As The Workhouse Approaches....How To Do Everything To Avoid It, the Old Style Way

laineyc_2

Congratulations, HH.

FTM, it sounds like a lovely day.

Well, I got most of my food staples into to jars. They look very wholesome! Shame they are in a cupboard and not a pantry. I need a couple more jars so I am heading to Wilkinsons after my meat delivery. I have some baking to do while I wait for the delivery.

I have tiny tomatoes appearing on my plants. I am so excited! The snail battle continues. I am going to keep my eggshells and dry them like GQ does. I have some herbs to freeze. I am struggling with lack of freezer space. I have found a solution, I think. I am going to put a small freezer in the dining room.

It was sunny earlier but now it has clouded over. Time to get on with tthe day. Catch you all later.

meg72

Charis wrote: »

According to Wikipedia, Mrs Beeton had a most unfortunate, and short life, dying before she was thirty. I'd skip the cold baths if I were you .

I can't believe that in a previous era I actually clarified dripping, as instructed in Mrs B's book. Did we really eat the stuff?

Oh what a sad life.I had always pictured her as a rather formidable
older lady.

And yes lol I also clarified dripping and used it in pastry to make big
filling pies, guilt wracked now at the thought of the fat cells I stored up for my daughter.

Kimitatsu

[QUOTE=ceridwen;44648326

But - I DO know there is something that feels a bit "different" about my dining room (ie the room I use as a meditation room - errr...when I get round to things like that....errr...) and I'm darned if I can "put my finger on it". I've never been able to "put my finger on it" - but I just know I make sure the door is shut before I go to bed at night....and I really cant work out what/why or how and the only thing I'm quite sure of is that whatever-it-is is nothing to do with the immediate preceding owners of this house (I decided he was an obvious "toe rag" and she was "Mrs Downtrodden" as soon as I spotted them and I turned out to be right..... - so I dont think its anything to do with them...).[/QUOTE]

For me I am not suprised that a lot of OSers are sensitive The whole point of OS is to use what you have available to you, rather than buying highly expensive chemicals etc. Many people who are that way inclined feel the energies around them and have the ethos of "do no harm" so really the two work in harmony

Ceridwen the room feels different because of the energy that you put into it - its the essence of you, rather than you plus all the stuff that goes on every day.

Hester - you looked fab and I love that dress!!

CC your post made me giggle! My mum was a french teacher and so had spent quite a bit of time in the south of France, she was horrified at my friends having sugar sanrnies for lunch! She used to cook a lot and we were considered a bit weird because my Dad cooked a lot of oriental food (kitchen was a bomb site afterwards mind) but he loved doing that. Mum made curry often and mousaka which was considered a little avant garde! We lived in Yorkshire and I still make a big pudding which the boys eat cold the next day. At first their friends thought that was a bit weird when it went to school in packed lunches but now they all want some too.

One of the real upsides of being OS was brought home to me this week when I was talking to DS1 about cookery which he is doing this term. He made chilli last week and got his recipe, then raided the cupboards to add the "extras" that we always put in, like cumin and black treacle. A little concerned I asked him if his teacher would be ok with that as the recipe is laid out very specifically and she has a reputation for being a bit of a dragon. He replies "oh yes" she just leaves me alone now, because she knows I can cook, but always comes and checks what I have put in it before I leave and tastes it just to see what I have done. Few of the other kids really cook at home. :T

FTM hope you have a really lovely day today x

jediteacher

GreyQueen wrote: »

Jedi Your neighbours sound even worse than some of mine. A crack house closure was carried out a few doors down from me....interesting experience (not). We knew it was being applied-for but not when it would happen. They came down here mob-handed, too.

GreyQueen the stupid thing is that I do not live in a so-called 'rough area'. I live in a lovely community where everyone helps each other and is considered to be the 'nicer side' of the area. It is just this one family who have made everyone's life hell here and unfortunately the council mucked up in evicting them last year - long story.

Anyway, today will hopefully be a more productive day. Already had the washing machine on twice and the tumble drier is still going. It's raining here which I am pleased about as I love rain!

House is starting to look a mess again - not that we got it tidy before but at least I could see the floor. Will need to go through my baby boys clothes as he has alerady grown out of all his 0-3 months clothes and he's only 4 weeks old! :eek:

Going to make toad-in-the-hole for tonight. I can make batter from scratch but could I make it now and leave it in the fridge until I need it tonight?

GreyQueen

jediteacher wrote: »

GreyQueen the stupid thing is that I do not live in a so-called 'rough area'. I live in a lovely community where everyone helps each other and is considered to be the 'nicer side' of the area. It is just this one family who have made everyone's life hell here and unfortunately the council mucked up in evicting them last year - long story.

Anyway, today will hopefully be a more productive day. Already had the washing machine on twice and the tumble drier is still going. It's raining here which I am pleased about as I love rain!

House is starting to look a mess again - not that we got it tidy before but at least I could see the floor. Will need to go through my baby boys clothes as he has alerady grown out of all his 0-3 months clothes and he's only 4 weeks old! :eek:

Going to make toad-in-the-hole for tonight. I can make batter from scratch but could I make it now and leave it in the fridge until I need it tonight?

Hi Jedi, I don't know about leaving batter in the fridge but I was taught by Mum to leave it for at least 2 hours in a teacloth-covered bowl out of the fridge, it really makes the flavour develop. I hardly beat batter (the old ME again) and it takes almost no time to make a batch then leave it covered. Just before you want to put it in the spitting hot pan, Mum and I add a little splash of cold tap water and quickly beat it in, seems to make up for any water which has been lost since it was mixed.

If anyone hasn't done batter from scratch (and I bet you're all old hands), it's 4 oz flour/ 2 eggs & enough milk to make a runny mixture then beat until you get bored (about 1 minute with a wooden spoon for me ).

Shame about how even a small amount of bad neighbours dragging an otherwise nice comunity down. The majority of my neighbouring flats are inhabited by perfectly-nice people who cause no trouble to man nor beast but there are a few absolute horrors who blast music at all hours and stuff their tiny flats with partying friends who then run amok in the small hours all around the walkways. Just one flat partying can keep 100 other households awake for the best part of a night.:(

Anyway, to more peaceful times to come.......good luck to you and anyone else who finds themselves in the same boat.

flowertotmum

Morning..erm my thanks button has disappeared..anyone know why...

Thank you all..i did have a lovely day yesterday as did hubby...
So excited for tomorrow..i know 43 and still excited at my birthday..its because hubby always gets me something special..wether its a book or flowers..i kow he has listened to me and got me what i would love not what i want..if that makes sense..i spend all day wondering what i will get ..childish but exciting..

Anyway back to OS...i think us OS'ers create our own harmony in our homes..because we are relaxed and happy...and get satisfaction from our days
Got my Mr T shop yesterday..90 items..my little stash is now a big stash..very happy with that.
Got some books from the library..so will be reading those later.
hubby and son just back from lotties will chat later.
later
ftm
p.s. i am a big softie

redfraggle_2

Going to make toad-in-the-hole for tonight. I can make batter from scratch but could I make it now and leave it in the fridge until I need it tonight?[/QUOTE]

I cant remember where i read it, but some say you should let batter stand after youve mixed it - certainly no worries in making it now

Larumbelle

Hi all

It's been ages since I've posted! I've been in and out of hospital loads, the surgery didn't go well and now I have complications to deal with as well as the actual symptoms. Better still, my employer are behaving as though the disability discrimination act / equality act never happened, and are refusing to allow me to stand at my desk because they don't consider it a reasonable adjustment. Apparently I might block someone else's light or make them feel uncomfortable by standing. It would actually be funny if it weren't such a disaster for me personally. Because they're not allowing me to work, so I'm on SSP, so I'm skint. Not to mention the fact that there's nothing quite so soul destroying as being rejected. Even as my employers tell me that I am missed and a valued member of the team blah blah blah. So, a grievance has been raised but if they don't budge it's a claim for constructive dismissal and disability discrimination. How have I ended up here? It's all very bewildering and I'm very unhappy. I'm trying to job seek but it's difficult. What on earth am I going to say to prospective employers? And it's put a strain on my relationship with OH as well, because he is under a lot of pressure to keep our heads above water financially while all of this goes on.

Sorry I just had to get all this off my chest. I feel utterly isolated.

Yes, you can leave batter to stand - just give it a quick mix again before you use it. My mum always used to use leftovers the next day, but last night I used some that was two days old and it tasted kind of stale - still edible, though.

Broomstick

Larumbelle, I must have started posting on this thread after you'd last posted so I don't know you, but I've just read what you've written and am sending a hug. (Actually, I mis-typed that the first time round and wrote jug. It's just as well I'd spotted it because you'd have been going round for the rest of the day wondering why on earth a broomstick had sent you a jug ) I really hope glimmers of hope and lights at ends of tunnels appear for you soon.

B x

Nargleblast

Larumbelle - sorry to hear of your troubles. Sounds like your employers could do with a lesson in common sense. Have they asked any of your colleagues if they would be bothered by you remaining standing? And if they think you might block someone's light then perhaps (let's be really adventurous here and think "outside the box") you could stand at a different desk?
I am sure there must be a simple way around the problem, rather than putting you and your firm through the discrimination procedure!