The Week that Was 10th September 2017

This week I've been busy going through the pantry, stockpile and freezers, updating inventories and making up my shopping list for the remainder of the year. The plan is to have all the shopping finished by 30th November, as usual, so I can relax over the summer.

Started more seeds: lettuce, capsicum, zucchini, cucumber and tomato.

Tom helped me prep another two veggie beds, ready for planting.

Used cardstock and paper I had to make new labels for the containers in the laundry.

Stayed home as much as possible, for a few reasons:
1. It was cold and wet - much nicer to stay by the fire.
2. To save on petrol.
3. No need to go to the shops, I shopped at home and all we needed was milk, which I asked Hannah to pick up for me.

Cooked all our meals from scratch, using ingredients in the pantry, fridge and freezer.

Caught the shower warm-up water and the sink warm-up water and tipped it into the washing machine.

Made a chocolate cake for Tom's birthday.

Homemade chocolate cake, filled with homemade raspberry jam and whipped cream for the birthday boy!

This week we've been told to expect blackouts here over the summer. This has had me thinking of my freezer stocks. I talked to Wayne about it and we have decided to eat the freezers down as much as we can, focus on other methods of preserving for the time being and save the money we're not spending in the slush fund to top up the freezers later.  We have more than enough to see us through to the end of January between meat and chicken packs, dump packs and prepared freezer meals.

I picked lavender this morning, some to strike for new plants, and some to hang to dry.

Lavender from my garden in an old jug from Wayne's Granny

Bought a beautiful gift from the op shop for $4 - it's gorgeous and just right for the intended person.

Ask and you shall receive! This has been my blessing for the last couple of months, although I haven't really asked for anything. This week I was again given a lot of craft materials from friends and friends of friends who have either heard about or seen the cards, dishcloths and tea towels I've been making. My craft stash has been boosted with fabric, cotton yarn, stranded cotton, cross-stitch graphs, paper punches and dies and beautiful papers. These are all things that have been on my wish list for ages, and I'm so very grateful to everyone who thought of me when they were doing their spring cleaning.