A Quiet Life

 

I actually think we are entering a quieter lifestyle. Both Harvey and I are pretty content staying home, working in the yard, doing our various hobbies and projects. We enjoy going to visit our sons, playing on the computer, and watching our favourite television shows. 

I enjoy trying to find new ways to save a penny here and a dollar there (though lately at times it seems to be more pennies than anything else). 

However, I know that this might just be winter talk and come spring or summer we will want to be out and about more. Even then things are still based around our home and family. Neither of us have many close friends, lots of acquaintances but perhaps only one or two that we consider close. Most of Harvey's friends were work related and now that he is retired most seem to have disappeared. 

Also when we move we will need to make new friends and as a person ages that is much harder. Especially if one moves to a totally new area. 

At one point in time, we thought a small home would be a perfect place to move to. Yet when we look at our youngest son, he really does not even talk to his neighbours and they for sure do not talk to him. 

This has caused me to rethink moving plans and I am looking more into condos. There we would see people a bit more and perhaps due to meetings actually meet like minded couples or even individuals. As far as a yard, I am pretty sure youngest would be more than happy to share his with us every so often. He would probably like the fact that we would weed, plant and harvest. Heck we could even add some more fruit trees to his yard. There is lots of room to expand the garden area, and since he is on what could be classified as two lots, there is room to plant trees as well. 

As long as the condo has a fairly decent balcony so we can plant a few pots, and room for the smoker (keeping fingers crossed that perhaps the BBQ would fit as well) I thing we could manage. Also many condo HOA fees include heating, water, garbage pick up and a parking spot or two. Some even include electric. That could in fact be a pretty big savings on bills.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless. 

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

 Thrifty and Frugal

So after the snow we have some fairly high drifts in our driveway. It is actually a bit too windy to snow blow so we probably will not be digging out until tomorrow. Don't want the wind blowing that snow back into our faces. 

So what frugal and thrifty practices have happened on the old homestead this week. 

Of course I have done the usual practices and I have also been on a use it up spree.

1.  I had some leftover fabric from cutting out the pattern for my coat. This fabric is a heavy woolen type and just perfect for what I wanted to do. I made the leftovers into a blanket to use in the car when we travel in the winter. There are a couple of fair sized pieces left so I have put those back in the sewing/craft room and will find a project where I can use those. I really need to use my serger/overlocker a bit more often.

2.  I rehemmed a pair of my pants.

3.  Pulled out some fabric and two runners (they need to be embroidered eventually) and am planning out two new tablecloths.

4.  Made veggie soup using those containers of leftover veggies from the fridge and some rather wilted celery. 

5.  Since the weather has been so yucky we have not been anywhere so no spending has occurred for 5 of the first 6 days of this month. We did have to pay for Hubby's partial plate on one day. 

6.  Using up leftovers either for lunches or for another meal in the weeks menus. Something I have done for years, but am getting so much better at that. 

7.  Researching Canadian businesses and places where one can purchase Made In Canada goods.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Midweek News

 

This morning I tried to start the vehicle and of course after not starting it for a number of days and the frigid cold, it would not start. Harvey got the battery charger on it and within about an hour the battery was up to charge, and it started. 

Once he got home from his dental appointment he worked on getting a cord in so as to plug the vehicle in. Which is good as we are now under a heavy snowfall warning with up to 20 cm falling (only 4") and lots of wind. 

This is what it looks like outside right now. Earlier I could see all the way across the valley floor. No longer is that possible. 

You can't really see how the snow is falling as the flakes are not large and fluffy. I can see a day of digging out tomorrow. No place we need to go so will spend most if not all the day tomorrow inside after shoveling or snow blowing. 

My menu plan for today calls for soup.... I was going to make up the container of frozen Cream of Celery Soup, but Harvey when told it was a soup and sandwich day asked if it could be Vegetable Soup. Since I had some small containers of veggies in the freezer from other meals, some celery that was wilting, and half a green pepper I said sure. I also got to use up some frozen tomatoes and the last of some condensed beef broth. Boiled some eggs and made egg salad for sandwiches as well. 

There should be more then enough to have a container or two in the chest freezer. 

I really like it when I can use things up and more or less clear them out, even if it is made into part of another meal. No waste in this house. This means even the chicken curry that really did not taste great will be used for our supper tomorrow. I may add some more spices when I reheat. I also plan on making flat breads to be eaten with and a small cucumber salad as well. 

I am also going to wait another month before getting the oven fixed I think. Really with the appliances I own that should not be a problem. I have managed this long, and even though my bread gets a bit well done I can still bake bread and cakes. I can even make pies in the toaster oven which is awesome. Years ago I purchased a mini donut maker and am planning on using that sometime very soon (it has been awhile). Kurt purchased me a mini pie maker which will be pulled out and used as well. The cake pop maker and the mini cupcake maker are in a bag to be donated. Those were used last when I was an aide and would bring the occasional treat to school for the children. Out of the house they go.

Projects are moving along, perhaps not as quickly as I would like but a bit is being done each day and eventually those larger ones will be completed and I could start on some new large ones. I have two counted cross stitch unfinished projects I would like to finish at some point this year. 

Still looking at properties in the city our youngest lives in and have found a few that we (or rather I like), but it will be awhile before we are ready to move. Yet the way the years are passing by that time could arrive very soon. 

Off to get some knitting completed, and to check and make sure I have visited all of you.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

Winter is back once again, wind, snow and cold. I have stuck close to home the last few days, and it is amazing what can be accomplished.

I watched a YouTube channel this morning that had the title "Staying Busy At Home Saves You Money." How true is that!! Mind you cold weather has be doing the same thing. 

Because of the cloud cover I haven't been working on my embroidery as much as I would like, but knitting and weaving are coming along nicely. The first placemat is woven (still on the loom until I finish another three) and I have about 1/4 of the second one done as well. 

I also have about 3" completed on what I hope will be the last blanket for awhile. 

Laundry is done, folded and mostly put away. I just have my ironing to get away now. I did forget to iron the embroidered blocks I have completed, so perhaps I will pull out the iron and ironing board tomorrow and get those done. 

Harvey has his last dental appointment for a bit tomorrow afternoon when he will get his bottom partial plate. I have told him to make an appointment to get the top partial fixed (I think he will need one tooth pulled). May as well get that done with.

Harvey turns 75 this year and with his glaucoma we are a bit worried about his eyesight. Right now everything is stable and so we decided to take a trip. Plans are underway to head to Eastern Canada on a tour of some of the places he has never been to. I get to show him some of my old stomping areas like Toronto, The Thousand Islands, Niagara Falls, and Montreal. Me well I will get to visit a few places I have never been as well. Never been to Ottawa, or Quebec City. We don't want to go much further, like overseas, just in case there are eye problems or other health problems. We sure aren't getting any younger. 

Making these plans have actually excited us during this very long winter.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

A new week has arrived, bring with it a new menu and of course winter temperatures once again.

Monday

Leftovers from Saturday supper served with a salad.

Tuesday

Chicken casserole made with leftover roast chicken from Sunday and the remains of the salad.

Wednesday

Cream of Celery soup and egg salad sandwiches.

Thursday

Leftover chicken casserole and coleslaw. 

Friday

Pancakes. Breakfast for supper, yummy. 

Saturday

Smoked sausages, coleslaw, and probably pasta. 

Sunday

Pork cutlets, mashed potatoes, and green beans. 

So there it is. Still working my way through leftovers and bits and bobs that seem to add up in the fridge freezer each and every week. I think I might give up the roast meals on Sunday for awhile so as to clear things out a bit. I also need to use some of the meals I made when I batch cooked. 

Everybody have a wonderful afternoon/evening.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 

I have been a bit ill over the last couple of days. One day, it was more not enough sleep, but I actually think that was leading up to today. 

I woke up with a major sinus headache, leaning towards a migraine type. I spent much of the morning leaning over the toilet bowl (if you know what I mean). I ended up in our bedroom with a cold compress on my forehead and drapes fully closed. 

Things are better now, but I am being very careful on what I do. Once I started feeling slightly better I did work on a few things. I managed to get some more done on the weaving, got my lists made for next week, brought up the food for next week, and did a tiny bit of journaling. 

Did a tiny bit of work on projects as well once the headache totally disappeared. Still not as much completed as I would have liked.

Sandy asked about my tinkle cloths. Yes Sandy I have cut some lovely soft fabric to use as toilet paper when I tinkle (the rest is regular toilet paper). I probably save at leas two rolls of toilet paper a week doing this.

Harvey has decided to phone and cancel the appointment with our dealership service department over his truck. Things seem to be working perfectly now. A bit of a savings there.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Not Looking Forward To Rising Costs And New Monthly Goals

 

I am not looking forward to the rising costs that will take place due to the blanket tariffs that were supposed to take place today, but now will be announced on Tuesday. Then of course there will be our targeted tariffs in reply. All this will do is make life more expensive for both Canadian and American citizenry. We are a much smaller country population wise and GDP wise so this trade war will cause us more problems than our bigger neighbour. 

Shopping Canadian is not inexpensive, I have found. In each area of my rather large, sparsely populated country Canadian products are sometimes hard to acquire. I joined a Buy Canadian Facebook page and man, those who live in the east, Alberta, British Columbia and even Manitoba have way more choices than poor stuck in the middle Saskatchewan. 

We do have an oil refinery though and the Co-op refinery in Regina hauls gas throughout our province. Surprisingly many of the other provinces do not have that capability as was noted on the "Buy Canadian" page. Thumbs up for that. 

Both Canada and the United States will hopefully get through this. I do know that many of us here in Canada will never feel as close to America again.

I haven't listed my goals/projects/plans in awhile so thought I would do so today.

1.  Continue decluttering.

2.  Finish weaving the placemats (changed from tea towels).

3.  Embroider at least one more rose quilt square.

4.  Knit the second blanket for Kurt's friend.

5.  Cut more scrap fabric up either for use in quilts or for tinkle cloths.

6.  Use the leftover fabric from cutting out my coat pattern to make a car blanket.

7.  Sew the tote bag that I stitched 4" squares for the front. 

There will more than likely be a few additions depending on how quickly I get these listed projects/goals completed.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.