Menu Monday

March came in like a lamb and I do hope it leaves the same way. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Monday

I am working today and since I was booked late last week decided to leave the menu for today as is.

Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans and the leftover salad should hit the spot just perfectly. I can also make up the meatloaf, put it in the oven and carry on with a few other household tasks.

Tuesday

Pork chops in a mushroom gravy, egg noodles, and carrots. This is another oven meal, but as I am trying to figure out the new oven temperature wise, and I need to use up fridge items this is the way it goes for a bit.

Wednesday

There has been a package of dry ribs languishing in the freezer for awhile now. I am using these up and adding another partial bag of puff pastry appetizers to get them out of the freezer. Serving them with some raw cut up veggies.

Thursday

Clean out the fridge night. If there is nothing really left I will make some soup and have sandwiches with.

Friday

German dumplings, diced boiled potatoes, and lots of fried onions. Not the healthiest of meals but comfort food on what is supposed to be the coldest day this week.

Saturday

Chicken drumsticks baked in the oven, rice and brussel sprouts.

Sunday

Roast pork, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots (or perhaps broccoli, cauliflower mixed). Depending on what cooked veg I pick there may be some veggies and dip as well.

Lunches will be the usual leftovers or sandwiches. In my case I sometimes just have some toast and peanut butter (don't really like peanut butter, but we have a great deal to use up and Harvey does not seem to be helping).

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

Today our Gospel reading was the Prodigal Son. Father Brian said that we were to focus on the father and his forgiveness of his son. That both sons were separated from their father physically (in one case), emotionally and spiritually much like we are separated from God at times. We need to focus on how God loves us and always will love us.

I took a few pictures of my stock up shopping.

I got all this material for at least 50% off. The first one is a knit fabric that I plan on making another skirt from. The second is a cotton that just may become a dress for summer, and the third is a stretch corduroy that eventually will turn into a jacket and skirt. The thread was all buy one get one free. Not too bad for my first stop.

My next stop was Micheal's and I managed to get all these balls of yarn for $1.00 each. Should keep me out of trouble for awhile. The embroidery floss was full price, but considering I can not buy DMC floss here in town, and Coates is twice as expensive here I did manage to save a bit.

Pork chops and chicken divided up into meal sized portions and vacuum sealed for the freezer.

A whole pork loin cut into three roasts and a rather large beef roast made into two roasts. Sealed in Zip Lock bags and ready for the freezer.

I seem to have missed taking a picture of the ground meat, sausages, and salmon that were portioned out into meal sized vacuum bags. Oh well, perhaps I will keep the camera a bit handier next time.

The dratted embroidered quilt. I have managed to get a bit more done. I still have the eye of the rabbit to back stitch and the back stitching on the yellow ribbons but I do see an end in sight. I am so thankful that a few more days of work should see it all finished and put away until I get a name to embroider in one block.

I picked up a day of subbing this week so this project may take a bit longer than I hoped. Yet it will be completed and I can move on to something else.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

Just a very quick post tonight.

We went into Regina today for a big stock up shop at various stores in the city. Managed to get pretty much everything on my list. I did not get shredded cheese however so will need to buy that, milk, and some fruit here tomorrow. Hoping to keep the cost down so I don't go too over budget on food.

The best thing about the trip today was learning that Kris managed to dodge the latest round of layoffs at his place of employment. We are hoping that this is the last and he will be safe for a very long time.

Tomorrow I hope to post some pictures of my stock up on yarn, and fabric (honestly I didn't buy that much). Perhaps even a picture of how far I have gotten on that dratted embroidered quilt.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

I have been racking my brain for five frugal things I have done this week and just may have come up with a few.

1.  Walked every morning and afternoon.

2.   Had free coffee at a friends.

3.   Used two coupons to pick up items for our trip.

4.   The usual frugal making of bread, cooking meals from scratch as much as possible, turning the heat down in our bedroom during the day and opening the drapes and blinds in the south facing windows during the day to use the light of the sun to heat the front half of the house.

5.   Making a list for our stock up shopping trip tomorrow. I even listed the places (stores) we need to visit in order to get everything.

6.   Found $2.10 while out walking. Money put in my savings jars immediately upon returning home.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Things are slowly getting more spring like here in the southeast corner of my province. This morning we heard the sound of a woodpecker in the trees behind us. Harvey went to get his camera, but by the time he returned Mr. Woodpecker had decided it was time to leave. We have never heard a woodpecker this early in the season, and we have not seen any robins yet (they are the first to usually arrive). Our weather has been so strange this winter I think even the animals and birds are a bit confused.

I paid my 6 months visit to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned and found out I have some areas of concern. Now the dental hygienist is talking about dental implants!!!! Scary thought, but one I suppose we need to talk over. As Harvey says he can not make the call, but he wants me to have a quality of life if anything happens. Guess we will need to put money aside for this purpose as well. Just trying to figure out why these things happen after retirement.

Our travel itinerary was in so on the way home from the dentist I managed to nip in and pick that up as well. In three weeks we will be on our way, so looking forward to the time to just be with no cooking and no bed making. Those things alone make taking a trip worthwhile.

Still working away at my embroidery project, but I do see an end in sight. It will be nice to set it aside and work on my quilt blocks until we leave.

This Saturday we will be heading up to Regina for some shopping. Harvey wants to get a wine kit or two, and I have a list made up for Micheal's, Home Outfitters, Fabric Land, and of course Costco. We will be picking Kris up and make it a day of bonding and a lovely meal out at the end.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless. 

Sharing A Recipe

A little bit ago (think about the end of last week) I decided it was time to use some of those dried cherries I had in the pantry.

At first I thought I might make a cherry loaf or two, then I came across a recipe for Oatmeal Raisin cookies. My brainstorm was to sub the dried cherries for the raisins.

These are wonderful, moist and chewy. The tartness of the cherries is just perfect with the sweetness of the cookie.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup softened butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
3 cups oatmeal
1 cup flour
1 cup dried cherries (or raisins, chocolate chips or chopped nuts)

Heat oven to 375 F. In a large bowl, beat all ingredients except oats, flour and cherries with electric mixer on medium speed, or with a spoon, until well blended. Stir in oats, flour and cherries.

On ungreased baking sheets, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2" apart.

Bake 9-11 minutes or until light brown. Remove from cookie sheet and cool on racks completely.

I hope you enjoy them as much as we are.

Everybody have a wonderful evening,

God bless.

An Update and New Goals

First, I would like to say that I am not too happy with my goal accomplishments last month.

1.   Finish the red coat.  Done

2.   Finish the embroidered quilt up to the name (since I don't know who will be gifted this).  Still working on this.

3.   18 No Spend days.   Done, in fact I managed to exceed my goal by 3 days.

4.   Work on more quilt squares.  Not even looked at.

5.   Work on rug. (Just a few more rounds should see it done.)   Same as number 4.

Things just did not go my way this month. I ran out of one shade of yellow for the quilt and had to search numerous stores to find it. The embroidery is taking much longer than I thought it would. I also had to stop for a couple of days in order to get the birthday gift done for Harvey's sister.

Project declutter continued in February (had to edit as for some unknown reason I typed January). I did manage to remove another 115 items from my home. Things are being pared down nicely. I will continue with this project monthly. Who knows what my home will look like by the end of this year.

Now on to the goals for this month.

1.  Finish the quilt even if it bores me to no end.

2.  Make the quilt blocks necessary to start my bed quilt.

3.  Make a packing list for our trip.

4.  Have 14 no spend days before we leave on our trip.

There you have it a very pared down goals list. Sure hope I can manage to finish it in 24 days.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.