Rosemary thanks for the tip! That cookbook sounds right up our alley.
cdttmm that is a great score on the books!
We have had a nice frugal day. I got the kids started on their grammar and writing work early so we could spend a good chunk of the morning outside. We went to a park nearby intending to go on a nature walk in the woods and by the lake and discovered that the historical society had put up placards by a bunch of dirt trails into the woods that lead to the ruins of parts of the stockyard that was on the same property in the 1800s. The kids had a fantastic time running in the woods finding the ruins of the ice houses, pumphouse and other landmarks. We walked to the fishing pier and noticed a creek running off from the lake. We saw lots of interesting bugs and a dead shrew and had a brief discussion about sediment as a result of a sediment build up in the lake near the creek entrance. It was good fun, good learning and best of all, free. Thanks to the exercise and fresh air the boys and I napped all afternoon and the girls played.
I am keeping meals simple this week. We've had sandwich type meals two days in a row and tonight we are having an asian style vegetable noodle soup. Tomorrow is corned beef in the crockpot at DH's request and Friday is homemade mac and cheese and a salad. No one seems to mind.
A neighbor gave us some apples from his hobby farm. I was thinking of making applesauce, but the kiddos have already eaten most of them whole. Oh well. At least it's healthy.
I was looking at my menu for next week and I think I will mostly just need fresh produce, milk and bacon.