This weekend I got my girls!! 4 of them to be EXACT!!! Rhode Island Reds. Our mission was to head out and find us some baby chicks.. we looked everywhere for layers.. because the waiting for eggs was going to KILL us.. I know... Patience .. Patience.. but I really wanted to see results.

We found a local gal who had baby chicks for sale.. but when we went.. she sold them all.. and was anticipating more this coming week.. My friends hubby piped up and asked if she was willing to sell some layers... she stood for a moment and said.. "sure".. I'll sell you 4 Rhodes... both of them looked at me.. and I said.."sure.. let's do it"...

As you'll notice one of the Rhode's mated with some"other" breed... The kids have called her Vanilla.. but my friend HAD to have her cause she was different... I stuck to the full breeds..
I won't lie.. it's a LOT of work.. the hen house was easy for us as we had an existing shed.. we transformed it for a house for our girls.. we made nesting boxes.. and a roost for them.. their pen is BIG.. and they seem VERY happy...

I have to admit something.. when the lady handed us the chickens.. she had them upside down.. and told us to becareful not to hold them in such a way that we would break their legs... I couldn't do it.. I was to afraid I would break it's legs.. so my friends 12 year old daughter was BRAVE enough to carry my chicken for me... Ü I'll feed them.. take care of them.. but touching them is something I'll have to get use to!!!

On another note.. my daughter got her prom dress!! Prom is in a couple weekends.. and I'll give you a sneak peek at what she bought.. pictures of her in it later will come...

Here's what I'm reading now... I was asked what I did with all the books I read.. Well.. being as frugal as I am.. I have to tell you all my books come from the library.. as fast as I read books.. I couldn't justify buying all of them... however if I did own all of them.. I would share them.. I think reading is AWESOME!! These past two weeks here in New England have been GORGEOUS outside.. so I've been getting up earlier.. and sitting outside to read.. and at night.. I Read for hours.. I'm NOT a TV person.. and rarely chit chat on the phone.. so my extra time I spend reading.. I know.. I'm a nerd.. if you told me when I was a kid I had to read... I would have laughed at you.. I was to busy playing outside.. This is the third book in the series.. I think someone else is reading them along with me.. because I've had to put these on reserve.. It's really GOOD!!

**** WANNA WIN A BEAUTIFUL QUILT****???

Well head on over to Simplify... oh my goodness!! her quilts are DEVINE!! I'm a quilt junky... so I had to put my name in... if you head on over and put your name in.. will you tell her that I sent you???? Pretty Please!! Her quilting is exquisite!!! and so detailed... you won't be sorry that you peeked... and thank you to Wendy who linked me to her!!

I know it's not winter now.. but this WWII poster stuck in my mind.. because before we know it.. winter will be on us again.. And with the rising food costs and oil costs... gosh! We have to start preparing now!.. yet again...

One of my favorite passions is yardsaling and finding cool finds.. but with gas prices.. I'm wondering how far I will be limited to go this summer...I don't want to waste my $ just to look for deals...

This weekend though I got a call from a friend who was doing a yardsale and her house with other co-workers.. she said I had to get there "NOW".. So I popped on over.. and and WOW!! The vintage stuff that was there.. was CRAZY!! I LOVE IT!! I'm a sucker for vintage materials... and my heart soared when I found table clothes!! I found many other dish towels and such and I found the CUTEST cupboard liners!! I paid $3 for my whole lot of items...I really couldn't go wrong!


The middle table cloth is really my favorite.. My dining room table is a big farm table so it's to small to adorn there the way I would like it too so I'm just going to have to come up with some other ideas for them!!
Are these NOT the cutest?? I got several packages of each!! I do NEED to re-do my kitchen.. so maybe these will give me some inspirations! I hate messes.. so knowing me... I'll sit on these ideas for a few months before I do it..And what I'm reading now!

I tilled our garden yesterday... WHAT A CHORE... we began in a spot where there has never been a garden.. we tilled.. and tilled.. and dug rocks out.. and for a moment there was a HUGE plastic bag buried in the underground... I decided that I was NOT going to be the one to bring it to the top of the surface for fear.. there might be a body in it.... seriously!!! So.. now we wait.. and keep playing with the soil and keep pulling rocks out!!

This past weekend I put a little gift together for my friend Beth.. her hubby brought me 18 loaves of FREE bread from his place of work.. they were going to throw them away because they were labeled WRONG.. imagine!! UGH.. so I wanted to say THANK YOU to them for thinking of us!! So I made Lemon Bars!!
I got the recipe from HERE and I have to tell you.. these were NOT the best ones I had ever made.. they were good... but I do have a better recipe somewhere lying around.. I was to lazy to find it.. so I cheated and jumped on the internet to save time...

This is what I put together to give her... It's so easy and FRUGAL too... I used an old Clementine box.. painted it with pink..a reusable GLASS bottle ( I hate plastic).. that I made my own label for.. a BAG of chocolate.. why not??.. and some fresh cut flowers... Super easy to make and only cost me few $$



Here are a couple of the things I made up with the Hershey Bliss Chocolates... I decided that I really need *coughcough* a cute cupcake holder!! LOL LOL!!

What I just finished reading!!
This book was an easy read for me.. I read it in about a day... It basically tells us no matter how "good" our lives look.. there's always a need for GOD... sometimes being a Christian we forget that our lives can make a change in a heartbeat..and in order to deal with that.. we have to fully rely on God... it's was a GREAT reminder!!

I was pleasantly surprised on Friday when the Mr. DSL man came to my door and handed me a heavy box.. Of course.. I ran inside to see what was inside.. and I was surprised to see the Hershey Bliss FUN!! Remember my post a little back saying that I signed up to have a "house/host"party to share a companies products!! Well I got picked... and I'm happy to say.. we used all the items last night!! We had a great time!! Here's what I got inside the package!!

15 bags, magnets, pens, notepads, napkins and 9 bags of Hershey Bliss Chocolate... I have to say.. they are REALLY good!!! I'll post more pictures of what I DID with the product tomorrow.. but for now.. I'll share a before picture!



As you all know.. I'm trying to be more frugal and self sufficient.. so a friend and I are starting a garden and going to actually TIL the ground today!! I've been calling it our "Victory Garden" like they did in the 1940's.. Why not? They grew their gardens to help fight the war.. and in all honesty.. we have a war going on now as well.. It might have different angles and views... but it's not much different than it was 60 plus years ago!!

Here are a few of our seedlings already.. I am so excited!! and those of you that live close... prepare your fridges.. you WILL get some!!
Here is an overview of all that we have started!! We moved them outside yesterday to get actual sunlight!!

Here are my mixed green lettuce.. I can't WAIT to chomp into these!!!I love Spring Mix lettuce.. mmm.. let's just hope woodchucks don't like it as much as me!!

Zucchini!!! It's going WILD already!!

The tag on this one says.. Spinach "Yucky".. now come on... just because the stick writer doesn't like it.. doesn't mean he had to insult it.. ha ha ha Here is cukes and more Zucchini.. and you can see our tomatoes growing as well!!!
I can't WAIT!! We have more to plant.. root plants will be grown directly in the ground.. and potatoes as well.. and knowing us.. we'll be running to our local nursery's and buying a few things to help support them too...!! Can't wait to share more pictures of our progress!!

This is my 200th post!! WOW I can't believe I've had this much to say in a little over a year!!

*** Pictures for this post would have been TO GROSS!!***

I haven't blogged for a few days because on Monday I had a meltdown... Literally and figuratively. You know my grand plan of saving money and shopping at "home first" so I don't overspend at the grocery store came to a complete STOP on Monday Morning.... Here's how it went..

Me: "Hey hon can you go down to the freezer and tell me what we have down there"
Hon: "yup.. give me a second"

Little bit later

Hon: "Umm we have NO food down here"
Me: "WHAT? are you blind??? what are you talking about" Hon: "We have no food because the FREEZER HAS BEEN UNPLUGGED"

I ran to the top of the stairs to ask how long.... as soon as I got there.. I didn't have to ASK how LONG... I SMELLED how long....

You must understand.. I LOVE my husband dearly... but in truth we BOTH know who unplugged the freezer to listen to **coughcoughHIScoughcough** sports radio... You know.. "The Dan Patrick show.... on ESPN... radioooooooooo"....

This is not good for me.. all the corned beef I got CHEAP in March.. the big Turkey.. all the marinating boneless chicken.... the bread......... gone... total value lost.. about $400....... the saddest part... I had no control over the issue.. and this surely isn't an easy fix.. the food is gone.. along with the stink.. but my heart still breaks over the matter.... sighhhhhhhhhhh!!
What God takes away.. He gives back differently.... right?? I just have to keep reminding myself of this!

The positive side of this?? My freezer's clean!

*** I wanted to mention that my post below.. has an attachment... that is for a kitchen aide mixer!! Right now they are around $25 and are only made for the mixers whose "heads" tilt back... my mixer doesn't do that.. so I have to wait til August. What this attachment does is SCRAPE the sides of the bowl so you don't have to stop every second and scrape it yourself!! Since my Birthday is in September.. that might be a good gift.. Ü Of course along with a CUTSIE apron!!.. Hey.. a girl can dream!!

Here's what I'm reading...and I'm LOVING IT!! It's about 4 very different women during WWII... This book is really making me think... I have really been "sucked" into the story line and I'm very happy with the way the Author has written in such great detail.. I actually "feel" like I'm standing in a factory at times.. or in someones kitchen... and I was actually laughing during the accidental punch "spike" at a woman's church meeting! If you have enjoyed the other books I have read.. you will REALLY love this one!!

I've spent about two hours this morning reading blogs.. mainly of people I have never read before... Ever done that? And then posted on every single one of them.. to maybe have 1 or 2 people come and check you out...?? I feel that every blog I read deserves a comment of some sort.. As a blogger you truly take time out and share your thoughts.. it kind of reminds me of the journals that you had to keep daily for school.... and that one teacher that ALWAYS commented every post... made me wonder if he actually sat and read ALL of them.. or if he skimmed??? LOL LOL...

Today I'm going to share some of my food cost strategies... I'm sorry if it bores you... :( But I hope it helps some too..! Where I live there are no local CVS or Walgreens unless you drive a half hour away...We do NOT have double your coupon grocery stores... or stores that do BOGO... it's your basic Wal*Mart, which I'm finding are more expensive than our local Market Basket.. and then we have Hannafords! Well.. Hannafords is NICE if you can afford their produce and meats ( which tend to run almost .50cents more than Market Baskets)... Over the line into VT we have a food discount store... This is a hit or miss kind of store.... some of the things can be damaged... or outdated.. so you REALLY have to look.. and you also have to be price "smart".. because sometimes with TAX these items can be more than if I got them locally...

So my trip this past week looked like this..

This is where I get our snacks.. and soups.. and tissues.. and what ever bargains I can find.. no fresh produce or freezer fridge items..

What I spent for ALL of this... $23.00 with tax.. and see the two progresso soups in the middle.. I bought those for my elderly neighbor across the street.. it's her favorite soup.. so I combined some stuff I got for free in couponing and the bread I got free last week and brought it over to her.. she was TICKLED!!

What I paid for it.. and what it cost in the stores..
I am pretty much "guesstimating" what you would pay in the stores for these.. remember I live in New England.. so prices my vary from where you live... What I paid will come first and then store price.

4 Kraft Salad Dressings ( sorry Jayedee)
.25 cents each =$1.00
$7.16
King Arthur bread flour 5lb bag
.99cents
$3.69
Crystal Light
.99 cents
$2.50
2 boxes tissues
.50cents each=$1.00
$1.50
4 Marie Calendar Corn bread mix 1lb bags
.59 cents each=$2.36
This one I'm not sure of.. hubby thinks $2.99/bag
$11.96
2 Progresso soups
.99cents each=$1.98
$1.69=$3.38
4 cans of crushed tomatoes 1-12ounce can
.25cents each=$1.00
.89 cents each=$ 3.56
15 pouches of Kool-Aid
=$1.00
10/$1.00
2 boxes of twizzlers snack
$1.19 each=$2.38
$1.99 each=$3.98
Store brand cookies
.79 each
.99 each
Store brand wafer cookies
.59 each
.99 each
Betty Crocker Cookie Brownie mix
.99cents
$2.69
Vinegar
.39 cents
.59 cents
4 cans of Tuna Fish
.59 cents each =$2.39
$3.96
Sipah Straws ( these were NEW to me)
.99cents
$1.99 guess!
Blueberry box mix has THREE boxes worth in side
$4.39
3 boxes at store @$2.69=$8.07
_______________________________________________
Total Food Store: My Cost $23.23
If shopped at Regular Store:$58.01
Total Savings:$34.78

I also saved using coupons at Market Basket this week.. 3 boxes of Crest toothpaste for $1.50 total and two new Oral B tooth brushes for $1.00 total!!
At Rite Aid
2 boxes of Cereal for $2.00 each
3 Body Washes for $1.50 each
Chex Mix Bags BOGO using coupon

Who knows.. with saving that much.. maybe I can buy this in August when it comes out for MY mixer!!

My next post here might tick some people off... BUT.. I'm not going to apologize for it. You see.. it's about Oprah... you can give me all the song and dance that she provides so much for so many people... and it's true... but here on EARTH we have ONE SHOT to live.... and what we have here we can't take with us when we go. There is only ONE way into heaven.. and My FELLOW Friends it's NOT through OPRAH!! I'm really truly tired of hearing about her.. and the bubble she lives in.

You see.. there is only ONE way to get to heaven... YUP.. one way... it's not through works, deeds, being a "good" person.. because there is no such thing as a "good" person.. and that goes with the saying.. but so and so is a "good" Christian... NOPE.. doesn't fly.. we ALL sin.. We don't DESERVE to go to Heaven... but by God's Grace and the Death of his Son... if we believe and accept that he died on that cross for ALL OF US!! then we're going!! And I have to tell you.. it's pretty EXCITING to know that!



Exodus 20:5 "You shall not bow down to them or worship them;for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God"

This is NOT a jealousy as you or I would have... In this scripture.. Jealousy is ACTUALLY of the vocabulary of Love. The "jealousy" of God is a commandment to follow ONLY HIM and not other "gods"... God will NOT put up with unfaithfulness.. So when He is saying He's "Jealous".. He's saying you need to stop following false teachings and remain by HIS side.. not anyone elses...

I'm sorry lady and gents.. but Oprah is really leading MILLIONS astray to the real truth of the Gospel... I ask you.. Christian or NOT... please do not fall prey to her mouth of spew... and venom.. there are many more people in this world to follow and admire that know the gospel and the truth...

Listen to what she has to say.. and what she is teaching!!


One of my most favorite lines to any Christian song is sung by Casting Crowns.. and the lines says...

"What if families turned to Jesus and stopped asking Oprah what to do"... "What if His people prayed"....

Think about it..

2 Peter 2
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

I'm not asking you to slam the door in Oprah's face... but think about her ways and pray that she will see and FIND the truth instead of leading non Christians astray.. in thinking that they are OK.. with SELF SALVATION... because it's NOT ok... I may never meet any of those of you that read my blog... But it would be wonderful to see you all in Heaven.. that's for sure!!

All is quiet in my house.. the only thing I'm listening to is the hum of my VERY QUIET Washing Machine.... So I'm taking a moment to BLOG without any interruptions.. that is unless the neighbor boys come a knocking on the door.. for the 15th time today!!! Where are my boys you ask ( come on.. I know you're wondering)... Well.... for the next 30 plus days.. this is where my life will be staked out!!
See that little WHITE spot.. that's the batter's mound... the fields really are taken care of quite nicely.. but it's still very DAMP and WET down at our park!! I know this because I found out yesterday.. MAN OH MAN it was sooo nice out and still is today.. ( I'm hanging laundry!! perfect weather)...
My doggie and I have a very vigilant routine when it comes to walking.. it's almost DAILY when the spring air hits.. til the first few snowflakes fall...

My baby girls first sniff in the beginning of a great walking crusade of 2008... NOTICE the NASTY DIRTY FILTHY STINKY WATER that is to the left of the picture...( this info will come in handy later in this post)... and YES.. my dog is NOT on a leash... there were NO other dogs down at the park.. but we are VERY faithful on putting it on while others are around.. for the most part.. she is truly VERY obedient and does NOT like to stray to far away from me.. not to protect.. but to be protected.. LOL LOL and I always have my poopy bags... ( and for all you dog walkers.. YOU BEST HAVE ONE TOO!!!! RUDE RUDE RUDE... if you leave your dogs mess behind)...
The walk continues...
This is our little mountain, ski, snowboard,tubing retreat.. it's NOT fancy.. but the kids LOVE IT!! Well.. most kids.. my son feels out of place because he doesn't ski. or snowboard... but I think he'll grow into that.. But as you can see we STILL have some snow!! In the middle of this picture is our TRACK!! I LOVE IT!! I even scrapbooked about our track.. silly I know.. but it's a "retreat" for me.. it helped me two summers ago shed 30lbs... sadly............ it came back... sighhhh... but who knows????
The walk continues...

Well... ummm.. we have tennis courts here.. and there were matches yesterday... and well.. Nellie girl LOVES tennis balls.. she collected 3 of them.. ( her allotted amount by me).. they MUST have a distinct smell because she can pull one out EVERY SINGLE WALK!! I kid you not.. ( Maybe I should add a ticker for tennis balls... hmmmmm!!)... Well.. I'm going to let you in on a little secret.. I can't throw a ball.. NOPE.. and well.. this pooches mama.. threw the ball for her.. but it fell into the DRINK!! ( Remember the nasty water I mentioned).. WELL... she went after it.. never would her paw TOUCH that water last year.. N-E-V-E-R!!! I guess she isn't shy about it anymore... and here she is FILTHY!!! ( last spring I found a complete backpack in that water!!! Poor little freshman.. I'm sure it was a "joke" played on him)...
So in order to help her get that FILTH off.. cause never in my wildest dreams did I think she would go in there... I let her...Play in the SNOW WE STILL HAVE!!! go figure.. she still SMELLED in my car.. but she wasn't as dirty... BLUCK!!

Well.. I wanted to post more.. but I think I might come back tonight.. or blog tomorrow.. I'm going to take the quiet time.. and chill.. maybe catch up on a show that I DVR'd about two weeks ago.. who knows!!

Hey friends...

I'm sorry I haven't read your blogs.. or even posted on mine... I'm battling a stupid headcold... so for the past week.. I've been REALLLLYYY TIRED!! and I've had to work a little more than normal.. which is ok...

But I wanted to keep you updated.....

I took pics for my blog post tomorrow...

But for now.. I'm off to dream land!!

The Beautiful Sunday Baker Tanya Tagged me... so I'm going to take her up on her tag!!


Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person that tagged you and leave a comment on their blog, so that their readers can visit yours.

2. Post the rules on your blog.

3. Share 7 Random facts about yourself on your blog.

4. Tag 7 random people at the bottom of your post, linking to their blog. Let each person know by leaving a comment on their blog.

My Seven Random Facts

1) I love to sleep.. yet hate sleeping in...I like to rise early.. start my day

2) I looked in my attic for the first time since I bought my home in 2000 just two weeks ago. I'm sorry to say.. there are no millions hiding up there... sighhhh

3) My family calls me a walking IPOD/ MP3 Player.....

4) I pick up EVERY single penny I see on the ground/floor.. doesn't matter where we are... a penny saved.. is a .... When I was a little girl my grandparents lived next to a speedway.. and gram would take us down there to hunt for pennies... I had a BLAST!

5) I am in desperate need of underwear.. I had a breast reduction in 2006 and since then have only bought one bra.. someone told me that I would become OBSESSED with buying them.. not my case.. I love the halter tops with the built in bras!

6) I had my legs stripped of varicose veins.. that hurt worse than my breast reduction.. and bruised where my reduction did not.. Go figure...

7) I am going to try and grow a pumpkin this year in the shape of Mickey Mouse Ears.. just for giggles!!

Ok... those are not to exciting... but they're the ones that are on top of my mind right now!! LOL LOL!!

NOW... I always talk about being a scrapbooker... but I don't think I have ever shared a layout that I have done... so today.. ALONG WITH TAM I am going to post one... My skills in photographing my layout is lacking.. but I'm going to share anyway!

My Jouranling says

Dad:"You're going to have to learn how to be a dad someday"

Son: "I already know how to be a dad!"

Dad:"Oh yeah, how?"

Son: "Easy! Mom yells at the dad and then the dad gets to yell at the kids to do the job"

YIKES!

This is what I'm reading Now.. I have never read anything by this Author so I thought I would give it a shot.. This book takes place, yet again in the heart of the Depression. It has many great reviews throughout the book by many authors that I know and love... so I'll let you know what I think.. I'm in about three chapters.. and It hasn't "grabbed" me yet.