Life On The Old Homestead

Life on the Phillips homestead is moving along quietly. As I have mentioned before the veggie garden is done and dusted. Harvey did a big tilling of the entire thing and will more than likely do another one later in the year.

I usually do a roundup of what has been accomplished through the week, but I really did not get much completed so this is an entirely different post from the usual. I hope it makes sense.

After much discussion between the two of us I will be saving egg shells, peelings and other compostable item to put into the garden over the winter. It has been awhile since I have done that and we really should start on that once again. Decision number one.

Decision number two is that I will begin to make some of the household cleaners. Harvey thinks I am a bit crazy, but told me to go for it if I so chose. 

Decision number three which was discussed while we enjoyed the fire was to add another couple of meatless meals to the rotation as long as I can find something Harvey likes. I also told him I would probably be cutting down on the amount of meat in a meal. His answer was "We probably eat too much of that anyway."

Decision number four is my own. In striving for simplicity I need to remove clutter. So I have decided that I am going to try and remove at least 10 items, or use up 10 items in crafts to give as gifts each week. I think that is doable. Today to make up for the last couple of weeks of no decluttering at all I managed to rid myself of 25 items. 

Next week should see me using up some fabric in the making of gifts. Not sure if it will be 10 craft items, but what isn't used craft wise, I will hunt through my "stuff" and get more of those items that need moving out.

We got our house insurance today and while I added a certain percentage to the cost (what I thought the inflation amount would be) the cost is even more. Not much more but enough to make me wonder what other costs will be. 

Add in the grocery prices and man, people could be in a great deal of trouble. So far we are doing just fine, but one never knows when our investments will take a big hit. 

Kurt, as a teacher in Alberta, will be on strike starting on Monday. There will be no strike pay so he figures he will be living on his line of credit. I have been reading how the UCP (governing party) is going to hold out as long as possible in order to force the teachers back to work. 

Teachers there have had a 5% raise in the last 10 years. Many of those 10 were 0% in order to help the government. They were promised it would be made up later.... It wasn't and they can barely keep up with mortgage payments, heating, and electricity. Little lone put food on the table. We usually give the two sons money for their birthdays and Christmas. I think we will try and give them a bit more in each case this year. Even when the teachers go back to work it will be awhile before they get paid. It isn't only because of the wages, the main thing causing the strike is over crowded classrooms, not enough teachers (new ones leave after a couple of years due to burn out) and the number of students with special needs.

Kris seems to be okay so far, but he has lots of work he needs to do on his house. Some of which could be fairly expensive, so if we can help a bit with that all is well. Out of the two boys he is probably the most frugal and thrifty. But he will be renewing the mortgage on his home in a couple of years and who knows what the interest rate will be. 

Along with the extra cash, I am going to make sure that they both have some lovely care packages, and I am planning their Christmas baskets accordingly. I have a list made and will continue to add to that list. Food stuffs, home goods, gift cards, and some cash will be in those baskets. Lots of homemade mixes, jelly, salves, and probably some over the counter medications as well. A bit bought each biweekly shop will spread the cost out.

Everybody have a wonderful night.

God bless.