Monday, February 17, 2025

Menu Monday

 

So cold today. None of our vehicles will start and I am pretty sure the SUV needs some kind of repair, either a new battery, or alternator, or block heater. This has been going on since we had the plug in repaired, but never this bad. Harv's truck is not taking a charge very well either so probably needs a new battery as well. Of course this happens when it is -50C with the windchill.

However, those problems will hopefully be taken care of over the next few days (though the SUV will probably need towing). I also doubt that we will be going to visit Kris this coming weekend.

Here are our weeks menus. 

Monday

Small sausage casserole. This is layers of potatoes, carrots, peas and onions. Then smothered in tomato soup/water mix.


Tuesday

Pork chops in mushroom sauce, rice, peas and carrots. I will slice up the remainder of the cucumber, one of the peppers and use up the rest of the grape tomatoes as another side with dip.


Wednesday

Leftovers from the fridge.


Thursday

Leftover roast beef made into hash.


Friday

Fish fillets, and perhaps some homemade fries (if I get to go shopping and manage to get some potatoes). If not fries probably rice.


Saturday

Spaghetti and meat sauce with perhaps a salad of some kind.


Sunday

Pork roast which I will probably marinate and serve with rice and mixed veggies.


So there it is. I am hoping to be clearing a few things out of the freezer and fridge. 

Breakfasts will be yogurt, toast or oatmeal. Lunches sandwiches or leftovers.


Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Sunday, February 16, 2025

Sunday Ramblings

 

We are heading into some bitterly cold nights. In fact tonight it might actually reach -50C, I am not too sure if we have ever gotten that cold. Here is hoping our power plant can handle this. Perhaps we won't be able to send any power to North Dakota.... We might actually need it all for ourselves.

We did not go to in person Mass today. Instead watched online from the Cathedral. Really just too cold to even attempt.

Not much has been happening since it is so cold. We haven't been out much and I don't plan on pulling out the recycling tonight or the garbage tomorrow for pick up. Things can wait a week or two, as there are only Hubby and I here there really isn't much garbage or recycling to be had in a week. Unlike my friend who always seems to have overloaded bins. 

Tomorrow is a holiday here called Family Day so everyone gets to stay home. I am glad I won't have to worry about Kris going to work and since he works at home on Tuesdays I am hopeful that he will miss the really cold mornings. Heck, he could even work from home on Wednesday if he chooses as they are allowed 2 days a week to do so. Thursday it will be warming up and then if things hold true we should be into some nicer temperatures for awhile. 

Kurt is in Alberta and they seem to be missing this nasty weather right now. Keeping my fingers crossed that holds true while he is undergoing Faith Days and Teacher's Convention this coming week. 

I did some straightening of my pantry in the kitchen. Lots of part cans of non-stick spray. I have put them in some order to be able to use them up. No idea how that happened at all. 

Pulled up the main courses for the week and if we do go to Kris's place on the weekend I will be taking a couple of meals with me. Well at least one meal and perhaps we can stop and pick up some chicken for the other meal. Trying to help him out as much as possible. Pretty sure things could get tight for him, at least he has seniority with the city and his job.

As far as my projects, things are moving along slowly but surely. I might actually manage to get another placemat. It will be nip and tuck though. Perhaps I will be hemming them by the beginning of next week. 

Frugal and thrifty things are happening as usual and decluttering is moving along very slowly. As I said before, this could just be the year of using things up as a means of downsizing. The more I use the less there will be to need using. 

Watching all of the YouTube video's of people doing pantry challenges and seeing all that I have in mine, I am tempted to try a couple of weeks worth of meals just from what I have. 

I am getting much better at making my yogurt. It gets thicker every time and I am beginning to enjoy adding frozen fruit, granola and honey to each morning serving. Much less expensive than purchasing it really and I know what is in it. I need to get some started tonight. 

Off to visit with you all, before starting to get the potatoes into the roaster.


Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.




Saturday, February 15, 2025

Today Is Flag Day Here

 


Today Canada's flag turns 60. I was in I believe Grade 4 when the switch from the Union Jack to the Maple Leaf happened. At that time I just couldn't understand why a new flag was necessary. 

Now however I understand perfectly. I love my flag and I love our anthem which has changed over the years to be so much more inclusive. 

My little flag banner will be staying up for quite awhile as we go through some difficult times. As Pierre Trudeau said living above an elephant, you feel every movement that elephant makes. 

Showing our pride in our country is one way of countering the elephant trying to roll over my homeland.


Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Friday, February 14, 2025

Recipe Friday

Before I post the recipe I want to wish all of you a very Happy Valentines Day. 

I was asked to post my recipe for Granola and so here it is. I actually got this from a poster on a forum I am a member of. She wasn't too sure where she got it from so I can't give recognition to the original poster.


Slow Cooker Granola

Combine in a mixing bowl 3 cups oatmeal (not instant), 1/8 cup packed brown sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon (you could use a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice instead), 1/2 cup shredded coconut, 1/2 cup chopped nuts or sunflower seeds or both (you can actually use any nuts that you have on hand). Add 1/4 cup vegetable oil (I used canola as that was all I had), 1/8 cup maple syrup (or regular pancake syrup), 2 tsp vanilla. Stir until dry ingredients are well coated with the oil and syrup.

Grease the slow cooker pot with butter or margarine and add the mixture. Cook on high 30 minutes with the lid slightly open on one end. Stir and repeat this process 4 more times, stirring after every 30 minutes leaving the lid ajar each time. 

Spread on a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan to cool. Once cool add your choice of dried fruit. Store in air tight jar or bag with air pressed out in the refrigerator. 


The house smelled awesome while this was cooking.


Sending you all some roses on this day.



Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

 

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Thrifty and Frugal Thursdays

Thrifty and Frugal 

Yippee, we had a fairly decent day today. Temperatures were pretty much almost normal for this time of year. Just perhaps a tad colder. However tomorrow we will be back in the deep freeze once again. That will hold true for the next 5 or 6 days. 


So what frugal and thrifty practices have been taking place on the Phillips homestead.


1.  Drapes open on the sunny days to take advantage of the solar heating effects of the sun. Cuts power and electrical costs down a bit.

2.  I mended a tote bag that is a few (okay more than a few) years old.

3.  Fixed a couple of buttons on one of Harvey's dress shirts that were coming loose.

4.  Actually took a bit of a walk today, the fresh air made me feel happy.

5.  Using up all leftovers in the fridge. I am happy to report there has been no waste so far this week. 

6.  Paid bills online to save on gas and errand time.

7.  Made some granola to use on my yogurt. This is the first time and it was so easy that I will make it again. 

8.  Doing with out the oven still and using appliances to do my cooking.

9.  Cutting scraps of fabric into 4" and 2" squares to use in quilts or other such items (perhaps even fabric that can be made into clothing). 

10. Harvey is repairing his gas ice auger instead of taking it in to a shop to be repaired.

11. I put $100.00 in my savings envelope and $6.15 in the change jars. 

12. Froze the sausage buns to use at another time for another meal.


Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Time Is Flying By

 


It just seems like yesterday I was doing a midweek post and here we are once again. Where on earth is the time going?

First, I will let you all know that I am not on blood thinners, and I am one of the people in Canada that does not have a GP right now and can't find one. That is another reason for moving as I just might be able to find one in the bigger city. I am hoping that the GP I did have passes the board inquiry with flying colours. I will say that 99% of the women that had him for a doctor (including me) have had no problems with him. Many of us figure someone has it out for him and is using the smallest of excuses to get him in front of the medical board. Right now he is allowed to refill my scripts and that is about it. 

The weather is freezing, but the sun is shining. I must remember to close the drapes a bit earlier tonight to see if that helps with stopping me from freezing as the sun goes down. I start adding layers and then taking them off once the furnace starts up once again. 

Got a bunch of grocery and store flyers today and much to my amazement most are posting where things are obtained from. Canadians are rallying behind our Prime Minister and purchasing Canadian Made, or Produced in Canada products. I belong to a Facebook page that lists Canadian products, and Canadian companies. That page in the matter of a couple of weeks is over 2 million strong and growing each day. Of course we won't be able to get everything here but many (add me in here) are purchasing from Mexico, Central or South America. 

I worked on cutting up some scrap fabric into suitable sized squares and only the tiniest of scraps are being tossed. I had thought of saving those for stuffing, but I no longer make toys. Worked on my embroidery and on my weaving. Tonight I will be working on my knitting. I so hope that I can manage to finish a few more of my goals this month. I really would like to be sewing next month (and of course knitting until the blanket is finished). My plans and goals for next month are already percolating through my brain. 

I hope to share some pictures with you all tomorrow of what is happening on the projects front. Perhaps even some finished or almost finished projects. Might be wishful thinking, but I am keeping my fingers crossed for at least two (one of which isn't on the list, but an addition to the list). 

No decluttering done yet this month. Kind of figured it would be more of a use it up month or a try and use up lots of the stashes month. So far that seems to be what is happening, and I have a feeling next month could be more of the same. I won't complain as every bit that is used and made into something that can be used by myself or others is a step forward in downsizing. Only thing is I have been looking at foot powered spinning wheels.... Do I need another hobby???? Probably not, but a friend is going to be raising sheep so......

It is also a step towards being just a tad more self-sufficient in a world that has gone slightly (okay perhaps more than slightly) bonkers. A world where bullies threaten, and all of us are left holding the bag. 

Off to visit with all of you and then get supper started. 


Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.



Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

I am keeping my fingers crossed that this frigid weather leaves us very soon. The weather pundits are saying there could be a change as early as Thursday. 

We had hoped to go and visit with Kris this coming weekend and celebrate Family Day with him, but the night temps are still pretty cold. We will probably go up the next weekend instead. We need to look for some wooden chairs and I would like to get some more sewing machine needles, some quilt batting, and perhaps some thermal batting for a few ideas I have for casserole carriers. I will probably also get some heavier wool type fabric to make some vehicle blankets for Kurt and Kris.

There has been a bit of a problem getting our SUV started some mornings. Especially when it hasn't been used for awhile and the temperature falls into the feels like -40C range. Now we have it charged up once again and I make sure to start it and let the engine warm up and the battery charge the last two days. 

I can not believe we are almost halfway through this month already and my project/goals list is barely dented. My extra cleaning list on the other hand is disappearing by leaps and bounds. Now that is very strange!!! It is usually the other way around.

Today after all my tasks were completed I grabbed some fabric from the stash and made another tablecloth, definitely needed. While sewing the tablecloth my yogurt was draining in the fridge and I finally have some yogurt once again. I will make another batch in a couple of days. Can a person freeze yogurt I wonder? Sure would be nice if you could. 

I did some weaving today. When one of the warp threads broke I ended up cutting off the two placemats and re-warping the loom. I hope I have enough warp on it to get another two done. 

Why is it that as you age your skin becomes thinner and bruises much easier? It isn't like I didn't bruise easily before, but now my hands look like I have been in the fight of my life some days. Just covered in bruises that I have no idea how I received them. Most times I can't even wear my rings as they will bruise my finger. This minor question because as I typed this I happened to look at my hands and discovered another bruise that came from who know where. 

Off to get supper started. Actually just have to put the thawed casserole into the toaster oven and once that is almost ready, pull out the leftover salad.


Everyone have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.