Moving Towards Simplicity

 

Decluttering possessions is probably the easiest way to start living a simple life. Those possessions that keep us away from family or stop us from living a life based on our values, or in fact just deplete our bank accounts are not necessary. I do have many appliances, but most enable me to cut down cooking time and give me a chance to visit. 

I have also come to realize that I do not need two closets full of clothes and have been gradually ridding myself of those items that do not fit my body now and those that I just do not love. 

Slowly but surely I am removing myself from time commitments that also stop me from enjoying a slowed down life. I never realized how much time I spent doing things that did not fulfill me or enable me to take the time for a nice long walk or curling up with a good book.

Debt held us back from enjoying a simple life as well. We no longer have debt and that is so wonderfully freeing. Do what ever you can to lose that weight. 

It is amazing to me how much simple living incorporates frugal and thrifty living. I suppose one could have one without the other, but the stresses of a life full of things, of debt, of always trying to keep up with others really do not allow for a simple life. Letting go of those things or ridding ourselves of those things saves us money and allows us to rest.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursdays

Thrifty and Frugal 

Life got a bit less frugal today as I stocked up on sale meats, which I guess will turn out to be frugal in the long run, just not for total cost today.

I purchased 2 large cryovac eye of round roasts (approximately 9 lbs. each). One was cut into two roasts, the other cut into 8 steaks and two 1 1/2 packages of beef cubes for stew. The roasts were $5.99 a pound so all were a savings of at least another $5.00 to $15.00 a package.

I purchased a whole pork loin for $2.49 a lb. and made two large pork roasts. A savings of about $15.00 for each roast. The loin cost me $21.65 in total. 

I bought a Steelhead Trout fillet for $17.00 regularly $29.00 and it will furnish us with two meals each. 

Then I purchased 3lbs of ground beef that was also on sale. Eye watering sale, but sale non the less. 

All meat has been cut up, bagged and put in the freezer.

This should keep us in meat for a very long time, considering I have pork chops, ham steaks, lots of chicken and sausages. I also have burgers and hot dogs. 

I am hoping that all I will have to purchase in the way of meat next month is a turkey, and some canned meats and fish. That could mean my groceries for next month will be much lower.

I finished up a few bits and bobs of yarn making the smaller mittens, and now have pulled out some orphan balls and larger bits and bobs to make the next size of mittens. 

I am using up some Christmas yarn to make the runner for on top of the fake fireplace to brighten up that area. 

Used up all leftovers in lunches since we have been home.

Hung clothes on the lines downstairs to dry.

Will be making yogurt tonight. 

Found some partial spools of thread and wound them onto cards to use to sew on buttons or fix hems.

Changed the menu to use up items in the fridge freezer. 

Did a bit of decluttering, and removed things from the hall, and kitchen putting them where they belong.

Thanks for all the ideas in regards to make items more available to me in the pantry. I am going to see if I have any baskets that will fit, and I will keep a flashlight near to hand. 

My cupboards are in fact oak. The ones where my pantry are have been redone by Harvey and I want him to redo the others where my other kitchen items like plates, glasses and pots are held. That can be a job for him this winter as he can do them at his own pace. They need to be sanded, re-stained and a protective easy to wash coating put on them. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

 

Midweek Ramblings

It has been pretty cloudy today but at least we haven't had rain or snow as of yet the past couple of weeks. The longer things stay fairly decent the better it is for my driving in this city where people seem to forget how to drive during winter. Not that I don't like snow, and the moisture is necessary here for the proper seeding come the spring. I am just keeping my fingers crossed we don't get rain first.

I have spent some time trying to organize my kitchen pantry. The bad thing about this pantry is that the shelves go back so far. Did my best and now most items are in containers safe from any and all pests. 

I will still have to search for items at the back of the shelves, but at least things are well contained. I also got lots of my canning jars back for next year.

Next up is the pantry in the hall as well as my home canned goods and all my various spices and herbs. Those last are taking up room on my counter. I am actually thinking about putting the dehydrated items into the cupboard above and bringing out my teas so as to use them all this winter. The teas will take up less room and once the jars in the spice rack are empty and refilled I should be able to have a bit more counter space available.

Working on projects and getting a few things ready for the new year. My calendar pages are ready now for menu plans, and my 2026 book for the To Do list is ready to go. 

I have hung the new curtains in the sewing/craft room and folded the others up to see if Kris would like them for some area in his home. They are not as badly faded as I had thought and so he might be able to use them on his front window which would be great.

Even managed some decluttering this past week. Of course the decluttering was mostly paper and a couple of articles of clothing, but much better than nothing. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 I have stretched my shopping out and will not be going out until tomorrow to do that, or who knows perhaps I can stretch things out for another day. I can always make lemonade to drink at supper time. I just do not want to go over budget by a great deal. 

Our visit went very well and we actually got to see part of the cities Santa Claus Parade right past the doors of Kris's house. 

By the time we realized what was happening we could only get this photo. Lots in front and later on many behind. 

Eiko actually slept in the same room as me one night. Perhaps she is getting a bit more used to us coming and visiting for a period of time. 

Since getting home I have continued the organization of the kitchen pantry, did the laundry, and have been trying to figure out how to clean out the leftovers in the fridge freezer or the broth from the chest freezer made into soup. The planned menus starting next week are going to be changed for sure. 

I have just been spending most of the day catching up on work around the house. This means not much in the way of projects has been done. I did get the loom set up, but as far as mitten knitting just a little. I do hope to get this pair finished tonight and the last pair done tomorrow. If I don't get the next size completed before the end of the month, at least it is something I can work on by hand. After all by the end of this month I will need to get our trees and Christmas decor up. 

Things I have planned for tomorrow are hanging the curtains in the sewing/craft room, probably grocery shopping, and redoing the rest of the menus for this month. I even think some leftovers will be used at the beginning of December. 

I am finally sleeping a bit better, which is wonderful. I am slowly getting my energy back and happy to be working on things around the house. I am losing my ennui about projects and nesting around the old homestead. I pushed through at times and I think that is why I bounced so much between tasks. Now that I am sleeping better I find myself willing to finish something rather than work 15 minutes on one thing and then move to the next. Keeping my fingers crossed that more projects will be completed this month.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Plan Monday

We are back home and I am doing laundry..... Harvey on the other hand is sound asleep. I really think I should wake him up or he won't be able to sleep tonight.

Menu's for this week are going to be moved around. 

Monday

Corned Beef Hash and peas.

Tuesday

Homemade pizza, perhaps some garlic bread.

Wednesday

Leftover hash and carrots.

Thursday

Hopefully leftover pizza, but if not that Soup and Sandwiches.

Friday

Tuna casserole and a salad.

Saturday

Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole.

Sunday

I have some leftover brisket in the freezer that needs using so I will figure out something with the help of Google.

So there it is meals to help us get through the start of the cold weather, clear out the fridge and get some very healthy meals in our tummies. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Visiting

 We arrived at around 4:30 pm yesterday. Got the machine dropped off first and gave Kris the slips to pick the machine up when done. I will pay over the phone so no need to write a cheque to leave with Kris. 

Today we, well Kris and I went shopping and pulled up his carrots. I did some cleaning and will continue tomorrow. Just little things to make the house a tiny bit more presentable.

Kris is going to have lots of leftovers for the next while. He probably has enough Baked Spaghetti for two meals and Beef stew for another two. Who knows how many leftovers will happen tomorrow. 

I will visit with you all once I am back home.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

PS I thought I published this, but guess I did not hit the publish button.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

Thrifty and Frugal 

This past week I have once again been sticking pretty close to home. Meaning I am managing to get things completed, put away or decluttered. Which I am happy about. 

Frugally I have been trying to use up every bit of food in the fridge, cupboard, and freezer. That has been working out very well. Once again the fridge freezer is pretty much cleared out, and with the organization of the baking pantry, and pasta cupboard I am beginning to find things once again. 

I did go shopping today at Walmart, and of course spent more than planned. This was because I stocked up on some items. It has been a very long time since I have seen blocks of cheese for $4.88 a package, or coffee pods marked down by $6.00 a package. Large cans of creamed corn were on 4 for $6.00, and a big can of pineapple chunks was marked down to $1.27. I just could not pass those bargains up as well as the others I found. While this will more than likely put me over the grocery budget for this month, I feel the savings will be able to keep me under budget next month and into the new year. A big plus since prices keep going up. I may do a bit of a stock up next week on some meats as those are on sale right now as well. I do need beef products so the next trip early in the next week will add to the overage. 

Baked bread this week and today I made buns to take to Kris's. The leftover spaghetti and meat sauce tonight will be processed into a tray of Baked Spaghetti to be taken to Kris's as well. Probably the second meal will be something pulled from the freezer that I have already made. 

As far as craft stash, I am still working on using bits and bobs of yarn making the mittens. Those will come with me to Kris's so I can continue using up more yarn.

There is warp left on the loom and instead of wasting it, I am going to fashion a runner. I want to use up as much of that as possible this time around. I have been very wasteful with leftover warp lately.

I fixed the bottom of a zipper on one of my jackets early this week, darned another pair of socks, and saved some elastics and twist ties. 

I also found a quarter on the way to pick up the mail and that has been added to the change jar. 

Used up a small tube of hand cream after cutting it to get the last little bit out.

Rinsed out the dish soap to get another load of dishes handwashed and will be refilling them tonight.

That's all for this week, other than the usual things that are done every week.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.