Saturday Roundup

 

It is really warm today, almost 22 Celsius which is amazing. Just too bad that the cold is going to be returning bringing with it some heavy, wet snow. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this will miss us. Heavy, wet snow can cause lots of damage to fruit trees and bushes.

I have actually gotten a few things completed this week project wise to share with all of you, and there will be a picture of the ongoing weaving that I hope will be finished very soon. I would love to get this first scarf completed, and the loom moved out of the way so as to cut out some clothing patterns.

Here are the binders that contain all those recipes and craft projects I printed off. The binder contains the recipes we really enjoyed, and the crafts I want to work on over the coming years. There is still room to add to both as I find recipes we like or crafts that could save us money, or use up items from my various craft stashes.

A new and much more organized inventory of my fridge freezer. Hopefully this will keep me on the straight and narrow. The older one was not easily cleaned and really did not look at all nice.

I have two more small white boards on my shopping list for this week. One for the larger side of my pantry in the kitchen, and the other for the top part over the built in microwave where I keep my pasta. I will next purchase another couple one for the smaller side of the kitchen pantry, and the other for the chest freezer. The one I have on the upright meat freezer is working a treat.

Working on the scarf, I believe I have about 12" completed and there are red stripes on the end you can not see. I am hoping to get at least another 20 to 24 inches done over the week and be able to take this off the loom. 

No picture of the mitts as of yet, just finishing off pair number 9 of this larger size and once pair number 10 is done, a picture will be forthcoming.

I also did lots of bean preparations this week and those are residing in the freezer packaged nicely in the chest freezer. I will try my hand at crackers, tortillas, and will probably make some mini donuts or cookies next week. Heck since I seem to be on a roll lately the black beans and pinto beans will be cooked and frozen as well. 

While my days might seem complicated to many, they really aren't. As I declutter and organize things just seem to get simpler. Cooking in bulk or getting those items necessary for different foods done ahead, make meal prep and meal planning so much easier. I no longer waste time looking for something I need and either not finding it or losing it in the cupboard, fridge, freezer or in the craft room. 

My lists help me concentrate and as I mark items off it makes me smile. I am so glad to know that I am not the only list lover on this planet.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

Life got away from me yesterday and I did not get a post up. I suppose that happens.

Part of the reason was I really wanted to get the loom warped and that actually took more time than I thought. Plus I was trying to get all the laundry and cleaning done as well. Funny how much laundry we have when neither of us work outside the house any longer. Or perhaps the going up and down the stairs takes longer. Who knows, I sure don't. 

Today will be our last fairly decent day of the week. Things are going to get colder. Much colder in fact. This does mean no trip to the city to visit with Kris, but he is supposed to phone me tonight and we will set up another weekend to visit. I am actually hoping for the last weekend of this month. We would go up at a time that we would arrive when he got off work, and probably stay until either mid Sunday or early Monday. Just hope that will be okay. 

Other than the usual housework and getting my loom set up once again, the days have passed by with the usual regularity. Things get done, things get postponed until later in the week.

I am working on decluttering by using things up to make items that are useful, if not to me to someone else. I do hope that counts as I used three skeins/balls of yarn warping my loom for the rug. I hope to use up much more on this project. The little bits of yarn I have in a chest of drawers are being used up to knit the mitts. Soon I hope to be working on using up more fabric and clearing more of that out. I have now reached 120 items gone from storage in the house. The mitts and rug will be leaving at some point, and some of the fabric will also be made into items that will be leaving the house as well. 

The weather was nasty on Sunday, but after Mass I went shopping. Only to our local Co-op which is only a couple of blocks away and managed to get almost all I needed. There were a few item that were not available and I did have to spend a bit more, but I am satisfied and if I don't have what I need to make the meals, I will substitute something else. I have also been busy using things up in the fridge which is a big plus. 

Off to get supper on the table, and then it will be time for a visit with all of you.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frigid weather, at least gets things done around the house. 

Midweek Ramblings

It has been pretty cloudy today but at least we haven't had rain or snow as of yet the past couple of weeks. The longer things stay fairly decent the better it is for my driving in this city where people seem to forget how to drive during winter. Not that I don't like snow, and the moisture is necessary here for the proper seeding come the spring. I am just keeping my fingers crossed we don't get rain first.

I have spent some time trying to organize my kitchen pantry. The bad thing about this pantry is that the shelves go back so far. Did my best and now most items are in containers safe from any and all pests. 

I will still have to search for items at the back of the shelves, but at least things are well contained. I also got lots of my canning jars back for next year.

Next up is the pantry in the hall as well as my home canned goods and all my various spices and herbs. Those last are taking up room on my counter. I am actually thinking about putting the dehydrated items into the cupboard above and bringing out my teas so as to use them all this winter. The teas will take up less room and once the jars in the spice rack are empty and refilled I should be able to have a bit more counter space available.

Working on projects and getting a few things ready for the new year. My calendar pages are ready now for menu plans, and my 2026 book for the To Do list is ready to go. 

I have hung the new curtains in the sewing/craft room and folded the others up to see if Kris would like them for some area in his home. They are not as badly faded as I had thought and so he might be able to use them on his front window which would be great.

Even managed some decluttering this past week. Of course the decluttering was mostly paper and a couple of articles of clothing, but much better than nothing. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 We have once again had rain for most of the day. It started to rain pretty much after I got in from the errands this morning. Poor Harvey had to take shorter walks between showers, which at times were very much downpours. 

The sun is out now, but I am not going out to pick apples right now as the mosquitoes will be out in full force. I don't need to be covered in insect bites right now as I have finally gotten rid of one bite behind my knee. The itching drove me crazy for almost a week, and I used lots of Plantain salve to keep it at bay.

Harvey decided we needed some flowers in the house today and as the hydrangea was looking a bit waterlogged, I said go ahead and pick a small bouquet.

This lovely display is on my table now. 

Grocery shopping was so-so. Many of the so called sale items were what the regular prices used to be. I did purchase a beef roast, and about 3 pounds of hamburger. Still costs continue to rise, but at least there is more Canadian content available in the fresh vegetable and fruit area. Cherries are still on sale so I grabbed a bag that is just over 2 lbs. Of course bananas as well. Funny thing is considering they come from South America now the cost is the one thing that has never changed for the last 6 years. Still relatively inexpensive.

My phone needed an update and it seems to be taking much longer than usual. I don't like the way it seems to be changing things on my phone and how long things are taking. It is like my internet WIFI is being extra slow.

I need to stay home a bit over the next few days in order to get some fruit processed and herbs dehydrated. The cherries we picked off our trees were going to be dehydrated, but if going through the pitting for that, I think I will make cherry pie filling instead. 

Then my neighbour said I could pick crab apples so I will do that tomorrow morning early and perhaps get some crab apple jelly made as well. 

I am a bit worried about the Air Canada strike (well if the strike happens) as it would be right when we would be taking our trip. However we do have travel insurance so should be okay if things happen. Still I hate the idea of missing this trip. 

Off to visit with all of you and then to work on a mitten pair.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

It has been awhile since I have shared any projects with you all. I actually have a few that are finished this week and some that I will need to start over (cleaning the sewing/craft room as batting and backing are now all over the floor once again). 

More salves made and ready to be used and given as gifts. I also have oregano salve made but no photo of that right now.

Tomato sauce has been made from the frozen tomatoes from last year.

Four containers of tomato sauce were made.

Rhubarb chutney for the store cupboard/pantry. Along with some raspberry jam, which I did not photograph.

Another rose quilt block completed and ready to be pressed next week. I pulled out the next one to start once I get a few more projects off the list, or started.

Two of the four firepit quilts sandwiched. Perhaps the last two will be done tomorrow. It would clean up the sewing/craft room a bit.

I also finished the 20 recipe cards copied out and probably as many printed recipes we didn't like recycled. 

The tea towels are off the loom, but not completely finished. I hope to get those done next week. 

I have 8 of the 10 pairs of mittens done and hope to get those finished the next couple of days. So picture coming very soon. 

Dehydrating of herbs, and the usual household tasks taking place pretty much daily. However now that I have a kind of schedule things are done very quickly around the house. Leaves me more time to work on projects, or enjoy the garden.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Midweek and Middle of the Month

 

Another month is whizzing by. So much to do and no time to get things done. 

Today I got a phone call to go and pick raspberries. My answer heck yes, especially when in the stores a small half pint goes for anywhere from $4.99 to $6.99. Free is always good. 

This did mean that the rhubarb chutney and tomato sauce did not get made, but I will add those to the tasks for tomorrow. Along with washing and making raspberry jam. I was also asked that if she couldn't get anyone else to come and pick would I be willing to come again. Of course I would.  However, the back is feeling it tonight so I have rubbed some mint salve in and the heat from the salve is helping ease the pain a bit. 

I did get the mint dehydrated and crushed, covered with a carrier oil and sat in the window to make mint salve. The oregano salve was made as well. Yogurt is draining in the fridge and will be put in a container in an hour or so. 

Two of the doors that needed painting were washed well as well as the trim and Harvey painted them. One more door to wash, and then the trim only around the bedroom doors so Harvey can paint those as well. If there is any left, I will take a small brush and touchup some areas on the chair rail in the dining room and living room. 

I worked on the embroidery this afternoon for a bit, still some work needs to be done before I start the French knots, but the light is getting closer.

Hope to get at least one firepit quilt sandwiched tomorrow afternoon. Mind you that might have to wait until all the food processing is completed. Or at least until things are a bit more under control on this homestead. It is a rough time of the year for crafts. 

Today has been cool and we have had the windows wide open to take advantage of the cooler breeze and lack of heavy smoke. We will probably be able to keep the windows open until the early afternoon tomorrow as well. The less the air conditioner runs the more we will save on our electric bill. 

Off to visit with you all.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 It was a very quiet day. I have spent most of it trying to use up various items and make sure that things in the menu over the next week are going to be used. 

My body is giving out trying to get what needs doing, done. I did manage to get a few things completed and out of the list today. I am surprised at times how much I manage. 

Today the sage salve was made, the mint jelly completed, I am within an inch of finishing the second woven tea towel (but have realized there is probably enough warp to make a third), am on the last corner of the embroidered quilt block, and really trying to get ahead on things that need to be done before we traipse off on our holiday this year. 

Tomorrow I really hope to have the tomato sauce done, as well as some stewed rhubarb. The oregano salve will wait until new containers arrive (I did order some online). This on top of my regular tasks tomorrow. Monday is usually my busy of the day the week. 

I will be working on putting more in the pantry, long term storage and the freezers. With things happening in this world I truly believe that we need to be preparing for prices to be going up and shortages due to tariffs. I am not saying end of the world preparations, rather just getting ready for a big rise in prices and being ready for what will be coming our way. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

It has been a pretty quiet week. Nothing project wise is finished, but a few things are getting very close. Hopefully pictures of those next week. 

Working in the garden and with the herbs in the morning. Slowly but surely dehydrating is filling the herb jars for next year. With the heat we have been having it is very hard to get motivated to do any real processing of food stuffs. 

Even cooking has been a challenge this week. Thank heavens for main dish salads and previously frozen foods that just need warming up. I do have the steeped mint liquid that needs to be made into jelly at some point, as well as a great many bags of frozen tomatoes that need to be made into sauce. I did manage to get the comfrey salve made early this morning.

Eight tins for now, with probably more to come. These need to be labeled tonight. 

I think along with the mint jelly tomorrow I will make the oregano salve which would just leave the sage for another day. 

I have been keeping a very close eye on costs over the last 7 months and was pleasantly surprised with our meal last night. Most eating establishments have been gradually raising the cost of their meals, and the one we went to last night was totally different. While the meals were a bit more, they were actually lower than other places. The amount of food was amazing, and the service over and above. We will go there again and as we were leaving we noticed they had a buffet on Sundays and so will give that a try after Mass the next time. After all saving a few dollars, eating out, and having a rest from cooking is awesome. 

However, other prices are rising. I usually giggle at the X (Twitter) folk, mainly because they post the highest prices that they can on premium cuts of meat. That being said, the cost of beef is slowly growing beyond what a regular person can afford. The same could be said for regular pork and poultry prices. One needs to learn to shop the sales, use up every bit, and stretch what one uses.

Still, purchasing a Tomahawk Steak is not something I would ever consider, so complaining about the price means nothing to me. If you could afford that cut to begin with, you are not in the same economic level as the usual shopper. Grow up and join mainstream shoppers. Learn to budget and spend wisely.

We really enjoyed the show last night. I even got to see so many of the youth I worked with (getting hugs from most of them) as well as people I had not seen in many a year. Most were aides with me in the classroom. 

Harvey told me to purchase tickets for the next show which is titled "Golden Girls on Vacation". That does not happen until the beginning of August, but I think I will get tickets for this production very soon. Two nights out has been unheard of for a number of years. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

 

Saturday Roundup

 

I am loving my more laid back approach to my days. Funny thing is I think I am actually managing to get more accomplished. This even if I don't get everything on my to do list completed for the day. 

Outside yard and garden tasks are done early in the morning after I have enjoyed a cup or two of coffee watching the sunrise. Today that meant a bit more weeding, and cutting dead items off the hydrangea. I should have done the overhanging branches as well, but I might need some help with those. I also moved some of my boxes so as to make a bit more room around the firepit. It felt a bit close as Harvey and I sat and enjoyed a fire last night. Hoping that we can have another one very soon. It was also when I noticed that I will need one more solar light spike from the Dollar Tree at some point this week. 

So what did I manage to complete this week. 

I am waiting for the various herbal oils to infuse, and will probably be making salves by the end of the month.

Did some dehydrating of herbs to replace those used over the winter. 

Got all the patterns for various projects put in a binder. There are still a few that are residing in my emails that will need to be printed out and stored for future use. 

Copied out 5 of the many recipes I have printed out, and culled another 10 that we did not enjoy at all.

Only another 15 to go before I meet my goal for this month.

Started the next size mittens for Kurt's school.

Two pairs done and another on the needles. The next pair should be finished tomorrow.

Started the second tea towel and have probably managed to get 8 or so inches on this one completed.

I am now on the corners of the embroidered rose quilt blocks. I will have to go back and do all the French Knots once the rest of the embroidery is completed. 

And before the end of last month I managed to cut more yarn for the rug project that is down the line at some point. I know I will need more yarn of the bulky/chunky type, which could mean that this project will be waiting a very long time. I do not want to purchase yarn for this, rather use yarn I can find in my stash or yarn that can be purchased in a second hand situation. 

I am in a use it up and clear it out mode in order to make life simpler or at least something that does not need to follow the crowd, worry about what others think, or be true to ourselves in the way we pursue life. We want to live a life of abundance, not live a life to get abundance.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

There really are not many completed items to share with all of you this week. It has been more a week of trying to get things done or at least worked on. 

I have been knitting mittens and am on the 7th pair. My fingers are not as nimble as they used to be and one of them keeps locking up on me at the worst possible times. I have pulled lots of partial balls and skeins to use up on this project and it really seems to be working quite well on getting things cleared out. I am of course saving some of the leftovers from this project, to cut up for the rug project. 

Weaving is moving along, I probably have 7 1/2 inches of the first tea towel done. I need to measure one of the ones in my drawer to see how long I should make these. 

The rest of the week I have been watering plants outside, weeding, doing laundry, regular household tasks and harvesting rhubarb. 

I should have one more harvest of rhubarb this year. I have also been looking at some of the chokecherry trees near my home. I am hopeful that as long as a really strong wind does not appear I should be able to forage enough to make some jelly. 

Harvey was going to do a beer kit today, but it is really windy out now that he has decided not to use my new range. He does not want to "Break it". He is a bit worried about the weight of the water on the surface of the range. He does need to use a great deal of water. Now he will use the side burner on the BBQ to boil everything. 

The neighbour to the west of me has pretty much moved out of the house that she was renting. However her brother seems to still be in the house. I find that very strange as pretty much everything has been moved out and he was never on the rental agreement in the first place. He also does not seem to have a job, or if he does it is very part time. Perhaps he is only staying there until the end of the month. Only time will tell. I probably know the brother better than his sister as he was one of my students when I was an EA. 

On our trip we will not be entering the United States at all. We are on the Canadian side during the trip to Niagara Falls, and will in fact be spending the night in a hotel on that side. I believe we get to take a trip on the boat to the bottom of the falls, and if the weather is not conducive to that we get to go through the tunnels. I think that there is a bit of free time, and I really would love to see some of the places we visited when I was a child.

I am off to set the table and get some veggies started for our supper.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits And Stuff

 

I managed to get lots done today, not the entire list of course, but enough that I feel good about what I accomplished. I am also not quite as tired as I have been other days. I do hope the not tired out thing continues. I actually felt like working at various things today. 

Of course I could just be undergoing nervous energy as today was the CT scan on my lungs. 

The doctor called me yesterday with the results of my first set of tests, she also told me I would be getting a Holter monitor and an echo. She is concerned about my heart, as my heart beat resting is very low. I have had the monitor before, but not the echogram. At least now both those are available in Estevan and I won't have to go to Regina for them. When I said my CT scan was today, she figured that the results would be available to her today and she would phone me the results. A tech told me it would be one or two days before the Doctor received them. This means I will need to go shopping very early and split it over two days so I am home when the call comes. 

It also means I will need to stick close to home so baking and decluttering, will be added to the lists as well. May as well work around the house and get things done while waiting. 

I changed the supper menu a bit for tonight. Instead of potatoes we are going to finish off the frozen cauliflower. That will make a bit more room in the fridge freezer. I also pulled the last bag of frozen carrots out of the chest freezer to clear some more room out of there as well. A woman is allowed to change her mind...Right?

Worked on copying some of our recipes out and got rid of a few I tried and we hated. There are a few more that need to be tried before I even consider copying them out. Still, there are many we have tried over the years that I need to do something with. 

The knitted blanket almost has the third section finished and I hope to add the fourth section tomorrow and perhaps even get the last section started. This project is using up lots of yarn from my stash. 

Off to visit with all of you.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

It is warming up and things are drying out. I might be able to start planting a few things tomorrow. Harvey keeps looking at my plants and asking if those are all I am purchasing. We shall see. 

I did manage to get a few items crossed off the project/goal list this past week. 

All my 4" squares have now been sorted and put into one container. 

The next flimsy was finished.

I can not for love nor money find the photo of the finished knitted tank top. It is somewhere in my photo's but I am not able to locate it. 

This is how far I have gotten on the knitted blanket.

Partially done the tidy up and reorganization of the sewing/craft room. I am looking into purchasing some clear storage boxes to make it easier to see what I actually have. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Midweek Ramblings

 

Yep, definitely trying to keep calm this Wednesday. I just realized that there is only one week left this month. Wow, where did the time go???? I still have lots to get completed before the end. 

The jacket was started today and things were going very well. At least until my sewing machine decided to leave those lovely "bird nests" as I call them on the bottom of my seams. So I cleaned my machine (lots of dust bunnies hiding in crannies) re threaded the machine and tried once again. Nope. So now I have decided that I was using two different thread weights and will do up another bobbin of the correct weight. I have already changed to a different heavier needle. Keeping my fingers crossed that this works. 

The grocery list has been made and I will more than likely be shopping tomorrow or Friday. That will be the day all the errands done on that day. I will also pick up our end of the month allowances so as I won't have to do so at the end of April. Done this lots of times, I just put the cash away until the last day. This time I think I will take enough cash out so I can fill the envelope for the collection plate over the next month as well. Cheques are getting very expensive so when I can use cash I will.

Decluttering is continuing as I spring clean. Today the hutch and buffet were cleaned in the dining room. Removed another 9 items and put them in the donation box. Tomorrow I will do the curio cabinet and the one cupboard I didn't do a very good job of clearing. Planning to move my baking stuff (pans etc.) into a cupboard closer to the oven. I am getting a bit tired of rummaging through the shelves in the bedroom closet looking for what I need. 

Papers were also organized and some trashed. Mostly recipes that we tried and did not enjoy. The organization part today was to get some patterns put into a binder. So many patterns to try. Along with probably almost a lifetime of yarn, I probably have enough knitting patterns to last forever as well. Not to mention cross stitch patterns and crafty type patterns. One of these days I will get going through all of those as well. This downsizing is making me crazy!!! 

Off to see how many of you I can visit before supper is ready.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 Day one of the tariffs, just waiting to see what happens. 

Thank you for the reminder of Ash Wednesday Cheryl. I have switched some meals around. Strange thing I had just mentioned to Harvey how we would need to go to one of the Masses just before I did my Blog post. 

It has been cloudy and we have actually had a bit of snow off and on today. Nothing that really amounted to much, but it shows how strange the weather is in March. By the weekend we are supposed to be sunny and above freezing once again. This type of weather plays my aches and pains like a violin. 

Not much happening here on the old homestead. I did some extra cleaning, attended the Great Create at the Art Room and since the light is great in that room I managed to get some embroidery done. Once home and all the household tasks were completed I managed to get one front of a patchwork tote done plus half of the second one. I figure I will be able to finish those off tomorrow. One item half way to being completed on my list. 

Decluttering is happening slowly. I have managed to rid or at least put in the donation bag another 4 items. Hoping to continue even if it is only one item a day. Small bites of a rather large elephant. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Round Up

 

Since it has been raining I consider the fact that I actually managed to get the bulbs in a major accomplishment. I will have to go out and work on getting my perennial bed weeded once again though. 

Not much happening on the old homestead. I have been working on a few things. Today after talking to my brother I pinned some of the triangles together for the next quilt. Haven't sewn them yet, but got a few twinges in my back so needed to take a break from that. 

I made a pie which Harvey and I enjoyed as dessert for a few days. Baked a loaf of bread, and made use of leftovers in the fridge. 

Bad Jackie went plant shopping today. I managed to get most of my herbs, all the lavender plants I wanted, and some flowers. Man the price of those have really risen. Here is hoping that I can manage the rest within my budget considering I have to purchase all the soil for my pots, boxes and planters. I also wish I could overwinter more, but no room in this house. Surprisingly I had way more room and light in the mobile home we used to live in.

My Hardy Kiwi came yesterday, but I didn't get the mail until today. It looks very healthy and should grow and then produce next year. We need to get everything set up to plant it by the end of the month. Looking forward to the privacy it will give us once fully grown and of course the fruit!!

Now I should admit to something. I have never used a store delivery service as I like to check out the produce I am getting. I thought that could be a way for those just starting on their frugal journey to save a bit of cash on their groceries. 

I am also lucky in that at least a day before a sale starts I get to check out the fliers of my two shopping places. I could actually go to another two places, but the meat at one is terrible, and the other is not conducive to easy shopping and I have heard nasty things about the customer service. I refuse to shop where people are made fun of for their choices. That is just plain wrong.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits

 

Wow, such lovely weather the past couple of days. Today right now in the city it is 10C. I know there is more cold heading our way, but nothing like the bone chilling temperatures at the beginning of the month. 

I seem to be sleeping much longer than usual. This morning it was very late for me, thus causing me to only do my shopping at one store. Mainly because there were way too many people around for me to feel completely safe. I did get to the bank for our allowances though so managed to combine two of my four errands. Tomorrow I will do the last two and not have to leave the house to be around crowds of people for a little bit. 

With the sunny days I have been able to work on my embroidery and that is moving right along. While I won't have the square done this month, I have great hopes of being finished it early next month and perhaps starting a third block. Slowly but surely moving forward knowing that this portion of the quilt will take a very long time to complete. Once the weather gets nice it will probably grind to a halt as I start work in the yard.

Everybody have a wonderful afternoon.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

I am sitting here at the computer drinking coffee, and watching the freezing rain. So happy that there is no place I need to be today, since I cancelled the dental appointment. I am going to stick close to home and get even more of the goals and projects completed. 

I am also glad that Kris works from home today, as I am sure the city is getting the same weather as we are. 

Spent some time yesterday and the day before watching a couple of YouTube channels. There are a few I have subscribed to that I have fallen behind on watching. It really is amazing how some people can manage to put out so many video's and others seemingly drop off after being so very popular for years. I have noticed more frugal and simple living channels have popped up in the last little while. 

Another stitch has fallen out, and now that a week has passed I can use the lovely soft brush to gently clean that side of my upper jaw teeth. Hopefully stitches keep dissolving and I will be able to floss very soon. I really miss being able to use my electric toothbrush and giving that portion of my mouth a good flossing. I will still rinse with salt water for awhile yet. 

The goals/projects for the month are coming along. I should be able to finish another one today, and perhaps get those Christmas cards started as well. The more I manage to get done before the arrival of the yarn, the better things will be. 

A weather warning just flashed up on my phone, yes, both the city where Kris lives and the city where I live are getting freezing rain. Still the vehicles seem to be racing down the streets without a care in the world. Well at least until they start to sElide and cause an accident.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits

 

Another relatively quiet day. It is our 47th anniversary which is really quite strange to think about. The years have for the most part passed by quickly with very little strife. Not to say we have never argued, or gotten upset with each other, but we have never stayed angry.

So today was mostly a stay at home, and enjoy our time together. I booked a vacation for us at one of our National Parks. It is a park we have visited three times before. Once camping and twice later in the summer at a resort in the village. This time we are in a new resort with a new cabin and more things that are not supplied. Still it was a savings of around $200.00 and since we will be bringing food and most of the extra items we already have here.... no problem.

Working on hand quilting and slowly getting things completed. I should be finished the border tomorrow and then I can hand quilt the bricks. Not too sure how I am going to do those. I hope to be finished soon and putting the binding on so I can move on to the next unfinished projects. One of which should take no time at all, the other could be going into the next month. 

Frugally things are being recycled, donated or tossed if no longer good. Tomorrow I plan on going through the linen closet and seeing what can be recycled in there. Anything that can be taken apart for fabric, or repaired will be put in the sewing/craft room, and repurposed. The year of living to the utmost frugality has started off excellently. 

Leftovers are slowly disappearing from the fridge, and I am saving bits and bobs of veggies to add to soups. I am also planning and doing more appliance cooking. Yesterday the casserole was made in the toaster oven, supper tonight is being made in the slow cooker (with the stove top being used for the veggies). 

Watching lots of free TV. If Harvey was no longer around I think I could actually get rid of our television subscription..... Mind you the boys could be a bit upset at not having sports to watch. 

Off to visit a few of you and then get supper on the table.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits

 

No pictures today as it has been pretty dreary here so I am pretty sure the lighting would have been off. I have been working on the quilt though and managed to get 3 of the 6 strips of 9-patch blocks sewn together. My neck and shoulder started giving me grief, even after resting between mad bouts of sewing and pinning. I have everything ready for another marathon sewing spree tomorrow. 

We went and got our haircuts today. Man, that is getting costly. I am so tempted to learn how to cut my own and Harvey's hair. I do love how Brook does both our hair and she always tries to fit us in as soon as she can. It was actually an enjoyable session today as I also got to talk to another one of my "girls". My goodness I love the way that they have all grown up. 

It has been snowy and blowy the past couple of days. Lots of fairly deep drifts on various corners and other points on the streets of the city. A taste of the usual prairie winter before the real winter hits. I just hope that the weather is nice so that Kurt and Kris can get home for Christmas. If Kris had more bedrooms or places to sleep, I would suggest we meet there. 

Speaking of Kris, he harvested his first lettuce this week.

A pretty darn good harvest and considering the cost of lettuce right now perhaps a pretty darn good savings.

Off to visit all of you after getting the table set for supper. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Thursday Tidbits

 It has been a rather strange couple of days. We went from above freezing temperatures to below freezing with lots of fog. Supposedly later today a winter storm is to arrive with the beginnings of what could amount to a rather large deposit of the white stuff. I can see that happening as when the fog lifted the skies stayed very dark and dismal.

The other strange things that have happened are perhaps not so strange considering the world we are living in right now.

Kris sent me a text yesterday saying he had tested positive using a rapid test for Covid. Right now he says it is more like a real bad cold, but I will be phoning tonight to see how he is doing.

Kurt put on his twitter account this morning how he started feeling ill in the early evening, but by later he was phoning around to find a sub and making lesson plans. He did a rapid test and it came back negative, he plans on doing one a bit later. 

I really do think that it is only time before we all come down with this variant, I just hope it isn't all at the same time and we all have very mild cases. 

I have been keeping busy hand quilting and knitting scarves this week. I had forgotten how long it takes to do hand quilting, really this quilt will probably not be ready for the binding for a number of months. Still I will get it completed one way or another.

I broke down when shopping today as they had air fryers on sale and I used some of my envelop money to purchase one. As I said to Harvey when I got back with it "What's the use of an air fryer if I can't fry fish in it?" So our old one with the paddle will be thoroughly cleaned and donated. 

Continuing with my organization and declutter of the kitchen. I have one more set of uppers and one more set of lower cabinets and the kitchen will be done and dusted. I can then perhaps move on to the hall closets and the other small pantry. Love having a tidy and organized home.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.