Welcome!
I'm Frugal Trenches (no, not my real name!) a lover of natural, simple and frugal living! I use this space and my camera to document a beautiful, purposeful, downshifted and abundant life! Life is not always simple (oh how I wish it was!) but it is always rich and I hope this space demonstrates beauty and joy!
If you have a question, feel free to leave it in the comments! I read and appreciate every comment and will reply to questions within the comment section, even if it takes a day or two (or three, but whose counting!).
Archives
Money Spent On Groceries in 2013
January $198.39
February $231.88
March $248.71
April $Books Read in 2013
Myself
Fiction:
1.The Help
2. Away
3. Flowers For Algernon
4. Animal Farm
5. Room
6. The Secret DaughterNon-Fiction:
1.The Two Nazanins
2.Confessions Of A Bad Beekeeper
3.The Encouraging Parent
4.Freakonomics
5.Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal?
6.Raising A Right Brained Child In A Left Brained World
7.How To Make Your Child A Reader For Life
8.The Bookseller of Kabul
9.The Sane Woman's Guide To Raising A Large FamilyDaughter Grade 3 (Chapter Books)
Stanley's Christmas Adventure
George's Marvelous Medicine
Sarah Plain and Tall
Ramona Books x 5
Road To Avonlea Chapter Books x 3
Junie B Jones Chapter Books x 6
James and The Giant Peach
Freckle Juice
Reader Level 4 Books x 9Son Grade 1 (Picture Books)
January: 62 books
February: 73 books
March: 95 books
April: 89 books
Category Archives: Family Life
At Home
More and more I find comfort in just being home. The more time I spend at home the more energy I gather and the more I get done, which means home becomes even more of a haven. Today, freshly topped up with … Continue reading
Hospital Parking Fees: An Issue Of Health Inequity
As is well-documented in this space, I adopted two children with special needs. Both are followed by 2+ departments at local hospitals and adding in physiotherapy and occupational therapy, I would say that on average, we have five appointments a month … Continue reading
Weekending
Oh weekend, thank you; I so needed you. The sun found us and held on for dear life. The temperatures weren’t too high. The groceries were already bought and instead we found ourselves doing the very best of things. Saturday brought … Continue reading
“Poverty” In The Middle Class
I was at a meeting recently for a volunteer position I have and the comment was made that everyone that lives in our area is well-off, doesn’t know what it means to have to worry about paying bills and has … Continue reading
At Our Table – $40 (£25) Week Grocery Budget
Looking at some of our goals for this year and beyond, I’m really trying to reign in expenses for our family. After sifting through our favourite recipes and finding ways to cut back, I’m confident the $40 a week budget … Continue reading
Visiting The High Park Cherry Blossoms
One day last week we had an early morning jaunt to see the Cherry Blossoms at High Park. They only last about a week and I was wary of visiting over a weekend because of the drones of people who descend … Continue reading
An Inclusive Mother’s Day.
This morning we dropped off homemade cards and gifts for women in our lives. Those who won’t hear family and friends saying “Happy Mother’s Day” to them specifically. We did it because for me, and now for us, inclusivity, recognition and thinking … Continue reading
All In A Week
The week has been beautiful, not without its challenges, but beautiful nonetheless. We had a brief hospital visit where my son was diagnosed with tourette’s syndrome. And while I do occasionally worry about the growing number of special needs, there … Continue reading
The Weekend So Far
It is Easter weekend and so far it has been a lovely reminder of just how blessed I am. There is nothing like uninterrupted time with my children to help me feel like all is right in the world. A … Continue reading

