My Off-grid and need to be frugal diary

AnimalTribe

rachmac3 I was just saying today how the white currants tasted like fizzy lemonade. I guess they are closely related to the pink variety. My blueberries are not doing anything, but this is their first year so I live in hope. I think being so far North my stuff is probably about a month behind the South. Good use of the cucumber. DHs mum used to serve them sprinkled with sugar and my mum steeped them in vinegar. I prefer them raw though.

Today has been a fairly relaxed day. I did my catch-up phone calls and e-mails. Did some weeding and collected yet more raspberries. I've started a spreadsheet to record serial numbers etc of all our electronic devices, and DH will be marking all the stuff with SmartWater. I'll keep the list on a memory stick somewhere safe. It's something I think about doing every so often, but have never gotten around to it.

It has been super hot here again today, so it was nice not to be too active.

rachmac3

I remembered to harvest them today! And I cut the comfrey back so there are a few more there that'll get the sun now and ripen in the next few days.
I've just been for a meal with my sister and her satay chicken came with a lovely sweet pickled cucumber thingy. I'll have to look up that recipe too.

AnimalTribe

rachmac3 great stuff I hope it's a bumper crop. It sounds like your sister is a good cook.

Today I've sorted out some cushions and some board games for the charity shop, baked some scones and some flapjacks and that's about the only extra stuff as it's been heavy rain here - good for the garden though. DH has replaced our old carbon monoxide detectors and sourced a new oil tank that will be deliverd some time over the next 10 working days. So progress all around.

AnimalTribe

It's been raining and overcast here today so the generator has been on to top up the batteries. It's incredibly foggy now and I can't see past an arms length. It sometimes gets like here on the moor.

I've saved some pomegranate seeds from a supermarket delivery I got a couple of weeks ago and I've packaged them up to try to sprout them next spring for some interesting houseplants.

I also got to try out my new food processor today. The one that had a broken part and had to be sent back and the exchange took a while to arrive. I made some flat breads as I've run out of bread in the house - first time that's ever happened, but at least I got to play with my new toy.

I have a dog snoozing on my feet, why she likes being there so much I don't know, but it is very sweet.

AnimalTribe

The ground here is soaking wet so no need to water the plants. It's been warm though so I've been out picking more red currants and raspberries. The freezers are now stuffed and I won't be able to put anything else in, so any future berries will have to be dried or turned into jam, and there are a lot of berries left.

I've picked the first courgette and beetroots, both of which have been nibbled by slugs. The beetroot is cooked ready to go into cheese sandwiches, and the courgette is in the fridge to make an onion, tomato and courgette stew tomorrow. 

I've continued to declutter and had a major success. DH is a pack rat. I pulled out all his cables from a drawer and he has agreed to get rid of two-thirds of them. I might get an organised house yet.

The batteries are causing some concern. DH bought replacements ages ago, but we still haven't installed them. I think we'll have to sort them soon though. It's not a job either of us is looking forward to as the batteries are heavy and there is lots of bending and twisting to remove the old ones and put in the new ones. Off-grid living can be something of a challenge.

AnimalTribe

I was out for most of the day, just a wander around the shops and a good lunch. 

One of the dogs keeps trying to eat bees. DH and I normally stop her in time or they are too quick for her. Not today though she managed to swallow one which was followed by a fair bit of coughing. I was a bit worried that her throat might swell but I kept a close eye on her and it didn't stop her barking or running about. She's absolutely fine but when I took her for a walk earlier, the first thing she did was try to catch a bee. In all other things she's a really clever dog.

AnimalTribe

The midges were out in force and I’ve suffered loads of bites. However, I’ve picked the last of the redcurrants and harvested the first cucumber. I’ve done a bit more decluttering and found some curtains to go to the charity shop. I’ve also binned some old paperwork.

DH went shopping on his way home. He was pleased because he got a free family pie and a jar of salsa from his Lidl app. He also got a free coffee with O2. In Sainsbury’s he bought reduced priced bread – I think he got carried away as there is so much of it and no room in the freezer. I don’t know what I’m going to do with it all. DH loves a bargain but I’m not sure that’s always a good thing. 

teapot2

Yes, when is a bargain not a bargain   Not sure what type of bread  your OH bought but could one of you make summer pudding with it using some of your fruit  pickings or else a bread and butter pudding?  Theres also a type of salady thing that uses stale bread up but I can't remember what its called.

teapot2

I just tried g00gly to see what that came up with and there are loads of ideas for using up bread if you cba.  A few here Top 10 ways to use up leftover bread | Good Food

AnimalTribe

teapot2 thanks for the link most of the recipes look good and I'll give them a try. Not the bread sauce though - I'm not a fan. I have used some of the bread today for a veggie burger for me - so that's 1 down, so many to go.

Fog all day, so heavy, I can’t see past the garden gate, torrential rain too. Today I’ve cleared out another bookcase and found some books to sell and some to go to the charity shop. Tonight, DH and I have watched a film. So, not much happening today.