A New Beginning

 

The sun was shining today and even though it is cooler than spring should be, I felt joy when the sun warmed my face as I stood by the window sipping my coffee. That joy has followed me through my frugal, but simple day. 

First on the list of to do's was to put the clean dishes away and clean out emails from overnight. Neither of those took very long, and soon I was in the basement taking the clothes off the lines downstairs and getting them folded. 

I started the dough for two loaves of bread for the freezer and while that was going on cleaned the bathroom, swept my floors (I really need a new broom as this one is getting pretty worn out), did the ironing and collected those items that need to be mended for the mending basket (will do that next week). 

Simple things to keep the house running smoothly really. Nothing too difficult or time consuming. Those things seem to happen on a Monday.

Checked the fridge to see what needs to be used up in the crispers or at least processed so it does not spoil. I have some green onions that will be chopped up and used on our supper tonight as well as some cheese. Must get that grated and ready very soon. 

Then I got to play. I pulled out the small sewing table so I could watch some free shows that I enjoy and started sewing. I am afraid that I can no longer sew as quickly as I used to, as I must get up and walk around every so often to ease the pain in my back from sitting. 

Frugally, my sewing projects are using leftover pieces of fabric from other projects. The only one not is a knit dress and I bought the fabric a few years back at a deep discount at Fabricland. I am really trying to use up what I can and the smaller pieces are going to be saved and used in quilts or makeup remover pads/toner applying pads. While those you purchase in a store are not really expensive, they do seem to be climbing in price.

Still I did manage to get a pair of capris sewn, and start on a pair of bermuda shorts. Those I should be able to finish tomorrow and even get a pair of shorts done. Not as long a to do list to complete on Wednesdays so more time to play. The weather is still going to be cooler and so I do not plan on spending time outside other than a bit of a walk for some fresh air and exercise. 

Supper will be using up some leftovers. I made chili a little while ago and some was put in the mold to freeze and store for later, there was also some just put in a glass container in the fridge to be used tonight. Harvey likes chili and toast, but is willing to let me have chili on pasta for our second meal. A little change, but it really makes a difference. 

When I went shopping I did my usual $10.00 purchase for the pantry. I got 4 cans of tomato soup at 77 cents a can, and three cans of cream of mushroom for the same price. Those are used in cooking as I would much rather make my tomato and cream of mushroom soups for eating. I then bought some corned beef to bring the cost up to the mark. We do love a good corned beef hash. 

No money spent today, using things up, and enjoying the sunshine and the house smelling like freshly baked bread. Could anything be better?

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 Quiet reigns on the old homestead. I have been trying to get lots of little things done around the house. You know the things we keep putting off each and every day. Getting those little things completed is easing my stress level each and every day. 

I am still getting my regular tasks done and I am slowly learning to pace myself. Taking rests between tasks and finding ways to complete something with the least effort. This will not last as soon I will be washing walls, painting outside, planting, and getting the deck set up for use. I will also be pulling firewood from the wood box and resupplying the holder near our firepit. Must remember to get Harvey to split some as full logs don't start a fire very well. 

Work on projects is ongoing, and I now realize that I will not finish all that I had planned to do. Still I did manage to get a few completed, and some ready for the next step. That is pretty much all I can ask of myself at this point in my life. I am getting too old to go, go, go, each and every day and resting is imperative I find. Too much on my plate just seems to frustrate me in trying to get all done. 

This means my projects/goals list will contain things that I can get done quickly as well as those that will take a bit longer to complete. It is also making me rethink things like making cards (which I will still do) after I use up all the cardstock I have. In fact I am thinking that using some of the cardstock to make flowers might be a great way to clean that bit of my stash out. I am also considering sticking to cleaning out the yarn stash even more as that has really gotten out of hand over the past few years. Bits/bobs and orphan balls really add up and take up lots of valuable space. Hence why once I finish the 120 pairs of mittens I am going to try and get some toques made for Kurt's K-12 school. Might even make some colourful knit blankets to rid myself of even more. 

I no longer want to do things that do not bring me peace or joy, and am finding it extremely difficult to even read family members posts on Facebook. Perhaps it is time to take a step back and evaluate if that social media is serving it's purpose any longer. Could be the time to block some of the family.

At 70 years of age I want peace, joy, humanity, and love. I don't need complaints, hatred of people who don't follow the same political leaning, and those who want to drag the country down. 

Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

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.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 It actually turned into a very lovely day. Snow is melting and we are in the low double digits. I hope this means that we are finally going to get spring weather. 

I am surprised that with this weather I am once again feeling exhausted. I wonder if it is because I have been moving pretty steadily around the house today, getting household tasks completed, and working on projects. Harvey always says "No rest for the wicked" and I guess in this case wicked could mean wanting to get things done. 

My new mini computer came yesterday evening and it is now on the top of the fake fireplace. I am waiting until Kris comes home and he can set it up. 

Still having trouble with photos from my phone and this phone does not have a cord to use on the computer. So I am emailing and copying to the picture folder. A bit more work, but at least I can manage to get the pictures off. 

Now, I thought I should probably explain about my talking re a condo purchase in the city. Eventually we thought we would move to the city our youngest son lives in. That is where my specialist lives, there is public transportation, and shopping is relatively close no matter where you live. 

We do not own a condo as of yet and more and more we are thinking we could purchase a small one story home for less. The main reason being the fact that one needs to pay a condo fee ranging in price from $400 to $700 a month. That means we would be paying anywhere from $4800 to $8400 in condo fees (or HOA fees). On top of that there are property taxes of anywhere from the least expensive at $2500 to the most expensive of $4500 a year. That is a rather large chunk of money from our savings disappearing each year. Yours truly is shocked at the total cost of what a condo or even an apartment in the city costs. I think we will be staying here for a very long time and hopefully able to make the trip in to see my specialist when necessary. If it ever comes to the point we can't travel the two hours, I am going to see if my doctor here can do the necessary tests. 

Work was done in the sewing/craft room tidying up and putting things away. After the other household tasks were completed I started work on the next project I want crossed off my list. Made good progress on that by getting the first two steps completed. Only two more steps to go, one of which might take a bit longer than a day to complete. This project is also getting some more of my craft supplies used up. Makes more room in that sewing/craft room. Could be working in there again very soon. It is getting easier and easier to move around and find items.

The fridge freezer is getting to the point where I can organize things in there a bit better. My freezer has an upper drawer and then two baskets underneath. The upper drawer is where I freeze things like soup or extra meals, as well as keep frozen veggies, and ice cream. The bottom two drawers are what really needs organizing and using up. Slowly but surely those are getting much easier to find those leftover roast bits and other such items. There is still a great deal in there though and I am working my way through all. Simplifying my storage in there is my purpose for the next while. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 It was a beautiful day to get out and shop early, the temperature was just at the freezing mark and there was no wind. Well at least that was what it was like when I first went out.

By the time I was done the wind had picked up, and the temperature was dropping. It still isn't as cold as the previous days, but the giant swing made my back a bit achy, and by the time I finished shopping and put things away I was in a great deal of pain.

I will share the pictures of my shopping with you all. I had to divide things up so as to fit all into the pictures.

First up the shopping from Walmart. Some new towels, some gloves for Harvey and a shirt for myself.

I have started to pick up a few items for Christmas as well. The cat food is for our Grandcat Eiko. I will probably pick up a few more in two weeks along with more kitty litter.

I am slowly replacing our towel sets in the bathroom. Just doing one set at a time. The old ones will be heading to the rag bag after cutting up and finishing the edges. 

I also bought a few more forks as for some odd reasons those seem to be in short supply lately. 

There are some small decorations as well, but I put those on the tree almost immediately.

Then it was off to the Co-op for the main grocery shopping.

A few stock up items, but not as many as I had hoped. Prices once again have risen. My whole wheat bread flour has gone up $6.00 in about 2 months. Pretty soon it will be less expensive to purchase bread than make my own.

The fresh produce like lettuce was put in the fridge immediately so no picture of that. Once again there are a few purchases for the Christmas season when Kurt and Kris are home. 

I ordered some sewing things that I can not get here from Amazon and they should be arriving tomorrow and the next day. 

This should be all the spending for this week, unless something surprising happens.

I did not get all the list done today, so I added them to the list tomorrow. Staying home for the next while waiting for the results of my scan or at least a phone call setting up an appointment to go over them, and also waiting on a call about my sister, and the results of her surgery on the 4th. This will save on fuel for the vehicle, and I won't be spending any cash which is always great.

Off to get the ham casserole put together and the table set.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 I have stretched my shopping out and will not be going out until tomorrow to do that, or who knows perhaps I can stretch things out for another day. I can always make lemonade to drink at supper time. I just do not want to go over budget by a great deal. 

Our visit went very well and we actually got to see part of the cities Santa Claus Parade right past the doors of Kris's house. 

By the time we realized what was happening we could only get this photo. Lots in front and later on many behind. 

Eiko actually slept in the same room as me one night. Perhaps she is getting a bit more used to us coming and visiting for a period of time. 

Since getting home I have continued the organization of the kitchen pantry, did the laundry, and have been trying to figure out how to clean out the leftovers in the fridge freezer or the broth from the chest freezer made into soup. The planned menus starting next week are going to be changed for sure. 

I have just been spending most of the day catching up on work around the house. This means not much in the way of projects has been done. I did get the loom set up, but as far as mitten knitting just a little. I do hope to get this pair finished tonight and the last pair done tomorrow. If I don't get the next size completed before the end of the month, at least it is something I can work on by hand. After all by the end of this month I will need to get our trees and Christmas decor up. 

Things I have planned for tomorrow are hanging the curtains in the sewing/craft room, probably grocery shopping, and redoing the rest of the menus for this month. I even think some leftovers will be used at the beginning of December. 

I am finally sleeping a bit better, which is wonderful. I am slowly getting my energy back and happy to be working on things around the house. I am losing my ennui about projects and nesting around the old homestead. I pushed through at times and I think that is why I bounced so much between tasks. Now that I am sleeping better I find myself willing to finish something rather than work 15 minutes on one thing and then move to the next. Keeping my fingers crossed that more projects will be completed this month.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tidbits and Stuff

Today I went to our Remembrance Day service and spent some time at the cenotaph and went for the lunch the Legion puts on here.

As usual the ceremony was very touching.

Once back home I got to work on my various projects. I can see a steadfast movement towards being completed by the end of the month. Knitting will take place tonight after supper. 

In fact I am off to work on supper right now and will visit with you all a bit later.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

Another lovely and quiet, but busy day here on the old homestead. I was busy most of the day baking buns, making lentil soup and the chicken veggie/pasta soup for our supper tonight. I also did manage to get all the household tasks done as well. The yogurt is draining in the fridge as well. There were some lovely smells coming out of the kitchen for sure.

As I said before (or at least I think I did) this week will be one of staying home and getting the preparations done for the Thanksgiving holiday. The day itself is on Monday, but as Kris will need to be at work on Tuesday we will have the meal on Sunday. Not sure about Kurt, but he will probably head back on that day as well just in case they have to vote on a contract or if they are forced back to work. 

Another frosty morning, my outside plants are definitely gone. Harvey is hoping that the boys will help him dump them out into the garden and then he will do the final tilling the following week.

Project wise the binding on the firepit quilt will have to wait awhile. When I bake or batch cook I am up and down a great deal, so I am knitting dishcloths, and doing some embroidery. Once I get things completed I will be back working on that. I also need to cut out the pajama bottoms, as well as the two pairs of double oven mitts. I am trying to figure out why one would need batting as well as the heat resistant batting. Any ideas out there on why this pattern calls for that? 

I was asked what Glace was. Here goes and I hope I explain it properly. This is something my German Grandma made when money was fairly tight. 

Get a big pot of water boiling and add a couple of diced potatoes. In a bowl mix flour, and eggs to a stiff dough. I usually use about 2 cups of regular flour and 6 or 7 eggs. Drop the mixture by tablespoonfuls on top of the boiling water. Boil until they rise to the top. Drain the potatoes and glace. Fry onions in butter and pour over top. Then make eggs to eat with the glace. Not something that we have often as it is cholesterol heavy, but once in awhile is something we all enjoy. Me for the memories, the sons because to them it is special and to Harvey because it is something that his German parents did not make. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 Off, then on, then off and now on once again. It seems that Air Canada is in the air once again. So it looks like our trip will be happening, provided we don't get bumped. So for the next 9 days I will be doing my best to process food, get the perennial bed in some kind of order, and probably end up washing clothes a couple more times. The clothes washing to make sure Harvey has enough to last for the 10 days we will be gone. 

There is lots to do inside as well, projects to be finished, the sewing/craft room cleaned, as much used up in the fridge as is possible, and me notifying Nielsen IQ that I will not be sending in scans for the the first two weeks of September. Last time they missed my notification so I am going to make sure and send it early enough that they get it on time or even before time. 

As all of you know I am a big list maker and those lists will be made over what is left of this week and the beginning of next week. 

It has been very warm the last couple of days and that will continue into tomorrow. Supposed to be even warmer than today and believe me the temperature here in the city reached 34C, and felt like 38C. It is supposed to cool off for the weekend which will be welcome and allow me to get out and do deadheading, and weeding. 

The last thing to be organized in the sewing/craft room is the closet and I hope to make a trip and purchase a shelving unit to take care of that. Pretty sure there will be room on the side to put my reeds and embroidery stand. 

That's enough of my ramblings.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 Another rainy day, and another day sticking close to home and trying to get things done. Problem is that this weather is not very nice on my aches and pains. They really aren't that bad, probably because it is still fairly warm and humid out and I have been working my way through the pain. Tonight however I will be using one of my salves, more than likely the mint to get the one tin used up before the next batch is ready. 

I am going through cupboards and using up items that are over or close to being over their best before or use by dates. My next shopping trips will be more a stocking up of fresh veggies to hold us until the garden produces more, as well as replacement items for the pantry and cupboards. 

Some of the items I have managed to clear out, or at least transform into something else are the leftover chicken from Sunday, some chicken bone broth from the freezer downstairs, some broccoli that was starting to soften, the last package of frozen carrots, the remains of three types of pasta and a jar of Alfredo sauce. I think that the salad leftover will be cleared out at supper tonight. 

Now of course using those items up meant that I now have new meals to put in the freezer for use later. Tomorrow I hope to add to this collection of fine foods (kidding, mostly soups and the leftovers from supper tonight and tomorrow). 

As I looked through my yarn stash, I could not find another bulky yarn to use on the rug that would coordinate with the green. I did however find many shades of green in a thinner yarn which I can use on the rug for Kris. Bonus will be clearing out even more yarn from my stash. I may be able to bring up another tote from the basement very soon and restock the sewing/craft room. 

This year I have really been trying very hard not to waste anything. This is partially because of what is happening in the world, and partially because I would prefer to have a lifestyle that isn't wasteful. We all definitely have to become better stewards of our little portions of the environment. We need to all realize that what we do not only affects us but others as well. 

Simple living means keeping waste to a minimum and using what we have to the greatest advantage. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

It has been a sunny day here on the prairies and on the old homestead. That's a bit different than it has been for awhile. Usually the sun only peaks out for a little bit during the afternoon. Still I will definitely take it, even if it is windy and slightly cooler. 

Been working around the house today, trying to get caught up on projects, household tasks, and extra cleaning. The extra cleaning is not happening today as my mojo disappeared after working on the project, clearing off the sewing table so I can work on the next project, and putting the projects into the totes I made to get rid of the big blue Rubbermaid tote in the living room. Things are beginning to come together nicely. 

I was going to go shopping today, but decided to stretch what I have until at least Saturday. Really trying to cut shopping down even more over the next few months. If I can stretch things a day or two between trips by the end of the year I may actually have cut a couple of shopping trips out altogether. 

Rising costs on almost everything have me a bit concerned. Not only concerned for me, but concerned for our sons. Kurt is planning on getting solar panels on his roof this year to hopefully cut costs on electricity and gathers wood from friends who chop down trees for his fireplace outside and downstairs. He plants a bit of a garden, but most are in planters and bags as his soil is terrible. Not too worried about his job as a teacher he will always be in demand and the school he is in loves him.

Kris is planning more planters so as to plant even more veggies and fruits. I told him he should do some planters out front and get even more items growing. I believe that herbs would do very well out front on his small deck space. He does have hydroponic growing in his basement during the winter and he is thinking of expanding that a bit. He also starts most of his own plants as well. He still needs to add weather stripping to his doors and change a couple of locks on his doors. Lots to do inside as well. But those things cost money and even though he is frugal, things are getting very expensive for upkeep on a home. 

We are okay right now, but if interest rates fall or we begin to lose money on investments things could become a bit tighter. Shopping Canadian is not inexpensive but at this point in time perhaps the only way we can fight back against tariffs. I will continue to use up all that I can, make a few more meatless meals, downsize, and be a bit more selective on what I purchase. We will look into more free things to do in the city (not that there is much around here that is free) and grow more veggies and such ourselves. 

Life is full of compromises, but those compromises do not have to limit living.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits And Stuff

 

A quick post tonight as I want to visit you all, plus get my shuttle wound to start weaving tomorrow after watching more videos.

The last two, three days actually I have been getting the loom ready for weaving. Hopefully I get much quicker at doing the warping. 

I was asked if I could sit while doing this part of the process. Not for the first bit, but I can sit for the next two, which I hope will mean less back pain and quicker work. 

So here is what I managed to get done.

This was the first step getting the warp around the warping peg (and the one where I can't sit). I was also getting a bit confused with the over and under the warping stick directions. Figured it out finally.

Next Harvey had to hold the yarn from the warping peg at a constant tension so I could roll it onto the back roller. I then had to cut the yarn and have one thread go through the long slit in the reed, and then one thread was pulled out and pulled through the small hole to the right.

The threads were then gathered into smaller groups and tied to the warping stick in the front. You had to check the tension of the yarn often to make sure it was consistent. Then the groups were divided in half and tied around the warp stick. I ended up moving the groups a bit closer together as the spacing on the warp stick was not quite right. This meant testing the tension once again.

The last thing I did today was to use some scrap yarn to pull the other yarn threads to a more consistent spacing.

Now this is ready to weave. Tomorrow morning it is video time and hopefully I will be weaving by the afternoon (probably by watching the videos while doing so between shuttle passes). 

Off to visit you all and then get that shuttle wound and to work on knitting those mitts I promised Kurt.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Midweek

 

Once again it has been a quiet day here on the old homestead. Perfect day as far as I am concerned.

We took all our tax information to the accountants today just before noon. I got a phone call a bit ago and surprisingly they have started on it already. Could actually be done by the end of this week. We are hoping for a good result where neither of us owes anything. Doubtful, but we can hope.

Last night I started to do some work in the bathroom. A wicker shelving unit has now been removed, and boy does the bathroom look totally different. I even managed to clear space in the cupboard we have in there for towels, toilet paper, and extra personal care items. Tomorrow, I hope to get the cupboard under the sink cleared out, and perhaps the drawers as well. We shall see.

I copied more recipes that we enjoy onto index cards and got the 14 done. They are now in the photo album I am using to keep them. I will eventually have to go through and perhaps make an index page. Sounds like a task for next winter. 

I have gotten a bit more knitting done, and hopefully (keeping my fingers crossed), I will be finished the back of my knitted tank by tomorrow.

Brought up a tote from the basement to store my projects for this month in (a few items that will be worked on if I finish them). That tidied the corner beside my chair a little bit. I do have to get the material out for the sundress/tank dress that I want to cut out... Need to find the pattern as well.

Goals for my projects tomorrow are change wardrobes around. Perhaps sew the shorts (easy sew as they are elastic waist and only a few seams). 

Extra cleaning will be the washing of the window sills, and washing the walls in the bathroom and washing the shower curtains as well. May even get the floors a good washing as well.

My back is good and with a bit of a rest between tasks should be able to complete all I want to get done. Will let you all know how things go in a couple of days.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits

 

Quick post before supper, I will try and visit you all a bit later. Right now it seems all I am doing is cleaning, and doing dishes.... No wonder my back is constantly aching. 

Just a few decorating pictures, there is still a bit left to do. 

The big tree downstairs. I still have gifts to put underneath.

My litte tree upstairs. I really need some white lights on here and will add some to my box of ornaments when things are cleaned up.

My few Nativity scenes on the fake fireplace. I find myself turning this on more without the heat this year. My stuffed snowpeople sitting on the floor beside the fireplace.

One of the few ceramics that I made left. My little Christmas tree. I believe I made this in 1980, so it is getting pretty old. I picked one of the smaller ones rather than the bigger ones. I often wonder if people still do ceramics or teach ceramics. This was a lovely evening out for a friend and I.

I hope to get a bit more done over the next couple of days. We shall see.... I have realized I do not have many Christmas decorations and that will be something I need to fix over the next year. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.