urbanhomesteader

Spring is still here....

Although they are calling for snow showers on Sunday. I'm getting so antsy to get out in the garden at the folks but when I was there yesterday I saw there was still about half foot of snow out there. Bummer. The tomato plants I started are doing great, my squashes and brocolli starts are coming nicely as well.

The sun has been shining the last couple days after 48 hours of gloomy rainy weather. It was 69 today!! Wow, what a change. This weekend (which of course I'm off) is suppose to have a cold front come thru along with more rain. Highs of 40. Brrrr (isn't it funny at how only a couple weeks ago I was rejoycing over 40 degrees???)

Have been doing more work on the house - a never ending feat. Looking forward to the day when I don't have to travel so far to get to work. Gas went up here to 3.69/gal and expected to go even higher by next week. Our food prices also continue to rise. Lettuce was 2.99 a head!! Not that I'd buy non-organic lettuce but still.... Flour was 2.99 for 5lbs - the store had some for .99 last week but of course you could only get the bleached kind. It's really getting out of hand. The prices in our vending machine went up too. Mind you I bring in my own healthy food to eat but wanted to see what they were getting. A disgusting looking macaroni sald - I'd say a cups worth was 1.00, a turkey and cheese on dried looking white bread was 1.25, a disgusting looking deep-fried fish / cheese sandwich on a hoagie roll(again, looks dried out) was 1.75. They did have some apples and oranges in there for .75 a piece, and cookies (frozen dough) 2/.75. A carton of milk is .35. Just some ideas - I'm glad I bring in my own. I know what's in my food and make it so it's as fresh and healthy as possible. While I may not girnd my own wheat (a plan in progress) I do buy orgainc stone ground that has the date that it was ground written on the package from one of the local health stores. Chrystal's oatmeal raisin cookies are sooooo much better than any I've ever had - even when I make the whole batch and freeze some of the dough. (mmmmm, reminds me, I need to bake some LOL) Home made bread is so much better than store bought - and no artificial stuff. Our local Mennonite owned store has the best breads when I'm in a pinch. They bake every other day a whole variety of whole grain, sour dough, white, rolls and other types of bread. They make the best garlic sour dough french bread! I love it when I time it right and can pick it up when it's still warm. It also makes the best french bread pizza. I can slice it lengthwise into thirds and get 3 pizzas out of it which makes 9 meals for me (the loaves are 6in long). It also makes very good croutons if you forget you have it in the freezer  LOL. I'm so glad I had the knowlege to have supplies put by to last around 6-12 mos. I've been living off those supplies only buying what I must have - such as milk, butter, yogurt, ect. I don't know anyone with a cow to make my own milk, yogurt, butter and cheese. I can still get eggs (organic free range) pretty reasonable at the Mennonite shop. $1.50/doz for larges.

Well, I'd better go get a jump start on my work chores. I came in at 7pm tonite and will work until 7am in the morning. Uffda, it's going to be a looooong night LOL.

Have a great day everyone - or better yet, sleep well friends. God bless!!

Michele