A Full Week Into May

 

May is passing by as quickly as the other months this year. Sooner than we think we will be into June and almost halfway through the year. I want the time to slow down just a bit.

After weeks of promising you pictures I though I had better share some with you. This includes a few that I finished last month (boy am I behind).

Last month I completed....

A very few stitches on my angel.

Added another batch of copied recipes to the binder.

The shorts and matching tunic top were fashioned (don't know where the picture of the top disappeared to).

Got the baby quilt hand quilted.

Finished the tank top (this was before blocking).

And watched the weather.

And the female pheasant across the road.

This month so far I have...

Done the binding on the quilt.

Got the hour glass blocks completed. Next is ironing them and then sewing them all together.

Pulled the fabric for the purses/bags I want to make. I even have one cut out now.

The fabric for the second purse/bag.

Sewed the tank style sundress.

And even got out to admire the pear tree.

Lots more blossoms this year.

I even got the fabric for the infinity scarves cut and ready to sew.

So that has been my last couple of months. Add in some spring cleaning, planting, and weeding and I have been pretty darn busy. It does not look as if there will be any rest for the wicked (me) the rest of the month either.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits

 

It has been a rainy couple of days, which means no work in the gardens and my plants are all inside. Harvey went out to check the rain gauge a few minutes ago and since about 9 last night we have gotten 1 1/2 inches of rain, and the rain is still coming down. Fact is this corner of the province will not be getting as much rain as the western corner. Still, every bit helps and our rain barrel is full for watering when the sun comes back out.

I finished the hour glass blocks and have figured out if the fabric is a bit to heavy, well things do not line up as nicely. Learning episode here and since the finished product will be used outside perfection is not needed. 

I have pulled the fabric to cut one purse/bag out and will do that tomorrow while my friend is here. Once that is done I will knit on my second tank top. It is so nice that S wanted to get together again. 

I am thinking of joining the choir that she leads as part of my trying to get out of the crisis of faith I am undergoing at this time. I have always loved singing (even though I am not that good at it) and have sung with this choir and when we have put on church musicals in the past.

I did not do as well as I had hoped on the saving water last month so that will continue this month, and I am adding cook with appliances more. Hopefully at least one will catch and I think I might actually get two new frugal habits to stick. 

I need to get supper started (there will be enough for a second meal) and then I can visit your blogs while things are cooking in the toaster oven.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

While the temperature is decent, the weather is not. Raining and very windy. Perfect weather to stay home and cook. Now if the back would cooperate things would be so much easier. 

Monday

I pulled the frozen leftover roast beef out of the fridge freezer and have made a lovely casserole. There should be enough for two meals for the two of us. Lots of extra veggies in this casserole.

Tuesday

I will be using up a bag of the frozen chicken from our Sunday roast in a Chicken Tetrazzini. Once again there will be enough leftover for another evening meal. I will use up the last of the cucumber as a side.

Wednesday

The leftovers from Monday.

Thursday

The leftovers from Tuesday and I will probably make some peas as a side.

Friday

Salmon fillets, rice and green beans.

Saturday

A lazy day for me. I am hoping that Harvey will BBQ some hotdogs. I will serve with baked beans and coleslaw. 

Sunday

Roast pork, roasted potatoes, and roasted carrots. I may add some brussels sprouts to the roaster as well. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 

It has been a very quiet day here on the Phillips homestead. I have actually done very little. Stripped, washed bedding, remade the bed, folded bedding and did what cooking that was necessary. 

I went for a couple of walks, not as long as I would have liked, but still out in the fresh air. 

Then I made a bit of a boo-boo. I sat at the sewing machine and worked for a straight 2 1/2 hours... Not good for the back at all, and considering we are supposed to have a major weather change, you can all imagine how my back is right now. Still I did manage to get 16 hour glass blocks sewn and another 10 laid out and pinned to sew tomorrow. I hope to get another 6 at least laid out tonight to pin early tomorrow.

Rain is supposed to hit us tomorrow, and not just a little. We are supposed to get up to 25 ml, which would be almost 1.6 inches. Even more coming the next day and then a gradual lessening over the next day. 

I will hopefully have some pictures of projects mid week to share with all of you.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Saturday Round Up

 

Since it has been raining I consider the fact that I actually managed to get the bulbs in a major accomplishment. I will have to go out and work on getting my perennial bed weeded once again though. 

Not much happening on the old homestead. I have been working on a few things. Today after talking to my brother I pinned some of the triangles together for the next quilt. Haven't sewn them yet, but got a few twinges in my back so needed to take a break from that. 

I made a pie which Harvey and I enjoyed as dessert for a few days. Baked a loaf of bread, and made use of leftovers in the fridge. 

Bad Jackie went plant shopping today. I managed to get most of my herbs, all the lavender plants I wanted, and some flowers. Man the price of those have really risen. Here is hoping that I can manage the rest within my budget considering I have to purchase all the soil for my pots, boxes and planters. I also wish I could overwinter more, but no room in this house. Surprisingly I had way more room and light in the mobile home we used to live in.

My Hardy Kiwi came yesterday, but I didn't get the mail until today. It looks very healthy and should grow and then produce next year. We need to get everything set up to plant it by the end of the month. Looking forward to the privacy it will give us once fully grown and of course the fruit!!

Now I should admit to something. I have never used a store delivery service as I like to check out the produce I am getting. I thought that could be a way for those just starting on their frugal journey to save a bit of cash on their groceries. 

I am also lucky in that at least a day before a sale starts I get to check out the fliers of my two shopping places. I could actually go to another two places, but the meat at one is terrible, and the other is not conducive to easy shopping and I have heard nasty things about the customer service. I refuse to shop where people are made fun of for their choices. That is just plain wrong.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Friday Tips

 

Not many of us are beginners, but just in case a few of my readers are I thought I would share some tips. Perhaps there are even a few that regular Frugalites have missed in their quest.

1.  Use grocery delivery when you can. This keeps you out of a store if shopping is something that is your downfall.

2.  Set a food budget. Once done see if you can lower it in a couple of months.

3.  Create a meal plan. This is such a money saver and makes one take stock of what leftovers are in their fridge.

4.  Always make your grocery list based on your menu plan. Once you start being able to buy items ahead of time, you can actually have the makings of meals months down the road. 

5.  Check unit prices in the store. The cheapest is not always the best buy.

6.  Eat at home. If you want to eat out for a special occasion that is fine. Remember the least expensive meal to eat out is breakfast.

7.  Save veggie scraps for broth, the same with chicken/turkey/ham bones. Save the bits of leftover bread to make bread crumbs.

8.  Drink more water. Not only will this save you money, but is better for your health as well.

9.  Grow your own food if possible.

10.  Buy meat in bulk if you have invested in a deep freeze. Deep freezers are relatively inexpensive now, so if you have room go for it.

11.  Check for manager specials or clearance food. 

12.  Learn to can or freeze seasonal veggies  and fruits.

13.  Go to U-pick farms if there are any near you. Much less expensive than purchasing the same fruit or veggies from a market.

14.  Make your own bread if possible. The cost is less than half of purchasing it in a store.

15.  Make your own treats from scratch at home. Much less costly than purchasing a package of cookies and you get a great deal more.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursdays

 Thrifty and Frugal   

It has been a fairly frugal week. The end of April was a bit spendy, but I think we have it all under control now. Well as under control as is possible at this planting time of year. 

Meals have been made with items on hand. I even made my own Greek salad dressing. So simple and Harvey loved it. I guess that means I will be making it as well as a few other easy to make dressings.

I am worried that what milk we have left might not last until my shopping trip this week, so when I made cheese biscuits to go with our soup last night I watered down what was left in the evaporated milk can from the fridge. It worked a treat!!! I do have some powdered milk that needs to be used as well. 

I pulled my box of fabric strips down to choose some for binding the baby quilt. I ended up using what was left of the grey strips. Talked myself out of running to the store and getting some green fabric.

Extra food has been used for lunches and if there is enough left it has been frozen to use for another meal down the line. 

Lately there seems to be a few slices of meat from the bags of roasts in the fridge freezer and I have been putting those in the sandwich meat drawer and Harvey has been loving the varied sandwiches he gets to make.

I used the downstairs lines a bit more this week. All the winter coats (well those that I could) were washed and hung up. 

I paid all our bills online. 

Managed to add $5.65 to the change jars and put $60.00 in my savings envelope. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.