Tag: cooking homemade meals
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Solstice Night
Now comes the time of the holiday season when I veer between rash, “Christmas comes but once a year” decision-making and “nope, I’m done” cost-cutting. This week, I had to chart a course through the middle, as I still had gifts to buy, and I had to start planning for hosting Christmas Eve. I should…
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The Last Harvest of the Year
Last week we had some frigid nights, with the mercury dropping to 17 degrees F. I was still recovering from being sick and figured the broccoli, carrots, etc. in the garden would be OK. But yesterday (Saturday), we were staring down a Winter Storm Warning that promised three to five inches of snow. So I…
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2025 Garden Totals
The 2025 garden totals are in! I’m pleased; this was a decent haul in a smaller garden compared to 2023. (I didn’t really garden in 2024.) My fenced-in garden is about 8 ft by 6 ft, so 48 square feet. In addition I had some large pots near the driveway for carrots, potatoes and herbs.…
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Wintry Walks & More Thrifting
I really needed this weekend. I was practically skipping home on Friday, so glad the work week was done. Work was extremely busy; at home I was pulling single-parent duty Sunday through Tuesday while Tom and T went to Green Bay for the Eagles game. I worked from home Monday and Tuesday. N and F…
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Calm Before the Storm
Sitting here getting my grays covered up and my hair cut, ahead of my work trip to Arizona. I leave next Sunday. Trying to enjoy fall in New Jersey before heading to the desert. However, we’ve got a nor’easter blowing in today, so we can’t do much outside. The worst of it will be tonight…
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The Suburban Semi-Rural Sweet Spot
I have been watching a lot of homesteading videos. I’ve never been one to sit and watch YouTube, but in an effort to stop doom scrolling on my lunch break, I looked up the videos of More Than Farmers, an Ohio family I follow on Instagram. I have since watched quite a few of their…
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The Trying
Lots of crawly friends in the garden this week: The swallowtail caterpillars are growing. And this spider, perhaps a cross orb weaver or spotted orb weaver, built a web between two of the garden posts and now has a tasty treat stored there. Sunsets are creeping earlier and I have to rush into the garden…
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Something Different
Long story but I did not take off Wednesday and worked a full week, and extra hours too. I saw a meme that said, “I’ve been unemployed. I’ve been employed. I advise not being born.” 😂 I’m really excited about my broccoli, Brussels sprouts and baby pumpkin! I have some lettuce sprouting too. I could…
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Summer Reprieve
Wrapping up a very quick trip down the Shore. Getting in the last beach and boardwalk time of the season (maybe, you never know). We stayed one night at the Tahiti Inn, which was serviceable for $240. N, F and N’s friend stayed at the house my parents are renting. Good times with the extended…
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Yass Cream
This week was the opposite of the previous week: chilly and rainy! No complaints here. I was able to bring my fall seedlings outside for extended periods and didn’t have to water the garden. The fall seedlings are really perturbing me. They don’t like hot weather, but they need to go in the ground soon…
Garden State of Mind 