Thrifty Tuesday

I made a few thrifty moves over the past week.

I hemmed some pants that were too long for Harvey.

Hung an extra load of clothes on the lines downstairs.

Found some fabric as I was decluttering the sewing/craft room that will be perfect for making some curtains for the downstairs bedroom. Using up the stash is a big plus in my books.

Blinds and drapes were opened to allow the sun to heat up the front of the house. As long as it is sunny it seems like no matter what the temperature is outside those big picture windows allow lots of solar heating.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

Another week of cooking lies ahead. I can't wait for the weather to improve enough that Harvey is willing to stand outside and BBQ. Until that happens I guess I am pretty much the chief cook and bottle washer here.

Monday

Making a big pot of chili and serving it with toast. Hopefully freezing some for a meal later on (when I need something already made) and having enough for leftovers on Wednesday.

Tuesday

Leftover roast beef made into a casserole. Served with a kale salad and asparagus.

Wednesday

Clean out the fridge night. Need to use up what is left of the asparagus as well.

Thursday

I am going to make a big pot of soup and freeze some for a meal later. Served with egg salad sandwiches.

Friday

Glace, or as some people call it deconstructed perogies.

Saturday

Spaghetti and meat sauce. I shall make a salad here to serve along with the meal.

Sunday

Our usual roast meal, this time pork roast along with a mixture of vegetables thrown in a pan, drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and roasted beside the meat.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

Today the archbishop was coming to parish for confirmation. I find it a bit hard to believe that children in grade 2 are ready for confirmation, but will go with the flow. Some people have said that by confirming these children they are more likely to stay in the church... Don't know how true that is as 3/4 of the children that I have seen confirmed since the age change do not come to Mass after.

I looked around at the lovely decorations in the church today, and then looked at all the new things this priest has decided we need. We had a lovely Easter Candle that we just added a container of oil to every so often, plus we only needed to replace the stickers on this candle every year, now we have a regular wax candle (which will burn irregularly) and will need to be replaced every year. This at a cost of $800.00 compared to about $300.00. A new set of pitchers and goblets were bought as well. We only bought new sacred vessels 5 years ago (actually they were donated), and the cost of these new vessels (which we really did not need) was $2K. Then my glance fell on the new Holy water container. I, myself (and I have overheard others saying the same thing) think it is a bit over the top and the price was ridiculous....5K.

This does not include the new vestments we have bought (yet again) at a cost of 25K and a myriad of smaller items. We then have a priest that knocks on doors and tells parishioners that they are not giving enough, or should leave money to the church when they pass on.

I am beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed by what is happening in our church as far as spending is concerned. I am also worried about this "team" approach that is always being spoken about. It seems as if some people are more members of the "team" than others.

I think it is time for me to step back and re-evaluate what I really want to be doing in a church that seems to feel some people are more important than others (at least from what I can see). While I have loved being a lector and communion minister I think it just might be time to give those up, and while I really believe in the Ecumenical movement within the church, I feel others should either back off and let me do what is necessary, or take over (which they probably want).

The things that bring me joy as far as ministry within the church right now are few and far between. I love the Prayer Shawl ministry I started, love working with those that need help in any manner and love singing in the congregation. I think perhaps it is time that I stopped talking about doing only those things that bring me joy, and actually do those things.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

This week has been one full of decluttering, organizing, and as is usual at this time of year, spring cleaning. Oh yes, I must not forget starting to work on brand new projects for this month.

As far as spring cleaning is concerned I just have the walls to wash in one bedroom, cupboards to straighten up and wipe down, and floors to give a really good scrubbing with a brush to get into all the nooks and crannies. Tomorrow I plan on getting the last of the walls washed. Next week should see the end of spring cleaning.

Decluttering a few things from the sewing /craft room. Today it was some fabric that I bought from garage sales but probably will never use. Tomorrow after wall washing I will be back in there and doing a second cull, plus a refolding of some pieces. I might even pull some to cut out a couple of pairs of shorts.

I am typing this on my tablet and it is doing strange things (missing letters or changing the words I am typing), so I will cut this short. I hate when auto correct decides they know better than I, what I am trying to say.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

All the usual frugal happenings this past week. I do have some new frugal ideas (well a combination of frugal/recycling/no waste type things. Any way along with the usual frugal habits, here are a few new things I have done.

1.  I made a wall washing pad to go on the end of my Swifter floor duster and I have been using it to wash my walls.

2.  Watching free movies and series while knitting, sewing and mending.

3.  Have 6 ivy type plants started, and 5 Moon flower pots started as well.

Can not think of anything new right now.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

GOD BLESS.

New Month, New Goals

It is a brand new month, bringing with it all that a fresh new beginning happens. I have my list of goals for the month.

1.  Cut out four more patterns.

2.  Sew all cut out patterns.

3.  Knit squares from leftover yarn (ongoing until I have enough for a blanket).

4.  Knit one prayer shawl.

5.  Work on the temperature blanket (year long project...I will post a picture of what I have gotten done.

6.  Sew tool caddy for under the Cricut.

7.  Continue with declutter.

8.  Start one cross stitch project (just a small one that I have had for a number of years).

9.  Buy bedding plants, and plant them all.

10.  Get two more large planters.

11.  Sandwich and finish 2 or more quilts.

My big project for the month in the sewing/craft room will be consolidating two sets of storage drawers of fabric into one.

The clear ones are the ones I will be working on this month. Hopefully I will get everything straightened up. I think folding the fabric properly will help the process immensely. Plus of course using more of it up making some necessary clothing and a pair of curtains for the bedroom downstairs.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Update on Goals From Last Month

1.  Knit cardigan for me. This has been put aside for awhile.

2.  Sew three projects for myself. Not done as my sewing mojo seems to have left me high and dry.

3.  Alter skirts.  Done.

4.  Knit one prayer shawl.  Done

5.  Decluttering. Added to my total. I am now up to 162 items gone from the house.

6.  Work on temperature blanket. Working on this year long project.

7.  Sew 2 new quilt tops. Done, actually made more that the 2 tops.

8.  Mount and frame more cross stitch.  Mounted more cross stitch now Harvey needs to make me some frames.

9.  Tidy up sewing/craft room again.  Done, but could be done again.

10.  Cut out 2 more patterns. Done.

11.  Make up stock up list. Done.

12.  Swap out wardrobe for spring/summer clothing. Done.

13.  Use some of the smaller balls of yarn to knit squares for a blanket. Done and still being worked on in the evenings.

My big goal for the month was cleaning out one of my sets of storage drawers...

Remember this

Well that has been used up for the most part and any extra yarn or quilting items have either been used up (in those quilt tops, the strips at any rate) or put in other storage boxes that were almost empty. 

There are a few items I have to clear off the floor, as you can see, but the main part is cleared out.

So my goal for this month is to continue with the decluttering of my sewing/craft room, perhaps even get rid of another set of storage drawers (they are piled 2 high) and work on going through my craft books and culling them (that will be difficult).

I am having a problem with some posters, so I am going to do something I swore I wouldn't do and add comment moderation to my blog. I don't want them bothering all of you as well.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.