Sunday, April 30, 2017

April Goals Update


1.  Continue to declutter.  Done.

2. Knit 8 new dish cloths and recycle any of the old ones that are still decent.  Done.

3. Knit 3 pairs of socks.  Done, in fact I knit 4 pairs of socks.

4. Try to complete 2 more simple cross stitch kits.  Completed one simple cross stitch kit.

5.  Have 21 no spend days.  Done, I managed to get 22 no spend days.

6.  Sew 1 top.  Not done. I will get this done the first week of May.

7.  Cut out Harvey's pajama bottoms.  Done.

8.  Sew pajama bottoms.  Not done. But will get done during the first week of May.

9. Cut out a summer dress.  Not done, will try to get this completed next week (the first week of May and then sewn the second week of the month).

I am really having a problem getting in the sewing mood over the last while. However getting 62.5% of my goals completed isn't really that bad.


This month I managed to bag up or remove from the house 39 items. Not as many as I hoped to, but I will keep on working on this in order to simplify my life.

Early next week I will post my goals for next month.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Friday, April 28, 2017

Frugal Friday

Not sure if I will make it to 5 new frugal things this week, but I will try.

1.  Watched two movies on the android box for a savings of close to $50.00.

2.  Used a few coupons and bought the sale two for the price of one for a savings of $32.16.

3.  Cut out Harvey's pj bottoms using a sheet I bought. The whole set cost $10.00 and I will probably get another pair of pj bottoms for him out of this for a savings of $12.00 or there abouts.

4.  Working on using less water by only washing dishes twice a day (some days I am lucky and only have to wash once).

5.  Took recycling in and got $45.00 for the cans, bottles, and tetra packs.

I am going to add a sixth, cause I am really happy about this one.

6.  No waste this week at all.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

What On Earth

This is a bit of a vent.

Everyone knows I live in Canada, and we have an idiot/megalomaniac in power in the country below us.

Now I quite understand how a country would want to buy their own products first (heck, I want the same in my country), but what I don't understand is being nicey, nicey, to a visiting leader and then a few weeks later starting to slam the country said leader comes from.

Or.....

In a news conference saying "Everyone thinks Canada is so good, but they are nasty. They have fooled our politicians for years. I really like Canada." What is this guy? Bipolar? A child throwing a temper tantrum because he isn't going to get to build his wall?

Canada and the United States have the longest undefended border in the world. We have been friends since, well forever (if one forgets that in retaliation for the burning of York, we burned down the White House). Goods and services cross the border countless times in a day, we sell our excess power to various states, our oil is transported down there cheaper than what we sell it to ourselves, and Canadians spend millions of dollars a year on tourism and some even live down in the southern states for the winter.

We run a trade deficit with them, bringing in much more than we send down.

Now that being said, we are a quiet, laid back country. We try and keep our cool and work through diplomatic means, however, right now I feel disrespected as a country and so do many of the people I talk to and read about in the news.

We will fight for our rights, we will not roll over and let this idiot feel he has the right to do or say anything he wants. If diplomatic measures do not work, there are enough people here to pressure our government into shutting down our oil transfers, our water ways, and energy transfers. Perhaps it's time to buy more from Mexico and South America. We may pay a bit more, but what we would show Trump more than makes up for the extra costs.

There, now I feel much better.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Thrifty Tuesday

Today has been quiet and one where both Harvey and I (mostly Harvey) got a few necessary projects done around the house.

First up the hot water tap in the bathroom was leaking so Harvey got out the tools and some parts he had purchased awhile back and fixed it. Instead of paying a plumber to fix it, or buying a whole new set of taps Harvey did it for a total cost of around $5.00.

Next he decided to replace the screens in our front window. We had bought new screen years ago when we had the old windows. When we replaced them the screening was put aside. Now it was pulled out and Harvey spent about an hour fixing the two screens. The old screen was folded up and the good parts will be used up in the yard. Part will go to make a screen for the top of the water barrel, and the rest will be used when necessary for other projects we have been thinking about doing this summer.

Me, well I decluttered pictures and emails off the computer, pictures were removed from the camera, and some mending of seams, patches sewn on jeans, and using up various bits and bobs from the fridge.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Monday, April 24, 2017

Menu Monday

The last week in April, this month has passed in a blur.

We are back to winter like conditions as I woke up to snow and blowing snow this morning.

Monday

There has been a change to this day as it was supposed to be a clean out the fridge meal. Amazingly I have no real leftovers in the fridge, so I am changing this to a clean out the freezer meal. I am going to pull out a package of the Cabbage Bread (Kraut Birokes) I made in the fall and that will be our supper.

Tuesday

I am going to take a bag of the leftover roast beef I froze on Sunday and make a beef stew.


Wednesday

Smoked sausage, pasta, green beans and salad.

Thursday

Leftover turkey made into Tetrazzini. Served with the leftover salad.

Friday

Salmon patties, rice, roasted mixed veggies.

Saturday

Clean out the fridge (there are sure to be leftovers this week).

Sunday

Ham steak, mashed potatoes, brown beans.

Dessert will be a mixed berry crumble and some rice pudding.

Lunches will be toast and peanut butter, or sandwiches.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Saturday Roundup

Not a great deal happening on the old homestead, just the usual household chores, cooking, babysitting the neighbours cat, moving my spring/summer wardrobe over to the closet and drawers (plus storing away the fall/winter clothes) and of course working on my knitting, and cross stitch. Throw in some reading and the days slipped right on by.

The weather was beautiful for a few days, but now the skies have turned leaden and there is a threat of some heavy wet snow arriving. As we always say in Saskatchewan, winter really does not end until we have one big dump of heavy wet snow in the spring. I just hope we don't get too much and that problems driving the highways will not be the norm tomorrow.

Here is a picture of my Moonflower seedlings.

They are growing by leaps and bounds. The only thing s that some pots only have two plants and I wanted 4 seedlings in each. I may be planting a few more, perhaps early next week.

I went to the library early last week and came home with these.


I am reading the Philippa Gregory book right now and am almost half way through. I hope to finish it tomorrow and move on to the next.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Friday, April 21, 2017

Frugal Friday


1. Went to the library for free reading material.

2.  Used up all leftovers from previous meals for lunches.

3.  Moved my spring/summer wardrobe over to my closet and drawers. I decluttered a few items, and set aside some items to be refashioned.

4.  Managing to stay within budget for groceries and still get the free items when checking out at our Coop grocery store.

5.  Combined errands so as to save on gas and wear/tear on the vehicle.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Thursday Tid Bits

We had a bit of rain overnight, not enough to thoroughly clean everything, but enough to make the air smell nice and fresh when I went for my walk this morning.

I sent a text to Kris letting him know I got the android box we ordered from Amazon. Boy did it come quickly, just three days (four if you count the day I ordered it). He will set it up when he comes home once again next month.

I started moving my spring/summer wardrobe into the closet and drawers. Managing to find a few items that I can declutter as well. Makes room in the drawers and closet.

When Kris was home he bought some netting to put on his balcony to keep the pigeons off it. He managed to get it all set up the day he went home. However, he came home from work on Tuesday and found a pigeon had made its way through the net and was frantically trying to escape. He said it was pretty strange to have a pigeon dive bombing his head while he was trying to open up a space for it to escape. Kris does hope that particular pigeon will not be visiting his balcony again.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Thrifty Tuesday


The house is quiet. Kris left yesterday morning for home, taking a few items with him and helping me declutter the house a bit. There are still a few items I need to send with him, but gradually his items are disappearing. Along with the tin foil meals I made him, and a loaf of home made bread. He should be set for awhile.

Thrifty happenings around here today were:

Drying the ends and small pieces of bread to make bread crumbs.

Using up leftovers for our lunch today (will probably use more tomorrow as well).

Hemmed Harvey's dress pants from Christmas.

Using up those balls of sock yarn making myself some new socks.

Lights turned off in rooms not in use.

Reading a free downloaded book on my ereader.

Found a couple of new knitting patterns that will enable me to use up more of my yarn stash.

The days are getting longer, and once they warm up I hope to get out and do some more cleaning up in the yard. Planting our garden, harvesting rhubarb, and enjoying hanging laundry out to dry are things I am really looking forward to.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Monday, April 17, 2017

Menu Monday


Only two weeks left this month!! The time is just whizzing by.

Monday

After eating way too much this past weekend today we will have soup and sandwiches (something we were going to have last week and never got around to).

Tuesday

Cabbage rolls, and the potatoes from our Easter meal reheated and used up.

Wednesday

Pork chops, rice and asparagus.

Thursday

Leftover ham and roasted veggies.

Friday

Baked salmon, rice and peas and carrots.

Saturday

Chicken Breasts, roasted veggies and the leftover rice.

Sunday

Beef Roast, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots, and probably gravy.

Dessert will be the Carrot cake, until it is gone and then I will make a crisp.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Happy Easter

Wishing all of you a Happy Easter.

Regular posts will commence again on Monday.

God bless.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Getting Ready For Easter

The past few days have seen me busily baking for the holiday.

First off was muffin making (needed to use up those over ripe bananas).

Lovely banana muffins,

 
Yummy raspberry muffins. It was the first time I ever made these and the recipe is definitely a keeper as both Harvey and I love them.
 
Then I made a carrot cake with cream cheese icing.
 
It might not be the prettiest one I have ever made, but I am sure the men will enjoy it.

Kris finally made it home at about 8 this evening. He brought the grandcat with him. Ray has been on a diet (Kris finally got a bit worried about the weight the cat was carrying) and has probably lost almost half his weight. I will post a picture of Ray's new svelte figure tomorrow.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.



Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Thrifty Tuesday

The weather has been strange the last week. One day is almost summer like, the next we are back to below freezing or just above. It is very hard to know how to dress, but at least I have not transferred my fall winter wardrobe out of the closet. That will be a job for later this month.

The usual thrifty happenings around the homestead once again.

Harvey bottled the Shiraz, which came in at about the $4.50 a bottle much lower than buying it at the store and the thirty bottles we got from the kit will last us awhile. Right now he is cooking (don't know what else to call it) a white wine that will come in at around the same price.

The BBQ lighter (the sparker) broke over the winter. Harvey managed to find a new one on sale and he fixed the old BBQ right up. He then spent some time cleaning it all up. My do those things get dirty over the winter months.

This morning I noticed that the hood on my zip up fleece was coming undone by the zipper. I spent a few minutes with a needle and thread early this morning. Now the jacket will last a bit longer.

Meals have been made out of what I have on hand, and I have even managed to use a few items up in the crisper. Much less in the way of food waste happening on the old homestead, this makes me very happy. Leftovers are recycled into another meal, or fashioned into a whole new one.

Walking in the mornings lately has taken a back seat. I am no longer having as many dizzy spells so hopefully will get back to enjoying the early mornings with my walk. I really miss the chance to get out and see what is growing.

I had a wonderful piece of news today. Kris sent me a text saying he actually had Monday of next week off as well. He will be home Thursday after work and actually be staying with us for a real long weekend. Must remember to text him that perhaps he should bring Ray (the grand cat) with him since he will be home for a longer time.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Monday, April 10, 2017

Menu Monday

There were a couple of changes to last weeks menu so I have changed things around a little this week so I can use those meals up.

Monday

Chicken breasts. I think I will try my had at making fajitas today. I love them when we occasionally eat out, so hopefully I can make my own taste as good if not better. Also it is something I have never made before and I really want to try my hand at new and exciting (well to me) recipes.

Tuesday

I will make Harvey's favorite small link sausage casserole. It should clear a few items out of the fridge to make room for Easter cooking.

Wednesday

Soup and sandwiches, another try at getting some stock out of my freezer. Once again to make room for Easter leftovers, and probably even more stock.

Thursday

This will either be a clean out the fridge meal or perhaps a BBQ meal. Kris should be home sometime after 6 so supper could be a bit late tonight, and he will be hungry!

Friday

It is Good Friday, so no meat (nothing new as we very rarely have meat on Friday, a hold over from Harvey growing up in a fairly strict Catholic home). I will make perogies, but thinking more of making lazy perogies as Harvey likes them better than regular.

Saturday

Today will be our Easter meal as Kris will be heading back home tomorrow. This means turkey, stuffing, salad, potatoes, gravy, a veggie and pickles. Oh yes, must not forget the cranberries!!

Sunday

Leftovers from Saturday. I will leave enough turkey out for us to warm up and the rest will be packaged and frozen for other meals. Some, of course, will go into Kris's box or bags of goodies we always send home with him.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Sunday Ramblings

Cooler day today, and from the looks of the weather forecast things will be cool for the next little while.

The church was packed today, probably because it was Palm Sunday. Lots of unfamiliar faces, but lots of familiar ones as well. So nice to see the faces of some of my old youth group attending Mass.

Quiet day as I am still not too steady on my feet at times. In fact today was a bit worse than yesterday. I am hoping that this bout of whatever (I have a feeling that all you who said vertigo are correct) is over very soon. Only moving my head small increments, and walking very slowly is getting to me.

I was at our library early last week and came home with these.

My fiction fix for the week. I just have one Anne Perry left to read, and the Stephen King. Probably heading back to the library again early next week.

I pulled these out of my bookcase. One belonged to my father and the other two I picked up at various garage and rummage sales.

I am hoping to get started making my own cleaners and some homemade body care items. I am loving my body scrubs from The Body Shop, but think I could make my own at a fraction of the cost. The same goes for bath salts, and hand lotion (a friend makes lotion bars and swears by them).  The other one, well, I am going to see if I can glean any new savings tips. Prices are continuing to rise, and we are on a set income (we could take more out of savings, but I really don't want to).

Lastly, here are the Moonflowers I planted at the beginning of the month.

They popped up very quickly. I do have more seed left and I think I may just direct sow them into one of my longer flower boxes and make a trellis for them to climb.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Saturday Round Up

The end of the first full week of the month of April, no April showers as of yet, but there is still plenty of time.

Between bouts of dizziness I have been busy reading, knitting, cleaning, and getting a few things done in the yard. The ground is still frozen so it will be awhile before things start to grow in earnest. However, the trees are budding out, and my tulips are breaking through to sunshine. I just hope this weather is here to stay.

Friday, I joined the protest in front of our MLA's office. We all had library books and were protesting the 58 and in some cased 60 % cut in funding that our provincial government was enacting. This could mean libraries shutting down and other libraries cutting back on programming. It definitely means the end of One Library, One Card (we could get a book from any library in the province at no charge for postage or courier). We will still be able to get a book from the regional libraries, but sometimes our regional libraries did not carry what we wanted. The cut in funding also means there will be no new books or materials purchased.


Here we are outside the office.

This was taken across the street. Young and old, mom's reading to their little ones, and the clients from the group homes in the city were there as well. All told there was probably close to 200 people. Cars would honk their horns as they went by, just wish they would have joined us.

I also managed to finish these.

Eight new dishcloths!! These were made from some cotton yarn that I bought at the church rummage sale a few years ago. I always try to pick up yarn, cotton and other types whenever I can.

Now I have started my new knitted socks. I was lucky enough to be gifted a few balls of sock yarn, and bought some when they were on sale. I hope to get 4 new pairs done this month.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.


Thursday, April 6, 2017

Thursday Tid Bits

What the heck has happened to our weather. One day we are well above the freezing mark through the night, and then the next we are back to freezing. Makes it a bit difficult to know how to dress, and whether or not to get those spring and summer clothes out of storage!!

I am still suffering from the occasional dizzy spell, usually when I stoop down to get something on the bottom shelf of any cupboard. Also the room swirls around when I try and turn over when sleeping, just in one direction however. Kind of wondering if I am in the midst of a sinus infection.

Kris started his new job on Monday, and since I have not had a text from him stating that he hates it, I think everything is going well. I will probably text him tomorrow to see how his week went. It's probably too early to know if he is going to enjoy the job or not, but I do hope he likes what he is doing and who he is working with.

Kurt says that the trip to the US is still on as far as he knows. I really hope things are not difficult for the group in getting across the border. He also said the weather has been wonderful there, and I told him he could send some this way.

Harvey bottled the second batch of wine, and started his third batch. Our wine cellar will once again be full for the summer.

Me, well other than the dizzy spells I am doing very well. Knitting up a storm, I almost have all the dishcloths finished and I hope to do a bit of sewing over the weekend. Need to get those unfinished tops and Harvey's pj bottoms done.

Tomorrow I plan on joining whoever shows up to read in front of our MLA's office to protest the cuts to public library funding. The idiots cut funding to our libraries by 58%. Time to get rid of this government, the only problem is we are stuck with them for another 3 years.

Then perhaps a visit to the second hand store is in order. Time to buy myself a treat (it will be one of the items listed on my "to buy" list).

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

What Is Poor?

Lately I have been reading a few (okay more than a few) articles on Facebook, MSN, and various money sites that talk about how not to be poor. As if anyone really wants to struggle from one day to the next, never knowing if they will be able to pay a bill, or eat.

Many of the ideas they come up with are, well good if in fact a person can afford to do some of them. If you are one of the working poor, there is no money left over to move to a less expensive city and hey paying under $600.00 US a month for an apartment, including utilities seems a bit far fetched (that cost would work out to be around $1,440.00 Canadian...Kris has a one bedroom apartment that costs $200.00 more a month with utilities). I suppose I could be wrong, after all I really don't know rental prices in the States.

Most of the articles go through the regular frugal things we did when we first started out. You know coupon clipping, only buying groceries on sale, buying from second hand stores, using public transport or buying a used bike to get back and forth to work, mending your clothing. Just the usual stretching your money as far as possible.

What these articles don't take into account is having medical problems, riding a bike in winter is not advisable, living on ramen (yes one article said ramen had enough nutritional value that you needed nothing else), and if you are raising a family, living in a one bedroom apartment might just not work.

Working at a job that only pays minimum wage does not give you much leeway in how much money you have to work with. Government cut backs and cost of living going up and up are just two of the ways a persons money is eaten up. Then of course add in taxes and what someone brings home could end up being negligible.

My family has been lucky, sure there were times we lived pay cheque to pay cheque when we first started out. Living near family sure helped when Harvey was laid off from the job he had when we first married. His parents farmed, raised chickens and cattle so we were lucky enough to get meat, eggs, and poultry during this time for very little. We had a garden that supplied our veggies and his mom had fruit trees that she allowed us to plunder to our hearts content. While we had very little at that time, we had enough to get by until something opened up.

However, there are lots of people who aren't that lucky, who have no one to rely on, and who live lives of "quiet desperation".  This is why I always take food to the food bank, donations to the Salvation Army, and spend money at our church rummage sale. It is my way of saying "I am here, I will help."

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Thrifty Tuesday

I have not really been feeling very well today. I did manage to go for my walk this morning, but upon arriving back at home I have suffered from numerous dizzy spells. If I get up too fast I am dizzy, if I lay down I am dizzy, if I turn my head to quickly I am dizzy, if I stoop to pick up the cat's dish I am dizzy. Not sure what is happening, but if I have managed to catch what ever Harvey had a few weeks back, this dizzy thing could last a couple more days.

All this means is that I am moving slowly, and being very careful when doing anything at all.

I have spent some time in my chair today doing some mending. Mostly making use of this...
I sewed a button on a cardigan that I made a couple of months ago, and fixed the button on my winter dress coat.

Supper was going to be a casserole to use up the leftover pork, however, I noticed a few veggies that were getting very close to end of life. I decided to make a stir fry, I cut the bad part of the cabbage off and used what was left, found a couple of stalks of limp celery, and a handful of carrots. I added a pepper and some onion. Served over rice it made a wonderful dinner, and there is enough leftover for another meal.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Monday, April 3, 2017

Menu Monday


Monday

Leftover roast beef made into stroganoff and served over egg noodles. Lots of veggies in the stroganoff (onions, mushrooms and peas).

Tuesday

Leftover pork roast made into a pasta bake (perhaps something using up any leftover egg noodles), served with a salad.

Wednesday

Clean out the fridge.

Thursday

Chicken breasts made into fajita's.

Friday

Tuna casserole

Saturday

BBQ ribs, tin foil veggies (hope it is nice so Harvey can have the pleasure of the first BBQ of the season). If the weather is not nice I will do the ribs in the slow cooker and oven roast the veggies.

Sunday

Cabbage rolls.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Sunday Ramblings

It has been quiet around the old homestead today. I spent some time on the phone this evening talking to both Kurt and Kris. It was wonderful to hear their voices.

Kurt has been busy getting his yard cleaned up and ready for the great weather that they always have in Drumheller. To tell the truth, I wish I could decorate my back yard the way he has managed to. It is an oasis.

Kris seems very relaxed and ready to start his new job tomorrow. He has orientation at City Hall first thing in the morning, and then will head to the Facilities department. Kris did say that on his last day at Finning he could feel the stress and tension leaving his body. I wish him all the best in this new venture (well not really new as he has worked for the city in a similar position at Transit).

Harvey started another batch of wine after Mass today. This one is a white which is my preferred tipple when I drink wine. However the Raspberry wine he made does taste lovely.

Me, well, I went for my walk after Mass, did some thinking on what I want to do once I get the letters typed with my resignation from various committees, read, and started knitting. I even managed to bake some bread this afternoon and get my to do lists completed for next week.

See I told you all it was a quiet day!

Father Brian sounds almost back to normal, the poor man was ill for so long we all thought that we would be getting a substitute, but he held in there. His homily today was all about how resurrection is a gift that can not be taken from us.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday, April 1, 2017

New Month, New Goals


Here are my new goals for this month.

1.  Continue to declutter.

2. Knit 8 new dish cloths and recycle any of the old ones that are still decent.

3. Knit 3 pairs of socks.

4. Try to complete 2 more simple cross stitch kits.

5.  Have 21 no spend days.

6.  Sew 1 top.

7.  Cut out Harvey's pajama bottoms.

8.  Sew pajama bottoms.

9. Cut out a summer dress.

A few more than last month but hopefully very doable.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.