Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

Wow, we actually reached a summer temperature today. It was almost 30C, which is very abnormal. However this will change as a spring storm is moving in which has rain and snow arriving probably on Friday and through the weekend. It seems as if winter never wants to leave, just when the garden is starting to dry up nicely.

Really all I did today was the to do list, bake bread, and work on the weaving. I re-thought getting the cards done, and decided that perhaps this weekend when the weather is blah would be the best time. I would also more than likely be finished one of the scarves and perhaps have the second one warped and ready to go. 

I am pretty sure that I will not be finished all the projects I had listed, but I think the only carry over will be the second scarf. Which really isn't that bad I guess. Definitely going to try and get as much done as possible before it is time to plant. We also want to go up and visit Kris for the Victoria long weekend. Perhaps give him a bit of a hand cleaning up his yard.

Decluttering is going well, I am now up to 215 items. Keeping my fingers crossed that more will either be donated, or tossed, or changed into something else entirely. Also will be using up all the fabric and yarn that I can. I might even make another set of ornaments (if I have enough) for the silent auction. 

I have pulled some more embroidery projects that I inherited from my mother. These are dresser runners, and there are three of them. I am going to embroider them and sew those together, add a border and make a new tablecloth. I find myself replacing tablecloths very often. They seem to get dirty so very easily. I could also make a patchwork cover as well. Making fabric from what fabric I have collected from old clothing. 

Nothing I am planning should really take loads of time, well other than the embroidery portions. To make matters even better, I could actually sit outside and work on a few of these projects. 

Life is good and as I declutter, use up, remake, and simplify things will get even better.

Oh and tonight Harvey is going to BBQ the pork chops which is awesome.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

I went shopping today for all the great meat deals available this week. We are now pretty much stocked up for many weeks and months now. Except for roasts, whole chickens and hams. Which will be easier to find sales on. I am now hoping not to have to go shopping at all until probably the middle of the first full week of May. Keeping my fingers crossed for that.

I will also be working to get more cleared out of the chest freezer. There are lots of ready meals and soups that need to be used up and planting season is coming up. This is true even though the forecast for later this week is calling for snow. Rain first of course.

Now onto this weeks menu.

Monday

Leftover Jambalaya from Saturday and a salad.

Tuesday

Pork chops, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies and any leftover salad.

Wednesday

Sweet and sour meatballs, rice and a tossed salad.

Thursday

Soup and sandwiches. I will probably make egg salad sandwiches. 

Friday

Fish burgers, the remains of the tossed salad, and probably pickles and cheese as I have pickles that need to be used up.

Saturday

Small sausage casserole and as there are loads of veggies in this just some bread or buns to go with.

Sunday

A Roast beef, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots and a coleslaw to use up the cabbage.

Some of these meals are leftovers in the fridge freezer, some are new and some are using up things from the pantry and chest freezer. 

I am working on using things up even though I am stocking up at the same time.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 Another quiet day here on the old homestead. I got my lists made up for the coming week, did some of the household tasks to keep the house running smoothly, and worked on a couple of projects. 

Spent a bit of time pondering a few questions that have been on my mind for awhile, and may, just may have come up with an answer to one of them. The other still needs some thought and I am not sure I will ever come to a conclusion on that one. 

I want more time, time to get things completed, time to spend with family, time to enjoy what we have. Time is not infinite, we don't know what awaits us around the corner. I think that is why I have been trying to simplify my life and work towards a more sustainable lifestyle. 

Having more time to work on my projects, find those people who enjoy the same things I do is becoming more important to me. Funnily enough Harvey asked me went the next night I would be going to the knitting/crocheting get together would take place. I told him that will be on Thursday night of next week. I would love to go to The Great Create as well, but Tuesday mornings are not the best for me. Perhaps I should change things around a little bit so I can attend. Another question to ponder. Life often gets in the way of attending a morning get together. I do/did enjoy both those outings. 

Now that the days are longer, I can actually do more of the things I enjoy and once my home is decluttered and made a bit more easily looked after things will change and I will get more time, or at least what seems to be more time.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Weekly Roundup

 

This week has been one of getting little things completed by putzing around the house, taking my time and working a bit here and there to make life a tiny bit simpler and a tiny bit more organized.

I filled some baking containers with the items I bought to restock those. 

Used leftovers to make lovely meals that fed us a couple of suppers and even a couple of lunches. 

Cleaned the stove and oven, did some decluttering, rummaged through my fabric drawers to see what else I could find to use up in clothing making. 

Cut out three patterns to sew next month.

After rummaging through my fabric drawers I found a few more larger sized pieces to make a couple more items and will get those cut out tomorrow. 

Lots of leftover bits and bobs, but I believe the one on top may be enough to make a small jacket with. We shall see once I find that pattern. 

The rest are really too small unless pinned together in a patchwork design, and I found lots more like that which I will probably cut into squares and or strips. Hmmm, perhaps some yarn will be fashioned from these remnants. 

I finished the size 8-10 mittens.

Filled the cookie jar with Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies.

Filled my yarn basket with more yarn, mostly orphan balls and a few that a good friend gave me when she moved away.

There should be enough there to make lots more mittens to send back with Kurt. I believe I now have 80 pair made and I am hoping to reach at least 120 pairs by the time they are needed. I think my next task will be knitting some toques for them as well. Should have enough mittens now to last a good long while. 

Projects are slowly getting completed, though only one scarf will be woven this month, with the second one carried over until next month. I may manage to get the loom warped for it though. 

Thinking through what needs to be used up and planning some meals in my head for next month (though I will have to get those down on paper very soon). I will know more once I get my chest freezer organized and the inventory completed on it. I think there could be many items I have forgotten about hiding in its depths. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Moving Forward

 I love those days where I can just stay home and putter. I usually end up getting a few tasks that I've often thought about doing, but just haven't worked on.

Today I went through a couple of kitchen drawers and managed to find a few more things to declutter as well as a few items from my closet and drawers. Perhaps tomorrow I will go through one of my cupboards. Probably lots more to declutter in there. We shall see. 

The more I can get done inside during rather nasty weather, the more time I can spend outside once the weather improves. There are lots of tasks that will need doing before planting, and enjoying the outdoors. There is painting to do, and lots of weeding. I do have visions of me pulling my sewing table and sewing machine out on the deck during some of our nicer weather. Is that silly of me?? Or sitting with my knitting or embroidery to enjoy the sun on my face and all the fresh air. 

A couple of days ago I took a short walk around the yard, checked on the fruit trees and bushes. All seem to have buds on them, I just need to check the kiwi and see how it is doing. 

The perennial bed needs some weeding, and I am looking forward to planting the Shasta daisies I have started and I am keeping my fingers crossed that the delphinium start to grow. I may just have to purchase some of those. Canary vines are growing like crazy with the grow lights, herbs are coming up and will need planting on as will the annual flowers. The way things are sprouting makes me smile. Such a simple joy. Simple joys are the best of all.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursdays

Thrifty and Frugal 

Welcome to the third thrifty and frugal Thursday of April. Hard to believe how quickly time is passing. Also hard to believe the rather winter-like weather we have been getting here on the Canadian prairies. We have had some lovely days where the sun was shining and the temperatures weren't too bad, and we definitely took advantage. 

So what were the frugal and thrifty happenings around the old homestead this week.

1.  Busy using up bits and bobs from my stash of craft supplies.

2.  Stuck to my list and have hopefully come in under the grocery budget this month. However there is a great meat sale on some cuts at our Co-op and I may just blow the budget and pick some of those up. It could end up saving us a bundle the next few months. We shall see.

3.  Lights have been turned off, clothes hung on the lines downstairs, and solar heat a few days this week kept the furnace from coming on too much during that time.

4.  More of my flowers are popping up. 

5.  Harvey planted some Eggplant and we are hopeful those will sprout as well.

6.  I am up to 13 no spend days so far this month, and pretty sure I can add more to that amount. 

7.  Put $0.45 in the change jars, and added $75.00 to the savings envelope. I use the money in the envelope to purchase fabric and yarn or at times buy new clothing/shoes. The change jars help with paying for the Family reunion every 2 years. 

8.  Fixed a zipper on one of my fleece jackets. I hate fixing zippers!!!

9.  Harvey moved his wine from the primary to the secondary and will probably be bottling either the end of the month or perhaps the end of the first week in May.

10.  Harvey used bits and bobs from his stash of lumber downstairs to build a small stool to use with the grow lights and when outside planting.

So that is pretty much all that has been happening here.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Midweek and Midmonth

 Once again the forecasted rain did not show up. In fact today has been sunny and mild. Enjoying this while it lasts by going for a bit of a walk today. Tomorrow, may not be as nice and you need to take advantage when you can.

The one good thing I can think of bad weather helping is that I get to stay home and work on organizing and beginning to get ahead on making some of my homemade cleaners.

Spray bottles at the ready. Onwards to starting to "Green Up" my household cleaners. At which point I realized there is more that I will need to purchase to make a full set of cleaning supplies.

So today I managed to make two. A window cleaner, and a cleaner to rid the tub and sink of soap scum.

The window cleaner is water, vinegar in equal measure along with a bit of dish soap. 

The soap scum cleaner is just vinegar and a bit of water. 

What do I need to purchase to finish off my cleaning supplies? I need to purchase Borax, liquid Castille Soap, some tea tree oil, lavender oil, and more baking soda. I also need small jars to make various pastes. I can see that this is going to be a learning experience already. Vinegar can etch tiles so I will need to be careful using any cleaners containing that when working around the tiling in the bathroom and kitchen. Still I have made a start on at least giving these greener cleaning supplies a try. 

I have even found a recipe for dishwasher soap that I may have to try out very soon. There is also one for laundry detergent, but I am leery of that one considering how hard our water is. Mind you it is better than it used to be now that we have switched sources. I will think on that one a bit more. 

It isn't that I really need to cut back on spending, more I am going to make it a game just to see how much I can save from our finances and put into our savings account. 

So meals will be stretched, more cooking from scratch, trying to remove more packaged items from my grocery lists, cleaning supplies used up and then replaced by other homemade cleaners, I am also thinking of making those makeup remover pads, and making my own skin cleansing routine. 

Simplifying is what will be happening here. One does not need expensive cleaning supplies or ingredients for a meal. I have found that purchasing grocery items in the international food aisles saves me money. Spices are in larger bags and are less expensive than the bottles or bags in the regular aisle. Rice is also less expensive, mind you I purchased the Great Value rice the last time and it really wasn't too bad in price or taste. 

As far as stretching meals, most of what I make says it will feed 6, so we will eat it the first night, transfer part of what is left into a freezer container (I use/reuse tinfoil containers for this purpose) put the meal into the large chest freezer, and the part that is left will make another meal later that week. 

This isn't doom and gloom, rather it is making sure I am using up all that I have paid for to the best of my ability and trying to keep as much of our hard saved money in our hands instead of the stores getting it.

I have heard of others using one shelf in their fridges for leftovers. If you do this can you tell me how that has worked for you. I hate having items pushed to the back of my fridge and forgotten about. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.