Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

Elisheba

Sorry about the holiday, @foxgloves It's not easy sometimes having to be sensible.

Hope you enjoy your chillout tonight in front of Sewing Bee 😊

PennysIntoPounds

Plus one sending you sympathy about the holiday but definitely sounds like the right decision. Great that you have the later holiday to still look forward to, and I love a holiday-at-home!
Hope the garden is enjoying some of the rain we got overnight down South

foxgloves

Thanks all - Yes, I know it is the right decision about the holiday, given all the uncertainty. I feel more sorry for Mr F than for myself, as he works hard & we only tend to go away once a year (well, since I accidentally wrecked the tent, anyway), but he is also convinced it is the best option given all the unknowns re surgery or no surgery or 2 surgeries.....that's the problem, we just don't yet know.
F

foxgloves

Hello Sunbeams,
A cooler pleasant day today. Sunshine, a breeze & even able to work in the greenhouse without becoming a horrid melty blob.
A few minor wins on the frugal front:
*Watered & fed the veg as this fell away from yesterday's good intentions. Lots of tomatoes setting fruit now.
*Potted 3 dozen lettuce babies into modules for growing on. Planted the remainder into a large pot to grow on as cut & come again salad leaves, while the main lettuces put on growth.
*Picked a few small courgettes & 3 more cucumbers.
*Potted up 2 geranium cuttings for a couple of free plants - already flowering.
*Subbed in pesto pasta with courgettes & grated cheese for tonight, as was a missing a meal due to my pepper-buying fail.
*Did a survey. Haven't cashed out June's PA earnings yet as there are a few ££ outstanding.
*Got the presents bag out as I wanted to check if I had knitted a pair of socks for Mr F's B-in-L's Christmas bag, or imagined it. I had indeed knitted a pair for him & there was another pair in there for Mr F. I am actually going to save those for my B-in-L as they are a good colourway for him. I have seen some nice self-striping sock yarn in seasonal colourways which I will buy to knit a couple of pairs for Mr F - I just need to price it up online.
*Found my dental scan paperwork (am behind on this due to an error by dentist, unfortunately compounded by the radiographer & then spun out for weeks due to me being ill & cancelling the re-booking, then having to prioritise dates for medical scans/appointments....suffice to say it's become a saga!) to take with me tomorrow's (hopefully 3rd time lucky) scan appointment, as it states clearly that the dental practice is going to foot the bill this time. Am going to put it with my handbag so I can't forget it.
Well, I think that is all from me today. I am going to wash my hair then head down to the reading bench with my book. It will soon dry in this sunny breeze.
F x
P.S Braved the scales this morning - another 0.4kg off, making a total weight loss of 8.6kg. 

marionmgcars

Hope the dentist goes well,  it’s a long process but better to take time and it be done ok, that’s what I keep thinking as I dislike any dental treatment- but needs must.  

Friend popped in today for a coffee and saw my hand knit socks I’m knitting to gift, and heavily hinted that she would like a pair for Christmas 🤣🤣. Thankfully she is only a size 4 shoe.  

How do you cook your courgette to add to pasta.  I’ve never cooked with courgette before, and we should have done home grown this year and don’t want to waste them.  Thanks.  

foxgloves

Hi marionmgcars,
I top & tail the courgettes & slice them, then saute until cooked, throw in the cooked penne & finally pesto. Topped with a little grated cheese, it's tasty & provides more veg content than pesto alone. We also like courgettes as a side veg wokked with garlic.
F x

badmemory

I do this with courgettes & aubergines & mushrooms.  Also stick in onions & bell peppers.  Basically anything to sub for a lot of the meat I used to use.

foxgloves

@badmemory - Me too. Tasty & ideal for using up odds & ends of veg, so a cheap option as well.
F

foxgloves

Morning diary readers,
Well, I have no idea what I shall manage to get done today. It takes such a big chunk out of the day having to trog through the traffic into the city centre, get parked & attend the specialist dental scanning place. We shall have to pay for the parking, but at least the scan charge itself (£125) will be picked up by the dentist surgery as the fact that I'm having to go again is down to their genuine error in the initial referral paperwork.
We had intended to have our lunch in the city centre but given the cost of parking, we have decided to leave asap & call in at our favourite garden centre cafe on route home. 
Well, I think I'd better at least show my hair the straighteners as it looks like I've slept in a hedge.
Onwards........
F x

Moorviews

Hope all goes smoothly this time! I too find the cost of going into the city quite eye watering so favour a quick in and out for whatever is necessary. Either that, or treat it as a proper outing including a nice lunch to make the fuel cost worthwhile. I would favour the Park and Ride but the car park is often full and the buses are completely unreliable. Good cafes at garden centres and farm shops are great, as it is so nice not having to pay to park for a change. 

Potting up the extra lettuce seedlings for cut and come again leaves is a brilliant idea! Thank you, I have often wasted them before. 

Well done on the weight loss too. You have been inspiring me to keep going and I have managed to lose my Christmas pounds.