Simple and Basic: An introduction

I have always been attracted to a more simple lifestyle. Even as an 8 year old I was fascinated by the lives of the Amish community a short distance from the small town I grew up in. Growing up whenever I was asked what I wanted to 'be' my answer was a wife and mom. My own mom used to say I was born a hundred years too late. I am a fan of laundry on the clothesline, vegetable gardens, homebaked breads, and an afternoon with yarn and a crochet hook. I like vintage linens, aprons, and the smell of lemon Pledge. I like the feel of cool grass under my feet and dirt between my fingers. And I love the look on the faces of the family I love when a homecooked meal is on the table.
When I found myself at the relatively young age of 37 a widow with a family of six to house, cloth, and feed (as well as 3 stepdaughters to nourish emotionally) I turned to the simplicity 'movement' and got down to the basics that had sustained my parents through the depression so that I could continue to be a full time mom until my youngest was in school.
It has been a journey with ups and downs and now my household is down to myself and my three youngest children, one a young adult and the other two teens in high school. I am by no means an expert and my journey to a simplier life is not finished. I find myself backsliding often. I have a job running a private school cafeteria and doing all the cooking that I adore, a gentleman friend who is wonderful to me, and grandchildren who warm my heart. Things are not as difficult as they were in the days following my husband's death but I find myself renewing my vow to myself to keep it simplier. I'm hoping this blog will help me with this goal.
Working for a school means I have my summers free. I do hold down a small part time cleaning job twice a month but for the most part I am back to the days when I stayed home full time with the kids. This means a limited income so I've set myself some goals for the next couple of months.  I will keep to my monthly budget of $350 for food, $50 for nonfood household items (cleaning, health & beauty), I will return to menu planning, list making, cooking and baking from scratch  and avoiding prepared convenience foods; I will dedicate only one day a week to be a 'spending day',  I will hang up my clothesline and enjoy the smell of line dried laundry, I will find simple yet fun things to do with my teenagers, and I will read my way through my local library! And hopefully these things will help me slow down and enjoy the simpler lifestyle I've always wanted. I'll hope you'll join me.