Welcome to another wild and wooly week a the Frugal Upstate Village Homestead! Things have slowed down a bit here since a few of the kids activities have ended (Odessey and the play)–but that’s all pretty relative. Our calendar still seems pretty full and all of the warm weather activities and chores (like gardening &… Keep Reading
Signs of Spring
Ahhh, it looks like spring has finally arrived here in Upstate NY. Barely. We may still have permafrost 3 inches down, the high might only be 50, and there could still always be another light snowfall. . . but some true blue signs have appeared this week proving that winter is finally on it’s way… Keep Reading
Bookbag 4-1-13
Here’s my second installment of the Frugal Upstate Bookbag report. Yup, this is what I have out from our awesome local library right now: An Age of Barns by Eric Sloane I discovered Eric Sloane a couple of months ago. His books are a bit older (this one is from 2001) and are what I… Keep Reading
Meal Plan 3-31
It’s Meal Plan Time! I am so excited about this week–because there really isn’t much going on. Last week was just straight out, all day, every day, all week. I am exhausted. So a quiet calmer week is just what the doctor ordered. Especially if this blasted snow we got last night melts like it’s… Keep Reading
Meal Plan 3/24
Welcome to a cold spring week in Upstate NY. Record lows for this date in Binghamton this morning. . . blech. I am so ready to be outside digging in the garden, and Yankee Bill can’t wait to get on the bike. But for now we are all just slogging along, trying to get what… Keep Reading
Quick Tip: Recycled Compost Bucket
I’m a big believer in composting. It pretty much meets all my criteria for a perfect activity–it takes items that would normally be trash, save them from being sent to the landfill and recycles it into organic matter that can be used in your garden for free in place of a purchased fertility supplement. Sustainable… Keep Reading
Easy Eggrolls
You would not believe how easy it is to make your own tasty eggrolls (egg rolls?) at home! All you need is 4 or 5 ingredients and to get over your fear of frying things! Eggrolls at their most basic are a wrapper and a stuffing. For vegetarian eggrolls you can use cabbage, carrot and… Keep Reading
Frugal Upstate Bookbag 3/18
My friend Pam used to work at our local library. Just yesterday she was saying how much she missed seeing what books I was taking out since apparently I always choose interesting books! She reads this blog and suggested that I start a feature where I share with everyone what books I have in my… Keep Reading
Meal Plan 3/17
What are you eating this week? You don’t know? Well you should! Planning your weekly menus is a great way to make sure that you have everything on hand you need for your meals, that you take into account your busy schedule, and that you use up foods in the fridge before they go bad. … Keep Reading
Fluffy Shamrock Wreath Tutorial
Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? I admit, while we aren’t Irish, we do enjoy an excuse to eat some delicious corned beef and cabbage, and to change out our Valentines Day decorations for something new while we wait for true spring and Easter to arrive. This year for my Walmart Mom St. Patrick’s Day… Keep Reading
