Thrifty Thursday

 

It is Thursday once again, time to list those thrifty accomplishments for the week.

1.  I am once again cooking using appliances, mostly because my oven is not working correctly and since I have enough cooking things I told Harvey not to worry about it until after Christmas. As long as the stove top works I am fine.

2.  Harvey ordered some pins for the snow blower online and they came in just a few days. He can now fix this himself instead of hauling it to someone else and spending cash that is easily saved.

3.  Our province is closing all Crown owned liquor stores and so the one here is trying to get rid of as much product as is possible. Harvey picked up a few items for less than half price. I think we might go (or I might go) tomorrow and pick up a few other items that are on sale. Love me some Bailey's in hot chocolate over the holiday. While the sale is great, the people that will be out of work is not so great. Add in the fact that profits from these stores go to the province, we will probably be looking at paying more in the way of provincial income tax. 

4.  Fixed a seam in a pair of Harvey's pj bottoms.

5.  Fixed the frayed top of an otherwise in good shape pillow case. 

6.  Downloaded some free reading material onto my Kobo. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Midweek Update

 

Just one question this week again. 

I do freeze some of the cookies to be eaten later. Probably within about 6 months. Most though I give to the sons to take home with them for treats.

All I am posting today will be a few pictures of what I have managed to get done over the past couple of days.

I fixed the edge of a pillow case by using some binding.

Made the Butter Tarts (only 2 1/2 dozen this year), that took quite a while in the toaster oven.

Almond bark is made and will be put in the freezer to be used at Christmas.

I got the insides made of the snowball chocolates (always a big favourite), just have to roll them in icing sugar.

Another Bits and Bobs knitted blanket finished as well. Actually this one was finished last week. 

I am off to work on some hand quilting (the gift quilt) so I will try and visit you all tomorrow morning. Right now I can see lots of what to me will be late nights trying to get those two gifts finished.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits

 

After approximately 2 1/2 hours of pinning, the quilt is now sandwiched. There are a few wrinkles on the backside, but at this point I really am not too worried about that. I am sure that as I quilt, I can get rid of the vast majority. 

This did mean that I didn't get to work on the rug as of yet. I am hopeful of getting at least the stripe I started last night finished before I go to bed. 

Baking is going to be a challenge this year. Using the toaster oven means things have to be baked slightly longer, and I can't get as much in so smaller batches are being made. I did the Butter Tarts mid-morning, and it probably took me double the amount of time it usually does, and I only made 2 1/2 dozen not my regular 5 or 6 dozen. Still, it can be done, and I will work on other things between putting unbaked goods in and pulling the baked goods out. I will just have to plan things out a bit. Tomorrow I will make my shortbread cookies, and a square that does not require baking.

Not the nicest weather here as my body started to warn me about yesterday (I ached all over before I went to bed). We are in the midst of a polar vortex right now, so the entire province is under an extreme cold warning. Tonight, the temperatures with the windchill factored in will range from -42C to -52C depending on what part of the province you live in. Definitely not a time to be out and about. I, like probably most of the province will be keeping our fingers crossed that the power stays on. 

Off to get the final tasks for today completed (vacuuming and hanging the candy canes on the tree downstairs). I will then put together the casserole and make the salad. Should be time left to come back and visit all of you.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 A new week has arrived, bringing us that much closer to Christmas. This means my rear needs to get moving much faster. 

Before I post this week's menus, I need to ask if anyone else has been finding more posts in the spam folder? In fact, I found one today that someone posted to me on Tuesday of last week and I check that folder every day. Strange.

So here are our meals for the week.

Monday

Leftover sausage casserole.

Tuesday

Leftover chicken from Sunday made into a casserole. Probably served with a salad.

Wednesday

Soup and sandwiches. I will pull some Cream of Celery soup out of the big freezer and make grilled cheese sandwiches (have to use the frying pan for those sandwiches).

Thursday

Leftover Chicken casserole and salad.

Friday

Tuna casserole and more than likely the last of the salad.

Saturday

Leftover ham made into a casserole (probably the one Harvey loves which is made in the microwave). I will serve up peas with this. 

Sunday

Roast beef, roasted potatoes, and roasted carrots. Probably made in my big electric roaster. 

Lunches will be leftovers, or sandwiches. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Sunday Rambling

 

The last couple of days have been pretty busy here on the old homestead. They will get much busier... It seems my oven has quit working once again. It was working great last night. I had to pull out my electric roaster to make supper (roast chicken) but I am not too sure how fast it will cook or if it will be ready on time. I can smell it, but it isn't browning very well. I am a bit worried about when I should add the rutabaga and carrots as well. 

Harvey checked the element, and it is just fine. Probably the wiring again which is concerning as that could mean there is more wrong than we thought. 

Oh well I have lots of appliances, and if need be, will do the baking in smaller batches (will take longer, but what can one do). I kind of giggled tonight as Harvey said a while back, I just had too many electrical appliances and should get rid of some. I mentioned to him when he was checking the element that perhaps it was a good thing I had so many. He agreed. 

So, what have I accomplished this week.

The tree downstairs is up and decorated. All that is missing are some candy canes to fill in some of the holes.

The quilt flimsy is done and needs to be pressed. I have the backing washed, dried and ready to be pressed as well. Hopefully tomorrow I will get it sandwiched and pinned. 

This is my electric roaster madly cooking that chicken. 

I also managed to get most of the strips cut for the rug. I should have enough cut to see me through at least 8 or 9 days and get me close to the end of that project. 

Tonight, I will have a bit of a rest and watch Wednesday on the TV and knit a little before jumping in the tub and having a nice soak. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Frugal Friday

 

I have been inside all day, it is bitterly cold outside and really even with the sun shining most of the afternoon the temperature hasn't risen, in fact over the afternoon it dropped. Much nicer to stay in out of the cold even though Harvey went out and did a bit of shoveling.

We also got probably another 4 inches of snow. Made for quite the blanket today. Everything looks nice and clean though.

So, what are the frugal happenings this week here on the old homestead.

1.  Following the menu plan which is allowing me to make sure nothing is wasted.

2.  Added $75.00 to the savings envelope and another $3.55 to the change jars.

3.  Combined errands (when I could) to save on gas. We filled on the 7th of November and I still have about half a tank left. Should see us to almost the end of the month (might have to get gas on the 23rd to make sure we can get to family on the 25th). 

4.  Making sure I have full loads before washing. Hanging as much as possible downstairs.

5.  Using up odds and sods of thread in making the quilt. Really is clearing those odd colours out.

So, what frugal things have you been up to this week?

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Thrifty Thursday

 

Wow the first day of the month of December, once again another year has whizzed right by. It is almost time to see how I did in thrifty and frugal matters for the year that has passed. But that can wait a week or two.

So, what thrifty things have been happening on the Phillips homestead.

1.  Harvey decided that we were almost out of white wine and so is making a batch. Much less expensive than purchasing the number of bottles the kit makes.

2.  Used some of my points to purchase gift cards to download books onto my ereader. 

3.  Made large batches of a couple of meals. These will be used when things become a madhouse, or I just don't feel like cooking. 

4.  In order to keep the heating costs down I have once again started to make sure I use solar heat on those sunny days to heat the front of the house.

5.  Freezing bits and bobs to make refrigerator soup. 

6.  Darned a pair of socks and fixed a fastening on a skirt.

7.  Put a pillowcase with a frayed top aside to mend once all the gifts are made. If that works, I will be fixing a few other pillowcases as well.

8. Used up 90 4" corduroy fabric squares, and another 180 4" denim squares making this quilt. Made a bit of a dent in the collection for sure. I also used up 12 2" strips of navy fabric I had precut. Still a few more use it ups of my bits and bobs before the quilt is finished.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.