Tuesday 26 February 2013

Getting Organised



Hello there! I make no apologies for using a similar photo to my previous header - this is such a beautiful bunch as is still going strong since last Wednesday. SO cheerful Hopefully it won't be long before there is some colour in the garden as well.

Now then. I'm a little late with the New Year Resolutions (not that I make any, usually!) but I feel the urge to make a statement of intention. I am going to get myself organised. Yes, you may laugh. I can be very organised. My problem is I find it difficult being organised in more than area of my life at a time. And while one area is sparkling and fresh and working well, the other areas are falling behind, becoming more and more tangled in their own miasma of disorganisation, eventually spilling out and spreading the chaos over everywhere else. Then I am back to being totally disorganised again. This needs taking in hand.

I have started making plans - oh I'm great at that! And I have begun tinkering with certain bits that needed attention urgently. But more is needed. I'd like it on record that I have made an attempt to kick the sewing room turmoil into touch:


OK, OK, so this is just my desk, but scroll back to my last post and see the state of it then! All my felt / wool is tidied away properly, and the Taupe Basket blocks which never came out of their box while I was in New Zealand! A long way to go I admit, but even this has made me feel better.

Now on the food front, I have been thinking for some time I need to get back to planning my menus and also wishing to be a bit more frugal with ingredients, not so wasteful with purchases, and cooking more from scratch. (which last, to be honest I mostly do.) So I intend to go through the freezers and make a list of what's in there, (yeah, you uber-organised people, some of us don't, you know!!) and try and use it up before buying anything else. Hmmm, we'll see. But I made a start. I had in  the freezer some smoked haddock which was bought as a bargain. In the fridge some smoked bacon, part of a clump bought cheap as 'cooking bacon' (what the heck else would you do with it??)and as I don't like smoked bacon on its own I  knew it wouldn't get used. Half each of a red and yellow pepper, couple of ribs of celery, two small red onions, a solitary courgette, a bunch of coriander which I forgot to use up the other day, and a couple of baking potatoes which wouldn't last much longer.

Spuds were flashed in the microwave then sliced thickly and reserved. All ingredients except fish were sautéed, fish chopped and gently cooked in milk in the oven. I added some flour to the veggies, stirred to cook, added the milk from the fish, with a spot more, and added some seasoning. Piled the mixture into a dish, dotted the chunks of fish through the sauce, and topped with the spuds. Into the oven to cook and crisp up. We had half for lunch and will finish it off tomorrow. It may not look like haute cuisine to you but it was pretty good!


In my search for inspiration in the field of frugality I have been regularly reading a blog called 'Frugal in Norfolk', and some weeks ago the blogger - who does not reveal her name - gave a recipe for faggots. Now I know they are not everyone's favourite food, but I rather like them, on a cold day. I'm sure amongst my many cookery books I must have a recipe, but this one was there in front of me  and I bookmarked it for further use. On Monday I made a batch of my own. Now I stupidly made them meatball size - they should be a bit bigger - but they tasted really good, with some lovely thick gravy. From a 300g pack each of pork shoulder and pork liver I got a fine meal for two and all this for the freezer:


Yes, the meat is eked out with homemade wholemeal breadcrumbs (from a time when I was obviously being 'organised ' on the food front!) and veggies such as onions, garlic, celery, a chunk of lonely chorizo, some of that cheap bacon (misshapes, they used to call it), and seasoning and herbs. But I think this is how we probably should be using meat. It made me feel pretty pleased with myself, I can tell you! (In fact I think there is enough in each pack to have some left overs. )

So, there it is. I am on a mission. However I don't want to make too big a thing of it because I will then fail at the first fence. Little by little. Gently does it.. Any tips or hints on the organisational front gratefully received! My next topic to get to grips with is my sewing projects. Hmmm. Wish me luck!

18 comments:

  1. There is nothing more dangerous than a woman on a mission - I'm scared! I'll see you next year, when you've settled down a bit ;0)

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    1. I'm tempted to say 'don't worry, you know it won't last', but I DO need to get some sort of order into my life. If only to make time for more MUSIC!!!! Lx

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  2. I cannot help with wise words of wisdom I am afraid, because alas I am Just like you!! my sewing room at the moment is the pitts, and only today i thought i need to sort this out...still decorating Loo's room, the contents of which are on the landing, not to mention washing everywhere cause havent seen the sun in Yonks,...best bit about blogging you only have to show very small glimpses :-)...good luck with your mission, i may go on one too ....although I fear I am always on one kind or another! xx

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    1. Ha! Sophie your words do give me a bit of encouragement though, if only because I now feel less of an inadequate!

      And yes, you only got the tidy bit of the sewing room....I fear the rest of it is beyond the pale! Lx

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  3. I've recently attacked my sewing room/study just so I can sit at the desk without having to clear it all off. I love faggots and haven't had them for years so when i spotted the recipe on Datacreata's blog Frugal in Norfolk I thought I'd get the ingredients. Well I did - and did I make them? No, but I froze the bacon and pork before their use by dates and plan to make them soon!
    Patricia x

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    1. That's it, Patricia, Datacreata, I had forgotten. Now then, get those ingredients out of the freezer and crack on - it wasn't difficult, you don't need to source a pig's caul or anything like that, and they are delicious. Let me know how yours go. Oh, make LOADS of gravy, you really do need it.Lx

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  4. I use that cooking bacon, too. I think it is as opposed to the stuff you hang from lamp posts. I have been being frugal, too, but those faggots look ace!

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    1. Hi Jools, yes, they used to call it misshapes then I noticed Morrisons are calling it 'cooking bacon' I always want to ask them what they do with their other stuff! It's a bit ,ike 'economy milk' isn't it? Do they swill it out of the cowsheds and strain it???

      I think meatballs and faggots are some of the most economical meals you can make, plus you can sneak all sorts in to use it up! Lx

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  5. I love the sewing room, beautiful view! I envy your skills of throwing things together and coming up with a meal- that dish looked really tasty and the. FAggots look great. With working mostly full time my cooking is very basic although all from scratch, can't remember the last time I baked! Keep up the plan of getting organised, it's a great feeling when it is all in order!
    Heather x

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    1. I must agree, I am very lucky having a sewing space to myself, and it is a lovely view; I should be ashamed of myself letting it get so untidy. Well, I am, actually, which is why I am trying to get organised so it all stays tidy once I've done it!

      When I worked full time and the boys were still at home I cooked in bulk in advance when I could. Not baking so much, just basic meals. It is really just a state of mind, isn't it, but it takes a bit of effort reaching that place. The reward is that feeling that you are on top of things. Without being too worried about the 'being in control' thing - that way lies madness! Lx

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  6. The quest for organisation.....please share when you've worked out the puzzle won't you! :) x

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    1. Believe me, Ada, you will know! But don't hold your breath! Lx

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  7. Ha ! I totally recognize the "organizing" bit ;-)
    Love your clean desk .... ánd the view ! (yes, a room with a view)


    (About the Noro: it sure is awfully expensive and I hate the flaws of thin
    spots every now and then .... But the thing is : I LOVE the colours !!!
    So : find yourself a simple (scarf) pattern on Ravelry : it will turn out great !)

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    1. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a 'clean desk', Els! But certainly tidier than before.

      WHEN I have the time (!!) I will get out my precious Noro and have a go at something - easy - with it. I'm not sure it is quite as fine as the stuff you are using, but it is certainly a beautiful colour. Lx

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  8. I saw your post to Rabid Little Hippy and had to come check out your blog! Awesome and I think we have a bit in common, too. Love your sewing room. I've been helped quite a bit by the FLYlady.org site (my daughter in law introduced me to FLYlady a few years ago); it took me a while to really get going, but I can see now that organization is in sight!

    As to frugality, and all that, there are links to several good sites on my blog (it's late and I'm being lazy or I'd copy them here for you). I recommend Frugal Feeding, Frugal Queen and Vintage Hearth; also you may be interested in checking out 'Saving for Travel"; see the page on my blog named "Sealed Pot Challenge" for the link. This started in early December last year; I joined in late Dec. However, it's never too late to join, if you are interested. I'm having lots of fun with it and creating some great new habits at the same time! I'll be back, but have to go now. ~ Linne

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    1. Linne - my apologies! I have only just found your comment, purely by chance I was reading back to check photos, and found this. I feel awful, because I ALWAYS answer comments, when people take the time to leave them for me.

      Anyway, lovely to see you here, and will directly pop across to meet you at 'yours'! Thank you I will certainly check out those blogs,have seen Flylady and found it a little bit over the top, but heavens above, anything is better than nothing! Speak soon, I have no doubt!

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  9. I'm impressed Lynne, your workspace is looking so much less cluttered. In fact I'm quite envious as my tiny studio is still just paint pots and cardboard boxes. There isn't room to swing a cat in that room anyway but at the moment I'd struggle to swing a mouse!

    The Mr made the most delicious Green Velvet soup for our supper (celery and garlic free because I really don't like either in soups). It was delicious, and very frugal :)

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  10. Hi Annie, well, I am making a start, and that's the important thing. It's when you get going on a project and everything comes out again....and you are abck where you starts. Secret is to put away as you go along, I guess!

    Home made soups areThe Best, I think, whatever your favourite is; thrifty, frugal, fun to do if you have the time, I love it. Lx

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