Economy

A loaf of bread.
Four hamburger buns.
Pasta.
An apple.  Two pints of tomatoes.

Less than $15

That will feed Carly and me this week.

This is our first week of a new schedule that will leave us with kids every other week.  This week it is just the two of us.  Now that we have a yard full of produce we find ourselves not only wanting to eat the product of our labors but needing to.  We have made the following dinner meal plan for the next six days

Tonight: Diced tomatoes on toasted bread.  50/50 mixed salad with feta and granny smith apple.
Tomorrow:  Poached egg and wilted kale on toasted bread
Thursday: Garlic herb pasta with fresh tomatoes
Friday: Red potato hash with onion and bell pepper
Saturday: Home made beet burgers and salad
Sunday: probably something with zucchini.

We will alter our menu if anyone wants to have us over for dinner.  That being said, the plan is simple, healthy, and home grown.  It may sound simple but this is how tonight's meal came out:

It tasted outstanding with a mixture of texture.  Sweet, tart, acidic, and mild.  Soft and crunchy.  All contrasting to compliment.  Delicious.  And cheap

Some people say that if you open up your checkbook you can see what a person values.  I say, if you look at
our family you will see what we value.  If you look at our animals, our yard, and our refrigerator, you will see what we value.  We do not need money to be happy.  We need each other.

Our economy is not measured in salary or tax brackets.  It can't be quantified in our IRA or retirement plans, although that is certainly important.  But how important is measuring life by the season?  What is the worth of living in the moment of today and being thankful for all that is in front of us now?  How much do we become subject to God and Nature when we live by the season?  Isn't there something unique by living in each season's unique time?  It is a feeling that transcends a paycheck.  This is our economy.

Our economy is time together.  We are wealthy when we spend time together chasing rabbits that escape the run.  We are wealthy when Carly scratches the dirt to expose the progress of her favorite carrot or when she praises our Berkley Tie Dye tomato, the last of our heirlooms to fruit.  We are wealthy when I pet the down belly of Mavis as she grows from duckling to full sized duck.  Our value is time.  Our currency is each other, kids, animals, plants, and when we mix it all together our economy is more secure than any fed chairman could guarantee.  Farm life is good.  We are rich.