Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

misstara

Hello all,

We have pleather sofas (landlords choice) and they are not wearing well - I bought some throws a while back to cover them. Will definitely be going for leather sofas when we get our own place.

Me and OH were planning to go to Aldee today but the weather was awful and we both have colds so we decided to put it off until after the weekend and just make do with what we've got. Egg fried rice tonight using bits and bobs from the fridge - saves us a bit of money

Lynplatinum

Hiya All

Had to get a wriggle on this morning cos phone had gone out of battery and so failed to ring alram for me! Ergo i slept until 9.30 which usually on a Sat doesnt matter but had a meeting to go to to help defend a pub they are trying to sell off @12! :eek:

then pootled to City Centre (MK - its like an American Mall) - something I so rarely do that it got me quite nostalgic and thinking - about how this just was not me any more - there was nothing there I wanted. Dont know why I went really - just hadn't fancied going home to CHORES. But I know know I need to get on with moving and returned home v motivated! :beer:

So since 2.30 pm today I have:had an hour chopping back vegitation in the garden; filled 3 bin bags worth of old study books and shredding from confidential meetings I have been in; hoovered up shredding bits; cooked a tea with veg from veg box + previously frozen HM stuff (chilladas) and tidied a load of paperwork away. Have had a chat with myself and decided that on the days when I am actually not working (as in face to face with a student) I will: spend 1/2 - 1 hour in the garden (weather permitting); have 4 goals each day; stop working @9pm; do 2 household non- essential chores a day!

Need to get on with it!! Yes, I know that my arthritis will hurt at the end of the day, but it does anyway if I do nothing so what the h*ll! Also read a very good article o The Minimalists web site which says about changing the way you view chores - it says to view them as the fact that you are lucky to be able o do them - that you are well enough - have enough money - have some time to do them. An interesting idea - I will let you know how it goes!!

mcculloch29 an interesting chopping machine idea
vulpix - one of my 'goals' for tomorrow is to make grub that will last me for several days so I dont need/want to go out and buy any more stuff - wish me joy! :A

Re sofas - I am not keen on leather or pleather - to me they are cold in winter and sticky to sit on if warm in summer - someone I once new covered their leather sofa with a throw - I sat down and promptly fell/slid off again. Cue for laughter all round :rotfl: but me head and me b*m hurt for days!! :rotfl:

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

Vulpix will send you a PM.

Lynplatinum--what sort of chilladas did you freeze? Were they made from lentils? I'd like to try freezing our recipe as OH really likes them and they're healthy and economical but they do take too much time to make for weeknight meals.

I'm mixed on leather sofas. I find the finish on the leather plays a big role in how it feels. Mum has a very deep modern looking sort of sofa, it is slippery and cold and if I sit up straight with my back against the back my legs stick out straight because the seat doesn't end until my mid calves! We've never had the luxury of choosing our own sofa so I don't suppose it matters much, but I'll politely decline if mum offers me hers.

I had a very busy day yesterday. OH was off coaching football early and didn't get home until after mid day, so I tidied up the house and kitchen and had lunch on the go when he got back. We did the shop and the budget in the afternoon and then I made a rainbow (veggie) chilli and a cinnamon spice cake for tea. One portion of rainbow chilli in the fridge for lunch today and another batch in the freezer.

Today we're meeting OH's parents for a coffee and then heading to the vintage fair. I'm keen to check out the £2 tablecloth box and will keep an eye out for any bargains, but won't go mad as most of my spending money this month is being funneled into the conference in a couple of weeks.

OH is making tea tonight--no idea what.

Two Quick QuestionsDoes anyone know where I might find Belgian Endives in the UK? I think they're often called chicory here? and I now have two round wicker laundry baskets in a sad state--I replaced the first about this time last year and the handles at the top seem to be a point of weakness and before you know it the whole top edge on one side is cracked and unweaving itself. I won't be buying this style again as the other style holds up much better, but just wondering if there is a way to cut off the top, finish off the edge and just have a shorter basket? I'm loathe to throw them away when the bottom part is perfectly good.

iamsalt

Morning. It's been really interesting to see what people have said about dyeing and sofas, I have never been successful with colour changes in the past so GQ your comments explain a lot.
Bit of a sad post to follow....
Yesterday was a very tough day, it started so well, and I had a smashing day at Wisley plant show with a friend only spent £10 on plants and seeds which I can propagate more from, and ended with tears as I had the dreaded knock on the door late at night, and someone asking if I had a little fluffy calico cat. Sadly my beautiful little Mimi-moo was hit and killed by a young girl in a car. She was so brave and stopped to knock on doors, which I am grateful for, but I am devastated to lose my little friend. My oh was magnificent but is sad too. So my plans for today will change, as I haven't slept well (funny how it affects us), and I will take the time to look after myself and my oh, after we have taken her body to the vet. Mimi's sister has alternately been prowling around looking for her and snuggling close to me.
They bring so much joy yet so much heartbreak, but I can't imagine never sharing my heart with furries.
S x

candlelight_2013

iamsalt, I am so sorry for your loss, the thought of our Flora being knocked down fills me with dread.

As you say how brave of the young lady to try to find who she belonged to, she must have been in a state of shock herself.

Take some time now for yourselves and remember our pets always live on in our hearts, ask Mrs LW about that

Much love

Candlelightx

vulpix

iamsalt,I am so sorry to hear of your loss.Many years ago my beautiful grey cat met the same end.I am glad that the girl was brave enough to come and find you.

Leather sofas.Knowing me as you do you will not be surprised to know that I have had a few in my time.In general I find them not cosy but when the kids were small it was easy to wash sticky hand marks off them.I had a chesterfield for a while and the holes needed dusting."aint nobody got no time for that".I recently gave my Mum a monster leather sofa,I may swap it for my fabric multeeyork in the future as a swap would suit our homes better.

I have had no success with dye unless the start was white.It is worth while to dye Mr V's black jeans once in their life before he wears them to the death and buys some new ones.

fpk I would have a go at unwinding the top section of the basket and then use the uprights to weave sideways into a top.Worth a try.I would soak the basket in the bath for a few hours first to make it pliable.

Oh Lyn I know what you mean about arthritis pain.It hurts if you do ,it hurts if you don't.So you might as well do.I did yesterday and hurt now.Stepson put his foot through the loft into dd2's bedroom.As it is an old house the muck is awful.Black and sooty.Spent 2 hours washing everything in her room and a further hour in our room as the loft hatch is in there so we got it too.Today I need to finish cleaning our room then move through the house as the dust is everywhere.Also wash the bedding,luckily it is a nice day.

There are walls where the downstairs loo will be.On the home straight with that now.I am getting fed up of the mess and dust now.

Shouldv'e done a car boot today but was too knackered to load the car last night.

I am grateful that I am able to be moblie,use it or lose it as they say.Vx

Floss

I've had quite a bit of success with dyeing - mainly towels when our new bathroom was fitted 4 years ago, as the pink / green / peach towels looked yuck, so re-emerged as maroon / forest green & donkey brown, which all look fab. I've also dyed 6 Ikia chair covers from their natural calico to deep ready brown, after BiL managed to stain one of them on a visit!

GreyQueen

(((((Iamsalt))))) really sad to hear your cat has been killed. No wonder you are upset and didn't sleep well, it's only to be expected. Be kind to yourself, hun.

+++++++++++

Due to the smallness of my sitting-room (12 x 9 ft) the only sofa which works is a narrow bench-style model, which doesn't have that legs-stuck-straight-out effect even on smaller people. I'm a great gangly effort and when home alone, treat the sofa like a chaise-longue and lounge on it. Usually with a book in one hand and a tea mug in the other.

Am feeling proper poorly today as have been kept up all night by rowdy drunken and (based on what I saw) probably drugged neighbours carrying on from the small hours until after dawn. Have had almost no sleep and will have to re-jig my plans to accomodate lack of energy. Think I will have my tea and go back to bed for a while, go out to the chazzers with some donations, and then come back and batch cook. I may well give the allotment a pass today, I feel so lacklustre.

Can't remember who it was who has the disintegrating linen basket but I have some doubts that you'll be able to re-weave it successfully but, if it'd otherwise be binned, there's no harm in trying. Properly made baskets should last decades, but there are some pretty shoddy imports about. Worth keeping an eye out secondhand for good quality native willow baskets? Race ya for them? :rotfl:

vhalla1478

Morning Everyone,

Up late today as I volunteered to cook a big meal for the tribe yesterday; I ate far too much roast pork, crackling, the trimmings etc., followed by an American apple pie ( recipe I think is on first page) - even if I say so myself, it is really one to try, NOT good for diets, but cheap and comfort food at its best. I think that the problem is that when I'm on my own, I mostly eat simple and quite often, vegetarian meals, so that my stomach wonders what has hit it when I over indulge occasionally.

As far as the discussion re leather v fabric is concerned, although I love the look of luxury that good leather brings, I personally prefer fabric. My DS has my old sofa which is covered in a beautiful cut velvet and in spite of wriggling children, visitors and general use, is still in good condition after twenty years. Admittedly, it was expensive when new even though I bought it in a sale, and the same is true of the one I have now, a Knole, which I've had for nine years but which I'm sure will outlast me and I intend to live until I'm 103 (only 32 years to go):D. So cost per wear is minimal. I do the same, GreyQueen, and use mine as a chaise longue if I'm on my own - the only chance I ever get as everyone makes a beeline for it as it is so comfortable - feather and down cushions - the only downside being that they need plumping up regularly, but a small price to pay for utter comfort.

May I put my tuppence worth in about the laundry basket problem? It might be worthwhile shopping around for some wide leather carpet edging and trimming/doubling that around the top of the basket and maybe doubling a piece for the handle if it fits in with your interior scheme.

Iamsalt, so sad to hear about your cat, but nice to hear that the young lady had the decency and good manners to let you know. Hugs to you.

I'm still sitting here, drinking coffee and not yet showered or dressed, so better do both and take advantage of the good weather and get the washing on the line, plant some bulbs and finish painting the garden furniture. Oh, and the two youngest GC want to come round later to make biscuits - not much point in washing the kitchen floor yet, then!

Have a nice day, Folks,

Viv xx

vhalla1478

Hi again,

Yes, it is on page one, under American One-Crust pie with spiced apples and raisins.

Viv x