The bottom of the freezer

We finally ate our way to the bottom of the freezer yesterday.  At the start of the year, we hoped that there was enough food tucked away in the freezer to get us through January.  Then it looked hopeful that it might last into February, but I don't think either of us thought all those vegetables, so lovingly raised, tended, harvested and frozen from the garden last year would actually see us well into March.  We may have had some very interesting and different meals for the past couple of weeks - variety being the spice of (a frugal and thrifty) life - but those meals have been tasty, nutritious and pretty-much free.  It's been fun.

We've been enjoying some beautiful days again, bright and sunny.  Gosh, does it make a difference to how people feel.  The promise of Spring is all around - buds on trees, wonderful birdsong, and just a feeling of new life after the grey, wet drabness of Winter.  So many plans, so much to look forward to.

Bits and pieces

March's weather is, well, changeable to say the least.  Bright sunshine, pouring rain, sleet and hail, strong winds, fog and then more sunshine.  It keeps us on our toes, if nothing else.  

We had a trial run with the packing this week and were surprised to find we're not going to need all the luggage we anticipated; clearly we know how to pack lightly ;)  It was certainly a worthwhile exercise (even though we don't leave just yet) and a few duplicates and omissions became apparent.  Not completely 'back to the drawing board' but just a couple of tweaks needed.  

I'm putting together a hand-sewing project to pass the long hours of travelling, some English paper-piecing patchwork that will be easily transportable and not take up too much space.   Hopefully I shall come home with a finished wall-hanging.

I'm trying to get a few pieces of fabric from the stash washed each day - a little and often makes the enormity of the task a little more manageable.  And as I see all those fat quarters hanging out to dry, I'm beginning to see colour combinations and ideas for quilt blocks.  I will make headway with the stash!

Sunshine and sewing

Another day of blue sky and sunshine, light just after 6 in the morning and gone 6 in the evening before the curtains need drawing - there's so much promise of things to come at this time of the year.  There is a 'however' though, although that sun is bright, it's still mighty cold outside.  In fact, this past week we've seen more early morning frosts than during the whole winter.  In the shelter of the garden it's quite warm (in the conservatory this morning it was positively hot!!) but walking into town this afternoon was decidedly chilly - it called for brisk walking to keep warm.  

We get the sun on the back garden (or at least most of the garden) till early afternoon now, which is great for drying the washing.  Getting the clothes washed, out on the line, dried and put away again, all in the same day, is one of those simple little things that pleases me!  I'm making the most of these dry days by beginning the task of pre-washing all my quilting fabrics, a necessary chore which I should have been more pro-active about in the past.  Better late than never, and a few fat quarters washed every day will get the job done while the weather holds.

My marathon sewing session has come to an end, with my first foray into sewing with knit fabrics, so yay for my overlocker!  I've made a cowl-neck top that I think will become a wardrobe staple (i.e. comfortable, very versatile, neutral colours, goes with everything etc etc) but perhaps I should have chosen fabric without stripes for my first overlocking experience.  Next time I think I shall go with a solid colour ;-), but it was a good test for me and I'm pretty pleased with the resulting garment.  

We're working to a time frame at the moment, and it's amazing how it focusses the mind.  No time to be wasted, there are things which have to be done before we go on our much-awaited travels.  I'm trying very hard to make the most of small chunks of time - it's surprising what can be achieved while the tea is brewing!  It has made me realise how easy it is to waste time, and how much time I personally squander.  There's no point in me whining about things not getting done if I fail to make the best use of my own time.    It's something I need to keep reminding myself about.

Marching into March

I'm glad we got out into the garden on Monday because the weather has not been brilliant since, in fact today we had the nearest to snow that we've had all winter.  A mixture of hail and sleet left the garden white.  However, between the wintery showers I managed to get two loads of washing out and line-dried - it was very windy and retrieving the clothes from the line was a bit of a struggle.  

The skirt I've been working on was finished today - a very brisk walk into town to purchase just the right colour buttons as there was nothing suitable at all in my button jar.  If I'm honest, the fabric I used was really too flimsy for a skirt, but as the pattern (1981, so  practically vintage!) was for a very basic wrap style, I think I have just about got away with it.  Light and airy it certainly is, just right for warmer temperatures.  I was not looking forward to hemming this skirt as it's very full, and on the bias, but at the last moment I suddenly remembered my new overlocker has a rolled-hem facility and never being one to shy away from trying something new, especially if it involves a new sewing trick or gadget, I consulted the 'book of words' and had a go.  Wow!  It's magic!  A perfect rolled hem; I am simply thrilled with the result.  

The Head Chef has taken advantage of the rainy weather to start on the list of household maintenance chores that we drew up a couple of weeks ago.  Paint and brush at the ready for a bit of touching up in the dining room.  How satisfying to tick something off so soon.

We had to make a quick trip to the supermarket yesterday to replenish the dwindling reserves.  The Head Chef has done wonders creating delicious meals from the freezer and store cupboards but he was finding it increasingly difficult - the more we were eating up the less there was left to work with.  So just a handful of extra basics has given us a few more options.  

It's been a quite productive couple of days, things getting discussed, planned and dealt with.  There's a lot going on round here at the moment and we need to keep a bit of order to ensure we keep on top of things.  Clearly lists are going to feature!