Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 Wow, I looked at the Viking Journey home page and we only have 13 days left before we take off. Kind of scary as I do not feel at all prepared as of yet. I hope that by the end of this week I feel more ready to be flying across Canada, the Atlantic Ocean and halfway into Europe (though it could be closer to 2/3 of the way in). 

Each day I try and do a little bit more in preparation and slowly my list is getting checked off bit by bit. However the garden really is not helping things. Neither are the cherry trees. I only hope things do not get over ripe or in rough shape from lack of rain. 

Yesterday I finished one of the two dresses I want to make, and today I cut out the second dress. Plus, Harvey asked me to make him another pair of summer weight pajama bottoms, so I searched my fabric, found some and got those cut out as well. Hopefully sewing will be happening over the next few days and things will be finished. I would love to get another skirt made, but I really don't think I have the time left, or perhaps I should say the inclination. The skirt I have in mind and the next jacket will more than likely have to wait until we are home again.

There were errands that I had planned to get done today, but I got a phone call from my doctor's receptionist saying that Dr. N would be phoning me this afternoon. So those have been moved to another day. It could be two days as I don't know how long it will take in the cell phone store. Or getting the few groceries I need for the rest of the time here at home. I may be getting our prescriptions a bit later. 

As I have said I am trying to use up and go through the pantry (both in the kitchen and in the hallway closet). I fear when we get home there is going to be a fairly expensive shopping trip. Things are being used up and will need replacing very soon. 

Off to get supper made and then visit all of you.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

I hope that all of you had as wonderful an Easter as we did. Kris and our Grandcat made it home around 2 on Good Friday. A bit of excitement as his car was making a dragging noise when he got into the city. Turns out the plastic that was around his front drivers side tire had broken away and was dragging and rubbing on his tire. Yesterday he cut it away, and no noise. He is however going to try and pick up the piece at Princess Auto, and if they don't have it will order it online. He has a garage so will be able to install it himself with the help of YouTube videos. 

I did send a fairly comprehensive care package home with him as well. 

So what are the menus for this week.

Monday

Leftover roast beef from the fridge freezer made into a casserole. Served with the leftover salad from yesterday. There will be enough for another meal later this week (okay on Wednesday).

Tuesday

Leftover chicken made into I think taco meat. I will try my hand at making my own tortillas as well. There will probably be enough leftover for another meal as well, probably Thursday.

Wednesday

Leftovers from Monday.

Thursday

Leftovers from Tuesday.

Friday

Leftover tuna casserole. Sliced veggies and dip, or I will boil up some carrots from the garden that I have frozen in the chest freezer.

Saturday

Hotdogs, baked beans, pasta or fries.

Sunday

Pork roast, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots.

And here is a picture of our Grandcat. My phone is actually sending pictures to my computer once again. Keep your fingers crossed that continues. I do have some photos on the camera that need to be transferred over.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

 It is hard to know what type of meals to cook during this month of up and down temperatures. I still plan on trying to clear out the fridge freezer and perhaps some of the bone broths I have in the downstairs chest freezer. The more I can clear out the better. Our meat freezer is getting pretty low and I hope we can get some good meat sales very soon. I may break down and just purchase whatever as I don't think prices are going to be very good considering the cost to transport them.

Monday

Leftover chicken taco meat, tortillas, and the fixings to put on top.

Tuesday

Leftover chili, I think this time I will serve it over pasta with some cheese on top.

Wednesday

I brought up a container of leftover stew. Probably served over slices of bread, either sour dough (bought to see if we like it) or homemade.

Thursday

Mexican soup using up the last of the frozen brisket. The leftovers will be frozen and used at another time. With some kept out for another meal. Probably grilled cheese sandwiches will be served with.

Friday

Pancakes with syrup and/or jam from the canning cupboard.

Saturday

Leftover Mexican soup, and tuna melts.

Sunday

Pork roast, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots.

So there you have my meals. I will have cleared out a bit from the leftovers, I have lots of chicken and turkey carcasses that will need to be made into broth. Hopefully I can get those cleared out an upcoming week.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

We had snow for most of the morning and into the afternoon. It was wonderful not to need to be anywhere out and about. My back still twinges once in awhile so I have been doing the work 15 minutes and then rest. If it was work sitting, I stand, if it was work standing I take a bit of a walk and then sit for awhile. I still got everything done that needed to be done and even enjoyed some craft time. 

I decluttered some more old towels and washcloths. So now we are up to 22 items hopefully leaving the house very soon. Bit by bit downsizing is happening. Well other than the towels and washcloths of course as those have been replaced. 

Harvey took down his Christmas decor today and did a bit of a clean up of his wine making tools. He is working on one of the jigsaw puzzles he got for Christmas. This is a panorama of Maple Leaf Gardens. 

Keeping away from the news as much as possible and trying to ignore some people on Social Media. I just can't take their posting of things before doing some research on the subject. When called on it, they get all huffy and at times quite nasty. Staying off unless it is to wish someone a happy birthday, or happy anniversary. 

The menu for the month has been pretty much redone in order to use up some of the meat from the freezer. Mixing that with leftovers from the fridge upstairs (and its accompanying freezer) can almost be considered a math puzzle as I really am trying for another no waste year as well as using up all that I possibly can. One item from one area and another from yet a second, then add in the leftovers from the leftovers. It really is enough to make your head spin. Add in the fact that things are getting really expensive in the protein department and I struggle with using up that meat. 

A simpler life may just involve decluttering, making more from scratch, and getting the most out of what we already have.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

 Thrifty and Frugal 

Life has been moving along and I am busy saving money and using items up. Perhaps using up way more than I have for a very long time. 

My mission this past week and probably next week as well, was and will be using up the bits and bobs from the fridge freezer as well as a few items in the chest freezer. Changing some items into meals to be used later, but others are being eaten. It is not frugal to have these items sitting in the freezers and not being used or made into something that can be used. Frugal is using all that you can and having no waste. 

Our garden is beginning to produce at least cucumbers, so a bit of saving on the fresh veggies happening. Some of the eggplant should be ready to be picked when we get back. 

My shopping has been done with a list, and the next shopping trip should be one where I can manage to stock up on a few items I have allowed to get a bit low. Some shelf stable canned meats are on sale, as well as pasta. Both of which need to replaced as I used up quite a bit making meals this week. 

Laundry was hung on the lines outside, no air conditioning for a couple of days, mending of some seams and I used up some of the backing fabric in making my quilt sandwiches. 

Yarn has been used in making another 10 mittens, and some embroidery thread has been used as well. 

I am definitely making do with what is in the house or garden for eating, and working on projects. 

Bills are paid online so I don't use gas to travel place to place through the city to pay them.

Walking for exercise each day. It may not be a great distance, but I am getting moving every day for building up my stamina. 

Downloaded some free books to my ereader. 

Using the Lux hand soap that I have had in the house for many years. Seems that it now works well and does not leave a soap scum in the bathroom sink. I think I have enough of this soap to last until the year 2035. LOL. I will still need to purchase Zest soap for the bath in the future (bought big packages a couple of years ago on sale) but for now no soap purchases for the foreseeable future.

I have some small samples of hand cream which I have started using more. 

That's about all I can remember. I hope you are all having a frugal and thrifty week. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless. 

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

 Thrifty and Frugal

It has been a slow day. My list of household tasks were not many and since I had a slight backache upon arising I have put off cleaning and organizing the chest freezer.

So what thrifty and frugal things have been happening here on the Phillips homestead. 

1.  Sticking close to home. The only time I drove the vehicle was to go to the dentist on the other side of the city. I make that sound like a really long drive while it only takes me 10 minutes or less to get there.

2.  As usual using up all leftovers in either a new meal, or for lunches. 

3.  I bought some sandwich meat on sale and yuck is it ever salty. Quite a surprise to me as I haven't made a sandwich with processed luncheon meat for myself in a very, very long time. I think I will be sticking to leftover roasts, and making egg, tuna or salmon salad to use. 

4.  Mending a few stuffed toys and the Cabbage Patch doll. I also darned a pair of my socks. 

5.  I got free floss, free floss picks, and free interstitial brushes from my visit to the dentist. 

6.  Drapes open during the day for light and to heat the house. Right now it is 25C in here and 9C outside.

7.  Baked bread twice, and I even tried to make hotdog buns once again. Getting a bit better at the hotdog buns thing. Still need to work at it though. 

8.  Pulled the frozen cake and iced it for dessert the beginning of the week. I am now making a rhubarb crisp for dessert for the rest of the week. 

9.  Using up small bits of fabric from my stash to make cloth napkins. Only a few more to go and I will call that project done and dusted. 

So all in all a pretty decent frugal and thrifty week here. Hope all of you have had the same.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Spring Cleaning Brings Aches

 

As you all know I have been trying to get my spring cleaning done. Still have a few rooms to do, but if I manage one area a day I will be finished in about 4 days. That is if my back and legs do not give out. I am beginning to hate that small step ladder. 

I did the hall today. Washed walls, dusted what I could (one item will have to go out and get sprayed down) and the coat closet decluttered (over the last few days) and all I have left is the linen closet which I actually decluttered a couple of months ago. I will wipe out the shelves and tidy it up later tonight. 

Tomorrow I will work on our bedroom. That could take a bit longer as I really should go through a few places (top and floor of the closets especially). 

One great thing about all this cleaning is I fall into bed and sleep through the night. One bad thing is that my legs are sore from climbing up and down a ladder, and my arms are sore from scrubbing walls. The back, well that always bothers me. 

Between the manic episodes of cleaning, I have been working on projects. I have finished cutting my 4" squares into triangles. I think I have enough for what I have planned. Worked on the hand quilting as well. 

Picked up the pork ribs this morning from the Co-op. I got about 7 1/2 pounds for $18.00. These have now been packaged up and are completely freezing in the fridge freezer. I will take them down to the upright early tomorrow. 

Made the Broccoli Cheese soup for the freezer, and tomorrow I will use those asparagus ends to make asparagus soup. Waste not is happening around here a great deal more than usual. 

Harvey got the summer wine (Niagara Mist) racked over to the carboy from the primary today. I definitely feel like I am in a Winery right now, what with this wine and the Malbec he has going. There is still a white wine to be made as well. 

I have been asked to share my recipe for Japanese soup.... I really don't know what is in it as I purchase it ready made and frozen from an old friend. I do know she follows the recipe her family has used for years. She has done this for me for a number of years and I started purchasing it from her to help them out when her Hubby lost his job. Harvey loves it so I have continued and it gives "A" a bit of her own cash. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.                                       

God bless.

Menu Plan Monday

 

I took yesterday off as well, all I did was knit, embroider, and make the household task list for this week. 

Today we planned our little get away for September. We now have a cabin rented for 4 nights and 3 days in Cypress Hills. One of the parks we always wanted to see when we lived in Shaunavon, but never really got around to visiting. Really looking forward to being out in nature once again. I foresee lots of hikes and enjoying the quiet (or at least I hope it will be quiet). 

So what is on the menu for this week.

Monday

Ham steaks, raw veggies and dip, and there is a premixed noodle package that needs using up.

Tuesday

A bag of leftover pork made into a stir fry and served over rice. I will make extra rice as well.

Wednesday

Soup and sandwiches. I need to use up a couple of cans of soup so no homemade this week. Not sure what kind of sandwiches but perhaps salmon salad (lots of salmon that needs using as well).

Thursday

Leftover pork stir fry along with the leftover rice.

Friday

Probably Glace, potatoes, onions and eggs. Leftovers will be my lunch for a few days.

Saturday

I have pulled a package of Cabbage Bread from the freezer to use up before getting too old.

Sunday

Roast Chicken, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots and I think I will make gravy.

So I am still in use it up mode and I am slowly getting into the swing of using items up. Hopefully I can empty the fridge freezer.

I also pulled a bag of Pumpkin Muffins out to use for breakfasts, and I have a plan to use some Puff Pastry and a few apples that are getting old for desserts this week. Almost finished the coffee cake, which went over very well with Harvey. It seems as if when there is something sweet, there is less chance of someone running out and picking up chocolate with their allowance.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

 

It has been a quiet week here and lots of little frugal things are taking place.

1.  We were well under budget for the month of July which makes me very happy. We did spend a bit on our vacation at Riding Mountain National Park, but thanks to a friend we did not have to pay the fee to stay in the park for the week. 

2.  Baked one loaf of bread this week.

3.  Using up the produced picked from the garden so far. However I now have a glut of tomatoes and so will probably be blanching, peeling and freezing tomorrow.

4.  Made lavender lotion bars, and man those smell just lovely. Should have enough to last the winter.

5.  Still have not bought gas (will probably do so this week) which is a big savings right now.

6.  Using up some 2" strips making the second fire pit blanket. 

7.  Using up yarn knitting blankets for Kurt's friends (and the family I seem to have adopted). 

I am planning on doing some bartering with the neighbour. Tomatoes, cukes and perhaps some peppers in exchange for crabapples, plums and apples. Hope they go for that.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

Time for a week of menus, a few changes happened over the weekend (plus blogger changed how one gets a picture from their blog to repost.... just a bit confusing for sure). The changes were to use some things up.

Monday

Chef's salad to use up leftover salad, the last small bag of turkey in the freezer, some eggs, and the leftover canned ham.

Tuesday

Pork chops, tin foil potatoes and carrots. Would love to smoke the chops, but it all depends on whether we get rain or not.

Wednesday

Marinated chicken thighs, the leftover rice, and mixed veggies.

Thursday

Stir fry pork, and rice.

Friday

Fish sticks, homemade tartar sauce, fries, and sliced cucumber.

Saturday

Leftover stir fry from Thursday along with leftover rice.

Sunday

Chicken breasts cut up and made into Butter Chicken. I think I will make noodles to go with this and some salad. 

I am off to bed. The heat and sun have gotten to me over the last couple of days planting. Now the smoke from the forest fires has arrived once more and my eyes are burning. Hope to visit you all tomorrow morning.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.