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.

An Early Christmas Wish For You All

 I am going to take some time away from posting, at least until Kurt and Kris head home on the 28th. I want to enjoy spending time with them both and with other family members.

May this Christmas fill you with peace, joy, hope and love. Exactly what the Advent candles represent.

God bless you all.

Happy Thanksgiving

 Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian readers. It is a day early, but since Kris will be leaving tomorrow, our feast is today.

I will visit you all tomorrow.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Easter Sunday

 

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter.

God bless.

Good Friday

Wishing you a blessed day. 

Kris is here so I am busy visiting right now, and checking out his wounds. 

Will have a longer post tomorrow.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

My supper out last night was wonderful, I really enjoyed not having to cook and clean up after. Today, however it is back to normal. No real cooking I just need to warmup the leftover meal from Monday and slice up some cucumber and wash some cherry tomatoes as our side. 

As the weather is supposed to change with drastically reduced temperatures overnight, I decided to go shopping today. I am going to cheat a bit and use this shopping trip as a January one. Only out by a day really. 

My cart was not very full at all and for meat all I purchased was a 1 kilogram package of bacon, and a smallish beef roast. Both of which were on sale. In fact most items I purchased were on sale, and yet my total cost was outrageous. I did not cut down the grocery line on the new budget, but there will be lots of me trying to get under budget this coming year.

There are a number of ways I am going to try and get our spending under control. These are my challenges for the upcoming year.

The first challenge to myself is No Waste. Everything will be used up food, fabric, yarn, paper, and clothing.

The second challenge is a bit different than most bloggers and YouTubers. I will keep track of no spend days. I think that even spending on food, bills, and such is still spending. Money is leaving the account. So I am going to count no spend days and hope I have lots of them each and every month.

The third challenge is I am going to continue to shop at home first. This is really helping me clear things out of my various stashes and make good use of what I have. Cooking wise this has taught me a great deal about substitutions. It will also help me to perhaps learn some new skills, like making yogurt or puff pastry. 

The fourth challenge is I am going to declutter 500 items this year. Yarn or fabric can only be counted in this if the item is actually leaving the house.

The fifth challenge is to start exercising more and having some look after Jackie time. You know facials, perhaps even giving myself a pedicure. I have very dry heals. I always put this down and by March I  have completely forgotten to follow through on this. 

I think that these will keep me plenty busy over 2025.

Before I leave I want to thank all of you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read my ramblings.

I also want to wish you all

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Winter Solstice

 I am working on some long term goals for next year. Hopefully they will work well with my monthly goals. I have really not posted about my long term goals other then the decluttering one. This upcoming year there will be a few more and those could be slightly more complicated to keep track of. One is me trying to have more low spend/no spend days and another is trying to cut some budget lines. There are a few more that will inter-twine with these. I will list the rest come the new year.

Longest night of the year ahead, now the days will be getting longer. Looking forward to being able to work on projects a bit longer each day.

Kris and the Grandcat are home and Kurt is about 2 hours away. Supper will be held off until he arrives. So looking forward to having both the boys home and staying for a number of days. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits And Stuff

 

The house is quiet once again, perhaps too quiet right now. Work, other than slowly hand stitching the quilt went by the wayside this weekend. 

My back was much better, just a twinge now and again. With Kris's help Thanksgiving dinner went well. He helped by putting the turkey in the oven and taking it out. Saved my back for sure.

Kurt was outside helping Harvey cut branches off the trees. Those now need to be cut down, the bigger portions saved for the firepit, and the smaller ones hauled to the dump next weekend. He then raked the leaves and smaller sticks up for easier disposal. 

Eiko, our grandcat is getting more and more used to us being around. She is still a bit skittish, but at least does not attack us, claws out when we walk by. 

I spent some time yesterday cutting scrap fabric into strips, 4" squares and 6" squares. One more project finished this month. Sure glad that I only have a few small ones left to do. The 6" squares are being edged and then I will be using them as tinkle cloths... Should have enough now to last more than a week. I got the first 20 or so done this afternoon. 

There are tomatoes left to either process or eat. I do think there are too many to eat, but shall give that a try. I have made 6 containers of tomato sauce, 6 jars of salsa and have numerous bags in the freezer of frozen tomatoes to use in chilies and stews over the winter. 

The days are drawing in and soon we will be turning on the heat. Not something I am looking forward to, but Harvey is complaining that it is pretty cold in here mornings. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can manage to keep it off until at least the end of this week. The house does warm up considerably during the day. 

Stocking up for the winter will be continuing. Mostly canned items and cold/flu type items are left. Plus a few of the gifts still need to be purchased as well. 

My laptop has been acting up and Kris said it is reaching the end of it's life span. We will be traveling some time soon up to visit with him and he can take me shopping for a new one and then gets the joy of transferring from this one to the new one. He also wants to set me up with the "cloud". Scary proposition as then I would need to learn something else. I do have an external hard drive, so perhaps I can talk him into using that instead. This laptop will be used in my sewing/craft room with my embroidery machine and my Cricut. Should work perfectly fine for those things. 

Tomorrow I will post some pictures of our visit to our (my sister went with me) aunts. One is 92 and the other is 97. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Just thought I would pop in and let you all know I am still around. Company, projects that needed completing, and my bad back have kept me from posting. I hope to get back in the groove tomorrow. 

Wishing all of my Canadian readers a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits

 

Good morning everyone. I think it is probably time I filled everyone in on what happened over Christmas, and how for the first time ever I did not run around snapping pictures madly. I just was in the moment the entire time Kurt and Kris were home. Strange for me. 

Both arrived home on the 23rd. Kris early in the afternoon (he had trouble getting Eiko into her traveling cage) and Kurt just before supper that evening. The usual happened... Kris made himself comfortable upstairs with me, and Kurt made himself comfortable with his Dad down in the man cave. 

The first evening at supper we got caught up on all the news. Harvey and I had thought that Kris was working 2 jobs for the city, turns out he was working 3 jobs as they hadn't filled his old one as of yet. That one should have someone starting today while Kris is still on holiday (he has one more week). Should take some of the pressure off him. So he is doing his own job that he applied for and got, plus the job of the person above him who his out on medical leave right now. 

Kurt has only 4 students registered to go on the trip with him this Easter. At first there was at least 12 that expressed interest but the number dropped as the financial problems of many began. He actually had to pay a bit this time around, and one of the students mothers is going with them and paying full price for her fare. Kurt always thought the school board would put the breaks on overseas trips, but he thinks it could be himself doing so. At least until the financial worries are less.

Shh, now don't let Kurt know I told you (that is if you follow him on twitter (can't seem to call it Xter) or Facebook, but there could be a book from him soon. He was approached by a publisher (who keeps changing their minds on what they want) to write something about hate/radicalization in Canada, that is suitable for Grades 6-9. He has another meeting to discuss this with them sometime in the next week. 

Since we would be heading to Harvey's sister's place for Christmas I made our big meal Christmas Eve. Now that was very strange. Since Christmas will be here next year I plan on making it a meal. 

There was no late Mass on Christmas Eve so we decided to attend Christmas Day Mass which was another very strange thing in this household.

Christmas arrived and the sons were very happy with all their little packages in the baskets. Both asked if they were allowed to keep the baskets as well. Of course I said yes, that I had planned on purchasing new baskets next year. Kurt was very happy with his little recipe book (I have since thought of a few more recipes to put in which will be part of the gift next Christmas), and socks. Kris on the other hand loved the ornaments, little tool set and the socks. 

Kurt got Harvey an autographed picture of George Chavello. He got Kris a Viking bracelet like the one he wears, and a personalized  travel bag for his toiletries. Me he got a set of cast iron stakes for my herb bed with lovely pictures of the herbs I plant (and some I don't, but now will). 

Kris got Harvey two beer brewing kits which will keep him occupied for quite while. He really got Kurt some lovely gifts, a horn drinking cup with a holder and a belt loop as well as a wooden stein. He got me a lovely big box of smelly things from The Body Shop (the box was actually an Advent Calendar) but I opened each box and all are in my cupboard or drawer. One of  my promises for this year is to pamper myself a bit more.

I made Harvey a pair of pj bottoms to replace the ones that ripped beyond repair and became rags. 

Harvey bought me a sparkly necklace which is worn as a torque (think I spelled that correctly). Kind of awkward but I love it.

Now since my birthday falls on the 29th my boys usually have my birthday gifts under the tree as well. I open them Christmas day as I have since I was a child (usually did not have a party growing up as it was so close to Christmas). Harvey got me the matching bracelet to my Christmas gift, Kris got me a gift certificate to Fabricland, and Kurt got me a beautifully carved stone angel. I can not for the life of me remember the type of stone, but it has a lovely sheen and reflects light amazingly well.

I think I have rattled on long enough for this post. More to follow on the visit tomorrow.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Year's End

 

Wishing all my readers the best New Years Eve. We will be staying home, and probably be hitting the bed early. Gone are the days where we would go out and celebrate. Much safer to stay home.

I have almost caught up on all the tasks that I let slide while Kurt and Kris were here. 

Regular posts will start again with the new year and I will be spending some time catching up with all of you.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Merry Christmas

 

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas. I will be taking the next few days off of posting, but will be back after Christmas.

Off to visit with Kris and then get supper started. We will probably be eating a bit later as Kurt got a late start home.

Everybody have a wonderful holiday spent exactly how you like.

God bless.

Easter

 

Feeling better today, but not by much. Hopefully back visiting and posting very soon.... Testing negative, but who knows. Harvey tested faintly positive yesterday.

Everybody have a wonderful Easter. 

God bless.

New Years Eve

 Oh dear, by the time I gathered the energy to come on here it is late and time for me to make supper. My energy seems to come and go. I felt good enough for a bit of a walk down the street this morning, but once home I just collapsed. I did manage to call my brother, and input the budget figures but that is about it for the days tasks. 

I hope to pay you all a visit yet today. 

In the meantime.....

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

This is our Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada. I want to wish all my Canadian readers a very Happy Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for. 

Everybody have a wonderful day. 

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits

 

I thought that today I would share a few pictures of our holiday. Only the ones we took while we were at Kurt's and on the way home as if I shared them all you would be pretty bored.

Kurt lives in Drumheller, Alberta, the home of dinosaurs and in the heart of the badlands. In fact his backyard opens up into the hills surrounding the valley. 

Have I said I love his yard cause I really do.

It is so relaxing and private with no homes behind him.

We spend a great deal of time on his deck enjoying our visit.

Since he went to the gym one day while we were there, we decided to go shopping. 

Now of course we needed to take a picture of one of the many dinosaur statues downtown (really they are scattered throughout the city).

Harvey decided he needed to sit with this one.

They look kind of mad at each other.

On the way home we had a surprise.

This is a blade for a windmill traveling down the Trans Canada Highway. They are huge and I couldn't get the whole blade in the picture. We actually passed two of them on our way home. All I can say is thank heavens for double lane highways. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

He Is Risen

 

May you all be blessed this Easter Season.

Enjoy your family time.

God bless.

Happy New Year

 

Everyone have a wonderful year.

God bless.

Early Morning, A Wish For All of You

 

God bless all of you. Enjoy the holidays, reach out to family and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all who are celebrating today.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.