This Will Suit Me Perfectly

 

Thanks for posting this Juhli. I am a mystery/true crime nut for novels and this challenge will be loads of fun. I can actually get into this one.

The day has passed by and I am not even tired. Can it be that whatever virus or bacteria I managed to pick up has worked its way through my system? I certainly hope so. I do not like feeling so exhausted by midafternoon that I just can not function properly. 

Once again my movement towards simplicity has been one of decluttering and organizing. Perhaps more decluttering than organizing, and perhaps more using up than decluttering. 

One thing I am beginning to realize is that we collect more "stuff" then we really need or in fact want. Or perhaps that is the problem, at the time the items appeared in our homes we actually wanted them, but didn't need them. 

In a way I didn't realize at the time, we were actually trying to keep up with the neighbours... At times I believe we fall back into that mindset. Not as often now, but the urge is still there. One needs to remember that nothing is simple if it adds "stuff" to your life.

Harvey informed me today that he ordered grow lights and I wondered why..... Turns out he was thinking that we could possibly grow our own lettuce, radish and onion during the winter months and save a bit of cash doing so. Kris does this every year and in fact his set up even grows tomatoes and peppers. He says the cost of running the lights is minimal really, so perhaps things will work out and we will manage to save on produce over the those cold winter months. I don't think that is moving towards a simpler life, but perhaps towards a more frugal life. And having Harvey even thinking in a frugal manner is perhaps a big plus. I really think taking him shopping was a major eye opener for him. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Shopping and Realizing Prices Really Are Hitting Highs

 So I went shopping yesterday and could have cried over how much prices are going up over all. 

Definitely more than last time I went shopping and way more than last year at this time. Still I did manage to get lots on sale (though sale price was the regular price even just a few months ago).

So here is my shopping, and yes I did purchase a small roast beef which was on sale, but one of the reasons I almost cried.

One of two pictures of my shopping. It seems like getting pictures from my phone to blogger is getting a bit more difficult.

I think I might need Kris to get things working properly once again, or find my silly camera which seems to have disappeared in the house. 

Life seems to be getting slightly complicated rather than simplified. 

Off to get supper completed, a visit with all of you and then work on a project or two.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

Thrifty and Frugal

Since I have not been feeling that well, things are really being used up around here. My fridge freezer is slowly dropping, and the crisper was getting pretty darn empty here. 

I did go shopping today, and rested a great deal once home. I wanted to get out and get that done as we are being told we were going to be getting freezing rain later today. That after snow.... I made it home before any real snow started.

1.  Meals have been made this past week with what we have on hand in the fridge, freezers, pantry, and cold room (that's where we have our potatoes).

2.  Harvey made more wine for the summer.

3.  A picture frame was made from his bit of lumber downstairs. 

4.  My electric bill has dropped by $5.00 as I am using appliances to cook more, and making sure lights are off in rooms not in use.

5.  Mended a pair of boxers, darned a pair of socks, and fixed a hem on a pair of pants.

6.  Working on making more from scratch and getting meals into the freezer by making larger batches. 

7.  Trying to find reusable K-cups that will fit my machine. I also looked a machines that use both the cups and a pot. 

8.  Put $75.00 into my savings envelope.

9.  Added $5.35 to the coin jars.

10.  Doing the regular frugal and thrifty things like hanging clothing on the lines downstairs, using up craft supplies, and making sure the doors are using the draft dodgers.

Still tired, and I even had a bit of a sleep after shopping. I then spent the rest of the day working on projects, doing a tiny bit of decluttering, and walking when I needed to. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Midweek, Not At All Calm

 I really hate not being 100% and becoming so exhausted by mid afternoon I can hardly stay awake. I try to get most, if not all my household tasks done in the morning, but sometimes I just can't. The strange thing is my fitness watch tells me I am getting an excellent sleep in some regards, and sleeping most of the night (think that's out a bit as I know one night I was awake and reading from about 3 to 4 am and the watch said I was sleeping). 

The haircut today really did almost do me in. By the time I drove into our driveway (Harvey always goes first and then walks home) I could feel the urge to close my eyes washing over. Heaven help me when I go shopping tomorrow morning, I could be tired before I even get any work completed around the house. 

If this keeps up I will be visiting my doctor very soon. I will give myself another week to see what happens. 

Enough of the pity party, I am sure you are all getting a bit bored with that.

Right now I am just working on getting a few extra meals into the freezer downstairs. Just in case there comes a time when I really do not feel much like cooking anything. So far this week I have added pie crusts, and potato soup to the mix. I hope to add a chicken meal later in the week along with some chili. Most of the meals are extra from meals I have cooked. Keeping things simple and using up the bits and bobs in the fridge freezer. I just might try my hand at getting a few pizza crusts into the freezer as well. I also managed to dice up the mini peppers and get them frozen as well.

I think I have enough warp on the loom to get the second half of the rug made. I only have 100 rows left to do and I should be okay. Tonight I will sit and finish the first outside corner of the quilt block. I see an end in sight for that project right now, except I have a number of blocks left after this one to fashion into quilts as well. Going to be doing embroidered quilt blocks for awhile I think.

Off to take something for my fever (it seems to have appeared once again after missing all day), and put together the leftover pork into a meal. Thinking of warming the meat up, making mashed potatoes, and a gravy of some kind to put over the meat... Then raw veggies and dip as another side.

Will see how many I can manage to visit tonight both before and after supper.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

Still working on getting rid of whatever I have managed to catch. I am coughing, sneezing, feverish and by the time the mid afternoon rolls around, I just want to sleep. I do know that if I fall asleep in the afternoon, I will not be able to sleep at night. So I sit and work slowly on projects in the afternoons. At least something is getting done.

Most days I can manage to get the basics done around the house, and since I am trying to use up the bits and bobs in the fridge freezer, I am able to put together pretty basic meals, which Harvey enjoys. Me, well I am surviving on toast and tea. 

Tomorrow we need to go out for our haircuts and since we have waited for three weeks, I am hoping that at least I will not be coughing.... Keep your fingers crossed for me. 

Our weather is going to change as well. Next week is supposed to be back to winter with up to at least 30 cm of snow, or about 12 inches. Winter is sticking around for a bit longer. Of course as is usual with snow the temperatures are not that far below freezing.

Off to see how many of you I can visit before I need to rest my eyes. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tired and Feverish

 

Taking a day off in order to get a bit more rest. See you all tomorrow.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Moving Towards Simplicity

 

Part of my movement towards simplicity is to use what I have and only replace things when absolutely necessary. 

One of the items I am replacing is many of the plastic containers I used for freezing. Lots of them were stained, getting to the point where they were extremely brittle and just getting past the best time to be using them. Now I am not getting rid of them all, I will keep those that are still in good form, but my molds will be used a great deal more and really do make storage a bit simpler. 

I will need to replace my 15 year old broom very soon as it is not doing the job it is intended for any longer. I found that out when trying to sweep up the kitty litter. I will hold off on replacing my dirty clothes basket for a bit longer, as it is still functional even though there is a large crack at the top. 

Collecting glass and plastic jars to use for storage, mainly so I can reclaim my canning jars. 

Simplicity to me also means making the most of what I have. So I am hunting down recipes to use beans, lentils, and peas. All are great sources of protein and can be used instead of meat for that purpose. I seem to have lots of beans in storage for some reason. We will never become totally vegan, but having meals that are vegetarian based will help keep our costs down and is a very simple way to do so.  

Simplicity also means knowing what is in my food, so I am cooking more from scratch, using whole ingredients. I don't think I will ever totally remove processed food from the pantry, but by making more with whole ingredients will keep our meals simple and filling. 

Repairing, making and just taking the time to slow down and breathe while doing so enables me to have prayer or meditation time. By organizing my day and routine I am finding life moving just a touch slower. That makes me wonder if getting more organized would be even better.... But would that enable me to stop and watch the birds at the feeder as I tidied the hall, or watch the children come home from school when the buses drop them off. 

Moving towards simplicity is also helping with the budget. Since I have gotten way more involved in working towards this, I am discovering that staying within or under budget is much easier. No longer worrying about keeping up with the neighbours really does simplify and save money, time and effort. 

While our life will never be completely simplified, I am enjoying the journey to where we will actually end up once done. Simplifying has also enabled us to take the trips we do (even though I, in my frugal mindset, sometimes think about replacing the money....).

Everybody have a wonderful, relaxing, and simple evening.

God bless.