Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Midweek and Midmonth

 Once again the forecasted rain did not show up. In fact today has been sunny and mild. Enjoying this while it lasts by going for a bit of a walk today. Tomorrow, may not be as nice and you need to take advantage when you can.

The one good thing I can think of bad weather helping is that I get to stay home and work on organizing and beginning to get ahead on making some of my homemade cleaners.

Spray bottles at the ready. Onwards to starting to "Green Up" my household cleaners. At which point I realized there is more that I will need to purchase to make a full set of cleaning supplies.

So today I managed to make two. A window cleaner, and a cleaner to rid the tub and sink of soap scum.

The window cleaner is water, vinegar in equal measure along with a bit of dish soap. 

The soap scum cleaner is just vinegar and a bit of water. 

What do I need to purchase to finish off my cleaning supplies? I need to purchase Borax, liquid Castille Soap, some tea tree oil, lavender oil, and more baking soda. I also need small jars to make various pastes. I can see that this is going to be a learning experience already. Vinegar can etch tiles so I will need to be careful using any cleaners containing that when working around the tiling in the bathroom and kitchen. Still I have made a start on at least giving these greener cleaning supplies a try. 

I have even found a recipe for dishwasher soap that I may have to try out very soon. There is also one for laundry detergent, but I am leery of that one considering how hard our water is. Mind you it is better than it used to be now that we have switched sources. I will think on that one a bit more. 

It isn't that I really need to cut back on spending, more I am going to make it a game just to see how much I can save from our finances and put into our savings account. 

So meals will be stretched, more cooking from scratch, trying to remove more packaged items from my grocery lists, cleaning supplies used up and then replaced by other homemade cleaners, I am also thinking of making those makeup remover pads, and making my own skin cleansing routine. 

Simplifying is what will be happening here. One does not need expensive cleaning supplies or ingredients for a meal. I have found that purchasing grocery items in the international food aisles saves me money. Spices are in larger bags and are less expensive than the bottles or bags in the regular aisle. Rice is also less expensive, mind you I purchased the Great Value rice the last time and it really wasn't too bad in price or taste. 

As far as stretching meals, most of what I make says it will feed 6, so we will eat it the first night, transfer part of what is left into a freezer container (I use/reuse tinfoil containers for this purpose) put the meal into the large chest freezer, and the part that is left will make another meal later that week. 

This isn't doom and gloom, rather it is making sure I am using up all that I have paid for to the best of my ability and trying to keep as much of our hard saved money in our hands instead of the stores getting it.

I have heard of others using one shelf in their fridges for leftovers. If you do this can you tell me how that has worked for you. I hate having items pushed to the back of my fridge and forgotten about. 

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.