Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

good_advice

Saturday 25th April.
Morning Money savers :wave::wave::wave:
We are in for a rainy weekend. The rain is much needed.
We have x2 new water butts to fill and a patch of new laid grass to keep watered.

Yesterday I moved the stand for our hanging baskets onto the decking from over wintering it in the conservatory.
We have geraniums in the baskets. Will be bringing the baskets in overnight till end of May. these baskets can have a lovely drink of rain water today.

Todays job is to clean the corner of conservatory the hanging basket stand was in.

Lots of chatter about our wardrobes yesterday.
I wear a lot of blue with light gray or purple/lilac tops. These x3 colours match well.
I do have some blush colour trousers and tops. This is my feminine and homely look :rotfl:
The colours I do not suit well are black, white, royal blue, yellow and orange.
Cream is better than white.
White is ment to look good when tanned.
December time I like Christmas red tops/jumpers.

I recently tossed my red 3/4 rain mac.
I thought it looked Christmas, but OH said I looked like a red tomato.
I have a ligh gray coat that looks smart. Maybe I should invest in a navy jacket?
Brown /beige does not get much of a look in here.

Have a good day.

Prinzessilein

Morning!


And a cold, grey and wet morning it is too!


I WAS thinking that it was time to switch from porridge for breakfast to branflakes....but this morning is definitely a day for the warming comforting oaty goodness!


I have been down to the laundry already this morning - and put a load of washing on.


Some years ago my wardrobe was very limited...stylewise I wore jogging pants in black or navy and had an assortment of sloppy-sweatshirts in dark colours - navy, dark red, brown.....no need to colour-coordinate - everything went with everything else....it made life very simple!...I don't go out, so didn't need anything 'posh' although I DID have a pair of maroon sweatpants and a maroon jersey-jacket for when I needed to look 'smart'!.....( Autism means I REALLY like soft fabrics and dislike anything that feels 'scratchy'...a very serious skin condition means the softer 'sweat; fabrics are more comfy too)...It has taken a LOT of work to get me to start wearing brighter colours! And I also have some jeans now as an alternative to the sweats!...And I have 2 'smart' suits (one for the summer wardrobe and one for the winter) - although I still don't go out!

vhalla1478

Morning All,

The sun is shining in spite of the weather forecast so I intend to get out in the garden today whilst I can. I'm so pleased that Krumlov has a fan club; I can't imagine anyone not liking it.

Here's the recipe I promised last night; it's for halibut, but there's no reason why you can't substitute whichever fish you prefer.

Halibut with Leek and Ginger - serves 4

2 leeks, 50gram piece root ginger, 4 halibut steaks approx. 175 grams each, 75grams butter, tbsp olive oil.

Trim the leeks and cut them into 5cm lengths then slice into thin matchsticks. Wash thoroughly. Do the same with the ginger. Pat the fish dry on kitchen paper.

Heat a large pan with the olive oil and add 50grams butter. As it begins to bubble place the fish steaks carefully in the pan, skin side down. Allow it to colour - about 3-4 minutes. Then turn the steaks over, reduce the heat and cook for a further 10 minutes.

Remove the fish from the pan, set aside and keep warm. Add the leek and ginger to the pan, stir to mix then allow the leek to soften (they may colour slightly but this is fine). Once softened season with a little salt and ground black pepper. Cut the remaining butter into small pieces, then, off the heat, gradually stir into the pan. Serve immediately.

Cheerfulness, I do hope you're ok - nothing more maddening than a broken line and your lovely clean washing dirty! But I do hope you're feeling better.

Have a good day, Everyone.

Viv xx

vhalla1478

Good Advice and Prinzess popped up after I'd finished writing. Like everything else, we are all different when it comes to clothes. I do have some black items, but find greys and lilacs and soft tones suit me more now I'm older and I prefer to wear toning clothes rather than contrasts. When I worked in an upmarket London store, I was taught that black only went with other neutrals ie grey, cream, white etc. but then, 'rules' are made to be broken - it's a free country, although, human nature being what it is, I'm afraid people do tend to judge on first appearances.

Viv xx

Hard_Up_Hester

Morning all
I'm having a minimising weekend here, decluttering the kitchen cupboards.
My wardrobe doesn't need decluttering, after I was ill 2 years go I can't wear trousers or skirt, so I have no need of any tops.
I now have 7 dresses, 3 cardigans, one evening jacket, one tweed jacket & a pure silk red blouse that was bought for me as a 40th birthday gift, I'm 64 this year, lol!
Breakfast calls & then I'll start on the kitchen.

VJsmum

Prinzessilein wrote: »

Morning!


And a cold, grey and wet morning it is too!


I WAS thinking that it was time to switch from porridge for breakfast to branflakes....but this morning is definitely a day for the warming comforting oaty goodness!

Have you tried them raw? I regularly eat "zoats" - oats, grated courgette (or zucchini, hence zoats), soaked in milk overnight (I use almond, and even 20 mins soaking makes a difference), then I add stuff - a combination of banana, berries, yogurt, nuts, seeds (not all at the same time)

This morning, cos I am away from home, I soaked oats and raisins in soya milk for around half an hour and added chopped banana and chopped almonds.

It's lish

good_advice

Wow Hester, that is a small wardrobe.
Dresses will hang better without the crampt conditions most of our clothes have to put uo with.

I am thinking of not buying any more poly cotton nightdresses. I bought them because i thought it cooler in summer. More starchy and scratchy though!
My brain is now telling me the softer cotton nighdress will be more comfortable with short sleeves.
I do also own some PJ's. A Christmas set and x2 lovely vest top, pants and cardi wrap. These are nice to be seen in!
I do find PJ pants ride up to the knee when in bed and make them a bit uncomfortable.

camelot1001

good advice - I have 'shorts' pjs for the summer, I just buy a vest top to wear with them. I can't cope with long sleeves either which makes it difficult to get winter pjs, they all seem to have long sleeves.

The sun is shining at the moment but it is quite cold, have been outside transferring some of my seedlings into bigger trays/pots, it's quite theraputic. Need to keep them tucked up for the next week or so I think as there is talk of snow on Monday morning!

Hard_Up_Hester

I have two cotton nightdresses saved for hospital trips, for sleeping, I go nekkid, as does hubby.
Good advice, it certainly cuts down on the washing, lol.
Kitchen has been minimised, I've got rid of some rubbish, made a large pile of hubby's carp that he'd left on the side & he's put it all away. I've put all my loose leaf recipes into a folder & scrubbed the surfaces, now I'm putting my feet up for a while.

vhalla1478

Evening Everyone,

Well, I've had a productive day - DB is still ill unfortunately, so after gardening when the sun disappeared, I set to and did a little organising. I'd kept odd bits and pieces of paper- backs of invoices, inserts of tights etc for my shopping lists, so I stuck them all in one large envelope to keep them tidy and accessible. I've also sorted through guarantees, and 'how to' manuals and got rid of the ones which are no longer current. I also went through my jewellery but I'm not sure what to do with the bits I don't wear - it's costume jewellery, not the real thing apart from my pearls. It's too good to throw out so it either sits in the box, goes to the charity shop or gets sold. I think the charity shop will win!

I'm like you, Hester, I don't wear anything in bed. I do have a pair of extremely elderly M&S pyjamas which if ever I had the misfortune to go to hospital would take me there and if I go to stay with friends they accompany me there as well, but that's it.

DS has had a clear out of his garage/workshop today (it's catching) and I'm now the proud owner of an electric propagator - the top is rather tatty so I'll have to think of a solution as there are holes in the top - any ideas anyone? I'm now thinking how nice it would be to own a (second hand)greenhouse - I'll have to ask around.

Here's another economical recipe, I think it was out a relatively recent edition of the Morrisons magazine - anyway it costs approx. £1.45 per serving. I used pork steaks instead of the loin.

Sticky Sesame Pork - serves 4

400grams pork loin, 4 tbsp. ketchup, tbsp. sesame oil, 2 tbsp. soy sauce, 2 tbsp. clear honey, 3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed, tsp Chinese five spice powder.

For the noodles

250 grams medium egg noodles, tbsp. sunflower oil, red onion, thinly sliced, carrot peeled into ribbons, courgette peeled into ribbons, 4 tbsp. fresh coriander.

Place the pork in a non-metallic dish. Mix the marinade ingredients together and spoon all over the pork. Marinate for at least two hours, or, for extra flavour, overnight. Heat the oven to 200 degrees/gas6, put the pork on a roasting tray and cook for 30 minutes (less time if you're using steaks).

Cover noodles with boiling water for 5 minutes, drain. Heat the oil in a pan and stir-fry the onion for 2 minutes. Add noodles, carrots and courgette and fry for 5 more minutes. If using loin, thinly slice and pile over the noodles with coriander.


Have a nice evening, Folks.

Viv xx