Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

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Hi SILVASAVA we grow some early climbing french beans in the polytunnel each year and normally if I find some that have gone over and have got big beans in them I pull them off the vines and throw them away, this year I thought I'd just leave them on and instead of taking the vines down from their net we left them in with the beans on until the pods started to dry off and go brown and papery. I picked them all when that happened and popped them on top of the floor mounted boiler on an old tray to finish drying properly. When they had I just took them out of their pods and left them in an open dish on top of the boiler and got rid of the pods. So easy and dry beans for free, what's not to like?

silvasava

Sounds quite straightforward MrsL - Thank you. Can I do it with runner beans? My French beans have been a bit sparse this year

nursemaggie

Well I went to H*bbicraft and D*nelm this afternoon, long walk even longer walk to get into town to W*lko and they did not have what I went for.

Saw just the fabric for my walls in D*nelm only £22 a metre lol! Came with lots of accessories like cushions and even crockery and kitchenware. Pity I did not buy a lottery ticket.

Of course I did get well stocked up on yarn, planning another cardigan for me, two hoodies for DGS and a jumper for him. There should be a bit left for some C decorations when I have finished.

vulpix

Hi astispumanti,nice to have you.

Not a single washer or fridge was viewed.We had a charity shop frenzy instead.I bought a swatch watch for a fiver some m n ess casual trousers for gardening,£2 and a hawian shirt £2.We have been invited to a hawian party on Saturday.

We also started christmas shopping!!!!!!!!!! Bought 14 choc oranges which I wrap in brown paper and stick googley eyes ,a red pompom nose and brown pipecleaner antlers.1 each for family and kids we buy for.Bought other bits for stocking fillers.

Now have 4 people done,5 people started and 2 have nowt and I have no clue.Had my stash out tonight whilst DD2 is away.Got enough cards.LOVE Christmas.

Vx

FairyPrincessk

Evening all,

Successful trip to the market. I found a lambswool cardigan for £1 which I've pretty much finished unraveling already. It is a nice soft gray and will be perfect for a new winter scarf for OH whose scarf has seen better days. It will also be a nice easy knitting project to move onto when I finish my cardigan. There were lots of curtains but none that looked suitable for a replacement door curtain. However, I did see lots of sheets, some very large that might be used to line heavy fabric with if I find some on offer.

The new fence panels are in and the roast chicken safely tucked up in the fridge for meals tomorrow. The dinner itself was nice as well. OH is out seeing a former colleague tonight so I've been working on unravelling this cardigan--I'd rather knit but I know if I don't do it right away then it will sit there undone whereas if I've already got it ready to go I'll be more likely to start actually knitting it up when the time comes.

Fuddle My current hairbrush was bought when I was in my first year of Uni, so 13 years ago. It is a wooden paddle brush but I don't think the brand is available here. It replaced another wooden paddle brush that was by Aveda which had lasted about 8 or 9 years before the rubber that the bristles were set in started cracking. The Aveda was an excellent brush and if I still had long hair I'd pay the £20 for it again. It got very heavy use as I had very thick, hip length hair back then--and I doubt I looked after it properly. I didn't pay as much for the second brush as I'd started keeping my hair shorter then, but I still paid the equivalent of about £10 or £15 for it.


NurseMaggieNot sure if you know of it, but there is a fabric store called Abakhan in the Manchester Northern Quarter on Oldham Street. They sell ends of bolts and offcuts downstairs by weight and you can get things cut upstairs. Some stuff is quite pricey, but you also find some good bargains in there--certainly cheaper than £22/metre! Mum got lucky when she was visiting and got some heavy upholstery fabric to make curtains for £1.90/metre upstairs. I sometimes find cotton and poly cotton dress fabrics for under £3/metre in there although not sure if they'll have a print to suit you. I don't think I've seen any red poppies. Might be worth a visit next time you're in Manchester city centre.

VJsmum

I used to go to Abakhan in Birkenhead, when I worked there. There is also one in Flint.

I have a jumper that just needs the neck band doing, but I hate picking up stitches and so it has sat there for quite a wee just waiting to be finished. Perhaps I should make that a goal for the next two nights or so

I have spent my evening making this weeks sourdough (so looking forward to having some with avocado for brekkie), some banana bread (using up some very manky bananas, and using an old blue peter recipe from about 1982) and Mrs LW's chocolatey, nutty datey raw "log" thing.

I love a baking evening.

nursemaggie

Thanks FPK that sounds a good idea. will have to look for that. I was really thinking of cotton dress fabric for the walls I could always make nities out of if it does not fade when it is finished with on the walls the starch will stop it getting ingrained dirt.

I just thought it was funny I should see such gorgeous materiel with bunches of poppies on it. If I had that sort of money I would pay someone to come and redecorate and have curtains made with the fabric. I think it was the most expensive fabric they had.

Floss

There's an Abakhan in Preston and I think they may also be online.

misstara

Morning ladies and hello to any new people,

I'm in awe of all that everyone manages to achieve on this thread. Loving the furniture pics

I'm coming down with some sort of lurgy - past two nights I've fallen asleep on the sofa at 9pm and then woken up with a really sore throat in the morning. I then feel fine during the day, trying to ward in off with hot lemon drinks and vitamin supplements.

I had a day off work yesterday so I spent most of the day with a friend and her wee girl. OH cooked a lovely beef stew for tea last night and there's enough for tonight

The council dropped off our new food waste recycling bin yesterday and a 6 month supply of bag. The communal food waste bin on the street has been there for about 6 months and we have been using it but its nice to have a proper bin in the flat.

I don't start work until 3 today but have lots of wee bits that I want to get done this morning so better get going. Hope everyone has a good day.

astispumanti57

Thank You ladies for the welcome. I have an allotment. So at the moment busy collecting and freezing. We have a glut of Beetroot. Does beetroot freeze ?

Thankyou x