My Off-grid and need to be frugal diary

AnimalTribe

teapot2 thanks - the pub lunch was great and it was nice to see people I hadn't seen in a while. 

I've been staying with my sister and her family for a few days, so it was good to catch up with them too, but it is so good to be home. DH was pleased to see me and the dogs were wildly happy.

I can't believe how many e-mails I've come back to. It will take me hours to go through them all. At least the laundry is already done.

AnimalTribe

It's a lazy day today (Sunday usually is). I've done a bit of tidying and another load of laundry (where does it all come from?). The oven probably needs to be cleaned - but not today. 

I've caught up on phone calls, so the rest of the day is mine. I'll go for a walk, maybe plant some seeds, and then read a new book.

AnimalTribe

It's been another good day today. I've decluttered some shelves and sold an item on Etsy. Now that the ceiling has been plastered DH will be able to paint it when he has the time.

It's very misty here so no gardening but it is so beautiful to look at - like we are the last house at the end of the world. I've got to update the Grocery Challenge with todays shopping. However, I still haven't cleaned the oven, but it will wait. 

There isn't enough wind to keep the batteries topped up all day, but the large power packs DH has in reserve will be enough to keep the fridge and freezer going overnight, meaning that the oil fired generator won't need to be used.

AnimalTribe

I've done my daily Microsoft Rewards clicks and been for a walk (it's cold though so it was a short walk). My next job is to finally clean the oven. I have some finance stuff to do and then it's on to more decluttering.

I planted a mass of daffodils last year and some of them are now in flower, with plenty still in bud. I had decided not to buy any more plants this year, but I think I will make an exception and buy more daffodil bulbs to plant for next year.

At my last house I'd planted lots of daffodils, but even though there were plenty of leaves they never flowered. When I went to take a closer look all the buds and been nibbled away. I never did find out what did it - rabbits, squirrels, something else?

AnimalTribe

It's snowing here, on and off, today. Fortunately, it's melting as soon as it hits the ground.

I cleaned the oven yesterday - yippee.

I've been checking my state pensions forecast and discovered I had some years that weren't full. I didn't know that you could buy just missing weeks (thanks MSE). So once I have shuffled some money around I will buy those missing weeks, and have full years. It was so well worth checking, and it was so easy to do online.

My next small tasks are watering the houseplants (of which there are many) and brushing the dogs. One dog likes it, the other dog tolerates it - just.

AnimalTribe

I brushed both dogs yesterday, except for behind the years on the fluffy one (she was getting a bit fidgety), so I'll brush her again tonight.

I had some birthday cards to post so I've been out and about today. I always try to do multiple jobs to make using the car worthwhile. I managed to get some stamps from the post office, grocery shopping, pet food shopping and a trawl around the charity shops. The charity shops in the small villages around here are very good and cheap compared to the local town. I bought 3 dvds for £1 and a lovely, thick hoodie for £4.50. Dinner tonight will probably be something quick like pasta - so an easy evening.

It's overcast and calm here, so the generator is bound to switch on. There is plenty of oil in the tank so that's not really a problem, just a bit costly.

AnimalTribe

Yesterday was an unexpected day out to meet up with friends I hadn't seen in a while.

Today has just been general house stuff. Brushing the dogs ears, vacuuming, dusting and sorting out more bookshelves. DH and I are both bibliophiles, so between us we probably have more books than a small library.

DH has made another 2 sales on eBay and has sorted out a refund for a broken item. So some small financial wins.

It’s beautifully sunny outside, but still very cold. I bought some archways last year so as soon as the weather warms up, I will be putting those in place, and hopefully growing some veg up them.

AnimalTribe

It was beautiful weather here this morning, so I enjoyed a long walk. It will be lambing time here soon, which I’m looking forward to. This afternoon’s weather wasn’t so good. No sun and no wind will mean that the generator will have to go on again.

I did my weekly phone calls to catch up with various people and did a little general tidying. However, most of the afternoon I’ve spent reading a book.

Tonight’s dinner will be a takeaway, as a new one has opened up in a local village. DH & I don’t have many takeaways, so I hope it’s good. The menu has a lot of vegetarian choices, which is good to see.

teapot2

Hope your takeaway lives up to expectations

AnimalTribe

teapot2 thanks it did. A Quorn chicken curry for me, and sweet & sour normal chicken for DH. The portions were enormous and we were both full to bursting.

DH & I went walking today to somewhere we hadn’t been in a while. It was nice and sunny, but still very cold. We stopped for lunch. My lunch was OK but DHs wasn’t up to par. Never mind it was nice being out and about. We did a few small jobs while we were out. I bought bread, milk and Quorn, and DH posted another eBay sale.

The dogs were really happy to see us when we got back, and DH spent some time with them playing fetch in the garden.

There are beginning to be more baby rabbits about. Some of them are just so very tiny and I love watching them all.

Dinner tonight will be sandwiches as I bought a nice crusty loaf.