Budget hack

​in days of yore, when I had to feed a family on the smell of an oily rag, minced meat was a constant star on our dinner table 

I would buy mince when it was on sale and as much as I could in bulk 

Last night I pulled out two kilos of mince to defrost for cooking today 

This was meat off the paddock so I knew it was good 

I grabbed a bottle of tomato sauce that I had made earlier this year 

My stash is dwindling. I’ve got less than a dozen jars left. 

And cooked up a big pot of spaghetti sauce. 

I don’t follow a recipe. I just use what I have on hand. 

When the kids were younger I would often hide veggies in the sauce. This was great for upping their vegetables intake. And it makes more sauce. 

I tended to use what I needed, and freezing the rest. Making meal prep easy on a very busy day easier 

I’m didn’t do that today. 

Today I cooked up a storm 

Spaghetti for dinner tonight , I added some feta to it  

And there is even enough for lunch tomorrow 

I also made two trays of pasta bake

The small one will go to the shed for the boys lunches 

I’ll use some for dinner and I’ll probably send some home with wonderson to share with the family 

I’ll probably have enough to freeze as well 

This was how I fed my family when money was really tight. 

I had other hacks for making as many different meals from a small amount of meat as  could  

I may even share some of them with you  

I’m happy I no longer have to worry about money  we are not rich by any means, but I don’t have to worry about where the next meal will come from 

I think when you go through times like that, you appreciate the blessings when they come   

What hacks do you have?

School holiday Friday

​this is the last week of the school holidays. 

The girls were dropped off this morning and Ana was so excited 

To see them. We didn’t tell her. It was a surprise 

Melody has a drawing app on her tablet  and was teaching Georgie how 

Draw  on it.  She did pick up quickly that you use one finger.

Georgia just had the biggest smile 

The two girls wanted Melody to play with them. She’s that bit older and is happy to just sit

Drawing on the tablet. 

The girls weren’t having that. So Melody told them if they could drag her to the other room 

She would play with them. They didn’t but gave it a good try 

Grandpa took Georgia to the shed in the push chair, she promptly fell asleep 

So he kept her there so she could get a good sleep.  She was very tired but just wanted to 

Watch the big girls..

Meanwhile we all grabbed some carrots and went to feed dobby 

He was way over the other side of the paddock behind the telephone companies 

Shed. I have no idea what they do there, but it’s been there since we bought the house 

We don’t own that little bit of the land, they do. 

Anyway Ana yelled dobbys name and he came running.  It was quite funny  

Once they had fed and patted dobby, they went over to see the alpacas 

Ana knew where the hay was and they all grabbed handfuls to try and get them to 

Eat it  

They didn’t  they just watched the girls  

We even went out back to let the chickens out. 

Poor Brianna was chased by the alpacas, so I didn’t get any pictures. 

Grandma had to go and get Brianna. She was unhurt but she did get frightened 

We all came inside then and they wanted to play games 

We played twister, having only the three of them it wasn’t as hectic 

As it would have been if more people were playing. But the younger girls 

Quickly learned their right from their left. So it was educational 

After that was packed away Ana and Brianna wanted to play trouble 

Soon the girls parents arrived to pick them up  

Melody and Brianna’s mummy arrived to take them home  

And Ana’s daddy was here picking her up for swimming lessons  

Once they all left I was able to feed Georgie a bottle and she fell asleep 

She’s currently sleeping next to me on her pull out bed. 

Her mummy is on the way to pick her up. 

Grandma then gets to sit and rest. 

How I love it when they’re all here. I love listening to

Them talking and laughing 

 once they go i realise just how much it drains me 

But honestly. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. 

Let there be light!

​this morning I headed off to Cranbourne for my weekly coffee catch up. 

We usually do it in Tuesday, but last week both Diane and I had funerals. 

Claire wasn’t here either she was in Queensland visiting family. 

She didn’t get home until late Monday evening, so we had coffee today. 

I left home around 7.30 and it was pea soup foggy. 

I’m now home, and it’s 11.30 and it still looks like this 

It’s actually worse but it doesn’t show up in photos 

While I was out I received a photo from hubby 

I have light in the studio. 

Now I can get a small heater and work out there even if it’s cold. 

I’ll get a fan for summer. With the little bit of sun we had it really got warm in that little room. Even with the door open 

I’m now sitting and having a bit of a rest. 

These coffee mornings do drain me, but if I didn’t go I’m sure they would come here and drag me out. 

I like being a hermit, but they know if I don’t leave the house occasionally I’d start to feel depressed. 

It’s good to mix with the right sort of people just for your mental health

We always make each other laugh no matter what we are dealing with in our lives. 

We all need friends like that. 

In the garden

​

Hubby has moved the wicking beds back into their new spots 

They fit perfectly right at the back,you can see the silverbeet growing nicely.

The pepper plants are still quite healthy even with the extreme cold and frosty mornings. 

The one closest to us are the potatoes, growing really well. 

The big potato bed is only just coming along. With the ones in the front not even emerging 

Yet. 

I have broccoli just starting to form heads 

Not quite sure what I planted in here. But whatever it is. It’s growing nicely 

I think I planted cauliflower in at least one of these  

I’ll have to look and see if I can find the tags  I’m sure I put them in there somewhere 

The beetroot is getting big and leafy 

You can see the onions have also grown. The don’t look big. But they were tiny when planted. 

They loooked like I had planted strands if my hair. 

The strawberries didn’t die, I honestly thought that they might have. And look you can see a big 

Strawberry and a few flowers 

I think I need to harvest some rhubarb.  Maybe I’ll make an apple 

And rhubarb pie. I need to at least clear the leaves hiding that strawberry 

So a mixed bag. Somethings are growing great and others are only just starting 

To emerge 

It’s a tad difficult getting to all the beds.   The grass is long and thick! 

If this sunny weather keeps up, hubby might actually be able to mow. 

I’m sure we will have it all ship shape in time for the spring planting 

Not quite sure where I’ll fit all that.  But I’ll find some space.  

You know what they say. There is always room for another plant.  

Winter sunshine

​it’s a lovely winters day today. 

It’s bright and sunny, no wind and not freezing 

A perfect day to open up all the doors and windows to let some fresh 

Air in. 

I won’t show you photos of the back as the grass is tall and thick,and way too wet to 

Remedy the situation 

We will need a week of no rain, sunshine and wind to get it dry enough to mow 

Everyone is getting fresh bedding. This is all Teddy’s washing. 

I have a few jumpers for him and he wears them constantly during the winter. 

His old bones are like mine. We feel the cold deep. 

The bedding taken off the bed this morning is drying. The new clean sheets and doona cover are on the bed. 

I usually wash in the morning and by that night I put them back on the bed. But after a Few months I

Like a change.  

With the doors and windows open, and the ceiling fans on. They should dry very quickly. 

As of right now. Dinner is in the oven, and after posting this and catching up on your blogs ,

I’ll sit under my blanket, listen to the latest audiobook and continue crocheting 

A perfect winters day

Restful weekend

This weekend I didn’t do much at all. I needed to rest. 

I did go into my studio, and did some painting. 

 And gnat was about it. Today I spent the day in my pjs 

I had a bath about an hour ago and changed into fresh pjs 

I need to change the sheets on our bed. But the weather has been very wet. 

I don’t like the smell of the linen stored in the cupboard.. they smell musty. So 

I got sheets and a doona cover and did a quick wash. 

They will dry overnight and I’ll be able to change it all over in the morning. 

Then I’ll have different sheets be doona covers hanging in here. 

I’ve not been working on the EPP. It’s so big now it gets hot under it. 

I’ve been concentrating on the dragon fly squares. 

I have quite a few now. Because I’m using carron cakes it’s hard to find 

yarn that is quite the correct thickness. Carron cakes are thicker than 

An 8ply. But not as thick as a 10ply. 

And as they’re no longer the “ in thing” right now. It’s hard sourcing the colours 

I need.  The three blankets I already have, have a pretty candy like pink squares 

I cannot find it. I’m happy with the colours I do have. But I wanted something to brighten 

It up. 

I found these. They’re very bright and cheerful. I’m hoping they lift the whole blanket 

The squares are perfect for working on in here during the winter. I don’t overheat making them. 

I’ll be able to sew them together in the summer. Sitting under the aircon keeping cool 

I’ve had news from my daughter in law, Annie’s got new drops for her ears. The doctor wasn’t sure 

Which one to give her originally, so he tried one and it wasn’t really working. She’s in the stronger one

 Now. 

Meanwhile poor little georgie has a contagious viral illness and won’t be going to daycare all week. 

Grandma diagnosed correctly, she wasn’t a healthy little girl on Friday 

Another reason I made sure to rest was so that if I was needed to watch Georgie I’d be 

All rested and ready to go. 

But her mummy is taking the week off to look after her

That’s all from the nest for now. 

I promise to visit you all soon. 

Not well at all

​Wednesday i received a message asking me if I as free Thursday morning. 

Poor little Annie had a really bad ear infection.  She has suffered many in her short life.  

And has had grommets put into her ears. 

Of course I could have her. She was all bubbly when she arrived but as soon as the medication 

Wore off she got quieter and quieter. 

I administered the ear drops and the pain and fever medicine,

She perked up again once it all kicked in. 

Her mummy arrived around lunchtime and took her home. 

This morning both girls arrived, as usual 

Ana was much better. But did tell me her ear was hurting around the time she was due to

Have her next dose 

Annie loves hugging Georgie,  but Georgia, now that she’s crawling, isn’t 

As interested. She just wants to go. 

When Georgie was ready for her morning sleep. She usually climbs into my

Arms, puts her thumb in her mouth and snuggles in. 

She felt very hot. 

She grabbed my pants when I tried to move. 

She didn’t sleep long and woke with very red cheeks 

I messaged her parents to ask if they wanted me to dose her,

But before they answered. I actually rang her daddy to come over. 

I do err on the side of caution, as febrile convulsions run in the family. 

  By family I mean. Me, my daughter, her daughter Brianna 

When her daddy walked over he put the drops into Annie’s ears

And then agreed, Georgia was very hot and he gave her the medicine 

To reduce the fever.

I then gave her a bottle and she slept for over an hour. 

She woke much cooler and happier 

Daddy arrived after work and took them both home 

No swimming lessons today. 

I’m sure their mummy will let me know how they go over the weekend.

I do hope they both are feeling much better very soon. 

It’s horrible when little ones are sick.  There really isn’t much we can do, other than give them medicine 

and lots of cuddles 

I do hope you’re all dealing with the wild weather.