Since Blogger Gadgets Don't Seem To Be Working

I have been trying to post some more books I read this past week on my reading list, but it always comes up "Fix errors on this form." So I thought that today I would just list them here on my blog until this is repaired.

So far my additions are:

lost boy, lost girl
Blood Loss
Mourning Gloria
A Dilly of a Death

Hmmm, do I see a pattern forming here.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Happy Easter

All is quiet in the Phillips household so I thought I would take this moment before the rush of cooking, welcoming new members into the church, and visiting family, to wish each and everyone of you a blessed and happy Easter.

He is risen, Alleluia.

Everybody have a wonderful weekend.

God bless.

A Give Away Won

It has been a long time since I won a give away on a blog, but a couple of weeks I ago I entered one on a friends blog.

I won!!!

This came in the mail yesterday.

A lovely bag, a wonderfully bright piece of material to make another bag if I so choose, and some embroidery floss/sewing thread.....

Look how wonderfully the bag is made.

If you have some spare time check out UggaBear Cottage and look at all the wonderful things that this blogger makes.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menus for the week of March 25 to 31

Well here are my menus for the upcoming week.

Monday

Roast beef, roast potatoes, roast carrots.

Tuesday

Leftover Chicken made into a casserole with pasta and veggies.

Wednesday

Pork chops, mashed potatoes, and corn.

Thursday

Leftover beef made into hot beef sandwiches, oven fries.

Friday

Perogies

Saturday

Leftover ham made into a rice/ham/broccoli casserole.

Sunday

Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, corn and a relish tray.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Sunday Happenings

We have had a full day of sun and warmer temperatures. I do hope this means an end to the winter.

Harvey has spent the last week working on a project for Kris. He made a microwave cart for him. This is the finished product.

He has a bit of touch up to do, but I think he did a terrific job. We had the knobs already and so that was no cost to us. Got to keep our eyes open for another sale on them so we have a supply handy.

On a forum I moderate we were talking about embroidery (okay I mentioned finishing a project from a few years ago) and it was mentioned how most of the posters learned how to sew and embroider using those old transfers of kittens and such on tea towels. That made me think of all the goodies I got from my Mom when she passed away.

I pulled all these out of the box.

I can see myself making new tea towels sometime this year (once I finish all the other projects that need to be done). I even have all of the sugar sack material that Mom collected and I inherited. Think I will be busy for while.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Living On the Prairies In the Winter

This has been the worst winter for snow and blowing snow that we have suffered through in a very long time. It is also one of the longest winters in recent history. It started in October, well before Halloween and is still going strong here at almost the end of March.

Just thought I would share some pictures that the Saskatchewan Highways Department took of our Trans Canada Highway this week. This highway is 2 hours north of us and carries the majority of traffice through this province. It goes from border to border of the province and right through some of the flatest areas (the Regina Plains) so the wind can really blow here, there is nothing to block it.

Enjoy the photos.

You can see the highway between drifts here. This is 2 lanes of the 4 lane highway.

Same area of the highway, just farther down the road. This is an area of the Trans Canada to the west of Regina around Belle Plaine.

We do use fences and such to close highways, but a good snowdrift works just as well.

You will be happy to know that roads were opened and traffic is moving once again.

However these are the roads that Kurt will need to travel on come next weekend. Sure hope the weather is good from now on.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Saving Money In The Spring

We are still under winter's grasp here, but I know spring is coming soon (at least I hope it is!) and after a long cold winter nothing is looked forward to as much as those first sprigs of green.

Spring is another wonderful season to save cash in.

Come spring all my clothes will be put on this.

I just love the smell of clothing fresh off the line. The only time my dryer will be used is if it is raining out and even then I will hang clothes in the basement just like during the winter and late fall.

Once all the snow and ice disappears, I will be spending more time doing this for free exercise.

I plan on buying a small shopping cart so that I can do a bit of shopping while walking and not rely on my vehicle so much. Sure combining trips into one does save cash, but this would cut down my driving even more.

I showed some pictures of the bedding plants I have started, and mentioned how much those few will save us. I plan on starting some vines for my hanging baskets in the front of the house. Saving even more in the long run. I may even move some of the house plants I have outside for the summer.

As it continues to warm up our thermostat will be turned lower and lower. Soon I hope to have it turned right down to almost nothing. The blinds and drapes are open longer during the day to take advantage of the sunshine and of course the solar heating of the sun. We have a very large south facing window and the heat this collects is absolutely amazing even on the coldest day.

More spring savings tips coming up in my next blog post.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Growing Bedding Plants

Spring is another time I work hard at saving a few dollars. Sometimes I get lucky trying my hand at starting plants indoors. This looks to be one of those times.

A few weeks ago I started my Moonflowers, both with seeds I bought and with a few I managed to harvest off last summers plants.

A few are starting to break through.

I put 4 seeds in each and will split them come spring for my hanging baskets and a couple of pots. I love the fact that they bloom at night. Here is hoping all of them come up.

Next I planted some of the herbs I grow in pots in the front of my house.

These are Basil.

Yes they are thickly planted, but I will thin them down in a few weeks to only the best three or four plants.

These are Thyme and I will thin these down as well.

If all my starters come up I will be saving around $35.00 for my spring planting.

Sorry the pictures are so blurry I guess that my hands were shaking a little as I took them.

I have noticed something strange with blogs right now. There are a great many award ceremonies going on and bloggers are asking for votes so they can win a prize or two...... Hmmm, if you have to ask people to vote for you do you really deserve the prize or nomination. Just my opinion.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

Here are my menus for the upcoming week, including what we had tonight.

Monday

Chicken Cordon Bleu, mashed potatoes, yellow beans.

Tuesday

Spaghetti and meat sauce with a side salad.

Wednesday

Warmed Leftover Ham, leftover mashed potatoes made into patties and fried, leftover green and yellow beans, leftover salad.

Thursday

Baked spaghetti, salad.

Friday

Glace and eggs (German noodles).

Saturday

Baked Pork Ribs, rice, corn on the cob.

Sunday

Baked Ham, rice, peas and carrots.

Desserts will be cookies, or buttertart slice. Lunches will be leftovers or sandwiches.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Stormy Sunday

It seems as if March will never warm up or stop snowing.

This is what it looked like out the door this afternoon.

It has been snowing and blowing pretty much all day. This made it the perfect day to stay in and do some baking.

First I made a loaf of bread with my bread machine. No picture however as Harvey dug into it almost as soon as it left the pan.

Then I moved on to Unbaked Cookies.

I have lots of raisins for some odd unknown reason so next on my list was Buttertart Bars.

Last but not least I decided that I better start using up some of those dried cherries. So I made these Oatmeal Cherry Cookies. They are so good, even Harvey likes them so definitely a keeper. Thank you Martha!

It is still snowing and blowing outside (the forecast is for at least 10 cm by tomorrow morning, probably more) so I think I will visit some blogging friends and then curl up with another book or my knitting.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.... Happy St. Patrick's Day.

God bless.

A Day Just For Me

I guess the title of this post is a bit misleading. Of course I did some household chores and attended a workshop on Spiritual Direction (felt very sorry for the presenters as only 5 people showed up) but I also spent some of the day doing things that I enjoy.

I curled up on my recliner and finished this book for the second time in my life.

Once I finished this book I pulled out one from the stack I brought home from the library last week. I finished "Though Not Dead", in a matter of hours and pulled out another to read.

I am reading "Cat's Claw" right now and thoroughly enjoying it. I hope to finish it before tomorrow night.

Oh the joy of losing myself in a good book. It is so wonderful to actually have time to sit down and read!! I had actually forgotten how much enjoyment reading brings to my life. While I was working I didn't have much time to read and so I would pick books that, well , could be read before I fell asleep at night. Some did not have much of a story line at all, others took me so long to get through I forgot what happened at the beginning. Now that I am retired for the most part I can enjoy the library and all the free reading material. Lots of new and exciting reading material just waiting for me.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Snow, Snow and More Snow

The past week has seen my little corner of the prairies hit hard by Mother Nature. It seems like every time we get nice weather and it looks like spring is on the way we get a storm move in.

Today we ended up getting about 6 cm of snow and from the looks of the forecast we will be getting another 10 to 15 cm of snow on Sunday. It wouldn't be bad, but with the snow comes horrific winds. These winds cause white out conditions on the highways surrounding us and of course some lovely drifts behind our vehicles and on streets.

I had to go to work across town this morning and had trouble keeping the windshield clear of snow build up. Coming home was an adventure as well. The roads were icy and at one point I almost wondered if I would be able to get moving at a stop light when it turned green again. I did manage to do so, but with the rear of the vehicle sliding forward it was kind of scary.

Since the weather has been so topsy turvy I have spent much of the time in the house putzing around.

Keeping to the use it up mantra I am developing and expanding this year I have been knitting mittens for next winter. I am on pair number 5 and hope to get that done tonight.

They still have to be sewn up but I just know my hands will love these next winter. Really I do not know where all my mittens disappear over the course of one winter!!!

These were all made with remnants of yarn from other projects and of course the yarn was bought on sale in the first place.

I have other partial skeins of yarn and orphan skeins that I will need to figure out what to do with. Any ideas out in blogland would be greatly appreciated.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Plans For March 11 to 17

A bit late with this once again, but here are my menus for the upcoming week.

Monday

Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans.

Tuesday

Leftover Ham made into pasties. Served with a side salad.

Wednesday

I will use up the leftovers either in the fridge or make something with some leftover chicken I have frozen.

Thursday

Turkey vegetable soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. Pickle spears will go along nicely with this.

Friday

Salmon patties, Corn on the Cob, and rice

Saturday

Smoked Sausage and Baked Beans (I will need to make more beans sometime soon).

Sunday

Roast Beef, roasted potatoes and roasted carrots.

Not to sure about desserts as of yet. I have lots of frozen apple pie filling so perhaps a pie or crisp.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

The End of One Thing and the Beginning of Another

Well today saw the end of my sitting as Parish Council Chairperson. I am happy to have one less hat to wear in the church. Perhaps now I can relax and enjoy my faith more then I have for the past 9 years. I said goodbye and walked out without a backwards glance. So that was the ending that took place today.

Moving on to new beginnings as just a person in the pew, and a friend to those that are still working.

Another new beginning I have will be having even more time to do those things that I enjoy doing. I will have more time to sew, knit, or bake.

We went to Regina yesterday (don't ask about the horrendous driving conditions on the way home...we made it in one piece and that is all that counts) and I stocked up on a few things that will make my life more enjoyable.

First stop

Yarn for the afghan I will be knitting for the family reunion silent auction.

More yarn to knit ruffle scarves.

And even yet more yarn to knit a prayer shawl or just a shawl for me. The bag said $19.99 and I got it for $4.50. Almost makes me wish I would have picked up a few more bags of other colours.

Then it was over to Fabricland. I got my membership renewed and picked up a few things (not as much as I would have liked as they were so very busy).

I got some embroidery thread for my machine to replace some that I used up and two spools I didn't have. The red material will either make me a jacket or I will use it to make the tablecloth for the school. The grey fabric will be making me a jacket for sure, that is what the lining is for. I have never made anything lined before so this will be a learning experience for me.

Of course Harvey got his fishing tackle box and wonders of wonders and electric filleting knife which should make that job much easier.

Best of all we got to spend time with Kris.

I have started a new project on my knitting needles. This is another one to use up those leftover balls of yarn from other projects. I plan on having made 5 pairs of mittens for next year by the end of this week.

Here is a picture of Kurt's and Kris' Easter sweaters.

Hope they like them.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Getting Caught up Around the House... Frugal Past Times

I spent today getting caught up on a few of the chores that I have put off for awhile.

This morning I spent some time cutting out quilting squares from old jeans and scrap material from all the costume making I have been doing lately.

First I got out all the necessary tools.

Then I started cutting 4" squares. Here is a pile I ended up with from part of today's session.

I put these in the container I have specially marked for quilt squares. Do you think I have enough to make a quilt or two?

Hmm, I think it is time I started to piece out one or two.

Next I finished sewing up the second sweater that I want to give as an Easter gift. Actually these are sweaters that I had wanted to give for Christmas, but ran out of time to make them. Hence they have become Easter presents for Kurt and Kris.

One more item marked off my white board of projects that I want to complete.

Kept my day full and purposefully frugal as everything I did and will be doing saves money and gets rid of clutter in my house..... Well not really clutter, but things I use to create gifts and clothing for my family.

I am now working on mittens from some of the yarn that was leftover from other projects. Like I said my mantra this year is use it up, wear it out, make it do.... Or if all else fails recycle and find new uses for items I already own.

We are heading into Regina tomorrow and I need to pick up some embroidery thread for my machine and a couple of meters of material to make the quilt for our bed. Other then that Harvey wants to pick up a few fishing items, and some popcorn for his popcorn machine. We will be looking at home improvement items and pricing them out. Best of all we will be spending time with Kris.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. God bless.

Days After The Storm

Well it looks as if we are in for nicer weather for the next little while and I even managed to get out of the driveway and down the street with our Enclave. I did get a bit scared as I turned into the driveway of the church offices, but managed to make it through without getting stuck.

Here are a few pictures of the aftermath of the storm in our yard.

Two hours of Harvey snow blowing got our front yard pretty much cleaned out.

This was the lovely snow drift hanging over our front door from the roof. It is slowly melting away with the sunny weather we have now been getting. However the wet does freeze and makes our going down our front steps a bit treacherous. Almost fell this morning.

The sun felt so nice it made me thing of gardening! So I gathered together a few of the seeds I have collected over the last few weeks.

Still have to get a few more, and plan on getting started planting them in some pots I have in the house shortly. Sure saves money having starters of my own rather than buying new ones and I know exactly how they have been grown.

I need to pick up some dirt, but hopefully tomorrow I will be able to show you all my new garden plants getting ready to grow.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Dust Mops and Weather

Bet you are all wondering how these two things go together.  Well, today we woke up to our second snow storm of the year.

Harvey shoveled us out this morning at about 10 and by 2 this is what was on our front steps again.

There is more there now. I am terrified to open the door. After all there could be a sea of white blocking our way out.

This is what my car looked like at 9 this morning.

Now, well multiply that amount of snow at least 2 times..... There is a 4 foot high snow drift behind it. Thank heavens for snow blowers. It has started to snow again so there will be even more by the time we get out tomorrow morning.

Now as we are more or less storm stayed I decided to finish off my first ever dust mop cover.

Here it is before I put it on my mop.



And here is the finished product on the mop.

There are a few changes I would make on the next one, but all in all it turned out not too badly. Another step on the way to reducing my carbon footprint I hope.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

What I Promised....And Menus for Next Week

I promised you all a picture of me as a camel..... Well here it is.

So here I am, believe me when I say I have a hump on my back!!!! Didn't manage to get a picture of that though.

On to more mundane matters... Our menus for supper for next week. Please forgive me if I just post the main course at times.

Sunday

Pork Loin Roast, Roasted Potatoes, Roasted Carrots. I made rice pudding for dessert.

Monday

Sloppy Joes and Coleslaw.

Tuesday

Meatballs in Mushroom Sauce, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans.

Wednesday

Leftover Pork Roast made into a stir fry served over rice

Thursday

Leftover Chicken made into Chicken Tetrazzini. Served with salad.

Friday

Baked Fish, Oven Fries and Leftover Salad.

Saturday

We will either be eating out in the big city with our youngest or having leftovers from the week. It all depends on the weather.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

More Pictures......

I will probably bore everyone with more pictures of our play over the next few days.

Actually, even though I complained about the effort and time spent doing the practicing, and the at times unfair treatment people received I did enjoy myself. Just getting old and crotchety I guess.

So here goes.....

Pictures of our pit band.

An extremely musically talented group of people.

Next will be Susan..... She has done our sound for what seems like forever and does a smashing job of it.

Dustin, as King Solomon. Dustin always gets the lead rolls as he sings like an angel.

Tomorrow should be my last play post. I may even post a picture of me as a...... camel. Harvey had to come back to the church last night just to take it.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Some Photo's From Dress Rehearsal

Well here is what I promised a few days ago some pictures from our dress rehearsal. There will be more to follow.

Our prompter, Gwen.

The Queen of Sheba, played by Elizabeth.

Solomon's mother and one of the two women who fight over the baby Solomon threatens to cut in half.

Our director, Stacy.

Two of Solomon's wives. He gets 5 new ones in this play.

Two more of the 5 new wives.

And lastly, me doing some knitting between scenes or perhaps I should say acts.

Hopefully lots more pictures coming tomorrow.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.