The Simple Bare Necessities feat. Gratitude & Recipes

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

Goodness, 'tas already been a long day today...... Enjoyable though - for the most part (we'll gloss over the abomination that is multi-storey car parking, with parking spaces just about wide enough for a bicycle, never mind a car........)

dreaming wrote: »

The lady from the Missouri Star Quilting company said that "finished is better than perfect".

dreaming - that is so right that quote! Well done Mrs Missouri Star Quilting co. And BRAVO! to you for embracing the ethos in other areas of your life - what a sensible option! I'm sure anyone with a stash of yarn or fabric will see the sense in the notion! And as for the list of projects that have peaked interest on Rav3lry..........

I hit the mother-load of bargains in mrT today - well, by my standards anyhoo I bought a load of their 29p veg this morning - which I'm glad that I did, as most of it had gone by this arvo, and don't nobody tell me that I could have got it for 28p in mrA............ :rotfl: I went back this arvo, as I had been reccying artificial Chrimbob trees, and decided, on balance, to go for one that mrT had - which I bought with CC vouchers, so effectively it is 'free'. It was a toss up between that and one in bee&queue, that was a foot shorter (5ft) and £3 cheaper, but I would have had to pay for that with cold, hard cash. And I figured it wasn't (within reason) the height that was the issue, but more about the girth at the base - and as I think they were the same tree, but different heights, it'll do me. Anyway, the YS selection was available - not at the 10p and tuppence stage, but certainly cheaper than I normally land on, so i got me some ramiro peppers (6 in total) for 40p, some wild rocket 20p, some 'chilli' vegetable mix (just add meat or lentils and tomatoes - normally retails for £1.75 :eek:) for 35p, 2 mangoes for 36p :j, 3 packets of 5 bananas, 2 green, 1 ripe for 54p total YUM! I've used the chilli mix tonight, as chilli & rice was on the slate anyway, so I bought me a bit of convenience OK for 35p, def. wouldn't have paid more, as it was a bit hotter than I would have made from scratch, but good, none the less

I've caught up with new chums and generally 'caught up' a bit today - although don't mention chrimbob cards to me, as no progress made..... BG has had a ball and been trying new things and meeting new people, so all good. We actually bumped into an 'old' friend too, which was nice

I think I spent approximately £7 on food items today and feel like I've got a ton of stuff, so I'm happy with that spend. It was all technically 'needed' and will all most definitely be used

The tree will be good, or it will be carp - but I think it will meet our needs for Greying Towers, and I feel stupidly festive, knowing that we will have a tree to decorate at the weekend. In a perfect world, it would be a real tree, but not this year But BG will have a tree to look at, fiddle with, pull over and have presents under.......... :rotfl:

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

a good laugh with good company

a helping hand

the gift of anticipation

Ta for popping by, reading and joining in. Appreciated. Greatly. As always.

Greying X

rtandon27

:j:j:j Love a good yellow sticker deal!!!!!:j:j:j

ETA - now that I'm on a laptop rather than a blinkin' mobile - Mr W was a goldmine for us yesterday - posh organic blueberries, lychees & grapes to be had, each pkg under 70p - there was no one else in the store hovering around the bargain section, so we could have had all there was there - unfortunately freezer is fully stocked atm...

...bring on the xmas eat from the stores challenge!

Cheery_Daff

Excellent bargain hunting there Greying! :j

We've always had an artificial tree, I love them My sister got a real one for the first time this year and is cursing all the needles falling off :rotfl: plastic all the way for me where trees are concerned, the last one lasted well over 30 years :eek:

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

rtandon27 wrote: »

ETA - now that I'm on a laptop rather than a blinkin' mobile - Mr W was a goldmine for us yesterday - posh organic blueberries, lychees & grapes to be had, each pkg under 70p - there was no one else in the store hovering around the bargain section, so we could have had all there was there - unfortunately freezer is fully stocked atm...

...bring on the xmas eat from the stores challenge!

I shall lead, shall I? *ahem*......


ALL.round.to.rtandon's.Hoosie.For.Chrimbobs - Yehhhhhhh!!!!!! :j:j:j:j:j

Cheery_Daff wrote: »

We've always had an artificial tree, I love them My sister got a real one for the first time this year and is cursing all the needles falling off :rotfl: plastic all the way for me where trees are concerned, the last one lasted well over 30 years :eek:

Cheery, as a friend mentioned to me today, there is something in the longevity of artificial trees of an eco-friendly nature, even taking into account their production. 30 years is brill. I suspect 'real' trees in my head is a dream notion. We didn't 'do' Christmas terribly well in my youth, and whilst we had a 'real' tree for the most part (it was either real or nowt, we never had an artificial tree whilst I lived at home), it was never allowed in the house until Christmas Eve, and was put in the hall - which was a cold, cold place - We had aluminium single glazed windows and a coal fire, and no central heating........ So I suspect my 'wanting' a real tree is probably more.... 'wishful' dreaming, rather than practical reality. Someone mentioned something about a project that we were involved in - which involved a 'real' tree, lasting until past Christmas. I hated to state the obvious that a cut tree, with no water reservoir, will.......... suffer needle drop. Picture a twig, by now.......

It did occur to me today, however, that the display tree above the boxes of trees in mrT, might not have been that particular tree, that i bought......... Lawks, I hope I'm wrong, I hope the tree displayed is the one I bought.......Because I have bought some new decs for it, whilst out on a jolly today

BG and I had a ball today. In planning to meet one special 'Aunty', we were in the right place to meet two special 'Aunties' - how lucky us, eh? I spent a modest amount on 'lunch' out - very much, VFM fare, and I spent some money in their shop on some lovely items to bedeck our tree and fill special 'someones' stockings.......... I also managed to call in at the paretal estate on the return journey, and BG was able to raise smiles in that direction too :T

So, any money spent today has either been on 'needed' things, or on VFM items. Pretty :money:, by anyone's standards, eh?

Tea this evening was a cobble, as there were tantrums on getting home...... #notmy fault....... *ahem*....... *deepbreath* ...... But we ended up with veggie sausage (bought today for 'another' day, but *needs* must......), (from the freezer) mash, carrots, YS'd Broccoli (bought today - 36p for 350g) and (from the freezer) red wine onion gravy. I have to say, bl0ddy delish...............

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

Friendship - RL in this case....

a car and fuel to get from a to b.....

that I've at least sent some of my Chrimbob cards!!!!!!!!! - YEHHHHH! :rotfl:

Ta for popping in. Appreciated. Always.

Greying X

rtandon27

Hooray to Cards winging their way to loved ones!

mcculloch29

Lovely posts! I love 'the gift of anticipation'. My Mum was big on that, when I hear people say they 'hate Christmas', my heart sinks a little, and I think 'I wish you had had a Mum like mine.' She loved it, and so do I.

My artificial but remarkably real-looking, tree was bought in Woolworth's in Krefeld, Germany in 1981. So this will be its 37th Christmas, making it older than my son. It's in great shape. For some years I thought it was partially broken, and spent ages tweaking it when covered in decorations, to hide this fact.

Then, when deciding to bin it last year rather than put it away, I took a very close look and realised that part of it had been re-assembled incorrectly, when putting it up, a number of years ago.
The joy at realising that, all being well, it will outlive me, was considerable. Not for the saving, but for the fact that this one only has always been my tree, and now always will be. It's very well-made.

My hobby is collecting Christmas tree decorations, I have hundreds, and the tree is literally covered in them. They are not run-of-the-mill ones, mostly, but special ones. This year Amazon offered me one to review, so I have a meditating Zen gnome with a red cardinal bird peeking out of his beard to put on the tree.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

mcculloch - thanks for dropping in Great to *see* you. Wow, your tree has done well. But if it was well made in the first place, why shouldn't it last? I was thinking to myself that if we have an artificial tree - this one I've bought, or perhaps a slightly more.... 'realistic'? one if we move to a 'forever' house - I'm keen to make sure that it is packed away carefully each time, to try to keep it in working order. Now that I am the smuggetty-smug owner of a 'wrapping paper' box, my eye did fall on a box specifically to house the artificial tree.......... I may well indulge........ <---- SMUG :rotfl: Funnily enough, I have bought some new little bits and pieces to put on the tree, and I very much like the idea of purchasing one 'new' ornament a year - perhaps with 'meaning' for the events of that year, until I have an 'ornament' in the corner of the room, rather than a tree, and I myself will be 104!!!!! :rotfl:And of course, I have the joy of 'Made by Baby Greying' ornaments to look forward to finding a special place for on the tree......... I'm quite traditional in my colour choices at Christmas - preferring red, white, green and gold. But I do always like to see what other people do, whether it is a 'kitchen sink' approach, or monotone - perhaps purple or turquoise. I do like that 'anything goes' because that means that your own version of Christmas can't be wrong And I did see a splendid tree lit up in a motor dealership last night. The tree (real, for sure) was soooooo tall, and lit with white lights (must have been hundreds) that twinkled - lovely, just lovely, even in the well-lit showroom. You couldn't have it at home - even if you lived in Buck house, I reckon; but you can enjoy the spectacle, none the less.

I think 'talking' - either online or in person to folks about Christmas and traditions has really boosted my confidence that we can make ours .... well, *OURS* if you see what I mean. I know which bits of the season I like, and which I don't - which doesn't mean to say that I'm against other people doing their own thing; but I dislike enforced jollity and being pressured to do X, Y or Z because 'everyone else is'. I think this forum has been invaluable in giving people the confidence to opt out of workplace secret santas, parties or jumper days. Which doesn't mean I don't think those activities can't work - they do, if everyone joining in is doing so willingly. It goes without saying, the most pleasure that I have had thus far in the season has been exploring things for the first time with BG and for time spent with friends - whether through online communication or face-to-face. There is plenty more of that to come, too, so I'm really enjoying myself, and looking forward to the rest of the month with more anticipation than I have for many a year.

I think I'm going to do something different for tea this evening. We've plenty of veg in stock, and I think I would like to use it well. So it will possibly morph into a bake of some description, rather than pizza & wedges. I think we'll look forward to P & W next Friday more too then - perhaps I'll push the boat out, and we'll have a luxurious topping - mozarella, maybe? I might try and make a cake too - we've not had one for a while. I don't think I'm going to resurrect making a 'christmas' cake anytime soon. Despite liking almonds, I'm no fan of marzipan But never say never. DH likes christmas cake, and if BG does too, then I'd make one for them. Likewise mince pies. Again, I like one - maybe two - at most, over the course of the whole of December, but I'm not really a fan. And I am no good at pastry............. DH likes them - but if necessary, I'd rather buy a box and let him loose. Although HM mince pies are often pretty spiffing

I really don't need to spend any money today, but need to get organised for the weekend. I've a couple of cards to finish off, then that is that. I need to gather the tree ornaments together, and have them easily accessible. And I need to do a bit of a 'stock-take' of BG's presents, to make sure we're where we ought to be. I also need to make sure the gifts that have been given by friends and relatives to BG are all together to put under the tree If I have any spare time, there is crafting to be done! :rotfl:

Ta for popping in, reading and joining in the conversation - greatly appreciated.

Greying X

UncannyScot

I wholeheartedly agree that the Festive Season is what you want to make it...

Over the years it then becomes YOURS

I LOVE this time of year

Make my own mince pies, and made my own Christmas Cakes this year too. I have home-brewed beer for my festive cheer

Look forward to hearing how you guys and BG celebrate this season and how much BG enjoys it all

beanielou

I still have some of the Christmas things my DS made.
Precious memories

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

Oh, I'm all for memory-making beanie

Well, it's been a pretty spiffing day all round. I seem to have achieved quite a bit really although karma bit me on the bum and whilst I thought I was making good progress with a little bit of crafting, I was in fact, getting it totally wrong. So I had to re-group and start again. Still, it was worth it, as I got it right the second time - when I was concentrating on what I was supposed to be doing

I did achieve a NSD - even DH didn't get tasked with buying any essentials. We really needed for nowt

The cards are more or less done. There's a couple of outstanding ones, but they'll likely be delivered in person, so no such urgency for them.

Tea turned out better than I anticipated, and actually, if I'm honest, made for a nice change of taste. I did a kinda crustless quiche. i made up a 'meditteranean' style sauce to go on the bottom, with onion, garlic, celery, a YS'd red and yellow ramiro pepper and some passata and herbage. Then I grated a couple of carrots, a parsnip (cut out the woody core) and the last YS'd courgette and sauted them off with onion and garlic. I then put the tomato sauce on the bottom of my pyr3x dish, mixed up some cornmeal, baking powder, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes with 4 eggs, some yoghurt and a splash of milk and folded in the grated, sauted veg. I topped the tomato base sauce with the cornmeal topping and popped it in the oven with a couple of pre-microwaved tatties for half an hour. I steamed the last of the frozen green beans - used them up and made a space in the freezer, and dressed 2/3rds of the YS'd wild rocket I had with oil, balsamic, salt and pepper. Dolloped it all on a plate and scoffed it. :rotfl:I'm biased, but it was nice

Today i am grateful for these 3 things;

BG's constantly enquiring mind

nice food

learning a new craft technique - ok, ok, by repetition, but I got there eventually!........ :rotfl::rotfl:

Ta for popping in, reading and joining in the conversation. Greatly appreciated, greatly.

Greying X