Monday 22 August 2011

Back to Basics .... Thrifty Snippets !


Simple and Basic ..... don't spend what you haven't got, make do with what you have, make do and mend, be happy with your lot ...... Grandmothers principals instilled in me as a child.... just as useful in today's world.

I'm just taking stock of my life.... giving my self a bit of a shake, life is so busy at the moment, but I must live my life on my terms.... as I have been brought up.... otherwise I feel rubbish!

So today has been one of storing what we have lots of, making and mending and taking stock of the finances....

So....... Apples ..... loads of them !



I was tired of them falling on my head or being spoiled and bruised by landing on the path, so Richard picked them for me today.... I shall freeze some, make jams and jellies, and sell a few at the car boot sale (everyone likes a nice apple pie!)





I checked out the Mint growing in the garden .... I have several clumps, so thinking of the 'make do with what you have' I shall use the mint to make Apple Mint Jelly. Goes wonderfully well with meat or cheese.

Assessing the financial situation I realised that I have very little 'Pin money' .... an old fashioned term meaning a little money the housewife could make (eg selling her surplus eggs), or saving from her housekeeping money.... to be used for her needs ie. to buy her Pins.

At one time I could save a little from what I think of as my housekeeping money.... but with the price of food etc going up money seems to be gobbled up.
So its back to good old eBay.... I have always thought of eBay money as pin money, not to be relied upon, but a little extra, I use it to buy gifts, and bits and bobs for my sewing etc.



I found this lovely bit of fabric at the weekend so as usual I have put a bit aside for my sewing projects and put a bit on eBay, needs must as they say.




So pretty, I can't decide what to do with it yet, maybe a bag or purse, or cushion... it needs to be quite big to show off the print.

And..... I managed to get caught up with the washing .... huraaaaah!




Just look at all those socks!

It may be a bit sad .... but it makes me happy to see an empty laundry basket.

As far as the Make do and Mend goes ..... its saved our marriage this week!

We have had major 'Domestic Problems' in the form of Hubby P taking issue with his bedsheets!

It must be said we do share a bed and so I have the same sheet and I have found it to be just fine - as bedsheets go, but somehow on Hubby P's side the bottom sheet would not stay tucked under the mattress and would end up ruched under him, or wound around and tangled up with his nightshirt .... you can imagine his 'indignation'!?

I must admit it was rather a smallish narrow sheet, so I hauled all the sheets out and gave them a looking over.... to be honest they are as old as the hills and a bit worse for wear.... but have you seen the price of new ones!
They have to be flannelet in this household (its the law ... according to Hubby P) so until I can find new ones (reasonably priced) I have to make do. I got the scissors out and pieced and turned 'sides to middle' to make three shoddy sheets into two serviceable .... large and well 'tuck-in-able' sheets.
They may not be too pretty but they are clean and comefy, and hopefully Domestic Bliss will return to the bedroom.... !

Take care ...... bye for now x