Thank god we paid the mortgage off

ladybird1106

You summed it up perfectly watty1.

Today was an ok day. Collected olio requests a lettuce, gluten free hot dog rolls that I’ve turned into mini garlic breads. I had one for tea to road test my experiment 😋. Froze the other 3. Gluten free garlic bread is usually £2 per stick, so my homemade version is mse. Also got 2 bunches of daffys and 2 bunches of chrysanthemums. Gave them to mum when she dropped off the youngest as bestie bought me daffys yesterday.
Did have to go to sm again as I managed to remember that I needed to buy ear drops for the youngest. Only took me 2 months to get them. Unfortunately that meant I bought additional items, another £23ish on top.
Spent 2 hours up at the plot as the weather was good. Harvested psb and swedes. Took down the summer brassicas netting as it’s all finished now, soaked and then temporarily planted my new raspberries. It was good to get up there.

3 V parcels arrived 2 maps (Yorkshire dales- south and west, Yr wyddfa: £16.50) for Mr🐞 and a shirt for the eldest £13.49 (they have paid for this). One more map (forest of bowland) ordered as it’s a place we plan on visiting next year.
Time for the shakti mat

Love 🐞

ladybird1106

Last couple of days has been busy. Lovely day yesterday as the youngest was asked by the charity they volunteer for to cut the ribbon at their new store. So was a very early start as it was well over an hours drive, but they managed to get up. Managed to park in a free car park, only money spent was 20p for a pee. Youngest went to work in the afternoon too, so is shattered today.
Picked up olio requests of bread today before we drove to a nature reserve for a walk. Mr🐞 and I have decided to try to visit 12 different reserves or do walks that we’ve not done before. We’ve got into the habit of going to the same places. To be honest although it was a lovely walk, I kept thinking I could have been at the plot as the weather was so nice. That is tomorrow’s plan though. We ummed and arhed about whether to visit the pub for lunch, but decided our long term plan was more important so saved the money instead.
My new work boots from V have been used, and my walking boots have been cleaned and waxed. No real damage from being worn to the allotment thank goodness.
Best go and feed miss giddychops.

Love 🐞

debtfreewannabe321

Just catching up ladybird 🐞 and I agree with all the sentiments about CS clothes and furniture. The only thing I always buy new is sheets, towels, underwear and rugs (last one only because they're usually cheaper than CS or antique shops). My very first flat was furnished by my uncle who used to do house clearances. Some old guy had passed and the furniture was all going to the tip. I had it all for no charge and my uncle very kindly moved it all into my flat. Ever since then I've always bought second hand where I can (sometimes it is cheaper to buy new though so I will do that). And clothes, I'm a bit eclectic some days I am jeans and jumpers and other days I have all sorts of random boho type clothes mostly from CS and eBay / vinted etc. I tell people where I get them from as they will ask and some look horrified 😆 I love it when I find a fellow bargain Hunter though we get to share which CS sells the best stuff lol.

On the talk of sad lamps, I have one too as I noticed my depression was always worst this time of year, but I've not used it this year as it's still packed somewhere from decorating 🙈 however I've upped my vitamin D and regularly exercising enough that I think it's made a difference to my mood. I still have down days but not like I usually get this time of year.

Hope you get a good day in the allotment tomorrow 😊🐞☀️.

ladybird1106

Thanks, dfwb321. I’ve found that my SAD lamp has worked kind of. Very little depression but I’m struggling most days with tiredness and having to have a nap most days.
Visited the plot and Mr🐞 sorted out another 3 water barrels whilst I removed the rest of the summer brassicas and netting. Harvested brussel sprouts, kale and savoy cabbage for the youngest tea. Had a short nap in the sun.
Picked up olio requests bread, precooked chicken and beef slices and assortment of veggies.
Tea was stew in Yorkshire puddings. Stew had homegrown potatoes and swede, olio parsnips, onions and sweet potatoes, shop bought lentils and carrots.
Used nature’s tumble dryer.
Didn’t get round to checking how much more I can pay into my SIPP, must do this tomorrow.
Tired so time for 😴

Love 🐞

ladybird1106

Collected olio requests, 2 beautiful bouquets of tulips and 2 bunches of bananas. Flowers are not something I buy or encourage Mr🐞to buy me as I prefer to see them growing, however they were free.
Found some nixwax re proofing liquid in the cupboard. I think it’s was originally from dads, so washed the 2 coats I bought of V. One of them is for mum for Mother’s Day. Saved me a trip and money.

Quick trip into town to pick up my library book I had ordered, I did visit a chazzer and bought a top and dress for £4.00. Called to pick up V parcels of 2 skirts and a dress. Still waiting for a refund on one item. Seller sent the wrong item, will give them till the end of the week before I raise it with V. No longer need anymore clothes as I’m kitted out for summer, I think there is just 2 jumpers for me and 1 for the youngest to come.
Sm shop £92odd, lots of healthy goodies bought. On day 2 of healthy eating. My guesstimate of £35 last week for petrol was spot on. So preprogrammed petrol again for £35 although I don’t think I will be doing as many miles.
Caught up with family this afternoon before I had to pick up the youngest. Tea was pizza for them , Mr 🐞 and I had veggie paella. Olio french beans, tender stem broccoli, sugar snap peas, onions, homegrown sweetcorn, shop bought garlic, carrots and peppers . Olio is certainly keeping my food budget down. This is the 3rd week I think of it being under £100.

Right time for 😴

Love 🐞

ladybird1106

Mr 🐞 has changed his mind yet again on whether we should sell up when the youngest moves out ( hopefully next 2 years). At the minute it’s team SELL. This would give us a pot of money that would bring reducing hours either forward or a lump sum into a SIPP. He’s flip flopping on what would be best to do. I’m just going with the flow at the moment. I’m pleased he’s started to think about this as over the years he’s buried his head in the sand. We are going to sit down later to discuss it further and see what practical steps we can make to aim for our (flexible) goal whilst maintaining some semblance of normality. Another week and I will start back decluttering and selling stuff to swell the coffers.
Right need to nip to the corner shop for pineapple for tea.

Love 🐞

Watty1

I love that you are thinking of what steps you can take. I've no idea if I will sell up and move or develop the house or ….. but I do think along the lines of what I would do with "stuff" and does it fit into what those lives might be like. That helped me with some decluttering last year (more to do this year).

ladybird1106

Thanks watty1 I’m trying to stay flexible on the future but have some form of plan in place.
Sown future meals today as the sun was shining. The windowsills are full🤣.,I think the sun went to my head. So aubergines, brussel sprouts, 2 types of leeks,4 types of tomatoes, celery, celeriac, basil and sage. All the heated propagators are full and on. Quite a few seed packets were opened last year so I’m not sure about germination rates. I’m hoping I don’t end up with 24 brussel sprout plants. I have sown extra of somethings as my allotment neighbours is away for another couple of weeks. I’ll give them some as payment for future watering duties.
Spent the afternoon decluttering our room again. Several items that I wasn’t sure about getting rid of are now in either the chazzer bag or car boot box. Listed 7 items on V.
Collected olio requests 8 lots of gluten free bread (2 loaves in the freezer for my friend as it yucky tiger bread🤮)2 packets of garlic and herb butter, 3 French sticks ( 2 I didn’t actually ask for but had been snuck in my bag) 2 bags of lemons and a seeded loaf.

Right time to get the pizzas out

Love 🐞

ladybird1106

1 V item sold (£4) and sent off this morning. Will list more later, once I’m back from the plot. Fruit trees have all had their annual hair cut. Just need to wrestle the wild blackberry into submission but the key for the shed is in another coat🤦‍♀️ and guess where my gauntlets are …… Checked the forced rhubarb but not quite ready yet. Will harvest a cabbage and some kale in a minute. Mmmmmm glorious sunshine ☀️. I’m thinking about buying a hammock to put in the orchard as the trees are now at a size that won’t bend with my weight🤣. A good place for a snooze 😴. Might encourage the kids to get me one for my birthday. I have looked on V but the only ones I’ve seen are for teddies.
Mr 🐞 cut my hair yesterday, the beauty of long wavy hair is you can’t tell it’s not a straight cut. Saves me a fortune though.
The washing is out using natures tumble dryer. Wish I’d got another load on as the weather doesn’t look good for the rest of the week 🤨.
Time to sit and enjoy the sun on my face.

Love 🐞

Cherryfudge

That all sounds lovely! And I'm similar with haircuts. 😁