Let's Get Back to Basics

I have been terribly naughty when it comes to spending and conserving. I admire Rhonda and Eilleen and many others so much. They make thriftyness and frugalism a lifestyle rather than a hobby and although I aspire to be like them, I have, in recent times fallen off the wagon a bit.
So when I saw Belinda's get back to basics challenge I thought 'yep I'm in'. But then it never even made it to the blog. So here we go! Better late than never :)

Sowing Seed or Planting
Planted two rows of corn. Also planted a citrus tree. Need to investigate making up some sort of bug spray as the capsicums got attacked, there is no capsicums now.
Planning for The Future
Doing a spending diary to record where all the money is going. Meal planning has changed in that I'm trying to include more meals tha can be 'recycled' into meals the following night or making two meals in one night so dinner is sorted in one go rather than spread over two days.
Working for the Future
Continuing handmade gifts for christmas.
Building Community
Last week of Girl Guides next week! Meeting with the other leader soon to discuss ideas for next year, including teaching them life skills and including more service.
Learning a New Skill
I'm attempting to make more dishcloths, but this time with patterns in them to make pictures.

Things kids say!

Scene: Walking in the city. Bird does a poo, just missed us!
Me: Watch out Lily, there is poop (pointing).
Lily: Doesn't God have a toilet.

Scene: Walking home from school. Explaining to kids that the cat is going to get fixed up tomorrow, so we all have to be nice to the cat when he comes home.
Dylan: What sort of operation?
Me: He's going to have his testicals removed (trying to keep a straight face).
Dylan: Are you turnng him into a girl?

29 Forever!

It's my birthday today and boy did I do well! Like most grown up's, I see my birthday as really just another day and don't really pay it much mind. Sometimes I get good pressies and sometimes I might not get any at all (being 5 weeks from christmas doesn't help!). But this year I hit the jackpot!

I got a big frame that I've been wanting for a large portrait (mental note: next time I feel the urge to get portrait photo's of my kids, think about how much frames cost!), a portable iPod docking station (not what I need or wanted, but now I've got it I will definately use it! I love my podcast's), a Mandarin tree, a Blueberry bush and my sister has ordered me a copy of Little House on the Praire by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Every year I always by something for myself, so this year I ordered some books and more importantly I bought some chairs for my dining room. This may sound mundane, but I detested my dining chairs. Two had structual issues, all were stained and manky, but they were free and did the trick. However I saved up the money and decided I was going to by myself some new dining chairs and not only that I was going to be environmentally consious and go second hand and also be mindful of budget and not spend more than $50 per chair. Oh and they had to be all wood (removeable covers ok, but no permanent fabric), they had to be solid and I needed at least 6 chairs.

Well I finally got them and at $43 a chair I'm a happy camper.

On the eleventh hour..

It's Rememberence Day. I was in the city with my son when the minutes silence commenced and it saddened me that several people were still chatting/walking about during this minute. One whole minute. 60 small seconds. Was whatever they were talking about/destination they were aiming for, so important that they could not take out one minute to quietly reflect and be thankful?

Musings

Down by the Farm:Perhaps I'm a little dense, but it only occured to me last week when I harvested half my vegie patch, that I didn't have much growing anymore, and I need to be planting something new each week. Hmmm derr. So my new goal is to plant at least two different varieties each week. Last wekend I planted watermelon, pumkin, cucumber, basil, tomatoes, capsicum, rosella and loofah.

This week I got my digger seeds and I'm planning on another row of carrots and some capsicum. I also need to work on the second vegie patch. It got neglected in the post baby recovery and I need to get it functioning.

Makings: My iron fell off the ironing board (my fault) and cracked across the top. So I need to buy another iron before I do any major sewing. However I did finish my Incredible costume for myself and my husband for a halloween party. We looked awsome!

I need to finish off xmas cards, hats and start my Felix dresses for my girls

My spuds! And a lettuce too. My potatoes got hit by frost and after that they just weren't the same. So I harvested them and I needed a lettuce that day to. I seem to be having a lot of problems with snails and slugs. Time to crack open the snail pellets I think!

This is kind of neat. Download http://www.teachers-pet.org/ software, open up Microsoft words, and make worksheets, cross words, flash cards and more for your kids.

I'm back

Cadel Andrew. 14 days old

Well after a long break I am back!

Much has happened. My beautiful baby boy, Cadel is now here and is now 3 months. It hasn't been 100% smooth sailing with Cadel. He spends much of the day crying, but I'm blessed in that he sleeps well at night.
My garden is plodding along well, still only one patch in progress, but the other patch is in the pipeline.
I've seemed to have my sewing mojo back! I have been on a sewing frenzy, inspired by many of the ladies at http://www.craftymamas.net .
My sustainable living lifestyle is not where i want to be, but we are trying.

So I'm hoping to get back into blogging and reading blogs too!