Midweek Musings

 

I slept very well last night and didn't wake until 5:30 this morning. Meant a quick walk/hobble to the facilities. Then I decided to lay on the couch and fell asleep for another hour. I was very well rested. 

However, Jackie did something she swore she would not do ever again, and that was head out shopping before having something, anything to eat. By the time I was done, I felt weak, nauseous, and headachy. All I wanted to do by the time groceries were put away was have something to eat, drink and perhaps work on projects for a bit. Other household tasks were put on hold until I started to feel a bit better. Paying the remainder of the trip was on the list, but I will do so tomorrow. I did do the online bill paying and the transferring of money from the savings account to the chequing account. I will be using the credit card to pay the next installment and then paying that off totally when it shows up on the card. Probably in a week or so. 

The feeling better did not happen until just a bit ago. It was a darn good thing most of the household tasks were completed before I went out. I just got back in from watering my plants. It is a good thing that all I need to make is the sandwiches to go with the Lentil Soup tonight as I still feel slightly lightheaded and headachy. 

I am so amazed that grocery prices keep right on going up. Beef is getting really expensive, even on sale. When you have a big beef eater like Harvey this could be a problem. I did manage to get some steaks on sale (price was still crazy) and a rather large and costly beef brisket (it was on sale as well). The brisket has been cut in half and each half will do us many meals after smoking. I am really trying to get the most bang that I can from our grocery budget and figuring out ways to stretch a pound of meat into 3 or 4 more meals for the two of us. 

I worry about those just starting out, or in low paying service jobs. While saving money is important to us after years of doing just that, we really are okay and could in fact probably let up on the frugal endeavors. I think they are too ingrained to stop though. Many people have no choice and really need to cut back and sometimes the cutting back is on medical, heat, light, air conditioning. Those things could in fact cause death or failing health leading to other complications. 

Things are getting scary out in the world. Wars, allies no longer allies, and those we thought of as friends we sometimes find out really are not our friends. 

It is starting to thunder out, so I had better end this. It was beginning to be too much of a downer as well.

Hopefully some project pictures coming up very soon and more talk about trying to simplify our lives here on the old homestead. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless. 

 

Tuesday Tidbits And Stuff

 The heart monitor is gone and I am pretty sure I will be able to sleep through the night, or at least go back to sleep quickly after the midnight run to the facilities. The results will be sent to the doctor in 2-3 weeks. I expect a call from her, as that seems to be what she does after getting results. 

I was out early this morning and did some more weeding of the pots, and some deadheading of flowers as well. Tomorrow I will do some watering unless we are getting rain. 

I have done some decluttering and am really cutting down on clothing. There are a few items I plan on trying to upcycle into something else, and a few to cut into squares for quilting or making some more totes. 

Harvey is outside making the first batch of beer. Now my dining room will smell like a brewery, but that will be okay. This keeps him happy and gives him a rest from yard work and maintenance projects. 

I saved some seeds from the yellow and orange peppers.

These will be put away until next year and we will see what happens when we plant them. 

My parents owned a motel in Northern Manitoba and one year Dad brought us some bars of soap... Okay he brought my sister and I two cases of soap. Now this was probably 25 years ago, and after trying it in the bath, I noticed a pretty bad soap scum. So I put it in storage and forgot all about it.

Now in my quest to save some expenditures I have pulled out the first package of 5 bars. I am going to try the for handwashing and see how that works out. 

I was asked what the difference between Sweet and Sour Ribs and BBQ Ribs is. My Sweet and Sour ribs are cut and cooked in a homemade sweet and sour sauce in a casserole in the oven. Now while I do cut up the ribs for the BBQ they are not cut in single ribs, rather portions. I also boil them for a bit to rid them of some of the fat content and brushed with BBQ sauce while cooking. I hope that answers your question JC. 

Off to visit with you all for a bit and then get the table set and supper started.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 Another week has arrived, bringing with it new challenges on how to use things up and how I am going to stand this heart monitor for 24 hours. It has only been on my body for 4 hours and already I want to rip it off.

Here are the menus for this week.

Monday

Chicken Breasts, noodles and sliced cucumbers and dip. 

Tuesday

Leftover ham. I am not sure what kind of casserole I will make, but it will be something to continue the clear out of the fridge and fridge freezer. 

Wednesday

Soup and sandwiches. I brought up a container of lentil soup to use up, and I figure perhaps bologna sandwiches would be neat (got some of that sandwich meat that needs to be used). 

Thursday

Leftovers from Tuesday. 

Friday

Salmon fillets, rice, and green beans.

Saturday 

Hamburgers on the BBQ, along with tinfoil potatoes, onions and carrots. Though if I can find some corn on the cob reasonably priced when I go grocery shopping that could find it's way onto the menus.

Sunday

Pork ribs, not sure if they will be baked, BBQ, or made into sweet and sour. They will be served with rice (leftover from Friday) and peas. 

So that is one more week this month gone, along with a few more items from the fridge, pantry and freezer. 

Off to get supper on the table and to fill in this stupid diary thing they make you use. Then I will visit with all of you for a bit.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 

Quiet day on the old homestead. Mass and working around the house and yard. 

I have weeded a few areas, Harvey has sprayed for the never ending boxelder bugs and I have worked on projects. I am still trying to find the pair of mittens that I seem to have misplaced and am halfway through another pair, which I should finish tonight. 

Kris has phoned Harvey to wish him a Happy Father's Day, and I think Kurt will probably be phoning soon. I asked if Harv would like a dessert made for his special ham meal but he said no. So I did not make a dessert. I will do some baking next week for no real reason. 

Spent some time trying to figure out ways to cut other expenses until at least the end of the year. Did a bit of decluttering and pulled some things to upcycle next month (well at least I hope to upcycle them). 

I have decided to get as much cleared out as possible over the next few months. I think that will probably be more along the lines of craft supplies. Pretty sure making a list (big list maker here) of what needs to be gone or made into gifts will be a big help in this area. I want as much gone as possible over the next 6 or so months. 

Margie, I would love to be able to come and stay with you, but the tour we are on does not give us that much time between bus trips. I really wanted to drive to the various places, but at 75 and a prairie boy, Harvey said he would not feel comfortable driving to the various places I want him to see. We have actually met a few blogging and forum friends over the years and meeting you would be awesome.

Off to visit all of you and then get the meal on the table. Things are smelling just awesome.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

There really are not many completed items to share with all of you this week. It has been more a week of trying to get things done or at least worked on. 

I have been knitting mittens and am on the 7th pair. My fingers are not as nimble as they used to be and one of them keeps locking up on me at the worst possible times. I have pulled lots of partial balls and skeins to use up on this project and it really seems to be working quite well on getting things cleared out. I am of course saving some of the leftovers from this project, to cut up for the rug project. 

Weaving is moving along, I probably have 7 1/2 inches of the first tea towel done. I need to measure one of the ones in my drawer to see how long I should make these. 

The rest of the week I have been watering plants outside, weeding, doing laundry, regular household tasks and harvesting rhubarb. 

I should have one more harvest of rhubarb this year. I have also been looking at some of the chokecherry trees near my home. I am hopeful that as long as a really strong wind does not appear I should be able to forage enough to make some jelly. 

Harvey was going to do a beer kit today, but it is really windy out now that he has decided not to use my new range. He does not want to "Break it". He is a bit worried about the weight of the water on the surface of the range. He does need to use a great deal of water. Now he will use the side burner on the BBQ to boil everything. 

The neighbour to the west of me has pretty much moved out of the house that she was renting. However her brother seems to still be in the house. I find that very strange as pretty much everything has been moved out and he was never on the rental agreement in the first place. He also does not seem to have a job, or if he does it is very part time. Perhaps he is only staying there until the end of the month. Only time will tell. I probably know the brother better than his sister as he was one of my students when I was an EA. 

On our trip we will not be entering the United States at all. We are on the Canadian side during the trip to Niagara Falls, and will in fact be spending the night in a hotel on that side. I believe we get to take a trip on the boat to the bottom of the falls, and if the weather is not conducive to that we get to go through the tunnels. I think that there is a bit of free time, and I really would love to see some of the places we visited when I was a child.

I am off to set the table and get some veggies started for our supper.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Simplifying Life

 

My quest for simplicity in life is heading more towards decluttering and using up. It is also beginning to be more of "What can I make for myself instead of purchasing." I know there is a great deal more I can do in the way of cleaning products, baking, and growing. I am not sure when or if we will be moving from here for awhile, so I think growing as much as I possibly can would get me out and enjoying my yard much more than I do now. 

Slowly but surely things are leaving the house. Of course a few things have come in but nothing that is not necessary or something we could pass on to one of our sons when the time comes. 

I have been removing clothing bit by bit from my drawers. Nothing this week as I have concentrated on using up things from my craft/sewing room. 

I have also tried to be a bit more focused on using things up in the fridge and my freezers. With the costs of items going up getting the most out of what we have is a priority. Leftovers are being made into new meals or eaten for our lunches. Nothing is going to waste if at all possible. 

Harvey has been getting ready to make one of the beer kits that Kris gave him for Christmas. He plans on doing that tomorrow. I hope he has enough caps for the process. 

There are a few house projects I would like done over the summer and I have made a list of those. Painting the inside doors, some of the trim, and some of the drawers in the kitchen need a bit of repair. 

Our deck needs some work, mostly painting and I should actually make some new cushions for the chairs (buying some for one of them would be cost prohibitive). A bench needs painting and of course there is always weeding that needs doing. 

Hmmm, that really does not sound like I am simplifying my life at all. Yet in reality, getting all those things completed will in fact do so. I will be able to enjoy the simplicity of working outside, working with what I have and enjoying life to the fullest, knowing that our sons will not have a mess to clear up. Pretty sure that would be a wonderful thing. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

Thrifty and Frugal

I will first answer the question on where we are heading for our 9 day holiday.

Harvey has never really been to Eastern Canada. I think the farthest east he has traveled was a small town near Sault Saint Marie. We did take a trip to Nova Scotia for a wedding going a few days before the wedding and staying a few days after. But as far as Ontario and Quebec... nope. So this tour will take in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Lockport, The Thousand Islands, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Montreal. I am really looking forward to seeing Quebec City and both extra tours we will be taking are there. The first is a tour of the Hotel Frontenac in the late morning, and then a trip to a redone flour mill for dinner in the evening. That is pretty much the only place I have never been. Must brush up on my French I guess.

On to frugal and thrifty endeavors this past week.

1.  I picked rhubarb and got it washed sliced and in the freezer. From the looks of the plants I need to get out and pick more.

2.  Clothes were hung on the outside lines. Thank heavens there was no smoke on Monday.

3.  Lights are being turned off with more regularity now. Trying to keep the electric bill low.

4.  Darned a pair of socks.

5.  Found more scraps to make a few more tinkle cloths. I am really hoping to be able to not have to wash those quite as often. 

6.  Cut up some t-shirts that were unsuitable for donating into cleaning rags. 

7.  Using up all leftovers in other meals either for dinner or lunches. I am also finishing up a few bags of frozen odds and ends like egg rolls.

8.  Weeded the gardens for exercise and walked to get the mail. 

9.  Using up yarn from my stash. 

10.  Using up the lotions and potions I received as gifts over the years. Using up bath gel as well.

11.  I am using appliances for cooking where and when I can.

Pretty sure there are more, but my mind is drawing a blank. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.