Tue-17-Jun-2008 - Updates in gardening and more....
Boy, do I have lots to blog about!
My garden, half-tended to, is growing strongly. We should start eating green beans soon and will probably eat them as a staple most of the rest of the summer. Some of my beans are purple, which I find hauntingly beautiful among the dark green leaves of the plants and so unique! I was quite disappointed to learn that after you cook them they turn green. Bummer!
We should also be eating tomatoes long before July 4th, the traditional date my mom impressed upon me as the date for picking your first ripe tomato! I found struggling among my bush beans 13 volunteer Sun Leaper tomatoes, and since God gave them to me, I planted them. I now have a total of 22 tomato plants and that means lots of salsa and spaghetti sauce . . .
I am nervously awaiting my first squash. I’ve had blooms, but no fruit yet. The plants are rather small still, adding to my anxiety but also giving me a good reason as to why I don’t have any zucchini yet!
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On the $100 Experiment front, things have taken a definite turn. My husband has decided to put himself on a cash diet as well, as he is the big spender of the family. I’ll admit that I’ve dipped into his willing pockets a few times the last week – thus blowing the whole Experiment. On the upside, we have stuck to the cash budget which has greatly, greatly, GREATLY helped to curb our spending.
Honestly, I don’t know how much longer there is hope for the $100 Experiment. One box of diapers – needed ASAP – pretty much depletes my weekly budget of $25. This has taught me that a box of diapers lasts about 3 weeks around here and made me take a much deeper look into what we eat and how we eat and how I cook than ever before in our marriage. And that has been a wonderful thing! I’ve also learned a bit of how to do without and make-do. Both of which I hope to hone in the future but it’s tough without the pressure to make it happen.
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We went to some garage sales on Saturday, using my Jonathan’s spending money and some of mine. We found this cute dresser for $5! It looked dreadful as some of the drawers were in the wrong slots and were pushed in too far. When we got it home we even found a dinged up, un-opened can of Provincial stain inside! We just kind of looked at each other and Jonathan said thoughtfully, “Well, that might be what I stain it with!”
Sometimes I just have to shake my head. God is just so powerful and He actually cares about our family. Wow!
This picture doesn’t do the dresser justice; it is sooooo cute and sturdy! [Note that is plastic money under the dresser. It came with lots of stuff inside, lol. Most of it useless excepting the stain. 
]
We also found some small bowls and plates we really needed. With only 4 small plates the boys and I were eating everything out of spare salad bowls. We found 20 small saucers, 8 small bowls, and 8 large plates (all matching!) for $4. Considering that we had just broken our second large plate and Jonathan had recently admitted that he doesn’t like our square extra plates (I really don’t either but it’s all we had), these excited me as well!
~Ashley~
Comments
Tue-17-Jun-2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by crispe
What a cute dresser! I love antique stuff, especially if it is the right price!
Tue-17-Jun-2008 - Wow!
Posted by LittleHouse
Ashley,
I love the dresser! You have done a wonderful job doing the $100.00 experiment. I have been watching and it was amazing that you did so well with out stopping:) You should be proud of yourselves:)
You have inspired me!!!
Blessings,
Renee aka Ma
Edited by LittleHouse on Tue-17-Jun-2008 at 01:13
Tue-17-Jun-2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Alycia
Well firstly, I'm going to tease you a little about your resistance to trying cloth diapers! You know I'm here if you have any questions.
Secondly, I love the dresser! Daniel and I have decided that we are never again buying anything with a lick of particle board or plywood in it, which makes furniture buying almost impossible! We're going to have to find someone to make a bookcase for us, I think, unless we can find an antique one. The way furniture is made now makes me so unhappy - it's just not meant to last. Part of our disposable culture, I suppose.
Tue-17-Jun-2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by morningsunshine
1) that dresser looks soooo much like the one I had growing up (in fact it is back to my mom's house after a stint in ours after we got married)
2) diapers will kill any budget! oh - and you have 2 in diapers at your house. sorry. makes me think about that baby potty training I have heard about - elimination communication. only, I have older children and it sounds like a lot of work....
3) my dh is the spender in our house too! lol!
Tue-17-Jun-2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by southernbelle
The Louisiana Purple Pod Pole Beans are what we grow. They are really pretty against the green, you're right. And when it comes picking time they are so much easier to pick because of that color. I love how they turn green as soon as the water heats them up on the stove.
Tue-17-Jun-2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by mamato8
There is nothing like pressure to make one spend less:)
I look forward to seeing how the dresser turns out!
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