Thursday, May 31, 2018

Thursday Tidbits

The end of the month, and I did all my budget entries.

Really considering the month and all the outgoing cash for garden, yard work and my big stock up we didn't do too badly. Over all budget showed just a few dollars over and our yard budget was well under for a change. That was even with the purchase of the pear tree and the two new cherry trees.

I am hoping for better control over our spending next month, now that Harvey's man cave is pretty much done (and the supplies already bought for the remaining basic work) things should calm down in the spending department.

Harvey asked if I wanted a new couch (he noticed I fell in love with one as we were shopping for the new furniture for the basement. I told him that first I would like the carpet changed in the living room and then the new couch.... Give me two years of saving and I will almost have enough to pay for both.

We are finally getting rain. The garden is growing by leaps and bounds now that the soil is getting some moisture. It will take a bit longer for the grass seed to sprout, but as long as we don't have to water to keep the area moist I am happy. It also means our water barrel is filling up. Now if it will just rain every two weeks or so I won't have to worry about running out. That would mean our utility costs could drop a bit as well.

The next month or two will also see a lowering of our grocery costs. However fuel and entertainment costs will go up. Football season is starting, and so we shall be traveling a bit more. Perhaps it's a good thing that grocery costs will be held down.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Days Fly By....Time To Get Some Christmas Gifts Started.

I just can not believe that it is almost the last day of the month. I am not at all sure where all the days disappeared to.

I think I had better start on Christmas gifts since the days are flying right by.

I made my list of gifts to make today and will be starting them very soon.

Harvey--- A new fleece robe, and perhaps a knitted vest/sweater.

Kurt--- A quilt of many colours just like his brother got last year. I may try to knit him some slippers as well.

Kris--- I think I will sew some pillows for his chair, a cat bed for Eiko as well. I hope to knit him some slippers as well.

This on top of getting the basement cleaned up, my own quilting and sewing completed, and I do need some new knitted sweaters.

I think I could be busy for awhile.

Getting off the computer as the skies are getting very black and we have been warned that a bad thunderstorm could happen.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Thrifty Tuesday

In my quest to become a little more focused on living below our means joyfully, I have discovered a few  things. As long as we have a roof over our heads, food in our tummies, heat or cooling when they are necessary, hobbies to keep us occupied, and eachother our lives are just where we want them to be.

I made a rather large batch of pasta salad to eat with our hotdogs  and as usual covered the bowl and placed it into the fridge. I thought that I would eat it for my lunch over the next few days. Well since that did not happen, I decided to do a makeover tonight and have it for supper. After adding a can of tuna, the leftover quartered boiled eggs, a bit more dressing and served Tuna Pasta Salad along with the leftover hotdogs buns made into garlic bread. It sure hit the spot. No waste and with a few small use it ups from the fridge, spice cabinet and bread box a brand new meal. I think I used my resources wisely.

I darned a couple of pairs of socks, a couple of pairs were cut into ties to be used in the garden.

We went through all those lights and while many needed to be recycled there were quite a few we could still use. These were put into my large planters on the deck, giving us some needed lighting at night. We also found an old string of white mini Christmas lights (I think that some people call them fairy lights) and strung them up on the far end of the deck.

It has rained for most of the day and we took the lid off the rain barrel. Hopefully it fills up once again. I would much rather use rain water to water everything than city water.

Harvey found some grass seed in the shed and yesterday spread it on the bare patches in the front yard. He had forgotten all about the seed he had bought last year on sale and was going to go off and buy more. He also used up the last of the fertilizer. I think he is enjoying trying to find items to use up and  clean out (he won't call it decluttering). Sure glad he is finally onboard (though he still goes on spending sprees every so often).

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Monday, May 28, 2018

Menu Monday

Can you believe it is the end of May already. Soon we will be into the half way through the year month. My time whizzes by.

Monday

The last package of frozen turkey will be used today. I fancy a main dish salad as it is supposed to be very hot. I have some slices of ham that need using and boiling a few eggs will take no time at all.

Tuesday

Leftover beef roast and perhaps the leftover pasta salad.

Wednesday

Time to clean out the fridge of odds and ends. 

Thursday

This will be soup and sandwich night.

Friday

Fish fillets, homemade fries and probably some coleslaw.

Saturday

Sloppy Joes and the remainder of the coleslaw.

Sunday

Roast chicken, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots and perhaps I will actually make a dessert.

Lunches, will as usual be leftovers or sandwiches in Harvey's case. Mine will be toast or yogurt, or salad. Trying to lose some of the weight I gained not being able to walk over the winter.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Sunday, May 27, 2018

Sunday Ramblings

Ahh, another week over and the beginning of a new one. These weeks have gone by quickly and it is hard to believe that very soon we will be reaching the halfway mark to the year.

This is the last week we had the hard to understand priest here, our regular pastor should be back by next weekend. This Sunday it was a bit easier to understand the homily, so perhaps I am getting used to this priests rather thick accent.

I was first lector and distributed the host. I managed very well, until near the end of communion. My hand started shaking from holding the ciborium so tightly. As the weeks progress things should get easier.

The rest of my day was spent collecting those solar lights that no longer light, and weeding the perennial bed. Harvey is going to have to get in there with the ant killer once again. It seems the small amount of rain we have received washed the last application away.

Then of course I did a bit of knitting on the prayer shawl, and watched some more episodes of Murder, She Wrote. I can remember watching this program every week and I still enjoy "Jessica's" escapades.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.


Saturday, May 26, 2018

Random Pictures From The Deck.

Just a few pictures today of the flowers on and around my deck.

As you can see, I kind of cheated this year and bought ready made baskets to hang. My wrist just couldn't take any more planting at this point.

We gathered up all the solar lights in the yard and stuck them in our perennial bed. Trying to figure out which ones work and which ones don't.

We seem to have collected a number of them. The ones that light up will be kept and used around the yard. The rest will be recycled by Sarcan here in the city.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.


Friday, May 25, 2018

Frugal Friday

It's time for my frugal five for this week. Not an easy chore in this month of spending to get the garden up and running. 

1.  Watched some free movies on the television.

2.  Since it rained (only 1/4 inch) yesterday I did not water my plants today like I was going to, instead I will water them tomorrow.

3.  Harvey used what little water left in the rain barrel to water our hosta plants which don't receive a great deal of moisture from the rain.

4.  Made my grocery list and stuck to it religiously.

5.  Mended a few articles of clothing (mostly Harvey's) in order to get a bit more wear out of them.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Thursdy Tidbits

Our second Prayer Shawl Ministry was held today. There was only two of us, but we enjoyed ourselves immensely. We started with prayer, knit or crocheted for awhile and then discussed a few thoughts and feelings we had towards the direction our parish is moving. Both of us decided that we will just keep our heads down and do whatever our priest says, because in 6 or so years (perhaps less) we will have a new priest with different ideas.

Other than the meeting I did my weekly shop. I managed to stick to my lists, and really did not spend much over what I thought I would. It seems as if the price of groceries changes almost daily. With the cost of fuel rising I can see some high prices looming ahead of us. It will just mean that I will have to get a bit more creative when making meals and finding deals.

Now I am watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and writing this post. Soon I will take my calcium tablets and crawl beneath the blankets with my ereader. 

Tomorrow is another day and one I hope will see me pull out the sewing machine (or at least find it in the sewing/craft room) and get a bit of sewing completed. I have been neglecting those projects a touch.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

The Quiet Of Mid Week

The days have been extremely hot here with little to no rain falling. This means watering the garden with the hose and city water as the rain barrel is empty. It is going to be a bit more costly but what can one do, no one wants to lose their gardens or flowers.

Kris was home and so Harvey and he decided to go fishing on Sunday. They caught a few but of course rather than bring them home to clean they were released.

Then they both surprised me by coming home and parking in the back. I thought I heard voices, but could see no truck. I finally looked out the back door and saw this.....

Two cherry trees and the guys busy digging the holes to plant them.

They are planted just in front of the old ones that will be coming down this fall. They even have a few small cherries on their branches.

Since Kris was home and I wanted to send a few items home with him I pulled out the mini donut maker.

Cinnamon sugar coated mini donuts enough for all of us.

I also pulled out my mini cupcake maker.

Mini vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting.

I was on a roll so I pulled out the mini pie maker and made some mini cherry pies with my homemade cherry pie filling. Well, I tried to make mini pies.

One came out almost perfectly.... The other three well they looked like this.

They still tasted yummy, and since Kris and I had just watched a Master Chef episode and he had heard the term "deconstructed" so he told me I had made deconstructed cherry pies. Sweet!

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.






Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Thrifty Tuesday

Ahhh, so what thrifty things have been happening around the old homestead over the past week?

Really, much the same thrifty past times as is usual around here.

One new thing is Harvey made beer this week. I think he managed to get 46 bottles made at about half the cost of buying the same. So thrifty and it kept him out of my hair for awhile.

Me, well I used up all the plants I bought and the potting soil this year. Nothing was not used up. Yeah me. It usually ends up I have Harvey over buy potting soil, and of course I go overboard buying plants as well. This year I made my list and stuck to it, even though I felt a pull towards some of the more exotic plants that were available this year.

Harvey filled a propane tank this weekend and managed to get a package of 6 free hamburger patties. Free tasted pretty darn good after BBQing them on Saturday.

Any extra food was put into tinfoil trays and Kris got to take a few meals home again this weekend.

I also managed to turn another collar on one of Harvey's shirts.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Monday, May 21, 2018

Menu Monday

I have been missing the last few days. Kris came home and we have spent time planting trees, baking, and just visiting. Harvey's brother and sister-in-law dropped in for a short visit as well. It seems like the days just sped right on by.

Since Kris was home the menu changed a little bit and has changed for this week as well. Still I will be using items in the house already so meals will still be thrifty and filling.

Monday

Baked ham, scalloped potatoes, and cheesy broccoli. I will make some mini cherry pies later this afternoon for our dessert.

Tuesday

I plan on pulling out a container of chili from the freezer and serving it over macaroni.

Wednesday

Soup and sandwiches. It will probably be grilled cheese sandwiches with some turkey noodle soup.

Thursday

Leftover ham, corn and rice. Probably some sliced raw veggies as well.

Friday

Breakfast for supper.

Saturday

BBQ hotdogs, beans and a salad.

Sunday

Beef roast and roasted veggies.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Friday, May 18, 2018

Frugal Friday

It is the end (well kind of) of another week here at the old homestead. Now what did I do that was frugal this week.

1. The furnace was turned way down for quite a few days. It was so hot that it almost felt like mid summer.

2.  All leftovers are being used up. Amazing to me is that nothing has been tossed this week.

3.  Followed my grocery list exactly. Used a couple of coupons to get the price down even more.

4.  Hung clothes on the line (Monday was one of our very warm days).

5.  Cleaned house using items on hand, and I am actually using some cleaning supplies up. I eventually want to make a few of my own.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Thursday Tidbits

Today has been cloudy, cool and windy. Not the best day to do any planting, but it needed to be done. I just hope we don't freeze over night or I will be replacing all my plants.

I promised you all a few pictures of the pole bean teepee that Harvey made and I even managed to get a few pictures of the flowers and herbs I planted.

Harvey was getting tired of making something for the pole beans to climb up every year. So this year, using leftover lumber he built this fold up teepee. We can store it every year and use it time after time. He did have to buy some hinges though.


Parsley, sage, thyme, and basil in the long planter. I am a bit concerned that I may end up replanting the basil because it is such a tender plant.

Oregano in the planter by itself, and two mint plants.

Now a few of the flowers.

My long planter with coleus. Another tender plant that I am worried about. 

My corner filled with impatiens. I have a double hanging above this. This stand looks like a carpet once the summer is well underway.

Begonias by the door. You can just make out the English Ivy sitting on the wrought iron cart beside them. The upside down vacuum needs to be cleared off the deck. Not too sure why on earth Harvey has it out there.

More pictures tomorrow after I get the deck cleared off and hopefully get the last two tender vines out. Though that could end up waiting for another day or two.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless. 






Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Thrifty Tuesdays

It has been a busy day on the old homestead. The weather has been beautiful and after a phone call from Harvey's brother we have been busy trying to get the garden and my flowers all completed. While the veggie garden in done, my flowers are not. I can only do so many each day and I still have quite a few to go. Wish me luck tomorrow as I want to get most done. Rain should be heading our way Wednesday night, Thursday and on Friday. My plants will get a great start.

Thrifty moves this week include Harvey building me a folding frame for my pole beans out of leftover lumber from the basement. I will take a picture of it, as well as the veggie garden tomorrow. I hope to have my flowers planted and some pictures of those as well to share with you.

I did some mending on a couple of clothing items and a pillow case. We will get a few more years usage out of those items.

Over the past week I have been using up what I can from the crisper and freezer for our meals. I am hoping that my wrist is well enough next week that I can start to bake bread once again. This buying of bread is getting on my nerves, it is so expensive compared to homemade breads.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Monday, May 14, 2018

Menu Monday

Good morning all. It is going to be a lovely day today and I am up early so as to enjoy it by getting my chores done early for a change. I want to get a few plants potted up today, and then go to town again tomorrow.

Any how here are my menus for this week.

Monday

Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and asparagus. I plan on making a fairly large meatloaf so I have leftovers for later in the week.

Tuesday

Leftover pork roast made into a stir fry and served over rice.

Wednesday

Time to pull out that leftover meatloaf and use it up. Could be leftover rice to use up as well. I think broccoli would taste pretty good today.

Thursday

Out to the BBQ and Hubby cooking. It will be hamburgers, with all the fixings and a lovely tossed salad (usually there is enough salad leftover for a couple of days).

Friday

Kris could/might be home again as it is the long weekend so since I made a batch of soup last Friday, today will be those Lazy Perogies.

Saturday

Hopefully out to the BBQ once again. I have chicken breasts and tin foil packets of veggies on the menu. Salad will round everything out.

Sunday

Since Kris will still be here if he comes home, I will make a stuffed chicken meal. This usually entails the roast chicken, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and salad. Really only the stuffing is something I don't make when it is just Harvey and I.

Off to get things accomplished.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Sunday Ramblings

Just a few pictures today.

Flowers from Kris for Mother's Day.

My pear tree from Harvey for Mother's Day.

Plants that need potting, I have a good start on the garden but more to come.

And lastly my misshapen and swollen hand.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.




Friday, May 11, 2018

Saturday Round up

It has been a busy week here on the old homestead.

I had three meetings this week, two at the Anglican church and one at my own. Prayer Shawl Ministry has started at my church and our first knit meeting was yesterday. I really need to improve on a couple of things before the next one as the Anglican church has been invited to attend.

The first meeting was to take a blurb to the Anglican church for their bulletin inviting them to attend our next meeting in two weeks. The second meeting was to introduce myself to the Anglican priest, I figured it was past time I did so. And the third meeting was the Prayer Shawl meeting. Managed to get them all in by Thursday.

Yesterday I bought some large pots for my planting this year. Today after Harvey and Kris got the deck cleared off I set them out. I think I have them all in their final resting places, but I have been known to change my mind.

I managed to get my quilt sandwiched, pinned and trimmed yesterday. Now the fun part begins. This is going to take awhile as the quilt could be considered King sized (I wanted it big enough to hang nicely on the bed). This means pulling out a different machine to do my regular sewing. Thank goodness Kurt bought me another machine for Christmas, though I could have used my mothers old one.

Harvey worked up the garden and then today both of them (Kris is home thank heavens) planted my pear tree, brought in the treadmill, and put in the window air conditioner. 

Slowly but surely things are being completed.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Thursday Tidbits

I got a big surprise today. Harvey bought a pear tree for me for Mother's Day. Now along with cherries (those will probably be gone and replaced next spring) I will soon be able to pick pears!!! I am very happy.

Harvey worked up the garden three times today, it was so hard. Hopefully we get more rain very soon. I will have to drench the perennial garden in order to get the weeds out. Planning on doing that sometime tomorrow while the guys are either fishing or working on planting my pear tree.

I got another surprise, Kris came home tonight instead of tomorrow. I really think he is looking forward to a fishing adventure with his Dad. Eiko is downstairs visiting with Harvey. Shania on the other hand is upstairs here with me.

I sandwiched and finished pinning the quilt. It is now upstairs in my sewing room. I just have to get working on the quilting next. I think that might take a very long time. It's a pretty large quilt.

I am going to try and post a picture of the yarn winder that Blogger would not let me post yesterday.

So far I am loving the way it works. I have done up some of the leftover sock yarn and some orphan balls of baby yarn. It really makes a difference on how much room they take up. Slowly but surely I plan on getting all my yarn eventually done.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Finished Projects and My Stock Up Haul

I think it is best if I no longer say "No more .............. (fill in the blank) until I use up what I have. I am afraid I break that promise every time I head into the city. Fabric just begs to be stroked and yarn begs to be squished.

First off my finished projects.

I managed to get this read knit skirt sewn a couple of weeks ago.

Why it looks pink is beyond me. It is a lovely rich red.

Then I managed to finish my blanket of many colours.

There are a few things I would change for the next one.

Now on to the stroked fabric and squished yarn.

This fabric is much more vivid in real life. It is going to be used to make a lovely winter top, or perhaps a dress as I made sure to buy enough fabric for a dress if I decide to go in that direction.

This oatmeal coloured cotton knit will be used to make something I have never tried before. Lately I have been having trouble buying underwear that fits properly. I am going to try my hand at sewing my own. A friend told me her mother has been making her own underwear for years. I bought enough to make 10 or 12 pairs if I like the fit. If not I can of course make a knit top.

I have a dress pattern in mind for this heavy cotton.

This camel fleece will be used to make Harvey a new robe for Christmas.

I always need sewing machine needles so I picked up a couple of packages of specialty needles. These are for sewing knits.

These balls of yarn will be used to knit prayer shawls.

As will these.

Some sock yarn as I have found that my knitted socks wear much better than the ones I buy.

This alpaca yarn will be used to knit myself a sweater.

I also bought something that used a 55% off coupon. Something I have wanted for a number of years.

Blogger is not letting me upload that picture. Its a yarn winder. I have used it to wind up some of those leftover balls of baby yarn and sock yarn. They take up much less space now. I hope to gradually be able to wind all the DK, fingering, sock and worsted yarn over the next few weeks.

I should mention that all but the sock yarn were purchased at a deep discount. I just love finding a bargain.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.