It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

YorksLass

Not a bad day weather-wise today, dull this morning but the sun came out around lunchtime.  I took a chance on hanging out the washing (bedding) early doors and am glad I did as it's now all dry, folded and waiting to be put away.  Unlike earlier in the week - sadly the dark wash I did had to be dried indoors since it was wet all day.  I was planning to do a towels load tomorrow but we're back to heavy showers again so that will have to wait until Saturday.  I wish this weather would make up its mind!

Yesterday I walked to the Co-op for odds and ends and, of the 9 items I bought, was overcharged on 3.    Nice young man sorted it out, refunded the £1.20 I was owed and was most apologetic.  Glad I had a receipt to check before I left the store - vigilance pays!    Only one YS item, courgettes that I'll use tomorrow for a spicy soup.  I've not used them before for this  but I imagine it will be fine - I can always add more spices if need be.

On the way home I passed the Little Free Library and borrowed two paperbacks ready for the winter reading pile.  I've had to hide them so I don't start reading them now.  Once I get my nose in a book everything else goes by the board.      I did this last year and am pleased to say all were read, most enjoyed and all were returned so no books loitering around the house. 

Currently using up odds and ends from the fridge and freezer, it's surprising how all these bits stretch out the budget.     This morning we had sandwiches filled with sliced cold sausages, shredded lettuce and a good spread of mustard,  At lunchtime we used up the last bit of pate on toast (bit short on crackers/oatcakes) followed by fruit, jelly and custard.  Tonight we're having a pasty (half each as they're quite large), mash, cabbage and leftover green beans.  Strawberries for afters.

London_1

Youngest DD arrived with some odds and ends for me, a pint of fresh milk (she dislikes my UHT milk so always brings me a pint bless her,) but she also got me a big pot of lemon Yeo yogurt as she knows its my favourite ,plus a couple of garlic chicken Kievs, some sliced watermelon, a Daily Mail as I enjoy the crosswords and puzzles in there, and some ginger nut biscuits .

She's a good lass, like her sister and likes to treat her old Mum with a few odds and ends when she comes (she also got me a packet of jelly babies ,very naughty but a nice treat occasionally).

 I don't eat many sweets but like something sometimes in the evening as a treat (I'm a really cheap date )

We had a nice cuppa and a natter, made for a nice afternoon as we got to talking about when we move next year hopefully to our beloved IoW. She has a builder coming to do her  main bedroom in next month ,then in October to do her sitting room and kitchen so it will be ready  for sale in January .He will come and paint my conservatory and kitchen at some point as well so mine too will be ready for sale.once both are sold we shall be off to the IoW to live just her her OH, my super son-in-law Simon and their dogs . Its what we decided about two years ago as we all like the peace and quiet of the place. So decluttering is ongoing for us both at the moment.

I'm still eating my way through my food stocks from the freezer so I've not been shopping hardly at all this month ,mind I've only been home from hospital two weeks and my appetite isn't great ,I thinks why she though she'd get me something to tempt me a bit  

This month seems to be flying by ,before we know it the winter will be here and we will be digging out thermals and thick wooly socks.I swear the older I get the quicker the time seems to be going 

Onwards and upwards chums 

JackieO xx

euronorris

A colleague brought in LOADS of runner beans on Tuesday, from her allotment. There will still loads left at the end of the day, so she told me to take them all if I wanted. Which I happily did. I processed, blanched and then froze 1.8kg of them! And that was after I'd set some aside for MIL! I also got some French beans (now in freezer), and a couple of cucumbers. So grateful 🥰

Longwalker

elsien said:

I think I may be missing something with overnight oats but I  can't see the appeal - give me proper porridge any day. 
I don't like the texture or the taste - although I wasn't putting fruit in because I do have some dislikes with mixing hard and soft textures in food. 

Fruit scones for example. I like plain scones. I like raisins. The two together are the devil's work. Odd, isn't it?

I dont like overnight oats BUT diet wise I need something substanioncal 

I make my own yoghurt, so thick its slicable 

My overnight oat are Oatbran,, HM yoghurt and frozen berries. 

Oatbran is tiny and I can mix it in the yoghurt so I dont even notice it, but it makes the yoghurt even thicker

London_1

euronorris said:

A colleague brought in LOADS of runner beans on Tuesday, from her allotment. There will still loads left at the end of the day, so she told me to take them all if I wanted. Which I happily did. I processed, blanched and then froze 1.8kg of them! And that was after I'd set some aside for MIL! I also got some French beans (now in freezer), and a couple of cucumbers. So grateful 🥰

Hi, isn't it so nice when folk pass on unwanted or needed fruit or veg. Often there is a glut, maybe because of weather conditions or just a plentiful harvest, and in effect unless you have a HUGE freezer it will just be wasted and rot.

I know when my grandson started to dig up my spuds that he had planted at Easter we had such a lot I gave my little next door neighbour a bag full, and she was delighted. She struggles at times as she is a single Mum with two little girls so I like to help her if I can.

She has a rhubarb crown in her garden and will often pass some to me as I love rhubarb so its an great swapsie deal for us both.or if I have some of her apples from her tree I will make her a cake or two or some scones .Bless her she works three jobs just to keep her head above water so I never mind and she's always there if I need any help or shopping when the weather is bad.

It reminds me of when I was a little girl back in the late 1940s/50s and my Mum and our neighbours often swapped excess stuff, especially as they had war-time rationing to cope with.
 I think passing on a bit of extra stuff will help most folk at the moment, as things will still be tough this coming winter I'm afraid .
 Perhaps neighbourliness will make a real comeback I do hope so as it makes a nice change from all the doom and gloom to know we really can help one another ,even if its only a few extra spuds or as you had some runner beans. Great to know they haven't gone to waste  

JackieO xx

euronorris

It was so fab! And from what I understand, her husband is sick to death of runner beans currently!  (though I'm told he said that somewhat less politely lol). And she's no room left in the freezer. So I am very grateful.

And yes, it is so lovely to share. And it's how it should be really

Katiehound

yesterday I was given a big bag of runner beans. Yum: I love them.  Don't think I have had an UK ones this year! 

 Then today came home to a 500 g margarine tub filled with freshly picked blackberries from the hedgerows. Very yummy too

Mummy2cheekymonkeys

I tried overnight oats a couple of times and hated them but then I saw a video online of someone making them. They added a spoonful each of chia seeds and almond butter. It completely changes the texture and flavour. I also like to add a little tiny bit of syrup to sweeten. Obviously it makes them a bit more expensive to make instead of porridge but I find it so much more filling.

Brambling

euronorris said:

It was so fab! And from what I understand, her husband is sick to death of runner beans currently!  (though I'm told he said that somewhat less politely lol). And she's no room left in the freezer. So I am very grateful.

And yes, it is so lovely to share. And it's how it should be really

When my sister and I shared a allotment which was handy as it was at the bottom of their garden we came in one evening with a large carrier bag full of runner beans and my brother in law asked why we had picked them as we didn't need any more.  We had to explain that it didn't work that way!   They then went on holiday having defrosted and turned off their second freezer, i turned it on and filled it with blanched and sliced runner beans, I don't know why they complained as I was the one who ended up with runner bean elbow 

courgettes and runner bean season is when the neighbours start to avoid you 

Krakkkers

Runner beans are not edible.