Sunday Ramblings

 

Well, my operation went ahead. I am feeling not too badly and not suffering lots of pain. What pain I have I am able to control with Naproxen and Tylenol. I don't like the idea of taking opiates so am staying as far away from the morphine as is possible. So far so good. 

I am however pretty bored as I am not really allowed to do anything.... A person can sure grow tired of sitting around and doing nothing for an entire day. I really wonder how I am going to last 6 weeks.

Harvey has been wonderful, he has been doing the dishes for me and getting things out for me to cook. At least I can cook (could do the dishes as well, but if he wanTts to do them I am letting him. 

Today I get to have my first shower and am so looking forward to cleanliness. My definitely needs to be washed as it is sticking out all over.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 I have made a list of what I want to complete before we leave for the city on Thursday. Lots to do, but on the forum I moderate everyone thinks I should be resting. Kind of rested today as all I have done is sweep the floors, make said list, and sewn. 

I managed to finish off the hand quilting and putting the binding on the quilt top.

I am quite happy with it and will be doing another top over the next month. Well at least pinning it and perhaps a bit of sewing. 

I have moved some of my ready meals upstairs to the fridge freezer and will hopefully move some other meats up here as well. Surprisingly, considering how big this fridge freezer is, it does not hold as much as I thought it would. Still it will be much easier to have things, even if only enough for a week, close to hand.

A dress has been started as well, or rather at least will be soon finished. I have the neck, sleeves and hem to finish tomorrow. Then I will cut out the new masks and perhaps get a couple of those finished tomorrow as well. Heck I may cut the masks out tonight as I really don't have much of anything else to accomplish. 

I plan on getting a project bag together for after my surgery. Probably that counted cross stitch project and knitting. I really can't see me hunched over a sewing machine for an extended period of time, but I am working on an idea that could make that possible.

Hopefully more photos of finished projects tomorrow. Must get things done.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

 

The weather has improved nicely. I can actually get out for a short walk or two every day. Perhaps even three if I push myself, or if I actually get a few of those pesky projects completed and the house in tip top shape before I head into the bigger city for my surgery. 

So what are my Frugal Five for this week.

1.  Saved $46.27 on my groceries just buying on sale items.

2.  Harvey got his truck started, he changed the plug on his block heater and everything seems to be working wonderfully.

3.  We had to take the vehicle in for an added part and it turns out this was actually paid for when it was ordered. No money spent on that.

4.   Added to the change jars and my envelope. I also found 45 cents on one of my walks.

5.  Found some DIY things I want to try, like making my own Bissell steam mop pads, and a cleaner idea for them.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Thursday Tidbits

 

It was a lovely day today, made even lovelier by Harvey managing to get his truck started. It will be much easier to get our other vehicle in for the part we have been waiting for. No one will have to stick around and wait for the part to be added now. I will feel much safer now when we head to the city next week.

Just thought I would share a couple of photos with you tonight.

This is my take on a Black Forest Cake and was our dessert since Valentine's Day/So very tasty. I have another cake that I will make up tomorrow for our dessert the rest of the week.

I also finished the temperature blanket for 1976, and there is enough yarn left to make another one for the year that Kristopher, our youngest was born. However 1985 will have to wait for a bit as I have other things to finish off.

I just have to work the ends of the yarn through and trim them. That will happen after some sewing projects are completed tomorrow. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Thrifty Tuesday

 

One has to love a polar vortex as far as staying home and working on getting the leftovers all eaten. That is pretty much all we have been doing. Along with working on projects.

I have kept in contact with various people by phone and social media. Our restrictions have been extended for another month so it looks like masking and hand sanitizing will be a part of our future plans.

Since it has been so cold, but sunny most days the curtains are opened during the day to let in the light and then closed as soon as it starts getting dark to keep the heat in. 

I was going to use up as many of the ready meals from the freezer as possible, but I got notification today that my surgery will take place on the 26th of this month providing Covid-19 patients don't make a surge. We will now need those ready meals for my recovery period so that means going over my menus yet again. No biggy, there is lots of food in the freezer.

I have not been shopping for almost 2 weeks for anything and now have a good idea that I could make this a regular thing. Just have to make sure I have enough milk to see us through. Saved us some cash as well by doing this. I am hoping to go shopping tomorrow and getting enough to see us through at least the first week I am home from the hospital.

I fixed a sweater, and turned a collar on one of Harvey's shirts as well as did some sock and glove darning.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

Brrr, still cold here. Hopefully tomorrow will start to see a change in weather. 

Monday

Sweet and Sour Meatballs (pulled from the freezer), rice, and a tossed salad.

Tuesday

A package of the leftover chicken made into a casserole (so hopefully I will only have to warm it up on Thursday). Served with the remains of the leftover salad.

Wednesday

Sloppy Joes made with a container pulled from the big freezer. Coleslaw to go along with it.

Thursday

Leftover chicken casserole, or perhaps leftover Sloppy Joes. Served with the remains of the coleslaw.

Friday 

Lazy perogies.

Saturday

Chicken burgers, home made fries and a salad.

Saturday

Roast pork, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots and leftover salad.

I am trying to use up some of the meals I had made previously and put in the freezer. This week I will be using up two such. Hopefully a few more next week.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

Being this has been the coldest week of the winter in Saskatchewan I have not been going out walking as much as I would have liked.

I have bundled up and done a couple of walks once the sun came out and the temperatures reached at least -30. Going with the wind was lovely, going against the wind was another story all together. It is supposed to warm up this coming week so hopefully I will be able to get out and about a bit more.

I have not really finished any big projects, and the ones I did finish still need to be blocked, my yarn choices were perhaps not the best hence the necessary blocking. 

I am hopeful of being able to share my 1976 temperature blanket with all of you tomorrow. Then it will be back to hand quilting and getting a binding on the last of the two quilt tops I made a couple of months ago. Harvey has taken over the last one I made. He says it is nice and soft (all done with flannelette squares) and the perfect size for him to use curled up on his recliner. This one will not be as soft so perhaps he won't take it over.

Other then that it has been a waiting game here. Waiting for a lowering of cases here, waiting for a vaccine and waiting for spring to arrive. 

Oh yes, I am still adding blogs to my sidebar, and I even managed to get a couple of pages added to the blog.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

 

Coming to the end of a very cold week. I am sure looking forward to warmer temperatures.

Frugal happenings this week.

1.  Baked bread giving our home a lovely scent.

2.  Did not go shopping at all this week, and paid all bills online.

3.  When the sun was shining I opened the drapes to use the solar heat from the sun.

4.  Made a salad using the bits of cauliflower, broccoli, a few remaining cherry tomatoes, and the last of the cucumber. I added some diced red onion as well. This actually gave us salad for two nights.

5.  Re-reading a novel from my book shelves in order to do my read through the alphabet challenge.

6.  Took part in a free Zoom class on using annuals in pots, and baskets.

7.  Talked to both Kris and Kurt using our free anytime and anywhere in Canada phone package.

8.  Used up all leftovers in meals, either by fashioning something new, or eating them for lunches.

I did go for a walk today outside and while going one direction was lovely, coming home was darn cold.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Thursday Tidbits

 

It has been one of the coldest weeks so far this winter. I have only left the house once since Sunday. Didn't even go shopping today, good thing I have a well stocked pantry, freezer and fridge. Well stocked except for milk. I am hoping that tomorrow is a bit better than -52C with the wind chill. 

I am not quite as achy but the constant wind is giving me a headache once again. I am sleeping well however and that is a very good thing.

Since I have been unable to get out for a walk daily, most days are seeming to drag. That is even with doing projects and the usual household chores. Boring for the most part.

I do get some excitement tonight though. I get to watch a Zoom program on annuals that our Garden Club has set up. I just hope that I can manage to remember how to work Zoom. Keeping my fingers crossed as this course should be very interesting.

With all the anti-mask, freedom rallies, and such that have been happening in my province (not so much my city as others), I have been working on trying to control my reactions. I know the only one I can change is myself and have no control over what others think or feel. I just wish that people would realize the longer they do not follow health restrictions the longer we will be under said health restrictions. Especially since the country is having trouble getting vaccines. Oh wait, most of them will not take the vaccine either. Sighs. I have a feeling we will be struggling with this for a very long time.

I pulled some ice cream, bagels, and shredded cheese out of the chest freezer this morning. While doing so I noticed how many made ahead meals are in there. I will be doing a few changes in the menu plan and use a few of them up. If it is still this cold on the weekend one of the stew meals would really hit the spot. Lots of soups in there as well so I will be pulling those out to use up as well on soup and sandwich day. I don't want to waste any and even though I made these to use after my surgery, I have a feeling I can do more batch cooking before I actually get surgery. Or better yet I can forget about being frugal and order in every so often.

Off to use up a package of frozen roast beef. I am making a casserole that I have never made before. Should be interesting as it sounds almost like bubble and squeak that a friend of mine from the UK has talked to me about. Hope it is tasty.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Thrifty Tuesday

 Still in the deep freeze here. Wind chills are brutal and Harvey's truck will not start. Tomorrow he plans on phoning CAA to get them to come and give him a boost. He doesn't want to use our car to boost the truck just in case he ends up draining the battery in the car as well. 

What thrifty things have I been up to since last Tuesday. Hmmm.

I have continued baking bread. The new recipe is turning out wonderfully.

I mended a pair of Harvey's pj bottoms and a seam in a t-shirt that he wears to sleep in.

I have registered for a free Zoom class on annuals for this Thursday.

I made my felt circles to go between my pots to save them from getting more scratches.

Used up three skeins of yarn finally. I made a scarf, a cowl and another evening poncho (which I will need to fix as I sewed something wrong). 

I have also been using up items from the freezer and making sure nothing goes to waste. 

So another week is slowly going by. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

 After bragging about how well I was sleeping last night was a no really restful sleep day. The brain only shut off for a short while, and the bedroom was way too warm (even Harvey thought it was too hot and tried to take over the couch where I was trying to sleep). I don't know what today will bring, hopefully the call from the doctor this afternoon so I can get my prescriptions filled.

Enough whining, on with the menu for the week.

Monday

Leftover turkey made into a casserole so I don't have to cook another night this week. I am just not sure what type of casserole to make. I will be checking my recipes.

Tuesday

Since it was football yesterday I made a pizza. If that is not all eaten for lunches we will finish this off. Another no cooking day. If the pizza is gone I will make up a container of Lentil soup from the freezer downstairs. Egg salad sandwiches to go along with it.

Wednesday

The remains of the turkey casserole and salad.

Thursday

The last package of leftover roast beef in the freezer. I have my eye on making stroganoff this time around. I will serve it on noodles. Raw veggies for a side today.

Friday

Fish and chips along with coleslaw.

Saturday

The remains of the meal from Thursday. Another no real cooking day. Probably the last of the coleslaw as well.

Sunday

Roast chicken, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots, and some roasted cauliflower and broccoli if I haven't used those up.

Now back to freezing temperatures and staying inside to keep warm.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 

Not too much happening around here. It has been so very cold since Thursday. The temperature just keeps dropping, but the sun is out and standing in front of the window in our living room warms me up nicely. In looking at the long term weather forecast I don't see much of a change happening all I see is cold and more cold. I do hope they are wrong, which usually can happen when looking so far ahead.

Once again I watched Mass on the live stream. Kind of different not needing to dress before, and really worrying about whether or not the vehicle will start once it has been sitting in the cold for an extended period of time. We have a very long winded priest, and if he could keep us there I have a feeling Mass would be 2 hours long. As it is, sometimes he has stretched it to almost that length of time. When it is -40C cars sometimes have a problem starting after sitting for that length of time.

Lent is coming and I am trying to figure out what I am going to do to enhance my Lenten experience. There are a few studies that I am looking at, and I think I just may try and give extra to the food bank here in the city.

This cold snap has made me more achy and tired than before. I am sleeping well, so my tiredness is not from that. I am thinking that perhaps I am in for a bout of my fibromyalgia starting. Or I guess I could be coming down with a lovely cold. We shall see what the next week brings, and I will keep right on pushing to get things done. 

I have tidied and organized one section of the storage in the basement. There are a few boxes that I will put in the recycling bin, and some cushions need to be put on one of the shelves. I can already see a big difference. We really must get out of the habit of just piling things up in this open area. It is right by the door so it is very easy just to drop whatever right there.

Next week I will start on the second storage area. This could take awhile longer as there is quite a bit in this area to sort. My totes of yarn are in this area as well as Christmas décor and some of Harvey's extra tools. We also have our wine storage cupboard here as well. Then there is the box that Harvey made to store our potatoes and onions in. That definitely needs a clean out. I am hoping that there will be more recycled and donated from this area.

I have been working on my projects and have not finished a single one. I am hoping that by tonight one of the smaller ones will be ready for the finishing touches. I guess that is what happens when you move between projects often. Oh well, it keeps me from getting bored with one project and I am always excited to return to it.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

 

The end of a laid back and lazy week. I have had a few frugal saves, and probably a few frugal mistakes (we won't talk about those as they deserve a post of their own).

1.  Did a number of surveys and collected lots of points. I hope to have a few more over the next few days.

2.  Used up all leftovers in the fridge.

3.  Baked two loaves of bread, but now that we are under a boil water advisory for the next few days I will make biscuit's or pull out a store bought loaf from the freezer.

4.  Saved $6.88 on my groceries this week. Not as good as other times but I did buy a great deal less.

5.  Cut open a tube of hand cream and am scooping out the last little bit. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Thursday Tidbits

 While the sun shone for most of the day, the wind howled and it was pretty darn cold out. Made me happy that I went shopping yesterday instead of today. I did so just to stay out of the cold. Cold and I no longer get along as well as we used to.

I was asked how I managed to find the temperatures for 1976. Well I found a site that contains archived temperatures for our city. I am sure there are probably more sites for what is known as "Historical Temperatures" for each city in the world.

We are under a boil water advisory for the next few days. There was a major water main break and the break caused a de-pressuring of the system. I have spent much of the day boiling water and filling containers. I know I will have to do more tomorrow, and probably until at least Monday. Hopefully things will be back to normal by then, but one never knows. 

I marked out a pattern on the second quilt top made a few months ago, and have started to hand quilt it. I will work on that during the afternoons for awhile. Knitting was starting to hurt my shoulder a bit and I need a little rest from it for a bit. Probably will get back to the temperature blanket next week at some point. 

A tiny bit of decluttering and cleaning took place as well. I cleaned out the clutter between the fridge and the wall as well as a catch all area beside the stove. Washed the floors in those areas and either tossed, rehomed, or recycled various items I found. Three items were put in the bags for donations. Not much but every little thing that leaves the house makes me feel just a bit lighter.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Temperature Blankets

 I promised to post a picture of my temperature blankets. I have been making these to use up orphan ball of yarn, and it is doing a great job of that.

They are in order of years that I have worked on them.

Moving from left to right. The first one is from 2019, the second is from 2020, and the last one I am working on right now and is from the year we were married. Surprisingly the one from 1976 is the warmest so far in the winter and the coolest in the summer. 

I changed colour every 5 degrees so these are pretty colourful, but give a great idea of the temperatures (highs) of the day. I know some people change colour every 10 degrees. 

This has really used up yarn so I am quite happy with these projects. I would like to make one for the year that Kris our youngest was born, but I am not too sure I will have enough of a few of the colours. I will have to wait and see.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Thrifty Tuesday

 

What a beautiful day we had. I managed to get 3 walks in, even after sleeping in. I tried to finish the book I was reading last night and stayed up much later than usual. Did I finish the book??? Nope, finished the last 100 pages this morning after household chores.

I cut out some fabric circles to go between my pots today. I was a bit worried they were going to get scratched. Now that worry is off my shoulders. Since I used fabric I already had that was really thrifty. I still have some left so will need to figure out what else I can use white felt for.

Managed to get a third load of washing on the lines downstairs yesterday. Since I was washing two small quilts that was great. 

Darned a pair of Harvey's good wool socks and fixed the elastic in a pair of his pj bottoms.

Nothing thrown out this week. I managed to keep the fridge cleaned out. We were well fed.

Downloaded some more free books for hours of relatively inexpensive entertainment.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

New month has arrived.

Thought I would answer a few questions first.

I only make enough salad to last about three days for the two of us and have not had a problem with it wilting as oTf yet.

On Wednesday I will post a picture of my temperature blankets.

Monday

Leftover frozen ham made into scalloped potato and ham casserole. Served with the leftover salad.

Tuesday

Hotdogs, and brown beans. I will have some coleslaw made up to serve with this meal.

Wednesday

Leftovers from Monday served with the remains of the coleslaw (this is actually one salad that seems to spoil on me).

Thursday

Soup and sandwiches

Friday 

Salmon patties, rice, and mixed veggies. I will make a salad to go along with the meal. Harvey loves salads of all kinds.

Saturday

Roast Beef, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots.

Sunday

We will order in or Harvey will go and pick up chicken.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.