From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

We took inspo from MrCheery and had pea soup for lunch.  I made it with a base of onion, garlic and celery a couple of small potatoes boiled up in water with a stock cube.  When that was cooked, i blitzed it, and then, added a load of frozen peas and blitzed them in the hot stock.  I then added a few more peas and left them whole to cook,  and I had got a tin of potatoes that I cut up into slices using my egg slicer; which I added in.  As the soup heated through, I added pepper, dried mint and a splash of red wine vinegar.  It made 3 bowlfuls and there was a slurp left over that DH and LG shared.  

LG has started to formulate a (verbal) list for santa 🙄 luckily, I'm on the ball with much of it, purely by luck as much as anything.  Although they did mention a book in the series that they like (I bought what I thought was the last book they needed to complete the set, off the big river site the other day), that they apparently haven't got.  I felt for sure they had 'no. 4', but they say not, and I certainly can't find it on the bookshelves anywhere, and I was trying to think, I don't know where else it would have been purchased from.  I know DH picked up the first book in a charity shop, I managed to get the..... second? one in a charity shop, and bought them no. 3 for Christmas last year, and DH bought them book 5 when they were ill in the summer.  So they haven't got it.  I have just ordered it off the big river site - it's described as 'good' condition by the magpie seller of music.  I've had stuff off them before, and their descriptions are pretty good.  the books du monde site had copies for the same price, but a) their packaging is pants, and b) I've gone off buying from them, as I find their descriptions of condition less than accurate - or their pickers aren't picking from the right sections.  So, fingers crossed the avian seller doesn't let me down.  I don't mind buying second hand (and more importantly, LG doesn't mind receiving second hand), but I don't want it to look battered and bashed (unless it's an overlooked edition of some ultra-rare 13th century tome that is the only known copy in existence, and I got it for £1.50 with free delivery........... 😉)

The washing is doing quite well in front of the dehu.  It's had it's first 2 hr stint.  I find it easiest to do it in 2hr slots, as the water generally needs emptying away after 2 hrs.  

I'm going to try to get LG's Christmas jumper laundered and sewn back up tomorrow whilst they're out of the house.  It should dry quickly - it's awful thin, man-made fibre, so should take too long in front of the dehu.  LG is going to be tickled pink that it plays a tune again - the batteries will probably be used up after one day's wear! 🤣

Better get on with the stew.  I am going to make it in the PrC, not the slowcooker.  I should have started it earlier in the slow cooker.  But to be fair, DH was putting draft excluder tape on the door, and I couldn't easily move about in the kitchen.  And naturally, as these things are wont to do, it made the door not close, so poor old DH had to try adjusting the hinges, and extending the latch hole.  Poor thing.  Still, he's finished it now, and along with the 'brush' he fitted on the bottom of the door last week, it has definitely cut down the draft.  

Greying X

Cheery_Daff

I made some curtains this year - not necessarily suggesting this as an option as I'm sure you have enough on your plate without that level of faffing, but they were actually pretty straightforward (I do make stuff, but never made curtains before). Got the fabric for £3 a metre so they weren't too expensive either (I did spend more on thermal lining). Might be an option for LG's room at any rate if the window isn't enormous.

But buying curtains is the more sensible option if you can 😂

badmemory

Can you close the jumper up with a press-stud so that the batteries can be replaced easily?

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening MFW'rs

badmemory, what I'm probably going to do is just recreate how the jumper was originally.  There is a 'pocket' in at the reverse of the jumper, and this had mostly been knitted at the same time as the jumper, but the bottom had been left and handsewn up.  I was able to unpick this stitching to get the bubble out.  It clearly was intended to be washed, as the bubble was rubberised plastic and sealed.  I had to cut the bubble to get the unit out, and replace the batteries, so I've sellotaped it back up, but it wouldn't survive a wash without ruining the unit.  So what i want to do is 'firm up' the open edge of the pocket, and then 'lash' it closed,  so that if I need to wash it, I can just unpick the lashing and remove the unit in it's bubble.  Unfortunately, the gap is at the bottom, so the bubble has to be lashed in - had it been at the top, the bubble would probably stay in by itself.  I don't think LG is going to get a super load of use out of it.  But it will be nice if it "works" when they do wear it.  

So we had smoked tofu stew, dumplings and green beans for tea.  It was ok.  It didn't look very attractive, but tasted nice.  LG claimed that they don't like parsnips 🤔 but to be fair, they did eat what was on their plate.  There is a small portion left for me for lunch tomorrow.  

The clothes dried well in front of the dehu.  They are on the airer in front of the radiator now.   I'm hopeful everything will be dry by tomorrow, although..... I'm pretty sure we don't actually need anything for LG to go to school.  But I will just be closer to being 'up' with the washing loads if you see what i mean.  

I can't think of anything else MSE to add.  Ta for popping by.

Greying X

BookWorm

Hi GP. Today I found out that the S shop with honey sounding points scheme (😉) are doing their festive veg offers (15p) from the 18th Dec. Thought you may want know and sorry if you are already aware

BW 😊

Greying_Pilgrim

BookWorm said:

Hi GP. Today I found out that the S shop with honey sounding points scheme (😉) are doing their festive veg offers (15p) from the 18th Dec. Thought you may want know and sorry if you are already aware

BW 😊

I didn't know that - Thank You! 😁

Think I may have to leave the parsnips behind, for others 🫤😭...... Not really, I can have a bag or two can't I?  Interestingly, if LG doesn't see the parsnips, they munch whatever without flinching.

Greying X

beanielou

I love parsnips. 

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

Mmmmm, have a slight tickle in my throat this morning 😬  Not quite like I've swallowed razor blades, but that sort of direction 😬  Hope I'm not going down with something 😬I was in 2 minds whether to go and get a final couple of bits for LG today.  I think I might now, just in case this develops into something 😬

I've got the Christmas jumper on a quick wash, just to freshen it up.  It hadn't been worn, but I've no idea where it's been stored either. I have reinforced the seam, which I'll then lash closed once I've put the circuit back in.  LG mentioned about a squeaker this morning (I have some out of some old 'educational' toys), rather wistfully.  Hope I can play this one to keep the surprise.  We were going through the calendar this morning, and there really is very little "christmas" (in it's widest sense), happening at school - although I will freely admit, we've opted out of the xmas fair (all about money, not spirit of the season), and I'm not even bothering with the 'elf on the shelf' nonsense, as that - to me - with what has been happening at school, is just not modelling responsible behaviour.  I know it's some people's  idea of fun, but we'll agree to disagree about that.  Mind, I suppose I need to be grateful, one year, as soon as December hit, the teacher was letting the kids watch Christmas movies - with still 3 weeks or so of school to go!  At least the kids are still doing 'curriculum' at the mo.  

Oh - has anyone got any ideas about draught exclusion.  Now that DH has put a brush strip at the bottom of the kitchen-into-lounge door and insulating tape around the door frame, it's cut down the draft from the kitchen tremendously.  But - we think - it's made the kitchen warmer too 🤔 This is possibly because cold air was whistling in from the garage, and coming into the kitchen (lowering temperature), and then seeking out the warm air/space in the lounge.  That's how the physics works isn't it?  Cold diffuses to warm??  So, taking the same concept for LG's room, the new window has made a difference, but there is still coldness.  I noticed this morning that the gap under LG's door is massive.... at one end 🫤 but certainly cold air could rush in or out of the room.  ideally, a 'strip' along the bottom of the door - brush or rubber strip - could help.  BUT, the gap is sloped, and the door at the open side, is catching (ever so slightly - the doors swell in winter) the carpet below.  Whereas there is at least 1cm gap at the hinged end.  Anyone got any ideas how to manage this, or what to use?  A premade brush strip would either have to be fixed extremely squew whiffly, or cut very, very strangely, which could leave sharp bits at foot height - ouch!  For LG's room, both sides of the door are carpet - we're luckier in the kitchen the one side is lino, so there is less drag - which in turn encourages the metal strip to work out of the plastic sheathing 🙄  

Right, best get shifting, I've got to find out exactly where some stores are located at the metropolitan town along, and sort out the jumper.

Ta for popping by.  Greying X 

KajiKita

It might be a bit clunky but I got a bead filled, sausage shaped draught excluder for our front door. It makes a huge difference. The one I bought has loops on both ends so we can hang it up on the hook that holds the door curtain back so it doesn't become a trip hazard / door blocker when we don't need it.

I 100% agree with you about E on the S - I've never understood why it's supposed to be 'fun' .... I thought I was just being an old grouch! Maybe not  

Hope the throat doesn't come to anything much! 🤞

KK

greenbee

If the gap is big, a bit of pipe insulation on the gappy end would work. Or you could just make a draught excluder from a fabric tube and old rags/cushion/pillow/beanbag innards and LG can put it in place when they are inside their room (or so a row of rejected soft toys together who can sit and stare at LG while they sleep ). Ideally you want to take the door off and rehang it correctly or remove a bit more from the hinge side. In fact, you may not even need to take it off, just adjust the hinges slightly in situ.