dollar Stores are great resources for ornaments and garland. They are especially great for finding cheap filler ornaments. After Christmas clearance sales are also a treasure trove for ornaments and decorations, you can get very nice decorations for super cheap! Thrift stores are another great resource, too. I  have found boxes and brand new ornaments at thrift stores for $.50 to $1.00. Some are new and never been opened.

Making your own ornaments is another great option. The second Christmas we owned our house I was in the mood to create a themed tree, but we were on a very, VERY tight budget that year. My two oldest children were 5 and 2, and I was pregnant with Child #3. One afternoon, I invited my neighbor and her little kid's( who was also on a tight budget) to come over an make ornaments with us. First walked over to the common area in our neighbor that was loaded with pine trees. We gathered pine cones and brought them home. We painted the pine cones with craft glue and sprinkled them with white, silver, and gold glitter. After they had dried we attached Christmas ribbon to the fat end of the pine cone with a gold thumb tack. We also whipped up a batch of Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments.  Since I was going with a cabin theme I cut out fish, mouse, and lob cabin shapes. My friend used bell, angel, and star cookie cutters. We also whipped up a few Reindeer ornaments, too. Our little kid's had so much fun helping the Mommies make Christmas ornaments, and we use items we had salvaged from around our house. Oh my, I seem to be in a Reminiscent mood today, I apologize!

A tree skirt is the only thing I ever struggle with. I don't believe I have ever owned one. Every year  I have had good intentions of buying a pattern and  whipping one up on my sewing machine. Of course, that never happens. Then I decide that I will watch for one to go on clearance, but I never do. I have always ended up draping a fabric tablecloth,  an old twin sized quilt, a piece of Christmas fabric (bought on clearance), and this year a crocheted throw (afghan) I rummage out of a clearance bin at Walmart for $5.00. Maybe, I should put "Get Yourself A Decent Tree Skirt" number one on my Christmas To Do List!

Now that your have endured my "Stories From Christmas Past" monologue, hopefully, I have given you some ideas to help you decorate your own frugal Christmas trees! Which do you prefer, a  Live or Artificial Christmas Tree?

Happy Thanksgiving!

The sun is shining today! The storm has blown over, and although the temperatures have plummeted into singledigits, the snow has stopped. Snow really is beautiful when the sun is shining on it! We gave our kid's an early Christmas gift of sleds and waterproof gloves (the kid's have been previously wearing mismatched sets of gloves, because like socks, one always gets lost!). They are planning on a grand sledding adventure with the other neighbor kids, as soon as everyone's chores are done. We are lucky that our neighborhood is six blocks (more or less) away from the local municipal golf course. A golf course that is gloriously peppered with hills that are perfect for cross country skiing and sledding. Oh, life's  simple pleasures!

As for myself, I will be doing some holiday prep work and baking today! Our plans of leaving for the Thanksgiving holiday changed at the last minute, do to time, financial, and weather constraints. I am okay with that, because this is the first time in seventeen years that it will be just my little family enjoying the holiday together. I am going to treasure the whole weekend, because my babies are growing up and Child #1 will be leaving the nest soon. The just keep growing up, despite my best efforts. Tomorrow's menu will consist of:

Roast Turkey

Turkey Gravy

Mashed Potatoes

Candied Sweet Potatoes

Stuffing (from a box)

Green beans

Homemade Rolls

Pumpkin and Apple Pie

You can see that I follow the "No Carb Left Behind" rule when it comes to Holiday cooking!

I hope all of my Bloggy friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday! I am very grateful for each one of you! I have made so many lovely friends over this last year. I enjoy and treasure the comments you leave me, and I appreciate your support of my silly little venture! Thank you!!!!!!

ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY EVERYONE!!!

Merry Christmas?

I was going to post this week's specials at Ridley's this morning, but they have not updated their ad. I am assuming that most of last week's specials will continue through the holiday. I had really great intentions this week of getting some shopping,baking, and jelly making done for the upcoming Christmas holiday. This year I am going to be organized and on top of my game the whole holiday season ( If  I say it out loud, it will happen.....right?)!  In fact, I have a daily to do list written and prioritized. Unfortunately (for me, my children are quite happy about it), our region has been blessed with  continual storm fronts for the last 3 days. We are currently under a storm watch and blizzard advisory until 11:00 pm tonight. My children have gotten a much prayed for (by them) snow day.Right now  the state police have cautioned driving only as necessary. We are in the mist of blowing snow (30mph winds), falling snow (2 - 4 inches more accumulation), and icy road conditions. If you have ever been to Idaho or the North Western United States, you will know that you take the weather seriously, because it can turn on a dime!
I had planned on going to Costco to buy a few grocery items (and a Christmas gift or two). Now I am on to plan B. You can not sneakily buy Christmas gifts when your children are with you at Costco. I guess today will be all about snow clothes, hot chocolate, and keeping the peace amongst the citizens here in Barretpotamia! Maybe, a little jelly making and house cleaning will get done, too. Anyway, I thought I'd share some of our snow storm with you (at least through photos)!

 (it really is pretty if you don't have any where to go)

 (here's are total accumulation, so far)

 ( Here's Child #1's pride and joy. He is very sad that he is not allowed to drive today because of the nasty conditions)

 (it beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in my neighborhood)

(this picture doesn't do it justice, but the wind is blowing so hard it is coming down sideways)

(it just keeps getting snowier and snowier)

 This is the first time I can remember in years that we have had a White Thanksgiving. Maybe this storm is a blessing in disguise? I'll have to get back to you on that!!