One Hundred Dollars a Month - Page 1668 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 Garden Blog – More Bark, Kale and Swiss Chard

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By Mavis Butterfield on March 8, 2013 · 20 Comments

Yesterday we had another 15 yards of neon red bark delivered. Mr. Bark Guy said we needed 75 yards and I am determined to bark bomb the front and backyard in 30 yards just to prove to myself that he was totally trying to overcharge me. Grrr… it makes me crazy.

As soon as Monkey Boy came home from school yesterday he got to work shoveling load after load of mulch to the backyard in our crappy orange wheelbarrow.

We’ve had the same wheelbarrow for I think 11 years now, and let me tell you Bob, it it on it’s last legs.

While the Monkey shoveled, I planted kale and Swiss chard starts in front of the chicken coop. A few days ago I planted fava beans about a foot from the wire fence. Then, in front of the fava {that can get up to 4 feet tall} we’ll have red winter kale, with ruby red chard in front of it. I may or may not plant another row of chard in front of that. We’ll see.

Actually I take that back. After looking at this photo I will totally be planting another row of chard towards the front of the border. I’ve never grown a border of anything other than bushes or flowers before so I think a veggie border will look really cool.

Here is the current view of the backyard. If you look towards the left you’ll see I carved out another garden plot to the right of the greenhouse. I also need to carve out another little plot in the remaining grey landscape fabric area as well.

My goal for today is to get the entire back area barked so tomorrow I can finish the bottom left side where the shasta dasies are just starting to pop up and the raspberry and blueberry patches that are on the ride side of the house.

Sunday, all I want to do is stay in my pajamas and watch movies all day. So fingers crossed, between myself and Monkey Boy, we can get this barktopia project wrapped up by the end of the weekend.

Here’s to wishful thinking.

~Mavis

P.S. Quick dog question – Lucy LOVES to play outside while I’m in the backyard. Do you think she needs an outdoor dog house to nap in while I’m in the back for hours on end? Is it normal for an indoor dog to have an outdoor house too? Help!

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DIY Cajun Spice Mix Recipe

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By Mavis Butterfield on March 7, 2013 · 5 Comments

You can save big bucks by making your own spice mixes instead of buying those tiny jars in the grocery store for $3 to $7 a pop. Here is my recipe for Cajun Spice Mix. We LOVE to use it on baked chicken.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/4 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes {totally optional}

Directions

Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl until well-combined. Store in an airtight container in a cool dark place.

Learn how buying spices in bulk can save you money.

Here are a few more DIY Stocks and Spice Mixes you might like:

Vegetable Stock
Fajita Spice Mix
Turkey Rub
Ranch Dressing and Dip Dry Mix
Taco Seasoning Mix
Kale Powder
Italian Seasoning Mix
Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix
Allspice Mix
Old Bay Seasoning

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Lucy the Puggle Dog Goes to the Vet

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By Mavis Butterfield on March 7, 2013 · 14 Comments

Lucy is officially 3 months old. Yesterday I took her to the vet for her second round of vaccinations. She was incredibly brave and thought the whole thing was one big adventure.

She didn’t even cry when the vet gave her a shot, took her temperature, or combed her coat for fleas {?}. I however looked the other way during the whole process. Even when the nice veterinarian asked me if I had brought her a sample. Ewwwwww.

No. I forgot. I’m Sorry. I’ll try and remember next time, I muttered.

Then Lucy and I went home.

I re-potted some kale and ate sliced peaches out of a can.

Lucy chewed on the door mat.

Life is good. I love this sweet little dog more than I ever thought I could. She is such a great companion, even though she needs constant attention and likes to bite my socks.

Since moving her bed into the crate {like many of you suggested} she now has plenty of room to run around and play. Every morning I set her toys outside of her crate, and every night when we put her to bed she drags all her stuffed animals back to bed with her just like a little kid.

I’m guessing this is totally normal, and we should start to see cat and dog fancy posters up on the sides of her fence anytime soon.

Animals are cool.

~Mavis

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10 Cool Uses for Lemons

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By Mavis Butterfield on March 7, 2013 · 6 Comments

Every time I water my beee-autiful Meyer Lemon tree, I start to daydream about all of the ways to use the lemons. And while right now, I can’t imagine not using my lemons to create something totally delicious, there are ton of practical uses for lemons.

Here’s 10 cool ways to put lemons to work:

Degrease your pans. Squeeze a little lemon juice in the pan and allow it to sit for 5 minutes. For really stubborn/thick grease, add a little salt to the lemon mixture and gently rub the pan with a paper towel.
Use as a natural bleach for laundry. Add 1/2 cup to laundry during the rinse cycle and BOOM! Brighter whites.
Lighten hair without harsh chemicals. Juice lemons, apply to hair, and then take a magazine out to bask in the sun for a bit. The lemon and sun will gradually lighten your hair.
Clean and deodorize your microwave. Put 3 Tbsp. lemon juice and 1 cup of water in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 5 minutes. Wipe the inside down with a cloth.
Keep fruits and guacamole from browning. Squeeze a little lemon juice in guacamole or sliced apples to keep discoloration at bay.
Freshen and sharpen your disposal. Toss old lemon peels in the disposal and let them go for a spin. You will be able to smell the fresh lemon scent right away.
Dab on age spots, freckles, scars, etc. to lighten discoloration on skin.
Disinfect and deodorize cutting boards. Just cut a lemon in half and run the cut side across the board–wipe with a clean damp cloth.
Use as an air freshener and winter humidifier. Add juiced lemon and peels to a pot of water and simmer. The whole house will smell uh-mazing.
Keep cats out of your garden. Grind up lemon peels and sprinkle them around the garden. Cats hate citrus smells.

How about you, do you use lemons for anything besides eating?

~Mavis

The Lemon Book – Natural Recipes and Preparations

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