Struggling along as best I can

nannygladys

Well all is quiet here, I now have me part time doggy friend, so quite a lot of walking is going on, I'm luckily I suppose that there's lots of countryside around here for walking and fields where they can have a run.
The next small job for Neil besides the power washing will be replacing the lights in the bathroom ( he's a trained electrician) and then hopefully I will have decided what colours I want on the walls in the front room and then that will be the painting done. I'm getting there slowly but the saving in earnest will really have to be taken more seriously than it is if I want a new carpet, but it's a goal to complete it for Xmas so that's my biggest challenge for the rest of this year. No matter how I set the budgets up something always comes along that uses some of it, but that's life I suppose. The menu planning is going great and with all the reduced veggies in the freezer and tins in my pantry store I should be able to cut down to n the market n food budget. Once the garden/Lottie start producing it'll be seasonal fruit and veg all the way. I'm looking at making pickles, jams, using my dehydrator and freezing whatever I can , so there won't be any wastage. That's the plan anyway, I have a preserving book that has allsorts in it from jams to sauces and quite a bit in-between which I'd like to have a go at as well, I do the basics but there's loads of stuff you can make and it's got to be healthier for you. I'm going to try and make mayonnaise again as that was a disaster and some lemon curd if I can grab some reduced lemons - I really love lemon curd 😁
That's it for today. Whilst the weather is better today I'm heading out into the garden to see what I can do.
Nannyg 

nannygladys

Ps I've just put my finger into my mouth and guess what I think the bargain chillis I froze earlier on are going to be hot! 🥵🤣🤣

Sun_Addict

You’re keeping that handyman in a full time job 😆 I love your list of things you’ve ticked off your list. Enjoy time with your doggy friend. 

Moorviews

I make that mistake with chillies too and am trying to train myself to wash my hands straight after handling them. It seems to soak into my skin though!
Great planning with the food and making the most of it by preserving. Often something like a homemade preserve lifts things into a luxury category. It’s good to have the ability, as you do, to be flexible and adapt to what is economical to buy at the time and know what to do with it. I have always got on best with mayonnaise recipes that use the whole egg and the blender. It does taste so much better but I haven’t worked out if it is more economical than purchased mayonnaise. 

nannygladys

Moorviews - I washed my hands a couple of times so I thought I'd be ok!! 🤣 🤣 They may be given to go to sil as he likes hotter chillies, I'm afraid I like to taste my food not burn my mouth 😁
I'm not sure about the cost of hm mayo, but health-wise it's got to be worth it. From what I understand it doesn't last that long so I'd probably share it with dds - that's when I actually managed it successfully 🤣 I made it with the billy blender but it didn't thicken up, not sure what went wrong as far I know I followed the recipe correctly but I've looked at another one that's very slightly different so I'll have a go at that one. 
I've found some piccalilli from a couple of years ago and red onion in vinegar to use up first.

nannygladys

Sun_Addict - I can't wait for the power washing to be done and then after that it'll be new bathroom lights and painting of the front room. I really can't understand why I waited so long to have these small jobs done, perhaps the waiting was needed to find someone who enjoys his work and does a good job! I think it's difficult to do these small jobs yourself when you're older, but sometimes harder to find someone who you can trust to do 
Them for you!

nannygladys

Bought the new knobs for the bathroom cabinet today (the ones that came with it weren't to my liking) and have fitted them as it was an easy job! I've chosen the shelves for the front room but will buy them after the room has been painted and now I'm going to concentrate on the Lottie and veggie patches in the garden, that's assuming it stops raining long enough to be able to plant anything! And the wind gives up for a bit!
Yesterday coming back from my youngest DDs house it hailed and the car, road and fields turned white and the same thing happened today whilst I was out collecting dgds from after school club!!! It's April and not winter anymore!!!! Wish the weather fairies were listening more intently🤣🤣
Anyway, weight is still going down albeit very slowly, and I'm on track with the budgets and the cross stitching is progressing at a very slow pace, so everything is rosy in my world.
Nannyg

WinterWarrior

I’m glad everything is rosy for you. You have lots to look forward to 😁
 I wish I had green fingers, you do so well at growing things, it’s a gift! 

OpalGirl

Glad all is going well for you @nannygladys. I agree with you about it being hard to find a good handyman, they are like gold dust.

Moorviews

Making the most of the reliable and available handyman is a wise move! Glad that everything is going well 😊