Sunday a day of rest!

It was although I got a lot done of what I wanted to do. As we had friends for dinner on Saturday night, the house was clean and tidy so except for making the bed, meals and dishes, no other housework was required, I love days like that. Warren went to archery and I did have a bit of a sleep in. Decided that I should go for a walk but at 10 o'clock when I ventured out, the sun was beating in the front door so I closed it and stayed inside.

Spent some time on the computer and then cut out a sewing project that I have had in the back of my mind for awhile. Almost finished the cutting out when Warren got home. Lunch only took a few minutes and then I watched a recorded program on TV while I knitted. Cant watch TV without doing something, either knitting or some hand sewing.

I had a nana nap, really  read my book for a few chapters and play a couple of games on my tablet, these are word games to keep the grey matter turning over.

At four o'clock, I made coffee and we took it to the back patio, where it had become very dark, we watched the storm come in and had to go inside as we were getting wet, the rain drops were quite heavy. Spent the next hour in my sewing room then some hand sewing while watching Midsummer Murders. Heated some soup and sausage rolls for a quick dinner before the footy came on.

I finished knitting the beanie that I was on and then sewed it up plus the other four that I had done in the last few days. One beanie for an adult takes a night or two of TV watching and usually one ball, I now have six beanies for Knitting for the needy. Not often do I have such a productive day.

Egg Plant

This is a vegetable that I really enjoyed while we were living in China. Very early on, I learnt to say it in Chinese so I could order it if and when we went out to dinner. While visiting a young friend, he took me to the kitchen where his grandmother was cooking the dish, so quick and I was surprised at the amount of sugar, salt and soy sauce that she used. As Warrren cant eat soy sauce, I don't make it the way that she did but it was interesting to watch her.

Warren bought me a plant so that I could grow and cook my own, trouble was I had no idea when they were ready to pick. I belong to a brilliant website which has a forum and I asked the question on there and got several answers in double quick time. One lady said that she hoped I really did like them as one plant could generate up to 100 fruit. I think we have had about 20 so far and there is 3 or 4 small ones still on the bush. I picked two yesterday and used one in a dish for last nights dinner.

I cubed it and put it into my non stick fry pan and when cooked added a tin of tomatoes and then pasta at the end. We had visitors for dinner and they are quite fussy so I didn't know how they would like it, one guy had three serves.

 I gather that he must have thought it was alright. In the picture is the left overs which we had for lunch with some added mince and spinach. I like to use up left overs pretty quickly. Tonight will be be having chicken soup and a homemade sausage roll, quick and easy dinner as its footy time.

Electricity Bills

We have solar panels and had had for about three and a half years. At first our bills were around $60 then $80 gradually getting higher. Last year when we got home from holidays the panel in the garage was displaying a funny code. Ended up having to have it removed and repaired, thankfully it was still under warranty, just! It took three months and for that three months our bill was $362. Our solar provider offered to pay us compensation for not having the panels operating for that time, woohoo (we didn't even ask!) I received a cheque for $197, the bill is in my name.

Last bill came and I was interested to see how much it had gone down only to find it had increased to $384!!!Yikes!

I have set myself a challenge to see how much I can shave off the bill in the next three months, my goal is to reduce it by 25%, a big ask.

I look around the house now and the only thing on is computer and fridge, mircowave has been turned off at the wall, so has the washing machine and dryer, I only use the washing machine twice a week and the dryer rarely. Our A/C has an hour button on it and I'm sure that has saved us as we only set it going for the hour and then again if it feels hot.

I am trying to do any cooking or washing out of the peak times. As the weather gets cooler we wont need to use the A/C and while ours is supposed to be heating and cooling, the heating side of it went a few years back so now we use blankets if it gets that cold.

Card carrier

A few months ago, I bought myself one of these

Card Carrier

and have been using it in conjunction to my wallet. I have on occasions just taken my keys and this with me to save taking a handbag, which I hate (using a handbag) but there are times when I do need something to carry stuff in,such as phone, pen, tissue etc etc.

A couple of weeks ago, I was filling the car with fuel and grabbed the card thingo to pay, all my cards are in there. Got inside and flipping through it  to find my bankcard was not in there. I had used it in the shops and dropped it into my open handbag instead of the card holder. Ran back to the car to get it, apologized to the attendant, paid and finally got out of there. Lesson learnt! wrong! 

Yesterday we went shopping, and we divided the tasks, one did the trolley while the other went and ordered coffee and cake, saving time! I said that I would load the trolley and paid for groceries, that was fine until Ii went to get out my card holder, not there! then i remembered that I had changed bags to go to a meeting two days before and my card holder was still in that one. Luckily I could see Warren, he had ordered afternoon tea and the check out lady was only half way through so I raced over and told him that he had to pay. 

He mumbled and grumbled but its the same account, he brightened up though when he realized that I couldn't buy anything else without him being there. Note to self, check where card holder is before going out, it would have been rather embarrassing to have no card and no hubby to bail me out.

Woody Point

Often we decide (usually me!) to go for a drive in our great state. Today Warren's choice was to go to Woody Point. I had made sausages rolls last night while dinner was cooking, I try to do at least two things in the oven at once. I packed some of the rolls, a sandwich, fruit for afters and a flask to make hot coffee/chocolate.

I love Jarra coffees the favorite is Swiss, which says it has "a hint of chocolate". After paying $6.75 for a small jar a few weeks ago, I had a go at making my own and this is what we use now. Cup of chocolate, coffee, sugar and powered milk, mix together, two teaspoons into a cup and fill with hot water. It makes a nice change from coffee, taste a little bit naughty and saves having to take milk on a trip like today.

 After lunch we walked along to the jetty and there was a wedding taking place, the footpath was just behind the ceremony so we made a detour, as they were saying their vows as we would have been behind them, not too good for photos! It was an enjoyable day out and only cost a bit of petrol to get there. Masses of little fish in the water and we amused ourselves by moving our arms and seeing them scatter in the water

Movies

Warren and I often watch Ellen during lunch but as we don't usually sit down to lunch until 12.30 or so, we miss half of it. Anyhow we turned on yesterday around 12.45, he was home later from tennis and saw the last guest. Warren did a flick around and there was a movie starting and he said that he  knew what it was about and asked if I wanted to watch it. I said no but asked him to record it to look at a later time. I was knitting and wanted to finish the row before going and doing anything.

Well, I got interested in the movie, it was based on a true story about the Perth Mint and then I thought to myself why cant I watch it now, I'm retired. A pleasant couple of hours was spent learning about a piece of our history which I didnt know before. It was an Australian production with Aussie actors and at the end there was an interview with the two brothers who were left. The story is about three brothers who were fitted up by police and served seven and nine years, the middle brother was released after a short time but was killed in a light plane crash, he was a pilot.

Chair Covers

I have always had covers on the arms of the lounge chairs, usually lace runners picked up cheaply from somewhere like Sam's. With frequent wear and washing, they had become tatty so I threw them in the bins. The chairs looked bare but I just hadn't been back to the store to replace them.

Last weekend while fossicking in my sewing room for craft item, I located some material that I liked but hadn't known what to do with it. I had a haha moment, I could make chair covers from it.

I had some spare fleece which would go well as a bit of padding without making it too thick and bulky. Once I got started and measured out how long and how wide I wanted them, it only took a couple of hours.

the fleece inside