Extending our house without extending ourselves beyond our means

crazy_cat_lady

Crochet is one thing I can help with PF - give me a shout if there's anything you need.

PurpleFairy26

crazy_cat_lady said:

Crochet is one thing I can help with PF - give me a shout if there's anything you need.

Thank you cat I might just message you. Let me practice some more first. 

PurpleFairy26

We ended up having a chilled day after what, on reflection, was a busy weekend 😯 so gardening will be deferred to tomorrow. Did do some jobs though including cleaning the oven and taking some tape off from round a window. Both areas looking much better. 

All coats washed and dried. Will put away tomorrow. 

Food delivery arrived. No items missing and substitution list much smaller. Just need to get another online slot now. I can’t go to the SM so delivery is really key here but trying for 1 every 10-12 days to be sensible. Food budget will definitely be higher than normal though. Noticing feeding all of us every meal. Very, very grateful we can afford this and feel for those in need. Will look to support food bank (local one is closed) but will look as to how else I can support remotely. 

It’s reassuring that my usual approach of l1dl, local butchers, veg box and remainder from other SM is significantly cheaper than going to 1 main SM. Am still tracking spends all the way though so there is no hiding from it and also to remind me once this is done. Also had to pay full price for a jar of coffee for the first time in about 5 years 😯 feel better about drinking the rubbish coffee from the cupboard first. Still have a bit of OOD stuff to go, will alternate with new jar 😊

Had to water seedlings as was quite warm and breezy again today so pots were dry. 

Caught up with a few pals today, including 1 who is a single parent. Feel better knowing they are doing ok in isolation as I do worry about them. 

brizzlegirl

Lovely to see your long newsy posts. Take care and keep being positive x

PurpleFairy26

Seedlings will need watering again as it's been another lovely day here. DH has done lots in the garden. Although for some reason he decided to lop the bottom half of my camilla off 😯 it's about the only bit of colour in the garden. Will look better in the long run but not too sure why he decided today was the day and took so many of the flowers off that are still in bloom! 

Another relaxing day here. So grateful that the smalls are getting on and playing nicely in all of this. Triaged the fridge and made a big jug of veg juice. Swept the floor in there and cleaned round. 

Done some more knitting, very relaxing. Some other things I had planned today haven't happened, but there is always tomorrow...

financial thing that was unnerving me earlier in the year and caused a few sleepless nights has been resolved today and I'm very grateful. Particular in these difficult times. 

I've also messaged 2 companies today about missing items in recent deliveries, so there should be a small refund there. Claimed some cash back from £co to which I will OP the mortgage with as it's 'free' money. I did round down the mortgage account today but got one amount wrong by 1p so it now ends 9.99 🤣 not the look I was after! 

I'm thinking a long soak in the bath might be in order after tea, meaning i can use up a few more products during and after. Going to plan what cake/biscuits we might make tomorrow thinking a new recipe might be in order. 

savingholmes

Sounding really productive - well done you!

PurpleFairy26

We've had a lovely few days. I made choux buns for the first time. Pastry needs some practising  😉 but it made enough for just 6 so that was better than a massive batch of something. Will try again when we have some more cream. Caramel sauce I made to go with them was super easy and could be made for other recipes too. 

Had notification that BTL mortgage will be cheaper from next month. Will OP the difference on top of what we already OP, so need to go on bank and change it. 

To do list is holding up well, have done a few more jobs off it. Ordered some free material samples which have arrived so need to spend time looking at them to see whether any are suitable for next project. 

Planning on a bit more gardening this weekend. Tomato seedlings are looking poor after being planted on apart from 1 so may plant some more seeds. Have saved several yogurt pots to help with planting on the next batch of seeds. Courgettes and cucumbers on the other hand are thriving. 

YN AB is being kept up to date, although it's particularly easy at the moment as we're not spending too much! Good to be in control though, feels helpful when so much at the moment is out of our control, even though it's a small thing. 

Very thankful that an online butchers I was recommended to before all this started delivered to us yesterday. Organic English produce and some slightly more unusual items too. Hoping it tastes yummy. Will adjust meal plan accordingly as wasn't too sure when it was going to arrived. Have some bone marrow and bones in SC for a beef broth. They seem very reasonably priced too. 

savingholmes

Sounds good. I found one farm shop where you can phone order and pay and they bring it to your car. There's another one nearby that I might look up and a butcher we could consider if we need to... 

Fortune_Smiles

Choux buns with caramel sauce - that sounds absolutely delicious 😋

Fortune x

PurpleFairy26

DH and I ended up having a long chat Last night about some plans we both have around the house. I'm going to make a list today and do some research on some things that we can do whilst in lockdown and things we'll have to wait for. It's good that we had similar ideas! 

We're hoping to be able to get a few jobs done today, they might not be ones off the list above as we still have a few things off the previous list still to complete! We will be focusing on outside jobs today and tomorrow though (apart from the standard housework that we'll do today)

project use up continues. Feels good to liberate the odd bottle or tub of something on the way. This weeks successes include:
travel size face mask 
a jar of whole grain mustard dated BBE 2018. Opened another with same BBE date (we were gifted a job lot!) only 1 more to go
tub of water softener for washing machine found under the sink
in wash stain remover (still work in progress but some gone in every wash this week) 
very rich hand cream tube that has been used as foot cream instead
finished free coffee jar
working way through OOD coffee
OOD part baked baguette left from Christmas 

will continue with the moisturisers this week, my skin is definitely feeling better for it. 

Did lots of knitting yesterday. Hoping for some more today as it's very relaxing. Plus will do a bit of crochet practice. Hoping to try first pattern this week. Just need to master 1 more stitch and abbreviation. 

Submitted meter readings on the app this morning. Heating has been off for over a week so should see gas usuals drop significantly now. 

Planning on eating out at home today. Will try something new for pudding I think for a change.