Thanks to BP, the cost of fish, shellfish, and heating oil will skyrocket this year.  Don’t you believe that they won’t pass the costs on to us.  Tighten your belts is what they will tell us.  Honey, if my belt were any tighter my backbone would meet my belly button. 

     We don’t go out and we seldom buy anything other than necessities and a DVD or two.  We only buy the DVDs because DH can’t sit in a theater.

     Our vehicles are over ten years old.  We don’t drive anywhere other than to do the crucial things in life. 

     Our dogs are overdue on their shots, which is one thing I hope to rectify the end of this month.  Both of them could use a check up and I will make that appointment sometime next week. 

     Life is down to simple pleasures and keeping spending to a minimum.  Instead of traveling, we enjoy our backyard—weather permitting.  Tonight was lovely since we had rain today and the temperature dropped to very comfortable.

     I am growing vegetables and melons for the first time in years.  Other than a few tomato plants and some herbs the last several years, I haven’t grown anything edible.  Now I have tomatoes, a variety of peppers, and two types of squash, watermelons, cantaloupes, and cucumbers.