make do and mend for tougher times

Possession

Pooky wrote: »

My DDs are in Rochester today, grandparents have taken them to the castle and cathedral.

Of all the things to be doing today and I'm crocheting a winter blanket! It's far to hot to sit out in the garden, so I'm sat in the shady living room with the fan going. Just made a solicitors appointment For tomorrow to sort out DHs work stuff and his official leaving date is 31st of this month. Have tried speaking to various benefit officials to see what's what but they don't want to know until he's official laid off....not much good for those of us that like to plan ahead and know what's coming in/going out. :mad:

Mine are doing castle, museum and cathedral, with DH and my mum. I went to school in Rochester, so have had quite enough of the cathedral....all those carol services.
It is ridiculous that you can't get the ball rolling or at least make an appointment for DH to see someone after the 31st. The world is going mad. DH's phone interview was cancelled yesterday so no joy there and he had done lots of work for it. He has applied for 25 jobs today but none of them seem likely to go anywhere.

[Deleted User]

pooky I put my winter blanket away for now, its much too hot on my knee, I couldn`t stop crocheting and made my right arm and wrist ache, trouble is that I use that arm all the time and forget about the ache until I am sitting down. I am going to do the ibrufen route later, a couple of days should settle it.

One thing leads to another. I wanted to get my dehydrated stuff into a dark place so emptied a cupboard and yes it went in ok but all the other stuff went onto the floor, where it joined `dumped` things. I never mean to just dump things on the floor but it is all too easy when I can close the door on it. So no room to move and I started to sort as it must be time for a clear out. So now I have a stash of paper sewing patterns (most unused) for the cs and I got realistic and kept the ones that are in my `real` size. Wine making stuff is moved and covered with a pretty fabric so looks ok. I got this close to getting rid of 4 dozen new wine bottles but stopped myself just in time. I use wine boxes and they do a darn good job, so dh said `do we really need wine bottles?`and I almost listened

I used to collect zuni fetishes, they are beautiful stone carvings, and have about 60 most carved by the top native american carvers from the zuni pueblo. Some of them have now died. I went through them all today and am astounded at how beautiful and tactile they are. Some are outstanding pieces. I expect that my collection is quite relatively valuable now but it is all packed safely away again. I won`t sell them but will probably divide them amongst the three grandchildren when they are adults.
examples of fetsihes from zuni
http://www.zunifetishexchange.com/

Next to tidy (for the chop!) will be my cardmaking stuff and I have a LOT. Well naturally they will be offered to dds and if not wanted then they will go to cs. I have lots already made and will just keep basics now

I can`t do any more today, too hot and I don`t want to move and get uncomfortable. 32 out in the shade, frying temperature. 4 fans on, not kidding, wet t towels in front of one and keeping the house at 24.5. Blinds down on the sunny side and I feel like a mole. A bit of sun is good but not this

prepareathome

Well we have had our summer - yesterday from dawn till about 4pm sun was bright and just some fluffy clouds floating around, then they all ganged up and covered the sky and been like that ever since, so although its hot its so dull and very heavy urg.

We actually found a lovely market on our travels - usually where ever we go we find the market was the day before or the next day so I rarely get to go to one.

I was very good and restrained as saw some wonderful things but just couldn't not in any shape or form justify the expense but did fall for a couple of thing and one that to me is a thing of beauty but to most a piece of rusty iron. Always wanted one but only every seen them in expensive antique shops and costing a fortune. This little beauty even has its own stand. So now got to find out the best way to restore a Sad Iron. It cost me £5 which I thought was good, no doubt I was being ripped off but I wanted it and was within my price range so I and no doubt stall owner are happy.
[IMG][/img] IMG-20120724-01058 by prepareathomeearth, on Flickr

The other thing I got was the old fashioned type drill - the one where you turn the middle part as I have lost mine and sometimes it was so handy to use instead of having to bring the big electric one out even though its cordless for just one hole, so it to is a bit rusty but still like the Sad Iron totally sound and still moves very smoothly and the guy let me have it for £2 and then to hold both items gave me a lovely pink, large strong shoulder bag that granddaughter for all her goth loving ways has fallen in love with so once I have cleaned it she will have it, so I think my little haul for £7 was worth it.

So that was my buys - hubby and grandchildren spent more on CDs and games. Granddaughter also found some lovely tops for pennies, all second hand and very good makes and all in great condition so she was one happy teenager ( we just cannot tell her mum where they came from as she does not approve of her daughter buying anything second hand. Everything must be brand new - can be cheap rubbish or top price designer but must be new and as she thankfully can afford to pay new prices high and low its her choice - she does love a bargain and will search for them but only as said among new things. Granddaughter on the other hand is a girl after my own heart and loves a bargain be it new or preloved.

Right off to see if renewing annual line rental with BT is still best deal

fuddle

Just back from the park! It was lovely, the drizzle stopped and the mam's had a good chat while the kids played together.

Not time to go dandelion foraging now as they're off on their bikes and I have to follow with the youngest DD. Just having a sneaky catch up an a cuppa.

Not sure I'm going to continue with my degree. I just worry about taking on debt to get through it now. I think I need to just concentrate on the qualifications and experience I have, try childminding while I have to be at home, gain some more experience and when the children are at comprehensive school look to gain employment in nurseries and schools again.

The mam's have said today that there are no childminders in my village so it looks like it could be a goer.

Cheeky pasta sauce from a jar for tea, with yesterdays HM garlic bread. (sometimes you just need something quick and easy eh?)

Youngest wants to make a fairy garden so I need to think about how to make that happen. I feel so shattered but fulfilled that my girls are stimulated, busy and interacting

[Deleted User]

PAH - the iron and trivet are beautiful, if I'd been there we might have been in a bidding war!!!!! I got a beauty on sunday from a garage sale, its about 3" deep and has a lift up door at the back for an iron shaped 'slug' to go inside. These would have been heated on the stove and I think there was usually a set of 4 so you could keep changing to a hot one. Enjoy it!!!! Cheers Lyn x.

prepareathome

Fuddle cheating and using ready made is totally allowed )

One thing I used to do with my lot many moons ago was miniature but real, gardens - it was something that was thing done by Victorians ( maybe earlier but I know it was a fashion with them, wealthy woman would make them up.. You make actual little gardens in trays. Japanese garden ( sand, rocks etc) italian - lots of small stone glues together to make pillars ) English - tiny seedlings put together to make groves of 'trees'. In all when the plants became to big they could be potted on. They used to love coming up with ideas for their gardens - a mixture of lego and plants usually when it came to youngest son - ever seen plants grow on the moon I used to just use cat litter trays ( bought brand new and unused by our cat I promise) for the base of the garden then they could add the soil or sand or pebbles as we did a beach ones with the pebbly beach, bit of sand and some water ( the sea). The only limits are in size ( nothing to big to go into them and in your child's imagination). We made up paper mache for some structures - or in case of beach for cliffs. Moon one was paper mache with dents put in for craters and bits of plastic glued inside where soil could go to place very small seedlings. Much fun was always had by all.

Pooky we also did the drawing round the child and dressing up the image in fact last year I think it was son found one in loft all rolled up, that had been of him when he was 4. We did the drawing round the hands and feet also then decorating them, all so cheap for cost of cheap roll of paper, cheap paints, coloured pencils or felts. Even used the idea a couple of times at birthday parties - 40 children all sitting around with paper decorating away to their hearts content their hands or foot outline - only did for DDs parties but boys did it at home with their siblings a lot.

As they learnt to read I use to let them record themselves reading a story out loud which they loved to listen to in bed ( yes a lazy way of story telling:) ).

One game they loved in the garden was swing ball - hubby entered a competition and won one which at time was very expensive as just out - and they were out there playing it rain or sun.

Using odd bits of wool to make pictures was another thing that was good for rainy days. In those days there was not the cheap range of glues for children just the white stuff ( forget the name) but it washed off very easily and being a knitter I always had lots of bits of wool of all colours ( I knitted them everything then as wool was so much cheaper and there was not so much the mass cheap stuff there is now).

Trying to remember what else I did with them, so much I know but forgotten.

Possession

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

PAH - the iron and trivet are beautiful, if I'd been there we might have been in a bidding war!!!!! I got a beauty on sunday from a garage sale, its about 3" deep and has a lift up door at the back for an iron shaped 'slug' to go inside. These would have been heated on the stove and I think there was usually a set of 4 so you could keep changing to a hot one. Enjoy it!!!! Cheers Lyn x.

I read that as you were heating a slug on the stove! :eek:

prepareathome

Lyn I have it sitting on chest of drawer opposite my bed as I just adore it. Will find out best way to clean it up as don't want to damage it. I will keep my eyes out and see if I can find more to make a set. This is a number 6 but cannot see a makers name but has a raised fleur-de-lis design on it. The stand handle is damaged but still usable. Its just something I have always wanted but never thought I would ever buy - I was looking at it on the stall and wondering how much when granddaughter said to me did I want it and I said yes, so she just comes out with 'how much do you want for the iron? When he said £5 I just had to buy it, it wasn't to much to pay for something that I am not likely to use. Its very heavy, not weighed it yet but will be surprised if its less than about 4lbs. Hubby looked good walking round the market with this big pink shoulder bag as was to heavy for me to carry around. Do you think that was a fair price - I don't know the prices of them? It will give me an idea if I ever see any more whether its worth paying what they are asking.

Popperwell

prepareathome wrote: »

Right off to see if renewing annual line rental with BT is still best deal

I think Plusnet do annual line rental cheaper...

GreyQueen

cat_smith wrote: »

OK. I am officially sulking. Can someone send that yellow ball up here PLEASE. My veg are non-existant. I think GQ's slugs have moved in however. Mardy can I come and share sweeties?

Can't be my slugs as mine were all cut in half, mwah ha ha.

Possession wrote: »

I read that as you were heating a slug on the stove! :eek:

Now there's a thought. And not in a good way.

It's pushing 30 degrees here and I'm shattered from yesterday so have been taking it very easy, just went out for some shopping and to collect a library reservation, and then loafing about at home. I have stripped the bed and vac'd thru and will go tidy my underbed tinned foods larder shortly.

Kittie, thank you so much for the tip that the broad beans would be fine without blanching. We ate some yesterday and they were perfect. Another chore saved. Mum took 2 kg of beans home to them and she still hadn't picked all that were ready.

Just spoke to Dad; the parents took 2 of my 4 sacks of tatties and he has shot them out on newspaper on his shed floor for some more drying and there are a few with suspicious slightly-bronze shadows on the skin which may indicate that they got blighted. I sent all the biggest spuds over with them and there were some whoppers. I've kept the small-to-middlings as they're more suitable for my singleton household. I shall tip mine out on the shed floor to check and leave them out for a few days, with several sheets of newspaper to protect them from the daylight.

Will be going to the plot but not until at least 6 pm as it is far too hot to do heavy work outside today. The city is buzzing with tourists which will be good for businesses even if they do get underfoot somewhat. Still, it's a pleasure to see people out and about in their summer duds rather than with brollies.

Hope we're all getting some of the summery goodness.......