The commonsense thread

Sunshine4

fuddle wrote: »

Preparing my house for winter has been a hard 3 year slog. We're nearly there now but still got some window hangings to do. For us it's been a case of putting off one year in favour of something more important. It's just this year that I have managed to get myself and DH thermal undies. Also the real struggle I find is the girls grow so much between the seasons although my youngest does get hand-me-downs from eldest.

So although to the reader it looks like lists of new, new, new for us it's a case of finally being able to get it in the first place. My dressing gown is 5 years old, a bit wishy washy looking but still cosy and warm.

Christmas decorations. I have my lights up around some twigs already. For decoration and cosy feel I have to stress. When it's Christmas I make a big display of the mantel piece. I put a string of fairy lights along and cover with Ivy, holly and any evergreen bits I can find. Decorate with baubles and fir cones - it needs replacing before Christmas but it's free and so lovely

Also jam jars wrapped with ivy and red ribbon with a tea light in on the hearth. Lovely and free. I was forced into decorating like this but now it's part of Christmas for me and will never go back to buying decorations... other than replacing baubles and fairy lights.

When you're really faced with surviving I believe common sense comes out automatically. You find a way. the trick is doing it and still managing to keep smiling.

Lovely post :T

medusasmummy

Re christmas we make
-paper chains for the ceiling, using scraps of old wrapping paper stuck on A4 sheets and cut up.
- paper lanterns for round the fire.
- paper baskets for holding sweets. the elves put a few sweets in your basket if you've been good (instead of an advent calendar. we have a count down on our regular calendar that we cross off daily.)
- snowflakes for hanging from the ceilings.

We bought a few santa sacks a few years ago which are on their way out. so this year we've kept the large boxes we've been getting with deliveries and will be using them for a lucky dip style present opening and packing them out with shredded junk mail.

HariboJunkie

Was googling for a recipe last night to use up the husks of 16 lemons after making lemon curd when I stumbled this website where the article echoes what alot of us have been saying about keeping things real.

And I don't mean this link to insult anyone , it just seems to express well what I have been feeling although it is regarding the US where I believe the prepping community is very strong.

PS. I still don't know what to do with my lemons. :rotfl:

Churchmouse

Thanks for that link Haribo, think she sums up my attitude perfectly. Loving this thread

fuddle

The advent calendar here consists of a small chalk board with a crochet basket (make from string, looks rustic and festive) and each day the girls write the number of days left and scoop a chocolate out of their basket. The chocolates are made by them before hand, just a case of melting cheap chocolate into moulds. Two commercial advent calendars would cost me more than £5. I don't spend anywhere near that on chocolate.

Bitsy_Beans

Haribo how about this?

http://mortgagefreeinthree.com/2012/04/citrus-enzyme-cleaner/

fuddle

HariboJunkie wrote: »

Was googling for a recipe last night to use up the husks of 16 lemons after making lemon curd when I stumbled this website where the article echoes what alot of us have been saying about keeping things real.

And I don't mean this link to insult anyone , it just seems to express well what I have been feeling although it is regarding the US where I believe the prepping community is very strong.

PS. I still don't know what to do with my lemons. :rotfl:

I nodded all through that. Thank you. That was me. Panic. Get on with it. Actually I love this way of life. Frantically feed my learning new skills. Feel like I need to get things to live like this properly. Realise I spend more time learning about it than doing it. Realise it isn't fun when you really are faced with it. Calm down. Admire the old ways. Incorporate the old ways to make living bearable but store the nitty gritty ideas if I should need them. Thank the dear clouds that I live comfortably.

As of this week and because of this thread I have now come full circle. I don't need to buy or do to fit in - no ones fault, it was my own insecurities fuelling that mentality. I thank this thread for calming me down.

HariboJunkie

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

Haribo how about this?

http://mortgagefreeinthree.com/2012/04/citrus-enzyme-cleaner/

Brilliant! Thank you. :T:A

I was only thinking of recipes for preserves but never considered a cleaner. I'll report back on how well it cleans.

mummysaver

Haribo, how about a version of preserved lemons, I know the usual method relies on the lemon juice, but dependent on how much flesh is left you may be able to salt them and make it work?

Fuddle, I'm glad you're feeling calmer, it's all too easy to be sucked into others worries and panics. I love the upbeat, practical and common sense approach of this thread.

I bought 3 cheap throws from Asda yesterday, the kids love snuggling under them on the sofa, and the old ones have been donated to our dog, who is happily lazing on one right now! Over the weekend I shall be digging through the airing cupboard for some lined curtains, so I can pinch the lining for the lovely but very thin sitting room ones! Whilst I could just hang the old ones instead, they don't match anything, and whilst I may be old style that's no reason for no style

midnightraven3

RE the lemon peels

why not make compost heap jelly
(dont let the name put you off )
its a river cottage recipe

can be found here

http://boards.fool.co.uk/i-came-across-this-curiosity-one-the-other-day-11159650.aspx

apple peel & cores needed
so i make it after making apple crumble