My Off-grid and need to be frugal diary

AnimalTribe

It’s been too hot to do much outside but since I’m expecting house guests from Friday to Sunday I’ve started some preparations. I cleaned the fridge and the oven and DH mopped the tiled floors. That only leaves the bathroom to clean and the carpets to vacuum. Tomorrow I’ll bake some cakes and everything will be ready.

Tonight I finished off the last of the out of date soya mince in a pasta bolognaise.

AnimalTribe

It’s been a very busy weekend. My guests arrived on Friday evening so DH and I took them to an Italian restaurant.

Saturday, we went for a wander around a local village and had lunch. In the afternoon we visited two charity shops and an antique centre. Saturday night we just ate in the house and just spent the evening chatting.

On Sunday DH and I, and our guests, went to a family reunion 65 miles away. It was a multi-generational thing and it was great to see everyone. My sister organised it and had a catered cold buffet laid on. We paid £30 per head and it was a great spread. There was loads left, but the hotel offered takeaway boxes. Only 3 of us took up the offer, and of course I was one. So, I now have enough things for lunch, dinner and probably dinner tomorrow. Thankfully, it’s mostly things that will last that long – samosas, quiche, onion bhajis and such.

Our guests left straight from the get together so last night was a night to chill. Today will be sorting out the beds etc. All in all, DH and I had a fantastic weekend.

AnimalTribe

It’s been a very quiet two days. DH has sold two small items on eBay so that’s another small profit to add to the savings. A friend suggested I try selling on Vinted, so I will investigate that.

I’ve saved a couple of glass jars, a glass bottle and margarine tubs to re-use. The jars I’ll use for jams, chutneys and pickles, the bottle for cordial or wine and the margarine tubs as food containers. I do not keep all the glass or tubs, as that would be overload, but I do save some.

I’ve made some felt shells and fish as I’m making nautical themed nursery garlands.

AnimalTribe

Yesterday was very windy so I managed to do 3 loads of laundry with energy generated from the wind turbine. I used to make my own yoghurt and I don’t know why I stopped doing that, but yesterday I pulled the yoghurt maker out of the cupboard and made a 1 litre batch. I’ve still got some frozen fruit from last year and it’s still good when defrosted, so I added that to the yoghurt – it’s lovely.

Today I baked a coffee cake and a chocolate cake. Coffee because it’s one of my favourites, and chocolate because it’s one of DH’s favourites.

DH and I leave a big part of our garden to nature to encourage wildlife. However, due to the recent weather (and neglect) the wild part has spread too much. DH has been pulling nettles and thistles to re-establish a boundary.

AnimalTribe

It was a nice day yesterday so DH and I visited a tourist town. We explored a bit and had lunch. On the way back home, we did some grocery shopping as we needed, bread, milk, margarine, cheese and fruit. However, some reduced priced vegetable pakoras, chicken pakoras, crumpets and chocolate cake sneaked their way into the trolley. I guess overall that isn’t too bad.

Today it’s been raining on and off, but DH and I managed a few dog walks in between the showers. I’ve started going through my clothes again one section of the wardrobes and drawers at a time. So far, I’ve put aside 9 jumpers, a dress and a pair of shorts to take to the charity shop. I’m just taking my time but I’ll get the clothes sorted eventually.

I had some mushrooms to use up so I’ve made a couple of vegetarian mushroom loaves. I’ll slice them into portions and freeze them. This evening I’ve been making felt hearts to finish off some nursery garlands that I’m making.

peb

Intrigued at mushroom loaf. Shall have to look into that

Tbh im Intrigued at left over mushroom!

AnimalTribe

Peb I love mushrooms, but I'm picky. I'll have them fried or raw but I won't have them on a pizza or in an omelette.

The original recipe is 1 or 2 medium chopped onions and 1 chopped green pepper, fried together until almost cooked. 4 oz mushrooms sliced and added to the frying pan and cooked for 2 more minutes. After removing from the heat add 4 oz brown breadcrumbs, 1 oz butter and 3 eggs, and seasoning to taste. Place in a well-greased 8 by 4 inch tin. Sprinkle with 7 oz grated cheese and a pinch of mixed herbs. Bake for 45 minutes 350F (Gas 4).

However, I sometimes use red pepper or miss out the pepper all together. I use white breadcrumbs or oats, margarine rather than butter, 2 eggs instead of 3, and 3 or 4 oz of cheese instead of 7 oz depending on how healthy I’m trying to be. I usually miss out the herbs but I use more than the average amount black pepper in the seasoning. It freezes well. I usually serve it with a home-made tomato sauce or if I’m feeling lazy a pasta sauce from a jar. As it takes so long to bake I usually make a few to make the most of the oven.

A favourite quick mushroom snack is grated cheese with added milk to make a paste, Add finely chopped onion, mushroom and seasoning. Toast bread on one side, spread paste thickly on untoasted side. Grill until lightly brown.

The weather hasn’t been very good here the last few days but I’m still managing to get a few solo walks in and my fitness is definitely improving.

I’ve decided I’ve been trying to do too many things at once and so the last few days I’ve concentrated on trying on clothes and I’ve already got quite a few things to get rid of.

I have so many half-finished projects that I’m picking one a day and working on it until I’ve finished it completely.

Sticking to sorting out clothes and finishing one project at a time is working well. I’ll take photos of the completed projects and upload them shortly.

DH has been busy changing over light fittings. So far, he’s re-wired four (he’s qualified) and he’s only got two left to go, which he’ll finish when he has time. He’s finally got in touch with fencing companies to get quotes. Hopefully, we can get the fence replaced before winter (especially since the sheep broke through again).

AnimalTribe

The elderflowers are all gone now but I did manage to make some cordial which has already been finished. I still have lots of red currants frozen from last year so I made red currant cordial. Hopefully DH will like it.

I’m doing well on sorting through cupboards one section at a time and I’m still managing to sort one area each day. I’m also doing well on finishing off part-made projects.

I went for a walk early this morning trying to beat the heat but it was still too hot for me. I managed a decent distance but I won’t be going out again today and even weeding in the garden is too hot for me. I feel so sorry for those in the South who are suffering in the heat.

AnimalTribe

DH really liked the red currant cordial so that will be a regular thing when the berries are ready. I added sugar to the pulp that was left and we’ve been eating it in yoghurt. The yoghurt and the berries go well together.

It’s a lot cooler today so this morning I’ve been on a long walk. However, it’s rained from 2pm onwards.

Last time DH and I went shopping the supermarket was out of Oatley semi-skimmed milk so I got an oat milk from Aldi to try. It’s 90p cheaper and not at all sweet, which I prefer, so I will be making the switch. The price difference inspired me to make another attempt at a price book. I’ve made a note of the 25 things we buy regularly and compared prices online for the shops we have access to. I haven’t been able to find Lidl prices online, but I’ll compare them in the shop next time I’m in town. Unsurprisingly, Aldi has better prices except for 4 things, but it isn’t worth the extra petrol to go elsewhere for those 4. Of course, prices change so I’ll have to keep the list relatively up-to-date.

I’m still doing well on the cupboard sorting and working my way through the craft room bags. Here’s a photo of the Easter egg cup covers (of which I’ve made 6 pairs) and the elephant nursery garland (I’ve made 6 of these). The bunnies just needed to be paired up, but the elephant garland needed to have some hearts made before I could string them. DH has volunteered to take proper photos of them so when the appropriate season comes around, I can list them on Etsy. I am still pants at photography.

scorpio_biker

Just popped in to say hi as I've just found your thread and am thoroughly enjoying it (although I haven't read all of it yet, still making my way through). I shall be following along