make do and mend for tougher times

SDG31000

Evening everyone

I just wanted to let everyone know that my friend Carl's cremation was today. It was a short service as he wanted a proper memorial service in his church and that will be next month. It was a lovely send off with laughter through tears and a few groans at his music choices and the memories of him we shared. DH shed a few tears when the song he sent Carl when his daughter was born was played. Carl said it expressed the way he felt about all of his daughters, including his step ones. As far as he was concerned there was no difference between them and he loved them all equally. There were over 100 people there and I'm sure there will be many more at the church next month.

Over all we are doing ok. Today was a closure that we needed and now we try to think happy thoughts and not cry like Carl wanted.

Love to all xxxx

Possession

We have some water out in a little foil container (except I kept seeing DD drinking from it! Hopefully she won't do that after it's been out all night!). I don't have any food out as I don't have a dog or cat so have nothing really to give it, but I suspect it could survive on slugs alone. A couple of years ago we had one in the same spot which was obviously poorly, out in full sun, and we took him to the rescue centre (an hour's drive away!). The children have never forgotten it. But this one, as far as I can tell, looked in fine health.
Don't feel guilty F, you didn't sabotage the freezer, it's just one of those things. You will bounce back. : )

SDG that sounds a lovely memorial for him, hold on to those happy memories.

Mrs_Chip

Hi Possession

Hedgehogs should not be out during the day - so possibly something wrong with it. Milk is bad for them, but you could put some cat or dog food out for it tonight. If you can catch it and weigh it, it needs to be about 400gr for it to hibernate, if it is very much lover than that it needs to go to hedgehog hospital for them to feed it up.

They have fleas, but they don't bite humans, and are important to the hog. All hogs are precious, so many are killed on the road.

We get them now and then they roll down the hill and end up in our yard!

GreyQueen

fuddle wrote: »

Aw we had a visiting hedgehog at our old house. Lovely little things. I bet you have a saucer of milk out

I am feeling so down tonight. I cannot tell you how it effects you having to throw all that meat away. The waste of money, the waste of an animals life, the smelly waste in landfill, the waste of nutrients for my kids. It's all swishing around up in there. Hopefully I'll shift the guilt? tomorrow. Looking forward to wartime farm anyway.

(((((Fuddle)))))) you have no reason to feel GUILT. You weren't wantonly wasting resources, you're a careful housekeeper whose had a bad break. We've all been there, in one form or another. It's a rare life when something doesn't go wrong, although having a dead appliance and lost food is a two-fer on the carp-o-meter.

Pat yourself on the back for dealing with it and planning around it. You're a shining example to us all. And kidkat is rising to the unexpected duck challenge like a trooper.

the cake so glad to hear that your catto is a bit brighter today and here's hoping he has a while longer in good spirits. Thinking of you and of Pooky, hope your missing one comes home soon.

:j Welcome to Baby Mia and congratulations to proud Monnagran's and Mum and Dad. Lovely name, isn't it?

I went to work and did some errands and had a sarnie then flitted up to the allotmentino. Wasn't working on my plot (still not 100%) but went to water a pal's greenhouse and have harvested yet another chardling. I suspect I shall look like a chard before Xmas. Will do a salad tonight as have a few bits in the bottom of the fridge which could usefully be rounded up into one.

Hokay, need to get the clothes out of the washer, this housework malarkey just goes on and on, doesn't it. And I suspect there'll be ir*n*ng involved. Prolly 3-4 bits of it if I include the hankies.:rotfl:

Have a nice evening, GQ xx

Hobsons_Choice

SDG: Glad the service went well for your loved friend.
Never a good occasion but, as you say, you can now move forward and remember all the happy times.

Possession

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

Hi Possession

Hedgehogs should not be out during the day - so possibly something wrong with it. Milk is bad for them, but you could put some cat or dog food out for it tonight. If you can catch it and weigh it, it needs to be about 400gr for it to hibernate, if it is very much lover than that it needs to go to hedgehog hospital for them to feed it up.

They have fleas, but they don't bite humans, and are important to the hog. All hogs are precious, so many are killed on the road.

We get them now and then they roll down the hill and end up in our yard!

He looked very active, on the lookout for food, and not small so I have no idea why he was out in the day but I don't think he was in trouble. I'll get some dog food tomorrow though - DH out with the car now so no chance of going and the children need to go to bed.

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

Aw we had a visiting hedgehog at our old house. Lovely little things. I bet you have a saucer of milk out

I am feeling so down tonight. I cannot tell you how it effects you having to throw all that meat away. The waste of money, the waste of an animals life, the smelly waste in landfill, the waste of nutrients for my kids. It's all swishing around up in there. Hopefully I'll shift the guilt? tomorrow. Looking forward to wartime farm anyway.

I'd forgotten about that Fuddle, will watch later in bed on the laptop...can understand you feeling down with what has happened.

Here it's dark outside already and it's really cold in my home(still not putting the CH on...)and have only just put some lights on(may go back to the tealights soon)and dive under the duvet and/or get the thermals on...or the PJ's and/or the Dressing Gown and of course the bedsocks...and then the clocks will soon be being put back(oh, that's the end of October isn't it?)

So a little while off...

I'm happy if that link about fgrowing vegetables helped you and others...It apears Gordon Ramsey's new series has some recipes that may interest(I didn't even know he'd had a knew series)He's snot swearing this time...some are still available on 4oD on line and one programme is about cooking on a budget...

I had some Tesco Breakfast Shot yogurt/cereal drinks earlier(needed using up because of the dates)had some buttered teacake with cheese(years since I had some TC)enjoyed it but already I have had nearly all my calories for the day. I'm still going to eat something though.

I joined My Fitness Pal as suggested by Fuddle;)I put my daily foods into a database and it gives me the calories and an idea what I'll weigh in a certain amount of time...

I'm not trying to lose weight though but I have and even the trousers I had altered are loose at the waist so I need to eat more(or wear a belt:rotfl:)

D&DD looked at the yogurts again and I paid half price £1.50 for six so I suppose that wasn't bad. My fridge is mainly full of yogurt and salad stuff. Basically dairy stuff, lots of cereal and fruit.

Then the freezer has fish, meat and stuff I need to use up otherwise I can't get any new stuff in it. I have my food store and my cupboards have lots of soup.

So I am now using some of what I have and saving having to do lots of shops so may be able to save a little and ring the changes...

So I guess all I need on a regular bases is milk, bread, fruit and salad stuff...I nearly added vegetables but I can use up the frozen veg first or instead of...

Popperwell

SDG sending my thoughts to you and glad it went as well as those kind of events can...

Pooky

We always used to leave out raw eggs out for hedgehogs, on a saucer, not sure if that's ok or not, just something my grandparents used to do.

I'd love a more robust sewing machine but my little "brother" does ok, he's about 20 now and I haven't serviced it for a while.

Still no sign of moggy, DDs have put posters up round the village this evening.

DD1s interview went well, they were very impressed with her voluntary work and said if she's successful they'll work her hours around her commitments as they'd like her to carry on with them (sounds quite positive to me). It's nearly double minimum wage for her age too. Fingers crossed please people. She should hear on Monday.

kidcat

SDG - that sounds lovely, its the sort of thing I would like I think. My mum wants a jazz funeral where they parade the streets!! She has no hope with DS8 around he would never cope with the noise

Possession in one of our previous houses we regularly had hoggies, I love them to bits and we regularly fed them cat food/dog food (never milk) fresh water and I was inclined if they seemed upset to provide a box with hay inside, if they went in I could sneakily weigh them (having first weighed box) and would know if they needed help properly or were just passing through.
We had foxes too, one was exceptionally tame and would wait for OH to finish work early hours and then wander out to greet him home. At that point we had to bring the bunnies inside to live as whilst he was beautiful and happy to see us I knew he was still wild enough to fancy rabbit for tea.

Fuddle - the freezer failing is not something you could control and you certainly shouldnt feel guilt, if we all found guilty over these things I would be locked up and the key thrown away. You didnt deliberately set out to waste the food these things happen. I threw some of ours away yesterday as I had no choice cooked what I could and the rest went out. C'est la vie.
One piece of advice is not to keep all stock of one type in each freezer, try to spread it out that way you only lose half your stock - I have found that the hard way.