Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

Good Morning everyone I actually got to see my youngest DD yesterday evening, she works quite long hours as a letting agent/estate agent so often doesn't get home until after I have gone home.
She came in wih a big smile and hug for me and a cuddle for fixing the W/M. She too apparently had been fretting about the cost of a new machine . I now have a new nick-name apart from Frau Frugal I am also Granny Fix-it :):):).
Took two of my younger DGS down to the Country Park yesterday afternoon, and they soon ran some steam off playing football and climbing a couple of trees:)
The eldest boy is 15 and far too 'cool' for things of that nature :):)he had gone out with some of his school pals .I think he is also going off out today as well so it will just be Henry ,Mikey and I.

I know Mikey wants to make some cookie milkshakes today and I may take to both of them to Capstone Park for a change this afternoon.
Yesterday morning whilst the gardener was doing the garden my eldest DD arrived bearing a big bag of clothes that her eldest Danny had grown out of. Henry soon nabbed some tee shirts and shorts for the summer, leaving several really nice designer shirts for his old brother Ben.

My DDs son likes to spend his cash on over-priced designer stuff which gets passed down to the boys as often he forgets to wear them and they just sit in the cupboard:)
Henry was a happy boy as a lot of it fitted him:) 'Superdry tee shirts and several pairs of really nice shorts.

One pair of Levis were OK round the waist, but a little long but as Henry is shooting up he has nabbed them as they will fit him by the winter.The shirts, Ben will have as they are Ralph Lauren etc and came for NYC when Danny was there last year,one of them he bought then stuck it in the cupboard and changed his mind about it.

Danny used to work in TV then last year started working in the city and earns pretty good money .So tends to spend it on clothes and gadgets, very much a 'designer'clothes sort of person:)

He even owns a watch that can send emails !!!Bless him he is a good lad though and doesn't mind when his Mum culls his wardrobe and passes stuff on to his younger hard -up cousins (neither do they).
Had a long chat with my gardener and he is going to redesign the top end of my garden for me.and replace the handrail that goes down the steps to the garden I didn't realise how rickety it had become I have four steps that are a bit steep down to the patio and they are quite slippery at times so they may well be replaced by a gradual ramp with non-slip things that cross it

Eldest DD said she would feel happier if the steps and rail were replaced as falling over at my age isn't a great idea, and saftey is paramount to cost .No doubt it will cost a bit but it will make the top of the garden a lot safer.

Well, looking out the window at the moment it looks as though another nice day is on the cards and times getting on and so must I Hope you all have a great MM&M day todayalomost half way through April already
Cheers chums
JackieO xxx

Evening All,

I hope you've had a productive day; I almost got everything done that I wanted to, but still some summer clothes to iron and put back into the wardrobe.

As promised here's a good recipe for brownies - the eating not the girl guide sort!

Brownies - makes 12

350 grams of at least 70% dark chocolate, chopped into pieces, 200 grams unsalted butter, 3 medium eggs, 250 grams dark muscovado sugar, 50 grams self raising flour.

Heat the oven to 190 degrees (170 degrees fan)/gas 5. Line a 20cm square tin with baking parchment.

Melt the chocolate and butter gently in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring to combine. Whisk the eggs together until pale and fluffy, add sugar and whisk until thick. Then gently fold in the chocolate. Sieve in the flour and fold in until smooth.

Pour into the tin and bake for 30-35 minutes, until a paper-like crust forms on top but there is still movement in the centre of the brownies. Remove from the oven, cool and cut into squares. For extra indulgence serve decorated with a drizzle of melted chocolate.

Have a good evening, All.

Viv xx

Morning all,

Not much MMMing to report yesterday, I went out for lunch with a friend and went a bit over budget Today I start work at 7 but at least I'm then finished early and have the rest of the day to myself. I need to make some cards as I have two friends birthdays this week. I also need to have a look for needles for the sewing machine and buy a new kettle.