Menu Monday

The week before Christmas is finally here. I have managed to get everything done that needs to be done as far as preparation goes. I do have to pick up salad makings, fruit and dairy this week and make an appetizer for our Christmas family gathering. Easy peasy.

Monday

Leftover Stew with dumplings.

Tuesday

Leftover pork roast (I think I still have a package in the fridge freezer). Or perhaps some leftover frozen ham made into a casserole.

Wednesday

Clean out the fridge night (probably leftover stew and casserole).

Thursday

Soup and sandwiches (perhaps a beef based soup this time).

Friday

Glace (Kurt and Kris should be home and this is one of their favs).

Saturday

Stuffed Chicken, rice, peas and carrots with the last of the green beans mixed in.

Sunday

Lasagna (must remember to put this together).

Lunches will be catch as catch can. Everyone can help themselves to sandwich makings or leftovers.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

Another quiet day, with lovely temperatures. I went for two walks today, one after Harvey made brunch and I got everything cleaned up, and another later in the afternoon.

It is the Third Sunday of Advent. We celebrate the Joy of the season. Father Antony made a great point about how we should slow down and enjoy this period of waiting........ So glad that I finished everything that needed to be done and can now just "be" for the rest of Advent and the Christmas season.

Over the past two days I got to talk to my two favorite Aunts. These are my mother's two remaining sisters one of which is 90 years old.

Aunt Alice is the youngest of my Grandpa MacDougall's daughters. I spoke to her last night, but for some reason she didn't sound like herself at all.

I was going to call Aunt Isobel tonight, but she surprised me by calling here first. This is the oldest remaining sister. She celebrated her 90th birthday this year. We had a lovely conversation speaking about the family reunion this past summer (Uncle Sam and my dad were brothers, yep sisters married brothers so we are very close). I also learned that Aunt Alice is not doing too well and is on a medication that necessitates someone staying with her at all times.

Aunt Isobel ended the conversation by saying she was getting all the MacDougall family pictures together and I should come up so we could have a pajama party!! Harvey got a kick out of that one.

She also gave me a bit of a lecture about not coming to her place for her birthday celebration this summer. She really wanted me there so we could visit a bit more as she was feeling out of place at the reunion and could sense I was feeling the same way.

I really need to free up some time so that I can get up and visit both these wonderful and loving women.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

In the grand scheme of life things have been very quiet this past week. In my mind however things have been extremely busy, after all this is the lead up to Christmas.

I had loads of baking yet to do, but when I mentioned this to Harvey, he kinda, sorta, looked at me as if to ask "Are you crazy? Who is going to eat all this? Do we really need all this calorie rich food?"  So after looking in the mirror at the rather well rounded body staring back at me I decided enough was enough. No more baking taking place. Except for pies, one must have a pie for Christmas dinner.... Right?????

I have started on sewing those cut out patterns from, oh, six months ago. I got the culottes done and started on one of the tunic tops. Well that top has been set aside because for some reason the sleeves are not fitting properly. I will need to reassess and figure out a way to get it to work after all when I fit the paper pattern together everything was perfect. I started another tunic top today. The shoulders and sides are sewn and the seams finished on the serger. Tomorrow I hope to do the interfacing and get the neck and armhole facings done. Leaving just the hem to do. 

That will also leave me just one more cut out pattern to sew. Like the one the sleeves are not fitting correctly, this is a new pattern. Lots of new techniques to try so it will more than likely take a bit of slow sewing on my part. 

The weather has been just lovely over the past week. I am still going for my morning walks even with a slightly sore throat. The weather can change quickly and I mean to take advantage of each and every lovely day.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

1.  Using up leftovers very well this week.

2.  Working my way through the cut out clothing patterns and my yarn stash.

3.  Stuck to the grocery list.

4.  Baked bread twice this week.

5.  Reading free downloaded books, and watching old television series for entertainment.

6.  Since the weather has been so lovely I have had the opportunity to go for my walk each and every day for exercise.

7.  Used a coupon for $10.00 off the turkey I purchased and used a coupon for a free 4 liter jug of milk. Saved $14.39!!!

I slept very well last night. I did wake up with a sore throat yesterday and a scratchy throat this morning so I have a feeling that was what was interfering with my sleep patterns.

Only 9 more days before Christmas Eve, and only 8 days until both our sons are home. I am so looking forward to their arrival.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Why Can't I Sleep!!

For the past few days my eyes have popped open just after 5 am. Not a great time to be up and about in this house during these winter months. It is too dark to go for my morning walk at 7 and since Harvey is still sleeping I don't want to start any really noisy household chore. So I usually get all the quiet things accomplished, and drink way too much coffee.

Then by the time afternoon rolls around all I want to do is sit and knit. Not that I am complaining as the baby blanket is moving right along. I may even be able to start those mitts for the twins shortly.

Evening comes, and I think yes I can crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head. I fall asleep very quickly, but come 5 am my eyes pop open once again. I am hoping that I can at least sleep until my regular 6 am tomorrow.

Off to bed.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty Tuesday

I have been spending my time baking, sewing, mending and knitting over the past week.

Bread has been baked twice, soup has been made twice using the bits and bobs in the fridge. Once again I had a pair of wool socks to darn, and a belt loop to fix on a pair of dress trousers. 

Baking has consisted of using up items in the cupboard, so even though I haven't cleaned them out yet they look a bit better. Not so cluttered. I needed some graham wafer crumbs today and did not have any, so I made some graham wafers into crumbs. Worked perfectly.

Slowly but surely I am working my way through my yarn stash and through those cut out patterns that have been languishing in the sewing room. I will have some new outfits for the spring and summer once these are done.

Soup is such a thrifty and filling meal, especially on a cold winter's night. I have managed to use up some of the stock I have frozen, making room for more when Christmas is over. Stock making is so simple and thrifty that I just don't know why more people don't give it a try.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

While things got a bit switched around due to the unexpected trip I took, Harvey had enough leftovers in the fridge that his supper on Saturday was already prepared. I guess the ribs go back into the menu rotation.

Monday

Hot dogs, pasta and the leftover roasted veggies from Sunday's supper.

Tuesday

Chicken Noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Wednesday

Leftover beef roast made into a casserole. I saw a recipe I would like to try as I was searching for the Ginger Crinkle Cookie recipe.

Thursday

This will be a clean out the fridge night, or perhaps just an eat what's left of the beef dish night.

Friday

Breakfast for supper. I believe I am going to make some pancakes for our meal.

Saturday

Stew and dumplings. I am hoping to have some leftover for a meal in the run up towards Christmas, and perhaps even enough to freeze a batch for later yet.

Sunday

This was going to be roast pork, but there is still some leftover Ham that needs using up in the fridge freezer. I think I will warm it up or make some Pasties with it.

Simple cooking in the lead up to Christmas over the next few weeks.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.