As The Old Year Goes Away

 

The year is drawing to a close, and in the middle of the week as well. I guess it is time to reflect on what the past year brought to us.

Harvey and I both had to find a new doctor and were very lucky to find one that is so very thorough. Mind you after finding the nodule in my lung I am so glad she is so thorough. Both of us went through lots of tests this past year, and from the looks of the new year there will be still more. 

I have been managing to simplify my life a little more each month. More of a decluttering challenge to make room for what really matters. Part of the decluttering process right now is finishing off projects I started and set aside, or using up yarn, fabric and scraps to make useful items that can be given as gifts. I went through my clothing and pulled many items to either be donated or refashioned. I hate to think things I had bought would be sent to a landfill. Still have way too many clothing items, but I will be cutting those down as time passes. 

Organizing is helping me to realize that I don't need as much as I thought I would even just a few years ago. Things that I thought held sentimental value really didn't so were sent away for donation. I did take a picture of those items that tugged at my heart strings a bit. 

I worked on getting things to help me save space in my freezer. Silicon molds entered into play. I plan on popping out the frozen blocks and storing them in bags. They should take up much less room or at least be easier to stack in the freezer. I need to purchase some smaller ones in order to really be able to freeze what we will use in the correct size. 

Pantry has been a life saver when the weather has been iffy. I am planning a kind of re-stock by doing the $5.00 a week purchase especially for the pantry. But because I only shop every 2 weeks I will be spending $10.00. 

One of the things I wanted to work on was lowering our electric bill and so started using my appliances to cook more. It seems to have worked to a certain extent, so I will continue to do so as much as possible. 

Self-care wise, did not go as well as I had hoped. It kind of fell by the wayside. I tried to follow a skin care routine, but fell back to using just soap and water. Tried walking more, but always found something I wanted to do instead. I have managed to drink more water though, which I suppose is at least one good thing happening. I am also pretty much doing the intermittent fasting thing, but man it can be tough some days. 

Financially we were under total budget for the year and I was under budget for groceries (though there were a few times I went way over budget by quite a bit). The amount I was under budget in groceries paid for the dining room chairs, the repairs to my car, and our new passports. Now just have to work on paying back the money spent on the stove, and perhaps part of one of the partial plates Harvey needed this year. Mind you taking off the under budget grocery line, from the yearly underbudget I think that the stove and one partial plate could be said to have been paid. I will need to check on that a bit. Knowing that because of being frugal we made the cash back for those items makes me very happy. 

Outside we expanded the garden at the end of the season, picked up some Honeyberry/Haskap bushes, and Harvey purchased another pear tree. I gave some of my larger pots to Kris for his yard. He got them fairly late in the spring so they were not used, but I think that next spring he can use them for some more container gardening. I plan on doing more container gardening as well and finding some more medicinal plants (Kurt bought me a book for Christmas with lots of herbal recipes and ideas for plants). 

I loved having monthly goals and plans. Mostly for projects I wanted to do or complete but those did help me work through all the crafts I wanted to get done. It even helped me to finish projects that I had started and set aside. 

Learned a new craft, weaving, and I just love it. I still need to work on it, and I rather doubt I will move on from my rigid heddle loom to a floor or table top loom. So much to learn.

Now I get to think of some goals for 2026.  

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Midweek

 

Kurt left just after lunch today and promised to phone or text either when he reaches Regina (if he goes to the used bookstore), or when he reaches his friends about 30 minutes or so north of the city. I think I should have warned him that there is lots of construction on the street he will be traveling on in the city. 

I am staying calm, and working methodically through the projects and goals for this month. Now the question of whether or not I will finish them all is another story entirely. Still, I think that by working my way through them one or two or three at a time most will be done. 

Once again we are very warm, right now we are 31C in the city, and so outside work is being done as early as possible in the mornings. That means Jackie gets to fight off hoards of mosquitoes as well as spiders, and other insects. I did most of the weeding this morning, just need to do the center upper level of the perennial garden tomorrow morning. I also got all my baskets and pots watered. 

I hope to get out and enjoy a fire in the firepit tonight, that would be the first one for the year. Very late really. Our neighbour on one side has gone camping and on the other side the house is empty and the owners will be cleaning it and either renting or trying to sell it once again. 

Slowly but surely I am emptying the chest freezer, getting ready for the next harvest. Frozen carrots are gone, one package of frozen beans are left, and I am not too sure how many packages of frozen tomatoes are left. I will be working on those next. Perhaps some tomato sauce will be made one of these days. 

I am enjoying the peace of staying home and getting little things done. The joy that being able to open a cupboard, the fridge or my freezers and making a meal for us fills me with contentment. 

Me, reaching towards actually being me and not caring how others see me is something that I am working on daily. I have always realized that who and what I am is not to everyone's taste. Harvey and I live simply (or as simply as possible in this world) and have never really tried to keep up with others in the family. I sometimes think that is why his sisters treat me the way that they do. While it hurts at times, I am learning that this is their problem not mine. 

Life is to be enjoyed and one can't do that if you are always trying to impress others. Being false to yourself causes nothing but problems. 

It has been awhile since I actually posted my goals for the month so here is July's challenges to myself.

1. Dehydrate herbs for the winter.

2. Make infused oils and start the salve making.

3. Finish weaving the tea towels.

4. Weave a rug for Kris's kitchen. 

5. Finish embroidering the rose quilt square and start another.

6. Knit 10 pairs of mitts.

7. Get the passport papers completed.

8. Keep organizing and tidying/decluttering sewing/craft room.

9. Copy recipes, probably another 20 and get rid of those we don't like.

10. Sort patterns into binder. 

11. Sandwich quilts (there are 4 of them). 

Hopefully most will be completed by the end of the month. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 Well today I thought that I would see how well I did with the goals and plans this month. 

1.  Declutter/Use Up. This is on going but I did manage to use up some thread, use up some 4" squares, and some embroidery skeins as well.

2.  Weave the placemats. Done.

3.  Embroider quilt block. Ongoing, but should manage to get it done well before the end of the month.

4.  Knit blanket. Done.

5.  Cut more fabric scraps into 4" and 2" squares. Done.

6.  Use leftover coat fabric to make a blanket for the car. Done.

7.  Sew patchwork tote bag. Done.

8.  Make one tablecloth. Done.

Not a bad month at all though I was concerned at one point when things were taking a bit longer than I thought the projects were going to take.

Now on to this months Goals.

I might have bitten off more than I can get done this month.

1. Knit tank top.

2. Finish embroidering quilt block and start the next one.

3. Sew cut out jacket.

4. Sew two totes at least.

5. Cut any scrap fabric into 4 and 2 inch squares.

6. Declutter/Use up

7. Start hand tied rug.

8. Drop off donations.

9. Copy recipes from 3 books. 

10. Make one quilt top.

Let's see how far I get on this one.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Projects /Goals Completed

 

End of the month and time for a roundup of what I actually accomplished this month. While only a few things were actually completely finished (many will be finished this month), I am very happy with what was done. Most are and were listed as being carried over into the month of May. Lots will be completed next month.

1.  Copy 14 tried and true recipes and get them in the album. Done

2.  Work on cross stitch. Worked on those sunny days.

3.  Sew shorts. Done

4.  Sew top. Done

5.  Cut out a summer tank dress. Done

6.  Quilt the baby quilt. Done

7.  Start knit tank top. Done and finished, just needs a bit of blocking.

8.  Shred papers. Done

9.  Make an appointment with my prayer partner. Done and set up meetings until this summer

10. Go to the accountant. Done

11. Transfer fall/winter and spring/summer wardrobes. Done

I worked on our budget entries today and we were actually under budget for the month. Even with the extra items I bought (sandwich meat, pork loin) we were under budget for our groceries. Got to love that. 

I have picked my frugal habit for this upcoming month. I know I have talked about using appliances more to do our daily cooking, and in looking at our menus for this month I should be able to use my various appliances most days. I am even thinking of using the electric roaster for a few of our Sunday roast meals. In order to see if this will save us money on electric in the long run, I will have to continue to do this for about three months. Still, with BBQ season things might not be so hard to handle.

I did have a bit of trouble remembering the water saving some days. Hopefully I can keep working on this while adding the next.

Today has been rainy, which will fill our rain barrel and now Harvey does not have to water the areas out front that he planted new grass in. He will not have to water the corn seeds he planted, or the potatoes and radishes either. 

Here are my goals and plans for next month.

1.  Work on cross stitch angel.

2. Copy 14 recipes from those we have tried and loved.

3.  Finish binding on baby quilt.

4.  Sew sun dress.

5.  Cut out purses (can't find anything I really like so will try to make a couple of my own).

6.  Plant perennial bulbs.

7.  Hem and hang curtains. Actually pretty much done.

8.  Make another quilt flimsy. 

9.  Cut and sew infinity scarves for silent auction.10. Sew purses.

11.  Wash winter coats.

12.  Plant outside flowers, herbs and veggies.

13.  Try and use appliances for cooking much more than I do.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Storm Warning

 

I woke up this morning to dark, cloud covered skies and got my behind in gear to get all the errands done before the storm hit. Managed that quite nicely and here it is mid afternoon and no storm as of yet. 

Still the temperature has dropped 7 degrees, putting us below freezing, and the wind is really picking up. After checking the weather app on my laptop, turns out that the storm is not supposed to start until Saturday and continue through Sunday as well. The amount of snow we could receive has now doubled. This storm is coming up from Montana and we know it won't miss us this time around. Never does if it comes from Colorado or Montana.

I did get my household tasks completed, and got all the budget lines filled in. We were under budget on all expense lines which is lovely. I was really happy to see we were under budget for groceries as well. However, todays shop has scared me about how we will do this month. I can see stretching happening, and I am hopeful that my next trip will not be quite as expensive. We shall see. 

Once home (and before checking the weather again), I checked the candle supply and extra blankets in case the power disappears. I am also making sure that all electronics are fully charged and will continue to make sure into tomorrow. I also made sure the flashlights all worked and have batteries handy just in case.

I have checked to see if the camp stove is in the same place and that we have fuel for it. Using it means opening a window slightly, but warm food makes up for that slight inconvenience. Tomorrows meal is chili a perfect meal for a camp stove. Might not get toast to go with, but if I am up early enough tomorrow I will bake some buns.

March is always an up and down month here on the Canadian Prairies. We just need to remember to be prepared and plan ahead if at all possible. 

I did manage to get all my goals done. Well mostly. I didn't get the cough drops made. That was mainly because my glass jar is full of Hall's still. I guess I will leave those until next fall.

It is time to list my goals for this month and I am hoping to finish most of them, if not all of them.

1. Counted cross stitch angel. Plan on getting as much done as possible.

2.  Sandwich the baby quilt.

3.  Finish the first lapghan.

4.  Start the next lapghan. 

5.  Make pantry book.

6.  Make freezer books (I want to get two books done, one for the meat freezer and one for the chest freezer).

7.  Copy at least 14 recipes of the ones we have tried onto index cards. Add them to the recipe album.

8.  Cut out a top.

9.  Cut out a pair of shorts.

If there are some days left there are a very few other items I would like to get started this month. I am trying to get everything that I need to done before gardening starts.

Everybody have a wonderful evening, and if you are going to experience any storms stay safe.

God bless.