Happy Thanksgiving...

I'm always grateful at this time of the year...may the blessings of the holiday extend to each and every one of you...Happy Thanksgiving.    S.

Simple Holidays

A good idea for the Holidays is to keep it simple and easy...especially the for the one doing the cooking, serving and cleaning...delegate to others and remember it is supposed to be relaxing!  Enjoy the upcoming days///

Simple Life

Living a simple life is so much easier, especially as I grow older. The trend to grow more of our own food, cooking our own meals and sewing our own clothes appeals to more of us everyday. It can be a very rewarding way to live. Like I always say:  A simple life is a very good life. Enjoy everyday!

The Simple Life.....ah....

Living the Simple Life can be ever so rewarding ....... everyday we can renew our frugality and save for a much more peaceful day.....

"FISH" book by Mark Bittman.....a guide to cooking and eating fish...photo

A great book for the person who loves to eat and cook fish. Good information with so many ideas about Fish!  A cook can make very good use of this book...Mark explains it all nicely with style!  photo:  www.markbittman.com

Blue Butterfly solar light for the garden...photo

A very nice addition to any garden....Solar Blue Butterfly light from: worldofsolar.com

Older web outdoor lawn chairs.....photo

Do any of you remember who in the family had these chairs?   I do and maybe you do also...a fun bit of memories for a summer day......photo from: www.ebay.com

Frugal Eating to save huge dollars every year.

Frugal living and Frugal eating have long been a very important part of my life. They go together with eating healthy also.  I always look for the best and quality food products at reduced prices and with coupons. No exceptions to my rule there. It works every time. Cooking and mixing interesting combinations of different food products has made for some very unusual and different meals...I must admit.  However, some very tasty meals have been served in my home. Also very nutritious! Sometimes I splurge just a little .....and really enjoy it... but then always back to my frugality... Shopping and getting that great bargain keep me going....it is lots of fun and savings all mixed together...Be frugal and enjoy the money you are saving every week and year.    S.

Frugal Tips to make doll dresses, by Grandma Emma...

Have you ever had a shirt or blouse that the sleeves are too long? You can make the most beautiful doll dresses...Plain and simple, and requires so little fabric and time. Simply sew lace, ribbon and bows on the cuff, hem the other side and you'll have a wonderful smaller doll dress. ( Recycling at its best!)  We still have a couple of these dresses that Grandma Emma made so many years ago...we treasure them everyday...Thank you Grandma!

Grandma Emma's large garden in Iowa....1930's

Our Grandmother Emma was a very wise woman... In the 1930' she lived in the early days in Iowa with our Grandfather and two children. Every spring she would plant a large vegetable garden that would provide most of the families food for the entire year. Her garden filled one city lot with a well rounded selection of healthy vegetables and some fruit also. These included peas, carrots, potatoes, string beans, corn, watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, raspberries, gooseberries and much more. Grandma would serve and cook the fresh produce and also can and cook sauce for later in the year.... She would also sell the fresh strawberries in a wooden quart box for ten cents, heaped with beautiful, sweet berries. One year she made thirteen to fourteen dollars in profit....She was a farmer and a business person who was successful! She also traded her produce and gave it to the local homeless to help feed many. They would get enough vegetables from her to make large kettles of stew to help feed the workers in the camps along the railroad... when they rode the trains while going between jobs....So indeed Grandma Emma was a clever and kind person....she was living a good  frugal, simple life.... We should take with us our heritage, her good ideas and learn. I hope that someday I will be able to grow a large and healthy garden and provide for my family just as she did so many years ago. So today I say Thank You to Grandma Emma for her knowledge and wisdom.....written by her oldest granddaughter Sandra , July 11, 2013    

Colorful Solar Garden Lights, photo

Colorful Solar Garden lights make perfect sense in a practical garden....they give simple and elegant light ...all for no cost...makes a lovely garden statement...photo: northerntradingco.com

New complete guide to Gardening, Better Homes and Garden, photo

A wonderful book of Gardening, lovely color photos, good suggestions and ideas for all types of gardens... photo: www.gardenguides.com     A good read for today!

Green Eileen, new store in Seattle...photo

This new recycling store is lovely...Gently worn Eileen Fisher clothing is being resold in Columbia City, Seattle,,all proceeds are being donated to charities...Jubilee Womens Center. Check this great idea store out at Columbia City, Seattle, 4860 Rainier Ave. South.  A wonderful idea with a cause.... Green Eileen... great store.....

Grandma Emma's thoughts on the month of March...

Grandma Emma had a favorite saying for the month of March....On March 1st, she would say, "In like a Lion, out like a lamb" or "In like a Lamb, out like a Lion" and most years she was always right!  March is the transition time from winter to spring. She could always predict how the spring would be... Yes, she was a "Wise Woman of the World" in so many ways...

The Pioneer Woman Cooks Food from my Frontier, by Ree Drummond

A great cookbook for all occasions....everyday cooking, easy, tasty and from the heart for all to enjoy. You can visit her website at: www.thepioneerwoman.com    enjoy this wonderful cooking experience....

Grandma Emma, thoughts on Walking...

Now with spring quickly approaching I often think of the days of living in Mukilteo with Grandma Emma. She loved the flowers of the Spring and being able to be outside again after the cold winter. Every day she would walk, usually in the afternoon. One of her favorite sayings:  The more you walk, the better you walk and the better you walk , the more you walk....She was right with this thought. And that is what she did, Walk.... I believe that this helped her with her long life..Exercise... She was a wise woman of the world....

Heart of Perfect Health by Brenda Watson on PBS,,,

The Heart of Perfect Health by Brenda Watson is airing now on PBS nationwide....good concise information for all.....check it out on your local PBS station....

Three Steps to Incredible Health

Dr. Joel Fuhrman has interesting PBS program airing now. Three steps to Incredible Health..... check it out locally.  Good info.....