Menu Monday

Almost missed this today.

Monday

Spaghetti and meat sauce, served with fresh veggies and dip.

Tuesday

Hot Dogs, served with fresh veggies and dip (unless I get out and pick some beans). Along with potatoes in cream.

Wednesday

Baked Spaghetti and green beans.

Thursday

Clean out the fridge night as we will be gone for 3 nights to my family reunion.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. God bless.

Frugal Friday

It has been very warm this past week. There has only been one day where we were able to turn on the air conditioning later in the day. So frugal is very important.

1.  Laundry done as frugally as possible. I even hung the towels on the lines (threw them in the dryer just to fluff for 10 min. Harvey hates crunchy towels).

2.  Picked cherries to make wine. Then picked more cherries to make pie filling. I made 4 plastic containers, each of which will make one pie or a couple of crisps. Saved a total of $11.33 by doing this rather than buying canned pie filling from a store..

3  Picked more cherries today to dehydrate tomorrow.

4.  Used up all the cotton yarn ends. I now have 11 dishcloths that I can use as gifts or keep for myself when the others wear out.

5.  I have kept spending as low as possible this week.

6.  Dehydrated herbs for use this winter. Still lots to do though.

Failures......

1.  Ended up tossing some salad fixings.

2.  Costs were a bit higher than planned for the new front steps (but well worth it).

3.  I had bought a pair of sandals at the end of last summer. I can't wear them as they cut my toes (I have wide feet and one foot swells a bit by the end of the day) so they will need to be donated and I ended up buying another pair.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Done For Awhile

So today I went for my dentist appointment. Things went very well. I got in right away, and they started working on replacement of the two fillings. I am so happy!! Nothing, and I mean nothing went wrong. I was in and out within the hour and the total cost was cheaper than the estimate. That is always a good thing!!

Came home to find our steps almost finished. I can move my chairs and bistro table onto the small attached deck very soon (once Harvey completes the step portion and cleans it off). Morning coffee in still another place. This one I can look out over the valley and watch the cars drive by.

The freezing was mostly out by supper so I actually got to eat. My gums are a bit tender from the needles, but that is to be expected.

Tonight I picked more cherries. This time to make pie filling and I should be able to get that done before lunch tomorrow. The hardest part is pitting the cherries.

Now I will sit and do a bit of knitting (working through the stash) and then head to bed. Morning comes pretty quickly.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like......

Harvest time!!

Slowly but surely things are ripening in the garden.

I have been picking

the occasional cucumber (well about 7 now).

One rather large zucchini (or courgette as some call them) which I will have to shred tomorrow.

Some of the patio eggplant. They only grow 2 to 3 inches so it is interesting cooking with them. These were roasted along with some other veggies for our supper yesterday.

And lastly.....

Twenty-one lbs of cherries, washed and bagged ready for Harvey to make wine in a few weeks time.

Tomorrow before I go under the drill I want to pick more cherries this time for pie filling and probably another cucumber or two (those seem to hide on me).

The next while is going to be busy on the old homestead that's for sure.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

A bit late posting this today, but better late than never. I also had to make a few changes.

Monday

Chicken breasts, cauliflower cheese, and chocolate cake (It's Harvey's birthday today).

Tuesday

Leftover Roast Pork made into a stir fry.

Wednesday

Sausages, leftover rice and mixed peas/carrots.

Thursday

Pork chops, potatoes in cream,  sliced cucumbers (getting lots of cukes from the garden).

Friday

Perogies.

Saturday

Harvey will be gone to the football game and I will be all by my lonesome. I will have leftover perogies for my supper.

Sunday

Ham, mashed potatoes, fresh veggies and dip.

Heavy on the pork this week but I have lots of pork products to use up.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Walls

For the past few years I have been busy constructing walls. Thick, strong walls that allow no one person to enter unless I know them well (in some cases this isn't even allowed) or have given birth to them. The only exceptions, well is here on line. Probably this is because I feel safe, and my knowledge of all of you is just limited to what you blog, much like what I allow out on my blog, or the forum I moderate.

Mind you what I write here or on the forum is more than I allow most people in my life to see.

The wall building started a few years ago, mostly when our priest decided to go on a verbal rampage about how most of us were only on Parish council because we had our own agenda (this after he asked me to come back) and later when he said all we did was gossip.....

The foundation was set with the first rampage, and I slowly but surely laid course after course of strong and thick stone. By the time the second outbreak occurred, that wall was getting higher and higher, to protect me from verbal tongue lashings and so no one could say I was gossiping about others in our parish.

I didn't really consider that others would notice my drawing back, or that they would wonder why I was no longer going out for coffee, or phoning just to see how they were feeling and what they were up to. I guess I was wrong. People did notice, I am not smiling as much, I am not sharing as much, and I hide myself making sure that others will have no reason to run to our priest and say nasty things about me.

I actually think that Father Brian has noticed me distancing myself from activities in the parish and pulling back from my friendship with him.

Father Brian will be leaving at the end of the month, and while it is more than likely too late to demolish all the walls before he leaves, I do think it might me time to start to try to lower them block, by block. It will take awhile, and I may even rebuild them countless times, but I need to feel a part of my community of faith once again.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

Kris came home last night and I have spent most of today visiting and cleaning. Harvey is glad for Kris's help in building our new front stairs.

My frugal five for this week are:

1.  Fixed the waistband on one of my skirts. Now I have another long knit skirt to wear in my wardrobe.

2.  Worked on using up more of my yarn stash. I knit two purses (still need lining made) and with the remaining cotton yarn I am knitting some more dish cloths.

3.  Started to harvest from the garden.

4.  Dehydrating herbs for use this fall, winter and spring.

5.  Carefully using city water to water the garden and my flowers (got rain today so I can actually use rain water once again).

6.  Baking bread once again at least twice a week.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty Tuesday

So what have I done to be thrifty this past week. Hmmm, good question.

I fixed a waistband on a skirt and put it back into the closet.

Hung all laundry out on the line this week.

Patched some throw pillows (I am going to keep them until I get a chance to make some new ones).

Found out that Kris had a great idea for washing walls. I used his swifter broom with a special covering idea. Wow, in 15 minutes my bedroom walls were nice and clean. This gave me extra time to do a bit of weeding outside in the perennial bed.

Still using up every speck that we possibly can. I am shopping with a list and sticking to it. Nothing extra has ended up in my cart for two weeks now.

Any leftover coffee from breakfast is being chilled in the fridge and then I have a lovely iced coffee in the afternoon.

I even cut down some more scraps into squares and strips for quilting.

Not too bad at all.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

Another week of menus during this hot, hot summer.

Monday

Chicken wings, cauliflower and peas..... I might switch and make a cucumber salad or just veggies and dip.

Tuesday

Leftover roast. Hot beef sandwiches sound good this morning.

Wednesday

Soup and sandwiches. I have one container of stock yet to use up before I make some more.


Thursday

Leftover ham made into a pasta casserole (supposed to be much cooler). Serving this with a salad.

Friday

Glace (German noodles) and fried onions along with eggs. Comfort food for Kris as he will be home.

Saturday

Taco salad. This was a request from Kris about a month ago. I now have everything I need to make it.

Sunday

Roast pork, roast carrots, and creamed potatoes.

Lunches will be leftovers or sandwiches which ever we feel like making for ourselves.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

This week has been one of trying to get ahead of myself. I have managed to complete all but 4 of my extra cleaning jobs for the month, and hope to complete the washing and waxing of the parquet flooring in our dining room tomorrow.

Now if only I could say I am doing as well working through my various stashes. Since I have now finished off two rather large balls of cotton yarn (just have to sew the seams on the two purses), I am hoping to spend some of my time in the sewing room over the next few weeks.

The garden is starting to produce.

Here are two cukes I managed to save for a photo op (seems as fast as I bring them in Harvey munches on them).

They aren't the biggest I have ever harvested, but hopefully I can keep up with them.

Yesterday I started dehydrating my herbs.

Trays of

basil.

Trays of

silver green sage.

Those were done by supper last night. Today saw trays of parsley and oregano completed. I am hoping to get some thyme and some mint done tomorrow.

Off to catch up with you all.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thursday Tid Bits

Another hot day, but at least we had a bit of a breeze which kept things bearable. The heat is getting to everyone.

I haven't posted my goals for this month so I will do so now.

1.  Continue knitting through my stash.

2.  Continue sewing through my stash.

3.  Continue project declutter.

4.  Have 20 no spend days this month.

So only four, probably because I have some painting to do outside and the projects from last month that didn't get completed.

Being as it is the middle of the month I better get my tushie in gear and complete a few of these.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

My Favorite Place To Visit.....Not!

Today was my annual check up at the dentist (also a cleaning...every 4 months like clockwork).

I should have known that I would be heading back in a couple of weeks, but I had my fingers crossed that I could go another year with nothing needing to be done.

Really, considering the amount of dental work I have undergone in the past 30 years, this should not have surprised me. It seems that two of my old amalgam fillings are starting to decay for a better word. The dentist is going to remove the old fillings, seal the tooth once again and refill them. Been there, done that a couple of times already.

So, why do I have this niggling fear that it is going to involve much more. Keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes according to the dentists plan.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

A Graduation

It has been a very long time since we had a graduation in the immediate family, or at least one that we have been invited to.

At the end of last month just before the family reunion on Harvey's side, my sister and I traveled to Yorkton to see my brothers' oldest daughter graduate.

Haley will be attending the University of Regina in the fall. She is taking Education on hopes to be teaching Social Studies/History as her major (don't have any idea as to what she has chosen for her minor). Sounds a great deal like our oldest son as that is what he teaches.

This is my brother, Haley, and Haley's mom.

Here is my sister and I with Haley.

I find it amazing that the grads spend as much as they do on their gowns. Haley spent way more than I did on my wedding gown. I must say however that all the girls looked lovely and there was not a single gown the same. Quite the colour range as well.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

First off, sorry I have been missing in action.

Saturday saw us heading into Regina to watch the Saskatchewan Roughriders play against the Hamilton Tiger Cats. It was an extremely hot drive and very sunny. The stands did provide some shade, but it was still really warm.

We arrived home at 2 in the morning (late game), hopped into bed. I got up at 8 and was at Mass in order to distribute the cup. Came home, had lunch and then I think the heat and sun hit me. I ended up sleeping most of the day away.

I feel much better today (even though it is still very warm) and have even managed to get some (not all) of my usual Monday household chores done.

Hopefully I am back with more regular postings.

Monday

Hamburgers, onions, and mushrooms all done by Harvey on the BBQ.

Tuesday

Pulling out a package of leftover chicken from the fridge freezer, boiling some eggs and making a chef's salad (supposed to be just as hot tomorrow and I really do not feel like cooking).

Wednesday

I have a dental appointment (cleaning and check up) in the afternoon so supper is going to be hotdogs and pasta. I plan on having some sliced fresh veggies as well.

Thursday

Clean out the fridge night.

Friday

Maple glazed salmon fillets, rice, and mixed veggies.

Saturday

Sausages, mashed potatoes, and a salad.

Sunday

Roast beef, roasted potatoes and roasted carrots.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

While it hasn't been a totally frugal week, it has been one where we have kept spending to a minimum.

1.  Used water from the rain barrel to water plants over the past week.

2.  Picked a handful of strawberries from our new strawberry patch and looking forward to even more.

3.  Stayed in a cabin for Harvey's family reunion, and brought our own food.

4.  Only had one spend day this week.

5.  Working my way through the various stashes in the house.

The garden is slowly but surely producing. I am hopeful that we will soon be munching our way through some garden freshness. I am also looking forward to heading to the Farmer's Market to pick up those items we haven't gotten enough room in our garden for (or perhaps I should say that Harvey just doesn't want to fight the bugs for).

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Relatives

On Friday before heading to Harveys family reunion my sister and I had arranged to get together with my Mother's two remaining sisters. It is not very often that we can get together so this was quite a treat.

This is my Aunt Isabel. She will be celebrating her 90th birthday this month.

This is my Aunt Alice. She just celebrated her 85th birthday last month.

Not only did we get to spend most of the afternoon with these wonderful reminders of our mother, but we got to spend some time with two cousins, a cousin-in-law and a furry friend.

Velda is Aunt Alice's youngest daughter. She is 6 months younger than me.

This is Cam, he is the youngest son of Aunt Isabel.

Interesting note, my mom and Aunt Isabel married two brothers. I have always called Cam, Kerry, Greg and Wayne my double first cousins. I think if there were blood tests done we might even share enough of the same genomes to be mistaken for brothers and sisters.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God Bless.

Weather Warnings

Just a short post tonight as all electronics are being shut down shortly.

There are a series of storms traveling through the area. We are perhaps in for a few thunderstorms accompanied by high winds and large hail. In fact a few places have already had damage from the storms. Right now we are under a tornado watch and a few places have had tornado sightings.

Harvey and I are planning on spending the night on a mates in the basement. I will catch up with you all tomorrow.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Update On June's Goals and Project Declutter

1.  Continue knitting from stash.  Scarf should be done shortly, but I did manage to use up 15 skeins of yarn from my stash.

2.  Cut out 2 pairs of shorts.  Done.

3.  Cut out two dresses (might be just one depending on if I decide to make a wrap skirt with the other piece.  Done.

4.  Cut out skirts (not sure if it will be one or two).  Both cut out.

5.  Cut out two summer tops.  Not done.

6.  Sew shorts.  Done.

7.  Sew dresses.  Done but one got changed into a wrap skirt instead of a dress.

8. Sew skirts/skirt  Done.

9.  Sew summer tops.  Not done.

10.  Have 18 no spend days if possible.  I ended up having 20 no spend days this month.

11.  Make card and gift for nieces graduation (this could change to money in an envelope depending on time constraints).  Card is made.

12.  Continue with Project Declutter.  Slowly but surely a few more items are leaving the house and my wardrobe.

13.  Paint outdoor chairs by fire pit (have a feeling this will end up being my job). Not done since Harvey decided to do some cement work by the house and fire pit. Hopefully this will be accomplished very soon.

Did not do too badly considering how busy this month had been. Hopefully those things not accomplished can be done this month.

Project declutter is slowing down, something I had hoped would not happen. I managed to rid the house of another 63 items. Added to the previous total this brings the number of items no longer taking up space at 499.

I do hope to add to the total this month.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

Back from the family reunion on one side, and the graduation, as well as visiting the older aunts on the other side. I will post more about both during the upcoming weeks.

Right now it's Menu Monday

Monday

Harvey BBQ'ed some pork chops and we also put tinfoil packages of potatoes and carrots on the BBQ.

Tuesday

Stuffed Chicken, rice and broccoli.

Wednesday

Leftover pork roast made into a casserole (my zucchini should be a decent size by this time) using zucchini and eggs. Almost a soufflé and so very tasty.

Thursday

Leftover ham, pasta, and peas.

Friday

Main dish tuna pasta salad. I need to make a smaller version of this so we are not eating it forever.

Saturday

Off to the big city for the football game. Supper will be eaten out.

Sunday

Roast chicken, roast potatoes, and peas/carrots.

So there you have it. The menu for the upcoming week.

Off to see what you all have been up to.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.