My Off-grid and need to be frugal diary

AnimalTribe

Today the house has been shrouded in fog. It’s somewhat eerie but also magical.

Last year I let some courgettes grow to marrow size and left them in the garden as long as possible. I picked them in November and they are still doing fine in a cold room. Tonight, I peeled, deseeded and chopped one up, added it to a pan with an onion, a vegetable stock cube, a tin of tomatoes, a big dollop of tomato puree and black pepper. Half-an-hour of simmering and I had a lovely vegetable stew. Yummy with some nice bread. There’s enough for tomorrow too. It's made me think about the seeds I should be planting.

I also had a couple of tubs of mascarpone that I bought for Christmas, but didn’t get around to using. So desert was a mango cheesecake, with enough to last DH and I a couple of days.

AnimalTribe

It’s been foggy again today, but not nearly as bad as yesterday.

DH has been doing more electrical work and has sold another 2 items on eBay. Unfortunately, the conservatory roof is leaking and will have to wait until the weather improves before it can be fixed. Fortunately, a bucket under the leak is keeping the water contained.

I’ve been doing a stock take of the food cupboard and I won’t need to buy any tins, pasta, grains or baking supplies for a while. I’ve put everything on a spreadsheet with the use by dates so that I make sure everything is used in good order. I will probably have to buy cartons of fruit juice and cereal though and the usual veg and dairy.

peb

So organised. Very impressive.  I keep staring at the cupboard where tins live but the energy/can be bothered but is lacking.  

AnimalTribe

Peb I stocked up for winter in case DH and I were snowed in. I think I went a little overboard. It will take us ages to eat through it all, and we don't really eat tinned stuff that often so I felt obliged to organise it. How you feel about the cuboard I feel about the freezer. It is a massive chest freezer and I dread to think what I'll find lurking in there. I have times when I'm determined to eat through the stuff in there, but it never seems any emptier. 

Still more fog. DH decided that the wet weather was a perfect time to go out and level molehills as the ground would be soft – rather him than me. I think moles are quite cute but DH isn’t a fan. To be fair their tunnels do make the ground soft so it’s like walking on sponge. They do nothing for the look of the garden either.

Today I’ve been shredding root vegetables to make a spiced vinegar pickle salad. It’s not my kind of thing either but DH likes it. I’ve made 2 large jars so that should last him a while.

AnimalTribe

The fog has finally lifted, so DH and I went out to one of the villages today. As usual we stopped at a café for lunch. It was very nice, but I couldn’t eat it all so I asked for a takeaway box to bring the rest home. I know some people don’t appreciate leftovers but I loathe waste, and as long as you store the leftovers safely there’s nothing wrong with them. I didn’t really have to store my extra though as I ate it for dinner with a salad.

DH sold another small item on eBay so he’s doing quite well.

Although it’s no longer foggy it’s been raining for days and the moor is boggy and not really walkable on.

I’ve been thinking about what frugal things I do and an example came to mind this morning. I use the cheapest items I can buy in the bathroom, after all who needs brand name dental floss. I’ve never had any problems with what I use and they’ve always done the job well. The only exception is toilet roll. I don’t buy the leading brands or the cheapest I stick to the mid-priced range.

clyndu

Hi Animal tribe, I am loving your diary. Your lifestyle would suit me down to the ground ( i used to work on a farm), sadly DH is a city boy. I am sending you a dm about your jewellry making.

peb

Oh loo roll... I accept got some two ply from Lidl. Paid the extra 50p this time for 3 ply!

AnimalTribe

Clyndu thank you. My DH was a city boy too but he has changed so much, he is now more of a country girl than I am. I will read your DM and reply tomorrow.

Peb decent loo roll is a must for me. If DH is left to buy it he gets the cheapest - it's not a saving if you have to double it to use it.

Today I’ve had a look through the vegetable rack and fruit bowl to see what I need to use up. Usually, I’d do this each Sunday but I missed it this week. This week I’ll be making apple pie, and if I have the energy a mixed berry jam from the fruit bowl. From the vegetable rack it will be vegetable stew, jacket potatoes, sweet potato wedges and a couple of carrot cakes (one to eat and one to freeze). I also have some eggs to use up, but those will probably go into a cheese omelette.

AnimalTribe

The weather was wonderful here this morning, sunny and almost warm. DH was outdoors at the earliest opportunity to do whatever outside work he could find. He loves being outdoors.

The generator still switched on though as the sun was only out for the morning and there was no wind. Still, I got 2 loads of laundry done.

I’ve made 2 carrot and coconut cakes and filled one with the last of the double cream. For dinner DH and I had vegetable stew and there is enough left for tomorrow. That is all the carrots, large courgettes and fresh tomatoes used up.

When DH was out with the dogs for a walk one of them pulled the lead out of his gloved hand, slicing the glove and cutting his hand. He doesn’t know what startled her. Fortunately, the cut on his hand is shallow and I was able to sew the tear in the glove.

AnimalTribe

It’s raining again today and the leaking roof is leaking even more and I now have larger containers collecting the water. Such is life in an old house in the country. At least the water is going into the bucket and not damaging any internal structures.

DH sold another small item on eBay and went into town to post it and do some other jobs. I asked him to do some grocery shopping while he was there and unbelievably, he stuck to the list (with the exception of a few chocolate bars), but who can blame him for buying chocolate.

When I was doing a stock take of the food cupboards, I found a couple of tins that were just out of date or about to become out of date. I have started to work through them and opened the first one for lunch – nut luncheon for sandwiches.