Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 As I have said before, rain is a wonderful way to get things done in the house. Spring cleaning is mostly finished. Today I tidied and inventoried the hall pantry. Tomorrow it will be a tidy of the smaller pantry in the kitchen and a good scrub down of the cupboards that contain it. I did move some food into the kitchen pantry to be used and found many an item missing from the hallway pantry. 

I have enjoyed time working on projects (well except for yesterday I did nothing at all except what needed to be done) and made yogurt and ice cream. Watching the shuttle move back and forth as I weave can actually slow me down and make me take the time to enjoy the whole process.

Pulled some items that needed to be used up, and have been trying to plan on how to use up even more in the coming weeks. 

I worked on surveys for points towards gift cards, enjoyed laying on the chesterfield and reading.

However rain and cooler temperatures are not the best thing for garden growth or weeding. One can try and get out between showers, but having tried that one day and being doused has made me a little leery of such practices. I will wait for nicer weather. 

I am afraid that I will be over for the grocery budget this month, but hopefully under budget next month. I bought some meat (beef) that while on sale at a very good price was still a large amount. Yet this meat will give us many a good meal over the next while and should give us some leftovers as well to be made into yet other meals. 

As it is going to continue to be raining and a bit cooler, I plan on pulling out the frozen tomatoes from last year and processing them into sauce. Soups are getting low, so broth will be pulled out and some soup made and frozen for use later as well. 

Dried cherries need using, and some rhubarb as well. I think I will be doing some baking and freezing as well.

I think I am trying to get as much done as I can before we leave and the harvest comes in. There is only so much time to be had this year.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

 

Menu Monday

 It's been another rainy day here on the southeastern corner of the province. In fact this is going to be another rainy week if the forecast is correct. 

I guess that means I don't have to worry about heating up the house if I bake. 

Monday

Chicken Drumsticks done in the air fryer, and the remains of the salad. I may put out some pickles and cheese as well.

Tuesday

The tinfoil container of beef slices in gravy along with mashed potatoes, and corn.

Wednesday

Soup and Sandwiches. I have leftover Chicken Vegetable soup that I froze from last week so we will have that and probably grilled cheese sandwiches.

Thursday

Hopefully it isn't raining much as I would like to make kabobs for the BBQ and some rice to go with it.

Friday

Soft tacos using the lentil taco filling that I froze. Topped with lettuce, cheese, chopped tomatoes, salsa and sour cream. 

Saturday

Smoked sausage, fries, and I will make another salad.

Sunday

Leftover ham warmed up. Served with mashed potatoes and corn.

I will be making the new menu up and hopefully clearing a few items out of the fridge freezer next month. Of course there are a few days where we will be gone, and some days where our oldest son will be visiting us and meals could be a bit more elaborate or we could go out for a meal.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Continuing My Journey

 

It has been a week of cleaning (yes Spring cleaning upstairs is done, except for the cupboards), organizing and decluttering. The more I declutter, the more I feel like I am following the right path towards a simpler life. 

I have managed to find the floor in the sewing/craft room over this past week. Pretty sure there is more I could do in there, but I am leaving it until I get some items out of the house. A few things will be going with me to the Silent Auction at the family reunion, and then hopefully Kurt will be removing the 100 pairs of mittens from the house as well. That will actually add to the floor space by some 5 or 6 square feet. 

There are also the clothing items that I plan on trying to recycle into something new or if unable to do so donate. Once that box is gone, more floor space will open up. I hope to get started on those next month and finish them up when we come back from our trip. 

Lots was donated from that room as well. Slowly, slowly I am letting go of things that no longer feel necessary or that I no longer am attached emotionally to. 

Pretty much the only reason I managed to get so much done over the last couple of weeks is because we have had lots, and lots of rain. Now we need heat and sun to get things growing rapidly as I want to get a few things dehydrated, picked, frozen and canned before we leave. 

List making continues, and that really is enabling me to sleep better at night. It shuts off my thoughts about what needs to be done and stops me from worrying that things might not get done that need to be done. Life is so much easier to live when anxiety does not rule me. It is also much easier to feel like I am getting that much closer to a simpler life.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thurdays

Thrifty and Frugal

It has been just the usual weekly frugal and thrifty happenings here on the old homestead.

Trying my best to not waste anything at all food wise, and I am beginning to get tired of the only one who seems to be eating most of the leftovers. I think that tonight, instead of eating what is on my menu plan, I will just pull out all leftovers and see what we can finish up. I might have been cooking way too much over the last few days.

I am mending clothing, mostly seams on pj's and shorts. Though I did darn a pair of socks, and find a purse that the lining needs to be re-attached. Perhaps I will take that to the group meeting tonight. 

Using up yet more yarn weaving the second scarf, and when cleaning out the sewing/craft room (major cleaning almost done now) found a few double books to donate as well as an item I am going to take with us the next time we visit with Kris. I also sent a few items to recycling. Just a bit more to do in there and the only items that will be left on the floor will be things that go to other places. 

Trying hard to keep the air conditioning off as much as possible. I think that today is the first time it has come on in about 5 days. The rain we have been getting has filled the rain barrel that Harvey repaired. 

I got some free plants from a friend who was thinning some of her perennials out. 

Started some herbal salves to use up some of last year's harvested, dried herbs.

Tonight at the knitting/crochet/fiber arts group one of the ladies is bringing me some free yarn to use to make toques for the students at the school. Free yarn is good and will keep me supplied. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening (or afternoon, or morning).

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 I will soon have most of the top floor of the house spring cleaned. There is a great deal to do yet in the sewing/craft room, but since it is mostly dusting shelves and the desk I am hopeful of getting that completed in a few days. I can then move on to cleaning cupboards, and straightening closets up once again. I really am not as quick at this as I used to be, more rest times are needed, and sometimes after resting I just don't feel like getting back to it. 

I noticed though that there are quite a few things in the sewing/craft room that will slowly be disappearing. I am thinking the items for the Family reunion silent auction, and when Kurt leaves after visiting a rather large bag of mittens will be gone. There are also a few items that will either be recycled, tossed or donated. More will be used as well over the next few months. I am slowly getting a handle on craft supplies.

As far as gardening is concerned, well I am pretty sure I can keep the grass that grows in the lower level of the perennial bed kind of in check, but the creeping bellflower in the top level is getting harder and harder to control. I know I don't always get all the roots, especially on the smaller growth, but I am at least able to keep it from flowering and sending forth more seeds. 

The cherry trees have been netted, and most of the garden planted. Harvey is holding off on the beans until we are sure they will not be ready to pick before or while we are gone.

My sleep cycle seems to be getting pretty much back to normal. Yet I am still really tired today. Could be that cleaning walls, light shades and pictures (as well as some dusting) is a bit too much in one day when ordinary everyday tasks are added in. 

I think that my decision to make lists of what needs to be done before our family reunion, and before our trip is really helping settle my brain a bit and allows me to shut down all my worries and get the necessary sleep. My only lists left to make are what we need to take for both outings. I have the items necessary for the Friday get together pretty much done and will just add as I remember items. 

Going in for my yearly lab tests tomorrow. It is a walk-in clinic and I hope that I can get in and out quickly. I should actually have gone last week, but being so tired and not feeling well I decided to hold off for a week. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 It is that time of the week once again, and while I will be using things up I will also be adding to the collection in the fridge and freezer. I hope to catch up with using all of the bits and bobs over the next few weeks and definitely through the month of July.

So, what are we eating this week.

Monday

Hotdogs, homemade pork and beans and I may just get my take on a Greek salad made as well.

Tuesday

Leftover pork roast made into a stir fry and served over rice. If any Greek salad left we will hopefully finish that off as well.

Wednesday

Chicken Vegetable Soup and tuna salad sandwiches.

Thursday

The leftover stir fry and rice. I will probably add the asparagus that will definitely need using by then.

Friday

Breakfast for supper. I will make pancakes.

Saturday

BBQ hamburgers, and tinfoil potatoes, along with another tossed salad I hope.

Sunday

Roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, and corn (no carrots left until I go shopping once again).

So there is what we will be eating during the week, and since it is supposed to be a rainy one, I may even get a bit of baking in as well. Really could use some cookies.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

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.