Gardening ~ Cooking ~ Frugality
Live from Zone 7b in New Jersey

  • Wedding Weekend

    Wedding Weekend

    What happens when there’s three days of wind and rain and you don’t check on your broccoli and Brussels sprouts? A Brassica Massacre. When I went to check on them this week, they were nearly all nibbled away, and the culprits, the bright green cabbage worms, were still lolling about. I must have picked eight…

  • Washout Weekend

    Washout Weekend

    I felt more like myself this week as the cold I had finally receded. I found myself actually wanting to try to get stuff done during the week after work. That’s not to say I did a ton, but a few things: walking the dog; getting bean seeds into packets; shopping around for a cheap…

  • Best Meal of 2026?

    Best Meal of 2026?

    Another weekend has flown by. The kids have off tomorrow for Yom Kippur but I, alas, do not. T. spent the weekend in Nashville and got to see a really exciting Eagles game. The rest of us followed our usual weekend circuits: Haddon Ave, Knights Park, my parents’ house. I had hoped to spend the…

  • Hallelujah, Holy Shit, Where’s the Tylenol?

    Hallelujah, Holy Shit, Where’s the Tylenol?

    Last night was one of those nights where I ended up lying awake questioning most of my life choices. This was precipitated by Tom’s near-constant snoring, and also both the dog and the cat trying to get in the bedroom. I didn’t fall asleep til the wee hours, and then woke up feeling sick. Usually…

  • Song of the Cicadas

    Song of the Cicadas

    Maybe my next house will have a screened-in porch, where I can enjoy a breezy 65-degree September morning, drinking hot coffee and listening to the sounds of nature without my neighbors seeing me in my pajamas and bra-less. In the meantime, I’m on the patio in full view. Too gorgeous a morning not to. Listening…

  • The Party’s Over (But What a Party)

    The Party’s Over (But What a Party)

    I was out past my bedtime last night and seem to be paying for it with a crazy headache today. But it was worth it: I saw Chris Stapleton with friends at a nearby outdoor venue. He was amazing! I’d go see him again. Love his voice. It felt like the perfect finale to what…

  • Midyear Assessment

    Midyear Assessment

    Jumping off the daily treadmill for a minute to think about how I’m meeting my goals (or not). Here are the goals I put in my New Year’s post: I’ve had a change of heart regarding groceries. I’m not doing Costco anymore or worrying about food prices too much. I just don’t have time to…

  • State of Abeyance

    State of Abeyance

    I’m feeling torn in different directions. There are two situations happening right now in which I’m approaching a crossroads.  It could be that nothing changes, or everything could change. Sorry to be vague. If anything actually happens, then I’ll be able to explain. On top of that, the change of seasons is happening and I…

  • Too Stupid to Live

    Too Stupid to Live

    Made it to the weekend, and I wanted to do something fun and summery Saturday, but I woke up feeling a bit sick so I didn’t make any plans. It evolved into a “clean all the things” and GSD (get shit done) kind of day. Laundry, cleaning the dog and cat food areas, cleaning the…

  • Vacation Notes

    Vacation Notes

    Please excuse my detailed description of our vacation. It was one I’d like to remember. I had been a little down on the idea of a family vacation, but this one proved me wrong. Everyone got along, I slept well, and everyone did a decent job of cleaning up after themselves. I think it helped…