December Goals

I decided that perhaps blogging my goals is a way of keeping me on track. Last month the goals kind of went bye bye. Meaning that while a few things were accomplished, others took longer to complete throwing my hoped for results out of whack. 

This month, though I do have many goals to accomplish most will not take a great deal of time. So here they are:

1.  Finish November goals.

2.  Baking/candy making for Christmas.

3.  Wrap gifts, mail those gifts that need to be mailed ASAP.

4.  Call Mom's remaining two sisters to wish them a wonderful holiday season and to touch base making sure they are still healthy (one of the sisters is 90). 

5.  Continue working through yarn stash.

6.  Have 20 no spend days (being the holiday season this is going to be tough).

7.  Make 2018 calendars.

8.  Make 2018 master cleaning list and to do list

9.  Get daily to do list pages made for the binder.

So there they are, my goals for the month. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Is Winter Back?

The day dawned with clouds and a reddish fading to orangey peach sunrise. I kept remembering Mom's always quoting "Red sky at night sailors delight, red sky at morning sailors take warning". This time the warning was a good one.

I decided for some reason to head out before lunch and get my errands and grocery shopping done, instead of waiting until tomorrow. As I left the bank, rain began to fall and it continued to drizzle down the entire time I was shopping. The roads were quite wet.

Home, groceries put away and snuggled up on my recliner having a cup of coffee I noticed it getting darker and darker in the house. In fact I had to turn on some lights. I glanced out the window and saw that it had started snowing. For awhile the snow came down fairly heavily and there was a wind which blew the flakes almost sideways. This is living on the prairies of Canada, you never know what the weather will be like or how fast it will change.

The snow stopped but it stayed cloudy until early evening. Now the temperature is dropping and the snow and rain are freezing. It is going to be miserable for those heading to jobs in the morning. I do hope Kris has a safe journey to work tomorrow.

I made out a goal list for next month as well as a slightly shortened extra cleaning list. Not doing well on the goals this last month, but I hope next month will be better.

Tomorrow I continue making menu plans for the month of December, hopefully the only items I will have to buy are the ones necessary for our Christmas dinner and the ingredients for an appetizer for the family get together.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty Tuesday

I am happy with the Christmas gifts I made this year. All the knitted items were made with yarn left from other projects, and all the sewn items (except for the pj's for Harvey) were made from remnants from other projects.

A very thrifty Christmas will be happening this year.

First the rice bags made with some of the remnants from the pj bottoms I made Harvey.

One for Kurt, one for Kris and one for Harvey. 

Next the quilt. Not my best quilting until towards the end of that part of the project, but I decided that perfection is over rated.

All the fabrics were cut from either clothing or from smaller remnants. The slashing and borders were cut from larger remnants. The backing is an old flannel sheet that I had saved for just such a purpose.

These infinity scarves were made with leftover knit fabrics from other projects over the year. I often wondered why I was keeping these remnants but I am sure glad I did.

Then of course there were the soup bowl cozies I made and posted about previously. The fabric was larger remnants and the batting was an old cotton blanket that I had been considering using for rags. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

My goodness another month has almost gone past. I needed to get a few more meals planned so I at least had this week completed and will be filling in the rest of the month's menus before the end of the week. With Kurt and Kris coming home for a few days over the Christmas season I will be needing to cook much bigger meals and that will need to be taken into account.

Monday

Meatballs and depending on what type I cook either served with rice or noodles and a lovely salad.

Tuesday

Leftover Pork roast. I need to find another new recipe to use leftover pork in. The last one I made was just okay.

Wednesday

Potato and leek soup. Wish me luck on this one as it is something I have never made before. I have also never cooked with a leek, so any tips would be greatly appreciated. I am hopeful there will be enough left over that I can freeze a batch to be eaten at a later time.

Thursday

Clean out the fridge night. Pretty sure there will be leftovers of something that need using up.

Friday

Tuna Casserole, along with any leftover salad or some sliced raw veggies.

Saturday

Chili and toast. I plan on making a big pot of this as well. I want enough leftover that some can be frozen and used when our sons are home for a meal.

Sunday

Leftover ham made into a casserole. I need to look up something interesting to try here as well.

As you can see there are a couple of meals that I plan on using up some of the frozen leftovers from our big roast meals. I made a decision that once a month instead of a big roast I will make a smaller meal that enables me to use up just a bit more of the frozen leftover meats from Sunday roasts. I am trying to get a handle on spending since prices continue to climb and this is one way of doing so.

Everybody have a wonderful day. 

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

It has been quiet around the old homestead over the past week. The weather has been beautiful and now that it seems to be leveling off temperature wise I am not quite as achy as I was the week before. This nice weather has me a bit worried though. Last year we got quite the blizzard on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the weather was very nice before that... Just hoping we don't have the same happen this year. I want my boys to have a safe trip home and then back to their respective cities of residence. Winter is not the best time to travel on the Canadian prairies when the weather is normal little lone when we get a blizzard.

I have gotten the rice bags sewn up to the filling and closing. I hope to walk up to the grocery and use my allowance to buy some cheaper rice on Monday. Then those will be completed in just a few minutes.

I also have the knit remnants pinned and ready to make into infinity scarves. Since they will be so light, I plan on making a rice bag for this gift as well just to add some weight. It seems like Harvey's family like to pick heavier gifts thinking that they are worth more than the lighter ones. This time I will fool them hopefully.

Pictures of everything coming very soon.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Electric, Gas and Vehicle Fuel

Living frugally also includes cutting down on bills where a person can.

I know most bloggers say the easiest place they cut expenses is in their grocery budgets. Well I find it easiest to cut our vehicle fuel bills down.

As you can see from this graphic a great deal of the price of a liter of fuel here in Canada is taxes, both provincial and federal. 

Now that Harvey and I are not working saving money at the pump has taken on importance. Especially so if we want to take any longer trips to stock up or for a holiday. I combine trips when I use the car and so far, for the most part am only driving twice a week. This means a full tank of gas usually lasts me a month. Harvey's truck uses a bit more fuel than the Terraine, but he is managing to get by on one tank a month as well. Quite a change from when I had to fill up every second week while working. We still use a bit more during football season and when we do a stock up trip, but by keeping to driving as little as possible we have cut our bill by $600.00 a year.

Electricity cost is perhaps our biggest expenditure. Hopefully once the basement and back bedrooms are vented this will go down even more. Right now I turn off the baseboard heaters in rooms not in use and turn them down in those rooms being used until about an hour before bed. I also use draft dodgers (rolled up towels) in front of the doors during the evenings and the front door always has a draft dodger in front of it.

We have started switching to LED lights rather than CFL or regular bulbs. They last longer and use less power. I actually like the light they give off better as well.

Lights are turned off in rooms not in use and I try and remember to turn off those phantom power users. Harvey thinks I am a bit OCD over this but I would much rather the pennies stay in my pocket rather than the electric company's. 

We have bought energy efficient electrical appliances and try to use them to advantage. My dryer is only used for a couple of loads every two weeks, the rest of the laundry is hung to dry on lines downstairs. 

If I use the oven I try to cook as much as possible in it at one time.

Natural gas is a bit harder to regulate. Considering how cold we can get here on the prairies it is a constant struggle to keep this budget line under control. Still this is a less expensive way to heat our home than electric. During those lovely sunny days I keep all blinds and drapes open to take advantage of the effects of the sun. Since we face south the solar heating power coming through our big picture window is wonderful. Some days the furnace never cuts in at all. Then as soon as the sun starts to go down, I pull the blinds and insulating drapes closed to keep as much heat as possible inside. The house usually stays warm for a few hours after the sun disappears.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

1.  Finished another Christmas gift.

2.  Got a free 1 liter juice when shopping.

3.  After using coupons and sale prices saved $17.59 off my grocery costs.

4.  Pulled some more fabric remnants from the stash to make the ladies gift for our family Christmas exchange. I have enough to make 5 infinity scarves of different colours and patterns.

5.  Had a no waste week.

6.  Almost finished my knitting project to add to the sale items on our Home Craft Facebook page here in the city.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Rising Prices

In reading all my favorite blogs over the past few weeks, I have noticed one common theme. Rising costs seem to be the norm right now. 

Grocery prices, even when I am careful, buy on sale items and use a few coupons seem to be creeping ever higher. There was a time that after I had done my major stock up shopping my weekly bills were kept well under $100.00 for at least three months after. Now, well I am happy if I am not too far over the $100.00 mark. 

To keep grocery prices as low as possible, I have started a soup and sandwich night once a month, and of course the usual meatless or fish meal once a week. Then one day a week we have a clean out the fridge night, though this week that is touch and go. Instead we could be having a use up small amounts of veggies and some of the bacon by my making a quiche. That would also get rid of the last frozen pie shell. 

The other volatile area for increased priced is fuel for the car. I haven't really done anything different. 

I have always combined errands, walked when and where I can, and try very hard to stretch out the time between filling up my tank. 

The last time we had the vehicle serviced Harvey asked me to get nitrogen put in the tires instead of straight air. Supposedly there is less up and down pressure during the winter, and with less up and down and keeping the pressure at the right level I should get better gas mileage.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty Tuesday

This year I am making most if not all of the Christmas gifts from fabric and yarn already in my stash. Makes for some interesting projects that's for sure. However, it is nothing if not thrifty.

I have the quilt of many colours sandwiched and ready to quilt tomorrow as well as hopefully bind. The only item I needed to buy was the batting as I had none in my stash. I was a bit worried about the backing, but then remembered an old flat flannel sheet that I had saved for the purpose of one day backing a quilt. Not really colour coordinated, but it suits the purpose and worked very well. 

I just love it when projects work out to be inexpensive and so thrifty. I am sure some in the family would say I am "cheap", but those that receive the handmade gifts are always appreciative.

Now on to figuring out a lovely gift for the family gift exchange that uses up even more of one of my stashes.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

I haven't been feeling very well over the last couple of days, feeling a bit more like myself today. It is when I am ill that I really depend on my menu plans. They are a life saver.

Monday

Cream of Mushroom soup from the freezer along with egg salad sandwiches.

Tuesday

Leftover ham. I am leaning towards Scalloped potato and ham casserole. Served with broccoli, should hit the spot and leave leftovers for another night. Pie for dessert.

Wednesday

Stuffed Chicken Breasts, rice and peas. Pie for dessert.

Thursday

Clean out the fridge night, if there really isn't much available I just might make chili.

Friday

Glace, fried onions, and potatoes (fattening but hearty). Served with eggs.

Saturday

Sausage Casserole.

Sunday

Roast Pork, roasted potatoes and carrots. Perhaps a salad to round things out. Not sure but I hope to have a cake or something for dessert.

Everybody have a wonderful day. 

God bless.

Frugal Friday

While I have had weeks that I have been much more in the frugal mind set, I don't think I did too badly this week.

1.  Baked bread two days this week.

2.  Pulled items out of the large chest freezer and the fridge freezer to use up in meals.

3.  Took at least two walks every day. Some were shorter than usual due to cold and icy conditions, but I did get out and moving.

4.  Stuck to my grocery list and used a few coupons to bring the cost down.

5.  Kept the doors closed to those rooms we don't use.

6.  Used all leftovers in the fridge either for a full meal or as a component of a new meal.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thursday Tidbits

Thank you for sharing your dental misadventures with me. I always thought I was alone in my terror of dentists and finding out others suffer the same takes a weight from my mind.

Most of today was cloudy and windy, it got pretty nice by 4 however so I took a short walk. I enjoyed the outing in the afternoon much more than my walk this morning.

Yesterday we got a letter from the city saying there was a water main break at the end of our road and our water would be shut off for most of the day. So, early this morning I spent time filling up water jugs, a large pot, and the bath tub. 

I had thought the water would be back on by now, but........

as you can see the city is still working on the problem. I sure hope they get it fixed very soon.

Tomorrow was supposed to be a no spend day, but as we can't use our city water for 7 days after the main is fixed we will need to buy some bottled water. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Dentist Visit

While most people just do not like going to the dentist, yours truly is terrified each and every time I go.

I thoroughly dread my 4 times a year visit and figure this is part of the reason I can not sleep or eat before (and after) I go.

My body tenses up completely and I have trouble breathing the assistants are always telling me to breath as they work on my cleaning. By the time they are done my body aches as much as it does when I have a fibro flare.

So tonight I have a sore and achy body as well as a sore mouth.

It wasn't always this way. When I was a child I happily went with my Mom to the dentist. After all you always got a bouncy ball after your visit.

However, there came a time when the dentist (a new one as my original dentist retired) decided that one of my baby teeth needed to be pulled to make room for my permanent teeth. I have always disliked needles and this day was no exception.

Mom heard me screaming in the waiting room and decided that perhaps she should check out what was happening. When she entered the room where I was situated, what met her eyes shocked her. There was her little girl being held down by two assistants with the dentist's knee on my chest (yep he was right up on the chair with me) trying to stick the needle in my mouth. I was screaming and tossing my head from side to side. Mom says I kept saying that I couldn't breath and the dentist just kept saying "Hold her still."

Mom yelled, the dentist removed himself from my body, the assistants let go of my shoulders and arms. Mom grabbed me and left the office. After that if I needed any work done she would take me to a dentist that would knock me out with gas.

I think I still might have that small girl inside, terrified that what happened once could happen again.

I do want to say that the dentists I have had as an adult have all been kind and caring. They always apologize for hurting me whenever I need that stupid needle, and are always ready to give me more freezing if I even flinch. In fact my old dentist (he passed away from cancer about 6 years ago) would always sit with me and calm me down.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty Tuesday

Today has been fairly quiet and laid back. Even though the weather was beautiful for the majority of the day by 4 pm the skies were overcast, the wind had picked up and the temperature was dropping.

Harvey did some overhaul on the snow blower. We haven't needed it as of yet, and he wanted to get it up and running. There seems to have been some water in the gas, or perhaps the carburetor was a bit dirty as when he finally got it to run steadily it ran very rough. Rather than take it to the small motor repair guy he decided to try a few additives first. It is running a bit better now and hopefully as the additives make their way through the machine will run even better. Costs were much lower than taking it in to be serviced.

I had a couple of small holes in the outer shell of my winter coat. Today I decided to try and mend them. Done, and since the small holes were in places not normally visible I am very pleased with the result. My winter coat should last another couple of years now.

I have found couple of old towels and I am going to roll them up as tightly as possible and use them as draft dodgers on some of the inside doors. We turn the heat off in two of the rooms that we don't use regularly and sometimes the cold air seeps underneath the doors. This will help with that draft of cold air that hits my feet as I walk by those doors.

My grocery list has been made using store flyers and I have gathered my coupons. Hopefully I won't be surprised by the grocery total this week.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

Monday

Leftover pork roast made into a stir fry. Served with rice.

Tuesday

Leftover chicken made into a chicken casserole.

Wednesday

Cream of celery soup and ham salad sandwiches (using the smallest package of frozen leftover ham).

Thursday

Clean out the fridge night.

Friday

Trout fillets leftover rice and corn.

Saturday

If I don't attend a meeting in Regina this will be Hamburgers, homemade fries, and peas. If I do attend that meeting Harvey will have to fend for himself.

Sunday

Roast beef, roast potatoes and green beans.

Another week done for the month. 

My Soup Bowl Cozies

I was asked by a poster to show how I made my cozies and as I finished them today thought I'd best share.

First cut your coordinating fabric in 10" squares, cut your batting in 9" squares. If you plan on using in the microwave use 100% cotton fabric and batting as well as thread. Any polyester will spark and cause a fire.

Center your batting on the wrong side of each fabric square and sew from corner to corner as shown. I used a slightly longer stitch and thread that matched the fabric.

Fold the fabric in half and mark your darts. These darts are 1" in from the fold and 2" down from the unfinished edge of the fabric. Repeat, folding in half the other way. This will give you four darts. Sew darts and trim to 1/4".

This is what you should have after the darts are sewn.

Pin the two halves together matching darts, and points. Leave about 3" open to turn the cozy right side out (found if I left a bit more it was easier to turn). This opening should be centered over one of the darts. Clip the curves, the pattern I followed said to trim to 1/4" but I didn't do that and it seemed to work out okay.

Turn right side out. Pin opening closed and top stitch around the cozy. 

There are lots of how to videos, and patterns on the internet. I found these a quick sew once I settled down and got them done.

This fits a soup bowl nicely. I have heard that you can make them larger for other sized bowls and I may sometime in the future give that a try. I am sure I can find pattern ideas for bigger ones on line. It is a great way to use up those bits and bobs in a persons fabric stash.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

I hope I can find a few frugal happenings here this past week.

1.  Using all leftovers either for another dinner or for lunches.

2.  Paid bills online this month (found how I could pay my house insurance online as well).

3.  Tried to drive as few times as possible this week.

4.  Still using up items from my hobby stashes.

5.  Walked every day this week for exercise.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless,

Thursday Tidbits

Today has been a spend day. I paid bills and got a few groceries.

Wow, have some prices ever risen! I had thought that I would get away without spending much more than a hundred dollars (approximately 60 GBP). Did not happen. I was over by about $18.00, fruit and vegetables took the highest hike with some dairy items not far behind.

I do believe that I am well stocked up in meat, canned and frozen veggies as well as canned meats and should be able to cut my spending over the next while. Still it was a shock to get to the checkout and watch the tape add up to what it did.

I spent part of the afternoon working on my soup bowl cozies and step two is completed. All the batting is now attached to the fabric and tomorrow I hope to be able to get the darts made. Then the final assembly will take place on Saturday after the Remembrance Day ceremony at the high school.

I managed to declutter a bit today as well. I have rid my home of 7 magazines and lots of paper as well as cleaned up my email.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Two Down and Nine More To Go

The last couple of days have been very good for getting work done on my sewing projects for gift giving.

Sleep pants for Harvey are now finished.

The fabric and batting are cut out and ready to be assembled into the bowl cozies. I hope to start them tomorrow after my errands are run. I want at least to get the batting attached to the fabric squares. I have enough cut for 8 cozies.

Friday, could be a down day. I plan on helping clean the church for a couple of hours in the morning (I think donating 2 hours of my time is more than enough at this time of year). If I have time the next step in bowl cozy making will take place (the four darts in each piece). Then hopefully on Saturday the final assembly can take place.

That will leave only the quilt to start and finish by the end of next week. After all I need to get the Christmas cards done and sent by the end of November.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless. 

Thrifty Tuesday

It has been a pretty thrifty week thus far. Both Harvey and I are busy using up items in our respective stashes. This means we have extended our no spend days. 

Harvey noticed that ceiling paint and the finish he needs for the pine boards were on sale this week so he pulled out his coupon (spend X amount and get 10% off) and purchased them. Now the only things we need once the venting and the electrical are finished is the drywall supplies and the paint for the walls. We have still gone a bit over budget but mostly because of the storage. Boy will I be glad to get things out and back home. I really miss my books!!

Today I cut up an old blanket for the batting in the soup bowl cozies. Now I know that is 100% cotton, but I am not sure about the other fabric that came from my stash. I will just put a card with them stressing that they are not for use in the microwave.

Then after I finished sewing on pair of sleep pants and cutting out the next pair, I cut up a pair of old jeans for patches or quilting materials. I even removed the zipper!! That is something I have never done before on jeans, and I am not too sure if I will do it again. Sure took a long time.

I got a small hole from a nail in my winter coat so I am trying to match thread to the colour of the coat. Tomorrow is mending time (after I sew the second pair of sleep pants and have another Christmas gift marked off my list).

Thrifty really is cool.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

Brrr, it is getting pretty darn cold out. Today when I got up the temperature was -13 C, almost time to find the extension cords so we can plug in the vehicles.

Monday

Leftover roast beef cut in thin strips, along with lots of sliced onions and mushrooms. This will be put in a thin gravy and served over toast. Comfort food for a cold winter's day.

Tuesday

Leftover Ham from Sunday's meal. I will pull a portioned bag out of the fridge freezer and try a new stovetop casserole with it. Not too sure how it will go over but trying it anyway. This will be served with green beans. 

Wednesday

Soup and Sandwich night. I will be pulling the Spicy Moroccan Lentil Soup from the freezer and serving it with egg salad sandwiches.

Thursday

Clean out the fridge night. Should be enough leftovers to keep everyone happy.

Friday

Salmon Casserole. I found a different take on my regular casserole and plan on giving this a try tonight.

Saturday

Hot dogs, home made fries, and coleslaw.

Sunday

Roast chicken, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots, and gravy.

As usual lunches will be sandwiches, or leftovers. 

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

Today has been our coldest so far. I dug my boots out to take my daily constitutional this morning. Mind you until I get acclimatized I doubt my walks will be very long.

Mass was as usual today. I really need to get used to our new priest and his way of speaking. I do need to make an appointment with him to speak about Ecumenism and what our plans are working with the Anglican Church here in Canada. I have a feeling that this is one area he really isn't interested in (even though the Archbishop of our Diocese is very Ecumenically oriented when he worked in Rome this was what he did). I do have a training to attend tomorrow evening so will ask about a meeting then.

Other than Mass we have had a quiet day here at home. I managed to cut out a pair of sleep pants for Harvey, as well as all the parts to make 8 bowl cozies for Kurt for Christmas. Hopefully I will be able to start sewing tomorrow.

I want to get into my scrap quilting squares and 2" strips and start planning out the quilt that Kris would like for Christmas. The only thing I will need to pick up for this quilt is the batting (that is relatively inexpensive if I go with a polyester), everything else from thread to baking is in my stash (well the backing is dependant on the colours I choose).

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Round Up

Well my knitting is done for Christmas, all ends have been woven in and they have been put in the gift box.

Three pairs of mittens.

Four black scrubby washcloths.

Six dishcloths.

I also wove in the ends on three baby blankets. These will be either sold or added to my collection of baby gifts.

A pink, purple and white one.

A solid purple one.

Lastly a pure white one.

I have pulled some mint green from the stash and in the evenings I will work on a green one. Days will be spent sewing and it really doesn't matter how long this one takes.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

It has been cold and dreary. There was a bit of snow this morning and then just grey clouds and wind. Now the snow is falling once again and blowing in sheets down the road. It is nice to be toasty warm in the house (I did go for my walks today, rather chilling and a cup of hot chocolate was definitely needed upon arrival home) with the smells of supper cooking.

Now lets just see if I can find 5 new frugal things we did this week.

Along with the usual frugal measures of bread baking, shopping with a list, doing laundry in cold water (rinsing if warm water was necessary for washing) and hanging up what I could to dry on the basement lines the following happened.

1.  Keeping lights off in rooms not in use, and using minimal lighting in those that are being used.

2.  No eating out this week, and since we are to get about 5 inches of snow overnight and into tomorrow we will not be heading to the city for the last regular season football game. Saves gas, and food costs.

3.  Using yarn from my stash for knitting Christmas gifts (done now, just need to weave in the ends or sew up).

4.  Instead of using pay per view on the television, I am using a couple of streaming sites on the computer and sending it to the television (thanks Kris for getting that set up for me).

5.  Harvey repaired the front door by replacing the weather stripping at the bottom of the door and adding some felt around the door. It seems to be blocking the cold air from entering the hallway.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Well It Has Arrived Hopefully Not Bringing Higher Electric and Gas Bills

According to the many weather pundits here in Canada winter was supposed to arrive today. When I woke up this morning it was a bit chilly (wrapped myself in a shawl to do my usual morning coffee and computer time) but not a flake had fallen.

Wait an hour or so and this is what happened.

It continued snowing for most of the day. Then at around 4 things started to melt a bit, that is going to make the roads just lovely for tomorrow's errands. I did notice that the cars coming up the highway and traveling down our street were in fact moving a bit slower. Perhaps the crazy drivers are beginning to learn to slow down for road conditions.

On the home front I stayed curled up with my knitting today after all the household chores were completed. I also got to drink copious amounts of herbal tea. My throat is a bit sore and tea with honey soothed the scratchiness away. 

We were a bit over budget this month due to the purchase of Harvey's season tickets to the provinces professional football team's games next year. However, by buying them now we paid the same as this year, and they are throwing in playoff games as well. Pretty good deal over all, and even though we are over budget I am sure we can cut spending down this month. 

Yesterday Harvey decided it was time to fix the front door. The weather stripping had deteriorated on the bottom and the seal around the door was going. He replaced the weather stripping at the bottom and added some felt around the door just in front of the seal. Hopefully that helps keep the cold air from coming in. Next year we will purchase a new door, this year we had over spent on house maintenance, so this capital expense will be added to next years projects.

I have pulled the draft dodgers out and will start to use those in front of the doors once again in the evenings. We are hoping to cut our electrical bills by a bit over the next while as well. Reading more and more about LED lighting has led us to slowly but surely replace our CFL's with LED's. They last longer, the light is brighter, and according to everything I have read use less electrical power.

We have a small oil filled heater in our room again this winter. I make sure it is turned down during the day and turn it back up about an hour before I go to bed.

As usual lights are turned off in rooms not in use, and only turned on when it gets too dark to see. 

The thermostat is turned to a temperature that while not overly warm, keeps us comfortable. If we get chilly there are always quilts and knitted blankets to cover up with.

Grocery items are well stocked. I should only need to buy fruit, veggies and dairy for the next while. I will however keep my eyes open for any really good deals on canned goods and meat. May as well get them at a lower price or with a coupon when possible. I am also keeping a very close eye on waste. I read that in Canada we waste 20% of our food. I know we are below that, but I am going to make sure nothing is wasted (must remember to check back of fridge when Harvey has been rummaging). Having two meatless (or should I say no red meat, pork, or poultry) twice a week will also help cut our bill.

Off to watch a bit of television and do some more knitting, before heading to bed with a book.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.