I have been doing a lot of reflecting lately on my childhood and some of the wonderful loving charachters in my life that helped shape who I am today. I am a country girl who moved to the city to go to high school. I grew up with my fathers mother being a constant in our lives as she lived in the next country town from us. Nan never went without anything and always seemed to have so much, but looking back now I know that it was because of her frugality and lifestyle and not because she was wealthy.
Like most of our granparents she cooked from scratch, cleaned the old fashioned way with good old elbow grease and mended anything that was broken or torn. She taught me how to play cards, taught me how to cook, taught me how to shop frugally and taught me how to value family and friendship - Gosh I miss her.
I cook from scratch as much as time allows me to - This week I cooked Apple Dumplings which have lasted for 3 nights dessert. I would love to cook more from scratch but with working full time and still being a mum, wife, cleaner and chief bottle washer time does get away from me at times.
I yearn to be self sufficient in a few corners of our lives and be like my grandma and have the time to stop and enjoy life and it's simplicities just a bit more. As each day, week and month passes I can feel me taking my life in that direction just a tiny bit more with every home remedy, every tray of cookies and every bit of home grown produce. We are our own worst enemy as we spend as much as we earn and pack more and more into our lives each day. For me in my life I want that to stop and slowly I have been plugging away at simplifying it a little bit each day.
How about you do you yearn for a simpler life?
In the past 4 - 6 weeks I have shed a few responsibilities and additional roles that I had taken on and it feels good. I feel more in control of my life and have had the time to cook, stitch and sew and enjoy the process.
I have finished 2 quilts in the past 6 weeks and that is amazing for me. Clearly I have made some extra time in my life and that is great...... I want more though and I know that I will get there in time.......
One thing that we do quite a bit of around here in the past few years is to repair and re-use unloved or broken things. My middle daughter found this treasure on "Gumtree" to be given away. She sent me a photo and asked if it was something I would like..... I bet you all know the answer to that.....
Isn't it gorgeous? A little unloved but I just know that it is going to look beautiful with a bit of TLC
My SIL who has a ute collected it for me and delivered it so all we have to do know is start the makeover - Hopefully we can find some time over the weekend to begin.
I have been trying to save money for quite some time now to reduce debt and get off the merry go round - Every $1 saved is a blessing and there are a number of items that we use on a regular basis that I refuse to pay full price for.
They include toilet tissue, cleaning products, dishwashing liquid, pasta etc etc. Every Wednesday I view the local supermarkets on-line catalogues and write a hit list. This week Woolworths have a special on "Morning Fresh" dishwashing liquid at 1/2 the normal price - I bought 4 to replenish my stocks. Do you do that too? That's what Nan used to do too - I am becoming more and more like her every day - Well at least I hope I am !!
Finally I wanted to show you my new gumboots that I received for mothers day - Aren't they devine? They will be put to great use this weekend when I spend some time in my neglected vegie patch.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs - Fee XX
22 comments:
i love this post Fee and i just want to hug your grandma,she sounds like a very loving and wise lady i can see why you would miss her,love those boots,happy gardening.xx
Fee your Grandma sounds just like mine (well both of them actually). I long for a simpler life and having this week off work has just cemented the fact that I am a true homebody. Hugs. xoxo
Gosh Fee you could be writing about me!! We took early retirement in 2003, packed in our jobs in the UK and moved to France. We have very little money to live on but I cannot tell you how good it feels, no more pressure. You do spend what you earn and when you haven't got it you still seem to manage. It is getting harder as things go up in price but I still wouldn't change a thing. I always look out for the BOGOF (Buy One Get One Free) offers and buy shampoo, deoderant, wash tablets, toothpaste etc when they are on offer - some say my pantry looks like a supermarket LOL I bake sometimes but with the ever inceasing price of electricity, it is sometimes cheaper to buy cakes etc (especially if they are half price!) We have become a throw away society and I think it has to change. Hugs
I enjoyed reading this beautiful post, I too buy a few of something if its on special and look for cheaper ways of doing things!
What a lovely post Fee, during the reading of it I was able to think of my own Grandma and what she taught me. I hope you reach that which you are after - it sound like it would be bliss.
huge hugs my darlin'
Miche'le
Lovely post Fiona, it has left me very thoughtful. Love those gumboots!
Love your post fee,I too long for a simpler life and like you I'm slowly taking it back.I know it will take time but we'll both get there eventually.I also double up on things that are on special and I'm just about to try making my own laundry detergent too,each little step takes us closer to where we feel we belong so keep plodding along Fee:) Barb.
They look like Cath Kidson gumboots, so you!
I would love to retire and live a simpler life also. I've got ten more years until it's a possibility. Those apple dumplings sure look delicious! Is there any chance that you might share the recipe?
Simplify - that should be the motto for all. I did some research into purchasing items that are only on sale a few months ago (with good intentions gone a little by the wayside)....when you begin to shop like that (committed of course), it takes approximately three months to have your pantry to a point where you can buy your staples in multiple lots whenever they come on special and only need to be topping up at normal price for your meat and veg each week...it does require a little effort browsing the catalogues and visiting different supermarkets - but as the old saying goes - Watch your Pennies, not your Pounds! Love your post Fee - inspired again xoxo
Love those gumboots Fee...how lovely that you are turning into your Grandma!!! Who knows, one of these days we might get to play a game of cards!!!
Lovely post, dresser and gumboots! Living simply is such a joy, isn't it?
Great blog...and what a yummy dessert...but where is the recipe..lol and yes I buy certain household items on special too..
Lovely Post Fee...know where you are coming from 'Simplify' seems there's a bit of that going on..
Love your New Boots and can't wait to see your new piece brought back to life...
Take Care
xx
I enjoyed reading this beautiful post, brought back so many memories of my mother and grandmother,and My DH grandmother lived to the 101, of thank you for bringing back so many memories
What an enjoyable post, Fee, I think I would have liked your grandma a lot! She sounds a lot like mine. I too am yearning for a simpler life, and I too stock up on stuff we need - never ever pay full price for anything!!!!!
Thoughts of grandmothers, puddings and making do twirling in my head, and a smile on my face. One way I try to save money with the groceries is to not go shopping as much. We make do with what we've got in the last day or so before going shopping...sometimes it means our meals are not Cordon Bleau, but they are always tasty. Also means im not throwing out as much. A week after being told by my son that I would have to go and buy new toothpaste, he was still managing to squeeze some from the tube!
Thanks for sharing Fee, my grandmother was a huge influence on my life too- not so much cooking, but re purposing everything, crafting, kindness, gardening- to name a few- I keep trying to recapture her love in the books I write. As a grandma now I have a lot to live up to...
Timing is everything...just finished eating my tea, here I am now reading your blog with a sudden urge for dumplings. Trouble is apparently I'm the only one and not sure about going to the trouble just for me. Apple dumplings looks absolutely scrumptious...ummmm do I cook or not. xxx
Ooh, I loved reading that post. We need to keep our lives so simple. Our ancestors were the better cooks and homemakers. I wish my grandmothers were here right now to look into their eyes and listen intently to, with all their stories Maybe we need to reach that time in our lives to realize how important and special that is / was of learning about them and their knowledge.
Mmmm your apple dumplings look delish. Love the Beautiful desk and I know when you've finished with it it will be transformed ;o).
Your whole post is food for thought for us all Fee ... A simpler life, yes I'd love that too. We've been enjoying some home grown tomatoes lately ... A small step, but a positive one, we hope to be enjoying more homegrown goodies in the future too :o).
Love ya hon!!
Joy xxx
Yummy! Apple dumplings!
Love your gumboots. They call those rainboots here. So fun!
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