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It's spring, and that means things are busy at the farmstead. With my return to work over the last couple of years, things have really gotten hectic. It's hard to keep up with mowing, planting, housework, and writing all at once.

But I bet I'm preaching to the choir, right? We all have busy lives and many of you that read here are likely working toward some kind of self-sufficiency. Unless you are just stopping by to say, "Look at what this crazy woman is doing now," which is fine. Having an audience for my insanity just makes things more fun.

The column is doing well, and I am thoroughly enjoying the adventure.

My recent columns have included advice on growing squash, the office Dandelion Wars, and of course the awesomeness of chickens.

Most columns are reminiscent of things I've discussed here, and even include pics from the blog, so many of my faithful readers (both of them) may be familiar with the topics already.

It's a lot of fun to bring in a new audience, especially a local one. The Dandelion Wars column was very popular, with folks choosing Team Dandelion or Team Emerald Lawn, but I owe that to our amazing social media guru, who posed the question of team loyalty via Facebook.

Check out the columns, and if you have any great ideas for an upcoming column, leave a comment here at the blog. Feedback is always welcome!

Complete with audio - this week's column!

Click here for this week's column!! yay!!!

Drum roll, please.....

I can't believe how excited I am about this!! You can tell by all the exclamation points!!!!

I am now an official garden columnist for a local news site!!!

(Yes, that's me....name and all.  My secret identity...sigh...)

 All of my faithful readers (both of you)....come, read, share!!

Country Life with Candace

Changes on the way...

So you may have noticed a few things are different.  More details to come soon, I promise!! Big stuff on the horizon!!

I'm not addicted...I can quit whenever I want

My seed addiction is under control.  I swear!  I haven't bought any seeds this year!!

Ok, that's actually because when I was in the store, they didn't have anything interesting.  And because I just haven't had time to sit down and page through the seed catalogs as much as I'd like.

I have a list, though.

But the garden is going to be so much smaller this year (she says through clenched teeth).

I've said that every year, and ended up expanding most years instead of reducing.  Last year, we took the size down a bit by using smaller beds instead of one giant one.

This year, there's no choice but to reduce the garden.  This summer we plan to crack down on the home repairs and improvements, and we really can't tackle that and tend a huge garden.

 We still have plenty of produce put up from previous years, which helps, but of course we want our garden fresh goodies.  And if I don't get to play in the dirt, I just may go insane.

I'm already having plant withdrawal.  I plan to get some seedlings started this weekend, but nothing like my past adventures.

Nope, this year will be just a tray or two.  **gasp**  I feel faint just saying that.

It's just a small break.  Just one year.  Just a few months...Just one season....

I will never survive.  You'll find me in the *former* garden space, lying in the dirt, twitching.

Random blog vomit

• I have been awake for 20 hours.
• I haven't slept more than 6 hours in a row all week.
• I think the leprechaun on the Lucky Charms box is staring at me.
• I can't eat Lucky Charms. They are not gluten free.
• I miss real bread, real cake, and any baked good not made with rice flour. Good lord deliver me from rice flour. 
• I just finished an assignment. I'm sure when I read it tomorrow, I will be horrified. As tired as I am, it's probably nursery rhymes or gibberish. 
• It is really cold here.
• It's February. It's Ohio. Why am I surprised? 
• I know what Frost Quakes are. Do you?
• I once ate cereal from a box of Wheaties with Bruce Jenner on the front.  I'd proudly do the same today....except the gluten would kill me.
• I like to crunch ice cubes.  Other people hate that.  What's wrong with them?
• Now I think it's time to go to bed before I start babbling.  Oh...too late.

Poppin' Tags

First of all, for those of you that don't get the "poppin' tags" reference in the title:

(Language warning:  F-bombs and more await...)

Mad props to Macklemore for making thrift store shopping cool.  

I've been a thrift store shopper for years.  My favorite shopping quote has always been "a true shopper never pays retail".  

It's about more than the price, though.  Thrift shopping is recycling at its best.  There was a time, not  so long ago, when clothing was worn til it wore out.  My grandmother made quilts out of her old dresses, and saved all the buttons in a tin.  Those quilts are dear to me because each quilt square is a memory:  I remember her wearing the red dress with an anchor pattern, the blue dress with white polka dots.  And that tin of buttons?  Not only did I play in it, counting each button or looking with amazement at some really odd ones, but so did my kids.  

A lot of people are horrified at thrift store shopping, and feel its gross to wear used clothes.  Ever rented a tux?  Used.  Slept in a hotel bed?  Used.  So, really, it's not so gross.  Besides, I'm a homesteader, and anyone that's ever shoved their hand into a dead chicken is not so easily grossed out. 

Years of living the homesteading lifestyle, with no use for dress clothes, left me with a closet full of Carhartt and flannel.  Once upon a time I owned dress clothes, but every closet purge depleted the stock until none were left.

And then I went back to the office world.

I've been slowly rebuilding my "corporate wear".  Our office is "dress casual", so things like khakis are fine.  Freelancing, I wear whatever the occasion demands, but can usually pull off a nice pair of jeans and a dressy top.

Thrift store shopping is like playing bingo, sometimes you get lucky, and sometimes you don't.  I've been to the shop, which is about the size of your average Target, and not found a single thing that fit.  Then there are days when I hit the jackpot and bring home a bag of goodies.

I just had one of those jackpot days...

The haul included 16 tops (some were for Little Sis), six pairs of dress pants, two dresses, a prom gown (also for Little Sis), two skirt-suit combos, a hat and scarf, four shirts and four pants for the grandbabies, and 7 books.  Most of the clothes were designer; the Jones New York suit retails for over $200. I paid $2.50.  The grand total came to just under $70.  The prom gown was $10, the most expensive item, but a bargain nonetheless.

Now to find a place to put it all...