Irresponsibility Night

About a month ago we met a few families that live around the corner from us that have little boys for Ethan to play with. Every Friday night they hold what they call irresponsibility night. The kids play on the trampoline, ride their bikes and just play like kids should. The adults play corn hole while sipping on a cold beer. By the way, this game is very addicting and an easy DIY project. The kids and adults have so much fun that we usually don't end up walking home until close to midnight.

We really like the neighborhood that we live in and it is making me start to adjust my long term goals. I grew up in a typical neighborhood where the kids played all day and only headed home because it was time for dinner. Once dinner was finished we played until the street lights came on. As much as I want my farm, I realize all of the things that we will have to give up in order to have it. We enjoy camping and ATV riding, and I am realizing that we would have to give a lot of that up if we were to have livestock to take care of. I also like that Ethan will be able to play with other kids all the time, not just when it is convenient for the parents to get them together.

I have a new plan. I would like to buy a house in the neighborhood that we are currently living in. This neighborhood was brand new in 2006, and there are still a few empty lots where you can get a brand new house for not a ton of money. We could pay the mortgage, taxes and insurance and be saving money over what we are paying in rent here. After buying a house, I would like to save some money to purchase an acre or two within a ten minute drive of our house. I am going to forgo the livestock, but I would like a little property where I can have a huge vegetable garden. It could also be a place to hold big BB Q's and camp outs for friends and family.

Time to start making this plan a reality.

Farmer's Markets

I first starting going to farmer's markets when it was time for my son to start eating solid foods. I had decided that I was going to make all of his food and I liked being able to get our weekly produce all in one trip. Farmer's markets in California have an advantage over other areas, the growing season is quite long so the markets run year round. I could go to farmer's markets and get my weekly produce for less than it would cost me to go to the grocery store.

The farmer's market opened in Eugene the weekend that we arrived. I couldn't wait to go because I had heard that this market was quite large and was a popular destination on Saturday mornings. There are two things that really disappoint me about this market, the prices are quite expensive and there are way too many food vendors and not enough farm stands. I know that the food vendors attract people to the market, but I would prefer if there were lots of vendors of vegetables/fruits to choose from. I ended up spending $5 for a dozen eggs and $4 for a loaf of bread, insane!!

As the summer progresses I am going to try and go to a few of the other local markets to see if I can find one that caters to fresh produce. If not, I will definitely be expanding the garden next year so that I won't be needing anything from the market. A lady at my husband's work has chickens and she sells her eggs for $2 a dozen. We now receive a dozen a week so that is one less thing needed from the market.

I sure do miss talking to the farmers though.