Is it frugal living or is it vintage living?

There has been a short pause in blog posts for a variety of reasons. One of the main reasons for the length between posting was to cut back on my internet time. I’m still a heavy Internet user and separation anxiety is real, but my phone isn’t like a third arm extension any more. Cutting back gave me some experience in what was do-able with Internet expenses.

Other ways I’ve cut right back on household expenditure: 

Using the library for books, magazines and such. I also find the cheapest books I can through the thrift stores and I very rarely have anything new on my bookshelves. The thrift stores are also my go to place for all craft material and home goods. 

I rarely use the dryer and only on days where it has been raining consecutively making it difficult to hang out clothes to line dry. We do have an indoor hanging rack for clothes but towels and sheets need a larger space.

I’ve started to plant what I can to bring food in the kitchen. Now that it is going into early Autumn here, I don’t need to water as much but I do have to find a way to use less water. I’ve currently gone back to using a watering can and using house water that doesn’t have any food scraps in it to water the garden. 

In the garden I plant vegetables to season and what I know will be eaten in the kitchen.  I also tried planting out some very old seeds to see if they will sprout and have some varying success with those seeds. I plant flowers, both edible and ones for show. The bees need both and the garden needs the bees.  I also make sure to have a good supply of herbs to make plain meals a little more tasty. Basil, Chives, Mint, Parsley, Sage, Thyme are all good  herbs to have on hand.

When I am out and about I now bring a small lunch box and pack lunches anytime I cannot be home to have a meal. I avoid going to get take aways as much as I can.  And I bring my own water.

I recycle everything I can. If I think I can find a use for it I try to do something with the item. In the craft room I make junk journals and I cut up old clothes for crafting with. I re-use old shopping bags and don’t buy shopping bags.

In the kitchen I use small cooking portions and eat leftovers the next day. This may mean making a second meal such as bubble and squeak.

There’s so much more I do to cut back to save the pennies. This all sounds similar to the way of living frugal during days of hard times in modern life. Even as modern as this sounds, many of the articles in the newspapers and women’s magazines of 1939 discuss similar saving ideas. While the internet savings obviously wasn’t a part of those times, all other suggestions to cut back and save with in the homefront are part of the time.  

The 1939 timeline I am studying is carefree and without worries. It is late April, there’s articles for soups, autumn fruits, buying woollens, along with cold and flu remedies. But there’s a dark cloud hanging over the era with articles in the news of Germany’s advances and possible war. In 5 months time, war will be announced and the need to be ‘Frugal’ has a new urgency. 

Living within your means is both frugal living and living vintage. Importantly, this way of living is a means to be prepared for hard times and it is a wise way to be.

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Aubergine or Egg plant

The garden section from a newspaper article in early November of 1939 wrote: Those who like variety in their vegetables and home gardeners who like to grow uncommon vegetables should take an interest in growing the egg-plant or Aubergine. 

I took up the suggestion and planted out a couple of plants. This can be done by planting out seedlings, which I did. Or sowing direct in the open ground, three or four seeds to the site and afterwards thinning to one plant. The plant likes warm temperatures and the seeds germinate in hotter weather and flourish better when the weather is warmer. I planted my egg plants next to tomato plants as they are of the same family and require the same cultivation methods. The plants produce a lot of fruit and it is best to keep the crop to five or six per plant. Any garden work around the plant should be very shallow as the roots of the plant are at the surface and can be easily damaging to the plant. 

The above recipe for Aubergine tomatoes reads:

Wash large ripe tomatoes and cut in half cross wise. Melt 2 tablespoons butter or oil in skillet, place the tomatoes in the cut side up and sprinkle with the following seasonings, 2 cloves of farce finely minced, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and finely minced (chopped) parsley. Cover and cook slowly for 10 minutes. Garnish with sprigs of parsley and serve immediately with any kind of fish (or meat) course.

Egg-plant fruits are ready for uses as soon as they reach a good size, and while they have a glossy appearance. If dull, they are over-mature and seedy, and not very good for cooking with. To prepare for cooking, simply wipe with damp cloth and remove stem and calyx. It can be peeled or left unpeeled. Egg plant is a watery vegetable; if cut into thick slices, salted, and covered with plate with weight on top, some of the excess moisture will drain away.

When frying egg plant do not cover the pan - slices should be crisp.

Cut unpeeled egg plant crosswise in thin slices. Coat light with seasoned flour, fry in hot butter until pale golden brown. Serve pipping hot as vegetable accompaniment with meat, fish, etc. 

For the right seasoning egg plant is best with: Basil, dill, garlic, marjoram, oregano, rosemary.

Growing the plant was no more difficult than growing tomatoes and I will keep adding the plant to my kitchen garden now I know how easy an egg plant is to grow and how versatile it can be in the kitchen.

Thank you to all who have left comments. I have read the replies but I just haven't had time to respond to them. 

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Calendulas! - But in Grandmother’s Day They Were Called Marigolds

During the old times basic remedies from the petals have made women beautiful, but the flower now makes a fashionable inexpensive floral decoration. With the advent of homesteading and the back to simple living movement, the old time calendula has been experiencing a tremendous boom. So whether you really like it, or not, knowing about calendulas is useful knowledge not only for using it as decoration but as a helpful medicinal herb in it's own right.

In the past grandmothers had a prettier name for them in Mary’s Gold, or marigold. The quilled petals of the calendula reminded our grandparents of the likeness of Mary with her halo and ‘rays of glory’ which gives the name Marigold.

“The marigold that goes to bed with the sun, and with him rises, weeping…” - Shakespeare

In times past the flower was a favourite and was much used by housewives and the old ‘simplers' (herbalist), and to-day many are making concoctions from the garden Calendula for beauty just as they did in days of old.

Calendulas are good for cutting. One of the disadvantages about the calendula as a cut flower is the strong odour of the stems when stood in water. Every day the water should be changed, and the stems cut down just a little. If the stems are left in the water it makes the water cloudy and unpleasant. Treating the stems also helps keep the flowers to last longer. Bits of old leaves should also be cut off. Don’t pull the leaf off as that encourages the stem to ‘bleed’ or weep where it is tore. 

Calendulas have a long flowering season and the plants are strong and hardy making them an excellent cut flower, and one that should be used for decoration under artificial light as it is a showy bloom which brightens up any corner of the room.

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

You say tomato - 1939

In 1939 an Australian woman’s magazine recommend tomatoes have a place on every Australian table. The article cited the high vitamin contents of tomatoes as one of the reasons to keep serving tomatoes. And, as they were easily prepared or quickly cooked the busy housewife, it said, would appreciate serving tomatoes for a meal.

Tomato soup is perhaps one of the easiest to prepare. Very ripe tomatoes, or a can of peeled tomatoes, can be use. I used a can of peeled tomatoes because that was already in the pantry.

If you don't want the skin on the tomatoes cut a cross in the top of them and in a dish pour boiling hot water over them, this will split the skin and it will peel away easily.

Tomato Soup - A can of tomatoes, 1 large onion, 1 garlic clove, bunch of parsley, pinch of thyme and sliced basil leaves for garnish. 

Melt butter, add in garlic clove, lightly cook onion until transparent. Add in the can of tomatoes, chop them down in the pan. Add in herbs and bring to boil. I used a whisked and whisked the soup you can also use a stick blender to break it down. At this point you can add tablespoon of flour and bring to boil, add a cup of milk, then boil again. I didn’t do this but I added grated cheese through the soup and used cheese to garnish. 

I saved up with grated cheese garnished basil and homemade Damper bread.

Serve hot. 

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Bay Leaf

Bay Leaf

(Laurus nobilis)

Sweet bay

Parts Used:

Leaves

Properties:

Aromatic, Culinary flavouring.

The sweet bay is the true laurel of ancient Greece. Its leaves were used to make crowns for triumphant heroes, distinguished poets and victors of the Pythian games at Delphi. The title, Poet Laureate, comes from this use.

In Greek myth, Apollo was pursuing a mountain nymph named Daphne. The gods changed her into a laurel tree to escape him. Apollo consoled himself by weaving a garland from ‘her’ branches and, after this, the tree was held sacred by Apollo.

Cultivating: The Laurus nobilis needs special care in frost areas. It is not a hardy plant for the out-of-doors, but it adds a great deal of charm to an herb garden and will grow well as a tub plant if great care is given it.

The potting mixture must be prepared with 2 parts loam, 2 parts sand, 2 parts peat moss and fertiliser, preferably cow manure.

It prefers a sunny spot and the soil should be kept moist at all times. When frost threatens, the plant should be placed in a protected area.

Harvesting: Like most herbs, bay leaves should be picked in the early morning when they are clean and still fresh from the morning dew but not wet. Place leaves to dry gradually in warm shady spot. When dry but not brittle, arrange the leaves and weight them to flatten them so they do not curl. When completely dried and pressed, pack carefully in tightly covered opaque containers until needed. 

Uses Of The Herb:

Culinary:

Use bay leaves as part of a bouquet garni for soups, stews, and sauces. Add to stocks, marinades and stews, curry, and poached fish. Remove leaves before serving. Place in rice jar to flavour rice. Heat in milk to flavour custards and puddings. Use to flavour vinegar.

Medicinal:

Use an infusion of the leaves as a digestive stimulant. Apply infusion to scalp to relieve dandruff. Essential oil is good for massaging sprains and rheumatic pains. Make sure the oil is diluted by mixing it with a ‘carrier oil; such as sweet almond beforehand.

Cosmetic:

Add a decoction of bay to bath water to tone the skin and relieve aches.

Decorative:

Clipped and trains day trees in tubs are an elegant and traditional decoration for doorways and walls. Use branches in full leaf for wreaths.

Household:

Crumble dried leaves into potpourri. Hang branches up to freshen the air.

To make spiced scented coasters:

Bay leaves  

Cinnamon sticks

Star anise

Cloves

Crush six bay leaves, a couple of cinnamon sticks, some cloves, and star anise with pestle and mortar.

This scented spice mix then can be placed between squares of fabric and sewn in.  The aroma of the crushed spices is released when a warm tea cup or coffee mug is placed on the coasters.

A larger mat can also be made to rest a tea pot on or a hot pan.

(Disclaimer: As always be careful about using herbs. Consult your doctor before use. Never use on small children or pregnant women)

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Chamomile

Chamomile

Botanical names: Anthemis nobilis. Matricaria Recutita.

(Roman/English Chamomile)

Plant/part: Herb/dried flower.

Country of origin: Indigenous to Britain and cultivated in Germany, France and Morocco.

Chamomile can be recognised by its feathery grey-green leaves and daisy-like white flowers with distinctive dome-shaped yellow centres. German chamomile is more erect than the related Roman Chamomile.

TO GROW CHAMOMILE

An upright annual shrub to 50cm tall, preferring well drained, fertile soil. Likes partial shade but can be grown in full sun. Propagated by seed.

PARTS OF CHAMOMILE USED:

Flowers

Collect flowers as they open and the petals start to bend back.

MEDICINAL USES OF CHAMOMILE:

Chamomile is used to soothe gastric irritation, flatulence and colic. It works in two ways: It helps to relax an overactive stomach while, at the same time, relaxing the nervous system, soothing anxiety and stress. A medical herbalist may also use Chamomile for painful periods, to calm an over-active child or in allergic asthmas.

OTHER USES OF CHAMOMILE:

Dried chamomile flowers can be added to potpourri and the flowers can also be placed in a muslin bag and used to scent the bath water. 

Some simple ways to use Chamomile:

To relax and aid sleep drink Chamomile tea before retiring to bed.

As a conditioner rinse fair hair in an infusion of chamomile.

To alleviate the symptoms of a cold add 2-3 drops of Chamomile essential oil to 1 litre (2 pints/5 cups) of boiling water and use as an inhalation - breathe in steam.

In the language of flowers Chamomile means: Joys to come.

Disclaimer: As always be cautious when using herbs.

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Winter Sachet

Sachet (Sa Sha - A small bag containing perfumed herbs used to scent clothes) Using a sachet is the most fragrant way to perfume clothes, linens and note papers. Victorian ladies sewed little sachets into every thing in the house from arm chairs to sewing baskets. Sachets can be placed in envelopes of personal mail, hang bags in clothes closets, lay little pouches with your lingerie, and pretty embroidered envelopes find a place in gifts of handkerchiefs.

Bags for sachet are sewn from bits of silk. More elaborate designs use a less tightly woven fabric over the silk but the silk or an equally tight weave cloth must hold the sachet as it tends to powder and contents escape from the looser weaved fabrics such as lace.

Depending on the use, sachets range in size and shape from tiny, plump pillows of two inches square to envelope size. If you like needlework, they are delightful stitched in all manner of elaborate flights of fancy.

To make a sachet you dry the ingredients as you would for dry potpourri. All petals and leaves must be quite crisp otherwise they may mildew.

WINTER SACHET 

This is the best recipe for wool and clothes which have to be stored.

One 1 cup of dried rosemary, add the same of mint leaves, 1/2 cup thyme, and two tablespoons of crushed cloves. Mix this well and age it, then make lager sachets to scent your summer storage. No moth will go near it.

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Catnip

Catnip ( Nepeta cataria)

Parts used: Flowering tops, leaves.

Catnip is often used for wind or colic. It soothes upset stomachs, indigestion and stress-related problems. Because it contains tannins, it is also good for diarrhoea and inflammatory bowel problems. In the respiratory system it is helpful for coughs, bronchitis and asthma.  Another use is it helps reducing fevers and bringing out rashes in irruptive infections such as measles and chicken pox.

It is an antiseptic and staunches bleeding and speeds healing of cuts, bites, burns, scalds and bruises.

How to grow:

Catnip is a perennial shrub, traditionally thought to excite cats. It has attractive, aromatic, grey-green foliage and grows to a round 60 cm (2ft) tall. 

Propagate by sowing seeds in spring, taking softwood cuttings in spring or dividing the plant in late summer. It prefers well drained soil in full sun. 

Protect from cats if necessary.

Uses:

Catnip (or catmint) is a herb suited to relaxing the nervous system, it has calming qualities  and a handful of dried catnip steeped in boiling water makes a good tea to calm down after a stressful day, drink before bed. A teaspoon of honey will take away the woodsy flavour.

In other uses catnip is useful as a repellent. Mice dislike the scent, catnip in sachets or planted around doors outside will keep mice away. The plant is also useful as a insect repellent.  A spray can be made using catnip & basil:

1/2 cup fresh catnip and basil leaves chopped

1 cup witch hazel

Any of the following essential oils: Citronella, lemongrass, basil, lemon, or eucalyptus.

Water for diluting.

Place catnip and bail in jar and pour the witch hazel over the herbs. Close the jar and leave in a dark place for 1 week. Strain and the infused witch hazel should stay fresh for up to a 1 year.

The spray:

Fill a small spray bottle half way with infused witch hazel add 3 to 4 drops of essential oils and fill the rest of the bottle with plain water, cap and shake.

Shake frequently before and during use. Spray lightly on skin to keeps bugs at bay.

CAUTION: As always be careful about using herbs. Never use while pregnant. Be careful when using on young children. And always test a small patch on the skin first to see if a reaction will occur. See your doctor first to check if it will react to any other medications.

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Bouquet Garni

Bouquet Garni

Spices and aromatic herbs lend flavour to most savoury dishes, including soups, broths, stews, and sauces. Bouquet garni are small bound muslin sachets filled with herbs to savour food during cooking especially slow cooked food, but should be removed before or during serving.

Aromatic Dishes

To make a bouquet garni cut out a piece of muslin 6 inch 915cm) across and place some herbs and spices in the centre. Gather the bundle together and tie with thread or raffia.

Bay, parsley, and thyme are the most usual ingredients for a bouquet garni but you can combine any herbs and spice you choose to suit the dish you are making.

A blend of lemon peel, parsley, celery leaf, cardamon and saffron goes well with rice. 

Fish stews are best with star anise, lime, parsley and dill.

Far Eastern dishes are enhanced by a bouquet garni of basil, chives, oregano, and bay. 

For lamb, bay leaves, rosemary, crushed garlic and orange peel will give any lamb dish a special hint of herb flavour.

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Cottage journal inspirations

Just some pictures from around the home, nothing fancy.

Simple hand embroidered from vintage embroidery designs to make up into sachets for some potpourri.

Indulging the sweet tooth...not too many. I'm working on dieting.

Flower Salads

Several common flowers are edible - and add an element of colour and surprise to an ordinary green salad. Not all flowers are edible, though, so make sure the ones you choose are, and wash and dry thoroughly before using. Common flower edibles include Nasturtiums, roses, borage, marigolds, squash flowers, and violets.  

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Rose and Spice Potpourri

This mixture has a dusty appearance because of the spices. A few perfectly dried rose buds, whole dried miniature roses or  dried petals can be used on the sides and tops of glass jars to brighten this beautiful but simple potpourri.

Ingredients:

4 cups dried rose petals
1 cup mixture of freshly ground cinnamon, cloves and a little nutmeg
1/2 cup orrisroot powder ( Note: I used a couple of ground chips of rose resin as a fixative instead of orrisroot powder)
10 drops rose oil

Rosebuds, whole roses, or petals for decoration

Method:

Mix rose petals and spices thoroughly with your hands. Blend oil and orrisroot powder together with your fingers and add to the petals. Put mixture into an airtight container and allow to mellow for 3 weeks before transferring to jars or bowls.

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Basic Lavender Sachet recipe

Basic Lavender sachet recipe

This recipe may be used alone as a sachet or as a good base for other sachets. It will remain fragrant for a very long time.

Recipe:

8 cups lavender flowers (dried)

1 tablespoon orrisroot powder (as a fixative to keep the scent)

10 drops lavender oil

Crumble the flowers and mix throughly with the fixative. Add lavender oil a drop at a a time and blend through the mix with your fingertips.

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Stove top

Day 15 living without

This is a no spend day.

Winter stove potpourri

2 long cinnamon sticks broken

2 tablespoons of allspice whole

2 tablespoons of cloves

1/2 tablespoon of nutmeg

1 tablespoon of dried cranberries

1 dried orange slice

1 dried apple slice

1 star anise

Directions to use:

Place contents in 2 cups of water and bring to simmer on low heat. See adding water. It lasts for three days.

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Day 6: Living without.

Another nice day, but the temperature is expected to drop. 

I spent the day working on some hand painted letter sets and making up junk journals. For the junk journals they are good to write in, paint in and such, when you don't want to buy a notebook. I’m trying to organise my paper stash and use some of it up.

I’ve also been cleaning out some of the garden pots as a few of the plants need pulling out and cutting back now that it is coming into winter.

This is a no spend day.

Home tip:

Dried bay leaves in kitchen drawers and pantry will discourage insects. Renew the leaves when they lose their aroma.

Frugal recipe:

Cream of soup mix:

2 cups powdered milk

2/3 cups corn starch

1 tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons parsley

1/2 teaspoon thyme

To use- mix 1/2 cup mix with 1 1/2 cup water ( Or milk for creamier version)in small saucepan - bring to boil. Stir in choice of: Potato dried or cooked, celery, or mushroom cheddar cheese- 1 cup.

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.