It all adds up.

Recently I have been so encouraged by The Prudent Homemaker. Part of her weekly blog is about ways she has been frugal in the past week. And loads of followers join in with comments about their own savings. Well it is just the best reading! I come away very encouraged. And the thing is most of the savings are small ones. It is the small things that add up to be enormous things over time.

Even better all the savings and efforts are around the priority of God and the family and the home. It's a joy.

The effect on me has that I am much more aware of the little savings and little ways I build up my nest everyday. Much like counting our blessings is a blessing in itself, counting the way we have helped our family, the budget, the home everyday makes you more aware of the value in what you do. I feel really happy when I consider how much this or that saved us and what a difference I made today here or there in the home or in the garden.
The dollar value of the things we make and create is often astonishing!

This week a big thing happened for us. We sold my old car. We were warned being a four wheel drive etc it would be hard to sell as everyone else is doing what we did, converting to smaller fuel efficient cars. But we finally sold it and what a happy day. THis has helped us so much.

My daughter said to me that she would love to use the cleaner I do in her home as it smells so good. I could have just given her the recipe but I made up a double batch, some for myself and some for her including a jar of cleaning cloths.You kind of have to love it when they grow up and start wanting to know how you do things!

I won't repeat the recipe, I posted it on a post called Clean and Fresh in June...

http://thebluebirdsarenesting.blogspot.com.au/2014_06_01_archive.html

It is wonderful stuff and in quite a few blogs and sites, not my own invention.

My quest for ladders resulted in ladders coming in from several directions. After the one Andy found on the side of the road my neighbour gave me some from the old shed. This one is adorable. It is a sturdy little step ladder, in perfect order so I am keeping it as a useful step ladder.

I painted it palest pink and used left over transfers. It is so sweet, I just love it. As I had both the paint and transfers it was a free project.

Mum gave me half a celery which was huge. I chopped it up and popped it into the freezer in three bags. One for chicken casserole (farmhouse style) and two bags of leaves and tops for chicken soups. Celery leaves make the best chicken stock. So I will make all these up in the next few weeks.

There are signs spring is coming, little blossoms appearing, sunnier days and things seem brighter. My herb garden is looking pretty good but I will add new basil and a few things in a few weeks.

I used the slow cooker several times and last night made lamb shanks which were delicious and falling off the bone. We got them from a wholesale butcher for a fraction of the price of the supermarket. I made enough for three meals.

I will share this easy recipe next week. If you don't have lamb shanks it can be used with any lamb. Shanks were once cheap. Now as they are trendy they are expensive! So any lamb on special is fine. That's what we have to do, adapt recipes and combinations to what we can find at good prices.

Everything does add up! Even things you think no one will notice. I am just noticing now some of the things Nan used to do. I never understood at the time  and we hit a new stage and see things with new eyes!

Have a wonderful weekend. I am experimenting tomorrow with bread in the slow cooker. I will let you know how it goes! xxx