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....