Cherry takes the reins

Floss

Cherryfudge said:

...I have a lovely cashmere scarf that I never wear. It was from a charity shop and smelled of someone's perfume, and the smell was getting on anything it was next to as well. Today I braved soaking it in a vinegar solution, and it's hanging n the line overnight. I'm hoping the vinegar takes the other smell out (ordinary washing and sunshine didn't), and that once it's dry, traces of vinegar will be gone too.

If that doesn't work maybe a soak in cooled bicarb solution will take the smell away.

Cherryfudge

Floss said:

If that doesn't work maybe a soak in cooled bicarb solution will take the smell away.

Thanks! I didn't think of bicarb but it's worth a try.

I think it will take a couple of days to dryas I didn't dare wring it hard. After that I should be able to tell.

in_need_of_direction

i wash cashmere in hair conditioner - you might want to do that post vinegar

Cherryfudge

What a lovely idea, @in_need_of_direction! It would 'smell of me' too. I think it's smells a lot better now and is still super-soft, but I've left it out in the sun as long as possible to get maximum benefit. 

WelshmansDaughter

Dr Bronner's liquid soap works quite well as a gentle soap and has nice smelling options. I like the lavender one which might be a replacement smell.

Cherryfudge

WelshmansDaughter said:

Dr Bronner's liquid soap works quite well as a gentle soap and has nice smelling options. I like the lavender one which might be a replacement smell.

I'm not sure if that's available locally, but I'll have a look. The smell is definitely better than it was and I've cheated by putting just a touch of my own perfume on it.

News first thing this morning was capture of mousie: poor thing was sitting there like the next person due to be called for interview, but Dh took it to the fields and it scampered off into a hedgerow. We've set the trap again tonight just in case.

It's been another beautiful day, with the last of the year's car boot sales this morning. The other one has already given up because of the mud! I did well out of it but DH didn't buy anything. We had fish and chips for lunch, and another episode of Celebrity Race across the World, which got me looking for working holidays in Europe. I quite fancy trying olive picking in Italy instead of hanging round here for the next few weeks, but sadly DH is short of annual leave!

We had an energetic afternoon cutting back bits of trees and chopping the remnants. If it's small enough to cut with secateurs I put it in the green bin. If it can be done with loppers, it's put to dry for kindling. If it's got to wait till we get our chain saw, it's practically a log and will also have to dry. We've now got a box of dried wood for kindling this year and half a box set aside for next year, and feel as though we've had a workout apiece.

The winter duvet is now on the bed, too, and I wore my winter coat to the car boot, so I think I can say summer is over. Looking forward to that snuggly duvet tonight.

I went to the shops for milk and cheese and somehow spent over £10. £4 of this was a favourite herbal tea that I've avoided buying since it went up to £4.75 for 20 bags. It's currently on a loyalty card reduction at £4, which, when I think about it, is still a preposterous amount to pay for flavoured water, but I paid it anyway.

Most of the rest of the evening has been spent on a job application. It's exasperating filling in slightly different forms of the same thing time after time, and this one has to be printed out and delivered... by midnight tomorrow. Why on earth? I mean, if I dash up to the empty building at 00.05am, will my application be discounted? An added frustration is that this is the job that's too many hours, so I don't want it unless they can reduce the hours. I don't think I'm being awkward here, I know that over a certain amount I'm just too tired for my own good - yet it could be a really lovely post and I think I'd be good at it.

Expenditure:
Housekeeping £7.50 (fish and chips), £11.69
Gift (toys for DGD when at ours) £3
Household £3.50
Clothing 50p

in_need_of_direction

that's only 20p per drink.  flavoured water costs a lot more and have you seen the price increases on cordials?  i'd say stockpile and enjoy the tea

Cherryfudge

I think you've talked me round, @in_need_of_direction! 20p isn't too bad at all, especially as I tend to use the bag a couple of times! DH drinks a lot of water and a couple of Earl Greys a day so I am conscious that my hot drinks are more expensive, but on the other hand he has an apple, an orange and a bakery pastry every lunchtime, which is definitely more than my drinks. And it's not a competition.

Another lovely sunny day, and cold again. We walked to church and yes, I actually went this time as I had a meeting after the service. The speaker was really interesting and the meeting afterwards was useful too. I also remembered to take the houseplant I'd promised to someone weeks ago, but the space is already in use again as I planted seeds from the alpine strawberry.

I spent the afternoon slaving over application forms and DH had his usual walk. The forms are both sent off now: I solved the 'posting it before midnight' problem with a good old-fashioned email. Much easier than all that new-fangled envelope and stamp business.  

It didn't leave me with much of the day but we watched the woodwork competition programme which is quite interesting, and I've put stone pig (the old fashioned hot water bottle) to good use. It's not quite watertight but it's fine as long as it stays upright and does indeed hold the heat for a long time. Would you believe it went down to 15 degrees indoors last night? Oh, and a mouse came and ate the bait and sauntered off, smirking, before we checked the trap - so it's set again, but at least we did set it so we know there are more to get.

A came round to borrow some laundry liquid: they have the baby gear down from the loft and he says the nesting instinct is kicking in. I remember that: a couple of days immediately before I went into labour where I launched purposefully into washing cushion covers and some other jobs I thought I might not have time for in the foreseeable future. H is doing it in style: she's so organised, and probably still has nearly a month to go.

Dinner today was chilli from the freezer , and nothing's been spent.

WelshmansDaughter

I get mine in the health food shop. 

Cherryfudge

WelshmansDaughter said:

I get mine in the health food shop. 

I've not been in there a long time... are there any you particularly recommend?