Moving Forward

 If there is one thing I have found out on this journey, is nothing is ever smooth. There are times that for every two steps forward, I seem to take at least one step back if not more.

Still there is more forward movement and I am extremely happy about that fact. This week however the forward journey is hampered by the fact that a home needs to be cleaned from top to bottom and I seem to be one of those that feel two top to bottom cleanings are necessary every year. 

This year the first top to bottom cleaning is a bit late and I am slightly flustered about that. Especially as I thought I was keeping up with things by doing a bit extra cleaning each month. Seems I wasn't as good as I thought at that at all.

However I can see a change to be made and will of course make that change. 

This cleaning is helping me to declutter and figure out what is important and what isn't and having Harvey help out with things like taking the shades and such down for me is cutting time off the routine. It is simplifying my up and down movements, and enabling me to get more done so I can once again enjoy a slower pace. A couple of days or a week of constant cleaning and then weeks and months of tiny smaller cleaning tasks is just about perfect.

My slow down yesterday was watching a bunny nibble on the weeds and grass in our front lawn. Today it was working a bit longer on the weaving. Tomorrow it will be walking up and taking the time to attend the birthday of a 90 year old friend. Simple things, that really do make life more enjoyable. 

Simplicity can be work, but the work involved can be lots of fun.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

 Thrifty and Frugal

Another week of being frugal and thrifty happened here on the old homestead. 

I have noticed that quite often my posts do not show up as changing on peoples feeds. I am not sure what hocus pocus is occurring on Blogger, but I do hope the fix the problem soon. I just always click on all blogs on my sidebar just in case there has been a post that didn't show up. Believe me there are lots.

1.  Hung all clothing on the lines outside this week, except for towels, and sheets.

2.  Windows open to cool the house two days this week.

3.  Using up leftovers in the fridge and fridge freezer to make meals.

4.  Patched a pair of Harvey's pants.

5.  No watering necessary outside as we have had some rain over the last three days.

6.  Used some of my saved allowances to purchase some new sandals, three bras, a skort, 2 pairs of pants and a very nice dress. All on sale and the total cost was under $80.00. Oops forgot 2 short sleeved tops as well.

7.  Picking lettuce from the garden.

8.  Harvesting and processing rhubarb (might get another pick as of right now).

9.  Put $0.45 in the change jars.

10.  Went grocery shopping and picked up lots of on sale produce, and some dairy which will keep me from going for a big shop next week.

11.  Spring cleaning and walking for exercise, using up some more purchased cleaners.

So not to bad a week. How did you all do this week?

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

  

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

Just a bit of rain this morning, but man the humidity is bad. I went for a walk to get the mail and was perspiring like crazy before I managed to get home. The air seems awfully close as well, making breathing slightly difficult.

Harvey got all the ornaments back out on the deck and surrounding the perennial bed. Don't ask if I managed to get out and weed said perennial bed. Between downpours, humidity and getting some preserving and baking done inside, the answer is nope. Perhaps things will cool down, and the mosquitos will go away for a bit. 

I have managed to get a great deal of the extra cleaning done. Tomorrow I will remove the pictures in the living room and dining room, give them a good clean and put the dust cloth on the long handled mop and dust all the walls. Heck I may get the bathroom done as well. 

If the weather co-operates perhaps the outside of the house could be pressure washed, and the windows cleaned. That is Harvey's job. Then I could also clean the inside windows in the above mentioned rooms. 

Once spring cleaning is complete I can work harvesting and preserving foraged items and of course herbs (basil especially). 

I have been asked if there is any time that our electricity costs less to use. The answer is no, and I really wish there was. In the constant uptick of costs this would be wonderful. During the summer and garden watering we do get a bit of a break on the sewer portion of our water bills. That is a little bit of a savings.

The only way I can save on electric costs is to try and use less. Some months we use less than others, and some we use more. I am very hopeful that I will be using the dryer much less over the next few months. I also want to BBQ a bit more. The last few years the weather was not the greatest for that to happen. 

I have started to make some lists that will help me get ready for our trip in just over a month and a half (my goodness it is coming up very quickly). I also want to look for a much larger purse that can contain my electronics, our passports, my trip folder, and our fanny packs. The fanny packs will be used when we arrive at our destination and for excursions off the ship. I am not sure if I will pack my hiking boots or wear them on the plane. There are some days we will be gone from morning until just about supper (dinner/tea time) and I am not sure if wearing my runners would work. 

A few other happenings around the old homestead, but nothing really exciting. Hope to have a few pictures of the garden to share with you on Friday. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

A new week and surprisingly it is staying pretty cool today. We have the windows open and there is a lovely breeze wafting in.

So, what is cooking at the homestead this week.

Monday

Soup and Grilled Cheese sandwiches. It has been a long day of tasks and I needed something very easy.

Tuesday

Leftover chicken from Sunday. I am thinking that wraps would be just lovely. I can run out later and pick some lettuce, and I bought some tomatoes today. Easy to grate up some cheese, add a bit of ranch dressing or some whipped French Onion Cream Cheese. 

Wednesday

Marinated steaks on the BBQ (if not raining too hard), along with some potato salad and asparagus done on the BBQ as well.

Thursday

Chili from the freezer and I hope to make some buns on our supposedly very rainy Tuesday.

Friday

Fish burgers, and the remains of the potato salad.

Saturday

Leftovers, kind of a clean out the fridge night.

Sunday

Pork roast, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots, and perhaps the last of the asparagus.

That should keep my carnivore happy as the next two weeks have a couple more meatless meals.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

A Lovely Journey

 Summer is here with all the joy that heat and sun can bring. It also brings higher energy costs due to air conditioning. However I am trying to combat that by having lights off during the day, using appliances to cook our meals (or the stove top which does not heat up the house), and Harvey helps by planting a vegetable garden. 

Rising prices mean living a simple life is probably the best way to handle that. I am finding that spending time doing the things that I love, looking for sales (even if that means a bit longer shopping) and kind of reverse planning most of the months menus make life a great deal easier on this old body.

I enjoy the process of mending, and making do. Substituting is becoming second nature and taking advantage of cooler, rainy weather or the early morning to bake definitely makes life easier, even if doing so was not on the to do list for that day. 

Eating later in the day would be my preference, but Harvey seems to like the 6 pm dinner (or supper) time, though he does not mind a slightly later meal (like by 15 minutes or so). 

Slowing down and enjoying each task, making cleaners or foraging for salve contents is awesome. Cool enough tomorrow will see a rhubarb cake and rhubarb muffins made for the freezer. Using what is available is not only frugal and thrifty, but leads one down the path to simplicity. After all what could be simpler than eating and using what you have grown yourself. 

There has also been a decision by me that I will enjoy the body that I am in. No more worrying about losing weight, as I manage to get out and walk more, or work in the garden things will even out. And if it doesn't, well my boys and friends love me exactly like I am.

Life is so much better without excess pressures from outside, and while I do know the world is not in the best of places right now, I can only control what I can control. That means my own small world and when possible the greater world around me by doing small and significant changes to my life. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless. 

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

 Thrifty and Frugal 

Another week of mostly thrifty and frugal happenings here on the old homestead. Life is good and getting better each and every day. Slowing down and enjoying the process.

1.  Since I was unable to hang clothes on the lines outside, things were hung to dry in the basement.

2.  Added to the savings envelope $100.00.

3.  Added $4.35 to the change jars. Going to have to roll those soon to use for the family reunion.

4.  Picked a lettuce from the garden for salads this week.

5.  Shopping was a bit high, but most was purchased on sale and I managed to get some meat for the freezer at very low prices for here.

6.  Bought 3 ice cream at a price I haven't seen for a number of years. Should be good for a bit.

7.  Using up yarn weaving the second scarf, and knitting those mitts.

8.  Found some bras that online cost $65.00 for one at Walmart for $24.99 and bought 3 for just over that cost by $10.00. I really needed some new ones that fit properly.

9.  Leftovers are being made into new meals or reheated for another meal. 

10.  Fixed a small hole in one of Harvey's shirts.

11.  Walking for exercise and managing to get all the steps in doing small chores around the house and yard.

12.  Picked rhubarb and made a pie, have enough to make a cake to freeze as well as probably some muffins. Free fruit. 

13.  Able to water plants with the water in the rain barrel.

14.  A friend is going to give me a comfrey plant when she thins hers out. 

15.  Decluttering is on going.

16.  Making sure to use appliances for cooking meals as much as possible. 

17.  Did up the budget entries for the month of May and was pleasantly surprised to be under budget once again.

18.  Moved some cash into the savings account and will try to do so again this month even if it is just a little.

19.  Made the most of the nice weather by sitting out on the deck a few early evenings. Slow living.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless. 

Project Roundup For May

 I promised you all a peek at what I managed to complete in the month of May. Here it is.

First off what sewing projects I managed to complete.

A pair of longer cut shorts.

A pair of capris length pants.

Next up a pair of regular length shorts.

Then a skirt to use up some more fabric. This is more of a fall/winter wardrobe addition.

Next was a dress, a very light, soft knit.

Lastly was a jacket made out of another leftover piece of knit fabric.

Then I got 10 pairs of mittens (the smaller size) completed.

And I got another rose block done for the next quilt top. I decided that the main rose in each quilt will be a different colour. This cream colour is kind of hard to see.

I did manage to get one scarf totally finished, but will wait to show you that picture once the other scarf (started today) is finished.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.