make do and mend for tougher times

[Deleted User]

Morning FAIRYPK - If you want some colour in the garden or on the patio you don't have to pay a fortune. We saw something very effective in Sweden when we were on holiday this summer. Someone had saved ordinary tin cans of different sizes, taken off the labels and used them as plant pots. It was really effective and then it would only cost you a tray of winter pansies which will set you back about a fiver and you can use soil from the garden. If you arrange then on the patio you would have a nice colourful display for very little outlay. DD has some with herbs and geraniums on her kitchen windowsill and they look super. Has the advantage that if they go rusty, you'll always have another one to replace at no cost. Hope that helps Cheers Lyn.

FairyPrincessk

Mrs LW that is a fab idea, although we don't actually have any dirt in the garden it is all paved or covered over with small stones and there is a cloth beneath the stones (I looked!) If I can find a small sack of dirt in one of the local shops I might have a go, it would be so lovely to have them and we've always got a few tins coming through in the kitchen.:D

fuddle

MrsL that is right you my street So simple. I'm growing to love tin cans. They are so useful.



Darn it, I'm inspired again and I haven't got time! :rotfl:

Also, rose hips... evil little spikey hurty things. My fingers are sore :cool: :rotfl:

FairyPrincessk

Thanks fuddle and Mrs LW. Now I'm trying to work out how to include a tin in tonights dinner. I'd better get to work and do some writing, otherwise I'll be all morning thinking about my plans for a mini garden.

Possession

LOL now don't mix this thread with the hoarder's thread - saving tin cans, it's a hoarder's paradise!

[Deleted User]

Hey FUDDLE - No pain, no gain!!!!! It'll be worth it when you sample the end products though with the knowledge that it cost you so little won't it? Anyway, it's hats off to you for trying yet another 'new' thing in your learning curve, you'll be a little OS Guru soon - Have a lovely day Cheers Lyn xxx.

FSK - I've got one of those can openers that takes the lid off round the outside of the rim, so they don't have sharp edges, we use the lid part to stand the tin on when they are indoors, stops marks on the widowsills. Should have said before but make a couple of holes with something sharp in the bottom of the tins before you plant them up, for drainage. Have a good day, Cheers Lyn x.

savingqueen

Hello everyone,

Have a cleaning day planned so will post myself and then read posts when I take a break. Not actually started cleaning yet :obut did some food shopping after school run and just eaten loads of homemade bread as ravenous - hopefully won't need much food at lunchtime.

Had a great weekend. Kids said it was fantastic and we didn't spend a penny apart from a little petrol. Went to the library on Sat, followed by our town's carnival and then in pm went blackberrying, didn't get many but it was fun.

On Sunday took some L*dl's pain au chocolate and brioche rolls, juice and coffee for a late breakfast at the coast. Between 4 of us nearly all the food went, there are 10 pains/rolls in each pack! Found a place to park for free, just 5 mins or so from car park. DH was worried we would get a ticket as traffic wardens prowling but they were only checking the pay and display car park. DH just couldn't believe people would pay to park when free parking available mins away. There was a sea water paddling area and boys made friends with a little girl who had a bucket and net (we had neither) and they went looking for crabs for ages while DH & I sat and watched in the boiling sunshine.

As we had left early, we got back early (too hot), grabbed some very un OS pizzas from supermarket as too hot to be bothered to cook and had a very late lunch, kids called it "lea" (half way btwn lunch and tea as we had brunch earlier) Then homework, reading etc with kids and then washed the car together which they also love.

Also made some home-made bread for 1st time- by hand, not in the BM which has died after a few uses (long story) and will now not be replaced (saving lots of money :T), even shaped it myself rather then using loaf tin. Proud of myself, never thought I would see the day. When I met DH nearly 13 years ago, I couldn't cook at all. Still a way to go but I'm getting there.

Just hiding from a saleswoman - peeked through kitchen window, she's been there ages. Right going to change into old clothes and get cracking. Back later to nose at other posts!

Have a good day everyone, hugs and positive thoughts all round
sq:)

Byatt

GreyQueen wrote: »

I grew on some birdfeed sunflowers and I got funny little ones about 3 feet tall with several tiny heads. They were sold as black sunflower seeds in the shell. Cute, but very much not what I had in mind.:)

Wheeeesh, it's my fanstasy home, I'm allowed to dream. And it's always high summer in my imagination, so heatng problems just won't arise.......

The cottage that my parents rented and where we kids were born was built in the earliest years of the 1600s and had timbers in the sitting room walls and in the back kitchen ceiling which had clearly been previously-used elsewhere; they appeared to have adze marks.

Anyone dreaming of timbered cottages should know this; spiders tend to drop on you from the timber ceiling beams.:eek:

My cottage is timbered...original wattle and daub...:rotfl: well the last bit may not be true as I don't know what wattle and daub is or even if I've spelled it correctly. But the plaster is lime based and I need to do some remedial work. Been Googling...

I also have a huge inglenook which takes up a third of my very small space.

It's a very different mind set from having a modern home...having said that, like GQ as a child I lived in 1600 or so farmhouse with resident ghost. :eek:...Victorian terraces, slum terraces, over the shop flats, 1930's semis, you name it, we've lived in it... only had modern from being married and lived in army houses for a while in Pirbright.

Fuddle, I love 1930's semis, I would probably have it in the style of 1930's living if I was lucky enough to have one. It takes a while to adapt especially when you are "forced" into a situation that you hadn't really chosen, but variety is the spice of life.

Was Nella in a 1930's semi?

prepareathome

Morning all. Am on phone. Blackberry so screen small but only thing last year that did everything I wanted but not touch screen as it will not be replaced for a long tme unless it beaks.

Cannot work out how to do paragraphs at moment so will sort when am home.

Am babysitting DGD3 and been here since 7.30 so washed, dressed and feed them and then took DGS7 to school and one of the mums came up to me and asked if I was YS mum as she recognised me. She was at Primary School wth him before I took him out. She lives just by son and chats to DIL and son but did not realise who he was. She has daughters but although one is in same class as DGS7 they are not really friends so up now not that friendly but now she knows who YS is she intends to change that. I guess its nice to know I haven't changed that much.

Just as well hubby is off this week as I forgot till late last night British Gas Engineer was coming out to fix Dishwasher, it works but the top shelf keeps either falling down or jamming and last week jammed in a way door could not close properly. First time called them out since took out service plan in May. I pay £23 a month and for that 10 appliances, only kitchen ones are covered for parts and labour. Age and make don't matter just as well dishwasher is an old one from freecycle. I decided if it works as they say it, as long as thngs can be fixed cheapest option of all. If cannot be fixed no replacement but was told they will do their best to keep things runnig. Parts usually second hand but will use new if none avalable. You choose what you want covered in lots of 5s. So I even have the old 3 drawer frerezer I got from freecycle in July on it as well as chest freezer and fridge freezer, electric oven, gas hob, washng machine, tumble dryer, dshwasher and microwave so can add somethng else. When I took it out bread Machines could not be included but as so many people had asked they were lookng into it.

SDG hope today went well.

Right taken me 3hrs to type this as doing so when her ladyship is busy and doesn' want me. Just hope I can. Stay awake tll home time for me, she of course is full of energy.

Hugs and Love to allxxxx

homerdog

Afternoon Peeps...not been on for a while as have been helping DH look after his ailing dad while SIL was away, 4 viits a day, plus carers going in, plus numerous phone calls asking for extra visits.
Been busy baking this morning - sultana scones, cherry scones, mini lemon drizzle loaves and cupcakes with lemon and chocolate sunflowers on top..it's one thing that will stop me picking when I'm supposed to be dieting. DH has promised trip to Corfu when I reach a certain weight so need to crack on with it.
Busy times are here again as DD2 has gone back to work after having her third child, muggins gets to take the older 2 to school every day and look after the baby for 2 full and 2 half days a week too. At least their dad picks them up from school and gets the baby by 3pm so I can still go to work, albeit knackered before I start. And by god, those girls take some filling at breakfast time.
DS just got in early from work himself and started raiding the cupboards, I've not mentioned the tins of fresh baking and he has a cold so hasn't noticed the smell (or the washed baking tins drying in the sun).
Anyway, going to change ready for work...which reminds me....GOOD LUCK FUDDLE...when u start your job, I did that several years ago, then progressed to the kitchens, then left to look after DGD1...oh happy days......