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.

Simple Living, Simplifying My Life

 

I often wonder how and why it takes so long to get to simple living. It seems like I have been working towards this for a number of years. 

I am hoping that each year I get just a bit closer to my goal. Pretty sure the more I declutter and get back to living the way my ancestors did is doing just that. I don't mean hitting my clothes on rocks by the river, but I do mean growing more of my own food, finding ways to make my own cleaning products, and just relying a bit less on what advertising tells me I need. 

Decluttering makes space for canning, dehydrating, storing garden produce and in my mind peace. This is probably one reason I am using my Kobo more than heading out and purchasing reading material. I know I could use the library, but I love owning the book I am reading. My husband often says that I am the only person he knows that will re-read a book numerous times.

With prices on the rise once again, and the scare of tariffs across the world getting ever closer, one does need to rethink what one purchases. A person needs to make good choices when shopping and really plan ahead. 

Life is full of choices and I hope all of us make the right choices in the coming months.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

 

Thrifty and Frugal Thursdays

 Thrifty and Frugal

A cooler day today, one that was perfect to stay in and do a bit of baking or candy making. Also a great day to do a bit of extra cleaning (not done yet, but I am going to do that very soon). 

There have been a few thrifty and frugal happenings here on the old homestead. 

I fixed the hem on a couple of pairs of my pants (trousers for you readers across the pond). 

Baked 4 loaves of bread.

Using up all leftovers in the fridge for lunches or suppers.

Saved the elastics and twist ties from various packages.

No spending on 5 days this past week.

Put $70.00 in the savings envelope. I need to build this up once again in order to be able to purchase craft supplies in the new year.

Hung two loads of clothing on the lines downstairs.

Drinking lots of water (decided I needed to do this for my own health). 

Only used the vehicle once this week when I took it in for an oil change and a tire swap. 

Walking in the house for daily exercise.

Cutting open tubes to get the last bit of toothpaste or lotion.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.