Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2016

VJsmum

vulpix wrote: »

She isnt quick as she is so busy!Word to the wise there to try independent working jewellers.She can make anything from just a pic.

Vx

I had a ring made for me for Christmas. From a bracelet my aunt left me, which I couldn't wear as I had lost a section. It is beautiful and unique. Made by an independent jeweller in a small town for £60 :T

Making (rather than making do) - still knitting my jumper. On the second sleeve and I've done front and back, so it's nearly finished. Very quick to knit up. Finished at the weekend, I reckon

Making do with food from freezers still (also counts as minimising). I do have to shop for some fresh stuff today but will keep it low spend. DS has asked me to make some cake, but I don't want OH eating it, so I will make some fruit loaves, banana bread etc, slice and freeze and just take some out for DS lunch. DS cooking lessons continue tonight with spag Bol

Also minimising my marking in preparation for my departure from work next week (next week :eek::T:j). I just marked 50 odd exam papers (some very odd :rotfl:) in less than 24 hours, nearly a record (did a batch overnight once, didn't get much sleep mind)

No mending....

mrs-moneypenny

Didn't get the sewing machine out in the end as I started folding some books the CS gave me. They were old so couldn't be sold as they were I rescued them from the stock room and am folding hearts into them and taking them back I time for their valentines craft table. Folding a done I'm going to recover and embellish then this afternoon.

See you after work.

DawnW

It is also worth looking in second hand / antiques shops for jewellery. Much cheaper than high street jewellers, and it is unlikely that you will bump into anyone wearing an identical piece

I have bought my daughter a beautiful silver and amber necklace for her birthday. It is really substantial in appearance, not a flimsy little thing (I hate the way cheap, really flimsy chains get tangled up). It cost less than £25.

savingpennies

"Also minimising my marking in preparation for my departure from work next week (next week ). I just marked 50 odd exam papers (some very odd ) in less than 24 hours, nearly a record (did a batch overnight once, didn't get much sleep mind)"


Supply teaching or new job VJsmum? I'm on sick leave at the moment but I think I am going to retire very soon. I thought when OH and I discussed me retiring I would miss teaching but during these last couple of months the only things I have missed are the staffroom and my colleagues.
Being off has however, given me the chance to do a lot of minimising (decluttering) and making do (knitting from stash, emptying freezer, etc).

Last night I finished sock 1 and started sock 2, which I will continue with today. On the make do front, it's my mum's hotpot. No mending today.

vulpix

Saving pennies,I was a TA for the best part of 20 years and left a couple of years ago.(too young to retire)I love it though I do miss the sociable side of the job.I don't know how ever I found time to go to work before.

Got the shelves,just bought a dishwasher for £50,the same make as the washer and cooker.Will collect that Saturday in a borrowed van.

DD2 at her friends tonight and Mr V working later so I think I will start washing stuff which is covered in dust in preparation for when I have some kitchen cupboards to put them in.

The end is in sight:T

mrs-moneypenny

Folded books are now covered with wrapping paper and have had ribbons added so they can go back to the CS to be sold. It's cleared a couple of rolls of double sided sticky tape half a roll of wrapping and some ribbon from the stash cupboard.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/4f/24/6b/4f246ba585ae297135deeddd23aa7296.jpg
Ds2 has bought a friend home from school for tea so I'm going to throw some ingredients in the bm and they can have him pizza, I've got lots of bread flour in so non spend tea for them.
Found a zip while I was in the stash cupboard so can mend Dh work trousers tomorrow at no cost.

VJsmum

savingpennies wrote: »

Supply teaching or new job VJsmum? I'm on sick leave at the moment but I think I am going to retire very soon. I thought when OH and I discussed me retiring I would miss teaching but during these last couple of months the only things I have missed are the staffroom and my colleagues.
Being off has however, given me the chance to do a lot of minimising (decluttering) and making do (knitting from stash, emptying freezer, etc.

leqving my lecturing job to do a full time PhD, I am very excited. I will miss colleagues but not much else...

[Deleted User]

I think who ever invented wood chip should be hung,drawn and quartered
In my sitting room when we moved in over 20 years ago was a whole wall on the fireplace wall, where the wood chip had virtually 'welded' itself to the wall as there had been a back boiler there.

I can remember spending a fortnight trying to remove this stuff and my late OH finally saying "Give it up Jax, its not worth the effort I'll sort it"

He went out and bought a whole stash of wood and panelled over the top of it.To this day the panelling is still there, and a couple of years ago I got it painted in white egg- shell paint and it still looks good.

No doubt one day when I'm long gone some poor devil will decide to remove the wood and I think a blow-torch is the only thing that will remove it :):) its dreadful stuff.

This morning I went to coffee morning at my U3A and used my 'freebie' Dobbies voucher for my coffee, so no spends there . I made do with a 'freebie'

I managed to mend DGS Jacks sleeves of his jumper with some dark blue wool I found in the stash

As I wasn't feeling that hungry at lunchtime ,just cold, I made do with a plate of porridge oats made with water and sprinkled with some salt and the tail end of my long-life cream from Sunday's coffee fest with my DD

I don't need to cook tonight as I have meal thrown in with the pub quiz on Tuesday nights .

I must admit eating porridge for lunch seemed a bit odd but it was so warming and really filled me up for the rest of the afternoon ,must be the slow-release carbs in it

Reading through the posts it seems we are all doing very well with using up our existing stores, whether it food,wool or crafting stuff well done chums

JackieO xx

meritaten

Siebrie wrote: »

Thank you, Meritaten! That is exactly dh's commute!

rofl! talk about 'Serendipity'! :rotfl:

MrsCD

Nicki We've been using Aldi and Lidl's toilet rolls for over a year now, and they're ok, maybe not quite as soft as Shades, but alright to use.

Well, here it is....

Sorry it's taken so long to get it down, I had to book a time on the computer! Every time I tried to sneak in, someone else had something 'more important' to do...;)

Fruit Cake

Pineapple pieces, mashed to a pulp (370g)
Sunflower Spread (115g)
Caster Sugar (115g)
Sultanas or any dried fruit (450g)
SR Flour (115g)
P Flour (115g)
Bicarb (1tsp)
Eggs (2 eggs)
Cherries to decorate


Method
Melt butter and sugar in a pan, add sultanas/dried fruit and pineapple and boil for 3 minutes.
Add Bicarb, stir well.
Leave to cool overnight.
Add flour and beaten eggs.
Pour mix into lined tin and decorate with cherry halves.
Cook at 140C for 1½ hours, reduce heat to 130C for ½ hour


Hope you all enjoy!