Light the fire...

woodfired

lucielle said:

Love the smell of tomatoes growing. My grandma used to grow them in ice cream tubs, a dollop of cow muck in the bottom and some compost and they produced amazingly well. 

L

That's interesting L, been wondering how much muck I could get away with using without scorching the roots.  Will experiment next year, it's a lot cheaper than compost!

savingholmes said:

Sorry you're not feeling great. I'd still be upset about the thief. Horrible when you trust people and they let you down.

Glad your DH is on the mend.

Thanks SH all better and back to normal now & sadly stealing seems all too prevalent these days, the high street are really struggling with shoplifters - some of the stories I hear are ridiculous!

woodfired

Back to normal this week, albeit a bit behind schedule work wise so all hands on deck.  Dh is recovered thankfully after a week off work and a very slow weekend.  It was nice to have a forced slow down though as I was also feeling a bit rundown.  The darker nights and evening fires have been fully embraced over our way, Autumn has arrived.  

I bought DS some snuggly jersey bedding which he is loving, much nicer than the trendy pattered but cheap polycotton sheets he chose last year.  DD already has some fluffy snuggly sheets so hopefully we can keep the heating off for a while yet, the log burner just helps take the chill off the house and is very cosy in an evening.  We're also using the living room in the evenings which also has a woodburner but is much smaller than the big kitchen/family room and we've painted it a darkish blue colour so it feels really cosy with the fire lit and candles burning and we use much less wood to heat it too.  You can probably tell I'm embracing the change of season and trying hard not to be depressed by the grey wet weather!

woodfired

Sunday again.  The weeks keep rolling around, it will soon be Christmas.

Its been a busy week once again over here.  I catered for about 30 people on Thursday as it was DS' 10th birthday.  I usually spend lots of time (and £££) on a homemade buffet but changed things around this time.  I already had a large beef roasting joint in the freezer so I cooked that in the SC overnight and then shredded it with brown sugar, sea salt and loads of paprika  ( it makes a nice bbq type pulled beef).  I served it in soft white rolls with HM coleslaw and it went down a treat.  It was so much less effort too!  DS had a lovely birthday and was very spoilt so a good day all round.

Friday DH and I went to Ikea as we needed a few bits and a few extras made their way into the trolley as they inevitably do.  However, when we finally made it to the checkouts the queue was a mile long, I looked in my trolley and decided there was nothing really essential in there and quite a few spendy 'wants' so I abandoned the trolley and walked out.  I have never left Ikea empty handed and it felt very strange!  The couple of bits I did need I ordered off the internet so it didn't inconvenience us and saved a decent amount of cash whilst I enjoyed spending some time looking at all the pretty room set ups on a wet Friday morning. 

In other news this week:

I attacked half of a long border in the garden and filled the green bin before it was emptied on Thursday, cut back lots of out of control clematis and jasmine.  It looks so much neater and the garden seems bigger.  It was two years growth as last year was abandoned due to renovations and then DH's broken leg (one year ago today infact).

Taken on a new staff member who seems very nice and is very competent.

Dug up all potatoes (well I think I have, unexpected sprouts next spring may say otherwise) and left to cure.  Also dug the onions and left those to dry out.

I think that's it, a busy week at work and general housework but nothing of interest to report ha.  Will try harder to have more interesting news next week. 

xx

savingholmes

Birthday food sounds tasty. 

Well done on the low spend at the Swedish place. 

Good you've been able to hire decent quality staff. Hope this one works out better.

woodfired

Hello,

I've been MIA again a little bit, apologies!
DH has continued to suffer from a UTI/kidney infection and is on his 3rd set of antibiotics.  He has had a urology scan this week which confirmed it was just an infection so at least that is good news and he is mending slowly.

It would seem that Autumn/winter has arrived, a couple of frosts this past week have finished off bits of the garden although it is back up to 16 deg today.  I must get out and clear the greenhouse and some more of the borders.  I made a start a few weeks ago but it still needs work.

We did, however, get around to winterising the motorhome and that is all clean and sheeted up for winter, I don't think we'll be out in it now until spring.

Elsewhere we have had quite a few quiet weekends, although I don't mind that at this time of year, lighting the fire and candles and curling up with a glass of wine is lovely and far more appealing than trailing out in the wind and rain.  We are still making use of the small lounge which is much easier to heat and saves lots of wood.  Its also really cosy compared to the big family room with its massive sliding glass doors and no curtains.  Great in summer, not as good on a blustery wet evening.  Having said all that, we are off for a weekend away tomorrow until Monday, staying in a static caravan in Wales with a group of friends.  The weather looks horrendous but it is a change of scenery and the children are looking forward to it.

In money news there is not much to report, still plodding on and OPing bits here and there whilst also adding to savings.  Looking into the possibilty of DH's business relocating to new premises perhaps next year but nothing has been decided, we are still at the number crunching stage for now.





 

lucielle

Enjoy your weekend away. 

L

savingholmes

Enjoy your weekend break and good luck with your decision about the business premises.

woodfired

Greetings from the drenched north!

Crikey it's wet.  Ive just seen DH off to work, I'm on holiday this week but will go over to help DH later at his job for an hour or two.

We are back from a lovely weekend in north Wales.  Friday was a nightmare journey down in the last throws of the storm, so many diversions due to flooding and BIL almost broke down in flood waters, his vehicle stalled but thankfully started again.  It was a horrendous journey but we had the most lovely weekend after that, both weather and company.  It was glorious sunshine Saturday and Sunday, such a novelty for this time of year.

We travelled back yesterday, unloaded the car into the porch - where it all still remains - and then I popped to Lidl for some groceries.
I spent the afternoon clearing out the fridge, re stocking it and cooking any still edible remnants of the clear out.  It was long overdue but much more organised and a few meals made in the process including corned beef pasties made using tortilla wraps instead of pastry (I love these and remembered them after reading back through my diary - much healthier for DH too) and a big pan of leek and potato soup.

I used the last wrap to make DH a breakfast wrap for work, it was a bit of an experiment but I had some leftover egg wash from the pasties so I made that into an omelet and as it was cooking i laid the wrap on top so it stuck to the egg.  Once cooked and cooled I laid some slices of ham and cheese on and rolled it up.  I found a packet of ketchup in the cupboard to go with it and I will hear the verdict later no doubt.  It was quick, cheap, filling and used up the leftovers.

Today I need to tackle the washing mountain and other assorted junk in the porch.  That is going to be fun as the weather is vile so no drying laundry outside, I shall have to light the fire I think and use the maiden.  

In money news, DH paid for most of this weekend out of his spends with some cash spent by me.  Nothing came out of my account. 
I have a CC coming to the end of it's interest free period.  There is only a small balance of £1000 remaining as I made a large payment earlier this month and I am unsure if I should transfer the balance to a new card or just pay off.  We don't use the card, it was for the renovations last year and had £4000 on it at one point which we have slowly paid off but we are planning on moving business premises so may need our savings if things get a bit tight (aiming to borrow as little as possible due to the interest rates).  I suppose a new card may come in handy for purchases related to the move also - it would be there if needed.  Maybe I should take out a new one.  It helps to write things down and weigh up the options!

Have a good day and stay dry x

lucielle

Glad to hear you had a good weekend despite the horrible journey. Stove gets lit here late in the afternoon but it does heat the whole house when we leave the living room doors open. 

L

woodfired

A terrible night's sleep last night but I am up early as always.  I've lit the fire in the snug and am cuddled on the sofa with a cup of coffee, its still dark outside and I'm lit by the light of the fire (and laptop!). A slow start to the day but that is ok.

Yesterday was productive, the house is much tidier and the holiday washing is half done.  Weather is forecast to be better today so I will finish the rest hopefully.
I also have some work admin to complete and a few other errands to run but that can all wait until I've woken up.