It's been a glorious day here, not hot but sunny and bright. I washed all the laundry last night and hung it out first thing this morning and had it all dry and back in the house by midday. We also walked to the local shops and did our week's shopping; we didn't need very much. We went to the greengrocers, the butchers, the DIY shop and the charity shop and bought a couple of books.
It does mean I store up all the laundry and keep an eye on the weather forecast and wash the night before a sunny day and get it all hung out to dry.
Dearly Beloved and I spent the day titivating and painting in the garden. We don't have anywhere to store the garden furniture in the winter so it's a bit worse for wear. We had to splash out on some protective garden furniture paint. Yikes, it's expensive but much cheaper than new furniture. We usually go for neutral colours but decided on something bright and I love this blue.
I was at the other end of the garden and sanded the gate, used a primer, waited for that to dry and then painted the gate blue.....there's a theme going here! It's a bit bright but I think it's really cheerful. I'll sand it again tomorrow and get another coat of paint on it. I often think to myself, 'I can afford to pay someone to do this!' then remember that every time I save some money that I can over pay my mortgage. In well under five years, we will own every brick of this house and that'll make the DIY and thrifty living worth while.
I've reflected on my thrifty week, especially after a spendy half term break. I've used up everything fresh, even if I didn't intend to eat it......it got eaten. We've eaten out of the freezer. I've menu planned for the week ahead. I've top up shopped as I don't need much after a big shop in half term. We've done up what we have. As usual, we've taken lunches to work and cooked all our meals at home....no eating out until the summer holiday! I've checked the weather and dried everything outside this week....which always smells so much nicer than using the clothes rack indoors.
Over to you, how's your week been and has anyone got some outside domestics done this lovely weekend?
Until tomorrow,
Love Froogs xxx
That's a real Seaside Blue! and it looks really good. We have been rushing round outside like idiots trying to get everything tidy ready for the estate Agents photographer on Tuesday, It's hard work clearing up 5 acres!! ( actually it wasn't Quite That bad)
ReplyDeleteThe blue is a terrific color. I am on the hunt for outdoor a couple approriate cast off or low low cost chairs and side table that I can sand and paint to make a little reading nook in a corner of my yard. A bright blue is going to be the color once I find them. We are on summer break for kids now, so I will have to do some planning if my daughter isn't going to eat convenience foods like frozen pizza and burritos. I think I will intentionally make leftovers to pop in the freezer in single servings that she can rotate-still heat up in the microwave on days she is on her own for lunch. I'll also keep lots of fruit and sandwich stuff on hand for when she is out and about on her summer activities. I am bound and determined to not increase the food budget anymore this summer-which means only adding the $50 or so I put in her lunch account each month for days she eats school lunch to the grocery budget.
ReplyDeleteIt's overcast and dismal here, threatening to tip it down at any given moment! For a change I did the grass, it's not often I can get my husband to let me use the ride on mower, perhaps because I'm a speed demon and hurl it around the garden and paddocks like a maniac, it's great!
ReplyDeleteI got three loads of washing dry outside on Thursday (the joys of retirement) as the weather was glorious here then!
I'm planning to do some batch cooking/baking tomorrow, the freezer 'ready meals' compartment is looking sadly depleted.
I love that blue, I once painted some terracotta pots that colour x
ReplyDeleteHi Froogs I forgot to ask, would it be at all possible to do one of your video tutorials on making a simple bag for begginers?
DeleteLovely blue furniture. We re-painted out bench in a similar colour last year. Very windy but warm up here in the North, plenty of laundry blowing on the line! Hubs and I did some pottering in our local town, a few bargains had. As we are now eating mainly new potatoes, I picked up a large 2.5kg of Desiree potatoes for a ridiculously low price in M&S (use by today) which I intend to roast and freeze for later use. Also bought a cheap pedometer and have been walking - particularly pleased as I'd estimated we were doing about 2 miles a night and it's actually 3.2 miles! Plus 4lbs down in a fortnight (we have a weigh in on Boots scales as you get a print out).
ReplyDeleteWe got most of the washing from a few days away dried on the line as well as bed washing. Just the ironing to do but DB does that:)
ReplyDeleteToday was all go
ReplyDeleteDid some bakeing as a friend who is gluten free was comming so made cakes and scones. Also bought some budget colslaw and fleshed it out with a gt=rated carrot, made soem potatoe salad using the green ends of the spring onioons so they would not be wasted. oh and a quiches as well.lots of tea flowed and needles clacked as we had a crocjhet/knitting session as well. The kitchen is as good as done love the colours and the layout of things now,as we have given away and re purposed a lot of furniture.Not normaly a fan of flat packed furniture but found a large tescos desk in a 2nd hand place and it is ideal for sewing. As we speek there is a pair of curtains in progress and on my hooch some crochet squares fro a rug I am makeing save me buying one beacause we had to replace the oven and hob last week! Garden is getting there and 2 loads of laundry done and put away. Today was beautiful a day of acomplishment and fun.
If the weather looks a bit uncertain I hang laundry on a clothes horse and put that outside so it can easily be rescued but still have that fresh air smell.
ReplyDeleteWe finally got round to buying a new lawnmower. Our last one kept breaking down and was belching out fumes. So we kept our eye on the sales and got a good bargain on an electric Flymo. Today, we used it for the second time and my husband, not being used to a lawnmower having a cable, tripped over the cable and landed heavily on the mower, cracking the lid and cutting his arm!!! Well, being thrifty, after patching him up, I set to work with the Superglue and masking tape and have (hopefully) repaired the mower.
ReplyDeleteI've had a baking/cooking day stocking up the freezer and also got lots of laundry dry as it's very windy up here.
You sure are a busy lady! Love that shade of blue!
ReplyDeleteI love bright colours. I have been strimming our overgrown gardens today. Not outside jobs but I have also applied for a job and walked to the post box to post the application. Fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the job application :-)
DeleteI like the blue and especially the fence to match! We had a couple old rockers from the 1940's (belonged to in-laws originally) --last year we splurged and had them re-caned at a sheltered workshop. The original paint had lead in it, so my husband had to sand them down and re-paint them before taking them in. They won't work on lead paint at all. He wore a respirator while sanding. They look lovely now and are good for another 60 years or so--although we aren't!! This week was a frugal fail for us--he had a big dental bill, I replaced the sealing ring on my pressure canner, but we did eat at home all week. I also tried some unbranded computer ink and it's REALLY a savings compared to the correct brand. My daughter has used it for a while, and she says no problems, so I hope she's right. We had three inches of rain in about one hour last night, so I won't be watering the garden the rest of this week! I estimated two inches, but when I looked in the rain gauge, it was three. I was coming down in wind-driven sheets!
ReplyDeleteThat blue is just lovely! I had no outdoor work since I rent a place without a garden. However, I went into the office and got 4 hours of overtime. I returned to work on Wednesday after a week's holiday, and had a lot of things to catch up on. I got a lot of overtime yesterday and Thursday, as well. I sold an expensive piece of hobby equipment. That $550 cash was deposited into the bank immediately and paid onto my credit card. I also canceled a trip in November that would have cost me $1000. That money will now go onto my credit card.
ReplyDeleteLove the blue colour. I too did two loads of washing and hardly any needed ironing thanks to the wind.picked a bowl of strawberrys from my patch and started some shrub cuttings ready to create a new bed.planted out pumpkins, courgettes runner beans and French beans.lots of food from the cost of a packet of seeds and free seeds saved from last years beans. Picked some elderflower to make cordial and got 3 eggs from our chickens. Will bake tomorrow ready for school/ working week......
ReplyDeleteLove love that bright blue. Next thing you'll have everybody painting their gates! I'm with you, nothing quite like washing dries outside. I feel so sorry for people who can't do that. We're moving into winter here so do dry things inside (we have a line in our garage) but outside if possible.
ReplyDeleteSimply LOVE the blue! Today was a stay at home day, leaving the car in the garage. I was in the city yesterday after work, so ran errands then. Today found me doing the usual daily housework as well as multiple loads of laundry, line drying as well. I washed one of the shower curtain liners, and cleaned all 3 bathroonms. Did some hand mending, stripped beds, swept floors-I was busy. I also need to repaint 3 wooden Adirondack chairs. I paid to have it done previously, but hope to DIY this time roudn
ReplyDeleteLove that Blue gate Froogs, as for outside bits? well this week I remembered I had an allotment to attend, although it is certainly not an allotment in the usual sense. Oh and also been walking the terrible twosome, as per usual.
ReplyDeleteI love the blue! The gate looks.ike it is welcoming you into a bright and happy space. We have lived a very frugal lifestyle for many years and paid out our mortgage a few years ago. When we recently renovated our home, we still found ourselves doing as much of the work as we could. Last night I picked lettuce, tomato, passionfruit, pak choy, coriander, parsley and dug up three red sweet potato, kumera, and two carrots. My husband cooked up some steak and we had a delicious salad. Love our life.
ReplyDeletelove the blue! Prince Charles had brightly painted furniture in Highgrove so you are in good company. You inspire so many of us as usual xxxx
ReplyDeleteLove the blue color! I've been painting everything pale pink at my house lately, because I like it, and because I got a gallon of pale pink paint off the mis-mixed rack at the local store! I've been too crazy busy to hang laundry for the last year or so, but I should be, eh? Especially on these beautiful spring days we're having here. I need to invest in some new clothespins. Mine are weather worn and a bit rusty. Thank you for the lovely inspiration. Have a super day!
ReplyDeleteNice blue gate and chairs to match! Brightens everything up.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely seaside blue to brighten up the garden, a few pots with any leftover paint would be a wonderful finishing touch.
ReplyDeleteI've managed to get all the washing dried outdoors for the past couple of weeks, like you I save it up until there's a good day and then just get going really early. Windows are flung open first thing each morning to air the house, who needs artificial air fresheners when you can have the wonderful smell of fresh spring air throughout the house at every opportunity.