One Hundred Dollars a Month - Page 1620 of 2143 - I am your typical housewife living in high maintenance suburbia. I have a handsome husband, 2 kids and a flock of pet chickens. I try and feed my family with $100 a month. With the help of coupons, gardening and bartering I am able to squeeze the most out of our grocery budget and still manage to have a little fun along the way.

Mavis Butterfield | Backyard Garden Plot Pictures – Week 17 of 52

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By Mavis Butterfield on April 21, 2013 · 12 Comments

Backyard Garden Plot Pictures – Week 17 of 52

It’s amazing how different a garden can look when you’ve been away for a week. In my opinion this is when it starts to get fun {picture wise}. Now that the weather is starting to warm up we can see more growth and green stuff sprouting up in the garden beds. Pretty stinkin’ awesome if you ask me.

The garden fence is my favorite part of the garden right now. It’s popping with color and I LOVE it!

The broccoli raab bolted while we were out of town. Boo! Now I have to pull it up and re-plant the raised garden bed. I’m not sure why it happened but I have more started in the greenhouse so I’m not too disappointed.

The bases around the DIY pea teepees is starting to fill up.

I’d say we are about another 5 to 6 weeks away from a bumper sugar snap pea harvest.

After visiting Eliot Coleman’s greenhouse at Four Season Farm, I seriously need to get my act together and fill this sucker to the top with garden starts. After seeing his greenhouses, mine is practically bare.

According to the gnomes there has been no new growth in the potato towers.

Here is a view from the back deck. I still need to have the HH get a truck load of dirt and put it in that bare patch juts behind the daffodils that are sitting under the cedar tree. Also, our second batch of peas {green arrow I think} are starting to appear in the patch of soil near the chicken coop.

The fava beans in front of the chicken coop are looking really healthy.

I haven’t grown them in so long I’ll have to look up a few recipes before we harvest them later this summer.

The future pumpkin patch looks totally bare and lonely. It didn’t occur to me until just now that I should go out there and plant a bunch of lettuce seeds or radishes.

I can’t believe the daffodils are still hanging in there.

A view of the raspberry patch from the kitchen window.

My container herb garden.

Check out the oregano. It’s looking pretty fierce.

What’s new at your place? Have you planted anything yet?

~Mavis

This years garden is being sponsored by the awesome folks at Botanical Interests Seed Company. You can check out their website HERE, order their new 2013 Garden Seed Catalog HERE.

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

Garden Gnomes for St. Jude – Helping Others is Awesome!

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By Mavis Butterfield on April 21, 2013 · 11 Comments

Wahooooo! I wanted to give everyone an update on our Send in the Gnomes Fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

OH MY GNOME! Together we have raised $1,600 dollars and collected 160 garden gnomes towards our $10,000 / 1,000 garden gnome goal.

In case you just stumbled upon this and your’e wondering who the heck is this lady is and why is she collecting all these garden gnomes, the gist of it is this. I am asking people to send in gnomes from all over the world, and for every gnome I receive from the Send in the Gnome project, I will donate $10 to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.*

The ultimate goal is to receive 1,000 gnomes and truck them across the country in a MotorGnome and deposit them in the raised bed gardens at St. Jude Children’s Hospital and in public, community and children’s gardens along the way.

If you see your gnome and it doesn’t have your name and location tagged, please let us know in the comments below and we will get the list updated.

Here are the gnomes that have been sent in so far.

Gnome #1 – Monkey Boy – Gig Harbor, Washington

Gnome #2 – Carrie from Nottingham, New Hampshire
Gnome # 3 – Eve from Westerville, Ohio
Gnome #4 – Erin from Santiago, Chili

Stud Finder – Anonymous {Ha Ha Ha}
Gnomes #5 and #6 – Sandy from Glasgow, Montana
Leaperchan – Grandma Rose from Washington

Gnome #7 – Julie – Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Gnome #8 – Carrie from Yamhill, Oregon
Gnome #9 – Rebecca from Miami, FL
Gnomes #10 & 11 – Lynn from Rainier Beach, WA

Gnomes #12 & 13 – Jessica from North Carolina
Gnome #14 – Wynne from Alexandria, VA
Gnome #15 – Joy from Deerfield, New Hampshire
Gnome #16 – Kathryn from Powell, Ohio

Gnome #17 – Sabrina from Austin, Texas
Gnome #18 – Gail from Temple City, California
Gnome #19 – Laura from San Diego, California
Gnome #20 – Sarah from Renton, Washington
Gnome #21 – Jen from Grantsburg, Wisconsin

Gnome #22 – Diana from El Cajon, California
Gnome #23 – Stacy – Hillsboro, IL
Gnome # 24 – Monica from Gilbert, South Carolina
Gnome #25 – Sarah from Boulder, Colorado
Gnomes #26 & 27 – Celia from Tualatin, Oregon
Gnome # 28 Jamie from Erie, Kansas

Gnome #29 – Lynn from New York
Gnome #30 – Laurie from Arcadia, California
Gnomes #31 & 32 – Lisa from North Tustin, California
Gnome #33 – Peggy from Medford Lakes, New Jersey

Honorary Gnome #34 Emmy Mott from Pennsylvania Thank you Bruce.

Gnomes #35, 36, 37 – Chef Selena -Tacoma, Washington

Gnome #38 – Lissa from Boise, Idaho
Gnome #39 – Dale Ann from Northern, Minnesota {Gnome: Gustaf!}
Gnome # 40 – Michelle from Burlington, Washington
Gnome # 41 – Marcy from Anchorage, Alaska

Gnome #43 –
Gnome # 44 – Tracey from Sturgis, Michigan
Gnome #45 – Krystal from Spokane, Washington
Gnome #46 –
Gnome #47 Socks! Thanks Diana from Ontario, Canada
Gnome #48 – Faye from NPR, Florida

Gnome #49 – Annette from Liberty Lake, Washington
Gnome #50 – Erika from Tucson, Arizona
Gnome #51 – Ginny from Bremerton, Washington This one freaks Lucy out!!
Gnome #52 – Diane from Portland, Oregon

Gnome #53 – Glenda from Gainsville, Florida
Gnome #54 – Catherine from Pasadena, California
Gnome #55 – Lisa from Norway!
Gnome # 56 – Eileen from Columbia, South Carolina
Gnome #57 – Pamela from Lansing, Michigan

Gnome #58 – Connie from Pearland, Texas
Gnome #59 – Christine from Boise, Idaho
Gnomes #60, 61 & 62 – Laurie from Gilroy, California

Gnomes # 63 & 64 – Brenda from Camas, Washington
Gnome # 65 – Alysa from Seattle, Washington
Gnome # 66 – Sakura from Bountiful, Utah!

Gnome #67 – Sauter Family from Lake Forest Park, Washington
Gnomes #68, 69 & 70 – Diana from Ontario, Canada
Gnome #71 – Kate from New York

Gnome # 72 – Ann from
Gnome #73 –
Gnomes # 74,75 & 76 – Melissa from Gaston, Oregon

I ♥ Gnomes Bumper Sticker! We will put this on the car for our road trip. Thank you!

Gnome #77 – Tess from Bremerton, Washington {thanks for the hen & chicks!}
Gnome #78 – Dana from Marysville, Washington
Gnome #79 – KariJean from East Grand Rapids, Michigan
Gnome #80 – Angela from Clarksville, Tennessee
Gnome #81 – April from {Gnome Tile}

Gnome #82 – Francisco, from Gig Harbor, Washington
Gnomes # 83, 84 & 85 – Karen from Middleton, Connecticut

Gnome #84 – Sylvia from Everett, Washington
Gnomes #85 & 86 – Judy from Seattle, Washington
Gnome # 87 – Kendra from Kent, Washington
Gnome # 88 – Vicki from Rayton, Missouri

Gnome # 89 Kathy from Medham, New Jersey
Gnome #90 {Gnome Sweet Gnome Sign} Kathy from Medham, New Jersey
Gnome # 91 – Cindy from Healdsburg, California
Gnome #92 – {Gnome Zone Sign} – Peggy Medford from Lakes,New Jersey
Gnome #93 – Becky from Upstate, New York
Gnome #94 – Christine from Arlington, Virgina – Where our gnomes come from the CIA, FBI, and Secret Service to guard our gardens. Sweet!

Gnomes # 95 & 96 – Kelly from Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Gnomes # 97 & 98 – Tina from Alabama

Gnomes #99 & 100 – Janet from Pittsburg, Penslyvania
Gnomes #101 & 102 – Carol from Valparaiso, Indiana
Gnomes # 103, 104 & #105 – Amy from Westmoreland, New Hampshire

Gnome #106 – Oh Gnome You Didn’t – Helen from Merdian, Idaho {She is a total rock star!}

Gnome #107 – Mary from Medford Lakes, New Jersey
Gnomes # 108 & 109 – Paty from St. Francis, Minnesota – Thanks for the toy for Lucy!!
Gnome # 110 – Richard from Bellevue, Washington
Gnomes # 111,112, & 113 – Francisco from Gig Harbor, Washington

Gnome # 114 – Shelah from Minnesota
Gnome #115 – Michelle from Gig Harbor, Washington
Gnome # 115 – The Chapman Family – Tacoma, Washington
Gnome #116 – Gitte from Denmark! Thank you for the bookmark.!
Gnome #117 – Sarah from Shoreline, Washington

Gnome #118 – Kyle & Ashley, from Olympia, Washington
Gnome #119 – Rebecca from Indianapolis, Indiana
Gnome # 120 – Bonnie from Port Townsend, Washington
Gnome #121 – Susan from St. Charles. Missouri
Gnome #122 – Jenn from Crawfordville, Florida

Gnome #123 – Angelica from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Gnome # 124 – Kira from Portland, Oregon
Gnomes # 125 & 126 –
Gnome #127 – Becky & Mark from St. Louis, Missouri – Thank you Leada, I will make sure the $10 you sent in goes directly to St. Jude.
Gnome #128 – Tanya from Selah, Washington
Gnome #129 – Miko from Wellington, Florida

Gnome #130 – Kayla from Bremerton, Washington
Gnomes # 131 & 132 –
Gnome #134 – Katrina from W. Yellowstone, Montana

Gnomes #135,136,137,138 & 139 – Beth and Leah Go HERE to read this story.

Gnome #140 – Lucy from Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada
Gnome #141 –
Gnome #142 – Mrs. Gillian Edwards, from Surrey England
Gnome #143 – Crystal from Selah, Washington

Gnome #144 – April from Utah
Gnome #145 – Katie from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Gnome #146 – Mary Ann from Westminster, California
Gnome # 147 –

Gnome #148 – Nancy from Westbourgh, Massachusetts
Gnomes # 149 & 150 – Debra and Joe from New York City
Gnome #151 – Lori from Maryland
Gnome #152 – Gail from Marysville, Washington
Gnome # 153 – Wes, Bree, William, Ava and Clay from Alexandria, VA

Gnomes #154 & 155 – Sarah and Andrew from Napa, Idaho {soon to be Abu Dhabi}
Gnome # 156 – Becca from Kettle Falls, Washtington
Gnome Home #157 – Laurel from Idaho Falls, Idaho

Gnome # 158 – Ursula from 3 Tree Point, Washington
Gnome # 159 – Tracy from Pear River, New York – Go Mets!
Gnome # 160 – Linda from Bellevue, Washington

To read more about this totally cool fundraiser, for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital head on over HERE.

I have also set up a Send in the Gnomes Wish list on Amazon.com as some of you had suggested. Thanks for all your suggestions!

Got a gnome? Send it to Mavis:

Please send gnomes by August 1st, 2013 to:

Mavis Butterfield
4916 Pt. Fosdick Drive Suite #103
Gig Harbor, Washington 98335

Hugs and Kisses to everyone. You. Are. Awesome. Thank you so much for all your support!

~Mavis

* A maximum of $10,000 will be donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

The Best Part of Any Vacation is Coming Home

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By Mavis Butterfield on April 21, 2013 · 2 Comments

Is it just me, or do you think coming home from a vacation is lot of work? Besides doing some much needed grocery shopping, 5 loads of laundry and rounding up all our pets from the neighbors yesterday, we also had the fun task of taking all the shelving out of the refrigerator and scrubbing it down. Someone {okay, me} had left a package of fish thawing in the refrigerator before we left. Why, I have no idea but not only did the fish thaw out, but leaked all over the place.

Good times!

We had the girls down the street take care of our outdoor chickens while we were away. Which is no small task if you don’t have chickens of your own. They had to get up at dusk to let the hens out of the coop, feed them and make sure they had plenty to drink. Then come back at dusk and lock them up.

They don’t have pet chickens of their own so it was kind of fun for them and they really enjoyed helping out.

When we left Awkward Martha and Squirrely had gone broody. Now apparently Piggey has gone broody as well.

We had another neighbor keep our blue cochin baby chicks in their garage and collect our packages for us. What a blessing. They too do not have baby chicks and loved taking care of them. The neighbors even named our 3rd chick {who was still nameless} Blue Cheese.

Now we have Blueberry, Blue Bell and Blue Cheese.

Little Miss Lucy.

The Hunter and his wife watched Lucy the puddle dog for us. God Bless them. She had 6 accidents, hopped her fence area on day one and refused to go back in and pretty much ran around all day and wore their other dogs out. Ha. What a stinker.

One of their dogs is a Jack Russel Terrier and they said Lucy kept him on his toes all 5 days she was there. She also stole his cookies and gained about 2 pounds while she was away. She did sleep well though, The Hunter and his wife said Lucy went to bed around 8 am and didn’t move a muscle until about 7 the next morning. Gee I wonder why.

Ahh it’s good to be back home. Even if there are still a ton of chores to do.

Have a great Sunday everyone.

♥ Mavis

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

Four Seasons Farm – Eliot Coleman Barbara Damrosch

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By Mavis Butterfield on April 20, 2013 · 13 Comments

On Thursday we woke up in Portland, Maine {awesome city!} and drove 3+ hours to Four Seasons Farm. If you have never heard of it, I highly recommend you check out some of the owners’ books. They {Barbara Damrosch and Eliot Coleman} have a farm in Harborside, Maine, and have basically mastered the art of four seasons of growing.

I had emailed Barbara ahead of time and asked if it would be okay to stop by and she said yes. She could not guarantee her or her husband would be there, but she said we were welcome to check out the farm and snap all the pictures we wanted to.

Did you read the part where I said they are in Maine {read: cold, bitter winters}? It was actually hailing a bit on the way to the farm. The farm and their practices are totally motivational and make me want to try to grow all year long too.

Barbara and Eliot are basically total rock stars in the gardening world, with more than 70 years experience between the both of them.

Check out this root cellar. It’s situated beneath one of the greenhouses. Presumably to store their winter vegetables.

Chickens!!! Barbara, Eliot and their small crew are able to farm year round by using a ton of different methods, and they’re nationally recognized for their small-scale sustainable agricultural methods.

They use several greenhouses in the winter that are equipped with propane heaters and fans. We also spotted several garden beds with rolling row covers protecting vegetables like kale {of course!} lettuce, artichokes and spinach.

Did I mention it was pretty freakin’ awesome and now I want to move to Maine? I just need to find an old farm house and make a stop at LL Bean first to stock up on warm clothing and then I should be all set. Oh and some firewood. I’m thinking I would need quite a bit of that.

Oh and guess who The Girl and I ran into while were checking out one of the greenhouses? Eliot Coleman. Yep. I even got him to sign a few copies of his new The Four Season Farm Gardener’s Cookbook for an upcoming giveaway too.

Ahhhh Maine. I love you.

~Mavis

Barbara Damrosch and Eliot used to be regular correspondents on the PBS series The Victory Garden and Barbara also co-hosted the series Gardening Naturally on the Learning Channel. Her and Eliot Coleman has authored several books. You can find all their book on Amazon.com {of course!}.

Also be sure and check out this cool New York Times interview with Barbara Damrosch and Eliot Coleman for a little more information about their farm and their practices.

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.