Frugal Friday

It has been a cold and windy day today. That has stopped me from doing any planting. In fact it is highly doubtful anything will get planted this weekend as temperatures are to drop just to freezing or even lower. I don't want to have to replace all my plants so they will be staying in where it is nice and warm. In fact it was so cold this morning, that even though we turned down the thermostat on the furnace it kicked in. Thank heavens for shawls to wrap up in!!!

I managed to save $11.43 on the grocery bill this week.

I needed some small trellis's to go into my pots. I could not find any at Walmart for under $10.00 each, so I traveled to our Dollar Tree and managed to pick up 4 for less than 1/2 the cost of the one.

I was going to use fabric to cover those pattern binders I have left, but then realized that I would probably need that fabric (it is an outdoor type) to make a few more cushions for the various seating on the deck and beside the firepit. As I was in Dollar Tree already I took a look at their paper rolls. Found 4 of the same pattern and grabbed them as they were on sale (marked down) 2 for the price of 1.

All laundry was hung outside on the umbrella line dryer. So nice to have everything finished at once!!

Leftovers all used up either as lunches or made into a new meal. 

Still working on using up all that finer wool, then I will start on the worsted. These blankets will be used outside to wrap up on those cold evenings.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Clutter, Clutter, Clutter

As I have mentioned before I am on a quest to get things straightened up an reorganized in the sewing/craft room. Since I can not do more decluttering of fabric until I get my sewing mojo back (hopefully this weekend I will be able to look at the patterns I have cut out and get at least one or two finished up), I decided it was time to go through the binders of patterns for crafts, knitting and sewing I had saved over the years.

Two days later I had removed all the double patterns I had printed out (at least I hope so) and managed to cut out 6 binders. Yea me!!!

Then I looked at all the cross stitch pattern books I had bought over the years. Lovely magazines just filled with patterns that I was going to do. Did I do them? Not a chance.

So I pulled them out of the bookcase and put them in groups of 10 listing them on our garage sale site. No takers as of yet, but I will leave them up for another couple of days. Then if they still not taken I will load them up and take them to the Salvation Army.

I thought I would share a picture with you of the miniature that Kurt brought back from the UK for me many years ago.

I went a bit cross eyed completing it.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Thrifty Tuesday

Really only one thrifty move this week that is different from other weeks. 

I always save the sheets that no longer fit our bed due to shrinkage or worn areas. I do this for backing on quilts, making small gift bags or new pillow cases. I had a lovely blue set of sheets that got too small to fit the bed any longer a few years ago, and put them away for use later. 

Then one Christmas Harvey wanted a lighter pair of pj bottoms. Guess what part of those sheets became. Yesterday I took the last bit and made curtains for our basement bedroom from them. Managed to use up most of the top sheet on that one. The bottom sheet will be used as backing on the blue striped quilt top. It feels great not to be adding to the surplus of fabric and clothing that is/might be sent overseas where if they can't use it will be burned.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

Sorry for no posts this weekend, just too busy enjoying the lovely weather (well at least yesterday) and talking to friends about what I feel is both positive (there are a few things) and negative happening in our parish. I have a few things I need to sort in my mind before I make my decision on whether or not to draw back from certain things and individuals in the parish.

Anyhow, on with the weeks menus.

Monday

Baked spaghetti (made from the leftovers), salad (once again leftover from another meal) and probably the asparagus that needs using up in the crisper.

Tuesday

Smoked sausages along with rice and mixed veggie. If there is leftover salad we will finish that up here.

Wednesday

Finishing off the leftover baked spaghetti.

Thursday

A package of turkey out of the freezer and perhaps a new recipe tried (youngest son Kris could be home tonight). I will make a tossed salad to go along with the main course.

Friday

Fish fillets, homemade fries and another salad.

Saturday

Stuffed Chicken, mashed potatoes, peas. and the remaining salad (if there is none I will make another). 

Sunday

Kris will be heading back home so we will have our regular roast meal. I was going to have a ham, but I think I will make the pork roast that was not cooked yesterday. Served with roasted potatoes, roasted carrots and any remaining salad.

Change ups in menus coming soon. I can hardly wait to eat main dish salads once again.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

My frugal 5 for the past week.

1.  Used some rain water to water a couple of plants indoors.

2.  Purchased larger plants rather than a couple of small ones to use in the big planters. Cost was actually less when I did my calculations.

3.  A friend gave me some stabilizer to use in my embroidery of the labels for the prayer shawls, and there is enough to use for other projects as well.

4.  All meals made at home with products I had on hand.

5.  Worked on knitting those little squares from leftover small balls or orphan skeins of yarn.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Thursday Tidbits

The weather has slowly been getting nicer. Still not nice enough to play in the dirt for very long, but still nicer temperature wise from last week.

I have been busy on many little projects, decluttering, cleaning the house, and trying to get ahead. I want to get as much done as possible before my surgery date, which could come up quite quickly after the doctor gets all the paperwork back in.

I finished the very small cross stitch and pulled out another to start at some point next week. I have also finished many more little squares, pictures to come tomorrow.

I have weeded the perennial bed, but due to the many seeds on one of our maple trees, once again lots of little trees are popping up. I hope to get out again tomorrow.

No weight loss this week (well perhaps a few ounces), but I am maintaining very well. My daily walks are helping this out.

Grocery shopping was held to a minimum, which makes me happy. We also got full months carbon tax on our bills this month. The electric bill added a whole $2.47 to the total (put we don't have to pay provincial taxes which would have added close to $7.00) and the gas bill was a bit higher on the carbon tax at $5.41 (once again no provincial sales tax which would have been close to $9.00 more). I think we might be making a bit of money over all. This will also give us an incentive to cut our power and gas usage next winter.

No more news to impart.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

A Gift

A few years ago, Harvey bought me a wicker rocker for Mother's Day. Every fall we bring it in for the winter months. This past winter Harvey has decided that it is his favourite chair and will not bring it back up.... This left us (well me) with no comfortable seat on the deck.

So today Harvey decided to get me my Mother's Day gift a bit early and came home with this.

I must say this is a very comfortable chair. Perfect for curling up with a good book  or knitting the afternoon away. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.