Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

FairyPrincessk

Thanks vulpix--it is only a few months work, but a more senior position and I'm really looking forward to it.

Congratulations to the 8 monthers! I did read along when this thread got started even though I wasn't posting--it has been such a great thread.

The blackberry and apple crumble was lush last night. The second half is waiting for tonight. Not sure yet what is for tea but I need to decide ASAP as it is either some sort of beef stew concoction or tune steaks, both which need defrosting first. Probably the tuna as I'm not feeling keen on a long cooking time.

MMM projects today--hemming a circle skirt made from stash fabric, making a fascinator to wear tomorrow to the wedding (I've had to rescue the feathers from Maggie the Cat twice as she thinks they'd make a brilliant toy!) and attempting to get washing dry--yesterday's load which is still damp and a new one from today.

vulpix

At the hospital again today.Not 'till 3:30 so don't want to start any dirty jobs.Might get the sewing machine out and make the inner cushions for my old sofa backs.I have my Mum's old feather backs to transfer into the new shape.

I read from the start and joined in the thread a little later.This thread is so supportive and informative.I am genuinely interested in all the posters news.I find that it keeps me on track.I like to keep busy but without my declarations of intent here i could easily distract myself .I have always been MM&M and enjoy it but it is so nice to chat to like minded people.I also enjoy Lyn's discussion topics,sometimes things that i never knew I had an opinion on!

Laters Vx

vhalla1478

Morning All,

The weather is looking a little sulky here today so I think I'll leave the washing until tonight - I have Economy 7 so it's cheaper if I switch the washer on as I go to bed - and concentrate on clearing the pantry of all the extraneous pieces which should really be in the shed, and on using a bit of brute force to open two drawers of two of my chests of drawers - they have got jammed somehow; you never know, I might find something exciting in there - I'll report back to inform you of any 'treasures' that I might find!:D

I might get slightly delayed this morning as my youngest DGD starts school today and I'm sure my DDil will be feeling slightly bereft as the last of her six babies is now at school - so it will be coffee and a chat this morning.

I did quite well on the MMMing yesterday - made a casserole for the freezer and portioned it up, sorted out the mending that has accumulated - only a hem from a pair of trousers and a couple of buttons so nothing major and I did a little more on my new project which is a needlepoint cushion which complements the infamous rug.

Can I add my congratulations to those of Lynn (and thank you for the virtual sweets, Lynn - does that mean we've added inches to our virtual bodies?) to those of you who have 'done' the eight months. I personally have found this forum a great support and a source of interest in itself; I can announce what I intend to do and then pride won't let me not do it.

Onwards and upwards, Ladies - we're all here for one another; isn't that a comforting thought?

Have a great day.

Viv xx

PS you must have posted at the exact same time as me, Vulpix; fingers crossed for you today. xx

Floss

Lynplatinum Fedoras are very this season, so you may be lucky!

silvasava

Morning All

Just where did the last 8 months go? I've just trawled back over the posts and my hav'n't we done well. There's growing and planting, baking and sewing, clearing and cleaning, loving and nurturing, caring and supporting not to mention make do, minimising and mending - HUGE well done and thanks for all the tips, advice, recipes (yum!) and support this thread has given me.
By the way Vhalla - if hats are possibly on the horizon then a hennight will be a must

[Deleted User]

Lynplatinum wrote: »

...Um Valhalla - I dont suit hats except for Fedora s - devil of a job to find - you'll have to give me plenty of notice!! :rotfl:...

My husband has a good selection of hats due to lack of natural, head covering (no hair ).

He owns a Fedora. It was bought from The Hat Shop in York (just in case you need to pop out and buy one)

[Deleted User]

Finally feeling a bit better now and as I managed to get most of my chores that were planned for today completed last night after work I can have a bit of a lazy day today.

Just waiting to put some bread in the oven. I have made three small french baguettes and I am just waiting for them to finish their second rising.

Out to mow the lawn soon and then potter around the garden. I am planning to take some cuttings soon so I need to make a note of what I am planning to do. I know I need to take a cutting from the very old gooseberry bush, but not sure what flowers to 'duplicate'.

I am also going to look at the goat willow that I have hiding the oil tank. I am going to coppice it this winter and then dry out a lot of the stems. I plan to make plant supports and willow obelisks from them. Never done this before, but I have found some plans on the internet I can follow.

Planning to do some sewing and knitting later today. Currently turning two old pairs of jeans into a skirt and I have another charity shop skirt to adjust.

GreyQueen

Well, the paint the hall-stairwell-landing-all-with-one-7.5 l pot-of-Doolux-white-for-£12 project is finished and Dad chose to use the dregs to paint the dropped ceiling of the stairwell, so all bright and fresh in there.

As we had the vac out, also timed it with having the W@hl hair trimmers out. Mum has done the back of my 'do (I cut the tops and sides myself with scissors) and also buzzed the two menfolk. You can call us Shawn, Sean and Shaun. Those haircuttters are well worth having as a MMM aide. Loads of yoo tube viddies about cutting your own hair.

Have now washed the barnet and the bod, taking advantage of the presence in the parental home as the hot water tank has keeled over at my flat. As reported by jellybone yestereve by my friend and neighbour SuperGran. I've spoken to the contractor first thing and they'll assess it tomorrow afternoon, will probably be a new tank.

This afternoon's plans involve makiing a blackberry and courgette pie. Titter ye not, the grated courgette squeezed in a teatowel to remove most of the moisture is perfect as a neutral carrier of a number of flavours and substitutes nicely for apple in these pies. And I have HG courgettes in quantity and a dearth of freebie apples, so it's using what I have.

Keep up the sterling work, lovely peeps,

Lynplatinum

Evening all

Well I was gonna start off moaning but reading along - you have all made me smile!!

Spider - Hat shop in York eh??? always meant to go back to York!!:T

Ta for the fashion advice Floss! :T

Valhalla - nope virtual sweets are the same as eating chocolate when standing up - it doesnt count!!!

Thanks all for being so positive!

So what were the gumbles?? Umm ' potters off to search back of dim brain' RETURNS Oh yeah!.......
Did washing this morn while the sun shone (perhaps summer had not gone entirely?? ) And then it mizzled and then it chucked it down! GRRRRR!

Then child I was working with was on 'mission lets distract teacher cos I dont feel like working!' So that was frustrating - the sort i teach I cant shout or insist - it has to be done by encouragement or persuasion! Part of my work but he was especially on one today!

then got home to have 4 phone calls from folks who were asking me about stuff I have already sorted, like I said I would!! GRRR! Read your flippin e-mails!!

Moan over -its small irritations after all - if that's all I have to worry about then I m blessed.

WATCH - Jamie's Sugar Rush channel 4 - on catch up if necessary - we may suffer less with what he was on about because we cook from fresh!! But it very well demonstrated how sugar can sneak into stuff e.g. pasta sauces; 'healthy - no - sugar' cereals! Horrified me (yes :rotfl: I know I have been eating sweets this week but that is rare for me and they were a gift!) and there will be somethings that I am going to change!

Positives today - I Made - jacket potato and baked a little gammon joint at same time for tea. Cheese in jacket potato - Linconshire Poacher - a recently discover new favourite!! My mate Jim found it in Wait!ose (yep he has the cash to shop there!!! I move in igh circles dunt ya know, guvnor!!! (my attempt at writing a cockney accent! sorry!)

I Made Do with the usual - clothes from second hand shops - me Mum's old umbrella - it must be about 25 years old!!! (It'll be in the retro shops soon!! :rotfl: )

I Minimised another 1/2 bag of study materials!

Not working till 5.30 tomorrto so we shall see what I can accomplish!
Frugal on folks!

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

Busy day here today. A friend of ours will stay the night after the wedding to save him getting a two hour midnight train home, so I'll have a quick whip round the house. It is mostly clean, but moving the futon always reveals a few dust bunnies. OH has football in the morning so breakfast for the guest will be up to me.

I have a doctor's appointment late this morning, but hopefully it won't take long.

This afternoon I'm just putting the finishing touches on the fascinator and finishing up the circle skirt hem. A very decided change in the weather meant I needed to get a bit more creative--so I've made a pale gray circle skirt in my lunch breaks this week from some stash fabric. It is a soft satin--not very shiny and I'll wear it with a pale blue cashmere sleeveless top that I found in a CS on our trip to Buxton. It was snatched up for the princely sum of £3. I've got a black velvet jacket and black suede heels and plenty of scarves and pashminas, so all and all the only thing bought was the feathers for the fascinator and a zipper for the skirt.

I've only been to two weddings in the UK--both of them decidedly casual (and a third where I had the privilege of setting the tone myself) whereas I think this one will be a bit more elaborate. Anyway--although I did need to make something new I think it is still a make do triumph--as long as I finish hemming that skirt in time--those circle skirts are a beast to hem!

We've had a change in the weather here--I think it has gone from the odd cool day here and there to cooling off for the winter. I had to get up and put on winter pajamas last night as I was cold. Might be time to start adding another layer of bedding as at the moment it is just single duvet. I'll probably put the patchwork quilt back on but hold off on the second duvet for awhile. Heating certainly won't be involved for awhile yet.

Lunch today is leftover courgette lasagna from a couple of nights ago and tea is whatever delicacies we're offered at the wedding. I don't think I'll get much work or knitting done today, but we'll see.