Midweek and the Last Midweek of the Month

 I can not believe that it is the middle of the last week of the month. Once again days are flying by and I am not at all ready for the month to end.

I am trying to keep busy baking, cooking, prepping meals (soups) and working on my projects. All to keep from getting drawn into the chaos that people post. I made an error yesterday and got drawn into saying me piece on what a cousin had posted. Lord love me I really should have known better, and will know better next time around. Or at least I hope to have learned better. 

The weather is improving greatly, but as usual with the uptick in temperatures, snow is now being forecast. Not a lot for here or the city that youngest lives in so we will still be going. So looking forward to getting out and about in a bigger center. I think I will ask Harvey to stop at The Body Shop so I can pick up my favourite scrub and bath gel. I also want to look at their facial cleansing routines as well. 

Trying very hard not to waste anything, and I am getting better. This week I have had very little in that department. I am freezing anything leftover from our second meals and this should give us another meal from those leftovers. Neither Harvey or I can eat the same meal for days in a row. Tonight we will be having leftover beef stew, and from the looks of what is now in the pot to warm up there could be another meal had. The leftovers will be frozen and we will eat them later on. 

My project list for next month is made as is the monthly cleaning list. My menu plan is as well, subject of course to any changes that may occur due to trying to use things up. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 It is warming up and such a welcome change from the last week. The sun is shining and while there is a bit of a breeze, the day outside isn't that bad.

I had my mammogram at the mobile unit today. It took maybe 8 minutes at the most. It really is a treat not to have to go to Regina or Saskatoon to get this done. The mobile unit used to be an older bus type vehicle. This one is brand spanking new and more along the lines of a very long trailer unit. The set up isn't quite as nice as the old one as the waiting area is tiny, but I believe that because this one is much longer and equipped with a wheelchair ramp it is so much better. 

I have spent the last couple of days making soup. I have now restocked some of my easily pulled out and reheated soups. When we come back from Kris's and I go grocery shopping, I hope to find some on sale mushrooms so as to be able to make some cream of mushroom soup. 

I had trouble getting the first soup out of the mold, but figured out what I was doing wrong and the others just popped right out. I think this will be good for freezing chili and meat sauce as well. There are a few jars in the fridge that I should probably put in the silicone ice cube molds just to make sure they don't spoil in the fridge. Spoilage means waste and I really am trying not to waste a single thing this year.

Worked on my projects and have started the second series of stripes on the woven rug. Not going to be ready before we leave, but headway is being made and Kris should be able to take it back with him come Easter. Mittens are being knit as well, perhaps not as quickly as I would like, but they are slowly adding up. 

I need to work on my project list and extra cleaning list today. Then at some point tomorrow work on the menus for February.

Life is pleasant, and running smoothly. I just need to remember I can only control what I can control, some things just need to be placed in the hands of someone who can control those. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

A new week has arrived, and while I have menus planned for the entire week, we will be going to visit with Kris on the weekend and thus the menus for Saturday and probably Sunday will change. 

Saturday because Kris will cook for us, and Sunday because we will just have arrived at home. 

Monday

Beef Stew and dumplings.

Tuesday

Leftover Chicken stew. I will make biscuits to go with this meal.

Wednesday

Leftover Stew, probably served with either leftover biscuits or slices of bread.

Thursday

Birokies (Cabbage bread).

Friday I told Kris I would supply the meal and I have some frozen Turkey Tetrazzini that I will bring up for our meal. 

Saturday

Kris supplies the meal.

Sunday

I have some leftover ham in the fridge freezer so perhaps we will have something made with that, or even just warmed up. 

I need to make next month's menu plan, and try to use up even more in the fridge freezer and the meat freezer. The problem is with just the two of us there will always be leftovers. Not a bad thing, until it fills the fridge as is happening right now. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 

Still in the deep freeze here so I am glad to have things to do around the house and projects to keep me busy. Today should be the last of the really cold days, and then we will gradually have a warm up. 

I brought beef broth and chicken stock upstairs to make into soup this morning. I plan on doing a batch cook of soups one day this week. The only soup left in the freezer is Pea and Harvey really does not care for that. So I will make beef vegetable, beef noodle, chicken vegetable and chicken noodle to restock. I even plan on using my molds for this task. I will let you all know how that goes. 

First I think I must clarify something. Our Co-op give a yearly percentage into our accounts on what we purchase, and from that we get a small percentage back. The most I ever got was $110.00. The rest is put away until we are 65 and want to remove it. We could take it all, or a portion of what has accumulated. We can also remove the total amount if we move and close our account, I did this when Harvey was transferred to Shaunavon many, many years ago.

There are also a few questions from the last post I should answer. 

I was asked if I dehydrate fruits and veggies. The answer is yes, though I am more inclined to freeze them. I do dehydrate lots of herbs and have been known to make jerky.

I was also asked if I ferment veggies. While I do pickle lots of different vegetables I have not tried fermenting them. I often think I would love to make sauerkraut when cabbage is on sale, but have never gotten around to that. Instead I make Birokies (or what I call Cabbage bread), Cabbage Rolls, or Lazy Cabbage Roll Casseroles. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

It has been a very cold week here on the Canadian prairies. A warm up should be happening starting next week. Absolutely lovely as far as I am concerned. I may even be able to get out for some fresh air, even if it is just walking up and down the road. 

The warm up also comes in time for my visit to the mobile mammogram unit, that hits our city every two years. I love not having to travel into the city of Regina unless something is wrong. 

So what have I been up to this week? No projects really finished but a couple have been started and I worked on gathering items for next month's projects. Lots of using up happening. 

I have also been figuring out ways to save on electrical costs. More appliance cooking will be happening here over the next couple of months. The only time I will use the oven is to bake bread, cookies or pies and I will make darn sure the oven is packed. I will also open the oven door to take advantage of the residual heat and heat my kitchen.

I know people say the one way we control our money and budget is through groceries. While that is true in bigger centers, here it is a bit more difficult. We have three grocery stores and Walmart, not a great selection really. I do most of my shopping at our     Co-op. This is mostly because we get a percentage back as part owner. We the people own the business and the more one spends the more one gets back in return. 

I also have a Visa that gives cash back as well. More on groceries than other items like gas, but we still get money back. I haven't cashed in on that as of yet, but I will soon, I am hoping to have enough in that to pay for a two week grocery shop very soon. The Co-op cash back usually pays for part of a shop. 

Life is good even in the midst of chaos, and I hope will stay that way.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Calm in the Chaos Moving to a Simpler Life

 

I have decided that I can only control myself and my reactions to what chaos happens in the world. I am going to find joy in simple things and making my house a bastion of peace and simplicity.

One night as I closed the curtains this week I saw this.....

The neigbourhood deer are back and wondering down our road. It was so quiet and this little lady was probably looking for food. No cars passed by so she was on the road moving back and forth for quite awhile. 

While the weather is atrocious I am finding joy today in getting things completed, the smell of baking bread, and the scent of the brown lentil soup simmering on the stove. Simple things that can bring joy if one allows them to. 

I have been spending time getting things together for next months projects. Putting my inability to concentrate for long on one specific project to good use. Perhaps if I have a number to work on I will manage to get a couple completed. Having things near, and contained in tote bags, or baskets make me happy. Things are a great deal easier to locate this way. 

As I make more from scratch things are actually becoming easier. My cupboards are becoming filled with more staples rather than ready made food. Once the salad dressings are used up I will begin to make my own. 

I also am looking forward to going up to Kris's next weekend and removing more of what I have decluttered from my home. Kris is looking forward to our visit, and what we will be bringing up to him. Simplifying my home and giving our son some things he really can use.

The chaos of the world is receding from my every day life. Not that I will stick my head in the sand, more I will leave it in more knowledgeable hands than mine. Pretty sure God knows what to do and the world leaders will do the best that they possibly can. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

Thrifty and Frugal

I am working on getting out of this blah phase I am in. I actually baked today. Nothing fancy, just a chocolate cake and tomorrow I will bake bread, and perhaps those cookies I keep putting off. 

So what thrifty and frugal things have I been up to over the past week.

1.  Combined errands when I went to the dentist last Friday. 

2.  Used up leftovers to make new meals. Those meals fed us for two meals each.

3.  Fixed a hem on a split skirt I had made a few years back.

4.  Used up a few bits and bobs of yarn knitting mitts.

5.  Put $95.00 in my savings envelope.

6.  Added $0.55 to the change jars. 

7.  And of course all the usual frugal and thrifty things that are just a second nature to me.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

 

Midweek And Feeling Kind of Blue

 

How to explain how I am feeling. 

It really isn't feeling depressed, it is more just a feeling of being blah. Is blah depression? 

I do find joy still in certain things, but I am having a great deal of trouble staying on track. Perhaps it is the weather and the constant up and down of the temperatures. Perhaps it is because I just can't seem to want to bake (very strange for me), or the thought of many more weeks of this up and down temperature keeping us inside. 

Or it could be the amount of money we spent on our upcoming trip and figuring out how to save that money back.... Harvey gets this way when we purchase a new to us vehicle, and I get this way when we decide to spend on an experience. Aren't we a strange pair and it isn't like we can't afford either. 

Another reason could be how expensive day to day life is getting and from what is coming out of Davos and the World Economic Forum the world is going crazy.  Once again, it seems like Canada will be standing alone, even though Mark Carney got a standing ovation after his speech. People and countries are bowing down to the bully below us. Giving him what he wants, giving him credibility, making us the scapegoat for his anger. No, I shouldn't say us alone. Denmark and the UK are standing up as well. 

I am just so tired of the things are happening in our world. I want to pull the blankets over my head and pretend that things are the same. 

Nothing will ever be the same again. Trust has gone.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

Life got away from me yesterday and I did not get a post up. I suppose that happens.

Part of the reason was I really wanted to get the loom warped and that actually took more time than I thought. Plus I was trying to get all the laundry and cleaning done as well. Funny how much laundry we have when neither of us work outside the house any longer. Or perhaps the going up and down the stairs takes longer. Who knows, I sure don't. 

Today will be our last fairly decent day of the week. Things are going to get colder. Much colder in fact. This does mean no trip to the city to visit with Kris, but he is supposed to phone me tonight and we will set up another weekend to visit. I am actually hoping for the last weekend of this month. We would go up at a time that we would arrive when he got off work, and probably stay until either mid Sunday or early Monday. Just hope that will be okay. 

Other than the usual housework and getting my loom set up once again, the days have passed by with the usual regularity. Things get done, things get postponed until later in the week.

I am working on decluttering by using things up to make items that are useful, if not to me to someone else. I do hope that counts as I used three skeins/balls of yarn warping my loom for the rug. I hope to use up much more on this project. The little bits of yarn I have in a chest of drawers are being used up to knit the mitts. Soon I hope to be working on using up more fabric and clearing more of that out. I have now reached 120 items gone from storage in the house. The mitts and rug will be leaving at some point, and some of the fabric will also be made into items that will be leaving the house as well. 

The weather was nasty on Sunday, but after Mass I went shopping. Only to our local Co-op which is only a couple of blocks away and managed to get almost all I needed. There were a few item that were not available and I did have to spend a bit more, but I am satisfied and if I don't have what I need to make the meals, I will substitute something else. I have also been busy using things up in the fridge which is a big plus. 

Off to get supper on the table, and then it will be time for a visit with all of you.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frigid weather, at least gets things done around the house. 

Sunday Ramblings

 

The day started off pretty nice really for a January winter day. Then it began to snow a bit, the wind came up and the snow fell for a bit. We did have some sundogs for a bit which probably forecasts the coming cold snap. 

Mass, was the usual mix of understanding Father during the parts and then losing most understanding once he started his sermon. I also got a horrible surprise. One of the students I have known since kindergarten, and who's mother was a teacher in our Catholic schools and I worked with passed away at the age of 26. I cried for awhile a bit ago. This was B and B's only child born to them when B was quite old. Only one was in church this morning and left before Eucharist was handed out. My heart breaks for them.

I went shopping and managed to pick up most of what I needed at our Co-op as I did not want to go to Walmart. We will make do with what we have for this shopping period. Things were a bit higher in cost but whatever.

This is what I managed to get for the pantry for $10.00. It isn't very much.

Some salad dressings, Turtle beans, and Navy beans. Every little bit adds to what we can use if times get tough.

I also bought dried Kidney beans but the cost would have put me over the $10.00 mark so it went in my regular purchases. 

Meat was even higher than usual so the only meat purchased was a chicken and that was a bit expensive as well. Good thing that my meat freezer is fairly full. Hopefully I can purchase a beef roast next time around, and some chicken breasts as well. Times are getting pretty tough for people.

I now have the loom set up and ready to be warped. I think I have decided to do two sections of this rug and sew them together to make the rug. The warp will be dark brown and light brown and the weft will be grey and I think brown and smaller strips of green. We shall see. 

Working on knitting today, I hope to get the second pair completed. I have pulled the leftover yarn to make two more I hope. Thus getting the stockpile of leftover yarn down a bit more and make something useful for others. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

It has been a very good week for getting things done. Lots of baking, decluttering, tidying, and just plain working on those things I have put aside for many years. 

I even have finished projects to share with you.

First off....

The eighth block of 9 to make the new quilt. Definitely needs ironing.

The nightgown to replace one that I needed to cut into rags. That one was 20 years old and getting a bit threadbare and didn't really fit any longer.

My first pair of knitted mitts for Kurt's school this month.

The jacket, which even though I was kind of scared of making. It went together so very well and I will probably make another if I can get the right weight of knit fabric on sale once again. 

That is all I have to share with you today. I am hoping to have more to share next week. That is if we do not go to Kris's and the way the weather is looking that is probably what is going to happen.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Living Simply

 

It has been a windy, snowy and cold day. I am very happy that my appointment at the dentist was early as about an hour or so after I arrived home the weather got just terrible. I could not really see much beyond the houses at the bottom of the valley below our home. Highways were shut down or closed off for most of the day, and the police were warning people to stay home. 

My dental appointment for a cleaning went quickly. The hygienist told me I was doing great work in flossing and brushing, that hardly any cleaning was necessary this time. She also gave me some more tools to use when cleaning my teeth, which will really help make a greater difference in the plaque build up. I love my dental office, they are all so very kind. 

I spent some time working on various projects, one of which was a bit of a declutter and tidy of the sewing/craft room. I managed to declutter quite a bit and it is amazing how much of a weight is off my shoulders. Decluttering is definitely making my life very much simpler and I do hope that continues. 

Living a simple life does not mean doing without. To me it goes right along with living a thrifty and frugal life. One does not need a lot of stuff to make one happy. Instead of spending on "stuff" we will be spending on experiences from now on. We are getting to the stage in life where having less, means that there is more joy in other areas. We really should have discovered the joy of traveling earlier, but will be content with what we can see and do over the next few years. 

Lately I have been making simple, but hearty meals and we enjoy eating very well. Leftovers are refashioned into new meals. I freeze extra to be used on days I really do not feel like cooking. That isn't often as I do love to cook, but there are times......

Simplicity can be difficult to attain, but once attained is amazing and something everyone can work towards.

Today I worked on my jacket. Almost made a mistake so have laid it aside until tomorrow. I might not get it all completed but will have made a very good start. 

This means my loom will be brought out and warping done hopefully on Monday or perhaps Sunday. Then comes dressing the loom and starting to weave.

I love the simplicity of putting the shuttle through the warp and beating the threads down. All of a sudden there can be something beautiful happening. 

I doubt we will travel to Regina to visit Kris next weekend as the nights are going to feel almost in the mid -40C range. Time to hunker down and enjoy being at home. We might go the following weekend as the long range forecast says temperatures will be improving. Keeping my fingers crossed as I really would like my good sewing machine back.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

 Thrifty and Frugal

It is now snowing and the wind is howling, if the snow gets much thicker we could be under a blizzard watch. Something I really don't want as I have that early morning appointment at the dentist and a couple of errands after. Here's hoping that it does not get that bad.

There have been the usual frugal and thrifty practices being done here on the old homestead. 

1.  Combining errands is something that just makes sense. I haven't purchased gas since we came home in November from Kris's place.

2.  Harvey bottled the red wine and plans on making some more from the kits he has downstairs. Another red and a fruit type. 

3.  Put up a hem from where it was coming down on a pair of my pants.

4.  Used a savings code when making our cruise booking. That saved us cash on the trip and our airfares.

5.  Using my appliances to cook more once again. Tonight's roast pork is in the electric roaster. 

6.  Made more yogurt for my breakfasts.

7.  All leftovers have been used in the fridge for lunches or other meals. 

8.  Drinking more water rather than coffee. 

9.  Put another 35 cents in the change jars. 

10. Used up some sale fabric to make my nightgown. 

11. Decluttered another 2 items from the sewing/craft room.

12. Working on using up more of my craft stash. 

Then of course there is the usual lights off in rooms not in use, line drying clothes in the basement, washing all that I can in cold, and what can't be washed in cold is at least rinsed in cold. Meals are made with what I have in the house, and I have been lucky not to have had to go into the pantry except for a can of spaghetti sauce that needed using up. 

I have made my shopping list for this upcoming trip, purchasing items only from the flyers, except for our supplements. Those never really seem to go on sale at this time of year. 

I even made my $10.00 list for pantry stock up. Hopefully everything will still be available when I go.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Midweek

 I had hoped to get my nightgown finished today, and though I did do some sewing on it, there is still more to be done. I also did not get the baking completed today. 

Reason was we went to the travel agents and got our trip booked for the beginning of August. Sat there for about an hour and a half. The once home I set up the online portal of the trip. What would happen if one did not have a computer or tablet? Once that was done Harvey wanted to book some of the extra trips and I found out the free excursions needed to be booked or at least reserved. Still most is done now, and the next thing is getting it paid off by February 13 th of this year. 

So where we are going is a Viking Cruise called Passage to Eastern Europe. We leave on the 2nd of August and arrive in the beginning of the cruise on the 3rd of August. Definitely going to need some sleep..... So we have nothing planned for that day. We will have a paid for excursion ton the 4th and get on the ship that day as well. 

Extra excursions are paid for through the online portal and we will pay off the remaining costs online as well. Viking is looking after the air portion as well. I will have to go in to the agents to pay off the remaining insurance though. 

Hopefully since there is no place I need to be tomorrow, I can finish the baking, and the sewing project as well. Perhaps even start on the next sewing project. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

We are having a lovely warm up, things are getting pretty mushy out there. That will probably cause a problem when the temperature drops next week. I have a feeling things could be a bit bumpy and icy.

Just been working around the house decluttering (now up to 100 items leaving or left the house), using things up and enjoying the quiet that winter seems to bring. 

We are still hoping to get up and see Kris as well as pick up my repaired sewing machine very soon. Perhaps if I can convince Harvey even this weekend as the weather the weekend after is supposed to be frigid. We shall see. 

Paid bills today, and transferred some money around. Into savings to build that up a bit more. I know there is probably enough in that account right now to mostly pay for our cruise (no spending cash though), but I begin to feel a bit lost if there is not a goodly amount in savings. 

Working on a sewing project.

A new nightgown, and next up will be a knit fabric sweater jacket. Both should be done relatively quickly. In fact if the collar goes right on the nightgown it should be done early tomorrow. 

For the first time ever I had a troll comment. Never had one of those before. I did post it for awhile, but then thought if the person was not going to use their real name it wasn't worth it and removed it from the comment section. 

Please, if something is happening on Blogger that makes you post as Anonymous post your name as well. I know Hawaii Planner always does, and some who realize later come back and post that it was them. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

A new week has begun with new ideas for using items up, or at least using things up in the meat freezer and other leftovers. 

Monday

Baked pork chops, leftover mashed potatoes fried up with some onions, and leftover fresh veggies sliced with dip.

Tuesday

Using up some Cream of Celery soup from the chest freezer and serving it with grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, or perhaps tuna melts on buns.

Wednesday

Chicken Parma along with some spaghetti in tomato sauce. I will probably do some frozen peas up as well.

Thursday

Roast pork, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots and gravy. The leftovers will be saved to be used in another meal. 

Friday

Scrambled eggs on toast.

Saturday

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

Sunday

A bag of leftover ham from the fridge freezer. I will warm it up, make boiled potatoes, and carrots to go along with that. 

This will see a bit of using up of things in the fridge freezer, in the meat freezer, and the chest freezer as well.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

It is the end of a weekend here. A nice quiet, get a few things done weekend. Always the best thing in my books. 

I have done embroidery, read pattern notes over, cleaned out most of the plastic containers in the hall cupboard making room for my silicone freezer molds. There are still more in use, but those will be gotten rid of as the contents are used up. It will be room saving to be able to use the molds, pop out the frozen item, perhaps wrap and store in a bag. That should take up less room in the freezer than lots of containers one would think. 

I think I have narrowed down cruises to two that interest me. Both are river cruises so only have to unpack once rather than live out of a suitcase. I believe we will make a trip to the travel agents early next week and finish making our plans. 

As my friend will be gone starting tomorrow for two weeks I will be home and doing small things up until my dentist visit on Friday. It should be just a cleaning, or at least that is what I hope. I plan on getting my prescriptions that day and getting our allowances as well. 

My days at home will be spent doing all those little tasks I have been putting off, planning ways to use up food, and make new things from scratch. As I have said over the past few years I have gotten pretty darn lazy purchasing things like cake mixes, pie crust, spice/herb mixes and now it is the time to go back to the older way I had of cooking. I will probably slip back every once in awhile, especially if I see a really good sale. 

I am up to having decluttered 94 items so far this year. Things are looking pretty good to be able to reach the 500 item mark at this point. Pretty pumped at being able to perhaps reach that when I didn't even get close last year. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

Today has been quiet, but I did get a big surprise. Harvey and I celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary today. The years have passed by very quickly with ups and downs, deaths and births. Money struggles haunted us in the beginning as well. Much the same as all of you have gone through as well. 

I am always up earlier than Harvey and was busy reading emails when he awoke. He wished me a Happy Anniversary and then said I was to find a trip or a cruise to celebrate this milestone in our married life. I asked him where he would like to go and he said it was entirely up to me, that he would be happy where ever I chose to go. 

So lots of time today has been spent online looking at various cruises with various cruise lines. Oh my, the head is spinning, but I think I might have locked down on one. We will need to go and visit our travel agent sometime this week and set it up. I will let you all know where I have chosen once things are locked in. 

Once again this week was one of using items up and clearing things out of the fridge and fridge freezer. No projects really finished other than cooking projects like the hot dog buns, yogurt, grating some older carrots, making a freezer inventory and decluttering. 

I really do lead a rather boring life, especially in the winter. I don't go out much and would rather stay inside where it is warm and not icy. I do have an appointment this week with my dental hygienist on Friday and hopefully a visit to the travel agent's before that. I also have some clothing repairs to do and since I am pretty sure the block I am working on will be finished (embroidery takes some time) I should be able to get the two patterns I cut out sewn as well. 

Spent some time one evening separating the blocks that need to be embroidered. There will be enough for 5 quilts, and some blocks leftover to perhaps make some cushions. I think this is going to keep me busy for a very long time. Like I said before I want to get as much cleared out of the various stashes as possible over the next few years. I do know the loom will help with that. 

My next make from scratch cooking experience will be making tortillas. I would love to have some in the freezer for wraps and quesadillas (another item I have never made). 

Off to get the table set and then get supper started. Hopefully visiting you all in between.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

A Simpler Life

 

As the world around us seems to sink into chaos, it is up to us to try and simplify what we can. We can simplify our lives, even though at times it could seem very complicated, or at least time consuming. 

Yet, since I have retired, I notice that I have a great deal of time. Time to make lots of items from scratch, time to learn new hobbies, time to enjoy the small things like a beautiful sunrise or sunset, and time to actually work towards a simpler life. 

Right now our movement towards that is more one of using things up, and decluttering. Still living in a decluttered home really does declutter the mind as well. That leaves room for the learning of new things and enjoying what we already own. 

I am enjoying making food from scratch, or at least I am so far. Today I made hotdog buns, and while they are not perfect they are not too bad. I know with practice I will get so much better at making them. I will be adding things as I need them to this learning curve. 

Both Harvey and I are working very hard on decluttering. He more than I in this new year. This is something I have been trying to get him interested in for a number of years. So many nails, screws, tools that no longer function and bits of lumber. Though those bits of lumber keep him occupied many a day. Kind of like my bits and bobs of leftover yarn keep me occupied finding ways to use them up. 

Step by step, inch by inch we are moving towards a life where we can always stop and smell the roses.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

 Thrifty and Frugal

Another quiet week here on the Phillips homestead. I have been working on a few ways to become more thrifty and frugal. Success in most of the areas so far. Now I just need to make them a habit.

1.  Started a facial cleansing routine using some items I have collected as gifts in the past year. No money spent on this until I can see if it can be sustained. Or will I go back to using soap and water. I will say that my face feels a great deal softer.

2.  Have managed to make a couple of items that we usually purchase (fries and hashbrowns). Next up will be hotdog and hamburger buns.

3.  Continuing to save the water when it is heating up to do the dishes to water plants or put into my Brita, or into the kettle.

4.  Upped the amount of time I am walking in the house for a bit of free exercise. 

5.  Using up the leftovers in the house for other meals or brand new ones.

6.  Copying/printing meatless recipes to try.

7.  Downloaded some free reading material onto my ereader. 

8.  Made an inventory of the meat in the upright freezer and will be planning meals (already managed to do so) to use up the older meat first.

9.  Trying to have as many no spend days as possible.

Of course the usual lights off in rooms not in use, using my bathroom cloths (saves on toilet paper), using up hand lotions that I got as gifts, decluttering, repairing, and just plain staying as healthy as we possibly can. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Midweek Arrives/Question/Getting My Frugal On

 

Once again it is the middle of the week and actually getting very close to the middle of the month. That is only 8 days away!!!! Must work a bit harder on my projects. Some are at least started, and should not take long to complete. 

Got notification today about our electric and gas bills. Both rose one by just a few dollars the other by quite a bit more. I will be working on trying to lower both of those. Probably in a few ways that Harvey just may not like. I have a feeling the water bill will be higher as well since Kurt and Kris were home washing their clothes and having showers. 

I was asked if I will eat my entire freezer down and then begin to rebuild my stock. Right now with meat being so expensive I will probably not clear everything out. Instead I will use what I have a great deal of, or what is dated from months ago and look for bargains to refill those areas as they go down. 

We have lots of chicken breasts, pork chops and surprisingly pork roasts. Low on whole chickens for roasting, ground meat, beef roasts and no hams at all. I will be watching for sales on those as well as chicken wings, chicken thighs and hot dogs. All the while trying to lower the number of what we have a great deal of. 

Part of my frugal plans for this year is making more from scratch and not purchasing already prepared items like frozen fries, hash browns, hot dog buns, hamburger buns, pie crust, crackers and other such items. My yogurt maker can be used to make a soft cheese so I hope to be able to try that out as well. 

Costs keep rising and with the way things are in the world this just makes sense to me.

Today I made two bags of hash browns for our freezer. I only used 5 potatoes of the ones we have stored downstairs, but if it turns out we like them I will make more.

They are kind of in chunks but I was told in the directions I found they will come apart once you start cooking them. Thank heavens for food processors, as I don't think I would try this manually. 

This summer my ice cream maker will come out and I will be making my own ice cream once again, something I have been lax about doing. 

What ways are you going to get your frugal on this year?

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

We had snow for most of the morning and into the afternoon. It was wonderful not to need to be anywhere out and about. My back still twinges once in awhile so I have been doing the work 15 minutes and then rest. If it was work sitting, I stand, if it was work standing I take a bit of a walk and then sit for awhile. I still got everything done that needed to be done and even enjoyed some craft time. 

I decluttered some more old towels and washcloths. So now we are up to 22 items hopefully leaving the house very soon. Bit by bit downsizing is happening. Well other than the towels and washcloths of course as those have been replaced. 

Harvey took down his Christmas decor today and did a bit of a clean up of his wine making tools. He is working on one of the jigsaw puzzles he got for Christmas. This is a panorama of Maple Leaf Gardens. 

Keeping away from the news as much as possible and trying to ignore some people on Social Media. I just can't take their posting of things before doing some research on the subject. When called on it, they get all huffy and at times quite nasty. Staying off unless it is to wish someone a happy birthday, or happy anniversary. 

The menu for the month has been pretty much redone in order to use up some of the meat from the freezer. Mixing that with leftovers from the fridge upstairs (and its accompanying freezer) can almost be considered a math puzzle as I really am trying for another no waste year as well as using up all that I possibly can. One item from one area and another from yet a second, then add in the leftovers from the leftovers. It really is enough to make your head spin. Add in the fact that things are getting really expensive in the protein department and I struggle with using up that meat. 

A simpler life may just involve decluttering, making more from scratch, and getting the most out of what we already have.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

I am still having slight twinges in my back, but I am so much better. I need to work in small increments but I am still continuing to get those tasks done that are necessary for the smooth running of the Phillips Homestead.

I will be able to visit all of you tonight as I seem to be able to sit for a period of time now.

Monday

Leftover Turkey Tetrazzini, and salad.

Tuesday

Leftover roast beef made into hot beef sandwiches. I will use up the mini hash brown patties with this and any salad that is left over.

Wednesday

Soup and sandwiches. Soup will be homemade Chicken Veg and the sandwiches probably egg salad or turkey salad if there is any turkey drumstick left.

Thursday

Spaghetti and meat sauce. Sliced veggies and dip. The remainder will be frozen for a meal later on.

Friday

Pancakes, breakfast for supper.

Saturday

Hotdogs, and baked beans.

Sunday

Steak in mushroom sauce done in the slow cooker. Served with mashed potatoes and frozen carrots. 

So there are the meals for this week. I will be trying to clear some items out of the upright freezer over the next month. I did find a few areas where I will need to hope for a meat sale very soon.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 

I woke up this morning after a miserable nights sleep and went downstairs to the upright meat freezer. Seems a cord located on the top stopped it from closing completely. You can all imagine what greeted my eyes.

One good thing was that only one item thawed out and will need to be tossed. I really don't want to but considering it is to be cooked from frozen...... All meat was moved into the chest freezer, and the defrosting began.

While that was happening I went shopping. I managed to get most on my list, but a few sale items were missing so I will do without. 

Home put all away, and started on the deicing of the freezer. That is done, it is plugged in and I was waiting for everything to cool down.

Okay, now it's mid afternoon my back was crying. I can not sit or stand for very long. Even walking causes me some pain. This made working on projects kind of piecemeal again. I did get one piece of fabric cut into strips and made a start on the second piece. Sat for a few minutes and did some embroidery.....

I will not be putting the meat back into the upright until tomorrow, and then it will be done a bit at a time. 

After I finish this post I am going for a soak, and then hopefully to bed with a heating pad. 

First I want to show you what $10.00 purchases here in Canada for my store cupboard.

Two packages of on sale spaghetti noodles, two cans of flakes of ham (also on sale) and two packages of ramen soup that Harvey loves. 

Not a great deal, but a beginning on replacing those used up items. Wonder what I can manage to get the next time I go shopping in two weeks.

Off to jump in the tub. I will visit you all tomorrow.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

Nothing really finished in the project department, however a few non-project items were checked off the list.

The tree and all decor is down and I pulled out my cutting/sewing table and put it up in the living room. I did get the two patterns I want to make cut out. Next will be doing the markings and then I get to sew. 

I made frozen fries yesterday for the freezer, and have found a recipe to make some hash browns that I will try out. I want to get those done this week.

Made my grocery list for this biweekly shopping trip and figured out what I was going to spend my $10.00 pantry stock up on. I plan on getting a canned ham and some packages of spaghetti. I should be also able to pick up an extra bottle of salad dressing. Hopefully I will be able to start making my own dressings very soon. I just need to wash out the bottles once they are empty.

We managed to clear most leftovers out of the fridge, and I am working on clearing out the fridge freezer. Then I need to work on using those items up in the chest and upright freezer that need using. I am also thinking it is time to defrost those same freezers while I can still put food out on the deck in the cold. That is if the dog from 2 doors down can be blocked from entering our yard. 

So while no projects have really been completed I have completed some items on my goals list. 

Oh and my Baby Lock sewing machine has been repaired and Kris picked it up and has it in his house. We will need to go up for a visit very soon.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Simple Living

 

This year, I am hoping that life will get even more easily lived, simple meals, simple gardening, simple living.

As I declutter and work on doing those things I actually enjoy doing, I have noticed a larger mantle of peace settling over my being. Not that I do not still have periods of anxiety, but more that those are fewer and further between. 

I am finding it so much easier to make plans and carry through on those plans. Projects and goals are so much easier to reach, when one does not overload their days with things to do. 

Of course I still have the same amount of household tasks, but by working in 15 minute intervals things are actually getting done much quicker. 

I have always cooked from scratch most of our meals, but am adding more things like making fries for the freezer. Which will save on waste and spending. Really they don't take that long to do. Today I managed to get 4 bags ready for the freezer between working on other tasks. 

Over the next few months I will be trying to declutter more of my wardrobe. The less I need to choose from in the area of clothing the more I will like it. I really do have too much in the way of clothing. 

I will also be getting rid of more of the plastic containers I have for freezing. I am so looking forward to having things pop out of silicone and be just in a freezer bag (which can be reused). I have way too many of the plastic containers and they actually take up way too much room in one of my storage cupboards. Having just a few of those, plus the molds will make life simpler or at least more uncluttered. Decluttering is a wonderful way of simplifying a life.

I am very happy that my Baby Lock sewing machine is now in working order. Now that I have found a reliable place to get machines serviced I will be more inclined to get my expensive machines fixed and ready to last many more years. 

These are my gifts from Kurt for Christmas and my birthday. Wonderful additions to my herbal growing, salve recipes, tea, tincture, and other herbal recipes. I am so looking forward to a simpler way of staying healthy by using these to work on keeping us healthy and well. Simpler times, simple recipes for those simpler times. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.