Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

Thrifty and Frugal 

This week seems to have been a bit longer than others so far this year. Perhaps because I am staying at home a bit more and concentrating on all the little things I kept putting off. Adding those little things into my regular chores has kept me safe at home and using things up as well as cooking frugally or with thrift by making the most of what I have.

1.  Used up the bones from hams that were in the fridge freezer to make some lovely ham broth.

2.  Picked all the meat off the ham bones and have the bits in the freezer in a bag to use in other meals, like ham and beans.

3.  Dehydrating more herbs. Some are being frozen for use as well.

4.  Hung clothes on the lines. 

5.  Made mint salve for use this winter.

6.  Sent in the grocery scan to collect more points to be used to purchase gift cards.

7.  Combined errands to save gas and money. 

8.  Using veggies from the garden as much as possible.

9.  Keeping up using the orphan and leftover yarn to knit those mittens.

10. Baked bread once again.

11. Used rain water to water plants.

So there you have it. Perhaps not as frugal or thrifty as other weeks, but I had nothing to mend for a change, and I am trying to slow down and live a more simplified and intentional way of life. Those two things are also very thrifty and frugal.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Midweek Thoughts and Ramblings

 

Spending time doing the smaller things that I have been putting off over the last few days. 

Today it was baking bread, making the mint salve, and pulling out the ham bones to make ham bone broth. The making of the broth cleared some more items out of the fridge freezer and while fishing those out I found a few bags of leftover meat which I will need to incorporate in meals next week. Another change in the monthly menu plan. I might end up just doing weekly plans from now on, though having one for the month does make life so much simpler for me most months. Perhaps I just need to slow down a bit more and check for leftovers a bit more carefully. Especially as I am trying very hard to waste little this year and use up all that I can. 

We had a bit of a storm last night, but no rain today as of yet. Tomorrow is supposed to be a deluge though, which I kind of hope happens. I want to throw open the windows and smell the rain. I do love the smell of rain. 

I have some small things I have put off that I would like to get finished tomorrow as well. I plan on getting out before the rain starts (keeping my fingers crossed) and pick more herbs. This time I am going to freeze them rather than dehydrate. Right now the only ones I plan on doing this with are thyme and oregano. I will pick sage, but that will be dehydrated as I don't have lots of that ready.

There are a few bags of food items that need to be put in their correct canisters. They are taking up room in the cupboard pantry that could be better used for something else. The dust bunnies under our bed need to be attacked this month, and a good tidy of the hall pantry should be undertaken. Heck truth be told the pantry cupboard in the kitchen could do with a good tidy as well. How do things get so mixed up? 

Projects will be worked on, new projects thought about, and perhaps an iced coffee or two drank during the afternoon. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tidbits and Stuff Tuesday

 

Well, even though rain was forecast for today, so far very little has fallen in my area. I do hope for some to fall later today. If my body is telling the right tale, the aches make me think that we will be getting some type of rain this evening or overnight.

I have a few tasks left to finish today. I should get out and pick what I can in the garden, and if it does not rain I will need to water our flowers. 

The infused oil is being drained into a measuring cup so that I can make some mint salve later tonight. Just putting one foot in front of the other and getting things done. 

Harvey is going to have to spray my lilies once again as those darn beetles are back once again. 

Each day I am adding a few stock up items on my next weeks grocery/shopping list. There are a few things I will need to purchase whether or not they are on sale. Still Walmart usually has them at a reasonable price and that is handy. 

Picked up our tour papers, Harvey's medications, the peaches and took our passport papers in to be processed. Little things accomplished, but a load off my mind. 

I did more weaving and managed to get 70 rows done before I needed to stop for more than 15 minutes. I am working on some knitting of mittens and hope to get pair number 5 finished today. Copied out some recipes while listening to various bloggers as well. So while I am not going great guns on my various projects things are still being worked on. Perhaps at a slower pace than I would like, but I am doing what I can when I can. 

Working to make a slower more intentional lifestyle. One where the two of us actually have more time for the things we enjoy. I honestly believe that is one reason Harvey has extended the veggie garden as that along with fishing is his happy place during the spring, summer and fall. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

Another week of menus and since the weather is supposed to be cooler and rainy I plan on getting Harvey to BBQ whenever possible.

Monday

Smoked sausages, mini potatoes (got the bag finished now) and some kohlrabi in a tinfoil package. Those are both going on the BBQ. I have also made a salad.

Tuesday

Soup and sandwiches. I think I will make a potato soup and have tuna melts with.

Wednesday

I pulled the last container of chili from the freezer downstairs. We will have this with toast and use up the remains of the salad.

Thursday

I am going to try my hand at some stuffed eggplant. I am thinking of doing the kind of stuffing I put in peppers, but using the eggplant meat instead of rice. 

Friday

Perogies, fried onions and sour cream.

Saturday 

This could be a beef brisket if Kris is home done on the smoker. Serving with coleslaw, and probably a potato salad to use up some more potatoes and the eggs that seem to have multiplied in the fridge.

Sunday 

Kris will probably be heading back to his home so I will make spaghetti and meat sauce. This will mean changing the menu for the next week a bit, but I will still be using leftovers to make other meals.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 

It has been a mostly quiet day here on the Phillips homestead. We did travel to Torquay and put flowers on our daughters grave, a few days late but so very necessary. The graveyard has been kept up this year so we did not have to really trim much of anything. 

The rest of the day has been spent picking things from the garden, working around the house, trying to use things up and just breathing. 

I think I might need more of those types of just breathing days. Taking things a bit slower, working on just a few projects, and spending time with God.

On the way back from the village graveyard in the place Harvey grew up, and all our children were baptized by the same priest, Harvey said that next year we should work on house maintenance. I quite agree. The siding on our home is very faded and has a few broken areas. We can save the old siding and give it to Kris to use on his garage. There is painting to be done both inside and out, and the deck needs to be either painted or stained, or better yet tiled with small squares of wood that lock together and have spaces to drain water. I know there are windows that need painting in the basement and the kitchen window needs that as well. This is mostly because of the odd window shapes. 

I will still work on saving on groceries to try and pay off the range purchase. It didn't work last month, but with the garden producing and my foraging of fruit I should be able to save on groceries this month. At least I hope to do that. So keep your fingers crossed for me.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

 

It has been awhile since I have shown any of my projects. I have also been busy getting harvesting done as well. I thought it might be time to show all of you what I managed to accomplish over the last little while.

I am not sure if I showed you my tea towels once they were completed on the loom.

They still need to be cut apart, pressed and hemmed another task for this month.

Crab apple jelly made and ready to be labelled and put into the pantry.

Starting the rug for Kris. I have managed to get more done today.

The last two firepit quilts were sandwiched and are sitting with the other two . I probably will only get two of them completely finished this month.

Some of the harvest so far this week.

More harvest this time the handful of jalapeno peppers and the three kohlrabi. 

The ten pairs of the next size mittens, done and dusted. I started the smaller size right after this and have two pairs finished and am working on the third pair. 

The dried cherries to be used over the winter.

Lots of herb dehydrating, but no pictures. 

Raspberry jam made and put in the pantry as well.

I did make cherry jam as well, but no picture of that drat. Slowly filling the pantry with lots of goodies for the winter.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Stocking Up, Using Up, Living A Simpler Life

 Well, I think I might be a bit glad that I started to stock up a little bit during the last shop. I am not sure how prices will react to the last tariff news, but better to be prepared. 

I am also glad that Harvey decided to extend the garden a bit, and next year I think we will plant more food in containers as I have plenty of those lying around the side of the house. I enjoy the processing and harvesting, even though it takes some time. It also saves us a bit of cash when all starts to come in. Though it would be nice if the cucumbers didn't all come in at once. 

Living a simple life means using what you have and I am doing just that. Weaving rugs and tea towels from yarn in my stash, using bits and bobs of the same yarn to knit mitts for the children at Kurt's school. Old clothes were cut up and now I am using that fabric to make quilts, just like those that came before me. 

Hanging clothes on the lines to dry and keeping those same clothes in good repair. Though Harvey has a few t-shirts he needs to cut into rags and I have a few things I would like to refashion. 

Darning socks in the evening, and doing some embroidery whenever I get the chance and the light is good. 

Slowly getting through those projects that have lain around for awhile.

Sitting on the deck enjoying a morning coffee, listening to the birds (and the barking of the dogs in the neighbourhood). I even get to wear my pj's outside as there is no one to really see me at 6 in the morning. I even get to work on my computer some mornings outside. 

Things are a bit rushed right now as I am trying to get things completed before we go on holiday. Still I have slowed down and am enjoying the summer season a bit more this year. 

I was asked a question awhile ago about the Lux soap. I have probably had it in the basement storage for about 20 years. I am actually amazed that it is still useable and in such great shape. So far it is working very well for handwashing and not leaving a soap scum at all. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.