Live on £4,000 for a year - 2009, Part 3

grandma247

I edited my post to add the info

cw18

Thanks to both of you - think I'll give that one a go as I love my marmalade in a morning

Frugaldom

Good morning frugalers

Interesting reading about the pears and pear butter, I hadn't heard of it until recently, either. Not that I have any pears to use, but I have planted a pear tree for future frugalfood. I love stewed pears and they are really nice if stewed in lambrusco and served with a scoop of ice cream. I've still not been to collect my freebie apples yet, as the weather has been so miserable recently. Hopefully, I'll manage to get out and about soon.

Following my frugal free copy of the Werewolf book (which I haven't finished reading yet, but the origins of the myths are interesting), I have just received a preview copy of a DVD called, 'What on Earth? Inside the Crop Circle Mystery'. Not sure about anyone else, but I was under the impression that crop circles no longer are a great mystery, that research had proven crop circles to be man made. Am I wrong in thinking that they blew the lid off the crop circles mystery and exposed it as an elaborate hoax? Has anyone seen any or does anyone live near where they occur? Guess I'll just need to watch my free DVD.

HS is outside repairing the storm damaged bird table again. Can't decide where is safests for it to be placed this year but I suspect the tail end of the publicised 'Hurricane Bill' could have been to blame if it decided to return the next day. :rolleyes:

jtb2412

Morning all,

Elderberries have been boiled up and now in jelly bag dripping - will make into jelly tomorrow morning. Just need to sort out the cooking apples now - probably make a couple of apple pies to take up this weekend and try to store the rest in the shed for now, hopefully they'll keep until next week.

Dad has gone in for his 2nd operation today so fingers crossed for him that they don't find anything sinister again. Both parents have had quite a few health problems lately and it's a worry - you always think your parents will be around but it's not until they get older and get all the health problems that go with age, you realise that time is not on your side . Doesn't make things better living 200 miles away either :rolleyes:.

Sorry to dampen things, just feeling a little bit glum here today .

bails

Well, after saying I didn't have time to catch up, I now find myself on here reading about protein sources and caramelised pears, yum!

Poorly here with bad cold but desperately trying to get well as meant to start teaching on Sunday. Just been recommmended an Aruyvedic remedy so will give that a go.

Can't wait to learn more from this thread (and Weezl's) when I get back, nutrition is going to be especially important.

Have a lovely weekend everyone! xx

Have a hug from me jtb, I have been thinking exactly the same thing since I've been here. Family is so important. Hope both your parents improve soon x

Frugaldom

Hope everything goes OK for your dad, JTB

Bails, hope your cold goes soon and that it's nothing too serious.

BigMumma, I hope your dog is getting better and that the vet's fees don't get too astronomical.

Sending best wishes to all who need them, as this seems to be a particularly stressful time for many. Happy birthday wishes to all who are celebrrating this weekend and belated wishes to those I forgot to mentin yesterday.

I've just stewed the remainder of the apples that I had and am now stewing some blackberries and a mango - weird combination, I know, but I had sliced the mango expecting to eat it and then thought better of it, as it just didn't look very appetising - yet another example of our local Aldi's bashed, over ripe or under ripe fruit offers that I fell for! SM, the other 2 mangoes are reserved for your chutney making if they are still salvageable. Waste not, want not. I'm going to combine all my today's stewed fruits for crumbles, I reckon that's the best way of using them as everyone here loves the stuff. I reckon there could be enough for about 4 lots. :T

Going to visit one of my other neighbours, a fellow LETS group member, to arrange for some slabs from them. (These will be used for the bases of the new hen runs.) They are clearing a corner of their garden & yard, I think, in order to build stables. :j Excuse my excitement, but the prospect of a couple of ponies nearby appeals to me, especially as I'm 'on the wagon' for now, as far as equine ownership is concerned.

cw18

((hugs)) for all who are poorly. or have a poorly family member (including 4-legged members)



Have a batch of pear butter just started off - decided to start with a half qty from the link a I didn't think I'd have enough for a full lot. Once I'd weighed/counted what I have it became clear I would have - 7.75kg of the things !!! (But I had to throw a whole 250g pear out as it disintraged into wucky mess as soon as I touched it with the peeler). So I've peeled around 3.25kg of the pears - having been through them and taken out all the ones that looked as if they had blemishes to use those first. So I still have over 4kg of pears to do something with, and will probably just stew those down.

I have a large slow cooker, but I think I'd have struggled to get double the amount into it - so just as well I only did half I think


Had hoped to get out blackberry picking today - but it keeps throwing it down so that's off the cards until the weather picks up a bit

savingfortravel

jtb2412 wrote: »

Morning all,


Dad has gone in for his 2nd operation today so fingers crossed for him that they don't find anything sinister again. Both parents have had quite a few health problems lately and it's a worry - you always think your parents will be around but it's not until they get older and get all the health problems that go with age, you realise that time is not on your side . Doesn't make things better living 200 miles away either :rolleyes:.

Sorry to dampen things, just feeling a little bit glum here today .

Hope your Dad's op goes well. Sending positive thoughts your way.

Made blackberry and elderberrry jelly earlier this week and it is delicious!

sft

jtb2412

Thanks for all the support and well wishes, it's very much appreciated.

Keeping busy cooking while I wait for news, just started on apple pies. HM turkey burgers for tea tonight so will start on them soon too. First time making them so fingers crossed !

CW let us know how the pear butter is - sounds delicious !

cw18

Elder son came in (went out for petrol at 7:30am, came home at 12:30 ), spotted the slow cooker, and went "Yum, Apple & Cinammon". On being told for the third time it wasn't apple he sussed it was pear - and then looked disgusted when I said what I was doing with it. He actually removed the lid (!!!), stole a chunk, scoffed it fast, then announced I should turn off the machine and he'll eat it "as is"

He then had the nerve to ask how often he could lift the lid (to help himself to more), and looked very sorry for himself when I told him he couldn't :rolleyes2


** EDIT to add ** he did remember to ask for my Mr T clubcard before going for petrol - 70 litres is about £72, which is more than I've been spending in store every month this year on average Has now told me I can't have the card back yet, as he wants to hit the store...... was in with me on Wednesday, and nearly cried when he saw the price of washing powder (and a couple of other bits) against what he pays in Germany -- so he's stocking up before he goes back this weekend, and earning more points for me :T