Friday 14 February 2014

Frugal or Tight, Mean or Green?

Hiya!
Thursday
A LOVELY day here today.
 We were able to get quite a lot done outside. D. was working with Colin, cutting up a large stack of pallets so that they could be go undercover before the rain comes again tomorrow. As manageable lengths, they are now stacked in the workshop and the guys will be able to work on them, whatever the weather.
 I have started to clear the paddock garden. I have re-staked the last dozen brussel plants and re-covered them with netting to protect  them against pigeons and chickens. I dug up another bucket of jerusalem artichokes for the rabbits and chickens, those plants go on and on!
  I sowed some more sweet peas and the first broad bean seeds today. I've also had a go at doing some "micro greens" with some really old seed, I reckon I have nothing to lose. I confess that micro greens sounds tad poncy for us, as we tend to eat "hearty" meals that fuel us for the life we lead. However micro greens should go well in egg sandwiches don't you think?

Thanks everybody for their comments yesterday. Nice to see Tideswell Man here. If you don't know of it, Tideswell  is a beautiful village in deepest Derbyshire.
I'm glad people are enjoying the advice to women on how to "maintain" their husbands and keep them happy. If you have any similar advice do share !
                     
                                                     ----------------------------------
Friday
That was yesterday and today, guess what ? Rain and wind!
 I'm hunkered down inside after a few unavoidable outside jobs. The guys have the field kitchen lit in the workshop (they're never going to give it to me are they?!) I'm sat at the kichen table for a spot of mending and remaking.
 Here is a picture of the pile of tasks I have set myself for the afternoon. Starting from twelve o'clock is the hand towels I am making from old bath towels for  the kitchen and outside loo. I made  half a dozen earlier in the week and these should mean I have enough. Just out of sight at one o'clock is my favourite working shirt that needs its' collar turning. At four o'c.lock is a pair of jeans given to me by ED that need the waist taking in. At six o'clock is a pile of dirty plant labels and cable ties picked up from all over the garden and greenhouses over the winter. With the aid of my sharp, curved manicure scissors I can release the thingy that  secures the ties. When I have released a bunch I tie them together and put them in the dishwasher. Similarly I clean the plant labels with a piece of green (Scotchbrite?) and put them through the dishwasher too. At seven o'clock are the plastic collars that I have made for my brassica plants. When I cleared up the paddock garden yesterday I collected all the collars I could find and these too will need washing before putting away. Lastly, at ten o'clock is the new peg bag that I have cut out to replace the one that was torn from the line and trashed by the storm the other day.
I guess this is another of those "You took a picture of what!" photos. I see it as a statement of frugality and looking after the earth by recycling, but I suppose others might see it as Tight and Mean. Mind you, I'm pretty sure that if you are reading this blog, you will understand.

Have a good weekend all, Keep safe
Gillx



22 comments:

  1. Definitely understand. I straighten my baggies and reuse.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Quite right, we all need to think about what can be reused don't we?

      Delete
  2. I do have some advice on how to 'maintain husbands'. Plenty of meat, red wine, rumpy pumpy, and NO NAGGING. That's all we require; simple.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good question Victoria !
      I could probably manage three out of four !
      Gill

      Delete
  3. You sound to be having slightly better weather there than here. We couldn't think of getting on to our garden to do any jobs, it is far too wet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The paddock garden is well drained and I also used boards!. By the next day it was back to a bog
      Gill

      Delete
  4. Frugal tips always make me want to cheer. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same here. It's the little things that start to add up too
      Gill

      Delete
  5. Your picture makes perfect sense to me - it's the little things ! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just replied to Leigh with the same thought!
      I KNEW you would understand Dreamer
      Gill

      Delete
  6. Hi, I've just found your blog and say more power to your elbow! I aspire to being frugal but get lazy or time strapped but I love living frugally, even if it is vicariously sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One thing about blogging is that we CAN experience things vicariously. Me? I experience tidyness this way!
      Hope to hear from again
      Gill

      Delete
  7. We Don't have a dishwasher so I have to scrub the plant labels with a scourer- fiddly job. What I don't understand is where they disappear to each year. They get collected up with the pots for washing yet every year I seem to use some more from the giant packet that we've been using for years.
    We are still way too soggy to do anything on the land, but I must put some broad beans in pots tomorrow- ready for spring. Spring? whats that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Its that pesky little plant label fairy ... sneeking off with them!
      Bit like single socks that come out of the washing machine... whare does the other one go?
      x

      Delete
    2. I found a hoard of labels under a concrete slab last week. it felt like Christmas!
      You have problems with socks too?!
      I have started sowing into pots too as we couldn't possibly plant in them in then garden yet. Mind you it's always best to wait a while as stuff usually catches up.

      Delete
  8. I think my veg is going to be planted out very late this year, then it'll be a case of fingers crossed and see what comes up. At the moment it is just mud, mud and more mud!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Always best to wait a while or stuff just rots in the ground. Some things can be started in plugs now.
      We are finding it difficult to stand up outside even
      Gill

      Delete
  9. Oh for a bit of sunshine............

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes indeed. I'm a pretty positive person, but it is even getting me down. Mind you it would be even worse if my house had been underwater since Christmas. The poor souls !
      Gill

      Delete
  10. It all makes perfect sense to me, I spend at least one day a year cutting my old thick tights into ties for my climbers. I don't have a dishwasher but my salad spinner with some warm water and laundry gloop does a fair job. A quick go with a scourer takes of any stubborn marks. I cut milk containers up with old dressmaking shears for new labels.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Somebody mentioned milk cartons for labels to me some time ago...Good idea! I seem to have run out of tights at the mo. I used up my last rubbish ones for tying up pairs of folk for three-legged races (like you do!)
      Gill

      Delete