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Saturday 14 March 2015

Thankful. happier, sunny day.

I want to thank you all for your supportive comments, I will answer them later. I feel much better and have managed to get quite a bit of crafting done.

All the foundation paper is out of the string blocks and they will be pressed later when I tackle the ironing. We have had a pretty good day and I got loads washed and dried out doors, I stripped all the throws and cushion covers from the sofas and they are all clean, dry and smelling of fresh air. While I was in the mood I bathed Ben as well, he didn't complain, even when I dried him with the hair dryer.

I picked up some bargains in the local shop, a lovely piece of Welsh Rib of Beef reduced from £12 down to £4.99 and 2 packs of minced beef reduced down from £2.38 to 69p. The mince is now part of a batch of meat loaves, using some RTC sausages, veg hash from the rest of last weeks veg, breadcrumbs from the end of a wholemeal loaf and some herbs and seasoning. I got 3 loaves that will each make 3 servings so the cost is around 33p a meal plus whatever veg I have with them. I am happy with that, I could possibly get 4 meals from each one as they are in 1lb loaf tins and they are full.

The rib of beef has been boned and divided to give me 3 ribeye steaks and the rest will be in the slow cooker and then frozen, the bone will, go in with the casserole and then will go in Ben, not bad for just under £5.

I have made a knitting needle roll and that has gone off today and my lilac crochet scarf is nearly long enough.
I have a stack of fabric coming from The Fabric Guild, all at £3.30 per metre, some is for clothes and some for quilt backs and other projects. I bought the book from the Great British Sewing Bee and am itching to make something. I have bought the invisible zipper foot for the Janome to help me on the way.
In the past I have made stacks of clothes and used some difficult fabrics, trouble is if you don't use it you lose it. I need to do some practise sewing and am off to the Charity Shops on Monday to buy a few things to cut up.

I do still have my knitting, I need to crack on with that. I also have a Roman Blind to make, just need to get some cord. I will attend to that on Tuesday, I am being taken to The Red House which is in the Mumbles, Swansea, I am just a bit excited about that.
I am planning on buying an embroidery machine from a fellow blogger, so the excitement is building.

I haven't taken any photos so nothing to show, once I get my meat loaves out I will get one of those and also some of the string blocks when they have been turned into four patch blocks.
The smells coming from the kitchen are making my mouth water so I am off to do some deep breathing, and prep some veg.

                TTFN                                                    Pam

20 comments:

  1. Great day for you Pam, I have been in the garden most of the day.

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    1. It was not quite warm enough for me but I did get stacks of washing line dried

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  2. wow what a busy time you have had, and how exciting an embroidery machine welcome to the club :-)

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    1. It is an older model for me to learn on but has some really good reviews.

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  3. You will love the Red House I am certain! I bet you don't come out empty-handed either . . .

    I have a blind to trim to size and put an edge on - it's been waiting about a month now!

    I haven't made meat loaf for ages but a great way of using up stale bread, and your bargain mince.

    Looking forward to your next sewing projects. I am in the duldrums here a bit, but putting the final chain stitches to refurbishing an old cushion cover and FINALLY gotten around to starting the border on a crochet throw for middle daughter G.

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    1. There is always something in the "must get round to" pile. I have 2 blankets worth of woll tucked away but they will have to wait their turn. I have no intention of coming home empty handed : )

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  4. Hello Pam,

    so glad you're upbeat and busy.I think down days help us really enjoy when we are cheerful.We wouldn't be human if we didn't have light and shade in life.

    I love how you make the food budget stretch till it screams!

    What is The Red House?I visited the Mumbles years ago,lovely.Happy times.

    Ann

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    1. The Red House is a fabric and haberdashery shop, the website pictures are very good. I had a good teacher regarding food and money in my Granny. Waste was almost the first sin in her eyes, having lived through the war and fed her family and evacuees on what ever there was.

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  5. Hi Pam, I am glad you are feeling better, I know that blck dog only too well, the sun shining always makes me feel better. I was at The Fabric Guild last week, resrtained myself, just spent £17!!

    I have spent this week, emptying the bits and strips box, I have a boc full of neatly ironed strips and several piles of squares, now I need to decide what to make with the squares!! Started on the fat quarter boxes, have found fabric in there to be cut up as well. I need to try and condense my fabric, I doubt we will get a two bedroomed place when our number comes up. I will end up sewing in our bedroom again.

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    1. I am so glad that I do not live near enough to visit, it is bad enough checking the website out weekly. I have been through all the colour themed scrap boxes and they have been reduced to strips and 2 1/2" squares. The fat quarters are being kept for the Snapshots quilt. I hope to have 2 quilts worth of blocks at the end. It may well be so with the bedrooms, if you have 2 you may have to pay a bedroom tax.

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  6. I agree with the 'if you don't use it you lose it' comment. I used to spin a lot and had several years away from it, I recently tried again and was all thumbs !

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    1. I have only done a small amount of spinning when I was at primary school, I had a go at weaving but I am too impatient.

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  7. Glad you are feeling a bit better now , I haven't been able to get any reduced meat for ages now , some great buys there , Our daughter bought me The great British sewing be book last year , i wasn't impressed with the patterns though , I might have a look at the new one for a future present off our daughter xxx

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    1. I did not see the book from last year, I have the first one and have used it a few times. This one has me itching to get started.

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  8. Wow Pam you are busy . Hope the spring weather is warming up there. This morning was the first morning I felt a touch of coolness telling me autumn is here. Take care xxxxxx

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    1. I like to be busy, then when I do curl up with a book I feel that I have earned it.

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  9. Bought the Sewing Bee book and it arrived today. There are several things I would like to make. I fancy making some summer clothes now as the weather has started to cheer up, even though today was icy cold again. I made a Belcarra blouse today with some lovely Liberty lawn I got on eBay and a bit of linen for the sleeves. Also made a reversible dress for my newest great niece and a pretty frilly skirt for her big sister. All in all a productive 2 days. I will be interested to hear whether you think the invisible zip foot is worth having. I am trying not to buy any more than necessary - it is so easy to succumb though. :)

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    1. I have some fabric on the way for some dressmaking, I want a jacket and then some garments to wear with it. I am determined to make the walkaway dress, at long last.

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  10. you are a busy bee. Can't wait to see what you make!!

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    1. I love sewing almost as much as cooking and eating.

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