A Quick Update

A Pretty Old picture- because Hazel still has her Binky- but maybe right after we got Bella- Novemberish. You know how I love the fall & bundling-up weather! They both look so sweet here- I couldn't resist!

Lately I have been devoting a small block of time to serious couponing. I've always used coupons, but after watching TLC's Extreme Couponing, I have started to look at coupons in a different more serious way. OUr savings have really doubled, if not tripled.. It does make me feel better about how I am contributing- however we are still using the same amount of money and are not able to get it down like the people do in the show. Again we are in NY and it seems like prices and stores are more strict..? Anyhow, I'll show you a couple of my free or super cheap items very soon!

This Friday will be Zach and my 5 year anniversary of marriage and our 1 year anniversary of buying our little cottage! We've accomplished a lot- but there is still so much to do. I feel a little overwhelmed with the amount of yard work... we still don't have a fence, which makes living on a busy road scary. I feel like I can't turn my back with a little one. I can't pull weeds and get on my knees and plant and I know I am complaining- I just have a fear of the yard without the fence. So we've got to work on it. Then the poison ivy...it's growing and since I was little all I needed to do was look at it the wrong way and I'd wake up covered in it. So pulling those weeds are kind of scary.

Uploading current pictures has been a challenge, I don't get a lot of computer time- since Zach now works from home and I've been a little lazy. But I am going to try to work on that too. In Hobocamp news- we've got some new ideas bubbling and my machine has been stitching away. I just snagged some more velcro for these:

in the swing

This will be short, because I think part of why I took such a hiatus from this little place was because the blogging was feeling like I HAD to do it rather than I WANTED to. Funny how our brains work sometimes! After our computer crashed- we lost practically everything. I was grateful to have this blog and be able to reminisce and see all that I posted over the years.

Hazel is 2 1/2, I have been on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet since March and it's working! My Colitis is mostly always in check and I am able to better understand what I can and can't eat. Zach has switched jobs and is now able to work from home with exception for 1-2 days a week when he travels into the city. So much is changing. Our cats still lounge and meow at us to fetch them food, Bella the puppy dog still chews everything in sight- but she's trying. We've got a wee container garden.. Ozark strawberries, tons of basil ( my favorite thing to grow), tomatoes,lavender,beans,cilantro,Russian kale and spearmint & apple mint.

Way Back When...

Some New Items in the Shop! Snack Bags!

This little girl is my WHOLE world!

silly big boy Jasper

and Papa's world too-- Iron girl?!


We are coming on 1 year of home ownership- which is kind of crazy! We love it- but had NO idea just how tough it was going to be. Every day we try to make a little bit of progress, whether it's hanging a picture frame,switching out curtains or hanging a new plant. The nesting still goes on. The crafting is starting up and I am trying to climb out of the cold weather funk. Inspiration come to me~