plodding along one step at a time

the_cross_rabbit

I’ve done them raw as an experiment to see how these type of apples do savingholmes.
CRx

the_cross_rabbit

I've really took my eye off the money ball these last couple of weeks and have an endless list of reasons and excuses as to why we ended uo with a text warning from the bank to say the account is empty and we are going into our overdraft. Cue panic music, lots of running around like a headless chicken to find out whats gone wrong. Bascially we have new to us money coming in at a certain time of the month and I forgot all about it coming in and the date that the money is going out to its allocated use. So when I checked our balance the other day I thought we had more free money than we had, so did a big shop, filled both cars up etc and then today happened. Had to go into town to transfer money from the hubbsters account to the general account.  Came back, juggled some other funds and the account is know looking healthy again. Thank god we could do that. We've never been overdrawn and the overwhelming feeling of panic was not a nice experience. I've now wrote an up to date list of what/when money is coming in and when/what is going out. Hopefully this will help me budget better. I also think that we have got to the stage where we are going to have to carefully manage our money as prices on everything is going up and we no longer have surplus cash to do what we want when we want and buy whatever we want when we want it. 
We are still using food harvested from the allotment for the majority of our meals and I would ike to say that we have seen a reduction in our food budget, but since everything is going up it has pretty much stayed the same.Hoping that next week I'll not have to visit the supermarket as the cupboards etc are pretty full, so I'm going to base our meal plan around whats available.

So MSE wins this week
1) Allotment is still producing massive amounts of produce 
2) My tyre on my trailer burst (not repairable) but remembered we had kept the wheels of DD2 off roading pram (not used for 6yrs) and the inner tube fits perfectly
3) Heating is still off (wearing thermals)
4) Used natures drier to dry our clothes
5) We did a jigsaw this week instead of having the TV on
6) Altered trouseurs, a top and currently altering a dress into a long tunic.
7) The hubbster is working this weekend (teaching)which will pay for a Christmas tree and dinner.
Bye
CRx

savingholmes

Lots of frugal wins there. Seems like a good recovery... 

the_cross_rabbit

Had a nice weekend,enjoyed the lovely weather we had and relaxed as DD2 went to her grandma for a sleepover. Today she had her best friend over from college, took them both down to the local pond to feed the ducks and birds. Found some fat balls (dad didn't want them any more) and seed in the garage, so smashed them up and took them with us. Love ducks especially their sound they always seem to be laughing. well in my head they are. 
Was at the allotment yesterday getting it ready for the winter. Thinned out the vegetables that aren't going to grow a great deal ove the next couple of months and will stop those that are a good size from going mouldy (air circulation). Harvested beetroot to try out a new reciepe, beetroot, chickpea and coconut curry, think I might of put too much chilli in as a needed alot of water to put out the fire on my tongue. it also looked like a bloodbath on my plate. Anyway we'll try it again maybe when we have a glut of beetroot. In fact we decided we prefer it on pizza so we won't waste the few we have left. Managed to dig over a fair bit of ground until I looked up and realised how much more there is to do. The resident robin was more than happy to help with any grubs we found. Harvestedd lettuce today for tea, I think we might get another couple of weeks out of it before the cold nights have a slimy impact.
Had to have the heating on today as we had visitors, but it did give me a chance to check the radiotors are heating up properly. Only the top of the bathroom one was cold so will get the hubbster to sort during the week.
Decided today that I need to lose weight as I have put on 11lbs of the 21lbs I lost last year (noom). So I'm 10stone 3lbs and I need to lose a stone in weight. Set the target of losing half a stone by christmas, and if I lose more that would be good. 
Meals today 
breakfast : yoghurt,apple,pear,walnuts and a drizzle of honey.
lunch : sandwich
tea : will be feta, potatoes, green beans, roasted tomatoes,beetroot and lettuce salad with a herby olive oil dressing. I have made a apple crumble so I need to decide either crumble or a small glass of wine.
Exercise 
2 x 40 minute walks. 


So MSE wins this weekend
1) Use natures drier to dry 3 loads this weekend.
2) Harvested beetroot, lettuce, pears, apples and tomatoes
3) Today is a NSD.
4) Only had the tv on to watch a particular dance show and then switched it off, rather than having it on constantly as background noise.
Bye 
CRX

savingholmes

Lots of MSE wins.

I've heard you can use beetroot in chocolate cake... 

the_cross_rabbit

yes you can use it in chocolate cake unfortunately I get severe migraines with choclate so its not an option.
Very busy day as DD2 decided she would like to visit meadowhell this morning so she was up and dressed quite early so that we would be there for 10am- left at 1130am as it was getting really busy. Managed to get her to buy a new jumper, long sleeve top and some snuggly warm socks as she is complaining her feet are cold even with her winter duvet on. Looking at getting her a heated blanket at the moment, dad has just bought one so I'll see how he rates it before I purchase one. She got her self some make up as well, nearly fell through the floor how much it cost. Good job it was her buying and not me. 
Quick trip to the SM and managed to keep it under budget more luck than judgement. What was supposed to be a quick trip to the allotment turned into 3 hours as saw people I know so spent an hour putting the world to rights. Lots of moaning about the cost of living and prices in the SM, but came to the conclusion ar least we know when we wake in the morning our family and friends will still be there unlike those living in ukraine at the moment.
Telephone call to  book both cars in for their winter tyres.
MSE wins today
1) SM shop was under budget
2) Harvested food for a roast dinner tomorrow and a stew for the following day.
3) DD2 decided against the £80 boots she was eyeing up as they made her look like a pirate.
4) Help to save money has been paid into our account.
5) the freezers are very full, so we need to target eating from the freezer rather than the allotment 2 days a week and then hopefully we can switch one off
6) Jigsaw tonight instead of tv.
Diet continues.
Breakfast - pears, yoghurt, walnuts and a drizzle of honey
Lunch - Vegan pizza
Tea - pumpkin and sage risotto
1 glass of wine
Exercise
I hate going to meadowhell, so I'm counting walking round as a win 45 minute, walked the Miss giddychops 45 minutes and a hour digging at the allotment. Also my cheek muscles got 2x 30 minutes chats.so a win win.
BYe
CRx

the_cross_rabbit

Spent a couple of hours this morning preparing tea for tonight and tomorrow. Had to call back up at the allotment as forgot to pick kale and needed additional carrots and turnips for tomorrow nights stew, Starting to feel tired again so wondering if my B12 injection is starting to wear off as had a have a nana nap and felt really tired all day. Need to keep an eye on this and maybe speak to the dr again .Been a beautiful day all day  so got the washing out on the line. other than the usual humdrum household chores not done anything exciting. Mum has bought our christmas jumpers already!!!!
MSE wins
1) Checked out when our local repair shop is on, as our dehumidifier is acting up and we do use it alot in winter, so hopefully can get it repaired.
2) Used natures drier again.
3) 85% of tea was supplied from the allotment.
4) Chucked the parmasan rind into the stew for extra flavour instead off putting it in the bin
5) No TV on till bake off
6) Heating still off, although I was cold last night when I went to bed, think its time for the winter duvet to come out.
7) Having a go at dehydrating apple slices (wizened apples destined for the compost heap). I did have to buy a apple corer. 
Diet continues
B- 2 pears, yoghurt, walnuts and a drizzle of honey
L- cheese sandwich
T- vegetable cottage pie, cauliflower cheese (small amount) and a huge pile of kale
Because its bake off night we are having apple crumble and ice cream.
Exercise 
A 60 minute walk with miss giddychops and then a 15 minute walk to the allotment. 20 minute stretch yoga session.
Take care
CRx

the_cross_rabbit

had a lovely couple of days as DD1 arrived home unannounced. We did intially panic that something was wrong but she had decided to come see us for a couple of days and pick up her sleeping bag as she is camping next weekend. It was wonderful to see her, but unfortunately we had plans to go out for a meal with friends (they treated us as the hubbster looks after their garden when they go away), DD2 was at a birthday party and the hubbster was working yesterday. She altered her train time yesterday so she could have tea with us all. It was wonderful to see her and she was a great help getting the garlic in at the allotment and wrapping the apples in newspaper for storage. Paid her in apples (8). Set another 6 trays of damaged apples for dehydrating last night and they are finishing off at the moment. they are incredibly moreish and probably full of sugar. Really needing the sugar boost at the moment as I'm really tired, started my iron tablets up again now that my stomach has settled after my recent bug. Right best go and poke DD2 awake as we are going to visit a friend who has recently dropped at day at work  and then shopping.
CRx

savingholmes

Lots of positives. Good exercise and food. Hope your fatigue levels improve.

I'm finding a lot of my posts don't seem to post... I go back to them and the comment is there waiting... Hope this time works...

the_cross_rabbit

Thanks savingholmes.
Been a busy week so far,DD2 has just completed 5 full weeks (well 3 days a week) of college since starting last year really proud of her achievement and all the hard work she has put in. Our local CAMAS unit have been utter garbage at helping her cope with her severe aniexty. She started seeing them March of this year and has only been to 3 appointments as they keep cancelling. She has developed her own coping mechnisms (luckily non that are self harming or to others) and asked for advice from lots of family and friends. She has really grown as a young woman these past few month although i suspect its also because they took her off some hormone medication which made her super grumpy.
The allotment is still providing most of our meals and snacks. The dehydrated apple rings were a success, so made another batch. Picked 2 more bags of apples and pears, will need to sort through and use the damaged ones for apple rings and the rest will be wrapped in newspaper for storage. Managed to get one area dug over ready for winter and started another area hopfully all will be done by the beginning of december.
Been to visit my friend who has returned home after been in hospital having a stem cell transplant and is currently on her own. I do worry that I will pass on some bug or something to her. Its been good to see her and we had a good chuckle at various things thats happened to us both over the past couple of months. Apparently a holey bin isn't good for been sick in. I'm quite worried about her as she will be on her own all weekend and I'm away this weekend. Hmmmmmm.
CRx