Keeping The Spirit Of Christmas Alive

 I interrupt my regular posts today.

We have a few senior residences in our city that are quite often forgotten over the holidays. There are always gifts for those in the nursing homes or long term care at the hospital and at the private nursing home and yet many are still forgotten. 

Now during this time of upheaval, and restricted visitations I decided that it was time to remember them all and am playing Secret Santa to the two places that are closest to me.

This morning when I went for my walk I made my first delivery. A bag full of homemade scarves for the one place. I never thought that it would be plastered all over Facebook, or really make that much of a difference.

I spent much of today while mending, and knitting (mostly because I couldn't concentrate on baking, guess multitasking went out the window) trying to figure out what to do for the second residence in my neighbourhood. 

After supper it came to me. This place likes to do puzzles!!! So on Thursday I will pick up some puzzles, a game (perhaps dominos) and drop them off with a card (sneaking in of course). 

I know that they will be unable to gather for awhile, but these will be something for them to all look forward to when gathering restrictions end.

I am really having fun doing this, and knowing I am making even the slightest difference during this time is the icing on the cake. Sharing hope and love, the first two candles on the Advent wreath is making this season so much more important to me.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

 

Menu Monday

 

Into the first full week of December already, Christmas is just around the corner. Hope everyone is being nice.

Monday

Leftover sausage casserole, and some sliced cucumbers and dip.

Tuesday

Soup and Sandwiches.

Wednesday

Chicken burgers, home made fries.

Thursday

BBQ Chicken Thighs done in the instant pot, rice, peas and carrots.

Friday

Fish fillets, the last of the hash browns, coleslaw.

Saturday

Leftover chicken thighs with the last of the rice, corn.

Sunday

Pork roast, roasted potatoes and roasted carrots (may throw in some rutabaga to roast as well.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 

It is the Second Sunday of Advent. Once again I am going to share with all of you the Archbishop of our Diocese's talk.

Father Don as I knew him when he was the assistant priest here in Estevan is a wonderful and gentle man. He reaches deep into his heart to share with us all.

https://www.facebook.com/ArchdioceseofRegina/videos/206938210882781

Enjoy.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

 

Good Frugal Friday. I hope you are all well, and being as frugal as is possible in this confusing time.

1.  Used up most of the bags of frozen meat from the fridge freezer. Also used up some puff pastry, and a frozen pie shell.

2.  Used up the chicken broth from the fridge in making soup this week.

3.  Tried to combine errands to save on gas and wear/tear on the vehicle.

4.  Did a sort of secret Santa type thing on the street and gave some scarves away to those that needed cheering up. Though one lady guessed who had done it. Thought I was being so very sneaky.

5.  Saved $5.86 shopping this week. Not as good as I had hoped, but I will take what I can.

6.  Using up scraps from the mask fabric to make some fabric mug rugs. I will also be using up some binding on the last 8.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Thursday Tidbits

 Today was absolutely beautiful. It was 7C here with no noticeable wind. A perfect day.

I was asked to share my chocolate coconut candy recipe so here it is.

2 cups chocolate chips

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup icing sugar (powdered sugar)

and about 1 1/2 cups coconut (shredded)

Melt the chocolate chips and butter over hot water add remaining ingredients to make a stiff mixture.

Allow to cool slightly and roll in balls, place balls on waxed paper or parchment paper to harden.

Sometimes I roll the hardened balls in a bit of icing sugar. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Wednesday and Finally Some Photos

 I have been a bit remiss in posting pictures of finished projects, and while I am doing that I may as well post some pictures of the tree.

This year the tree is downstairs, just don't know how Kris's cat Eiko would behave with it up here.

No angel on the top this year as the ceiling is a bit lower in the basement. We would need to cut a hole to fit it. As is usual, the tree is in mostly red and silver with a few special ornaments in other colours, lots of angels, Santas, and few special ones from students throughout the years.

Upstairs was not decorated as much as I usually do, the tree is a big part of the décor usually. I did my best and this is what I came up with.

This little tree is one of the few things I have left from my ceramics classes. It does need a good dusting and once baking is done it will get a good cleaning.

My Nativity sets and a couple of snowmen sit atop the fireplace/entertainment center.

The corner nearest my desk has the rest of the ornaments. As you can all see I really did not feel much like decorating. I do have a bit more to do (mostly candles and candy dishes) and I hope to complete that soon.

Now on to what I have completed as far as projects go.

The simple pouch I made for my cell phone. Big enough that I can find it in my purse with ease.

My hip hitting sweater. Still not sure about the neck and perhaps if I make this pattern once again I will change the neckline.

Citrus sugar scrubs (some for me and some to give as a small token gift).

Just a little case to keep my ereader from getting dusty sitting on my night table.

Matching masks for Christmas 2020. Wonder if I can actually get a picture of us all wearing them.

Baking began as well.

Almond bark and chocolate coconut candy.

Peanut butter cups made into bars, much less fuss this way and they taste just as good.

Shortbreads which are my absolute fav with a lovely cup of tea or hot chocolate.

So baking will continue over the next few weeks and I will be doing more projects. I hope to have most things completed in a couple of weeks. Then I can sit back and relax.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

P.S.

Please excuse the blurry photos. At times my one camera really acts up. The better camera needs to have its battery charged.

Thrifty Tuesday

 

Today I went back in time and started to think about my old Home Economics classes.

I don't know about your classes, or if you even took them (girls got Home Ec. and boys got Shop), but mine started in Grade 7. The course was divided in two Food/Cooking and Sewing.

In the food portion we learned how to make a menu, set a table properly (even had to draw place settings for the meal), make shopping list, and serve the meal. It was actually lots of fun. Well except for having to list everything out, find the recipes we were going to use (much easier in the lower grades as the teacher did all of that), draw out the place setting and make sure everything prepared was enough to feed the whole class. Then of course we were graded on the papers we handed in and our performance as head cook and bottle washer.

Sewing class gave me a taste of being able to make something I could actually wear. Our first project was an apron with embroidery. The teacher had all the pattern made for us. We just had to cut it out, do the embroidery, and then sew it up according to the directions she gave us. Our second project in Grade 8 was a wrap skirt with a button. Once again everything was supplied even the fabric (we all made our skirts out of some kind of woven green stuff). Learned how to make a buttonhole, how to hem properly (tiny little stitches) and put interfacing in (back then it was sew in, none of the fusible was available).

I hit Grade 9 and cooking continued in much the same manner, though the meals and treats we made became a bit more complex. It was pretty much the same for the rest of the time I took the class. Some things went over very well, others not so accepted. We learned how to make a menu for a week and poured over fliers to get the best possible deals. Budgeting was a big part of the course as we went along.

Sewing in high school got a bit more complicated. We had to buy our own fabric and got a list of patterns that we were to pick from. Each year a new challenge was added. We had a teacher who would measure the seams to make sure they were exactly 5/8 inches and that the darts on our patterns fit exactly (that is if the pattern had a dart at the bust) and those were measured to make sure they were exactly the same length. Still it was amazing to see how much we all learned and how our skills with a sewing machine grew.

I never realized until a few days ago that the skills I learned there prepared me for what I would face as an adult. 

The cooking classes gave me a background in cooking in a thrifty manner. I still pour over the fliers and make a menu. Only this time instead of for a week mine is made for a month. Sure things sometimes change, but it is usually just exchanging days. By pouring over the fliers I have managed to store enough food ahead that I can do the month and any sale items I buy can be used the next month (especially meat, poultry and fish). I still set a table the way I learned in school. Budgeting is a big part of my thrifty home.

I didn't sew for a very long time after I left high school, but when I became pregnant with my first child I borrowed my mother's sewing machine and made many a maternity top and even one dress. Then when our daughter was born, Harvey bought me a sewing machine as a Christmas gift (could no longer borrow Mom's as we had moved) and I started sewing her clothing. Loved sewing all those little dresses and tops. Our youngest son also got many a home sewn outfit of t-shirt and pants. 

While sewing clothing has taken most of my time I branched into quilts (made from scraps of fabric and fabric cut from old clothing like jeans and woolen skirts), and décor items. I am sure my old home ec. teacher would shudder to see that my seams are not always a true 5/8", but would be happy to see that my darts are always the same length.

Now I can't leave what thrifty things I learned from my Mom. She always used up every bit of food, letting nothing go to waste. Many of the meals I make I learned from her. 

She taught me to knit, and darn socks. How to turn a collar, and how to fix a zipper. 

These are all lessons that have kept me occupied and thrifty over the years. They helped me through financially hard times and during the good time helped us to save for retirement. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.