make do and mend for tougher times

GreyQueen

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

There is a variety of aubergine that is white and,err, egg shaped:D
They say what they see!

You wouldn't be pulling an innocent girl's leg, now? I've only ever seen the purple kind but then I don't get out much or have a TV.

Ooof, must get offline and chill before bedtime with some trashlature and a cuppa or I shall be up all night.

Until tomorrow, my lovelies. G'night and (insert deity if applicable) bless.

Pooky

See I knew pythagoras/broadband beans and father/fava went together somehow. But I'd never twigged fava beans were broad beans either.

My mind is full of utterly useless snippets of information but I still forget what day of the week it is.

Mrs_Chip

Oh no, GQ, see the link at 'eggplant'in that post!

stiltwalker

Pooky - That made me laugh.

I've been out this evening - on my own (well with a friend) no children in tow!!! My mum has a stand at a local arts/crafts show and it was the private view tonight so we went down. My friend did very well resisting the temptation to buy anything, however I was less frugal. I got the most beautiful handmade silver necklace and earrings like an outline flower but in my defence they are for when we get married later in November and they were a very good price for what they are. Got the shoes last week in a closing down sale when my mum just spotted them. Darkish red, peep toe high heels with a decidedly extravagant fabric flower on the front in the same red satin and only £12 with a matching clutch bag for £8. Just need to find some material that matches for the dress now.

I am very jealous hearing about all your produce - my garden has been a complete bust this year. I've been so busy with the kids and the OU I just haven't had much chance to plant much and what I have planted has mostly been munched by the (insert appropriate expletive) slugs. They have been so bad here this year I have even contemplated such bizarre things as getting some (really cheap) beer and pouring 2 carefully placed lines of it down our little lane, waiting for them all to come out for a sup and then driving down in the car squishing the lot!

Mrs_Chip

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: @ Siltwalker - that is evil ! And brilliant !

bluebag

Has anyone remembered sprouting seeds in the pantry inventory.

They are easily done with a jam jar on a windowsill and cost buttons. Good for when the slugs and snails have eaten all your greens.

I read some years ago about a self sufficient farm in the great depression. ( can't remember where much to my frustration). It took an amazing amount of work, virtually work and bed except for the Sabbath.

The men spent all their time chopping wood, tending crops, maintaing the buildings and caring for the larger farm animals.

The women spent all their time spinning, sewing, baking, brewing, cooking, bottling, tending chickens and raising children.

I was truly staggered by the amount of storage space used for food, they felt secure with no less than 3 years of food in case of bad harvest, drought, crop or animal disease. A whole barn was used for food storage alone. No wonder supermarkets need three deliveries a day.

Popperwell

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2012/36/the-reunion.html

Might interest a few who remember the Poll tax and some too young to remember it!

bluebag

elona wrote: »

I have been telling DH for a while about the recent bad harvests and how food etc is going to get even dearer.

I actually thought he had "got it" till I put some basic teabags in store and he looked round saying "it is like a shop". Not that I was trying to save us money and effort and anxiety later - just that I enjoyed playing shops!!!:mad:

No sooner do I get something than he seems to make it his mission to use it up. The kettle I got for the hob has been lost in the house move- which means he saw no need for it and threw it out. Quite a few other bits have disappeared too and I will take great pleasure in making him take me shopping when it is twice the price or more and saying what a pity it got lost!;)

He just can't seem to connect the dots. I told him about the just in time delivery system for shops, reminded him of the three day week, salt, sugar and bread shortages and the time local harvests failed and the only potatoes you could get were foreign ones that cost a fortune. It just does not sink in!

It gets really lonely and dispiriting when the people you are trying to look after are the ones who do not appreciate what is happening
and you have to smuggle in stuff.:(

Keep calm and carry on. I am called Mrs DOOM in my house! They think I'm a nutter. :eek: Don't let it get to you, adversity takes all forms, sometimes in the form of OH's and other family members and friends. Just keep on doing what your gut tells you is right and leave them to it. They can undo what you do, but just keep on doing it, they mock, they laugh, they give up, then when TSHTF they admit you were right.

kidcat

Elona - I was in wilks today buying yet more curtain rings for DD17 curtains, I know we have a box of these things, I gave them to OH to store in shed - can I find them, of course not. If it had been something he had any use for that would have been different.

Whilst in Wilks I did buy a camping stove half price and some gas canisters half price, these will be stored under the shelving units in the shed and OH will never be told they are there unless we ever need them

He would moan and yell so I am taking the path of least resistance and not telling him. DD17 knows and I have explained why, she will also know where they are in case I am not in and they are needed.

bluebag

Mine don't even notice now, it's just 'mum's thing' not even a heavenward eyeroll anymore. I really must up my game.:cool: