I'm ba-ack!

After much nagging by various relations, I have returned to the blogosphere. We had a very busy July, which included a trip back to the Midwest to see our families, and I started neglecting things around here. I'll try to do better!

Hopefully all of the busy-ness will be paying off soon. I can't wait to tell you all what Hubs and I have in the works! To our two moms: it's not that! :-)

On the plus side, I've been storing up lots of ideas and things I'd like to share with you, so you'll be hearing from me plenty in the near future!

Visit Home, Birthday Freebies!

We're leaving today for a week-long visit with my family back in the Midwest, so things will probably be quiet around here until we go back (hence no Menu Plan Monday!). Hubs enjoyed his birthday a lot. I managed to get a free pedometer and a free pack of playing cards (with our dog's face on them!) by signing up for some freebies a couple of months ago, so that helped to supplement the lean birthday gift allowance.

I've found that keeping an eye out for those good deals throughout the year really helps with gift giving. iMommies is a good resource for finding these deals, but you have to request them well in advance, as freebies usually take about two months to arrive. Hubs actually jumped on the bandwagon over Christmas by surprising me with a little collection of perfume samples. It was a lovely, pampering little gift that didn't cost him anything but a little time.

So, wish us a safe and fun trip!

Summer at Last

A roadside flower stand downtown had a sign posted: JUNE SNOW BRINGS JULY FLOWERS. I hope that's true, since our cold snap has finally passed by and the snow on the mountains has melted. Today was hot and beautiful. I love skirt weather

We just bought me my first sewing machine, a Brother ES3000. We found it for $115 with a coupon code on Overstock.com, so I was very happy! Hubs is almost more excited about it as I am, since he's always wanted to learn how to sew. Right now I'm working on a "gathering apron" from The Cottage at Frog Creek. I'm feeling proud that I haven't managed to sew through my finger yet. I'll keep you posted!

To compare with this photo of our roasting black cat, here is a photo my husband took on his way to work last week:


See those big clouds and the snow on the mountains?

Please excuse our dust

I’m pleased to meet you. Welcome to my blog-in-progress! I like to write and I’ve enjoyed so many excellent blogs that I thought it would be nice to have a little place of my own. I’m a newlywed, SAHW living in Montana. My husband and I live with a cocker spaniel, three fish, and a little black guy we call “The Noisiest Cat in the West.”

I’ll be posting daily about our journey towards a simpler life. There should be plenty of beautiful photos, mostly courtesy of my talented husband, and plenty of somewhat eccentric rambling. I enjoy little moments of beauty, particularly flowers and fancy breakfasts.

My husband and I are both country people at heart, but we’re currently living in the center of a city. This blog will detail our attemps to make more of our own products, as well as my adventures in frugality.

Any comments or advice are welcome, especially about the mechanics of blogging. My computer saavy doesn’t extend very far, so please bear with me as I work out the kinks. I hope you’ll leave a comment and come back to visit!