Menu Monday

 

Well the heat has arrived and after working out in the garden my meal plan has definitely changed for today.

Monday

This was supposed to be pizza night, however it is much too hot to turn on the oven. So I will pull out the leftover salad, boil a couple of eggs (4), thinly slice the ham I took out and make a main dish salad. 

Tuesday

Smoked sausage, potatoes, and carrots done on the BBQ (supposed to be even warmer tomorrow).

Wednesday

Baked Spaghetti (even though it will be warm I am hoping the air conditioning has caught up by then) even though I will be using the toaster oven and not the big oven. I may try and slip some garlic bread in as well.

Thursday

Soup and sandwiches. I might just make grilled cheese on the top of the stove. 

Friday

Tuna pasta salad. Heat will still be sticking around so another main dish salad is going to happen rather than a Tuna casserole.

Saturday

Stuffed chicken, cauliflower cheese, and probably a salad.

Sunday

It was supposed to be warmed up leftover ham, but I think I will get Harvey on the BBQ once again and do some Bacon Wrapped filets, as well as tin foil potatoes and carrots.

So there you have it. Changing meals on the fly, and combating the heat.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Towards Simplicity

 

It has been raining off and on for the past few days. This meant I stayed close to home and putzed around the house. 

Today while the rain stopped, Harvey and I went shopping for a few plants. I have managed to pick up a few, but really nothing at all like I am used to purchasing. Planting is going to be a breeze I think. 

A very few new perennials were picked up and I am hoping to be able to fill in a few of the empty spaces. Concentrating on that for the next few years I think and once I have it set, I will be surrounding the plants with bark mulch. Hopefully that will keep the weeds down a bit. 

I will only be planting my herbs and a few annual flowers this year. If it turns out well, I will perhaps cut down things a bit further. However simplicity plant wise is really hard for me, I love riots of colour in the summer. 

One saving grace is that flowers seem to grow very well under the grow lights. So I should be able to manage to inexpensively grow more next year.

While looking at the plants I did walk down the fruit tree area. Plums and apricots as well as a few apple bearing trees already had some fruit on them. Lots of the cherry had fruit as well. I did try to talk Harvey into an apricot tree, but he didn't bite. 

Working on projects and slowly making progress. Today I worked on the last sewing project for this month. With any luck I will finish off the project tomorrow and one more small area will be cleared beside my chair. 

I spent some time walking around the yard and down the street. I will be heading out one of these mornings and plucking some pretty yellow dandelion flowers to wash and dry enough to infuse oil and make some salve. I should really forage for some plantain as well. Pretty sure 

Sunday after planting and weeding I plan on sitting on the deck while Harvey BBQ's and enjoy the warmer weather and sunshine. 

The clothing is slowly getting removed and either donated or set aside to try and refashion or make into new pieces of fabric. I try something on and if I don't like the fit or feel that it is no longer flattering the article is removed after wearing and washing. I am now leaning more towards skirts and dresses unless it is cold/cool out. 

I am also making my way through embroidery thread, yarn and fabric. Clearing things out will definitely make it simpler to see what I have and what I need and I am loving the fact that I am getting to work on projects I inherited from my Mom. 

Simple also means I get more time for myself, something that has sometimes been in short supply while the sons were growing up and Harvey working. I am loving that.

Life is going to be wonderfully simple as things continue to be used, refashioned, planned and completed.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursdays

Thrifty and Frugal 

Cloudy once again, in a way that is a good thing for my frugal heart. It means no air conditioning, no watering, and the rain barrel being slowly filled.

So what frugal and thrifty things have we been up to this week. 

1.  The usual frugal and thrifty things that I do all the time. Lights off in rooms not in use, most meals made here at home, shopping the flyers, combining errands and repairing clothing.

2.  I am still trying to use up all that I can food wise and craft supply wise.

3.  Exercise is taking place by walking, and working in the garden. Next month I will be adding exercise by washing walls and all the light fixtures in the house. Spring cleaning, beginning in earnest.

4.  Fixed the wifi so that we can once again watch some streaming channels that were not coming in very well at all. They are coming in perfectly now.

5.  Reading free books that I have downloaded onto my ereader.

6.  Making sure I am washing full loads, both of clothing and dishes in the dishwasher.

7.  Found $0.35 in various pockets and have put that in the change jar.

8.  Used my gift certificate when I purchased fabric while at Kris's. 

9.  Decluttered a few items I no longer want or use. Someone else can probably use them.

10.  We bought a couple more berry bushes while at Kris's. While they will not produce fruit this year, we hope to get a bit next year. Saving us more grocery purchases in the future.

11.  I have decided to make both Kurt and Kris decent sewing kits and will search through my extra's to see what I can share with them. Kris already has a pin cushion, some decent pins, a few buttons (he will get more), a measuring tape and small scissors. Oh and some decent sewing needles. Should save me a bit of cash when making these up.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 I am not moving very quickly right now, it seems that grocery shopping is becoming more of a Survivor type challenge for me. It hurts a bit more, takes a bit longer, and finding items on sale is becoming something my frugal Mother would have been proud of. One thing that bothers me is why are the sale items (the BBQ sauce that was on sale) always located on the bottom shelf which makes me contort my body to reach them. But for $0.85 a piece I was bound and determined to grab what I could, which wasn't that much. I didn't take all of them.

After a three hour shopping trip I made it home to put everything away. Today's problem wasn't only the search for savings, but meeting people who wanted to talk.... There are times I wish I could wave a wand and become invisible, but then I wouldn't get caught up on some friends lives. 

Life while actually becoming a bit simpler, can actually take a great deal of time. I love talking to people (Harvey says I talk to complete strangers, which is true sometimes), finding out how their lives are progressing, what their children (many of whom I had in Youth Group or worked with them at the schools) are up to. It is wonderful to hear how well they are all doing, and really I do miss the kids so very much at times. 

I did not get my entire list done today, but there are more days this week that things can be done. Considering we are supposed to be getting lots of rain over the next while, I will have lots of time to get things done in the house. Perhaps even finish a few of the smaller projects. 

Since it will be so dull, the sewing machine will be out and the jacket sewn, as well as some of the cards made. 

Harvey planted one of the Goji berry bushes but we need to find a space for the other one. I am thinking a corner of the garden that gets loads of sun. 

I couldn't find any grape vines (Kris is going to look some more when he goes and picks up his plants), so the goji berry bushes could be the only fruiting bushes or trees we plant this year. That's okay as I will need to convince Harvey of where I want the grapes planted.....

Once everything dries up a bit I will be planting flowers and such. Not as many as usual since we will be gone for two weeks (this is killing me) but enough to hopefully add colour and joy to the deck and firepit area. I have told Harvey that I will mainly be concentrating on the perennial bed this year and I will do just that. I am hoping to eventually have a riot of colour during different parts of the seasons. I started some Shasta Daisy plants, and some delphinium and will look for some lupines and perhaps scatter some annuals that will seed for the next year. 

Other plans for the summer are painting the railing on the deck, and around the basement windows. Both of our wooden chairs around the firepit need to be painted as well so I hope to get that done. 

The rest of the time will be spent working on projects hopefully on the deck when I can, working in the herb garden and looking after the flowers that I do get to plant. There should be time to sit by the firepit as well enjoying family time and alone time as well.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

 

Menu Monday

 There will be a slight change in menu plans for this week. We had a rather large meal at lunch time and so I will not be cooking tonight. It will be a forage for yourself type of meal.

Monday

Forage through the fridge for each of us to have a rather smaller supper.

Tuesday

Hotdogs, baked beans, and the fries I never made with the fish.

Wednesday

Soup and sandwiches. I have got Cream of Mushroom out of the freezer and will add some egg salad sandwiches to be eaten.

Thursday

Leftover chicken made into taco meat, served in soft tacos. Sour cream, cheese, lettuce and tomato as well as salsa from the fridge. The salsa definitely needs using.

Friday

Not really sure, I might make a lentil curry, or we can have glace and eggs.

Saturday

Leftovers from Thursday.

Sunday

BBQ hamburgers, and foil packet carrots, potato and onion. 

Off now to get some more unpacking done from our visit with Kris. We had a lovely time and man where Dutch Growers moved their greenhouses to is absolutely amazing. Harvey has said we will need to go there next year to get our plants.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Simple Living On the Phillips' Homestead

 

The dandelions are coming up great guns, flowers all over and the weather has not been nice enough for me to get out and pick. I want to make dandelion salve this year, or I may try my hand at making a hand cream as I am running low on that. Simple to make and very low cost as well.

Harvey and I enjoyed a few afternoons/evenings on the deck this past week. We listened to the birds, had wonderful talks and made some plans regarding the yard. Not so much the house, but at least the yard. I told him that this year I would be concentrating on more fruit producing plants as well as perennials. He seems to be fine with that. Also told him I would probably be trying to forage a bit more, and would love to have him join me. I got a shoulder shrug on that one, we shall see. 

I would love an orchard type yard, but I believe Harvey would miss his garden a great deal. I love the produce, but not so much the picking and processing for winter's use. Perhaps this year I will dehydrate a bit more and freeze a bit less.

Decluttering has slowed down, and I hope it picks up. There are a few more summer type dresses and pants that need to be worn to see if I still like the fit, and the comfort. I am leaning towards more skirts and dresses as I age. I find them way more comfortable and easier to wear now. They are much easier to sew as well and believe it or not, if I can find fabric on sale much less expensive to sew than purchase lately. They are also better made. 

With rising costs around the world, we all need to stop and think about what is important to us. In my case it is family, especially my immediate family and our health and well being. It isn't that we could not afford to do anything we really want to do, rather it is a leaving behind of things that no longer really matter. I would love to help our boys more, make our home an oasis of joy, love and simplicity, as well as just be more of who we really are. This is what I am going to strive for, and those in this extended family that think I am turning into a hippy or a radical can stuff it.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

  Thrifty and Frugal 

It has once again been a quiet week here on the old Phillips Homestead. Not quite as thrifty or frugal as I would have liked, but one manages the best that they can.

1.  The weather was so nice, or at least sunny most days this week so I managed to keep all lights off for most of the day.

2.  Decluttered a bit more in my closet. I tried on a dress and while it does fit I just do not feel comfortable in it. I put it on the pile to be refashioned or made into reusable fabric of some kind (squares to be used in fashioning fabric).

3.  Found thirty cents in pockets and put it in the change jars. 

4.  Eating as many leftovers from the fridge and freezer as humanly possible.

5. Chopped up mushrooms and celery before they went bad and have them in the freezer. 

6.  Added to the veggie scraps to make more veggie stock in a few weeks.

We are having one heck of a windstorm right now. At one point the wind gusts reached 110 km per hour, so almost 70 miles an hour. The dust is moving across the valley and at times I could not see the other side. 

Hopefully, I have downloaded the right video. 

This is what the wind is doing to our neighbour's shingles.

The wind seems to be going down now, but I think it will be pretty bad for the rest of the evening and into the night.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

The weather has been very nice the last two days. However we did have very strong winds yesterday in the afternoon and evening. Dust was blowing all over. Hope the farmers still have dirt in the fields.

I have spent some time outside working on the flower bed. I only have one but it is a two tier round one and man was it tough getting the weeds and grass out of it. I will need to go through it again very soon and see if I can manage to get more cleared. I also made the mistake many years ago of planting Creeping Bellflower. So now I am consistently pulling that out. It has even taken over some of the grassed area. I do what I can to keep it under control, but at times it is a losing battle.

Since the days are so lovely, I put away the sewing for awhile and have been working on the quilt block embroidery. May as well get what I can done on that while the sun shines. The sewing (and any major mending) will take place next week. We are supposed to get rain on a couple of those days, so planting and embroidery will wait. 

One spring cleaning item is crossed off the list. I managed to get all the window frames washed down. Now, when the screens are removed I will clean the bit of frame in those windows. Next up on the spring cleaning list is the curio cabinet and the dining room hutch and cabinet. Could be a few items getting decluttered as well. I hope to get the walls and light fixtures done this week as well. 

I am adding another 1k steps to my total this week. I find it easy to get lots of steps in on Mondays, it's the rest of the week that tests my ability to do so. Especially on those days where I am weeding, or planting. Not many steps are involved in those past times. I went over yesterday, so if I am under by a little today I figure that is okay (not really, but I will take what I can get). Just want to get in a bit better shape before we go on our trip. There are days when we will be doing lots of walking.

Harvey has managed to block of the area of fence that a rather small bush bunny was using to enter our yard. We have had other little bunny visitors, but this one seemed to want to eat the plants that were in the garden. This was a first as all the others just nibbled on the grass. 

Today, the truck was used to pick up my soil for my boxes and pots. Not that I am going to plant as much as I usually do since we will be away for almost two weeks. Harvey does not want to bother anyone to look after the garden or my flowers. I am supposed to ask Kris if he would come done one weekend when we are gone and give everything a good water, especially if we don't get any rain. 

I think I will concentrate more on the perennial bed and a few pots. Of course the lemon trees will be out and hopefully well watered before we leave.

Stretching out the time between shopping trips as well. If I can manage it I only want to shop every 2 1/2 weeks or even three. There is just a slight problem as Neilson's wants a scan every week. It will take a bit of juggling for sure. 

Over the next few years we will be trying to make this house a bit more elder friendly. I plan on getting a chair for the tub, or at least a well made stool. I use a foot scrub and can't do that in a shower. I am just too worried about losing my balance. I think we should put up some bars as well. I am planning on having more electrical things on power bars as well. Too many octopus connections in this house.

I will also be trying to cut down on grass areas by planting more fruit bushes. Probably grapes as well. I don't think we can plant anymore fruit trees, but if Harvey wants to make the garden smaller, we could fit a couple across the back against the fence. 

Lots of plans, I just need to get Harvey to agree. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

I have already made a few changes to the menu for the week. Mainly because we won't be going up to visit Kris until Saturday, and the pork strips I removed from the freezer did not look in the least appealing. Lots of freezer burn.

Monday

A bag of leftover pork thinly sliced, added to some stir fry vegetables and I decided to use the plum sauce instead of stir fry sauce. Served over rice.

Tuesday

Soup and sandwiches. I have some chicken vegetable soup and will make some tuna salad sandwiches, or tuna salad buns.

Wednesday

Leftover Stir Fry and leftover rice.

Thursday

Leftover ham warmed up and homemade fries. I will probably make peas to go with and perhaps some cuke slices and the remaining cherry tomatoes.

Friday

Salmon patties, noodles, and green beans.

Saturday

At Kris's place for the next couple of days. 

So there you have it, and with the weather finally warming up I am hoping to get some main dish salads, and more BBQ meals into the rotation.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Happy Mother's Day

 Wishing all mothers out there a

Happy Mother's Day.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

A Simple, Frugal Life

 

I was watching one of my vlogs awhile ago and was slightly shocked when the woman who does it, said they were living an antiquated lifestyle by being frugal, living simply and mindful.... What!!

I have never thought that way as doing those things, while second nature now, I still am considering myself a beginner on the journey. It really seemed to me like she was not aware that being frugal, living a simple lifestyle and being mindful of what one spends is making a very dramatic comeback. 

There are lots of news agencies now posting ways to save your hard earned cash, ways to cut expenses and not feel deprived, and ways to make sure we are looking after mother earth. 

I am really not too sure of what she was getting at. She kept on and on about living in the same house since 1987, planting a garden since 1990, wearing secondhand clothes and decorating their home with mostly secondhand good. At one point she mentioned that their table was 40 years old... The one I am using now was Harvey's Mom and Dads and bought in 1979, I love the table and since Harvey refinished it, wow. 

There is often a thought in my mind that many people think that living simply and frugally is doing without, or trying to one up another person. I feel that we can all learn from each other and believe me there is always something we can learn. 

I had never realized that living simply actually took a great deal of organization and planning. I don't mean planning when and how to go down to beat our clothing on rocks to wash them, but planning how to downsize, what is a need and what is a want, and planning maintenance on our homes and yards. I have learned to organize my pantry (need to do so once again), small maintenance tasks that I can do on my own, and even how to store dried goods and frozen. 

Learning how to use things up, mend, and substitute in recipes when necessary. These are not easy things to do each and every day, but all of us do them mostly without thinking about it. 

Take today for instance. You all know my back often gives me grief when I work and today Harvey wet down the perennial bed to make it easier for me to pull quack/crab grass and other weeds. Let me tell you the whole bed is over run with weeds and grasses of all types. While I relished getting my hands into the soil and actually getting them dirty, I found I could only manage about 30 minutes of work with rests in between bouts of pulling weeds. This means I only got about 1/3 of the bed completed, but I so enjoyed that time out doing something. Simple and fulfilling. 

I came in, had some leftovers for my lunch and after resting a bit, decided to finish sewing the skirt. Got that done and started on a dress. I did have to get up and walk around, but the pleasure I found in the hum of my sewing machine was wonderful and eased the fact that I am slowing down task wise. Guess I need to learn to be frugal with what I expect to accomplish.

I, made my way around the garden and one of the pear trees (the oldest) is blossoming, the cherries are budding out and the haskap bushes are putting out flowers. Our garden is awakening and that brings me a great deal of happiness. The kiwi isn't putting out feelers yet, but will be soon. 

Noticed lots of dandelions starting so I may go out and forage this upcoming week to make some dandelion salve. I learned recently one should add some Vitamin E oil as a preservative to those homemade salves and lotions.  

As usual I have had a frugal week doing all the regular frugal things. Tomorrow I will wash off my umbrella clothesline and perhaps on Monday I will be able to hang clothing outside thus saving more on electrical costs. 

Using up leftovers and cooking from scratch (well except for the day I was so sore and tired that Harvey said order in but we got a free add on of dry ribs that would usually cost us $16.00).

Sewing to use up bits of fabric leftover from other projects made previously.

Working on the embroidered quilt blocks from Mom to make a second quilt.

Cut up some old socks to use in the garden to tie up plants. These socks are so darned I would be darning over darning.

Baked bread, made desserts, walked to pick up a prescription. 

I will be walking to the bank later next week (we live in a very small city of 10K and during daylight hours there really isn't much to fear) and picking up my script. 

I am pushing off shopping a few days once again as we are going to go and visit Kris next weekend. Probably won't go shopping until perhaps Tuesday which is about 3 days instead of 2 later. 

So that's how my week has been, and my thoughts on living an antiquated life style. How do all of you feel about that designation.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

  

Saving Money On Gas

 

I think that the days of just hopping in a vehicle and heading out for a Sunday drive are gone for a while. The cost of fuel is crazy, and there is really no end to how much higher it will get. 

Today I thought I would share some ways of saving and getting the most milage from your tank of gas.

1.  Plan your shopping so you only need to go out every two weeks.

2.  Walk to those places close to you. I will be starting to walk to the bank, and to pickup our prescriptions as those errands are close and I will not have to carry anything heavy back.

3.  If you see a light getting ready to change to red, or already red,  slow down well before and you might not have to stop and idle wasting fuel.

4.  Do not do hard accelerations.

5.  Consolidate trips/errands to be done on one day.

6.  Make sure the engine air filter is clean.

7.  Maintain proper tire pressure.

8.  Use cruise control on the highway.

9.  Do not let your speed fluctuate. Try and keep it steady.

Those are the ways we save on fuel costs. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

A New Beginning

 

The sun was shining today and even though it is cooler than spring should be, I felt joy when the sun warmed my face as I stood by the window sipping my coffee. That joy has followed me through my frugal, but simple day. 

First on the list of to do's was to put the clean dishes away and clean out emails from overnight. Neither of those took very long, and soon I was in the basement taking the clothes off the lines downstairs and getting them folded. 

I started the dough for two loaves of bread for the freezer and while that was going on cleaned the bathroom, swept my floors (I really need a new broom as this one is getting pretty worn out), did the ironing and collected those items that need to be mended for the mending basket (will do that next week). 

Simple things to keep the house running smoothly really. Nothing too difficult or time consuming. Those things seem to happen on a Monday.

Checked the fridge to see what needs to be used up in the crispers or at least processed so it does not spoil. I have some green onions that will be chopped up and used on our supper tonight as well as some cheese. Must get that grated and ready very soon. 

Then I got to play. I pulled out the small sewing table so I could watch some free shows that I enjoy and started sewing. I am afraid that I can no longer sew as quickly as I used to, as I must get up and walk around every so often to ease the pain in my back from sitting. 

Frugally, my sewing projects are using leftover pieces of fabric from other projects. The only one not is a knit dress and I bought the fabric a few years back at a deep discount at Fabricland. I am really trying to use up what I can and the smaller pieces are going to be saved and used in quilts or makeup remover pads/toner applying pads. While those you purchase in a store are not really expensive, they do seem to be climbing in price.

Still I did manage to get a pair of capris sewn, and start on a pair of bermuda shorts. Those I should be able to finish tomorrow and even get a pair of shorts done. Not as long a to do list to complete on Wednesdays so more time to play. The weather is still going to be cooler and so I do not plan on spending time outside other than a bit of a walk for some fresh air and exercise. 

Supper will be using up some leftovers. I made chili a little while ago and some was put in the mold to freeze and store for later, there was also some just put in a glass container in the fridge to be used tonight. Harvey likes chili and toast, but is willing to let me have chili on pasta for our second meal. A little change, but it really makes a difference. 

When I went shopping I did my usual $10.00 purchase for the pantry. I got 4 cans of tomato soup at 77 cents a can, and three cans of cream of mushroom for the same price. Those are used in cooking as I would much rather make my tomato and cream of mushroom soups for eating. I then bought some corned beef to bring the cost up to the mark. We do love a good corned beef hash. 

No money spent today, using things up, and enjoying the sunshine and the house smelling like freshly baked bread. Could anything be better?

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

I am working on how the blog will be set up from now on. I think I will probably post Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. There could be a weekend post if something exciting happens, or if I have any news.

Other than Menu Monday, I am still not sure what the other days will hold. I do know there will be frugal tips, frugal cooking ideas, project completions, and my journey towards a simple life. 

I was asked why I make so many mittens for the school my son teaches at. It is a K to Grade 12 school and it is in a rather depressed area of Alberta. Yes, there is oil but there have been many layoffs over the years, and lots of the coal mines shut down many years ago. This is one reason and the other is after having worked in schools here, children are always losing their mittens up to a certain age. I want their little fingers to stay nice and warm.

I am also amazed that so many of you read my little blog and have given me a reason to keep on blogging. At one point I was considering taking a long break, but now I figure 4 times a week will be enough for awhile. Perhaps once I have reached a point where I have reached that simple life, I will go back to blogging a bit more often.

On to menu plans for the week, and considering we had a few snowflakes meandering down from the sky this morning, I am pretty happy I did not plan on any BBQ meals this week.

Monday

Hamburger soup, and buns or crackers.

Tuesday

Leftover chili served over pasta. 

Wednesday

Leftover Roast beef slices made into a casserole. Served with a salad.

Thursday

Leftover beef casserole from Wednesday along with leftover salad.

Friday

Salmon Fillets, rice, and mixed veggies.

Saturday

Chicken Pasta Bake. This is a ready meal pulled from the freezer downstairs. I think we will probably have some green beans with this. The weather should be better and I hope to get the perennial bed dug over and some of the weeds out. 

Sunday

Baked chicken thighs, homemade fries, and peas. 

As you can all see I am still making my way through various bits and bobs from the freezers. Also anything left over will be frozen to be used later in another meal, or perhaps taken up when we visit with Kris to share or for him to have for another meal when we are not there. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

 

Thoughts and Plans

 

As life and living becomes simpler, I am considering changing up my blog. I will probably keep my menu plan Monday, and the thrifty and frugal Thursdays, but the rest of my posts just might be changing just a tad. 

Don't worry, I will always follow a frugal and thrifty lifestyle, but times are changing. I will perhaps be adding more shopping tips, working on project tips (clearing out our stashes) and how to live a simpler life. 

The other thing is I might not be posting every day anymore. In entering a simpler life things are changing in my world and some of them really are not at all very interesting, or something I care to blog about. 

While I have been open about my lifestyle and spending, over the years I have found that not as many people are interested in a day to day lifestyle. People would much rather see things about decluttering, saving money, or living a much simpler life style. 

Forgive me if I miss a few posts over the next while, I will be working behind the scenes to get things to the point where I don't feel almost forced to post, and figuring out what my readers really want.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless. 

Friday, Moving Towards A Simple Life

 

I am loving that most of my days move along smoothly and simply. I get to take walks, not only do big things to get our lives in order, but do those little things that just make life a tiny bit simpler. 

Whether it be having a ready meal to pull out of the freezer on those busier days, or forming buns to bake in the oven. Each small step or increment moves me that much closer to enjoying life even more. 

One of the ways I have made our lives a bit simpler is only going shopping every two weeks. My back might cause me angst after the shopping trip, but one day out of 14 or more is not something that I can't live with. 

Having to rest after serious cleaning is awesome. It gives me the time to enjoy my home, or the outside. And really that 15 minute rest helps me concentrate on getting little things straight in my mind. 

The weather is warming and soon we will be planting outside. I am a little sad that not as much will be planted this year, due to us going on our trip and not wanting to bother anyone to, well water the garden and flowers. I may ask Kris if he would be willing to come home on the weekend and water all for us, and I might have figured out a way to keep many things watered, but we shall see. 

Life is good, and even with costs rising, one can find joy and pleasure in a sunrise, a sunset, sunshine throughout the day, smiling at strangers, and just taking the time to be grateful.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

 Thrifty and Frugal 

I can't remember another month where the last day coincided with Thrifty and Frugal Thursday. Mind you my mind might be going a little bit.

We have had a few frugal and thrifty wins here on the old homestead, but of course there is always a catch and that was today. We needed to have 2 batteries put into the tire sensors, and they were ridiculously expensive. However there was one thrifty/frugal thing that happened while the vehicle was in.

On to my list.

1.  Straightened up some cupboards and managed to fill a few containers. Thank heavens for step ladders as I would never be able to reach these two cupboards without it.

2.  I managed to go 24 days without spending any money. May is going to be a tougher month, but I will try my best to get at least 20 no spend days. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

3.  Working on my projects and using up more yarn. Slowly but surely that stash is kind of shrinking. Hoping to have even more gone very soon. One would think after what will be 120 pairs of mittens knitted, things would really be used up.... Not true in reality. So I will knit some hats next for the school. They should be kind of funky looking and all sorts of colours.

4.  I put another $100.00 in the savings envelope. I also put $2.35 in the change jars. 

5.  Leftovers are being made into new meals, and those new meals actually end up feeding us another time. Nothing is being tossed. 

6.  Making bread and buns and eventually I will try and make bagels once again. 

7.  Darned another pair of my socks, and fixed a seam on one of Harvey's shirts.

8.  Now while this was not an inexpensive trip to the dealership for our vehicle. My advisor did not charge for his labour in replacing the sensor batteries. That was more than likely a savings of around $50.00. So nice of him.

So that is some of the new things happening here on the old homestead. Of course we are still following the tried and true frugal and thrifty things we have been doing for years.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Midweek/End of the Month

 The middle of the last week of the month of April is upon us. Not only is it the middle of the week, but we only have 1 day left this month. Wow, where is time going?

There will be a couple of tasks (projects) that will be carried over to next month, but I have come to the realization that what will be done is what I can manage. I can make long lists, but if I want to enjoy what I am doing I will need to manage my expectations of the time I actually have. Still, things are getting completed, I am enjoying the process of creating something, and slowly but surely decluttering and making my life just a tad simpler with each declutter and using up of what I have. 

Tomorrow we take the car in to get the winter tires off and the other tires put on. We will also get them to service the tire monitor system. The appointment is at 10 am, so I hope to have the vehicle back sometime in the afternoon. 

I have pushed my shopping until Friday which is actually 3 days later than the two weeks I usually go. I am hoping to be able to do so even more often.

The sauces/coatings/cracker cupboard is cleaned up, now I will go back to seeing what can be cleaned, refilled, and labeled in the pasta cupboard. Part of my organizing to make things just that little bit easier as life goes on. 

Enough rambling, I am off to set the table and get the step ladder to complete the organizing.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 Quiet reigns on the old homestead. I have been trying to get lots of little things done around the house. You know the things we keep putting off each and every day. Getting those little things completed is easing my stress level each and every day. 

I am still getting my regular tasks done and I am slowly learning to pace myself. Taking rests between tasks and finding ways to complete something with the least effort. This will not last as soon I will be washing walls, painting outside, planting, and getting the deck set up for use. I will also be pulling firewood from the wood box and resupplying the holder near our firepit. Must remember to get Harvey to split some as full logs don't start a fire very well. 

Work on projects is ongoing, and I now realize that I will not finish all that I had planned to do. Still I did manage to get a few completed, and some ready for the next step. That is pretty much all I can ask of myself at this point in my life. I am getting too old to go, go, go, each and every day and resting is imperative I find. Too much on my plate just seems to frustrate me in trying to get all done. 

This means my projects/goals list will contain things that I can get done quickly as well as those that will take a bit longer to complete. It is also making me rethink things like making cards (which I will still do) after I use up all the cardstock I have. In fact I am thinking that using some of the cardstock to make flowers might be a great way to clean that bit of my stash out. I am also considering sticking to cleaning out the yarn stash even more as that has really gotten out of hand over the past few years. Bits/bobs and orphan balls really add up and take up lots of valuable space. Hence why once I finish the 120 pairs of mittens I am going to try and get some toques made for Kurt's K-12 school. Might even make some colourful knit blankets to rid myself of even more. 

I no longer want to do things that do not bring me peace or joy, and am finding it extremely difficult to even read family members posts on Facebook. Perhaps it is time to take a step back and evaluate if that social media is serving it's purpose any longer. Could be the time to block some of the family.

At 70 years of age I want peace, joy, humanity, and love. I don't need complaints, hatred of people who don't follow the same political leaning, and those who want to drag the country down. 

Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

The last week of the month of April is here. Even with the rather crappy weather we have had this month seems to have passed by quickly.

So what are we eating this week, lots of leftovers of course and items from the chest freezer made a bit ago.

Monday

Leftover sausage casserole, and because of all the veggies in it I will not be making a side.

Tuesday

Leftover Roast Beef from Sunday. I will probably thinly slice it, add mushrooms, sauté some onion, add some gravy (make a bit more and add that along with the leftover gravy), and a bit of sour cream. This time instead of noodles I will serve it over mashed potatoes. Perhaps a side of the leftover cauliflower and broccoli in a cheesy sauce. 

Wednesday

A package of the Buns filled with ground beef and cabbage I made in I believe November or December. Not sure if I will make a side or not.

Thursday

Leftovers from Tuesday this time served over noodles, with a side of green beans.

Friday

Lazy Perogy Casserole with fried onions, butter and sour cream.

Saturday

I plan on making a big pot of chili. Served with toast. To stretch the meat slightly I will probably add lots of beans.

Sunday

Pork roast, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots, and a salad. This is if I can find a decently priced pork roast. If not I will be getting Hubby to BBQ some bacon wrapped beef medalions and doing potatoes and carrots on the BBQ as well.

Oh here is a picture of what our weather was like at around supper time last night.

Yes that is snow, it is all gone now thank heavens. The rest of the week looks pretty good, except for Wednesday night. We could get a bit more snow. Boooo.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

 

Sunday Ramblings

 I am still not feeling tip top, but at least now that the weather is no longer as windy and the air pressure has steadied my back is not as much of a problem. 

So today was a day of rest, I did the bare minimum to keep the old homestead running fairly smoothly, went to Mass (Harvey was ill, probably caught it from me) alone and spent most of the rest of today knitting and setting up a design on my Cricut desk top app to get started on the Thank you cards. 

I do feel much more at ease and not as stressed out even though the nutter who went after Kurt awhile back is at it once again. Guess his probation is over, but Kurt has been talking to the lawyer once again and if it gets too bad the nutter will be slapped with a cease and desist letter. If that doesn't work he will be back in court on charges as he admitted to giving out Kurt's name, place of employment, and home address to some very not nice people. 

Kurt finds in amusing as he has only mentioned this person twice on his blog years and years ago, and once he found out the person had a learning disability never mentioned him again. Kurt also says he has more or less retired from Nazi and fascist hunting for the past three years so why this is happening again is crazy. 

Hoping the weather gets much warmer as Harvey wants to work up the garden and plant his potatoes. He usually does them about now so they are quite large by the fall.

Me, well I just want to be able to enjoy sitting on the deck and hanging clothes on the lines.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Not At All Well

 I have a really bad headache and so will take today off. Catch up with you all tomorrow, I hope.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Moving Towards A Simpler Life

 I tried some of my homemade cleaners this week, and I must say the window/glass cleaner is wonderful. I am still holding back on the soap scum one, but if that works half as well, I will be extremely happy. Simple ingredients that make wonderful cleaners that cut my carbon footprint, and save us a bit of cash.

My movement towards simplicity this week has been cleaning and organizing my desk drawers, as well as removing some items we haven't used in years from the kitchen drawers as well. This is making it so much easier to find what I am looking for. Next up will be the dining room hutch. Pretty sure I will be removing things from there. Thus giving me less to dust, and clean. 

I am enjoying my days putzing around the house and getting little things completed. Those little things have been put off for too long. But perhaps I am procrastinating in not getting the larger and more complex tasks done. However I have come to a conclusion that actually surprises me. There is always tomorrow at least for the foreseeable future. And getting things done is not quite as important as enjoying the day.

Everybody have a great day. Take care.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

Thrifty and Frugal 

It is another week of thrifty and frugal living here on the old homestead. Taking care of using everything we have to the best of my/our ability. Trying to leave a smaller carbon footprint on the earth and give back to the land by cutting down on waste, fuel, and chemicals where possible.

1. Hanging clothes on the lines downstairs to dry. Washing full loads of clothes to save on water usage.

2.  Repaired a hem on my pants, and fixed a seam on one of Harvey's shirts.

3.  Using up lotions and potions that have been collected over the years.

4.  Put $0.55 in the change jars.

5.  Walked for free exercise every day.

6.  Made Vegetable stock from the scraps collected. 

7.  Made all our desserts this week from scratch using and using up things in the pantry and fridge. 

8.  Harvey planted more grass seed and some clover. The seed was from last year and he bought the clover this year. We just want a green front yard and clover just might allow that to happen. 

9.  Baked bread.

10.  Continuing the decluttering process.

11.  Cut out some patterns to sew for the summer. Remnants used and the bits and bobs put away to use in other sewing projects.

12.  Used up a ball of black yarn, a ball of grey yarn, and a ball of red yarn making the first scarf. 

13.  Saved the water while it was warming to water the plants this week.

14.  Saved the small plastic containers that the cherry tomatoes came in to use to plant on seedlings.

Life is good. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Midweek Ramblings

 I think the neighbour on the other side of me is starting the moving out process, but I am not really sure as they are going about it very strangely. We shall see what happens later on. 

It has been a pretty grey day until about 30 minutes ago. The sun is out and shining brightly, but the wind is something else. The air is full of dust at times from the topsoil blowing around. We definitely need a good soaking rain.

Today has been spent decluttering, and I think that will continue for another couple of days. I have also looked up a couple of recipes to make when our weather changes tomorrow and Friday. They will be days to stay at home and keep busy.

First off on the cooking will be the veggie stock. I am pretty sure I have enough vegetable scraps to make some. I will probably freeze that in the smaller 1 cup molds. Then I will move on to some baking and get a carrot cake with cream cheese icing made. This will use up some raisins, some of the carrots in the crisper, and the cream cheese that needs using. Move on after that to Oatmeal Raisin Cookies to use up the remaining raisins. I should make some Hamburger buns as well as on Friday we will be having Fish Burgers. 

The menu is pretty well made up for next month. I will be pulling lots of ready made meals out of the chest freezer to use. Some are getting pretty dated. There is also a pie crust ball in there that I may try and make some calzone type things out of. Those will go back in the freezer as if they are out and have turned out I will eat them until they are gone. 

Managing to work on some projects, but my shoulders and arms start to bother me after about an hours weaving and I need to move on to something different. 

Tomorrow night is the once a month meeting of the ladies who knit and crochet, so if the weather cooperates I will make the effort to get to the meeting. I will just make sure to park in a different area of the lot. Making sure I do not have to crawl in again. That acrobatic movement caused me pain for many a day after. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

Wow, we actually reached a summer temperature today. It was almost 30C, which is very abnormal. However this will change as a spring storm is moving in which has rain and snow arriving probably on Friday and through the weekend. It seems as if winter never wants to leave, just when the garden is starting to dry up nicely.

Really all I did today was the to do list, bake bread, and work on the weaving. I re-thought getting the cards done, and decided that perhaps this weekend when the weather is blah would be the best time. I would also more than likely be finished one of the scarves and perhaps have the second one warped and ready to go. 

I am pretty sure that I will not be finished all the projects I had listed, but I think the only carry over will be the second scarf. Which really isn't that bad I guess. Definitely going to try and get as much done as possible before it is time to plant. We also want to go up and visit Kris for the Victoria long weekend. Perhaps give him a bit of a hand cleaning up his yard.

Decluttering is going well, I am now up to 215 items. Keeping my fingers crossed that more will either be donated, or tossed, or changed into something else entirely. Also will be using up all the fabric and yarn that I can. I might even make another set of ornaments (if I have enough) for the silent auction. 

I have pulled some more embroidery projects that I inherited from my mother. These are dresser runners, and there are three of them. I am going to embroider them and sew those together, add a border and make a new tablecloth. I find myself replacing tablecloths very often. They seem to get dirty so very easily. I could also make a patchwork cover as well. Making fabric from what fabric I have collected from old clothing. 

Nothing I am planning should really take loads of time, well other than the embroidery portions. To make matters even better, I could actually sit outside and work on a few of these projects. 

Life is good and as I declutter, use up, remake, and simplify things will get even better.

Oh and tonight Harvey is going to BBQ the pork chops which is awesome.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

I went shopping today for all the great meat deals available this week. We are now pretty much stocked up for many weeks and months now. Except for roasts, whole chickens and hams. Which will be easier to find sales on. I am now hoping not to have to go shopping at all until probably the middle of the first full week of May. Keeping my fingers crossed for that.

I will also be working to get more cleared out of the chest freezer. There are lots of ready meals and soups that need to be used up and planting season is coming up. This is true even though the forecast for later this week is calling for snow. Rain first of course.

Now onto this weeks menu.

Monday

Leftover Jambalaya from Saturday and a salad.

Tuesday

Pork chops, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies and any leftover salad.

Wednesday

Sweet and sour meatballs, rice and a tossed salad.

Thursday

Soup and sandwiches. I will probably make egg salad sandwiches. 

Friday

Fish burgers, the remains of the tossed salad, and probably pickles and cheese as I have pickles that need to be used up.

Saturday

Small sausage casserole and as there are loads of veggies in this just some bread or buns to go with.

Sunday

A Roast beef, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots and a coleslaw to use up the cabbage.

Some of these meals are leftovers in the fridge freezer, some are new and some are using up things from the pantry and chest freezer. 

I am working on using things up even though I am stocking up at the same time.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.