What did I buy from Aldi yesterday

Good evening. I recorded a video this morning. I know some of my followers like to see what food I buy and how much it costs. Yesterday I shopped at Aldi and spent £60. So here it is, some of it is laid out here in the kitchen. I forgot to mention the Potatoes au Gratin, oooops.  

Some recent meals. 

Steamed frozen vegetables, added to fresh mushrooms cooked in a pan. A splash of oil, and stir fry sauce.  

Rice and peas in an omelette. 

Frozen beans and broccoli, with pasta and cheese sauce made from a packet.

Tonight I made a risotto with mushrooms and rice. No picture, the camera is playing up. I need to visit the camera shop. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

A quiet spot for a chat

Psssst, fancy a quiet chat in a quiet spot. I recorded this video yesterday. 

What did I have for lunch yesterday. I made a stir fry with courgettes and broad beans. When it was almost done I added a cheese and onion roll cut into four pieces. Let it cook through so the sweet and sour sauce was absorbed into it. It was blooming lovely. 

Last nights dinner was frozen steamed vegetables with grated cheese on top. Quick easy meal. 

An update on the mandala. I've added a bit more. There are 50 small buttons. 

I went another walk this afternoon. Although windy it was quite hot. I was pleased to see my friend Karen attending to her horses in the field she rents. I haven't seen her in ages, so it was nice to have a catch up natter. 

I was getting a bit worried over the last week or so, only one hedgehog coming for the food. The night before last all four of them appeared. That was a relief to see them. Last night three turned up. Maybe more come after I have gone to bed, the food is always gone when I wake up in the morning. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

We need more benches.

I have been wearing this t-shirt, very appropriate don't you think. 😛

I knocked up this short video the other day. Now I am a bit older I need to sit down more often. A church with a bench is perfect. We need more benches for us oldies. 

This morning I felt a bit chilly, so I knocked up a pan of soup for lunch. Broccoli, carrot, and rice. Chuck in some spices and zap it with a stick blender. I have just finished the second portion for my dinner. 

A bit more added to the mandala. I wanted a wire hoop to go around the edge of the circles. Didn't have any wire, so I made the hoop. I cut the top off a cardboard popcorn tub. Adjusted the size to fit exactly. Wrapped it in wool. Perfect. 

Billy dog walk done tonight. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Eating before I go out.

Good evening. So howz your day been. I started with a fruity breakfast. Banana from Nicaragua, Grapes from Egypt, and cherries from Staffordshire England. Topped with Greek style yogurt. 

Lunch was an omelette. Peas, mushrooms, and rice.  

This afternoon I went a walk. Within five minutes of me setting off, the rain came. I was in two minds whether to turn round and go back home. Maybe it would be just a shower, so I carried on. My Van Gogh umbrella is ace. Keeps most of me dry. The rain stopped, but more came as I was walking along the bottom of the wood. The noise was deafening. It lasted about half an hour, then it stopped and it  became very hot as the sun was trying to make an appearance. What crazy weather we are having.  

The bench behind the church was a peaceful and pleasant place to stop for a break. 

The highlight of the walk was spotting this beautiful deer. I was some distance away as it moved about in the next field. It saw me and stopped, wondering what to do next. It kept walking a bit then stopping to look at me. Plenty of opportunity to take photographs. Normanby Park is not far away so I wondered if it had escaped from there. 

My brain is going to sleep so I'll wind this up. Catch ya tomorrow. Toodle pip.   ilona

Lunch in the garden

Good evening. This is a photo from last week, when it was sunny and I had lunch in the garden. Today it has been raining on and off all day. I did manage to do a Billy dog walk in between the showers. 

I have a confession to make. I don't really have a drone. 😁 A two man crew came to put some new lights on the Christmas Tree. They are contractors for North Lincs Council. They are doing the job now because  later in the year, when the nights start getting darker earlier, they have a rush of work on. They can't connect the lights up yet because the electricity supply has to be upgraded. That job comes later and they will be tested in October. I asked the man in the bucket if he would take my camera up with him and take a few snaps, and he did. 👍

This is a new project I am working on. I fancy making another mandala. Plastic rings wrapped with thread. Sort through the broken jewelry box and look for any other bits and bobs which I might be able to use. I wrapped the pearl bangle with red wool ages ago. 

I am not sure how big it is going to be so I start laying out the parts on a plastic plate. I think I will use a larger hoop than the last one I did. The inner circle is wrapped with gold thread. I plan to fill the centres of the small rings with silver pipe cleaners. These can be bought from craft shops. At this stage anything can happen. I keep adding more pieces as I go along.

 

I watched the first episode of The Sewing Bee while I was sitting with Janet's pussies tonight. A television set is a novelty for me, so I flick round the channels. There isn't much to interest me. I fell asleep half way through it and woke to find who made the best blouse. I remember years ago when I did have a tele and would watch a whole series of programmes right to the last episode. I wouldn't do that now, even if I did have a tele. I couldn't follow the Sewing Bee week after week. By the way, I have just had another letter from the licensing people asking me if I should be buying a licence. The answer is still no, I don't need one.

Time to wind down. Catch ya tomorrow. Toodle pip.   ilona

Food shopping video

Good evening. I took some photo's today which I was going to add to this post, but I am falling asleep. They will have to wait until tomorrow. I have walked a long way today. I parked my car in one village and walked to the next to visit an agricultural show. Walked all around the show and walked back again. After a meal which I made up from food in the fridge, couldn't be bothered to cook, I took Billy a walk. More walking, can't let the little fella down. 

So on this post there is only a video. I recorded it yesterday after shopping.  

Now I am going to put the hedgehog food out, and relax. 

Thanks for popping in. Have a good Sunday. Toodle pip.   ilona

Dogs, birds, and food.

Good evening. It was doggy heaven at the Park on Sunday. Paws in the Park is an annual event. It's a bit like a mini Crufts only it's outdoors. There are competitions, agility tests, search and rescue demonstrations, and plenty of doggy related stalls selling just about everything for our canine friends. 

Look what I saw when I opened the curtains to the back window overlooking the garden. I never knew that ducks rest on top of a six foot hedge. I always trim it so it doesn't grow any higher. It makes a nice landing platform for them. I wonder if they sit up there to keep out of the way of the cats. 

I took this photo through my front window this afternoon. My friend Barry up the road has one of those massive feather duster bushes in his front garden. He doesn't like it so I always take my secateurs and remove a dozen or so of the dusters before he chops it down. Then I 'plant' them in my own hedges in the front garden. The birds come down and gather the fluffy feathers for their nest building. I leave them there until they are all plucked to bits. 

I am craving omelettes at the moment. This one has a cheese and onion roll cut into four pieces, and a handful of butter beans. I beat one egg in a bowl and add a splash of milk, with seasonings and spices. Transfer everything into a small pan, and finish it off under the grill.It was blooming deeeelishus. I like the way you can put anything into an omelette. Another one I made after this had steamed vegetables in it, left over from the day before. Quite a substantial meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. 

It's been very windy today. Coffee Morning was a hoot. I did a biggish shop at Aldi this afternoon. Boring but it had to be done. 

I'm not sure what I will be doing over the Bank Holiday weekend. Possibly stay here if the weather is cold and miserable. Everywhere is bound to be busy, there are lots of events on. The roads will be busy with extra traffic. Not much fun sitting in a traffic jam. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona
 

I show you my shopping.

Ooooh, look at the time. Sunday night is my entertainment night on yoootooob. I've just watched Dan and Steve, from Come along dear, they are on the Isle of Wight. Nice memories for me, I was there last year. 

I recorded this video this morning. It's taken ages to upload. 

Hedgehog news. Last night there were two hogs tucking into the food, and a third one was trying to nudge them out of the way. Hey let me in. Funny to watch. Tonight I have used a slightly bigger plate so there is plenty of room for them all to eat together. 

Now time for bed. Goodnight. Catch ya tomorrow. Toodle pip.   ilona

Farm Shopping - not frugal. Plus edit

Good morning. Whacking the videos out now. The weather is still miserable but not to worry, I have plenty to do indoors. Here is a video about what I bought from the Farm Shop on Tuesday. The price I mentioned for the honey was incorrect. I didn't get a receipt. I said £3 per jar, it was £5. 

It's only now that I can afford to spend a little bit more on nice food. No more yellow sticker shopping. Remember that? Tesco at 7pm waiting for the trolley to appear with all the food that was about to go out of date. It must have saved me mega £'s over the years. It was well worth the effort to join the scrum. Now I can leave it to others who need to shop for reductions. 

A good move to swap sugar in my coffee for honey. Not that I have any health problems associated with excess sugar. I just think I need to keep my consumption in check. I'm not going to say no more, because I believe you can eat anything in moderation. Just be sensible about it. Know your body, know what your stomach can tolerate, and stop taking the Gaviscon. 

That's all for now. Catch you later. Toodle pip.   ilona

EDIT

Just found this on our village facebook page. A local bee keeper reports the loss of his bees. 

Well, following the very long cold winter, we finally got a mild enough day to open up the bees for a very quick inspection. Its as I feared, I'm afraid - all dead. Plenty of honey stores still there to keep them fed through the winter, but with no opportunities for them to fly at all since Christmas, I'm afraid its been too much for them. Its been a long time since I lost bees like this.

😭😨😢

Frugal sewing and frugal soup

Good morning. Here's a video I knocked up yesterday. Redesigning old clothes, making a new gilet. How to make a quick soup with half a tin of peas. 

This is what I did with the other half tin of peas. The green deal. A piece of toasted seeded bread, a chopped up avocado, warm up the peas with some spinach. Pile it all on top of the toast. Everything gets eaten here. 

Now I must get on. Thanks for popping in. Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona

Breakfast at Fanny's

More guests for breakfast this morning. Word seems to be getting around. The first seven landed in the garden next door at about 8am. 

Then there were nine. Come on chaps, much better food selection on this side of the hedge. And there is water. Fill your boots. My lawn is in a right state with all the tiny feet scurrying about, pecking and scraping looking for tasty morsels. After the ducks left, the pigeons came down out of the trees, then the blackbirds and the sparrows. Swooping overhead were several seagulls. Come back later, lunch and dinner might appear if I am around. 

My breakfast? Porridge and blueberries. 

Yesterday I defrosted the fridge freezer. Later in the afternoon I went to Aldi and filled it all back up again. 

Thanks for popping in. I must get some walking in today. It's looking dry but dull so I think the bus to town and walk back will work well. Best stay on tarmac. Toodle pip.   ilona

A quickie post

Good morning. Four pics from a walk to the park yesterday. The deer were a good distance off, a bit of zoom to help matters. 

I think we are coming towards the end of bird slaughtering season. A few lone pheasants can be seen wandering about, looking for their lost mates.  

The night time will soon be here. 

I think this tree must be very old. It looks like it has suffered a lot of wind damage over the years.  

Breakfast this morning. Slice of seeded bread, a banana, and a large dollop of raspberry yogurt. 

I've got a video uploading which will be ready later today. I will go and play outside, the sun is shining. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip. ilona

Hair today

I put this video out today. What do you think? Curling tongues from a charity shop £3. Is curly hair  better. It's such a faff. In my face, in my mouth. Don't like it tied back, uncomfortable pulling on my scalp.  

Stuff it, let's get it off. 

Dinner tonight. Sweet and sour stir fry. Mushrooms, broccoli, spring onions, spinach, noodles, and a cheese and onion roll in the pan to warm it through. Blooming lovely.  

An interesting post on Rachels blog today. You might want to have a look. 

Catch ya tomorrow. Have a good Sunday. Toodle pip.   ilona

What I like to eat.

Chuffin 'eck it were windy this afternoon. After lunch I ventured out for a walk. Lunch was Avocado on toast. I am trying a different bread. It's more expensive than the normal lightly seeded. It's a seeded bloomer at £1.39. Tasty cheese from a truckle, egg £1.85 for 6, and beetroot. When I scoffed this I was ready for off. 

Didn't feel like cooking tonight so it was a fridge to plate meal. A cheese and onion roll £1.65 for 6. Baby spinach 99p a bag. Spring onions 39p. Three cheese pasta salad £1.75. Button mushrooms 95p. With a cheese and onion dip. Can't remember how much the beetroot is. It was in the fridge from a previous shopping trip. 

The wind has died down a bit now. 

Thanks for popping in. Enjoy your weekend. Toodle pip.   ilona

Eat out or take your own?

So what do you eat when you are out and about? For the last seven years of my driving life there was no nights out. I did either 12 hour days or 12 hour nights. I prepared food in my own kitchen and took a pack up with me. I have never been a fan of transport cafes and did not partake of truckers breakfasts, a sausage, bacon, and beans fry up. I don't drink tea, awful stuff, and if I wanted a coffee I took a flask with me. I prefer cold drinks.  

It has always been cheaper to take my own food rather than buying it out. And I still do that. These days it's not about saving money, I can afford to eat in the best restaurants. I am fussy about where my food comes from and where it is prepared. 

I took these photo's of the fast food trailers yesterday at Lincoln, and I have to say that there was nothing on their menus to tempt me. Freshly made burgers, I wonder what they put in them.  

I have no idea what this one was selling. What is a Crispy Katsu or a Japanese Miso? 

Oh no, not cuddly little lambs. 😭

Readers from other parts of the world might like to compare prices. 

Now that looks quite healthy, but I wonder what those brown crinkly strips are. 

More price comparisons. I think Golden Fries are chips. Smashed Patties must be a posh name for burgers.  

On this trailer you put in your order at the front hatch after choosing one of these. Then go round the back where the staff will construct your meal and present it to you. I wonder what's in them. I didn't ask. 

No actual food on this stand, just sweet treats. All loaded with calories and sugar. Tempting but no thanks. 

Maybe choose a pudding when you have eaten your burger and chips. This reminds me of many years ago, 55 to be precise, when I worked on Blackpool Pleasure Beach selling donuts and waffles. Our waffles had a squirt of watered down jam and a dollop of synthetic cream. They've come a long way since then. 

I sat on a picnic bench and had a chat with a young lady who was feeding her little boy with chips. I ate my cheese and pickle sandwich, and my Bakewell tart, and listened to the Carol singing. 

This morning I went to Crafty Club. This afternoon I have taken Rocky dog for a walk, but I can't get Billy out because Carol is not there. I will go tomorrow for him. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona