Sunday Ramblings

 

Just some pictures today to catch everyone up on what I have been doing.

This is what I woke up to this morning.

Frost covered trees and a drop in early morning temperature of 2 degrees.

I have talked about the blocks Harvey made for me to raise my cutting table to help with my back. Here is a picture of them.

They raise my table by about 4 inches. There is a cut out in the center that the legs of the table fit in.

The sweater which is actually a bit too large, even though the gage was correct. I would go down a size if I ever knit another one. I might even consider adding a few inches and making a dress rather than a tunic.

Harvey came home with an Easter Lily for me. If I can keep it alive I will be planting this outside in the perennial bed.

Last but not least how far I have managed to get on that first of fifteen embroidered quilt blocks. This is going to take awhile and to think there are even more. Enough to make 2 more 15 blocks each quilts. Need to keep working on these.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Frugal Friday

 

It's that day of the week once more, and while this hasn't been the most frugal of weeks there have still been a few frugal saves.

1.  The last few days have been very sunny so the drapes and blinds are wide open. Taking advantage of the heat and light from the sun. My furnace has only been running during the night, late evening, and early morning. The rest of the time the sun beating in the front windows keeps things warm as well as well lit.

2.  I have read two books for entertainment. One of which was downloaded free, and the other was 80% off and I used a gift card I got for Christmas 2 years ago to pay for it.

3.  Used all the leftovers in the fridge, and part of a meal was frozen to use later. 

4.  Did some more decluttering to continue with the simplification of my life. I am trying to simplify my wardrobe and things that just don't fit right or I haven't worn in a certain length of time are being donated or cut into usable fabric if not good enough to be donated.

5.  I pulled yet more orphan balls of yarn (large ones) to make mitts for the younger students at the school Kurt teaches at. 

6.  The rotisserie chicken I purchased yesterday will make us another meal or two this week, so actually quite frugal overall.

7.  Free coffee at a friends place this morning.

I hope to have some pictures for you tomorrow of some finished projects or projects I am working on.

I am also going to get around to visit all of you. I fell into bed last night almost right after supper, just so tuckered out. I think probably from stress.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless

Thrifty Thursday

 

Another week has gone by, and the weather has improved. Things are melting and temperatures have risen. Could it be that winter is letting it's grip go on the prairies of Canada?

Before I talk about thrifty moves here on the old homestead I need to tell Patty that she did not overstep with her question. I love explaining how things work around here. It took me a very long time to get to where I feel comfortable, and sharing how I do this makes me feel wonderful. 

The second thing I need to say is that I got the results of my test today and I am still cancer free! Which is awesome as for some reason I was really concerned this time around. I can breath a bit easier now.

Now what thrifty things did I manage to do around the house over the past week.

I got my sweater knitted from leftover yarn. Even managed to use up some of the stash of bits and bobs doing so.

Meals were made mostly from leftovers from the freezer. 

Got another net bag so a bit closer to trying to make a scrubby from them. 

Wearing my clothes for more than one day.

Using an apron when cooking.

Now what wasn't thrifty....

I bought a ready cooked chicken tonight because I am just too tired to cook. Since I was purchasing the chicken, I also got potato salad and an adult beverage to celebrate another year of being cancer free.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits

 

I think perhaps an explanation of why I have been trying to eat down my fridge freezer.

I have been using this freezer to put leftover roasts, chicken, turkey, ham, the bones from chicken/turkey, leftover gravy, leftover pan drippings, leftover bones from ham or beef. 

I found that I was amassing many bags of leftover meats from cooking and that I was not using things up in here in a timely manner. Hence the clean out the fridge freezer, now I can see everything that is in there and when I make up my monthly menu it is much easier to use up those bits and bobs.

I have two freezers down in the basement. A chest freezer which I use to store baked goods, garden produce, soup stock, fruits made into pie filling and fruit just plain frozen. I also put the larger meat items in here like turkey or ham. I also use it for my bulk cooking meals like Eggplant Parma, soups, meat sauce, chili, meatballs and meatloaf, things of that nature.

Then there is the small upright freezer that contains all our meat. I have one shelf for beef, one shelf for chicken, one shelf for pork, and one shelf for various smaller roasts. 

The door slots hold sausage, hotdogs, the occasional stuffed chicken products, sandwich meat if I manage to hit a great sale, and sometimes a whole chicken if there is room.

I hope that explains my eating down the fridge freezer, now I have room in there for ice cream, and the baked goods I want to use up for desserts or breakfasts. 

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

My whole day got turned upside down. Once we were home from the funeral I was just tuckered out. Laid down and had a nice little nap for about 30 minutes. Almost broke down and ordered a pizza, but I pulled some Cabbage Buns/Bread from the freezer. It is now in the oven.

Monday

Cabbage Bread, pickles.

Tuesday

Leftover Pork roast made into a casserole. Or perhaps Pork Supreme.

Wednesday

Leftovers from Tuesday

Thursday

If we come back home instead of spending the night with Kris, it will be soup and sandwiches. If we stay at Kris's we will probably go out for supper or order something in.

Friday

Salmon Patties, rice, and green beans.

Saturday

Spaghetti and Meat Sauce (will pull a container of meat sauce from the freezer downstairs). I may try my hand at making a cheese/garlic bread to go along with.

Sunday

The package of Sweet and Sour Meatballs from the freezer downstairs. Served with rice and peas.

I have pretty much cleared out the fridge freezer except for the ham bone waiting to be made into soup, one small chicken carcass (need one more to get decent stock), some fake lobster, and some appetizers. I think I may purchase a couple more appetizers and one meal next month will be that. 

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

 

The end of what used to be my work week and now that I am retired just another day I suppose.

What frugal things have we been up to on the old homestead this week?

1.  I line dried my sheets for the first time. Turned out not too badly at all. 

2.  On the lovely sunny days we had this week I kept the drapes and blinds open to take advantage of the solar heat and natural light.

3.  Using up all the leftovers in the fridge and some of the items from the freezer. I even managed to use up some crisper items.

4.  Used up some more of my yarn stash.

5.  Finished cutting up the scraps of fabric. 

6. Doing a bit of decluttering. I have too many clothes, some of which I haven't worn in a very long time. Those are being donated if they are in decent shape. If not I will cut them up into fabric to be used in my quilting projects.

7.  Walked 5 of the 7 days this week. Some were very short walks, but I will be working my way to longer ones.

8.  I put $150.00 in my savings envelope and $2.45 in the change jars.

We got news late last night that Harvey's last living Uncle passed away on Tuesday. I notified the rest of Harv's family (though some never check our family page on Face Book, or perhaps I should say never check what I post, their problem not mine). Then today I got a call asking if I would do one of the readings at the funeral Mass. Of course I said yes. This uncle was always wonderful to us and we would have a lovely visit if we happened to see each other while shopping. This is the least I could do for our aunt and the rest of the family.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty Thursday

 

The sun came out and things are melting once again. Slowly but surely there is bare ground in some areas. I didn't sleep at all well last night and so have been forcing myself to stay awake. I will have a lovely hot soak tonight and crawl into bed with a book a bit early.

So what thrifty things have been happening on the Phillip's homestead this week. 

I saved a net bag from the sweet onions I purchased a few weeks ago, and a net bag from the oranges I purchased at the same time. I am going to try and make those into dish scrubbies. I found some directions online and will give them a try.

Hung clothes on the lines downstairs, and today hung the sheets up down there as well. I had planned on washing and hanging up the rags but didn't get that far. I will do so tomorrow.

Using up more yarn from my stash to knit that sweater (I may actually finish it this week). 

Cut more scrap fabric from other makes. I will be busy making quilts for awhile. They will keep us warm and toasty on those cold prairie winter nights.

Turned down the furnace during the day and will turn it up before bed. 

Combined errands, but did take the car out twice. I had a bag full of donated clothing and got rid of it right away. I am not tempted to go through and take things out now.  

Making new meals out of leftovers, and saving those for another meal.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.