It looks like the weather has turned here in Melbourne. We've had a few days of 25 degrees Celsius ( 77 Fahrenheit ) with the nights and early mornings still being a little cool. I've enjoyed being out in the garden even if it was to pull out hundreds of weeds each day in the veggie garden or to just water the plants. With the sun shining for longer periods and the warmth, the weeds have decided to pop up and say hello.
A few weeks ago I mentioned that I'd had a photo shoot with a major Australian magazine. This week my family's story featured in a 2 page spread in Woman's Day. If you are interested in purchasing this magazine, it will be available in supermarkets and newsagents until this Sunday. I have posted a photo on my Facebook pages too. As far as I'm aware, Woman's Day will be doing a Facebook promo with a link in a few weeks time.
Here's how I saved money this week -
* I cleaned the inside of our kettle with citric acid. I do this at the start of every month and it always amazes me how clean it comes up.
* I baked 3 loaves of wholemeal bread with extra goodness. I store it in the freezer and use recycled bread bags to store it in. These bags get used over and over again.
* I made a double batch of muesli bars for our work lunches.
* I dried all the washing on the line outside on the warm days. On the cooler days the washing went on clothes horses over the ducted heating vents.
* I sold 2 unwanted items on Marketplace.
* I found 6 volunteer sugar snap pea seedlings growing in our veggie garden. I dug them up and planted them with the other sugar snap pea seedlings. They must have self seeded from last season. At least I hope they are snap peas. Darren said they could be sweet peas. I'll give you an update in a few weeks.
* We charged the solar lanterns on the sunny days and bought them inside at night to light up our loungeroom.
* We saved the shower warm up water and poured it on some plants outside.
* For my birthday on Tuesday, I chose to have dinner at home. We had salmon over mashed potato with a side salad and lemon. For dessert we had a quarter of a cheesecake from The Cheesecake Shop for dessert. This dinner was much nicer, cheaper and quieter than going to a restaurant.
* I picked a few lemons off our tree.
* We gratefully received some vegetables which I turned into a pot of soup. From that pot I got 10 generous serves. Most will be for my work lunches but we did have some for dinner one night with homemade herb and garlic bread.
* I cleaned the dishwasher with bi carb and vinegar. I wiped around the door seals with kitchen detergent and water.
* I made up a bottle of surface spray with cooled water from the kettle and a dash of dishwashing liquid.
* I dehydrated quite a few lemons ( for Summer drinks ) and mandarins ( for snacking ).
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| Gifted lemons |
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| Filling the dehydrator with lemons and mandarins |
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| In the garden. |
I got super excited to be able to dry my washing outside on my clothes line this week.
ReplyDeleteMy bathroom renovation is almost finished and I can’t wait to use it.
Cleaned the new vanity with your dish soap and water spray. Made yo-yo biscuits (cookies) for my new work colleagues and also for one of my elderly patients.
Loved the article in the magazine on you Wendy.
Having a new bathroom is quite thrilling. Enjoy.
DeleteHello Wendy, Hope this is ok to post. You mentioned buying the Womans Day. I recently came across an app/website called Zinio Unlimited where you pay $9.99 a month to access a huge variety of magazines online. I like reading quilting magazines, and our local libraries often don't have the ones I want. To buy they cost a fortune so for me, it is good value. I read and enjoyed your Womans Day article online too. This might appeal to some of your readers. Have a lovely weekend all.
ReplyDeleteThankyou for the info Barb. This would be good for those who buy magazines often.
DeleteCongratulations on the magazine article Wendy! The first time I ever encountered you was in the media many many years ago!!
ReplyDeleteWhat temperature do you dehydrate your citrus at and after how many hours do you start to check for doneness?
From Cheryl 💜
Thankyou Cheryl. There could be more media exposure shortly.
DeleteI dehydrated the citrus at 70 degrees C and started checking after about 18 hours. I like the citrus crispy like chips.
Sounds like another good and frugal week. I can’t wait to read the magazine article!
ReplyDeleteThankyou.
DeleteAlthough we are now into Autumn and the nights and early mornings are decidedly chilly we have had some nice sunny days after a period of really wet weather. I have caught up with the washing and got it all line-dried. I have picked the last of our pears and am still continuing to pick apples and outside tomato plants. I moved some potted plants around to refresh the display by our front step and, like you, cleaned the kettle out with citric acid. Today's job is to do some small weatherizing bits and pieces on the house, ready for Winter.
ReplyDeleteThe big job of the week, however, was sorting out home-made wedding favours, as our daughter gets married next Saturday. Very exciting!
Line dried washing is the best isn't it ?
DeleteI really hope everything goes well for your daughter's wedding and that the weather is favourable.
Lemons are also really good for cleaning inside the kettle, I cut it in quarters and boils the kettle and it cleans it perfectly
ReplyDeleteGreat idea for those who have an abundance of lemons. I did try vinegar after a friend said it worked for her. It's did not work for me.
DeleteI'll be trying your muesli bar recipe this weekend, Wendy. I think they'll be great in lunchboxes. I'm going to make a simple chocolate slice too. I have ingredients for both in my pantry. This week:
ReplyDelete* bought 4 cans of deodorant for less than half price, on clearance - I have tried this brand and like it so will use it.
* bought a box of cereal, bottle of mineral water (to take to a dinner we are going to) and soap at a discount store.
* made a silverbeet and feta impossible pie with silverbeet, garlic chives and spring onion from our garden.
* made a large tray of lasagne with very small amount of beef mince (about 200g), tinned lentils, grated carrot & zucchini. This made 8 serves so lots leftover for the freezer.
* received plants, a beautifully stitched runner and lavender hand cream from friends - such kindness.
* gifted a washcloth and soap to a colleague - these were in my present box
* fed compost and worm farm with veg scraps and shredded paper - I got the shredded paper from my workplace.
* took water bottles and packed lunches to work and school - I tip any water we don't drink on my potted plants at end of each day.
Have a lovely week!
Meg
I always look forward to your list Meg. How wonderful to receive those blessings. I love the sound of the impossible pie flavours. Yummy !!! Having a gift box is a real life saver when a sudden gift is needed. We used ours all through our LONG lockdowns and no one missed out on really good gifts.
DeleteThat sounds great. Happy belated birthday to you.
ReplyDeleteI am healing at the moment. My hand was operated on, so I can't do much. Fortunately my husband helps a lot.
Thankyou. I'm glad you are healing. Take the time to relax and maybe watch some YouTube videos on things you want to learn. I love the White Cottage Company and Garden Answer channels the best.
DeleteIt was so nice to dry the washing on the clothes line this week. Excellent article in the magazine Wendy.
ReplyDeleteJanine Colac
Thankyou Janine. They wanted a photo of our garden and silverbeet was the only impressive plant we had coming out of Winter.
DeleteGood afternoon Wendy, just wanted to say Happy Birthday! Best wishes for a wonderful year ahead. Your special dinner at home would be my choice also. I have replanted daisies and ‘sweet Alice’ around my front garden,volunteers are always welcome.Very chilly and blowing a hoolie on our side of the bay, where is spring?
ReplyDeleteThankyou Jenny. I love salmon but it's too expensive to have that often. Still, I enjoy it when we have it.
DeleteYes, where is Spring ?!?!? It was freezing again today.
Happy Birthday Wendy. We often have dinners at home for special occasions and make something special that we wouldn't often have. Definitely much nicer and more economical that going to a restaurant.
ReplyDeleteThis week I made some lemon butter and froze some lemon juice as we have loads of lemons at the moment. I also made some hummus dip which I make using dried chickpeas that I soak overnight. Although canned chickpeas are still an economical option. I hadn't made soap for a long time but have decided to use up all the ingredients I have and make a few last batches. The first batch is made and I love the smell of the aromatherapy oils that I used to perfume it.
Your blog is such an inspiration. Thank you.