Light the fire...

woodfired

Oooh sounds nice Runders. I used up the last of my compote on a vanilla cheesecake, just a dollop on the side. That was beautiful as I find some cheesecake too sweet but, as you say, the tartness is fab. Enjoy. x

woodfired

Oh dear the lurgi has hit this household. I had to finish work early yesterday as DD was being sick, then DS was sick at 4.30am this morning and I haven't been back to bed since. I have washing coming out of my ears (I tend to wash EVERYTHING when there's a bug going round, even if it probably didn't need it) and I am scrubbing the house. Hopefully the weather will stay dry as i've two loads on the line and more stacking up behind them. I may light the Esse so that will heat the water tank in the attic room, it makes that room lovely and warm (we haven't lagged it properly to take advantage of this) and it can dry a load of washing in a few short hours. It's also useful for airing line dried washing as I don't have a drier.
I was already up against it washing-wise too as we are prepping for a caravan trip this weekend and need to get clothes washed and ironed. Ah well, a day off work and some house work on a dry day, it could be worse. I plan to clean, wash and do some cooking for this weekend. T*sco are bringing my shopping this afternoon so I will be sorted, I just hope DH and I avoid the bugs, I haven't time to be ill! x

Runders

I hope it stays dry for you today! I forgot to bring in my washing last night and woke up to rain and soggy washing this morning. I've got another load in as well and I need it to all dry by tomorrow...eeek!

woodfired

Hi all,

The end of another busy week!
We were in the caravan over the weekend, where I succumbed to the dreaded sick bug , then at the shop this week. I haven't done a supermarket shop for nearly two weeks so saving money and eating down the freezer (which somehow is till so full I can barely close the drawers!). 'Freezer shopping' has been supplemented by bits of fresh/top up shops from the shop. I don't mind it but the kids are missing their T*sco fizzy water and other bits!! I started to write a shopping list today based on the meal plan and found I hardly *needed* anything at all, certainly nothing to go in the dinners for the next few days. I WILL get this freezer down! ::D

Had a nice day today, DH went cycling so just me and the kids. I got the house straight and did some washing this morning which I hung out as it has been a lovely day. Then we popped to the local auction mart to watch my Dad sell some of his sheep in the first of the big September sheep sales. He bought us all lunch in the auction cafe, chips and gravy, a lovely treat! We then went to visit my great Aunt in her new residential care home then picked up some new school shoes for DD (last minute but have been struggling to find any that fit properly and were 'nice' - her words, not mine) .

When we got home we had a lovely time together baking a batch of melting moments biccies and some buns for DH who's bike ride turned out to be more than he had bargained for .

Spag bol for dinner, I grated courgette and added finely diced carrots and lots of onion, looking at it as I cooked it, the amount of meat made up only about 25% of the finished dish! Not a bad thing as the veggies are much cheaper and healthier than even the 5% fat mince I use. It made a full slow cooker pan full, so loads for dinner tonight (with second helpings) and lots left to make a huge lasagna for Monday nights dinner (will make Sunday ready to bang in the oven, I love a quick tea after work).

In MSE news I got my final pay today from my teaching post. Self employed from here on in. I made another little OP to round down the current account, so this months OPs total £245 plus the standard OP of £300 makes a nice total (almost as much as the mortgage payment itself). I am pleased with this considering we have been on holiday and bought all uniform plus DH hasn't taken a wage since mid June.
One thing that has struck me this summer is how little I have spent over the summer holiday as I have been at work! Usually this month is really expensive as I spend a fortune out and about entertaining the kids, them being with grandparents has saved a fortune!

Littlest starts school on Tuesday so I have taken the day off to take him to school for the first time. Mum and I have then planned lunch out as a treat, it's a novelty being able to take time off whenever I want, I love it! Will pay for Mum as a thank you for helping so much with childcare this summer, she has been a star.

Off to enjoy a glass of wine on this lovely (if a touch chilly) evening. x

pinkypig

I share your freezer pain WF, mines always rammed. I take one thing out and put four back in:rotfl:

I hope you're fully recovered, sickness bugs are the pits:( Enjoy Tuesday, all your children at school! is such a milestone:)

woodfired

pinkypig wrote: »

I share your freezer pain WF, mines always rammed. I take one thing out and put four back in:rotfl:

I hope you're fully recovered, sickness bugs are the pits:( Enjoy Tuesday, all your children at school! is such a milestone:)

Thanks Pinky! The freezer situation is a nightmare, i'm looking at leftovers and wishing I could freeze them but there is literally NO room at all . So this mornings breakfast was LO new potatoes and green beans (I'm not joking!) would normally have frozen as at Mum's tonight and already got other leftovers to eat up. However, I fried them up with a bit of onion and some mushrooms then dropped an egg into the pan for a sort of hash, it was actually really good (DH didn't look convinced ) got a few more new pots and a couple of ordinary boiled potatoes to use up today so will base lunch around them, i'll think of something.

I'm planning to finally go shopping today, just popping to Ald* for a few bits to keep us going, mainly fruit and ham for sandwiches etc, should be relatively cheap. I'm also on a washing mission, one more load and both baskets will be completely empty (for approx. 2 hours :rotfl:) will be good to have it all dried in this nice weather though.

We are also back to lighting the Esse most days which is good for energy consumption. We must be one of only a few households who use less gas (or at least the same amount) in winter than summer. In summer we use the boiler to heat the water tank for baths and showers, whereas, in the cooler months our Esse is lit and heats the tank for this and the underfloor heating. I also cook on it when lit so it saves on electricity also. I love my Esse!

Hope everybody has a happy Sunday.x

woodfired

I have purchased a 'Sunday Night Shelf' and I love it.
It is essentially a black metal and oak effect shoe rack from H*mebase (£12) but it is going to change my life The bottom shelf is for school shoes, the middle for bags and lunchboxes and the top bit where you might sit to put your shoes on is reserved for uniform. I am going to put the uniform out and collect everything together each night so each child can just collect their stuff ready to go in the morning. I am way too excited about this :rotfl:.

I am finding since leaving teaching that I am keeping on top of the housework much better and the house is in a far better state generally. I think this is a combination of being less tired and also not having a long commute. I used to come out of school planning to do loads of jobs once home but sitting in a warm car for 40 minutes meant I was all sleepy and couldn't be bothered when I finally got home. A quick stroll home across the park from my new job means I haven't lost any momentum by the time I get back. The downside of this is that I am looking more critically at the house and wanting to redecorate, all of downstairs needs doing, the stairs and landings and also our bedroom. So sorting out quotes as we speak!

woodfired

The decorator quoted £1600 plus materials :eek: this is about 4x as much as we paid a couple of years ago and we thought that guy was expensive!! He did do a fab job though and my only gripe was he was a bit messy and didn't sheet up properly, however, if its going to save me £1200 I will sheet up myself!! :rotfl:

Had a nice day off today, took them to school (first day in reception for DS) then pottered around the house and had a cheap lunch out with Mum at a local garden centre.

Tea was eating up leftovers, i've finally finished some OOD mexican sausages that were frozen at the shop, had tonight with a couple of left over wraps and salad from the garden.

Just sat down with a (decaf) coffee and some home made biscuits that had gone soft. I have discovered that you can revive soft biscuits with a few mins in a low oven to dry them out. I popped mine in the Esse as it cooled and they came out like freshly baked :money: its a revelation!

Off to get kiddies to bed early tonight then hoping to watch the bake off in peace (with perhaps a tot of damson brandy) - that reminds me - must pick the damsons asap!!

pinkypig

The cost of house maintenance is awful isn't it? Hope you find someone good whose a bit cheaper.

Your Sunday Night shelf is awesome:):)

woodfired

pinkypig wrote: »

The cost of house maintenance is awful isn't it? Hope you find someone good whose a bit cheaper.

Your Sunday Night shelf is awesome:):)

Thanks PP! It seems to be making life easier! I am considering doing the painting myself. I am quite capable to be honest, my only worry is cutting in a darkish grey to a white ceiling - im not very good at neat lines and the contrast will mean it's VERY noticable!!

Half day at work today, come home and made some bonfire flapjack - I had loads of out of date treacle to use so i've subbed part of the syrup for teacle and the (uncooked) mix tastes like bonfire toffee . Yum. Will have to cut it into small squares though as I am supposed to be being good .

Another job for this aft is to do something with the several kilos of plums my sis has dropped off. I'm wondering about slicing in half then freezing? I can't be bothered to try to de-stone them all but I thought if they were halved, the stones will come out much more easily when later stewed for crumble or pies? Let's hope so. :rotfl:
I've bought some foil dishes from the wholesalers that will be perfect for crumbles so might make a few this aft to freeze. It's a wet, miserable day so I may as well light the Esse and do some more baking.

Firstly though, off to get my nails done (gel polish) my treat once every 3 weeks.
x