2025 Frugal Living Challenge

Prudent

Welcome @Highlanddream, your allotment sounds fabulous. We have a long way to go to get that productive. 

Those market bags are fabulous @Gem-gem. My next project is bag making. At the moment I am still making my string quilt. It is a lovely relaxing, creative project but very time consuming. It is good to see the scrap pile going down.

The sun is finally back out this morning. I am meeting a friend and I have an appointment later, but will try to fit in some tidying up in the garden. OH is going to the allotment and I am hoping it is dry tomorrow as I want to plant some salad leaves and pick some beans. I have been unwell for ten days now so everything is behind. If we get a sunny spell, we must start painting the garage. We tried last spring but the endless rain meant our efforts were streaky and patchy. We don't have any trip away planned until the autumn so I am hoping to get some much needed projects done over the summer. 

fionaandphil

Hope you're feeling better soon @Prudent.

@Highlanddreamthst that is a seriously impressive haul from your garden. I'm very jealous of the sweet potatoes and melons especially. We are further north and struggle to get enough heat in the greenhouse for that type of thing. Good luck with getting even more.

Gem-gem

Good evening everyone,
@Highlanddreamthst that is a seriously impressive list you are growing. Chickpeas really interests me. I'll have to look them up. 

Hope you're feeling better soon @Prudent. My friend is making lots of different types of bags at the moment. I still need to go back and sort out my granny square bag. 
DH and I are away for a couple of days. We are once again making use of the free accommodation at my Mum's bungalow. We walked from Ore to Fairlight Glen and then back to Hastings. The hills were steep. In some places it was harder going down the hill than up the hill!! 

Picked up my new glasses on Monday. So pleased to have my sunglasses back. They are superb. 

fionaandphil

Was somebody looking for cucumber recipes?

I spotted these and quite a few others on the website
https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables/simple-cucumber-salad/
https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables/spicy-cucumber-pickle/

Gem-gem

Good evening everyone, 
Today, we visited our favourite farm shop in Sussex. There we had lunch sitting on a bench under a tree. After, we decided to return home rather than stay until the morning as we had done everything that we wanted to and thought it was best to get back to water all our plants as the temperature is on the up again. Before we left we pulled up a big bag of rhubarb. I will stew that down early tomorrow. 

We also loaded the car with more stuff for a boot fair that I am going to do at the weekend. Our fruit freezer is full and we haven't got the blackberries, apples or pears in there yet. I think it is time to jam up the last few tubs of last year's fruit and this year's gooseberries. On my todo list is also to start soaking the fruit for this year's Christmas cakes. I usually make it whilst the gas / electricity is at its cheapest. 

Highlanddream

chickpeas will grow happily in the UK, buy a packet of dried from your local health food shop, they grow! The polytunnel hit 53 degrees today  , but everything appears to be surviving ok, melons thriving. 

Gem-gem

Have been busy making Christmas and birthday presents: Using up my mother's old wool - cotton so no cost to me. I did buy a baby blankie pattern book for £5. 

C_J

They look fab Gem-Gem!

MrsCD

Highlanddream said:

chickpeas will grow happily in the UK, buy a packet of dried from your local health food shop, they grow! The polytunnel hit 53 degrees today  , but everything appears to be surviving ok, melons thriving. 

That's good to know, thanks! I grew dried peas a few years ago, from an 'out of date' box of steepy peas. They grew just fine.😊

Gem-gem

Bee blankie. My husband asked me if it was a rabbit!!! Please!