Brown Thumb Mama

Growing Mushrooms

2010-03-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

(No, not THAT kind of mushroom) This year, I tried to think up an interesting birthday list. Yes, I needed new jeans and sweaters for work, but I also asked for some things that I just wouldn't buy for myself. Like this! That's a real, honest to goodness mushroom growing kit. It comes from the factory already inoculated with the mycelium. This is what the compost looks like when you open the

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

2010-03-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!" Spring planting time is right around the corner. If you're like me, you have a small area to plant in and need to space everything out exactly so it all fits. Have you ever gotten out to the garden with all your tools, seed packets, and whatnot only to realize you have no way to measure how far apart

Starting Plants From Seed

2010-03-07T21:41:00.000-08:00

The GROW project, sponsored by Renee's Garden, gets garden bloggers across the country growing the same plant from seed. We'll share the seed starting process, tips, and ideas so we can learn from each other and newbie gardeners can learn from all of us. It's time to start my Nasturtium seeds for the GROW project. The first step is to make room under the seed starting light by moving the tomato

The "Seed GROW Project" Begins

2010-03-04T18:30:00.000-08:00

Earlier this year, I was accepted into the "seed GROW project," started by my garden buddies Colleen Vanderlinden and Mr. Brown Thumb. (Cool name, huh?) The project, sponsored by Renee's Garden, is designed to get garden bloggers across the country growing the same plant from seed. We'll share the seed starting process, tips, and ideas so we can learn from each other and newbie gardeners can

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

2010-03-03T07:55:00.000-08:00

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!" We didn't have prescription coverage for a while, and that was quite an eye-opener. Here are a few things you can do to avoid high Rx costs. Ask for a generic equivalent if your doctor says it's OK. Shop around at different pharmacies. The local grocery store pharmacy was cheaper than Target for one

A Few Garden Updates

2010-02-27T13:28:00.000-08:00

The most important update of all is regarding my buddy Katie from GardenPunk. She needs all the prayers and good thoughts we can send her way. Visit her CaringBridge page here. In more mundane news, the tomatoes love their seed starting light. I started a new variety in the smaller container on the right. Next up will be peppers and Spitfire Nasturtiums for the seed GROW project. Neighbor

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

2010-02-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!" Before you shop online, do a Google search with the company name plus "coupon" or "promo" or "free shipping." There are several websites that gather and publish coupon codes for retailers from Target to Lands' End and more.

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

2010-02-20T14:32:00.000-08:00

Homemade taco mix is easy to make, inexpensive, and doesn't have any of those weird ingredients that the packaged mixes have. Plus, you can adjust the ratio of ingredients according to your taste. This makes enough for one pound of hamburger or ground turkey. Ingredients: 2 tablespoons chili powder1 teaspoon cumin1 teaspoon coriander1 teaspoon garlic salt1/2 teaspoon oreganoCayenne pepper to

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

2010-02-17T15:21:00.000-08:00

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!" Are the cabbage worms attacking your broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage? Get them bug-free with a blast of water and careful inspection. Then slip an old nylon stocking over the head to protect it from further invasion. The nylons will let light in and should keep the bugs out. There's another use for

Planning the Front Yard Garden

2010-02-15T20:43:00.000-08:00

After several sheets of graph paper and a lot of time planning, I have a rough idea of what I'll plant in the front yard garden. There will be some veggies, some kniphs, BrownThumbPapa's rose, and some annuals. It's going to look something like this (click to enlarge): I'm not a professional landscape designer, so this isn't a fancy diagram like the ones in the books. It gets the point across

Make Money By Reading Emails

2010-02-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

Yep, another check! Remember the one I got recently from MySurvey? This one is from Inbox Dollars, for $35.62. These guys aren't going to make you rich quick, but all you have to do is read emails. Seriously. Each day, you'll get a handful of emails that look like this. (Sign up for a free Yahoo or Gmail account if you don't want to use your regular email.) Click on the red box and it

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

2010-02-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!" A few months before your car's warranty expires, bring it to your mechanic for a thorough inspection. If any problems appear, have them fixed under the warranty. You'll have to pay for the inspection, but it's cheaper than paying to fix the problems (which, if you're like me, will appear the day after

Make Your Own Seed Starting Light

2010-02-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

I love all the goodies in the gardening and seed catalogs, but most of the time, they’re just too expensive. It would be great to start seeds indoors, but I just don’t have a spare $89 for the “value” kit, let alone $189.95. In typical Brown Thumb Mama fashion, I decided to build my own. After a bit of searching in the garage, I located some 3/4" PVC pipe and connectors, a PVC cutter, and an

A New Perspective

2010-02-05T09:52:00.000-08:00

I'm honored to be a guest blogger today at Four Perspectives! Come by and see things from a different point of view.

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

2010-02-03T13:49:00.000-08:00

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!" Most sauce or soup recipes just need a tiny bit of tomato paste. Don't waste the rest of the can--scoop one tablespoon at a time onto a cookie sheet and freeze. Once the scoops are frozen solid, store them in a labeled zip bag in the freezer. You can thaw the scoops in the microwave or just add them

Best Homemade Soft Pretzels

2010-01-30T21:59:00.000-08:00

These are so much better than those expensive store pretzels with unpronounceable ingredients. Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups warm water 1 tablespoon sugar 2 teaspoons kosher salt 2 1/2 teaspoons yeast 4 1/2 cups flour 2 ounces butter, melted Water 2/3 cup baking soda 1 egg Our house is pretty cold, so it’s hard to get yeast breads to rise in winter. If this is true for you also, turn your oven on

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

2010-01-27T07:00:00.000-08:00

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!" If your kids are sick in bed (or on the couch), bring their meals to them in a muffin tin. They'll have fun with the presentation and there will be less chance of spills. And if you use paper muffin cups, cleanup is easy too.

A Rainy Monday in the Garden

2010-01-25T16:00:00.000-08:00

Snow peas Bok choi gone to seed Shallots and garlic Parsley An afternoon visitor

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

2010-01-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!" Is saving money on groceries one of your New Year's resolutions? Don't forget your local food bank or homeless shelter when you're clipping those coupons and scoring great deals. If you find something for an exceptional price, pick up an extra item and donate it. Find your local food bank at http://

Preparing for Spring

2010-01-17T13:50:00.000-08:00

Winter is a time of hard work for us gardeners. There are seed catalogs to read, crop rotations to plot, compost piles to worry over, and more. While you're sitting in the house with cabin fever, don't forget to save some household items from the recycling bin for use in your spring garden. TP and paper towel tubes are perfect fortresses for little seedlings. Cut TP tubes in half and larger

Front Yard Garden: Mulch Milestone

2010-01-09T14:21:00.000-08:00

Finally! All the cardboard is down and covered with leaves. Lots and lots of leaves, courtesy of Uncle Mark (who has 8 zillion trees in his yard and an obsessive need to keep the yard clean). Thanks, Uncle Mark! Now the planning begins...I've gone through several pieces of graph paper and will post my ideas soon. Anybody have suggestions for a south-facing patch of yard? Maybe a green bean

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

2010-01-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!" Are you an eggnog addict? Buy extra now and freeze it, before it's gone from the stores. Be sure to allow some expansion room when freezing. When you next have a 'nog craving, thaw it in the fridge and shake well before serving. Bonus tip: Use eggnog instead of milk the next time you make scones. Mmmm

Avoid These Exercises

2009-12-31T16:10:00.000-08:00

As fun as it may be, piratin' is an exercise best avoided. Yaaaar! For good health in the New Year, avoid these exercises: Carrying grudges Jumping to conclusions Flying into a rage Stretching the truth Digging up old gossip Patting yourself on the back Raking people over the coals Happy New Year to all!

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

2009-12-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!" Today's tip comes to us from FishMama, over at Life As Mom. I normally don't repeat tips from other bloggers, but this one is too important not to share. We all know that you have to keep your Christmas tree watered to prevent the danger of fire. An easy way to do this is to water the tree with ice

Making Money With Surveys: The Check

2009-12-13T14:30:00.000-08:00

This summer, I told you about earning extra money doing surveys with MySurvey. Some friends have asked me if I really do these surveys (yes) and if I really get paid (yes). Check out what came in the mail yesterday (click to enlarge): Yep, that's a check for $90.00. Wouldn't that come in handy this time of year? It sure does at our house. Give them a try! It only takes a few minutes each