Saturday Roundup

 

Just a quick roundup of what has been happening on the Phillips homestead.

Baking has continued and I will probably so some more later. Taking a break so as to get a few other projects done over the next week.

I did manage to get the two toques finished for the gift baskets that we will give Kurt and Kris.

I have now started the matching mitts. Still few things left to fill the baskets with, and those will get done this coming week after decorating the house. Not that I do that much, but I do need to make it a bit more festive around here.

I also finished the knitted blanket for one of Kurt's friends. I will post a picture of that later on.

I even found yarn to start the next one. Just shows how much yarn I have available for use in this house.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Simpler Living

 

In my quest for simplicity, I am spending more time decluttering and using up items that have been around for awhile. Not only is this helping me downsize and move towards a life that enjoys the stop and smell the flowers mindset. 

It is leading me to realize we all have way too much stuff surrounding us. This from someone that is surrounded by craft supplies, appliances, and other such items. 

This week I have removed the old sound system from my television set. Amazingly it left spaces open to move the plants I am overwintering inside into and I still have extra space. The sound system quit working this year so will be put into the electronic disposal area. 

I have been kind of downsizing my yarn stash as well. Nothing new has been added and lots is getting used up in various projects. 

As far as appliances are concerned I do use all of them and plan on using them more often as the price of electricity goes up. Plugging into 110 is much less expensive than using the oven at 220. 

There are certain items I hope to send home with our sons at Christmas. Thinking the wine cooler that we never use could go home with Kurt, and the small Christmas tree that we have now replaced with a larger one with Kris. We shall see what they say. If neither is wanted we will list them on one of the Garage Sale sites and see what happens. 

While I would love to get rid of our TV package, until Harvey gets a television that allows streaming of something other than Netflix or YouTube that is not a feasible alternative. He loves his sports so we will spend the money to allow him to be able to watch those. Well at least until I can convince him to do something else. 

Slowly but surely I am heading towards a life that is lived slowly and intentionally.

My mouse seems to have quit working so I guess it is time to go and set the table, visit you all and make supper.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

                                                  Thrifty and Frugal

I probably don't have my title in the center of the page, Blogger for some reason wouldn't let me do that.

It has been a pretty frugal, thrifty and quiet week around the Phillips homestead. Mind you snow, blowing snow and cold have kept me in and busy most days this week. So what frugal and thrifty things have I been up to.

1.  All meals at home and I even had a clear out the fridge night for our supper one day this week. Nothing wasted at all, not even a spoonful.

2.  Found more yarn that I plan on using for another knitted blanket that Kurt can give to another person who has supported him against those that wish him harm. Yarn leaving my stash is always a good thing. It is not frugal or thrifty to leave it sitting unused.

3.  Keeping busy making my own treats for the upcoming Christmas Season. 

4.  Using the tinkle cloths and finding that since Monday we have only used 1 roll of toilet paper, so the savings are getting even greater since I made more from scraps in my stash.

5.  Harvey has repaired my donkey and cart that I use out front for flowers. He used bits and bobs that he had available in his workshop.

6.  Turned a collar on one of Harv's shirts.

7.  Only used the vehicle twice this week, should only have been once but I forgot to order a prescription on the day I used the vehicle.

I also want to wish all my readers in the U.S. a very Happy Thanksgiving. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Last Midweek of the Month

 

Oh dear here it is the final Wednesday of the month and I am not that close to finishing all my projects this month. Three days left now and I will try my best to get most of them done and dusted. 

Will I be ready for Christmas???? Sure hope so. I have toques and mitts yet to knit, the recipe cards to do, more baking, and all the regular household tasks. Oh drat, I also have the ornaments to make as the little gifties for those that visit on Christmas Day to take home. 

It will surely be a rush to get things done so that I can have a bit of a rest before Kurt and Kris arrive home. I want to rest and enjoy their visit (well Christmas dinner will be a bit of a non rest kind of thing, but they both do help). I have lots of tidying I have to do in order to have the house company ready for when a portion of Harvey's family arrives as well. 

From now on there will be no putting off until the next day. My lists must be completed each and every day. Pretty sure that will take some of the pressure off and my days run smoother.

This morning Harvey and I went to the last furniture store here in my city, and looked at dining room tables... Man those have really gone up in price and don't even have a hutch going with them. We did find something on sale and are thinking about it. The company that makes them will make the table and chairs in the wood and colours we want. They are custom made and on sale right now, which considering the cost is amazing. I did find colours that will match our hutch and Harvey has promised to do a tiny bit of repair work on it. The table/chairs on the other hand are not something we can repair (the finish is getting tacky and the chairs have been sort of destroyed by our cat) so getting something new is pretty necessary right now.

Changing the menu plans once again. There was lots leftover in the fridge so supper is going to be "clean out the fridge" and I made a tossed salad to go along with the meal.

I plan on answering some questions on Friday. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

The temperature fell drastically overnight, but seems to have warmed up some. The predictions have changed and our really cold weather will hit this weekend. Glad to have a nice warm home to curl up in, though I worry about those who are homeless these are killing temperatures.

Not much happening today. I did get a few things done, no baking/candy making as of yet, but will hopefully get something done after supper. My cabbage bread/bun day will be on Friday so I will need to remember to get the ingredients out and thawing overnight. 

I did work the yarn ends into the blanket and that has been folded and put away. Started on the first pair of mitts. I am using a chunky yarn so have had to change the stitch numbers a bit or they would be way too large for anyone. I hope to have enough to do the two pairs of mitts and will use a worsted weight to make the toques. Slowly but surely those baskets are filling up. 

Managed to take down most of the old sound system by myself. Tomorrow when we go out to look at dining room tables and chairs we will drop it at the electrical drop off at our nearest Sarcan. There is still one piece left to remove, but I need help with that. I did undo one cord from the TV that I shouldn't have, but got that found and the TV back up and running. A bit scary there for awhile until I figured out what I did wrong. 

Cleaned the bookcase beside the desk, stripped the bedding and put on fresh, swept the floors, folded the clothes from the lines downstairs, and a few other small things to keep the house running smoothly. I hope to just have very basic cleaning once the sons are home and the guests arrive Christmas day.

Plans are afoot to put up the basement tree this Sunday. I will then know how many ornaments are available for this new tree and if I will need to fashion some more. 

Off to get the casserole in the oven and then visit with all of you.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

The Christmas rush is on now. Lots of little things that need to be done, so I am thankful that we have lots of leftovers and ready meals.

Monday

Leftover Baked Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, and the leftover salad.

Tuesday

Pulling a ready made Ham Casserole from the fridge. I will make a salad to go along with it.

Wednesday

Leftover chicken from Sunday warmed up and served on thick slices of bread with gravy. I will make peas and carrots to go with.

Thursday

Fridge Smorg, meaning anything leftover from Tuesday and Wednesday. Serving with leftover salad.

Friday

Lazy Perogies (I have some lasagna noodles that need using). Serving with some coleslaw.

Saturday

Hamburgers and all the fixings. 

Sunday

Sausage casserole. There is lots of veggies in this so I won't have to make a side or two.

The meals I will need to make are quick so I can spend time finishing up other things.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Weekly Roundup

 

This week most of my progress has been getting some Christmas baking done, though I did take one day off to work on the knitted blanket (almost done). 

So what did I manage to get done towards Christmas treats.

Peanut Butter Marshmallow Bars was the first item on the list. I even saved a few for Harvey and I do have for dessert.

I also made Chocolate Coconut drops.

Next up on the list was....

My pumpkin pies for Christmas dinner.

A day later I made Whipped Shortbread Cookies as well as....

This is what my Mom always called English Shortbread.

Today I made my first batch of Cinnamon Buns. I will make another batch tomorrow hopefully.

These make a lovely, if rather unhealthy breakfast when we are in a hurry over the holidays.

More baking will take place next week. I need to make my Almond Bark, Peanut Brittle, Christmas Crack (that is also called Toffee Surprise), and I think some other candy like Caramels, and perhaps Chocolate Covered Mints. Cookies such as Ginger Crinkles, and Chocolate Chip will be made as well. 

I am hoping to be done all baking by the end of next week, or perhaps just a couple of days into December. 

I still have a few quick gifts to make for the baskets, and another knitted blanket to start. 

So that's my weekly projects done.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

It has started to snow finally so I will be stuck (which I really rather prefer in the winter) at home and can start things as soon as I finish the household tasks for the next few days.