In The Refiner's Fire

  Roasting Marshmallows! We have an abundance of tomatoes and peppers this week!  I am hoping to make more salsa and can that this week.  We will see how time plays out. Here is what we are eating this week: Sunday, August 23:       Breakfast: Cereal and Milk       Lunch: Leftovers       Snack: Almonds or Yogurt       Dinner: Pork Chops, Corn on the Cob, Applesauce Monday, August 24:       Breakfast: Eggs and Toast       Lunch: Salad with Walnuts and Craisins       Snack: Yogurt       Dinner: Baked Chicken Legs, Roasted Zucchini and Sweet Potatoes Tuesday, August 25:        Breakfast: Lemon Scones, Sliced Peaches        Lunch: Salad with Leftover Chicken        Snack: No Bake Energy Bites        Dinner: Pasta Salad with Tuna, Corn on the Cob Wednesday, August 26:   ...

Our Anniversary dinner - salmon, pasta salad, and zucchini.   August has flown by so fast!  I am just amazed by how quickly it has gone. We were so blessed to get away for our Anniversary weekend with the children to a rented cabin in Northern Wisconsin.  We spent 5 days relaxing, enjoying the sound of the loons singing, reading, hiking, drawing (the children), writing (John) and doing embroidery (me).  The children went swimming and/or paddle boarding every day while we were there.  We stopped to see my cousin and her husband on the way home; it was so nice to visit!  We stayed outside (socially distanced with masks) and enjoyed a picnic dinner of hamburgers, cut veggies and grilled beets (beetroot) straight from their garden. Wonderful! Here are some other things we have done since the beginning of August that are frugal: * We made most meals at home including soups, roasted meats and vegetables, eggs (scrambled, fried,  baked) and home-baked bread. ...

Our Garden Harvest this past weekend. Yum! We started this week with my Birthday!  I turned 45 years old this year.  It was a good day and it was a good way to start the week.  We end this week with our Anniversary - the first week of August is always a big week for us. We're starting to get full size tomatoes and peppers from the garden.  The beans and the peas are flowering again.  I always feel like I have won the lottery when I find fresh produce in the garden!  I try to harvest daily, even if it is just a handful of items.   Here is what we are eating this week: Sunday, August 2, My 45th Birthday:      Brunch: Egg Bake      Snack: Crackers and Cheese      Dinner: Take Away (Birthday Treat) Monday, August 3:     Breakfast: Bagels and Cream Cheese     Lunch: Leftovers from Sunday     Snack: Yogurt     Dinner: Soft Shell Taco, Spinach Salad Tuesday, August 4: ...