Wish it could have hung about ~ if the Federal election can hang on a Sunday morning then... Still, mowing has to be done while the sun does shine ~ regardless of the ambient temperature. Ice gone, engine running. Husband and MudGuts will share the main mow but when it is the second run I am hoping to have a bit of a turn.
Might I add, gorgeous morning! So sunny, bright, crisp but not chilly like it has been. I slept a little badly, seemed to wake up every 90mins to cough or move although I did fall back to sleep at 7am after I'd got up and watched the house doze. Got woken just after 9am by Rossi who was gently badgering at my ear and neck. I don't think she was trying to say 'and while you sleep I shall lay here and claw your ear, prick at your neck and bite that ear' but wet, slobbery, biting is not the most welcome wake up that Johnny Depp is not ravishing you... *sighs* Could have gone back to that dreams thank you!
Chookies did need a bit clean out too - few more than normal since we 'inherited' the Jonah's four Isa Browns. Gee they are funny, so friendly too. But it is really not in my plans to get in there an muck out - I'll take out compost/food scraps, move the attention down to my end of the yard and encourage Skip and the girls to leave the menfolk alone while cleaning, sprucing and refilling their home.
Silly Skippy the mad randy rooster thinks everyone is there to conquer. I am sure if diagnosed it would be something like 'floppy-legged' cock syndrome. He's grown this out of proportion twisted spur to compensate for his inability to walk or strut, or a result of FLCS. He seriously can only hop or skip or occasionally miss the ground on one side entirely needing to throw out his wings to save from falling on his side *chuckles at the vision* Oh now wait - don't feel pity for him too quickly, that bird can still pick up speed and distance before you know it and he is not a small, docile little beast - and there is that OPP twisted spur...
Might I add, gorgeous morning! So sunny, bright, crisp but not chilly like it has been. I slept a little badly, seemed to wake up every 90mins to cough or move although I did fall back to sleep at 7am after I'd got up and watched the house doze. Got woken just after 9am by Rossi who was gently badgering at my ear and neck. I don't think she was trying to say 'and while you sleep I shall lay here and claw your ear, prick at your neck and bite that ear' but wet, slobbery, biting is not the most welcome wake up that Johnny Depp is not ravishing you... *sighs* Could have gone back to that dreams thank you!
Chookies did need a bit clean out too - few more than normal since we 'inherited' the Jonah's four Isa Browns. Gee they are funny, so friendly too. But it is really not in my plans to get in there an muck out - I'll take out compost/food scraps, move the attention down to my end of the yard and encourage Skip and the girls to leave the menfolk alone while cleaning, sprucing and refilling their home.
Silly Skippy the mad randy rooster thinks everyone is there to conquer. I am sure if diagnosed it would be something like 'floppy-legged' cock syndrome. He's grown this out of proportion twisted spur to compensate for his inability to walk or strut, or a result of FLCS. He seriously can only hop or skip or occasionally miss the ground on one side entirely needing to throw out his wings to save from falling on his side *chuckles at the vision* Oh now wait - don't feel pity for him too quickly, that bird can still pick up speed and distance before you know it and he is not a small, docile little beast - and there is that OPP twisted spur...
Bashing the budget ~ the bane of one's existence...
Well, it is when you know what you will be budgeting with, know what is coming in within 4-6 weeks, and what you do not have right now. Oh for a piggy-bank full of gold coins to smash, open and count. That might be something fun to save for a short trip or camping over the Christmas/New Year holidays. Lordy Jimney ~ cannot believe I am thinking about Christmas holidays at this time of year. September starts the silly season of birthdays, weddings and catch ups. All the way through until December. But September is the doosie with 7 immediate family members birthdays in 5 weeks - Mudguts and the Husband included.
Back on the budget, organisation and planning to avoid any unnecessary spending, and that includes the using of the petrol required to get to the shop when you think bit picture, I need to undertake the following weekly and maintain it:
Sidebar: The Variety Bash started here in Ballarat last week, I mentioned it previously. Here are some of the brilliant bash vehicles:
- Pantry stock-take
- Fridge and freezer stock-take
- Menu plan
- Grocery budget - basics, bulk, budget n bargains!
Menu Plan ~ 23 Aug - 27 Aug
- Monday: Spaghetti Carbonara
- Tuesday:
- Wednesday: Roast Lamb & veg
- Thursday: Leftover Lamb curry & veg
- Friday: Out for dinner ($25pp)
- Saturday: Dinner together
- Sunday: Out for dinner
To make/bake: Biscuits, muesli slice (all leftovers)
Items at hand
Cereal, bread, milk, variety L/O muesli
Shopping list
(ideally nothing, but:) Water, Milk,
Start looking: Bulk rice specials, Juice
Grocery Budget : Month September $450
- Week: 1/9 - 7/9 - $100
- Week: 8/9 - 14/9 - $100
- Week: 15/9 - 21/9 - $100
- Week: 22/9 - 28/9 - $ 25
- Week: 29/9 - 5/10 - $100
Bulk/Stockpile/Bargain
Assessing for Week 4 - potential $25
Need to be looking for bulk rice, sugars, spicy tomato salsa, soil
I like to aim to be under the target, knowing if I need to I've got an extra $20 on hand to bank or use later on a bulk side of beef(say). Or stays on the card, not having to be budgeted in the end of month swipe. If we stay under by $20 each week, not likely but not impossible, that is $360 toward Christmas, or over $1000 saved on already low shopping bills. While I'd love to say put it on the mortgage, it already gets a little extra and I'd much rather use less/pay more on the credit card and get it to zero again. When the concert tickets are paid for, that's $430 straight off the balance. By paying in what we use and a little more, it brings that stupid expense and 'loan' down. *grumbles* Feel a bit used, but in the live and learn pile...
There is debt, without the mortgage it is a reasonable $11,000 ~ not too huge in the scheme of things. Mortgage is under $165k, just a little teeny bit under, however under is! If all things go to budget (please) there will always be $200 over at the end of the month. This is outside of the extra mortgage payments, the little savings account, pocket money for us each week.
Oh poop - eaten all the giant chocolate freckles my HOFO buddy gave me. I did share a few. Thank goodness there is rocky road icecream in the freezer.
A lovely fruity dessert
Cheesecake No Fuss, All the Glory...
1 cup apricot puree - mango and passion-fruit works well too (puree tinned fruit)
1 tin of condensed milk
1 dessertspoon of lemon juice (squeezed lemon)
1 teaspoon of brandy
Packet Crushed/smashed biscuits (plain arnotts, choc ripple, sanitarium, ginger nuts, anzacs and/or rice cookies, teddy bears and marie always work - any or all )
30-50g Melted butter
Grated chocolate or crushed violet crumble
Mix crushed biccies with melted butter. In a foil lined pie/flan dish press biscuit mix into the base for your crust.
Mix the fruit puree, condensed milk, lemon juice and brandy together. Pour into the biscuit lined pie dish. Sprinkle with chocolate and refrigerate till set.
Biscuits on the side
Might need make the ginger biscuits too
4 oz butter
4 oz sugar
1 egg
1 large cup SR Flour
1 cup preserved ginger cut into small pieces and/or powdered ginger
1-2 cups of crushed(ish) cornflakes
Cream butter and sugar and add egg and then ginger.
Drop teaspoons of mixture into a bowl of cornflakes and roll in to balls.
Bake at 180 degrees on a greased baking tray till golden ~ about 10-12 mins
This is one you can whip up the night before, or in the morning if that's your thing, ready for dessert in the evening. It's yummy with a Baileys over ice, or a botryise type dessert wine. Oh I love that sweet thick golden liquid. I can imagine how the birds and animals you read about which get stonkered on some rotting fruit crop and are a danger to themselves and community. I do on two glasses, imagine being a little bird gorging on alcohol apricots! Lucky bird...
I tells ya ~ *big thinking kinda sigh* its all been a bit of a slip into the same old patterns this past week. No, not sitting about drinking - only those virtual Baileys on ice to keep the ~meanderings spilling forth. Some of those easy to change, easier to fall back to habits. Like the old later than usual to bed on a school night, breakfast late morning, lunch/snack mid afternoon, dinner all good. Yes, I am eating - good things as well as a few treats. Moderation. Some might still say small portions, but I dont think it is. Yes, Richard's home, we've all been crook, almost time to go away and a zillion things to do all while slowing it down...
The trouble lies working on the balance - finding an even field of getting things done without it being too much and berating myself for it being too little. Still writing, blogging and putting up the poems. It's been helpful for both of us to know where the other is heading without wading through fear, embarrassment, pointlessness and talking oneself out of things before they start. Even when you'd think things were slow, its chaotic and not all about trying to get things back to an order or routine. There is no routine. I've just realised I needed to send an email two weeks ago... drat. Will still ask...
Hoping to do another open mic in September - away from Friday until the following week. Please put on the sun and warmth oh Kirra & Coffs gods. Mandy wants to be warm. Lots of plans, lists, incentives, simplifying of events. If you want to know the daily(ish) prattles and goals - keep me on track, praise me, feed me chocolates and spinach, happy to have you visit and read the ~meanderings. Follow at your own risk...
Look I've sat here a good while and nothing is coming.
Not a cracker.
I got started on a line and even it didn't finish.
Now I've forgotten it - so obviously not the night for poetry of any type.
Sleep well.
Not a cracker.
I got started on a line and even it didn't finish.
Now I've forgotten it - so obviously not the night for poetry of any type.
Sleep well.
We'll make it an early night...
I shall leave you with some sensible words from The Happiness Institute
~ 7 Simple Thoughts on Happiness ~
Happiness is...
- knowing what's REALLY important
- taking care of yourself
- taking care of others
- being kind and considerate
- looking for the good in yourself and in others
- having fun and not taking things too seriously
- maintaining perspective in good and bad times
-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-♥
lΦϑє, ℐﻪ℧ჭɦʈeʁ & ʆίφђϮ
xx
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