Sunday Ramblings

We are having wonderful temperatures and weather for this late into December. In fact it is so nice that I am a bit worried about what the rest of the year is going to be like. I would hate to have snow storms over the Christmas holidays when all the travellers are on the roads. I want Kurt and Kris to make it here and back to their respective homes with no unnecessary worry. The long term forecast (at least up until the 22nd) seems to be good, I will continue to keep my fingers crossed.

Our visit to see Jerry went well. Though by the time we were ready to leave he was getting agitated and very loud. I had to use his whole name (this means his middle two names) to get him settled down. He is on a great deal of medication and watches the clock for his next dose. Joanne and I had hoped that after a week he would have been more like his old self, but that wasn't to be.

We can only hope that there is marked improvement as this next week progresses.

Today I had every intention of making the caramels and peanut brittle, in fact all the ingredients out and then just sat and looked at them. After the drive and visit yesterday I just could not summon the energy to do anything. So, after Mass (which actually did not take as long as usual) I sat in my chair, watched a few episodes of CSI Miami and the premier of Knightfall while I knitted.

Tomorrow is another day and hopefully one in which I get back to doing my Christmas preparations.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

1.  Darned a couple of pairs of wool socks.

2.  No food waste this week.

3.  Went for a walk at least once a day for exercise.

4.  Made all meals from scratch with items on hand.

5.  Making sure all lights are off in rooms not in use as well as heat turned off or down very low.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thursday Tidbits

Just sharing a few pictures of what I have been up to this week so far.

Tree up and decorated. No presents underneath as of yet, but hopefully a few will be under very soon.

Big pot of chili made. I am really trying to get a few meals ahead and this is the first large batch of many I hope.

Shortbread made, I never got a picture of the Almond Bark. That went into the freezer as quickly as possible. I wanted no temptation.

Large pot of split pea soup. I used the ham bone I had been saving to make the stock. The remainder was frozen for another meal or two down the road.

First batch of whipped shortbread cookies. So rich and melt in your mouth good.

A tray of chocolate coconut candy. These will be rolled in icing sugar (powdered sugar) when I serve them.

Chocolate mints. This will be cut tomorrow morning into small squares.

Tomorrow I plan on doing some more baking, crossing a few more items off the baking list. I also want to do some more sewing. Then of course there are all the usual Friday household tasks that need to be done as well.

Saturday, my sister and I will be traveling to Yorkton, a city 3 hours north of us. Our youngest brother suffers from schizophrenia and his meds seem to have stopped working. Our other brother informed me today that Jerry is in the hospital and they are trying to get his meds working again. We'll go up and visit him for a little while and make sure all is going well.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless. 

Much Better

Though it is much colder here on the prairies I am feeling much better. Still stuffed up and now I am coughing. When I have a headache as bad as yesterday I can't function.

I did figure out why I developed the headache though. I had walked up to pick up the mail and on the way back a neighbour from two doors down stopped me and was almost in tears. It seemed her daughter had been kicked out of the apartment she had moved into about 2 months ago and all her stuff was outside in the dirt. Could Harvey use his truck to help move the daughter and her baby home.

Well feeling sorry for this family (none of them are working, and the grandmother who owns the house is not healthy) I talked Harvey into doing this.

I went back over to say we would help, but couldn't load everything up on our own there would have to be younger men there to do the heavy lifting. I walked into the house to the most overwhelming odor of dog feces and urine that it has ever been my misfortune to smell. Not only was the smell powerful, but the house and deck were wall to wall boxes, bags, and what I am sure was garbage.

I passed on the message and got out as soon as I was able. Needless to say there was only one man there to help load the truck and when we got back there was no one to unload until later that night.

I had that smell following me the rest of the night even after cooking the leftover chicken into a curry (and everyone knows a curry is a strong smelling meal) all my olfactory senses could smell was that urine and dog feces. I couldn't even eat very much as the longer I imagined I could still smell that odor the more my head pounded.

Then today I kept getting calls that one of their items was missing almost as if they thought we had stolen it. The item was found and the calls have now stopped.

This does make me second guess helping anyone ever again.

Tomorrow is another day, and I really hope a less stressful one.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Thrifty Tuesday

This is going to be a very quick post. 

Thrifty happenings here on the old homestead this week are pretty much the same as usual. I did darn some of Harvey's woolen socks, and a pair of my own woolen socks as well.

A few seams were mended and a pair of Harvey's trousers (or as we call them here in Canada....pants) were cut and hemmed. 

Now the reason this post is short and sweet.

I was fine up until the late afternoon. I then developed a headache, the chills, and a very stuffy nose. This is not the time for me to be ill so I am drinking lots of fluids and taking some tablets for my headache. So much to accomplish and time is running out.

I do hope I am better tomorrow. Off to have some more tea and honey.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

Computer updates and small glitches kept me from doing a post on the weekend. I took advantage of this to decorate my tree and home.

On to the menus for this upcoming week.

Monday

Hamburgers, homemade fries and whatever veggie needs using up.

Tuesday

A package of leftover turkey (or it could be chicken as I forgot to label a few items) will be made into a casserole.

Wednesday

Soup and Sandwich night. I am pulling out the ham bone and making a big pot of split pea soup. 

Thursday

Perhaps Harvey's favorite sausage casserole, though I myself am leaning towards toad in the hole.

Friday

Salmon fillets, rice, and green beans along with some carrots and dip.

Saturday

This could be a clean out the fridge night, but if there are not enough leftovers I think I will make sweet and sour ribs in the slow cooker. Serving this with rice and cut up veggies and dip.

Sunday

Roast Beef, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots and more raw veggies and dip.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

A fairly frugal and fruitful week.

1.  I managed to cook once and eat twice for two meals this week. In fact today was supposed to be a tuna casserole, but there is enough potato leek soup for another meal and I have some tuna salad chilling ready to make into sandwiches.

2.  I found the Christmas cards I bought on deep discount a couple of years ago. I have started my Christmas card list and tomorrow should see it finished.

3.  My sister called today and asked if I wanted to go with her to the high school production of "School of Rock." I have heard good things about it so of course I said yes. Free ticket to some awesome entertainment.

4.  Keeping the heat down during the day, and turning it up about an hour before I go to bed.

5.  Found a few more items to list on our garage sale sites here in the city.

Once I get my household binder set up I will post about it.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.