Struggling along as best I can

Baileys_Babe

Is there something you could take out of the freezer for one or two nights? To free up space for the bean casserole as well as giving you some variety.

Makingabobor2

De-lurking to say I have subscribed to your diary, been reading a few bits here and there so thought I should follow properly.  I think you sound like you maybe about my age, and its nice to see how others cope and get inspiration. Also you like gardening, so as I am a relatively new gardener (started with veggies last year, although been doing flowers for years), I thought I might get some tips.  
Love how you say you got into bed before midnight!  What time do you get up?  I'm lucky if I can stay up past 10pm these days.  

nannygladys

Makingabobor2 -  I'm a night person so usually I'm in bed by 2am but sometimes it can be a little earlier or later. Every so often I'll sleep in until 9am but not that often it's usually about 8am. I've always a late to bed person😀

nannygladys

So I hope you all enjoyed the Coronation etc. I watched some of it on TV but then I had it on in the background whilst I did a few things. I did think the King looked tired though but I suppose he's getting on a bit now. People up the close make more fuss for the football and nobody had a party so it was very quiet.

Everything here is just carrying on as normal but the gardening has stepped up a bit. Plenty of potting on and planting more seed planting. The compost I have this year doesn't seem to be much good as many seeds are taking time germinating and very slow to grow. I had mostly new seeds this year so I know they are ok but I've actually bought a few Tom plants as all my Tom seeds failed, and I had four different varieties, some have come through but look very sickly 😕 I'm thinking the melons and cucumbers have got mixed up this year (dgs again) so I'm just waiting for them to grow a little more so I can identify them.i was down the Lottie yesterday and was topping the pond (baby bath) up and saw what I thought was a large brown stone except there were a pair of eyes staring at me so I have a frog in there -yay. I had one a couple of years ago but I moved the pond after it disappeared and this is the first one I've seen in it since then - so happy!

I had a go at making some more dandelion honey today, it seems to have turned out ok but it'll all depend on the taste. My food budget has been upped this month as the pay increase had happened (well I've had some of it, next month will be the first full month) so I feel quite rich, lol but I haven't spent any of it as I haven't been shopping yet but tomorrow may be the day. I need to make a list and do a meal plan of sorts.

Baileys_Babe - the bean casserole was lovely so in the end I just had it for three days!! There was no way it could have fitted in the freezer, I swear food multiplies in there🤣 but I have taken a loaf out so I'll try not to put anything back in it to fill the hole it created🤣 I have quite a lot of rhubarb to harvest so I'm thinking of making a rhubarb crumble cake or just a couple of crumbles to go in there, my eldest DD has already had a load of it!! I'm going to have a look if I can somehow jar some in a pressure cooker or something. I need to get my act together and get in preserving mode.

Anyway I'm going to have a quick tidy round and make a last drink before bed time.
Nannyg 

nannygladys

Just enjoying some time out in the back garden with dgs who is sitting on the garden swing with me, it's really lovely and warm, coffee in hand and lunchtime  his approaching - my little bit of heaven 🙂 

Had a bit of a spendy day yesterday but it was all accounted for so still within all my budgets 

Better get in and cook lunch for us both.
Nannyg 

Makingabobor2

Ooh you are lucky to have sunshine. Its grey and windy here. Just been out down to the local village and had to wear a coat. Looks like its going to rain any minute. So looking forward to some spring

nannygladys

Makingabobar2 - its been quite sunny over the weekend (and today) so quite a bit of sitting out has been happening😄 mind you I'm still wearing a fleece, it's not quite t-shirt weather yet 🤣

nannygladys

I've been food shopping today in lids and I know it's a couple of weeks since I was last in there but prices are definitely still going up and it's mainly on fresh fruit and veggies, mind you I do eat quite a lot of them so I'm bound to notice it but when did the price of carrots get so high, are they recouping their profits after practically giving them away at Easter? I'll be glad when my veg growing really takes off. Mind you I've had to spend quite a bit this year on compost etc after getting raised beds in the back garden but it's worth it, as I know I won't want to carry on with the Lottie for that much longer - feeling my age these days😂
Had visitors today, two of my dds and dgs. It was lovely to have them home together, my youngest became engaged to her beau at the weekend and we are all very happy about it, especially as it was a surprise for my DD who had no idea!!! I knew as he came and asked my permission, they already have one child and a second is on the way so that was a lovely touch and quite rightly I grilled him about his prospects, character etc 🤣🤣🤣. He's a lovely bloke and looks after 'his' family very well, so of course I gave my blessing😄
My dentist cancelled my appointment that was at the beginning of June, when I phoned to rearrange it the receptionist said two of the dentists have left to do private work and they have to find replacements!🙁 So I was to leave it in their capable hands, I've been with them for quite a few years and it only does nhs work, everyone is chasing more money I suppose. Anyway at least I'll be on their 'books' and will get my checkup some time, as getting to see a NHS dentist is like finding hens teeth these days. It all seems to be going in a downwards spiral at the moment😕
On the money front, I seem to be going backwards as well, I'm still putting money away for the front canopy, have no debt, credit cards, mortgage etc but I don't feel as if I'm 'doing' very well, I think it may be because of the money I've spent on the garden which if I added it up would shock me I reckon, but I will see the results soon enough. Perhaps I ought to go back to writing it all down again, I've become quite complacent about it all. I do manage really well but with the rise etc I think I should be able to perhaps saved something. Anyway less of my wittering on, I'm off to bed, nite nite.
Nannyg 

nannygladys

Just a thought, I'm going to post more often to be more accountable and then I will see where my money is bring spent!

Makingabobor2

Think that's a good idea to actually keep note of what you spend. I do a budget of what I should spend and then say if I;ve gone over etc, but I don't actually write down where every penny goes, maybe I should. 
I know what you mean about spending money on compost etc. I seem to have spent quite a lot and wondering if trying to grow veggies is actually worth it. I do enjoy trying though.