2025 My Annus Horribilis

 Well, last year was quite a horrible one for my family.  In the Spring my husband had surgery on his foot, followed by a few months of healing.

In the summer I was at home reading while he was out riding his bicycle.  I received a phone call from his phone, when I answered a woman informed me that he had an accident, she had been in an Uber with her friends and saw him lying on the side of the road.  They made the Uber stop, checked on him, and called 911.

Apparently, all of them were trauma center nurses and knew how to care for him.  When I arrived the paramedics were evaluating him and transported him to our, very good, local hospital.

Another woman had stopped and offered to take his bike to our house and left it on our front porch.

After hugging and thanking everyone I followed the ambulance to the emergency room.  Husband’s CAT scan indicated that he had a brain bleed.  He had a craniotomy the next day and was hospitalized for a week.

His recovery was miraculous.  Within four months he was walking normally, allowed to drive and basically resume normal activities.

As soon as he had fully recovered I had to have surgery on my right foot.  I was blessed to have a good orthopedic surgeon and was back to normal by mid December.

God bless the nurses, doctors and physical therapists that helped us recover.

Now we are helping our daughter get ready to move to South Korea.  This has been her dream for several years and she has worked hard to get to this point.  It’s bittersweet for us; we are proud of her, but we will miss her terribly.

I’m looking forward to starting posting new blog posts and YouTube videos.  This year is going to be our year of change.  We hope to move to a rural setting after selling our house in Florida.  

God bless,

Pam

Sorry!

 I had a list of new topics to blog, but life took a turn.  In July my husband was in a severe bicycle accident resulting in him developing a brain bleed and requiring a craniotomy.  He is recovering well, but requires a lot of help and attention.

God bless,

Pam

Knitting Like Crazy

 After two severe hurricanes, with massive flooding in my county, a damaged car that took forever to get repaired because over 100,000 vehicles were damaged in my county, and two illnesses, plus a torn rotator cuff; I am finally in a place to return to blogging and vlogging.

To stay sane during all of this I have been knitting like crazy or maybe knitting to not be crazy.  I find knitting, crocheting and quilting very relaxing and meditative.  But like most hobbies, it’s not cheap, especially if you prefer yarn made of natural fibers.

Through trial and error I have found two knitting websites that carry quality yarn, made in Europe and with reasonable prices.  I still spend some time and money at my local yarn shop, but when you do a lot of needlework it’s nice to find a place that isn’t overpriced.  Plus both of them have a decent selection of free patterns.

One of the shops is Hobbi which is very user friendly for English speakers and when you pull up one of their patterns they include a list of suggested yarns, amounts and notions for that pattern.  They do have a longer processing and mailing time.

The next shop is Linde Hobby .  They have a quicker delivery time, but you need to be sure to pick the English version of the pattern when you download it.

Sorry for my long absence, but at least I have a nice selection of knitwear to show for it.

God bless,

Pam

A Frugal Merry Christmas #2

 Another group of my favorite stores for gifts:

1.  True Leaf Market carries a variety of seeds and propagation supplies, including one of my go to Asian seeds from Kitazawa Seeds.  Use coupon code Holiday24 for 15% off items from their holiday gift guide.

2.  King Arthur Baking has something for everyone, but if you are shopping for someone with a gluten allergy they have some of the best gluten free baking mixes.

3.  Calamity Ware carries calamity themed ceramics.  I sent my brother the coffee mugs one year and he loved them.

4.  Burpee Seeds is offering 25% off plus free shipping on orders over $50.  I love their collapsible tomato cages.

5.  Warmies are stuffed animals, slippers and scarfs filled with heating beads and lavender.  Heat them in the microwave and climb into bed for a peaceful sleep.  My daughter loves her sloth and my husband loves the slippers.  They are offering a BOGO for the weekend.

6.  Voluspa is a candle company that sells candles made of coconut oil.  Their Noble Fir scented candles smell so authentic that you will think there’s a Christmas tree in the room.  They are 20% off for Black Friday.

I hope you get some inspiration from this list of my frequently used and favorite stores.

God bless,

Pam

A Merry Frugal Christmas #1

 Here are a few of my favorite brands that I use for gift giving:

1. North Spore mushrooms - from mushroom growing kits to Christmas ornaments North Spore has proven to be a reliable source of all things mushroom related.  They are featuring 30% off some items for Black Friday and you can use my coupon code, FRUGALMENNONITE for 10% off.

2.  If you don’t want to spend $90 for an Apple watch band, then I suggest buying your watch bands from Solace Bands.  They are offering buy two bands, get two free for Black Friday.

3.  Every year I gift my husband two sun protection shirts from Coolibar.  They last for years and they are offering 50% off everything for Black Friday.

4.  I use Bombas socks and underwear for stocking stuffers.  Long lasting, high quality and they donate an equal amount of product to charity for each purchase.  For Black Friday they are offering 25% off.

More Frugal Christmas ideas will be coming your way tomorrow.

God bless,

Pam

Happy Thanksgiving

 Bless you, your family and friends!

Two Hurricanes in Two Weeks

 Hurricane Helene hit my county with tides higher than I have ever seen.  The beaches were devastated, but we also had inland flooding caused by the tides backing water up into creeks and bayous.  Two hospitals were closed down due to flash flooding and have not reopened.  People living on those tiny bodies of water had three to four feet of water in their homes.

Some of my neighbors have an extra family living with them and expect them to stay with them for at least a year.

And everyone has heard and seen the damage Helene did in the Carolinas.

When it became possible that Hurricane Milton might hit my county as a category 5 hurricane we decided to evacuate.  It took us 9 1/2 hours to travel to a city that is normally 3 1/2 hours away.  And a distracted driver back ended my car in the process.

Fortunately, our home was not damaged and my car has been somewhat repaired.  Debris (so much debris) is being removed from roadways.  We had lost our frozen and refrigerated food, so I applied to be reimbursed by FEMA and they approved my application.

Life is returning to normal and I will be writing my Frugal Christmas posts this weekend and will begin filming our work in the house and garden.

God bless,

Pam

Summer In Florida

 It was and is a brutal summer this year and probably in future summers to come.  The heat was so bad I couldn’t bear working outside in the garden.  But we had a great deal of rain for three months, the weeds and grasses had a field day growing in the gardens.

I’ve been spending the last two weeks trying to get the gardens in shape for planting.  Last week we had the effects of hurricane Helene.  The wind didn’t do too much damage, but we spent the week without electricity.  In Florida that’s a very bad, no good thing.

Physically, the heat played havoc with my arthritis and I am still recovering.  However, I got out into the garden today, I’m paying for it, but it needs doing.

Hurricane Helene was a big storm, so its winds pushed water into my county’s shoreline causing massive flooding.  I live on top of a bluff, so we weren’t affected, but waterfront and beach communities were flooded badly.

The small beach city (Treasure Island) I lived in during my teens and early twenties was literally wiped off the map.  What didn’t get inundated with water was covered in sand.  It’s heartbreaking to see.

Here’s hoping and praying for more cheerful posts in the future.  Hurricane season ends in November.  

God bless,

Pam

Growing Lettuce Indoors

 Since I live in Florida it is very difficult to grow lettuce outdoors, especially during the summer.  The heat forces the lettuce to bolt, which makes the lettuce bitter.  I started growing lettuce indoors in an Aerogarden Farm and it works really well for my small family.

You can use any hydroponic system from kratky jars to automated hydroponic systems.  For me, the Aerogarden is the easiest.  I suggest watching their website for sales.  The sales are particularly good when they are about to release a new or upgraded edition.

I am still making YouTube videos to accompany my blog posts.  It’s easier than taking multiple photos to explain the process.  It would definitely help if you subscribe to my YouTube channel and like the posts.  Commenting on the video boosts the YouTube algorithm.

I hope you enjoy watching the videos.

God bless,

Pam

Harvesting Onions

 I had a bumper crop of onions this year.  I used them to fill in any spaces between plants and a couple of regular rows.  I ordered the slips from Hoss Tools and they grew beautifully.  I’m impressed by the quality of the seeds and plants I’ve purchased from them.  They are all developed to do well in hot, humid conditions, so perfect for Florida.

You can tell onions are ready for harvest when the green tops fall over.  After harvest I cured them by using some old clothes pins to hang them on my wire fencing.  This works better for me as I don’t need to worry about moisture in the ground causing the onions to rot.

I finished them by weaving a couple of onion braids and decided to dry the rest in my dehydrator.  I sliced them into 1/4 inch pieces and it took about two days for the onions to be completely dried.  Now they are stored away in 1/2 gallon jars.

This may sound strange, but dried onions make a tasty snack.  Onions naturally have a lot of sugar, which concentrates when they are dried.

I hope you enjoy my short video.

God bless,

Pam

Harvesting Mulberries

 The mulberry trees are producing and, normally, I go out every day to hand pick them.  We had already lost some to a rain storm and another storm was approaching.  My husband and I decided to try to do a bulk harvest before the storm knocked down all the ripe mulberries.

The bulk harvest using a tarp was successful and we managed to save two gallons of mulberries.

Enjoy the video and God bless,

Pam

Pigeon Peas

 Easy to start from seed, virtually disease free, and nutritious, pigeon peas are a great plant for thefood forest.  They thrive in hot, humid weather and are a staple in the islands.  Use them as you would any bean, but they are traditionally served with rice.

I hope you enjoy this new video.

God bless,

Pam

Garden Tour On YouTube

 I decided to start a YouTube channel to enable me to post content that is difficult to represent with photos.  

This video is a tour of my Spring garden here on the west coast of Florida.  Please excuse my nasal voice and throat clearing.  It’s caused by allergies and rheumatoid arthritis has affected my vocal cords.

I hope you enjoy and God bless,

Pam

The Frugal Kitchen: Step By Step Granola Recipe

 My favorite breakfast consists of a bowl of yogurt, either honey or jam, and finished with a topping of homemade granola.  I make granola once a month.  Here is my process:

Use a half sheet pan.  It allows the granola to toast evenly and quickens the browning.  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pour a quarter cup of oil into the pan, trying to distribute it evenly.  Use the oil of your choice.

Add around 32 ounces of rolled oats to the pan and mix thoroughly with the oil.

Add a half cup of honey to the oats and stir thoroughly.  You could also use maple syrup, but I would increase the amount to 3/4 cups.

Here is where you can get creative by adding any combination of nuts and seeds to the mixture.  This is a good way to use any small amount of nuts that you have leftover.

Mix thoroughly and spread evenly in your sheet pan.  Bake at 5 minute intervals, stirring between each 5 minutes until the granola has toasted thoroughly.  It should be a golden brown color.

Now add the dried fruit, cut into bite sized pieces, that you prefer.  I don’t toast the granola any further after adding the fruit, because the fruit can get hard.

Mix thoroughly and allow to cool completely before storing in a container or ziplock bag.  

I hope you enjoy this granola recipe.  My family loves it and I like being able to control the amount of sweetness and oil.  Commercially made granola is high in fat and sugar.

God bless,

Pam

Goodreads: Radical Mycology

 If you read this blog regularly you will know that I am something of a fungi geek.  I read about fungi, watch documentaries and YouTube videos about fungi,  and experiment with growing fungi in various and sundry ways.

I recently purchased one of the best books about fungi, Radical Mycology, by Peter McCoy.  It's a great source of information on all things fungi, but its greatest attraction to me is the descriptions and instructions on creative ways to grow fungi/mushrooms.

 

Fair warning, this is an expensive book.  I will include a link below for Amazon, but I found it for thirty dollars less at Powells Bookstore.  

This is a great book for my library of creative interests.  I hope you enjoy it.

God bless,

Pam

Amazon link to Radical Mycology

Frugal Christmas Gifts 2023 #3

 Due to a stomach bug I have fallen behind on the Christmas posts.  Since there are only four days left until Christmas it’s time to talk about gift cards.

True Leaf Market 

One of my favorite gardening supply stores True Leaf Market carries a variety of seeds, including seeds from Kitazawa seed company.  If you like Asian vegetables and herbs they have the best.  Use coupon code TLMGIFTS15 to receive 15% off.

Cato Corner Farm

I love cheese and come from a family obsessed with great cheese.  Cato Corner Farm is owned by relatives of my sister in law and I have been fortunate to have been gifted their cheese regularly.  They have the best blue cheese I have ever had.  Blue cheese on crackers, drizzled with a sweet tamarind sauce is amazing.

Burlap and Barrel 

Burlap and Barrel carries ethically sourced, small batch and very fresh spices.  I’ve been using their products for a long time and they truly uplift recipes to a new level.  I asked for their monthly spice club as my gift this year.

Northspore Mushrooms 

Northspore carries everything needed for home mushroom growing.  I have been fortunate to have a partnership with the company and I think any gardener who wants to take their food production to the next level will enjoy receiving a gift certificate from them.   Use the coupon code FRUGALMENNONITE for 10% off your purchase.

God bless and Happy Holidays,

Pam

Frugal Christmas Gifts 2023 #2

 If you have someone in your life that loves salad greens, misses their garden in the winter, or a child that wants to try gardening, the True Leaf Market mini micro green growing kits will make a thoughtful gift.  Plus they are so reasonably priced that you can gift several varieties at a time.

In fact, this is my go to gift this Holiday season.  

One of my favorite meals is a seafood salad sprinkled with spicy radish sprouts.  Just the right amount of spice and crunch.

Use the coupon code TLMGIFTS15 for 15% off your purchase.

God bless,

Pam

Frugal Christmas Gifts 2023 #1

 If you have a forager on your list or someone that wants to know more about wild plants, I highly recommend Eat The Weeds by  Deane Jordan.  

One of the things that I really love is that nutritional information is included, plus excellent photos and descriptions.

God bless,

Pam

Happy Thanksgiving!

 Wishing you a peaceful and happy day.

The Frugal Kitchen: Ginger and Turmeric Chicken and Rice

 I woke up this morning feeling puny and decided to cook a dish that I find both healing and comforting.  It’s a version of chicken and yellow rice that’s heavy on two health giving spices, turmeric and ginger.

Ingredients 

4 chicken thighs 

2 Tablespoons olive oil 

1 small onion, roughly chopped 

4 or 5 minced garlic cloves 

1 teaspoon powdered turmeric 

4 teaspoons powdered coriander 

2 tablespoons finely minced ginger 

1 teaspoon finely minced jalapeño 

5 cups chicken broth 

1 bunch Tatsoi or Pak Choi, leaves separated from the stems 

1 1/2 cups rice 

1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro 

1 teaspoon salt 

Black pepper to taste 

Heat the oil in a heavy pot, add onion, garlic, coriander, turmeric, ginger and jalapeño, lightly sauté.  Add chicken broth, chicken thighs, black pepper and tatsoi stems.  Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and cook covered for an hour.  Remove chicken thighs from the pot and allow to cool.  Remove the meat from the bones, return to pot.  Add salt, tatsoi leaves, cilantro and rice to the pot and simmer covered for 30 minutes.  Most, but not all of the liquid should have been absorbed by the rice.  If you prefer to serve this as a soup add more chicken broth.

This dish was a hit with my family and definitely one of my favorite comfort foods.

Enjoy and God Bless,

Pam