Menu Monday

 After a more than a week of research, and phone calls I think that things are on track to being settled with my brother (at least the disabled one). I hope to be able to post a bit more once again.

Anyhow here is the menu for this week.

Monday

Leftover stew (this gave us three meals). 

Tuesday

Hamburgers which will be made into kind of Swiss Steaks, mashed potatoes, and a cucumber salad.

Wednesday

Using up a package of leftover roast beef. Served in a casserole, and with the remains of the cucumber salad.

Thursday

At the cabin so we will have smoked chicken sausages, and coleslaw. Perhaps some tinfoil potatoes as well.

Friday

Family get together which will be hamburgers and hotdogs along with whatever sides people bring to share.

Saturday

Catered meal which will be turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, and salads. I believe there will be pies for dessert. 

Sunday 

Home and since Kurt will be here I will do a pork loin roast, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots, and perhaps sliced cucumbers from the garden.

I am trying to get back into the swing of things and it is taking a bit longer than I had thought it would. Still, household tasks are being done, projects worked on, and short walks being taken to relax and remember that all will be handled eventually.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

The Journey Is Never Straight

 

Here I thought I was cruising along to a more simple, laid back life. One where I could relax and enjoy retirement even more than I already do. 

Then a couple of days ago after I told my sister Joanne, that our one brother was now in a Nursing Home and going to be assessed, she decided I should phone/get in contact with the other brother, Jay. 

Jay and I have never gotten along even as children. I really don't know why, but we just haven't. Joanne and Jay are closer, so I told her that perhaps she should contact him and find out what was happening with Jerry (disabled brother). So she did message him on Facebook and boy, oh boy things are getting complicated once again.

Jay was having fits and saying that we would all have to chip in and pay for Jerry's stay if it turned out he was to be put in the Nursing Home. We live in Saskatchewan and Nursing Home costs are based on what a person's income is with the government paying the rest and leaving the resident a bit for use on personal items. So Joanne started to send Jay information about that. Hopefully it helps Jay navigate the process a bit better. Though I rather have my doubts. 

Next thing I know, Joanne is messaging me that Jay says Jerry is now on 22 pills a day and they are costing a fortune. He goes on to say perhaps we can help pay for those..... Then it's a message that the place Jerry is in wants to give him a $750.00 a month shot!!! Perhaps we can pay for that as well. Cause you know a guy who hasn't worked in, oh I would say 25 years can't afford to (this is Jay, not Jerry who is disabled and gets disability right now).

My Dad made sure Jerry was well covered in his will, but both Joanne and I figure Jay somehow spent most if not all of that money, except for a small amount that couldn't be touched until Jerry turns 60 or perhaps 65. Now he is in trouble and Jay expects us to come to his aid. 

Harvey has already said that we would give money, but not to Jay. The money would go directly to the pharmacy or to the Nursing Home if that is where Jerry ends up. Joanne, crickets....nada, no offer to help out at all. To tell the truth out of the two of us Joanne and her husband are very wealthy and could easily afford to help out. Yet she does not seem to be willing to at all. 

I kind of giggled on one of her texts when she said "we" have a big problem and that "we" should be concerned about Jerry more. Heck, I have phoned him every Saturday for the last 7 or 8 years (probably more) and told her that things were very strange, that Jay was removing pills, and Jerry was really not eating very well at all. I would also buy Jerry clothing or give him small gifts. When I would tell her my concerns I would get, "Oh, well really that is not our problem." Perhaps if we had stepped in earlier things would not have devolved to what is happening now. 

Hopefully things will be resolved soon, and I can plan accordingly and get back to traveling towards a more simple and enjoyable life. 

Sorry for the rant, but things just got to me and I needed to vent.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursdays

Thrifty and Frugal

After most of a week of rain, we have had some lovely sunshine and things dried up enough to go out and work in the garden and yard. It was lovely to be out in the sunshine, but I made sure I got what I needed done outside before it got too warm. 

Now I am not going to get too excited about the lovely weather, as according to the weather pundits more rain (and lots of it) is headed our way starting Saturday and for the following 3 perhaps 4 days. 

On to what frugal and thrifty things are a happening here on the old homestead.

Using lettuce grown in our garden for salads. 

Hung clothes on the lines downstairs, because of rain on Monday.

Rain barrel is completely full and Harvey's repair is holding well. 

Made ice cream this week as well as yogurt. I will probably make more ice cream tonight, and I should actually start another batch of yogurt.

Using up leftovers from the fridge and freezer in our meals. I hope to use more up over the next few weeks.

Walking for exercise and managing to get lots of steps in, even if it is just inside the house and sometimes marching in place. Steps are steps.

Picked up the rebate cheque on our purchases at our Co-op. While it isn't a large one every little bit helps.

Managed to answer 5 surveys and got added points to two different companies. I am working towards Amazon gift cards. Did my grocery scan as well for yet more points. 

Decluttered some of the kitchen cupboards. I am about 2/3 way through tidying and cleaning and should finish those off tomorrow.

Watched the Great British Bake Off on Gem which is a free streaming service from CBC here in Canada.

Watched some YouTube channels and read blogs to try and get some more frugal and money saving ideas. 

The air conditioner didn't come on at all from Saturday until yesterday and now it only comes on later in the afternoon. Should save us on electric this month. 

Opening windows at night to cool the house down and closing them when I get up.

Still using appliances as much as possible to cook, rather than the stove or oven.

Put $0.55 of found change in the change jars.

Mended a pair of Harvey's jeans.

I am pretty sure that is almost all that has happened here on the old homestead. 

I hope that you all have had a thrifty and frugal week as well.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

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.