We are preparing for a no buy year. This is the first time we will have to think about EVERY THING we need including groceries. We started by developing a budget and worked on reducing things like utilities and insurance. We are taking the savings here and putting it away to handle the increased deductibles. 

The tough part is finding the ability to repair items rather than tossing them. I just spent nearly $10 on a spool of white thread for repairs. I know that used to be under $5. What has happened to the price of things?

 Breakfast: 2 HB eggs, pesto toast, coffee with 2% milk

Putting the Garden to Bed

 

 Two days left before winter rains arrive. This is the promise we've been waiting almost six weeks for. The garden must be dug. The leaves must be raked and the acorns gathered. This will be a busy two days.

 Winter Menu     

Roasted fowl with garden herbs

Winter fruit and vegetable slaw

Baked root vegetable

Green vegetable

Baked apple bars

Cider

Roasted chestnuts or mixed nuts

Often menus are left open ended, such as the one above. Green vegetable can mean anything that you prefer, is available, or you can afford. Adapt this menu for yourself, your kitchen and your purse.

 Wednesday and the weather has turned. It is cold in the mornings and slow to warm up. There are only a few hours a day to be outside before I am stiff with cold. It is time to turn inward and nest.

The storm windows are painted. The leaves have fallen and they need raked away from the house. There has been no rain this fall. The fire danger is very high. Leaves need to be cleared from the orchard. The leaves provide cover for mice and voles that damage the young trees in the winter. All wildlife is hungry this fall. It has be near seventy degrees this November; that's not right.

Paint the storm windows. Clean and store screens.

Wow, nearly two years.

Two very difficult years and many changes. Let's look forward to 2021 with optimism and hope for the future. Let's hope that family and friends are well and healthy. Finally, let's celebrate the smallest of victories each day.

I hope to be writing here more often. I like the "old school" nature of the written word and still photography. It gives me an opportunity to think and reflect.

Photo: Chicken of the Woods Mushroom

New Year New Project

Today I began the restoration of my 1921 Singer sewing machine by taking the first layer of dirt off the iron stand.

When not sewing or knitting...

These are a terrible photos. I haven't mastered a smart phone photo by any means, but this project is finally finished. It started out as a 1980's stereo/TV/drinks cabinet that we purchased at the local second hand furniture store. When we got it home, it stank so badly of cigarette smoke that I washed it with de-greaser, then TSP, then mineral spirits and then I parked it in the sun for the entire summer. This fall it came inside to be sanded.

It was painted mouse grey and I left the light blond "wood" finish on the inside.

Just as I was about to move it to the living room as our new TV stand and DVD storage unit, the octopus moved in.  (I do not accept responsibility for this, I was left totally unsupervised.)