Contact
If you would like to contact me, please email me:
owlhaven at aol dot com
I’ll try to answer questions if at all possible, but I’m sure you’ll understand that sometimes life gets a little crazy around here and it may take some time to get back to you! If you are contacting me about a product review, please know that I only review a limited number of items, and will most likely only answer if I am interested and have enough time to review the item. I’m still wishing for the 25th hour in the day but I haven’t found it yet! 
I don’t know if you are familiar with this blog, but this young lady has adopted 14 children, so the two of you have something in common.
I just thought you would be blessed by her story. Read this one first as it gives a synopsis of her journey.
http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/2009/08/it-is-my-16th-birthday-and-i-am-eating.html
Blessings,
Amy
Mary,
I just found your blog and love it. I am also very interested in your book Family Feasts for $75.00 a week. In these times this almost seems impossible. If you are interested I would love to review your book for you and possibly do a giveaway on my blog. If you are interested please let me know.
Thanks,
Jessica
Pudget: Losing Weight On A Budget
http://pudget1.blogspot.com
Please add my e-mail address to get your blog.. Thank you. Susan
Hi Mary, I just wanted to let you know that I love your book! It has been so very helpful and I’m excited to try some of your recipes. I just posted a review of it on both of my blogs:
http://carolinaclipper.blogspot.com/2009/12/book-review-family-feasts-for-75-week.html and
http://roofwithaview.blogspot.com/2009/12/thrifty-thursday-book-review.html
God bless you,
Richelle
Yay– thanks, Richelle!
Hi Mary! I just wanted to tell you that my husband bought the “Family Feasts” book for me for Christmas, and I LOVE IT! I have already tried many of the recipes, and they are great! We had the Really Big Biscuits for dinner last night, and I was amazed with them! My biscuits are usually only good for hockey pucks! I cut the recipe in half, as our family is only 3, and I actually got 8 biscuits! Usually it is much less than what the recipe states. I cannot wait to try some of the pantry recipes. I do have one question though…the Sweet Honey Mustard Sauce calls for Lemon Juice…Can it be made without it, or substitute lime juice for it? I am allergic to lemon, but would love to try the sauce. Thank you so much! Your book has gotten a permanant place in my kitchen! Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Christina
I’d love to subscribe to your site but when I use the “subscribe” tab at the top of the page…..it forwards me to a page with your whole site sort of typed out in a strange format.
I just bought your Family Feasts book and I’m VERY excited to get started. I’m also looking forward to frequenting your web page here.
Thanks So Much!!
Stephanie
I cant subscribe either and have been trying for several days. I have ordered the Family Feasts book also and would love to get on your list.
Blesssings,
Melissa in TN
Hi Melissa and Stephanie, I’m so sorry you’re having trouble subscribing! What feed reader do you use? There should be an option to subscribe manually– that is, to go to your feedreader’s website (ex: http://www.bloglines.com )
and then type my website address right into a box on your feedreader’s website. I did add a bloglines subscribe button at the lower right on my site, and there’s already one in the same location to subscribe via feedburner. I am also trying to figure out how to make my subscribe button work more universally for everyone, but my web guru is out of town right now, so it might be a few days.
Thanks for writing and letting me know you were having issues.
Mary
I love your book! We were in serious recipe burnout and I had been trying serveral different cookbooks when I found yours by chance. My kids aren’t really picky, but more ‘suspicious’ of food they have never had before, plus alot of other cookbooks use ingredients I don’t regularly have on hand, which means buying something extra that I may or may not use again. Your book uses ‘familiar’ ingredients that I already have on hand, which means that if I don’t have time to think of dinner before 5:00pm, there is sure to be a recipe from your book that I already have ingredients for and can have on the table in time for the crowd. Thanks for the ideas, we will be having the ‘Spaghetti Fritta’ tonight!
My husband and I are in Boise and we leave in 5 days to get our sweet little son in Addis through AAI. Your darling sister went to visit our sweet little guy yesterday!!!! Anyway she mentioned you breast fed some of the little ones you brought home. Can you give me any advice. I have a 2 year old that’s continued to nurse (not as much) and I’ve been able to pump a bout a months worth for our freezer but still not to the level of production I was when our son was born. Would love any and all advice, especially about latching on! Thank you so much!!
Hi Krissy, I emailed you!
I just wanted to tell you how much my family and I are enjoying your cookbook! I won it through We Are THAT Family’s giveaway a few months ago. Tonight we tried the Spinach & Ricotta Pasta…YUMMY, and last week we had the Shepherd’s Pie. I can’t wait to try more and more of your great recipes! Thank you!!
A couple of weeks ago I happened onto your site… loved what you had to say and so purchased your book on Amazon. I’ve read through the breakfast/lunch chapter so far. So many great tips offered!!! (I’ve already purchased another copy for a wedding gift.)
For years, I’ve planned out my meals for the entire month. I do my grocery shopping for two weeks at a time, with the occasional trip back for milk & forgotten/needed items. I shop the sales ads and try to use coupons when I can. But, as my boys are now teenagers – and eating more like men – I’ve found that I need to watch my grocery budget before it spirals upwards like a mortgage payment. Your book offers several ways to cut my budget – which I’ve already put into use… thanks!
I’m wondering a couple of things, Mary, and am hoping you’ll find the time to answer.
1. Do you shop on a particular day of the week? Do you find better deals at the store, for example, on certain days?
2. Do you bulk cook your meats on one day, then do your bulk baking on another?
3. Do you have a list of freezer friendly items? (I just learned through your book, that butter can be frozen. It was so cheap during the holidays, I could have purchased lots to freeze and have on hand. Oh well…)
I’ll leave the questions to these – I know your time is valuable. I’m looking forward to finishing the book and trying out more of your recipes!
I try to avoid Saturday trips to the store because it is crazy then. But other than that, I try to shop on days when I have other errands in town, to save gas. I usually cook my meat within a day of my two ‘big’ shopping trips for the month. Many of the recipes in my cookbook work well in the freezer, including most of the casseroles and soups! And as far as baking, my kids do a lot of my baking for me. Most weeks we make cookies at least once, and bread, rolls or muffins another time or two.
Hi Mary!
Love, Love, Love your books! Just bought both on Amazon. My husband and I have four children (& counting….
Elizabeth (15) Samuel (12) Grace (9 w/ Down syndrome) and Bella (4 w/Down syndrome). We just adopted Bella from Ukraine this past August 2009. We hope to adopt another 1 or 2 with Down syndrome later this year. So, your books and ideas are so timely.
I would love to mention your books on my blog. Is this ok with you? Not really sure about this blogging world and the etiquette for it, so I thought it would be best to ask your permission first.
PS…I made the Quickest Chicken Noodle Soup tonight and the kids loved it! Thanks, it saved my night because Kevin has been out of town for the last week and I definitely needed a desparation supper. And, with your recipe I didn’t resort to take-out! Yay…more $$$$’s saved for adoptions!
PSS…Also, just wanted to brag that our family’s story is in this week’s Woman’s World magazine (the February 1st issue). So if you are in the grocery store, you may want to take a peek.
Thanks again and God bless…..Paula Burckhard
Hi, I am interested in compiling a cookbook based on my website and I wondered if you had time for pointers, tips, good contact info, how you did it,etc.
Hi, I love your Family Feasts book. We have liked every
recipe so far and have been saving money.
I think the pizza dough recipe has a mistake, though. There is
too much water, probably about twice as much as there should be.
Still love your book.
Charlene
Hi Charlene, Thanks, yeah, you’re right about that recipe. A cup less water would be about right, I think, or a couple more cups of flour.
I’ll have the chance to fix it when it goes to second printing.
Mary
I just made up the Onion Soup Mix and Taco Seasoning Mix to get ready to make the Taco Soup tonight. You mention that you ‘use your own cooked-ahead-of-time…beans’. How do you do the make ahead chili-style beans??
Hi Yvonne,
See page 74 for bean cooking directions for all different types of beans.
Hope your family enjoys the soup. It is a favorite at our house!
Mary
Hi,
Just wanted to let you know that I LOVE your cookbook. I bought it after Christmas for myself and I have made many recipes already…some of my family favorites: Orange Chicken, Chicken Mole, Chili, Chicken Fajitas, and Refried Beans(the best)!!! I also have made the Honey Granola Bars and everyone that has had them, loves them! Thanks for writing such a great cookbook…it will be great presents for my friends!
Hi, Mary,
I have both books you have written, and have enjoyed both immensely, in different ways. Both fill a significant void, and I would recommend them highy. I made the summer coleslaw 3 days ago, and my husband said it was the most colorful and tastiest coleslaw he had ever eaten, and I said it was the fastest to put together, so we both gave it a big thumbs-up!
I have enjoyed the Sane Women’s Guide to Raising a Large Family so much- we seem to think the same about so many large and small issues. It is great finding someone who raises their family much the same as we do. We have 9 ( 10 on the way), and are loving every minute of our young family. Thank you for the timely reminders that they DO grow up.
Looking forward to reading more of your blog and enjoying more of your beautiful pictures. Keep loving those babies!
Kelly
Dear Mary, please no need to respond to this post. Just wanted to say that I found your website, actually not sure how, but glad I did. I read through all of your 30 days of nothing from a year or two back. Loved it all. You are so unique and gave great ideas for family fun, togetherness and frugality. Also, I love to read and went to my library to find the books you wanted to buy during 30 days but didn’t. Library had most of them and I took them all home at once. “There is no me without You” WOW, I am half way through and it is tough to read. I sure have a new sense of thankfulness for all the material goods I have and I know we sure don’t deserve most of it all. God surely has special blessings for you & your family for rescuing your children from their original countries. God Bless, and thanks again for shining a light for those of us who don’t know about the poor little ones.
I just got you Family Feasts. And I love it!
Now I am hoping that you can do a book on home schooling. Or even an e-book. I would love a grade by grade book of what to do and how to do it. I have an 18 month old and we will be home schooling her and any siblings she has.
Hi there! I’m a mother of 5 and am learning to be more thrifty, and have just stumbled across your blog here. I’m wondering what you feel are pantry/fridge necessities…things you should always have on hand?
There is a really thorough list in my cookbook FAMILY FEASTS FOR $75 A WEEK. But off the top of my head, here are the things that are the foundations of many of the meals at our house:
pasta
dry beans
rice
quick oats
cornmeal
baking supplies (flour, sugar, seasonings, leavening agents, shortening, oil)
ground beef
chicken
bacon
cheese
eggs
milk
apples
oranges
potatoes
onions
cabbage
carrots
canned tomatoes
If I had all of those things, I could make a large variety of meals, and most of those things are fairly affordable at the store. Hope that helps!
Haha…okay, I almost always have all those things on hand. I think I’m really on the right track (even budget wise). For your $75, does that include anything like toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap and other necessities or just groceries?
Hi Mary – I’m trying to buy a book on Amazon (“Mission: Africa: A Field Guide” by Melissa Fay Green). There are only used copies from various sellers, one of which is “owlsbooks.” Any chance this is you? You can respond directly to me at lauraelizabeth32@hotmail.com if you’d like.
Thanks -
Laura
Hi Mary – I bought your cookbook recently and have made several recipes and loved them. I had a question though about your recommendation to double casseroles and freeze them. I am 8 months pregnant and planning on doubling several casserole recipes to have on hand after the baby comes. I was wondering if you recommend freezing the casseroles uncooked, or cooking them and then freezing. Do the cooking times change if you freeze them uncooked? And how would you reheat a cooked frozen casserole? Sorry, I haven’t done much in the way of freezing food!
Hi Mary,
I’ve read your “Sane Woman’s” book twice and just love it (love your cookbook too)! I’ve been re-reading your adoption posts and again came across your account of your husband changing his mind about adopting. We’ve got three biological kids (almost 10, 7-1/2, 2) and I’d love to adopt. My husband was “done” after our first two (boy and a girl) and miraculously came around to wanting number three. He’s adamant now, though, that he’s really done, just like your husband was. If I may ask, do you know what finally changed his mind? I’d like to have hope that mine might eventually come around too! He focuses on the practical side of having more children (bedroom space, seating in the SUV, monthly expenses) whereas I come straight from the heart (kids need families, and God made bunkbeds for a reason!) My older two would like more siblings, so they’re praying along with me to change Daddy’s heart. : ) Thank you for sharing your heart with all of us eager readers!