One Down

 Harvey got his first vaccine shot today. I would have been tomorrow, but because we as a province have now run out of vaccine, mine has been put off until the 10th. Oh well, this is what happens when your previous federal governments get rid of the places that were capable of manufacturing said vaccines. We are now at the mercy of other countries pharma. 

Still an end is in sight and I am happy about that. I will probably be phoning for Harvey's second jab in a month (Canada is extending the space between jabs 4 months).

The boys will be home on Friday at some point and I am really looking forward to that. They both live alone, Kurt had Covid in November and so should still be okay (have some antibodies) and Kris stays home unless it is to head out shopping. He is back to working at home. Both of them are very careful and so I am not too worried that they will bring something home. 

Since I missed Thrifty Tuesday I though I would add it on to this post a day late. Finishing up the month.

So what thrifty things was I up to this week.

Fixed a pair of gloves that had developed a hole at the base of one finger.

Had many meals where I used up items in the fridge to make a new meal (though tomorrow we will be eating baked spaghetti again, I think I might have went a bit overboard).

Saved some bread ties and twist ties to use on the baking I am doing.

Baked my pie today and used butternut squash. 

Drapes have been kept open during our sunny periods to take advantage of the light and solar heating (furnace hardly comes on at all during those days).

Well that's all I can think of right now.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

Before I show you all my menus for the week I thought I would share some good news.

Kris's Covid-19 test came back negative. We both thank you for all your prayers. 

Monday

Leftover Instant Pot meal from Saturday. Served with sliced cucumbers.

Tuesday

Spaghetti and meat sauce. I will make a kale salad to go along with this.

Wednesday

Baked spaghetti and meat sauce to use up the leftovers. The leftover kale salad will be served as well.

Thursday

Stew and biscuits.

Friday 

Since it is Good Friday and Kurt and Kris will be home I will make breakfast for dinner.

Saturday

As Kris will more than likely be heading home early on Sunday our Easter meal will be tonight. Ham, potato salad, corn, and Butternut squash pie. Of course there will be pickles of all types and perhaps some sliced cheeses as well.

Sunday

If things are such that Kris will be here today there will be some switching of meals over these last two days. Since we have had such a big meal yesterday today will be soup and sandwiches. 

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

The end of the work week for many people, but not me. What frugal things have been happening on the old homestead this week.

1.  Using up all leftovers.

2.  Found $0.15 on the ground during my walks and put it in my change jars.

3.  Took cans and bottles into recycling and made $25.00.

4.  Picked up sticks in the yard (well Harvey did) and added them to the kindling pile.

5.  Stuck to my shopping list.

6.  Combined errands to save on gas.

7.  Reading free downloads on my ereader.

Youngest DS did not come home this weekend. He will be getting a Covid-19 test tomorrow as he developed a scratchy throat, cough and chills. Hopefully it is just a cold and not the variant that is making Regina a hot spot for Covid. If it is positive when he takes his test tomorrow, well he won't be home for Easter. Please keep your fingers crossed for him.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Well it is coming close to the end of another week, just a few days left. Heck just a few days left of this month.

Thought that I would share a few pictures with you.

My scrappy disappearing 9 patch quilt. This was before I decided to do a border of complete 9 patches at the top and bottom. I am now deciding if I want to do the same thing on the sides of the quilt. I might just do two rows of complete squares on each side. I now know how long and how much work goes into something other than a regular 9 patch and will plan accordingly the next time.

The three masks for Kris to take back with him when he comes home this weekend. I still need to put the elastic through the side casings. But I want to have him here so I can get the right length. The weather is not supposed to be very nice this weekend. Snow is predicted and strong winds. In fact we could be in for the last snow storm of what could be considered winter still here in Saskatchewan. Heck one year we got snow in May that stuck around in the shady areas until the end of June.

Then I decided to try and make a bunting for Easter. 

I am going to try my hand at a Peeps bunting and I have the bunny shapes all cut out ready to sew and stuff. I may even cut out a few more to make some kitty toys for Eiko.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Finally!!!!

 Well the day finally arrived. I got to book my vaccine shot this morning. On April 1st, a day after Harvey I get to have my "jab". First dose, and I am so looking forward to it.

Our capital city is being over run by the variant from the UK. They have locked down the city once again. I am sure hoping that youngest son Kris is okay and able to make it home this weekend and next. He lives alone (both our sons do) and so we are their bubble. Right now it is a travel advisory and not a complete lockdown of the streets. Hopefully things do not get worse. They have even put a more restrictive lockdown on the area around the city. Lots of small towns and villages have now had their restrictions renewed.

I finished the disappearing 9 patch quilt top. However I cheated and just used ordinary 9 patch for the top and bottom rows. Kind of framed the disappearing portion. It looks pretty good.

Tomorrow I work on the masks for Kris. They should be done in an hour or so. I will wait on the elastic portion until he is home and I can measure it properly.

We had a march of the covidiots here this weekend. Not many, perhaps 40 or so. Considering the cases in our city are rising this was an extremely silly thing to do. I want to shake them and tell them to wake up.

Other than shopping and working on projects as well as healing nothing much else happening.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

Ahh, another week begins. 

I think we may have entered a third wave here in the province, well in all of Canada. This just when restrictions were being lessened. I fear it will not be long before the restrictions begin once again.

Monday

Chili and toast.

Tuesday

Sausage casserole. 

Wednesday

Clean out the fridge night.

Thursday

Pork chops, green beans, mashed potatoes, and salad.

Friday

Kris should be home at some point today as it is his EDO. I think that Glace will be just what he would like for supper tonight.

Saturday

There is a package of leftover chicken in the fridge (though as I forgot to label said package it could in fact be turkey) and I will make this into a casserole served with the remains of the salad from Thursday.

Sunday

There is a package of leftover roast in the freezer so I will warm it up and serve it with a cabbage dish, and some rice. 

I really need to bake bread this week. I will get Harvey to lift my bread machine onto the table and get a loaf or two made this week. I am tired of buying bread. It just does not taste as good.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 

Quiet day here on the old homestead. 

I finished the sets of three 4" squares and tomorrow I get to start making the sets into blocks of 9. Then comes the fun of trying my hand at a disappearing 9 patch. Wish me luck.

I  had a tick on my yesterday. I think it was way to early in the season, but Harvey says that with the warmer weather they are probably awakening. Ticks seem to love me so it was only natural that I would be the first one to bring home an unwanted visitor. I do so hope it is the last one.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

 

We are having absolutely wonderful weather right now. I don't know how long it will last, but I am taking advantage of every nice day to get out and walk or stand taking deep breaths on the deck.

I put away my cross stitch a day early as I made a mistake somewhere, and rather than become frustrated, I will find my mistake (counting of course) in a few days.

So what is frugal around here this week.

1.  Added $25.00 to the cash envelope, and $5.40 to the change jars. I still need to add Harvey's small change so will update this next week.

2.  Walked everyday, even the day it rained once the rain stopped.

3.  Only had one spend day again this week.

4.  Redoing menus and adding one more non meat meal every two weeks.

5.  Using up all leftovers, and slowly using all those premade meals up. 

6.  Made a large tossed salad that will last us another day as a side at supper.

7.  I am using up craft supplies and planning our Easter meal. So excited that both boys will be with us. It is actually the first time Kurt has been home at Easter in a number of years.

8.  Talked to both our sons when costs on our plan were free.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thursday Tidbits

 

Nothing really exciting happening here other than Harvey will be getting his first jab on the 31st, and the way the booking is dropping I should get mine sometime the first or second week of April.

I also got to talk to Kurt and Kris tonight and both will be home for Easter. Kurt a bit longer than Kris, but since Kris will be home the weekend before, I will take what I can get. 

It seems that Kurt's stalker is trying to make trouble for him once again. There are wheels in our justice system turning, mind you they do turn exceedingly slowly so this could be an on going problem until the stalker spends some time in jail.

Other than those items, things have been grinding along slowly. I think Harvey is getting tired of doing all the housework. I do what I can which isn't much, and I do the cooking, he does the dishes and gets things off the higher shelves for me. I think I may have to rearrange things once I am given the go ahead.

I have been doing my stitching.

It is moving right along. But I plan on putting it away tomorrow and working on a sewing project or two. Mainly the masks for Kris and the blocks for the scrappy quilt top.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 I am a bit later than usual today, but as the saying goes "Better late, than never."

Too much running around today and now I am tired right out. 

Monday

Roast beef, roasted carrots, roasted potatoes.

Tuesday

Leftover ham (probably a scalloped potato casserole type thing so there are leftovers). Served with peas and a salad.

Wednesday

Leftover roast beef. I am pretty sure this will be hot beef sandwiches, and hash browns.

Thursday

The leftover ham casserole and salad.

Friday

Breakfast for supper. Tonight will be pancakes.

Saturday

Chicken Strips, dip, and salad.

Sunday

Chili and toast.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 

Nothing much happening around the old homestead today. Quiet as Sundays usually are.

I did work on my cross stitch, finished McLeod's Daughters on Prime and Fawlty Towers on BritBox. Had a couple of walks as well. 

Life is pretty boring, but I am so grateful that my healing seems to be moving along well.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Oh yes, I should be able to book Harvey for his jab on Monday if things keep moving right along. I hear it is a very simple process online.

Saturday Roundup

 

Thought that I would share some of the projects I have been working on since my surgery.

I made two of these triangle prayer shawls.

Then I pulled this out a couple of days ago. I forgot to take a picture of what it looked like when I started up again. But hopefully this shows you how far I managed to get today.

This is what it looked like by the end of my stitching yesterday.

This is how I ended today. Not as much done as I would like, but enough to see a bit of a difference. Hopefully even more will be completed tomorrow.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Frugal Friday

 

I have been remiss in posting this past week. I have even been remiss in visiting everyone. It is going to take me awhile to catch up with everyone.

So what are my frugal and thrifty habits for this week.

1.  Opening drapes to allow solar heating to occur. 

2.  Using up meals from the freezer as well as working on cleaning out the pantry and cupboard. I haven't been shopping for over a week and I hope to extend this for a few more days.

3.  Used up 7 balls of yarn from my stash making 2 prayer shawls. I think there is enough for two more (might have gone a bit overboard purchasing this yarn).

4.  Pinned together some 4" squares to make another quilt top and use up the ever growing stash that seems to accumulate.

5.  Reading free downloaded novels on my ereader.

6.  Found $0.75 on my walk and put that in my change jars.

7.  I will add darning socks here, which is also a thrifty habit.

8.  Walked most days for exercise, however there was one day I did something I should not have and so did not walk much at all the next day.

9.  Harvey is doing the laundry under my supervision and has even been hanging things on the lines downstairs.

10.  Saved some elastics and twist ties from produce.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

Good morning everyone.

Time for another week of menu plans, which could be switched around whenever. I have listed an order in/order out one day a week for the next month.... I am hopeful that this will not become a habit.

Monday

Mini meatloaves (some will be packaged to eat on Wednesday), mashed potatoes, asparagus. 

Tuesday

Hotdogs, baked beans, and probably leftover mashed potatoes fried up with some chopped onion.

Wednesday

Leftover meatloaf, leftover baked beans, and the remaining asparagus.

Thursday

Shopping day so supper will be soup and sandwiches. Probably grilled cheese sandwiches and homemade and frozen tomato soup.

Friday

This is order in night, though I could switch this to Saturday and have Fish and chips tonight along with salad.

Saturday

Fish and chips served with salad.

Sunday

I was going to make a roast meal, but I think a stew meal from the freezer would be easier on me. I will probably make dumplings.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 

It is very boring here on the old homestead right now. I am lazing around as much as is possible and letting myself heal. Dang it is hard though. 

Harvey does one job a day for me though one day I did manage to get him to both sweep and vacuum the house. I think he just might be getting tired of doing housekeeping tasks. I will survive, but rather the house might not. 

I had a lovely walk today. The weather is beautiful and while I did not walk as quickly or as far as I would have loved (being a good girl) the fresh air did wonders for me. We are supposed to get snow again this week, but one good thing is that any snow that falls usually disappears quickly.

Kris headed back to Regina this morning. He cleaned the floors, and bathroom as well as vacuumed and swept the floors. He will be coming back in a couple of weeks to do some more cleaning and then again for Easter. I am hoping Kurt can come home as well. 

Still knitting on that prayer shawl. Finding it rough going when that is pretty much all I can do all day. Still, I should be finished it soon and will move on to the cross stitch project and cut out some more masks. The ones I made awhile ago need to be replaced and some of the first ones I made (pleated type) just did not turn out very well. Since we will have to wear them for awhile yet I may as well make sure we have a great supply.

Watched Mass on the television. Mass and pj's who would have thought.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

I missed Frugal Friday, but since I am staying home and using up well the day seemed to slip right on by. Hopefully next Friday will show some marked improvement in Frugal ideas.

It has been a long week, and yet not long. My surgery is now a week and a day past and I got to take the dressings off the wounds yesterday. Nothing seems to be amiss and everything looks to be healing well. However, once again I am back into a nightie just to make sure I don't overdo the next couple of days. Kind of hard to do a bunch of work when you are not dressed. I am hopeful that in another few weeks I can at least be driving myself to pick up the mail or drop something off at the church.

Seems lots of people were wrong. Most of my friends and family thought the doctor would have used some kind of glue....nope, I am the proud owner of 11 new stitches in various areas of my abdomen. If I would have read my discharge papers past the shower in two days, can bath in 7 and remove dressings, I would have seen that they were dissolvable/absorbable stitches and felt a bit more comfortable. 

Kris came home last night at around 4. Seems it was his Friday off (EDO). Today he told me he would vacuum, sweep and mop the floor. I may just swish the toilet with some cleaner, and leave the tub to him or Harvey. Perhaps the cleaning will kind of be done for the week.

My sister dropped off a card yesterday as well. She put a cheque into it and now I feel a bit better about ordering in (well at least for two or three meals). Today will be our first order and I am tossing between pizza and chicken... Pizza will more than likely win. 

Other than lying on the couch, taking the occasional walk outside (that is curtailed until at least Sunday), doing a bit of dusting and paperwork things have been pretty quiet around here.

A friend did a room on Facebook yesterday and I got to see her, and another friend to talk. I loved it and am thinking that might be another way of contact between friends if this stretches on too much longer. I do have a few other ways of talking to those who are far away, but I don't know if they have the same capabilities, where as most are on Facebook and can join in a room. May have to try this with a friend whom I haven't seen in a number of years and who is stuck in a LTC home as she can no longer walk. 

My days have been spent knitting, surprisingly not finished that prayer shawl as of yet. Seems to be taking awhile, but I do have nothing but time on my hands right now. I also copied down the temperatures from the historic temperature site to make the temperature blanket that represents the year Kris was born. I will more than likely work on that next month. 

I have become fascinated with the idea of different blankets and have been thinking of fashioning one that measures the precipitation in various years. Harvey said it would be pretty boring, but I think could be made interesting by adding in foggy days and even wind conditions. I will think on it a bit more.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Thursday Tidbits

 

So, I think I might, just might have been a bad girl today. This morning Harvey brought up the laundry from the downstairs lines to fold and since I had my gripper handy, I thought I may as well do them up before we went shopping.

Probably if I had only done that and the two other small jobs I did things would have been perfect. 

Instead, I got dressed, grabbed my shopping list and Harvey and off we went. Perhaps if we had only done the grocery shopping things would have been okay, but we needed a new Brita pitcher, and toaster (old one was burning everything no matter what setting) so we headed to Walmart. Harvey dropped me off at the front door and I waited inside for him. 

After that it was off to the grocery store. Hmmm, this meant getting in and out of the car once more and working our way down the aisles. I think I might have done some stretching that I shouldn't have, but I did not pick up anything in the least heavy. Harvey filled the cart once the groceries were bagged, and put them all in the vehicle. He also unloaded everything. However I don't think I should have been reaching in the cart and putting things on the belt....Bit of stretching going on there. 

So for the rest of today I have been laying on the couch knitting and watching television. I have gotten up and walked a bit, but not much in the grand scheme of getting my steps up.

My main job for tomorrow will be ironing some of Harvey's shirts and then perhaps a walk outside. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty Tuesday

 

This has not been the most thrifty of weeks though we did manage to save a little. Our hotel room was at a reduced rate since we are members. Our youngest son bought us dinner on the night of my operation and I ate some of the high fiber items I had brought with me for my breakfast before we left. 

All my mending was completed before we left. I darned three pairs of socks, fixed a hem on a pair of Harvey's pants.

Since we have been home I have been working on some knitting, using up yarn from my stash. Doing lots of reading as well. lots of those free novels I downloaded onto my ereader.

Food wise we have been eating meals using what I have on hand and managing to clear out leftovers quickly. No waste here.

I had a phone call from my primary care doctor about the blood and urine tests I had about 11 days ago. Everything is great. I still have work to do in getting that bad cholesterol down, but my "good" cholesterol has come up a great deal. Both of us are very happy about that. She also said that walking is perfect, so while I won't be on the treadmill I have been walking around the house and even managed two short walks out side today (mainly because it was gorgeous out and I just needed the fresh air). Hopefully in a couple of weeks I will be walking a bit further, just depends on the weather.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

Well, I did kind of make up a menu for this month, but already things have changed. It all depends on what I first lay my hands on from the freezer. 

So this is what is supposed to be cooked this week. We'll just have to wait and see if the meals as presented actually make it to the table.

Monday

Was supposed to be sausage, but I made this on Saturday. So tonight will be leftovers from Sunday. This means ham, scalloped potatoes, corn and salad.

Tuesday

Sweet and sour meatballs along with egg noodles and coleslaw.

Wednesday

Soup and sandwiches. Pretty sure it will be hamburger soup along with ham salad sandwiches.

Thursday

Clean out the fridge night. Should have leftover soup and leftover meatballs.

Friday

Fish sticks, coleslaw, mashed rutabaga, or perhaps roasted rutabaga.

Saturday

Order in (probably pizza).

Sunday

Chicken breasts, rice, and green beans. Perhaps a tossed salad as well.

Now just to see how much changes over the course of the week.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.