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. 

Saturday Roundup

 

I have been asked a few questions over the last few posts so I think I will answer them first.

Yes, my yogurt maker is a new appliance in my arsenal of trying to make as much as possible here at home.

Now as far as the whey is concerned, I plan on using it in replacement for liquids in baking. It is said you can even use it in your sour dough starter, something I am going to do a bit more research on. Some online sources say you can even drink it as it has lots of vitamins in it as well as other goodies. I can't see that happening. Right now it is sitting in containers in my fridge freezer until I decide to try using it.

None of my bigger projects are even close to being completed this week. It has been cloudy and snowy the last couple of days, which means the light has not been the best for embroidery. Knitting is happening in the evenings, but even that seems to be moving very slowly this time around.

So the past little bit I have been trying to get a few smaller projects completed, and since it isn't supposed to be sunny tomorrow I will try and get a few more of the smaller projects completed.

Started the slow cooker today making supper early this morning.

Got the dough going in the bread machine for two more loaves of bread. I did get an unpleasant surprise though as my oven cut out citing a fault was found. So I had to pull out this...

I did manage to get both loaves in it to bake, but man there really isn't much space at the top when baking two loaves. They got a bit well done on the tops as you can see in this next photo.

It could have been much worse.

Project wise I managed to cut these 4" squares from scraps I had saved. The smaller scraps have been put aside and I hope to cut some 2" squares in the next little while. I still have a few more fabric scraps to cut.

I really need to do a deep dive in my fabric stash to make sure I have all the scraps I saved for this purpose. Pretty sure there are more yet.

I noticed the circles of felt/flannelette that I use between my pots were getting pretty dirty and so made some new ones.

The old ones were tossed and the new ones have replaced them. 

The cloudy days did enable me to copy the recipes from the old cookbooks I wanted to keep, and now they reside in the donation bags.

So this is where I stand on projects finished for the month. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty Thursday

 

I think I better answer a question first. I was asked what I was going to do with the ground dehydrated tomato skins. I hope to use them in stews, soups, and other dishes to add just a touch more tomato flavour. 

It has been raining off and on all day, at times we have had really heavy down pours. This meant I was stuck inside putzing around. Did I get much done... Not really, but I at least have gotten a few things completed and another almost done. Decluttering/tidying the sewing/craft room is taking a very long time, but there is forward movement.

Now what thrifty things have I been up to this week.

I bartered tomatoes and cucumbers for plums and crabapples.

I made 6 trays of Eggplant Parma for the freezer.

Mending happened this week as well. That is something (other than darning) that has not been done in awhile.

Dehydrated some peppers that were going a bit soft. I also dehydrated some herbs.

I bought fuel for the car which I hope to stretch until we come home from the airport after our trip.

Researching homemade salves, lotions and lip balms. I am pretty sure I can DIY them less expensively than purchasing them. 

Did a few surveys for points towards gift cards. Hoping to get enough points to get cards for the sons for Christmas.

Found lots of unfinished projects which will keep me busy for a long time when added to the projects I want to complete this year.

Using up leftovers tonight to clean out the fridge and not waste anything. New recipe, so I hope it turns out okay.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits

 

I have had a busy week so far. Not only trying to get my tasks completed, but helping Harvey with his. 

Now I dearly love my other half, but there are days I would like to bury him deep in the garden and throw balls at his head, these last two have been like that. 

It seems that whenever I am knee deep in my own tasks that is when Harvey decides he needs my help. Yesterday it was cleaning the entire deck, today it was painting the deck and mending his jeans (and darning his three socks). I shouldn't complain too much as he does so many little things for me, but it seems as if he needs my help when I am the busiest. At least the second paint coat on the deck he can do himself.

Tomorrow I will answer your questions and perhaps have a bit longer post. 

Oh, I do have one question for my readers.... My friend has bought three sundresses and while she says they fit perfectly, she was wearing one on Monday which I figure was too small really. Should I let her know that a slightly larger size would probably solve that problem and a couple of others? Just like wearing something too large can make one look bigger, wearing something too small causes the same problem as it shows every little fault. Or should I just say nothing at all? I do know she would be the first to tell me if something was wrong with what I was wearing (she already has, numerous times).

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits

 

A very quiet day here on the Canadian prairies and so a vey quiet day here on the old homestead.

Things are getting cold once again and we have had a few snow flurries. It has been a day to curl up and stay close to home. 

I got all my household tasks completed and did a bit of knitting while curled up in my chair. 

I have been asking myself a few questions over the course of the day and while I have come up with a few answers, there are still a few running through my head with no real end to them. No real conclusions.

 Someone has made me question my frugality, is it real? or is it just something I am hoping is true. Am I faking it?

These are things I will need to consider moving forward. Will it change the way I blog? Perhaps. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 

I have decided I live a rather boring life. I get up most mornings, have coffee, moderate the forum I am a member off, check emails, check Facebook,  and follow the list of tasks I have set for myself. Day in and day out my life is planned. Planned almost to the last minute. Heck I even put reading down on my to do list......

I often wonder if I don't have a form of OCD or even Autism. Never been diagnosed with either, but I do have some symptoms of both. More towards the OCD side of things though. Funny thing is though whenever I make a project I will purposely add an error somewhere as no living person is perfect. Certain things need to be just so, but others I could care less how they look. 

All this to say the idea of downsizing and moving is scaring the crap out of me. Like what will happen to my books, or my sewing machines, or fabric, or yarn. How on earth will I manage to do without my things. 

Will I be me, Jackie, without what makes me, me. Or is it only that I think my things are what make me who and what I am. 

Tough decisions are ahead, but I am sure I will eventually find my way through the maze that my mind is setting up.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits

 

It has once again been a dark, light snow falling, foggy day here on the prairies. 

I did go out on the roads and completed my shopping. I will be heading out tomorrow to purchase my prescriptions. Got a few deals, but not many. My small city in the corner of Saskatchewan does not do yellow stickers and the competition between stores is not like in a bit city.

Now a bit about why my doctor was suspended.... Years ago there was a complaint about how he treated a female patient and now he is supposed to have someone in the room whenever he sees a lady. This was in another city and well before he came here to practice.

Now this doctor in over the year I have been seeing him has never treated me with anything but the utmost respect, rather I see him alone or he has someone in the room with him while examining me. He has never treated other women that I know go to him in any way that could be considered "off".

Late last month a woman made a complaint that there was not another person in the room when she visited, and that she didn't like the way he touched her. 

I know I should take this woman's word, but something isn't sitting right. I have questions which I know will not be answered. 

On the 27th of this month we will learn more, we will also learn how long the suspension will be if it is carried through. Whoever this person is they are now in the same predicament that all his other patients are in. They no longer have a family doctor, and good luck finding one in the city right now.

I have the binding pinned and partially hand sewn on the quilt. A few errors, but hopefully no glaring ones. I hope to have a picture to share with you all tomorrow. My fingers started locking up so I had to stop.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

I pretty much told all of you what I have been up to this week. So don't have much to fill you in on today. 

I am enjoying the cooler start to each day, and am almost looking forward to winter's arrival. This year for some reason I am fondly thinking of snuggling into blankets and drinking hot chocolate or tea in the afternoons. 

I need to let someone know whether I will be taking a leadership role with the others for the Bible Study this year. Many a time things are decided before I even attend a meeting so I feel a bit left out. I probably shouldn't feel that way, but I do. We have our first meeting on Wednesday of the upcoming week so I will need to make a decision before then. If I feel the need for a study there are plenty online that I can follow. There are also lots of books in my bookshelf that I can use once again and see if I can get a new perspective on. Actually I think I just might need a break.

There are also lots of things that need to get done around the house and so many projects that need working on. In trying to downsize, I think I might just have made things a bit more complicated for myself. 

I visited my friend and neighbour that moved into an apartment/condo last June and got a tour of her home. Lord we will need to do major downsizing if we move. I just can't see us moving into something that size with such a small balcony and no place for flowers or veggies. Or the room inside for me to have my sewing machines, or other crafting items. I am worried about this for the two of us. My friend is a widow and the size of the apartment is perfect for her. This is going to take some planning and realizing that we can not take everything with us.

Now to answer a few questions or expand on previous posts. 

We have two freezers. One is an upright and I store meat in that one. It has four shelves and 4 in the door slots. Each shelf holds a different meat. Beef is on top, chicken is next and then pork. The only shelf that is mixed is the last one which holds various roasts, and large hams. Whole chickens and turkey is put elsewhere. 

The other freezer is our old chest freezer (probably getting to the end of it's life, but I hope not). In here I keep frozen fruit, pie fillings, turkey, whole chickens, veggies, bread products, baking, frozen soups, frozen extra meals (if they don't fit in the fridge freezer) and anything else that can be frozen. 

This works for us, and most of the time everything gets used and used promptly....There are times though that items slip through the cracks. I really have to get better at keeping track of what is in both freezers. 

What I don't really have is pantry space. That is scattered between cupboards and closets. One of these days I do hope to get things organized in that area as well. Perhaps this winter.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

A Bit More Progress and Questions

I have finished the purple stripe and the smaller cream stripe on the afghan. A tiny bit of progress on the Christmas gift for Kris. I hope to have most of the second grey stripe done by the weekend. Whew, just may get finished after all.

One step forward and two back however. I stripped the bedding off our bed and put it in the washer..... Well the catch broke and so now I am without a washer until the part comes in. This washer is only 4 years old and should not be falling apart as of yet. Guess it is true that things are not made as well as they used to be. Our dryer is about 15 years old and still going strong. Has anyone else noticed this?????

My other question has to do with Christmas. Around our house Christmas has always been a big deal. It is a time that the entire family can get together and enjoy each others company. The size of the gift does not matter, it is the thought that counts in choosing the gift.

What I am having trouble with this year is how some bloggers will one minute talk about how Christmas is a commercial holiday, a grab for our money and the next talk about how their next blog post will be about getting ready for a wonderful celebration. In fact in previous posts some of these bloggers call Christmas a bank holiday and cut down those of us that do celebrate the holiday. How on earth can they reconcile those two totally different thoughts? Does anyone else see something wrong with this?

I am still going to Celebrate the birth of my savior with my family in the best way I can. Cherishing each moment that we have together because time is too short to not do so every chance we get. We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and retirements can we do anything but celebrate during the Christmas season as well?

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.