Fall is here in upstate New York and I look around and wonder where did our summer go? I think people do that with their lives every day. They keep saying I will do this when I have more money. I will do this when I get married. I will do this when I have children. I will do this when I am older, when I am thinner, when I am _________ whatever.

I know I am guilty of this myself. You cannot put things off that you want to do because you just might never do them. I make goal lists...

It is so hard for me to keep my mouth shut when I see or hear people discussing low fat foods. Like for instance on facebook right now, there has been an on going discussion regarding low fat cream of chicken soup. I mentioned to a FB friend that I make my own mixes because if you take a look at the ingredient label of Campbell's cream of chicken soup you'd be wondering what EXACTLY was in there! As a modern homesteader, I have made my own mixes for years now. But have changed even that since going...

I have just learned that shredded cheeses have potato starch in them. I did not know this. Since I rarely buy shredded cheeses it would not be a problem normally. But I just canned 23 half pints of cheddar cheese and I bought shredded. I will have to use these and just use them very sparingly for my food.

It seems that if you are not very careful with every single food you purchase there will be something hidden in it that you don't want. My husband does not like many vegetables...

Been pretty busy this summer so far. My garden is not doing as well as it should be. Our area has a late tomato blight that is affecting tomato and potato plants in our area. Hasn't affected mine yet. But since we have not been getting a lot of sun the tomato and pepper plants have not done well at all. Even my green bean plants which by this time every year have been feeding us daily have not even had one bean on them!!!! I am not happy about this at all. I figure it is to be expected as you cannot...

Gardening season is upon us.......and not a moment too soon. With the price of food in the stores who can not afford to plant a garden? Even if it is small one. To get started I always start my own seeds, but you can easily buy plants already started at Lowe's or Walmart for hardly much money. I do most of my gardening in raised beds that my husband built. Some are of wood and then we have some spectacular ones made of rock. They make gardening so easy plus they are very attractive and everyone...