As people with full schedules and limited budgets, how do we get everything done? I'm at a reasonable point in life: my kids are grown and out on their own, and it's just me and my husband. He works full-time, I'd like to work that much, but my business is not that busy. Even so, we have very little free time. People with jobs and kids - whoa. You people are busy!

The shock and awe over food prices continues. It's been in the paper practically every day for the last week. First, they tell us food is costing more. Then they give us the usual tips on how to save money, which really only work if you have a job and a car. I don't know why all this bothers me so much. Part of it is the nagging thought in the back of my head that Americans pay less for their food than any other country in the world. We pay less for gas too, but even liberals are complaining these days about the cost of that.

No, not saving seeds as in reserving from your crop so you can plant next year. That's good to do, too. This is saving seeds in the doomsday-apocolypse-kind-of-way. I didn't know we did this. That's "we" as in the human race. Yep, this is a joint effort, world-wide. There are "seed banks" scattered around the planet, where the seeds for our food are safely stored in case of disaster. Cool, isn't it?

Oh my stars and bells, where have I been? It's not as if I haven't been cooking. I just haven't been posting! So - food for gifts. Do you like to get this? Do you like to give it? I'm partial to both! This year, I'm branching out: I'm giving away cute little bags of the pancake mix I invented that's loaded with many healthy whole grains. Amaranth, oat flour, brown rice flour, flaxseed meal... all kinds of things. It makes fluffy, nutty pancakes and waffles and probably nifty biscuits, too. Haven't tried that, yet.

There's a great new movie available online at www.storyofstuff.com It's about 20 minutes long and describes the trap of consumerism and the consequences we are beginning to experience. It's by a woman named Annie Leonard and she's passionate and clear about what's going on in this country and with our way of life. I think everyone should take the time to watch it and pass it on to your friends.