Recipe and other stuff........

I made a new to me recipe today, infact I sort of made it up myself.

Strawberry and Mango Crisp.

Ingredients:

1lb strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 or 2 mangoes, peeled and chopped
4 tbsp flour
4 tbsp sugar

Topping:

1/2 cup flour (all purpose/plain)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup marg
1 cup rolled oats

Method:

Toss the fruit in the 4 tbsp of flour and sugar and pop in dish.

For the topping, mix the flour, sugar and rolled oats together, rub in the marg until mixed in.  Place on top of the fruit.

Bake in a 375 oF oven for 40 minutes, until topping is golden brown.  Serve with icecream or cream.  It's good!!!!

Now you know I am not one for bad language, but when I saw this over at Tracey's I knew right away I could relate to this:

I saw this dress on the online store at Roots and thought it was nice........not big enough sizing though for me.

I have started inputting recipes for the church cookbook, and I can see me trying a few!!  So no doubt you will be benefiting from this!!!

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Savings Pot today?  We are nearly at the end of month three!!!!

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Let your laundry dry outside. If you have the ability to hang up laundry outside, let the sun and warm summer breeze do the drying for you. Even if you can’t hang up clothes outside, try using your dryer on a lower heat setting or only partially drying your shirts and letting them air dry the rest of the way.

A couple of British things and Molly.......

So I see we can now order clothes from Topshop to be delivered here in Canada and the States.  I remember as a teenager that was a cool place to shop and get the latest trends.  I used to love the loud music all the latest hits, those cool changing rooms, just the whole experience and it meant also we had to travel to the closest city Carlisle to shop there.

Fast forward 30 years and I hate that kind of fashion.  I hate loud music in the stores and the lighting is usually terrible.  Give me normal lighting, classic clothes; oh and soft quiet music any day!!  Must be getting old..........and I nearly forgot a comfy chair to sit on in case I am tired with strolling from the car to the store!

My brother sent me a photo of his toilet seat, very patriotic don't you think?  Anyhow I did a google search and happened upon this site make sure you look at the rubber ducks, they are just the cutest things out there.

Molly had a busy day guarding the property from the marauding squirrels again.  Here she is watching the tree.

Okay she has spotted him/her....

Close up of him/her......

Here's Molly worn out from all her activities.  Notice her paw touching her raw hide chew!!

Did you remember to put your money in your daily savings pot today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Pay cash. Leave the plastic at home and try using cash for a week. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes in your spending. Here’s a hint—once your wallet is empty, your shopping is over for today.

Bits and bobs for Sunday.......

Friday the temperature hit around 18oC.  Saturday it was barely above freezing with the windchill.  What is going on with our weather?  We even had snow flurries on Saturday; it didn't stick but it was a reminder to everyone, that it is still only March.  I even had to put the fire on, thank goodness we still have plenty of wood left.

I first saw this video over on someone elses blog.........I apologise to that person as I have forgotten whose it was.......

Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food, now it is over 21 minutes long, but it is an eye opener.  My only gripe with the whole thing, is Jamie cannot stand still and it's annoying. 



It's a short post today, as I honestly don't have much to say for myself, I know shocker!!

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Savings Pot today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Pass on extended warranties. A $129 two year extension on a $300 product is just not worth it. Warranties are insurance, and we rarely need to insure such a small amount.

Bits and bobs.....

It was another glorious day on Friday, and I got my first true load of laundry hung out. So I had to take a photo of it. I was extra careful not to include my bloomers in the shot..........don't want to frighten y'all!  It was blowing a gale so was dry quite quickly.  Do you see the snow still in the background?  We are supposed to get some more snow next week.  Hopefully it won't amount to anything..........

My column for next week on the Eden Valley Messenger is about Barbecuing, so I thought I'd take a photo of our barbeque, and then I found a joke about men and barbecues..........

Definition of Barbecuing ... It's the only type of cooking a "real man" will do.

When a man volunteers to do the 'BBQ' the following chain of events are put into motion:



1.The woman goes to the store.


2.The woman fixes the salad, vegetables, and dessert


3.The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along with the necessary cooking utensils, and takes it to the man, who is lounging beside the grill, beer in hand.


4.The man places the meat on the grill.


5.The woman goes inside to set the table and check the vegetables.


6.The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is burning.


7.The man takes the meat off the grill and hands it to the woman.


8.The woman prepares the plates and brings them to the table.


9.After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.


10.Everyone praises man and thanks him for his cooking efforts.


11.The man asks the woman how she enjoyed "her night off."


And, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no pleasing some women.

Did you remember to put your money in your daily savings pot today?  We are more or less two thirds through the month of March, it's flying by isn't it?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Make your own laundry detergent and fabric softener its a heck of a lot cheaper than buying it.

What I was up to on my birthday........

It started out well, Molly let me have a lie-in until 7:45am. Then it went downhill when Molly rolled into something unmentionable.  So I had to haul her upstairs for a shower, all before I had even had my breakfast.  Happy Birthday Gill!

Anyhow, I opened my present from my mam first.  Must say she knows me well and has good taste.  She sent me a Radley purse, which I know means nothing to anyone this side of the ocean, but for the British crew they may ooh and aah.  Radley is a bit like Coach purses in the States.

She sent a couple of Spode teatowels.

A pack of four Denby coasters.

A Wedgwood tea light holder.  You know I am a sucker for any type of Wedgewood.

I got this tote bag from the Eden Valley Messenger.  For some reason blogger turned the photo.  You can win one of these tote bags by submitting a money saving tip here.

Dh brought home this lovely bunch of flowers.  He also got me a Chapter's gift card, a couple of scratch and win tickets (I won $3) and my main gift is a bit different.  He has got me a ticket for a Charity Fundraiser at a gallery in Whitby, Ontario at the end of April.  Each ticket is drawn randomly and you get to choose a piece of art donated by an artist.  Dd is also going so it should be good fun.

Dh also finished work early so I got to spend the afternoon with him as well.  Mind you we were busy, as he filed our taxes.  Then we were busy in the attic tidying that up, as they are coming on Monday to drywall the attic and sort out our bedroom ceiling.

I ventured into our shed for the first time since last Fall, as I wanted to get a container to cover the rhubarb to force it.  I was wearing my wellies, and discovered that I have leaks in my wellies, so the money my dad and step-mum gave me for my birthday I will use to buy myself another pair of wellies.

This week's column is up and running on the Eden Valley Messenger.  This week I talk about the Spring Thaw  If you have a few moments please pop by and have a read.

Did you remember to put your money in your pot for the Daily Savings Club today?

Today's money saving tip:

As the weather is getting better you may feel inclined to clean your windows.  Here is a recipe for homemade window cleaner:

2 TBSP cornstarch
1/2 cup household ammonia
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 gallon warm water

Mix the ingredients in a bucket, make sure cornstarch is thoroughly dissolved before using.

More recipes are here

I hope to get over to everyone's blogs later on in the week, as I am crazy busy this week, sorry.....

One of those days not sure what to talk about................

(THIS POST SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED ON SATURDAY, SORRY)

so I guess I will just chit chat about this and that.


Friday was a dreary wet day and very foggy.  However on a positive note the temperature was above freezing and at least the snow is starting to melt.  Mind you with the rain comes the mud, and that is one job we must do, get a load of gravel for the driveway to cover up the dirt.  I still haven't seen any of my bulbs popping through the dirt yet, but at least I can see nearly all the gardens now.


We finally got the quotes in for the work we want done in the house this year.  Dh is working six/seven days a week at the moment, and that will continue until at least June.  So we are getting a company to finish drywalling the attic, and do the taping, mudding and sanding.  They will also be sorting out our bedroom ceiling as well at the same time.  We have given them the go ahead with that, so that should be done in the next week or two.


The other main job we want done is some work in the old basement and two new windows in the new basement.  We haven't given the go ahead on that job yet, as that is a big and expensive job that is labour intensive and although we need to do the work, spending that amount of money frightens me.  I do think we will go ahead with it, but that work won't be done until sometime in April when the weather turns a bit warmer.


Now I am not sure how many Ontario readers I have?  If anyone in Ontario shops in the Zehrs grocery store's would you mind saving your grocery store cash receipts for me.  We are fund raising at the church I go to and one of the fund raising things is collecting the Zehrs receipts.


It's March break here in Ontario this coming week, so I saw on the news that Toronto airport was super busy with people escaping the winter for more sunny destinations.

Also on Saturday night/Sunday morning the clocks move forward, as its Daylight Savings Time.  We used to be a week behind Britain, but the USA decided to change that, and of course we Canadians followed suit......

I took this photo of a wall in Meaford last September, just thought I'd show you it.

Did you remember to put your money in your daily savings pot today?

Today's money saving tip:

Make Homemade Organic Fertilizer using this recipe  Bit of an ususual combination but it may work........

By the way, I have a question for you all.  Do you actually like the Money Saving Tips, and the Daily Savings Pot reminders?

Funny how things happen for a reason...

On Friday I baked some cookies for the church as on Saturday they are providing lunch items for auction goers across the road.  This is a way of raising funds for the church. 

On Friday it was also World Day of Prayer and there was a meeting at our church.  Due to one reason and another I didn't have time to attend, so my intent was to drop off my cookies in the basement and leave.  The meeting started at 2pm in the church and I got there around 2:30pm.  I went downstairs into the basement, and I was writing a note to put on my cookies to say what they were and who they were from, when  lady came out of the church coughing up a storm.  She came down the stairs and saw me.  I asked her if she was alright and did she want a drink of water.

I told her to go to the bathroom, as that is the only source of water in the church, as the kitchen isn't heated, there isn't any plumbing in there.  I personally haven't used the bathroom there, so I pointed her in the right direction to the door on the right, which turned out to be a big room.  She headed towards this door, and I noticed all this steam coming out of the door.  We looked through the door, which was another door to the kitchen, and someone had left the kettle on.  It was like a steam room in there, and we got there just before the kettle boiled dry!!!

I got the lady some water, and we both said me being there when I was; that lady having that cough and coming out of the meeting when she did must have happened for a reason........what do you think?

By the way I made Chewy Oatmeal Cookies, the recipe is here

I need you to click on this link as this is an inspiring story, that not many people can say they have done that.....

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Savings Pot today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Make Your Own Coffee: Make your own coffee: Everyone seems to have heard of the latte factor. Even though the author may have overestimated the savings from skipping a latte at Starbucks, don’t underestimate the ding it puts in your pocket in the long run. You don’t have to entirely ban drinking coffee, but skip it as often as possible unless you make it at home.

Another column and more English Paper Piecing....

Another week, therefore another column from me for the Eden Valley Messenger  I would love it if you had an extra minute to pop by and have a read and leave a comment.  If you know of anyone else who may be interested forward it onto them as well please?  A couple of other bloggers were kind enough to mention me and my column on their blogs this past week, Expat Mum and Smitten By Britain, so a big thank you to them for that!!  If you have another couple of minutes to spare, pop over to their blogs and say hello, they would love that.

I just finished this table runner, it's around 25 inches by 12 inches.  It's dusty pink, brown and cream.  All the hexagons are hand sewn and hand sewn on the table runner.

This is the back of the table runner.

Below is the material for my next project.  As with the table runner, I have no idea what I am going to make yet.  I will figure it out as I go along.

It was a quiet day around the acreage on Monday.  As predicted it started to snow around lunch time, so much for the Spring like weather on the weekend, back to Winter weather again.

I am not at this point yet.....but could be there shortly!!

The Diary of a Snow Shoveler

December 8


6:00 PM. It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!



December 9


We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the Whole World? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had. Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life.



December 12


The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.



December 14


Snow lovely snow! 8" last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life!



The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way.



December 15


20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer.



The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.



December 16


Ice storm this morning. Fell on my butt on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like heck. The wife laughed for one hour, which I think was very cruel.



December 17


Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere.



Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.



December 20


Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Darn snowplow came by twice.



Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.


December 22


Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white crap fell today, and it's so cold it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to poop. By the time I got undressed, pooped and dressed again, I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter; but he says he's too busy. I think the jerk is lying.



December 23


Only 2" of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she nuts!!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying.



December 24


6". Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the man who drives that snowplow I'll drag him through the snow by his nose and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been!



Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the snowplow.



December 25


Merry -bleeping- Christmas! 20 more inches of the slop tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's a fricking idiot. If I have to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.



December 26


Still snowed in. Why the heck did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.



December 27


Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze, plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1400 to replace all my pipes.

December 28


Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. THE WITCH is driving me crazy!!!



December 29


10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?

December 30


Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver he is now suing me for a million dollars not only the beating I gave him but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up where the sun don't shine. The wife went home to her mother. 9" predicted.



December 31


I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.


January 8


Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

Oh the joys of Winter!!

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Savings Pot today?
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Today's Money Saving Tip:

Is less better? Perhaps it was due to the booming economy, perhaps "keeping up with the Joneses", maybe its ego, but for many of us, we often seem to insist on the biggest and the best, no matter what the cost. When a $15,000 new car may be more than acceptable, we stretch the seams of our budget to afford a $25,000 vehicle. We buy $25 shirts with $35 designer labels attached. We opt for the $100 dinner at the trendy restaurant when a $20 meal would have been just as delicious. Think about where you are spending the family money--and how--to see if there couldn't be savings found with minor changes in habits.

I am in so much pain........

Back in December I mentioned I had been to the dentist and I wrote about it here  The dentist thought it was a sensitive tooth and to use a sensitive toothpaste.  Well things have been going from bad to worse, and my poor mouth has been throbbing, especially around that tooth.  I have been taking advill like candy to try and stop the throbbing.

So on Thursday morning I went back to the dentist and he took x-rays again and he thinks its a cracked tooth.  There was a couple of options, he could put in a temporary medicated filling????  He could do a root canal at a cost of around $3,000, or he could send me to a specialist to have the tooth pulled.  Not 100% sure why he couldn't pull the tooth, however I have an appointment on Friday at 8:45am to have it pulled.  Not overly happy about the situation, but I am in so much pain with this tooth, something has to happen.  He gave me an antibiotic to make sure if there is any infection this will fight it, and Tylenol 2 for the pain.

Then just to add to it all, do you remember back at the end of the September when I fell and twisted my knee?  If not read about it here  Well I have my good days and my bad days with this knee, and on Thursday it was a bad day, as that was also throbbing.  Now I don't know about you, but I can only concentrate on one thing that is wrong with me at a time.  So its all very confusing me having a throbbing tooth and a throbbing knee at the same time!!!  You know how things happen in three's?  I wonder what my third thing will be!!

Oh and the warmer weather has arrived, thank you Carol for that.

Did you remember to put your money in your pot for the Daily Saving Club?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Try generic brands of items you buy regularly. Instead of just picking up the ordinary brand of an item you buy, try out the store brand or generic version of the item. Likely, you’ll save a few cents now, but you’ll also likely discover that the store brand is just as good as the name brand – the only difference between the two, often, is the marketing. Once you’re on board the generic train, you’ll find your regular grocery bill getting smaller and smaller.