A nice month

I know that August has just begun...but I am feeling good.

feeling good in my new space, feeling good in my head...I finally feel like I belong.

I don't need a huge space, I don't need a trendy neighborhood....Turns out I needed a smallish duplex, in a quiet neighborhood and a wooden fence.

When we bought the house, there was no fence in the back and I felt uncomfortable sitting outside like an over easy egg...

but it all changed with this...

 How can part of a fence make so much difference?

I don't know and it is between my 2 ears for sure!

But it makes a world of difference!

We have been hanging out in the yard nearly every day!

 I can hear my babbling mini Niagara (really loud)

 And tend to my mostly herb garden.

 Today I felt so good and inspired by all the local produce that I am making a lasagna with lotsa vegs

inside....for the freezer and probably a Mexican lasagna for the freezer as well.

I have strong squirrel genes and I like to make reserves....

in case you are wondering...we are still not totally unpacked and that is quite

alright alright alright...

I will explain in the next post!

Be well and stay thrifty

It happens

Everyday I want to post, everyday I get sucked in the Facebook Group Pyrex and All Things Vintage....

God oh God, this is sooooo addictive!

Here in Quebec, winter is still here.....Spring seems to be very shy!

 That's a picture of the yard on Friday night.

Here Meghan is make sure everything is secure outside....

such a sweet soul.

I have started exercising regularly. We have a great opportunity at work to take yoga classes 3 times a week for a really, really good price.
so I have been taking advantage of that. 3 days , 3 teachers 3 different styles...and I love it!

I also found out that I have 8 classes left from a package I paid for in November....Yay!

So last Thursday I took a stretching class and That was wonderful as well. I didn't sweat too much!

I have been big batch cooking too. Last weekend we, yes WE made 120 pork dumplings....

It was super fun and delicious!

Unfortunately the pictures I took yesterday for this post haven't downloaded yet....so I will finish this
tomorrow...I hope!

Finally! a picture of my tamale making session....

It was really hard work, but very delicious!

I froze a bunch!

Today I went driving.....for 2 hours. Still on my learner's permit at 51 !

I feel this is the right time, I am very confident and the driving is quite smooth.

I donated 2 boxes of cookbooks and didn't bring anything back...

That is always a plus....

Still working on my giveaway prizes, 

yes there will be more than one!

Stay safe and keep on thrifting!

5 frugal things

So we are still getting our groove on, unpacking, recycling, giving to thrifts.....

I have been reading blogs too. One of my new favorite is The non consumer advocate. Every week she posts 5 frugal things...

1-Today we brought 10 bags full of packing materials to the curb for recycling and 6 bundles of flattened cardboard boxes.
2-I baked healthful gluten free apple muffins from scratch to use the free apples I got from my work last week.
3-I air dried my laundry
4-I packed our lunches from stuff in the fridge (leftovers)
5-I used public transport and I walked!

6- I also made a tomato sauce form scratch for the freezer.

I have yet to visit a thrift store....but it is just a matter of days.....

Stay cool and rested!

Getting ready

Ever since Halloween is behind us, I have Xmas on my mind....

I don't know how I would plan it if I was living in the U.S. because Thanksgiving is still to come...

So I have made a food/goodies schedule to keep everything under control!

It is flexible (of course) and in the end if something doesn't get done, well...It happens!

So tonight in a rare burst of energy, I made my cranberry sauce. Check!

I tweek the recipe on the bag.

Here it is:

2 cups (450 ml) cranberries (fresh or frozen), 1/2 cup (125ml) water, 1/2 cup (125ml) maple syrup, zest of one orange and the juice of 1/2 an orange.

I put everything in the medium sized sauce pan and brought to a gentle boil . Continue to cook until the berries start to pop, reduce until thickened a bit. It was then that I added some Jack Daniel's , about an ounce or 2.....I hope it will give an interesting taste!

 Cool, then put in a jar or a Tupperware, label and freeze. Or keep in fridge for about a week .

One down! I hope to keep posting my Holidays recipes to inspire you in your celebrations.

Have a great evening!