Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

good_advice

Thank you savingqueen. Do get your sewing machine out!
I bought a CH desk/table with one drawer under to sit my machine on in the craft room/front room. I did not want to move it on/off the dining room table any more.
I had a new Brother sewing machine last year my dear OH bought me.
I sew home crafts but not dressmaking. Lots of little useful things.
Plenty of bags, some with zips. make up style, pencil case, bags to separate some clothes like socks,etc... carrier bag sausage type bags. Yoga mat bag and laundry bags for travels.
I had better not start on cushion covers....

vhalla1478

Well I've had an extremely productive day - ironing, housework, altering daughter-in-law's trousers, rug quota and unpicking wonky quilting on oven glove - I'm very proud of that because in the past I would have justified throwing it away (only a little bit of material etc) and started all over again with a new bit. Actually I probably did a bit too much; I keep forgetting I'm not 18 any more and I have tired eyes from all the sewing.

I've a bit of a treat tonight as daughter-in-law has bought a huge batch of craft materials from a friend who is moving/giving up crafting - I'm looking forward to that, although I find the 'shabby chic'/cutesie look rather passe - each to his own, of course and I'm not going to pre-judge!!

Prinzessilein, the one bill I don't have is water rates as I live on a farm and it's included in my rent, but enough other bills, of course. I'm really looking forward to trying your dumplings with the garlic - what a good idea.

And well done, savingqueen, you must have a will of iron; the aroma of coffee is very hard to resist - what was it Oscar Wilde said? 'I can resist anything except temptation'!

I love the covers on your sofa, good advice; last year my son made some garden seats for the tribe out of pallets and I helped him to upholster the loose cushions for them; his old landlady had donated some very nice heavy checked material that she had never used. He's now making a lovely unit for the tv and a shelf for all its electrical sundries (a let down cupboard door with piano hinges no less)with a shelf underneath to put logs for the fire. I instilled make do and mend from an early age in both of my offspring - just as well really with sixteen children between the two of them.

I'll report on the craft stuff when I post another recipe later - I guess I'll have to fight pangs of envy.

Viv xx

Floss

SQ have just PM'd you.

silvasava

Evening All

Just skimmed thru the last posts - busy Monday for me. Had a buyer for DH's CD player so got it packed & despatched this morning then DH & I went down to the boat & spent a couple of hours sanding (much quicker & easier ) then when we got home had HM Broccoli & Stilton soup & I then made big pot of chilli to portion & freeze, a Granny cake and tried a Mary Berry Malted Chocolate cake (very nice!) Now sitting down with a cuppa at last
Gym with my friend in the morning & I'll do 5:2 tomorrow 'cos its another busy day.

vhalla1478

Evening, Everyone,

Just viewed daughter-in-law's craft purchases and am relieved to say they are not my 'thing' - wooden letters, hearts etc; possibly what the young like to decorate their homes with. The idea is to make things to sell at local craft fairs.

Here's a quick and tasty dish.

Grilled Aubergines and Sesame Chicken with Garlic Rice - serves 6

6 boneless chicken breasts, 2 tbsp. sesame oil, 2 tbsp. sunflower oil, 4 chopped garlic cloves, salt and black pepper, 3 large aubergines, 125 grams sesame seeds, tsp finely ground sea salt, 700 grams long grain rice.

Cut the chicken breasts down the middle into two thin fillets. Mix together the sesame oil, sunflower oil and garlic in a bowl. Add the chicken, stir to coat, then leave to marinate for 30 minutes.

Remove the chicken from the marinade, reserving the marinade. Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and grill them quickly. Cut the aubergines into slices, about 1 inch thick, brush with some of the reserved chicken marinade, sprinkle with salt and grill until soft and golden.

Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan, then stir the sea salt in with them until they are very hot. Arrange the aubergine and chicken fillets overlapping alternately on a serving dish and sprinkle with the toasted sesame seeds and black pepper.

Meanwhile cook the rice in boiling salted water for about 12 minutes, or according to the manufacturer's instructions. Put the remaining chicken marinade in a heavy-based saucepan large enough to hold the rice. Add a little extra oil if necessary and cook until the garlic is just golden. Drain the cooked rice and stir it into the garlic oil. Serve immediately with the chicken and the aubergines.

I hope you like it.

I'm having an early night as I have to be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow.

Good night, Folks.

Viv xx

cheerfulness4

Good Advice I love the crisp, fresh colours of your sofa covers. They look so pretty.:D

Elaine, I was just riding through the country on Saturday afternoon and DH and I went past our local farm shop and they had their sheep out and one dark brown one with a little black lamb. It was so beautiful.

I'm another one that got a line of washing (towels) bone dry outdoors today. What a weird day. Started really sunny then just as we had left the house the heavens opened and it snowy furiously. It was quite exciting driving through the country in it.
Then this afternoon it came sunny again until evening so out went the washing.
Which reminds me, I want to pop some washing ready to hang out when DH gets in early tomorrow.

Finally got my tomato seeds sown. I've tried a few varieties that are new to me that I was given to play with so I'll see how they work out. For those that enjoy growing their own veg I've sown:

Moneymaker (my fall back as always gives good yields)
Aunga Orange (orangey as you'd guess)
Gardener's Delight (My first ever grown variety and yum)
Red Brandywine (look so impressive on the plate)
Yellow Pear (sweet, pretty and prolific)
Black Seaman (new to me)
Tigerella (love these)
Sweet Million (speak for themselves)
Sungold (ditto)
St Pierre (French and new to me)
Cherokee Purple (supposedly really sweet)
Santa Cruz Kada (plum like tom)

Many claim to be very tolerant to blight and while I've only ever had blight once I don't want it ever again. Soul destroying and feel so bad for those that get it year after year.
I also sowed my Aquadulce Claudia broad beans and am still baffled what I've done with my crimson flowered ones. :doh: I grew mine in the beds with flowers the year before last and they looked so good. I love the flowers on broad beans.


Now I've got to decide what to sow next. Think I had better get on with some salad bits as I like to start those off in modules before planting out, particularly my spring onions as it seems to fast forward them.
I haven't even started on flowers yet! I'm all behind my usual schedule.

cheerfulness4

Almost forgot - NSD today.:T

DAY 2

Money Spent Today - £0 Vouchers Spent - £0
Money Spent in Total - £2.50 Vouchers Spent in Total - £0
Money left in purse - £3.50 - Float left- £13.04/£15
Jan non-foods left- £11.37/£15


Got ahead of the game for tomorrow and baked a loaf for breakfast tonight and also braised some pork steaks from the freezer in HM onion gravy so that they just need heating up tomorrow lunchtime when DH get in as we're off wandering again in the morning.

Back to my knitting and a bit of Nigel Slater I've found that I recorded. Love his cooking!

misstara

Soup and banana loaf both made

I went to the supermarket earlier and spent £25.65 so we're well stocked up again. Used one of the chicken breasts I got yesterday to make chicken mayo which we had tonight for tea with baked tatties. I've popped the other one into the freezer for a later date.

Lynplatinum

Evening ladies and gents!!

Blimey - there'll be a gale with all you guys rushing around like tornadoes and getting soooooo much done!! Well done folks!

GreyQueen - thanks for that happy management story! I bet you, in return, were happy to work hard and put in the extra 5 - 10 mins for her. Makes the world go round with a smile!! :T

Cheerfulness - thank goodness its not just me that hasnt got tomatoes sown yet!! will try to do this on Wed - no chance until then! as tomorrow looks mega busy!

now i am out of tomatoes and salad. I really need nothing else. As I havent been out of the house today (e-mails; work for this charity thing on line; tidying up; fighting sink (still blocked - drain unblocker flippin useless!); turing out my handbag and other bag stash (2 in the bin; 2 for e!ay/ car boot/ cs)

the walkies to L!dil would do me good! But have 3 long essays to evaluate........ a U bend to remove (joy) and working at 4 til 7 then out at writers group - do I have time??? (oh yes - must remember breathing - that's probably quite important!!:)

When will I learn to stop packing my day so full??? Will let you know how it goes folks!

HOWMUCH

Good evening everyone, well DGS tried his aran on and the little hat he looks so so cute in it. If anyone wants to cook Viv's aubergine and chicken well aubergines are currently 39p in Aldis super 6 offer.
I managed to get some YS items tonight, bag of mixed lettuce 9p, French stick x2 29p, wholemeal breadcakes x4 25p, Meat and potato pie x2 59p, 2 steak slices x2 59p, mince beef and onion pie x2 59p, Large Davidstow cheese and onion pastie x2 59p, Goats cheese x2 19p, Shepherds purse Harrogate blue cheese 29p (the original price on the cheese was £1.37, £1.44, £2.28) and for some odd reason 50p was taken off the bill for 400g bread? All the items went into the freezer to be used later. Oh the lettuce didn't it will do salads x2meals, we had half with lasagna this evening.

I have started another aran for DGS this time it's a sweater in his next size using the rest of the cream wool I got for £6 for 600g Robin Bonney Babe from a local lady off ebay.

We also had snow several times today but nothing has stayed it's all melted.