{ Money Saving Idea }

This isn't a new money saving idea but I like it, none the less. Little white envelopes full of CASH. How does that save me money you ask? Well, children, take a page from our grandparents...they weren't all crazy. Tomorrow I will be putting away the checkbook and the debit card and the credit card and only carrying cash. That methodology, when followed faithfully, allowed us to pay off not one, but two student loans 15 years early.

Back in the day when we were poor students and starting out (and I'm not being euphamistic here, we really were poor), we had several envelopes that lived in a large paper clip for "gas" "food" "spending money" (the smallest of them all). Each week we would put the budgeted (read: we'd empty the checking account because it's all we had) amount into it's alloted envelope. When it was gone, it was gone...until next pay day. Now, because we didn't have the luxury of credit or of savings accounts, the "when it was gone" part was literal. Fast forward 17 years and that notion is, well, hypothetical. But we are committed to getting back on track and MOVING ahead. We've been standing in the same spot on these tracks for a mighty long time now and I'm afraid a large freight train is heading our way if we don't move along.

Now, where did I put that Sharpie!

{ Berry Disasters }

We have had our first minor disaster in the food production drama...the bottom freezer didn't get closed all the way (and NO ONE seems to know how that happened...) and several gallons of berries have defrosted. Seriously, how much jam can a person eat? We've had ice cream suggested (not a bad one) and of course, puree for smoothies. The worst part we were freezing a friend's Rainier cherries for her since she was traveling last week...oh, that just stinks!

{ A Dinner To Cherish }

Wow! Is it REALLY July 16th! Quarterly tax months just fly by in my bookkeeping world! Anyhoo...

Last night I was honored to be invited to dinner at Hedgebrook, the writers retreat here in my community. I will not divulge the identity of the writers there but suffice it to say, I was blessed to be in the presence of these women who are so talented and visionary in their work. I found myself holding back the hundreds of questions I wanted to ask because, they are, after all, in retreat. They don't need me imposing my dialogue or perspective on them. But what a gift I had last night to be among these women who give to us their world of words. And the food ROCKED too! (Thanks, Jess!)

To learn more about Hedgebrook or to donate (tax refundable, gotta love that!) visit: http://hedgebrook.org

{ What's a Girl to Do? }

I feel like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland...I'm late, I'm late...This weekend is one of those weekends that I have tasks on every front and there is so much to do, I'm a bit overwhelmed. And so what do I chose to do first? I've spent the last hour visiting the blogs of all my friends at Women Take Wing! and now here I sit, blogging myself. LOL! So much for discipline!

I will go shower, sip another cup of Breakfast Blend from Island Tea Company and then roll up my sleeves here in the office for a few hours before heading outside to harvest salad greens, water and then work on the fence....the eternal fence project that will never end. The island is bustling this weekend with "townies" so I'm staying close to home.

{ Happy Rabble Rouser Day! }

When I read the Declaration of Independence, I marvel at the level of gumption and uppity-ness it took the founding citizens of this nation to write, sign and send that document. While Native Americans certainly got the raw deal, and I never want us to ignore that part of our history, this day represents not just the beginning of our nation but the beginning of our culture as Americans...that we hold that all men (and women,deal with it) are created equal and that we have a divine right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Novel concepts for the day and for the time. As you light the bbq or set of that firework today, remember the rabble rousers that made it all possible.