Simple Sowing: Herbs and Greens ~ The Garden in Winter

"A garden is a lovesome thing...

The veriest school of Peace."

--Thomas Edward Brown

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I've been busy planning and working on the herb garden this past month... inspired by the image of a simple yet fascinating circular herb garden I saw onPinterest (above center left)... the viewing thereof prompted cravings for fresh mint and tangy thyme in our daily salads... not to mention that elusive lemon-y/yet not lemon-y flavor of French sorrel in our soups in lieu of spinach.  If the truth be told I began in late December after a visit to the 99-Cent store where I literally stumbled upon a group of lonely looking herbs (bottom right) while putting away the basket in front of the store... sage, chives, oregano huddled together on a small rolling cart... all in need of a nourishing, nurturing home and, of course, they were adopted by me (bottom right collage photo).

A few weeks later found me planting more green, herbal goodness that I found for a few dollars each at our local nursery, Brita's Old Town Garden.  Parsley, Purple Kale and Cabbage, along with a lovely Lavender bush found earlier that week Trader Joe's (top photo of collage) joined the...    Click HERE to read the full post and see all the photos.

The Art of Frugality... Recent Practices

"How simple and frugal a thing is happiness."

~Nikos Kazantzakis 

As with most people, the advent of the new year has us combing the budget to patch the leaks... reassessing our spending habits... and battening down our spending in order to accommodate a tighter budget.  Because of this I've been especially inspired by all of the frugal ideas found throughout this wonderland of Bloglandia.  Sending gratitude and thanks to all who so generously share their life~enhancing frugal strategies... you are very appreciated.

Here are a few simple ways we've been practicing the art of frugality in our realm of reality recently.

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One of my goals for this year is to do more planting of edibles in our little garden.   I've already planted the herbs I received for Christmas (see picture in previous post... I'll write a longer post on our garden plans soon).  

I finally tried this great idea that's been rolling around Pinterest for awhile:  Instead of throwing out the stub of our organic celery I put it in a bit of water on the window sill and use the leaves in cooking.  If all goes well....

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL POST.

Sorting and Appreciating Life's Most Precious Gifts

".... such golden gifts!"

~Shakespeare

Ever since the holiday season officially ended a few weeks ago, I've found myself sorting (dare I say wrestling with?) those  tangled threads of earthly phenomenon that were so graciously gifted to me (us) this past season.  Please don't misunderstand. I am a life~long lover and appreciator of receiving gifts.  I am ever so grateful for them in all forms!  In fact, I pondered on this fact the other day as I happily removed the contents of a very raggedy billfold and placed them into a brand new, lovely, Michael Kors wallet (thank you Rosie!); and again, as I prepared a small area of our tiny garden to receive newly acquired additions of herbs (and a tiny Italian Pine tree that promises even more gifts of pine nuts... in approximately fifteen years, give or take).

As I was digging through the soil, I thought of something I'd read long ago: Anything of value multiplies when it's given...

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 "A Single Prayer Moves Heaven."

~Japanese Proverb

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"Dr. Eben Alexander's near death experience is the most astounding I have heard in more than four decades of studying this phenomenon... one of the crown jewels of all near death experiences... Dr. Alexander is living proof of an afterlife."  

 ~  Raymond Moody, MD, PhD

~~~

  ~~~

"Proof of Heaven" is a very thought provoking book.  I read it a few weeks ago and each chapter is fascinating.  Yet, I can't stop thinking about the segment where the author tells us he fell into the depths of despair after...   

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How to Find the Time...Getting Things Done During the Busy Holiday Season...Without Losing the Joy!

Frugal Luxuries: Newsletter Classics

Here are a few strategies for finding the time to make gifts and get things done during the busy holiday season...while keeping the joy alive.  Note: This article is an excerpt from a 1998 issue of our newsletter, Frugal Luxuries.  At the bottom of the page you'll find a scan of the original page!

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• Every evening, after dinner, I would choose an old movie to watch on video or television (I enjoy watching those with a holiday theme...to spark my enthusiasm).  I settled myself in a comfortable seat in the family room to prepare the apples [for the apple pies I planned to give as gifts]. Flanked by two large mixing bowls, I peeled and cored apples over bowl #1.  Next I cut the peeled apples into slices directly over bowl #2 (I also added a bit of lemon juice at the bottom of the bowl beforehand, to prevent the apples from browning).  This process continued until all of the apples were processed, taking about two hours.  I then seasoned the apples with cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar and cloves and set them, covered, in the refrigerator.  The following evening, while playing my favorite Christmas music, I prepared a quantity of pie crusts, and proceeded to bake the apple pies. [See HERE  for more on easy food prep.]

• My "movie watching strategy" is also quite effective for many craft projects as well.  You may settle yourself in a comfortable chair and hand sew or craft over a deep (2 inch) lap-size tray (you may substitute cardboard boxes, or jelly roll pans if you have no trays available).  Doing this keeps your mess within a confined space (the tray) and makes clean up simple and easy.  If your project requires several days, you may set aside your tray (perhaps on a closet shelf) until you have a chance to finish.

Create a master craft and cooking/baking list helps you to budget your time.  Because you are able to see at a glance... click HERE to read remainder of this (much longer) post

Homemade Holidays: The Gift of Dinner

"I am in the habit of looking not so much to the nature of a gift as to the spirit in which it is offered."

~~Robert Louis Stevenson

 

I've been putting together a few Frugal Feast for the Gift Pantry to give as token gifts to neighbors, friends and hosts/hostesses.  It's pretty simple, as you can see from the photo... 

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING AND SEE PRINTABLES.

Sending Out Thoughts of Gratitude and Appreciation...A Blessed Thanksgiving to all.

Classic Turkey Noodle Soup made from the

"

Remains of the [Thanksgiving] Feast".

  

 CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE.

Sending good thoughts and love to all.
x0x 

Frugal Gifts from Kichen: Gift~Pantry~Vanilla... Hand Crafted With Love

The irregular and intimate quality of things made entirely by the human hand.

~Willa Cather

 

 

 

This make~ahead gift began last August with re~purposed vinegar bottles... a bundle of fresh Vanilla beans... and a liter of plain vodka.  I placed about a dozen, split, whole beans in each bottle then covered them with vodka and allowed Time to work its' magic...  Click HERE to read full post.

The Luxury of Frugality

Delight in ordinary things.

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"Every state of society is as luxurious as it can be."

--Samuel Johnson

 

 Many people confuse luxury with opulence.  To understand luxury you must look at the true sense of the word...   

Click HERE to read full post.

Stocking the Holiday Gift Pantry: Easy Candied Grapefruit

 

 

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Click HERE for more on this post.

Cookery: A Useful Accomplishment...Or How to Eat a Giant Zucchini

" ' Lounging and larking don't pay,' observed Jo, shaking her head. 

 'I'm tired  of it and mean to go to work at something right off.' 

 'Suppose you learn plain cooking; that's a useful accomplishment, 

which no [one] should be without,' said Mrs. March."

--Louisa Mae Alcott, Little Women

 

 

I was practicing the art of cookery today and wanted to share the results of making use of just one of those super~sized zucchini I had  mentioned HERE (bought from the farm stand, 3 for $1).   

 

Click HERE for the rest of the post.

"Potential Accomplishments" and the Natural Magic of List~Making: Creating a Master~List

"All things on earth point home in old October...."  --Thomas Wolfe

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As you probably already have guessed, I am a list~maker and leave very little to memory.  In fact, the only thing I really leave to memory is where I put my lists! I've found that lists are an invaluable tool for staying focused. My memory is on overload most of the time so I especially love the idea of a Master List of Potential Accomplishments and have long used this tactic to unburden myself mentally.

I firmly believe there is a kind of a natural magic in list~making. The very act of writing out your potential accomplishments sends a message to your central nervous system and consequently you find yourself doing the very things you want to get done! CLICK HERE TO READ FULL POST.

Home-Baked Coconut Flour Muffins (Gluten and Sugar Free)

 

 

 

As promised, here is the basic recipe for the gluten/sugar free muffins I wrote about!
Click HERE for the recipe and the rest of the post!  

(Exercising) The Art of Frugality

"Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship." 

 -Benjamin Franklin

 

How are you practicing the art of frugality lately? Here are some of the ways I've recently exercised the art...plugging the small leaks in my ship.   

Click HERE to read the full post

Homespun Alchemy™ ... In the Kitchen

Lacto-fermented carrots and garlic after about eight days of fermentation।

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"You are an alchemist; make gold of it."
-- William Shakespeare

Several years ago after reading about...and being intrigued by...a somewhat mysterious food-alchemy called "fermentation" ....

Click HERE to make the jump and read more.

"Discovering... the Forgotten Wealth of Nature"

"It is the thrifty who prepare today for the wants of tomorrow."

~ Aesop (circa 550 BC)

"It was the children who spied them first. Our bare ankles and sandal~ed feet scraped scraped against the cactus~like needles as we stepped gingerly over the vines sprawled across the landscape. They had buried themselves inside a mysterious, shadowy tangle of Pepper and Avocado trees like long forgotten treasure. A colossal patch of blackberries lie before us, not unlike an ethereal gift, the type of gift that night~fairies might leave to mere mortals. The dark glistening berries seemed to blink at the sun's brightness as we gently lifted the brand of an ancient Pepper tree to examine our cache'....
TO FINISH READING THIS POST CLICK HERE.

Homespun Alchemy ™: Creative Re~Use and Garden Magic...Sort of.

" We're sprouting new ideas all the time...."

-Richard Cook

Click HERE for full post!

Abundant Wishes for a Happy and Blessed New Year to All! xxx000xxx

Click HERE to read post.

Frugal Luxuries for the Freezer

Click HERE to read full post!

OH!!! I almost forgot to tell you, tomorrow, Friday (12/30/11) and Saturday (12/31/11) I'll be a guest on Positive Living Radio show(s)!!! I would just love it if you could call in and talk with us! Here's the exact information about the shows that I stole from Patricia's website.

Listen to Tracey McBride on Patricia Raskin Positive Living on Saturday December 31st 3:30-4:00PM ET on 630WPRO AM & 99.7 FM. Listeners can call in to the show at (401) 438-W-P-R-O (401-438-9776) or toll free at 1 (800) 321-W-P-R-O (1-800-321-9776) and listen live on www.630wpro.com.

Join nationally recognized multi-media radio talk show host and award winning producer Patricia Raskin, as she interviews Tracey McBride, author of Frugal Luxuries: Simple Pleasures to Enhance Your Life and Comfort Your Soul and Frugal Luxuries by the Seasons: Celebrate the Holidays with Elegance and Simplicity--on Any Income. Chicago Tribune wrote "Think of Tracey McBride as the Martha Stewart of the cheapskate set". She had delighted thousands by elevating the skill of living frugally to an art form. Tracey will discuss cost-effective ways to bring in the new year with beauty and joy.

Kindling a Simple Christmas

I'm feeling very simple this Christmas...

Please click HERE to read the full post.

Thanksgiving Progressive Dinner~Blog Style~Remains of a Thanksgiving Feast

Click HERE to see how easy it is to use the remains of your holiday feast to create a delicious, nutritious...Classic Turkey~Noodle Soup!

Autumnal Delights...

To see the full post please click...HERE !

Another SIMPLE Way to Preserve All Those Tomatoes!

Image: FOOD IN JARS

Marisa from the wonderful food~preservation blog FOOD IN JARS has a great post today on yet another SIMPLE way to preserve (and make use of) the abundance of tomatoes available to us now. How? She slow~roasts them! I, for one, am so excited to try this technique as I've tasted slow~roasted tomatoes and there is nothing like them for flavor!





To learn more just click on the link below!





Slow Oven-Roasted Roma Tomatoes | Food in Jars





Hope you are enjoying this relaxing holiday weekend!





Love and good thoughts to all.





Warmly,




Tracey and Family




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Simple Secrets: How to Fast Freeze Fresh Tomatoes at Home

When the farm stand tomatoes are so well priced at five (or more) for just one dollar I like to buy them in abundance and freeze them for future use.




For awhile...I took on the tedious, humid task of blanching each one before freezing...until...a generous friend told me that she has been skipping the blanching process for years. How? She simply places the fresh tomatoes onto a tray or cookie sheet and pops them directly into the freezer...similar to freezing berries. Of course, I was immensely attracted to the idea and implemented it immediately with great success. So much so that I've been using this useful trick for well over a decade!






Once the tomatoes are frozen solid (several hours or overnight) I pop them into a large zip lock bag.






Whenever a recipe calls for canned tomatoes I pull a few from my freezer bag and set it into a pan or bowl of water (no need to heat it, room temperature works fine) fully frozen. I let them sit for a few minutes while I putter around doing something else. Then I scoop it out of the water and peel it over the sink.






Using my thumb and forefinger I rub the outside of the tomato. The peel slides right off. At the core I may have to loosen it a bit with my fingernail or a butter knife. I then carefully dice the still partially frozen tomatoes and add them to my recipe. So simple.






HINT: I use frozen tomatoes in lieu of canned tomatoes in recipes such as soup, salsa, Chile', marinara sauce and the like.



Once you try this you will be hooked. It's amazing how this little trick transformed a tedious, time consuming task into a simple, easy and quick way to freeze large quantities for use in cooking.




I hope this little trick enhances your time, budget and life as much as it has mine!


Good thoughts and love to all.


Warmly,


Tracey


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