Midweek....Getting Warmer Perhaps

 

It actually got a bit warmer today that forecast. Lovely as that meant we managed to get the truck started and hopefully will once again get it started tomorrow. Things are not looking so good for the SUV though. It just will not start no matter what we do. I think Harvey is planning on getting it towed into the dealership tomorrow. Hopefully the truck starts once again so that he can follow it down and explain all that is happening. 

We will not be going to visit Kris as we will need to stick around and find out what this will cost us. I did find the extra insurance we purchased but the coverage is kind of hard to understand. Hope that some of the repair is covered. 

The next month will be one of tightening the frugal belt. Perhaps even tightening it to black belt frugal. Something that I have never really had to do since we were first married. This repair to the SUV could be costly and I do not want to drain the savings too much. 

Finished weaving the placemats and tomorrow I will work on hemming them so they are ready to be used. I have left the loom out, pushed back into one corner as if things go quickly with projects next month, I may try those tea towels once again. The patchwork tote will be worked on as well. My goal list is sadly not getting much crossed off this month, so I need to get as much done on it as is possible over the next week.

I decided to get a head start on that fridge freezer basket. Today chicken broth was made, and tomorrow I will make some ham broth from one of the ham bones and perhaps ham and beans out of the other one. I am just not sure if I have the right beans for that. Guess I will find out. I will probably keep a few of the containers up here so as to use them in my March challenge. The rest will go in the chest freezer to be used throughout the month.

Guess I can make the grocery list now as I actually have a way to go shopping, though I hate driving the truck. Perhaps Harvey will take me which I really would prefer.

Off to visit and then get supper made. Today is leftovers from the fridge.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

Still cold, but things look to be turning around tomorrow and better yet come the weekend and into the next week.

Finished tidying the pantries and the home canned items as well. Then I moved on the the fridge freezer basket. There are two reasonably large baskets under a pull out shelf. One contains the meals for the week, and the other contains the bits and bobs from leftover roasts, chicken, broth making bones, and things like puff pastry. I am always amazed at how much in the way of leftover food can be put in that basket. 

I am pretty sure that I will be able to feed us for a couple of weeks on on the goodies I found. And after the pork roast on Sunday there will be even more bags to use up. There are a few items in my pantry that need using as well so I will be busy trying to find new and interesting ways to use everything. I also know many meals will have leftovers that will be used for another meal or for lunches. 

Funny thing is I always swear that this overly packed basket  won't get ahead of me and somehow it does. At least 4 times a year. 

Then of course there are all the lentils, rice, beans, pasta and canned meat in the pantry. I have way too many cans of salmon and almost as many cans of tuna. 

The first two weeks of March I will be clearing out a few things. this means no monthly menu as such. Rather I will do a weeks plan at a time so as to take advantage of all the riches I have found. This should save us some money as well this coming month as all I will probably be purchasing is some dairy, produce and fruit.

Really happy here as it looks as if I will actually have 4 placemats made out of this loom warp. I hope to finish them off by Friday and have pictures to share of what projects I have been working away on. The only good thing about cold weather and vehicles that won't start, is that one stays home and gets things done. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

So cold today. None of our vehicles will start and I am pretty sure the SUV needs some kind of repair, either a new battery, or alternator, or block heater. This has been going on since we had the plug in repaired, but never this bad. Harv's truck is not taking a charge very well either so probably needs a new battery as well. Of course this happens when it is -50C with the windchill.

However, those problems will hopefully be taken care of over the next few days (though the SUV will probably need towing). I also doubt that we will be going to visit Kris this coming weekend.

Here are our weeks menus. 

Monday

Small sausage casserole. This is layers of potatoes, carrots, peas and onions. Then smothered in tomato soup/water mix.

Tuesday

Pork chops in mushroom sauce, rice, peas and carrots. I will slice up the remainder of the cucumber, one of the peppers and use up the rest of the grape tomatoes as another side with dip.

Wednesday

Leftovers from the fridge.

Thursday

Leftover roast beef made into hash.

Friday

Fish fillets, and perhaps some homemade fries (if I get to go shopping and manage to get some potatoes). If not fries probably rice.

Saturday

Spaghetti and meat sauce with perhaps a salad of some kind.

Sunday

Pork roast which I will probably marinate and serve with rice and mixed veggies.

So there it is. I am hoping to be clearing a few things out of the freezer and fridge. 

Breakfasts will be yogurt, toast or oatmeal. Lunches sandwiches or leftovers.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 

We are heading into some bitterly cold nights. In fact tonight it might actually reach -50C, I am not too sure if we have ever gotten that cold. Here is hoping our power plant can handle this. Perhaps we won't be able to send any power to North Dakota.... We might actually need it all for ourselves.

We did not go to in person Mass today. Instead watched online from the Cathedral. Really just too cold to even attempt.

Not much has been happening since it is so cold. We haven't been out much and I don't plan on pulling out the recycling tonight or the garbage tomorrow for pick up. Things can wait a week or two, as there are only Hubby and I here there really isn't much garbage or recycling to be had in a week. Unlike my friend who always seems to have overloaded bins. 

Tomorrow is a holiday here called Family Day so everyone gets to stay home. I am glad I won't have to worry about Kris going to work and since he works at home on Tuesdays I am hopeful that he will miss the really cold mornings. Heck, he could even work from home on Wednesday if he chooses as they are allowed 2 days a week to do so. Thursday it will be warming up and then if things hold true we should be into some nicer temperatures for awhile. 

Kurt is in Alberta and they seem to be missing this nasty weather right now. Keeping my fingers crossed that holds true while he is undergoing Faith Days and Teacher's Convention this coming week. 

I did some straightening of my pantry in the kitchen. Lots of part cans of non-stick spray. I have put them in some order to be able to use them up. No idea how that happened at all. 

Pulled up the main courses for the week and if we do go to Kris's place on the weekend I will be taking a couple of meals with me. Well at least one meal and perhaps we can stop and pick up some chicken for the other meal. Trying to help him out as much as possible. Pretty sure things could get tight for him, at least he has seniority with the city and his job.

As far as my projects, things are moving along slowly but surely. I might actually manage to get another placemat. It will be nip and tuck though. Perhaps I will be hemming them by the beginning of next week. 

Frugal and thrifty things are happening as usual and decluttering is moving along very slowly. As I said before, this could just be the year of using things up as a means of downsizing. The more I use the less there will be to need using. 

Watching all of the YouTube video's of people doing pantry challenges and seeing all that I have in mine, I am tempted to try a couple of weeks worth of meals just from what I have. 

I am getting much better at making my yogurt. It gets thicker every time and I am beginning to enjoy adding frozen fruit, granola and honey to each morning serving. Much less expensive than purchasing it really and I know what is in it. I need to get some started tonight. 

Off to visit with you all, before starting to get the potatoes into the roaster.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Today Is Flag Day Here

 

Today Canada's flag turns 60. I was in I believe Grade 4 when the switch from the Union Jack to the Maple Leaf happened. At that time I just couldn't understand why a new flag was necessary. 

Now however I understand perfectly. I love my flag and I love our anthem which has changed over the years to be so much more inclusive. 

My little flag banner will be staying up for quite awhile as we go through some difficult times. As Pierre Trudeau said living above an elephant, you feel every movement that elephant makes. 

Showing our pride in our country is one way of countering the elephant trying to roll over my homeland.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Recipe Friday

Before I post the recipe I want to wish all of you a very Happy Valentines Day. 

I was asked to post my recipe for Granola and so here it is. I actually got this from a poster on a forum I am a member of. She wasn't too sure where she got it from so I can't give recognition to the original poster.

Slow Cooker Granola

Combine in a mixing bowl 3 cups oatmeal (not instant), 1/8 cup packed brown sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon (you could use a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice instead), 1/2 cup shredded coconut, 1/2 cup chopped nuts or sunflower seeds or both (you can actually use any nuts that you have on hand). Add 1/4 cup vegetable oil (I used canola as that was all I had), 1/8 cup maple syrup (or regular pancake syrup), 2 tsp vanilla. Stir until dry ingredients are well coated with the oil and syrup.

Grease the slow cooker pot with butter or margarine and add the mixture. Cook on high 30 minutes with the lid slightly open on one end. Stir and repeat this process 4 more times, stirring after every 30 minutes leaving the lid ajar each time. 

Spread on a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan to cool. Once cool add your choice of dried fruit. Store in air tight jar or bag with air pressed out in the refrigerator. 

The house smelled awesome while this was cooking.

Sending you all some roses on this day.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

 

Thrifty and Frugal Thursdays

Thrifty and Frugal 

Yippee, we had a fairly decent day today. Temperatures were pretty much almost normal for this time of year. Just perhaps a tad colder. However tomorrow we will be back in the deep freeze once again. That will hold true for the next 5 or 6 days. 

So what frugal and thrifty practices have been taking place on the Phillips homestead.

1.  Drapes open on the sunny days to take advantage of the solar heating effects of the sun. Cuts power and electrical costs down a bit.

2.  I mended a tote bag that is a few (okay more than a few) years old.

3.  Fixed a couple of buttons on one of Harvey's dress shirts that were coming loose.

4.  Actually took a bit of a walk today, the fresh air made me feel happy.

5.  Using up all leftovers in the fridge. I am happy to report there has been no waste so far this week. 

6.  Paid bills online to save on gas and errand time.

7.  Made some granola to use on my yogurt. This is the first time and it was so easy that I will make it again. 

8.  Doing with out the oven still and using appliances to do my cooking.

9.  Cutting scraps of fabric into 4" and 2" squares to use in quilts or other such items (perhaps even fabric that can be made into clothing). 

10. Harvey is repairing his gas ice auger instead of taking it in to a shop to be repaired.

11. I put $100.00 in my savings envelope and $6.15 in the change jars. 

12. Froze the sausage buns to use at another time for another meal.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.