"A garden is a lovesome thing...
The veriest school of Peace."
--Thomas Edward Brown
~~~
Thursday
Simple Sowing: Herbs and Greens ~ The Garden in Winter
Monday
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.
~~~~~~
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
As I was digging through the soil, I thought of something I'd read long ago: Anything of value multiplies when it's given...
CLICK HERE TO READ FULL POST.
Friday
Heavenly Visions...and the Power of Prayer
"A Single Prayer Moves Heaven."
~Japanese Proverb
~~~~~~
"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
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! |
~~~~~~
- 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!
Saturday
Homemade Holiday: 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...
Wednesday
Sending Out Thoughts of Gratitude and Appreciation...A Blessed Thanksgiving to all.
 | ||||||||||
Classic Turkey Noodle Soup made from the
|
The Luxury of Frugality
Delight in ordinary things.
~~~~~~
"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...
Saturday
Wednesday
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.
 | |||||
| one |
Monday
"Potential Accomplishments" and the Natural Magic of List-Making: Creating a Master~List
"All things on earth point home in old October...." --Thomas Wolfe
~~~
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.
Saturday
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!
Tuesday
(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. Thursday
Homespun Alchemy™ ... In the Kitchen
Lacto-fermented carrots and garlic after about eight days of fermentation।
~~~
"You are an alchemist; make gold of it."
-- William Shakespeare
-- 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.
Click HERE to make the jump and read more.
Sunday
"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'. Click HERE to continue reading.
Potential Accomplishments and Creating My Day
Potential AccomplishmentsSince Mike returned to work a few weeks ago I have been trying to de~clutter my closets and office. This morning I came across several of my old newsletters from the 199o's and early 2000's. (Frugal Times: Making~Do With Dignity which evolved into our Frugal Luxuries newsletters and book series). I confess to spending far too much time reading through them. Happily it wasn't a total waste of time as I rediscovered this little insert in one of the newsletters from 1999 titled "Today's Potential Accomplishments" and decided to put it to use getting my life in order in 2012!
Sunday
Thursday
Frugal Luxuries for the Freezer and...I'll be on a Radio Show Today (Saturday)...Call Me!
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...Click HERE to read the full post.
Friday
Wednesday
Saturday
What is a Homespun Alchemist (tm)?
Please enjoy this occasional feature in which we highlight...
Homespun Alchemists!!!
What is a Homespun Alchemist (tm)? They are Kindred Spirits who demonstrate the uncanny abilities to ...
Make Something From Nothing (tm)
(well...almost nothing!).
Today we'll visit THIS INSPIRING POST written by Terri of the PennyAnn Poundwise blog. In it she extents a charming glimpse into her pretty, practical world of lovely living within a limited budget. I highly recommend reading it as she generously shares a plethora of her secrets for making something from nothing...or very little.
I found it to be pure magic and, of course, was very compelled to share it here...with all of you kind kindred spirits...where I know it'll be appreciated.
Love and good thought to all.
Warmly,
Tracey and Family
x0x
~~~~~~
Homespun Alchemists!!!
What is a Homespun Alchemist (tm)? They are Kindred Spirits who demonstrate the uncanny abilities to ...
Make Something From Nothing (tm)
(well...almost nothing!).
Today we'll visit THIS INSPIRING POST written by Terri of the PennyAnn Poundwise blog. In it she extents a charming glimpse into her pretty, practical world of lovely living within a limited budget. I highly recommend reading it as she generously shares a plethora of her secrets for making something from nothing...or very little.
I found it to be pure magic and, of course, was very compelled to share it here...with all of you kind kindred spirits...where I know it'll be appreciated.
Love and good thought to all.
Warmly,
Tracey and Family
x0x
~~~~~~
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
